#things to think about

[ksfoxwald]

agree with most of this but honestly my main problem is that it is Not For Me. And that's okay! People are allowed to enjoy things that I hate and believe have no artistic merit. They're allowed to hate the things I like too. It's all part of the ecosystem.

I think what I'm actually frustrated with is that it is starting to look like queer fantasy - and queer literature in general - is starting to skew cozy. And that's fine! I would have committed felonies to read some of these books as a baby queerling just coming to terms with my identity and searching for something, anything, to tell me how it was going to be okay.

But I see a lot more stories marketed as "queer cozy" or "queer joy" than "dark queer" or "queer angst," and I understand that the world sucks, we need our escapes. But even more grimdark-esque stories still call themselves "queernorm" (and that's a term and a half that we don't have time for here), promising that the characters will suffer but not because of their queerness.

And... the purpose of fantasy is to hold a mirror up to society and to look at things as how they could be if things were just a little bit different. To think about how our world shapes us and how we shape the world. I haven't seen many fantasy writers engaging with the effects of queerphobia on society, and that's something I really want to see. Something I think we as a society need to see, and to reckon with. We have spent so long not being able to tell these stories directly, and now we can, and we're... not.

(I also want to see more high-stakes low-tension Marvel style queer stories, but the genre seems to be polarizing into "cozy coffeeshops" or "brutal anticolonial revolution," so apparently no one else is.)

Cozy Fantasy and Why It Doesn't Work

I think I am among many who feel like they should love cozy fantasy and have found it an incredibly lacking genre.

This newly branded "cozy fantasy" genre that has taken readers by storm since 2020 and while it is new that books are now marketed as cozy, the genre itself isn't new. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones is a great example of the genre before it was labeled and also how to make it work.

Cozy fantasy is defined by many as fantasy with low stakes. Fantasy aesthetic but less sword fights. On paper, it sounds great. But the execution has been less than stellar for readers like me. The lack of physical stakes has also impacted the emotional stakes of these books, creating forgettable characters with boring problems. As a romance reader, I find this frustrating. Romance is known for being a predictable and formulaic genre, the now defunct Romance Writers of America defined romances as needing happy endings, a term romances have continued to follow. Yet these romance texts manage to have low physical stakes (how to date your neighbor, how to confront your toxic friends, etc) while still maintaining high personal stakes that keep readers invested and begging for more. So I was initially confused why cozy fantasy authors struggle to write texts that connect to readers like me.

I think I have found the answer which is the genre is just here for vibes. It is all about aesthetic, not even worldbuilding that fantasy is known for as most cozy fantasy I read have so many problems as soon as you ask one question. It is hard to acknowledge that a genre that is pitched to work for readers like me doesn't work for many of us. Especially because occasionally there is one that works beautifully to my taste.

I often say my favorite cozy fantasies that are more contemporary are short and visual, which I plays into the idea of the genre being an aesthetic. The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz is a good example because it is a simple story that is given the perfect amount of pages and gorgeous visuals without dragging on when the message is very clear and easy to understand. Books like The Phoenix Keeper and Legends and Lattes have absolutely nothing for me, their very clear message hitting the reader over and over so the readers don't miss it and focusing on the aesthetic of worldbuilding rather than the reality of the fantastic elements within the world.

I guess my point is. . . I realize this genre isn't for me since I have realized it is more of an aesthetic than anything. .. .but I want it to be. Should I let it go and put my efforts elsewhere? Or should I keep exploring this new trend and find the hidden gems?

[altraviolet]

hey so i was scrolling through the comment section of TEG and i saw a comment saying RIP TFP Ratchet?? What happened my boy? :'(

heya, he was the victim of worldbuilding, I'm afraid

cut for length!

so the logic of the comics states that 2 of the same thing can't exist in the same universe (specifically in proximity, but probably also in general). there are lot of finer details there that I could get into but basically I took that rule and put it in the fic like this:

the Lost Light cannot jump into any universe where anyone aboard who is currently living is alive. no living mech can go to a universe where there is already a living version of them.

so the logic goes: TFP Soundwave can go to 0001 because 0001 SW is dead, but TEG Rodimus cannot go to 0001 because 0001 Rodimus is still alive

because the LL successfully jumped to TFP SW's universe, the implication is that everyone aboard has died or never existed in the TFP universe. which means that TFP Megatron and Ratchet and Ultra Magnus are dead

now. did I do this purposefully? no xD and I didn't realize TFP Ratchet would be dead until I got that comment. and I went "oh. dang." because that hadn't been the intention.

when I first started the fic, I didn't have everything about jumping sorted out. I didn't even have a solution to the question "are they duplicating every time they jump?" until way into the fic. and I really was not at all concerned with any TFP character except SW, because SW was jumping onto the LL and leaving the TFP universe forever. the other TFP characters weren't relevant to anything I was working on

so yeah. I don't have an answer for what exactly happened to TFP Ratchet because it wasn't relevant to the fic. if it ever becomes relevant, I will figure it out, though

side note: this ties into "do you write the whole fic and then post" or "do you post chapter by chapter" in a way because the TEG you're seeing is the first draft. I posted chapter by chapter, and I've never gone back to make any major developmental edits

I don't know how I could've done the story without that worldbuilding rule, and I'm not sure how I could structure it so that TFP Ratchet is still alive [without some major eye rolling contrivances, like being reborn a la Megatron -> Galvatron, or something]. if it helps, if there were a way I could get around the rule and it didn't ruin the story, I'd do it xD you may have noticed from the lack of death count that I'm not really a fan of killing off the characters. it was nothing personal to TFP Ratchet u u

super side note: I feel like I shouldn't even be admitting this, but the thing where I hadn't reasoned out that TFP Ratchet would be dead when the LL went to TFP universe also happened with 2938 Megatron. when I realized that I went "oh shit" because I'd already established 2938 Megatron existed. and the little mention of him was one of those times where my brain said "hey write this, it sounds cool, and we might be able to expand on it later." I had NO IDEA 2938 Megatron would be so important to the story when I first wrote his mention. the mention was merely to bring a little extra detail to the fic and some intrigue to Mirage. my brain seeds stuff like that in the fic all the time, and then later when I need to problem solve plot stuff, it goes "hey remember Thing? connect that here." and that's what happened to 2938 Megatron. he got a cool mention, then I realized he shouldn't exist [I had Aquafend mention this in the Irradion chapters, lol, which was partly to inform readers but also partly me pointing out my own seeming-plot hole so I'd be forced to correct it later]. 2938 Megatron ascending to a godthing so divorced from his metal coil fortunately fit into the worldbuilding rule

so basically my brain does this:

-> set up a rule

-> write a bunch of stuff

-> put random details in

-> oh no problem where the worldbuilding seems to contradict the world

-> uh

-> refer back to random stuff

-> expand on it

-> tie it all together

-> write more

if you would also like to write this way, I'm afraid I have no advice other than to read a lot and practice writing a lot

so ummmm in conclusion, TFP Ratchet is dead or changed so much from his original form he cannot be recognized*, or, if you'd like to be really optimistic and out there, has somehow jumped to another dimension**. I didn't do that on purpose, but it was the natural result of the fic's worldbuilding.

thanks for the ask!

*the horror interpretation of this is really interesting actually... 👀

**I suppose another dimension hopping Lost Light, which has lost its Ratchet, could jump into TFP universe and snatch him up. I feel like TFP Ratchet wouldn't like LL Drift very much (especially since he'd be living the hell of the gray years every day in this instance) and would have a hard time adapting to the crew and new circumstance. I will write this fic for $50,000 cash sent through the mail

[cannibalchicken]

[ddeck]

braids

[megatronusprimedecal]

"Aren't you tired of being treated like we're nothing?"

Transformers One (2024)

[madokakanamereal]

Since Homura is very heavily influenced by / based on the nutcracker... does that make Madoka Magica a christmas classic 🤔

[frobby]

If anyone missed the iruma sins prints of them paired up here they are

[heart-of-tyria]

Been thinking I should do a series where I draw all the Firstborn,,, kinda a sudden thing but I think it'd at least help me draw more if I do

Played around with it by sketching a few today so please enjoy

[iken]

imagine spending a long day with your f/o. completing chores, going out to eat, having any sort of fun date planned, anything! then you guys come home and the first thing on your mind is to take a nap 🤭 imagine one of you laying on top of the other and falling fast asleep for the night <3

[ingravinoveritas]

For those who haven't heard this, this is a clip from the episode of David Tennant Does A Podcast With... featuring Olivia Colman, from 2019. In this clip, Olivia and David talk about people filming them without permission, the ubiquity of camera phones, and the idea of "home" as a sanctuary from loss of privacy. I thought it was something interesting to think about and consider, especially in the wake of recent events.

Transcript of notable bits below:

(Talking about a woman filming David on the set of Broadchurch) Olivia: "[...]And I was very defensive on your behalf, too." David: "I remem--Yes, there was that wonderful day on the pier at West Bay. Where I was having some microphone wire put down my trouser leg. It was very undignified." Olivia: "I think she was videoing you. From a table's distance away." David: "Yeah. I was very touched that you were furious, and you leapt at this woman. Although she sort of still didn't notice, did she? She sort of grinned and kept filming." --- Olivia: "I have friends that I adore and I like going to safe places with them--my home or their home or something." --- Olivia: "Now I noticed the world's changed. Everyone's got a fucking camera. And people are desensitized to fellow humans." David: "When you first lose that anonymity, it's quite threatening. It's much more threatening than you imagine it's going to be objectively. Cause you imagine that sort of--for want of a better word, celebrity--it somehow empowers you, but actually I think it's the opposite."

[13-nothing]

Been rereading the early Inky Mystery chapters recently and I have to say I forgot how flirty Bendy was in the beginning like Idk how I forgot about that. In the beginning it's like a huge part of his character and he's just changed sooooo much.

All of them have, like Felix being a Dad to not only Bendy and Boris, but the Cup-Bros too like now it would seem out of character for him to do that cause of the whole Wiseton mess. Then there's all their banter that's more or less up and left (or literally flown off in some cases), Alice and Bendy's puns, Cups and Bendy's play fighting, Mugs and Boris being cheeky against their bros, Holly's excessive questions (like they're there it's just less and she more subdued), Holly joking w the Cup-Bros or Alice and Cala, Cup calling her Tree Princess, and Finley's jokes and little skits w Sammy (oh Finley, u adorable fox, it's been a while).

OH and then there's the "widdle wolfie" thing, my heart hurts anytime as I reread those like com'on man I can't take it. On top of it I finally reached the Group Date thing and Alice is so avoidant of a relationship w Bendy cause of culture and her parents which is killing me cause like her Mom was fine w it (love that btw) and yeah we don't know how the Upper would react but we could've avoided SOME of the heartache we have now and it just makes me wonder what would've happened if she had excepted at the time.

Overall I just miss their family dynamic and just everything before Finley died and the Dark Circus stuff!!!😭😭😭

Like it's so pure and cute and I miss it...

But alas here we are, the Quester Family torn asunder.

.....

Yeah, they were just such cuties and I love them. Unfortunately tho I love drama, angst, and the darker stuff more so I can't wait to see what's next. Anyway I must say farewell to thee my fellow existences.

[dream2bu]

Possibly the Most important thing you'll read this Year...

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money ... or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

Source: Weird and Amazing Stuff

[bixels]

Who in the MLP cast would a member of the communist party in the 1920s.

[cannibalchicken]

[trixter-god]

Did you ship Zutara because you wanted zuko and katara to get together

OR

Did you ship Zutara because you wanted to be katara and had a crush on zuko

(EDIT: I am a multi-shipper so I do ship Zutara and meant no hate. This was just something that hit me at like 2 am because my 10 year old self wanted to be Katara)

[notreyev]

what if all our peter nureyev designs made out sloppy style