#General fandom

[thatoneluckybee]

tumblr fandom is so fun of a format to me because with reblogs and searching up tags you can kinda see trends specific to said fandom. like... in yttd, the past week or so (i have little to no sense of time so i can't tell exactly lol) there's been a resurgence of Kanna fanart and general Kanna Love (probably due mainly to the RATS shenanigans!) as well as a resurgence of ransara art! (Absolutely no idea why people are remembering ransara now.) The past few days there's been more Nao fanart as well, but she's been happy in most of it!

Idk it's just fun to watch. Like when everyone was collectively drawing Shin Tsukimi top surgery or Catgirl Reko, or a few months ago when Keiji was EVERYWHERE, or the Midori antics like Bunnydori Day and Jeandori Takeover. It's so fun to watch everyone pass around the same few concepts and jokes through reblogs like hot potatoes.

[chairofchaos]

You Deserve Better, and Other Points for Reflection

Hey friends, listen up. Real talk for a second, because nobody deserves this. And, in case anybody cares, I want you to know I come with 12 years of learning on this exact debate we have been having, because I had some very excellent fandom mentors in my communities and in the form of my uncles, who to this day support me writing and reading whatever hell I please, even in the face of protest from my immediate family. There was a lot of learning I had to do to be here with you now, and I am thankful for those people who were willing to tell me so.

If you want to post memes and think pieces and jokes and poems about a fandom debate, go ahead! You create the experience you want to see on your dash, and you will find your people.

If you want to discuss a fandom debate (a little or a lot), go ahead! I’m all for thinking through how we live and act and exist as a fan community.

If you feel that you need to take those things and turn them into vitriol to pour into the DMs and Anons of people who are running a fan week, that is not okay. Not in the slightest.

There is a big difference between debate, discussion, creative protest, and joking around, and intentionally using your words to create harm in someone’s life.

“But, Chaos, this [thing not directly sent to you/not specifically intended for you] hurt my feelings!”

Okay. Get burned once? Great! You learned something: don’t touch the hot iron again. (To translate: block the tag, block the person, whatever you need, and move on. If it isn’t for you that’s ok.) Hurt feelings are to tell you what you can and/or are willing to handle. If you don’t want to see it, block. (I love blocking tags it’s one of my little joys in life lol)

“Chaos, somebody said something really rude to me to my (virtual) face! What do I do?”

Well, you can either respond or you can block. Either way, it will probably help you to move on.

If you are responding, I beg you to keep one thing in mind. I want you to picture 7 year old you at the other end of that message. Or 13 year old you. What kind of words did they deserve to hear in a moment when maybe they weren’t getting something? Use those. Use them kindly, not in a condescending way, but in a “I want to explain this as gently as I would to my younger self” kind of way. If somebody keeps being mean, it isn’t worth it. Please use the block feature and move on. They are not worth your time.

Additionally, I would encourage you to do this: the “touch grass” mentality is something I only direct at myself. (I literally told myself to go touch grass yesterday, and there is at least one person who can corroborate that.) I stand by that decision every single day. It’s kept me out of a lot of trouble. Directing it at others does not end well, but directing it at yourself can be a good way to reflect and to consider sensible actions in the face of overwhelming situations or emotions (of which I experience many).

“Chaos, people are coming into anon and being hateful. Or just rude. Or they’re dumping triggering material into my anons.”

That is on them. That is not on you. They should not do that. And I am so sorry you are dealing with that. I’m going to be honest, I don’t know if you can block from anons (I’ve never even needed to look and so help you all if this is the post that makes me) but if you can, do. I will do what I can to help, if you need it. Regardless of where you stand on any of these issues, because I will not stand for hatred.

“I’m mad about [redacted] and I am going to be rude/mean/intentionally putting triggering material in people’s inboxes and activity feeds!”

You do that and you will be in a world of hurt, my friend. A world of hurt from yourself.

Because we create the experience we think we deserve. If you create an internet experience where it is acceptable to be hateful, vengeful, and downright cruel to other people, that is the experience you will receive in return. You deserve better than that. And if you believe that you deserve better than that but the people you’re directing cruelty towards don’t, then I want you to hear me: you will quickly find that you are not welcome anywhere. There will always be someone to disagree with. There will always be (at least) minute discrepancies in the way two or more people think, even people who are deeply similar.

Hurt the hand that reaches to help you- one day it will be raised against you in hurt as well.

As for me? Well, for that, I leave you with thoughts from George Washington’s Farewell address as paraphrased in Hamilton’s ‘One Last Time’:

“Though, in reviewing the incidents of my administration, I am unconscious of intentional error, I am nevertheless too sensible of my defects not to think it probable that I may have committed many errors.”

I am not a president (and thank god for that because who wants Chaos in charge of a country?). I am simply a fandom member. A writer. A little chaos gremlin lurking behind trees in the forest.

But like Mr. Washington, I am aware that I often fail to live up to my standards and principles. And I hope, truly, though it is wildly uncomfortable for me, that you would call me out for ways I have failed to uphold them, either in the past or in the future. (It would be super great if you like… called me out in DMs and didn’t put me on blast but oh well.)

I am in at least four other major (international, GIANT) fandoms. I am not hopeful enough to think that the ACOTAR fandom will learn from the fandoms of yore. We will have to weather these storms on our own, even with the knowledge and experiences already there. I think that’s okay. Disappointing, perhaps, but okay.

Since this post was much longer than it was intended to be, I will summarize:

If you are intentionally putting hateful materials in the inboxes, DMs, and activity feeds of people you disagree with, you will hurt yourself.

You create the experience you think you deserve, and in doing so, create that experience for others. Good or bad.

Block tags, block blogs, block what you need to enjoy the space. You will find your people.

Being intentionally cruel to other human persons is how you end up finding that nobody is “your people” because you created an environment where no one wants to be. You will be lonely and sad. Don’t make yourself lonely and sad.

I am certain I fail to uphold these principles at times. Feel free to call me out if you see me failing at these. DM appreciated, but I’m the one who invited you to do so so I’m not going to say “don’t blast me on main.” My funeral, I know.

[jacksmusesdrv3]

*Why do I ask when it literally tells you? Well:

^ I raised that issue here - also note that part of the reason I'm asking is the original Japanese text specifies a 'do not kill' motto, and it's a bit unclear what that motto means for DICE itself- that is, if it refers to dangerous activities that might confront the possibility of killing (or at least, dying).

[skygemspeaks]

so i saw this fic the other day where the main character's love interest is actually his boss and i want to preface my next point by saying that i don't think there's anything wrong with that kind of fic, you do you, i can definitely see the appeal

but one of the tags on the fic said something like "yeah [Character A] is [Character B]'s boss but i promise there aren't any weird power dynamics because [Character A] is very respectful"

and i really feel the need to explain to y'all that that's not how power dynamics work.

just because the character in the position of power doesn't take advantage of the person they have direct power over does NOT mean that the weird power dynamics aren't there

and like i said at the beginning of this post, there's nothing wrong with that! it can be an interesting part of the plot, and the way the character in the position of power handles the dynamic can be a great way of demonstrating who they are as a person.

but. again. the weird power dynamic is still there

[dumb-fandom-polls]

Just to clarify: this refers to general audiences. So no "it depends on the person!" Just imagine an average non anime fan.

All the options were thought up by my friend and I

Poll requests are open!!

[atypical-artisan]

Tbh there does come a point where jokes about hating a character become severely annoying instead of funny. That point is when the entire joke is "I hate this character"- that's just not funny bro 😭

[writebackatya]

[fandonnavyce]

Jason in Wonderland

Crossover Danuary Day 4

Day 1 - Ben 10 Xover Tucker escapes Space Prison with the help of his two best friends

Day 2 - Atla Xover Hey, remember when Sokka got kidnapped into the Spirit World?

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Slush kicks up in Jason’s wake as he stomps down Gotham’s street on Christmas Day.  Icy hands are bunched up in their sleeves, his curled fists jammed into his jacket’s pockets. The freezing wind slaps his face and Jason’s pissed he can’t slap it back.

“I’M LATE, I’M LATE! FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE! NO TIME TO SAY HELLO, GOODBYE, I’M LATE, I’M LATE, I’M LATE!” 

Speeding right past, and nearly bowling Jason over like a wrecking ball, a giant fucking rabbit thunders past. Jason stares in sheer astonishment as it hippity-hops and leaps into a massive green portal that Jason had apparently been too blind to notice until now.

Jason whips his head round to see if any other Gothamite is seeing this.

No one is seeing this.

And not in that ‘I see nothing cause that ain’t my business’ kind of way. His fellow Gothamite pedestrians are genuinely fully oblivious to the glowing hole in the fabric of reality and the giant anthropomorphic unseasonal Easter Bunny in their midst that had just bounced right into it.  

(Warning Long Post)

Coming out from the green glowing portal was the head of a werewolf peeking out, then the rest of its bestial body (clothed in a ragged green tracksuit) follows.

"That's probably everyone," says the werewolf as it lingers in front of the portal. It turns to head back into the portal.

On sheer impulse, Jason sprints down the street. Jason can feel the attention he’s drawing. He's 6 foot tall, has the shoulders of a linebacker, and is pounding the pavement like there are lives on the line. His fellow Gothamites calmly adjust out of his way.

The werewolf disappears through the green portal. With a desperate leap, Jason charges in right after.

Jason feels the portal close behind him.

Line break  

Then Jason is violently, painfully ill.

A burning sensation quickly builds inside his chest. A blistering heat is searing his heart. His heart thrashes in agony. Jason doubles over. His skin starts itching. Starts crawling. Jason’s fingers want to peel and pry the skin off his flesh for relief. Have slick wet blood gush and soothe his skin. Have the bleeding tears let his skin breathe in relief.  His hands are busy gagging his threatening vomit at the outbreak of his sudden vicious nausea. 

Then gravity decides to fuck around.

Jason is now plummeting, spiralling downwards into an unknowing, endless fall. 

There’s nothing more rage-inducing than being suddenly violently and incomprehensibly ill whilst in the midsts of fucking freefall. 

Jason’s screams shatter the air.

The werewolf whirls around. He sees the displaced, living human uncontrollably falling in a panicked frenzy behind him.

"Nu, tio ne estas bona". (Well that's not good).

With a single bound, Wulf approaches the human, then he smartly opens up another portal beneath the falling mortal, in order to send the human back to the physical realm, Gotham. 

But just as the human dipped into the portal, Wulf looks on in horror. He realises that the human was having a violent seizure whilst free falling. In the split second of that realisation, the human’s violent reaction interferes with his portal’s spatial displacement.

A clash of green, bursting light and hissing red blinds him. 

Once he can see again, the portal and the human are both gone.  Wulf doesn’t know where that young man has gone but he doubts it was Gotham, Earth.

Wulf sends thoughts and prayers for the young man.

Line break

“Fuuuuuuuuck!!!” 

Jason yells out into the uncaring green void when it finally stopped spinning. 

The fire in his chest died down to a thrumming burn; painful but tolerable. The skin crawling had lessened to a frustrating itch, the horrendous nausea was now motion sickness.   

"Hey Leather Jacket, you good?”

Coming to a slow stop next to him was a couple riding a motorcycle. Their skin colour was ash grey and the lady had unnatural green hair. 

“That’s fine”, thought Jason. “Everything’s unnatural here anyway.”

“You lost or something?" The man asks. Jason looks around at the swirling green void of a sky and floating broken islands he was drifting between.

"Yeah, you could say that. You wouldn't happen to know where Gotham is?" Jason asked without much hope.

"Oh yeah we know Gotham," the lady answered helpfully. Jason felt hope surge within. Maybe, he wasn’t completely fucked. "You’ll find it thataway. The Revolving River of Doors has recently migrated back so if you head over Skulker’s Island - “

“Do you know where Skulker’s Island is?” the dude interrupted. 

“Of course he knows where it is. Everyone knows where it is, amirite.” The girl smiles leadingly at Jason. Jason stares blankly back. The girl's eyebrows fly off her head in surprise. Just like a cartoon character. Silently, Jason watches the eyebrows float back into place. 

“Oh so you don’t know. How about that Johnny?”

“Yeah, how about that. You a hermit or something?”

“Or something” Jason bites back.

“Well anyway,” the girl continues, “from where we’re standing, Skulker’s Island is just a short Hunt away. The island has a gigantic skull stuck on it, so you can’t miss it.”

“You really can’t. A blind man can see that damn thing for miles.”

“You really can. Right so, once you’ve reached Skulker’s Island,”

“No wait, how do I get to Skulker’s Island?”

“Like I just said,” the lady repeats impatiently, “it’s only a short Hunt away.”

“... right, but to get there, which direction should I take?”

“Whichever one you please,” the girl answers airily, “it’s a short Hunt away.”

“Right, right. It’s a short hunt away. OK. But in which direction should I go from here?”

“Well that depends a good deal on how you want to get there?”

“I don’t much care how—” said Jason.

“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the lady.

“—so long as I actually get there,” Jason added, exasperated.

“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” she said, “it’s just a short Hunt away.”

“So what you’re trying to tell me is that I can pick any direction?”

“Any direction”

“Any direction at all,” the guy chimes in.

“And I’ll find Skulker’s Island,” Jason continues.

“Only a short Hunt away, exactly” the lady finishes. “So once there, you’ll want to head on over it. Not under it or around it but over it. If you try to go under or around it, you’ll likely end up in Alaska.”

The biker dude frowns at his girl, “Not Ember’s Lair?”

“Nah they’ve broken up.”

“Oh like for real?”

“This time maybe, yeah.”

“Ooof. What did Skulker do?”

“Get this. He forgot her Death Day.”

The dude gasped, “He forgot! But she has a wholeass song!”

“Fucking exactly! That’s what I said when Jazz told me.”

“RIP Skulker.”

“RIP Skulker.”

“A babe like that was out of his league anyway,” the dude leers. His girlfriend smacks him unimpressed.

“Why’d you smack me? I’m right!”

“I didn’t like the way you said it.” The girlfriend retorts, her hand on her hips.

“You didn’t like-” the dude acts flabbergasted, “oh c’mon Kitty, I didn’t mean nothing by it, so why are you”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Jason interrupts unsorry, “but as the lady was saying?”

“Oooh lady,” she smiles, “I like the sound of that.”

The greasy haired ginger turns and death glares at Jason, which Jason ignores.

“So where was I?”

“That I should head over, not around or under, but over the island with the giant skull on it...”

“Right, so above Skulker’s Island you’ll see the Revolving River of Doors. And one of those doors will be a Purple Travesty to Gothic Art Deco. That's the door to Gotham.”

"But why are you heading on over to Gotham anyway?” the ginger-haired biker asks, now slouching grumpily over his handlebars. “You ain't attending the King's Not Christmas Shindig?"

The green-haired lady perks up, "Speaking of the King, bet he'd luuurve to see you."

Jason was sceptical, “Why would your King want to see me?”

“More like why wouldn’t he want to see you?” the biker dude drawled, “Like who even are you?”

“Someone who's way more confused than they were when they woke up this morning.”

“Oh!” the girl snapped her fingers, “You wouldn’t happen to want to adopt the King?”

“Or End the King”

“Or kill his Pops?”

“Or fuck his Mama?”

“Make his clones?”

“Mess with things beyond your power?”  

“And then dump the responsibility onto his lap?”

“Before ditching him to save your own skin?”

“...” Jason defensively crossed his arms. 

The couple were now leaning into his space, waiting attentively for his answer with creepy smiles on their faces.

“... No, I don’t want to do any of that.” 

“Awesome, then you’re perfect!” the girl cheered.

“Perfect, how? For not being a madman?!”

“Well c’mon now” the guy drawled, “we’re all mad here.” 

The couple’s grins grew wider.

Ooof if you managed to get all the way down here then don't forget to reblog to spread the post!😊

@crossoverdanuary

[shawolsos]

"you cannot possibly see yourself as a variant of *checks notes* SIX different characters from the SAME universe"

Yes I can, mind ya business

[gg-ladybug]

I FUCKING LOVE HEALTHY AND WHOLESOME INTERACTIONS IN SHARED FANDOM SPACES!

I WANT TO ABSORB THE GOOD VIBES LIKE OSMOSIS— I LOVE IT WHEN WE GET ALONG AND ACT KIND WHILE UNAPOLOGETICALLY INTERACTING WITH MEDIA IN A NICHE WAY!

YOU ENCOURAGE OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST WHILE MAINTAINING PRIDE AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR OWN VIEWS?! FANTASTIC! YOU’RE APPROACHING THINGS WITH RESPECT AND DUE DILIGENCE?! WHAT AN UPSTANDING MEMBER OF SOCIETY!

[sinningtree]

The great thing about being a multi/polyshipper is being able to explore different dynamics with your favourite characters.

You get to explore the intimacy of potential romantic angles, but also the notion that they just care that deeply about their friends, platonically.

I find a lot of criticism of poly or multishipping comes from people who think you just can't imagine people in platonic bonds caring about each other so much. Not true. Obviously, I do not speak for everyone but the appeal for me is getting to explore a variety of different aspects.

Sometimes, A is with B and X is with Y. Sometimes, it's AX and BY where maybe A and B or X and Y are best friends, instead*. Sometimes, all FOUR are together or all four are just friends and may have other outside romantic interests.

Shipping and Found Family are not mutually exclusive interests. It's the two cakes meme, only there's like 8 cakes. Sometimes you are just in the mood for One Specific Cake for a bit, others you want to sample a little of everything.

(*these ships intentionally left blank.)

[kyoonnyoon]

no, see… inside me are two wolves:

the first wolf loves when my boys are all soft, happy, and peaceful, just chillin’ being bros and doin’ silly stuff together because they’re cute and squishy—

—the other wolf is a horny, depressed rage-beast that can’t decide if it wants my boys to be slutty, desperate little fuck monsters or the saddest babies suffering the worst hurt/no comfort scenarios imaginable.

it truly is a conundrum.

[lensman-arms-race]

Me, thinking of my next fic while at work: Wow, I am having so many ideas... this is flowing. This is practically writing itself. I can't wait to write this all down tonight!

Me, trying to write it all down later: They

Me, trying to write: go over there.

Me, trying to write: 'Hello I am hte character'

[jacksmusesdrv3]

Someone asked me a bit ago about what I was trying to ask when flailing about the conspiracy-themes issues, so I'll say it here:

Ultimately? Before I can address that, I think this fandom is very, very badly in need of frank, nuanced discussion about DRV3's ending, themes and of Shuichi and Kokichi, so that the whole situation is better understood rather than constantly swept under the rug.

See, a lot of people assume the 'Fiction' end means that, even if HPA history is real, that has no bearing on what happened in the game, that Shuichi's judgement on the matter has no significant issues, that there's no chance of any Flashback Lights being real because of post-Chapter 5, etc. That is fine if you just want to make your outside world story based on that premise, or just don't see any other sides.

However, to assert that that has to be the case is going against the stated structure of the game itself, by the developers themselves, for its story have multiple sides and no clear answer. And by the game itself, that includes characters, relationships and events.

Yes, that includes the possibility of a different Kokichi from the one you know. That includes takes that make him into the group's martyr. That includes takes that give him prior knowledge of others and supernatural gift but a deficit of the power and freedom to use it well. Yes, it does in fact mean takes that you consider 'missing the point of him and what makes him so compelling and good'.

But more importantly, it includes allowing critical analysis of the cast dynamics, how they come to be biased against Kokichi even before the killing game starts and how this group mentality and tendency to scapegoat can affect our perception of who he is, regardless of where your interpretation leads.

This is so exhausting to go into, so the long and short of it:

We need 'Fiction' and 'Non-fiction' readings to coexist. We also need to allow the darkness hiding in the game's themes to be bled out. And we can't do either if we're constantly denying the possibility.