#they aren't even good but yes I went through this channels lol

[tenok]

I may not get something because of country differences but keeping libraries alive, keeping authors fed and keeping copies of books, preferably in paper, are all different things. I am one of the people that bought tons of queer books in my country before and after bans started. Banned books are *banned* from libraries and bookstores! You can't "defend that book because it's popular" from under ban! That's a ban!! Libraries would be forced to destroy it! And yes I have a lot of books pirated because even if I like to buy books *there's no safe and legal* ways to buy some of them! And I prefer to be ready in case of another author become enemy of the state. I'll still buy their books while I can but I'll feel safer having a pirated copy in case of this book becoming literally extinct!

But you know what you can do? You can build your own library. You can connect with other people close to you. You can check what books they have. You can make lists together and put lists online in your community (be careful of course, it's already unsafe in our country to just have some books at home). And you can make your own grassroot library and literary give other people books in rotation. It's especially important for people from states with most evil laws. There's a lot of space between "libraries can't have this book anymore" and "keeping this book at home is a punishable offense" and you can share things with each other in this space (I'm telling this to you as a someone who becomes to-go person for borrowing banned books in last couple years).

I'm already seeing advice from people in the US to purchase queer books and other banned or "controversial" books on paper as a way to combat the wave of government censorship that is coming. While this is a good idea (it is! absolutely!), it's not accessible to everyone, and truly, we're not going to be able to consumerism our way out of this one.

If you can buy the books, do. Whether you can buy the books or not, borrow them from your library.

Borrow the paper versions. Borrow the ebook or audiobook versions. Request the titles you want that your library doesn't have. The more a title circulates or is requested, the better librarians are going to be able to defend keeping it if and when it's ever challenged.

Use libraries like @queerliblib too. The more members they have, the better they'll be able to fundraise.

Your community resources depend on you using them. Borrow the books before they go away.

InB4: Piracy is not the solution here. We're trying to keep community resources available, not make sure individual people can read individual books. Different problems.

The books are still available. Borrowing them from your library and returning them on time and in good condition will help keep them that way.

[strawberries-n-sugar]

Grand Announcements (ch 1?)

Summary: Tom is doing an interview game with Y/N his new co-star for a upcoming work of his and things turn more personal. Something he has kept secret reveals itself.

Characters: Tom, Y/N, Karly (OC portrayed by Nicole Power aka Shannon on Kim's Convience), Lillia (OC; I used a old photo of me but only because the features match and that felt less creepy than using a random pinterest photo lol; IT IS NOT ME)

Warnings: none this chapter? Coparenting after the ending of a toxic relationship but remaining friends and getting along great

"Are you ready, Tom?" You ask sitting on the couch across from him. The channel you are going this for has a sofa and they asked you to face each other.

"Have we started?" You ask the camera guy who nods. "Okay, ready?" You ask Tom again as you both shift and shuffle to get comfortable and are both trying not to laugh as you have to stare at each other as part of the game.

"I suppose," he answers nervously, "wait," he takes a second to pull himself together, "not awkward at all, you have lovely eyes by the way"

"Guys, comeon," you pretend to complain, "thankyou, not at all," you laugh. "Could you explain the game to me one more time please?" "Okay, they asked fans questions and chose some for us to answer but we have to answer them as honestly as possible and we have to face each other nad look in each other's eyes the whole time so we can say if the other isn't being honest"

"Alright, I am ready. These are the ones that were chosen for you?" He looks at the paper in his hand. "Yeah, do you want to go first and then I can, we can alternate"

"Yes, alright. The first question is, have you ever done anything illegal that you regret?" "No," he glances to you and reads your features.

"Is she telling the truth, Tom?" "Yes, she is," after spending so many months together you could both tell the tell tell give aways of when the other was telling a fib. He knew if you were lying that you would blush or do something obvious.

"Okay, your first question. Have you ever had a crush on an older co-star?" "Oh, goodness yes," he admits with a laugh. "Oh my God, who!?" "Micheal Fassabander." (Sorry if I mispelled that) "He's telling the truth," you roll your eyes.

"Do you have any piercings?" Tom reads the question but looks at it confused, "wait, if you did wouldn't they be visi-oh, Y/N, you don't have to answer that if it is too personal and you're uncomfortable," he says being the gentleman he is. "Relax Tom, I will just say maybe" "I'll accept that, is that alright?" He asks the camera guy who simply shrugs like sure. "We shall leave that to the imagination," Tom reassures you even though you didn't mind.

"Okay, do you have any secrets?" You look up at him. "Secrets," he thinks very quickly, "no"

"You paused, he's lying."

"I wouldn't consider this a secret, it is known...just not to everyone and if it is alright I would prefer to keep it that way," he explains. "Do I know?" You ask curiously and now concerned because you were like his extended Marvel family now with how close the two of you were. "No....," he answers hesitantly and honestly. "Would you like to keep it that way or maybe we can talk after?"

"Guys~," the host clears his throat to gather the attention of you and your best friend and coworker.

"Apologies," Tom gives a friendly smile.

"How many people know?" You keep going and ignore him. "Including myself?" "Mhm" "Including me, only two"

"Tom, this is something you have-"

"Ahh, Lilly, shh~, no come back!" A whispered shout comes from just off the set in the back. You as well as the hosts turn, and Tom.

"Daddy, I here! I has mash'tatos'!" A little person runs to Tom and climbs to his lap, holding a little bowl of mashed potatoes. He looks around awkwardly but the hosts hadn't stopped filming yet.

"Hello Lillia darling, did you now? Where is your mum?" He accepts the taste from her spoon that she offers him. "We wents Bob Evans," she announces. He smiles and stands with her. "I apologize, excuse me. Y/N, uhm-this is Lillia, Lilly, this is Y/N"

"Hi," she smiles at you and lays her head against his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Lilly, eat your potatoes darling-"

"Hello," you return the smile, "this is what we were just talking about, right?" He nods, "yes." "It is lovely meeting you Lilly, want to walk around with me?" "Okay," she shimmies to get down, he sits her on her feet and straightens out her ruffled up poofy floral dress.

"Sorry," a pretty lady with dark brunette hair and goregous brown eyes makes her way over, fast as he can in her heels.

"Hi, I'm Y/N." "Hi, I'm Carly, Tom has told me so much about you." "I can't say the same, I didn't know he was a dad, or married"

They both look to each other and double over laughing so hard they hold their abdomens in pain. They try to speak while leaning on each other's shoulders but neither can properly speak through laughter, "us?" She manages. "She and I? Marr-," he adds. "No, no, no, no, no." They both finally speak actual words in unison. "Very happily not married," she reittorates, "oh, which reminds me, Tom, the date is next Saturday." "Yes, I haven't forgotten, I have her until then?" "As promised," she smiles and kisses his cheek, he returns the gesture, "oh, he's waiting we have dinner I have to go. Y/N, so nice meeting you and Tom, a date! Don't not do it!" She points at him as he leaves walking backwards, after ofcourse kissing Lillia goodbye.

He laughs and waves.

"Wow, you two aren't together? You're sure?"

"Absolutely positive. We are better as friends, the date she is talking about is her wedding," he clarifies with a laugh.

"I got dress," Lilly announces. "Oh?" You and Tom ask with peaked curiousity. "Yes, it is poofy, I can do this," she spins around and Tom quickly confiscates her potatoes. "What color is it?" You ask her. "Green," she reaches for her beloved potatoes just taken from her so cruelly. "You have to be still," he pets her head ever so gently and gives them back after eating some.

"I love her already," you laugh. "Really?" Tom asks surprised, but he looked the opposite of upset as he smiled ear to ear. You smile taking that in before noting that she had his big ears. "Yes?"

"That is actually great news. See, I told Karly I would find a date to take to the ceremony and I thought to ask you first but I didn't know how to tell you about Karly or Lilly, and I didn't know how you would take it...."

"First off, I am honred to be the first to know, and secondly, nothing would make me happier. Should I also wear green?" "Yes, I believe her colors are green and white and thankyou"

[justasmallbloginabigklainefandom]

I listened to their TryPod episode on this and also to their interview on Anthony Padilla's channel and honestly, the thoughts are the same. Positive because they're thinking things through, mixed because YouTube truly is terrible.

Also, I have seen many comments going "lol they are trying SO HARD to not sound like Watcher" and, folks, they did most of this before the Watcher announcement. Rachel posted a behind-the-scenes where it showed that they filmed their announcement video before Watcher's got released. Obviously, it is possible they changed things and reshot stuff, but if I understood it correctly, the interview with Anthony was also done soon after they filmed it. I think their TryPod was recorded in a post-Watcher scandal world, but it doesn't have a different vibe from the Anthony video. All of this to say that, yes, I also would've loved to be a fly on the wall in the Try Guys office when the Watcher scandal happened, but it seems like they were going to approach it differently before all of that even happened.

Which, yeah, reinforces the positive part that they have definitely thought it out more. Zach read out his thought that he wrote down in 2023 about how he wants to stay on YouTube and have it be an addition. And in the TryPod, they are very aware of the fact that they're asking for money unexpectedly, so they need to be as open as possible. This is also regarding Eugene's departure: they needed a hard cut/clean break in order to not mislead people. Not only that, but they've been gradually introducing Marissa and Jared and Jonny etc. in order to also see if it worked and they also posted the pilots on YouTube and allowed the audience to vote on what they liked. They even considered 3 other options (becoming a product, being more like Mythical, being more like Smosh) and decided against all of them because of their audience, so it seems like, unlike Watcher, they did do more research into it.

People also said about Watcher that they aren't Dropout. Again, I watched all the Watcher stuff from the outside and I have no clue if they said anything about it after their second video, so I don't know if they shared more about their failed process. Anyway, for 2nd Try, turns out thar Sam Reich was the advisor, although the Try Guys did not want to be the new Dropout since they wanted to stay on YouTube. Just interesting to think about.

And to the mixed: YouTube is truly becoming terrible. It's insane how much YouTube fucked them over for the Ned situation. Apparently they lost millions of dollars of ad deals during that drama, all because "the donut had shit in it". Like, it was known that Zach, Keith and Eugene were very shocked by it, but hearing how deep it steeps into everything that happened and how it almost cost all of those jobs is truly terrifying, all because the already arbitrary YouTube algorithm made the experience even worse. And as Keith also pointed out before, it's more than him, Zach and Eugene. People need to get paid. People have families. YouTube is no longer a safe option for them.

But even before the donut factory went up into flames, it turns out that Zach wanted to leave before Eugene, because it was so rigid and restrictive. YouTube truly fucks creators over and this service model will set a precedent and that's... not good. But what can they do? When I singled out Phil, I mentioned it's not a him problem. It isn't. And sometimes I do get mad at myself for getting mad at creators doing stupid shit for trying to survive, like not watching Phil's AITA video, or getting annoyed at Dan changing titles every five seconds and I shit you not, I have unsubscribed from channels because of their clickbait thumbnails, because it pissed me off so much. The 2nd Try announcement video already has a new title and thumbnail as well. I was actually surprised that the thumbnails on 2nd Try seem to be actual screen captures of an episode, because as Keith said, that doesn't work anymore.

Basically this post is a bit all over the place but man this entire situation is just a mess. I wish the Try Guys well and YouTube a very happy get fucked.

I have positive-slash-mixed thoughts about the Try Guys moving to streaming

[sisterdivinium]

I assumed it was the case with your joining the fandom early, don't worry! :)

The increase in participants in the Discord server you were in is an interesting phenomenon (perhaps more interesting still that it has died off since then...?) Sometimes numbers can really, well, do a number on people. I've heard of users trying to get a conversation going in a non-avatrice ship-specific channel only to be "left on read", as it was, when there had been previous activity there for that pairing. I think feeling like you're talking to yourself can take a toll -- and yes, Discord servers can get so inflated that I wouldn't think badly of people who just up and left for something more private with that small group of fans interested in the same thing they are; I know I wouldn't much appreciate getting a billion notifications from an avatrice channel or a general channel that ended up discussing them just for one or two messages every six months in the subjects I'm actually interested in (granted, I refuse to participate in any fandom Discord servers. Not my thing. I'm a message board and Livejournal/Dreamwidth woman at heart, lover of many paragraphs and exposition -- always have been and always will be, haha).

"It's also entirely possible there are full communities of shippers for those other pairings in their own private Discord servers that I don't have access to."

Definitely, I'm trying to take that into account in thinking about all of this. An anon mentioned how there's a lot of love for Alba when I tend to see more of it for Kristina in the places I frequent, which really drives home the idea that we might just never really see the big picture at once, that there are nooks and crannies we are just not allowed into. Who knows, maybe there's an underground alternative WN ship community in some godforsaken mailing list (alright, maybe not a mailing list, lol, but just something that isn't in the public eye -- and used by people who might not be interested in or aware of the fact that some of us are over here on Tumblr right now, for example).

I'm right there with you in the Subtext Club. That's always been my default position regarding ships in fandom as well (and it was never a bad place to be -- frustrating at times, but certainly a lot of fun). No idea if younger generations of fans who didn't go through that (who never even heard of Strikethrough, for instance... Oof) have a different perception of what they "can" ship now that there are canon f/f couples, constant cancellation of their shows notwithstanding...

The script idea is intriguing! Without those fans to give us their point of view, it could at least point at some more theories on what went on with them and the other ships...

And I get you about WN blowing up. There's always a bit of a bittersweet sensation when these things happen, I think; while recognition is always good since it enlarges the pool of like-minded people we can potentially reach out to and fangirl with, it is also always a double-edged sword as drama emerges, the mood shifts and certain things that were possible before just aren't anymore (like, say, people interacting with some of the cast and crew on Twitter more often and directly). Pros and cons to everything...

And hey, you're more than welcome to stop by!! I appreciate your contribution, regardless of how active you still are in the fandom or not. Definitely gave me food for thought -- and for anyone else brave enough to read this whole post, I should hope!

You know, for a show with so many female characters that so many of us love given how they all get time in the spotlight one way or another and they fill that time up rather wonderfully since they are deeper and more developed than what we're used to seeing in general media, it is peculiar (to say the least) to see so few "alternative" ships to the main one.

I'm not saying the canon ship doesn't deserve its attention -- I'm wondering instead why the canon ship and it alone seem to guide the WN fans who just so happen to enjoy writing/reading fic or fanart or whatever.

You'd think all these cool women would inspire more ships or combinations thereof, but those of us who aren't invested in avatrice just... Float along, around one another, ignored (and, yes, mostly undisturbed too; being unpopular does have its advantages and that includes a lot less weirdos leaving you strange or awkward messages -- it does not, however, shield us from people flooding our goddamn tags on AO3 with fic that has nothing to do with our little ships and I do wish such negligence of the pairing itself meant we didn't have to deal with this spam...)

I am also not saying that fandom activity should be based solely on shipping (and recently someone on Reddit was rather confused by the fact that a lot of it is, which is quite an interesting topic to discuss in itself -- after all, there is more to fan creativity than shippy fic... Or there used to be), merely that, here, it appears that a canon relationship can outshine interest in the other, non-canon ones. It's already there and it was doubtless well-done by the show, so it's natural that it should claim people's attention, sure. It's just that being canon was never the parameter for whether people were interested in these or those two (or more) characters maybe being involved and trying to explore what that could mean through fanwork.

There has always been a complaint haunting fandom spaces concerning the minuscule amounts of f/f fic, art, discussion, w/e based on how few (interesting or sympathetic or relatable) female characters there are in media at large. So what I'm curious about is why fan creations made around WN -- a show that finally gives us a whole cast of female characters that are what we have been craving for decades -- don't also reflect its diversity.

There are alternative ships (I'm here, all happy in my tiny Doctor Superion bubble, and I know there are Camila/Lilith, Ava/Lilith, Mary/Shannon, Mary/Lilith shippers out there, so a warm hello to you if you're reading this), but go on AO3 and compare the numbers of things tagged with these proper pairings to the grand total of WN stories. Better (or worse) still, do so with the "otp: true" trick or simply by excluding avatrice from the search to see how many are left.

It's... A considerable difference. And a mystery, at least to me.