#note that this is a *me* problem and i will be removing myself rather than demanding change | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sobuildabeautifulcity · 10 months

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i have been very firmly not involved in fandoms for a While because the g,lee fandom was a trainwreck and i got burnt out. but i was so excited for r,wrb that i gave in and started keeping an eye on the content coming out.

gonna put it under a read more, but tldr; i dont think i am compatible with fandoms. its all so much fretting about the worst case scenario & thinking the worst of people you’re supposedly fans of. the enjoyment of the first week is gone.

i made sure to block anyone who was being negative about the film, bc i protect my peace, but i think i am just not the right person to be involved in fandoms. there are 4 weeks (ish) left till release and i’ve reached my limit. i think i’m going to have to stop, because im not getting that enjoyment anymore.

perhaps if the s,trike hadn’t happened & there was more content coming it wouldnt have been so bad. theres only so many things you can do with a 2 minute video, and 1 interview type thing. but i just keep seeing things that bug me and i’m not in the mood.

there’s been a… r,pf thing going on in the tag & i generally don’t care about people privately s,hipping that kinda thing but its… annoying me. partly because neither actor talks about their relationships (and by extension their sexuality) so i don’t like seeing people speculate that they must be into men bc of these two photos. they use a couple of behind the scenes pictures and one promo interview and are basically saying that because their characters are together, they must also be. and it lowkey feels insulting about their acting abilities but whatever. they’re still playing a role even as themself not the characters. of course its gonna look like they’re close (not saying they aren’t), they’re actors selling their film!

then there was a series of events with one of the main actors archiving 2 photos off his insta, incl one w the other actor (also its one of the ‘together’ photo ‘proofs’). honestly i don’t even understand the outrage but its all about him absolutely 100% hating the movie and his co-star and just immediately thinking the worst. and i just.. do not have the energy to care. its more t,witter than t,umblr for this latter one but it just descends into personal attacks and that within an hour. its all so unnecessary. someone made a good point that it could’ve just been that it didnt fit the theme he has on i,nstagram and then got piled on to the point they deleted it… its tiring.

maybe i am not the right person. i made my own little corners of fandoms before & found people who felt similarly. perhaps ill have to try that again.

#eli's nightblogging #censoring stuff with commas so it doesn’t come up in searches #note that this is a *me* problem and i will be removing myself rather than demanding change #because thats what mature people do when they find spaces online that they disagree with #that was targeted but im tired

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harunayuuka2060 · 8 months

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MC's employer: With all the experiences you have, you could've applied to a better job rather than to stay in this old, pathetic flower shop.

MC: You have accepted my application. Are you regretting it now?

Their employer: I mean, you look kind, reliable, and I'm sure I can depend on you but it makes me so guilty because I can only give you a minimum wage.

MC: That's enough for me, Miss. Now I'm getting back to work. You wouldn't want the customers waiting.

Their employer: Oh surely. Wish you luck again today!

MC: Thank you, Miss. *goes back to the counter*

*a customer walks in*

MC: Hello there. What can I get for you?

Customer: I'm here to buy flowers.

MC: Is it a gift for a special someone? We have a ready-made bouquet.

Customer: No. I want you to choose flowers for me according to this message. *hands them a note*

"Please forgive me and come back."

MC: Perfect. We have all the flowers that you need. Please give me a moment to arrange them.

Customer: Take your time.

MC: *arranges the bouquet; finishes it within minutes*

MC: *returns to the counter* Would you like me to attach this message?

Customer: ...

Customer: No. This will do. Thank you.

MC: Thank you for choosing Fragrant Fields. Have a nice day.

*The customer leaves.*

Asmo: How is it, Lucifer? Did they notice that it's you?

Lucifer: *removes his disguise* No.

Satan: I really thought they would see right through it. Is it because they're no longer a sorcerer?

Mammon: Man! Now what?

Belphie: How about we show up and ask them directly to come back in Devildom?

Levi: Wouldn't that make things awkward though?

Beel: Yeah. MC left Devildom three years ago. We should've done it sooner.

Mammon: Well that's because Barbatos wouldn't let us!

Lucifer: *sigh* Don't start arguing here. We'll think of another way.

MC: ...

MC: Miss?

Their employer: Yes?

MC: I've got a text from my landlady that there was a sudden problem in my apartment. Would it be alright to sleep at your house nearby?

Their employer: Sure. No one's using it anyway. Here's the key.

MC: *chuckles* Thank you, Miss. You're so kind.

Their employer: *waves her hand dismissively* Close the shop for me, okay?

MC: Yes, Miss. Take care.

Solomon: Hello? MC? How are you?

MC: I'm doing fine. By the way...

MC: I've met Lucifer here in the human world.

Solomon: ...

Solomon: Did he bother you?

MC: *chuckles* He was in disguise so... I'm not really sure.

MC: Maybe he's not here for me.

Solomon: ...

Solomon: I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Solomon: What reason does he have to be in the human world other than taking you back?

MC: What for? I'm no longer any use of them.

Solomon: ...

Solomon: MC, I want to visit you. It's been three years.

MC: ...

MC: After I buy myself a house, I promise to invite you.

Solomon: *whines* But when will that be?

MC: *chuckles* I'm hanging up. Please take care.

Solomon: Take care of yourself too, MC. I'll call you again.

MC: *ends the call*

MC: ...

MC: *smiles to themselves* Now I feel so much better.

Mammon: So what time are they going home?

Asmo: It's already late. Are you sure this is where they're staying?

Satan: Yes. I can't be wrong.

Belphie: *is in MC's bed* Satan is right. This is really their apartment.

Mammon: Then where are they?!

Beel: I'm guessing that MC had guessed we're all in the human world and they're avoiding us.

Levi: What do you think, Lucifer?

Lucifer: ...

Lucifer: If that is the case, then I'm afraid I have to drag them back.

MC: *sleeping peacefully*

Luke: MC doesn't seem as exhausted as before.

Simeon: Hm-hm.

Luke: But Simeon, are you sure it's alright to see MC like this without them knowing?

Simeon: We just want to be sure that they're doing fine. And aren't you their guardian angel, Luke?

Luke: !!!

Luke: Y-Yes! I shouldn't feel guilty! It's my job to protect them!

Simeon: Shh. *smiles* You're going to wake them up.

Luke: R-Right...

Simeon: ...

Michael: MC is going to disappear soon.

Simeon: What do you mean by that?

Michael: ...

Michael: When a human disappears, wouldn't that only mean one thing?

Simeon: ...

Simeon: Please prevent it from occurring.

#obey me #obey me nightbringer #obey me mc #obey me lucifer #obey me brothers #obey me solomon #obey me simeon #obey me luke

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blessedarethebinarybreakers · 4 months

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Not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I gotta start somewhere. I've been learning a lot about indigenous history and activism as I work on deconstruction, and a sentiment I come across a lot is bitterness towards Christianity. I cannot emphasize enough how much I fully understand. The rough bit is that sometimes when I read their work, I get the implication that there's nothing worth saving in the Church/Christianity- that to hold on to it is to hold on to all the colonialism and white supremacy and yuck.

As a disabled trans Christian, I get that, but it still hurts. I love God and am a Christian despite everything. I want to be an ally to indigenous people, but I want to follow God this way too. I know those aren't mutually exclusive, but it feels that way sometimes. Do you have any insight for me to find peace in this regard?

Thank you.

Hey there, thanks for the question, sorry for the delay!

This is something I've also wrestled with — a question I ask myself over and over, and probably always will. I cannot offer you peace, because as Jeremiah 6:14 says, "There is no peace!" — not while our faith continues to be wielded as a weapon against so many peoples. What I can offer you are some of the thoughts that have allowed me to continue to be Christian with hope that this faith can be better than what it's long been misused for, and the resolve to do my part to make it so.

First, that Christianity isn't unique in being co-opted by colonialist powers.

Any belief system can be twisted for violence, and many have been. If Christianity didn't exist, white supremacy still would — colonialist powers would have found a different belief system to twist into justifying their evils.

That absolutely does not absolve us from reckoning with the evils that have been done in Christianity's name! This isn't about shutting down critiques of Christianity with "uh well it could have been any religion" — as things played out, Christianity is the religion responsible for so much harm, and we need to acknowledge that and listen to groups who tell us how we can make some form of reparations.

But for me at least, there is some comfort in understanding that Christianity isn't, like, inherently evil or something. Recognizing that it isn't unique even in its flaws helps me look at the problem with clearer eyes, rather than wallowing in guilt and shame, if that makes sense.

Next, that there are Indigenous Christians, and Black Christians, and other Christians of color — that oppressed peoples have found things worth cultivating within Christianity! If they can find something worthwhile in this faith, it would be arrogance for me to deny it.

For instance, even when white slaveholders edited Bibles to remove too much discussion of liberation, even when white preachers emphasized verses about slaves being obedient to their masters, many enslaved people recognized how Christian faith actually affirms their equality and the holiness of their desire for liberation.

Black Theologian Howard Thurman opens his 1949 book Jesus and the Disinherited with a question asked to him by a Hindu man who knew the harms white Christianity had done to both their peoples: “How can you, a black man, be Christian?” The long and short of Thurman’s answer is that, in spite of the pain and exploitation too often inflicted by Christians in positions of power, the oppressed have always been able to see past that misuse of the Christian message to the true message lived out by Jesus Christ: a message of liberation for all.

For more thoughts on why and how to keep being Christian in spite, in spite, in spite...I invite you to look through my #why we stay tag.

___

How I wish that Christianity had never gotten tangled up in Empire! but it did, and it still is, and because for good or ill I cannot help that my spirit is stubbornly drawn towards the Triune understanding of the Divine, the best I can do is to use my privilege and what small influence I have within Christian institutions to move us towards decolonization. What some of that's looked like on the level of my personal beliefs:

I am firmly against any form of proselytizing. I don't support evangelism financially, I speak out against it, I don't platform it. (If someone wants to hear about my faith, they'll come to me — I don't run after them. And if someone does want to have that conversation, I aim to make it a dialogue, where we are learning from each other.)

I continuously work to recognize and uproot Christian supremacy within myself — the beliefs I didn't even realize where there until I started digging. That has included challenging any inkling within myself that Christianity is the "best" or "most right" religion. (One book that's helped a lot with that is Holy Envy by Barbara Brown Taylor.)

I seek wisdom from and relationship with Christians of color. Their insights are vital to our faith, and I try to use what small influence I have to uplift them.

On that last note, here are some resources I recommend as you continue to explore these questions:

This First Nations Version of the Christian Bible is gorgeously written, and a great way to explore scripture through a Native lens.

Native by Kaitlin B. Curtice is a lovely poetic memoir that explores how one person has sought to hold both her Christian faith and Potawatomi identity within herself. (She also has a new book out that I haven't read yet but really want to!)

God is Red: A Native View of Religion by Vine Deloria Jr.

Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Richard Twiss

I haven't read any of these 4 books but they look good too

This video with advice to non-Indigenous Christians

If anyone has any resources to add, please do!

#why we stay #issues in christianity

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furryllamas · 5 months

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Can’t Help Falling in Love | A. Walter

+ Alex Walter x OC

+ Summary: Life has been difficult for sisters Jackie and Eden Howard. Obviously regular teenage girl problems, such as boys, school, and friends. Except tragedy that ensues, the death of their parents and older sister. They'll have to navigate a life without their family, just throw in love, the countryside, and a whole lot of boys in one roof.

+ Authors Note: Hey guys I really hope you enjoy this first chapter, I was really inspired after seeing Ashby play Alex and absolutely fell in love 🤍

Chapter 0.0 | Two Time Zones Apart

The sound of LA traffic was not great, but it was definitely quieter than the sound of the streets of New York. It's only been 6 Months since I moved to LA semi-permanently. I still got homesick often but there was no place like California. Ever since the transition from being a model to a singer it was a choice I had to make, with mom and dads approval of course, even if it meant seeing Lucy and Jackie less.

"Oh Gosh. What time is it?" I grumbled as I rubbed my eyes. I looked towards my bedside table and picked up my phone. "10:30 AM" I removed the bed covers and stretched my arms over my head. The smell of my room always gave me some comfort in the mornings. I headed to the restroom and pulled my hair into a bun and turned the faucet on. I started washing my teeth when I heard my phone ringing. I ran back to my room to pick up my phone that was lying on the bed. A video call from Jackie. I quickly pick up the phone as I walk back to the bathroom.

"Juswt whun sewkand-" I attempted to say with the tooth brush still in my mouth. Jackie let out a quick laugh, "take your time Eid." I put my finger up, just one moment, and place the phone in front of the faucet handles, holding it up. I quickly rinse out the toothpaste and splashed my face with water to ensure I would fully wake myself up.

"Hi Jacks! How's it going?" I waved and picked up my phone.

"EDEN! It's going so well! I can't wait for you and Lucy to come home today! I missed you guys so much." Jackie smiled softly.

"Oh my, we haven't been away from you that longgggg" I teased as i sat down on my Vanity. I panned my phone to the stack of luggage by my window.

"Okay I know, BUT, I just missed you guys so much." She sighed. "It's been a month since I've seen you and Lucy. I'm just so excited for you to see my excellent work tonight."

"I know Jacks, My flight is at 2 so I'll probably be there by 7-ish." I start applying my makeup and look away from my phone. " and plus Lucy will be there sooner than me, so you'll get her while you wait for meeee."

She laughs, "Right, what would I do without your wisdom." She stays quiet for a couple of seconds, "How's your new song going?"

I wince, "It's going..." She looks at me confused. "I've just been lacking in inspiration lately. I'm hoping going home will help with that."

"I'm sure you'll get a spark of inspiration once you spend some good old fashioned time at the ballet with me."

"Thanks Jackie, I've missed you guys so much. I can't wait to get there tonight."

I stop to think. "Dinner at The Penrose?"

I look at her smile, "of course Eden! That's our spot."

"All right deal" I look at the time, 11:30AM, "All right sis, I have to head to the airport, see you soon!" I reach over to hang up, "wait! Remember mom and dad will pick you up later tonight so we can all go to dinner together."

"Okay, perfect! Bye Jacks, love you!"

"Bye Eids!" I hung up.

I start getting up and shutting the curtains. It might be a while until I'm back but I'd rather keep my room clean.

Ding Dong.

I head over to the front door that smells strongly of oak. Walking past the pictures I have hanging of Mom, Dad, Lucy, Jackie and I. I open the door and smile as I see the face of my amazing Manager, Lizzie. "Liz! Come to say goodbye to your favorite client." I giggled as she stepped in. "Excuse me! Not just my client, more like my favorite friend!" I hug her and drag her to my room.

"Oh gosh, look at all this baggage..." she exclaims standing in front of my suitcases. She reaches over and picks one up. "Alright Eden! Let's get moving and load these into the car, your driver is waiting."

I look over to her and smile, "You got it boss!" I salute. It was an easy load up and we wasted no time getting in the car. "Are you excited to see your family again?" Lizzie asked. "Yeah I'm a bit nervous though. I haven't seen them in a couple of months, I feel like I've missed out on a lot." It was hard being apart from them and not being able to see them as often as I used to.

Lizzie looks at me and smiles softly, her polished nails and her soft hands reach over to mine. She grabs them and turns to me. "E, you need this. You've been homesick for a while and I think this trip will help you with the new song." I lean my head back against the headrest and turn my face to look out of the window. "I know Liz." I turn back towards her. "Thank you for helping me today. It means a lot. I'll miss you lots."

She just smiles at me and I start feeling tired, car rides always seem to wear me out. I take one last look at the highway we're on and slowly close my eyes. I let sleep take over me and an oddly weird feeling at the pit of my stomach. I hear Liz whisper, "I'll wake you when we get there."

#alex walter x reader #alex walter #mlwtwb #my life with the walter boys

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fixyourwritinghabits · 10 months

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Hi!

I've recently finished my first draft and I'm ready to get to work on the second.

My autism makes it hard to use those "tips and tricks" people usually have, so I thought about working out a step by step for myself instead, but I have no clue where to start?

Hope you can help or point me in the right direction, as I'm at my wits end.

I don't have any grand secrets, unfortunately. I've attempted to read many, many books on editing, trying to discover the secret that I appear to be missing, but none of them really helps. Note the big changes first, they say. Fix the little things after.

But when everything seems like it's a mess, I don't know how to distinguish between big fixes and small ones. In the end, everything needs to be fixed, and I just have to slog through. However, there are some things that work for me, as frustratingly slow as they can be:

First make sure you're ready to edit.

Sometimes you have to trunk that book for a lot longer than you think. You have to give your brain a long enough break from it in order for new ideas to be formed. Put it away, as long as you can, and give your brain a break. Coming to your story fresh is the best way to start.

This doesn't sound like it works, and believe me, the temptation to dive right back into the book after a week or so is high, but give yourself decent break. Read some books, watch some movies. Shake up those weary creative drives in your brain for up to a month or more before you take another crack at it.

(If you're not tackling a large product, you can wait for a shorter period of time, probably. The longer the book or novel, the more of a rest you should have. If you're writing a fanfic chapter by chapter, the temptation to post immediately is high. Don't do it! Let it rest for a couple of days before reviewing it. You'll thank yourself later.)

Have an outline.

If you didn't start with an outline while drafting, laying out your plot where you can see it will really help you figure out what threads need strengthening. My favorite technique is flashcards and sticky notes that have a short summary of the chapter or scene. Both can be easily rearranged, removed, or shuffled about.

If you have a multiple POVs, color-coding your chapters can help you lay out how much progress each character has made and what areas of the story might need shoring up.

Another thing that can be of help is reworking character sheets or notes. I've been struggling with a particular character who I adore, but who's motivation I've been having trouble nailing. For this draft, I've been able to figure out what the thorn in their side was and write a much stronger story for them as a result.

Slog through from the beginning.

Yes, some people can dive right into those problem areas. Boo to those people, I say. Boo. For me, the only thing that works is to start from the beginning and work through each chapter at a time. Yes, this does involve getting stuck on how to fix things. There is a lot of dramatic lying on floors and pestering my completely bewildered cat when I hit a wall.

But starting at the beginning allows me to see where I need to slot in elements I only started to figure out later in the book. It allows me to weave in foreshadowing and pick up subplots at the right places, rather than throwing them in when I think of them. This method may mean you'll have redraft a few times, and yes, I have to start from the beginning each time. But it does work, even if it takes time.

Just don't ask how many drafts I've done of this damn book I'm working on.

#editing #plotting #writing advice #it's a lotta drafts unfortunately #each time I find a surprising new typo that's been there since FOUR DRAFTS AGO

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spumoniidraws · 6 months

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I had this idea about Gale and his mortality.

And rather Gale and my Tav. Tavrina is an elf. A high elf at that, meaning she will live 700-1000 years. That fact alone would be enough to worry Tav. She would dread the thought of him passing before she does. In all the rush of fighting the netherbrain, then running off with him to Waterdeep, getting married and living domestic life, I doubt it would have occurred to her as she fell head over heels for him. Humans live such short lives by comparison. As the panic sets in, she wants to find a way to extend his life. Gale mentioned Elminster is 1300 years old. Maybe he can help. Or perhaps Astarion with his knowledge of immortality. She would ask. She would become increasingly desperate, toiling away hours while Gale sleeps trying to find an answer. She doesn't know anything about magic, but she does know monsters. Maybe Gale would be willing to become a Lich? Small anxiety fits and mindless research to a problem she made on herself. How could she love him properly? It would be like loving a dog? Was any of this even moral? There are plenty of half-elves in the world right? Proof an elf can properly love a human....right???

Finally Gale finds her notes. Mad scribblings of rituals and powerful spells. Notes about their vampire friend. Notes about Elminster. Weave manipulation. He reads over them with concern, particularly at the word "Lich" circled in the corner. He consigns to sit her down with some tea and have a chat about mortality. -G: My love, I found your notes. I worry something is troubling you. You know you can always unburden yourself with me. -T: It's...its just thoughts. -G: Seems to be more than thoughts. A growing obsession rather. Your scribbles are filled with fervor and worry. Questions of immortality? Wish spells? Lich rituals? My dear, I fear you may be dabbling in things you don't know, and while I have never questioned your intelligence, this is powerful magic you're looking into. Your skills with a blade are unrivaled, but you are no mage. If you needed help with something, I am here for you. -T: It....it wasnt something I could ask you for. -G: Why not? Whatever could you be looking into that your own husband can't help you? -T: I was looking for ways to extend your life. There is silence as Gale tries to ponder what she is saying. Tav's hands grip her cup nervously as she continues -T: I am ..most likely...going to outlive you. And that thought stirred something in me. A fear in my heart. The thought of going through all of this just to lose you so soon. Even in the best cases you maybe have 60 years left or so. Thats....nothing. Her tone is somber and filled with sadness. Gale set's down his cup, then removes her cup from her hands and takes her hands in his. -G: Is that all that this was about? You're worried about me dying? -T: N-no! I'm worried about living the rest of my life without you! I'm worried about whether or not its even right for us to be together! You should be able to grow old with someone! Not watch as you age and your wife remains unchanged. You should be able to live a normal human experience! And my selfishness in loving you...wanting to have you to myself....It would be like how long a dog lives to a human. You're only here for a short time. How could I love you appropriately, knowing I will blink, and you will be gone?

Gale's face twists through so many emotions. Concern, love, disagreement, and then confusion. Did she just call him a dog? With a deep inhale, he would begin. -G: Perhaps, you are thinking far too little of our time together. And I would request that you stop that right now. His voice is firm and scolding. -G: Even for a pet, the love we have for them is immense and it is the only thing they know of us. For us, they are only a small part of our lives, but to them we are their whole life. Immortal gods who meet their every need. Pets don't reflect on their mortality or worry about whether they are loved. They simply live every day as best they can. And we love them all the more for it. His words trail into a whisper as he grips Tav's hands tightly. -G: Yes...one day I will grow old and grey, and however unpleasant it is to think about, die. But every moment spent with you, however long or short it may be, I will cherish it with every fiber of my being. His thumbs roll over the back of Tav's hands as he looks at his own hands. -G: I won't lie and say it hasn't crossed my mind that I would become old and grey while you remain as beautiful and as youthful as the day we met. And as senility and babbling set in-...well I know I already babble, but you understand...I imagined you might tire of me. I questioned whether or not I should spare you that pain and release you. But I fear my time with you has made me a bit selfish, and I wasn't prepared to have that conversation. I don't know if I ever would be. He pulls Tav into a kiss and leans his forehead against hers. -G: After everything that we have been through, every moment with you is a gift. I have never thought otherwise. Your love for me is unparalleled to any other love I have ever known. I have never doubted it. Not once. And I will cherish every moment, waking or not. And I will cherish you as much on my deathbed as I did that first night we shared a moment of magic. And it will have to be enough, for both of us. Because I have no intention of becoming a Lich.

#baldur's gate 3 #baldurs gate tav #baldur's gate iii #baldur's gate oc #baldurs gate 3 #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #gale bg3 #bg3 gale #baldurs gate gale #gale x tav #my writing needs work

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akucat · 2 years

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i love you, haven’t i always? where various bungou stray dogs characters react to you saying that you love them for the first time

❥ note: PLEASE NOTE there are manga spoilers in tachiharas part (which also happens to be my fav part, listened to a pearl by mitski while writing it... you can do the math), also ik this is such a weird collection of characters (kinda?) but i thought welp if im writing this for myself i might as well write my fav characters ! enjoy <3

❥ pairings: chuuya dazai nikolai tachihara fyodor tecchou x reader (separately)

chuuya

he feels like the luckiest man in the world, he finally understands all those cheesy proposal speeches

it happens as you’re cleaning up some of his small wounds, a scrape here and there after his job

“you should really take more care of yourself, chuuya,” you say, dabbing away the dried blood on his forehead (to be honest you weren’t even sure if it was his)

“i could say the same for you, you know, too busy cleaning up my mess when you should be focusing on yourself”

“oh hush, i’d much rather spend time tending to the man i love than doing paperwork for mori”

you were expecting a witty remark, but instead he went silent, removing your gaze from your delicate work to watch his mouth form an ‘o’

your cheeks went red as you finally registered the words that came out of your mouth, but chuuya was quick to calm your worries

“took you long enough,” there was the snarky remark he probably could’ve pulled off the nonchalant act if he didn’t have the biggest shit-eating grin, eyes glistening with awe

“i’m taking it back, lose the ego”

“im kidding! i love you too!”

he may be damned wasting his life away to the port mafia, being abandoned by those he cared for, but he was pretty certain loving you was going to make up for it, he knew it would

it was hard to finish cleaning the rest of his wounds when all he wanted to do was kiss you a million times over

dazai

his first initial thought was that you were lying to him

hes been used his whole life, he really just thinks youre playing with him

was this a prank chuuya put you up to? he doesn’t rly think its funny :[

but he watches as your eyes quiver with uncertainty- why would you be nervous over such a silly prank?

“ah you don’t have to say it back dazai! i just wanted to tell you..!” youre playing with your hands in your lap and then it hits him

youre not like those horrible people who used him, you’re his darling partner and you love him

he feels his heart shatter and he can’t tell if it’s because of his initial reaction - believing you would ever want to cause him harm - or because he’s overwhelmed with so many emotions that he just can’t contain them

you’re nearly as shocked as he is as you watch him wipe way the tears under his eyes, and you’re quick to apologise, you weren’t expecting him to be so upset over your confession

“oh belladonna don’t worry about me! i love you too, my darling”

he swears he can feel his heart slowly heal all its cracks and bruises as youre smiling the prettiest smile he’s ever seen, moving to kiss his tears away

tachihara

he doesn’t want to believe it at first

it’s not that he doesn’t trust you, it’s just that his work is dangerous and accepting his feelings about you would end up only causing you harm, in reality he should’ve pushed you away ages ago

but that’s exactly the problem, he was too selfish to push you away, and here you are, in his shitty apartment with that goddamn bandaid over his nose and you had finally told him those words

he doesn’t know how to feel- he feels guilty because of course you feel this way, he has been leading you on for months knowing full well that commitment wasn’t possible on his behalf, but he also hates that you’re telling him when hes like this - this isn’t him, this is mafioso tachihara, this is hunting dogs tachihara simply acting a part, a part of a greater, grander scheme that is supposed to result in the downfall of the port mafia; the downfall of you

he wishes you could’ve told him when he was simply just tachihara; before he joined the hunting dogs, before he joined the port mafia as a mole, before his brother died, but to be honest he wasn’t entirely sure that you’d tell him those few words - i love you, tachihara - if he was still that version of himself

so instead he decides that he’s going to be selfish just once more; the world had taken so much from him, surely it would be okay to take something for himself just this once

he closes the gap between your figures, resting his forehead on yours as he swallows his emotions, his regrets and burdens

“i love you too, y/n”

the world could take everything from him, but he would never let it take you

nikolai

he’s ecstatic, you’d think he was a teenage boy thats just heard his crush likes him back

“really! you do!?”

he’s grabbed both your hands in his, and you can only smile as you watch him struggle to contain his utter bliss; grinning so hard the corner of his eyes were crinkling, eyes shining with what could only be described as pure adoration

“of course i do, kolya, i love you”

hes just so elated he doesn’t know what do do or say, and you giggle at his reaction because hes so happy and you’re so happy and being in love with him, you think, is the best feeling ever

nikolai eventually decides the only thing he can do is tackle you in an embrace, smothering your face with kisses and he holds you tight in his grasp

his entire life had felt so purposeless, he’d never known what to do with himself, but he truly, finally felt as though he’d found his freedom

you were his freedom, you introduced him to so many colours, so many emotions he hadn’t even known existed before he met you

he’s not the insane, apathetic man everyone had made him out to be, he was nikolai gogol, a man bursting with so many feelings and emotions who’s only reaction was to pepper his lovers face with kiss after kiss after hearing such a beautiful confession that he had completely forgotten to-

“oh right! i love you too, y/n! i love you!”

he was nikolai gogol, the man who had the blessing of loving you

fyodor

it’s like every nerve in his body is telling him: NO, this is a HUGE red flag, abort immediately

and i mean, this is the fyodor dostoevsky we’re talking about, when is he ever wrong?

he know’s he isn’t wrong, either, and that’s whats eating at him

he knows he’s right but he so desperately wants to be wrong, just this once

he knows he cant accept this, no he cant hear you out this once, you’re wrong about all of this, you’re wrong and he’s right

you dont love him

it just isn’t right

but his body seems to be doing the exact opposite of his intentions, and he has absolutely no idea why he feels his cheeks warming up

he has to control himself, because god forbid he go against his intuition, he’s the genius after all-

“fedya...?”

how could he ever say no to you

you’re his everything, his darling, his light in this plagued world, how could he ever possibly hurt you?

he wants to be chased by you, eluded and teased and adored; he wants to drink tea beside you in 10 years while you laugh about the problems you were once so troubled over

he wants to dream of you, keep all of you inside his mind, his physical, personal mind

he wants you

he softly chuckles at your desperate demeanour, how could he be so cruel, keeping you waiting for so long?

he moves his hand to cup your chin, tilting your face upwards to his own

“i love you too, milaya”

you fool he thinks, why couldn’t he just follow his intuition?

tecchou

he short circuits, poor him, you’ve broken him

he literally struggles to conceive a proper thought let alone speak a coherent sentence

“tecchou...?”

“say it again”

“i love you?”

congrats, you’ve killed him

he feels like his heart is beating out of his chest, he’s certain you could even hear it from this distance (he’s so happy jouno wasn’t there, he could not deal with the teasing, not today)

and then something clicks in him and everything comes crashing down at once

you love him you love him you love him he loves you he loves you he loves you

he does what he first thinks to do, pulling you in close by the waist and kissing you and ohmygod you can feel him smiling against the kiss

to be honest you don’t even want to let go to catch your breath, you’re certain you’d be happy dying like this- being kissed to death by your lover, tecchou

he finally lets go of you and you watch as he stares at you for what feels like an eternity- and you don’t complain, how could you?

"i” kiss “love” kiss “you” kiss “so so much” kiss kiss kiss

you’re a blushing mess and youre certain you both look like a bunch of giddy idiots who are so enchanted by the other that all you want to do is kiss forever and ever, and you’re pretty sure tecchou would do exactly that if he could - goddamn humans and their need for oxygen

tecchou always was misunderstood for the most of his life, his special ability certainly didn’t help his case of alienation either, but he was more than happy to catch up on all those years with loving you

he pulls you in for another kiss

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thefrogdalorian · 5 months

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Dincember Day 19: Coat

Word Count: 1989 Rating: General Summary: You and Din arrive for a vacation in a picturesque snowy mountain town. There's just one problem: you brought the wrong coat. You head into town in search of the perfect coat but after a long day of fruitless searching, fortunately you have an incredibly patient and attentive Mandalorian to help you through the shopping stress. Content Warnings: Reader struggles to find a coat that fits right (not specified why) so maybe a little body image issues if you squint. Author's Note: This may or may not have been inspired by me spending the past two days looking for the right coat while shopping and now being ready to drop from exhaustion (hence the later post!) but hopefully tomorrow is the day! This one is linked pretty heavily to Day 1 and Day 12. I tried to make it as inclusive as possible in terms of why finding a coat that fit was hard, I struggle myself (I'm very tall) so if that applies to you too, I feel you. It sucks. Hope you enjoyed!

Link to read on AO3 | My Dincember Masterlist

The moment when Din walked through the door holding a bag of shopping should have been the first clue that something was untoward. You knew that he enjoyed the occasional visit to the weekly market that passed through Nevarro with you but you had never known him to be one to shop for himself, certainly not without you. So, your curiosity was piqued when you noticed Din’s return with a mysterious bag, both at what he had bought and the reason for his apparently secretive shopping trip. Given thousands of attempts though, you would never have accurately guessed what Din had purchased. It was the last thing you expected to see.

“What have you got there?” You asked, getting straight to the point as you sat on the couch with Grogu on your lap.

“It’s for this little guy,” Din said, nodding towards Grogu as he removed his helmet and placed it on the table in front of you.

With his helmet out of the way, Din took the mystery item out of the shopping bag. He revealed it to be a little red coat with matching red trousers, complete with foot coverings, just small enough to fit Grogu. It appeared to be a snow suit of some kind. You were thoroughly confused. You looked up at Din questioningly. Nevarro was a warm planet with lava flats, you had never known there to be a day cold enough to necessitate such a garment. It was then that Din had told you that the vacation you were taking was, to your surprise, a cold planet.

You had done your best to pack for the surprise trip that Din had told you would be to cold climes. Although that was difficult, since the selection of clothes you were working with was intended for climates much warmer than in the mountains of Corellia, where Din had brought you to vacation. After one afternoon of playing in the snow your coat had proved to be woefully inadequate, the material was not thick enough and it was completely sodden after a snowball fight with Grogu.

The first morning that you woke up in the snowy paradise, rather than being able to enjoy your surroundings, the first order of business was to procure you a more suitable coat that would protect you against the elements. The two of you were heading into town to shop for a new coat. You felt enormously guilty that your lack of preparedness had put a stop to all the fun you could be having. Plus, shopping when you needed something was not the most pleasant experience. You did not have the luxury of browsing the shops, selecting something for a treat that took your fancy. If you didn’t manage to find something suitable you would not be able to enjoy your time here.

Din had dressed in his beskar’gam for your excursion and despite how bad you felt, he would let you feel no such negative emotions. But despite his insistence that you needed to get this coat sorted so that you could enjoy your time here, you still felt awful. Plus, given Din's unsual appearance, you were painfully aware that he was turning a number of heads as you wandered through the streets of Doaba Guerfel. You doubted that the picturesque mountain town where you were staying for a festive winter retreat was used to many Mandalorians. You had done your best to ignore them though, and remain optimistic that you would find the perfect winter coat in one of the various clothing retailers dotted around the quaint town.

But the day had dragged on, beyond even your worst fears. You had been searching for what felt like an eternity. Now, Grogu was getting restless and the number of stores left for you to visit was dwindling. Yet still, the perfect winter coat eluded you. Everything that was available seemed to be out of season. And any winter coats that you saw were either not made of the right material, not something that you felt comfortable in or not quite the right size for you. Din was doing his best to reassure you and ensure that you did not feel bad even though you could tell his patience was beginning to wear thin.

“One more store,” You sighed, already feeling defeated.

“This is going to be the one, mesh’la, I can just feel it,” Din said as the two of you walked arm in arm towards the final store. You noted the way Din had used the Mando'a phrase for beautiful to refer to you and it touched you deeply. He clearly wanting to highlight that to you now, he could see that the amount of ill-fitting coats had perhaps made you slightly insecure. You felt instantly lighter as Din pushed the door and entered the small shop that appeared to be owned by a family, judging by the name on the door.

A friendly old man greeted you from behind the counter when you walked into the small store. The family-run business was quiet, a few people were shopping but it was a world away from the many hot, cramped stores that you had already visited today. This one was slightly off the main shopping street and appeared to be less of a tourist trap.

You felt slightly more optimistic, both from the vibes of the store and the way Din had assured you while approaching this store that this would be the one. He was so confident that you almost believed him. But cruelly, as you rounded the last rail of coats, still nothing was appropriate for you. You were dejected, disappointed and you felt terrible looking at the way Grogu was writhing impatiently on the seat Din had placed him on. He had brought you both here for a relaxing vacation, not to shop for coats. You were about to turn on your heel and storm out of the store, when the sound of Din’s voice stopped you in your tracks.

“I need to find a coat today, something warm,” Din explained, having already marched over to the counter behind which the elderly man was standing. “I have a lot of credits. It’s for my partner here,” Din gestured towards you. You felt awful that it was having to come to this, even more so that he would have to waste any more of his hard earned money on you, after he had clearly splurged on this vacation.

“Ah… there has been quite the run on coats recently, with all the tourists at this time of year, we simply cannot meet the demand,” The old man explained, bringing up a finger to scratch his chin as though deep in thought. “However, I think I might have something in the storeroom that is just the right size.”

Din nodded slowly, then turned towards you and tilted his head as if to say, I told you so. You smiled and shook your head at him, you hadn’t even seen the coat yet and already he was so certain that it was going to be right for you. When the old shopkeeper returned with the coat in mind, you could see instantly that this was the coat for you. It appeared to be the right size, unlike most of the coats you had seen thus far today. Plus, it had a thick, fur-lined hood with equally warm lining and a waterproof material on the outside. But that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was the colour: bright red, Just like Grogu’s snowsuit.

Your face lit up as the shopkeeper brought it over, your heart was pounding. All day you had been hoping to have the moment when you saw the coat and just knew it was right for you and finally, it seemed, that this might be it. You took the coat from his wrinkled hands, trembling slightly as you did so. Din had walked over to be by your side as you tried it on.

As you slipped your arms into the coat, you felt a rush of euphoria. This was exactly the right coat for you. It fit you like a glove, you loved the material and it was the right colour so you could match with Grogu.

“It fits you perfectly!” The old man exclaimed with glee once you had fastened it around you.

“It does,” Din said, his helmet tilting to look you up and down. You felt your cheeks warm slightly out of embarrassment from knowing that he was gazing at you like this, but it was just another sign of how much he adored you.

Din went to pay for the coat while you scooped Grogu up from the seat he had been sitting on, watching you try the coat on. He cooed happily and placed his little claws on the chest of your coat, as if to give his seal of approval at the fact you were now matching.

“Thank you for your business!” The old shopkeeper said with a wave as you left the store, “I hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here!”

“Thank you for your help,” Din nodded as you stepped out of the store.

You headed back towards the cabin, Grogu in your arms, the two of you matching while the unpainted Beskar of the man beside you gleamed in the late-afternoon sunshine.

Later that evening, when you returned from the long walk that you had taken as the sun set over the mountainous paradise, your history with coats was weighing upon Din’s mind. After all, if it hadn’t been for you forgetting your coat to run a few errands on your homeplanet when a rainstorm hit, you never would have met Din. As you proudly hung your new red coat up on the pegs just inside the cabin, right next to Grogu’s much tinier one of the same colour, you heard Din walk into the hallway beside you.

“It seems to be a pattern with you,” Din observed with a smirk as he leant against the wall.

You looked at him quizzically, not following where his mind was.

“I mean, you and coats,” Din elaborated. “We met for the first time because you forgot to wear one and there was a downpour. Now we spent an entire day shopping for a coat so you’d be wrapped up against the elements here.”

“You’re right,” You giggled. “I really am hopeless.”

“You are hopeless,” Din said teasingly as he walked towards you and wrapped his arms around your waist. “But that’s why I love you.”

“Well, I love you too,” You said as you leaned in to kiss Din softly. “But maybe next time you do a bit of shopping for Grogu, you could at least include me too.”

“Oh, so this is my fault,” Din huffed, pouting slightly.

“Maybe…” You mused. “But you did fix it. Thank you for helping me get what I needed in the end.”

“You’re welcome, cyare,” Din smiled. “You know I’ll always fix anything for you.”

“I do,” You sighed, looking up at Din dreamily, feeling grateful that you had such a caring man in your life.

You leaned in to kiss him again, before he placed his arm around your shoulder and the two of you walked into the main living area where Grogu was playing with the fire.

Despite how terribly the day had begun, you had managed to turn things around with Din’s help. Now, you would be wrapped up against the elements. You could enjoy the rest of the time you had here in this idyllic mountain paradise, complete with the new red jacket to match the snowsuit Grogu had been bought by his father. It was just another story to add to the amusing history you and Din had with your apparent hopelessness at being prepared for the weather with the right coat.

#dincember 2023 #din djarin #din djarin fluff #din djarin x reader #din djarin x you #the mandalorian x reader #pedro pascal characters #my fics #this one was late for me i had a BUSY two days and i had so much fun but i am ready to flop now #anyway somehow got this out of me so woo

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anamoon63 · 5 months

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Rather Long Sims 4 Rant

Before I continue with my The Sims 4 stories, it is with sadness that I inform you that the Wilsons recently lost the beautiful celebrity home they had just moved into. I don’t know exactly what happened, what I know is that it happened right after the For Rent EP update (which I didn’t buy or install, but yes, I did update). From that day on, my sims, who were on vacation in Sulani at the time, were unable to get back in the house. Every time they tried to return, the game would get stuck eternally at the loading screen. I tried everything, even evicting them and returning them to the house. Nothing, just the screen kept loading forever.

I also tried to demolish the lot to re-install the house, but every time I did this, (and I tried a lot of times), the game either crashed or kept loading infinitely. After many attempts of a lot of things like repairing the game, resetting it to factory settings, removing my mods folder, restoring saves, and all the solutions I know (I am die hard when it comes to troubleshooting The Sims), I finally decided to leave it alone and accept that my sims would never recover their beloved house and that they had to move.

Now they’re happily living again in Brindleton Bay, in one of the bigger houses there; they are comfortable, and going on with their lives, though I still really miss and long for the other house, which is still sitting there, since I have not been able to demolish it to put a new one. It’s still stuck there, which annoys me to no end cause I like my cities clean and functional, and just knowing that there is an abandoned and inactive house there really upsets me.

I know I could start a new save and install the house in a clean Del Sol Valley, but that would mean Allan and his family would lose all their current social and work relationships, which at this point for me is unthinkable, with all the networking they have established, co-workers, school friends, romances, etc. Plus, what about all the makeovers I did to everyone they knew? I mean, I saved every townie I made over in my library, but would I have to reinstall them one by one? Maybe, but how? I still don’t know much about this game; I know that in The Sims 3 it wouldn’t be a problem for me.

Anyway, the Wilson’s story wasn’t over, it wasn’t difficult to move them, the only thing that hurt me were Allan and Zoe’s awards, trapped in their lost home. But in one of the rare and fortunate times that I was able to enter the bugged house in build mode, I saved the room where the awards were in my library, and then installed it in the Wilson’s new house. That’s how I rescued the awards that now lie on a shelf in Allan and Zoe’s new bedroom. I continued to play and got a lot more photo footage of them, in addition to what I had before the update disaster. By the way, this is the first time I’ve had problems with an update, of any kind. I pride myself in being an expert at troubleshooting The Sims, but I guess I still have a lot to learn regarding The Sims 4, which is a relatively new game for me.

Anyway, I plan to uninstall the entire game soon and reinstall it on my other hard drive cause I’m running out of space and will need more since I plan to get a few other game packs in the future. Once my game is reinstalled, I’d love to be able to demolish the ruined house in Del Sol Valley and, if possible, reinstall it on the cleaned-up lot to give the Wilsons back the home they lost. So, if by any chance someone read this very long post to the end, and has gone through something similar to this, (i.e. not being able to enter a house but also not being able to demolish it in order to reinstall it), please let me know if you were able to solve it and how. Any new ideas, other than everything I already mentioned and all those obvious solutions around on EA’s Q&A, would be welcome.

Sorry for the rant, and thanks for reading this far. 🩷

Note: The house is Famous Mansion, in the Sims 4 Gallery, by emma4101, original by JL_Sims 4. Never had issues with it before.

#the sims 4 #sims 4 gameplay #sims 4 rant #tw: sims rant #the sims 4 get famous #the sims

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laugtherhyena · 1 month

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Every time I see your sprite work, it just makes me want to make a sprite edit of Akane with the design I made for her in my "She Was Saved" AU (An AU based on the idea of Akane surviving the events of DRA), but I've never done any sprite work so, do you have any tips?

Ok ok so, first things first, i wanna make it clear that none of my sprites are made from scratch, they're sprite edits, hence why i always tag them as such. Every single one of them used some canon character as a base for the base sprite (that one fitst sprite where the character is just standing there with a simple expression) and a handful even have canon sprites uses as bases for poses. Just figured i should make that clear so there's no confusion here.

While I'm not sure if I'm the best at giving tips n stuff, here's what i could think off;

I think the most important tip i can give anyone who wants to get into sprite editing is MAKE A BUNCH OF LAYERS‼️Save things separately just to be sure rather than merging them because that almost always leads to more time spent later down the line. While the amount of separate things certainly varies from artists to artists here's the one i use for my edits.

The app i use (Ibis paintX) allows me to make folders with a bunch of layers to them so i use them to keep stuff more organized.

On the first pic well have a folder with the base sprite, one for the different poses and in Beni's case two for the different eyes she has (one for the normal eyes and one for the ones that are part of the glasses, normally i only have one layer with all the eye variants)

On the second image I've opened the folder that holds the base sprite, or should i say just sprite since it's in this folder that i organize everything that belongs to one specific sprite when I'm making them as to not get myself confused. Anyways, you can't see in the screenshots but the first layer has her glasses, second has her eyebrows and mouth and the third has the eyes.

Fourth has the main body lineart and fifth has the main body colors, please keep those separated as by doing so you make it easier to add those lil effects onto the character's faces on certain expressions + having the lineart of the main body always helps when sketching and connecting the different arms to the main body.

Lastly you got the arms, but ideally you should make the arms/poses in a way they can be placed over the body layers since that just makes things easier to put together, i just have this habit of placing the no pose arms under everything else.

When editing i make the different arms and eyes in advance so that when i start making the different sprites i can just duplicate the canva with the first one a thousand times and everything will carry along with those. Saves time in the long-run + you don't need to separate all layers on them (lineart, colors, shading) since they're just parts there's no problem in just merging them together.

A very important thing to note tho i that if the character has glasses or any accessories that you plan on removing or moving around in some pose/sprite this accessory should be made in a different layer from the main body, this makes editing easier than if you had to just erase and refill the part where the accessory was in the sprite you don't want it to be in.

A similar rule should be applied to the character's hair, if they have short or mid length hair you can just add the whole thing to the main body sprite, but if the character's hair is long you should make this bluk/back part of the hair in a separate layer placed under the main body layers. This also apllies to any back accessories.

Here's Akira as an example; she has one layer for her glasses, one for the back/bulk of her hair and one for the guitar case she carries.

These are essentially the basics of if, so let's go over to some actual tips.

Make the sprites on a small canvas.

Since the Danganronpa another games are made on game maker the size of the character sprites is surprisingly small, while I don't think you should just do it on the same canvas size as the actual sprite, it's good to have a smaller canvas so that the lower amount of pixels gives it a look similar to the in-game sprites + as you can see by mine, they don't actually look low quality at all.

(if curious, the go-to canvas size i use for most of my edits is 773x1020)

Use other sprites as references/bases

Especially if you're just starting on making sprites, use the canon ones for bases, references or even just straight up trace them. This will make the sprite look closer to canon and will start making you undertand the elements that make up the style of the sprite, do it enough times and soon enough you'll be able to make poses on your own without needing a sprite from the game as a base.

Remember! What's wrong about tracing is not the act of tracing itself, as the act of doing so is a great exercise to help you learn, the problem is when you do it and claim you made it 100% on your own. Since these are sprite edits, there's not a problem in doing so.

Observe and learn what makes up the style you're trying to replicate

This is hard to talk about since it really is something that comes with practice, I've been making sprite edits for like 5 years now so this stuff is like written on the walls of my brain by now. Just try to look and analyse the sprites and slowly you'll start seeing patterns and small onto them that you didn't noitce before, like how Linuj's sprites have a bit if line weight to them but are still on the thinner side, how he tends to make the hands a bit on the smaller side, how when he color the character's skins he makes the area near the top of the head a lighter shade than the rest of the skintone, the way he usually makes the character's mouths, and even some more complex things like how the male characters will have very little to no eyelashes while the female characters tend to have a whole lot of them, etc.

At the same time, there's no shame in deliberately ignoring some of these things. Personality the small hands REALLY bother me in a few cases and i tend to just make mouth shapes on a whim instead of trying to stay 100% close to the style. It's just a question of messing around and figuring stuff out, it won't look perfect on the first go, but overtime you'll start to get the hang of it.

#i hope this small sprite editing tutorial helps! if you have more questions feel free to send them #these are sorta all i could think of for now #you did mention that these are for an Au Akane so you could also try editing these out of her sprites themselves #instead of making a whole base and multiple parts just pick the sprites and edit the new design over #it could possibly be easier for a beginner? i do feel like making them in this form leads to better results tho #anyways. fun fact! i used the eyelash thing as a subtle form or trans coding on Akira's sprites :]#i love you small details that people won't notice unless pointed out ❤️#hyena ramblings #sprite edit #edit #sprite editing tutorial

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gunnerkriggcritical · 8 months

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Feel free to not answer this if you don’t want to or are uncomfortable but what would be a way for Tony to become sympathetic in your eyes? If you wrote Gunnerkrigg court what would you do with Tony?

I'm gonna try and put this into words as best I can, but it's difficult. I hope this makes sense.

Honestly, nobody crucify me for this, but... I think Tony is inherently sympathetic the way he is now? Like, all the basic ingredients to Tony's story make up someone I could very easily feel sorry for. I would not have an inherent problem with being asked to see him in shades of grey. I freely admit that he's been through a lot of pain in his life. It's just the execution that leaves me unhappy.

What I have a problem with is chapters like "Annie and the Fire," and especially "The Mind Cage." They're about as subtle as a brick in asking Annie, and especially the reader, to forgive Tony because he's been through a lot. No matter how many times we're told Tony's actions aren't excused by his pain, it doesn't disguise the transparent fact that the comic is asking us to excuse his actions and feel really, really bad for him. It reads like the author getting mad at us for interpreting his story "incorrectly," which really raises the reader's hackles, and for good reason.

I find it difficult to think of how I'd fix this - I'm sure people smarter than me have articulated it way better in the past. Let's begin with "Annie and the Fire." I don't have a problem with the reader being shown why Tony did everything that he did - and that he deeply regrets it - but I would probably remove the framing device where Donnie is purposefully showing Annie the conversation. I would rather have Annie somehow slipping her blinker stone into her dad's clothes or something and eavesdropping on him that way. Having Donnie specifically choose to show Annie "the other side" of Tony feels too much like apologism, no matter how much Donnie (and the author) try to convince us otherwise. And the idea of Donnie specifically trying to show this abused child that her dad isn't so bad after all leaves a really bad taste in my mouth, too, especially since Donnie was previously like, one of the sole reasonable adults in the entire comic, lol.

I would just erase "The Mind Cage." Like, entirely. No more "Mind Cage" period. That chapter is such a cringeworthy blunder in the comic's history. It is so obviously calculated to address reader backlash against Tony and the comic simply doesn't need it. On top of that, I would remove like, almost every reference to Tony's mind cage situation, I think. The concept that he can't talk to more than one person at once is so goddamn silly and poorly thought-out, and I say this as an autistic person with severe social anxiety myself. I will say that I do understand where Tom was coming from and what he was trying to do, I just think it was very poorly executed and comes across as so weird and borderline offensive to neurodivergent experiences. It's a no from me. Take it out.

At most, imply Tony's social difficulties through his actions. Rewrite the arc where Kat forgives him - don't just have it happening instantly and offscreen, which is so jarring and almost sickening after years of her being Annie's staunchest defender. And for god's sake don't have Annie expressing that she doesn't care what her dad does and will love him no matter what, frame this as an unambiguously good and cool thing, and have Jones, the impartial observer character, judge that this situation is fine actually.

Related note: "Get Lost" needs rewrites, too. Tony is simply not charming enough in that chapter to make us believe that Surma, and Kat, and everyone else, would be bamboozled by how cool and funny he is. He's just some dude. He's so bland, and so is his and Surma's romance. It's simply not believable. That chapter needs to be a slam dunk - it's pulling a lot of weight to convince the readers of a lot of things at once, and it's simply not working.

I think there is a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed before we deal with any of this: the comic is being written by an author that dislikes its main character and sees her as a spoiled child who deserves harsh punishment for her actions. This is in direct conflict with his readers, who have interpreted the story thus far as being about an abused and neglected kid who doesn't deserve any of the stuff that's happened to her, even if she's been cheating on her schoolwork and acting out a little. I believe Tom sees Tony's actions as at least a little justified because of this. If this wasn't the case, I think he would be more capable of writing the story in a way that readers would be more able to connect with and understand, rather than reacting with revulsion and confusion because, to us, he's depicting an abused child getting constantly knocked back down by her cruel father. Tom's biases are showing very clearly through his work, and he is not treating his story with the nuance it deserves, not anymore. I don't think there's any way to "fix" this, other than Tom having a come-to-Jesus moment, which is just not likely at this point, sad to say.

This obviously doesn't cover it all, not even close. It's just some rambling thoughts from me, and I hope they made at least a little sense. Thanks for this ask.

#gunnerkrigg #gunnerkrigg court #gunnerkrigg court critical #answers

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kazoosandfannypacks · 1 year

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“Always Remember (the burning embers)” by kazoosandfannypacks

Pairing: Captain Swan Rating: General Word Count: 1380 Summary: Killian and Emma have a late night conversation about careless words that've left their scars Tags: au, fluff, captain swan, one shot, post canon, canon compliant, fix-it-fic, missing moment Author’s notes: I've been planning this fic for a little while here, since sometime during season 5. The title is based on the taylor swift song "the great war," which I feel nicely sums up Killian and Emma during the Dark Ones arc, though this fic takes place probably a couple years later. Taglist:@zahara@kmomof4@jonesfandomfanatic@booksteaandtoomuchtv@jrob64@tiganasummertree@anmylica@teamhook@undercaffinatednightmare@gingerchangeling@lonelyspectator@caught-in-the-filter @ultraluckycatnd @cs-rylie @silver-the-phoenix @pawshapedheart [if you’d like to be added to or removed from this list, hmu in my dms or askbox!]

Also on Ao3!

Killian had gotten so used to waking up next to Emma that it always felt weird when he didn't- especially when it was two A.M., and she'd been right there when he fell asleep, and now she wasn't.

At first, he suspected maybe she'd gone to the bathroom or to get a drink of water or something like that- but then he saw her, sitting at the foot of the bed, seeming a touch unwell.

"Is something wrong, love?" he whispered.

She turned around, a bit startled.

"I didn't realize you were still up."

"Love, it's two in the morning," he said, "have you been awake this whole time?"

"I guess," Emma said.

"What's wrong, love?"

"Nothing," she shook her head.

He knew her better than to believe that.

"What's wrong?" he repeated.

"Nothing important." Emma said, quickly.

"Emma," he said, hoping his soft tone could soften whatever armor she'd been crafting, "if you're up thinking about it at two in the morning, it must be important. What's wrong?"

She sighed, and glanced back at him for a moment- and in that moment he nodded to her, like you'd nod to an injured animal to ask it to trust you, to tell her, "Go on. Let me help you."

"It still feels like a fairy tale," she said.

Rather than try and read into that statement, he simply asked for clarification.

"What does?"

"All of it," she said, in a whispered breath like an angry laugh, "you, Henry, my parents, our home- our happy beginning."

"Aye," Killian nodded, knowing she still hadn't hit the point of her problem.

"And the problem with a fairytale is the story always ends, the book closes, and you're back to being whoever it was you were escaping from."

"Emma," Killian crawled out from under the covers and over to the foot of the bed so he could sit next to her, "what we have here is real, and it's not going away."

"I know," Emma shook her head, "and I'm trying so hard to believe that."

"What's stopping you?"

She shrugged. "Myself. For someone whose job is happy endings, I'm pretty good at destroying my own."

"What's that supposed to mean, love?" Killian asked, trying to sound reassuring and not like that was the dumbest thing he'd ever heard.

"I…." she shook her head.

"You don't need to push me away, love."

"That's just the thing- that's what I do," she shook her head, "I push people away- people I love."

And she tacked on, on top of it all, so softly he almost didn't hear it: "and that's why I'll always be an orphan."

"Emma, love," he said, carefully but desperately turning her face to his, "where did you get such a ridiculous idea?"

She pushed away physically this time, shaking her head and turning away from him.

"I'm glad you don't remember," she said, almost smiling.

"Remember what?"

"It's nothing."

"It's not," he insisted, his voice raising above a whisper for the first time that night, "talk to me."

Her eyes almost seemed the blue ones for all the tears they held back as she looked up at him. He wanted to help her, wanted to dry the tears she was afraid to cry, wanted to clean up the mess she was afraid to spill, and wanted to make everything right for her. That's all he ever wanted for Emma, to be that for her, to be the one she could turn to no matter what she was facing- to be the one who made her burdens lighter.

"The conversation at Regina's," Emma took a deep breath, "back when we were Dark Ones."

He'd tried so hard to purge those awful memories, choosing to dwell on their happy moments instead of ones like that, those moments where they didn't trust each other, where they closed themselves off to each other, where they argued with each other….

"That moment when I told her she'd always be an orphan," He recalled, "her pain now is my fault."

He didn't know what to say now. All he knew how to do was throw his arms around her, pull her close to him, hold her as tight as he could and choke out an "I'm sorry."

So, that's what he did.

"It wasn't you," Emma said, "it was the darkness. I've tried not to mention it, because I know you'd never…."

Though he couldn't see her face (which was buried in his embrace,) he could tell by the way her voice trailed off that she was crying, and he quickly let go of his right arms' grip around her, so he could catch the tears as they rolled down her cheek.

He knew his apology was nowhere near sufficient, but he still didn't know what to say- what could his words do to make up for such loveless atrocities?

"I'm sorry," Emma said, "I shouldn't've brought it up. I shouldn't've mentioned it."

"Nonsense," he said, taking her hand in his and pulling it close to his chest, "I never want you to think that a problem you have is too big to share with me. Understand?"

She nodded. He sighed, unsure what words would tumble out after his breath.

"I love that you're my anchor, Emma," he said, "a ship would be lost without her anchor, and I'd be lost without you. I love everything you've ever done for me. Do you know what else I love about you?"

"What?"

"Call me a bit of a narcissist, but I love that you're my mirror. When I see you, I see a lot of myself. I see someone who never gives up, someone who risks their life for those they love, someone who does everything they can to be a hero, no matter what mistakes they've made.

"And when I first met you, I saw what you were," he continued, "and what I was- a lost boy, a lone wolf- an orphan. And when I said those angry dark words I wish I could take back, words I never should've said- I was talking to myself too."

He'd never seen a perfect blend of confusion and understanding quite like the one he saw on her face now.

"We did push people away, love. We did hide from the people who cared about us. That's why we should still be orphans. But that's not what we are anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because we turn to the people we love. We've set aside our armor and chosen something new."

"What's that?"

"Trust."

Still holding her hand close to his heart, he instead brought it to his lips and kissed it.

"Emma Swan, you will never be an orphan again. That's not who you are anymore. You're the Savior. You're my True Love, my happy beginning and ending and everything in between. You're a mother and a daughter and a hero and the most perfect wife a man could ever ask for."

"Some days I have trouble believing that," Emma shook her head, "but I believe in you."

With the hand that he wasn't holding, Emma reached up and stroked his face, her cold hand warming against his cheek. "So if you can believe in me, I can believe in me too," she said.

"I'm glad to hear it, love."

"And you're not an orphan anymore either, Killian Jones," Emma said. She kissed his hand, then pulled it close to her heart, "You're my family. You're my best friend. You're my true love. My hero."

"Aye," He nestled his head against her forehead, gently, then whispered "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered back, "thank you."

"Anytime, love," he said, "now, let's get back to bed."

They both let go of each other, only so they could crawl back across to the other side of the bed. As soon as they were both under the covers, Emma slid into his arms, wrapping her own arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.

"Goodnight, my love," he said, craning his neck forward so he could kiss her forehead.

"Goodnight, Killian." She replied, sounding sleepy but satisfied.

And with that, Killian fell asleep the only way that felt natural anymore- with Emma in his arms.

#captain swan #once upon a time #killian jones #emma swan #ouat #cs ff #fanfiction #missing moment #fix it fic #once upon a time season 5 #kazzy writes

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a-witch-with-words · 2 years

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Oh My God

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Warnings: None- just a fluffy little blurb

Summary: You’re not sure why one of your deities has been abnormally silent recently.

Author’s Note: This is partially Marvel Loki, partially Norse god Loki.

Word Count: 1,038

“There. Are you happy now?" I set the cup of coffee on my altar and huffed. I knew I would get no response, but still rolled my eyes and finished getting ready for bed. My patron deity, the Norse God of Mischief, had been rather quiet the past few days. I wasn’t sure why he was upset, but I also wasn’t holding my breath that a god would talk to me about his problems.

As I flicked off the table lamp, my room became even darker than what I was used to. Before my eyes could adjust, I felt weight at the foot of the bed and someone crawling towards me. Having seen way too many horror movies, I immediately started kicking and punching. I went to scream, but a hand flew up over my mouth as another went to my throat.

“I'm happy now that I have your attention.” My eyes went wide as I stopped flailing and was met with emerald orbs. “Please don't attack me again. I'd rather not get blood on my new attire so soon.” He removed his hands and lowered himself to lay on top of me, his head on my chest near my heart.

It took a few moments for me to realize who he was.

“Loki!” I exclaimed quietly, not wanting to wake my roommate across the hall. He mumbled as he wrapped his arms around me, oblivious to my confusion. “Why are you here??”

He shifted to look up at me. “You gave me an offering, did you not?"

“I did.”

“And you asked me a question. That I gave you an answer to.” Our eyes locked and I tried to decipher what emotions were behind his.

“Yes,” I laid one hand on his back and the other in his hair. “But why did you come to me? People all over the world worship you.”

He dropped his head again and exhaled, relaxing. “You treat me as a friend. Yes, I am a god, but you’re one of the very few who genuinely ask about my well-being.” He tenderly nuzzled in to me and my face flushed.

“Because you are my friend. Or, at least, I consider you to be.” I gently began to rub his back and felt him tense slightly. “I’m sorry.” I jerked my hands away from him, afraid I’d upset him.

“No, please continue.” As I put my hands back, I noticed he was still strained. But after a few moments of contact, he began to breathe easier. My head was still swimming with questions, but I was more concerned about my god’s comfort.

“Do you need anything to drink? Or eat?” He grunted softly and shook his head enough for me to tell his answer was ‘no.’

“The coffee was enough, thank you. I know you have questions. You may ask whatever you’d like.” His breath against my skin made me shiver slightly and I hoped he hadn’t noticed.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay.” Internally, I smacked myself in the head. He was also the god of lies, of course he’d know a blatant one.

He chuckled softly. “Yes, I’m well aware you’re lying. But I will not pry if you do not wish to tell me.” He inhaled slowly. “I have too much respect for you to do that.”

I raised an eyebrow at the last statement. “I’d still like to know the real reason why you came to me. I refuse to believe it’s just because I consider you my friend.” There was silence for a few moments before he slowly sat up, hands on either side of my head. I let my hands trail down his arms to his wrists, still not convinced this wasn’t a hallucination that would attack me.

“You are different. You’re not like any other Midgardian I’ve ever encountered.” He furrowed his brow as he stared intently in to my eyes, causing my gaze to waiver. “You are supposed to come to your gods when you need help, or to give thanks. You regularly do that- as well as ask if there is anything we need.” There was a moment of hesitation. “And you always pay special attention to me. Why is that?”

I had five patron deities- all of whom knew they were not the only one. Though Loki was correct. I did always take special care of him. I stared back up at him and was surprised to find him eyeing me curiously.

“I know what you’ve been through.” I chose my words carefully. “I’ve followed the Avengers since day one and my cousin dated your brother.” He scowled at the mention of Thor. “I’m not saying I know exactly what it’s like.” I spoke quickly, afraid I messed up. “But I’ve heard the stories and-”

His lips crashed in to mine and I gasped softly, wide-eyed. After a few moments, he started to pull away, but I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him back in. I could feel him smile against my lips as his arms went around my body again. It was a much softer kiss than I would expect from the god of mischief, but I didn’t complain. He held me tightly, though, protectively. Once we separated, he rested his forehead against mine with his eyes closed.

“You have never once been afraid of me. Never once asked for something without offering an equal exchange.” He whispered as if speaking too loud would break me. “After everything that’s happened, you’ve always treated me…like a person.”

“Of course I have, Loki.” I rubbed his back gently and this time, he didn’t tense up. “You are a god, but you’re still a living being.”

“Perhaps,” he hesitated again. “Perhaps I could be more than just your friend?” He opened his eyes and they were shining with infatuation. I smiled lovingly and kissed his nose.

“If the gods are alright with one of their own dating a mortal.” I couldn’t help but giggle at the grin that overtook his cheeks.

“Oh, darling. Humans fall in love with gods everyday. But for a god to fall in love with a human? You will be worshipped for eternity.”

#loki fandom #incorrect loki quotes #marvel #norse mythology #loki x original female character #loki x female reader #loki x plus size reader #loki fluff #loki fanfic #loki x reader #loki odison x reader #loki laufesyon x reader

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dolls-and-crafts · 10 months

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This is my grail garment. A 1930s cape that I stumbled upon on Pinterest and fell in love with. The original image is from wondertrading over on Flickr (check them out! They have oodles pictures of gorgeous vintage pattern).

Unfortunately, I cannot find the pattern itself anywhere.

Solution? Make my own!

I have lots of courage and little skill. Started sewing clothes this summer and I still haven't finished a single one (though to be fair, I only need to hem the two skirts and modify the blouse slightly to be done. Unfortunately I don't want to, so we're doing this instead!)

Step 1: How It's Made:

I have made Barbie clothes from drawings before, so I have a method. Is it the most efficient method? No, but it works for me.

The first step is always to get the best possible picture of the garment and figure out how it's made.

Since this is the only image I could find of this pattern, I need to improve it on my own.

I'm using Paint Tool SAI's linework layer to draw on top of the image with my mouse. The result is this:

The point here is not realism, but simply to make it clear how each layer of ribbon is formed into the cape. The white lines are drawn on top of the more subtle highlights of the original drawing, to help me figure out where I need to ruffle the three bottom layers.

Clearing up the image and removing the original, I end up with this:

(The numbers were added in Paint, since SAI don't have a writing tool.)

We have five layers of ribbon-

Ok, let's stop there. The cape is clearly named "McCall Ladies' and Misses' Ribbon Cape", and while I have absolutely no clue about 1930s fashion, that doesn't look like ribbon to me.

That looks like strips of fabric. Velvet fabric, to be specific.

I will have a different blog post on what material I think this is made from (tl;dr: silk velvet) and what I will use instead (I am poor and not skilled enough to sew silks). Stay tuned for that later.

But let's get back to the "how it's made". At the middle back (where the numbers are on the drawing) the strips of fabric seem to be equally wide, possibly narrowing somewhat where layers 2-5 meet layer 1. I will assume that the layers are equally wide all the way around, since that's easy to do, and it will be obvious in the finished product if I was wrong. It will also be easier to figure out where I should narrow the strips of fabric down, and how much, once I've made the first mock-up. So this is a "mañana" problem, aka. "make a note, but ignore for now".

Also, my method leads to the need for multiple mock-ups. That is because I would rather make it twice than spend days figuring out each step and still be wrong. Cheap cotton fabric is absolutely worth investing in if you follow my "fuck it, good enough" method of sewing.

From the original drawing I can see that the cape goes from the neck and down to about the shoulders, so I measure this area to figure out how wide each ribbon should be.

On me (a short woman with no shoulders) this is about 46 cm.

46 / 5 = 9.2 cm = 9.5 cm

(I'm rounding up to 9.5, because I am not fiddling about with millimetres when I'm making clothes for myself. Half a centimetre is close enough!)

But I can't just add on some seam allowance and start sewing. From the image, it looks like the top layer envelops all the other layers. Doing that will make it a lot easier to sew, and make the finished garment look better.

Therefore layer 1 will be width + width + seam allowance.

Layer 1: 9.5 + 9.5 + 2 = 21 cm

I set the seam allowance to a centimetre at each end, therefore 2, since one centimetre is clearly marked on my sewing machine. You can change this number to whatever you prefer. Main rule: if the fabric is thick or unravels easilly, make it wider, if it's thin or tightly woven you can make it smaller. For clothes to myself, I never go beneath 1 cm, but I am also a beginner.

Layer 2 - 4 are quite simple. Width / 5 + seam allowance.

Layer 2 - 4: 9.5 + 2 = 11.5 cm

Layer 5 is slightly different, since you need to hem the bastard. Hemming with a single centimetre seam allowance is possible (and can make a nice finish), but it's a pain so I won't.

Doubling the seam allowance on the hem makes the total seam allowance 3 cm, and the calculations:

Layer 5: 9.5 + 3 = 12.5 cm.

So now I have the width of each layer. Next step is how long each layer is. Unfortunately, this is something I will have to try on my body to figure out. The top layer will need to be tied in a bow at the back, so cutting that out and finding the right length should be easy-ish.

But I also need to keep an eye on how each layer is sewn.

Because layer 1 and 2 are both given shoulder seams on the drawing, while layer 3, 4 and 5 are all ruffled around the shoulders, but with unruffled backs and sides. That means that layer 3 will be quite a bit longer than the second layer, but how much is impossible to know until I've made the mock-up.

Also? Different fabrics ruffle differently. So if you sew this from a stiffer material, you might need fewer ruffles, while a more drapey fabric will look better with more. Since I'm making my mock-up from woven cotton and my garment from velvet, this will be something I have to keep an eye on when making the actual garment, since velvet and woven cotton drapes and ruffles differently.

So now all I have to do is cut meters upon meters of strips of fabric.

Start a podcast, put on the TV or phone a friend to keep you company, this will take a while to do.

#sewing #1930s #drafting patterns #stream of consciousness #the grail cape

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dajaregambler · 8 months

Text

HeliosR - Sing in the darkness - Chapter 2 - Part 7

Translation of Sing in the darkness from ‘Helios Rising Heroes’, a new side arc alongside the current main story arc Like the dawning light.

Robin: --Are things going well with your three teammates?

Sage: About that… There’s times I’m a bit nervous, but it’s working out somehow… I think?

Robin: With Bianchi you don’t hold yourself back. I’ve taken note of how you two often talk to each other while on duty. And in the same vein Jude sticks close…

Robin: Nico must be the one weighing on your mind, then?

Sage: …Yeah, exactly that.

Sage: He is my roommate and I’d like to befriend him, but it doesn’t look like he feels the same about it…

Robin: Right…

Robin: At first glance, I don’t sense any kind of hostility or negativity, which rules that out as the problem.

Robin: It simply could be the lack of skill to communicate with others, or that’s how his personality is…

Robin: Perhaps there might be some other reason, I think it would be best for you to not panic and worry too much about it.

Robin: Well, as your mentor I should be able to maneuver around it with these things.

Robin: Excuse me. Seems that my approach is more carefree than what you’d expect from most people… Ahaha…

Sage: I knew that from a long time ago

Sage: You have a lot on your own plate, right? I’ve heard that there’s more irregularities than usual with this term.

Sage: Though one mentor being in charge of four rookies is pretty unheard of, right?

Robin: Well… The pattern of three rookies to four rookies, and mentors ending up on their own is something that happens often

Robin: However a single mentor that’s one rank removed from being a Major Hero against a whole group of rookies… I’d argue that’s a little bit unreasonable.

Sage: The cause has to be from last year’s… that, Lost Zero, right?

Robin: Quite a good guess there.

Robin: Exactly as you said. The clean up that followed suit after the deaths at Lost Zero, or perhaps I should say the preparations going forward, came with reinforcing the Anti-Eclipse unit as a priority.

Robin: The fact that such a situation impacted everything is undeniable.

Sage: …Are you doing okay, Sensei?

Robin: Ahaha. Sorry, did I make you anxious?

Robin: It is what it is. I would love to shrug it all off by saying it’s all fine, but since things have already gotten out of hand, we ended up talking about it….

Sage: No, that’s not what I meant… I’m genuinely worried if things aren’t too hard for you at the moment…

Sage: You’re busy with preparing for the Major Hero exam at the same time, no?

Robin: Fufu, I appreciate you worrying for me. You’re kind, Sage.

Robin: While I might not have much confidence in my physical strength, I do think quite highly of my stress tolerance.

Robin: As for the exam, North’s Brad-kun is in the same situation, I am in no position to whine here.

Robin: It’s a given that defense is my forte, even if I say so myself. Could say that it’s true even outside of combat.

Robin: And if I’m at my wit’s end, then I’ll surrender when the time’s right.

Sage: Do you mean that? I do think that’s just like you, but…

Robin: Well, headquarters understands the current irregular circumstances, or rather that’s the assumption I’m operating under, so it’ll be fine.

Robin: Let’s not be too serious now and take it easy. The ebb and flow of fortune is not looking bad either.

Robin: Besides, I was interested in the perspective of one in charge, I’m fairly happy that I’ve been assigned as a mentor.

Robin: Ah, your fortune is also shaping up to be excellent too, Sage. Keep your head up high and be positive.

Robin: If you ever feel anxious, please come tell me about it. That’s what we mentors are here for.

Sage: Yes…! Thank you, Sensei.

Sage: I’m kind of feeling all fired up now! Tomorrow I’ll start with a morning run and then do some independent training afterwards

Robin: That’s a good mentality to have, but please be careful to not overdo it.

Robin: Improving your individual ability is of course important. However, what’s even more important at Helios at the moment is--

Sage: Teamwork! Right, Sensei

Robin: Yes, correct.

Robin: There’s no meaning to becoming stronger all on your own. Aim to match the pacing with your teammates, and cultivate teamwork.

Robin: As for the specifics, the regularly held LOM is our current target. That is where I hope to achieve satisfactory results…

Sage: Yes! I’ll do my best!

Robin: Good to see you in high spirits.

Robin: I’m sure you will be able to pull it off. You have my support, Sage---

#helios rising heroes #heliosr #sage skyfall #sing in the darkness

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