#the tags for this is longer than the post

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

Okay, so, while there is some overlap those are different things, and you shouldn't conflate them into one.

But also, those comments were left in response to a specific reply someone left that used a lazy and false stereotype about Welsh to justify why it wasn't important for Welsh to be included, and when gently corrected on it, they instead got defensive and doubled down and had a bit of a mini tantrum in which they insisted to me, a Welsh speaker, that they, an English person, knew more about my culture/language and its status than I did.

Now, I'm guessing I've been blocked by that person (which is completely fair enough, they can block whoever they like), because I can no longer see those replies. But I imagine you could find them if you wanted.

Either way, the quotes you've pulled there are specifically in the replies rather than the tags or the comments. A fairly big flaw of Tumblr is that it doesn't show you which version of a post a reply is attached to, which is certainly irritating for then trying to work out what the replier was actually reacting to. But in the case of this particular post, it barely has any notes, and you could have found the thread in question almost immediately by going through the comments and tags and viewing the reblogs that way. This is going to sound patronising, and I don't mean it to and apologise in advance, but I recommend in future that you try that first, rather than looking up some disconnected replies and just assuming they're about the OP rather than something later in the reblog chain.

Just had one of those emergency government alerts pushed through on phone to tell me there's a red warning been issued in my area for wind tomorrow

I have three observations:

1. I don't like to think about how many abuse victims just had their secret phone discovered by their abuser

2. They STILL haven't got a robot voice who can read Welsh, so fuck any blind Welsh speakers I guess

3. Not to downplay the severity of a red weather warning, but most people live through those and barely notice. Having a post apocalyptic government warning telling you to remain indoors and make sure you have torches really makes it seem much more dangerous than it's likely to actually be.

Anyway, I am apparently in danger of falling trees and big waves, so goodbye forever. It's been real, lads.

[anghraine]

It feels extremely silly that only today did I realize that pantry and panadería are slightly similar-sounding for a reason >_>

(The English word pantry is one of the many, many common modern English words derived from Anglo-French: in this case, panetrie, from Old French paneterie, "bread room" ... Spanish panadería also has a complex etymology, but all are related to Latin panis, "bread.")

[bread-is-my-life]

Fem stainmight 🔥🔥🔥

And some newer sketches lol

[sol-rambles]

might unhide from inside the tags :3

I primarily post longer au or analysis posts like these pro mawn zam aus 1 2 or this lil kab analysis.

Also like art and stuff, I tend to do traditional art more often than digital mainly just sketches and devotions:3. 1 , 2 , 3

Also I liveblog, mainly Zam streams, or Mapic whenever I catch him live :3. They're like my main povs usually, I also sometimes watch the odd pangi stream or like bacon.

Devotions enjoyer usually but like also mainly always. Check out my #freaks. tag for all devotions related stuff :3

you 🫵 yes you 🫵 lsblr ❤️⚔️ resident 🧍, what is your ecological niche?

(use this as a promo post whether you do liveblogs, reblogs, analysis, art, writing, webweaves, crafts, etc as well as say who you main, who you have brainworms for even if you dont post about them a lot, etc)

[madbard]

I have so many thoughts about post-canon human Loop, many of which revolve around their acting skills and adjusting to having a face again.

They got so used to fake-smiling during their loops but at this point it’s been… however many months where not only did they not have a mouth, they also weren’t talking to anyone but another version of themself. Not too hard to be mysterious and unreadable in that situation.

But for them to be human again and have access to the full range of expressions that come with that is such a funny idea for me because no way they are being mysterious now.

Imagine they’re traveling with the party and stumble across something triggering. The party asks them if they’re ok and they respond with the classic “I’M FINE (in severe distress)” Siffrin smile and everyone’s faces just drop.

Siffrin: “… does it really look like that?”

Odile: “Essentially, though this is somehow worse.”

Loop, hiding their face in their hands: “WHAT?!”

[djarins-cyare]

(Angsty) WIP Weekend

Thank you to the following lovelies for tagging me in various WIP posts over the past month (you are all wonderful 💚):

@ace-turned-confused @almostfoxglove @quinnnfabrgay-writes

@secretelephanttattoo @the-blind-assassin-12 @the-mandawhor1an

Once again, I’m humbly offering up a snippet because I’m still eyeball-deep in the writing stage of my (now several months late) Secret Relationship fic for the Roll-A-Trope Writing Challenge. It now stands at just over 57k words, but I swear I only have two more chapters to write. Happily, I have a whole 3 weeks off work over the holidays, so I’m aiming to release it next month.

I won’t bore you with why I had to expand it again, but let’s just say angst fans will be well-fed.

In fact, since my previous WIP offerings from this fic (see here, here, and here) have mostly been smut-adjacent, I’ve decided to give you a taste of the angst for a change…

(Sorry it’s shorter than my usual snippets; it’s tough to find a decent chunk I can share without spoiling anything)

You fight for a week. Each day, he comes over, imploring you to calm down, eat something, see his point of view. He tries every tactic – soft words, hard orders, pleading eyes – but every attempt only feels like salt in a wound that will never close. Each day, you hurl back insults, curses, and even whatever objects are within reach. A glass shatters against the wall near his head. A boot catches him in the gut. You hope each impact carries a fraction of the pain he’s inflicted on you. You scream a lot. You scream until your throat is raw and you taste blood. Sometimes, your screams are molten with fury, blistering the air. Other times, they collapse into broken, keening wails, your voice trembling with the weight of all the misery you can’t contain. You cry a lot. You cry until there’s nothing left – until the tears burn instead of soothe. The memories torture you whenever your eyes close, echoes of your dreams being torn apart in a single evening. With every tear you try to blink away, your losses replay on the back of your eyelids with excruciating clarity. Your body can’t handle the strain. Your hands tremble constantly, whether from exhaustion or rage, you no longer know. Your chest feels tight; every breath is an effort. Sleep offers no relief; it’s a battlefield of nightmares that leave you thrashing and gasping awake. Yet you don’t stop fighting. You can’t stop. It’s the only shield against the endless void threatening to swallow you whole. Fighting is all you have left now.

The high level of angst will be balanced by an equally high level of smut, don’t worry 😏. But the good stuff needs to be earned.

As usual, if you’d like me to tag you when I release the chapters, please raise your hand or communicate your wish however you see fit. You can also join my tag list if you like.

Apparently, Tumblr is now limiting the number of links per post, which includes tags 😡. Since my WIP posts aren’t particularly frequent, I always try to tag as many people as possible, so I guess I’ll just put them in a reblog…

[drag00ni]

hello! hope this is alright to ask but i was wondering if you have any advice on drawing armor? ffxiv is the first game i’ve ever been into with such detailed clothing; i’ve been trying my hand at drawing my characters but i’m still having trouble making everything look Correct. so would you have any pointers for simplifying things or breaking things down to better understand how the outfits work? if not no worries, i just love the way you draw armor and thought you might be a good source of advice! :-)

hi! this is absolutely fine to ask, no worries. I shall try to somewhat portray my way of thinking/working when drawing armor, and I apologize if I missed any points for this

I usually start drawing armor by drawing the body and then somewhat "pasting" it onto the skin. the important part is to understand the armor's shapes (use references!) and use 3D shapes to refine them in your art (the planes are very important). view the (ffxiv) character from different angles and watch how the shape forms around the body, and at what part of the body what kind of armor is used (like plates at elbow height, decorative spike somewhat in the middle of the arm, you can make up such pointers for yourself if you like)

(a lot of ffxiv armor is simply decorative with all the details but sometimes, if you feel fancy, you can watch out for things like belts holding certain plates together, or how one part inserts into another. which, again, may not always work for ffxiv armor. you could study real armor to get a general grip of How Things Work, and maybe also to get shapes down :) )

simplifying also works nicely, I do it a lot! and while my forms may need some work here and there (always some air up) they will really help to draw armor. I simplify by generalizing some shapes or "fusing" some together, leaving details aside and the like. if you want, you can also trace over a picture of the armor and fuse forms and leave out details, just to get the overall shape and silhouette down. often it works for me to draw with references once or twice and then drawing it from memory, but this is not something that must work for everyone, don't worry. <- this part may help you retain important parts of the armor while forgetting some details you can leave out. I like to simplify like that

another thing that helps me and makes armor look nicer is double lines. I use them when I want to indicate some detail or have certain spots that look nicer with them. honestly that one is just up to your tastes. double lines also help with indicating detail outside of armor btw!

the most important points: understanding of shapes (of the armor), understanding of planes (what plane faces which way and so on), reference and simplification by generalization. unless I forgot something.

apologies for the very long post but it seems I had a lot to say. hope this helps or at least gives you some more insight into how others draw armor! I am by no means a professional (yet) and you do not have to take these points to heart like some sort of instruction. experiment and see how you can make these things your own!

[nakylvr]

the legal katz reacting to tmasc reader doing the "a boy who's jacked and kind" trend with them ?? 🙂‍↕️

- 🦖

i had to look this up...embarrassing. also i only did the oldest 3 cause these came out longer than i thought...sorry 🙏

warnings/tags: fluff, established relationship, tmasc!reader, lightly suggestive content, tiktok trends

sophia

sophia isn't really one to suggest doing trends with you, nonetheless filming it and posting it on social media. but, when her feed brings her across this, she is instantly asking you to do it with her as soon as she sees it. it's late into the night, and you're half asleep when she nudges you. "yn, look at this," she tells you before showing you her phone with the video playing. "mm," you hum, nodding your head as you lean your head on the pillows. "cool." you mumble, closing your eyes. "i was thinking you could do it with me," she tells you. your eyes open when she says that, sitting up and resting on your elbow. "you want me to do it with you?" you repeat. sophia nods her head, and you let her drag you off the bed and standing up. "just lift me onto your shoulder at the cue, okay?" she sets her phone on her dresser, pointing it at you two and walking back to you. you nod your head, putting your hands on her waist and waiting for the cue. when the cue was given, you swiftly lifted the filipina up onto your shoulders, smiling softly at the camera, not noticing the look on your girlfriend's face. the filming ended and sophia looked down at you with a red face. "you can put me down now, honey," she says. you put her back down onto the ground, fixing her hair that got a little messed up. "did i do okay?" you ask her, glancing down at her. "yeah, yeah," she nods, clearly not fully listening. she knew you were strong, obviously. but the way you were so easily able to lift her up onto your shoulder had her feeling a whole different way. "let me post it and then we can go to bed," she says, pecking your lips before going and grabbing her phone. you nod, already going back to the bed when she slides in beside you, posting the video and then setting her phone down.

manon

it was actually you who brought it up to manon, seeing the video on your feed and asked her to do it while she was doing her makeup. you stand behind her as she sits at her vanity, leaning down and resting your chin on her shoulder which has her pausing to look at you through the mirror, knowing you want something. "what, baby?" she says. "i wanted to ask you somethin'" you reply. "you know that trend that couples are doing where the guy lifts his girl onto his shoulder?" manon raises an eyebrow, turning now to look at you fully. "yeah," she nods. "i was wondering if you wanted to do it with me," you smile a bit at her. a smile curls on manon's lips at your request, nodding again. "yeah, of course." you're practically grinning as you set your phone up, setting the timer for it to start and walking back to your girlfriend. "you ready?" you ask her, securing your hands on her waist. "yep," she smiles at you. it starts recording, and when it gets to the cue, you quickly lift manon up off the ground and onto your shoulder, both of you smiling at the camera as it stops filming. "thank you so much, baby," you say as you set her down, kissing her lips quickly. "you'll let me post it, right?" manon giggles at your excitement, nodding her head at your question. "of course, you know i would never miss the opportunity for my love to show off his strength," she smiles at you. "you better tag me, though. i don't need girls thinking you're for sale." her hands move up your chest to your shoulders. "well, of course," you say, wrapping your arms around her. "you know i'm only yours. for now and forever." the smile on her face grows bigger at your words. "yeah, for now and forever." she repeats.

daniela

daniela loves doing trends with you, whenever she sees one she is always asking you to do it with her, and you always agree. so when she saw this one, she was instantly running to you. you were in the middle of playing the last of us when she sat down beside you. "baby, can you pause the game or something?" she asks. "huh?" you let out, glancing over at her before back at the screen in front of you. "what's up?" you continue playing. "i wanna film this with you," she shoves the phone in front of your face, playing the video. you pause the game when the phone fills your line of sight, watching the video before looking over at her. "you want me to do that?" you question. "yeah!" she smiles at you. "okay," you shrug. it couldn't be hard, you assume. getting up off the couch, you follow daniela into the bedroom where she sets up her phone and then walking back over to you as it starts recording. "it's okay if you can't do it y'know," she teases lightly. "ha ha, very funny," you reply sarcastically, rolling your eyes. "yeah well remember when-" she's cut off of her words with a yelp of surprise when she suddenly feels her feet being lifted off the ground and she's now on your shoulder, her eyes going wide. her face immediately turns red, not even looking at the camera, instead looking down at you while you grin and give a thumbs up with your free hand to the phone as it stops recording. you put her back down onto her feet, chuckling at the look on her face. "what? you surprised?" you tease with a smile. "no," she shakes her head, her hands moving to wrap around your neck. "i'll post it later, i think we should indulge in this strength of yours." you raise an eyebrow at her, your smile growing as your hands rest on her waist. "oh really?" you say, tilting your head to the side. "yeah," she nods before leaning in and kissing you.

[amphitriteswife]

Next level

Tagging: @yue-yolk

Warnings: Nsfw

Note: shit post

Pairing: Jaegyeon na x reader

.

.

.

Jaegyeon gripped his steering wheel tightly. It was late in the night, yet no sign of the city dying down. That’s Incheon for you, always busy and full in swing. He drove along side the busy streets, flashy bright lights along the roads and the sight of the night clubs coming out from their hiding spit emerged in his vision. He sighs. He hated you, has he ever told you that? You’re so irresponsible. You always act to high and mighty around the other kings. You fight so well and conquer every city you can. You can have it all yet you chose not to just because it takes too much work? And what do you do instead? Party. You party and drink, you meet some guy and flirt, or not. Jaegyeon parked his car far away from the busy red light streets. He doesn’t want anything to happen to Initial N after all. His hand twirling the keys around his fingers while he walked up the street. He doesn’t even know these clubs. They’re probably all boring anyway. Why do you go to these places? You can do so much better. He let out another sigh before walking down the stairs to the club. The hostess by the stand already pointing to your booth. His steps feel heavy. The dim light and loud atmosphere is making him a little irritated. He could see your silhouette from the distance. Lace dress, high heels, make up, loose hair. You’re always so different than when you fight. You’re cold, mean, strong and business like. But now, seeing you in a booth with other girls and boys, laughing while you drink some cheap alcohol one of those randoms bought you, the way you laugh at them. It seems so strange. Yet it’s not new to him no matter how many times he has seen it before. It’s always the same old song with you.

He looks at you, then your table, then the others at the table and back at you. You tell them you have to go and the people in your booth all whine, telling you you can stay a little longer, have another drink, it’s all fun. You tell them no in a half joking voice and grab Jeagyeon by the arm. You cling to his side and he guides you to his car. He talks to you once again. His hands on your frame to keep you from stumbling, you flirt with him, forgetting that the two of you hate each other’s guts. You say you’re cold and lean into his body, your hands brushing over his chest and shoulders. Your sweet voice fills his ears telling him everything he wants to hear from you. You tell him a bunch of lies. Well, maybe half lies. He tries to get you to sit in the car and buckled your seatbelt then walks to the driver’s seat, after Jaegyeon takes his own seat he already noticed that yours is off again, he watched you comes closer to him and sit in his lap. He sighs for the 3rd time that day. He holds you by the hips again and tells you no. You lean into his face and kiss him, he lets you kiss him. He lets you suck and lick his lips. He lets you open up his mouth to let your tongue slide in. He allows it and kissed you back, he knows he shouldn’t, but he’s still doing it. You grab his shirt and pull it off his body, he breaks the kiss and lets you sit in his lap while he drives you to the nearest yet best hotel he knows. He once again books the same room, same floor, same number, same service he always gets when he’s with you. He guides you to the room, you pull him into the bed, he obligates and pulls up your dress. You undo his pants and let it fall to the ground, he gets on top of you and you giggle. It’s always the same. The same thing you have been doing for some years. He kissed you once again. You kiss him back. The bed creeks. The voices are loud. The time is forgotten, the hate is not there. His breath is ragged. Your hair is disheveled. It’s not love making. It’s far from it. It’s just something the both of you do. You’re not lovers. Not even friends. Just some fuck buddy. You call, he picks up, you kiss, he kisses back. You tell him to go faster, he picks up his pace. He doesn’t remember how many times he did it with you, nor the positions. All he remembers is him fucking you and you fucking him. He remembers the way you kiss him and the way you kiss back, the taste of your spit intertwining with his. Him pressing you against the mattress, he puts up your legs and pounds into you for the millionth time while he moans out your name. He fucks you like you’re his girlfriend, but that’s not what you are. And you kiss him like he’s you’re boyfriend, which isn’t what he is.

Jaegyeon lost his interest in other women a long time ago, but he doesn’t know if the same goes for you. It’s all just raw, passionate and quick sex. It’s not boring, it’s fun. It’s amazing. He loves it. But that’s because it’s with you. Even now when he’s laying beneath you, his hands behind his head while you sit on top of him, your back against his legs and touching his body. Your hands touching his abs and then his chest. He still feels the same way as 4 years ago.

‘Don’t you ever want to be more than just this?’

Is what he asks. You laugh and don’t really give an answer, the two of you fall asleep, then you wake up, then you kiss once again. Then it’s turns into something more before he checks out the hotel and drives you home. The next time he meets you is with the other kings and it’s all back to normal. No word of it or what happened. Back to two people who can’t stand each other and back to two people who stil haven’t confessed only to be stuck in one big cycle.

[toeskater91]

Stobotnik Fic Recs

For a moment of positivity and sharing, see below for 10 Stobotnik Fic recs.

No fics in this post relate to the Sonic 3 movie.

Please make sure to take note of the tags and ratings if you click through to AO3 to ensure full positive curation of your reading experience. The recommendations vary from General up through Explicit ratings.

Doctor Robotnik makes good on his promise of being home by Christmas - it just took a little longer than expected, and home turned out to be someplace he hadn't considered.

Post Sonic 1 movie fic and Christmas/Holiday themed! I adore this one so much, I've re-read it so many times. The Doctor makes his way back to earth slightly before Christmas and ends up on Stone's new doorstep. The mortifying ordeal of being dependent on your former Agent and navigating how to handle the joy and boundaries of your boss you've greatly missed unexpectedly returning.

"I was actually happy when I found out what had happened to you. I looked you up against my better judgment, fully expecting you to have moved on immediately. Agent Stone, consummate professional, busy making lattes for some other genius." Stone snorted. "My number one attribute, huh?" "You know it. Only reason I kept you around," Robotnik said quietly.

Post Sonic 1 movie fic. Stone ends up imprisoned and Robotnik makes his way back to Earth with a side of rescue. I adore this one a whole lot and the Stone POV throughout is gorgeous.

You have that fanfic or series that takes a passing fandom interest and then once you read it, that interest is now stuck in your brain forever because of how profound an impact it had on you? That's this series and why my Stobotnik spiral really went into play.

It starts pre-film canon and goes through both both Sonic 1 and Sonic 2, then creates its own path for post Sonic 2. It provides such in-depth characterization and growth to both Stone and Robotnik as people and their relationship, its beyond amazing, especially how it weaves into the films as well. Total series is 286k words and my god, it is so, so, so, so, so worth the read. And the 16 parts allow for pacing and breaks.

The Doctor works himself to pieces each time he completes a project. His Agent puts him back together. A reflection on the creation-destruction process, homemade bread, and the intricate rituals of it all. (a.k.a. take an allegory, beat it dead.)

Pre-Canon / No Sonic movie direct interactions. Do you have that fic, that after you read makes you just sit there because of how profound and deep it hit you in your core? That you just sit there in wondered silence as you try and wrap your brain around it? That's this fic, the amount of pieces from the various chapters I want to quote and keep with me forever. The codependency between these two tied into the creative process of the doctor and its aftermath, beyond amazing.

In the process of removing the master emerald from Robotnik, Knuckles and Tails accidentally knock it into Stone's orbit. Or - in which Stone gets a turn with the emerald after Robotnik, and the two them have some time to chew the scenery (and also take out so many G.U.N. goons), because we deserved to see them fight side-by-side longer.

Sonic 2 canon divergence, Stone gets to take a spin with the emerald. Love to see our Agent get a turn to be awesome and deadly.

Before he even met Doctor Robotnik, Agent Stone understood the undeniable rules of being his, and truly, he was his. There was a sense of belonging that came with being around the Doctor as a whole, and it was not one of compassion or comfort like one may feel in a domestic partnership. No, from the briefing he had been given on Robotnik, Stone understood that he would no longer be property of the government once he was assigned to him. Instead, he would be Robotnik’s and Robotnik’s alone, no longer his own, yet nothing to Robotnik either. To the Doctor, he was an object to use and dispose of as he saw fit, and most days, even less. That was rule one.

Pre-Canon / No Sonic movie direct interactions. This fic has amazing pacing and growth. Starts with Stone beginning to work for the Doctor and how they change and grow as his time in this role extends on. This is a beautiful fic that I've given several re-reads. This has some amazing banter and attitude from them both.

Robotnik's very first romantic attachment left him bruised and apathetic towards the concept as a whole, warping his own perception of what it means to take part in any kind of emotional relationship. Thirty years later, he takes a chance on Agent Stone who, with patient hands and raw physical attraction, slowly coaxes Robotnik out of his cybernetic shell and into a whole new world of surprisingly mundane exchanges. Or: that one series where they date like normal people rather than the top secret government assets that they are while making a mockery of the entire country.

Pre-Canon / No Sonic movie direct interactions. I adore this series and how the author portrays Stone and Robotnik. How they growt throughout their relationship and the way they communicate and play off each other is wonderful. Part 5 is Christmas/holiday themed as well.

This is about a lot of things. This is about names and what they mean, this is about the weight of inheritance, this is about bakeries and newspapers and coffee. About homes and lawns and demolished grain silos. This is about a building in Northwest Oregon. This is about Robotnik. This is about Stone. Alone together. or: in less flowery language, its a series of snapshots of robotnik's lab across the years. the way robotnik used to be very alone in it, and the way he eventually wasn't.

Pre-Canon / No Sonic movie direct interactions. This is such a uniquely structured fic, bouncing through multiple times and building the history of the land where the lab that the Doctor works in will / does stand and how they come to work together

Stone's primary objective in life is to keep Robotnik safe and alive, at any cost. Time to find out what the universe is charging him.

Sonic 2 fic with Canon Divergence. Time travel and loops where Stone is determined to ensure the doctor is safe and he can protect him. The time loops and travels are done in such an amazing way as Stone keeps trying, trying, trying. Has a happy ending.

A Doctor for Christmas: The (Not A Hallmark Movie) by EmperorHaruhi

When (former) Canadian hockey player Aban Stone and (current) German Doctor Ivo Robotnik are trapped together in the town of Green Hills, Montana, three days before Christmas by an ice storm, the pair butt heads almost immediately. Can Stone melt the doctor's icy exterior and find the man lurking within? Will Robotnik discover Stone's dark secret, and how will he react? This Christmas, the Hallmark channel (does not) present: A Doctor For Christmas - An international, multi-lingual rom-com for the ages.

Hallmark movie Alternate Universe (AU) fic. This one is beautiful and such a fun spin on these two meeting as strangers thanks to the airlines being struck by the effects of winter weather.

[glisten-inthedark2]

Ruthlessness, Get in The Water

Posting this because I just saw your reblog @rin-solo and I need to ramble for a bit. I don't think we've talked about this before, but to address Poseidon's obsession with Odysseus, can we talk about this?

In Ruthlessness, Poseidon wants to teach Odysseus a lesson, he's angry and all that, but his approach to the situation is:

"You hurt my son, then you didn't kill him, now I'm here, I'm teaching you a lesson, and I'm going to kill you now".

That pretty much sums up his first appearance and his character at the beginning of the journey.

Now, in Get The Water, Poseidon's entire tactics and behavior changes so much that the first I heard I got a whiplash.

Because like you said, it's clear that he feels something because he's not getting there and getting the job done.

Instead, he tells Odysseus to get in the water. He tells Odysseus to choose to die. He's like:

"Choose to die, choose to yield to me OR I'll destroy everyone you care about and that you love".

And he's adamant about it too - he holds his bargaining chip and uses because he needs to see Odysseus die, but he needs Odysseus to choose to die and not only die, but die under Poseidon's domain and under his control.

Is almost like he's saying: Yield to me. Yield for me.

So what in the world changed?

Why is this mortal that escaped your wrath so under his skin? Because there's no way that someone that in their first meeting just wanted to make a point and kill directly doesn't feel something when later on, when presented with the opportunity, would rather want to see the other die and yield themselves

Is like you said in your reblog of that post you tagged me in, he doesn't talk about Polyphemus because that's no longer the issue at hand, this is about him now.

Poseidon even claims that he can't allow the world to forget is cold, but was there any chance of that actually happening? Now, this part gets into more a headcanon territory but I just feel like is canon at this point too so –. Whatever Poseidon must've feel, is the opposite of cold.

I'd wager that he feels too much and for someone who's uncaring, that probably trigger his rage even more. Maybe that's also why he was triggered when he noticed himself becoming more vulnerable to Odysseus, because he was already at a state where he was dealing with things he hadn't dealt with in all of his existence.

It'd explain why he got so angry, why he dropped the choose to die thing and even more than that (and this was probably the strain in Steven's voice but the maybe not idea is what gets me) why his voice cracks on the die.

[starlightomatic]

I clicked on my christmas discourse tag and found the following post, which I'd responded to at the time. I no longer like my old response, but cannot reblog it again as I was blocked like OP promised, so instead I'll respond here. I did not waterboard the post as my intention isn't ridicule, so I've dunked it in some green elixir instead.

I think OP is missing several things.

Firstly, their premise is... bad. It completely elides the power dynamics in a Christianormative society between Christians/cultural Christians and members of minority religions.

Secondly, people being pressured or shamed for not celebrating Christmas (whether that's snide comments and disrespect, or expectations of performing Christmas at work, eg in retail), is a real thing, whereas "non-Christians being shamed for celebrating" is... not (unless OP is speaking in an intracommunal Jewish context, but I assume they are not). So we're starting out with a strawman out the gate.

Thirdly, I think it really misunderstands posts like this, whose thesis is not "people who celebrate Christmas in a secular manner are wrong and bad" but rather "please stop using 'Christmas is secular' as a means to erase its origins and pressure us about it."

And also "there is a core of this that is Christian that does not need to be an issue for secular celebrators, but is an issue for many Jews."

I understand that a lot of people are challenged by that second implication so I will attempt to frame it a little more. I am not saying that a person who celebrates only the cultural aspects of Christmas is engaging in theological activities without their own knowledge. What I am saying is that Christianity comes with a set of connotations and associations for many Jews, namely our history of persecution by Christians, as well as some deep theological incompatibilities, and from the perspective of many Jews, Christmas is not really separable from this relationship, and we don't have any particular motive to separate it.

It is not that I am attempting to assign a religious identity to every person who puts up a Christmas tree; rather, that the discussion among Jews about whether to celebrate Christmas occurs in relationship to our history not only with Christianity but with our value of keeping our culture going by not assimilating. For various reasons, Christmas specifically has become an avatar in this that other holidays like Halloween largely have not.

In light of the Christian history of violent attempts to convert us (and many other peoples across the globe), and centuries of violent and oppressive treatment as punishment for our refusal to become Christian, putting any kind of pressure on us to participate in Christian celebrations come off very badly.

Which means that the fourth thing that OP missed was that "it's bad when it gets forced on people" was not an afterthought or "bad-faith response" but rather the entire thesis of the posts they're upset about. The entire point.

So to recap: No one is trying to say that people who celebrate only the non-religious aspects of Christmas are wrong, or bad, or don't exist. If this is the takeaway it is a failure of communication. There are many secular Jews who celebrate Jewish holidays in ways that align with their secularism, so this isn't a foreign concept to us.

More under the cut:

As well, there are Jews who celebrate Christmas, but the majority of them do so because they were raised in, or are currently part of, multi-cultural homes where another family member has brought Christmas to the home -- rather than because Christmas is universal.

Now, OP did not explicitly say they are equating Christmas being secular with Christmas being universal, but they implied it in their last line. This, actually, is the main issue with their post. Because whether or not Christmas is secular actually seems to be a red herring, the question at hand is whether it's universal. They are implying that maybe it is, if 80% of the non-Christian world celebrates it. The idea here is to eschew the claim that Christmas is associated with any particular culture; no, it's not a Christian holiday, it's a humanity holiday! It's for everyone! Stop being a Grinch.

And this is why the project to separate it from Christianity becomes relevant again: It's no longer fashionable to say that everyone should be Christian, so let's instead put that idea in sheep's clothing and substitute Christmas instead. It's the same thing, but now it looks innocent.

And, wait a minute, is it even true that 80% of the non-Christian world celebrates Christmas?

I clicked through the link OP provided, and found that, first of all, it only applies to the US.

And, second of all, the number for Jews is only 32%.

I clicked through to the source on that, and it's the classic: Pew's 2013 "Portrait of Jewish Americans." I found the relevant data:

And noticed a pretty big discrepancy between those in intermarriages and those not. It turns out, only 7% of Jews who are married to other Jews have a Christmas tree in their home. Let's be clear: This post is not a judgment in any direction on the choices of who to marry or whether to put a tree in your house. Rather: I am attempting to complicate "80% of non-Christians celebrate Christmas" with the data that only 7% of households with two Jewish spouses are doing so. Which... implies that American Jews, on the whole, do not see Christmas as universal.

And what about that 29% of unmarried Jews?

Well...

25% of Jewish American adults have a non-Jewish parent. We don't know what percentage of them grew up with a Christmas tree in the house but our closest approximation is the data about Jews with non-Jewish spouses (even though both sets of data are from 2013 so we're talking about different generations), so let's assume it was 71%. That would mean 18% of Jewish adults grew up with a non-Jewish parent and a Christmas tree in the house. Which accounts for the majority of that 29%. Of the remaining 11%, we can imagine that some proportion of them are living with non-Jews in a context other than marriage (eg in a relationship and living together, roommates, etc).

What we can conclude is this: Most Jews who celebrate Christmas do so with a non-Jewish family member. Thus, I believe that the opinion that Christmas is universal is one that is not held by the vast majority of Jews. Which means the OP's 80% statistic does not serve to prove its universality.

It is of course possible that I am reading in a connection between secular and universal that OP genuinely didn't intend, and their 80% statistic is truly only about showing that the cultural aspects are adoptable by non-Christians. If so, that is better, but I still don't think the statistic is doing what they think it is. Different religious groups have different considerations as well as different relationships with Christianity, and may not see engagement with Christianity as theologically and historically problematic the way many Jews do. That is to say: it doesn't mean Christmas isn't Christian.

[starburstminibot]

Hey, anon who asked bout the "how things were before Breakcheck was born"

First of all: I read the tags, don't ever apologise for info dumping, I love the dump and will eat it all. I am thoroughly enjoying this au and would love to read/see more of it

Secondly: It's quite alright for not doing art, as much as I do enjoy your art very much and love to see how you draw these characters, I also very much enjoy reading about it

Thridly: You are so right, the writers dont know shit and you get it alot mlre, and i LOVE how you are writing the issues between the 'Cons and 'Bots. Like there is sooo much they just, didn't explain. Megs being the one to become good and the other cons are left to be the bad guys??? PUH-LEASE

And even if they were to no longer be the bad guys, there is SO MUCH to their relationship that is skimmed over, like, c'mon

Anyhow, eating up your au OP. Breakcheck is best boy and I love seeing this goober and his story on my feed, writen or drawn out

Do not give me permission to yap bc i will not stop and you will regret it I promise /lh

IM SO FERAL??!>{£|! OUGHH IM SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT SO MUCJ BC IM GOING INSANE THINKING ABOUT IT

Also… I’m going to give possibly a hot take and it’s that Earthspark genuinely pisses me off sometimes. Because how dare they introduce such an interesting concept of a post-war setting with a redeemed Megatron and complex Decepticon/Autobot relationships and expect me to care about the Terrans.

I still like the Terrans, i think they are so silly goofy, and I like the idea of new characters to explore. But THE BACKGROUND PLOT IS SO MUCH MORE INTERESTING TO ME. The human alliance that turned out to be anti-cybertron??? Mandroid literally killing bots and experimenting on them?? grimlock getting mind controlled and having ptsd??? The rest of the Decepticons fighting for power and seething in rage of their leader’s betrayal??? Megatron trying to navigate his new life while being repentful of his past actions while also not crumbling under the guilt of his mistakes??? The fact that they are stranded on an alien planet and can’t go home?????? STARCREAM’S ABUSE GETTING RECOGNIZED????

they keep introducing these really interesting plots and then abandoning them for the sake of the Terrans getting more screentime.

I think these things would be easier to juggle if there weren’t so many of them tbh. I would rather just have Twitch and Thrash be these new Cybertronians that can guide the viewer through these complex plots because like us, they weren’t around for the war. They have a fresh untainted perspective on life.

(Dont get me wrong, I love Hashtag, JB, and Nightshade, but sometimes it feels like there isn’t enough screentime to flesh them all out and they end up getting characterized to one singular trait) (if all of them are around, I would rather them have their own focus show without the background plots of Optimus, Megatron, Bumblebee, ect.)

Also they are REALLY trying to hit the family theme over our heads. They keep saying “family this family that” but deadass they talk about being a healthy family more than they actually act like it. Show me how much they love each other instead of putting it in every other line of dialogue.

Ok that is all, I didn’t mean to go on such a rant LMAO. I still like Earthspark, just sometimes it feels like they are trying to be two different shows and they are stuffing more into the plot than they have time to flesh out. (Breakdown, Starscream, and pretty much all the Decepticons deserved better)

[starealm]

Cursed To Slay

SUMMARY: nico pissed off drew, so she put the worst curse on him: ✨glamour!✨

WORDS: 2,510

TAGS: fluff, lowkey gender identity questioning (like when you squint), boys kissing, one shot, canon compliant, leo shows up at the beginning (!!!), permanent makeup, boy in makeup

inspired by this post

─── ✹ ───

The first inkling that something was wrong came as Nico di Angelo made his way toward the pavilion for breakfast. Campers turned to look at him—not the usual fleeting glances he’d grown used to as the son of Hades, but lingering stares that prickled at the back of his neck. Some even whispered to each other, their voices too low to make out. A knot tightened in his stomach. He’d endured plenty of stares over the years, but this felt different. 

As he passed a group of Demeter kids, they giggled, their heads ducking together like they were sharing a private joke. Anxiety flared, and he snapped at them. “What?”  

They froze, wide-eyed, before muttering hasty apologies and scattering like startled birds. The interaction left him even more unsettled. His discomfort grew with each step, his shoulders hunching as he tried to ignore the attention that seemed to follow him.  

“Chico Nico!”  

Leo Valdez’s cheerful voice rang out, cutting through the tension. The son of Hephaestus jogged up, slinging an arm around his’s shoulders with his usual casual ease.  

“Hey, Valdez,” Nico muttered, shrugging off Leo’s arm.

“Ay, still so distant. At least call me—whoa!” The Latino’s words faltered as he leaned closer, studying the younger demigod’s face with a tilt of his head. Then he whistled, his grin widening. “Looking sharp today. What’s the occasion?”  

“What are you talking about?” Nico asked, frowning.

Leo gestured vaguely at Nico’s face, his expression equal parts amused and impressed. “The makeup. Got an anniversary? Or are you just trying out something new?”  

The son of Hades froze. “What makeup?”

“Uh, all of it?” Leo tilted his head. “Or are you telling me you just woke up like this?” He laughed lightly, but Nico didn’t share his amusement.

Panic rose in Nico’s chest. Without another word, he bolted toward his cabin, ignoring Leo’s confused shout behind him. His heart pounded as he slammed the door shut and rushed to the bathroom. Flipping on the light, he stared at his reflection.

His stomach dropped.

Leo wasn’t joking. 

Smoky eyeshadow framed his dark eyes, sharp eyeliner accentuated their intensity, and his lashes looked impossibly long and thick. Highlighter shimmered on his cheekbones, making them look sharper than ever, and his lips were painted a deep, rich burgundy, completing the look. The makeup wasn’t subtle or understated. It was full glam and flawless, as if applied by a professional.  

“Tanaka,” he snarled, his hands gripping the edge of the sink. 

It could only have been Drew Tanaka. He’d bumped into the daughter of Aphrodite on his way to breakfast, and their brief exchange had been anything but friendly. Of course, she’d curse him over something as petty as telling her the truth. Immature as always.  

He stared at his reflection, the weight of the situation sinking in. No wonder everyone had been staring. A boy in makeup? This was practically begging to be laughed at. He felt his stomach churn with humiliation. As if being gay and the son of Hades wasn’t already enough to ostrich him, now he had to look like a girl too?

“This is so embarrassing,” he muttered. “How long is this supposed to last?” He splashed water on his face, scrubbing furiously with soap, but the makeup didn’t budge. Not even a smudge. It was as if it had fused to his skin.  

He groaned in frustration, leaning heavily against the sink. There was no way he could go out like this.

And yet, as his gaze lingered on his reflection, a small, treacherous thought crept into his mind. The longer he looked, the less horrified he felt. The makeup… didn’t look bad. He… actually looked nice. The eyeliner made his eyes look even more striking, and the lipstick gave him an air of elegance he’d never associated with himself before. 

‘No,’ he shook his head violently, as if trying to dislodge the thought. ‘This is ridiculous. Makeup is for girls.’

Running a hand through his messy hair, Nico walked back to his room and grabbed Will’s old hoodie (one he had outgrown) from his closet. It was oversized and worn, the kind of thing he liked to steal because it smelled of his boyfriend and comforted him. He pulled the hood over his head, hiding his face from the world—even though he was in the safety of his cabin. 

He sat on the edge of his bed, pulling his knees to his chest and resting his chin on them. His mind raced as he debated his options. Should he stay hidden until the curse wore off? Maybe he could walk around wearing a mask and sunglasses? No, that would draw even more attention.  

Brooding, the son of Hades stared at his blanket, his thoughts spiraling.  

─── ✹ ───

At noon, his solitude was interrupted by a knock at the door.  

“Nico? Are you in there?”

“Go away!”

There was a pause, long enough for Nico to think he’d been left alone. But then the door creaked open anyway, and Will Solace stepped inside, because of course he did. When did he ever listen? Sometimes he hated his worrisome boyfriend. Why did he have to care so much, to the point of checking on him in person? Stupid Will.  

“Well, you are awake,” the son of Apollo said, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. He sat on the bed beside Nico, without being invited. “What’s with the hoodie? Are you sick?”

The Italian teen shook his head, his voice flat. “No, I’m fine.” 

“Then what is it? You weren’t at lunch. Or breakfast, for that matter.”

Hesitantly, he turned to face Will, face still hidden. “Promise you won’t laugh.”

Will’s brow furrowed, his tone softening in worry. “I promise. What’s going on?”  

With a reluctant sigh, Nico tugged the hood down, revealing his painted face. He closed his eyes immediately, bracing for the worst. The silence stretched, and he felt the heat of Will’s gaze on him. Then, finally, a gasp broke the quiet. Cautiously, he opened his eyes.

“Wow,” Will breathed, his voice filled with awe. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then his lips curved into a wide smile. “You look amazing, Angel!”  

Nico scowled, heat rushing to his cheeks. “It’s a curse,” he said quickly. “Tanaka did this to me. I didn’t choose it.”  

The blond tilted his head, studying Nico’s face with a mix of awe and admiration. “Maybe you should. Curse or not, this look suits you.”

The son of Hades glared, yanking the hood back up, though his blush deepened despite himself. “Are you messing with me right now? Boys don’t wear makeup, Will.”

“No, I’m serious,” Will countered, gently pulling the hood back down. “Look, I get why you’re upset, but there’s nothing wrong with guys wearing makeup. Anyone can wear it. If I had the time or skill, I’d totally try it. And you—” He gestured at Nico’s face. “You definitely got a face for it.”

Nico’s glare faltered, his expression softening into uncertainty. “What’s that supposed to mean? Do I have a girly face?”  

Will cupped his lover’s cheek, his thumb brushing lightly against the skin. “No. It means you’re beautiful, Nico. And the makeup just highlights that.”  

Before Nico could respond, Will leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. 

The touch was brief, but it left him reeling. He blinked up at Will, his heart pounding, and found him grinning, a mischievous glint sparking in his eyes. He knew that look all too well. “What are you thinking?”

“Oh, nothing much. Just wondering…”

“About?” Nico prompted, narrowing his eyes.  

Without warning, Will pushed the younger down onto the mattress, his hands firm on his shoulders. Nico let out a startled yelp, his heart racing as his boyfriend loomed over him.  

“Will—” he started, but his words were cut off as the medic kissed him hard. There was no hesitation, no explanation, just the press of Will’s lips against his own. Nico’s initial shock melted into something warmer, and he found himself kissing back, his hands clutching at Will’s shirt. The kiss was unhurried yet intense, their movements perfectly in sync.  

When they finally broke apart, Will sighed dramatically, still hovering over his lover. “Well, that’s disappointing,” he said, his tone laced with mock dejection.  

Nico blinked up at him breathlessly, his mind still catching up. “What?”

“I was hoping the lipstick would smear,” Will replied with an exaggerated pout. “But nope. It’s still perfect.”  

For a second, Nico just stared at him, stunned. Then, to his own surprise, he burst into genuine laughter. The sound was light and unrestrained. “You’re ridiculous,” he said between chuckles.  

“Hey, a boy can dream,” Will quipped unabashedly. “In books, love and kisses always break spells!”  

The son of Hades rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop smiling. He reached up, wrapping his arms around Will’s neck and pulling him closer. “Shut up and try again already,” he whispered, his voice low and playful. “Try harder this time. Or better.”

Will hummed, his grin turning into a smirk. “Is this a challenge, darling?”

“Maybe it is, amore mio,” Nico replied, his tone daring.

The blond didn’t need more encouragement. He leaned down again, closing the last inch between them, and their lips met once more. This time, the kiss was slower, deeper, filled with a quiet intensity that made Nico’s chest ache in the best way.  

They easily lost themselves in the moment, tangled together. Nico’s fingers tangled in Will’s hair, and Will’s hands cradled Nico’s face as he kissed him again and again. Each time, the younger teen would pull back, breathless and laughing, only to have Will pull him close once more.

Despite Will’s greatest efforts, the makeup remained perfectly intact.

“You’re terrible at this,” Nico teased, grinning, when they took a break and Will inspected his face with furrow brows.

“Or maybe the curse is just too good.” Will sighed defeated, but still smiling.

“Or maybe you don’t love me enough to break it.” Nico feigned offense.  

The son of Apollo gasped theatrically, clutching his chest. “You wound me, Di Angelo. How dare you doubt my feelings for you.”  

With that, he dove back in, peppering his lover’s lips with quick, playful kisses that made him giggle uncontrollably. 

The world outside the cabin and the curse itself faded into the background. All that mattered was the two of them, their laughter and whispered words mingling as the sun slowly moved across the sky.

─── ✹ ───

Later that evening, they lay tangled together in comfortable silence, Nico’s head resting on Will’s chest as he listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. He absentmindedly fiddled with the older teen’s fingers, unsure whether to voice the thoughts swirling in his mind. Meanwhile, Will’s free hand gently carded through his messy black hair, the motion soothing and familiar.

“Will?” Nico eventually called out, his eyes still fixed on their hands.

“Yes?”

Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves, Nico looked up at his boyfriend, his fingers still fidgeting. “Does… Do I… really not look foolish?” He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Will’s hand stilled, and he met Nico’s gaze with a gentle expression. “Not at all,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “I think you look stunning, Nico. Red looks really good you.” He took his hand into his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “But more importantly: what do you think?”

Nico hesitated, his gaze dropping back to their hands. “I… I don’t hate it,” he admitted after a moment, his voice laced with uncertainty. “Maybe. I don’t know. This is all so new to me.”

A soft smile curved into Will’s face. “That’s okay. You don’t have to decide anything right now. But for what it’s worth, I think you should experiment—try new things—once the curse wears off. Even if it’s just for yourself here in the cabin.” His hand slid from Nico’s hair to rest on his hip, pulling him closer. Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to his lover’s forehead.  

The younger teen considered his words. The idea was strange, foreign, but not entirely unappealing. The thought of exploring this side of himself felt daunting, yet… intriguing. “I’ll think about it,” he said finally, his voice carrying a note of quiet confidence. Then, closing the small gap between them, he pressed a soft kiss to Will’s lips. “Thanks, amo.”  

Will smiled against his lips, his arm tightening around him. “Always, Angel. Just remember, whatever you decide, I’ll love and support you.

Nico’s lips twitched into a small smile and a teasing glint appeared in his eyes. “Even if I decided I wanted to be a girl?” He asked, half-joking but with a hint of genuine curiosity.

“Babe, I’m bi,” Will pointed out amusingly. “I’ll like you no matter what. Even if you decided to shave off all your hair and walk around in a potato sack.”

Rolling his eyes, Nico let out a snort. “I’m not shaving my hair. Don’t worry. Nor will I ever walk around in garbage.”

“Good. Because I love your hair. It’s so soft.” Will ran his fingers through it again for emphasis.

“I’d never do it,” Nico assured him, leaning into the touch.

Unfortunately, their peaceful moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. Without waiting for a response, Kayla’s voice came through. “Will, it’s time you got back to the infirmary. You can be all lovey-dovey later.”

The medic sighed dramatically. “Duty calls,” he said, pressing one last kiss to Nico’s lips before detangling himself.

Nico sat up, watching as Will headed for the door. The daughter of Apollo stood there, arms crossed, but as he stepped out, she handed him something. Then she turned and tossed an object at Nico, which he caught reflexively.  

It was an apple.  

“Eat that,” she commanded.

Nico raised an eyebrow, holding the apple up. “What am I, a horse?”

Kayla smirked, crossing her arms again. “Nah, horses don’t sulk as much as you do. But you’ve been hiding in here all day, and Will won’t be able to focus knowing he left you hungry and alone.”

“That’s… true,” the son of Apollo agreed with a chuckle, already munching on his own apple.

Nico rolled his eyes, biting into the apple with an exaggerated crunch. The apple was sweet. “Happy?”

“Ecstatic,” she replied, while Will also hummed approvingly. They said their goodbyes and turned to leave but Kayla paused, glancing back at him. “By the way, the makeup? Kinda badass.”

Caught off guard, Nico blinked. “Thanks, I guess.”  

Then they were gone, leaving the son of Hades alone with his thoughts—and the apple. He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips despite himself. Maybe having people who cared wasn’t so bad.

And in the end, the curse didn’t feel much like a curse at all. More like a blessing in disguise.

Maybe.

[chaotictempleknight]

Some advice for writers

I would like to offer some advice to my fellow writers. Caution: this post is a bit on the longer side.

If you have any type of series on the internet, please have a master post for that series, or at least some form of organization. No, I am not going to go endlessly scrolling through your blog or website to find the first chapter/page.

Please have links to chapters if you are writing a digital novel/novella. It makes it easier for the reader to get through the story. This is assuming you're not using a website dedicated to literature.

Tag your work with what genre it is. I see a lot of stories and chapters on the internet that don't do that or only tag one genre. I would like to know what genre your story is as I have preferences for what I read.

When writing a synopsis or a pitch, please establish the stakes. Tell me what the conflict is and why I should read. What are the consequences if the protagonist fails? Also don't describe what your story is. I'll find that out as I read.

Plan your story out before you write it. You are not that 1 in a million who's going to be able to write a story as you go along. PLAN OUT YOUR STORY BEFORE YOU START IT. Here's my advice: Establish your plot and ending, write the plot, write your characters, then write an outline for the story. Make sure you're happy with it, iron out any last minute details, then write a rough draft.

Have multiple drafts and don't post the first thing that comes out of your head. Don't worry if you mess up during the rough drafts, you can fix it later. How many drafts you have is up to you, just don't get carried away with them as you'll never finish the story.

The protagonist must succeed. It doesn't matter what they succeed in, they must succeed in something. There's no two ways about it. The protagonist can be anyone, be it a hero or villain. protagonist versus antagonist is not good versus evil, it's a clash of egos and ideals. It doesn't matter who they come from.

Write an evil villain and a strong hero. Let your villain be evil and let your hero be heroic. This is storytelling 101, but so many stories these days try to make everyone morally gray and indistinguishable from each other. You can have sympathetic villains and questionable heroes, just make it clear where the lines between good and evil are drawn.

Stop trying to be relatable and POST SOMETHING. I don't care about how many WIPs you haven't finished or about how your cat keeps interrupting you. Post your story. If you're more concerned about being relatable than actually writing, you're not a writer.

If you're expecting overnight success, you are in for a very rude awakening. No, you will not have overnight success. AND NO, you are not that 1 in a million. It takes time, effort, and dedication for your work to get noticed. I should know: have you heard of ULTRAMagic Alternate? I didn't think so.

If you are writing to make money and become famous, get out. I'm serious, leave. If you just want to make money, go get a regular job. You are legitimately getting in the way of actual writers who actually have a story to tell.

Having beta readers is ideal for improving your story. Find people interested in the genres you're writing and see what they think. You can always go back and fix the story if there is something wrong with it.

This one is for readers: If an author asks you to be a beta reader, they are NOT asking you to edit their story (although you can if you want to). You don't have to be an author, the writer is looking for your perspective as an average Joe off the street. Tell them what you think of the work, even if you have no knowledge of writing.

DO NOT USE AI IMAGES. The instant I see an AI image attached to your post I'm immediately scrolling past it. Either learn how to draw or hire a real artist.

DO NOT USE AI WRITING. I will ignore your entire existence if I catch you copy and pasting stuff from an AI chat bot. I'm okay with asking a chat bot for assistance as long as what is written on the page came from your head and human hands, however. Also newsflash, if AI becomes truly sentient, you are stealing ideas and work from another individual. Let that sink in.