#Eventually it really will become a whole ass novel

[marblemoovt]

Rambling anon here with more to say haha…

Exactly! If only we could get rid of the eclipse altogether 🙃 I love happy endings and working scenarios out in my head as much as I can to ensure they come about.

Yes! You phrased that so nicely. I think it’s completely normal to have this mindset when it comes to Griffith. I say this because he’s such a schemer; and, although he appears well mannered and gentlemanly, we know it’s all manipulation to get what he wants. Griffith’s demeanor makes you want to believe that there’s actually good underneath his carefully crafted façade.

Even though Sadie came about accidentally, she’s still a fave ❤️ you gotta love her relationship with the princess. Also, Sadie definitely helps flesh out the princess’s character—I’d say without Sadie, the reader doesn’t really get to see the princess’s vulnerable side. And although she’s besties with Charlotte, she can never truly let her guard down around her because people are always listening to their conversations. I too love Sadie’s obsession with kneecap breaking 😂

Also…in this world where Guts either doesn’t exist or doesn’t leave the band, it makes it riskier for Griffith to have feelings for the princess, if that makes sense. He’s forced to figure out if this forbidden love is worth potentially jeopardizing his dream. But if you ask me, I’m convinced Griffith is already whipped for the princess (lol) so I think he’s already in the mindset of reconciling what he feels for her with what he wants to accomplish.

So well said. It’s clear that Griffith is conflicted about his feelings for the princess, which seems to be a move in the right direction. I’d say Griffith is even starting to believe in unconditional love towards the end when he admits that he’s trying to figure out how the princess could exist in the “dreadful world” they live in. Griffith learned early that the only way to attain his goals is through manipulation. Clearly, he feels the need to wear a “mask” in order to get what he wants. I love that you explore his innocent side (or, one could say, what’s left of his innocence), because even though he’s calculating, indifferent, selfish, he still maintains a little bit of a childlike sense of wonder.

I agree, this is such a neat trope!! And of course the perfect one to explore using someone like Griffith who is so bent on attaining his dream. I am so excited for if/when you do continue this story to see where this road may lead.

Side note: every time these two kissed I was low key freaking out hoping they wouldn’t get caught or else Griffith gets arrested for it lol 😶

Side side note: Do you think Griffith would get arrested and tortured if the princess’s parents found out about them? She mentions they wouldn’t be happy about her letting Griffith call her by her name. I’m inclined to think that, if someone caught them acting in love, running around together in secret, kissing, etc., then the princess’s parents would likely punish Griffith in some way.

Thank you for keeping my inbox alive, anon. If you ever want to be mutuals, my DMs are open.

One of my toxic traits will forever be thinking that Griffith can be good even if I don't completely believe it myself. Honestly, eclipse and post-eclipse Beserk will remain shrouded in darkness in my memories. I'm content with pretending that everyone is happy and fine. I'm the type of person who dislikes it when a lot of people have to die--which is why I can barely watch my partner play the walking dead lmao.

There's definitely a timeline where the princess runs away with Sadie. I think it would be fun to explore because I love a good royalty -> adventurer story as much as the next person. Though I don't think there's anyone competent enough to take over the throne with them gone. And while I imagine Charlotte to have been their best friend since childhood, she grows up in a much more restricted environment and their personalities differ as a result.

I wanted Charlotte to be the textbook perfect princess, basically what the princess's parents wanted. Funnily enough, they both have what the other lacks. The princess has more freedom while Charlotte has more control. But I think this is what makes them good friends since they can balance each other out. However, I don't think Charlotte would ever truly understand her friend. It's been a while since I've seen Berserk but Charlotte gives me sheltered vibes. Probably because of her dad. Can a bird really know what freedom feels like if it's lived inside a cage its entire life?

While we like Griffith, we all know the man ain't good at genuine feelings. I wanted to have at least one person who could tell the princess that everything will be ok because everyone needs someone like that. And in came Sadie, a person completely unrelated to the other characters. Someone who could see the princess as a person and provide emotional support.

I wanna say that Guts exists because he and Casca are absolutely adorable together. At this point he has not left, I honestly haven't decided if he would. But if he did, it would be after meeting the princess so things could end differently. My whole plan with Griffith is that he realizes there are other ways to accomplish his goal. And so does he continue on the path he knows and is sure will work? Or does he deviate into the unknown that plagues him with foreign feelings but a considerably tempting outcome? Because he can still have a kingdom either way.

Honestly, I'm not sure what his original plan was, probably to gain support, usurp the throne, and marry Charlotte. But there's never any indication that he reciprocates Charlotte's feelings, and I believe all his interactions with her were with the sole purpose of winning her over. So when he's offered an easier alternative, it makes him feel suspicious. Like when you feel that something is too good to be true.

We all know Griffith didn't have the best childhood. He probably learned at a young age that it's necessary to lie and steal to get what you want. He can analyze the situation and don the appropriate mask, which also coincides with how he's good at planning. He's gotten used to fooling people, to burying his feelings deep inside. I want to see the pure panic he experiences when someone manages to see the chips and cracks in his facade--and to care for once. Because Griffith would normally brush the other person off, but when it's someone he potentially likes? That's when things start to get interesting. Someone who can see he's pretending because they don't put him on a pedestal where faults don't exist. Someone who makes it incredibly difficult for him to view as 'beneath him.' Someone who is smart and powerful but still retains kindness, and--holy shit does he like this person???

I feel like everyone has that inner child, some more so than others. I think people who didn't have a good childhood or believe they didn't will always lean on the stronger side. Because there's that urge to have the childhood you wished you had, to not have grown up as quickly as you did. There are just some things you miss out on as a kid because circumstances forced you to mature, and so there's this undeniable pleasure and curiosity that appears when the opportunity arises.

End goal is definitely that Griffith marries the princess and people are happy. Griffith will learn that the path towards his goal is not a single path where the road is narrow and everyone is but a stepping stone. I do want to write a scene where he destroys the behelit with his own hands as a big fuck you to the gods. I want some character development for the princess as well but I haven't come up with anything yet.

Honestly, I can definitely see the princess teasing Griffith with discreet kisses in public, pushing the boundaries to see how much they can get away with. I think it would be funny to have Griffith be totally out of his depth for once. Griffith, in a situation where he has no control whatsoever? Preposterous!

Because the princess's parents are much nicer than Charlotte's, I don't think the punishment would be too harsh. In fact, I think the parents would be ecstatic that their child has finally shown romantic interest in someone for once. That betrothal meeting that ended poorly wasn't the first. While Griffith is a Viscount, I don't think the parents would be shallow enough to fault him for his status. Tbh, the princess is the heir, and so Griffith would kinda be a trophy husband lmao. The way I envisioned the kingdom when creating it was that the princess would take the throne and hold complete power regardless of marriage. So the amount of power Griffith would have solely relies on how much the princess is willing to give him. At most they would both rule the kingdom; Griffith would never have full reign.

I think that would be enough for him, especially if he doesn't hate his queen. With the way things are going in that oneshot, it implies Griffith is fine ruling side by side with someone if he deems them an equal.

As for the name part, I wrote that meaning the parents would disapprove of letting someone of lower status speak casually. I'm not super knowledgeable on nobles and etiquette, but I believe it's deemed rude to not treat those above you with respect/manners. So it's purely a social etiquette thing, especially since Griffith is a man to whom she is not related nor engaged.

There aren't that many people who are on the same level or higher than royalty. Griffith is asking for permission to address the princess informally, and we all know he didn't ask with pure intentions. Because of all the titles, I feel like there's something intimate about dropping them and just calling people by their names. It's especially present when the majority of the kingdom has to address a person by their title but he gets to say their name.

So while I don't think anything as bad as torture would happen, I do see the possibility of banning Griffith from their kingdom. Which would then call for an "Oh crap you really like him, don't you?" arc. And now that I'm writing this I'm sorely tempted to incorporate it.

Now I'm devastated that this novel lives in my head and will probably not transition onto paper anytime soon.

[everytimewetouch-dot-mp3]

svsss omegaverse au where only those with profound cultivation ability develop into alphas or omegas. this means both powerful spiritual cultivators and powerful demon lines

under luo binghe’s rule, any alpha or omega in the general populace is brought to bingge’s palace. omega women are added to the harem without question, tho there are a notable few alpha women there as well (shl and lmy).

sy transmigrates into a wandering omega cultivator exploring the world (the world building was the best part of that dumbfuck novel and now he gets to experience it firsthand!!!). his exploration quickly takes him from the few safe remaining human cities and into the wider world.

he’s chased for days by different demon groups until one finally catches him, because junshang’s been hell-bent on finding some particular male omega for the past few months. he’s put out a bounty and everything; whoever brings the right omega gets riches and their choice of one treasure from junshang’s vault.

everyone thinks he’s gonna kill this dude. they assume the omega wronged junshang somehow and he wants revenge. sy is scared absolutely shitless. these guys tie him up in immortal binding cables and beat him up a little bit. by the time they make it to the underground palace, sy looks fuckin rough

and surprisingly, lord luo is not pleased by this. so displeased, in fact, that he cuts the demons down right there in the middle of his reception hall? sy is 100% sure he’s gonna be next and he nearly passes out when bingge approaches. (part of him is screaming because!!!! luo binghe!!! in the flesh!!!!! with an air of power and deadly beauty and strength!!!! the protagonist!!!)

lbg studies sy’s face for a minute, then has servants take him away. he’s bathed (THOROUGHLY!! maybe TOO thoroughly!!! he can wash his own ass!! thank you!!) and styled, and with the cables removed he can finally heal his injuries from being captured.

the next time they meet, lbg seems weirdly angry. his hands are shaking and his face is red, and every time he makes eye contact with sy, he growls and looks sharply away. he’s definitely barely holding back from killing sy!! maybe it’s because sy left the human cities? maybe it’s because he was poking around somewhere off-limits?? sy has no idea what he did.

lbg leads him down down to the water prison, and again sy almost passes out. my mans definitely pukes into the water just from the smell alone. it’s…a gory scene. but what’s most unsettling about it isn’t the emptiness in sqq’s eyes or the desperate grunting that only becomes louder the closer lbg brings sy.

what’s most unsettling is how similar they look. they could be brothers, their family resemblance is powerful. same face shape, same nose, same cheekbones.

and sy gets it then. bingge is done playing with sqq; there’s nothing really left to do to him (though he’s still got his dick…sy was one of the loudest proponents of cutting it off for what he did to ning yingying!) so lbg must be looking for a replacement.

lbg studies them both for a long time, as if cataloguing all the similarities between their faces. the whole time, sy is shaking, trying not to fall over. eventually, lbg must be satisfied, because he looks sy up and down slowly before muttering. ‘you’ll do for now. we can see how you measure up.’

POORLY!!! shen yuan is determined to measure up extremely poorly to that old shizun of lbg’s!! to save his own skin, he’ll be nothing like that asshole!!

thus begins shen yuan’s plan to treat the emperor with such doting, kind respect that he’ll see nothing of sqq in him beyond his unfortunate face!! surely lord luo won’t want to kill someone so kind to him!!

(every measure of shen yuan’s kindness is overwhelming to lbg. after so long he’s found what that other him flaunted in his face. a close relative of his shizun’s, no doubt, (maybe a twin separated at birth?) who became that other binghe’s shizun in that timeline. he’s kind and gentle and so concerned with binghe’s wellbeing in a way…no one has since his mother, so so long ago. that one morning with the other shizun was so sweet, but this—having this omega here in his palace, fussing at him to eat more and dress more warmly when he goes to the north, smiling unrestrained, smelling so impossibly sweet—this is so much better than he could have imagined. luo bingge will convince this shen yuan to be his omega. not as a concubine, but as a proper wife. first wife, maybe. empress, even. whatever it takes to get him to say yes. whatever it takes to keep him.)

[brickmvster]

please don't go (i'll eat you whole) | L.K.

pairing: leon kennedy x fem!reader

synopsis: you make love to leon before he leaves you.

word count: 1,906

warnings/tags: established relationship, smut with feelings, angst, pre-spain or just pre-mission in general, some light fluff if you squint kinda (i'm sorry), p in v sex/penetrative sex, unprotected sex, aftercare

author's note: i'm gonna be honest. i am a little nervous. more so than usual bc this is my first time writing for leon! i love him so much, he's definitely one of my comfort characters, and i wanted to write something angsty but also kinda bittersweet like this for a loooong time and i finally got around to it. i really hope you guys enjoy, comments are always appreciated <3 this has been proofread more than once, but just in case, any and all mistakes are mine! also, just fyi, i wrote this with re4r leon in mind, but you can imagine whichever leon floats your boat if you really want to lol.

p.s. it's not written in here but pls pee after sex 😭

minors do not interact, please and thank you!

You clung to him for dear life; as if he was going to disappear in front of your very eyes.

You were above him, peering down into his deep eyes. His eyebrows were knitted together in pleasure and his lips, which were currently rosy and swollen after the frequent kisses you had given them, were ever so slightly parted as soft groans emerged from his throat. His large hands never stayed still for longer than a minute – he gripped your waist before sliding them down to your ass, kneading the soft flesh before moving them up toward your breasts, squeezing gently, before bringing them back to your waist, where he helped with guiding your languid movements. You moved your hips like an expert, riding him as if you’d never have the chance to again.

With the rain pattering against the window and a sliver of moonlight filtering through the room, it was almost like a scene from an erotic novel. The room carried the scent of sweat and sex and was filled with the noises that spilled from your lips non-stop. You didn’t even know how much time had passed – but you knew it was late. You knew Leon had to be up in the morning. But you wanted to prolong this moment with him for as long as possible. Leon wanted to as well, as every time he got you close to your peak, he slowed down, dragging out your orgasm in a way that was almost painful, but you enjoyed every second of it.

You were growing tired, your legs beginning to shake as your rhythm became a bit off-kilter.

“Leon…” You moaned, his name coming out so softly it almost wasn’t audible. But Leon, ever so attentive, heard you loud and clear, and he knew what you were trying to tell him.

He flipped you over with ease, while he was still inside of you, spreading your legs further apart and starting up a steady pace. All you could do was grip the bed sheets, your eyes rolling into the back of your head as he drilled into that spot that made you see stars. He wasn’t aggressive or rough, but his thrusts were certainly hard-hitting and relentless, and you knew you only had a few minutes.

At some point, you closed your eyes as you tried to focus on your impending orgasm, feeling as if you were in a complete haze – but Leon’s voice pierced through your foggy mind.

“Please look at me.” He said, his low voice sounding a bit strained and even a little desperate; who were you to deny him of what he wanted?

It took a momentous amount of effort, but eventually you were able to open your eyes and keep them open, looking up at him. Leon lowered himself a little, allowing you to wrap your arms around his broad shoulders. The slightly different position made his thrusts feel even deeper, and you cried out into his neck, your fingers going into his shaggy blonde hair.

“Keep looking at me. Please.” He said softly, and so you did, maintaining eye contact with him the best you could as he continued to piston his hips into you. Suddenly, Leon was becoming blurry; you could feel the wetness on your face as tears began to fall. Leon often made you cry during sex – he was a fucking god in bed after all and usually made you feel so good that he’d leave you sobbing from the intense pleasure after multiple orgasms. And while that was definitely the reason you were crying now, you also knew that there was an underlying reason for your tears. Leon knew the other reason, too.

“You’re close, aren’t you?” He asked you sweetly, still keeping up his quick pace. All you could do was nod fervently, digging your nails into his back. He always loved when you did that.

“Yeah? My sweetheart is gonna cum for me?” He urged, and the pet name that rolled off of his tongue only made matters worse.

“Fuck, Leon–please, give it to me.” You said, your voice trembling. You felt all of the telltale signs. There was a tight coil forming in your lower stomach, ready to pop like a balloon. Leon could sense this, could hear it in your voice and could feel it in the way your pussy was squeezing around his cock. He raised himself just a bit, lowering his hand down between your legs, using his thumb to rub your clit in circular motions while he continued thrusting.

Leon’s name emerged from your throat so loudly that you even drowned out the rain. Your eyes squeezed shut, your back rising off the bed in a beautiful arch, your climax hitting you in waves. You felt like you were in heaven, the tears falling even more freely from your eyes now. Leon just ogled at you like you were a work of art. In his mind, you were.

He was also close, and mere seconds after your orgasm his own came crashing down on him too. With a few more sloppy thrusts he found himself stilling inside of you, his release filling you to the brim. The feeling of being so full of him was one that you would never grow tired of.

Eventually, you came down from your peak, your limbs feeling like heavyweights. All you could do was lay there and cry some more, letting every single emotion overtake you completely, your sobs shaking your entire body. Leon was comforting you in an instant, pulling out gently and lying next to you, allowing you to bury your head into his chest. The two of you laid like that for several minutes, with Leon cradling your head and rubbing your back.

You did calm down after some time passed, and that’s when Leon tried to get up, but you clung to him again.

“Please don’t go.” You said, your voice small and hoarse. “Don’t go, Leon, please.”

“I just wanna clean you up, okay?” Leon replied, wiping away the wetness on your cheeks. You didn’t even care that his cum was leaking out of you and making your thighs a mess – you just wanted him to stay by your side. But you knew he was just trying to take care of you, so you reluctantly released him.

Leon kissed your cheek before getting off the bed and going to the bathroom. While you waited for him, you tried to keep your eyes open. You didn’t want to sleep, because falling asleep meant that morning would come quicker, and truthfully you didn’t want the morning to come at all. You knew it would be coming no matter what, though – but goddamn it, you tried to prolong it the best you could, even when your eyelids were growing heavier by the second.

Leon came back, now clothed in his boxers (that you didn’t even notice he had thrown back on), a small washcloth in hand, and a glass of water that he set on the bedside table. He pushed your legs apart yet again and wiped you clean, touching you so gently as if you were some kind of porcelain doll. It only made your heart grow fonder. You were going to miss these moments of tenderness.

He made you sit up, just enough so you could drink the water that he had prepared for you. You took a small sip, to which Leon encouraged you to “drink a bit more, sweetheart,” so you did, and when he was pleased, the glass returned to its spot on the bedside table, and shortly after he was crawling underneath the comforter with you.

The warmth of the comforter and Leon’s body next to yours made it even more difficult for you to stay awake. Leon saw you struggling, catching the way you would doze off and then immediately wake yourself back up.

“Please, rest.” He muttered into your hair. You hugged him tighter.

“Do you have to go?” You asked him, even though you knew the answer.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Was all Leon could say in response.

You felt a lonely tear roll down your cheek yet again. But you were far too exhausted to cry some more. Instead, you sat up, looking at Leon intently. He returned your direct eye contact, sitting up himself to lean against the headboard and match your height.

“Promise me,” You started, holding out your hand. Without hesitation, Leon held it, locking your fingers together and giving your hand a slight squeeze.

“Promise me you’ll come back home.” You asked him, like you always did before he left for a mission. Every single time, he would give you the same answer.

“I promise.” He replied firmly. You knew deep down that asking Leon to make promises like this was unrealistic. He never fully understood what he was getting himself into until he arrived at the mission location – and you knew that despite his skills as a trained government agent, accidents always happened, and there was no way to know when things would go awry when he’s out in the middle of nowhere. But hearing him utter those two words before he left eased your worries just enough.

Trusting Leon was always easy.

“I love you.” You said softly, fitting back into Leon’s side perfectly, like you belonged there.

“I know, sweetheart. I know.” Leon replied, before tilting your chin up with two gentle fingers and kissing you with a fiery passion. You two lazily kissed each other until sleep started pulling you into its dark embrace. You didn’t fight it this time, resting your head on Leon’s chest and drifting away to the sound of his steady heartbeat.

The next morning, the two of you shared one last breakfast. You mostly sat in comfortable silence. You asked a couple questions about the mission, but didn’t get straight answers – it was confidential. You knew that already but always liked to ask questions anyway.

Right as Leon was about to walk out of your door, you stopped him. You took a few moments just to stare at him – he was as handsome as the day you fell in love with him.

You brushed some hair out of his face, kissing him slowly, savoring the feeling of his lips on yours for these last few minutes. When you pulled away, you were sporting a warm smile, feeling your eyes sting as tears threatened to spill. You kept them at bay.

“Don’t you dare–” You paused, your trembling lips making it difficult to speak. When you collected yourself, breathing in and out, you continued.

“Don’t you dare ruin this jacket. I love it on you.” You said, referring to the brown leather jacket that Leon had bought himself recently and was currently wearing. He had a tendency to ruin clothing items on his missions, and you hoped this one would survive.

Leon chuckled. The sound immediately filled you with warmth. You were going to miss that sound; God knows how long you’d have to go without hearing it everyday.

“Copy that.” Leon replied, a laugh bubbling out of your throat.

You shared one more embrace. The final hug was one the both of had trouble ending. But it had to come to an end eventually.

And then, Leon was gone. All that was left was a memory.

[meanbossart]

Alright, I am like 90% sure there is ONE line in A Novel Experience touching on Gale GTFOing rapidly, so I don't think there are answers in there for me. So I come to you and ask-WTF went on between Gale and Drow???

Alright, so

There are two versions to what happened to Gale in my first campaign (the OG DU drow campaign that this whole universe is based around), lets begin with the technical version. As I've only somewhat recently come to understand, my Gale was bugged. I had 1 interaction early in the game that slightly veered into romance which didn't go anywhere, and first chance I had I clarified that I was not interested in him that way (the whole reason why It happened in the first place was because i misunderstood his dialogue). Despite this, and despite me turning him down in every romantic interaction following, I kept getting them and my interactions with him were as if we were romantically involved. I even got one exchange (the one about muscles glistening and cheeks flushed) twice, and rejected him both times.

So, later in the game once DU drow and Astarion sucessfully 5d chess-ed their way into falling In love, I was surprised to still be informed i had to "break things off" with Gale if I wanted to get with him. Which I did. And he gave me a whole spiel about it.

Now it's crucial you understand this was early in the game's release, I went into it completely blind and I had never played a game like Baldur's Gate before, so I was not familiar with the mechanics at all, which... Kind of led me to believe Gale was just like that normally.

From that point on I was highly amused, but for roleplaying purposes I decided my drow would have been highly annoyed and a little creeped out. And so I proceeded to be extremely rude to the guy at every chance I got. This eventually resulted In him pursuing the crown of Karsus despite me (rudely) telling him that was a very dumb idea.

The second version of what happened, as I already touched on above a little bit, Is the Narrative one. As I mentioned I had no clue what was and wasn't supposed to happen, so I just... Went along with it within the role-play.

So our beloved DU drow gets worms. He goes on a grand adventure with this weird possy of people to find a cure. When the tiefling party comes everybody except Astarion wants to get into his pants (because I left him on the beach for like a week and then proceeded to be The Rudest to him, sorry babe, I didn't see your pale ass and the asshole dialogue options were Really funny).

Someone else who Didn't seem to wanna fuck him was the wizard. He said he just wanted to show him a magic trick and he (and, I'll admit, me) really thought that was just that. The scene unfolds, Gale tries to teach DU Drow to cast a spell but his 9 intelligence says No. The unsolicited date ends abruptly because Gale is upset that a champion fighter without a single cantrip makes for a shitty wizard. DU Drow thinks thats the end of that - It's Not.

Then what proceeds to happen is a long, annoying, somewhat unsettling dynamic where Gale continually tries to pursue him throughout the game, coming to the point where the guy I'm Actually interested in thinks we are together - and when DU drow tells him verbatim that he had no idea they were even a thing in Gale's mind, he has to hear him whine about it. Add to that the fact that all Gale talks about is his ex-girlfriend, DU drow is (kind of justifiably) led to believe he must be a Profound weirdo to whom he cannot ever say even a Neutral word to again lest he becomes any more infatuated with him - 0r whatever the hell is going on.

Whether it be DU drow's own inflated ego or the actual truth, when Gale begins to pursue the crown he also assumes he's just doing it to spite him - so he isn't the kindest to him about that either.

And within this narrative that I concocted around a simple bug that didn't let me end a romance, I cannot imagine Anyone getting on particularly well with Gale within my main party. Drow thinks he's madly in love with him, Shadowheart is probably a little confused but she trusts DU Drow's word on the matter more than the Wizard's, Astarion thinks... What Astarion thinks.

So, no, they didn't part on the best of terms.

Before anyone gets mad, I assure you - I've completed the game again since then, I realize this is Not the intended Gale experience. He's a hysterical and deeply interesting character and only Slightly clingy and weird.

But, you gotta admit, this is way funnier.

[zombie-bait]

Omg i just realized I have something tiny to add to the whole James Somerton debacle. I'm currently watching the hbombguy vid (as you do when procrastinating assignments) and I remembered something that stood out to me in James' old videos.

So I used to be a fan of his stuff. I am also a fan of Hannibal and IWTV. He made a video covering both so naturally I was very hyped. It was called 'The Gay Appeal of Toxic Love.' The vid itself was fine (I don't remember having any super strong opinions of it besides being excited to hear ppl mention Interview cuz I had recently become obsessed) but one thing did stand out to me. In the IWTV section he mentions Nicki and, naturally, his death:

"After becoming a vampire, Nicky becomes nearly catatonic, and eventually slips away from Lestat entirely. And after centuries of dealing with depression and severe mental illness, Nicky kills himself."

(sourced from this transcript: https://github.com/TerraJRiley/James_Somerton_Transcripts/blob/main/Transcripts/The%20Gay%20Appeal%20of%20Toxic%20Love.txt)

To anyone who's read TVL, I don't think I need to explain that Nicki had not, in fact, been around for centuries. "Nicki had lived to be 30" has been rattling around in my head since I first read it.

And like, obviously I don't expect every youtube essayist to read several long-ish novels to have a full grasp of the series' deep lore, especially when the focus was largely on IWTV and Loustat rather than the entire Vampire Chronicles. Still, it makes you wonder a bit about the quality of the research being done here. You can find the proper info in like, 5 seconds by just going on the fan wiki so I'm not sure what his sources were. And that's the issue at hand, isn't it?

At the time I felt a tiny bit smug recognizing the error but in light of everything that's been revealed, it's kind of telling. I'm not saying this part was plagiarized (I haven't found anything but others on reddit have found issues with different sections of the same video) but rereading the transcript it comes off as someone who clearly doesn't know much about Interview.... It feels like he's reading through a loose summary of plot points rather than analyzing a piece of media that actually means anything to him. It's very much Interview for people who don't know Interview which, one could argue is fair. Especially beyond book one, VC is a niche series and a lot of elements that are important to certain characters or plot lines cannot be summarized quickly for an audience unfamiliar with it. A good writer, who's done a lot of research about the specific topic they have chosen to make a video on, would be able to balance this. There is a LOT to analyze about queerness in VC and its a shame to see one of the more popular queer media channels half-assing it just to churn out videos heavily made up of other people's work. In retrospect he had several videos like that, where he would discuss things like manga/manhua communities while clearly having little knowledge on the nuance of those subjects. He was an outsider who presented himself with a strange amount of authority.

This was content created with the sole intention of propping up queer stories and history, yet it's built off stolen work from queer authors and doesn't actually care that much about exploring the communities it features. Vids like the IWTV one weren't really fact checked because it's only people like me who would might give a shit or even notice anything is off in the first place. There's a bit of a similar vibe in some of his other vids where he undermines the experiences of queer women because he clearly has not taken the time to learn about the nuances of representing queer women in media. These are things that irritated me when I first started to notice them but I put those concerns in the back of my mind because I cared about the topics he was covering and was excited to see these discussions becoming more mainstream.

The revelations of this evening have been disappointing to say the least.

(also for the record I know he made other more recent vids about IWTV but I haven't seen those and even if his account was still up I don't think I would lol

BUT

I did look at the transcript for his 'Vampires and the Gays Who Love Them' video (found from the same link I included above) and this quote about the IWTV AMC show is sending me: "Daniel has never grappled with the complexities of being gay"

Shoutout to straight, uncomplicated icon Daniel Molloy. Devil's Minion was a mass hallucination, spread the word)

[n7punk]

2024 Writing Wrapped

Buckle your asses in because this is a long one (when has it ever been a short one)

Stats:

Fics posted this year: 32 (it honestly feels like way more)

AUs: 25 Canon: 7

Updates (chapters, one-shots, etc): 97 (damn I thought that was higher too lol but that's an average of posting every 3.14 days for the 10 months I wasn't on hiatus and and posting 1.87 times a week if you include my hiatus period, and my goal this year was to hopefully update 1.5-2x a week on average, so that goal was definitely met!)

Total word count: 600,179 (my goal was 600k and I got it in with only a few hours left)

AUs: 400,695 Canon: 41,235

Fandom events: 4! (Big Bang, Sapphic September, AU-ctober, Sheratober)

Novels: 1

Personal projects: 2 (misc)

Writing streak: 730* days

I haven't actually written every day in there, I have a couple of rest days thrown in that I only allow myself if there are extenuating circumstances (power outage, sick, etc) where I give myself a word count of 0 because my counter still picks that up as writing. Having this streak is extremely motivating to me so it's worth the "inaccuracies" to have it force me to write on the days I normally wouldn't because I don't want to break it. Removing the freebie days from this year, they're 6, and going back to 2023 it looks like I had 1 since the streak started, so the "real" count is 723. When I port over my streak to next year I'll use the reduced number so it will be more "accurate". I want to keep those freebies in the single digits every year and I'm happy with that.

Retrospective:

1% of Catradora fics!!

that's how I started the year, posting 'stardust, glitter, and love', which let 'freak occurrence: confluence' become my 117th Catradora fic that took me to 1% of the tag (as of writing this I'm 1.17% even after taking nearly two months off lmao). This was a huge goal of mine I was honestly hoping to hit at the end of last year, but kicking the new year off with it was great too.

In late January/February I was working on EtB(LtF), but I got a little ahead and as I was slowly posting the final chapters, I also joined my first fandom event EVER! and wrote Lightbeam for the Big Bang.

The Big Bang was so fun. I want to shout out karo-lynn again for the absolutely GORGEOUS art that went above and beyond with multiple illustrations. Kitten Catra is soooo cute and the way the glowing effects came out is just 🤩 Getting to do Lightbeam for the Big Bang was really great because it was a "milestone" event for the 4th anniversary and the fic I got to write for it was almost a follow-up to my "milestone" fic because they were the only couple in freak occurrence: confluence that hadn't had their "home universe" fic come out, and Lightbeam was the genesis of a long-standing idea (kinda headcanonish) about Adora being the goddess of Etheria that I had, so thank you so much to Tippenfunkaport for arranging it because the final fic and art means so much to me <3 (and also even if I'm still working my way through them, there were a lot of good other fics that came out of it I loved reading!)

To my memory, February/March was a little slower working on MMaM and SYE, but I went a little crazy with OLIG in April/May and had so much fun on that project. I really, really needed it. I'm not going to get into it, but with stuff that happened in my family... this was honestly one of the scariest years of my life. I was trying to figure out why I have vague negativity associated with the OLIG project and then I remembered what was happening around then and realized it had nothing to do with the project itself and in fact that was the only thing that kept me sane. That's probably why I was having one of my troughs in mid/late-May through July. Everything I picked up after OLIG/the Big Bang I just couldn't spark my interest the same and I was tired, but I eventually settled on Slipstream and slowly wrote that for... ages. But I don't want to make it sound like I was depressed that whole time. March-June were really hard, but the main reason I didn't write much in July was actually because I was having so much fun, because I got to meet up with a bunch of friends IRL for almost two weeks. It was so incredible and ugh, I'm committed to making a meetup happen again because I miss them so much.

I think I finally finished Slipstream in August, and that's when it happened. I saw the Sapphic September prompts. I already did individual retros on Sapphic September and Sheratober/AU-ctober, but needless to say: I went fucking insane. The unhinged era returned. And I had a fucking blast. I do want to do more fandom events in the future, but we'll get to that in the future plans section.

I will say, after those events, I honestly felt a little tapped for solid fic ideas. So like, I have a list of 7 ideas I'm interested in (and 1 WIP I'll try to finish and post in January), but I have no thoughts for an actual plot for those 7, it's literally just a tagline, like "Wedding Crashers AU" and that's it (using What a Beautiful Wedding as an example). So there's something there but plot calling to me. The Catradora whirlwind combined with future plans I'll get into later (I promise I'm not going to keep saying that) motivated me to finally pickup my novels again as my next project after the month was over.

I also did something new this year and wrote fanfics without the intention to publish them at any point. I talked about how I lied to myself I wouldn't do it with SB,WCFM to make me start it but lowkey knew the whole time I was going to. That wasn't the case with these other two. One I knew would be bad and had no interest in making good, and the other was for my OCs. For both I wrote 10k in one day. And it was bad. But it was also good. It felt good and the quality or missing scenes didn't matter since no one but me would ever read them. I'm not going to make this a "habit" but I'm definitely open to doing it again, especially for my OCs lol. And though one day I would love to turn them into published characters, I think there's some kind of conflict of interest issues or something with me posting fic of them on the internet, so they will probably continue to stay just for me, but hey, let's talk about novels!

Novels: Oh My God What The Fuck is NaNo Doing

Alright. So, if you don't know, NaNoWriMo used to be a huge thing for me. I won it 4 years straight 2012-2016, and picked it back up in 2020 when I got into writing again because of Catradora. In 2020 I just did a collection of fanfic for it (SLAS/OTOS/misc), and in 2021 I did my first original novel since 2016 in it. When 2022 came around I was burnt out from writing a whole novel that year already, revising the one from NaNo, and trying and failing to start a third novel that summer, so I didn't do NaNo. And, uh. Well. In 2023 there was no way I was finishing even a fanfic project at 50k with adjusting to my new job, so I ignored it.

And can I say, what the fuck. Shit went down. If you don't know, there are plenty of rundown posts and like a 2 hour video essay on it. It's fucking insane. A lot of people lost the motivation to participate, and thus the motivation to write at all for some of them. Not me. I got these emails throughout the year begging and pleading they've changed and it made me actually consider writing a novel on my own - outside of Nano - for the first time in 2 years. I hit my stride and was feeling really high during Sapphic September and was like you know what I can actually do this, and god knows NaNo is continuing to pull garbage every day to keep that motivation up. Once I knew I was doing the events for October I thought it was perfect to do those two theme months and then take a break for my novel on my own.

I now have a week to finish the last two chapters by the end of the year (my goal) and I swear to god I'm going to do it. I'm at almost 90k (I know, I'll trim it in revisions, y'all know how I am). My Novelember 2024 retro post has more details on how that has been going. I just hit a run of writers block over ONE SCENE, but I'm past it now and hopefully these last two chapters will be fast. That's like 3 days each I should be able to do that.

And then... let's talk about

Future Plans:

For the first part of January, I'm actually going to be working on outlining a second draft for that novel I wrote back in 2021. It's a sister book to this one so I want to get it to a stronger place. I do want to finish and post the one Catradora WIP I have tho (brace yourselves it's very stupid). Once the Femslash February prompts go up, I'll start working on those and posting throughout February. I miiiiiiiighht do the Big Bang again if I have an idea I think will be long enough and "cinematic" enough for art. I know I'm going to be super busy 2025-2026 (doing a training course for work 6 hours a week this spring, probably changing roles in the summer, hopefully going full-time in winter of 2025/2026, definitely moving in 2026 and maybe doing a smaller move in summer 2025, etc) so I'm trying to be realistic about what I have time for while also trying to set myself up to hit my big goals anyway because I'm honestly so scared to go full-time because I worry I won't have any motivation or time to write. After the last year and a half of letting my novels languish I'm really concerned I'll never write them if I'm fighting through the difficulty of a full-time job while disabled too, so I want to set myself up for success with being ready to query by then because if I had an actual agent/book deal I think it would keep me motivated (or at least force me to work on them lol) and I want to get these novel out there, the characters are super important to me and the thought of never trying is horrifying.

My big goals for next year are this:

Participate in Femslash February of course, hopefully for at least 20 prompts, though I'd love to do them all if they're good ones for me (After February, I'll either work on Big Bang fic - which means I won't be posting anything - or I'll go back to revising novels).

Participate in one more writing/fandom event (whether it ends of being the Big Bang or something else like Sheratober).

Update/post fic at least 32 times (usually my goal is 1-2x a week, but I'm probably going to be on hiatus working on novels for a few months, so I'm kind of halving 52 weeks and then adding a bit more to it for this goal, hopefully I actually still end up with a weekly "average" but I don't want to set up myself for disappointment).

Revise my novel from 2022 at least once.

Get one novel to the state where it's ready to query by the fall (probably requiring 2-3 revisions, unsure if it will by my current novel or the 2022 one yet).

That's all I can think of right now, but I do want to end as I always do with my thank you for reading because without y'all I don't think I ever would have gotten the confidence to actually pursue publishing but all your kind comments and messages have really changed my life and helped with my imposter syndrome so much <3 Ignoring the confidence thing, I would not have written as much as I do with the motivation I do without those comments, so thank you so much 💖

[tempest-teacup]

okay now I'm curious because I've just read through all your ship review stuff what's your OTP/Favourite ship (Any quadrant) for Sollux? I like seeing what people do with him shipwise because I ship him with like,,,, most of the cast (Multishipper moment)

I like the term “ship review” because it makes it sound like I’m writing a newspaper article. “Hello readers, this weekend I investigated Davekat and LET ME TELL YOU…”

Now, okay, you’re about to be sorry you asked because I could write a fricken novel about this one.

I like Erisol a lot and I’m mad at myself for it. Like it feels too obvious of a ship to be good but I’m obsessed. And even after I eventually accepted that I liked them black, I was then angry to learn that I like them flushed too. UGH!!!

Anyway here’s why.

First of all you have to get on board with being an Eridan sympathizer. Yes he is an asshole and a dipshit but that’s kind of the whole deal with Trolls. He just happened to be an asshole dipshit who was born into the equivalent of like, the Tr*mp family or something. Also he had to constantly hunt and murder to keep his species alive. And his best friend and crush kinda maybe used him/lead him on for said hunting and murdering and then literally *dumped him to go smooch another boy the second she didn’t need him anymore.* And they’re THIRTEEN when starting the game, I can’t stress this enough.

Gang, I dunno about y’all but when I was in middle school I had some REAL SHITTY OPINIONS.

Ahem. Moving on.

Sollux also has a similar relationship with Being Responsible For the Fate of His Species. He is also An Asshole Dipshit Teenager. Bro just got born into the opposite end of the spectrum. And I know that all of the Trolls obviously have a relationship to the apocalypse but these two have have been dealing with theirs forever(?) and they are just unescapable parts of how each kid has to exist day to day.

IT’S REALLY SAD!

The more you look at these two, the more they appear as opposites, or if you prefer, the concept of yin and yang. I mean, ugh. Hope and Doom. HOPE AND DOOM, Y’ALL.

They’re both so deep in their own social niches, they look at the other and think “I would NEVER!!” Eridan has so much Hope in the caste system that he blindly believes it will save him in the end. Sollux feels so Doomed by it that he has resigned himself to being a lazy burnout even though we know damn well how much potential has has both as an intellectual and a psionic. In the end both of them reject the destiny that’s expected of them.

Ok, you still with me? Because what I’m doing here is setting up why these two are star-crossed lovers in either/both quadrants.

It’s a little sad that they never get the chance to become kismesis in canon, because not only do they get under eachother’s skin but they are so cat-and-mouse about it. Like, granted I have my issues with Pesterquest but their duel in that is so good. Eridan just casually calling him up, knowing he’s being an ass. Sollux *answering and humoring him.* Eridan’s utter glee at their proposed battle. The way he gets to showboat (heh, boat) about it. The boy gets to VAMP! And Sollux purposely choosing not to to go hard enough to kill him. Come on. These guys are dancing, they’re honing their claws.

Oh and what’s that?? Eridan learning a valuable lesson? Sollux getting off his ass and doing something (that’s not self-destructive)? Oh my, could it be that their rivalry mutually benefits them?! Just look at what a stinky lump Sollux is in HS^2 *without* Eridan.

And then we get into the vacillating/flipping to flushed.

I won’t bore you too much, I can already hear the awards show music playing me off, but I think if there’s a universe where Eridan and Sollux exist post-Erisolsprite then it’s all over for these two losers, they can’t NOT date. Whether they like it or not, they’ve reached a level of intimacy beyond anything they’ve ever experienced. They know eachother’s truest selves, they’ve seen the very best and worst of each other. And hey, guess what they found? Someone who’s just like them and balances the other perfectly.

Mic drop. Book slam. THEY’RE IN LOVE, YOUR HONOR.

[goliig68]

19 days fic rec

Recommending some of my favourite fics cuz why not! (With no particular order! I'm just starting from the first fic I read until the recent one)

I'm Not A Prostitute by traceytries

( E | 137,970 | 21/? )

He Tian and Red become fuckbuddies. This is an excuse for a whole lot of sexy times and the eventual feelings that come with it.

Note: my comfort fic for real❤ ( ch 10, 20 and 21 screaming at me BITCH WHAT COMFORT????) no but seriously, I really love this fic, a great combination of smut, angst and feelings. Would 100% recommend it 👌

nothing's gonna hurt you, baby by powerandpathos

( M | 50,318 | 7/7 )

Guan Shan's father leaves his family for work in New York at the beginning of the First World War — and is never heard from again.

In the autumn of 1928, thirteen years later, Guan Shan makes his own way to lower Manhattan's Little China to find him, with only the name of the man who signed his father's contract.

When he finds himself falling into the world of America's Roaring Twenties and Tong Wars, and everyone he meets is not quite as they seem, finding his father turns out to be much more complicated than he’d thought.

Note: this fic is a novel quality, like God I'm speechless. I love all the 30s vibe I got from this fic. I love everything about this fic. plot, dialogues and characterization everything about it is awesome.

Aphorism by powerandpathos

( E | 124,529 | 38/38 )

Jian Yi fell back into Zhengxi's life as if he had never gone; He Tian wanted Guan Shan in his and for him to never leave. But this isn't middle school, and they are no longer children, and nothing is that simple anymore.

Note: so angsty, so beautiful. A true masterpiece. I really cannot explain with words that how beautiful this fic is. I really loved how peaceful ending was. Just read it you won't regret it.

unstoppable force // immovable object by welcome2atlantis

( M | 78,173 | 9/? )

Mo Guanshan's latest contractual obligation is He Tian, mafia brat and resident pain in the ass. Only, it's less Mo working security, and more Mo playing nanny and trying to out stubborn his client.

or

Bodyguard!Mo suffers through He Tian's antics and accidentally falls for him in the process.

Note: a funny but also angsty story. I really love the interaction between characters, they really close to the canon (in my opinion) basically he tian is insufferable and guan shan suffers from that 😂 but also guan shan is gay and he tian is sexy and again guan shan suffers from that😂😂 some mental health issues will be discussed in this fic, so be warned if it triggers you.

Still Tripping Over You by AtomicNebula13

( E | 13,733 | 2/2 )

“Little Mo, don't drink anymore.”

The words fall on deaf ears as the slimmer man tries to keep his hold on the bottle but He Tian manages to wrestle it from him, causing some of the liquor to dribble down the redheads chin and neck. Mo stumbles a bit, unsteady on his feet but He Tian's arm wraps around his back to help him regain his balance.

“Stop drinking okay?” He Tian whispers into Mo's ear, knowing that if he doesn't stop him, the other man will most likely get sick. Mo is already sure to have a raging hangover tomorrow.

Bracing himself for harsh words or for Mo to push him away, he is taken aback when Mo clutches onto him, burying his flushed face into He Tian's neck.

Words are slurred out, muffled by his position so He Tian has to hold Mo closer to catch them.

“Chicken dick He... came back?”

Note: a hot, sexy, smuty fic🔥🔥 I'm shamelessly hoping something like this happens in the next Xmas chapter but china's censorship laws...😒 anyway! Just read it, the sex scene is very hot and detailed!

doubtful redemptions by figglypudding

( E | 20,979 | 2/5 )

“I won’t pepper you with personal questions. I won’t offer unsolicited advice or judgment. And I’ll play by your rules.”

His hand slid up from Mo’s wrist to wrap around his angry fist, bringing it towards him until its knuckles rested against his curving mouth. “And in exchange, you'll allow me to show you what it’s like to have a client that actually cares about your pleasure.”

*FORMERLY TITLED these violent delights*

Note: a dark and agsty au. I really love the description of characters, places, surroundings and everything and I'm really curious to know how the relationship between he tian and mo will develop! Please pay attention to tags and author's notes, when I said it's a dark au I really mean it! (Please check out author's other works in 19 days fandom! They are all great, and author has a great talent in writing hot and detailed smut scenes 🔥👌)

Found in Translation by mgsdays (regencyaus)

( T | 11,890 | 1/1 )

They meet on a train, going through a rural area in China. He Tian's feeling disillusioned with his brother and is running from the business meeting he's supposed to be in in Shanghai. That's about the time the hot redhead enters the train car and sits opposite him, murmured 'scuse me falling quietly from his lips.

One problem. Well, two: the guy is on the wrong seat. He Tian knows that he is because He Tian bought out every seat in the train car. He has no way to let the guy know that, considering He Tian doesn't speak a word of Chinese besides ni hao and his own name.

Which leads to problem two: redhead is breathtaking, fucking beautiful, and has an attitude to boot, and He Tian really, truly needs to make out with him, which will be difficult, considering, yeah, He Tian doesn't speak a word of Chinese besides ni hao and his own name.

He has a few hours on this train. It's going to be a long ride.

Note: so cute and wholesome💞 I was smiling the whole time reading it. I literally laughed when he tian was trying to show mo that they should kiss😂 really loved it!

lanterns on the lake by powerandpathos

( T | 17,760 | 1/1)

‘Will you kiss me?’

He Tian’s mouth opens, and he searches Guan Shan’s face, looking for something. He hasn’t taken a single step forward.

‘You’re really drunk,’ he says eventually.

‘So you won’t.’

‘Ah, fuck. Guan Shan.’ He chuckles without humour and scratches the back of his neck. ‘Listen to yourself—you barely let me touch you in case someone sees and now you want me to kiss you? That doesn’t make sense. It makes me feel a bit used, to be honest.’

Guan Shan pulls on a defiant expression. ‘Do you care?’

‘You won’t like me if I say no, so I’m going to say nothing.’

Note: oh man, wish I could add every fic written by powerandpathos here... this fic is so amazing, so angsty. I nearly fucking cried, I couldn't with all of feelings put in this fic, like, oh my god. Just read it, That's all I have to say.

fire and the flood by fayre

( M | 33,643 | 5/35 )

At this point, Guan Shan is no longer sure if it’s in his nature or if it’s been nurtured by the war.

After all, you can only nurture the best of the best when the world is slowly coming to a fucking end.

 or: Pacific Rim AU, in which Guan Shan is a hopeless recruit, He Tian is a legacy more than anyone can handle, and the world is crashing down around their ears faster than they can process. It's a matter of finding something worth fighting for — but their futures are slipping through their fingers with every passing minute.

Note: this is like...my all time favourite au. Just seeing the "Pacific rim au" made me drop whatever I was doing and read this for the rest of day. And now I'm HOOKED and I'm thinking about this fic every day. I Don't know if author has any plans continuing this fic or no so enjoy what there is for now :')

True north by fayre

( M | 34,946 | 4/? )

“Do you think I’ll kill you?”

He Tian swallows. Says, “Not particularly.”

A pause. The night swallows them whole, relentless, and He Tian wishes it’d do a better job at hiding the expression Guan Shan shows him now.

“Do you think I should?” Guan Shan asks him.

“That’s not my decision to make.”

“But it was,” Guan Shan says, voice rough. “That night. I think you should’ve killed me. I think it would’ve been easier.”

And He Tian, staring at the ceiling, his spine digging into the floorboards, and far too aware of those amber eyes piercing him through the dark, says: “I think so, too.”

Note: a shapeshifter, historical fantasy au. I think about this fic every day too :') I'm literally dying to know how the relationship between he tian and guan would develop. Between two enemies who only know how to interact with their claws and arrows.

Vulnerability by powerandpathos

( E | 7,811 | 1/1 )

He Tian and Guan Shan try something new (aka bottom!He Tian)

Note: I know that not everyone are a big fan of bottom!He tian, but if you're like me, like to see he tian in vulnerable and submissive positions, then this fic is for you😈

desecration by fayre

( M | 29,719 | 5/11 )

It couldn’t have meant so little, stardust in the face of planets. It couldn’t have meant so little because, if it did, Guan Shan would no longer be able to recognize himself as the person he became in the aftermath. He’d be hollowed out, stripped of the lessons learned and the perspectives changed like loose threads on a tapestry being pulled apart. He couldn’t bear the thought that all of this — the fighting, the understanding, the falling, the loss, the violent and unceremonious unearthing — had been for nothing.

It was too painful to have been for nothing.

 or: seven years later, he tian and jian yi return home. everyone has some healing to do.

Note: forget everything from Xmas special chapters. This is, this is the shit. This is the real angsty shit. That kind of angst that breaks your heart and you can hear the shattering. I have to check the tags every time to make sure it's happy ending😭 ( read everything written by fayre, all of their fics are beautiful and well written)

fairy tales by powerandpathos

( M | 18,001 | 1/1 )

‘You’re looking for a way out,’ he says quietly. ‘You think I’m everythin’ you're not. Free to say what I want, be where I want to be. None of it’s real.’

‘You make it easy to feel like it is.’

Guan Shan nods. Knowing he’s only met Prince He Tian three times, and knowing the truth of it is inexplicable, he says, ‘So do you.’

Note: AHHHH I really love this fic, it's really beautiful🥹💞 Prince!he tian falling in love with guan shan at the first sight. It's a beautiful royalty au.

I hold you, you hold me by Asfodel

( T | 4,434 | 1/1 )

He Tian, tall, handsome, dapper He Tian could be considered great in a lot of areas. People around him praised his manners, his perfect grades, his hand writing was neat, he was athletic, eloquent, charming and self-aware enough to be absurdly confident. Guan Shan would add that he was also excellent at being a pain in the ass.

Sleeping, however, wasn’t his forte.

-

Or He Tian has nightmares but he also has Guan Shan.

Note: this fic is really beautiful, wholesome and lovely 😭💞💞 it's also very underrated, please go read it, it literally swooned my heart ❤

Aaaand that's all! I wanted to add every fic I've read but it's already getting too long so I added the ones I really, really liked! But please read every fic written by these authors, every each of them are great and talented authors, and they have written great fics for 19 days fandom! Thank you to all authors out there, yall are amazing and I love you😭❤🫂

[swrwlfs]

carl and lydia hcs bcus i love the friendship i made up for them in my head

- carl is one of the first people to grow close to lydia, wanting to give her a chance like he did with michonne all those years ago

- carl forces michonne to let lydia stay with them to 'protect her' but rly he just wants to hang out with her more

- he tries to reach lydia how to write but his handwriting is ATROCIOUS (canon), lydia doesn't really notice so she also learns how to write and her handwriting is also atrocious

- carl teaches her how to read through comic books, they spend hours pouring over them together so she can learn and eventually lydia can read full on novels, but sometimes carl still reads to her

- carl is the reason why lydia figures out she's a lesbian and what it all means, after carl tells her that he's gay and dating ron

- they both love the rain, and if it's raining in alexandria you WILL find them outside just like playing in the rain or sitting on the curb talking

- lydia and carl both had their childhoods taken from them, and when they're together they find themselves reclaiming childhood again

- carl can cook, lydia can bake.

- carl carves lydia little figurines of animals out of wood for her and she loves them, she has shelves full of them.

- carl introduces her to his music taste, which is a lot of early 2000's emo and 80s/90s punk/goth music and a bunch of indie shit, lydia loves it

- lydia and carl get stuck on babysitting duty but they don't mind, lydia loves judith and rj and they love her too, they treat her like just another kid

- a lot of late night conversations in weird places, like the hayloft of the barn, the roof on the house, even in the empty jail cell, they always seem to know where to find each other

- carl talks to lydia about his dad, alot, sometimes he feels like he can't talk abt him to the people who knew him, but with lydia he can, and lydia loves to hear abt him

- they're both autistic. enough said

- carl helps lydia truly piece together her memories of early childhood and then brings her things that she remembers fondly, like some stuffed animals because she used to have a big collection, makes dinners she remembers enjoying

- carl goes nonverbal a lot, lydia less so, but they learn sign language to be able to communicate when one of them doesn't talk, which also has the added benefit of talking to kelly, who becomes a fast friend

- lydia likes bugs, like a lot, carl is more of an animal guy, and they trade facts with each other while hunting

- no one rly understands their friendship or how they're so close, they barely get it either, but it doesn't really matter to them

- they're in a queer platonic relationship and they don't even know it

- after michonne leaves carl shuts down for a while, too stressed knowing he's leading a community and taking care of his siblings, lydia is the one to bring him back to end the whisperer war

- when the whole commonwealth thing goes down they live in a one bedroom with jude and rj and all have to share mattresses, but carl and lydia work their asses off to get them a better place to live happily

- they are GLUED to each others side, if carl goes lydia goes, and if lydia goes carl goes, they have both lost so much that they can't bare to be apart

- they share clothes, neither of them know how this started but once they're in the commonwealth they barely have separate wardrobes anymore.

- one time lydia stole a shirt from him that ended up being his dad's shirt that he took with him, and he expected to be mad, but he never told her

- they are THEE baddest duo, like they can both kickass and really are not afraid of doing so, carl is more quick to violence than lydia is, but once she gets there she can get brutal too

- neither of them are particularly brutal though unless they are threatening the other one or judith & rj

- after everything calms down they go back to alexandria and take almost everyone from the kingdom, hilltop and alexandria with them, carl leads alexandria in his parents absence and lydia accidentally becomes his second in command

- they go on vacations to oceanside together all the time, they both love swimming and the beach, collecting sea shells and glass, fishing in the ocean and playing with the kids

- they learn to use bows together, but carl is much more of a sharpshooter and lydia loves her bo staff from henry

- carl definitely lets lydia braid his hair

- when they lived in the commonwealth and shared a mattress lydia would kick him in his sleep OFTEN

- carl if a blanket hog and runs cold and lydia runs hot like a furnace, she doesn't mind not having blankets but she still wakes him up and forces him to give them back because she's petty

- carl taught lydia how to ride a bike and lydia taught carl how to skin a rabbit (he hated it)

- carl makes knives, much like in the comics, and lydia tests them out for him, if you don't know where to find carl you can probably find him in the blacksmith studio, and you'll also find lydia there, talking about nothing

- they really could talk for hours about nothing

- lydia tells him abt the whisperers a lot, because she knows she can trust him with all of her conflicting feelings of what it was like

- carl tells lydia about everyone he has known before and lost, about his life before, she likes hearing abt lori and his friends, she was fascinated that they had lived in a prison

- carl's immune, and when lydia was almost bit trying to save elijah carl took the bite for her, and he survived, even though it was the most tense few days for the entire group, waiting for him to turn

- lydia didn't believe when he said he was immune, thought that maybe a rogue whisperer had bitten him before, and she was by his side the entire time comforting him even though carl was like 'dude i'm not gonna die'

- lydia was the one who gave carl the idea for wearing sunglasses with one lense popped out to cover his eye, but carl mostly goes without covering it in the comfort of his community, as none of them are scared of him

- lydia and carl have matching scars on their arms from an attack by a smaller group on one of their runs

that's all i've got for now but i'm sure there's more coming soon 🫡

[that-darn-clown]

y'know what. you get lore on Why William Is Not Normal About That Country Boy (Henry).

on a very basic level, it makes sense: Henry was both William's first real glance at actual Normalcy, as well as the first person in his life (outside of two of his siblings and a handful of teachers) to really show him kindness.

and then, with the base level, when then get to. the more complicated bits.

Henry is also how William learned he was Bi. by sleeping together in college. William Was Unable To Be Normal About That.

ever since Going Out On His Own (going to college), Henry's kinda. always been there. they've always been side by side, you get the idea.

eventually, Henry becomes his...idk how to word it, but basically William's center of how he views things. like, a good chunk of things in William's life are viewed through the lens of either Henry (whether William is fully aware of the fact they reached this point or not) or his family. His View Of Neither Are Healthy.

to go along with the above point (and maybe explain how it reached that point)...uh (pulls out the "jealousy to near worship" quote from the novels)

yeah...William's view of Henry shifted to Very Complicated levels by around the...maybe 1977-1980 mark?

now...how things got Bad:

so...Elizabeth. the result of those two sleeping together one night. both of 'em love her.

people in town start to realize that Liz is very much not adopted and is Biologically related to William. the question is: who's her mom? it's clearly not Claire.

Tammy Schmidt saves both his and Henry's asses. Henry feels worse about the fact that Tammy risked her own reputation for theirs. William could not give less of a fuck. hey, he and Henry aren't outed, right? he just discreetly raises her pay, and just gives her a small thanks, meanwhile Henry's trying to keep the rest of the employees from being assholes and calling her Really Horrible Shit (you can probably guess the specifics), all while being Extremely Fucking Concerned that she did that of her own accord.

Claire starts getting sick of his shit (both his recklessness with reputations and his emotional abuse, manipulation, and general possessiveness over their children). she divorces him and Could Not have made it clearer that their divorce wasn't caused by his and Henry's "affair." this was all on him, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

but do you wanna know how Will viewed it? you wanna know how this Very Normal British Man saw this whole thing?

it's Henry's fault.

it just spirals as the month between Claire divorcing him and Charlie and Sammy's birthday passes. his drinking doesn't help. Henry's divorced, sure, but not due to any bad circumstances; they just discovered they didn't love each other in the romantic sense like they thought they did. and he still had both of the twins. William's not gonna have custody over any of his children by the time this divorce is over. It's Not Fair.

on the night he killed Charlie, he was drunk. going over to Freddy's to confront Henry. whether that meant yelling at him or getting into a fistfight, he wasn't sure, but something was gonna happen. one way or another, Henry was going to understand what he was going through.

and then he gets there, and...Charlie's outside, banging on the doors, trying to get someone to open them.

and, before he even steps out of the car, he gets his idea.

he gets out of his car, his bottle of some kind of alcohol in his right hand. walks up to Charlie, asks what she's doing outside. Charlie just runs up to him and hugs him, tells him why he's out there-

and then it happens. he killed Charlie.

this is already super long, but. long story short: Charlie's murder was the Point of No Return for their relationship. nothing was gonna be the same after that.

other "fun" bits of their relationship that i think about Often:

i think a good part of why Henry hates William so bad is the fact that He Trusted Him. he trusted him when he was grieving his daughter. he trusted William when he said that he'd perform maintenance on the animatronics post-MCI. after all, Henry's having a rough day, it's the least he can do, isn't it? he wanted, so deeply, to believe that he Wouldn't. and then he discovers that Will abused that trust. of course he'd be angry. livid, even.

William, for several years, tried to pull the "This Is Your Fault, But I Don't Hate You For It. I Still Love You :)" thing that he pulled with Mike after Cassidy died. mostly as a way of trying to pull Henry back to him. it uh...failed on that front. but he did succeed in getting Henry to blame himself! (even if this was Ultimately gonna fuck William over later; Henry believes that he should be the one to "fix things" because he thinks it's his fault. so.) so uh...Tasked Failed (Kinda) Successfully??

there have been at least...half a dozen times (between 1987 and 1994) where he kinda (checks notes) Broke Into Henry And Sammy's House To Clean The Place Up (depression bad on both Henry and Sammy's end). neither of them liked this, least of all Sammy (this is why he gets a gun around this time; he's not running the risk of getting killed). how the fuck he managed to get in, however, is something they don't know either.

however....it's also due to this that Henry is under the assumption, and kinda knows, that William won't kill him, despite his Knowledge (of Will's crimes). at some point, before William dies, they do have a confrontation that basically goes (on Henry's end) "Strike me down, Zeus! You don't have the balls!"

Henry, despite being nearly a foot shorter than Will, could honestly beat him in a physical fight and/or kill him if he wanted to. the only reason he doesn't is because he thinks, due to his size, that William could take him down easily (he could not).

uh...might have mentioned this before, but in the Pizza Sim fire, after killing Mike, William immediately made a beeline for Henry and, after one final confrontation with each other, ripped the guy's heart out. while Henry was still alive, mind you.

yeah...these two. Very Normal and Not At All Toxic Yaoi. We Love To See It <3

they make me so inconsolably insane oh my god. henry should be allowed to kill william with swords and knives and bats and clubs and the doohickey that killed shinzo abe

[0crooked-arcade0]

HOT NEW EGO AU INBOUND

I wanna spit ball about my Paranormal Investigator AU I'm cooking up for Who Killed Markiplier, because the concept has been taking up real estate in my brain for DAYS.

Baseline it's a rework of WKM that focuses on the mechanics and history of Markiplier Manor, and the magic system that builds the strange microcosm the place exists in.

For consistency sake, the DA, playing the investigator themselves, was a middle man hired by Damien after a good year of increasingly concerning behavior from Mark following his divorce. Keeping the DAs role as the outsider of the group in tact giving me room to explore differing character dynamics.

The start of the plot is really just a beat for beat retelling of the poker night shenanigans with more detail, until the DA strikes out from the party to start their investigation after noticing Mark just kinda disappeared after his welcome speech.

It's going to lead up to the angle of Mark himself not being influenced by the manor entity, but BEING, the entity himself.

Throw in a few chapters about the DA exploring the place as increasingly spooky shit starts happening until Mark eventually catches their ass and its a whole back and forth.

There will be incredible violence, but also a bucket full of manipulation and gaslighting from the old romantic himself.

Also to keep the tone similar to cannon I'm gonna whole subplot about the others noticing the DA vanished and going on a search in which the house just becomes utter nonsense to confuse them.

Also, gotta be shamelessly self indulgent by hamfisting in the toxic abomination of a relationship that is Actting Attorney, you can't have monster shit without some ungodly occurrences afoot.

No idea if it's gonna be an ongoing story with no set end or if I'm gonna do it more like a novel but eeeeeh, yeah.

[queer-ragnelle]

Writing asks! ✍️ 🖋️ 📖 ❤️ and ⁉️ please and thank you!

✍️ When did you get started writing?

Answered here!

🖋️ What inspired you to write your WIPs?

Every retelling I enjoyed was good, but there would always be at least one thing about it nagging me. Like one character portrayal that was just wretched and soured the whole thing. I wanted to read queer Arthuriana from the perspective of "side" characters, ie, never from Arthur, Merlin, or Lancelot's povs. I wanted to circumvent expectation enough that certain characters could become more three dimensional and complex than their medieval counterparts (like Lamorak and Elaine, for example) while still letting Camelot fall. The series is titled Elegy of an Empire because it is still a tragedy, even if it begins on a high note, I'm writing with the knowledge it will all crumble anyway. It's sort of in the way Hadestown gives the viewers hope that maybe Orpheus won't look back this time. Maybe he and his beloved Eurydice will escape and live happily ever after. But then he looks back. Arthurian Legend is cyclical; it's the perfect place to explore the cycle of violence and the self-fulfilling prophecy of Mordred's, and Camelot's, eventual fate. So even though Agravaine and Laurel raise Mordred to the absolute best of their ability, and even though Ragnelle and Gawain loved Gingalain beyond reason, they all lose their "children" and then each other and the kingdom disintegrates anyway. I'm a sicko who likes "none of it mattered" endings with an obscene amount of foreshadowing. I "told" you it would end badly, why are you crying?

📖 What has surprised you about your WIPs?

I suppose it's a bit late in the game to say the wordcount as I was surprised about that like 4 years ago. But I'd also say I'm surprised my writing has resonated with people. So often writers are coached to cater to "the market" and that "self-indulgent" writing is reserved for people that've already found success. Famous authors can sell their name on any novel regardless of contents; I have to write something that interests as many people as possible. Something generic. Yet I found that the more I sanded off the edges of what I wrote, the less I liked it, and the more mediocre it became. I don't want to cast a wide net. I'd rather have a smaller audience of people who really, really dig it than a bunch of people who skim the whole thing and throw it into the pile for their "I Read 150 Books in 2 Months!!!" clickbait video. That surprised me because our society says we should measure our value as a person by our commercial success. But I don't subscribe to that idea anymore.

❤️ What are your favorite scenes from your WIPs?

I like the scenes that are both emotionally charged but a little funny. Like Ragnelle and Gawain unbelievably horny for each other which is goofy but deeply romantic. So they're fucking and sucking in broad daylight, in public, haven't even locked the door, only for her grandpa to walk in on them and they're grown ass adults but they have to leap apart like teenagers because they lost their heads. Or that time Percival is hiding in a tree with Morien from Twrch Trwyth and they accidentally witness a particularly intimate exchange between Lamorak and Agravaine only for Agravaine to notice them, have three silent mental breakdowns in a row, then decide to pretend it didn't happen and walk away before Lamorak works out what he missed. Then again, I particularly enjoy my horror scenes. Ragnelle coming to terms with her cursed reflection; Lamorak encountering the Questing Beast for the first time; Elaine continuously gaslit by Lancelot's memory loss about their son's existence; Orkney bros mental illnesses and physical disabilities resulting in flashbacks and memory loss and pain. Many such cases! All horror subgenres accounted for!

⁉️ What do you do when stuck on a scene?

Read! Read! Read!!!!! Reading something in the same genre or even just the same vibes as the scene I'm stuck on helps a lot.

[quietbluejay]

I thought of something funny I could do which is weekly dose of (hopefully funny) haterdom and weekly dose of positivity

Positivity: I am doing a lot better health wise! Hurrah! Also I'm going to start doing a Fate readthrough/commentary on Fate Day and maybe post it here if I don't have 10 million things on the ball. Also every* person who interacts with my posts gives me strength, i'm not gonna give a whole list of names but I appreciate all of you

*except the jerks though they are thankfully rare. for you, jerks, i will post more embarrassing content as the stygian depths of despair whirl in our collective ocular orbs. Yes, the ridges of Ahriman's undulant pectorals are approaching... (I'm thinking of doing redo of A Thousand Sons which was my first commentary attempt because clearly I enjoy suffering)

haterdom rambling under the cut because Laura, in revenge for everything I've done to her, decided to take over

(people still call it "the cut", right? I've been calling it that my entire internet existence, I don't know what else people call it except maybe "readmore")

Haterdom: wait. give me a minute. I don't actually have anything I'm feeling particularly hatery about in my life that isn't related to RL and being a hater about it here just makes me look like an ass. Or whiny. Which I am, let's be fair, but I do try to avoid yelling about RL into the internet void where the public can see. Also I was a hater last night about a fic that had random bashing in it (it's for a fandom I don't talk about here so no this isn't about Prowl) but again I don't really like talking about fics i hate on the public internet so, no, you don't get specifics.

I was also kind of a hater yesterday in my head about "man why is it when i find a fic (or novel sometimes) with a really cool premise but I hate the main pairing or it just seems tacked on, I give the fic a shot and then eventually the pairing becomes more and more front and centre and I drop the fic and I'm like man this is so unnecessary why did it need to have romance the plot was perfectly good on its own without this added element" (again this is specifically about a fic for a fandom I don't talk about on here (NOT the one with the bashing, this one didn't really have bashing and the one bit that could maybe be considered this is arguably a valid character interpretation), but it's a repeated pattern for me because most plotty fics in the fandoms I'm in have romance), and I have learned just not to pick up these fics but also when I'm really unwell I tend to read stuff I don't normally just for the sake of having something to focus on like when I was reading some of Mercedes Lackeys' worst novels on the super crowded train in Poland to stave off having an hour long anxiety attack. Anyways. Why do people feel the need to stick romance into long plotty stories. I mean I know the answer is "they want to write romance, bluejay, you jerk". But whyyyyyyy. Especially when it's the "time travel to when we were kids" type. Why do these authors write things that are compelling TO ME but also add in elements that are anti-bluejay.

Okay, first off, I have no objection to romance if it's well done. I like a good romance! But emphasis on "good". A lot of these just like, take the pairing as a given and do not do the work to sell you on the pairing and build it up and maybe that's fine if you just want to read idk slow burn for the sake of slow burn or werewolf forbidden romance for the sake of forbidden werewolf romance (...this one is me vagueing a published novel, Holly Lisle I have NOT forgiven you for The Secret Texts) or you like the pairing already. For me though even if I am neutral it will make me start anti-shipping them.

maybe this is just me reading the wrong genre

anyways

i guess i should just stick with warhammer novels.

they do not betray me in this way.

they betray me in other ways, let's be real, but this specific type of romance betrayal? nah

for crying out loud Tyrion/Alarielle was managed better than most of these in the third of the Tyrion&Teclis omnibus

hm. that was a lot of salt. maybe I should not do these. maybe i should not publish this. I don't think I was very funny here.

...nahhhhh I'm doing it. Be free, salt! Go into the world!

apropos of nothing but I love umeboshi.

[judasgot-it]

this isn’t exactly a request but if you have the time and also feel like doing it could you just- idk, say everything that u like about Tetcho?? Just anything and everything that comes to your mind whether it be about the way he’s written by Asagiri, or anything really lol because I have a feeling you really like him

I want to save this for Wednesday but if anything major changes (probably will. Everyday I thank bones for making him their fave) ill add more cause AHGGGHGGHG this man....

Not enough Tecchou lovers out there. Asagari hasn't said anything on his backstory and I'm waiting for it so for now I'm making shit up (all I know is that IRL Tecchou was from a rich samurai family so how that ads to his character? Idk. Im sticking with child soldier tho for now one day ill write a fic)

BUT AHHHHHHHHHH OMG listen with what we DO have he's a good character. He clearly cares for his teammates, he's the person who cares about Jouno even when Fukuchi never believed in him being a good person (thats actually upsetting af but Tecchou is a real one for seeing Jouno for who he is)

HE LOVES ANTS AND RESPECTS LUCY BECAUSE SHE CARES ABOUT HER FRIENDS EVEN THOUGH HE GENIUENLY THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE TERRORISTS AT THE TIME !!! HES A GOOD MAN !!!

He would put those he loves above justice, the thing he put his life on the line for its crazy !!! He plays the hero, but at the end of the day, his friends and family mean more, and that's wild cause that goes against his entire thing !!!

Literally, even though he hasn't been in the series long for what we do have so far, I can't help but like him, idk what it is about him but he's a likable character for me

Sometimes I like to think about him and cry like the loser I am. Anyway.

Since this is my soap box moment for talking about Tecchou and all my thoughts I need to add a theory here - he quite possibly is a foil for Fukuchi

Fukuchi was in the war and saw soldiers die for one another in horrific ways that no one should see - it changed him. He told Fukuzawa that he never wanted to see that horror again.

But Tecchou is clearly thay same soldier again, what he WANTED to prevent from happening, who is willing to die for his comrades in war no matter what

LIKE FUKUCHI MADE A WHOLE ASS FAMILY WITH THE HUNTING DOGS AND THEN DESTROYED IT IN THE SAME WAY HE WAS TRAUMATIZED BY. LIKE WTF

But unlike Fukuchi, I don't think Tecchou would become a monster. He still has some semblance of humanity. He can remove himself from his sense of 'justice' and care about those around him.

It's a ramble but I like to think there's a Tecchou v Fukuchi fight coming up eventually and Tecchou would win. CAUSE ITS SO NOT FAIR THAT HE KILLED HIS COMRADES TURNED THEM INTO VAMPIRES AND THEN GETS AWAY WITH IT CAUSE OF A TIME SWORD LIKE WHAT

Anyway that is another ramble but I love him, he and Jouno are among my favs cuz they're so silly and I think have some deeper character development that might be explored later in the series. I'm praying and hoping every chapter that they come back.

Pleaaaasssseeeeeeeeeee asagari LIKE IM BEGGING YOU I HAVE FAITH IN THEM

Anyway I'll possibly add on later but anon ily I'm giving you many air kisses mwah

My last thoughts on Tecchou. Why isn't he real bro

Also omg I could write a full length novel on him cause this man must be immaculate. Idc if he isn't real I'm gonna make shit up about him. I'm delulu craycray a freak a weirdo !!

[stry-someone-to-remember-you]

Update... September was a Weird month for Me

2 Updates bellow come directly from my Art Twitter Account:

#STRY #webcomic I haven't posted art lately, as promised. Life kinda got me. Had a few weird days last month of random depression (I mean I know definitely why it happened has to do with something from last September... but I won't get into it)...Then other times this fixation with the novel or jobsearch. Trying to get back in routine of exercising and art. I hope next few weeks to post more. #STRY #SomeoneToRememberYou The #novel is coming together. It still will be several months and still getting everything in life, and the web comic together. But I'm honestly excited! I think I have the final Novel Summary down, -some cuts. Let me know if you want to see it.

~~~~ Sssooooo.... Lets Expand on what I mention above...

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO:

I felt more pressure as I also realized Indeed after I worked my ass off fixing my resume and my cover letter, had gone and saved the rough draft version so for the last several months I was using the poorly fixed version of both and had to fix everything again... I really don't like the side but it's one of the best for job searching. I admit my hours for art started becoming a game of job searching, going through the stressful process. I call it a game cause it was almost like an addiction. Especially after realizing I was using this whole time the wrong form of my resume and cover letter. You don't know how embarrassed that was, especially since I'm applying mostly for secretary positions. Talk about FACEPALM... I've told myself my old rule not to look at Job Apps at night, leave them be so I can focus on art... (I also watched a few new to me shows, I've been meaning to watch... got addicted lost time watching them, then came to find out they have a horrible ending *cough* Devil is a Part Timer *cough* yeah took a day to realize that has creeper predator ending) I really fell off my exercise routine which I tell myself I have to do (about for an hour) before I do art, mostly to stay healthy so I can keep doing what I love. I hope to just post some stuff and finally involve myself in the month challenge. Even if late. Stay tuned if I manage that... On my other profiles, job searching since fixing that "accident" up I have had several interviews scheduled since. Tomorrow I have a few scheduled and am so ready. Although, I admit I'm hoping for once with benefits, my last job promised it but never gave any. So I really hope to find one with such. And that will eventually help me in my potential career. If things keep not working, due to having a few friends on the force I've honestly considered going into the academy if things keep not panning out job wise. But they seem to be looking up. And I have looked into doing book reading jobs as well. So I have several avenues I'm looking at just in case. #WISHMELUCk Hopefully, you hear more from me art wise.

I want to thank the many people who've subscribed since my last few posts. Also so sorry for any art friends that think I may have dropped off all of a sudden. I'm still here. Just knd went through some odd motions..

~~~~ Update on Last Post (about the date): Lastly, to my update on going on a date. Yeah it was fine, conversations were odd afterwords and I can't say I felt much after the fact so I don't think that's going anywhere. Took a few weeks away from social dating apps/sites as I can get addicted to focusing on them. I'm trying to control the sudden addictive phases of solely focusing on this or that. I know it's cause I've been more nervous lately not getting previously during the summer more then a few job interviews and wondering what was wrong. Now that I've solved that issue and have several lined up, I'm finally kinda taking the reigns again and switching my focus art I was working on and art for the story.

~~~~~~~~~~

STORY UPDATES:

As for S.T.R.Y... Someone TO Remember You.... I hope to work on the Initial (last valentines day) Hint Post of the main characters which has been sitting in half unfished limbo for months now. And work quickly on the Sneak peak of the characters and full Face Reveal before or Around Halloween, cause I recently was introduced to a fandoms that I really want to use for a character halloween pic. It may be posted after Halloween. But I have an idea of what I'm wanting to do. I can't promise all my plans will work My Dad's birthday is this month, and though he's busy I know we are thinking of celebrating it a month later. So some of my focus will be put to that while the long time he's off working assisting my disabled mother with her many cleaning projects. I promised to help her around the front yard, especially with Halloween coming up for the trick-or-treaters. (Since my mom has mobility issues I'm often the one in charge of answering the door or such. So course I go all out dressing up. And I know it's important to all of use that the house looks good in the areas that can be seen. I wasn't able to do much last year since I was suffering Anxiety. I want to make up for things I haven't done. So I know the many art projects I want to do this month may not occur. But I wanted you to know what plans I'm hoping to do. I know I often pile on a lot, so I'm just saying what I hope accomplish but may not be able to fully do. That's my update so far... Stay tuned. Stay Sweet. PS. Ironic but I finally am just going to work on my UPDATE Comic that Legit I put on hold Two Years almost to this day to Job Search back near the end of the pandemic and now I'm picking it up again. WHy? THe Update is just me using my Authors character, by promoting the story and saying a little about myself. It was my way of practicing making a comic while making art. But, I told myself I wouldn't use the author character to make updates till I posted the comic. I've had so many times the last four months I wanted to make updates. Had a good plan but knew it would be redundant later posting the Update Comic I still plan on. I'm finally at a point where I want to work back on in (with the extended pages to add Recent updates rather then 2 years ago updates)... Then from then on, I hope to have shorter updates where I just use my Author Character to give updates without these long paragraphs and just short tidbits.... I've mentioned it before. But finally want to announce I'm working on finishing that... I still have a art project I'm making as a present, which is Half Way to completion. I added way more elements to it then I planneda nd just had numerous computer issues or life issues that got in the way of that getting completed. I also have a few fan Henry Stickmin art pieces I ALMOST forgot about from April and May I want to get back to soon.... So to say I have alot of art on the way Is not Putting it lightly. I have alot Of future Art coming up.

[dream-meister-translations]

DREAM MEISTER & THE RECOLLECTED BLACK FAIRY

BURN (Detective Len's Case Files) CHARACTER CARD #1

━

BURN : This story is a work of fiction! Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events in history is purely coincidental! 

BURN : Whether it's a dream world or a real world, the fact remains that I am a hero! Please, keep your eyes on me!! "Mystery Hero : Burn Chronicles!" Coming up next!!

━

One late afternoon, I was walking through the city with a notepad in hand. As a rookie journalist at a major newspaper, finding topics for articles was an essential part of my job.

??? : Ah! There it is! I see it! The target went that way!

Following the sound of the voice, I spotted a familiar Black Fairy crouching on the ground with a magnifying glass in hand.

EMMA : Burn...What are you doing here?

BURN : Oh, Emma! I'm in the midst of detective training! Looking for lost cats is a classic detective job, isn't it? So I'm practicing tracking the footprints of a cat! See, if you look closely, you can see that a cat walked by here recently and stepped in a puddle.

EMMA : I see. That's impressive. 

BURN : Haha! It's all part of becoming a detective! Just like the righteous detective duo in the novel 'Mysterious Buddies of Reasoning'! Hey, Emma? Is something bugging you?

EMMA : Hmm? Nothing in particular. 

BURN : Whether it's someone or something you want to find, information you want to know, or mysteries you want to solve. No matter how small, I'll handle it all!

LEN : Don't go gettin' ahead of yourself, you idiot.

BURN : Master!!

LEN : When the hell did I become your master!?

Len has a sharp tongue, but he actually cares a lot about Burn. I've gotten a lot closer to both of them while covering a certain incident. I even visit Len's detective agency regularly.

EMMA : Are you working today, Len?

LEN : Yeah, I'm investigating a recent case of child disappearances.

EMMA : So you're cooperating with the police force again?

LEN : It's a pain in the ass, but I guess I owe them a favor.

BURN : It's admirable how you lend a hand to help the corrupt police force, Master!

EMMA : You do know that the police aren't an evil organization, right?

BURN : But in 'Mysterious Buddies of Reasoning,' the police were the masterminds behind it all! The idea that the police are evil is ingrained in my soul!

EMMA : (He's really influenced by that novel...)

BURN : But the duties of a hero remain the same! Len, can I come with you!? I'm confident I can be of help!

LEN : Absolutely not, you annoying brat. You watch over him, Emma. Feel free to use him as a slave if you want. He's good at that.

EMMA : (What!? He's pushing him onto me!?)

BURN : Alright! I'll train with Emma then! I'll gain lots of experience and eventually become Len's buddy for the world to see! Even if we're not recognized as buddies yet, I have a feeling that Len and I will become the greatest buddies of all time! 

LEN : See ya.

Leaving behind a fired-up Burn, Len walked away without looking back.

BURN : So~ What should I do for you, Emma?

EMMA : How about helping me find topics for an article I'm writing?

BURN : Leave it to me! I promise to put my whole heart and soul into it! 

EMMA : Hehe, thanks. Counting on you.

BURN : No need to thank me! Being able to gain experience as a detective and be of use to you makes me happy. After all, you're the one who saved my life!