Magic is the hardest thing to find

raychcons @ 2007-10-16T16:38:00

2007-10-16T15:37:42Z

Happy Birthday ericajubliana!

Then and Now Meme for Icon-makers

2007-10-13T00:51:54Z

This was a lot of fun x0 I believe I have gotten better, hehe.

Cringe! oh my god.... this was like, wayyy back this time last year >< i was so sesshoumaru obsessed it's not even funny, ya'know?! gyah.

Gosh... i've gotten so much better~! gyah. woah. hahahahaha x] i am sooo tired.

raychcons @ 2007-10-09T16:53:00

2007-10-09T15:52:36Z

Just leave an anonymous comment saying something that only will be understandable between us. I will try and guess who you are.

This will be fun, eh? :D

30_kisses Table

2007-10-08T19:22:43Z

This is just so I know where all the theme's I've written are. If you wanna read, feel free x]

Complete So Far: 1/30

1. look over here
2. news; letter
3. jolt!
4. our distance and that person
5. "ano sa" ("hey, you know....")
6. the space between dream and reality
7. superstar
8. our own world
9. dash
10. #10
11. gardenia
12. in a good mood
13. excessive chain
14. radio-cassette player
15. perfect blue
16. invincible; unrivaled
17. kHz (kilohertz)
18. "say ahh...."*
19. red
20. the road home
21. violence; pillage/plunder; extortion
22. cradle
23. candy
24. good night
25. fence
26. if only I could make you mine
27. overflow
28. Wada Calcium CD3
29. the sound of waves
30. kiss</div>

BUTTERFLY - Kyoko Honda FST

2007-10-01T21:08:01Z

Kyoko Honda
Mother, Wife and Hero
Butterfly:
A fan soundtrack depicting her life
may contain spoilers

Kyoko Honda is the loving mother of Tohru Honda, the main female character in the anime Fruits Basket. However, Kyoko has had a tormented life full of strain, hassle and darkness, sullied with anger and hatred. As she grew, she fell in love and lost, gave birth and lived, and this soundtrack shows the details of her life - from childhood to death.

1. IM NOT OKAY - MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - "PARENTS": To be a joke and look, another line without a hook//I held you close as we both shook for the last time take a good hard look!
- Growing up Kyoko was rejected by her parents as she wasn't growing up in the way that they thought was "correct". This soon developed into a gap between her and her parents and, in the end, they disowned her and kicked her out of their home.

2. REFLECTIONS - CHRISTINA AGULERA - "GANG": Who is that girl I see//Staring straight back at me?//When will my reflection show//Who I am inside?
- Kyoko became a 'bad egg' and joined a gang of yankees, girls who fought and bullied, cut school and were altogether horrible people. She felt that this gang helped her be strong, and this is one of the reasons her parents disliked her - the way she dressed, acted and her attitude was much like the other girls, and the inner pain inside her was pushed out through these negative actions.

3. YOU FOUND ME - KELLY CLARKSON - "KATSUYA": You found me//When no one else was lookin'//How did you know just where I would be?//Yeah, you broke through//All of my confusion//The ups and the downs//And you still didn't leave
- During one of the days that Kyoko decided to go to school, she got into a fight. She was sent to a room to calm down, and inside that room was Katsuya Honda, a trainee teacher. He began to talk to her and helped her admit her problem - she wanted to be loved. After the had cried her frustration out, Katsuya took Kyoko out to dinner and gave her her new nickname - "Miss No Eyebrows" {Yankees would shave their eyebrows}

4. STIGMATIZED - THE CALLING - "LOVE STRUCK": I can feel the blood rushing though my veins//When I hear your voice, driving me insane//Hour after hour day after day//Every lonely night that I sit and pray
- Katsuya and Kyoko spend more time together as he helped her with her emotional problems. Though there was an eight year age gap between them, they were able to communicate and get along as though they had known each other forever. Even though Kyoko still called Katsuya "sensei", she admitted to herself that she was falling in love with him.

5. SAY GOODBYE - SKILLET - "ARE YOU LEAVING?": You've got your life//I got mine//But you're all I cared about//Yesterday we were laughing//Today I'm left here asking//Where has all the time gone now
- Though Kyoko was a trainee teacher, he was only doing so because his father was a respected teacher and everyone expected it of him. Before, there had been relationship problems between Katsuya and his father, but after the death of his mother they were able to get closer. The ending of his trainee position, seeing as his father allowed him to abandon it, meant he would not be working at the school where Kyoko went to anymore. This upset her, until he reassured her and made sure that he was able to see her again - as her tutor.

6. SAVE MYSELF - LEANNA RIMES - "NO MORE!":To save myself//I don't want to save myself//I just want to live out loud feel the rush that's all around//I light the flames to feel the burn trouble everywhere I turn//there's freedom in the lessons learned and beauty when the loves returned
- When her relationship with Katsuya developed, Kyoko didn't want to be part of the yankee gang again. She stopped going to the meeting and soon enough the other girls became suspicious.They cornered Kyoko and kicked her out the gang - ending up in her hospitalization and the final black mark against her name - for her parents, at least. Now free from the gang restritions, Kyoko's more friendly side was developed.

7. HANGING BY A MOMENT - LIFEHOUSE - "YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO": Forgetting all I'm lacking//Completely incomplete//I'll take your invitation//You take all of me now//I'm falling even more in love with you //Letting go of all I've held onto
- After Kyoko was relased from Hospital, she returned home only to find out she had been disowned by her parents. They shouted abuse at her, until Katsuya walked in and came to her rescue. He told her parents that they shouldn't say such things to the girl he planned to marry and walked out with Kyoko, who was in shock. She said he didn't have to, but Katsuya confessed that he had fallen in love with her when she was able to cry about her inner loneliness - something he suffered as a child but was unable to cry about.

8. FROM THIS MOMENT - SHANIA TWAIN - "ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE": From this moment I have been blessed//I live only for your happiness//And for your love I'd give my last breath//From this moment on
- Kyoko and Katsuya were now officially engaged, and her love for him - which had blossomed when she was in middle school - developed into something deep and meaningful. Though the whole of her family rejected the marriage, as did most of the Honda family, Katsuya's father accepted it. He said that they were in love and that was all that mattered. Soon, they were wed and they started a life of wedded bliss together.

9. SOMETHING ABOUT HER - ALISTER GRIFFIN - "BABY TOHRU": There’s something about her//Something that makes me smile//Something about her//You just can’t define//Makes you feel alive
- Soon enough, Baby Tohru was born. After a time of severe insecurity and distress over her pregnancy [see extra section], Kyoko was blessed with Tohru. Seeing the way that Katsuya held her and cared for the little child, Kyoko was calmed, and was able to looked upon their child as a little angel, a delight that she was glad to have.

10. WHEN YOU'RE GONE - AVRIL - "PNEUMONIA": When you're gone//The pieces of my heart are missing you//When you're gone//The face I came to know is missing too//When you're gone//The words I need to hear to always get me through the day//And make it OK//I miss you
- When Katsuya died on pneumonia, Kyoko went into a state of deep depression. His death had been sudden and unexpected, and she was unable to handle the pain, even trying to commit suicide. Katsuya had been the person that had always gotten her through the day, and to lose him was a deep cut in Kyoko's heart. It was also due to this that she began to neglect Tohru - something she and Katsuya had sworn never to do.

11. BEAUTY FROM PAIN - SUPERCHICK - "OVERCOMING": After all this has passed//I still will remain//After I've cried my last//There'll be beauty from pain//Though it won't be today//Someday I'll hope again//And there'll be beauty from pain//You will bring beauty from my pain
- After seeing a girl and her mother on the street as she sat in her depression, is was as though a veil had been lifted from Kyoko's head and she suddenly remembered Tohru, as though the fact that she had a daughter had been erased from her mind. Rushing back indoors she found Tohru in a room crying, and as the young girl looked up, saying "Ah.. You're back now?", Kyoko swore to give her the care she had been disallowed as a child.

12. ANGEL - SARAH MCLACLAN - "ACCIDENT/DEATH": You are pulled from the wreckage//Of your silent reverie//You're in the arms of the angel//May you find some comfort there
- When Tohru was in her teens, Kyoko died in a car accident. In the manga, at the end of the series, there is a panel showing Kyoko returning to the arms of Katsuya. This was the end of her pain laced life, and yet she left so much behind that no one could ever understand.

EXTRA: CRASH AND BURN - SAVAGE GARDEN - "RESPONSIBILITY": If you need to fall apart//I can mend a broken heart//If you need to crash then crash and burn//You're not alone
- When Kyoko was pregnant with Tohru, she was anxious about how good a parent would be. She was terrified she would end up like her parents - neglecting the child and hating it, going as far as to disown it. It was Katsuya, as usual, who relaxed her, letting her realise that they were in this together and that they would raise Tohru as a family.

DOWNLOAD:
Download

</div>

AMV - Roy/Winry - Not Gonna Get Us

2007-09-15T12:12:52Z

Title: Not Gonna Get Us
Pairing: Roy Mustang x Winry Rockbell
Rating: Totally G
Length: 4:19
Storyline: Ever since she was a little girl and he stormed in without invitation, Winry Rockbell has fancied herself in love with Roy Mustang. One day, her grandmother found one of the love letters she had written to the man and punished her. When Winry grew up, she had forced this love away, though when she saw Roy again, she couldn't deny it, though she had told Edward she loved him. Soon enough, they were planning to run away together, until Edward gave Roy his permission to date Winry, forcing Pinako to agree...
Notes: This was made for a friend of mine on Youtube :D It's my first Roy/Win video too.. <3

Lyrics and Video under the cut! :)

Not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
Not gonna get us
Not gonna get us
Not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
Not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
Not gonna get us!

Starting from here, let's make a promise
You and me, let's just be honest
We're gonna run, nothing can stop us
Even the night that falls all around us
Soon there will be laughter and voices
Beyond the clouds over the mountains
We'll run away on roads that are empty
Lights from the airfield shining upon you

Nothing can stop us, not now, I love you
They're not gonna get us,
they're not gonna get us
Nothing can stop us, not now, I love you
They're not gonna get us,
they're not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
(Not..)
They're not gonna get us, gonna get us, gonna get us..
(Not gonna get us)
They're not gonna get us (gonna get us, gonna get us!)
Not gonna get us
Not gonna get us, gonna get us.
Not gonna get us
OT GONNA GET US, GONNA GET US!
(Not gonna get us)
Get Us, get us..
(Not gonna get us)
Not gonna get us
Not gonna get us

We'll run away, keep everything simple
Night will come down, our guardian angel
We rush ahead, the crossroads are empty
Our spirits rise, they're not gonna get us

My love for you, always forever
Just you and me, all else is nothing
Not going back, not going back there
They don't understand,
They don't understand us

Not gonna get us, gonna get us, gonna get us (gonna get.. get us.)
Not gonna get us (gonna get.. gonna get..)
Not gonna get us, gonna get us..
Not gonna get us

Nothing can stop us, not now, I love you
They're not gonna get us,
they're not gonna get us
Nothing can stop us, not now, I love you
They're not gonna get us,
they're not gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
(Not gonna get us)

They're not gonna get us, gonna get us
They're not gonna get us
(Not gonna get us)
Not gonna get us, get us
Not gonna get us, get us
Not gonna get us</div>

raychcons @ 2007-08-14T15:06:00

2007-08-14T14:07:03Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEAWEED_FMA!

After Deathy Hallows (Spoilers?)

2007-08-07T17:01:53Z

I've read a chat by JK, and I can tell anyone who doesn't know what happens to the characters post-DH! :P

HARRY: Becomes Head Auror in the re-formed Ministry of Magic
GINNY: Becomes a quidditch player, and later retired to become Quiddich correstpondant for the Daily Prophet.
HERMIONE: Hermione began her post-Hogwarts career at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures where she was instrumental in greatly improving life for house-elves and their ilk. She then moved (despite her jibe to Scrimgeour) to the Dept. of Magical Law Enforcement where she was a progressive voice who ensured the eradication of oppressive, pro-pureblood laws.
RON: Ron takes over Fred's position in Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes.
LUNA: She ended up marrying a fellow naturalist and grandson of the great Newt Scamander (Rolf)!
TEDDY LUPIN: Lives with his Grandmother, Andromeda. However, unlike Neville, who was also raised by his grandmother, Teddy had his godfather, Harry, and all his father’s friends in the Order, to visit and stay with. He is not a werewolf, Metamorphmagus like his mother.
PERCY: Became a high-ranking ministary official.
KINGSLEY: Became Minister of Magic after the ministary was re-formed.
GEORGE: Never gets over the loss of Fred, but names his first born (a son) Fred in memory. Is now working happily with Ron :)

Dumbledore and the mirror of desire:
What DD truly saw was his family alive, whole and happy — Ariana, Percival and Kendra all returned to him, and Aberforth reconciled to him.

Did Lily ever have feelings for Snape?:
Yes. She might even have grown to love him romantically (she certainly loved him as a friend) if he had not loved Dark Magic so much, and been drawn to such loathesome people and acts.

Do the rest of the wizarding world know about Snape's heroism?:
Harry would ensure that Snape’s heroism was known. Of course, that would not stop Rita Skeeter writing ‘Snape: Scoundrel or Saint?’

Did Harry end up with the moterbike?:
Of course. Mr. Weasley fixed it up and gave it to him.

My most important question:

WHO KILLED REMUS LUPIN?!?!?!!
Remus was killed by Dolohov and Tonks by Bellatrix.

Hopefully that answered a few questions. It surely put my mind at ease. Now where's my gun, I need to kill Dolohov....

</div>

10 Rin Sohma Icons

2007-07-28T00:34:28Z

{No banner, what a newb, haha :P}
Artist: raychcons
Fandom: Fruits Basket
Subject: Isuzu "Rin" Sohma
Number Of Icons: 10/10
Set: Kamui
Lyrics: "Crash And Burn" - Savage Garden
Comments and credits are love :]

001: Cry

002: Smile

003: Angry

004: Shy

005: Scared

006: AC

007: AC

008: AC

009: AC

010: AC

Created with angelamaria's Icon Table Generator @ Bauble

</div>

[22] Wicked Icons

2007-07-15T21:34:32Z

Some icons :P

[22] Wicked icons
Elphaba, Galinda, Fiyero and Cast :}
[13] Old Contest Icons
InuYasha, Ouran, Disney, Fruits Basket, etc.

001

002

003

004

005

006

007

008

009

010

011

012

013

014

015

016

017

018

019

020

021

022

</div>

001

002

003

004

005

006

007

008

009

010

011

012

013

</div>

Miroku/Kagome Fans

2007-07-14T23:24:51Z

Are there any Miroku/Kagome fans out there?

Anyone who likes to write fiction for the pairing?

Then I think you should head over to my newest comm, mirkagfic - called Bittersweet Love :] We need 10 members to begin challenges, so please, go join! <3

raychcons @ 2007-07-11T16:40:00

2007-07-11T15:40:49Z

Zomygosh

HAPPY BIRTHDAY hybrid_kitten

Anon. Meme

2007-07-10T23:34:25Z

ANONYMOUS MEME;
Post anything that you want here & post it anonymously. IP LOGGING IS OFF. Post a secret, a confession, a fear, a love. Anything. Tell me how much you love me or how much you hate me. Make sure to post anonymously & honestly. Post as many times as you'd like. Then, put this in your LJ to see what others have to say!

Have fun, guys~! 8D;;

Anime Music Video - Love You Anyway - Roy/Ed

2007-07-10T18:21:28Z

Series: Fullmetal Alchemist
Song: I Would Have Loved You Anyway
Artist: Trisha Yearwood
Pairing: Roy Mustang x Edward Elric
Summary: Even though Ed knows everything that happens, and has felt all the pain, suffering and heartbreak, he wouldn't changed a thing. He would have loved Roy, and still will, no matter what the cost.
Notes: Made this in about two hours for my sister, hehe :D I don't think it has any jumps in it either, so yay! :D Enjoy everyone.
Other: Wanna request? Drop a comment :D

</div>

If I'd've known the way that this would end
If I'd've read the last page first
If I'd've had the strength to walk away
If I'd've known how this would hurt

(Chorus:)
I would've loved you anyway
I'd do it all the same
Not a second I would change
Not a touch that I would trade
Had I known my heart would break
I'd've loved you anyway

It's bittersweet to look back now
At memories withered on the vine
Just to hold you close to me
For a moment in time

(Repeat chorus)

(Bridge:)
And, even if I'd seen it coming
You'd still've seen me running
Straight into your arms

(Repeat chorus)

</div>

Anime Music Video - The Reason - Roy/Ed

2007-07-08T21:37:12Z

*Innocent whistles*

Series: Fullmetal Alchemist
Song: The Reason
Artist: Hoobastank
Pairing: Roy Mustang x Edward Elric
Summary: He's Roy's reason, the only way to get him through the day and out of the misery that he is suffer... The way to help him overcome his past. His Reason's name? Edward Elric.
Notes: SO MANY JUMPs. It's only because movie maker kept crashing. I will probably re-make this at some point when I get the time. Oh well, enjoy anyway!

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you (x4)

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

Anime Music Video - Baby Goodbye - Roy/Ed

2007-07-07T21:18:03Z

Hehe. I am obsessed ;]

Series: Fullmetal Alchemist
Song: Baby Goodbye
Artist: Friday Hill
Pairing: Roy Mustang x Edward Elric
Summary: They were together, they were happy.. Until the military got involved, and Ed decided that they he has to leave to save Roy's job and dreams. He was standing in his way, they each had different paths to take... and so he took it into his own hands.
Notes: Ahh! Jumps :l I suck at getting all the jumps out. Oh well - enjoy it anyway?

LYRICS:
Look in your eyes I see a new story,
I can't deny my past ent perfect too,
Singin, I'm not here to get false answers
But just like you I got true questions too (yeah)

I never wanna let you go,
In ya eyes I can tell that is what we both know,
I neva wanna see you cry,
Or love so burn baby let it die,

(Baby, Baby, Baby)

[Chorus]
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I, sittin here thinking,
Passing good time,
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I never thought you'd say,
Baby goodbye

Hearin your voice just makes me remember,
All those times when we were nothing more than friends,
I knew you, you knew me, and everything was plain to see,
How did I let us get so deep?

I never wanna let you go,
In ya eyes I can tell that is what we both know,
I neva wanna see you cry,
Or love so burn baby let it die,

(Baby, Baby, Baby)

[Chorus]
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I, sittin here thinking,
Passing good time,
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I never thought you'd say,
Baby goodbye

[Rap]
Sure, I looked in ya eyes then I said,
Baby I loved all the time that we spent,
Then you replied with a tear in ya eye,
It should come to an end then we'll both be friends,
Both shed tears then we sat for a while,
That stone cold fear then putting on a smile,
Know that your leavin looking to the sky,
That one dark evening killin me inside,
Through a new doorway to a next life,
Cuz you've gone you way and I'll go mine,
Yo, I still see ya face though we've both been apart,
I know you've got your place deep in my heart,
Sure, I just feel so down,
Mite come around but its for the best now,
Both broke down and I'm choked inside,
And from the first time when I said baby goodbye,

Baby I tried to understand,
Why ya had to leave me,
And why ya had to be free,
Lady I hope you understand,

(I didn't disagree, and why we weren't meant to be)

[Chorus (x3)]
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I, sittin here thinking,
Passing good time,
I wanted you to go your way,
I wanted me to go mine,
I never thought you'd say,
Baby goodbye

Some Actual Icons

2007-07-07T14:46:53Z

I finally have some icons to offer, hehe :P

[8] Anthony Smosh Icons
[16] Fruits Basket Icons
[7] Other Anime/Manga Icons

SMOSH

001	002	003


004	005	006


007	008	009
		NO ICON

FRUITS BASKET

001	002	003


004	005	006


007	008	009


010	011	012


013	014	015


016	017	018
	NO ICON	NO ICON

OURAN/INUYASHA/LOVELESS

001	002	003


004	005	006


007	008	009
	NO ICON	NO ICON

Created with angelamaria's Icon Table Generator @ Bauble

</div>

IconFiend100 Table - Kagome Higurashi - 7/100

2007-07-03T23:05:30Z

Artist: Raychcons
Pairing/Character: Kagome Higurashi
Theme set: Alpha
Total Icons Completed: 7/100
Credits: Resource Post

1	2	3	4	5

6	7	8	9	10

11	Smile	13	14	Sunshine

16	17	So Far Away	19	20

21	22	23	24	25

26	Happiness	28	29	Over the Rainbow

31	32	33	34	35

36	37	38	39	40

41	42	43	44	45

46	47	48	49	4ever And A Day

AC Superhero	52	53	54	55

56	57	58	59	60

61	62	63	64	65

66	67	68	69	70

71	72	73	74	75

76	77	78	79	80

81	82	83	84	85

86	87	88	89	90

91	92	93	94	95

96	97	98	99	100

</div>

Tutorial #7 - Header Tutorial

2007-07-03T19:55:07Z

Today we are going to make the header that is used on my header at the moment, lawl. I am so bared that I am telling you how to do this. Because I am bored. Am I repeating myself? Anyway:

Making this;

1. Get the image you want to use. I used a picture of myself, because I suck :P

2. I then colored me in so that I was nice and orange! You can pick any color you like though.

Next, I opened a new image, 530x200, filled with black.

4. Paste in your image and position it where you like :) I sharpened mine a little to make it look better.

5. Use the pattern below and paste it over your image. I set it to soft light then duplicated it, erasing some areas of my face :D

6. I then added a nice slicey kind of brush over the top of my face:

7. Then I added my text. It's Times New Roman, but I can't remember the font size, sorry.It's probably around 10 - 12. I then duplicated the text layer and set it to hard light, 60%

9. I then added a wonderful scratch texture (by ??) on top and set it to screen. I made sure it wasn't over my face, however, and just on the black parts.

Which gave me my end result:

Experiment, don't copy the simplicity exactly, lol</div>

Tutorial #6 - Roy Mustang

2007-07-01T20:08:18Z

This icon is from my upcoming batch for Sentient Icons, featuring Roy Mustang from Fullmetal Alchemist - my new obsession, hehe :D Click the cut below to get to this tut!

From to

1. Get your base and cut/edit/color/resize it to your liking. I got my base from my set of Chapter 16 icon bases, then colored it using multiply layers. When you have your base, you can get onto the next step.

2. I got a flowery texture from cdg and pasted it on multiply, 100%

+ =

3. I then added a texture by VanillaShimmer (search on dA), set on multiply, 100%

+ =

This sucks, because it's covering Roy's face! So, I moved Roy down a little!

+ =

4. To finish the icon (because it looked bare 0_0) I added an brush from amethystia100 and put it on white.

+ =

And there you have it! I would love to see what you guys make <3 ^^

Other examples using this tut:
</div>

Tutorial #5 - Layers

2007-06-25T18:31:25Z

This is a very simple tutorial - it is going to basically explain the details of layers in PSP, and what they do. PS users, I wouldn't bother looking here for things like Pin light, because I don't have them, haha. Today, I will be writing about the main layers - Darken, Lighten, Colour, Multiply, Screen, Softlight and Exclusion.

Before we begin, everyone should know how to add a new layout. You can either go to layers - new rastor layer or go to your layers box (bottom corner) and click the icon that looks like a piece of white paper with a piece of green paper, their corners touching. K? :D

1. "Darken" Layer. Darken does exactly what it says on the tin - you can use something to darken the image. For example, if I use this adorable little chibi ed:

Now, the darken layer can be used in a good way and a bad way. Say, for instance, your icon is seriously bright:

So, you want to make it darker, right? So, you get a nice dark colour, such as #efe9e9. use the bucket tool and fill the darken layer with this colour. I ended up with this:

and/or this with opacities and other colours: and

If you're not careful, however, your icon can turn out rather skanky:

And that's the darken layer!

2. "Lighten" - again, a 'speaks for itself' layer - one that can be very, very useful when it comes to making icons. If we start of with the same little Ed as before, we can have a look and see what we can do!

My favourite way of using the lighten tool is to add colour splodges, haha. These are bright colours that are used to accent the icon itself. For example:

+ a nice colour splodge = The best way to do a colour splodge youself is to select your paintbrush, make it about.. size 30 - 50, depending on what you want, with hardness 10 - 30. You then make a new layer, set it to lighten, and pain your splodge! An example of an Icon using this idea is:

Anoter way to use the lighten tool is to use a gradient or a texture (preferably a light texture)

This is a gradient: and this is a light texture: When set on lighten, each has it's own niceness:

For example, with the gradient: and with the light texture: So yeah, there is a few nice things you can do!

3. Colour is a really fun layer. It offers you many, many little things that I love. The thing I use it for most, however, is greyscaling. Basically, the colour layer changes your image to that colour. So, for example:

Using a red colour layer: Blue Colour layer: and Black Colour layer: - this grey colouring is grey for adding a little coloured effect to an image, like this:

+ = - it lowers the sharpness of the colour and adds a nice dark effect - which I love.

4. Multiply. Oh, the multiply layer - my very favourite layer of them all. It does as it says - Multiplies the colour of whatever image you are setting to multiply. There are so many things you can do, such as adding a background to an image, like this:

All you do is paste [as new layer] the texture/image you want as a background, set it to multiply and rub out any parts covering your characters face!

The second thing that is good about the multiply layer is that you can colour black and white images. Take manga for example. Paste a manga scan into your psp, cut out a selection you want to colour, and just use multiply layers to get what you want! For example:

+ = Mines kinda scruffy because I did it really quickly, but If you take your time and do it nice and neatly, it turns out really nice. I used the paintbrush to colour in the manga, but you can use the airbrush and stuff too!

5. Screen is another layer, but it acts a lot like lighten. Screen [which also do exactly as said, screen the layers, ie making them brighter] layers are good for light textures. If you paste one on and set it to screen, it removed the back background without any hassle whatsoever - a really useful thing. For example:

+ ( on screen, duh ) + flip on screen layer = As you scan see, it added a nice little bit of colour that would effect the final outcome of the icon - in a good way. You can use many light textures and sometimes even normal textures to achieve nice effects. Sometimes, you can even use gradients and ajust the opacity to get nicer results. I like using light textures the best, though. Experiment yourself!

6. Soft light. Soft light layers [a layer that when you paste an image/colour add it in a soft overlay, so that it adds a nice effect that is really sweet (lol!)] are wonderful when you want to add gradient colouring to an icon. For example:

+ , and = , and mix that with the screen layer from before:

+ = And you get the beginnings of a lovely icon! See - you should mix the layers to get the effect and beauty you want :P

6. Exclusion. The exclusion layer takes the colour and literally excludes it, basically oppositing the colour in a nice, easy way that is very good for colouring]. The exclusion layer can add some wonderful effects to your icon, but if you do it right. Some good colour examples are things like this:

#0f2955 = , #2e3848 = and #032f79 =

The best colours to use for exclusion are dark blues. Colours that are bad are reds, pinks, bright colours and bright blue, haha. It's very picky, the exclusion layer. You have to be careful.

And that's the end of the layers tut for today, haha. These are the main, good layers that would be useful in icon creation - now go out there and be.. um.. creative? Haha XD Enjoy!</div>

raychcons @ 2007-06-23T21:39:00

2007-06-23T20:46:49Z

Artist: raychcons
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Subject: Edward and Alphonse Elric
Number Of Icons: 10/10
Set: None
Lyrics: "Nothing I Won't Give" - Vic Mignogna
Comments and credits are love :]

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Missing You When You're Here - Part Three

2007-06-23T00:37:42Z

Title: Missing You When You're Here
Author: raychcons
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Movie spoilers
Warnings: Alter!Roy/Ed, Cannon!Roy/Risa (boo!)
Summary: They were back, but he was not who Ed loved.
Notes: This fic is based on if Ed and Al found a way back to their own world. Also, before you ask, at the end, Edward used Envy to return home :]
Parts: 3/3

It didn’t work. Roy stared at the ground with a shroud of darkness over his face, and slowly, his heart broke again. If you listened carefully, you could have heard it.

“I don’t understand.” Hohenheim muttered under his breath, walking around the large circle on the floor, eyeing it with a critical eye. His plans had been perfect.. It was like a blistering hope to Roy. But that hope was now a pain that he couldn’t force away.

Their theory had been simple. The way to connect the two gates was through your life, and your blood controlled your life. Each human was connected to the gate, all they needed was to reawaken that connection. With the use of their own blood and the force of memory within them, alongside the aid of a rather large transmutation circle, it was possible to open the portal to the other word with a simple click of the fingers. But it hadn’t worked.

And now Roy was more broken than he had been before.

“You lied to me,” He said, his voice echoing the large room. It was the same room Edward had used to return to his world - though, Hohenheim didn’t know that. “You lied, you told me I could have him back! Does it please you, Hohenheim, to know that you broke my heart, ripped away my soul and threw it back in my face! You said.. You said that I could see him again, just one more time… You lied..”

Roy hadn’t reacted like this the first time they had attempted the transmutation. Or the second. Or even the third (though his heart had begun to sink at that moment). Now, on the eighth try, he had had enough. His heart was sore enough already. It was the fact that Hawkeye seemed to be stalking him, the fact that his head hurt every time he woke up without Ed and the fact that he had found one of Ed’s shirts the other day and now he couldn’t sleep without it. It was pain more deep and painful than anything else in the world.

And as Roy had collapsed to the floor, his knees shaking as they hid the wood, Hohenheim had fled, hoping to try and re-perfect his plans again.

Ed wouldn’t have run.

Ed would have stayed and held his hand and told him that everything would be okay.

But Ed wasn’t here anymore.

Ed was gone. Ed was gone!

A wail echoed around the walls of the storehouse.

~*~

[Amestris]

Risa gazed down at the piece of paper in her hand. She didn’t want to believe it, but it was there, written before her in plain black ink. Her left hand shook, the gold band shimmering on her finger suddenly feeling very tight.

‘I will never forget what we would do..’

This wasn’t happening. They were happy! Why did this have to happen! She fell backwards into a chair.

‘I will miss you more than I have missed anything before in my life, but I understand. Our paths are taking different roads…’

It was her fault, really. She shouldn’t have gone through Edward’s things - they were personal, private. But she wanted to know why he didn’t come to their wedding, why he never spoke directly at her, why he had that heartbroken look in his eyes at the office.

‘Our love will never end, it is only separated. I hope you will always remember what we shared, my little chibi. She will never stand in the way of that, this I swear. I won’t let her…’

It wasn’t hard to guess who the she was. Risa knew that she had broken something inside Ed the day she had gotten married and become Mrs. Risa Mustang, but she hadn’t realised what. She had thought the boy was in love with her!

‘I love you, now and forever. Never forget that, Ed. Never. I love you.
-Roy’

But Roy loved her! Her! He had married her, held her, touched her and loved her before Ed had arrived.

She didn’t notice the banging of the door.

She didn’t hear the steps coming up behind her, a clunk then a pat, signalling a leg that wasn’t entirely real.

She didn’t notice a young man stand shocked behind her, desolation written all over her face.

What she did notice, however, was the whine of pain and the metal hand that reached out and grabbed the letter from her hand, and the loud, trembling voice that echoed with a dark sadness that could never be overcome.

“What are you doing! You shouldn’t do things like this!”

“I understand why you hate me now-”

“I can’t believe you would do something like this, my personal message… my lifeline.. Secret from him..”

“And I know that it must have been hard for you-”

“Get out! GET OUT!” Edward screamed at her, tears running down his face faster than they ever had before, a never ending chain of fear and pain.

“Edward, I didn’t mean-”

“YOU DON’T KNOW! YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING! GO AWAY! HE‘S GONE!” And Risa was stunned into silence.

“He’s gone, and I can’t get him back, and it hurts, it hurts to much, and I don’t know what to do and I love him and..” The man trailed off, falling to his knees, the scrap of paper clutched to his chest over his heart.

“Ed, he’s in the office. He hasn’t gone anywhere. I don’t understand.”

“No, NO! That’s not my Roy. That’s your Roy, the one that doesn’t care and the one that thinks of me as a child and wants me dead and knows I am a pain and loves to rub it in my face that he’s married to you. No, my Roy is gone! I left him alone because I thought I belonged here, I thought this was where I was meant to be! It’s not, though, is it Risa? I have never been more out of place before in my life, I feel so awkward around everyone because I don’t know them anymore, and it hurts knowing that he doesn’t love me and that he thinks of me as something he can throw away…”

Risa was confused, but there was a part of her that knew what Edward was talking about. He had been to another world, the other side of the gate that separates people from death, and leads to an alternate world without alchemy and…

And oh.

Alternate characters that were the same in this world. Another Roy, in another world, that loved Edward so completely and unselfishly that he would let him return to this world because he thought he belonged.

Edward had given up everything, just so that he could return and be ridiculed. So that he would be stuck in the ranks and be treated like a bad dog by everyone, to be kicked around and to take all the punishment.

And she felt the pain inside. Her heart ached, and slowly, her hand reached out and touched his shoulder, the real one, her fingers resting lightly upon it. Much to her surprise, Edward didn’t pull away, he didn’t try and force her to move or let go. Slowly, her hands wrapped around him, her arms pulling him closer into a closeness that the young man had never felt with the woman before.

“I’m sorry, Ed.” She said, tears gathering in her own eyes. “I’m so sorry. I never noticed it before..”

Together, in silence, they sat, and she took his pain upon her own shoulders.

~*~

[Munich]

She was following him again. Why wouldn’t she just leave? Why couldn’t she realise that she wasn’t him, her hair wasn’t dark enough, her hand wasn’t metal, she wasn’t him, and she never could be!

“Roy..?”

“Please, Risa, not today. I have.. A headache.”

“Very well. Just explain one thing to me. Why do you always brush me off as though I am nothing but a piece of dirt upon your sleeve?” This Risa was very different to the one Ed had described.

“You’re not… It’s hard, I can’t explain it. I apologise for how I have been treating you, but I am not ready for a relationship at the moment.”

“But that’s not it, is it, Roy? There is something holding you back, and I want to know what it is.” Roy suddenly stopped being polite, and became cold.

“I don’t see how it is any of your business, Miss Hawkeye.”

“I care for you, Roy. I want to know what is hurting you so bad you refuse to see something when it is right before your eyes!” Roy turned, his dark eyes flashing.

“No, Risa, you refuse to see that is before your eyes! You cannot see that I have no interest in you because of a past that haunts my every step! I do not love you and I never will because I made a promise, I swore, and that means more to me than any feelings you think you have! My heart has already been taken! It was taken long before I met you, and long before I knew your name. I apologise again, but I will never be ready for a relationship with you because I can’t have one. It is something you will have to learn, Miss Hawkeye, because you don’t seem to understand that I can feel other things than ‘love’ for you. I love someone else, and I always will, and it is about time that you learned that.” Turning, Roy stalked down the road, leaving a stunned woman standing alone behind him.

Tears gathered in his eyes as he thought about Ed, his smile, his laugh, his moan, and his heart lost another piece to the never ending sorrow that was his life.

This pain was too much. He wouldn’t be able to take much more before he broke down.

~*~

[Amestris]

“I’m leaving, and I don’t think I am coming back.” Roy Mustang looked up from the papers he was signing, a look of shock written over his face.

“Edward, you have only just returned to us! Where are you off travelling to now? Do Winry and Al need some help?”

“No. I’m going back.” That sent a shock down the General’s spine, and he stood, the chair scraping across the floor.

“I thought you said it was terrible.”

“It was.”

“And that you hated every moment?”

“I did.”

“Do you wish to explain why you are returning then?”

“Because there is a ray of light in the world that isn’t here. There is a beauty that I didn’t realise before, a beauty that made me belong, and I need it back. I know that I would die if I don’t have it. You must give me clearance to leave the Military before I can go, otherwise I would not be here.” Roy nodded, slowly, as though he had barely grasped their topic.

“You are under the command of Colonel Mustang, not me.”

“Yes, but she said that I needed clearance from you.”

“Very well. I give you permission to leave us for good and risk your life for a pointless dream. Good enough?”

Edward looked as though he might explode, but he turned away, pushing open the door with his metal hand, not feeling the wood beneath his fingers.

“You know nothing about dreams.” And then he left.

~*~

[Munich]

He was here again. Standing alone in the old warehouse, the dark black marks on the floor the only evidence that he had tried to get Ed back. He couldn’t believe the pain he still felt, but that was okay. He had the memories.

Walking forward, he knelt in the middle of the circle, placing a piece of fabric there, a scattering red jacket, a forlorn memory. It slipped from his hands like silk, falling from him. It was his last memory.

As he watched the fabric fall into a puddle of dreams, tears slipped down his face, and one landed on a black line, sparking a chain reaction all around him.

A blue portal opened beneath his feet. Roy scrambled to his feet, looking around him.

When a portal is opened from this side of the gate, it shines a bright yellow, like the sunlight shining on the morning dew. Edward told him everything about alchemy. But when it’s a dark blue, like the lost seas of this world, it means it opened from the other side.

A small figure fell through, clad in a red coat with a black shirt and wonderfully tight leather pants. Roy’s eyes widened in joy and surprise as the brilliant colours around his sparkles and faded, until he realised that the jacket wasn’t read.

It was blood.

Everything seemed to run in slow motion, and he fell to his knees before the figure, a shaking hand brushing against his cheek.

It was Ed.

Ed was back, and there was so much to say - too little time, what could they do? He wanted to hold him, taste him again, kiss him but there was blood and sweat and tears and pain and Roy didn’t know what to do - but he had to help Edward first. He tried to move and call for an ambulance, but Edward grabbed his hand.

“Don’t bother,” He gasped, his voice soft and lost, as though it hadn’t followed him through the gate. “I won’t survive long, trust me. I can’t, it was the price I paid. Please, please - just, kiss, kiss me please - I want to hold you one last time.. It hurts so much but not as much pain as trying to live without you and Roy, oh Roy..” His sentences almost made no sense, but it was as though Roy had found a language he understood perfectly.

Their kiss was rushed, and yet was tender. Tear stained lips pressed against pale skin that was suffering from lack of blood, the pain rushing through them both as the nostalgia took over, memories of other kisses and other times returning. Roy pressed his hand against Ed’s cheek, and he was so close to not stopping and continuing when Ed pulled away, a content smile on his young face.

“Thank you, thank you, Roy, I love you, I love you so much. It wasn’t the same - not the same at all, it was so different - and Roy and Risa got married and it wasn’t you and it hurt - so much more than this, this will be over soon - and she found out and she helped he return and it hurts so bad Roy!” The blond was close to sobbing, his breath coming in gasps, quick and fast and filled with pain.

“Edward, Edward my chibi alchemist,” Roy had adopted that name so long ago, so so long it felt like forever. “What happened? Tell me, please, I have to help, I want to help, you have to tell me!” Edward shook his head and gasped, cringing as a wave of pain more intense than anything he had ever felt came over him.

“You can’t help. There was no Homunculus to help me get through, they’re all gone, all gone, and I had to offer something in exchange - because that’s the rule, that’s the rule, right? - and they took my heart, Roy. They took what was yours, what was always yours, and now they have it and I am dying and I can’t stop it and it hurts Roy! It hurts! I just wanted to be with you again and it hurts so much..” Edward gasped in pain, and Roy could see the blood flow stopping, darkening to a stain that was more deathlike. His hand reached out shakily, touching Ed’s cheek.

“How are you still alive? With no heart, how can you live?”

“I.. I don’t know - sensei did it, sensei can do anything - it must be something to do with this other world, messing me up.. Haha.. I love you, Roy. Please, live without me. Marry Hawkeye, if you like. I don’t mind, as long as you’re happy. As long as you’re.. You’re happy..” His breaths were falling short.

“I won’t be happy without you, Ed. Not without you,” Roy was kissing his cheeks, his lips brushing against the skin as he spoke. “I love you, I love you so much I had given up hope of life. She followed me, tried to make me love her but she wasn’t you, she wasn’t you, she could never be you, never ever be you, Ed. I’m so glad I could see you again just one more time, and I hate this pain this torture, of seeing you just to have you die!” The dark haired man was in tears, sobs breaking his words as he closed his eyes. “I tried so hard to believe that we could be together again, but we can’t be, there is something against us, and I don’t want you to go where I can’t follow!” Roy sat up, looking down at the body of the man he loved. Something was different.

Something was wrong.

Edward had stopped breathing. A cry of pain tore from Roy’s throat, and he almost fell upon the body before him, covered in blood and sweat and tears, and he broke, he broke into a million pieces that wouldn’t let him be. And soon his breathing caught short, the sobs and the tears choking him until he had to stop and sit up, breaking the spell of darkness over him and washing him with another darkness.

He couldn’t follow.

He couldn’t go where Edward had gone. Not now - he had to do what Edward had said, he had to be happy. But he didn’t want to leave. He swore he would be happy. He had promised Ed.

But how could he be happy without Ed?

Roy began to break again, falling over the body. Steps echoed behind him, and he didn’t want to turn, didn’t want to see who it was as he lay, cradling hid dead lover.

Behind him, Hohenheim watched, waiting for when it would be time for Roy to keep that promise, his own heart breaking again as he heard the gasping sobs and broken cried.

The words “Edward, I love you,” Echoed around the room.
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Catching Up With The Heart

2007-06-20T23:20:24Z

Title: Catching Up With The Heart
Author: raychcons
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Movie spoilers - maybe? :P
Warnings: Ed/Roy
Summary: It would take a while, but one day his body would catch up with his heart
Notes: Tried to make this long - it didn't really work. Don't get any ideas that this is a happy piece - it's not, I can't do them. It's depressing..ish :D

It hadn’t felt like this when their mother died.

When Trisha had died, Ed and Al had wanted to bring her back because she was their mother, they loved her, and she hadn’t deserved this horrible, sick death.

But the thing they brought back was worse than that. So.. Why was Ed contemplating doing it again?

He had finally gotten his own arm and leg back. Due to Wrath’s death and a mix up with his automail and an old friend of Dante’s, he had been able to get his limbs back, almost free of charge. Perhaps all the pain in his life was worth his body. Ed didn’t know for sure.

But now, he was wondered if perhaps giving them up again would be a good idea.

Al tried to stop him, telling him, reminding him, but he was busy. Busy with Winry and children and friends, and he thought his brother had forgotten these ‘crazy ideas’. But he hadn’t - all Al had done was make Ed more sure.

Until the Fullmetal Alchemist visited his mother’s grave on dark evening.

He felt her then. Not the Sloth her, the fake, water shaped version, but the true her, soft and gentle and proud, and it touched his heart and he knew, he knew that he shouldn’t try again. Not for anyone. Not again.

Years later, when Alphonse was a great-grandfather and Edward was a great-uncle, times changed, and the elder brother began to slip.

He found it hard to breathe. His words were not as sure as they used to be. He could hardly hear the soft sound his niece made as she spoke to him as he lay dying. And he was dying, and Ed smiled with a sort of ironic happiness.

He had wondered when his body would catch up with his heart.

And so, one night, exactly seventy five years after Edward Elric attempted to bring his mother back, he died, a soft infection by the name of Cancer being the cause.

But he was happy. At the gate, waiting for him, was a lone figure, staring at a silver pocket watch impatiently. As Ed moved forward, the white light of the gave covering his now young body as it had so many years ago, the figure looked up, and grinned.

“Took you long enough.”

“Hey, just be happy I didn’t try to bring you back, bastard. We’d have started the whole war all over again.” And the figure visibly softened, his hand reaching out and taking hold of the younger alchemists.

“Thank you, Edward. For putting up with the pain.”

“Keh, thanks for waiting.”

Hand in hand, Metal and Flame wandered the paths of the dead and the gate together, finally at peace.</div>

30 Izumi-sensei bases and 30 Momiji/Hiro Etc Bases

2007-06-20T18:47:27Z

I am just casually fulfilling requests :D These are from itsplashes and anguisel

This post features thirty Izumi-sensei bases from Fullmetal Alchemist, and 30 Momiji/Hiro (plus some etc) bases from Fruits Basket :) Enjoy!

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