#and remember that comparison is the thief of joy

[pricetagged]

I need to get off tumblr and just wriiiite 😢

[cheriepie111]

Bro how do you do this😒

Ur great at ur fics and just one of ur blurbs gets more likes than my full lengths. Like how do u do that

pookie ur so sweet, but i promise its not all roses and sunshine over here. i’ve been doing this for six months and i don’t have very many followers (i love each and every one of them though). also, i have one full length fic from not too long ago that’s sitting at 2 likes😭😭😭

most important is don’t write for the validation of others. this is something i remind myself of constantly. do it because you enjoy it, or soon you’ll grow to resent it.

[macks-ugly-cackle]

AAAAHHHHHH

I was looking at a ton of amazing fan art but now I feel insecuurrreeeeeee

[bloomzone]

why you need to live for yourself and not for others

Let's talk about something we often overlook: living for yourself. Yep, not for your friends, family, that crush who hasn’t texted back, or the people silently scrolling through your life on Instagram. Just. For. You.

Picture This

Imagine you're a painter. Every decision you make—big or small—is a stroke on the canvas of your life. Now, what if you let everyone else hold the brush? Someone adds a splash of gray because they think your dreams are “too colorful.” Another erases a bold streak of red because they��re afraid of what others might say. Before you know it, your painting looks nothing like you.Does that thought feel uncomfortable? It should. Because your life isn’t meant to be someone else’s masterpiece.

Why It’s Tempting to Please Others

Living for others feels like safety sometimes, doesn’t it? You blend in, avoid conflicts, and everyone seems happy. But guess what? Their happiness often comes at the cost of your own. You end up running their race, following their rules, and waking up one day wondering, When did I stop being me?

The truth is, no matter how much you bend, twist, or shrink yourself to fit someone else’s expectations, it’s never enough. People will always have opinions.

The Beauty of Living for Yourself

When you start living for yourself, magic happens. You feel lighter, free, and more connected to your true self. Your days feel brighter because you’re chasing dreams that make your heart skip a beat. And guess what? That joy becomes contagious. Suddenly, you’re inspiring others to be their authentic selves too.

Living for yourself doesn’t mean being selfish—it means being honest. It’s about setting boundaries, saying no when you need to, and choosing what aligns with your heart.

How to Start Living for You

1. Ask Yourself: What Do I Really Want?

Forget what others expect. What you want matters most. Write it down, even if it feels scary.

2. Set Boundaries

Politely decline things that drain your energy or steer you away from your goals. Remember, “No” is a complete sentence.

3. Romanticize Your Journey

Treat your life like the main character moment it is! Treat yourself, blast your favorite songs, and celebrate even the smallest wins.

4. Stay in Your Lane

Comparison is a thief. Focus on your path, your goals, and your growth.

at the eeennnd

Living for yourself isn’t always easy, but it’s the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do. Picture a world where your happiness isn’t tied to anyone else’s approval. Doesn’t that sound dreamy?

So, here’s your reminder to pick up your paintbrush and start creating a masterpiece that’s unapologetically, authentically you.

@bloomzone ✒️

[honeytonedhottie]

how to feel enough⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🍦

STOP COMPARING URSELF TO OTHERS ;

comparison is the thief of joy. why should you compare yourself to other people? thats like comparing an apple to an orange, or a lily to a rose. everyone is uniquely different and no one person is the same.

to have a fair comparison, both things that ur comparing must be the same and since no one person is the same as another, comparing urself to others is illogical and incorrect. its unfair.

CHECK ON HOW YOU'VE GROWN ;

check on how you've blossomed and grown as a person by keeping track of achievements, big or small, or milestones to remind yourself that YOUR LITERALLY AMAZING. when you are consistent and persistent, when u look back and see how far that you've come its like a major confidence boost.

doing this regularly reminds yourself that you are not inadequate and that you are competent and capable of amazing things. dont be afraid to remind urself of who you are.

FEELINGS ARE NOT FACTS ;

just because you might feel like ur not enough sometimes, doesn't mean that its true. remind urself of ur core facts through affirmations, journalling, whatever u like. remember that

you are who you say you are

you are more than enough

and you are an incredible human being

identify the lies that you've believed about urself/the lies that people told u about urself. once you've identified these lies, work on changing them to truth. (im not enough -> im more than enough)

and remember that your talented, beautiful, kind, hot, WHATEVER U WANNA BE. the choice is yours, mwah ✨

[margecouture]

how to raise your vibrations 🎐

having high vibrational energy is one of the essential qualities to living out a positive lifestyle and achieving happiness in your everyday life. here’s some tips on how to raise your vibrations:

decide what behaviors or actions that you will no longer tolerate from yourself or others. our everyday behaviors lead to our actions which create a pattern in our lives, no matter good or bad. sometimes, we don’t notice how effective our behaviors are on our lifestyle so it’s always best to self reflect and separate what is fulfilling from what is draining. some low vibrational behaviors to get rid of may include gossip, engaging in social media or real life drama, changing or adapting to please others, bad or inconsistent communication, arguing, toxicity, discomfort, and draining distractions. these are all negative patterns and can lead to negative outcomes such as, laziness, constant negativity, stress and depression. remember, it’s essential to reflect and make room for any positive changes that can move you in the right direction.

get clear on what lights you up and make space for it regularly. having clarity on what it is that you desire in this life will lead you to the depths of your life’s purpose and ultimately raise your vibrations. try writing in a journal, scripting in a notebook, reading self help books, and mindfulness meditation alone to help you get clarity on your aspirations. ask yourself questions like, “what do I enjoy doing?” or “what excites me the most?”. these questions will lead you to more answers about who you are. once your passions, hobbies or interests are discovered, make time for those things everyday to feel a sense of accomplishment and move forward towards your goals. try fulfilling outlets like going to the gym, painting, scrapbooking to help clear your mind.

visualize and embody your dream life daily. visualization helps tremendously with creating high vibrational energy because it gives you a sense of hope. you feel hopeful and optimistic knowing that a higher version of yourself is already living the life you’re visualizing. it’s helpful to visualize your success but also do things that align with your success. speak, act, and think like the person you want to become. for example, if your goal is to become the best version of yourself, do things like exercise, eat healthy, pick up a book instead of scrolling on social media, or make a vision board.

let go of needing something outside of basic essentials. comparison is the thief of joy, you don’t need the luxuries to be happy. be grateful in all circumstances for what you already have. this attracts more to be grateful for and allows more high vibrational energy to flow. fulfillment comes from within and happiness is a choice. intentionally choose everyday to surrender and express gratitude while also having faith that the best outcomes are on your path. this is the recipe for positive alignment. you are exactly where you need to be!

be willing to let go of that personality that doesn’t support the next version of yourself. if you notice that you may be the type of person who is easily irritated or upset, attention seeking, have FOMO, take everything seriously, or have any toxic traits, it may be best to reevaluate yourself and focus on shedding those negative thought patterns. think of it like a snake shedding its old skin to make way for new growth. it’s a necessary part of evolving into the best version of yourself and raising your vibrations. having negative personality traits can lead to low vibrational energy which can feel like you’re stuck in a never ending cycle of unhappiness. letting go of those traits can and will align you with a more fulfilling, successful, and positive life.

speak positively. those inner thoughts that we face daily can put us in a low vibrational state especially if they consist of thoughts of judgment, rudeness, or annoyance. aim to compliment instead of insulting and show compassion instead of judging. speaking positively over yourself and others will align you will a more positive state of mind which can help you to be more aware with your thoughts. you are perfect just the way you are and everything is going to work out. have a positive mindset towards life to reap those positive outcomes!

raising your vibrations consist of positive energy, emotional wellbeing and a sense of peace. it is always good to maintain high vibrations because it is a key part to maintaining a healthy mind, body, and soul. high vibrations can attract more positive experiences and opportunities into your life. vibe high and take care of yourself! 🎐

[deathgasmic]

comparison is the thief of all joy, remember that <3

[virginiaisforvampires]

Thank you for all your amazing insights!!

I agree with almost everything you have to say, particularly about Lestat and Claudia, and how the show has some really inaccurate characterisation. I've read all the books, and agree Lestat does genuinely try to do the right thing (most of the time), he certainly isn't a domestic abuser or cheater! The show unfairly enhanced and even invented a bunch of 'monstrous' behaviours that he never did!! It annoyed me as well, since it was so inaccurate.

He's known to be a bright soul, somehow able to seek joy and light, when others would have crumbled. He does try to be compassionate too. I love that about him, but I have yet to see much of that side to his nature in the show (yet 🤞).

That said, I recently re-read Tale of the Body Thief and after finishing it, I wanted to chuck Lestat off a bridge (or at least my copy of the novel!). I last read it as a young teen and didn't remember how monstrously he behaved in that book 😭. Like what he did to the waitress, he was 100% in the wrong there and should have known better (especially considering his own history). He was also awful in how he turned David too. David was young and healthy again, so he had loads of time to convince him to agree (with informed consent). But he did it anyway, despite David's explicitly denying consent, saying no, begging and crawling away from him. And although David later said that he was happy Lestat had turned him, he admits that it was against his conscious consent. So, Lestat could not, and did not know, that David would later thank him for it. He turned him because he wanted to do it. It's just awful!

I've just had so much trouble connecting his behaviour in that book with the rest of the novels. I adore him in the rest of them (even if IWTV was a bit of a character assassination, lol), but TOTBT was in his own words. And his words and actions were terrible 😞.

I really want to understand because I adore him, but I'm struggling to like him right now 💔. How do you interpret how he behaved in that novel? Why do you think he did it? I trust your interpretations, and hope you can shine some light here ❤️

Lestat’s arc in Tale Of The Body Thief was about him grappling with self-hatred, crippling depression, PTSD, body dysmorphia, and trying to reconcile with everything that had happened to him.

He tried to commit suicide, found out he was truly immortal, and that sent him into another existential spiral, which is how Raglan James was able to take advantage of him and convince him to switch bodies.

The context of both incidents is very important to understanding Lestat’s headspace.

I talked about the waitress here.

I talked about David’s turning here.

I’m sure there are more posts about all that ^^ and you are welcome to search the “tale of the body thief” tag on my blog.

Having said that, the context doesn’t excuse what Lestat did, but his mental headspace and the surrounding circumstances must be taken into consideration when looking at both incidents.

That entire book was about Lestat shattering his own self-delusions and lying to himself about how evil and monstrous he is. The waitress was because of his vampiric mindset. David was because he was lying to himself about being the same kind of monster as Magnus. In both instances, the thing that separates Lestat is the fact he hates himself for it. It’s the entire crux of the comparison between himself and the tiger and the serial killer. He feels remorse and guilt and shame and actively tries to make it right. His light is fighting against the darkness of his vampirism. He didn’t do those things because he just goes around pillaging and raping and holding hatred in his heart. Like I said, there was a bevy of factors that played into why each incident happened like they did and both times it was meant to be a lesson for Lestat. He actually doesn’t have the capacity to be this awful and cruel monster, because his heart is simply too tender and too good for it. So even when he commits atrocities, he’s left a blubbering mess of shame and guilt and remorse in the aftermath. Again, that doesn’t excuse the atrocities, but it explains them and offers a key insight into Lestat’s heart and soul that many of the other vampires lack. All of that was merely compounded by his grief and regret over Claudia and the fact Claudia’s ghost kept using his deepest insecurities against him and kept pounding into his head that he was nothing but a selfish and vicious monster. He gave in to her taunting with David, but it was all a fallacy. He’s not anything like that, which brings me to my last point.

Lestat’s own words about himself are often terrible. He’s never tried to downplay his own faults or make himself look better. If anything, he has to be told to actually give himself some credit or to quit downplaying someone else’s abuse against him, because he just loathes himself and feels he deserves every bad thing that ever happens to him and that includes the rape from Magnus, because he dared to survive the wolves.

The entire meaning of the book is very important and like I said, when you look at his arc there with all things considered, the waitress and David make total sense, and Lestat’s headspace was too dark and clouded to be able to step back and assess his situation clearly. That is very important to remember.

[theepoetspoem]

Any advice on getting into a healthy Poly lifestyle?

Read

Do so much research

Determine what's best for you and what feels right

Establish your boundaries immediately but be open to the idea of having them shift as you grow or change as a person

Do what feels right, and not just what feels good. Remember that healthy and safe polyamory is built on trust, just like any other relationship.

Never forsake what is good just because something new comes along

Be with people who respect and understand you

Remember that comparison is the thief of joy

Get a therapist (that one is just general life advice tbh lol)

[navybrat817]

Hi! Thank you for being a huge inspiration. I am trying to be a writer too, but I can't stop checking for notifications every couple of minutes to see if people like what I've written. Any advice on not thinking about the results and not caring about the gratification? 💜

Hi, nonnie! It means the world that I've been able to inspire you in some capacity. I know it's difficult to not check notifications or look at note count. And let me preface this by saying that it's more than okay to want feedback. Every now and then I see negativity come out to play when writers/artists/gif makers/creators say that they want feedback for the creations they worked hard on.

Some things I do at times:

I congratulate myself for my accomplishment. Writing is hard. 50, 5k, 50k, it should be celebrated.

Log out of the app/desktop completely helps to not look. Out of sight, out of mind, so to speak.

I remind myself that my writing worth isn't tied to my note count.

Comparison is the thief of joy. The second I start to compare my writing/word count or anything to others, I step away.

I remember that my feelings are valid. I'm allowed to feel down if feedback is low, but I do not allow myself to say in the headspace.

I sometimes go back to other fics of mine and reread feedback. Past positive affirmations give me a boost now and again.

NEW FOR 2025 - I want to put my energy back out there. If I post something new, I want to reblog a fic from someone else. Focusing my energy on others in a positive way shifts the negative feelings swirling around inside me.

Lovelies, please feel free to jump in and add more. Nonnie, sending you all the good vibes. Love and thanks! ❤️

[merryslilhobbit]

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Can't remember where this quote is from, just need the reminder this week.

[readingloveswounds]

Do you feel like you've worked super hard every day of your PhD? I always see your lists and feel ashamed of myself because I have many slow days where I barely write anything. Thankfully, I'm not behind on my work, but I feel like I do so much less than you!!

Nope! I have what I call slug or sludge days, which are often PMS-induced fatigue days in which I have zero energy and can't think well, as well as just normal days that Do Not Go Well.

A big caveat about my to-do lists is that 1. I will put anything on there, even if it's small (like taking the trash out) because it makes me feel good about myself, and 2. I do not get everything on there done every day (you'll notice that I've been putting 'defense intro' on there for a good while and that's because it's not getting done)

I can't deny that I have done a lot of work, but it's definitely not every day. I can't sustain that - in college, I realized that I needed a rest day, and so I designated a weekday where I would do no homework and just chill after classes. It's something that I've tried my best to replicate in graduate school, because the brain needs time off. I don't work in the evenings unless it's absolutely 100% necessary. When I do have to work a lot (like this fall or spring '23), it sucks.

I also try to be gentle with myself, and you should too! There are days where writing isn't happening, where thinking isn't happening, and it's best not to force it. I either pivot to something that I know I can get done (chores, notes on a book, making a to-do list for later) or decide to give up for the day. I sometimes feel guilty for giving up, but if it's not working, it's not going to work if it's forced.

I think the important thing there is to remember that tomorrow is a new day - reset the clock. Tasks may remain the same, but treat it as a fresh start. It's really frustrating when I know that I am capable of getting something done but I am simply Not Doing it, but if I get too worked up, that's not going to help either.

For me, consistency helps too. Even if I get jack shit done, I like to sit at my desk every work day, just to be there - sometimes doing just five minutes of something really works (and sometimes it doesn't and that's okay), and even if it's bad work, at least it's words on a page.

Also, comparison truly is the thief of joy!! Understand how you work and what you want your goal to be realistically. In college, I realized that I needed to start papers way early because I don't write well when rushed. In graduate school, I realized that I work best in the mornings, so I organize my days around that.

There's always going to be people you see as more successful than you (believe me, I have a friend whose achievements I try not to think too strongly about, beyond being happy for them), but you can't let that stop you. Be nice to yourself!

[writingquestionsanswered]

Anonymous asked: I find myself in a terrible rut where I want to read things from my favorite writers, but I compare myself too them and get discouraged feeling like my work will never be that good. I know comparison is a thief of joy, and people say they enjoy my writing, but I can't seem to get out of my own way. My other question is how to take a step back and remember we're doing this because we enjoy writing?

[Ask edited for length]

It can help to bear in mind that all writers--even your favorite ones--felt the same way at some point, and some of them still do. There are successful, famous, best-selling, award-winning authors who still get imposter syndrome. So, on some level, that's just brains doing brain things.

Also, though, it can help to know it's actually a good sign when you feel like your writing isn't quite where you want it to be. It means your taste... to quote Ira Glass (see video below), "the thing that got you into the game, your taste is still killer. And your taste is good enough that you can tell that what you're making is kind of a disappointment to you..." And that matters, because it means your brain knows what's good, even if you haven't quite gotten your writing skill there yet. But knowing... to quote something else... "is half the battle." If you know your writing could be better, you have the ability to get it there and you will.

So, read the post linked below and watch the video:

Comparing Self to Others, Insecure About Writing

And here's another post that might help:

Guide: Dealing with Self-Doubt & Impostor Syndrome

Ultimately, you get back to the joy of writing (and reading) by remembering that writing isn't something you instantly do well. Good writing takes time and practice, and you get better with every book you read and every story you write. So, keep loving what you're doing, because it's getting better and better with time, and there will come a time where you feel more confident in your writing and struggle less with comparing your writing to others. ♥

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

♦ Questions that violate my ask policies will be deleted! ♦ Please see my master list of top posts before asking ♦ Learn more about WQA here

[screampied]

HI VEGASSSS

omg okay so imstartig my own blog and I'm gonna start writing, but like it's a my first time ykwim? So like I need writing tips. Help me out plsss😭

YO SURE !!!!

the biggest piece of advice i would probably give you is to just have fun! always remember to write for yourself, writing should never feel like a chore. interact with other writers and their works also !! you’ll meet lots of cool people on here, trust. everyone has their own writing style / aesthetic, and over time you’ll get yours too 💓. make sure to set boundaries, that’s very important. once you start posting, your work will start to reach people and they might even wanna send you requests !!! create a byf / dni post, if you’re writing smut, be sure to include things you aren’t comfortable with writing.

also, tumblr runs on a tag system. the jujutsu kaisen fandom has specific tags — for fluff, it’s #jjk fluff & smut is #jjk smut for specific characters, they each have their own tags too. for example for nanami: #nanami x reader, #nanami x you , #nanami smut #nanami kento x you etc. these apply to every character but the main jjk writing tags are #jjk x reader / #jjk x you / #jujutsu kaisen x reader and for smut, you’d add in smut: so #jujutsu kaisen smut #jjk smut #jjk x reader smut . . etc

i posted this before i finished omg, but the last thing i wanna say is it takes patience to create your blog. eventually, people will find your work! it’s okay to be scared to post for the first time, sharing to your work to the world in general, is very scary, but we’ve all been there. you got this 🫂.

lastly, comparison is the ultimate thief of joy in writing. never ever compare yourself to other writers — focus on your work, everyone has their own unique style which makes writing super fun! what really matters is you enjoyed creating your piece. good luck on your blog ^.^

[rubbishbooty-blog]

Productivity is the name of the game this week, I've busted out 4 models!! I don't understand how I did it or why all I know is that I did 😌

First up is a terminator Librarian , fun sculpt with a dynamic pose really impressed with how many runes they managed to squeeze onto this large man, I also tried my hand at trying a skin colour that I've not done before, turned out pretty well I think 🤔

Next up is the terminator captain, I spent longer on the cloak that the entirety of the model like, why I thought putting flames inside the cloak where you won't see them I'll never know

With them 2 done I thought I'd finally finished the space marine half of the leviathan box, then I found the terminator teleport beacon, I decided to make it feel more salamander and places it in a lava pool 🤘

I also had an excursion to my local GW and found they're having a small Painting comp, so with a few pokes and strokes I knocked out this guy in record time, can't remember the model name but I know it's a free guild mini 😅

There's been a bit of improvement in my speed painting skill, but this is mainly down to practicing and not comparing my final product

Remember y'all, paint the grey, practice a bit a day if you can and don't compare, as comparison is the thief of joy.

Til next time rock on 🤘

[sergeantsporks]

Writin Request: Gus & Hunter going to a convention!

“Alright, important things to remember before we go in.” Luz held out her arms to block Hunter and Gus. “Number one: If you see a panel or table labelled as ‘meet the voice of,’ then they are a voice actor. Do not be disappointed when they don’t look like the character, because they just lent their voice. Number two: if you go to a panel or table for a live action actor, please, please, please remember that they are ALSO not the character. They are just someone who was paid to pretend to be the character.”

Hunter rolled his eyes, pushing at her arms. “We know how acting works, Luz.”

“Yeah, I’ve been in school plays before, and I know I wasn’t actually a tree,” Gus scoffed, then side-eyed Hunter. “Wait, how do you know how actors work?”

“Okay, okay,” Luz conceded, “One more rule. This one is the most important one, don’t forget it.” She grabbed the fronts of Hunter and Gus’ costumes, looking them deep in the eyes. “Do not. Do not, do not, do not. Start comparing your cosplay to someone else’s. The saying ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ is never truer than at a con. If you see a nice cosplay, just think to yourself ‘wow that cosplay is so good!’ Do not start thinking ‘my cosplay is terrible compared to theirs.’ It will kill you. Do you understand me.”

“We understand,” Hunter and Gus chorused, and finally, Luz released them.

“Okay! Have fun! Check all the booths before you make any purchase decisions. You will go over budget, just accept this.”

“Are you adding more rules?” Gus asked.

Luz flapped a hand at them. “No, no, no, I’m done. Amity and I will meet you up at the front at noon, okay?”

“Okay,” they chorused, and finally, Luz was gone, disappearing with Amity towards the Azura actress autograph signing.

“Pfft,” Gus said once she was gone, elbowing Hunter, “Like anyone’s cosplay is going to be as good as ours anyway. You are actually a clone! What O’Bailey cosplayer can compare to that?”

“Yeah!” Hunter agreed, “And your headset? I mean, it lights up! Who else is going to have a costume that lights up?”

“Oh, hey—”

A hand closed on Hunter’s shoulder, and he grabbed it, reflexively flipping his unknown assailant over with a thump on her back. A freckled girl dressed in science officer blue frontier cosplay blinked up at the ceiling with a groan.

Hunter dropped her wrist. “Oh, no. No, no, no, I’m sorry, I—”

She wheezed in a laugh. “No—no, that was awesome.” She scrambled back to her feet. “Whew. Surprised me, but honestly? Points for the dedication to character! I should have known better than to sneak up on O’Bailey! He might be an engineer, but—”

“Duplicant battle protocol makes for one hell of a punch,” Hunter and Gus quoted with her. She lapsed into more giggles.

“Exactly.”

Hunter looked her up and down. He recognized the uniform, but she’d affixed a Duplicant communicator to her ear, and wore bracelets engraved with lettering he recognized from a one-off planet. “Who are you? I don’t recognize your character.”

“Oh—well, of course you don’t.” She twirled, revealing that her uniform flared out into a skirt at the end. “I’m my own original character! Shaari, the result of a Duplicant defying protocol and having a child with a Mergarave. I’m a double agent.” She winked. “But I won’t say for who.”

“That’s creative,” Gus told her warmly, “The Mergarave had such a neat design—it was a shame we left their planet so soon.”

Shaari—whatever her real name was—nodded emphatically. “I know, right? Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really like your cosplays. Are you going to enter the costume contest?”

“Costume contest?” Hunter and Gus echoed.

“Yeah, the Cosmic Frontier panel holds one every year, since it’s so difficult to get one of the actors in. On account of, you know. Most of them being either really famous or really dead. Anyway, they have a group category, and first prize is a signed box set of the original Cosmic Frontier trilogy. Mint condition. Original characters aren’t accepted in the group round. We have a separate category. But you two should totally sign up. I think you’ve got a real shot at winning. It was nice meeting you!”

She wandered off, jogging to join a friend wearing a Cosmic Frontier T-shirt, and Gus grabbed Hunter’s arms.

“Hunter. We have to win that box set. Camila will love it.”

“I know.” Hunter started towards the galaxy-themed banner he could see in the distance. “She said to bring her back a sticker or a pin or something—can you imagine if we come home with a mint-condition signed copy of the Cosmic Frontier original trilogy? We are going to win at comic-con.”

“Oh, yeah. Costume contest, here we come, baby!”

A bored-looking con employee waited at the Cosmic Frontier table, sign up sheets in front of him. “Original characters here, solo costumers here, and group costumes here,” he monotoned, gesturing to three different pieces of paper, “The competition is judged on both the quality of your costume and how well you portray your character. We’ve only got about ten more minutes until the morning competition starts, so please hurry.”

Hunter signed he and Gus’ names on the group competition list, and the employee jabbed one thumb at the door behind him. “Wait in there, you’ll be called in order.”

Hunter and Gus found themselves in a long hallway, covered with black tarp dotted with glow-in-the-dark stars. Just ahead of them, a much larger group of young adults laughed, elbowing each other.

“Try again,” one of them in a blue uniform encouraged.

“I’ll get it on stage!” their Captain Avery protested, “I just can’t take it seriously in practice with all you guys making faces at me.”

Hunter stopped, hissing in, and Gus bumped into him. “What? What’s the matter?”

“Maybe… maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”

“What?”

“I mean—I just—” Hunter gestured ahead of them. “Look! They’ve got the full bridge.”

“There wasn’t a rule on how many members you needed.”

“I know, but…” Hunter gulped. Even in the low light, he could see the quality of their costumes, and it made him painfully aware of the stitches still showing on his. “I mean… just look at them.”

As if to emphasize his point, their O’Bailey hit a switch on his headset, and the whole thing lit up with a whoosh, the red eye glowing dully in the dark. When he moved his arm, it clicked gently.

“They’ve got better costumes—they’ve got better gear—they’ve got the whole bridge—and they go up before us, Gus. We’re going to look ridiculous after them!”

“Well—hey—no. Remember what Luz said? Comparing costumes is not something you should do at cons.”

“Gus, we’ve just entered a costume contest. The entire point is that people will compare our costumes! We’ve entered a zone outside of Luz’s rules!” Hunter ran a hand through his hair. “I haven’t seen anyone come in after us, either! We’re going to go last, after these guys, and then there will be no one after us to make them forget how mediocre we were!”

Gus’ hand landed on his arm, giving it a squeeze. “Hey—Hunter, deep breaths. Deep breaths. It’s not just about how good your costume looks, remember? We’ll go up there, we’ll do the Astral Oath, and we’ll get it on acting. Piece of cake.” He nudged Hunter’s arm with his own. “For the boxed set, right?”

“For the boxed set,” Hunter repeated, but suddenly, the boxed set didn��t seem so attainable. “Okay. We can do this.”

The line moved slowly. Hunter could hear people ahead of them performing their characters, some strong and confident, and others barely managing to stumble out a “beam us up” before running offstage. But finally, the group ahead of them moved onstage, and Hunter could see out into the auditorium. Everyone who’d already gone had found a seat, adding to the number of people watching. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck.

For the boxed set.

“Cosmic Nerds?” the announcer called.

The full bridge rushed to center stage. Hunter watched, open-mouthed, as they pulled over to their respective bridge spots on the stage. The blue-uniformed one shook their head. “I don’t think the ground team is making it out of this one, Captain,” they sighed, “Logically, our best option is—”

The Captain Avery cosplayer straightened up, arms behind her back. “To leave them behind? No. Have you forgotten? Our crew is family. No matter who we are, or what we are, we love and protect each other.”

“Through supernovas, and solar winds,” the rest of the bridge chorused with them.

“Exactly. Now let’s get our family back.”

They rushed off the stage to thunderous applause from the audience, and Hunter’s stomach dropped. Captain Avery really had done better when on stage. And they’d performed the Astral Oath—if Hunter and Gus did that now, they’d just look like copycats.

There’s no way we win this.

Hunter started to back up, but then he and Gus’ names echoed from the front, and Gus stepped forward, accidentally tromping on the back of his heels, and before Hunter quite knew what he was doing, he was out on stage, with dozens of people staring at him, and a mic in front of him.

“Go on,” Gus whispered encouragingly, “Give me something to start the oath.”

“Um,” Hunter squeaked, and the mike screeched, making everyone in the audience wince. Hunter took a step back, ignoring Gus’ confused glance. His heart pounded in his ears. The stares of the audience bored into him, every single pair of eyes another judgement.

Say something

Say something

Say something

“Hey, everybody.”

Hunter blinked. Gus had taken the mic. He winked at the audience. “I know, breaking the fourth wall isn’t very in-character of me. But, well, maybe I don’t need to be Captain Avery at the moment.”

A murmur rippled through the watchers. Hunter took a deep breath, watching Gus. What was he up to?

“Cosmic Frontier means something special to everyone here,” Gus continued, “For me—and for Hunter—it found us when we needed it most. Avery, O’Bailey, and the rest of the crew showed up when home was uncertain, when who we were was uncertain, and they told us… well, they told us that even if we never found our way back home, that didn’t mean we couldn’t find our way to a family. And that family could be each other.”

Gus set the microphone back in the stand. “It might not be the Astral Oath, but hey…” he turned back to Hunter, holding out his fist. “I think Captain Avery would be okay if we used our own.”

A grin spread over Hunter’s face, and he bumped fists, elbows, and foreheads with Gus, both of them making an explosion noise.

“Captain Avery and Chief Engineer O’Bailey, beaming out,” Gus said into the microphone.

Hunter heard a piercing whistle and cheer as he walked off the stage. Shaari gave the two of them a big thumbs-up from the audience, her cheer setting off a wave of loud—if not as enthusiastic as the last round—applause.

The announcer took the stage again. “Aaaaalright. That was our last group, so. The judges are going to start their decision-making now. After the winners are announced, we’ll be opening up a vote for the crewmen’s choice. Be sure to scan the QR code and vote on your phone!”

Gus tugged Hunter to the back. “I’m sorry,” he murmured in a low voice.

Hunter blinked. “For what? I should be the one apologizing—I choked back there, I forgot Luz’s rule, I—”

“You wanted to back out. I should have listened.” Gus sighed. “Blinded by the box set.”

Hunter chuckled. “It’s a magnificent box set, to be fair. It’s okay, Gus.” He nudged his friend’s shoulder. “And—hey. Thanks. For what you said back there. It was… nice.”

“And now for our winners!”

Hunter and Gus turned back to the stage, listening impatiently through the solo costumes and original character costumes—Shaari won second and a free cosmic frontier keychain—until they reached the group award. Third place went by. So did second.

“And our first prize winner…”

Hunter held his breath, crossing his fingers.

“…Cosmic Nerds!”

The audience burst out cheering again as the group took the stage again, pausing for a photo, and for their prize. Hunter sighed.

“Oh, well.”

“Camila will be happy with a sticker, too,” Gus assured him, “We should go find her one.”

They wandered out of the auditorium, but before they’d gone far, Hunter felt a tap on his shoulder. This time, he managed to restrain his impulse to throw whoever it was over onto their back, and turned around.

Cosmic Nerd’s O’Bailey stood in front of him. The rest of the group cluttered in the auditorium doors, still laughing and elbowing each other.

“Make it quick,” their Avery called.

“Yeah, yeah,” O’Bailey called back. He gave Hunter Gus a warm smile. “Hey.”

Gus spoke up first. “Uh—hey? Congratulations on your win, man.”

“Oh, yeah, thanks. Um. I wanted to ask… is this your first con? I haven’t seen the two of you around, and the Cosmic Frontier Connecticut con scene isn’t exactly packed.”

“Yeah. It is our first.” Hunter squinted at him. What was his angle? “Why?”

“Thought so. No reason, just wondering.” He smiled that warm smile again. “Your costumes are really good—especially for a first con.”

Gus slapped his forehead. “Oh, MAN, I forgot to turn my headset on when we went out there! It lights up,” he explained to O’Bailey.

“Neat! Yeah, I just wanted to say… you know, what you said up there, that was really neat. I think a lot of us… Cosmic Frontier found all of us when we were vulnerable, and gave us something to hold onto. It gave us hope for something better when we were sweaty, awkward teenagers who no one liked.”

“O’Bailey!” the Avery said with exasperated fondness, rolling her eyes, “Come on, they’re announcing the crewmen’s choice winner!”

“One minute!” O’Bailey smiled after her, his expression softening. “Anyway… the people we met through Cosmic Frontier… well, the Cosmic Nerds are my best friends. They’re family.” A grin twitched across his face. “Anyway, all that to say, I’m glad Cosmic Frontier is still reaching teenagers like I was and giving them something to hold onto, the way it did for me.” He gave Hunter a thumbs-up. “I know what it’s like to be an O’Bailey. Seems like you’ve got a great crew already, eh?”

Hunter smiled despite himself. “Yeah. I do.”

Shaari pushed her way out of the auditorium. “Hey! Avery! O’Bailey!”

“Yes?” both sets answered.

Shaari flapped a hand at the Cosmic Nerds. “You guys already won, geeze. You two! Gus and Hunter! Hey! You won crewmen’s choice! Get back in there, they’re doing a picture, and they’ve got your prize.”

“We won?” Hunter asked, bewildered, “But we—we—”

“Spirit of the character’s sometimes more important than the bookline accuracy,” O’Bailey said with a wink, “Sounds like Avery’s speech did a good job rallying the crewmen.”

“Yes!” Gus fist-pumped the air. “Let’s go!” He started towards the door, then stopped. “Uh—well—Hunter—are you feeling up for it?”

“Of course,” Hunter said, and strangely enough, he meant it.

This time on the stage, the stares of the audience didn’t feel quite so piercing. This time, they cheered, and the announcer shook both Hunter and Gus’s hands, directing them to stand for a photo, and presenting them with a bumper sticker of Captain Avery giving a thumbs-up with the speech bubble “Keep Calm, and Don’t Crash the Spaceship.”

A grin split Gus’ face. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Hunter nodded. “This is going to look perfect on Camila’s car.”