#every year i plan to do a cosplay

[nightlyrayne]

It's that time of year again ⎚-⎚

[thedeskofaltoclef]

How I became The Desk of Alto Clef.

My response to a SCP Group designed around Hate and Bigotry who have targeted me and others in this community.

Nah, man, my daughter is dead.

It has been brought to my attention that there is a group of people on the internet who are fascinated with my fascination of Alto Clef and Meri. Hurtful and yet cute in a way so I think now I'll choose this time and these screen grabs from their discord to explain how I came to be 'The Desk of Alto Clef'.

My Daughter died six years ago and it sent me spiraling deep into the bottom of whatever bottle I could find.

I was completely prepared to take my own life and even had the things to 'finish the job' because my life had no meaning at that point. What was another statistic going to matter anyways, right?

It was in one of these dark, drunk moments with a gun when I fell across the Volgun's video on 'reality benders and you' and fell into a rabbit hole.

Drunkenly I fumbled around the wiki and learned more about this broken man known as Alto Clef.

A man whom I could relate to in my own way. A man who, no matter what he did, could never see his daughter as I will never be able to see mine. So thus, I became a very, very shitty cosplayer.

I like to believe that over the past four years my acting ability has increased to a sustainable level and as much as I joke about things I do try to stay humble about it. Though I like to think I've become better but I digress.

I love the lore of Clef and Meri, on or offsite, to the point that I am weird about it I know, but that's how I stay connected to my daughter. Writing the Deskverse is how I stay connected to my daughter.

I am also autistic which causes me to hyper fixate on Clef as a coping mechanism.

Because of this group of people I have greatly considered leaving the community and going back to my own personal solitude. Acting, Voice Acting, Cosplaying as Clef gave and still gives me something to live for again. I may not be this group's cup of tea but I do like to believe that I have helped others. My main goal has always been to uplift those who need uplifting. I do not want anyone to ever feel how I felt in my lowest and darkest moments.

The main story in the deskverse is about a father and a daughter torn apart by the actions of an abusive mother. My real life story.

I also have ZERO clue as to why I am being involved with misogyny or yuri things. If I have offended you in any way I do apologize.

I do not plan on posting the more 'suggestive' or 'lewd' responses they have made. Overly sexualized content does make me extremely uncomfortable.

This group of people have broken my heart into pieces. Seeing this list of images and names dragging me through the mud has already smashed my unstable self-esteem as it is.

At this time I do not plan on releasing any names associated with all of this because I am honestly tired of reliving the most horrid event of my life over and over because I, for whatever reason, do not fit what this group feels is acceptable of an actor/writer/fan.

I cannot say the same for the others in which they were assaulting.

In summary Alto Clef is an outlet for the pain I live with every day. I can never see, hold, hear, smell, or speak to my daughter. I have scars on my body from her mother that will never allow me to forget that life I had. I will always remember the taste of gunpowder but thankfully my drunk ass was too weak. If your going to be bad at something, be bad at that I suppose.

I will leave all of this with a final image from the copious list and the one that honestly hurts me the most. I am honestly a shy and reserved person and frankly it takes a lot for me to get out of my comfort zone. Not long ago I went to another SCP discord server because I wanted to meet new people and someone in there was awesome. I truly enjoyed my time with this person and just found them amazing. They were kind, open, willing to listen to my ideas, and gushed over Numberonedoggo. I thought I had finally made a new friend on my own. I was apparently wrong.

Art, from some of my favorite artists, was made for the sole reason of mocking me specifically. To laugh at me for finding joy in something that gives me purpose. Something I use to drive away the darkness.

No age, disorder, illness, or reason at all can be acceptable for anyone to act in this way. You are all a mockery of everything the SCP community should stand for.

-TheDesk

[foldingfittedsheets]

In the bloom of my youth I found myself on an evening with my best friend in the park. We were young and it was a beautiful warm summer night to be out. At sixteen in a small rural town our options for entertainment were limited but it had been a good day.

Park is a somewhat generous term for the locale, what it amounted to was a cleared space with some planters and bushes, a tiny podium, and a square of trees round the perimeter. We had been hanging about with our friend who needed to leave, and waiting to be picked up ourselves, carless plebeians that we were.

So there we were, two teen girls in the park alone as the last of the light faded. Neither of us had cellphones, and my nana was collecting us right from the park as we’d agreed earlier. We were in no hurry, knowing she’d arrive when she arrived.

Until my friend said, “What was that?”

I looked up to where she was pointing but I didn’t see anything. “What?” I asked.

“I think it was… someone streaking?”

It was absurd to think. Our little town, tiny and rural as it was, with a streaker. But I loved my friend, so instead of laughing I said, “Let’s go see.”

I’m not sure what I thought it was, but I was confident she’d be less nervous if we investigated and found a plastic bag or a jogger in white. And I’ll admit I was curious at this anomaly. We made our way across the park to where she’d pointed.

That’s when I saw it too. A flash of pale skin under the streetlights, moving too quickly through the shadows and shrubs to see clearly. My friend clung to my arm, shrinking in on herself and I felt the first twitch of fear. Investigating no longer seemed like the thing to do.

I was determined to protect her from whatever was lurking, so I changed course and started cutting away from the movement, heading for the small shopping center not too far outside the park.

Our progress was suddenly arrested as the mysterious figure launched into our path. A man crouched on the pavement before us, fully nude except for a loincloth. His hair was in white people dreads. It was in every way like Tarzan had stepped out of the animated movie into real life.

My friends fingers were digging painfully into my arm and we stood stock still, staring at this bizarre apparition. He was still a good fifteen feet away from us. He stared back, making soft simian “ooh ooh” sounds.

I was struggling to process that a man in a loin cloth was right there when he started to move toward us. It was in his monkey half crouch, a few shambling steps, slow, with his eyes fixed on us.

“Leave us alone!” I declared.

He stopped, tilting his head this way and that. Then shifted like he would take another step.

I was fully afraid now, but I was also furious that he was menacing us and scaring my friend. I dropped her arm, marching forward with wrath in my eyes and said, “Get out of here before we call the cops!”

At my approach he turned and bolted back into the bushes. I whipped around and zipped back toward my friend, grabbing her arm and power walking us out of there. We arrived at the nearest business and darted inside, conveying what had just happened in garbled snippets.

The workers were outraged to hear our story. They let me call my nana to tell her where we were, then asked if we’d like to call the police. I shook my head. I emphatically did not want to deal with the police.

In the safety of the store my fear had started to feel ridiculous. It was probably just some bored prankster.

As we waited for my nana my friend quietly admitted she would rather liked to have called the cops. I apologized for not asking. We lapsed into silence. She said, “I can’t believe you went toward him.”

I couldn’t either. I didn’t remember planning on it, only I wanted to be between him and my friend. “Do you think he was crazy or was it just a prank?”

She shook her head. She didn’t know either. All these years later I still don’t really know what happened that night. If he was on a dare, or cosplaying Tarzan for fun, or if he was unwell. A lot of the details have hazed over with time but the utter dissonance of seeing a man in a loin cloth pop out of the bushes is seared into me.

I also remember back then, in a whisper both scandalized and fascinated, my friend admitting, “I saw Tarzan’s penis.”

[thequeenofcurses]

Valentine's Day 2025

summary: How your JJK bf/gf treats you for Valentine’s this year. reader (gender neutral) x jjk characters. multi pairings (SEPERATE) wk: 1.2k

masterlist | jjk masterlist

Nobara would never settle for a boring, cliché date. She’d want to do something cool and stylish, like a high-end shopping spree, a fashion show, or a trendy rooftop bar with fancy cocktails. But deep down, she’s also a romantic. She’d surprise you with a personalized gift, like a charm bracelet with little symbols of your relationship. If you’re into cozy dates, she would plan a spa day together or a cute café hopping adventure (she needs you to try all the new boba flavors!). One thing’s for sure, she’d want pictures of the whole day to post later because you both looked amazing.

“We’re gonna make everyone jealous today. ‘Cause I’m hot, you’re hot, and we’re the ultimate power couple.”

Yuji would want the perfect mix of romance and fun and what better way to do that then just spending the day at home with you! He doesn’t want to do anything fancy. He would order pizza with your favorite toppings on it. He would spend the day gaming with you in the morning, then doing some LARP with your new cosplays in the afternoon. By the evening, you would go back and forth, debating which Human Earthworm film is the best, ultimately agreeing with each other by the end. The night would probably end with you two cuddling, watching a movie under a blanket fort, sharing snacks, and him confessing how much he loves you in the softest, most genuine way.

“I just wanted today to be fun for you, y’know? ‘Cause every day with you is already special for me.”

Megumi isn’t one for grand gestures, but he always pays attention to what makes you happy. He’d take you on a quiet picnic at the beach, under the stars, bringing along your favorite foods. If he knows you like books, he might take you to a cozy bookstore café, or if you enjoy nature, a walk in a peaceful park (with both his cute dogs!). Megumi isn’t much for words, but he makes up for it with small, meaningful actions, like holding your hand, getting you plushies, or even giving you a handwritten letter with all the things he struggles to say out loud.

“…I hope this is okay. I just wanted to spend the day with you.”

Yuta would plan a soft, dreamy date. He’d take you somewhere quiet and beautiful like the beach at sunset or a scenic rooftop with a perfect view of the city lights. He’s a romantic at heart (*cough Rika’s curse cough*), so he’d probably write you a song or a poem (even if he’s nervous about performing it). Expect long, deep conversations, soft hand-holding, and forehead kisses. His gift would be something deeply personal, like a locket with your initials inside or a book filled with handwritten notes about why he loves you.

“I love you more than words can say, but I’ll spend every day trying to show you.” (Just don’t die right after he confesses his love to you or you might be bound to him as a curse forever!)

Toji hates Valentine’s because of all the mushy expectations. Plus, he can’t afford to take you anywhere fancy or a lavish gift anyways. Although, instead of some fancy dinner, he would take you somewhere wild like Dick’s (the restaurant) or an underground fight club. He really loves the adrenaline rush, so your date could also include something exhilarating, like skydiving (if you pay for it), a motorcycle ride along the coast, or a secret, hidden bar where no one knows your name (if there’s no entry fee). His gift would be something personal but practical, like a custom weapon or jewelry with a hidden blade.

“What? You thought I’d buy you flowers? You can’t stab someone with flowers, babe.”

Nanami never misses a beat. Every birthday, every winter holiday, every anniversary, and today is no exception. He’d make reservations at a quiet, fancy restaurant, one with dim lighting, classical music, and impeccable service. He’d order a bottle of fine wine, and the two of you would enjoy deep conversation over a gourmet meal. If he’s feeling extra romantic (we all know he usually is), he might cook for you at home. A delicious candlelit dinner with your favorite music playing in the background. The night would end with a slow dance in the living room with a heartfelt confession about how much you mean to him. 

“I don’t need a special occasion to love you, but if today gives me an excuse to show it, I won’t waste it.”

Geto would take you somewhere sophisticated and away from the other monkeys. He’d reserve a private tea house, where the two of you could enjoy the serenity of a beautiful garden. Or he would have the cursed humans in his cult be useful and cook a divine meal and serve you two (the only thing he finds them good for). If you have cursed energy, he would take you to an art exhibit, holding hands, discussing art, and loving his time with you. If you don’t have cursed energy, he’ll take you to the zoo (he makes jokes that you belong with the animals, but he reassures you he’s ‘just kidding’). His words would be poetic, smooth, and laced with meaning, making you feel like you’re the most precious thing in the world, after all of his joking.

“Being with you is the one indulgence I’ll never regret.”

Choso would go out of his way to make the day special and heartfelt. He’s never experienced Valentine’s before, so he wants to do everything he can to make sure he does it right. He’s not great with flashy gestures, but he’d hand make gifts (maybe a handwritten love letter, a scarf that matches his, or a small photo album of your memories together). He’d love to take you to a flower garden. His priority is making sure you feel safe, loved, and appreciated.

“I don’t need anything fancy. Just you.”

Satoru Gojo is not the kind of man to hold back. He would go all out. He’d whisk you away on a surprise getaway, maybe a private helicopter ride over the city or a trip to a luxurious resort. Expect super flashy gifts, teasing banter, and him showing you off to anyone who’ll listen. If you prefer something more lowkey, he’d rent out an entire planetarium or completely rent out that karaoke bar you two love to hang out at. You two would have the rest of the night to stare at the stars (not counting the ones in his eyes every time he looks at you) or sing your hearts out together. Either way, he makes sure you feel like the most special person in the world.

“Only the best for you.”

Sukuna is absolutely not the “flowers and chocolates” type, but if he truly loves you, expect something unexpectedly intense. He might take you to a private onsen (hot spring) deep in the mountains, where the two of you can enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the world. If he’s feeling indulgent, he’d have Uraume cook you two an exotic dinner. He would love to take you to a secluded temple or a rooftop with a breathtaking view. His gifts would be personal, perhaps handcrafted jewelry infused with cursed energy, something that marks you as his.

“Tch. You’re lucky I care for you this much. Brat.”

Should I expand on any of these? Happy Valentine’s day to you all <3 

dividers by @omi-resources & @cafekitsune

[blamebrampton]

Books talk to each other. Mostly because practically every writer is also a voracious reader, but also because books arise out of times and places and we share a lot of our worlds these days. So it’s unsurprising that several novels I have hugely enjoyed over the past few years share the theme of the antiheroine who is past all giving of the fucks. Naomi Novik’s powerful dark sorceress kept on her own tight leash in the Scholomance books was a joy to follow; Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow slashed her way into my heart and now Sarah Rees Brennan’s Long Live Evil has added to a list of beloved antiheroines that probably started for me with Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair.

Coincidentally, when considering how to describe Long Live Evil without significant spoilers, I realised that it shared several major themes with Vanity Fair. Young woman unfairly treated by fate decides to embrace her slut era to survive a war zone – both very accurate and wildly inaccurate for both. LLE opens with main character Rae in a hospital bed, teasing her sister about a book series they both adore. Rae is taking refuge in the story they have shared over years because it is one of the few things they have left: she is losing her fight against cancer and has been losing parts of her life, family and memory as that fight has progressed.

My personal hospital experiences have all been to do with major traumas rather than illness, which I vastly prefer because if you don’t die in the first couple of days, you usually start mending and you can immediately make plans to make the best of whatever you’ve broken. Rees Brennan, however, famously wrote a very funny, very horrible, ‘Kids, you won’t believe what shenanigans your girl’s been up to now, it’s only stage four Hodgkins lymphoma!’ post on her Tumblr or LJ (someone who has been hit in the head with taxis fewer times than me will doubtless factcheck that in the notes) about seven or eight years ago and then faced the very serious business of trying to live. The hospital scenes are painfully authentic, as are the stories of people who have left Rae as she slipped further out of everyday life.

For Rees Brennan, a loving family and peer group were there to hold her as close as they could. For Rae, only her beloved little sister, Alice, and Time of Iron, their favourite fantasy series, remain. They read the books together, remember adventures cosplaying and watching the musical, they wonder about the final instalment; for Rae it’s a joy she can still share (even if she doesn’t remember as much as she should), for Alice, it’s her two greatest loves. When a strange woman offers a door into the world of the book and a possible magical cure to Rae, she wants it as much as she disbelieves it.

Stepping into Eyam, the land of Time of Iron, Rae finds herself in the body of a villain doomed to die the next day. No worries! She’s thought and fought her way out of worse scraps than this in her past as a head cheerleader, let alone while battling cancer. She can use her knowledge of the plot to change things! If only she remembered more of the books…

Portal fantasies are common enough, but not all play by the same rules. This isn’t Narnia, where the magical world is more real than our own, for Rae, the world of the book is nothing more a tool to get her hands on the cure. She doesn’t need to care about any of these people, they’re not real. Most of them speak in a formal language that relies on the conventions of fantasy literature (there is an ongoing, warm-hearted skewering of all Game of Thrones-esque texts running through both the story and the in-text ‘quotes’ from Time of Iron) and half the characters are known more by their descriptions rather than their names. So she will play the Beauty Dipped in Blood, with her questionable morals, impractical clothes and centre-of-balance-distorting boobs for the weeks that will pass until the cure is available. Whoever she has to shuffle in the plot to secure a place beside that cure, she will shuffle. While she’s not out to kill anyone, it’s not as though they were ever really alive. Not like her. If she has to be the villain to survive, she will be an impeccable one. The people will cheer evil on!

Obviously, little goes to plan. Rae’s illness has taught her cruelty, but she hasn’t forgotten what it is to be kind. Even as she manipulates her role into ongoing main character, she realises that’s not how anyone gets a happy ending. That’s not how she can live with herself. As she comes to think of the other people in the story as real, they become more so, both in how we read them and in how they impact the story. Rae remembers what it is like to make friends, which she never meant to, but, oh, the luxury after years of watching people slip away!

As in previous novel In Other Lands, Rees Brennan has a long list of fantasy tropes to embrace and undermine, and her deft touch with humour is as evident as ever here, but her publishers call this her first adult novel and there is a shift in tone from her previous works. Anger is more real and lasting. Consequences are more significant. Understanding is reached for, even if it’s bitter. One of my favourite things is that she lets her female characters rage, but never judges those who can’t, whether because they’re too powerless or just too tired, and her male characters are allowed to be people if they choose to be — which all but the most vainglorious do.

I hadn’t paid much attention beyond checking the release date for the book, so didn’t realise it was the first in a series. For me, it worked perfectly as a standalone novel, even with the unended threads, which would have perfectly balanced Rae’s unfinished life. That said, I am very happy to know we will spend more time with these characters in the future. I want more. I do want to know if there is a hope for Rae, if this is the fever dream of a fading life, if this is the story Alice has told to ease her sister from the world or something else. There are a dozen characters I hope for, at least three happy endings that would bring joy. But don’t wait for the next books: sink your teeth into this one and believe what it says about the importance of listening to stories rather than just falling in love with characters. Though if you find yourself cheering on Rae, or her servant Emer, the elusive Eric, Horrible Hortensia or almost any of the others, I am the last person who will judge you.

[tatteredtoby]

Okay, first actual writing for somebody on this blog! (Had this idea from basically Aliamors entire page)

Case is asked on stream at one point, “Case you should play Genshin Impact”

He slams his palms on the desk and clasps them together, sighing heavily. “Chat. I will NEVER play Genshin impact.” And doesn’t elaborate the rest of the stream.

Later in you and hims relationship, you start streaming Genshin Impact in these extremely high quality cosplays you made yourself, your set up basically right next to his. You RAGE at one of the elemental cube boss’, yelling, “OH COME ON!!!! YOURE A CUBE!!!!! DISSIPATE ALREADY!!!”

He snickers, turning to his chat.

“See Chat, this is why I don’t play Genshin Impact.” He glances over at you, who was staring at him dead in the eye with a “are you serious right now?” Look on your face. “Chat, doesn’t he respond the same way I do to this as to Fall Guys?” You remark, leaning towards your mic, making direct eye contact with Case.

His chat is CACKLING, so is yours.

“AY WHATCHU MEAN BY THAT?!” He yells, spinning his chair to face you.

“You know exactly what I mean by that.” You joke back, looking at your nails in a sassy manner.

————————————————————————————

• I have a feeling he’d like, hang over your chair/lean on it, trying to tell you how to play the game that you’ve been playing for years, and he hasn’t played the game ever.

•He’d totally see something at like a store or something that wasn’t Genshin and go “Is this one of your genshin impacts?” along with a picture of a Hatsune Miku figurine or shirt. (He knows about every character and what it looks like because of you, he just likes to see the messages being like “NOO!!!! THATS HATSUNE MIKU!!!”)

•he totally has videos of genshin impact on his fyp and likes to inch over and show them to you, and he often asks what’s happening in the clip, and you excitedly tell him.

•literally the entire game is spoiled for him. Not like he plans to play it, but he loves listening to you yap about your favorite game.

•actually bans anyone who comments on how your cosplay looks in a sexual way. Doesn’t get a mod to do it, he finds the dude himself and BANS him.

•has to be extra careful near your setup, because if he like does his hand slam thing too hard one of your figures falls and you stare at him like “:c”

•You usually are closer to Kitty, so you and him have clips together of both of you saying “KITTYUH!!!!!” When she walks into the room.

•Off topic from this direct prompt but you force him to watch My Little Pony, but it’s not really forcing, he’s happy to watch it with you.

•He can hear the game through your headphones and a lot of the time, whips around because he heard the Lumine/Aether stretch audio, or a Venti Voiceline, or a Kaeya one.

•“HOW IS TWITCH ALLOWING THIS?!!??!?”

• “chat. Say another word about the cosplay, and I will end stream.”

Literally two seconds later.

“Alright. That’s the end of the stream. See you tomorrow.”

————————————————————————————

CaseOh silly, I love this guy!! I’m getting back into writing, so this might not be the best :)! Have a nice day or night!

[dailysaeran]

IT'S TIIIIIMEEEE🍁🍂🎃🔥

I may have been too busy last year to make one (and I must thank saeranz on Instagram again for making the 2023 Mystictober list) but this year WE ARE SO BACK!!!

Heads up that there's an art raffle related to this going on in my Instagram for those who are interested👀

If this is your first year, Mystictober is a silly little prompt list event for October that's become a yearly tradition since 2020. The list is filled with both MysMe and Halloween/fall related prompts to inspire you to create!!

Every day has two prompts to give you more freedom, and each day you can

1. choose either one of the prompts to inspire your work,

2. do both prompts separately if you're feeling crazy or

3. combine the prompts! 👀

So for example on day 25 you could make something about Jaehee x MC, something about an unrelated tea party without them or Jaehee and MC having a tea party!! Oh and "MC" includes any CMCs, OCs and self inserts of course😌

Even though this list is inspired by Inktober, it's not stricly for ink drawings or drawings for that matter. Be it drawing, writing, cosplay, memes, editing, any work of art counts!

When posting your work, please tag it with #MM_mystictober2024, so all the works can be found in one place!

You may start working on your pieces before October already (and I recommend that if you plan to post every or most days), but please don't post your work's before October and the prompt's date! And it's okay to miss some days or post your work a little late, this should be a fun stress-free event for everyone!🧡🍁🍂

🍁 A few other versions of the list with different backgrounds under the cut!

[forgingtheblade]

how do you keep your pants up when you’re performing? it’s incredible!

belt.

i started this with a sheet of upholstery vinyl that i laminated together front and back using heat-n-bond. i then cut out each of the pieces i needed and painted the edges with a black satin paint to create the illusion of burnished leather! i used riveting tools to cut out all of the holes on the belt, and of course, to install the rivets that hold the buckle in place.

the first belt accessory is the potion! i’ve had this bottle sitting around for like three and a half years now, empty, from the target dollar spot around halloween. it was finally time to put it to good use! the solution is water, acrylic inks for color, and gold and silver mics powder for the shimmer when agitated! i was trying to capture the nuances between the greyish color of the turtle master potion in recent updates, and the bluish purple of the enchantment glints prior. after mixing it up, i simply sealed it with some silicone. all of these materials were just things i had sitting around my studio already, which is awesome.

i cut and painted more strips, and modeled a potion holder after ones i’ve seen at every renfaire and convention vendor hall since i can remember. no use changing up a formula that works! i did end up adding a decorative cover to the snap here, and painting the rivets to match the belt’s hardware.

using the same processes, i made a loop to feed through the loop on the totem!

again modeled vaguely after another design for a sword frog i liked online, i sketched up a pattern for a weapon frog! i wanted it to be somewhat versatile since i’ll have more than one weapon i’ll want to put in it, so i opted for three snap straps to hold whatever weapon it is in place. again, i covered the snaps with decorative ones and painted all the rivets gold.

it fits toothpick with just a little give, so it can fit a weapon up to just a little bit bigger around than toothpick’s upper handle!

originally that was everything i had planned for the belt, faux leather wise, but I realized there was no way in hell i was carrying a bag with this cosplay, so I wanted a pouch for my phone. I made a couple mistakes while working on this. most notably, I chose a metallic cord for the thread. why did i do this. it took probably twice as long as it would have had i just used embroidery floss because of the nightmare challenges metallic threads pose.

I do think it ultimately turned out nice, though!

The only pictures I have with all of the finished pieces on the belt at once are on the next full costume sneak peek, so you’ll have to wait either for those to be ready or for me to finish the wither skull props, whichever comes first ;)

taglist under the cut, reply or send an ask to be added!

@too-much-alphabet-soup, @embers-archive , @nothing-to-see-around-here, @pluralphilza, @aleeaviancrowalt, @islib

[mayaree-darling]

history in the making // rex lapis (zhongli)

from aree: inspired by the latest collab genshin has with the Sanxingdui Museum (and the trailer for said event). (Slightly SAGAU just bcoz but can be read as a normal Reverse Isekai AU)

You're a security guard for the museum and you're out on your regular patrol for the night. All is quiet save for the tapping of your shoes on the marble floors and the jingle of keys hanging from your belt.

When you round the corner, you flinch. There's a man standing there, barefooted, just staring at the museum displays with curiosity. You accidentaly shine your light on him, unconsciously trying to get a better look at him and he turns to you.

Something about him was definitely off. He was wearing some kind of hooded robe. And... gloves? What else could they be? They reached from his shoulders to the very tips of his fingers, making his arms look brown like the very earth. Whatever gloves those were, they ran with veins of gold, making him glow under the museum darkness. But above all else, the most damning piece of evidence that he wasn't from around here were his golden eyes that almost seemed to glow brighter than the gold of his arms.

He definitely did not look like he belonged here, and yet, he looked like he was right at home in this very museum - if you said he was as ancient as the very displays, it felt like you'd be correct.

"You're not supposed to be around here right now." You say dumbly. What else were you supposed to say anyway? You're a security guard in a museum, your sole job was to kick people out past visiting hours.

His mouth ticks up at the corners, like you just said something funny. You would be offended at the thought of not being taken seriously while on the job, if you didn't think he suddenly looked more... human. The deadpan stare he had on earlier made him look too statuesque, too detached from everything.

"Then what say you would be the most apt time to pay a visit?" His voice is deep and melodious, almost intimidating if not for the playful lilt to his tone.

"Uh, 8:30 AM to 6 PM?" You rub the back of your neck, directing the flashlight to the museum entrance. The doors were firmly closed and locked. You can see him staring at you from the corner of your eye. "How did you even get in here...?"

He seems to think about your words, closing his eyes in thought. Without the glow of his eyes, you notice even the tips of his hair are golden. Maybe some kind of cosplayer? But by the looks of it, he seemed to move around too comfortable in his attire for it not to be every day wear. And his eyes didn't look like contact lenses. Finally, he opened his eyes, a mischievous glint to them.

"If I were to say I have arrived here through a dream, would you believe me?" His mouth forms a small smile and you blink at him.

"Guess you don't plan on telling me the truth," You sigh. "Fine then."

You tentatively touch the two-way radio on your belt. Should you call this in? Some guy in cosplay just found his way in and has no plans on telling you how he got here. You think you should tell someone. But...

"You are from here, correct?" He asks and you turn to him immediately. He really has a way of getting people's attention, especially with his voice. You nod at him. "Then might I ask you to tell me of what these statues mean?"

Huh. Now that you thought about it, he was looking at the displays when you first saw him, too. Maybe he'll cooperate easily with you if you tell him a couple of things about the museum. You should really tell someone, but at the same time-

You feel like the moment you tell someone else, he'd disappear from your view. You must be going mad.

"Follow me, then." You're no tour guide, but you do know of the things they speak of. So you repeat what you hear during the day.

You tell the golden-eyed man about the remains of the ancient Shu Kingdom four thousand years ago. You tell him of 50,000 artifacts unearthed in the ruins. He asks questions about the Bronze Age, of their masks and artworks, and you answer best you can while reading the displays.

Finally, you reach a corner where the fire exit is. He stops beside you.

"Sorry about this. But not gonna lie, I've let you stay long enough," you sigh.

He shakes his head and smiles softly. "You have done more than enough. I thank you for letting me see your world."

Your world? Odd choice of words. But if he really wasn't from here, then you guess in a sense this is a bit of your world.

"Just go past these doors and they'll lead you straight out the building. Do I need to escort you out?" He shakes his head and you open the door for him.

He passes through, but stops just before passing you. "May we meet again, Overseer."

"That's not really my name. Also I hope you wouldn't come back like this." You tell him your name, but he merely whispers it and smiles. "Oh, right, I forgot to ask yours."

He opens his mouth before closing it and shaking his head. "I fear that if I tell you my name, we will never see each other again. As such, I promise to tell you the next time we meet."

This guy gets weirder by the minute, but atleast your meeting was ending. "Just make sure to come back during visiting hours, alright? I don't wanna lose my job."

You close the door behind him, but just as you do, smoke and golden light slips past the cracks of the door. With a yelp, you throw the door open, expecting a fire, but there's nothing.

No robed man, no fire. Just the remains of a mist.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe you were dreaming.

You think it's a dream. Not until by the next night, you find the same man. Same golden eyes, in armor of brown and gold.

He looks to you and offers another smile.

And he tells you his name.

✨ Masterlist ✨

Taglist: 💛@wonpielle 💜@shikanosn

Disclaimer: Characters are not mine and belong to their respective creators. Their portrayal is merely my own interpretation of them and may not be accurate to their intended characterization. I stake no claim to the original works, only to the ideas and plot of the fictitious stories I’ve written them into.

[alllgator-blood]

I have ten billion WIP sketches I need to finish, but for some reason I stayed up from 9 PM to 4 AM conceptualizing, making patterns, sewing, painting and applying makeup on this stupid fucking felt squid......the detailing needs to be cleaned up cause there's only one coat of paint so far, but he's pretty much done

my neighbors probably think I'm insane because I was running around the yard clenching this toy kallamar in a death grip and flying him around like an airplane/putting him in the barbecue/poking him with a stick. I want to tie him to a string and recreate the opening of napoleon dynamite >:) ALSO I MADE HIM SMOKE OUT OF A STUPID CRYSTAL PIPE BUT PLEASE DON'T ACTUALLY USE THOSE, THEY ARE SUPER TOXIC LMAO MINE IS FOR DECORATION

I don't have any process pics because I had tunnel vision autism style and forgot the rest of the universe existed while I was working on him. BUT if you're curious I'll ramble below the cut

Okay I am not a seamstress by any means. I've sewn my entire life but very, very infrequently. I've done plushies, clothes, cosplays, fursuits, accessories, etc. but I only do one like once a year, so while I planned to make all 5 bishops, I'm not really sure I'll get them all done. The material cost was like 20 bucks tops so I'm not too upset if I don't finish them. I AT LEAST WANT TO GET SHAMURA OR HEKET DONE.

here is the concept sketch ft. heket's toes and shamura's fingers. I decided to do his pre-schism version so I could fit him with jewelry! I did him first because like I said I sew infrequently and don't know wtf I'm doing, everyone else seemed a lot more complicated.

So I basically just traced this drawing on a printer paper-sized canvas in SAI, and guesstimated how everything would look in a 3D space. His head is four pieces, one triangle identical to the one in the picture, two wide triangles that are sewn together in the back, and a circle for his chin. You can't really see it in any of the pics but he's literally like a black cylindrical stick with little tentacles sewn on where his mantle connects to his cloak. The leg tentacles are one piece of felt that look like tassels, where they're connected by a rectangle but branch off into individual pieces. He can't stand up very well, so his cape keeps him up (that's gonna be an issue for every other bishop too except heket cause she's gonna be ROUND). Mostly everything like the crown, cloak, head, etc. are cones so I just had to make a lot of wide triangles.

For the details, I just used acrylic paint that was watered down so he's not especially crunchy, and for the blush tone I used a makeup palette my mom bought me 10 years ago in hopes I'd get in touch with my "feminine side", but I grew up into a nonbinary butch lesbian so OOPS. Kallamar looks better with makeup than me anyway. I'm kinda sad I couldn't get his freckles as lopsided as I draw them but it probably looks better in plush form to have them even anyway....

I could just post the pattern so I don't have to explain this but 1. I am mentally ill about the thought of my kallamar being in someone else's house and 2. the original pattern had to be tweaked while I was working on him so the final pattern straight up doesn't exist, I winged it the whole time

OH and the jewelry is just scrap pieces I had laying around, I might repaint it all to be gold instead of silver + bronze. I used 20g aluminum wire for his armlet thing, jumper rings for his earrings + ring (+ a diamond dot from my mom's kits for the gem) and chain for the bracelet. I made him an amulet as well but it felt like overkill so I took it off. I'm probably gonna make him a plague doctor mask and medicine bag sometime because I think about nurse kallamar more than I probably should :') I've already sewn one as a prop for a toy raven before so it shouldn't be too hard

[sirianasims]

Chapter 43.9

I arrive at GeekCon both sweaty and with a vague sense of unease. The stifling heatwave has turned the city into a pressure cooker, and it feels foreboding, like something terrible is building and about to break free.

I’m greeted by my own face by the door, advertising the panel that I’m supposed to be on this morning. I never got comfortable seeing myself like this, I prefer it when they just use the logo or my masked promo pictures. At least today is the last time I’ll appear as Llama Man in any official capacity, and then…

Then I don’t know.

But there’ll be time to figure that out later, right now I’m about to see Julia again. I can’t believe it’s only been a year since we met, and I have no idea how she feels about me right now.

I spent most of the night in my hotel room tossing and turning, thinking about what I’ll say to her, but I still don’t have a plan. I just want to apologise for ending things so abruptly.

It really wasn’t my best work.

She said she just wanted to be with you. And then you dumped her.

I groan inwardly as I scan the faces of everyone I see. There’s no sign of her, but the cosplay competition isn’t until later, she may not have arrived yet.

I wonder if she’ll refuse to speak to me at all. I wouldn’t blame her, but she never seemed like the type to carry a grudge. I just want to see her and make sure she’s not too upset about how things ended, something I should have done months ago.

I need to make sure she doesn’t hate me. I can’t handle if she hates me.

I guess I’ll have to play it by ear, although Lee would tell me that’s not my strongest suit.

I leave my jacket in the wardrobe and linger a bit, fiddling with my VIP bracelet. The gallery’s air-conditioning is working overtime, and it helps a little with the heat but I still feel uneasy. My eyes are drawn to the bathroom door.

If this was a movie, Julia would come out of the bathroom right now, exactly like last time. Our eyes would meet. A beat, as the camera cut from her face to mine, both of us too surprised to speak. I would recover first, tell her that we can’t keep meeting like this, and her face would crack into a smile. Then she’d leap into my arms and I would kiss her like there were no tomorrow.

Get it together, Romeo. She’s not kissing you ever again, you’re going to be lucky if she even speaks to you. Focus. You’re at work.

At least I’m not in full costume this year, I would probably have died from heatstroke. And it would have made me feel silly trying to have a serious conversation with Julia.

I decide to take a quick tour of the convention floor before the panel starts.

Even though it’s still early in the day, there’s people everywhere. Some tabletop role-players are recording their podcast on location, kids are running around, and several people are dressed up despite the heat. I wish Julia had shown me pictures of the costume she was planning so I knew what to look for.

A woman with long, red hair makes me do a double take, but I know it isn’t Julia before she even turns around, the way she moves is wrong. I know every inch of Julia’s body and this isn’t it. Everything Julia is, the way she walks and talks and laughs is imprinted on my brain, and it feels like I should be able to locate her by telepathy, by following some sort of invisible string tying me to her.

“Uh, Mr. Romeo! Sorry, hello.”

“Oh, hey. Edmund, right?”

The young man beams, clearly pleased that I remember his name. His booth was next to mine last year, we talked about old movies. I wish I could introduce Julia to him, she would have loved to discuss Cow Plant Love with an expert.

“Wait, you do know him? I thought you were lying!” The teenage girl next to him sounds somewhere between impressed and angry.

“Yeah, why would I lie about that? Sorry, sir, this is my sister Liz, she’s a big fan of Llama Man.”

“Can I have your autograph? I collect them, I already got the Coolala guy and the Freezer Bunny lady this morning. Oh, and can you make it out to ‘Lizette’, with a Z, please?”

“Of course. That’s a very cool costume, Lizette with a Z.”

“I made it myself! It’s Michelle from Doherty’s Revenge, have you seen it? The one with the zombie gym teacher?”

“Oh? Haven’t heard of it, do you think I should watch it?”

“You have to, it’s so good! I used to think it was actually really scary but now I just think it’s funny. Me and Edmund watch a lot of like, retro movies with dad, we even watched the really old Llama Man movies once. I’m gonna tell my dad I met you, he won’t believe it!”

“I’m flattered. Thanks for the movie recommendation, I’ll make sure to check it out.” I hand her the autograph before waving goodbye to Edmund who mouths a silent thank you.

Retro.

I know everything seems ancient to a teenager, but the word tastes like dusty VHS tapes, like lava lamps and shag carpets, like mid-century kitchens. This is my demographic, I suppose, nostalgic dads and their excitable kids.

Julia is not in the panel crowd either, but I guess that would have been too much to hope for. I would probably have found her presence too distracting anyway.

I know one of the other panellists, Mei Zhang, the iconic voice of the Freezer Bunny for over fifteen years. We’ve met briefly at conventions and even on a few gigs, but never really got a chance to speak much.

The third panellist is a young man named Andy Okeke, who seems to be voicing a few Voidcritters as well as a bear-like creature I’ve never heard of. It’s his first time on a panel, but he’s already annoyingly good for his age, and I can imagine him having a pretty impressive career at the speed he’s going.

I answer the same questions I’ve answered a million times before and try to find some sort of comfort in the fact that it’s the last time. As much as I loved my job, it got repetitive after almost a decade. Maybe I should get that number for Sierra’s agent, try to get back on screen. Maybe I’ve grown too complacent, stagnant.

Finally, the questions dry up and the last people leave the room, and just like that, I’m free from my contract. It doesn’t feel like freedom, though, more like a free fall.

“Hey, Romeo, wait up.” Mei stops me by the doors.

“How are you doing? It must be so weird.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know what I’ll do if they ever retire Bunny.”

“You’ll still have others, won’t you?”

“I know, but I’m known for Freezer Bunny, not for… four or five Voidcritters. I can’t even keep track of their names, which is ironic since it’s all they ever say.”

I’m not sure how to respond so I just nod. I’m impatient to get to the cosplay competition, but I don’t want to be rude.

“Mei, it was great seeing you again, but I’m in a bit of a hurry, actually.”

“Sure. Would you – would you want to grab coffee some time, though?”

Shit. Before Julia, I would have gladly followed Mei home tonight, maybe we’d even go on a couple of real dates before things fizzled out as they normally do. But right now, every muscle in my body is telling me that I have to go, to move, to be somewhere else.

“Sorry, I’m, uh. Maybe another time, I don’t…”

The giant poster of my face is judging my lame attempt at stringing together a sentence, and I’m painfully aware that the woman behind us has been sweeping the same spot for a minute now, pretending not to eavesdrop.

“I’m a big girl, Romeo. If you’re not interested, that’s fine.”

“Right. I am sorry, though, it’s not…” I mumble something politely incoherent and more or less flee the room.

Fuck. One year and I’ve completely lost my touch.

I hurry up the stairs, the competition must be just about to end. I can see through the doors before I even reach them, all of the contestants are on stage – and she’s not there.

I stand in front of the doors, frozen, arm still outstretched. This doesn’t make sense, she loves this, she told me about the costume she was planning, she should be here.

There’s no time to dwell on why I so desperately need to see her again, what I would even say to her, the only thing left is fear.

What if something has happened to her? Would I ever know? We’re not together anymore and we have no friends in common, no one who would think of me or assume I’d want to know if she got hurt or sick.

She could be dead. She could be dead and I would never know.

I’m vaguely aware that I’m spiralling but I can’t stop, I feel dizzy. The heat and the lights and the people, everything is too much and I can barely see.

Somehow my feet carry me outside, to the very same bench where we talked for hours on that first night. I try to breathe, deep breaths, but the air is too warm and feels thick.

My hands shake as I log into the anonymous account I made during a moment of weakness after she blocked me, and I pull up her social media in the hopes that she posted something recently, anything that can reassure me that she’s fine.

Relief floods through me when I see the timestamp on her latest updates. San Sequoia Aquarium, just a couple of hours ago. But the relief dissipates quickly as I scroll through the photos.

Nestled between fish and family pictures, there are two selfies with her friend Marten.

I stare at them, suddenly feeling numb.

Her eyes are shining like stars in the lights from the tanks. She’s smiling, and so is he. His arm is around her, possessively, and there’s a hint of triumph in his eyes that I don’t like.

He seems to be carrying her on his back in the other photo, and the thought of her legs wrapped around him awakens an urge to tear him away from her that is almost suffocating.

If they’re not already dating, it’s a matter of time. They would probably have gotten together a long time ago if I hadn’t been there. A petty part of me wonders if he was really being her friend or just biding his time, waiting for me to fumble, but that’s crazy. I barely know the guy. Actually, I don’t really know any of Julia’s friends, I just have a vague idea about their names and who they were to her.

I wasn’t a very good boyfriend, was I?

I told you it was better this way.

I’ve kept reminding myself that I didn’t make a mistake, and here’s proof at last. This was meant to be, they were meant to get together, I just happened to get in the way. He’s been a good friend to her, nice and considerate, while I only brought her chaos and pain.

I was so worried that Julia was wasting my time, but all along, I was the one wasting hers. She deserves better, I know this, but it still feels like I lost her all over again.

I put away the phone and take a deep breath of the scorching air. And then I reach for the tiny, secret corner of my heart where I was nursing my last hope of getting her back and stomp it out.

beginning / previous / next

[buckyalpine]

Here is a list of things that make me mad in no particular order. Angry ranting. Pls ignore this, I'm just screaming into the void. These example apply to very specific situations I've encountered with people who are perfectly capable of doing better.

People who lack common sense. Social awareness. Common courtesy. Saying "Oh my God, I'd never do that" when they've never been even close to said situation but they're now experts on how they'd act while sitting on their pristine Thoroughbred horse, sipping on English tea with their pink so high it may as well be in their nose.

People who say "Well I wouldn't care if it happened to me" or "I'm just being honest" when you point out something they did/said.

When autocorrect/spellcheck decides it cannot for the life of it figure out what you're trying to spell OR it gives you suggestions for every word under the sun except the one you want. All you did was leave out a single letter with the rest of it spelled perfectly and spellcheck decides to go into a coma. So you fix the mistake and the little squiggly red line goes away. Fuck you.

Gnats. WTF is you're problem. I've Googled this shit cause I want to know why tf you can't just fly straight, why do you have to buzz all over the damn place near my head of all places.

Flies. Same thing as above. Why tf can't you just fly straight. WHY NEAR MY EAR. You have the entire world and you decided my room is the place to be? And now we're both miserable because you keep hitting yourself against the window after noticing your grave mistake. I leave the door wide open but you want to keep body slamming the glass.

Giving me life advice on something you know nothing about.

People who don't love their pets. Yeah, you take care of them but you do it as a chore and then complain about it. Those little fur babies deserve it all, give them the best or don't have pets at all.

Holier than thou attitude.

People who laugh at those who are visibly upset and tell them they're being too sensitive.

Allergies. IDK Why tf my body acts surprised as hell every single spring. It's just fucking pollen. Why are you trying to fight it. Do you understand that in your brilliant plan to try and fight the little evaders you actually make me want to end it all because my nose is itching and my eyes are watering and I can't breathe. Food allergies are another level of bullshit. I'll never forget the day this one girl tells me she wished she had allergies? Like it makes you special, mf what??? She was being serious too.

Thin, straight, fine black hair. Can't do anything with it. It doesn't hold hairstyles, doesn't curly, gets heavy as soon as you use any product and 90% of the time it just looks like Snape cosplay. Ask me how I know

Parents who buy their very young children shoes with laces. This is inconvenient for all of us. why tf would you do this when Velcro exists. Your 4 year old doesn't need laces when they have no clue how to even eat cheese with their crackers, mf why did you buy this shoe for them?!

Bananas. Hate them with a burning passion. The smell. The texture. I hate the peel is left out and about like it isn't making the entire room smell. Don't even get me started on banana breath. (Keep in mind this is not me saying I think they're gross. I wish I liked them because they're a super convenient snack and very healthy)

People who lie and say you can't taste the banana in a smoothie. Yes, I can. You always can. You can have 1000lbs of any fruits and that single banana will still stand out.

People who don't understand mental illness/ act ignorantly to those suffering.

Big companies who ask you to donate to stuff. You're going to use this as a tax write off, stfu.

Inflation.

People who laugh at others for not knowing something. Maybe that thing had 0 relevance to their life. Maybe they learned about that because they were taught something else. Either way, how is it funny.

People who laugh at those learning a new language. You're the fucking worst. They are LEARNING. Let them get used to the pronunciation, let them get accustomed to sentence structures, let them make mistakes without being embarrassed. You're the embarrassing one cackling you're damn ass off while they're trying to do something new. You're discouraging them from wanting to continue because you feel the need to be an asshole.

People who make everything a serious debate/conversation.

People who steal. Not out of necessity but just because they can. I'll never forget overhearing this group of kids in my high school bragging and laughing their asses off over how much candy they stole from other kids. They also stole phones. These were not troubled kids mind you, they were doing this for shits and giggles.

Eczema. So fucking itchy, why can't skin just act right. It feels awful, looks awful and just comes and goes as it pleases.

People who clown you for who you find attractive. Why. If I find this person attractive, what in the ever loving flying fuck does it have to do with you. It's just so unnecessarily rude. I don't even get how its funny or why you find it okay to call someone ugly as if this is something they personally have control over.

I'm going to add more to this list.

[hellofeanor]

*bows* May I ask you something about your Annatar cosplay? It looks so amazing and I would love to know how you crafted that belt. What material did you use? What mechanism did you choose to close it? Velcro, or hooks? I looks so neatly done.

Thank you! I actually do have a post somewhere about the construction, but tumblr's abysmal search function is being abysmal and/or I didn't correctly tag it as Annatar, so lord knows where it is now. Anyway. Let's go over it again in more depth!

The primary materials used are heavy duty craft interfacing for the base and high quality leather-look gold vinyl for all visible parts. Then yarn inside the cording, pants hooks for closure, covered buttons for the circles, and gold shantung backing.

I started by making a rough pattern in Microsoft Paint, since why not. I printed it off at a few different sizes to get one that looked correct for scale.

Next, I spent about eight hundred years making cord out of yarn and strips of gold vinyl. I zigzag stitched the yarn to one side of the vinyl strip, then wrapped and hand stitched into a tube. Each tube was 1.5m long to adequately cover the pattern. It took 20 tubes.

I pinned the tube cording down over the full-scale pattern printout and hand stitched it together into the appropriate wave shape.

Then wove all the wave pieces together into the correct pattern and stitched them down to a base shape of the craft interfacing covered in more gold vinyl.

To finish, I wrapped all edges in gold vinyl strips, covered some button blanks in gold vinyl and attached those, and covered the back in some gold shantung I had on hand. Added pants hooks for closures: two on the end and one on the top.

An important note is that I started making this in as May 2024 based on the first teaser and promo images. Without any clear reference pics, I had to make some guesses and construction choices, so the finished result is not in line with what we see on screen. But I like how it turned out anyway and have no current plans to remake a new and more accurate version. My version is much bulkier, but this works in my favor since I have a very feminine waist to hip ratio and this helps fill in the hourglass shape and give a boxier, more masculine silhouette.

Anyway this piece took THE LONGEST out of everything on this costume. Which is impressive considering the robe is all hand painted and I redid every single weft in the wig. BUT. It's all hand sewn except for a small bit of machine work, but even that I went over by hand because my machine hates vinyl and it looked like ass.

Thank you for your ask!

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for planning to go to a convention without my partner even though we usually go together?

My partner (21 NB) and I usually always attend different conventions around our area together. We like to dress up in costumes, get pics with celebrity guests, and go to panels and meet-ups and all the fun convention activities together. The problem is.... this past year has been really hard for them mental health wise, and it has kind of sucked the fun out of going to conventions for both of us.

They have diagnosed ADHD and anxiety/depression, as well as what we think is autism, but they are undiagnosed. If I thought they were having a good time attending conventions, I would worry less, but the crowds of people and the noise overstimulates them and they've told me that they feel unsettled with that that many strangers around. They've had a range of minor to major panic attacks at each of the conventions that we've attended for the past year or so.

I usually try to be really supportive of their mental health. They have come a long, long way from the deep depression they were in back in high school, and they have worked hard to get their ADHD recognized and properly medicated, and I'm really proud of them. I have anxiety myself, so I feel like I understand at least a little bit of what they are typically dealing with, in a small way.

However, I also absolutely adore going to conventions. I convince myself every morning to get up and go to work by telling myself that "I'm working to fund my next cosplay," or whatever. A little self-motivation, you know. Costumes and conventions are my biggest hobby. Though I attend multiple conventions, every one is different in its own way, so it feels like it only comes once a year.

And this is where I might be a bit of an AH. I know my partner can't control their mental health, but I feel like I miss out on a lot of the convention whenever they have a panic attack or get overstimulated and I have to sit with them until they feel better. And yes, I know that sounds really bad, and I should care about my partner's well-being more than seeing a panel or a celebrity guest, but conventions are my "once a year getaway" from reality and typical life and all that. I don't really take any other vacations, and I don't really get to interact with any other nerds/geeks/weebs/lovely fandom people except at conventions because my anxiety is mostly social anxiety, and talking to people is hard and social media is intimidating.

So.... I did some thinking, and there are two, maybe three conventions that I'm planning to attend this next year without my partner. I'm not planning on telling them that I'm going without them, I was just planning on not mentioning it at all. I think if I tell them outright that I'm going without them, they'll take it personally and I don't want to upset them. If they ask for a reason that we're not going, I can just say it's financial, which isn't exactly a lie, because I did take a pay cut at work not too long ago. And my partner doesn't work due to their mental health, so I always fund or costumes and tickets and hotels. But I don't want to give that reason outright either, because I don't want to lie unless I have to.

There are two or three other conventions that we go to yearly that we'll still go to together, so I feel like they'll still get to attend and we'll get to go together, but I'll also have my "alone time" at the other conventions and get to do things I don't usually get to do, like late-night events.

If it's worth anything, my therapist supports my idea, because she thinks it'll force me out of my shell a little bit, and force me to stop using my partner as a "social crutch" if I go alone, making it like exposure therapy for my social anxiety.

So tumblr... AITA for wanting to go to a couple of conventions without my partner due to their mental health and my fear of missing out?

What are these acronyms?

[jelliclekay]

Oasis: The Pros & Cons

Since I'm stuck in the airport and can't even check my bags in yet, I'm going to type out a post about Oasis and the pros and cons if you're debating going.

I do wanna start by saying the trip was absolutely worth it, and I plan on doing it again next year. But this is a guide mostly for people on the fence.

Pros:

It's Cats! Oasis uses the pre-revival choreography with the pre-revival designs (Minus Griz, but you can't win them all). So, if you want to see Cats before revival changes, this is the production (the only production) you can see it.

It's on a cruise ship! So not only do you get to see Cats, but you also get to have a fun vacation. This was my first cruise, and even if you're someone who doesn't like beach vacations, which I am, I really enjoyed myself still.

It's stupidly easy to get front row seats. Unlike seeing a production in a theater where likely the first few rows are impossible to get tickets for, Oasis theater is first come, first serve. The show is included with the cruise, so you just have to reserve a spot a week before. I showed up ridiculously early each show time and got the front row every time.

Possible photos with the cast on stage! I say possible because I don't want to say it's a for sure. But asking one of the crew members before a show goes a long way. I mentioned to a member of the crew I was on the ship to see Cats in cosplay, and he arranged for me to get photos after the 2nd show. Also be warned if you go in cosplay, people will assume you're in the show and will want you to get photos with their kids.

Videos and photos are allowed! So film to your heart's content.

Cons:

I'll mention the cruise part again here. If you're truly not interested in doing a cruise, then I would reconsider. Cruises are usually a week long, and Cats only plays 3 times at the end of the week. Cruises are actually pretty affordable, but if you wouldn't participate in any other cruise activity, I probably wouldn't go.

It's a cut show. It's only 90 minutes, with Bustopher Jones, Pekes and Growltiger being missing. Some of the songs have also been shortened. It isn't that big of a deal, but if you're someone who is really into Cats, it can be a bit disappointing.

There's always the threat of the show being canceled. This was my biggest fear. Since it's on a cruise, it's dependent on the wave conditions if the show can happen or not.

No swings, so chances are you won't see a full cast show. My shows didn't have Cassandra or Coricopat. It can be fun to see how the show changes choreography up for missing Cats, but it's still a bit of a bummer.

THE CROWD IS AWFUL. Truly awful. Almost everyone there is just there because it's something to do on the boat, and many have no respect for the performers or the show itself.

Despite the cons, all the pros made it worth it to me. I am definitely planning on going again next year!

[professional-spectator]

CRACKPOT THEORY

Kaveh is Hine Mavuika's sister but reincarnated.

"You need to leave!!" INDIVISIBLE AUDIENCES HOLD THE DOOR OPEN FOR ME TO LEAVE.

"Hear me out, friends!!"

Hine, as we knew from the archon quest, didn't have any descendants. However, there's a line in the archon quest that made me question that and think.

Journey of Stars and Flames

Mavuika: Out of all the awakened souls, I was surprised "you" were one of them. After all, it's been five hundred year

Hine: Hehe, yeah. I'm sure my soul has been reborn many times by now. But that doesn't mean "Hine" is gone.

If reincarnation is a thing in Genshin. Who said they had to be reborn in Natlan? Apparently, there's a lot more to the night kingdom than we know. Maybe one of Hine's reincarnations leaves Natlan; spoiler for the Natlan Archon quest. Before the Natlan Archon Quest, people can leave Natlan, but they need permission from the Wayob. So who said that one of Hine's reincarnations didn't leave Natlan and was reborn in another country.

Another thing: Hine is an architect, or was. Who is also an architect, Kaveh. Another in the archon quest, she says this.

Journey of Stars and Flames

Hine: Oh, well! It's been a long time, and it's not like I was some innovative architect who left my mark on history. 

Hine: But I lived a really happy life. I dedicated my career to helping those without a home... 

Hine: I didn't have time for love, or for myself, but I didn't care. There are so many things in this world that deserve to come first—that's what you taught me. Hine: You never took time for yourself either, did you, Sis?

So who else thinks like this? Kaveh does. Now we know Hine had no children, so Kaveh can't be related by blood. He very well can be a reincarnation of Hine. Kaveh is a very self-sacrificing guy.

In one of Alhaitham's voice lines. "Someone set up a stand on the street saying that for each handmade keychain they sold, a child in poverty would be given a meal. Kaveh bought at least a dozen. ...This is Sumeru, where even healthcare is free. I needn't say more."

Kaveh helps people regardless of the outcome. Even in his own hangout, depending on the route you pick. He organized a library in the Aaru Village for the children, using his own money or getting into a debut with Dori. Also, both Kaveh and Hine regret not helping the people that matter the most to them.

Journey of Stars and Flames

Mavuika: It's too bad we don't have more time to talk.  Hine: Your plan is almost at the final stage, isn't it?

Hine: I knew it. When you set your mind to something, there's nothing you can't do, no matter how difficult.

Hine: I really wanted to help you in this era, but an ordinary person can't transcend time. 

Hine: Back then, I said I'd come find you one day. But I failed time and time again.

In Kaveh Character Story 2

"At that time, he was still young, and he could do very little. Out of guilt, he would do his best to keep his mother company, and he would never wear a disappointed face around her, trying to support her in any way he could, even if such was but a drop in the bucket."

Just like Hine, who every image also shone with a smile. Both have regret and guilt. It should be mentioned that Mavuika and Kaveh are both perfectionists. Both are down to detail in their plan, carry guilt, and are so self-sacrificing. Take this theory with a grain of salt, but the parallel between Hine and Kaveh is eerie. They look similar, reddish eyes, Hine had somewhat blondish hair. Also in a few Hoyo Video Kaveh cosplay as Mavuika, to a t. Also Kaveh is the "Light of Kshahrewar." What is pyro a form of light. In one of Mavuika character intro say this.

"The leader of Natlan who inherited the Ancient Name of "Kiongozi." She made a vow to illuminate the future of the nation of war with the Sacred Flame."

Both have names or titles the revolve around light. There must be a connection. Anyway this just a theory a fan theory.

I know mostly this theory will not be possible but their another tags line that make wonder

In Journey of Stars and Flames

Hine says this

Hine: If the past, present, and future exist at once, then it's only fair we get to meet again.

If the past and present existence all at the same time, meaning Nathan is connected and not connected to the rest of Teyvat at the same time. Not was saved and saved at the same time. Also if Nathan was not somehow stay connected to Iriminsul , why don't they remember rukkhadevata. I know gasping straws, but it seem to me. Nothing is really out of the realm of possible. We seen weird things in the game. Anyways this just for fun. I'm sure someone is going to debunked this that okay. I just they are too many similarities between Hine and Kaveh.