#but if you can take a label that’s generally reserved for a specific set of pronouns

[sweetest-honeybee]

Gender and pronouns are very different. Example I myself am identify as nonbinary and use he/they, I do not identify as a demi-boy personally. It varies person to person :)

Well I understand not necessarily identifying as something but what’s the difference between wanting to be referred to a certain set of pronouns and putting a label on those pronouns?

[wcshedup]

aroyaltailor asked: Do you have any lore for some of the drugs in Hell? We know about H8 for example. How is that specific drug nastier than the rest?

holy SHIT this is a great question and I'm so glad you asked !! i have a ton of lore regarding h8 and I've never had an opportunity to yell about it one place so i hope you're ready to never hear me SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT THIS.

disclaimer !! everything below the cut is 100% fanon lore to this blog in collaboration with @fizzarollitm and @madefate ( a lot of this lore is the brainchild of our group chat over the last year or so )

h8 is a drug exclusively cultivated and sourced in the WRATH ring, where it is sold in very small qualities over the counter in capsules as a type of form of performance-enhancing drug. its desired effects include increased motor function, heightened sense, a decreased physical refractory period, and reduced inhibition. basically, it makes you feel fucking invincible for 6-12 hours.

utilization is typically reserved for older adults who struggle with energy levels and maintaining a personal level of wrath or physical prowess around times like harvest, pain games-like festivals, or holidays like sinsmas. however, because there are several cultural hang-ups regarding its use (notably implications of impotence or being 'past one's prime') among the citizens of wrath, abuse of h8 is generally only found OUTSIDE of wrath.

due to its low demand in its home ring, and the local knowledge that it isn't a substance to fuck around with, h8 is absurdly cheap and easy to obtain and traffic to other rings for the entrepreneurial hellborn.

it has a red, crystalized appearance that comes in a capsulated form over the counter, and in its street form (which comes in a larger crystal) it can be crushed and snorted OR melted to a liquid state and injected. it takes between 2 and 3 times MORE than the recommended dose for the average adult to achieve the high that h8 users -- often labeled as rageheads or h8ers -- are going for.

the effects from consuming h8 in qualities qualifying of abuse include euphoria, increased physical prowess, increased heart rate, paranoia, and jaw tension/stiffness (due to grinding) once a physical dependency is established, a user will begin to experience withdrawal effects 8-12 hours after their last fix, with that window decreasing the further into addiction the individual spirals. withdrawal symptoms begin with irritation and nausea and will progress into violent outbursts and high levels of physical pain quickly thereafter.

once a non-immortal being develops a physical dependence on h8, the likelihood of recovery is EXTREMELY low to none, and this is for several reasons.

the further from wrath the substance travels, so too does the likelihood of the crystal being cut with something non-consumable, such as a look-alike rock sugar or bathroom cleaner. this makes h8's quality variable between dealers and days and makes accurate dosing extremely difficult. as h8 is also an incredibly easy drug to overdose on when taken in off-label qualities, this raises the mortality of its user base considerably.

h8 was never intended for chronic use NOR for use in the qualities that addicts need to achieve and maintain their high. while its effects are intense, so is the physical toll on the body. even a ONE-TIME use will leave an immortal with a raging migraine and an aching jaw the next day, but a non-immortal chronic user can find themselves experiencing muscle wasting, psychotic episodes, and organ failure (specifically the heart, kidneys, and liver.)

h8 is not a substance that you can quit cold turkey. once dependency is established, the user's body will REQUIRE monitored intake of h8 in small qualities until they can be weaned off in a controlled setting, such as a rehab facility or hospital. half of the deaths related to h8 addiction are born out of an inability to obtain the next fix, or failure to procure placement in a treatment facility; at this stage of addiction, the stress of withdrawal on a body already under the stress of such a harsh drug, cardiac arrest is common.

many users also find the sheer pain of withdrawal too great to tolerate, making recovery nearly impossible, and self-unaliving is common among late-stage users.

[disabled-characters-showdown]

Guess what: We’re back on our shit

Welcome to the Disabled Characters Showdown Part 2

General Information:

Who can be entered:

Anyone can be entered that is disabled. This includes physically disabled characters, neurodivergent characters, and characters with mental health things like anxiety or depression. This is pretty much limited to canon confirmed characters (We’ll get more into that in a bit). Everyone that was in the prior round here and pretty much everyone from @gay-disabled-characters-showdown are free game but not guaranteed in unless they are submitted.

Who can not be entered:

Real people

Harry Potter

OCs

The usual suspects (We will make a post that will be updated as we go with other banned media)

Toph Beifong from Avatar: The Last Airbender and Toothless and Hiccup from How To Train Your Dragon. This is due to them being the finalists in our first round.

Complete list here.

What counts as canon confirmed:

Best: stated in canon

Other options: word of god confirmed, or heavily coded, they just aren’t gonna have a specific label due to setting.

What doesn’t count as canon confirmed (especially for things like PTSD): they should have a lot of trauma, but there is literally no acknowledgement of anything that could be construed as such.

If you are not sure a character qualifies please send us an ask.

Some notes on timing:

We have to write image descriptions for all the characters, which means to get the showdown set up it takes us a kind of ridiculously long time. This means when the showdown gets started is likely to change. Additionally, please don’t have any crises until the showdown ends on August 26. Unless you send us a message we won’t be able to respond until then. Any asks that we get by that time will be responded to, and then we will disappear off the face of the earth until like the 1st or 2nd of September.

Submissions:

Characters can be submitted in the google form linked. If you are not comfortable using a google form you can also shoot us an ask. You can submit as many characters as you like, but please do not spam the same character. The amount of submissions will not help their chances of getting into the showdown. We are aiming to have this as large as possible. When will submissions close? Who knows, certainly not us.

Please do not assume your character has been submitted just because they are from a popular media, they probably haven’t been.

Disclaimers under the cut.

1.) Please tell us if we are using the wrong terminology or are doing something offensive, we are trying our best but are also only human.

2.) This showdown will be as big as we can get it probably, however, we reserve the right to not include characters at our discretion.

3.) We will block without warning, please be civil when interacting with the content.

4.) If you have an issue with one of the characters feel free to send us an ask and we’ll figure out what to do from there. That being said this isn’t really about who is the best representation.

[circuit-if]

Hey everyone! This is just a quick frequently asked questions post with a couple answers to repeated questions in my inbox. Hopefully this addresses them all, but if you have anything not included here just shoot me an ask and I'll get back to you if I can.

★ Circuit Content Warnings: Circuit is rated 18+ for the following: sexual themes, drug and alcohol use, explicit language, and violence. This blog is ALSO 18+.

★ Ask Guidelines: I'm willing to answer general asks surrounding the story, characters, and mechanics of the game and blog. I'm also willing to answer asks of the following (more specific) types - "how would [char] react to," prompts, and NSFW prompts. I'm NOT willing to answer any asks relating to self harm, SA, SH, or explicit asks about pregnancy. I also won't answer asks offering unsolicited and unwanted criticism or advertising your own work.

★ Romancing Multiple Characters: You can romance multiple different ROs, but there will be points where you need to choose. I advise choosing 1 per play through if you're interested in more than 1.

★ Can we choose our characters ____? Here are a couple things you can choose about your character thus far into the story. These may grow as the story progresses.

First and last name

Pronouns, including set she/her, he/him, and they/them as well as an option to enter your own pronouns.

Preferences pertaining to physical appearance, such as hair colour (dyed or natural, can dye a natural colour), hair length, hair style, clothing style, eye colour.

Team colours, primary and secondary

Car design

Pre-race habits

Racing nickname

However, there are a couple things coded into the game allowing it to naturally pick up on your characters actions and label your character as such. Here's a little info on that:

Based on actions/choices during races, your character can be labelled a wildcard, a patient and cautious prowler, or a vicious daredevil, which the world around will take note of and respond to your character with. You can actively manipulate which of the three you are during races, but you cannot manually choose.

Actions/choices made in the public eye impact how the world responds to your character. You can hate the press or love it, ignore your fans or cherish them. Again, you can actively manipulate which of them you are during press/fan interactions, but you cannot manually choose.

★ Can my character be [personality]? I try to be as inclusive with my personality options as possible, so I'm inclined to say yes. However, I can't promise that every option will pertain to an ultra specific personality. In that case, I always make sure to include neutral options that cater to a wide variety of characters.

★ Any Romances Besides the ROs? Yes, but these will not be nearly as fleshed out as the main four. These will take the role of flings and will be short, without any particularly happy endings.

★ Do we have to participate in a romance route to play the story? A large part of the story is romance, but it is not its centre, so no. You can be best friends with each of the ROs and that can be the extent of your relationship.

★ Character perspectives: I'm definitely willing to write character perspectives on certain situations that happen in the story, however that will likely stay reserved to a future patreon page.

★ Fanfiction: Sure, you can write fanfiction.

★ Fan art: Sure, you can create fan art, so long as art including my characters remains generally true to the physical appearance given, which can be found here for the ROs.

★ Can we ditch Roman? Absolutely.

[itsclydebitches]

Tonight I came across a post (that won't hit my blog until July because I queued it) about how it's unfortunate that "fun" has supposedly become a requirement of video games, given that this severely limits how they can function as works of art. We don't limit other mediums by insisting that they only produce positive emotions and experiences in the recipient, so why would video games be any different just because they're (more) interactive?

This post isn't actually about video games, but rather how that argument got me thinking about RWBY and the recent resurgence of this "Why are you still here if you hate the show?" question. Now, setting aside the acknowledgment that 99.9% of people asking that are merely trolling behind their faux-concern—they have no actual interest in hearing a RWDE poster's reasons for sticking around, they simply want a way to say, "Get out" with plausible deniability—but if we treat this question seriously, I think that post on video games may offer some insight. I have numerous reasons for keeping active in the RWBY/RWDE fandom (initial love of the show, intellectual exercises, the community we've made, etc.) but there is also some level of investment in what would traditionally be framed as non-positive emotions. RWBY can make me feel very frustrated... similar to how playing Pathalogic makes me frustrated. Many of its plot-lines make me angry... the same way numerous video games' discriminatory writing can make me angry. RWBY's community, at times, feels like an insult-laden battlefield... but I've been doing PvP in WoW since it came out, so that's familiar too.

There are so many times when I've enjoyed engaging with a piece of media even when I really didn't enjoy it. Perhaps a better way of putting it would be that I found something worthwhile in the experience, even if I couldn't label that as "fun" or "happiness" or "satisfaction." Sometimes sitting with negative emotions is a good thing. Yes, you can take that too far just like you can take any behavior to an extreme, which is where the continual demands to "watch another show" highlight those posters' willful ignorance. We're already watching other shows. Reading other books. Playing other games. Engaging with a huge, diverse variety of art. Those who gain their own enjoyment from targeting strangers online (and isn't that a significant aspect to all this) want to make it sound like RWDE posters haven't touched a single piece of art other than RWBY in ten years and if they just found something they enjoyed without reservations then they'd drop RWBY like a hot potato. But I'm already watching numerous shows that I love unconditionally and have nothing substantial to critique; shows that have me internally kicking my feet and twirling my hair because they're just sooooooo good. I have that! RWBY is a different experience. It scratches a very specific itch of "I once adored this thing and now it's disappointing, but I want to see it through to its end and unpacking the ways in which it fails is a fascinating, cathartic mental exercise." I can't get that from anything else—not right now, anyway—so why would I want to give up this unique experience to fill my time solely with art that only makes me feel Generically Good? Art I have little to say about because it already feels #perfect to my mind? Sure, I could analyze a show's positives and sing its praises (which I often do), but at a certain point you run of out ways to say, "I like it." There's a reason why transformative fandom is built around the gaps in media: missing scenes, plot holes, retcons, failures, missed opportunities, horrible disappointments. Transformation comes more easily when you're already inclined to change the canon in the first place.

Idk, I feel like there's also an element of purity culture here where there's this push to make people think they must only engage with art that aligns precisely with their moral stance, produces only positive emotions, and invites nothing but praise. If the art makes you feel bad in any way than it is bad and you have a duty to remove yourself from it post-haste just ignore that we wanted you gone the whole time. Frankly, I think we humans can handle a bit more complexity than that? Obviously, as said, you wouldn't want to make Art You're Upset With the be-all and end-all of your media engagement, and this certainly isn't a call for anyone to engage with triggers unless they're inclined to do so, but a story you're primarily here to critique, or—yes—even a bit of hate watching can be "fun" in a non-traditionally fun away. Just because the art hasn't made you grin and pump your fist in triumphant doesn't mean it's not worth interacting with as art.

[bearratic]

From: Part 1 & Part 2. With @sanctissimx

As a feind, he loses his temper faster than most, the owner of a fuse so short it only needs a far away spark to be set completely alight. As a demon, Ais will tear you apart for looking at him sideways, not to speak about looking his direction in general, it is always your wrong doing. And as one still half a man, one labeled born in hell, Ais posseses deep predilection. A fondness so tender it can only be reserved for just one. If you were to ask him, he’d call it a weakness and slide it off his shoulder as if it was nothing more than a pest. Yet it will never even near the ground, it clingings to him uninvited, simple vexcation he cannot get rid off. Grained within his mind and muscle for just one out there. One the complete opposite to him, one with purpose, held in higher regard than the demon ever will be. The wild storm in the demon’s mind abruptly subsides as a hand is laid on his waist, he had been distributing rage knuckle after knuckle on what can only be said as-.. used to be a face. He looks up, the subtle fingers form a hold on him as they have been there quite a times before. Each singular time they have a different warmth to them, a different elucidation. Wrapping exactly along the lines of his body to fit and remove him from his own doing.

With the last heated spiting of “Bastard.” From the hellhound through his fanged mouth he lets his inebriated body be guided out. The colder Eridian air knocking on the door of his lungs instantly. A stench he finds it. Even so he scrunches his nose, the doctor next to him cleanses his heat fairly quickly, battling the anger with a scent of rosemary and tyme, wood, elegancy. Ais' ill temper made way for a fanged smile and lowly chuckle instead, had he gone too far once again? It didn’t matter, if it was up to him, he hadn’t gone far enough. Purposefully the demon leans into the hold of the taller Kuras just a more than truly necessary in his state. To him it was the obvious move once their hands were slid and locked into each other, so very careful not to scratch his gentler hands with his sharper nails, acessories that coat his fingers or general warmth they seemed to still radiate.

Not a thing escapes those golden angelic eyes as Kuras simmers down the demon, letting him walk in to a familliar zeal and to what Ais would call- sanctuary. The only one the horned one had ever stepped foot in, and not once. It seems deeply buried within him, known like the back of his bloodied knuckles.

A satisfactory grin as he takes seating, one ecxessive move due to the booze laced legs. Nevertheless, his sanguineous filled eyes just as sharp as before. “Tell me, healer. Isn’t favouritism deeply frowned upon in your field of.. work. Hence I seem to take up most of your precious resources.” The grin on his face holding something amiable canceling any harshness to his words, just like the deep gaze in his eyes. Kuras always seems to have time for him, it did not matter the time of day, nor night. The doctor seems to drop it all for him and he will not help but play into that privelage.

Ais- taking off the rings on his bloodied hand, continues. “For you i’d reach further than top shelf if it were to exist.” The blood splurts lingering on his slowly rising and flling chest, trail up to his neck. Both body parts move in shocking rhythm as he chuckles. “I wouldn’t dare defy any word spoken by you.” The demons’ wider frame taking up a spot in the clinic, casting a horned shadow on the walls behind him. The contrary of how the candles seem to specifically enlighten Kuras’ skin, as if it’s made from utmost expensive sleek material. The slow, burning hunger for a touch was biting within Ais. Just a quick feel, just in case it were to suddenly be shroud in darkness, no longer near, he knows holding on will do more harm than good. No need to get so close, and once again be left with a ghost, loneliness always being the most feared within him.

“Are you playing coy with me, doctor?” He speaks to the other, who seems to have his back to him for now. The demon raises out the untainted hand, the friction of his jewlery clinging gently against each other and it instantly falls back onto his thigh. That need for a touch was becoming increasingly dangerous. Like a wild animal he was still refraining from it. The same hand that would let soulless cary out his every desire, now withheld as if the other would fall apart if their skins did meet. Wouldn’t it be most blasphemous?

As the other had turned back to inspect his wounded hand he speaks. “Kuras.” The demon’s lips barely part when he spoke the others name turning it gravelly. Once again the less injured hand reaches out, this time it goes to the top of the others, feeling the bones within answer to the gentle pressure. Ais’ tongue lingers and waits on the sharp edge of a fang, chosing his next words carefully. “What’s an angel like you to do with a stray. Even within a wretched city like Eridia, there are enough standing above what I am. Yet I always find you next to me,”

Returning his hand he lets the other finish up as needed. His head looking up instead of to what is happening to his wounds. Trailing along Kuras’ neck, jaw, the only sliver of chest visible under his veil like coat. Taking him in, the soft gentler scent of the other tempering with his own smell of smoke and destruction.

"An improvement you say? I don't think I wish to do such a thing." The demon averts his gaze, why is it always with Kuras that it feels like not just two, but many eyes are on him. Why is he the only one that gets the respect and admiration without the use of a word. Those eyes, all of them have the same warmth to them, but it seems to be locked away, only spoken through actions. Missing the blood that seemed to have been left on the side of his mouth from the bar completely, he leaves even such a simple task to the trained medical practicioner. The accepted touch comes in the form of Ais turning back to face Kuras, accepting the hand that reaches out to his mouth though closely followed by the deep crimsons. The wipe, the skin on skin had him feeling vulnerable enough to make the demon clench his jaw. But it wasn't anger, neither fear. It was anticipation, it was the slow feeding of his relentless bottomless hunger. The way his blood goes up towards the doctors mouth, as if a most treassured gift and so it is used. It widenes the rogue eyes, not letting the eyecontact they had made drop for a moent, he’d call it a libidinous move. Returning the half curl of his lips, he leans his head nearer to the others body.

A demon that bleeds like a mortal, it would seem pathetic to most but to Kuras, it seemed to be unequal to all others. The wrapped up hands go to the other’s middle, one on each side as Kuras differs in length, making Ais practically stare at it in this seated position. He moves his legs apart, the heavy worn boots on each side just as well, only lessening the distance between doctor and patient every second. “If you’re asking me to stay. Do you think I will be the answer you’re searching for to fill the daunting silence this place brings you?”

[brynnterpretations]

Ship request for my OC Kat, please: she is greek/irish american, 5'6, light skin & slim build. Long, messy dark brown hair & brown eyes. Follows goth fashion so thick eyeliner & dark clothes. Very reserved, dislikes feeling vulnerable. The type to lie, talk shit or say weird things to get people off her back, but can be blunt & straightforward when she's not feeling defensive. Deeply loyal & generous to those she is attached to. Overall very curious, high tolerance for bullshit, & difficult to get a reaction out of. Smoker. Enjoys being ''that weird girl'', all things death & occult, crafting and thrifting jewelry (often picks up random stuff off the ground because she thinks it'd be cool to make something with), & bands such as Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Blondie. I originally made her to ship with Patrick but I'm open to any ship or ideas that come to mind for you :) love your blog!

Thank you so much for the kind words! This was super fun to write.

I ship Kat with...

Patrick Hockstetter ☻

GIF Source: @pennywise-fucker ★ (link)

Patrick is attracted to Kat at first glance. He loves goth, punk, and otherwise alternative looks — its inherent dissent from social norms intrigues him — so when he sees her dark eyeliner and clothes, he's set.

Patrick is not someone who cares for subtlety, at all, so he'll come onto Kat pretty quickly and aggressively. After making some demeaning catcalls to her in the hallways and private remarks to the gang, Patrick would either plop down at her lunch table or sit next to her in open-seating classrooms and firmly cement it as his seat (something Derry teachers wouldn't help with, because, "the quiet kid will help the rowdy kid behave, surely").

Would start off with a creepy pick-up line ("so, are you into what you look like you're into, sugar?") and eventually progress to random stuff that he gauges Kat's into, like post-punk music and dark subjects like true crime.

I think even for very dark-minded people, Patrick still isn't the most charming — flirting with a mouth full of cafeteria cheeseburger will never win you many ladies — so it would probably start pretty slowly and take some wearing down. With how guarded Kat is, Patrick would have to put effort into getting close to her, which would only make her more attractive to him. He'd start asking around about her and following her around town, specifically to the town record shop and thrift store.

After Patrick continued to make an effort and show genuine interest in Kat, conversations progressed into things more personal, like her interests and hobbies. He'd take her on surprisingly thoughtful dates for someone like Patrick, such as horror film showings and to smoke at the Barrens at night (though, proceed with caution, because... Patrick).

Patrick would never finalize or label the relationship — he's not that type of guy, sorry — but the Gang would definitely refer to her as his girlfriend, and it would be recognized by most as a relationship 2 – 3 months on.

He wouldn't have any qualms with immediately introducing Kat to the gang, at all. The boy does not care about any awkwardness and, anyway, would think it would be fun seeing how it goes. He likes to stir up drama, no joke.

Kat's first invitation to the gang is a smoking session at the Barrens, which goes... as expected, with Henry going nonverbal, Victor reacting how your typical stoner would, Patrick acting the same as normal (was he even smoking?), and Belch getting that glossy look in his eyes that precedes a sativa-induced panic attack.

They all like her, though!

Henry is a bit off-put by her appearance for the first month — sorry, but she's the girl he'd target for being different, considering he did at one point — but she'd grow on him, for sure. Surprisingly, if Kat called Henry out on bullshit, I feel like he'd have a lot more respect for her. Additionally, loyalty and honesty are some qualities that Henry likes in a person, even if he doesn't show it, so he'd warm up to Kat in his own Henry way...

Meaning he drunk-vents to her a lot. Like, a lot, a lot.

Belch would have a massive crush on Kat and has a hard time hiding it. He's very much into girls who are tough and can stand their own, and combined with Kat's looks, would feel very attracted to her after a couple conversations.

Victor would likely be one of her best friends in the group. Victor tends to really like forming friendships with walls-up, defensive types. He also has a similar music taste to Kat, being a big fan of Bauhaus and a budding fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and would trade records with you.

However, Victor doesn't like your relationship with Patrick at all. He likes Kat, and he hates Patrick, who continuously is a massive douche.

The guy loves to push people's buttons, and Kat's no exception. With how tough of an egg she was to crack, he knows she's got some baggage underneath, and routinely pushes her into stressful situations, whether it's making her entertain a crowd of people at a party, telling drama-hounds if she's talked shit about them, or putting you on the spot in front of the gang.

Unless Kat is willing to put up with that, there would definitely be some fighting in the relationship, though Patrick wouldn't take it that seriously as long as she was still entertaining him.

It's not all bad with him, though — their shared interests lead to a lot of good hangouts (and chemistry), and Kat can even hold theoretical and philosophical conversations about death and other topics with him, something a lot of people can't do with Patrick. He doesn't really take anyone's opinions on him seriously enough to share besides the random, offputting comment or "joke", so the fact he does it with Kat is impressive. While he doesn't exactly see her as a full-fledged person, he does recognize her as being interesting beyond being just someone he messes around with, and thinks her input on different topics is fascinating to hear.

Kat can expect a lot of... gifts... from Patrick, these including an old, banned mondo film from the '70s (?), a decently but not fully cleaned bird skull (??), and a necklace with a couple mismatching beads and a tooth of a mysterious origin (???).

For as much as Patrick gifts to her, though, he'd take. He'd end up stealing some of her custom-made jewelry and wearing it, TBH — he digs her style and finds it interesting how she makes things out of what otherwise would be deemed as trash.

Would overall not be the healthiest relationship, but still a pretty solid one, and not as disastrous as most relationships with Hockstetter.

[asunsetgrace16]

⌜ ｇｕｉｄｅｌｉｎｅｓ ⌝

I am super grateful for any interaction, whether it is likes, comments, reblogs, or friendly advice. I'm writing as much for you guys as I am for me, so feel free to send in requests, random asks or chats, or just hang out for a while!

Requesting for Fics: Open

Requesting for Headcanons/IG Edits: Open

⌜ ｄｉｓｃｌａｉｍｅｒｓ ⌝

⤷ this blog interacts with nsfw content and it may lead into conversations that are more suggestive (but not meant for anyone's harm)

⤷ I reserve the right to all my work

⤷ All my pictures are from Pinterest or screenshotted from Instagram - if you see your picture on any post and don't want it up dm me and I will take it down

⤷ reiterating that my blog is a safe space for everyone. I have a zero-tolerance policy towards hate from anyone, whether it is directed at a player, myself, or anyone else. You will be blocked in any occurrence

⌜ ｒｅｑｕｅｓｔｉｎｇ ｇｕｉｄｅｌｉｎｅｓ ⌝

Prompt List

⤷ Feel free to send in songs/lyrics/gifs, etc for inspiration with your request

⤷ The more details you provide the better

⤷ If you want a specific POV, please include it

⤷ My default POV is a fem!reader as that is where I feel I can write the best and am most comfortable writing

⤷ I will do my best to keep any physical descriptions to a minimum so the reader insert fics are more general for any reader

⤷ My ask box is titled Question…?

⤷ There are more players I am willing to write for than ones I’m not, so if I don’t feel comfortable writing a player, I will reply that I am changing it

⤷ I am going to be perfectly honest here, if I don't find the requested player at least somewhat attractive, I might not write for them. It's shallow I know, but we all have faults and some people are just not my cup of tea

⤷ I will never write about dark content, SA, self-harm, domestic violence/abuse, drugs, or any theme that makes me uncomfortable

⤷ I have no intention to set a release schedule. I work at my own pace to ensure my best work

⤷ Please don't send me a request that you have sent another creator and vice versa. It isn't fair to me or them

⤷ All usernames in the Insta edit posts are made up, if any are actually the same as the player's real one, that is a random coincidence

⤷ The ballpark word count for any of my fics is around 1k, if it is under 450 words it will be labelled as a blurb

⌜ ｎｓｆｗ ⌝   ⤷  I won't write purely smut fics, the most I'll write is semi-NSFW/suggestive blurb

⤷ Keep it respectful regardless

⤷ I will not write anything remotely NSFW for any player under 19

Disclaimer: the no explicit NSFW for under 19 rule does not apply to making out, allusions to smut, or things similar because a) what is more teenager than making out on the couch and b) that is what I feel is appropriate writing about for that age. This is not in any way shape or form making excuses to justify writing whatever I want about whoever I want. This is solely based on my perspective, my comfort levels, and my morals. If you have problems with this or anything else on my blog, feel free to block and/or unfollow me.

[1voo]

Sustainable Clean Sweep: Unveiling the Secret to Gleaming Floors and Surfaces with Eco-Friendly Care

When it comes to creating a welcoming and comfortable living space, cleanliness is key. However, maintaining a spotless home shouldn't come at the expense of our planet's health. Conventional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals that can have a negative impact on both the environment and our well-being. But fear not – the solution to a cleaner and greener home lies in the world of eco-friendly floor and surface care. Let's unveil the secret to achieving gleaming floors and surfaces while treading lightly on the Earth.

The Downside of Conventional Cleaners

Conventional cleaning products have been the go-to choice for many households, but they come with a set of drawbacks that cannot be ignored:

1. Harsh Chemicals

Traditional cleaners often contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to our health and the environment. These chemicals are not only released into the air as we clean but also find their way into water systems, causing pollution and endangering aquatic life.

2. Plastic Pollution

The packaging of conventional cleaning products is usually made from plastic, contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis. These plastic containers can take centuries to break down, filling up landfills and polluting our oceans.

3. Carbon Footprint

From production to disposal, the life cycle of traditional cleaning products generates a significant carbon footprint. The manufacturing process, transportation, and disposal of these products contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The Eco-Friendly Revolution

The good news is that there's a better way to keep your home clean and shining without harming the environment. Eco-friendly floor and surface care products are here to revolutionize your cleaning routine:

1. Natural Ingredients

Eco-friendly cleaners harness the power of natural ingredients, often derived from plants, to effectively clean and maintain your floors and surfaces. These ingredients are biodegradable, meaning they break down naturally without causing harm to the environment.

2. Healthy Living Spaces

By using eco-friendly cleaners, you're making a conscious choice to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals. These products are formulated to be non-toxic, ensuring a healthier indoor environment for you, your family, and your pets.

3. Minimal Packaging Waste

Many eco-friendly cleaning products come in packaging made from recycled materials. Some brands even offer refill options, helping to minimize the amount of new packaging that enters the waste stream.

4. Sustainability Focus

Eco-friendly cleaning brands are committed to sustainable practices. From sourcing renewable ingredients to using energy-efficient manufacturing processes, these companies aim to minimize their ecological footprint.

Transitioning to Eco-Friendly Cleaning

Transitioning to eco-friendly floor and surface care is a step towards a cleaner home and a healthier planet. Here's how you can make the shift:

Research and Educate: Look into eco-friendly cleaning brands, read about their practices, and understand their ingredient lists. Being informed will help you make the best choice for your needs.

Check for Certifications: Look for certifications like "Green Seal" or "EcoLogo" on product labels. These certifications ensure that the products meet specific environmental and health standards.

Experiment and Evaluate: Try out different eco-friendly cleaners to find the ones that work best for your specific surfaces and cleaning preferences.

Spread the Word: Share your positive experiences with eco-friendly cleaning products with your friends and family. Encourage them to make the switch as well.

A Brighter Future with Eco-Friendly Care

Gleaming floors and surfaces are no longer reserved for harsh chemical cleaners. By embracing eco-friendly floor and surface care, you're contributing to a cleaner, healthier home and a more sustainable planet. It's time to unlock the secret to a truly clean sweep that doesn't compromise on the well-being of our environment. Join the movement, make the switch, and experience the transformative power of eco-friendly cleaning for yourself.

[multifairyus]

okay @cqcophobiq inspired me to be brave and stop camping out in the tags. I’m a real stream of consciousness kinda gal so hopefully this makes sense and not *too* rambly! Ahem:

🔥🔥🔥AUTISTIC HOBIE RIGHTS 🔥🔥🔥

This makes SO much sense @gutsygremlin! The fact that being cisn't is is very common for neurodivergent people also makes me nod vigously to this post. Hobie Brown is built different. Blackness, queerness, and neurodivergent paint such a specific picture for the type of person you end up being and how you interact with the world.

I got formally peer reviewed and therapist referred for autism like, last week?Also never masked—what you see is what you get. And since I didn’t KNOW something was “wrong” with me, I didn’t realize how bold of a statement I was making by simply being myself. Subconsciously for 25 years I’ve more or less communicated to people “…oh, am i not picking up on cues and making social faux pas? You want me to get back in the kitchen and cook up another personality/demeanor for you? This ain’t build a bitch hoe. What you see is what you get.” And it wasn’t intentional, but makes me a very polarizing person! I really relate to the concept “autistic rizz” (charisma). Tons of it—harder to realize i had symptoms cuz i love people! However, with autistic rizz comes autistic “puls”, (repulsion).

So, brining it back to Hobie being autistic and it’s like…yes he’s already cool but so much cooler cuz even without a diagnosis or peer reviewing, he knew he was polarizing, thought different. I feel like being a tall, darkskinned person with very afrocentric features set him up to be “intimidating” and gawked at WITHOUT the punk aesthetics. This wonderful Tik Tok by Chris Whoa talked about how he felt cosplaying Hobie. He felt empowered because Hobie “doubles down” on taking up space being black and alternative, and that people who would treat him differently/get scared off by his aesthetic aren’t people he needs around him anyway. If him being himself is repulsive, in his own words…”Good.” And to baby autist me that’s SUCH an inspiration like wow 🥺 that said, while we’re talking about masking…people have pointed out that Hobie a lot more animated/upbeat/physically affectionate in his suit whereas with his mask off, he’s more reserved and serious. Huh. Imagine that…

Onto the gender bit: I saw non-binary Hobie a mile away. The fuck does that man looking like adhering to not just gender roles but the concept all around? I think he'd be annoyed at how the term “non-binary” is being treated like a third gender rather than a category, and thus just another label. But in general? Yeah fuck that binary shit.

That said personall, regardless of if he’d define himself as such…I get gender-fluid/genderflux vibes from him. Obviously, you don't need fashion as a way to express gender. But I think Hobie could and would.

He has SO much gender?? Genderful even! Why I love AUs/headcannons/timelines where he has the time/housing stability to have an interest in fashion and makeup and playing with expectations. he's so pretty and handsome like if a man and a woman had a baby ��

I wish people stop overemphasizing the one “punk” trait from Hobie…because forcing all of his fashion and music etc to be ONLY punk is not punk and I for one adore the inconsistency he swears by. If we can’t pin down a gender for him how can you pin down a genre you can’t, exactly.

Hobie is such a silly goofy guy tho. Like he’s absolutely the type of queer to, when asked for pronouns or how he identifies, say something like this:

“”Gender?” Y’need me to put a little sticker on m’ forehead of what I am so you can work out what it “means” when y’get an eyeful of all this, yeah? Cute! All you *actually* need to know if that you're into me you are not straight. Yup. Don’t make the rules—don’t believe in them actually. But that rule is the most help you’ll get from me to figure that out. Not my problem l'm universally appealing innit?”

i want some more heavily analytical headcanons of Hobie brown (from black queer ppl)

what are ur thoughts. give them to me

[heretherebedork]

Are there any specific BL shows you would recommend to someone just getting into the genre?

Hmmm. This is always a hard one for me! Because there are so amazing ones but so many of them should come with warning and also if I start on the really good ones what happens when you finish those and realize the rest aren't that great?

Also, how do I give advice without knowing who I'm advising and their taste? That's the biggest issue for me with an 'intro course' because you never know what people like and don't like. There are people who hate every. single. show. I've recommended here.

Now, to clarify, I started on what I call the Netflix route. I watch The Untamed and then SOTUS and then found Viki and watched Love By Chance and that got me into the fandom. Would that work for everyone? Not a chance. But it just goes to show you that anything can get someone into a fandom if that's what they like.

So this is a list of BL shows i feel show the best of the industry... and a few on the list that are there because they show you what MOST of the industry is like as well. Take a sampling. Try a few shows. Don't limit yourself to any single country or genre. Sample.

There's SO much out there. You never know where your taste may take you. Search BL on My Drama List. Ask multiple people for where to get started. Look at gifsets on here and see what appeals. My taste may not be your taste, my idea of amazing may not be yours, my idea of the best of the best may not fit in with what you like.

So... ANYWAY. Disclaimer out of the way! Here's my list of where to start based on what I think is a good intro to BL itself through amazing shows and also trope-filled shows.

1. A Tale of A Thousand Stars: The story of a rich young man who needs a heart transplant, gets it from a young woman who was a volunteer teacher in a poor village and falls in love with one of the soldiers in the village. Absolutely lovely. Just fantastic. Gorgeous characters, amazing setting, fantastic story. Seriously. This will spoil you for a lot of lesser shows but if you start with it you'll know how good the genre can get.

2. Cherry Magic: Adachi is an office worker who considers himself awkward and boring and not very good at anything... until he turns 30, gains the power to read minds from being a virgin and discovers that the top worker at his office, Kurosawa, has a huge crush on him. The softest, sweetest, most gentle BL and just fantastic. Highest of the high recommendations. Seriously. A great place to start.

3. He's Coming to Me: Mes is a ghost. He's been dead for a long time. And Thun has been visiting, and seeing him, since he was a child. When Thun is going to University, he ends up taking Mes with him and their real adventure begins. Warning for death but holy shit is this one good. So good. Absolutely amazing and wonderful, plot-driven, a need to watch show.

4. Until We Me Again: WARNING: SUICIDE AND DEATH. In and Korn were forbidden lovers 30 years ago. Dean and Pharm dream of them every night and recognize each other on sight. Fate brings them together but can fate really lead to true love? An amazing show, absolutely beautiful, deep characters, deep plot, filled to the brim with emotion and highly recommended but heed the warning, okay?

5. Be Loved In House: I Do: When Shi Lei's new boss, Yu Zhen, takes over the jewelry store and introduces a rule that everyone working there must be single, Shi Lei is ready to throw hands for his friends. So what happens when he slowly finds himself falling in love with that strange man? This is just such a soft little show, filled with joy and softness and idiots. Absolutely a great place to start yourself on Taiwen BL.

6. All the Korean BL movies: I know that this is just a label but, like, literally all of these are soft and short and a great place to start to just get a feel for the shows coming out of Korea. Not as trope-y but just generally... good. ALWAYS watch the movie version.

Wish You: Tiny musician catches the eye of someone working for a record label

Where Your Eyes Linger: Bodyguard and the boy he guards

To My Star: Puppy movie star (who's more neurotic than he lets on) meets stiff chef (who's softer than he lets on)

Color Rush: In a world where a portion of the population can only see in shades of grey until they meet the person that lets them see in color... and are considered dangerous for this... a mono meet a probe. The best of the bunch!

Mr Heart: A marathon runner has stopped winning and another young man is hired to help him get back to winning. Honestly the weakest of these in my humble opinion.

Nobleman Ryu's Wedding: Historical Idiots being historically soft and historically stupid. That's is. Young man dresses as a woman to cover up that his sister ran away from an important marriage but the groom ends up loving him regardless.

7. Light on Me: A student who's never had a friend is convinced to at least give it a try and joins the student council where he meets a sweet young man, a jokester and an awkward and confrontational young man... and there's a lover triangle because what else would there be? Oh, this one is SO good and so soft and very emotional and sweet and has a fantastic love triangle and introduces you to tropes very smartly. Definitely a good place to slip into the genre and see how the tropes get played.

8. Ingredients: A chef lives with a musician and takes care of him every turn. Yes, it's an extended ad series. But it's also soft BL filled with every trope imaginable and it's a good place to just let yourself get used to Thai BL and how it feels.

9. Oxygen: When a rich young man who can't sleep finds himself at a coffee shop in the middle of the night, there's no way he expected to meet the love of his life. But when the barista offers him warm milk to help him sleep? He's lost. I put this one on here with a few reservations because there's a side pairing that is just horrible (skip all scenes with the doctors and the coffee shop coworker for your own good, okay?) but the rest of the show is just so good and so soft and I love it so much.

10. My Engineer: A sassy freshman meets a senior engineering student who is SERIOUSLY into getting sassed. A quiet introvert meets an extrovert who refuses to give up. One friend has been pining for years and has decided friendship is good enough. This one, again, goes on with reservations. It's a good start for getting into most of the more typical Thai BLs. Gives you the regular tropes, gives you the more typical relationship and friendship things... This is a good place to start if you want to be prepared for most of what you're going to watch, frankly.

There. I'll stop there. I think that's a good set. @absolutebl may have some more ideas? I kinda went basic on this list, no denials. And maybe a bit weird as well. No denials.

[comewithmeintothedeep]

The Dark Mother’s Welcome

Hello! My name is Wynn (she/him), I’m 21+ years old (October 23rd), and I run this blog. It’s meant to be very self-indulgent, though not just for me, but for everyone who has an interest in monsters and non-human entities such as myself. I seek to fill out niches and appeal to people’s desires, both perverse and innocent, to deliver what the heart doth seek.

Testaments

My works and my writing is free, however, if you wish to support me financially, I do have a Ko-Fi available to donate to. It’s not mandatory that you do so and you don’t have to submit requests through donations, I would prefer it be done through Tumblr’s ask box. This is essentially a tip jar for my audience to toss money into if you want to casually support me.

When you send in a request, please specify the gender of either the reader or the monster otherwise I’m going to default to ambiguous/gender neutral for the reader and pick something for the monster. Reader also does not have to be human. 

I’m also very LGBTQ friendly, so don’t feel shy suggesting or requesting nonbinary genders. My experience is personally very limited despite not being cis myself, so please be patient with me and if I’m doing something wrong or inaccurately, feel free to just gently let me know. I care about learning.

I have specific lore for specific monsters, but my lore pages are more general guidelines and suggestions than hard fast rules. It’s just easier for me to have some sort of baseline, but please don’t feel as though you have to stick to just the ones I have written down. The entries are also works in progress as is and will be changed/added to later.

I’m open to any suggestions or specificities, even ones that I am not personally into. I consider it important to branch out of my comfort zone in terms of writing. However, that does not mean that I don’t reserve the right to reject a request if I feel uncomfortable writing it. I do have my limits as well, though I don’t have very many, if I’ll be honest. However, I do have a few squicks. No mpreg, no Hanahaki Disease, no vore, and nothing to do with scat, urine, or vomit. Those are my big ones and if a submission otherwise makes me uncomfortable, I will simply not do it and I will update this list of squicks.

Motivation and hyperfixations switch on the fly, so my activity may not always be consistent. I also have a full-time job and other hobbies which take up my energy and time, so please be patient with me. I flit in and out of writing for this blog and I write at my own pace. This is a hobby for me, not a full-time job. I write when it’s convenient and I have the attention for it, since I don’t like rushing my projects.

I have lists of my own of content to put out aside from just requests to spice things up and keep content fresh and coming as well as potential sequels to certain pieces. I also try to do my requests in order, so if you feel as though I’ve ignored yours, I haven’t. It’s just sitting in my inbox and I will get around to it. I just want to have nice rotations between my own list of prompts, requests, and sequels to previous fics.

I’m assuming you know more or less what you’re getting into, but I do try to tag everything appropriately, but if you need something tagged, please feel free to let me know and I will. Doesn’t matter how seemingly small or trivial, I will do so.

A lot of content on here is going to be NSFW, though not all of it. It will all be labelled as such. For this reason, I would prefer it if minors do not follow this blog. I do not want to be held liable for that and from personal experience, it’s better if you curate your online experience and avoid that content until you’re older. Not that I can physically stop you, but just be mindful of myself. This is a boundary I am setting.

I do welcome fanart and submissions. I don’t mind seeing people be inspired by what I write and would actually love to see it! But don’t take this as an obligation or anything. This is all supposed to be fun, after all.

Even though I do have SFW pieces, I wouldn’t recommend minors be on this blog. There’s just too much NSFW stuff on my blog for me to be comfortable with that.

If you submit an ask, please submit it anonymously. This is to prevent asks from getting deleted should you deactivate your blog for whatever reason. If you want your username known and shown, please include it in the ask itself.

Tag Guide

The Dark Mother Speaks - Reponses or commentary from me.

The Dark Mother’s Testaments - Rules.

The Dark Mother’s Scriptures - Written works by me.

The Dark Mother’s Library - Written works by others.

The Dark Mother’s Pieces - Art made by me.

The Dark Mother’s Gallery - Art made by others.

The Dark Mother’s Treasures - Submissions or fanart/fanfiction of my works or characters.

The Dark Mother’s Echoes - Muses and imagines.

The Dark Mother’s Vision - Aesthetics, photos, and gifs.

The Dark Mother’s Song - Music and playlists.

The Dark Mother’s Riddles - Memes.

Masterlist

A comprehensive easy-to-navigate list of all the fics I have written thus far in order and organized by the reader’s gender.

Request Counter: 105

Monster Lore

A comprehensive set of lists of the various monsters I have made loose rules and guidelines for. My lists are a constant work in progress, so more lists and more entries to the lists may be added in the future.

Horror

Mythology

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

[dwellordream]

“Because informal camaraderie between the sexes was an unfamiliar phenomenon, figuring out how to relate to each other was a complicated matter for both men and women. As one young man noted in 1924, "Nowadays when a woman goes everywhere and does everything, it is very difficult for a man to figure out how to treat her." "How is a man to know how to treat a woman anymore?" asked another bewildered soul. Obviously, these and other young men were at a loss when it came to relating to women as friends and companions. Did female companionship mean, they wondered, that men had to be courteous and gentlemanly at all times? 

Would they have to refine their language and manners in order not to offend female sensibilities? Or should young women simply be treated as men would each other? Most often they found no clear answers to these questions, and they had a hard time imagining new ways of behaving. "No matter what I do," grumbled one young man, "I never seem to do the right [thing]." Young women seemed equally unsure about how to interact with the opposite sex. On the one hand, they longed for frank conversations and easy rapport. On the other, they did not need advice columnists and etiquette experts, or their mothers, to remind them that "nothing is as delicate as a woman's reputation."

As they well knew, simply seeming too anxious for male companionship or too careless in selecting one's company was sufficient to cast doubt on a woman's moral rectitude. Yet, showing too much reserve might mean missing out on having fun. Their concerns were therefore of a different kind than young men's. Was it really true, they wanted to know, that men found women who went out at night by themselves to be "cheap"? Did men approve of women who wore lipstick? And under which circumstances could a woman allow a young man to walk her home? "I don't want to be prudish, but I don't know what is appropriate," one nineteen-year-old woman wrote, summarizing the dilemma she and many other young women faced.

In public discourse, the uncertainty over new codes of behavior came to a head in discussions over the seemingly trivial issue of male chivalry. Throughout the 1920s, young men and women debated this matter with an astonishing passion, and for that reason alone it is worth examining. What were these discussions about? What caused them? What was it about this issue that triggered such intense feelings? And what does this tell us about the difficulties associated with establishing cross-gender camaraderie? On the surface, the lines of conflict were clear enough. Over and over again, young women complained about what they perceived as rudeness among men. "Why are Danish men so ill-mannered?" "Femme" wanted to know in 1923.

"Girlie" was convinced that "chivalry and courtesy disappeared along with the crinoline." Writing from Italy, another woman was sure that Scandinavian men would "die of embarrassment" if they saw the gallantry with which "even lowly dock workers on the Arno River treat a woman." Adding insult to injury, one of the few Langelinie girls to speak out in public claimed that her interest in the visiting sailors stemmed solely from the fact that the foreigners were "considerate," "gentlemanly," and "chivalrous" companions who did not try to take advantage of "a decent and well-behaved young girl" like herself.

"A Copenhagen Girl" agreed. Since "you can use a very strong magnifying glass and still not discover even the tiniest trace of chivalry" among Danish men, she didn't find it surprising that nice girls like herself preferred the company of men like "Pierre and Giovanni, Tom and Jack." In most cases, young men declared themselves guilty as charged, but, they argued, this was only because chivalry was an outdated form of conduct entirely incompatible with the kind of camaraderie women seemed to desire. "What is it that determines that a man must always be chivalrous toward a woman?" a self-described "nonattentive gentleman" thus asked.

Another young man who defiantly labeled himself "nongallant" wanted to know whether "a young woman has any right to be offended because I do not pick her up before a dance but ask her to meet me at a trolley stop?" "Mack and Jack" were equally annoyed by what they saw as unreasonable demands on the part of female companions. "We are two young men," they wrote to an advice columnist in 1923, "who would like to hear your opinion about the behavior of two young ladies. The other night after we had been out dancing together, the young ladies wanted us to escort them home, but we live at the opposite end of town and escorting them home would have taken more than an hour out of our night's sleep, so we refused. Now they don't want to see us again."

The unmistakable tone of anger, resentment, and indignation that runs through this discourse suggests that more than etiquette was at stake in the controversies over chivalry. When young people debated whether men ought to open doors, assist with overcoats, carry packages, offer cigarette lighters, give up their seats in trolley cars, and walk companions home, they were, of course, trying to determine what constituted proper behavior in an era when gender norms were being redefined. That in itself was fraught with difficulty, and the confusion they expressed was genuine. 

But because both men and women perceived chivalry as a source of power and control, their "conversations" are therefore best understood as part of a much larger struggle over the relative status of men and women in a changing cultural context. For that reason it became such an intensely contested issue. Certainly, women's insistence on male chivalry was not merely motivated by a desire to indulge in the pleasures that spring from a companion's service and attentiveness. In their eyes, chivalrous behavior indicated, among other things, a certain level of male regard. After all, it had in the past only been disreputable women who could not legitimately demand such treatment. 

Insufficient male chivalry was therefore seen, even among many self-proclaimed "modern" young women, as an insulting sign of disrespect. More importantly, young women also perceived chivalry as a sort of sexual safety mechanism. At the heart of the ideology of chivalry lay the notion that men were responsible for serving and protecting women. Therefore, as long as women could hold men to a code of behavior that emphasized courtesy and (sexual) self-control, their ability to protect themselves from physical and moral danger seemed all the greater. And if this potentially greater degree of safety came at the expense of what seemed more egalitarian companionship, that was a price worth paying for most women. 

Besides, despite their modernity, young women were not out to eradicate gender-differentiated forms of behavior. While they were eager to assert their independence from older patterns of social interaction and to develop new forms of camaraderie with men, they still insisted on their femininity and on having that femininity acknowledged by male companions. "It might well be," one women poignantly argued, "that women in this country have reached their goal in terms of equality with men, but that does not mean that they have stopped being women."

That sexual equality and continued male chivalry were demands not incongruous with each other was a claim many men found hard to accept. "We don't understand how young girls can demand to be equals and at the same time demand to be treated as ladies," two male friends explained. "Women have by now for many years sought equality with men," another man elaborated, "and it is therefore my infallible [sicl] opinion that the ladies must either be entirely independent in all matters and renounce gentlemanly gallantry, or they must relinquish their equality with men." With such comments, young men laid bare what was for them at the heart of this matter. 

Clearly, they expected women to reciprocate for the favors and attentions they received with a certain degree of modesty and deference. As Karen Dubinsky has pointed out, the flip side of chivalry and protection is power and control. When men no longer felt they had power and control over women, they were, as they repeatedly stressed, no longer willing to respect a code of conduct that endowed them with a specific set of duties and responsibilities. Underlying the controversies over the issue of chivalry were therefore much more profound conflicts, most of which derived from young men's resentment over losing a set of gendered privileges and an authority over women that older generations of men had been able to claim. 

Even though many young men were attracted, at least in principle, to the idea of having fun and enjoying themselves in the company of female peers, they were also deeply ambivalent about young women's entry into what had previously been male territory and their encroachment on what had traditionally been male prerogatives. As one newspaper columnist complained in 1921, "Women have forced their way through every door—into the labor market, into politics, and into entertainment. They are getting more and more rights—rights to this and rights to that—but what about us men? We don't seem to be getting any more rights."

Many young men also took offense at women's relative independence in public arenas. As long as young women had money of their own, they did not have to depend on male companions in order to partake in public entertainment. Although most men had greater earnings and more spending money than their female peers, even those women with the most limited funds were usually able to afford a movie ticket, the admission to an amusement park, or a cup of coffee in a restaurant, and unlike in the United States, for example, young Danish women typically paid their own way when they went out with male companions, at least as long as they were not engaged or going steady.

 "Of course, we paid for ourselves when we went out," insisted Stine Petersen. "Yes, naturally! Naturally, we paid for ourselves," exclaimed Netta Nielsen, seemingly surprised at the suggestion that men might pay for female companions. While hard on their pocket books, such financial self-reliance had several advantages for young women. First, it allowed them, as Michael Curtin has pointed out, to signal that "the relation between themselves and [male companions] were of a public and egalitarian nature, not romantic as between lovers." Perhaps more importantly, it released them from any obligation to male peers and from the moral suspicion that surrounded any woman who accepted gifts and treats from men who were relative strangers. 

Besides, paying one's own way also protected young women from ending up, as Nikoline Sorensen phrased it, in an "awkward position" where men "might expect things" in return for their generosity. But rather than appreciating the potential for egalitarian friendships that such practices produced, most young men resented the self-reliance of their female peers, perceiving it as a challenge to male initiative and a lessening of their power. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, much of young men's resentment grew from their sense that women were in fact not only becoming less dependent, but were also acquiring a whole new kind of power over men. 

"What are men to do? How can they protect themselves against these attractive, scantily dressed young girls? We are under their spell," a twenty-two-year old man complained in a statement that interwove two of the most common strands in male discourse on postwar gender relations. First, men of all classes and ages spoke of young women as increasingly bewitching and seductive. Whether it was their short skirts, deep necklines, freer body language, or seeming flirtatiousness that led men to this conclusion, they generally agreed that the new generation of women possessed an unprecedented degree of sexual allure. 

Second, they constantly complained that women were using their wiles, their charms and their bodies as unfair means to gain control over men, who were ill-equipped to withstand such an onslaught. "This is the last and final battle in the war between the sexes," one observer declared in 1924. "After suffrage and all the other rights women have obtained, they are now plotting their final assault. With their physical allure, they are striving to master men who are, after all, only men." In this light, young men's unwillingness to behave chivalrously begins to take on its deeper meaning. In a situation in which many young men believed that women were gaining the upper hand, they were less than eager to engage in behavior that smacked of servitude to women. 

In earlier generations, a man who fetched a woman's coat or carried her packages had discreetly underlined his own masculinity through a show of physical ability. By the 1920s, the very same gestures seemed to many young men simply to demonstrate service and subordination to a new generation of women who already possessed too much power over them. Quite understandably, they therefore resisted any involvement in such behavior. Although the debates over chivalry are revealing of the underlying conflicts that seriously circumscribed any effort to create more frank and egalitarian relationships between young men and young women, they may ultimately be read as fairly innocuous. 

After all, having to fetch one's own coat is at most an inconvenience, and while ungentlemanly behavior might offend a woman's sensibilities it hardly impairs her autonomy or her freedom of movement. But because (sexual) self-control was a central component of the ideology of chivalry, young men's increasing unwillingness to adhere to this long-standing code of conduct had more serious consequences. Predictably, although unfortunately, it led to an unprecedented level of physical and sexual danger for all women who ventured into public arena.”

- Birgitte Soland, “Beauties and Boyfriends, Bitches and Brutes.” in Becoming Modern: Young Women and the Reconstruction of Womanhood in the 1920s

[boys-night]

Mickey and Ian - communication, sex, and relationship styles, post 11x07

Here’s my take on how Ian and Mickey relate to sexuality and relationship styles, thinking mainly about 11x07, but also looking more broadly at the series and including HoS. If you’re not interested in incorporating 11x07 in your version of canon, ignore this! I enjoyed 11x07 but I understand people have different ways of seeing Ian and Mickey’s relationship. I’m also doing the classic meta thing of taking seriously exaggerated/comic/contradictory elements in the show because that’s how I roll. 

Super long post under cut. 

I’ve been reading Sexuality: A Graphic Guide by Meg-John Barker and Jules Scheele which is where a lot of the following ideas and terminology come from. I’ve also been looking at Meg-John Barker’s free relationship zine on their website rewritingtherules.com. I highly recommend their work, including the podcast they have with Justin Hancock, The Meg-John and Justin podcast (although MJ has left now and it’s called Culture, Sex, Relationships, but you can check out the backlog!) 

They think about sex and relationship styles using various models including monogamy/polyamory, allosexuality/asexuality, romance/aromance etc. They look at these different facets of sexuality/relationship styles as complicated continua rather than binaries which shift over time. They also write about sexuality on an action/identity spectrum, communication strategies around relationships styles, and the windows into relationships. Here, I’m looking at all of these things thinking about Ian and Mickey’s relationship and as individuals within the relationship. 

The monogamy/polyamory continuum

I’ve seen a bit of debate about how to label Mickey and Ian’s relationship on the monogamy/polyamory spectrum and I think it’s a pretty complex question especially considering those labels mean different things to different people and that relationships shift a lot over time. While labels like these can be useful, they can also be rigid and restrictive in their own ways. 

Some terms that come close-ish to what they say they’ve decided in 11x07 are monoamorous and polysexual, considering they aren’t at all interested in romantic connections outside of each other but are up for sex (in a broad sense) with other people. But these terms don’t account for the agreement that they’re only exploring sex with other people when they’re together. 

As people have pointed out, some of the boundary setting around exactly how they’re involving other people in the relationship is left off-screen, and also they’re not necessarily going to form identities around how they act in one episode. I’ve also seen people suggest reading their relationship style as monagamish and/or that what they do with other people is part of kink/play. I think these make sense in different ways and that in 11x07 Ian and Mickey definitely focus more on what they do (action) rather than who they are (identity) in regards to monogamy/polyamory. 

In 11x01, Ian’s focus is more on identity. He sets up a binary choice between being monagamous or not in their relationship. 11x07 indicates they’ve moved through off-screen discussion into a much more personalised arrangement with more focus on actions allowing for flexibility over time. In 11x07, we see them agree on rules: sex in a broad sense is allowed outside of the primary partnership, love isn’t. They keep negotiations ongoing (e.g. in the bedroom, in the furniture store), and there is an indication that these rules could change over time. 

I’d love to read/explore more about the ways in which this approach has changed over the course of the whole show. At the start of their relationship, definitely prior to s4, they have much more implicit rules about who they can have sex with, and those implicit rules become problematic in s5, when they realise they’re not completely on the same page regarding them. They bring up clashing ideas around the rules when Mickey’s leaving prison in s10 too. In s11, their relationship becomes more intentional, with these rules stated aloud rather than assumed. 

The action/identity continuum in regards to gay sexuality 

On a slight tangent, I think there’s a comparison to be made here to how they relate to sexuality (specifically gender of attraction) and the idea of gay identity, which seems to develop in the other direction. For Mickey especially, for a long time having sex with men was something he did rather than something he was, and that’s gradually somewhat shifted over the course of the show. There’s so much more that can be explored here, for instance, about how the action-based approach is much more acceptable within the hyper-masculine environment he was raised. Terry also approaches it this way when talking about prison sex, for example. According to this very oppressive social script, having sex with men in certain circumstances can be OK but claiming that as part of who you are is absolutely not. 

But I also want to stress, I don’t think either approach to gay sexuality, looking at it through actions or through identity, is inherently better or worse. These different lenses on sexuality also intersect with class and levels of education. As explored in Sexuality: A Graphic Guide, the identity approach is also relatively a very modern way of seeing sexuality (late 20th century). Gender of attraction is also only one facet of sexuality (which includes amount of sex you want, type of sex, sexual roles etc.) but its now often regarded as the only or most important facet of sexuality. The identity-based approach is much more acceptable within the more aspirational/middle class settings they interact with in s10 and s11. In these seasons, Mickey and to a lesser extent Ian aren’t completely willing to accept it wholesale. I like how, for example, even well after “coming out”, Mickey often still approaches sexuality through actions rather than identity, e.g. his response to the woman at the flower shop asking if he’s a homosexual: “He is, I just like having another man’s dick up my ass.”

However, I also think it’s cool/interesting how Ian and Mickey both move towards and embrace various parts of mainstream gay identity in s11 too, and a large part of that involves combatting the sexism, femmephobia, and hypermasculinity with which they were raised, e.g. of course, singing and dancing to Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande in the bathroom.  

You could also look at the different ideas about the origins of their gay sexuality in HoS through this lens. Mickey goes for a psychological/behavioural approach (based in like early 20th century sexological theories); Ian goes for a born-this-way, biological/genetic approach (popularised in the 1980s as part of gay pride movements). 

Mickey’s approach is very old school (definitely a way of thinking that reflects his upbringing), which assumes straight is the norm from which gay deviates, to do with Freudian theory/the idea of homosexuality as pathology. He doesn’t, for example, seek to use the same model (Fiona’s bad relationship history) to explain why Lip is straight. Ian’s approach (”not because I was born this way?”) reflects his investment in the intractability of sexuality related to his strict opposition to conversion therapy models and the idea of being gay as a choice. It also reflects the way he reacts negatively/disbelievingly to Debbie’s more flexible sexuality (in s8?). While obviously it’s fucked up/impossible to force people to change their sexuality and it’s perfectly reasonable for him to define the origins of his own sexuality however he wants, this approach risks excluding more fluid experiences of sexuality. 

Again, Mickey’s approach is more behavioural/action oriented and Ian’s is more identity oriented. They both seem pretty willing to shift their ideas around this though (especially Mickey, who potentially is just regurgitating old stuff he’s heard without thinking). The concluding thought is that Ian is gay because he likes Mickey’s d, lol. 

Individual differences on sex and relationship continua

I really like the detail that Ian doesn't want to have sex and be friends with anyone else aside from Mickey. In 11x07, he doesn't want to make friends with the guys in the locker room although he's down for repeat sexual experiences which suggests he thinks he forms romantic attachment through a combination of both sex and friendship. It seems like it's important to him in his negotiation with Mickey that they don't form romantic attachments outside of their own relationship.

This relates back to the 87% thing in HoS where Ian says he tends to get at least slightly attached to everyone he has sex with and Mickey has 87% of his heart. Mickey doesn’t like the 87% thing at all but I reckon it outlines a really interesting difference between the two characters in regards to relationship styles. It indicates that Ian is comfortable with a slightly less mononormative way of doing nurturance/care than Mickey, while Mickey seems to initiate more of the polysexuality than Ian in 11x07. (Although of course, we don’t see how Ian would react if Mickey were to tell him he’s got 87% of his heart! -- but this is a very difficult to imagine scenario).

Sex is a big part of their relationship for both of them. Both Ian and Mickey seem pretty allosexual (e.g. they feel sexual attraction for other people generally), but Mickey is possibly even more so than Ian. Mickey also maybe falls on the aromantic/grayromantic spectrum (once again, the labels can be really useful but I don’t want to be too prescriptive/rigid). Ian seems to be more alloromantic, with a capacity to experience romantic attraction to a whole bunch of people. For him, sex and romance seem to be more interconnected in all cases although he can definitely separate the two (especially when thinking about transactional sex etc).

But I think it's more complex than that. For instance, Mickey reserves certain sexual acts for just between him and Ian and its clear that they have both intimacy and exploration in their sex life. From the outset, Ian and Mickey’s relationship involves exploration and excitement with sex, and provides a freedom to explore their sexualities in regards to sexual roles and kink. It’s clear that Mickey values the safe space Ian specifically gives him in this regard from very early on in their relationship. There’s a parallel here with the bathroom Gaga/Grande scene where Ian’s instinct isn’t to tease or make fun of Mickey but support him embracing more stereotypical gay behaviours and/or more fluid gender roles to the ones he’s grown up with outside of sex too.

Also it might be useful to complicate the idea of romance itself which is a really difficult idea to pin down and which seems to mean different things for both of them. I love the stress on friendship in 11x07. Friendship and also family connection play such key parts in their relationship with one another and the way in which they are attached, arguably even more so than traditional models romance. Both HoS and the Hopper painting discussion are interesting to think about in regards to the ways Ian and Mickey think about the concept of romance differently and the ways it intersects with or differs from their ideas around friendship/family. I like how Mickey’s willing to see getting a coffee together as romantic in a positive way for instance after Ian explains that it’s about togetherness in hard times. While maybe Mickey sees Ian’s suggestion of having a bath together as awkward/weird because he views it more as trying to live up to a social script of what is “romantic”.

Communication strategies around relationship styles

In s11, Ian and Mickey’s relationship is very entwined, and, in comparison to Tami and Lip, for instance, they disclose a lot to each other. Ian asks that they tell each other everything, and although Mickey is more resistant to that initially, he becomes much more forthcoming with his feelings in s11 (around Terry, around moving to the West Side, around becoming a parent). 

While I appreciate Ian’s role in initiating more communication between the two of them, I felt sorry for Mickey in their initial discussion in 11x01 in re “monogamous or not”. The turning over the paper method is a pretty binary way to open up a discussion about a very charged and complicated thing. 

They do seem to complement each other in this regard though with Ian generally more keen to initiate conversation but also getting more trapped into binaries, narratives of normativity and should-stories. While Mickey totally still projects an image that is informed by local expectations around masculinity and white supremacy, he’s also a rule-breaker in many ways and doesn’t have the same desire to conform to what society perceives to be “normal” (thanks HoS), especially behind closed doors and within his relationship with Ian (“liking what I like don’t make me a bitch”).  @fiona-fififi had a really good point in the tags a while back about how Mickey’s investment in their wedding and its success might have spurred Ian on further to embrace more normative ways of doing relationships. This is super interesting, and also makes me think just about how being married itself prompts Ian to think about taking a more active role in pushing the relationship further up the relationship escalator and in pushing for more communication around these steps in general. 

There’s also something to be said about pressurising each other in 11x07, especially when they jokingly(?) threaten each other with sex with other men if both of them aren’t around. I doubt they were making these suggestions seriously but it definitely doesn’t strike me as the most consensual method of communication. But there’s parallels here with generally using sex as a bargaining chip earlier on in the season. Ian seems to do that after having exhausted his attempts at trying to have conversations around money/monogamy etc, as a tried and tested way of getting Mickey to engage with him. And it definitely reflects using sex with each other and sex/relationships with other people (e.g. s3 Angie/Ned, s10 Byron/Cole) as modes of communication in earlier seasons. It kind of makes sense that they still have these habits in s11 even if they are no longer the primary mode of communication. 

Ian and Mickey relied so much on implicit communication in the early seasons and they have highly developed nonverbal ways of communicating. I don’t want to say that either verbal or nonverbal ways of communicating are inherently better than the other. They seem to understand each other on a deep level, which is really cool, but people have pointed out can make them think they don’t need to verbally communicate when they do, because they assume that they’ll understand one another and be on the same page. It’s super interesting to see them maintain that deep connection and continue to use nonverbal cues while also adopting more explicit and intentional communication styles in s10 and s11. 

The windows of their relationship

The fandom is always bringing up how Ian and Mickey leave the doors open when they bang, lol, and also making fun of how much Ian overshares. I think this is v fair but it also strikes me as pretty healthy that he wants people to see into his and Mickey’s relationship, especially in his discussions with Lip. But Ian’s got plenty of people around him who can see and help when things get tough. 

In s11, it’s great to see Mickey get closer to the Gallagher family and see various members defending him or taking his side in arguments, but he definitely does have less of an on-screen support system than Ian. (I wish that they had developed his and Sandy’s relationship in s11). I think the aftermath of the City Hall incident in s10 really reveals this particular imbalance in their relationship. On one level, Mickey moves in with Byron as a reaction to being hurt and even maybe a strategy of revenge/manipulation, on another, he doesn’t really have anywhere to go aside from the Gallagher house when/if he needs to get away from Ian. Also, the way he retreats back to the Gallagher house when he can’t deal with the Westside is an interesting development of this in s11. 

Ian’s need to share stuff about their relationship is kind of exciting considering his history of being unforthcoming about his relationships (and his history of being in a lot of secret relationships), as well as how difficult he found it to talk about Mickey while Mickey was away. But there is a different problem with ongoing talk around privacy and boundaries here too (Mickey doesn’t want Ian to chat about how he’s not into rimming!). Although to be fair, Mickey also chats about a lot of explicit sex stuff with strangers. 

Although they do ultimately decide against pursuing the pretty inorganic way of making friends in 11x07, Ian’s desire to make gay friends who he can talk to about relationship stuff makes sense in terms of the way he has been pushing for a more intentional relationship with more communication and more explicit discussion and compromise this season (and last season too). It also intersects with an idea of him/both of them going further to embrace gay sexuality as an identity. 

It’s interesting that Mickey’s the one to initiate this decision through ribbing Ian about his relationship with Lip. Why’s Mickey doing that? Is it just to be a little shit or is he also trying (subconsciously?) to activate Ian in some direction? (And also, maybe there’s a parallel there to getting their apartment in the west side, where Mickey’s the one inadvertently introducing Ian to the idea by pushing for them to go play in the pool). 

-----------

There’s a lot here which is just scratching the surface of thinking about Ian and Mickey’s relationship in the context of these different sexuality and relationship continua. For e.g. it would be really interesting to think more about this stuff in terms of shifting sex roles and kink exploration. Of course it’s all up for interpretation and I am sure I am highlighting areas that I’m personally interested in and inadvertently projecting myself/my own preferences and styles into this discussion. Very down for disagreements and discussions if other people are interested and manage to read all of this, lol. 

[bbdaydreams]

Courage My Love// Semi Eita

Pairing: Semi Eita x Reader

Summary: You like Semi and come up with a plan to confess to him, unfortunately it takes a turn. You meet again a couple years later by chance.

Chapter Five: Old Friends

Series Masterlist•<previous•next>

—————

��Thank you all so much for coming out tonight!” Semi spoke into his mic, sweat dripping down his face from all the jumping around he’d done in the past thirty minutes. “We’re coming up on time so this next one is going to be the last one. Once again thank you so much!”

The boys were currently playing a well known venue in their area that offered a standing room for shows and seating towards the entrance for those looking to eat. It’s small but mighty, especially when it’s filled at max capacity at least once a week. The boys were regulars, performing at least once every other week.

When they finished the song, they all walked off stage and headed backstage to put away all their gear so the next band could play.

“God, I love playing here,” Subaru started.

“Yeah, we’re lucky to get to do this,” Jiro added on.

“Imagine if we played a bigger venue. I don’t know how I’d act,” Semi continued.

“Crazy, right?” Ranmaru and a strangers voice added on. The four young men turned to the source of the voice.

“Hi, I’m from Misfits Records. You guys have quite the following and I’d like to sign you guys. I’ve been to a couple of your shows and I think you guys have what it takes to make it.”

The boys turned to look at each other before looking at the man, Jiro being the first to speak. “Are you sure it’s us you want? There’s still more bands playing after us,” to which the rest of the boys responded by punching his arm.

“He means yes. We’d be honored,” Semi took over.

Fast forward two years now, your band has blown up and you now have listeners all over the world. You’ve had the opportunity to travel to 4 different continents, some tours lasting a week, the longest being three months. Getting to open for bigger bands was always becoming normal but being invited for guest vocals during sets and songs was even more frequent.

You’ve gotten the chance to perform at festivals and events like Warped Tour which is what really helped expose Courage My Love to even more people. The first time you were invited to join the run, the four of you spent the entire tour talking to people as much as you could, being kind to strangers, thanking fans for their support, and checking out other bands and complimenting their performances. All that wasn’t to promote yourself, even though that was the goal. Everything you did was genuine, and you four genuinely wanted to get to know others. This caught the attention of many passerby’s which caused them to check out your music. It made other musicians want to befriend you for being so honest which was something that was hard to find in the music industry nowadays. People were so hungry for fame, they weren’t above using others to climb higher. Your rise in popularity caused curiosity which made you guys get more interviews.

“Hey, hey, hey, we’re here in Courage My Love’s tour bus! Say hi everyone!”

“Hey!” You four greeted when the camera was pointed at all of you.

They asked general questions about your formation, how the tour was going and about the second album you just released months prior before deciding to ask more personal questions.

“We can all agree that dating is hard enough as it is, I can’t even imagine how it is for you guys since you’re on the road so much.”

“You’re right about that. We’re all happily single at the moment though, right?” Yui answered causing you and the others to nod your head yes.

“We definitely have tried to date but yeah touring definitely gets in the way,” Izumi added.

“We’ll have you guys ever thought about dating another musician? Maybe someone throughout the tour? Anyone caught your eye?” The interviewer asked suggestively.

With interviews, you always had to be careful with how you respond. You never want something to come back and bite you in the ass. You also had to watch out for suggestive questions like the one asked, those are just trying to fish out some drama.

“Personally, no. I don’t think I could simply because it’d be a lot of time away from your partner which isn’t fair to either of you,” you answered before looking at Haruka so she could answer the rest.

“We take everything we do pretty seriously despite how we can come off sometimes. Dating someone you’re touring with just seems like drama waiting to happen which is something none of us want to be a part of,” she finished with a smile.

“I see. Well, what is it like to be an all female band in the music industry?”

“You can just check out our newest single, Now You Know, for that. I think it explains itself pretty well.”

“Oh! Looks like we’re out of time, thank you so much for hanging out, see ya next time!” She thanked you guys personally for your time and you all did the same before her and the crew left.

“I can’t believe she tried us with that,” Yui spoke, stretching in her seat.

“It was pretty bold of them,” Izumi agreed.

“It’s sad. I just know they wouldn’t ask guys that. We’re here to make music just like them,” you added, getting up from your spot to go to the small kitchen to start dinner for you all.

“Being a woman sure is hard, and for no reason,” Haruka finished, grabbing her drumsticks to tap the table to get some frustration out.

-

Album release day! Courage My Love released their third album the following year, coincidentally the same day Semi’s band released their first album, whom unknown to you changed their name from Eagle Thorns to Won’t Regret. Courage My Love reached the number one spot in the rock category that week, a huge milestone. Won’t Regret reached top 20 which was a much better response than they expected. Both bands spent that day celebrating by having a small party at their respective label’s office.

The next day when you went into the studio your manager delivered you with the news for your next tour. “You guys are going to be touring with ONE OK ROCK in the US! You’re going to be the second act. Big things girls, big things.”

“We’re touring with them?” You asked, not believing the fact that you were going to be playing shows with one of your favorite bands.

After reassuring you, you reached out and grabbed onto Yui’s arms in excitement jumping up and down. While you were hyping yourself up, Haruka asked their manager who the opening act was going to be resulting in her eyes going wide.

-

“We’re touring with who?” The boys asked their manager, leaning forward in their seats with mouths wide.

“You’re gonna be touring with ONE OK ROCK and Courage My Love. Your latest single really blew up, the singer of ONE OK ROCK loved it so much he actually asked for you guys specifically.”

“No fucking way,” Semi spoke in awe.

“We’re not doing it,” Ranmaru announced, making the rest of his band members jump in surprise and disagree.

“Are you crazy? We can’t decline an opportunity like that!” Subaru started.

“Yeah! This is such a huge opportunity and you’re gonna say no?” Jiro added.

Semi stayed quiet, knowing he was the reason why Ranmaru said no. The two of them were pretty similar in mindset which made it easy for them to call each other. “I’ll do my best,” Semi said, looking at the bassist.

“Eita, we don’t need drama on our first big tour.” Ranmaru did feel bad for being blunt but he knew it was how he could get his point across. This tour could either help make them or break them. “I want us to succeed. I want us to keep playing music together.”

Subaru and Jiro stayed quiet, now understanding why Ranmaru reacted the way he did. They both had to agree with him. They’ve all put years worth effort into the band, it’d be a shame for it to fall apart after they had just made it.

“I know. I don’t want to ever not play music with you guys. I owe you guys a lot and I’m tired of holding us back. I swear I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll apologize the moment I see them. Won’t Regret comes first, always has and always will.” Looking around the room he saw the small smirks on their faces, giving him comfort.

“Whatever you say, leader,” Ranmaru joked, pushing Semi’s shoulder so he wasn’t so stiff.

“We’re right behind you dude,” Subaru laughed.

“We’re gonna do it!” Jiro jumped bringing his band mates into a group huddle.

“You guys won’t regret this tour, I promise,” Semi said earning a smack on the back of his head from Subaru.

“Bad pun, Eita.”

-

Hey, this is Taka from ONE OK ROCK!

You guys are probably preparing for tour since it starts in a few days but I’d like to invite you and your band mates to dinner to meet you all!

Let me know if you can make it

-Taka :)

That was the text that you had received that led to you and the girls getting mildly dressed up to go eat at a restaurant the day before tour started. The tour was going to last six weeks and starting it off by having fun with everyone you were going to be performing with sounded like a great idea.

The four of you walked into the dimly lit restaurant together resulting in the hostess to escort you towards the table that had been reserved for your group. “Oh! Ladies you have arrived! Please have a seat,” Taka spoke, getting up to pull open the chairs so you all could sit.

Upon announcing your arrival, everyone looked up to face your group. Your face immediately grew warm when you saw the familiar faces, locking eyes with the one person you never thought you’d cross paths with again and even though Semi was fully aware this was going to happen, he still couldn’t believe it. Breaking eye contact with him, you gave a look to Haruka as if asking for help since Yui and Izumi already sat in their seats. Your actions didn’t go unnoticed by your old friend, reason being you used to give him those same looks all those years back. Haruka nodded her head and took a step towards the empty seat next to Semi before being stopped.

“Oh I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to come off as rude but I’d like your singer to sit here. I’d like to talk about vocal and stage stuff with them if you don’t mind,” Taka apologized. Knowing he was being sincere and understanding where he was coming from, you knew you shouldn’t argue and instead just suck it up. Haruka gave you a gentle smile before sitting between Yui and Jiro. Sitting down on the chair between Semi and Izumi, Taka pushed it in for you like a gentleman before going back to his own seat. “Alright, let’s order!”

A waitress came over to the table and gave her regular spiel of the specials as she handed out the menus which you unfortunately had to share with Semi since they were short on them.

“You can order first,” Semi spoke softly, letting you have the menu to look through. He wanted to tell you so much more. Apologize right then and there and try to fix things between you two but he couldn’t knowing he had to be professional right now. Ranmaru and Subaru kept glancing at him over their booklet as a warning to not fuck up the nice meal for them while Jiro chatted with your band mates. Semi just wished you two could talk like old friends.

Accepting the tall binded leather booklet, you gave a small thanks before opening it to look through it. This was going to be a long night.

—————

a/n: filler chapter but look!! They finally reunite!

Taglist: @pluviophilefangirl @yourstarvic @sunaswife @mynscorner @syaziahvg @discountkiyoko

[chipper-asks]

hey idk if this is sudden or anything, but can you explain how you do commissions and get the payment through paypal and all? if you have advice and stuff

Ooh boy ill do my best bc I'm sure the way I do it could be better still.

this got longer than i thought it would so

1: a: I create my commission sheet, make it readable and also stylized to what you want your brand to be. I have a personal opinion that sheets that do Head/Bust/Full body along with seconds of sketch/lined/colored/rendered along with prices for each one is waaaaaay too much information for your client. I get choice anxiety just going to the grocery store, those kinds of grids give me the same kind of anxiety (BUT THIS IS A PERSONAL OPINION.)

It's good to have that kind of information where YOU know it but your client has a simplified menu to peruse. You can discuss specifics with your client later.

b: Pricing? Pricing is hard, but a good rule of thumb is that if you've graduated college with an art degree, you should at least be charging $20 an hour (thats what I do).

c: If you are planning to be a professional freelancer long time, you should be considering your branding already. Things like your color palette, font choices, and icon/mascot. This is not necessary, but a commission sheet that is well designed and easy to read is much more attractive than something with hasty and squashed handwriting.

2: Paypal

Paypal sucks. I dont have any legal advice but I can direct you on where to look.

On desktop once you log in go to Send & Request at the top of the page

On the right side is a set of options and one of them is Send an Invoice

Invoices help you keep track of shit, but they also in a way let you keep more money from Paypal's greedy mitts. Paypal takes a larger percentage from straight sending money over invoices.

From a $65 commission i actually get $62.24 (But I might have gotten something like $59.78 if someone sent it to me straight)

For invoices you need your client's email. Paypal will handle the transaction so you dont need about debit or credit cards once you send them the invoice.

An invoice needs 1: The item name 2: The price of the item 3: If its going to be shipped 4: The description (optional)

1: I advise keeping item names generic. "Flat color commission of [character] is what i normally do. IF YOU DO 18+ COMMISSIONS DO NOT LABEL THINGS AS NSFW OR 18+ BECAUSE YOUR ACCOUNT WILL GET FLAGGED. Label it as you would normally and dont even mention anything of a nsfw nature. Inform your clients of this too in case they are unaware.

2: The commission price you agreed on with your client goes here. I dont worry about taxes (yet.)

3: For digital items you can just click "Not going to be shipped" and you're good

4: I sometimes do descriptions to further explain the item name, but if its not needed I usually dont fill it out.

Other stuff-

5: Tips! Turn on tips! People love to tip! Let them tip you!

6: Formulate a terms and conditions to protect your part of the commission and your client's part of the commission, especially if you have reservations on where your art goes after the commission is over.

Here is mine:

Artist will provide 2 or more sketched drafts of the commissioned work per client's provided information and/or references as applicable. Changes may be requested by the client upon receipt of sketched drafts, and artist will provide sketched drafts incorporating client's requested changes at no additional cost at the sketching stage.

Once the client agrees to finalized version of sketched draft, edits after this stage will incur additional fees to be discussed and agreed upon by the artist and client, no refunds will be offered after this time. Finished artwork will be delivered to the client via email to preserve image quality.

Finished pieces may be reposted online and cropped for icons and banners as long as there are proper credits/links to the artist. All versions of art provided by artist may not be used for commercial purposes (unless explicitly discussed), traced, used as NFTs or for any other cryptocurrency, or claimed as the client's own work

Thats all the advice i can come up with right now. There are definitely more informed artists out there who know more legalize than I do.