#like was I really That Affected by stupid internet artist drama | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

leomitchellart · 4 years

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So… about this latest Inktober controversy….

Time to begrudgingly chuck in my two penneth… (Remeber you can always press “J” to skip this post altogether)

As most of you may or may not know, Alphonso Dunn released a Youtube video wherein he publicly accused Jake Parker, and creator of the Inktober challenge, of plagiarising his book. Both of these men are public figures, artists specialising in pen & ink. In the video Dunn looks at the preview pages and flip through footage of Parker’s “Inktober All Year Round” and says they draw many similarities in the illustrations, language and layout that he used in his own book, “Pen & Ink Drawing”. Parker’s book was set to this month. Hense why Dunn only used footage and not a physical copy.

Since the video’s release, the art community has been very spilt down the middle. The book’s publisher has halted the launch of Parker’s book until the matter can be investigated. Even DeviantArt cancelled their own Inktober event thing (I’ll admit I don’t keep up with these things DA keeps doing). Parker has since released a statement in the matter. Now it’s up to the courts to decide what’s happening next. The video itself is an hour long, but it’s crucial to see it yourself.

People are, understandably, outraged after seeing it. This seems like a shitty thing to rip-off Dunn - not to mention stupid. Since Dunn is the more popular pen & ink artist with more social media followers and name recognition. Many have called to boycott inktober and condemn Parker. I’ll admit, I was right alongside them at first, at least for feeling outraged. The similarities are there. But if YMS’s Kimba video has taught me anything, it’s that, even if an accusation of plagiarism may be obvious at a cursory glance, sometimes it’s important to take a more critical eye and do more research to learn that things aren’t as cut and dry as they first seem. If there’s a lesson I can take away from the internet as a whole, it’s that no one thinks about the consequences of mob mentality.

The most common defence of Parker is that because they’re both books about pen and ink drawing, then they’re inevitably going to be similar. I’ll admit that, when you pick-up so many art books, a lot of them will cover the same basic grounds of materials, tutorials, strokes, techniques etc. The parts about rendering textures on spheres and cubes isnt new. Look up “texture study” and you’ll see so many examples of artists rendering these kinds of things digitally. I’ve also noticed a common theme of people more formally educated in art pointing out how none of these are original. Everything down to the steps and illustrations are things they’ve learned from years ago. Since I'm a pen & ink artist, inspired by my love of comics, I have quite a few books about inking: Dunn’s included. I own both his books and still highly recommend them. I didn't even preorder Parker’s book. Ironically because I didn't think it could offer anything new that my other books hadn’t already.

While Ethan Becker took the time to cross-examine Dunn and Parker’s books with several others, there weren’t many of the ones I actually owned. So I looked to my shelves to see what I could find. Books like:

“The Art of Comic Book Inking” by Gary Martin & Steve Rude

“How Comics Work” by Dave Gibbons & Tim Pilcher

“The DC Comics guide to Inking Comics” by Klaus Janson

“Making Comics” by Scott McCloud

“Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics”

I’m sure there’s plenty more examples out there. I was planning to go through all of these and take pictures. But ultimately that’s not the core point of these post. Plus it would’ve taken WAY too long and this post itself, is long enough.

Of course, none of the them are 100% close to Dunn’s in the way they’re displayed. Not as close as Parker’s could be considered. That being said, I know Dunn is trying to claim that he invented these techniques. The nucleus of the issue is how similar they are in terms of order and how these pages are displayed. Some I can chock-up to standard practice, while others seem more coincidental.

If there’s one thing I’m adamant about, it’s that I think that Dunn should’ve messaged Parker first before making the accusation public. Some try to dispute that this would've made it easier for Dunn to be “silenced”, whatever that means; but that sounds a bit conspiratorial to me. Ideally, you confront him about it in private, if he makes any threats or blows you off, get your lawyer on the phone and then make the video. Not only is it the more civil thing to do - but it’s the smarter thing to do. This is a serious legal matter, not just internet drama. While I’m sure Dunn had no intention of tearing Parker down or getting a mob onto him, that’s unfortunately what’s happened. A backlash both from the general artisan community and several companies. Wherein it was left to Parker himself to make this an official legal matter. If Parker’s found not guilty, then this could easily leave the gate open for him to sue Dunn for damages, loss of revenue, defamation of character or whatever else, should he see fit. As could the publishers, given how this affected their sales. Companies responded to the accusation of the video alone, before an investigation could be launched. Sure, it wouldn't be “acting the bigger man” but he’d be well within his right to do it. Dunn showed that Jake has mentioned him before, shown admiration for his career and referenced him in other posts. If it comes to light in court, that Dunn is even cited as an inspiration or source in the book itself, then it’s case closed.

Then there’s the other possibility that Parker might not have done this on his own, but that he has a team behind the book. If that’s the case, the most I can accuse Parker of is being a hack. I worry Dunn has kneecapped himself for just how badly he’s handled this situation. Made worse by him not having an actual physical copy to assess and just had footage of preview pages to go on. So far, the circumstances don’t seem on his favour.

I don’t think ill of Dunn. I do think he believes he’s been wronged and no malice in his intentions. I just think he’s made some critical errors on how to handled this. As for Parker himself, I couldn't give a donkey’s doo-dah about him. I’m sure you could accuse me of playing devil’s advocate earlier, but to me, he was the guy who released the annual prompt list. If it really does turn out that he’s a plagiarist and had malicious intent, then fuck ‘im. I never regarded him as an inspiration of mine or paid much attention to him outside of that. It was the community that made Inktober what it is. I’ve never met Parker. Maybe he’s a cool guy? Maybe he’s a bellend? I don’t know.

Granted this isn't the first time Parker has proved himself to be a controversial figure: - Last year people were upset about him trademarking (not copywriting, as many have erroneously claimed) the word “Inktober” and some artists were stopped from selling their related work or zines. Parker would issue a statement: claiming the takedowns were a mistake of “overzealous lawyers” and it’s just a matter of the logo being trademarked. People can sell their Inktober works and even mention they are Inktober-related. Just not use the official logo. On the one hand, from a business standpoint, I get it. It’s the bare minimum you need to do to protect your IP, especially when you have a store. BUT, like most people, I don’t like how, what’s intended as a community challenge, has slowly become more of a brand associated with one man. Hardly a surprise it left a bad taste in so many people’s mouths. But, since it doesn't actually effect anyone’s ability to take part in the challenge, outside of personal principle, I went ahead with it the previous year.

- The year before, when asked if one can do Inktober digitally, Parker said the following:

I know some are still bitter about that, but speaking as someone who inks traditionally and digitally, this came across as needless whinging and blowing things out of proportion. Claiming that Jake had derided digital artists and said they were invalid etc etc. Take it from me, challenging yourself to try out different methods to ink traditionally can greatly improve the work you do digitally. It’s like how learning traditional fundamentals of art can still be applied to digital. Plus he never said “No.” he just gave valid reasons about how it makes it a different experience. That said, if you’re someone who can’t afford any kind of inking equipment or pens and only have a selected application to draw on - then none of this applies to you. Just the aforementioned few who took it upon themselves to get angry over nothing. Recently I’ve heard from subscribers of his newsletter that he’s now embraced the idea of people doing inktober digitally, to the point of selling digital brushes for inktober. I’m sure some will call this “backsliding” or “money grubbing” because people aren’t allowed to change their minds or update their statements.

For weeks I’ve been torn on what to do, not being able to solidify one stance over another. One minute I thought #JusticeForAlphonsoDunn then I wonder “Wait maybe I should look again?” to “But wait, those are way too similar!” Having splinters in my arse from sitting on the fence for so long. The longer this went on, however, I began to realise that I can’t take one stance over another. This case is far too muddy and complicated. I don’t have enough sufficient knowledge or evidence. Nor do any of you. We literally only have Dunn’s video to go on. While it’s a good start, it’s not enough to be taken 100% as gospel when it’s the only thing to hand.

As previously mentioned, a lot of artists have decided to not take part in Inktober at all, or follow different prompt lists. That’s completely fine. A lot of them are based around a specific theme: halloween, kinky stuff, bears, transformers, OCs, Disney or whatever. That has massive appeal. I just can’d do it myself. I prefer the focus on random words, rather than all centred on a single subject; allowing me to be creative with my ideas and execution. I actually did try to make a list of my own random words. Problem is, I worried that because I was choosing my own, I might be subconsciously bias towards certain prompts and not truly challenging myself. Even narrowing down my options was taking too long. In the end…. I’ve decided to just do the official prompts again this year.

For me, that’s what it ultimately came down to. TIME. It’s the middle of September. I can’t afford to wait for the court case to be settled. No other prominent artists I respect have released their own prompt lists. I know there’s been some shitty people who are condemning this choice. Attacking others, accusing them of supporting plagiarism, looking to block anyone who does the official prompts. Even trying to make this a racial issue. Just…. no.

If someone doesn’t want to take part in Inktober, that’s fine. If someone wants to do the official prompts, that’s fine. If someone wants to do their own prompts, that’s fine.

Don’t go around aggressively making snap judgements or accusing people of taking a side. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. This has been a shit year, let people enjoy something.

If you look at this situation and it makes you feel angry, and you don’t feel comfortable in taking part in a challenge because of it’s creator. I get that, I literally get that. It’s why I haven't done Mermay. And please don’t mention Pinktober, I’m aware of it, but given his insta video on the subject and the things he said, I quickly came to the conclusion that I can’t take this person seriously. I’m sure this might make me seem hypocritical, but how this differs, if only for me, is the sheer amount Inktober means to me. It’s more than a simple challenge. Inktober's the one thing I’ve been most excited about all year. As it was ruined for me in 2019, when I lost my home and I didn't get to complete every prompt. (Long story, I’m okay now). As we all know, 2020, has been an AWFUL year. We’ve got to take whatever joy we can. As I’ve looked longer at the official prompts, I found ideas I’m really excited for.

Once I started to really dedicate myself to it, it became a massive event. I hype myself up as I prepare for the busy month. Buy in supplies, clean the house and workspace, cook and freeze meals in bulk to save time, printing off a sheet that allows me to jot down ideas as I plan ahead. Then once it’s done, after so much work, it makes the reward all the sweeter: Ordering a takeaway, celebrating a great halloween night and still rocking those vibes throughout November. Feeling proud of myself for doing it and seeing myself improve my technique, discipline and earning a few lie-ins to make up for the sleep I lost working. I’m like a kid waiting for Christmas. That said, don’t think that there’s something wrong with you when you understandably can’t dedicate that amount time for a simple art challenge. If anything that’s plenty of reason to why you’re smarter than me. You have a life and don’t push yourself too much.

Now, I need to crack on with the preparations. If you want to boycott Jake Parker, just not buying any of his products should be enough. Doing the inktober challenge doesn't bring attention to him, as I doubt most people even know him as the creator, nor does it even line his pockets. I just hate how cancel culture can do such serious damage like this and then try and put pressure on others to act accordingly without even doing any research themselves.

As long as you’re not harassing anybody. Just do what YOU want to do. That’s fine.

#Inktober #Inktober 2020 #My two penneth #Jake Parker #alphonso dunn

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misterbitches · 3 years

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hi! this is long as shit i’m sorry. i hope it makes sense. i ahve adhd and like 5 million learning disorders so this is just word vomit cos there’s so many words in my brain. my b.

i’ve had such a tough day so thank you for replying and sharing! @yeedak

i was thinking about what i wrote and i meant to clarify that as well. some cases are fine for both parties and it’s not like you weren’t consenting and it seems like you were happy! same with my friend who was dating a 20 yr old. if they’re happy you know i’ll clown on ‘em but yea. so for anyone that sees these posts your relationship with your partner who is older or whatever. i’m some dumb girl on the internet okay. ill side eye older ppl tho

i think a lot of people feel the same way you do now (me included.) it feels really good at the time but alter we can see the dynamics playing out. i’m 29 now and i think aging is just such a huge process. it’s wild how you at 31 are a totally different person, right?

and the US racism is probably some of the worst ever in its iteration because of slavery which started from europe etc but USA is so fucking unique bc of columbus bringing slaves here and displacing indigenous peoples or hispanola and because america is so influential the way it views race, particularly with black people as objects, has so deeply permeated into the current historical psyche globally. it’s fascinating to track how necessary anti blackness is to the flourishing of america but also the world at this point. also want to point out how fuckign scary sinophobia is here especially for covid. one is a straight historical line (black ppl + the US) and the other had to be manufactured and to continue to exploit the non-white americans and keep antiblackness in tact.i could go on about this all day. the pain of this place is immense.yet as bad as it is here, this is still the only place i truly feel safe as a black person. because of the unique experience we have in america and through the diaspora especially because we are veyr much ocncentrated here. it would be nice to like move to norway and have some alleviation financially or get free healthcare it’s just not feasible if no one looks like me. it’s fucking tough.

i hope you don’t hate it here though and people treat you with respect. but as you know being a woman and jewish and an immigrant....shit is tough. the USA is a hellhole. :( america is so deeply tainted and desperately bad because it was founded on strife and blood and there’s no way to reverse that and what this country did in turn when it gained enough power and could capitalize off of the colonial forefathers. this is why we hsould all luv revolution!!!

HOWMEVERRRR

boy oh boy oh BOY OH BOYYYYYYYY. well wlecome to the world of BL lmao especially as an adult with some obviously deep perspective just given your background. it is a fucking mess and it’s a hard mess to like but it pulls you in. i approach it like i do with soap operas since these are essentially telenovelas, you know? just like the drama at a billion. but the tricky part of that is like....what parts of it do we understand for critiquing? because so many of the shows are so bad at being like good pieces of things to look at just production wise and story wise. but i feel like these shows ask us to take them seriously, so why shouldn’t we take the content seriously? and this is being primarily peddled to young girls.

i bring this up often but i read this thing about yaoi and the interest younger women/girls have in BL and its fascination with pederasty essentially. this component i think is key when we talk about who gets affected by these things the most. society in general is bad 4 girls bla bla we know lmao but in “more sexually conservative” societies it may be harder for these girls to feel safe even expressing normal emotions romantically and sexually and particularly with guys. some people hypothesized, and i think i agree with this hypothesis, that they can live through the casualness of BL. they don’t feel threatened because they can put themselves into the shoes of the other character. oftentimes, the more feminine or the younger. this was in conjunction with the age gap aspect (they say pederasty as well because there’s unethical age gaps that r gross and that is indeed what we would at least call a touch of sexual abuse if people dont feel like calling it an obsession with youth and power and uhhh young ppl and perhaps kids) where maybe girls could see themselves in these situations as the person being saved, loved, taken care of, and sadly also sexually active and penetrated.

i think that’s just one aspect of it but i do think there’s validity in who gravitates towards it. i cannot imagine seeing this stuff and not getting enough information as a young kid, i sure as fuck know i didn’t!, and seeing these things and you look at it with 0 critique because you’re young and you may have no interest in it or you simply cannot understand what is wrong. no one is teaching you these things and these shows confirm it. and it is wild how intrinsic patriarchy is to BL although in its existence it also can’t be in line with patriarchy given the nature of two [cis] men!

it begs the question about the replacement aspect. is it just so girls can put themselves in these characters shoes? if so then that means we believe that gender is so interchangeable within our relationships and interactions and that doesn’t seem right. there’s more to lgbtq+ than just existing; it’s finding ways to communicate, finding a family, safety, your people, being a free person. there’s a lot to gain and a lot a lot to lose. and a gay man is also not a woman because those are also two distinct experiences. especially in societies that have a more hidden aspect to sexuality (idk how to word this bc the BL industry would NEVER survive in america but in a way there’s a more “progressive” look at homosexuality but it’s still fucked up because we live in a Society, you know? at the same time look at what we are doing to trans kids. literally waging war so it’s bonkers how we all collectively have some real progress happening but at the same time not at all. the concept of ‘ladyboys’ and the frequency we see trans people in thai shows is wild and something that we absolutely do not see here in the US. still, none of these groups feel safe or are getting better material conditions in either place. we just show the ways we can try and tolerate oppression witout eliminating it imo)

to me it is clear: it’s money. which most things exist to make money so. but also who is the audience for these shows? and they have to market towards them. all that said all hope is not lost there are some decent shows. it’s just like regular media on TV though where it’s so fucking saturated as an industry that it’s literally sifting through garbage. and there are some days when you can handle the trash and others where it really fucking hurts to watch the violence, the rape, the manipulation, the violations, the stupid messaging. i have never seen more people trying to do mental gymnastics and seeing if things were “technically rape” than in teh BL fandom and that is so fucking sad.

i came into these shows at 28 with almost 0 clue of what as media BL was like esp as media that countries can use as soft power with the revenue. but i realize like...i’m 29 now and so many people don’t have a sizeable, though not huge, amount of life experience. and i wonder for people on the internet who are usually searching for something if they spend so much time on it like what a 15 year old girl thinks. what a 20 year old girl thinks.

it is incredibly problematic and so awful but there’s also some rewards. if you haven’t i would definitely watch i told sunsset about you which i don’t think i’m going to finish and i doubt i’ll watch the second installment (watch this be a lie) but when i say some fucking impeccable storytelling and art? phew. now that is a fucking piece of media that works. it takes from moonlight heavily and you can see like...the artistic dedication is there and the story makes its world and sets up its stakes extremely well.

i think because this is marketed towards much younger people too they know they dont have to try as hard. but they SHOULD because then you can have a fucking masterpiece like that. i think even this prolific gay thai filmmaker (who is like solidly against the government) who is so respected (and who i like a lot! if u wanna know i can tell u lmao but the films are very uhhhhhhhh “artsy”) would like i told sunset about you. i wish more people had budget like that and also just cared about the stories. it’s the fucking magic of art to figure out what you can do but there is very little incentive honestly. idk i am very pessimistic. there are days when it’s really a great pick me up and distraction but it is never a place i would love for to feel seen or heard but i’m more of the mind of i never trust the mainstream until they prove me wrong ;)

or i never trust the mainstream and i still buy into it anyway and then cry when i don’t like what i see adn i yell “BOO GET OFF THE STAGE!” when an old man won’t leave a teenager alone

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timotey · 4 years

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I watched episode 1 of True Beauty and so far, I really like it. It was hard for me to get through the beginning because both Lim Joogyung’s family and her school bullies were terrible but once Cha Eunwoo’s Lee Suho entered the picture, it got much better - and not just because he’s deadly gorgeous.

TW: Suicide mention

I’m intrigued by his storyline. The idol who committed suicide, was he Suho’s friend or just someone whom he failed to save? Either way the boy’s death affected him terribly. Not only did it cause his insomnia but I think his terrible coldness towards others, especially towards girls, too. I think it’s because it was the female fans’ ugly comments* that drove the young idol to suicide and Suho can’t stand the tittering airheads ever since. I hope that the drama will explore this part further because it’s fascinating, survivor’s guilt, basically.

*I wish all those people who hate on celebrities, be it actors or idols, for stupid reasons and small things that they do themselves, if they were honest with themselves, and post hateful things on the internet would watch this drama. But even hit over the head with their own behavior like that, I bet that they wouldn’t recognize themselves and claim that they’re nothing like that. Right.

Also, I love that unlike My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, Lim Joogyung didn’t solve her “ugliness” issue with plastic surgery but with simple make-up skills, that underneath it all, it’s still her very normal, not at all ugly face. It’s a great reminder that even gorgeous celebrities look normal when they wake up in the morning and that a good portion of their looks comes from the make-up artist’s kit.

#true beauty #tb drama #cha eunwoo #kati watches something live #mé

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script-a-world · 4 years

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Pylon Bios (An Update, with New Pylons)

Hello, lovely followers of script-a-world!

Please allow us to introduce ourselves! We haven’t had any sort of about-the-bloggers page available before, and now that we’ve added more to the team, we’re seeking to remedy that!

First of all, we call ourselves Pylons. What the heck is a pylon? Well, outside of this blog, it’s an upright structure for holding up something, usually a cable or conduit. When this blog was started more than a year ago (whoa), the group chose the word Pylon to describe ourselves collectively, as a fun little nickname. Whee!

Without further ado, meet the Pylons (and Mods)! (in alphabetical order)

Brainstormed: Hey there, call me Brainstormed, and you can find me at @thunderin-brainstorm. Any pronouns will do. I'm a student, illustrator, and world traveler. My home is in America, but I'm rarely there for more than a month at a time, so feel free to ask where in the world I happen to be! Worldbuilding has been my hobby for quite a long time and I'd love to give you some tips and tricks that I've learned, or take your idea and turn it on its head to perhaps show you a new perspective. The many projects I've developed have been lifesavers for me, as they allowed me to harness my Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder and use it as a positive tool for creativity. Aside from drawing and daydreaming, I spend a lot of time biking, hunting for cool rocks and bones, binge reading any scholarly article that catches my eye, and memorising completely useless random facts that I spout at any given moment in lieu of remembering actual important information.

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Constablewrites: My name is Brittany, and I'm a California girl living in the Midwest. I use she/her pronouns. I've always loved stories with rich and detailed worlds, whether in movies, books, games, or something else entirely. I'm the kind of writer who will spend hours researching to confirm a minor detail. Naturally, I not only write SFF, but my recent projects have all required worldbuilding on more than one axis (like multiple types of magic, or time travel on top of historical) because i am apparently something of a masochist. I'm a walking TV Tropes index and a whiz at digging up random useful knowledge, both of which come in handy as a Pylon. Other random facts: I'm a trained actress and singer, I used to work at Disneyland on the Jungle Cruise (among other attractions), and a laptop held together with duct tape is responsible for my day job in tech support. I blog about writing as @constablewrites and about random things that amuse me as @operahousebookworm.

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Delta: Hi! I’m Delta and I can be found @dreaming-in-circles or @thedeclineofapollo (writeblr), and I love sci-fi. Like, a lot lol. I work in NEPA compliance for a civil engineering firm in the USA, and have a lot of experience with infrastructure, bureaucracies, biology, and space (for unrelated reasons). I spend a lot of time haunting the astrophysics wikipedia pages, and my current all-consuming project is a novel that is angling to be about 150,000 words (at current projections). Can’t wait to hear your questions!

Ebonwing: Hi, I’m Ebonwing. I’m currently studying IT in university. I’m a writer and worldbuilder, and sometimes a worldbuilding writer or a writing worldbuilder. I gravitate towards fantasy, though I’m not going to say no to the occasional stint in scifi, and as I’m also a giant language nerd, I enjoy making conlangs for my creations. Other than that, I’m also an artist and indulge in any number of other crafting hobbies, and if I’m not doing any of those things, I can probably be found playing video games.

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Feral: Hi! I'm Feral, and you can find me @theferalcollection (if you enjoy feminism, socialism, or over-analyzed fiction) or on my writing blog theferalcollection.wordpress.com. I'm a Southern girl who likes fancy dresses, mint juleps, big hats, and using being-underestimated to my advantage. I work in the interior design industry and am currently in school for industrial design. I have previously earned degrees in comparative literature and theatre & drama. I'm a big nerd who really likes school. I've been world-building since before I knew it was a thing and writing almost as long. I’ve written mostly fantasy but the past couple projects have been science fiction. I'm ridiculously in love with the idea of being an astrophysicist but don't feel like learning calculus, so I just read about science a lot. My hobbies include martial arts, drinking too much coffee, and tabletop games.

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Lockea: Hello! I’m Lockea. You can find me all over the internet as @lockea or LockeaStone. I’m a leaf on the wind who currently enjoys the SoCal sunshine in Los Angeles where I work as an engineer and data scientist. I love street fashion (especially Lolita) and making jewelry. I have two kitties, Theodore and Cecelia, and I volunteer at the local animal shelter as a cat handler and adoption counselor. I know way too much about cat behavior, honestly, and will yap your ear off if you let me.

Worldbuilding wise, I have a deep affection for science fiction and I’ve consulted professional science fiction writers on developing technology and worlds through the explanation of science and engineering. My engineering specialization is extra-terrestrial robotics, so if it has to do with space, planetary science, or robotics -- I got you. I’m also a fan of politics and really like developing political and socio-economic systems in fantasy and sci-fi worlds.

Miri: Miri here, with my main tumblr @asylos and my writing tumblr @mirintala. I am a Canadian Pharmacy Technician by day and a small time ePublisher and gamer of many types by night. Mostly wandering around the Internet helping to organize events in the FFVII tumblr fandom (modding at @ff7central and @ffviifandomcalendar), and stumbling around within the Borderlands of Pandora. I use she/her pronouns.

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Symphony: Hey, I’m Symphony! Use whatever pronouns you feel like, any work. I’m currently living in Michigan with my fiance, and in-between jobs but I want to go to nursing school ASAP. My favorite genres in fiction are horror, sci-fi, and really anything that holds my interest. In my own worldbuilding I've always felt myself most interested in developing societies on the macro level (politics, diet, customs, stuff like that), and the more esoteric, strange parts of my world. I like to make a place feel lived in, with secrets that may never be found and people who seek them out.

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Synth: I’m @chameleonsynthesis on Tumblr, but that’s a mouthful, so just call me Synth. Any pronouns work. Born and raised in Canada, but living in Norway as of autumn 2007. Looking back, I’ve been worldbuilding since at least the age of four (in my early thirties now, so yeah), with a predominantly science-fantasy bent. I’m of the artsy creative type, with way too many projects on the go at any given time, and enjoy long walks through Wikipedia and getting caught in TV Tropes. The best thing is when I stumble across some strange factoid that can justify aspects of my many weird alien species. Stupid Synth facts: I have dual Canadian and Norwegian citizenship. My legal name contains a letter that does not exist in the English alphabet. I can curl my tongue into a cloverleaf shape, and wiggle my ears. My day job is musical instrument repair. I play French horn in a concert band, trombone in a jazz band, and don’t practice my flute or piccolo near as much as I should. Outside of band rehearsals and my job, I volunteer at the local cat shelter, work out at a gym, and attend events at my city’s newly established makerspace.

Tex: I'm Tex, and you can find me on tumblr @texasdreamer01. Most of my hobbies are centered around fandom and worldbuilding for it, though I also like cooking and reading up on fiction and non-fiction whenever I have the time. I'm currently studying biochemical engineering, with a slant in nanotechnology and its medical applications, so I need to know a bunch about the different types of sciences, as well as projecting for the development of future fields.

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Utuabzu: Hi, I’m Utuabzu, I previously was part of ScriptMyth (RIP) where I tended to take the lead on Mesopotamia and Egypt related asks. I’m most of the way through a Bachelor of Linguistics, e parlo italiano und ein bisschen Deutsch. I have a deep and enduring interest in the history of the ancient world, particularly the ancient Near East, and I’m also a bit of a nerd for politics, which is helpful when it comes to worldbuilding. My random 2am research binges have resulted in my knowing a lot of odd things. I enjoy travelling and experiencing other cultures, however as I am Australian this unfortunately requires flying, which I hate a great deal. I expect to one day be crushed beneath a pile of my books. It is a demise I am ok with.

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Wootzel: Hi, I’m Wootzel, or @wootzel-dragon! I use she/her pronouns. I’m a recent college grad trying to figure life out. My favorite thing about worldbuilding is making things as realistic or pseudo-realistic as possible, and finding a justification for everything. Sometimes, this is also my least favorite thing about myself, because it can make things very hard! But, it can also be really rewarding when I get things to work out in a way that I enjoy.

My other hobbies include reading lots of fanfic while neglecting physical books, starting ambitious sewing projects on a whim, and wondering where all my time goes on a daily basis. I have changed major a few times, and I am still unsure about what I want to do with my life, except that it’ll always have writing in it somewhere.

#pylon bios

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scullyeffect · 6 years

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how do you feel about younger people in fandom? like the youngest side that are probably on tumblr i.e 13/14ish?

i don’t know if you mean in the x-files fandom, or just younger people getting involved into fandom stuff online nowadays so i’m just going to go with a generalization.

i’m nobody’s mother and interests are healthy, and honestly i’m 23 so i don’t know anything about anything yet, but i will say that i live with a 15 y/o girl, a 13 y/o girl, and an 11 y/o girl, and i find myself very sad when all they want to do is go on a phone and watch youtube videos and be online instead of doing something more creative or intellectual.

we had a birthday party for 11 last night, and we had to take phones away from like six 10-11 year olds, which is ridiculous. i do understand that we live in a big city (paris, which isn’t exactly the safest) and lots of kids do things independently (walk to school, walk to friends’ houses, take the métro) so sometimes i worry about 11 (who doesn’t have a phone) if she needs to take the métro alone or walk somewhere alone, and i wish she did have some way to reach me if ever she got lost or something, but 11 is so young.

i think in a world that’s become so increasingly digitized and almost making it necessary to be connected in some way, kids are growing up faster, and some of the posts online and on tumblr talk about things they might not understand yet, and cause them to form opinions based on a text post some 18 y/o wrote. i’m even guilty of this. i’ll get too lazy to keep up with the real world and get my politics from tumblr sometimes, and that’s probably not good, even though mainstream news sources can do the same thing. my mom worked for the washington post, and that’s pretty much the only place i get my news from.

i probably got my first tumblr account when i was 15, and honestly i regret it. i was a pretty sheltered kid/teenager who really enjoyed reading, doing art, writing, and watching sad european dramas about dead sovereigns and suffering artists. i somehow discovered pro-ana blogs (blogs that share and encourage eating disorders to the point where healthy people can begin to actively attempt to follow insane tips in order to lose weight), and since i actually had been having trouble with my own eating habits but never really known that those behaviors were bizarre, i self-diagnosed and was part of that “community” for awhile.

i was interested/ in love with lots of actors and actresses, and as i made it out of kind of the pro-ana area which i realized which was unhealthy lol i found out about stan culture and just real obsession with movie stars/celebrities. when i was a younger teen i was “obsessed” with meryl streep, which at that time meant that i watched all her films repeatedly. i didn’t realize people cared about the actors/actresses’ personal lives until i got on tumblr, and at the time it was really exciting to discover things about my favorite celebrities (i mean, being a fan of someone obviously isn’t new, but it was to me). now that i’m 23 i find it very invasive and somewhat creepy that we’re so interested in someone’s life, sometimes even more than their body of work. we’ll probably never meet that person, and if we do they’re not going to think about you or remember you forever, because there are thousands of other people out there who feel the same way, and they just can’t keep track (at least the huge stars).

on the flip side, i think it’s good to have role models and people to look up to, but sometimes there’s a thin line there. i’m blonde, but i dyed my hair brown in my first year of high school because i was obsessed with marion cotillard and wanted to look like her. i kept the brown throughout high school because i liked it, and sort of forgot i ever did it because of her, but now i’m blonde again and it looks so much better haha. ALSO i got really interested in france/speaking french because of her (and juliette binoche), although i had a fantastic and enthusiastic french teacher in high school to help fuel my desire to speak french. and now i’m fluent in french and live in france. wow. so, if there are people you look up to in the public eye and they’re influencing you in positive ways, that’s great! i do get suspicious when very influential celebrities share their political views, though. i think we have a tendency to follow in people’s footsteps either subconsciously or in full awareness. that could be in any field. i like certain authors, and sometimes my own writing is heavily influenced by their work. it’s a natural thing that happens. but voting really should be an informed decision...just my opinion.

let’s talk about “just my opinion”. online bullying is real and can sometimes be rampant if there are dividing views on someone and their perceived private life. for example, in the x-files fandom we will, for the most part, absolutely convince you that mulder and scully are fucking like bunnies, when the show’s own creator won’t lol. but there are also people who think that gillian anderson and david duchovny (the leads) were/are/could be at some point in a romantic relationship with each other. they (anderson and duchovny) even cater to the fans a bit, but at the end of the day that’s their business and they don’t owe us an explanation, and a lot of people in fandom sort of act like they do. the point of this example was that because people in fandom are divided about this point of view, if you talk about one side or the other, there are some people who will come at you and say mean things for not agreeing with you, and try to convince you of a truth they have no real authority to speak about. this is obviously just an example, but online bullying is rampant and is often taken personally and can really affect the person being bullied, especially someone younger who may or may not be already facing that in real life at school lol.

i think tumblr is a good place for people who suffer from mental illness to come together in a healthy way to talk through their problems (god i hope i’m telling the truth), and there’s definitely tons of awareness and support that you’ll get on tumblr that you may not find in the real world. for example, i don’t know anyone irl who has epilepsy who i can talk to about mine. on tumblr i’ve talked with people who understand what i’m going through. i think that self diagnosis online, just as much on tumblr as it is when i cough and search “signs of throat cancer or tuberculosis’, read up on web md, and immediately fear my days might be numbered, is a problem. on tumblr i think we’re introduced to concepts and can sometimes treat mental illness lightly, when it shouldn’t. if you’re suffering from a mental illness, the online world isn’t going to be the place that can completely help you (says the girl who refuses to go to therapy and instead complains online about how she’s not getting any better).

being online immediately takes us out of life and into a different world. we become observers instead of experiencing the world. there’s good stuff about observation, but being online and attached to a website that is more or less just a vice for people will often make us choose to be on our phones instead of doing stuff in real life.

all of these points being said, i’m guilty of a lot of the “bad/unhealthy” facets of tumblr, but as i’ve “grown up” (unfortunately still staying on tumblr for a good portion of that time) i’ve grown out of a lot of these things and can see the good and the bad that the online world has to offer, and know which parts to stay away from. i can recognize that spending too much time on here does nothing for my desire to stay inside and not experience the real world. it also makes me think a lot more about tv shows/films/celebrities than i need to. but i’ve also made great friends from being on tumblr over the years, and gotten support i definitely wouldn’t have gotten in real life.

back to my real life. do i encourage the girls i live with to be interested in certain media? yes, especially stuff i feel has a good message. i basically sat the two older ones down and showed them the pilot of the x-files. do they experience the same high level obsession i do with tv shows/movies? no. and i’m glad for that. they like to lose themselves in certain tv shows, but when the tv is off they don’t really talk about it. do i introduce them to things i’m interested in media-wise? yes. do i introduce them to books and music i was/am interested in? yes. have i told them about tumblr? no. they don’t have any access to my online “presence” (they don’t know my instagram, twitter, etc), and i don’t talk about it. when my computer is out and they’re in the room doing homework, i’m usually writing. granted, that’s usually fanfiction, but at least i’m writing something.

one of the boys i tutor is writing a book (he’s 11) which is basically a self insert that takes place in the harry potter universe. he doesn’t know what fanfiction is, and i haven’t told him (although he’d never type it up and put it online lol he barely knows how to turn the computer on), but i’m so thrilled he’s even writing that i make him sit down and write for 10 minutes before we ever start watching a movie (in english).

ANYWAY. i’m nobody’s mother and at the end of the day i’m posting this online on my stupid blog where nothing i say matters or has any influence anywhere, but i think kids should be able to enjoy a non-internet related childhood as long as possible. some of us on tumblr are old enough to actually have children that age, and as much as we like having an account on this site, if asked this same question we might not as readily say ‘yeah it’s great! i want my teenagers to have the same experience as me!’

there’s my two centimes. hope i answered your question. JuST MY OPINION.

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strapcats · 6 years

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Thicker Than Water (Part 11)

↬ Genre: Gang au, angst, drama, eventual fluff

↬ Pairing: Jeongin x Chan

↬ Word Count: 3,846

↬ Description: Dépaysement- (n.) When someone is taken out of their own familiar world and pushed into a new one.

–

Yang Jeongin is a young Busan runaway with a sharp tongue.

Bang Chan is the easily-offended leader of a crime syndicate.

Read on Wattpad // Read on Archive

Part(s) One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven

!!!DISCLAIMER AND WARNING!!!

I am very against underage smut, especially with skz becuase they're my ults and I hate the idea of sexualizing minors. With this in mind, this chapter includes some stuff that I'll classify as "heated". I'll put a warning before where it is, so you can skip it if you want.

---

“I know I sound like an idiot but that’s beside the point.” Felix spoke angrily, running his hands through his soft white hair again in anxious feeling. “I think I really like him, Changbin. Honestly. And all he ever does is run in circles with BC. I fed him when he first came here! I made sure he didn’t freeze on the solid ground since that asshat didn’t give him a blanket!” Felix was near shouting now, he was so frustrated.

“Felix, I get it, and it’s not stupid. Honestly you just have to get over him. I can’t give you much more advice than that, because that appears to be the only way you’re going to get out in one piece.” Changbin spoke calmly, his voice unwavering and full of compassion. The slightly older male was trying to comfort his friend, though he was just a little out of reach. Felix sniffled in defeat.

“Thank you hyung… I’ll do my best.” The white haired male spoke calmly again and thanked his undercut friend. Changbin had recently had it redone, and it looked so sharp. To Felix, the style really suited him, it made him look handsome. The pair of boys had been brought into Clan 09 around the same time, so they became fast friends. Felix sought out gang life, and Chan was his easy in. The freckled boy needed to support his family, and taking people out was an easy way to make big bank. 75% of each of his paychecks got automatically wired to his family’s bank account, they thought he was a freelance artist that happened to be hitting the right deals. Changbin was yanked into the crime syndicate web after he got into ring fights. He ended up losing against Chan and the penalty was three months of work. Of course he accepted, he was a good sport. After the three months however, he had grown to love the lifestyle, and he had found that Chan was a fantastic person to have on your side. So he stayed.

A few rooms away, Minho, Jisung, and Seungmin were chatting over a high-stakes game of M&M poker. Minho was winning. The eldest of the three had joined the gang life at 17 out of sheer rebellion. Clan 09 hardly existed at the time, and Minho was one of the founding members. Jisung joined up purely for the thrill, because nothing in the world felt better to him than sprinting through the dim-lit Seoul streets from a squad of police cars with an AK-47 strapped to your back. Seungmin was scouted by BC, he was the brightest teen hacker in Korea. He had taken up computer science and technology studies in high school, thinking that the government would notice his potential and he could make his family proud. They never saw him, not even when he hacked their security systems for the hell of it. So he started looking elsewhere, in deeper, darker places. The boy-wonder had caught the eye of a number of less-than-legal businesses, but Chan was able to coax him in with good money and a fantastic cover story. Seungmin’s family thought he was a government iT agent now.

Kim Woojin was rebandaging a cut on Hyunjin’s arm in the younger’s office, while he counted money. The black-haired boy ran into the dangerous gang lifestyle headfirst, as his sister got caught up in a hostage situation, or so he thought. The boy was fooled by a rival gang to work for them, but Chan snatched him up before he started working for someone else. The young boy meant to leave, he really did, but once his first paycheck rolled in, he never wanted to leave. Designer brand after designer brand, he got more and more comfortable in his role as treasurer. Woojin on the other hand, was born into his syndicate role. His father was one of the first mafia bosses in Seoul, so when Woojin was born, it became his birthright. After witnessing his father’s murder by his right-hand man, however, he decided to stray from his original path and let his father’s old mafia die out. Kim Woojin was infamous in the syndicate web, everyone wanted a piece of him and his bloodline, regardless of his loyalties. Chan though, had other plans, and made Clan 09 with his best friend as soon as he knew that he was free from his father’s clutches. They were the seed that sprouted into the intricate web of illegal activity that Seoul seemed to thrive on.

Jeongin sat on his bed in his room, surfing the internet and browsing social media. All the higher-ups of the gang had been doing nothing but planning since their shootout with Purity Ring, and Jeongin was not in that circle. He was unaware of any plans or ideas in the making, but “mid-late April” was drawing ever nearer by the day. He trusted his teammates, so he just laid low, they would figure something out.

“Knock knock.” A voice at the door pulled Jeongin out of his thoughts, so he looked up to find a very cute looking Felix standing in his doorway. The younger boy waved him in and scooted over on the bed a little to make room for his friend. The white-haired male took his silent offer and sat next to him on the plush bed, leaning back against the headboard and picking up a pillow to put in his lap and hug. Jeongin chuckled at the boy’s actions.

“You look really cute today, Felix. And your socks are very nice.” The curly-haired young boy spoke clearly with a slight giggle in his throat, pointing out Felix’s appearance. He wore a light pink beanie, white melange ribbed joggers, and a black, longsleeved thermal tee that clung to his lean body. He had on fuzzy socks that matched the color of his hat and had little ears and a face embroidered on each one to look like bunnies. Jeongin thought they looked cozy.

“Ah ~ Thank you Jeonginnie. You’re not too bad yourself.” Felix blushed as he spoke, unable to contain his smile. Jeongin reciprocated the loving grin and nodded in thanks. The younger boy didn’t feel like he was wearing anything special, just a pink and white floral silk sleep shirt, and a pair of white fleece shorts with fuzzy socks similar to Felix’s but without the embroidery.

“Did you have a reason to come compliment me and steal my pillows or did you just wanna hang out?” Jeongin asked playfully, nudging Felix with his elbow as he went back to scrolling. His friend’s face dropped quickly and he began to subconsciously fiddle with his fingers. His eyes dropped to the soft sheets on the younger boy’s bed. Jeongin became concerned. “Hyung? What’s up?” His voice was laced with worry for his best friend, he thought something was drastically wrong. Felix sighed.

“Don’t worry Jeongin it’s nothing bad, I’m just… I’m just scared.” Felix’s voice was soft, and Jeongin leaned in to hear it, only making the elder’s nerves worse. He took a deep breath. “I know it won’t work out for a multitude of reasons but it’s been eating away at me and I really want to tell you that I kind of like you. And I mean, like-like you. I guess I’m confessing right now.” Jeongin’s eyes widened, but before he could think of a response, Felix kept talking in his quiet, tense voice.

“I just, actually feel alive when I’m near you. Ever since I joined 09 I’ve just been living day to day waiting on my paychecks and only having a little bit of fun with Jisung or Changbin here and there. Chan is a great older brother figure but ever since you came along it’s almost like you’ve brought this warmth and kindness with you that makes me not dread waking up every morning. Being around you when you’re happy is intoxicating and contagious, and it’s the best feeling in the world. God, and not to mention the fact that you’re physically a prince. Your eyes are so changeable and deep and your dimples add so much to your already beautiful smile. You have perfect proportions and I know this is probably too far but your lips look painfully kissable.” Felix rambled on and on, eventually getting louder and more confident in his words, like he was getting lost in the idea of Jeongin even when the boy was sitting right in front of him.

“And when you talk about BC and the way he treats you, it makes my blood boil. He has no idea the damage he’s causing or what a precious gift he’s rejecting. You want to please him and be his friend and make him proud so badly and he just spits in your face and calls you names. You deserve better, Jeongin! He doesn’t respect you like you should, he doesn’t understand how lucky he is that he’s receiving your affections, even after all the bullshit he’s done.” Felix was nearly yelling now, and his eyes were glassy with intense emotion. He felt so strongly and he had never said all of his feelings out loud before, so everything just came tumbling out without a filter. He barely noticed that Jeongin was withered backwards away from Felix. He looked like a wilting flower, so beautiful but so distressed that it was eating away at his form. The older boy finally came out of his trance-like state and noticed the now shaking boy across from him. His eyes were cast downward and he was trying to make himself as small as possible. He winced at himself and then reached out a hand to try and comfort his younger friend, only to be met by Jeongin flinching away violently. That one stung.

“J-Jeongin…? I’m sorr-” Felix tried to start, but the younger cut him off.

“D-don’t you dare tell me what I do and don’t deserve. My feelings are my own and you have no right to dictate them. A-and you come here, confessing your emotions, and what do you think is going to come out of it? A relationship? I’m barely 17, and you don’t know the first thing about why I’m even here.” Jeongin spoke his words quietly, almost afraid of them. They cut through Felix like a knife, but he knew the younger was right. “I’m flattered, and I like you as a friend, as my best friend, but you have no power over who receives my affection and who doesn’t.” The black haired boy finished up his thoughts as he stood up and walked to the door. He stared at the floor and Felix saw crystalline drops falling from the young boys face. He pointed out the door.

“Go.”

And Felix did, without a word of protest, without any movement but getting up and walking out of the cozy room. Jeongin closed the door behind him and fell face first onto his bed again. He thought he would start bawling, but no more tears came than the ones already softly streaming down his supple skin. He felt hopeless and like his body was made of lead. He couldn’t move even if he wanted to because of the weight of his emotions crushing his back and shoulders. His best friend had a crush on him, and now their relationship was ruined. Jeongin was alone again.

The young boy only had one idea in his head, and he knew it was a stupid one. He decided against his better judgement and stood up from his comfy bed and walked to the mirror. He checked his appearance momentarily to make sure he didn’t look like he’d just been crying, before walking out of his room and down the dimly lit hall to the last door at the very end. Before he could even knock on it though, Woojin opened the door to BC’s room from inside, surprising both of them. The older male only had on silk pajama pants and basic socks, no shirt. Jeongin had seen almost every member without their shirts, save Woojin and Chan. Well, now just Chan.

The older male didn’t say a word as he stepped out of the room that definitely was not his, and walked around Jeongin, breaking eye contact only when he finally had to. The honey colored boy didn’t close the door, so he took that as an invitation in. Though he had been in it before, Chan’s room never ceased to surprise him.

It was bigger than all the other rooms, and rightfully so. He had a king-sized bed that was a bit raised off the ground on a solid black platform. He had a dresser across from his bed and an indented closet in the wall. On the dresser a couple glass bubbles sat with little air plants in them. There was a black and white geometric rug on the floor and a few miscellaneous things like clothes and gun harnesses strewn about. It had a pyramidal skylight that had clearly been redone, as it had clean, slightly fogged glass panes instead of the dingy, rusting ones that were present in the rest of the warehouse. There were small succulents hanging on little gold chains from the corners of the light, as that was the only place they could get direct sunlight. Jeongin smiled a little bit at the thought of his leader having plants. BC had simple black sheets with nearly invisible wide navy blue stripes on it. He had a few pillows, and no plushies. The older man’s voice took him out of his thoughts.

“What do you need, Fox?” BC spoke clearly, his eyes cutting right through Jeongin’s weak facade. There was no emotion in his voice, no resentment or concern or irritation; it was just flat. Jeongin gulped.

“Yeah… I just kinda wanted to talk to you sir… I don’t feel so good.” Jeongin fiddled with his pants a little bit and cast his eyes to the floor. Now it was the leader’s turn to gulp. Sir.

“Jeongin, you’ve never called me sir, what’s going on?” Chan closed his laptop that he was fake-working on and turned his full attention to the young boy in his doorway. His voice was still emotionless, it reminded Jeongin of when he first met the older.

“Oh, yeah… sorry. It’s just that Felix, well, he confessed to me.” Jeongin spoke ever quieter, only casting his eyes upward when he apologized. Distress and shame were evident in his tone and caused Chan a small bit of unidentifiable worry. He heard Chan sigh in apparent irritation and hit the top of his laptop in frustration. Jeongin looked up at the noise to be met with Chan’s stony glare. Jeongin felt his heartrate pick up speed for a couple of reasons.

“Jeongin, come here.” The leader spoke, disregarding his rare sign of emotion that he displayed just a moment ago and patted the bed close to his thigh as a motion for where Jeongin should sit. The young boy followed his directions obediently, only breaking eye contact to make sure he didn’t step on anything important on the floor. He sat lightly and scooted over to where Chan has pointed out, the pair’s thighs barely touching as he settled.

“I have to ask the obvious, do you like him back? Did you accept his feelings?” The leader spoke, showing a little bit of boredom by the questions he of course had to ask. Unsurprisingly, Jeongin shook his head disdainfully. Chan nodded back, not needing any more explanation.

“In that case, why did you come to me? Shouldn’t you have resolved it with Felix?” The black-haired boy said with a twinge of annoyance in his voice, making Jeongin crumble inside. The younger had no idea why he came to Chan, his mind just told him to. So he shrugged noncommittally. Chan rolled his eyes and scooted just a tiny bit closer to his youngest member. “Jeongin. Tell me why you’re here. I can’t do anything for you otherwise.” Chan spoke with a hint of condescension lacing his words and so Jeongin took a breath.

“Because I felt like I needed to tell you. You were the only person I wanted to tell, hyung. I don’t know why but I did and now I’m here looking weak and vulnerable again and making your life harder with problems that aren’t yours.” Jeongin’s speech picked up speed quickly, the stress and confusion eating away at him at a rapid pace. He just needed reassurance and comfort, neither of which Chan seemed like he would be doling out anytime soon. The pair sat in silence for quite a while before Jeongin felt awkward, causing him to look down at the striped duvet and pick at a loose thread. He felt the need to get up and leave, but right before he started to move he felt Chan’s hand on his own. He looked up slowly, a slightly stunned expression on his face. His eyes met his leader’s and he gulped, heat rising in the back of his throat. The older male turned his hands over in his palms and just comforted the younger through physical touch. After a couple of silent minutes Chan took a breath.

“I know that everything is confusing right now. And I also know that I have been anything but a good leader to you. I'm sorry, Jeongin.” The older male spoke calmly and cooly, and for once showed emotion in his voice towards the younger boy. Jeongin looked down again and nodded. Chan shook his head and reached out to touch the black haired boy's face. He used two fingers to lift the boy's head to look at him again, startling him and unknowingly cause a vicious blush to grow on his face. Jeongin gulped and looked at Chan’s lips momentarily without really meaning to. Some meaning flashed between them, and before he realized, Chan was leaning in ever so slightly, then Jeongin, and then their lips met.

!!!THIS IS THE WARNING!!!

It wasn't fireworks, it was more; it was like pyrotechnics at a stadium concert. Jeongin’s soft lips tasted like bubblegum and intoxicated the leader, only sending him reeling. Chan's hand cradled Jeongin’s face, pulling him closer to him, the younger’s body pressing against his own. Their lips were locked in a long-awaited embrace, and even when he realized he needed air, Chan refused to let go. They felt like they fit together, long they’d been searching for something and the moment their lips touched they found it. Jeongin was the first to pull away, much to BC’s distress. The younger was now basically on Chan’s lap, his wrists draped over his hyung’s shoulders and neck in a very feminine way. Chan’s hands had moved from his members face to his hips, subconsciously squeezing them to draw him closer. The smaller boy let his forehead rest on Chan’s for a moment, catching his breath and biting his lip a little bit in awkward anticipation. BC was just soaking up the view.

“Hyung, how long have you wanted to do that?” Jeongin asked abashedly, averting his gaze from Chan once again. Chan chuckled and squeezed the boy’s hips again, making him squirm a little in unexpected pleasure.

“I didn’t really know how badly I wanted it, wanted you, until you were leaning in, fox.” The leader’s words sent chills down Jeongin’s spine and the speaker blushed slightly at himself. The pair sat in relative silence for a few minutes, letting their actions settle into the air. Chan was happy, but thoroughly scared as to what this meant for the future of the Clan. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Jeongin started to move, Chan thought to leave. Instead, the younger boy simply fixed their position so he was straddling his leader’s lap. Chan felt heat rise to his cheeks for the first time in front of someone else and when he met Jeongin’s eyes with his own there was a devilish fire within them that made the leader gulp.

“J-Jeongin… What are you-” Chan tried to speak but was cut off abruptly by Jeongin’s lips on the corner of his own, clearly trying to tease him. The black haired boy quickly realized what the boy on his lap was trying to do so he just sat still, not reacting to the tempting things the younger decided to do with his lips. He kissed the corner of his lips, then trailed his kisses to the older male’s neck and ear, giving Chan goosebumps from the younger’s bated breath.

“Come on hyung… why don’t you play along?” Jeongin’s mischievous side was back out in full force and it lit a fire inside Chan just like how it had when they first met. He groaned in a displeased manner before moving the younger away from his tattooed neck and placed his attention back on his lips. Jeongin smiled in an accomplished manner into Chan’s mouth, running his hands through the elder’s hair and settling his hands on his cheeks. Chan’s rested on his partner’s hips again, and when their lips began to melt into each other, the elder pulled Jeongin roughly closer to him by his hips, earning a surprised noise from the younger boy, delighting Chan. The older boy licked Jeongin’s bottom lip, and the smaller eagerly accepted his invitation. They continued, Jeongin’s breath progressively getting hotter and came out in shorter pants, Chan becoming greedier by the second. Eventually Jeongin found the willpower to push his partner away, because he knew at this point Chan never would. The boy in question looked up at Jeongin with a confused glance before trying to go back in for his swollen pink lips, but the smaller boy just pulled farther away.

“B-BC, we have to stop… I’m still a minor and we have an attack on the horizon…” Jeongin stuttered out his words between sharp intakes of breath. He tried to keep his eyes away from Chan’s face, he knew that just one look from the leader’s lust-filled eyes would send any impulse control to the wind and he couldn’t go that far, he was still too young. He felt Chan loosen his death grip on Jeongin’s thighs, where his hands seemed to have travelled during their heated moment. The boy scooted away a bit, making sure to put safe distance between them now. Chan nodded at the actions, understanding and agreeing that it was probably the best course of action. The pair sat in silence before Chan flopped down backwards on his plush bed, surprising Jeongin a little bit. The smaller boy looked at him skeptically before BC rose a hand and beckoned him to come, Jeongin obediently obliged and crawled over to his leaders side, lying next to him happily. A strong arm snaked around his waist and the pair eventually drifted off to sleep, a million unspoken words dangling in the air between them.

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hyung-line-wife · 7 years

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Jungkook Scenario : You Find Him Cheating on You Pt.5

Part 1, HERE. Part 2, HERE. Part 3, Here. Part 4, HERE.

“Are you comfortable? Do you want something to drink?.” Dawon asked you after you had entered the black van, which was taking you to the award show.

“No, I’m fine thank you.” After the disaster of your meeting on the morning, both of you were really awkward between each other... or at least you were.

The truth was that you didn’t knew how to treat him, you weren’t sure if he really had a crush on you for real, I mean, he hadn’t told you so directly, but.. his members had said that, and he also had shown some signs, like blushing, or constantly not looking you directly into the eyes. Plus, he usually was concerned for your commodity.

Was it all for the interviews? Or was he genuine, that was the real question. Maybe he wasn’t that used to girls...

“Oh! I forgot I had to vlog this!.” You suddenly realized, jumping from your seat towards your bag on the seats of the back. Your hadn’t vlogged for almost four days... counting your depression episode.

You had to be on track again. It didn’t matter if that vlog had to be uploaded in some weeks, due to the confidentiality of the show. Your hands rummaged through the random stuff you had thrown into your bag, leaning your body towards Dawon, due to the car movements.

You finally found your vlog camera, and with a triumphant smile, you proceeded to impulse yourself backwards, however, the car made a sharp turn in that moment, and you ended up squishing Dawon against the window.

“..Uh. I’m sorry.” Your reddened yourself due to the situation. His large extremities were cramped against the window, with a perplexed look on his face. However, it suddenly turned into a laugh, confusing you.

“You finally blushed” He finally said, while looking at you plopping yourself into the other seat. “It really suits you.”

What?.

“O-oh.” You looked away awkwardly, while straightening your dress. Why were you so embarrassed? It was just an accident! It wasn’t as if you had thrown yourself into him.

Wait, what. You were blushing because you had been really close with a guy? Dawon? What? But you had a boyfriend, and you certainly had it been coloring books when you were home alone....

“I.. I have to do some vlogging.” You turned towards him, throwing all those thoughts away. “..Would you like to be on it?”

It was like you had asked a little puppy if he wanted a treat. His eyes were almost sparkling with happiness, making you smile unconsciously. Oh right, he was a fan of your vlogs.

“I feel would feel honored.” You giggled, turning in the camera.

“Okay. 3, 2, 1, Action!... Good day guys! Y/N ‘s Vloggy Adventures is back!” You recorded yourself, while throwing an arm towards the air. “And today’s adventure is... guess what.”

You turned your camera in direction towards Dawon, who was just looking at you like an excited puppy. However, when he realized that he had the camera over him, he stared at it with a blank expression.

You moved your other hand, trying tell him to complete your phrase. Thankfully he got it.

“We are going to the Jildan Music Awards!.”

“Yeah, that’s right!.” You tilted the camera towards you, proud of him. “And as you just saw, I am accompanied by an important person... JXK’s Dawon-oppa!.”

Did. You. Just. Called. Him. Oppa?.

Seriously, all the makeup you were getting on lately had begun to affect your brain.

“So... Present yourself!” You rapidly continued, trying to make it up as if nothing had occurred. Gosh, please let my makeup hide the blush that had started to creep on my cheeks.

Thankfully, when you focused the camera on him, he wasn’t looking at you, shocked, or uncomfortably, as you had expected. However, he was staring at you face, as a small smile, that you could have almost said it he had liked it.

‘In contrast of Jungkook, and his ‘oppa’ kink.’ You thought sarcastically.

“Hello guys! I am Hwan Da Won, from JXK, and I am the biggest fan of Y/N-ah.” The grabbed the camera tripod from your hands, and focused the lens on you. “Now please Y/N, show us your outfit”

You laughed, impressed by his ability to continue with the vlog.

“So, as you know guys, stylists usually choose your outfit for the award shows. In this case, the stylist gave me this cute stripped pants, they are really comfortable, as they are not tight. I think the lines are really cute, as they are in different shades of blue. And... for the top, I have this soft white crop turtle neck.” You were really unsure about that last piece of clothing, as it hugged your body too much, and left your stomach exposed. “And of course, the stylists gave me this cute long gold dangling earrings. “

“Wow, doesn’t she look gorgeous?” Dawon commented to the camera, as if talking to a public. However, what he said next was directed to you, with a softer voice. “And by the way, that top really fits you. You look gorgeous... More than what you actually are. “

You had placed a hand over your chest, trying to block the view unconsciously, and he had notice it. You felt blush creep over your cheeks, for the millionth time in this hour.

Yet, this time it was accompanied by a tingling sensation inside your stomach, a sensation you had thought you could only feel with.... him.

...You were probably just starting to get comfortable around Dawon... right?

You and Dawon had been talking for what seemed like an hour to the camera, while the van took you to the show. You were really nervous, and it was noticeable in the vlog.

“...So-o guys, I would be updating you when I get there, and try to film everything that I can!.” You turned off the recording button, after informing the viewers. You released a shaky breath, while looking at your lap nervously.

“I was also nervous like that the first time I went to an awards show.” Dawon broke the silence, making you deviate your attention towards him.

“No.. I mean, I am not nervous because of the awards themselves, I mean, I would not be participating on any of them.” You said he last part with an amused tone.

“What?. Y/N, you are participating” He had a perplexed look on his face.

‘Participating?. What is he talking about?... ‘ You thought to yourself confused. Oh fuck. You do were participating.

There was a category on the show that awarded the most influential person on the internet, and you had been nominated along with other korean youtubers. These past few days had been a complete crazy frenzy that you had almost forgotten that you had been invited, and were competing on your first award show today.

“God, how could I have forgotten.” You placed a hand on your face sighing.

“Y/N, it’s okay. I am almost sure that you would win.” He reassured you quickly. “I mean... I kept voting in almost all of the spare time I had...” He gave you a half smile, while scratching his perfectly styled hair.

He seriously seemed like a really dedicated fan towards you. You just wished that people in reality were like that...

“Oh right! Dawon.. I have wanted to ask you a question.”

“What is it?”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone the time we bumped into each other at the music station...?”

He just stared at you silently, slowly changing his expression to sadness. Until he looked away, sighing.

"You know that I have been your fan for a lot of time right?... I never thought that I would be meeting you at music station, in that way.”

“But-.”

“At first when I bumbed into you, I was thrilled, but then I saw your face... I was really curious about what had occurred to you.” He continued, now looking at you in the eyes. “However, I then found out.”

What?. Oh no, nobody should know about your fight with Jungkook... or at least until both of you sorted it out.

“No, no. Calm down, nobody else knows about your... er.. little problem with him.” He assures you as he saw your expression. “I was walking by when I heard him talking about it with Yugyeom.”

It was known between the fandoms that Jungkook and Yugyeom were best friends, however, in real life, they were like brothers. When you usually went to Jungkook’s dorm, you found Yugyeom there, both of them playing games, or playing around like usual. It didn’t really surprise you that Jungkook went to him after the stupidity he had caused.

“So you know everything...”

“I... I did.” He confessed not trying to deny it. “What he did was unexcusable. You know, as a great admirer of you... and maybe something more.. , I would do anything in my power to protect you from him.”

“I..I really don’t need you to worry about it, Dawon, I sure we will sort it out without any dramas or anyone interfering.” You assured him, nodding positively. He didn’t make any expression, and just watched you cautiously, you interpreted it as warning. “Anyways, thank you for your offer.”

The little trip you had made by car from the studios in Busan to the Awards Show had made you become comfortable with each other in a good way.

Trum.

“We have arrived to the Award Shows.” The man driving the van informed you, while turning the shades that separed the driver seat to the passengers seats, down.

“Now we will start making the line towards the blue carpet, so that you get some good photos on the entrance.” The driver explained to you, while accommodating his sunglasses with one finger.

The van moved towards the huge crowd of reporters on the sides of the blue carpet, their dark frames against the afternoon hues, becoming bigger and bigger as the car advanced.

You directed your eyes towards Dawon, who looked mesmerized at the reporters, his handsome profile contrasting against the polarized windows.

“You would be getting after the car in front. Remember you have less than 10 seconds to leave the car, as there are other artists behind you.” The older man told you, looking at the retrovisor mirror.

You gathered your skirt in your hands, ready to hop from the car the moment Dawon left. You saw him pass a hand through his hair, checking it, before he turned towards you to give you and encouraging smile.

“This is the first time I am doing this alone.” You hadn’t realized that before, but that was the first time he wasn’t in the company of his group members. “Calm down Y/N, we are in this together.”

The shouts of the press now sounded as if it was being muffled by the polarized windows directly. You were in front of the carpet now. Dawon gave you one last reassuring look before turning towards the door handle, and pulling it, to reveal the exterior.

The voices now sounded really loud and real, as you blindly tried to recognize the landscape outside the car, accommodating your eyesight to the afternoon light, like a new born opening its eyes for the first time.

“Dawon, look over here!.”

“Dawon, why didn’t you attend with JXK?.”

Dawon was now standing outside the car, dusting off his tux, before turning towards you, and extending a hand towards you.

You started sliding towards Dawon’s seat, so that you could take his hand, and be able to exit the car in elegantly. You placed your hand over his, and felt his fingers embrace yours warmly.

You hopped off the car with one jump, before releasing a giggle, checking if your dress was alright.

Click, click.

“Who is she..?” Someone murmured in the crowd. The screams had now been converted into murmurs.

Click, click.

“It’s your time to shine. Just follow my lead.” Dawon whispered you, before releasing your hand, and walking elegantly through the large carpet, smiling towards the cameras.

You regained your composure, and glided along his tall figure, making every inch of your muscles move in the most elegant way possible.

Arms backwards, chest puffed, and smile shining, you had to look your best on this carpet.

“Oh!.. She is Jungkook’s girlfriend, Y/N!.” One reporter screeched through the murmurs of the crowd.

Ohno.

Well... Shit.

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thegroovethief · 7 years

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#TGTfeature 008: Lea Luna [Magik Muzik; Dim Mak; Raid Recordings: Denver, Colorado, USA] Fresh off my interview with world champion turntablist DJ Shiftee, #TGTfeature 008 is with the skilled Lea Luna, who kills it on the decks whether bass, house, or beyond! She took the time out for a chat just before headlining a hometown show at The Black Box. This and forthcoming #TGTfeature articles will highlight dedicated musical talents by featuring their recent work as well as an in-depth interview. Known for her passion and dedication to dance music as well as the art of DJing, Lea Luna is also a chart-topping singer and a respected music journalist. She kindly shared her thoughts on bass music, repping Denver, dealing with online trolls, and more. A bit about Lea Luna: - With nearly 20 years behind the decks, she’s played numerous noteworthy clubs: NYC's Limelight, LA's Avalon, and Denver's own Beta - Frequently called on for vocal collaborations, she’s recently worked with the likes of Sydney Blu, Manufactured Superstars, and Quivver - Also known for her production work, she regularly releases her own music, including “Rock Show” out via RAID Recordings

TGT: You’re leading an excellent lineup of bass talent at The Black Box, all representing Denver. What styles will you be bringing for this set, and how do you determine ‘tough bass’ in 2018? LL: I’m definitely planning on keeping it bass-driven, much like my last Black Box set was. Bass house, maybe a few breaks, maybe a few trap drops to break it up. I’ve always said this as my overarching quote: “Genres don’t define artists, artists define genres.” I pretty much live by that ideology. I’ve been DJing for nearly two decades now and have seen many music fads come and go (fidget, for instance, was one such fad genre in the bass category I used to like that died). Everything all stems from two main influence points- the first influence is the roots of the underground— the old history behind the emergence of the new sound. People like classic vocal hooks in newer remixes if they were a part of the scene back in the day, and bass house wouldn’t be where it is now without the original house music and garage innovators. The second influence is technology. Bass music sounded way different before the VST (virtual instrument) plugin Serum was invented because producers had different tools. I remember when the VST called Massive first came out and dubstep as a genre resulted. Electronic music is largely affected by these nerds who make virtual instruments and how artists interpret that technology as tools for creative flow. While everyone as listeners are pulling apart which bass music artists are making new genres, most real artists are at home dorking around with compression ratios and wave tables trying to invent an actual noise. So it’s hard for me as an artist to talk about bass music as an evolving fad because I sit here with the tools all day looking at the other perspective of what’s really evolving. TGT: Denver is certainly a unique place! How would you describe the realities and complexities of the scene here as a local artist with a global following? Any advice for up-and-coming DJs/producers on navigating our “island?” LL: I could not be more proud of Denver, and even electronic music as a scene in general. This city used to only offer these (beloved) secret warehouse-type hideout parties with a bunch of obscure DJs, vinyl collectors, and underground ravers interested in coming, and now every large venue in the city is wall-to-wall packed with dance music fans on any given night. There’s a lot to be accredited to the increase in our culture, but also a lot that has been bastardized. What I will say to the new kids is if you’re out here letting a controller do all the work for you onstage, playing the top 40 dance chart releases in order so you can be popular, you are sh*tting all over my craft and culture. It’s not a popularity contest and the DJ booth is not a bottle service area. The best way to become a DJ is to care about actually DJing. Be authentic, know your roots, respect your predecessors, respect women, respect other subgenres, and don’t spend your life savings on social media likes. Inspire people, ask for help, collaborate, offer something OF yourself before asking about something FOR yourself. Create. Learn. Be humble (but please stop humble-bragging). Start a crew. Give a damn, you know? We’ve all had our bouts with fame and drama as artists, but if you’re not creative at all and you’re not keeping it real, you shouldn’t be doing this.

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TGT: There’s a lot of debate about whether certain strains of electronic music have reached full saturation, or have become so derived they’ve practically lost relevance. What are your thoughts on the current electronic dance scene, particularly within house music, and what’s your approach to keep your own productions sounding fresh? LL: People of the underground like to worry I’m too commercial, people of the commercial world like to worry I’m too underground. Some people want to hear music everyone understands, some people act rude when something becomes popular because they want to be viewed as purists. Like I said before, know your roots, know the trends, give a damn, create something original, and keep it moving. That’s the motto. If I claimed to be a purist 10 years ago and stuck to it, I’d be in hot water right now trying to play washed up music that pales in comparison to new mastering and technology on those fresh new funktion-ones (the incredible speakers they have at Black Box). If you stay current in your arena and true to your roots, genre and saturation thereof can be left to the listeners to decide. Ain’t nobody got time for that in my world. Artists. Define. Genres. I play what I think is ahead of the curve, and what I think is classic, all in one set. There’s no genre about it, but I will say that my tempo lately in clubs is 122-128, with an occasional drop to 100 just to grab people’s attention. All things house, garage, and breaks fall into that first category, and trap/twerk drops (second category) make life fun.

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TGT: You’ve recently posted about receiving online threats from a random stranger. This is, sadly, nothing new for female public figures. How can readers (particularly men) succeed in eradicating this all-too-common misogyny within our music community? And offline, what should promoters and venues be doing to keep their dance-floors safe? LL: As for keeping clubs safe - I truly believe in strength in numbers. I have a strong, supportive, loving crew of friends and fans, as well as professionals and security guards. I take threats very seriously and file reports and blacklists when they happen to protect myself and other women. I have very strong security measures held at all of my shows, including this one. But in the big picture, the biggest thing that is going to make any club a safe environment is a positive example of the members of any audience at any show ACTING RIGHT TOWARDS WOMEN. If you see someone put something in someone's drink, report them. If you see someone abusing a woman either verbally or physically any way whatsoever, DO SOMETHING. Inaction is still an action. I come with a large group of friends that I deeply trust to every event and there is no way in hell someone is going to act in public like they do on the internet towards me or any woman in my presence and get away with it. One time someone lifted my skirt up and hit me on the ass at a show and although they were "only joking," they were being held by the neck of their shirt over the patio rail and reprimanded by my friends a split second later until security came and got them. These types of people will always be outnumbered and will never get away with what they think they can. They try it on the internet because they can troll and hide. [As for online threats:] Here’s the deal. People are jealous. It happens to both sexes, but primarily females because sexual iconography or lack thereof triggers people who writhe in unnecessary hatred from the comfort of their hate-hobbit computer den. Being attractive does not make me stupid or talentless. There is no such thing as “using” your looks. I look this way. That’s a fact, maybe a hobby, not a tactic. I also write music consistently and contribute a lot to this scene. Do all girl DJs do that? Likely not, but many do. The problem lies in the prejudice, pegging all women as having a backhanded agenda or a lack of intelligence or avoiding authenticity. This claim emerges from the hearts of people whose mothers didn’t hug them, whose girlfriends cheated on them, whatever. Hurt people hurt people. Do I care what these specific people think? No. I care if I screw up publicly and true fans lose interest in me. I care about staying true to myself and my brand, and I care about doing what I say I’m going to do for my shows, my opening DJs, the promoters who believe in me, my agent and manager, my crew, my friends, and my fans. Anyone who is so clearly coming from a place of jealous bigotry who tries to threaten me, embarrass me, or thwart my success always fails. Because they aren’t battling me, they’re battling something very dark and unhappy inside themselves. TGT: And, to end on a lighter topic – what’s your favorite spot in town for a post-gig meal? LL: Post gig? I’m always exhausted around then, but definitely just as junk food hungry as anyone at 2am leaving a bar. I rarely go out after bar hours to eat though. I’m more likely to hit a grocery store for a pizza to pop in the oven at home or if I’m feeling extra self-loathing I’ll get cheesy popcorn and pop tarts from a gas station [laughs].

#Lea Luna #Lea #Luna #DJ Lea Luna #DJ #TGTfeature #Interview #The Black Box #Denver #Colorado #Bass #House #EDM #Electronic #Dance #Music #TGTstylee

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oingoz · 7 years

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so i totally made a frerard reclist. i enjoyed reading every single fic on here, it was just a matter of putting them all together in one place, which i’ve finally done! what to heck! so real quick, here’s a few notes:

- i am a gigantic bottom frank stan and therefore there is NO exclusively top frank fic on this list. actually, there’s only four that have frank topping at all, but even then gerard’s definitely the Main Top - long fics and oneshots combined, there’s a total of 87 recs on here, woo wee - the long fics have essentially been ordered from most favorite to least - the oneshots, listed below the long fics, have been sorted into categories rather than ordered based on how much i liked them. also i didn’t put descriptions on them as i did for the long fics

aaand that said, here’s the recs:

LONG FICS

✰ The Anatomy of a Fall [ 107k ] The unholy union of a high school AU and a ghost story. Gerard’s the new kid in town and he meets Frank, the strange kid who lives in the woods. This has gotta be my favorite fic ever… my love.

✰ Unholyverse series [ 177k ] Religion! Horror! Exorcisms! Piercings! And Gerard is a priest. SO brilliant, it is an actual masterpiece.

✰ Between The Wish And The Thing [ 23k ] Gerard has been in love with his best friend and bandmate for years. It’s basically nonstop domestic cuteness??? Your heart will melt???

✰ King and Country [ 52k ] Frank hasn’t really been a stable boy since he ended up in the archduke’s bed, but now Gerard’s exile is over and he’s king. Listen it’s an established relationship BUT don’t let this deter you as the author does tell how they got together- what I’m trying to say is, it’s a complete love story and they absolutely adore each other. Read it.

✰ Paris!Verse [ 43k ] They meet at Mikey and Alicia’s wedding and then fall in love in Paris. I really, really, really loved this fic.

✰ Promises, Promises [ 26k ] Gerard kidnaps Frank. A Stockholm syndrome fic with a fair amount of violence and dubious consent. If this doesn’t bother you though, I’d highly recommend it.

✰ Ain’t Nobody Gonna Love You Like The Devil Do [ 40k ] Frank is a good, God-fearing Catholic boy, and then Gerard happens. Essentially, Frank falls in love with a rebellious Gerard and it’s absolutely fantastic.

✰ To Cast Turpentine Kisses [ 22k ] (must be logged in to read!) And the subbiest Frank fic of them all is a not!fic. Frank is a student and Gerard is his teacher. What a blast, oh my GOD.

✰ Can Never Wrong This Right [ 23k ] It’s 1949 and Dr. Way is a professor of Archeology and Frank is his constantly exasperated (and secretly pining) assistant. Two words: soul bonding. Read it.

✰ Strange Steps [ 33k ] Gerard likes: A) popular Frank, and B) dancing. Everything’s chill until those two things are brought together when Frank suddenly needs dance lessons. Everyone loves a nice high school AU, right??

✰ In Repair [ 33k ] In which Frank has the hots for Gerard The Robot. This fic is chock full of things that are guaranteed to make your heart happy, I promise you that Gerard being a robot isn’t a burden in the slightest.

✰ Conclusions [ 49k ] Gerard moves in with Frank, and cozy domesticity and pining blossoms. Bexless never fails to please.

✰ He Was A Teenage Werewolf [ 45k ] Gerard is transfered to Queen Of Peace, a Catholic school, where he meets a weird kid named Frank. Another great high school AU except one of them’s a werewolf. (Don’t get deterred if werewolves aren’t your thing, it’s not even confronted until halfway through the fic.)

✰ Hearts Warmer than the Ice Keeping the Spinach Lasagna Cold [ 19k ] Gerard is in love with the punk boy who works in the deli department ♥️

✰ Becoming Joan [ 35k ] A complicated situation leads to Frank having to dress up as a girl. It would be bothersome except, he’s kinda totally alright with it…. Totally not what I was expecting based off of the fic’s original summary, it’s so good!!! Read it!!!

✰ Variations on a Fugue [ 36k ] An Early Edwardian AU. Frank Iero is a young nobleman currently living with his parents in the Lake District, where he plans on leading a quiet life away from London and its temptations. However, temptation moves into his neighbourhood in the face of one Gerard Way. Involves old-timey dialogue, soul melting intimacy, and a line that I’ve thought about everyday since I’ve read it.

✰ On the Midtown Direct [ 22k ] A love story, one train ride at a time. Just thinking about it makes me want to go read it again, it’s so precious.

✰ Buy Handmade [ 18k ] Gerard has an Etsy page and Frank works in a bakery. Mega cute.

✰ When We’re Both Thirty [ 84k ] They had agreed to use each other as a backup plan. If, by the time they both reached their thirtieth year, they hadn’t found someone to marry, they’d marry each other. They had thirty days left……. So maybe the concept is unrealistic and the fic is a bit long-winded BUT I think it’s completely worth it, there’s several scenes that are just Too Good, trust me.

✰ Moth to Flame (or whatever) [ 31k ] Frank owns a flower shop and Gerard likes to frequent it. Frank’s so soft in this fic, he loves his flowers and does yoga and !!!!!! you will love him.

✰ Catholic!Frank and Artist!Gerard Not!Fic [ 21k ] Frank starts to like Gerard a little too much and his faith is challenged because of it. Also he owns a vegan restaurant and Gabe takes a fancy to Mikey. A fun read!!!

✰ Professional Healers [ 34k ] In which Frank is a pediatrician and Gerard is his patient’s father. This is such a feel good fic, I love it so much.

✰ 24 Frames Per Second [ 79k ] The 1984-Movie!AU: everyone works at the Belleville Film Palace. This fic is angsty but I- normally not fond of angst- really enjoyed this because it’s so unique and realistic and, most importantly, they love each other a whole lot! It’s really good, I promise.

✰ Companion [ 33k ] A workplace AU full of cutesy domestic fluff!!!

✰ We Each Play The Part Written For Us [ 27k ] Gerard’s had a crush on Frank since forever and Frank’s only just now getting around to returning those feelings….. That’s the gist of it but it’s not as angsty as it sounds, it’s actually super sweet.

✰ Black Market Blood [ 16k ] Frank has a crush on Gerard The Vampire. They’re both sweethearts in this omg.

✰ Distance in the Afterlife [ 15k ] Gerard comes out during Projekt Revolution and drama ensues.

✰ Public Enemy [ 21k ] In 1932, Gerard Way has been making a name for himself robbing banks up and down New Jersey. Frank Iero, analyst for J. Edgar Hoover’s Division of Investigation, is determined to catch him. Good good stuff.

✰ sing it for the n00bs [ 17k ] Gamer AU, wherein the Danger Days universe is an MMORPG. Frank has a strange way of going about winning Gerard’s affections.

✰ A World So Small [ 31k ] Victorian AU. When Frank is advised by his doctors to leave London for the country, he makes arrangements to stay with his friend, Michael. What Frank has no idea of at the time is that Michael has an older brother, whose presence in the house he conceals. So so intimate and sweet. I really do have a soft spot for historical AUs.

✰ Under the Hide of Me [ 18k ] Prohibition in New Jersey means mob bosses and bootleggers running hooch up and down the shore and into the city. Gerard, Mikey, and Ray are running an operation for the Capo Maranzano, but when rival factions are trying to take over the business, Frank Iero, from a prominent Mob family, is sent to them as their new driver. Also the Ways and Ray are werewolves. This was a good read, Gerard’s a major alpha.

✰ Five Times Gerard Pays for it and One Time He Doesn’t [ 22k ] A rentboy fic wherein Gerard (the customer) falls for Frank (the service-provider) and can’t figure out how to go from paying-for-sex to “dating” or if that’s even possible. A great read.

✰ Cover To Cover [ 32k ] Frank is fine until Gerard opens his large branch of Way Books & Café down the street, putting his small bookshop in danger. He basically hates Gerard because of it. Except, Frank doesn’t know that coffeeaddict, the anonymous guy he’s falling in love with over the internet, is actually Gerard himself. I was hesitant, at first, going into this one because they’re both in relationships at the start of the story, but reading this totally paid off because it’s so good. There’s a scene in particular that was so precious, I got emotional..,.,.. good stuff!

✰ What Ships Are For [ 22k ] Gerard is most concerned when he finds that, while away at university, his father has taken in a new ward of his own brother’s age. But upon his return home, he finds the young man to be particularly enchanting. Includes old-timey dialogue and a whole bunch of pining.

✰ Break The Walls (And Kill Us All) [ 27k ] Frank owns an antique store, but he’s not very good at it. About the only thing he IS good at is having a crush on his best customer. And housing ghosts in his shop, apparently.

✰ Thing-Thing [ 43k ] When Gerard signed the admissions paperwork for the Fordhaven School for Boys, he knew he was signing up for four years of sexual frustration. No one was gay at Fordhaven. In his senior year, though, this stupid gay freshman disproves Fordhaven’s straightness, and throws Gerard’s entire world off-kilter. (Includes a fair amount of underage drinking/drug usage.)

✰ Chimerical Romantics [ 22k ] A 19th century love story. If you're into beautifully written historical AUs, then this is for you ;)

✰ I’m Not On Desolation Row series [ 21k ] Desolation Row!Gerard meets I’m Not Okay!Frank at an illegal show in New York on Halloween. Frank’s such a twink in this, not even in a smutty way, he just has a twinky personality and it’s great.

✰ Love and Other Cliches [ 28k ] Bob Bryar is Gerard’s guardian; he is also a witch. When it becomes obvious that Gerard and Frank are hopelessly, silently in love with each other, Bob finds himself on a mission to get them together. But when nothing seems to be working, he resorts to real spellwork, and now Frank and Gerard are stuck in a romance novel with only one way out.

✰ Is It Enough to Have Some Love? [ 15k ] Frank and Gerard used to be best friends before Gerard decided to leave the little town they lived in and study art in New York. Four years later, he comes back to live at his parents’ house. He’s not Frank’s friend now, he’s not even the old Gerard anymore - he’s someone new and strange and when Frank gives in and starts spending time with him again, he realizes they might never be friends again. But they might be something else… This is kind of like friends to enemies to friends to lovers?? It’s cute.

ONESHOTS *(note: fics marked with a heart emoji are Big Faves)

bottomy bottom frank!

✰ Showers and Sexts [ 9.3k ] (alright i’ve just gotta say, this is probably my favorite oneshot Ever??? they love each other so much,) 💕

✰ In The Music Of Time [ 12.9k ] (okay and one more comment, this one’s a TRIP omg) 💕

✰ Curriculum [ 7.6k ]

✰ Kings Harlot [ 8k ] 💕

✰ As Mine See It [ 2.4k ]

✰ a story about two boys (hope is all we’ve got) [ 4.4k ]

✰ Only for You [ 3k ]

✰ I’m Yours (the Valentine’s Day fic) [ 4.8k ] 💕

✰ Cross My Heart [ 2.2k ]

✰ Veins Are Red, Veins Are Blue [ 8.4k ]

✰ Full Moon [ 4.8k ]

✰ The Neighbor [ 4k? ] 💕

✰ Even a Father Has Sins to Confess [ 9.2k ] 💕

✰ You Want A Ride, Cowboy? [ 5.4k ]

✰ forgiveness [ 2.6k ]

✰ the penitence ball [ 4.6k ]

regular get-together AUs (aka everything’s basically normal except mcr doesn’t exist)

✰ Falling For You [ 6k ]

✰ Crazy Mad For Him [ 7.3k ]

✰ Static [ 8.5k ] 💕

✰ Breathe on your neck, make knots with our fingers [ 8k ]

✰ I Know What It Means To Me [ 9.1k ]

✰ By the Book [ 10.5k ]

✰ Food For Thought [ 8.6k ]

✰ Pulse [ 9k ]

✰ Life as a Symptom [ 10.8k ]

teen AUs

✰ Difficulty to Concentrate [ 6.8k ] 💕

✰ Not Friends [ 671 ] 💕

✰ And the wonders you can do [ 2.8k ]

✰ When You’re a Boy [ 3.9k ]

✰ Kerplunk! [ 4.2k ]

✰ This Is Us [ 3k? ] 💕

✰ I’ve got the cure you’re thinkin’ [ 3k ]

✰ Crayon Hearts and Trembling Hands [ 1.7k ]

✰ Cigarette Smoke and Strawberries [ 5k? ]

bandfics (aka mcr does exist)

✰ I’ve Got Friends in Closed Spaces [ 4.2k ]

✰ Sucker Bet [ 2.7k ]

✰ Mind The Gap Between The Train And The Platform [ 8k ]

✰ Sunday Best [ 6.9k ]

✰ A Necessary Requirement [ 3.8k ]

fluffy PWPs

✰ Then Came You [ 1k ]

✰ A Soft Radiance [ 2.6k ] 💕

✰ The Dazzling Lances of Our Love [ 1.6k ]

misc. AUs

✰ Mixed Bathing At Home [ 7.1k ]

✰ Roses Are See-Through [ 6.7k ]

✰ you probably couldn’t see for the lights [ 3.2k ]

✰ And The Autumn Moon Is Bright [ 10k ]

the end :)

#i'm posting this at 1 am for a reason gggg #anyway 😎👌🏼 enjoy #frerard #reclist #fanfiction #xx #fic

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surveysonfleek · 7 years

Text

125.

When was the last time you saw a doctor? about three months ago just before i went traveling.

Which internet browser do you use? chrome.

Have you ever lived on a university campus? nope.

Do you know anyone who is a firefighter? no.

What’s your favourite alcoholic beverage? i love espresso martinis and any fruity cocktails.

When was the last time you saw a photo of your ex? a couple days ago. snapchat.

Do you have any piercings besides your earlobes? nose.

How many push-ups can you do? omg maybe like two. more on my knees.

What time is it right now? 2:36am.

What colour are your eyes? brown.

Do you “binge-watch” tv shows? of course. who hasn’t?

What is your opinion of clowns? don’t care for them. not as afraid of them as a lot of people are.

Did you wear a necklace today? yes.

Have you ever received a compliment from a stranger? yes.

Do you plan ahead when it comes to your outfits? mentally. i usually end up changing my mind though.

What colour is your front door? white.

Do you take the stairs or the elevator? usually stairs.

Do you know anyone who lives in Long Island, New York? no.

When was the last time you wore a button up shirt? today.

What’s your favourite song at the moment? wild thoughts.

How many times have you consumed alcohol? countless times.

Do you often forget what you were just about to say? yes.

When was the last time you were at a party? three weeks ago?

Do you own any striped sweaters? yes.

Have there ever been any forest or grass fires in your area? bush fires, yes.

Do you ever get any important emails that need attention? nah.

Are you any good at packing a suitcase?: i’d say so.

What are you hungry for right now, if anything?: nothing, just ate.

Have you ever had a white hot chocolate? What did you think?: yes. i love really like white choc but it was ok.

What will you be doing in twenty minutes from now?: maybe another survey.

Is there anybody in your house’s bathroom right now?: nope.

Have you ever witnessed a serious physical fight?: nah.

How much does gas cost in your area?: between 96 - 117 cents per litre.

Are you a fidgety sort of person?: kinda.

What was the last thing you ordered at a restaurant?: a nutella donut.

How do you like to spend your alone time?: watching netflix or streaming shows.

Have you ever mowed a lawn?: yes.

On average, how many hours a day do you spend online?: too many.

When was the last time you were yelled at? What had you done wrong?: haha some douche bag on the road even though it was his fault.

Do you enjoy corn on the cob?: yes.

Is there anything good on television at this very moment?: i’m watching sense8.

Have you ever bought alcohol or cigarettes for someone underage? alcohol. not cigs.

Do you do your laundry regularly, or do you let it pile up?: whenever it fits a full load.

Did you ever play Habbo Hotel when you were younger?: haha yes.

What about Neopets?: yup.

Have you ever had to comfort a friend over the death of a loved one?: yes.

In your opinion, what’s the ideal age to start having children?: depends on the person.

Have you ever stabbed a friend in the back, intentionally or not?: i have but i was young and stupid.

What’s the longest you’ve ever slept in one go?: no idea. def no longer than 8 hours, i’ll always wake up for a pee break.

Do you check the weather forecast everyday?: yeah.

Have you ever dated someone with an accent different than yours? no.

What brand is your desktop or laptop?: apple.

Do you enjoy the smell and taste of cinnamon?: it’s okay, i wouldn’t say ‘enjoy’.

If you use Snapchat, have you ever had a screenshot taken of you?: yes.

Who were you last in a car with and where were you going?: home from work.

Does caffeine affect you, or not so much?: coffee does. soda not so much.

Do you make your bed everyday?: nope lol.

Is your birthday before August? no.

Are you an Aries? no.

Would you consider yourself artistic? i guess.

Are you a brunette? yes.

Where is your dad right now? at home.

Is it past 11am? yes.

Are you a Gemini? no.

What do you hear right now? sense8.

Does your birthday fall in the months of January, June, or July? no.

Do you regret your last kiss? no.

Do you have any kids? no.

What is your favorite kind of music? rnb.

Do you have any nieces or nephews? i consider my cousins kids as nieces and nephews, so yeah.

Do you live on your own? no.

Are you the oldest child? yes.

Do you know anyone who lives in Oregon? i think my aunty used to live there, but she moved to arizona.

Do you have any pets? yes, a dog.

How many tattoos do you have? none.

Are you a twin? no.

Do you own an umbrella? yes.

Are you under 21? no.

Have you ever been to Utah? no.

Have you ever been to Vatican City? i have.

Can you whistle? yes.

How many X-rays have you had in the last 2 years? none.

Are you on good terms with your last ex? we don’t speak.

Do you own an Xbox? yes.

Who is the youngest person living in the same household as you? my sister.

Are you wearing anything yellow? no.

How many zippers are on the clothing you’re wearing? none.

What time did you wake up this morning? 1pm.

How nice of a person are you, honestly? i’m pretty nice unless you give me a reason not to be.

Is there something you should be doing right now, besides this survey? nope. sleeping.

What color shirt are you wearing? grey.

Did you wake up in the middle of the night last night? no.

Are you planning on having sex tonight? maybe.

Have you ever suspected anyone of cheating on you? no.

Have you ever done volunteer work just because you wanted to? no haha.

Does your bedroom door lock? no.

Do you think the last person you texted is a virgin? (You don’t have to tell us who the person is, just say yes or no.) no.

Has your partner ever accused you of cheating when you actually didn’t? no.

What is a word that starts with the second to last letter of your name? dude.

Do you generally look nice in photos? lol no.

Do you ever wonder what the world will be like in the distant future, when you’re long gone? yes, it’d be interesting to know.

What color are your father’s eyes? brown.

If I handed you a concert ticket right now, who would you want to be the performer? pnd.

Do you like when it rains? only if i’m staying indoors.

What’s a movie you cried while watching? i don’t remember. been awhile since i watched a drama.

Do you think you’re important? i’d like to think so.

Have you ever sang at a karaoke bar? If so, what songs? yessss. too many to name.

Do you think you could lead a country? no.

Have you been diagnosed with any mental disorders? no.

Have you ever viewed the moon through a telescope? nope.

Do you normally finish one book before starting another? i’ve read a couple at one time. alternating between chapters.

What is the last dream that you remember? none.

Is there anything you’d like to buy right now? probably.

Do you know how to play chess? no.

Would you ever consider getting a piercing in your septum? no.

Do you enjoy being outdoors? not really tbh.

Do you prefer road trips or traveling on an airplane? airplane. you don’t really have to think.

Do you cuss? yes.

Is there anyone you would take a bullet for? yes.

Are you a virgin? no.

Have you ever touched a dead body? no.

Did you have a Furby when you were younger? yes.

Did or do you get good grades in English class? i did.

Would you shave your head for a million dollars? hell yes.

X-files, Lost, or Twin Peaks? haven’t watched any.

Do you have a passport? If so, how many stamps do you have in it? yes. i have quite a few but since some countries can check you in past customs digitally i’ve missed some stamps lol.

Are there any keys on your keyboard that have letters fading away? no.

What was the last thing you spent more than $20 on and where did you get it? gas.

What do you plan on having for dinner? not sure.

Were you ever rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? no.

Do you find it easy to fall asleep at night, or do you toss and turn for ages? if i’m reading it’s easier for me to sleep.

When was the last time you were at the hospital, and why? to visit one of my boyfriend’s family members. i forgot which one since all of them are in and out of hospitals.

#survey #surveys #long #questions #quiz #bored

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depvotee · 3 years

Text

I got Tagged by @strafethesesinners, @rejected-beater, @xbaebsae, @euryalex @p0lkadotdotdot thanks!

1: Why did you choose your url?

I thought the DEPYOTEE was funny so, where we are. <:P

2: Any side blogs? if you have them, name them and why you have them.

OOOF, I have a lot to make “Space and stay on theme in main UwUr”, but all roads lead to rome and I cannot stay on theme for the life of me. SO:

@dep-arts (I let you guess. ;)c )

@dep-insp (I hard one too, I KNOW.)

@oynon-ds (My GreedFall/Pathologic/Bloodborne/Plaguecore. Im very proud of the asthetics on this one)

@intothecogverse (My choices of games blog :P or well, Quinn blog now I guess aksdfas I havent updated bc I havent played another one recentely)

@leather-nomad (Cyberpunk blog)

And another three that are empty, which are swtor themed, horror, black ops: cold war, which im gonna delete soon bc its a mess <:P So yeah, GOOD LUCK KEEPING UP WITH ME.

3: How long have you been on tumblr?

Since 2013 or so, my old blog, now deleted, was my teen angst. But I made this one on 2017 because I wanted a more video game/art focus and well <:P The shitposting follows me anywhere.

4: Do you have a queue tag?

“I Queue Away For Fun” lyric from the song Colossus from IDLES, the og one goes: “I waste away for fun.” :)c

5: Why did you start your blog in the first place?

I wanted to start new, and I wanted to get into Destiny and then I went down hill from there :P Now, its just thing I like throw around and to talk to people :3c

6: Why did you choose your icon/pfp?

Its pride baby!!!

7: Why did you choose your header?

Faith’s scenes are one of my favorites, I love the little details of I find everytime and that shot particularly makes me think that some of the storyboard artists had that “This photograper took a photo of his gf in every vacation place they went” images on their pinterest. I love the black and the contrast of white.

8: What’s your post with the most notes?

Uuuh, idk, it was shitposting most probably. <:Pc

9: How many mutuals do you have?

A few :3 I collect them like:

10: How many followers do you have?

I won’t tell you how many people come to my circus, it's about the confidentiality 😌

11: How many people do you follow?

A shit ton ngl :P

12: Have you ever made a shitposts?

13: How often do you use tumblr each day?

I live here. askdjfbaks, this is my cozy trash cotainer.

14: Did you ever have a fight/argument with another blog once? who won?

Ummm, nope, never, but even then I won 😌 Its hard to always be right, I know. Someone has to, tho.

15: How do you feel about “you need to reblog this” posts?

Tbh, I hate them. But I hate even more when they have good resources on it, bc on one hand I understand why say: “You need to rb this” to say important issues (NOT STUPID INTERNET DRAMA/disc horse) and begin desesperate as someone from said affected group, feeling like this issue doesnt matter to poeple while you’re affected on first hand, but It’s also really reductive to say “you/my mutuals dont rb ur/theyre this and that.” Its dumb. It doesnt help. So, yeah, I swallow the pill only when I think its important shit, y’know?

But I also dont want my blog to turn into the yellowbook of donations.

16: Do you like tag games?

I DO, I LOVE EM, but I haven’t answered some bc I had bad patch recently <:’P

17: Do you like ask games?

I DO, TOO, just so yall know: if you ever send me an ask or tag and I havent answered, that ask its coming into my dreams asking me “why” I adandoned it, Chirstmas Charol type.

Rb, dont answer bc you forgot, let it keep u up at night and repeat, I love it!

And it’s true some people don't have the etiquette of: ask and then rb.

19: Do you have a crush on a mutual?

When I have my male wife applications, I let you yall girlbosses know ;)c

tagging: @sleepfight, @goodmorningmissmorgan, @kilaem, @iigoeyei, @seyj, @curiousstrawberry, @eulerami, @chazz-anova, @sarchelyur, @jollybone, @xbaebsae, @oldserah, @madsismad, @amistrio, @raccoondog3, @rainbowtroutlesbian, @tommymillers, @fadedjacket, @returnofdedsec, @latinstalin, @redreart, @witchesconstellation, @unlikelynick, @unleashedart, @eydika @native-mason, @cobb-vanthss @chorby-soul @trans-corvo @lobanhart, @shellibisshe @returnofdedsec @belorage

#tag game #girl boss (gender neutral)#feel free to follow those old ass blogs #skssksksks #not really #theyre kinda dead and I havent like rb stuff bc ive been here goofing around #and they have WAY too much content to just delete

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nofomoartworld · 8 years

Text

Bad at Sports Sunday Comics with Matthew Thurber

By Max Morris

I was first made aware of Matt Thurber’s work when the first issue of 1-800-MICE showed up at Quimby’s bookstore in Chicago. The style of screwball antics conflated with surrealist political drama (one plot point features an immortal bluegrass-star vampire streaking through space, and his apocalyptic approach toward the earth) was of immediate interest, and I recall being surprised that the heady brew of strange plot devices actually moved toward a climax. Today we present some selection from Art Comic, Thurber’s ongoing serial, and I was pleased get a chance to ask him a few questions on his work.

Max Morris: Back in 2014, you wrote this article for The Comics Journal Website , “Letter to a Young Cartoonist”, that stirred some controversy at the time. A bulk of the article dealt with the ramifications of posting comics work on Tumblr and Social Media, among other issues of challengers to the new generation of comics artists. This was in a time when that felt like the primary way to see new work being made by current creators. A little under 3 years after you posted that article, a lot has changed. Looking back at this article, what words do you have to say to the young cartoonist today?

Matthew Thurber: I feel more than ever that printed media contains autonomous power that is almost magical. All internet publication is embedded in and framed by another corporation. With print, as soon as it flies off the press it belongs, like the land, to “you and me”. The disturbing thing about social media is they change the terms of publication from one of total freedom, to one where you are being allowed to express yourself. Because they grant it… they can take it away. Social media echo chambers are destructive: look at what they have helped to do in terms of ripping our country in half, replacing everything with a simulation of reality. Is that what you mean by “a lot is changed”? We’re opting into 1984 because it feels good. It’s so seductive to feel like you’ve done something in pseudo-reality. We need to learn to live without the internet, to distribute artifacts in physical space, to know how to talk to each other again. It is so much more meaningful and beautiful. And guess what??? I’m part of the problem because I’m on INSTAGRAM (@mtshelves)! What a miserable hypocritical worm!!!! And the worst part is….I LOVE it! I love the ego pampering attention and the immediacy despite my complete conviction that it sucks!

MM: In your current ongoing serial Art Comic (which we are previewing in this article) you satirize High Art and all of its follies- your earlier work 1-800-MICE and Infomaniacs could be seen a parody of culture at large, but Art Comic seems to have a specific focus on the world of fine arts- what inspired this move?

MT: I didn’t know what I wanted to say exactly at first. It’s taking shape. I’m interested in how the art world functions as an industry steered by wealth and not by philosophy or ideas, despite the mythology that it is an idealistic pursuit, and how no one talks about the meaning of money in art or how that is never seen as the subject matter or part of the content of art. You’re just supposed to go to these gallery shows and ignore the context. The myths are stronger than the reality.

People wouldn’t go to art school otherwise the definition of art as wealth dovetails with the acceptance of craft as being obsolete, or in an outsourcing of craft or technique to make objects for the artist-manager-boss. Technical skill is replaced by verbal or conceptual dexterity, or of a performance of self, or just by the existence of celebrity. So that, and what the role of schools are in this, and what the role of narrative art and illustration is in all this. And how changes in the art scene reflect the overall development and gentrification of New York, since I moved here in 1996.

So Cooper Union gave up on its mission of providing free tuition in 2014 and I started to make a story based on my own experiences mixed with these absurd paranoid premises. Like that there was actually a conspiracy of artists to repress their students and that Matthew Barney’s Cremaster was taken away from him and became a symbolic representation of a real estate transaction.

Additionally to working as a cartoonist, you have worked as a multimedia artist in theater, performance, and other mediums. Do you feel that affects your work as a cartoonist, and vice-versa?

Yes… in a way it’s all the same energy. Increasingly it seems impossible to think of just doing comics. I’m dying to make an animated film- I just have to get this comic done first. I like to experiment and learning different techniques is part of my process, I guess, maybe even more important than the subject in a way.

I just worked with a group of 8 volunteer non-professional actors, and such, to perform what was basically a dance piece called “Terpinwoe”. We had one rehearsal and that was it, and the performance was great. The theater stuff started as an idea to do a puppet show called Mrs. William Horsley. But the idea of puppetry evolved into a general idea of ‘modeled experience’. Now Mrs. William Horsley has turned into a human puppet show, with actors. It’s more fun than being in any band!

But I think for me, the narrative impulse is behind everything. It’s always a kind of illustration of a story or something resembling a story. The idea of depiction. I would love to make comics that were more abstract, like dance pieces, maybe that’s what Yokoyama does, or Milt Gross. And after something happens like this theater piece I ricochet back into wanting to read and draw quietly and maybe that’s good. But I don’t know why more “Artists” don’t work in comics and why cartoonists get so settled into their medium. I think that is changing a lot actually. Any form is for any artist. I believe in “Amateur Enthusiasm”.

Much of your work utilizes psychedelia, visionary imagery, and absurdity- you also seem to enjoy intertwining plots and complex character development. When structuring a narrative, how do you consider resolving these two seemingly opposing themes?

I don’t know if I consider these tendencies resolved and that’s OK. That’s why novels exist, to embrace contradictions. I like very unexplained and strong imagery, like in dreams. Also, I like beautiful and complicated structures and plots. My favorite artworks are when you get both at once, like how “Mulholland Drive” messed with the logical side of your brain, but through the use of really subconscious imagery. Or Harry Stephen Keeler, whose crime stories are logical to the point where it makes no sense at all. Or Daniel Pinkwater, who somehow balances absurdity and very warm and human characters, or Raymond Roussel whose writing is all an attempt to make connections with the totally random subconscious imagery generated by word-play.

I worry about my characters not having any psychological depth. I wonder about emotional manipulation to get across my ideas. Is it even ethical? Elaine May is good at it- see “A New Leaf”. But if you try to do that it usually looks disgusting in the way that Hollywood movies make you want to vomit with their stupid emotional manipulation. I love ridiculous melodrama, or silent films where stuff just happens and humans are reduced to sacks of flour to be thrown around.

I guess that I think making a graphic novel is one way of keeping many unresolved, inconsistent elements together in suspension as in a soup where there are chunks of this and that floating in different shapes and sizes.

To order Art Comic, head to http://ift.tt/1UbRQOz. You can also find Matthew’s site at http://ift.tt/WuN0Vf.

Episode 100: Mattress Factory/ Book Review

Chicago Art in Pictures: March-April 2013

FLAT’s EC Brown on Chicago’s Domestic/Apartment Gallery Spaces

Hot Topic Alert: Do Art Bloggers Deserve “More Love”?

Detroit Banksy Mural In Court Now Since Factory Landowner Claims Ownership

from Bad at Sports http://ift.tt/2l8DwyD via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Bad at Sports

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