#feels so crazy that this was the fandom that got me to join tumblr in the first place (in 2011!!!!) and I used to draw them ALL THE TIME

[cozmic-ash]

Gordon/Barney/Alyx is really really funny to me conceptually bc it's like, two hot geniuses in their 20s who look at the 40-something smartass who hangs around and go 'yeah that guy. we both want him carnally'

[rc-catalog]

At long last, we finally commence the Creator of the Month event! Without further ado, we present to you a short interview with @webanglikethat, March COTM winner, from which you can get to know her better. Congratulations JB!

Enjoy!

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

hi everyone!! I’m really exicited to be the first creator to be represented 🥺 you may call me JB and I’m 19 years old! I go by she/him pronouns and I’m a desi italian 🫶🏽

WHEN DID YOU JOIN ROMANCE CLUB?

2022-11-04, which I could’ve never guessed! I thought I’d started playing mid 2023. according to my gallery, my first stories were chasing you and heaven’s secret! the fandom I joined way later, and that’s how I never understood why sometimes my choices were ‘free’ aka Diamond Rush – I thought I bypassed something 😭 seeing the reddit fandom explained a lot haha ! 

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING?

for the RC fandom specifically, I started creating in May 2024 when I made a Ram edit! before that, I was mostly posting about RC on my Instagram stories and editing them, sharing my thoughts, and occasionally ranting about the characters. I actually had another Tumblr account before this one, but it was focused on different fandoms. at some point, I stumbled across the RC Tumblr community, and at first, I just lurked, reading posts and getting a feel for the fandom. I loved seeing everyone’s discussions, edits, and writing, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to jump in just yet. eventually, though, I decided I wanted to be part of it, so I made this account for two reasons: first, to fully immerse myself back into Tumblr (aka I forgot the password to the OG account lmao / but I did remember it!), and second, to actually engage with the RC fandom rather than just observing from the sidelines.

in general, probably since I was 11-12 for the kpop fandom, which I’m still actively doing !! my passion for creating just keeps evolving and it’s crazy how the things I started with have led me to where I am now !! I’m always pushing myself to try new things and level up my skills and the way I express myself has definitely evolved over the years. I started off with small edits, and random posts, and over time, I got more confident in sharing my work. I’ve written a bunch of poems, edited a lot of stories/videos and I’ve picked up moodboards and graphic design again! the RC fandom has been such a fun and welcoming space, and I love being able to contribute to it (✿◠‿◠)

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST EVER CREATION?

for the rc fandom? it was a ram video edit (insert link) but if we are saying in general, it was probably one of those kpop profile pictures with heart crowns lmao! I was 11 or 12, experimenting with filters and thinking I was so cool — looking back at it now, it’s cringy, but it was the start of everything. and who says cringe can’t be good? normalize being cringe !! normalize growth !! those little edits sparked something that I’ve carried with me ever since! after that, I started making moodboard edits for kpop artists and umh, here I shall expose myself just for you guys lmaoo. these are the first few “'edits”’ I found from my archived posts (no, I never finished teen wolf …) (yes, I still make seunghyun content).

CHOOSE 3-5 OF YOUR FAVOURITE WORKS AND RAMBLE AWAY!

there’s a lot of creations that I’m thinking of! one of the hardest was probably the two part web weave I made of cainlane for a friend at the time, but it’s definitely not my fave

my jayniecarter web weave is a really important creation for me. I don’t remember exactly when I got the idea, but even within the first five episodes of 7B, Jaynie’s storyline hit me hard; her role as the oldest and only daughter that everyone relied on and how everyone just expected her to push away all of her plans to be there to fix the problems caused by everyone else. there was something so raw and so real about her struggles and the way she carried so much weight on her shoulders, often without acknowledgment that it made me really pause. it was supposed to be a funny little story but it turned into so much more. I found myself deeply relating to her — her imposter syndrome, her sense of responsibility, and that feeling of being stretched too thin while trying to be everything for everyone. some chapters were genuinely difficult to read because they felt so personal, almost like I was looking into a mirror. at first, I wasn’t sure how to process those feelings. it’s one thing to read something that resonates with you, but another to actually put those emotions into words. that’s when I started thinking about the best way to express it, and I landed on making a web weave. I’ve always loved the way web weaves allow for layered storytelling — how they can bring together different pieces of media, emotions, and themes into something cohesive. it felt like the perfect medium to explore Jaynie’s journey, not just as a character, but as an experience that so many people can relate to. I started by gathering all my screenshots — Carter scenes, moments where Jaynie’s imposter syndrome was on full display, her struggling with the expectations placed on her, and the way she felt like her first year of college wasn’t turning out the way it was “supposed” to and that the experience had been robbed from her. from there, I began thinking about songs and other pieces of media that resonated with those emotions. I wanted to find lyrics that captured that overwhelming pressure of being the person others depend on, that deep-rooted insecurity of feeling like you’re never quite doing enough, even when you are. the process was honestly a mix of research and instinct—some songs immediately came to mind because they just fit, while others took time to find. I also pulled quotes from books, movies, and shows that carried similar themes of responsibility, burnout, and the complicated emotions that come with being an eldest daughter. one of the best song to describe Jaynie and Carter imo is ESOEMOEHOED by Leanna Firestone, so that was the first thing I did, along with 'this is me trying’ by Taylor Swift. some of the photos included are actually taken by me! there is a quote by a book I really like, 'Final Offer�� that made it into the final draft “You always deserved better than me.” / “No. I deserved better from you.” aside from the angst, I also wanted to portray the amazing love a sister has for her brother, so I looked through my pinterest board and found comments people, mostly sisters, left on how they loved their siblings, how they felt like they didn’t exist until they arrived. while Jaynie and Carter’s journey is undoubtedly hard and complex, that doesn’t erase the love, and that was something I wanted to make sure wasn’t lost. one little detail I really liked was, when choosing Hansel and Gretel photos, they were always holding hands! and isn’t that siblinghood? holding hands through all of the shit the world puts you through? the certainty of that warm hold? honestly, putting the web weave together was both fun and unexpectedly emotional. it was therapeutic in a way I didn’t expect and I’m glad it also resonated with the ones who saw it!

My Nova and religious guilty web weave: this one was something I planned almost from the start! I started playing wt:c for my friend andy’s birthday so she could finally talk to me about it. the obvious religious guilt / religious trauma topic stood out to me and I began gathering screenshots as I played. as a girlie who can relate to those kinds of feeling, I was sooo excited to edit this !! from the start, I knew I wanted to turn this into a web weave. I started reading articles, researching people’s thoughts on reddit / quora / any website of that sort, trying to gather their feelings. one of the best sources was an article that began with

'Let me ask you this — have you ever felt like faith was supposed to be a comfort, but instead, it turned into a burden?’,

written by Gary L Ellis. I read that and thought, damn I struck the goldmine! I’m heading in the right direction! honestly, this one was easier to edit because I already had a lot of photos of this topic saved from my previous luke castellan web weaves and some genshin screenshots (the wanderer’s iconic line of 'the first to betray me was a god, my creator … my mother’). it was also easier because I had been gathering screenshots as I played instead of thinking about it later. that saved a lot of time. another line that really fit perfectly was

“I was raised Catholic,” he began. “But you’re not now?” the judge asked, frowning. “No,” he said. He had worked for years to keep the apology out of his voice when he said this.”

and that made me even more excited because everything was fitting together so well !! another obvious source was going to be, 'Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve’ by Taylor Swift, a song about grooming and religious guilt which ugh, Nova would SOOO relate to. overall, I believe this took me less than a week to edit! maybe 3-4 days? I was so excited that I stayed up late editing, and I’m honestly really proud of it. I’d love to make a part two in the future!

my jaynie-ray web weave: it’s been a long time coming – is how I would describe this one. I made it for the catalog’s 14 days of love event and I knew I wanted to choose these two for the platonic prompt. their relationship is so important to me 🥺 their bond is not just a promise of 'I’ll be there’, it’s a certainty. it’s something so much deeper, that it’s impossible to unravel. my main source for this one was my favourite book, 'Happy Place’ by none other than my mother Emily Henry! if you like crying and found family, give it a read ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧ what really stuck with me, while reading about Ray, was the way Ray’s story doesn’t just expose the pain of being kicked out but also highlights the power of acceptance!! I can’t even begin to explain how much that meant to me. so many stories about queer trauma focus solely on the suffering, and while that’s important, 7B goes beyond that. it doesn’t just show the pain of rejection but it shows the love that comes after. the way Ray finds a new family, a new support system, people who actually love and accept them, is so important. because yes, being rejected by your family is devastating. but what makes it bearable is finding the people who choose you. I wanted to make their relationship justice and hopefully I did <3 I once again used photos I took myself (the quote from the seven husbands of evelyn hugo) and honestly, this one was so easy because I can relate to their friendship as I’ve found it in my best friend Kelly, and I already have like hundreds of photos/quotes/media pieces saved on friendship and found family! honestly teared up a few times making this.

my audrey-deviya web weave: I could not answer this interview without mentioning my wife deviya, could I? this one is recent, so you’d think I remember how or why I made this but honestly, my memory is really bad! I think I screenshotted a few things while playing the old abh update and I was like, wait, that’s sacrificial lamb coded! and who is THE original one? deviya. I knew in that moment I wanted to connect their journeys, to depict their roles as both a weapon and a shield, as a human but also a tool. there were many similarities. – one of the most painful ones was I noticed how both of them die/almost die feeling like they hadn’t lived enough. there’s this lingering sense of unfinishedness, this deep grief over the life they weren’t allowed to have. it’s heartbreaking. their stories reinforce the idea that their blood is almost worth more than their existence, that they need to bleed in order to be important. this was a little harder to edit because I had to go through abh walkthroughs on youtube because I had never screenshotted her dialogues from this point of view! my friend vee was kind enough to send me a few screenshots she had, which saved me so much time !! and they were SO helpful too, I could build a whole edit out of them alone. aside from gathering screenshots, I had no issues because sacrificial lamb is part of yet another pinterest board I have. I hope I did Audrey justice! I’m not an ABH girlie, my focus is on KFS, so hopefully I got her character well !!

now that I mentioned sacrifice and blood, I HAVE to talk about Amala. so I have two versions of my Amala web weave; purple and red. this one I made because I was joking in a discord server about how I was going to make a web weave if my friend Mira (@a-cloud-for-dreams) wasn’t gonna stop sending sad Amala screenshots. we were all joking around until I was like, well … eldest daughter angst? and every other desi girlie in the discord server was like WELL YES ! so I immediately started editing cause when you get a bunch of girls asking you to do something, you do it (follow for more life advices).

I felt a lot of pressure making this one because it had been a while since I played KCD and I had never closely looked at Amala’s character. Mira was able to give me 99% of the screenshots included in my post and, while I struggled with Amala’s character, I didn’t struggle with her characterization – does that make sense? she’s the eldest daughter who takes care of everyone, who puts her own needs aside and is struggling between her indian and english side (something that sooo many immigrant children, me included, can relate to). from there, it was easy to gather photos because again, I have a bunch of pinterest boards on topic of being the older sister, the third parent and the immigrant guilt! I had the most fun editing the last photo !!!

I’m very shy about my writing so I purposefully decided to highlight my webweaves 😭 but here are some of my fanfictions: -> if you wanted avery to be a love interest, I got a fic for you ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧ The taste of your lips is my idea of luxury is one of my proudest works. it was hard to get Avery’s voice right because he has very little screentime (I screenshotted every scene in which he spoke) and at some point I gave up, so if you find it OOC just close your eyes lmaoo. -> did you want Vyxaria to talk to Walter about Xantheia? do you cry to peace by taylor swift? don’t look further then! Lonely winter, cradle my heart explores angsty Vyxaria -> do you instead want to break your heart by having unrequited!Walter and brokenhearted!Vyxaria x Xantheia? Thalassophile, do you remember our crestfallen hearts? awaits you ! for more, look at my masterlist!

[karmacharmeleon18]

I just saw a tiktok where someone said "Isn't it crazy that we have to wait for male idols to go to the military to finally seem them be a healthy weight?" and it got me thinking

First of all how fucked up that is of course

But also do you think idols feel some sort of relief when it's time to enlist? Because they get to be away from the cameras?

Or is the negative impact enlistment can have on their career just too scary for them to look forward to it?

I know as a fandom we see enlistment as a catastrophe because FUCK THE MILITARY but I'm really trying to look for positives and maybe idols being able to EAT is one of them... the bar is in hell.

I remember that back in 2022/Guerrilla on the official Ateez website Mingi's weight was listed as 60kg. Yeosang who is 10cm shorter than him was listed as 57kg. That sounds crazy to me

I am 165cm, 20cm shorter than Mingi, and I weight the SAME as him 🙃 part of my weight is muscles bc I'm a swimmer, but Mingi is muscular too? He's a damn athlete

It's absolutely insane that my healthiest weight is the same of that of a muscular adult man that's 20cm taller than me 🙃

So many fans look at idols in the military and are like "omg he's gotten huge" and I'm like?? that's an average muscular man, he's just getting FED 😭

I asked someone else and they were absolutely horrid in their answer, it turned out they're a bootlicker who loves the military lmao I hope I'm not still in enemy territory. "patriotic" people are terrifying.

Yo, anon, you were very lucky I saw this. Tumblr keeps eating my asks, I receive notifications but can't see them when I check my ask box, or I can see them but my answers don't upload 🔪🔪 if you see this, it means you got REALLY lucky lol

But excuse me, 60kg? Song Mingi? The Song Mingi that can pick up Yunho and Jongho and everyone in Ateez? Who practices for 3-4 extra hours on top of regular practice with all the members? Who absolutely owns the stage? That Song Mingi?

And... I'm the same weight as gym rat Kang Yeosang???????

Well, damn 🙃 I don't know what to do with this information.

As a fandom we talk over and over about how concerning this is, especially when Wooyoung and Seonghwa stress about their weight too much (Wooyoung eating one meal a day to lose weight?? Seonghwa not drinking water for fear of bloating before certain events?? Hongjoong and Mingi having to reassure him that he looks great?? Mingi taking care of all of his meals and making sure he eats?? And at the same time dieting himself for the Calvin Klein photoshoot?? What a mess. What a huge fucking mess. And Ateez is one of those groups that love food and enthusiastically eat in front of the camera. I wonder how many sacrifices they make off camera, afterwards. I really don't know what else to say about this. It enrages and concerns and frustrates me)

Now, I, as a European, cannot find any "relief", or any other positive emotion, in the idea of joining the military. Even if I try to put myself in the shoes of a Korean idol, I just can't.

Europe is currently setting plans in motion in order to rearm, and some countries are even talking about reinstating forced conscription. And the general feeling is as you said: fuck the military.

I think there is no universe where I would join the military of my own volition. Theoretically I understand wanting to protect your own land from an invasion (let's say Russia? Or the damn United States trying to steal parts of Denmark), but in general, the military in the West is not used as a defensive tool. It is used worldwide to oppress, torture, kill people (specifically brown and black people) in countries very rich in resources so we can steal them. We use our militaries to exploit other countries and people. So if we put it in these terms, absolutely fuck the military.

And yes, patriots are not seen in a good light. "Patriotic" tends to be a code word for violent, racist bigot who thinks people of color are destroying "European values", sooo... yeah, let's not go there. No patriots on this blog, don't worry.

Now, do I think that idols, who grew up in a country were conscription is the norm, and seen as good and something to be proud of (I assume?), might feel differently? A country, may I add, that is still at war? Because in 1953 North and South Korea firmed an armistice/ceasefire, not a peace treaty? Do people who grew up in this environment think differently than I do? Seems very likely to me lol

They might feel pride in it, because they're doing their duty.

I still don't think "relief" is the right word, though. I mean of course finally eating actual food instead of being terrified of gaining one gram of weight is good. Great, even. But it comes at a cost, you know? Your freedom is still severely limited, just in a different way compared to being an idol. Sure, you're not on camera every minute of every day, but you are still being watched. You know what I mean? You superiors are watching, your fellow men are watching and, above all, kpop fans are STILL watching. And haters too, are STILL waiting for you to make a mistake. The entirety of South Korea is, metaphorically speaking, watching. Just doing it in a less direct way, with less access to the idols (until the idols make the news for whatever mistake they made, whether huge or tiny *cough* Suga *cough* and get hated for it)

What I'm saying is that I think idols still feel the weight of the gaze, the expectations, the judgment of the people.

And on top of that, add the threat, the pressure of being part of an active military still involved in a war.

You know what I mean?

Being able to eat, rest, become a healthy weight, having people monitoring your health to ensure that you are, indeed, healthy, and not sweeping issues under the rug for the sake of a comeback, are of course positives. Don't get me wrong. I understand where you're coming from. But I don't think they make up for what the idols lose when they join the army. They have to put their whole career on hold for years. The career they sacrificed their whole childhood for. Blood, sweat and tears. The industry is so fickle, you can lose popularity in an instant. Peopls say even BTS will struggle to bounce back.

And how you join the military might affect your popularity too.

Like, when Suga was deemed unfit for combat training and became a social service worker instead, he got hate for it.

Or let's talk about Ateez. I've seen people (specifically from other fandoms and Ateez haters) speculate about how some members might not be eligible for military service, namely Jongho (leg injuries), Mingi (chronic back pain + a lot of ableist comments about his anxiety) and Wooyoung (autoimmune skin disease triggered by intense sweating).

If ineligible, they'd have to do alternative service like joining the police force or social services, places where they would not have to physically train so intensively. But they would not get to slack off in any way, and would still have to put their careers on hold.

And yet these people act like they'd be "dodging" the draft. Like they'd be cowards and criminals.

Conveniently ignoring the fact that the military has specific criteria you need to meet in order to join, and certain health issues might be a hard no. And that most idols don't have the connections certain rich, corrupt men have to fake ailments and actually dodge the draft (*cough* Trump *cough* for 5 times *cough* because as he told his advisors he was "just not going" *cough*)

You see how much pressure surrounds the whole issue of enlistment?

Some fans hate the idea because fuck the military, some hate it because omg I can't see my fave for two years, and some hate it because omg this idol is a crook and a coward for doing social services instead of learning to hold a rifle!!

See?

Now, my very personal, very biased opinion is that the vast majority of idols see enlistment as a necessary evil. It's something they have to do. So why lose sleep over it? It's coming, whether you like it or not. And it's what's expected of you, training to defend your country, so you might even feel proud.

Maybe you are right that they might feel some sort if relief? Like: finally I'm getting this over with and I'm not disappointing anyone, I also get food and sleep and health checkups as added bonuses.

I really don't know, I'm just saying shit lol but maybe you are right and I'm just too biased to see it.

It's my understanding that many Korean men enlist right out of high school, so they can get the whole issue "out of the way" before going to uni, starting a career, starting a family. Military service ends, and their life starts.

Most idols can't do that because right out of high school is the perfect time to debut, when they look young and innocent and approachable.

(Ateez is already hated enough in Korea for being scary/alternative/punkish, imagine if they had debuted buff and with a buzz cut 🙃 "Will you be my friend?" and people would be running for the hills)

But maybe when they day comes, relief might play a tiny part, because they can finally get military service out of the way and get a semblance of normal life for the average Korean man.

But still, in my opinion the cons far outweigh the pros.

As you said, the fear or losing your career must be overwhelming. Compounded by the fact that they are joining an active military.

Anyway, I sincerely hope no idol wants/is looking forward to joining the army specifically because they idolize power, violence, learning to shoot people, you know? People like that just unnerve me on a fundamental level. I understand it's my European bias speaking, I come from an environment where enthusiasm for the military means you're a violent asshole. Things are different in South Korea, a country that is still technically at war. But yeah, seeing the army as a necessary evil is very different that seeing it as something you just cannot wait to join.

I hope this makes sense lol it's 1AM here and my brain is fried because of uni and this damn exam I'm studying for. But this was a nice break, so thank you for you ask ❤

[bunnylouisegrimes]

A Massive Thank You

So this is very random (like most things lol), but I wanted to announce that my (slightly over week long) hiatus from posting content will be over, and I'll be posting writings and drawings whenever I'm able to.

My mental health has been doing much better these last few days thanks to some of my closest friends on here encouraging me and keeping me afloat. It also helps that I finally got done with the required amount of NCLEX prep in order for my (now former) professor to send something to the Board in order for me to get an official test date. Hopefully, that will be here soon, and I can finally take the big test that will allow me to start working as an RN, as I've spent three whole years in school for. I feel a massive relief and weight off my chest, and I realize most of my depression stemmed from feelings of failure and massive burnout and exhaustion from my time doing both school and work for the last semester of school, my fears of not being able to achieve all that I have worked towards, and my own problems with comparing myself with the rest of the fandom, a hobby that means a lot to me and serves as my only form of socialization outside of my house and work (as previously mentioned before).

With this all being said, when you feel like a burnt out failure, it can be hard to find confidence in yourself when you're stuck in a mental state where you compare yourself to everyone and feel less than based on low numbers (which shouldn't mean a thing), and your own disbelief in your own hobbies.

But the truth is, I shouldn't feel bad about not creating content that is popular here. Others like PaulPat? They can have it. Others like abusing Patrick? They can have it. Others can produce x reader stuff and super interesting OCs? I can admire it and consume whatever ones I want, and they can have it, too. If I wanna make self ship content, if I wanna produce gentle maledom/femsub smut, the fluffiest of fluff, the most niche of angst, and even some kink stuff every now and then featuring my shitty self insert, I should and can. Even if it doesn't make everyone happy, I can't and shouldn't try to do such an absurd and impossible task. I should instead focus on the friends and mutuals I am truly grateful for and enjoy engaging with more than anything else.

Maybe I will always be an odd one out no matter what fandom I join. But that's something to take some pride in. And I definitely need to start looking at it that way. No matter what I or others produce, no matter how many notes something gets or doesn't get, there will always be someone somewhere that will find it and enjoy it.

I know I have a bad habit of not listening to my own advice, but without some of you offering that crucial advice and support I need to hear, maybe I wouldn't listen to myself at all. And for that, I am forever grateful to those of you who have been patient with me, supportive, and genuinely caring. I am proud to call you my best friends (you know who you are). No matter the distances that keep us apart, I feel that friendship connection that I am unable to feel from others around me. It's crazy to think a fictional serial killer can bring so many people together. I never would've thought back in the fall of 2021 that there would ever be a chance for me to meet some genuinely amazing people before this fandom even became a thing as it did shortly after I left Tumblr for the first time.

So thank you all so much again! I love and appreciate you all more than you will ever realize 🫂🫂🫂💘💘💘

[nivea-ah]

I had started mha out of boredom back when the pandemic had just started (it's been four years!) and soon grew to be obsessed with it, but due to the never-ending woes of growing older and weaker (I hate you exams), I stopped reading the manga a year or two ago.

I would still visit the mha tag on tumblr and read what other's had to say about it but never really continued reading or watching it. Many said the writing was horrible and the random was even worse. They said the plot was too stretched out and repetitive and it's genuinely a very bad manga. I didn't believe it but I didn't really have a base to fight back on (in my head of course because I have better things to do than fight online) because I stopped reading the manga. But, today, I can finally say that I have caught up with the manga AND IT'S THE BEST ENDING YOU CAN EVER EXPECT OUT OF A SERIES.

The final war was of the perfect length, not too short to just be a quarrel, not too long to be tedious. There were developments and setbacks that made it even more exciting. All plot points were tied up nice and tight so that no side story was left incomplete. Everything was done wonderfully.

What I liked even more was that even with the ending of the war, we still got a lot of chapters on the mundane life of class 2-A and saw how they were holding up. Everything's going smoothly (maybe) and Shinsou's joined their class! Yay! We even got a wonderful scene between Izuku and Ochako which I so dearly loved <3 While I don't ship them, they most certainly are cute together <33

Finally, I shall talk about said 'toxic fandom'. MHA for a VERY long time has been called a toxic fandom because 'ew you ppl ship deku with any guy he's straight >:(' Okay. If you think he's straight, good for you <3 I, personally, like to think of him as bi because that helps me sleep well at night and I quite like my 8 hours of sleep. Sure, there are people who are crazy but there are crazy people EVERYWHERE in EVERY FANDOM. JJK is a good example. But it still remains a wonderful piece of literature because it is!! So, I think people should really move on from this 'MHA is hated a lot so I should too' because the wonderful story and the just as wonderful ending proved that it is truly an amazing series that will live in my heart for years to come because it is the only manga that made me feel so much, cry so much and enjoy so much. And with that, thank you for reading <3

[destinyc1020]

the dog company spilled tea to the sun and the gym spilled tea to daily mail LMAO 😭

🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

I wish people would STOP spilling Tomdaya private info now that they're engaged.

Is it weird that I feel very oddly PROTECTIVE over them during this time period? 🥺 It's the same feeling I got when they got caught making out in the car years ago.

We here in the Tomdaya fandom have basically tried to protect this couple, and keep their romance sacred for years.

I ALMOST kinda miss the days back when everyone thought we were nuts for thinking that they were more than "just friends" 😏, and we all had this little small place here on Tumblr to talk, dissect, and discuss any little tea and crumbs that we would get from this clandestine couple lol. 🤭

But ever since July 1st (or 2nd... depending on how you wish to look at it), that all changed.

The whole PUBLIC then became "aware" of Tomdaya. That was a good thing for us because we were FINALLY validated and not just "crazy shippers" anymore, but at the same time, it was BAD for us, because now, we didn't have Tomdaya in a safe little enclave anymore. 😔

Now, EVERYBODY was weighing in on their relationship, and newbie shippers started coming in (nothing wrong with that), so it just turned into one whole crazy wild huge thing. 🥴

Just overnight!

Now, they're engaged, and I sort of feel like the same thing is happening. Strangers are now spilling tea and not respecting their privacy. Is it attention that they want? I mean, I know Tomdaya is the biggest engagement news so far of 2025, so I get it. But it's just sad because a lot of the newer fans and shippers don't seem to respect TZ's level of privacy that they have fought so hard to maintain like the rest of us OG shippers. 😔

And this isn't an us vs. them post, it's just me sharing my feelings on this.

It would be nice if people wouldn't spill details on every little thing about them, or details about their wedding planning before it even happens.

Maybe they wanted to join a gym ANONYMOUSLY so that people wouldn't be trying to get pics or join the gym/spa just to catch them there?

Idk.... Maybe this is just silly of me to feel this way, and maybe this should have gone under the "Sunday Confessions" day lol 😆 But ooh well..... My thoughts and feelings are out there now! It's something that's been weighing on my mind for a while.

🤷🏾‍♀️

[morganaspendragonss]

fandom memories

thanks for the tags @reyesstrand, @tellmegoodbye, @marjansmarwani and @lire-casander for the tags! love you all 💚 listen. i have been through some series finales in my time. bbc merlin. bbc atlantis. bbc robin hood. supernatural. the good place. the umbrella academy. for individual reasons, none of them felt quite like this. lone star is probably the first time i've ever been quite so involved in a fandom. it's been a huge part of my life for six years, six years in which i have been through two degrees and got a job, so i'm going to share six memories, one from each year.

2020: picture this: you are me, aged 18. the world has just started going crazy and you have no idea what's going to happen regarding university, which you have barely started. you're scrolling on tumblr when this new show starts popping up, and you ignore it for a while but then you see a gifset of one of the characters overdosing so you sigh and decide to check it out. cue bingeing every available video on youtube and a swift descent into obsession which leads to writing two fics before you've seen a full episode. good times.

2021: the first season i watched as it came out (though not live that time). also notable that my mental health crashed and burned in early 2021 and lone star was one of the few things that got me through that period. i remember having a really bad day once, and the only happy moment i had was watching bad call for the ?????? time. this was also the year of not one, but two angst weeks, and my 20th birthday fic celebration, which i loved doing.

2022: ah yes. season 3. my first time watching live, and honestly the experience of watching push and freaking out in real time was. well. this was when i really became a part of the fandom and joined some discord servers, where i made some amazing friends. there was discourse, which was fun and highly irritating, and i went to the dinah convention which...was probably a low point tbh but there were good moments.

2023: this was a weird year, as i very much started to step back from the fandom. some things had happened and i didn't feel comfortable anymore being quite so social. but who can forget watching the double episode season finale live? fun fact: this was the night before an important exam yet i still decided to stay up until 3am to watch my silly little firefighter show!

2024: we're going to ignore the year and a half of waiting. i honestly thought i would be okay with the show ending because of the aforementioned step back, but then i met a new group of lovely people and suddenly i was back, not quite in the thick of it, but comfortably present. season 5 has honestly been a bit of a car crash but it has been a joy to share these moments with friends.

2025: i can't believe that it will all be over in a couple of days. i am so grateful to this show for everything it has given me, my pocket friends, some of whom have become real life friends, all the triumphs and defeats, the epic highs and lows of being a lone star fan. i'm going to be honest - i don't have the highest expectations for the finale, but i do know that, whatever happens, it's going to be special. and also that i'm never getting this invested in a usa tv show ever again because jesus christ it is torture staying up until the early hours to have the actual show interrupted by ads every five minutes.

okay, i hope that was sappy and coherent enough. godspeed everyone, i'll see you at the finish line 🫡

open tag!

[jandjsalmon]

FRC 2025 - January ❄️

Hello friends! I hope you've all been doing okay - given the state of the world and all. I am sending kind and loving thoughts to all of you who are worried, who are unsafe, and who are struggling. I see you, and I love you, and this is a safe place for you. 🖤

It's been a crazy month here - but I did take time to do some fun things... like going to rock concerts (see below - this is the fam at one of the last Sum41 concerts 😢).

So while year-end at the office and the Music Festival that I volunteer with have been keeping me SUPER busy - fandom life has also been intense. I may have accidentally made a viral post - which just cracked 50k notes this morning (and has completely murdered my Activity page) - and it even hit reddit - so now Bethy thinks she's famous. Ha ha. (for those of you new here - Bethy is the blonde one 4th from the front in the picture above)

Anyway, since I seem to have acquired a bunch of new followers, I apologize in advance for my blog not being what you probably expected it to be. But you're still welcome here. 👋🏻

Another year, another new task sheet for the @fanfic-reading-challenge - and boy is it hard! Super challenging - but it's definitely going to be fun. Remember, it's never too late to join up, and there is a Discord to ask for help and recs.

As I do every month, my progress and fic recs are below:

I was busy for the first half of the month creating a new spreadsheet to gather all my info - so that's why I haven't read as much I did last January. Still - I feel like this was a pretty great beginning.

One favourite fic I read this month was, Elf Lover by mildthemes. It's a Galadrial/Sauron fic from Rings of Power. Canon divergence pretty early on in Season 1. The inner workings of Sauron's head are fascinating and very funny. Instead of being unrepentantly obsessed with power, he's obsessed with equally obsessed "horse-girl" Galadriel instead. Some enemies to lovers for sure. There's some angst along the way (like when Sauron creates a single ring and gives it to Galadriel instead) and at one point Elrond essentially works as a couple's councillor but has to drink like 2 bottles of elf wine to do it, but their devotion is wonderful and their ending is domestic and happy. I made it a challenge to comment on every chapter and I got really emotional with the way they ended it. I highly recommend. 💯

I also read a few old favourites this month - one of which was I Will Follow You Into the Dark by my girl @feelavalanche. Violet/Tate (at the very highest level) from American Horror Story (which was my first tumblr fandom btw). This fic is a pretty big emotional rollercoaster. Pretend everything happened in Murder House like it did - except Violet lived. She got away and lived her life - but now she's going back for 'reasons'. There's a character death (but that's not news if you know the fandom). And CANCER is a big trigger warning for some folks. There are some GORGEOUS lines. Beautiful writing. Moments I've cried. It's from 2012 and I've read it more times than I can count. It just sticks with you. Sad. But with a happy ending (sorta?). I hope someone here will give it a try and enjoy!

[dracrownian]

let’s go with the 20s for detco, rei. however many you wanna do!

I'm just gonna answer all of those because I have no self-control, don't mind me. for the ask game [ here ].

20. When did you first join Tumblr? How long was it between that and finding [DetCo]?

Well. My first tumblr post was in May of 2012 (had to go and check), which was just about eight years after I started watching DetCo (summer 2004). So there's that.

God it's been nearly 21 years of DetCo. Help.

21. Go onto your AO3. Which ship have you written for the most? The least? Does this correspond to who you consider your "favourite?"

I have exactly two published works on AO3. So. It's not exactly a huge pool.

Most: AkAm. (2) Least: HiroRei. (1)

Yeah, that's about right for how much I like the ships.

22. Give us a headcanon for [Rei].

Something that's kind of headcanon, but it's really just pulled from ZTT: I think he has a soft spot for kids, and is surprisingly good with them.

Something that's more actual headcanon territory: I think (aside from the obvious exception of Hiro) that Rei was closest to Matsuda of the WP boys, either despite or because of their rough start, and that his death hit the hardest of those three.

23. Has your favourite character/ship changed over time?

Rei didn't exist when I first got into DetCo, so yeah.

So my favorite character in the very beginning was Heiji. Adored him (it's a shame what Gosho's done to my boy). And my favorite ship was HeiShin (which I obviously still have a soft spot for).

Then Masumi entered the scene and I fell in love with her immediately. And her chemistry with Ran has always been so good. So, for a while, that was my favorite.

And then I guess it probably changed again with m20 (and more recently with m26, since I was out of fandom for a while). Because suddenly these two idiots (akam) have taken over my life.

24. What's your favourite thing about [Rei]?

He is a petty, unhinged, feral cat of a man. What's not to love?

Probably the way that he can keep his composure in almost every situation, but the minute he even thinks about Akai, all bets are off. His temper takes over, and he turns into my favorite feral cat of a man.

25. What's your least favourite thing [Rei] said or did?

This is one I have to think about for a minute. Rei has a lot of flaws, but him being flawed is part of what I love about him. I don't mind the m22 situation because it fits well with his character.

I guess I'm not crazy about the fact that he was fully planning to hit that teacher with his car if her attacker hadn't done his job for him. But I also recognize that his hands were kind of tied, with Vermouth being involved, and he didn't actually hit her with his car.

Maybe the Haro situation in ZTT because it just doesn't make sense for him to adopt a pet at this stage. But even that feels like a stretch because 1) it's not even canon; and 2) I can't really be that upset about taking care of an animal in need.

Anyway. If I think of something else for this, I'll reblog this with an addition.

[lover-of-mine]

In honor of AO3 dipping for an hour and the fact that we are knee deep into the hiatus, I took it upon myself to read through the entirety of your #spy network.

TELL ME WHY it took me over 5 hours (between 11pm-4pm vaguely) **and that included skimming through some posts** to read everything under that one tag…

My thoughts, a month after 8A

- it’s weird reading through all of the theories after knowing exactly what’s coming. Is this what the journalists felt like scrolling through Twitter before 806?

- I started scrolling AO3 in early August, but I didn’t join the Tumblr fandom until early-Septemberish. Because of this I missed a lot of the “crutial moments” (quote-unquote)

- With that being said, I gained context for posts I saw on other blogs so that was nice

- I would personally like to thank you and your soldiers in the trenches for putting up with what you did. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

- I think I had other points but tbh I’m still in shock over how FOUL some of these posts are (Telling Ryan to “finish the job” was arguably one of the worst things I read about tonight)

Sorry for bringing this back up but I needed to yap somewhere 🫡

Kspskapakaokaa help I'm legit impressed you actually read all that, I don't think I would if I wasn't getting them in real time. And yeah, things could get real dark when it came to Ryan (and eventually Oliver), there are more detailed stuff I got but never posted because included actual screenshot of gcs and I didn't want to compromise the spies. I feel like I lived a whole decade of fandom drama in 6 months, it was crazy. I have friends who like to joke that tag is a fandom document at this point, it's funny to me that is true lol

[idiosyncreant]

Hey. I'm Bethany.

I feel like it's crazy that I've had a Tumblr since 2011. I'm both the same and so different. I wanted to reintroduce myself!

And I'd LOVE to have other folks do the same? So I'll structure all nice like a meme/ask game/questionnaire. Mutuals, don't let me embarrass myself!

1: First Post

My first post was on July 30th, 2011. It was a Spy Myung Wol kdrama post featuring Eric Mun. Neither fascination ended well. Somehow negging Lee Min Ho was involved???

2: Why I Joined Tumblr

I started a Wordpress blog about K-drama style, Suit Distraction, and my second post on July 31st was a link to one of those posts. This blog only spanned 2011, but I ran a Tumblr sideblog suitdistracted (now @libraryofstyle ) from about 2011-2015. It was my most successful online venture by far!

Tumblr itself stuck because I have been able to follow my interests more fluidly and stick with my mutuals, some from other platforms of the past.

3: Then vs. Now

In 2011 I was stuck in not-for-me Oklahoma, watching Korean dramas partly as a way to explore more of the world. I was between jobs, (some hours at my brother's then-job) working on my career as a writer with a lot of moral support but little visible success. It had been 4 years since I went to a big-deal writing workshop, and I'd published a few poems but almost by accident.

Now, I live in home-to-me Western Mass., work in a bookstore while still trying to start a writing career, but in the meantime got a degree at a Historically Women's College, and had a lot of eye-openings.

I'm still a follower of Jesus's teachings, but find it really easy to see how little those have to do with the Evangelical Right I was raised in. I thought a lot of this was obvious, but some of the questioners I knew then that have gotten the impression that God is really invested in America as his nation???**

I also have figured out I'm not just a Third-Culture-Kid or Geeky Artist, I am autistic. So. That makes sense.

4: Fandom Drift?

I watched a LOT of dramas in a season of my life when I was working on yarn for an Etsy shop of handspun, and filling my days around writing with house-keeping and projects.

It's not that I don't appreciate dramas but that I kind of caught up to being a discerning viewer around the same time access got a little trickier and my needs for media changed. I stream Critical Role while doing chores, because it's less visual. I don't sit at my spinning wheel for hours the last several years.

But I still thing Healer is the best thing I've ever seen in TV for *me personally*. I still think Gong Yoo is a wicked hottie. And I love that connecting with people about k-drama at a time when it was still a fresh wave in the West meant getting to be part of an upcoming fan culture in a way I hadn't before!

5: Side-blog/Name Confessional

I originated this blog with this username, which is kind of wild to me. I mean, 14 years ago I was 25, and while it feels quite some time ago it also feels like a fresh new handle. I like it, and I have used it to try and reset my LJ and set up a Dreamwidth. (Neither initiative stuck.)

I have, other than "suitdistracted" started 5 sideblogs. I should delete a few. One was from my coaching phase. (I am grateful for everything I got from the coaching training, including the impetus to go to college, but I also have been deconstructing THAT while listening to Maintenance Phase, an excellent podcast).

One was very recent, to anonymously post stuff about losing my parents. I also didn't post a ton there but it was a pressure valve for some hard moments in a weird phase of grief.

The fanfic one and the fiber arts one are pretty openly crossposted, haha. I stopped siloing the fiber arts one for the most part.

6: What's Next?

I wish I had the guts/energy to do something really wild and multimedium after watching Strange Aeons videos about Tumblr performance blogs but I have tried to at least post a bit more about my fandom takes.

I was so anxious early in my social media life that I feel like I have to be super-intentional about curating and this is the easiest place ot resist that. I like that this is accidentally totally not part of the ecosystem of "me as writer" that the other accounts are.

We'll see!

1: First Post

What does your /archive show?

2: Why I Joined Tumblr

How did you end up on here? What were you posting?

3: Then vs. Now

Where were you when you started? And now?

4: Fandom Drift?

Did you have a major fandom starting on Tumblr? Have you had major phases?

5: Side-blog/Name Confessional

Have you started a bunch of sideblogs? What topics did you try to prune from your main? Have you changed your username?

6: What's Next?

Anything you intend to do differently with your blog here, or things you're doing elsewhere?

[choicesficwriterscreations]

September 2023 WOTM: lilyoffandoms

Each month CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers, and this month’s writer of the month is @lilyoffandoms. We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and their work below! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

This month's Writer of the Month was selected a little differently than normal. We announced that we would be selecting the WOTM from the participants in last month's Writer Appreciation Event. But the eleven writers involved all agreed the honor belonged to Lily. Lily has been a staple in the Choices community for so long, and they continuously go out of their way to support creators and spread positivity while continuing to inspire and create themselves. We couldn't think of anyone better suited for the honor, so please join us in congratulating Lily... September's Writer of the Month!

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog Name: lilyoffandoms Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? Lily is fine (they/them preferred)

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

Best guess would be back in January of 2018. It was a joke at first since a friend saw one of their god-awful ads and said we should both try it. Next thing you know, we were both arguing over which books were better and regretting our decision to start. Though their opinions on what constitutes good books are almost as bad as the Choices ad that got us to jokingly play (and I say this most lovingly because they are awesome and I love them). I started with Most Wanted, and my friend started with The Freshman. 

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

Oh gods! I joined back in March 2019. I know I’m a Tumblr baby by most everyone’s standards, but that feels like a really long time. I joined when Open Heart book one was released. I had lurked, reading fanfics, for a few months before biting the bullet and creating a blog and actually posting. Only joined because I was taking my editor’s advice and writing something entirely outside my norm to break a particularly bad case of writer’s block. Thought I might as well share those silly things if I was taking the time to write them. Maybe someone would enjoy them. Never did plan on sticking around, but found so many lovely people that I’ve come to call friends.

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

It was lilyofchoices. My name + Choices because I am super creative like that with those sorts of naming things 😅 I changed it to lilyoffandoms when I left the Choices fandom for a bit. I’ve thought about changing it more times than I can count but I can’t bring myself to actually follow through on it. How do y’all’s change your blog name with each new book release? You are a crazy different breed of tumblr and you fascinate me.

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!  

I deleted the first one years ago. It was my first drabble. Currently, as it stands, the first thing in my archive is this post about Desire and Decorum, and it still makes me giggle.

5- How long have you been writing fanfiction?

I’ve only been writing fanfic since I joined Tumblr. I never really tried writing fanfic before that. Some nonfiction personal things before that but never anything like this world. It's been an adventure, to say the least haha

6- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to write about?

My favorite book is probably Blades of Light and Shadow, book one, but there are plenty that are really close behind. This is also the book I’d say I enjoy writing for the most because it is my favorite book, contains my favorite LI, and has one of my favorite OCs (Maiele) in it.

Though recently, I’ve been writing more for Crimes of Passion because it's more of a challenge for me. It's a different vibe between the MC and the LI and it's one I don’t often explore so I’m here for that right now. But I have a sneaky suspicion once Blades 2 drops I’ll be back on my bullshit with that again.

7- Share the first fanfic you wrote with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were writing it today?

I don’t think it exists on this site anymore. Maybe in someone’s reblog? I still have it in my files. It was an Ethan x MC drabble featuring my MC, Merida. I still like it. I’d not change it cuz I’m a firm believer in writing it and don’t look back haha.

This is it:

He swallowed the lump forming in his throat, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to form in his eyes. There it was. He had told her. Dr. Banerji was dying and Ethan was at a loss as to what was ailing his mentor and friend. Ethan stared at the young woman in front of him and then to the floor. He cleared his throat and made a small motion to turn back into Naveen’s room but froze instantly the moment he noticed her take a step towards him.

She threw her arms around him and hugged him, wishing to take away all of his pain, all of his loneliness. Silently willing him to understand that she cared for him. Cared deeply for him and much more than she should. “Ethan. I’m so sorry,” she whispered, one hand stroked through his hair while the other grasped his neck and slowly bent his head toward her shoulders as she raised herself to her tiptoes to meet him halfway.

He tensed upon feeling her arms around him. Arms, he thought to himself, that he had imagined holding him for a number of weeks now. Ever since that night spent sitting up with her watching little baby Ethan. “Merida,” he sighed as he gradually relaxed into the embrace.

She didn’t let up on the hug, squeezing him to her just a bit more tightly. God, she had wanted to comfort him when Dolores died but she didn’t know how he would respond. Now, he was facing the possibility of another friend dying and she couldn’t help herself.

He responded to the increased pressure of her hug and tightened his own hold upon her. Finding himself tracing circles up her spine and imagining what it would feel like to move his hands to tease along the skin of her back where her pants met her shirt.

Her breath caught when she felt his hands move lower. No longer making gentle movements along her spine but increasing their pressure upon her body, nearly massaging their way lower. She brought one of her own hands around to his chest, lightly bunching his white coat in her fist to try and pull him closer to her.

A loud crash echoed down the hall. “Shit!” a construction worker cursed. The two doctors jumped back from each other both staring into each other’s eyes seeming to question if they had both felt the same in the other’s arms. She blushed slightly. “I should see to my other patients. Dr. Banerji’s condition stays between us. Understand, Rookie?” he stated, his eyes narrowing. She nodded and he turned and marched down the hall.

8- What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

I love asking this question of others but don’t like it asked of me. I’m so bad at self-rep and advertising my wares 😂 But if I had to pick one, I’d say this one. It was so far outside my comfort zone when it came to writing that I almost abandoned it two paragraphs in. But I’m a stubborn person, and I refused to let it beat me. Plus, I had been wanting to write a noir fic for this book since it was released. Furthermore, I adore Hayden’s work too much not to gift a little something back for all the art he shares with us, so I knew I just had to make it work.

9- Do you have a fic that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to be but found could use a little more love?

I didn’t expect last year’s Luck of the Draw fic to garner much love. Attention? Maybe. But not love and definitely not the response I got. I really enjoyed writing that one. 

10- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Fluff. I’m a sucker for happy-ever-afters and an endless hopeless romantic. Give me the fluff. All the fluff. 

I pull a lot of what I toss into my silly drabbles from real life. Always been a believer in writing, most often what you know, and sprinkle that all with a dash of the stuff you don’t as a treat. And my life is pretty fluffy thanks to my incredible partner. 

However, I do so adore angst I’m just not able to write it often because it hurts more to write. But I’ll always always read it. That pain is *chef’s kisses*

11- Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Maiele, my Blades MC, is most definitely me coded. His whole personality, his choice of partner when it comes to personality, his constant flirting with said partner, his sense of humor, his lack of a filter most times, it’s all pretty much me. Gabriel, my CoP MC, is me when it comes to romantic gestures and Valentine’s Day. I may be a romantic, but I get weird when it’s aimed at me 😂 

12- What element of writing do you struggle with most?

Editing. I refuse to do it. I hate it with the burning light of a thousand suns. Those of you that manage to edit your fics have all my admiration. I honestly don’t know how y’all do it. Doesn’t it just bore you to no end? 

13- Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

I have more drafts than I care to admit. I would like to complete a series I started long ago for Ethan x Merida, but I don’t know if I’ll ever do that. I’d settle for finishing one of my drafts 😅

14- If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first? 

Nope, haha, I’d not be able to do that. If I were that brave, I’d recommend this one maybe. I do so love Flynn. Or this one, mostly because I do so love the idea of Gabriel just pouting on the couch.

15 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing?

Not really. I mean all of em probably. I read a lot of books in a lot of genres. Mostly I use my drabbles as morning warm ups for my day job. 

There are definitely fanfic writers I admire around here that encourage me to share my silly things everyday. Especially all those queer writers out there that have a rather thankless existence sometimes around here but keep sharing their stories! They are all my heroes!!

16- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

Any and all of my Maiele and Tyril stories. I just love them sooooo much!!

17- Do you write original fiction? 

Yes, but until recently, I wrote mostly nonfiction.

I do have a fic I began a few years back when I was still teaching. I had a student who hated their writing class, so I promised to write a short story alongside them and read it to the class like all the students had to if they gave it an honest go. 

They did and so I did too, and I was asked the following year to do it again by more students and so I continued the same story. I’ve since continued that same fic, and maybe someday I’ll actually go looking to publish it. 

18 -  What other hobbies do you have?

I love the outdoors. Hiking, spelunking, kayaking, gardening, camping, anything and everything outdoors. My other favorite hobby, which I've done for years and years, is fencing. I still am part of a club and teach a few levels. 

19 - What’s your favorite emoji? 

😅 because it’s legit my state of existence at this point in life. 

20: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

I want to send a special shout-out to all the absolutely lovely participants of August’s writer appreciation event I hosted. I still cannot believe y’all did this for me. 😘 These are each of my favorite fics you’ve written. Thank you for making our fandom a little brighter each and every day!

@aallotarenunelma Bathed in Sunlight @coffeeheartaddict2 Moths to a Flame @karahalloway A Leviathan Surprise @jerzwriter A Mother's Journal @ladylamrian Ma Cherie @mydemonsdrivealimo Run, Run @peonyblossom We're Gonna Get Married @petiteboheme Familia @storyofmychoices Passing Shower @tessa-liam All is Fair in Love and War @trappedinfanfiction What's In a Name? Lily's Top Three Commissions can be found here:

Crimes of Passion by @javsarts

A Year of Kisses by various artists: @lethendralis-paints @cashweasel @kundool @deheerkonijn @javsarts @weetlebeetle @kollapsar @mooreaux @rosefuckinggenius @/ArtbyAinna (IG) @littlestpersimmon @callmebeem

Trystan x Noel by @rosefuckinggenius

[survivingandenduring]

At the start of 2023 I was a quiet Pedro admirer; although Narcos was my gateway Pedro I was just admiring from a distance; following films and interviews but definitely not engaging. Too scary. 😟

The Mandalorian came along and I peeked into fandom but didn’t engage 🫣

HBO’s TLOU changed all that.

I put my big girl panties on and dipped my toe in the water. I wanted to join in with the fun 🤩 Not having a creative writing bone in my body I started making some video edits on the clock app; Some really, really poor quality and quite shitty edits. 😂 But I was having a lot fun making them and it was purely for my own enjoyment. 💗

💜🖤💜🖤💜

Got my Mandalorian/TLOU tattoo it says endure & survive in Mandalorian script cos I was Six when Star Wars came out and it’s been my comfort for nearly my whole life; and then the TLOU hit me with all of its feelings!!! And Endure & Survive has pretty much been a mantra for my life at times. So..

The Met Gala was life altering.

Gradually I’ve taught myself how to make edits that are a bit better; and some people even seem to like them!! And I started to get followers on the clock app! Crazy!! Still think it’s crazy that anyone takes time to watch or comment on them. I’ve not been confident enough to post much of them on here amongst so much cool stuff but I’ll try to push myself to do that more in 2024

💜🖤💜🖤💜

As the odd; ND, but I’m gen x so just weird, person I’ve always felt I’ve been the one on the outside or the edge looking in; I still mainly feel like that; but Pedro fandom has let me feel like I’m a tiny part of something; which is such a gift. I wish Pedro could understand that his work gives so much more to people. I’ve made some wonderful friends because of it and I hope to make more in the next year.

Fandom has truly allowed me to feel ok being myself 💗 and that’s so fucking cool.

💜🖤💜🖤💜

After reading fics on a03 I switched over to here; and then made an account.

Wow!!! What a difference. I love the interaction with the writers; the fact that you all take the time to respond to comments and thoughts is amazing to me and truly valued 💗🥰

The silliness on tumblr is like beautiful fresh air to breathe.’; whether it’s Marcus P and DONUTS; or the Catfish PhD program 😁 these bring me such joy. 🥰

I’ve read soooooo many amazing fics there are too many to mention. But if I’ve commented, liked or reblogged your fic it’s because I really truly enjoyed it 💜💗💜

And it’s like some sort of miracle that you guys give us this..for FREE…just to share and enjoy. What a gift; when my head feels out of control I can come here and quieten it down with your words.

💜 THANKYOU 💜

and if anyone took the time to read this brain spew then double thanks ❤️💜

If you do fancy looking at some shitty edits then I’m @enduringandsurviving on the clock app

Here’s to 2024 and all that Pedro. There’s a chance I may self combust at some point.

I thought G2 was going to do it but I’ve a sneaky suspicion that I won’t make it past Freaky Tales 🤣🤣🤣

[sophies-junkyard]

Seeing the new PJO content has me thinking way too hard about growing up. Its crazy because it’s like…. I think that chapter of my life is over? Which is a BIZARRE feeling. It’s all pretty stupid to write out but I’m drinking coffee and staring out the window and don’t have class for another 6 hours so lemme scribble some thoughts.

I read the Percy Jackson books when I was the same age as the characters, and so whenever I look back on those stories I sort of… remember them as peers? I remember how much I related to them and looked up to them. It was the first story that ever told me my ADHD could be a gift, and that it made me just like my heroes. It was so, SO important to me. I JOINED TUMBLR for the PJO fandom! I made camp t-shirts and painted necklace beads! I learned to draw because the fanart inspired me. Those books were such an escape for a lonely kid. The characters grew up right alongside me, and eventually got older than me. So when I picture our trio I still picture people… more competent than me? People I would aspire to be. But seeing that trailer and remembering like… holy fuck they were kids. I was a kid. This is a faithful adaptation because they were TWELVE… where did the time go?

It’s just strange because if you scroll back through my tumblr you’ll find a kid who camped out for the release of HOH. Who saved her allowance for a year to get an autographed copy of the Blood of Olympus. Whose eyes would glaze over in euphoria at the idea of my favorite thing in the world coming to screen. At the idea of a new BOOK!! And from Percy’s perspective?? That girl would’ve exploded. This was HER blog! Push a few buttons and you’ll find her!

So how odd is it that… it’s simply not for me anymore. When I saw that the book was set in Percy’s senior year of high school, I had a tiny flash of disappointment. Obviously I can’t relate to an 18 year old, and I felt myself frowning. “Why isn’t Percy for ME anymore?” I wondered. And I immediately felt silly. The answer is because… I don’t need that world anymore.

They’re not making this show for me. They’re bringing it back for the next generation of kids who need those role models and those stories. When I watched the trailer I thought “oh that’s cool” instead of “oh my god I can’t wait!!” Because it just doesn’t make my brain light up like it used to. I’m never going to relate to it like I once did. Ever. And that’s okay because I’m not that kid anymore! Insane.

It’s not like the series doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. There’s a copy of The Lightning Thief on the bookshelf directly across from me. Its smooshed between The Secret History and a level 4000 Spanish textbook. It’s yellowed with age and shredded around the corners. The first sentence has been underlined repeatedly in smudgy mechanical pencil. There are about a thousand folded pages and the back cover is missing. I don’t remember the last time I opened it, but it’s moved with me for years now and I have no intention of letting it go.

Those stories and that fandom shaped me into the person I am today. I wanted to be brave like Percy and smart like Annabeth. I believed it was possible because I saw myself in them, and it turned out to be true. So while it’s sad to know those days are behind me, I’m so SO glad that other kids will get to have that experience. I hope these stories live on for decades to come.

I don’t really know what the point of writing this was. I think I just wanted to have these thoughts written out somewhere. A sort of acceptance that time goes on and things change, ya know? And to clarify: this is NOT meant to discourage ANYBODY from watching the new series or reading the new book. People should absolutely go back to the things that bring them joy, should discover new worlds to escape to, etc. live your life baby! Hell, I’ll probably end up liking everything PJO related that floats across my dash. Nostalgia is a powerful thing. If you read this entire post I hope you have a great day lmao.

[fyeahstormandwolvie]

Sick with myself that I’ve only just discovered this blog!! Rolo has been my heart since forever, so glad for the crumbs we’ve been gifted. Hopes and prayers that it sticks even for a little while.

I don’t know what it is but non-canon ships are just ✨vibes ✨ they own me. Like canon could never 💁🏿‍♀️ Logan/Ororo - Logan/Kurt - Ororo/Kurt - ALL OF THEM 😭😭😭😭😭 pls. I’m in love. They’re just so healthy??? Why are canon so messy, bland and toxic? Crazy. Look what we could have had!? Insane. Not even just them although they’re always going to be my favs. I see a blog that likes rare pairs / non-canon ships and I’m kicking my feet. Y’all’s my people frfr.

I think Rolo got me deep into the non-canon side of marvel and I will forever be grateful for blogs like yours for keeping them alive even when canon crumbs are over, I wish we had more. It’s so nice to see and find more people who are getting creative with shipping considering how toxic the fandom is and is getting with other ships. Rolo was the breeding ground for my Black Cat/Gambit obsession and Wanda/Jericho which is kinda canon but idek at this point. Mom & Dad giving life always.

Happy to supply you with Ororo/Logan (RoLo, Stormverine, whatever you'd like to call it!) material! I'd call it all crumbs too, but is it really crumbs if we have all these things from different media and fans of all ages/creators of all kinds from fifty whole years? 🤔

I will say that fandom shipping toxic stuff is like... fine haha. Some people like mess (it's me, I'm "some people") because reading material about ships going through it is fun too! I just... like RoLo the most lol

As for the fandom itself being toxic - I think that's just been a thing in many spaces, especially as the spaces got more and more instant and well-connected. But I hope for this specific space to stay safe and positive and supportive ☺️

There's a Tumblr community on here too if you'd like to join and post or reblog things! I mod it as well, feel free to check it out! 💕

[inventedfangirling]

bad buddy fandom getting-to-know-you meme!

ah finally after a gazillion years i've been able to get around to doing this after being tagged by the ever sweet @fiercynn , so lemme straightaway get down to it.

note: i consider "fanworks" to pretty much everything people create related to a fandom, including but not limited to meta/analysis/discussion, gifs, fanvids/edits/fancams, filk, fanart, fanfic, fan food, fan crafts, etc.

name and whatever you want to share about yourself

hello there, i'm a 24 year old gray-ace panromantic desi on the romance positive end of the arospec (im still undergoing the wonderful but also often difficult and long journey of discovering myself so this is subject to change :3), i prefer going by my username so i'm not sharing my name.

when did you watch bad buddy/join the fandom?

i watched bad buddy exactly 3 months ago on the 15th of May, 2023. i watched all the episodes all on the same day and i know the date because after finishing the show i sent a 7 minute long audio note gushing about the show to my best friend. i ADORED it that much. and that's where all of this started. i loved the show so much and the lack of people i knew irl who were interested meant i had to find other people in the fandom to freak out with. i kept posting one after another favourite bad buddy edit of mine on my twitter page, gushing about it, but i got barely any response and that's when i reminded myself that tumblr exists and i should get back on here. and that's how i made this account 2 weeks after i watched the show and voila here i am surrounded by people who are as crazy about the show as i am and i couldn't be more delighted about it :')

favorite ship(s)

patpran and inkpa ofc

favorite character(s)

i love pat with all my heart, the man he ends up becoming along the course of the show is one of my most favorite portrayals of any man ever BUT pran is my actual favorite, he is my baby, (somehow both) my elder and younger brother and my best friend and he has my whole heart. his love, his hesitance, his anxiety, his bravery, his dimples, his FOREHEAD, his striped shirts, his precious heart i would DIE for him no questions asked.

favorite episode(s)

episode 11. each segment had something for the heart, i adored every single second of it...the sheer volume of beaut quotes from this episode is mind blowing! ("being with you already feels like freedom", "i can be anywhere as long as i have you", "we have been happier a lot too", "thankyou for trying to make a silly guy like me happy..." "i wrote this song for him", "one man can't change the world, but this world can't change me too"), and the soft loving looks of adoration making me clutch my chest, but also there was the quintessential patpran banter and bad buddy humour and wisdom i LOVE this episode with all my heart.

episode 5 is perfection. it comes second for me, but that kiss will always be number 1 <3

favorite scene(s)

rooftop kiss, balcony phone call, episode 7 ending when pat comes to save the day and the play, episode 11 red shirts commitment expression scene, and the final credits and post credits scene

one thing you would change about the show if you could

i wished the gangs didnt bully eo or anybody else even in the beginning, i get it shows growth but still i wished that was shown differently. also i wish we got a conversation where they talk about the guitar. and while we're here i wish it was somehow longer, i could have watched ohmnanon be patpran for HOOOURS.

what are your some of your favorite fanworks made by other people?

traffic was slow for the crash years by @fiercynn aka the creator of this meme. i absolutely adored every single second of the fic. despite it giving me a WORLD of pain. all the pain made it more beautiful and everything was worth it in the end. like i said before you took a great thing and made it even better <3

every piece of art that @hereforlou comes up with. you are a GEM!

all of nanons gorgeous gifsets!!

same page video edit that even p'aof tweeted about. SO good.

enchanted (aka patpran's official song) and other patpran edits by this same SO very talented editor

mudhal nee mudivum nee - another beautiful edit but desi so its even better <3

this super clever edit of patpran to message in a bottle. it's an instant serotonin booster for me.

(if you create fanworks) what are your favorite fanworks that you’ve made?

you can hear it in the silence - bad buddy bet era fic (the only one i've written till now)

my bad buddy textposts collection

my pran and pat's growth posts

this post that took me 20 mins to write but is one of my fav things ive written about the show

my long treatise of bet era patpran that took me a week!

list of accounts (hopefully i haven't forgotten any) whose meta and analysis and brainrot i absolutely adore- @miscellar , @telomeke-bbs , @grapejuicegay , @aroceu, @dudeyuri, @dribs-and-drabbles, @dimplesandfierceeyes, @sharingfandoms, @waitmyturtles, @ranchthoughts, @lurkingteapot, @lurkingshan, @thegayneurodivergentagenda, @kenmakaashi, @absolutebl, @charthanry, @bengiyo, @mahuhumaling, @panickedbisexualwatchesbl, @jemmo, @patspran, @fiercynn, @midnightfreeway, @fierceeyesanddimples and a couple more im sure ive missed. it was {and continues to be} a pleasure reading their thoughts about the show (or any other show that we've mutually watched).

a song that makes you think of bbs (the ones in the show don’t count lol)

message in a bottle because of this edit

daylight cos of this edit

enchanted, because of the infinite edits we've got from it and if im not wrong pat ohm has acknowledged it too

and basically all other romantic songs in the history of romance i guess :3

alrighty then i think i'm done with this tag. this was a LOT of fun to compile <3