#want u around series

[galatially]

❝𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝❞

𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 / 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐈𝐈: 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬 x 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 — 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐍𝐈, 𝟏𝟖+, strong language, a bit of a come down from the beginning lol

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 — who are you to make my heart flutter? who am i to be affected; mornings after aren't all they crack up to be

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 — 1.6K

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — i was rereading this and got nostalgic so here y'all go lol

Dull pain housed itself behind your eyes. 

The sun was too bright and were the birds louder this morning or did they know you were in pain?

You groaned, your hand exploring the expanse of sheets and pillows to find your phone. When sleep dissipated from your vision, you saw four voicemails: three from Theo and one from Erik.

The previous night’s events played in your mind’s eyes like hazy vignettes, fractals of whiskey-sodden movements and hot skin scorched with callused pads of fingers. You shook off the memories and played the first voicemail. 

“Y/N, baby. Pick up.” 

Your throat seized at how bored Theo’s tone was. Like he was speaking to a child throwing a tantrum. 

“You know that we can’t work through this if you don’t answer when I call.��

“Where are you? Your car wasn’t in its spot in the parking space and no one’s heard from you. Call me back.”

“If you want to be a bitch about all of this, fine.”

Wetness hit your collarbone and your free hand wiped at your cheek. You’d promised yourself that you wouldn’t break. Not over him. 

Your thumb hovered over Erik’s voicemail; just ten seconds. You took your lip between your teeth. If you were honest, you’d forgotten that you’d had each other’s numbers. Probably one of those cordial things that friends of the other’s partner does. You let out a shallow breath and pressed play.

“Hey, uh, it’s me. Erik. Just wanted to make sure you got home okay. If you ever want to talk about, y’know, anythin’, I’m here.” He blew out a breath. “Bye, Y/N.” 

His voice, whiskey-warm and low, made your belly tighten. Again, your mind’s eye played back the events of last night. How his breath against your ear made your knees weak and your body shudder. How his skin on your sweat-slick skin felt like delicious flames. Your thighs clenched and your mouth watered at the memory of him stretching you out. You pinched the front of your shirt between your forefinger and thumb, circulating some much needed air between your hot skin and the the thin fabric. 

It wasn’t like you hadn’t noticed Erik before now. You’d even made a few offhanded comments that caused several petty fights between you and Theo to the point he’d stopped inviting you to functions where Erik could be present. But last night was different. You hadn’t been alone with Erik before and you were ready to have him take you in the middle of a dance floor. With other half-drunk patrons on all sides. You’d never been that reckless with Theo, never even wanted to be that reckless with him. 

Your phone chimed and you jumped; it was a text from Erik. 

Did you make it home okay? I didn’t hear back and got worried

Emotion lodged itself in your throat. 

Some small, deprecating part of you wanted to denigrate the feeling, chalk it up to jumping into the first physical intimacy you’d had in what seemed like ages. Another wanted to fall — fall so hard, so fast, that you wouldn’t recognize yourself after the impact. You’d become a stranger, a woman consumed. 

Before you could stop yourself, you drafted out a text. Your eyes flitted from left to right, surveying the blue bubble for any signs of overeagerness. Before you could second guess yourself further, you hit the blue arrow. 

Meet me for coffee at Jeannie’s?

You chewed your thumb nail, your eyes glued to the café entrance. 

Your knee bobbed in time with your thoughts, errant and sedentary, flitting between focused and dissociative. You’d tugged at one of your plaits a few times without even noticing. Fidgeted with the sleeve of your sweater and adjusted the rings on your fingers. Your eyes flitted around the café, half-recognizing classmates and friends of friends. You looked down at your watch again; half past nine. 

He could’ve decided not come. It’s not like he owed you anything. 

You shook your head; barring what happened at the club, why were you nervous? You’d been around Erik plenty of times before. 

Except back then, you were with Theo. And one of the times that he caught wind of you and Erik being “familiar”, he stopped inviting you out with him. That was probably one of the nastiest fights you’d had with Theo. You rubbed at the skin of your wrist at the memory.

The bell above the door rang and your vision fixed on the form coming inside. 

His locs were plaited in two braids to the back, bringing his sharp jawline into focus. The scruff of his cheeks ghosted at the back of your neck. He wore a denim jacket over a sinfully fitted black turtleneck and matching jeans, a gold chain hanging loose around his neck. When Erik’s gaze found yours, you sucked in a breath. His hand rose in a half wave and he started towards you. 

“Sorry I’m late.” He sat down across from you, a small smile on his lips. “Lecture ran late.”

“It’s okay. I haven’t been here long.”

Erik snorted. “You’re early to everything, Y/N. What time you get here? Eight forty-five? Eight forty?”

“Eight thirty,” you murmured, narrowing your eyes at him. “I didn’t want to order until you got here. I don’t know what you like.”

“Coffee, two sugars, splash of oat milk.”

You raised a brow. “Oat milk?”

“I’m lactose intolerant,” he said, a smile quirking up at the corners of his mouth. 

“Huh. I never knew that.” You motioned to the server and put in your drink orders. “Did you want something to eat?”

“Nah.” Erik’s eyes burned into yours. “I’m not hungry right now.”

You cleared your throat and politely sent the server off. “So, about last night.”

“What about it?”

“We can’t do that again.”

Erik frowned. “If you think I’m expectin’ anythin’ — ”

“I’m not! I just wanted to make sure that we were both on the same page. I just got out of my thing with Theo and even though you say y’all aren’t friends, y’all have mutual friends and float in the same circles. I can’t jump into something with you when I’ll have to keep seeing him.”

“I’m not tryin’ to push you into somethin’, Y/N. I genuinely didn’t know that was you last night.”

“So, it’s normal for you to go around finger fucking girls in clubs?”

“I’m not opposed to it,” he said, mirroring your bold tone. “You let strange men finger fuck you in dark clubs often?”

“The Y/N you met and the Y/N in front of you are two different people. I can’t speak to her intentions.” 

“Word?” Erik laughed, pretty white teeth on display. “She seemed fun.”

“If you like drunk Y/N more, just say that,” you teased, rolling your eyes. 

“I like any Y/N you’ll give me.”

“Even if it’s platonic?”

“If you just want to be friends, Y/N, we can be just friends. I’m not gon’ rush you into anythin’ just because we happened to be physical one night.”

You smiled. “Thank you. I didn’t want to make this any more awkward than it already is and push you away without an explanation.”

“So this is goodbye?”

You furrowed your brows. “No?”

“No?” 

“I want us to start over.” You held out your hand. “Hi, I’m Y/N Y/L/N.”

Erik smiled a dimpled smile and reached forward. You tried to ignore how his hand swallowed yours whole, leaving nothing to the imagination of what they’d look like molded to your body like a sculptor working clay. 

“I’m Erik Stevens. We had a few classes together freshman year, right? I think you stole one of my nice ballpoint pens.”

You shook your head. “I didn’t steal it! You gave it to me and I handed it to back to you!”

The corners of Erik’s mouth curled. “It’s nice to meet you, Y/N Y/L/N.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Erik Stevens.”

The brisk October air cut against your skin and you shuddered. 

“You cold?”

You rubbed your hands together. “I should’ve worn a jacket over this sweater but it wasn’t this cold this morning.” 

Heaviness sunk onto your shoulders and the heady scent of Erik’s cologne hit you nose. Your wide-eyed gaze flitted to him. 

“You cold right?” 

“What about you?”

He lifted a shoulder and put his hands in his pockets. “I’m cool.”

Your brows creased. “Erik.”

“Y/N,” he mocked, a smirk playing at his lips. 

You rolled your eyes. “You play too much.”

“I’m not playin’. I gave you my jacket to wear ‘cause you’re cold. That’s what friends do, right?” He moved in front of you and nodded to the jacket. “Put your arms out.”

“Why?”

“Just trust me, Y/N.” 

You didn’t mean to hesitate, but this was all happening too fast. Erik fell into being your friend too quickly, barely reacting to the pull he had on you if he even noticed at all. Were you really so different from Erik? Did you feel too deeply, too passionately? Conflated the small physical intimacy between you into something more?

“Hey.” Erik waved his hands in front of your face. “You good?”

“Yeah.” You shrugged out of his jacket and held it out to him. “I’ll see you around, okay?”

He took hold of his jacket, his features canted into a frown. “What’s wrong?”

You shook your head. “Everything.”

𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — i'm such a slow burn enthusiast and for no goddamn reason lol

[covenofthearticulate]

𝙾𝙽𝙴 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝙾𝙽𝙻𝚈 | 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚅𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝙻𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛𝚝

[ph7soy]

mega angsty grahamscott college AU fic❗❗

College was supposed to be a fresh start for Warren. A chance to rebrand his geeky high school self. Hell, maybe he’d even have a shot at being cool this time around. But of course nothing ever goes his way, because he’s Warren fucking Graham.

~ wc: 71k-ish ~ status: ongoing (chapter 11/?) ~ tags: enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn, hurt/comfort, fluff/angst, coming-of-age

helloooooo to all five grahamscott shippers out there!! my super supportive gf (who is also my only beta reader) suggested that i promote my fic on tumblr so here i am;;

enjoy the vandalized driver’s licenses i made for warren & nathan + a lil what’s in my bag college student edition for these two dorks (clearly not hard to guess which belongs to who lol)

[sollucets]

only friends episode 3 bts x neomark talking about boston

[baeshijima]

ever since the 5.2 trailer this is all ive been able to think about

once again, the genshin pokemon au thoughts are running wild

excuse the mega long rant in tags bc i geeked out perhaps a lil too much abt pkmn au but ourghghg.... we do not talk abt how i spent at least an hour writing all this out....

[puppetmaster13u]

I was reminded of a Thing from the reblogs on the Mermay 03 Prompt

Very similar vibes. But with platonic omegaverse, and dragons. Gotham? Already cursed to hell and back. But then another curse was formed via the museum bringing in this strange statue. That of course got stolen because solid crystal and gold. Then got broken, split in half. And oop. New Curse.

Now before I get into the curse, lemme explain the omegaverse side of things. Everyone is born a secondary gender labeled Alpha, Omega, or Beta. There's also medical conditions where one is neither, usually a mix of genetic and hormonal issues. Gotham however, is Weird. They have no set scent according to Outsiders. Really? They can shift and switch (Yes there's a large LGTBQ percentage in the population) at will. It can take months for someone new to the city, but those that have been there for a few generations can do it in hours. For those like the Waynes or other founders who have been there since the beginning of the city? Minutes. It's more than a little unnerving to Outsiders who are used to things staying the same.

But that curse (or blessing as others call it) mixed with the new dragon one. See, they can all change into draconic form, and do their best to keep that secret. But they also have different forms depending on the secondary sex they are at that time.

@f4nd0m-fun & @golden-buddle idk if u'd be interested in this but-

[liauditore]

something about the way joel can't ever seem to get anyone on his side.

inspo

a friend sent me this video when i showed him the wip and I......

[finalgirlgretchen]

if one more person tries to claim that the oh hellos are no longer christian i am going to lose my shit

[taitavva]

IM JUST HERE 2 PUSH UR T3MPRR PUT ME IN MY GRAVE !

[femtanyl - PUSH UR T3MPRR | color variants+image w/out words under cut]

[crazy-fangirl2524]

The setting sun was illuminating Andrew’s golden strands like a halo, highlighting his profile. Simultaneously, the sunset painted the sky with pink and purple and Neil who just recently got into photography wanted nothing more to capture this. With a cigarette in his hand, Andrew was nothing short of a masterpiece and Neil had to remind himself to breathe.

He ran inside their apartment and frantically searched for his camera and ran back out to the balcony where Andrew had turned towards him.

Neil answered his unasked question, “I want to capture the view.”

Andrew stubbed his cigarettes and started to head back inside.

“No,” Neil’s hand snagged onto Andrew’s palmetto hoodie, Neil’s hoodie to be exact. “The view.” He emphasised and pulled Andrew back to his original spot. It really showed how far they had come when Andrew wordlessly went back to where he was standing.

Andrew stood facing Neil with his blank face. Neil took a couple of pictures before asking Andrew to stand the way he was standing before. Rolling his eyes, Andrew turned his back towards Neil again. Neil’s hoodie was already oversize but Neil swore he could see Andrew’s back muscles outlined against his hoodie.

“Are you satisfied?” Andrew turned his head towards Neil once again. Neil had the wildest thought that maybe it was Andrew’s jawline that cut all those scars into him. If only.

With his hair highlighted by the sun and the pink and purple background, one of the cats had hoped onto the balcony and Andrew petting King, Neil captured the perfect photo.

“Perfectly,” Neil grins, he walked towards his masterpiece and wrapped his arms around Andrew’s shoulders. They stood on their balcony, in their apartment with their cats and Andrew in Neil’s hoodie and arms, and watched as the sun finally sank behind the horizon. The pink and purple had disappeared and gold that could never rival Andrew’s hair painted the sky. Neil never really looked at the sky but now he could not stop.

Beautiful, Neil thought, admiring the sky for another second before dropping a kiss to Andrew’s hair.

[bittasol]

clarazz are so strong if i was (vaguely in love with and) slightly possessive of my best friend and the whole world was obsessed with him (like i was) id crash out 😭

[galatially]

❝𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝❞

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 / 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲

𝐈: 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 — 𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐬 x 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤!𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 — 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐍𝐈, 𝟏𝟖+, strong language, fingering (f receiving)

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 — just for tonight, let me be someone else. someone larger than life and impervious to pain like the pain he gave me; what's a few drinks and a chance encounter with a familiar stranger to a heartbroken girl?

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 — 1.3K

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — i was rereading this and got nostalgic so here y'all go lol

The bass thrummed through your veins.

Tequila and whiskey emboldened you as you swayed your hips in time to the beat, your hands high above your head. You felt the stares from the men and women around you, basking in them. 

Tonight, you transcended. 

Beneath the red and blue lights, you were a different person. You weren't the girl that found her boyfriend screwing another girl on your living room couch. You weren’t heartbroken and you weren’t angry. No, in the heart of the dance floor, curls wild and free, Y/N Y/L/N was invincible. 

An ethereal being amongst humans. 

You felt a presence behind you, hands finding yours hips. Warm air tickled the shell of your ear. “What’s a sweet thing like you doin’ dancin’ alone?”

A breathy giggle bubbled from your lips, one of your hands reaching behind to cup a broad shoulder. “I’m not ‘lone. You’re here.” You ground your ass against the front of his jeans, the skirt of your skintight dress cresting above your hips. His cologne made your head spin and your belly flip. 

His teeth caught your earlobe. “Keep grindin’ like that and I’ll take you right here. People be damned.”

The warning sent a delicious shudder up your spine. “Promise?”

His chuckle rumbled low in his chest, reverberating against your back. Lips trailed the curve of your neck and hands held you firm against the growing tent nestled between your barely covered ass. “That turn you on, baby girl?” Teeth nipped at your sensitive skin. “You want me to fuck you in front of all of these people? Ruin this pretty pussy?” 

A thick digit wedged between your thighs, playing at the soaked thong clinging to your lower lips. A strained groan left his mouth. 

“You’re soaked, baby. That all for me?”

Your breath caught. When the last time someone turned you on like this? Had anyone ever turned you on like this? You bucked your hips back against his hand, soft mewls tumbling from your plump lips. 

“Want me to fuck you with my fingers, pretty girl?” He pushed the fabric to the side and pushed three digits into your sopping cunt. The strangled moan lodged in your throat was guttural, almost pained. He wrapped his free arm around your front and held you firm against his chest. “Be cool, baby girl. Wouldn’t want the whole club knowin’ I’m knuckles deep inside you.”

You tucked her bottom lip between your teeth and gave a weak nod. Your skin was on fire and you could feel your nipples stiffen. “Fuck.”

He worked you slow, his thrusts slow and tortuous, stretching you out deliciously. Your first orgasm slammed into you and made your knees buckle. 

You put a hand against his chest. “Wait, wait. We need to stop.”

“You sure?” He removed his fingers, leaving you hollow. “We could take this somewhere private, if you want.”

The invitation was tempting. Damn near irresistible, even. You could be this girl for tonight and in the morning, you’d turn back into a pumpkin. No longer the enigmatic princess in the wild, but the pauper that had to figure who she was again. 

Who were you now that everything you knew was a lie?

You turned to face your sexy stranger, your features canting into confusion. 

“Erik?”

His brown eyes widened. “Y/N?”

Even through post-orgasm hazy eyes, Erik Stevens looked like a god, as if deities bore him from sculpted clay. You went to the same university, shared some Gen Ed classes your freshman and sophomore year. Sometimes you even struck up conversations about classes. His reputation as a love ‘em and leave ‘em type far preceded him, but, at least with you, he was smart and sweet and funny.

Besides, you were already spoken for at the time. But it didn’t mean that you never noticed him.

Your face warmed and canted into a frown. “Fuck.” You pulled down the hem of your dress and pulled a fallen strap back up your shoulder before turning on your heel. If you weren’t sober before, you sure as hell were now.

“Y/N! Wait!”

You cut through the crowd, quickly dodging curious drunken glances as you hurried to the bar. You put a hand up to signal to the bartender, Scott.

He tipped his chin and leaned over the edge of the bar, yelling over the booming bass. “You okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah,” you answered, nodding. “Can you cash me out and grab my stuff for me?”

Scott gave you a thumbs up and disappeared to the other end of the bar. Before you could look over your shoulder for Erik’s tall frame, the bartender reappeared, your items in tow. 

You slammed down a few notes and threw him a two finger salute.

“Whoa, whoa, Y/N! Everything okay?”

You hoped the smile you gave was convincing enough as you hurried out of the club. The cool breeze kissed your cheeks, carrying the loose curls framing your face in its wake. Tears burned in your eyes, your chest heaving painfully. “Fuck!”

Of course. 

Of fucking course!

Of all the people you could’ve rebounded with, it just had to be Erik, one of your ex’s friends.

Your mind raced with questions: did he know the girl Theo was with? Was she around when you weren’t, draped over his lap while he hung out with his boys?

Were you really the last person to know?

You pulled out your phone and started requesting an Uber.

NOTIFICATION: Your driver, Amelia, will be arriving at 1:45 AM

“Y/N!”

You held in a groan, not sparing him a glance as you spoke. “Nope. We’re not doing this.”

“So I’m just supposed to pretend nothin’ happened in there?” His hand curled around your bicep. “Look at me.”

You snatched your arm out of his grip and turned to face him. The quick movement made your world tilt and your legs buckled. Where you expected to be intimately introduced with the asphalt, you felt a warm mass against your shoulder. You took in a deep breath and looked to Erik, your face warm. “Thank you.”

He nodded and helped steady you. “You gon’ stop runnin’ now?”

“Erik, we can’t do this.”

“Why?”

“You know why,” you deadpanned. “Theo’s your friend.”

Erik tightened his jaw. 

You crossed your arms and turned away from him. “Just forget what happened. Please.”

“Can I wait with you until your ride gets here, at least?”

You lifted a shoulder and kept your gaze on the street. You anxiously glanced down at your smartwatch for notifications, debating whether you should’ve called your friends to come get you instead. 

“I’m not his friend.”

You blinked and turned to him, startled by the sudden conversation. “What?”

“Theo,” Erik clarified, “I’m not his friend. More like a friend of one of his other friends.”

You looked over at him. “Why are you telling me this?”’

“Because you’re actin’ like I knew what he was doin’.”

NOTIFICATION:Your driver, Amelia, is pulling up now. You will have five minutes before Uber charges you a waiting fee

“I don’t care if you did or didn’t know about Theo cheating on me, Erik. I don’t care if y’all are friends. The fact that we almost — ” You blew out a breath. “You’re an adult, Erik. We both are. So whatever we do or don’t do shouldn’t concern the other.”

“I’m just sayin’ that — ” 

A black Sedan pulled up in front of the both of you, cutting off his words. 

You glanced at Erik over your shoulder. “Thanks for hanging back with me.”

He nodded, a tight smile on his lips. “Get home safe, yeah?” 

You nodded and ducked into the back driver’s side seat. As the driver pulled off from the curb, you stole one last glance of Erik standing on the sidewalk. 

“He a friend of yours, ma’am?”

“No. Just someone that I know.”

𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 — to date, the beginning of this fic is the most out of pocket i've ever been and i'm proud of that lol

[eyenaku]

MOON WARD

Handbuilt stoneware, with hand pained slip, glaze, palladium + gold luster, and underglaze accents. Post-fire details of paint on limbs/lower body.

This piece is a part of my 4-piece Celestial Wards series! The smallest of the set, Moon Ward is both smaller than the two wardens with a simpler design and expression to reflect its lesser maturity, and smaller than the Sun Ward to reflect (albeit disproportionately) the size difference of the moon and the sun.

The Moon Ward is one of my favorite pieces in the whole set! While simpler than the wardens, I feel the design is very effective and balanced well. I’m very happy with the stylized feather texture on his head, and the overall shape of the limbs!

[every-sanji]

[happytyrantsubmarine]

no one will understand me for this sorry 💔💔💔

[the-somwthing]

Welcome to my little meta analysis essay called

Why do we misremember Flower Husbands as being “nicer” than it was?

Disclaimer: I’m not here to talk about whether or not FH is “toxic” or anything like that. It’s just a fact that many old fans rewatching FH POV and new fans who are watching it for the first time after seeing fan content tend to be surprised at how they actually behaved in the series compared to how everyone remembered them being back in the day. This will NOT go over whether or not I think FH is unhealthy or whatever and instead just discuss why I believe this phenomenon has happened.

So, if I try to make this a fancy well written essay, I’ll be here all day, so I’ll just get to the point. 3rd Life came out during the DSMP era of mcyt. MCRP has been around for ages, but the DSMP style of RP (which I’ll be calling “smp rp”) was pretty much popularized by DSMP, mostly towards the end of 2020. For reference, 3rd Life started early 2021, so there’s about a half a year between these two events, and DSMP kept going for years so 3rd Life was absolutely happening during the golden era of DSMP.

But what does DSMP have to do with this? Well, it sort of created this idea of “lore” and only specific things being “canon”. You can make fun of me for the way I worded that, but you know what I mean, DSMP was weird about that stuff. I don’t really blame them as it was kind of a new style of RP they accidentally spawned, but still, it was a confusing time for SMPs.

3rd Life was actually less like DSMP and more like the modern SMP RPs, where there’s no (known, lol) scripted events and the fandom itself deciphers what is or isn’t “canon” rather than it being told to them, with mostly everything being considered canon. HOWEVER, I do believe that DSMP’s style did still affect the fandom, specifically with the topic of this essay, Flower Husbands.

But why would it only really affect Flower Husbands? Now we get into a rough topic: shipping discourse. Back in those days, shipping in the mcyt fandom was heavily frowned upon. Moreso than it is today (I know it’s still around, but it was a lot worse the earlier we go lol). I’ve even seen old relics of ppl saying flower husbands should only be portrayed as platonic cuz it’s wrong to ship them, despite their team name literally being husbands. But more importantly, for A LOT of people, flower husbands was the One Ship people felt “allowed” to ship, BECAUSE it was canon. So they would allow FH and shun every other ship.

My point isn’t actually that, with it being the only “acceptable” ship everyone tried to make it more wholesome, though I suppose that could be a contributor. But my ACTUAL point is where all the things I laid out finally close in on each other:

Ships were a Dangerous territory in mcyt fandom, and ships being “canon” was something a lot of people weren’t prepared to deal with. People don’t want to get too close to RPF territory, but back in the day their ideas of c! vs cc! wasn’t as great, so they default to the DSMP Rule of “if it’s stated to be roleplay, then it’s canon to the characters, if not, it’s noncanon and just the CCs hanging out”.

You see where I’m going with this? When trying to follow this rule for a character relationship where they don’t explicitly state what is or isn’t RP, they hear “we’re married” and instantly mark that as canon to the characters since it clearly isn’t true to the CCs, and tend to block out anything else, otherwise you’re risking it not actually being true to the characters. Especially when it’s things like Scott saying something mean about Jimmy; that directly contradicts the “these characters are in love” thing, so it must not be canon, right?

But wouldn’t people still remember that these things happened, or did they actually straight up not process any of it? My answer to that is: of course everyone was paying attention, but with the context that it’s the CCs playing a video game, all of the teasing and other behavior seems WAY less serious. It just looks like average friends playing a hunger games smp together. And as I explained earlier, the fandom was ONLY processing this as a CC thing, so Scott’s treatment of Jimmy never stood out because that’s just how it is playing games.

Back to DSMP, I’m not active in that fandom anymore but I’ll see snippets sometimes, and I’ve seen the claim that beeduo was actually boring in canon and the fandom was the one that made it interesting. I feel like this is exactly what happened with FH. Nobody was actually expecting anyone to go hard into romantic roleplay, so the fans just take whichever pair says they’re getting married and fill in the blanks themselves. And that was normal back then, it wasn’t fans making stuff up for no reason, it was kind of expected of us.

So yeah, I personally believe that this whole confusion about FH is a result of its time. Whether you want to finally look at the actual substance of the relationship rather than following weird rules about what is or isn’t “canon”, or you believe that since FH was from a time where romantic RP was confusing and weird it would make the most sense to take into account the time period it came from and ignore the less appealing bits in favor of the fanon, I don’t really care honestly. But man isn’t this an interesting situation.