#so i focused on their interactions here first and foremost

[spireofdeceit]

i don't really get simpatico but i would love to understand it more bc its such a big part of transformers now. if you're willing, you can do that big post on simpatico here?? if you wanna??? i'd really appreciate the help 🥺👉👈

The thing with Simpatico is that i didn't exactly Get it at first too, most of my exposure was through fan content and reading the thing i was just Yeah it Makes Sense people ship this, but then it kind of bestowed on me more how these two people are just two parts fitting together perfectly in a way they wouldn't with others, and it's not even inherently Romantic to me, even if i see them as very much in love and conjunxed post MTMTE/LL story.

Their relationship is quite silly in the context at first. Brainstorm's profile calls him a conflicted Perceptor fanboy. The only thing we get, up to this point, is his Annoyance with how his genius is overshadowed by Perceptor. While Perceptor doesn't seem to give him his time of day at all, more concerned with his work and what Rodimus wants from him than what Brainstorm is up to.

It's honestly just my personal interpretation of either characters, but Perceptor is finally allowed to fullly get back to science again, he's not expected to be holding his sniper rifle (even though he was never expected to! He had himself believe that holding a weapon will make him of more value!), while Brainstorm is there with his own super secret super important agenda.

Brainstorm is, apparently, an MTO, while we don't know what for, but MTOs have a very sad track record and usually have a lot of baggage as they're usually "born" and then kicked into the heat of battle, barely having any chance to learn who they are, just what they're for. Yet Brainstorm has never killed anyone - and despite that, he's still LIED about being an MTO.

Here they're talking about the concept of Constructed Cold, but there were TWO waves of them - pre-war and post-war. What Brainstorm is talking about he was not even born to witness yet.

They're both people who, one way or the other, "defying" what they are. It's a common theme with tf ships for me, but in case with this, it's Perceptor believing that he has to be more, and at the point of MTMTE, perhaps, not feeling entirely whole, and Brainstorm WANTING to be someone He actually Wants to Be.

Brainstorm feels threatened when his intellect is belittled by people calling Perceptor the genius. Brainstorm is quite egotistical and selfish, but it all ends up being just a facade, just as much Perceptor's cold and perfect exterior he cultivated throughout years during the war, of someone he thought his side needed.

Up until Brainstorm's time travel shenanigans, we saw them interacting sometimes, and a lot of the time, it was Brainstorm trying to impress Perceptor somehow, or just being himself that draws attention of Percy nevertheless.

And then we see Percy smiling the most he's ever smiled throughout the comic, calling Brainstorm a genius himself, impressed by the intricate work of Brainstorm.

Perceptor gets up to clap for Brainstorm at his trial, and i think it's the moment that sold Perceptor for his respect to Brainstorm. Everything he ever knew about Brainstorm - the careless egotistical and cowardly scientist - turned out to be nothing but means to an end, making way to a dedicated, caring, kind and brilliant person into his mind.

I think their finale just says it all regarding these two, honestly.

"I always wanted recognition for what I am."

"Me too."

Brainstorm spent his life on science and to be recognized. He didn't hide the fact he's an MTO just because. He wants to be seen for his achievements. Perceptor's war trauma had him feel useless to his comrades, who's "purpose", who's Genius, was ultimately the thing people saw in him, brushing off his personal achievements, maybe even the fact he could be more, his person, the way he feels Brainstorm could understand, too.

They're simpatico for a reason, and its just one of them, but pretty crucial and at the very core of why they're so compatible.

While i understand simply thinking of them as "science duo" they're so so much more than that.

[just-a-ghost00]

Crush series : how you feel vs how they feel

Note : you can pick different groups if you feel called to. Meaning, you can think of one group for the way you feel and another for the way they feel.

Group 1 - Holy sh*t

How you feel about them - The Magician, The Devil, 4 of cups, The High Priestess

You are extremely attracted to this person to the point you are constantly thinking about them. They have become a vital part of your life and at this point in time, you can't think about anything but being with them. You wish to manifest this person into your life and you are so caught up in your imagination and feelings for them that you may ignore other areas of your life. You energy towards them is very sensual. Clearly, your main focus right now is to seduce this person at all costs. I asked for clarification for the Devil card and got the 6 of cups. The reason why you are so obsessed and attached to them is because you believe this person is your soulmate. They could be but even if it isn't the case, this shouldn't change how you treat this person and how they treat you. They are a human being first and foremost. So treat them as one. You are putting this person on a pedestal, constantly daydreaming and fantasizing about them. You intuitively know that this person is important to you and your journey, you intuitively know they are here for a good reason and you may fear losing them which urges you to act in anyway possible. You may be communicating a lot with them, making yourself known and seen, trying to get their attention. Be careful not to get too caught up in this. You may be receiving messages about this person in tarot readings. You may be a reader yourself. You are definitely using your psychic abilities to your advantage in this situation. Your energy feels extremely powerful and addicting I must say. You are standing in your feminine power, being the baddest B in town and making sure that they know who they're dealing with. You may not directly express to them that you care but rather use subbtle ways to show them your interest. For some of you, I feel like this thing you have going on is kind of a behind the scenes thing.

How they feel about you - The Emperor, 2 of pentacles, 10 of cups, 4 of swords

This person knows what you're doing. They know how you feel. They know your intentions and they feel in full control of the situation. They are extremely happy about the way things are going because they don't have to do a thing. They have you all figured out. They may be enjoying this a little too much and playing this game of push and pull with you. But little do they know that you are aware of this and are more in control of the situation than they think. They are interested in you to some extent but they might not be as into you as you are with them. This person is more wary when it comes to expressing their emotions and showing interest in someone. They voluntarily hold back and refrain from interacting with you. I asked for a clarifier for the 4 of swords and got the knight of pentacles. This person is holding back because they need time to study this connection and to trust you. They are going at their own pace. They also may be busy with other responsibilities which don't allow them to indulge fully in this connection. They're indeed playing with you, not because they want to take advantage of you but because they feel playful towards you and your energy makes them think that you're okay with it, that you can handle it. This person is currently more focused on their own well being and satisfaction. They may go back and forth with you, sometimes interacting and sometimes acting like a ghost. If that is something that doesn't sit right with you, you should make your boundaries known to this person. This person may be afraid to hand over control and surrender to the connection. They can be doubting you and your intentions, hesitating between focusing on themselves or giving you a chance because they are currently doing very well in their personal life and they don't want that to be ruined. They are being protective of their space and want to make sure you don't know what their thoughts or feelings are.

Shufflemancy : Stray kids - Chk chk Boom, Danny Worsnop - I got bones

Group 2 - Peace

How you feel about them - Queen of swords, the Magician, Emperor, 9 of cups, 4 of wands

You are very protective of this person because you consider them to be your future partner. You dream of being in a committed relationship with this person and you are willing to put in the work to be in this person's life and make this dream a reality. You are working hard to embody the best version of yourself and manifest this connection. You want to appear under your best light in front of them so you pay a lot of attention to the way you communicate around them, how you act, how you sit. You want to impress them with your skills and prove them that you are trustworthy, independent, mature, confident. You may dream about this person a lot. You may have clearly stated to this person that you liked them but you haven't shown them the full extent of your feelings and intentions. A part of you may be fearing rejection so you try to be careful about the amount of emotion you show them. You don't want to scare them. You wish to remain cool, calm and collected for this to be going well. You really want to build solid foundations with this person so you are taking your time with them. You may be fearing that this person is trying to manipulate you. You may be afraid of ruining the chemistry you have because of past experiences. But I really see you standing in your power and confidently interacting with this person in a very respectful and classy way. Your ways are very honorable and I can definitely feel your maturity here. You don't want to rush this process and risk losing this person. I don't know why but I picked up on someone expressing their feelings through music. Maybe when you communicate with this person, instead of straight up telling them how you feel, you send them songs that remind you of them and represent your feelings for them. You may be watching this person from afar, investigating about them to figure out what kind of person they are.

How they feel towards you - Judgment, 8 of swords, 4 of pentacles, King of wands, 2 of cups

I had to ask for a clarifier for the 8 of swords. And got the knight of pentacles. This person feels so strongly about you that it hurst them. They feel stuck because they feel like they don't have the opportunity to fully express how much they care about you. They are scared of being hurt but their attraction towards you is stronger than their fears. They feel like their karma is the reason why they met you. And they feel like life is unfair to them because they are currently stuck or at least they believe so. They feel like they can't have you, like they can't be with you. Maybe this person doesn't think they are worthy of you. Maybe they think that you don't like them and it pains them. They love you so much it breaks their heart. They wish they could free themselves of these feelings but they also don't want to let go of the love they have for you. It is a difficult situation for them. This person deeply believes that you are meant for them. Butterflies can be significant to this connection. Flowers as well. I get the feeling of someone praying for fate to be in their favor and allow them to be with the person they love. I am feeling very emotional doing this reading. There's a feeling of desperation coming from this person. I'm hearing "God please let this be my person, God please watch over them until we can see each other again". This person is afraid to show how much they care because they think that you would think they're crazy. They wish to seduce you and court you but they feel like they're not in a good position to do so. Maybe they think they're not beautiful enough or not rich enough. I get the feeling of two people coming from different backgrounds, living very different lives. They feel that you're out of their league. They're being very harsh on themselves when it comes to you. A part of them doubts that there is a possibiliy for you to be together and another prays for it to be true.

Shufflemancy : BTS - Butterfly, Ariana Grande - Thinking 'bout you

Group 3 - Fresh

How you feel about them - Empress, Queen of swords, Queen of wands, 6 of cups, King of pentacles

You are very certain of your feelings for this person. You genuinely love them and you are intimately convinced that they like you back. You feel very good about yourself and in control of what is going on between you. You are standing in your power and being very serious about this person and the connection. You know very well what you're doing with this person. You are aware of the effect you have on them and you feel like you don't have to nudge them too much for them to be into you. You feel pretty positively about this connection. You believe that they are your soulmate. You are very friendly and at ease with this person. You have no trouble communicating with them, being around them. You feel pretty confident about your ability to attract them and to keep them around. Maybe this person has already shown you that they liked you back. They could have offered you to spend time with them. You are approaching them with a very friendly energy and you are perfectly fine with being friends with them but you think that you would also be very happy if it turned into more. You just know you want to be around this person no matter what. You are trusting the divine with this connection but also mostly trusting yourself. You feel very attracted to them but also very protective of them. Your energy feels like a good mix of masculine and feminine. You are balanced and know when to be in their space and when to stay away. It looks like things are going well for you my dear! Your intentions are pretty clear when it comes with this person. You don't hide from it which I feel is a good thing in your case. You're not afraid of what this person's opinion will be because you are confident they will like you no matter what.

How they feel about you - Queen of cups, 4 of wands, Strength, 5 of swords, page of pentacles

I asked for a clarifier for the 5 of swords and got the 5 of cups. Group 3, your approach is working. Not only do they like you but they want to commit to you. This person is dead on wanting to make you their queen no matter what. They want to fight for you. They feel conflicted because they are scared they will lose the opportunity to be with you. Something may have happened that made them think you were not going to stay around. They are studying you and trying to learn how to match your expectations. They want to be good to you and good for you. This person can be doing actual research to figure out how to appeal to you. Lmao I feel like someone is inexperienced in love and typing "how to show your crush you like them" on the Internet because they're so scared to mess up. I also pick up on someone actually learning new skills to impress their crush. So maybe they're learning a new language or doing a new sport or learning to play the guitar. I don't know. I feel like this person misses you. Or fears that this connection will be a missed opportunity. Maybe you live at a distance from one another. That doesn't show in the cards but that could be possible. This person is just so in love with your energy. I feel like the lion on the strength card is just turning into a big purring kitty looking for cuddles lmao They just instantly melt in your presence. If this person is pretty strong and confident in their daily life, when they're around you they feel like a marshmellow. They just can't find their composure anymore. They become giddy and just so dorky. If they appear very mature in public, with you they become a kid again. You bring out their inner child. They just feel so good in your presence they don't ever want this feeling to stop. They love your warm aura, your beauty, your confidence. Good job group 3 !

Shufflemancy : BTS - Spring Day, Beyoncé - Halo

[leebrontide]

New Intro post!

Hi everyone, I'm Lee (any pronouns) and I write, draw, and animate a bit. I am a therapist by day, but I'm not your therapist, so please do not try to interact with me in that capacity.

My blog is a writeblr first and foremost but I'm gonna be honest I post about a whole lot of different things. My favorites include psych stuff, gardening, science, politics (mostly US), very intermittent fandom things, the odd shitpost, and pictures of my very photogenic cats.

I have a free monthly newsletter that I'm very proud of, where I write about those things and then actually edit them, add research links, etc. Especially when those subjects interact with research for my books.

I have two books out: Secondhand Origin Stories and Names in their Blood. Those are the first 2 books in a 5 book series called Second Sentinels. On the surface they're superhero novels. At their heart they're family dramas. In the middle they're low neon cyberpunk, near future scifi, political commentary, midwest gothic, and sometimes a murder mystery. They are very queer but most of the angst is not about that. They're also very much about disability but please don't picture some Very Special Episode shit when I say that. This is much angrier and messier than that.

You can find a variety of ways to read or listen to those here, and the first book in the series is free in ebook form. ALL my profits from those sales go to proven climate orgs.

I'm working on book 3 in the series, tentatively called Brittle Idols, right now. It has a genetic engineering cult in rural Iowa in the middle of a blizzard! It's gonna be fun.

I'm also working on a fun mecha/body horror/terraforming story with my wife. It’s inspired by anime we watched in our youth and frustration with late stage, unfettered capitalism. This is very much in early development, but here are my poor unfortunate pilots.

My animation is entirely focused on making a full movie-trailer style thing for Secondhand Origin Stories. I learned to animate specifically to be able to make this, but my animating won't end there.

I like following writeblrs, especially writeblr's that aren't ONLY about people's writing. I like getting to know PEOPLE. It doesn't feel like community to me otherwise. I particularly love:

scifi

late YA

heavily character driven work

family drama

queer stuff

multi-POV stories

chonky series

Thanks for reading this far!

Here are those photogenic cats I was telling you about.

[doctorjackdaw]

Hey! I really love your work- especially your TMA fic and art!! I saw your post from last week about taking suggestions and, if it’s still open, I wanted to throw one out:

S4 Jon very pregnant or in labour in his office, maybe trying to keep anyone else (ie Martin, Basira, etc) from hearing out of shame or hiding from an active threat like Trevor and Julia. I’m a fan of jonelias but I don’t know your preference wrt that!

Either way, thanks again for all your work; it’s always so exciting to see a fic update or your art pop up.

okay first and foremost: THANK YOU for this kindness!!! oh my goodness!!! you are BELOVED by me, i create for lovely people like you <3333 i focused on the character interactions from season 4 the most here - i love how martin falls into the lonely and thought if he was giving a statement, in his "dont talk to me" mode, jon could get VERY stuck

thank you again!!!!!

[pavedinashes-if]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

First and foremost, I’d like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful time ringing in 2025 and are starting the year with energy and enthusiasm. Regardless of how last year turned out for you...whether it was a fantastic year or one you’d rather forget – I sincerely hope that this year becomes your best one in a long time, perhaps even the best ever. One thing is for sure: you made my last year truly unforgettable, and I’m endlessly grateful for that.

You gave me the opportunity to share my story with the world, accompanied me with your enthusiasm, made me laugh with your Qs more times than I can count, and occasionally even brought a blush to my face. It was an incredibly amazing year in this regard, and I can hardly wait to make 2025 even more extraordinary. This year, there will be plenty of updates, both here and on my other blogs!

But for now, focusing on PIA... [… while putting together the FAQs , which you’ll find here on the blog later today... ] I could hardly believe all that has happened. Some asks may have slipped through the cracks, but I’m glad I compiled the FAQs for you. Now that the demo is out (WOOT WOOT), I think it’ll be sweet to revisit or discover some of the asks and snippets anew.

Thank you to everyone!! ... whether you’ve been here since day one, joined just today, or even those who will find their way here in the future. Whether you interact regularly and diligently or quietly read along in the background, I truly appreciate each and every one of you 💜💜💜

There’s so much content coming your way in 2025, and I’m beyond excited! By the way, the next update is just around the corner. 😉

See you very soon!

SAI

[sugar-grigri]

Let's make the revolution, but let's make it right s’il vous plaît…

Yes I need to take a break but I'm not only tired but I'm fucking autistic so let me say two quick words

I think Haruka is a character worth exploring, and that he's deeper than the comic relief he seems to be, because I think he's a very good representation of adolescence.

Yoshida doesn't live his adolescence as a public hunter, Asa almost rejects the experiences because of her social isolation and emotional problems, which implies that they are teenagers but want to carry the weight of suffering like adults.

And what is Haruka? The perfect example of the mix between childhood and coming-of-age.

Denji is unable to experience adolescence because he has been deprived of his childhood, or even his humanity, and his interactions lead inexorably to rejection and suffering.

Haruka, on the other hand, is a useful standard by which to compare the other characters' failings in exploring their own adolescence.

Haruka is portrayed as arrogant, but not as negatively pretentious, but as an over-confident teenager, following a role model to the point of pretending to be him, of having a false cable across his chest.

He's also hard on the others, representing those teenagers who never minced their words when pressing Asa's failures, just as he remains deeply human, panicking, relying on his role model to save him.

Above all, his typical teenage behavior and funny yet profoundly candid personality are at odds with what adolescence is all about: realizing the world we live in.

If Chainsaw Man is so popular with teenagers, it's first and foremost because he remains anonymous, so everyone can see what they want in his face, but he's also an element of confrontation with the established order.

When I say that Chainsaw Man is a fairly mathematical manga, it's because everything fits together perfectly: if teenagers can make Chainsaw Man an object of protest, or even make it their own design, it's precisely because they don't see Denji behind Chainsaw Man.

If everything finds its balance, it's because the teenagers see in Chainsaw Man something superior, to the point of making him a model, an ideology, while Denji, the boy behind the mask, puts himself in the position of standing outside normality.

Denji can't belong to normality, since Chainsaw Man's interest is in disrupting the established order, whether it's the dominance of demons or what parents think.

So he's in a position of literal support, since his only point of interaction is to be acclaimed without being recognized.

It's interesting that Haruka's here, because he's a Chainsaw Man fan.

Denji has been a figure in the shadows, supporting a teenager in need of guidance in spite of himself.

He was the savior of a humanity prey to demons in spite of himself

But from a more symbolic point of view, Denji is literally dismembered, because carrying this on his shoulders as a teenager, even though his rank is denied, leads not only to exhaustion and withdrawal, but also to a literal breakdown.

It's as if the chair has just cracked... then the adolescence that stood over it also collapses...

People love Denji with difficulty, while he loves them with ease

People adore Chainsaw Man and completely ignore Denji's plight

Teenagers need to see Denji, to see his state of dismemberment, to see every last part of his being instrumentalized.

Because that's what he is, an image from which everyone can pick and choose to see what's missing.

That's why Asa has a missing arm, because she's in the position of a savior who doesn't wallow in her lack and compensate for it with Chainsaw Man, but focuses on the mission of putting him back together.

We repeat: the teenagers have projected themselves into Chainsaw Man as a means of fighting against the established order.

But isn't projecting oneself and being saved by Chainsaw Man precisely what the established order is all about?

Wouldn't it be revolutionary to save a savior who has always asked to be saved? Just as the suffering of the people has been ignored has needed saving

Revolution... represented by what?

Guillotine.

And that's precisely where I find it all interesting, because Haruka effectively compensates with Chainsaw Man in everything he lacks, when he was portrayed completely panicked during the aquarium arc, Denji was serene. Haruka may have a cable on his chest, but he'll never dare pull it.

This absence of fear is what keeps Chainsaw Man a machine. Denji has no self-worth, not a little arrogance like Haruka, so he's not afraid of danger. Whereas what constitutes adolescence is precisely the fact of becoming attached, of having things you value and are not afraid of being deprived of.

Above all, being an adolescent gives you a protective status, protected by society. So Haruka experiences what Denji experienced: being deprived. Deprived of what he holds dear. Deprived of his status as a child protected to be a terrorist. Haruka is a teenager who needs to be protected, but is now seen as a terrorist, a threat to order.

To be a threat to the established order, while at the same time being guaranteed by it, is the exact ambivalence of what Chainsaw Man is, and what Haruka is experiencing, being in the shoes of his savior in an attempt to save him.

The guillotine demon has an interesting design, a huge bird as a kind of almost inanimate ornament, to emphasize its interior, a piece of skeleton hanging headless. How does it feel to be close to decapitation? We suffer in anticipation of what we're going to miss: our head, death, the skeleton, and what we're going to leave the world, a body that's missing something.

Just as others must learn to compensate for their own insecurities, Denji must allow himself to feel his own, and instead of accepting suffering, to compensate for it like a human being with his nearest and dearest, his entourage, his family.

Because the right behavior is not to artificially complete oneself by rejecting one's fear and accepting one's suffering, but to accept one's incompleteness in order to be better influenced and completed by others. That's why Denji's loved ones are there to help him, even though he's been cut into pieces. Just as the teenagers saw in Fami, whom they reject, this guillotine, both reversing the order and focusing on what they lack, poor children in identity crisis.

We're in a bit of a pre-French Revolution mood, which I like, so let's embrace it completely by concluding with a quote from one of France's bloodiest revolutionaries, Robespierre:

"First of all, you should know that I am not the defender of the people; I have never claimed that lavish title; I am one of the people, that's all I've ever been, and that's all I want to be; I despise anyone who pretends to be anything more."

To make a revolution not to overthrow the order, but to be a simple, incomplete, imperfect teenager.

[gatheredfates]

POSES. It happened! ✨

I made a smaller post this morning, but I am super pleased to announce that Tumblr's moderation has approved SEAFLOOR as a Community! We're live, baeby!

If you don't know what a Community is, you can check out Tumblr's post about it here.

If you are interested in joining, I will copy/paste the information contained on the Community's pinned post in the read more below, as you won't see it otherwise (outside of joining). I'd like to kindly request that if you are already a member of the Community to not like this post (it just saves me doubling up) but please reblog it to spread the word!

Welcome to SEAFLOOR! This a Community run by myself, Sea (@gatheredfates), as an offshoot of the identically named Discord server aimed to contain both my personal projects and promote member-created content. If you would still like to keep up to date with my projects, interact with members of my community, and generally enjoy xiv content without the pressure of a Discord, this is the place!

This server has mandatory tags that MUST be used for spoilers. A general rule of thumb is the most recent patch/live letter is considered spoiler content and must be marked accordingly; as well as major spoilers for the most recent expansion. If it doubt, it always pays to tag. Please mind the following:

#dawntrail spoilers

#7.0. spoilers (will likely come into effect for 7.1 to differentiate from general Dawntrail spoilers, but you can tag for both!)

#liveletter spoilers

Much like my Discord, there are some house rules I want to put in place first for first-time users. Please familiarise yourself with the below. This post is pinned; you can't claim you haven't seen it. A lot of these are near-identical to the server rules, but I'll be no-less forceful in implementation if they are not adhered to.

If I'm being entirely honest, moderation past Community maintenance is something I do not want to engage with, so I will be intervening only when it is entirely necessary and will be harsh in my implementation. Therefore, if you don't think you can conduct yourself in a healthy, adult manner, do not join. Some of these rules may seem 'harsh' but are the product of me making clear boundaries in what I will expect, tolerate and foster. I will not hesitate to curate where I feel it is necessary.

I believe in the age-old phrase "Be excellent to each other," and that underpins every rule featured below. If in doubt, refer back to this mantra.

This Community is strictly 21+ only. This is to keep in line with my personal boundaries regarding minors. It's nothing personal, I just don't have time to moderate for a younger audience.

Common-sense rules apply. Do not break Tumblr's ToS, spoiler/content warm where appropriate and sensible, and don't be rude/harass people in the comments. Just because a rule isn't explicitly stated doesn't mean you have full reign to do the thing.

Intolerance (namely racism, homophobia, transphobia, etc.) will not be tolerated. If you don't like it, the back button is free.

Due to this being a predominately XIV focused Community, dark themes will present due to subject manner explored in the game. I will not enforce mandatory tags/censors outside of patch/expansion spoilers; I just ask that people use their common sense and consider peoples' safety and mental wellbeing when posting work(s). If you do not warn appropriately or mock/ignore requests for things to be censored/warned, you will be removed.

As Communities are in their infancy, rules may be amended/adjusted to better fit this space's purpose as time goes on. While I will attempt to make these changes obvious, please check back on occasion just in case. "I didn't know," is not a valid excuse.

HOKAY, now that the serious of the rules are out of the way, you might be wondering to yourself, "Sea, what can be posted?" I'm glad you asked! ✨ First and foremost, as I do not encourage secular spaces, please make sure all content has originated from a public tumblr blog. I want to encourage people to reach out, interact and follow other people, not just stick to this space! Beyond that, I accept:

Screenshots (gpose), writing, art, think pieces and other xiv content created by members. You can tag these with #gpose, #writing, #art, etc.

Resource gathering similar to what is featured in the Discord server including resources, prompts, commissions, etc. You can tag these with #resources, #prompts, #WoLQoTD, #commissions, #other, etc. These do not have to be created by members in the community.

Event, character profiles, looking for content/rp/free companies and more! You can tag these with #events, #character profile, #lfc, #lfr, #free company, etc. These do not have to be created by members in the community.

Links to lodestone posts/dev commentary and other official posts provided they are tagged correctly. You can tag these with #lodestone.

Anything you've created in response to my projects! You can tag these as #sea's character questions OR whatever the event is at the time (for example, Down to Dawntrail posts can be tagged as #(count)down to dawntrail)! I will try to reblog anything that I am tagged in if the owner doesn't reblog it here.

Anything xiv related that isn't covered here but you think is in line with the spirit of this community and what I'm trying to foster. Please DM me if you're unsure.

[dead-dolphins]

We need to talk about the changes on Mr. Senator.

Friends, you know how much I cherish this AU to the point of being meticulous with the plot (as I am with any fic, really). However, I need to discuss the changes I intend to make to Mr. Senator from the “Things You Need to Know About Mr. Senator AU” that I wrote previously.

But before I begin, let me share what I aim to capture with this fic. Ideally, I should demonstrate things by actually writing rather than explain my reasons, but I feel it’s necessary to clarify so you can grasp the essence of what this fic is about.

Mr. Senator is a fic where I want to portray a Mikasa who is deeply in love with a man she has admired from afar. This man, however, is significantly older and a politician, making her feel insignificant and afraid to approach him for fear of appearing foolish. This changes when she hears a rumour that he plans to marry for electoral gain, needing a wife to secure more votes. Mikasa can not bear the idea of him belonging to anyone else. The pain of seeing him with another would be unbearable, a wound too deep to heal. Driven by this fear and her overwhelming love, she resolves to do whatever it takes to make him notice her, even if it means trapping him. What I essentially envision is a shy yet determined Mikasa. Though she may seem naïve, she is ready to step into the light, determined to make Eren see her as a brave woman and a potential wife. Her complex feelings of love, admiration, fear, and determination intertwine with the recklessness of youth and passionate infatuation. Her youthful impulsiveness propels her forward, making her bold in ways she never imagined. I dare to say that it's a lot of passion for someone so young YET this passion is not just a fleeting crush but a deep-seated need to be seen, to be valued by the man she loves.

So, with that being said, here are some changes (I will not say them all, lol).

First and foremost, to dispel any doubt, I’ve decided that this fic will be told solely from one point of view, and that will, of course, be Mikasa’s. She is the heart of this story, and although you might be interested in Eren’s perspective, I believe Mikasa’s lens will provide the clearest understanding.

With Mikasa’s point of view as the central focus, certain elements, such as Eren being of low-born status, will be adjusted. Instead, I’ll portray him as a wealthy man. This change facilitates their interactions mean to their social class. However, he will remain an Ackerman protégé, and his wealth will not alter this aspect. How he will do that? Keep reading.

Previously, I mentioned that Mikasa has younger brothers, but now they will be younger sisters. So, Mikasa is an older sister of a family full of girls. This shift will impact her psyche, offering rich narrative potential that I can't fully detail at this moment (but the keyword for this is: daddy's issues or something of the sort).

Eren has an ex-girlfriend from their social circle who will be displeased to see the senator she once knew taking an interest in a little girl. Her resentment will play a role in the unfolding drama.

And yes, you read that correctly—senator! In the earlier sneak peek, Eren was merely a candidate, but now he is firmly established as a senator seeking re-election. His ambition stretches further, for he harbours aspirations of one day becoming PRESIDENT.

In this iteration, Mikasa's father is absent, and instead, the family is under the care of her uncle, none other than Kenny Ackerman. This dynamic is one I haven’t fully explored in my previous writings, so I felt it was time to delve into it. Consequently, Uncle Kenny will be a prominent figure in Mikasa’s life, leading to numerous clashes with Mikasa’s mother.

Speaking of Mikasa’s mother, she is a formidable woman, ahead of her time. However, Kenny often outmanoeuvres her at every turn. To survive in this challenging environment, Mikasa’s mother focuses on empowering her daughter, making Mikasa a key player in their family’s struggles (you shall see it later!)

Lastly, Mikasa will be twenty years old in this story, rather than eighteen. This decision ties directly into the dynamic I want to explore between Kenny, Mikasa and Mikasa's mother. In their society, women were expected to marry quickly, but Mikasa defied this norm, which will be a significant element in the narrative. The full implications of this choice will unfold as the story progresses.

Additionally, Eren will be 32 years old!

That’s all for now, folks! I’m thrilled to bring this fic to life, like, for real! It’s shaping up to be a long, single shot (unless I separate it) and I’m diving deep into research to make it unlike anything I’ve written before.

¡Estén atentos para algo realmente INCREÍBLE!! ! :D

[sonadowkismesis]

Shadow is aplatonic: an argument.

"Friends? I'm only temporarily working with you to achieve a goal. Don't get the wrong idea."

from Puyo Puyo Quest's 25th Anniversary event

@apl-swag-bracket

What is aplatonicism?

Here is a quick definition to catch you up.

The aplatonic spectrum, otherwise known as the aplatonic umbrella, is a group of platonic orientations that fall under the umbrella term of aplatonic. Those on the aplatonic spectrum may lack platonic attraction or feel it so little that they relate more to aplatonic experiences. The common link between those on the aplatonic spectrum is that they do not feel the "standard" amount of platonic attraction or they don't feel it in the "standard" way, that alloplatonic individuals do.

Here is some more reading you can do on the topic.

Resources about aplatonicism are scarce and anyway, this is meant to focus on character analysis first and foremost, so forgive me if I cut this section short. Anyway, I believe I have given enough context, so let's get into the meat of this post.

Is Shadow aplatonic?

As stated outright in the Sonic Ultimate Character Guide, Shadow is a loner who relies on himself first and foremost.

from Sonic Ultimate Character Guide (2016)

He is extremely individualistic and doesn't compromise for the sake of others. He prefers to act alone rather than as a team, believing the latter to be futile, and will even choose violence over cooperation to get his way.

from "Team Sonic Racing Racers!" Interview (2019), IDW Sonic the Hedgehog (issue #09), Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) and Sonic Rivals 2 (2007) respectively

If he teams up with others with cooperation in mind, it's always in the interest of a higher purpose. He'll actively ditch crowds and avoid gatherings once the action is over.

from IDW Sonic the Hedgehog (issue #11 and #31 respectively)

Most of his interactions with the rest of the cast follow this pattern, however there is some nuance to be considered when looking at his dynamic with a select few characters.

Rouge and E123 Omega are two characters Shadow has often been partnered with. Although the word "allies" would be more appropriate to describe their relationship, they're easily the ones Shadow is closest to out of everyone else. In the case of Omega, Shadow even displays bouts of camaraderie, likely due to the fact they share a similar mindset.

from Sonic Heroes (2003)

from Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008)

from "Team Sonic Racing Racers!" Interview (2019)

Another notable dynamic that stands out is that between Shadow and Sonic. Shadow's attitude towards him could be much the same as with everyone else if it weren't for their rivalry. Although Shadow is always focused on his goals above all else, Sonic's presence brings out a competitive side that distracts him and pushes him to act recklessly.

from "Team Sonic Racing Racers!" Interview (2019)

from Team Sonic Racing (2019)

Shadow doesn't see Sonic as his friend, but considers him an important part of his life despite himself.

and lastly,

from Sonic Channel's Shadow character bio

Conclusion

Shadow doesn't feel the need for companionship and doesn't seek to bond with others if he doesn't have an ulterior motive. He's a loner and a misanthropic, and would rather work alone to achieve his goals in the most efficient way. Because of his standoffish personality, the few close/intense relationships he has are with people who are "like" him in some way, given the impression of an unconventional connection in a very tangible and grounded manner, and not so much driven by feelings of affection or love. Hence why I think Shadow is aplatonic or is on the aplatonic spectrum... I rest my case.

(I would have liked to give more examples, but the 10 image limit makes this very difficult haha)

Here's where you can read the translated version of the TSR Interview (which I referenced a few times) in its entirety.

Here is Shadow's official character bio.

[storkmuffin]

Hello! I literally just came back to Tumblr after a several year hiatus because of the tiktok drama, and stumbled across your posts. It's been really fun to see your thoughts, especially getting a bit of cultural context here and there has been wonderful! You've written a lot about what you like about each member, but I'm curious about how you feel about their relationships with each other, especially as a baby atiny. I find their interconnected friendships really interesting, even outside of a shipper context (and I am curious about how you feel about that as well!) I have always had a huge weakness for found families lol

Hi! Welcome back :D Thank you for reading and commenting!

TLDR for what follows: I take a much harder, colder stance on the 'found family' narrative they keep pushing with Boy Idols than perhaps befits an Atiny about Ateez, but I do have my reasons.

I take the view that first and foremost, Idol groups are business working groups. I'm a little bit (okay, a lot) skeptical of what's presented as 'family' and 'friendships' among these people, generally speaking, because Kpop Idols are just following Korean norms of social interaction for coworkers.

Hopefully this isn't boring but I need to just use myself as an example: I am the 'leader' of my working group of 5 people in my department that has about 70 people in my Korean company. I report to 3 levels of bosses but mostly they let me 'run' the group. My one group-mate is the same age as me, the other three are younger. The woman who's the youngest (our maknae, though not by a lot) - she's a baseball freak. The rest of us dgaf about baseball, but whenever we have our monthly 'bonding' lunch (obligatory, by the way - I'm given a monthly budget that I have to spend eating with this group, all together), all of us take turns indulgently asking her about baseball news, and ooh and ahh and pamper her in her baseball speeches. Do you see what I mean? This is just how we behave. It probably looks like family, to a Westerner, but truth be told, we are none of us actually friends.

The fact that Hwa and Wooyoung have both called their CEO Father freaks me out, by the way. Absolute heebie jeebies, though this too is a feminist, gendered thing. Sexual harassers pre-MeToo always said they'd 'forgotten themselves' because they felt like they were 'family' with the woman they raped or molested. It sounded just as insane in Korean as it does in English, but that was an accepted excuse until it totally wasn't.

In addition, one of the requirements of Boy Idols is that they provide emotional succor to their almost entirely female audience (I am organizing my thoughts and what I've learned through research about why this is for another post). Korea is an exceptionally family-focused society, but that is often exploitative and terrible for women. (Which is why so many women keep saying they don't want to marry and form families - the potential personal burden is ruinous.) So Boy Idols showing what a 'family' can look like when nobody is a woman - when even the 'mommy' or the 'bossy big sister' or the 'baby sister' is all men - and are shown to always, in the end, get along, is the non-sexual equivalent of BL fiction, which I think functions to let straight women 'escape' from misogynist heterosexuality and enjoy the concept of male sexuality in an ultimately quite straight way. Boy Idol groups being 'found famliy' gets you to enjoy the nice things about a voluntary family completely denuded of even the possibility of misogyny, because women just don't exist in the story at all.

Further, because so many megastar Idols have committed suicide in recent years, and because the people who were in training for years and ultimately didn't make it also tell nightmare stories about their lives, it's become necessary for Idol groups to advertise that they are not toxic workplaces. So I see the 'miraculous getting together of pairs of friends to make a successful kpop group!' mythos as part of that counter-narrative, as well. My bet is that the 연습생 world, like any sort of prep situation in Korea, is fucking hostile. It has to be. In the normie world of just college prep, people don't share notes or pretend to be civil or anything other than competitors. Your failure increases my chances of success, type of deal.

Part of the Ateez self-narrative about how they came together to me also just seem pretty typical of people who are in the performing arts in general, as well. The School of American Ballet takes in little kids to train them, and if they manage to make it through many cuts over a number of years, they then debut with the New York City Ballet or American Ballet Theater, where they will compete against and/or partner with each other until the end of their usually short (like 10 years or less) careers, trying to get to the 'top.' The kpop Idol industry follows this system of 'growing' its own artists, often in boarding schools or specialized institutions, just like ballet dancers. It looks different because the cultural context is different, but the essence is the same.

I've seen all the K-Atiny flutterings about, THIS IS FATE and stuff, but given that K-Pop Idol has really specific physical requirements, it makes sense to me that as they got older, the kids who were really determined to do this as a job and also were not kicked/ flunked out would eventually all meet and some to become friends.

The fact that Mingi followed Yunho, and Wooyoung followed Yeosang to this small venture that had never launched an Idol group before can be seen in two ways, I think. One is that they are best friends, in a pure, childhood way. It's so sweet and moving that it doesn't feel quite real, and doesn't fit with how you expect people who in essence wanted to be child stars and then rock stars to be like. It makes them very lovable.

But, just to be the ultimate cynical bitch about it, the paths Ateez took may have more to do with the fact that Mingi-Yunho and Yeosang-Wooyoung are the tall and short versions of being 2% Off the Idol Standard, to my Korean eyes. These two sets of friendships may have come from sharing the same problem - of being almost, but not quite, 'right' or 'ripe' for debut.

Mingi and Yunho, despite the fashion for tall Boy Idols, seem to have not made the cut to become 연습생 (prep students? how do kpop international fans call this?) at any of the big houses nor get recruited off the street. And that makes sense - Mingi is in the 짐승돌 (Beast-Idol) mode, which has fallen out of fashion for some time, and Yunho suffers from being too standard and initially appears indistinct as a result.

Yeosang and Wooyoung seem to have fallen into a different kind of 연습생 hell - good enough to get a spot, do well enough not to get kicked out, but not have enough of what it takes for a 'big house' to include you in an actual group that will debut. Yeosang often being a mild person who doesn't react in a lightening fast way would have disadvantaged him for sure. Wooyoung is so handsome but like, if you compare him to say, Felix of Stray Kids, he also looks just so manly, which would have made him difficult to place. To drop out of Hybe 연습생 to try out this thing with KQ, which had never done it before speaks of a certain desperation.

Other than HongJoong, who did a really weird and unusual thing of making a company build a program around him, the 99z were all up against a fast approaching deadline of aging out of being able to debut, since they have a hard stop at age 28 each, and one of the key ways to cultivate a hardcore Korean female fandom is to have them participate in 'raising' you. Can't do that if you debut at 25, you know?

Almost 7 years later? First, they've achieved wild success, together, when none of them were necessarily the most likely to succeed, and they definitely are NOT with the company most likely to successfully launch an Idol group. That's gotta be great for bonding. Second, only the eight of them can actually really understand wtf that life is like - the hardships or pains that come with what otherwise just looks glorious. Third, all the psych studies agree that singing together and dancing together with other humans makes you love them more, and feel more bonded and more belonging, and doing singing and dancing together is these people's full time job. Fourth (sorry the cynicism is back), if they can't make it work within this group, they will have a hard time pursuing show business careers in the future. You have to have 'good character' as an Idol to not be decimated by the anti-fans, and an essential element of 'good character' in the Korean style is knowing how to be a good member of a collective. And fifth, what KQ and Ateez are doing vis-a-vis each other (Company v Contractors) as well as inside Ateez is a sort of positive-reinforcement of Mutually Assured Destruction with all this family talk. They're family and brothers and the CEO is their DAD and their producer Eden is their big brother so ... when the 7 year contract deadline rolls around, KQ shouldn't stomp on Ateez, Ateez shouldn't stomp on KQ, and the members should not go for broke as individuals. I think that's part of it.

[danses-with-dogmeat]

C is for -- Charon

Oh, Charon 🥺

I just adore this guy, and still, I cannot believe how close it was between him and Boone on this poll. But either way is a win in my book, really😅

And here is the 2k event masterlist, for your browsing pleasure!

But I hope y'all love this! Just make sure to check out the rating 😉

--

Pair: Charon x F!Lone

Dialogue Prompt: “Can you just hold me for a moment?”

Word: Care

Rating: NSFW

Category: Fluff

Word Count: 1.6k

NSFW below, minors, please do not interact!

“Charon–”

Lone’s strained voice sent another shock down the ghoul’s searing spine. He gritted his teeth, his strong fingers clenching her thigh tightly where he held her legs open for him, where his broad hips slotted between them with every forceful thrust.

“Say it again.” He growled, his grip like iron, his expression focused on staving off that great feeling of release, in favor of tipping his partner over the edge first and foremost. 

“Charon, fuck,” She breathed out heavily, her mesmerizing chest rising and falling rapidly with his jostling, with her own jerky movements, the bucking of her hips pushing him deeper into her, and following him still as he pulled back. 

Close. She’s so close. 

Charon's eyes closed briefly, as he allowed his head to fall back, to soak in the mere feeling of her body beneath his. The warmth of her thighs and her ass, pressed flush against him, the softness of her smooth skin against his own rugged planes of flesh, his firm, calloused hands pressing divots into her yielding plushness.

The small, stone room within the abandoned house reeked of their lewd activities, and in it, he felt the slickness of her sweat, he reveled in the sweet sound of her keening moans, and the way her walls gripped him… Like she never wanted him to leave her. 

It took effort to haul himself in and out of her tightness, but the way she reacted when he hit that sweet spot deep inside her, when the roughness of his skin rubbed her just right, he couldn’t take it. 

Charon’s eyes sprang open again, his grip on her thigh tightened to the point of bruising, and he brought his free hand to her center. Expertly, his fingers delved between her lower lips, and began to press firm circles over the sensitive nub he found there. 

He braced himself again, as Lone’s hips flew up off the old, creaky mattress, her own fingers tightening against the fabric until they paled, her eyes rolling back as lightning seemed to explode up her spine. 

Charon groaned at the way her heat pulsed around him, as she came undone with the press of his fingers. He held onto her tightly as she rode out her pleasure, his stark eyes unblinking as he absorbed the rapturous sight beneath him. He usually made it a point not to ogle his employer– his partner. 

Right.

‘Were together now,’ she’d told him. Almost a month ago; still, for one as old as him, one who was as set in his ways as a person could be, it took Charon some getting used to. 

But he respected the hell out of her, no matter the nature of her personal relation to him. He’d seen enough of the way the other wasteland assholes treat young women, he’d ended enough of those interactions himself… He wouldn’t be a part of that problem, not like others had sometimes forced him to be. And yet… There were certain special times, where he let his eyes linger on her seemingly just as disrespectfully, where he let those feelings surrounding her engulf him, he let the sensations flow through his body and become evidence of the attraction he felt for her. 

But therein lay the difference between him and them. He'd never disrespect her, beyond a bit of a gawking look, that is. But beyond that? Charon would give his life for Lone, and not just because of that scrap of paper she held. He would do or be whatever she needed most, any time that she asked, simply because she was Lone, and the way she allowed him to be this?

To show her how he felt, truthfully?

She was the first smoothskin– or person Charon felt this sort of affection for in… who the hell knows how long?

Now was one of those times, though. When-- despite his respect, his affection, the rareness, the novelty of being with her in the first place-- he let himself really look at her. The way her breasts heaved, glossy and picturesque with sweat, the way her delicate brows furrowed and shielded her eyes from him, the way her mouth hung open, releasing wanton gasps that, when they met Charon's ears, left his stomach tightening and his cock throbbing with need. Need to tip over his own threshold and into the same such pleasure he saw her enveloped in. 

“Lone…” Charon’s low voice sounded from his chest, and he felt another shudder pass through her body and into his. Felt that heavenly gush of slick around him, felt the way she constricted him again, before her body fell, lax and tingling, back against the mattress. 

Her eyes blinked open, dark and sensual with the way her pupils were blown out with the pleasure he’d just wrought from her. 

“Hm?” She hummed, almost absently. 

“Where?” His bright, intense eyes stayed locked to her glossy ones as he began to thrust into her relaxed body once again, with a renewed vigor. Lone grimaced slightly as she felt his cock drag along her walls, feeling every rough sensation amplified by her own recent release. 

“A-anywhere, just– ah, just not inside.” 

He gave a gruff nod, before setting his grip upon her hips, and pulled her forward into him, instantly picking up his pace as she gripped onto the mattress for dear life. 

“God, Charon. Fuck, not too–” 

“Almost. There.” He grunted, feeling his member swelling further with each harsh thrust, each blissful drag of her hot, tight walls around him. 

He slammed in, one more time, before fully wrenching his cock out of her, just in time to spill his release onto the foot of the mattress. 

Charon continued kneeling, allowing himself just a moment to breathe, to let that feeling of relief wash over him as one hand gripped his throbbing member, giving it a couple final jerks, until he was fully spent. His eyes darted to Lone, noting the way small tremors still ran through her body, and damn-near smirking at that blissed out look upon her face. 

She’d closed her eyes, he noticed, as he stood up and gathered his clothes, already beginning to dress and prepare to take watch while his partner slept soundly behind him. 

He’d only managed to haul his pants up over his hip bones, when he heard a small voice sound through the dim. 

“Charon?” 

“Hm?” He stepped over to the mattress, his brow furrowed as he looked down at her. 

Lone’s hair was mussed, her eyes tired, her voice almost as raspy as his own. 

She needs to rest, after all that. 

He had to stop himself from looking visibly pleased at the thought.

“Do you… do you have to go on watch right now?” 

Charon knelt down, as she sat up on the mattress. Meeting one another in the middle.

Distractedly, the ghoul found his hand moving to her arm, rubbing over a healing mark there. Maybe from some scuffle with raiders or mirelurks, maybe from him, he didn’t know. 

Have to be more careful… He recalled his grip on her thigh earlier, and on her hips. She’ll bruise from that, too. 

“Charon?” 

Her voice hit him, and he looked back up to her with a shrug. 

He should go on watch. It’s what he was supposed to do, if he was going to protect her. But the terms of their agreement had changed so much over the months… 

“Well… Instead of that, do you think you could, um…” 

She was always so strong, outspoken, usually so direct. It had surprised him in the beginning, knowing the soft vault life she’d come from. But he’d always admired it. 

This behavior though… It was strange. 

“Is something wrong?” He heard himself ask, even as one rough hand continued to stroke over her skin. 

“N-no, I just… Can you just hold me? For a moment? It doesn’t have to be long, but…” 

“Yes.” He stopped her. It sounded as though she were going to explain herself, try and justify this request, that to any other partner should be more than reasonable. It was expected, he was sure. 

But with me… 

Not for the first time in their relationship, not even for the first time that night, Charon found himself wondering what she saw in him. What she wanted from him. 

But this… in a way, it helped him understand. 

She truly sees me as her partner. Not an asset, not a bodyguard or a beast of burden, not a weapon, not a means to an end.

But an equal. 

It was something that was going to take some getting used to. 

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, or anything. I know we’re never mushy like this, really, but I don’t know, tonight, I just…” 

“It’s alright.” 

Lone moved over a bit on the mattress, making room for his bulk as Charon settled, albeit a bit uncomfortably, beside her. The mattress stopped supporting him almost as high as his knees, but Charon tried not to pay mind to it. 

No, like he had earlier, he tried to ground himself in her. 

Lone moved closer to him as he settled, and Charon’s arm snaked around her shoulders as her hands seamlessly wound about his bare waist. Her puffy cheek pressed into the firmness of his chest, and he felt the soft puffs of breath over his ruined skin lulling him into a blissful state of quietude. 

A heavy sigh escaped her, and he felt any stiffness left in her body vacate, as she melted into his shared contact. 

It was something he never knew he might come to enjoy. Never dared to want, not with the people he usually found himself close to. But this… Charon felt that he may just be able to get used to it.

[i-sveikata]

Hey!

I’ve been reading your fic for a year now—I used to comment as Jackdaw but recently changed my nickname. It always brings me so much joy to see a notification for a new chapter. I can’t even express how happy it makes me! I really admire your work. I wanted to ask you two questions; how do you stay on track writing this fic for such a long time? And do you have any advice for a starting author? Stay blessed and merry Christmas, Jackdaw/Sarina

Oh hello! God it’s so crazy that I’ve been writing it for that long but thank you so much!

That’s a really good question! I’d say it’s honestly a few things but the main fact is I’m interested in the pairing and how they might possibly fall in love after such a messed up start and that’s kind of been the driving force of the fic. So even though I’m posting chapter by chap I’m also writing future scenes past the current chap which kind of always leaves me with somewhere interesting to write in the story? Like say if I’m doing plot heavy stuff and I’m not feeling very invested or have the energy I’ll instead move down the doc and write a tension filled scene that captures my attention and keeps me engaged even if it’s happening way in the future. It’s very easy to write when you have so many scenarios on the brain at least for me.

But keeping it up means having to write character or fact notes at the beginning of the fic so I don’t forget them and even writing plot points of things that need to happen at the beginning of every chap before I continue writing it. When I feel like I might be losing the thread of the story I just go back and read what has already been posted (and what stuff I might have forgotten about lol terrible memory here) and that will help keep me on track.But yeah it’s also very very important to take breaks.

This has been a huge undertaking and if I hadn’t allowed myself the time to rest when necessary I might not have felt inspired to keep going tbh so that has been a pretty crucial part to it. The interactions with the readers make it especially fun but I’m also very very careful not to get too reliant on the response/ comments because whilst great and encouraging and really makes it feel worth it- that’s not enough to keep me motivated. Every time I’m writing a story it’s for me and how everyone receives it is just a fun bonus at the end and that makes it very easy to focus on the journey/ joy of it rather than the end result (ie how quickly people get to read the chaps, many people engage with it and like it and comment and how many kudos it gets etc)

For a starting author my best advice would be to sit down and consider what you like to read first and foremost because I truly believe if you’re not being engaged by your own story it’s so much harder to even get the thing finished and you might not love the end result in the same way as you would if you were following what appeals to you about a story first. If you’re unsure of what you like in a story then you need to get reading!!! And start reading as much as you can from a range of different genres. It’s so so important to read if you want to be an author because the more you do the more obvious it becomes to you what can really work for a story and what doesn’t. Then it’s just about finding or creating a story that really speaks to you.

It’s like working a muscle honestly and you’re not going to build that muscle or finish the work out if you get bored in between it- the whole process needs to be fun for you not a chore!! My second bit of advice will be just to write as fearlessly as you can. You won’t learn how to be a writer or how to get better at it if you don’t first put something out into the universe (and that doesn’t even necessarily mean you have to share your first story if you don’t want I just mean you need to create it first). And you won’t do that if you’re too focused on making it perfect and trying not to fail. But you have to fail to write! You have to write cringy sucky stuff until you find you’re own groove and begin to develop your own skills and preferences in a story but if you’re too bogged down in the ‘making it perfect’ element you won’t write anything at all! So my second piece of advice is truly don’t be afraid to suck. Just finish your story and then wait for the next lot of brainworms to inspire you for another and then keep going!! Write write write!!

[1king-of-nothing1]

Hello everyone! How are you all doing? I'm feeling pretty good.

_______________

This is my first interaction with this app, and I'm a bit nervous.

If you haven't read the description yet, here's a quick overview:

This post is related to Bungo Stray Dogs. :)

It mainly serves as a space for me to ask a few questions. I've been wanting to write a male isekai reader insert set in the Bungo Stray Dogs universe, but I need your help to make it happen!

I've always wanted to write a fanfic, but I struggle to choose just one idea. I know that if I keep getting different ideas, I won't be able to start anything, so I'm asking for your opinions in this book, which is more like an idea gathering space. :)

First and foremost:

As I mentioned, I have multiple ideas that are too varied to fit into a single fanfic, even though they all share the same foundation—an isekai male reader who may or may not be a bit of a "dilf." In short, in an older mental age.

Bungo Stray Dogs needs some functional adults because, let’s face it, they all seem to be lacking in that department—along with a bit of common sense!

Please vote for the idea you’d like to see the most! Naturally, the one with the most votes will be the one I start working on fully.

Here are the ideas:

1. Chuuya's Clone Reader :

   In this scenario, you—dear reader—find yourself in the body of a clone of Port Mafia executive Chuuya Nakahara. The story will begin around the dark era of the series, possibly a bit before when Chuuya is 17.

2. Normal Isekai :

   In this story, it’s just you (although you may appear a bit younger). Keep in mind that the reader is mentally older. If you choose this option, please let me know where you’d like the reader to start:

   Port Mafia :

   The government :

   On the streets, living independently :

   The most realistic option for someone without an identity appearing out of nowhere but having something useful to offer. This story would also start with 17-year-old Chuuya and Dazai.

3. Arahabaki Reader :

   In this idea, instead of the reader simply getting a new body, the reader's soul becomes misplaced and comes into contact with Arahabaki's energy, resulting in a merging of sorts. So, you essentially become Arahabaki. This story will also focus on Chuuya and will begin at the end of Stormbringer. There will be some spoilers, but I’ll keep them to a minimum. Just know that Chuuya and Dazai are 16 in this scenario.

   (By the way, Chuuya is my favourite, if you can’t tell! I just recently read Stormbringer.)

4. Next Gen Reader :

   This idea is a bit ridiculous, but I find it quite funny! You will need to choose a Bungo Stray Dogs ship that you like, and the reader will be a mixed “abomination”—a fun child of sorts. This story will start at the beginning of the anime. It won’t necessarily be a ship-focused fanfic, and there won't be any “mpreg” (male pregnancy). The reader will simply inherit genes from two characters. The humour here comes from the outrageous theories the Bungo Stray Dogs cast develops about the reader's existence.

   No one has considered that the world is just messing with them again!

   This idea will be treated as mostly crack but with some serious elements.

   If you vote for this idea, please let me know what ship you prefer or just the two "parents" you’d like to see. The most requested duo will be the one I choose.

I want to add that I use the stories of Chuuya and Dazai to help clarify the timeline. They have the most straightforward events and years in Bungo Stray Dogs that I could understand. This way, we won’t get lost in the timeline, friends! :)

   If you choose the reader with an ability, please specify what kind of ability you’d like!

I really hope you’ll take a moment to vote so I can start planning for the fics.

____________

Thank you for your time, and good morning. Good evening, and good night! ;)

[shomatoriashi]

hi hi!! I just discovered you recently and I LOVE your content so much!! I really want to publish my own writings here on tumblr but I’m not really sure if I should.

If possible, do you have any tips for anyone wanting to make writing content like you do ?? Thank tou so much !!

Have a great day today and stay hydrated 🧋🎀

hey sweetheart! i just wanted to let you know that i'm so honored that you reached out to me. 🥹 thank you for enjoying my works as well!

advice / tips are under the cut if you're interested in my own thought process!

as for advice / tips for writing, my main advice is to always always always write for yourself! for me personally, i was a big reader of inserts, but slowly began to write when i couldn't seem to come across the stories i WISHED to read, but didn't exist.

hence why i got into writing, and you see so many stories on my page. 99% of the time, these are stories that are my daydreams come to life.

so first and foremost: ALWAYS WRITE FOR YOURSELF. if you have a scenario that's swirling around in your head and want to make it come to life, then make it come to life and be proud of your creation without the need to focus on how many notes it gets-

because i promise you, someone will find your stories and will fall in love with it and your style of writing ❤️.

secondly, build your brand / whatever you are most comfortable with. for me personally, i love using the simplistic designs that @/cafekitsune has while also making personal / simplistic banners of the love interests featured in my stories. doing this will catch a reader's attention, so do find what works best for you.

also, it's okay to take inspiration from other writers and how they format their stories, but don't blatantly take their designs verbatim. like in my eyes, it's 100% more satisfying to grab a reader's attention using your own designs / formatting that you came up with instead of copying someone else's.

and lastly: TAG YOUR STORIES! tags are immensely important to help with building up your own readers / following, because how can they read your works if they're not exposed to it? based on my own experiences, it's best to use at the max 20 tags (idk if tumblr has changed this, but i know that when i use tags that exceed 20, my post seems to be hidden hhhhhh) to put your works out there.

also, don't cross tag your stories! for example, if your story focuses on sylus and only sylus, don't feel the need to tag it under a different LADS love interest tag. some readers may not mind the cross tagging, but for me personally, i don't really like it and would much rather prefer to read such a story with the creator sticking to the sylus tags. i get that it's to get more interactions with it, but believe me, i'm sure that character already has hundreds of tags and hundreds of followers for that tag, so it's best to leave the tags related to the character that you're writing for specifically.

that's all the advice i have for you; and truly, just write and do what makes you happy. the more you write, the more you'll be able to find what kind of style works best for you. i hope this helps! and if any of you mutuals / other writers happen to read this ask, feel free to input your own advice, since everything that i am saying has been based on my own personal experiences 🥹❤️

[dreambunnynotes]

things to keep in mind before reading my blog:

1.) self-improvement is not a "one size fits all" experience. my strengths, barriers, methods, and goals are going to be very different from everyone else's, and the methods, routines, and lists i post might not always apply to your life and might not be relevant to your experience at all. i am in no way claiming that my way is the only way; self-improvement is a very personal journey and it is through self-discovery that we learn what works best for us, which i encourage everyone to seek on this beautiful journey! ❤︎

2.) on this same note, this blog is a personal blog which means that i am posting my own unique-to-me self-improvement experience and not necessarily posting with anyone else in mind. please use discernment and only take what inspires you, leaving behind what doesn't. i ask that you do not attack me for posting what i am currently working on in my own journey, unless i am being harmful and need criticism. i am trying to not worry about what other people think of me and focus on my own self-improvement and i encourage you to do the same; keep your body and mind healthy and safe first and foremost, always!

3.) i am very aware of how detrimental the toxic positivity and productivity culture are, especially in north america where i am from, and i try to walk a fine line between discipline and play. my current journey is primarily focused on building up tolerance to discipline and hard work. if you are at a point in your journey where rest and recovery from over-working are integral to your growth, my posts might not be applicable to you and that is totally okay! i respect and support your journey, and please know that my need to focus on hard work at this moment is not in any way an attack on where you are at in yours.

4.) it is very important to me that the health and beauty related information i share is scientifically accurate and is not cultural appropriation. if i post something that is incorrect, insensitive, or harmful, please let me know and i will make sure to edit or take down the post and learn from my mistakes! accountability is important to me and i am always open to learning more.

5.) i do not follow people under the age of 18. it is nothing personal against you if you are a minor, it's just that it is important for me to follow people who are at a similar place in life as me and to make sure that the friends i make are within my appropriate age range. however, all people are welcome on my blog and it will ALWAYS be sfw! when i was a minor on tumblr, it was very important for me to follow adults that i looked up to and who were safe and treated me with respect so that i could grow and learn; you are welcome here, and i will always try to treat you and everyone i interact with with the utmost care and respect!

with love, bunny ❤︎

[pinkmoondoll9shihtzu]

hi, im a mutual of yours who is too shy/on&off tumblr to interact, but i do look up to you; and your blog and way of seeing things helped me in the past when i was struggling quite a bit.

Lately I feel as if im lost in life, lost my passions and floating aimlessly without a real goal, detached from the future etc. Do you have any advice? I appreciate ur view on things, hope this isnt overstepping 🌦🌈

hi its ok no pressure too interact w me ona personal level just cus were mutuals i enjoy the ambient bonds that can form on this website its why i stay ^^ and no it's not overstepping at a;ll sorry it took me a lil while to respond i was trying to think of good advice since i often feel lost too---

well firs t n foremost to give credit where credit is due, this bjork reddit AMA response really gets to the bottom of it , ever since i first read this here on tumbr a few years ago it really rly stuck w me:

the way this answer helped me is like, it helped me realize i dont need to be so regimented i dont need to put all this pressure on myself to create..All that does is feed into self inflicted guilt when i cant live up to my own expectations u.u you see for my whole life i've never been able to plan anything. yes i can think about the next steps i want to take, i can assemble a plan, i can see the logical way forward, but my moods. or like, idek. how to explain..

i cant force anything. if im not feeling it, i cant force it. ive STRUGGLED w this like i dont wanna be this way. because my feelings i cant predict. like for example i worked on music all winter because thats what i was feeling. then suddenly in march i just like, wasnt feeling it all of a sudden. As soon as it hit me i was like Fy767*T&UG*** because i didnt know when it was gonna come back. i still dont know!! im just trying to be patient waiting it out..in the mean time i have suddenly become enthused with drawing again after not ~feeling~ drawing for most of 2023. sometimes i go for weeks where i dont take a single photo and then suddenly it starts flowing again.. my website was also left untouched for most of 2023 until recently.

thats just one example of this repeating pattern in my life that i didnt understand for so long. theres years of my 20s where i couldnt feel passion for anything at all, looking back now i believe those times i was meant to be focusing on stuff in my psyche that needed healing to clear out some headspace for art. and this bjork quote put a lot into perspective it showed me how to reformulate my thinking to be more accomodating to my disposition. when i'm patient & kind w myself, take each day as it comes, let go of the imaginary pressure, let go of "the future", stuff starts to come thru easier.

and maube its gonna show up in ways you dont expect but its true that the mundane world offers so many ways to practice being creative & giving u stuff to weave into the art u want to create.. every water fall starts w a single drop its trueits true :] thats my advice i spose i really didnt meant to write this much but im boooored.. actually my nighttime boredom writing is one of those habits i never considered to b creative until very recently. there's so many small & automatic things we do that can lead to a meaningful life & purpose.

thanks for the question anon i hope this helps in some way , this is whats helped me but everyone's process is different. and i still have moments where im like WTFFF is happening but its easier to ride it out now. i wish the same for you just give it time <3 thanks again xPmd9