#I want to emphasize that people can write and draw whatever they want to

[justawrites]

((Warning, long response incoming!! Sorry in advance!))

I totally agree with your vent post! While I really enjoy the fandom's diverse takes on Nari and Lamb's dynamic, motivations, and designs, I find that in AUs where they’re really horrible to each other romantically, they seem to lack any real chemistry. In these AUs, I often wonder what they could possibly even see in each other and wish they’d just move on, find someone else, or leave entirely. Oh well, at least I can enjoy the neat art styles. :/

I’ve also noticed that in AUs where Lamb abuses Nari, his agency is often completely stripped away, including the ability to care for himself, which feels annoyingly infantilizing. He also simply endures the abuse, like a battered spouse, with little to no pushback. It's frustrating, mainly because it feels like punishment for the sake of punishment, with no real motivations behind it. To me, these portrayals of Nari tend to exclude any grey area and lack nuance in terms of character development. They seem to focus on portraying Lamb as "good™" and Nari as "bad™," all while having the first abuse the second, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth, tbh.

((Btw, I feel that if someone tried to trap Nari again, whether through marriage or whatever else, he would try to leave as quickly as possible. He spent a millennium trapped; even if he could get the crown back, why would he risk staying, only to be trapped again?!))

Honestly, your work is one of my favorite depictions of Nari and Lamb because you give them both agency and clear motivations, while highlighting their strengths alongside their flaws. I particularly love how Nari's departure allows him to heal and find himself. You also take into account the complexity of not just their dynamic, but also their interactions with the Bishops and the rest of the flock. It feels like you genuinely care about how these characters will end up. The AUs you create are so fun, I’m always impressed with how developed your worlds and scenarios are. Ultimately, I find your fics really interesting to read. As someone who loves world-building and visual development, your work has inspired me in how to approach my own AU.

((I have a lot of feelings about this and could go on forever, but I won’t—otherwise, I’d have to include a tl;dr! XD))

But anyways, thanks for your time and have a good one!

(No worry I love long asks <3) Long answer so below the cut

You! You get it! Though I won't sit here and say I don't enjoy toxic fictional relationships, but it all depends on the framing for me. In a lot of cases it feels like shipping for the sake of shipping. I mean in Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, Unfulfilled, I definitely went with the toxic Lamb angle, and the more I think about that particular AU the less I want there to be any sort of positive feelings between the two. The more I think about that AU the less appeal romance has in it for me, and that's how I feel about a lot of AUs I see on here.

That being said, freak4freak power couple who are horrible people to everyone but each other is really fun lmao-

That's a big reason why I started God in a Godless Land in the first place if I'm honest. I wanted to explore a Narinder whose healing journey did not revolved around the Lamb or them being his caretaker, where when they meet again they're on as equal footing as a god and a semi-mortal can be. Spoiler alert, but Narinder and Lamb will have a conversation about this later.

And yeah I find it really boring when people throw nuance out the window. I don't like lumping all the blame on one character. I mean, Narinder was bad, yes, but at the end of the day the red crown was his and the Lamb did betray him, but most people shift it all onto Narinder. Also mostly unrelated but I think a lot of people forget/ignore that he did not want to be spared. He protests when the Lamb spares him and laughs when the Lamb kills him, so when I see an AU where they have him cowering in fear and begging for his life it's just like. I'm sorry what. That cat is not afraid to die. If anything he's probably afraid to live. (Side note, I also take issue with Unholy Alliance pushing almost all of the blame onto Shamura)

But yeah, in a lot of AUs I just. I want Narinder to either leave or find someone in the cult, at least, who will help him detangle his identity from the red crown and death itself. I would love to see more people exploring his healing arc separate from the Lamb. Obviously I tend to focus on his relationship with the Bishops, but it's also nice when people let him strike out on his own.

Narinder spent a thousand years trying to get out of chains, there's no doubt in my mind that he wouldn't let the Lamb even metaphorically chain him down. That's another thing about Godless Land that hasn't really been touched on yet; when Narinder chooses to settle down in Riverwood, it's his own choice. No one is making him stay and he's not subservient to anyone. There is no master, no one to be bowed down to and no one bowing, and he chooses to stay. When Wren confesses his feelings, Narinder can say no. There's no power or status difference between them in the godless lands. He can say no. He chooses Wren purely because he wants to; he isn't bound to obedience or subservience. It's his choice, and it is also so so easy to make these things his choice with the Lamb and cult as well, but all too often it's not. And, in that conversation between them I mentioned earlier, Narinder even acknowledges this; had he stayed in the cult and the Lamb shared with him their feelings, he probably would have accepted because that's how cults work. You don't reject the leader and you don't reject the god. He would have felt like he had no choice.

(Also this is just a personal me thing but I am very bored of the "Narinder tries to get the crown back" angle lmao I mean, go off y'all, write what y'all want and have fun with it. I'm more partial to "Narinder either chills out immediately because sunlight and berries and sleep for the first time in a milennia" or "Narinder goes into retirement mode and just shrugs his shoulders any time anything happens- your cult not mine")

hhhhh thank you so muchhh I really do love the stories/worlds I create. And I understand on some level CotL is like... a story about cults and killing and things are inherently unhealthy, all things considered, but I really really wanted to focus on the idea of Lamb (and the Bishops, once they've chilled the fuck out and basically became cleansed lol) wanting to change the world (even if they end up repeating patterns before figuring it out) and Narinder learning to live again without the weight of the life he once lived on his shoulders. But the shift for the gods from being worshiped deities who command and don't give their followers a second glance to worshiped deities who protect and love their followers...... they really do want to change things hhhgjg

I would have more to say myself but I have 5 minutes before class starts so imma leave the response here kjgfjk but thank you so much, I'm glad you're enjoying my stories!! I'm having a blast writing them so I'm happy to hear someone out there is enjoying them <3

[insanelyadd]

Let Papyrus Say Fuck Day Year 3!

In one week (next Friday, June 16th) it is the third annual #LetPapyrusSayFuck Day! This is the official announcement post, feel free to reblog it and send it to all your fellow Papyrus enjoyers, spread the word so everyone who may be interested can hear about it and get plenty of time to prepare. :>

Prompts:

Papyrus swearing for whatever reason (yelling at people babying him, electrocuted himself, humorously trying to tell Sans to shut the fuck up)

Papyrus commits arson

Anything that portrays Papyrus as a cool dude (using his blasters, building cool puzzles, being ambassador of monsters)

Anything that emphasizes that Papyrus is an adult/doesn't baby him

Bonus!

Include another character, from UT or anything else, that you want to be saying fuck with Papyrus (Inspired by the @let-them-say-fuck-tournament ) If you do include another character from Undertale or another fandom, I encourage you to make a #Let(character)SayFuck tag (no spaces so it's the same on twitter and tumblr)

Papyrus is encouraging others who deserve to say fuck for whatever reason to join him on the wonderful #LetPapyrusSayFuck Day! I already have an idea for what to do with this prompt, in addition to a completely normal standalone of Papyrus.

Rules:

Tag your posts with #swearing (if that applies) #LetPapyrusSayFuck (regardless of whether he is or not) as well as #Papyrus #undertale and any other fandom or character tags that may apply.

You don't need to go all out and paint a masterpiece, you can draw a shitpost-y doodle, write a fic, knit a sweater?? Whatever you want! Just have fun. <3

If you aren't able to get your piece done for the actual day that's completely fine! Papyrus can swear any day of the year, and no matter what I'll be reblogging as many posts as I can to @letpapyrussayfuckofficial (which you are free to tag in your post!)

Don't forget to join the festivities by reblogging and liking other participants art, fics, whatever they've made! This is a fun communal event and I want it to be uplifting and supportive! :>

Have Fun!

[burningsuitfire]

Essek and religious trauma

Saw this post from @balleater here and having been meaning to write a meta on the subject, theorizing about what we know.

Essek admits to being seriously traumatized when Caleb talks to him in the Grove.

(141) Caleb: Somewhat hypocritical coming from me, but try to be kind to yourself.  Essek: You, more than anyone, showed me that trauma doesn't define you.

The simplest conclusion is religious trauma, along with neglect and abandonment.

In the wrap-up Matt puts serious emphasis on Essek's parents and family being "very deeply steeped" in the religious culture alongside how Essek has "very much eschewed" the religious culture, that no one has ever genuinely cared about Essek beyond his influence and talent, that his family didn't understand or support his focus on dunamantic research (or his career), and draws clear lines about the negative aspects of Dynasty's theocratic authoritarianism and uncompromising cultural zealotry, at points Mercer even compares it to evangelicalism and doomsday cults.

He also gives us hints that it's a bad situation for anyone who doesn't follow the official faith, like in Eiselcross when Caleb asks questions about the mandated religion and Kryn theories on the beacons:

(124) Essek: It is an interesting idea, though I would caution to keep it close to the chest. Such conversations might be considered sacrilege in some circles of the Dynasty.

Which as word of god tells us Essek had a very bad relationship with his powerful authoritarian den family that didn't understand him or his goals, and he grew up in the Bastion (which is a temple to the Luxon), when the Dynasty laws are founded on the faith and enforced by the military:

(EGtW) The laws of the dynasty, which stem from the faith of the Luxon, are enforced by a network of trusted Aurora Watch captains and soldiers

To the point where Matt emphasized how even petty criminals in the prison were systematically "beaten and emaciated", sacrilege could have ugly consequences, even growing up.

Especially considering that all we know of his father is that he seemed to have a temper to the point of extremely self-destructive tendencies, and that he was possibly military and thus law enforcement (warriors function as both in the Dynasty).

Even in the dinner conversation when he was being outstandingly open, Essek was very careful not to tell the nein anything that could allow other Kryn to question his faith:

Marisha: So his lying about it [consecution] was just about going along with the zealotry and not- Matt: Exactly, because he didn't want people to think that there was something up.

And then there's Essek's massive trust problems, which are specifically focused on the word "trust":

(131) Caleb: We feel we can trust you more than my old teacher. (You see, when you say the word "trust". It's simultaneously like seeing a small hit to the heart... and whatever icy bit that cracked melts away for a minute. There's a moment of him hearing the word and letting it wash over him.) Essek: I'm thankful for the trust you put in me. And I hope to make this up to you.

(124) Essek: I've never really been trusted and so I did not trust. When I- when you gave me trust, it gave me a perspective that was so agonizingly striking. So easy to see that I refused to acknowledge it at first, even. (135) Essek: The more I begin to see Beauregard, yourself return with these markings- I've only just recently learned to trust. It's hard to begin to mistrust so quickly.

Where there's a theory that it might stem from the Dynasty's training for echo knights and dunamancers (when we've heard Essek tell Caleb that the training is comparable to that of scourgers), and we even see the echo knight in Zadash react very strongly to the word "trust":

(13) Mollymauk: We just need to know who we can trust and who we can't.  Thuron: You cannot trust anybody in this city. You cannot trust yourselves. Anyone who has not bound themselves. They are the enemy.

Other context and info gives us that consecution and worshipping the Luxon and following the umavi-written "system of pure faith" created from their interpretation of the beacons (as EGtW dictates the Luxon is canonically silent and unconscious) is required for people to hold Dynasty political/spiritual/military office and influence, to work for the theocratic government (comprised of the 12 noble religious den families), and that dunamancy and the Dynasty's dunamis research is only accessible to those working for the government.

And it seems like Essek hints at unattractive consequences to others discovering he's been lying about his faith (and/or the dangerous nature of his career):

(131) Essek: I just know that I've also survived this long, weaving the intricacies of deceit like I have, by knowing how best to keep myself out of the complications as best as I can.

Finally, we have Essek's relationship with punishment and pain, alongside the Dynasty's systematic religious corporal punishment:

(57) In the shadows there look to be multiple figures. Some human, some ogre-ish with more reinforced bars, drow. Emaciated, beaten. Not looking happy and healthy, but then again, what good Dungeon of Penance would?

(77) ...days of chosen sunlight in which the nightfall is dispelled and the people of Rosohna and Xhorhas bask in the sun. Even those who find pain and challenge in its presence, as it is part of the worship. (EGtW) The Kryn drow who emerged from the shadowed depths of the caverns beneath Xhorhas now endure periods of sunlight as part of their worship. Periods of days, sometimes weeks, will transpire in a state of perpetual evening, enabling the darkness-bound denizens to go about their work. Such periods briefly come to an end to usher in periods of scheduled, mass worship under the sunlight.

(99) Essek: I will take my leave for the night. Thank you for not throwing me into the water. (97) Essek: The pain is somewhat comforting because I am my own punishment. (91) Essek: I have seen those far older than you that have experienced maybe half the pain I see in your eyes. Age isn't everything. Experience is what hardens you, prepares you for the worst. (138) Beau: My essence will haunt you. Essek: And I would deserve it, like I deserve all of the things that haunt me. Jester: Aw, Essek... Essek: Don't- offer me any solace. (141) Essek: Maybe it's time I just found my way. Really began my penance. I've procrastinated long enough in dealing with my sins. I convinced myself I'd be alone for so much of my life. It's hard to say goodbye when I don't feel alone anymore, but… I understand. I understand and accept what I've done.

[antianakin]

hiii, it's me again, someone who keeps popping in to say things nobody asked for lol. i was wondering if people who've been in the fandom longer (like you) agree with my impression that the novelizations are reallyyy important context for fanon interpretations? i didn't realize this until a discussion i had today iwth someone who helpfully summarized some of the popular prequel novels, which seem to match up really well with headcanons & fanon personalities. apparently stover emphasized obi-wan's devotion to anakin and how he's a ride or die for him. and apparently another popular novel wrote an adult obi-wan "as if a teenager in emotional maturity" which also would, you know- explain a lot.

the novels i've actually read are the jedi apprentice series, which i don't have much issues with, even though they certainly spin the trauma wheel lol. maybe it's been qui-gon and obi-wan both feel as if they are trying their best and their misunderstandings due to mutual action, rather than pure passivity? or maybe that even though the books have very dramatic conflicts that certainly put obi-wan in woobifiable situations, they more often than not help draw out distinct characteristics and strengths of his through those situations?

Just for clarity, I have NOT been in this fandom all that long by my own standards. I obviously did watch Star Wars as a kid and read some Star Wars fanfics when I was really young, but in terms of "participating in fandom" as such, that's really only been happening since like... 2021 maybe? It was basically a COVID byproduct, I had the time to consume some Star Wars stuff I'd never managed to get around to before and things devolved from there. And I honestly have read hardly any of the novels or comics myself, including the official film novelizations. Like you, the only books I've actually read are the Jedi Apprentice middle grade books, and that's really it.

So while I can speak to some of the experiences I've had in this fandom since I got into it a few years ago, I cannot speak to what fandom has been like since those novelizations were released almost 20 years ago now.

Matthew Stover's ROTS novelization seems to be pretty popular and considered one of the better novelizations. I've had people tell me that there's SOME evidence Lucas had something to do with the book and so it's often considered a fairly high level of canon as a result.

But the passage you're referencing where Stover emphasizes how Obi-Wan is "ride or die" for Anakin is genuinely one of the reasons I've never bothered to read it, no matter how pretty people say his prose is. If you want to actually see it yourself, I'll copy it below.

The line in question comes from an extended version of the scene in ROTS where Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Mace Windu are discussing Anakin's reaction to being asked to spy on Palpatine as Yoda heads off to Kashyyyk.

“I think," Obi-Wan said carefully, "that abstractions like peace don't mean much to him. He's loyal to people, not to principles. And he expects loyalty in return. He will stop at nothing to save me, for example, because he thinks I would do the same for him." Mace and Yoda gazed at him steadily, and Obi-Wan had to lower his head. "Because," he admitted reluctantly, "he knows I would do the same for him.”

Interpret the scene how you will, I guess. The Anakin characterization meshes with how I tend to understand the character, but the Obi-Wan characterization could not be farther away from how I see him in canon.

I don't know anything about whatever novel wrote Obi-Wan as though he had the emotional maturity of a teenager. That doesn't ring any bells for me. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there are authors who've written Star Wars books that just simply don't like Obi-Wan all that much and so if he shows up in their work, he could come across as having the emotional maturity of a teenager because that's how that author chose to write him. It would seem odd for it to show up in an official film novelization, I would expect it more in some of the Legends content, but I suppose it's not impossible.

Legends content in general DOES have an impact on fanon and fan interpretations of Star Wars because, for a long while, it was the only way to GET more Star Wars content beyond the films themselves. For a lot of people, they were canon because there was nothing to refute them. And even once there was, people sometimes were still so attached to those stories that they preferred them to the story told in the films.

So, yeah, it can have a major impact on people's understanding of things. Often if you get into discussions about, say, the Jedi or the Force, people will bring up Legends content to prove their arguments. You shouldn't feel like this means you personally have to consume any Legends content you don't want to consume. I tend to avoid it most of the time. It is perfectly for you to just stick with the films or the shows or whatever books you find most interesting. And even within that, what you consider canon doesn't have to include literally everything you've chosen to consume. I've read the Jedi Apprentice books and enjoyed them, but it ISN'T real canon and I don't necessarily take any of it into account in my own interpretations of the characters. Legends content and Disney EU content is, in many ways, just officially licensed fanfiction. If you don't consider every fanfic you read to be canon, you do not have to consider every Legends book or comic you choose to read to be canon, either. Sometimes it's fun to just see other people's takes on Star Wars even if there's no way to fit into the canon story of Star Wars (as a side note, this is why I love Star Wars: Visions so much as a show).

I don't know if this really answered your question. As someone who doesn't consume a lot of Legends content and hasn't read a single one of the official film novelizations, I may not be the right person to ask about this.

[vitaminseetarot]

PAC Pick a Palette: One Small Thing That Will Help You Grow ☕🌞💴

Welcome back to my pick a card readings! This time we're looking at the time between our New Moon sowing and our Full Moon flowering. At this stage of the magic making process, work has gone underway to build upon the seed that was germinated and growth happens. Soon it will reveal the peak of its work through the flower, but before then the stem and leaves also deserve attention. They're the ones helping to power the whole thing!

It's important, then, to look at what you're using and where you are in the process. Not everything is meant to grow at the same rate, but sometimes the right ingredients like plant food or pruning clippers can do an incredible job at providing a needed boost.

Pick one of these three color palette swatches to find out what you can add or remedy to assist the growth of your own magic!

(Forgive me if the spread out looks a bit funky this time, it's all about finding the part of the house with the best natural lighting!)

Pile 1: Coffee Beans

Draw: Four of Wands; Queen of Pentacles, Page of Wands, Death 18 - Communication, Aries Rising - Act, Heartsease - Compassion "Tread a little more tenderly."

You need more space to grow whatever it is you're creating. A bird can try to lay an egg without a nest, but it's never going to be easy. Building a sturdy nest increases the young's chance of survival. You should try considering the space in which you're using to create your project or desire: are you writing a novel in a cluttered room, or cooking a meal when you can't find half of your measuring cups and saucepans? Are you meditating in a place where it's difficult to tune out the background noise?

Four of Wands talks about creating the space for you to thrive like the corn in Queen of Pentacles. The Queen is able to cultivate her garden in peace and certainty that abundance is hers. You are meant to take what it is you're doing and allow it to grow, so the Queen is being quite literal here. But she wants you to do it from a place of joy and enthusiasm instead of dread.

The Page is fired up from drinking coffee and is ready to go. But you must be in a place of ease with yourself to do this. Your message is to act upon your growth, but do it from a gentle place and at a gentle pace. Do not try to over exert yourself when you do have the space to practice or create. Do not try, for example, to squeeze 45 minutes of exercise into 5 minutes, thinking that it's all the time you're allowed, so why not go overboard, amiright? This is the fast lane to killing what you're growing and your joy for it, pile 1, and what you're growing is still in a very delicate stage. You have time to work out the details, so don't rush this. Heartease was the first card to pop out and the only card to jump, so it's really emphasizing the need to be careful with how you spend your time and energy.

The Communication card is the only one that really stands out to me. Perhaps what you're developing has to do with communications. Writing a book, preparing a speech, blogging, interview, etc. but it could also have to do with growing your connections with other people through how you communicate. You could be rekindling an old friendship from school or meeting someone for coffee? In any case, Compassion is the keyword here. Be gentle and ready to listen more to feedback, while creating a safe space for your friend or colleague to communicate clearly with you. This is a meetup you'll want to act upon, but do so from a place of kindness.

Also for some reason, maybe it's because I heard the song recently while out, but Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" is in my head while typing your reading and only your reading. Argh, such an earworm! If this person you're meeting up with hurt your heart in some way way back in the past… yeah it's cool to be on the defensive, assert your boundaries. Heartease, however, still asks that you treat this situation with diplomacy.

Pile 2: Radiance

Draw: Eight of Wands; Queen of Pentacles, King of Swords, Knight of Pentacles 19 - Healing Grief, Pisces Rising - Dream, Wisteria - Longevity "Plan for and take the dedicated path."

You have some similarities to pile 1, so if you were interested in that pile I recommend checking it out for messages. For starters, you have Queen of Pentacles in the exact same space on your spread, so that tells me there's a lot of collective push for undertaking rapid growth at this time. The Queen does it from an appearance of near effortlessness, but it's not without considerable effort on her part. She's able to handle a lot with grace and consistency.

It seems like in your cards, pile 2, you're pretty solid when it comes to growing towards your goals. You've become used to trucking along without must reprieve, as if it's from one thing to another as smoothly as the train cars pass the railroad crossing. You're being asked to remember about the power of momentum, and about the little things that add up. Think of how a bird takes off. When it starts flapping, it flaps hard. Once it's high in the sky, it spreads out and soars with ease. It requires a lot of steady pushing, one flap at a time, but eventually when it takes off it gains more speed than ever.

Again like with pile 1, you have all the time you need to make your dreams grow and flourish. Just don't be surprised if this takes a rather long time to accomplish. The Queen of Pentacles is less interested in quantity or time efficiency as she is in quality. It's not that she isn't punctual, far from it, but she and the Knight know that the best fruits are ones that ripen when they're ready to. You're being encouraged to plan for the long term, with wise judgement as the King of Swords suggests, and to open yourself up to envisioning more brilliant avenues to fly through. Imagine what would make your heart soar, and grow that instead of something that you merely feel "obligated" to do. Great things can take time, but it'll be completely worth the wait.

Also, my sun catcher reflected a rainbow perfectly on the osprey in this Eight of Wands card, it's nice. There is a radiance that comes from taking time to grow something to how you want it to be, like the bird with its fish catching talents (it can pluck them right out of the water and fly around boasting its catch). Your skills will shine here, just be sure to care for yourself in the meantime.

Pile 3: Perfect Penny

Draw: Nine of Wands; II High Priestess, XIV Temperance, Seven of Wands 25 - Truth, Taurus Moon - Relax, Belladonna - Silence "Listen more and quiet be."

So this was an interesting spread because at first I couldn't tell if the message was to hold on or let go. Maybe that's your current dilemma when it comes to growth. And it's a valid one, cause it's a lot like the pruning stage. You have to decide which leaves are valuable to your health, and which leaves are dead and must be clipped away.

The penny is like… saving a wishing penny for a rainy day. You're on the defense with Nine of Wands. Do I use this penny now to accomplish this, you ask, or I should I save it for later when I might use it for something else? Nine of Wands is a lot of energy being deliberately held back for a reason, like an arrow ready to fire. It could be that you're maybe putting a little too much perfectionism into the idea. What you're growing has not yet been grounded into the material world, it's still a passion idea or a fire in your heart but you're holding it back. But Nine of Wands is also a Sagittarius card, doubly so since Sagittarius is the 9th sign. The requirement here for growth is pushing forward with optimism that your wish will not go to waste. There's an energy of perfectionism here especially as it took me exactly nine photos before I settled for this one. I finally decided it didn't have to be perfect, it just had to feel ok enough!

My first reaction was to say "trust your gut and you'll learn to balance the give and take," then High Priestess and Temperance came out together! Somewhere inside you already know what it is you would like to do with "the penny" of an idea you're casting into the wishing well. You don't have to overthink this. It's a matter of coming from a heart-centered place of Truth. Belladonna is showing you how to tap into your intuition: "listen more, silent be." Listen closely to what your heart is wishing to do. Balance this out with how others may perceive your goals or growth. There may be people who say something like, "you're going to use what you got on 'that'?" or "are you really sure that's what you want to do?"

It takes practice to choose from a place of intuitive open mindedness, but it will reward you in this case. You're being reminded to stay relaxed and steady about this. Making the next move doesn't have to come from a place of high pressure or unneeded stress, even if it's time sensitive. But by learning to listen to your intuition more, the part that tells you how to proceed from a place of optimism within reason, you'll be able to more quickly expand and grow upon what it is you're creating. With penny's copper corresponding to Venus as well as Taurus moon, it's suggested here that you could receive monetary or financial growth through this, as well.

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2023, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[occasionallyprosie]

So, apparently there's some fandom discourse, and I just want to throw my two cents into the pile.

I get wanting things to lean more into canon, I do, but to shame or hate or talk down to others for not making things what you view as canon characterization is not okay.

This goes especially for fanfiction and fanart, because first of all, everyone's view of every character, every scene, every minuet detail, is different. Secondly, fanfics and fanart are 1) freely made, 2) freely given, and 3) the creator's work. They can do whatever they want because it's theirs, and you know what you as a reader/viewer/consumer can do?

You can read the fanfic. You can analyze the art. You can tell the creator what you enjoyed, and heck, if the creator has said they're okay with it, you can offer constructive criticism (I cannot emphasize the constructive part, or the part where they've said they're okay with it, enough).

However, you can not take this work that came from someone's heart, something they tore out of themselves and gave to you to view, and throw it on the ground. If you don’t like it, you "give it back," you walk away; you leave.

You. Do. Not. Tear. Them. Down.

You do not send hate, you do not demand change, you do not tell them they're wrong, what you do is walk away. Don't like, don’t read.

I do understand wanting to see your characters, that one comfort character, portrayed "correctly," but that Does Not Mean you can scream and yell at people who don’t fall into your category of correct.

If you’re that desperate, draw/write it yourself.

But no matter what: be nice, be kind, and if you don’t like a fic or you don’t like an artwork, there's this lovely feature called a back button, or the scroll feature. Tumblr also lets you block things, AO3 lets you filter stuff out. If you don’t like it that much, make it go away. Don’t make it someone's else's problem, especially not the creator's.

[sister-lucifer]

You're so fucking hypocritical, imagine not letting people who ship anime sisters on your blog, but write about woundfucking. Lmaaaoooo

siiiigh this again ok

so 1. you know a dni isn’t personal right? people put things on their dni for a lot of reasons. plenty of people have “nsfw blogs dni” or “[x fandom] blogs dni” on their page. it’s not me telling you to kill yourself, it’s me saying “i’m not comfortable seeing or engaging with that content and i don’t want people who make it following me.” if someone has “antis dni” in their bio i block and move on because that’s exactly what they wanted. my blog is my space, just like your blog is YOUR space, and we’re both allowed to curate our own blogs however we want. tis the joy of the internet. i don’t wanna see people talking about wanting to fuck children, even if they’re fictional, so i take steps to make sure i don’t. you will NEVER find me in someone’s inbox yelling at them like this. block. and. move. on.

and 2. i’ve said this before so i’ll say it again: people are allowed to create whatever they want. i’ll literally never try to stop people from making things

HOWEVER

i do believe we as creators have a responsibility to make sure we are not causing harm with our content. my issue is not with what people make, but it is instead the way that proship creators will often showcase abusive and harmful dynamics as cutesy normal fun with no attempt to warn people who may be triggered or negatively influenced by that content (i.e. if you draw adult x child ship art and just put it out there for anyone to see, and an actual child comes across it and it normalizes the idea in the child’s head, that is on you.). the extra issue is that this sort of content is super prevalent in fandoms of children’s shows, which is a problem for obvious reasons; children are exponentially more likely to come across it. all of my works are tagged IMMENSELY to make sure no one comes across it who isn’t looking for it

if you want my full views on the matter, you can reference the links in THIS POST plus a bit of expansion HERE

but mostly, i want to emphasize my first point;

anyone is allowed to put whatever they want on their DNI bc it is YOUR responsibility to curate your own online experience. literally that is all i am doing.

[uselessheretic]

Izzy Hands and His No Good Very Tragic Love Story

Season two came out recently (if you haven't noticed!) and within the first 3 episodes we've gotten to see a side of Izzy showing a great amount of depth and sympathy towards him. This is especially around his declaration of having love for Edward, confirming a long held fandom opinion by some that the lil guy is just cranky because he has a crush.

For most of the last year and a half, it seems that the main fandom interpretation of Izzy Hands and whatever the fuck is wrong with him was that Izzy was homophobic. For a while, it was actually controversial to suggest that Izzy was in love with Edward at all!

For some, Izzy's confession debunks their previously held understanding of Izzy as a homophobe. For others, they might just go with the "he's gay and homophobic, duh" reasoning. I'd really encourage anyone who's seeing a new side of Izzy to go back and rewatch season 1, but try it through a lens of assuming that Izzy's in love, not bigoted, and see which narrative is stronger.

But no matter your interpretation, I think we can confidently say that the creators' goal with writing Izzy has never been to make him homophobic. There's examples from the show I can use to draw out an analysis of why homophobic Izzy doesn't hold up under scrutiny, but right now I just wanna give y'all some background onto what has already been confirmed by word of god.

David Jenkins had already confirmed at the end of season 1 that Ed and Izzy are a romance. A dark and toxic one, but a romance nonetheless. He has also reiterated the same in recent interviews as well.

The writing of the show has a focus on not relying on queer trauma to create conflict. Ed and Stede getting together isn't ever blocked by homophobic forces, jim's story isn't defined by transphobia, and nobody's past is scarred by homophobic (or racist) bigotry. The writers have said that this focus on queer trauma was something they wanted to avoid.

Taika has said a few times that nobody is ever against a queer couple because they're gay, they're just upset that jealous. The context makes it pretty clear that the only characters he could be referring to is Ed, Stede, and Izzy. He also emphasized that being gay is just the pirate way.

Con o'Neill has also specifically said at a panel in June that Izzy isn't homophobic, he's just heartbroken.

There's also been con goers who've spoken with Con about queer narratives where Con had added on that yeah, gay people can be homophobic, but Izzy isn't. He just hates Stede's guts.

If the creator's and actors' intentions are undeniably that the character isn't homophobic, then maybe it's time for us to revisit the source material, and try to see what they were actually trying to say.

[thefloatingstone]

Hey guys.

Would any mutuals be willing to let me show their art of characters they like to ship in the next video?

I need it for a section where I am criticizing the way the romance in the show is written, but want to emphasize that if you're someone who makes fanart and fanfics that ONLY focus on romance tropes you are valid and nobody should dictate how you should draw or write things that make you happy (but this show is a tv product in which the audience expects a certain level of professionalism in the writing).

I want to make it clear fanwork can do whatever it wants to make the artists happy and make it clear I am not shaming or criticisng people who only want to ship things. And would like to use other people's art that isn't my own to make a point.

Any mutuals willing? (Full credit will obviously be given. This isn't paid tho so please don't draw anything new specifically for this. I don't want to pay you with exposure 😭 Just any ship art you're willing to share)

[adampage]

HANGMAN PAGE BIRTHDAY WEEK

-> starts Friday, July 21st, 2023 and ends Thursday, July 27th, 2023

Hello, everyone! It's me, Emi adampage here, coming to you fresh from the post-Double or Nothing high, to announce that HANGMAN PAGE BIRTHDAY WEEK will be happening again this year! I am going to make this considerably hard on myself, as I will be out of the country during the week of, but I will do my very best to reblog any creations you make!

That being said, here's what I have in mind for this year :)

OBJECTIVE

To create wonderful works [edits, gifs, writing, art, videos, etc] in the name and in the honor of our lovely cowboy, Hangman Adam Page, during the week of July 21st, 2023, to July 27th, 2023.

RULES

There are prompts/themes for each day, sometimes even two. You may choose to do either or both! You may also do multiple of each, if it strikes your heart to do so.

Do not take the prompts at face value. You may interpret them in any way you would like! (If you cannot choose one of something for a theme, feel free to talk/write/create about more than one. Multiple loves and multiple favorites are implied!)

You can use any form of post available to you through tumblr. Video, photo, gif, text, audio, etc etc. It’s ALL up to YOU! (Fics can be linked from ao3 if it’s easier for you)

If you only want to do certain days, no worries!! Do everything in any way you would like. And if you’re a bit late on some prompts than others, that’s completely fine (just don’t be early lol)! the hangman gang will want to see them either way <3

If you have ANY QUESTIONS, please don't hesitate to DM me or send me an ask!

THEMES

Day 1 - July 21st - FRIDAY: Hangman + LOVE

Day 2 - July 22nd - SATURDAY: Hangman + HATE

Day 3 - July 23rd - SUNDAY: Hangman + BLOOD (or, if that's not your style, SILLY/GOOFY)

Day 4 - July 24th - MONDAY: Hangman + PLAYLIST

Day 5 - July 25th - TUESDAY: Hangman + FOIL* (or other literary device, such as 'parallel')

Day 6 - July 26th - WEDNESDAY: Hangman + FANTASY/DREAM

Day 7 - July 27th - THURSDAY: HANGMAN'S BIRTHDAY! Hangman + FREE CHOICE

*it was brought to my attention that this one can seem confusing. The definition of "foil" is as follows (from literarydevices.net): Foil is a literary device designed to illustrate or reveal information, traits, values, or motivations of one character through the comparison and contrast of another character. A literary foil character serves the purpose of drawing attention to the qualities of another character, frequently the protagonist. This is effective as a means of developing a deeper understanding of a character by emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, a literary foil allows writers to create a counterpart for the protagonist that puts their actions and choices in context. (You can use this definition, or you can get inspiration from it. Or, you can use a different literary device, if you so choose. You can also liken the word 'foil' to, I dunno, tinfoil. What I love about word prompts is that you can take a word and create something completely different than someone else. Go crazy!)

As always, thank you to @mistress-omega-majesty, @jonmoxleys, @sheslikealostflower, and @cowboyshit for the feedback on the prompts!

LAST BIT OF RULES

Please remember to mention the THEME in your post, as well as to TAG YOUR POST with the following: #HANGMANPAGEBIRTHDAYWEEK within the first five tags, and to tag ME (main @adampage​), in a reply comment under your post, or in the body of your post, whatever is easier. I will be posting my edits to @bloodycowboyclub, and likely will post any text posts/writing from my main.

PLEASE REBLOG TO SPREAD THE WORD! Even if you only plan to enjoy the creations!! I want as many people as possible to participate and it’s only possible if this ends up on their dashes! Thank you (:

Don’t forget to have fun!!

[salarta]

Comic Book Fandom and "Got Mine Fuck You"

There's a recurring situation I see way too often with X-Men comic book fandom. As I write this, I know what I'm saying doesn't apply to everyone, or to every fandom, or to every platform. It applies to what I've seen. And what I've seen is abysmal.

Back when the 2020 run of X-Factor happened, I saw a LOT of apologism for the way Polaris/Lorna Dane was treated on that book. Paired with trying to spin her being on the book as good for her.

"Oh hey yeah, the X of Swords issue didn't acknowledge Lorna surviving the Genoshan genocide because... uhh... it was all implied! They didn't just didn't say it explicitly."

Then when the Genoshan genocide took center stage in another comic's story arc a couple years later, with Kitty Pryde as the focus, Lorna acting like she has no history with it and just complaining about a lack of coffee gets painted as "Oh but there's only so much panel space! And they already told Lorna's story with Genosha anyway, this time they're focused on Kitty's story with it!"

Let's also not forget that during the X-Men vote, we had so, so many X-Factor fans arguing for her to lose the vote, and not get to be a mainstay on the flagship book, because "X-Factor is her book and she's getting good use there anyway." As if it would've been impossible for her to be on two books at once. Some of those fans were at least more honest about it, where they admitted the real reason they wanted her to lose is cause they thought the book would die without Lorna to exploit for other characters like Rachel.

And now, we have the current X-Factor. Where fans of Havok, Pyro, the name X-Factor, nostalgia for the 90s, etc have all insisted that forcing Lorna back into "Havok's girlfriend who acts stupid so he can be a big strong man about it" is fine actually. Perfectly cool. The sexism is satire so it's fine, everything's fine, shitty treatment of her is fine. Anything to promote Havok, or Pyro, or X-Factor, or whatever else.

Only for those same people to start crying the instant Havok and Pyro look stupid too. Because you see, they can excuse the sexism and making a woman look stupid and completely destroying her character and development to make her fit a sexist mold for their cis straight Aryan male self-insert.

But they draw the line at their woobie self-inserts looking just as dumb. Stupid and character assassination is for the womenfolk you see, not for men.

What I'm getting at is, I keep running into a brick wall called "Got Mine Fuck You" that's pervasive with too many comic book fans. And while I'm emphasizing this behavior on Lorna, it's not just her. They've also done shit like attack and badmouth another writer for daring to suggest their great golden god Writer Of The Moment could have plagiarized their work. Harassing her, changing her Wikipedia page. Because they care more about salvaging the reputation of their favorite things than about what's right.

It annoys the fuck out of me. Because in spite of all the fanfare about comics being progressive (when it's financially convenient), this is one of the big gaping dark sides.

I try not to be that guy. I can't say I don't fail, but I try to be better than these chucklefucks.

When season 1 of Gifted killed Dreamer off, I had no problem calling out how asinine and insulting their handling of her death was. I COULD have been That Asshole that tries to act like it was a genius decision, all because Polaris was being treated amazingly in season 1 and Dreamer's death could've been leveraged for Pain Points for Lorna. I didn't do that.

Secret Wars House of M also gave Quicksilver and to a lesser extent Magneto a raw deal in characterization. Even as AU characters, it hit very wrong for Pietro to be depicted as a mustache twirling traitor type when there were ways to keep him closer to his core without taking that route. Now I will admit, I had a moment of weakness with this because I loved what it was doing with Lorna. But in the end, I still recognized it was a problem.

Even with the X of Swords issue of X-Factor. There were many problems with Lorna's treatment there, but there were problems all around. Rockslide fans were very upset with it, for good reason. And Rockslide had actual people around who knew him and had closer relationships with him. Why did they get shafted, with Lorna used instead?

Fandom should really strive for better. For all characters. Not just their pet favorites. Fandom should not be eager to throw other characters, other fandoms, everything that means so much to them and resonates with them, under the bus just so their own faves can get a little benefit out of it.

Fans should not be eager to make excuses for shitty treatment just cause that shitty treatment makes their fave look good. Fans should not want to see another character's potential undermined and thrown away just cause keeping that character down allows a book they like to prosper. Fans should not be trying to make sexism out to be nothing but satire just cause they think a female character "deserves terrible characterization."

These fans try to say their fandom is great. But then they act in ways that tell the world it's not.

It would be nice if they had some fucking principles for once.

[fangirlies]

Snow White (x.t)

Pairing: Xavier Thorpe x fem!reader

Summary: After Mrs. Thornhill assigned a class project, reader finds herself partnering with no one other than Xavier Thorpe

Warning: none I think? (If I should be aware of one, please let me know)

Word count: 1,814 words

You arrived to your final and favorite class of the day, botanical science with Mrs. Thornhill. Your happy place was surrounded by various greenery. Many kids at Nevermore didn't understand your 'gift,' and you couldn't really describe it any other way than nature spoke to you. It wasn't an all-day thing since you knew how to manage this gift. When you were outside, though, you were in your element. Rivers would sing to you, you would dance with the trees as they swayed to the sound of the breeze, and certain animals would approach you if you whistled for them. Nature was your best friend for as long as you could remember. It was a pretty unique and ethereal power that no one you knew possessed.

You found your usual seat in the front of Mrs. Thornhills class and began to take out your notebook, waiting for the arrival of the other students.

“Good afternoon class!” a huge smile plastered on the red headed teachers face. The cheerful greeting from the instructor went unanswered.

“I’m sorry, let’s try that one more time. Good afternoon class!” She repeated. A barely audible hum of ‘good afternoon Mrs. Thornhill’ came from her exhausted students. This was the last class of the day and all.

“Good enough, now let’s get straight to business” she walked around now standing in front of her desk becoming more visible to the class.

“We will be utilizing class time to work on a project, so today's lesson will be a bit shorter than usual."

 You overhear your classmates expressing a range of reactions.

‘Please don't say partner work, please don't say partner work’ you silently begged.

“You’re out of luck because its partner work” you hear the small cactus placed on Mrs. Thornhills desk say out loud.

"You will partner with a friend of your choice to write a research report on a plant or flower of your liking.”  the teacher continues, “This will be presented to the class, so please attempt to wow us with your knowledge." Mrs. Thornhill emphasizes the 'wow' by extending her hands wide and a smile that never seems to leave her face.

You didn't mind partner work in general, but you didn't have any friends in this class—except for the plants, of course—but you don't think Mrs. Thornhill meant teaming with those kinds of friends. You looked around as your classmates sprawled around the class sitting next to the people they’ve chosen. Everyone was taken except for Xavier Thorpe. You internally sighed, you'd never spoken to Xavier before. The two of you were from two very different worlds, he was into the arts; drawing, painting, occasionally dabbling in archery. And you? A naturalist, gardening and meditating in the woods was your definition of a “good time”. However, you knew you had to do whatever it takes to get a good grade on this project, so you gathered your materials and headed towards the artist.

“You have a partner yet?” As you waited for Xavier's response, you gave him a sweet smile. He looked up from his sketch book, which he hardly did, looked you from head to toe and gave you a silent ‘you can sit’ nod. Not a man of many words... this should be a fun project.

  “Alright class, I trust you have found someone you will be working closely with for the next few days. You’re free to go. If you have any questi-“ The class stood up disregarding what the teacher had left to say and spilled into the hallway, eager to finish classes for the day.

“So- um, I’m available all afternoon if you want to get this research paper started” you said, attempting to elicit a response from Xavier. He gathered his materials and stuffed them into his bookbag.

  “Of course you are” he sighed.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” the black dahlia flower spoke. “Is he insinuating that you have no life? How rude” chimed in the small key lime pie plant in the corner of the room.

You don’t know much about him other than he’s infamously known throughout the school as the ‘tortured artist’. And to be honest, you might know why he has such a rep.

"Are you coming?"  He was now waiting for you to follow him as he stood by the classroom entrance visibly annoyed. Zipping up your bookbag and grabbing your notebook leaving it to rest on your left arm, you hurriedly began to head towards him.

He moved through the school's hallways and made his way outside. You were doing your best to catch up to the tall, long-haired boy as you trailed not too far behind. He was much taller than you, therefore his steps were much larger. You didn't even realize how distant Nevermore had become because you were so preoccupied trying to keep up with Thorpe boy. ‘Where is he taking me? Is he planning to murder me and bury my body in the woods?’

The wind whispered in your ear, "Relax y/n, he has a shed right up ahead, you're fine." 

You were still unsure. Was he going to ignore you the entire time? He had to talk to you at some point, right?

Thorpe boy pulled a key from his back pocket and slipped it into the lock that kept the shed door shut. He observed your confused and anxious expression when he looked back at you. "Relax, it's only my private art studio. I cleared it out and fixed it up so Principal Weems said I can use it” Xavier reassured you. 

When he opened the shed door, you saw a collection of drawings plastered on the walls. Wow. His paintings were breathtaking. You knew he drew, but you had no idea how talented he actually was.

"Wow, these are amazing," you said, pointing to the sketches of the woods that surrounded the shed. You were so immersed in his creations that you failed to notice he was gathering materials to start working on Mrs. Thornhill's project.

“Thanks. Ya know—I don't think we've ever spoken before." In all honesty, you were taken aback that he was even sparking up any kind of conversation.

"Yeah, I suppose we haven’t," you say, chuckling to yourself as you unpack your notebook and pencil.

“So what’s your story? Are you a werewolf or somethin?” he asked as he sunk back into his chair, staring at you from head to toe...again. His gaze scanning your body sent shivers down your spine, and you could tell by the burning feeling in your cheeks that they were becoming a pale pink.

“Although becoming a gigantic dog sounds rather tempting,” You sarcastically say, “I can simply hear nature. Plants, animals, you name it”

His brows wrinkled, “Soo you’re telling me you’re Nevermore’s version of Snow White?” Laughing out loud by the end of his sentence.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, but yeah I guess” You never thought of it that way.

“That’s cool, It’s hard to be impressed in a school full of impressive abilities” 

“Ooo someone’s impressed” you hear coming from the small lizard whose sneaked its way through the small cracks of the art shed. Was he serious? You thought to yourself. You brushed it off and continued to take advantage that he was in a chatty mood. 

“How about you?" You inquired politely, already knowing of his abilities. He would occasionally flaunt it in class. Xavier extended his hand towards his woodland painting on a canvas. The artwork began to come to life. Trees swaying, clouds passing by, leaves shuffling due to the wind. It was the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen.

Xavier could tell you enjoyed it. He could tell how absorbed you were by it. He began to move the little sketch that was resting next to the painting that consisted of a meadow of flowers with a man-made swing linked to a giant willow tree. After just discovering your enthusiasm for nature, he thought it was fitting. As long as Xavier held his hand in place, the figure was swinging. He's looking at you now, smiling because he knows you can't take your attention off of it.

"You've been in my shed for less than twenty minutes and I've already left you speechless?" he said, breaking you out of your trance. 

"Xavier, I'm amazed, truly," you managed to get out while shaking your head in astonishment. He now had a grin on his face. You've never witnessed him like this before. Is Xavier Thorpe blushing? It was a strange sight, yet an adorable one.

"So- uh," Xavier cleared his throat, evidently shying away from the moment. "What plant were you thinking to write about?" Completely engulfed in this sweet moment you two shared you had forgotten the real reason you were here.

“I was thinking we could do the Calathea plant? We have a lot we can write about it and I also like that it symbolizes--” Xavier finishes your statement after interrupting your nerdy plant talk with "new beginnings."

A smile emerges at the corner of your mouth. Something about this moment seemed quite intimate. Looking into his jade-colored eyes, you could tell something had changed about him. He was no longer as guarded and reserved as he had been in Mrs. Thornhill's classroom. It was as though he felt at ease being with you in his art shed, surrounded by his artwork. You couldn’t help but think, was this foreshadowing a new beginning with Xavier?

“I like the way you think Snow White” nodding his head and beginning to write the name of the plant in his notebook. 

---------------------

After a few days of working on the project with your new friend Xavier, the two of you seemed inseparable. He'd walk you to class, eat lunch with you, and in return you'd spend some evenings with him in his art shed as he drew whatever occupied his mind. You never expected such polar opposite individuals to get along so well. It seemed as though the cliché "opposites attract" was true. Who knew?

You two sat next to one another in Mrs. Thornhill's class. You were thrilled to finally present to the class about the plant you had opted on writing about. Xavier looked at you from the corner of his eye. You were overjoyed. You looked like a child who had just won a new stuffed animal at a carnival and was taking it to school for show-and-tell. He couldn't help but smile. You were beautiful to him. How a simple discussion about a flower made you so happy.  Gosh you were so beautiful he thought.

"Perhaps partner work wasn't so horrible after all," the little cactus on Mrs. Thornhill's desk says aloud.

Smiling to yourself before meeting Xavier's gaze.

'Yeah, I guess partner work wasn't that horrible after all.'

——————————————

A.N: Readers giving Virgo sun & Capricorn rising vibes to me, hbu?

[who-is-page]

just wanted to say that I really loved the centaurus festival. it was the push I think I needed to actually start like making stuff about my alterhumanity. bc before it I had a Massive imposter syndrome, I thought that my experiences didn't matter at all, like I'm just a grain of salt compared to like beings like you who are older and more experienced and are more like 'relevant' to the community. but seeing you guys making jokes, interacting with us like we are (gasp) equals, and being giant nerds (aff) was. so important to me. like. you are just some guys.

anyways I'm not really good with words and especially not in English (as you can probably tell), so I was thinking that I could contribute with art. after all, pictures speak more than words sometimes! I wanna draw. I wanna make comics. I wanna make Stuff, ya know? so thank you, for making me feel like I can. that's all.

This was such a wonderful ask to receive that I had to sit on it for a day before posting. 💚🤍💜 Aaaaaa!!! It's really amazing to hear that you're feeling comfortable making stuff about your alterhumanity and feel encouraged to do so. Making stuff is cool as hell!!! I look forward to whatever stuff you make!!!!! (Please send it to me when you're done I would totally love to see it and archive it!!! ‼️👀‼️#FeedYourArchivists con movement)

And yeah, we truly are Just Some Nerds, the same as everyone else. Our experiences and writings/art/etc aren't inherently any more valuable than someone else's, no matter how much we might make or how old we might be. I'm really glad that that was a major take away for you and for some of the other folks I've talked to, because all community creations are important and I really can't emphasize that enough. No one can write or draw or sing about your experiences the same way you can! You're a wholly unique person and all your autobiographical work will ALSO be wholly unique and isn't that cool as fuck?

Aaaaaaaaa thank you so much for this ask, anon!!!!!! I'm still reeling in recovery mode from running the con, but this was really really awesome to see. It's been amazing to see some of the works people have been making from being inspired by the con. It's so wild to feel like I've helped folks and made a difference. And it's been SO COOL to read what people have been sending me. I can't thank you and everyone else enough for joining us and making this weekend absolutely magical. 💚🤍💜

[spacesully]

Something has been on my mind recently.

If the souls in the Hazbin universe are people who’ve died, how is it even possible for these souls to experience death again? A soul can be defined as an immortal spiritual manifestation of oneself. The whole idea of the extermination makes little sense. Given that souls are immortal, it raises the question of why angels would bother to kill souls in Hell. If Pentious managed to find redemption, what fate befell the other sinners who had also been killed? Does that imply that the other souls are transported to another location? Certainly not Earth, because their physical forms are no longer living. Do they go to Heaven? If that were true, then Charlie's work would have no purpose. Since they weren't redeemed, did they simply disappear into thin air? There is a chance that it could be possible. As far as I can tell, the show doesn't explicitly align itself with any religious beliefs; instead, it draws inspiration from different religious concepts. However, it defeats the entire purpose of souls. The show emphasizes the significance of souls, but introducing extermination completely undermines its core purpose.

I noticed this while rewatching the show to analyze it for a fan fic I've been writing. It's honestly super intriguing to witness because we don't get an explanation. The storyline of Hazbin Hotel is exceptional, complemented by its distinct characters. However, a more detailed explanation of this concept would provide a better understanding. Give us the answer to why and where do these souls go when they've died? It's the same with the Helluva Boss series. It's implied that souls in Hell could meet their demise, but how is it possible if a soul is believed to be immortal? Is it not immortal in this universe? If so, then why do humans die in this universe?

That's the beauty of fiction! It's all made up and you can do whatever you please! No hate to the show at all! I'm a big fan of it! I love to analyze and ask questions. It helps me grow as a writer. It's just a few observations I've made.

Edit: I did forget to include that only angelic weapons could kill souls. Which I'm assuming that souls can be killed in this universe. However, it still defeats the entire purpose of a soul. Here's a definition of a soul: "the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal." In most religions, they believe that a soul is immortal. In the Hazbin universe this is not the case, meaning, they have their own definition of a soul. I want to know what that is. This is what I find interesting. I'm not saying I dislike it. What I am saying is that in my opinion it doesn't make sense that souls can be killed and wish there was a better explanation to this rather than just "oh they can be killed by these angelic weapons." I want to know what is the point of death when souls in Hell or Heaven can suddenly drop dead to angelic weapons? If Heaven and Hell are eternal realms meant to accommodate souls for eternity, why do these souls need to experience death? Why do mortals have to experience death initially if this were the case? Of course, Hazbin Hotel doesn't have to follow any religion, but some more context to souls would be helpful—an explanation.

Again, this is a work of fiction, so no hate at all! That's the beauty of creativity! I love Hazbin Hotel! This is just my opinion and my observations/thoughts! :) Don't mind my rambles :,)) I do overanalyze things, so, I see there can be flaws in these. Feel free to point them out !!

[theonceandfuturequeenoftarts]

I'm going to attempt to do another month of prompts in October this year (which I'm calling Promptober).

If there's a prompt you'd like me to attempt, feel free to drop it in my asks! I can't guarantee I'll fill it, but I'll do my best (or keep it for later).

This year, a few other people joining me in Promptober ৻( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻) If you're interested in participating, here are the extremely loose guidelines:

Like the idea of participating in a month-long prompt challenge, but want flexibility on themes and dates? Promptober might be for you! The goal of Promptober is to write or draw something for as many days in October as you like -- whether that's all thirty-one, every other day, once a week, or one day in the whole month. Instead of sticking to one type of prompt (kink, whump, fluff, trope, etc.) or having prompts associated with particular dates, Promptober focuses on choosing whichever prompt gets your creative juices flowing on any particular day. As long as you're creating and having fun (or at least not suffering excessively...), you're golden. Write as much or as little as you like for a prompt; draw with whatever amount of detail or complexity as you like. I can't emphasize this enough -- this is all about freedom and creation, with a little bit of structure to help get you going. You can buddy up with other participants if you want to set a particular prompt for a specific date or you can lone-wolf it. Whatever works best for you!

If you'd like to join the Discord support group, send me a DM!

ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧

[ozzgin]

I DID NOT EXPECT YOU TO DRAW ONI Y/N

It's really pretty and (I want her to step on me, spit on me and put me in a headlock ) I love your art style!! It's so pretty and how you drew Oni Y/N is exactly how I saw her in my mind (minus the clothing but that makes her even hotter) It's like you saw right through my mind when drawing her, and I love how you made her muscular, making the part of my story "The scientists couldn't tell if the oni is a man or a woman" actually make sense, I also love how you didn't give her a human skin tone and instead went with red, this actually makes her into a literal oni and not those who look human but with horns!

In this house we love biblically accurate female onis and not super feminized ones!! (I NEED HER.)

-🎧anon

(I'm starting to love you even more, if you don't mind, are you afab or amab? And what are your pronouns and sexuality? I hope I'm not crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed. But I'm just curious, it's fine if you don't wanna answer, no pressure!🩷)

I’m very happy to hear you liked her design! When it comes to fantasy creatures you can count on me to emphasize the non-human features, haha.

To answer your question, there is no secrecy about it, so absolutely no worries. I am female and have no preference towards pronouns. I’m okay with whatever people refer to me as. I would say I’m mainly on the asexual spectrum. Maybe it’s reflected in the way I write, since most reader inserts rely heavily on an intellectualized kind of attraction.

I do want to make it clear, however, that my indifference towards pronouns or sexuality doesn’t extend to other people. This is a safe space for everyone! :)