#the way some people comment about art tbh makes it sound like people back in the day weren’t really people who could exist as fully fledged

[midnightcowboy1969]

I cannot describe how much I hate this letterboxd “review.”

[faiell]

yapping about fics and commenting

sorry to yap but work is boring today and tumblr isn't blocked on my work computer LOL

ok it's abt that post where the writer friend stopped writing because they weren't getting the comments/kudos they wanted.

i'm like. an overeager fandom person. like i cannot get into a fandom without wanting to meet new people and make friends. i love yapping about whatever silly gay idiots i'm hyperfixating over. i'm all about community, and sharing the joy of fandom, and all that fun positive stuff.

i don't post my art for stats but like. that means nothing coming from me tbh. i get stats. i can't accurately predict what would happen if i stopped getting notes on my art, but i would probably keep drawing and keep posting, just maybe less confidently, and less often. i recognize that stats make it much easier and while it’s not my primary motivation, it definitely motivates me to keep posting.

and yet. for years, i never commented on fic. i think i left kudos? and i saw posts like this all the time about how writers were so sad they didn't get comments. and i would feel super guilty about it all the time. but i still wouldn't do it! it sounds stupid, but i would feel pressured. if i liked a fic a lot, it felt even more difficult to comment, because i thought i would have to somehow give back to the author everything that fic gave to me. i wanted to craft the perfect comment that could perfectly encapsulate everything a fic made me feel. and that was way too much pressure so i would just not say anything.

when i got into drarry, i started reading a shit ton of fic. and i still wouldn't comment. i left maybe... 2 or 3 comments, maybe, i think. i can't remember. but i had a lot to say and i WANTED the writers to hear that i had read it and liked it. i just... didn't comment! u know what i did instead? i just fucking straight up DM'd writers on discord and started gushing to them that i liked their fic. somehow i was confident enough to do that, but writing a comment still felt like too much pressure. ?? i don't understand it either, but in my head it felt like a writing assignment, but when I was in DMs it felt more like a conversation and so there wasn't any pressure to make it "good"? idk!! it's very weird.

then i wrote and posted my first complete fic. just a oneshot, nothing special, and i was like. UNREASONABLY nervous about posting it. like. i am a confident person, okay? i was going to make a burner AO3 account and post it under a different name so nobody would know it was me, and then never mention it to anyone except MAYBE super close friends. i got talked out of doing that (thanks i feel a bit silly about considering that now). and then i received my first comment on it, which was basically a two-liner where someone said they liked it and thanked me for writing it.

and i was like. ??...?????? ???????? ...??!!! because i felt like... uncontainable glee? i was freakishly happy. the amount of serotonin those two sentences gave me was definitely unnatural.

is that healthy? idk. will it continue? idk. LOL. i hope so? but idk, some people said it wears off if you write/post for a while. but whatever, the fact that one little comment like that could make my entire day blew my mind. tbh i thought writers were just exaggerating when they said stuff like that.

ever since then i started leaving comments! that shit's easy! like what was i overthinking for? i'm such a fucking tryhard! all i gotta say is that i liked it, and even the bare minimum can bring lots of joy to someone.

so basically what im trying to say is that negative reinforcement doesn't do shit!! it just makes people feel bad about themselves. that post is nasty for guilt-tripping readers like that, and i bet you it's going to have the opposite effect (or no effect tbh).

YAPPING FINISHED. for now.

[leehaner]

Talk: Chapter 2

pairing: leehan taesan x fem!reader

genre: ANGST, love triangle, slowburn, eventual smut, fuckboy!leehan, college au, undecided ending + genre tbh im lit writing this on a whim bffs

word count: 2.6k

summary: find out

warnings: suggestive?

A few minutes had gone by and you seemed to be arriving at the party house judging by the cars lined up outside of it searching for parking and groups of people making their way to the front door, there also seemed to be a bouncer. Damn they take their parties seriously here, you thought.

“Is there even any parking?” Sungho questions turning down the music and scanning the street.

“I’m just gonna park in his driveway…. not like he’s gonna give me a ticket” Jaehyun says nonchalantly and that’s exactly what he did.

As everyone seems to be having their own conversations about what kind of night it’s going to be, Taesan hands you back your earbud.

“We should do that again sometime, i like your playlist”, he said while smiling which again made you smile and nod in response. There was something about him that was so charming.

Everyone gets out of the car and you all make your way to the front entrance. The bouncer just seems to be some random guy Jaehyun knows of course and he lets you all in with no issue.The house was rather big and reeked of alcohol, weed and random cologne and perfumes worn by the guests. There was loud music blasting throughout the house but still you could hear laughter and random conversations in the air. You spotted people playing beer pong or dancing or making out or just straight up on their phones.

“Okay I’m gonna go make myself a drink”, Jaehyun says enthusiastically.

“Hey you wanna go make drinks in the kitchen?” Riwoo nudges your shoulder a bit which snaps you out of your observations of the house.

“Yeah sure” you smile

You follow the pink haired boy and the rest of the group to the kitchen.

“Y/n , you want something specific?”Jaehyun asks about making you a drink of your choice.

“Surprise me I guess” you reply, not really having an interest in getting drunk tonight at all but you suppose you’re not too against the idea.

“So Y/n, why’d you transfer here?” Riwoo asks, trying to start a conversation between you and the whole group who only knew about you through Jaehyun and Sungho. Taesan looked particularly interested in what you had to say as he was making himself his own alcohol-juice mix on the kitchen counter.

“It's for a lot of reasons honestly, but the short version, I just had a lot of bad experiences there and I think this school makes more sense for me.” , you reply back. You didn’t intend to still sound mysterious but you would rather not talk about how dreadful your last school year had been.

“Really….how so?

“Just cause I kind of had a few shitty roommates but I live in a single dorm now, we’re only supposed to share the bathroom space”

“Trust me y/n we know all about shitty roommates”, Sungho pitches in as he takes a sip of his soda and they all shoot each other a look. You got the feeling the guy Jaehyun and Sungho were talking about earlier is that shitty roommate. But how bad could he be if they still wanted him to come anyway?

“What do you study y/n?” Taesan asks trying to get the attention back on you, you were taken back that he spoke to you directly for the first time in front of everyone so it took you a second to process before responding.

“I major in art but I’m still figuring out if I want a minor or not, you?”, you say in response, taking the drink Jaehyun had just made for you.

“Holy shit! I guessed you were an art major to Riwoo earlier, I can’t believe I was right” Woonhak says in disbelief, the group all let out small laughs after the comment.

“What gave it away?”

“You look artsy, also Taesan minors in it so I can usually spot when someone is artsy and mysterious” He says teasingly.

“mysterious? you’re so annoying” Taesan questions, shoving him playfully which just made you laugh to yourself at how offended he was by the comment.

“don’t pay him any mind…I’m an open book and to answer your question I major in music”, he says. Immediately after him saying this it makes perfect sense to you.

“So you’ll probably be seeing Taesan more often then right?” Riwoo says, taking a sip of his drink.

“Yeah, could be”, you say with a smile that Taesan reciprocates. You notice after this, everyone scatters away from the kitchen which seemed to have been brought by Riwoo’s signal, he probably thought you two were hitting it off or just wanted to get on the dance floor. Either way you were happy to have some alone time with Taesan.

Without saying anything Taesan leads you out of the kitchen to what seemed like a living room area. There were people dancing and playing drinking games all around you and the music was exponentially louder than before. You both take a seat on the edge of a couch and try to get to know each other a little better.

“So….y/n, what kind of art do you like to do?” Taesan says as he leans in close to your ear, voice raised due to how loud the music was. And you can’t lie, it sends shivers down your spine but you don’t let him see that. As you were about to respond you see a girl coming up to you and Taesan.

“Taesan oh my god! I didn’t know you’d be here! You look so handsome”, She says drunkenly and glances at you as she gets extremely touchy with him.

Does she think we’re together or something…

You get the feeling Taesan is disappointed she came over and ruined the alone time he had with you, he also looked uncomfortable by her presence but seemed to be humoring her to be nice. You couldn’t help but feel bored and with a couple minutes passing by of her still having her one-sided conversation with him, you get up from the couch and mouth the words ‘gonna find a bathroom’ to the boy getting his ears talked off. He nods and faces the drunken girl again in annoyance.

You didn’t really need to use the bathroom that badly but you figured it was better than sitting there watching a random girl try making you jealous over a guy you just met. Judging by the way she was touchy with him they were probably either old fuckbuddies or she’s just really desperate for him.

“Yo Y/n!”, you turn around and see Jaehyun walking over to you.

“I thought you were with Taesan?”

“I was but someone came up to him and they started talking so I just left to find the bathroom”

“Oh okay that sucks though, you good?”

“Yeah I'm fine, just bored….” you say hoping he’d just offer to take you back to your dorm.

“Want another drink?”

“Yeah I guess” you respond and follow him to the kitchen once more, he quickly makes you another drink and hands it to you.

“Oh I forgot, I still wanted you to meet one of my roommates…he just got here a few minutes ago. Just wait here a sec while i find him” , He says to you and walks off.

This must be the shitty roommate Sungho was complaining about earlier. Brushing off that fact, while you wait you take a few sips of your freshly made drink and unlock your phone to look at yourself in the front camera.

“Feeling yourself much?” a familiar voice says

“Staring much?” you snap back without even putting your phone camera down and when you do you're met with the elevator guy from earlier, you don’t know who you were expecting but it certainly wasn’t him. Still, he didn’t suck to look at, his hair and overall appearance was messier this time around though, proving your suspicions from earlier that he probably was at your dorm building for a quick fuck.

“Elevator girl” he says teasingly, grabbing a red solo cup from one of the cabinets next to him signaling it wasn’t his first time attending a party here.

“Psycho” you respond back nonchalantly.

“Ouch …. I thought we had something special going” he says with a fake hurt expression over his face and holding one hand to his chest. You let out a dry laugh.

“So….you’re here with someone I assume?” He asks with genuine curiosity and looks at all the alcohol options before pouring what you think is Vodka in his cup.

“What makes you think that?”

Just a second later Jaehyun pops back up and you figured he’d be followed by his roommate.

“Sorry y/n I can’t fucking find him anywhere but- OH I was looking everywhere for you … Wait, do you guys know each other?”

what the fuck? So this guy is their roommate?

“I guess you could say that”, he responds, and you realize you still don’t know his name.

Jaehyun looks both confused and shocked and it was like you could see the gears in his head turning thinking of how in the world did you and his roommate know each other. “weird…okay. I don’t even wanna know how you know each other so i’ll just go literally anywhere else”.

“…we just met briefly earlier”, you say quickly shutting down any suspicions Jaehyun might’ve had pertaining to your ties to his roommate.

“Right..okay. bye nowwwww” Jaehyun says as he steps away from the kitchen, starting a conversation with a random person walking by.

The boy now gets significantly closer to you than before and runs his fingers through his hair a few times seemingly thinking of what to talk to you about.

“So…y/n right?”

“That’s my name, yes...and I still don’t know yours. Why?” you question

“Someone’s eager… isn’t talking to me enough?” he says which makes you shrug, you were enjoying the back and forth you two are having and for some reason it became some game of who could say the next best coy thing to the other.

“I'd just like to know who i’m talking to is all”

Gesturing to you a bit with his drink in hand, he leans forward. “I could say the same about you y/n”

“You at least know my name”

“What if I wanna know more? If you’re willing to let me of course”

You start to realize the intentions of his words and to be honest you’re not totally opposed to having sex with this stranger. After all, he’s extremely handsome and the way you’re teasing each other with just words is making the tension between you two unavoidable.The only thing is that you did see him get off the elevator on the girls only floor of your building, the thought of having someone’s sloppy seconds doesn’t sit right with you…but it could be fun just following his lead though.

“and how do you suppose you do that?” admittedly you knew what this question would lead to but you didn’t care. This was fun for you.

After hearing your question he downs the rest of his drink and sets the red solo cup on the kitchen counter then extends his hand out seemingly for you to grab. He's kind of a dork you thought.

“Shall we go somewhere a little more quiet?”

This question makes you giggle because his overall way of words is so odd and you can’t predict what he’ll say next but you’re at least 98% sure he’s just like every fuckboy you’ve ever met. You kept thinking about what Jaehyun and Sungho had said about him earlier but from speaking to him, you just didn’t care. You were so intrigued by him and what the night could entail so much so that you disregarded your drink and grabbed onto his hand.

Instantly you felt sparks when your hands touched, he at first cupped them in his but as you both worked your way through the house your fingers somehow became intertwined with one another. Eventually you saw the staircase to the second floor, he never let your hand go the whole way up.

Once you two make it to the top of the staircase he walks over to the first door on the right and twists the doorknob open.

He lets go of your hand gently and steps aside, keeping the door open with his back and his arms slightly stretched out on his sides. Gesturing for you to go inside the room. “M’lady”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at his comment and he smiles at your laughter then closes the door behind him gently.

You notice the bed in the room, and sit at the very end of it facing the boy and cross your legs intently.

“So, your name?”

He walks closer to you with lustful eyes and diverts your question again.

“Would you say you’re a good kisser y/n?”

Shocked both at his bluntness and ability to avoid opening up to you in any way, you still decide to play into his little game for your own amusement. You stand up from the bed and make your way over to him, both of you inching closer to each other at this point.

“Why don’t we find out?”

Without even saying a word he pulls you in by the waist with both hands and presses his lips onto yours, your hands caressing his face. Almost instantly his tongue makes its way inside your mouth and this kissing was unlike anything you’d ever experienced before. He kissed you with so much passion yet it was messy and thoughtless like he lost all sense the minute your lips collided. It was a shock to you considering he kept his cool while talking to you not too long ago. But it was evident, he was completely drunk by your touch and you by his.

It was hard for either of you to keep your hands in the same place for too long. One second your fingers would be messily entangled in his long brown hair and the next they’d be guiding his hands on where to touch you. You began walking backwards and him forward, only breaking the kiss for each of you to catch your breath, smile into the kiss or let out occasional moans. Eventually he manages to get you pinned against the wall, hands wandering your body and you decide now would be a good time to tease him, so you break the kiss.

“Is my kissing good enough for me to know your name?”

“Can I fuck you?” He dodges.

“As tempting as that is, I’m not interested in being the second girl you fuck today”

He perks up at the response confused on how you could possibly know this information.

“How’d you…? Oh the elevator…”, he realizes.

“That’s fair. If I could take that back to have you, I would”

“How romantic” you say sarcastically, which causes a smirk to appear on his face.

“I guess you could say I have a way with words,” he replies making you let out a small laugh.

The boy gathers himself after the intense make out session you had together. He fixes his hair, takes out his phone from his pocket, checks his notifications quickly and walks over to the door.

“ Anyway, thanks for this. I gotta go” he says, almost out of the room you’d just been eating each other alive in.

Despite knowing the kind of guy he is by everything you’d seen and heard up to this point, you couldn’t help but feel disappointed about the way he just up and left so quickly. You didn’t even know his name or the first thing about him but you tasted every corner of his mouth. It felt so backwards and yet you were glad to have gotten something from him at all.

He steps back into the room to say one final thing with an innocent smile.

“Oh! my name’s Leehan by the way”

Leehan. Hm

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for not wanting ppl to link to charities under my art posts unprompted?

context: This happened on facebook 13-ish years ago. And i dont even have contact with the person anymore.

So around 2009-2010 i was checking fb and saw this person, let’s call her F (25F) make several posts about tigers endangered status, I remembered that she was very vocal and passionate about it, I didnt really comment on any of the posts because i already knew that stuff about tigers - and many other endangered species. We weren’t close friends, we added each other on fb mainly because we had mutual friends via college. I can’t really say that i clicked with her in general except on the topic of art.

I don’t remember if i posted the drawing before or after I had seen her posts, but I did upload an artwork i did of a tiger around that time. I received an average amount of likes and compliments from friends and acquaintances etc. Then I saw F in the comment field talking about how tigers are endangered and that we should donate to charities to improve conservation efforts. She proceeded to link to some website.

I don’t mind if people make or share links to charities on their own posts, but it… really irked me to see her do it to mine only because it was a drawing of a tiger. She didnt even comment on the drawing itself, it was really “oh hey speaking of tigers did you know they are critically endangered???”. To an outsider, her behaviour would come off as tangential and out of the blue.

I didnt know the best way to tell her not to do this without sounding rude. I told her to not “spam” links under my artworks, which didnt feel like the right choice of words tbh. She didnt start an argument but she didnt apologise either, and the convo ended there pretty much. So things fortunately didnt turn out worse than it probably could. I know this is a small thing compared to what is often submitted here - but it is something that has been in the back of my mind for several years because im still conflicted, i still feel i came off as an asshole because tigers ARE endangered. and also i still don’t know what to do if this situation would happen to me again.

What are these acronyms?

[anotherkindofmindpod]

Hi AKOM, I read Ian Leslie's article about "Now and Then," which you re-blogged, with great interest. Like you I believe it to be a fairly "sane take." Like many readers, I was struck by one passage specifically: "As far as we know, it wasn’t a sexual relationship, but it was a passionate one: intense, tender and tempestuous." The negation isn't necessary for Mr. Leslie to make his central point, which is that the Lennon/McCartney relationship can best be understood as a love affair. So why mention it at all? Because the idea of a sexual relationship (or attraction, even) between the two men is so offensive it has to be excluded, even though no one brought it up? Or as a circumspect way to introduce the idea to the discussion, buffered by the careful addition of "not, as far as we know?" I think it's the latter; I'd wager many readers do. And my feelings on this are mixed. Because the tone of "by no means do we want to suggest the presence of base carnal desires" is one of disapproval. Had this sentence not been in there, the love affair analogy would have spoken for itself, to be filled in by the reader at will. On the other hand, it's hard to ignore the possibility that these five words, "as far as we know," are the entire point of the article, which otherwise doesn't make a big effort to specify the exact shape of the love affair analogy. Passionate, yes. Breakup, yes. Hurt feelings and coded messages, yes. The Beatles' music as carrier of suppressed emotions—yes, but which ones? "In a sense, the music of the Beatles, which brings so much joy and consolation, is the glorious fruit of male repression. We like to think we live in a more emotionally enlightened age. We have learned to talk it out. Yet sometimes I think that is itself a kind of avoidance, or a failure of nerve. We’ve awakened from the dream, and yet seem to be more confused than ever." Is he talking about the current state of talking about John and Paul? What do you think? (I hope he expands on his analogy in his book.) P.S. I love your podcast and the hard work you put into it so listeners like me can feed their heads. Thank you for that! [P.P.S. I took out a digital subscription of the NYT because of this article, and no, I did very much not read the comments, nor do I intend to do so.]

Hello @crepesuzette2023! Thanks for writing! :) To be honest, the line "as far as we know, it wasn't sexual" didn't strike me as anything other than responsibly agnostic. I think if you ask the reader to reframe an already extremely famous creative partnership as a love affair, the natural follow-up question would be: sexual or platonic? In that event, stating he has no knowledge of it being sexual while also allowing for the possibility it might have been is exactly the right tone to take, IMO. Because that's the truth; we don't know either way. Honestly, I've been a bit bewildered by some of the tumblr response to this article. As I said, I think Ian Leslie's is a thoroughly sane take. Then again, I've been publicly talking about John and Paul as a love affair (on not just my own podcast but other peoples' as well) for years now, so maybe I'm in the belly of the beast. Don't get me wrong, it's very gratifying to read this in the NY Times! I'm excited by this shift towards open discussion in the public realm, but it's hardly scandalous. Leslie has been working on his book since 2021, I think. I don't agree with him on everything, but I think his takes on Lennon-McCartney are very good and sound. I recommend his piece on Get Back if you haven't read it. TBH, I'm not sure what the highlighted passage means. If I had to guess, I'd say he's talking about the way Beatles scholarship so far has refused to publicly accept Paul and John being in love, or contemplate what that means to their art or their lives because we have historically been too scared or cowardly. And maybe the act of creating timeless art as a display of love is much more powerful than being able to say the words to someone. But I don't really know. :) Also, this is just my (Phoebe's) response. Daphne and/or Thalia may have different takes. Thank you for the kind words about AKOM!

[kaiseinx]

Tennant (Reverse: 1999)

(request from : @dvivian )

( note : I'm sorry if there's a mistake about Tennant's personality or character in here, i was doing a research but i found out in a lot of her edits she kinds of flirty, i also found an edit where she said her thought about dress, she certainly didn't hate it but kind respect it even tho she doesn't wear one, so if something is wrong you can easily correct me by commenting about my mistake :D i also take some of her dialogue in game for this (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠) )

you're just a normal human, the difference is that you're attracted to a fictional characters, you certainly didn't know why, but you just like it and didn't really bothered by that fact.

you're always see the ad of a game called "Reverse: 1999" and since you're curious about it you decided to play the game, but before that you also see some people commenting about the game story being boring and just skipping all the story because it's not their liking. but you just ignored it and downloaded the game, you prefer to see and experience it by yourself instead of judging it before playing it, tbh you also like the game art style.

you're laying on your bed waiting for them game to be done downloading..

once you start playing it you pay attention to the story, and along with that you also fell in love with one character, Tennant.

you just like her, her personality, her way of talking, her fashion style.

you always search an edit or a fanfic about her, you only found a few of it but you kinda wish that there's more of it.

today, is like other day. you're laying on your bed while playing Reverse: 1999, suddenly without a warning all the lights in your house shut down. you're a bit shocked and quickly put your phone down, and try to get up to get out from your room, but before you can do that you felt someone pulling you wrist before you could see who is that, the person suddenly said

"oh.. why are you trying to run away from me my dear? i thought you liked me?"

you knew that voice.

you totally recognize that voice.

you suddenly turn around and see the person.

it's true. it's her. the game character that you liked.

but.. how did she get here..? is this even possible? how?

you're to busy with your thoughts and forgot about her, you're back to reality when she suddenly said

"shush, my dear, let us enjoy this moment. this beautiful, short, enchanted moment"

that made you wonder.. how did she recognized you?

is this even real or you're just hallucinating right now?

you quickly pinch your cheek and it hurts.

"ouch, that must be hurt"

she said, looking at your cheek that has a pinching mark.

she caress your face and leaning close to your ears and say

"would i have the honor to invite you for dinner the next time we met? no, not in the game. but in here, your world. it'll be my pleasure to do so"

she looked at you, your face is red. like super red. she chuckle before taking your hand and kissing the back of your hand.

"i mustn't stay here for too long, make sure to answer my dinner invitation. I'll be waiting for your answer, my dear"

and with that, the lights is on again. you're sitting on your bed dumbfounded. thinking that your imagination is too real to be true.

until you hear a notification sound and grab your phone to see it

it's a notification from the game which says

"we had a good, beautiful, short time. but surely you wouldn't ignore my dinner invitation right my dear?"

oh. you're sure you can faint right now if it wasn't because another notification from your classmate that says

"hey, you're done with your homework? can i copy it if you're already done?"

(now, it's up for you to decide. is it a hallucinations that looks so real, or is it really happening?)

(sorry if it's too short, i really wanted to make it longer but since i didn't found any information about her personality and i even try to download the game but my storage says no lol, kalau butuh versi indo nya bilang aja, nanti ku translate terus ku upload yang versi indo :D)

[crescentpaws]

the character everyone gets wrong

a compelling argument for why your fave would never top or bottom

screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

worst discord server and why

which ship fans are the most annoying?

what character did you begin to hate not because of canon but because how how the fandom acts about them?

common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

worst part of canon

worst part of fanon

number of fandom-related words you've filtered

the unpopular character that you actually like and why more people should like them

worst blorboficiation

that one thing you see in fics all the time

that one thing you see in fanart all the time

you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

there should be more of this type of fic/art

it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on...

you're mad/ashamed/horrified you actually kind of like...

part of canon you found tedious or boring

part of canon you think is overhyped

your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

ship you've unwillingly come around to

topic that brings up the most rancid discourse

common fandom complaint that you're sick of hearing

Answer all of em!!!!

(For KOTLC or any fandom that you really wanna do)

LMAO ok… if you insist ☝️ (dashes are for questions i’ve already answered)

1. -

2. still no comment on this one.

3. idk i can’t rlly remember any awful takes off the top of my head LMAO. haven’t even been here that long so

4. bold of you to assume i remember anyone i block

5. i don’t use rlly discord (wow these answers are so exciting)

6. sokeefe for SURE and i don’t think anyone can disagree with me on this

7. already answered but i need to say it again. KEEFE. maybe i’d like him a bit more if some people didn’t make literally EVERYTHING about him (also if people stopped commenting “this looks like keefe” on my art)

8. once again using this as an opportunity to spread my short haired fintan propaganda. that guy would not be able to maintain long hair. he’d accidentally burn it off or something. also dex is not a cinnamon roll. marella is bisexual, not a lesbian. king dimitar is irrelevant to me and the bit is sometimes annoying. alden is not abusive. fitz is not manipulative. keefe is not mature enough for a relationship with sophie. (+ princess purryfins is the size of a goldfish, not a full-sized cat! vertina is literally only a head, she does not have a body!)

9. -

10. sokeefe vs sophitz. like we’re not getting anywhere by arguing about this why don’t we all just take a deep breath and calm down a bit

actually i guess that’s more the fandom itself ummm idrk i hate how some of y’all demonize characters for the stupidest reasons (just being silly btw don’t take any of this too seriously)

11. -

12. -

13. dex honestly. tam too but personally i’ve seen it happen with dex wayyy more

14. i don’t read fics 😜👍 can’t ever find ones that sound interesting

15. people forgetting to draw the registry pendants 😢 guys give them back their pretty little necklaces

16. -

17. -

18. -

19. honestly no idea… i’ll get back to this one

20. again, the love triangle. also pretty much all of stellarlune LMAO. i swear most of that book was just them talking about stuff they were going to do instead of actually doing it 💀 also shannon was pushing the kenric / oralie agenda way too hard in that book tbh like guys kenric is dead literally nothing can come out of this. it’s irrelevant and i don’t care!!!

21. keefe 😊👍 again. does not deserve all that hype

22. fintan on the other hand….. also the peace summit scene is under appreciated it’s so funny (as well as every other fintan scene tbh)

23. gonna be so real back in 2019/2020 i was a hardcore believer of aroace fintan and i hated pretty much every fintan ship so. old me would be horrified to know what my current favorite ship is. (still basically hate every other fintan ship tho LMAO)

24. once again sokeefe vs sophitz lmao 💀 or honestly just fitz vs keefe. we do not need to be doing this guys.

25. “dex on the cover!” “dex needs more page time!” WRONG! we need more marella page time. we need another marella cover!! we need more fintan page time!!!!!!!!!

[dearweirdme]

I think it's pretty obvious that jk is crazily attracted to taehyung but the way I see it, and I'm aware that there's no way to tell someone's feelings and it's specially tricky with a closeted couple so this may sound dumb but I don't think he is as in love as taehyung is or at least I think he prioritizes his career and image over taehyung, I have nothing against him but I can't help but notice the differences between how Tae even includes him in his art, him more recently sharing that sunset after going to an event with that song, he cares deeply and maybe jk does too in intimacy but I have seen many examples where he put the well-being of his image over taehyung, him very pointedly avoiding every Tae content on tiktok when he comments and likes stuff about the others, and right now is too early to tell but if he ends up not showing any support for tae publicly this will go in line with what I think, I don't think he is forbidden to support in public tbh, I think that some things are choices that serve him to protect his image from the gay rumors, the drama, and hate and jikookers giving him their backs and joining their cousins pjms to attack him, ppl may say that the way he acts towards tae would cause a similar reaction in tkkrs and kths but it's not the same, some tkkrs may speak about it and turn on jk but there's a lot of jk biased tkkrs something that rarely happens with jikook and even kth biased tkkrs make a lot of excuses for jk bc Tae showing so openly that he is part of his life and that he loves stops them a bit, I guess the big difference between jokers and tkkrs reaction towards these kind of things is that tk is obviously a real couple and jikook is not and is totally dependant on content, narratives and their delusions, ppl who care truly about Tae would be hesitant of saying vile stuff about someone who he clearly loves, another thing is pjms, they are known for being one of the most organized vilest akgaes (dc gallery etc) jk knows that he won't encounter anything like that for not showing public support for Tae like it happens with JM, I think jk chooses to stay away from the drama and dangers his real rs brings out for his career as much as he can

Hi anon!

Well, it will come to no-one’s surprise that I disagree I think. People show their love in different ways. People differ in the way they want to be public. It is quite common amongst regular couples to be very different about these things.

First of all, Jk isn’t open about any of his friends or family. Sure, Jkkrs make a whole fuss about his Jimin episodes, but.. does Jk actually tell us about their bond? No he does not. I would even argue that he mentions Tae the most when it comes to non band situations. But Jk shares very little about the details and persons in his life in general. He will let us know how he feels about things, he will cook with is, sleep in front of us, show us his house, talk about Bam, but we do not know much about him and his friends and family. Tae is different, he shares more about his friendships, about the places he goes, about the art he likes. It just comes easier to him.

I do think Tae has more of a wish to be open than Jk. But, is it wrong of Jk to be more private? I don’t think so, every person should feel comfortable in sharing what they want. He does not however have issue with Tae being more open. Tae is talking about Jk seemingly freely, and he has been for quite a while now. If Jk had a problem with that they would have discussed and Tae would probably respect him enough to stop.

I don’t think Jk is as calculating about his image as you think. I think Jk just wants to be as free as he can, under his terms.. not under anyone else’s.

I think a lot of Tkkrs think Tae and Jk live with shippers in their minds a lot. I think shippers play a very small part in their lives. Tae being more open is in general not for us, it’s for himself. I don’t think he goes “I’ll do this for the Tkkrs”. But rather, he’s thinking about something and just wants to share his feeling. Jk being more private, is also for himself. But not because he wants to protect his image (imo) but because he feels safer that way (protecting his relationship maybe, or protecting his own heart, or protecting himself from oversharing).

I agree that he’s not restricted from mentioning Tae or supporting him publicly. But I don’t think it’s lack of love that has him stay silent. If nothing else.. Jk has supported other members, and he’s not even in a relationship with them. So love or respect or ego is not part of why he hasn’t mentioned Tae’s album yet. I don’t know what is, but personally I’m not thinking about it in a negative way.

[xmoonlitxdreamx]

Notes/thoughts/interpretations/critiques on p. 1-7 of the junker short story "a friendly rivalry"

I'm not much of a reader but I thought I'd try to read the junker short story since it's available for free now. I took page-by-page notes on my thoughts/impressions while I was reading, which I'll put below. :0

This is only the first 7 pages because the latter half of the story was kind of confusing for me (a lot of combat that wasn't making sense to me), but I'll try to give those a proper read some time too.

(Please note that I'm critical at times because it's easier for me to write about things that don't work rather than do work, so if you don't like reading critique this might not be for you. I try not to be too negative or upset sounding but idk not totally sure how I come off in these notes. personally I'm like Extremely Neutral™️ about the story because I don't really care much about reading in the first place so lskdfjlsdfj)

This will prob not make much sense unless you have the story open at the same time, just a heads up;;

Page 1

Narration is 3rd person mostly limited to Junkrat’s thoughts/impressions (aka narration is in 3rd person but comments/etc made in the narration is indicative of Junkrat’s perception of things)

The cover art made me think it was gonna be from Roadhog’s POV but nah it’s mostly Junkrat

Narration refers to Roadhog as Junkrat’s “best mate” (implicitly Junkrat’s thoughts, so Junkrat thinks of Roadhog as his best mate)

Roadhog possibly nervous & Junkrat is able to pick up on it OR Junkrat is nervous & projecting his nervousness onto Roadhog (as the story progresses, it becomes clear that it’s the latter)

Junkrat calls Junker Queen “Queenie”; can be interpreted as affection for her or disrespecting her

Junkrat thinks he and the Queen have a mutual respect; Roadhog disagrees; indicative of Junkrat’s inability to accurately assess his relationships with other people I guess

They sell boba at a bar in Junkertown apparently LMAO?? I always interpreted it to be that Junkrat picked up the taste for boba from traveling around the world during his heist spree (tho honestly Junkrat’s boba interest was just a fun thing they added based on a fan question about Junkrat’s canteen iirc so I kinda get not taking an earnest route with this lmao)

Sludge pit = some sort of punishment for criminals in Junkertown I guess. Also Junkertown has a jail. I guess there is some sort of criminal justice system in Junkertown idk.

Footnote on p. 1 is kinda funny (meant to emphasize that Junkrat’s a blabbermouth) but tbh I always took Junkrat’s “secret treasure” to mean “Junkrat has a treasure but no one knows what it is,” not “Junkrat has a secret and it’s a treasure.” (Junkrat telling everyone/bragging about having a treasure is in line with my headcanon though)

Unclear if this story takes place before or after their heist spree. Honestly continuity-wise it doesn’t make much sense either way; it kinda more feels like the heist spree never happened.  (If it was before the heist spree, its weird that Junker Queen would try to execute them here but then just exile them later. If it was after the heist spree, it’s weird she let them back in Junkertown just to execute them since they’re not her problem anymore.)

Page 2

Roadhog’s “worried look” was apparently just him waiting for Junkrat to shut up, cementing that Junkrat’s perception of Roadhog’s emotions was just Junkrat projecting his own worry onto someone else

This is a formatting thing but I don’t like when books have big blocks of text on the page from stuff that hasn’t happened yet LMAO why are they showing me spoilers.

It’s reveal on this page is that they’re here to be executed. Tbh this is kind of tonally weird to me, like I know Junker Queen wants Junkrat and Roadhog killed but it’s kind of at odds with the kind of cartoonishness of how the story’s written. (cartoonishness elaborated on in later bullet points)

Anyway the execution reveal also reveals that Junkrat’s perception of him and Junker Queen having “mutual respect” is something he made up

Junkrat is social in Junkertown and he seems to likes the people there, but he isn’t liked by the people (exemplified in part where someone throws an egg at him); apparently has some sort of sentimentality for living in Junkertown even if no one likes him

Scrumbo Wigley is a ridiculous name.

Scrumbo Wigley’s name & someone throwing an egg at Junkrat = cartoonish tone of the scene

Roadhog taps Junkrat on the shoulder to get his attention -> kind of a light touch from Roadhog which is cute to me, but tbh it’s probably meant to just shift the attention of the scene lmao

Page 3

Idk why “look” was italicized here, it felt kind of unnecessary since “gave him a look” already means “gave someone an irritated look.” (I’m just an italics hater in general tho dslfksdjfsd)

Junkertown has a premium sausage stand

The Outback Bill bit kind of emphasized the cartoonishness of the scene again; entire listing of the crimes bit intended as humorous. (Outback Bill part in particular felt so random to me, like trying to do an “avatar cabbages guy” bit in like 3 sentences)

Outback Bill crime suggests Junkrat and Roadhog blew up some people for fun (I guess the sausage stand was their target but some customers also got blown up; unclear if just injured or killed, but given the intended humor in the scene it’s probably not supposed to be anything serious)

Cartoony tone makes it feel kinda wild that they’re getting executed but I guess it’s more of a Colosseum battle than an execution

Junkrat is apparently not intimidated by Junker Queen given that he banters with her about her not wanting to fight them herself (though later he’s scared of her when she comes down to the battlefield thing so maybe that was just fake confidence.)

Junker Queen apparently finds Junkrat and Roadhog funny/entertaining (biscuit incident) which tbh makes it all the more random to me that they’re getting executed imo

This doesn’t exactly work tonally imo (again, hard to tell if there’s any gravity to this battle or if it’s just supposed to be wacky silly) but Junkrat getting pissy and saying “unbelievable” like a disappointed grandma about having to fight Wrecking Ball is pretty funny

Footnote on this page says that city factions (demolitionist, wrecker, etc) apparently work together or something I guess. Not really sure what they’re trying to suggest with this footnote; I guess it emphasizes the idea of Junkertown being self-sufficient or something. Or that they’re all destructive and violent, but like. In a community-building way.

Page 4

Roadhog pulls Junkrat out of danger (this isn’t new, he did this in Going Legit)

Junkrat eagerly joining in with the bantering/heckling conversation (?) in the crowd -> emphasizes his chatty/friendly personality, wants to make friends

Junkrat largely unaware of what Roadhog does during combat & focuses more on himself; incorporates Roadhog into his plans when it’s convenient for him; possible that it usually works out/Roadhog usually does what Junkrat asks given that it seems to be a regular occurrence (“Roadhog, catch me!” happens at the end of the story too)

Junkrat uses “wicker basket” as a swear. (???????) Again, this kind of just highlights the cartoonish/silly tone of the story

Page 5

Wrecking Ball’s reveal is also very cartoonish/unserious. Personally I don’t really know what to do with Wrecking Ball’s reveal in this story; it’s kind of not cohesive imo but I guess it’s sillay which seems to be the main goal of the story so it’s like fine I guess

Junkrat saying “It’s alright, Roadhog!” is another instance of him projecting his fear onto Roadhog and comforting himself in the guise of comforting Roadhog

Idk I’m not an action story reader (or a reader at all LMAO I never read) but the action feels kind of slow paced. Maybe because it keeps getting interrupted by jokey cartoonish things

Writing kind of too literal at times for my taste (eg: “He threw the grenade.” -> not much rising tension to this moment, almost seems like he does this casually. For example maybe there could’ve been a tense moment between the heckling from the crowd messing with Junkrat’s confidence or something (knowing that he seems to value the approval of people in Junkertown or is at least affectionate to them) but idk the scene ended up feeling very literally like “the crowd chanted -> Wrecking ball started spinning -> Junkrat aimed at Wrecking Ball -> Junkrat threw the grenade” without much investment)

Outback Bill gag happens again on this page (more cartoonish tone) but like he’s not bothered by it so good for him I guess

Junkrat’s scared of Junker Queen on this page; wasn’t much explicit indication of his worries or fears about Junker Queen before this (mostly just the implicit stuff with him projecting onto Roadhog which was very light), so idk to me this felt kind of out of nowhere for him to be explicitly scared especially since he bantered with her earlier. There’s also been like very little feeling of gravity through the whole thing (see: cartoonish moments) so it was hard for me to feel scared with him.

Apparently no one cares about Junkrat’s treasure. This suggests that Junkrat hires Roadhog just to protect him from the Queen’s men who want him dead since he’s a troublemaker. Tbh this is totally at odds with Wasted Land, where the Queen’s men are threatening him to give his treasure to them or something. Personally I think it’s just better drama for Junkrat to be wanted by the Queen and other greedy people in Junkertown for his treasure, with that being the main reason he hires Roadhog. Plus I think it just kind of ties in with his apparent theme of wanting to be liked by people: there’s something interesting to the notion of a guy that no one likes or wants to be around being literally wanted/coveted for his treasure

Junkrat’s kind of hurt when the crowd groans at him in annoyance but acts proud about it; suggests he’s not oblivious to people’s opinions of him and does get bothered when people find him annoying and don’t like him

Page 6

Crowd kind of feels like a studio audience or something at times LMAO kinda just emphasizes the cartoony/silly tone of the story

The reason given for Junkrat finding the final door is kinda wild lmao like he just fell in from holes in the roof??? Guess it’s again just supposed to emphasize his ~zany nature~. Either that or he like maneuvered his way in like a rat, but the phrasing makes it kind of unclear exactly what he did imo.

Junkrat’s “saucy wink” at Junker Queen meant to emphasize the importance of his eye and also make him flirt with Junker Queen I guess

“The crowd considered this” again kind of literal writing; I guess here it’s especially supposed to be snappy comedy but idk if it was working for me

There’s an abrupt free-for-all for Junkrat’s eye, which is kind of at odds with earlier where no one seemed to want or care about Junkrat’s treasure. I guess they’re all that curious to know what’s behind the final door? Idk the free-for-all would make more sense if the previous part about no one caring about Junkrat’s treasure wasn’t included.

Point of the free-for-all idea here that Junkrat revealing his treasure was supposed to be something he used to get the upper hand, but instead became something that gave him the lower hand (?); aka shows Junkrat is not able to read the room, is poor at manipulating/negotiating, and is always flubbing things

Page 7 (last page I read carefully)

“I thought you were gonna say idiot” -> suggests Junkrat values Roadhog’s opinion of him, insecure about himself (overcompensates when he suggests “Junkrat you’re a genius?” because he’s insecure)

Junker Queen saves Junkrat from a knife, so I guess his plan to reveal his treasure to Junker Queen did kind of work as leverage to get her on his side

 Junkrat never told Roadhog what his treasure is or where it is; not sure what’s meant to be implied here, it’s kind of weird that he’d never tell Roadhog especially since this story emphasizes Junkrat being a blabbermouth. It’s possible that he was saving the details specifically for a situation like this so he could use it to his advantage. Initially I thought maybe Roadhog said he didn’t know either as a lie (because he doesn’t trust Junker Queen) or because he forgot (suggesting he doesn’t actually care much about Junkrat’s treasure), but the end of the story makes it seem like he really just didn’t know anything about the treasure.

Roadhog agreeing about looking forward to Junkrat dying was kind of mean-spirited imo LMAO like I guess supposed to be just a joke given the overall cartoony tone of this story + the unserious atmosphere it’s created surrounding execution, and I usually don’t mind when Roadhog’s kind of an asshole to Junkrat, but that was kind of out of pocket for me lskfjldsf

Other misc notes:

2nd half of the story is kind of action-heavy (since there’s no heckling from the crowd anymore) which is kind of at odds with the cartoony tone of the first half imo.

Specific detail I liked: the idea that Junkrat projects his fears/worries/nervousness/etc onto how he interprets Roadhog and that he talks “Roadhog” through his “worries” as a way for him to verbalize his own fears and work through them. Basically this quirk allows him to believe he’s still a cocky, self-confident person when he actually has worries or insecurities. (Like “These aren’t MY problems or worries, they’re Roadhog’s!” but like they’re clearly his.) I guess it is kind of a selfish reading of Junkrat in that it seems like he doesn’t really understand Roadhog but idk for me I think it makes sense for him to be kind of a self-centered person most of the time.

I also kinda liked Junkrat being chatty with some people in the crowd and him being sentimental for Junkertown and its people. Honestly all the details I liked were so minor; I kind of wish they were somehow expanded on a little more. Especially think there could have been a lot more tension between the crowd & Junkrat’s desire to be liked or whatever vs how that might affect (and distract) him in combat. I mean it was literally a crowd, they could have very explicitly made him try (and probably fail) to be a crowd-pleaser. (Like there was a little of this but not much and not in a way that I found super compelling while reading. imo)

I think the main thing for me is that the writing was very straightforward or literal so most of the time was spent describing things that were literally happening instead of writing with a particular theme or goal in mind. Unfortunately I don’t really have a ton of examples of what I mean so. Whatever LMAO;; I think this kind of story just isn’t really my taste in the first place since I like moody/introspective stuff more than combat-heavy stuff. The lightheartedness was like fine I guess but I did feel like it was frequently awkward when couched between the combat scenes. Again I don’t have examples/evidence of this off the top of my head so I may be totally off here but the writing style felt a bit like describing an action movie or cinematic rather than being a work that utilizes writing to portray action scenes. That’s not really a big deal to me because I’m not expecting like amazing writing from Overwatch (it’s primarily a fps not prestige literature) but idk maybe it would’ve worked better for me if it was animated or a comic or something.

Sorry for the Junkrat-heavy notes; the story was mostly from Junkrat’s POV in a way so it was easier to write notes about him than other characters. maybe I'll have more to say about other stuff when/if I try to reread the last couple pages of the story.

Anyway thanks for reading if you did! Hopefully it was interesting to someone!;;;;;

[scales-n-art]

What advice do you have for someone hoping to start making money with art? I'm new to everything so building an audience and engaging with them feels like me shooting in the dark, let alone getting them to request commissions or join a Patreon!

Hi there!

I think you have the biggest part of it already figured out tbh. If you're aiming for it to be a side hustle kind of thing, then building an audience is definitely one of the best ways to go about it if you wanna stick to online. The way it's been for me, it's all been through fandoms and niche art. I drew a ton of fanart for Shadowhunters back in 2017, but it wasn't until I got into making fanart for Attack on Titan (mostly merfolk AU stuff) in 2018 that I really became more "visible" as an artist. Back in 2017 I had some commissioners, but from 2018 onwards is how I truly became a full time artist.

There's people who have the fortune of making it big with their own original art from the very beginning, and that's wonderful. But it's not something I can give you advice on, because I haven't figured that out myself, and it's not how I got here either. I know it's possible, however, so that's definitely always an option too.

As frustrating as it is, I think there's no real way around it. You need an audience who's interested in what you have to share, and a lot of it can become making art that caters to what your audience is interested in. So be very careful with how you go about it. I'd say just draw what YOU like, what YOU want to see. Most likely, there are others out there who want to see the same thing too. Algorithms online make it harder for people to find you, and it's very tiresome to adapt to them, but there's no way around it except keep pushing, keep trying, follow other artists, make friends with them. Comment on art, share art, join discord servers, talk with people. Interaction will take you a long way in this circle!

If you're not afraid of taking your art outside of the online market, there's always conventions, exhibitions and bazaars/markets in most cities, where you can take prints, stickers and other merch with your creations. They also work wonderfully as contact makers. You'll get to meet other artists in your area, and they can help spread word about your work, and you can do the same for them, aside from directly putting your work literally out there for people to see.

If you want advice on how to become a professional artist, getting studio jobs and such, I'm definitely not the right person to ask. I have no experience on that other than applying and getting rejected or "saved for later". Not that I've tried much tbh, I've been ok enough with freelance work.

I've worked mostly on commissions for individuals who just want a specific piece of their favorite character, and I've also worked on commissions for self publishing authors and one major awarded, published author in my country as well. All of it, just because I started an askblog about Merman!Levi when I was bored, depressed, and going through Big Shit irl. So an art journey can have many crazy looks.

I'm not sure how helpful this will be, because I'm honestly not the best example of How To become An Artist. I've had so many ups and downs, currently going through a major down. And the only thing consistent about my journey, is that I haven't given up. So I guess that has to mean something, as cheesy as it may sound.

I wish you the best on the journey though ❤️

[chill-vibes-but-rainbow-panic]

7, 8, and 11 from the thingy that you rb earlier

:))

OG List

(I apologize in advance for the long answers, I just love answering stuff like that and I have a lot to say :] )

7. Your favourite tropes to read/write/draw

(I love them all the same, but it is slightly different for each, so I'm making a destinction)

Read: Honestly, kidnapping. I love characters getting kidnapped, and their loved ones worrying/rescuing them. This also includes more-or-less any type of 'going missing'-plot (incl. Char A just running away themselves). Just the feeling of "I have no idea where or how they are, and if they're even still alive", and then the relief when they meet again. Hmmm

Write: 'The world has been cruel and hard to you - therefore I won't be. I want to show you the beauty it has to offer, too <3' This is the best way I can describe it. Characters who've just had a rough time/life being unconditionally cared for and supported. Getting everything their heart has desired for so long. Short: Hurt/Comfort

Draw: While I have yet to draw this myself, actually (because humanoids are hard), any drawing of one character being hurt or scared, while another stands over them caringly and protectively - obviously willing to kick some ass if needed - has me go wild.

8. You hope more people will come to appreciate ___ (a ship, a trope, an episode, etc)

I understand that some people find the market oversaturated by now - that's valid - but still: Redemption

I love redemption so much. I want the story to gently cup a character's face and say "You are broken, but not beyond repair. You can get better, and be happy, and be surrounded by people you love and that love you back." They don't even necessarily need trauma or have gone down a super dark path, I also enjoy: "Character is a massive jerk, and we follow them down the road of being less of a jerk". These are honestly the main reasons both the 'Good Uncle Sly' and 'Apple Cousins' AUs exist.

There are few exceptions I can think of, of villains I'm personally obsessed with, and have not made a version of, where they are redeemed. I look at Reginald Bushroot, and Camille Chameleon, and the Dark Curse - and while for some more than others - there will usually be something at the back of my mind asking: "What if you didn't have to? What if you found love? What if you got to live a quiet, gentle life? What if one day you realized you live in a reality you would never have imagined come true? In a good way? What if everyone could be okay?"

Just

Redemption

11. If you're a writer or artist, what fic or piece of art are you proud of making?

Fic: Family Discount

I was honestly surprised how many people liked that fic. Between 11 fics in total, this one definitely has some of my favourite comments (and it also has a surprsing amount of comments, I didn't expect that tbh). I was a little worried about posting a fanfic chapter-by-chapter, because the last time I tried that I basically (though not officially yet) stopped after one, because I can't write slice of life, it seems.

But so many people got emotionally invested in my writing, and I honestly didn't expect that? But even though I'm forced to take a semi-long break (for exam reasons), it is extremely motivating, and makes me feel that (as vague as it sounds), my stories do do something. How much joy the stuff you make can bring other people, is honestly so cool. Even if it's just a little fanart, or an ask, or a slightly-self-indulgent fanfic :)

I'm proud of having actually got this far, and also having written something me and other people love to read

Art:

I'm actually a little embarassed of this drawing, which I know sounds counter-intuitive to the prompt, but I swear, there is a reason it's here!

This is my first, and currently only drawing of the Flim-Flam-Brothers

I had basically no idea what I was going to do with their designs, and I also only had 60min, with limited tools (because Colormari)

But the thing about this drawing, was that our prompt was basically just "New Years Resolutions". And mine was that I wanted to create more art, without getting bossed around by my inner sense of cringe. Because, while I have absolutely no problem with ranting and rambling and talking about my favourite characters all over the place; as soon as I want to put them into any form of art, my organs feel like they'll turn me inside out. It's the reason this blog has dozens of rambles about how much I love Darkwing Duck, and yet zero art of any of its characters (made by me).

But I made this - and kept it around - even though I knew the characters wouldn't look the best.

So this is the drawing I'm most proud of, because it actually exists :)

[tema-makes-art-sometimes]

(Love anon) Always feel free to be vulnerable, and I'm very glad my words helped you some 💓 Tbh one reason I started this trend (not sure if enough people are adding on/spreading the Anon Love messages for it to count as a trend, but I can hope) was because I've been in my own spiral as well. One thing that's helped is remembering how someone asked me what I'd like my last action to be, and I said I wanted the last thing I did was something kind. So whenever I spiral, I try to be kinder. So far, it's helped pull me out of my downward spirals. Alot. Maybe that makes leaving these kind messages selfish, but selfishness can be good sometimes. This is one of those times, I think.

I hope saying all that doesn't make you or anyone else feel bad. I'm only saying it to lead into saying how I understand being stuck in a spiral, but to say that you're someone important to me, even if we've never met and I'm much too filled with anxiety to come out from behind of anon. Your art is memorable enough and struck me enough that you came to mind during the day when I was thinking of other people I wished to give well-wishes and compliments to. I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks about your art, who thinks about the different way you tackle the cardverse AU, my first introduction being your ask blog where Matteo was king. I enjoyed seeing the suits being different sections of a larger kingdom, rather than separate kingdoms, which tends to be more common. I only found out about your newer ask blog with Fleur very recently, so there's not much I can say about it, but the aesthetics so far is beautiful as I expected.

But just as I unfortunately didn't think about giving compliments until being caught my own downward spiral, I think this slips many others' minds as well. I'm personally trying to do more to give compliments, to make it part of my own routine. Something I've faced before when I tried to compliment artists (writers, cosplayers, editors included, I personally don't like to say "content creator") more often was annoying some artists I was leaving "love anon" asks for. I think some people are scared to take that risk, annoying an artist or making them angry, or sounding fake, even if they mean everything they say.

There are of course many other factors. I don't think the fandom is dead, but many people in it do tend to keep to their own groups, some maybe overlapping a bit but most sticking to their own corner. This might be a leftover effect of when the fandom used to be much bigger, but with it being smaller now, everyone keeping to themselves makes it feel smaller still. Some are reaching out to create events or zines to bring people together, and I believe I remember seeing you being one of those people, helping or leading events that help get people creating/interacting. That's a wonderful thing, and I hope more people in the fandom keep doing it. I also hope you're taking care of yourself, as doing that sounds like it can easily lead to burnout.

You're doing amazing, and I know too well that constantly hearing that your audience will come gets tiring. It even feels like an empty platitude at times, especially when in the meantime it feels like you're shouting at shadows on a wall. But they will come, and I hope it's with lots of love to help you stay afloat and supported 💖

Im sorry if my answer is a little all over, but man, this is just so nice to read. TBH I'm a lot of the same, I always try to leave comments on people's stuff, especially when Im not at my best because I just don't want it to effect people. I've tried to pull away when Im upset instead of making it public because looking back at my own content I tend to ruin my own works with my emotions, and so it just works out better to not talk about it.

It's wild to hear you came from that cardverse gercanmano blog, i hadnt thought about that in forever-! I wanna revisit a concept like that one day, I've been talking about it in my cardverse rambles discord tbh, this concept of a post-fall cardverse world where its more about the characters coming into their powers/marks with this blend of like cards and colors- it's hard to explain but it reminds me of that old structure.

I appreciate ya being so vulnerable with me, and if it makes you feel any better, I'll be cheering you on too, anon. I may not know what you're working on or who you are, but I do hope we run in the same circles, because I sense that your work makes people smile too. I know this was something that meant a lot for me. I'm sure it did for others too. If you ever feel comfortable with coming off anon and chatting, or just chatting with me and never mentioning this was you, I'd love to hear from ya, but either way I'm rooting for you. Thank you.

[oivsyo]

I'm so happy!! I thought I wouldn't recieve an answer, nevertheless this soon! I've written to other shippers before but they seem not active anymore.

I'm looking forward to December then! I NEED more on NejiHina haha I started shipping them when watching the war for the first time, like, the moment exact that I realized Neji's feelings for Hinata (and around the same time Neji became my fav character, even above Hinata... I first hated him, then liked him and then loved him). Tbh, I watched the war arc and end a lot of time later, like, I stopped al 14 and ended it at 19 YO. Then watched it again with my husband, and this time at 26 I'm watching again just focusing on Neji. So, I was not a shipper before 2015 but I'm one of those "old" ( in age) shippers. It justs makes more and more sense the more adult I am, I feel haha also, I'm very Canon strict to establish the relationship (though I do enjoy the fillers that shows it), it makes absolute canon sense that Neji loved Hinata, it's actually impossible IMO to separate him from that fact.

Aaaand, since I'm very logic/factual, I decided not to only do a fanfic to have them together but to give them logic enough that it could have been canon. Like, I decided to rewrite the story since the war to avoid his death without taking the emotional impact. In the midst of it, I decided to make justice to all Konoha 11 + Sai (even Sakura, just no more Naruto and Sasuke pls) and rewrite parts of them too, so I have a lot in my plate right now. I'm working hard to fill all the wholes I see the best I can, both in the main story and in my AU. I'm working hand to hand with the OG material (canon and anime only), so I'm simply "coping" some parts as it is, changing minor things on some parts and major things on others, and then, in postwar, I'm going to finally lead the story on my thoughts mainly. But it's taking sooooo long. I'm doing the first script by hand on english, but I intend to do the final one on Spanish since is my main language and I want to go as in deep detail as I can. Maybe I'll translate it back later.

Does this makes sense? Does it sounds like something worth reading?

I also wanted to tell you that here in Mexico NejiHina seems to be in the rise, kind of. It's more like it has become really popular on TikTok, many many fans loving Neji, and it leaded to 2 memes: Neji Chiquito (Mini Neji) and Neji Norteño. The later refers to the fact that Neji is in love with/ attracted to his cousin; it's a meme but is a huge one, and it implies people recognizes and accepts the fact that Neji was in love with Hinata. Some leave it at that, but many others wished they could be together or state that Neji was a better option for Hinata than Naruto, that also being because a lot of people was upset about NS ending and hate Boruto series.

I'm sorry about the long post 😅 I needed out, I feel like I don't have ppl enough to talk about this haha I also wanted to know your opinion on my project and to let you know that in spite of how things turned out, NejiHina do is getting more recognition on some places.

Good day once again, anon! I'm sorry for making you wait for so long. I read your message right after you sent it but I didn't have enough time to reply properly. As far as your message was full of passion it deserved a thoughtful reply.

I understand you so well about writing to other NejiHina shippers. That is what I did when I returned to NejiHina and started to draw again after more than a decade long hiatus. I didn't know anyone, most accs looked dead so I just started to post my pics. And I'm endlessly grateful to @cyanis-art @nyxvoidart @incensuous @nejihina-and-mlb @nejihinata @toonamifaithful and other people who noticed and liked my arts, wrote comments and supported me in many ways. In the beginning support is needed as air, so I have no idea whether I would continue to draw NejiHina if not their support🙏

I'm looking forward to December then! I NEED more on NejiHina haha I started shipping them when watching the war for the first time, like, the exact moment that I realized Neji's feelings for Hinata (and around the same time Neji became my fav character, even above Hinata... I first hated him, then liked him and then loved him). Tbh, I watched the war arc and end a lot of time later, like, I stopped at 14 and ended it at 19 YO. Then I watched it again with my husband, and this time at 26 I'm watching again just focusing on Neji. So, I was not a shipper before 2015 but I'm one of those "old" ( in age) shippers. It justs makes more and more sense the more adult I am, I feel haha also, I'm very Canon strict to establish the relationship (though I do enjoy the fillers that shows it), it makes absolute canon sense that Neji loved Hinata, it's actually impossible IMO to separate him from that fact.

Thank you for sharing your story! It has always been interesting for me to know how other fans came to NejiHina. I've discussed it with quite a number of people and there are some similarities in their stories. Many of my NejiHina fellows say that 'once you feel the chemistry between them you will ship them without turning back'. Also there are many fans who are older than 25 y.o. Most of them agree that NejiHina is a mature ship that goes beyond plain romance. Many ppl started to ship them when they were teenagers and returned to this ship as adults.

As for me, I started to ship them as a teenager after watching s1 and the beginning of Shippuden but I didn’t look in too deep back then. I rewatched Naruto, watched the rest of the series and Rock Lee SD only 1,5 years ago and I was surprised how many NejiHina moments there are and started to love them even more. There is also more info about Hanabi and the Hyuga clan, so I crushed into the clan too.

Aaaand, since I'm very logic/factual, I decided not to only do a fanfic to have them together but to give them logic enough that it could have been canon. Like, I decided to rewrite the story since the war to avoid his death without taking the emotional impact. In the midst of it, I decided to make justice to all Konoha 11 + Sai (even Sakura, just no more Naruto and Sasuke pls) and rewrite parts of them too, so I have a lot in my plate right now. I'm working hard to fill all the wholes I see the best I can, both in the main story and in my AU. I'm working hand to hand with the OG material (canon and anime only), so I'm simply "coping" some parts as it is, changing minor things on some parts and major things on others, and then, in postwar, I'm going to finally lead the story on my thoughts mainly. But it's taking sooooo long. I'm doing the first script by hand on english, but I intend to do the final one on Spanish since is my main language and I want to go as in deep detail as I can. Maybe I'll translate it back later.

Does this makes sense? Does it sounds like something worth reading?

“to fill all the holes” is exactly what I have been doing for the last 1,5 years 🥲💪

I’m not good at writing, so I draw to show my headcanons and write short notes on twitter and here. Gladly there are NejiHina fellow artists around me to discuss our ideas with. And we are happy to wellcome new people to discuss NejiHina with.

I can’t speak on behalf of all the community but personally I’m a sucker for canon compliant + canon divergent stories. It seems I will never get tired of the multi-chapter slowburn stories about Neji and Hinata and the Hyuga clan.There is a NejiHina fan-novel in my language that is written with this approach and when I’ve read it I understood that this is the type of fan-fiction I like the most. I like it when the story begins as in the canon but gradually diverts from it. This appoach provides numerous opportunities to develop side characters making them MCs, adding original characters, developing the lore. This is exactly what I do for my own headcanons so I fully support you. I wish you good luck in writing what you’ve started! Take your time and I’m looking forward to reading your story in English some day!

I also wanted to tell you that here in Mexico NejiHina seems to be in the rise, kind of. It's more like it has become really popular on TikTok, many many fans loving Neji, and it leaded to 2 memes: Neji Chiquito (Mini Neji) and Neji Norteño. The later refers to the fact that Neji is in love with/ attracted to his cousin; it's a meme but is a huge one, and it implies people recognizes and accepts the fact that Neji was in love with Hinata. Some leave it at that, but many others wished they could be together or state that Neji was a better option for Hinata than Naruto, that also being because a lot of people was upset about NS ending and hate Boruto series.

Oh, I saw Neji Chiquito pics on the net! I guess there are many ppl who like him, mini Neji is so cute! I would like a t-shirt with him!

I also came across ‘Norteño’ comments to NejiHina pics on pinterest and on Twitter but I thought that it was some kind of sly insult. Like ‘sweet home Alabama’. Anyway, thanks for telling me about it! I would be very interested to know the origin of this meme. Why northern? 🤔 I also remember comments about Santiago-something, are these things connected?

I'm sorry about the long post 😅 I needed out, I feel like I don't have ppl enough to talk about this haha I also wanted to know your opinion on my project and to let you know that in spite of how things turned out, NejiHina do is getting more recognition on some places.

That’s ok! It seems we have a lot in common, I also like to write very long texts if the topic is interesting to me XD

You can write me so that we will discuss Neji & Hinata, the Hyuga clan and so on =3

[wistfulrat]

a 4-part rec list of my fave drarry fics - the thrillers, dramas, soft bois, and wankbanks getting me through 2020′s shitstorm

[the soft boi list is here and truly i’m not surprised this rec is going to be the longest bc if there’s one thing a bitch is going to do, it’s yearn.

as always! if you love a fic, follow the authors, leave kudos & comments, send them nice msgs bc free art is still labor xoxo]

part 3: soft bois

mood: for when I need respite, a balm to the all-consuming shittiness of life

includes: fluff, comfort, low-stakes, slow-burn fics. a wistful look, a rainy morning, an unexpected grace, a stupidly disarming joke. i could live inside these fics. the smallness of human lives removed from the site of that which hurts & irreparably changes. the story-equivalent of a deep breath after a long day. pregnant silences & pensive mundanity & shy smiles. banter with bite but without the cruelty. the color lavender. weirdly whimsical. soft fics are not necessarily conflict-averse (no drarry fic rly can be, considering the context) but, they offer the reader a generous distance from the initial harm. they’re the quiet cleaning up after a storm. sometimes healing is an exacting surgical knife and other times it’s a slow scabbing. you read these fics to be reassured that the way forward is not always ruthless. and honestly?? they deserve a semblance of peace godDAMmit.

The Way Down by @letteredlettered - 65k - T “and I thought that if someone talked to you as though you were a human being you might—maybe you could act like one” --the way i think about this line daily. the characterization of draco in this fic is one my favorites bc he’s earnest and neurotic and tired of harry’s shit. which is to say, he cares so so much. and harry doesn’t know what to do with that bc he’s got a monster in his chest and lives as a recluse. but they both humanize each other in ways no one else can. “you’re just a person” has to be some kind of drarry ethics of belonging and it makes me CRY. -

Little Deaths and How to Avoid Them by @greaseonmymouth and dustmouth - 96k - T “Maybe it’s not about deserving it? Maybe you just get to have it anyway. . .I’m allowing myself to want something and to let myself have it and to fight for it.” --harry runs a daycare and also works at a library. draco spends a lot of time in said library. they bond over sci-fi books and therapy anecdotes and quiet philosophical conversations held over cafeteria soup. and harry’s struggling to understand his asexuality. draco’s learning how to live with anxiety and depression. they both want to be deserving of love. incredible fic with beautiful art by dustmouth. - 

Open for Repairs by @drarrytrash - 35k - T “A few leaves rustle in the gutter and the muggle world pays no mind to them, to two lost boys holding on for dear life.” --all of their fics feel exactly like this. like you’ve been allowed to look at something private, tender, unexpected. draco, known abba fan, is a repairman in the muggle world & harry can’t stop breaking thrifted things in order to see him? say less, i'm thERE. also “I think I have a crush on you” goddddd  - other faves by them: Counting Down By Ten - 2k - T: draco’s stepped outside of the party for a smoke. harry follows him bc of course he does. i could read this 100 times and not get tired of it. - Clouds That Veil the Midnight Moon - 36k - E: FUCKING HILARIOUS I CACKLED THROUGH THE WHOLE THING. draco’s wolfy problem and harry helping him and harry being flustered by how much he likes draco and draco’s hot heroic moment. shutup it’s perfect. “He almost asks if Draco ever gets tired of being a miserable complaining shit all the time, but he knows that he, personally, never ever gets tired of being a miserable complaining shit.” and “It’s the traumas,” Harry says gravely” --lines that live rent free in my head -

Harry Potter and the Future He Doesn't Really Want, Thanks by seefin - 70k - E “That was the only logical thing to do here, wasn’t it? It was the next step, it was the end of hurting each other and the beginning of the exact opposite.” --harry lives with luna and neville and also he dreams about the future sometimes? and he keeps running into draco. draco thinks this is sus as hell, until he doesn’t. feat. taxi rides, museums, cinemas, rooftop conversations beneath a lunar eclipse, mid-sex innocuous banter, draco and harry discussing nicki minaj. this fic charmed my ass off. seefin writes the most effortlessly hilarious dialogues. i smiled at my phone like an idiot at least 7 times. -  other faves by them: Wild - 93k - E: “he liked feeling needed, for the things that he was needed for back at the house in Ireland. For cooking and gardening and driving. Easy things.” --this shit makes me cry it’s so good. harry lives in Ireland with these three brilliant, hilarious, wandless witches and draco’s a potions student who's come to study under one of the housemates and the boys have so much shit to work through but their love becomes so tender and honest. draco yells at harry a lot and harry lets him and they both keep each other grounded in something real and fuCK.  - Divination for Dickheads - 7k - G: “I’m terrible at having crushes. I’ve never played anything cool a day in my life.” -- oh harry, we knOW. a bus ride, a fortune teller, an aquarium birthday party. god i love this fic. -

Modern Love by @tackytigerfic​ - 61k - E “But we’ve worked so hard at this, haven’t we? Yeah, I know it’s a horror to have to talk about it, but fuck it. We’re friends now, but it took so long to get here. Have you ever had to work so hard at something before?" --the steady blossoming of their friendship in this fic is so goddamn beautiful i want to yell. it’s draco and harry learning to trust each other and the whole thing unfolds so slowly, in this whimsical mix of london streets, wizarding politics, church halls feat. a Hot vicar, and a magical antique shop owner who’s married to literal poseidon?? goD the environment of this fic. immaculate. [also there’s a tender shower scene that makes me cry every single fucking time so if you read this fic pls dm me so we can be embarrassing about it together tbh] -

Nice Things by aideomai - 22k - M “He kept waiting for the weird shock of touch to not knock him clean out of his head, leave him quiet and warm and happy.” --8th year. harry forms an unlikely friendship with draco that begins with smoking weed on a windowsill. harry is touch-starved and draco touches him like he touches all his close friends - like it’s easy. the quiet affection in this fic, the way harry burrows himself into touch bc he’s been without it for his entire life. reading this is like being held. -

Running On Air by @tinyhistory​ - 74k - T “do you remember when we were eleven?” --alexa play coldplay’s the scientist it’s sad girl hours and we’re about to fucking yearn. you’ve seen this fic rec on every drarry list under the sun and i'm here to be redundant. the hype is so goddamn real. this story is a lyrical masterpiece held together by lines that act as refrains that will rattle around your brain until you die, probably. draco’s been missing for 3yrs. harry goes to find him. it’s their odyssey of homecoming. -

Title of Their Sex Tape by @cibeewastaken - 12k - T “But Draco, Draco was everything but boring. Draco made sitting in the rain watching an empty house fun.” --auror partners pining and draco being eccentric and harry being very earnestly gay about draco’s eccentricities!! god this fic is so genuinely fun skskd feat. undercover missions, murderous faeries, a book heist, a stunning navy dress, harry’s eyelashes. -

How We Throw Our Shadows Down by @thistle-verse - 14k - T “Draco is about to say something else— to thank Potter for what he’d done, however poorly— but Harry is smiling at him again, and it’s so soft and perfect that Draco holds in any inadequate words, lest he spoil it.” --draco collects tea cozies and of course harry has the one he wants. the sad and tender gays are at it again feat. conversations in the rain at a train station, melancholy Blaise, muggle photos, wizarding e-bay, the Dursleys.  -

Helix by Saras_Girl - 92k - E “Draco sighs in his sleep and Harry clings on to consciousness, needing to hold on, to give this tiny, insignificant moment the attention it deserves” --I think maybe you can describe every soft Saras_Girl story as giving tiny, insignificant moments the attention they deserve. like, this is an 8th year fic about snails and it’s full of whimsy, grief, compassion, and easy humor. an absolute must-read author in this genre if you want languorous, episodic fics full of distinct OCs and affectionate creatures. - other faves by them: Light up the Night Sky - 98k - M “Draco, sometimes you make my head feel like soup” --the one where harry is a fireworks artist and has a pet chameleon named ken. draco is on the wizarding arts council. they both pine like hell. - Headlights in the Snow - 71k - M “they stare at each other in silence, Harry’s heart beating so loud in his chest that he thinks the biddies must be able to hear it over the sound of their card game.” --the one where draco drives the knight bus and carts around the biddy club, a group of rambunctious old ladies who knit and drink tea and gossip. harry can’t help but fall in love with the everything about this. -

Follow the Water by @xanthippe74 - 38k - T “Harry’s heavy thoughts lift at the sight, like dark clouds blown away from the sun by the wind. The tent doesn’t feel so cramped and stifling now. It feels cozy. And safe. It’s the same feeling that Harry gets when he’s at the Burrow for Sunday roasts, when a group of people who care for each other deeply are crammed into too-small a space.” --harry wanders to the lovegood house on a sunday afternoon. he’s baffled to see that luna’s taken pansy, greg, and draco under her wing. what follows is a summer of forest walks, scavenger hunts, gardening, water fights, odd cakes, faerie rings, and picnics. so many picnics. i love the pace of this fic, the innocent return to childhood things, the way luna brings out the best in all her friends. reluctantly soft slytherins are just *chefs kiss*!! -

Going Postal (A 125pg comic) by dustmouth - T what. a. beautiful. ass. comic. the wizarding fashion, the textures, the character design!! harry travels a lot for his job as a resourcer. draco works in the regulations dept. they pine like a bunch of lovesick idiots via field report notes. god i love dustmouth’s art. -

All the Earnest Young Men by @tepre​ - 29k - E “Draco is twenty-seven layers of personality wrapped up in drama and humour, and a wit so sharp it still stings when he doesn’t see it coming. But there is something below that, too. Something that makes Harry ache just looking at him.” --the way i would lay down my little life for tepre’s characterization of draco, whom invented the word earnest. he’s a magical art theory expert and portraits are disappearing all over London and harry’s the auror assigned to this case. and well. they’re both so very avoidant about how gay they are for each other and it’s like!! shutup and kiss!! which they do in fact, shutup and kiss.  -

Trenches by sara_holmes - 3k - M “Somewhere in the distant part of his mind that hasn't frozen solid, he thinks that maybe he and Draco are about to become more than auror partners, smoking buddies, wine-mates and co-inhabitants of a snow filled trench somewhere in western Scotland.” --the plot line here is literally “it’s cold and i need a fucking cigarette” but let me tell you how I never tire of the shared loaded-silences of two emotionally repressed gays. -

The Years Before Love by lomonaaeren - 13k - M “That’s one of the meanings of peace, he thinks, as Hermione hugs him...That he can do things slowly, softly, without worrying that they won’t be there tomorrow.” --andromeda taking harry under her wing and harry finding solace in teddy. narcissa and draco showing up and the tentative relationships that slowly develop in the quiet calm of andromeda’s house. found families and kisses in the snow and special xmas gifts ugh what’s not to love -

The Moon Looks Lovely Tonight by Omi_Ohmy - 35k - M “I want this to be a house where people are welcome, where they don’t have to be any one way or another” --in which harry collects lost things--owls, best friends, inept bakers, potions experimenters--and turns the mausoleum that is grimmauld place into a home. feat. your fave drarry tropes like shared-beds and reluctant waltzing partners. -

[part 1: thrillers | part 2: dramas | part 3: soft bois | part 4: wankbanks]

[moshi-moshi-sunflower]

[Ikemen Vampire Scenario/Imagine] Bedridden (part 2) 💊

Imagine: You live in the mansion, and you’re feeling very ill. Your illness keeps you in bed for days, if not weeks. What will the guys do?

Category: Reader insert - forget about little miss snack, you are the MC.

Characters: Dazai, Isaac, Jean, Shakespeare, Comte and Sebastian.

Warnings: Some fluff? 

First part here.

Dazai

Goes to your room and offers you a couple of books that he believed could be of use to you-- books that could distract you, yes.

He goes just to have chats with you; it doesn't matter if you respond in monosyllables, or don’t respond at all. He will still talk, softly, with a silky voice that sometimes he seems to use on purpose to make you feel sleepy and rest.

He acts as natural and relaxed as always, instead of showing the concern many of the others show.

This is surprisingly reassuring.  

However, he still tells you, every once in a while, something along the lines of: “You have to recover soon, Toshiko-san. You have all of these renowned personalities in disarray, and it’s kinda hard to make them be fun this way.”

Also, sometimes he brings you an apple, saying that “it was supposed to be for Ai-kun, but you need it more.”

His eyes are calm, and they soften whenever they observe you. Concerned or not, he hopes you’ll get better, and that’s good enough for you.

Isaac

He is firstly shocked. And after the shock has happened, almost everyone has already reacted, and he finds himself looking around in annoyance and embarrassment.

He does NOT enjoy crowded spaces, and it takes a while before he goes to see you.

When he does, he mutters something that sounds like he’s wishing you well; that he wishes you to get better. But it might as well have been a hallucination.

He is not sure of what to do with a sick person…? So he considers that the best thing is to leave her some space… and space for the people that actually do know what to do.

What to do, what to do…?

He sees Leonardo bringing Lumiere to your room, and has the subsequent millionaire idea, that brings a smile to your face. “Harry!”

“You shouldn’t extenuate yourself so much…” he says, awkwardly. “He doesn’t even really recognise his name.”

Unfortunately, after accidentally scaring Harry, the little creature attempts to make an escape, and runs to hide beneath the sheets.

“Harry!” Isaac’s hands move towards the hedgehog before remembering that you are beneath the sheets too, and his face turns red, even his ears reddening before his hands jerk back.

(He has no idea how clothed you are, given that the sheets cover you right above your neck)

You laugh weakly, and he sputters an explanation, about the urgency of grabbing Harry.

Harry’s shape is visible through the sheets, a small mound fidgeting, and that combined with Isaac’s expression make you laugh out loud, even though doing so hurts.

Isaac, alarmed, scolds you, with a fierce frown, but your hands find Harry and hold him before he can complain anymore.

The hedgehog doesn’t harm you, too busy curling up in a ball, and Isaac takes it back, deflated.

“That was a horrible idea. I am-- I am sorry... I’ll take my leave now”, he mutters.  

But you shake your head slowly. “I haven’t laughed like that in a while... Thank you.”

(He doesn’t seem to believe you, but it is true)

Jean

Who knows from where did he find a rose... ? Clearly not from the flower shop, considering that it seems to have been crudely cut.

In the gardens now there’s one less rose, plus a massive hole in the rose bushes that leaves Sebastian both baffled and horrified, wondering if a wild animal has broken out in the gardens.

Meanwhile, Jean realizes that he should have used his sword to cut the thorns, not the rose.

So he does, with an appalling lack of expertise, for someone that is indeed an experienced swordsman.

Later, he offers you the rose, with a blank expression, that doesn’t manage to tear your attention from the gashes on his gloves.

Sitting on the bed and leaving the rose aside, you try to reach for his hands, before he moves away; you’re successful, and he stares at you, with an almost startled expression.

You gently touch the places where the cuts are, making him take off his gloves.

You thank him heartfeltly-- before recommending him to go to the flower shop next time. Or, you know, just asking for help.

He freezes, his two hands being held by both of yours. Once you let him go, he quickly retreats, and you’re not entirely sure he bids you farewell before leaving hurriedly.

You lower your gaze, and smile.

He left his gloves on your lap.  

Shakespeare

He takes the carriage just to see you, as soon as he receives the news that you’re quite ill.

He stays a long while by your bedside; doing what? Well, writing, for starters. He finds you quite inspiring right now (oh-oh)

But don’t worry, he also reads to you. Your favorite plays, your favorite books, or anything he thinks it might interest you.

In fact, he creates stories for you; stories in which you are the protagonist, and -after a fair dose of tragedy, after all, that is completely necessary in any story- he sometimes rewards you with something akin to a happy ending.

In some of those, you are sick, too; but it usually ends up with you getting better (most of the times…)

You are surprised when he touches your forehead, to make sure you don’t have a lot of fever.

If you attempt to leave the bed, he’ll smile… and then you’ll feel compelled to immediately crawl back to your bed, and hide beneath the bed sheets, shivering.

He doesn’t even have to talk, his eyes are enough.

Sometimes if he sees you anxious to get up, he does comment, in a dangerously amiable tone, “Fair one, at this rate I might be forced to tie you. Or art thou willing to face the consequences, of getting up before time has come...?”  

And talking about when ‘time has come’... When the time comes for him to leave, he always bids you farewell by kissing the back of your hand.  

You are not entirely sure if he’s enjoying this situation or not… Would it be more disturbing if he did, or if he didn’t?

Comte

What were you expecting? Of course he’s one of the firsts in line to go see you.

He behaves as gentlemanly as always, offering absolutely (and I mean absolutely) anything you need. Medicines? Checked. A doctor? Checked. Cachemira scarf? Checked. Fluffy angora socks? Checked. What else...? Ah, yes...

You have to ask him to stop at some point, jesus christ.

He takes your hand between his, emphasizing his interest in your well being.

He touches your face gently, to check your temperature.

His hand feels comfortably cold, and you close your eyes, muscles relaxing with his touch.

You’re not entirely sure, but you swear he sometimes visits you while you sleep, to check up on you. You feel his eyes for a few moments, before he leaves.

His presence is actually comforting, and his calm smile always reassures you, saying you’ll get better, with no problem.

In a few words, he pampers you non stop, asleep or awake.

You promise to make it up to him, but he just chuckles lightly.

Sebastian

He orders you to stay in bed, and goes back to you every once in a while, to make sure you are doing okay.

If you ever try to get up, he admonishes you; and if you insist too much, he gives you a light flick on the forehead, waaay more softer than what you ever thought him capable of doing.

He brings food to your bed (Comte would have insisted anyway, tbh), and makes some spare moments to share with you.

He religiously gives you every medicine at the exact same hour you are supposed to take them.

Precise as a walking clock, you can’t help but admire his dedication to you, even when he has so much to do, especially now that you are not helping him.

You offer to give him the new info you obtained from the other residents-- of how they behave when someone in their house is sick (and when said someone is a girl)...

You are not entirely sure it’s a proper thing to do, but it seems harmless enough. Sebastian accepts your offer, with that sparkle in his eyes you know so well.

So you spend an afternoon exchanging information; because in return for your words, you receive new information, from when the other residents have been sick.

(Now that is more questionable, you think...)

And yet, you keep chatting happily, basking in Sebastian’s reliability, even when it comes to make you feel better.

[lazywonderlvnd]

Hi, if you are still taking prompts; A magically powerful Harry not noticing that his magic does things to make Draco happy. This can be pre-relationship or established relationship. Like it starts of with his tea being exactly as he likes and always the right temperature. Then evolves to rooms changing colour or weather changing or people being unable to invade Draco’s personal space due to an invisible barrier or something ridiculous. Btw Draco doesn’t notice as well.

anon.....you really killed me w this one. i’ve been so emo over this wyugeahrwiw might end up writing smth longer tbh bc this concept is literally the only thing that matters to me!!!!!!! i hope u enjoy i had so much fun with it ❤️❤️❤️

“Harry, you do it. Please.”

“No.”

“Please!”

“We’re fucking watching something, Draco!”

“So just pause it!”

Harry grabs the pillow on his lap and slams it onto the sofa next to him. Hermione can see dust rise in its wake. He pauses the telly. 

“Are you doing it?” Draco asks hopefully. Harry scowls at him. 

“Well you won’t shut up until I do, will you?”

“Definitely not.”

Harry disappears into the kitchen and Draco sits there looking smug.

“It’s kind of sick how you get off on bossing him around,” says Ron, his tone one of simple observation. His fingers are idly playing with Hermione’s hair, but she doesn’t think he notices he’s doing it. 

“If I’m not mean to him a few times a week I break out in a rash, Weasley,” Draco says blithely. “Besides, he makes it perfectly. I don’t know how he does it, it’s always exactly the right temperature and sweetness and all that. I s’pose his years as a house-elf for those Muggles gave him plenty of time to perfect the art.”

“You’re a twat,” says Ron. “And my mum makes tea better than him.”

“Well you’re just a pitiful little mummy’s boy, aren’t you, Weasley? We can hardly trust your opinion.”

“Hark who the hell’s talking,” Ron scoffs. “Least I’m not twenty-three and still calling my mum ‘mummy’ like the world’s biggest bloody ponce.”

Draco splutters but before he can retort Harry’s coming back into the room hovering four cups of tea that float placidly to each of them. Draco looks exactly like a satisfied cat as he takes his and Harry drops back down onto the sofa next to him. Not too close, but certainly not too far, either.

“Literally exquisite,” Draco declares after he’s taken a sip. Ron rolls his eyes.

“It’s just tea, Draco,” says Harry, and he grabs for the remote to turn the film back on. “You’re such a demanding little brat. Merlin’s fucking tits.”

But Draco looks happy and Harry looks suspiciously content as well. Ron turns to her and makes a silent gagging face. Hermione snorts and puts a finger to her lips. They’ve decided not to say anything yet.

*

“Wasn’t this place a lot … uglier last time?”

“What?” Harry says absently. He’s not listening — he’s got all his attention zeroed in on a stack of parchment he’s holding. They’d only barely dragged him along to lunch; earlier the captain of the English National Team had apparently owled him a great number of brand-new Quidditch plays and required Harry’s extensive thoughts and notes before their next practise, which was tomorrow morning. 

“Uglier,” Draco says emphatically, and Ron mutters something she doesn’t catch. “Remember? The walls were that tragic egg-yolk colour.” He shivers. Hermione thinks it might have been an honest-to-god shiver of revulsion. She also thinks she knows what’s happened, even though the extent of it surprises her.

“Maybe someone heard you whingeing and changed it,” Ron apparently can’t stop himself from saying with a snigger. Hermione elbows him hard and he shoots her a glare, mouthing, he doesn’t know!

Harry would usually be the one to take the lead and get them a table when all four of them go out to eat together but today he’s too wrapped up in his Quidditch plays, so Ron steps forward and does it, which makes Hermione’s chest flutter pleasantly. He’d blush down to his bones if she ever said it aloud but he’s quite capable of being a leader in Harry’s absences. 

“Whatever happened,” says Draco pointedly as they’re led to their table, “it’s a great bloody blessing, I was genuinely unsure I’d have the mental fortitude to survive another assault like that on my delicate senses. And, I mean, this —” he gestures to the walls, which are now an admittedly pleasing dark teal above a white trim “— is stunning. It’s my favourite colour.”

“Is it? So weird they picked your favourite colour completely by coincidence,” Ron says, and Hermione elbows him again. Draco notices nothing and neither does Harry, although he does finally set the plays aside once they’re seated at the table.

“Are you complaining about the wall colour again?” he asks drily. They would both be extremely displeased to know they sound like an old married couple. Draco snatches haughtily at the paper napkin on the table and unfolds it to place over his lap. The first time he’d ever done this at a regular, decidedly not upscale restaurant Ron had taken it upon himself to spend the entire meal adopting a posh accent to match Draco’s and saying things to the waiter like “Don’t you have crystal?” while holding up a glass cup full of Pepsi and then commenting “These aren’t real silver, you know” after making a show of inspecting the titanium utensils. 

“I can complain about hideous design choices if I want to,” Draco tells Harry with his nose in the air. “Thankfully they’ve rectified it this time.”

On the other side of the restaurant, Hermione sees two employees talking, one of them gesturing at the wall with utter bewilderment. She doesn’t point it out.

*

“Twelve o’clock,” says Ron, nodding past Draco’s shoulder. “Some bloke staring you down hard, Malfoy.”

Draco looks excitedly behind him, but what Hermione takes more notice of is the way Harry’s face falls a little. She can’t help but wonder if he even realises it’s happened. She’s almost certain he’s aware of his feelings for Draco even though he still hasn’t said anything to her (and she’s been waiting months now, the effort of holding her tongue growing only more difficult by the day, and she knows Ron’s always seconds away from shouting at him) but she doesn’t think he knows how obvious he is. Draco doesn’t seem to know either, but she thinks that’s because Draco feels exactly the same way. She’d have called them morons, but she remembers too well how long it had taken her and Ron.

“What the fuck, Weasley,” Draco hisses, turning back around with a scowl that makes Ron laugh and Harry perk up again a little bit. “He looks like he hasn’t washed his hair in weeks.”

“Now, now,” says Ron, “mustn’t judge books by their greasy covers.”

“Then you go shag him if you think he’s so fit.”

“Maybe I will,” Ron says airily, as if he really is considering it, and Hermione can’t help chuckling and kissing his cheek. Then his expression changes to one of wicked amusement, which makes all of them look round to see the bloke coming their way. Hermione glances at Harry to find that — oh yes, he looks flustered and vaguely upset.

“Hullo,” says the greasy bloke to Draco as he comes up beside him at their table. He’s really not terrible-looking, but if she’s learned anything about Draco in the last couple years it’s that his standards amount to models and Harry Potter, so this man has almost no chance.

“Hello,” Draco drawls, reminding her fiercely of his younger self at Hogwarts. “I’m not interested.”

“Right little narcissistic bugger, aren’t you?” the man says. And now, finally, he’s begun to look as revolting to Hermione as he’d done initially to Draco — a repellent personality can do that. “Maybe I just wanted to come and have a chat.”

“Then why aren’t you looking at any of the rest of us?” Ron asks, sounding halfway between amused still and a little put off.

“Can you leave, please?” Draco interjects, cringing away from the man encroaching slowly on his personal space. And suddenly, as he looks on the verge of antagonising Draco further, he shifts his feet and slips, landing right on his bum with a yell of surprise. All four of them get to their feet to see, but there doesn’t seem to be any liquid or even slimy food for him to have tripped on.

“The fuck ...?” the man says, getting back to his feet. But when he moved towards Draco, he only slips again, on absolutely nothing at all. Something clicks and Hermione looks at Harry: he seems as confused as anyone else (if obviously pleased).

She looks at Ron then, who catches her eye and lifts his brows like he’s thinking the same thing.

Draco’s suitor gets up once more and steadies himself, looking a bit dazed. Some deep animal instinct seems to tell him to stop trying, and with a wary glance at Draco he finally leaves.

“Well that was a bit of a fucking scene,” says Harry. Draco, coming out of his own startled daze, laughs.

“Yeah,” Ron says sarcastically, “wonder what could’ve possibly happened.”

*

“I really thought it was going to rain,” Draco mopes where he’s standing at the window. It’s grey outside but it definitely doesn’t look like rain and Draco appears so upset about it that Hermione actually feels badly, even though she’s quite glad for the clear weather. 

“Just shut the curtains,” Ron suggests from his place on the floor. He’s sorting through Harry’s collection of VHS tapes, trying to decide on a good Halloween movie. Not that he’s ever seen any of them, and Hermione suspects he’ll end up choosing whichever cover he likes best.

“It’s not the same!” Draco wails. “The thunder and lightning is all part of it, you uncultured pillock! The atmosphere is all wrong.”

“It’ll be just as good when we shut off all the lights and draw the curtains,” she assures him, but it doesn’t remove the look of disappointment from his face. It’s a pouty sort of thing that echoes the brattiness of his youth; she imagines a five-or-six-year-old Draco giving his parents similar looks when he wasn’t getting what he wanted.

 At that moment the front door opens and Harry walks in carrying two grocery bags, one of which contains alcohol, which Hermione can tell by the way the plastic is bulging around the cans.

“The fuck are you all doing here?” he says by way of greeting.

“You said eight o’clock, fuckhead,” Ron tells him without looking up. “But it’s fine, I’ve had time to pick a film and Malfoy’s had time to moan about the weather.”

“What’s wrong with the weather?”

“I wanted a storm!”

At that exact moment, a flash of lightning lights up the sky behind Harry where he hasn’t even closed the door yet. Seconds later a downpour begins, and then there’s a rolling crash of thunder.

Hermione’s eyes widen and once more she finds Ron’s gaze, who looks about as shocked as she feels. Draco, meanwhile, has his hands over his mouth and looks like a child on Christmas morning.

For the first time since his magic had begun picking up on Draco’s wishes and granting them of seemingly its own accord, Hermione sees Harry look suspicious. He peers behind him at the storm suddenly raging outside his house before slowly closing the door. When he turns back he looks directly at Hermione, who looks away quickly.

They set up the food Harry had gotten — all kinds of Halloween-themed sweets — and once everyone has their drinks (“Make mine,” Draco tells Harry, “you do it best”) and is comfortable on the two sofas in the room (Harry and Draco are, as usual, as close to each other as they can get without actually touching) they start the movie: The Thing, which Harry swears is one of the greatest horror films of all time.

Funny thing is, an hour and a half into it she looks over and, with a jolt, realises the two of them are kissing half-covered beneath a blanket. She elbows Ron, who positively beams when he notices.

“Fucking finally, dear sweet Merlin,” he whispers, the sound muffled by the continued rain and thunder. “I nearly hit him upside the head when he made it rain, are you fucking kidding me?”

“Shh!” Hermione hisses, though she’s smiling. “They’ll hear you. We’ll rag him about it tomorrow.”

A soft sound of laughter comes from the other sofa that Hermione identifies as Draco’s, and when she risks another peek after a moment she sees that Harry has a hand on Draco’s jaw, and that he’s smiling.