Speculative Fiction Writers I Am Going To Give You A Really Urgent Piece Of Advice: Don't Say Numbers.

turning positive traits negative

This is the go-to for development in my book, because if your character has a personality trait, congrats! You’re half way there!

—Confidence:

Can lead to selfishness, over abundance of pride, stubbornness and unwilling to admit wrong doings/beliefs/actions.

—Extroversion

Unable to understand proper boundaries that others have set, tries to bring people out of their comfort zone even when unnecessary, rude.

—Intelligence

One of those nerds that every class has that reminds the teacher of the homework, looks down on those less intelligent and doesn’t care of the social/economical/personal reasons as to why they don’t share the same intellect, prideful.

—Kindness

Nativity, allows the wrong people to walk free, toxic positivity, doesn’t want to understand how some people may just be evil, leading the team into multiple dangerous, avoidable situations.

—Romantic

‘Doesn’t take no for an answer’, makes people uncomfortable, overwhelms people with fantasies of romantic dinners/adventures despite it still being the first date, moves too fast for their love interest.

Me every time I see a Lurien Dad fanfic. Still sad I created the "Hornet & Lurien the Watcher" tag despite not being the first one to write them having a friendship or parent/child relationship.

You ever just browsing a couple you like on AO3 on your phone, and you get excited about the prospect of this soulmate au fic that pops up, only to realize it's your own fic?

Why is this so true?????

Check out this awesome artist!

Happy holidays!! Just a small art of two of my favorite pokemon :3

What is with the Dreamers' Houses?!?! Part 3.0 Lurien's Spire

Okay, we can all agree that Team Cherry put a LOT of thought into crafting the backgrounds and environments of Hollow Knight. But why is nobody talking about the designs for the Dreamers' houses?! Especially compared with their base forms?  Well, let's start talking about it!

The Last Dreamer, Lurien the Watcher! A.K.A. The guy who is responsible for this whole essay.

His design is the simplest among the three Dreamers.

Taken from Hollow Knight - Lurien the Watcher

A design so simple that it leaves the fans in relentless debate on what species of bug he is.

So tell me, why is HIS HOUSE the one with the most freaking complicated design!?!?!?! It's as if Lurien is living in a cathedral here!

Okay, Lurien living in a cathedral might be an exaggeration, but take a look at complicated his Spire is! Look at the floors! Notice the window designs! The hanging banners! The lanterns! And goodness gracious, the dude has wallpaper throughout his whole Spire!

Did I forget to mention the wallpaper?!?!!

The insane amount of detail!!!

And we haven't even gotten to the fact Team Cherry went out of their way to incorporate 3D into a 2D POV! You can clearly see it in this window here.

As we start the walk here…

We can't help but notice…

How the pillars framing the window "move" as we do.

Could you believe that a team of four people made all of this? Team Cherry truly wasted no detail in the Watcher's Spire, from the simplest wallpaper to the famous Telescope.

And here is the Telescope! In all its very-difficult-to-draw glory! Speaking of it, the design clearly costed tons of geo. The cost paid off, however, as the Telescope still works despite the lack of maintenance due to the Infection.

Of course, that can be easily seen by anyone who played the game in a rush. In terms of Lurien's character, the fan can see how he earned his namesake, Watcher.

Yet...has anyone stopped to consider how Lurien set up his office? In particular, how Lurien can position his Telescope anywhere in his main office?  Check out all the windows!

Did you all notice it? Every single window is open, yet each window is nicely framed with the glass plane. And before you all comment, “what about this window? It's closed!”

The window design is different from the ones behind Lurien's bed…and matches up with the window where the Telescope is currently at. This implies that this window can open up at any time should Lurien wish it. As the Telescope is NOT facing that direction, there is no need to keep that window open. Lovely for us, as that window keeps Lurien's butler in. If you need proof, check out the photo where the Telescope is again.

With this in mind, what does the Telescope and open windows tell us about Lurien's character?

First, Lurien is very dedicated to his duty as the Watcher, so much so that he will spend as much money as needed to craft the best tools he needs.

Second, Lurien favors practicality as seen by how every window is either open or has hinges to open it. The Watcher must watch over the WHOLE City of Tears, not just the left side (or commoner side).

Third, Lurien loves beauty. It is not enough to have the windows open; goodness, Lurien could have not added windows at all! But he insisted on a lovely window design that framed the view into the City. And we're not even talking about the pillars and the curtains which frame it as well. 

Fourth and finally, Lurien was able to get both practicality and beauty in the same window. I cannot stress this enough as Herrah and Monomon choose practicality over beauty. Yes, there are beautiful details here and there, but when push comes to shove, both ladies choose practicality with a dash of beauty on the side. This really makes Lurien stand out amongst the Dreamers.

I hope you enjoyed part 1 of Lurien's Spire. Unfortunately, I must stop here as this is merely 1/4 of Lurien's section of the essay. Please feel free to comment and reblog as much as you would like. It's fun reading your thoughts.

If you wish to read more of the Essay, click one of these links below.

Part 1.0: Herrah's Den : Here

Part 2.0: Monomon's Archives: Here

Part 3.0: Lurien's Spire (You are here.)

Part 3.25: More of Lurien's Spire : Here

Part 3.5: Lurien's Spire: Pillows and Patriotism: Here

Part 3.7 Lurien's Spire: What is wrong with Lurien's Office?! Here

Part 3.8: Even, even More of Lurien's Spire: Secret Room: Click here

Part 3.9 Watcher Knight Boss Room! Here

Link to essay on Ao3: Here

Finally took a minute to put together the art vs artist for the first half of 2024 (everything here is from Jan to June)! I haven't really been able to draw as much this year except class doodles but I'm pretty happy with it.

Didn't draw as many cute pieces or animals as last year but that's alright. But damn, no OCs this time. Sad. :+

I also drew a couple of slightly horror pieces this year, which I hadn't done in a hot minute (I can't do this in class or people will look over my shoulder and think I'm planning murder or something lol).

Also, lately I've been more active on Cara, so if you would like, please support me there! I'm looking for more friends on Cara :D https://cara.app/livyamelarts

Top row: Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment), Razumikhin (Crime and Punishment), Lara Tybur (AoT)

Middle row: T.S. Eliot, me, Belle (Beauty and the Beast)

Last row: Armin and Annie (AoT), Dana Scully (the X Files), Yor Forger (Spy x Family)

Thank you for looking!!

I just discovered foodtimeline.org, which is exactly what it sounds like: centuries worth of information about FOOD.  If you are writing something historical and you want a starting point for figuring out what people should be eating, this might be a good place?

ArtFight!

Artfight Attack!

Mizuno belongs to @kanayamaryam999 while the Felis Cactus belongs to @livyamel.

Please go check them out!

This is @kanayamaryam999's DeviantArt: Here.

This is @LivyMel's DeviantArt: Here.

You know when Mewtwo bit Newtwo when they were younger? This is how I imagined it went lol

that's what I was mimicking with it actually

Even Ghetsis Pays his Taxes

*Scene in Pokemon Masters opens*

*We see a bunch of Unovans characters furiously working on papers. A whole range that includes, but not limited to, the player characters.*

*Enter scene: May, Brandon, Maxie, and Archie*

Brandon: Hey Nate! Are you ready for our Pokemon battle?

*Nate looks up*

Nate: Oh! I'm so sorry! I can't go! I have to pay my taxes first!

Brandon: ?

Brandon: You pay taxes?

Nate: Yes! I have to get it before next week! And since we're at Pasio, I'll to mail it overseas. If I don't get it done now, it could be late when it arrives!

Brandon: ?????

Archie: Now don't worry laddie. Isn't that true big of a deal. It will get there when it gets there. Nothing to worry about.

Clay: Nothing to worry about? You won't say that with the government hounding you down! Doing all investigating-

Maxie: Now, now. I understand that paying one's taxes are important, unlike someone here-

Archie: Hey! I pay them! Eventually...

Maxie: But you need not worry too much about being late. Everything sorts itself out. Now about that battle ...

*All the Unovans look at them in abject horror.*

Clay: You don't pay your taxes? And you're a freeman?

Grimsley: Not worry?! Not worry?!?!?

Hilbert: Brandon! May! Do you need help with your taxes? My grandma gave me tips so now I save so much!

Brandon: Wait? I need to pay taxes?!

May: Hold it!!!

*Silence*

May: Why are all of you so worried? Is the government that threatening if you don't pay your taxes?

*Ghetsis chooses that moment to walk on screen with his own sheet of taxes.*

Ghetsis: Child, even I pay my taxes on time. In full.

Rosa: Hey? Can I borrow a pen?

*Ghetsis hands her one.*

All the trainers from Hoenn: WHAT?????

*End Scene*