#they're so similar it was hard to transition lmao

[barblaz-arts]

Remember the Chaggie fic I talked about? I finally posted it.

[necrotic-nephilim]

I love reverse robins oldest brother damian because I just shift his animal care and empathy onto his younger brothers LMAO. Tim somehow became something in the same category as a dog or beloved pet two toed ungulate in Damian’s mind and now he likes him. Doesn’t mean he gets along super well but I think rev rob damian would treat his younger siblings differently from his peers, who get the “what did living with Bruce do to you” treatment. And this makes growing up kind of suck because it’s not super sudden or overt but something about Damian’s behavior and how he treats you changes when he starts to see you as a grown up. Is that anything

YEAH YEAH YOU GET ME.

i don't think Damian as a strong grasp of familial love and so to make him the *oldest* means he has no one to guide him through it. sure there's Bruce, but he's... Bruce and a father is different than a sibling, especially a younger one that Damian is supposed to look after in some capacity. and he wants to love them bc that is what you *do* you love family and you care for them. but he's awkward at it and so like you said, it's very similar to the feeling of caring for a dog. Damian's affection is awkward, but it comes with hair ruffles and the softest "you did a good job" as he's cleaning a weapon bc that's the only love *he* wanted as a child. Damian didn't need smiles and hugs and laughter, he needed a firm hand to tell him they were proud of him, and only the most chaste touches that don't linger. so that's what he gives to Tim, then Jason and Dick. and they understand this is just kind of How He Is and it's the best you're gonna get with Damian. like, Damian respects his peers as equals but his siblings are younger and therefore he needs to Protector them. and to be Protector, you must hold yourself to a higher standard. it's never demeaning to them or viewing them as lesser, but more so putting a weight on his shoulders that he needs to carry. they are small and Damian has to care for them bc no one cared for him like this when he was small and he will not repeat that.

but when they're *adults* it's a brutal transition. bc then they are respected as peers and certainly still loved, but the Protector Instinct is gone. suddenly the kindness that his siblings are used to getting is replaced by him talking to them like Adults, which means he's *far* more scrutinizing of their choices. he argues with them, he pushes back on their plans bc that is how hero work is. you must leave room for no mistakes and he's never cruel about his corrections but he lacks the kindness he used to have bc to him, this is what respect is.

which!! i think makes the moving of the Robin mantle from Jason to Dick interesting bc it'd be Damian's way of seeing Jason as an adult. and Robin is a role of youth and so taking it from Jason is meant to be Damian showing Jason a *massive* amount of respect. he's saying that Jason has *earned his stay* and is ready to move on. but of course he doesn't explain this bc to Damian, it's an implicit part of the mantle that's simply how it works. he moved on when he was done with it and now Jason is ready to move on. but the shift isn't one Jason is ready for and it makes things painful between them bc to Jason, it just feels like replacement. he doesn't understand that Damian is honoring him and this is meant to be a gift, letting him move on from Robin.

it's just all so interesting and you're spot on. Damian has endless amounts of love and affection for his siblings but it's like a loyal dog. where he's protecting something vulnerable that cannot speak for itself. *especially* if this plays into Damian being very aggressive with Bruce about how the Robins should be trained and raised bc that is what Damian is protecting them from, Bruce. i'm of the opinion in a Reverse Robin situation Bruce would be an even shittier dad bc he didn't ask for Damian and wouldn't have the experience. they would clash hard and it'd build resentment, especially when Bruce takes in others. i feel like Damian and Bruce would have a cold war over who gets the most control over the Robins. like god i'm just so obsessed over how Damian would change as a head of the family.

[mfmango]

fun mango fact I live laugh love ej x liu and I wanna make art of them so fucking bad but I have like. Severe art block and I DONT like it.

they're just so cute and it's like ejekshahsn it's even better if you know about or I've told u my ver of creepypasta chars/my au

I'm gonna infodump while I'm at it

my ver of ej is nigerian/russian (russian from chernobog, his father of sorts, his mother was just a nice Nigerian woman lmao) and he's like. 27, he's also like 7 feet fucking tall lmfao did most of med school and his medical knowledge is like rlly good n shit, he's really caring especially when it comes to liu and he's also really protective. He has locs, dark brown and he puts jewellery in them sometimes

he has dark grey skin and full lips, the top one being a darker grey, (skin color is #45413F, top lip is #302D2C and bottom lip is a combo of top lip and #403230) he's also like extremely muscular. he spends a lot of time working out and he has really good stamina (this is both a win for liu and a loss. iykyk)

He's very warm and he has a deep voice, not like corpse husband deep but like. He sounds like MC Ren (the N.W.A member) but a little deeper

liu is like the complete opposite of Jack in my au. He's skinny as shit and before he met Jack his ribcage was dead ass showing, after he met Jack and started eating a bit more he gained a small amount of weight, but was still kinda underweight, my version of Liu is ftm btw, hasn't physically transitioned apart from hormones

he's also like 5'7

Liu's like. 22, he has a few scars on his face and all over his body, and he has pretty severe eye bags but that doesn't mean he ain't pretty. mf looks like a dream.

he makes money by helping jeff deal and shit

liu (and jeff) is/are polish. Very polish might I add

Jack speaks both Russian and Yoruba (a bit of igbo/ndi igbo, he picked it up from another Nigerian friend in highschool before the chernobog genes kicked in)

so if liu swears at Jack in polish, Jack will respond in Russian and they'll still understand what eachother is saying cause a lot of slavic languages are similar

their height difference goes hard as fuck though LMFAOO

jack is like rlly good at cooking but he prefers liu's cooking, they're both good tho

Jack doesn't let ANYONE touch his locs (jeff tried once when he was high lol bro almost got his hands cut off) except liu, but he's still careful lol

lius kind of blunt and a bit monotone at times, Jack doesn't mind much tho

they're not perfect, they can be a bit toxic at times, jack holds more power in the relationship but it works in their situation

Jack has a tendency to like. hold liu and cuddle him and tell him how he'd do anything to see him smile etc etc

they're killers, they're freaks they're not gonna have a perfectly happy relationship, no relationship is perfect

also they don't live in the slendermansion or whatever lol

Jack used to but he moved in w Liu and lius been living in this like. lowk luxurious cabin in the forest lol

lius a bit scared of heights, Jack still picks him up for the hell of it

liu wears a lot of Jack's clothes for the sake of comfort, jack carries things that belong to liu , like pens or photos of him whenever he's out on a mission (he does assassin stuff), regardless of if he's gone for a short time or a while

jack brings stuff home. it could be books, notebooks/sketchbooks, food, etc.

liu doesn't go out much. he likes staying at home, he can go out in public safely for the most of it, he only ever goes out into towns for groceries or emergencies

jack cannot keep his hands off liu lmao, he has to be holding onto him one way or another

if u managed to read this whole thing just be my mutual already

[disgruntleddemon]

got a random whim, and decided to make this. i've never rly done a pmv before, so ignore how wonky this is hjkjhj.

i'm actually not a big fan of Bristleroot, but ouughh the impact of them in alitm. hard to pass up on that. I though this song was really fitting. i figured the split screen could be fun to play with. like they're their own separate ppl, but always know the other is there. so when Bristlefrost dies, Rootspring feels like a major part of world is gone. bonues points for the black df gunk being a fun transition to a Bristle's screen going dark.

the text is also supposed to be a mix of Bristlefrost and Rootsprings' eye colors, but i ended up shading their eyes, so it doesn't rly come across. after Bristle's death, it switches to just Rootspring's eye color.

i had a lot of fun designing their kits for that one end scene. the one in the middle is actually supposed to look like Shadowsight. ik i barely show shadowsight, or the kit, but trust me, their patterns are similar lmao

i also uploaded this to youtube, tho i doubt I'll use the channel lol

bonus look at the kits + a shadowsight for comparison

[hekateinhell]

♡ Hospital AU Lestat and Armand 🏥💕

*DYING at you picking an AU that technically does not exist yet lmao I'm obsessed! I really did love the back-and-forth tweet fic style thing with DA + everyone else who contributed because this one is just really fun and kinky and I've missed them!!

So for the sake of headcanons, let's say they're at the point in their relationship where they just started dating. Armand and therapist!Lestat are still engaging in unethical BDSM activities in the workplace (Armand is still seeing cute anesthesiologist!Daniel on the side; he doesn't ask about Lestat's extracurriculars).

Hospital AU tag for anyone who wants to know what exactly is going on here... you'll miss some stuff if you have the default 'Mature' content filters on, go check that if you follow me please. 🥹

NSFW below the cut.

Who is the most affectionate?

It's a weird transition from "Armand bending over Lestat's lap, spreading himself open and waiting for an insertion of some sort — in a purely professional capacity, of course" to "Hey, want me to pick you up after your shift? It'll be 3am..."

At first Lestat's somewhat hesitant to cuddle Armand because Armand just looks so standoffish and disinterested sometimes (hilarious considering Lestat's already had Armand panting and rutting against his jeans while Lestat fucks him with a silicone impression of his dick right there on his therapy couch).

But he gets over it by their second sleepover and just grabs Armand in this massive bear cuddle and pins him to his chest. Armand's startled at first but then he reaches up to grip Lestat's forearms and doesn't let go. Hard to envision a world where Lestat isn't the golden retriever boyfriend, and he is definitely still the most affectionate of the two, but Armand's much more open now that Lestat's ripped that Band-Aid off for them (so to speak).

Armand showing affection looks more like kissing Lestat's temple before leaving his office after one of their "therapy sessions", sore and hazy but grateful. Wrapping his arms around Lestat's back and pressing his cheek to his middle while he's trying to cook in Armand's kitchen (the first time that apartment has seen honest to goodness food). Touching Lestat's arm when they pass each other in the hallway, Armand pretending he hadn't just gotten rug-burn 10 minutes ago while he was busy choking on Lestat's dick and squirming on cheap carpet two rooms down (jk his gag reflex is excellent).

Who initiates the handholding?

Armand's not one for PDA so it's a Big Deal when he does reach for Lestat's hand to ground himself after a particularly rough shift if they're still in public/the hospital parking lot/running errands.

He does everything he can for his patients and his job is his whole identity, so he takes it very hard when something does go wrong.

He's a long way from ever even thinking about admitting it but sometimes Lestat's large, blazingly warm hands feel like the only thing keeping him tethered to reality.

Who worries more for the other?

Lestat worries about Armand a lot because he has the unhealthiest stereotypical baby surgeon habits—thinks he's invincible and can survive on Monster energy drinks and vending machine honeybuns and a combined six hours of sleep over a three-day period. He's seen a lot of young doctors crash and burn in the couple years he's been practicing at Trinity General.

Who is more likely to ask for help?

Lestat makes his living reminding people 'there's no shame in asking for help, we're all human', but it's always easier to preach rather to practice.

I'd say they both equally suck at this for very similar reasons: ego, pride, and trauma. Imagine a psychotherapist and a cardiothoracic surgeon asking for help.

Who is the one always losing the keys?

Armand can't remember when he ate his last "meal" or the last time he slept. It's Armand. At this point he more or less lives in Lestat's townhouse out of necessity (at least until he can find time to call the super and get another key and he will Not Be Doing That).

Who leaves little love notes for the other?

Since they're in the awkward, unofficial 'I know what your face looks like when you're having a god-tier orgasm but not your favorite food or color" stage, love notes look more like Lestat texting Armand "Did you eat today? I'll Uber you something to the hospital."

Or Armand simply asking him, "Text me when you're going to bed?" (which really means "Text me when you're staying put for the night so I know you're safe wherever you are.")

Comes more naturally to Lestat though for sure.

Who can’t sleep unless the other is there?

Lestat is finding more and more lately that he sleeps the best when Armand's ass is pressed up against his stomach. Or when somehow their positions switch up during the night and he wakes up from a dream to find his head over Armand's chest and Armand's hand in his hair.

Who is more likely to propose to the other?

ashsjksksgd don't mention that word right now, they'll both run for the hills.

(Lestat. He lowkey wanted to marry Armand ever since Armand took a stethoscope to his heart right in the middle of bouncing on his cock and came hard to the sound of Lestat's heart beating right out of his chest... it's exactly the kind of freakish behavior that captured Lestat's attention permanently and also his dick. It's... unusual, make no mistake, but also pretty fucking hot.)

Who introduced the other to their family first?

It's extremely unfortunate that Lestat's mother works at the same hospital in which he fucks his coworker on the regular. She knows, because Gabrielle knows all. She is unimpressed.

We'll say Lestat, even though he wishes very much that were not the case.

Who is more likely to play with the other’s hair?

Armand's getting better and better with showing affection (he's never had to do this before, he's never been in a situationship that wasn't based purely on sex). He's learning that Lestat really responds some kind of way to Armand dragging his nails through his hair and rubbing his scalp. And by some kind of way, I mean he makes the most pathetic whining sound and looks like he's in physical pain.

Who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated?

See 'love notes.'

It must be noted that Lestat is not above having Armand eat from his hand like a dog while he already has him pliant over his lap and laying in his own cum in the office, too blissed out and sweet to be snarky and dismissive.

(Also, this is Lestat. He's not completely selfless, don't get the wrong idea — at least 50% of this is rooted his own desire to not only be wanted but also needed).

Who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other?

They're both feral, it's a tie.

Who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other?

Armand is not a fan of surprises, thank you very much. He experiences enough shocks in his day-to-day rummaging around people's chests.

Lestat on the other hand loves a good surprise; he's always exclaiming and gasping over stuff in a very childish and endearing way. Armand picks up on this early on in their dates and tries to surprise him throughout the week with little gifts (some of the adult and provocative nature).

Who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things?

Lestat once dared say to Armand, "Pinky promise me you won't sleep in the on-call room for the fourth night in a row because you're that stressed out about your patient?"

Armand laughed in his face.

Who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch?

Both of them.

Lestat hunts down Armand during his lunch breaks (super casually, if he bumps into him it's purely coincidental) and sometimes he finds him asleep in the doctor's lounge or an empty patient's room, so he'll grab a blanket from the supply closet and tuck him in.

Lestat does actually work as well, and there have been times where Armand showed up for his "appointment" to find Lestat sound asleep on a pile of paperwork. Armand still privately thinks that what he does is more important (because he's a surgeon with a God complex), but he can't deny that Lestat's job also takes a very real toll on him. Armand raids the supply closet (different one) and even manages to slip a thin hospital pillow under Lestat's head while he frowns and sighs in his sleep.

It's one of those moments where things suddenly seem a little too real for Armand, and his own heart aches in a way he's not ready to acknowledge.

[starvinginbelair]

ranking every original song from the next star

because i can and also i've never listened to the full discography before! reminder that this is only really my opinion and that this is just for fun (not an actual serious critique lmao). also i only watched from season 5 onwards, so there may be a bit more bias to the newer seasons and songs. this will only be songs that were written specifically for the show, no songs that were released by participants after the show.

1. good as gone by melissa (charlie) storwick

C A T C H Y. it's no wonder she won with this song, with how good it is melodically and lyrically. sonically, her voice really suits it too and while it does have electronic elements to it, it's not so overpowering that it feels dated by any means. the dynamics of her vocals in the last chorus carry it higher and makes the song not feel energetic and fun. one of the best, if not THE best written and produced song on the next step

2. all i want by alex zaichkowski

you could flip a coin between this one and in my mind because they're pretty similar to me. at least musically, both really lean into the live instrument/band aspect and i eat it up. what puts this one above in my mind is slightly better writing in the chorus and a stronger bridge. i really like how this one paints a distinct image through the lyrics though, and the songwriting is definitely some of the strongest out of the songs on the show

3. in my mind by ryan hawken

the chorus of this one is so genuinely catchy. and i feel like he has the vocal chops to pull off the way it swells in the last pass of it. the verses are memorable, and really the only weak part of this song is the bridge. definitely something you could see an early 2010s boyband singing, and one of the better songs from season 5. one i find myself inclined to listen to again

4. my best friend's girl by diego gomes

does it have a ton of vocoder and voice modulation on it? yes. does it also hit insanely hard and is a party hit? also yes. i really like the simple guitar at the beginning that transitions into a more electronic sound. i also love the breakdown section/guitar solo. obviously, the lyrics are quite juvenile but they somehow work for this song? it fits and doesn't make me feel weird and in high school lmao. i also love the octave change in the last chorus. why this wasn't more of a hit? idk.

5. fever by victoria duffield

one where i'm like how the FUCK did she not win with this song. the way the chorus hits and while repetitive, isn't at all grating or annoying. i love the verses, they're so well written, and the second verse pre-chorus is genuinely one of the best parts of the song. it really set up where she was going to go as an artist tbh and i really love that. definitely a hit, and there's a reason it's probably the most popular song from the next star

6. breaking glass by kaleia simons-cook

another one where it genuinely flabbergasts me that she didn't win with this song. it fit pretty perfectly with what was popular around the time she was on the show, an edm banger, and her voice sounds so good. has top 40 hit written all over it, and i'm still a bit salty this song wasn't appreciated more

7. sparks are gonna fly by j.d. meeboer (rip)

this was the pop-punk/pop-rock song this show NEEDED. it was so refreshing to listen to, the live instruments sound great, and the breakdown is great. of course, the lyrics aren't amazing, but you can absolutely tell that there was a lot of thought put into them and that there was a story they wanted to tell using the imagery. it's catchy as hell, and definitely one i'll revisit and replay until my heart's content. my one complaint is that i wish it went a bit harder, but i'm sure live, it could be different (it is different).

8. into pieces by electric ave

the instrumental on this one is amazing, and the swagger the guys bring to the song is unmatched. it's truly been years since this song was released and i *still* remember the lyrics because that's how fucking catchy it is. instant brainworm. i love the breakdown too, and it just elevates the song going into the final chorus. everyone sounds good on the track and really, just a song you can absolutely bop to

9. we are the brave by rebel coast

such a unique song concept! the instrumental of this one might be one of the best the next step has ever done, with the excess of snares and dark sound. the vocals on this sound great, especially from kyle and curtis. i think the lyrics are pretty weak but this does have one of the better choruses out of all of the songs. replayability is high, and i have nothing more to say than this one is a bop

10. we just don't care by the season 6 top 6

a bit autotuned, yes, but never to the point of annoyance. i think the outro really sells it for me, it's just so catchy and everyone's voice is utilized well in this one. it's also not repetitive in the way now is, even though the chorus is similarly simple. the mixing is great and everyone has a moment to shine. i like the lyrics and sonically, the backing instrumentals provide just enough that it is easily one i revisit and listen to often.

11. turn it up by the season 4 top 6

are charlie, milly, april and parker's lines completely autotuned garbage? yes. but does it slay regardless? also yes. it's a certified bop, that i will always love dancing to. i think the lyrics are perfect for a dance track, and in general, i think it'll always bring good memories for me. so what if i'm a little nostalgic for this song? it's valid. it's catchy as hell.

12. better off anyway by brandon bizior

this song walked so the holy trinity of sparks are gonna fly, in my mind, and all i want could RUN. that pop-punk flair i really love is so apparent and there, and i cannot understate enough how much i love the instrumental. i didn't expect to like it this much even, but sonically it's so good. reminds me a lot of check yes, juliet by we the kings to be honest. what knocks it down here (still top 20 lmao) is just that i think the lyrics aren't as strong as the three songs i mentioned above, and there are other songs i like better. but definitely a replayable song and one that i was shocked to like so much that i want to revisit it!

13. see you again by amer dhaliwal

the chorus of this one is so catchy!!!! i really like how it's written too, and i think the melodies are really good. i would say the verses are kind of boring though, and they're cheesy as well. but amer sounds amazing singing the lyrics so does that cancel it out? to me it does. the high notes are killer and it's definitely one i can see revisiting. however, it does land here because i just like the other ones more, and they appeal more to me.

14. dreams by shania fillmore

classic tbh!!!! i love the instrumentation, and while the lyrics are very VERY cheesy, i find that shania's delivery makes them less so. she seems to really believe the message of the song lmao. it's also insanely catchy, and i applaud the decisiveness of wanting a country-pop song instead of something that might be more leaning into edm or straight pop.

15. front row by madi amyotte

i swear this song was featured somewhere and tbh even if it *wasn't*, it should've been. even though the writing is very very cheesy, it doesn't seem played into so much, like the artist genuinely believes that it's true. i also love the instrumentation and think the vocals are great. i genuinely think that this is one of the best songs, just for how catchy it is even upon my first listen. season 3 really had a great group!

16. up to us by jory zechner

wow season 7 really had some of the best production and songwriting in terms of melodies. i think the chorus carries this song but around it, there's p good lyrics and melodic tendencies. the one thing that i do dislike a lot is the spoken word bridge, but overall, the rest of the vocals are really solid. replayability factor is also high.

17. if i fall by wren burnett

i was shocked to find out how much i liked this one! i think the writing in the verses is really solid, and the chorus has a lot to it too. the instrumental is amazing and you can tell that wren has a great voice that doesn't need excess vocal modulation. i genuinely am going to revisit this one and it is definitely my favourite of the season 2 songs for sure. it's very early jojo and you know what?? not a bad thing at all.

18. the last word by briar gillis

so evanescence, so angsty. and genuinely i really enjoy it! i think that the verses have pretty good songwriting, but the pre-chorus is cheesy. the chorus could come in stronger, but her vocals overall are pretty good throughout and fit the song. i like the instrumental a lot too, and that she leaned into the live instrument thing. the belt before the last chorus is what i would want for the whole song going into the chorus.

19. it might be you by parker schmidt

okay so if we're talking on writing ALONE this one would be way down there with "the way i see you". but we're not, so i would just like to say that i really like the instrumental of this one and how catchy it is. yes there is a ton of vocoder on it, but it's a really really cute song otherwise and i think it's one of the ones with the most earwormy choruses. def a fave of mine, no matter what.

20. goodbye gravity by dante scott

i love the verses and pre-chorus of this song. the soft drop is also perfectly timed, and it's just a great dance song! it's so catchy that by the end i was singing along to the chorus, but it's also not dated. however, i can't put it in the top songs simply because the post-chorus is quite shallow and i really like other songs more

21. be your holiday by shon burnett

say what you want but this is a cute ass song. catchy for sure! while it is really shallow writing, and i really think the instrumental is grating with the brass, shon's voice is actually pretty good in this, and makes it up for it. aside from the spoken word pre-chorus of course. i would've liked this song to explore the more tropical sound in the way the bridge implies, as opposed to the brass. but like it's one that i always find myself aw-ing at

22. say u 2 by paige prescott

cheesy yes, but it's so catchy and easy to sing along to. i love her vocal on it and it sucks that during the live show, she also got sick similar to issy. but i like this song far more than issy's, just for how cute it is. it also has great background instrumentals and overall is just a bop!

23. i got a crush on you by isabelle stern

such a cute little song! i really like isabelle's vocals on this, and you can tell that she has such mature depth in her voice. again: electronic elements but it doesn't feel dated. the lyrics do make this feel a bit juvenile but at the same time, i think it works for her voice and she sings it well. i love the octave change too. definitely catchy, but it's not good enough to be pushed up into the upper echelon of songs.

24. lioness by kat moscone

the instrumental on this one really hits, and tbh saves it. outside of the verses, which come in really strong and are lyrically pretty alright, the chorus is weak and so is the bridge. i really dislike the rap bridge section, and while kat's vocals are good throughout, i just find myself drawn more to the backing track more than the melodies. it's catchy, but in a way that's definitely grating by the end of the song due to its repetitiveness

25. from the heart by amanda rowland

i wasn't expecting to like this one as much as i did! i think it works and fits perfectly with her voice, and i love the instrumental and how it builds throughout the song. it doesn't feel juvenile either, if a little bit cheesy in the lyrics. i think my one knock is that it builds so much that by the end, you can tell the vocal chops just are not there to hold it up.

26. caught up by grace johnston

i like the instrumental of this song and i absolutely love the chorus. they're both really catchy. however, i think the vocal delivery on this song is weak and really, the lyrics are pretty mediocre. it doesn't hit hard enough either. middle of the pack seems right about right for this song. i like the name drop too though.

27. without you here by tiana flegel

very hilary duff-esque. i really enjoy it, it's solid in terms of sound. and the songwriting is decent enough that it's not a bother to me! i wouldn't necessarily look for it to listen, but if it came on, i wouldn't be mad. kinda just a middle of the pack song

28. what r u doin 2 me by michaelah weekes

i don't love the chorus of this one, but the verses are really great lyrically. i think the instrumental is interesting too. but overall, there's nothing super special about this song. it just kinda feels like it's there.

29. shy by dunnery bond

again, it might just be that it's not my style, but i feel like this song sounds a bit like elevator music. it doesn't feel juvenile to me though, which is good. i think it's just cause i'm not drawn to this type of music, but overall it's really not that bad

30. gotta give a little extra by darren espanto

darren's vocals in this song are amazing, and that's genuinely the only thing that saves this one lmao. the verses are bloated with unnecessary lyrics, and the chorus is annoyingly repetitive. there's nothing even interesting going on in the instrumental. darren's runs sound great though, and you can tell he's probably the most talented vocalist (on vocal talent alone) out of all of the top 6's in the show. i wish they would've given him a better song though, so all of that could shine.

31. so hepburn by ryland clark

meh. that's really all i can say about this song. i think it's catchy enough, but i also don't find myself dancing along like with the others. it has this guitar lick that just goes on forever and never gives up, and it's quite annoying. the verses are also quite bloated with lyrics. i don't find that there's anything spectacular about this song, although i think that the concept is interesting! the songwriting also isn't great though, so it falls flat.

32. now by the season 5 top 6

a pretty shallow pop song tbh. i find the chorus a bit grating with it's repetitiveness, but i like the post-chorus. the verses are not that well written either though, and the overall mixing of their voices together wasn't done very well. definitely the weakest of the top 6 group songs, by far.

33. more by issy dahl

i could only find a live version of this, and she's very visibly sick in it tbh. chorus hits but the verses are super boring. kinda just meh. i wish there was a better version of it online because she really does kill the chorus. hard to judge because of the vocal performance.

34. solitude of sunday by darrelyne bickel

cheesy writing and boring instrumentals, really nothing i like in it. i think the vocals are really lacking too. just a boring song that has not much going for it, and isn't memorable overall in terms of the show. i won't be revisiting it. it's alright though i guess. mid.

35. insane (thru with you) by mimoza duot

ugh with mimoza's voice they could have done SO SO much more!!!! instead we get an electronic and vocally modulated song, with shallow lyrics. it also completely loses me on the catchiness factor, really does sound like something from an early 2000s movie that plays during the shopping montage. i wish we had more from her cause her vocals through all the modulation sound deep and great but...

36. everyday crazy by christina leclair

i really dislike the lyrics to this song. they feel really cheesy and they remind me of a knock-off of wonderful crazy by katelyn tarver. the backing instrumental IS good, but that's about all that is with this song. i think the vocals are alright, but it's really nothing special and i don't enjoy it in the same way i enjoy the others.

37. spotlight by april llave

it's so similar sonically to breaking glass, but i think the writing is worse, and there's an overuse of woahs and ahs in the verses. the pre-chorus really does hit, but the chorus is boring as hell with the same words repeated over and over again. the bridge is pretty bad as well. the edm backing music is interesting though, and that's probably what keeps it here and not somewhere lower. cause it is pretty catchy.

38. you better watch out for me by alicia moffet

this one is really just mid for me tbh. like i genuinely don't know why people liked it so much. i liked the message and it was a cute song, but the production is really lacking anything interesting and the lyrics aren't great either. of course, i like it better than many of the other songs but really, there's nothing special with it.

39. more perfect than a doll by lizz kellermann

the audio for this one was really bad, but i don't think that changes how bad the songwriting is either. i can see where she's coming from with this song, trying to be relateable, but at the same time, it just feels really fake. i like the vocals, but there's just not much else that draws me to this song.

40. the way i see you by brooklyn roebuck

oh wow, listening back to this one really makes you realize how HIGH SCHOOL it is. it's really not at all that catchy either. maybe it's just because it's very country and i don't love that genre, but in comparison to the other country songs on this list, it's definitely the weakest.

41. winners by jaden macphee

it might just not be my style, but i find this song really just boring and not at all catchy. the verses are quite bloated with lyrics in comparison to the chorus, which only has a few. the edm drops just aren't appealing here to me, and there's so much more they could have done with jaden's voice i feel like. he kills it on his runs, but unfortunately the rest of the song is just repetitive and annoying to listen to .

42. what we need is love by rayandra hudson

maybe it's just because of the sound quality but i really just did not like listening to this song. aside from the sound quality, rayandra sounds pretty pitchy. and it's far too reminiscent of a song like hey there delilah without the charm. it's definitely not the worst song, but not something i'd ever reach for.

43. stuck in my world by maranda thomas

i don't like the repetitiveness of the chorus nor the random people shouting things throughout the song. it's very early 2000s though, reminds me of outrageous by britney spears. i don't like that song either though, so maybe it's just the style. not one i'll be revisiting

44. do it by nissita francis

it's so cheesy and juvenile and i am cringing about it, but trying to keep in mind she was really young when she sang this. i mean it is kind of catchy, in a bad way, with just the chorus. the verses aren't really engaging and i feel like she sounds very autotuned. i really don't like the background instrumental claps either. the video is cute though! and her vocals are also good, just not her natural vocals, and you can tell.

45. if you were mine by milly benzu

the catchiest part is the "if you were mine"s and even that is really just a bright spot in a sea of edm that is bad and uncatchy. the songwriting is really juvenile and tries to have so many unnecessary drops and vocal modulation sections. i really would've just loved a song with milly's singing on it cause i know it was good, not this bs.

46. one more first chance by brock zanrosso

it's so early 2000s and so just boring. i imagine this song as a glob of wet paper mache tbh. it's just so unappealing to me, and maybe i just don't like the style, but there's something that distinctly turns me off from it. i really couldn't listen to all of it, i think the lyrics are cheesy and sonically it isn't amazing either.

47. gonna make you dance by alyssa reid

this was NOT what i was expecting from alyssa reid's debut song. it's so latin flair for no reason? there's also a really odd vocoder on her voice that's entirely unnecessary. i really question what they were going for with this song, because it's not really all that catchy either.

[pianostarinwonderland]

ok so i think nrc has no problem with accepting trans students, b4 or after transition. but like- do u think the mirror would bring in a trans guy before even THEY know they're trans?? like. they still identify and present as a female and everyone is so confused on why they're there LMAO

You know, that's such an interesting ask. 🤔🤔 I think it all depends on how progressive Night Raven College is as an institution. The student body may be progressive, but if the administration (so like, Crowley and other upper faculty heads) is very traditional, it's likely that the Mirror would not bring in a trans guy, let alone say a female presenting person who is still exploring their gender identity. From the choice of using 'housewarden' to Crowley's great respect for the past, I feel like the school might be too traditional to consider inviting a trans person.

But also, it's hard to say in the end. The Mirror of Darkness is a magic tool, and thus, I doubt that it by itself will have inherent biases and discriminations. I guess if it will have a bias in the way it sorts and invites students, it would be either because it actually has its own sentience or those who are 'controlling' the Mirror are inputting their own biases to Mirror. 🤔 Similar to how AI and machine learning works, you know. In a way, we can already kind of see that there may be a bias with the way the Mirror sorts, particularly with Savanaclaw. Commonly, the beastmen are in that dorm, and while you will see other beastmen in other dorms, it's still noticeable that much of Savanaclaw's dorm members are beastmen. Some doubts have already been raised in-game regarding the way the Mirror sorts the students. Particularly, I'm referring to chapter 5 (I believe around 36 or 37) when Jamil whispers to himself after Kalim talks about how he got into NRC.

Well, if the Mirror could accept a magicless person from another world, surely it can accept a trans guy. :P For a female presenting person exploring their identity, it's hard to say, though. Remember that you still have to apply to NRC (in normal circumstances), so if they don't apply, they don't get invited.

[momo-de-avis]

Did you ever use escudos? If so what was the transition to euros like?

I did!

The hardest part first was understanding the exchange rate, I think it's called. A lot of things didn't adapt exactly by value. Like, things that were 50 escudos became 50 cents, they did this simply to make the transition easier. The problem was that a coffee was now worth technically 100 escudos, because that's what 50 cents is worth, so at first there was a lot of "yall are robbing me" sentiment (coffee is the litmus test for how expensive life is. If the price of coffee goes up, nobody's shutting up lmao).

But it wasn't so hard at first because there was a transition period. I can't remember how long it was, but months to a year, it was rather long, when establishments accepted both currencies they then could exchange in banks, and there was a lot of information out there (this before the internet became what it is today). It was harder for elderly people, of course, who kept equating the numbers without really considering the difference in value. So, say, 5 Escudos, to them, would be 5€ because it's the same number and the bills were very similar too (both a similar shade of green, they're considerably different, but for an elderly person not so much). Problem here is 5€ is 1000 Escudos (it's always double) so it was that difference they didn't really take into consideration.

In terms of the impact in the economy, I can't speak much for it because I was 10 when the change happened, so a lot of things were lost on me, but I do remember the major complaint was that -- and this was most people's fear about adapting the Euro, and the major argument of those who, for a while, fought to have the escudo back -- the price of things went up. One concern was that the Escudo didn't have a lot of value when compared to other currencies (northern europe, mostly), so adapting the Euro meant the price of stuff would go up and the disparity would be wider (I'm a dumbass when it comes to economy, but to a certain level, we did verify that, and that difference is still felt. The culmination of that, as far as I can tell, and I am considering every issue economists and such like brought up at the time, was the Troika era).

I can tell that life was a lot cheaper with escudos lmao back in the day, I'd head down to the school's bar and with a 100 escudos coin I'd get a LOT of shit. You can't get shit with 1€ these days.

Now, this might be super shallow, but it's THE thing I remember best, when the euro started circulating, everyone started collecting them lmao Euros have different designs per country, right, so getting a foreign euro in your hand was like getting a new pokemon. "Oh shit, where is THAT one from?" "Did you see the new 2€ dutch coin?" Stuff like this. We got a LOT of euros from Spain fast, of course, but when northern ones ended up in our change, people went bonkers over it.

It's funny cause these days I don't even look at he coin's design, nobody does, but it was such a huge deal back then haha

Maybe it was easier for me cause I have economists or just people who are really good with the economy in the family, so they gave me a very good explanation and prepped me for the change, but I did live in a mostly elderly zone, and yeah, they found it confusing, of course. But like I said, the transition period really helped, especially considering it meant establishments accepted both currencies. It allowed people to get a better understanding of what exactly 1€ or 2€ was worth. Which also made a lot of people angry lol there was a not at all small movement of "bring the escudo back". It was sort of reignited during the Troika years, but it didn't catch on. I think it eventually fizzled out, I haven't heard anyone suggesting it in many, many years

Edit: forgot to say what the biggest shock was. Escudos didn’t have cents. Centavos fell out of circulation like, back in the 80s or 70s, I don’t remember. So THAT was a learning curve for most of us, because for the first time we had to deal with cents. 

Escudos was a weird currency, in retrospect

[mallowstep]

I shall not be outdone by some anon in getting in some good questions about your AUs, much less when it is MY idea that sparked this all! Much as I'm interested in RiverClan (my beloved <3), and would be fascinated to hear even more about how Jay relates to their culture, I actually want to hear a bit more about the other two for a change.

So, what's Jay's favorite and least favorite things about his new friends? What are their favorite and least favorite things about Jay in return?

How does Lion fit in the dynamic with the other med cat apprentices? Considering he gets to meet Willow and Kestrel regularly he's in a perfect spot for spying on his friends' crushes, so does he do it or is he homophobic? How do you think this different path in life would affect his relationships within ThunderClan, if at all?

What's Holly's preferred position to run? And how's being Breezepaw's sister going for her?

(I know that last one is not like the focus of the AU, but like... When suggesting it I was miraculously not on my constant state of Jayfeather brainrot and I thought this would be the angle you'd go for. But you being you, you did me one better and I'm in love but I still would appreciate to have something on that front.)

<3 don't worry jace my beloved <3 no anon will ever take your place in my heart /lh

(not that i don't adore you, anons <3 there is room for so much love)

jay's opinions of his friends?

willowpaw is his...technically big sister but not really. also they look similar. mosspelt has to convince jaykit he's adopted. she can be kind of overprotective around him, especially as she's in training to be the next spiritual leader.

but she also is his littermate, and so she doesn't ever doubt his abilities.

pebblepaw and minnowpaw can make it hard for him to forget that he's the youngest, which is kind of not Super Fun.

that said, they're constantly willing to pull him into whatever anti-pouncepaw nonsense is going on.

and pouncepaw! he can overshoot "older apprentice" into "annoying older brother," but he's also a good source of advice from not-an-adult.

and what do they think about him?

willowpaw can be irritated by jaypaw's constant sarcasm and so on. but he's a good listener and she appreciates that.

pebblepaw feels like he doesn't want to be friends sometimes, which is hard for her. (*aside that in Canon pebblefoot is a tom but i do this a lot with background characters. see: runningpaw in ibtwicm. it's too late i've decided. trans pebblefoot and runningbrook ftw.)

but! he's also incredibly tenacious and she likes that.

minnowpaw is very Ideal Riverclan Cat so she does Not relate to jaypaw and feels like he's making a big deal out of nothing a lot of the time. he's a really good hunting partner tho, for fish killing pair purposes.

and pouncepaw mostly is irritated at jaypaw for being a little kid. pouncepaw is trying to be a teenager. but, he does. he sees optimism in jaypaw where the others don't. you know, the, nothing can stop me atttitude. he sees that and values it.

how does lionpaw fit in with the other medicine cat apprentices?

well he's straight and has a lot of anxiety, so not very well lmao.

but more seriously, kestrelpaw and willowpaw are both older and have an existing relationship, and he's an only child, who doesn't really know how to relate to them.

willowpaw spooks him off by being riverclan-in-your-face-and-personal, and kestrelpaw feels distant. they do eventually all get along, but as kids it's a bit of a rough transition.

does he spy on his friends' crushes?

they don't really need him to (they have their siblings/friends for that), but yes definitely. lionpaw and leafpool live for the fucking gossip. their entire mentor-apprentice relationship is built around a mutual love for gossip.

(is that justified anywhere in canon? no. do i care? no.)

what're his relationships with thunderclan like?

different! sorry, that's not helpful. thunderclan medicine cats are fairly isolated, and lionpaw feels that.

especially when we get into power stuff...

but he's very close with leafpool, and having a close mentor-apprentice bond is good for him.

he doesn't have the same rivalry with berrypaw, nor does he really crush on cinderpaw. it's...not great leafpool would really like him to socialize with the kiddos.

but lionpaw is going through it. he's got some dark forest stuff going on. it's a whole thing.

what position does hollypaw run?

i haven't decided, but probably flusher.

she's really messing with the symbolism in breezepelt the catcher, crowfeather the chaser, nightcloud the flusher, i.e., a family that satisfies family, that is effective and functional, but fails to understand one another.

(this is symbolism specific to Them lmao. no one go reading into deadfoot and ashfoot like that. deadfoot is a simp for his wife, that's the symbolism there. things are flexible.)

anyway, whatever position i put hollypaw in, i'm necessarily drawing a connection to one of her family members, and i don't know who i want to do that to yet. that said, probably flusher. not just because i enjoy writing about flushing (yes i Do ramble excessively in ibtwicm about the ecology of deciding what to hunt), but because i think it works for her character.

flushers are said to be inflexible. unyielding. they make a plan and expect that plan to happen. that works for hollypaw.

what's it like being breezepaw's sister?

well. they're siblings in a not-super-functional household. crowfeather and nightcloud are: hm. they...need to get a divorce. not because they're fighting constantly, but because people can just be bad for each other and bad for their kids.

i don't want to generally slander arranged marriages. however crow and night get together because they both need to prove their loyalty. and nightcloud is willing to put that work in, but crowfeather isn't. and that's just a recipe for failure.

breezepaw is also so angry all the time. it drives hollypaw crazy.

but fundamentally, they're siblings. they love and care deeply about each other. they're supportive. they fight, sure, and they do have a pretty major falling out after hollypaw gets hurt in riverclan, but their relationship is a fairly prototypical sibling bond.

i think hollypaw and breezepaw would get on very well if they didn't have the crowfeather drama between them, and they don't here. crowfeather is equally bad at being a father to both of them.

they also, okay, as adults, they also struggle. because holly...i haven't decided if she keeps her name but i'll say hollyleaf for now, so hollyleaf decides to forgive crowfeather. and breezepelt isn't in that place. and he's mad at hollyleaf for forging a new relationship with crowfeather.

like, he feels like she's saying, "it's fine you weren't around for us as kids, if you want to be around now." and really, that's not what's happening. but breezepelt feels like that's what's happening.

yeah! there's not actually a ton of interest there, their relationship is pretty strong. windclan has their eyes on the pair, though, because they are the first litter of a failing test of loyalty.

<3

[gingerbreadmonsters]

hii!! I'm so sorry for taking so long to respond, I've been a little busy and I didn't want to rush a reply but I hope you've been good the last few days <3 have you been up to anything interesting since uni ended?

ooh I won't go on for too long about kpop because you'll never hear the end of it 😂 I really like bts and blackpink too!! mmh I'm multifandom for the most part, but my mains are twice, nct, enhypen and gidle, they're all really good groups if you wanna check them out. and its pretty funny because you're joining kpop right in the transition from 3rd gen to 4th gen haha, so there's a lot going on to see!! twice's 'formula of love' album is incredible if you want to listen them more, every song on it is so damn good, I play it all the time. 'cruel' is a very good song if you don't want to listen to the full album. also 'verse 2' by jj project is a super good album but very different from 'normal' kpop, it's more chill than pop. it's one of my faves.

and here I was saying I wasn't gonna talk a lot about kpop 😂

ALSO I've been meaning to look into redacted asmr but I haven't had the chance to yet, I don't really know much about asmr but I lowkey wanna get into it. I've heard a few of the anime guy asmr's, is it similar to that? but anyway, I read green umbrella trees it was so cute and pretty, you're writing is absolutely amazing. I fell in love with the way you described him touching the readers body, I literally don't know how else to explain it but it was like I was reading the best poetry in the world. I wanna know who made you feel love the way you do because I can really see how beautiful and precious it is in your writing. and I can't wait for the beach simeon fic! I'm in a whole beach mood since the weather has been pretty nice lately, so I am ready for it!!!

also your mum sounds so cool haha I hope your easter is lovely tomorrow if you're celebrating it <3

- 🌻

baby!! hello 🥰🥰

lmao so i said i was going to rest my ankle, turns out that is a little bit difficult when you are on holiday with your parents in spain 🤡 valencia is very lovely but i am walking at about 0.5 mph so plenty of time to smell the metaphorical roses?? i get back today so this coming week i'm going to meet up w some of my friends from sixth form which will be nice :) how about you?? any plans while the weather's still decent?? 🌤️🌤️

UMMMM???? listening to 'cruel' literally right now and this is an entire BOP *added to playlist* 🕺🕺🕺ooh i've heard good things about nct, will add them to the list 👌✌️

😭😭 i'm so glad you liked green umbrella trees!! ik the redacted fandom is p small, so it's very reassuring to know that you liked it anyway 🥺🥰 i am blushing v hard

i think i get a lot of my ideas about love from reading fic tbh - i have no real experience with romantic love irl (unless you count the one or two crushes i had at school lmao it's definitely not from real life i am so very very single lmao), so i feel very attached to the idea of love as something fantastical and strange and somehow comforting - something alien and unusual and that makes your head spin, but that feels like home. you don't need to look too closely at my writing to see that i like to compare feelings that are very zoomed in with much larger, grander concepts - to take green umbrella trees as an example:

"he takes the universe in his stride - it follows behind him, waiting on his word, lapping playfully at his heels. [...] your world is the size of his voice. your living room is the size of his love. your heart is the size of his hands. you measure the whole world to him, and nothing ever compares."

"elastic snaps against skin. outside, the sky stretches on forever."

the bits that resonate the most with me when i'm reading tend to be quite tactile - the connection between touch and trust and vulnerability.... when i actually think about it, it's quite unusual for me to get very close to people?? like?? so describing skin contact of any variety holds a lot of weight to me, and that's the feeling i want to put across :)

SIMEON BEACH FIC!!!!! im very excited for this one hehe 🤠🤠 lots of ice cream and sunshine and goodness to come (although it's really hard to not call it sun tan lotion?? i think that's just a uk thing and i'm worried that it might come off as the wrong thing, so now i have to call it sunscreen) 🏖️🏖️🏖️

and yes happy easter my love!! hope you have a gorgeous day tomorrow (regardless of whether you're celebrating anything or not :D)

(let me pop this under the cut bc i RAMBLED wow)

REDACTED ASMR!! i have no idea who this anime guy is lmao i don't listen to very much asmr in general ok so i only discovered it very recently on youtube, but bro?? it's actually really good?? the guy who does it, erik, is so big-brained and has the most incredible storylines and universe (plus his voices?? 😘😘 obv idk much about regional american accents but imo he is UNCLOCKABLE WOW) - i think i spoiled summarised the marcus storyline in this post!

the basic premise is that a magical, "empowered" society exists alongside and hidden from our normal "unempowered" reality - each "main character" has a listener who functions as a character of their own, and all of these characters are involved in various different storylines that overlap with others (e.g. the 'inversion' arc). it's a MASSIVE universe but it's actually not that hard to get into - lmk if you want me to break down an order that i recommend, bc this post is already v long lmao

(for context: this is a list of i think most of the characters who have listeners?? there are lots more - all with distinct voices!! claps to mr erik!! - who are supporting/background characters but do not have listeners, who aren't here. listed as "character name (listener nickname)".

the DAMN boys (elementals): lasko, damien, huxley (plus gavin, an incubus) - these guys all have one listener, called freelancer/deviant

the solaire clan (vampires): vincent (lovely), sam (darlin')

the shaw pack (werewolf shifters): david (angel), asher (babe), milo (sweetheart), plus sam's listener darlin'

the office boys: aaron (smartass), ollie (babe/mentor)

miscellaneous other?? (includes 'the balance', 'sadism's hold', and 'project meridian', plus some extra): elliott (sunshine), blake (bestie?), ivan (baby), vega (warden), avior (starlight), marcus (love), geordi (cutie)

it's such a wonderful fandom and literally everyone in the tag is lovely - highly highly recommend 😍😍

[kyluxtrashpit]

For the writing game, I couldn't decide which, all the colors please? They're so interesting!

Omg I was so excited when I saw this! You’re so sweet to enable my rambling

Red: What type of writer’s block do you experience the most?

I guess the most common one is I get stuck in transitions. Like I know how this scene goes and I know how the next scene goes, but I don’t know exactly how to get from A to B and it’s one of those cases where I can’t just put a line and jump to it. Scene transitions are one of the hardest things for me for some reason. The second most common for me is probably when my brain is being a shit and won’t let me be productive due to some sort of emotional crisis lmao

White: Are you a supporter/lover of fanfiction?

I mean, kind of obvious lmao, but absolutely. I think it’s great that there are people who are creating things solely out of love for something, and that’s really what fanfiction is, at it’s deepest core. It’s a community of people being so enthusiastic about and loving something so hard that they work their asses of and dedicate time to just… making more of it. For no real external benefit other than some social validation, if they’re lucky. Love and passion are the true motivators and idk that’s just really beautiful to me

Black: Would you want to live in one of the fictional worlds you’vecreated?

I don’t really do a lot of worldbuilding because I find it incredibly boring and I’m terrible at it lmao, but since I always write either canon-verse or modern au, I’m going to treat this as ‘do I want to live in the Star Wars universe?’. And the answer to that would honestly be no. As much as there’s cool stuff, like advanced technology and aliens and maybe I’d be lucky enough to be able to move shit with my mind, there’s also a lot of bad things. A lot of fascism, a lot of wars, and every once in a while some asshole builds a planet-destroying superweapon and blows up a planet (or 5) and like… I could live on one of those, you know

That said, if I didn’t die because the planet I was living on exploded, I would probably survive alright. I mean, my background is in science, so tbh I might have better opportunities there than I do here. While that could mean making chemical weapons or something if the Empire was in power, that’s at least more interesting than customer service at a chemical company lmao. I still wouldn’t choose to live there, but I think I’d manage okay if I had to

[More beneath the cut - my sincerest apologies to those on mobile]

Blue: What’s more important to you: characters or plot?

I mean, they both definitely matter, but if I have to choose? Interesting characters can save a dry plot, but the best plot ever written will still be mediocre at best if the characters aren’t compelling. Personally, I love character-driven stories more than anything. Event-driven plots can still be fun, but I prefer the focus to be on how the characters are dealing with said events, as opposed to them just being passively driven along by them. The best is when it’s the characters themselves driving the events of the plot, but that’s more difficult to execute than it sounds. Regardless, it’s the characters that usually draw me into a story in the first place and that keep me interested. And from the perspective of my own writing, I go character-driven, all the way. Sure, some event might happen that drives the plot sometimes, but I’m far more interested in how the characters react to that event than anything else

Yellow: What’s a common writing tip that you mostly ignore?

In terms of writing advice, nothing makes my blood boil more than those posts that say ‘get rid of this entire class of words’ or ‘if it’s not absolutely strictly necessary to the plot, cut it’. Fuck that shit. If you want your writing to look like Hemingway, sure, go for it, but a) Hemingway is overrated, and b) that’s not the only way to write well. Especially as someone who tends to focus on characters, passages that aren’t necessary to the plot may be necessary to establish characterization. Or they may add some emotion to the story that gets the reader invested. Same with wording choices; more or less words can drastically change the tone or mood of the scene. Are there times when you need to cut words and keep things concise? Absolutely, but any writing tip that says ‘remove every instance of [word] in your document’ is fucking bullshit and you should never listen to it

Grey: What’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

Tbh I think every writing tip you see should always be taken with a grain of salt, especially if it’s a ‘never do x’ because there is almost always a situation where doing x is the right thing to do, it’s just a matter of knowing how to do it correctly (looking at you, ‘never use the passive voice’). So really, there are very few I always follow, but I’ll give one that was foundationally helpful for me

Edit in a different format than you write. That can be changing the text size, or the font, or printing it out physically, or whatever. For me, I usually pop it into AO3′s preview function and take notes of things that need changing as I go. It forces your brain to notice things it’s been overlooking for the entire writing period. I only do my final edit this way, generally speaking, but I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful for catching typos and general weirdness in the writing

Orange: How many projects do you usually have going at once?

Because my fics are usually short, I tend to only have 1, but I think I’ve had up to 3-4 before. That’s basically me just popping between documents everytime I get stuck on one until one is finished lmao. But more than 2 gets to be a lot to handle

Currently, I’m really only working on my Big Bang fic, though I do have at least one one-shot I’m planning to write when I need a short break from it

Pink: Which of your characters would become your best friend?

This is so hard because like, I don’t get along with a lot of people generally speaking. I’m also going to treat this as the entire SW cast even though I only write Kylo and Hux, for the most part. And I’m not sure I’d be good friends with either of them. While Kylo would make an excellent self-destruction buddy, I think we’re too similar for the most part to get along. And while I also have an element of Hux in me that’s my anal retentiveness when it comes to organization (not to be confused with cleanliness; I’m talking more about my colour-coded work email and my nested folder system on my computer), I’m also very emotional, messy, and I’m not really equipped to verbally spar with him. I think I would actually do okay with Hux as a boss, not a friend, but with Kylo, I think we’d get along really well until we really didn’t. And then I would be dead lmao

Aaaand none of that was an actual answer. But like, I honestly don’t know? Most of the other characters I really like (e.g. Rey, Rae Sloane, Ventress), it’s because I would have a big huge crush on them which would manifest as my hovering in their vicinity a lot but never actually starting a conversation and then waxing poetic while crying about my unrequited love when I continue to go unnoticed lmao. Which is, well, still not friendship

Maybe Finn… I might get along really well with Finn. He’s one of my favourites as well and I think he’d be really interesting to talk to. Has a lot of interesting views on things, likely a good listener. Hm. I’m still not 100% solid on it, but after far too many words, that’s my answer lmao

Purple: Which of your characters would become your sworn enemy?

Okay, hear me out on this one because the reason isn’t what you think lmao. I’m also treating this less as ‘sworn enemy’ and more ‘person I’d least get along with’ and that’s actually Poe. And the reason is that highly extroverted, extremely friendly people who others call charismatic tend to rub me the wrong way. Like there’s nothing wrong with them, they’re perfectly nice, but they’re just too friendly and my socially-inept, introverted brain always responds to that with DANGER DANGER. And I think he would definitely fall into that category for me haha

Green: Pencil, typewriter, or computer?

Computer. I have written fic by hand before (I also sometimes do planning by hand, just because it can be a bit more visual; Fractured was planned largely by hand when I used to work evenings at a gym and had access to unlimited spare paper), but that’s usually only when I have nothing else to work with. I wrote most of a fic in the Halifax airport on a layover, once. I’ve also done it on my phone, but that’s too fucking annoying lmao. Typerwriters are super fun to use but also very impractical for me; my typing accuracy isn’t good enough

Brown: Do you have a set writing space? Or do you write everywhere?

Mostly I’m at home on my couch, but that’s really cause I have nowhere else to write. I do write at work sometimes (not smut though lmao), but only when it’s slow enough that I can get away with it. And there’s nowhere else I really go where I’m sitting with a computer for long periods of time

Silver: Are you comfortable writing in public places?

I am, yeah. I don’t know why I wouldn’t be tbh. Work is a public place and the only reason I don’t write smut there is because I don’t want to get fired lmao (slacking off is one thing, porn is another). I don’t really ever write in public, but that’s more because I don’t spend a lot of time sitting in public places by myself

Gold: Do your stories usually contain lessons or morals?

Not really… I can’t think of any at least. They always have some sort of closure, though, because I fucking hate open-ended stuff where everything isn’t worked out in the end lmao (or is at least on it’s way there). I’m too fragile for that shit haha

Clear: Do your characters control where the story goes or do youmaintain control?

I tend to write more like an rper than an actual author, based on conversations I’ve had with others, so my characters have a lot of control. That said, if you’ve got your plot and all the major points of it planned out and then you get halfway through and find it doesn’t work because of the characters, then that’s a failure in planning, not the characters taking control. Sometimes things do change and are reworked as you go, that’s the nature of writing, but that still means your plan needed some adjusting, you just didn’t know it at the time. I intentionally leave a lot of room in my plans for the characters (e.g. ‘and then they talk about [blank]. Hux says something mean and Kylo gets angry’ might be my only note for an entire scene), but if you’ve planned enough to actually start writing, your characters and plot should already work together. Characters control the minor details of the story, not the major plot

Tan: Are you open to co-writing a story?

I might be. I’ve never done it before and the Big Bang I’m doing now is the most collaborative thing I’ve ever done writing-wise. If someone approached me and was really interested in it, I might be willing to give it a shot. I’m not really sure how it works, though. I tend to envision it as basically an rp except it’s planned out beforehand and then edited afterwards, but in all honesty, I have no idea how it actually goes