#writing is funn

[wonderlightdaydreams]

Alterreality Coining Post 2.0

On August 9th, 2023, I posted “AlterReality: A Coining Essay”. The purpose of that post was to coin a term that describes my personal experience while getting out my thoughts on metaphysics, imagination, and perception in writing. However, due to the personal nature of that essay, I wanted to make this post in collaboration with Lav (@WinreyPlace) and others to clearly and plainly state what alterreality is. While it is a broad term, there are limits to what it does and does not include.

As defined by someone else in the alterreality server: “Alterreality is a process of creating one’s unique sense of reality via imagination and belief. It can be described as a lifestyle or a philosophy, with one central idea: what makes something ‘real’ is nothing but the belief that it is real.”

Another definition Lav gave was “imagination as a lifestyle”. Alterreality can also be interpreted as daydreaming or imagination-based fantasies overlaying or interacting with consensus reality.

What alterreality covers:

Many experiences of those in the self-shipping community, such as going on dates with your f/o in the “real world”

Adding a fantasy narrative to your life (i.e. tests at school becoming monster fights) as long as you choose to believe in the fantasy narrative as part of your perceived reality

Many experiences are classified as roleplay, again, as long as you choose to incorporate the roleplay into your perception of what’s happening in your own life

What alterreality doesn’t cover:

Involuntary spiritual, psychological, or metaphysical experiences 

Any alternative reality experiences you were born with or had awakened within you

Identifying as something while living a non-altered life (i.e. if you’re wolfkin and you are going to mundane human school while only experiencing that physical reality, that's not alterreality)

Manifestation and law of attraction concepts. Alterreality, while it interacts with the shared reality we all experience, doesn’t change its course; instead it builds onto or reframes it. Alterrealizing should not and does not make struggles in consensus reality disappear or cause the universe to provide a more positive life. 

In short, alterreality has three aspects: intentionality, imagination, and belief. Alterreal experiences are incredibly varied and diverse; however, they all require these elements. 

Now, with the above fully explained, let’s understand the why and how. Starting with the why.

There are infinite reasons as to why one would alterrealize their own life. I do it because I find mundane existence to be boring, and I want to engage with something that is beyond mundane human life without believing in anything, particularly spiritual or supernatural. Any reason is a valid reason to create alterreality. You can do it for fun, as a coping mechanism, to connect better with your alterhuman identities, because you love fictional characters or worlds, to help you understand complex things better, as a tool of exploration, personal growth, and creativity, and so much more. You don't even need to have a why at all! There is nothing wrong with fucking around and finding out with your life :3. 

In terms of how to do alterreality, I repeat, there is no one way. I’m still figuring out all the ins and outs of doing it myself. But my best piece of advice is to give yourself permission to fully live inside of whatever fantasy narrative you choose to and let yourself believe in it. This can sometimes be a demanding or difficult process, especially if everyone and everything around you is conforming to consensus reality, but just like they find meaning existing in consensus reality, you are allowed to find meaning existing in alterreality! Another way to phrase all this is to just “fake it until you make it”. Ask yourself questions like  “What world or narrative do I live in?”, “What form does my alterrealized self take?”, “How would I act and speak in my alterreality?”, “What would my tasks, goals, or challenges be?”, and things like that. If you cannot do something in shared, mundane reality for whatever reason, make-believe a reason why you cannot do it in your alterreality too! As you develop your alterreality and discover what works and what doesn’t for your brain, you’ll find it will come more naturally to live out your imagination-fueled life. 

This world is in desperate need of whimsy and wonder. While there are various ways to make your life more whimsical, there are not many that involve actively living a lifestyle of fantasy. In a world where time is a finite resource, where the “have-tos” outweigh the “want-tos”, and where playing pretend is shunned once you age out of childhood, alterreality is a way to live in the physical realm, while embracing the fantastical. So, what are you waiting for, step into a world of your wildest dreams!

[yuhi-san]

you know what the blood gulch chronicles are so fucking funny. the first few episodes is just a bunch of idiots shit talking. absolute useless nonsense.

but its not random rubbish being thrown around. the conservations, as ridiculouse as they are, have a flow. You can actually follow how you got from a to q, even if just looking at a nd q seperately is like, how the fuck did that happen. every comment bounces off of a previous one.

red team trying to name M12 LRV. its just gold. the bickering. simmons being the one not believing that pumas are a real animal. how they keep roasting grif for 'making up animals'.

the way the lines are delivered. it's hilarious.

[silverhalla]

Seleny Merlot, 8:92 Blessed

Teia had looked far too pleased when she asked him to dinner. That should have been the first clue.

Viago didn’t trust restaurants. In all honesty, he detested them. He could only test for so many poisons at once, and had only developed his immunity to a few dozen. A restaurant was danger. It was his life, in the hands of an unknown chef, in the hands of many unknown persons with many untold reasons to perhaps want him dead. As a rule, he avoided them, but Teia was... insistent. She owned the little bistro, though, and had personally vetted anyone with access to his food for the evening. It was a touching gesture, truly, to make him feel more comfortable in a place he felt deeply, uniquely exposed.

It should have been his second clue.

(also on [ao3]!!)

The establishment was irritatingly nice. Candles flickered on every table, although theirs was the only one taken. If he’d been on edge before, his concern was certainly peaking now.

"You're planning something," he groused after the waiter walked away, pulling out Teia's chair for her. She sat delicately, looking up at him through her lashes as he sat down across the table.

"I am not," she insisted, sounding far too smug.

Viago sighed. "It's bad, isn't it?"

"Oh, hush. Drink some wine." She reached for the menu, smiling at him in a way that reminded him far too much of a satisfied cat. "Try to enjoy yourself for once."

"I'm enjoying myself," he huffed, not enjoying himself at all. "Hand me the wine list."

“Of course,” she said, taking a quick glance at it before passing it over. "Seleny Merlot, 8:92 Blessed. Isn’t that Rook’s favorite?”

Viago squinted at her, unamused. “Why do you know that?”

“Oh, it just came to mind.” She waved a hand dismissively, returning to her study of the menu. “It came up recently in conversation.”

That was news. “You saw Rook?”

“No,” Teia purred, batting her dark, pretty eyes at him. “I saw Lucanis.”

Viago’s voice went deadly serious. “Andarateia.”

“He was thinking of buying a bottle or two,” she hinted, “or so I heard.” She leaned forward, barely hiding a smirk, and he could feel a vein at his temple begin to throb.

"Why is a Dellamorte..." - he hissed the name through his teeth - "...buying expensive wine for my protege?"

Teia fluttered a hand, looking nonchalant. “Oh, I’m sure there was a reason. Perhaps her nameday?”

“Half a year ago,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “You planned her trip to the coast.”

“Did I? I must have forgotten.” Teia bridged her fingers and rested her chin upon them, blinking up at the man innocently. “Well, friends buy friends gifts. Like the dagger she got for him, or so the vendor mentioned.”

It was a trap, he knew, and he walked into it anyways. “When?”

“A few months, give or take.”

That was a horrifying concept – how long he’d gone without spotting it. "Months!?"

“Oh, don’t be so glum,” Teia teased, “I’m sure it's nothing. She would’ve said something. To one of us, at least.”

There was a beat, where Teia smiled serenely and his fury simmered.

"Did she say something to you?" he asked tersely, already regretting the question.

"Nothing comes to mind." She pretended to think about it carefully, her brow furrowed. "I suppose she hasn't had much time lately. The last time I saw her was..."

"When you were planning Caterina's funeral," Viago finished, wheels turning in his head. "...and he brought her with him."

"For moral support, wasn't it? He needed her close by, just in case." She paused, tilting her chin thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, there was a comment..."

"Teia...," he groaned, his eyes pleading.

She waved a hand dismissively. "I had complimented her. And insulted you in the process, of course."

"Of course," he said, sarcastic as ever.

"And Lucanis got a little..." Teia paused, considering her words carefully. "...defensive."

Vi's eyes narrowed. "How so?"

"He told me not to flirt with her." That, at least, seemed like a decent idea.

"For once, something he and I agree on," he said, casting her a scathing look.

She ignored him, continuing. "And he looked absolutely pitiful about it," Teia added, "...and he called her his colleague."

There was another shoe that had to drop, surely, but he had to know. “Is that it?”

"Oh, but he almost didn't. 'Teia, don't flirt with my... colleague'!" she mimicked, affecting his slightly posher accent, "Like that."

"Like he wanted to call her something else." Viago frowned, brooding. "Did she seem surprised?"

Teia's grin only grew. "She blushed. To the tips of her ears."

Viago cursed, leaning back in his chair. It was a bigger problem than he'd thought. If Lucanis was smitten, he'd kill him. If Rook was smitten, he could give her a strong talking-to and make thinly-veiled threats. Of course the fool had to fall for a Dellamorte, of all people. It was irritating how easily she shaped up plans to ruin her own life. If it were a one-sided crush, yes, he could deal with that. Find a way to dissuade her, or to threaten him. But if that interest was mutual... Mierda.

“Maybe we’re reading too much into it,” he said hopelessly, desperate for another explanation. "Plenty of Crows send out gifts for well-struck contracts. Maybe a gift for a job well done?"

“Perhaps,” Teia conceded, going back to perusing the drink menu. Her eyes kept flickering back up to him, though, a mischievous look on her face, which he ignored for as long as he could manage.

Finally, after a minute of terse silence and furtive looks, he sighed. “What?”

“Nothing! I’m just thinking about that wine,” Teia hinted, “It must be good.”

He considered deeply whether he’d done something stupid recently. Stupid enough, at least, that she’d poison him for it. It wouldn’t be anything he hadn’t built up a tolerance for, but it would certainly make for an unpleasant evening.

The waiter, seeming to sense his acquiescence, materialized at the table. “Signora?”

“A glass of Antivan White,” Teia said sweetly, flashing the boy a dazzling smile that had him stammering as he turned to take the other assassin's order.

“And… and for you?”

“I’ll try the 8:92,” Viago sighed, annoyed that he had to take the bait, “…a glass, but only if you have a fresh bottle. We’ll uncork it here.” The odds of getting poisoned at one of the Cantori’s restaurants were low, but never zero. He untucked the tester kit from his sleeve regardless.

“Of course, signore. If you enjoy the vintage - well, it should be much easier to come by in these next few months.”

“Is that so?” Teia chimed, flashing the boy one of her dazzling smiles, one she'd used on Viago on plenty of occasions. It politely demanded conversation.

“Yes. The winery is under new ownership, you see. And under strict orders for restaurants to keep a reserve.” He returned the Seventh Talon’s smile, every bit as starstruck and moony-eyed as would’ve been expected, faced with Teia’s interest. The comment did not go unnoticed.

Viago recovered as best as he could, already on edge. “What do you mean?”

The boy launched into a long demonstration that he didn’t comment on simply because he was fuming, and feeling utterly foolish, and because language seemed to escape him. The Dellamortes hadn’t just bought the wine, the sommelier had explained cheerfully. They’d bought the whole vineyard.

Teia smirked, and Viago nursed a headache that began forming almost immediately. Somewhere, he was sure, he had a poison that could end this misery.

“On second thought,” he grumbled, “…I will take the whole bottle.”

[zukkaoru]

“We should probably leave, before we start a scandal.” kunichuuzai :3

Dazai throws his head back, and it hits the wall with a soft thunk. He whimpers, reaching out for Kunikida, but Chuuya promptly grabs hold of his hand, stopping him in his tracks.

His eyes flutter open just as Chuuya presses a kiss to the inside of his wrist. Then, they bring his fingers into their mouth and bite down.

Heat pools in Dazai’s gut.

Meanwhile, Kunikida is kissing and biting at his neck, surely leaving a mark, what was supposed to be a way to shut Dazai up devolving into a heated makeout session in the stairwell. It’s Chuuya’s fault though, since they thought it was a good idea to show up at the Agency office in a cropped shirt, just short enough to show off their toned stomach when they moved in a certain way. They knew what they were doing. They were practically begging for Dazai to say something. It’s not his fault Kunikida didn’t appreciate him calling them a slut where all of their coworkers could hear.

“We— hahh,” Dazai pants as Chuuya reaches up, grabbing hold of his hair and yanking his head to the side, giving Kunikida better access to his neck. “We should probably leave. Before we start a scandal.”

Chuuya pushes themself onto their toes, breath hot against Dazai’s ear as they whisper, “Should’ve thought about that before you baited us out here.”

Kunikida pulls off of him, shooting a glare at Chuuya. “No. He’s right.”

They laugh. “You’re definitely gonna start a scandal if you walk back into the office looking like that.” They reach up, wiping at the lip gloss left on Kunikida’s mouth, somehow lingering from when he kissed them earlier.

Kunikida’s face flushes red.

Dazai laughs, until Chuuya shuts him up with another violent kiss.

[sparklingchim]

Any update on hocky kookie?

hockey kookie is currently put to rest after being rejected twice (2) by oc </3 but! three other jk's have risen !! 🤭

- lwh jk is currently deep in the jealous trenches trying to fight his way out without hurting oc (uhm. he's not so successful)

- new idol jk is tipsy n fighting for his life, begging for oc to take him back </3 (he is so in love w her he'd die without ever feeling her love again)

- new pro footballer jk is fooling the entire nation that he is dating his bf while unconsciously falling for her irl (when will he realise?)

[bi-writes]

i am awake now and the stuff in my inbox is literally gold omg ily all seriously

[thewizardofloneliness]

i wrote a thing

[link]

[kallistersbullshit]

@pillowspace here take a thingy *slams down on table and scurries away*

(this is technically my first 2nd person/reader fic, so uhh hopefully it’s not too bad):

You’ve been running yourself ragged with your daycare duties lately. It’s the… seventh loop? Maybe. You’re not sure. All you know is that you’re getting nowhere in your search for the cause of the time loops, spending your nights sleeplessly jotting ideas down in your notebook - though you know you’ll have to rewrite everything next time.

You don’t know how much longer you can take it.

“Y/N? Are you alright?”

You flinch hard, snapping your head up from where it laid on the desk. Above you towers Sun, patiently waiting for an answer behind the computer, fidgeting anxiously with the ribbons on his wrists.

“Me? Oh! Oh yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”

Sun deflates a bit. “You don’t… seem fine. Normally you leave by now but you’ve had your head down for quite a while. Did you get enough sleep last night?” “Isn’t that Moon’s catchphrase?” you ask, cocking your head.

“You make it hard to resist,” he replied, chuckling nervously.

“Well I did, so again, no reason to worry. I’ll be out of your… er, rays in no time.” Sun flinches, holding his hands out to shake them in denial. “Nonono! I’m not trying to get rid of you, promise! I’m just worried - me and Moon both!”

He leans over the desk to get a better look at you - horrible bags under your eyes, shirt buttoned incorrectly, and a disgruntled, slightly annoyed expression on your face. You quickly change it to a smile, shaking your head.

“I’m telling you it’s fine, Sun. And you’re right - I should probably get going now. See you tomorrow.”

“S-See you tomorrow…”

You smile more genuinely and stand up to grab your bag from the side desk, slinging it over your shoulder and signing off of the computer before walking over to the large double-doors. You place your hand on the handles just as you feel a light touch on your arm - a cold, hard touch.

Like metal.

You jerk away immediately, wildly swinging your bag around to hit your attacker directly in the neck, knocking his head loose and sending his faceplate spinning wildly. The sound of your feet pounding against the ground fills your ears as you follow your escape route as fast as you can. He'll take a bit of time - though not much - to connect to the wire, so the second-floor exit should work best.

You’re halfway up the staircase when you come to an abrupt stop, glancing up frantically at the bright lights illuminating your path. You whip your head around to see Sun sprawled out on the ground, his rays still spinning from the impact, his eyes already dim.

Your breath hitches. You practically leap down the stairs to rush to his side, kneeling at his side to inspect his faceplate. You can hear your heart pounding heavily as you carefully turn his head from side to side. As expected: the collision had ripped multiple wires and loosened the screws at the base of his neck. It was an easy fix, but it would leave the attendant immobilized for a while.

You stand up, stumbling over to the computers. You quickly log back in to file a report to Parts & Services, describing the wreckage in a brief summary before immediately logging back out. Stepping carefully over Sun’s body, you approach the double doors, where you left your bag. You pick it up, turning to glance back at your fallen friend. Your hands are still shaking - your breath hasn’t entirely calmed down yet.

You hurry out of the daycare, still listening to the pounding of your heart and the anxious taps of your feet on the floor.

Hopefully you'll catch yourself from hurting them next time.

[colonelmajorkepler]

valentine by laufey is soo chapgone coded

[queerstarpeople]

Wowza, self promo time!!

I finally finished this DaForge fic! After way too much time procrastinating, I present you this:

Rating: Teens and up

Category: M/M

Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation

Relationship: Data/Geordi LaForge

Tags: Holodecks & Holosuites (Star Trek), POV Geordi LaForge, Angst with a Happy Ending, Pining, Canon Sherlock Holmes roleplay, Many references to Sherlock Holmes, author ships JohnLock, Misunderstandings, Data Has Android Emotions (Star Trek), Data glows in Geordi's eyes, sappy at times (okay most times), Closets, Getting Together, Friends to Lovers, Mild Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Data and Geordi are best friends, however, Data has started acting weirdly. Geordi isn't sure how to react, especially because it is all somehow related to Sherlock Holmes.

Thank you so so much if you're gonna give this fic a try, I really did have a lot of fun writing this<3333

[wonderlightdaydreams]

Alterreality as Praxis

There is magic all around us. There is magic in the stars and trees, in the music I'm listening to right now, on the device you are reading this on, and most essentially, within you. If you prioritize neoliberal rationalism, there is a chance that you are saying to yourself, “but Xylia, this world isn't magical, it is purely scientific. All of these things that you speak on were either created through mundane means, or via an unfeeling, uncaring universe.” While that line of thinking is very helpful for numerous reasons, it's no fun, isn't it? I have spent many hours thinking and writing about alterreality; a worldview that consists of believing in magic and imagination by choice. In this essay, I will briefly explain the value of seeing the world through magic, whimsy, and play, as well as why doing so is an inherently radical act. 

In a western, neoliberal society (the society that I am currently living in), every day from the moment you are born to the moment you die (for the most part) blends into each other. Elementary school goes into middle school, middle school goes into high school, high school goes into postsecondary, postsecondary goes into your career, you get the jist. While some are lucky enough to be able to create magic for a living (via art, programming, cooking, baking, etc ad infinitum),  this magic is constantly being sacrificed on the altar of profit. What can start out as a powerful spell often wilts and decays into nothing more than a husk. To be honest, artists are the last people I blame for this. After all, their time and energy-the most precious resources one can have, are being spent in the name of keeping their meat sacks afloat, when it could be used for so much more. But..what if it can be used for more? What if we could embark on the revolutionary act of crafting breathtaking art using nothing but the power of our imagination, transforming the everyday actions we take to sustain our physical selves into a living, dynamic canvas?

Before I tell you how alterreality is revolutionary, let's establish a little more ground work. Being that I have already defined what alterreality is here, I will give a few examples of what it can look like. It can be imagining a trip to an otherwise mundane grocery store  as an epic adventure through a  fantasy dungeon, where you allow yourself to feel like the hero, instead of a cog in the machine. It can be seeing the world as the cyberpunk dystopia it is, acting as a powerful reflection of truth. It can be seeing the world as the beautiful place it could be, creating a better world through imagining yourself already living within it. It can be as infinite as time and space, or as small as being a bunny baking bread. This is alterreality. This is revolutionary. 

More than anything, alterreality is inherently radical because it is the ultimate form of self expression. Yes, you can wear clothing that goes above and beyond “the norm” (and you would be practicing a powerful form of magic by doing so!) as a form of protest, and yes you can support and uplift your local community whenever possible, but what if you wanted to go above and beyond that? What if you wanted to turn  yourself, your very beliefs, as a weapon against the powers that be? What if you wanted to use play and fantasy, not caged within the borders of a game, but as a way to roam free beyond the walls that have been set out for you? Most importantly, what if you wanted to do all of this, but keep your sanity in a world that seems hellbent on reminding you how everything is either Perfectly Fine As Status Quo, or going up in flames? This is what alterreality allows you to do. So hero, take up your sword, cybernetic arm, teacup, or anything else you can think of, and begin your quest against the true enemy, The Evil Mundane. 

[literally-who-let-me]

on my knees begging for more chapyard fics please please please please please pleasepleasepleasepleaseple

[inumage]

Thinks about gortash and Durges relationship hinging on how much Durge can convince themselves that they aren't /fond/ of Gortash, they have no feelings, no attachment, no love for him at all. That they'll betray him in a heartbeat if Bhaal were to ask.

And how hard they have to continue to convince themselves of the fact as they grow closer, to have to deny themselves of their own feelings- until that crucial breaking point, when they realize that they do love him...

Bhaal has yet another hold over them.

[jetlaggingbehind]

i think wooden overcoats would make a very good edgar wright production actually

[morbid9142]

OFFICIAL ANTI-CJ AND ANTI-EARTH DESIGNS

btw i use the 🌎 emoji for a!earths reference ;D i decided to make this post because i wanted to edit the original timeline post about them but last minute i decided not to.

i had previously posted their official designs but they were buried beneath a trigger warning and i dont like them anymore. + this gives me anti-earths overlay color and lets me color pick with accuracy to their real designs

[ardenofthegarden]

how do ao3 writers think of anything for fics.. i wanna write but i have no ideas