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#i initially sketched these on paper in a big sketchbook I own

spearxwind · 1 year

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I want to draw... Beasts & Creachers... But I don't know where/how to start? Figuring out how to draw a few animals and then... Mashin them up like hot potato? Or do you have a better recommendation? When/How did you start Crafting Big Dudes? Can we get some WindyLore?

-ARM Φ

Hi hello!!! Yes, that's exactly what I did :D

When I was a little kid the way I learnt how to draw creatures was actually doing studies and copying the photos/drawings of animals that I had on my many encyclopedias :] My family owns a lot of books and so did I, so I had a lot of reference material I could pull from

The earliest time I can remember where I actually tried super hard to create a Beast was when I created Orion for the first time (Sometime around 2014, when I was 17yrs old). I don't have pictures available at the moment, but I distinctly remember starting out with a vague lizard shape and then getting mad about it, I quite literally wrote "I don't want another fucking lizard" in my sketchbook next to the initial draft.

After that, I actually pulled a bunch of my books out to look at references for claws, body types, quills, teeth, etc. I ended up choosing a good few things and mashing them together into the first version of Orion!

Initially, he looked like this:

This guy basically sparked my interest in creature design. I refined him over the years again and again into the design that made it into my comic, and it's one of my favorite things I've designed :]

In current times with access to the internet its probably easier to find references, but if you have access to paper and pencil i super 1000% recommend keeping a sketchbook where you draw!! It's very useful for designing things, at least for me. I keep all my oc design sketches confined to my sketchbooks before I eventually draw them digitally x)

But yeah basically it boils down to mishmashing a bunch of real creatures together in a way that makes sense (or in a way that YOU like!). The real world is full of interesting critters, and more often than not these real animals we coexist with are actually far weirder than anyone's scifi creation, so you can truly go hog wild.

Other recommendations I'd offer is definitely taking a look-see at monster hunter designs, they are all incredibly unique (albeit most of them are dragons) but the shapes and textures are super interesting to study. I also recommend keeping a reference folder on your computer, I have a big folder for reference pictures of cool animals I find, and I take care to save the image with the creature's name if available so I can search up more when possible

These are some of my examples I've collected over time :]

I hope this helps though and that it's not too overwhelming haha, it's definitely a journey but references are FOR SURE your friend!! It will help with anatomy, realism, and overall grounding designs in physical reality even if you just use the most extreme features possible. I believe in you!

#ask #anon #design talk

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comicaurora · 2 years

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How old were you when you decided to start taking Aurora seriously? ("taking seriously" as in, deciding to start making it a comic, and putting work into making it come to life rather than it just be a dream project or a fun thought)

File dates indicate I first started drawing proper test pages for the comic at the very beginning of 2018 (a random snippet of a very early draft of Dainix's intro arc, just to get a feel for the comic tools in CSP) although I remember I had drawn up some short experimental intro comics probably as early as 2016, and I had full digital illustrations of some of the characters in my college application portfolio around 2013-2014, although I don't think any of those made it onto my current computer.

I started on the proper comic, like the actual illustrated pages that made it onto the site, in march of 2019, but it seems like I created those files as early as october of 2017, so it's possible I was playing with the sketch of the first chapter pretty dang early.

It's a little tricky to answer this question, because the very first form this story took was comics I drew in my old sketchbooks, so there was never a time when I didn't want to make it exist in some comic-shaped form. Initially I just wanted to make a story for me to read, because I was very bored and hungry for fantasy that wasn't boring, depressing or both. But somewhere along the line it occurred to me that I could make something other people would want to read too. I don't know exactly when I made that switch - I suspect it was fairly early in the process, because due to who I am as a person I have a very strong urge to share what I make. For me, just making the thing wasn't enough - I got so much more energy from showing it to people and discussing it with them than just drawing it for myself. I got zero interest or positive feedback from my peers in middle school and quickly resolved not to share anything until I was certain it was good, which in hindsight was a maladaptive attempt to avoid being bullied by people who, shockingly, didn't actually determine their bullying schedule off any internal logic I could work around. But it did motivate me to practice a lot and branch out artistically in directions that had previously not interested me. Having a distant but attainable end goal was exactly the kind of carrot on a stick I needed to lure my baby ADHD brain into actually sticking with something for a change.

At this stage I'd say it was firmly "I want to do this someday." Not because it wasn't practical or realistic, but because I wasn't ready. That's how it was through most of high school, though after I got my first drawing tablet and began exploring digital art around 2012-2013, things went from "it'd be cool someday" to "I have the tools I need to do this as soon as I'm ready." After that I started playing with drawing programs, acclimating to the weird experience of using a drawing tablet instead of pencil on paper, and even toying with a little simple cel animation with the built-in bare-bones app that came with my tablet.

The idea of drawing the illustrations for the videos I was starting to do came from the same impulse - I wanted to get better at digital art, and needed to in order to make the comic a viable possibility. Again, it let me trick my brain into focusing on getting really good at something, which was a practice I'd never been able to sustain for long without a concrete end goal in mind. Sticking with something for its own sake didn't work - I needed that delicious dopamine feedback to keep me going, and the constant rush of "I'm getting better at this and that's getting me closer to this thing I really really want" apparently did the trick.

But I actually think this is around where I started faltering - late high school and very early college, so like 2012-2014. Aurora was the first big writing project I'd ever really loved, and I knew from experience that first writing projects were usually bad. They were valuable for skill-building and refinement, but were they actually worth showing to anyone? Plus my notes/timeline file had gotten really massive and unwieldy at this point, and playing with the cast and story was turning into a chore of continuity rather than a fun exercise. It was getting bloated - rather than making the story go anywhere I was just adding little bits onto it every time they occurred to me. Every cool idea I was having had to be mashed into this one world I was playing with, and I worried it was getting out of hand. So I dropped it for over a year and spent my time playing with an urban fantasy ghost story concept instead. That got far enough in development that I still have a saved color swatch for it.

I played with it and built it out and felt more serious and cool with this Edgy Dark Adventure with a psychopomp vs an immortal witch vampire and a wild cast of colorful supporting weirdos, and then I realized I was really bored. Once again I'd built a cast of characters without a plot to actually use them, only this time they weren't even characters I particularly liked.

So I tentatively went back to Aurora. I think this can't have been much before 2014, but I'm not certain on that. And with the benefit of a year's time on the backburner, I'd boiled it down to the core elements I really liked and rendered out all the filler and padding I'd stuffed it full of back when I was just using it to store every cool idea and character I had. I was relieved to know that this story and cast of characters I liked so much was turning out to be actually worth exploring, and I went a lot harder on the worldbuilding and establishing an actual set of arcs and plots to keep the characters engaged and occupied by an interesting diversity of setpieces, side characters and events.

By early college (2014-2015) I think I was back in the swing of things, determined to actually make the comic happen (once I was ready and good enough, natch) and enthused about rewriting the basic arcs and beats from scratch rather than touching that bloated timeline file I'd abandoned a year earlier. By junior year (2017) I have a distinct memory of doodling out the first designs for Tynan in my Greek Thought And Lit course, which is a pretty good indicator that I was getting committed to the granular parts of the story.

It wasn't until after I graduated in 2018 that I really started thinking about, you know. actually doing it. not someday, now. I was free from school and mentally decompressing from a decade and a half of nonstop stress and pressure, the channel had hit its first major jump and was actually making us a proper living so I didn't need to pivot to a job hunt like I'd feared, and if I didn't bite the bullet and start immediately I would probably just keep procrastinating it out of a mounting sense of guilt and insecurity until I couldn't bear to look at it again. Sure, I could still get better, but at that point I'd done enough headfirst dives into the unknown to conclude that it is literally impossible to fully prepare for something before you experience it for the first time. If I kept waiting until I felt ready, I would never start. So that's around when I started looking into building the site, drawing up the first three chapters and going from there. Sometimes you gotta say "fuck it", push yourself off the diving board and hope you figure something out before you hit the water.

#asks #behind the curtain

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with-love-from-hell · 2 years

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oho i just saw ur reqs are open ❤️❤️❤️ may i get a luci/satan (separate or only lucifer if u have to choose hehe) x artist!mc? hurt/comfort, they struggle because they do art for a living because they're not good at anything else yet they feel like they aren't good enough to be an artist? id also love to see their reactions to drawings and paintings mc did of them <3 maybe also their reaction to their vent art? I can elaborate on this on dms since i dont wanna talk abt it in public hehe. Thank u so much big sis Storm <3

Hello!!!!!!! <3 Thank you for the request (: ! I am also adding Solomon per your specific dm. I hope you enjoy these short drabbles- i had fun writing it! 💕

I decided to take this to basically just giving a scenario of an artist!Mc who does vent art and Satan, Lucifer, and Solomon find their sketch book or see them creating!

Dark Art

Genre - Comfort, slight hurt, fluff

Written for a GN!Mc

Wc: ~3.8k

Cw: vague mentions of depression/trauma (nothing too dark), vent art that is described as disturbing (e.g. gore, horror, etc), vague mentions of self-harm, mentions of crushes/relationships, mildly suggestive on Solomon’s, unpolished

Satan

"Mc, over here!"

Satan waves frantically to you from his spot at the corner of the library. Your face lifts as you see the excited expression on his face, and you gleefully stride over to the set of arm chairs he had set aside for the two of you.

It had become a weekly ritual for the two of you to spend your independent study hour at RAD together tucked away in a random corner of the library. Satan would- as usual- be reading a book and provide commentary to you on his thoughts while absorbing the story. In turn, you would normally have your sketch pad out, venting the stress of the day on paper. It was nice to be able to be close to someone, yet still engage in your own independent activities without judgement.

Satan had seen your artwork before. The first time he noticed the aggressively slashed lines on your paper, he was a bit concerned. Though, after you explained your process as a way to vent emotions, he understood. He was intrigued by your coping skill, and would be lying if he'd say he wasn't interested in giving it a try to better manage his anger.

Throughout your time in the Devildom (despite the initial difficulties- if you could call it that), Satan and you had become extremely close, finding deep comfort in the intense emotional responses you both had to things. It was almost as if the two of you shared a silent understanding of eachother's plight. Satan seemed the most human out of all his brothers, despite still being a demon.

Over time, he grew more and more interested in your artwork, finding comfort in your explanations for your choice in pen stroke, or color palette. He would stare at you with a look that could only be described as pure awe as you explained, eager to soak in your thoughts and emotions. It was strangely...cathartic.

And today, that eager curiosity was no different than the past as your pencile glided across the thick paper of your sketchbook. It was a piece you had been working on for awhile- a side profile of Satan. You were currently working on detailing the soft curvature of his lips, having just finished detailing his delicate blonde locks.

Apparently, you hadn't glanced up at him in awhile, too engrossed in your artwork. If you would have, you would have noticed the look of intrigue painted all over his face as he watched you. Sometimes, your artwork was less aggressive and more delicate- though it was a rarity. And Satan's interest was typically especially perked by these drawings.

"What are you working on so intently there, hmm?" He mused. A smirk slowly formed on his lips as he watched you freeze up and a harsh blush appeared on your cheeks.

"Uh- nothing!" You snapped, a bit too quickly and harshly.

Satan's curiosity only grew at your attempts to hide what you had been so fixated on from him. Sure you were insecure about your art at first, but you had overcome the embarrassment and were eager to share your work with him most of the time. Hr would notice you picking at your cuticles as he observed a more intimate piece, but overall you would let him observe your work, even if it was unfinished.

Satan clicked his tongue at you teasingly. "Oh come now, Mc. Its been so long since you were nervous to share a drawing with me. Come on, let's see!" Satan reached out a hand as a gesture for you to give him the book.

You gulped, clutching the book into your chest. Your voice came out as a subdued stutter. "Its- uh...its not done yet."

Satan raised an eyebrow at you. "That's never stopped you from letting me see before..."

You glanced down at the floor, face burning so hot that you swore your body had caught fire. Satan sighed, and withdrew his gesture, but continued staring at you.

"Is it really so embarrassing? You know that I adore your artwork." Satan's expression was now one of disappointment as he pretended to return his focus to his book.

You chewed your lip for a moment, curious as to how he'd respond if he knew you were drawing him. He had never been one to criticize your art, only offering helpful feedback if he gave any sort of critique- which was rare even if you asked for it. With a resided sigh, you squeezed your eyes shut and thrust the sketchbook at him.

Satan smiled and retrieved the book from your hands, his heart leaping into his throat as he recognized the features of his face on the smooth page. His expression changed to one of surprise and his cheeks flushed a deep crimson hue as he took in the artwork.

He traced his finger along the wispy lines in his hair, trailing them down to the bump in his neck where you had so immaculately depicted his Adam's apple. His eyes trailed the page longer than you were expecting, and nervousness bubbled within your chest as your heart thumped loudly in your ears.

What if he thought you were creepy? Your insecure thoughts hissed at you as you peaked at him through one eye. There's no way he'd find this endearing.

You snatch the sketchbook back out of his hands, your face pale from embarrassment. You quickly gathered your belongings and turn to leave, but are caught by the wrist.

"Mc, wait." Satan's voice was barely above a whisper.

Your breath caught in your throat as you slowly turned back to him. You couldn't find the courage to speak, but Satan recognized the expression on your face as one of shame.

"How long have you been working on that?" He queries, nodding towar the sketchbook tucked into your armpit. "It looks like its taken a long time..."

You turn your gaze to the floor, the anxiety continuing to course through your veins. Satan noticed the continued embarrassment, figuring perhaps he had chosen the wrong words to express how flattered he was.

"Mc..." he took a deep breath, his blush growing a deeper red. "I love it."

You snap your gaze up to him. "Huh?"

He gives you a weak smile. His hand that gripped your wrist becoming clammy as his nerves took over. "I said...I love it. I'm honored you've chosen me as the subject of your artwork."

The tension you hold slowly releases and you ease back down into the arm chair. Satan rubs the back of his neck with his hand as he tries to figure out what to say. After a pregnant pause, you both lock eyes. Your hearts both flutter at the emotions identified within your eyes as they stared admirably at one another.

Another smile passed by his lips, wider this time- giving you a spark of inspiration for the way you now wanted his lips to look. You quickly flip to the page you had been working on and begin to change the details in Satan's face so a loving smile is decorating his features, rather than the neutral look he had before.

Satan could only smile wider, admiring you work with his cheek pressed against his palm.

Lucifer

"AGH- God dammit! MAMMOOOOON!"

Lucifer was just trying to go to bed after a long day of paperwork and stress...And of course Mammon had to go and leave the bags of garbage compiled from his room right around the corner from the stairs, causing Lucifer to trip and nearly fall.

He growled, the migraine pulsing through his head becoming more prominent with each passing stomp toward his room. It was 2 in the God damned morning, and Mammon had some nerve leaving his trash out for someone else to deal with. Surely this would mean a long lecture, and perhaps the punishment of custodial duty at RAD for the next two weeks.

He paused as he approached your room, his thoughts drifting away as he saw the door cracked open. Lucifer felt his lips curve into a soft smile as he thought about you relaxing after a hard day as well. Perhaps he should pay you a visit? Just for a quick 'goodnight'...

And just like that, his priorities have changed. He knocks gently on the frame before pushing your door open slightly

"Mc?" Lucifer called softly, peering into your bedroom. He clamped his mouth shut though when he saw you asleep at your desk. Your head was resting on your craned arm, a shading pencil still caught between your fingers and your hair. Your mouth hung open slightly, and a soft wheezing could be heard as you slept.

Lucifer chucked to himself and waltzed over to you. Normally, he would quietly shut your door and turn off the light if he were to intrude on your sleep, but the position you were in was so obviously uncomfortable. He gently plucked the pencil from your hand and set it down at the desk, but paused when he noticed the image that was half-drawn on the page.

A grotesque looking monster was positioned front and center of the page. Its mouth hung open, dripping a dark viscous liquid dripping from its razer sharp teeth. Eyes littered its face, some seemingly bloodshot while others were purely displaying the sclera- though he was unsure if this was due to the artwork being unfinished or by personal choice. The lines were aggressively strewn across the page, almost looking like you had been battling with the paper.

Lucifer cast a worried glance at you. He had seen you drawing in your sketchbook before, but he'd never actually seen what you were drawing. Nervousness rose in his chest as he thought about why you may be chosing to draw such an upsetting creature...perhaps it was just a special interest?

Curiosity got the better of him as he slipped your sketch book from under your sleeping body. He tucked it away in his coat pocket, determined to look through it later. After all, he knew that human art tended to reflect the emotions of the artist, and he wanted to make sure you were okay. Besides, he could always ask for forgiveness later.

Lucifer swiftly moved your body to your bed, being as gentle as possible so as not to wake you. After tucking you in and placing a gentle kiss to your forehead, he quickly left to his room to look through your sketch book.

After changing into silken pajamas and pouring himself a very full glass of Demonus, lucifer settled into his cozy armchair across from the roaring fire. He flipped through the pages of your book, pausing on each drawing to observe the features. To his relief, not all of them were like the grotesque looking beast you had been working on today. Some of them were sketches of Devildom flora, or of various bugs or animals.

But even still...the amount of aggressive line work and upsetting images were enough to cause concern. He made a mental note to check in with you about the artwork, and about your current mental state.

He hoped you would open up to him- to tell him what your troubles were. He desired to be close to you, but he still sensed an ambivalence on your end- and rightfully so. He had lashed out at you more than once, and the thought did pass him by that you were perhaps drawing these upsetting things to vent your trauma at his hand.

Lucifer sighed and rose from his seat, closing the sketch book. As he walked the book over to his night stand, a folded piece of paper slipped out from between the blank pages in the back and onto the floor. Lucifer paused, staring at it quizzically.

Perhaps it was just some old notes, or a discarded drawing you had meant to throw away? Regardless, he leaned into his curiosity and picked up the paper. After he unfolded it, he was greeted with a sight he couldn't even have imagined.

It was...him? An immaculately detailed profile of his upper body. It appeared you had maybe drawn it during one of the council meetings, as he had his RAD uniform on and he looked focused on something from across the room- Diavolo, more than likely. Lucifer stared at the page, awestruck at clearly how much time and effort went into making this.

Lucifer quickly reopened the book, flipping past some empty pages to find any more art he potentially had missed. Between the blank pages, he found a few more folded up papers, each holding a different portrait of him.

Sitting amongst the 5 pages on his bed, Lucifer didn't how to react. A bright blush decorated his features, and a slight smile twitched onto his lips. Did this mean...that you wanted to be close to him too? Maybe he had read you wrong...

Lucifer selected the drawing that caught his eye the most- an image of him in his demon form with his arms crossed. He trailed his image along the detailed feathers on the wings, his smile growing wider. Thoughts of how you viewed him danced through his head and made his chest swell with pride:

Did you think he was beautiful? Intriguing? Mysterious? How often do you look at him? What is your favorite feature of his?

Lucifer tucked the image away into his nightstand, keeping it for himself. He refolded the others, reluctantly returning them to their places in between the blank pages of the book. He quickly rushed to your room, returning the book to your desk quietly.

Lucifer practically sprinted back to his room, nearly leaping into bed and retrieving the image from his nightstand. He stared at it for what seemed like hours, admiring every little detail. Part of him cursed himself for acting like a giddy school girl who found out her crush likes her back, but another part of him wanted to drown in the feeling of being admired by you.

As he fell asleep that night, the drawing lay atop his chest, clutched in one hand. Before unconsciousness took over, he made a silent promise to himself. No longer would he hide the desire to be close to you. He would let whatever walls down he could to let you see whatever it is you wanted to see in him. No longer would you admire each other from afar...

...But first, he was still going to get to the bottom of those disturbing images.

Solomon

“Mc, would you hand me that vial over there?” Solomon asked, not even bothering to turn his attention to were you had been sitting. He was so engrossed in his newest potion that he hadn’t even noticed you had said you were going to go take a walk because your leg was cramping.

Surely he should have figured you would need to get up and move eventually- especially after your body had been contorted into the corner of the small room due to the amount of space his supplies took up. After all- this was something you had agreed to do to get some peace and quiet away from the chaos at the House of Lamentation, not to help him with his grueling work.

Solomon turned after he wasn’t given a response, slight irritation crossing his face until he realized you weren’t in your spot on the floor. He sighed, rising from his position and grabbing the vial himself. He paused though, when he noticed your sketch book had been left open to something you had been working on.

Solomon’s interest was piqued, but he fought the urge to pick up the book, returning to his position at his caldron. After adding the final ingredient and seeing a small mushroom cloud of dark yellow smoke billow out from the top of the liquid, he turned off the heat and let the substance cool. He was pleased to finally have gotten the expected result from his new sensory-enhancing potion, and he couldn’t wait to get some Guinea pigs (aka- the 7 brothers) to test it out.

As he leaned back on his stool and dusted his clothes off, he found his gaze wandering back to the sketch book. He scoffed, trying to be more aware of his unconscious desire to snoop through your artwork. He had more self control than the demons he was surrounded by...or so he thought.

Solomon couldn’t remember a time that he had known you that you weren’t drawing in that book. He was sure it had to be filled to the brim with different types of art by now- and frankly he was surprised you still brought the same ratty sketchbook every time you joined him in his room. Usually he was so busy with something, that he couldn’t do more than spare a passing glance at your hands scribbling and erasing away on the paper. He had never actually seen anything you created before.

The more he tried to push away the urge to sift through your drawings, the more the impulse coursed through his mind. Finally, he decided to toss a coin to get the idea over with and out of his head. Heads, he would look through your book; Tails, he would go try to find where you had gone to distract him from the urge.

Somewhere in his mind he knew he could just do the latter and be done with it...but his curiosity was getting the better of him.

He tossed the coin in the air, seeing it land on tails. He cursed under his breath, having silently hoped it would be heads to give him an excuse to take a peak. Surely it would annoy you if you caught him, but what could he say? He wasn’t called “shifty” for nothing!

Solomon moved toward the door, his hand pausing on the handle as he looked back toward the sketch book. He stood there a moment, wondering what your art style was like, and intrigued by the mystery of the book.

“Fuck it.” He mumbled, turning away from the door. He paced quickly toward your sketch book, snatching it up and carefully observing your current drawing. He was surprised to see the grotesque picture before him- thinking you would surely be the type to draw silly little comics or images of unique animals.

He traced his lines over the haphazardly scrawled out words that decorated the background of the image. “ENTRANCE” in all capital letters was etched above the image of a slim woman with long double-braids. She was naked, and appeared to be covered in what appeared to be open wounds. Her body was contorted in different directions, and bones protruded through her twisted skin. A wide, clown-like grin was painted on her face, though she was depicted with tears in her bloodshot eyes. It appeared as though you had been working on the background of the image- the rough outlines of a stage could be seen behind the woman.

Solomon blinked a few times before turning the page, now even more curious as to what things you had been drawing all this time. the next image was similar, showing a woman pinching her hips to the point of drawing blood while looking into a mirror where no reflection other than a hazy shadow was depicted. The next image after that was of a large bird picking the remaining meat off of a human skeleton. He was quite impressed with your skill, and remained shocked by the subject matter. He wouldn’t have ever guessed you’d be the type to draw body-horror, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy the fact that you did. After all, he had an appreciation for more dark forms of art as well.

Solomon continued flipping through the images before stopping on a familiar face- his own.

He raised an eyebrow, trying to process what he was looking at. He was able to take in the familiar details enough to recognize himself, but the drawing seemed unfinished. The white of his hair was only half-colored, and one eye showed drastically more detail in the irises than the other. He found himself wondering what the intentions were behind the drawing.

He didn’t have time to ponder long, because just as quickly as he had turned to the page, the book was snatched out of his hands. Solomon turned to see the horrified expression on your face as you clutched the book against your chest.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” You snapped, your voice shaken with embarrassment.

Solomon blinked a few times, trying to think of what to say. He could apologize, but he’d much rather razz you- especially considering he now fully believed you had a crush on him. He gave you a playful smirk. “I was curious. Can’t blame me, can you? And now I’m even more intrigued by that last one.”

Your face drained of all color except a bright ruby blush.

He gave a light chuckle, stepping closer to you. He brushed a strand of hair from your face, his tone suave as he spoke. “You know, all you had to do was ask me to model for you.”

“I...You...” You stuttered, too flustered to even give a comeback. Your demure response only made Solomon more bold as he trailed his finger on your jawline. You shuddered at the touch, reeling back slightly before finally being able to speak properly. “Y-you could have just asked to see it. You didn’t have to snoop.”

Solomon was taken aback by your words. After a moment, he collected himself and his suave demeanor returned. “Hmm, well then. I would like to see it.”

You widened your eyes, staring at the sorcerer who seemed so confidently flirtatious. What has gotten into him today?

As you sheepishly hand him your sketch book, his smirk only grows. He flips open to the half-finished drawing you’d done of him, having given up on it temporarily when you couldn’t quite get the curve of his lips how you wanted. He gave a dramatic sigh, his eyes meeting yours.

“If only I knew how enamored you were with me sooner. I would have started making moves on you ages ago.” He scoffed, giving you a flirtatious wink.

Your face grew hot at his words and you snapped your gaze away from him. Your heart beat rapidly- as if it would soon explode from your chest.

Solomon let out a deep laugh, pulling you close to him by the hips. “Relax now, I’m just teasing. Though- I would like you to accompany me on a date some time. I would love to hear about your inspirations for your artwork.”

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demonologistfucker · 3 years

Text

In Love with an Artist💛✨

Obey me! Boys x gn! Mc who is a professional artist. I try to be vague about what sort of art you make so that anyone can fit in. As well as what your goals are as a professional artist. This could be someone who just posts art online, does commissions, whatever. I put in some gallery shows cuz those are fun to think about.

this is SFW Fluff💛 rest of the brothers under the cut

Lucifer

- he saw on your file that you did art, but wasn’t really thinking too much about it. Though when you arrived to your dorm you were greeted with a set of art supplies. A nice sketchbook, a couple pencils and pens. As well as rather high end paint set and brushes. He will never bring it up.

- if you do art out where others can see he’ll try to get a look as what you do, but if you’re private about it he would be respectful. Lucifer doesn’t enjoy when people step over his boundaries, and wouldn’t want to do that he you. He knows enough about artists to understand that ones work is personal.

- when he does get to see what you make he will be internally blown away, but outwardly just ask questions about your process. Trying to figure out if there is symbolism you are drawn to, or what you were trying to capture. There is always a little more to art than just the subject.

- if you want to continue being a professional artist in the Devildom he would be a great support. Would give you advice on who to contact and what venues would be best for your work. He seems to have had the information all prepared. He wouldn’t flex his power too much because he wants this to be your own effort, but is happy to help if you want it.

- At shows he’s a an easy presence besides you. Though he likes to be admired. he knows when to step back at let you shine. If nerves catch your tongue or the social work becomes to much. Lucifer will step in with smooth answers. He knows your work backwards and forwards. So can easily answer any question a patron might have.

Mammon

- “oh you should draw me!” It’s up to you if you actually do, but that’s one of the first things out of his mouth when he learns you do art. He does have a pretty face, and would make a good life model....

- Doesn’t verbalize that he thinks your art is cool, but he does want to see every little thing you make. Finds even your doodles to be mesmerizing. So if you’re do art while he’s around be prepared for him leaning over your shoulder to get a good look.

- If you’re trying to make money off of your art Mammon is extremely helpful. his sway over people’s spending could magically get people to be interested in you, but he’s also just good at setting prices. He will not stand for you setting your prices too low, and will come after people who try to skip out on paying.

- Will try to get your art hung up in every establishment he has a connection too. Not every place will be your vibe though so you get to choose where your art actually ends up.

- Though his room style is more modern minimalism. He has several of your pieces framed around his room. A couple you were sure had been sold...

Leviathan

- as a proud otaku he knows how to treat artists right 👏🏻👏🏻 if he wants you to draw something for him he’s gunna tip out of his ass. Leviathan has definitely worked with artists before. Commissioning cosplay, or fanart, and each time he tips outrageously. So be prepared for what he might do to try and impress you.

- Initially gets a little over eager with the commissions, but is able to figure out that.. you might want to do some art just for fun. Or enjoy other things too. Talk to him and he’ll relax. He just wants to support your beautiful art!

- really loves it when you show him what your working on. Especially when you show sketches or work in progresses. It makes him feel really special to see the unfinished product. Being trusted with your genuine ideas and imperfect thoughts means a lot to him.

- if your art is story based at all. He will want to hear All about it. Might say it reminds him of anime’s he’s watched but he means that as the highest compliment. Your idea are just as good as his beloved shows. Your ideas might even be better because he gets to love the person who made them.

- If you have an art show... He will leave his room for you. He will look so dashing, but so uncomfortable. There with you as long as you need him, but if you are fine on your own he might hang out in a corner. Or go home early.

-When you get home he will make it up to you✨

Satan

- He isn’t going to push you to show off your art if you don’t want too. Even if you are drawing in the same room as him. He just can’t see himself being able to interrupt you. Your focused expression is delightful. Though curiosity will eventually get the better of him if you don’t show him yourself.

- Once you do he is captivated. His face is still calm and collected. Expect for his eyes which are wide and sparkling. If you let him he’ll spend a full hour looking at just one of your pieces. Satan will try to spot every little detail, and see how it all comes together. Both as a reflection of what your are trying to capture but also you. What he see’s only makes him more captivated.

- Asks good questions about what you’re working on, as well as complimenting by comparing to other artists in the realms. You had no idea what he meant when he said your worked reminded him of the great Venia the Dark Slayer. So he showed you his books on Devildom artists. You were surprised that Venia the Dark Slayer really did have something in common with your work. Weirdly enough. He also has sections for earth and the celestial realm artists. You are more then welcome to look through them whenever you like.

- When you’re not around he talks about your art a lot. Always so proud of the latest piece he saw you working on. Satan conveniently forgets that some of his friends are gallery owners. He won’t sign you up for any shows without your informed consent, but he definitely help you get shows much easier.

- Whether he helps you get the show or not. He wants to help set up. His eye for detail makes hanging all the frames easier, as well as making good labels for the work. Whenever you can’t come up with a name for a piece. he’s pretty good at coming up with something clever.

Asmodeus

- Also going to lean over your shoulder to see what you’re making. Then is absolutely captivated by what you’re able to make.

- ART DAY! Asmo wants to be creative with you as much as you’re willing for. So you’ll both take up a table and have your art supplies shared in the middle. Asmo is planning his never dress design, or possibly a make up look he’d want to try. Stops to talks to you a lot. Wanders the room and ends up against you to peak at what you’re working on again.

- He’ll ask for your opinion on his outfits and make up, as well as any other creative project they’ve gotten involved with. See’s you as a creative equal.

- Thinks everything you made is brilliant, but also gives good constructive criticism when you want it.

- When you get your first Devildom Galley. It’s going to be the biggest event that whole week. Asmo will not stand for anyone not going to this wonderful event. Takes over most of the party planning. Which makes you worried it’s going to be a big flirty party with Asmo at the center of attention. When you get there it is beautiful. Asmo has decorated the place to fit the theme or your art. There is catering and drinks. All of which again are themed to your art or just your favorite foods.

- He’s so proud of you of course he had to make this event special.

Beelzebub

- :OOOO

- Really blown away by what you’re capable off. Asks you to send him photos as you work on pieces. Very quietly supportive. When you do art with him around he feels so happy. There will be a small smile on his face the whole time. Which breaks out into a beam whenever you show him what you’re working on.

- If you need a life model👀👀👀 Beel wouldn’t mind posing for you.

- Very used to you coming up and asking him to hold something, or do something with his hands. So that you can reference it. Either holds the pose or asks you to take a picture if busy.

- Commissions you to do art for his brother’s birthdays. Not only does he get to support your work, but he knows his brothers will be thrilled to have one of your pieces.

- If you give him any art it will be treasured till the end of time. Neatly framed and kept somewhere he can see everyday.

- Makes sure you stretch before and after doing arts. Making art requires a lot of fine motor skills that can put serious strain on your body. It’s important to take breaks and stretch.

Belphegor

- His face makes a good desk when he falls asleep on your lap

- Might want to do art with you from time to time. He’s got a lot of thoughts in that brain and getting them out on paper feels really nice. If he can’t come up with something to make. he still gets to watch you make art which is always nice.

- Wants to know the meaning behind your artwork. Even if he doesn’t particularly like an art piece. He wants to know what it meant to you, and its importance. Or lack there of. Some art is just shits and giggles. Belphegor just wants to know the intent of what you’re doing.

- Has never gone to a gallery before, but for you?? He will be there on time. Hair brushed, face washed, and freshly shaved. Maybe even wearing a suit.

- “How many commissions have you been doing? no get your ass to bed.”

- Very good at reminding you to take breaks. Or getting in your way so much you can’t work and Have to rest.

#this is my first time doing something like this aaa #Obey me!#Obey me! Headcanons #Obey me! gn mc #Obey me! Lucifer #Obey me! Leviathan #Obey me! Mammon #Obey me! Satan #Obey me! Asmodeous #Obey me! Beelzebub #Obey me! belphegor #artist mc #headcanons #demon brothers

217 notes · View notes

cafe-sugar-skull · 4 years

Photo

.:~Ink’s Sketchbook “Error #2″~:.

--------------------------------------------------------------

tfw a chapter of your current favorite fan fic has a part where the characters are looking through a sketchbook and it lists a bunch of sketch descriptions and you go like “challenge accepted”.

Okay, so no one was actually challenging me, but it was free drawing prompts and it felt like the universe was daring me so I immediately jumped for it.

I like Error’s hobo outfit much more, but since the Ink in the story has known Error for about a thousand years and has nine total sketchbooks full of nothing but the glitchy cutie pie plus another 6 full of Ruru erotica I figure in “Error #2″ he’d have his classic outfit.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Page 1

“A collection of Error's face with varying expressions...”

Hate the top left expression. Looks weird, but since it was my first go drawing an Error face without a reference I feel I can forgive myself for that. Hate the bottom right expression too but only because that peaceful face doesn’t feel like Error. And because I couldn’t figure out how to do peaceful with a Sans mouth. It was my first attempt for Page 5 and in the end I admitted that I just don’t have the expression skills needed to pull what I wanted off for that picture. It was still a nice looking face though so I included it in Page 1.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Page 2

“Error scowling on his bean bag with his game boy. Error arguing with a less distinct other person.”

My favorite page! These prompts were the most fun to draw. Error makes for the most adorable grump and I love him for it. <3 The “less distinct other person” is an Anonymous voice! I thought the idea of Error feeding a troll to be hilarious and ran with it. At least one of them seems like they’re having a good time. xD

Also, fuck the paper I drew these on. The book has some pages that are colored grey instead of white and that messes with things. Gave the drawings a dark tint that I can’t do anything about, so I’m a bit salty about that.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Page 3

“A notable one of Error standing as if in triumph over the viewer of the image, one fist clenched and pulling a collection of strings taught.”

Not exactly how I first pictured it but it will do. Also I forgot that Error was supposed to be standing instead of kneeling until I was pretty much finished with it. Oops.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Page 4

“Error laughing, hands in pockets, as an arrow labelled Killer pointed down into a collection of muck and marsh plants.”

So. I drew all of these sketches in my 365 drawing book. You know, the one with the ruled lining in it because it’s supposed to be a book for writing prompts.

So imagine me, initially thinking I’d just draw a few plants, getting carried away and drawing the whole dang swamp, and then realizing when I was done that I was going to have to edit out all those damn lines. I went “oh fuck” and then proceeded to spend two hours on clean up for this sketch alone. Cleaning up each sketch already took a long time so holy hell.

Oh well, at least it looks neat. Just wish Killer’s booty didn’t get lost in all the details. :(

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Page 5

“Finally, Ink stopped on a page near the end that had clearly been looked at a lot. The top corner was a little crumpled and dog-eared as if Ink fiddled with that section of the paper often. This one was of Error smiling. Not the smirking grin, not his crazy smile, but his normal smile. The one usually only seen in private by very few beings. Ink smiled back at it. The image had been delicately painted with watercolors making it even softer than the expression had been.”

*flips a table*

Could have been better. Could have been worse. I found a great digital watercolor tutorial but in the end I still didn’t know what I was doing. Maybe someday I’ll try redoing this when I level up my arting skills but for now it looks nice, it looks soft, it fits the prompt, I’m done.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Whew... well that’s one big project done. A major “Our Tangled Web” itch has been scratched. Maybe now I can go back to working on some of my own stuff. Or do fanart for other fanfics. =w=

...............Pfffffff... yeah right, maybe. We’ll see how long I last. xD

=========================

“Our Tangled Web” by: @raithwin and @avatarkayla

=========================

Error (c) @loverofpiggies Ink(’s hands) (c) @comyet

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macchiatooru · 4 years

Text

ᴬⁿ ᵃˡˡ⁻ⁿⁱᵍʰᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵗʰᵉ ³ʳᵈ ᵍʸᵐ ˢqᵘᵃᵈ?

With Kenma? And Lev and Hinata? Absolute College AU vibes? Despite my doubts about the productivity, I definitely need this. It’s around 1AM as I type, and I literally have three papers to finish, with one due tomorrow. HAHAHAHAHA. (I wrote this note last night, so it’s not entirely applicable now, but well- I have to submit the second tomorrow and the third the following day... I hope HAHAHA)

Note: If you’re also up at such ungodly hours and want to add to this when you’re stuck with a paper too, or a lesson, or something, go ahead! If you want to modify something, don’t hesitate to say it!

The situation, for example, is that you’re writing a paper, and you don’t know how to continue it anymore. Luckily, you have enough options to kill the time until your brain is working properly again. The apartment―whoever owns it, maybe you guys were sharing or had connecting ones or were neighbors or whatnot―would literally look like, I don’t know, a convention? It’s like there are different stalls with different activities. Take your pick!

Tsukishima’s Corner:

I can imagine that he has this set-up in the far end of the living room where he has a table against the wall and a chair with a blanket on it

And he always has a drink with him, whether it’s a soda or an Iced Americano. (that just gave me Yoongi vibes ahhh my heart)

Of course, he has his headphones on. Not surprising.

He’s pretty calm when he does his schoolwork, and his focus is just wow

So, don’t expect him to pay attention to you that much. Again, not surprising.

If you have an actual question though, I think you can ask him!

He’ll help you out, but be wary of the sass and teasing.

It’s highly possible for him to annoy the shit out of you before you guys solve the problem, btw.

If you have chips with you, he’ll take some without asking permission smh but he’s so idufhsdbkfhda can you really say no?

You can get back at him by repetitively calling him “Tsukki”.

“Cut it out.”

“No can do, Tsu~ Kki!”

Emphasize! the! syllables! because he probably lowkey thinks it’s kinda cute

Unless he doesn’t and he throws the blanket at your face to shut you up

Don’t annoy him when he’s in a bad mood, okay?

He’ll really appreciate it if you give him space on those days

But he’ll also appreciate it so so so much if you’re the one who hands him his usual drink.

Despite being the person who could really rile you up the most

He’s actually nice... in his own way!

Lev and Hinata’s “Quiet” Pile of Pillows:

What am I even saying?

There’s nothing quiet about that part of the living room.

Lev and Hinata like studying in their “own kind of comfort”

And that is with their “study” blankets―they have separate ones for sleeping―on the floor and their pillows on top.

They study with the TV on

A series on Netflix is playing the entire time.

Nobody minds, really, because for some reason, most of you can study with some noise in the background. Those who can’t, however, just listen to music on their own.

They have hot or iced chocolate―depends on their mood―made either by you, Akaashi, or Kuroo.

You never asked Bokuto to do it again. Never again.

One time, he made the mistake of giving the “kids” coffee, and well, was that some night.

Lev and Hinata have common classes, so they work on some of their assignments together.

Expect them to be very excited when they get something right and very frustrated when they can’t understand what they’re doing.

Probably just a spot for you to take a quick break, maybe lie your head down on Lev’s favorite pillow to annoy him.

It’s not because he doesn’t want to share, but because you just took it right out of his lap.

They’ll be really happy kiddos if you join them! Please give these babies the attention they need.

Also, it helps to give them snacks to shut them up.

Bokuto’s Spot on the Couch:

That became his permanent spot after Akaashi sent him there because of that one time that big baby reaaally got on his nerves.

He has a pillow supporting his back as he leans against an armrest, legs stretched out in front of him and laptop on his, well, lap. HAHAHA sorry

He also likes working with the TV on, so it was a suitable place for him.

Bokuto’s drink would either be a can of soda or a protein shake.

Keep your phone on standby.

You have to take a pic of the pouty face he makes when he doesn’t get something.

He’s so cute he can have my heart-

“Akaashiiiii~ Why won’t you help me out?”

Akaashi would remind him that not only was he a year higher, but he also had a different major.

*cue Bo’s emo mode with matching droopy hair fml he’s literally so cute*

He gets distracted easily because he never puts his phone on silent

Probably chats with Konoha idk

Or gets carried away watching game highlights.

He already startled all of you a few times.

“OOOOOOOOOOOH. DAAAAAAAAAAAMN. THAT WAS SO GOOD.”

“Bokuto-san-”

If you choose to go to him, he can’t really help you with the paper you’re writing.

However, he gives THE BESTEST HUGS!

I think a lot of us agree that he’s a walking heater, so getting a hug from that beefy boi? Especially when it’s cold?

H E A V E N

Or that’s just me being biased, but is it really just me?

I love him.

Kuroo’s Kitchen Kounter:

Now, I’m definitely sure I’m being biased because- I mean- JUST-

One of the kitchen counters faces the common living area where everyone is spread out.

Imagine walking from wherever you were previously just staring at your laptop with that constant 132 words plastered on the corner of the screen and you’re well-aware that it has to be 2000 by tomorrow

And seeing business-related major Kuroo, sitting on a stool, immersed in his work, Excel sheets and documents being the only inhabitants of his laptop screen?

I’m literally giving myself away I-

He has glasses on and he’s tapping the end of his pen on his chin and at this point I’m hyperventilating

THE FACE HE MAKES WHEN HE CONCENTRATES

From time to time, he would swivel the stool around, take a sip of the black iced coffee he always brews at night, and eat whatever snack was available (e.g. chips, popcorn, sandwiches, instant noodles, sometimes asks Bokuto to make another protein shake, etc.)

He doesn’t really listen to music and can easily drown out the noise on his own because he concentrates so much.

You can always count on him to entertain you

Because despite the amount of focus he puts into his homework and problem sets, he also wants any excuse to tear his eyes of his screen.

He’s good at papers, so he can help you with that in the best way he can

Also asks if you would like to take a break and grab a snack with him

And can be a flirt if he’s in the mood, but when he’s tired, he has a soft and sleepy smile (except he’s not really sleepy because of the coffee, he’s just not putting that much effort)

Although he will annoy and provoke you while the two of you are on break

He’s the best person to cry to when you’re really stressed out.

I want him.

Akaashi’s Atelier:

He literally owns the dining table, his work neatly spread out.

I can almost imagine him studying architecture

But nah I guess he just really likes practicing how to capture anything and everything he can observe

And by capturing, I really mean that there’s a pile of photos there somewhere.

Afterwards, he draws them, paying attention to every detail.

He finishes schoolwork before any of you do.

His concentration surpasses that of Kuroo’s, no joke.

You can’t disturb him when he’s working on his academic requirements, so come back later when he’s sketching the hours away.

If you want to do your paper beside him though? Go.

His concentration is not only top tier but also contagious.

He’ll share the dining table, but only to you and, occasionally, Kuroo.

Bokuto? Only if he’s super emo.

Akaashi’s really nice!

He’ll initiate a conversation with you if you’re taking a break and he’s just on his sketchbook or experimenting with graphic design or something.

If you want to see a passionate but shy Akaashi, ask him what he’s working on.

I just know his eyes will literally light up.

He might be drinking tea, mint tea?

Water most of the time, but he always smells like mint and fresh laundry ahhh be still, my heart

Go to him if you really want to be productive and not get distracted by anything else because his eyes and the way he’s so into what he’s doing might actually be what distracts you

He is the epitome of grace under pressure, such a beautiful human being ha ha ha I wish

Kenma’s Den:

Well, what did you really expect?

Nah, kidding.

Kenma’s the only one in his room because he’s probably streaming.

His audience is mostly up at night, so yeah.

He definitely has ramen, chips, and soda

Which he’s willing to share with you as long as you don’t mess his game up don’t try I swear

Tbh, it’s actually really comforting to stay in his room especially when you’re really stressed out.

You can rest your eyes and take a quick nap.

He knows that he should wake you up after fifteen minutes, so don’t worry about sleeping through the night without finishing your paper.

He’s so sweet please

It’s so comforting to hear his fingers tapping away, a literal lullaby that gets you every time.

At some point, some people probably caught you slipping under his duvet IT WAS YOUR FIRST LOWKEY SCANDAL HAHAHAHAHA

Which lasted for just an hour because Kenma’s viewers knew him enough to know what his facial expressions meant

He definitely can’t help you with your paper. Such a busy boi.

But if he’s in the lobby that’s what you call it, right? of whatever game he’s playing, he’s willing to listen to your rants.

A quiet listener, but you know that he genuinely cares about you.

Massage his shoulders if you can! He likes that.

───── ･｡ﾟ☆: *. ☪ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────

background photo by NeONBRAND on unsplash

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu x reader #third gym squad #tsukishima kei #lev haiba #hinata shoyo #bokuto koutarou #kuroo tetsurou #akaashi keiji #kozume kenma #elle's random rambles #elle isn't sleeping again #I WANT THEM TO BE REAL

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hoodedsuns · 4 years

Text

Spring Bloom | Lee Felix

Genre: Artist!AU, Fluff

Summary: A continuation of Dead Leaves

Word Count: 1.6K

Spring is without a doubt Felix's favourite season of the year. It is afterall, the season of new beginnings. Gazing at the vast blue sky through the open window, he followed the slow moving clouds on their journey, allowing his mind to wander wherever it pleased as he entertained the childish thought of sitting on one. With the weather steadily heating up and the playful but tenacious stalks of daisies sprouting up in the most unlikely of locations, the air comes alive with bubbly chatter and a welcomed sense of newfound motivation. He could almost smell the distinct scent of grass wafting through the air even though the nearest park was at least half an hour away.

Who on earth wouldn't like spring?

Felix's attentive eyes flickered back over to where you laid haphazardly on the floor in a shirt that you had stolen from him, ignoring the way the thin cotton fabric had ridden up and was exposing your stomach in favour of lazily scrolling through twitter in search of something that could cure your boredom. It was a common sight to see on these lazy sunday mornings where neither of you felt the need to exert more energy than what was needed, completely satisfied with just basking in each other’s presence.

Bringing his legs further into himself so as to create a stabler surface atop the chair he sat on, Felix re-balanced his sketchbook onto his bent knees, left hand grabbing onto the side tightly. And with careful strokes, he filled yet another page of his sketchbook with random drawings of your figure and features as he sketched out the final curve of your pursed lips – a habit of yours that appears whenever you were focused on something. He sometimes affectionately refers to you as his little duckling because of it, although you would often just reply with an amused “I’m older than you”.

"I miss autumn," you announced to no one in particular, causing Felix's heart to skip a beat.

You always had a knack for reading his mind. It was something which Felix took great joy in adding to his ever growing list of 'evidence we're soulmates' that he kept track of in his phone. Or maybe it was just pure coincidence, nothing more than a mere product of him over analyzing anything that had to do with you. Even so, he'd much rather choose to believe that it was the former reason.

Stretching your limbs out wide like a starfish, you let out a loud groan before heaving yourself up into a sitting position, a dumb smile present on your face. "You know that I can hear your pencil strokes right?" You turned your head to face a flustered Felix who immediately started busying himself by babbling and stammering out excuses of how he definitely wasn't sketching you.

You smirked, having successfully caught Felix in your childish trap. "All I said was that I can hear you drawing, I never said that it was me you're sketching." Aside from the muted hum of the traffic outside, it was dead silent for a moment before Felix realised his mistake.

"You just love teasing me, don't you." He gave a resigned sigh at your amused chuckle. Felix wasn’t sure why but despite having been caught drawing you numerous times, it still made him nervous when you called him out. Perhaps it had something to do with how much of his emotions would bleed into the lines, leaving the most vulnerable parts of himself open for anyone to see as long as they had possession of his sketchbook. But regardless, he was more than used to dealing with the cheeky side of you and the first lesson he learned was that it’s much easier to just give in than try to fight a battle that already had a predetermined winner.

Felix cringed at the way your joints popped audibly as you got up from the hard wooden floor and walked behind his chair, resting your chin on his shoulders to get a good look at his creation while your fingers ran themselves through his dark brown hair that was still a little damaged from its previous bleaching.

Despite your outward confidence, you were still slightly nervous on the inside considering how the sketch was basically a testament as to the way you appeared through Felix's eyes. Your insecurities were unfounded however, as proven by the instantaneous fluttering of butterflies in your stomach the moment your gaze met the drawing. You were never one to put yourself down but you really couldn’t help but wonder how it was possible for you to still look so effortlessly breathtaking to him even in all your messy and makeup-less glory, feeling as though you were unworthy of how much love and awe you could feel in the simple graphite lines. He even scattered random tiny stars and hearts across the page.

Clearing your throat, you quickly grabbed the sketchbook out of his hands when he had turned his head around to glance at your reaction, using it as a shield to hide the remnants of your lovestruck expression while hastily flipping the book to a random page in an effort to distract yourself from the warm feeling that was growing in your chest.

"Hey, that's the cafe!" Your hands stopped their movements as your eyes widened in excitement, lips quirking upwards just from the sight of that familiar and homey building.

After your initial recommendation, the pair of you would frequent the quaint little shop together with Felix having fallen head over heels with the heavenly pastries and cozy atmosphere, an exact mirror image of your own self when you had first discovered that small haven. It was the place that nurtured the shy and uncertain connection between the two of you into something more unequivocal as Chan, the owner of said cafe that both you and Felix had formed a close friendship with, would smuggly remind his employees everytime you two visited. And in a way, it wasn’t that far from the truth. It not only provided you with a safe and comfortable environment to be in when you were first getting to know Felix better, it was also where you two made it official thanks to everyone’s gentle nudges whenever you guys got stuck or too afraid to pursue something more. But Chan’s ego was already big enough without you openly agreeing with him.

"Is this the reason why you were so late that one time?" Your eyes latched onto the grey figure of yourself smiling softly, attention completely taken by whatever nonsense Chan was spewing as he cleared the tables near you of their empty dishes and cups, before looking at Felix with a deadpan expression.

He could only smile sheepishly, giving you the answer to your question.

In his defense, his original plan was to meet you inside immediately but he got sidetracked when he spotted you through the large windows of the cafe. You looked so happy and at peace that Felix immediately felt his heart swell with love, completely awestruck by how innocent and seemingly angelic you appeared in that moment. Which of course, led him to immediately scrambling for his sketchbook and a pencil. Felix would never forget the strange stares he got from the people who walked by him, both concerned and disturbed by the sight of him furiously sketching while sitting down on the hot pavement in the middle of nowhere.

It was through things like this that reassured you of Felix’s affection, although he is also very vocal about it. He’s always so hellbent on capturing the little moments of you that you would personally find insignificant, encapsulating those emotions of his that no words could fully describe. You shook your head, smiling in disbelief before flipping to yet another random page.

"Oh, is this your childhood house or something?" You brushed your fingers across the page without actually making contact with the paper, marvelling at how detailed the drawing was as your eyes travelled from the creeping butterfly pea vines to the obedient golden retriever that sat on the front porch, tail wagging in excitement.

Confused by the lack of a reply, you lifted your head up only to be met with Felix's cherry red ears, his face being completely covered by his hands. Your tongue darted out to wet your lips and you ended up choosing to stay silent and allowing Felix the time to find his words as you could sense a slight change in the playful atmosphere that previously filled the air.

Seconds ticked by before Felix opened his mouth, "It's the house that I want to live in with you in the future." He lowered his hands, voice trailing off at the end. Your mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ at his response. Neither of you had really talked about the future of your relationship before. But despite the vulnerability that was clear in his tone, his gaze was filled with nothing but pure determination, steady onyx coloured eyes boring into yours with the intensity of fiery embers. You felt shivers run down your back, having been reminded of when you had first met Felix. It was that same look of absolute confidence in his eyes, a stark contrast to his fumbling hands, that intrigued you in the first place.

Brushing your lips lightly across his, you resisted the urge to peck every single one of his little freckles when he unconsciously leaned forward in chase of more, hands reaching out to grab onto the hem of your shirt on its own accord.

"I'm looking forward to it."

#lee felix #stray kids #stray kids fanfic #stray kids scenarios #stray kids imagines #stray kids x reader #stray kids fluff #felix fanfic #felix scenarios #felix imagines #felix x reader

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pendragonfics · 5 years

Text

Sole Surround

Paring: Eric/Reader

Tags: no pronouns, no gender used, no y/n or _____, requited love, tattoos, sketches, fluff and humor, no plot, reader says a bad word!!

Summary: The story how Eric got his arm tats OR how you accidently score a date with your fave badass Dauntless leader.

Word Count: 1,054

Current Date: 2019-06-30

A better part of working with Tori Wu at the shop was the people who’d come in. Fresh Dauntless picking their first ink, knowing people by name who’d come in regularly for pictures under their skin, the art you’d design. And while you were sure your co-workers liked their job for the other parts to it, you had one particular, specific reason. He was a leader, and, his name was Eric.

If it weren’t for the fact that the pair of you came in the same initiation ceremony, you’d be sure that he wouldn’t know you existed. But seeing as you came second to his first place, often battling for a place in the black-clad faction, he knew your name. However, while he worked with a gun, patrolling the factions, you had a gun with needles, inking the skin of your own faction.

“If only you didn’t squander your potential,” he greeted, walking in.

Eric had a cockiness to him that made you wonder if he thought the world bent to his knee. While most others, Four included, did not bend, you were more than happy to.

“Says the guy with a stick up his ass,” you retort with a smile, gesturing to the chair. “Take a seat, Coulter.”

He takes his time, even though your time was a commodity. But if he was willing to spend it, you wouldn’t tax the man for lingering in your presence. Hell, if he wasn’t with his head up alongside that stick, he’d notice that you’d had feelings for him since he barrelled into you on the Dauntless roof after the Choosing Ceremony.

Finally taking a seat, you turn to him, catching his eyes. They’re devastatingly handsome, just like him.

“After some more block-black work?” you roll up your sleeves.

Turning to the bench, you snap on a pair of gloves, expecting a grunt of agreement. He’d come to you for his neck tats, and if you were someone to gloat, you’d say that they turned out excellent. But you were biased. You’d bang him with or without ink.

“I saw Max’s new art. That was you, right?” he asked.

You nod, glad someone saw your design. “He wanted something symbolic.”

Eric smirked. “I’m no artist, but -,” from his pocket, he withdrew a paper. Unfolding, you saw a mock-up penned with graphite. “Had a go at what I’d like.”

Tilting the art, you look between his scribble and arms, you beam. “I have the perfect place in mind for this.” You reply, turning to your sketchbook. It was starting to get full, especially since you’d been using the same thing since you started as Tori’s apprentice. “It’s like, a map? Of Dauntless, the tunnels?”

“Good eye.”

“And while you shoot to kill, I make designs to kill.” You mutter, sketching as fast as your wrist could let you. “…and before you tell me that I’d be better on patrol with your team, remember who gave you half your ink.”

“Touché.”

“If you don’t want any changes to this design,” you hand over the notepad, turning to the shelves beside where you sit, looking for the transfer paper and your lucky pen, “ - I’m sure I can get it sketched out pretty quick today.”

“Looks good,” he replied.

It was the fact that his words weren’t inciting any comebacks that made you wonder. You’d never heard of Eric ever having something nice to say at all, in all the time that you’d been around each other. Back in training, he’d knock you on your ass time and time again. When you did his neck tats, he’d wanted it ‘slightly to the left’ and made you trace all over again.

“Did I just hear the Eric Coulter accept something as is?” you tease, smiling to yourself. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

But when you look up, you see that he hasn’t heard a word of what you were saying. Most likely because he’s flicking through your notebook, his calloused hands treating the paper pages like they’re delicate, soft. If it were any other book, you’d take a second to relish being privy to a softer moment of the man’s life. But it’s your art book. Every sketch you’d ever done. Even private ones.

“Hey!” you yelp, shooting toward him. “Don’t -,”

But he held it away, intently looking at a page. Your eyes bug out because you know exactly which drawing it is. It was a really slow day at the shop, back when you had to bust ass to make a buck around the place. Tori did most of Eric’s earlier art; you weren’t sure if he was in for his back or shoulder pieces, but it was the day you sketched him out, laying under shiny LED light like a cat basking in brilliant sunlight.

“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” you say. You can’t bring yourself to meet Eric’s eyes. If you did, you’d see the look in them, the slant to his strong shoulders.

The pause before he speaks.

“Why would I?” he speaks with his usual ease, but…careful. He hands you the notebook back and tucking it away, you meet his gaze. “Seems like we feel the same way.”

You’re about to retort, but Tori makes her way into your space of the store. She leans; her long hair in her face, swaying. “You man the shop for a bit, I’m grabbing a bite.” She tells you, oblivious to you and the situation. “Want me to grab some food for you, or…?”

“No thanks,” you say, quickly.

As soon as Tori’s out of earshot, you look back to Eric. He’s got one of his smiles plastered upon his face, and the aura of cockiness he’s emanating alone has you wanting to knock it off with your fists, or your own mouth. You’re not sure which one, to be honest.

“So?” he prompts.

You go back to sketching the stencil, ignoring the growing annoyance of your lack of reply. Eric was such a meathead sometimes. But that was why you liked him.

“How about this fresh ink, then you and I take a walk, grab some coffee.” You look up from your sketch to his waiting eyes. “Maybe fuck afterwards?”

Eric’s barking laugh is softened by his grin. “Girl after my own heart.”

#Eric Coulter #eric x oc #eric coulter x reader #eric divergent #eric divergent x reader #eric divergent/reader #Divergent fanfic #divergent x reader #n00bmaster69 ao3 #chaotic--lovely #pendragonfics #gender neutral reader

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aboysbestfriendishismum · 4 years

Text

Chapter 55 - Wine, puzzles and spoonmen (Part One)

In the previous chapter: Eddie and Angie woke up at her apartment. It's the third time in a row they sleep together but, although Eddie is constantly teasing her, they haven't had sex yet. Angie starts to get worried about this too and believes something's wrong. Eddie, Stone and Mike go to Roxy's on that same morning, right during Angie's shift at the diner. Eddie cheekily jokes, teases her, sends her subliminal love messages through juke box songs, then follows her in the back and kisses her; she thinks he's doing it on purpose so that their friends will find out about their relationship. The two of them have a brief argument but they soon make it up. Meg tells Angie about her new project: becoming a tattoo artist. She also understands Angie's worried about something and has her friend spill the beans. Angie confesses she has doubts about Eddie's physical attraction towards her. Meg tries to talk some sense into her and suggests her to set up a romantic night for Eddie and her at their apartment.

***

“Ian, can you come here a sec?” I call my coworker as I look through the sketchbook my roommate has just slipped on the counter top together with her purchases.

“What's up?” I hear him answer from afar.

“I need your help”

“Can't you do it by yourself? That guy who dropped the jarred Bolognese sauce made a mess!”

“Umph if that's Bolognese sauce, then I'm Julia Roberts!” I comment right when Hannigan comes back from the storage room, probably because of the commotion he heard.

“ANGIE?” he gives me a nasty look and I'd want to sink into the ground.

“Err I meant that it's a sauce produced in our beloved America! Healthy American food, tasty and nutritious... which gets inspiration from an Italian recipe to... to...” I try and make up for that as I address my audience, that is basically Meg, looking at me as if she could burst into laughing any minute, my boss and two perplexed customers, a young man and a fifty-something woman.

“To give a new interpretation of it?” the guy suggests from the snacks department.

“EXACTLY! A new interpretation. Different from the original”

“But as valid as the original” the boss adds.

“Very valid!” I say through my teeth.

“She's half Italian.” Meg explains to the customers “She'll be fucking fussing about everything but the sauce is good” the guy snickers and the lady shakes her head and walks towards the frozen foods.

“I'd have liked for you not to use the F word but you perfectly summed up my thinking” Hannigan's face relaxes and maybe I still have a job.

“Anyway it's all Ian's fault” I point out as soon as I see my colleague show up behind the back of the boss.

“What did I do?”

“I called you and you didn't came”

“Well, now I'm here, what's wrong?”

“Now Hannigan's here, I don't need you anymore”

“Can you please explain what the fuck's happening? I didn't understand a fucking thing!” the boss blurts out in the middle of our quarrel.

“I thought you couldn't say the F word here” Meg chimes in raising her hand as if she was at school.

“Not to custumers, but to employees... yes”

“Meg needs to buy some wine” I point at my roommate and the bottle she's placed on the counter.

“So what? Your shift ends at 13:00, you still have 10 minutes” Ian gives me a glazed look and right now I'd stick my thumbs into his eyes.

“It's not for the timing, it's that I can't sell alcohol...”

“Oh right! Well, you'll take care of that, right?” he asks to our boss.

“Yeah, sure Ian! I'll take care of that, I'm already here! By the way why should I have my paid personnel work when I can do everything by myself, right?”

“Uhm... ok, I'll go and put some more sawdust on that stain” Ian walks away and Meg can't resist this time and explodes laughing.

“Haha he's so dumb! Anyway isn't it funny that you cannot sell me wine, considering you're the one who'll drink it?” my friend remarks while Hannigan's ringing her items: red wine bottle, sliced bread, salmon, cheese, butter, various snacks.

“You're kind of dumb too, you know” I hide my face behind my palms.

“You could avoid telling me, at least...” mutters the boss and shakes his head.

“Who? Telling you what? I didn't say a word! Oops, I forgot the dessert, wait a minute!” Meg realizes the shit she just did and plays dumb, walking away towards the sweets section.

“She was just kidding anyway hehe” I say and I hope he doesn't notice I'm sweating.

“Of course”

“They're great!”

“Thank you Meg for grocery shopping for me and bringing all the bags up for four floors for me... that's what you just said, right?” my friend is putting everything into the fridge as I keep looking through her sketchbook.

“Exactly”

“Anyway you don't have to tell me you like them only to make me happy, I want a honest opinion”

“I am honest! I must say I like the ones in black and white better”

“Right? I'm not confident with colors yet. I mean, it's not like I can't draw stuff in colors. It's just, whenever I draw something and color it and I think it'd be supposed to end on someone's skin, everything seems shit to me. I did very few drawings in color”

“The flowers series is perfect, also the one with the animals” she's really good at drawing, I've always known that.

“They're just doodles to get started, to try some themes and styles”

“They're not doodles... what about this?” I focus on something drawn on a separated sheet of paper, folded and stuck in the middle of the book, which falls down to the floor as I turn the pages.

“Which one?” Meg distractedly turns around then closes the fridge door shut and runs up to me, snatching the paper from my hand as soon as she sees what it is “Oh this? This is nothing, this... I did it last night at the salon, during downtime, it sucks”

It's a page made entirely of pieces of a puzzle, they're all different in shape and shade but don't create any image. They're all blank and fill the whole sheet of paper except for a small space, a missing piece. Instead of the missing piece, in the layer underneath, you can see something that looks like live flesh and muscle tissue, and it's the only colored part of the drawing.

“It's simple but of immediate effect. This could really become a tattoo”

“Do you think so?”

“Yeah, it also seems very realistic. It's disturbing but in a positive sense, I like it!”

“Oh, well, thank you”

“What does it mean?”

“That I thank you for your compliment?”

“Haha no, what does the tattoo mean?”

“Ah”

“There's always a meaning behind, right? What would such a tattoo mean?”

“Well but... but this is not a tattoo is just an excercise, there's no reason behind”

“No?”

“No! Ok, now that you make me think about it, it could represent, I don't know, a missing piece in someone's life? I mean, everybody has their own void inside, right? Nobody feels 100% complete, there's always a piece of the puzzle we can't find or that we lost in the way. And it can be very different things: a person, a passion, a goal in life. What do you think?”

“I think it'd be the perfect matching tattoo for a couple”

“A couple? Hahaha I didn't know you were so romantic!”

“Not necessarily a romantic couple. Also between two big friends. Or brothers. Think about it, one person can have the incomplete puzzle tattoed and the other one can have the missing piece, which fits in it perfectly”

“That's an idea. It should represent a strong bond. Between brothers... or a parent and a child”

“Sure, also” the latter not necessarily being a strong bond...

“A mother... a mother could get this one, with one or more missing pieces depending on how many children she's got.And the children will be the missing pieces” and what if the missing parts are the parents instead?

“And they you'll inject ink in those chubby baby arms of theirs!”

“Hahahah shut up! They can have it done when they're grown up. OR... you can draw the missing pieces in the same tattoo, a little further” Meg takes the sketchbook from my hands and starts drawing as she speaks, taken from sudden inspiration.

“You can also put the name in it. Or initials”

“Which name?”

“Of the child. Inside the puzzle piece”

“Sure, if I knew the name”

“What do you mean? Haha how can a mother not know the name?”

Meg gives me a weird look, then smiles: “I meant, if only you could give me a name to have a try”

“Try with Angie” I smirk.

“A random one”

“Totally random”

“Don't even try, I'm not gonna get matching tattoos with you, forget it” she shakes her head as she starts sketching a cursive A inside the drawing.

“SHUT UP! I'm scared of getting my earlobes pierced, do you think I'd get a tattoo?! You're crazy”

“Oh, I see, you wanna get one with Eddie?”

“Come on, hurry up, we need to go shopping”

“Hahaha this enthusiasm from you surprises me, abstinence can be powerful”

“MEG!”

“Do you really think we can find a slutty nightgown in a thrift shop?” Meg doesn't watch her tone as we stop in front of Rummage Hall.

“Shhhhhh! I don't wanna buy a slutty nightgown, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“You don't want to? We went out exactly for that”

“You said I should wear something nice but not too much. I don't wanna go too far or Eddie will understand...”

“Excuse me, isn't that the purpose of the whole thing? Make him understand?”

“Yes but...”

“Well, slutty it is, then!” Meg enters the shop and I tag along.

“Shhhhhhhhhhhh”

“Anyway we're not gonna find shit in here” my friend takes long strides towards the clothing section.

“Where did you want to go? Nancy Meyer? I've got no money for that stuff”

“No, but Fantasy Unlimited is a short walk away”

“BUT THAT- ehm... that is an adult shop” I raise my voice too without noticing, then shush myself up.

“And you're an adult, aren't you? Anyway they've got very cute things, I bought a lot of stuff there, that for the record I use also to go to clubs. Well, now only to go to clubs” she shrugs as she's examining a satin-like robe and then puts it back.

“You just need two triangles of fabric to be dressed and look nice, Meg, but for me it's slightly different”

“You just need triangles a little bigger, what's the problem?”

“The problem is there are no triangles big enough for me”

“Shut up!”

“And I don't know if Eddie would like that, I mean, I don't know his preferences” maybe he doesn't like this kind of seduction artifices, maybe he prefers a simpler style, a more natural approach. Why the fuck am I not naturally hot?

“He's a guy and he's heterosexual, what would his preferences ever be? The more skin he sees, the happier he is” it's Meg's very easy answer.

“My skin?”

“Yes, why?”

“There's too much skin in my case, maybe I'd better hide it” who am I kidding? You don't just put something cute on and turn into an attractive girl. You must be able to carry it around and feel confident in those clothes. I don't even feel comfortable now that I have a coat on. I'm never comfortable, except sometimes, with Eddie. Why ruin everything? I'll just show up like this, with a coat on. Or my fleece robe, I mean, he's used at my shitty outfits, this would be nothing new.

“Angie, what the fuck are you talking about?? He wants to see your skin because he likes you, I thought that had been already established by now”

“He likes me, altogether”

“No, fuck altogether, fuck mind, personality and all the other bullshit”

“Bullshit?”

“Angie, he likes your body, you turn him on, he wants you”

“He wants me so much than I gotta dress slutty to have him notice me?”

“The point is not having him notice you, that's what you got totally wrong. He already noticed you, you're with him basically! The point is letting him know you're ready for the next step. And stimulate him a little, warming up the atmosphere”

“If you say so” warming up, uh?

“Fuck, Angie, you're gonna give me a nervous breakdown sooner or later!” Meg pinches the bridge of her nose and I'm afraid she's really about to explode.

“Don't yell! There's people here” I complain looking around in embarrassment and hoping no one is listening to our conversation.

“Listen, when you're together... don't you ever notice anything in him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever you kiss or hug... I mean, when you make out and stuff”

“Well, he looks... invested, focused on me and always gives me those looks that-”

“Ok ok, the look of love. But apart from that? Nothing else? Can't you feel anything?”

“What am I supposed to feel?”

“You know, since you also sleep together... and stuff”

“Stuff and stuff... Couldn't you be more clear?”

“Have you ever felt... something knocking?”

“Knocking?”

“Hasn't mini-Eddie ever popped up to say hi?”

“Mini... MEG WHAT THE FUCK??”

“Does he get hard? You must have noticed”

“DID YOU LOSE YOUR FUCKING MIND?!”

“Shhh stop yelling, there's people here” Meg chuckles and I'd kick her ass.

“You're to lock up” I grab her from the sleeve of her jacket and try to drag her out of the shop with me but she pushes me towards the books section.

“Jeez, you're such a prude”

“I'm not a prude, I'm just... discreet”

“Ok so have you ever discreetly checked if he gets a boner or not when he's with you?”

“Apart from the fact that it doesn't mean anything”

“Sure, now Eddie gets random boners with no reason, after all he's in his full pubescent phase”

“You're joking but it's true. Erections are not necessarily linked to sexual arousal only. Do you know men can get erections at the point of death too under certain circumstances?”

“Oh really? And how many times did Eddie die recently?” she smirks.

“Anyway, that said... it's none of your business” I turn the other way trying to look upset and as I look towards the clothing section, where we were until five minutes ago, I spot something I hadn't noticed before.

“I already know anyway!” Meg yells behind my back as I walk away towards the object of my interest, then she catches up with me “Come on, don't be mad. I'm sorry. I just wanted to prove my point! And tease you a little”

“What do you think about this?” I turn around showing the item I've just taken from the line.

“I think that... well, considering it's Eddie, we would never find something better to stimulate him, not ever at Fantasy Unlimited. Buy it!”

******************************************************************************************************************************************

I'm halfway between the first and the second floor when I realize I took the stairs instead of the elevator. I stop for a second, contemplating how stupid I am and trying to remember the moment I put autopilot on. I probably lost some lucidity once I parked outside Angie's condo. Was the doorway open? I think so, 'cause I don't remember buzzing and I'd remember if I had heard her voice, even through that shitty croaky buzzer. It looks like spending more time together hasn't changed the effect that the idea of seeing her has on me. I hope it'll never change. I shake my head and start walking up the stairs, two steps at a time, to arrive sooner. I didn't exactly run but when I get to the fourth floor I feel flushed. I take a deep breath, pull up my backpack and walk down the hallway to Angie's apartment. The first weird thing I notice is a sound: the sound of a saxophone, which becomes louder and louder as I get closer. The second weird thing shows up as soon as I turn down the corner and see something's wrong in Angie's door. As I come closer I realize the hallway lamp casts a narrow beam of light on the floor inside the apartment and from that I notice that the door is half-closed. As far as I know Angie double locks herself up even in her bathroom when she's home alone, she'd never let the apartment door open. I walk up slowly and in the meantime I open my backpack and stick my hand in it to find something I could use as a weapon. I don't really wanna waste some good wine crashing the bottle on the head of an elusive burglar. But I also doubt the videotape of Harold and Maude would have the same effect. I grab the bottle from the neck as I push the door open and cautiously enter the apartment. And I immediately notice two things. First of all I see there's something on the floor and at first they seem parts of a colorful object that broke into pieces. But as I lean down to see better, I take some of these fragments in my hand and figure out it's nothing but flowers, abandoned on the floor. I grope my way looking for water or glass pieces of a fallen and then shattered vase but I can't find anything. Now that I think about it, there was no vase of flowers here, at least not until this morning. Almost at the same time, I realize it's not really flowers but only petals and they seem to form a path towards the living room. In that moment I figure out I can follow the path of the blue and red petals on the floor with my eyes because the entrance is not lit only by the external hallway light but also by some burning candles placed on the phone table and on the shoe cabinet.

Oh.

I quickly stand up, feeling stupid for mistaking a romantic setting for a crime scene. I finally close the door behind me and follow the way led by the flowers, walking towards the living room and imagining the different scenes I could find, which have all the same main character. But she's the one missing when I get in the room, all that I find is more candles, the small table laden with delicious food and further away, between the two couches, a basket with a composition of blue and red flowers, just like the petals on the floor. Your love is king sings Sade in the background, that is not exactly background, since the volume is pretty loud. And I'm just standing here, wine still in my hand, waiting for Angie to magically show up, maybe with a little ambush behind my back, covering my eyes with her hands or in any other way she came up with. But that doesn't happen. Suddenly I think I hear a sound, more sounds, actually an almost regular sequence of sounds. I go and turn down the music a little and the series of dull thuds sounds clearer. Maybe a romantic setting doesn't exclude a crime scene... what the fuck is happening?

“Angie?” I call her and get no answer.

The noise comes from the kitchen and that's where I go, quickly but with caution. At first I slowly open the door to peep in, then I fling it open when I see Angie at the window, leaning outside, basically perched on the windowsill.

“Angie!” I call her again but she can't hear me. So I put the wine bottle on the table and reach out for her, shaking her by her shoulder “Angie what th-”

“AAH! Oh shit, Y'ALL WATCH OUT DOWN THERE!” Angie jumps and starts yelling outside the window, then I can hear a sharp noise, like something shattered into pieces and that's when I look out too to see what's happening.

What's happening is that there a small group of people on the pavement just outside the condo, standing in a sort of circle around a red expanding stain, while a guy curses and gives the middle finger in our direction.

“Angie... what did you do? What does it mean?” I ask as we both stuck our heads back inside the apartment.

“I've just lost a bottle of red wine and a boot” Angie sighs and replies as if it's the most normal thing, finally turning to face me.

And I finally focus for a moment and see what's in front of me: Angie, dressed in just a black The Who t-shirt that leaves her legs almost entirely uncovered, eye liner or whatever it is on her eyes, with those little wings on the sides pointing upwards that make her look more like a kitty, a glossy lipstick on her lips, vanilla scent. Maybe the burglar hit and killed me and this is heaven.

“Well, I can make up for the wine because I brought some too...” I walk backwards towards the table without taking my eyes off her, pointing at the place where I must have put the bottle “and I can go out and get back your shoe in no time. So, you see? Everything has a solution hehe, don't worry” why the fuck am I laughing? Do I think I'm funny? And why am I sweating?

“I'm sorry you have to go, you've just arrived” she replies with an irresistible pout, moving away from the window and breaking eye contact looking down.

“No problem, I'll be back in a minute.” I'm about to leave the kitchen, then I come back in “Oh wait, I can't”

“Oh ok... why? I mean, it doesn't matter Eddie, don't... don't worry” she starts stuttering and I smirk inside, trying to look cool.

“I forgot I have to do something first”

“What?” she asks puzzled before I get close and take her face between my hands to kiss her.

“This. I'll be right back, ok?” I whisper right after.

“Ok” she smiles and I kiss her again.

“And just so you know, when I'm back I got a bunch of questions about all this to ask you”

“Ok” her smiles widens and I kiss her once more.

“I'm telling you in advance so I won't catch you unprepared”

“Ok...” she repeats and I'm about to kiss her once again but she holds me back with her hands against my chest “Now go though”

“Uh is that so?” I try and get my kiss but she pushes me harder away.

“Hurry up”

“I'm going, I'm going. So bossy...” I let go of her and leave the kitchen, only to show up on the doorway a second later, only for a moment “I like it”

It takes me a while to find the boots, I mean, the boot, Angie's brown one, cause it rolled down the sidewalk under a parked car. When I find it, I instinctively look up, as if I'm expecting to see her still there, at the window, with her colorful hair fluttering in the night breeze. But she's not there and I immediately go back inside. And during the whole way, this time using the elevator, I try and figure out the connection between wine and boot and the dynamics that brought them both out of the window. I walk up to the apartment and Sade is still singing.

“Thank you, Eddie. Do you want some?” I turn around the corner in the hallway and Angie's on the doorway with a bowl of chips in her hands and she holds it out to me as I get closer.

I want you I'd tell her but I just give her the boot and take the bowl and bury my hand in it.

“Anytime” I watch her quickly walking away into her room, quickly walking on her naked legs... GET IT TOGETHER MAN, YOU'RE SWEATING.

“Why are you standing there like that? Come in” Angie comes back and I'm still here at the door eating chips.

“I was waiting for you” I shrug and follow the flower path and her steps once again into the living room.

“So?” she asks when we're in front of the couch and I put the bowl of chips down on the small wooden table, since I believe we're about to sit down. Yet she keeps standing and smiles at me, with the tip of her canine popping up and diggin into her lower lip for a second as usual.

“So?” I repeat getting closer till my face is inches from hers, but without hugging her or kissing her, as if there's a game, a challenge between us, a challenge I'll surely fail.

“The bunch of questions... “ she looks down and, tugging the hem of her t-shirt down, she quickly takes a seat and I'm sure she's blushing even though she's not looking at me.

“Ok... Sade?” I point at the record player and sit down beside her, as I take off my jacket and throw it on the other couch.

“Hahaha of all this mess, the strangest thing to you is Sade's record?”

“No. But it's the first thing I thought of now”

“Don't you like it? It's... it's a good album” she turns towards me and subtly closes the distance between us on the couch at the same time.

“She's very good, it's just I didn't think you liked her. Can I ask the second question?”

“Sure”

“What the hell were you doing at the window with a bottle and a boot?” Angie's grin widens again.

“I was trying to open the wine bottle” she shrugs as if this is the most obvious explanation.

“By kicking it?”

“Hahaha more or less. My dad taught me”

“I sense a memorable anecdote is coming, I'm all ears”

Angie tells me about that time when she went on a camping trip with her parents to Lake Payette, her father's idea to celebrate his and his wife's birthdays, that I guess must be very close. On night one Ray pulled out a bottle of wine he had brought for the occasion but realized he forgot the corkscrew. He pounced on the cork with a knife but it seemed he couldn't open the bottle. Janis wanted to postpone the toast to the following evening, after going to the nearby shop and buying the bottle opener. There was no way to convince Ray though. So Angie's dad, as nothing happened, took off his boot in front of them, stuck the fuckin' bottle in it and, without saying a word, walked clumsily on a single boot up to the closest ponderosa pine and started slamming the bottle, protected by his shoe, against the trunk.

“You know, the pressure inside the bottle pushes the cork out, until you can grab it and take it off with your hands. My mom and I were doubled over in laughter” as she tells the story, Angie crosses her legs and moves on the couch and this makes her shirt go up little by little. I notice that and feel kind of an asshole.

“But it worked”

“And that was the first time I tasted wine: I was 11. It was good, although it had been shaken for 15 minutes”

“This means you got no corkscrew here at home?”

“Yeah... I mean, actually we had one, but I can't find it anymore. I guess someone took it at my birthday party or Matt or Chris borrowed it and haven't returned it yet. Sure it didn't seem wise to go there and ask them now, you know...” yes, I know, you didn't ask them because they'd have asked questions you don't wanna answer, at least by now.

“And you decided to use the Pacifico technique”

“And since I don't have any tree here, the only way to do it was beating the bottle against the wall. But I didn't want to risk getting the kitchen dirty so...”

“Hehe so you figured you'd do it out of the window?” I adore this woman.

“Yep. And it was working fine, until a certain someone scared me and made me drop everything. And I made a mess” she gives me a playful nasty look and scoots away from me.

“You're right, it's all my fault.” I scoot over on the couch to sit back close to her “But I know how to make you forgive me” ok, more than close basically glued to her.

“How?” she looks up at me amused, basically batting her eyelids against mine.

“Opening the other bottle” I stand up out of the blue and I leave her there, maybe a little disappointed? I go into the kitchen, take the bottle and open the window.

“With the Pacifico technique?” she asks as she shows up at the kitchen door.

“Nuh, with the Vedder one” I peer outside, remove the wrapper, pull out my lighter and start heating the end of the bottle neck with the flame.

“Isn't this dangerous?” I feel one arm circling my hip and for a minute there the red wine bottle was about to end the same way as Angie's one.

“No, I did it so many times” I answer as I rotate the bottle.

“Hey, it's coming out!” Angie exclaims behind my back while the cork starts moving.

At that point I tilt the bottle slightly as to prevent the cork from exploding like a bullet inside the apartment or into somebody else's window. Finally the corks pops out and falls into the street, where it looks like he doesn't hit anyone. Wine is safe too.

“See! Hot air expands inside the bottle and pushes the cork.” I close the window and triumphantly show the uncorked bottle to Angie, who arches her eyebrow at me “What? I can do science too, you know”

“So you also know you could have caused an explosion and get hurt?” she rolls her eyes and by the way is still hugging me.

“Not if you know how to do it and and to be careful. So, am I forgiven?” I ask, raising the bottle at her as if it was a toast.

“Sure!” she chuckles and looks at me in silence for a while. And I'm expecting a kiss but instead, she lets go of me and exits the kitchen, but not before addressing me again “Let's go taste you boiled wine”

The wine is not boiled at all and it's not bad. Angie and I are at the second round and, as I'm stuffing my face with chips and sandwiches, I realize it's getting hot in here. I mean, I can't be this heated for two glasses of wine. And neither for the half nakedness of Angie. Even though... And this is the moment I figure out my usually chilly girlfriend is dressed only in a t-shirt and I can't hear her teeth chatter for the cold, so there must be something going on here.

“My bunch of questions aren't over anyway...” I say and Angie makes herself comfortable on the couch, half laid and leaning on the armrest.

“Shoot”

“It's fucking hot in here, isn't it?” I ask as I take off my flannel and she starts laughing uncomfortably and, as she tries to sit up, her feet get closer, touch my legs and push against me a little to leverage. But I don't move an inch.

“Hahaha yeah, you're right... as you can see, tonight's really the perfect night: just one disaster after another”

“Why? What happened?” I throw the shirt there were my jacket is.

“I don't know, it must... the heating system must be broken, and that's not unusual. The new thing is... this time, I don't know... they kind of broke the other way round and it's been heating non stop at full power since this afternoon”

“Do you want me to check your radiators?”

“No point trying, it's not just here, the whole building is burning basically”

“Do you want me to go down and check the boiler room?”

“NO!” Angie basically kicks me, then regains her composure “Err no, no worries. And then, I mean, the apartment manager is the one who's supposes to take care of this stuff and call technicians, that's what he's paid for! He'll do the work”

“Ok”

“And what if you can't solve the problem and maybe no one can and they blame you because you put your hand in there...”

“Alright”

“And by the way, at least it's not freezing, for a change”

“Well, yeah, still better than freezing but...”

“I know. Shitty building. Anyway, now you know the... ehm, you know why I'm dressed like... this” Angie goes on and pulls down her t-shirt again to cover her thighs.

“I wouldn't call it a disaster then” I smirk and rub the back of my hand softly against her leg, from her ankle to her knee. She stares at me in the eyes and for a moment I'm sure she's about to throw herself over me and kiss me, but I'm wrong again.

“So? Which movie do we watch first? Mine or yours?” she asks out of the blue.

“You decide” actually I even forgot about the movies, the heat, the wine, about where we are and maybe what year we are as well.

“No, come on, you tell me” my hand is still going up and down.

“It's the same for me, Angie”

“Same for me too”

“You're the host, you choose”

“You're my guest, so it's up to you” of course, as always: it's up to me.

“Uhm... alright! Let's watch yours first then”

“Ok! The tape is there under the tv, would you put it on? I'll get some water” in a fraction of a second Angie sneaks away into the kitchen and I find myself alone. I turn off the stereo then crawl in front of the tv to get the Goodfellas tape and as I do I think about one thing. Well, actually two. One worse than the other. The first thing is that I'd rather have gone to get the water instead of Angie, so I could come back here and see her on hands and knees as she fumbles with the videorecorder, and that it'd have made for a very nice view. My second thought is that the tv looked much better in Angie's room and it'd have been much more enjoyable to watch it with her from her bed.

Disgusting thoughts indeed.

“Did you find it?” Angie's question startles me as if I was caught red handed doing something illicit.

“Yep” I press Play, stand up and try to get back on the couch before her. I do and sit right in the middle of it. So she won't be able to sit far from me. I gloat for my smar idea.

“If you want to be more comfortable, just lay down. I'm gonna sit there. Hehe we have one couch each if we want to” is Angie even aware of her endless power? The power to leave me totally speechless with such statements?

“Actually... I don't want to”

“Are you sure?” well, I don't know... WHAT DO YOU THINK?

“Very sure, I don't want a whole couch for me, I wanna share it with you” I hold my arms out and grab her by her waist, pulling her gently towards me until I finally take her back on this couch. And I hold her and kiss her and touch her, pushing her delicately towards the armrest on her side. And at some point I feel her hand moving right under my body. I think I know what she's about to do and I feel euphoric all of a sudden. But Angie is able to surprise me again, because even if I don't see her doing it, I can clearly feel her gesture of grasping at the hem of her t-shirt and pulling it down for the umpteenth time. I internally laugh at my stupid X-rated delusions, although on the other hand I'm sorry Angie doesn't feel comfortable with me yet. I don't wanna hurry, really, I'd just like to know what the problem is. I give her one last peck on her lips and back away so we can both sit up properly.

“Ok. Let's fastforward all the commercials and advisories. Where's the remote? Oh there it is!” Angie, the one who was about to abandon me all by myself on this couch, the one who was coy and bashful during my approach like two minutes ago, it's the same girl that basically climbs on me to jump over on the opposite side and stretch out to take the remote on the other armrest. And then does the same thing backwards to get back to her place. And I'm not complaining at all.

We're almost at the end of my movie and this is the situation: we finished the wine I don't even remember when, as for food only a few snacks and two small chocolate cakes are left; I'm in my t-shirt and boxers because it's really hot, although we opened the window in the living room; Angie's smoking a cigarette, resting on the couch with her legs over mine and I've been genty stroking them for literal HOURS, something that contributes in heating the atmosphere even more. And I also feel kind of guilty, because Harold has just rushed to the hospital with Maude and I already know what's about to happen and the ending breaks my heart every time... and I'm here, basking in the softness and smoothness of Angie's skin under my fingers.

“It's so sad. But also beautiful at the same time” she remarks during the credits.

“Yeah. You really haven't seen it before?”

“Never. And now I see why you like it”

“Hehe right, Cat Stevens has something to do with it” I reply since I think she's referring to the soundtrack.

“Uhm yeah but that's not what I meant. What I wanted to say is that... well, this movie is like you” she takes one long last hit of smoke, then puts out her cigarette in the ashtray she placed on the floor. And she's amazing. Not because she's smoking but... I know it's not nice to say, and it's also unhealthy, a bad bad habit, but... there are times, particular times in which, maybe fuelled by excessive domestic heating and subsequent nudity, I see something extremely sexy in a woman who's smoking.

“Absurd?”

“Absurd, eccentric, thoughtful, bitter and sweet...” Angie slowly counts the adjectives on her fingertips and I can't say she didn't get them right. This means she knows there's something bitter, and dark inside me. Maybe that's why she doesn't trust me completely yet.

“Eccentric uh?” a devilish grin appears on my face.

“Oh well...”

“Said the girl who tried to open a bottle with a shoe outside the window”

“Ok this is gonna be another of those recurring jokes you're gonna use to take the piss out of me for the rest of my life, isn't it?”

“Yes... after all, I can't make fun of you for your nights out with Meg to pick up guys anymore, I have to find a substitute”

“Really? And why?” she adjust herself better on the couch to sit up and for a minute I'm afraid I'll lose touch with her legs, but she still keeps them over mine.

“Because you're not having those anymore” I hold her by the hips as she puts her hands on my shoulders.

“Are you sure?”

“You don't need to”

“So can I hang up my infallible pick up techniques now?”

“Sure, now that you picked me up”

“How I made it is still unknown...”

“With your infallible pick up techniques, of course”

“That are? Not doing absolutely anything?” as if she needed to do something to have me fall for her. I lay down on the couch and pull her with me.

“Being yourself and not doing absolutely anything, the best way”

“If you say so...” she mutters and she tries to sit back up but I hold her tight and prevent her from sneaking away. At this point, also not to slip and fall off the couch, she has to more or less straddle me.

“It worked with me, can't you see that?” I grab her as she tries to wriggle free, I hold her tighter and slip my hand under her t-shirt, to caress her back.

“Eddie! Come on, let me sit up...”

“Why?”

“Because I'm hurting you...”

“Shut up!”

“It's true and you know it”

“You can't crush me, I can feel you got all the weight on your knees and arms”

“Because I wanna spare you asphyxiation?”

“Cut.The.Crap.” I decide I'm gonna do this the hard way and my hand sneaks across her back towards her armpit so I can tickle her, but she gives up long before I get there. Mental note: Angie is very ticklish “Oh, that's better!”

“Hahaha stop it!”

“Much better” I repeat when we find ourselves basically nose to nose and then I stop torturing her, close my eyes and breathe in silence with her for five minutes, I think, waiting for something... that never comes. Angie removes her hands from my hair, where she had casually buried them in the heat of the moment. Then she holds on to the pillows, pulls herself up and backs away from me.

“I'll turn off the tv” Angie stretches out her hand to get the remote from the table where I put, then sits back down at my feet. I take a deep breath and sit up too.

“I'd better go” I'm about to stand up but Angie, with a quick move, grabs me by the arm and pulls me back down on the couch.

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING?”

“Home, so I'll let you sleep” I pinch her cheek and try to stand up again but Angie doesn't let me.

“But I don't wanna sleep! Well, I mean... you can sleep with me, you know, you can crash at my place”

“Even tonight?”

“Yes, why? Don't you want to?” Angie's torturing the hemline of her t-shirt again and if she tugs at it some more, it'll become a tunic.

“Sure I want to. I thought that it may be a problem”

“A problem about what?”

“I don't know, because of Meg?”

“Meg won't be here, she's sleeping over at her friend's”

“But she'll be back tomorrow morning, right? What if she sees me again? What will she think?” I'm saying it for her, not for me. If she sees me and does the math, I'll be nothing but happy.

“What will she think? Nothing. Anyway, I already told her”

“You told her?” I ask, suddenly interested and full of hope. Did she really tell someone we're a couple?

“Yeah, I told her you'd come over tonight. And that maybe you'd sleep here” hope destroyed in ten seconds. Maybe.

“And what did she say?”

“She said ok” Angie shrugs and takes the last two cakes left from the table, biting on one and handing me the other one.

“Ok? Only ok?” I take a bite too.

“Sure, what were you expecting?”

“Nothing. But... I think Meg knows then”

“Sure she knows, I've just told you! Why all these problems all of a sudden?”

“No, I mean she knows... about us...” a second bite and no more cake.

“NO! I... I didn't tell her anything”

“Angie... it's the 4th time we sleep together in a week, I don't think you need to tell her. If she's not stupid, she'll understand by herself.

“She knows we sleep together but she doesn't know... what... ehm... what we do” Angie eats the rest of her chocholate cake and pours herself half a glass of water to swallow it better.

“She can assume it, I guess” seriously, Meg's assumptions surely go well beyond what actually happens between Angie and I in reality.

“Meg has no trouble to say what she thinks: if she had suspects, she'd have openly told me”

“You should do it”

“What?”

“Openly tell her, about us”

“WHAT? WHY?” why the hell is she so scared?

“'Cause she's a friend to you and you have to start somewhere, don't you?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Listen, we already talked about it, do you wanna keep it secret? Ok, I'm in. But you could take things gradually, with no big collective announcements, just by telling it to one single person. And why not your best friend?”

“I don't know, maybe because she's totally incapable of keeping a secret?” Angie looks at me as if I was stupid and rolls her eyes.

“Well, that's so much better, isn't it. We only need to tell Meg, then she'll get the word out for us” I try and hug her and she slaps my chest in response.

“Fuck you, Eddie”

“Let's go to bed?”

“Mmm... ok”

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kurokoros · 5 years

Text

Focal Point | Part Four

Title: Focal Point

Rated: M (language, smut, references to past violence)

Words: 10.7K

Pairing: Sweet Pea x Jones!OC

Summary: Jubilee stares at him in disbelief, mouth opening and closing though no words come out. A dozen emotions flicker in her eyes as she takes in what he’s said, but they pass too quickly for him to register anything but her confusion. Eventually, she crosses her arms, leaning back in the booth, quirking a brow at him. “You want me to pose for you,” she repeats slowly, absolutely bewildered by the request. “Naked.”

Sweet Pea wets his lips, mirroring her pose, looking far too calm for the request that just came out of his mouth. His eyes meet hers, throat bobbing with a harsh swallow, and she’s relieved to see a flicker of nerves in his eyes. “Yeah.”

College!AU in which Art Major Sweet Pea needs a nude model for an assignment. He decides to ask his best friend.

Chapters: One | Two | Three | Four | Epilogue

AN: This is going to be a three four part fic (now with a short epilogue!) that’s part of my extended College!Verse Like the Kids in Art School Said! It should be updated every Thursday until complete assuming nothing comes up in my personal life! Inspired by @sweetpeasbabydoll wanting an artist Sweet Pea au with him doing a nude portrait!

The first two hours go surprisingly well.

Sweet Pea isn’t entirely sure what he was expecting. Hormones. A raging hard-on. The two of them being too awkward for this to work at all and him being too distracted by her sudden nudity to do anything but stare. But it’s not nearly as awkward as it should be, and that might be the bigger problem.

At first, he tried to keep his eyes off her as much as possible once his brain caught up with the fact that Jubilee was naked and waiting for his instructions, a task made even more difficult thanks to his conversation with the guys earlier this morning. He’s long come to terms with his feelings, and their kiss last night is still fresh in his mind, but now isn’t the time to drag up buried feelings and drunken kisses.

He just hopes he can get through this without saying or doing anything stupid.

Working with Jubilee is easier than he thought it would be—easier than it should be. They’ve always been a good team, no matter what they were doing, and so far nude modeling is no exception to that. The first few minutes involved some awkward floundering as she moved into a position that worked for him but wouldn’t be too uncomfortable for her to hold for an hour or two, with Sweet Pea trying not to stare at her chest as she shifted around on the couch across from him.

If he didn’t know better, he would think she was doing it on purpose just to fuck with him.

His brain practically short-circuited when she asked how he wanted to do this—“Where do you want me, Sweets?”—and it’s a little embarrassing how long it took for him to respond. He’s just lucky he didn’t stutter when he told her to get on the couch. And he’s even luckier that he managed to swallow back a groan when she did exactly what he asked, her eyes never once leaving his.

Sweet Pea might be wrong about saying there was nothing sexy about figure drawing. There was definitely some subtle, uncomfortable shifting in those first few minutes from his end. It’s a miracle that Sweet Pea managed to keep his more inappropriate thoughts locked away as he started the sketch. It certainly wasn’t easy though. Between the way Jubilee kept looking at him and the utterly shameless way she stripped down for him, he’s lucky that uncomfortable shifting was the worst of it.

Though, that might say more about Jubilee than it does figure drawing.

They settled on a classic Titanic style pose. Simple and easy. Not original, but it meets the task at hand. Jubilee stretched across the couch with her left arm draped over her head on the armrest and her right hand nestled next to her cheek, her fingers curled slightly. Fangs will probably give him hell for it later when he inevitably finds out, but Sweet Pea couldn’t help but notice how much softer she looked like that.

Sweet Pea kept to his promise of not being a silent artist and the conversation has been steady since he started working. It’s always easy with Jubilee. Sometimes more than it should be. After a while, they both settled into their spots and he was sucked into the drawing, letting the motions take over.

Despite her taking the initiative earlier, it took Jubilee a little longer to relax. She was stiff at the start, unsure where to put her arms, but seemed to shake it off once he started talking to her.

Soon, it starts to feel like any other Saturday afternoon. Sweet Pea works on his project. Jubilee curls up on his couch and enjoys the quiet and lack of roommates. He’s almost able to forget that she’s naked. Almost, but not quite.

It’s a little difficult to forget that important detail when he starts to work lower on the drawing and the little details of her skin start to appear on the paper in front of him. Jubilee’s clothes are still scattered across his floor and he keeps getting distracted every time she shifts and her dark hair tickles at her skin.

He’s torn between his professionalism and his feelings for Jubilee and one of them is going to give before the night is over.

“—and that’s why Fangs and I almost got arrested in Cancun,” he finishes, pausing in his drawing when her shoulders shake with laughter. Despite his and Fangs promise to never discuss the details of that night, she finally managed to weasel it out of him. Fangs won’t be happy about it, but the fond amusement swirling in Jubilee’s eyes is worth it.

“I can’t believe you two.” Jubilee shakes her head and snorts, but falls still again a moment later.

Sweet Pea finishes the detail of the thin, nearly invisible scar on her hairline before he glances at her over the top of his sketchbook. “What was I supposed to do?” he asks her, grinning when her lips twitch upwards. “The guy attacked me!”

Jubilee scoffs at him as her head tilts towards the hand lying on the pillow beside her face. “He threw a piñata,” she corrects him simply, still trying to wrap her head around the nonsense story.

“Same thing.”

“So you pulled out a samurai sword? Where did you even find one of those?”

Sweet Pea’s gaze flicks up to meet hers before he traces the curve of her neck with his eyes, adding definition to the rough sketch in front of him. “I thought it was fake,” he reminds her.

Her collarbones take shape on the paper and for a moment he allows his eyes to wander down to the tattoo on her ribcage, nestled just behind her breast. It’s just a splash of blue and lavender against her skin and he’d think it was a bruise if he didn’t know better.

He rips his eyes away from the tattoo when she says, “I can’t leave you two anywhere, can I?” Sweet Pea’s eyes slide back to hers and his heart swells when he sees the familiar, fond look in her eyes.

Sweet Pea turns back to his sketchbook just as quickly. He swallows, mouth suddenly dry. “You know us,” he jokes, “always getting in trouble.” Jubilee hums her agreement and he can’t help glancing at her again. “And you could have come with us.”

“And be a fugitive in a foreign country?” Jubilee asks him teasingly. “I’ll pass.” She grins at him and he shakes his head.

They lapse into comfortable silence for a minute as Sweet Pea tries to get the tiny details of the spatter of freckles beneath her collarbone just right.

Sweet Pea’s eyes immediately find Jubilee’s when he looks up again and for a moment he lets himself drown in them. His hand falters for a second, his pencil hovering just above the half-finished drawing. “So,” he starts, clearing his throat, “what are your plans after this?”

Jubilee’s eyes narrow just a tick and she purses her lips. “Tonight?” she asks him slowly, hesitating for a moment. “Or…”

He nearly swears when he catches the implication. “Graduation,” he corrects quickly, avoiding her gaze as his face heats up. “It’s coming up quick. You haven’t said anything about it.”

“Good question.” Jubilee wiggles her fingers idly before taking her bottom lip between her teeth and biting down on it. Sweet Pea stares as she rolls it between her teeth, his mouth suddenly dry. “I haven’t really thought about it.”

“What?” he jokes, shaking away the thought of taking her lip between his own teeth and making her moan, “no big plans with your literature degree?” He quirks a brow at her and Jubilee rolls her eyes.

“Shut up. You sound like my dad.” Sweet Pea chuckles and Jubilee sighs as she relaxes back against the couch. “I’ll figure it out eventually.”

A smile tugs at his mouth. “I know you will.”

“And what about you?” she asks. “Any big plans after this, or are you going the starving artist route?”

He rolls his eyes, but grins at her teasing. Art as a career might not be the most stable thing, but Sweet Pea knows his friends and the other Serpents will support him no matter what he chooses to do. They got him this far after all. He just doesn’t want to let them all down like he did before.

Sweet Pea’s smile fades as his thoughts drift to the Serpents and his last conversation with FP over winter break. “Your dad offered me a job actually.” Jubilee’s brows knit together in confusion. “Hog Eye’s looking to retire. They need someone to run the Wyrm when he does.”

“What about your art?”

“There’ll be time for that when I’m not working the bar.” It rings hollow even to him and Jubilee’s frown deepens.

“I thought you didn’t want to bar-tend anymore,” she murmurs just loud enough for him to hear.

He shrugs. “It pays the bills. It’s stable. And I’m good at it.” Jubilee hums her agreement but doesn’t say anything. Sweet Pea’s hand stills and he stares at the half-finished sketch in front of him, tracing the fine lines with his eyes. “So I’m thinking about asking Micah for an apprenticeship once we go back to Riverdale.”

Jubilee is quiet for a moment. “Tattoos? Now that I can see.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. You’re good with your hands,” she tells him. Sweet Pea snorts, shaking his head, and she laughs. “So why haven’t you asked him yet?”

“Not sure if it’s right, you know? Tattooing, it’s…” he trails off, unable to find the right word. “Delicate,” he decides on as he meets Jubilee’s eyes. “It’s easy to fuck it up.”

As usual, Jubilee sees right through him. “It makes you nervous.” She doesn’t move from her pose save for the slight downward curl of her lips, but that’s all he needs to know exactly what she’s thinking.

He laughs, ignoring the heavy look in her eyes. “Something like that.” Sweet Pea starts detailing her hair, falling in messy waves around her face, taking care to capture each strand as it falls around her.

They lapse into silence again as he gets sucked into the sketch, each stroke of his pencil more delicate than the last. Eventually, Jubilee asks, “so how many times have you done this?”

“Nude drawings?” Her head gives the slightest of nods and he hesitates before drawing the wayward strands of hair tickling the side of her neck. The small, red marks that he left last night have long since disappeared, but he can still taste her on his lips and hear her little gasps in his ears. Sweet Pea grits his teeth, shifting on the stool uncomfortably. “A couple times,” he answers vaguely, forcing his eyes not to wander further down her neck and trying to keep his thoughts from straying somewhere they shouldn��t. “I took that class on it before, but we only had one drawing session per week. Fangs and Archie ended up modeling for the class and I very seriously considered dropping both of my majors.” Sweet Pea glances at her, catching the slight quirk of her lips. “If I ever have to see Archie’s abs again, I think I might rip my eyes out.”

She giggles. “And do you like it? Figure drawing?”

“It’s okay,” he tells her.

It’s not a real answer. Not really, anyway, but it’s as close as he can get to one. Because he likes the intimacy of it, how different it feels from any other form of art he’s tried, but he’s not sure if he actually likes drawing people he barely knows when they’re naked. He can appreciate the form, but it’s the vulnerability that really gets to him, and he’s never been sure if he likes being that open and honest with his work.

Jubilee makes it different though. The amount of trust she has in him has always surprised him. Even after he let her down when they were younger, she’s always trusted him enough to be vulnerable around him, to let him protect her. And she makes him vulnerable too.

“Jubilee.” He doesn’t look at her as he speaks, gaze locked on the delicate curve of her neck etched into his sketchbook. “Thanks for doing this. You’re a good friend.” He doesn’t catch the way she stiffens as he talks, or the way her breathing hitches. “You know,” he chuckles, not thinking as the words tumble out of his mouth, “I’m really glad Fangs said no when I went to ask him to model for me this morning. You’re a hell of a lot prettier than him.”

The grin on his face disappears as soon as he glances up at her. Jubilee has gone still, her entire body tense. The small smile that’s been tugging at her lips since they started is gone, but that’s not what makes him freeze. It’s the raw, open hurt that flickers in her eyes for a just a second.

“So that’s why you practically ran out of here this morning.” A breathless, bitter laugh escapes Jubilee. “You were asking Fangs to—” She shakes her head before breaking her position and sitting up. “God, I’m an idiot.” She doesn’t look at him as she stands from the couch. “Shit.”

Sweet Pea watches in confusion as she scoops up her clothes off the floor. He sets his pencil down and stands from the stool slowly. “Jubilee, what do you—”

“You know what?” she cuts him off, still not looking at him as she shimmies her panties up over her hips, shying away from him. “I’m done. I’m done. I can’t—I can’t do this anymore.” Jubilee laughs again and this time it’s watery, the sound sticking in her throat. She yanks his flannel over her head, leaving it half-unbuttoned and grabbing for her discarded jeans. “I’ve been throwing myself at you all fucking week, Sweet Pea, and clearly you aren’t interested, so I think I need to leave.” She buttons her jeans, leaving her shirt on the couch with her bra and scooping up her things. “Sorry about your project, but apparently you already asked Fangs to be your back up, so you’ll be fine.”

The amount of venom in her words makes him flinch, and he can only stand there dumbfounded as she grabs her phone off the coffee table. “You’ve what?” he finally manages to ask once the words register. She’s been throwing herself at him? “Jubilee, wait!”

She ignores his question, but turns around to look at him as he steps around the easel towards her. That raw hurt stops him again and he can’t breathe. For a second she doesn’t say anything, just stares at him in utter defeat.

“You know, when you asked me to do this I thought maybe you finally figured it out,” she says, barely above a whisper. A sound caught halfway between a sigh and a laugh slips from her and she shakes her head. “Maybe you wanted me just as bad as I want you, because why else do you ask one of your best friends to strip down for a nude portrait? But then you make out with some random girl at a party and I kiss you and you practically run out of here the next morning.”

It hits him in the stomach, the realization that she remembers last night—that she meant to kiss him.

Jubilee waits for him to say something, anything, but Sweet Pea only stares at her, unable to move as he tries to wrap his head around all of it. It takes him a second too long to realize he’s fucked up and by then Jubilee is already turning away from him again.

“Lydia was right,” she murmurs, so low he almost doesn’t hear, “this was a mistake.”

She grabs her book off the coffee table.

He reaches for her instinctively, his fingers wrapping around her wrist to stop her from storming off. “Jubilee—”

“Don’t!” she snaps as the book falls to the floor. His hand drops immediately. An apology flickers in her glossy eyes and his heart squeezes in his chest. “Sweet Pea, just don’t,” she repeats, softer this time. “It’s fine, I get it. It’s not… I’m not mad, I just can’t be here right now, okay?” Jubilee tries to smile for him, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.

She leaves the book on the floor and turns away from him.

Sweet Pea stares after her, unable to move as Jubilee shoves her phone into her pocket and heads towards the door.

She’s been throwing herself at him? Blood roars in his ears and his mouth moves but no sound escapes him. It hits him again that everything she did last night was on purpose. Asking him to zip up her dress. Kissing him like that. What else has he missed this week? Or even before that? How did he not notice it?

Or maybe he did notice and chose to ignore it.

“You’re wrong,” he calls after her, desperation seizing him as she grabs her bag and shoes off the floor and reaches for the front door. Jubilee hesitates, her hand hovering over the knob. Sweet Pea takes a step after her, his throat tight. “About me not being interested.”

Jubilee’s head snaps around. Her hand slowly drops back to her side as she looks at Sweet Pea, expression guarded and her brows narrowed in confusion. Jubilee’s lips part, but she doesn’t say anything as he takes another step towards her. She turns to face him hesitantly, and he stops in the middle of the living room, his stomach flipping sickly as she stares at him with wide eyes.

The shoes slip from Jubilee’s hands and fall with a clatter onto the floor, loud in the suddenly quiet room. She wets her lips, eyes leaving his for a second before snapping back to him. Her mouth moves wordlessly. “You never said anything,” she finally chokes out, letting her bag fall to the floor.

A breathy laugh escapes him. “Neither did you,” Sweet Pea jokes, the ache in his chest lessening when she steps away from the door. Jubilee crosses the small space between them until there’s hardly any left and his fingers twitch with the need to touch her.

She stops just in front of him, looking small and vulnerable in the flannel that practically swallows her whole. She has to crane her head back to meet his eyes, her head barely coming up to his shoulder. “Sweets,” Jubilee whispers.

“Fuck, Jubilee,” he takes a shuddery breath, “if I’d known you—”

He doesn’t get to finish. Jubilee surges up onto her toes and fists a hand in his shirt. She drags him down to her, cutting him off with a rough, messy kiss that he melts into easily. Sweet Pea’s hands settle onto her hips instinctively, one palm sliding around to her back and holding her loosely against his chest. His heart thumps erratically and he’s lost in the feel of her pressed loosely again his chest and the light scent of her perfume. The kiss becomes slow and coaxing, so much like the one from last night, and Sweet Pea sinks into it as her hands slide up his chest, her fingers tickling the sides of his neck as he sighs.

Jubilee pulls away from him slowly, lingering there as she drops back to her feet.

Sweet Pea’s palm presses firmly against her lower back and Jubilee shivers as the heat of his hand sinks into her skin through her haphazardly buttoned shirt. An absentminded finger traces the curved lines inked into the side of his neck and Sweet Pea shivers as he leans into Jubilee. Her breath fans across his lips and he drags his hand up her back, the tips of his fingers tracing the length of her spine.

“Why did you ask me to do this?” Jubilee asks him after a tense minute, her eyes searching his desperately for some answer. Gently, she cups his face in her hands, her thumbs stroking back and forth across his cheeks. Her exhales are shaky against him and she’s so close that Sweet Pea can hear the hitch in her breathing when he cradles the back of her neck with one hand. “Sweets?”

He opens his mouth to answer her, but no words leave him. He already knows why he asked her earlier this week. She was the first person he thought about when Kandinsky told them about the assignment. Jubilee’s always been beautiful, he’d be a fool not to notice that; but that’s not the reason he asked.

She means everything to him.

Instead of responding, Sweet Pea dips his chin and catches her in another slow, sweet kiss. His fingers wind through her dark hair as Jubilee tilts her head back and arches into his chest until there’s no space left between them. Her arms wind around the back of his neck tightly, dragging him down close, and a groan rumbles in his throat as her lips suddenly move against his in a way that’s almost bruising.

Sweet Pea kisses her back just as frantically, just like he did last night, only it’s different now. They’re both sober and he wants her just as badly as he has since they were in high school. And she doesn’t stop him.

Jubilee leaves fire in her wake as her fingers fist at his hair. She relaxes into his touch as his grip tightens around her hip. And Sweet Pea drinks in the taste of her, sweet and thick on his tongue, like honey and raspberries. Her perfume tickles at his senses in a hazy cloud and when her nails drag down the sides of his neck he shivers against her. Heat curls in his gut.

It’s sweet, but it’s not what either of them want.

A keening gasp escapes Jubilee as his tongue traces the seam of her lips. She surges up onto her toes again to kiss him harder, and Sweet Pea moans as she pulls his hair roughly. Jubilee nips at him, catching his lower lip between her teeth and biting down before releasing him again.

Jubilee shoves him. A grunt tears from his chest as he stumbles back against the couch, his knee knocking against the arm. But Jubilee doesn’t disappear for long. Her mouth is back on his again a moment later and she urges him down against the cushions. As soon as he drops back she crawls on top of him and straddles his lap.

Sweet Pea grins against her as she settles on top of him, her hands on his shoulders to hold her steady as her balance shifts. His hands drop down to her hips, squeezing roughly before snaking higher on her torso to trace the soft strip of skin that was peeking out beneath her shirt earlier. She sighs in response to his touch and idly he wonders if she would make the same noise if it was his mouth on her.

His moan rumbles against her lips as her hips roll against his. “Fuck, you’re beautiful,” Sweet Pea mumbles, pulling back just enough to look at her. Jubilee’s fingers bite into his shoulders as his big hands grasp her hips again, squeezing roughly as he grinds her down against his hardening cock again. He swallows her gasp and bites her lip. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“Why didn’t you?” Jubilee murmurs. Her lips drag across his cheek to his jaw, where she starts peppering feverish kisses.

He chuckles, the sound low and throaty in the quiet room. Instead of answering, he grabs her chin, bringing her mouth back to his for another rough kiss. Jubilee melts into him, her arms wrapping loosely around the back of his neck. Every inch of her is pressed up against his torso, and he could stay like that forever if it was what she wanted. But her head tilts for a better angle and her fingers run through his hair as her hips roll against his in a steady rhythm.

Sweet Pea’s mouth tears away from hers with a lewd, wet sound, but he doesn’t stray from her for long. His lips meet her skin once more, hot wet kisses trailing over her jaw and down her neck without warning. Jubilee gasps as his lips wander across her soft skin, following the same path as last night. She squirms against him as he roughly bites and sucks at her pulse point, his lips lazily trailing down the column of her throat as he noses at her. His teeth gently scrape down her neck and her thighs lock around his hips.

“Oh, fuck.” Jubilee gasps as he peruses her neck. She tilts her head up to give him better access. “Sweet Pea,” she pants against his ear, her fingers twitching against the back of his neck. Jubilee’s eyes flutter shut as he finds a particularly sensitive spot just below her jaw, and her hips rock against his, desperate for some kind of friction as an ache builds in her stomach.

The sound of his name on her lips and the whimpers slipping from her mouth makes something hot flood through his veins. When she chokes out his name again, Sweet Pea bites down on her neck roughly. She yelps, but the stuttering sound becomes a breathy moan as he soothes the spot with a slow lick. Sweet Pea blows against her wet skin and she shivers, hips stuttering against his.

Swearing, Sweet Pea’s mouth latches onto her again. He pays particular attention to that sensitive spot on her neck, drawing her blood to the surface. Jubilee lets him work a bruise onto her skin and squirms when his mouth moves lower, peppering smaller hickeys down the length of her neck down to her collarbones and the exposed swell of her breast.

Jubilee brings his lips back to hers before he can linger on her chest and Sweet Pea shifts uncomfortably beneath her, painfully hard in his jeans as her core continues to grind against his. Her hips circle against his slowly and her hands cradle his jaw as she kisses him deeply. Sweet Pea’s hands slide up her back and he wraps one arm firmly around her back as his right hand finds the back of her neck again, holding her head loosely in place.

The urgency slowly drains from them, and Sweet Pea lets her rock above him lazily, content with whatever she’s willing to give him.

Her hands drift from his face down to his shoulders and his chest, and Jubilee sighs as her hands slip beneath the open fabric of his flannel. She begins to shove his shirt aside and Sweet Pea reluctantly breaks his hold on her as the flannel catches on his elbows. He shrugs out of it and throws the flannel aside.

Jubilee’s hands slide down his arms appreciatively and he grins against her mouth.

“Please,” she murmurs, muffled by a needy kiss.

Sweet Pea brushes her hair away from her neck and his free hand slips beneath her shirt, teasing the skin just above her jeans. “What do you want, Doll?” He doesn’t want to push her.

Jubilee quells his hesitation with a series of slow kisses. “You,” she breathes between brushes of their lips.

The easy answer makes his heart squeeze in his chest. A surge of affection and lust rips through him. “Shit.” His hands latch onto her hips as he jerks beneath her. “I don’t have a condom,” he mumbles, swearing when she rolls against him. He didn’t think he’d be needing one anytime soon.

A breathy laugh slips from her. “Back pocket,” she tells him before kissing him again.

Sweet Pea’s brows knit together in confusion before his hands slide down, groping at her ass and grinding her down against him. She moans into his mouth as his fingers dip into the back pocket of her jeans and squeeze. The foil package crinkles beneath his fingers and he pulls away from her to chuckle. “Did you plan on seducing me, Jubilee?”

Her hips jerk against his when he pinches her ass and fishes the condom out of her pocket, slipping it into his own. “I’ve been trying to all week, thanks for noticing.”

Shaking his head, Sweet Pea’s hands slide around to the front of her jeans. He pops the button on them and Jubilee’s breath catches. “Fuck, Baby,” he murmurs, “do you know how hard it was not to pin you to the couch and make you beg for it?” Jubilee squirms over his lap and wriggles out of her pants, kicking them to the floor.

She whimpers when his hands squeeze her ass again, his touch hotter without the extra layer of clothing between them. Jubilee wets her lips. “I think I have an idea.”

Her fingers ghost over his hips before grasping his arousal through his jeans and palming him roughly. Sweet Pea groans and his head drops against the back of the couch. Jubilee takes the opportunity to latch her mouth onto his exposed throat, nipping and sucking at his skin like he did to her, leaving faint marks in her wake. His breathing becomes ragged as he presses into her hand.

Jubilee presses butterfly kisses over his pounding pulse as she pops the button on his jeans and works her hand beneath his pants and underwear. Her soft fingers wrap around his cock and Sweet Pea grunts. “Shit, Sweets,” she murmurs against his neck, tracing the length of him with her hand. His eyes slip shut as she strokes him slowly, fingers squeezing around him until his hips stutter beneath her.

“Fuck. Jubilee,” he chokes out, hissing through his teeth when her thumb circles the head of his cock. Her lips move up to jaw and chin until she reaches the corner of his mouth, where she presses a surprisingly sweet kiss.

Sweet Pea reluctantly pulls her hand out of his pants and ignores the questioning look she sends him. She opens her mouth, but whatever she was planning to say is cut off by her gasp when his hands grab her ass. Sweet Pea stands suddenly, surprising her, and he chuckles when Jubilee clings to his shoulders. Her long legs wrap around his waist as he shifts his grip on her and pushes away from the couch.

Her mouth covers his again and he stumbles blindly around the furniture in the room until he finds the nearest surface.

Jubilee yelps as he shoves her back against the closest wall, his mouth immediately swallowing her appreciative moan as her legs squeeze around his hips. She hits the wall with a bang that he hopes his neighbors don’t hear, but Jubilee doesn’t seem to care as she coils around him. His grip on her thighs is bruising, but she only keens at the rough treatment, arching into his chest as her fingers tangle in his hair, her lips moving against his.

Her legs squeeze around his hips as he settles against her, mouth meeting hers in a fiery kiss. He forces her head back against the wall, enjoying the way she squirms against him, fingers pulling at him tighter as she rolls her hips against his again, no space left between them. Her thighs quake around him when he grinds against her, a soft, fluttery sigh leaving Jubilee. The breathy sound makes him shiver, his fingers sliding high on her legs until he’s flirting with the hem of her underwear. The lace tickles at his skin and she squirms as his fingers dip beneath the fabric teasingly.

Jubilee’s fingers ghost down the sides of his neck, the teasing touch making Sweet Pea’s hips snap against hers. She pulls back to murmur his name against his lips, and Sweet Pea’s heart seizes. Warmth blooms in his chest as she traces the shape of his jaw with a delicate finger.

For a minute they stay like that: Jubilee pinned between him and the wall, her touch soft and sweet as the tips of her fingers draw shapes down the sides of his neck, their lips brushing and their exhales mingling because they’re so close.

“God, I love you,” he murmurs absentmindedly. Jubilee’s breathing hitches and her eyes widen a fraction, her pupils blown wide with arousal. This time, Sweet Pea is the one to close the small distance between them, and when Jubilee sighs he relaxes into her. His thumb strokes her skin, sweeping back and forth across her thigh lazily.

Her hands slide into his hair and Sweep Pea pushes away from the wall. Jubilee’s legs tighten around his waist when she becomes airborne, but he keeps his hands firmly on her thighs to make sure she doesn’t slip. He feels his way through the apartment carefully, so wrapped up in Jubilee that he’s hardly paying attention. It’s easier than it was last night, with the sun still shining in through the open curtains, the sun only just beginning to set.

Sweet Pea drops her down carefully onto the end of his bed, hovering over her for a second and kisses her once more before pulling away just long enough to tear his undershirt over his head and toss it on the floor. Jubilee’s gaze rakes over his bare chest appreciatively and Sweet Pea can’t help the grin that pulls at his mouth, his dark eyes glimmering in amusement.

“Like what you see, Doll?” he jokes, standing in front of her with kiss swollen lips and messy hair from her fingers pulling at him. Faint hickeys are peppered across his neck and his jeans are slung low on his hips, unbuttoned and unzipped.

Jubilee is equally rumpled, wearing nothing but those white, lacy panties and the green flannel she was wearing this morning. Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath and deep red and purple love bites are scattered from the underside of her jaw down to her collarbone. Her flannel is half-hanging from her shoulder and revealing the enticing curve of her breast. He tried not to stare at her before, but now he can barely tear his eyes away.

Jubilee isn’t as patient. She huffs, reaching out for him with both hands. “Get over here.” He chuckles as she wiggles her fingers expectantly, but does as she asks. Sweet Pea lets her drag him down to the bed and she giggles as he crawls on top of her. Jubilee tries to wrap her arms around his neck but he gathers both of her hands in his before she can, pinning them to the mattress on either side of her head.

He kisses her again before she can complain and links their fingers together gently. She squeezes their interlinked hands before slipping her fingers away from his. Her palms press flat against his back, dragging across his skin slowly and making them both sigh.

Sweet Pea braces one arm against the bed, keeping his weight off her as he slips one hand between her legs. Jubilee gasps into his mouth when his fingers drag along the inside of her thigh. Goosebumps rise on her skin as his fingers trail higher, Sweet Pea testing the waters.

He releases her mouth, kissing her cheek briefly before his mouth moves lower. Jubilee arches into him, pressing her hips closer to his hand encouragingly. Two of his fingers drag along the front of her damp underwear and her hips jump as his fingers brush against her clit through the thin fabric.

“Sweets,” she gasps against his ear, opening her legs wider as his fingers continue to tease her. Her fingers dig into his shoulders as his mouth moves down her jaw to the sensitive skin of her neck. Her nails drag down his back suddenly and he grunts into the side of her neck. Sweet Pea dips a finger beneath the strip of fabric separating their skin and she gasps. Jubilee’s eyes flutter shut as he trails hot, open-mouthed kisses down her throat. “Please.”

“Tell me to stop,” he murmurs back to her, breath fanning across the hollow of her throat. He’s still painfully hard against her thigh, but he ignores it, taking a slow breath. Sweet Pea removes his fingers from beneath her panties and rises on his elbows enough to look her in the eyes. He needs to be sure this is what she wants, that everything isn’t happening too fast. “Jubilee, if you don’t want—”

“I want you, Sweet Pea,” she says, cutting him off gently. Her hands leave his back to grasp his face, and Jubilee brings him up to meet her in a slow, reassuring kiss.

Sweet Pea sinks into the kiss for a long moment before finally pulling back. He returns to her collarbone, working another hickey onto her skin as he slips his hand back between them, this time finding the buttons on her flannel. He pops each one open slowly, perusing each new inch of skin revealed to his greedy mouth. Jubilee’s chest heaves beneath him and a stuttering gasp slips from her mouth as his fingers find the last button.

He sits up again to look at her and Jubilee shrugs the shirt aside. The dark green fabric slips from her arms slowly and for a second he can’t breathe. Despite the fact that she stripped in front of him and he spent over two hours working on a nude sketch of her, it hits him in this moment how much she trusts him.

Jubilee watches him as his eyes drag down her frame like a physical touch, taking in every inch of her skin in a way he didn’t before. There’s a splash of color on her ribcage that catches his attention, just behind her left breast, almost on her back. His heart aches when he sees the small, delicate petals of a flower he recognizes. The blue and purple watercolor tattoo is still as beautiful as the first time he saw it.

“I remember when you got this.” His fingers trace the shape of the tattoo and she shivers beneath him.

Jubilee relaxes beneath him. “The day before we left Riverdale.” A heavy sigh escapes her, and Jubilee’s ribcage moves beneath his hand. He strokes his thumb across the tattoo one more time before sliding his hand higher to cup her breast. She inhales sharply, arching into him when his thumb brushes against her nipple. “Micah did a good job.”

Humming in agreement, Sweet Pea leans down to press his lips back to her collarbone. He works his way lower, lips wandering down her chest lazily. She’s vocal but quiet as his tongue and teeth graze her skin, little gasps and coos slipping from her mouth.

He grins against her when she hooks a leg over his hip, trying to pull him down to her. A frustrated sigh escapes her when he doesn’t budge, content to peruse her chest and drag more soft sounds from her. He could get high off the sounds she makes.

“Sweets,” she huffs, leg squeezing around him as he kisses across her left breast. Her fingers thread through his hair as his teeth graze her skin again, and she squirms when he nips at her, leaving a trail of faint red marks across her skin. As she presses her heel into his back, Sweet Pea’s hand slides down her side and back between her legs. His tongue swirls around her nipple and her gasps rise in pitch as he takes it into his mouth.

Sweet Pea rolls her nipple between his teeth as his fingers slip back beneath her underwear. His digits trace her opening and he groans when he feels just how wet she already is. Jubilee keens, hips rocking up against his hand as his thumb bushes against her clit. “Fuck,” she hisses against his ear. “Please.”

“I know,” he murmurs against her breast, the vibration from his mouth making her leg squeeze around him tighter. “Shit, Doll, you’re so wet.” Sweet Pea groans against her as two of his fingers sink into her easily, long and thick. Her head drops back against the mattress and her eyes squeeze shut as his digits drag roughly along her walls.

She arches into his mouth and hands. “Fuck, Sweet Pea.” He groans against her breast, curling his fingers and searching for the spot inside her that’ll make her gasp. Her walls cling to his retreating fingers, sucking him in deeper as his thumb rubs slow, teasing circles against her clit. Sweet Pea moves his attention to one of the hickeys on her breast, deepening the bruise.

Slowly, he works his way down her stomach, kissing a path down her quivering stomach. His nose brushes against her teasingly, and she squeals when his tongue dips into her bellybutton. Jubilee shoves his shoulder and he chuckles. His hands are hot against her skin as he gripes one of her thighs, holding her in place as he his fingers continue to thrust into her slowly. The soft sounds and sighs of his name slipping from her kiss-swollen lips make his heart swell with pure joy.

Jubilee inhales sharply when he slides off the end of the bed and drops to his knees, draping her knee over his shoulder. She sits up on her elbows and he locks eyes with her as he turns to press an open-mouthed kiss against the inside of her thigh. The shaky sigh that slips from her only encourages him. Sweet Pea pulls his fingers from her core and Jubilee whines at the loss of his touch. His fingers hook around the hem of her panties. Sweet Pea holds her gaze as he tugs them down her hips, Jubilee shifting to help him kick the scrap of fabric aside. Her bare leg dangles down his back and she presses her heel into his back to draw him closer.

Sweet Pea kisses across the inside of her thigh, working his way to her center as his fingers creep back to her opening.

Jubilee shakes her head, breathing out a laugh. “Really? You’d rather eat me out than fuck me senseless?” His fingers slip back inside her and the heat of his breath makes her toes curl against his back. Sweet Pea keeps a firm grip on her thigh and holds her gaze as his tongue flicks out against her clit. “Fuck,” she hisses. Her hips jerk, but he holds her firmly against the mattress.

“I can do both,” he reminds her before leaning back in and covering her clit with his mouth. She practically sobs as he starts to suck on the bundle of nerves, dragging her right up to the edge. The extended foreplay has left them both achingly sensitive and he’ll be damned if he doesn’t get her off at least twice tonight. “You gonna cum for me, Doll?” he teases, pulling away from her heat to glance up at her.

She drops back onto the mattress and grinds against his hand with a needy sound. “Sweets, please, just—” She cries out as he sucks on her clit at the same time his fingers curl inside her.

Jubilee cums hard, moaning his name as her hips jerk and her entire body trembles beneath his touch. Her walls squeeze around his fingers and he pulls his mouth away from her to watch her face twist with pleasure. His thumb replaces his tongue on her clit and his fingers slow, but he doesn’t stop, drawing out her orgasm until she’s boneless beneath him, the sensations too much.

Sweet Pea removes his fingers as she comes down from her high. He rises from the floor and crawls back up her torso slowly, the tips of his fingers trailing up the outside of her thigh. Another gentle sigh slips from Jubilee as he presses butterfly kisses up her stomach and between her breasts. She reaches for him as his lips find her neck. Humming, he peppers kisses up to her jaw and across her cheek, letting her catch her breath. Jubilee’s hands grasp his shoulders like she needs something to ground her, like she might float away from him if he lets her go. And then her hands slip into his hair, brushing his bangs away from his eyes before she pulls him into a kiss so sweet that his chest floods with warmth.

For a minute he just holds her like that, kissing her slowly as her fingers caress the sides of his face. But he’s hard and hot and it almost hurts when he presses against her thigh. A groan tears from his throat when she rocks her hips against his. “Fuck,” he murmurs, his forehead pressed against hers.

Jubilee exhales shakily as he grinds against her thigh to relieve some of the pressure. “Jesus Christ, Sweets,” she murmurs as she feels the full length of him pressing against her.

He hums. “I know, Baby.”

A grin pulls at her lips. Jubilee drags her palms down his neck to his chest, her fingertips tracing the lines of his stomach teasingly all the way down to the front of his jeans. Sweet Pea moans her name as her hand slips beneath his pants. She wraps her fingers around him and his hips jerk into her hand. The grunt that slips from him when she begins stroking him slowly is almost embarrassing and she lowers her mouth to his chin, kissing him gently.

He stares down at her with hooded eyes when her mouth leaves him. Sweet Pea braces his forearms on either side of her head, shifting his weight off of her as she continues to stroke his cock slowly. He thrusts into her fist and swears under his breath as she thumbs at the head. Jubilee’s fingers circle around the sensitive tip, smearing the drops of pre-cum leaking out.

Abruptly, she releases him, and groans at the lack of contact. Her head tilts back as she kisses his chin again, and she grins at him when he forces his eyes open again. Jubilee hooks her fingers around the waistband of his jeans and underwear, pulling them away from his skin before letting them snap back against him.

“Take these off,” she murmurs, needy hips rocking up against him. Sweet Pea hisses through his teeth as she grinds against the front of his jeans. Her hands slip around his back and into his pocket, where she fishes out the condom from earlier.

“Fuck,” he murmurs, swallowing back a moan when her hips circle against his slowly. It takes him a second to disentangle himself from Jubilee. He rises from the bed just long enough to kick off the last layers of his clothing before returning to the bed.

She giggles as she backs up, climbing up the bed, and he follows close after her.

Sweet Pea kisses her again, guiding her to lie back against the sheets as he slips between her thighs, and her fingers drag down his stomach again in response. His hips press against hers, his cock sliding between her wet folds and making them both groan at the contact. He grinds against her again, nudging her legs open wider, and swears loudly when she reaches between them to stroke him slowly and watch the way his jaw clenches at the pleasure that ripples through him in a wave.

She releases him long enough to rip open the foil package of the condom and he hisses through his teeth as she rolls it onto his shaft. He rocks his hips against hers slowly, running his cock over her slit, and Jubilee’s hands grasp at his upper arms, her fingers biting into his skin as he lines himself up with her entrance.

Jubilee hisses as he sinks into her, his cock stretching her from the inside. Sweet Pea slips into her easily, she’s so wet, and she shivers at the fullness, an ache already forming between her legs again. He’s big and hard and hot inside her, and when he shifts his hips she whimpers as his cock rubs against something wonderful inside her. “Oh, fuck, Sweet Pea,” she murmurs, biting her lip as his hips grind against her.

His responding chuckle turns into a moan when her walls squeeze around him, sucking him in deeper as her hips roll up against his, urging him to move. But he just rests there for a second, trying not to cum already, but between the foreplay and how warm and wet she is inside he’s already closer than he’d like to be.

Gently, he presses his lips against the side of her neck, kissing her there as he tries to control his breathing. Her pulse flutters beneath his lips and she pants, a light sheen of sweat making her skin slick against his.

Just as she starts to grow impatient, beginning to squirm beneath him, Sweet Pea moves, picking up a fast pace that makes her moan. His hips grind against hers purposefully, the friction on her clit making her toes curl into the sheets as she grits her teeth.

“That’s it, Doll,” Sweet Pea mutters, only half-aware of the nonsense falling from his mouth, curses and praises as she meets his thrusts. “Just like that.” His cock hits a spot deep inside her and her hips stutter against his, but he doesn’t stop talking as his hips move against hers roughly. “You’re so fucking incredible.” Her walls squeeze around him tightly.

A whine catches in her throat as he starts to thrust into her harder and faster. Her fingers squeeze his arms and her hands flutter over his skin like she isn’t sure where to grab him before she settles on his face and drags him down into a bruising kiss, her hips still rising to meet his.

“Come on, Jubilee,” he says when she releases him to breathe. His mouth immediately moves to her jaw, his teeth grazing her skin. She trembles beneath him, coil wound tight in her stomach as they continue to grind against each other. Her thighs twitch around his hips and she swears when his hand skims down her thigh.

She’s close, teetering on the edge, but it’s not enough.

Her arms wrap around him, her fingers digging into his shoulder blades as she holds him to her. “Sweet Pea, please,” she gasps, “I can’t—”

“I know.” He brushes her hair away from her neck before his teeth latch onto a dark hickey just below her jaw and he nips at her roughly. His hand finds her hip, pinning her in place as he sits up slightly on his knees. The angle makes her gasp and his lips drag down her sensitive neck. His hand slides from her hip down between them. “Just let go,” he tells her. “I’ve got you.”

Big fingers rub tight circles over her engorged clit and she cums again, choking on his name and arching into his chest. Her nails dig into his back and her hips jerk against his as her orgasm crashes over her. He fucks her through it. Slows his thrusts as she twitches, walls squeezing around him.

The strings pulling her taut suddenly release. Jubilee drops back onto the mattress, chest heaving and dazed from her orgasm. Her arms drop onto the bed on either side of her head, fisting in the sheets as his hips continue to roll against hers. The continued stimulation makes her twitch.

Sweet Pea kisses her, swallowing the little sounds spilling from her mouth. One of his hands finds hers and he pries her fingers out of the bed sheets to link their hands together, grounding them. He manages to hook his shoulder beneath one of her knees, forcing her open wider and making her hips shift, allowing him to reach deeper inside her.

She doesn’t have time to breathe as he starts fucking her senseless like she wanted, his cock pounding into her. He leaves her boneless and breathless, Jubilee taking each thrust against her sensitive core as whimpers and gasps spill from her mouth. The sounds she makes only spur him on and his hips grind against hers just right, cock continuously hitting a spot that makes her legs tremble as he fucks her into the mattress, chasing his own high as she teeters just on the edge.

He forces his eyes open, locking them on her and watching as her face twists in pleasure. She looks tiny beneath him, his frame caging her in and holding her open, and he fucks her harder.

“I love you,” he tells her, barely aware of what he’s saying, but she hears him. Her breath catches and her heart skips, and she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “Fuck. I love you.” His fingers squeeze around hers and his pace is relentless as she rocks against him. Sweat slides down his neck. He pants, tensing as anticipation grows in his stomach. His heart pounds erratically and he shudders above Jubilee, their breaths mingling as his forehead presses against hers.

She cums again when his thumb brushes against her clit, the stimulation from his fingers and his cock too much, but he doesn’t stop pounding into her. His fingers move against her clit roughly, dragging out her orgasm until she’s trembling and moaning beneath him.

Jubilee’s fingernails dig into the back of his hand and she whispers his name and everything falls into place.

His hips snap against hers and the pressure building in his gut releases. His cock twitches as he pushes into her roughly and his throaty moan is loud in the room as he spills himself into the condom.

Jubilee’s arms wrap around him as he pulls out of her, and her lips find his in the darkness that blankets the room.

Sweet Pea wakes up before her the next morning.

The sun is just starting to rise, light bleeding in through the windows lining the wall, the curtains left open during their frenzy the night before. He groans at the sunlight spilling in and buries his face against her hair, his grip tightens around Jubilee and she sighs in her sleep before curling closer to his chest. Her legs wind through his beneath the blankets and her unruly hair tickles at his bare chest when she nuzzles into his frame, chasing his warmth as his fingers idly stroke the length of her spine.

For a moment he just lies there, hazy and warm with his arms locked around Jubilee, content for the first time in days.

But the light is irritating and his bladder is full and as much as he wants to stay in that moment forever, he knows he can’t. It’s hard, breaking his grip on her and sliding from the bed without disturbing her, but Jubilee only sighs at the loss of heat. Her nose scrunches up before she rolls onto her stomach and Sweet Pea chuckles. His fingers linger against her cheek as he brushes her hair away from her face.

He cleans up around the apartment while she sleeps, gathering their scattered clothing and slipping on a pair of clean boxers. He has a series of messages from the guys asking how the night went. Most are earnest, but Fangs has been sending him strings of eggplant emojis again. He answers them all vaguely before leaving his phone on the counter. Sweet Pea finds her phone shoved into her jeans by the couch and sees a few encouraging texts from Lydia and Toni that make him grin.

Jubilee is still sleeping when he finally returns to that corner of the room and for a second he just stares at her. She’s kicked away most of the blankets, leaving them low on her hips, and her arms are folded under her head. Her right arm is stretched out over the mattress, her fingers curled loosely, and her left is tucked under her cheek, her face buried in the crook of her elbow. Her hair is a mess around her and her back rises and falls with her breaths. From where he’s standing he can just see the curve of her breast against the mattress and the red and purple marks decorating her neck.

What really stops him is the tattoo on her side, the one she tries to keep covered up. She looks small and soft and vulnerable lying there with the sunlight spilling in around her and casting gentle shadows.

He doesn’t really think as grabs his sketchbook and stool from the living room or flips the page from the drawing of her from last night, finding a fresh one. There’s no hesitation this time as he puts her down on paper, and Jubilee doesn’t move the entire time he’s working, like somehow she already knows what he’s doing.

And Sweet Pea draws it all. The tattoo. The hickeys. Her relaxed expression. Hours pass without him realizing it.

He’s just finish the details of her tattoo when she sighs. Sweet Pea’s eyes snap to her face and a smile immediately pulls at his lips when she blinks at him sleepily. Sweet Pea sets his sketchbook aside, closing it as he stands and crosses the short distance to her.

“What time is it?” Jubilee murmurs as his knee sinks into the mattress beside her. Her eyes flutter shut when he brushes her hair away from her face.

Sweet Pea presses his lips to her temple, leaning over her. “Early,” he tells her. He’s not sure what the time is anymore, but after the weekend they’ve had she deserves to sleep in for a while. “Go back to bed, Doll.”

Jubilee rolls onto her back beneath him, and his chest squeezes as she looks at him, her eyes searching his. His fingers brush against her waist above the edge of the blanket and she lifts her hand to the side of his neck. The tips of her fingers brush against the double-headed snake on his neck.

She’s quiet for a while. “Last night you said you love me,” Jubilee says suddenly. He stills above her, mouth dry and throat tight, but she doesn’t wait for a response. Her hand shifts to cradle his cheek and her thumb brushes against his bottom lip. “I love you too.” His lip trembles. “You know that right?”

“Jubilee,” is the only thing he manages to choke out. His heart pounds in his chest and his fingers twitch where they’re resting above her hip.

“I love you, Sweet Pea,” she repeats. There’s a nervous glint in her honey eyes as they continue to search his, but it’s the heartbreaking honestly that steals his breath. Jubilee takes a shuddery breath and her eyes leave his, flickering between his face and somewhere over his shoulder, like she isn’t sure where to look. “And if you didn’t mean it—” She shakes her head, eyes glossy.

“Jubilee,” he says again, but she still won’t look at him. He slips a finger under her chin, gently coaxing her to look at him. The doubt that flickers across her face makes the pleasant warmth in his stomach turn to ice and he feels sick suddenly. “Hey, look at me.”

She swallows thickly. “Back in high school, I thought—but after the Ghoulies—” She trails off briefly, more hesitant than she was last night.

He goes still. She’s speaking in half sentences, but he understands. Before that night they were so close to something. Ever since she came home the beginning of sophomore year they’d been right on the edge of something. Sweet Pea doesn’t know if he loved her then or if it came after, the guilt and the anger overshadowed everything. Things have changed so much since that night. They changed. Riverdale changed. But the way he feels about her is the one constant in his life. No matter how hard he tries to shove it down it always comes back.

He’s quiet for too long.

Jubilee exhales shakily. Her hands withdraw from him. “You never said anything. You don’t talk about it. We don’t talk about it,” she stresses. “And if I did something—”

“No,” he cuts her off immediately. Sweet Pea cradles her cheek and tilts her head so that she’s looking right at him. “Fuck, Baby, no,” he repeats, thumb sweeping across her skin. “It was never you, okay? Never.” He sighs and strokes her cheek again before letting her go. “It was my fault, not yours.”

Her brow furrows in confusion that quickly melts into realization. “Oh, Sweet Pea,” she murmurs. Gently, he pulls away from her, sitting up on the bed. Jubilee follows him, drawing the sheets up to her chest. “I never blamed you.” Her small hand slides from his elbow to his shoulder.

“I know, Baby.” He looks at the sketchbook sitting beside the bed.

“Do you?” She squeezes his arm. “It wasn’t your fault.”

Sweet Pea shakes his head. “I was supposed to protect you,” he reminds her. “When you came home I promised your dad I’d—and you got hurt.” It comes out softer than it’s meant to, his throat tight as the words choke off.

“So did you,” she reminds him, tracing one of the scars on his back. Sighing, she shifts on the bed. “Sweet Pea, look at me.” Jubilee doesn’t give him a choice. She tosses one leg over his, straddling his hips and forcing him to look at her when she grabs his face in both of her hands. Her expression is firm now, eyes alight with something fiery. “I’m right here,” she tells him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She doesn’t say it, but he hears it anyway. She almost lost him too. He was so angry after that night, self-destructive. They both got hurt that night. The Ghoulies left them broken in so many ways, and he’s tired of letting that control him.

He can’t help it when he relaxes into her, his big hands covering her hips and holding her steady. “I know.” His hand moves to the tattoo just behind her breast. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

She smothers his apology with her lips, kissing him firmly. He responds automatically, pulling her closer as her mouth moves against his slowly, pointedly, just like she kissed him last night. He was apologizing then too.

Jubilee pulls away from him quicker than he would have liked. She shivers when his thumb strokes across the flowers blooming on her side. “Are you going to kiss me every time I apologize?”

“Only when you’re being a dumbass,” she jokes, running her hands through his hair and brushing it away from his eyes. He chuckles and she leans in to press another chaste kiss to his mouth, smothering the sound.

Sweet Pea shakes his head as she drapes her arms around his neck. His arm locks around her waist as he stares at her and she sighs when his fingers start tracing nonsense shapes across her back. “Fuck, I love you,” he murmurs, drawing her in for another kiss. It lingers this time and he drowns in the taste of her. She pulls away from him slowly, playing with the short hairs at the back of his neck. “How are you feeling?”

“Sore,” she tells him. “Tired. Good.” His fingers knead her lower back and her lips brush against his again. “Really good.”

“Yeah? Good.” Jubilee giggles as he leans in to kiss her properly.

It’s later, when they’re lying down and wrapped around each other quietly in the silent apartment, with Sweet Pea’s hands tracing shapes on her back while hers rests over his heavily beating heart, that she asks, “Why’d you draw a new one?”

It takes him a second to realize she means the drawings of her. He glances over at his sketchbook. It’s shut, but he stared at each of them long enough to pull them both from memory. Sweet Pea brushes her hair away from her neck. “It just felt right.”

#riverdale #sweet pea #sweet pea x oc #sweet pea imagine #serpentcentral #sweet pea fic #oc: jubilee jones #fic: focal point #fic: art school #swubilee

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pallanophblargh · 5 years

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have you got any tips for landscape watercolours? i'd love to be able to paint scenery outdoors but i find the idea really intimidating

I’m kinda new-ish to it myself, but I’ll share my thoughts and experiences!

I think it would be a great idea to use a smaller, folding palette that shuts securely, and even better would be to fill it with tube colors that will be generally good for landscape work: ochres, siennas, umbers, etc. Smaller palettes are easy to carry if you’re getting into hard to access outdoor spaces. I use the one I keep at home because I’m currently lazy and haven’t customized a plein air specific palette yet! (Note: certain watercolor brands (M. Graham and co.) use honey as a binding agent. Bugs love it. So do take note!)

If you’ve got a nice sturdy palette with pan watercolors, by all means use that! I find these are the most popular option? At least from what I’ve heard.

A brush roll/case comes in handy for brushes. I bring a very narrow selection (big tapered sable, mid-size round sable, and a little liner, if I feel like getting grassy textures in.) Alternately, you can use a waterbrush: a synthetic bristled brush screws onto a plastic, squeezable handle that acts as a reservoir for water. Handy! Either way, it’s handy to bring a little rag/towel to clean off pigments if you need to. I otherwise bring a glass water jar that screws shut, a small mason jar works great!

For paper, I tend towards smaller watercolor sketchbooks. Initially, I was using the Moleskine ones, but I switched over to a Hahnemuhle watercolor sketchbook because not only was it smaller, but I immediately fell in love with the paper. Most of these come in landscape format, hurray! Cold press paper is a good choice for the heavy washes that tend to come from plein air painting, and it’s a good idea to have a paper you’re familiar with. Nothing worse than being in the middle of nowhere and realizing you hate the paper you’ve brought with you.

Many artists may bring traveling easels, especially if you are in a space that enables you to “spread out” a bit. I just plop my little book on my knees and sit on uncomfortable rocks and logs.

Generally speaking, plein air painting should be quick, and more or less impressionistic, but I find this depends on how quick you can paint. I’m slow, and have a tendency to sketch things out, so I have to get big washes down quick before the light changes. Blocking in big washes of light color and filling in details/shadows/color shifts from there make things work. I tend to work all over the page, instead of focusing on finishing one area, as though your are bringing a blurry image slowly into focus. Squinting at your subject can help to inform tones/predominant shapes, and those will be the most important aspects to capture. Details can come later! You can always develop an on-location painting later at home. Exact color matching isn’t important. Nor is getting every branch just so. It takes time and patience to loosen up, but being outside is the best place to do just that! There will be failures, and you’ll feel overwhelmed/silly, but all of us do. I know I deal with the fear of failure every single time, but the joy of getting through it anyway is it’s own reward.

Some links from folks that do plein air painting: http://danielsmith.com/blogs/georgia-mansur-plein-air-like-a-pro-watercolor-toolbox-tips/ and a forum that I myself need to start perusing: https://www.outdoorpainter.com/category/plein-air-beginners/

#April answers questions #plein air #watercolor painting #I'm still a watercolor novice but it's teaching me so much #the most fickle medium and yet I can't leave it alone #failure is always the first step!#second step is to remember to have fun

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daily-rayless · 4 years

Text

20 Years of Art

2000

(OC / Celes from Final Fantasy 6 / OC / OC)

The influence of Final Fantasy 6, off of the Anthology collection, and Yoshitaka Amano caused a significant shift in my art, leading my human figures to be very slender, graceful, and frequently pale. Most of it was of women, some of it was of horses, and by then I was very self-consciously starting to draw men. I mostly worked in pencils and colored pencils. Faces were oval with high hairlines and long, sharp, narrow noses. Also note my evident fear of mouth-seams and lower eyelids. I was pretty terrible at coloring, often feeling that coloring one of my sketches ruined all the nice linework.

2001

(Quistis from Final Fantasy 8 / Rosa from Final Fantasy 4? / Schala from Chrono Trigger / Dark Knight OC from Final Fantasy 4)

This is where more anime influences came in, and I consciously took on a semi-anime, semi-realistic (in my own mind) style. My ideal of beauty was overbig eyes, overlong nose, and oversmall mouth, and I stuck to it pretty relentlessly. Trying to figure out shadows and face structure. Still bad at coloring. I was incredibly proud of that charcoal picture. Was also going through my mandatory Dark 'n Edgy phase, with a big helping of Phantom of the Opera, Sarah Brightman, and my attempts at designing supercool clothes, many of which I wouldn't have actually worn, even given the opportunity.

2002

(Me trying to recreate “Flaming June” / OC, who incidentally looks almost exactly like Sarah Brightman and whose diadem was bodily lifted from a Jodi Lee painting / angsty symbolic wet chain lady / OC)

Deep in the Dark 'n Edgy. Faces are still very heavily made-up, with big lashes, defined upper eyelids, and dark lips. Trying very hard to be a good artist though, have high expectations for the future. I was so proud of that final pose and worked so hard on it. Lined paper? So not a problem. Besides, how else am I supposed to draw during class? A sketchbook would've been even more obvious than the incredibly obvious I already was. I'm able to listen while drawing pretty reliably, and I did manage to take detailed notes while doodling, so at least I had that going for me.

2003

(Celes / OC / OC / Hermes-inspired wing lady)

I was focusing (at least some of the time) on backgrounds and trying to make my work detailed and polished. Coloring is still hopeless. Often when I colored, I would go super light, even when I was using dark or intense colors. It would give my pictures a sort of faint, half-assed hazy look. I remember an art teacher urging me to use more color, but I probably resisted because I knew that way lay total destruction. I'm sorry, well-meaning art teacher. You are unversed in the ways of my pencils. I have killed too many sketches to take those kinds of risks.

2004

(Rosa? / Meliara from Crown Duel / willow-dress lady / Geddoe and Queen from Suikoden 3)

See the Meliara picture? That's supposed to be a night scene in a forest. Front-lit by blazing firelight. I was too afraid to make the colors darker. This is dark enough, okay? Anyway, this year, along with being utterly obsessed with Suikoden 3 and Crown Duel, I was letting my art head in a more realistic direction...

2005

(OC / Queen / Queen / part of Zetta and Salome from Makai Kingdom; I remember deliberately copying those swoopy Ss from one of my friends’ handwriting. Wishes ended up being the first longform fanfic I posted online.)

...that really flourished this year. It's not actually realism, but I made a point to give my characters, especially the women, more realistic bodies. Faces are very round in this period, often with soft features. Noses are prominent. I'm also, finally, using more vibrant colors. I probably got my first Prismacolor pencils around this time. I also got some really cheap markers, but had no idea how to use them so mostly stuck to pencils.

2006

(All OCs)

I look back on this as a good year. I was learning better coloring techniques. (Bold colors! Press that pencil down! Okay, I still had much to learn.) I got an Elfwood gallery while the site was doing its slow mosey into oblivion. But that was an important step, not just looking at other people's art online, but putting my own up as well. There were downsides though. I began to feel more insecure – or maybe more realistic? – about my art, on this site with so many highly talented artists. Still, 2006 is a good year. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.

2007

(vampire and hunter / Fleur from Harry Potter / OC / Avril from Wild Arms 5)

The year of Fleur Delacour. This is when I was writing Kindred. I think it was because I was trying to depict Fleur as distinctly non-human that my art shifted away from that more realistic style. Fleur, and my other figures, became very tall and slender. The anime DNA is still there though. For a long time, I felt the lying-down picture of Fleur was my best work.

2008

(Revya and Gig from Soul Nomad / my attempts at being “abstract” / OC / OC)

This was the year of Soul Nomad and, towards the end, Tales of the Abyss. Unsurprisingly, the anime influences start moving back to the fore. The eyes are becoming larger again, the features a bit more angular and stylized, mouths are shrinking. I'm still desperately trying to figure out markers and wondering why it's so darn hard (I don't try to educate myself, I just flail), but I was proud of that blue OC picture. It made me feel like I was getting somewhere. 2008 is when I started my deviantART gallery, right when everyone else was moving on to Tumblr.

2009

(teacup lady / Persona 4 noir-style comic / Revya / OC)

Then Persona 4 hit. Shigenori Soejima was a huge influence in this period, especially in eyes and faces. Pupils, chins, and jawlines shrink, eyelashes are sparse and stylized, noses are simplified. 2008 and 2009 are about as pure anime as I've ever gotten. Meanwhile, I'm really exited about my dA gallery and trying lots of different combinations of media. I'm super active on dA and FFN at this point, writing Elysion and then a slew of shorter Persona fics.

2010

(Minako from Persona 3: Portable / concept-art-version Minako / lady with dragon ferret thing / other lady with dragon ferret thing)

I'm still drawing with a lot of Soejima influences. Additionally, bodies are becoming even longer, taller, thinner, and bendier. Some of them look absurd to me now. On the other hand, a lot of pictures from this period have a nice elegance to them. I was still using colored pencils a fair bit, but more clumsy markers are showing up. Persona 3: Portable came out, and this is when I was writing Death and Ker.

2011

(mask lady / hat lady / Archaya, Duphaston, and Iryth from Eternal Poison / symbolic autumn lady and her winter baby)

Midway through this year, I hit a breakthrough when I got my first set of Copics – and skin tones, no less. Even though I was still flailing, I was so thrilled with my results. That Eternal Poison picture left me enormously proud, as did the mother and child one. My style hasn't changed all that much, but it's starting to feel less extreme. The focus on big eyes and tiny little mouths remains.

2012

(Elza from Suikoden 2 / Daryl and Setzer from Final Fantasy 6 / Killey and Lorelai from Suikoden 2 / Lyssa, Greek goddess of madness)

This is the year of Elza. Lots of delicate sketches of this lovely scarred lady, and lots of colored pictures too. I've definitely shifted away from pencils towards markers. The Daryl and Setzer one was an attempt to use both, and I was very happy with it. These pictures show their age, but there's still a lot here I like. Mouths are larger too. However, my online activity was starting to lag.

2013

(Rydia from Final Fantasy 4 / Nia from Infinite Space / the prophet and Schala / Argos and Io from Greek mythology)

The mid-2010s weren't entirely great for me, marked with a lot of frustration and discontent. And that definitely carried over to my art, making me feel very disappointed with myself. There was lots of marker work this year. Probably the standout picture is Argos and Io. This is also when I played through all three routes of Fate/Extra, and my art was suddenly full of Hakuno and Emiya.

2014

(Minako / butterfly lady / Marta and Tenebrae from Tales of Symphonia 2 / Elza)

Looking at it now, this was a good year. Lots of nice marker art. The butterfly one was a big step up for me in terms of coloring. The Marta and Tenebrae has a really cool stylized look to it. But I was becoming less enthusiastic about sharing my art with others. I started to post less and less.

2015

(evil Hakuno and Emiya from the Fate series / Mitsuru from Persona 3 / half moon cookie lady / Hakuno)

I barely posted anything this year, though I was still drawing a ton. As far as making strides, this is one of my better years. Coloring will never be my strong suit, but it's a lot more fun, and it looks a lot better. It's almost entirely marker-work at this point. Despite my, er, angst, a lot of people are smiling this year.

2016

(OC / doodle lady / Luna from Roman mythology / hair bow lady)

At this point, it's feeling too recent for me to really see what's changed. I did a fair bit of eraserless work. One problem I still have – and, yes, it involves coloring my pictures – is losing some of the image's personality after I've inked it and erased the initial pencil work. The picture's still there, but not as nuanced as it originally was. The results often feel stiff to me. Doing the first linework in ink, or not inking at all, allows me to keep that sensitive, spontaneous quality. Luna and the bow and doodle ladies were done without erasers. Another thing I did a lot this year was fill backgrounds with busy shapes and colors, which is a trend I’m still following today.

2017

(flapper and dog / Alcyone and Ceyx from Greek mythology / flower hair lady / Kida from Atlantis)

Not a good year. Not that the art is bad, there just isn't a lot of it, and what there is often isn't very finished. I was still mostly dark online, wondering if I should take down my dA gallery. Drawing and knowing I wasn't going to post something took off some of the pressure of my own expectations, but I was still unhappy.

2018

(Altera from the Fate series / Elizabeth Bathory from the Fate series / OC / Aranea from Final Fantasy 15)

This was a really important year for me. I wrote a novel I'm really proud of, and it's done a lot to give me confidence and a sense of creative direction. I also decided that after New Years, I was going to start a Tumblr gallery...just as everyone who was still on the site was jumping off of it. Much of my 2018 work is still sketchy and unfinished, but I also think it's loosening up some. It feels less stiff than the stuff from the middle of the decade.

2019

(Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn / medievaly lady / Red from Transistor / Red)

The year of Supergiant Games, which led me to focus more on bright saturated colors. It's really hard for me to analyze these objectively. Coloring is better? I worked more on details? I used my metallic gel pens a ton and did shape-cluttered backgrounds? These aren't new things, but I think they paid off okay. I'm more at peace with my level of ability, I've finished more complicated works, and I crawled out of my den and started posting regularly online again. So that's all good. Curious to see what the art looks like in twenty more years.

#art progression #20 years of art #2000-2019 #i'm not tagging all the characters #this is a terribly long post #and shouldn't clutter up too many search results #thank you if you read the whole thing #i apologize for typos #art meme #art summary

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spacenerrrd · 6 years

Text

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover: Chapter 4

Sander Sides

Word count: 1519

Characters: Patton/Creativity, Virgil/Anxiety, Patton/Morality, Logan/Logic

Warnings: Negative thinking, kinda the start to a panic attack. Please let me know if I missed anything.

Summary: Logan runs a library in a small town, allowing him to share his love of books without feeling left out. His business partner and friend Roman helps by running the bright Disney themed cafe that attracts more people to stay for longer. The two clashing but somehow perfect match of a friendship went their days peaceful in their small community until one day a new pair of brother; Patton and Virgil, moved into town and showed the owners a new way of life.

Chapter four: A nice encounter

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3

~~~

Scrape.

Roman was cleaning the area of the cafe after the library had closed. Humming one of his favourite songs when he’s working in the cafe, Gaston, he dusted and broomed after pushing the tables and chairs to the side. He insisted that he would pack up after Logan’s emotional afternoon, not letting him know of his own. Lights flickering off to hide the cakes and lettering of his little part to the library, the rest of it was soon turned off as he walked out. Gloves on to keep his fingers from freezing, he made his way down the road. Like Logan, he was lucky to be able to be walking distance from the library. Starting to break into a light jog (which was awkward considering his prince outfit wasn’t fit for running), his boots trotted heavily along the apartment before turning into the cul-de-sac. Nose starting to go pink from the cold, he made quick work of the keys and rushing inside. Taking a sigh. He turned the lights on and the heater to full blast. As much as he loved to play the prince persona as if he was actually one, he went straight to his room to take off the boots, suit and makeup that started to weigh him down. Getting changed into his Disney pyjamas, he played some soft rhythms through his phone to calm his already exhausted brain from over working anymore. Only having left overs to eat, the aroma of pasta goodness filled the house as he waited for the microwave to stop. He could finally let his expression be true to itself in the safety of his own home. He didn’t smile, or look that joyful at all. Bags under his eyes and poorly taken care of skin that the makeup his so well, his posture slumped more than his usual ‘royalty’ pose.

Beep beep beep.

Pulling the container from the microwave and sitting in the corner of the couch, he started to eat in a silence as he tried to pick a movie from his completely adult section of movies….a variation of Disney, Dreamworks and other cartoon movies.. His expression almost seeming emotionless as he finally settled on Winnie The Pooh. Finally a gentle small smile was on his face as he hummed the tune. When he saw Tigger on the screen his smile grew as it reminded him of Virgil and the kids. The story telling and sketching Virgil did for them. He cringed a little as he remembered how emotional he got and his cheeks heated up from the memory of the hug. He honestly didn’t expect it from Virgil. Someone who seemed to hate him initiated the hug and stayed with him until Roman basically demanded for him to leave so he could go home. Even then Virgil seemed hesitant but left the library with a Patton happily skipping behind. A soft smile was on his face as he relished the feeling before Roman suddenly snorted. Choking on his pasta, he was in a laughing fit. Gasping for air as he couldn’t get a breath between his laughter, he remembered that he slipped a note into Virgil’s pocket during their hug. Don’t be mistaken, he didn’t fake it. They were very much true tears, but Roman was just always prepared to leave a little something for a cute guy.

Virgil had immediately went to his room, grunting to let Patton know who went to start dinner. He sat at his desk and pulled out his sketchbook. Falling on to an open page, he stared….and that’s what he did for 45 minutes until Patton called him downstairs. Groaning in annoyance, he basically stomped down the stairs to the table. Patton had a small concerned smile on his face that calmed him down almost instantly. He sat down on the table and started eating his chicken. He never really said it, but he was grateful that Patton took the time to learn how to cook proper food for them after….

“So I saw you were helping Roman today.” Patton said, looking down at his food but Virgil could hear the smile on his face. Of course he would point it out.

“One of the kids wanted me to come over and play with them.”

“Awww that’s so just the sweetest gosh-darn thing! I overheard you guys making some wild stories, was it fun?”

Surprisingly a lot. “I guess.”

“You have to give me more than that kiddo! How was it like hanging out with Ro?”

Amazing. “It was alright.”

“Juuuuussssttt alright?”

Virgil looked up to see Patton looking at him, shimmering his shoulders and wiggling his eyebrows in a way that couldn’t stop him from laughing. “Shut up.”

“Watch your language kiddo.”

;“Yea yea. Thanks for dinner Pat, I’ve got work to...do…” Virgil was reaching into his pocket to put his headphones back in when he felt a foreign piece of paper in his pocket. He pulled it out to reveal a phone number. Who’s it was was evident by the small crowns places on the top of every 0, making the hooded boy blush. Patton raising a curious eyebrow jumped on the table to look at the paper from above. He gasped excitedly when he recognised the design. “AWWWW THIS IS SO ADORABLE!!”

Virgil trying to make an annoyed face at his brother just sulked away, message he wanted not really effective by the blush on his face. “It is not!”

“IS TOO YOU BIG SOFTY!!”

“LA LA LA I AM NOT LISTENING.” Virgil called back, blocking his ears until he made it back to his own bedroom. Sighing, he laid down on his bed, school work to be forgotten about as he stared at the number. It was calling out to him to just do it but the growing anxiousness was trying to hold him back.

“What if he didn’t think anything of that hug?”

“What if he just sees you as a loser?”

“Emo?”

“Failing student?”

“He graduated last year and he already owns a cafe. What are you going to do?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re an angsty teen who is just good for no-”

“He really likes you kiddo.”

Virgil’s attention snapped up to Patton who was in his doorway. “Don’t you remember the rules about privacy Pat?”

“I do, but your door was cracked open and I heard your breaths being really heavy as I walked past. I didn’t mean to intrude, I was just worried.” Patton’s face told it. His smile was full of concern as his eyes tried to tell Virgil a million different heart warming things.

“It’s alright, I’m just….what if he doesn’t like me in anyway? What if he sees us as a tutor-student relationship? He is just so much better than me and I’m scared that he’ll think of me as nothing and-”

“Virgil, calm down.” Patton had swiftly sat next to the laying down Virgil, taking a hand between his own. “I see the way he looks at you when you’re not looking. Believe me, he doesn’t see you as just a student. Besides, he only graduated last year himself, right?”

Virgil was afraid of his voice cracking, so he just nodded slowly.

“Exactly. He won’t see you like that, you just need to believe it.”

With the calming traces of Patton’s fingers across his knuckles, Virgil’s breaths started to even out again. His mind had slowed down and wasn’t screaming at him about everything bad that could happen. Almost like routine, once Virgil clung on to Patton’s hand a bit tighter to ask him not to leave Patton shuffled on to the bed more, lifting his younger brothers head into his lap. Sighing contently as his hair was being played with, his eyes looked up to the blue shining orbs of his brothers. His protector. “I’ll stay here with you, but I’ll promise not to look unless you show me.”

Smiling gratefully up at Patton, he grabbed his phone from his patched hoodie and opened up contacts to add the new number in. After a few shaky breaths he got the courage to open messages and send a text that took him 10 minutes of rewriting and convincing from Patton that it was fine.

anxiousemo: hey disney nerd

Virgil stared at his phone for 5 minutes. Panic was starting to set in again as the seconds tick by. Patton continued to play with his hair lightly, reassuring him that he was just busy. Virgil’s thoughts were getting loud again, betraying himself and taking his breath away. He wasn’t going to be able to stay rooted for very long. He was just pathetic and-

Ding.

They both froze as they looked at the screen

👑RoRo👑: hello dark and stormy night

Patton shrieked in joy, making Virgil jump and laugh with a smile. “Calm down calm down, he….I’ve got this.”

Patton nodded but was still jumping up and down in excitement. “I’m just so happy for my little brother.”

“Alright, thanks Pat. Now stop jumping otherwise you’re going to make the bed hit the….wall.��

Scrape.

~~~

Yoooo, I’m kinda really happy with this so I hope you guys enjoy this. If you wanna know about future chapters let me know and I’ll add you to the tag list ^-^

Next chapter

Tag list below:

@deathbyvenusftw @moonlightinwater @princeanxious @roman-is-a-gay @coffeekeyboardsss @ocotopushugs @thepoolofthedead @sanders-sides-things @angered-turtle @gayrobotalien @rebaobsessions @a-ghosts @catsandrandomness @fricksonsticks @v-blue-writer @hanramz-the-fander @your-username-is-unavailable @emphoenixcat @daughterofsomnus @anaveragegayfan @louisthewarlock @saro5100 @6tick6tock6 @nienna14 @fandomsofrandom @notalwaysthevillian @thestoryoferissur @at-least-seven-pretty-potatoes @virgil-crofters @thatgaydemigodnerd @ijustreallylovesanderssides @221b-quote @bubblycricket

#ayyyeee #look i've done another chapter #sander sides #logan #logic #patton #morality #virgil #anxiety #roman #creativity #logicality #prinxiety #thomas sanders #sanders #sander sides fanfic #Don't Judge a Book by its Cover #djabbic

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tgwltw · 6 years

Text

request: i loved ur “its a twin thing” fics ! can u do one where batsis finally goes to talk to Bruce or the batfamily in general about her crush (it can be roy if u want) because she doesn’t know how to deal with it? ty

I know you wanted batsis to talk to bruce or the batfam in general but I decided to write something else and it’s also not Roy too! This happens to coincide with an idea I have been playing in my head for a while so decided to incorporate it here. Thank you for sending in this request and sorry it took a while for me to put it up! Hope you enjoy!

p/s: I just started replaying Fire Emblem recently so... you’ll know it when you see it.

You sigh as you absentmindedly draw random objects on your sketchbook, contemplating on whether or not you should be talking to any one of your brothers about your current dilemma. Ever since you are made aware of it, you have been tossing and turning for countless of nights - often resulting you in looking less than kempt whenever morning rises - and today, you finally decided to talk to one of your older brothers - although you are pretty sure even if you did not talk to Damian, he will find a way to know about whatever it is you are hiding from him - and try to see if they have anything smart to say about your current situation. All of the trainings you have received from when you were still with your mother definitely did not prepare you for this thing at all and you can say that you are currently at an impasse.

“Nice drawing.”

You are startled from your thoughts by the voice near your ear and you looked up to see your oldest brother, Dick, studying your drawing. You give him a sheepish smile, putting the sketchbook along with the pencil on the coffee table in front of you. “To what do I owe the pleasure, big brother?”

“Do I need a reason to visit my darling sister?” Dick replies easily as he sits beside you. He grabs your sketchbook and your hand twitches the slightest bit. You know if you snatched that book right now, Dick is going to see right through you and your problem. He looks at your current drawing. “That’s a very detailed sketch of a crow.”

Thankfully, due to your training, you are able to not blush upon hearing Dick’s words. Even though it is simply a crow to Dick, to you, it meant a whole lot of different things and just thinking about it makes you want to hit your head and train endlessly until you manage to stop thinking about it… about him. Which brings you back to your current dilemma.

“I saw that crow when I visited the park a few times with Titus and Damian.” You tell Dick and he nods his head; he is well aware of how often you like going to the park with Damian. Dick notices how distracted you are and studies you.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

“Are my thoughts only worth a penny, brother?” You answered him, causing Dick to chuckle and shakes his head. He skims through the pages of your sketchbook and just as he is about to reach the very last page, Dick closes the book and places it back on the coffee table, making you visibly relax. “

Dick gives you a non-committal response and turns to look at you. “Y/N, you know if you are in any trouble, you can talk to me right? Is there something the matter?” He asks, worry laced in his voice. Normally, you would try to talk his ears off about what you did with Damian or things that happened in Gotham Academy, etcetera which is why the moment he had set feet in the living room, Dick is surprised with your lack of reactions. “Is anyone bullying you in school?”

You shake your head. “Damian takes care of that.” You then quickly realizes what you have just said so you clear your throat. “What I meant to say is that Damian takes really good care of me and I will not stoop to their level of pettiness so no, no one is bullying me in school.”

Dick continues to stare at you. “I see… I suppose that is good then.”

You nod your head and swallowed the sigh that threatened to escape your mouth. “I have a question.” You turn to look at your brother. Dick raises one of his eyebrows, urging you to tell him the question. “What is the definition of love?”

Dick is slightly taken aback by your answer. He furrowed his eyebrows. “I suppose it varies. I don’t think there is really a specific definition of love - love is broad.” He scratches the back of his head. “Why do you ask? Do you like someone, Y/N?” Dick’s eyes widen in realization and you had the audacity to flush slightly at his implication before shaking your head.

“No,” You mumble. “At least, I don’t think so.” You grab your sketchbook and your pencil before quickly standing up. “I think I am going to talk to father about this.” Before Dick can even reply, you hurriedly leave the living room, with only one thing in your mind and that is to catch your father before he leaves the manor.

Unfortunately for you, the moment you step into his home-office, Bruce is not around but unfortunately (again) for you, Damian is sitting at your father’s desk, going through the company reports. You give your twin a flat stare. “Are you sure you are allowed to mess around with that, brother?” You ask him as you step inside the office.

“Tt. Father often tells me a lot of things I almost never listen to, sister.” Damian places the papers down and stares at you. “Are you here to talk to father? Sorry to say this but you have missed him.”

You shrug your shoulders. “I can see that…”

Damian places his chin on top of his hand, staring straight at you. “Sister, are you by any chance here to talk to him about your recent… shall I say, obsession?”

Your eye twitches slightly and Damian chuckles, snapping his fingers. “I knew it.” He tells you as he leans away from the table, making his way to you. “Do you like someone?”

“His name is Henry.” You confess, knowing that sooner or later, Damian will find out anyway and at the back of your mind, you know that it is better he finds out about your ‘crush’ from you rather than from anyone else in your family. Damian’s eye twitches and he places a hand on your shoulder.

“Please tell me you do not have a ‘crush’ on that new transfer student who seems to be gyrating on everyone’s nerves with his bad puns and macabre jokes.” Damian murmurs and you simply stare at your twin. He drops his hand and shakes his head. “Sister, of all people, why him?” Damian doesn’t necessarily have a problem with you having crushes - he knows there is 98% chance that most won’t approach you since they know you have six overprotective men in your life but he knows Henry is the type that falls in the 2% and he doesn’t know what to feel about that.

You shrug your shoulders. “Various reasons, I suppose. He has the oddest ways of putting someone at ease, brother. Even with his bad puns and macabre jokes…” You trail off. You have talked to Henry quite a lot of times actually and surprisingly, he was nothing like what you had expected. “He has had a bad past, almost similar to ours and I think… perhaps to say that I have a crush on him would be too much at this moment. I do enjoy talking to him and he does make me feel happy at times but when I asked Dick earlier, he said love varies - love is broad.” You explain to Damian and he nods his head.

“Tt. Of course, Grayson would come up with something like that.” He studies your expression. “Do you think father has the right answer to your question?”

You shake your head. “I don’t think so - I also don’t think that there is actually a right answer to my question.”

“Regardless, if Henry ever hurts you…” You had to smile at Damian’s hanging threat. You don’t even know why you had initially thought to keep this dilemma of yours from him afterall he is the one that knows you the best too. “Let’s us take Titus on a walk. It would do all of us some good.” The smile on your face grew bigger and you hook your own arm with Damian’s, leaning to his side. “Tt. The things I do for you…” He mutters under his breath but since you are so close to him, you heard him loud and clear so you simply chuckle.

“I love you too, brother of mine.”

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visualskills2 · 3 years

Text

Exercise 1. 2: Good working Habits

1. What do you need to be creative?

My notebook (No the sketchbook but the notebook I use for writing). I did this for the first-time last assignment, and it did work well. I not only got an idea for the assignment but also a couple of other that are quite interesting

My own space and music.

Sketchbook

Magazines

Cheap paper or a table (not often)

Art materials. Lot and lots of them (It is funny because I always use the same, but I feel safe is I have gouache or acrylic even though I do not use them. This is like Charly Brown and the blanket).

Pinterest and box of reference

2. Are these certain factors that are important for you to develop your work?

I prefer to work from home. I want to join drawing and painting classes, but I feel ashamed of my work. I think feeling safe is important.

3.1 When, where and how do you work?

I cannot work in two different things at the same time. If I have a personal project or even a sketch book and university work, I get overwhelm. Although I ma not sure if this is just before I have the new space because before was exceedingly difficult to have to projects at the same time.

I am a late person, so I do normally work better at night. I think I like the quiet time.

3.2 How might you develop this approach further?

Improving sketching is paramount because I always can have ideas, but I always feels that my ideas are too complicated to illustrate. This will change is I sketch every day. First, I need to see the kind of things I can do (type of registration). Last year I did a sketchbook of madness where I used every technique, subject and mix and much with styles. I had a couple of drawings that I love so I took one of those (ink with brush and nibs) and I started a sketchbook that follow that illustration.

This idea worked well. First allowed me to know the medium better but also, I explore subject matters and ideas that were similar. I will love to finish the ink sketchbook and start a new sketchbook and start this process again.

I also want to add a new step. There is a couple of pages that I did not like and I want to go back and add pastel or oil pastel. I think this will enrich my imagination and can complement the journal I keep.

4. How do I best document my work?

Photos and videos. I need to learn how to take better pictures and videos for this purpose.

5. What kind of questions do you use to reflect on your work?

Did I achieve what I was looking forward? Did I put effort? Do I like? Was it as interesting as I thought was going to be? Do I like? Do I hate it?

I think time is also important when you are looking into something that you did. Allowed you to be objective.

6. How important is the reflection in your process?

It is important but I do it mostly at the beginning and at the end. I think I am a bit rigid in the middle of it.

7. Can you develop new questions and prompts?

Yes. I can. I have been writing since I was 16 so I do normally extrapolate this process to my illustration process. When I write, I have a couple of places to go for a new idea. Fee writing, what if, something that I am reading at that moment. Something that bothers me (normally politics) and I had used this process when I am looking for ideas to illustrate. The problems with these are the complexity of my ideas. When you write the sky is the limit, but I am not sure I have the skill to translate my ideas to drawings (sad)

8. How does this reflection help feedback into your making?

It depends on the reflection. It is easy to improve on a technique or research on a particular type of perspective but sometimes the reflection is ambiguous, and it is difficult to translate in a appropriate behaviour.

9. How would you describe your creative process?

A bit messy. I do not have a consistent creative process.

10. What sort of stages do you go through initiate and develop your ideas and work?

First: I have the exercise prompt and come with a draft of an idea. Follow by a lot of thoughts, adding and changing the original idea.

Secondly: I start working of the project, doing the first sketches, changing the general idea

Third: At this stage I do normally have an idea of the style and colours I want for the piece. I might do research on a technique that I want to use.

Fourth: I think this is the problematic part. Even when I know something is off, I move on. I do not change the idea or perspective. I always running against time.

11. How important are restrictions to your process?

I always work with a restricted palette of colour, but I do it naturally. I have never tried other type of restrictions to see. Perhaps size. I did that when I work in the tomato project and that was fun and worked well. In summary, I do not think I have done it enough times to be more than anecdotal.

12. Do you start with an idea or proposal, start making and see where it takes you or work in a different way?

It seems that I am rigid. At the beginning I can adapt, to change from one idea to the next but after I invest a bit into an idea, even when I do not like it, I do not seem to be able to change. That has happened a couple of time. The first time, I could not start again. The second time, I continue, and it was nice, but I think it would have been nicer the other idea or perhaps to test it.

13. Do you have any strategies to deal with creative blocks or obstacles?

I have never experience creative blocks. I guess it is because I always thinking about staff, reading, or looking to other people’s work and these things are inspiring. I also free write that also trigger ideas. No all of them are usable but many are.

I do suffer other type of obstacles and this is more related with self-doubt. I criticise everything that I do too much too soon. I have notice that paralyze me and I am not able to solve problems that I will normally be able to.

14. What does experimentation look like to you?

Buy need art supplies and mix it up with other things. I also tried other people techniques to see how I can interpret them. I have made brushes or modelling. I am not afraid to get dirty.

Unfortunately, I am not sure how this fun time (I really enjoy this) can be translated to a piece. I watched a couple of days ago an illustrator using an air brush for watercolour painting and I have experiment with it but I have not been able to use it.

So, I can come back to a fear of failure. I think this is the main issue.

15. Where do you work, what kind of physical spaces do you need?

I need a big table. No all the time but I do. I think that help me to work bigger and to see all the things that I am doing at the same time and compare. I also need good lighting (I have eye pain so working in poor light conditions are bad for my condition. I still looking for a better lighting option within my budget)

16. When do you work, how best can you structure your time?

This is also a problem. Back to the light. I prefer night-time to work, I can work all night long or for longer period without interruptions, but the lack of natural light is a problem and the shadows with artificial light is also a problem ☹

17. How do you draw on inspiration to feed your creativity?

The muse. I do not have a muse. If I do not know what to do I read or watch a film, read my diary, or write. I do not have an inspiration moment. I have a zone moment (I am in the zone) where I can write for hours and hours or draw and draw but it always happens when I am already working.

I think the zone is more like a concentration period rather than a muse, but other people might disagree. I have seen this “zone” phenomenon in my writing group a lot. People who can write 1000 words in 15m without a problem. I asked people and they think to believe it is inspiration.

#assignment1

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maisysketchbook · 3 years

Text

Evaluation

here is my final outcome of the theme “my place”.

thought and ideas

My initial thought process behind my outcome was to showcase the little things we take for granted, for example I wanted to create a project of different things inside our home and outside that we don't notice their purpose until we take the time to take in what their own belonging is and their own purpose. I found that just simply looking out of a window you can see so much and I always find myself taking photos of things through a window or simply just a light that brightens up the room and changes your mood. In my sketchbook and board, I used a lot of symbolism for things just make sense to me and how they make me feel, as when I thought of belonging all I could think about is memories of certain things and drawings I would link them to like a story.

photography

Here are a range of some examples of my own photography showing many things I see every day: family and pets/traveling to destinations and interior, all things that I feel link together and inspired me in my work to think about the things I have created.

materials, process and techniques

Throughout the assignment I have learnt many techniques drawing and printing. I learnt how to blindfold draw using fine liners, I found this the most fun process as you didn't know what you were creating the idea is to not look at your paper whilst focusing on the thing you're drawing. you can go back in to the drawing after to add more detail and put more attention to it.

Screen print was the first printing process I designed, this was a design of cut out from magazines, most of the cut outs were interior décor related like lamps, clocks, plants that I stuck together in a collage. these were later put onto a screen press with my design on, then I pressed it on my board where I overlapped the colours, I did this for the whole board, these prints came out really clean and I was super proud of them. like another technique intaglio was a really easy to carve and found this the easiest to get the hang of, next time I would learn to add more ink

Lino is a process I want to try more of as I feel like if I was to do it again I would defiantly able to get the hang of it as most of my prints just was experiments, with one outcome on my board. dry point print was another process that I found quite difficult as i found it hard to add detail and felt like they did lack in colour

drawing sessions

I really enjoyed the Thursday drawing sessions with Derek as I felt like I started to become more confident in my mark making not really thinking too much about it. these were my best bits of work and I really enjoyed going back into these blindfold drawings and continuous line drawings that was not really anything till I added bold and thin lines and detail. I also gained skill to be able to not spend too much time on one drawing and being able to do rapid, fast sketches.

mixed media boards

With my boards I wanted them to be able to come together but also contrast, I did this by having a more minimal board with light colours then the other be darker and gloomier.

In this board I had my screen print design as the background, using primary colours in the style of Andy Warhol, how the prints are very clean and with also the colours working well together, effectively the blue and yellow mix well to make a green. I chose designs of things we take for granted, one being a small acrylic painting of a family with their back towards looking out. To me family is very important and I wanted to interoperate that somehow, as they make me belong. I then used a sketch out of my sketchbook of a cat looking out of the window. Another thing important to me is my pets so I drew my cat, making the colours work good together making same colour theme with the greens and blues. I do like that you can still see the background of the screen print with the blue wash on top. To link something to my other board I used flower packaging paper for a line of it with green acrylic over top to mix colour scheme from other board. After I was happy i added some texture, I got a sharp knife and scratched off some of the acrylic paint to give more of an edge to what is seen as happy painting.

For my second board, I chose to do a more seasonal painting representing my favourite season autumn. To do this I painted a window looking through into an orange land. With the extra acrylic paint, I painted the background and put some texture to it by using a scraper tool. With the lino print already there I chose to paint these orange lanterns behind it as lanterns are a big part of my childhood as I always remember celebrating with these small lanterns watching them fly into the sky. Again, creating texture with my scraper tool, I used a lighter green from the lino colour and went over where the orange line is. The artist inspired by the messiness of this board was Anselm Kiefer who uses a variety of materials to create these 3D art pieces that really do make the art work more interesting as many of his art is inspired by landsites. Because this board is more of an outside aspect adding a muddy, nature textures makes it stand out and you can tell instantly that the messiness of the colours and texture bring the outside out

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