#this is not directed towards any single user

[historicity-was-already-taken]

Something I want to clear up:

I don’t hang out in political spaces on tumblr. I have my mutuals, my little sideblog where I scream about my ships, and here, where I talk about history.

I don’t have time to do a deep dive through the blog of everyone who engages with me to determine if they’re problematic. I go by the nature of our interaction, and the first five posts on their blog.

If you want me to take the time I need to spend on my book and my job search and devote it instead to tracking leftist and/or Jewish tumblr,* I can set up a Patreon and you can pay me for my takes; as a freelancer I charge hourly between $30-$60/hr depending on the nature of the task.

I also offer freelance services in the following categories: tutoring, non-fiction developmental editing, humanities research, and Chicago-style footnote formatting.

*this sentence gives Jewish Gestapo collaborator blech

[eliciana]

SAGAU SERIES: Misunderstandings

-> Chapter 1 | Chapter 2| Chapter 3| Chapter 4 (Here)| Chapter 5 |...

Masterlist

Blog Navigation

_________________________________________

Tw: Sagau, Cult!Au

Reader: Gn!Reader, Creator!Reader, God!Reader

Characters: Reader, Unknown Voice, Ganyu, Keqing, Aquilo

Note: Revised and corrected spelling mistakes

____________________________________

You’ve been acting like a fool for an entire hour now. Honestly, you feel like those hero days you have imagined after knowing you are the Creator is now over. You can’t even bring out a single dirt out of your fingertips. Even resulting to saying “Abracadabra” didn’t even work. Might as well give up right now. Is what you would have said if you were a little bitc- /jk. You once again paced around your now new entirely furnished house.

“Hm. What to do? What to do?” Either you were tapping your foot or going around in circles trying to figure out how to fix your predicament, there was no in between. Maybe you should try imagining the magic you were going to summon? That is a possibility. After all, it always somehow works in the novels or Mangas that you always read. Or perhaps touching the Statues of the Seven? It worked for the Traveler, why wouldn’t it work for you? Yet, the thought of the Vision users or Archons catching you caused dread to cloud your mind.

You released a heavy sigh, settling onto the plush sofa provided by the Hilichurls, acquired possibly through less-than-licit means from a merchant's carriage. The sofa's appearance of comfort was not deceiving; its cushioning enveloped you like a gentle cloud. Yet, as you indulged in this luxurious moment, a voice within chided you.

[Why are you procrastinating right now, dear Creator? Shouldn’t you be trying to find out how to summon magic so you could eat the cuisines you said you wanted to try above the surface? This is not a moment for leisure, Your Majesty, chop chop time is ticking.]

“Oh, shut up!” you yelled furiously. Your outburst cut through the tranquil ambiance, a vehement assertion against the nagging voice. You sat up once again, parting ways with the plush sofa. “I need to do this. For the food!” you told yourself repeatedly.

“This time, let’s try to envision it more vividly.” You took a deep breath in and tried to relax your muscles. “I got this. I got this. This is an easy task, [Reader]. You have always done this every time you sleep. Imagining as if [Fave Character] is beside you, snuggling with you as you sleep.” It did help in cheering you on. With your eyes shut, you visualized a delicate wisp of Anemo energy twirling around your fingertips. [Just small though. Don’t overdo it. You might summon a tornado and your house will be gone.] The voice ringed in your head once again. [That’s right. You’re doing good.] It said once again.

Seconds after, you felt a small breeze in front of you. Did you really did it? Can you finally eat all the foods you want? You took a small peek and you opened your eyes immediately. Your eyes shined like the stars below.

“Yes! I did it!” You ran towards the kitchen and picked up the slime that was dazedly looked at you. “Aquilo, love! I did it! Look! I can use magic!” Excitedly, you showed him the small wind that formed at the tip of your index finger. “I CAN FINALLY EAT THE CUSINES I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO EAT AT THE SURFACE! MY REDEMPTION ARC IS HAPPENING! JUST YOU CHARACTERS WAIT! I WILL NO LONGER BE AFRAID OF ANY OF YOU AFTER I MASTERED MY MAGICAL PROWESS!” You yelled vigorously and laughed like a madman. Aquilo is truly concerned for your health.

_________________________________________

“The Traveler hasn’t been showing up. I am quite concerned for them. Ever since the Creator was said to have descended upon our land, the Traveler was never seen again. Do you think they went ahead and tried to find Their Majesty, Keqing?” Asked Ganyu solemnly.

“Perchance. The Traveler is, after all, the one closest to Their Majesty the most and is the direct Acolyte. They may have felt Their Majesty’s aura and decided to follow it and never told us because they were rushing.” Keqing deduced. From the reports gathered, it was said that The Traveler after finishing all of their commissions suddenly ran towards a waypoint and disappeared to who knows where. Even the Archons don’t know where they might be as of now.

“Finding The Creator would have been much easier if The Traveler was only here.” Keqing looked at the starry sky above the Jade Chamber.

Ganyu's brow furrowed as she pondered aloud, her voice tinged with genuine concern. “I truly wish that we would be able to locate Their Majesty sooner. I wonder why They have run away from the Favonius Knights…” she mused, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on her mind.

_________________________________________

A/n:Hi guys. Sorry for the very very very very late update of this Series. My school sucks as* and they give so many assessments so I coudln't finish the draft. So sorry, I promise to drop the next chapter either 20-21 or 27-28 of April. If not, i'm probs dead with all of the projects we do. Lmao

[thydungeongal]

I definitely got us on a tangent, so I'm sending an ask to continue this thread of conversation (I know a lot of Tumblr users don't like when threads go off topic from the original post). It's really kind of funny to me that D&D 5e has flattened out the whole "heroes vs. villains" dynamic, because we saw in 4e and then even more in 5e the removal of alignment restrictions, so that (e.g.) you could play an evil paladin if you really wanted. But on the other hand, I remember very clearly the 3e Monster Manual including angels, with the exact same stat blocks as any other monster, heavily implying that you could fight them. I don't recall seeing anything like that in 4e or 5e; it's good aligned, why would you fight it?

I think both 4e and 5e do have stats for nominally "good" creatures in their monster books as well, but I can't be bothered to check right now. But to be fair, the dynamic of modern D&D is sort of an aggregate of a number of decisions that have each contributed to it, and it's not just, like, the result of a single conscious decision. Contributing factors include:

Combat balance and encounter design have become codified as features of the game that traditionally didn't traditionally particularly concern itself with balanced fights.

The game has become much more of a combat game where combat is where most of the gameplay is.

Adventures are more and more designed as a series of combat encounters with exploration between them.

Now, because combat is the desired outcome of the game instead of a means to an end, you don't want to moralize to players about "well what if combat is bad, actually?" So the combat encounters characters get into need to have as little moral ambiguity as possible.

What this leads is a type of gameplay where characters stumble from combat encounter to another while the narrative framing portrays the characters as doing the right thing in doing so.

Anyway, so point being that modern D&D is much more explicitly a heroic power fantasy than pre-WotC editions ever were (although 2e was already moving towards that direction with its adventure writing). And that's not a bad thing because it's a valid form of play, but I just happen to prefer moral ambiguity and characters not necessarily being heroic or even aspirational. So, you know, old-school "some assholes die in a ditch."

[autistichalsin]

I stand by what I said- the ending with Karlach DOES need reworking. You can adore someone's work and also go "that part was not ideal."

My criticism towards the IGN interview could not POSSIBLY MORE CLEARLY have been directed at the higher-ups and how they felt Halsin should have nothing more to do after breaking the Shadow Curse, as opposed to John who very clearly loves Halsin and very likely wanted to do more with him than that, if his updates to Halsin (like the platonic confession scene) are any indication. (The higher-ups also ignored what John DID write for Halsin besides Halsin hating the city, which was insulting to his hard work, IMHO)

ALSO, the "something went terribly wrong in the writer's room" quote (which let me say, I don't know whether to be creeped out or flattered that you can quote my posts verbatim) was SPECIFICALLY about writing Orin to target the lowest approval companion (something John had NO part in), which resulted in many players feeling no rush to get the kidnapped companion back- I specifically said it was a failure of writing for the kidnapping story. Again, John's only part of the kidnapping arc was writing Orin-as-Halsin's behavior, and THAT is something I've had nothing but praise for.

You do realize, right, that more than one thing can be possible at once? Like, you really and truly realize that you don't have to like EVERY writing decision made when you love someone's writing, and conversely, that disliking a few decisions DOESN'T mean you don't like/respect the writer at all? Isaac Asimov is my favorite writer of all time, but a few of his short stories were, in my opinion, real stinkers. That doesn't mean I don't love Isaac Asimov!!! It means that writers are human and make human mistakes when writing.

This ask was not just creepy and rude, it was downright wrong and operated on a child's understanding of criticism. I adore Halsin's writer and the work he did on Halsin. On this site, where he presumably can't see anything I write so it can't be "sycophancy", I still have spoken about how well-written Halsin's traumas and anxieties are, how compassionate and sweet he is, how there's so many brilliant character beats. It sounds to me like this ask is motivated by two things: you are jealous that I've corresponded with him on Twitter and you haven't, and you are angry that I criticized a few aspects of Halsin's arc/character which you feel makes me a "fake fan". (Either that, OR you're someone who hates Halsin's character/John's writing for hin, and is angry I don't hate those things.)

In any case, enjoy your block, get well soon, and stop being weird with random Tumblr users. (Also, "a piece of bread to a hungry homeless person" is a really bad metaphor. Who the fuck gives a homeless person a single piece of bread? Like are you just carrying around a baguette in your car in case you encounter a homeless person on the street corner?!)

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

Something that hit me during this watch of TWD that not enough people talk about:

The way Daryl treats Judith when she's first born vs how Rick treats her.

Daryl despises Shane. They always have their differences and clearly do not get along, but the first time they get into a physical fight (aside from when Daryl is overly emotional at the mention of Merle being left behind) is when Shane says "if she (Sophia) saw you coming, all methed out with your buck knife and Geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction".

Shane is determined to abandon the search for Sophia because he thinks that she's dead. (And let's ignore for a bit that Shane is right.) Daryl is determined to find her. But the argument doesn't come to blows until Shane brings up Daryl being on drugs - which, I really don't think that Daryl was using from Merle's stash at this point. There is a mention of Daryl taking 'shrooms' before he saw the chupacabra, but I don't think he was an active drug user like Merle was - because I think he saw how addiction destroyed his parents and his brother and was likely someone more inclined to stay sober. Especially considering on the few occasions that he drinks, like at the moonshine shack with Beth, he is a very unhappy drunk.

So Daryl is insulted at the idea of him being a druggie and likely even more insulted at the idea of Sophia being afraid of him. Because (as we see with moments he has with the Claimers) the last thing he ever wants is to be a predator towards children or someone that children are afraid of. That is an insinuation from other people's lips that brings him to physical violence every single time.

So - then we have the prison era.

Something that is SO interesting to me:

When Carol and Daryl are on top of the bus during their first night at the prison, Carol comments that she doesn't have much food to offer Daryl and Daryl says in return "lil Shane over there got quite the appetite" - one, making the obvious joke that it's an affair baby, and two - almost lamenting the fact that Lori is pregnant and taking up more resources because of it.

(And I could do a whole different rant on the sexism of people "blaming" Lori for being pregnant and emotionally ousting her from the group because of it.)

But it's clear at this point that Daryl's general dislike for Shane and likely Lori on top of that means that he's inclined to dislike the baby too.

But the minute that the baby is actually tangible in the picture for him, he steps up as a protector because his general inclination toward protecting the vulnerable overtakes any hatred he had for Shane or Lori. And he immediately feels the need to protect Judith because she can't protect herself. (This protectiveness likely stemming from the fact that he was an abused child and he feels the need to ensure that no child ever suffers the way he does - the fact that when Sophia is lost, he immediately compares it to a time when he got lost in the woods and says that she is luckier than him because she has people looking for her. And he makes sure that fact stays constant. He needs to look for her so that she always has that advantage that he did not have. Someone caring for her that he did not have.)

And Rick - mourning is complicated and it does give me a lot more empathy for Rick during this storyline. But I find it so interesting how much distaste and disdain he immediately has toward Judith. In a sense, it's almost like he hates her because he knows that Judith is Shane's baby and it's almost as if Shane killed Lori? Because the pregnancy and giving birth killed her and if Shane hadn't gotten her pregnant then she would still be alive. Then there wouldn't have been that huge rift in their relationship, meaning he was so distant with her right up until her death, giving him so many regrets.

Shane killed their marriage in so many ways and Judith is a physical representation of that. And it is morbidly interesting to see how Rick treats her off the bat because of this - he won't look at her, he can't stand the sound of her cries. It's like she's a physical representation of Shane's ghost.

I fucking hate it when people say that Negan is "the father that stepped up" for Hershel Jr because that trope should actually be applied to Daryl and Judith. It's not "Uncle Daryl" - it's Little Asskicker and the father who made sure she made it past infancy.

[circular-bircular]

(Want context for this post? Here's the full post that instigated this one!)

I've sent an ask to OP (as their pinned post said to) asking genuinely why my response was hidden. However, I find now that even my main blog (which was the only blog I could send an ask from) is now blocked as well. For those curious, I did forget to screenshot my ask before sending it, but I believe this is akin to what I sent:

Hello, This is circular-bircular. I was wondering if you'd be willing to clarify why my response to your post was hidden and why (I believe) I am now blocked. I've looked at your pinned post, and I am wondering if you consider me to be part of the groups you listed, or maybe you blocked due to my aggression, or perhaps something else? Feel no obligation to answer. Thank you for your time.

It's been frustrating, lately, how users on all sides of these debates refuse to engage with criticism of any kind. But I also acknowledge that it is nobody's job to engage with criticism. OP is in their rights to block, and I am not frustrated about that.

What I am frustrated by is the sheer amount of notes that post got, with not a single other person -- seemingly -- remarking on the ableism in many of the claims.

I want to be able to discuss these things and gain new perspectives. I want to be allowed to be angry and upset about ableism I see, and discuss that ableism clearly, and maybe even learn from others where the flaws in my thinking are. Instead, my responses are hidden, and I feel once more shunted into the quiet corner, never able to be heard, because clearly something I said was wrong -- but nobody sees fit to explain what.

The worst part being, that post was in the disordered tags. That post was in my home; my supposed 'safe space' (though I use that term very, very loosely). It wasn't even meant to be a syscourse post, with "syscourse" not even being originally tagged...

And yet.

In any case -- as the ability to view my impassioned response has been limited, I decided to make my own post, about all of the various thoughts that I have at the moment about everything. Time for yet another long ass post. Word count, ahoy!

Plurality, as we know it today, is a relatively recent term. Plurality formed alongside and well within the CDD communities, and came to be popularized as a term sometime in the mid 90s.

It was coined explicitly to distance from medicalized CDDs. Specifically, it was used by the coiner (whom I believe is the Vicki(s) but I could be mistaken in my timeline here) as an alternative to "multiple." However, many people simply used Plural and Multiple interchangeably.

Equally as important to this history is the fact that, around this same time, Astraea's Web reared its ugly head. Forgive my distaste; however, this is the basis of a lot of the harassment I have faced as a DID system. Astraea's Web is the source of the term "natural multiplicity," and dedicated itself to the idea that MPD was not a disorder at all. While this was more than likely a case of endogenic plurals trying to find a place in a highly medicalized environment, it came at the cost of severe ableism directed toward medicalized systems.

This led directly to the spawning of "survivor multiples" and "empowered multiples," with empowered multiples being the ones who were nondisordered, and survivor multiples being seen as lesser, weaker, and highly dysfunctional. This led to countless amount of pain and suffering for systems of any and all kinds: endogenic, traumagenic, CDD, plural, and anywhere between. The Natural Multiplicity Movement, which called for systems to boycott the DID diagnosis altogether, really kicked off in the early 2000s, and led to countless conflicts with medicalized systems who fought hard to be recognized with the disorder they had.

Therefore, the claim that the sorts of Syscourse Divisions we see in modern day -- pro-endo VS anti-endo, traumagenic VS endogenic -- is a problem unique to the last decade is false. This dichotomy has existed far longer than that. I still consider this a recent issue (it happened within my lifetime, sadly), but to say that it started with the change from MPD to DID is inherently erasing the history many systems went through. Again, on all sides; the ableism CDD systems faced was happening at the same time as the ableism endogenic systems faced. It was just different breeds of the same problem.

Now, it is correct to state that endogenic as a term was not popularized before 2014; it was coined that year by a system by the name of Lunastus Co (then the Trashcan Collective, if I recall correctly). While I have certainly been vocal about my feelings regarding the term endogenic, they really don't have a place on this post; it suffices to say that endogenic was popularized to indicate non-trauma based plurality at that time. Similarly, traumagenic was popularized to indicate trauma based plurality at this time.

As an aside... reading the post I've found on the coining of endogenic, it's something I genuinely love. It's an unfortunate circumstance the commonalities endogenous and, well endogenous (Freud) share, but overall, I'm supremely jealous I'm not an older system who got to experience the joy of the endogenic community, and instead experienced so much hate.

This did create an uproar in the community, with quite a large division between traumagenic and endogenic systems. Similar to when any label is created, to be honest. The term endogeinc was very clearly meant to replace natural/healthy multiplicity, as the terminology was seen as offensive to traumagenic systems striving for recovery, indicating they were somehow "unnatural." This created even further divisions and divides between communities, something I believe Lunastus has lamented in recent years.

The claims against endogenic systems are numerous; as are the claims against traumagenic systems. As the dichotomy has always been, seemingly, Disordered VS Non-disordered and Trauma VS Non-trauma, it became easy to classify every struggle under that lens. That is where my history in syscourse comes into play, where I was fakeclaimed repeatedly, but moreso by endogenic systems, simply due to being traumagenic.

I was told repeatedly that saying I had DID was ableist, because DID was coined by an ableist man. This has already been debunked -- here's the most recent debunk, done by our lovely pluraldeepdive, as always. I was also told repeatedly that I couldn't have DID, for many reasons: because I was born rich, because my parents loved me, because I owned a freaking gamecube of all things. All of those to say: Endogenic systems frequently told me I was not traumatized enough to have DID.

Don't worry -- anti-endos don't get cut slack here either. Being told "if you really had DID, you'd be put in a mental hospital and raped repeatedly by the staff" certainly did not help me get confidence in reaching out to my life-saving therapist.

But the fact is, I was harassed more my endogenic systems and/or pro-endo systems than by traumagenic and/or anti-endo systems. The fact that I was harassed by any of them is already sheer ridiculousness.

Alright -- why the trauma rambling? The point here was, the ableism I faced, simply for being openly a DID system (mind you, who identified as pro-endo at the time) is still running rampant today.

Reading through LB Lee's two essays that were linked on the original post (at the top of this ramble), I was shocked to discover the same rhetoric I had been faced with repeatedly in all my years of syscourse. That traumagenic VS endogenic is an "internal pecking order so as to feel superior to each other" (rather than origin labels many use as liberally as LGBT+ labels). That disordered multiples "have a culture of overly deferring to their healthcare team: never making a move without asking the doc’s opinion, treating therapists as their parent replacements, relying on their shrinks for things they should really learn to do themselves, such as taking care of their internal children" -- this idea that all traumagenic systems are completely dysfunctional and unable to care for themselves. Continued onto the next lines immediately with "I met multiples who had been in care for decades, never improving, never seeming to learn any skills, but still absolutely enamored of their brilliant therapist (who they apparently couldn’t function without). These weren’t children either; these were people old enough to be my parents or grandparents!" This constant idea that you can examine someone else's systemhood and determine if they are healing "correctly" or not...

"I have seen no indication that traumagenic multiples, actually want to do those things, despite all their blathering about ableism."

This ableism comes from somewhere. The ableism I "blather" about has a source.

Sigh.

I don't have the energy to go through all of the article again, but it's heinous. It was horrifically offensive to me, even if I DO agree with many of the points it made! And that's likely because I have seen the same rhetoric over and over and over again, used against DID systems.

And it is still used consistently today.

As recently as the past 4 years, one of the OSDDID subreddits -- a meme one I believe -- completely combusted because some people made memes that were against endogeinc systems. Yet again, more syscourse bullshit. One of the moderators posted a big long ramble about how all anti-endos are just experiencing "traumagenic embitterment." This idea that all traumagenic systems who hate endogenic systems are just bitter to see "someone else doing better than them." I see this take frequently in plural and endogenic tags.

As recently as last year I saw endogenic systems calling for the removal of DID as a label entirely. Don't believe me?

Abolish all diagnostic terms! They're harmful!!

<- Is a system who feels most comfortable identifying with diagnostic terms.

As recently as maybe 4 months ago, I had to convince an endogenic system that saying RAMCOA was just "trumped up Satanic Temple bullshit" and was often "moral panic" was horrifically ableist. This was while another endogenic system bemoaned how they "couldn't believe anyone could ever do something so horrible" as RAMCOA.

As recently as last month, a friend of mine was rewriting an article about fusion, the original wording of which is firmly against final fusion and demonizes it. Said friend has repeatedly been called a sysmed for... defending final fusion and the ToSD for CDD systems.

As recently as yesterday, I was working on my debunk of a Power to the Plurals article that someone sent me in April, one that depicts the ToSD as inherently ableist and bad because... reasons? Mind you, the ToSD is the most prominent theory of how DID forms.

And then, as recently as today, I am trying to explain to someone who posted in the dissociative identity disorder tag with tags that I agree with, with points that I agree with, why the post they made about the "Bible of Psychiatry" was ableist and offensive. What a shame they've blocked me and likely will not be seeing this post, continuing to be ableist elsewhere.

All in the name of activism.

Ableism against DID systems is alive and well. I wish people would understand that. I wish people would see how pitying me in the plural spaces I'm in comes off as infantile. I wish people would see how "debunking" the most prominent theories and healing methods of DID is only hurting those of us who do align to them. I wish people would be willing to acknowledge the hurt they cause more readily.

And I wish that, as a DID system, I didn't have to become a historian on endogenic as a term, as a community, and as a personal source of pain.

Does this all make sense?

[fights4users]

I believed in the users once before | A system in disbelief

It’s so fascinating looking at legacy because basically in all of Flynn’s actions he has created the perfect situation to justify hatred and disbelief in the users.

Flynn did all the heavy work for Clu. There is no need to propagandize and lie when , in your view God has indeed abandoned you. He had taken a Polytheistic society that used to have more more individualized deities and inadvertently turned it Monotheistic. Between him constantly leaving and then going into hiding- to this society he truly has abandoned them. They have no other User input, requests, commands - he is it and he has left them.

As cycles go on belief wanes, this is a system that used to have direct and constant interactions with users and what they’re capable of and hasn’t in generations. Memory wanes, anger stews, distrust grows. And who comes in to pick up the pieces? Clu. He’s not making a single thing up, unlike most dictators he fully believes everything he spews and from a point of view… he’s right. (Again that’s terrifying).

Where the MCP had to forcefully capture and eliminate programs who still believed in the users (that he hadn’t assimilated or drained). Clu doesn’t. Belief was nearly stamped out organically!! In the grid it has truly become a cultish set of unwavering belief— unlike in Encom where it was a organic part of life stamped out by force. This is more “choosing to leave religion” if it’s comparative?

Those who fight in the games are strays- not regular programs but those broken or lost that are out just… wandering. Those are the ones that get tossed into the arena or rectified (from what we see in the movie) it’s not like the MCP. Clu doesn’t have to work so hard to get rid of belief because I cannot state enough, Flynn did all the heavy work himself.

In this grid the games are a purpose, horrific but using the infrastructure left behind by Flynn. Strays get the games — survival. Regular programs have something to do — watch.

There’s no mindcontrol in the crowd- their user hate and games enjoyment is a necessity if they want a society at all. If it is to believed— as Flynn himself stated Clu can’t create, he can repurpose. He’s the overseer! Not the creator. He’s doing what he can with what he has… he built Rome, which is not good (as sympathetic as I am towards Clu there’s like 12 other things you could’ve done before building Rome)

No one is a better example of Lost faith than Castor.

He’s fought for Flynn and his beloved ISOs , he was one of the best so much so he’s still sought after. He’s changed. “I believed but what did that do for me?” What did it get him but heartache and so many dead companions and at the end of it , after all this fighting Flynn disappears! His fall into self preservation and sour attitude towards users is completely understandable.

It’s sad that this has happened as the original film and novelization describe belief in the users as this intrinsic and natural thing all programs know to be true. And to have a situation where so many willingly abandon belief because there is no communication (‘user requests are what computers are for’) or purpose. That it had been made so easy for clu to turn that sorrow into a burning hatred. It is sad that this thing they all desire the most has basically been made into a cult sect who can’t let go of something that used to be so basic. Above all it’s just so fascinating that this all happened naturally supposed to by a regime, all Clu had to do was step up and acknowledge it.

In conclusion:

Now I’m not saying Flynn did any of this on purpose, he didn’t want to abandon anything, he didn’t want to create a system with no purpose. He was a excited young man who wanted to recreate something cool and was given the powers of a god. He didn’t know the impact even the smallest action could cause. He did not have bad intentions but oh boy did he fuck up.

I hope this makes even a lick of sense, I just have so many thoughts 😭

[fantasyismyonlyrealescape]

Whumptober 2024: No. 8 - Sleep Deprivation/"Leave the Lights on"

Title: Creature of Habit

Characters: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn (Zowens)

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Word Count: 883

A/N: Welcome to Week 2 of Whumptober. As you can tell by now, there is a trend in WWE fanfics. I think I only wrote 5 non-wrestling fanfics out of the 31-day challenge. So, yeah. Enjoy and Cheers! Also, I do want to note, that this story follows the concept "kayfabe as reality". El Generico is in this one, so in the story he speaks next to no English, just like he did in interviews and in the ring. So, that's why there is Spanish in this. Translations are at the end of the story.

Summary: Sami Zayn is a creature of habit, something that Kevin Owens learns very early on.

Cross posted on AO3 under user wrestlinginjeans.

Kevin and Generico hadn’t known each other long before they had first started rooming together. After a month on the road making next to no money to get by, they figured pooling their resources together would only make sense. So, they did. In a dingy motel room with outdated peeling floral wallpaper and one bed that squeaked horribly when any weight was placed on it. They had mutually decided that they would share a bed in order to save money. Kevin had finished getting ready for bed, lounging on his side of the mattress, and catching up on some messages from family when Generico appeared out of the bathroom. The bathroom light was still on, but the luchador pointedly left the door cracked open to let a sliver of light through into the greater part of the hotel room.

Kevin watched Generico silently but did not comment. At first, he thought that the wrestler wasn’t finished getting ready for bed. But then he saw Generico throw his day clothes in his suitcase and approach the bed, clearly intending to go to sleep. Kevin, sore and tired from the three matches he had wrestled that night, didn’t have the energy to inquire about the light that night.

A couple weeks later, Kevin had noticed that Generico left the light on every single night before he went to sleep. On the nights that Generico got ready in the bathroom first and Kevin followed after, Generico made it a point to get up and turn the light on in the bathroom, cracking the door just as he did every night without a word before returning to bed.

“Uh… Hey man, what is it with you and that light?” Kevin asks, jerking his head to nod in the direction of the bathroom door.

A moment of silence passed between them as Generico tilts his head slightly in confusion.

“Qué?”

“The light?” Kevin elaborates, pointing to the lamp on the table next to him. “Why do you leave it on?”

“Oh. La luz mantiene alejada la oscuridad!” Generico says happily, nodding his head before settling down onto the bed.

Kevin shakes his head in confusion, looking over to Generico who seemed to be perfectly content with the response he had given. Kevin, knowing that he was unlikely to get anything that he could actually understand from the luchador, sighed in resignment and went back to his reading.

Years later, in the quiet of their now hotel room, Kevin Owens keeps one eye on the closed bathroom door as he waits for Sami Zayn to come out dressed for bed. While a lot has changed for them in the decades that they had known each other by this point, one thing had remained constant. Sami Zayn was a creature of habit.

The bathroom door opens and Kevin glances back down at his book quickly, all while Sami chatters away. “Hey, Kev. You remember seeing that vegan place down the street? Want to go and catch a bite before we head to the show tomorrow?” Sami suggests, stepping out into the hallway and shutting the bathroom door until the ever-familiar sliver of light shines from the bathroom into the hallway beyond.

Sami walks towards his suitcase as Kevin tries to hide his smile in his hand.

“Kev, did you hear me?” Sami asks, throwing his clothing items into the suitcase in front of him before coming to his side of the bed.

Kevin shakes his head once, attempting to wipe the smile from his face as he removed his hand and glanced at Sami.

“Sounds good, Sami.”

A month later, Kevin helps Sami into their hotel room, one arm slung over broad shoulders. They make slow work towards the bed in the center of the room. Reaching the side closest to the door, Kevin sets Sami down slowly, bending down to help Sami get his feet up onto the bed as the redhaired wrestler lays back onto the pillows stiffly.

“I’ve got you, Sami. Do you want to get cleaned up or do you want to sleep for a bit? The doc said that you would need to be woken up every 3 hours for me to check you.”

Sami, already in a dazed state as it was, brought a shaking hand to his cut forehead.

“Sleep, Kev…” Sami whispers, his voice portraying how much pain he was in.

“Alright, Sami. Sleep, I’ll be right here when you wake up.” Kevin states, pressing a hand gently (by Kevin’s standards) to Sami’s shoulder before placing the hotel throw on over his injured friend.

Glancing around the hotel room, he drops their gear down on the lounge chair in the corner and strides over to the bathroom. Flicking the light on in one swift motion, he cracks the door just as Sami had done so many times before. Nodding his head in satisfaction at the sufficient light filtering through the opening, he walks back over to Sami’s bedside and settles down next to him. Kevin reaches down and brushes his fingertips against the forearm of the slighter man in a gesture of closeness.

“I’ll leave the lights on for you…” Kevin whispers softly, leaning back against the headboard to begin his watch over his injured brother. “Just as you do for me.”

Translations:

Qué - what

La luz mantiene alejada la oscuridad – The light keeps the darkness away

[qberryshortcake]

Are you wondering how to get into Gundam and need an autistic transbian with insomnia to help guide you? Well you're in fucking luck!

Happy for u tho/I'm sorry

Start with either Witch From Mercury, Iron Blooded Orphans, or Mobile Suit Gundam. All three you can go in blind and have a grand old time. WFM is the lesbian one though, and my proper intro to the franchise.

What even is a Gundam?

Let's get a little vocabulary out of the way. A Mobile Suit is a bipedal giant mech, generally with one pilot, that uses a combination of mounted weapons and weapons held in the mobile suit's hands. This can be railguns, tank cannons, missile launchers, or a good old fashioned energy sword.

Are all mobile suits Gundams?

No, actually! It's a poodles/dogs situation. All Gundams are mobile suits, but not all mobile suits are Gundams.

What makes Gundams special?

It varies from series to series. In some it's that they use a special power source. In others it's a direct interface with its users. They often require less training than other mobile suits, and have a much higher skill ceiling. No matter what, one rule is more or less universal: only a Gundam can beat another Gundam. This is one of the driving forces for every antagonist. It's also why these shows get so heady.

Who is Char Aznabke?

The antagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam (see below). He's iconic, charismatic, stylish, and machiavellian. There is a Char in every Gundam spinoff. It gives you a sense of dramatic irony knowing that, because if nobody is wearing the mask, you're trying to figure out who will. And if somebody is, you're wondering what they'll do.

Okay, where do I start?

Let's bring out the timeline chart (bear with me):

This may seem intimidating at first, but once you break it down, it starts to become a bit more scrutable.

The first thing to understand is that Gundam has a singular canon timeline, the Universal Century, and the rest are spinoffs. You could theoretically start down any of these timelines and have a grand old time. That being said, some starting points are better than others.

Universal Century - if you're down with old animation, you can't go wrong with watching the original Mobile Suit Gundam! You can start with Gundam Origin to learn about Char Aznable's backstory, or jump straight into the original anime

Future Century - This is one of the weirdest wildest Gundam series with Mobile Fighter G Gundam. I haven't seen this one and I personally wouldn't start here? But hey if you want a giant robot tournament where every country has a themed Gundam that has sliiiiight racist vibes? Uh well then this is truly one of the shows in all of Gundam.

After Colony - This is where a lot of us originally bounced off of the series. Gundam Wing was what was on Toonami back in the day. The dub isn't...great, and the story is *extremely* edgy. That being said is is rife with ship bait and Deathscythe is an incredible Gundam design. All the same themes, just very hamhanded.

Correct Century - this takes place in the far far future, and technically the previous three timelines converge on this one. It's so far in the future that Gundams are practically a myth. This is Turn A Gundam, or as it's usually stylized, Ɐ Gundam. I haven't gotten to this one yet, but I love the moustachio'd design of the titular Ɐ Gundam. I wouldn't necessarily start here, just because this one kind of assumes the viewer has seen at least a Gundam before. From what I've heard at least.

Cosmic Era - While I own several gunpla from this series, I have only seen an episode! It's... I've never heard a single good word about this one. As far as I know it is more geared toward younger viewers, which also means it is the most shamelessly about advertising gunpla...well other than a couple other series we'll get to.

Anno Domini - okay here is where it gets a little odd because there's multiple timelines that use this abbreviation. The first is Gundam 00, or Double O (not zero). This one is really fun. It takes the edge from Wing and makes it kind of humorous. A slow burn, where you realize that maybe a single force having a monopoly on violence, made up entirely of child soldiers is,,,not the best idea? Great place to start.

Anno Domini - Gundam Build Fighters and Mobile Suit Gunpla Raiders G are, charitably, celebrations of the gunpla hobby. I wouldn't start here.

Post Disaster - God I almost wish this had been my first series. Iron Blooded Orphans is about a bunch of dudes being guys. They escape from slavery and go into business for themselves, and get embroiled in a political conflict while escorting a princess back to Earth from Mars. Fantastic show, but it clocks in at 50 episodes, so keep that in mind if you start this one.

Ad Stella - this is where I started. Witch from Mercury is absolutely incredible. Just 26 episodes. It follows Suletta Mercury and Miorine Rembran, after the former wins a duel, and due to sci fi anime logic, becomes betrothed to the latter.

Great, anything else I should know?

I said this in another post but if you're still on the fence because giant robot shows you've seen in the past haven't been great, I get it. I was the same way. The point of the robots being humanoid is because it takes out the abstraction of using vehicles of war, without cutting down on the scale of the wars being fought. When a character, for example, goes to destroy a military base single-handedly, you get that disconnect.

Sure it's a pilot doing war things, but it's *very* different when your opponents are as outclassed as most things and a Gundam.

It's always been about the horrors of war, the victims of those wars, and the wounds and scars that are left on the soldiers of those wars. The cool robot is so that a character can lose an arm but still have to keep fighting. In some series that character may have felt the pain of losing an arm while jacked into their mobile suit. It brings a viscerality that fighting with planes, tanks, and starships simply wouldn't be able to replicate.

Oh. And uh. Gunpla. Gunpla are the Namco Bandai line of models. They all require minimal tools and no glue. They're generally posable and some are extremely posable. They come in 1:144, 1:100, and 1:60 scale (primarily). They're also not cheap. The smaller models cost around 30-50, but they get expensive quickly. So uh. Don't? Get into them?

[high-mackrels-musings]

In Defense of Ki-Adi Mundi … Again

Look at that, one of my favorite Jedi from legends is relevant again … for all the wrong reasons. But regardless I’ll take any chance I can to talk about my favorite Cerean.

With that said I’ll just say two things with regards to the acolyte and Mundi, I’ve watched two episodes and have little interest to watch anymore, canon isn’t my cup of tea, if you enjoy it good for you, Star Wars is a big enough fandom that both old EU and canon fans can enjoy their respective parts of it. And please understand that Ki-Adi Mundi of legends is not the same as canon, unfortunately people are woefully ignorant of who he was in canon.

With all that let me go ahead and repost one of my old posts from reddit where I defend the now seemingly popular Ki-Adi Mundi. Original post found here.

Introudction:

In recent days it has become quite common to bash the jedi for their perceived arrogance, hypocrisy, and coldness. Seemingly a few jedi are always quick to be singled out for their actions Mace Windu is directed plenty of ire for his role in ousting Ahsoka, as is Shaak Ti for her inaction in the clone chips, and Luminara for her response towards the death of the Martez sisters’ parents. However, I shall be focusing solely on one whom has recently been getting a lot of attention with (reddit posts like these), (articles like these), and ( videos like these).

This is a horrible video, please don’t watch this.

It seems apparent to many that Ki-Adi Mundi deserved his death and that he is a prime example for the Jedi losing their way. However, I felt it necessary to attempt to put things into some perspectives. Not only because I feel people are taking things heavily out of context, but also Ki-Adi represents one of the best Jedi Masters of his era in my opinion.

Common Criticisms:

Mundi’s denial of the Sith Existence (The Phantom Menace):

One of first instances that many will bring up will be the hubris that Mundi’s quick denial that the sith might have returned as Qui-Gon reported to the council. While it is true that Mundi was perhaps just a little too quick to judge. However, one needs to consider the viewpoint of his and the rest of the council. As he states, the Sith are believed to have been extinct for a millennia, following the supposed death of Darth Bane in Darth Bane: Rule of Two. But while the Sith had believed to be extinct there were plenty of examples of Dark Jedi and other Dark Side users well into the clone wars, as exhibited in the stages before the Clone Wars such as Aurra Sing and Komari Vosa, and before The Phantom Menace as seen by Qui-Gon’s own former apprentice Xanatos.

Red lightsaber, familiar in the Jedi arts, but not a Sith.

Thus, to the Jedi on the council it would have made much more sense that Qui-Gon had been attacked by a possible fallen Jedi, rather than a long believed to be dead group.

While Mundi was at times sure of himself, this is not such an example that can be used to discredit him. Rather what we can see here is an example of the arrogance of Qui-Gon to always listen to his first instinct. The Jedi Council rightfully so declares that such a matter should be looked into more closely with Mace Windu stating, “We will use all our resources to look into the matter more closely.” Of course, it looks bad in hindsight, but as viewers we have more information than the characters on the screen.

Mundi’s defense of Count Dooku (Attack of the Clones):

In Attack of the Clones following a failed assassination, Padme is quick to bring up the name of Count Dooku for whom might be responsible for the attempt on her life. This is quickly followed by the Cerean master’s words, “He’s a political idealist not a murderer.” It is backed up by the words of Mace who describes him as being a former jedi. One needs to remember the context of this. Dooku while having left the Jedi Order, did so amicably as seen by his statement when leaving the Jedi as found in Jedi VS. Sith The Essential Guide to the Force where he states:

It is my plan to return to Serenno and serve my people as a philanthropist. It is my last request as a Jedi Master that you Respect my decision, as well as my privacy. Good-bye old friends, and may the Force be with you.

Further as seen in the deleted scene Jocasta Nu states, “He disappeared for nine or ten years and reemerged as the leader of the separatist movement.” Dooku thus is thought of as only being a political leader, which would fit the description of him in the Revenge of the Sith novelization, where he is described in the common consciousness as:

The political heart of the Separatist Confederacy, Count Dooku, is known for his integrity, his principled stand against what he sees as corruption in the Senate. Though they believe he’s wrong, many respect him for the courage of his mistaken convictions.

Thus, this viewpoint by both Ki-Adi Mundi and Mace Windu is well supported in universe. They have yet to see any reason for such a quick accusation that Padme makes, instead they must stand behind the evidence at hand, that being that the attempt on her life was that of spice miners as intelligence pointed. It should be kept in context that Dooku was still seen at this time, by the Jedi at least, as a good friend who had simply become disillusioned by the Jedi and the Republic.

Ahsoka’s Trial (The Clone Wars Season Five):

Perhaps one of the most spoken criticisms against Mundi, is his role in expelling Ahsoka from the Jedi Order. With Ahsoka being a well-beloved character of the fanbase, it’s no wonder everyone would come to her defense against what most would consider an unfair treatment of a fan favorite. Yet, should one look at the evidence that was available to the character’s it is not so cut and dry. Indeed, should one look at this without any outside insight they would have come to such similar conclusions.

Indeed, the case against Ahsoka was much stronger than some might very well remember. In the second episode of the arc The Jedi Who Knew too Much the murder of Letta, the one responsible for the explosion, was caught on camera. The visual for anyone would have been obvious. Ahsoka is seen holding out her hands while Letta floats in the air visibly running out of air. This is just the first piece of damning evidence. Further there is the statement that Letta makes in plain earshot of the clone commander to Ahsoka, “I was told if I ever needed help you were the Jedi to contact,” further implementing Ahsoka into the role of mastermind of the temple bombing. In this same episode Ahsoka is let out of prison, though to anyone apart from the audience it appears that she has fled, along with reportedly killing a few clones. And then there is Ahsoka being spotted, by Anakin nonetheless, with Asajj Ventress, a known separatist and war criminal. Finally, when Ahsoka is captured by the clone and Jedi team, she is found next to more explosive nano droids. All this culminates in showing Ahsoka in the worst possible light.

Furthering the matter is the fact that this was no longer a Jedi Matter that could be investigated internally. As Admiral Tarkin explains to Anakin and Ashoka in *The Jedi Who Knew Too Much* Letta was moved because the matter was now in the hands of the military, “Clones were killed, which makes this a military matter.” A statement Anakin agrees with. And as mentioned in the same episode, Palpatine had made sure to remove the Jedi from such military matters. It further complicates the matter. And thus, one may see that the Jedi had little choice but to expel Ahsoka. Not only did all the evidence point to her. But they simply were not in a position to set up their own trial.

Further it should be noted that Mundi had very little involvement in the decision to expel Ahsoka other than simply voting, a vote that was split according to Yoda in the final episode of the arc stating, “Reached a decision the council has, though not in total agreement are we.” Indeed, Mundi himself never actually voices an accusation against Ahsoka. In To Catch a Jedi he simply asks Anakin if there was any chance to stop Ahsoka. And in The Wrong Jedi he merely asks that everyone consider that the evidence points to Ahsoka being the mastermind behind the attack, which is correct. Perhaps why everyone holds it against him is that he is the one who reads to Ahsoka what the consequences are for her being expelled from the order are. Regardless Mundi himself is not solely at fault for Ahsoka’s leaving of the order. Nor, was it outlandish for Ahsoka to be accused of said crime, as all there was strong evidence against her.

But what about the droid attack on the Wookie’s (Revenge of the Sith)

It seems a bit odd that this is constantly brought up as a point as to why the Mundi was an idiot. The Council were the military command of the republic. It was their duty to plan out the movements of the republic army, and where best to send them. While the scene first begins with Anakin’s appointment to the council, it quickly shifts to discussion about military matters, with Mundi informing the council that they do not know where General Grievous is. This prompts Obi-Wan to mention how little ships they have to spare. Naturally with how thin they are spread; Mundi asks what they will do about Kashyyk. As should be known Yoda volunteers to go to the aid of the Wookiees, stating, “Good relations with the Wookie’s I have.”

Some might see this as Mundi indirectly helping Palpatine’s plan. However, it should be noted that Obi-Wan is not exaggerating. Kashyyk really is a system that the Republic could simply not be allowed to lose. As noted in the Starwars.com encyclopedia, “Kashyyyk was of prime strategic importance, serving as a major navigational point for the entire southwestern quadrant of the galaxy.” There were also several oil refineries located on the planet which the confederacy wanted to take control of. One can also make an argument for the Humanitarian reasons to get involved. The Wookiee’s had always been loyal to the republic and were a group often targeted for slavery and hunted down. They were a marginalized group, and thus it makes sense for why Ki-Adi would want to support the Wookiee’s.

And it should be noted that Yoda himself volunteered in his desire to go and aid the Wookies, as he states he had very good relations. And it makes sense that he would want to go, and help them. The Jedi Council thus made perhaps the best decision that they could in sending not only their most experienced Jedi, but one who would have had the trust of the natives.

Common Misconceptions:

Mundi did not love or care for his family:

One of the most notable differences between Mundi and most Jedi of his time was that he had a family. As Cerean’s generally had a low birth rate, and because males were outnumbered one to twenty per *The New Essential Guide to Alien Species.*Thus, Mundi was granted a special exemption from this rule taking on one bond wife and four honor wives. Between them Mundi had seven daughters. He would spend much of his time with them as he was the appointed Jedi watchman of the sector which Cerea formed a part of. Strangely one of most common misconceptions is that Mundi somehow did not care for them.

However, in Star Wars: Prelude to Rebellion one can see quite the opposite in fact. In Part 1 we see him openly comfort his honor wife Mawin, after their daughter has run away. And he states with regard to his bond wife Shea the narration states:

”Four honor wives have given him seven daughters. He loves them all, but his heart longs for a son. He can hide his disappointment from the others. But from Shea, if she should bear him another girl? No, not from Shea. He can hide nothing from her.”

This quote shows two things. It demonstrates for us the love that Ki-Adi Mundi actually had for his family. And that he loved his bond wife Shea so much he could not bare to let her see any semblance of disappointment in his eyes. This shows the actual empathy of Mundi. And in Part 5 of the comic, we again see him demonstrating his fatherly love towards his daughter Sylvn saying, “He had not realized until she was brought so close, and then wrenched so cruelly away. How much he loved his daughter.”

Mundi demonstrates in these early comics just how much he loves his family. And indeed, it goes contrary to the popular opinion that Mundi somehow did not care for his family.

Mundi was cold and lacked empathy.

Mundi has also been characterized as lacking empathy or feelings for others. Indeed, one of the most common examples of why Mundi is a prime example of everything bad with the Jedi of the Rise of the Empire era. Mostly I have seen people point to one scene in Star Wars: Republic 62 where following the supposed death of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mundi relates to Anakin how he felt about the death of his family saying, “I cared for them, but tried to remain unattached.” I have seen some point to this being proof that Mundi did not care for the death of others. One can get into a debate about the Jedi and their views on death, however as noted above, Mundi absolutely cared for his family. And his advice was to tell Anakin that while death is hard one can move on from it.

Further we have evidence of how deeply Mundi cared for the deaths of other sentient beings as seen in Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures Volume 6 we see Mundi mediating under dripping water. His exact words as to why he does this are: “It helps my meditation in these dark days. Each drop reminds me of every life that has been lost.” This shows us once more how much Mundi felt empathy for the death of every single life that had been lost.

In the same comic, Mundi shows concern for the life of the young Jedi Knight Rivi-Anu who runs to try to save the lives of clones and Jedi. Mundi sees her goal of stopping a crash landing Venator from crashing knows that she is trying to save them all, following her death Mundi states, “Greater love has no being than to lay down their life for a friend. Rivi-Anu is now one with the living force. It will make me proud to one day join her.” Mundi shows once more how much the death of others matters to him when he thinks of Rivi-Anu while mediating under dripping water once matter.

These two examples demonstrate that Mundi was far from a cold unfeeling Jedi some portray him as. While it is true Mundi did not stop to weep at the death of everyone, he undoubtedly felt every death touch his heart. His attempts at teaching Anakin the difference between mourning and holding onto these feelings is evident. And indeed we see that Mundi concentrated on the death of his fellow Jedi.

Conclusion

While it is entirely possible that one may have feelings towards Mundi, still perhaps you may feel he was incompetent or the single embodiment of everything wrong with the jedi. I would hope that this little essay does a decent job of trying to correct some of the possible misconceptions that have faced the Cerean Master. I believe it’s important to contextualize many of these criticisms. To try to make one see things from the perspective of the character, and indeed to provide direct quotes from many of his most famous stories. Ki-Adi Mundi is a character I grew up with falling in love with his stories in early comic run.

I certainly believe that Mundi was a very noble Jedi holding up the ideals of one. Growing from a young arrogant Jedi Knight. Into an introspective master. Who after losing every one of his daughters and wives still remained on the Jedi path. Who did his best to pass on wisdom to the young Jedi who would follow him. And who wanted nothing more than to preserve the republic all the way to the end. Hopefully putting some context into such claims can quell the ire driven against one of my favorite characters in Star Wars.

[tinkertoysdamn]

Waiting for a Star to Fall (tentative title) WiP

More WiP nonsense because I need to jump-start my inspo.

Will be Thorquill, Starmora and eventual Thorquillmora because I CAN!

In cultures all across the universe, there have been superstitions about falling stars.  Though most of them are mere meteors and thus have no magic, there are a precious few that hold real power.  To possess such a thing could change the tide of fortune and overturn dynasties.  The hope of a single wish could be enough to drive men mad.    

It was with this in mind that Heimdall watched as a mysterious object crashed into one of the vast forests of Vanaheim.  As trusted watchman of the gods, it was his duty to report such an anomaly.  “My liege,” he spoke through his telepathic link to Odin, “I believe we have a problem.”

Less than an hour later, Odin the All-Father called his two sons into the throneroom, burdened with a heavy purpose.  “I entrust to you, my sons, a most important task,” he informed them.  “A star has fallen within the Nine Realms and it must be retrieved at once.”

“A true fallen star?”  Loki, the youngest son, knew the ways of magic and was highly skeptical.

“Your mother confirmed it,” Odin said.  

Frigga, Queen of Asgard and one of the most powerful magic users in the realm, held out a compass made of gold.  “I’ve enchanted this compass to follow the cosmic energy the star has left in its wake.”  She waved her free hand above it, curling in her fingers in a slight gesture.  A faint blue line appeared on the compass face.

“Where has the star fallen?” Thor asked.

“Vanaheim,” Odin informed them.

The home of the Vanir, it was friendly to Asgard, though seldom visited by any of its people.  Reports of it were limited mostly to the stories Thor’s friend Hogun had told them.   

“If it has landed in Vanaheim it shouldn’t affect us.”  A scholar of magic, Loki knew the folklore surrounding fallen stars.  Any wishes granted should stay in the world on which the wish was made.  

However, Loki did not know everything despite how he pretended otherwise.

“Yggdrasil connects Asgards to the other Realms,” Odin said.  “Any magic set loose on Vanaheim soil could have a ripple effect on all Nine Realms.  The star must be secured and locked in our Vault.”

“Why not use it ourselves?” Loki suggested.

With a single eye, Odin could convey oceans of disappointment.  “Because it is not our way.”

(INSERT ALL THE IN BETWEEN CONNECTIVE NARRATIVE TISSUE HERE)

“Can you loosen this up?” Peter complained, wiggling in distress.  “I can’t feel my hands.”

Thor spun the chair around and knelt down.  That was when he noticed two things at once: first that underneath the expected sweat, Peter had a rather unusual smell, one reminiscent of stardust.  Second, Peter’s hands were already untied.  

With sudden violence, Peter jerked his head backwards, smashing into Thor’s forehead.  

Startled, Thor fell right onto his rump.

Peter sprang to his feet, sprinting toward the open door of the spaceship.  With practiced ease, he activated his mask and kicked himself into the air with his rocket boots.  By the time Thor made it to the door, the man had disappeared.  

Baffled, Sif’s lips thinned as she shouted, “You let him get away.”

“It shouldn’t matter much,” Loki said, holding out his mother’s gift.  “I still have the compass, the word of a mortal doesn’t mean much.”

“Don’t be so sure, Loki,” Thor said.  He smacked a fist against the metal door frame, denting it.  “That man smelled like stardust.”

“What?”  Uncertainty, then realization crossed Loki’s face.  “Oh no.”  

“That’s right.”  Thor pointed in the direction of their fleeing quarry.  “That man was the star.” 

[devsgames]

Hey, do you have any resources on game design you can recommend? It's easy to find stuff on art, programming, writing, etc., but when it comes to game design it's all a bit blurry. Maybe I'm not looking where I should though.

I'm not 100% sure which type of resource you're referring to so I'm operating under the assumption that you mean more sort of learning resources for game design (as opposed to like, references or whatnot).

Firstly, one of the major problems with game design as 'discipline' is that "Game Design" is a very big and intensely vague blanket term. It's not truly a concrete discipline itself, so it's difficult to teach about the basics of all of game design. Game Designers rarely do one specific thing every time, and a lot of what is done skill-wise is often very abstract ideas like 'problem solving' and 'logical thinking'.

It's why there's studio roles like "combat designer", "AI designer", "systems designer", "level designer" and more all under the "game design" umbrella, and even then these roles might not even be doing the same thing depending on what project they're involved with. A "combat designer" at a studio working on a FPS might be specifically designing player movement while a "combat designer" at a studio working on an RPG might be focusing on something like character skill trees or condition damage types. With so much variation it becomes hard to single out specific resources as universally applicable while still being relevant for learning.

If you're looking to learn something specific about designing games, I find it's usually more effective to seek out first-hand resources based around these specializations that exist within game design and learn how the designers approached their designs, as opposed to learning about 'game design' as an all-encompassing blanket. Seeking out "combat design" or "systems design" to start edging in the right direction - this is an excellent post with an overview of key design roles.

Some of my first places I usually turn to for design stuff are those more tailored towards a wider range of specializations; the GDC vault has free archives with design talks on various Game Design subjects which can help learn more on the process of various game designers operating in their disciplines, and GameDeveloper.com has a Design section for user-submitted blogs and deep dives where you can find similar. If books are your thing, Boss Fight Books often publishes deep dives into specific games, their cultural impacts and design choices around them (the Splunky one was pretty good from my memory). Mileage may vary however as I've heard some are more 'fan appreciation' styled than actual analysis.

I'm sure smarter people than me might have textbook recommendations - unfortunately I have a tiny brain and don't like reading books much. 😔 I also find Game Design a hard subject to read about due to its abstract nature, but that's just me!

Honestly though, I think one of the best ways to learn game design is training your brain by playing lots of games and learn to think critically about the design in them - it helps stretch the design part of your brain and teach you to more actively 'think in design', which will naturally help you learn. This was pretty crucial for my understanding of design when I was struggling to learn how game design worked.

Try this: Sit down and play a game incredibly slowly and just think about everything, especially things you often look past or take for granted (after all, good design is often design you barely notice).

In the game you're playing: How does a player move? Like really how? How far do you push the stick to move? How do objects affect their movement? What alternative movement can they perform? Why? When would they use it? How does it affect them/the world? Why do you think the designer made the movement this way?

In the game you're playing: How does the player's ability work? How long does it last? Why does it work that way/last that long? How do they equip it? What feedback is there for its use? How does it affect the world? Why do you think the designer made that ability this way?

Basically try to reverse engineer the experience and repeat it over and over as you play the game - don't play it for fun, play it for research and you'll likely find a lot of subtlety you never noticed before. Virtually every choice in every game was informed by a conscious design decision (or a conscious production one). You might start to notice patterns and be able to put yourself in the shoes of the designer and understand the decision making process better.

I'd also say - if you make a game, you'll be practising game design, and that's huge. Most designers often learn what they do through doing it on the job or by practising the craft, and it's the easiest way to turn theory and abstract thinking into concrete work. You need to break a few eggs to make an omelette! I think there's a lot of fans who posture as 'critics' because they play games and pick up on some design things, but ultimately have never made a game and don't understand how choices are informed by each other or how these pieces all fall together. There's a huge difference in experience and understanding between critique/theory and practical application, and I think breaking past that barrier always provides a huge wealth of knowledge as a baseline.

Sorry I got rambley, I hope this sorta helps 😆

[glitter-bunny420]

Arlecchino's Kit Simplified! (Teyvat for Beginners #1)

Bc this bitch’s (affectionate) kit is so goddamn complicated for no reason.

Because a lot of her kit revolves around Max HP, I've given her a hypothetical value of 30,000 Max HP to give a better idea of how her playstyle works. Of course, as far as I know Arlecchino doesn't have any minimum requirements in terms of her HP stat (like how certain characters are recommended to have 40k HP), so take my examples with a grain of salt. Obviously, if the amount of HP you give her is less or more than 30k, than the values of the Life Bonds will be different.

Combat

Normal Attack - Invitation to a Beheading

Arlecchino’s Normal Attack is the same as any other polearm user but there is a special addition to it. When she possesses a Bond of Life, or Life Bond, that is equal to or greater than 30% of her Max HP (in this case, the Bond would be worth at least 9k HP), she will enter the "Masque of the Red Death" state, in which her Normal, Charged and Plunging attacks will deal Pyro DMG. Additionally, when these Pyro-infused attacks hit an opponent, she'll deal extra damage scaling off her ATK multiplied by a certain ratio of her Life Bond percentage (don't ask me what this means - just know that a bigger ATK stat = more additional damage); this extra damage will also consume a small amount of her Bond, which will decrease her Skill cooldown by 0.8 seconds.

Elemental Skill - All is Ash

Her Skill deals Pyro DMG to multiple nearby enemies, before singling out one enemy and dashing towards them, dealing AoE Pyro DMG. As of this moment, it’s not clear if she automatically dashes forward if there’s only one nearby enemy. Opponents hit by her Skill will have the Blood-Debt Directive applied to them. The Directive lasts for 30 seconds and deals one instance of Pyro DMG to enemies affected by it every 5 seconds; strangely though it only deals a maximum of 2 instances of Pyro DMG instead of 6.

When Arlecchino performs a Charged Attack (it’s unclear if she has to hit the enemies with this attack) or uses her Elemental Burst, all nearby Directives will be absorbed, each one giving her a Life Bond worth 65% of her Max HP (at least 19,500). The maximum Bond value she gains from absorbing the Directives within 35 seconds of using her Skill is 145% of her Max HP.

Elemental Burst - Balemoon Rising

This deals AoE Pyro DMG, as well as heals Arlecchino, absorbs nearby Blood-Debt Directives and prematurely ends her Skill cooldown. The amount of healing she receives scales on her ATK stat and her current Life Bond value.

Passive

Agony Alone May Be Repaid

Arlecchino can gain a Life Bond worth 130% of her Max HP via her Skill in one of two ways: when she defeats an opponent marked by a Directive, or if you wait 5 seconds for the Directive to become a Blood-Debt Due, which can then be absorbed per usual.

These effects cannot exceed the 145% value limit of her Skill.

The Balemoon Alone May Know

While in combat, Arlecchino will gain a 40% Pyro DMG Bonus and can only be healed by her Burst, so it's best that you give her lots of Energy Recharge or pair her with teammates that can help with energy generation, like Raiden Shogun or a character with a Favonius weapon.

Strength Alone Can Defend

Arlecchino gains 1% Elemental and Physical resistance (RES) every 100 ATK over 1,000. For example, if she has 1,400 ATK, that will increase her RES by 4%. This effect caps at 20% RES increase (3k ATK).

Considering what we now know, it seems like Arlecchino's best rotation will be as follows: Skill -> Charged Attack -> Normal Attack -> Burst when low on health. However, keep in mind this is my first time theorycrafting so I could be wrong. Hope this was helpful to you!

[collective-remnants-rwby]

Team RWBY Domain Expansions pt. 1

Succeeding this, I wanted to make Domain Expansions for RWBY characters, starting with the main team themself.

Also, these Domains are gonna be different than JJK Domains, as most of them won't be Lethal Domains. They're a reflection of the Semblance, and what the user generally wants to accomplish with their Semblance, which usually isn't killing. There is still a "sure hit" factor, though, along it with the user being unable to use Semblances afterwards, and leaving their Auras brittle and exhausted. It's a move of last resort, at least usually, and thus performed in conjunction with allies you can take advantage of the Domain's effects and aftermath.

Also, they're gonna be relatively simpler.

Ruby Rose: Red Like Roses

Red Like Roses takes the appearance of the winter clearing from the Red Trailer. Ruby can instantly de-materialize and re-materialize anywhere within, and the petals of Petal Burst would comprise her sure effect. Anything or anyone touch by her petals would be turned into a whirlwind of rose petals, spreading the effect until everything is rose petals or she releases the domain. Upon releasing the Domain, the whirlwind of rose petals would scatter in every direction.

But don't worry! This isn't fatal, as the petals would reform into their original forms in relatively short order, albeit discombobulated and possibly drained of Aura, with the one exception of this being Grimm.

Notes:

Her Semblance is definitely the epitome of scary, yet ultimately non-fatal. In fact, I can imagine her Domain being affected by her Silver Eyes, preventing her from actually developing a Lethal Domain. It can't destroy anything except for creatures of Destruction (The Grimm).

Weiss: Ice Sculpture Palace

Ice Sculpture Palace looks like the Foyer of Schnee Manor fused with a hall of mirrors, lined with statues of all her summons, with everything desaturated as if under the effects of time dilation. In fact, it may just be time dilation, as anyone caught in the Domain moves in slow motion, while Weiss and her army of summons move with enhanced speed.

Notes:

Weiss definitely has the most intricate Domain, as it's essentially inherited, though I think she might be able to change the setting.

Also, if anyone could manifest a Barrierless Domain a la Sukuna, it would be her.

Blake: Path To Isolation

Path to Isolation takes the appearance of a black void that subjects anyone caught in it to sensory deprivation and a falling sensation. additionally, when the Domain is released, the victims are hit with the sudden sensory overload, forcing their brains to reboot, given her a period of time to slip away. Additionally by shrinking her Domain and concentrating on a single target, she can make the effects more and more devastating, even possibly to the point of permanent injury or death.

Notes:

This Domain definitely would have been developed out of desperation during a dark period in her life.

With her healing journey, I can imagination her Domain changing, more and more, until it becomes something entirely different.

I'm gonna have to think about that more....

Yang: Full Burn

I described it earlier, but to restate and expand: Full Burn is a forest clearing, in fact, I would go as so far to say it's the same clearing on Patch that Red Like Roses is based off of, only in Summer instead of Winter. The sure hit effect affects any action she sees as aggressive towards her or her allies, igniting the kinetic energy and burning the aggressor, with the detonation's intensity corresponding to the intensity of the original act.

Now, I have pretty good ideas on JNR, Cinder, and Adam's DE abilities, and appearances for Cinder, Adam, and Ren, but I need to think up appearances for Jaune and Nora.

[1rsoldiersince2012]

Bound by Law (Matt Murdock x reader)

Words: 2354 (chapter 12)

Summary:

You and Matt met in the courtroom. Now, you may think that Matt was a knight in shining armour and defended you in the name of all United States laws, but that was not the case. Matt was totally destroying your client, and you wanted to tear him into pieces right then and right there, because with Murdock as your rival, your head is on the firm's plate with each case. Did Matt care? No, he only cared about bringing justice, he was a human-machine, driven by the need to bring righteousness no matter the cost. Or was he just that? What happens when you get involved in Fisk's business and Daredevil's lies against your will?

UPDATES EVERY FRIDAY

Find my other accounts on ao3 and wattpad under the same name <3

ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/1rSoldierSince2012

wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/1rsoldierSince2012

12. Coffee Delusions

"Yes?" Wesley asks, putting down his briefcase on the empty seat next to him.

"Hey, it's me." You say, getting in your car.

"Hello, y/n." Wesley's voice immediately softens. Fisk takes a notice of it, trying to listen as much of you speaking on the other side as he can.

"I'll be quick, just you know, wanted to give you a heads up that I'm quite free this week, for all I know now..." suddenly you get embarrassed for even calling him.

"Oh, that sounds amazing. You want to meet some time then?" Wesley asks, looking at Fisk in front of him, and the latter nods.

"That would be great. If you're not busy, of course."

"I am... A little. But for you, I can find some free time, when is good for you?" Wesley looks outside the window, possibly for the first time feeling like he couldn't hold Fisk's stare.

"Clear your schedule for tonight?" You ask, looking back at the firm's building, feeling like the place suddenly gave you a cold shoulder.

"Absolutely."

"I'll text you the address then." You say and wait a bit for him to say something else.

"Great. Can't wait to see you again."

"Yeah, me too. Bye, James."

"See you later." He ends the phone call, daring to look at Fisk.

"You'll manage the business?" Fisk asks.

"It's not the first time I multi-task." Wesley leans back in the seat, closing his eyes for a moment, and not seeing the raised eyebrow on Fisk's face.

*** Foggy and Matt were busy trying to make things for Healy better, although there was not much hope. Karen almost got bribed for the absolute silence; Hogarth made another shady deal, Benowitz was busy fucking that newbie lawyer from the 1st floor, and Fisk went to the gallery to look at the Rabbit in a Snowstorm painting again, finding it hard to forget Vanessa's pretty face. Fisk thought that he understood Wesley more than anyone else in the world, he thought of him as a friend, partner, sometimes even as a son, and today he felt like he saw a totally different man in front of him in that car. Usually, Fisk would order to get rid of any possible distractions, yet now that he started to feel something other than constant hatred, and it was directed towards a beautiful woman, Fisk dared to risk his best man and companion and let him get involved with something else than business.

You? You were trying to put up a look for the date. It wasn't really a date, although you considered it to be one, so you could make yourself look as good as you could. Dresses were not an option, since in the afternoon it got quite chilly, skirts were crossed out too, and that left you in dark blue suit pants and jacket again, but this time you decided to wear a warmer blouse underneath.

Wesley entered the Café precisely a minute before seven, but already found you sitting in the corner seat. His outfit was the same as he wore in the morning, just the suit went darker by three shades. Hand behind his back, he was walking confidently, looking around until he noticed you and a smirk escaped his lips. Getting at your table, he stopped, and pulled out a single red rose. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman."

You hated roses.

"Thank you." You blush slightly, feeling not ready to return to the dating world after all those years, and pretending that you liked the flower. After all, it was a nice gesture, especially in times like these, when men didn't care about bringing flowers to dates.

"I hope I didn't make you wait." He sits down, and you notice that he's not wearing a tie, few buttons of his shirt, unbutonned.

"No, not at all."

"Have you ordered anything yet? Coffee?" He puts his phone on the table, although he planned on leaving business out of his life this evening.

"Not yet, but I was thinking about it."

Wesley waves for the waiter and quickly orders, "black coffee for me and for the lady..."

"A latte. Thank you." you smile at the young woman, and she leaves your table just as fast as she came. "So, James, how was your day?" You put the rose in the middle of the table, as if dividing the table in two, and lean forward a bit.

"Quite... Adventurous. How was yours?" He leans forward too, smiling warmly, eyes not leaving yours.

"Interesting, I might say."

"I uh... Watched your court yesterday." He begins, only to be interrupted by your heavy sigh.

"No, not you too."

"I gotta say, you were amazing." Wesley laughs, complimenting you. "Truly, you deserve that spot on the billboard."

"God, I'm reminded of it every day."

"I'm sorry if this offended you in some way, y/n."

"No, it's all right, don't work yourself over it." You quickly change the topic from yourself. "So, did you buy that naked lady painting? Is it hanging in your bedroom?" You smirk, and Wesley quickly catches up with your thoughts.

"Why, would you like to see it?"

"I wasn't particularly fond of it at the gallery, so I would have to think twice about that." You say, biting the corner of your lip.

"What if I told you that I didn't buy it?" Wesley steps up his game.

"Then I would say, with a great sorrow in my heart, that you are an idiot." You put your hand on your heart for a theatrical exaggeration, and Wesley's eyes wander to your chest, and your hand, adorned with a ring. How he wished to hold your hand in that moment--

"I guess it's entirely up to you to find out whether I am an idiot or not." He smirks instead, thanking the waiter for the coffee that she just put down on the table.

"You don't look like a man who would trouble a lady with such responsibility."

"What do I look like then?" He asks, genuinely interested of what women thought of him, yet your answer would differ from the others, because after all, you were no ordinary woman, so different from everyone he has met.

"You look like you handle your business yourself... And enjoy it very much." Taking a sip of your latte, you answer mysteriously.

"I see you're very insightful." Wesley fixes his glasses, there was something about you so similar to him, and it wasn't the thing you called 'accident', of which he knew, obviously, but he felt something else. Maybe it was the way you presented yourself, or maybe your remarks, that you were saying so naturally. Maybe, just maybe, Wesley was affected by your beauty.

"I blame this on my job. As a lawyer, I just can't let things slide past me." You sip again, "speaking of jobs, what do you do at Confed Global?"

Wesley knew you'd ask this. It was a natural question, part of every simple conversation. "I... Take care of investments, and regulate company's purchases."

"Hm, important job."

"Yes," he laughs shortly, "indeed. How long have you worked as a lawyer?" He knew that already. Year and a half.

"Almost two years." You say proudly, although your company was nothing to be proud of.

"Why did you decide to become a lawyer? I mean, it's such a difficult job, and the studies, the clients... I wouldn't even think about it." He knew why.

"Some things just come to you. But I guess I wanted a change, and to prove that some good things still exist in the world." You lie. Partially.

He knows why you are who you are right now, and it wasn't because of proving goodness in the world, it was because you wanted to run away from yourself, from what you did, setting your job as a constant punishment for your deed. "Spoken like a true poet." He smiles instead, because after all, who was he to judge you, when he was made out of the same clay, perhaps even worse one.

"I hated literature in school." You admit.

"What did you like then?" Wesley raises his eyebrows from behind the cup.

"History. Facts. Not something you create while in the state of delirium. What was your go-to thing in high school?"

He thinks for a moment. No one's actually asked him this in a long time, "History is just a past, I like to make things for the future. I liked maths."

"You know how freaky you look now? No one likes math." You whisper, and then laugh, Wesley breaks into a smile as well. Who would've thought that you were actually fun to hang out with? Aside from your image of a woman who knows what she wants and gets exactly that, and the image of a hard-to-reach woman, combined into one, you were totally different when you opened yourself up to others. But the thing was... You never opened up to others. Not to anyone.

"That didn't seem to scare you off." He raises an eyebrow.

"Please, I've sat with cold-blooded murderers side by side, one math geek doesn't scare me." It's true. Life of a lawyer.

"Two would?" Wesley asks. You didn't know yet that he was indeed a cold-blooded killer. Maybe you won't live up to learn that. For some reason he hoped to hide his criminal activity from you for as long as possible, but that was impossible.

"I don't think you guys are walking in pairs." You say, smiling behind the cup.

"That's true." He answers, not sure how to keep the talk going. After all, he didn't go on dates since... forever. "You got any cases now?"

"For the time being, no. But they'll call me."

"You work on a call now?" Wesley furrows his eyebrows, clearly some things changed without him knowing.

"Something like that, yeah." You didn't look happy when you said it.

"You... Uh, know those new lawyers in town, Nelson and Murdock?" He asks suddenly.

"Yes, why?" You look at him with slight suspicion, gently putting your cup on the plate.

"I had some business with them today, are they as good as people talk?"

"Business? As in getting a legal advice?"

"More of a helping to a friend of a friend." He waits for your reaction.

"You could've called me." You furrow your eyebrows slightly. "I am a lawyer too."

"Didn't want to bother you much, besides, I didn't want it to seem that I was using you for my own needs." He saw how you got interested, maybe you'll give them a call tonight, get your hands dirty with Healy's case. Wesley didn't want that, of course, yet he had orders.

"Oh, stop it, James. I'm available most of the time, just, you know, just give me a call, and we can talk... About business and whatnot."

There it was. And whatnot. You wanted to meet with him again. You wanted to talk to him. To call him. To be called to... This was going as smoothly as he expected it to go. "I'll keep that in mind, y/n."

"Great." You chirp, finishing your latte.

"This is nice. I don't remember the last time I went out just for fun." Wesley admits.

"Really? Then I can congratulate all the lawyers, myself included, and say that we are higher than businessmen in terms of going out." You lean back, crossing your legs under the small table, and accidentaly touching his.

"Well, you have what to celebrate, or drown your sorrows. Either way, there's more time for you to relax." Wesley pretends he didn't feel the slight kick, but deep down, something shook inside of him.

"If you call 'drinking at home with case papers scattered on the floor' relaxation, then I'm the most relaxed person on Earth."

Wesley smiles, "still better than for us, business people."

"It's never too late to change your profession, James." You say mysteriously. He was not used to people calling him by his name, of course, except Fisk, but he wasn't mad that you were constantly doing exactly that.

"I believe my workaholism has put me in a tight spot, so no way out for me." The tight smile betrayed him. You understood that he likes that place too much and has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders in that company. Suspiciously too much for a guy who deals with investments and purchases.

"You don't want a way out, do you?"

Wesley feels something inside of him, but maintains his perfect poker face, "when one finds a desirable job, it would be foolish to waste that opportunity, am I right?" He laughs, hoping to throw you off the path you've taken.

"Yes." You smile kindly, mentally taking a note of this piece of dialogue. "Of course. You smoke?" You ask after a moment of mutual silence.

"On occasion."

"Will this be that occasion?" You raise an eyebrow and stand up to get your coat.

"Only if I pay the bill." He says when the waitress brings the bill to your table.

"Fine." You roll your eyes slightly.

***

Healy's case was a dead end and a swamp of lies to Nelson and Murdock. Matt was losing his mind while trying to find at least a crumb of explanation, something reasonable and helpful, but it was pointless. Foggy, on the other hand, was keen on getting Healy away from jail, despite understanding that he was guilty, yet that cheque that Wesley promised has seeped into his mind, and the hope for better future of their office is what kept him going. Karen found nothing on Confed Global. Possibly it was hiding something way bigger, but it was too early for them to understand it. While boys were losing their minds in the office, Karen, determined to expose Union Allied, paid a visit to Ben Urich, hoping that public attention will change things for the better.

***

Wesley thought that he already had you wrapped up like a gift for Fisk, yet, he couldn't have been more wrong about it. He knew where you lived, because Vanessa lived there too, for now. After Fisk met her in the gallery, he asked couple of men to watch her flat. Yours too. But Wesley gave them orders of his own, and asked not to do it, since you might find it all suspicious.

Second date in his pocket, Wesley returned to the hotel room, feeling something inside his chest. Sure, he blamed it on the smoking, because he didn't smoke since he started working for Fisk, but sacrifices had to be made.

[dawnfelagund]

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to create a small archive like you did with the Silmarillion Writers' Guild? I think there's a good chance that the way AI is in the news right now leads to more energy being directed towards smaller community-specific archives and I'd love to know more about how you came to start the SWG. (I'm the fans4writers person who misrepresented your post—a correction has been added!)

Thank you for the correction and also (most importantly!) for your work in solidarity with the WGA writers and keeping this issue at the forefront of fandom consciousness!

This is an amazing question, and I am trying not to be too giddy in answering it! :D

I’d say first and foremost is to think about what you have in mind. A single-author archive, for example, is going to involve different considerations than an archive for a small community or a group of friends/collaborators, and both of those will have different considerations than an archive that is more open to the public. My experience, over the years, is that the more potential users you have, the more careful you have to be in all of your decisions. If you pick an annoying platform for a single-author archive, the only person you annoy is you. If you made the same choice for a larger project, you might find yourself losing creators and visitors due to inconvenience. (I say this as I am redoing my annoying single-author archive/website to be less annoying! :D)

(It sounds like you want something for a small community, so this is more just a general fyi for others who might be thinking through the same process.)

Right now, unfortunately, there are not a lot of great options for creating archives that function well as archives, and that’s a discussion to have with your community. Can you make a Dreamwidth community or a Wordpress blog work, even if it lacks a lot of the bells and whistles we have come to associate with fanworks archives? The answer could well be yes! I’m a Tolkien fandom historian, and early-mid 2000s Tolkien fanfic archives were often subsidiaries of the community itself: a more permanent place to ... well, archive ... the works the community was making. The real action was happening in the community itself, whether that was an email list or a forum or something else entirely, so no one really needed a sophisticated archive. When I look back at these early archives, I am sometimes blown away at how simple they were compared to what we have come to expect of an “archive,” again largely because the dominance of AO3 has led people to see it as “default” rather than “one possible option.”

If simple is an option, then there are tons of free and not-free options for blogs and websites. Wordpress, of course, is an obvious choice. Dreamwidth and BobaBoard are options that specifically market as fandom-friendly. Neocities is a reboot of Geocities and just one of many free site builders. In short, for a simple archive/site, there are lots of options.

Now if you want an archive with more sophisticated features, then the answer is less satisfying because this area of fandom has atrophied in the shadow of AO3.

The AO3 code itself is open-source, which means it can be used to build sites that behave exactly like AO3. However, I’ve never used it but have heard that it is not a beginner-level project to do this.

Back in the mid- to late 2000s, eFiction was the go-to for building archives. Open-source software specific for fanfiction archives, it could be installed on a web server and configured and up and running in less than an hour. It is still around. I do not recommend using it as it is now and mention it only because it does have a new developer at the helm who has been (unsuccessfully) trying to fundraise to not only update the codebase but also, ideally, roll out the option of hosted eFiction sites: where you would not have to purchase web hosting but could build an eFiction archive on the eFiction servers, similar to hosted Wordpress sites. Given the interest in small archives and the recently successful fundraising campaign for the Fujoshi Guide to Web Development, I hope to reach out to Tyler (the new eFiction developer) sometime this week to see if he might be open to more strenuously fundraising to at least get an updated codebase available to use. So I’m hoping eFiction becomes viable again in the future.

The Silmarillion Writers’ Guild currently uses Drupal, an open-source content management system similar to Wordpress, but it has been a journey to get there.

You asked specifically about how I came to start the SWG, so I’ll digress a bit on that there, which will bring me back around to Drupal. :D The SWG started in 2005 as a community on Yahoo! Groups and LiveJournal. I was 23 years old and knew nothing about websites. I have a vivid (and mildly embarrassing!) memory of setting up the SWG on LJ and emailing my sister to ask her how to “make italics in HTML,” since LJ didn’t have a reliable rich-text editor at the time and I guess I needed to ... make italics?

The SWG was intended to be a writers’ workshop for Silmarillion-based fanfiction, but I said the word “archive” in my very first post to the group, and people loved the idea, and that was where our efforts ended up going, so I spent the next two years learning what I needed to know to build and run a website. The SWG archive opened in 2007. It was a hand-coded website with an eFiction archive as part of it. This served us very well for many years, until we started noticing that the eFiction part of the site was returning errors every time our webhost upgraded our PHP. eFiction, by this point, hadn’t been updated in several years, and web standards were outstripping the codebase. My comod Russandol knows enough PHP that she could patch up the eFiction code to fix the errors we were seeing, but we knew it was a matter of time before that was no longer a viable option. In August 2019, after a particularly painful update that threw all kinds of errors into the site, we began investigating other archive software options.

We eventually settled on Drupal, and I began to the whole learning process again and built a few test archives. A year later, Russa and I began rebuilding the site in Drupal. We beta’ed the site, migrated the data, and opened the rebuilt site in April 2021.

I love Drupal. I love working with it, and when my job as a teacher is on my last nerve, I fantasize about becoming a Drupal developer. It is very powerful and can do amazing things. I really think you can build almost anything in it. However, with that being said, it is also a huge pain in the ass, and the more complicated the site, the more of a pain it becomes, and like many open-source projects, while there is a support community behind it, documentation is not always the best, nor geared at beginners. I don’t say this to dissuade you or anyone else from choosing Drupal. I would not un-choose it. But I do think it’s important to go into that choice with eyes open to the advantages and disadvantages it has to offer.

For anyone who is interested in building an archive in Drupal, one of my projects this summer break is to produce a tutorial series for building a start-to-finish Drupal-based fanworks archive. The tutorial series is completely outlined; I just need to record it. I will of course announce it here; it will be posted on my website (dawnfelagund.com, currently under construction) and the SWG once it is ready.

Of course, any other content management system could, in theory, be leveraged to build an archive. In my perfect world, eFiction would come back and someone would figure out how to use Wordpress to make archives. (Russa and I tried recently, but neither of us know Wordpress well enough to get the right combination of plugins.) An SWG member (whom I will not name so as to not create any pressure on her to follow through!) who knows Wordpress really well did float the idea of playing around in it to solve this problem.

So ... that’s a lot of “watch this space” for more sophisticated archive options. And this is not where I want us, as Fandom, to be. I remain hopeful, however, that there does seem to be interest in small archives at last and several projects that could turn into something viable.