practically-an-x-man

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Been thinking about how the new Superman movie did a really good job of giving Clark interests beyond “Truth, Justice, and a Better Tomorrow.” He likes pop punk rock. His favorite meal is breakfast for dinner. Clark does a little dance when he gets the front cover byline. He likes to doom-scroll. Unclear if he���s a dog guy. His girlfriend makes him hot cocoa when he’s sad. So often Superman in film has zero personality beyond tortured alien that must guide humanity. Giving him these small details made the character feel so much more real. He really is just a guy doing his best.

[practically-an-x-man]

And the first two chapters of Merit's fic are up!! It's called Through Shuttered Windows, and I'm already working on chapter 3!! Hope you all enjoy!

[practically-an-x-man]

"the worst part of being a trans man is wearing boring plain masculine clothes" skill issue, i look cool as fuck

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1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21 for Merit and Ophelia?

Ooooh thank you!!! I think these are more general questions, not necessarily OC-specific, but if anything related to the OCs comes up I'll mention that too!

Whumpy Writer Ask Game

What kind of whump is your favorite to write?

In general, I really love medical-heavy whump! I find it really fun to talk about specific anatomy or injuries when I write whump, which is why I really enjoy writing whump for Eris (since their regeneration and overall resilience means I can have some fun with the injuries I put on them)

For Merit and Ophelia specifically... I think writing whump related to Ophelia's machines and inventions is best for her, and while I haven't written much of Merit yet to really know, I think it would be neat to write something that involves him being turned into some sort of forced oracle because of his powers.

2. What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)?

Hm... I don't know that I really have a least favorite? There are some whump scenarios that flow more easily than others for me, but I can still have fun with a variety of different situations.

3. What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write?

I'm not going to write things related to sexual abuse or rape. I'm just not. If it's part of a character's story or is mentioned as a past event, that's one thing, but I'm never going to write a detailed whump scene about it - no shame to those who do write it, to each their own as long as it's properly tagged, but it just makes me uncomfortable to write.

7. Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences?

Oh yeah! There's a fair amount that I write as a sort of tertiary reflection of my own experiences. No, I didn't fall twelve stories and break my back like Quinn, but I do have a lot of chronic pain and joint problems, not to mention dysphoria like she struggles with. No, I wasn't held captive and experimented on like Nikoletta, but I did have a lot of medical trauma thanks to an exceptionally rare genetic mutation that took ages to diagnose. A lot of the angst I write does stem from things I've had to process about my own life!

My particularly intense whump, like the things I write for Eris, is just for fun and conjecture, but a lot of the more grounded angst or backstory pieces are tethered back to my own experiences.

14. Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life?

Not that I can think of? I mean, I could say that some of the anatomy/medical side of things has come in handy, but I write whump because I have a base knowledge in anatomy, I don't know anatomy because of whump, if that makes sense? The most real-world application I've had with my whump was just sharing a few random bits of trivia I've picked up, lol

21. What fandom would you like to write whump for, but haven't done so yet (due to not knowing it well enough, etc.)?

Hm... there's a lot of horror movies/books that I could absolutely write some killer whump for, namely body horror like The Substance or the Southern Reach series, but I guess I've just never been hit by the spark for a specific idea!

[practically-an-x-man]

And the first two chapters of Merit's fic are up!! It's called Through Shuttered Windows, and I'm already working on chapter 3!! Hope you all enjoy!

[practically-an-x-man]

Making a whumpy writer ask game! Pass it on!

What kind of whump is your favorite to write?

What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)?

What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write?

Is there a kind of whump you wish you could write better?

What character or characters are your favorite to do whumpy things to in your writing?

What character or characters are your favorite to turn into caretakers in your writing?

Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences?

How many whumpy stories do you currently have published online?

Which of your stories has the most whump in it?

What is your favorite whumpy story you have written?

Share one of your favorite whumpy scenes that you have written.

What is one of the strangest things you have had to research for your whumpy writing?

What is the most recent thing you have researched for use in your whumpy writing?

Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life?

Are you ever hampered by your lack of medical knowledge when writing whump?

Has anyone ever called you out on an incorrectly written medical or whumpy scene (such as telling you that the character would have bled out long before help arrived)?

Do you consider character death (that is not reversed) to be whump?

Do ever rely on magical cures or deus ex machina to resolve whumpy situations?

How long have you been writing whump?

What was the first fandom you wrote whump for?

What fandom would you like to write whump for, but haven't done so yet (due to not knowing it well enough, etc.)?

Do you have any particular songs or playlists that help you get in the mood to write whump?

Do you write whump for OCs or just canon characters?

Do you have any whump pet peeves? Meaning things that just bug you when you see them in a fanfic.

What advice or wisdom would you like to share with other whump writers?

[practically-an-x-man]

Merit Mason

(picrew is @mischa-makowka's, faceclaim is Anthony Carrigan)

Full Name: Merit Robert Mason Pronouns: he/him preferred, but fine with they/them on occasion (trans aroace man)

Nicknames: N/A Pet Names: N/A

Relevant Tags: #oc merit mason

Birthday: August 17, 1983 Age in Chapter One: 42

Universe/Fandom: DC, specifically Superman (2025)

Physical Traits: 5'9, with pale skin and a moderately athletic but not toned build. Has dark brown eyes and firm bone structure. Due to total alopecia, he has no hair (including eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair). He is a transgender man; currently post-top surgery and 3 years on testosterone, so his physical features and voice present masculine but will still progress as he continues on T. Also has a scar on his bottom lip from a childhood injury.

Character Traits: good at heart but willing to break a few rules when it comes to his family, generally cautious in his day-to-day life, introverted and routine-focused, very loyal to the people he loves, an overall friendly person if not the most socially-inclined.

Relationships: -Family: Rex Mason (fraternal twin brother), Sapphire Stagg (sister-in-law), Joey Mason (nephew) -Friends: A small tabletop RPG group and a scattering of others involved with his hobbies; generally, though, he keeps to himself -Romantic Partners: None

Additional Information: - He is a metahuman with the ability to see through others' eyes; doing so causes his eyes to reflect the appearance of that person's, and leaves him blind to the sights in front of him until he returns to his own eyes - He can also fully experience another person's senses, which he calls an Overtake. Similarly, he experiences their senses as his own, and often enters a sleepwalk-like state in which he will mirror the actions of the person he has Overtaken. - Has had a seizure disorder since he was a child - this is typically managed with medication and lifestyle habits, though overusing his metahuman abilities can often prompt a seizure - The scar on his lip comes from one of his first seizures at age eight, where he bit into his lip and needed three stitches. - He is Rex Mason's (Metamorpho's) twin brother; they are fraternal twins, but would look nearly identical post-Merit's transition if not for Rex being a metahuman himself - Has remained very close to his brother all throughout his life; in the present, he shares a home with Rex, Sapphire, and Joey, as Merit feels uncomfortable living on his own and prefers to have his support system close-by - Works at a hobby shop part-time, and is generally very involved with tabletop RPGs, model-making, and other hobbies in that space. - [meta] His middle name Robert is a reference to comics writer Bob Haney, who created the character of Metamorpho - [meta] His and Rex's birthday, August 17th, was chosen as it was a day of temple rituals to Ra in Ancient Egyptian history - Metamorpho's powers in the comics come from the Orb of Ra

[practically-an-x-man]

hearing that your characterizations are good is like. the best thing to hear as a fic writer.

[practically-an-x-man]

Merit Mason

(picrew is @mischa-makowka's, faceclaim is Anthony Carrigan)

Full Name: Merit Robert Mason Pronouns: he/him preferred, but fine with they/them on occasion (trans aroace man)

Nicknames: N/A Pet Names: N/A

Relevant Tags: #oc merit mason

Birthday: August 17, 1983 Age in Chapter One: 42

Universe/Fandom: DC, specifically Superman (2025)

Physical Traits: 5'9, with pale skin and a moderately athletic but not toned build. Has dark brown eyes and firm bone structure. Due to total alopecia, he has no hair (including eyebrows, eyelashes, and other body hair). He is a transgender man; currently post-top surgery and 3 years on testosterone, so his physical features and voice present masculine but will still progress as he continues on T. Also has a scar on his bottom lip from a childhood injury.

Character Traits: good at heart but willing to break a few rules when it comes to his family, generally cautious in his day-to-day life, introverted and routine-focused, very loyal to the people he loves, an overall friendly person if not the most socially-inclined.

Relationships: -Family: Rex Mason (fraternal twin brother), Sapphire Stagg (sister-in-law), Joey Mason (nephew) -Friends: A small tabletop RPG group and a scattering of others involved with his hobbies; generally, though, he keeps to himself -Romantic Partners: None

Additional Information: - He is a metahuman with the ability to see through others' eyes; doing so causes his eyes to reflect the appearance of that person's, and leaves him blind to the sights in front of him until he returns to his own eyes - He can also fully experience another person's senses, which he calls an Overtake. Similarly, he experiences their senses as his own, and often enters a sleepwalk-like state in which he will mirror the actions of the person he has Overtaken. - Has had a seizure disorder since he was a child - this is typically managed with medication and lifestyle habits, though overusing his metahuman abilities can often prompt a seizure - The scar on his lip comes from one of his first seizures at age eight, where he bit into his lip and needed three stitches. - He is Rex Mason's (Metamorpho's) twin brother; they are fraternal twins, but would look nearly identical post-Merit's transition if not for Rex being a metahuman himself - Has remained very close to his brother all throughout his life; in the present, he shares a home with Rex, Sapphire, and Joey, as Merit feels uncomfortable living on his own and prefers to have his support system close-by - Works at a hobby shop part-time, and is generally very involved with tabletop RPGs, model-making, and other hobbies in that space. - [meta] His middle name Robert is a reference to comics writer Bob Haney, who created the character of Metamorpho - [meta] His and Rex's birthday, August 17th, was chosen as it was a day of temple rituals to Ra in Ancient Egyptian history - Metamorpho's powers in the comics come from the Orb of Ra

[practically-an-x-man]

Making a whumpy writer ask game! Pass it on!

What kind of whump is your favorite to write?

What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)?

What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write?

Is there a kind of whump you wish you could write better?

What character or characters are your favorite to do whumpy things to in your writing?

What character or characters are your favorite to turn into caretakers in your writing?

Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences?

How many whumpy stories do you currently have published online?

Which of your stories has the most whump in it?

What is your favorite whumpy story you have written?

Share one of your favorite whumpy scenes that you have written.

What is one of the strangest things you have had to research for your whumpy writing?

What is the most recent thing you have researched for use in your whumpy writing?

Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life?

Are you ever hampered by your lack of medical knowledge when writing whump?

Has anyone ever called you out on an incorrectly written medical or whumpy scene (such as telling you that the character would have bled out long before help arrived)?

Do you consider character death (that is not reversed) to be whump?

Do ever rely on magical cures or deus ex machina to resolve whumpy situations?

How long have you been writing whump?

What was the first fandom you wrote whump for?

What fandom would you like to write whump for, but haven't done so yet (due to not knowing it well enough, etc.)?

Do you have any particular songs or playlists that help you get in the mood to write whump?

Do you write whump for OCs or just canon characters?

Do you have any whump pet peeves? Meaning things that just bug you when you see them in a fanfic.

What advice or wisdom would you like to share with other whump writers?

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meta OC asks for Jasper and Nikoletta please? <3333

Oooooh thank you!!! Since you didn't give me specifics I think I'll pick like 5 random ones to answer from the list <3333

Meta Asks: If Your OC Was Canon

What role would your character play in the story? Are they a major player, or a one scene wonder?

Jasper: I feel like if Jasper were a canon character in AHS: Coven, they probably wouldn't pop up nearly as often as they do in Heartstrings. They would first pop up after Kyle is necromanced and brought back to the witches' coven, maybe introduced with some flashback exposition, and then there's an episode or two of them being confused for a witch before they make their exit from the plot. They might pop up here and there in other seasons like Apocalypse, but I don't think they'd really be a big player in the overall AHS story.

Nikoletta: She's part of the ensemble cast, just like the rest of the Suicide Squad. She'd get the same balance the others do: a bit of shared backstory, a cool fight scene or two, some good character moments, but shares a roughly equal presence with the others on the team.

What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

Jasper: I think there would be a lot of people that love Jasper and feel like their inclusion fixes a lot of issues that came up with Kyle's initial love interest (which is why I wrote Jasper in the first place), but also a lot of people that will die on the hill of Zoe Benson and hate Jasper for that instead. They'd be a very polarizing character for sure, with plenty of people that love them and plenty of people that hate them.

Nikoletta: Unfortunately, I think she'd end up subject to a lot of unfair fandom racism and sexism, and I think the fandom as a whole might not value her as much as they should. I may be biased, but she is a genuinely cool character that would deserve just as much of the hype, but with how fandom climates are I just don't think she would get the attention she deserves.

Is your character the subject of ‘imagines’ or ‘x reader’ style blogs?

Jasper: Maybe some imagines about them and Kyle together, but I think most of the fanworks about them would be specifically about them and Kyle, not an X Reader situation. Jasper's attractive, both physically and as a character, but I don't think they're the type of "brainrot attractive" that sparks those random X Reader fics.

Nikoletta: Probably so, honestly! I don't think these fics would be any sort of decent quality, and they'd probably mischaracterize Nikoletta to hell and back, but I do think they'd exist lol

How does fandom characterize/mischaracterize your characters ship in fanworks?

Jasper: Like I said, there would be a lot of battle between the Kyle/Jasper ship and the original Kyle/Zoe ship, and I think Jasper being genderfluid would result in some really... odd takes when it comes to people looking at their ship. I also think the idea of Kyle being infantilized during his necromancy-recovery stage would come back, despite that being one of the things that inspired me to write Heartstrings because it irked me so much. I think that they'd both be subject to some infantilization, Kyle for the reasons I said before and Jasper because they're transmasc.

Nikoletta: I feel like a lot of people would miss the fact that Nikoletta and Abner's relationship is queerplatonic - there are some romantic elements, yes, but they're not in a romantic relationship. I feel like this happens often in fandom, where people see this intense love between two people and instantly assume that love must be romantic, when really it's much more nebulous than that. The romantic fics might be tolerable, since there are elements of their relationship that can appear romantic in the first place, but the last thing I'd want to see is a smut fic with the two of them.

What is the quote between your character and their love interest/whoever they might be shipped with that their fans would latch onto?

Jasper: Hm... I think there would be a lot of focus on post-necromancy Kyle and Jasper, but I haven't written much of that yet (I've written a lot of pre-death and some pieces that are well in the future, not much in the middle). However, I think this cute little interaction at the end of chapter 10 of Heartstrings would be a big hit:

“Heh. So if I told you ‘je t’aime’, you wouldn’t know what that means?” “No, I think I know that one,” he replied, ducking his head to steal a brief kiss, “Je t’aime, uh, too.”

Nikoletta: There's a few I can think of, but I think some of the lines in Lost in Thought (when Nik wakes up after 4 days comatose from Corto Maltese) would be a big hit in the fandom spaces! In particular, I can see some cheesy TikTok edit being made with this interaction:

“I know how that feels.” he said, then glanced up and shot her the briefest hint of a smile, “But I’ll hold your hand. I’m not afraid.” “You’d be the first.”

[practically-an-x-man]

Making a whumpy writer ask game! Pass it on!

What kind of whump is your favorite to write?

What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)?

What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write?

Is there a kind of whump you wish you could write better?

What character or characters are your favorite to do whumpy things to in your writing?

What character or characters are your favorite to turn into caretakers in your writing?

Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences?

How many whumpy stories do you currently have published online?

Which of your stories has the most whump in it?

What is your favorite whumpy story you have written?

Share one of your favorite whumpy scenes that you have written.

What is one of the strangest things you have had to research for your whumpy writing?

What is the most recent thing you have researched for use in your whumpy writing?

Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life?

Are you ever hampered by your lack of medical knowledge when writing whump?

Has anyone ever called you out on an incorrectly written medical or whumpy scene (such as telling you that the character would have bled out long before help arrived)?

Do you consider character death (that is not reversed) to be whump?

Do ever rely on magical cures or deus ex machina to resolve whumpy situations?

How long have you been writing whump?

What was the first fandom you wrote whump for?

What fandom would you like to write whump for, but haven't done so yet (due to not knowing it well enough, etc.)?

Do you have any particular songs or playlists that help you get in the mood to write whump?

Do you write whump for OCs or just canon characters?

Do you have any whump pet peeves? Meaning things that just bug you when you see them in a fanfic.

What advice or wisdom would you like to share with other whump writers?

[practically-an-x-man]

META ASKS: If Your OC Was Canon.

BASIC:

What changes do you think would be made between your muse as they exist in your head vs how they would be treated as part of canon?

What plot points would change due to the inclusion of your character in canon?

What role would your character play in the story? Are they a major player, or a one scene wonder?

If there are multiple adaptions/If they are part of a multi-part franchise, which ones would your character appear in?

Besides your face/voiceclaim, who do you think would be cast as your character?

If your character had a breakout show/film/comic, what would the plot be? Who would be in their supporting cast?

What headcanons/theories do you believe fandom would invent about your character?

FANDOM:

What do you think the fandom for your character would be like? Are they a fan favorite, a love to hate villain, derided for whatever reason, or something else?

What feelings does your character most often instill in their fans? Affection? A desire to protect? Open lust? A love/hate dynamic? Why do you think their fans feel this way?

By contrast, what would their haters dislike about your character? Is it a petty complaint? A mischaracterization of the character or their intentions? Are they just a woman in a largely male-centric series?

What controversies/drama would your character incite in fandom?

What fan-material would exist for your character in fandom?

Is your character the subject of ‘imagines’ or ‘x reader’ style blogs?

Are there any tropes fandom would put upon your character, for better or for worse?

What would be the ‘incorrect but wildly popular’ interpretation of your character in fandom?

What corners of fandom would consider your character blorbo material?

SHIPPING:

What do you imagine the most popular ship(s) for your character would be?

Are there ship wars? Are they a popular character to ship, or the kind of character that gets shuffled off and away from shipping for whatever reason?

How does fandom characterize/mischaracterize your characters ship in fanworks?

If your character isn’t designed for shipping/isn’t interested in shipping, how hard does fandom have to mangle them to make them shipping material/open to a relationship?

Be honest. What song is playing over an AMV/tiktok of scenes between your character and their love interest?

What is the wildest crackship you can imagine for your character, whether in-universe or in crossover?

What is the quote between your character and their love interest/whoever they might be shipped with that their fans would latch onto?

What’s the discourse surrounding your ship?

[practically-an-x-man]

love

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this is the funniest scp and yet i've never seen anyone posting about it:

[practically-an-x-man]

tumblr users’ obsession with self-reporting (especially as a weird form of penance) needs to be studied