#if you put a character in 'you should be burned at the stake' it means you want me. btw. it means youre seething in jealousy. joke

[caracello]

iddont have the energy to engage in thsi trend rn but just for the record if i made a tier list itd look like this

[s-aint-elmo]

digging out the eah content i created in a frenzy during last year’s summer of obsession part 1: my personal sapphic multishipping guide (created to explain to my friends which of these dolls i think should hold hands)

(more in-depth discussion of the ships below the cut)

the polycule that will take over ever after

kitty/lizzie; kitty/maddie; maddie/lizzie

self-explanatory. frequently purchased together do not separate. bonus shoutout to maddie canonically giving kitty a little kissie on the cheek and getting off scot-free in the books though. a wonderlandiful world was a banquet to me

cedar protection squad

once again a wonderlandiful world and once upon a time i owe you my life. kitty ESP being so adamant abt not giving a shit then turning around and fucking up those boys who were mean to cedar...... i love friendship

kitty/cerise

also self-explanatory. she was a catgirl she was a wolfgirl can i make it anymore obvious. also doribuki’s phenomenal fake dating fanfic....... transformative foundational transcendental

cerise/raven

YOU MUST UNDERSTAND. i entered eah a rapple shipper and exited the book series ready to burn at the stake for cerise/raven. book two was SO MUCH. it had everything. raven befriending cerise despite her attempts to isolate herself. texting in class. winking at each other. raven meeting the parents and hearing embarrassing baby cerise stories. cerise putting it all on the line to save raven. i’m ambivalent about shadow high but cerise gets literally one (1) mention and it’s in raven’s internal monologue wherein she equates cerise’s hood w feelings of warmth and safety. like how was that in any way necessary. i rest my case 

raven & maddie

self-explanatory as well. dabesties. the ride or dies. it means so much to me that raven always has a friend in maddie no matter how many clowns and jokers (derogatory) treat her like the antichrist. maddie the character ever

raven/apple

WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN. the gelphie dynamic is a classic and i am EXTREMELY vulnerable to it. they are THE ship and i will pay my respects to the end of time. i am a big fan of how they trade their roles throughout the franchise and how rich the drama and history are between them. it’s pure fucking poetry.

raven/darling

TBH. a serve. the only thing juicier than evil queen/damsel in distress is evil queen/princess charming. big big fan of darling giving raven the five star princess treatment after a lifetime of being feared and shunned and vilified. equally big fan of raven’s momentous act of rebellion giving darling the courage to be true to herself. ALSO. the absolute archetype-subversion slay of the Pure-Hearted Hero(TM) confronting the Mistress of Evil(TM) and dropping their sword. looking through the smoke and mirrors and the will of Fate itself to see the girl who has wanted nothing but to be kind beneath. swearing their heart and soul and sword to the one true good they have found. picture it. i can almost see the 100-word drabble

raven/apple/darling

now THIS is just THE fairytale couple. the evil queen, the damsel in distress and the princess charming ALL holding hands and riding off into the sunset together. dappling on its own doesn’t do it for me but raven in the mix just makes everything gel perfectly. she’s the tomato in the ratatouille the cornstarch in the spring roll water, etc etc

darling/holly

this is one of those ships where i read a really convincing fic and the more i thought of it the more it just made sense. like they'd read swashbucklers and tales of courtly love together. holly would 100% write a darling placeholder in her self-insert romance fanfic pre-relationship as a way to express her feelings. darling would 100% find out and gently pull her out of the pit of sheer mortification she drilled into the ground to escape. also the height difference is a thing of beauty

safe from the polycule

duchess/poppy

they have one singular episode to their name and it was enough. it was Everything. the dynamic you can extrapolate from that one single interaction is so incredibly appealing to me. duchess’s bitchiness belied by her palpable air of vulnerability coming up against poppy’s spine of steel tempered by her skill in gaining perspective. poppy can challenge duchess into being a better person and duchess can be poppy’s character flaw like idk she just has shit taste in women that was the price she had to pay to be moisturized and unbothered by destiny. i just think they have the potential to be the unexpected, inexplicable power couple of eah

briar/faybelle

do i even need to say anything they had a whole movie to make their case. they’re rapple if rapple got their shit together before armageddon, with the bonus of a potential curse-breaking true love’s kiss for the fanfic authors to thrash between their teeth. truly unlimited. also unlike rapple where raven is 100% against being a villain and therefore it’s apple who has to do the mental gymnastics to open herself to the possibility of a relationship w raven, faybelle is just chomping at the bit to make her momma proud and presents a compelling perspective for the whole “falling in love w your fated nemesis” thing

blondie/cupid

they are icons, they are legends, and they ARE the moment. these two are so chaotic individually, what with blondie’s criminal skillset and habit of menacing innocent woodland creatures and cupid’s matchmaking powers combined w her shitty aim, that putting them together can only mean good things. there’s this whole element of their shared passion as public figures who at their best seek the truth and guide others through matters of the heart respectively that’s always interesting as a point of irony/obstacle when they start catching feelings and have to decide what to do with them. their joint youtuber/podcaster slay can level nations

[psiroller]

My Boy (We Don't See Each Other Much)

a third fic request from unkat has reached me for some gamer au shenanigans. cool, i thought, nice low stakes goofin off fun time au. lets put some military industrial complex in there

cw: institutionalized homophobia, vague references to USAmerican military operations in the 2000's, gamer lingo

The raid was a resounding success by their guild's lax standards. Chilchuck managed to pull a rare light armor piece he'd been looking for, finally catching him up to the modern game; he was surprised by how much damage the standard grinding mobs were doing to him now, even if his defense was always going to be lower than the tanks and fighters he partied with. Laios landed the biggest critical hit he'd ever seen; the broadsword Chilchuck nabbed for him off the Auction House was working well for him. He was clearly still riding the high, humming the victory fanfare under his breath as he took inventory and milled about with Senshi, comparing the ingredients they’d collected, trading amongst themselves. It was late, though, close to Senshi’s prep hours. Marcille was fighting against the cozy lethargy that followed a glass of wine and swiftly losing. Falin had already logged out to take a shower and head to bed, stopping by Laios’ door for a hug goodnight.

Laios went right back to the desktop after he shut the door. He pulled his headset back on and heard the familiar sound of Chilchuck’s raspy inhale and then a long, satisfied exhale.

“Chilchuck!” Laios said, too eagerly. “You’re still up?”

“No, I’m fast asleep,” Chilchuck drawled. Laios snorted and threw a rock at Chilchuck’s head. It passed through harmlessly; neither of them wanted the hassle of dedicated PVP. Maybe Laios wasn’t as keen on roleplaying as Marcille and Falin were, but the roleplaying server had been a lot kinder to him than the standard ones he usually played on.

“You were right about the sword,” Laios tittered. “I really have to start doing the math instead of just looking at bigger numbers—uh, focusing on how sharp the blade is, I mean.”

Chilchuck coughed through a laugh, leaning away from the mic so that it didn’t blow Laios’ eardrums out. “I think some of the guides are a little out of date,” Chilchuck said, relaxed enough to drop character. Marcille was still nearby, though the AFK symbol appeared under her name; the elf she played nodded off, ears drooping.  “Critical chance used to be calculated with this really convoluted system that also included timers, so there were only so many crits you could get in the span of a few minutes,” he went on. “They updated it recently so that you roll for a critical every hit.”

“Oh, thank God,” Laios said. “On a timer? How long did raids use to take?”

“Oh, upwards of four hours.” Chilchuck said casually. Laios sputtered. “I know, I know. I guess people had more free time back then… though with how people run multiple raids a night now, I guess it’s down to how committed you are.”

“So critical hit percentage is the thing I should focus on, then.”

“For your build, yeah.”

“Why does everyone recommend focusing on damage per second?”

“It’s a recent change, I think it got pushed out just before you signed up. They’ve tweaked it a lot, so people tend to get confused on how it works now, as it gets buffed and nerfed. Attack and attack speed used to be connected to the same value, so there are other ways you can focus on dealing damage instead of just right clicking the dragon and watching one of twelve timers tick down.” Chilchuck smiled and took another drag. “I think they’re trying to freshen things up a little. I like the changes.”

“Really? Everyone in the forums talks about how much they hate it.”

“If they’re old enough to be using the forums, they’re old enough to hate their favorite thing changing,” Chilchuck laughed.

“But not you,” said Laios. There was a warmth there that Chilchuck didn’t see a reason for.

“Eh.” Chilchuck’s ears burned under his headset. “Maybe a little bit. They don’t make shooters like they used to.” There was a pause. “Oh, right, you don’t like those.”

“Just the super hoo-rah military ones,” Laios breathed. “I can do Team Fortress 2. That one’s pretty fun.”

“Oh! I play that with—a friend, sometimes,” Chilchuck stammered. “Do you… I’m still kind of wired. I got a day off tomorrow. Do you—”

“Yeah!” His mic clipped. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

“Wait, you don’t have a test tomorrow or anything, do you?”

“… No.”

“I don’t like that hesitation.”

Laios huffed and puffed and logged out of Dungeon Divers with little warning, but usernames were exchanged and soon Laios’ avatar (a dragon, what else) popped up in Chilchuck’s scant friend list, nestled between Dan and May.

“I didn’t think you’d be cool enough to play TF2,” Laios teased.

“Cool people play TF2? I thought it was all screaming toddlers.”

“There are a few of those, yeah,” Laios admitted.

“I played the original game. It was a lot different. I don’t really keep up with it these days, but…”

“No worries,” Laios chirped. “I’ll take care of you.”

Chilchuck felt something zip down his spine. “I’m not that bad.”

They played three matches with the usual late night crowd, and it was a miracle if Chilchuck could stay alive for longer than a minute or two, let alone get a kill. Laios, on the other hand, clawed up every scoreboard and sat at the top. He started with Sniper; Chilchuck followed him while waiting for his respawn timer to run out, flicking between first and third person views. He watched as opponents’ heads would pop like grapes the moment they touched Laios’ reticle, faster than Chilchuck’s eyes could tell his brain to move his fingers.

“Okay, maybe I’m pretty bad,” Chilchuck admitted. “Compared to you.”

Laios missed a shot and sputtered. “I’m concentrating…!” A Spy knifed him, and Chilchuck could hear Laios whack his mouse against the table in frustration. Chilchuck laughed.

“Relax, that’s your first one this round,” he teased. “Your reflexes are crazy. Maybe I’m getting too old for twitchy games like this.”

“The mechanics have changed a lot and all the tryhards are on,” Laios conceded, breathing out the annoyance. “I’ll switch to Heavy. Wanna be my Medic? I can keep more of an eye on you.”

Chilchuck sniffed at his demotion to pocket healer, but then at least he’d be getting assist kills. “Alright, fine.”

Many assist kills were had, and all was well. It was fun to watch Laios’ brain work, bobbing and weaving and jumping around. He played like May did, hyperfocused on the movement mechanics; Chuck’s wrists weren’t any good for that anymore, so he usually hung back to support anyway.

“So why TF2 and not Call of Duty?” Chilchuck asked between matches, lighting another cigarette in search of the now-elusive nicotine buzz. “Seems like you’re really good. You could probably go pro if you wanted.”

Chuck heard a rustling against the mic. Sounded like Laios fiddling with the thing, maybe rubbing his face. He heard a scratch of stubble.

“Eh. I just—don’t like the military aesthetic very much, or something,” Laios mumbled. “I, uh. I served, and it’s a little…”

Chilchuck coughed. “You served? As in, served in the army?”

“Yeah.” There was a chuckle from the other line. “What? Is it that surprising?”

“Well, you just never…” Chuck scratched at the nape of his neck. “You never said anything that made me think… I don’t know what I thought. You didn’t seem like the type.”

“That’s because I’m not,” Laios snorted. “I was a good shot, but not a good soldier, if that makes any sense?”

Chuck wet his dry lips and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t lock into the next game, and the queue dumped them out. Laios didn’t reset it.

“So you objected? Conscientious objection? Is that what it’s called?”

“That’s what it’s called, but uh… it takes a while to get that done if you enlisted voluntarily. You have to plead your case for it. I thought about it, but I didn’t get the chance.”

Chilchuck swallowed dryly, then tapped some ash out into the ceramic tray Patty made for him many Father’s Days ago. “So you were kicked out?”

“Discharged, yeah,” Laios sighed. His chair creaked as he leaned back, too. “Other than honorable.”

Chuck winced. “What did you do?”

There was that rustling again. “I, um. If you don’t ask, I don’t have to tell you.”

“Oh, uh. Sorry, I”—Chilchuck’s eyes went wide—"ohhh.”

“Yeah.”

“Seriously? They booted you over a thing like that?”

Laios laughed weakly. “It’s in the regulations.”

“Still? When there’s, like, five wars going on?”

“Yep. I got a little pamphlet about it and everything. It’s rarer these days, and most people now get let off with an honorable, but…” Laios sighed. “My case was a whole thing. I didn’t fit in great with the rest of my platoon to begin with, and I maybe… I maybe misread some signals. You get bored out there, you know. Lonely. Got a little too close to my bunky…” Laios cleared his throat. “He let me down easy, but I guess he said something to somebody. I don’t think he’d go straight to the brass, he told me he wouldn’t, but someone must have overheard and that counts as credible evidence, so…”

Laios popped his lips with a click of his tongue. Chilchuck was frozen, ashes falling from the end of his cigarette into the crevices of his already dirty keyboard. The cigarette had almost burned down to the filter; money burning up in unsmoked nicotine. “I was probably going to leave anyway,” Laios said, to fill the silence. “I didn’t like being out there. If anything it kept me from being stupid and going AWOL. But if you talk to the VA—or my dad, heh—I  might as well have.”

Laios wheezed. Chilchuck blinked some smoke out of his eyes and stubbed out his cigarette.

“Hang on, you were on active duty and they’re hassling you at the VA over healthcare?”

“Oh yeah. Anything less than a general discharge is going to get you some hassle. I’m still on general health insurance, lowest tier. I’m not on TRICARE.”

Chilchuck pinched the pressure point between his eyebrows. “There’s gotta be a way to appeal that.”

“There might be. But I’ve spent about 40 hours of my life on the phone with them since I got back, and I’m not keen on spending anymore.” Laios made a blech sort of noise, disgusted, a little childish. “I hate phone calls. Besides, they gave me some money for college, so it wasn’t a complete wash.”

“Small miracles,” Chilchuck mumbled.

“Yup,” Laios breathed. He drummed his fingers on his desk, loud enough to reach the mic. Then there were a couple rhythmic bongo slaps against the table, nervous. “Ready for another game?”

Chuck looked at his watch. It was 4:32 AM.

“Sure. Night’s still young,” he said, for lack of anything comforting to say. “Play Heavy again.”

“Okay,” Laios said, and there was a smile in his voice. So that was something.

[itspointydumbass]

My Problems With Veilguard

I've put up a lot of positivity, but I'm getting further in and I have. Issues. Under the cut because not everyone is gonna want to read negativity.

I don't know how to explain it, but getting further into Veilguard, I still like it, but it's just like. I don't know. It's fine. It's fun. But I don't feel satisfied the way I wanted to. There's a lot of lore I feel is missing, a lot of loose ends that aren't getting tied up because they only carried over, like, three of my choices. The more I'm playing the more I feel like I should be wearing a full clown outfit because I waited ten years for this game and the moments that make me feel something (which I've posted about - Minrathous vs. Treviso, Bellara's backstory etc.) are getting outnumbered by intense disappointment. There's a lot of backpedalling going on here and yet I still feel like I need to defend it because the problems with this game have very little to do with being "woke" like some people are claiming. I have to be 20x more invested in this game than I actually am because a lot of the comments are just wah wah it's woke and that. Isn't the problem.

The romances feel bland. I enjoy slow-burn, but it's going at an absolute glacial speed, and it's actually painful.

I barely feel connected to any of the characters. They all got these really interesting introductions, only to fall flat on their faces and be pretty bland from there on out. I think part of the reason is that you can't talk to them out of your Regularly Scheduled Cutscenes. In Inquisition and Origins, you were able to have these off-the-cuff conversations that made the world feel more real and lived-in. You could ask questions of your companions, could agree with them, could disagree with them, could gain or lose approval from your chats. In this game, outside the cutscenes, all you get is them talking to each other. Rook is a spectator to their chats, and it makes me feel disconnected from them.

I'm being handheld through certain parts of the story. Taash's story has so much potential, but at this point I feel like I'm being spoon-fed explanations. Instead of working through a character's story, I'm being told what non-binary means. Over and over again. Again, there's so much potential! Their relationship with their mother, with their culture, with their gender could have been handled so well, but so far it's falling flat.

I know not everyone likes the dialogue wheel, but I always have. Maybe it's the neurodivergence in me, but give me too many choices and I start to agonise a little. I like the fact they've brought back the DA2-style Purple!Hawke sort of responses. I like still having things from Inquisition, like the sad responses and the stoic responses and so on and so forth. Gives a bit more personality to Rook. But some of the replies are just... the same reply in different fonts? Is it just me? Like. Huh???????????

The stakes. Every time the tension gets ramped up, it somehow manages to fall flat again. I'm left with a feeling of that's it? every. Single. Time.

I don't know. I just feel very little need to continue with the game. It's been out for more than two weeks and I still haven't finished it. I've played Stardew Valley 1.6 more than I've played Veilguard. And I'm really pissed because I WANT to like it more. I want to feel more than this is fine about a series I really, really love. But I felt more connected to ANDROMEDA than this. Andromeda had issues, but it wasn't pacing issues and it wasn't nearly as. Just. Dull.

I don't know. Ten years, folks. Ten years.

[marlequinncos]

Now that HOTD Season 2 is over, I have a lot of thoughts about what has transpired. Full disclosure: I basically wrote an essay, so long post ahoy! I have read the book, meaning there are a couple book spoilers in here along with show spoilers. Also: there are all my personal opinions, so you may agree or disagree.

The Good

The show is beautifully shot and the cinematography is excellent. We've gotten some really gorgeous shots this season.

The dragons look great, they're animated well, and I like how we can really see their different personalities and their relationships with their riders.

The acting is solid pretty much across the board. Folks like Emma D'Arcy, Matt Smith, and Olivia Cooke are excellent as usual. The standout for me this season, though, is Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon. He's thoroughly fleshed out his character and given him some really interesting shading and depth and I really enjoy watching him on-screen.

Some excellent new additions to the cast! Ser Simon Strong is a national treasure, Gwayne Hightower is a mood, Alys Rivers is who I aspire to be in life, and the Hull brothers are both interesting (especially their dichotomy) and they better show more with them as per the book.

Rook's Rest gave us our first real dragon battle of the show, and I thought it was really well done. I was concerned that it would be the kind of fight that's hard to follow visually, but it was clean and worked nicely. I also love that they made Aemond torching Aegon a conscious choice.

The costumes are, once again, beautiful.

The embroidery title sequence kicks a lot of ass, and I like how they're adding to it with major events.

I do really like how they've made Helaena a dreamer (which they started in season 1) and how she's a tragic Cassandra figure. However, I do have some issues with her that I'll talk about later.

The Red Sowing was done well. I was hoping we were going to see some people get incinerated to really underscore how dangerous claiming a dragon can be, and that did not disappoint.

Little Oscar Tully verbally suplexing Daemon through an announcer's table was everything I've ever wanted.

I really like the relationship between Rhaenyra and Alicent. That said, I think there are some real issues with the writing that I'll discuss below.

Big fan of them putting Tyland Lannister in Situations.

Aemond committing war crimes and serving cunt as ye olde Sephiroth. 10/10 no notes.

While I do think the tripping balls in Harrenhall arc went on for far too long, I like how the show is leaning into the magic of the world with the weirwoods and insane visions of the past, present, and future.

Women kissing

The Bad

The pacing. Listen, I like a slowburn (one of my favorite horror movies is The Witch which many people find boring), but the slow pacing has to build to something, and this entire season felt like it was just build-up with no payoff. Last season ended with a consequential event (death of Luke), and this season began with another (Blood and Cheese), yet I don't feel like those events have managed to push the plot forward. Even Rook's Rest, which seemed like we were finally getting the ramp up to all-out war that's been teased for one and a half seasons due to Aegon being burned and Rhaenys dying, didn't really ramp up the stakes. We're still waiting for the war, and it feels like Season 2 was just a giant teaser for Season 3 rather than a stepping stone of the whole story. Think of it this way: season 1 ended with a build-up to the war and yet somehow this season also ended as a build-up to the war. It doesn't feel like progress was made; we're essentially in the same spot. The season should have ended with either the taking of King's Landing or the Battle of the Gullet.

Blood and Cheese. There is a reason this event lives in infamy for book readers. It's essentially the Red Wedding of the Dance of Dragons, because of how truly heinous and horrifying of an event it is. But the show toned it down a lot, and I think that was a mistake. Not to mention the fact that the death of Aegon's heir, who was a literal child, only seemed to be an issue for about an episode, and then everyone kind of forgot about it. Frankly, I don't like how the deaths of Luke, Jaehaerys, and Rhaenys were somewhat glossed over other than an episode of some characters being sad. Those deaths should have reverberated with long-ranging consequences and I don't feel like that's the case.

The writing. It's just not as good this season. Yes, I know the writer's strike probably affected it, but still. The conversations are nowhere near as engaging or interesting as they were in season 1, and I'm someone who loves dialogue scenes of political intrigue. I also think some of the character decisions they've made don't work. The biggest issue I have in that regard is with Rhaenyra. I don't actually hate the scene in the Sept (even though I think it is kind of silly how Rhaenyra managed to sneak into KL without being detected), because I like how they establish that Alicent knows that was wrong in her assumption about Aegon and yet she doubles down and they both realize that war is now inevitable even if it all began because of a misunderstanding. But book Rhaenyra is both far more active and ruthless than her show counterpart. There's a reason they call her "Maegor with teats". I thought we were getting some of that "warrior queen Visenya" Rhaenyra during the Red Sowing episode, but the fact is that she's spent most of the season trying to decide on a course of action and trying to do everything peacefully. She should have thrown that out the window after her conversation with Alicent in the Sept. It's especially weird considering she ended season 1 out for blood for the death of Luke. I feel like the writers are afraid that having her sometimes make nasty decisions will make her unlikeable to the general audience. But by doing that, they've also reduced this fascinating woman into a shell of who she should be. Look at Dany and Cersei from GOT; both of them were women in positions of power who did not hesitate to make (sometimes bad) decisions and/or commit horrible acts to further their goals and guess what: for the most part, the audience liked them! Give me "blood and fire" Rhaenyra! Support women's wrongs! Make characters morally grey! LET WOMEN BE AWFUL!!

I also think that the writing is doing Alicent a disservice. They really don't know what to do with her, and its a shame because Olivia Cooke is great. She just feels rudderless to me.

It really looks like the show is cutting Nettles entirely and giving her plot to Rhaena and I don't like this choice. Nettles is an amazing character in her own right, and her relationship with Daemon is key for him to start changing his Targaryen supremacist worldview and for his arc as a whole. Plus, this takes away the significance of Rhaena and Morning at the conclusion of the Dance.

While I like Helaena being a dreamer, they need to give her more screen time and dialogue. Girl had almost nothing to do this season.

I wish we had seen more of Jace and Cregan in the North and the Pact of Ice and Fire. Not saying we need 20 minutes of that, but 5 would have been nice.

I like the idea of that big vision of the future in the finale, but knowing how GOT ended does soften the impact quite a bit. And I don't love that Daemon and Aemond kind of already know their fates?? That's definitely going to hurt their arcs going forward.

The season should have been 10 episodes. Having it be only 8 really messes with the pacing of the story. Not loving the 2 year breaks between seasons either.

The "Let's Wait and See"

Aegon said that Sunfyre is dead. I really hope he's wrong about that because boy howdy that will have major plot implications if Sunfyre really is dead.

DAERON REAL. It would have been nice if he had been mentioned in season 1 and actually seen in season 2, but at least we know he exists and isn't a cryptid. Hopefully we finally get to see him in action in season 3 because poor dude has just been implied for two whole seasons.

I hope we see more of the book's excellent side characters like Black Alys, Benjicot Blackwood, and Sabitha Frey (who we did technically see briefly, but if you're a book reader, you know what I'm talking about). I'd also like to see more Cregan.

Overall, I think the season was a mixed bag. I hope season 3 fixes some of the issues with pacing and writing, because they have a great cast and a show that looks beautiful.

[animusicnerd]

Every time I read another fantasy book with faeries, I die a little inside and not in a good way.

Anyway, let’s talk about some faery lore I found and probably will incorporate into my Lilia story out of spite and because I like it and wanna see it more.

Faeries can’t lie.

I’ve only seen like two authors do this so far (Holly Black and Emily Lloyd-Jones). A lot of other fantasies authors like SJM didn’t include it which I think is a real waste in potential for how high the stakes could get. They take everything in a literal sense and one sentence can easily kill someone or destroy their if they’re not careful. You literally have to think before you speak and if you’re not used to speaking that way, it’s all the more dangerous especially if you’re a human in the faerie realm. Whenever authors talk about the dangers of the faeries, it’s usually just the creatures in the woods and deals being made which downgrade the danger for me, in my opinion.

Having Lilia and Malleus not being able to lie would just be really fun especially where I’m going with in my story 💀. More stakes, more danger is just exciting and challenging to write because I have to be careful since majority of the cast of this story are faeries.

Iron burns faeries.

Personally, I like to think that Malleus and Lilia wear gloves most of the time because NRC just has a lot of iron things and they can’t be bothered to always check twice before touching something. It becomes tedious to them so wow gloves?? Easy fix for them.

Also since faeries are immortal and not much seems to hurt them, I just think it’s neat that iron would be the go-to for hurting them for information, killing them off and the like on top of magic use.

Iron also burns Maleficient in the live-action movies so…

Faery food is dangerous to humans.

I have like one human character (not reader) so it probably won’t be present as much but I just think it would be neat. Faery food is dangerous to humans because it puts them in a trance-like state. It makes humans want to stay with the fair folk forever as long as it’s fed at regular intervals from what I assume. The magic does wear off but again, if fed at regular intervals, humans could possibly stay in that mindless state forever.

Faeries are ruthless.

Seeing as they like to mess around with humans for fun (example: leading travelers off their paths, stealing items, etc.), I don’t think people should be surprised they are.

Malleus himself already seems to have a short-temper (almost roasted magicam monsters, got irritated when Rook asked why he appeared after Vil OB) and takes pleasure in seeing some of the other students suffer. He talks about wanting to see Azul cry and wanting to see Vil’s breakdown. I’m a little fuzzy on the details but yeah. Lilia also likes scaring people so there’s that. They’re both sadistic in their own ways whether you believe it or not.

Faeries are expected to be treated with respect and if not, you will get punished in some way. In a lot of cultures that includes stealing your children or making you sick in some way. I know that for Filipinos and Chamorros, you always have to say excuse me before you do your business in the jungle or else shit happens to you so yeah. Sometimes, it seems as if they’ll straight up torture you if you piss them off enough.

They also won’t hesitate to backstab their own it seems because from reading up on a lot of lore and Fae fantasy based stories, it sure as hell seems that way.

So basically, faeries are hella petty and would get you back a hundredfold if you piss them off.

Faeries have a hard time conceiving children.

To be honest, I’m not sure if this is true??? So to speak. I say this because I mostly see it in fantasy books, not through actual lore.

However, I do like it because it gives reason why faeries would take human lovers or their children (though from what I see, it’s mostly for entertainment or to get more servants?). Also, if they have a hard time conceiving children, it means that they value their young very much.

So you know, imagine being the only heir to the throne with no other family members in sight other than your grandmothers.

Just imagine the levels of protecting that would be taken to ensure your safety 🙂

Names have power.

This is for my own entertainment mostly. Having a faerie’s true name would allow you to control them so as always, be careful with wording.

Meaning don’t say, “My name is….”

Saying, “You may call me…” or giving faeries a nickname would stop you from being under their control if you haven’t already done that somehow.

However, I do headcanons that more powerful faeries aren’t subjected to that because of sheer will and pride in themselves so it probably won’t be present as much either lmao

That’s probably most of the general lore I’m including for now. I’m no expert so most of this is just things I’ve learned from fantasy series or my own research! Also, I doubt most of these are canon in Twisted Wonderland anyway. Except maybe the iron one since that is canon in the Maleficient movies but who knows.

[coziewozie]

Beach Headcanons!

✦ A/N: Huahhhh this one took me forever skkddkkdkd anyways I hope you enjoy, I spent a lot of time on this! Sorry if some characters don’t have as much content as others

✦ Contents: no reader pronouns mentioned, very very small mention of alcohol in Kaeya’s part, fluff, modern au, ~2.1k words

✦ Includes: Kaeya, Tartaglia, Wriothesley, Itto

✦ Kaeya:

when you brought up going to the beach he said yes pretty quickly

brings sunhats for the both of you so you don’t burn!

matching swimsuits/outfits

you both decide to have a beachside picnic

for the food think something along the lines of charcuterie boards, crustless sandwiches, fresh juicy fruits, etc.

the picnic food is super elegant and classy

he sneaks a bottle of wine in there for himself

Kaeya takes lots of pictures of the two of you when you get there

mainly selfies of both of you in it

likes to snap pictures of you on your own too though

especially when he finds an angle where you look SO ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND ANGELIC and don’t say you aren’t bc he will be so devastated if you don’t view yourself the way he sees you

is actually such a good photographer

also the type to happily help you apply sunscreen on your back if you ask

anyways back to the picnic!

lunch is super chill, mostly just you guys eating and talking about whatever

you notice the alcohol he snuck in with him but decide to let it go for today

at the end though he wraps his arm around you and you rest your head on his shoulder while you two appreciate the afternoon ocean view

you guys are busy cleaning up the picnic when he looks over at you and compliments how nice you look for no reason

he means it tho ugh it’s so sweet my HEART

the both of you finally walk down to the water while holding hands

you and Kaeya stay in the shallow end of the water, mainly splashing each other playfully and looking in tidepools!

seems like the type to get pinched by a crab

will gladly swim if you want though

you guys stay until the evening and decide to get dinner from a nearby restaurant

he’ll hold your hand from across the table and give you the cutest smile

on the drive home he’ll have one hand on the wheel and the other on the armrest between your seats

you put your hand next to his and hold it

loves it when you do that

has a faint blush on his cheeks and smiles so giddily for the rest of the ride home it’s so cute

doesn’t say too much if he’s tired, but hums to whatever song is playing

looks at you, smirks, and goes

“I had a great time today. We should do this again soon. … Did I mention how pretty your eyes are?” that’s like the fifth time today he’s mentioned it

✦ Tartaglia:

on the way there he blasts both of your favorite songs in the car with the windows rolled down

wears sunglasses, an unbuttoned hawaiian beach shirt, swim trunks, and flip flops

100% brings water guns

when you first arrive you set up your spot

he stakes the umbrella down while you lay out the towels and cooler containing some drinks and your lunches

as soon as you're both done he throws his shirt and flip flops off and full on sprints to the water without warning

you run after him since you want to join him too!

once you get close enough to him he tackles you and you both fall in the water laughing

starts a splash fight with you

if you’re swimming together he’ll race you to see who can get back to the shore the fastest

also brings his surfboard!

goes on his own a few times but lets you ride with him too if you didn’t bring a board

and if you’re completely new to all this he’ll be super gentle so you don’t get scared

maybe you’ll both just sit on the board and float in the water or ride a baby wave

by the time you’re done with that it’s time for lunch!

nothing fancy, just some sandwiches in plastic bags that you packed

Tartaglia thinks it still tastes great though and appreciates that you made them!

you’re both eating and talking under the shade of your umbrella when some little kid comes up to you for no reason and says you look really nice and cool

both of your hearts melt

Tartaglia pulls you close and gives you a peck on the cheek and agrees

will play volleyball or have a water gun battle with you to see who’s better it’s just a friendly competition right? right???

you two are running up and down the beach screaming and spraying each other with the water guns while onlookers stare at you and chuckle as you pass by

volleyball gets super competitive

its just you two taking up a whole court and hitting the ball back and forth as hard as you absolutely can

you’re soooo close to winning..!

but he beats you

it’s okay it’s all for fun he’ll pat you on the head and smirk if you’re salty about it lol

the sun is setting but he still wants to do a little bit more

bike rides together along the beach!

casual chatter while you two enjoy the view

you ride until you guys encounter a little ice cream cart

he buys you your favorite flavor!

Tartaglia gets rocky road, cookie dough, or cookies and cream

has a really hard time deciding and takes forever

will happily share with you if you want some! takes a bite of yours when you aren’t looking

you two leave when you’re both ready

the drive home is mainly him chattering away and you in the passenger seat trying to not fall asleep after such an exhausting but fun! day how does he always have so much energy???

occasionally waves his hand in front of your face to see if you’re still awake

“Hey that reminds me, earlier I saw a— wait, hey! C’mon, don’t fall asleep yet! I still have so much to talk about!”

✦ Wriothesley:

prefers to go in the evening

less sun and less people and also the time he gets off of work on an early day

his mood improves so much and he lights up when he sees you after work

after a lot of persuasion you manage to convince him to wear a floral tropical print shirt that matches your clothes!

he keeps it buttoned up for now though

you also notice one of Sigewinne’s shark stickers on the collar of Wriothesley’s shirt how did that get there??

you find it cute so you don’t say anything about it

its close to dinnertime when you arrive so he takes you to a local, slightly formal restaurant that’s super close to the beach!

now you see why he didn’t want to wear that shirt

both of you feel just a tad bit out of place in your more casual beach attire but you don’t really care

besides, why should other people’s opinions stop you from having a good time?

while you’re waiting for your food the two of you will talk about how your day/week has been and anything else you can think of to bring up

will happily listen to you if you ramble

finds it so refreshing to hear your voice

purchases an iced tea with his meal bc he’s Wriothesley

the food is great! and at the end you both share a dessert like a little cake or ice cream

you guys leave and start walking side by side towards the beach

he’ll give you piggyback rides or let you sit on his shoulders if you ask! will be able to carry you, 100%, no problem AAAAHHAHA THE THOUGHT IS MAKING MY HEART EXPLODE

if he’s giving you a piggyback ride he loves when you rest your head on his shoulder, it makes his heart flutter when he feels your breath on his neck

if you’re sitting on his shoulders his favorite thing is when you run your fingers through his hair or give him a little head massage!

you two pass by a boba store while you’re walking and he’ll buy something for you if you want it! he’ll get something for himself too

if he doesn’t know what to get then he’ll buy the same thing you’re getting! he trusts your judgement :)

you guys finally get to the ocean and take a walk along the shore together

the sun is setting and the colors are reflecting off the waves and it’s soooo pretty

the two of you hold hands and point out strange little shells that wash up on the beach as the waves tickle your feet

you reach a pier and decide to continue walking there

at this point it’s almost all dark and the moon and stars are starting to peek out

you reach the end of the pier and lean on the railing with Wriothesley right next to you

you’re admiring the reflection of the stars on the water with him when all of a sudden you hear a loud BANG! and a flash of light

you both look up and realize that they’re doing a firework show tonight! wow what a coincidence yk im so shocked

you scoot closer to him and lean your head on his arm/shoulder while he wraps one arm around your waist

you think he whispers something about the fireworks and your beauty but you can’t really hear it

gives you a smooch on the top of your head once it’s over!

finally finds Sigewinne’s sticker on his shirt at the end of the night when you get home and he’s taking his clothes off and changing into pajamas

“…You’re saying this was on here the whole time and you didn’t tell me?”

✦ Itto:

he finally manages to shake Kuki off his back so he decides to take you to the beach! even though it’s the fact that you’re going with him that makes her comfortable enough to let him go

forgets most of the supplies so you’re the one packing snacks, drinks, towels, etc.

one thing he doesn’t forget is the toys!

brings water blasters, volleyballs, floaties, buckets and shovels that are meant for little kids, etc.

wears swim trunks, sandals, and sunglasses for dramatic effect and that’s it

wants to do anything and everything with you!

first thing he sees is some kids building a sand castle and wants to do the same with you

no matter how much effort the two of you put in you can’t seem to get it to look nice

Itto still likes it though and puts a little leaf at the top for a flag ugh so precious

he takes a picture of it for memories and you guys walk away from it some kid probably tramples it like five minutes later

digs a little trench for water from the ocean to flow into! doesn’t mean any harm by it just wants to satisfy his inner child

doesn’t realize it might turn into one of those giant rivers in like a month

will have a water gun fight with you in the water while you’re swimming!

not really sure how that’s supposed to work smoothly but that’s his attempt at killing two birds with one stone

will also blow up a giant floatie with his own breath and almost pass out and forget about it/not even use it

also wants to play volleyball with you

since it’s just you two he invites some kids that he met a few minutes ago over to play on teams with you!

prefers to be on a team with you

you find it cute when he pouts after the other team absolutely demolishes you

if/when your team finally wins he’ll give you a giant bear hug!

all those kids probably get nicknames lol

when you guys are hungry you don’t really sit down for a proper meal since you’re having so much fun playing, and instead just munch on chips, fruit, granola bars, etc.

if you’re craving something else though you guys will get something like nachos from a food cart across the street from the beach

also gives you piggyback rides but likes to run around instead of walking

always blushes a bit when you put your arms around his neck and your hands rest on his chest

you guys stay until nighttime!

you set up a campfire together and bust out the marshmallows and graham crackers and chocolate!

the smores are super tasty but he probably scorches half of the marshmallows or unintentionally sets them on fire good thing the ocean is right next to you

shares his best marshmallows with you!

(be prepared to be the one driving home later since he’s going to be knocked out from being so active and energetic all day! when he’s tired he has really cute little snores that slowly evolve into some kind of monster roar snore)

Itto tells his scary stories with a flashlight shining up at his face for dramatic effect

“Now prepare for the One and Oni Arataki Itto to blow you away with this electrifying horror story!!! … AUAAHHOWW-! What was that?!” some crab probably pinched him

✦ A/N: Had a lot of fun writing these! Might do a part two if people are interested/request it!

[winns-stuff]

LO RANT:

Because why not? I just don’t understand the way that fans think, on one hand we can’t associate or even compare Lore Olympus to the myths because they’ll say “well it’s her retelling she doesn’t have to do things exactly alike” but on the other hand when you’re talking about the story by itself they’ll then try to counter whatever argument against Lore Olympus by saying “this is what they did in the myths!! why are you guys mad at greek mythology??” so which one is it because it’s giving me a headache. I get so tired of seeing the exact same argument from fans it’s so redundant and I mean that in the nicest way possible, I’m sure a lot of you are great people but the things y’all say and do for this comic is insane.

Rachel is adding yet another sex scene and people are rightfully angry. We’re in the climax where the world is basically in an apocalyptic state and the gods are all in danger of having no mortals to worship them and give them any purpose and it’s all because of Persephone, no one is thinking “oh yeah this is the perfect time for intimacy” and if you wanted to give fan service to those who are craving it you should’ve did it in a more calmer setting?? No one is threatening Rachel and telling her that she needs to add these ridiculously high stakes to her comic which prevents her from smoothly writing NSFW of the main couple, she’s literally doing this herself which is one of the reasons why it gets so annoying whenever fans get mad at people for being upset or disappointed. She’s doing this to herself, am I saying harass the woman or cyber bully her? No but that’s not what a lot of these people are doing, in every single webtoon especially one as big as Lore Olympus you’re going to have people who view your content differently or disagree with the way you’ve written things. I’m not trying to encourage the idea of changing your entire story to bend to those people but a large majority of your fandom are starting to have the exact same complaints and it’s clear that your plots are not being fleshed out at all, these people are just asking (no, begging really) for a cohesive story not a masterpiece.

Which brings me to my next point, all of the criticisms and explanations many critics have been sharing are entirely valid. You cannot put a sex scene as a replacement to storytelling, it just never works since it adds virtually nothing to what’s happening. Especially right now when, like I said before, Rachel is starting to spiral the plot into chaos (I’m not being insulting by saying this it’s literally chaos it seems like all of the characters are in trouble) and introducing or welcoming back a lot of intriguing plot stories and characters that many people are excited to see. To make an odd and unnecessary shift to romance in the middle of absolute destruction is crazy, especially when none of it is earned. I’ve said this in my later rants but I’ll say it again because it’s true, the romance between Hades and Persephone has no stakes and it never will it seems since Rachel doesn’t even allow stuff like that to happen. Nothing about their romance keeps you straddled on for the ride or leaves you at the edge of your seat which is why so many people are bored with their dynamic if there even is one to begin with. Slow burns and other romances are all about the payoff that’s what everyone’s here to see, after chapters on chapters of wondering if their love will brave the dangers around them and between them we finally get our question solved with appropriate intimacy.

Lore Olympus as a whole rarely wants to develop actual relationships in real time, it only skips to “the good bits” while completely ignoring the fact that the entire bonding experience between your ships and your fans rely heavily on us actually witnessing their chemistry/bond and being shown why they should be together, not being told by forces outside of the relationship.

All in all the potential sex scene is just terrible timing on Rachel’s part and it should’ve been done while literally nothing was happening to avoid all of the backlash that it’s getting now.

[help-me-im-in-the-fandom]

Okay, so with all the ATLA stuff going on with the disgraceful live action series, I have been inspired so here is an idea.

When the Convergence happens and the Spirit World is thrown into a mess, a small slum district of Republic City is caught in the crossfire.

Gotham District is suddenly displaced into a new world, about early 1800’s maybe?

So starts the City of Gotham, born in a flash of light into a deep swamp across the bay from the City of Metropolis. The people quickly work to hide themselves in this new world, and the few earthbenders that were among them were able to move what buildings they had into the large cave system beneath the surface as they set up temporary shelters, very aware that the bustling people across the bay could see them.

The Metropolis people who did come to check on what was going on assumed the newly built area to be made my the miscreant and lawless population of their city, and the Gothamites, scornfully, allowed the misconception to stand.

They hide the few member of their community who can bend away after one awful day where a young earth bender girl was accused of witchcraft and almost burned at the stake while joining a company of people searching for supplies. A rule is made then, that no one would ever bend above the surface, and no one would ever speak of benders either.

Fast forward a few centuries, and one night Bruce Wayne watches his parents get murdered, and decides on two things.

1) To never allow another person to be orphaned on his watch.

So starts Batman, the protector of Gotham on the Surface.

2) To make sure no one was so in need that they had to commit crimes in order to survive.

So starts a series of bending schools and food banks in the Underground, the Sacred part of Gotham that no blood should ever be shed in. All of which are funded by Bruce Wayne the skilled Earthbender.

When Bruce begins to find himself taking in children, he finds out that all of them are benders themselves, and is excited to teach them bending himself. Though he does enforce one rule, to never bend in costume.

Okay now onto what I think the Batfam would be as Benders! This is my own opinion you don’t have to agree, just don’t be rude in comments!

Alfred:

Alfred is a waterbender, kind and soothing but never destroyed and always there. He is the lifeblood of the family, even though he hides behind the title of a Butler he is really everyone’s grandfather/father.

Bruce:

Bruce is an earthbender, results and determined, never moving and unbreakable. He has devoted himself to his beliefs and to his family, and nothing will ever change that.

Dick:

I think Dick would be a Firebender, while Airbender would be an easy answer, it doesn’t really suit him. Dick has a mean streak and donned the Robin suit in order to commit literal murder, he almost killed Joker, and he fights with Bruce constantly. He is a smoldering flame that will burn bright and hot but keep you warm on even the coldest of nights, he has so much love and affection and to me, he just embodies the character of a firebender, like Uncle Iroh.

Babs:

I think Babs would be a fire bender, similar to what is said above with Dick, but also the fact is, she chose to become a vigilante herself, she chose to fight and protect despite not having anyone to support her at first. When she was paralyzed she still fought, she still does everything she can to protect her friends and family.

Jason:

Jason embodies the Earth, calm and strong and unmoving. Each decision he makes is with reason and choice, and he is confident and willful but also soft when needed. When Jason is revived and filled with anger it shakes his foundations and his morals are shattered, but he reigns destruction like a landslide, devastating and all consuming and utterly unstoppable. Perhaps as he heals he learns to Lavabend, to put the anger and hurt and pain to control and tame the destructive force.

Cass:

Cass is a waterbender, she is used to moving with the tides and rolling with the punches, she is calm and consistent, but also powerful and strong. She can heal just as much as she can hurt, and be beautiful and powerful at the same time.

Steph:

Steph is an airbender, she is carefree and playful and doesn’t need physical things to be happy. She can never sit in one place to long, she wants to know everything and meet every one. She is kind but not merciful, and when she is angered she is as powerful as a tornado and just as destructive.

Tim:

Tim is an earthbender, he is headstrong and willfully stubborn, he has devoted his entire being to his beliefs and cannot be persuaded away.

Duke:

Duke is an airbender, though his meta gene may affect the power he can use. He is calm and straightforward, but dances with the blows life gives him and learns to adapt.

Damian:

Damian I think is a waterbender, he is strong and powerful like the sea, ever changing and never the same. The sea can be calm and merciful or harsh and deadly, and I think that embodies what Damian can be. He can also learn to be kind, to be gentle and loving and oh so very careful. Perhaps part of his recovering is learning how to heal, to use his powers to help instead of harm.

So! That’s it! If anyone has anything to add or if this inspires any fics, pls add them!

Also, here have a drawing I made while thinking about this!

[oscconfessions]

Sigh... I'm gonna add my two cents about the Balloon arospec drama(I'm AroAce BTW) and by my two cents I mean I'll mention it two times and just talk about something else related. I'll also be providing some knowledge about AroAceness and all that.

For those of you who don't know,

Aro: Aromantic - Little to no romantic attraction.

Ace: Asexual - Little to no sexual attraction.

Aro+Ace are spectrums and aren't just "every Aro person doesn't feel any kind of romantic attraction" or "every Ace person can't feel sexual attraction." I feel as tbough people forget that all the time so I wanted to remind you lot haha.

I'm noticed this kind of drama a few times, where people argue about a character on where they are on the AroAce spectrum. It's difficult for me to put what I think into words here, but if a character(either canon AroAce or not) doesn't have a canon placement on the spectrum then whatever, go wild.

To help with my previous statement, I'll use SakiK from... SaikiK. People generally agree he's AroAce, yet people argue about where he is on that spectrum(mainly the Aromantic part). Since it's not ever stated where he is on that spectrum(or even if he is AroAce but SHHHSHSHHSH 🤫🤫), everyone has their own interpretation of it.

I believe it should be the same for Balloon, unless Balloon comes on screen and says "I am *insert very specific thing here* " as he points to a picture of the Aro spectrum then its to to you. Obviously, don't make him a sex crazed fiend or constantly searching for love, you eejit, but it should be up to interpretation.

A little off-topic here, sorry, but I wanted to bring up umbrella terms in both the Aro and Ace spectrums(I'm included ace because eh why not! This is for my people who HC Balloon as Aro AND Ace 🙏🙏)

Here are some terms under both the aro and ace spectrums. I feel as though you guys and many, MANY others tend to forget that there are umberlla terms for AroAce. I'll define them below:

Ace umbrella:

Aceflux: someone whose sexual orientation fluctuates but generally stays on the asexual spectrum

Greysexual: only experience sexual attraction some of the time, and sometimes not at all.

Demisexual: An individual who does not experience sexual attraction until after a close emotional bond has been formed.

Aro umbrella:

Aroflux: someone whose romantic orientation fluctuates but generally stays on the aromantic spectrum

Greyromantic: Some may feel a strong emotional connection with others but do not desire romantic relationships, while others may feel a weak romantic attraction to some people but not all.

Demiromantic: An individual who does not experience romantic attraction until after a close emotional bond has been formed.

Now, there are MANY more, feel free to add in the replies or the reblogs (o: !

Also, my apologies that this post was very long! Also also, my personal opinion on Balloons arospec thing? Idfk, lmao. TBH, this was kinda an excuse to just talk about stuff I like and am interested in so... 👍I've seen the tweet where one of the people who worked on II said yes, Balloon is meant to be Aro, but I couldn't tell you if they went into specifics about it. Sorry for constantly saying AroAce instead of just aro for Balloon, I felt like it was still important to include all my asexuals out there and educate others about it.

(BTW! Any inaccurate info, PLEASE, PLEASE correct in the replies)

Anyway!

TL;DR:

If a character who is just stated to be AroAce(not demi, grey, flux ETC) and never has their place on the spectrum explained whatsoever, it's okay to have a little fun experimenting with it IYKWIM. As I've stated, we all have our own interpretation of the AroAce character and there's no point arguing about it and getting mad because that's fucking stupid, unless they start actively getting rid of the AroAce rep then burn them to the stakes! /j

I know how wild you mother fuckers can be, so don't shank me please. If you disagree, take a deep breath and remain calm because getting all pissy about this isn't gonna do shit. Try to go about it calmly and reasonably. <3

I'd love to see others' opinions on this, remember to be respectful! 🩵

.

[aristocratic-otter]

20 questions for fic writers!

Thank you @artsyunderstudy for the tag!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

28, though one was a round robin where I only wrote one of the chapters.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

838, 380. Subtracting Birthday Man (the round robin fic), I've written, by myself, 799, 248. I'm not surprised. I'm not good at brevity. (And I have over a hundred thousand words in unpublished fics right now 😅)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Only Carry On, though I've made a habit of sticking Simon and Baz into fandom loves of my youth.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Oh, Have You Seen The Fairies Dance, my CORB from two years ago, writing to art by @krisrix. 562 Kudos

Playing With Fire, Treading Thin Ice, my pinch-hit CORB, also from two years ago (I sense a trend), writing to art by @steppjes. 453 kudos

Back To Start, my Simon youthens Baz into a baby fic, 447 kudos

A Fucked Up Cinderella Story, a Simon as escort fic, and my first collaboration with my dear friend (and a brilliant artist), @frjsti. 339 kudos.

A Real Doll, my first real PWP (ok, it sort of has a plot) (a very thin one), written for @captain-aralias's Monster Under the Bed Fest, 331 kudos.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes! It means a lot to me to hear how folk enjoyed my work, and I appreciate how much effort it takes to reach out sometimes, so I want to show my appreciation. I should be better at commenting myself!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Readers nearly burned me at the stake over my ending to The Blue and The Gray, where Simon rides away with his Union troop, leaving Baz behind at his plantation home. Even the 'happy ending' epilogue I wrote, to get them back together, is bittersweet, because Simon is damaged from the war and it will be a long road to recovery (or at least the length of the Oregon Trail 😉) (If you know, you know).

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I only do happy endings, but, like Ashton, I tend towards angst a lot of the time. So I think that my most meaningful happy ending is in New Year, New Me, which takes Simon and Baz literal to the end, of their long lives together (with a gorgeous song written by @moodandmist and @cutestkilla!)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not yet! I've gotten a few corrections, which I honestly don't mind. I'd rather be corrected than leave a glaring error in a fic. I agree with Ashton, this is an incredibly kind fandom.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Uh <looks side to side shiftily> yes? Like, a lot? It's funny, because I'm ace, but I find all the ways humans can relate to one another through sex fascinating, even if I don't need those things for myself. I'd say I write mostly bonding through sex? Occasional fucking just 'cause it's fun, but mostly soulful, loving sex.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Not crossovers precisely, (I don't mix in characters from other fandoms) but I'm extremely guilty of throwing SnowBaz into any story, show, or movie I've loved and putting them through their paces:

The Watford Games: Simon and Baz in a Hunger Games Scenario

The White Chapel: Simon replacing Olivia Newton John in the movie Xanadu

The Snow Fox: (unfinished) Simon as the Francis Marion Character in the old Disney TV show, the Swamp Fox.

Episode 2: The Naked Next, (gift fic for @raenestee) (I blame this one on @facewithoutheart), Simon and Baz in the Star Trek Universe.

and, Stars, Flowers, and Children, an unpublished (part done) fic set in the universe of the movie the Blue Lagoon, and To Heal a Broken Mind, an unpublished (nearly finished) fic set in a scenario similar to the TV show House MD.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Fingers crossed, but no, I don't think so. Probably hard to pass off a seventy thousand word fic as your own that you just popped up with out of nowhere.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Only the round robin fic, Birthday Man, where each of several fic writers wrote a chapter for Simon's birthday celebration, and the Star Trek Universe fic, The Naked Next (linked above). But I'd definitely give co-writer credit to many of the fandom artists I've worked with, because their work either inspired my words, or they even helped guide the evolution of the fic in the background. I especially have to give credit to @krisrix, @ivelovedhimthroughworse, @frjsti, and @artsyunderstudy for being brilliant at helping me flesh out the fics they did art for!

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Gee. Bet you can't guess.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

This is a tough one because I've (so far) never not finished a fic I've committed to (I've got a few paragraphs of a few random ideas in my files, but nothing I ever advertised or put much effort into). But I'm also perpetually in the middle of at least five or six fics, so leaving one dangling remains possible, even if I desperately hope it won't happen. I guess I'll mention Westward Son here, because though it ought to be finished in the next couple of weeks, it took me two fucking years to get there!

16. What are your writing strengths?

I don't get writer's block. I think my habit of fic jumping helps with this; if one fic is dragging, I can spend more time on another until words start to flow for the first one again. I do force myself to write at least a sentence every couple of days, even on the draggy fics, though. I think I'm decent at characterization? Especially Simon, because I identify with his way of thinking a lot. I also think I'm decent at giving the reader a strong visual of what's going on in a scene (hopefully).

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Plot and tech. I can write plot, but not snappy, quickly resolved ones. For me to find my way to the end of a plot usually takes several thousand words. And that's a weakness, not being able to write short. I don't know how to be interesting in small bites, I guess. And tech: I'm intimidated by incorporating modern tech like social media, etc. in my fics. I always feel like I can't format it correctly or make it look/sound realistic enough, so I tend to avoid fic ideas that are tech based, like text fics or social media fics. Aaaaand now I'm writing a fic based in Tiktok, a platform I do NOT know well. Pray for me.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I've done it once (in The Blue and The Gray), but I'm nervous about it. I think I'm afraid of misinterpreting a connotation of a word or phrase. I researched extensively for the Spanish lullaby in The Blue and the Gray, and even the Greek and Latin phrases in Back to Start and The Watford Games. I don't mind it in fics, so long as the meaning isn't integral to the scene (like using French swears in a fic set in French Canada) (@bazzybelle, I'm looking at you!). If the meaning is integral, I tend to prefer the translations be not far away (like at the end of the fic), but rather just a few lines down (like at the end of a chapter), because it's frustrating having to jump back and forth to get meaning from what I'm reading.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

CSI, on fanfic.net. But I only wrote one fic. Don't look for it. I didn't have this username and I'm not interested in reliving that part of my life 😆

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I think it will always be Back to Start (linked above). I still love the premise and it was the first fic that made me feel like a real writer. You don't forget that feeling. It's my baby.

How about, instead of tagging folk, you consider yourself tagged if you're one of the many people I mentioned above? 😂

[sw33t-oubliette]

what adventure time episodes are necessary for the plot. like only the plot episodes no filler

okay before i list all em i can not stress enough how much you should watch the whole series . i only skip some episodes since this shows my biggest special interest ever so ive naturally rewatched it alot . the "filler" is so important please also theres alot of mix of filler and plot so its kind of hard to list . theres not really a main plot so i suggest watching all of the episodes listed even if theyre character focused and not main plot . also watch the whole series

okay each episode will be color coded . red = marceline , orange/yellow = jake , green = finn , blue = ice king/simon , pink = princess bubblegum , purple = lich . no color means general plot/character episode . two or more colors means multiple character focus . for characters without colors ill put their names in brackets after the episode name

not including the fiona and cake episodes in here at all since theyre really just a sideplot . saying again just watching the plot important episodes is such a disservice to the show , theres so many great side characters and character development in the "filler"

season 5 episode 5: "The Enchiridion!"

season 2 episode 1: "It Came From The Nightosphere" (+ hunson abadeer)

season 2 episode 10: "To Cut a Woman's Hair" (this doesnt seem important but comes back later)

season 2 episode 18: "Susan Strong" (+ susan strong)

season 2 episodes 24 and 25: "Mortal Folly" and "Mortal Recoil"

season 3 episode 5: "Too Young" (+ lemongrab)

season 3 episode 10: "What Was Missing"

season 3 episode 14: "Beutopia" (+ susan strong)

season 3 episodes 19 and 20: "Holly Jolly Secrets"

season 3 episode 26: "Incendium" (+ flame princess)

season 4 episode 1: "Hot To The Touch" (+ flame princess)

season 4 episodes 5 and 6: "Return to the Nightosphere" and "Daddy's Little Monster" (+ hunson abadeer)

season 4 episode 15: "Sons of Mars" (+ magic man) (+ grob gob glob grod)

season 4 episode 16: "Burning Low" (+ flame princess)

season 4 episode 20: "You Made Me" (+ lemongrab)

season 4 episode 25: "I Remember You"

season 4 episode 26: "The Lich"

season 5 episode 1 and 2: "Finn the Human" and "Jake the Dog" (+ prismo) (+ farmworld finn)

season 5 episode 6: "Jake the Dad"

season 5 episode 9: "All Your Fault" (+ lemongrab)

season 5 episode 14: "Simon and Marcy"

season 5 episode 31: "Too Old" (+ lemongrab and lemonhope)

season 5 episode 48: "Betty" (+ betty grof)

season 5 episodes 50 and 51: "Lemonhope" (+ lemonhope)

season 6 episode 1 and 2: "Wake Up" and "Escape from the Citadel" (+ martin mertens)

season 6 episode 4: "The Tower"

season 6 episode 6: "Breezy" (sexual assault warning for this one. god i dont like this episode at all its really HORRIBLY handled but its kinda important)

season 6 episode 19: "Is That You?" (+ prismo)

season 6 episode 24: "Evergreen"

season 6 episode 25: "Astral Plane" (+ grob gob glob grod)

season 6 episode 27: "The Visitor" (+ martin mertens)

season 6 episode 33: "Jermaine" (+ jermaine)

season 6 episode 40: "Orgalorg" (+ gunter/orgalorg)

season 6 episodes 42 and 43: "Hot Diggity Doom" and "The Comet" (+ gunter/orgalorg)

season 7 episode 1: "Bonnie & Neddy"

season 7 episode 2: "Varmints"

season 7 episodes 7-13: the stakes miniseries

season 7 episode 21: "King's Ransom" (+ betty grof)

season 7 episode 23: "Crossover"

season 8 episode 1: "Broke His Crown" (+ betty)

season 8 episode 5: "I Am A Sword"

season 8 episode 7: "Normal Man" (+ magic/normal man)

season 8 episode 8: "Elemental" (+ patience st pim) (+ slime princess) (+ flame princess)

season 8 episodes 12 and 13: "Preboot" "Reboot" (+ susan strong) (+ fern)

season 8 episode 14: "Two Swords" (+ fern)

season 8 episode 15: "Do No Harm" (+ fern)

season 8 episode 19: "Jelly Beans Have Power"

season 8 episodes 20-27: islands (+ susan strong)

season 9 episodes 2-9: elemental (+ flame princess) (+ slime princess)

season 9 episode 10: "Abstract" (+ jermaine)

season 9 episode 13: "Whispers" (+ fern)

season 9 episode 14: "Three Buckets" (+ fern)

season 10 episode 1: "The Wild Hunt"

season 10 episode 4: "Bonnibel Bubblegum"

season 10 episode 5: "Seventeen" (+ fern)

season 10 episode 7: "Marcy & Hunson" (+ hunson abadeer)

(break cause i hit the text per block limit)

season 10 episode 10: "Jake the Starchild"

season 10 episode 11: "Temple of Mars" (+ betty) (+ normal/magic man)

season 10 episode 12: "Gumbaldia"

season 10 episode 13: "Come Along With Me"

[princeescaluswords]

Thank you for pushing back against the description of Scott as "pure." I love Scott and I admire him greatly. He is very kind and gentle and he wants to help others. But I feel that calling him "pure" (unintentionally) dehumanizes him. Similar to how Stiles said 'not all of us can be True Alphas,' or how Jeff said Mason (another character of color) was 'too good' to be affected by the Beast. It puts him on a pedestal and it seems like a way to avoid engaging with his complex interiority.

To be quite honest, I was almost going to give this question a pass, because in order to answer it, I'm going to say some things that might offend people that I don't want to offend. There are people who describe Scott McCall "pure," or "a puppy", or "a ray of sunshine" or something of that nature, and they mean every word of it in a positive way. Just today I read someone calling him "babygirl." They see a character being kind in the face of violence, compassionate when it would be easier not to care, and courageous in the face of injustice when it would cost him less to go along, and they applaud. But there are some people who say those very same words, but their intent is not to approve, but to diminish. The difference between them is their ultimate goal: one side wishes to enjoy Teen Wolf as it is; the other side wishes that Teen Wolf was about someone else.

The problem, of course, is how to tell the difference.

The key for me, of course, is if they recognize that while Scott's kindness is a very important trait -- one that sets him apart from many heroic protagonists in United States culture -- it is not his only trait. He also exhibits courage to act in situations in which he neither has the advantage nor a significant stake, resolve to move past emotional and physical trauma, and discernment to perceive the true nature of the characters with which he interacts. Any actual fan of the show should be able to identify scenes that establish these traits in conjunction with his compassion.

But those who seek to de-center Scott from the narrative, to replace him with another character, sometimes try to turn this virtue against him, especially when they fail to magnify his flaws and mistakes into disqualifying crimes. They do this by making his primary and distinctive heroic trait his only trait, and then presenting it as a weakness.

They call Scott "pure," while simultaneously arguing that his compassion makes him soft, because it means he lacks the courage to do what is necessary to protect others. These people say things like he lets enemies go out of mercy only for them to go hurt other people. Ironically, they most often put these words in the mouth of Peter Hale, who is a coward in canon. He ambushes his own niece, attacks unarmed humans from behind, sits out important battles, runs from fights, and works with the person who burned his family alive in order to get what he wants.

They call Scott "a ray of sunshine" while simultaneously arguing that his compassion is childish, only possible because he hasn't really endured loss, and thus he cannot possess true resolve. Not only does this require ignoring repeated instances of physical and mental violation, the absence of Rafael, the disconnect with Melissa, the death of Allison, the loss of Kira, and the way his future was ripped from him. Instead, they argue that Stiles is the 'glue which holds the pack together', even though Stiles literally looks to Scott for reassurance in every single season and crumbles when he can't get it.

They call Scott "a puppy" while simultaneously arguing that his compassion is a function of inexperience and a lack of intelligence, cute but useless. Thus, his 'puppy love' of Allison blinds him to the danger she represents (even though she doesn't). He cannot truly have the discernment to be effective in the supernatural world because he is not by nature a predator, unlike a born wolf such as Derek Hale. Derek Hale, who literally got manipulated by Kate, by Peter, by Gerard, by Peter again, by Jennifer, and by Peter a third time.

Thus, they position his compassion for others, even those who are his enemies, as a luxury that a true heroic protagonist cannot afford. They'll insist that it's sweet, it's laudable even, but since his compassion is his sole virtue (it's not) and he often allows it to override common sense (he doesn't), he is not a legitimate lead for a story taking place in that setting. Thus, they justify their own efforts to take the story away from him and give it to someone more worthy.

[justaboutdead]

Do you have a favorite player-antagonising mechanic?

You mean like a mechanic that puts preasure on the players, right?

If so im not sure I have a favorite, but im always a big fan of penelties that have a lasting effect on players, like permanant wounds, negative traits, and heftier consequences on riskier actions. A number of systems execute that quite well, and more permanant consequences tend to be really good at driving up the stakes. Savage World's hinderances and permanant wounds. Heart: The City Beneath's diverse options for fallout, which have a genuine risk of puting a character out of commision without actually killing them are really well written and implemented in my experience.

Time limits are the other classic way of doing this, and I really love games that have time limits baked into their core mechanics (See Blades in the Dark and Mork/Cy Borg.) Lancer is another good example, often encouraging time limits as a part of combat goals. Curses are a gould way to implement a slow burn way of this. Again, teres a lot of systems where this is implemented well, my one note on it is that I tend to prefer time limits that are fairly fixed when they are publically known. In private, behind player's backs rolling a lot of dice and having a shifting timelimit works very well for trqcking mechanics, but known timelimits should generally stay fixed for dramitic effect (specifically when it comes to chance in determining those time limits. if theres a mechanic that specifically involves players having to spend time and recources delaying it ala citizen sleeper or xcom can work very well too.)

If this wasn't the question you were trying to ask or if you want me to go into more specific detail, feel free to ask! I could rant about this stuff all day (and sorry if there's any mistakes in here, I was writing this in the car and mostly pulling examples off the top of my head from games I've played a lot of).

[zylophie]

I really want to see a full story of Nene's alphabets especially the tears section. It was so good!

A SILENT DESIRE

♬ yue is typing...

↻hii hii, anon! I'll be honest, when X show me this request actually got me all flustered ahhh, I'm so not used to getting praises so your request make me really happy (*´˘`*)♡ this end up being longer than I thought so it's turn from being an oneshot to a mini series somehow...If you want to be tag for the continuation of this series, feel free to send us an ask~

⇉ Part 2....still in progress!

⇄ yandere! kusanagi nene X gender neutral! actor! reader

■ warnings : child abuse, indirectly mentioning of nsfw activities , use of inappropriate words against a child, neglecting a child & physical abuse

► ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : A Silent Desire Pt.1...

꒦꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦꒦꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

Ever since you were born to this world, life have never been so kind to you at such a young age...

"(name), didn't I tell you that you aren't allowed to go to school today?"

"B-But...I promised my friends that I will come and help out for our farewell party for our homeroom teacher..."

Fidgeting with your little fingers, feeling uneasy under the glaring eyes of your mother who was clearly not happy with the situation...

"And? If you have time to play around, use that time on your studies instead, make yourself useful for once considering how much I spent on raising you!"

"O-Okay, mother... I-I won't do it again..."

"Good, off to your room now"

Feeling satisfied with your answer, the woman slowly make her way back to the living room where an unfamiliar man sat in the middle of the room. He didn't seem friendly as well...

A new one again?

Did she end things with the last one already...?

With that thought cross your mind, you suddenly didn't feel safe in there, not wanting to make your mother's mood turn sour than she already is, you decide to hide in your safe haven; your small bedroom for the time being...

.

.

.

Flipping through the pages of your textbook, in complete silence for the last few hours, your ears caught the loud slamming of the front door as muffled voices slowly faded into the background, your eyes widen in disbelief when you realize your own mother just literally left you, a small child to feed yourself while she went out to have fun...

So she can go out and have fun but you can't?

Clenching your pencil in frustration as your line of sight begin to blur due to the waterworks, under your clothes were bruises...some were still blueish...

You don't understand...

Is life always this cruel to everyone?

Maybe you should stop trying if it's mean getting your mother mad...you don't want to get hurt again...

"Isabella... don't tell me this was all of your doing..?"

...did she forgot to turn the TV off?

"I guess I go and turn it off before she get back..." Sighing, you start putting your notes and textbooks away on the shelves before jumping off the chair and make your way through the hallways as the tv show continue on...

"Oh sweet, Dorothea... you're pretty sharp I give you that but you can be so so naive...you didn't even notice you were working with the culprit herself"

"Isa, w-why...why you are doing all of this...?"

"Why, you ask? Well...I doubt you understand...but I simply want to burn this world and been born anew!"

"And involving innocent lives just for your sick beliefs? Isa, none of them deserves to die like this!"

...

Is it possible for a human to be glowing so brightly like a star?

To be able to stand so strongly and beautiful?

The main character of the show, Dorothea was clearly emotional when confronting her friend and assistant, Isabella.

She didn't seem to faltered for one bit even if the other woman mocked her for her naiveness, there she stand so bravely even in a dangerous situation where her own life is at stakes, she choose to be the voice of the people who unfortunately lose their lives...

She choose to be brave and be a hero...

Can you be like the actress in show one day if you try hard enough? Someone who can stand up for themselves and live truly to your own beliefs? Even when your own life is at risk?

...

Looking around your surroundings, there is no life left within the house currently, it's just you and tv...

"I-It's fine if I watch it for a little bit r-right...?"

.

.

.

"Ahh~ that was so much fun, maybe I should ask for a few days off to go out with him again-"

Before the woman could finish, small footsteps come running towards the entrance and jumping on her skirt as little (color) orbs stared back at her "Mother!!"

"What the heck do you want, brat?"

"A-Act..."

"Huh??"

You could tell that she was getting irritated but you honestly didn't care about that for a moment because you were too excited to even care...let alone fear her at that very moment. This was your only chance to beg her for something...

"I-I want to try a-acting, please?"

"...and why?"

"B-Because I want to be famous like the p-people on the big s-screen too!"

The woman didn't seem too keen on spending any more money on the poor child but you were too determined to give up just yet...not when you could possibly find a way to go outside again...and most importantly now that you have a dream of your own...

"...fine but you know what would happen if you fail, right?"

"Y-Yes, mother...(name) will be a good child..."

"Good..."

And from that point on, your once dull life start to change its colors bit by bit...

·̩̩̥＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚·̩̩̥＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚·̩̩̥＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚·̩̩̥＊•̩✩•˚·＊•̩✩•˚·＊•͙✩•̩̩͙˚·̩̩̥＊•̩̩

»»-----► several years later ... ❍✧

The sprawling scramble intersection as all walk of lives are constantly pouring across the street from all directions going to even other directions. All of them meet in the middle in a frantic mess, bumping, side stepping and swerving around each other as they try to cross the road safely.

Three huge television screens mounted on the buildings facing the intersection flash as commercials appears on the big screen of the scramble crossing, while the rest of the area is covered with lights that are currently turn off and advertisements painting the buildings in bright colors.

Wearing a face mask and a hat, you were walking among the busy streets of the scramble crossing, seemingly making your way out of the crowds as quickly and quietly as possible.

That was until you heard some squealing behind you to which you flinched, thinking you were caught...

"It's (surname) (name)!"

"Upcoming actor at that age...oh, to be young again..."

"If they are starring on this film, it's have to be good, right?"

"I can't wait to get my hands on that movie ticket!"

From the corners of your eyes, you saw one of the huge television on top of the building featuring a clear picture of you dressing up in a very old-fashioned clothing with a scarf wrapping around your neck and a brown top hat, being portrayed as the protagonist's only child in the trailer of the movie which you were pleasantly surprised to see...

"Huh, so they weren't kidding when they were going to promote their movie with my face on the big screen... that's kinda embarrassing... maybe I should have put more makeup on..."

You are an inspiring child actor who is currently on their way to Hollywood, ever since the day you saw that actress on your old small tv, you were inspired to become the star the actress was. Someone that can bring hope and dreams to those who watch you on the big screen just like how you felt as a small child all those years ago.

"...okay! Let's work hard today as well, (name)!"

A broad grin spread across your face, looking at the time as you put your earbuds on, soft music blasting through the mic, placing your hands in your pockets as you quickly make your way out of the crowds to your next destination.

.

.

.

"Wooow, it's so colorful...and lively here...so this is what a theme park look like in person..." Glancing around the fun rides as far as the naked eyes can see. You could feel that child-like sparks in you, a feeling that you didn't get to experience during your childhood.

You continue on, glancing left and right as loud yet joyful music blasting throughout the amusement park, the crowds are filled with visitors who seek to make the most of their day with the appetizing aroma of the food stalls' different varieties of snacks, drinks and sweets.

Many children and adults were wearing those animal ears shaped headbands on top of their heads, mascots walking around, giving out balloons to small children and taking pictures with the visitors. You can hear the sounds of people screaming from the haunted house, cheering from the rollercoasters as they went through the tracks at high speed.

You truly feel like you were stepping into wonderful itself.

As you were busy admiring the view, from the corner of your eyes, you caught sight of a little boy running off somewhere while seemingly his mother come chasing after the very energetic child, frankly trying to get the child to slow down...

"Mom, we are going to be late for Prince Pegasus show!!"

"Sweetie, hold up don't run off so fast, you're going to get yourself hurt...!"

They soon disappeared into a greenery area of the theme park, it's seem very secluded in fact that you thought it was abandoned for a moment to which you raise a brow at this new discovery "There is an ongoing show in THERE?"

Well, not like you have anything in mind to begin with... wouldn't hurt to check them out while you're still on your day off, right?

⋘ 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄... ⋙

"I must set off with my trusty sword to slay the dastardly demon lord𝅘𝅥𝅮" A young man with short scruffy blonde hair with peach tips shouted, lifting a prop shaped like a sword as he stumbled upon someone...well more like a robot than a person...

"Well, if it isn't Ne-Ne The Cyborgian! Perhaps she would join me on my treacherous journey?" The little robot turn around when she heard the loud prince calling for her name, through the mic, a soft voice spoke out "Your Highness, you have restored peace to our village, which had long been troubled by monsters"

As if to express her gratitude to the young prince, the little robot went to grab something in their little bagpack, holding a cup that contains an oddly yellowish liquid within "I bring you a Hyper Drink, my tribe's famous revitalizing potion as a token of our gratitude"

"Oh, a gift for me, how splendid! Based on it's slimy, disgusting appearance, it must be highly effective. I shall drink it at once!" The prince drank the liquid in one go but soon after he drank it, his facial expression turn blueish as he gagged "Blah! What is this?!"

As his senses slowly come back to him, he loudly mumble to himself once realization hit the young prince "Oh, how could I have not realizer...The Cyborgians only drink oil!"

Cue the roaring of laughters from the audience, you almost let out a few chuckles as the show continue on "Well, this is pretty entertaining"

But then a loud thud could be heard from the back of the stage which alerted the young prince "Something's there...I sense a dangerous presence!"

At the prince's exclaim, a big and long shadow of a creature rise itself above the stage as the children squeaked "Wow! It's a big dragon!"

There stood on top of the dragon, a small girl with short pink hair as she yelled out towards the young prince "I'm Emumu, the demon lord's dragon keeper! My dragon will pancake you, foolish prince!"

"Curses! How am I supposed to fight a dragon this enormous?!" The young prince took a step back, thinking deeply on finding a way to defeat the large creature in front of him, as if he suddenly remember an important detail throughout his journey till now "Ah, I see! This dragon can be lulled to sleep with a song! I must think of some song to sing..."

As the prince mumbled to himself, the little robot grab a hold of his white sleeve, gaining his attention as she speak "Your Highness, please allow me to take care of this. I shall sing to the dragon"

And there it was...

A soft and clear voice, singing so beautifully and so gently through the micphone...

Your eyes widen, heart beating fast. You stare at the little robot as she continue to sing her song, you never heard such a beautiful voice, singing so angelic that you almost couldn't breathe for a moment there...

As you couldn't take your eyes off the singer, the children cheered her up "Ooh, the song is so pretty!"

As the song goes on, the dragon was noticeably nodding off, clearly sleepy to which the prince notice the sudden change "Splendid! The dragon is falling into a deep slumber!"

But then something was off when the little robot's eyes flash for a second there, forcing the song to end rather abruptly "Wha...?"

The facial expression of the actor who played as the prince was of one's panic as he try to continue the show "Ne-Ne, what is the matters? It seems your song made you fall asleep before the dragon did!"

"Did her battery ran out...? It's look completely turn off" stating that, you prayed in your heart that they will somehow work it out, feeling slightly worried for the troupe on how are they going to recover from this small accident happening on stage. As it was putting them on a tight spot...

"I need you to sing just a little longer! Perhaps Ne-Ne needs some encouragement from our wonderful audience! Can you please help us?" The prince asked his audience as he encourage them to cheer the little robot on.

"Ne-Ne!! You can do it!!"

"Ne-Ne, you can do it! Please, Ne-Ne..." A painted expression slowly crack through as the prince was getting desperate for a response from the little robot...

"Eek! The loud cheering is confusing my dragon!" The short pink haired girl screams as the dragon shook, seemingly confused. The prince noticed this as he grab his sword from his belt, preparing to strike "Thank you, dear audience! Now that the dragon is stunned, I shall make short work of it!"

Before the actor could move, the weight of the small robot tilt itself onto the poor man "What the...Argh!"

"Huh? Ne-Ne has fallen over, crushing the prince!"

"Is this a part of the show?"

"I can't even tell anymore..."

Chaos spread throughout the audience as the pink haired actress order her companion in a panic "Yiiikes! H-Help! We must save him!"

"N-No...I can still fight! I can't fall in battle...until I defeat the dragon!!" The prince struggled to get the robot off him as he refused to give in despite the heavy weight slowly crushing him to the wooden floor "I can't lose now and disappoint all the children who believe in me!"

"He is going to get crushed if we don't do something about it!" You didn't care anymore if the show get ruined for you cutting in the process of their craft, someone's life could be in danger if you don't, you were about to get up from your seat among the total chaos.

Only to be interrupted by the narrator's announcement...

"Prince Pegasus befriended the dragon and its keeper. His journey was to continue for a long, long time before he would finally cross swords with the demon lord...the end"

"What?!" the blond actor exclaimed in disbelief.

"What happened next? Is it really over? That's boring!"

"The prince had to be rescued by the bad guys? What a wimp!"

"That was a confusing play..."

"It started well but then it became unwatchable... let's go and check out something else instead"

The crowds scattered, leaving the stage behind as disappointment fill the air, giving a gloomy look as the staff members immediately went to lift the robot off the young actor who has a bitter expression, clearly upset with the results of their play going south.

You stared, not sure on what to do now since the show end abruptly but you couldn't just leave and forget that it's never happened.

The feeling of your own craft failing in the worst ways possible will always left a bitter taste behind...

"I guess...I ask them once things settle down"

⋘ 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐆𝐄... ⋙

"So you're the real Nene who was controlling that robot?" The blond actor asked, irritated as the smaller girl flinched at his harsh tone "uh..."

"Nene... it's okay, no need to feel bad" the pink haired girl spoke quietly, trying to comfort the timid girl.

"I recharged the robot. It's fully operational again" a tall male with purple hair walked into the group.

"...You forgot to charge it..." His fist clenched in frustration "I can't believe my show was ruined all because of such a stupid mistake!"

"I'm...sorry..."

"I don't need apologies!!"

"Tsukasa, it's not like Nene did it on purpose. After we left yesterday, she stayed behind to rehearse until the late evening..." the taller male step in to defend, trying to calm down the situation with sound of reasons "It's partially my fault too, I forgot to check the battery before the show. Next time, I'll make sure-"

"Next time? And what about today's audience?!" He cut him off as he turn to face the taller male "There is a different show every day. Each time we perform, we are battling to win over the hearts of the audience. That's why we must succeed each and every time!"

The volume of his voice increase rapidly as he continue on with his rage "Didn't you all want to make today's show a success?! Or are you going to tell me you didn't care?!"

"...."

"It's... it's all my fault... It's because I was...too scared to perform in person. I shouldn't have relied on a robot..."

"Nene..."

"So you admit it?! I should've known there was something wrong with you, staying hidden and only talking to us through a robot!" Tsukasa turn to face the grayish green haired girl this time "So you're a shy girl? Not good with public performances? You think that's an excuse?! If you can't even face your own audience, how can you put on a good show?!"

"!!!" Nene gasped.

"Tsukasa, stop it" Rui frowned, disapproval of his actions putting the blame on the poor girl.

"...sorry...I'm s-sorry!" Nene was about to run off when someone decided to cut in the conversation...

"I can understand you're upset but don't you think it's a bit cruel to be yelling at your own coworker?"

꒦꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦꒦꒷︶︶꒷꒦︶︶︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦

[eyes-talks-ocs]

HELLO THERE! LOOK AT ME, I'M GONNA ATTEMPT TO DO A THING! [And I'm late to the party by a few days, like usual 😅]

I didn't get the chance to participate in Whumptober like I have the past few years, and NaNo has always intimidated me. But when I saw @winterandwords putting on this event, I just had to jump on it. Not only is it low to no pressure. Which is perfect for me since there has been NO CHILL in my life this year. But also I've been meaning to work more on myself, especially with the no chill I've had.

---

Writing Goals:

🗯️ Fix up the new beginning chapters in Social Throwaways - earlier this year I realized I had started my project in the wrong place story wise, and that's why I was having such a hard time writing the beginning and trying to move forward with it. So now I have the task of moving over all the important scenes and info from all the scrapped chapters in the beginning....so yeah...sifting through about 30,000 words and trying to figure out where and how I'm gonna weave all the important world/character building into the current new beginning chapters.

🗯️Try and get to Ch 20 - I'm on Ch 16 right now. Not going to push myself too hard on this goal. My chapters tend to be chonky boys. Averaging 5,500 to 6,500 words. 😬 But if I can get just a couple chapters done and moved forward, I'd be happy.

🗯️Work more on character voice - Just as it sounds, make my character's dialogue have more unique personality. Macaw is easy, he's always had his own distinct voice. But a few of my other characters I feel sound too similar to one another.

🗯️If you think it's weird, make it weirder - taking inspiration from a post I saw a while back. I need to get over the 'purity culture' that's around writing and media. I need to get over the fear of being ruthlessly burned at the stake for writing "bad people", "taboo topics", "grey morals", and just having brutal scenes by deranged individuals. I need to learn just to ignore the posts picking apart media and trying to socially castrate the authors/creators. Basically, 'fuck you, I'm doing what I'm doing, because I know that writing certain topics doesn't mean I support them...'

----

Self Care Goals:

🖤 Make a better creative space - that banner I used up there, that laptop, yeah that's mine sitting at my little desk in the living room. I NEED to start getting into the habit of using my computer more for writing. I work so much better and faster when I sit down and write on my laptop. It's just 100x easier for me. But over the past year or so, I've been exclusively using my phone over the computer for writing and it's really lagged me back. Sure the phone is convenient and doesn't take effort to set up. But setting up and getting the laptop out, making a cup of tea and getting into the space to write is FAR better and productive for me.

🖤Do the FUCKING dishes - okay. Dishes are a huge source of dread and anxiety for me. The executive dysfunction and task avoidance is very real for me with them. I'm a very busy person, so my dishes pile up and every Saturday is my Dish Day™️. Where I slog through the pile of dishes in the sink. But if I just wash the couple of dishes every night instead of letting them pile up over the course of a week, theoretically, I'd stop dreading it and the anxiety over it should be less.

🖤Wake Up Earlier/Spirituality - I'm an alarm snoozer trying to get my 45min morning routine done in 5 while trying to get to work on time. I used to be really good about taking my time in the morning to work on my spiritual work (Hello fellow Pagans), but life got busy and my practice fell to the back burner, and that burner is set to low. I wanna move it to the front and get it simmering nicely again.

🖤Spend more time with my family - this includes friends too. I used to stop over at my nephew's house regularly to hang out, help with chores, and be a good adult role model. But life with no chill has me exhausted and not wanting to leave the house. I feel bad because I haven't had a DnD / game night with my nephew or brought him out hiking for a good while now. I know he's been bummed over it, so I need to quit isolating and go socialize. 😅

---

Anyway, these are my goals for this month, I think I should be able to hit them. Hopefully 🤞