#this was actually incredibly challenging for me

[moltengoldveins]

hi part of it is that you are a human not designed to work like that! And part of it is that we are the first generation to live and work the vast majority of our lives indoors, a deeply unhealthy environment for a human! And part of it is that most workplaces are shockingly unhealthy environments! And while we are in no way the worst off in history (re: factory workers circa 1880) we are certainly not the healthiest workers, and we live in an environment designed to remove as much of our human contribution to our work as possible! You spend a third of your life filling a role that your bosses would rather a robot fill, but it can’t because you are cheaper and more adaptable. This is not a healthy role for a human to fill! I work 8-5 and it kinda sucks? But it’s getting better, and I work in an Incredible workplace with engaging interesting work that I get to continuously improve on where I can See how I am benefiting the company and the people around me AND my coworkers are amazing and it STILL drains me.

it is normal for you to feel this way! There are solutions, some of which are internal (unfortunately, using your phone less and sleeping more is one of these things, hate it so so much but it’s real) and some of which are external (find a job that is at least remotely interesting but more importantly challenging, something that you can improve at over time and progress in, something that is actually work, and not playing a cog in a clock, take political and social steps to make those job the kind of jobs bosses are incentivized to create) and most importantly? Keep going.

Take tiny steps to improve your life around your job, make sure you don’t get caught up in the dopamine rabbit trail of social media when you get off a grueling shift: it feels good, but it makes the eventual crash all the worse. Even if it’s just sitting in silence with your eyes shut for fifteen minutes: that will give you more to work with than an hour of scrolling. Find a non-caffeinated tea you enjoy and make it whenever you need a dopamine hit, take a shower in the evening if you feel like shit after the day is up, find an educational YouTube series or learn a handcraft and use that as a relaxation technique instead of doomscrolling. Find mindless exercises and activities that aren’t the internet. You need rest, you need to shut your brain off, but the internet is worse than sitting in silence, even if it doesn’t feel like it. It’s tailor-made to be an addictive substance. think for a minute about the way you spend time online like it’s cigarettes and you will probably notice some problems. Do your best to live in the world around you: check your library notice board, join a craft club, or a coding group. Take the time to fill what time you have with rest that is restful and fun that is fun. And most importantly: don’t forget that it’s ok to fail at this. You are being asked to be an adult in a deeply inhumane environment - the goal should never be ‘success,’ there is no ‘success’ state. The goal is consistent long term improvement in what you can control.

Love yall 💜 plz drink water.

I genuinely wonder how anyone can be capable of working a 9-5. Everyday. I actually think im not mentally equipped to deal with that. Not even as in "i dont want to". Its just that im currently working 15 hours a week max and i already feel like i have to structure my days around that. On top of my depressive episodes im forced to power through sometimes, it already feels exhausting enough as it is. A 40 hour work week would actually break me

[monstacheol]

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰

Though I am working on my 400-follower celebration (we're actually 40%), and I also have some messages that I can’t see. 😭. If you are the person who messaged me. I’m so sorry I can’t see it. But I had this idea about Hongjoong and if you haven't seen my master list, I will be doing Ateez too (hopefully soon...)

I love Fashion Designer! Hongjoong in my head and here is why. (FYI: This is my favorite HJ headcanon and might be a Full-length fic and this is not edited or proofread. Also, I may or may not have gone a little bit more in-depth with this one being my first and all. It's 1K words. But enjoy. Like, comment, and reblog for support and improvement.)

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who is known in the fashion industry for his avant-garde design because he likes to blend edgy streetwear with high fashion.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who attended one of his spring shows that he had been preparing for months.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who look out in the audience one night at one of his shows and sees you sitting there.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who couldn't stop looking at you during the show and after the show.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who leaned over his best friend Seonghwa, who was standing nearby, and said, "Who is that?"

"Oh, that's Y/N; she's one of the fashion journalists from Aurora. She just started about a year ago. Cute little thing, isn't she?"

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who couldn't answer as he looked at you as you wrote in that notebook of yours, wearing that outfit that looked thrifted but is highly fashionably inspired. The way your hair was nicely done. The jewelry complements your look perfectly. How your curves fit the dress you were wearing like it was made just for you.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who learned that you were filling in for another journalist who had fallen ill.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who was conversing with another fellow designer, was soon interrupted by a sweet voice. "Excuse me," he heard from behind, just to find you behind him.

"Pardon me. Mr. Kim. If you don't mind, I would like to have a word with you and discuss about your recent collection."

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 whose sharp eyes soften as you look at you. He excuses the designer and turns to speak to you with a smile. He can't help but admire you as you clear your throat, holding your notebook and pen.

"So, Mr. Kim, your latest collection, titled Hala Hala, is quite impressive. Each of the designs seems to have a lot of emotional depth and unique creativity. Would you mind sharing a bit of inspiration behind the collection," you asked so sweetly.

"Of course," Hongjoong answered with a smile. "My inspiration behind Hala Hala is finding the strength within the chaos. It's about the fire in us, the motivation to keep moving forward even when things around feel like they are crumbling. This collection embodies the idea of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, showcasing the beauty that can emerge from challenging circumstances. It's a message saying to be the light of change in a world of darkness," Hongjoong explained passionately.

"So it's about embracing the fire within you. It is almost as if you're showing the rawness of struggle but yet also the beauty of evolution," you said, adding your own perspective to his explanation.

Hongjoong gave a small smile as he muttered, "Exactly." He was really impressed by your insight; you explain it so…. Eloquently. It was exactly how he envisioned the message of the artwork being conveyed. You understood the meaning behind the piece in a way that resonated deeply with him. "Your work is really incredible. The way you transform these emotions into something so…wearable. You're not just making fashion. You're almost telling a story," you mention. Hongjoong gives a smile and replies, "Some stories are meant to be told."

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who after weeks of the Hala Hala fashion show, can't get you out of his mind, especially after reading your article title

𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚: 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐣𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠'𝐬 ����𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who manages to find the company card you gave him and called but he didn't think it would be this difficult to get to you.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who asks to talk directly to you. After the third ring, he heard the most angelic voice answer the phone, making his heart skip a beat. "Aurora Fashion Journalism Team, this is Y/N. What can I do for you?"

"Wow. I didn't think it would be this hard in get contact with you. You're a hard one to track down," he chuckles as he finally hears your voice. You were taken back by the sudden voice. "I apologize for the difficulty, Mr. Kim. I didn't realize you were trying to reach me," you respond warmly, eager to assist him with whatever he needs. "No worries. I'm just glad that I finally got a hold of you," Hongjoong says with a relieved tone.

Hongjoong didn't know what to say. He hasn't been this nervous since the first collection he made; he was so lost in thought about what he wanted to say, he misheard you saying 'Hello' a few times and snapped out of it. "Is there anything you wanted, Mr. Kim?" you said so smoothly.

"Yes, actually," Hongjoong responds, his voice more confident now. "I read your article, by the way. Very insightful. Very well-written. Your writing is very captivating and informative. You really caught the meaning behind my story," he says, genuinely impressed. "I wanted to thank you for taking the time to understand my work and share it with others," Hongjoong adds, feeling a sense of validation and appreciation.

"Thank you. I-It means a lot coming from someone as talented as you are. Like I said, your work is really incredible," you spoke. Hearing you say that makes his heart swell with gratitude. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," Hongjoong replies with a smile, feeling encouraged by your words of praise.

"Now is there anything else, Mr. Kim, before I—" "There is one more," Hongjoong added. "I would like to offer a small proposal." Hongjoong bit his lip in nervousness. "A proposal?" you question.

"Yes. Though it is up to you whether you would accept it or not," Hongjoong explained, trying to keep his nerves at bay. He heard a small 'Okay' and his clammy hands; he took a deep breath and proceeded.

"I would like…I was wondering if… You want to go out for dinner with me sometimes," Hongjoong proposes, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. "I would really enjoy getting to know you better outside of work," he admits shyly. Hongjoong sits there nervously but at the sudden gasp in your voice, he can tell that you were stunned. Shock ever.

"You…The Kim Hongjoong. Want to take me out to dinner?"

Silence fills the void within the phone call. Hongjoong's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for your response, hoping for a positive answer. After what felt like an eternity, you finally spoke, "I would love to go out to dinner with you, Mr. Kim." His face broke into a wide smile as relief washed over him, grateful for your acceptance. "Great."

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who invited you to a great restaurant and got to know each other well.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who quickly turns into Boyfriend! Hongjoong in an instant after months of constant dates.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who will spoil you with romantic surprises and gifts.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who will call and FaceTime you when he is away, showing all the places he visits. Taking pictures of all of the scenery and the tourist spot to send them to you. Adding little messages, wishing you were there with him.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who found an apartment not far from your job and you two move together after a year of constant dating.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who has an in-home design studio with all of his design sketches, tools, materials, and a sewing machine all inside.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who after sketching and on call and you working all day, editing. You two cook dinner and you talk about how things were going at work and he happily listens as you share your day with him and as he tells you his.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who looks at you with adoration and love in his eyes as you both lay there on the couch watching a movie and you slept peacefully in his arm. He moves your hair out of your face and smiles.

𝓕𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓮𝓻! & 𝓑𝓸𝔂𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭! 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 who has an idea for his next collection.

[evolnoomym]

🩵Wip Wednesday🩵

Well Hello everyone, after disappearing for a bit i thought it would only be appropriate to share all the recent wips. I’ve got some snippets and moodboards for y’all. Please enjoy 😉

Shoutout for the divider to @cafekitsune 🫶🏻

(As always, the snippets are nothing final and can still change)

First I’d like to introduce “Good Neighbor” a Pre-Outbreak Joel Miller x F!OC Reader Fic, it’s inspired from my recent move in to my apartment.

You blink up at him, slowly, to look sexy and mysterious.

“You know,” you let your gaze drift down to his crotch, which is directly in front of you “as a thank you for being such a good and thorough neighbor you could test the bed with me?” You practically purr those words at him. But Joel is too much of a gentleman and still doesn’t take the hint.

“Darlin’ why would we need to do that? The mattress seemed pretty solid to me.” His friendly smile makes you want to punch him.

At this point you don’t know how much more clearer you’ll have to be. You had flirted with him all day, he even went along sometimes but then always returned to friendly chatter. You even question if you’re not pretty enough.

You had enough. “Joel,” you inhale and exhale dramatically to underline your frustration “I want to have sex with you, right fucking know, is that clear enough?”

He just stares at you for what feels like an eternity before slowing responding “Are you sure?”

Now you’re confused “What?”

“I mean you really wanna have sex with me?” As he’s pointing towards himself.

“Yes? Why wouldn’t I?” Does he really not know how incredible hot he is?

Next up we have Valentine’s Day Joel Miller for the Bouquets of Pedro Creativity Challenge by @happypedrohours 💐❤️

It’s a sorta part 2 of Neighbor!Joel Miller and it takes us on their first “official” Date.

The morning after, there’s a knock at the door around 10 am. When you look through the peephole it’s Joel, so of course you open.

“Hello Neighbor,” you smile cheekily remembering the events from the previous day, whilst leaning against the door.

“Good Mornin’, hope ya slept well,” now he’s matching your expression, probably thinking of the same thing.

“Wanted to know if ya would like to have breakfast at mine, since, you know, you don’t really have a kitchen.” Suddenly he seemed all shy and nervous looking at the ground and rubbing his neck.

“It would be an honor to have breakfast with you, Joel” you murmur as you step closer to him.

Then I have some Joel Miller Angst for y’all to balance the romantic vibes out. It’s for Freya’s @almostfoxglove Angst Writing Challenge

I don’t want to say too much about this but I will hurt y’all for sure with this one and also myself. The title is : “Can’t Catch Me Now 🕊️”🫠😨

The Moodboard is provided by the wonderful Freya as well. 🙏🏻

Joel doesn’t even attempt to get up. He just watches you demolish his truck. You break all the windows, one by one with that bat of yours. Once you’re done, you turn around heading towards him. Joel is actually convinced you might kill him with how much anger is radiating off of you.

“Baby, please let’s just talk ‘bout it, just give me a chance to explain?” He’s pleading with you.

You kneel down in front of him and spit at him “Listen, you dumb motherfucker, you will never ever see me again. And if you don’t stay the fuck away I’m gonna ruin your fucking life.”

You lean in further and almost yell at him

“You hear me, I’m gonna end you Joel Miller.”

Afterwards you get up and walk away, leaving him there on the ground wallowing in self-pity.

Also say hi to Emotionally Constipated!FOC x Grumpy!Joel Miller. 🩵😉

“Uhh, sorry. Tell me again why you think this is a good idea?”

“He is your type, older, and I thought maybe you two would get along?”

You shake your head “No, I think you want me to date your boyfriend’s brother so we can go to those awful double-dates. Fuck no.”

Maria lets out an annoyed huff “Would it really be so awful to finally stop these power games and trust again?” She knows that you want to be loved but she also knows that you can’t let someone in on an emotional level. It’s too much.

As you make the order for everyone’s drinks at the bar it doesn’t take much longer and you catch a gruff, more weathered version of Tommy swagger in. It must be Joel. He isn’t unattractive but he looks like an asshole and that is your kinda guy. Those are the ones you have the most fun breaking down, they deserve it.

And last but not least a nice Dave York Summer-Angst Fic. For the “writing through the seasons challenge ☀️” hosted by @guiltyasdave and @sizzlingcloudmentality

You two provided a wonderful moodboard but I couldn’t stop myself from creating my own 🫶🏻🫶🏻

“I needed to have you, my perfect, special and gorgeous girl. You are all mine.” To prove his point he holds up his hand, displaying the silver wedding band. Right, he married you, probably planned it all along to make it harder to get away from him.

Npt: @aurorawritestoescape @milla-frenchy @joelmillerisapunk @thundermartini @encasedinobsidian @hellishjoel @pedrospookie @ozarkthedog @pedgito @punkshort @ace-turned-confused @sp00kymulderr @strang3lov3 @beefrobeefcal @penvisions @itsokbbygrl @burntheedges @sunshineispunk @tightjeansjavi @macfrog @toxicanonymity @chronically-ghosted @604to647 @syd-djarin @mountainsandmayhem @jeewrites @penascigarette @galway-girlatwork @amanitacowboy @mrsmando @pedrospatch @pedropeach @moonlitbirdie @ovaryacted @joeloverture @jolapeno @joelsdagger @sanarsi @cavillscurls @joelstummy @slimybeth69

[hyohaehyuk]

Den of Geek - Interview With the Vampire Cast on the One Thing They Don’t Tell You About Playing Vampires

Den of Geek: Jacob, in the first episode, Louis asked Daniel to let the story seduce. Do you feel you’ve accomplished that, and how does it feel?

Jacob Anderson: Yeah, I think he does let the story seduce. I think it reveals at the end that Louis let the story seduce himself. I remember Rolin talked about this quite a lot, Louis tries to hypnotize himself a little bit when he’s telling this story. To the extent that he believes it himself. Maybe he believes there are things that he says that might not be completely reliable. But then, who among us really tells a reliable, completely truthful, story about our own lives and our own participation in our lives, and other people’s? Yeah, I think he succeeded. Maybe a little bit too well.

Sam, you are center stage in two character-defining genre moments. When you’re holding a head and punching tickets, is there an awareness of how this is gonna play on screen? And how does that energize your performance?

Sam Reid: Yeah, definitely, I think Rolin knew what he was doing, too, when he wrote those moments. I don’t write those beats, I see them on a page, and it’s my job to interpret them. Actually, the decapitated head had a lot of discussion around it, and whether it was going to be too far or not. I think I may have shot that sequence, and Bailey was there too, so I’m expected to remember, more times than I think I shot anything, ever. We did it so many times.

I always talk about the practical effects of this show, but they’re so astonishing. It’s almost worth ruining the illusion just to know how we shot it. So, when I kick open that door, I’m jumping across a little moving car that I’m standing on, to another one that’s being held by members of the production design team, shaking the cart. So, it’s being shaken by people, and then the carriage that disappears behind me is a 2-D flat piece of wood that is being pulled apart by a whole bunch of guys on ropes while I jump across it. It’s so detailed. Every shot was just beautiful the way they make those things.

Jacob Anderson: And fun fact, that head is the head of Adam O’Byrne, producer.

Sam Reid: Yeah, it’s the head cast of one of our producers on the show, which was very funny to walk around with his head and have to work out how to manipulate it into being a puppet.

Jacob Anderson: [Mimicking] Get back to work!

Bailey, you play the same scenarios in two different worlds. Louis’ first telling and then after Daniel bullies them into the real story. I’m assuming you shoot these on the same set at the same time? How do you differentiate these realities internally?

Bailey Bass: We have an incredible crew that’s very supportive. Alexis Ostrander was very great at directing how Claudia should feel, and Rolin Jones knew exactly how he wanted the audience to feel in those moments. Because I was playing Claudia so truthfully as her for most of the show, when I’m doing that scene that’s not true – that Louis made up to make himself feel better – it was a bit of a challenge. I was grateful for both of them, Alexis and Rolin, for giving me guidance on how to live Louis’ lie rather than Claudia’s truth.

When you add up all the vampire abuses, do you feel Lestat earned an attempted death sentence?

Sam Reid: I hope so. I hope he earned it, and I hope people feel like that was earned. I mean, God, what other choice do these people have but to kill him? And I think he knows that too. I really hope the audience feel that he should have died. Lestat, particularly at the end when he realizes that it’s Louis with the knife and not Claudia, he feels like, “Okay, I’ve gone too far. And I need to die.” [Laughs]

Bailey, Claudia instigated it.

Bailey Bass: I think Claudia is, definitely, like: “Yes, he should have died.” I’ve been watching every episode as it airs on AMC+ so I can live it with the fans, and there are all these arguments about Louis, Lestat, Claudia, and our relationships. It’s really interesting. Because of Rolin’s great vision and writing, our characters are so equally specific, which makes audiences fall in love with them. When I’m watching it as a fan, I see why people don’t want Lestat to die. But then I also played Claudia, and I know how her brain works. And of course, he deserved to die.

And finally, Jacob, you’re the one who left Lestat with the rats, do you feel he deserved it?

Jacob Anderson: No, I think Louis doesn’t necessarily feel like he wants him to die. I think a lot of it is about freedom. They’re trapped in his house, and Claudia and Louis are essentially prisoners. I think that the only way they’re going to be able to escape the situation they’re in, is for Lestat to just be off the board for a little bit. He needs to go and sit in the naughty coffin and think about what he’s done. It’s like they’re on a break, essentially. That break will facilitate Claudia and Louis being able to explore their existence a little bit more, and explore their relationship, and their lives outside of this house. Get out of there. They’re not going to be able to get out of that house, unless Lestat is also out of that house.

Sam Reid: It’s also a very kind gesture, in a way, for Louis to do it to Lestat, because Lestat doesn’t really develop that much as a character over the first season. He’s got a lot of issues that he doesn’t really deal with. And sometimes the nicest thing that someone can do, or that a monster partner can do, is kill you to instigate a bit of personal change. Hopefully, this is the first step in a character arc for Lestat.

Jacob Anderson: It’s like any relationship, right? Sometimes you just have to have the big, big, big argument that completely changes how you perceive your relationship. Without that, how can you move on and establish something new?

Sam Reid: Yeah, yeah. They live forever, you know? You gotta make big choices.

Cosmetically, technically, and emotionally, what is something no one prepares you for when you take on the role of a vampire?

Jacob Anderson: Nights. The nights.

Sam Reid: Yeah. Working at night.

Jacob Anderson: Yeah, because the scripts are so beautifully written. They’re so dense, full of ideas, and full of beautiful dialogue. You don’t want to mess any of it up. You have to switch your brain into a place where it can operate at full capacity. At 4 a.m., you’re having to do this very lofty stuff, and it’s very difficult to actually prepare for that without just doing it.

Bailey Bass: Because, eventually, we all have a time at night where we start to get delusional. I documented the whole show, I’m watching videos of myself and I can pinpoint exactly when I started to lose my mind. You have to rework it to keep acting at 100%.

Along with that, no one could have prepared me for the lenses. Your vision is restricted. Sometimes we couldn’t see our other actors’ faces while we’re acting, which can make it really difficult because one of the first things you learn when you’re acting, as part of acting, is reacting. It’s mainly: when you can’t see the muscles of your actors’ face, how are you supposed to do that? Along with that, the lenses change how they feel in your eyes, based on the environment you’re in. So, if we’re working at 4 a.m., depending on the degrees it is outside, it will affect how the lenses feel on your eyes. No one can even explain that until you feel it on your eyeball.

Sam Reid: Yeah, the nights and the lenses. It’s very hard to grasp what that feels like, for the extended period of time that we did it. You enter something like a dream world, literally, that’s the best way that I can think of describing it. It’s like this bizarre dream primordial soup.

How will season two deal with Claudia and Louis’ falling out?

Jacob Anderson: How exciting to find out. I can’t wait to find out.

[fandom-susceptible]

So, I actually liked this plot development. The themes of losing one's childhood innocence were strong this season, and the loss of Katolis was an incredibly devastating one. Of course losing Harrow and being forced to step into his throne too young was incredibly difficult, but to have that as the backdrop and then face a mass murder event like the destruction of Katolis' castle town makes perfect sense that it would push someone over the edge, especially when that someone is a kid like Ezran.

We're used to seeing Ezran as unfailingly kind and sweet and optimistic, and the narrative challenges that at every turn. We first saw the steel in him when Viren came back to Katolis, and we see it turn to fight in the latest season from Runaan.

Here's the thing.

Pyrrah burned down a village because they shot at her first, and she personally made peace with the man who instigated that conflict (Soren). She was just . . . flying around nearby, and the villagers even note that she'd been seen several times previously and never done them any harm. Now I don't know if they ever tell us why she was there, but they did make a point to tell us she did not escalate to violence until it was used against her. So of course Ezran forgives her.

Ezran was also raised with very strong familial values and bonds. We see it over and over again in his relationship with Callum (brothers who tease each other but also don't hesitate to hug and cuddle express their love, even when one of them is an angsty teenager!) and also their relationships with Harrow and Sarai. Ezran is driven by kindness, yes, but he's also driven by family (he also expresses sympathy for Soren being torn between standing by his father and doing what's right, even though by that time it's clear that Viren is in the wrong and has been for some time).

Zubeia gave the order because it was her mate and son who were killed and kidnapped, respectively. Ezran as a little kid thought that if she just had her baby back, then she'd no longer have something to avenge. As he gets older, I think by season 7 he understands that the change for Zubeia wasn't about having Zym returned. It was, as Rayla said, about having him returned by Callum, about seeing elves and humans reaching across the boundaries of war and working together, offering her an olive branch after she had their king killed. What matters more here though, for Ezran's forgiveness, is that she was acting out of personal rage and grief. This is a running theme with Ezran; he understands why Rayla did what she did because she was struggling with her parents' disgrace. He understands Zubeia because it was her grief. He forgives Soren because it was Soren's love for his family that kept him on the wrong side for so long. His whole thesis is refusing to allow personal feelings to get in the way of building a better world.

Runaan's existence challenges that. Rayla defends him back in season one saying "It's a job." He himself comments in "Bloodmoon Huntress" that "I kill people. I don't judge them." He doesn't commit these acts of violence out of his personal feelings. I can absolutely see how that would be much harder for Ezran to reconcile, and it also makes sense to me that Ezran came around after Runaan's confession and apology at the end of the season. Because it made it clear that Runaan does have reasons - they're not good ones, and he knows that, but it's not just emotionless violence.

So wait. Ezran hates Runaan for killing Harrow and has him imprisoned, but he shows no negative feelings toward Zubeia, the one who ordered the assassination in the first place? He talks about how everything Avizandum did was to protect Xadia, even though this is the dragon that killed Sarai? Also, do we ever hear anything else about the village Pyrrah burned to the ground? Are dragons just exempt from responsibility for their actions unless they're Sol Regem?

[kanskje-kaffe]

Yeah so I made a cover for @withercrown 's amazing fic Run It Back Again

From the second I saw last week's time/universe split imagery I was like OH??? WE'RE DOING THIS??? WE'RE JUST DOING RUN IT BACK AGAIN?????

Literally could not get this image out of my head until I made it ahaha

[mayasaura]

I don't wanna further hijack that poor poll, but the thing about Harrow's schizophrenia is that it's canon. The author has confirmed it, and shared that it's based on her own experience.

It's a pretty obscure bit of canon, so of course there's no shame in not already knowing, but that's why I'm so obnoxiously persistent about letting people know.

Whatever else is up with Harrow, autism or cptsd or any number of likely headcanons, she is also schizophrenic. I feel like that's too important to be handwaved away as a difference of opinion.

[glassrunner]

LIES OF P: Main Puppet Bosses

[ashes-goin-down]

This is a great analysis that raises some very important points! Considering what an incredible challenge it is to suffer from depression and addiction at such a young age, Stan really deserves to get more credit for the way he handles it. The fact that he was basically forced into alcoholism definitely deserves more attention, especially since I've seen some portrayals of his addiction where it seems as if he'd willfully picked it up just for the sake of being a bother to his friends and it genuinely both baffles and saddens me. One thing I would like to point out is that functional alcoholism absolutely can and will fuck up your entire life. I'm sure OP didn't actually mean to suggest otherwise but the misconception that functional alcoholism is somehow "the harmless version of alcoholism" is unfortunately still very prevalent. In fact, hidden alcoholism poses a particularly insidious challenge, as the lack of awareness about the addiction within the sufferer's social circle often results in them not receiving any support until their drinking has already led to (frequently severe) consequences. In Stan's case this is especially heartbreaking, as the deciding factor in his turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism was that seeking help for his depression (several times, from multiple sources!) actually caused his situation to worsen, which inadvertently taught him that it was best to try and deal with it on his own (unfortunately a tragically common and realistic outcome for many struggling with mental health).

Another addendum I'd like to make is that even though I agree that Stan's alcoholism stems from the need to feel "normal", addicts who drink for that reason also often do get excessively drunk in social drinking situations. This itself can stem from a desire for normalcy: Everyone else getting drunk is viewed as "permission" to do the same and since functional alcoholics tend to have a very distorted view on what being "drunk" actually means this can often lead to them becoming dangerously intoxicated

I'm not claiming that Stan would definitely do this but the possibility is there, depending on how his issues develop as he grows older. The psychology of alcoholism is complex and can vary wildly from one case to another. As wonderfully described in the OP, Stan is a deeply layered character and as such there are many different directions his struggles with mental health and addiction could potentially take.

Understanding Stan Marsh: A Character Analysis and Response to Fandom Mischaracterization (Writing Depression/Addiction Responsibly):

I’m sure a similar analysis exists - but I haven’t found it so I wanted to make it. I’ve seen similar analyses about Wendy with her intelligence/tendency to serve as a villain in things like Style fics and Kenny with his own addiction as well as lower-class designations, which absolutely should exist. But I haven’t seen any about Stan in the same sense despite issues I’ve seen in fandom about his characterization and either blatantly disregarding and misunderstanding what depression is/or/trying to further their specific shipping agenda such as Kyman. And I think it’s finally time we fucking talk about it. This is due to me noticing a prolific increase in the ‘Stan Marsh is an asshole’ tag on AO3.

The Problem of Character Flanderization

Character flanderization (the tendency to focus only on a character's weaknesses) has always existed in fanworks, but the current treatment of Stan Marsh reveals a particularly troubling trend in how mental health and addiction are portrayed. This isn't about calling out specific creators - many (even most) write Stan beautifully, even in ships like Kyman. Rather, this analysis addresses a broader pattern of mischaracterization that does a disservice not only to his character but to real people struggling with similar issues.

Please note this analysis is not directed at any particular creator at all! I see SO many good characterizations of Stan, even in Kyman fics (I’d argue a lot of them do!). But I also see very unfair portrayals of him in some fics which at the end of the day show a complete disregard to addiction/depression and ignore his good traits in favor of furthering their own agenda. I’M NOT OKAY with this, and I think it’s time we talk about this as a fandom. 

 This trend often manifests in two primary ways:

Depression Mischaracterization:

Some of fandom's handling of Stan's depression reveals a profound misunderstanding of clinical depression that goes beyond simple character misinterpretation. The "You're Getting Old/Ass Burgers" arc isn't just about Stan being "negative" or "selfish" - it's one of television's most authentic portrayals of how depression manifests in young people. Stan doesn't CHOOSE to see everything as shit; his brain chemistry literally alters his perception of reality. This isn't character weakness - it's a medical condition that he fights against while still trying to maintain his relationships and sense of self.

What many fanworks miss is that depression often coexists with deep empathy and care for others. In fact, Stan's depression might partly stem from how deeply he feels things - his awareness of environmental destruction, animal cruelty, and societal hypocrisies. He continues to fight for causes he believes in and protect those he loves even while struggling to find meaning in his own life. That's not selfishness - it's remarkable resilience. The show demonstrates this complexity brilliantly: even at his very  lowest points, Stan still:

Tries to maintain his friendship with Kyle despite literally seeing him as shit

Continues to stand up for what he believes in when he realistically thinks it can make an impact

Attempts to understand and help others, even when he can barely help himself

Fights desperately to stay present in a world that has lost its color and meaning

When fanworks reduce Stan's depression to mere selfishness or use it as a convenient plot device to make him the villain, they not only mischaracterize Stan but potentially harm readers struggling with similar issues. They send the message that depression makes someone unworthy of friendship or love - exactly the opposite of what people with depression need to hear.

Alcoholism Mischaracterization:

Stan's relationship with alcohol deserves particular attention because it's portrayed with a nuance rarely seen in either animation or fanworks. The show presents a complex web of factors that contribute to Stan's relationship with alcohol:

First, there's the genetic component - Stan comes from a family with clear predisposition to addiction, particularly through Randy. But crucially, Stan never sought out alcohol on his own. He was introduced to it by adults who should have protected him, making his initial exposure a betrayal of trust rather than a character flaw.

What makes Stan's arc so powerful is how it captures the insidious nature of functional alcoholism. He discovers that alcohol makes an unbearable world bearable - it literally changes how he sees things from "shit" back to normal. STAN HAS NEVER EVER BEEN ABOUT getting drunk for fun; it's always been about self-medication to seem 'normal' to others in response to genuine mental health struggles. The show demonstrates how someone can be both struggling with addiction and highly competent - a reality many fanworks seem unable to grasp.

Even in the "bad timeline" of the Post-Covid episodes, Stan maintains his fundamental characteristics and ability to function. He becomes what's known as a "functional alcoholic" - not because this is healthy, but because it reflects a tragic reality that those who seem most adjusted often hide the deepest struggles. He learns exactly how much alcohol makes him functional versus dysfunctional, developing the kind of careful management that allows many real-life individuals with addiction to hide in plain sight.

When fanworks reduce this complex portrayal to "pathetic or asshole drunk Stan," they miss the point entirely. They ignore:

The environmental factors that led to his alcohol use

The relationship between his depression and self-medication

The reality that addiction often coexists with high functionality

And especially, and something I think a lot of you need to fucking understand - the way addiction can stem from trying to feel normal rather than trying to get high. Stan never ever tries to feel ‘high’ or even drunk. He ALWAYS is just trying to feel fucking NORMAL. 

This oversimplification doesn't just do a disservice to Stan's character - it perpetuates harmful stereotypes about addiction that make it harder for real people to seek help.

Stan's Core Character Traits

Stan consistently demonstrates practical morality alongside emotional depth. His quiet leadership often goes unnoticed - he's frequently the instigator of group plans alongside Cartman, but without the manipulation or need for credit. His relationship with Wendy shows realistic pre-teen awkwardness while maintaining genuine care and respect. These aren't the traits of a "simp" or an "asshole" - they're the complex characteristics of a well-written character dealing with real challenges.

Just rewatch the show for evidence of this - Stan at the same level of Cartman instigates things. And at the same level of Kyle, he tends to do it for the greater good of society. He’s just not as attributed to his actions because he’s naturally more quiet about it than both Kyle and Cartman are. 

TLDR- /Mental Health and Responsiblity in Writing:

The show's handling of Stan's mental health offers a masterclass in nuanced characterization that many fanworks ignore. His depression and struggles with alcohol aren't plot devices - they're part of a larger narrative about growing up in a world that often doesn't make sense. Writing Stan as a "pathetic drunk" or "selfish depressive" isn't just bad characterization - it's potentially harmful to readers who share these struggles

His depression on the actual show is shown as a legitimate struggle, not a character flaw

His relationship with alcohol is portrayed as functional and carefully managed - something maybe some of you would be surprised to learn that some of the most functional folks in your life actually are pretty good at hiding. Stan in his depression arc is ultimately meant to be shown as someone who is a ‘functional’ alcoholic rather than a ‘dysfunctional’ one. That’s not to say it’s healthier to be functional. But it’s ultimately the whole point of that goddamn arc - that even those who seem the most well-adjusted may be hiding a more sinister addiction. So I don’t really see the fucking point of writing Stan as someone who is so alcoholic to the point that it fucks up his entire life. 

The Shipping Problem

The rise of ships like Kyman often comes with an unnecessary cost: the villainization of Stan. This ignores the show's complex web of relationships - Stan's deep friendship with Kyle doesn't need to be erased or twisted to explore other relationships. The best Kyman fics prove this by maintaining Stan's character integrity while exploring new dynamics. Additionally, Stan's relationships with other characters, particularly his often-overlooked friendship with Kenny, deserve more attention and respect in fanworks.

Complex relationships can be written without villainizing other characters like Stan

Good Kyman fics prove you can write the ship while maintaining Stan's character integrity. 

Both Kyle and Stan canonically view each other as super best friends and equals- and this is because they literally ARE equals, even in a moral sense. Neither of them is better than the other. They have a deep connection to each other. Any fic written about either of them HAS to accurately represent this without making Stan to be a primarily weak selfish villain. This is so incredibly unfair to Stan’s character, and a massive representation of him. Same if it’s vice versa for a fic for Stan misrepresenting Kyle (though I’ll be honest - I far more often see Stan as misrepresented in recent works as a selfish asshole over Kyle). 

When writing Stan, consider:

His actions, even negative ones, should stem from established character traits

His struggles with mental health and substance use should be treated with nuance and care. Writing him as an asshole or complete loser (he can be a lil bit of a lovingly designated loser lol) is a slap in the face to those who do function quite well in the real world but with this particular struggle of depression and addiction. Don’t ignore Stan's many strengths, such as adjusting well to things in the moment both physically and intellectually. (He absolutely can be dumb about some things to the extent that it's humorous, but he is not actually dumb - he consistently shows some of the most complex critical thinking in the entire show, even compared to Kyle. And it makes no sense to disregard this aspect of his character.) 

His relationships with other characters should reflect their canonical complexity. Stan canonically seems to spend more time with (and even care for) Kenny more than Kyle does, demonstrably at a canonical level. Don’t disregard this - same as don't disregard his loyalty and love to Kyle, especially canonically.

If writing him as antagonistic, ensure it serves character development rather than plot convenience.

Stan deserves better than reductive characterization. His struggles with mental health and addiction make him more relatable, not less worthy of respect. Writers who reduce him to his lowest moments not only do a disservice to a complex character but potentially harm readers who see their own battles reflected in his story. We can and should do better - both for Stan and for each other. He is literally meant to be written as the person most relatable to general society, after all.

[evilkitten3]

au where there's like a paperwork error and sasuke ends up on team eight. but no one else's placement changes. so kakashi has to deal with just naruto and sakura, who isn't filtering herself at all. or better yet, sasuke gets swapped with kiba, so kakashi has to deal with three loudmouth hotheads, one of whom can just track him down whenever he's late.

meanwhile kurenai's first lesson is homicide 101 and sasuke thinks he just hit the team jackpot

[mittensmorgul]

There’s another post going around about this, but tumblr won’t let me reblog it but...

When I read a story written by a human being, I’m not just reading it because I want to read a coffee shop AU with a specific plot description. I’m reading it because it’s making a connection to another human storyteller and seeing a piece of them carved into the words. Storytelling is a human act of sharing joy, angst, tension, resolution, satisfaction. It’s an act of love.

Writing and reading a story isn’t just an act of creation and consumption. I hate that commercialism and AI are reducing it to that sort of transaction. Like oh, you need words on this subject and that’s the end of it. Like what we really needed was just a vending machine we can push buttons on to get a fix, as if the human creating the story wasn’t a factor. That the author’s life experience and views and feelings haven’t infused the words with their own unique touches.

I’ve read hundreds of coffee shop AU’s over the years (and thousands of fics in general). I’ve seen many similar tropes reused across stories, and just like an AI would, I’ve learned things about writing them that I will always carry with me. But unlike an AI, a human author is not just the sum total of coffee shop AU’s we’ve consumed. Even if we used the same prompt, the same sets of tropes, the same characters. I will always choose the human-crafted story over the computer generated one.

Because again, I’m not just looking for a very specific fix via a series of words. I’m looking for a human connection through story.

Unlike an AI, I have BEEN to a coffee shop. I’ve had experiences in coffee shops. I’ve had funny little meet-cutes with people. I’ve accidentally spilled coffee on myself and knocked heads with someone as we both rushed to wipe it up. I know what it FEELS like. The machine doesn’t.

I’ve also read millions of things that aren’t fanfic, or coffee shop AU’s. I’ve experienced things OTHER than going to coffee shops and having meet-cutes. And I know what all those things feel like when processed through my personal human lens of experience, which is different from every other personal human lens of experience.

All the machine can do is spit out what it THINKS a human experience is, and I honestly don’t care about that at all. Fic is not a “product” to be “generated.” It’s an art form that connects us to other people who share the same love of a thing that we do.

People who, even when all writing the same characters in the same setting to the exact same prompt, will all add something or have a viewpoint about something or bring a completely different personality and life experience to the story that no one else on the planet could. That’s what I’m actually reading.

[sub-urbanwitch]

A successor to this post, with the villains this time. Drew was originally supposed to be on here as well, but he felt bland and so the decision was made to axe him.

[moe-broey]

Doing one of the scariest things an artist can do (draw a tree)

[lith-myathar]

.

[herooflions]

What is it about Malenia that makes her boss fight so addictive despite her repeatedly kicking my ass

[sanstropfremir]

i was wondering if you already talked/like the jpop group psychic fever :) idk i feel like you'd like them but if not are there any jpop groups you listen to?

girl i have no clue what is going on with exile tribe i wouldn't even know where to start lmao. i do listen to a few of their units, including psychic fever, but it's mostly ballistik boyz just bc animal is my own personal crack. the occasional jo1 and ini song makes it into my rounds, but i'm mostly a jrock and j...indie? i guess? listener. queen bee and i dont like mondays are two of my mostly listened groups, plus a variety of other artists like taichi mukai, eill, fujii kaze, rung hyang, etc. highly recommend every queen bee song, idlm's black humor and fashion albums, and taichi mukai's the last album. and now im hijacking my own post bc this is now a psa about avu chan's boy group ryugujo!! genuinely fr the only boy group ever actually. highly highly highly recommend literally every song they have and their new ep just dropped last month!

other songs that fucking rip that are not just me linking their entire spotify page:

me linking their entire spotify page anyways:

also highly recommend watching their show 0 year 0 class, bc it is genuinely inspiring and enjoyable to watch someone actually want to teach trainees how to be idols and succeed. and not just how to be idols, but how to be better people as well. k survival shows could never and actually any other survival show could never. flawless 10/10 no notes avu chan i need you to take down the entire survival/audition show industrial complex immediately.