Billi Speaks. (via billispeaks)

i did some messy agent of the empire au doodles for my morning sketches :L

featuring expositor!beau meeting up with her sometimes-ally, always-enemy vollstrecker!caleb on a case that both of their respective factions have interest in

sometimes people try to tell me that scientists are paragons of rationality and I have to break it to them that I have yet to work in a lab that didn’t have at least one weird secret shrine in it

sketches of the LADS!!!

(Paisley @wojtekbc, Mint @ me, Hawthorn @fisyx, Hops @zarozinia, Footpad @xynnos, Beebee @the-zoa)

ABCs of your OCs

a list of oc questions in alphabetical categories - i made each category based on the first word I could think of in alphabetical order, so enjoy!

A: Aptitude 1. what are your oc’s natural abilities, things they’ve been doing since young? 2. what activities have they participated in? 3. what abilities do they have that they’ve worked for? 4. what things are they bad at? 5. what is their most impressive talent?

B: Basics 1. what is their hair color? 2. what is their eye color? 3. how tall are they? 4. how old are they? 5. how much do they weigh?

C: Comfort 1. how do they sit in a chair? 2. in what position do they sleep? 3. what is their ideal comfort day? 4. what is their major comfort food? why? 5. who is the best at comforting them when down?

D: Decoration 1. how would they decorate a house if they had one under their name? 2. how would they decorate their child’s room? 3. how do they decorate their own room? 4. what type of clothes and accessories do they wear? 5. do they like makeup/nail/beauty trends?

E: External Personality 1. does the way they do things portray their internal personality? 2. do they do things that conform to the norm? 3. do they follow trends or do their own thing? 4. are they up-to-date on the internet fads? 5. do they portray their personality intentionally or let people figure it out on their own?

F: Fun 1. what do they do for fun? 2. what is their ideal party? 3. who would they have the most fun with? 4. can they have fun while conforming to rules? 5. do they go out a lot?

G: Gorgeous 1. what is their most attractive external feature? 2. what is the most attractive part of their personality? 3. what benefits come with being their friend? 4. what parts of them do they like and dislike? 5. what parts of others do they envy?

H: Heat 1. do they rather a hot or cold room? 2. do they prefer summer or winter? 3. do they like the snow? 4. do they have a favorite summer activity? 5. do they have a favorite winter activity?

I: In-the-closet 1. what is their sexuality? 2. have they ever questioned their sexuality? 3. have they ever questioned their gender? 4. would/was their family be okay with them being LGBT? 5. how long would/did it take for them to come out?

J: Joy 1. what makes them happy? 2. who makes them happy? 3. are there any songs that bring them joy? 4. are they happy often? 5. what brings them the most joy in the world?

K: Kill 1. have they ever thought about suicide? 2. have they ever thought about homicide? 3. if they could kill anyone without punishment, would they? who? 4. who would miss them if they died? 5. who would be happy they died, anyone?

L: Lemons 1. what is their favorite fruit? 2. what is their least favorite fruit? 3. are there any foods they hate? 4. do they have any food intolerances? 5. what is their favorite food?

M: Maternal 1. would they want a daughter or a son? 2. how many children do they want? 3. would they be a good parent? 4. what would they name a son? what would they name a daughter? 5. would they adopt?

N: Never Have I Ever 1. what would they never do? 2. what have they never done that they want to do? 3. is there anything they absolutely can’t believe people do? 4. what is the most embarrassing thing they’ve done? 5. have they done anything they thought they’d never do?

O: Optimism 1. are they optimistic or pessimistic? 2. are they openly optimistic, throwing it on others? 3. are they good at giving advice? 4. is there anyone in their life that throws optimism on them? 5. were they always optimistic?

P: Personality 1. what is their best personality trait? 2. what is their worst personality trait? 3. what of their personality do others love? 4. what of their personality do others envy? 5. do they hate anything about their personality/about other’s personalities?

Q: Questions 1. do they ask for help? 2. do they ask questions in class? 3. do they answer questions that make them a little uncomfortable? 4. do they ask weird questions? 5. are they curious?

R: Rules 1. do they follow rules? 2. would they be a strict or laid-back parent? 3. have they ever been consequenced for breaking a rule? 4. have they broken any rules they now regret breaking? 5. do they find any rules they/others follow absolutely ridiculous?

S: Streets 1. are they street-smart? 2. would they give money to someone on the streets? 3. have they ever gotten in a fight on the streets? 4. has anything happened to them on the streets? 5. are they cautious when out?

T: Truth 1. are they honest? 2. can they tell if someone is lying? 3. is it obvious when they’re lying? 4. have they lied about anything they regret lying about? 5. have they told truths that have been spread against their will?

U: Underdog 1. have they been bullied? 2. have they bullied anyone? 3. have they been physically attacked by a bully? 4. have they ever been doubted? 5. have they surprised people with being good at something?

V: Vomit 1. do they vomit often? 2. do they get lots of stomach aches? 3. are they good at comforting someone ill? 4. what do they like as far as comfort goes? 5. do they burp, cough, or hiccup most when nauseous? when vomiting?

W: Water 1. do they drink enough water? 2. have they learned to swim? 3. do they like to swim? 4. can they dive? 5. can they swim without holding their nose?

X: Xylophone 1. what is their favorite genre of music? 2. do they have a favorite song? 3. do they have a favorite band/artist/singer? 4. can they sing well? 5. can they rap?

Y: You 1. how old were you when you created them? 2. what inspired you to create them? 3. were they different when they were first created? 4. do you enjoy writing them more than other characters? 5. what’s your favorite thing about them?

Z: Zebra 1. what’s their favorite animal? 2. do they like animals? 3. cats or dogs? 4. what’s their dream pet? 5. do they have any pets at the moment?

why you should not dismiss research unless you rly truly mean it

Internet, I am a queer researcher of queer health and I have something to say.

A few weeks back, a study went viral about the relationship between marriage equality policy and queer teen suicide rates, and a lot of people reacted thusly: “queer mental health is better when we’re not discriminated against! BREAKING: SKY IS BLUE, WATER IS WET”

This happens a lot. People see research about a thing ~Everyone Already Knows~ and they mock it. Now I want to make two things really clear:

1. Everyone does not already know.

2. This shit can lose these projects their funding.

Did you know that media coverage is a crucial factor in funding allocation? When we submit our application for grant renewal, we have to provide a list of news articles about our research so they can decide whether the public cares enough about us to let us keep doing our work. And most research doesn’t get all that much coverage, so individual reactions can really matter. If the primary reaction to our publications is eyerolling, we legitimately might not be able to continue.

I’ve seen some frustration from people who believe this research funding would be better put to use “actually helping” the affected populations instead of–I don’t know, pinning them under microscopes or whatever it is they think we do. But funding for policy initiatives is driven by research. I know you wish politicians would listen to individual voices telling them where the problems are, but that’s honestly not a smart way to direct limited resources. We need solid evidence. And a lot of the areas that need the most attention aren’t obvious–who knew bisexual people are at a much higher risk for physical and mental health disparities than gay and lesbian people? Who would have guessed that transgender folks are more likely than any other group (including straight people) to be military veterans, but overwhelmingly don’t claim their benefits? I’m sure some people noticed these patterns, but they definitely weren’t common knowledge within the queer communities I’ve grown up around, and those findings are leading to direct action as we speak.

I get that it can be frustrating to feel like your identity is being reduced to facts and figures for the benefit of red tape. But trust me, the researchers aren’t your enemy here. Most of us are queer too. All of us are just as frustrated by this crap as you are. We are doing our best, and I swear to you this work really is making a difference. Please don’t sabotage it.

Bear with my shitposting. Here is my current Paisley playlist. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1CgXup19ksY1bZaey7tbCn?si=dwuqRVIdRSa_JG8fZhbNoQ Infinite Mirror - Lite. Originally I didn’t think I would put this on the playlist but this is what trial and error sounds like when I think of Paisley. Pushing limits, reinterpreting notes, making new ones. He’s got a knack for illusions, and there’s something about this which makes me think of the potential times he would have tried something new, had it work, and then spent countless hours trying to replicate it, asking the Khoursirian for help. Man O To - Nu. Coffeehouses, warm evenings, second-rate wine, singing with friends on the docks, picking fights alongside them, running from the ones they couldn’t win, that half-impressed , half-cautious smile on dad’s face when he saw those tricks of the light, and those days spent talking to the Khoursirian. It’s a sweet and nostalgic look back on a youth well spent in Capital. Flight Over Venice 2 - Jesper Kyd. I mean, come on. The entire AC2 sountrack could fit Rioja, but there’s something about this piece which really fits The Stays. Feeling’s Gone - Cat Empire. Everything went to shit in Capital, and the kid who would become Paisley left. It’s not like everyone at home is gone, and these Helltroopers seem like a decent lot. In some other life, he probably thought in those earlier years, perhaps he would have liked to be a bard. He can sing as a soldier, though, and he’ll always have the knack and his spellbook, and with company like this, that’s good enough. Brother - NEEDTOBREATHE. The kid who became Paisley was no stranger to being “the sensible one,” even if only in comparison to his goon squad. Who would have thought a bunch of young folk with hangups become mercenaries? Guess someone has to be the adult in the room, even if this hypothetical adult has to occasionally fight hooligan instinct. Randy Dandy-Oh - The Dreadnoughts. Gotta love the way a room sounds singing. It has to be some unique quality of soldiers to know how to carry a tune. Whisper - The Dear Hunter. Who knows, maybe he could have been important if he didn’t sign on to The Chain. He doesn’t really care, though. Everyone here must have made stupid decisions to end up in the Fuck Up Squad. Even if the scholars don’t remember the name of the man who is now Paisley, the Chronicle will. The Tragedy - Pax Cecilia. Blackbottom really shook things up. Dozens of Helltroopers dead, the contract left unfinished, the officers all on board that boat which got away. Time for a few hard, straight-faced weeks of picking up the pieces and getting everything back together. Brothers In Arms - Dire Straits. This is next to The Mercenary by Iron Maiden on songs that have become inseparable from the Chain of Acheron in my head.

Here we are in the future

F1, G3, P1

I’m gonna answer for Hops (chain oc) and Forthright(my current d&d character)

F1

What do they do for fun?

– Hops would probably be that person to do brewery tours but I think she also likes seeing street performers.

– Forthright is always running grifts and probably spends her the time away from her sewer goblin kingdom gambling. I also think she likes to show off wealth so maybe balls and operas.

G3

what benefits come from being their friend?

– Hops always reminds people to know their limits

– if your Forthright’s friend she wont grift you

P1

What is there best personality trait?

– Hops has big friend energy, thinks shes mom friend but isnt even close

– Forthright thinks shes the double-crossing wildcard but is somehow the (second) most level headed of the party. Knows when to not push her luck

BONUS QUESTIONS (bc I want to)

B3

How tall are they?

– Hops is maybe about 4 foot 7

– Forthright is 5 foot 11 inches (6 foot 3 w/horns)

G1

Most attractive external feature

– Hops has big arms (a feature I have to give credit to @hubbleablubble ’s art for) that I think gets a lot of attention but she really likes her hair

– Forthright is pretty tall. She really likes her birthmarks though.

“character design is my passion”

*proceeds to never draw original characters*

anyway, I kinda disliked my designs for some of the m9 and this seemed like a good exercise to work on facial variation.

‪Podcast idea: a D&D campaign with same characters, same story, same everything, but different comedians picking it up each week and trying to deal with what the players of the past week put their characters through