#is very different what/who they choose to hire (at least for the most part) and what themes or genres they book

[bowithoutadaemon]

I'm back from the festival.

It was great despite being too warm and windy. The worst combination in my opinion because there just is sand and dried bits of whatever was grown on the fields before they got harvested to be used as the camp ground flying around and getting everywhere. Into your nose, into your underpants, into your food, into your sleeping bag, just everywhere.

Both the friends I went with enjoyed the festival and would come with me again.

I am also very tired. And my feet and legs feel a bit sore and achy from all the walking.

Today I still need to get the tent and a bag from someone who took that home in their car. And then I need to clean all sand and dirt and plant material from the tent and dry it. It was raining real hard when I was packing up the tent. Definitely gonna need a mop.

[wangxianficrecs]

Rewind 2023 - Part I

WangxianFicRecs - Rewind 2023

Part one of our favourite stories published in 2023. If you also want to give a shout-out to a story, submit an ask and we will share it in an upcoming post featuring Follower Recs and Proud Author Spotlights.

~*~

Call again

by apathyinreverie (@apathyinreverie)

T, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “Brother?” Lan Zhan picks up the call, voice sleep-rough from being woken so late. There is a pause. “Well,” an unfamiliar voice replies, notably cheerful, though overloud and the slightest bit slurred in a way that identifies the speaker as likely not being entirely sober, perfectly matching the loud music and din of voices in the background. “Not quite, actually.” (Or, Wei Ying meets a drunk LXC at a bar. They promptly devolve into being chaos gremlins together.)

~*~

Fight Me?

by Witch_Nova221 (@witchnova221)

G, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: A tidied up version of this original threadfic Nurse Wei Ying has an interesting encounter with a patient on his night shift who is intent on starting a fight with him.

~*~

💙 Paths untaken

by apathyinreverie (@apathyinreverie)

T, 6k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: The thing is, the Cloud Recesses are big and Caiyi is even bigger. (Or, Lan Zhan chooses differently at Qiongqi Path.)

~*~

Kintsugi

by sortablue (@yinyangbuns)

E, 2k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Wei Wuxian had thought he was more well-adjusted; or, at least, that the thing that would set him off would be a little more impressive than a broken tea set. How funny that out of all the things that haunted his nightmares, this was the thing that chose to ruin his perfectly good day. (Or, Wei Wuxian’s treatment at Lotus Pier at the hands of Madam Yu has lasting affects that he previously had not thought to consider.)

~*~

💙 Su She Eats his Heart Out

by KizuKatana (@kizukatana)

T, 16k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: The (bitter) third party pov of the epic college romance between Wei Ying and Lan Zhan, as told from the pettiest NPC to ever exist. - - - - - A new student transferred into the university in their second year, and Su She was gleeful to see how much Lan Zhan was irritated by him from the very first day that the student (Wei something) showed up late for class with a ratty hoodie pulled up over his head and proceeded to sleep through lecture. Finally, someone else would be the butt of everyone’s jokes as they watched Wei Ying constantly try and fail to get Lan Zhan’s attention. When midterm grades came out, Su She was expecting the guy to be humiliated. That was… not what happened. Worse still, Lan Zhan was now actually turning his head to look at the guy when he spoke. And... wait, was Lan Zhan… putting his hand on the guy’s ass?! No. Su She does not accept this.

~*~

Into the murk

by MissCellophane (@misscellophane-ao3)

G, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Wei Wuxian is dead. Lan Wangji wouldn't believe those words until he sees it for himself.

~*~

Sit Properly!

by Nightfeather18

T, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: It started innocently, just a note to tell Wei Wuxian to sit straight, it did not stay that way.

~*~

💙 at first sight of the sun

by sunflowersfield

T, 3k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “There are days,” he says slowly, choosing his words with care, “when I do not feel like speaking. Or, I simply do not have any words. It is…difficult to explain,” he admits. Wei Ying nods. “I think I understand,” he responds thoughtfully. “But Lan Zhan,” he adds nervously, “you know I was just joking about the daily compliments, right? I don’t really expect you to do that!” Or: Lan Zhan is a researcher at a forest preserve, and Wei Ying has just been hired to work at the front desk.

~*~

The Moon Reflected Upon Two Springs

by Rubberduckieassassin (@rubberduckieassassin)

M, 2k, Wen Ning | Kay's Rec

Summary: In many ways, this part of Wen Ning’s existence has felt like winter. Winter is the most Yin of all the seasons. It is a time of stillness and quiet reflection. Remembering how to ‘live’ again as best he could.

~*~

Happy That Way

by airinshaw

E, 7k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Lan Zhan has allowed Wei Ying to move in with him when he has nowhere else to go. But it does mean that they'll have to share one bed.

~*~

mirror, mirror

by hauntedotamatone (@hauntotamatone)

G, 1k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: Some people take him at his word, believing that they must have heard wrong about the child Jiang Fengmian had taken in all those years ago. They haven’t exactly heard wrong, but he isn’t lying either. The first time Jiang-shushu had introduced him as the son of Wei Changze and Cangse Sanren, he had thought his face would split from the force of his smile. No one had argued with the sect leader, but Wei Wuxian is not a sect leader, and those of Gusu Lan do not seem to take kindly to any sort of correction. At least, if their esteemed teacher and acting sect leader is anything to go by. or; Wei Wuxian attempts to sneak into the Cloud Recesses for a very different reason.

~*~

turn a little faster, the world will follow after

by dottie_dramas (dottie_wan_kenobi) (@dottie-wan-kenobi)

E, 5k, Wangxian | Kay's Rec

Summary: “Lan Zhan here really surprised me. When we first met, I thought ‘now here’s a guy who could probably bite my head off if I annoy him,’ but then he didn’t? You know, all of our friends in Seoul would say I’m the shameless one, but I have no idea what they’re talking about, like, have they met Lan Zhan? Gege, you’re kind of crazy.” “Mn,” says Wangji, sounding very pleased. “It’s okay though, I like crazy. Hey, Xichen-ge—can I call you Xichen-ge?—anyway, do you mind if I add a little something to my tea?” “We do not imbibe alcohol in this house,” Shufu seethes. “It’s not alcohol,” Wei Ying corrects like he expected to hear this at some point. Xichen glances at Wangji, who’s making an expression Xichen has never seen before: unbridled exasperation and fondness. Then Wei Ying pulls out a pack of what Xichen is pretty sure is chili powder. -- Basically a modern AU where lwj and wwx both take a semester abroad while in college. They were originally in different colleges and never met before. They meet in this new college and being the weirdos they truly are, fall in love and get married within one semester.

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for these hard-working authors if you like – or think others might like – these stories.)

[miasiegert]

Hi Cats Tumblr People,

So I heard you like pics.

Please bear with me (AND TEACH ME) how Tumblr works/if I'm doing it wrong! I'm literally the "How do you do, fellow young people?" meme. Our Etsy is linked (unless I messed that up!) Right now it's bare (LOT of work and VERY old photos in the banner) but we'll be posting some cossies soon that are ready to retire. Some of our prices sadly will have to rise (we undercharge honestly for the amount of time put into them... we just LOVE making them). Anyway...

These are our original designs. We have taken inspiration from different productions, from the US tour to Gothenburg to Australia to Japan, less UK because it gets the most attention and we like COLOR! but this is all us. Our goal is to a) have characters be recognizable and b) make swing unitards in palates that could pass as at least 3 characters for emergency. When our rentals go out, swing unitards go with them, and ultimately it's the director who decides what makes the final cut (so a less yellow Demeter for example--but we LOVE that one).

If we ever do a production of Cats with Chaz, you'll notice one in Red, White, and some Black (but mostly Red and White, with fan ears, that is a design David created and is Chaz's FAVORITE design of all time. Any time he does a show, if we're hired, that costume goes. Usually Electra, but any ensemble/swing kitty and can cover for Sillabub or in a pinch Bombalurina. Yuka wore it at Interlakes before she did Victoria on the last US Tour! You might notice an Admetus in tans and GREEN undertones--that was my design he loved. We also did the purple twins (which was vetoed and I said, "Okay" then did it anyway because I knew he'd love it, which he did!), and REBA Gumbie Tap Suit was completely mine (everyone thought I was out of my MIND when I started making it! Even David! Then the shoulder pads came, and the belt, and tail, and BEDAZZLING!!! SO MANY RHINESTONES!!!!) Our Misto coat lights up but we still have a lot to learn about arduino since we'd eventually like to make it blink to music. The Misto coat is also created to fit a multitude of sizes, basically the theatre using their department for alterations since we make use of stretch fabric. I've known Bronson for almost as long as Chaz (he even designed my author website!!!) so when I saw him cast, I showed him his costume (a much, much browner/redder Gus than most see--I was serious about liking color) and let him choose between two coats. He said he wanted pants and we went, "NO! PANTLESS PRODUCTION!" because we thought he was joking! We didn't realize... HE REALLY WANTED PANTS!!!! SORRY BRONSON! So shout out to Wichita for making him pants! LOL!

There is a HUGE joke about Tumble thirsting for Tugger more than the girls so you'll notice that with the Tugger ABOUUUOUOUOUOUOUOUUUUUUUUUT THAT.

Hope that's of interest! And no, I'm not procrastinating on edits when my agent deadline is Sunday. Haha... ha... ha... ha... ha... Sera, if you're reading this I PROMISE I'M WORKING OKAY??? I DIDN'T KNOW WE GOT ON BROADWAYWORLD!!!

We also saw some comments about casting in general and some confusion/questions about different dancers doing different parts (Alonzo vs Plato). Would anyone be interested in learning more about the casting process in general and things that directors/choreographers need to take into consideration? Please note, I will not discuss ANY performers we work with. Ever. All are extraordinary and these are tough calls that aren't easy to make and based on other factors, including the ensemble at large, and sometimes huge changes are made.

[wildissylupus]

I've put this off for too long but here are my thoughts on the how the MW!Junker characters ended up in Junkertown;

Winston - The Tinker

Winston's probably the easiest, he just crashed in Australia after escaping the Lunar colony. Though I do think that though he considers Junkertown his home, he does travel a lot more and did actually reach out to Hammond when he saw Wrecking Ball on the news. I like to think that they are still close friends in Mirrorwatch, just living different lives. I also think Winston would still be very similar to canon, or at least he's like that with the other Junkers. With everyone else he's a bit bitter and short with.

D.VA - The Champion

D.Va is also pretty easy for me, as Junker D.Va already has voice lines with that skin and Hana in general is just an easy character to reverse. My HC is that Hana ended up in Australia after a really bad fight with the Gwishi. Unlike in canon where hiring the best gamers for the MEKA piolets, despite their age, worked immediately. It didn't in the Mirrorwatch timeline. Hana loosing D.Mon and Dae-hyun is a particularly brutal fight against the Gwishi. After that fight she ran and ended up in Junkertown. Which was good for her as Junkertown was probably the most off the grid place you can be. Most of the public think that Hana died in the same fight that took her friends. After that Hana became the champion of Junkertown. Personality wise, there is already hints in the Junker skin voicelines that this Hana focuses a lot more on mechanics. There is also hints that she's a more Han Solo like character. I also like to think that she holds bitterness towards both MEKA and her old fans, seeing them see all the heart ache and trauma she went through and choosing to capitalize off it, not only making her a soldier but also using her as a way to make money.

Genji - The Junker Ninja

Now I'm not sure if this Genji skin has voice lines with it but I'm going to go off of what information we do get, and by that I mean I'm going to look way to much into the Name Card Genji gets. So I've already talked about how I think Genji was initially a part of Talon but escaped thanks to the help of MW!Cassidy. Basically with Vengeance she went to saving Genji expecting to get a living weapon out of the situation. After Genji escapes he basically has to go completely off the grid or Talon will find him a recapture him. So he eventually ends up in Junkertown. He then meets Symmetra who replaces his prosthetics both to make Genji feel more comfortable and to make sure Talon can't track him. With the Name Card, to me he looks like he takes the role of Junker towns protector, keeping what little peace and order there is. Basically he's a Batman like character in Mirrorwatch. He would also be a lot more chaotic, basically imagine Blackwatch Genji but a little less angry and mixed with what Genji most likely was like pre-cybernetics.

Symmetra - The Innovator

Now Sym was one I was excited to get to because I genuinely think she would be a mix of Lifeweaver and Lucio, her having been taken in by Vishkar but leaving as soon as she realized that Vishkar only wanted control. Rebelling in anyway she could. There is also the fact that with the voicelines Junker Sym gets it implies that she has been in Australia for awhile, meaning she likely left as soon as she was able to. I also think that Symmetra is the leader of Junkertown in this universe, specifically with how hard light technology would innovate the technology in Junkertown. For what this means for Junkertown itself, I still think it's incredibly chaotic, but I also think that it would be healthier, more plant life being around the area, maybe even some animals too. Again the politics and general vibe would be the same. There's just more of an effort to resort the environment within Junkertown. The only thing society wise that I think would change is the view on Omnics, them being welcomed in when Sym took power.

[cowade]

DP x DC

what if Danny was supposed to be Robin or part of the bat family but was nerfed by clockwork accidentally killing him and fucking up the time line.

Maybe if people come in contact with someone broken away from fate they’ll also become distanced with the original timeline so clockwork had to contain Danny in amity to avoid causing a bigger mess and not anger the fates any more than they were.

So basically what if clockwork set the ghosts after Danny? As like a distraction as he tried to stable the new event with the others and weave out previous events that would’ve taken place with the planned ones. Afterlife can be boring so he took the most rambunctious ghosts he could find and hired them to cause trouble. Like why would ghosts like ember and shulker specifically choose to go here? There infinite places to go throughout the realms like millions of different Dimensions some of which at least have a way to interact with. Each with tons of things they could use to fulfill their obsessions. So why would they choose to go to some random town in Illinois if not for clockwork bribing them with a cool ‘animal’ or tons of  ‘pop fans looking for a new idol’

So what if Danny finds out about clockwork sending the ghosts and gets mad at him cause he knowingly allowed these powerful beings to torment him and maybe cause a large accident or what ever like killing some people or somthn. Maybe his family. Anywho he runs on his own cause angst and revenge, wanting to piss the time god off. A time god who was not done fixing the time line and had got some very pissed fate sisters on his tail. So maybe Danny runs into hero’s or the Batfamily and has this wierd feeling around them. Like a deja vu or a ‘I have very faint,wierd memories of you’ type thing. So they kinda click fast (or hate each other, perhaps there was some planned drama that didn’t happen) and become friends. They can kinda tell something is up with each other I.e superheroing/vigalintie-ing. So hero’s wanna help this weird kid they think is a meta hero and Danny wants to learn more about someone who could be a well known hero. But suddenly clockwork comes in or maybe a sent lackey and kidnapped Danny cause he’s now causing major timeline problems. Hero’s or Batfamily notice that the probably meta hero kid is missing and think something bad happened and get worried so they dig deeper. Meanwhile clockworks trying to deal with containing the teenage rage and angst of a kidnapped child while that fates give him pissed looks as he tries to fix the timeline again. Also p.s. the deja vu feelings are leftover memories of the future events clockwork has fixed yet if you didn’t get it

[lewisinho]

actually the thing about how lewis’ teammates end up as pundits got me thinking…

it’s an interesting thing how the narrative of the teammate relationship/competition between lewis and his ex-teammates (i’m talking mostly about jenson, nico and fernando) is shaped largely (if not entirely) by the latter and therefore is quite significantly distorted; lewis doesn’t talk about them for many different reasons to which he is completely entitled to (he obv isn’t asked, it's not related to anything and he also doesn’t care, is my guess, cause like why would he?) but point still stands that the narrative of what went on, how they faired against each other, their respective strengths and weaknesses is dictated in the media by his teammates…what they say is treated as factual and objective because well, we have never really heard lewis’ side of the story on any of them really (well apart from fernando), despite the fact that most of it remains subjective (obviously not the stats from their seasons, however as we found out these too can be skewed by the media lmao); we have jenson and nico on sky asked about lewis and what he’s thinking, feeling etc. as if they were the gospel on lewis hamilton, jenson’s account of his time as his teammate in his book, also jenson and nico discussing lewis on nico’s yt channel…in terms of fernando, the guy had plenty to say about the 2007 season and how apparently he was the biggest victim of that entire drama, but we do have more from lewis about that season and fernando which balances it out;

it’s a probably really insignificant thing i’ve thought about recently but it kind of struck me just how little input lewis has had over cultivating the perception of his own experiences with his teammates; i also think it also allows a lot of cherry-picking and distortion in the media, as they can choose how to portray their time as lewis’ teammates; i’m specifically referring to how the 2011 or 2016 seasons are discussed (the common denominator is quite obvious);

i think a part of it comes down to how he’s still active in the sport and both jenson and nico are obviously retired plus they work in the media and are (probably) at least partly hired to talk about him (it’s a bit iffy for me but whatever it generates content and discourse right? 😅) ; idk maybe I’m over-thinking it but i would very much be interested in lewis’ autobiography and delving deeper into his perspective during those mclaren years and the 2013-2016 mercedes years even purely for a breath of fresh air (though he doesn't owe us anything ofc);

but then again, is it at all surprising considering that for lewis, who beat all his teammates, they will at most be footnotes in his formula 1 career, however for all of them, lewis will literally be the most important part of their own?

[facelessxchurch]

Came right here to complain about that figure because oh my god 200+ for something of THAT quality?

Well you came to the right place to complain bc I don't like it either. And I'm happy to see most other people don't like it bc that means I'm not just a nitpicky bitch.

Like, everything on the store is overpriced, but 250+ Euro for THAT? I'm starting to wonder if the entire merch store is just a money laundering scheme at this point.

For reference, the Unlocked figures from lol are about 80 Euro each and are WAY better quality. And the Unlocked figures are the budget versions. The more high-quality ones are way more expensive. The Skul figure is worth 50 at most. And that's only bc of the novelty of it.

The sculpt is decent at a distance but closer up it looks really dirty.

The paint job is dirty too and so basic. Like, just black and white, no gradient, not even accent colours.

Neither the sculpt nor the paint job is professional.

Even ignoring that, the pose is stiff and boring. Couldn't even add a scarf flowing in the wind. A gun or a flame like the OG figure had. And the OG one captured the OG books cover vibes perfectly and this one is... pretty generic. Honestly, eventho the OG one is cheaper in material quality, I actually like it more than the new one.

This is so the result of nepotism and that's the first thing I thought when Landy said his brother did the figure. At one glance I can tell he wasn't hired for skill. If you look at his Instagram and Artstation, you can tell he has potential, but he just switched from another profession to sculpting in 2022 and you can tell.

He probably went with his brother so he can financially support him/help him with his new career. But also bc it's easier and cheaper than doing it the proper way. Hire a concept artist, hire sculptor, hire a 3d printing company, hire painter and optionally hire someone for the box art. (A mini painter YouTuber did it this way and the result was AMAZING!)

Or just collab with a company that does figures like Youtooz. Everyone who is someone is doing a collab with them right now. First4Figures is like topnotch but can get REALLY pricey, especially with LED stuff. Or McFarlane Toys also got pretty good stuff. Their black light stuff would be so cool for China's tattoos.

So many good options and instead he chooses to use his brother and his brother's 3D printer. I have a 3D printer too, so I can tell the resin costs for each sculpture is very likely less than 5 Euro. The slicer tells you the material costs when exporting the print file. At least the Lychee Slicer does which is the one I use.

The expensive part is the colour. But they only used 4 different colours. And one of those colours is gonna be either black or white primer. Like, that's such a lazy paint job it looks like they only applied the base, no layering, no shade, no dry-brushing, no nothing.

TL;DR: the Skul figure is an overpriced scam, don't buy it. But we both know these figures will sell out eventho by what I've seen the fandom as a whole doesn't like it and thinks it's too expensive. Which it is.

[formdrop]

FNAF DCA Fanfics

Please heed warnings before reading and some may be registered user locked.

The Pirate Kings Duchess by ArtemisRed

You are the heiress to the East Duchy and the fiancee of the Crown Prince of the Empire. You've waged strategic battles with your foes and even took down the Pirate King, all to make the King of the Empire proud and to make you worthy of a spot as Empress. But this shit is getting old fast, and you don't want to be a part of it anymore. It would be a real shame if three handsome pirates just whisked you away… wouldn't it?

Seastar Island by Solunest

You've been stranded on this tiny island on a planet almost completely covered in water. While you're possibly the most socially awkward person to ever grace your planet and theirs, the mer below have a different perspective of you. Can you make friends with the fish or will the forever see you as a fiend?

Cryptid Sightings by NaffEclipse

Perhaps this would scare a person, being all alone in the woods in the dark, but not you. You’re too intertwined with the paranormal and inexplicable. It’s in your blood. That doesn’t mean your heart won’t pound with terror when you face something with fangs and hungry eyes for flesh, but you don’t run away, and that’s what matters most. You will face the monsters.

Alexa, play Heather by Conan by eleanMeirr

You watched as Sun and the guard talked to each other. You watched how Sun’s rays fluttered, how he let out a happy gasp and hugged the guard close. Looking away from them with a little smile, you ignored how your hands started to shake and the room felt warmer. You tried to ignore their giggles and focus on the little computer work in front of you. It wasn’t like you were the main character here. They had no reason to like you back but her? She was the one after all.

I Think I Smell A Rat by Eyndr

Being a robotic repair rat who lives in the walls of the pizza-plex is a pretty great gig, all things considered! You fix the wires instead of chew them, and you get into tight spaces those silly humans can't reach and fix things up behind the scenes. You do your little tasks diligently, and all is well. That is, until one night when you realize all of your other repair rat friends have gone missing, and almost all of those animatronics outside the walls are acting strange… You aren't sure what it is that needs fixing, but by golly you'll fix it! You just might need a little help along the way…

Temple of the Celestials by ArtemisRed

To be the priestess of the Temple of the Celestials is the highest honor, or at least, it used to be before the gods became angry. In the last five years, all of those sent to serve the gods have come back dead, and now it is your turn to try and placate their anger. You are beyond terrified, but maybe, just maybe, they aren't as bad as they seem.

Please Choose Us by ArtemisRed

You have a new job at the Superstar Daycare. Sun is so sweet and silly, and Moon seems like he's always thinking about something. You have an ex that won't stop bothering you and kids at the Daycare that want to spend every single minute with you. It's busy work, but you love it

Celestial Roommates by HowToLoveADragon

"So your possible roommates are already up there, I let them check it out since you were a little late..." Codie catches something. "Wait, room-mates? I thought there'd be just me and one other person?" Mrs. Simmons turns to look at her sheepishly. "Well, technically it was just one roommate. But since last week it's two now that they're separated..." she trails off. Codie frowns in confusion but the manager waves her off. "It's alright, they're very nice, I'm sure you three would get along." 'But there's only two rooms...'

You Are My Lucky Stars by ArtemisRed

As an employee of the Lucky Stars Gift Shop, you have a great view overlooking the Daycare. This wouldn't be a problem if the Daycare Attendants weren't so distractingly cute!

Snake Your Way Into Me by ArtemisRed

Congratulations! You've been hired! The brand new assistant to the FazCo Laboratories, researching two members of an unknown species. It's all very exciting and you can't wait to get your hands on some super snazzy new animal friends, but they are way too cute for their own good! What are you gonna do? How are you going to deal with two very handsy 20 foot long snakes?

Daybreak by ArtemisRed

You are a barmaid at the infamous Gold Coast Pub. Sun and Moon are Captains of the infamous Daybreak. What would it be like to be infamous together? A riveting pirate adventure with lots of action but mostly just being adorable with the boys.

Dance With Me by ArtemisRed

You are an aerial dancer performing for a dinner. The Don of the city's mafia interrupts said dinner, making himself known to you as he literally catches you from a nearly disastrous fall. "Dropped right out of the sky, didn't you, doll?"

We Lurk Inside The Shadows by ArtemisRed

A little black book spells out names that burn in your heart. Your sole purpose is to rid the world of their filth, to cross out every one of those names. When you meet two lovely cafe owners, you second guess your career path. What would they do if they found out what you do?

My Lovely King by ArtemisRed

You are from a long line of hardened businesswomen. It's your job to make connections and open up the way for business deals, but now you've got your biggest challenge yet. A very adorable King who is rumored to have a dark side. Its such a shame that only one of them has sharp teeth, cause you'd sure love to be bitten.

A Cursed Kiss by ArtemisRed

The rain poured on the cobblestone around you. Thunder boomed overhead, forcing you to flinch as you pulled your soaked jacket closer. No one is willing to take you in for the night. There is only one place left, the cursed castle.

Balloons and Magic by Peony_Soprano

Sun and Moon were the Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex Party Planners. The parties were only ever booked for the Glamrocks, never for them. So filling out the weekly party whiteboard, was just another task. That was until they get a surprise that would change their lives forever.

Glimpse of Us by Justaduck6432

Everything at the pizzaplex has slowly become more and more automated. You've watched a lot of your friends and fellow coworkers get laid off in favor of the funky staff bots. You always assumed you'd be safe in the daycare. You were working with small kids, after all. They need a tender touch! Oh, how wrong you were. Two years after your not-so-polite firing, however, Fazbear comes calling. Apparently their precious, perfect attendant is in need of some assistance. And they requested you. You initially considered refusing, but the pay is double what you're making editing papers, so you dive back in. But things have changed more than you ever thought they could have.

The Stranger The Better by Eyndr

Reader is a forever exhausted young adult who has social difficulties doing their best to pay the bills, so when they get hired at the well-paying, almost entirely automated Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizza-Plex, they don't really hesitate to think things through before stumbling headfirst into a horror mystery surrounding this company and its crew of quirky (and surprisingly kind) animatronics.

There's a monster in the garage by CheryBee

Why do you hear banging noises in your garage?

A Wise Man Said I'm Alive; Nobody's Ever Told Him He's Wrong by wineberrysoju

You get to tinker on the best tech this side of the equator and get paid for it; pay no attention to the weird things happening in the tunnels, or the way the animatronics are acting just a little off, or the way the security team seem to be operating on revolving door contracts. They all tend to get a bit quirky at night.

Leviathan's Song by BlondeFromHell

You never would have joined the Aurora if you knew this was going to happen. No one told you that your ship was going to crash land on some horrid ocean world, nor that you would get separated from everyone else. You went to space to escape Earth’s ocean, and now you were stranded on a planet that was nothing BUT ocean. All alone. Or… Were you? Something, deep in the depths, was watching you, but what? Would you die in this nightmarish world, or could you turn it into a home with two unlikely companions?

Occupational Hazards by IcedMetalTea

You work in the SCP foundation as a researcher, spending your days interviewing some of the world's deadliest anomalies in an attempt to understand more about them. When you're tasked with researching the two keter-class SCP, SCP-6856 and SCP-6857, you don't think much of it. They don't seem aggressive, nor do they seem to warrant a keter classification, but you're diligent about keeping your interactions professional. They take a great interest in you.

In Deep Dreams Between the Waves by NaffEclipse

You see a fish, but the fish isn’t really a fish, because he looks up at you with big yellow eyes, wide with fright. Large black pupils dart around frantically. He’s small, less than half your size, which surprises you. You know mers are supposed to be big sea monsters that sink boats or cause storms, but you don’t see a monster. You think of a baby while staring at his chubby round face, creased with fear, and his small tail.

Glitter Glue Me Back Together by ArtemisRed

You're scared to start your new job as the Daycare Attendant's Assistant, but you slowly realize this job is the best decision you've ever made.

By the North star by Chex_Nyx

You had been fishing with your father in the Gulf of Mexico when a storm came through, you washed out into the sea and on shore miles away from your initial fishing spot. You'd planned to make it to the nearest town and call the coast guard for help, but you instead learn the storm has thrown you into another world that was almost identical to your worlds fifteenth century, only difference being the pirate crew of anthropomorphic animals that were now your captors, all because your bag ended up on their boat and you were dumb enough to go after it. Or where your thrown into a separate dimension, hurt and your taken on to the pirate vessel "New Dawn" where you meet the captains, who take an interest in you.

Electric Love by BitchImTired, Gucci_Eye_Bags

Pov: You’re one of the mechanics who worked on Sunnydrop and Moondrop, this happens post-game plot. You received a call from your former boss to come to fix the animatronics, you didn't expect to find all your babies having depression, anxiety, existential crisis, and any other emotional issues.

Painted Rocks by cerebralfluids

You lived along the coast for a short time, having moved from a nearby city. The locals never took kindly to city dwellers, but you made a habit of ignoring their stink eye. Rumors of sirens and beasts below the waves punctuated your daily life, but you thought nothing of it. Until--well, until terrible screams tore you from your bed and to the coast. Looks like the locals' rumors about sirens were true, but the humans appear more bloodthirsty.

Astro-Nautical by Pterolem

You're a mermaid who's just come across the weirdest ship of all time. Or rather, the ship is perfectly normal, but its crew? Not so much. You aren't sure you'll be safe here, but as a sea creature you've never truly been safe anywhere, so it might just be worth a shot. For now, at least... Surely they'll let you go when you ask? We'll find out.

My Sweet Starlight by ArtemisRed

Excited for your new job as a daycare helper, you get ready for the day. Little do you know, you'll fall in love with more than just the kiddos you play with.

Laws of Attraction by gheix_luna

When the Pizzaplex burns down, the company is quickly bought out. One morning, you wake up to a call from the new building manager offering you a job. You take it, not expecting to find friendships, trials, and romance with certain two certain robots.

With All My Love, Crumpet by ArtemisRed

London, England 1800s A runaway stops at a local tea room for a cuppa, and sees a cute paperboy selling newspapers in the rain. A close friendship ensues over cakes and tea, but what happens when the family comes for her? And what will it mean for their relationship?

[anthonybialy]

Back to Not Abnormal

Most people would claim to prefer sanity.  Thinking clearly seems logical unless you’re insane.  There’s a good test if anyone’s worried about being infected.  Discarding maniacal idiocy is apparently the wisest course.  If you are familiar with many of humanity’s regrettable tendencies, you understand why there’s no certainty.  We tried out lunacy just to see if we enjoyed it.  Keeping an open mind allows for new experiences even if trying once turns out to be sufficient.

You’re no longer deemed racist for existing, which is nice in the way no longer hitting yourself on the head with a claw hammer feels better by comparison.  One scumbag cop kneeling on a suspect’s neck is no longer valid as an excuse for telling one race of people to pipe down and listen as if another is more authentic in its experience.  You can fill in any group and it’s wrong, which is a way to check.

Grievances aren’t necessarily accurate.  Take how in this case they were totally inaccurate.  The sort of subjective beings who say things like “My truth” may not perceive reality with clarity.  Admitting to subjectivity is a good start even if it’s inadvertent.  Pent-up venters just happen to be the same ones who think Hamas represents the persecuted and this White House has made everyone rich just because the dollar figures seem so high.

Government will cure you, according to countless epitaphs.  It turns out coerced care is the precise opposite of compassionate, what with creating shortages while raising prices.  Micromanaging your breathing and associating only sound like exaggerations.

Getting up in your grill doesn’t just apply to nasty flus inflicted by inept supervillains.  Violating the health of your liberties leads to your physical being declining, too.  Deciding something others provide for you is a right leads to it becoming unobtainable.   Other than the philosophical and practical failures, everything works out.

Billing the collective is a bad way to get goods.  Stuff is supposed to become affordable by billing all of us, meaning others.  Forcing the collective to pay results in an unwieldy cost burden where people either pay ridiculous prices that inevitably result from removing competition or force anyone who makes more to pay way more in taxes, which results in a downturn of spending and hiring.  You can’t choose which way coercion causes ironic woe.

The notion that government is good at anything at all runs counter to every moment we’ve endured, so at least ceaseless suffering had a purpose.  The incumbent claims to have experience yet runs against it.  Aren’t you enjoying your newfound wealth?  There’s the little catch of how we’ve been handed Monopoly money, with the difference being it’s fun to outfox art history majors who think gentrifying Marvin Gardens with hotels would displace the indigent.  A game where entrepreneurs must put others out of business defines liberalism as much as the way they’re terrible at it.

The notion that politicians should seize lucre in order to spend wisely never made sense.  But we tried it just to make sure.  The rather pushy redistribution wasn’t voluntarily, of course, unless signing over one’s autonomy permanently is the consequence of voting once.  That’s Democratic policy.

Coerced cooperation was always preposterous.  The ominous notion now features the immediacy of many horrid examples.  Thank Joe Biden for disproving everything he believes.  

Seeing results is bad news for the theoretically-minded.  Self-branded intellectuals can’t even think of appealing schemes.  Patent claptrap has been inflicted upon everyone for a couple years as part of a rather dubious trend that’s hopefully never treated as a throwback.  We live under a government that’s only semi-skilled at stopping crime, which is the one task it’s neglected.  One of its very few actual assigned roles has been swapped out for ensuring diversity.  Risk is ubiquitous for equality.

Everyone was benefiting from open markets and locked prisons to the point that ingrates decided the solutions were the problems.  The unappreciative naturally kvetch about what allows them to idle.

Removing safeguards went as well as declaring politicians are better at spending than whoever earned the money in question, which is to say not very.  Take a look at who decided what we didn’t need luxuries like autonomy to learn why letting someone else make decisions is a very bad idea.  Biden’s staffers are so bad at being productive that they had to find work hassling those who are.

This decade is not just an experiment to see how woeful life can get, although that was the result.  Change for the sake of it needs specifics.  Imposing daily burdens differs entirely from preserving fantastically counterproductive mandatory programs with coerced funding.

Anyone sick of feeling perpetually fed up might even get to the point where they seek a president who suggests you can choose things for yourself.  All it took was trying the opposite.  Voters consented, once.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Inside Man (2006)

Inside Man does something new with the heist genre. It’s stylish, exciting, filled with intrigue and packed with great actors around every corner. Thanks to its ending, this is a film you won’t soon forget.

In New York, masked robbers take control of a Manhattan bank by holding the people inside hostage. Their leader (Clive Owen) confiscates everyone's phones, divides them into separate rooms and forces them to wear outfits identical to their captors'. As the criminals turn their attention towards the bank’s contents, Detectives Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) and Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor) take charge of the negotiations. Meanwhile, the bank's founder, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), hires professional “fixer” Madeleine White (Jodie Foster) to protect the contents of his safe deposit box.

The ingenious thing about Inside Man is that it follows the hostage negotiators rather than the thieves. This allows us to be fooled by their operation without the film having to cheat or go by the old rule that “if the plan is laid out, it isn’t going to work and if it isn’t, everything is going according to plan”. You’re as puzzled as the hostages and the detectives by what the “Steves” are up to. The way they take control of the bank and handle the hostages proves these are no ordinary criminals. The question is what are they after, exactly? If it were simply money, that would be exciting but obvious and frankly, you’d doubt the thieves’ ability to get away with it. No. Whatever they want, it’s in that safety deposit box. The detectives don’t know that. You’re not even sure if the thieves know what’s inside but whatever it is, it's valuable and it's got to be dirty. No one with clean hands needs to call someone like Madeleine White.

This mystery of the safe deposit box solves one of the inherent problems of heist films, which is the likability of the protagonists. Even when you have the likes of Danny Ocean breaking into a vault, innocent people - security guards who are simply doing their jobs, for example - are going to get hurt or at the very least traumatized by the experience. Dalton Russel (Owen) may be dirty but he’s certainly not as dirty as Arthur Case. At least, you don’t think so. Who knows? Maybe the mystery will be worth all the inconvenience these people are going through. Either way, Frazier and Mitchell are clean for sure so you always have someone you can feel comfortable cheering for.

Aside from one scene that talks about violent video games and gangsta culture (it's a bit on the nose, even if it is largely accurate), this is a superbly directed film. There’s one particular scene where Frazier’s whole world comes to the brink of collapse. In any other movie, the director would’ve had him dramatically leave his trailer but Spike Lee instead chooses to put Denzel on a track and move him towards the camera in a continuous motion. It’s jarring and unusual but it drives the point home like nothing else could’ve. It helps that Lee is working with a wonderfully inventive story by Russel Gewirtz. Inside Man is filled with superb dialogue and makes great use of the city it’s set in. This is the kind of movie that always keeps you guessing because the different characters are always sizing each other up and snatching little advantages from the most unexpected situations. The thieves may be in control of the bank but you know that’s going to change eventually. The detectives in charge are just too smart. Unfortunately, Dalton Russell knows this, which means everything must be part of the plan…

There are a lot of complicated and dubious moral choices in Inside Man. The police make some serious mistakes. The errors they make feel like they were anticipated by the thieves. The violence and stress Russell and his crew unleash upon their hostages is nerve-wracking but it’s hard not to admire them a little bit - they’re just so good at what they’re doing. This and the mystery of that box compel you to keep watching, always keeping note of who’s doing what because this film is told in flashbacks. You sort of know what’s going to happen at the end but you have no idea how. You don’t know what the title refers to, but it’s got to be a hint and you’re determined to figure it out before time runs out and the movie tells you. This is the kind of movie you want to watch again once it’s done so you can tally all the breadcrumbs before they pay off.

Inside Man is a memorable thriller filled with great stuff. There are twists, satisfying red herrings, memorable characters, ambiguous morals to keep you guessing, an intelligence that acknowledges the pitfalls of the genre and the choices made by Spike Lee make it interesting on a technical level as well. Sometimes it’s so intense I don’t know if you could call it “fun” but there’s no way you can keep your eyes off of Inside Man. (March 19, 2022)

[lucymultistan]

BTS Masterlist

All of my recommended fics

ALL CREDIT GOES TO THE CREATORS! I HAVE NOT WROTE ANY OF THESE, MY BLOG WILL BE TAGGED IN MY BIO

Key: !=Smut  #=Fluff  $=Angst

Full Fics: 

Little do you know     !#$

Summary: In a world where idols and actors can’t date, whether it be because of contracts, lack of time, or the dangers that involve having your personal life leaked, the market opened up for a new work field. Playmate Agencies emerged to supply the entertainment world with highly trained companions for hire. Bangtan is looking for new playmates. And you just happen to be the one all of them choose. 

Recrudecence       !#$

It’s nearly easy as breathing (for six of them, at least) for BTS to pretend to be just like everyone else - humans with big dreams and aspirations. But one person brings the façade crashing to the ground and for some reason, they just can’t let her go. 

Time                !#$

Summary: Time. It's always passing by, always changing things that you wish stayed the same. It brought the good and it brought the bad, hell it brought the down right best time in your life. The best thing in your life came with time. It came with some stumbled steps, tough spots...it came with time.

Unorthodox        !#

Summary: You meet BTS on vacation and everything is awesome!

Sh.                !#$

SERIES SUMMARY Six months of quarantine have kept you apart. Somehow the distance sparks something new in each of you: questions, unfinished conversations, threads once chased now left cold. So when your roommate invites you to come with him to a mysterious house in the mountains with your friends, how could you even think of saying no? 

Eidolons             !#$

Summary: To live in an old manor in the middle of nowhere filled with historical, cultist, and most probably cursed relics for a year is part of the will your mysterious grandaunt bestowed onto you. It's all good until the seven men arrive, looking for a place to stay. Or so you've been told. But these men aren't actually guests; they've been in your attic for a lot longer than you think, waiting to be freed. The longer you spent time with them, the more you feel like you know them. And they seem to know you like the back of their hands, too. When you find yourself falling in love with not one, but all of them, you'll soon realize that the the truth can be painful to swallow and they will learn that freedom comes at a cost.

Relax, it's our honeymoon        !#

You and BTS are in a poly relationship, and have recently gotten married. It’s time for your honeymoon!  

To Build a Home              !#$

Summary: With the government's hydrid sector hot on your tails (no pun intended), you have less than a year to solve the problem before they're legally allowed to take you in as a lab rat. What you didn't anticipate was the addition of 6 new members of yours and Jin's happy duo. Luckily you both had enough love for 6 others. 

The Households Bunny             !#$

Summary: You were a cam girl and OnlyFans creator all the while you were a senior in college. A series of events leads you to be living with seven men under the same roof of one renovated motel. Entering the life of rich, and touch starved, men as a less than rich, but similarly touch starved, woman is bound to hold some shenanigans

The Gentlemen                          !#$

Summary:Sick of unsatisfying hookups, boring relationships or the company of your own hand? Apply today for the chance to be on bangasm.com’s very first reality show! Seven attractive young gentlemen will be vying for your choice of who is best in bed. All from different backgrounds, these men claim they’ll be able to rock your world, so don’t hesitate! Apply now!

Oh My Lucifer!                            !#$

Summary: In hopes of achieving a high mark in your final exam you're willing to give up anything, including your soul. However when your drunken joke of a ritual suddenly comes true, how do you even begin to explain your logic to the seven demon lords seated in front of you.

Void                !#$

Summary: You are the only female crew member on a 12 year space mission with seven handsome men. The sexual tension is real, y’all.

One-shots/ drabbles:

Alpha goes first          !!!!

Summary: Each pack has its own set of traditions and standards and as the newest omega in bangtan’s pack- you have more than a few things to learn. things come to a head when the youngest alpha tries to breed you before your pack alpha does. Seokjin doesn’t like that one bit.

The Kings bride              !!!!!!

Untitled            !#

Summary: In which Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook see your true colors.

[van-eazy]

What a lot of young folk don’t understand, in a very beautiful attempt at inclusion and love, is that obesity isn’t really about food or weight. It’s never about “oh my parents were fat and thus so am I” or “being poor in America/England/insert nation made me this way.” Obesity has a root cause, and it’s not something out of your control, however it’s also not because you’re lazy or bad or a failure. Often it’s depression or anxiety, which is not an invitation to get on pills, it’s an invitation to seek out what part of your life sucks so hard that a symptom of your dissatisfaction in life is weight gain. It could be something temporary like grief for a lost loved one or it could be a lifetime of unloving family and isolation from community….

There is absolutely no reason to shame anyone for their weight or treat them with any lack of respect. But we do a great disservice pretending it’s natural, normal, or healthy. One simply cannot be healthy at just any weight, period. Even more bizarre is the embracing of people who purposely gain weight (imagine how many starving kids in any country could eat from those extra 4000 calories a day taken for “gainers.”)

Obese people owe it to nobody to lose weight, but we owe it to coming generations to embrace and love fitness and health, not just for the idea of being hot, but for the endless benefits of fitness and health.

The way to help people struggling with obesity is to love them unconditionally for their true self, and never ever make comments, jokes, snide remarks, helpful suggestions, or even the friendliest of help… unless they ask for it! Only when a person comes to you for advice or even just loving support while they try to make a change in their life should you offer your help. Nobody wants unsolicited advice, least of which your friends who just want your love and support.

I would wager a guess the true cause of obesity for a lot of our gay brothers is isolation, loneliness, lack of community, and a feeling of pointlessness in life. Being lifelong medicated by the pharmaceutical industry isn’t a proper fix, and it won’t make things better.

Choosing to treat your body and soul better is not a light choice to make, and it’s even harder to tell your best friends that you’re trying.

Right now we’re about to hit that point when New Year’s resolutions flop, and the old patterns return. If a change in lifestyle just won’t stick, the last thing I want you to do is feel like you’re just not made for this, or like you’re permanently stuck. Perhaps it has nothing to do with your ability to stick to a plan, or to have self control or determination. Maybe there’s something blocking that healthier self, a great barrier that only self-introspection and love can move.

Your body is a reflection of your inner self and your outer health, and if your head needs a bit of proper healing, no amount of boot camp fitness or low carb diets will do it. The change *must* be internal first for the external to reflect such a change.

But remember, it’s not enough to figure out what caused you to be this way, bad parents, trauma, etc, nobody cares, we’ve all got it. Yes, you have to discover it, but I’m willing to bet you already know what went wrong in your life cos you’ve probably played it over a million times in your head, thinking about how much better things would be if only things had been different.

It’s not enough to find out what traumatized you, you have to next forgive, forget, and move on. And if you haven’t forgotten then you haven’t forgiven.

You don’t need to hire anyone or pay someone to listen to you. You don’t need to talk to your friends or family, you need to talk to yourself. Our entire lives are nonstop interaction with the outside world but for most of human history we spent a lot of time on the inside, with our inner self.

A person who is healthy on the inside will wear it on the outside. If you are ready emotionally to lose weight, check out my video below which has great tips from someone who has been through it more than once.

And if you’re spiritually not ready and you know it but you just don’t know where to start, I’ve got great book recommendations for people of any faith or no faith and my DMs and anon is always open.

[coochiequeens]

I knew using a surrogate was the only way I'd have a child. I saw what women would go through to carry a baby, and it just wasn't something that I was prepared to do.“ If she wanted to be a parent but had no desire to go through pregnancy and birth why not just adopt ?

I never had the desire to have a baby physically. The idea of using a surrogatestarted before I ever considered the process. I was young and married, and at the time, my husband wanted a baby—but I didn't.

Unfortunately, that relationship didn't work out. But when I met my now husband, I loved him tremendously; it was a different type of love. With him, I wanted to have a kid. So, at 36, I froze my eggs and embryos.

After a few years, we started talking about it seriously. In my heart, I knew using a surrogate was the only way I'd have a child. I saw what women would go through to carry a baby, and it just wasn't something that I was prepared to do.

I have a lot of admiration and respect for women who have children and work, but I never thought that was for me.

I didn't judge myself. I allowed myself to say hey, giving birth is just not for me. I did, on the other hand, know the traditional surrogacy route was for me—but not for health reasons. Instead, my reason, which probably isn't popular, was a life decision that worked best for us.

Choosing a surrogate

We used a surrogacy agency recommended by a friend and found a mother of two who'd given birth before. She was also very honest about why she was interested in being a surrogate.

As a single mom originally from Cuba, she had been in the States for eight years trying to make enough money to feed and provide for her family—and it wasn't easy. I knew the money meant a lot, but also, I'm originally from Columbia, and we're both Hispanic. I felt a connection and kinship with her.

Plus, I felt she would do a good job.

The cost of surrogacy

Looking back, we didn't expect or think about the cost upfront. The surrogacy costs can be a lot for many families. Ours ended up around $120,000 $140,000 USD.

Our surrogate worked the night shift at the hospital, so we paid her salary for the final three months of pregnancy. We wanted to make sure those long nights didn't take as much of a physical or emotional toll on her. We also paid for her food to ensure a great diet. That alone became really expensive over the nine months.

Our doctors said age wouldn't be an issue, so we didn't factor it into the final cost. When we met her, she was 39; by the time she had our baby, she was 41. Some medical issues arose during labor and delivery, leading to more costs than we expected. We learned there are a lot of possible health risks involved with age that can increase expenses before and after birth.

The emotional impact of hiring a surrogate

The hardest part is having faith that everything will work out since you're trusting a person you've barely met to carry your child. As much as you try to get to know and build a connection with them, you may still live in different states and come from diverse backgrounds. It's tough to establish that deep level of connection.

Being comfortable with using a surrogate and taking that chance helps ease the experience and anxiety. You'll have some negative thoughts about not completely controlling the situation—I did. But I leaned on my faith and I prayed everything would go well. I wholeheartedly prayed our baby would be healthy.

One thing that helped was speaking to our surrogate at least once a week. We also virtually attended her doctor's appointments via Zoom. Because we lived in different states, being a part of the journey felt nice.

The most comforting part was that our surrogate was very responsible and caring. She knew what to do already since she had two kids—pregnancy made sense to her. Knowing this helped us build trust and confidence in the process.

We had a really good relationship with her; I'm grateful for that.

What I wish I had known before

We knew what she did but didn't realize how challenging the job would be on her body toward the end of the pregnancy. If you're going to go the surrogate route, I recommend digging deep into what the surrogate does for work and making sure it's manageable. The additional costs also add up, putting more pressure on your relationship.

It also might've been easier (and perhaps less costly) if the surrogate's dietary choices aligned with ours.

Lastly, you want to be comfortable with their age. There will most likely be fewer health risks during and after the pregnancy for a younger surrogate. To be a surrogate, you need to have already had children. With our surrogate being older, it meant she was responsible, but carrying the baby and being pregnant was a little more difficult on her body.

Those are concerns in both tangible and emotional ways.

Seeing our baby for the first time

People always say it, but our baby was the best gift ever. It's hard to understand what that means until you have your own little bundle. As a person who wants to impact the world, I quickly realized that creating a baby that will benefit society is one of the most significant impacts you can have and one of the best gifts you can give. It was a real mind shift.

Sharing that utopian level of love with my son, Rio, is like seeing 3-D your whole life, and suddenly you see 4-D. It's the epitome of what life is and re-establishes your belief in the potential and pure magic of everything.

Ultimately, having Rio and our surrogacy journey was one of the most profound and humbling, exhilarating love-feeling experiences I have ever (and will ever) have. Our family is now complete, and we're forever grateful to the woman who so generously lent us her womb.

If it was about money she could adopt a child for $1,000 to $50,000

[lapinaraoflimbo]

Thinking about this question. I have many characters that work jobs of some sort but only one of them could be seen as a wage worker. But I think it'll be nice to flesh out the settings I have.

Wonderland has no characters that work jobs, at least not any characters central to the story. This is intentional. The characters themselves are meant to be abstractions of sex and gender and the world is somewhat inspired by porn games like corruption of champions. But also importantly: There is a significant fascist government in the setting and in a way these characters are not "allowed" to work. This is in part because of way that the story explores gender roles. In the same way that there were times historically women weren't "allowed" to work the trans and subversive characters central to the story are also not "allowed" to work or participate in mainstream society. (of course "allowed" is in parentheses because not being allowed to work often means being forced to work bad jobs. Women were allowed to work but they weren't allowed in good/high paying jobs. And similarly trans people today are not allowed in many of those jobs (and cis women and non-white people and.....))

Basically Wonderland is meant to be an exploration of gender and sexuality through the lens of fantasy porn. But to fully explore gender you have to also show the consequences and ways that people are treated for their gender and sexuality. Characters not having jobs in wonderland is intentional and deliberate for these reasons.

BABBAL my sci-fi story set in the body of a dead god. Wage labor is inherently different inside of the wound because people can just leave if they want to. The corpse gives freedom to do anything that someone can imagine and so one may not have to eat or sleep or drink or have shelter to survive. There are a myriad of ways that people in the wound live without any exchange, and some who are entirely dependent on constant exchange of some sort.

Two main characters in this setting have more traditional "laborer" dynamics which is Steph (hired as a researcher from an organization outside of the wound) and Wilwit (zombie that works as an executioner at a brothel). Steph is too much to get into in a post like this but Wilwit is interesting because he has a more traditional 9-5 style of job. His life is structured around a job and very importantly this is a lifestyle and job that he chose and chooses to do. There's a lot I can explore with Wilwit but one of those things is alienation from work and what it takes for someone to not be alienated from that. Especially in a setting where it is clear he is choosing to work for his own enjoyment and fulfillment I think he is a really interesting character.

Pockets would be my magical girl focused story. Faith is the main character and while she is not a wage laborer, she is a contractual worker. Specifically she is contractually obligated to work for the central religion of her world, as repentance for being a magical girl. The religion pays her what would be considered less than minimum wage for the work that she does. The story involves her denying the responsibility placed on her, and while it's more focused on religious and trans themes I think that there is overlap with wage labor and anti-capitalism.

??? an unnamed story that is ironically the most fleshed out of all of them. It's a traditional fantasy world and I often refer to it by the name of the two central characters, Muzi and Selina. The world itself leans anarchist, and while I want to eventually write stories about characters found in some of the central empires, most of the stories I've written are on the outer edges of the world where various groups of peoples live anarchist lifestyles. the two central characters are traveling members of a troupe, the people of the troupe are primarily members of a nomadic tribe who had to leave the trails and pathways they call home.

Muzi and Selina work in part for this troupe, and also as hired mercenaries. Contract workers would be the closest thing we have to what they are, I suppose, but the term doesn't fit them particularly well. They are disenfranchised and the troupe primarily barters for food and supplies and so money is not a high priority for them. Mercenary work helps subsidize them alongside the creation of goods from craftsmen in the troupe and performances and entertainment that they charge for in more populated areas. It is a nomadic commune, if I had to state what it is through my limited knowledge of these sorts of things.

[mysticalxmagical]

HII IGNORE I'VE BEEN LIKE DEAD FOR A MONTH SJSJJA I haven't watched gen loss (Is that what it's called?? Bsbajja) SO RANT ABOUT IT TO ME :D If you'd like ofcourse! /gen <3

I'm literally so happy that you sent this- thank you so much, I'll literally give you the biggest hug ever-

Also I'm putting everything under a readmore thing cause I know this is gonna be a very long post- and I'm basically gonna rant about everything so I'm sorry if you wanted to watch it afterwards kcnfifj- you still can but I'm just warning you now that I'm gonna just talk about the episodes-

Okay so- yes! It's called generation loss or gen loss for short, and it's literally the most amazing thing ever!! (At least it is to me-) it's this horror comedy show thing that Ranboo made and worked very hard on and it's just so cool!! Like I'm literally obsessed with it-

In the show there's three episodes that they did in like three streams on May 24th, 26th, and 28th- literally almost all of the episodes were done live with only some parts of it being prerecorded, and it was interactive too!! There were different choices that would pop up on screen and chat could choose which one to go with and stuff, it was literally the most fun I've ever had- The first episode is called "The Spirit of The Cabin", it has Ranboo, Charlie (Slimecicle-), and Sneeg in it and Ranboo is basically like the main character who we kinda control- that's why it's interactive because we kinda control him- (which is very important for lore later on-) but anyway- Ranboo basically wakes up on a couch in this cabin and he starts to like explore the room he's in and find these keys to another door (with some funny things happen-) and the front door to the cabin is very interesting because it keeps leading him to different places, almost like a portal of some kind? It leads him to a forest, a beach (where he gets pocket sand-), and Christian hell for some reason?? (That's literally what they said, or at least what Charlie called it so-) but anyway, they eventually find all the keys but then Charlie busts down the door with the locks and comes in, and he's kinda like this slime demon thing? He's basically just covered in slime and stuff- and some other small things happen but eventually he makes Ranboo do like a cooking challenge thing where they have to make him something to eat and it was honestly kinda funny since I'm pretty sure they were both improving this whole thing- we also got to interact and choose which ingredients to use which had some very weird stuff- but whoever on the team Ranboo hired designed the place was really smart because at first the fridge was empty, but when he opened it again it was filled with stuff and it kept changing every time he closed it and opened it again, and I'm pretty sure it was cause the back was fake and someone would just switch out the stuff- Anyway, he eventually wins I guess? So Charlie let's him leave, but the portal door just leads him to a slime dimension and Ranboo didn't wanna be there so he left it, but once he was inside, Charlie wasn't there anymore so he decided to explore again- and when he was exploring, one of Charlie's Ghoul assistants or whatever walked past and they had a vhs tape on their back, so Ranboo grabbed it and they played it on the tv- and it ended up being a video of some guy called Hetch who was apparently trying to get him out of the show since it's kinda obvious now that something's very wrong- (there was also something that I didn't mention earlier- it's that ranboo's wearing a seemingly metal mask with like lights on it that glow red sometimes- and not too long after he woke up, chat did an interactive thing and made the vase fall onto the floor, and when he went to check it out, his mask started glowing and he started freaking out a little but then he went back to normal as if nothing happened- and it seemed like the mask was probably like controlling him or whatever-) but after that the screen cuts to a technical difficulties thing which is probably the company running this show trying to stop us from seeing anything wrong- (also based on the other videos that's posted on a different channel, a bit of the lore is that this is a show being run by a company called showfall media and it's kinda obvious that there's something wrong with the company and stuff-) eventually it cuts back and he's waking up on the couch again with seemingly no memories of what just happened- so he explores again and ends up in a room that's kinda like a garage or basement type thing and they just look around at the stuff- but eventually someone calls out from behind like a tarp thing and he pulls it off and it's Sneeg there in a cage, also with a (fake) skeleton called Frank who Sneeg is apparently saying can talk to him or whatever but yeah-

Ranboo eventually gets him out while they both just talk and improve and stuff- and Charlie comes back again (coming out of like a box in the corner-) and he dumps some slime on Sneeg to take control of him, then Sneeg and Ranboo start to fight- and it was like fighting in games cause they both had like those health bar things and we could choose whether he like dodged or kicked or whatever- but he eventually defeats Sneeg and makes him go back to normal, so Charlie just disappears again and they just go exploring again- they eventually go to another door and open it up with like pliers or whatever they're called? Cause there's like a chain over the door and they go inside, and it seems that it's like Charlie's room or something and they explore it some- eventually Ranboo went to sleep cause that was literally the only option we had other than talk to Sneeg and we already did that so he did- but a part of the wall behind the bed was like this white sheet I think and they started like pushing on it and stuff and saying just crazy stuff as Sneeg just like stood there silently and watched it happen- (I think the wall thing was based on a certain horror movie but I forgot which one Ranboo said it was-) eventually Ranboo wakes up and Sneeg kinda tells him what happened and stuff so they find a letter opener and some scissors to cut it and enter, but before they do, Sneeg gets eaten by a monster that comes out and Ranboo runs away and manages to get the monster to get trapped in the cage that Sneeg was originally in- (I also forgot to mention that before the very first part even happenned, there was a little section where they made chat make a monster and it was just so- it had a shark head, a pickle body, and lobster legs- it was crazy but I loved it-) and he goes back and goes into the room they were gonna go in before which is apparently an attic- and he finds Charlie there, so they both start to fight and it does like the game fight stuff again and Ranboo eventually wins against him and stuff- after that everything starts to like glitch and stuff and when he gets back to the main room, the TV is on again and Hetch says something to them which I genuinely don't remember- then they decide to go through the door again and they end up in something that seems like a warehouse or just some random place, but then two people suddenly grab him and use a needle on him that makes them get knocked out and that's where episode one ends! The whole thing is like 1h and 40mins long I think- but the youtube video is a bit shorter cause it doesn't include the monster making part-

Anyway- I'm stopping there because I feel like I've talked too much and i don't want this to be super duper long- and I'm also sorry if this was not what you were expecting but I just wanted to rant about what the episodes are like and how cool it is and stuff idnkfkf- the episode is much better than I described it as, trust me- there's a lot of other details and stuff that I left out cause I either didn't remember or I didn't think it was that important-

[vale-x]

HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 20/20 — A CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT TASK, PERTINENT TO MEMORIES.

TRIGGER WARNING! This character development task contains potentially triggering content such as: child abuse and abandonment, narcissism, cheating, heartbreak.  //  @exclusivemusings

What is a key memory your muse has that drastically changed the course of their life?

This would probably the time when he stole his dad’s car and took it for a roadtrip with his friends, effectively running away. All of the boys had used their parents’ credit cards to take them as far as they could go, and wound up breaking down on the side of the road. The entire trip was Lukas’ first taste of real freedom from his parents, and solidified his means to kick off running and never look back the second he legally could. Had he never formally made the decision to cut his parents out of his life (for the most part), he’d likely be even more of a reflection of them now—more cruel, more selfish, more manipulative.

What decisions have they made that ultimately wound them up where they are now - physically, emotionally, spiritually?

What decisions hasn’t he made that wound him up where he is now? That’s a better question, because Lukas continually fucks up his life over and over and never has, and likely never will, learn from his mistakes to be a better man. Some of the more notable decisions have been cheating on almost every person he’s been in a relationship with, hiring someone to steal his industry rival’s databases, sleeping with his ex-girlfriend’s best friend, getting married to someone he just met over Pride, and generally every decision he’s made in primarily his own self-interest, have brought him to his current turmoil. That isn’t to say some of his decisions haven’t been good. After all, no one person is wholly good or wholly bad. He is definitely objectively a horrible person who hurts others and doesn’t take accountability for doing so, but at least in regards to his line of work, which he’s very passionate about, nearly all of his decisions have been good and commendable even. He holds a lot of pride in his work and, emotionally, that provides him with enough of a buffer to give himself praise when others would rather hold him accountable. To tell himself he’s not so bad, when others try to show him that he is, in fact, and doesn’t have to be, but chooses to be.

Physically he’s aging, yes, but still very much in the prime of his life. He doesn’t have the same crazy stamina he had in his twenties, but he’s chosen to live a very active lifestyle despite his obligations and his body reflects that, in both outward appearance and internal functioning. Generally, he does not experience any physical ailments except eczema flares, which he’s had since he was a child.

If they were to have made a different decision at the time, what would it have been?

Hindsight really is always 20/20 with Lukas and he only ever wishes he could go back and have a do-over after the consequences are already there in his face. In most situations, yes, he’d likely choose to go back and make a different decision. Not cheat on his partners. Not betray peoples’ trust. Not marry someone he just met. Act more selflessly, do more for others. But, with Lukas, practice is damn near impossible compared to theory. In the moment, he would likely make the same exact decisions he made the first time around.

How might their life differ now had they made that alternative decision?

He’d likely be a lot happier. Have stable relationships, possibly even a family and kids of his own.

Does your muse ever wish they could go back in time and change anything about their life? If so, what?

If you were to ask him, he would tell you no. He’s too prideful to admit that anything in his life could have negatively affected him and permanently so. Deep down, yes he does. If he had some way to give himself a loving childhood—even a childhood where his parents were at least there—he would start there.

How does your muse experience their bad memories? Are they nostalgic? Resentful? Remorseful? Do they avoid them altogether?

Lukas tends to avoid bad memories like the plague. When he does allow himself to reminisce, because it’s typically things he himself has caused, he tends to feel remorseful and resentful of himself. He does not understand why he ruins every relationship he gets into, or why he’s so inherently bad (as he believes he is), and to confront those emotions, his mind does some strange things. He either lets it drag him down into some self-hate spiral that ultimately ends in denial, or he’ll go into immediate denial.

What is your muse’s worst memory?

TW CHILD PHYSICAL ABUSE. Lukas’ worst memory is difficult to pinpoint, but if he had to narrow them down to an era, it would all be concentrated in his childhood. Though he’s had devastating memories as an adult, nothing compared to the original wound of the only people that were obligated to care for him, not caring for him. Considering which one left the longest mark, and the one that might immediately come to surface if someone ever asked him what his worst memory is, it would be the night his father came home after he’d been arrested for arson at age fourteen. James had beaten him nearly to death, and then left him to take himself to the hospital. In the three days that ensued of hospitalization, his parents never looked for him, and rather flew back out to their respective jobs. A full detailed account can be found here and here.

What is your muse’s favorite memory?

Happy memories are typically superficial for Lukas, but the memories he’s had with his ex-girlfriend, Camila, have been consistently the best of his life. He was deeply in love with her, and when they met, they’d both been on a world-tour cruise. When the cruise docked in Thailand, they hiked down to a waterfall, and finally kissed one another for the first time. That night, they rented out a glass igloo from a local hotel, where they’d be able to sleep under the open sky surrounded by the forest and an elephant preserve. Stargazing has always been highly comforting and intimate to Lukas, as it was one of—if not the only—coping mechanism taught to him as a child. That night has been forever ingrained in Lukas’ memory as fondly as he’s ever experienced, and despite the ultimate demise their relationship met, it’s his favorite memory.

What is a song or aesthetic that brings up a memory for your muse, and what memory is it?

The song Wavelengths by Gem Club. It was playing on the cruise deck that he and Camila had been on, and they’d danced together, alone late at night to it, again underneath the stars and moonlight. He is not often so romantic, but in that moment, and every moment after, he felt safe enough with Camila to be so. That was the night he realized he loved her.