#she *is* always trans when i draw her. for the record. to me‚

[daily-basil]

Flower girl

[myreygn]

kny modern au - characters: hashira

includes: gyomei, tengen, giyuu, sanemi, obanai, kanae, kyojuro, mitsuri, shinobu, muichiro

HUGE thanks and shout out to @giggly-squiggily and @trans-ace-lee for their contributions to this au and indulging my brainrots ♡

inspiration was taken from the german school system because that's what i grew up and am most familiar with:

ages 2-6 (flexible, not mandatory): kindergarten

ages 6-10 (grades 1-4): elementary school

ages 10/11-16/17 (grades 5-10): "secondary school", the diploma qualifies you for an education outside of university (craft sector, social sector etc)

ages 16/17-18/19 (grades 11-12): "upper school", the diploma qualifies you for university

¸¸♬·¯·♩¸¸♪·¯·♫¸¸¸¸♫·¯·♪¸¸♩·¯·♬¸¸

Himejima Gyomei (27, theology major)

grew up in a buddhist orphanage after his parents gave him up because they were ableist idiots who didn't want to raise a blind child

had a very happy childhood, has never been adopted and isn't upset about it in the slightest

went on a spiritual journey for five years after school and wrote a bestseller book about it

started going to university at age 23, helps out at the orphanage whenever he can

has a seeing-eye dog named Curry (a four year old black labrador and the only being on earth he would kill for, he got her when he returned from his journey)

can afford his own flat and lives right next to the orphanage with Curry

advocate for a more inclusive university life and very active in groups fighting for disability rights, both on and off campus

Uzui Tengen (23, music major)

was somewhat of a public figure from a very young age because the Uzui clan is one the richest, most powerful families in the country and everyone in town knows who they are

always hated his parents and moved out at 18, got a small fortune (that's rich people slang for a ton of money, source: trust me) from a cool uncle and used it to open a night club which is very popular with the locals

has no contact to his siblings (even tho he'd like to) and avoids all of his dad's properties like the plague

started going to university at age 20 because he wanted to do something with his passion

plays a bunch of instruments (piano, harp, guitar, violin, shamizen, koto and like ten different types of flute)

lives with his girlfriends in an almost-a-mansion and throws the best partys anyone has ever been to

Tomioka Giyuu (21, philosophy major)

his parents died when he was three years old and him and his sister went through foster care until she came off age and became his legal guardian, they're super close

has been studying several martial arts at Urokodaki's dojo since he was in elementary school

picked philosophy as a major because he had no idea what else to do but it's actually fun??

he mostly just sits in the back and draws stick figures but once a week he'll say something that makes everyone rethink their entire life (no one really understands what's happening inside his head but his professors are convinced he's a genius)

teaches little kids in the dojo because Urokodaki thinks it'd be good for him, he's slowly warming up to it

the type of peanut allergy where his throat closes up at the sight of them, when they were in fifth grade Sanemi almost killed him because he didn't know about it and it delayed their friendship by roughly two years

Shinazugawa Sanemi (21, physics major)

abusive pos dad got stabbed when he was ten, helped his mom raise his younger siblings and is super close with all of them

moved out at 20 when his mom encouraged him to spend more time at university, roommates with Obanai, Giyuu and Sabito

colorblind from birth and dysgraphic when it comes to handwriting, uses recording devices and laptops in class

used to get into a lot of fights in school and still works on not doing that™, most people think he's scary and a delinquent (and also a murderer because it's kinda sus that none of the family members showed up at their dad's funeral)

biker, the motorcycle has wind art on it and he mostly uses it to pick up the tons of children that somehow snuck into his friend circle and take Kanae on drives, loves bringing his guitar to play her something in the moonlight

suffered through school for the most part, a new teacher (Kagaya) in tenth grade inspired him to finish "upper school" and study physics

loves Gyomei's dog like a daughter

Kocho Kanae (21, biology major)

lives with her family and has no plans of moving out until she finishes university, helps a ton in the household

the best big sister ever, drives all of her sisters and their friends around and picks them up at 3am when they're stranded somewhere (also doesn't pretend to hate it, unlike certain other older siblings with their own vehicles)

has always been into gardening and is really getting into permaculture, puts plants wherever she can and loves flowers

most of her cooking ingredients are from her own garden, vegetarian (everything she cooks or bakes will be the best thing you ever ate)

has the voice of an angel, Sumi, Kiyo and Naho refuse to go to bed without her singing them a lullaby

christmas is her favorite time of the year, she goes all out with planning the festivities and getting everyone gifts and needs three whole days to recharge afterwards

has to wear a biteguard when she's stressed because she'll start clenching her teeth in her sleep and works really hard to keep it a secret from everyone

Iguro Obanai (21, philosophy major)

somewhat of a local legend, not by his own doing but by people just making shit up about him

grew up in a cult of which all the members were killed in a fire with him being the only survivor and a huge news story all across the country at age 12

moved to another city as soon as he was old enough to start anew but the rumors follow him everywhere (and it doesn't help that he talks to his snake)

mostly annoyed by the rumors but also likes to use them to scare people of who are being super pushy or harassing his friends (that's the first time in his life he found friends, he can and will commit atrocious crimes on their behalf)

originally enrolled in zoology, then switched majors when the professors wanted to use Kaburamaru as a test subject

spends his time in philosophy class taking a stance against whatever Giyuu says and has an entire folder filled with essays criticizing his statements

always carries headphones with him, listens to lofi because he likes it, mcr because he feels it in his soul and doom metal solely to fuck with tengen ("Screaming is not music!")

Rengoku Kyojuro (20, history major)

still lives at home with his dad and brother because he didn't want to leave Senjuro behind, spends most of his time out of the house tho and is looking for a flat right now

works parttime at a restaurant that's called Umainia and his friends have yet to figure out whether he says "Umai" all the time because he likes his food or to advertise his work place

slightly hearing impaired, has hearing aids prescribed that he just forgets to put in at all times

doesn't have a driver's license, goes by bike everywhere no matter the weather

gets close to people easily, is well beloved amongst Senjuro's friends and also makes an effort to get to know them so he can be sure Senjuro's in good hands

regularly forgets people's names but never their birthdays

collects old books and learned a bunch of old languages just to be able to read them

Kanroji Mitsuri (19, art major)

still lives at home because she wants to stay with her family and help take care of her siblings, also claims that she had invested too much time in her room to just leave it behind (her room looks like every cool fluffy fairy core room you have ever seen on pinterest, it's the coziest place on earth)

if there's a sanrio themed version of stuff she needs, she's getting it, no questions asked.

slightly allergic to dogs, she doesn't care though and cuddles with Curry all the time, she calls it confrontation therapy (it works)

animal lover in general, she even built a little terrarium in her room so Kaburamaru has a comfy spot for his naps when Obanai stays over

has kept every drawing she ever made and sometimes looks through them for inspiration, also likes to track her progress that way

there's a coffee shop across the street from her house where she has been customer of the month every month consistently for four years as well as an honorary mention ever since she was six

Kocho Shinobu (18, student)

in her last year of school and likely about to graduate with a perfect score

founder and president of the first aid club, also head of the student council and an active member on every committee the school has to offer

recently got her driver's license but keeps it a secret so she doesn't have to play chauffeur for her sisters

effectively avoids getting asked out for dates by being very scary™ (and taking jiu jitsu classes since elementary school), she's also your go to person when creepy weirdos won't leave you alone

loves cooking with her sisters and often shares her own recipes with Kanao, she also has her own little corner in Kanae's garden where she plants stuff that she uses to make her own medicine

has a lot on her plate with school and her clubs and some volunteer stuff she does here and there, so she goes to the local animal shelter once a week to cuddle and play with the cats and dogs there, it's her little safe zone to unwind and she doesn't tell anyone about it

the biggest fan of psychological thrillers you will ever meet

Tokito Muichiro (14, student)

in eighth grade and no one knows how he did it but everyone suspects that his brother took at least some of his exams in his place

he's not bad at school per se but he just can't memorize stuff, you're lucky if he knows your name after sitting next to each other for six months

is a member of the cooking club tho and absolutely thriving there, he never goes by recipe and creates the most delicious things but he won't tell anyone his secret ingredients because he can't remember them either

absolutely loves visiting his friends' houses, he's so happy seeing how their rooms reflect them

followed Yuichiro everywhere all throughout elementary school, then made his first friend in fifth grade (Tanjiro of course) and has been getting more and more independent ever since

constantly misses bus stops or takes trains in the wrong direction and is always late because of it, however he has also acquired an extensive knowledge of the town and can give you directions to pretty much everywhere

tries his very best to remember his friends' birthdays but forgets his own every year because it just kinda slips his mind that he has the same birthday as Yuichiro

[vypridae]

nrnfhdhdhhd I know you as the person who draws amazing drawings of the V's- so I want to share some headcannons I have about them since fellow V's enthusiast:

Trans fem Velvette (..she just gives those vibes-)

Intersex Val (I only half headcannon this one)

Omnisexual Velvette (preferring girls because she just. she just is idk-)

Valentino secretly gets flustered at actually romantic gestures because what is this feeling he's the overlord of lust and depravity not love-

Vox is a simp for Val. We already know that though.

Velvette thinks any of her old styles are cringe

Velvette definitely has a full folder of photos and videos of Val and Vox being all gay for eachother because they're too dumb to take any photos for themselves.

Vox's screen lights up when he's flustered

That is all :3

-🦈🧪

FIRST OFF YOU CANNOT JUST DROP THAT YOU KNOW ME AS SOMEONE WHO DRAWS "AMAZING DRAWINGS OF THE VEES" IM ACTUALLY GONNA IMPLODE ??!?? WHAT HTE FUCK /POS LIKE THANK YOU SO MUCH HELLO

secondly YEESS VEES HCS !!!!! transfem velvette is so 100% something ive thought of before, its not really something i hc like all the way but its sooo genius and i love that, AND INTERSEX VAL . YES . im always a sucker for hcing characters as intersex and / or trans (trans vox actualy is the best hc ever did u know /j)

omni velvette actually makes so much fucking sense what . i like hcing her as lesbian because i lke the idea of her two gay-for-each-other best friends that keep trying to drag her into stuff and she denies them because shes not into them but also ?? in a world with poly vees thats actually so perfect and is 100% what im going with

ALSO YES !!!! YES YES YES YES YES FLUSTERED VAL OVER ROMANTIC GESTURES YEESSESS EYS YES YESY SEYYES im writing a fic thats gonna end with that actually SAHJKJASDFHGK stay tuned ill post it eventually

velvette having a full folder of staticmoth being gay is actually so canon so real . she threatens to use the videos/pictures as blackmail and staticmoth are like when the FUCK did u record these . and shes like its a secret now get to FUCKING WORK

ALSO . VOX'S SCREEN . LIGHTING UP WHEN HES FLUSTERED IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE HCS I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND IDEK WHY . us when we share like 90% of these hcs actually

[cardiagf]

Makoto is Makoto

I don't really like engaging into cis or trans character debates especially when it's characters who are gnc/androgynous bc a lot of people especially in twt gets worked up ab these said characters are read as trans, which is completely harmless btw, it just rubs me the wrong way when some people are too insistent about a character being cis

and so I want to talk about makoto and how he is not cis, but is nb/transfem in more ways than just him being a femboy/crossdresser.

Disclaimer: I will be using he/she/they pronouns for makoto in this post just bc i think makoto will be cool with that

and for the record, i finished reading the main series but i have not read the middle school specials, yet.

im also someone who really likes otokonoko and onee characters so yes i am aware of the cultural nuances but this would be just me speaking a queer nb person who loves this series and how i perceive makoto as one

also spoiler warning!

first and foremost, I want to say that gender identity, gender expression and sexuality are all wholly fluid, it's a big spectrum that only you, yourself can figure out. And i think as queer people we're allowed to relate, reflect and see ourselves into the experience and struggles of a fictional character.

while i also don't mind it too much if we think ab how makoto dresses is just her gender expression and that even a cis guy should be able to be feminine and like feminine stuffs with without them being trans / or yk anyone can be gnc but i think as someone who went from being gnc to trans/nb pipeline, it is incredibly hard to not draw a line within queerness or being lgbt with makoto's OWN identity and queerness.

I mean makoto literally uses the "Atashi" 'I' pronoun for themself in which is, by the way, a jp 'I' prn most commonly used by girls when they're dressed as girl while she uses "Boku" when she's not crossdressing

(not to mention both saki and ryuji usually refers to makoto with gender neutral pronouns/referral, with saki always calling him "senpai" and ryuji just having the default gender neutral "Aitsu" pronoun for everyone)

and yeah i know it's also because he's an "otokonoko" but in retrospect, when we read further into the manga we learned that by high school, makoto had transferred to a school that lets them dress however she wants and had been living in said school for ALMOST A YEAR (until he was outed) and he clearly doesn't mind being perceived as a girl.

in fact, as shown in early chapters makoto was so happy when someone made a pass at her because that stranger thought they were a girl and he was so happy when he passed AS a girl.

him being an otokonoko or crossdressing only becomes a problem for them when other people are involved, i.e. when someone confesses to him or when she gets close enough with others, as I believe he sees it as a form of deception/don't want to disappoint them.

either way makoto is makoto, yes this is also a form of expression but i think it's also more of an identity, she doesn't have be locked down by the gender binary

not to mention how makoto hides his true identity to his mom is just something a lot of queer, and especially trans people can really relate to. she literally has to lock a huge part of herself inside a locker when they have to go home bc they cannot be themself in said home, it can clearly be read as someone who is closeted

now onto the spoilers regarding this, makoto coming out properly to his family and most specifically his mom really encapsulated the nb feeling really well

and yes i know she states that "he's a guy who happens to like girly things" (just give him a few years /j) but the point still stands: makoto is makoto. they don't want to live neither as a boy or just a girl. it didn't have to be "one or the other," they chose to be themself and this scene really spoke to me as someone who is nonbinary and how i didn't want to perceive as just my agab...i just want to be myself and i want to be true to myself and that was makoto's answer as well.

i honestly don't want to engage in the debate regarding makoto's gender/gender expression and yes it's canon that he's cis but his own experience and the queer experience especially at her age are just very much parallel to each other.

i know a lot of other trans people will be able to see themselves in makoto and I just don't like how people fight ab androgynous/otokonoko characters being cis only when queer readings regarding these character are completely valid and came from a place that reflects on their own experiences, we can't just lock the fluidity of gender identity of someone in one place, much less for a fictional character. they're queer, they're trans in some way and that is completely okay.

[nglwhatarecats]

i think this is a little over due but look an intro post!

Bday: November 6

Hello!! Im Aster(i go by other names aswell) i use it/its,he/him,xe/xem,and othe neopronouns! I am Mexican! I do speak Spanish so you are more then welcome to talk to me in Spanish!

i have bad spelling so im sorry if i mispell things alot!! also please use tonetags or "!" "?" when talking to me bc i will not understand the tone and will probably mistake what you said for something else.

♡☆♡☆♡

will post mostly doodles dont expect alot of actual art lol, i have story planned out but im not sure wether to draw it or write it,lmk what you think!

(also i use personas alot so will probably post a full ref sheets for them soon)

☆♡☆♡☆

Sum extra stuff abt me I js decided to add in now! [May 03 2024]

i am Abrosexual,Trans (Female to Male) Possibly non binary? I am also Oriented Aroace flux!!(couldn’t find a good flag for this 😓)

i may be an otherkin? I’m not sure

i am Catholic! But I’m really as religious so 🫠

my discord is Sir_Hqlz! My Twitter goes by the same name

i have a cat! She’s a little stupid but I love her <3

here’s the fandoms I’m in!

The Octonauts

Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Carmen Sandiego

The Blacklist

The books of Elsewhere

Godzilla or Monsterverse idk

Record of Ragnorok

my Dms are always opened!! I’ll add things whenever :3

[your-old-sins-tournament]

12 YEAR OLD OCS; SIDE A

Aldara [@kozzax]

I've carried her with me as long as she's existed. Even just doodling her in the corner of a notebook has gotten me through some of my roughest days. She's everything to me. Her story and world have developed so incredibly far from her original creation-- which, for the record, was for a school assignment --but she's always, always been here for me. Yeah, she's changed over the years as I've grown as a storyteller and artist, but the thing about change is that it's not always bad. She's still Aldara, she'll always still be Aldara at her core. When I draw her as a comfort for myself, it's like a piece of me from a time when everything was just that little bit easier has come up to the present and told me that everything's going to be alright. When I work on developing her story, it's a gift to that younger version of myself. A promise that we can grow and develop and change and yet we can still keep the parts of ourselves that are the most important. She means the world to me.

As for propaganda about her, on her own-- she was originally meant to be a "little sister" sort of character. Kind and caring and bubbly and happy, with a naivety that followed everything she did. Her original story had her simultaneously being the protagonist of the story who couldn't read, when everyone else could, and being old enough to have had kids that were stolen from her by her ex-husband. She's never been an active player in the plot, which is now an intentional choice but in my childhood was very much not.

Back when I was twelve, she'd been part of a group trying to free a bunch of cats who had been experimented on by humans, except her group just kind of naturally had magic powers as well. While her powers were never overly powerful, she was always good enough to stand alongside people with far more training than her and who were objectively more powerful than her without much, if any, consequence.

I've refocused her, now. She's kind, still, and she cares about people in a way that a lot of my other characters just don't quite reach. She's still naive, and still a sweet person who lights up any room she walks into. At her core, she hasn't changed. All that's changed is that the world she exists in suits her better, and the role she fills in it makes more sense for her.

I don't think she'll ever change, at her core. Her design changes on a regular basis, but the core concept will always remain the same. Her personality has never changed, not as long as I've had her, besides fleshing it out further. She'll always be Aldara. She'll always have the bits of myself that I put into her when I was twelve, and I'll always love her for that. She's maybe the best thing I ever started creating, and I will always consider her and her story to be a love letter to my childhood self and the way the creativity that poured out of me at that age let me develop into who I am today.

Description: No matter how long I've had her, she's always kept the same set of colors. She's always kept the way her tailtip is colored, and the arrows on her forehead and chest. She's always kept the colors on her wings, though they have changed locations over the years, and she's always kept her ear tufts. While her design may have grown more complex over the years, I've fought hard to keep the essence of what makes her recognizable as herself. I don't want to erase the character that I created when I was twelve. I never want to erase that character. She holds the shards of my twelve-year-old heart, and I will never let myself forget that.

Dan (Hanson Ōkami) [@cabincryptid51]

My trans awakening. I played as him in a Maximum Ride Amino even though I didn't know anything about it! My friend made me join so I could play their love interest and Dan is who I made. He already had a name in the lore but I didn't like it so he ended up having about 20+ secret identities. At some point his evil brother kidnapped, making everyone believe that he was dead and then the role play group stopped. But my friend and I had lore that continued because we wanted to have an arc were he died then came back to life where he would loose his arm and get dragon wings (I have a picture of this but I literally have no idea where it went). Anyway, I love him <3 My silly goofy himbo boy!

[seasidesandstarscapes]

Whole

Summary: Don comes out to Bobby

Rating: G

Genre: Canon Era, Trans Don, Period-Typical Attitudes, Getting Together, Light Angst, Slice of Life

Words: 1336

A/N: for @arokel who has been the driving force behind my trans!Don fics thank youuuuu ;v;

-

AO3

or

Bobby is safe.

Don is sure of that. He’s never stated anything outright, but it’s the little comments here and there. When some distasteful words are spoken, Bobby is the first to shoot them down.

Not to mention that Bobby is his closest friend. Never before has Don been so secure, being able to exist as he’s always wanted.

He finds it’s only fair for Bobby to know the truth.

But as much as he believes in Bobby, Don is still gripped by fear. Who, what he is, it’s not by the book. Even he had to trudge through a fog until he met one woman that changed it all.

She showed him the world, took him under her wing until Don was ready to go out on his own. It’s been years since he’s last seen her, but she’s never far from his thoughts and gratitude.

Don thinks maybe he owes it to her. But he’s not so sure anymore as he leads Bobby to their familiar haunt.

The bar is bustling tonight but they still manage to squeeze into a booth in a corner. Drinks are ordered and once the buzz starts to set in, Don thinks over his words.

“Wanna tell me what’s going on in that head of yours?” Bobby nudges him with a grin.

Don swallows, looks Bobby in the eye. His gaze is curious, fond, and, if Don is being hopeful, encouraging.

Leaning in so he doesn’t have to shout over the band, Don speaks close to Bobby’s ear.

“You’re my best friend,” Don starts to break the ice.

Bobby chuckles. “You don’t say. That all you wanted to tell me?”

It’s a heavy breath that leaves Don and he thinks he sees Bobby shiver. “I…I think I like you more than that,” Don admits. “And there’s something else you should know.”

Drawing back, Bobby stares at Don. A pit forms in Don’s stomach. He can’t tell if Bobby is mad or about to burst into tears. His grip is tight on his glass and Don reaches over to release Bobby’s hold just so he doesn’t break it on accident.

“I’m a transsexual too,” Don blurts out.

All he gets is a blink, a furrowed brow. “What?”

“I’m..,” Don doesn’t want to explain. Wishes he didn’t have to. “If you look at my medical records, they list me as a woman.”

Bobby’s mouth opens and closes but no sound comes out. Regret courses through Don, the bar is too stuffy, the music too loud.

“I…I gotta go,” is all Bobby says before he slides out of the booth.

Don makes no move to stop him. His chest aches as he watches Bobby leave the bar, his head is pounding. Anger and despair mix together creating a storm inside of Don.

He should’ve known better. No one could understand outside of his old friend. And now he’s lost Bobby, someone he thought, believed, would be different. Don tucks his arms close to himself, wipes his face with trembling hands. He doesn’t even know when he started crying.

His life is in ruins now and Don can’t do anything to fix it.

~

Don doesn’t know what makes him go to practice the next day.

He’s walking into a minefield and he holds his breath as he enters the locker room. There’s no sign of Bobby, but more than that, the boys give him their usual cheery hellos.

Don expected stares and hurling insults. Instead, he just gets a few slaps on the back, small talk asking how his morning is going.

He’s in a haze as he makes his way to the dock where Bobby and the coaches are already waiting. Don panics, thinks to turn around, but before he can run, Ulbrickson starts speaking.

Plans for the day’s practice washes over Don. Nothing is directed at him and before he knows it, he’s seated in the shell, the familiar wooden oar tight in his hands.

Bobby avoids his gaze but Don hopes all his own says is a simple thank you. Regardless of Bobby’s reaction, he hasn’t had Don kicked off the team and that says more than Don can say.

Practice goes smoothly.

Don is shocked he’s able to pull his head out, to focus on his rowing with Bobby right in front of him. He was sure he’d be a spectacular loss today but when he gets back on the dock, Don is floating on air.

And when Bobby gives him a soft smile, Don’s heart thumps in his chest.

He takes his time changing, soaking in the small understanding Bobby has given him. It’s only when he hears the clearing of a throat that Don realizes he’s alone in the locker room save for one other person.

“Do you wrap your chest?” Bobby asks the moment Don faces him.

Don blinks rapidly, then gives a single nod.

“Every day? For how long?” Bobby’s arms are crossed and his stare is boring into Don.

It takes some time for his mind to catch up. Bobby didn’t know a thing just a day ago and now he’s acting as if he’s an expert.

Don stumbles over his words, mush coming out of his mouth. Bobby sighs, his gaze darting around.

“I, um, talked to a friend,” Bobby mutters. “I just don’t want you hurting yourself. Can’t be good to do that every day.”

Confusion swirls in Don’s mind. He can only see Bobby’s panicked reaction, his rapid exit from the bar. Nothing makes sense.

“I can’t really get surgery. Not here anyway.”

Don isn’t sure why this is the first thing he says. He looks away, his hands clenching and unclenching as blood pounds in his ears.

“Where then?” Bobby asks with an inquisitive head tilt.

“Wait,” Don shakes his head, holds out a hand as if to block Bobby. “Where is all this coming from?”

Bobby purses his lips, his eyes cast downward. The seconds tick by before Bobby inhales sharply.

“I shouldn’t have left you alone last night. I was scared. Confused. I’m sorry, Don.”

An apology is the last thing Don is expecting and he swallows as Bobby takes a step closer.

“Thing is, I fancy you too. I didn’t know about the other side though. About people like you.”

Don waits with bated breath, steels himself as the space between him and Bobby gets smaller and smaller.

“I want to understand. I want to help you,” Bobby takes his hand. “Whatever it takes.”

With all his thoughts colliding together Don struggles. He wants to yell, cry, and laugh all at once but all he can do is gape at Bobby.

Bobby offers him a small smile, raises Don’s hand to his lips and kisses his knuckles,

“Will you give me a second chance? Will you let me in?” Bobby asks just above a whisper.

Don chokes around a gasp, nods fevertly. “Yes.”

When Bobby pulls him into a hug, Don lets his tears fall with no shame. And then it hits him. Bobby means what he says, he doesn’t have to hide like before.

“Hey, hey,” Bobby rubs his back through his sobs. “I’m here, Donny.”

Don tries to calm his crying, but he has to ride out the waves before he can finally take a breath. Bobby holds Don by his biceps, makes sure Don’s eyes lock onto his.

“You’ll let me know if you’re having troubles during practice, won’t you?”

Don nods with a sniff and he wipes at his face with his sleeve. Then, Bobby stands on his toes, places a soft kiss on Don’s cheek.

“I’m always going to be here for you,” Bobby murmurs. “I won’t leave you ever again.”

It’s so easy to trust, to believe, and Don settles into the familiarity of what they are. How lucky he is that the universe brought them together.

Bobby is his home and Don can keep on going, safe with the knowledge that he no longer has to be alone.

[mollymauk-teafleak]

top gun/daisy jones and the six au

So like the little magpie I am, I have once again stolen one of my lovely gf's hyperfixations in a piece of media I haven't even consumed. Because what better way to consume media than just having your gf @hangsters tell you all the best bits and then help you make a top gun au?

So there is an up and coming rock band in the 70s music scene called Top Gun, consisting of Nicholas 'Goose' Bradshaw on drums, Ron 'Slider' Kerner on bass and Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky on lead guitar and vocals. They've recently added a relative unknown called Alice Duong on keys to round out their sound (who keeps drawing the eye of their bassist) but they're struggling to climb the charts.

Their success and their struggle is all down to their lead and originator, Iceman Kazansky. Fellow musicians can't stop raving about the technical flourishes in the songs, the skill and effort put into every solo, the way Kazansky seems to live and breathe music. But that experimental nature is struggling to capture people who'd just be listening to the radio on their way to work.

So their manager has an idea. Guess who he also represents, whose was a massive hit before the drugs and alcohol and partying caught up with him, who works a crowd like no one else and just oozes raw charisma and just got out of rehab and needs a comeback? Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell. And he could be just what Top Gun needs.

Instantly, Mav and Ice struggle to get along. Mav comes into the recording studio like a hurricane, messing up Ice's perfect riffs and technical genius with improvised solos, lyric changes and a general disregard for anything Kazansky (or anyone who ins't him) has to say. The rest of the bad worry that this could wreck the band entirely rather than save them. But the songs that come out of this battle are genius and sell like gangbusters.

So they tour and Ice and Mav are still butting heads but it seems to have...shifted. Like they hate each other but they love it? So no one is really surprised when one of their arguments over a song turns into the hottest sex.

But there's a problem. Maverick has never ever had a relationship like this where it's with someone he actually might love? And he panics about not being good enough, about letting Ice down and the pressure of having a gay relationship in the 70s. And yeah, he's always bucked gender roles (he's trans but not out publicly) and played with sexuality in his music but Ice feels real and he's so scared.

So one night Ice finds him high and shaking in the bathroom after a show. And he just helps him into the bath, washes him, gets him to drink water and takes care of him. But he tells him 'you have until December 1st when the tour ends and then you're done with this. you're going to get clean and be a good man for me'. And Maverick does.

Meanwhile, Goose is struggling being away from his high school sweetheart and love of his life Carole. They get the whole adorable 'if I say I have a record deal will you marry me?' thing and they have a cute backyard wedding when they realise she's pregnant and then along comes little Bradley who Goose loves more than anything (I have hangster stuff in this AU also but this post is getting long)

And eventually, after show after show of Slider staring at her, Alice finally confronts him. She's met guys in this industry that see her as a muse, see her as a skirt and nothing else and she's so done with all that. She just wants someone who treats her like a person and if Ron's gonna be that person he'd better hurry the fuck up and kiss her before she gets sick of waiting. And slider was just scared to be like one of those guys so he was holding back but now he has the go ahead he's kissing her like there's no tomorrow.

But yes I'm so deep in this AU it's not even funny and I'm looking how I can get some fics or maybe even a multi chapter thing out of it so! Ask questions, send requests, please enjoy!

[oll13v3r]

Okay okay okay I'm working on a Spiderverse fic based on if I was in it because the hyperfixation is hitting very hard right now. I haven't figured out what the main plot will be yet but here's what I have come up with so far!! I think I'm going to post it on Wattpad and (maybe) on here chapter-by-chapter!!! Also. Hart is not my real last name. Also some of the ideas are contradictory, my brain thought of them in the order they are listed. There's still quite a few more complex ideas in my brain

HERE IT IS!!!!:

Oliver hart, the one and only spider man.

Started a band with Hobie and Gwen, being the singer and piano player.

Does not like Miguel in the slightest, but is still there to try and change everything, as well to have some control of what is going on in the situation. 

Had to overcome the freezing up aspect of his anxiety

Gets triggered frequently but is able to face through it by wearing the mask

The only ones who have seen him cry without his mask on are Hobie and Gwen.

Hobie and Gwen absolutely adore his art, and he thinks the both of them are the absolute shit.

Finds the disabled spider man really lovely (I don’t remember her line, but I found it really silly that she made the crutch joke because that’s shit I would do heheheh)

Thought that Gwen’s outfit was really cool with the trans colors

Thinks pavitr is fucking rad as hell

Stammers a lot, but is still really silly and good at thinking on the spot

It took him a while to get strong enough to sling himself around, but is not very good at slinging himself through tight spaces because he’s fat.

Compares himself to the other spiders a lot

Genuinely scared of Miguel because of how much he reminds him of his dad.

Definitely helped Hobie get parts for the watches, going out of his way to keep tabs on him because he’s terrified of his band mates getting hurt.

Thinks miles is so so cool from all he’s heard about him from gwen. LIKE, ANOTHER COOL ART DUDE??? WHOSE OUTFIT IS SO SO COOL??

Will not hesitate to complain about a bad texture

Him and Pavitr are in the hair exposed gang.

Oliver does have a hood for his hair, but he prefers not to use it when he can because it’s uncomfortable.

HIs headphones have spider webs from all his friends as a momento, as well as to stick to his head.

He got special gear to have a music player inside of his suit.

Likes to point out that he did not choose to be Spiderman, he just chose to help people because he always wanted to do that.

One of his drawings is on Hobie’s guitar, and Hobie signed his piano

The death of one of his uncles, who is a cop, he felt could have been avoided if he was only more nimble and slim, so that’s one of the big things he compares himself to the other spiders to. If only he could have been fast enough.

Hobie and Gwen both know that holding hands reduces Oliver’s anxiety tremendously

Oliver was in his room, recording a song for release before a portal from spider HQ appeared in his room.

 “WHAT IN THE EVER LIVING JESUS FUCKING-” He yelled.

So yeah that was Miguel’s first impression of him

He was very uncomfortable at hq for a while, until Hobie noticed the anarchy symbol on his shoes and they swiftly became friends.

He had already told his parents that he was spiderman because he actually trusts them and know they wont’ tell the public or anything.

HE immediately shot miguel in the face with his web shooter, apologizing profusely afterwards.

He initially found Miguel really goofy 

but once shit hit the fan he no longer found Miguel goofy. Oh me oh my

OH!! I FORGOT TO ADD!! HERE IS HIS DESIGN!!: (The first one is the most accurate design, but the purple one on on the right is also verysimilar to hsi final design.)

[youareinacomawakeup]

It’s really weird, being allowed back outside and remembering that the people I interact with generally tend to think I’m likable. Going from my only interactions being my parents (who don’t like me), my readers (who like my writing first and are biased in my favor), and friends (who were readers first, so same bias there) to...

The owner of the record store I now frequent who knows me by name, greets me when I walk in the door, and shows me shit that’s not even for sale just because he knows I’ll think it’s cool. (He hasn’t been wrong yet.)

The team lead where I work who judges me for my favorite Motley Crue album being Theatre of Pain (in a lighthearted, teasing way).

This lady who works at the gas station I get pizza from once a week who calls me an “old soul” and tells me about the celebrity crushes she had as a teenager in the ‘80s.

The guy who commiserated with me about growing up gay with a homophobic family for, like, thirty minutes once while I was working, then came back about a month later, recognized me immediately, and was relieved I was there when he needed to ask for something that might have been embarrassing otherwise.

The three trans coworkers I met at different points during my job I’ve developed solidarity with (there’s a fourth and she is very small and draws in silence in the break room--Namine vibes tbh--and she seems shy so I don’t want to scare her off, but I’m GONNA friend her at some point) as well as some Various Guys strewn about the store I always make sure to stop and say hi to when I see them (and they say hi back! often initiating! especially the guy in electronics!).

And I just... God, interactions like these are probably really fucking mundane to a lot of people. Like, “No shit, you’re friendly with your coworkers. Most people are.”

But...

When you have a family like mine who hates everything you are and thinks you should be an entirely different person because no one could possibly like you, each interaction with these people, learning about the Nikki Sixx poster someone used to have above their bed, having someone know more about you than the people you live with just because they paid attention to the formats of the albums you bought, listening to someone voluntarily open up about when they realized they had anger management problems and how they’re working on them now and most likely will for the rest of their life, being introduced to someone’s cat when you offer them a ride home, it just...

It’s proof that my parents were wrong. I’m not unlovable. I didn’t need to be fixed. I didn’t need to get the moles on my face removed, or get different hobbies, or wear more expensive clothes, or keep my queerness a secret. People like me, not in spite of being weird, but because of all the weird things that make me who I am. I was never the problem. They were. And keeping me hidden from the world, pointedly not introducing me to people or cutting me off before I could answer a simple “How are you?” because heaven fucking forbid I open my mouth and let the world know I’m not a voiceless doll? That was not the answer. That was not helpful. That was not raising your fucking kid.

I deserve to exist. I deserve to interact with humanity. I deserve to take up space in people’s lives.

I am a real fucking person.

[lewvithur]

OC: Brynnrae Crescentwing

it's May 6th, which means one thing and one thing only. it’s been four years since i’ve designed this half-elf wizard who has become one of my oldest current OCs.

meet Brynnrae!

for today, i figured i’d go into detail and explain how i made her her.

around this time in 2020, i was running my own little DnD campaign. yep, during the pandemic and everything. we had to have at least three sessions done and recorded over Google Hangout. anyway, around this time, the party was bound to run into a city overrun by wizards that i do not remember the name of.

the other thing that happened during this time was i found about some anime, HaruChika. i’ve only seen one episode of it, and it’s the episode where this character showed up.

her name is Makoto. obviously, her main deal is that she looks like Snufkin from the Moomin series. she even plays a melodica. but the thing that interested me about this detail was that she was food-focused. she starts a music duel just so the loser can buy her food. she’s often seen with bread in her hand. so i took that detail and decided, “hey, my next character should be a perky little brat who is always hungry.”

that’s when Brynnrae came in.

here's the first time i drew her about 4 years ago!

so that was her niche. she was 1. made to be a guide to help the party throughout the town so they could fulfill their objective within the walls of the gated wizard city, and 2. there to be a food-obsessed gregarious wizard who was out of place among her peers. and of course there was a joke wherein she ordered food for the table and then asked the party what they would like to order. there had to be.

ever since then, i kind of had her in the back of my mind, developing her bit by bit so she isn’t just a joke character. there were some things i knew about her from the very start that wouldn’t change, mainly that she is a trans lesbian. also the fact that her mother is a sun elf and her father is, of course, human. 

anyway, i kind of had her in the background for a while until a little game called Baldur’s Gate 3 came out. in the midst of creating a character, i had a few ideas of just, “hey, let’s make a human bard who’s down on his luck” or “let’s make a tiefling sorcerer, maybe?” but after a few of these thoughts, i went, “screw it. i’ll make Brynnrae.”

there are some things that are different between her in-game appearance and how i draw her (which is how i imagine her looking personally). in-game, her hair is straight and reddy, whereas in actuality it’s dark brown with a touch of auburn and there’s quite a bit of volume in it. there’s also features i imagine her having like the shape of her nose and the fullness of her lips that i can’t really tell if the game captured that well. 

keeping her lesbianism in line with how i was designing her, i ended up using her to romance Karlach. and through that, i decided a few more things about her character. in addition to being a bit of an oddball who isn’t particularly skilled at wizardry and as much as she studies, her mind is elsewhere (guess i gave her ADHD and probably some autism too for good measure), i added that she really loves romance books. that could give her something to connect with Wyll over (who is basically her best friend at this point).

at the same time, it got me thinking about how she would approach things like romance and sex. having barely experienced either, she learns these things with Karlach. she learns what it means to ache for someone. she experiences things the smuttiest of her books could only dare to dream about. she changes her preconceptions about what it means to be in a romantic and sexual relationship. she brushes up against characters like Astarion (who she learns to tolerate) and his issues with these things, only to be reassured by him after some coercion leads to her giving up bits and pieces of her and even swearing her body to someone else.

the main conflict of Brynnrae’s character, especially where this run is concerned, is how her naivete and her too trusting nature lead her to trust bad people, and how she struggles to stop cutting herself up for people. this probably also explains why she and Wyll get along so well. they’re both very soft-hearted to a detriment. and while in the run i did she didn’t end up taking the astral tadpole, i think i should have had her take it to make her story a bit more interesting and give her a point where she knows she’s gone too far in trying to appease others, and now it’s time for her to fight for her autonomy again.

and so i imagine the best ending being where Brynnrae fights and saves herself. where she helps Wyll save himself. where the two of them look out for Karlach and save each other. things go well for them in the end. they deserve it.

on another note, while i don’t imagine Brynnrae being polyamorous, she would be open to the idea of Karlach dating Wyll as well. because frankly i think these two should be together no matter who the other is also dating. 

so that’s how my darling Brynnrae changed from a joke character i wrote for a campaign to (hopefully) a multi-faceted question on autonomy and trust and more.

thank you for reading have a cute smooch

[leadfeathers]

Oh Lordt.

Parents came up for a weekend and wanted to see a baseball game. Went to game and it’s pride night. My parents are “straight people don’t get a whole month” kind of people. I told my mom we have Toyotathon.

Next day we go to small town nearby to shop and bop. What’s that? Small festival with food trucks? Great let’s go! Pride festival. We get a beer and rainbow wristbands and walk around. Dad can’t quite stand it. Not sure if he has something against pride festivals or if he’d just been standing too long. Hard To Say.

Mom wants to go to a Saturday night church service. Only Lutheran church with a service is a Everyone is Welcome here type church where they are celebrating pride month, Father’s Day, and Juneteenth all in one. There is a talk from a mom about her daughters transition. There are new bathroom signs they are proud of. The service goes way long as a woman is giving a Very Intense Sermon that is actually her life story and by the end I’m sobbing because her brother died after contracting HIV. We have to skip out early because it’s the longest Lutheran service I’ve been to. Longer than a Christmas service. And we have reservations for dinner so we gotta go.

I’d like to state for the record that I was not planning on giving my parents the talk about this stuff this weekend.

I was told hey we’re coming down come to a baseball game.

We’re in the car. Drivin. I’m stressing. I’m fielding comments about People. I’m trying my best. But guys I’m straight. I’m cis. I’m never right. I don’t use the right words. And my mom is asking me to explain it all. Pronouns. What are they. Nonbinary. Intersex. She has combined NB and trans in her mind. Do all trans people use they/them? Nobody introduces themselves with pronouns do they? Dads cutting in with Comments.

She just feels like people are spending all day walking around talking about who they want to have sex with! Or at least that’s what tv is telling her. I try to explain that it actually comes up very little. It can be as easy as someone just letting you know they are going through some medical changes. Maybe needing some help with those changes. Or maybe you need to learn a new name. Like how when someone changes their maiden name and it’s hard to make the switch but very expected and you know it’s rude to do it wrong.

And guys maybe I got through to her? I tried some jokes. I tried to keep it on the level of: we don’t want to deliberately hurt people and everyone is different and if they want you to call them a certain name or refer to them as a boy or a girl then that’s kind and pretty simple. No one has the same life experience so I just trust them to tell me about themselves and we go from there. She agreed with that of course.

The church was a bit weird. There wasn’t really anything church focused there at all and it had kind of culty vibes. They were talking a TON about their inclusivity work but never once mentioned any disability inclusion. Which was the one demographic that that very white Minnesotan congregation could probably understand the best. We chatted about that and how that can make us feel like outsiders. Both of them wear hearing aides now and obviously we have my brother who is severely disabled. So that was a bit of a touchstone for them.

My guys I’m so exhausted tho. I always feel like I’m trying so hard with them. To combat the shit they hear from their friends and the rest of our family. They love people and I think delight in silliness and uniqueness. And they’ve got this crazy wall on this one issue. I just think I’m the only person they know who tries to explain it to them.

I just want my parents to be nice people. I’m a little worried about my dad. Since he’s retired I think he gets more and more of his life from the internet. And his adhd brain and dyslexia combine to make him skip around from weird inflammatory headline to inflammatory headline making up shit and drawing conclusions as he goes.

[phoenix-is-the-hottest-thing]

@asday971 no, that was kiamei fans who really disliked the elymei and company art who were spreading rumors without any grounds. Maiqo is a she, to start with, so you’ve already got half of your info wrong.

“Wait, but doesn’t maiqo always draw Mei trans?” Yeah that’s called a headcanon. This ain’t fetishizing. This is good ol’ finding characters sexy art!

For the record: Fetishizing occurs when the subject is stripped of their personhood in order to highlight the subject of the fetish, usually a part of their identity. To quote an article I'll link below, "Fetishization is the reduction of a person to aspects of their body, identity, or relationship structure. A person is found to be attractive solely due to these characteristics and could be exchanged with anyone else with the same characteristics."

In other words, dehumanization and hypersexualisation is what you look out for. Maiqo’s art checks neither of those boxes— it’s often nsfw art so yeah it’s sexualized, but it’s not exaggerated or disrespectful to Mei as a hc’d trans character, and she’s drawn as trans even when it’s a sfw drawing. She's not interchangeable with any other character, as her personality and relationships (or at least Maiqo's perception of them) are always taken into account, be it pseudo-canon, based off fanfic, for fun, etc.

Basically, Maiqo draws lesbian sex a lot, trans women are women, trans lesbians are lesbians, ergo she draws trans women in lesbian sex sometimes. It would be more transphobic if she didn't, no??? Normalization of trans bodies is a good thing.

Also, plenty of trans women have chimed in on what they thought of the art and they can’t speak for everyone on Earth but I linked their tweets below. Here's a very concise one on this whole situation:

If another trans woman wants to chime in on this post— feel free! I’m not that flavor of trans and I won’t speak over you, but even if not everybody enjoys her art at the very least some of our trans sisters find it good and precious rep and that’s way enough for me.

Don’t believe rumors mindlessly. Fact check. Question whether people may have a bias. Do research. You’ll only benefit liars and gossips if you just accept so and so is an ass without actual proof.

Some more links below the cut

Maiqo's own damn words on the matter:

More trans women on the matter:

More people on the matter who I either can't confirm are trans women or aren't but have interesting stuff to say:

A useful article to get started if you've never heard of fetishization:

Adorable sfw elymei wedding fanart

(I tried to embed but it won't show the preview, so for smoothness of reading I'm cutting it off with the watermark in view, for full picture click the link.)

maiqo drew this for me we be winning!!!!

[nofoundboy]

Hello,oh so many things i could ask for...can i please request a little ficlet of abe sapien swimming with his trans masc plus-sized boyfriend with maybe a tiny bit of nsfw in there? Im sorry if this is too specific or anything. 😅

Don't worry, it's perfect 💖 sorry for the delay btw

It was quite late, it was a nice night and everyone seemed to be ready to enjoy it. There were no missions that day, no work nothing that could get in the way of getting your well-deserved rest.

You peeked briefly into Red's room, who was lying with Liz on his lap, holding her waist carefully as she smiled sweetly at him. You couldn't help but smile at that intimate moment, hurrying your steps to get yours.

You arrived in record time at Abe's tank, who seemed quite immersed in the classical music still echoing through his headphones. You thought it was the perfect opportunity to surprise him, so you took off your shoes, and your outerwear, and didn't hesitate a moment to enter the tank to swim up to Abe and hug him from behind, feeling the wonderful texture of his soft skin.

He let out a startled yelp, but knew immediately who you were and relaxed at your touch. He pulled your hands away briefly as he removed his headphones and turned to you, giving you his full attention. You smiled at the sight of his face at last, and stroked it gently.

"To tell you the truth, I was already expecting you to come" with the gentle caution that characterized him, he held you by the waist, briefly feeling the softness of your abdomen and your sides.

He brought you to the surface and before you began to feel the signs of needing oxygen, he sat you on the edge of his tank. You had previously expressed your fear of being heavy to him, but he assured you that to him, you were no heavier than a feather. Still, you were not unimpressed by his strength either.

"And I had hoped to surprise you," you had caught your breath. "You did, only if you didn't come, I'd probably end up going to your room." You loved watching the way he spoke with his hands, expressing himself so elegantly that it was hypnotic.

You couldn't help but smile, somewhat shocked at his words. Abe was still quite shy about your relationship, at least when it came to expressing his desires, so those direct words were a nice change. You took his hand gently, kissing it and drawing a small sigh from him.

"I want to float with you…can you hold me?" and no sooner had you finished the sentence when Abe was already taking you by the arms. He slid his hands to your waist and you tightened your grip on his neck. Now your heads were still on the surface but you felt the refreshing coolness of the water on the rest of your body.

You also felt Abe's chest against yours, the rapid beating of his heart and the texture of his webbed fingers on the soft flesh of your waist. Abe carried you gently through the tank, like a waltz. Sometimes you liked to challenge him to little swimming competitions, in which he always let you win, but now it was clear that all you both wanted was to feel each other.

You closed your eyes and leaned in, seeking his lips until you felt them against yours. Cold and salty, they welcomed you with pleasure, half-open. You waited no longer and slipped your tongue into his mouth, delighting in the soft moan you drew from him and the taste of his tongue, which timidly sought yours.

You took Abe's hand and directed it to your neck, wordlessly asking him to caress your body from there.

With the delicacy that characterized him, he ran his hands along your clavicles, your chest, stopping to caress those scars, product of the top surgery. His digits danced across your tummy so deliciously slow and sweet that you couldn't help but moan in between the kiss.

"Abe… "you whispered, breaking the kiss at the need for air. Your hands traveled to his ribs, a place you knew was quite sensitive for him. Your caresses not only elicited a moan from him but also, caused him to squeeze your waist with some force, making you moan in the process.

"Do you want to…?" he didn't finish the sentence, partly out of shyness, partly because of the kisses you had begun to spread on his neck. He led you back to the shore and lay down next to you. Leaning on his arm, Abe subtly moved his hand to your thighs and at your eager look and nod, he began to caress them, delighting in the sound of your soft gasp.

They were big and soft and he loved that stroking them had such an effect on you. Your hand practically flew to the edge of his tight lycra and, hearing his own surprised and already aroused moan, Abe knew that you would probably be there until morning.

[kriscuit]

[Image description: a digital drawing of adult Snufkin and Moomin from the Moomin series, along with their fan-created child, Chirita, between them. Snufkin is wearing a green sweater, a beige skirt with dark green pants underneath, brown boots, a blue-green hat, and a yellow scarf. his hair is long and has a small braid in it, and his tail is also braided. Chirita has light cream fur, brown hair, and light blue eyes. she wears a worn yellow scarf and a dark blue-green jacket. Moomin is wearing a red vest, embroidered with leaves and flowers. End description]

i redid my snufmin fankid!! i love her with all of my heart she’s everythimg to me.... individuals and more info under the cut

[Image description: individual closeups of the above drawing. End description]

i’m not decided on how she was created, because i like trans pregnancy snufkin but i also like asexual snufkin. right now i’m thinking she bloomed out of a flower or something, probably a chirita, hence her name (she has their genetics because Magic)

snufkin gave her his old scarf and got a “new” one, i think she shares his repulsion of new things

moomintroll and snufkin carved her baby crib out of wood together, including little symbols and things that are important to them

snufkin used to play her lullabies on his harmonica but moomin was worried about his sleep, so he put them on a record player. he still plays them sometimes when he misses it

her left ear is smaller, which she’s a bit self-conscious about. she tends to tilt her head so she can hear better, and her parents are careful to stand on her right side when speaking to her

unrelated to her but i think moomin made vests for each season, he always gets sad when he changes to his autumn one

i have a vivid image of their house in my mind that i’m gonna draw, but it’s basically an open treehouse with the dining table and snufkin’s sleeping area outside

i think snufkin starts getting forebodings as he gets older, maybe not as bad as joxter but he can at least warn of rain so they can bring the table inside (he’s fine with sleeping in rain, he has a retractable cover over his area)

moomin goes by moominpappa now, but i think a lot of people (snufkin definitely) still call him moomintroll. i’m not sure about snufkin because pappa is cute but i project my lack of biney onto him, so i might use the “snufkinnoppa” i thought of a while ago

i haven’t decided yet if they wear wedding rings (which is convenient because i accidentally covered both of their paws), but if they do, i think snufkin wears his on a necklaces under his scarf. he doesn’t like the idea of it falling off or getting damaged, so he keeps it safe and close to his heart

that got a bit off topic but i hope you like my baby my daughter my sweetheart

[aurora-daily]

Aurora: “Fighting for the Earth is a fight for human rights”

Norwegian singer Aurora on saving the planet, her third album, and performing in anti-LGBTQ+ countries: “I want to play for everyone”.

"I don’t need a cure for me / I don’t need it” sings Norwegian songwriter Aurora in her new unapologetic anthem of self-acceptance. Her lead single, Cure For Me, is a radical jaunty pop affirmation that dismisses the need for outside approval, with Aurora herself being known for dancing to her own beat. An unquestioned innovator, the 25-year-old is best recognised for gracing listeners with fantastical narratives and otherworldly musical creations. Out on 21 January, Aurora’s upcoming third studio album, The Gods We Can Touch, is an outwardly expressive project that we’ve come to expect from the star. The young artiste ponders divine entities, a myriad of Greek mythologies, and worshipping humanity in her latest work: “It would make more sense if we worshipped and respected ourselves and nature as much as people respect their God,” she muses over Zoom.

Entangled in a musical metaphysical world, Aurora boldly treads through topics of the first creation, religion, and mortality. Unswayed, the singer-songwriter draws the listener in with her candid confessions: “I want to live my life, be all of its pages / And underline that I am not an angel”. Here her attitude is committedly her own — a trait that colours her progressivism. In self-effacing bluntness, the musician shares another personal truth on the call; “I’m going to die and you’re gonna die, and the planet will still be here. I don’t know why I care so much, I just do”. At her core, the 25-year-old cares deeply about the Earth. Its ruin is something she describes as “too sad” to let happen. Despite the seemingly bleak situation, the star is hopeful. “Our generation wants to save the soul of humankind. I refuse to let her die in our hands,” she promises. “Fighting for the Earth is a fight for human rights, for women and against racism.”

In her late teens, Aurora came into the spotlight after her 2015 watershed hit Runaway went mainstream. Since then, the Scandinavian artist has become accustomed to the glare of attention. “As someone with a voice, I understand there is a certain pressure to use it,” she admits, reflecting on her experience growing up with fame. “I feel bad for young artists as I know how hard it is to use your voice in a world where it’s so easy to say something wrong and get hanged for it.” Now, a few years senior, the singer has been respectfully adjusting how she uses her platform. “I am always trying to find the balance between talking about things I know and about things that are not really about me like systemic racism or the rights of trans people,” she explains on the call. “In these situations, I am a privileged person, and it’s more about giving and offering space, instead of replacing people’s voices that need to be heard.”

Now back in Norway, the star has been carving a space for herself online, especially on TikTok. Although admittedly weary of social media, labelling it “toxic”, Aurora has been reaching outward to create a “very safe” space where “people are only nice”. This unique universe of Aurora-based trends, song covers and scenic treks into the Norwegian landscape has become an online solace for many. Despite it being “a huge part of [my] job”, the artist realises how virtual living can be “so bad for our mental health” and steers away from it for the most part. When she is not ticking off label mandated posts or making friends online, the Conqueror singer takes time to reconnect with herself. “I get really affected by my surroundings so it’s been very special to write an album in Norway in peace and quiet,” she tells GAY TIMES. Recalling a two-hour boat trip to the ocean, Aurora found herself in southern Norway in the small province of Rosendal. In her eccentric style, the artist had decided to rent a small castle for a month where she wrote and recorded the album. “It has so much history and it felt really right making the album there,” she explains. “Making albums is my favourite thing to do in life. I’ve started my next album already. It’s been amazing to make an album from home. It’s a very playful album inspired by that urge of not being ashamed of wonderful things.”

Thinking back on her latest body of work, the singer pauses taking in her most recent progress; a whole new collection of tracks. “I have a few favourite moments,” she pauses. “I love when the music becomes an overwhelming wall of sound and emotion that hits you and you feel like dancing or screaming or running. The last track, A Little Place Called The Moon, is my favourite song from the album as it’s very spiritual”. Another poignant track bearing a lot of weight is Aurora’s single Cure For Me. The funky single came about as the artist began ruminating on the horrors of conversion therapy while on tour. “I was in Australia and about to go to Brazil, where I have a lot of gay fans. I sat down somewhere thinking about the world and love. I have gay fans all over the world, but especially in South America.” She acknowledges the country’s difficult political climate calling President Bolsonaro “the worst human in the world”. With her fans in mind, she continues: “I was thinking about conversion therapy and how many people have been through it. It’s still allowed in Norway, it’s not common, but it’s not forbidden. It’s heartbreaking, and I can’t imagine being told, again and again, every day, that who you are is so wrong and so terrible that you have to be cured. It’s just horrible.”

With art at her disposal, Aurora channelled her anguish into music. “I was inspired by the gay, trans and drag communities. No matter how much the world is against them, they still manage to put out so much joy and colour and light,” she expanded. “You see this again and again in so many individuals that choose love over hate, despite the world constantly fighting against them. Sometimes they’re in danger, but they still put out so much light and love.” Paying homage to them, the singer explains how their determination and strength became an inspiration for Cure For Me. “I see so much of it, especially in the LGBTQIA+ community, and it’s just beautiful. So, I wanted to make a song that is inspired by that kind of joy and self-celebration. The best way to fight hatred is to let them know that it has no power over you.”

As the conversation continues to turn, the subject of anti-LGBTQ+ countries crops up. Nodding, Aurora smiles confessing she has been thinking about this herself. As a bisexual artist, the singer understands the tension between music and politics. “I would never want to generalise an individual for something they can’t control like the country they were born in. Removing art from a place where art is needed will not benefit the people you’re actually trying to reach out to in those countries,” she says. It’s clear empathy and compassion rule her judgement (and her cause). “When I go to these countries, I speak so loudly about love and the right to love, which of course can be a bit dangerous sometimes. Artists have to do what they’re comfortable with. It’s not right to split us apart and create even more boundaries. When you go to places to see your fans, talk about light, hope and love openly with them, that creates a spark. All progress needs hope because apathy is the enemy of progress.”

As sporting events take hold in anti-LGBTQ+ countries and as stars cancel shows in locations where politics clash with their political interests, Aurora is taking her own route.  “We should speak to our fans and not make them suffer because of their government. It just feels so unfair, especially with gay people in places like China, as it’s really dangerous for them there. It feels wrong to leave them,” she tells GAY TIMES. “The best thing to do is to go to them and talk. If I started cancelling countries then I couldn’t play anywhere, so where do you draw the line? I want to play for everyone.” Aurora’s stance is not surprising. In her single, Cure For Me, she repeatedly calls against the need for an antidote or cure for the community. “If you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and you’re lost, all alone, you have no one to talk to and no one to open up to, imagine what a lifeline it is to have an artist come to your country and to feel that connection with them,” she continues. “I have so many songs dedicated to love and the right to love. We – the LGBTQIA+ community – don’t even have to say it, but we can all have a strong moment together. They can look around the room and see many people that are like them.”

Impassioned with support for the community, the singer wraps up her ode to her most marginalised fans: she hopes they can find their joy and “playfulness” in such a difficult time. “It’s going to be hard for many people when the world opens up again, so I want people to be kind to themselves and understand that it’s okay to be extra anxious these days.” As we all enter a new year, the singer looks ahead at new beginnings and fresh starts. “I feel a mix of uncertainness, but also euphoria. It’s going to be absolutely fantastic because we get to experience things for the first time again,” she says. “I want [readers] to play more with life and to feel better about themselves and their accomplishments. I want people to have more fun in life because we’re only here for a little while and then we’re gone forever. I want people to feel freer in their skin, in their lives, in their hearts, their minds and open up to each other more.”