#so i focused on their interactions here first and foremost

[elfelt-valentine]

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!!!!!

[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.

[countrymusiclover]

3 - A Sloan Date

Part 4

Feisty Coffee Girl

Running my fingers through my hair I chuckled nervously feeling my face turn red with the interns watching our interaction. “I guess I’m meeting you for the second time, Mark Sloan.”

My entire body had frozen at that moment. I reached into my pocket of my coat drawing out my phone. Scanning through my phone contacts I saw that the number had called me when I had picked up my daughter from school. “You've been blowing up my phone for almost two weeks.”

“I thought you would have called me back by now if you were interested and most people I’m with are typically interested when we first meet.” Mark responded to me shoving his hands inside his coat pockets.

Christina spoke up first behind us. “You know the Mark Sloan.”

“Not really. We only met one time when I worked at the coffee shop.” I corrected her statement before she assumed we had a long past together when we didn't.

Meredith raised a brow. “So how did you two meet?”

“He wanted a coffee and I gave him a scone recommendation. That was basically all.” I looked at the girl.

Izzie finally rounded the nurse desk grabbing me by the back of my jacket pushing me away from the coffee guy. “You listen here Mr. You stay away from her. She doesn't want anything to do with you!”

“Woah Iz dial it down a bit would ya. Nothing happened.” I pushed my way around her, not clear on what she was so pushy about. He was a guy that we were meeting for the first time. He couldn't wrong me from our first meeting.

Mark smiled at me, sending me a wink. “Don’t worry she'd have to let me take her on first before we could ever get serious.”

I felt my face turning red at his words and it only got deeper when our gaze locked onto the other. I didn't feel up to dating at the moment. I had my daughter to think about first and foremost before anybody else. “Mark, I'll at least take you up on your offer to buy me a drink.” I finally spoke towards the plastics surgeon.

“Y/n!” Izzie gasped in disgust.

Waving my hand at her I focused on Mark. “What time were you thinking or what time do you get off of work?”

“How about a quarter to never.” Izzir growled behind me.

Mark put his hands in the pockets of his dark pants. “I'd say around 7. Does that work for you?”

“That’s fine with me.” I replied back.

Someone cleared their throat behind him and we saw an older black guy standing before us. “Dr. Sloan can I see you in my office?”

“Sure chief. I'll see you tonight, feisty coffee girl.” Mark sent me a wink following him to his office on the next floor of the hospital.

Another doctor walks over to our group that had styled black hair and soft eyes that met in Meredith’s direction but says nothing for a few minutes. The man finally did say something to the group though. “So. Who’s the feisty coffee girl?”

“That would be me.” I raised my hand moving away from Izzie, extending my hand to the guy. “Y/n, Y/n Stevens .”

“Derek Shepherd. Nice to meet you. Uh I'm sorry but do you know the kid driving the wheelchair through the hospital?” Derek introduced himself before my eyes went wide, turning around on my feet.

I jumped backwards away from him when a wheelchair came running past us and I instantly saw my daughter being the one driving it through the hospital area. “Uh sorry but I have to go. I’ll see you later, Izzie. Eve!” Chasing after her it took me a good few minutes before I had caught up with her and we made our way home since I had to get ready for my date with a doctor.

“Why can’t I come with you?” Everly asked me eating her chicken bites that I had made for her in the oven.

Slipping on my tenna shoes I was standing in my bedroom with the door open so we could still talk. “Because where mommy is going tonight isn't a place for kids. Don't worry we will spend the whole day together tomorrow to make up for it.” I told my young child looking at myself in the mirror. I hadn’t been on a date in forever.

“I'll get it!” The doorbell rang with Everly opening it revealing Caroline who closed it behind her.

She sat her bag down searching for me. “Y/n, I want to see your outfit before the date tonight!”

“Does this look too simple? It feels too simple but we're just supposed to go out for drinks. I mean it isn't helping this is my first date since I had Eve basically but-” I was cut off with my best friend raising a hand.

She eyed my outfit, which was some ripped blue jeans and a light orange lace shirt that was short sleeved. I left my hair down where I had curled the ends of it to look slightly cuter. “You look cute and he clearly found you attractive in your work uniform so you shouldn’t have to worry.”

“Okay I’ll choose to believe you.” I smiled, calling my daughter over. “Everly!”

She ran over to me when I lowered myself down to a knee hugging her before I left for the evening. “Promise me that you will be super good for Caroline while I am gone.” She looped her pinky with mine and I did the same making our promise. The bar that we were meeting at was near my apartment building so I could just walk down there. Walking down a few different streets I entered the bar seeing Mark sitting at one of the bar tables.

“There’s my feisty coffee girl.” Mark smirked when I sat down on the barstool across from him sitting my bag on the edge of the table. His eyes scanned over me not dropping the smirk. “You look cuter than you did in your work uniform.”

I blushed, snorting out a laugh. “I would hope so, Dr. Sloan.”

“Dr. Sloan, you don’t gotta call me that when we aren’t in the hospital. We’re on a first name basis aren’t we?” Mark smiled with a waitress bringing over two shots of tequila.

Picking up the glass I corrected my last statement. “My bad, Mark. But if we’re on a first name basis, call me Y/n.” We both raised our shot glasses and downed the drink yet I scrunch my nose at the bitter taste not used to doing strong alcohol.

“You okay, Y/n?” Mark asked, seeing the reaction on my face.

Covering my face with my freehand sitting my glass down on the table. When I got pregnant with Eve I didn’t have my first real drink until the day she went to elementary school. “Sorry tequila ain’t my thing.”

“We can go for something lighter. I ain’t picky especially if we can meet up again.” He met my gaze, waving the waiter over to get some different shots for us. We had done about four or five different shots just talking about his job and my job.

I wasn’t sure if I could tell him about my daughter yet. Most of the time when I did guys pretty much didn’t call me back after the date or just left during the date. If it was just me and Eve for a few more years I’d be somewhat okay with that. “You really want a second date. I didn’t think a simple coffee shop girl would impress a plastic surgeon.”

“You’re not a simple coffee girl, Y/n.” Mark sat his glass down reaching for my freehand laying on the table intertwining his with mine. “There’s something about you that interests me.”

I blurted out the question feeling embarrassed the second I said it. “You aren’t just saying that so I’ll sleep with you?”

“I’ll prove it.” He responded quickly back.

A curious look crossed my face. “How ya gonna do that?”

“While we keep going out I won’t sleep with anyone else. I won’t even mention it unless you want me too. Does that seem fair?” Mark squeezing my hand waiting for my response.

Squeezing his hand in mine I agreed to the offer not knowing what I was getting myself and my daughter at some point into. “Sounds like an interesting challenge. I accept it.” The night ended with him walking me back to my building and nothing more.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[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

[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.

[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.

[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

[gotdamlost]

rp partners wanted

sup i'm bee. just another blog looking for long-term, rp partners who write with bts & like to chat ooc as well. i write on discord only & comfortably with those who are 21+. i am an enthusiastic roleplayer so i'd appreciate only reaching out if you feel like you can match that energy and if you'll actually communicate with me (not ghost). i become unmotivated going the whole nine yards with edits, playlists, pinterest boards, headcanons, etc. and then not receiving the same energy or effort back. i'm over doing all the work to get a plot going. i'd also appreciate if there's some understanding on with patience & response times. i am not a person who's chronically online, so my responses are not instantaneous. roleplaying is a hobby i am trying to maintain with a full schedule. i extend the consideration to all who may partner up with me.

you can read more about me & a detailed version of my preferences here. for a quick, simplified version, click below.

After reading feel free to like this post, drop into my IMs, or ask box to reach out for my discord tag if interested. If you've read this far, thanks for your time fr. hope to hear from ya soon!

currently: CLOSED FOR PARTNERS — feel free to like this post still / message, however! last updated: 12/12/2024

preferences

first and foremost, know IT'S OKAY TO SAY NO. its okay to say you do or don't like something. it's okay to say you are not feeling a plot or the vibes and discontinue interaction. people feel like just because we start plotting you're locked in. not at all. if i'm not a fit for you at any point just say so. i PROMISE you it's not gonna kill me or make me mad. in fact its better for everyone. people agree to be nice, because we exchanged discords and got so far. just be honest. it saves so much time. i enjoy: multi muse universes, world building (playing multiple muses), gangs/mafia, slice of life / romance (in moderation), friendships, sci-fi, fantasy, angst, found family, plots / AUs of media i’m familiar with. i'm selective with: school / university plots, fictional celebrity AUs, supernatural — i'm willing to listen to ideas if i won't write: supernatural ( vampire / angel+demon / zombies etc.), plots based on real world events ( COVID, etc. ), smut focused plots.

literate to adv. literate (para, multi-para, novellas possible) but i’m so low maintenance. my rule of thumb is matching my partner. you can find a writing sample of mine here.

at the point of plotting, if i don't hear back from you after a week, i'm dropping and moving on. if we get to creating a server and i don't hear from you after two weeks, i will leave the server. no hard feelings held, i just really want to write and it's frustrating to be ghosted even by well-meaning people. but you are always welcome to reach out and let me know if you'd like to continue or just mingle/chat!

i love collaborating with my writing partners. i don't like one sided plotting or hearing "that's fine!" "sure thats okay!" etc. i appreciate and want to hear your contributions to the plot as well.

I only write member x member. I don't mind writing as the members themselves or using them as faceclaims for OCs.

I feel like I can capture most of the boys in writing, except Taehyung. My aces are hyung line, but i'll play anyone. You can find the ships that I enjoy and am currently interested in exploring for plots here.

NSFW and dark plots i'm chill with, but don't interact expecting only smut. If it's part of the overall plot, sure, but I have comfort levels.

[kazeofthemagun]

Anonymous asked:

send 🍀 and i'll recommend an oc rp blog

Positivity meme

[.....Oh boy y'all already know where this is going]

[I legally cannot answer this without putting my bestie in the #1 spotlight, aka Bug aka @cursedfortune aka some other blogs I'll mention in a sec. Literally the most amazing person ever and one of, if not the best friend I've made here in my 4~ years of being on tumblr.]

[To preface, Bug's blogs post ns/fw so keep safe if that's not your thing/you're a minor, as well as heavy content to be expected from dark fantasy-themed muses. The details you'll find on the blogs themselves, so I'll refrain from wasting too much time when I could be getting to the JUICE 🥤.]

[The main, the OG, @cursedfortune . Bug's main OC, Mortem, is amazing in every way. Seriously. She's got it all. Looking for a strong, competent female character with an intriguing and compelling backstory sprinkled throughout the blog? They're your Bug. Fancy some in-depth exploration on blue-and-orange morality that transcends human understanding and puts in the forefront the often terrifying workings of balancing forces? They're your Bug. Really, those who have been here for any amount of time probably know but Mortem is Kaze's first and only ship but neither of us went into it thinking those two chucklefucks would catch feels in that way. In hindsight it makes complete sense, but here's the deal: don't begin your journey with this character solely to ship. It won't work that way - shipping needs chemistry first and foremost and female OC muses are already dealing with many users who go in with only the intent to write romance/smut and largely ignore what makes the character so compelling and unique in the first place.]

[Not to give lessons on tumblr etiquette, I'm sure y'all can understand 💜]

[Some other OC blogs of Bug's that I've interacted with a bit less but are nonetheless amazing:]

@bvd11975 That's not a spambot, baby. That's Nes, a special agent of an agency focused on paranormal investigation that plays a key role in Bug's overarching setting. Kickass character, design, story and personality-wise.

@ofmanytxngues A glorious force of chaos lmao. Not *that* Chaos, but uhh.. there's def A Wormy Boi (gender neutral) involved there somewhere. Marie is another character I haven't written with all that much and is on hiatus atm but I simply cannot not give her a shoutout while I'm at it. Marie and Ana riding an ice cream truck when?

Some others that are more WIP atm ^^ you'd have to approach Bug for them. (And their canons! But this is a meme for OCs specifically ;)

[NOW, to take a break from gushing about the best soup to ever soup and give due spotlight to others who 100% deserve it - keep in mind this is based on my interactions with them, as in, I am unlikely to shout out people I haven't written with or otherwise interacted with enough!! This is in no way personal, but rather a natural consequence since there are SO many amazing people and muses on tumblr. 😄]

@halfkuma and @knightshonour . Those two started out as iterations on the same character and evolved into separate people: also feature a healthy dose of secondary OCs and some canons. Rowan is a character I've fallen in love with (figure of speech) very easily since, well, I do happen to enjoy gloomy, doomed by the narrative warriors, and Soulsborne, very much. Halfkuma is a blog based around the Touhou universe with the mains, Roan and Touri, being bear yokai. (Half and full respectively). Furthermore, Slap himself is one of the chillest beans on here and is always a pleasure to talk to and meme with.

@hriobzagelthewanderer !!! Because how could I NOT. Kov is amazing and so is his muse. I was so surprised to see a figure from Polish (and generally Slavic + Germanic) folklore, that I essentially grew up reading about, transformed and adapted into an amazingly crafted muse. Hriob Zagel combines various mythologies + popular media inspirations into one giant (pun intended) goofball who is an absolute delight to see on my dash.

Aaand last but not least (for now!) Though I haven't interacted with her personally just yet, @hexenjagd . Obligatory shoutout to a dark fantasy/Elden Ring-based female OC with some of the most intricate yet well-flowing backstory I've seen on the site. Helena, the Witch-Knight, a person branded by the touch of Death and everything it entails within the setting. Definitely grimdark and macabre in all the right ways and I am here for it. 😎

[luftgames]

Using the four pillars of play in RPG design.

Talking aloud to myself here on how to design an RPG.

As designers, we want to have a game encompass everything. The intrinsic nature to add on more mechanics for more edgecases is inescapable - but it leads to a bloated mess that is unnavigable and unapproachable. The more the game bloats, the more errors wil creep in, and the harder the game will be to play. Not to mention the fact that the game in practice will on average be about 60% by the book and 40% homebrew, and in the moment judgements from the GM.

An example of design without boundaries.

...So what do we do? How do we set boundaries that will help deliver the RPG experience we want to create, without being too restrictive? The answer is quite simple: Consider the audience.

An RPG - or any game (or product) for that matter - should have a targeted audience or user experience. Why would you play this? How does it feel to play? Who wants that experience? And to help define that, I would like to use the "four pillars of RPGs" that I mused on before.

There can actually be a lot of pillars. Like a lot a lot - each game may make their own pillars for specific key elements.

All games have Roleplay, Combat, Exploration, and my handcrafted fourth, "Meta." All RPGs have these pillars in varied amounts, and players focus on them in different amounts as well.

A player who focuses on the pillar of Roleplay will be interested in character creation, sure, but the hook for them will likely be the art and setting of the system, giving their imagination fertile ground to play in in the first place. A player focused on Combat will be more concerned with the mechanics - how one goes about interactions and "winning" the game portions of an RPG. An Exploration focused player will equally be interested in both the setting and the mechanics needed to interact with it - their own character is almost ancillary to the point. A player focused on "Meta" is one who spends more time playing the game away from the table than at it. This is the player who theorycrafts, homebrews, and has thirteen new characters written up by the second session.

So lets give these pillar-players some quick names:

-The Roleplayer, who wants to tell their story.

-The Gamer, who wants to win a challenge.

-The Explorer, who wants to find an experience.

-The Metagamer, who wants a toybox to build with.

The MTG classic Timmy, Johny, and Spike trio can also work - Timmy is an Explorer, Johny is a Roleplayer, Spike the Gamer.

Our roles defined, how do they focus us in on the design front?

Let's start with the Roleplayer. They live for creative expression - they want a unique character with a unique story, living unique experiences. First and foremost, art will likely be their hook. Seeing a book on a shelf and saying "I want to go there!"

...But seeing as art is the packaging rather than specific design, let's start at character creation. For the Roleplayer, this should be robust, replete with options to express a specific character. Giving rules for backgrounds, a full set of skills, unique species complete with lore, etc. One thing I would specifically highlight would be giving a character flaws - either enforced or by choice. Giving a character a hangup is an especially juicy opportunity to have dramatic moments of either overcoming or failing due to a flaw.

Once the Roleplayer's character is created, it's time to play - and once again, the focus is on expression - so having many approaches to a problem is key. Sure, a fight might be a solution to a blockade, but so is stealth - and negotiations, and trickery, and going a different route, and and and... You get the point. Making a tool for every scenario is hard to do - and it puts a lot of pressure on the Game Master (if you have one) to be able to think on their feet - so when it comes to designing, a lot of the work comes down on the rules behind the GM's screen. Broad, flexible categories and tables that can be easily adapted to any situation the Roleplayer may suddenly think up. When they say "I want to drop a barrel on their head!" the GM needs the resources necessary to say "ah, yes, so that would be a difficult task with an improvised object, and will leave them restrained. Here's your roll."

Roleplaying in and of itsself is an important part of the Roleplayer's repetoire, but it is not the only thing. When designing for Roleplayers a robust system of speechcraft and influence is good, but is still secondary to having a system that is flexible over all situations.

A Roleplayer may or may not be a Bard. They would totally woo the dragon though.

Designing for the Gamer is simple enough. They play to 'win.' This is the person that skips over character creation to look at combat, then goes back to craft a barbarian specialized in in javelins because it's "optimal." They will put the actual moment-to-moment rules of a game to the test. Flexibility is less important than optimization, and they absolutely will call you out if something isn't balanced correctly. This is the player who wants spreadsheets, statlines, and the functional mechanics first and foremost. A description of Goblin society is far less important that their to-hit numbers and special moves.

And a Gamer is not limited to combat - they will want to win anything that has proper rules - as likely to create a master stone mason as a master swordsman, so long as there is a system of rules there - a "puzzle" to "solve." So designing for Gamers is a mater of making those puzzles - clear, up-front rules that work together well to present challenges directly to the players. While the Roleplayer requires GM-facing tables to handle creative solutions, the Gamer requires player-facing tables to figure out the logical solutions themselves.

"The Senator class gives me +2 against people with a different political alignment. Your move."

The Explorer isn't so singularly focused. The explorer isn't here to express themsleves or state their mastery, but are here to find things out. They love the "aha!" moments and shiny trinkets found at the bottom of deep wells. And as such, they may well take the most effort to cater to.

It may be counterintuitive, but the Explorer likes to not know things. While a Gamer prefers all the cards out on the table, the Explorer would rather figure them out by trial-and-error. So rules that can hide information from the players are important. Rather than revaling a map, have rules for map-making. Rules for identifying magic items. Monster descriptions to present, instead of a stat block to reveal. Doing all of this essentially doubles the writing, as you need both the functional and the descriptive angles of all things.

Rules that further complicate discovering things will also be intriguing to the explorer - an expendable torch mechanic when going underground, weather mechanics that complicate overland travel, exposure mechanics for hazardous areas and materials - overcoming these obstacles to plumb even greater depths is the ideal gameplay loop for the Explorer.

And that's before considering all the cool trinkets and baubles that a player will unearth during their explorations - a full catalogue of unique places and items should be held in reserve to ensure that there's always more to explore, and to explore for.

Why? Because it's there, of course. Why not?

And finally we get to the Metagamer. The gamer that plays away from the table as much as at it. The player who has a mounting pile of backup characters every single session. The player who loves to ask themselves "what if?"

This player loves all the rules, all the charts, and all the fluff. They resemble all three of the other players at points, but their focus is elsewhere. For them, the rules are a toybox full of interesting things to mash together. Character creation is less self-expression, more an experimental labrotory. Combat isn't a puzzle to solve, but a showcase to put the biggest, coolest thing in. A list of items isn't something to be discovered, but a catalogue of things to order.

The Metagamer cares less for the specific moment-to-moment gameplay or optimal solutions, but more for the thrill of making what could be the biggest or fastest or coolest things that could possibly be. So designing for enthusiastic Metagamers is less a choice of what systems are necessary, and more a practice at making sure that all systems are linked. Exploration can give things that are useful in Roleplay, and Roleplay effects Combat, and so on. A Metagamer will gleefully run away with the idea of fall damage being added to an attack, even if no fights ever happen at the bottom of cliff faces - merely because a 300-foot piledriver sounds awesome.

My next character is a cybernetic luchador bear that can deliver a flying lariat at mach two.

I would be remiss not to mention the Game Master as well - as the teacher, and most likely the purchaser of the RPG, they are the first player you must woo over to your system. But other than making sure the game is understandable and laid out in a way that is easy to reference, there's not really any focus to give to specific components - a GM may tend towards the "Gamer" or "Metagamer," but they are as likely to have traits from any of the player pillars. So to make that initial sale, the focus should be on clarity - "THIS GAME IS MADE FOR THIS PURPOSE." Once a GM knows what the game is about, they can then ask if it fits their style.

The magic that goes on behind these three panels...

Now, most players are a mix of these traits. Rarely does a Gamer not have an element of the Metagamer. Explorers can be as much a Roleplayer as a Gamer, and in certain scenarios players may be all four at once. But by choosing a pillar to focus on, or at least prioritise, we start to set our limits.

If a rule or system does not serve to cater towards our focus, and is not necessary for the game to function, it should not be given priority. Does a game for Roleplayers need a detailed list of poisons when a simple "poisoned" effect will convey the emergency? Does a system for Gamers need four pages of background lore? Do you really need that system for playing the stock market?

There is no perfect guideline for me to present here. But it is still good, every once in awhile, to hold your system at arm's length and say, "Who, really, is this game for? And does what I'm doing accomplish that?"

At the very least, it's helped me trim the fat a few times.

Happy creating, designers.