#one of my favorite themes. i have so many saved i'd have to make multiple parts <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[nobodysdaydreams]

20 Questions for Writers

@myfairkatiecat Thanks for the tag, sorry this took so long. (@sophieswundergarten thanks for the reminder 💕)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

8 so far. It's not a lot, but I make up for it in length.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

417,645 💀

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Exclusively tmbs so far, but I plan on doing some Wolf359 fics when I (finally) finish the podcast. Sadly all my ideas are long. I'm sorry.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Since I have so few fics I'll just give the list:

S.O.S., by a lot. I'd like to thank the show's cancellation for my unexpected success.

The Oldest Siblings , mainly due to it's association with SOS (it's the prequel in the series)

Treat Them With(out) Mercy

Who You Were Meant To Be

A Joy To Obey and It Should Have Been Us are tied

The Boys Who Waited

Sirens of the Sea and Sky: dead last with 3 modest kudos. This fic is the equivalent of having a kid in a school recital who screams the whole time and knocks down the set. He might be a disaster, but he's my kid and I'm proud. This fic is ridiculous, but it makes me laugh anyway. I don't know how burnt out finals Bods came up with this, but by golly...she did.

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

Of course! I think I've responded to every comment I've ever gotten (if not I'm so sorry please let me know). I appreciate every one of them, and I love talking about the ideas in my idea and the fics I write, so please know that every comment you leave totally brightens my day! 🥰

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Hm. Right now "The Boys Who Waited" probably has the angstiest and most ominous ending, but we'll see what happens.

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

Probably "A Joy To Obey" since it's my main fluff fic with a nice ending. A great read if you like lighter stuff.

8. Do you get hate on your fic?

Not yet. If I did, I'm not even sure what I'd do. Depends on the hate. I might cry. I might laugh, honestly. I don't think I'm nearly important, good, or noticeable enough for that so I might be a little flattered ngl (unless it was something vulgar or hateful towards a certain group of people then I'd delete and block the person). I'm sure people have read my writing and not liked it, but I think they just click away.

9. Do you write smut?

No, that's not for me. Especially because I'm writing for a children's fandom, I just don't think that's appropriate.

10. Do you write crossovers?

No, but I've done some AU's on tumblr.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of. Also this is a small fandom so if a fic of mine DID get stolen, it would be pretty awkward and obvious. Don't plagiarize kids.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but I'd be honored if anyone wanted to do that!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

No, but that could be fun!

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

Why the MV Shortcut, of course! /jk

I don't really have a lot of ships I get super invested in, I prefer platonic relationships. If I think of one I'll let you guys know.

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

You'll find out. (Don't worry about SOS. I promised I'd finish it and I intend to keep my word).

16. What are your writing strengths?

According to my readers, dialogue, characterization, themes, weaving multiple storylines together, and plot twists.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I can't write a short fic to save my life, and I can't edit to save my life. I also just publish my first drafts because I have no impulse control (sorry).

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

Funny enough I’ve done this, but only canon MBS dialogue where I've translated it directly from the show's subtitles. If I made an error, please let me know.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Mbs, and so far just mbs. Hoping to expand someday when I magically have more time (and finish Wolf359).

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

SOS, just because of what a fun journey it's been.

Tags: @phtalogreenpoison @oflightningandstars @mvshortcut @sqenthusiast @itsgoghtime @amphibious-entity @mysteriouseggsbenedict and anyone who hasn't been tagged yet but wants to do it (sorry if I accidently double tagged)

[irradiatedsnakes]

I've ran out of current vods from my favourite streamer, do you have any recommendations for fun rtvs vods to watch? I've really been meaning to check some out

oh yes absolutely!!

i don't watch every rtvs member stream, so if anybody wants to chime in with vods from other folks, please feel free! i pretty much just watch wayne, holly, and scorpy's streams, so:

from wayneradiotv:

looking through wayne's catalogue i'm running into the problem that most of my favorites (like the among us, jackbox, & 420 streams) are best enjoyed when you're already pretty familiar with the crew, so maybe save those for later if you end up enjoying rtvs' stuff. all of the proximity chat among us videos are fantastic (and i like watching the same one from multiple peoples perspectives, holly's in particular are great). RTVS congress, a stream by baaulp, is also great and worth watching once familiar with the crew

i think my best wayne (well, on wayne's channel, all of these feature multiple members of the crew) recommendation though is gonna be I.M. MEEN, which is a completely normal playthrough of a regular copy of 90's kids' edutainment game i.m. meen, which has nothing wrong with it. for some of the other "rtvs brand of weirdness" sort of streams, check out waynekenstein's lab (fun with ai generated faces) and chex quest hd (just.. watch this one)

wayne does a lot of "grand tour" streams (technically the im meen one is one of these but), where he goes through older/weirder/obscurer games. fin fin on teo the magic planet is a FANTASTIC one (fin fin needs no introduction, but in case he does, odd 90's virtual pet with a great theme song), plus the echs bachs catalogue (a bizarre collection of pretty awful games made by one dude called Echs Bachs), and club penguin rewritten (it's club penguin, bro).

if you like seeing a game played over many hours and multiple streams, i'd check out chulip, lisa: the painful, minecraft 24 hour charity stream, and moon rpg: remix. lisa and moon remain unfortunately unfinished, but the streams are still absolutely worth checking out.

from hollowtones:

most of my favorite holly vods are biiiig long streams of a playthrough of a whole game. her stuff tends to be pretty chill and i find them nice and relaxing. sometimes there's friends joining her, sometimes it's just her. of these, i really like bugsnax (adore these ones. idk how to succinctly explain bugsnaz. is bugs, is snax, are you a jokester?), hypnospace outlaw (PLEASE watch these ones especially if you havent played/watched hypnospace before), and moonglow bay (really sweet fishing game).

holly also does a number of wikipedia streams, where she (and friends) read and discuss wikipedia articles about food for upwards of 6 hours a piece. it's really good. it's really good. i like the soup one.

another favorite holly stream is GO-FISH DELUXE FOR SUPER PLAYERS, where holly and a friend play a custom game of go fish for 7 and a half hours. i love this one.

and i would be remiss to leave out, of course, the pigmas in july peppa pig stream. which is where holly, joined by her sister if i remember correctly it's been a minute since i watched, plays the peppa pig video game for nintendo switch. this one is very worth watching to the very end.

from socpens:

my #1 recommendation from scorpy's catalogue is going to be every single one of the VHS VIEWINGZ streams. scorpy obtains and plays a bunch of vhs tapes on stream with friends, it's always always always a good time. my favorite of all of them is probably this one, which among other things, includes a tape about learning to be a clown. make sure to watch to the end for a t-bone tickler! this one, featuring Escalator Safety and VOLTON THE ELECTRITY DEMON is also great. i'm having a hard time choosing just a few, they're all really good, so i'm just gonna link the eye palming one and be done with it.

for gameplay with scorpy, i really like a way out with wayne (unintentionally hilarious 2 player narrative game about escaping from jail), any of the david cage game vods but here's detroit become human, and not for broadcast (a FMV game about running a tv station- censoring stuff, monitoring broadcasts, that sort of thing. has a very interesting narrative)

and a couple other things

ok so these aren't like, the typical stream vods, while they are technically livestreamed stuff they're not quite in the same category. but they're all really fucking good.

of course, half life VR but the ai is self aware. there's full stream vods available for these, but if you haven't watched before i highly recommend watching the edited versions on wayne's main channel linked above. in case you haven't heard of hlvrai before, basic concept is that it's an in-character playthrough (wayne roleplaying as gordon freeman) of half life 1 in VR with a cast of self-aware ai NPCs (played by other members of the rtvs crew) accompanying him through the game. no prior knowledge of half life necessary. just fantastic.

next up, GAMECLAM. a yearly e3-style gaming conference about the best video games console that doesn't exist. here's the first one, there's currently 3 in total. there's also a commentary video on scorpy's vod channel. PLEASE experience the gameclam. PLEASE experience the gameclam

lastly, half life: alyx but the gnome is TOO AWARE. wayne does a gnome run challenge of HL:A with a mod that gives the gnome a biiiit more personality. (due to some references, best watched after hlvrai, but they're not part of the same series/continuity). not all the way finished at the moment- the finale's been streamed (and you can find a 3rd party upload of the finale stream on youtube (thank you youtube user sawsily for everything you do)) but the edited version of the finale should be coming out pretty soon.

[dazedandinked]

Steddie fic recs (2/?)

Part 1

In the last six month I've read, saved and commented an alarming amount of Steddie fics. I finally feel ready to share some of my favorite so far with all of you because I think all the authors deserve kudos and new readers!

I'm not much of a writer, but I hope you'll like my suggestions. Feel free to RB, leave comments and recs for me.

This second part took me a while, but hey I made it!

Buckle up, this time we have: some very good famous Steddie au, one of my fav Punk Steve fics ever, a very sweet coffee shop au and some LARP!

I have a lot of regrets about that by @hairmetal666

The thing is: I just finished reading "Daisy Jones & The Six" (which I strongly rec) and my scrolling brought me to this fic. It's destiny, there's no other explaination.

I really enjoyed the interview writing style, it's nice to get multiple POVs about the events. The feelings and the pain between Steve and Eddie are so sincere it broke my heart in a few moments.

The ending is just delicious to me.

***

New York Hardcore by @grandmastattoo

Before adding a short comment, I'd like to underline the fact that this specific is quite intense - or it was for me.

Ok, so. I'm not sure where to start with this fic - and the whole series. I really enjoy Punk!Steve in every shape and color, but this fic has something that really left me so raw and tender.

***

The pain and grief are described magnificently, the images are so powerful. The healing process is long and complex but oh, so freeing to read. I love Steve being a weirdo, loving with abandon and without restraints.

Kudos to the author because they did their research and it shows: there are a lot of great references to places and music. The punk in this fic is so real, not some pop punk stuff!

Red Eye by @alinafewwords

This fic is still in progress. Not everyone reads incomplete fics, but I do and I felt the need to rec this one.

I think I mentioned this before, but I'm a modern au avid reader.

I really *love* this particular coffee shop au because it's the right mix of fluff and caffeine that keeps me alive. I particularly enjoyed the growth of Eddie and Steve's friendship, the soft intimacy surrounding their moments together. Also, the spicy six get to be there and there a good amount of buckingham, which is definetely a lovely plus.

***

The Shire in NOT on Fire by @kissesforcas

Is there someone out there who hasn't read this fic and loved it? I don't think so.

The idea of the Party joining a Reinfaire and LARP event is just so nice, I always love reading about them having a good time together - no trauma involved.

The idea of Steve and Robin being exposed to a whole world they don't know is just really funny, with all the costumes and roleplaying involved. Everything concerning Steve trying to resist Baby Byers when it comes to convince him to do whatever the Party asks him makes me cackle. I couldn't resist that puppy face either.

The plot is fun, the pining is delicious, the smut is even more delicious.

You don't know this fic already? Well, hop on the train right now!

***

Slither by @mixsethaddams

This fic is still in progress. Not everyone reads incomplete fics, but I do and I felt the need to rec this one.

Also, I didn't really mind the tag before reading because the themes don't really trigger me. However, it may not be your cup of tea.

I must admit, it took a while for me to start this fic because the setting isn't one of my usual au choices. I don't really read influencer/youtuber aus, but this fic was a blast - I couldn't put my phone down!

I loved reading about Eddie and Steve's blossoming weird friendship, and the PLOT! Like, I didn't expect the many heavy subjects to be described in such a different-but-insightful way (altought the author did a great job mentioning all of them, mind the tags guys and don't be like me).

Chrissy is probably my favourite so far, I love her, Eddie and Gareth being a team!

Finally, AUTHOR I FINISHED CH8 AND HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE LOVE LAUGH IN THIS CONDITION.

That said, see you next part guys!

Daze

[pagesandpothos]

Key Lime Sky by Al Hess

Key Lime Sky by Al Hess is the final book I'm reading for this year's Pride Reads. It is such a perfect book to end the month on too, because I found it to be utterly charming and such a unique read. It's a science fiction-themed queer romance that releases on August 13, 2024. Here's the official summary:

An alien invasion hits the town of Muddy Gap, but a disgruntled pie aficionado is the only one who seems to remember it… Denver Bryant’s passion for pie has sent him across Wyoming in search of the best slices. Though he dutifully posts reviews on his blog, he’s never been able to recreate his brief moment of viral popularity, and its trickling income isn’t enough to pay his rent next month. Driving home from a roadside diner, Denver witnesses a UFO explode directly over his tiny town of Muddy Gap. When he questions his neighbors, it appears that Denver is the only person to have seen anything – or to care that the residents’ strange behavior, as well as a shower of seashell hail, might be evidence of something extraterrestrial. Being both non-binary and autistic, he’s convinced his reputation as the town eccentric is impeding his quest for answers. Frustrated, he documents the bizarre incidents on his failing pie blog, and his online popularity skyrockets. His readers want the truth, spurring him to get to the bottom of things.

Key Lime Sky is a little strange and a lot of fun. The plot is wild and a little mind-blowing. I'd describe the book as more adventurous and fast-paced over "cozy" but I do see some elements of "cozy sci fi." There are high stakes in this plot though! Denver and friends are working to save themselves, their town, and the world.

The romance between Denver and Ezra is incredibly sweet and well-paced. There's a little spice but the novel spends more time on the emotional aspects of their relationship. The two work well together and I enjoyed seeing them learn to understand each other. Their "meet-cute" is one of the funniest and most charming that I've read in a romance novel in a long time!

The plot and romance are both great but it's the characters that really make this story so enjoyable. First, they are incredibly diverse! Denver is non-binary, queer, and autistic. Ezra is pansexual, Latino, and plus-sized. Taisha, one of their friends and allies in saving the town, is a black transwoman. There is also a host of other supporting characters and quirky townspeople who add a lot of depth to the town of Muddy Gap and to the story as a whole.

I think Denver, who is okay with any pronouns but prefers xe/xem, will be incredibly relatable to many neurodivergent people. At the start of the story, Denver is struggling to connect with people and is often misunderstood or ignored. My heart broke for how isolated xe was feeling. That's not to say that the book is sad or depressing though! Denver is the hero of this story and seeing the people around xem start to appreciate and understand xem felt triumphant to read. Denver is genuinely a fantastic character and is one of my favorite new characters that I've read all year.

I've never read any of this author's other works, but I'm putting them all on my TBR after finishing Key Lime Sky. I was utterly enamored by this story, the characters, and this romance and I can't wait to read everything else by Al Hess!

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tropes/Tags: science fiction, romance, queer, spicy

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️/5. There are multiple sex scenes that are “Open Door” and mildly descriptive.

Content Warnings: Here are the warnings provided by the author: "profanity; brief violence; anxiety; on-page autistic meltdowns; brief fatphobia; mentions of ableism; mentions of parental drug addiction and verbal abuse; open door sex and sexual elements; hospitalization; alcohol use; mentions of racism, police, and jail time"

Other Things: Be sure to check out the author's website for stunning character portraits drawn by the author!

If you liked this I think you will like Key Lime Sky: August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White, books with non-binary and neurodivergent main characters

Links: Storygraph | GoodReads| AlHessAuthor.com

Key Lime Sky will be released on August 13, 2024, and is available for pre-order!

I received an advanced copy of this book for free thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot. The above are my honest feelings on the provided book.

[usamamoweek]

Meet the Creators - Goddess_Althena

What username(s) and platform(s) can folx find you on? (Please include links!)

@goddessalthena's works can be found here on AO3

(Fun Fact) What is your favorite kind of potato?

"Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew." I, like Samwise the Great, have no single preference for the mighty spud. I worship potatoes in all forms.

How long have you been creating works in fandom spaces? How long have you been active in the SM fandom?

Sailor Moon is the only fandom I've ever written for. While it might be something of a stretch to call myself 'active', I've been dabbling on and off since the early 2000s.

What type(s) of creative works do you usually make? (fanfics, digital art, cosplay)

Fanfic only. I can't draw to save my life, and the only character I dress up as (unintentionally) is Captain Sweatpants.

What do you enjoy about creating for the SM fandom?

I've always loved writing, but I adore the people I've met in the Sailor Moon fandom. Getting to know fellow writers/creators has deepened my love for the characters and inspired me in so many ways. It's a great fandom for collaboration and support.

Are you strictly UsaMamo or do you create for other pairings as well?

I have a couple 'gen fic' one-shots, but my brain generally defaults to UsaMamo content.

What inspires you to create works for Usagi and Mamoru?

I'm not really sure why I always default to these two, but I think there's a 10 year old version of me still crying out for all the UsaMamo content I didn't get from canon. That breakup arc left deep, emotional scars. Each angst fic is me reliving the trauma. Each fluff fic is me trying to heal. 😂

Do you tend to work on multiple projects (WIPs) simultaneously or try to finish one at a time?

Yes. Yes.

Do you prefer large projects (chaptered fics, webtoons/zines, highly detailed art) or small projects (one-shots or simple art)?

If we're talking about writing, then I prefer one-shots, tyvm. My tiny peanut brain gets lost in the intricate maze that is longfic.

As for reading, anything goes!

Are there any common themes, situations, tropes, or mediums in your work?

I'm not really a trope writer, so my pieces can be pretty random. I often strive to imbue a sense of emotional realism into my writing, to 'ground' the content in a way that canon often chose not to.

Is there anything you haven’t explored artistically and would like to try?

I'd like to write and direct an old-timey Sailor Moon radio drama, but something tells me my Moonie friends would refuse to perform it live. Thus my dream is dashed.

[theeccentricraven]

For those who ask, "How do I come up with original ideas?" here's the scary truth, the half truth, and the 3 tips that will save you (plus seven bonus tips)💡

Whenever I see writers post on social media asking, "How do I come up with original ideas?" or "I want to write but my ideas aren't original. What do I do?" or "Is this idea original?" it feels strange. Throughout my lifespan, I've come up with hundreds of ideas I want to write someday, no joke. I've heard authors talk about the background of writing a story. Never did I nor the authors I admire ask, "Huh, is that an original idea?" When an idea comes to you, the passion can fill you so strongly that you feel you have to make it a reality. If you don't feel the passion for the idea or hesitate to write it, you might need to question why you are pursuing the idea n the first place. This is where I get to my first point on the scary truth behind writing.

The Scary Truth 

One of my favorite writers is Shannon Hale. Years ago, her website squeetus.com featured a page on how to be a writer. One section was called, "Why do you want to be a writer?" Her theory was that there's only one good reason to be a writer: "I have so many ideas that I have to write down and share." She believed that if one's motivation to be a writer is, "I like the idea of being a published writer" or "I see other people writing and it looks like a cool thing I'd like to do", then you're going to be disappointed and less likely to be successful. She makes a good point. Wanting to be a writer is like dreaming of being a Hollywood actor. It looks glamorous to walk among the stars, but you'd have to be willing to commit to acting lessons not to mention the dark side of Hollywood life. You would only become a Hollywood actor if it's your passion you can't live without. Every successful writer that I've seen has that need to write, willing to endure the long hours and stress that comes with writing. If that's not you, this might not be for you. 

Does that mean there's no hope for you and you should quit? Not necessarily. I can't tell you what's best for you. I can't tell you what your purpose is in life nor what your goals should be. Only you can tell yourself this. If you are saying, "But I really want to write! I am serious about being a writer and willing to commit! I just don't know what to do about my unoriginal idea!" My reply is, that's awesome. The good news is I have three tips to help you so that you'll come out of this knowing what to do. First, we debunk a myth, or dismantle a half truth.

The Half Truth

Whenever I see people post the question, "How do I come up with original ideas/I don't know if my idea is original" the most common response from other users is "There are no original ideas." This is a fair response. Is it true? I'm inclined to say…kind of? Or maybe I should say, "Yes, but no?" I think that attestation comes from looking only at the skeleton of a story, not the story as a whole. Some people say it as, "There are only seven stories". Maybe there's only seven themes or seven concepts or seven tropes. However, themes, concepts, and tropes alone are not stories. I describe it as how every human being looks different, twins and multiples aside. Humans come in many shapes, sizes, figures, heights, eye color, hair styles, shades of skin tone, etc., but underneath, our skeletons relatively look the same. Likewise, stories can be built on the same skeleton, but they are fleshed by different shapes, figures, and colors. I personally believe that there's an infinite amount of stories out there. Lots of stories have been told and there's still more to tell. 

The other issue I have with when people say, "There's no original stories," is you don't want to let that stop you from being original. Here are some examples.

When Brandon Sanderson created Mistborn,  he didn't think, "Because the story of the hero's journey has been told so many times in fantasy, it should be OK for me to make yet another high fantasy novel of the hero's journey."

When JK Rowling got the idea for Harry Potter, she didn't think, "Oh, there's already a book about a boy who goes to wizard school called A Wizard of Earthsea, so there's no point in me writing this." 

You’re not condemned to a certain type of story when you come up with an idea, which leads to my first point.

Make it original

Another reason I find it a curious question when people ask, "My idea is too clichéd, how do I come up with an original idea?" is that my knee jerk reaction is, “You know what's wrong with it. Why don't you make it original? Why don't you change it to get rid of the cliches and make it original?" Going back to Brandon Sanderson, he's described the idea process for Mistborn as beginning with the question, "What if the hero who was supposed to save the world failed and the dark lord won?" With a little time, he thought, "What if the only way the dark lord could be defeated was by a bunch of thieves running an Ocean's 11 like heist to rob the dark lord?" Many stories are the results of writers who wanted to defy genre and turn tropes and cliches on their head. When William Goldman wrote The Princess Bride, he defied the fairytale romance tropes by making the prince the bad guy and the pirate the good guy. When DreamWorks made Shrek, it defied every trope of the classic Disney fairytale features. When you've read or seen a lot, you know what's been done before and how you can be different. Examples of where this has been done badly include Disney's Dinosaur and The Force Awakens where lazy writing produced virtual plagiarism. Instead of recycling old ideas, you can throw out the rotted food to replace with fresh produce, which leads to my second tip.

2. Use an old idea with a fresh approach. 

As the saying goes, put old wine in new bottles. Harry Potter was not the first story about a child who goes to magic school, but JK Rowling took a fresh approach with her own unique setting and relatable characters. The Hunger Games was not the first story about a game where contestants kill each other, but its powerful female protagonist, gripping plot, intense action, and thought provoking questions made it feel unique. Bumblebee feels similar to the Iron Giant/ET: The Extraterrestrial, but audiences still loved it because it has a heart and charm that speaks for itself. There's always a way to take an idea that's been used before, clean it up, redress it, and present it fresh. Oftentimes, well written characters and plot twists are what give a story its own voice. This leads to my third tip.

3. Make the writing superb

Have you heard the story of how Jim Butcher created Codex Alera? Years ago, Jim was on a forum chatting with aspiring writers. One user made the statement that the writers who really succeeded were those with the great ideas. Jim said no, the ones who succeed are those good at writing, as a bad idea can still be turned to a well written story. The two argued back and forth, ending with Jim saying, "Tell me your worst idea and I'll make it into a story that will be awesome." The user replied, "I want you to write Pokémon meets the Lost Roman Legion." The result was Codex Alera, a highly rated book of clever plot twists and compelling characters. 

One of the problems with being worried about originality is that audiences aren't likely to say, "I loved that story because it's original." They're more likely to say, "I loved that story because the characters feel so real, the plot is exciting, it had me up late, and I was so touched in the end that I cried." This is what audiences want. They're not asking for originality, but a well written story. This is why it's often said that ideas are cheap.

Ironically, there's a juxtaposition where the idea is both the most important part of the story and the least important. You should write because you have an idea you're passionate about, yet the idea is insignificant compared to how good your writing needs to be. My personal opinion is you don't find the story. The story finds you. You bait yourself by diving into the world around you. I think in many ways, the question of how to find an original idea is similar to the story of how to deal with writer's block. As a bonus, I'm adding my seven tips on how to deal with writer's block to help you out of the finding an idea rut.

4. Read a good book you haven't read before. This will not only help you learn from the good writing but stimulate your mind.

5. Read a bad book and write down how you would rewrite the book. You're not only learning but stimulating your imagination. 

6. Think about a book/movie/TV show/video game/any story where you didn't like how it ended and come up with a better ending. Again, you learn from dissecting a story while getting your creative juices going.

7. Write down a few "what if" questions. Think of how to use answers in your current project or a new project.

8. Skip writing filler and jump to the good parts. (This is more writer’s block related, but can help you to let the idea evolve naturally to a story)

9. Take time to do other creative hobbies. Depending on what you like to do, you could knit, take photos, paint, draw, play the guitar, sculpt, etc. I don’t just write. I like to cook, bake, play the harp, and cross-stitch. As a writer, you are a creator. You get your mind brewing when you are creating, even if it’s not a story.

10. Go on a walk. Or do whatever allows you to think and reflect. Listen to music. Meditate. Whatever lets you take a break and let your thoughts wander freely. 

Secret 11th bonus tip….

11. Use writing prompts. I didn’t mention this as part of the official list because writing prompts aren’t my thing. However, if you don’t know where to start or feel lost, writing prompts can be helpful.

So there you have it. My only goal in writing this is to help whoever is reading this find their calling in life, whether as a writer or as something else. Only you can find your calling. I hope you find it and get out of what's holding you back. 

Photo is by Bram Naus on Unsplash

[foliejpg]

alright heres a shit ton

6, 7, 11, 20, 21, 24, 27, and 28

oh boy here we go i had to switch from mobile to desktop for this. thank you for sending so many i love answering these <3

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

oh for sure! i reread a lot of my friends fics so anything by @cryptophasiac @lakemichiganlolita @petefromarma @buildarocketboys assume i have read it multiple times. and also go read their fics asap<3 as far as individual fics, i'm sure there are specific ones that i cannot think of right now lmao chances are if its in my bookmarks, i've read it a few times

7. How many ideas for fics do you have right now?

flushed out ideas, not many lol my brain writes dialogue first, i'll hear someone say something and then write in my notes app so i can use it at a later time, but not actual ideas really

11. Do you have specific playlists for writing fics?

i don't actually haha i'm usually watching tv or a youtube video while i write honestly. when i listen to music i get distracted by it lmfao

20. What’s a favorite title for a fic you’ve written?

i really liked that all of the titles of my girlpete fics were from the same album "if i can't have love, i want power" by halsey (which is absolutely one of my All Time Absolute Favorite albums and can't recommend enough) but only 4/6 have titles w lyrics from that album. the other two are lyrics from "fall with me" by the wild reeds and "snake charmer" by blink 182 lmao

21. Have you ever deleted an entire scene after spending hours laboring over it? If so, why?

i've had full complete fics that have gotten chopped up and repurposed. what usually happens is there's something about the finished fic or scene that doesn't Scratch that Itch i want it too, so it'll get put on the back burner until i can take my favorite bits and pieces and use them somewhere else. as far as outright like, backspace delete a scene, no i don't think i ever have. i save every single draft of a fic just in case. sometimes i look through old drafts and end up finding something i like lol

24. Share a moodboard for (one of) your current WIP(s).

i don't make moodboards i do have a girl out boy pinterest though which is mostly just like.. clothes lol

27. Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

every single one lol before i post any fic, there's always a moment of anxiety like its going to go over super poorly or whatever. i've been super lucky that people tell me how much they enjoy my fics and it really does mean to world to hear bc i'm my own biggest critic lol but specifically? "i'd do anything to make you feel" because it was kind of the darkest fic i've posted? and "if everything could ever feel this way forever" bc it does have the non-con tag and i had never posted anything so dub/non-con lol

28. Have you ever tagged a fic “Dead Dove: Do Not Eat”?

not that specific tag no but i did tag "i'd do anything to make you feel" as dead dove adjacent lol there was nothing inherently dead dove but the themes i understand could make ppl uncomfy so i added it for a heads up

[the-everqueen]

001: Sandman - A random thought

002: Rose/Corinthian

003: Rose Walker

sandman - a random thought if the corinthian has multiple apartments, does he hire cleaners? or is there like, dreaming magic that keeps the places dust-free? or does the corinthian have a secret assigned cleaning day? (imagine him in an apron and rubber gloves scrubbing the kitchen.)

send me a ship - rose/corinthian when i started shipping it: i think it was after reading heavy lies the crown? that fic is just...mm. delicious.

my thoughts: coco/rose plays with so many themes i find fun. what does it mean to be a person. what do you do after a narrative has ended but you still have to live. what is the difference between devotion and love. can you ever truly love god or is that relationship fundamentally fucked. what if god was also just the girl whose brother you saved and she thought you were some kind of potential guard dog. what if god held your leash and you liked it. what if you bit the hand that feeds you and it still came back for pets.

what makes me happy about them: the thing is, i think rose fundamentally understands the corinthian as a person, in a way that dream never will, because dream knows what he really is was made to be. meanwhile the corinthian understands rose as both human and Endless (because that's his whole function). they get each other. also i'm a diehard believer in giving the corinthian to one of sandman's female characters, because frankly anyone is going to be better at handling him than dream once coco is outside the realm of "favorite" and it leads to Fun Shenanigans.

what makes me sad about them: the thing i'm grappling with in the la guard dog sequel is that, while they get each other, i'm not sure they can...fix each other. like, none of us can really "fix" each other, and both of them have deep-running trauma that goes beyond the other's capacity to heal. there's a part of me that could see a bad ending au where essentially the corinthian makes rose Worse, whatever that might look like. also, at least in canon, that they don't talk again before dream unmakes the corinthian. what does rose think about him, really, in the end? it feels very much like he's Trying with her, even if that's tangled up in his attempts to overthrow dream and save his own life, and even if inherently it's performative on some level.

things done in fanfic that annoy me: a lot of the wider fandom treats rose like a kid. which feels unfair, given that she's a) in her twenties, so a legal adult, and b) shouldering adult responsibilities plenty of her peers don't have to worry about. [insert rant about how Black girls aren't allowed to have childhoods but are also not seen as capable once they're adults.] most coco/rose people are already thinking about rose as a consenting adult and someone with very real trauma, but i guess the other thing would be it's easy to forget the corinthian is an inherently hungry thing.

things i look for in fanfic: ...fics of them at all? authors grappling with categorization of "thingness"? the absence of hob as some kind of uncle figure to the walkers.

my kinks: debates about personhood. pain play. unequal power dynamics. (this is a whole bhol characters thing, i think i just want someone to tie up that white dude.)

who i'd be comfortable with them ending up with, if not each other: again, too poly for this question to ever apply to me. i'd like to see more Rose ships in general.

my happily ever after for them: well, that's just the la guard dog au.

give me a character - rose walker how i feel about this character: big. i care about her. i want to hold her in my arms. i want to bite anyone who looks at her as just a prop for morpheus. tv!rose is SO fucking interesting, the show fleshed out so much of her character in relation to her positioning as a young Black woman, and that is DELIGHTFUL, and i want more people to engage with her.

all the people i ship romantically with this character: obvs i'm writing coco/rose. there's a whole other unwritten thing that is cori/matt/rose as a poly triad. rose/calliope has Potential. rose/barbie, of course, is adorable.

my non-romantic otp for this character: i think rose and lucienne could be such good friends. another storyteller for the librarian??

my unpopular opinion about this character: rose is a lot less naive than people think she is. she's young, yes, but she's experienced, she's intelligent, and she knows her values.

one thing i wish would happen/had happened in canon: i hope we see more of rose in subsequent seasons! she features as a recurring character in the comix. i do wish comix rose had been more nuanced as a character - she's so much the coming-of-age archetype that she's basically not really a person anymore.

my otp/ot3: apparently i am a coco/rose truther. (let the everywoman fuck the eyeball eating nightmare!) but mostly i'd like more people to engage with rose as a subject in general, rather than relegating her to the sidelines or ignoring her altogether.

[pnw-chaplain]

On Men Having Emotions in Space

Watched 2001: A Space Odyssey last night and:

WOW WOW WOW THEY MADE THIS BEFORE THE MOON LANDING

This movie had men in space who felt some emotions, but it was not what I would call a "Men Having Emotions in Space" movie

What is a "Men Having Emotions in Space" movie (MHEIS)? It's a jokey term I came up with after watching Ad Astra and realizing that part of what appealed to me about it was that it spent so much time reflecting on the main character's loneliness and his desire to connect with his missing father, and used the expanse of space itself to make room for those feelings.

I've watched movies and shows that take place in space before--Firefly, Star Wars, Doctor Who, etc.--but there it felt like space was not much more than a way to have extra fun with setting and characters.

In Ad Astra, space is almost another character, but rather than actively engaging with McBride and others, it simply exists and the human characters have to react to it. They respond with fear, awe, depression. Space is so vast and so unfeeling that humans turn inward, and our focus turns to their inner lives because there is so little outward for them to really latch onto.

Another movie I'd classify as MHEIS is Sunshine, which a lot of people don't really like but which is one of my partner's favorite movies and which I really enjoyed too.

Sunshine shows a crew having to confront matters of spirituality, trust, the value of one life over many, all in a small group of people who live on a ship strapped to the back of a nuclear bomb meant to be fired into the center of the sun to revive it. Here, there's not just the emptiness of space that prompts these powerful reflections and feelings, but the sun itself becomes divine in the eyes of multiple characters. Being in the presence of even a tiny percentage of its rays about Mercury's distance away from it has profound effects on how those who experience it think about themselves and their fellow humans. This isn't because the sun magically speaks to them or anything; the simple exposure of the sun's light and heat prompts them to go inward and think on what something so intense means.

The movie has a weird structure because two thirds are this moody, slow-ish character study, and then the last third is kind of a slasher film until the last few minutes. What I like about the first part though is exactly the meditative pace, just like with Ad Astra, where you have time to really reflect on what it must be like to be in a small group (or even alone) in the vast emptiness of space, where the void really does gaze back into you and you're forced to confront things that lie deep within because space gives you nothing.

2001 also has a very slow meditative pace, but it's not so much to give space for these big reflections and emotions. The characters don't seem very interested in the vast void of space until they're directly vulnerable to it (hell, Dr. Floyd sleeps on his flight from Earth to a space station, even as "The Blue Danube" plays and we watch the station and other satellites dance above the world). The pace feels more in service of the audience directly, to appreciate the gorgeous design and to contemplate the themes of progress and violence. This, to me, means it's not MHEIS.

The "Men" in "Men Having Emotions in Space" is also important to me. In so many sci-fi stories, men predominantly take action and go on adventure and either save the day or fail. Maybe they have individual emotions--fear in 2001 when HAL goes rogue, fury and despair in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke learns his enemy is his father--but the movie doesn't give room for itself to be about the emotions of men. In a society where men aren't taught to identify their feelings and can easily live quite emotionally stunted lives, it's really meaningful to me to see movies where men have little to do but feel deeply.

Something that I haven't yet seen in MHEIS movies, but is hopefully out there, is what happens when one turns away from the great void of space and turns back toward Earth, toward home. Sunshine features a room on the ship that projects things like ocean waves and birdsong, to be used by crewmembers when they're overwhelmed and homesick, but we don't hear as much about how being in space changes their relationship with their planet. Ad Astra comes a bit closer, ending with McBride returning to Earth and starting to open his heart to human connection again after confronting his loneliness, but we really only see this in the very last moments of the film.

In real life, however, this seems to be a major part of the experience of being in space. Astronauts speak of what's called the "overview effect," the huge mental shift that occurs when you look down on the surface of Earth and realize you can't see borders, buildings, or people, but you can see both the tremendous beauty and the human-caused destruction of our home. They describe a deep sense of connectedness to all life on Earth and a desire to put aside conflicts in the name of protecting something so precious. It's a beautiful thing that we've only been able to really have in the last 60 years.

On the more bleak side, there's what's probably the most stark example MHEIS from real life, when William Shatner got to briefly go into space with Blue Origin:

I want more of this in movies. I want the men who go to space and have their Big Feelings about humanity and themselves get to be seen being changed by those feelings and coming home to live anew.

What I love about MHEIS is the time and the depth, the rich spaciousness of what is awakened in these men. I wonder about the potential of MHEIS movies to invite those of us watching to experience these emotions ourselves, and let them transform how we interact with our fellow humans on our little blue marble of a planet. Can we let even a simulated void open us up to what lies deep within our hearts, and can we allow what we find there to come forth and speak to us?

[avaantares]

C-Novel recs (for kinda unusual tastes)?

Heya, fellow readers! I've been deep in C-drama/novel fandom for many years and I love to read, but while there are some titles in the supergenre that I adore and have read multiple times, I'm having trouble finding new titles that I like. This is largely because the types of stories I enjoy often coincide with tropes I don't enjoy, and it can be hard to filter those.

I am immensely grateful for @shen-daozhang 's rec list, and have read a number of books on their recommendation, but obviously everyone's tastes are different! so I thought I'd throw out an additional request just in case someone else has already done the homework and knows what I should read next.

If you have an encyclopedic knowledge of C-novels and have nothing better to do than read about my very specific personal preferences, maybe you could rec me something new? 🙏

Things I like (in any combination):

Xianxia is my top choice, but I will also happily read wuxia, xuanhuan, mystery, adventure, urban fantasy, whatever if it's good!

Danmei, with certain qualifiers (see below)

Devoted platonic relationships

Strong sibling or sibling-adjacent bonds

Intelligent, capable female characters

Complex, multifaceted characters

Complex, twisty plots

Political drama/machinations

Suspense

Humor/clever writing/wordplay (also: good translations of same!)

Interesting settings/worldbuilding

Angst

Well-written action

Personal sacrifice

Emotional intimacy

Actual romance (as opposed to primarily sexual attraction) and romantic gestures

Happy (or happy-ish, or at least hopeful?) endings

Things I am Very Tired Of:

Power imbalance in romantic pairings (the number of couples in danmei in particular where the "romance" involves extreme power dynamics, coercion or noncon. is just. UGH. Not my thing, makes me deeply uncomfortable, do not want)

Sexual content as plot/entire focus of story (It's not that I won't read books with sex, but it's not what I'm reading for, so if that's the primary hook I'm just not going to be that interested)

Endings that are depressing or nihilistic for the sake of being depressing or nihilistic, and not with any greater theme of sacrifice for the greater good or hope for the future

MLs who are controlling, manipulative, cruel, bullies, literal r*pists, or otherwise coercive to their love interests or others

FLs who are "cute" because they're naive and childlike and also utterly inept at basic tasks, and cannot function in society without the ML stepping in to be a Big Strong Man for them (*heavy eyeroll*)

And in case it would be helpful -- again, because everyone has different tastes and I know mine are not in line with what's popular with the majority of fans -- here's

(A partial list of) Popular titles I have read, and my personal opinions thereof:

(and if I'm wrong about my assumptions of any of the books I didn't finish or if subsequent commercial translations have clarified issues, feel free to reply and let me know! These are just my own impressions; your mileage may vary.)

Tian Guan Ci Fu/Heaven Official's Blessing: My absolute favorite for many reasons: Deeply complex characters, plot convolutions, humor, personal sacrifice, actually-romantic romance... The expression of Xie Lian's duality is *chef's kiss* and his character arc, charted over 800 years, is one of the best character odysseys I've read in any genre, ever. Also, the central relationship is built on mutual respect and affection and is conveyed as much in small, practical expressions of love as in grand gestures, which is my jam.

Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Excellent depth and plot complexity, multidimensional characters, so much to analyze (and we have, haha). Although... Don't @ me, but I actually prefer some aspects of the CQL version of the central relationship to the book 😅 but then we've already established I'm not here for the sexual content, so.

RZFZX/Scum Villain's Self-Saving System: This one had some good elements, but I really didn't like where it ultimately went. I was very engaged with the genre parody at the beginning, and enjoyed some of the twists along the way, but the power dynamics of the main relationship grew more uncomfortable as it progressed, and in a few places where it hit dubcon territory (especially one specific scene near the end) I just nope'd right out.

Zhen Hun/Guardian: Didn't quite grab me by the heart, but I enjoyed reading this book (especially the horror-comedy investigation bits, because Priest's writing style is great fun). I also found the worldbuilding and incorporation of folklore interesting (I read a good fan translation that included copious footnotes about the background of all the supernatural elements). The main relationship had a couple of borderline moments for me, but the issues were resolved by the end. I do plan to reread this one, since the Seven Seas version is out now and I want to compare translations.

Sha Po Lang/Stars of Chaos (I think that's the new English title?): Really fun worldbuilding; I loved the idea of Steampunk Jianghu! The premise was interesting, though it got pretty dark in places. I liked Gu Yun as a character; Chang Geng, less so, as he mostly came across as creepy and manipulative (at least in the version I read, which was a piecemeal translation that was at least partly MTL, so I'm not sure how accurate it was to the original text). Because of that, the romance felt weird and a bit unbalanced to me, so that element didn’t quite land.

Huang Cheng/City of Fantasy: Read this after watching both dramas. Deeply regretted that decision. Plus 100 points for intriguing fantasy worldbuilding and magic systems, minus 300 points for gratuitous character death, r*pe, and general trauma. Left me depressed and desperate for a palate cleanser.

Dao Mu Bi Ji/The Lost Tomb series: I think we all agree that the official English release was a mess, but that's the one I have. It's... 5? 6? 4? some number of the books put into a blender and chopped up. Once you get past the translation quirks (and bizarre illustrations), they're entertaining, fast-paced adventure stories. I don't particularly like any of the characters, but I do enjoy watching them get put into increasingly ridiculous Situations. (I’m sure that’s at least partly a translation failing, since they actually have distinct personalities – and are likeable! – in the dramas. I should probably look up some fan translations and see how they compare.)

Qian Qiu/Thousand Autums: I wanted to like this based on positive reviews and comparisons to TGCF, but I just couldn't get through it. Absolutely DETESTED the ML, who showed few signs of pending redemption, and while Shen Qiao’s arc might have been interesting on its own, it was overshadowed by the fact that I knew he was bound to end up with Yan Wushi, which I felt showed extremely poor judgment and sapped my respect for him. I also found the power disparity kind of icky, and there wasn't enough of a hook to keep me reading in spite of it.

Qing Yu Nian/Joy of Life: I’m only partway through this one, but it’s… okay? so far. I started reading it while waiting for the pandemic-delayed season 2 of the drama. It didn’t hook me super hard, and I’m not sure I like book!Fan Xian as well as his drama counterpart (in fairness, it’s hard to match Zhang Ruoyun’s charisma, but book!FX also feels a little skeevier). I put it down to read other things, but I will probably pick it up again at some point.

Erha He Ta De Bai Mao Shizun/The Husky and his White Cat Shizun: People have been recommending 2ha for years, but... well. There's a reason I'm making this post, and this book is a big part of it. 😅 I made it all the way through the first book, largely because I'd bought the Seven Seas release and wanted to justify the expenditure. I do very much enjoy Meatbun’s narrative style and humor, but I disliked Mo Ran intensely, was completely ambivalent about Chu Wanning, and had no desire to spend more time with either of them. (This was another of those MLs that I just nope’d out on: Mo Ran is introduced as a violent r*pist, and remains relatively unrepentant about that for the remainder of the volume while also becoming a super obnoxious teenager that I wanted to punch in the face. I’m sure there’s a redemption arc coming, but I was very, very done with him by the end of the book. If he makes a hard about-face in book two and suddenly becomes likeable, someone can tell me in the notes.)

QZGS/The King’s Avatar: Very long and extremely formulaic, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I treated it as a serial (which it was); I would read a couple chapters before bed each night while waiting for my nighttime meds to kick in, and it was perfect for that – lightly entertaining, but not so gripping or suspenseful that it kept you awake wondering what would happen next. (I did prefer the book’s characterization to the drama’s, FWIW.)

There are plenty more books I’ve read, but I think that gives a pretty broad overview of subgenres and personal opinions.

Anyway, if you've read this far, thank you!! And if you have any suggestions for titles you think I would enjoy (or if you have questions about any of the books I mentioned), feel free to reply/reblog/message!

[luthienne]

hello 🌿🤗 I just wanna say in advance that your blog and your posts have helped me through so much, thank you for everything 💓 I was wondering if you have any poems about the ocean or the beach (i've always had this weird connection to large bodies of water lmao), if you already made one please let me know! hope you have an amazing day/night 😊

“In the beginning was the sea—we heard the surf in our breathing, certain that we carried seawater in our veins.”

— ilya kaminsky, from dancing in odessa

— olga broumas, beginning with o; “love lines”

“Sedienta como el mar y como el mar ahogada / de agua salobre y honda / vengo desde el abismo hasta mis labios / que son como una torpe tentativa de playa, / como arena rendida  llorando por la fuga de las olas.”   

“Thirsty as the sea and like the sea drowned / with salt water and deep / I come from the abyss to my own lips, / which are a clumsy attempt at a beach, / like exhausted sand / weeping for the waves’ retreat.”

— rosario castellanos, “mur de lamentaciones” (tr. magda bogin)

“between your touch / and my cry / between the sea / and the dream of the sea”

— anne michaels, all we saw; “sea of lanterns”

— anne carson, from the beauty of the husband

“There must be something strangely sacred in salt. It is in our tears and in the sea.”  

— khalil gibran, from sand and foam

“Toni Morrison writes, All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where it was. Back to the body of earth, of flesh, back to the mouth, the throat, back to the womb, back to the heart, to its blood, back to our grief, back back back.”

— natalie diaz, postcolonial love poem; “the first water is the body”

“Ella es toda de aire y de aqua fina. Un recuerdo de sal, de horizontes perdidos, la traspasa en cada ola, y una espuma de barco naufragado le ciñe la cintura, le estremece la yema de las alas ...”

“She is all air, all gentle waters. A memory of salt, of lost horizons, and the soaking of every wave. The foam left by a shipwreck clings to her waist and the tips of wings sends a shiver up her spine.”

— dulce maría loynaz, absolute solitude; “ci” (tr. james o’connor)

— hélène cixous, the laugh of the medusa

— audre lorde, from the black unicorn: poems

“…the ancient, reconciling smell of the sea that, in time, will cleanse everything, scour the old bones white, wash away all the stains.”

— angela carter, from “the bloody chamber”

��…and the soft nose of the clammy sea airs, rubbing, snuffling, iterating, and reiterating their questions — ‘Will you fade? Will you perish?’ —”

— virginia woolf, from to the lighthouse

“All loose things seem to drift down to the sea, and so did I.”

— louis l’amour, education of a wandering man

— la collectionneuse (1967)

“Nor is it a thought I leave behind me, but a heart made sweet with hunger and with thirst. Yet I cannot tarry longer. The sea that calls all things unto her calls me, and I must embark.”

— kahlil gibran, from the prophet

“Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep sea swell And the profit and loss.”

— t.s. eliot, from selected poems

— louise glück, from meadowlands; “otis”

[dandylion240]

All of the story asks please :) (Character specific ones I'd say up to you, but would love to have them be Jonah/Cecil or my usual favorites ;) )

what’s the last screenshot you’ve taken for your story?

2. describe your story in three words or less

Family, Angst, Drama

3. describe (insert character here) in three words or less

Jonah - unassuming, brave sensitive

Cecil - insightful, supportive, caring

Evan - self-sacrificing, helpful, innocent

Jayden - protective, stubborn, active

4. how did you choose the name of your story?

I try to use titles that is kind of thematic of the story I'm writing. It takes me forever to come up with a name and sometimes the name changes multiple times before it gets posted.

5. how do you choose your characters’ names?

It depends upon the story. For my Reagan family stories (TS4) I use the parents names. It's kind of a family tradition. For instance Jonah/Ethan. All boys will start with E and the girls will start with J. In my TS3 stories I sometimes choose a theme for names and use that. Like next gen of NSQL the theme is nature.

6. how long have you been working on your story for?

Well it depends on the story. With my Reagans I started writing for them in the summer of 2019. For my TS3 legacies I started in 2014 I think.

7. whats the biggest risk you’ve taken with your story? did it pay off?

I think my biggest risk is my current story Into the Depths of Darkness. I wasn't sure I could pull it off and the story has changed from what I thought it would be and the hero of the story has changed from first conception. I'm happy that Jonah is the hero of his own story and it's given him so much character growth and he's becoming more of what I always invisioned him being. I owe a lot to @mahvaladara to how the story has progressed and the ideas she has contributed. It wouldn't be what it is without her.

8. what about your story are you proud of?

There are many things I'm proud. Mostly that I continue writing even though sometimes it feels like I'm ripping my heart out to write some of things I write about and also that I don't quit even when it's hard.

9. what about your story are you looking to improve on?

There's always things that can be improved. Writing is a process that the more you do it the more you learn and get better. I could say pictures but I'll admit the storytelling will always come first over pretty pics and sometimes I just can't find the right pose to fit. Maybe one day I'll be able to make my own poses but I'm not there yet.

10. is your story fully planned or are you still working things out? is there a definitive end?

It's a work in progress. I start writing from an outline of how I think the story should go but it's loose enough for me to rearrange things or remove/add things to it as the story evolves.

11. why have you decided to tell this story? are there any messages or meanings within it?

I just like to write. If there's any message in my stories it's that family is important and no matter awful things you might face in life if you have people who love and care for you that you can endure it. But mostly that you can rise above your circumstances and still be a healthy, functioning person despite everything even if you have a mental or health problems, you can still be happy, loved.

12. do you actually play the game or do you just use it as a storytelling medium?

It's mostly a storytelling medium for me. I do play it sometimes but tbh though TS4 lacks so much depth and gameplay I find it boring after a while. I've gotten into playing TS3 again now that I have a better computer that it doesn't lag as much.

13. from basic planning to a finished post, how long does that take you?

I don't honestly know. I've never stopped to consider how long it takes.

14. do you have any regrets about your story so far? if you could go back in time, how would you fix these?

No I don't think I have any real regrets. Sure I go back and think I could have written that better or edited that picture more but for the most part I'm happy with my stories.

15. what have been the highlights of creating your story?

The highlights have always been the people who become involved in my characters lives.

16. what about the process do you enjoy?

Seeing my stories come to life. How my characters change as the story progresses.

17. what about the process do you hate?

When I struggle to write a scene and it doesn't flow the way it should. It's generally because I'm coming at it wrong. Once I figure that out than it flows. Sometimes the seeming lack of interest in what I write from the readers is hard to overcome and I feel like quitting. But the few who comment I thank because that always revs up my motivation to continue.

18. choose a song that reminds you of your story

Just one song....that's really difficult say. There are so many songs out that fit my current story. This song fits Into the Depths of Darkness because where there's a lot of darkness there's still hope to be found.

19. choose a song that reminds you of (insert character here)

Ok I'll do this for Jonah - Fight Song

20. choose your favourite shot from your story so far

21. choose your least favourite shot so far

22. choose a favourite character from your story so far

Jonah is my baby. It may not show it by I love him.

23. choose your least favourite character so far

Hmm this is difficult because there were characters I created purely to be hated. Currently my least favorite is Ethan but it's not because I don't love him but it's because of his roll in the story.

24. are there any characters who remind you of yourself?

Not really. There are certain aspects of me in all my characters or people I know in them but none are an incert of myself.

25. what inspirations have you drawn on for your story?

There are so many. I draw inspiration from people around me. From movies and TV shows I watch. The books I read. Sometimes from the people I interact with on here mainly @izayoichan @mahvaladara @jenpants and @legendofsim They've let me bounce ideas off of them and their input helps me in my stories.

26. have other sim stories inspired you?

Yes they have. See above. All their stories have inspired me.

27. what genres would you describe your story as?

Modern fantasy drama??? I have no idea if that's a thing but it best describes what I write.

28. if you could reproduce your story in another medium (movie, novel, comic, etc.) what would you choose and why?

Hmm I'd say novel or maybe series. A movie would be cool too.

29. what would your story’s rating be? (G, PG, M etc.)

Hmm interesting I'd like to say its somewhere between PG-13 and mature just because of some of the topics.

30. if you were leaving simblr and had to choose another creator to continue the story for you, who would you ask?

I think either @izayoichan or @mahvaladara for my TS4 stories since they've helped me write some of them and they would keep true to the characters as they love them as much as I do.

For my TS3 stories I would say @legendofsim since for a long time our stories had been intertwined.

31. drop some random trivia about your story

Ethan was supposed to die trying to save Jonah

Caiden was supposed to have played the part of the hero instead of Jonah

Cory was going to heal Jonah's broken heart over the of Ethan.

But as they say the story changed...

32. give a light spoiler

Someone will be heartbroken at the end of the story.

33. recommend another creator’s story!

There are so many: @izayoichan @mahvaladara @nikatyler @justkeeponsimming @amuhav @legendofsim @simlit @lilyshadowwriter @wannabecatwriter

Please don't be upset if you weren't listed on here. I love everyone I follow but these are my favorites. I have others but some aren't active anymore and stuck with the ones I'm always waiting for the next installment, even if I'm behind on a few of them.

Thank you for asking!

[sonicasura]

Balan Wonderworld Review: Favorite Costumes Part 2

Before we get started, I like to say something. I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE TIM TRAPS. If you don't know, there is a specific plant that tends to appear in certain levels called Tim Traps. A carnivorous orange flower that's favorite meal is TIMS. If you kick the plants, you can free your Trapped Tim or prevent one from getting trapped for a short period of time. Problem is if the Tim is trapped for too long, your baby is gone for good. Chapter 3 and Chapter 5's Act 3 are loaded with these annoying plants. To the point if I can't find the trapped Tims, I exit out of the game just to save my poor fluffballs. Ain't sacrificing my little birds for Drops and Trophies! Mini rant over.

Rules are the same as before. I'd be ranking both a Common Costume and Rare Costume. Common Costumes are easily to find whether it be in multiple levels and Rare Costumes are those that rarely appear or are difficult to get.

I'll be doing my favorite Secret Costume after playing all Act 3s for each chapter. Now let's begin.

Chapter 7

Common Costume- Floaty Flower

The Flower Fairy and greatest glider found in the main story. Floaty Flower is a costume that can be found in the Act 1, 2 and the Boss Act, it offers a slower descent but faster movement than the hover for Soaring Sheep.

I love this costume not for its aesthetic but a cute Easter Egg I found in Chapter 7 Act 1. On rare occasions, this costume is an NPC that actually flirts with you! Some NPCs in certain chapters act differently from their standard counterpart. They often try to disguise themselves or runaway. Catching them grants you a free costume of the one you caught.

Floaty Flower will appear and follow you, similar to a shy school girl with a crush. If you go to her, she will run which is a similar action to any shy person getting approached by their crush. Also... I think there is some lore hidden in this one that might be quite sad if it's directly linked to Cal, the human whose heart created this particular world. If so then... OOF.

Rare Costume - Paladin Puncher

A knight fights with his fists than a sword. This costume can be found in Act 2 and is a stronger version of the Pumpkin Puncher that can break iron or ice blocks. He's a bit slower than his Chapter 6 counterpart but perfect breaking the more blocks and defeating spiky enemies.

I also love the fact this costume goes against the traditional tools of a knight. Knights often fight using swords, shields, lances and rare occasions bows or axes. If you give me one who PUNCHES or straight uses martial arts to fight then you got my vote in seconds.

Chapter 8

Common Costume - Snow Fairy

Elegant dancer of ice and snow. The Snow Fairy costume allows the wearer to walk on air for a short period of time and can in found in Act 1 and Act 2. This costume does have a shorter usage time than Air Cat but makes up for it with the added elevation.

I absolutely adore how elegant and beautiful this particular costume is. You can compare the Snow Fairy to myths often related to fae or hidden in the freezing mountains. An otherworldly beauty that makes any hardship worth seeing just a being before your eyes. Being a reindeer type Faun just adds to the mystique and creating snowflakes to walk on is a perfect extra touch.

Rare Costume - Amadeus

Sophisticated pianist. A costume that can only be found in Act 1 and is a performing costume. Now I am a big fan of piano covers, whether it be covers of game osts or actual songs, there is rarely any piano music I don't like.

I love the fact he's wearing piano keys as a collar and even has a tutu made out of those very keys. A very creative take to a normally grounded instrument. And the big white wig is a nice touch since it's often portrayed with pianists in various media.

Chapter 9

Common Costume- Iron Panda

Adorable crusher. Iron Panda is a costume found in Act 1 and Act 2 with the ability to break iron blocks using both its jump and weight. This costume is surprisingly fast for a rather large and heavy form, perfect for fast stomps on enemies or quick getaways if you have rare costumes you don't want to lose.

This costume reminds of a rolling Russian Doll with a panda theme. Very adorable, the bluish purple color suits the white very nicely and I love that sleepy look on its face. The large blue dots on its sides are actually the arms too, they mimic panels! Only thing that unnerves me is when the costume turns their head by a 90 degree angle. Super creepy when using it.

Rare Costume- Merry Ghost

Cute and Spooky! The Merry Ghost is a costume that can be found in Act 2 and gives the ability to constantly float. It's main purpose is to avoid ground hazards like poison swamps and has a larger slightly floaty jump. The only downside is that you can't harm enemies with this, it's only for quick mobility.

Very adorable especially with the stitched rag cloak covering the body. It has this Mimikyu sort of vibe but also a Casper the Friendly Ghost aura too. Friendly spirits are often tossed aside for more vicious or antagonistic ones in a lot of media. Getting an adorable friendly one just adds points in my book and a good pal for Casper.

Chapter 10

Common Costume - Inky Blaster

Yuji Naka's take on a squid kid. This costume can be found in Act 1, Act 2 and the Boss Act. She allows the wearer to throw fast globs of rainbow paint at opponents or targets and is decently agile.

Love that her hands are paintbrushes and is based on the octopus. Tentacles mimicking the frills of a dress and used for hair and feet? A very creative take and splattering rainbow paint on the annoying types of Negati (looking at you ya divebomb happy Pelican and destroyer of most of my good costumes) is very therapeutic.

Rare Costume- Air Unicorn

The first unicorn I like?! This costume can only be found in Act 1 and allows the user to walk on air farther than Air Cat. The practical godfather of mobility, and recovery. You won't believe how many times this costume has gotten me to very difficult areas and saved me from death via falling into the abyss.

It is a very tricky costume to find but if you turn around, there's a large paintbrush on the wall. You need the Double Jumper to get on top but you'll be able to see a hidden mirror. That is where the Air Unicorn is located.

I won't lie that unicorns are not my preferred mythological creature. I live in America where unicorns tend to be oversaturated to oblivion and don't get me started on My Little Pony. The show isn't my cup of tea but I do have some followers and friends who are fans. People have their own opinions and it's rude to question them about it.

I honestly love the elegant but cute design, the purple, pale pink and cyan just fit well with the white, I also love that the mane mimics a paintbrush tip and the large light purple collar of fur is a perfect touch to this fine design.

Chapter 11

Common Costume - Bulldozer

A man's punny best friend! This costume can be in Act 1, Act 2 (?), and the Boss Act. It lets you push special construction blocks and you can boost the push speed by button mashing.

They definitely took a lot of creative for costumes in Chapter 11 amongst the other ones in my opinion. Fire Stations tend to have some animal companions with dogs being the most common but instead of a Dalmatian for the design they used a Bulldog! 😍

Like the aforementioned machine, this good boy is bulky, has the appropriate color scheme and even the hands turn into bulldozer's shovel when using the ability! I love the fact his tail is wagging when you push a block and it wags faster if ya button mash!

Also the name is a pun!

Rare Costume - Fiery Blaster

Pyromancer of Lions. The Fiery Blaster costume can only be found in Act 2. It gives the wearer that ability to throw large fireballs alongside fire and lava immunity. If you hate lava levels or have difficulty with this Chapter's boss then I recommend getting this Costume.

First thing I like to say about this particular design is how they use the colors. Looking at the mane, you can see how the red and darker red are patterned in a way to mimic flames. The dark red fur on the feet are even in fire like a pattern. The outfit such as the yellow and brownish kilt alongside the gloves spewing fire around the wrists just reminds me of a fire dancer.

I can see this fella wielding one of the torches a fire dancer uses and just put on a spectacular show.

Chapter 12

Another loveable version of a beloved icon. The Invisible Man costume can be found in Act 1, Act 2 and the Boss Act. It has the power to turn the wearer invisible for a period of time and become undetected to enemies that aren't bosses.

Agile and perfect to deal with enemies who are very annoying or are difficult snipers. You don't know how satisfying it is to give the more aggravating Negati an invisible middle finger by sneak attacking them. I have lost many costumes whenever enemies got the drop on me so it's fair to dish out payback.

I love how this design takes aspect from the popular icon but also have it relate to their human counterpart. Bandages were used by the original Invisible Man to cover skin his normal clothing couldn't cover in public and made it easier for him to disappear when needed.

The shoes and arms being covered in bandages and some of the bandages being used as bangs for the hair is a nice touch.

Rare Costume - Jolt Tiger

Immovable Taser. This costume can only be found in Act 2. It grants electricity immunity and create a barrier when you stand still. One of the better costumes for baiting particular enemies. You do have to be careful because a single itch will stop the barrier.

If you don't know, the Tiger is my Chinese Zodiac and electricity is one of my favorite elements. Love the yellow lightning bolt flairs and even the black stripes mimic lightning too! I also like the will o' wisp pattern on the stomach and the large tuft of grayish fur around the chest. The design puts it above the Sun Walker.

And that is it! The next thing I will cover is the level design and it's music. The bosses will be done last since it's good to save the best for last!

Until next time folks, see you back in Wonderworld.

[princeasimdiya12]

I adore your talentswap backstories! I'd like you to write some headcanons for my Talentshift SDR2 au. It consists of Mechanic!Hajime, ReserveCourse!Mahiru, Photographer!Ibuki, Musician!Fuyuhiko, Yakuza!Gundham, Breeder!Chiaki, Gamer!Mikan, Nurse!Nagito, Lucky!Imposter, Imposter!Peko (impersonating non-despair Junko), Swordswoman!Sonia, Prince!Nekomaru, Coach!Teruteru, Chef!Hiyoko, TraditionalDancer!Akane, and Gymnast!Kazuichi. If not, I completely understand.

Hey anon! I’m glad you enjoyed them! ^_^ And I’d be happy to make some headcanons for your AU. But just to let you know anon, I would appreciate it if you asked me first before sending me your listed requests. I honestly don’t mind writing headcanons for talentswaps (I honestly enjoy doing that) but I would appreciate you asking me and then sending them to me. That way it doesn’t take me by surprise. 

So without further ado, here are my headcanons for your SDR2 Talentswap AU.

Peko Pekoyama as the SHSL Imposter

While Peko was adopted by the Kuzuryu Clan, she didn’t have a choice in her lifelong profession like Fuyuhiko did.

She was made to work as an infiltration agent.

As a professional imposter, Peko learned how to analyze and copy the body movements and behaviors of any potential person. 

She also was taught how to apply makeup to make her disguises as accurate as possible.

Her assignments involved abducting low level workers of rival clans and taking their place while disguised as them.

She’d then relay the rival clan’s weaknesses and business transactions towards the Kuzuryu’s so they can exploit them.

Peko was discouraged from having any personal interests or hobbies so that her infiltration and identity theft skills wouldn’t be tarnished.

This made Peko feel more like a tool and how she only existed to promote the success of the Kuzuryu Clan. 

When Fuyuhiko was scouted to go to Hope’s Peak, her superiors used their connections to grant Peko a spot with him to keep an eye on him.

She would take on Junko Enoshima’s image given that the supermodel was busy with her own personal affairs.

Although no one can recognize her while disguised, the viewer/player can recognize Peko with her thick glasses and piercing red eyes.

Hiyoko Saionji as the SHSL Chef

Hiyoko came from a family of culinary masters who amazed Japan with their creative and flavorful dishes.

There was unfortunately alot of drama within the family as they each wanted to train Hiyoko so they can pass their personal culinary training onto her.

Her grandmother managed to win and was one of the most ruthless teachers ever. 

Under her training, Hiyoko received burns, cuts and having her food thrown in her face just for making the smallest of slip ups.

Her brutal training mixed with having negative relations with her family made her bitter and aggressive towards everyone around her.

She also has a hard time trusting others to work with her in the kitchen due to multiple incidents where dishes were poisoned and nearly tarnished Hiyoko’s reputation.

Because of this, she prefers to work alone in the kitchen. When she’s assigned to work with partners or underlings, she can be best described as Gordon Ramsay if he were a sassy lost child.

She often holds a knife or a frying pan whenever she’s threatening someone she doesn’t like.

Her culinary specialties involve desserts such as wasabon and kompeito.

Ibuki Mioda as the SHSL Photographer

Throughout her childhood, Ibuki was neglected by her caregivers so she took up photography as a means of distracting herself from the loneliness of her household.

She managed to earn her success by taking high quality photos of lovers in romantic situations.

At her middle school, she made it a game for herself to see how many pictures she could get of different couples at her school without getting caught.

While developing her photos, the couples tried to chastise Ibuki for her actions but they immediately changed their minds when they saw how cool the photos looked.

Ibuki gained a reputation among her peers for her photos and now everyone wanted one too.

This resulted in Ibuki getting alot of “friends” who only wanted to hang out with her just so she could photograph them doing what they wanted while conveniently leaving out the photographer herself.

The fact that these people only cared about her talent so she can capture their memories for them gave Ibuki a sense of familiar loneliness.

Despite this, she wants to enjoy her talent as much as she can with an upbeat attitude.

Ibuki’s favorite subject to photograph are people.

She loves to people watch since the people walking around come in different shapes and sizes and are always doing something unique that you wouldn’t expect.

Sonia Nevermind as the SHSL Swordswoman

Sonia came from a family of professional swordfighters who taught her the power of the blade at an early age.

She grew up on European fairy tales and legends of powerful heroes who used their swords to fight for justice or prove their superiority against enemies who opposed them.

Her family taught her classical fencing, mordhau, the half-sword, destreza and several other fighting styles which she claims are a secret.

She earned her title after winning multiple swordfighting tournaments, many of which were held underground. 

Despite her victories, she’s actually been hospitalized due to the extreme injuries she received from sword wounds and physical attacks from her opponents.

Since these wounds have yet to diminish her fighting power, Sonia feels that it’s best to pay them no mind so she can continue her family’s legacy.

She’s never seen without her longsword which she made herself. She calls it Stjerneild because there were shooting stars on the night of making it and also since she burned herself during the process.

Sonia isn’t afraid to boast about her fighting skills and eagerly offers her girl friends the chance to learn how to use a sword.

Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu as the SHSL Light Music Club Member

Rather than becoming the next heir of his family business, Fuyuhiko wanted to pursue his dream of being an idol.

He takes his career extremely seriously and wouldn’t do stupid stunts or scandals that could jeopardize his work.

To make up for his young appearance, Fuyuhiko uses outfits that have a punk aesthetic while also incorporating black and gold color schemes to make him look older.

Alot of his songs feature themes of embracing your personal talents or how it’s better to carve your own path rather than rely on others.

He knows how to play the electric guitar and the keyboard. 

Having refused his parents’ intended career plans, he feels that he can’t screw up his career or else everything he ever worked for will be for nothing and he’d have to crawl back to them for support.

His sister Natsumi often joins him during his tours and unofficially becomes his manager and bodyguard during her visits. 

He has a hard time dealing with fanclub meetings because the fangirls would make jokes about his baby face which would drive him insane.

Akane Owari as the SHSL Traditional Dancer

Just like in canon, Akane had to take care of her younger siblings while struggling to survive her poor hometown.

While she did take different jobs to support her family, she would lose those jobs constantly because she kept getting into fights against strangers who tried to grope and harass her.

One day, while she was training by herself in an empty plaza, a woman passed by and paid close attention to her fighting form and rhythm.

She revealed herself to Akane as a traditional dance instructor and offered to train Akane to perfect her skills.

The girl wasn’t interested in doing something fancy like dancing but she changed her mind when she realized that her dancing could be used to raise money for her family. To which, she accepted.

While the instructor taught Akane the fundamentals of mai and odori techniques, the girl performed better when she used her own skills.

While frustrated, the instructor decided to rework her teaching style so Akane’s performances would be passable while also integrating her own skills.

She ended up winning multiple competitions and performances and used the prize money to move her family into a bigger and better house.

Although her reputation as an “easy waitress” would often rear its ugly head and would make Akane become agitated.

Her dancing moves incorporate alot of her old fighting techniques.

She wears a cherry red kimono with a yellow dragon etched on the side as a design.

At the end of each performance, she can be found at the snacks table eating just about everything.

Nagito Komaeda as the SHSL Nurse

Nagito lost his family when he was just a child.

Having pity on the boy, along with finding traces of frontotemporal dementia, the head doctor of the hospital he resided in decided to adopt the boy as his own.

Nagito became the doctor’s apprentice and learned of the different techniques that came with working in the medical field. 

The doctor taught him which drugs/medicines were used for what along with how to use the surgical tools properly.

He personally saw different medical cases each more mesmerizing than the last. 

He became fixated on the concept of death and how it was an integral part of life.

When he became old enough, he started to work as a nurse and partake in the same surgeries he saw as a child.

While he certainly participated in a number of cases that saved the lives of his patients, he also had a number of cases that resulted in death.

He personally requested to handle the patients that were unable to be saved so he can spend their final moments with them and capture the memory of their deaths.

There’s been word from the medical staff that he tries to comfort the dying patient and their family with speeches on how they shouldn’t be afraid of death and how the patient will move on to greater things in the next life and how the families will become stronger afterwards.

This has earned him the nickname “Angel of Death”. 

He wears mint green scrubs and carries a portable bag withhis own medical equipment.

Teruteru Hanamura as the SHSL Coach

Despite his physique, Teruteru has amazing stamina and is capable of lifting heavy objects that ordinary people would have trouble lifting on their own.

Teruteru can analyze a person’s physical stature and determine which exercise or physical activity best suits them.

He always offers massage therapy proclaiming that it’s the best way to strengthen the body and relax the mind.

There are multiple cases where the players he’s worked with have accused him of sexual harassment or groping their bodies. 

He has a complicated relationship with his family.

The younger siblings antagonize him for pursuing a career that isn’t related to their family’s restaurant business while putting more hardships on their mother.

His mom on the other hand, is more accepting of his career and asks that he focus more on what he enjoys doing in life.

Teruteru’s massages originally stemmed from how he would give massages to his mama to help alleviate her of her body aches.

He wears a dark red track suit and gold chain. Mixed with his combed over hair, it makes him look like a sleazy gangster.

Chiaki Nanami as the SHSL Animal Breeder

As the daughter of a rich family that hardly had time for her, Chiaki’s parents bought her a variety of animals to keep her company.

She found comfort with them but was heartbroken when she noticed that they became saddened and died.

She became motivated to learn from them so they could stay alive for long as possible.

Chiaki began studying different types of animals and what behaviors are ideal and which are concerning.

After school, she would venture to local animal shelters and veterinarians and offer to volunteer so she can work with different animals and examine first hand their behaviors.

She earned recognition by forming connections with the animals in her care and teaching them commands.

While she prefers the company of animals to humans, she will make an effort to help her human clients have a better relationship with their pets.

She can often be found napping alongside any of her animal friends.

Sagishi as the SHSL Lucky Student

Saigishi grew up in an orphanage having been abandoned by their family before they can remember.

They noticed that they had an unusual luck themed streak when it came to playing with the other kids.

If they were playing soccer, they would accidentally kick the ball into the window which surprisingly knocked out a janitor that was about to assault one of the orphanage workers.

If they tried to pass a love letter to another child they had a crush on, a burst of wind would fly the letter straight into the child’s face and they’d end up having a terrible accident.

If they were preparing food for an upcoming dinner, they would end up pouring too much vinegar into the meal which would spoil the dinner resulting in the staff having to order pizza for the kids.

Saigishi developed a reputation as a kid with creepy powers which both amazed and terrified their fellow orphans.

The kid realized that their luck would only benefit the people around them but would make bad things happen if they tried to use it for themselves.

At the urging of their friends, they ended up participating in the Hope’s Peak Lottery and wound up with the chance to join them as the next SHSL Lucky Student.

Sagishi was worried since something bad would eventually happen if it was the work of their luck, but they decided to take the offer knowing that they needed to make a future for themselves.

They wear a white collared shirt with old jeans. 

They still have a mullet which has a small ahoge on the top of their head.

Mikan Tsumiki as the SHSL Gamer

She still had a horrible childhood growing up where her family and classmates would bully and abuse her for a variety of reasons.

Not wanting to put up with their abuse anymore, Mikan decided to drop out of middle school and become a hikikomori.

Using her worn out computer, Mikan found comfort in playing online video games. 

She personally enjoys fighting games as she imagines her enemies as her abusers and would deliver swift justice on them by beating them up.

Mikan has a preference for playing as male characters since the female characters wearing skimpy/stripper-esque outfits bring back painful memories for her.

After sufficient online practice, Mikan gained enough confidence to try tournaments in the real world. 

But she kept this secret from her family in fear that they would use this to torment her.

When it comes to tournaments, she unleashes her pent up anger and frustrations for her past tormentors by cursing at her opponents as she beats them.

While her fandom is impressed with her gaming skills, they do question why they would call her opponents by a different name and accuses them of doing something awful to her.

When she wants to calm down after a heavy day, she likes to play relaxing games with cute animals.

Nekomaru Nidai as the SHSL Prince

During his childhood years, Nekomaru stayed in his room because of his heart condition.

He received private tutoring based on the history of his kingdom along with different world cultures.

His father and mother spared no expense in providing the best doctors and medical professionals who could ensure that their son would be physically fit.

When he started making appearances outside of the palace, there were rumors that the frail prince was placed in a secret government program that was designed to create super soldiers.

He’s often recognized for working first as a soldier under his father’s militia before becoming of it’s main generals.

Nekomaru is well versed when it comes to proper etiquette and engaging in the company of royals or high class aristocrats. 

He has a personal club made of suitors who have fallen for his image as a charming (and handsome) prince.

He also devotes alot of time to interacting with the middle class of his kingdom as he believes having a bond with his people is important for a royal to have.

The main uniform he wears is a blue military outfit with a silver sash and a black beret with a family jewel in the front.

Gundam Tanaka as the SHSL Yakuza

He inherited the throne of the Tanaka Empire at an early age due to the death of his father.

He wasn’t able to remember his father but the stories passed by his underlings and advisors describe him as a devil who was incredibly powerful but dangerous when provoked.

His mother on the other hand, remembers him as a loving man who was very attentive toward her needs.

Gundam would unintentionally embrace his father’s memory thanks to his “overlord” personality which would make him come off as overly dramatic and sinister to his enemies.

His reign as a yazuka lord involved more emphasis on spiritual affairs by bringing spiritual communities under his Empire.

He personally believes that maintaining ties with the spirits and Gods will grant the Tanaka Empire a stronger chance of survival.

While maintaining relationships with minor businesses under his control, he would also invite potential gang groups for tea ceremonies and offer them the chance to join him.

He’s been trained by his advisors in using a katana and gun making him skilled enough to handle even the most dangerous of gang members.

While he’s capable of defeating them, he vows never to take the blood of anyone weaker than him or unless he’s given no other choice.

Before entering high school, Gundam was able to have his upper and lower body tattooed with images of oni demons and spirits.

He found the Four Dark Devas when he passed by a street and saw the four hamsters foraging for food in a dumpster. 

He also expresses admiration for Sonia’s impressive swordfighting skills and has offered her an opportunity to work for his Empire if she wishes.

Kazuichi Souda as the SHSL Gymnast

Kazuichi got into gymnastics by reading alot of shonen manga.

He was impressed by how athletic and fit the heroes were so he wanted to train and be like them.

When not helping in his dad’s shop, he would try practicing parkour near the streets of his town to help him develop better flexibility.

While practicing at middle school, his teachers noticed his potential and offered him a spot in a gymnastics program.

His dad didn’t like him getting into “girly shit” like gymnastics and frequently insulted him for it. 

He would often perform for his friends which impressed them at first. But then things got troublesome when they requested him to do flips and jumps for their amusement.

It got worse when they tricked him into breaking into a second story classroom so he could steal the answers for an upcoming test.

Not wanting to be taken advantage of again, Kazuichi gave himself a radical makeover so no one would mess with him.

Along with his pink hair, his outfit consists of a black tanktop with neon green stripes and yellow shorts.

Hajime Hinata as the SHSL Mechanic

His parents rented his own shop for him to work at but they personally didn’t invest their own time to work with him.

To avoid having to think about his loneliness, Hajime placed all of his effort and thinking into his work.

He began receiving requests to repair average household appliances before moving on to bigger machines.

He’s received alot of praise for improving the appliances while also explaining to the owners on how they should best maintain their appliances so they can last longer 

The machines that he worked best with were vehicles and motorcycles.

Despite being underage, Hajime managed to practice driving on his own and learned how to drive the basic motor vehicles.

While he’s grateful for his mechanic talent, he often worries if he’s really living his life to the fullest and if there’s something missing that he needs to achieve.

His favorite invention is a hoverboard that he uses to ride around his hometown to clear his mind after a hard day’s work.

His mechanic uniform is a mechanic uniform with a design similar to that of a racecar driver. 

Mahiru Koizumi as a Reserve Course Student

While Mahiru was interested in the idea of going into Hope’s Peak, she wasn’t confident enough in her photography skills to go through with the entrance exam. 

At the insistence of her best friend Sato, Mahiru ended up in the Reserve Course so they can fight for the chance to be special.

While she didn’t mind the work provided by her classes, Mahiru took notice of how her peers had a hard time with paying for their tuition along with even getting into the Talent program. 

She also had to deal with Sato having to fight against her old rival Natsumi who was picking fights with her while trying to get recognized herself.

She became an unofficial peace keeper of her class as she would chastise her classmates for picking fights against each other or making rude remarks.

As time went on, Mahiru herself was unable to keep up with her classes since the money to pay for them was running low. 

She would later receive an e-mail from the Steering Committee offering her a chance of entering the Talent program through an unconventional method that was funded by the school.

She had to cast that thought aside when Natsumi ended up dead and Sato is all but stated to have killed her out of frustration.

Soon vengeance would claim Sato’s life with Mahiru finding her in an empty classroom and on the brink of death with her head bleading.

Before dying, Sato begs her friend to make something special with her life and not to waste it in the Reserve Course. She knows that Mahiru will do great things in her life and that she believes in her.

Casting her doubts aside and refusing to let her friend’s death be in vain, she accepted the Steering Committee’s offer by participating in the Hope Cultivation Project.