#this post has some real 2016 vibes to it

[thisstableground]

well i don't often post the mental health stuff here any more because, to be honest, there has not been much to post for a time - is this what they call STABILITY and BEING HAPPY IN YOUR SITUATION what a novelty - but life does like to throw little things around by which i mean linkedin does like to suddenly, randomly suggest a connection with not The person who caused all the damage but the secondary person to it who definitely exacerbated it all. despite me not being in contact with anyone from that time, and having never had any record of that era of my life on my linkedin, or having any other social media that it could pull from, or of ever having lived in that place, and using a different email address and phone number than i used back then with nobody at all related to it in my contacts, and we aren't in the same industry at all, and i have a different first name now - but it's fine. unfortunately i have an incredibly unique last name, that's probably the problem. maybe she remembers too. maybe she tried to find me. i'm not even really mad at her any more.

anyway, it isn't As big a deal as it would have been had this happened a few years ago. the therapy holds. i played some pokemon emerald about it and spent about four hours standing at a seafront bus stop in the pouring rain last night telling my bff the whole situation in a tone like it was a practice for a stand-up set and genuinely it was all very funny, in a "so here's a horrific story" way. and i'm not looking at her profile, and i'm definitely not using that as the point of entrance into the vortex of looking for his social media. i am NOT

unleeeess

anyway. i woke up this morning very awake. my brain was very spiky in the sense of physical-feeling spikes before i saw my friend yesterday, it is spiky today in the sense of spikes in a waveform like wow here's a burst of static and a memory, but it is better than the other kind and i think perhaps even healthy. it is healthy to think about things which are stressful, for a while, and then to do something else when it stops being productive. i woke up very happy to see my little studio apartment that i love, very happy to eat cereal and yawn and make tea. i will walk along the seafront later. i am thinking about my stories and my characters the same way that i thought about them when i first started working through all of this.

there isn't a point to this. nothing can be done about it. i don't even know if it's triggering because it isn't the kind of being triggered i used to get, i'm not panicking, it's all funny in a way. the point is i am thinking about it and trying not to think too much about it but also trying not to avoid thinking about it. the point is don't look at them. the point is don't look for them. the point is don't look for him

[pink-evilette]

Hey girl! Before I ask, I just wanted to say I love your blog-especially your taste in movies! I've watched so many good movies from you! I noticed you kind of gravitate more towards campy, trailer park-esque vibes, which is something I also adore. I was wondering if you could think of any movies that have that specific vibe, that also fit with coquette/faunlet vibes. Thanks! And once again, love your blog!

Hi! Thank you so much for sending me this ask and for supporting my blog, I really appreciate it ♡

I try to watch lots of films that relate to the coquette/faunlet lifestyle and I'm constantly discovering new movies (@coquette-club is currently posting about lots of great films to check out)!

I love campy, trailer park/motel/road trip type films because that sort of lifestyle has always been interesting to me and I have seen many great films over the years that feature these motifs so here's my little list for you ♡

American Honey (2016)

Star is a young girl living in poverty with her dysfunctional family until she meets a charming stranger in a supermarket. They go on a road trip selling magazines door-to-door and meet many interesting people along the way. It's a beautiful film about growing up, first love, identity and features mainly unknown actors and improvised lines to feel even more gritty and real. Sasha Lane is incredible in this film and I adore her ♡

Black Snake Moan (2006)

Christina Ricci plays a young woman who is lost in life and suffers from nymphomania and Samuel L Jackson's character Lazarus attempts to cure her by imprisoning her with a chain around her waist. It's a seriously weird film and you've probably seen the clips of Ricci dancing with the chain, but it's also pretty enjoyable and features some really awesome blues music, southern sleaze and skimpy coquette outfits ♡

Hick (2011)

This one is a classic in the coquette world, Luli has become an icon to us with her dreams of running away to find fun in Las Vegas after being abandoned by her family at 13 years old. She hitches a ride with a cowboy and sleeps in a trailer, does cocaine and robs a convenience store (and that's just the first act). It's a super grimy film and I enjoyed the visuals too ♡

Ripe (1996)

Two orphaned sisters flee a car wreck and hitch a ride to a dilapidated army camp, where they stay with the grumpy caretaker and cause chaos wherever they go. It's really hard to find but worth the watch if you can, the aesthetics are so sickly sweet and feel just like Video Games by Lana Del Rey mixed with the warmth of a summer day ♡

A few miscellaneous:

Where the Heart is (2000) // Bones and All (2022)

~ Natalie Portman's character lives in a trailer park and is abandoned pregnant by her boyfriend in a wallmart

~ Road trip love story, our main characters steal and squat in various trailers, farms and other lodgings

The Florida Project (2017) // Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)

~ A single mother lives in a motel in Florida

~ Teen beauty pagent star lives with her mother in a trailer

I really hope this is helpful! There are probably others but this is all I can think of for now, and there are many more similar to this that I haven't yet seen! Thanks again for the ask ♡

[holmesxwatson]

James Lovegrove’s Sherlock Holmes books

James Lovegrove has written a ton of Sherlock Holmes books over the years (all Victorian era/canon era). I recently came across his latest series on the Hoopla app while I was browsing audiobooks that were available and the cover art totally roped me in. I ended up reading all three books in the newest series, all the Cthulu casebooks and a few in his earliest series. As far as I can tell, his books seem to be split into three different series based on the structure of the subtitles and the different cover art. I enjoyed all the books I read by Lovegrove for different reasons, but as I've already established in my other book rec posts, I mostly only care about the Holmes/Watson dynamic. So listed below are Lovegrove's Sherlock series in chronological order, which also happens to be, in my opinion, the order from least to best Holmes & Watson dynamics •ᴗ•

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Titan Books Series, 2013-2018

I honestly just realized while researching links for this post that Lovegrove's books in this series are part of a bigger series with multiple authors (lol me), so I'm not going to list all the titles here, but they've been published from 2011-2023 and Lovegrove has written six of the 21 books. The other authors in the series are Guy Adams, George Mann, Cavan Scott, Mark A. Latham, Nick Kyme, Philip Purser-Hallard, and Tim Major. I read the first two Lovegrove books in this series last after reading his other SH series and the stories were pretty solid. One of them was a WWI-era story, which is a time period that I love to read about. The only thing I will say is that the Holmes & Watson vibe is a little too I'm-smarter-than-you-do-keep-up for my taste, which is why I took a break after reading the first two. But I wouldn't be against dipping back into this series at some point in the future and also checking out what the other authors have to offer.

Goodreads series page (x)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

The Cthulu Casebooks, 2016-2023

There are four books in the Cthulu Casebooks series and the framing device is that James Lovegrove himself is a descendant of H.P. Lovecraft, which is how he comes into possession of Watson's secret writings on his and Sherlock's real adventures going up against Cthulu and other eldritch horrors. These books are not just a romp through a mashup of literary worlds, there are very real stakes and things get dark. I really liked these books, I'm not really a Lovecraft fan at all, but I have read some of his works and of course I'm aware of all the elements from his works that have transcended their stories and are really a part of general fantasy/horror fan knowledge. My best friend is a huge Lovecraft fan and we read these together, so they were able to tell me how precise the Lovecraftian elements were -- they were precise -- so Lovecraft fan approved. The framing device was my favorite thing, especially the author's note at the end of book three, which was a very bone-chilling way to end the book (that I was listening to on audio in my dark house at night -- oops).

Sherlock Holmes and the Shadwell Shadows

Sherlock Holmes and the Miskatonic Monstrosities

Sherlock Holmes and the Sussex Sea-Devils

Sherlock Holmes and the Highgate Horrors

Goodreads series page (x)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

James Lovegrove's Sherlock Holmes, 2019-2021

This was my favorite series out of the Lovegrove set and also the first that I read. I felt like the Holmes & Watson dynamic was especially great -- and for me that means: they felt more like equals, there was just the right amount of bickering, and they cared deeply about each other. While I was reading these I took some short notes to help me remember what was special about each book, here they are below next to the titles. I would say that the covers and titles make the series seem like it might have fantasy elements, but it's more like they are debunking their clients outlandish theories before getting stuck in on the actual case.

Sherlock Holmes & the Christmas Demon (has a Three Garridebs-esque scene; Holmes dresses up as Santa!)

Sherlock Holmes & The Beast of the Stapletons (a continuation of HOUN complete with a short estrangement of Holmes & Watson)

Sherlock Holmes & The Three Winter Terrors (the dedication at the beginning of the book is to Jeremy Brett ❤)

Goodreads pages (x) (x) (x)

Here’s my goodreads shelf with all kinds of Sherlock Holmes books that I’ve read or am hoping to read. Let me know if you have any recs! And check my pinned post for other book recs posts!

[codabound]

I said that I was gonna do it, soooo, without further ado...

Why I do not particularly care for nor generally like Riley Zhou from Leasebound

All of this is essentially just going to be a bulleted list with no real order, and all of this is specifically just my opinion of her character, as well as the very obviously distasteful aspects that she's been written with.

Starting off with number one, and the most obvious point:

She is very obviously supposed to be Rusty's self-insert.

Thought that one was a bit on the nose. Hell, in one of the comic panels in Chapter 6, Rusty basically admits that herself. So already, Riley kind of gets points off for being a bigoted and generally very nasty and rude creator's self-insert.

Moving on to number two:

She's borderline absent from the comic's actual story because of just how little of character she's given.

Yeah, a few people have talked about this before, it's just a little bit asinine that a literal side character who's existence is to motivate Jaden was given an entire backstory and more character development before Riley, who is literally one of the two main characters.

We know so little about Riley that you could count her character qualities on both hands. She's vegetarian, she has a cat that she loves, she has a cute girlfriend, she's non-confrontational and docile, she apparently grew up in a cultish religious upbringing... And that's kind of about it..?

What worsens this is that the most interesting of these qualities of her character have had practically 0 development since Leasebound was first created. In my opinion, and I believe most would likely agree, the most interesting part about Riley and her potential backstory is the fact that she grew up in a religious upbringing, possibly JW or just culty in general, and then was subsequently disfellowed and no longer has any contact or connection with her family, or specifically her mother, likely either because she was discovered for being lesbian, or just left on her own accord, which religious cults see as a big ol' no-no.

But we barely know anything about that part of Riley! The closest we've ever gotten is the little nudges to it in the first few chapters of the comic, and a few little hints to it in the behind-the-scenes bits that Rusty has made. And who knows how much longer we'll have to wait until we finally get some kind of story development for her, if Rusty even decides to get to it at all.

Onto numero tres!

She's kind of at fault for a good half of Leasebound's conflict, yet gets practically zero of the blame.

I already went into this in my previous post before this, so there's no use beating a dead horse. Essentially, Riley is a doormat, and that's pretty annoying.

Number four:

She gives off the most heavy "uwu soft squishy smol bean" early 2016 vibes

Now, I suppose this could be overlooked given that Leasebound was first being developed in 2017, and was then first being published in 2019, where treating a character as a "smol bean" was generally more normalized and acceptable.

... So now it's jarring how she's continually treated this way in nearly 2025.

I've said this before in a previous post, it doesn't entirely feel as though a lot of Leasebound's fans treat Riley like an actual person, rather just this "little baby bean, needs to be protected from that evil HOP Blaire 🥺🥺🥺"

It just gives off this really off-putting and weird vibe.

Number five:

Her feelings for Jaden, how said feelings are detrimental to Blaire, and the lack of development for said feelings.

I've already kind of gone over this one a bunch of times to, so to keep their short: Riley has a girlfriend, doesn't agree with her girlfriend's political views, so to cope with that, Riley actively pines for her roommate who's she's only known for a whole week at best and who only seems mildly interested in her back. Yikes, I say.

Number six:

The fashion sense of a wall with paint drying.

In general, nearly every character in Leasebound has an absolutely atrocious taste in fashion, since for some reason, Rusty appears to believe that a character having even just a pinch of style in their wardrobe = patriarchy. But Riley especially fits this category, because all she seems to ever wear are t-shirts, button ups with little to no design or patterns that are appealing to the eye, and...

This. Yeah, I have to come out and say it, this look for Riley is just not it. I don't like it. At all. Sorry, TERFs ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

And for some miscellaneous points that I generally dislike about her but don't exactly feel like getting into, or just feed into another existing point about her I've/somebody else have already made:

・The insane leaps and stretches that both the comic and TERFs have taken to keep up the idea that she is a "victim" of her girlfriend

・Her Marinette Dupain-Cheng levels of white-washing for being a half Asian character.

・The weird way she's portrayed whenever she's shown during sexual scenes. Seriously, it icks me out seeing people be like "omg!! Riley, the smol innocent little bean who can barely ask for ketchup by herself knows how to fuck??!". Ugh

・She's so underdeveloped that I'm pretty sure she has no actual relations or friendships with any other characters than Jaden, Blaire and Brick. She's only just recently met Faith and Violet, and briefly came into contact with Chez and Parniya and the other Yonique workers as of these recent panels, but that's about it. Even then, most of her relationships stay bound to just Jaden and Riley. Like, does she have no other friends?? Nobody else she can talk to?? It just feeds more into the fact that she has little to no development outside of pining for Jaden

・She's dating Blaire and Blaire deserves better than that

・I have a very sneaking fear that she may just never actually develop, or at the very least just grow an actual spine, and that the comic will take the route of "She'll never have to go through big scary confrontations ever again, because her huge strong muscle girlfriend will do that for her!". Let's at least hope that isn't the case

Like I said, a whole lot of this post is essentially just my opinion on her as a character, so feel free to add your own insights and opinions in the case that there are also aspects of her character that bother you.

I know I'll probably have my head on a platter by any TERFs who actually bother to read this past the title, but then again, when have I not been under fire by TERFs.

[stupendousfoxthing]

Give or take a few days because I don't know exactly when it happened, this is approximately my eight-year anniversary of becoming a Taekooker. 😂 I just know it was around Thanksgiving 2016.

THAT'S SO CRAZY TO ME. Some post shower thoughts about this: It's interesting looking back on my first year or two as a Taekooker now. I was never vibing with the camp that thought they had been _together_ together for a while at that point. I always felt that 2015-2017 were angsty transitional years, and that honestly could have gone on for longer. The nape kiss happening in late 2018 tells me it had crossed a line beyond platonic by that point, but the timeline is uncertain outside of that. The most interesting thing to me looking back though, especially after solo era made me more sure than ever about them, is that I really did see and recognize something in 2016 that was real and I have watched it bloom. Whatever happens, it has been an entirely joyful ride. It has never been hard for me. I love being a Taekooker.

ALSO: If you're in the US/PR please make sure to buy your White Christmas cds and/or stream for Taekook. :))))

[theangelcatalogue]

If you guys haven't seen my RTC Wonderland production idea, it is NOT a real production, just something I brainstormed in the middle of the night.

First Part

Second Part

(Under the cut for the people who can't access the link or just want to read about it in this post)

(Also there is a Gif of Anne Hathaway as White Queen, just warning cause why not)

FIRST PART

I already talked about this with a friend by I modified some things:

Jane with the Queen of hearts design, and her performance would be like:

When she says " Or it is lost somewhere with my head? " the choir does the ' off with your head ' sign in the background, and she touches her neck, like if they said she would lose her head.

And the flight part where she would like fall trying to search for something to grab and stop herself of falling, like Alice falls from the rabbit role, also the choir members holding white roses but dirty with red, since I read somewhere that the Queen of hearts uses the blood of the people she decapitated to paint the roses, so they used Jane's blood to pain the Roses or something like that.

But her performance wouldn't be Queen of hearts related, more like she was a card that was decapitated by the Queen, but who would have a queen related performance? Ocean cause why not, Ocean would even use a little crown during What the world needs, and everyone has a card, but Jane's card is different because Ocean doesn't see and admit Jane as a member of their choir they forgot about (a personal hc of mine)

Then Noel represents the caterpillar, the Monique outfit having some blue details, and she would be smoking whatever that caterpillar smokes

Misha represents the mad hatter, the This song is awesome performance would be like a crazy tea party, and in Talia things get calmer, and it has some flowers, representing the Wonderland's flowers but also Mad Hatter's more gentleman side, since he is not that crazy.

Ricky is the Cheshire cat, he's performance is a bit more mysterious, mixing space and purple tones, and maybe some special effects smoke when he appears in the Space Age Bachelor man suit

The birthday song is like a mini tea party for Jane

Constance is the white rabbit, and it has some broken clocks, like if the Rabbit had missed the time but doesn't give a damn about it

The portal to go back to life is a rabbit hole, in the end of It's not a game/It's just a ride they all go in, 2016 off-Broadway vibes, and when they go in Penny's shadow appears, dressed as Alice, reveling she wasn't just a card but yet an important part, she was the Alice of their Wonderland.

-

So… I'm back but this time I want to talk about Karnak and the opening of the musical, and other extra details that I don't know if i include or not:

Karnak is the march here, that is the craziest in the Wonderland if you think well, Mad Hatter is crazy, but he has a gentle side, the march hare is crazy and messy, which would be ironic for Karnak, his name could be " Karnak, the amazing hare . ", but he prefers " the amazing Karnak. " Karnak could also be interactive and change a bit on the songs, he could close his curtains while telling the choir's stories and when he opens up again. My idea is:

He uses a " Vote for Ocean " pin that Ocean herself made the choir members use in What the world needs

a beret during Noel's Lament

sunglasses during TSIA and a flower crown during Talia

A little cat ear during SABM, not the mask, just the ears

His curtain would be closed during TBOJD, since he says he never read her fortune

Some confetti during Sugar Cloud

Virgil could be dressed like mad hatter and the hare, or maybe he could be a rat with another details inspired by the jabberwocky

The opening would depend on which song to use, but i like to think of the use of simple effects that could represent the choir died and now are in the limbo, a little changing of lighting and props maybe? My idea is that the choir falls in the floor when they finish singing the opening, like they just fell from the surface and ended up in wonderland

Jane's design, I imagine her makeup being like Lizzie's heart from Ever After high, her hair could be totally black, and her doll would be dressed like a queen, my idea is that she also has a little crown in her hair, that Ocean takes it off during WTWN, Jane would try to search for it, but Ricky stops her, but after Ocean finishes her song, he takes the crown off and gives it to Jane (idk if i include this or no)

Some background bonding scenes with Misha and Jane, since the Mad Hatter is found of Alice in the movies (I'm mixing the book and the movies a bit) and really implied Spacedolls

Thanks for hearing and sorry if i'm bothering, i'm thinking of writing a script for this specific production because why not?

-

YES I COPYPASTED IT DON'T JUDGE ME

[aroace-ventplace]

Hey, so I've been on tumblr for years but I only started identifying as aroace much later/used to only really associate with fandom sections of the website so I think I missed a lot of the really cruel aphobic shit (which I'm glad for tbh). Reading your posts though I remembered I had reblogged that asexual Nicki Minaj moodboard thinking it was just something funny another ace had made. What was the real intention behind that??? What was OP trying to do with it?

you're definitely not the only one who came across posts like "asexual nicki minaj" devoid of all their acecourse context; i kind of envy you lol

@cheeseanonioncrisps wrote a very good summary of the nicki minaj post's relation to 2016-era tumblr aphobia, which i'll quote below:

Okay… for people who are genuinely confused, here's some context: Essentially back when this post was made it was a popular trolling tactic on Tumblr to post deliberately inflammatory (and typically homophobic) things while identifying themselves as ace people, as like a parody of what All Ace People were supposed to be like. These posts then got reblogged ironically by other aphobic people who were in on the joke, and then frequently spread to people who weren't in on the joke and assumed the posts were genuine and reflected mainstream beliefs in the ace community. (To be fair, you did get some ace people unironically reblogging these as well. Every community has its Loud Minority Of Utter Weirdos and the aspec community is and was no exception.) Part of this trend was people making 'ace moodboards' of people who were seen as obviously not being ace. Some of which were very openly mean-spirited. 'Donald Trump Ace Moodboard' and ‘Margaret Thatcher Ace Moodboard' are two I remember getting a lot of notes. The 'joke' there of course being that a) there's no evidence that either person is/was ace, and b) Thatcher especially was pretty infamous for her homophobic politics, and the common narrative around asexuality at the time was that it was motivated purely by homophobia. Moodboards like the one above are obviously less dickish in nature, but it's essentially a guilt by association thing for being part of an aphobic trend. The sheer level of vitriol directed at the ace community at the time made some part of the community (then and now) pretty hypersensitive about this stuff, which is why the reactions seem so over the top. (Yeah it's unlikely that anybody's going to be killing themselves over the ace-Niki Minaj moodboard, but also the kind of people reblogging shit like this were frequently also the ones posting suicide-bait in the ace positivity tags. So I suspect that's where the accusation is coming from. It's just misdirected.) For the record, I have no idea what OP thinks about ace people, but this post specifically does tend to show up on a lot of blogs run by people who are openly aphobic, which is another reason people don't like it. I'll admit that I'm personally not that into it (although the "I never fucked" thing is pretty funny, ngl) but it's kind of cool to see so many young ace people in the notes actually kinda vibing with it and being confused as to why anyone could find it aphobic, in a 'nature is healing' kinda way.

[popculturebuffet]

Next up for Cartoon Network era of shows, who is your favorite character from each of the mid-late 2010s Dimensional era (shame they didn't get the best treatment and exposure on the channel, being the point when Cartoon Network was overplaying Teen Titans Go and pushing most other shows to the side) shows you've seen like: We Bare Bears, The Powerpuff Girls 2016, Mighty Magiswords, Ben 10 2017, OK KO Let's Be Heroes, Apple & Onion, Craig of the Creek, and Summer Camp Island?

We Bare Bears: Ice Bear though I loved them all. And as for thoughts, I really need to go back and watch all of this show as it was really good. Relaly solid. I think I just was in that hole of "If the status quo dosen't change I dont like it" which is still mostly true, it is kinda annoying to have a series long arc of someone wants to get a girlfriend with panda and not.. doing anything with that. But it's very clearly mostly slice of life shenanigans. ALso seems to have ended well

PPG: SIlico as he seems neat.. but I watched maybe one episode of this. I wasn't intrested, everything I heard was bad and looking back it seems half assed.

Mighty Magiswords: Yet another one from this era (and the last) I need to go back to, a true classic. Character wise I love Porhias for his voice and whole vibe. Though Vambre's legs will always have a place in my heart... moving on.

Ben 10 Reboot: Kevin having a bootleg omnitrix. This one I didn't see much of and while I may watch it some day for completions sake... it seems mid. Not as messy as ultimate or omniverse with some growth and really intresting ideas, but not nearly as intresting as the og or alien force seasons 1 and 2. It's firmly in the middle: trying hard to be funnier, inoffensive, but as bad as omniverse could get in it's worst moments... it had ambition. 2016 takes a much needed fresh start and just kinda... does a weaker version of the first show without the charm or real stakes or neat jack kirby-esque art style.

OK KO Let's Be Heroes: It's like asking me to pick my children you monster. But i'd have to go with Professor Venemous. He's a compelling villian, and while I feel we coudl've gotten more post shadowy figure takeover out of him (and may give him just that some day), he's an intresting villian whose bisexual as hell, clever and whose motivatoin and history with characters is great. The cast as a whole is though as this is the best show of the bunch here, though it has close compettition and you can probably guess who. It's fun, has well done character arcs, great action at a time Cartoon Network hated doing acction scnees (it's why SU got the shit end of the stick for a while and why this show ultimately did not last) and ended on one hell of a final episode (The actual climax is mixed but still pretty good given the time constraints). An all time classic and one of the best show's cn's put out and certainly one of my faviorites.

Apple and Onion: Onion, though ti's bittersweet given the whole Grahm Lihean thing. God dammit richard. A great show I wish i'd watched more of, really sweet and chill and like most of these as you pointed out , given the short end of the stick for teen titans not for me.

Craig of the Creek: Another all time faviorite and one I need to watch more of including the full story arc. But what i've seen of the story arc is excellent and the show as a whole is great, the recess successor I didn't know I wanted. It's still largely i'ts own thing but it's hard not ot see "Kids in their own elabroate clicks with terriotirY" and not think recess, but going way bigger than it's more grounded cousin. It's still clear most fantasy stuff is just the kids imaginations, but it dosen't hold back a fantastic show with a stacked roster of characters, a truly great world that just gets better and better, and a lot of nice character growth and moments. I'm not ready for it to end and boo HBO MAx for not wanting one of thier most succesful shows to go on. Favorite is JP. Eaisly. he's the boy.

Summer Camp Island: I"ve barely seen any of it I hear it's great and once again they screwed it over badly.

[foxes-that-run]

Dear angry anon,

Below I have some reading suggestions for you instead of my blog, while you read these I recommend listening to Treat People With Kindness.

This ship has been used to bully, makes it difficult for the subjects and distracts from the many talented LGBTIQ+ artists we are blessed with.

Thank you and all the best.

28 times 1D said Larry is not a thing.

"On the phone to my sister [...] :) she's telling me about 'Larry Stylinson' hahah!!" H on Twitter November 2010

In 2011 Louis said he had a girlfriend in nearly every interview

“originally they were making little fan fiction but then it turned into so many people. Some people genuinely believe Harry and I are in a relationship. We started off just saying really good friends” have you kissed? “No.” Muchmusic June 2012

"This is a subject that was funny at first but now is actually hard to deal with as I am in a relationship. Me and Harry are best friends, people look into our every move. It is actually affecting the way me and Harry are in public." “We want to joke around but there seems to be a different rumour every time we do anything.” LT MTV July 2012

“Hows this, Larry is the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard. I'm happy why can't you accept that.” LT Twitter September 2012

“Still months on reading ridiculous conspiracy theories. It's upsetting that I have to read them daily. Thank god for the lovely people on here. People like you reflect so badly on our incredible fan base. Go and waste your time somewhere else. unfortunately mate people like that are a lost cause and can’t stand to see me and Eleanor happy. Shame really!” On Twitter September 17 2012

"I just think it’s really degrading towards her." LT Chatty Man September 2012

"That is a conspiracy fan fiction that's made up between me and Harry." "Well it gets pretty graphic, it's just, apparently me and Harry are together and my girlfriend isn't real." LT Late Late Show October 2012

“But a lot of them are so wrapped up in the conspiracy. Let me tell you now, they'll find a way to put some twist on this interview. I think it's pretty obvious when you see me and Eleanor together that it's real. Think of the amount of time I spend with her. It's crazy that I even have to say it's genuine. 'The truth is, these people aren't our real fans. That's the way I like to look at it.” LT ET November 2012.

"Harry was the initial boy who set us up, Louis and Eleanor as well" Liam i93 Dallas June 2013

"That's photoshopped." So there's nothing going on? "No." H Sunrise October 2013

“The psychology behind the theories are very interesting. That's a fucking annoyance. I wouldn't say it was impressive. I'd say it was f***ing annoying." Louis sugarscape 26 November 2013

“The fact that you work for such a 'credible' paper and you would talk such rubbish is laughable. I am in fact straight.” LT Twitter November 2014

"People think of the Louis and Harry thing, which is absolutely nuts and drives me insane. It's like when you know the ins and outs of what is going on with people it's so annoying when it's so stupid. It becomes like a conspiracy or a cult, the people who watch them and think that every move they make is a gesture toward them being together, and I know it's not true and it makes me mad. It's so funny to be on the inside of it because you know what's what and then you hear all these crazy theories," Liam to Altitude September 2015

"Have a bit of respect for the baby." LT Refinery April 2016.

"This could cause like Global World War III! But I I have to say something. No, Larry's not real," Liam to KDWB 101.3 May 2017

"I think if you really listen to the lyrics, I think you can work out if it's really about that or not, and I would lean towards no." H to Teen Vogue May 2017

When Louis blocked the word Larry on instagram and posted his middle finger. Buzzfeed September 2016

Roman camp asked if Harry’s hand is in Louis MV “not that I’m aware.” Harry Roman Kemp May 2027

“It took away the vibe you get off anyone. It made everything, I think on both fences, a little bit more unapproachable. I think it shows that it was never anything real, if I can use that word.” Louis The Sun July 2017

"yeah so what was that like anyone who wants to write any rubbish about um the relationship between us, but that's just evidence right there you know what I mean when it matters" Louis Lorraine July 2017

"People can believe what they want to believe, but I just think it comes across sometimes a little bit disrespectful to the ones that I love. You know, like Eleanor. And, it's like anything. If you Google "conspiracy" on iPhones - You're gonna get a conspiracy. So, I think it's one of these things that people just love to buy into, But in reality, obviously there's no truth to it, obviously." LT Big Biz Quiz August 2017

"It was a kind of confusing thing to me as I have always been pretty open about me and my girlfriend. But hey, you know." … "They all think that my girlfriend is employed, these people who believe in that conspiracy." to Andy Cohen 7 August 2017

"I can categorically say that I was not contacted nor did I approve it." Twitter July 2019

“Can you imagine,” he says, “going on a second date with someone and being like, ‘OK, there’s this corner of the thing, and they’re going to say this, and it’s going to be really crazy, and they’re going to be really mean, and it’s not real.… But anyway, what do you want to eat?’ ”H to Rolling Stone 22 August 2022

“You start by realising all these ridiculous childish theories and conspiracies are wasted time and energy and then just throw the chicken in the oven to be fair.” Louis Twitter November 2023

"what are you most proud of?" "Freddie" LT Twitter November 2023

“they will not see the truth for what it really is. I'm sure many people look and find all these little conspiracies that happen in life interesting. I'd be lying if I said it didn't irritate me” April 2024 to G1

Seriously, it’s time to use this energy to

Support Queer Artists

[wherewhereare]

This is especially for the newbies. @formdetective went under the the guise of @shefaniscience. She was one of the very early Shefani blogs/fans. I have used a lot of her posts to work on my timelines. I always found that in very many cases, in the beginning, she was not very far off on her discussions of the relationship. She still follows on occasions, but I have not seen her post anything Shefani wise in a very long time. At the request of her followers, she took the lyrics of GAABMH and put forward what she thought were the thought processes that Blake and Gwen were having in relation to, in my opinion, the most important Shefani song. It is the only song written by them with their own personal thoughts deriving the lyrics. It is in keeping with every song Gwen has written to this date. Even though, NBY and HA really fit them, only GAABMH lays out their very real thoughts at the time.

There are a couple of others she did, and if your interested, I can share those also. Her discussions about the lyrics really bring out, from her opinion, what Gwen was feeling and thinking about when she wrote them. Let me know if you're interested. I have found that her most profound statement, paraphrasing a bit here, is that when she met Blake, it was the first time she could write a love song without caveats. She put that out in 2016 while writing the TIWTTFL album.

formerdetective May 13, 2016 Go Ahead and Break My Heart Lyrics Analysis Okay so a bunch of people requested this but I didn’t have any prompts that really fit with what I wanted to say, so here is a text post!!

First of all, I don’t think this song had anything to do with HOW they figured out the next step of their relationship. I know he said he was trying to impress her and “get somewhere with her,” but I think he was just trying to sound charming. I mean, I’m pretty sure he tries to “impress” her like almost every day. Remember when he bought his and hers horses? Or flew overnight to go to her son’s birthday party. Anyway, I think this song is about that process obviously, but I don’t think it’s a part of it. I’m sure it did help solidify things though. <3

So my interpretation of the song comes in the context of all the other things we know. Splash was July, then I’m pretty sure Getting Warmer was in early September, and then Make Me Like You, Misery were September 22 & 23, and Truth was October 23. Also in mid and late September, Blake and Gwen both said some pretty cool/magical things were happening in their lives during interviews.

So anyway that’s kind of where I’m coming from with this analysis. To me, the emotional vibe is the most like Getting Warmer. I recommend listening to that right before this for more of Gwen’s mental state.

Go Ahead and Break My Heart

Blake’s verse: Most people seem to be assuming that Blake’s lyrics mean Gwen was trying to ease off or actually tried to break up with him or something like that. But I disagree. I think Blake’s verse is mostly the result of his own insecurity. Like we know obviously that she was really scared, but I think that was stopping her from communicating, rather than from seeing him.

You know how I’ve gotten what feels like dozens of messages asking/complaining about how Gwen won’t say the word boyfriend/doesn’t want to talk about Blake/isn’t a good speaker? Imagine if you were the person she didn’t want to talk about, trying to talk about it. I love her so much but she is not good at expressing herself in situations that make her uncomfortable. And she was so nervous and confused herself. If you needed answers and were getting sort of circular, non-committal responses, that would be confusing as hell.

Trying to navigate all of that would be especially confusing if you were already super insecure yourself, and in particular were 100% convinced the woman you fell for was out of your league.

So this is the situation they’re left with. Gwen avoids the conversation or muddles her way through it, and Blake takes her nervousness, not as a sign that she wants more, but as a sign that she doesn’t know how to break up with him, because he literally can’t believe she wants to be with him. (poor babe.)

The sun is setting on your last good try: So we know based on her lyrics, and and interviews and how happy they were on the voice in battles/knockouts, things seem to have been pretty great between them…but then I imagine Blake would start to have the dreaded DTR (define the relationship) and she would start to stumble and second guess everything and leave them both thinking WTF:

Here I am with a half goodbye, wonder if you’re really gone this time: See to me this is where his own insecurities come in. Gwen is being wishy washy and unclear, and he assumes the worst. Gwen talks a lot about being broken but she wasn’t the only one who was damaged by their previous relationship.

The problem, too, is that this isn’t the type of partner he’s used to. He’s used to someone more assertive, and not as much of a sensitive cinnamon role. And based on comments he’d make, I don’t think he was used to being the one who needed to lead discussions. Plus, go back and watch some late 2014/early 2015 B interviews. He’s not used to someone being this sweet to him or being so intensely emotional over him.

I mean, because if Gwen’s problem was she was in love with him but didn’t know if he liked her as much, that’s not a reason to dump someone. It’s a reason to be hesitant in messing things up that are already going well. But Blake doesn’t know any of this, so he just thinks she’s too sweet to let him know she wants to break up. Like I said, he assumes the worst because he’s insecure and a bit broken himself. So when she doesn’t give him a straightforward answer he assumes the worst. But it’s actually the opposite.

And just when I’m about to lose my mind

He said in interviews that they were having trouble opening up and letting their guards down, and I think that definitely went for both of them. So he probably didn’t want to push the issue too much, so when he didn’t get the answers he wanted when he tried to talk about it, he just tried to go with the flow even though it was driving him nuts. Like he didn’t want to scare her off, so when he still didn’t know what she wanted at the end of the conversation, he’d just leave it because it was scary to push too much.

There you are again on my phone, moon is rising and you’re all alone: So basically Blake is going crazy worrying but she calls him like right away and wants to hang out some more. Because of course she does. She’s obsessed.

Maybe we can just hang a while, maybe we can make each other smile: But he’s still confused, still insecure, still doesn’t know what she wants, so he’s like we can just hang and see what happens! Like basically, I’ll take anything.

Oh no, here I go: I think ‘here I go’ is here i go falling in love, and it’s a problem because he doesn’t know what he’s gonna get from her. Like maybe she’s just gonna break his heart.

Chorus: So the lyrics of the chorus pretty much sum up Blake’s frustration.

Literally he’s like, “if you want to end this, then just do it.” I’m not gonna type out the whole thing because they are pretty much just one thought. Except for this:

Why are you waiting is it way too hard? See this line especially makes me think it was as much Blake’s insecurity as Gwen’s that was causing them “problems.” She was waiting because she didn’t have any interest in breaking his heart. She just didn’t know how to tell him that (and was also terrified to admit she wanted more.)

But the rest of the chorus just kind of sums up like, I want you completely. So if you don’t want that too, then you gotta go.

Oh but also: You can’t tell me that we’ll still be friends, and maybe someday we can try again. To me this is emphasizing that bb is in DEEP and he’s gonna be so heartbroken that if it’s not gonna continue then that has to be the end of it.

Gwen’s verse: So gwen’s verse is a combination of reassuring him that his insecurities are for nothing, she is literally in love with him, but she’s scared of how much she’s into him. And the lyrics of her verse are why I don’t think she was ever actually trying to say goodbye or whatever. I think she probably had no idea what to do and word vomitted her way through that conversation(s) and he took that to mean she wanted to breakup but felt bad about it, when it was really the opposite.

I never ever meant to get so into you, thought I was using you just to get me through: I think when they first started hanging out and then unexpectedly switched from friends to romance or more likely, some kind of facebook style it’s complicated, gray in-between situation, and she was trying hard to just keep on living in the moment, without thinking about what might happen between them down the road.

You know I’m broken I don’t trust anyone, last thing I needed was to fall in love: So she didn’t start hanging out with him with the intention of falling in love. She needed time to heal, and between that and everything else in her life it’s actually hella inconvenient, but that’s what happened. But it is scary because she has trust issues…which kind of takes me back to what I said about Getting Warmer…she’s not sure she believes she can trust him to love her the way she loves him…the problem she’s had in the past. But that doesn’t mean she’s not in love with him.

You got me dreaming, got me thinkin I’ve got some hope; there is nobody else I wanna get to know: So it’s not like she wants to break up at all. She doesn’t want to see anyone else, or even be without him, because it’s exciting and she’s starting to move beyond living in the moment towards maybe this is gonna be forever. Or maybe this can be what she’s always wanted, unlike the other two tries.

But I’m so scared I don’t know what to do, how did you get me so into you? And this is back to her struggling to let her guard down. Feelings are not the issue. It’s just fear. But still she does have that shred of hope so she doesn’t want to break up.

Then again, with her trust issues, she’s not that confident he won’t break her heart either. But oh no, here I go: it’s pretty much too late for her. She’s too in love to give in to her fear.

Chorus again: So frankly, it would probably be just as well for Gwen too if Blake isn’t gonna come through and give her the love and partnership she wants then she doesn’t have time for this.

Bridge: So literally, those are the reasons each of them are acting how they are. They’re both scared, both having trouble saying exactly what they want (until now), but they’re both in love with each other. There’s your cards: Cards on the table, everything exposed, it’s scary but maybe it’s worth it.

Because even though it ends on the chorus, I take a pretty optimistic view of the end. The bridge asks What are you waiting for? And to me, that’s really the conclusion. They aren’t waiting for anything. Even though it’s hard and it’s gonna take maybe a little time, they have no interest in breaking each other’s hearts.

-the end.

[festive-unserious-fellow]

...You know I would apologize for this but tbh I'm not even sorry-

This is like the most self indulgent bullshit Ive drawn in a WHILE but for those who don't know, back in like 2016 there was this Deadpool team-up thing called Mercs for Money. I don't normally consume. Anything comics related, really, but I was already invested in one of the characters on the team and, since everybody on the team was insanely obscure aside from Deadpool, I read all the comics the Mercs for Money appeared in and became emotionally attatched to literally all of them. Then yesterday I was kinda bored and realized there are a surprising amount of parallels between the MfM and Co- and C- and C&F that I literally HAD to redraw that one MfM cover as them akrkfkekfkekfkek- Kinda sad I couldn't include everyone, but I think I picked the right characters for each spot.

I don't like how the background looks.

List of similarities under the cut for anyone interested cuz this post is getting kinda long-

The leader is completely deranged(Deadpool, Cartman)

Team has broken up at least once

There's a massive physical fight with the leader at some point

Constant infighting

One of the members is mostly just included for the dick jokes(Slapstick, Stan)

Swearing

Lets be real if C&F were actual adults they would for SURE get sued over their name and you know why

^ context for that one, the MfM were originally called the Heroes for Hire, but got sued bcuz the name was already taken

That being said, two names

Incredibly short runs

Lots of franchising(in universe)

Stingray and Kyle have similar vibes idk

One of the members goes on a rampage to get revenge for one reason or another(Madcap, Cartman)

... Ig Kenny was stuck in Cartman's head that one time, and Madcap being stuck in DP's head was a major plot point in MfM-

Okay that's all I can think of rn-

[naomicindy]

 ‘Is blogging still relevant in the age of TikToks and Instagram?’

By: naomicindy

Blogging used to be the thing back in the day. Remember those early 2000s vibes? A person with a quirky blog could be the coolest internet celeb. But now, with TikTok and Instagram dominating our screens, you might wonder—does blogging even matter anymore? Or is it just this outdated, long-winded thing nobody has time for? Honestly, it’s not as simple as “blogging is dead.” The truth is, blogging has evolved—and it’s still holding its ground in ways that TikTok and Instagram can’t always match.

Okay, sure, TikTok and Instagram are unbeatable when it comes to grabbing attention fast. I mean, who isn’t glued to their screen scrolling through Reels or laughing at some random TikTok trend? They’re quick, colorful, and honestly kind of addictive. But here’s the thing—when you need actual depth, like more than 15 seconds of dancing or a cute outfit inspo clip, you’re not going to find that on TikTok or Instagram. Blogs, though? They give you space to dig deeper, tell real stories, and share insights without a time crunch (Clover, 2024). They’re like the cozy library of the internet—always there when you need them.

Take fashion, for example. Fashion blogging was huge before influencers started popping off on Instagram. It wasn’t just about posting cute outfits—it was a whole vibe of storytelling, trend predictions, and personal branding (Suwaidi, 2016). And instead of disappearing, blogging evolved into something more business-y, with bloggers turning their sites into full-blown careers. I read about this study by Pedroni (2023) that said fashion blogging adapted to the rise of Instagram and TikTok, proving it’s not stuck in the past but rolling with the times.

What’s cool about blogs is how flexible they are. They can be your go-to for in-depth guides, tutorials, or opinion pieces. Like, think about it—have you ever seen a 15-second TikTok really explain how to build something or go into the details of why a trend works? TikToks and Reels might give you a quick “wow” moment, but if you’re genuinely interested, you’ll probably end up Googling for more info—and guess where you’ll land? A blog. Blogs and short-form content can totally complement each other this way. Imagine watching a TikTok on how to upcycle old clothes and then clicking a link to read the full DIY steps on a blog. Perfect match.

Also, blogs offer something social media can’t always guarantee: control. On TikTok or Instagram, you’re at the mercy of algorithms. One day your content is popping, and the next, it’s ghosted—like, what happened, girl? Blogs don’t have that problem. They’re your space to shine, with no algorithm randomly deciding if your post deserves to be seen. Plus, owning your blog feels like building your personal empire—it’s yours. It’s not just some rented corner on social media.

That said, I get why some people think blogs aren’t “cool” anymore. Like, who has time to sit and read long posts when you can get bite-sized entertainment in seconds? Attention spans are getting shorter, and younger audiences are all about that quick, fun content. But here’s the twist: blogs are adapting too. They’re not just walls of text anymore. Think embedded videos, clickable infographics, photo galleries, and even interactive polls. It’s not about competing with TikTok—it’s about finding ways to work alongside it.

This is where hybrid content strategies come in. Let’s say you’re a creator with a blog. You could use TikTok to post snappy, catchy videos to grab people’s attention and then guide them to your blog for the full story. It’s like giving your audience the best of both worlds. Studies like one by Haenlein et al. (2020) show that cross-platform strategies are actually super effective for keeping your content relevant across different types of audiences.

And let’s not forget how blogs build credibility. Anyone can pop off with a viral TikTok, but blogs let you prove you know your stuff. Want to be taken seriously in your niche? A blog is like your personal portfolio. It shows you’re dedicated enough to create something lasting, not just chasing the next trend. I’ve seen creators use blogs to land brand partnerships and build legit careers, which feels a lot more stable than relying solely on social media hype (Nguyen, 2023).

Of course, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Blogging isn’t easy, and it’s definitely not as fast-paced as TikTok or Instagram. It takes time to write posts, make them visually appealing, and keep your readers interested. And let’s be real—getting people to read blogs can feel like an uphill battle when everyone’s distracted by shorter content. But the key is knowing how to balance both. It’s not about “blogging vs. TikTok.” It’s about using each platform for what it’s best at and letting them support each other.

So yeah, TikTok and Instagram might be the stars of the moment, but blogging isn’t going anywhere. It’s still a unique, valuable tool for creators who want to go deeper, share their expertise, or simply have a digital space they truly own. And when blogs and social media team up? That’s when the magic happens. Blogging isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, just in a way that makes sense for today’s digital world.

Bleier, A., Fossen, B. L., & Shapira, M. (2024, September). On the role of social media platforms in the creator economy. International Journal of Research in Marketing, 41(3), 411-426. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167811624000545

Clover, P. (2024, September 24). Do people still read blogs? what you must know in 2024. Polly Clover Writes. https://www.pollycloverwrites.com/blog/do-people-still-read-blogs 

Haenlein, M., Anadol, E., Farnsworth, T., Hugo, H., Hunichen, J., & Welte, D. (2020, November). Navigating the new era of influencer marketing: How to be successful on Instagram, TikTok, & Co. California management review, 63(1), 5-25. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346208319_Navigating_the_New_Era_of_Influencer_Marketing_How_to_be_Successful_on_Instagram_TikTok_Co

Nguyen, E. (2023, October 19). Are influencer partnerships the inevitable future of business?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20231013-are-influencer-partnerships-the-inevitable-future-of-business 

Pedroni, M. (2022, January). Two decades of fashion blogging and influencing: A critical overview. Fashion Theory, 27(2), 237-268. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357622594_Two_Decades_of_Fashion_Blogging_and_Influencing_A_Critical_Overview

Suwaidi, R. A. (2016, April 26). Sail Magazine. Sail Magazine - Community, Culture, Creativity. https://sailemagazine.com/2016/04/growth-and-ascent-of-fashion-bloggers/ 

[yobotica]

Fandom Homework

Idea by @razielim, I like the idea of sitting down and talking about the stuff I want to be working on! Mostly pretty rambly here, so I'll put it all beneath a cut:

It's all gonna be about the WIPs, baby! I think the thing that comes to mind most on 'boy I wish I could finish this' is actually the fallout AU I have for Assassin's Creed. ShaunDes, of course, but I think the ultimate plan was to try for OT3 with Clay on this one. I've never done it, but I get a lot of comments for that on my other fics and I think it would be interesting in this setting if I can make it work. I think the current plan for this one is more a sort of main 'how the group got together' vibe (all the moderns) and then snippets/side stories for some of their adventures. I do have an overall plot involving everyone figuring out who they are, secrets coming to light, etc. I just gotta get it all written is all.

Second is obviously to finish my in progress titanfall fic, which I usually just refer to as Weary, lol. While I've never once really felt pressured that updates are few and far between by comments on AO3, I sometimes regret posting it before it was finished. I never post WIPs as they're worked on because I am the slowest writer - once I get going, I can write pretty fast, it's just the getting started that trips me up. That, and i end up writing a lot of stuff that it turns out, it's not time for, or it's just not right for the story. I think I'm at like, over 15k words discarded for this fic overall, some of which has been repurposed/used already (just later than when it was originally written), but most of which has not. (Yet; I know at least two bits are just too early).

Third is a fic that is almost 10 years old and unfinished. It's only been posted up to chapter 10 on the assassin's creed kinkmeme, the last chapter of which was posted in 2016. It's almost complete, actually, sitting at just under 55.5k words, but I can't quite pin down the ending. Then it needs to be edited. Insert sad-cowboy emoji.

I'd really like to revisit my old DS9 stuff. I never published any of it on AO3 - in fact, I can't even remember if I've published any of it anywhere. It's some of the earliest stuff I've written, and it's pretty rough by my standards, but it's still something I'd like to get some time into and whip up into something readable at some point.

I want to learn how to draw transformers! I've wanted to for a while, but I recently watched Transformers One and it was gorgeous. There's a lot of different styles for the whole franchise, but I like that one a lot. That and Transformers Prime, which I haven't seen yet, lol. I'm a pretty recent fan, to be honest, but me and a friend have spent a lot of time making transformers OCs that I'd love to be able to draw just for fun. (It's the only reason I play Forza Horizon 5 at all, is to make the car forms for those that can be made in that game.)

I'd love to get works written for a few fandoms I've been into for a while, but never written for. Stuff like Dishonored, Legacy of Kain/Soul Reaver, Inception or even Dragon Age. Mostly based on vibes rather than concrete ideas (except for dishonored, which I have exactly one (1) idea that could be used for fic), but still. It's something I'd like to do.

Oh! I need to finish and edit the FFXV fic I have in progress! It could be considered complete enough, to be honest, but it feels incomplete to me for some reason. I wrote up to a certain point, then lost all steam. It's set post Episode Ignis alternate ending, a really, really cute and sweet fic.

I think one thing I'd like to do is maybe just post a collection on AO3 of my WIPs. I don't think of anything I've written as abandoned, even if it's been years since I looked at them, but I also do think some of it was pretty good! I don't know how readers feel about this, though.

I'd like to get more Deus Ex fic written, too. I had a few things perk my interested for kinktober but October was mostly a really shit month for me, so I got no writing done at all. I definitely don't mind using those prompts late or anything, but I still haven't got any creative juice for writing right now, so they're just sitting there, waiting for their time.

I've also had a few ideas that I think I might never write but maybe folks might be interested in hearing about or adopting themselves? Like prompts, maybe. Adoptable fic ideas. Mostly it's stuff I'd love to read but not research to write myself, but that feels a little selfish, lol. But I also just think they're fun to talk about and gush over even if they never actually get written.

I think this was nice to sit down and write out. I don't post very much about myself or my work, but I've enjoyed seeing people talk about things they'd like to get done or things they have in progress and thought I'd share. I'm wishing you all well and hoping you all have something creative you'd like to look forward to doing as well! <3

[hashtag-girlblogger]

how to live like it's 2014 again

If you're anything like me, you're nostalgic for everything. I am constantly wishing to be somewhere else or in some time else. I'm nostalgic for the 60's (I was born in 2001), nostalgic for the early 2000's (pop is just not the same), and most of all–I am nostalgic for 2012 to 2016. I think it is widely agreed that these years, especially on Tumblr, were the last best years many of us have ever had. I was a baby, still in middle school and just 15 years old in 2016. But wow, what a time to be alive. Music, movies, TV, pop culture, fashion, the internet–the world was a better place.

I have been toying with the idea of exiting mainstream society (as best I can) for sometime now. I've been thinking, "Is it possible to live in another era while stuck in the constantly evolving 2024?" Can I abandon social norms or things of "the time" and just live like it's 2014 again?

I've thought about what this would mean, what it would look like. Only listening to Halsey, Calvin Harris and Marina. Splurging at Victoria's Secret and wearing the iconic Tease perfume at all times. What's TikTok? You don't use Valencia on your Instagram posts? I'm obsessed with WeHeartIt. Look at my new Penny board!

Alternatively, I could take the Arctic Monkeys, soft grunge, American Apparel and Marlboro cigarettes route. All black, watching AHS Coven and wondering if I have secret witchy powers too.

I think where all these feelings come from is that the current state of the world is just not feeling so good (to put it nicely). The world is accelerating at a speed I do not want to keep up with. Social media and technology are great but it has literally become this crushing weight. "Just delete social media then." Yeah fair. I guess I just feel so disconnected from my life. From my real life. Like I spend so much of my time venturing into other worlds I've made up in my head. Like 2014 Tumblr. It's not here anymore, it's gone, but I live there. A part of me is still there.

I'm like 12 or 13 years old. Was still a competitive cheerleader, which I regrettably quit when I got to high school. I spent everyday after school with my friends, making video stars or doing gymnastics in the field. We would walk around our neighbourhood, talking about god knows what and enjoying every minute of it. I looked at the future and it could be anything. I could be anyone and do anything I wanted. I feel like that's what I really want. Maybe I miss the music and clothes and vibes of that era buy what I'm really craving is how purely simple and free I felt, how connected I felt to my own life.

Now I'm 22, soon to be 23. Graduating college soon, heading into my big girl job, big girl career. Totally terrified and also excited. But I spend my time alone, so much time alone. My social battery is always empty, I rarely catch up with friends. When I do, we always have to be doing something. Dinner, drinks, movies, parties, dancing, classes. It's never, just come over let's hangout. And I get it, we're young adults, we are supposed to be doing stuff, we are meant to be out and about living our best lives. I guess I just want it to feel different. I want it to feel like it used to.

Okay sooooo.

This is how to live like it's 2014.

Talk to your friends, often and without any agenda. Create the ultimate playlist, this one's pretty good:

Binge CW shows and trashy reality TV. Totally freak out when someone says you look like Violet from AHS (this actually happened to me at work the other day and I couldn't stop smiling). Say screw the trends and wear some skinny jeans and those Alexander McQueen ankle boots, Alexa Chung approved. Get off your phone and be alive now. It's 2014, you don't have a worry in the world.

[placeinthisworld]

i don’t understand the people that so vehemently deny that taylor is very overexposed rn/on the verge of being overexposed when she is quite literally EVERYWHERE at the moment. it’s not even me saying it as a “oh i know what’s best for her and she doesn’t know what she’s doing etc”, but when longtime fans that have been by her side through everything (even the post 1989 shitstorm, when people were showing their true colors towards her, including fans) are tired of hearing about her this much…. then maybe the concern of overexposure has some real basis and isn’t just people projecting or being negative for the sake of being negative.

ahh im sorry bestie i dont check my notes very well and missed this 🫶🏻

but yeah i 1000% agree w you. 2016 me would have LOVED all this taylor overexposure but god it is absolute nonsense. i feel like this video coco sent me earlier tonight really just describes the vibe i get from here now. it’s all very just calculated and disingenuous now….

[according2thelore]

tag game!

thank you for the tag, @pookeenpie!

charlotte:

Do you make your bed? absolutely not—I always run out of time in the morning 💔

What's your favorite number? 8! it’s very round and symmetrical so it’s a vibe

What is your job? I’m in sales ✊

If you could go back to school, would you? no—I’m finally free 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Can you parallel park? nope! I learned how but promptly forgot that wizardry—idk how lizzy does it 😭

A job you had that would surprise people? I worked at a luxury spa for a hot second 🧎‍♀️

Do you think aliens are real? yes, but not in a flying saucer way—maybe microorganisms?

Can you drive a manual car? no (dean would be ashamed)

What's your guilty pleasure? I love the apple snail egg crushing tiktoks….too niche?

Tattoos? only one really fresh one—I got it with lizzy a few weeks ago!

Favorite color? pink!

Favorite type of music? gay girl pop 🤩

Do you like puzzles? after wresting with a 1000+ piece one this week…no 💅 (yes)

Any phobias? any of the creepy crawlies, being in the middle of nowhere, sleep paralysis, home invasion, carbon monoxide poisoning…I could go on lol, I’m an anxious gal

Favorite childhood sport? gymnastics (I was awful at tumbling but loved burrowing into the foam pit)

Do you talk to yourself? yes, but only if I’m upset ☹️

What movies do you adore? the eras tour movie is on at all times now that I don’t share a living space with lizzy 🤭

Coffee or tea? coffee runs through my veins 🧎‍♀️

First thing you wanted to be when you grew up? a fairy or a mermaid 🧜‍♀️

lizzy:

Do you make your bed? yes! i try to everyday.

What's your favorite number? 18 or 54. long story.

What is your job? pestering charlotte

If you could go back to school, would you? i am in school now! i'm getting a degree that rhymes with schecoming a schmocter

Can you parallel park? yes! charlotte has been in the car with me while parallel parking, so she can attest to my deftness and skill. my old car was pretty damn long and i had to park that puppy everywhere.

A job you had that would surprise people? hmm...TA? my students said i was pretty great!

Do you think aliens are real? yes but mostly just like amoebas and things...if we got something bigger then it's not in this solar system.

Can you drive a manual car? ...naur... :(

What's your guilty pleasure? none of my pleasures are guilty? i don't think? i play the ukulele and that has a lot of Cringe Culture pointed at it right now so maybe that?

Tattoos? i got my first one with charlotte like two weeks ago! :) no, they're not matching ones.

Favorite color? red or yellow! they are happy colours :)

Favorite type of music? i gotta go indie or folk? but i can pretty much listen to anything and like it except extreme metal, jazz, or most post-2001 country

Do you like puzzles? yes!!!!! i LOVE puzzles!!! i listen to audiobooks and use a puzzle app on my phone. but my favourite types of puzzles are word puzzles--i tear up a crossword.

Any phobias? spiders and the unknown void of death. wahoo!

Favorite childhood sport? i only ever hated the sports i played as a youth. so i'm going with dodgeball? or volleyball?

Do you talk to yourself? yeah sometimes i'm writing a scene in my head and i say dialogue out loud on accident. but if i'm alone sometimes i'll narrate what i'm doing.

What movies do you adore? It's A Wonderful Life (1946), The Road to El Dorado (2000), Your Name (2016), Pride and Prejudice (2005) [i know i just alienated some people there], Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013) [but really all of AOS], and Notting Hill (1999) [i could go on forever i love movies]

Coffee or tea? tea! mostly black tea--green tea makes my tummy hort

First thing you wanted to be when you grew up? probably a princess or astronaut? or pop star? the classics.

tagging: @animangalover15 @pregnancykink @majordemonblockparty @samisadeangirl @incesthemes

as always, this is completely optional! <3 just for fun!