#okay oops that got long

[lavenoon]

Hey there, friendly reminder that you are awesome, amazing, and astoundingly talented! <3

Aaa hi Fan!! Making me melt too, I see 💜

🤲 what do YOU get out of writing?

I get to reread my own stuff, in more detail than if I just tried to remember an idea or daydream, and it feels much more tangible written down! I still reread fic I never published because it's just for me, and sometimes surprise myself with scenes I had entirely forgotten! So I'm very glad I wrote them down <3

There's also definitely the engagement/ interaction for published fic. Like yes, I shouldn't make anything dependent on that, but it's just so so validating and fun to hear from other people, and to enjoy something together! I'm very happy I get to share my ideas, and have people be excited for them <3

💋 when you leave comments on a fic, do you want to hear back from the writer?

Answered a bit more in depth here, but in short, I definitely enjoy it! I never want the author to feel pressured though, it's just a little bonus treat <3

🕯️ how do you think engaging with each other through tumblr, twitter, comments, kudos, creates healthy fandom experiences? How do you deal with that if you're not a social person/experience social anxiety?

There's the difference between worth and validation - you may know as a writer (or artist, creator of any kind) that your work has worth, but the validation is what makes you want to share it. If you don't feel like anyone reads your work, why would you continue publishing it? It doesn't mean you necessarily stop writing, but to post something you created means being vulnerable and putting a piece of yourself out there. If there's just no engagement, it feels like rejection.

Fandom is about interaction. We all want to share thoughts and ideas and theories, and it is vital to engage with what is there. That doesn't mean everyone needs to comment on everything! But if you read something, and you enjoy it, you definitely should leave some sort of "I liked this" reaction.

For the socially anxious folks, or people with few social spoons, there's always the options of likes and kudos - as long as these people don't make up the vast majority of a fandom, engagement will easily continue flowing even without explicit words from them! There's also anon options, or those pre-made html codes for more kudos, or other very simple comments (like just "extra kudos!" without any html) that still let an author know you liked it!

Plus, especially if it's anxiety making the engagement hard... The author did the same? Bearing a piece of themself for others to see, and as long as you don't waltz in and just point out all flaws without saying anything else, why would they not enjoy hearing from you? Comments give the author an idea what was good, what might need elaboration, and what ideas resonate!

Some people feel more comfortable on tumblr, some more on discord, some more in a different constellation - but please, please make an effort to engage. It's what keeps things going - you can't just "consume" and not give anything back, if everyone did that, creators would burn out like a flash fire and stop publishing things. I know I did. It's worth the anxiety, it's worth the effort, and a little bit can go a long way. I'm anxious any time I post, and I still do it! So as a creator I just want to hear from people that it was worth it for me, too, that it's received well. Find a form of engagement that works for you, but engage - otherwise, in time, there won't be anything to engage with.

🧿 what steps do you take to not take things personally if a fic doesn't do well, or if your writing/posting/sharing experience isn't going how you'd like it to?

Uh, admittedly, not too many. My rsd and anxiety unfortunately tend to make me catastrophize, and mostly it's damage control, not prevention.

What I do do is look at what engagement I did get - every kudos/ comment is a person, and even if it doesn't seem much, those are real people who like my work. Every bookmark means someone wants to see more. Those already mean a lot, and I remind myself to not get caught up in numbers - with private bookmarks, all the people who bookmarked AU might not even fit into my home! That's so so many people! Even my other fic, which runs at 16 bookmarks - that's a lot of people in a room!

So in short, I visualize the engagement I get as actual people, remind myself that was a real person who took time out of their day to let me know they liked my work! It's really never happened to me that there's no one who interacted with my work, and even if there were... Well, I already write a lot for just myself or friends, things that I don't necessarily share with the wide public, so I know where to go to find the validation I crave, and sometimes that validation is just keeping things entirely to myself and reread them again and again <3

[spacetimeaccordionfolder]

... were we supposed to know that the icons on the chapter titles were supposed to be the heralds (also also wit) because I didn't realize that till the end of wind and truth

[thecurtainswereblue]

oops my hand slipped

[robbie-lee-zombie]

mini ficlet I got inspired to do ( @fluffymary )

When the gang of smiling critters have a sleepover, you better believe they go big or go home.

Kickin was the first to pass out after the movie, hanging halfway off the couch at the start, but eventually slumped to the floor at an odd angle and still hadn't stirred. Crafty and Bearhug aren't far behind as they both yawn, drifting off on the far left of the couch, holding onto one another. Hoppy, Bubba and Piggy were huddled in their own pile on the other end, looking uncomfortable to anyone else but snoring all the while.

What about our final two?

One of our sweet little friends was having a horrible dream. Horrible enough to leave him panting when he awoke, checking around the living room frantically for any monsters that might still be lurking in the dark. Dogday knew he was being silly, but it still got to him, he just knew something was coming for him! Something waiting to come out and grab him, something to steal him away and no one would ever find him again-

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Look at me. Just keep your eyes on me, okay, pup?"

One, a night owl, someone who sleeps in the day because he guards the night. He protects his family, his friends, while they're vulnerable, so they have nothing to fear. Right now, his closest friend - his partner - had something to fear. Catnap couldn't have that.

"I couldn't run away- it hurt so much, Catnap-"

"Shh, shshh I know sunspot, you don't have to explain. I'm here. You're safe here."

A few beats of silence pass. Then, Catnap got an idea.

"I got it." Catnap lifts Dogday's chin to look him in the eyes more clearly. Smiling, sweetly, he whispers. "You want to hear a lullaby?"

Immediately Dogday's face starts to feel hot and he's pulling on his right ear, twirling and picking at the fur in a nervous fidget. His tail starts thumping behind him. "You- What if- You don't have to, I'll be-" Dogday whines a little. Embarrassed. Excited. Eager.

"Let me try that again."

Dogday's sputtering was immediately halted by Catnap's purring. He could feel it in his touch, in his paws any time he held Dogday's cheeks in his hands, it was a soft rumbling under the skin. It was soothing. "May I sing you a lullaby, sweet pup?"

Dogday willed his tail to stop wagging for a moment to respond seriously. He nodded. "Yes. Please."

Their positions are shifted to have Dogday leaning on Catnap's chest, slouching comfortably in case he were to fall asleep sooner than anticipated, which Cat had already dubbed in his mind would be no time at all. Dogday's tail wags without his permission, but neither of them mention it.

Catnap's claws make quick work of Dogday's ears, scratching at the base. Enough to tickle, enough to squirm and smile so wide Dogday's cheeks start to hurt, but not enough to laugh. Meanwhile, Catnap's tail traces along each of Dogday's toes that are tucked under the blankets. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star~"

Dogday knew what lullaby this was. It's kept between them purely for Dogday's dignity and from dying of embarrassment. Not because they'd tickle the life out of him.

"How I wonder what you are~"

But because of how well it works. Plus, Catnap isn't the first one to go around bragging about his own singing voice as it is, he'd never hear the end of it.

"Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky~"

"Wahahait!!"

"Dogday, you made me mess up the song, now I'll have to start over..."

"No! Nonononohoho don't stahahart over, please-" "Well, maybe I won't have to start over... If you can tell me where my tail left off?"

"Y-Your tahahail?"

"Yes, giggle pup, I need to know where my tail was on the last verse, so I can pick up where it left off. I can't recall..."

As Catnap whispers aloud, his tail sweeps up and down Dogday's soles. Dogday throws his head side to side, trying his best to keep his giggling to a minimum, but the faster that appendage swipes, the more restless Dogday gets.

"Was it along your soles, those bright suns on your feet? While we said "Up above the world" or was it-" His tail switches to sliding between his toes. "Between your poor little toes, as we said "Like a diamond in the sky"?"

Catnap knows this. Catnap loves this.

Dogday could hardly pay attention as Catnap's tail was sawing between his toes. Before he was even aware of his own actions, Dogday was squeezing one of Catnap's hands in his own, bracing himself on whatever willpower he had to not fight Catnap's attack. The other hand was frantic, pawing at the ground, his own torso in a self hug, hiding his face, he couldn't decide what made it better worse.

"Dihihiamond!! You were on diamohohohond!!!"

"Ah, that's right! Thank you so much, my little tickle pup, I knew I could count on you~"

As much as the lullaby felt like it droned on for hours, it really was helping. It was quiet enough between the two of them that this moment never had to be seen by anyone else, it was a special time that let them hold onto one another, to laugh away the nightmares. Catnap's song was eventually interjected with his red smoke - with Dogday's consent being the agreement to the lullaby in the first place, they established that ages ago.

That's what really knocks Dogday out, but Catnap likes to wait as long as he can to use it, just to savor in Dogday's bright smile and pink face just a little while longer.

"A pretty orange and pink sunrise, just for me alone."

As the sun rises in the windows through the curtains, Catnap finally falls asleep.

[moe-broey]

Back to what I do best (bare minimum Putting My Guys In Situations shitposts) 😌

Inspo under cut!!!

[vxidlight]

@saltzblood liked this for a starter from Iota for the Doctor.

Alice had been working at Shoreditch Library since she was a teenager as a volunteer. But she never knew she'd find solace in it since her disappearance in 2008. She'd quickly gained knowledge of the computer logging systems and the book classification systems as much as any of the other librarians that they took a chance on her and hired her. She never let them down. She eventually got her degree and became an official librarian.

She walked through the aisles, reorganizing books. She watched some of the Coalhill students goofing around. They weren't making too much noise but reminded them of the rules before she moved on. She eventually got to the back of the library when it was near closing.

She slowly exhaled a fine mist into the air and shivered, pulling her coat tighter around her. Was the heating out back here? She wondered. Why was it suddenly so cold? She heard laughter nearby and went to investigate.

She found a bunch of students crowded around a book, giggling and laughing. She thought she could hear another voice. A deep male voice. Something about it sent chills down her spine. "Hey you guys!" She interrupted when she couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong any longer. "It's almost closing time."

To her surprise, the kids didn't argue. They reacted like she had yelled and scared them. They scattered, leaving the book they'd been so focused on abandoned on the floor. She went towards it but hesitated. A gut instinct told her not to touch the book. It was just a book, right? The kids were probably laughing at nudie pictures or something and the voice she heard was one of them mocking someone. What were they laughing at? She went to the book, went to close it, and...

...It was like a dagger of ice pierced her mind. Her whole body felt frozen in place. She couldn't cry out and even drawing a breath felt impossible. Voices invaded her mind -- the male's voice most prominent.

Suddenly, she began to laugh. Alice realized what was happening and tried to fight it, but it had some kind of hold over her mind.

[dairyfreenugget]

(Going insane boinkinh one AU in my head)

Hey hey hey

May I interest you in

(Slowly slides my FaaF AU towards you but void just Disappears without a trace one day before the accolade)

Teehee

[themoonunderstoodmydadjokes]

…

[theazureblade]

[ PUSH ]: having just rescued the receiver from a blizzard, the sender insists on pushing the receiver closer to a fire to warm them up first.

Coerthas wasn't always the cold, desolate wasteland it was now. Five years ago, before the Calamity, it was as green as Gridania during the springs and summers.

But that was five years ago, and it hasn't stopped snowing in Coerthas since.

One might think an Ishgardian would have ample experience dealing with the ice and the cold, and they would be right to think so. In particular, military personnel had rigorous survival training, having to camp out in the cold from time to time to face any particular threat.

...which is why it was so humiliating that Aymeric had gotten turned around in a snowstorm and had to be rescued by a Scion of the Seventh Dawn.

But here he was, so cold he wasn't even shivering anymore (bad sign), as Sid carried him on chocobo back toward Whitebrim, which was apparently the closest safe haven. (Also a bad sign. He had been headed for Camp Dragonhead.) He had lost Lucia in the heavy snows too, which was particularly worrisome.

And now Sid was pushing him toward the large fireplace in the first building he could find in Whitebrim – looked like a dining hall of sorts – and calling for a chirurgeon while he feebly protested.

“I am no longer in danger,” he insisted. “We need to arrange a search party for my retinue. We got separated in the storm...”

[grihm]

@micahsawyer sent: 052. a closed pool , after everyone has left .

───  THE  VIBRANT  GLOW  OF  THE  DYING  summer  sunset  had  faded  from  the  sky  almost  an  hour  ago,  vivid  streaks  of  orange  and  red  fading  into  deep  purples  and  midnight  blues.  A  thick  veil  of  smog  had  rendered  the  shadowy  blanket  all  but  starless,  but  it  hadn’t  stopped  Shiloh  from  appreciating  it  as  she’d  watched  the  sun  sink  below  the  distant  city  skyline  from  a  familiar  park  bench.  She’d  spent  the  last  three  sunsets  there,  waiting  patiently  for  the  cover  of  nightfall  before  she’d  slip  through  the  window  of  the  nearby  pool  facility. 

          Tonight  would  be  no  different,  much  to  the  brunette’s  utter  disgruntlement.  Just  like  she’d  done  every  night  prior,  she  circled  around  the  back  of  the  building,  hoisted  herself  up  atop  the  edge  of  the  old  green  dumpster,  and  wiggled  her  way  into  the  small  window  that  she’d  been  cleverly  keeping  just  slightly  ajar  with  the  aid  of  a  small  pebble.  Her  nostrils  were  immediately  met  with  the  too-familiar  scent  of  chlorine,  the  unwelcome  intrusion  causing  her  nose  to  scrunch  in  protest  as  she  fumbled  her  way  through  the  old  storage  room  and  towards  the  door.  She  was  hopeful  that  this  would  be  the  night  that  she  could  finally  lure  the  ghost  out  of  hiding,  lest  the  fucking  scent  of  pool  chemicals  linger  in  her  hair  for  all  of  eternity.

          With  a  comically-oversized  inflatable  in  one  hand  and  a  pool  noodle  in  the  other,  Shiloh  made  her  entrance  into  the  pool  area  with  the  gentle  kick  of  a  combat  boot  against  the  door.  She’d  hardly  taken  a  few  steps  across  the  tiled  floors  when  the  site  of  a  figure  caught  her  attention,  however,  stopping  her  in  her  tracks  and  drawing  her  chocolate  gaze.  With  the  lights  in  the  facility  down  for  the  night,  only  the  ultramarine  glow  of  the  pool’s  lights  lit  his  silhouette,  but  she  could  see  him  clearly  enough  to  make  out  his  long  black  hair,  his  pale  skin  and  the  exhaustion  that  rimmed  the  edges  of  his  green  eyes.

          … THE  GHOST?

          Shiloh  wasn’t  entirely  convinced,  leaning  more  towards  skeptical  as  she  carefully  studied  him  for  a  lingering  moment,  her  head  offering  a  slight  tilt  as  her  eyes  narrowed  contemplatively.  Perhaps  asking  him  would  have  been  the  most  appropriate  course  of  action,  but  instead…  she  extended  the  pool  noodle  in  her  hand  to  calmly  poke  him  once  in  his  chest.

          ❝  Huh,  ❞  she  hummed  thoughtfully,  the  end  of  the  foam  pole  making  contact.  She  tried  to  hide  her  disappointment,  but  there  was  an  obvious  shift  in  her  posture  as  a  silent  sigh  dragged  her  shoulders  down.  ❝  Sorry.  Thought  you  were  dead.  ❞  He  was  certainly  no  ghost,  but  she  knew  for  a  fact  that  he  didn’t  work  here  either,  which  meant  that  he  was  committing  a  crime  by  being  here  just  as  much  as  she  was.  If  she  was  lucky,  they  would  silently  agree  to  coexist.

[imflyingfish]

Honestly i dont like sculk spreading/corruption storylines theyre really boring with a few exceptions

[helldustedstories]

@fearedelight asked: "We're in completely different leagues." // coughs and casually gets the ball rolling for what we've been talking about-- Blitz for Stolas 👀

200 random dialogue prompts // accepting

It had been a little while, since he and Blitzy had struck up their little deal, and it seemed to be going well for both of them. Blitzy and his employees got access to the human realm, and he got to have Blitzy all to himself one night a month, something that he very much looked forward to.

There was still so much he didn't know, so much he hadn't experienced, and Bitzy didn't seem to mind trying out all sorts of different things with him. He had so much more experience, after all; Stolas had only been with Stella enough to produce their daughter, and now Blitzy.

Being with Blitz was so much different than anything with Stella had been. That had been cold, calculated, a duty. Neither of them had wanted to do it, and as soon as Via was hatched safely, that had been it. He'd tried to be a good husband, but Stella wanted equally as little to do with him, and he was actually quite relieved.

But then Blitz had come crashing back into his life, the first friend he'd ever had, the first person who had shown interest in him….or so he'd thought. Until his father had mentioned in passing that he'd paid for Blitzo (as he was called then) to spend the afternoon with him, since it was his birthday.

Still, that birthday had been one of his favourite days; he had thought about it and the imp he'd shared it with quite a few times over the years, even though he knew he would likely never see him again.

Then he'd shown up at Stella's "Still Not Divorced" party, and Stolas had thrown caution to the wind (thanks to a little assistance from the alcohol in his system, as well) and flirted with someone he was actually attracted to for the first time. He'd been more than a little flustered when Blitz had reciprocated, taking charge of the situation and chasing him all the way over to the bed. Stolas had tried to match that energy, being as forward and aggressive as he dared.

The moment Blitz bit him had really been what flipped a switch inside Stolas. Blitz had awakened something in him that he hadn't fully realized had existed, shown him that he could feel something for someone else, in that way.

And after Stolas had figured out that Blitz had been the one who had stolen his grimoire, well, it was an easy choice. He wanted to see the imp again, wanted to feel good again, and what better way than to arrange a deal between them? That was how things worked; he would let Blitz and his company use his grimoire, and Blitz would spend time with him in return.

It was only after they'd started meeting fairly regularly, and Stolas interacted more with both Moxxie and Millie that he began to see how different their relationship was. There wasn't any sort of …. transaction between them; they just spent time together because they wanted to.

But he and Blitz were doing that too, weren't they? Yes, they did still have a deal with the grimoire, but it wasn't just that, was it? Blitz certainly seemed to enjoy himself when he was with Stolas, and the prince absolutely did.

So that night, once they'd both thoroughly enjoyed themselves, Stolas had tried to get Blitz to stay. There was no need for him to drive home in the middle of the night when he could just…..stay here. That was the sort of thing one did when they were together, wasn't it?

But it seemed like Blitz had something else on his mind.

"We're in completely different leagues," Blitz told him, his back to Stolas as he moved to get his clothes.

Stolas blinked, quickly moving to sit up himself, the sheet pooling around his waist. Had he said something wrong? All he'd done was ask Blitz to stay…, which seemingly hadn't been the right thing to do.

"I know there's a difference in our positions, but why should that matter?" he asked. It didn't matter to him…; did it matter to Blitz?

[botanikos]

🍑 ( yk what it's funny maybe when they're teens idk )

Send 🍑 to grab my muse's ass / ☆

send 'peach' if you can't see the emoji

PERFECT LIPS COATED IN GOLD, crystal glasses abandoned on soft blanket, bottle favored instead and passed between the princes. Their laughter echoed in the empty meadow as they stumbled [ albeit gracefully ] along, shoulders brushing every so often as they mocked the droning voices of their mentors, or plucked away at the newest social scandals [ which they agreed were far too mild to be considered decent gossip ]. Out here, there was no one to bark orders at them, no one to chastise or control them. Balekin was left behind undoubtedly awaiting the chance to inflict his infinite wrath upon Cardan, and Stolas — his complaints were smaller in comparison, but nevertheless they fled from much of their courtly duties when he could. Or more adequately, whenever and wherever involved Prince Cardan's company. They gave pause, leaning against a large tree, breathless with their escape.

A flurry of rather unhappy grigs had started to surround and chase them off, fiercely expressing their disappointment and frustrations when they [ in their young, wild, and drunken stupors ] accidentally ruined a celebration, resulting in the wreckage of more than a few of their instruments.

❝ Now you have something genuinely fruitful and humorous to bring up in conversation with your court. Perhaps it will win you points in your endeavors for a true match.~ ❞ Stolas stands abruptly, fixing his posture, fluid movements making to mimic that of Cardan's cool grandiose.  ❝ You can tell them all about how your heel accidentally came down upon their summer celebrations, crushing delicate fiddles and causing an uproar of furious chirping— ❞ Vermillion hues narrow, midnight lined lips curving with a playful smirk. He moves back to his friend, bumping into him lightly before swiping the bottle from beringed fingers and drinking deeply. The warm and fuzzy feeling it left humming beneath his skin was favored above the migraine of tediousness they abandoned.

Elfhame's cruel prince scoffed and surprised Stolas with a hand against rear. Brief squeeze, there and gone, and wicked grin upon perfect lips, making his features all the more regal and cutting. Laughter spilled from him in a sudden burst at the sight of color spreading across his owl-like companion's cheeks.

❝ You could at least ask me to dance first, Your Highness~ ❞ flustered, but swift quip comes from Stolas' lips. But then even he was dissolving into laughter.

Eventually, the pair quieted, heads tilting skyward. Gloved fingers reach to delicately fix the crown atop his prince's head, observing his profile under careful gaze. They really ought to return. . . But he was grateful for the brief opportunity they managed to steal back for themselves.

❝ I will follow you beyond the stars, Prince Cardan. Remember that. ❞

[shima-draws]

Work was reeeeeal stressful today and my anxiety’s suuuper high rn lmao. Send some asks?

[tracle0]

I wrote something yesterday!

[kateis-cakeis]

people are really so weird and so fatphobic huh

(and oops most of my commentary is in the tags XD)