#{{ hooo boy this is REALLY long. i just. i love you guys so mcuh

[thiirdboy]

     Geez, that time of the year again, isn’t it? I can’t believe how quickly 2017 has gone by. So, let me just say a few things in the spirit of the season!

     Man, this year, I’ve felt the most welcome on an RP blog that I’ve ever felt ever, and that...that’s crazy. I’ve been RPing on tumblr since eighth grade, and I’m in my first year of college now. There have been people that have been with me since the beginning, and there are people that I’ve only just met in the almost two years now that I’ve been on Shinji. And, let me just say: no matter how long you’ve stuck with me on this ride, I love and appreciate you so much.

     I’ve gotten lots of comments and high praise on my portrayal of Shinji this year, which I don’t say to brag; I say it to highlight just how loving and encouraging this community has been and continues to be! It makes me so happy to see even just small spontaneous questions in my inbox or to be tagged in things randomly, because it means you guys notice and love the work I put into Shinji. Evangelion has become very near and dear to my heart, partly because, as you may know, I do relate pretty heavily to Shinji, but also largely because of the amazing people I’ve met by RPing in its community. And so, I can’t repeat this enough: thank you for making what I do worth it.

     Here are some shoutouts to people that have been especially instrumental ( pun perhaps intended ) in making my experience here a positive one:

Magi ( @psychic-sun ) - Ohhhh boy HERE WE GO. Magi. You are the light of my life. We are the two balls of anxiety. The sunrise duo. The beeb and the boob. The flesh sack cleaning Ikari Lucas Goodwill Smiths. And also, how were you ever intimidated by me? BUT in all seriousness, thank you for pulling me out of some really bad places this year. Thank you for being patient with me and waiting until I was ready to take a step forward, thank you for being the kindest, most understanding, most encouraging person I’ve ever dated ever ( and not to mention cutest! ). Thank you for putting up with my stupid shenanigans, like the twitter layouts and fucking memorizing the entire Kaworu Hits on Shinji video. Just, thank you for everything. I’m never afraid when I talk to you, and if the anxiety does kick in you’re always there to kick its ass. I really hope I’ve been able to do the same for you. You are amazing, way more than you realize, you are going to kick senior year’s ass, and then whatever college you go to, you’re going to kick its ass. I absolutely believe you’re capable of getting into super selective schools and pushing through difficulties that you set your mind to. I love you sosososo much ♥ ♥ ♥

Emmi and Niko ( @derverlust and @ayanxmi ) - MY CANON GIRLS!! MY SQUAD!! My gosh, I just...you guys already know how much I adore your writing and characterization, but I just can’t state it enough. The work and thought you guys put into your muses is incredible, and I’m so honored to not only be able to write with people that are so talented and understand their muses so well, but to be mains with them?? Like??? What did I do to deserve you guys??? I never thought I’d end up as close with you guys as I have!! And not only that, but you both are absolutely a joy to talk to OOC, and have helped me through some really bad shit in my life. I know I can always count on you two for advice, or at the very least a pick me up when I’m down. Here’s to another year of wild EVA shenanigans! I hope I continue to live up to my role as you guys’ Shinji. ♥

Simon ( @rakuene ) - Holy fuck Simon. Holy fuck. You already know how wild our RP shenanigans have gotten in the four mcfucking years that we’ve known each other. I need not say more than SUMOverse or Ore no Muse for you to know. But, jeez...I can’t imagine what my experience both IC and OOC would have been like without you? I love that our characters have such great dynamics no matter who they are, and that I can also talk to you about anything OOC. You know about pretty much all of the shit I’ve gone through and have been there through a lot of it to help me, and I hope I’ve done and continue to do the same for you. I’m so blessed to have gotten to meet someone amazing and loyal like you.

Bell, Red, and Jae ( @retalupine, @invictrix, @velvequeen ) - SQUADRILATERAL ROLL UP. Okay no but seriously, Bell and Red, you guys have been with me practically since Kei’s birth, and Jae, even if we’ve only really started talking this year, you can’t have a squadrilateral without four sides, and you’re super sweet and cute and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to know you too! You guys are my tea-spilling, salty-sweet squad, and I can always count on you guys to keep things real. Plus, all our muses’ interactions are fun to watch, and it’s been great to watch them develop over the years into what they are now! And I super appreciate you guys sticking with me no matter which community I hop to next, and I will absolutely, 100% always do the same for you.

Chib ( @of-magic-and-fun ) - SYYYYYYYD YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. No but seriously, can you believe we used to just write RPs on paper in middle / high school and come up with shenanigans and now we’re still here doing the same shit, except with formatting and all that jazz? You are literally a sweet cinnamon roll with tons of extra frosting that this world does not deserve, too good, too pure. I know things are tough right now, but I’m here for you! And I will stick with you through any community you write in or anywhere you end up living IRL ( even if that means mainly discord communication ). We’re ride or die at this point.

Zach ( @insectoide ) - You know what the fuck is up Zach. From the time before I knew you up until now, I never would have imagined myself friends with someone as cool and talented as you ( and yes, I do, after a year, still think you’re super cool like I did before we talked ). I know you go through a lot of shit that you don’t deserve whatsoever, and I’m here for you for all of it. Though despite all of it, you’ve stayed strong and true to your beliefs, no bullshit, and I’m SO glad and so happy for you for that. And not to mention your bomb ass writing?? Your contributions to fandom have made it such a great place, and I’m so glad I’ve gotten to be part of it in some way!

Diego ( @hogarsis ) - Diegoooooooo!! My fellow magical girl enthusiast! My gosh, I was so excited when you very first followed me back on Kyubey, and then on Nagisa and just across all your muses. No matter who they are, they always seem to have a great dynamic right from the beginning, and a super unique one at that! There are tons of places we can take their interactions and they’re always super multi-layered, and I’m all about that good multi-layered shit. You’re a super flexible and talented writer and RPer, and I will continue to follow you and write with you wherever you decide to go!

     Wow that was really long. I have a lot of love to give. And I have more! Here are tons of other people that I have written with / talked to OOC, or would like to, that I absolutely adore.

@aoba-shigeru | @beastbrave | @falsiti | @hakureimaiden | @halfofxerxes | @herstrengths | @inviai | @inlightsimage | @notstpd | @persistingcourage | @revengefulhcart

     Of course, I probably missed a ton, as there are tons of you, and quite a few that have only just followed me recently that I would love to interact with more and just haven’t quite seen a lot of yet! But if you’re following me right now, you are part of the reason I’m still here! It takes two to tango, after all!

     Anyway, come March, aside from turning into Jared who never fucking learned how to read, I will have been on Shinji and in the EVA community for two years. And I plan on continuing to be here! This is just such a fun place to be, and I hope that that continues for a long time. If you celebrate Christmas, I want to wish you a merry Christmas, and if not, then I hope whatever holiday you celebrate is a good one. And for everyone, I wish you well in 2018! May it be a great year!

     — Negau