#I've always wanted to do a fanart of Lizzie

[crescentfool]

so you want to use OBS

hello! i’ve decided to compile information on my OBS setup and some resources that have helped me along the way.  this is mostly for personal reference, but maybe others can make use of this information!

some notes before i get into it:

i use OBS for both offline recording and (twitch) streaming. any footage i record is edited using DaVinci Resolve 18, which is free.

most of my OBS captures are of video games (through a USB capture card, specifically elgato), and the occasional screen/application capture (like clip studio paint, and sometimes PC games).

as such, the information here is reflective of these experiences. this post is not comprehensive to all of OBS’s features- this is just an overview of the settings and configurations that are most relevant to me.

with that out of the way, all the information will be under the cut!

Basic Setup

file format:

how to change: settings -> output -> recording -> recording format -> press “apply” once finished!

I save most of my recordings as .mkv files- it supports multi-track audio! i prefer .mkv over .mp4 because if your power goes out, you still have a recording to work with. 

.mkv files can be read by DaVinci Resolve without an issue- but for Adobe software, they'll need to be remuxed to .mp4 within OBS! (file -> remux recordings -> press the … to select a file -> press the “remux” button)

video resolution and framerate:

how to change: settings -> video -> output (scaled) resolution

my obs canvas is @ 1920 x 1080p (16:9)

i switch between 720p and 1080p as needed! if you're concerned about space, you can probably just go for 720p. i also record at 30 fps, simply because that’s what my capture card supports.

video bitrate:

how to change: settings -> output -> encoder settings (located in both the streaming and recording tab) -> press “apply” once finished!

bitrate is a bit of a doozy to explain, but the most important thing to know is that bitrate affects your video’s quality. lower numbers = lower quality, while higher numbers = higher quality. 

generally speaking, you'll want higher bitrate when you're recording things with high depth of information (e.g. you’d want a higher bitrate for something fast-paced like splatoon, compared to a slower-paced game like animal crossing).

my video bitrate is either set to 3000 or 4000 kbps! and here's some of my other (related) settings while i'm at it:

you can put your bitrate at much higher values than me if you're a stickler for quality- but keep in mind that a higher bitrate means:

bigger file size

more information to upload (when streaming)

your computer will need to encode more

i’d recommend reading twitch’s guidelines on encoding, bitrate, resolution, and framerate to get an idea of what values to pick. for people who are doing offline recording or streaming on a different platform, i suggest googling the appropriate resources!

multi-track audio:

this is mostly applicable to anyone looking to do video editing!

multi-track audio basically allows you to separate your audio sources (e.g. discord, game audio, and your own microphone) into different tracks. 

this is an immensely helpful tool because it lets you adjust audio levels in post-production (editing). some examples of how this can be used:

increasing someones microphone volume if they speak too softly

increasing/decreasing game audio

muting swear words/sensitive information

completely muting voice call + microphone if you want to upload a no commentary video

and more!

to set this up, take a look at your audio mixer panel, and press the ⚙ icon. this will bring up advanced audio properties.

by checkmarking a track box, it puts the audio on that track. to make the above screenshot easier to digest:

track 1 consists of ALL three audio sources- desktop, elgato, and microphone.

track 2 only has the microphone audio.

track 3 only has desktop audio (i use this for voice calls)

track 4 only has the elgato capture card audio (game audio). the volume has also been lowered so that any speaking voices can be heard clearly.

tracks 5 and 6 are unused.

you might be wondering, “why do all three of these have 1 checked off?” this is what i call the universal audio track. i recommend having a universal audio track for a few reasons:

when you stream from OBS onto twitch/youtube- you have to select ONE audio track.

it’s also a nice backup in case you didn’t separate your audio correctly.

if for whatever reason you need to move around your individual audio tracks in editing, the universal track acts as a nice reference point.

mark off your audio tracks for each audio source as you see fit! once you’re finished with the advanced audio properties, go to settings > output.

for the streaming tab, you’ll want to have the number of your universal audio track selected. in my case, that will be audio track 1.

for the recording tab, checkmark all the audio tracks that are applicable to you (in my case, audio tracks 1, 2, 3, and 4). by default, only audio track 1 is selected.

if you don’t check off the additional audio tracks in the output > recordings section, you will not have access to those audio tracks in editing, and you won’t be able to edit your audio tracks independently of each other. so don’t forget to do this! 👍

custom browser docks

custom browser docks are a great tool for when you’re streaming and want to have access to your twitch chat and/or activity feed! (or if you wanted to have some other web browser on OBS).

to create one, go to docks -> custom browser docks.

you’ll be given a table interface that asks you to put the dock name and URL. for streamers who want to have chat and alerts available, do the following:

on twitch’s homepage, go to the upper right and click your icon

then, click creator dashboard

once you’re on your dashboard, go to stream manager

click the vertical “...” on my chat OR activity feed.

press “pop-out chat” OR “pop-out activity feed”

copy and paste the link into the table back into OBS

press apply once you’re done

click and drag the docks around at your leisure to put them where you like!

if you ever decide you don’t want to have something on your OBS dock (or want to bring something back), go to the toolbar, click “docks,” and click the appropriate dock!

third party things

a section of optional things that you may enjoy having.

streamlabs alerts

this is basically for anyone who streams and wants to have their chat and/or follower notifications visualized on screen!

streamlab alerts can be added to OBS by adding a browser source into your scene, and the specifics can be customized on streamlabs itself. it’s pretty self-explanatory, so i’ll just leave a link to streamlabs website, where you can log in using the streaming platform of your choice: https://streamlabs.com/

discord overlay

this is a browser source that can be set up to show people who are in a server's voice chat and who speaks. i recommend this to people who make multiplayer content- it can help viewers distinguish who is who but also it can be helpful in editing.

to set this up, go to https://streamkit.discord.com/overlay, click “install for OBS,” and after logging in with discord, go to “voice widget” and click the server and voice channel you want.

you are able to apply CSS if you'd like more control over the visuals, but the standard layout tends to work fine for me! a search of “discord overlay css” on youtube can help you get more information.

veadotube mini

this is a pngtuber software that a friend recommended to me! no webcam is required- mouth opening and closing is based on your microphone input!

you can download it here (it’s pay what you want!): https://olmewe.itch.io/veadotube-mini

for a proper tutorial on how to use it, i recommend checking out the app's documentation, which you can read here: https://veado.tube/help/

source record

have you ever wanted to stream something with a chat overlay/layout, but wanted your recording to ONLY be the gameplay? or maybe you wanted to record BOTH your gameplay AND your webcam so that you can have a crisp zoom-in on your webcam!

source record is a third party plugin that can help you with that!

the general gist of source record involves applying the “source record” filter on either a scene or source, and customizing the encoding settings accordingly. the exact details of how to set it up is beyond the scope of this post, so I'll just direct people to this video instead (it was very helpful to me):

⚠ a quick note about source record: this plugin can be intense for your computer. be sure to do test recordings and the like to see what your computer can handle (and see if the recordings come out the way you like). it took me a few tests before i settled onto something i liked!

you can download and install source record here: https://obsproject.com/forum/resources/source-record.1285/

vdo.ninja

have you ever wanted to do a collaborative video or stream where you feature someone else’s video on your stream? or maybe you’re doing a multi-person streaming event! vdo.ninja is the perfect tool for you!

vdo.ninja turns your OBS virtual camera into a browser source link- which your collaborator can add on their stream! this is a new tool that i’ve added to my arsenal recently- since my friend and i are planning to stream a side order challenge together! i’ve still got to iron it out a bit more, but i like what i’ve used of it so far.

try it out for yourself at their website here (with documentation and demos available on the homepage!): https://vdo.ninja/ (no downloads required!)

ok! i’m set up! what now?

and with that, that’s all of the settings and tools that i thought would be worth mentioning! while most of my setup was written with video games in mind, some of these plugins and setups may be applicable to other types of videos (e.g. tabletop gaming with a physical camera)!

now that i’ve outlined all these settings, i have one more thing i have to say: regardless of what you're using OBS for, do a test recording before doing anything “official” with it. this recording can be as short as 30 seconds. it’s a good habit to develop that can make sure your streams/recordings turn out the way you want them to!

here are the kinds of things i like to check! it’s not an exhaustive list, but this can be a starting point:

video:

does my video look the way i want it to (and can my computer handle that)?

can my computer handle the load of encoding? - OBS will note in the bottom if the encoding is overloaded. if it can’t handle it, turn down your bitrate or adjust other encoding settings (e.g. i had to toggle psycho visual tuning OFF because it was causing lag)

this is especially the case if you're recording PC games- you don’t want to have slowdown on either your game or the recording!

audio:

are my audio sources (e.g. desktop audio and microphone) correct? - if you plug/unplug devices a lot, be sure to check this (settings -> audio).

are any of my audio sources muted? - make sure you don’t have anything on 🔇 if you don’t want it to be muted! otherwise the audio will be lost forever… (i lost my friend’s VC audio once… it was sad)

are my audio tracks separated properly? - requires you to boot up your editing software, but it's worth doing! for the test recording, just have something from all your sources playing at once, and see if your editor has things separated into tracks.

can i hear the voices clearly? or does the music and/or game overpower them?

if for whatever reason your OBS crashes, or you want more information on anything “critical” or “warning” worthy in your set-up, you can go to help > log files > upload current log file > analyze. crash logs currently can’t be analyzed by the log analyzer- but they’re a valuable tool when asking for help on the OBS forums!

and that’s all! for real, this time. i hope that some of these tools and settings can help anyone wanting to get more out of OBS. there’s definitely other things i didn’t touch upon (e.g. audio filters for noise compression, suppression, etc.), so i suggest doing your own research and trying things out!

happy recording/streaming, and thanks for reading! ✨

[lighthouseas]

HELLOO BEE<33333 ily can i pls request 12 29 and 33 for the fanfic writer asks 🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶

hiiii liza my love <333 of course you can!!!

12. what fandom do you want to write for more often?

well. as of right now i only write for st because it is what i am most familiar with...going forward though i really want to write some 911 fic, like, desperately. for buddie specifically because i miss them :(

29. what fic would you most like to have fanart done for?

oh mannnn...all of them i mean, like, the strawberries are dying is the obvious choice here, since it's multichaptered and there's soooo many scenes in it that i feel like are very Drawable, but of course i've already gotten fanart from that (i still look at your fanart for it on the regular, btw. it makes me tear up every single time) though people are Always free to draw more. when i get fanart for that fic picture me printing it out and hanging it up all over my room and praying to it every day. it is That serious.

besides tsad, though, i do think that stealing past the windows of the blissfully dead would be great for like, horror art. esp the scene of mike's reflection in the knife, all covered in blood....kjdffkjhgjk i feel like that would go crazy. also, shake it out would be cute too i think because it's a kid fic and seeing fanart of older mike and older will being dads to lizzy (also just seeing a Visual of lizzy because it's mentioned several times in that fic that she looks weirdly similar to will despite being mike & kate's daughter) would be 🥺 hjghfkhfk....so cute. lol sorry that was a lot i just love talking abt Visualization.

33. which of your fic titles is your favorite?

THE STRAWBERRIES ARE DYING. HANDSSSS DOWN. i was so proud of myself for coming up w that title because of how many different meanings it has concerning the fic and how you kind of find out the true significance of the strawberries as you read. also. Strawbebie Motif 🥺🍓

thank you for the ask liza this was so fun to answer <3333

send me fic asks!

[the-blorb-system]

Welcome! Please take a look:

Intro:

Hi! I am the host of the system, and you can call me Lizzy. I (and the body of our system) am in my mid 20s. I'm front stuck, so I'm pretty much always present for social interactions, but my headmates often share front with me.

I've been debating for a while, and finally I decided I'd like to make a blog for my system. I discovered the system a little over a year and a half ago, and I've been learning things left and right since. There are a lot of misconceptions about multiplicity, about the identity disorders they are defined by, and the experiences of systems.

I won't claim to be an expert, not by any legitimate means, but I have done a fair amount of research, and I consider myself very open-minded. In creating this blog, I'm wanting to create a safe space. You can ask your "stupid" questions without judgement, you can ask about stereotypes, you can talk to fictives that come from characters you like if you're curious, you can discuss your system experiences, you can ask for information as a singlet- it's also a safe place to exist regardless of your identity. This is a safe place for poc (though please be aware I am not one), for anyone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, for other systems and alters, for singlets, for anyone going through mental illness or hard things in life, etc... And many of my headmates aren't fully human, so I don't even have grounds to judge that, either. Therians and otherkin, respectfully, I find a bit strange, but that's likely because I'm not one, so I promise there will be no real judgement or discrimination. I may not be one, but so what? I celebrated with a friend a few weeks ago about how they got a new wolf tail that helps them feel more themselves, and it was so cool and I'm so happy for them!

This blog is still under construction, currently. I'll be making an alter list (at least for those I know of and that are comfortable with being listed), and will let the blog be a safe space for my headmates above all else. You might see reblogged fanart from our sources, or mood boards for my headmates' interests, or text posts about how weird it is to have more than three fingers when in front... But as it stands now, the blog is pretty empty.

Some rules for sending asks:

• Example rule. This is the important part to read. The rest of this is just explanation- why the rule is important and the parameters for it, maybe an example to try to make it make sense. You don't have to read this part as long as you follow the rule, but it might help.

• Please, please, please be open-minded and respectful! I understand how utterly bizarre multiplicity and identity disorders are, but for many people this is reality, and I'm really hoping to help normalize that and be informative about it. Be respectful not just for my sake, but for others' too.

• Please nothing explicitly NSFW. Swearing is just fine, but do not be unnecessarily excessive. I don't even mind lightly touching on darker and more intimate subjects, but given my goals with this blog I do not want to make anyone especially uncomfortable, so be aware of that.

• Do not automatically treat fictives like they are their sources. I mean this very light-heartedly, by the way- many fictives see themselves as their characters, not just in my system but in others. But many also do not, and do not want to be seen that way. More often than not, fictives are not the same as the characters they resemble. They are... people, very real, and very independent, and they split for specific reasons that can define their nature a little differently. Many of my fictive headmates identify with their sources pretty heavily, and have many memories from their sources, but they aren't exactly the same.

• Similarly, please do not treat fictives' sources like jokes or just made-up stories when you're talking to them. For an example so I can explain what I mean, we have quite a few Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fictives. No, they're not exact duplicates of their characters, but the events of the rise movie were real for them. If you are kind about it, you're welcome to still ask about it and discuss the movie and show- often they even enjoy that. But be aware that for them that was and still is very real trauma. They carry the memories of injury and fear and life-and-death battles, so it's important to me that they aren't needlessly poked at for things that hurt them.

• Alter List Here!

• Tagging System Guide Here!

Thanks for stopping by! 💚

[moonstruckme]

Ooh since you wanted to talk!

Can i ask you some random stuff??

who is that in your pfp? I never can figure it out :(

Where did your user moonstruckme come from?

Favorite marauder?

Least fav marauder? (Other than peter, although i love him tbh, he had his reasons (However wrong)😀)

Fav character from any fandom other than marauders?

Any fanartist recs? Or do you want any recs?

Fav ship? (Any fandom?)

How long have you been writing for?

Do you have any series and/or story ideas for the near future other than requests?

Name your top five music artists?

Ofc you don't have to answer these (all or any) but i just wanna get to know you :]

Haha ofc!

It's renee rapp! My bio is some lyrics from her song "tummy hurts"

I've been obsessed with the word "moonstruck" for years (I keep a list of words I really like and that one is a long-time favorite) and that was my original idea but it was taken, so I just tacked on the "me" because I'm the one who's moonstruck haha :)

impossible question!! i could never!!!! sirius

also very very impossible question !! truly i love them all, i'm getting a bit stressed about choosing like they (fictional though they may be) will hold it against me forever. I'm gonna go with also sirius, because he's my bbg but also i feel like we'd get along the least irl

i'm rewatching stranger things atm so that's the first to come to mind, i think my favs are max, dustin, steve (ofc), robin, and nancy ! i feel like lucas could be a fav too but i'd love for him to get more time in the spotlight so we could get to know him even better

i really enjoy likeafuneral and industrations, but honestly my fanart is mostly limited to what comes across my pinterest so I'm definitely open to recs!!

my og percabeth will always have my heart <3

i've been writing original fiction since i was about 11 but fanfiction just since august :)

tonsssss at all times lol but i have no idea how many will actually turn into something. lately i've been messing with the idea of a fic loosely inspired by 10 things i hate about you with eddie or sirius and also imagining some silly dialogue between poly!marauders and a southern(us)!reader

According to apple music my top 5 last year were hozier, lana del ray, lizzy mcalpine, sza, and doja cat, but I have no clue how noah kahan didn't end up in there haha I listen to him incessantly

You're so sweet, thank you! This was fun :)

[liauditore]

For the traffic life asks, won't ask the ones I already know the answer to XD

🎨 favourite piece of fanart? link it!

🌿 any favourite interpretations?

⚡️ most cinematic death? (so I can scribble about it)

🔮 predict the winner of secret life (just for the record, I know who you want to win, its who you think will win idk yet)

traffic ask game !

🎨 favourite piece of fanart? link it!

oh god um um this fandom is. insane actually so that's a high ask. my first instinct was this comic page that. drives me a bit insane with its composition actually.

there was also this ethubs comic going from 'he loves me' to bdubs' permadeath and etho's reaction to it that was a couple of parts long? But I can't find it anymore and it's driving me insane.

⚡️ most cinematic death?

God I uh. Objectively see I know I should say either Scar's final third life death or Ren's beheading or Tilly Death Do Us Part but. I feel like I don't have much to add to any of those that other ppl haven't said already more eloquently than I could?

So as a wild card, totally not just cus they were the first POVs I watched and stuck harder, Lizzie and Bdub's Last Life permadeaths.

I'm. very sleep deprived so I'll try to make this make sense but. something about the way they were both attached to one person (bdubs to etho and lizzie to joel) as their sole 'partner' at the end of the game. the way bdubs trusts that etho won't leave him for dead ("he loves me") and follows through with his promise while lizzie was planning to kill joel as part of her revenge plan but never did. the fact that joel avenged lizzie immediately whereas etho never got the life to bdubs.

something something life series themes about love and trust yada yada juxtaposition

very close runners ups would be skizz's limlife sacrifice (GOD) and martyn backstabbing scott. I don't know why but the latter has always given me utena vibes. if you know you know.

🔮 predict the winner of secret life

Look at this point I'm gunning for Etho so hard I think I've actually deluded myself into thinking he's got a chance and my brain refuses to consider the more rational options. (Impulse is the rational option it could very much be Impulse)

[danpuff-ao3]

2023 Goals

I am a goal-oriented lady so here we are, once again looking at a new year and planning ahead. I'm very excited about things to come, so read more if you wanna have a looksy with me!

Reading

Read with great outbursts and lightings by my friend Lila! I've been meaning to for ages but between the length and knowing it's going to be emotional I've been putting it off. But soon...soon!

Reread Snitches and Songs because when I recced it the other day I felt the urge!

Reread The White Road - yearly reread, I gotta!!!!

Reread When the Rose and the Fire Are One - cuz it's been a while!

Reread Pains and Contradictions - again, it's been a while!

Reread The Apple Tree - maybe 2023 is just the year of rereads haha.

Read all the fics on Squash's 12 HP Femslash Recs for 2022. I do need more femslash in my life, and I don't think I've read any of these!

Read Littered with Lonely Hearts cuz newwwww Lizzy fic!!!!

Read a Tomarrymort fic???? Since apparently I'm having thoughts right now. (Feel free to send recs, pls & thx.)

Oh catch up on reading for Hoggywartyxmas. I'm a very bad participant and very behind!!

Read a "real" book...it's been a while. 🫣 Maybe finish Brandon Sanderson's Skyward series (Sanderson is my partner's favorite author) or Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game, because so many people have been recommending it to me for years (and my partner bought it for me recently so I really should actually read it...)

Writing

finish Devotion

chapter 3 of smile with sweet surprise

work on Dralbus fic

work on Sugar Daddy fic

work on Good Daddy

work on Scarry fic

write at least one of the following ships: Gwenevera, Ginmione, Drarius, or Dremus

write for Kinkuary and Kinktober (even if only 1 each!)

write for Snarry Bang

work on Project: Three of Hearts

Miscellaneous Fandom

more HP Astro posts! Hopefully I can get to Neville, Hermione, Luna, and Ron as horoscopes and Draco/Charlie, Remus/Snape, and Sirius/Snape for synastry. But just adding more to the series in general will be good!

Post meta to AO3. At least the HP astro series! (all under my danniperson pseud.)

More rec lists! I have one for Snarrytales and Background Snarry queued up already. I'd like to do a Valentine's Day rec lists and lists for other ships, such as Dron or Dremus or such.

Guest on more podcasts, if anyone wants to partner up again!

Attempt podficcing.

Attempt fanart.

Personal

Stay in therapy - even if things don't work out with therapist, find a new one. Don't wait. Don't be disheartened. Keep going!

Take up meditation again - meditation is hard for me but I always felt better when I was doing it.

Take up yoga again - or other light physical activity.

Travel! I love to travel, even if it's within the state. I'd ideally like to get back to New Orleans, but my partner and I also plan on going to Universal again (Florida or California? Undecided) and maybe Utah in the fall. But just getting out of town at all would be nice!

Keep up with my planner. I fell out of the habit during covid and I felt a lot better when I was keeping up with it.

Finish decluttering/reorganizing apartment. We're in the middle of it and I love it so far!!!!

Self-care - honestly the hardest. But I need to learn to set boundaries, rest/relax, have fun, and prioritize myself.

[somegurl8]

Yippee my turn to share things :]

Favorite color: Teal or turquoise, they're interchangeable for me both because I like both of them equally but also because I suck at spelling so sometimes when I have to write my favorite color I'll just write teal instead of turquoise lol

How long have you been on Tumblr: About a year now? Not entirely certain but I know I joined some time in the summer of 2023 as I remember I was able to post my stuff from the Your Apotheosis zine not long after I joined Tumblr and that zine dropped in July 2023.

Where's a place you always wanted to travel to: Probably England?

Favorite clothing brand: No clue

What's your favorite singer/band: A few off the top of my head are CG5, Weezer, Ace of Hearts, DHuesta, and Will Wood.

What's my current phone lock screen: Can't get a screenshot of my lock screen right now but I've had it has this Apotheosis fanart for the last 2 ish years now (link below)

Most recent/current hyperfixation: JRWI is still going strong for me though I STILL need to listen to Judgement/more of Wonderlust (school's been so hectic for me), but Sonic the Hedgehog has slowly started to take over more and more of my life so if anyone wants to talk to me about it my ask box is open. Besides that I would say my other hyperfixation right now would be TTRPGs and my characters for the games I'm in/will be in, I still need to get back working on my own game

What's your relationship status: Single but too socially anxious to mingle

What's your dream job: Frankly anything where I can work as some form of artist in either the animation or gaming industry, but I'd love to be like a lead artist of sorts for either a game/animated work or even create my own animated movie/show or game

Outside of Tumblr what's your favorite social app: If Discord counts then that, if not then I guess Twitter?

Do you have a pet: I got a cat named Lizzy, she has dark grey fur with white paws

Do you prefer coffee or tea: Neither, I'm a hot chocolate gal (I dislike the taste of both coffee and tea)

What's your favorite ice cream flavor: Either cookies and cream or sea salt caramel truffle

Tags! @fishcop @red-heart-sunglasses @kindlysludger @klemmieinnit @bumblevoid @starlightandroses @octolingo-writes and anyone else who wants to join in can join in :3

i was tagged by @jumpsuit-jumpsuitcoverme to answer these random questions (thank you sm violet!). sorry for making a brand new post for this. anyway:

questions:

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur fav color

: ̗̀➛ how long have u been on tumblr for

: ̗̀➛ wheres a place u always wanted to travel to

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur fav clothing brand(s)

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur fav singer/band(s)

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur current phone lockscreen

: ̗̀➛ most recent/current hyperfixation

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur relationship status

: ̗̀➛ what’s ur dream job

: ̗̀➛ outside of tumblr, fav social app

: ̗̀➛ do u have pets

: ̗̀➛ if u do have pets, what kind/how many

: ̗̀➛ do u prefer tea or coffee

: ̗̀➛ whats ur fav ice cream flavor

: ̗̀➛ tag at least three other tumblr accounts

answers:

pink and black

five years i think

the usa (especially new york), iceland, india, australia

don't have one, as long as it's oversized or black it's good lmao (my sister always says i look like a gangster)

twenty one pilots (everybody shocked), but i also listen to a lot of musicals (especially lmm and dave malloy) and some pop girlies (right now mostly gracie abrams), my music taste is amazing as you can see

current lockscreen: happy boys (i change it so often tho i just have too many pics that i love)

twenty one pilots and right now also warriors i'm afraid (new lmm's album)

have you seen my blog single

broadway actress but i have no talent lmao

probably insta but i am mostly just lurking and discord if that counts

nope :( my apartment is too small to have a pet

again, i do not, but i want a cat (i would name him clancy)

coffee, but i drink a lot of tea now that it's autumn here

chocolate or mint with chocolate

npt: @wagingmywarsbehindmyface @thepaladinstrait @xproskeith @redwidow616 @mymuses-acquiredlikebruises @noproof-youjustknow @anixknowsnothin @soupiiiie @missmultipleaffairs @reverseblackholeofwords @phantaloon @thefootnotes @the-paladin-gay (that's more than three i'm sorry)

[cessiliabennet]

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense. —Jane Austen PRIDE AND PREJUDICE fanart

[eli-elien]

i just gotta vent tho cuz maaaan my older sib is just so frustrating

Like I don't hate them for trying to protect me but they take it far where they won't let me draw like whatever I want esp when it's like gore (that I'll never post and is only for me to cope like with sh urges and stuff or just general gore from horror media that I like)

And now esp with mcyts and the drama that they all got

Iike honestly I've stopped watching dream after really getting into/back to ccs that I enjoy that are arguably not that problematic (ex. being: ran.boo, lizzie, joel, tech and rest of sbi)

And why do I say "back" bc honestly this my first time interacting with the mcyt fandom and I've been a fan since I was like 10 like I watched dan.tdm and think.noodles like bro I've been here for awhile do you really think I'm goin to drop an interest just like that?

I've been into ben 10 since I was the same age and my love has only gotten stronger lmao

Just man I hate feeling controlled on some level and also it's funny cuz another reason they said not to interact with the fandom/make fanart is cuz people "will think bad of me" or "think I'm weird"

Bro??? One do I care what people, esp on the internet think abt me??? Two I've always been weird youjust weren't paying attention or at least you punished it so much I hid my weirdness

[lovebecomeshim]

hello! your zutara posting today has finally motivated me to ask this question because I came to atla very late(last year, to be specific) and I Love It Very Much but am 1000% out of the loop as far as why what remains of fandom (at least that I've seen among my friends) is so very strongly zutara. I'm not opposed to it per se I just don't really know what has driven it to apparently be such a popular ship? can you help me understand and maybe convert me a little bit?

Hey!! Your ICON! :D I can try but I’m not sure how coherent I’ll be; however I AM sure someone a lot more competent will be willing to add to this. Either way, I’m glad you asked because my plan was to drag down as many people as possible with me.

*smacks the hood of zutara* this baby can fit so much mutual love and support!

This got so long, I’m so sorry. I don’t know how to put it under a cut on mobile and it already got deleted once so I’m scared to mess with it lol. Moving on.

I’m gonna start this with a disclaimer that im on mobile so formatting is tricky and I’m also really new to atla in that I only completed my first watch through in like 2019??? So some of my info is all just based on what I’ve picked up from Discourse 👀 so anyway the sparknotes version: zutara was wildly popular from the beginning. To the point where the atla crew internally disagreed on which ship should be endgame. (Ex. Bryke [showrunners] asked the writers to rewrite The Southern Raiders to make Zuko seem less ideal for Katara than Aang [which failed, depending on who you ask]; the animation team purposefully created a visual parrallel between Oma and Shu in the Cave of Two Lovers and Zuko and Katara in the catacombs under Ba Sing Se in the Crossroads of Destiny; etc.)

The ship was popular enough that Bryke actually chose to display zk fanart at a con for the sole purpose of mocking the fans, but that’s neither here nor there. The entire episode Ember Island Players, while a love letter to/parody of the whole show, was an opportunity to address zutara’s viability as a canon pairing (while, again, mocking zutaras for romanticizing that catacombs scene). Point is! It’s always been popular but with it not being endgame, there’s got to be something that’s given it staying power.

And that’s honestly got to do with three things: their dynamic, thematic cohesion, and potential.

(You know what... you know what, it’s four things. The fourth is they’re so aesthetically pleasing together and individually. Like, they’re just good looking people [specifically when they’re grown but they’re also cute kids] and that absolutely doesn’t hurt) (but it’s not the Point, it’s just nice to point out sometimes)

The dynamic is hard to get into without also looking at the canon pairings, but I think I can do that without unnecessary bashing. It’s just that part of the magic of zutara is really highlighted by what they give to each other that their other relationships don’t.

First off, it’s classic enemies to (would be) lovers. The absolute truest form of it. It’s not too different from how CS started out: a rogue antagonist with a job to do—but no personal vendetta against the future love interest—who is deeply and emotionally invested in his personal storyline (revenge/redemption) with little regard for how it effects other people after his entire life and genuine good nature are marred by suffering, and a fierce warrior girl with a strong moral compass and her own personal investment in stopping him (protect her family and save the world doing it). Obviously frustration and animosity grew between them by the nature of them being on opposing sides, but that just lends itself to the sweetness of their later reconciliation.

The thing is that while they’re wildly different on the surface (he’s a hot-headed prince of a fascist regime who is trying to capture the Avatar to please his father; she’s a nurturing daughter of the chief who is trying to protect and train the Avatar in order to topple his father’s throne) they find out that they have so much more in common both in their experiences and their personalities.

(What follows is an excessive use of the word “both” and I’m sorry about that)(I can edit it. I can do that. That IS an option............)

They both have an innate sense of justice that they are determined to see done (zuko, at the war meeting, sticking up for the Earth Kingdom kid when the guards torment his family, choosing not to steal from the pregnant couple despite his circumstances, abiding by his word to leave the SWT should Aang come willingly, etc.; katara, literally.... at any point). They both have pretty one-track minds at accomplishing certain goals once they’ve put their mind to it, regardless of a lack of support in that endeavor (it goes without saying I guess, but zuko’s entire hunt; katara’s determination to get the earth benders to fight back, her determination to absolutely destroy Pakku until he agrees to teach her, etc.). They both lost their mothers at young ages. Their worlds are war-torn and traumatizing to them both, if in different ways, but that ultimately forces them to grow up too quickly to be wholly independent individuals. They both have issues with their fathers (for WILDLY different reasons, but). They both hold extreme prejudices that they need to learn to overcome (which ties into thematic cohesion)(bit like Lizzie and Darcy in that way but magnified by a million). They’re both extremely emotional and empathetic—which can and often does result in loud outbursts. Katara’s a bit better adjusted and can temper her anger for longer than S1 Zuko can, but they both feel that anger deeply and have no compunctions expressing it (Katara is, usually, more justified, particularly in S1. Again, S1 Zuko is severely maladjusted but at the point when they could’ve feasibly become a couple, he’s so much better off with the way he carries himself). They both struggle with feelings of inferiority in their bending abilities when confronted with prodigal benders like Aang and Azula, but have the work ethic required to double down and become two of the most powerful benders in the three remaining nations. This is a little more minor but it is a parrallel that appeals to some shippers that they both have these alter egos in the Painted Lady (notably fire nation coded) and the Blue Spirit (water tribe coded) that are pretty different from who they are day-to-day and are useful in accomplishing a purpose that they as themselves cannot.

(I’m.... I just realized that this could potentially get very long. Should I have made a slide show with bullet points??????)

Anyway, similar. I know there’s more but there’s literally so much to love about zutara that I’ll drive myself a little crazy trying to compile all the ways they’re similar. (Just gonna say that at this exact moment I went back to add more similarities.... so okay then)

Once they’ve reconciled, we see how all of these things only lend themselves to a deeper intimacy together than they share with literally anyone else. There’s a steady partnership that positions them as the mom/dad of the gaang, while also providing the support necessary to allow the other to not have to carry so much responsibility. A lot of zutaras will point out how zuko is actually depicted doing the more domestic chores that are normally relegated to Katara once he joins the gaang, since the others in the group are two 12-year-olds and sokka. The one that sticks out the most is how he makes tea for the group and then serves them, while Katara is able to just relax with her friends around the fire. Fanon expands upon this a lot to Zuko helping with the laundry or the cooking or whatever else needs doing since he, as a once-refugee, is used to doing his own domestic tasks. Before Zuko joined, Katara was the one mothering everyone, sewing for them, cooking for them, etc. She’s always tending to the needs of the group, and that includes emotionally. She does the emotional labor for the gaang 99% of the time, but when she’s the one falling apart, she’s usually doing it alone and without the comfort that she normally provides for others. Until Zuko. And that’s before they’re even friends.

Which is WHY people romanticize the catacombs of Ba Sing Se so much. Katara is verbally attacking Zuko out of her own righteous anger but also her own prejudice when Zuko, surprisingly, chooses to be vulnerable with her. He’s been on a journey that’s opened his eyes a bit, but he’s never actively chosen to expose the rawest parts of his past to anyone. But for some reason he chooses to do that with Katara of all people. While she’s yelling at him. He sees her humanity, and for once can look past his prejudice and empathize with her. And this time, when she breaks down, she gets to be comforted. Katara normally talks about her mother when she’s trying to explain to someone else that she sees and understands they’re pain, as a form of comfort to them. Here, Zuko uses the exact same tactic. He sees her and he understands. And for zuko? He’s not being shut down. He’s allowed to articulate his pain regarding his mother without being ignored and made to internalize it, and he’s allowed to process how he feels about his scar out loud without being told that he deserved it. And then he lets her touch his scar, something we’ve seen him actively avoid before. He’s completely open to her and she’s completely open to him and all it took was one five minute conversation. She was about to use the little bit of Spirit water that she had, that she was saving for something Important, to heal the scar that still daily causes him pain just because they had, somehow, connected.

Plus there’s the whole parallel to the star-crossed lovers forbidden from one another, a war divides their people—

And then zuko messes up, he regresses, he gets what he wants and he HATES it. And the sense of justice he had as a child has been restored to him against his will and he can’t think of anything he wants to do more than the Right Thing, so he joins team avatar. Before he does that though, we get to see his relationship with Mai, which is where comparison really comes in. And what we see is Zuko, fresh off of his encounter with Katara in the catacombs, trying to be emotionally honest with Mai... and getting shut down and dismissed. Which is just how Mai is and it’s fine, but not for Zuko. Still, he keeps trying, and he keeps getting ignored or scoffed at or yelled at. Which is really a larger symbol for how he doesn’t fit in his old life anymore, but again that’s about thematic cohesion. He tries to articulate his anxieties about returning home, he tries to make romantic gestures, he tries to explain how morally conflicted he’s feeling—and Mai diverts to some kind of physical affection to shut him up and a parting comment that is pretty much always, in essence, “I don’t wanna talk about this.” So they don’t. On the other hand, once zuko and Katara are friends, we see him again emotionally distraught and caught up in his anxieties about facing Iroh, and it’s Katara who comes to him and listens to him and comforts and encourages him.

Similarly, we have Aang clamming up and getting uncomfortable whenever Katara shows any negative emotion, usually resulting in him making excuses or running away. Or, in the case of the Southern Raiders, lecturing her on how she needs to just let go of her anger about her mother’s murder. People have talked this episode to death and usually better than I ever could, so imma... keep it brief. There’s a serious disconnect between Aang and Katara in his ability to empathize with Katara and her needs that has her tamping down her vulnerability and amping up her anger. He tells her that he was able to forgive his people’s genocide and appa’s kidnapping (petnapping? Theft??), which is blatantly not true but also not an entirely equal parrallel to Katara’s situation, and continues making these little remarks throughout the episode. But it’s Zuko that Katara opens up to. It’s with him that she’s able to talk about the most traumatic day of her life, and it’s with him that she’s able to get the closure she needs, cementing their bond as friends and partners. This disagreement between Aang and Katara is then... never resolved. They just never bring it up and hear what the other is saying.

There’s a fic called The Portraits of Ember Island that has a line that so completely sums up the heart of the matter for why people love their dynamic. For context, zuko has woken up early to help Katara with the cooking and they spend the whole time just letting one another talk, and zuko stops to ask why she always just lets him talk. And so she stops to ask why he’s always helping, and it goes as follows:

There’s just... so much mutual support! Trust! Intimacy!! And it just continues like that from the Southern Raiders on, listening to each other, advising each other, watching each other’s backs! And then! Literally saving each other’s lives!! I will never be over the last Agni kai. Not ever. Zuko may have been willing to jump in front of lightning for anyone, but he actually did it for Katara. And in a show, that’s the thing that really matters. It’s a fulfilled trope usually exclusively applied to romantic pairings, and it ended up applying to Zuko and Katara. And then she ran out into the middle of a fight with tunnel vision just to get to him.

Also!! Also Zuko pushing Katara out of the way of the falling rocks at the Western Air Temple!! And Katara catching him as he fell from the war balloon that he fought Azula on!! Before they’re even getting along, they’re the ones reaching for each other. They come to this place of equal ground, as partners, who watch each other’s backs, call each other out but still listen attentively and understand, and provide the support that the other has been sorely lacking up until they knew each other (whether that be from lack of effort or lack of understanding from others, or an unwillingness to accept it for themselves).

Then, trailing along under the surface of this, we see the themes of the show totally embodied by Zuko and Katara as individuals and in their relationship to one another. There’s a YouTuber, sneezyreviews, who has a, like, 2-hour explanation on why she not only loves zutara but also believes that their endgame would’ve actually elevated the writing of atla to new levels particularly because of thematic cohesion and resolved character arcs. It’s the zutara dissertation I never knew I needed, and it’s funny and eloquent and effective, so I’m just going to sum up her section on thematic cohesion to the best of my abilities and then link it for whenever you have the time. And I HIGHLY recommend it, especially if you want a full understanding of what makes zutara so great and gives it such longevity.

Guru pathik has a line that goes something like this: separation is an illusion; things that seem different are just two parts of the same whole. Iroh also tells Zuko something similar: balance and strength are achieved when the different nations come together and influence one another and celebrate what makes them each unique. And this lesson is a massive central arc that both Zuko and Katara go through, moving past a black-and-white, good guys-vs-bad guys, us-vs-them mentality and into a greyer, more nuanced view of the world. Zuko sees the fire nation from an entirely new perspective and while he still loves and hopes for his nations future, he surrenders his blind loyalty to them in exchange for an unflinching loyalty to peace and love. Katara too had to come to terms with the fact that cruel people exist in the earth kingdom and water tribes, while some fire nation citizens are just regular, kind people who also need and deserve to have someone speak on their behalf. And this is honed in directly on how they view each other. They grow in their individual journeys to be open to the humanity in the other and then, once they’ve found that, they’re able to grow more in compassion for others in a beautiful feedback loop. And this is all matched in the symbolism repeatedly and intentionally associated with them in canon: sun and moon, fire and water, yin and yang, Oma and Shu who found love despite their warring nations. Their individual arcs are completed in each other and complement the themes of atla beautifully.

The canon pairs... just don’t. Which, again, is fine. But the very things that give atla longevity and popularity are anchored in zutara. Kat@ang doesn’t accomplish this. They’re... nice. Sweet. Especially when you erase a good portion of their interactions in S3. It could’ve been just a sweet love story. (Personally, the dynamic between toph and aang accomplish the same thing that zutara does, with complementary personalities that fulfill the theme of opposites blending in harmony) M@iko, on the other hand, is less sweet but I think wasn’t even supposed to last. Zuko’s relationship with Mai seems to represent his relationship with his old life as a whole. He can’t be emotionally vulnerable, he’s goaded into abusing his privileges, his agency and opinions aren’t respected. They just don’t have common ground with which to discuss anything that matters, so they don’t. As far as themes, the relationship doesn’t fit with atla. It’s zuko returning to and sticking with what is (on the surface) like him, what’s expected. Fire nation with fire nation. Fluid water bender with the flexible air bender. Like with like, separated from what is different and challenging and complementary.

And all of these things combined of course lead to the potential for the ship. I don’t know how familiar you are with the post-atla canon but... well, miss “I will never turn my back on people who need me”, miss “I don’t want to heal! I want to fight!” ends up living quietly in the SWT as a designated healer who turns a blind eye to the water tribe civil war happening right outside her front door. Which can be fine! People change! Some people just wanna stay inside. I just wanna stay inside! But the potential future for zutara is so much more satisfying, with Katara becoming the most unconventional Fire Lady the uppity old cads who are stuck on the old ways have ever seen. Fanon has her serving as a voice for the other nations within a kingdom at the point of its biggest political upheaval, as a confidante to Zuko who can actually help him while he’s trying to figure out how to move forward and make reparations. They have the opportunity, together, to accomplish what they both have set on their hearts to fight for: positive change that lends itself to harmony and balance. And the steambabies! A popular headcanon is that their firstborn daughter, the crown princess, is actually a waterbender, which causes such an uproar among the people who are adamantly clinging to the old ways. It’s just a future full of potential to be forces for good together, full of trust, intimacy, joy. The exact era of peace and love and balance that zuko announces that he intends to ring in with the start of his reign as Fire Lord is, again, magnified by the very personal zutara relationship. And we love to see it.

tl;dr zutara isn’t for everyone. Some people just don’t vibe with it. Some are nostalgic. Some love the canon they grew up with. Some have been disappointed for years. Some just see themselves in other characters and want their happiness instead. Whatever the reason, that’s fine. But for me, I love the way these two, from the moment they give each other a fair chance, are able to lower their walls and prejudices to see the other for the kindred spirits they are. They see each other’s humanity, and their response is to pour out love and support and compassion. I love that they’re a power couple in battle. I love the symbolism and, honestly, soulmatism that colors their every interaction. I love that they embody the whole storyline of atla in their relationship and how it develops, which is notably why their seasonal arcs always culminate in each finale with how they relate to one another. I love that zuko adopting a waterbending move is what actually saves his life and then katara’s. I love the chemistry! And I love the future they could’ve had, instead of the ones they were given.

So, in conclusion: I just think they’re neat and I hope you do too, at least a little bit. Even if it’s just respectfully from a disinterested distance cause you do you. And now here is the video I mentioned. I’m sorry this post got so long and then I gave you an even longer homework assignment, but I can’t recommend it enough. She says it all better than I can.

[diaryforadreamer]

I was tagged by the amazing @hiptoff and words can't even begin to describe how flattered I am 🥹. Thank you so much!! I'm sorry I took so long, but I suppose it's better late than never.

Now, get ready for some eclectic tastes:

Rules: list eight shows for your followers to get to know you better

Gravity Falls (My biggest regret regarding this show is that I only began watching it a year after the season finale premiered, and therefore missed the best moments when the fandom, which I've been told was simply amazing, was at its peak and Tumblr and YouTube were just overflowing with fanarts and theories).

Avatar, the last airbender (Same thing as with Gravity Falls. I'm afraid I only found out about this show years -a decade- after it ended. Fortunately, it seems like the fandom is still widely active, specially after the release of the Kyoshi and Yangchen novels and the upcoming series. All in all, I feel that this show is one of those rare masterpieces that will never get old no matter how much times passes by. And well... Does that even surprise you? There isn't a single character who falls below the line of greatness. Oh. And what was that? Talking about how to build strong yet human feminine characters who people can actually relate to? Then, by all means, check this show. Now, seriously, if you haven't watched Avatar the last aribender, leave this post inmediately and start watching it. This show is not another cartoon for kids, it's a gift. A 61 episodes present. So go on and watch it. You've worked hard. You deserve it. Oh. And by the way, if anyone here is wondering: I'm fine with both Kataang and Zutara. No shipping wars in this Tumblr, please. Both ships are good.)

Friends (I believe this one it's self-explinatory).

Downtown Abbey (My mother was the main reason I got hooked up on this show. It's got Maggie Smith at her finest. I challenge you to come here and tell me that Dowager Countess isn't just the most legendary character ever. And Dan Stevens as Matthew?! Oh my Gosh... I'm still not recovered).

Once upon a Time (My comfort TV Show. I'm only half way through season 3 but in spite of the poor special effects, it never fails to appease me. Besides, it's got one great cast: Lana Parrilla, Jennifer Morrison, Collin O'Donogue, Ginnifer Goodwin, among many others. And Robert Carlyle just owns the show. Besides, I have always been a sucker for fairytales, so... yeah: I'm sold on this one. Again, in case you are wondering, I'm "Captain Swan" Team all the way, but "SwanFire" is nice too).

El Ministerio del Tiempo, "The Ministry of Time" (All things considered, this is probably one of the best modern Spain TV shows that has ever been made. It's actually refreshing, being able to watch a show that doesn't involve dull and cheap jokes, toxic relationships and dreadful writing. Besides, ever since I first watched the Back to the Future trilogy, the time travel plots have become my most recent kind of jam).

Pride and Prejudice, 1995 version (Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle ARE Mr. Darcy and Lizzie. I have nothing further to add, your Honor.)

Return to Eden (I do not need to have been born during the eighties in order to appreciate its vibrant and magnificent TV Shows. And if we take into account that Australia is currently nailing it with "Bluey" -although, in this case, i'm speaking from hearsay, as I haven't given it a shot yet- I think it's safe to assume that they can make some of the finest products whenever they want. However, I feel I must warn you. The first part of this show is really hard, I entreat you to not watch it on your own).

Tagging @heartniche and @barbaramillicentgordonroberts as long as you feel up to it.

Rules: list eight shows for your followers to get to know you better

Tagged by my darling friend @another-step-you-take Thanks lovely! 💕

The Mentalist

Ted Lasso

Gilmore Girls

Bones

Friends

Lucifer

Dawson’s Creek

New Girl

Tagging @gooddame @weepynymph @sekretny @frazzledsoul Only if you want :)