#bhujerbanwrites

[bhujerban]

Open Seat, Open Road (intro)

AN: Long time no see, friends 💕 I haven't written anything in a hot minute, so I wanted to do something fun to get back into it. My partner and I have been taking a ton of road trips lately, and so I was inspired to write a little Choose-Your-Own-Adventure road trip adventure! There isn't a choice in this introduction, but we'll get there in the next update.

“The annual budget was leaked before they could do damage control,” Zelda announces as she strides into the garage. “I thought maybe one of his cabinet members had been having an affair or something.”

“That’s why they booked you a first-class ticket back to Castletown?” Link’s voice is slightly muffled as he slides out from under his car.

“Yep,” Zelda tosses him the morning newspaper, ignoring his soft exhale as it hits him. “Urgent, apparently, because they booked my return early tomorrow morning.”

Link scans the newspaper. “Front page news.”

Zelda tugs a hair tie off her wrist with more force than strictly necessary. “I don’t know why I expected anything different. This is just my father’s standard operating procedure.”

Link doesn’t respond, but his eyes flit up from the newspaper to meet hers.

“I expect that he’ll send me to a children’s hospital or maybe a food bank,” she continues bitterly. “The place will be full up with photographers, of course, and I won’t be allowed to actually lift a finger to help with anything.” She pulls her hair back, but hisses as the hair tie snaps under the forceful stretch. She tosses the broken hair tie to the side. “But given the backlash, I think they’re setting up a scandalous date for me as we speak.”

Link’s fingers tighten nearly imperceptibly on the newspaper as he stands up from the creeper.

Zelda manages to use another hair tie to put her hair up and lays down on the creeper. As she slides beneath the car, she asks, “What’s wrong with it now?”

“Nothing, I think.” She hears his footsteps move away and then back. “I was just checking on the skid plate. I thought I heard a sound the other day when I was driving along the Dragon’s Exile trail.”

Zelda fishes her small flashlight from her pocket and looks. “You’re fine.” She tugs at the zip-tie she’d used to reattach the skid plate after the screws were lost. “I secured it myself.”

Link is squatting near the back of the car when she slides back out. He gives her a small, crooked smile. “I shouldn’t have doubted you, Zel.”

She can’t help but return the smile, but her response is laced with frustration. “You’d be the only one that doesn’t.”

He pulls her up from the creeper and wheels it back to its spot under his work bench. “It doesn’t really seem fair to you…this whole thing.”

“It is what it is. It’s just Governor Rhoam’s way: province and politics over people.”

“Even his daughter?” Link asks with a raised brow.

“Especially his daughter.”

Zelda watches quietly as Link moves around the car. There’s a cargo box already attached to the roof rack and he is tossing things into the trunk carelessly: his sleeping pad, his sleeping bag, the nice tent she gifted him for his birthday last year.

“When do you leave again?” she asks.

“Tomorrow morning. I’m trying to get out at first light so that I can get to the Palu trading post by noon. I want to spend the afternoon hiking around the Seven Heroines.”

Zelda has to swallow the tide of jealousy that rises within her. “That sounds wonderful.”

“Yeah.” Link hesitates, glancing at her briefly. “It’ll be good.”

She stares at the collection of park stickers adorning the car’s window. “Sometimes I wish…”

He stops his movements to wait for her to finish her thought.

Zelda shakes her head and pulls her hair tie off. Her hair streams down her neck and shoulders like a golden river. “Nevermind. I just wish things could be different. I wish I could go on a road trip too.”

“You could join me,” Link says lightly. “The passenger’s seat is open and an extra driver makes the trip easier.”

“Sure,” she agrees sarcastically. “I’ll just bail on the flight tomorrow.”

But as she watches him gather the rest of his supplies, her thoughts begin to whirl. She couldn't just bail on the flight...right?

She couldn't just not show up at the airport tomorrow right?

Well, it wasn't as if there was going to be someone waiting for her at the airport. She'd be expected to get herself home and await further instructions.

So...

Why couldn’t she go on this road trip?

Why did she have to rush back to Castletown at her father’s beck and call? Why was it her responsibility to divert attention from her father’s political blunders? She always had to be Governor Rhoam’s golden daughter, getting in and out of trouble.

She leans heavily against one of the garage work benches. Hadn’t she held up her end of the bargain? It is supposed to be a moment of celebration for her. The first year of her MBA at Gerudo Town University had been a roaring success. Her coursework and network had flourished; just as she had promised her father it would.

She didn’t even get to study engineering as she’d wanted—the MBA was already a compromise!

Link was right, it isn’t fair that she has to rush back to Castletown to take the heat off the bungled budget. She wasn’t even a politician! She’d never wanted to be a politician! Yet she’s the one that has to go out there for some photo-ops and be seen with the latest hot and scandalous celebrity. She’s the one that has to deal with the whispers about her man-eating ways and her fake charity. And why? Because someone from her father’s inner circle messed up?

No!

Zelda jumps to her feet. “Link!”

He pokes his head out from behind the car. “What?” Then he does a double take at the fire in her expression. “...What?” he repeats warily.

“I’m going to do it.”

“You’re going to do what?”

“I’m going to bail on the flight tomorrow.” She tightens her hands into fists. “I’m going to come on this road trip.”

Link stares at her. “Won’t you get in trouble with your dad?”

Zelda meets his eyes with resolution. “Definitely, but I…don’t think I care anymore.”

Understanding dawns across Link’s face. He nods. “Okay.”

“Okay,” she echoes.

He leaves the garage for a moment and returns with another sleeping pad and sleeping bag. “I haven’t booked any hotels for the trip,” he warns her. “My plan was to camp as much as possible.”

“Of course!” A laugh bubbles out of her—it’s equal parts excitement and anxiety. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from you.”

Link’s responding grin warms her like the Gerudo sun. “You’d better go home and pack then,” he says. “We’re leaving at dawn.”

Zelda nearly vaults out of Link’s garage and hurries home. She flutters around her apartment, shoving clothing into her duffel bag haphazardly: her sun protection shirts, hiking pants, comfortable clothes for driving, shirts, sandals, sneakers, shorts, and one nice dress, just in case. She doesn’t stop moving, just in case she loses her nerve.

But that night, as she is washing up, she eyes her bag. Is she really going to do this? Father is going to be furious. She is and has been independent from him for years, but the idea of so overtly going against her father’s wishes is…daunting, now that she has had a moment to think.

Zelda looks at herself in the mirror. Her green eyes are still sparkling with excitement, despite her apprehensions. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and there’s a joy in her expression that she hardly recognizes. But her gaze settles on her long, blonde hair. It has become a signature look, of sorts, for her.

The golden, beautiful daughter of Governor Rhoam.

The moniker was assigned to her by the media and she is often identified by her hair. She had been proud of it—her mother was famous for her long gold strands–and spent considerable time and effort into the maintenance. But right now it feels heavy on her shoulders, chains that seem to shackle her to her family’s reputation.

She ponders this for a moment.

From the corner of her eye, Zelda spots the scissors she uses to trim her bangs. She seizes them impulsively.

She isn’t certain that people would recognize her. But her father is a an important figure in Hylian politics and, as a result, she's been in and out of the media spotlight. Even as a minor celebrity, her image is known to the public.

So it might be safer if she…

Snip…Snip…Snip…

She begins cutting her hair in a frenzy. By the time she actively remembers to draw breath, it’s done.

Zelda glances back into the mirror and the girl staring back at her is the same, but different. Her waist-length hair now hits just at her nape. The ends are choppy and uneven, a little wild. But somehow it works.

She looks down at the floor littered with her hair. It feels like a weight has been lifted.

She smiles at her reflection. Ready for a road trip.

[airplanned]

zelda and link are neighbors and their kitchen windows look into each other’s

Link had definitely noticed his neighbor across the alley.  She had a little balcony where she'd set up a chair and a table, and she'd sit out there for an hour every night writing frantically in a notebook.  It was summer, and she wore shorts and a sweatshirt, and she would pop her feet out of her flip flops and prop them on the railing, one ankle crossed over the other.

So, yeah, Link had noticed her.  But as the windows into her kitchen were right across from the windows into his kitchen, and with the heat both windows were always open, he also noticed how terrible she was at cooking.  It was hard to miss the great, black clouds of smoke and she coughed and tried to wave it out the window.  It was hard to miss her shriek followed by the wooshing sound of a fire extinguisher.

One evening, there was an awful smell, and he actually stuck his head out rather than try to keep to the shade of his apartment where there was a chance she couldn't tell he was watching her.  When she went to air out her apartment, he was waiting there for her, his elbows resting on the windowsill.  She startled, then shifted her eyes away from him in embarrassment.

"What are you cooking?" he called, and he was very proud of himself for not asking what she was trying to cook.

She gave him a skeptical look.  "Just squash."

"Are you steaming it?"

"Sauté."

"I'm not great at sautéing, so I steam mine."  This was a lie, but steaming was less likely to catch fire, and he figured it would make her feel better.

She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed to be getting unsolicited advice from a strange man at an embarrassing moment.  That was fair.  "Well, I don't have a steamer.  So."

"You got a pan with a lid?"

She pursed her lips at him.

"Because you can put like this much water in there.  Cover it.  Heat it."  He shrugged.  "Tastes pretty good."

"Okay."  She tried to hold back another cough.  "You have a nice evening."  Then she ducked back inside.

He knocked his fist on the windowsill and pushed himself back inside, cursing himself for letting that be his first (and only) interaction with her.  Now she thought he was a creep.  Awesome. Way to shoot any chance of anything in the foot.

He went back to stirring his sauce.

"Excuse me?  Umm.  Sir?"

He ducked his head back out, shocked to see that she was back, hands braced against the windowsill and leaning into the alley.  She looked surprised to be there as well.

"Hi.  Yes.  How--how long do I steam it for?"

Hope lifted in his chest.

[jenseits-der-sterne]

4 and 14 for 'under the surface'?

Awe, Under the Surface :) This one has a soft spot in my heart, as you could probably guess, @bhujerbanwrites 💖

4: What’s your favorite line of dialogue?

So for anyone that hasn't read this story, there's an analogy made between Link and cicadas. This definitely the only BOTW fic on AO3 tagged with "Cicadas" - I just checked to confirm and I also learned there are only 17 works in AO3 for all fandoms tagged with this 😂 Way back after I posted it on AO3, I sent this story to a friend outside of the fandom who's read some of my stuff and he immediately saw that tag and was like "whaaaat, why is your fic tagged with 'cicidas'?!"

ANYWAYS, this is just the set up for me to get to this bit of dialog between Link and Zelda:

“I… I wanted to say that…” He stops and draws in a deep breath. “Once I learned about cicadas, I kind of felt… I felt a sort of affinity for these weird bugs.”

“Oh.” Zelda is a little confused. “Why do you…” Zelda trails off, the analogy clicking into place before she even manages to finish her question.

Link shrugs, the gesture small and unsure. His eyes slide away from hers. “Being underground, locked away… waiting for the right moment to emerge. It... struck a chord with me.”

Zelda stares at him. In the last three weeks, he’s never spoken to her about this. They’ve never spoken about this. Perhaps this is hard…  Perhaps Zelda has made this hard for him, with the disappointment she’d felt in reuniting with him that very first day. “I see,” she says a little breathlessly.

He picks up a small pebble and fidgets with it, his eyes fixed on it as he speaks. “They come out of the ground and, boy, do they really make a racket with their singing.” He huffs out a quiet laugh. “Everyone knows they’re there, so there’s no missing it the year they emerge. And I… Well, I kind of felt like I was doing the same thing over the course of the last year. No one in Hyrule could mistake that something was happening… that someone was doing something with the Divine Beasts.”

It's hard to pick one single line of dialogue, but this little back and forth is at the heart of the story, so it's my favorite bit.

14: Is there anything you wanted readers to learn from reading this fic?

Hmm. Gosh. I don't know?

So... In the story, right after the Calamity, Zelda is disappointed with the answer that Link gives her regarding if he remember her. He's honest, because he's aware of how little he remembers beyond the memories, so he says he knows it's not enough. Zelda gets really upset over this and so they spend a tense-ish 3 weeks after the Calamity not really knowing how to interact with one another.

Eventually, the above cicada conversation happens and it helps them to begin to make progress with understanding one another.

So, I can't presume that my story teaches any lessons really. I think if there's there's anything to learn from it, it's that after a long time apart from someone, coming back together can be surprisingly difficult, even if you think you know that person really well. And in that coming back together, maybe you come into that reunion with expectations, but if the other person can't meet your expectations, then it's very easy for disappointment to drive a wedge between the two of you. If there's anything to learn from this story, I think it's to come in with an open heart and mind and try to understand where the other person _is_, not where you want them to be?

Heh. I had honestly not thought directly about this "lesson" until having to answer this question. I definitely faced a point in my life about ten years ago now that was like this, but it was worse than what goes down in "Under the Surface" and way more drawn out than 3 weeks. I came home after grad school and I expected things to play out a certain way, but when they did not play out as I expected, it was really disorienting. I felt pretty adrift and I was constantly at loggerheads over this. In hindsight, I wish that I'd been far more understanding than I had been and I wish I'd been able to roll with the differences rather than digging my heals in and being really disappointed and upset...

So, I guess that would be a lesson, if there is one to get from this story.

Thank you so much for the ask! 🥰

[intangiblyyourswrites]

LTS is one of my favourite AUs, and I’ve read tons of that. It really reads like a noir novel, you’d almost forget it’s LoZ ff. the source material feels almost like a cherry on top of the cake called « virtuoso writing ».

Hey Anon! By LTS, I assume you mean “Louder Than Sirens” by @bhujerbanwrites! Which, yes, I 100% agree with you! Bhujerban always has the best AU ideas—I love hearing her talk about them and her world building and execution is just *chef’s kiss*! I’m looking forward to reading more of it!

If anyone hasn’t checked it out yet, I definitely recommend it! Really teleports you to another world! 🔥🔥🔥

[jyndor]

in high school i did extra curricular music theory and the class was held at my teacher’s house, so we’d take off our shoes when we entered. one winter, i was leaving class and i slipped on (what i thought were) my uggs and they were a bit tight and i was like hmm weird. then i hear the twelve year old girl in my class behind me and she goes “um...those are mine.” 🙃

the most embarrassing part is that uggs existed like what were we thinking (I only had the knock off ones my parents wouldn't buy me them) but lol the attitude I feel in her comment 😆

um okay so I was in fifth grade and we had this sock hop dance which was whatever fun I guess idk because the only thing I remember is that my awkward self went up to my crush at the time and I asked him to dance and he looked at me, laughed, said "ha ha oh god no" and walked away 😂😂😂

oh mannnn jokes on him because I turned out hot as fuck but fifth grade was the year I got glasses AND braces so I didn't have much hope

[spacebeyonce]

11 and 13 for 'river rushing through my veins'?

I'M HERE I CAN FINALLY ANSWER AAAH

11: What do you like best about this fic?

oh that 100% goes to the bit in the field with the flowers, you know what I'm talking about. that was fun. but also, hm, I dunno. I did try and not have that tension right from the jump? that was enjoyable. like I really feel like if she did notice him, it would be objectively. she'd be like yeah he's pretty, whatever - I still hate his guts. every waking moment when I have to look at him is a reminder of what a failure I am and what I lack and it burns my ass. but then when she finally opens up to him and they start getting along it's not so objective anymore. and that was a blast.

13: What music did you listen to, if any, to get in the mood for writing this story? Or if you didn’t listen to anything, what do you think readers should listen to to accompany us while reading?

honestly I never really listen to music while reading anymore! it's very rare. but while I was writing this, hmm....I think I mostly ran through my most played songs of 2020 at the time. I did play liquid smooth by mitski a lot, which wasn't a chore. and maybe one day I'll make a playlist for the fic so you can get the Vibes.

[starkfish]

i just saw you reblog a thing about getting comments on ao3 and i figured i'd pop into your asks to tell you that you are literally the reason why i ship nedcat. 'it takes an ocean' is one of my favourite fics of all time and i go back to it a LOT. i'm really glad to see you posting again!

Ahhh, thank you so much!! This is so sweet! I’m so glad you enjoyed that fic, and it is always super flattering to hear when people reread one of your fics. :-D  Thank you again!! 

[newtsnaturethings]

Oh Hylia they were roommates 

@bhujerbanwrites​ has great taste in vines and I am always looking for an excuse to draw more memes.

Bonus:

This can also be a follow up to Link and Zelda not being as subtle as they think.

[idontreadheartbeats]

Last Sentence WIP

The lovely @bhujerbanwrites tagged me in this!

Anyway, I... can’t be sure what my last line is? I did quite a bit of writing today on multiple scenes for Anamnesis (update should be coming soon!) and I kinda skip around a lot with my adhd brain.

So I’ll include what I *think* was the last sentence I wrote today:

For years, she thinks, as it spills over her cheeks, the brine of squid ink in her teeth.

I like it. Not sure if I’ll keep it. We’ll see 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ll tag the ineffable @ladyaniko, the ever-patient @ajstyyling, and the wonderful @chronicallymills bc I always love seeing y’all on my dash 🥰

[bhujerban]

ok i'm BACK!

semester is nearly over, conference was attended, and my symposium went GREAT! i got an "outstanding job" text from my advisor and he told me he was proud of me (thanks dad).

i'm manifesting a 2025 phd defense and a fun post-doc in a great city. life is moving along, whether i like it or not.

SO!!! i am gonna write some fic!!!

i've been doing a ton of road trips lately and have been inspired to write a zelink choose-your-own-adventure road trip AU fic.

gimme a week to settle some of the starting exposition and we'll be off!!! i think this will be fun bc the last time i did a choose-your-own-adventure fic, tumblr didn't have the poll option yet, so things should go smoother now.

i'm just putting this out there in continuation of my manifesting things to happen. thanks for folks who have stuck around despite the hiatus!

[airplanned]

bhujerbanwrites: Also, Zelda is a sisterly villager and Link is 100% a jock villager

#

“MUSCLE MADNESS!”

Zelda startled at the sudden screaming, then blinked at Link a few times in confusion.

It seemed he was done shouting and smiled as if nothing were wrong. He happily explained, “That’s how I exercise my abs now.”

“...”

“It works! Look!” he said, pulling at the hem of his shirt.

Zelda pinches the bridge of her nose. “...Link.”

[jenseits-der-sterne]

Oh boy, thank you both for the tags @fatefulfaerie and @drsteggy!

rules: tag nine people you want to get to know better/catch up with!

Favorite color: It used to be green and red, but I think it might be purple now!

Currently reading: Honestly, nothing. I am about halfway through “Castle in the Air” by  Diana Wynne Jones and I started “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, but I haven’t picked up either in a bit. I’m the worst at reading right now...

Last Song: “Castaways” by Adam Neely and Martina DaSilva. It’s part of this current TikTok meme of a Backyardigans song from the 2000s, lol I kind of have to be aware of what’s going on with TikTok for my job and now I’m obsessed with this song.

Last Movie: Captain America!

Last Series: “This Is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist“, I’ve got one more episode to watch.

Sweet, spicy, or savory: oh, it really depends! Honestly, a combo of any of these I love, like if I make a burger from ground chicken, sometimes I’ll put in blueberries for a sweetness to go with the savory.

Craving: 2 things: 1. we’re looking to buy a house and it’s exhausting and sad at times. I’d really, really like for us to find a place and get our offer accepted. And 2. I’m with @drsteggy, I really just want time to just do fun, non-adulting stuff.

Tea or coffee: coffee, with oat milk and no sugar! I do like tea, as well, but I definitely have coffee every day.

Currently working on: “The Story Mill”, an as-of-yet untitled zelink fic, and “Before and After”. It’s funny, the as-of-yet untitled one is just making me want to write more “Before and After” which I... haven’t been able to write for months now. This morning I woke up and was just like “Yeah, I want to write more of this” and that hasn’t been the case for a long while. So, I’m honestly excited about feeling that way :) All of this is taking a backseat to our house search though

Tagging: @sassafrasss, @intangiblyyours, @airplanned, @aquaticpal @bhujerbanwrites, @newtsnaturethings, @ashleyswrittenwords, @dontwaitupxx, @moonoftabantha

[intangiblyyourswrites]

Aah!! Hi friend, I decided to make a new Tumblr account so that I can connect with other fic writers!! I have to figure out how it all works again, since I haven't really been on Tumblr since college. Your handle inspired me because I got locked out of my old account haha. Let's peer pressure each other into writing more!!

HIIIIIIII!!! I’m so happy you decided to join us on here! And I’m glad I can become a source of inspiration! 😜 I’m all for this peer pressure to write—though give me about a month (say post-July 10th?) before I fully give in to it lol. Also a grad student (BUT SO CLOSE TO BEING DONE).

To everyone else: this awesome person here writes Park Rangers and Other Complications, featuring archeologist!Zelda and park ranger!Link (aka wild pretty boy). 😍 I’m a sucker for modern AUs.

[littleredwritinghoodxx]

I was tagged by @intangiblyyourswrites

Name: dontwaitupxx (ff.net, AO3, tumblr)

Fandoms: Legend of Zelda

Where you post: AO3 and tumblr (ff.net is being phased out)

Most popular oneshot: Views from the Loft

Most popular multichapter: Treacherous Intentions

Favorite story you’ve written so far: Treacherous Intentions, that fic was my pride and joy, and every chapter was so much fun to write. Things happened in that fic that shocked even ME. 

Fic you were nervous to post: The Tip of his Sword. That was my first venture into writing smut, and I was nervous as all heck about the response. People loved it though, which made me happy, and hey, did someone say part two??? (what? what?)

How you choose your titles: Generally I’ll stick to a theme of the story and go from there. Titles are usually one of the first things I’ll come up with (lol long before the plot)

Do you outline: Sometimes. My longer fics yes, I need to know where I’m going. Shorter fics I usually have a note document on my phone with word vomits from 3 am the night before. 

Complete: 13 on AO3 (technically 12 because of part two of the fic I mentioned above), and an additional 2 tumblr exclusives (that makes it sound much more fancy than it actually is. Also, I need to update my master list)

In progress: Bitter Revelations, Treacherous Intention’s sequel, and no I don’t want to talk about it lol

Coming Soon:  Uhhhhhhhh I’ve got this idea for this fic where their house burns down in Hateno and yes it is as angsty as it sounds. Also, I’ve got this AOC/BOTW short story fic (8 chapters maybe?) that kind of blends the universes together and it’s also hella angsty. Also more smut??? 

Prompts: I wanna see more fics that revolve around the prompt “Link eats rocks”. Make it happen.

Upcoming work you’re most excited about: Now that I’ve mentioned it, I’m excited about Bitter Revelations. There’s a part in two chapters that I’m DYING to share with you all (see what I did there?) Of course, that means I actually gotta write the damn thing...

Tagging @bhujerbanwrites and @fatefulfaerie and @omegazeta5

[trueeasiann]

what’s going on with the BOTW Big Bang?

NOTE: this post was originally posted as a reply to this announcement made earlier today by the BOTW Big Bang mods. I’m reposting it in the general tag for informational purposes since the mods have hidden my reblog, along with other dissenting opinions.

for those out of the loop: this announcement was made by the mods because a participant in the BOTW Big Bang Discord server posted in the #shipping channel that they were concerned about art that was posted of a ship.

the relationship was Urbosa/Zelda.

the participant stated that they were a minor.

Zelda is 16 or 17 years old in the game’s canon.

Urbosa is around Zelda’s mother’s age, which can be anywhere above 16 years older than Zelda.

the participant stated that they were uncomfortable because this resembled a pedophilic relationship.

the participant was given a warning by mods that they were being an anti-ship which was not allowed in the server.

at least one other participant agreed with the original participant’s sentiment.

the original participant apologized for their statement.

shortly after, the #shipping channel was completely deleted.

I would like to state at this time that I am a ship-friendly person!!! I firmly believe that everyone has a right to ship whatever they want, to revel in their own kinks, and to express their own opinion on the Internet. Urbosa/Zelda shipping is not the issue here.

rather, as the mods have said:

“This event is meant to celebrate the characters and dynamics of BotW and give an opportunity for fans to create content they love. This has been the case since the inception of the event, and it will continue to be the case until the stories are written and the art is drawn.”

and yet, by banning minors – SIX WEEKS AFTER SIGNUPS OPENED – the mods have taken away that opportunity to celebrate and to create content for BOTW from a subset of those fans: their fans under 18 years of age. which is a key target audience of Nintendo’s for the LoZ series.

this is NOT how an inclusive community operates. it also does not solve the issue!!! adults can be uncomfortable with a particular ship for whatever reason too!!! and i do NOT mean that certain fanart has to be banned outright either – but at the very least, make efforts to keep it limited to the people that are itching to see it. that’s what a good moderator does, yeah??

i believe that a good moderator also does NOT accuse participants with legitimate concerns of “shaming” and “bullying” what folks ship. just as different people like different ships, different people also have different boundaries! a good moderator will work to accommodate those with stricter boundaries, not… get rid of them completely??

I also think that A GOOD MODERATOR WOULD NOT CENSOR FELLOW FANS THAT DO NOT AGREE WITH HOW THEY RUN THINGS. please see screenshots under the cut:

Exhibit 1

@bhujerbanwrites​ posted her intent to drop out in the Discord server, with the purpose of generating discussion, at 9:18pm EDT.

her message was deleted at 9:19pm after a mod acknowledged it:

Exhibit 2

@spicychestnut123​ posted her intent to drop out in the Discord server, again with the purpose of generating discussion, at 9:36pm EDT.

again, the message was deleted that same minute, after acknowledgement from a mod:

this goes beyond just shipping preferences. as a result, I will not be participating in any Big Bang event hosted by these moderators in the future.

[newtsnaturethings]

@bhujerbanwrites who painted the Mona Lisa? 🤔

Link to the original video here