#tumblr throws me curveballs sometimes

[generalgrievoussummerbod]

Another Inktober piece 😃

11 - Snack(s)

Kenabres, 4175 AR. Approximately one day before cultists attack the Defender's Heart.

(Best to click for better image quality, tumblr’s mangling the preview)

My KC, Dornik, distinctly remembers waking up in agony a few days ago and hearing Some Fucking Blond telling everyone to throw their mortally wounded body in an accommodating ditch, so now they're choosing violence~

Might be easier to read the panels individually on mobile, so I've included them along with some ramblings about characters and designs under the cut 😊.

Panels!

I love writing and drawing these characters so much aaaa, they're all DISASTERS and their designs are so fun. Everything about Wenduag's design is just chef's kiss I've never not had fun making art of her! Those eyes! Those adorable cheeks! Those damn spider leggies! She's so expressive and awful I love herrrrr.

Dornik and Daeran are both great for challenging myself. I'm not imagining Wenduag is tiny, Dornik's just a pretty strong orc who's nearly 7ft tall, and learning to capture that built-like-a-mountain vibe is so rewarding. (Because orc. More orc so good yesssss.) This picture is taken seconds before disaster (Dornik in all their 8 wis glory has yet to twig that Wenduag might take their hilarious joke as an endorsement) because what are beloved OCs for if not taking Ls?

With Daeran, one of my favourite things about his portrait is how vaguely unsettling it is, especially with his eyes, and I really want to capture that when I'm drawing him. His unhinged energy is so important to me 😍, and the idea of that rhythm of high energy-sudden stop (the first mask drops, revealing a second, equally beautifully crafted mask which is also but not entirely more true)-high energy dance is what inspired me to make this in the first place. That, and the escalating-curveballs dynamic you can have between him and your Commander 😍 just an absolute pair of menaces 😍.

And Cami's just always a delight to draw, she's trying hard (well. sometimes) to be so proper but underneath there is everything So Wrong With Her (Cami romancers if you're reading this you're strong and fearless and have all my support). There's such a threatening aura to play with and the contrast between her self and the facade she's trying to maintain is marvelous enrichment for the art brain.

[autisticlancemcclain]

fic rec friday 16

welcome the the sixteenth fic rec friday! where, on friday, i rec five of my favourite fics.  

1. home depot catalogue by @moonguilt

“No, really, he’d love to,” Lance said into the phone, just as Keith pressed the button for the kettle to start heating up.

Those words were enough to raise Keith’s suspicions just a tad. He shot Lance an inquisitive glance while opening the cabinet to retrieve his box of morning tea, but his husband was the picture of innocence, flipping casually through a Home Depot catalog they had received in the mail yesterday.

“Oh, definitely. If you need someone to paint your insides white, Keith’s your man.”

Keith dropped his box on the counter, tea bags spilling out onto the granite.

-----

Keith is having a normal, relaxing morning. Lance throws him a curveball.

this one made me LAUGH. out LOUD. it’s domestic and fluffy and FUNNY dear god, like it’s such a lance thing to do and such an objectively funny prank that i just!! literally just typing this makes the urge to reread it too great my hand has been forced.

2. kindling by @moonguilt

Lance struggles with his attraction to Keith during training, and it all comes to a head when Keith corners him afterwards to ask why he was off his game today.

Prompt from tumblr: Angry Kiss.

one of my fave vld tropes EVER is lance being whipped and then equally as furious that he’s attracted to keith at all. it’s endlessly funny to me. and then keith being the eyebrows raised, not surprised one??? gets me every time. also keith is a massive sweetheart in this fic and i love him

3. chocolate granola bars by @moonguilt

“A pillow fort sleepover!” Lance cried out, leaping up with such alacrity that Pidge had to grab her laptop to prevent it from sliding to the floor.

“No way, we're not—” Pidge stopped and blinked, exchanging a glance with Hunk, then looking back at Lance again. “... Oh.” She evidently had not been expecting such a tame suggestion. “Okay.”

-------------

Or, Lance is bored out of his mind and decides to organize a sleepover with the squad. Nonsense ensues, and Lance works through some confusing emotions—particularly those involving a certain mullet-haired team leader.

okay there are too many good things about this fic i cannot choose which to highlight, and so i will mention them all. ahem: a) lance is a ray of sunshine who regularly uses his power of cuteness to his advantage, b) adorable team bonding, c) shiro is a dorky nerd, d) HEALTHY LANCE AND ALLURA COMMUNICATION, e) krolia and romelle have actual characters, f) lance has allergies which isn’t rly important but he gives me a vibe that he’s allergic to several things and it’s very validating to see it in fic, g) lance validation and feeling expression for the piece of shit game show episode, h) observant lance!! and i) literally the most painful and necessary and well-written klance fight i’ve read in a while! hurt badly but was resolved wonderfully 10/10

4. Terminal Velocity by @speakswords [GORE WARNING]

The only fate worse than being tortured to death is watching, helpless, while the person you love most takes your place.

this is one of my fave vld fics of all time. although fair warning it is very violent for a good chunk of time. the story is EXCELLENT, the entire thing will have u biting ur nails in terrified anticipation and i mean that literally. whole time i was gagged. at the edge of my seat. AND i have several specific lines screenshotted bc the pure fucking devotion and care knocked me out of the water

5. you and me are cosmic dust by Yuu_chi

Knowing that your team loves and trust you no matter what and believing it are two very different things.

i LOVE keith angst. i know this fandom is very langst heavy and honestly i am too but sometimes keith angst is so so good. and this fic is one of them!! excellent read and features observant lance as well. OH and there’s a little sprinkling of suave keith in here too lol

that’s it for today!! i’ll see y’all back next friday for the next fic rec post!!!    

[simlicious]

Saw a bunch of beautiful knitted patterns on Pinterest and got inspired to make a few new knit patterns. They are among my favorite patterns to make! Now some word vomit, I just feel like the need to ramble today...

I noticed that I really suffer from performance anxiety regarding making CC for Sims 3. It has been building up the whole year, and it is especially bad now that Simblreen is around the corner and the Christmas season is coming up too. On tumblr, people mostly post their accomplishments, not so much their failures, and it makes me think that everyone is so much more productive! I see people participating in Simblreen daily prompt challenges, or making/publishing CC for Simblreeen, and feel sad and inadequate in the face of so much success. I manage to make a couple of things that never really see the light of day, and I feel guilty about it and feel like I let people down😿 At the moment, I can really only make CC for the sake of making it (making patterns is a meditative process for me) and I cannot seem to complete the whole process of publication. I guess if you follow me you are not expecting anything you see appearing as a download soon anyway, but sometimes I really struggle with that. I am really sad about this, but I have always struggled with my perfectionism and intrusive negative thoughts that make the process harder. I sometimes think my patterns are not really needed. The lack of CC that is tailored to Sims 3 specifically (that recolors better than conversions) adds to the feeling that I am becoming obsolete, and my anxiety feeds this feeling. I guess I feel much less motivated to try if there are few things that you can use my CC with, and collabs seem to be much more popular for Sims 4, and I really want to make meshes to accompany my patterns, but I just get stuck in the middle and cannot continue, it sucks so much! The last time I attempted to make a super cozy sweater, I wanted to bake nice textures for it in Blender, but it just wouldn't work it out and I got so frustrated, and the automated bone assignments are subpar for highly customized meshes too. Then I wonder whether my meshes are any good in the first place (sculpting folds and such is really hard to get right!). Now most people seem to work with geoms instead of TSR workshop's WSO format, and I have a hard time understanding how everything works. I would love to assign bones in Blender and such, but I also want to use Blender 3.x and keep up to date instead of always using ancient versions for everything. Tutorials are often for older versions. My brain wants to do things a certain way and it's really frustrating sometimes! Learning from tutorials whilst having a different version of the software is making the process much more difficult. At one point, I had 4 different versions of Blender installed, but is so annoying to have different versions for so many things.

I am using a medically prescribed app now to hopefully help with my anxiety and it currently teaches me that anxious people tend to think negatively and catastrophize. This is definitely true for me, and it keeps me from actually trying out things because my brain tells me I could fail and why waste that time. Actually doing things while the brain throws you curveballs all the time is taking a lot of energy too. Maybe this is part of why I abandon my WIPs, because I cannot muster up the energy anymore to work on them. I often have great ideas and start on projects, and then lose the motivation or energy. I envy people who are able to finish their projects 😭

If you have any tips on how to keep going even with negative thoughts and obstacles in the way, I'm all ears.

[void-galaxy-shenanigans]

I don’t always share news stories but sometimes Samsung News throws a curveball story at me that I decide to investigate. Look at this.

Of course police say he went “on a crime spree”, I don't know what that part truly means. But like.

This is hilarious, and they even included pictures!

This is the best way to avoid custody.

I thought Tumblr might appreciate this under our category of

I don’t think you should be arrested for objectively funny crimes

I hope y’all enjoy as much as I did 😂 ~Nico

[cyancherub]

Cherub I'm just a silly little anon but when I think of you sharing bits of your story (getting over a breakup, financial independence) respectfully i get a little emotional cause I can relate sometimes and seeing you striving gives me a lot of hope, you give out so much good vibes I hope u know that. mwah

MAYBE U ARE A SILLY LITTLE ANON BUT U ARE 𝓶𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 SILLY LITTLE ANON!!!! i am hugging u so much. IT MAKES ME EMOTIONAL TOO BECAUSE I RLY THOUGHT I COULD NEVER DO IT ON MY OWN but i promise u. I PROMISE U!!!!!!there is always hope. truly i was so deep in the trenches w my mental health i never thought i could makee it out but here i am !!! IM STILL HERE DOIN MY BEST.

life is hard and it will throw you all kinds of curveballs and it is not fair but u have the strength to make it thru even if you dont think so. its there!! i love u guys and i want the best for all of you. i care a lot about you all .. i am sincere when i say fic writing tumblr has played a big role in my life bc it helped me reignite my love for writing. and i care abt all of u guys OK!. bc u gave me a ton of support and happiness when times were rly hard and i needed it desperately. (I MEAN U STILL DO!!) but anyway. I WANT U TO HAVE A LIFE THAT MAKES U HAPPY AND FULFILLED. ok bye i will cry.. THANK U FOR THIS SWEET MESSAGE

[ndianaputri]

Dear...erm nevermind 🤣

Well, here I am again, pouring my thoughts onto these pages. Today has been one of those days where I feel a mix of frustration, disappointment, and a touch of self-pity. People often see me as this tough and strong woman who can tackle any problem that comes her way. And sure, I can. I don't easily give up on things I want, but when it comes to love and relationships, it's a whole different story.

Love is complicated, isn't it? I've tried my best, given my all, invested my time and energy, only to find myself faced with people who don't appreciate it. It's disheartening, and it makes me wonder if all the effort is worth it. Sometimes, it feels like I'm just wasting my time on people who don't deserve the love I have to offer.

I've reached a point where I've decided to prioritize myself. Maybe my actions seem heartless to some, and maybe my words come across as cold, but it's become a matter of survival. There's this phrase someone once shared with me, "It is what it is." Honestly, it sounded stupid at first, but the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Life throws curveballs, and sometimes things just are what they are. No amount of overthinking or stressing can change that.

Yet, despite my determination to focus on myself and protect my own well-being, my thoughts keep circling back to him. It's frustrating, and I can't help but feel sorry for myself for falling for someone like him. Maybe it's time to truly embrace the "it is what it is" mentality and let go of what doesn't serve me.

Here's to hoping for better days and a heart that learns to prioritize its own happiness.

Until next time, tumblr.

[friendlyneighborhoodmenace]

The person I am arguing with just said that they will not be responding to me anymore because they decided that they 'don't have to justify anything anymore'; I guess I'll count this as a win?

I do have to advise everyone who sees this post to NOT go harass them, perhaps they are misguided, but I don't think they are a bad person, they're just doing what they think is right, even if it isn't; I doubt I have enough reach to really worry about anyone harassing them, but the world likes to throw a curveball sometimes.

If I ever get into a Tumblr argument again I'll probably make another blog just for arguments (and politics probably) so that my followers and mutuals don't have to worry about me going politics mode on their feeds.

[wornpodcast]

Welcome Back to Wørn

Listen to the Podcast at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/worn

Hello, dear listeners, and welcome back to Worn. It's been a few years since we last spoke, and I can't express how thrilled I am to be back behind the microphone, sharing stories that matter – stories about labor, self-discovery, growth, and the complex realities of poverty. I'm your host, Silla Quiñones, and today's episode is all about the long-awaited revival of Worn after our hiatus.

So, where have I been, and why the sudden return? Life has an uncanny way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes, our passions need to take a backseat. In the time I've been away, I've faced challenges, celebrated triumphs, and learned invaluable life lessons that I'm eager to share with you all.

The theme of this episode is, in many ways, a reflection of my personal journey during the hiatus. Labor is an integral part of our lives – it shapes our identities, influences our choices, and often brings us face-to-face with our own vulnerabilities. The decision to put Worn on hold was a difficult one, but it allowed me to focus on my own labor and where my life is headed. To be precise, I worked through half of the pandemic, which was quite unpleasant. I’ve gone back to school. I’ve created my own art shop online. I’ve been working hard on my own life.

During these years, I realized that self-discovery isn't always a linear process. We might stumble, fall, or even lose our way, but the beauty lies in the fact that we can always find our path again. Worn is a testament to the stories of those who, despite their struggles, find their way through the tough times.

Now, let's talk about growth – a topic that's been at the forefront of my mind during this hiatus. Growth isn't just about moving forward; it's about acknowledging where we've been and using those experiences to propel us into the future. Worn has grown, too – its content, its impact, and its ability to foster connection even during times of absence. Worn continues to garner listeners and that absolutely floored me, I want to provide content worthy of people’s attention, so I am going to do my best with a new layout that's more to the point and less, what I think the podcast should be like. I think something that hindered my ability to deliver good episodes and consistency was that I had a very unrealistic idea of what Worn should be and was often not happy with myself for how episodes would turn out.

Poverty is a harsh reality that many continue to face. It's a topic that demands our attention, our empathy, and our willingness to drive change. Through Worn, I hope to continue to delve into these issues and stories – stories that may be difficult to hear but are essential in our pursuit of a more just and equitable world.

Now, to those of you who've been patiently waiting for Worn's return, I express my deepest gratitude. Your support and dedication have fueled my passion for this podcast, and I promise to honor that commitment with thought-provoking content that sheds light on the facets of labor that often remain in the shadows.

As we move forward, I want to open up the conversation. I want to hear from you, our listeners, about your experiences, your struggles, and your triumphs. Worn isn't just my podcast – it's a platform for all of us to come together and share our stories, fostering a sense of community and understanding.

So, what can you expect in the upcoming episodes? We'll explore some of the bigger news occurring here in the US, smaller stories, concepts, and dealing with uncomfortable situations. It is my hope to have some share their stories, but I am an extrovert with introvert tendencies and one of the tendencies is that I don’t do well asking for help. That’s why I am hoping you, my audience are willing to share and submit your stories. Whether it is written-in via tumblr submissions or if you have access to the podcasters for the Spotify platform, a voice recording message sent in.

Before we wrap up, I want to remind you that Worn isn't just about the struggles – it's about the resilience, the tenacity, and the beauty that can emerge from those struggles. It's about celebrating the small victories and recognizing that every step forward is a triumph worth acknowledging.

Thank you for joining me in this long-awaited return of Worn. I'm Mia Torres, your host, and I'm excited to embark on this new chapter with you all. Until next time, remember that no matter how worn we may feel, we are always capable of embracing our strength and rewriting our stories. Stay resilient.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Worn. Join us next time as we dive into the stories of those who've navigated the intricate dance between labor, self-discovery, growth, and poverty. Remember to subscribe and share Worn with your friends and family. Together, we can illuminate the hidden corners of life's journey.

[willowcrowned]

If TCW Obi-Wan gets to Kamino, with his Negotiator self and his Anakin-handling skills and his predilection towards in-combat flirting and dry sense of humor, I think the situation's going to end with Shmi looking over at New Husband Jango, saying "how do you feel about adding in a third to our relationship?" and then Anakin actually has an aneurysm from the horror.

asjdfhlfvklshsklsjsd;fjah I was planning it so that TCW Obi-Wan actually doesn’t show up at all so that the Jango/Shmi dynamic would have time to develop— because, let’s be honest, Jango is going to care a lot more about what Shmi, a mother and former slave, has to say about the clones than what Obi-Wan, a smug asshole of a Jedi, has to say, but also... this is SO funny.

Because Jango hates Obi-Wan’s guts— Obi-Wan is a Jedi (so he doesn’t even need much more reason after Galidraan), but Obi-Wan also gives off this constantly smug air that he inherited from Qui-Gon that makes him eminently punchable— but there is absolutely this weird undercurrent of sexual tension to it. I think sex and violence are a lot closer together for Mandalorians than they are for most people, so for Jango, hating Obi-Wan and also wanting to screw him makes sense. 

Obi-Wan, however, has no particular feelings about Jango Fett— he thinks he’s a cruel bastard, but Obi-Wan sees a lot of cruel bastards in his line of work, so he doesn’t have any particularly strong reactions to them. Jango, though, is horribly attractive (younger temuera morrison >>>), and Obi-Wan is possessed of the particular gift of being able to repress whatever he likes, which means he can and will sleep with the enemy.

So their interaction in AotC is hilarious. This is not news.

But then you add Shmi into the mix.

We’ll say Shmi has had enough time to start arguing with Jango— I think at this point he’s aware of how dangerous a situation he’s in, and also aware of the fact that Shmi might be his only ticket out. (Dooku will kill him if he reveals anything, intentionally or not. Anakin seems to be a little trigger-happy as well, which is equally terrible, but at least Shmi is there to keep him from immediately killing Jango.) I don’t think Jango sees the clones as his sons— he’s spent a lot of time denying them, and if he stops it means he has to admit that he willingly put his children into slavery— but I think Shmi has at least made him begin to see them as people.

Jango wasn’t very impressed with her at first. She’s small, demure, and quiet— someone who looks like they’ve never held anything more dangerous than a carving knife. But he learns very quickly that she has a spine of steel— and it’s not just that. There’s something more to her, a power blanketed so thickly that it’s barely noticeable, but he keeps getting the same feeling around her as he gets around some Jedi— a static in the air, like right before lightning strikes. 

He still doesn’t particularly like Shmi, but he is starting to respect her.

The problem with the threesome is Obi-Wan and Shmi’s relationship.

Shmi isn’t an idiot. She can see that Anakin is a fucked up tangle of emotions that he’s not dealing with— hell, she’s a fucked up tangle of emotions too. That’s what being a slave does to you. But there’s this edge to Anakin that comes when he’s been repressing it too long— not just pretending that he doesn’t have those feelings around people who might hurt him for it, but lying to himself and saying that they don’t exist.

And if Obi-Wan is the one who raised her son... Well, he’s who she’s gonna blame. 

The second he sets foot onto Kamino, she’s laying into him, no quarter given. No one gets to mess her son up that thoroughly and not hear about it, not when she’s free and he can’t do anything to her.

(This, ironically, is probably what makes Jango stop seeing her as an annoyance and start seeing her as an opponent— which, for Mandalorians, also means potential partner. Mandos are fun like that.)

[cantillat-moved]

TEN Q’S:

1. when are you usually online? I’m mostly active at nights throughout the week. I have two jobs, one of them from home so once I finish a batch I can do a quick tumblr check up during the evening, but I also got another one at a physical location (I actually came back a few moments ago). I’m also free mostly at weekends, that is when I usually try to catch up with drafts, rps on discord and other stuff (including some gaming). Still, I’m easy to reach on discord at any time. If I’m awake or not at the job that requires my physical presence I can check and get to you as soon as I’m able to.

2. what verses are you involved in outside of this page? I have a bunch of AUs for Shirou, mostly focused on “routes”. He is a visual novel protagonist and his story varies with which partner he gets involved with, right? I got a few of these. I’m also working with @moonlightmagus a fairy Yuuki and knight Shirou which is the most “out there” one. Some of my partners are interested on my older muses so I’m considering “reviving” a few for something simpler. There was also a quick custom grail war with some friends from outside tumblr, it was great fun. Maybe we’ll do it again some other day, or maybe I could organize one and have an open invitation. I also have a few RPs going on with some old friends from before my tumblr days (we have a “campaign” with OCs in a Final Fantasy X setting that has been going on for 15 years on and off). I’m always open for AUs either here on tumblr or discord. There is something cozy about doing a 1x1 with people. 

3. what is your biggest RP pet peeve? I’m usually very chill about rp partners. It is very hard to get under my skin, but I think the worst offender is not communicating. It is ok to don’t know what to reply reply, feel free to contact me any time so we can brainstorm and maybe have an idea or two and either go from there or maybe move it somewhere else! There are always so many possibilities. Or jump to the next scene. If you are having trouble to understand my reply or if I wrote something that didn’t sit well with you, I won’t get upset if you tell me. I’ll actually be grateful to know your boundaries better and keep it in mind for the next time! Same goes for headcanons or anything really. Writing is a collaborative thing and I’m not here to make anyone uncomfortable or to throw curveballs (unless you want a challenge in writing, of course) And if it seems that I have dropped, maybe either tumblr ate it or my brain short-circuited or something. Feel free to message me. 

4. are you drawn to specific types of muses? I think I have a very eclectic assemble of muses for the most part. I got good beans, cynical assholes, cute mascots, ordinary teenage girl, Dracula… I just write what I vibe with and sometimes I have the mood to write something or another. But I do admit that I’m usually attracted to either brood or sass (or both). I admit the latter there is a fine line between sass and asshole and I try my best to don’t cross that line.

5. are there recurring themes in your writing that people might not notice? Hmmm… It depends on the source material. For example, Narukami’s story is about bounds and connecting with people, discovering oneself and moving throughout the fog – that, in this particular case, are falsehoods and illusions in our lives among the mish-mash of information overload, rumors and other circumstances. Shirou and FSN in general is about loneliness, the desire to connect with others, to pretend to be “normal” while dealing with being alone and struggling with the mental traumas. Also the concept of what is inherently “good” or “evil”. Oh, but I also try to incorporate a lot of philosophy from kyudou and Buddhism in general to his way of life in subtle ways. And, of course, how the way he grew up also makes him misread people – and that also leads people to think he isn’t too bright (he is mostly oblivious tho). I’ve always been big on meta analysis and he gives me plenty of opportunity of doing it in a coveted way to enrich my writing. The tl;dr is that it really depends on the muse and it makes me very happy when people mention in private things they notice. 

6. what are your favorite RP trends? I love the incorrect quote meme, and the “x has appeared” is always a recipe for some fun things going on. Having a pinned post with easy access to rules and info in general is always nice too, the pinned post was one of the best things that tumblr ever implemented just saying. And … Uh… I like the backquotes thingie. I think it is neat. (and it also seems to make the tumblr wonky mobile formatting less frequent).

7. what is your process for starting a new story with someone?  The easiest way to start a new story with someone are memes, as they offer easy ice breakers and sometimes interesting scenarios that I wouldn’t be sure that my partner is interested in. As in it would never cross my mind to even ask because it wouldn’t be something in our radar, you know? Another way, of course, is DMing and gushing over our muses. Some of my usual partners can attest to that. I also love unpromted asks, even if sometimes I’m slow as molasses to get to them.

8. how do you feel about duplicates? I usually don’t mind duplicates for my muse. I actually had fun twin verses with other muses! Like how Air ( @venusbeautyshock ) and I had a Hajime and Izuru twins AU for Danganronpa, and how Kay ( @mistermxrgan ) and I had two Bigby Wolf from The Wolf Among Us/Fables just meme-ing around and being two gruff wolves tired with everybody’s shit. It is always so interesting to read the different takes and , of course, meeting with someone with good taste is also a positive! However! I did have a very bad experience not too long ago with someone interacting with me, then ghosting me after making a duplicate and stealing my headcanons. If I have become less prone to share resources for the muses I’m currently RPing as, that’s why.

9. how long have you been involved in roleplaying? On tumblr I started in 2013, but in general since 1997-ish with Vampire the Masquerade, GURPs and the 2nd and 3rd editions of dnd. And then online around 2000-2001.

10. is there a muse or verse you wish you could write in, but haven’t? Right now I’m pretty satisfied. I have a few wishlists for my muses but not anything extremely specific or that I hasn’t been planning or about to start with someone.  Maybe something Star Wars? I think it is the only big thing I hasn’t dipped my toes yet. 

ᴛᴀɢɢᴇᴅ ʙʏ: @more-than-a-princess ᴛᴀɢɢɪɴɢ: @ryogai , @lyriccl , @xdcwntherabbithole , @pcrdiseseekers , @moonlightmagus , @sparklymuses , @maledicti-oculi , @chainedbystories , @failinaut , @lunaetis​ , @capravulpes​ , @tricksheart​ , @luckynatured​ , @gamenu​ , @lachrymosestorm​ , @of-omnitrixes-and-servants​ and you

[theoryofmagick]

Ash's Introductory Witchcraft Reading List: Wicca-Based Edition

These books form a solitary Wiccan or neo-Wiccan-based framework (I'm not Officially Wiccan but I do use a framework based heavily off of both Wicca and modern tradcraft, which - let's not get into the Nigel Pearson style argument about THAT right now, no disrespect to dear Nigel!) This list covers books that come from a Wiccan or Neo-Wiccan reference point beyond the Gardnerian perspective.

Ann Moura's Green Witchcraft series

I've seen some very conflicting opinions on this one, which I acknowledge - primarily either "Moura is totally inscrutable and I have no idea what I'm doing and none of this makes sense", or "Moura covers the basicy basics but is WAY more dense than it needs to be", both of which are admittedly valid; but I've never seen someone just lay it down like Moura. I primarily use one of her practical-instructional books for reference, and it's a good one; just be aware that Moura, like many others, throws intentional curveballs to obfuscate, so break out that pencil and make corrections based on your double-checked knowledge.

Witchcraft on a Shoestring - Deborah Blake

This is a lighthearted, informative, and fun little book that details some of the "practical" elements of witchery popular on Tumblr, and how you can use household objects, create items, or otherwise budget-cut to achieve the same result. Contains masses of lower-case C craft knowledge, and I still, to this day, use the budget Sabbat feasting recipe book in the back - tomato pie for Lammas, anyone? This book doesn't contain anything spiritually instructional - if you know how to use a wand (or know where to learn it) but can't afford to buy one or don't know where to begin with sourcing and prepping your wood, here's a good beginner's guide.

Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today - Margot Adler

Though this book was written in the late 70's, it provides a fascinating insight into witchcraft history and the active sects and practitioners of magic during that time. Astute readers will probably notice some similarities between Adler's groups and some of the groups mentioned in the appendix of Buckland's book! Things during the 70's were a bit "wild west" in terms of Western witchcraft, so you'll encounter some appropriative practices, but it's a very thorough history.

Titania's Book of Hours - Titania Hardie

All right, all right - this is a beautiful coffee-table book about the passage of magical time, listing important days, quarters and cross-quarters, splitting things up by week, and is generally a lovely introduction to the Wheel of the Year from a not-entirely-Wiccan perspective. A thing Hardie does is also include sections for the seasons, so it breaks down quite nicely and is an excellent introduction to the concept of time and holidays ("holidays"! - Sabbats and Esbats and the big Wheel days, more like!)

Almost-But-Not-Quite-Making-the-Cut:

Scott Cunningham's works, especially Wicca and Living Wicca: Okay, by now you've heard the Cunningham criticism, but let me lay it down for you: Cunningham massively appropriates Native Hawaiian culture and spiritualism. He's a big ol softy in that hippie-ish way where he swings right back over to cultural appropriation. He's got that "new age" sting that you prooobably shouldn't replicate. And, from what I hear from die-hard Wiccans, he's out there watering down or sometimes misunderstanding the core Gardnerian principles - but the book doesn't purport to be Gardnerian, so there's that. I'd say it's still a simple and solid general introduction to neo-Wicca and those principles; it has some solid info you can take and use in building your own practice; the consecration rituals for altar tools in particular are ones I still use. Living Wicca if I remember has the better appendix, but you can get a combo-set of both books plus the Herbal, which.... might warrant another post, because it's more than a bit outdated in its safety info!

Judika Illes' gigantic Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells: This is like the "Joy of Cooking" of spellbooks. It includes a huge amount of spells, divided by category, from an array of cultures and traditions. I think it's an amazing encyclopedia, but I'd also caution readers from accidentally (or not so accidentally) using a spell from a closed tradition or culture, and for that reason, I'd not recommend it to true beginners until they have a grasp of their own culture and craft, and understand whether it is or is not appropriate for them to use spells from, for example, hoodoo or rootwork. That said, if you're a multicultural witch, or researcher, or actually FROM the culture and traditions, it's a great simple resource. I've found some traditional Chinese spellwork in there, but I've ALSO gone through and crossed out with a big red pencil anything that's just obviously jacked from a closed tradition to me.

Not a Wicca book at all, but a Tradcraft book, but I'd be remiss to mention the jab I made at the beginning of the post was towards Nigel Pearson's Treading the Mill, a book I love, but whose second edition (imo) reads way better, including a funny and sheepish intro by Pearson himself where he takes the mickey out of his old "Wicca is for softies! I've never used a single Wiccan idea! It's a compass, not a circle!!" ways, which just makes me love the book more.

[shieldagentnatasharomanoff]

💕 💕 💕

(I can't do these without talking about you guys... I'm on vacation and Nat is seriously missing reading from her magic family)

@strxngemxgick

I adore your version of Stephen so much. You're the first and maybe only person I've met that puts consequences into viewing hundreds of thousands of realities and coming back from it.

He's a combination of the most fun comic and MCU Strange and added your own spin of brokenness.

You write incredibly well. Sometimes I'm a little intimidated, but I have so many soft feelings for Stephen and Natasha. They've both been through so much and now they find a bit of comfort in each other and I love this in every thread we have and Nat is definitley crushing hard and so am I ^^

@cherryfinolahobbes

Nat has found a sister in Cherry and a teacher and loyal mentor in Wong. I love how plainly honest your writing is. You don't shun angst or a conflict and when one arises with the muses, the mun takes incredible care to make you feel comfortable while you write through it. I don't think it's a secret how much I adore you and our little family we found on tumblr.

Cherry is the sweetest character and she just cares so much. I love reading about all of your headcanons from years ago just as much as I love your fanfictions and amazing art. Wong and Cherry are OTP material and oh boy I fell down the shipping rabbit hole with them and I think so did Nat. She's def team Chong... or Werry? Let's not start with the ship names... Point is. They are lovely and I love them and you!!!

@supremestrangeness

I don't think I have to say how much Natasha loves her depressed eldritch trash wizard. Strange is her confidant and she definitley does not want to do this without him.

You're one of the kindest and most supportive people I've met and am so glad I have the privilage to call you my friend.

Stephen is so wonderfully thought out and every time I think I got the character or your writing figured out you throw me yet another, surprising, curveball and I live for that.

We need all the monster cuddles between actual plot and funny shenanigans and angst. I have a whole list of things we talked about writing and I hope we get to write them all and even if there isn't always a lot of brain space for replies I love that we get to casually chat or string along fun ideas for these two.

Strange has definitley stolen Nat's heart and I love and appreciate him and you tremendously.

[chitsangenthusiast]

okay so from what it seems like i don't think wip wednsday is as popular on tumblr but!! well!!! i will share my zukka izumi-centric wip scenes anyway!!

(under a cut tho bc i use the term 'snippet' very loosely lol)

“Izumi,” he gently chides, and tries to pull on her hand clenched around his collar. “C'mon, don’t you want to say hi to—”

“Uncle Sokka!” Sokka grins, and ducks around Zuko’s side to try to see her face. As soon as he catches her eye, he scrunches his nose into a funny face that knocks a little smile out of her and she angles her head, just the slightest bit, to look at him better. “The last time I saw you, you were a little squirt of a penguin-squid!”

Her grip on Zuko’s robes loosens as she pulls her face out of her dad’s shoulder, and she turns when Sokka makes his way back to standing in front of them, a look of charmed interest all over her face. Sokka opens his hands and ducks a little again, and says sweetly, “Can I say hi, Izumi? I missed you a lot, you know.”

Izumi grins, a shyly excited little thing, and she tentatively leans out so Sokka can grab her from Zuko’s arms. When she slips into his arms, Sokka lets out the happiest sigh as he gently lays his head on top of hers, and his eyes close in contentment when he hears her giggle after he wraps her in a one-armed hug.

Zuko can’t stop his own bubbling smile from bursting over his lips at the display.

“Ahh, yup, missed you a lot, princess!” Sokka says into her temple, eliciting another bout of giggles from Izumi, then turns his head to open an eye to Zuko. His voice is soft, and his smile is even softer, when he says, “Missed you a lot.”

Sparks erupt in Zuko’s stomach, his heart rockets in pleasure as his face heats a little at the attention, and he’s ridiculously grateful for his daughter when she wiggles in Sokka’s hold to let out an excited, “yeah! yeah!” because it effectively (hopefully) covers his own breathless agreement.

He clears his throat to dislodge some of the fluttering, and reaches out to put a hand on his daughter’s head—a quick distraction to collect his face—before they turn to start walking inside. He can only half meet Sokka’s eyes when he says, “so, why are you here?”

As soon as it comes out, Zuko catches himself and immediately follows it with a flustered, “not that you’re not welcome! I’m just surprised—I know you were in the middle of some projects from your last letter, so I just wasn’t expecting you to show up or—”

Sokka, thankfully, saves him from his rambling with a slightly embarrassed chuckle. “Yeah, I know, sorry. Turns out, bringing the project to the Council went off without a single hitch this time. There was basically nothing in the way for them to immediately start implementing it, which like—” Sokka rolls his eyes— “figures, just when I’m getting used to them being total jerks about the whole thing, they decide to throw a curveball and play easy for me for once.”

It sounds exactly like something Zuko himself has faced with his own council, which makes him snort and offer a heavily knowing, “how rude of them.”

“Rude!” Izumi pipes up, to Zuko’s chagrin, happily looking over her shoulder at him from within Sokka’s arms. He rushes to shush her, but Sokka just laughs as he bounces her a little in his hold with a firm nod and pursed lips. Izumi giggles and pokes at his cheeks, making him break out in a grin.

“So rude is right, Izumi. Literally the worst, sometimes!” Sokka then turns his smile to Zuko, as he continues, “so all that planning and accounting for what should’ve been like a ridiculous amount of time trying to convince them on my new expansion plan went up in smoke, because they approved it in like—the first twenty minutes of me pitching. We basically left the meeting with a start date already in motion and left me with all of this free time. Ugh.”

The sound of Sokka’s sarcastic frustration fascinates Izumi, and she must like the way it sounds in her throat because she starts repeating the noise in delight as she copies the way Sokka was bouncing her earlier. Sokka chuckles, both at her and at Zuko’s exasperated sigh, then pokes Izumi in her stomach as an attempt at a distraction. “Hey, ‘zumi, try saying my name! Can you say ‘Sokka’?”

Izumi looks at him, and hiccups out a few more sounds mimicking Sokka’s earlier noise. With a guilty laugh, Sokka ducks his head when he looks over at Zuko, and says, “Sorry, I tried at least.”

Zuko just rolls his eyes and reaches over to take Izumi back from him, but he’s smiling soft when he says, “You’ve only been here for like ten minutes, Sokka, and you’re already teaching her all kinds of bad things.”

“Oh, like she doesn’t hear you huff and puff all the time, huh?”

Zuko cuts an amused glance over, and then pointedly looks back down to Izumi. “Izumi, can you say Sokka’s name? Sah-kha?”

“S’ka!” she chirps, to his total delight, and then follows it up with an equally happy, “Ugh!”

Sokka’s mouth drops completely open, and Zuko laughs loud at the distraught expression on his face. He jabs an accusing finger at him, and squawks out, “you taught her that, didn’t you!”

“No!” Zuko laughs, grinning wide at his friend’s indignity. “I swear I didn’t—Uncle does say she has a good judge of character!”

“Rude,” Sokka simply says. “Mean. I should’ve gone and taken my vacation with your uncle instead.”

Zuko smiles, and readjusts to better hold Izumi after she perked up from hearing the familiar word for her grandfather. “Mn, Uncle wouldn’t have minded you dropping by suddenly—he loves those kinds of things. There’s no Izumi there, though.”

“True,” Sokka nods, reaching out to poke at her side again just to hear her giggle, but then he winces. “Uh, sorry for not writing first, or like—even asking. I meant to, but by the time I remembered I hadn’t done any of that, I was only like half a day out. Don’t worry, I know how to keep myself busy while you’re in meetings, and I figured I could stay for like a week or two before you kicked me back out!”

Zuko’s already mentally running through the list of his meetings over the next few weeks to see how he can rearrange everything. He hums softly, and goes right back to not being able to look Sokka directly in the eyes when he says, “you know you’re always welcome as a guest, Sokka. I’m—we’re happy you’re here. It’s been awhile.”

“Ha, I know. The last time was when this one was in diapers!” Sokka directs this response to Izumi, cooing into her cheek before theatrically gasping. “And now she’s such a big girl! I can’t believe how fast she’s already grown!”

“Well, technically she’s still in diapers,” Zuko chuckles. “But you’re right, she’s growing too fast.”

“Growing big and strong! Look out Zuko, soon enough my niece will be taking you out!” Sokka leans back in and tickles at Izumi’s giggling cheek. “Isn’t that right my little strong Fire Lord Princess?”

[intheticklecloset]

Hi, I’m from the universe, I’m that curveball you asked for.

Thank God for that filtering feature lol. Most of us are literally only here for your MHA content, and also you straight up ruined ShinDeku for most of us. #overhype lol. Also maybe make another hashtag for your personal life posts because sometimes it sounds legit but a lot of the time it just comes across as just bitching. Put a tag on them so se can filter that. And I know we all don’t have the details bc it’s personal so my assumed ratio would probably be incorrect.

From what I can tell, at least on tumblr, you’re doing pretty well for yourself. So please, stop throwing your pity parties just to get attention. Your coffee shop isn’t the only place you should be professional lol. And yeah, yeah, I know this is your blog and you’ll post whatever you want xD

And because I have a friggin conscience, I’m sorry about that last part, that was a little uncalled for. But I’m not apologizing for anything else I said because that’s just my opinion. And you can tell me to keep my opinions to myself, but to be fair YOU’RE the one who opened anons, sooooo...yeah, lol.

Hope ya enjoyed this reality check xD

Sincerely, Curveball Anon

P.S. Remember, dealing with stuff like this is just part of being a writer on tumblr, and anywhere else. If not me, you’ll hear this kinda stuff from someone at some point.

To be fair, I suppose I did throw out the dare. Whatever.

[keytomind]

This word used to terrify me. At times, it still does.

When you’re a child, you’re invulnerable to the realities of adulthood. You think your world will always have some sort of stability and you don’t have to worry about growing up anytime soon.

When I was 12, my 16 year old brother passed away in a car accident, the first night he went out driving. I shared a room with him. We shared a lot of things and even though I didn’t understand it then, he was my best friend. I assumed I would have him for a lifetime, but for whatever reason, his lifetime was 16 years, 1 month and 22 days.

Today serves as the 11 year anniversary of when we buried him the second time. Yes, you read that correctly. We disinterred his remains and moved him to a better cemetery closer to us. We buried him twice. When I say my soul is old, it’s because my childhood ended at 12 and I wasn’t prepared.

This is why I was so terrified of change, from a young age. My parents worked very hard, but they did well for themselves. Our struggles weren’t financial; our struggles were losses. I lost a lot of people, starting at a young age. When you come from a small family and the losses keep coming, it’s confusing to a young child searching for that stability. My mother was an only child and my father only has two brothers; when you lose people from such a small circle, you notice it and it lingers forever.

I recently wrapped up an extended weekend trip and it proved to be more reflective than usual, spending endless hours in thought. I currently live in the same state where I was born and I’ve never called anywhere else home. But that is about to change in a year or two when I relocate either south to the Carolinas or far west to Montana. Such a move to someone like me, so resistant to accepting change, would sound intimidating and challenging, however this is going to be a different kind of change.

The loss of my brother was a change that nobody would ever want for themselves or anybody else. COVID has changed our lives for more than a year now... nobody wanted that. I think we subconsciously tend to associate change as a negative, but it doesn’t always have to be that way. Sometimes we need to lead by example and be the change that we want to see, and after spending my entire life here, I know that it’s the right time to make such a change.

I am just a few days shy of my 39th birthday and, as far as I’m concerned, I’m probably at what I’d call my half life. If I can double that time and make it to 78, that sounds about enough to me. My goal isn’t to make it to my mid 90’s, to have a nurse or an orderly wipe my ass and change my diaper to rot away my so-called golden years in a nursing home. Fuck that, I’ve seen enough of that to know that’s not for me. I try to live enough to make sure that I shave a few years off my life because I’ll only be shaving off those years where the quality of life is questionable at best.

At my half life, I am ready for a hard reset. I live in the northeast part of the country and, folks, it’s a rat race up here. Everyone is in a rush to go nowhere and no one has manners anymore. I’m a country boy stuck in an uncomfortable world. You could say it’s like that everywhere, but I’ve been everywhere else and everywhere else seems to have a way of life that makes me want more. I’m ready to slow down a bit. Somewhere unadulterated from human life. This doesn’t mean I’m looking to retire at 39 (that would be nice, right?) but I long for a place where I can let my guard down a little bit because I’m tired. And most importantly, there’s an enthusiasm about looking forward to building something new.

The biggest challenge that will come with this change will be saying goodbye to my mama. She knows of my intentions and she certainly doesn’t wish to see me go. Since my brother passed, my life goals have been simple and there are only two. The first is to be happy and satisfied with my life. Any other life isn’t worth living. My other goal is to outlive my mother simply so she doesn’t have to bury her other son. She has suffered enough.

I have offered my mother to come live with me when it is time. Other than my sister and her two children, she doesn’t have any ties left to the area, similar to me. Her dog is getting older and she worries she will be too old to get another dog. I’d let her live with me so I can take care of her and provide for her to have another dog. She also loves horses as much as I do and it’s another dream of mine to have one or two of these in my lifetime. It could be a nice, country life.

The truth is my plans for this cabin have been in the works for a few years now. I’m not just here on Tumblr for smut, laughs, and kinky GIFs; you can find that anywhere. I’m constantly perusing ideas for building and adding it to my ever-growing iPhone note. I want to build the cabin that I am going to die in one day. If I want to spend a lifetime there, and if I want to start over away from everything I know, might as well do the job right.

Remember, what’s a goal without a plan? A wish.

Don’t be resistant to change. Sometimes we get what we need rather than what we want. I could have some things made here, but the truth is it’s not what I need in my life. This time served a purpose, and I am grateful, but soon, it will be time to build. Be as prepared as possible for life throwing you a curveball or two, but whatever happens, do your best. Learn from life and embrace some change.

@keytomind March 2021

[go-events]

GO Rom Com Spotlight: @apocryphalia

The most excellent @apocryphalia​ (also apocryphalia on Twitter and AO3) has claimed Casanova to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.

For reference, here’s a little background about the source material.

About Casanova: With a reputation for seducing members of the opposite sex, Casanova discovers a beauty who seems impervious to his charms. However, as he continues to pursue the indifferent lady, he finds himself falling in love.

We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @apocryphalia​ a little better!

* * *

goromcom: So, you know how if you open a Tumblr chat with someone you haven't chatted to before, Tumblr tells you two things they post about? I wanted to tell you that yours reports that you post "about #aziraphale/crowley and #ineffable husbands." Well, you're a true blue fan, and I support that!

apocryphalia: Considering this blog exists because I’m 100% pure Good Omens trash, that’s not shocking. I’m also slightly obsessive about my tags, which is probably why my mother and that one career test I took in college insist that I should have been a librarian.

goromcom: Oh, librarian is one of my dream jobs, but I never pursued it. I also feel similarly about tags! But before I start waxing poetic about the Dewey Decimal System, let’s segue to your rom com.

You chose to adapt Casanova as your rom com. Has this story been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it? Were you thinking specifically of the David Tennant adaptation of the story, or just Casanova in general?

apocryphalia: Like a lot of us, I may have gone a little bit crazy watching Tennant and Sheen's previous roles after the show came out, so I had seen his Casanova fairly recently, and I was definitely thinking of that version when I looked at the list. Also, this is a bit silly, but I have no idea how dates work, and I originally thought that the event claims opened the day after they actually did. I had off work the day I thought claims started, and I was planning to watch a bunch of movies I hadn't seen and put some real thought into which one I might want to do, but I figured out about two hours beforehand that I was very wrong. So I kind of panicked and just started throwing titles that I had already seen into the list, and I liked Casanova and couldn't resist the Tennant connection, so… here we are. No regrets.

goromcom: Sometimes life throws us the very curveball we need.

What's your favorite moment of Casanova, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?

apocryphalia: I love Bellino, and I love the scene where she breaks off her engagement with Casanova and plays wingman for him with Henriette instead. My main goal in planning this so far is basically just maximum gender fuckery, so I’m still trying to work out exactly what to do with the character—I’m going to have to play fast and loose with the actual historical status of castrati, which gives my historian-brain some anxiety—but I think it’ll be fun to write, and hopefully fun to read! (Also, fun fact, the actual historical Casanova may have been bisexual, so why shouldn't Crowley!Casanova try to marry a castrato and also fem!Aziraphale?)

goromcom: Why not, indeed? I can absolutely see that for both the historical Casanova and for Crowley/Aziraphale as well.

Other than a healthy sprinkling of gender fuckery (of which I’m very much a fan) do you plan to stick very closely to the beats of the original story, or make bigger changes?

apocryphalia: I’m planning to stick pretty closely to the events of the Tennant adaptation for the first half or so, but I’m changing the ending because obviously our ineffable spouses need a happy ending! I’m also ditching certain children that appear in the story, for the purposes of gender fuckery.

I would like to keep to the flashback format, as in the movie older Casanova is actually telling these stories about his life and his relationship with Henriette to another servant in the household where he’s now a librarian. So parts of the fic will be in first person as excerpts from Crowley’s memoirs, and others will be in third person telling the events as they actually occurred. I haven’t completely nailed down which POVs I want to use yet, but Crowley is certainly not a reliable narrator, and I think the back-and-forth timeline showing both young and old Casanova is interesting, so I’m going to try to keep that vibe in the fic.

goromcom: What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?

apocryphalia: Ineffable wives! Again, I’m going to have to play fast and loose with history and it’s giving me some anxiety, but this is fiction, it’s fanfiction, and it’s going to be fun, dammit! Fem!Casanova!Crowley may be slightly channeling Gentleman Jack, because who doesn’t love lesbian Suranne Jones? Aziraphale gets to be the cautious, repressed one desperately trying to adhere to societal expectations while also being desperately in love with her as Henriette, and there will be plenty of slow-burn, mutual-pining, dancing-around-their-feelings-and-their-crappy-circumstances goodness!

goromcom: I think fiction and art help us imagine the world we want, so if we want a world where people aren’t so hung up on gender or orientation, what better place to start than in our storytelling? <3

But I don’t want you to reveal too much about your story before it’s time to post it, so let’s move on to the final question, cribbed from The Good Place: The Podcast. Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.

apocryphalia: Well, I can’t resist an opportunity for pet pics. My cats are both terrible at being cats, and they are my favorite things in the whole world. Look at these little idiots being king and queen of recycling mountain! [ed: photo below interview] 

Also, on a real note, there are other similar organizations all over that could use support, but here in my part of South Jersey, the SERV program at the Center for Family Services runs the domestic and sexual violence advocacy programs, and assists victims of human trafficking. I’m a former volunteer with them, and everyone involved in that work is so incredibly compassionate. They provide free counseling, support survivors through the medical exam and reporting process (or through the decision not to report), and they operate a 24-hour hotline and the domestic violence shelters for two counties. Their #1 goal is to believe and trust survivors, and to support whatever they decide is best for them, not to pressure them into any particular course of action (i.e., reporting an assault or filing for a restraining order) and I just think that’s incredibly powerful and helpful.

goromcom: SERV sounds like an important resource and I’m so glad the people of South Jersey have something like that to support them. (Though let’s hope as few people need it as possible.)

Make sure to watch for the GO adaptation of Casanova, coming soon. (And now here’s that pet photo I know everyone was waiting for.)