#idk how common it is. i am very very prone to it

[musicalmoritz]

The common misconception that Akane has no personality outside of Aoi is a sign of immaturity among many fans, in my opinion. This isn’t really their fault, seeing as the majority of the tbhk fandom is on the younger side, but it’s still something that should be noted

When people say this, they are talking about his hobbies. It’s true that every hobby Akane has is something he started to impress Aoi. I’m of the firm belief that he stayed on the Student Council because he enjoys it but that’s slightly up to interpretation (it could also be a way for Teru to keep an eye on him). However, in general, Akane doesn’t seem to have much going on outside of Aoi. His favorite food is something he imagines her baking for him, he joins clubs based on what type of guys she shows interest in, the books he reads all have a character that shares her name, and when she asks him what he enjoys, his response is “I like you, Aoi.” He’s even shown to zone out of conversations when Aoi isn’t mentioned. This is clearly unhealthy, though he does eventually learn to give her some distance which is beneficial to the both of them. But he still doesn’t seem to actively engage in hobbies that have nothing to do with Aoi

This is a consistent character flaw, but it does not mean Akane has no personality or character outside of Aoi. This is where the immaturity bit comes in, kids want to describe themselves entirely based on their interests. With the rise of fan culture and the internet, many adults do the same. It’s not just a young people problem, it’s an issue of how we identify ourselves. We like to put people into categories, understanding them based on their hobbies and careers. These are very important elements of identity, but they aren’t everything. A person with no job and no hobbies is still a person. They might struggle due to having no outlet for their creativity, but they are a person nonetheless

Fandoms notoriously love to understand characters based on their niche interests. Aoi is a gardener, Hanako loves the moon, Nene plays idol games, Teru has a very sad life. These are absolutely elements of their characters, but there’s more to them than their hobbies. They have personalities too, goals and passions outside of what they do in their free time

Akane puts his all into helping others, he takes his Student Council duties very seriously and keeps his hands full during every school event. He is a very empathetic character, able to understand characters like Aoi, Teru, and Nene without them having to tell him what they need. He’s competitive, as seen in his friendship with Teru. He’s romantic, as is the driving force of his character (and romance is a perfectly acceptable goal, marriage is one of the most common things for a person to strive towards in life). He’s violent and overprotective, striking down any man who makes Aoi uncomfortable. He’s emotional, prone to fits of joy, anger, and tears. He’s easily annoyed and carries a chip on his shoulder, but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to help people. He hates supernaturals because of how they hurt others, and despite his stance as a School Mystery, he is so painstakingly human. He can be aggressive, especially when someone he loves is trying to do something self-destructive. He cares so deeply for people, wearing his heart on his sleeve. He’d stay up all night playing video games if it made the girl he loves happy, but he won’t attack Teru for having genuine feelings for her. He’s incredibly loyal. He’s also casually bisexual so there’s that

Idk there’s just so much more to Akane’s character than people give him credit for, I didn’t even cover everything. Remember when you’re analyzing a character, it’s important to look deeper than “they enjoy this” or “this is their job.” Akane may devote so much of his life to Aoi, but he is still his own person, whether he realizes that or not

I am begging ya’ll to stop throwing the “no character outside of Aoi” allegations at this man

[groovygrub]

heyyy folks!!! as promised, a brief(...ish) explanation of what's been going down:

so we had ourselves a bit of a ~tornadic thunderstorm~ almost a week ago; apparently FOUR lil twisters touched down in our area and several were visible from our driveway?!! – tragically, i didn't get to actually see the tornados because i was tripping too hard (here's some common sense disguised as a fun fact! if you consume 16x a "microdose" of shrooms, especially combined with other edibles, the dose isn't so micro anymore!! that shit had me macro-ed, dude 😩 learn from my mistakes!) and also didn't expect any visible touchdown from our house :((( i cried when i found out i missed out on the nados, ngl.

anyway, the majority of the city lost all power and my house just got it back last night! we still got some live wires ⚡ hanging in our yard so it's cordoned off but hopefully they'll fix that soon because i really gotta go foraging soon & would prefer not to get yelled at and/or zippity zapped. i'm already getting zippity zapped enough by my own brain, you know??

while on the topic of brain zaps!! the extreme heat & humidity and stress (and without any AC, air purifier, very little water, etc) has been... less-than-compatible with my chronic health shit (especially my seizures, POTS, EDS, mast cell disease, and migraines) 😅 i've had 5+ (?) episodes over the past week and they're still periodically making little cameos 🥲

definitely one of the worst clusters i've had yet tbh. after the initial seizure, i couldn't really move & was just chilling there and my broke-ass brain very helpfully kept supplying me with nothing but the thought "damn, bro got prone" (i would make a great doctor, i know). and then i started sobbing because my CNS was too afk to go grab a drink and seizures always make me sooo goddamn thirsty for some reason & i was already so dehydrated 💀

and i didn't even get to see any nados!!!! like!!! that's so twisted, dude (pun really not even intended, just slipped out, whoops). "fucked up" doesn't even begin to describe it. absolutely gargantuan L for me :((( an elephantine L, a BROBDINGNAGIAN L, if you will. feels like i just got hoodwinked by the cosmos.

anyhowsies. i set forth with the intention of just letting y'all know why i've been playing tumblr hooky (oh!! and in the days immediately leading up to the power outage, i was just busy being helplessly in love. still am, don't have any plans of stopping ❤️✨ but i'm also trying to be more present again for my beloved little army of weirdos!) and to say sorry for the delay in memes 😕 so idk how it turned into this mess, my b!

i'm slowly working through my notifications too!! just takes some extra time to process things when Brain is rebooting (and Brain has to fully reboot every time i have an episode 🙄 dramatic ass lil bitch). thank you so much for all your patience, birds & bees (new inclusive alternative to "ladies & gentlemen" just dropped!) 💛

ps to my wonderful moot who said they were queueing one of my memes for last monday: if you're reading this, please know i didn't forget about you or your post!! i WILL get to it, promise! 🙏

[melrosing]

13, 20, 25

worst blorboficiation

idk I actually do think jaime fandom can be prone to this, which is part of why some of the backlash insists that actually Jaime has never done a good thing in his life and is a completely unlikeable character etc. anyway i try to steer clear of the former and find the latter very tiring

part of canon you found tedious or boring

Arya's Braavos arc still doesn't do much for me :/ i'm more interested in seeing where it leaves her in the aftermath. also i feel really bad for saying this for some reason lol but I'm just not a big fan of Asha's chapters. I think she lacks some of the intense internal conflicts the other POVs have, so whilst I like her fine I don't find her that interesting by asoiaf standards.

I might've said Davos a year or so ago but in my last re-read he did grow on me

common fandom complaint that you’re sick of hearing

lots of things but the complaining over how long GRRM is taking annoys me. like I don't mind joking about it and I also feel the frustration bc i REALLY want to read that book but also I am.... not even surprised TWOW is taking this long?? and I just don't think he's wrong to take on other projects, he only gets one life. i AM sick of hearing about wild cards but I don't think his workload is the main barrier to completing TWOW - if that were so, he would've finished it in the quieter times way before now. he's slow because it's a difficult book to write at the best of times, and the last decade doesn't sound like it's been straightforward for him creatively. I really just get the impression that he is desperate to finish it but knows by now that sitting at his desk creatively constipated isn't going to do the job for him, he needs other outlets. i even think hotd may have helped him along

[actualbird]

Hi Zak, would you recommend majoring in something you enjoy doing?

I enjoy writing (and beta reading), and plan to major in something like liberal arts or creative writing, but I'm not sure if I should.

I feel like I might get burnt out if I choose to major in one of that, but also, I'm worried about my future job prospects.

I've heard of people who majored in fine arts and end up having to do a job they dislike cuz no money for the work, and idk if it's worth it. :(

~ 📝 (is this taken?)

hey there notes!anon (will be tagging u as this!!), ty for the ask!!

i'd like to preface everything im going to say with like, this is my Own opinion based on my own experience, and your experiences may differ, so not everything i say may apply to you and your circumstances. im frankly always surprised when i get asks asking for advice on life stuff, because i myself definitely do not have my life together in any way. still, i hope something in my perspective can be useful somehow to you

i personally am not sure/am not knowledgeable about a liberal arts major (because my college didnt have a course like that) but i CAN talk about the effects/benefits/cons of a creative writing major because i myself am a creative writing graduate

and first off, job availability is not as big of a problem for CW graduates as many people think. lots of industries need creative writers. it may not be the industry you expected or originally wanted, but the prospects are definitely there. when i was job hunting, off the top of my head, here were the jobs i applied to (and thus felt somewhat qualified for, with my CW degree): advertising copywriter, SEO writer, english teacher/tutor, writing for print magazines, writing game guides for online websites, writing scripts for games, copyediting, corporate copywriting. and that is very much the tip of the iceberg, because there are a lot of jobs that i overlooked that i couldve qualified for but i wasnt personally interested in.

now on the topic of burnout......i'll be real with you: no matter what you major in in college, burnout will happen if you dont adequately manage yourself.

burnout is not exclusive to creative endeavors, it's an effect of too much work + lack of control (perceived or real) + a whole lot of other factors that are VERY common to experience in college. essentially, college is a CAUTION: BURNOUT PRONE AREA simply due to how it's designed/structured. so no matter what course you choose, it will be a danger. so it's less of picking a course and more of how you protect yourself against burnout that will help you more in the long run

that being said, i got burnt out a TON when i was in college because of my mental illness(TM) and also because i was generally bad at pacing myself and taking care of myself. but what got me through was my sheer dedication to writing.

one thing about college is that i think you should pick something that you like enough that even when you feel like you hate it to the high heavens (because you definitely might, what with how stressful college requirements are), there is still something stronger about your tie to that course that pulls you through

for me, it was personal passion and commitment to writing. writing has always been the one thing i knew i wanted to do since the beginning of time, so no matter how much i hated it on all nighters i was working on my thesis manuscript, i pulled through

essentially, to prevent/survive burnout: manage yourself + pick whatever course you want where the "but" in "oh my god i hate this course, BUT..." is a strong one. if you have no strong ones as of the moment, thats alright. you can build it up as you go along

now on the topic of "working a job they dislike" i will be real with you once more..............this is a more common reality of life than having a job you do like. i am a statistical anomaly in the sense that i generally enjoy my job, but a lot of the time (based on what my irl friends go through with their jobs) you end up with a job you didnt expect you'd get into and dont necessarily enjoy. but....it pays the bills. it pays for you to enjoy the stuff you do when youre not working. and thats a valid way to get through life as well.

life after college, contrary to what people want you to believe, is not 100% taken up by your job. or at least it shouldnt be. or at least you should work to make sure it isnt. this might be, again, because im coming from a privileged perspective of having the time to pursue other things like hobbies and interests in addition to having a job, but if you also have the resources to do so, then definitely do so.

all in all: "would you recommend majoring in something you enjoy doing?" it.....depends. i recommend majoring in something you feel strongly enough about that you will continue to do it even when it's not enjoyable 100% of the time. but dont worry about jobs, because a CW degree is definitely useful in the job market. and dont worry about burnout, because that exists in all courses anyway, not just CW.

that is!!......all i think i have to say about ur q, i think

i hope some part of this can be helpful, notes!anon. and im wishing you the best in your decision!!! :D

[strawberrystepmom]

kendall i don't know SHIT abt astrology pls tell me about myself:

pisces sun/libra moon/cancer rising (+ bonus aquarius venus)

i'm ready to take notes btw

hey Fallon!!! hope today is a very good day!!! 💗

idk how much you know about the basic functions of the placements but generally: sun - life’s motto/goal/mission and your message of This is Who I Am, moon - internal emotion and desires, rising - how you seem to other people!

pisces sun’s mission is “i want to make you feel understood and free of judgment” because Pisces suns do not tend to be judgmental people which I touched on this a bit yesterday. there is a genuine innocence to a Pisces sun no matter their age. you are likely mistaken for being younger than you are, you probably give people the benefit of the doubt a lot and are prone to taking things at face value. Pisces suns can lack self preservation in this respect because being there for someone is more important than understanding that maybe it isn’t our issue to solve in the first place. Not justice driven but understanding driven. Pisces wants to know why, it’s infinitely curious.

Cancer rising (woo woo me toooooo!) and I said this yesterday but cancer risings tend to be very pretty. Soft features, big eyes, and round faces are common. Your energy is probably pretty gentle and you likely do not scream your presence but whisper it but it’s felt and people are drawn to you because this is the power of cancer. Quiet beckoning like a voiceless siren, the energy says all it needs to say.

Libra moon is interesting and if you’ve ever found that you don’t really identify with it as your internal emotional scale, it’s likely that cancer has overpowered it in your chart and you are more emotionally driven. If you find the opposite is true and you are able to sort of just shrug things off, Libra is functioning as it should when paired with water sign intensity. The biggest issue I’ve found in Pisces and Libra combinations in a chart is a lack of consistent behavior (which can be frustrating to some, you’re fluid and always changing) and inability to commit. Commitment terrifies Libra because it means you have to stick with a decision forever and that’s uncomfortable for a placement that relies on changeability to define itself.

[httpiastri]

happy happy holidays and congrats on 1.5k😊 let it snow + winter wonderland? i’ve always been a sucker for a ship lol and the wip can be for whomever you ship me with or if you don’t have one for them then lando or charles maybe?

i love cooking/baking, huge foodie! also reading and writing, traveling, any water activities, movie/game nights and music/concerts. i am an animal lover with a mega soft spot for dogs. very talkative and friendly but i need time to myself every day to decompress. a little impulsive, pretty stubborn, very protective of my loved ones. i love love, making people smile, and watching sunsets. that’s probably too much lol congrats again and wishing you all the best + a wonderful new year ahead!💛

happy holidays! and thank you tons!! <3 i ship you with max verstappen!! max would love it if you baked or cooked for him, especially before or during a race weekend as support, or after a good race as celebration. i have a feeling he would be into board games? so game nights would be a lot of fun with him? but i also have a feeling he would be prone to cheating so 😭 be careful lmao. max definitely needs time to relax and de-stress, especially after a race weekend, so taking some time to unwind would be something you have in common. idk about dogs specifically but max definitely likes animals, his little kitties 🤭 max loves to smile skdjfhdk and making others smile too, so you'd be a very happy and smiley couple <3<3

i actually dont have any wips for max :0 so i'm putting in a little piece of a long thing i've been writing for charles:

after this, everything went by in a blur; one second, you were just chatting in a corner of the club. the next, you were making out in the elevator of the hotel you were both staying in. and then, your back met the covers of his bed as he climbed over your body. his fingers left imaginary traces along your skin, his lips following the path they'd drawn. the sensation was new, so different from anything you'd felt before. his touches drew out shallow breaths and sweet noises from you as he discovered your body, your little sounds helping him know how to please you the way you wanted. the time you spent with charles went on for hours, yet it was over in mere seconds. when he held you against his chest, you wanted nothing more than to stay there forever, to rest your head against him and feel his skin against yours until the end of time – but at the same time, you knew that couldn't happen. so when his low snores filled the room, when his breath was steady and you were sure he was asleep, you swiftly fled from his grasp. getting dressed in a tight dress and your previously discarded underwear after a night like this is always awkward, and leaving a gorgeous man alone in the big bed always sucks. but you had no other option.

wishing you all the best too! hope you have a lovely 2024!!! 🧡

[lords-of-fortune]

for your oc ask game, pick an oc and tell me: glance, stillness, and favorite! (plus one of your choice!)

glance: At first glance, what stands out most about your OC's appearance? What's their distinguishing feature? This one is rapid-fire enough that I'm choosing all of them. Rodaine- either his curls or his height (he's the tallest of my DA characters and he has very curly hair) Tierce- his eyes. They are Yellow and piercing. Halen- his hair. Pure white, strange for someone so young. Nennril- ears. They have very large ears. Darien- also eyes, stormy grey and intense. And Alding- aaalso hair. He keeps it long and it's golden and wavy. Princess hair.

stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?

This one is more in-depth so I am choosing Rodaine bc I have favorites shh. Rodaine is in general very still. He's the kind of guy who lies in wait for opportunities to present themselves. He isn't particularly fidgety, most movements he makes are deliberate. Any tics he has are mostly focused on his face, licking or biting his lips, an occasional twitch in his eyebrow, a lot of pinching the bridge of his nose or rubbing his temples (prone to headaches). If he's standing, he'll also occasionally flex his shoulders or stand up taller if he realizes he's been slouching or gets a twinge in his back. As for clothing, he definitely is a lot more still and uncomfortable when he's in Circle robes and more at ease and confident in his posture when he's wearing armor or clothing he actually feels comfortable in.

favorite: Does your OC have a favorite article of clothing or accessory? What is it? What's the meaning behind it? Do they wear it all the time or do they wear it sparingly to keep it safe?

Switching characters again bc I can't really think of anything interesting for Rodaine for this question: Halen is a big fan of scarves, especially those ones that come to a point at the front kind of like a bandana. He especially favors a very soft green one given to him by his sister shortly before she was taken to the Ostwick circle. He doesn't wear them all the time but definitely when he's somewhere cold or even chilly, since he gets cold easily. The particular one from his sister he keeps safe and only wears it on certain occasions.

And for my choice: bling: What jewelry does your OC wear? Does it have any meaning?

This one is for Tierce bc he's the biggest jewelry guy. He has multiple piercings in both ears, an eyebrow piercing (his other one was also pierced, but it was torn out accidentally) a septum piercing, a tongue piercing, nipple piercings and possibly a spicy one that I haven't fully decided on. He leans away from things on his fingers so not many rings, but he will occasionally wear simple gold bracelets bc he likes the shine. He also I think keeps rings from both his parents (they technically weren't wedding rings bc I think they were technically not legally married but they were the closest things to wedding rings they had) on a chain around his neck most of the time. He tucks the chain safely beneath his clothes and armor when he's out and about. Also idk if this counts as jewelry but I have recently decided that both his canine teeth are gold bc you can't be a rough and tumble guy like Tierce and not lose a tooth or two so he had them replaced with style and he looks great in gold

Thank you for the ask!

[emmiri-bumble]

Fuck it, kinda Hiveswap-centric Family Collaborative Au

i am going to unhinge and talk more cohesively abut @3ternitymaze 's au (i have permission) where there was no game and earth was invaded and trolls realized quickly that you can make new grub cutches with humans. Putting alpha, beta, and hvswap casts together deliberately because its fun.

why not? its self indulgent. besides, what much else is there to think about concerning canon hiveswap (and to a less extent hstuk)? partially inspired to be vocal about it because of how much ive seen ppl are ok about karkat jr and other funky lil jr ideas. Partially because... idk maybe it'll give others ideas. So.............................................................. have Zebruh jr.

this isnt just a 2 person thing and kids will be credited to makers

disclaimer 1, reader gets written as afab here (usually she/they). your ideas of reader dont need to be influenced by this. disclaimer 2, this contains themes of human trafficking, abuse, sexual amorality, and other dark content (FOR THE PARENTS). Stop here if that is not something you should read. 18+ content, dude. disclaimer 3, poly even by troll standards. ------------------- Synopsis:

Humanity is overtaken by the Alternian Empire, humans are displaced on mass. Some luck out and remain on the planet, some become cogs in the Alternian machine, some unfortunately go into the human trade.

Many of he kids here come from the human trade, to some capacity. Its far more common for higher bloods to keep one or two humans as company. Their treatment varies.

It is very stereotypical for indigos to keep afab human company to sire progeny. And very common for seadwellers to keep humans merely as pets.

Some humans become parts of the grub-based-goods industry, often ones with/owned by lower bloods. Some retain a shaky autonomy and remain in charge of their lives Some are pushed into undesirable jobs across the empire. Some are pushed to perform for social media for the esteem of their troll owners.

Grub clutches incubated in humans are softer and more prone to duds. Lowblooded trolls can breed easily. it is likely impossible to breed past purple. Grubs from humans will be near perfect clones of troll parent except sex is not guaranteed to be the same as parent and some mutations may occur. This may result in conditions the troll parent did not have or phenotypes the troll parent does not show. -------------------

Some lead humans here: -------------------

Reader, swept into things as part of the human trade and for cosmic reasons, is auctioned off to Mallek's group of rebels. Rebels who will infiltrate auctions and attempt to win humans in order to free them. Was scared. Needed help. Eventually helps others.

Sunday, a young woman from New Mexico who had been pulled into the human trade and intentionally auctioned off at an exorbitant price to Zebruh as a dirty joke on the auction place's least favorite return-customer. Later, she will be forced to perform as a pop star as her voice is pretty decent. Actually wanted to be a parent.

Kleio, a young woman from Spain who was auctioned off to a very romantically insecure Horuss (+ to the zahhak caste in total) who at least wants someone who has no choice but to care about him. Has snacks on hand. Hazel, Art historian, retired ballet dancer, and just a tired mum. Immune to tomfoolery but will join in on it. Dancing is her love language but is besotted with what ever her husbands is trying woo her with. Chose of her free will to be an alien wife. why do the art majors and the stem majors have to fight when they can kiss? Unfortunately British They all friendships early on in different ways. Indigo galas + rebel intermingling

------------------- On to Human-Made Grubs pictured here -------------------

Reader's offspring, raised with Mallek: @3ternitymaze

Neesha Velyes- she/her An oopsie resulting from reader needing some g/d support. Has slightly wavier hair than Fozzer. Otherwise, is a decent mirror image of him as she grows. Has a neurological condition which affects her coordination. Definitely the leader. And also the oldest. If shes smiling, youre smiling. Or she'll push a smile onto that face. Strng vocabulary, not that strong of comprehension.

Emphar Maxlol- she/they A bit more deliberate. The absolute coolest kid in the hive. Chronically overcharged, too. Very much a sucker for Mallek's attention. Deeply loves all of the half siblings but wont be open about that. Family love is grody. Used to scream "NO BITE" when overcharged. "Mutated Hermod" as declared by Cirava.

Lergen Adalov- he/him Considerably more anxious than dad. Bright mind. hes just...very tired. Relies on emotional support Saturn to function. Burrito blankets all day. Wants to be a Rainbow Drinker or at least date one. Broke a lot of stuff just because he needed to know how things worked. All live between Adalovs and respective parents.

-------------------

Sunday's offspring, raised with Zebruh: @me

Zebruh "Junie" Junior- She/her A very VERY deliberately made wriggler. Dont call her Zebruh. That was a stupid decision on her dad's part. But also pretty smart because no laws prevent her from also owning everything that is his name at the same time as him. Thinks too much like her father but she actually means well. Keeps Farrus within reach for constant validation. Thinks shes the leader. Cant keep Neesha from bending her back in line. Points at earth zebras and yells "ITS GRANDPA"

Saturn Roixmr-He/him Oopsie baby. Chixie did not expect this clutch to be hers. That really was a one time thing, Sun, and she's sorry. She will love him but more like a close aunt. This is actually very beneficial to both of them. Named by Mommy Sun, hence the human name. Wants to do muscular theater. Will die if he cant help out.

Maxter Xoloto- They/them (to young in the image to understand gender, will later determine they're nonbinary) Were they an oopsie on Marvus's part? You can consider them a delayed consequence of collaboration (aka Zebruh's fault). Ankle biter grub grown up to be screaming adult. Feels rejected by clownhood and prefers to be indigo. Marvus is not absent, he is just too far away and in too dangerous of a place to raise a surprise grub. He visits. Loves his surprise kiddo. Has 0 parenting instincts and thats ok. Loves kid as much as he can. Max is insecure about it anyways. Decides to follow their parents and be a performer, too.

Due to imperial safety concerns (and genuine worry for Sunday's shaky mental health) Adalovs (and later Cirava) move into a wing of the Codakk hive early on.

------------------- Kleio's grub, raised on Zahhak ship: @3ternitymaze

Farrus Zahhak-He/him Principe no.1. His mom says so! Caste shouldn't be important but it still is. And he swears hes a reject of a reject. So he hides behind an indigo that is better in his eyes, Junie. Softer than his ancestry. Snacks a lot with Mom. Lovingly refers to the Darkleer as Abuelo. Wishes Equius was his dad. But it's Horuss. Learns how to control strength more easily since he has mentors. Will always be way too dependent on Junie and Mom. Interests beyond Mom's, Junie's, and Equius's?? what are those?

-------------------

Hazel's grubs, raised with Vikare, Kuprum, Fol, whoever Fol dates @super-stardust56

Wilbur Ratite- he/him will take apart household appliances to create his own Rube Goldberg machine. kicked out of the scouts for [restricted ] is first child and the first chair on flute.

Bronte Maxlol- they/them second child child squared Chittr artist. Is currently not take commissions They’re in the top 0.1% of Cirava's listeners will expect not criticism except from aunt Folykl ------------------- There are more, you can see the Makara twins, but that requires to much typing.

You'll see more of these kiddos, like it or not (unless if you block the tag. which is....pending). Because its fun! Maybe you have your own ideas from this. Who knows!

[yibennianyaji]

1, 3, and 11? sorry idk the names of ur story(ies) so feel free to pick :)

hmmmm let's go with the head well lost, which is a project that's both very close to finish and very very far (not many scenes left, a lot of edits etc. though)

1.) how would you describe the world your story takes place in?

it's an urban fantasy story! our world in contemporary times, except with a bunch of mythological beings like dullahans, sirens, other fae etc. existing. it's definitely far from common knowledge, with fae either trying to isolate themselves into their own communities or trying to exist in the shared common public space, but hiding who/what they are. obviously different types of fae will have easier or harder time blending in with humans. i am definitely trying to avoid the tired ~fantasy racism~ tropes though here, while still making it another facet of societal tension (even if vast majority of human is fully unaware of this tension even existing). if i absolutely had to attach a sort of metaphor to my fae, it would definitely be more oriented towards disability than race, but also. Not The Point.

3.) any recurring images/elements?

Music is a very important part of the story, heavily leaning electronic, hip-hop. Not only is the male lead, Rai, a part of an electronic pop duo and a music producer, but I also using songs and song writing/composing as an important part of the development and communication between him and Francis, the heroine. (It's also important for the side character who's the other part of the duo).

Another big recurring bit is trying to tell a big chunk of narrative, especially in the early stages, through text messages, and later also phone calls - including visual depictions of chat logs.

11.) give a general summary of the plot/world/characters.

When Francis matched with Rai on a dating app, the fact that he's half of the electronic pop duo DRYDEN should have been the most shocking part. Despite the hiccups that naturally occur when a quiet librarian and an internationally famous music producer collide, they hit it off and eventually decide to meet up. The moment Rai takes off the futuristic helmet he’s known for always wearing, he reveals to Francis his biggest secret: he is actually a Dullahan, a mythical being who has no head.

While lugging around her own emotional baggage, can Francis make a relationship work with this nice young man who also happens to be a headless pop star?

The main characters are:

Francis Lin: a 29-year-old librarian, part-time barista, and full-time cat mom. She's gone through some trials which have made her rather cynical and reserved.

Rai Brennan: already a sought-after producer and pop star at the age of 26. Confident, hard-working, and sweet, this guy is the whole package...minus a head.

Vergil Onassis: famous and beloved 27-year-old pop singer. Rai's childhood friend, he oozes sensuality and charm, but is also prone to wild swings of emotion.

Francis has three cats: Misty (the oldest of Francis's three cats. A taciturn, a-little-too-intelligent Siamese cat who bosses the other two around), Creme (the cuddly, somewhat easily frightened Himalayan. According to Francis, she is the Sweetest Cat Ever™) and Phaeton (the youngest cat of the trio, what this Cornish Rex lacks in fluff and fur, he makes up for in attitude and side-eying).

Thank you so much for asking!

The ask game in question

[mithliya]

sorry i have a kinda weird ask… (i’m 19 for reference) is age regression just thumb sucking and baby talk? or can you regress to like 6-7years old? i’m like stressing out haha because i have a lot of different ‘habits’ that make me feel better that are typically found in children. like i hug my knees when i’m upset, or hide in small spaces, or i dress kind of younger… not like a baby, but similar to how i did when i was like a 6 year old. (example sweatshirts with more kid friendly patterns, jeans with stars or flowers sewn into them, bows in my hair, the really short choppy bangs that lots of kids have, and just looking at pictures of me when i was a kid i have the exact same style now and dress basically the same) idk it’s nothing sexual or like little little- no diapers or little skirts or anything. but just small things common with kids. like i pack my lunches in those sectioned off lunch boxes made for elementary schoolers and they usually have just carrots grapes pb&j- or like juice boxes or cutting my food into squares or stars orusing a cookie cutter to shape it cute. idk this feels hard to explain but i basically just adopt a lot of habits or routines that i had back when i was like 6-7ish and i didn’t even really realize that i was doing it until about a week ago and i just feel so uncomfortable and i don’t know if i’m age regressing. does this sound like age regression? or do you think i’m just weird? i definitely did have a very traumatizing childhood and so i don’t know if it’s a response to that or if that’s just how i am.. i don’t use baby talk per say.. i sometimes kind of talk like how a kid would.. but just in my mannerisms not in the actual way it sounds. i also like to have a lot of ‘cute’ stuff - like stuffed animals or cat patterned or flower patterned or heart patterned sheets.. or coloring books but ones made for kids. stuff like that. i act normal around people, i’m very shy so i don’t really talk to anyone that i don’t already know, and my only friends are people i’ve known for years so they just already know how i am.. but still. but i don’t like act like i’m a baby.. or even a toddler …. i kind of pout sometimes but not on purpose. or like all the time if i’m upset i do something i did when i was a little kid. like i’ll play a video game i loved as a kid… or i’ll make myself a snack that i loved as a kid../ or just do something that i did when i was little to calm me down. like i don’t know there’s more but it’s hard to explain all of it. basically i don’t act like how a modern kid would (someone born in like 2016) like.. i just act almost exactly like how i did when **i** was a kid. idk if that changes anything… anyways sorry for rambling. i feel embarrassed saying this bc i know it’s weird for an adult, even a young one, to act like that.. i’m not like a perv or anything it’s not sexual. i’ve said that already but idk when ppl see age aggression a lot of the time they associate it with a sexual thing.. idk sorry i’m bad at explaining stuff. anyways does this sound like age regression or am i just weird?

if someone's age regression involved them acting like a kid from a different time than them then id jsut think they were weird or that its something else, i think its pretty normal for ur age regression to be more like.. as if ur still a child.

honestly tho from this alone, i dont know. i would think maybe youre childish but not necessarily age regressing. in my experience, when i age regress, i usually talk differently. like a dumb child or something. i also become extremely sensitive, prone to bawling, scared if someone yells or raises their voice, more childlike mannerisms. its not a constant thing for me at all, i noticed it only happens when im vulnerable in some way. if im afraid or stressed, for example. i wouldnt say ive got a childish diet or wear kids clothing, but also i dont age regress anywhere near as much as i used to as a teenager and i think it has become less and less prominent the older i got. i also dont think i get childish interests in those times either, but honestly the things i liked as a kid werent that childish anyways and i enjoy a lot of it today ? i also have a lot of plushies which when living alone i would hug them to sleep and sometimes i pout and the like but i feel like thats normal hfdhfdhs. its nothing sexual for me either and i think in general age regression is more like, a trauma thing rather than a sexual thing. the people who have made it sexual or a lifestyle thing need to be seriously evaluated esp the men that get off on that (actually the men who get off on that should die, but anyways.)

also i think doing things that u have loved since childhood isnt age regression, i feel like thats a pretty logical self-soothing tactic? i also often will go to things that are comforting to me and such things are often positive things from my childhood

[ectosys]

∵👥∴

──────────

system tag meme

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© .yellow

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keep credit

only for

did/osdd

answer each question

accordingly! you can

skip a question if you

all dont want to answer.

★BASICS★

★ how many are in your system?

↳ based on our simplyplural, 31. but i Know there are or have been others (i’m looking at you, childhood and teenage years) so i simply cannot say for sure

★ do you have a system name?

↳ yes - ecto!

★ is there anyone you consider the “host”? has there ever been one?

↳ hi that’s me! i’ve been host for like. most of our adult life good lord. though there have been many Many times over that period where another alter has kind of taken the role of host or co host for long periods of time. which brings me to:

★ if there is co-fronting, who cofronts most often? any common pairs?

↳ so like. i am usually in co. not always, i do still lose time, but frequently it’s me up here with any random other(s). as for common pairs, i think any of the folks who split near to each other tend to come around together too. some examples would be 🪴&📔, ⏱️&☄️, and any combination of 🦾/🪐/🔭 (but they’re a subsystem so that’s a little different)

★ who is the youngest member? oldest?

↳ 🐰 is the youngest. and ignoring the handful of ageless or otherwise more-than-human-lifespan-aged beings (of which there are… several), the oldest with a definite age is probably 🥀.

★ how many interpersonal bonds are there? describe one (or a few!)

↳ oh there are so many. we’ve got bffs, at least one(? possibly more?) relationship, parents and kids, defacto siblings… as well as a couple instances of “literally the same person but to the left”. it’s a mess in here

★ is anyone prone to "backseat driving?" (passive influence)

↳ the easy answer is me, because even in the rare times i’m not actually at front i am the one everyone else has to mask to be like. which, idk, is probably not what this question is asking. but the interesting answer is probably 🗡️ - he has been a co host for so long so maybe that’s why, but especially when we’re feeling intense emotion (usually anger, but not always!) it’s because he’s kicking around

★ do you have an inner world/headspace? if so, what is it like?

↳ not really :/ we don’t know how to wrap our head around it as a concept. maybe because we aren’t generally very visual thinkers? some of us have gotten snippets before but it’s like it disappears the more we front? idk i am the wrong person to ask this of 🤷🏼‍♂️

★ any introjects (fictional or factual)?

↳ BOY HOWDY DO WE. for sure a lot of fictives. no factives afaik but like. again there’s still a lot we don’t know about ourselves

★ALTERS★

★ who is the most protective?

↳ we are all somewhat protective of each other and ourselves, and we’ve got some situation specific protectors, but the most general capital p Protectors are probably 🥀, 🗡️, and 🎠

★ who is the most energetic?

↳ i have been known to be fairly high energy at times but. the ones who have the Most energy All The Time would probably be 🦋 and 💕

★ who is the most empathetic?

↳ we are super empathetic as a whole? it would be easier to point at who is less so tbh

★ who holds the most anger?

↳ oh that’s 🗡️ for sure. fun fact i personally don’t seem to be able to feel anger. annoyance, sure! but actual Anger seems reserved for him and a handful of others. brains are weird

★ describe the kids (if you have any)!

↳ (lumping some of the teens in here too) ok so

🐰: our true little. full of love and anxiety. and she loves crafts

🪐: slides 7-12. space is his favourite. candy hoarder

🪶: teen. grunge is his life. also a bird boygirl

🦋: teen. eternal scene kid. literally eternal, she’s a vampire

🎸: teen. recently resurfaced ‘00s punk ass. she LOVES green day

🎧: slides teen-young adult so he counts. music lover. homestuck introject 😂

★ who has the most issues completing tasks?

↳ oh we are the poster system for executive dysfunction Let Me Tell You. tbh it’s easier to say that 🥀 is the most put together when it comes to Getting Shit Done

★ who, if anyone, creates memory blackouts

↳ new splits often will if they end up fronting without a “buddy” lmao but as far as established alters go, 🔮 is always a blackout machine

★ are there any unusual fronters?

↳ we’ve got a fair number that are either dormant or at least haven’t been around in a hot minute - for example 🐈‍⬛, ❄️, ⚖️, 🌐, 💎, 🎨, 🏴‍☠️ and until very recently 🎸 . and then 🔮 is so internally focused to the point that we assume she’s dormant but then she just. appears at front and we remember nothing

★ is there gender/sexuality variance?

↳ yeah a fair amount! the majority of frequent fronters lean masc, but we actually are about 1/3 girls or fem aligned so it is literally all over the place. and while most of us id as queer in some way, not all do, and not all in the same way!

★ describe an, if any, inhuman alter! (or multiple!)

↳ literally a third of us (over a third?? i’m bad at math) are nonhuman in some way. afaik all at least vaguely humanoid, but we’ve got aliens and divine beings and all sorts around here

★ elegant, suave, refined. who did I just describe?

↳ 🔮 is probably the best fit. most of us are too scrungly for that. (📔 is two of them but he’s not suave lmao)

★ peaceful, brotherly, patient. who did I just describe?

↳ 🎠 i guess?? peaceful is a stretch he’s more like. tired haha

★ angry, spitfire, vicious. who did I just describe?

↳ i think 🗡️? he’s chilled on the viciousness over time but he definitely still has the ability to be. OH ACTUALLY 👢 she fits this even better. to a tee even

★ dejected, passive, tired. who did I just describe?

↳ hmmmm. 🎧 to a degree but not wholly? it’s not a great combo of adjectives for any of us really. and that’s probably a good thing!

★ free-spirited, active, protective. who did I just describe?

↳ 💕 for sure! honestly i should have included her in the protector question bc she is in her own way

★ describe another (or several more) alter(s) with three adjectives!

↳ not gonna do Everyone bc we’d be here all day but. a few more! let’s see

⛅️: (that’s me!) cloudy, canine, companionable (i also love alliteration lmao)

⚗️: clinical, experimental, severe

☄️: straightforward, motherly, adventurous

★MISC★

★ any running jokes in the system?

↳ my favourite is one that my (non system) partner takes part in. which is saying “who do you think is in there” at opportune moments (either as a way of asking if someone else is in co/fronting based on different mannerisms. or when we fixate on a new character from media or something lmao)

★ what's something you've managed to create as a team?

↳ ok this is cheesy sincerity but. our life? like. we have been aware of the system for over a decade, and we have all put in the work to understand each other and this experience better, and to work as a team. we are not a singular and that is ok. we are better for it

★ describe one of the funniest things thats happened in your system!

↳ idk if it is The funniest thing but i remember when we realized we had a fictive of one of our dnd ocs. it was like. one second one of us was vibing at front and the next suddenly this thick accented orc lady is talking out loud in the same voice we use when we play her and we were like HELLO????? anyway shoutout to 🦏 ily

★ is there any system drama?

↳ nothing to a distressing degree. we still have some folks that Really do not get along (i’m looking at you, 🥀 & ⚗️) but like. we do our best to keep the peace around here these days

★ what does switching feel like? how do you all deal with involuntary switches?

↳ switching is pretty much like. a blink. because we so often have cofronts it can be hard to spot sometimes, but we do occasionally get a Sudden one that is a little jarring. and with involuntary switches honestly… most times we just roll with it, like we Can coax certain folks to front but we generally try not to? so most switches are involuntary, ergo we are pretty used to it!

★★★ TAGGING: take this and run friends

[hanamiyama-basketball-club]

anyway bllk stage has reawakened my bllk feelings and specifically shidou has me thinking about bllk omegaverse again

(note: yes I know wolves aren't like that. that's not important bc we're not talking about wolves, we're talking about locking a bunch of aggressive teen boys in a building and shaking them up like a box of hornets)

specifically the idea that alphas are supposed to be fairly rare (also omegas but that's less relevant for this). aggressive and ambitious, prone to ending up in charge, whether it's due to some actual physical quality that's more common in alphas or just the societal expectations around alphas becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy. but if they're rare enough, and maybe if society tends to sort of ... organize itself around the belief that you should have a few alphas in a group but not a lot of them (for example: you're assigning high schoolers to classes, so once you know who's an alpha, you try to spread them out).

so any given alpha is pretty used to being the big fish in a small pond.

but of course, the characteristics that are associated with being an alpha are also the kind of thing that ego is looking for in bluelock...

(I would write alphas as being, on average, very sure that they're smarter and more athletic and charismatic than everyone else, whether or not this is measurably true. maybe it even is, on average! but if it is, it's more than balanced out by them all being absolutely unbearable to deal with and unable to work constructively in a team. yes I am imagining almost every tech CEO or sales guy I have ever worked with. the average alpha has either an MBA or a podcast)

(though also the tendency to have uncontrollable rages and emotions is uh. me tbh. yes I want to put them through that too)

so now you have a bunch of disproportionately alpha teen boys, most of whom are at the height of their alpha euphoria, all locked up together when they're rarely had to deal with anyone who's on their same level of ambition, aggression, and obnoxiousness. also probably there's a few omegas just to make the hormone soup even more toxic than it would be already, bc the only thing that could make this worse is the potential for someone to miss a day of pills and end up ground zero of a horny bomb

(basically what I want from bllk except even more on the nose)

reo especially is extremely sold on the alpha supremacy propaganda ofc. the trick mostly is to write him so that there's at least some ambiguity whether he's correct, bc the fact that he believes it feels crucial to the story.

n.b. all of this clicked together for me when reading a djs about alpha reo going hahaha everybody thinks nagi is a beta but I know that only an alpha could be that effortlessly good at things. I'm going to prove how great I am at assessing who's an alpha something something. and in the djs he was in fact correct but I really wanted him to be wrong so that's the story (nagi is an omega but he's nagi so he can't be bothered to go into heat bc that's very funny to me) (he can top too I don't care it's not like anyone's getting pregnant here anyway)

in the end the last survivor is a beta who just quietly kept practicing while everyone else was fighting each other to the death. maybe niko idk alpha niko is also a very funny idea though

[secret-engima]

Galahd worldbuilding question! How do Galahdians deal with mental illness in terms of legal culpability? Like, if someone's mental illness causes them to attack - or in worst case, kill - someone else, how would the Clans deal with that? Most mental illnesses aren't so severe, granted, but some are and that's not even getting into the accidents that can happen when you throw in trauma/ptsd. Which, given the Burning, would probably be *very common.*

....that is a really good question. Uh. Hm.

Hmmmmm.

I think they very much take it on a case by case basis? It depends on the age of the victim, the age of the *perpetrator*, and also in some cases the *mental* age of the perpetrator, as well as their past history? Kinda depends on if they are known to usually be in control of themselves or if they've always had a history of being prone to violent fits? As well as if they can be considered mentally old enough to understand what they've even done, depending on- you know- whatever kind of mental illness they have. I ... do not know a lot about mental illnesses so idk what all goes into it and the sheer breadth of symptoms and reactions so this is a very hard question for me.

Overall, for the more severe cases or cases that cropped up in children (or those who are just- not mentally close to adults despite body), they're given a sort of pass? It is considered more morally reprehensible to punish or Exile someone who has multiple people vouching for their inability to understand what they've done or control whatever caused the incident (that and arguably leaving them unsupervised out there is just asking for more people to get hurt). In the event that it's decided the mentally ill person can't be held responsible, that responsibility and punishment instead falls on their primary caretaker most of the time, the one who should have known better/done better at keeping things running smoothly.

Of course if it turns out the victim triggered the incident despite warnings to the contrary, the victim or the victim's family are made to pay reparations instead. Galahdians are big on the "if you poke it with a stick and it bites you, you deserve it" mentality.

In cases of people who *are* mentally adult and/or have demonstrated a better ability to hold themselves accountable in the past, then the punishment does fall squarely on them. And like- depending on if the victim was just hurt, they likely won't be Exiled? Held legally responsible and punished somehow yes, but not banished.

For mental illnesses like Bipolar ... syndrome? (forgive me if that's not what it's called), they are held a lot more legally culpable, because Galahdians actually have a surprising number of *medications* for stuff like anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc etc. At least back before the Burning. In ancient tradition, someone who demonstrated signs of mental illness was taken to the nearest Temple of Ramuh, where they would be watched and prayed over for several days and nights by the Clan Elders and healers. And because Ramuh is a softie for his kids and also doesn't really do obedience to Bahamut in all but name, those Elders and healers tended to have very vivid dreams of gathering specific ingredients in the jungle and preparing them in certain ways to give to the patient.

Yes I am saying that Ramuh spoils his kids enough that Galahdians invented their own form of mental health medications and practices long before Lucis and Niflheim stopped trying to whack the problem out of their own patients heads with a sometimes literal stick.

Not to say Galahdians didn't used to do that, but prayer and vivid medicine recipe dreams rapidly proved more effective, and those recipes could be written down and exchanged between Clans to help others so ultimately that won out.

Of course the majority of those recipes went out the *window* with the Burning, so there was a resurgence in problems managing/helping with those things when they got to Insomnia and Insomnia's very confusing healthcare system. And of course ptsd was an entire extra problem no one needed.

There are probably more than a few functioning alcoholics in the Galahdian sector of slums, just because at least they know what's in alcohol over the extremely confusing science names slapped on all the mainlander medications.

....I got off topic but does that answer your question?

[rottingflovver]

Random relationship headcanons for the Decay of Angels boys!!

I love my evil husbands, enjoy this trainwreck

Fyodor Dostoevsky 🐁

Oh God. He smells like…a sewer rat

I'm not even joking like he probably smells unpleasant (not to the point where it's noticeable tho, only if you're really close to him)

If he's feeling fancy he'll throw on some cologne but don't bet on it

Hair is also really greasy

He scarcely eats but he's a big fan of sweet food (think ice cream and baked stuff) and trad. Russian food

Please for the love of God force this man to eat

He'll forget to eat + drink on a daily basis because he gets so caught up in work, how is he even still alive

Did I mention he also doesn't sleep

HOW is he canonically one of the smartest people yet he does stuff like this fr

If he trusts you (Lord knows how you'll achieve that) and he's tired (as per usual) he won't be opposed to the thought of just downright collapsing onto you

You'll rarely see this man anyhow, but when you do he'll just be sleeping

What a great boyfriend am I right (It's okay he needs the rest, plus patting his hair as he sleeps is kinda nice)

I believe his favorite places to have dates at are his or your apartment

Away from the public eye; just the two of you, alone

He can play his cello for you!

He'd encourage you to try it out as well, but you'd be so terror stricken by the thought of what he'd do to you if you broke it somehow that you just...would rather pass

I doubt he'd ever actually hurt you tho; yes, he's extremely distrustful and arguably heartless, but if you haven't done anything to insinuate you want to betray him…he'll be tame

Also, did I MENTION how cold he is

Maybe that's why he wears winter clothes in such warm weather ㅡ cuz otherwise he'd just freeze to death

Warm him up pls

Although he's not used to just casual physical contact so when you start holding his hands to warm them up he'll look at you like "??? Do you want to die??"

Once you explain it to him he's like "Oh"

His giant ego won't let him express it but know that he appreciates it

Also, this is a given, but Fyodor is extremely manipulative so you'll never really be sure if his feelings are sincere or not

Nikolai Gogol 🤡

I had to Google "what do clowns smell like" for this aye-

The answer: apparently cabbages and cotton candy

I really like that idea so I'm sticking with it xhsjhx, Nikolai smells like either cabbages or cotton candy; no in-between

Loves piroshki!!! Any kind!!! For reference; piroshki are small boat-shaped buns which can be both sweet and savory, as it depends on the filling (most common fillings include: ground meat, mashed potato, mushrooms, boiled egg with scallions, or cabbage. Typical sweet fillings are fruit (apple, cherry, apricot, lemon), jam, or quark)

Why did I just give a small piroshki lesson

Anyhow, yes, that's his favorite food so pls buy a lot of them for him (if you make them yourself he'll be so deeply touched, but be careful, he tends to see positive emotions towards someone as brainwashing)

Is he a bad cook??? Is he a good cook??? Does he just simply steal everything via coat and make it seem like he's the one that made it?? We don't know

His favorite places to have dates at are carnivals or theaters

He loves theaters so much omg

I have a feeling that if you told him he'd make a great actor he'd just evaporate out of joy

And he WOULD make a great one tho?? This man got talent

I'd imagine you're pretty much the only person he would ever open up to regarding the insane amount of guilt he feels

(Yet again, be careful, he's very unpredictable when it comes to people he grows fond of)

Do comfort him if he ever breaks down tho, please

Sleeping together? With this man? It's a wild experience

He moves around so much

He's also prone to night terrors (like I said, insane amounts of guilt) so if he ever stops moving you should probably wake him up, cuz that's a nightmare so horrible he just froze in place

Give him hug

Sigma 🎲

Sigma smells nice no cap

It's a mix of lavender and mint

Don't ask how that works it just does

I think he'd be the type to like any kind of food as long as it's lovingly made

He has no standards but at the same time he has extremely strict standards y'know

There's nothing specific he likes but if he likes it then he Likes It

He gets called a rock musician and people say he looks "alternative" when he's literally walking around in a suit but I digress

He'd let you do his makeup

I'd say he'd even encourage it

(Give him a punk rock alternative makeover lmao)

Also, to no one's surprise, his favorite place to have dates at is the Sky Casino

It's his home! He's proud of it!!

Please be proud of him as well it would mean the world to him

He's so cheesy, he'll stay stuff like "I feel most at peace with you, you are my home", and then get super embarrassed

If you smile fondly at him and say you like him just the way he is, cheesy remarks and all, you will be charged with murder because this man will DIE

He's so confused when it comes to a lot of stuff

Like he once asked "is interesting an emotion" and NO ONE answered him (poor bb :() but like be prepared for a lot of questions like that

Take your time and explain it to him, he'll be so grateful

Ngl, out of these 3, he's the best option bc he's not unreachable (cough cough Fyodor) and doesn't strive for emotional freedom so much that he'd kill whoever he grows attached to (cough cough Nikolai)

Soft husband

A little bit clingy but can you really blame him

Just be there for him, it'll be alright

Ivan Goncharov (bonus!) 🤕

He's in the Rat House not the DOA but I wanted to include him

(We stan Ivan in this house)

He's completely devoted to Fyodor

Idk how you'd ever even strike a conversation with him given he's constantly by the rat man's side

I'd imagine you'd have to be either a past friend (which I doubt he'd welcome) or an underling of Fyodor as well

Either way, please be kind to him

I think his devotion to Fyodor is a LITTLE bit unhealthy so if possible just draaag him away from that (will be very difficult to do)

He smells nice, like an expensive brand of shampoo and conditioner

I'd imagine his hair is really soft too, he'll gladly let you play with it

Braid it!! He'll look so pretty!!

BE GENTLE with the wound on his head, Fyodor isn't a professional surgeon, so even though the incision itself was a success he didn't really patch it up correctly

Just be gentle with it, if possible, take him to the hospital to get it checked out

He loves classical music!!

Expect to hear that playing in the background a lot

If you start helping him with the chores (like making tea and cleaning) at first he'll think of it as an insult to his ability, but after a while it'll grow on him

He'll learn to appreciate the little things

If you have any kind of favorite dish; he'll be frequently making just that

Likewise, if you ever request for something different, you'll get it made perfectly, just for you

A good, happy boye, deserves better

[lipstickmata]

FANDOM SPELUNKING

(or, what can fandom/fanfic tell you horribly about your own psyche)

I wanted to share what was introduced to me as "fandom spelunking", which is an Ao3 exploration my bestie-since-childhood @dragunovka taught me — so here is a very VERY extremely rough overview.

I like fandom spelunking because it arguably gives one an impression/overview of the general psyche of a fandom (at least those who write and read).*

Here's how you do it:

HOW TO GO FANDOM SPELUNKING (ON AO3)

1. Find a fandom.

2. Look at the top relationships.

3. Look at the top genres.

4. Look at the top custom tags

5. Otherwise explore

6. Draw your very unscientific conclusions!!

I got really interested in this lately for a few reasons, including:

i've been noticing how the favored themes of fandoms spilling over onto my dash differed from my own preoccupations

an ongoing discussion with my sisters, husband, cousins, friends etc. about one's essential Romance Template** (or I guess Relationship Template if you don't have a romance one)

the general just overlap of my own interests and others interested in the same thing — like why if you like A are you almost certainly prone to like B? What's in common between them? What resonates?***

My sister revisiting a particular favorite media from her youth, and us discussing the interplay between her life and what happened/was explored in the story

i'm extremely busy and stressed and so this suddenly became the most interesting thing to me

I think that essentially I am interested in what resonates with people and why, and what does this tell us?****

And what, if we examine the story itself that resonates — as well as the stories fans create — can we tell about the demographic or person that is attracted to that story?

For example, in one or two fandoms, it seems like hurt/comfort or otherwise tending-to is a common theme of fics. Why is this, exactly? (And I mean more than like "why are these types of stories appealing.")

For another example, in one of my sisters' fave media (which is a tiny fandom from pre-internet-boom days so it was easy to scan, and whose media features a very sweet if very horny werewolf), here was the general fic breakdown (and I quote from texts haha):

"75% stories ultimately about navigating everyday life and marriage/true happiness / exploring what it is to build a life together when you’re both a lil odd

25% stories driven I think by girls coming to terms with fear of/fascination with male sexuality haha which is like par for the course I imagine for hetero werewolf romance stories"

To which she was like "oh that's just my subconscious" haha.

For another example, as my friend pointed out, one of her fandoms has a commonly explored theme of like "these people are fine and competent separately but as romantic prospects they share one (1) brain cell", which doesn't map over to what I find in mine.

Basically we're fascinated by the questions (some of which I'm stealing from my friend who is way more data- and science-minded than I am):

Why do so many people's fandoms overlap?

Why are there certain themes in fandoms/fics that are much more rare in others?

Why are we all drawn to these things??

What (if anything) can fic and art themes tell us about the general psychological make up of fans of XYZ?

How do fans flow from fandom to fandom?

Do previous fandoms affect current ones (like, do fans just impose all of their favorite tropes onto the new media, or is it more flexible? Are they coming to the new fandom because it's fertile ground for those tropes? So many questions!

What are the stories/templates you frame your life around and why, and do you find similar themes in fandom? Does this interact or is it affected by socioeconomic status or other demographic points?

Anyways that's a LOT but I can't stop thinking about it.

If y'all have any thoughts or theories — or other ways you're "spelunking" including actual research you're doing — please please let me know!

*as unscientific one as can be! one of the many reasons i left academia is that i much prefer making sweeping declarations through force of will over proving anything or showing my work.

** to be explored in another post

*** i got fascinated by this years ago when all my david bowie blogs i followed also became hannibal blogs. also so like the likelihood of someone who digs thranduil the elf king also digging say lucius malfoy and jareth the goblin king is very high, and there feels like there's something more to that than "idk i just dig magic blond icy haughty jerks". (are these my own issues? yes obviously. do i have a good working theory about this? also yes but that's probs more for my therapist than here.)

**** my hellish thesis was more or less about this (see single asterisk)