#especially useful for creatives but really this is very much aimed at anyone

[moonchild-in-blue]

everything reminds me of him.... :::|

[edgeray]

HI, first of all, i love your write so much 💕💕💕💕💕, you're so creative, please, as long as you feel good writing, write!!! You are very good at it, and you feed Arle stans so weel.

Second, did you by any chance watched bridgerton ? If not, just ignore it, it's more to give a historical context (and dresses in beautiful scenery, for sure). Bridgerton is a period show (and books) that takes place at the beginning of the 19th century (1810-1820) [Although, I think Arlecchino would fit even more within the context of the Victorian age, but I think it might be an idea saved for another request]. Given the context, I believe my request becomes clearer :

Arlecchino who pretends to be a man (dressing and acting like one) to get married to the reader.

It's not news to anyone that Arlecchino is part of a powerful nobility family and it's also not news to anyone that she hates playing the female role given to her (and I can't imagine her wearing the fluffy dress ever!!!!), so seeing her childhood best friend become the diamond of the season (basically the favorite debutant of the season for both the queen and the suitors, in a very short way) She realizes that she needs to enter the marriage market too, in this case to fight for your hand.

Please feel free to change any part of the order, I don't want this to become boring for you to write.

So thank you for share your works and read it, (can i?) 🪷anon.

Courting a Lie

(Arlecchino x Fem! Reader)

A/N- Of course you can be 🪷 anon! Thank you for your kind words. I aim to feed. Arle for everyone!! Sorry that this is super late… I will assume the reader is female for this because a debutant is a woman. Also didn't know how to make it GN! since there's no gender neutral aristocratic titles as far as I know. Sorry GN! readers :(  While I haven't watched Bridgerton, from your description of the era, I've read quite a few manhwas set in a European aristocratic society that sounds just like this. I get the general gist of what you're saying from those manhwas so I drew some inspiration from there.  I've never really written for a historical fiction AU so we shall see how this goes. Apologies in advance if it is cringe. I did change a few things for the plot, but not because it was boring, more because of my own plot/backstory building. I actually had a lot of fun researching random bits for this request, and this request is among my most developed and thoughtful works on Tumblr! Still don't know how to dialogue though… I really liked writing this kind of setting so I would be pretty happy if a part 2 of this was requested... how did I do in terms of writing this? hopefully not too far from bridgerton?   Content warnings / info - arlecchino is referred to as a man and uses masculine pronouns for a little bit, 2.0k words

You don't quite remember what occasion it was when you first met her. Perhaps it was a charity ball or some celebration. Either way, you were at most eight years of age when you met your first friend, a quiet, petite child hiding in the corner of the Snezhevna Estate's garden, ducked nearby a bush. You wandered away from the garden party, as you couldn't find any other children your age that weren't pestering, so you explored the edges, admiring the flowers. 

You stumbled upon a white haired child, with her white dress sullied by her kneeling on the dirt. Similarly, her pale hands were soiled, as if she had dug into the earth with her fingers alone. You nearly gasped at the sight–no lady would ruin their dress so carelessly, especially a dress seemingly adorned as hers. Nevertheless, you were in awe of the courage to do so. Was it possible she wasn't educated well? It'd be damaging to her family's reputation if anyone were to see the condition of her apparel.

You approached her carefully, your voice small in hopes that you wouldn't sound rude. 

“Hello,” you greeted first, and the child turned her head over her shoulder, gazing at you. 

Your breath hitched as you glanced at her eyes, each black pit filled with a red cross in the center that made you suppose she didn't fit into any aristocratic family. You didn't know of any noble family that had such eyes, and it's only been known from noble families to hold particular sets of eyes. Did this girl really belong to nobility? 

“I know I'm not supposed to be in the dirt. Now leave me alone,” she says before turning away, her voice sounding far too monotone and androgynous for you to consider her a young noble lady. Nonetheless, the clear difference between her and the other guests of the function intrigued you. She was educated, or at least it seemed like it, but she had a disregard for creating a good impression. You ignored her request, instead, plopping yourself down beside her to see what it was in the dirt she was so interested in. 

“What are you digging in the dirt for?” You asked. She slumped, as if irritated by your persisted presence. 

“I'm looking for bugs. So go away, unless you want a spider on you,” she warned without looking at you, with the evident expectation her threat would ward you away. 

It did not, in fact, deter you. If anything, you pressed on, your expression contorting to that of fascination. “What kind of bugs?”

That seemed to snatch the young girl's attention as she turned to you, widened eyes as she observed you, searching your face for any lies. She couldn't believe that there was someone else who could be so ‘lady-like.’ Her apathy returns shortly after, and she glances back at the mound of dirt before her. 

“Young ladies aren't supposed to be interested in pests or dirtying their hands,” the white-haired child states, but it seems more like a recital of someone else's words. 

“Maybe. But it's fun, right?” You replied, offering her a small smile.

Although she still didn't face you, you watched her eyes gleam with life. Your grin grew in accordance. 

“So… you like bugs?” She questioned as she cups a worm she managed to uproot. 

“No way. Not touching them,” you shutted her down immediately and she pouted as you shook your head vigorously. 

“But… I thought you were better company than those other kids. So… I hope you don't mind having me too much?” you sheepishly remarked, wincing a bit at your apparent nervousness. In response, the girl huffed, gracing you with a faint smile. The sight sent flutters through your stomach, filling you with a rush of giddiness you never felt before. 

“Just don't scream, okay?” Is all she answered back.

And that was how you befriended the bastard daughter of the Snezhevna family. Since then, the two of you have been exchanging letters, and met each other at every possible social gathering in secret. Although your family discouraged meeting her so often, you ignored them. However, when you had just turned twelve, her letters stopped, as if she disappeared. You asked Marchioness Crucabena about her daughter, and all you received from the matriarch was a cold cut message: Peruere was receiving ‘education’ for indefinitely. 

Your heart sunk as you crinkled the letter in your hands, tears welling in your eyes at the thought of never seeing your dear friend again. Where had Peruere gone? You hastily wrote another letter, inquiring more about the education or if Peruere could write you back, but the Marchioness would not indulge you with additional information, essentially telling you to mind your business and to stop writing to her. 

You remember weeping into your pillows for the entire night until your eyes dried up, red and puffy from rubbing them constantly. You were haunted by memories of star gazing, of laying on the garden grass, of lounging in one another's arms. Your few moments of bliss were gone forever, stripped away with her absence. 

— 

Pureure always wished she wasn't born into a noble family. Aristocratic society was tedious and pretentious. Why her father ever chose to engage with something as disgusting as the Marchioness, it most definitely wasn't out of love–a fabled concept among nobles really. Peruere knew little of what happened to the late Marquess–his death was caused by a carriage accident–but she knew her birth father was with the Marchioness after the death. 

Regardless, between her and her half-sister Clervie, the Marchioness deemed Peruere better fitted as the heir of the family. In Peruere's opinion, Clervie would have made an impressive matriarch. However, when she inquired Clervie about it, her sister vehemently rejected the notion, wanting to remain carefree as she always was. For as heedless as her older sister was, she would be the model of a noblewoman, the favorite debutante had she wanted to take on the aristocratic responsibilities. In any case, Marchioness Crucabena always had a noticeable distaste for the two of them and Peruere suspected it was because she had no sons and marrying once more would mean losing the inheritance of her late husband. 

Peruere soon learned why exactly she was chosen as the next heir. It was easier for her to pose as a male rather than Clervie in order to appease the Marchioness. Added with Peruere's bastard status, few people knew of her existence, or more so, her familial ties with the Marchioness. With the Marchioness’s ‘education’ Peruere, the bastard daughter with a commoner surname, was transformed into Arlecchino Snezhevna, a bastard son with the Snezhevna surname, and so inheritor of the Marquess title. Pereure was erased effectively in the span of six years. 

Because Arlecchino was a bastard son, that label would have made it difficult to impose herself among other noblemen, and most especially, marry another powerful family. In that sense, what she could not make up in legitimacy, she had to make up in other qualities as a noble. Her hours, from dawn to dusk, consisted of history, economy, and art lessons, etiquette and mannerisms classes, 

and learning various skills such as conversational, dancing, equestrian, fencing, and hunting. Obtaining any length of slumber came few and far, and when rest was finally permitted, her body often ached too much for her to drift.

Instead, she laid conscious at night, her head tilted towards the window, the stars winking back at her. Her thoughts returned to you, as they always have during her respites, and she would wonder again and again if you were looking at the same night sky as she was, reminiscing over memories of stargazing. She often raised her hands to her eyes, the only question lingering in her mind would be if you would recognize these hands if she met you again, the same hands that held you. Alone in her chambers, Arlecchino, no Peruere, promised that she would meet you again, and maybe, this time she would never have to leave your side again. 

She only hoped that she would be good enough for you. 

—

Your heart is thumping rapidly against your chest while your clammy and fidgety hands grasp onto the gloved hand of your dance partner, maintaining deep breaths and keeping your composure as best as possible. You match the steps of the bachelor gracefully and diligentfully, feeling many spectators’ gazes on your back. It’s both invigorating and exhausting to realize that you are the diamond of the season. Receiving this many dance requests is a good sign, yes, but it only means that you are creeping closer to having to choose a suitor.

And inevitably lose Peruere forever. 

You quickly snap out of your thoughts in order to further entertain your dance partner with small talk, and finally the dance ends. 

“Thank you, Earl Childe. It was a pleasure dancing with you. You make an excellent dancer,” you offer the young redhead a beaming expression. 

“You're quite one yourself. I quite enjoyed our time. Perhaps we could dance more privately at a later date?” The sauve bachelor replies back, matching your practiced smile with a cocky one. 

“Perhaps,” is all you say, and thankfully the bachelor walks away. 

You let out a sigh of relief, but it seems you thought too soon, as another set of footsteps approach you from behind. Turning around, you’re met with perhaps the most refined and handsome gentleman you've graced your eyes upon. Immediately, you feel your cheeks swell and you feel unnaturally timid. Sincere red-crossed eyes meet yours, and a faint, charming smile stretches on the lips of the nearing bachelor.

“May I have this dance, Lady [F/N]?” He offers his hand gracefully, and you take his. 

“I haven't introduced myself, pardon me. I am, Earl Arlecchino, Earl of Snezhevna,” he introduces himself with a knowing smile, or rather, she introduces herself as your face contort to that of shock at the mention of her family name. You halt as she initiates the dance, her grin growing as fondness spreads over her facial expression.

“Peruere?” You whisper as you reach out, placing a hesitant hand on her shoulder, your other gloved hand in hers. Her body warmth bleeds through the contact, and you sense it flow through your entire body. 

“It's Arlecchino, for appearances. I trust you won't expose me?” Peruere says, her eyes scanning over your entire form in awe. “You're… I don't quite have enough words to describe you. You're utterly beautiful.” 

You flush at the compliment before you forcefully tear yourself away from the bubbling giddiness within you, nodding at her first question. Your face attempts to appear stern and angry, but your eyes sabotage that. “I missed you… dearly. Where have you gone? Why didn't you write to me? I kept waiting for you…” 

Peruere's face softens, morphing to one of regret and sympathy. “I haven't stopped thinking of you either. My mother demanded I suddenly take lessons on how to be a nobleman, and with that, I was no longer Peruere, but Arlecchino. During that time, I had to endure everything my mother gave me, and I hardly had time to sleep. I have tried to send you some, but I suspected that the Marchioness meticulously checked what was sent and received. I've kept a pile of letters that I wrote for you, so you would be able to read everything I had to say over the years.” 

You inhale slowly before nodding, understanding her words. “You kept plaguing my dreams, Arlecchino. You don't know how long I've wanted to see you. Please… never leave me again. I don't think I can bear being without you again.” 

It's Arlecchino's turn to be surprised. “You… Are you asking me what you think you're asking me?” She breathlessly inquires, her voice on the edge of exhilaration, and you give her a hopeful smile. 

You nod. “I… I always thought you were the one since we were little. I didn't want to spend my time with anyone else. So… can you be beside me again?” 

Peruere nearly melts at your request. “As long as you'll allow me another dance.” 

[spicybylerpolls]

Well, unknown hero agent man / pen symbolism anon, i hope you're reading this, cos you hit the nail on the head! this kind of symbolic storytelling is not only a fine art of cinema (being lost these days a little sadly, what with the whole netflix speedy turnover etc), but exactly what (good) films of the horror genre aim to do.

horror has long been a way to creatively tell 'normal' dramatic stories through subtext and symbolism. not sure if this is still a way around traditional censorship but im sure it began that way. films like the exorcist, the shining, rosemary's baby... all classics that are filled with subtext. its also an exciting way to talk about things that might seem trite or too bleak when portrayed as a 'straight' drama (this is the term meaning 'non-genre based' or 'non-musical' lmao). So you could say that ST is NOT straight, in more ways than one 😉

but much of this will go over casual viewers heads, so its finding the balance between making a story believable on the surface (another dimension exists! scary government men trying to kill us!) and subtextually (the UD as a metaphor for trauma/AIDS/closeted homosexuality/abuse etc) if viewers are clever enough to see/feel it. i say feel because much of storyviewing is instinctive instead of analytical.

so ST incorporates both - not just metaphorical, vague storytelling, but also real issues too. but it goes one step further, and actually has characters talk explicitly about reading deeper into stuff (murray's behind the curtain speech). it's a very meta show, even for a genre piece, which is why it astounds me that some people think it's not that deep lol. and some people think that only literature can be deep, but never tv or movies - which is an insult to anyone who has ever been passionate about cinema tbh. It's a statement that would probably rip the heart out of the duffers' chests and stomp on it. these guys are super nerds who have dedicated their adult lives to this passion project. as finn said, 'most people make it then just cash in - im so glad they still care'.

I'm sorry you don't feel comfortable talking about the beauty of this storytelling on your main. it really does surprise me that the fandom is so censorship obsessed because sexual metaphors have long existed in visual media, and especially in horror films. there used to be a long post about byler and a potential sex scene at lover's lake on here, but the user disappeared and the post went missing. it was about all the sexual imagery in ST, with a focus on byler in s4. i especially loved how they mentioned mike's introduction, where he was just in underwear: it is both appropriate for the setting, but also gets the audience used to him as a growing lad with a body and draws attention to those uncomfortable, potentially sexual aspects of being a teen. i mean, he was in tiny pants for god's sake. did we need to see that? why did we see it? etc etc

hilariously, they also referenced the always sunny in philadelphia scene where a character is in a therapist office talking about a pen being a dick. he then puts it in his mouth and chews the pen lmoao

i think you'd enjoy @therainscene's rod symbolism post too. I'm personally hoping for some explicit sex scenes with byler, because the show so far has arguably been telling that story metaphorically already for 4 seasons, and bringing it out of the subtext could be a storytelling device in itself. bringing byler's secrets into the light. after all, this is a period piece that aims to shed light on a bygone era. its not a propaganda piece that needs to remain coded; the reasons for staying secretive still exist for mike and will in the 80s, but times have changed since then for us as a global audience, and more importantly, the aspirational message has changed. what message would the duffs want to send to viewers that are still bigoted? clearly one of the beauty of homosexuality, seeing as will, our fav gay boy, has been the darling sympathetic victim of the show since s1e1. the show needs to remain true to both the 80s while also having a strong message for this decade in order for modern audiences to be able to gain something from watching this story; in order for there to be a reason the show exists at all.

so to answer your question, i had never picked up on the pen symbolism until now, but i immediately agree, not least because 1) it must have a meaning that connects to byler's conversation otherwise why does it just interrupt them with no reason? (from a storytelling pov), and 2) because of the always sunny scene lolllll

thanks for the discourse! if you stick around into s5, im sure we will be able to start discussing this on our mains. it'll be a new era and there might even be gifs/pics of byler to accompany our 'spicy' discourse haha!

Amazing/fascinating points! Thanks for adding to the discussion!

[frostfall-matches]

[ matchmaking... ]

@tolkien-fantasy : [ match report ready ]

your match is…

✦ Karlach

-> [ Karlach is someone who can match your energy very well. ] She’s the passionate sort, loves living life to the fullest… especially after managing to escape Avernus. She’s the positive sort that aims to keep pushing forward no matter the obstacle. Karlach would be able to easily feed off your spunky, ambitious energy - and vice versa. She’s happy if she’s able to keep your energy up, or lift you up when you’re feeling down. Your lives are full of difficulties already, only becoming more complicated with the mindflayer tadpole mess - so it’s nice to have someone who can really resonate with you.

-> [ Very empathetic to your chronic illnesses. ] Though her situation is not quite the same, she can relate to the struggles of being stuck with a condition that places limits on how you’re able to experience the world around you, a condition that makes living in your own body difficult. Karlach is able to take your ups and downs in stride - there may be a quick flash of pity when you’re not feeling well, but she doesn’t ever treat you like you’re incapable. That said, she insists that you let her know if there’s anything at all that she can do for you - she’d be happy to help!

-> [ Karlach insists that she’s not the most well-read, but she’s happy to absorb some of your knowledge. ] She’s very much the type to happily listen to whatever you might want to talk about - especially considering your wide range of interests. She feels like she’s always learning something new when she’s with you! Honestly, she didn’t have many opportunities to really dig into different subjects and study them, so a lot of the information you know is new to her. Sure, there are a few topics that can get a little difficult for her to follow if they’re particularly complex, but even in those cases she’s happy to just listen to your voice and try to comprehend as much as she can.

-> [ Karlach is the type to run headfirst into battle right alongside you. ] No judgment from her here - though you two may land yourselves into trouble at times because of this. Ah, well, you two can patch each other up after the battle. If needed, she can and will take hits for you. She knows you’re physically strong and capable of handling yourself, but she can’t help but worry about you. She knows that she can take some heavy hits anyway, so it just feels natural for her to step in. Your fighting styles also compliment each other quite well - with you providing magical damage while she hits enemies hard with weapons.

-> [ Honestly… she won’t lie, she really enjoys when you take care of her. ] Karlach has been on her own for a long time and hasn’t really had the chance for someone else to pamper her. She’s so used to not relying on anyone that it almost feels a little foreign at first, having someone so lovingly dote on her. While it takes her a bit to get used to it, she ends up just totally melting whenever you do things for her, whether it be making her food, tending to her wounds, helping her pitch her tent, or (when she’s not literally scorching hot to the touch) cuddling her and holding her close when she craves physical touch.

-> [ Speaking of cooking - she absolutely loves trying anything you make! ] She has her preferences and favorites, but she’s still pretty adventurous when it comes to food. Whenever you try out a new recipe, she insists on being your taste tester. Sometimes meals get a little… “creative” due to the fact that the group is largely foraging for ingredients, though occasionally you’re able to buy some meat or artisan goods when you’re passing through a town or larger settlement. Karlach isn’t much help with the actual cooking itself, but she’s happy to go foraging with you. Four hands are better than two!

[shostakobitchh]

Hi🖤 I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all the hard work you put into Aim & Ignite. I know it sucks dealing with negative comments and feeling like there’s not much interaction, especially when you’re pouring your heart into your writing. But please know that for every flamer or impatient reader, there are plenty of people who genuinely love your story, even if they don’t always say it. Some of us are too shy����

Your portrayal of Snape is so detailed and well thought out. It’s the closest to canon Snape anyone has gotten ever imo. It’s clear you’ve put so much thought into it.

Your story means a lot, and it’s more than just the comments you get. It’s a creative outlet for you and a joy for many others. Burnout is real, and it’s okay to take a break when you need to. Your well being comes first.

I know that silent support isn’t always encouraging, so I’m trying to comment more to show my appreciation. Be proud of what you’ve already written and know that it brings a lot of happiness to those who read it.

Hang in there and take care of yourself. Your voice and your stories are important🫶🏼🫶🏼

hi nonnie, thank you so much for sending me this 🥹❤️ I was down bad the other night and getting some not nice reviews kind of sent me over the edge, because I go to this HP AU when I need a minute to relax and be somewhere else. I hope it didn’t come across as though I’m complaining about reviews because it’s really not the case, it’s just a very different fandom than what I remember. no one is supportive and everyone is always fighting and even people who do enjoy stories only interact if they want more content, which I get, god knows there’s fics I’m dying to see completed and probably never will.

but thank you, silent supporters like you make all the difference.

[whentommymetalfie]

hey, your fics on ao3 are actually saving my life rn. i’m not doing amazingly atm and reading your “breathe again” and “home to you” fics about tommy struggling with mental health (admittedly in a slightly different way to me) is somehow making it all so much easier to cope with.

i’m so in love with the dynamic of alfie being completely head over heels for tommy, despite tommy feeling utterly broken and despising everything about himself - it really does give me hope that perhaps i’m not entirely hopeless and unlovable either, even if sometimes i’m about as mentally stable as tommy is.

but yeah, idk - i don’t think any of that made a lot of sense, but i just wanted you to know what a positive impact your writing has had upon me.

and seriously, fucking wow- you’re absolutely amazing at writing - i have never read better, more in-character tommy and alfie fics. the way you create the angst and attraction between them is just everything to me and i hope you keep writing this pairing forever!

also, i was wondering - how long did it take you to learn to write like this? did you study creative writing formally or are you self taught (if you don’t mind me asking)? your use of words is just mesmerising and i’d love to think that one day i could be able to write as beautifully as you do.

anyway, thank you for all that you have done for the tommy/alfie community. seriously, you should see the indirects you get on twitter (you’re like the ceo of this ship at this point)

Firstly: This was an absolutely wonderful message to receive, and made my whole week. Secondly: this reply is long so my apologies in advance! 

You make complete sense. And, not to get way to personal here, but I think it’s a very human and common feeling to be afraid that we’re unlovable when we’re at our lowest points and probably need it the most ❤️ One of the reasons I write is because it’s an escape and a comfort (and well, a huge struggle, but in the end the positives outweigh the negatives). And knowing someone else finds that through reading my fics is the biggest compliment I could ever receive, and reminds me why I do always slog through the more challenging parts of writing to finish things and put them out there for people to read.

Thank you for your kind words ❤️ I suppose I feel that my characterization isn’t spot on, but I’ve aimed for one that feels ’true’ within the setting and circumstances of the story, if that makes sense, and I’m so happy you like it. I’m wholly unable to cope with this incredible praise, but at least I can answer your question: I don’t have any formal education in creative writing. But I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing -though I mostly read in my native language (Swedish), I do try to define what I enjoy about my favorite writers’ works, and while I’m not skilled enough to always put that knowledge to use, I’d like to think that it’s helped me in some ways. As for how long it took me to learn how to write (though I definitely feel like I’m fumbling around in the dark from time to time and like I’ve learned nothing) I wrote and posted my first fanfic in English when I was 17 (a true blood fanfic I haven’t re-read since, and probably wouldn’t like to), wrote some more stuff that I never posted, and then began writing PB fic… six years ago or something? I’m 29 now, so I suppose you could say that I’ve got a few years of writing under my belt now. But I’d say that I’ve improved the most over those last PB years, simply because I’ve written so much over that period of time. And the more I write, the more critical my eye has become. And I still feel like I’m learning more every time I sit down to write. 

And I fully believe anyone can learn to write, especially in a setting like fanfic, because I’ve always felt it’s a very encouraging and ’free’ environment. At least that’s been the case in the corner I’ve been in. There’s always someone out there who’ll enjoy what you put out there. And I know it’s cliché, but the key really is to just keep at it, so a huge dose of enthusiasm and self indulgence is important. I’ve got heaps of stuff that I’ve written and never posted, just because I’ve had an idea I wanted to explore. And I’ve made my peace with the fact that I’ll never be quite as skilled at writing in English as in Swedish, and won’t always find the perfect words, because as long as I write something that excites me in some way, I know there’ll be at least one other person out there who’ll enjoy it too. I try to just make it as good as I can with the tools I’ve got. 

Again, thank you ❤️ ❤️ ❤️  I don’t know what else to say, but please know I’ll be back to re-read this message many times. And I hope you’ll be happy to hear there’s a new chapter coming tomorrow -please consider it a thank you gift! 

PS I’m not on twitter so I don’t know what goes on over there but now I’m dying because I need to see 👀 the indirects 👀 What are they saying?? 👀 the curiosity is killing me! 

[pardonmydelays]

Ha! A nickname? Cute idea! From now on, I'll end my message with the daisy emoji since that's my middle name and use pops of green in the message.

It absolutely does feel good to be told that! Not to get too side-tracked, but I actually took a break last summer from the boutique because I got a job offer at a startup cosmetics store. I realized pretty quick that that industry wasn't for me lol. It's a great company and I love all the brands as well as products the company carries, though! When I broke the news to my parents, instead of being supportive and saying the things like you said, they just got onto me and was like "Do you even have a job lined up?" and "Why?" Another reason was my mental health was declining, which shocked me, and I now know that one reason was because we had to wear solid black. I love dressing up! Anyways, I swear they just made me feel bad about quitting, but I still did two weeks left because I wanted to (and did) end on good terms with my manager and the company. Irrelevant fun fact: She was actually my manager for this boutique at another location closer to my city in 2022 after I transferred there in March! All of that is a different story lol.

AANNYYWAYSSSS,

I called the manager I used to work with at this boutique in the city we both started in together in 2021, asking if she still needed an assistant manager, and she did, so I went back there in September last year. I love the company and everyone I've worked with from 2021 up to now, but, like I said, it's just boring for me (especially since because I love the arts and creativity) and there's not growth beyond assistant manager. I can become a manager, but there's no telling when that would be. And to be honest, I don't want to wait around any longer to find out. For good. Moving out will change my life and most definitely make me happier. I was on my own in college (I hated where I went!) for 4 years and I LOVED it. I loved and now miss being independent. I am both and introvert and extrovert lol. I want to have holiday parties at my own place!! I'm open to moving to a new city New York or Los Angeles, or even Paris or France (especially considering my bachelor's degree and now master's).

Once again, you're amazing, and thank you so much!! And yes, this will be our year!! I'll keep you posted!!

~🌼

great! so from now on i'll be using a special tag for your asks, so it's easier for you to find my answers (i'm not posting much these days anyway but still i like to keep things organized here 🤭). daisy anon it is! (cute btw!)

see, this is the thing about parents: i feel like they don't really care about your happiness as much as they do about you just doing things right... (not ALL parents, i'm sure some are actually supportive, but i get it cause my mom is the same kind of person lol). it may look like they are trying to force you to do all the things you don't want to do & they think they know exactly what is best for you, when in reality they know shit. i've always felt like the biggest failure because i refused to do exactly what my mom wanted for me (this is the main reason why i moved to the other side of the country lol). it's good that you tried something else tho, at least you know now that it's definitely not for you! but i suggest moving out as quickly as you can, you don't need anyone to tell you what to do, you have to decide for yourself.

like i said before, it's amazing that you want to aim higher. you know exactly what you want from life & you're working very hard to get it. also, i think maybe moving out to a different city would actually help you find a decent job? honestly, living in new york sounds like a dream... (i've never been there but i'm dying to go visit one day). paris on the other hand? one of the most beautiful places on earth. if i were you & i had this opportunity to move there, i wouldn't even have to think twice! like i said before, sometimes you have to take that risk. no one says it's gonna be easy, but damn it might be worth it, you'll never find out if you don't try!

& ngl, your stories are actually very inspiring for me & i started thinking about my life and what i can do to change it & just... simply find my happiness. much to think about.

[wallisninety-six]

I do admire Brian Wilson and the works he's made, but I also work to not to be parasocial with him- dude's made good and bad decisions, and he's not a saint, none of us are. But after seeing Love & Mercy and knowing of his neurodivergence/mental disorders & mental health struggles and the whole Eugene Landy episode really, really strikes a personal chord and (without meaning to) made me resonate with him as an autistic individual that I never understood until recently (note: I don't mean to diminish the uniqueness of the awful circumstances he went through at all- those were especially despicable acts of evil) but...

The heightened, almost prison-like level of control over a person's living space who's a 'troublemaker' or 'crazy' is also uncomfortably common for ASD children and adults, whether for legitimate concerns or not

Speaking for/over said individual when they may accidentally say the wrong things or at worse, struggle to find their voice that it's hard to know if whoever speaking for them is really translating their thoughts and respecting their personal choices in good faith, or not

Near-universal labeling of creative works as 'naive' or 'childlike' as if that wasn't an insult- as opposed to understanding that we see the world in fundamentally different ways that others can't fully comprehend, and thus, new art must be born to show what we experience...

...Yet others are also in awe and demanding of our skills rather than actually seeing the human beings in front of them that are being mentally & physically taxed from extremely unrealistic expectations- as if we're an AI in human form

I don't mean to say Brian's experiences with bipolar & schizoaffective disorders is remotely comparable with ASD at all (that's not right)- nor is he the only major figure to deal with treatment like this. But the brutal and uncomfortable truth is that controlling and demeaning behavior *even close* to what happened to him and aimed at neurodivergent people never, ever went away- we risk seeing this as a past, singular case and not something that 100% can still happen under our very eyes.

There's a reason why watching Love & Mercy was *way* more uncomfortable for me than other, scarier and even gorier movies- and it's why "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" hits so, so, *so* much harder when you're neurodivergent too

These are very worrisome times for anyone with any sort of neurodivergency or mental health issues- if you can choose anything, please choose understanding, and love and mercy.

[tsuchinokoroyale]

you mentioned you've been working on a webcomic, can you tell us what it's about? or is it still hush hush under wraps in development NDA ?

Haha, it’s nothing so secretive. I won’t go into it too much bc as much as I love oversharing, I feel like sharing too much of a story impacts how much I want to work at making it cuz it already feels like it’s out there. Luckily the premise is super generic so I don’t mind sharing that 🥳

My 100% unabashed self insert protagonist (( we have the same birthday I’m not subtle about it )) is living a boring, monotonous, and lonely life. This all changes when he ends up on a bus with a charming greek statue of a man and they both get pulled into a beautiful dream world together. It’s a double edged sword, however, because as lovely as the dreams may be, they can’t wake up unless they fulfill the wish that exists at the core of the dream.

It’s an episodic puzzle box mystery/dramedy as the two of them get pulled into various situations. Contrary to the sound of the premise and the self insert OC it’s not actually a story about personal wish fulfillment, but about learning the cost of fulfilling other peoples wishes above your own. I have like 50% of the story written, but translating it to comic format AND THEN actually drawing it is such a slow process 😮‍💨

It’s also my first serious foray into art and it DEFINITELY shows but I’m aiming for completion over perfection. Its very much about me learning to meet myself where I am as well as me engaging with myself creatively as well as me giving myself something to do to distract myself from The Horrors™ of unemployment.

I think I want to finish the first 4 chapters before I post ANYTHING since that’s when the story really starts to start (( king of pacing what can I say 🤭 )) and given the fact that I’ve been working on this comic every waking second for the past 3 weeks and have finished… a third of the first chapter, it’ll be a few months til anyone sees anything, especially if I land a job between now and then 😮‍💨

Until then you can have my favorite panel that I’ve drawn so far, a text message notification from our MC’s town’s Bus Schedule App:

[researchdocumentationdump]

Research ... Media Outputs

Side note/shout out of appreciation.

Hahaha okay... completely unrelated but ....I freaking LOVE the power in the Waka Kotahi campaigns, and I mean both the posters and the video ads! they are so impactful, dark, but impactful. They were a fabulous example given in one of our lectures. I appreciate the way different components can come together for example image and text, no mater how simple, to be impactful. This is ultimately and ideally what I'm going to try to achieve. Whatever my media outputs are. ( I say whatever they are... but I do have an idea :) ).

Most influential two videos I have seen!! Goosebumps!!

Back on Topic...

Audience

So basically what I'm wanting to achieve is to raise awareness (hopefully in an effective way) on how coeliac is serious and should be taken seriously. I'm going to attempt at eliminating the sigma and in doing this by targeting a younger audience who are generally more oblivious or simply unaware that coeliac even exists, let alone is actually serious and to be taken with more than just a pinch of salt. young people still have to grow up so there is time for them to learn and pass that knowledge on. the knowledge I put out there will best true and not misinformed and gathered from credible and reliable sources.

on a general scope, I want my audience to be anyone who hasn't heard of coeliac , but primarily, I want my audience to be for young people generation Z who are in uni and pre-uni post-uni young adults who may be unknowingly surrounded by their peers who have coeliac. As a reference point (or a guide if your will) i will be using my three flatmates as a sample of my audience. All three of them fit to the age demographic and knowing absolutely nothing on the topic of coeliac, in fact one of them even said "isn't that like a wheat intolerance thing?". I am going to draw on their lack of knowledge and awareness, essentially guiding my project to present to them, and fulfil the aim to bring a general awareness and understanding on the issues presented with coeliac.

Random Information Dump ...

Here is another helpful site that outlines what coeliac is...

There are some pretty amazing already existing creations out there regarding coeliac awareness. Im not really leaning towards video as my media format, I do enough of that in my film papers and my skills are a bit lacking at this point in my film journey that I don't feel confident venturing down that road just yet, however, there is an amazing coeliac video by Hayley Repton on Vimeo called Glutened and it does a fanatic job at displaying coeliac disease. this short video is "A rhythmic short film which expresses the impact everyday life has on a newly diagnosed coeliac, and how she discovers her own tempo."

Because coeliac is hard to direct visually in a creative way there isn't many media out puts out there like Glutened. I feel that it is way more affective to absorb visual information than written information, especially in regards to health related topics. I'm interested in photography, it is something I enjoy (I'm not much good at it but this might be an opportunity to practice) it might be a matter of approaching this topic in a contemporary way in terms of visual representation of ideas that otherwise have none.

YouTube has some great resources as well! the below videos are informative in a fun way and are done by YouTuber Morgan Mckenzie Moore. Absolutely brilliant and entertaining. I think the content in her "Stop Saying This" video is very relevant and making people aware of some of these things is the first step in changing the stigma and the misunderstandings.

there is also this mini documentary style video on Youtube the was made in association with the NZ Coeliac association and the University of Auckland. it is called Dont Pass the Bread. This is getting personal insight into living with Coeliac

I think I just like the idea that photography or poster campaigns are fast and quick to taken in an this could be more effective that a video that you're needing to know what to search for to even begin, whereas you could be casually walking past a shop window and see a poster on something you may have never thought to look up. I know this has its controversial issues as well, in terms of s seeing something you just didn't want to see but because it was up in a space that is unavailable like a bus stop, you are therefore forced in a way to look at something. anyways...

This has been Pinterest contribution, I like the idea of the poster but again I think there are way to many medical posters out there and while they're great, I want to make something a little more interesting and different. if I make something different, this might spark some interest in the viewer to learn more or simply take away what they learnt in the moment. I like the idea that a poster will have something impactful and fast to say visually but then with a mention or a direction to a follow up to something like a video or a podcast or a news article etc.

Below is a campaign proposal I found on Behance, to be fair this was the only one on coeliac which I guess confirms the point that this is all the more needed.

I love when people put forth their knowledge to share and help others in an easily accessible and consumable way. some of the other images I pulled from instagram included...

My moms fight is my fight really stood out to me as this is relatable to my angle and its how I'm positioned to care about coeliac as it is something ive grown up around. I like the idea of simple image combining to make a bigger meaning or announcement. I ended up finding images that I thought were decent enough representations of Coeliac or in relation to that idea... sort of like a mini visual mind Map. Here is a sample...

Below is an article that also mentions the nuisance caused when people can sometimes mistake coeliac for being an allergy, published on the NZ Herald and the article itself is local to the Waikato region as well 'Hamilton News'. Another point to mention as stated in previous post is that coeliac often considered a disability and I know there is some extra help with that. Individuals with celiac disease have different needs at different times in their life. Because of these special needs, specifically in the States, coeliac disease is considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Diagnostic delays and treatment challenges in children with coeliac disease: The New Zealand Coeliac Health Survey.

The purpose of this study was to examine the symptoms, diagnosis delays, and management challenges of Coeliac disease (CD) in children. The study utilized the New Zealand Coeliac Health Survey and focused on children under the age of 16. The results indicated that out of the 123 children with doctor-diagnosed CD, the median age at diagnosis was 4 years, and the median time between symptom onset and diagnosis was 1.5 years.

I found an academic article, Epidemiology of coeliac disease, that provides a review of the latest epidemiological information on coeliac disease globally. The review concentrates mainly on the prevalence of the disease among adults, as there has been a decline in infant cases that has been offset by an increase in cases among older children and adults.

‘It’s not fair that we have to pay a premium’: Woman with coeliac disease reveals struggles of pricey gluten-free food during cost of living crisis. is the name of another website article I found. I also noticed that there seems to be a larger focus on woman with coeliac an it seems to be more common in women and this would be interesting to explore further why that might be the case, even if there is no research done on that. also if there is any importance emphasising the word women in a lot of cases because I know one of the podcasts I explore was the diagnosis story of an Australian man who has coeliac disease. I feel as though this is an imprint point as it could influence who my target audience is, or not, but anyhow, food for thought.

I had a smallllll nosey on Facebook, and found some cute clips that were part of coeliac Australia's ad campaign, passing small bits of information on.

Some images I liked...

Exploring the a humorous approach:)

Some other resources I have been checking out include the NZ Coeliac association magazines the my mom gets occasionally.

I'm finding that I contiue to ad to my already posted posts as I find something new! and I have found something new!!!

A cool website on the 'Coeliac Scene' that seems to be featuring all news and new things related to coeliac in the BC Canada area (not NZ I know!!) but it is similar in a lot of places.

some Academic sources that I want to note..

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1747-0080.12105

The above is taken from the website.

[evaslytherpuff]

Thank you for the tag @moongurl95 🥰❤️

I struggled soooo much with this. It took forever and I had to ask for advice. lol. When I made my MC’s, I didn’t think to design them off of anyone, I just kinda made characters I thought would be pretty or cool. lol. But here they are! Finally!😅

Ember Reign

I chose Kat Graham for Ember, especially with this look. Her style is sort of vintage with an edge and usually form fitting, she also loves high waisted skirts with crop tops. For her weapon? Ember would be creative. She would probably fashion dagger like nails with her ancient magic and claw/stab someone. For her flower I chose Southern Magnolia because she’s originally from New Orleans.💛🦡

Calum Darwin

Calum was tough. I also don’t know the guys name, he just really looks like him. lol. (If anyone knows his name, please tell me.❤️) Calum’s style is very laid back and relaxed, he’ll add some accessories for some flare but he usually keeps it simple. Calum doesn’t like to be violent, he would rather be hanging out with his friends, so for his weapon I choose a smoke bomb so he could drop it and just disappear.😂 I picked Day Lilies for him because they are bright and vibrant like his sweet personality.💛🦡

Javier Alvarez

For Javier I picked Nic Kaufmann. His look, especially in this photo, fits Javier so much! The fluffy hair, light eyes, the glasses! It’s Javi.😄 His style is very sophisticated and mature. He loves sweaters and is usually well dressed. Javier is not loud or bold, he’s kinda afraid of his own shadow, but he is creative (he’s an artist😍) so he would concoct a poison to use as his weapon. For Javi’s flower I chose the Bearded Iris. I thought it looked like an elegant painting or a flower where he actually painted the petals.💙🦅

Alec Basilio

Alec was the absolute hardest! I’m still not 100% set on his face claim. I picked Stell from SB19 though! I struggled to find a Filipino man with blue eyes. Alec has blue eyes because his mother is a blonde British woman with bright blue eyes! Again, I didn’t really think about anyone while I made my characters. His style is very bold and edgy, he would live in a leather jacket if you let him. Alec would be fascinated with muggle weapons especially the bow and arrow. He also has great aim which is why I picked this weapon for him. His flower is Amaryllis! It’s vivid, noticeable, and exudes power like he does.❤️🦁

This was a challenge. lol. I tag: @underthenightskydreamsneverdie @newbienewness @hotcinnam0nspicy @sunnyrealist @localravenclaw @blueraineshadows @eternalremorse @finalgirllx @helendeath @pheexblack and anyone else who would like to join.🥰

I was tagged in this tag game AGES ago by @silvyadrakkon, @shanaraharlyah and @a-usernamelol. Thank you guys, I was glad to get to know Lyssa, Hellendil and Allan better. Sorry I'm such a slowpoke, it has been in my drafts all this time and I only got to finish it now.

So, "post a collage of your MC in real life, their fashion, their choice of weapon, and a flower that represents them".

1. Andrew Garfield? As I discovered recently. But I'm still looking for his faceclaims, so if you know someone suitable - please share. And, no, despite his hair, I don't see him in Newt Scamander

2. The word ‘fashion‘ would probably cause a short circuit in his brain. Not something he pays attention to as long as his clothes are practical. Modern AU, just because the first pic is modern, too.

3. I decided to interpret the 'choice of weapon' not literally because he used to protect himself without a wand for most of his life (before Hogwarts).

4. A cactus is technically not a flower itself, but despite its prickles and ability to survive harsh conditions, it can still bloom.

If you see it and want to participate – you're tagged! I won't tag anyone specifically because I'm too late for th – On second thought, @phinik @littlejonyy @myokk @girl-named-matty wanna join? No pressure of course

[inessencedevided]

Interest check: multilingual mdzs creations event

Hey mdzs/cql fandom!

This is an interest check (by @rose-nebulijia and me) for an event that aims to celebrate the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of the mdzs fandom.

What we’re proposing

An event aimed at creators of all possible forms of content (fanart, fanfic, edits, gifs, fanvids; to name some examples) that intents to shine a spotlight on the kind of creations that usually get a bit less attention because they are not in English (and consequently might not even get made).

You have a favourite poem in your mother tongue that you really think fits wangxian but you didn’t think if you put it on an edit anyone would reblog it? There’s a line from a song in a language you’ve been studying that makes your heart ache for Jiang Yanli? You’ve always wanted to center a piece of fanart around that very specific word in your favourite language that is untranslatable into English? You have a strong emotional connection to a language and want to recreate your experience studying it in a fic featuring mdzs/cql characters?

Those are just some examples :) Anything mdzs/cql related that is centered around a language you care deeply about would have a place in this event!

Why we’re proposing it

A while ago (cough) @rose-nebulijia and I had a talk and found out that we had many sources of inspiration for fanworks that weren’t in English. Given that this fandom is centered around a source material that isn’t in English and knowing that a lot of people were inspired to study Mandarin because of MDZS/CQL, we hoped that we’d have enough company to center an event around this concept.

With this being a large and diverse fandom, we’d love to see some of that diversity being given an outlet.

Languages, no matter if they are our mother tongue or our second, third or even fourth language, hold a part of ourselves. Our hope is that with this event, we as a fandom can access entire oceans of creativity that, so far, have been relatively unsailed.

Who can participate?

Everyone! With all kinds of original fan content!

Which languages will be accepted?

All of them!

Yes, English, too. Since so much of the tumblr-centric mdzs/cql fandom happens in English, the idea of this event is to give languages other than English a place to shine. This does not mean that we will exclude English language creations. In fact, we will be happy to receive them! As we said, the event is for languages you care deeply about – which can, of course, also be English. This is just a gentle reminder that, if you ever wanted to create something in a language you thought would never get attention on tumblr, this event will the time to do so.

How will the event be structured?

The idea is for this event to run for a week, with each day being under a different theme.

For now, we are aiming for a week in November, since this is after some of the other large fandom events in our orbits are over but before the holiday exchanges start.

Do I need to sign up to participate?

No! :)

All that will be required is that you follow the event blog and post your creations on the day with the theme you created them for, using the tag(s) we will announce once the event is launched.

You can post on as many or as few days as you like.

How will we promote the creations?

We will create a blog for this event where all original creations for the event will be reblogged.

What to do now?

If you’re interested, please let us know by liking, commenting on, or reblogging this post. (The last one especially, a signal boost is always appreciated! ;))

If you want to be tagged once the event is launched, tell us so in the notes.

Any more questions?

Feel free to drop an ask at either @rose-nebulijia or @inessencedevided 💙

[zmwrites]

It would be great actually if you wrote about the wattpad/viacom thing because that post that was going around was kinda fear mongering which to a certain degree I can understand why because there was given no clear info especially on what the contract entails so that post made it sound like wattpad was just handing stories over for companies to scoop up

Alright, this has been bothering me for a while, so let's crack into it.

To start: I don't want to blame anyone for the borderline-fear-mongering. The press release wasn't worded great and it's very natural for creatives to be worried about people (read: corporations) stealing their work.

The “Mining” Concern

Wattpad has been "mining story data" for years. They aren't looking at the books themselves, but at the general type of content and how it's being consumed and by who.

@tlbodine explained it really well in their post HERE:

"The thing that makes Wattpad unique, from a business perspective, and that they promote a lot in industry-facing announcements, is the amount of extremely granular data they have access to re: reading habits. They have proprietary algorithms that allow them to spot trends and predict things well before others in the industry. Not only do they know basic demographics of who’s reading what (in terms of gender/location/age) but they can see things like, how quickly is a book being read? how much engagement is it getting per chapter? Are people binge-reading in one sitting? Are people sharing the story? What tags are people searching for? And so forth.

This data knowledge has always put them in a good place to work with brands and sponsored content, which was their first money-making business decision. They’ll run branded contests and that sort of thing."

So the "mining" thing everyone was really worried about isn't stealing anyone's writing projects, but rather is aiming to promote projects that have the potential to become popular so they can capitalize on a trend before traditional publishing even hears about it.

This is a normal business practice. Remember how many post-apocalyptic love triangle books there were after The Hunger Games became popular? The entertainment industry latches onto a trend and milks it until people are so sick of it they hate it. (Remember the mid-2010s rise in animosity towards love triangles? Not dislike, straight up hatred of a trope that's existed forever.) Wattpad uses the reading habits of their user base to know what's going to be popular before the rest of the industry does.

Enter ViacomCBS

Now: the Viacom deal. As we've already discussed, they're not stealing content. So what are the details of the contracts going to be like?

Contracts are vey confidential, so I can't give specific examples. However I was able to get some ballpark figures from an inside source who declined to be identified due to, uh, the NDA they signed.

First, an author would be paid an optioning fee. Industry standards place this between $500-$5,000, so I assume they’d fall somewhere in there. This is what the author is paid regardless of if their project makes it into production or not. After a book is optioned it goes through development, aka it’s written into a script and then the producers try to get it funded. These optioning fees typically give the production company one year to start production. If they don’t get it done in that year and they still want to pursue the project, they will pay another optioning fee—more money to the author.

I don’t want to get into the details of what happens when a project is in development as it’s a whole other thing that would need it’s own post to explain. T. L. Bodine’s post above goes into detail about their experiences with their project that’s currently in development. (Read their post. It is a very good post.)

If the project is greenlit and is entering into production, the author is then paid more money. Wattpad Studios contracts, like all adaptation contracts, are generally based on the value of the production but include a guaranteed floor. So an author might be paid 1% of the total production value of the show/movie, with a guarantee of being paid $20,000 USD. They'll be paid whichever is more, typically minus the optioning fee.

Some Wattpad authors are being paid millions of dollars for their content. 

The author will then be paid royalties based on the performance of the show/movie after it’s released. They’ll also probably be given a publishing deal to put their book into print, and any proceeds from that (handled in a different publishing contract like every other traditionally published book).

I don’t know if you’ve been following the money here, but the author is not paying anyone and is not having their work stolen. At every step, they are getting industry standard payments just like authors who take the traditional publishing route before having their work adapted.

All of this has been to say that no, Wattpad is NOT stealing your content and selling it to the highest bidder. In fact, my source (who no longer works for the company and has no reason to defend them) says that at every single turn, Wattpad made the decision to ensure more money, rather than less, made it into the pockets of their authors.

Will everyone who posts their writing on Wattpad get contracts like I discussed above? Absolutely not. But they’re not the predators some made them out to be. By all accounts, Wattpad cares deeply about its authors. It’s also incredibly user friendly and has a much wider user-base than some of the sites that were touted as replacements.

I’m not saying everyone has to go running back to the platform, but no one should be afraid to post their writing there. Especially not due to misinformation.

[zackieboyo]

any headcanons about paul?I know you ship tord x paul (i think)so im intrigued about him

Paul is a stoic person but is also very awkward, I like to think he has autism and that means he shows his emotions with his face way less if at all, but of course he still feels them. he finds it hard to read anyone he doesn't know but he definitely makes an effort to learn and memorize Tord and Patryck's body language specifically just because he really wants to. it's probably the only time he does anything close to masking because Tord tries to make the army a comfortable place for him as much as he can though Paul specifically has special interests in military, army weaponry and robotics so he really enjoys working at the army. I think Paul is very creative and smart and takes Tord's position as leader when Tord is away or just unavailable. I also like to think he loves Garfield and has a bunch of Garfield merch, he definitely has one of the Garfield telephones and uses it constantly even though the mic quality is absolute ass. he only has two friends, that being Patryck and Tord, but he likes solitude. he doesn't have a sexuality label and is willing to try anything though he's honestly not focused on romance(though when he is dating someone he is very affectionate and loves PDA and pet names). he often buries himself in his work and his routine 90% of the time, sometimes he works all nighters by accident and Tord has to make sure he gets the sleep he needs. he's got impeccable aim with both a gun and a crossbow. he can't fly a plane but somehow got appointed to co pilot next to Patryck because he has a well enough understanding of planes from reading up on them, thankfully he doesn't have to fly a lot but he does end up distracting Patryck while they're flying from time to time. he likes to listen to indie music and probably plays FNAF because he really doesn't get scared easily and loves the lore aspect, probably also a fan of Minecraft and Undertale/Deltarune for the same reason, he's a total lore nut(and of course loves the gameplay too). I'm also on the fence about him having ADHD because I figured it'd be cool and also easier to write than him just having one because I have both ASD and ADHD myself, but wasn't exactly sure yet. he became friends with Tord when they met at a robotics university and continued being Tord's friend after Tord got kicked out, and then of course joined the red army, though he did that before Tord decided to go, partially because he wanted to be able to put his military knowledge to good use but also to force Tord to do it because Tord was scared of leaving things behind(even though he and Paul both knew leading the army would make him happier than staying in London). he loves Tord and that means he'll do anything for him, including sacrificing himself, but it also means he'd absolutely tell Tord how it is, he hates lying or even just not telling people the truth and communication is one of his must-haves in any kind of relationship. he hates snakes because their scales feel weird and he loves birds(especially toucans) and possums

[kiwi]

how did you go about setting up that art fair/market? it looks really fun and id love to see something/set something up for my area!

i totally recommend starting a craft fair, its a great way to bring your community together! just be aware it's a TON of work, especially if you're doing it yourself. i did a lot of the planning myself, but i got a lot of help from friends, especially for the execution, and i absolutely couldn't have done it without them.

first, figure out what resources you have. do you have a venue? i was lucky enough that my place of work let me hold the event there, but if you don't have a space, you'll have to work that into your budget. keep in mind that you want to find a place with as much foot traffic as possible. you will also have to consider specific problems with the venue you choose; indoor venues may require lighting, outdoor venues might need shade. do you have chairs and tables or will people need to bring their own? do you personally have anything to bring? (i had a button machine, so we used it to make a DIY station. we also used several of our own tables, chairs, lights, and speakers from home.)

what is your budget and how will you gather it? our budget came from renting out spaces and tables per day. Even if you don't have tables to rent out, it's a very good idea to charge for spaces. This both guarantees that you won't have too many vendors for your space, and that the vendors who apply will show up. You will have significantly more vendors drop at the last minute if you don't charge for spaces.

Finding vendors is challenging at first. A good chunk of our vendors came from people we knew personally. Our friends and neighbors were where we started, and then they started telling their friends and neighbors. As the event went on, more artists heard of us and asked to be part of it. We made a lot of social media posts and directly reached out to classmates and friends with online merch stores. Admittedly this part was easier for us than it would be for most people, since my friends, my coworkers, and I are all very involved in the local creative scene.

Advertising is also a really tough one. We reached out to a LOT of different groups, mostly kid based ones since we were aiming at attracting families. (Scouts, YMCA, boys and girls club, churches, shriners, motorcycle clubs, lions clubs, radio stations, podcasts, facebook marketplace, etc) We also put up posters in areas nearby with a lot of foot traffic, and asked local store owners to display our flyers. Just go walking in the area and see what kind of community boards you can find, or which shops might be interested.

The thing that attracted the most people, unfortunately, was going to the nearby park and handing out flyers DURING the event. It helps to wear a silly costume to be more approachable, just dont get heat stroke in a stupid pirate outfit in the park like i almost did. not gonna lie this part isnt for everyone. its physically intensive and you have to go out of your way to bother strangers going about their day and some of them will not appreciate that lol

Consider having some activities for your event that arent just about spending money. My event goal was to bring people together with art, so I added activities like community murals. This is also admittedly a really tough one to come up with ideas for, since you have to public-proof it.

i made a BAZILLION lists of everything possible and it really helped keep me organized. use the hell out of some spreadsheets and keep a list of literally everything. make layouts of what needs to go where. make sure you give your vendors info about stuff like parking, set up times, and schedule changes. overall just stay so inhumanly organized because it all gets overwhelming very fast

so anyway yeah!! if anyone has more questions about how i pulled it off feel free to ask!

[rantrambles]

Ever get so upset you make a Tumblr account to vent?

I haven’t even listened to The Penumbra Podcast yet but it’s on my list because it’s insanely popular and the cosplays I’ve seen are hot as hell (A+ to all the cosplayers I’ve seen you’ve done great work). Now, with the recent news surrounding the podcast, I’ll wait till it’s done if I ever do get into it. I’m Asian and part of the LGBT community but I’m not nonbinary so I can’t say much about the trans represention in the art but I wanted to add my two cents on the matter as a person of color and someone examining the situation from the outside. Also, before I get deeply into it, I’m not the only person of color with opinions on this matter so if people have their own frustrations and criticism with the racism in The Penumbra Podcast and/or the new artist they hired, definitely listen to them too. These are my own personal opinions, and I’m sure other people will disagree and that’s fine. We’re all going to have different views on this so bear that in mind. Also, feel free to correct me or add anything if I’ve missed some information. Here’s a great breakdown of the whole situation for those that don’t know what happened. Finally, I was very hesitant to post this, but I felt it was important because I make a statement at the end on how race should be presented in a podcast format so if you are interested in making a podcast and want to have a diverse range of characters, please skip to the end to read those thoughts.

I’ll start off by saying, I’m not even that upset with the new artist that The Penumbra Podcast hired. I know that statement alone is controversial but I don't personally know them, and I’m not going to judge who they are as a person by a few pieces of art they’ve made. They are the least of the problems that I have here. Since the announcement and the backlash, I’ve been scrolling through the artist’s Instagram account and I can tell why people find the designs offensive, but I’m also comparing the designs to the artist’s other work, and I honestly believe that’s just their style. They’ve exaggerated the features of just about every character they’ve made, regardless of race or gender. From what I’ve seen the sharp angles and overly round curves in the anatomy that make some of the character’s features more jarring are how they prefer to draw. I’m sure they’re capable of drawing more realistic proportions but for the most part they’re art aims to call attention, be bold, and create distinguished features. Not inherently a bad thing on its own.

And yeah I’d understand the issue if this were a scenario where the artist heard how these characters acted in the podcast and thought “hey, obviously this character is a black woman because they are super strong and therefore must have big muscles, no other woman could look like that” or “hey, this character has to be Asian because they act super seductive sometimes better draw them as such.” But from my understanding the race was already decided by previous official artists and a general description of the characters were already generated by the audience, similar to how The Magnus Archives leaned towards drawing scrawny Jon with black, greying hair and dark skin. The new artists couldn’t really change those features even if those features aren’t described in canon because a depiction that strayed too far from popular fandom interpretation would make the character’s unrecognizable to the fanbase. 

I think the reason this became such a big issue for most people is because the new Penumbra artist used their exaggerated art style when making these characters and people of color and nonbinary folks already see themselves drawn as these exaggerated caricatures all the time (with those images being used to further discriminate against them). I’m sure the artist didn’t mean for their art to be offensive, but that of course doesn’t change how it was received. 

According to some, the poses and expressions the artists chose did not fully represent the characters entirely and only served to further perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and I’ll have to take their word for it because I still haven’t listened to the podcast so I have no idea how the characters act. But again much of the criticism is based on the one line-up and doing a deeper dive into the artist’s work I managed to find artwork that was much less offensive. Here some art where Vespa is depicted in a non-violent pose and one where Vespa is in a threatening pose but not an overly violent one. Here is Peter drawn in a non-seductive pose. Hopefully, the artist truly does keep the criticisms in mind as they work on the new official art. I’m just not the type of person that wants to get the pitchforks out and cause this particular person to lose a job they seemed really excited about over their old character line-up, especially when that person is also part of a marginalized group.

Again, that’s just my opinion on that particular artist. Those who are offended by their art are still valid in how they feel, and the artist should absolutely take their criticism to heart to better how they represent the characters.

What I’m more upset about is that I think The Penumbra Podcast should never have released official art for their characters in the first place and that’s their mistake that they refuse to own up about. They have made it clear that the story was never meant to portray characters of colors, a fact emphasized by the fact they hired mostly white actors from the start. They only started releasing art of the characters to get a profit. And the thing is they know what they did was wrong. All I had to do was search Penumbra Podcast racism and there is a note on their website saying that they archived some old official art.

“We have discontinued all Penumbra merchandise that uses the original character designs, and in the meantime, any profits on the sales of that merchandise will go to the For The Gworls project. We also realize that the depiction of these characters as POC, while not appropriate for us to use in our marketing and merchandise, has nonetheless become personally meaningful to many POC listeners. For that reason, and because we do not wish to distance ourselves from our mistake, we are keeping these images on our website for archival purposes. Though we do want to make it clear that many of the main/featured voice actors are white and that we did not write the characters to represent any specific POC experience, you are, as always, free to imagine these characters in any way that you like.”

I went to their shop and they still sell posters and pins with the character’s faces on them, but they are donating it to a good cause so hopefully that stays the same. However, I still find it a little uncomfortable that they are still selling character merch and have plans to continue selling character merch. They have no right to dissuade the fans that already found representation in the characters, but they also have no right to profit off the representation that was built, regardless if they made the story. 

Let’s compare this to another piece of popular media. I love Avatar the Last Airbender and, I liked the ATLA voice actors just fine but there should have been more people of color doing voice acting behind the screen too. The voice actors for that show were mainly white too, however, the creators knew that they would be making poc characters. That’s what makes the difference. Did they still choose to go with mostly white voice actors? Yes. Could they have done better and pay more people of color? Also yes. But I’m not as furious at them because they did their research on the cultures they were basing the ATLA world off of and intentionally gave us a show where Asians could see characters that looked like them represented on the screen. The Penumbra Podcast did not do any of that. Again, they openly admitted that it was never their intention to make the character’s people of color when they made the podcast so that goes to show no research was made to properly represent specific cultures. The color of the character’s skin in their official designs therefore became more of aesthetic choice rather than representation, and it wasn’t even their aesthetic choice to begin with!

Race isn’t a color you can just throw onto the character because you feel like it. So I want this to be a lesson to anyone that wants to make a podcast: if you want to include poc characters please do some research into the cultures you plan to represent the way you would with any other form of media. Just because the audience can’t see the characters and just because it’s harder to smoothly introduce the character’s appearance doesn’t mean you’re allowed to be lazy on how you present the characters. Do research before you start writing the first episode and take the time to hire poc actors. Hiring poc actors is actually the least that can be done to show representation. Also, since the audience cannot visually see the race of the characters on a podcast and it can’t typically be described the way you would in a book, you’ll have to be creative. It’s not my job to say how, but my suggestions would be, before the fans come up with their own image of the character, you need to establish race in the first few episodes or release character profiles on a website so that the fans know you canonically intended the characters to be of a certain race even if you aren’t able to mention it in the actual podcast. If you are unwilling to do any of these then the best route is to avoid stating race at all and allow the audience to build their own representation into your form of media. However, once this happens, you are not allowed to profit off popular fan interpretations. You lose all rights to create official art or images of the characters. You cannot use “we have a diverse cast of characters” when you market your story. It doesn’t matter whether you created the content or not, you did not create the representation for those minority groups.

It’s one thing for fans to build their own inclusivity into a form of art like a podcast, but it’s another thing for the creators who never worked to make the representation happen to take advantage of the representation that the listeners built for themselves. Thank you for attending my TedTalk.