#yes this is my attempt at a promo post

[st4rfires]

hi! I'm lilith and i decided to come back here bc i missed editing! here's my carrd

────────────・┆✩ʚ♡ɞ✩ ┆・────────────

[neurotic-escapades]

have I spent several nights designing RayK/Fraser book covers to vent my obsession with them YES

are they full of imperfections YEESS

do I need to post them to finally stop going over them OH YEAH and I just want to share them because they make me happy.

the color choices are based solely on the materials I have on hand since I am going to attempt to bind them all eventually to have them on my shelves (personal use only, no profit)

you might notice the distinct theme of purely @cesperanza fics because I am obsessed with their writing. I think I've read almost all their due south works by now. Go and read or reread their work and show some love. I am so late to this fandom but it is so alive and the content analysis is on another level.

(1) Eight Sessions using lineart by awesome schadenfreude523 on deviantart

(2) being a big fan of the fanart above this is my first ever attempt at lineart of my own (digital art is something I have never done before if we don't count MyPaint, and it is midblowingly overwhelming. I tried tracing a reference promo photograph. I think I am proud of how Diefenbaker came out but geez Ray is so hard to put into lines!)

(3) just Canva shenanigans but the fic link

(4) the design is heavily inspired by vaulteditions' vintage anatomy book designs. They are just so neat and satisfying. I found the picture of sled dogs on pinterest and can't find the original author so if you recognize it let me know.

(5) This one uses promo picture I subjected to heavy Canva abuse. I have actually finished binding it yesterday. Enduring Distance by speranza. It is my absolute fave, a fandom staple, if you haven't read it, it is sooooo goood. The binding was a pain, the galaxy brain when I finally figured out how to make it work with my joycricut, bookcloth and iron-on... unbelievable. Bookbinding is still something I am trying to get a hang of and it is testing my patience big time (I barely have any to begin with btw). The spine is misalinged, the page margins uneven but otherwise I am pretty happy about it.

So that's it. My first ever due south fandom post (sending love to everyone that keeps the fandom alive, I love each and every one of you even though from a distance thus far) and first fanbinding post *big breath aaaaand post*

[teeny-tiny-revenge]

It's home cinema manufacturing time! 🏴‍☠️ Gonna put my pirate show on my shelf! (I'm doing an Arts and Crafts Project and I'm making it everyone's problem.)

After seeing how much they cost, I abandoned the idea of getting a Blu-ray writer for now. For the time being, good old DVDs is what it's going to be! My TV is old and not very big, so DVD resolution is gonna be fine.

It's been ages since I last burned a DVD. For the full experience, I'm gonna create nice menus and pretty sleeves for the boxes. Graphic design is my passion! Um.

Well. First needed to find a program to do stuff with. I'm a Linux guy, so I'm using Devede. (Which is free, btw. In case someone else wants to do a low cost spot of putting pirate show on the shelf.)

DVDs fit a maximum of 120 minutes of video. So, four episodes, I thought. But after a quick attempt, the program refused to do more than three (maybe because of the menu also taking up space, and four episodes cutting pretty close to the 120 min mark?). Anyway, three episodes per disc it is. It's a pretty nice runtime for watching the entire disc, IMO. An hour and a half, and then you can return to reality to realise you should probably eat something, or go to bed because it's midnight.

OFMD with its current two seasons has a total of eighteen episodes, which is divisible by three. You get the following setup:

Disc 1: Pilot, A Damned Man, The Gentleman Pirate - That's pretty good, Stede's introduction to piracy all on one disc!

Disc 2: Discomfort in a Married State, The Best Revenge is Dressing Well, The Art of Fuckery - All bangers. Great to watch together, our boys meet and shenanigans happen!

Disc 3: This is Happening, We Gull Way Back, Act of Grace - Many romantic moments, lots of great scenes, shit hits the fan at the end there. Alright!

Disc 4: Wherever you go, there you are, Impossible Birds, Red Flags - ... Pain and angst! What have I done!?! The disc of horrors. Gotta make sure to have tissues at hand when I watch this. But hey, it also has messy bun Ed! Small mercies.

Disc 5: The Innkeeper, Fun and Games, The Curse of the Seafaring Life. - Another disc with all winners. I love all these episodes so much! (You can watch this disc to recover from the trauma of the previous one!) But seriously, this one slaps.

Disc 6: Calypso's Birthday, Man on Fire, Mermen - Great combination again. Season finale! Love and excitement!

... Honestly, except for the psychological damage of putting all the most painful episodes together, this is coming out pretty cool. Says a lot about how good the show is. I actually really love all the episodes (yes even the painful angsty episodes of massive depression). Thinking about this little project really reminded me how much I love this entire show.

So, we got a tracklist, now menus, then we can burn this stuff!

I did the menu backgrounds in GIMP. Realised I have a big folder full of screenshots I took myself, screenshots someone else took and posted on Tumblr, official promo pics for the show, and I have no idea anymore where most of them are from, because I named the files according to what's on them. Which is useful for when you want to find pics (Need a picture of cursed suit Stede? I have files named that, easy peasy!), but not so great if you wanted to give credit to whoever took a given pic you used. (It's probably @sherlockig or @ofmd-ann or @blakbonnet. Please feel credited, your beautiful screens and gifs brighten my day, and some of them are now probably part of my DVD menus. Shrunk down and cropped, but, yeah.)

I originally wanted to structure my menus as having the title of an episode, then some pics from it, then the next episode, then pics from that, and so forth, but I couldn't convince the program to give me the necessary padding between the menu items, so I ended up just putting the episode images below the menu. Still like it.

Anyway, DVD menus can also play sound! Behold a crappy video of my beautiful creation (provided entirely for sound):

It plays Gnossienne N°5!

More crappy pics of my other disc menus:

Gonna make them some nice sleeves next. Some day. Gotta make sure they all work properly first. So. I'll be on my sofa, watching my DVDs. With menus! (Edit: here are!)

[james-spooky]

Eddie Diaz and the Phenomenon of Queer Representation

A post to organise my thoughts ahead of the rest of the season and to really get this off my chest! (Spoilers for 9-1-1) (It’s long and I will inevitably have more thoughts about things I failed to mention)

Within queer representation in media, there’s a certain expectation that audiences have been conditioned to accept, including the omission of any representation at all. This has led to many non-canon ships being popularised in fandoms in an attempt to obtain agency surrounding queer media. One of these such head canons is Eddie Diaz from 9-1-1 who is largely speculated to be gay. This is sort of an essay and sort of me rambling on.

Picking up in Season 8, Episode 1, Eddie’s been trying for three months so keep his shit together and try to stay in contact with his son in the wake of the whole emotionally-cheating-with-the-doppelgänger-of-your-deceased-wife situation. I think the birthday zoom was really the beginning of his breakdown. To keep all of this inside him it way too much for someone to handle. He is going to break at some point with the stress. Not only that but as others have pointed out, Helena and Ramon are not actively participating in the reconnection of their son and their grandchild. This ties into their long-term goal which has been present across multiple seasons to be Christopher’s sole caregivers, without any acknowledgment of Eddie. To me it looks like he’s been trying to put on a brave face for his kid and sort of suppress everything (as he always does) to try and be a better father. But you can’t be that person if you’re not taking care of yourself; not necessarily “putting yourself first”, not in a selfish way but genuinely having self-love and a certain assuredness, something which Eddie doesn’t appear to have pinned down. I can definitely see him being introspective this season and forced to deal with quite literally everything that’s ever happened to him and to actually process that and who he really is. Ergo, realising his sexuality.

Tim said that the episode six thing was one of his favourite moments in the show, is actively excited for us to see it, is the episode where the “reason for the moustache” is “explicitly stated”; genuinely what else could this be other than gay Eddie. I cannot think of a reason personally. Other than “religion” which I don’t is a path they’d go down; I cannot come up with another reason for why they’re being so vague about it.

This is exactly the same thought process I went through pre-s7. I wrote down all my thoughts and analysis on those articles and Buck’s arc, coming to the conclusion that there could be no other outcome other than Buck being bisexual. Before s7 there were lots of articles about Buck and they all had that same sort of strange wording surrounding his storylines that season. E.G: “a season of self-discovery for Buck”, describing him getting off that “hamster wheel” of failed relationships. Whether or not you believe that he has achieved that is beside the point; the point is that, the vague quality to them which alluded his storyline going in a particular direction is happening yet again. Ryan has the exact same thing happening now, if not more with the majority of the season’s promo being his moustache. This is pattern recognition if I’ve ever seen it. Truly, due to the sheer amount of promo and interviews there have been, in my mind I don’t see another reason for why this would be, other than Eddie having a large and pivotal storyline this season.

It’s not just “about buddie”. When people pin down a character’s sexuality to purely the ship they’re in, it annoys me because it’s genuinely about the storyline and Eddies character arc. Yes, these headcanons have stemmed from the ship and obviously if they were to go down this route, the ship would most likely be a by-product of this discovery, but it’s not the priority. It may be an end goal, but what about the journey? It’s more than ship wars or trying to one up each other. For me personally, it would be so beneficial to his character to go in this direction. Not even just for his character but for the show and representation in general. What other show on a major network would have a character who’s been on the show for multiple seasons, had relationships with women, a wife, a child, religious traumas, PTSD, grief, catholic guilt and then having a gay awakening in their eighth season? None. How many have had strong platonic male relationships? A lot. Honestly, I don’t interact with those people who whittle down Eddie having a queer realisation or the possibility of Buddie being canon as “erasing platonic male friendships”. I simply don’t buy into that and my reaction towards those people who use that argument is just “Point me towards a show where (the written above happens)” and you can’t. Because it hasn’t happened. Not only that but queer ships in mainstream shows are notorious for “queer-baiting” and not “going canon”. I could name numerous shows where this has happened all to the dismay of a large percentage of the audience. In my experience in fandoms with popular queer ships, (majority mainstream shows with non-explicitly queer characters) I cannot think of a single time where they have been confirmed in canon. To me, this would be a huge step in the right direction for queer media as a whole. Of course, we cannot deny the massive impact that Buck being canonically bisexual last season has had and I commend ABC, the writers and Tim for bringing that to our screens. It was so heartfelt and truly amazing to watch. However, in terms of fandom and popular ships, it’s a little different. I’m in no way disregarding bi Buck, but rather exploring the impact that having a popular queer ship becoming canon would have on other media and the audience in general.

As queer audiences, we are so often let down with the directions that tv shows and film take in regard to their queer-coded characters. It’s become normalised to expect disappointment over seeing a popular pairing actually become “canon” within the text itself.

I’m aware that queer-baiting is definitely different than simply having queer-coded characters, however the two often come hand in hand. There is a misconception, in my opinion that “going woke is going broke”. I think that yes, having queer elements or characters in media definitely effect the reception and reaction, especially online from the general audience. This has happened time and time again and because the negative reaction is so loud, it drowns out any of the positive ones, forcing media companies to pull back in fear of losing money or audience. They want to be seen as “impartial” as a large percentage of audiences are bigoted but by removing any conversation surrounding queer representation in media, it immediately becomes biased and panders towards the people who shout the loudest. Queer people know all too well that on social media, it can be hard to avoid the rampant bigoted views that are shared so violently towards marginalised communities. Companies are so fearful of the backlash towards queer characters, that they won’t even have them at all, regardless of whether it would be classified as “good” or “positive” representation.

In my experience with fandoms with popular queer ships, when the show is still airing there’s this sense of hope that we cling to that it might “turn out different this time” and the character or characters might actually end up canonically queer or together. And every time, it ends the same. And even if they are confirmed queer, the “bury your gays” trope swoops in before it can truly be explored. As a collective, we tend to self-deprecate in order to deal with it but it’s actually quite a damaging thing. It reinforces the idea that queer characters and storylines are not of merit or valued in mainstream media. This turns into a vicious cycle of queer-coded characters staying queer-coded and never becoming canon as that’s how far the media company producing the show is willing to go. They are not willing to take it a step further and explicitly show queer characters having agency and a place in media as this will result in backlash. Additionally, even when we are given queer characters, a lot of the time there is a lack of depth or exploration of their queerness, almost as if it doesn’t exist. For example, Loki’s genderfluidity and bisexuality is canon and confirmed but a large amount of people who were invested in this, were disappointed to see it not having any effect on his storylines at all due to Marvel as a distribution company whose audience, or rather, targeted audience is largely cisgender, straight men. Therefore, queer audiences typically already have an expectation going into a show with a queer ship; it will most likely never happen. I’ve seen first-hand people who actively don’t partake in these shows in order to avoid being disappointed and it hurts me to think that queer people have obtained this way of thinking in regard to media. That we know it’s not going to happen so we either avoid it or watch it with the miniscule hope that something will happen. And even if it does, the show will most likely get cancelled after the first season in the name of “watch hours”, (despite how dedicated or prevalent the fandom may be, dead boy detectives, IANOWT, first kill etc.) once again solidifying the belief that queer characters or stories are not worth the time, money or value that heterosexual ones are. This causes queer media to have a lack of funding and marketing, essentially dooming them to crash and burn. It’s like building a house made of paper and then blaming the weather on its destruction.

So no, I don’t believe that “going woke is going broke” as I have personally indulged in many shows and films due to the sheer prospect that there might be a queer character or couple. Too many times, I’ve binged several seasons of a show (in an alarmingly short amount of time I may add) purely because there is a popular ship/one of the characters might be queer – emphasis on might. It is due to the fear of these media companies that queer shows and film are immediately disadvantaged straight out the gate. However, I do see there has been a change. Obviously, there are many popular queer shows that have been given chances such as Heartstopper and Interview With The Vampire. To me, this clearly shows that queer storylines and characters, showing diversity and marginalised communities does bring audiences and value (as we ourselves know) and it’s purely the skewed bigotry which overtakes the reception and influences the production of media.

Additionally, when bi Buck went canon, the sheer disbelief of queer audiences that it happened at all, to me showed the standards that we’re used to. We’re so used to not having that, that when it does happen, we’re actively surprised by it. Obviously, 9-1-1 in particular has showcased many queer characters before and continues to do so, however this was different as Buck was a previously established character for six seasons and so to have a sexuality arc for someone later in life was definitely a huge moment for bisexual representation in television.

For Eddie, if Tim is doing this storyline, he is right in the approach he’s taken. I’ve talked before about how they weren’t sure whether it was going to be Buck or Eddie having this queer storyline in Season 7… To me that’s basically confirmation of queer Eddie, right? Well, not necessarily “confirmation” but the fact that he was even considered at all for this storyline solidifies his queer-coding to me and that we aren’t all “delusional” for recognising it. I’ve said before but it makes so much sense for Buck to essentially “go first” by having him realise he’s bi and come out in S7 because it was a very different way of doing it, as you would have with Eddie. Buck is very sure of himself as a person and for him it’s something that was always there, but he never realised it and he’s quick to accept it! There’s no tortured Buck struggling with his sexuality (unless of course you count the basketball scene) it’s relatively smooth in the sense that he’s not having a breakdown over it; it’s just his relationship that’s rocky and provides those hurdles. This was refreshing to see as it can often be an expectation that the queer character in the show is negatively affected by their queerness. However, with Eddie, it wouldn’t make sense for him to have that arc in season 7 itself. Partly because it had 10 episodes which would not do it enough justice, and because Eddie already had a lot to unpack. For instance, his whole season 7 storyline was surrounding his deceased wife which was just the start of his journey. Even many seasons later, he is still grappling with the effects of his grief on him and Christopher. Everything is much deeply rooted in him, as is everything in his backstory.

His whole begins episode and all of the backstory we see of him, is him trying to be someone he’s not/who he thinks he should be. He was trying to be a big brother turned parent for his sisters when his parents wouldn’t. He’s trying to be a good father at nineteen, he’s trying to conform to the hegemonic standard of masculinity by marrying Shannon (pressured by the church as she got pregnant young) he enlists because he’s trying to provide for his family even though he doesn’t realise that it’s actually hurting them instead, he’s trying to keep custody of Chris from his parents who only see Chris as a “do-over” for Eddie. Eddie trying his best and get a job to provide for his son. Him doing anything his can for Chris. Shannon coming back, dating her again for Chris - despite the fact that Shannon wanted a divorce (and then died). Eddie dating Chris’ teacher who he loves but Eddie doesn’t. Again, for Chris. He’s always doing things for other people. His parents, Chris, his partners, but never for himself. We’ve seen him spiral before into his fighting arc; that was something he did for himself in a sense, but it was only because he didn’t know how to properly regulate all the pain and grief he was feeling! He’s a single father trying so hard to be the very best he can for everyone around him, to live up to “what it means to be a man” pushing down any emotionally vulnerability until he inevitably snaps. The church, his catholic guilt! This affects him in numerous ways - religious wiring quite literally effects the ways you think about everything and internalise the things that happen to you. Kim was something he did for himself, but it still tied to everything else and his grief. Because of all this, no wonder you wouldn’t be able to fit his gay awakening into a 10-episode season… Eddie requires more time and thought behind what he’s going to have to face and process by himself. For the first time, he is truly alone with his thoughts and is faced with who he is. Outside of his parents, outside of Chris, Shannon, the army, the church, the 118, he is discovering who he truly is, not what anyone else or any institution expects him to be. And this is why, it’s gonna take a lot out of him and is a much different storyline to the one that Buck went through.

Everyone’s sexuality realisation/coming out is different and I really can’t imagine Eddie going through the arc that Buck went through so I think it was a good decision to go with Buck for Season 7. Eddie has so much more to deconstruct and process in order to accept or even just realise his attraction to men, however that plays into his relationship with Buck. And even more so, his lack of attraction to women.

Honourable mention of “I’m broken. I’m broken and I can’t fix it,” being said in his conversation with Kim which is a heavily queer coded statement, as this is a concept that is frequent in the queer community of thinking you’re broken due to your identity. I’d genuinely be surprised if this is not the direction they’re going as there’s so many moments like this with Eddie across the seasons (cough dating feeling like a performance cough) especially this one, which just stand out and heavily resonate with queer audiences. I’d say if they don’t, it’s a huge missed opportunity and character assassination to be honest. I care so deeply about Eddie and he’s such a complex character, it annoyingly makes me mad when people undermine him or pin him down to one thing as if multiple things can’t be true at the same time. I know he’s a fictional character and in reality, it’s not that deep but when people undermine his queer-coding or deny it, it feels like denying a whole group of people’s experiences akin to his.

So, the “emotional reason” behind the moustache in my mind, would definitely link to the idea that Eddie has clung possibly extra hard to his perceived idea of what masculinity is to him/what it’s expected to be. Yes, the style of moustache is engrained in queer culture, but I think that it’s more so an accessory which he’s using to overcompensate for his queerness, (consciously or not). I’m relating this to one of my favourite queer films, Maurice, as in that movie facial hair, specifically moustaches play a significant role in displaying the characters attitudes towards their queerness without explicitly saying them. Maurice and Clive both go through phases of having a moustache, with Maurice first when he is in a period of reluctance towards his sexuality. He’s the more accepting of the two, so it doesn’t last long. However, as Maurice moves out of this phase and begs Clive to stay with him and be together, Clive transitions into that position and denies Maurice’s claims that they could be happy somewhere together. He clings to the traditional ideals of marriage and heterosexuality, as is the norm in 1910’s England, trying to bring an end to the whole affair. Later, when Clive announces he’s engaged to be wed to a woman, he has a moustache and continues to have this moustache for the rest of the film, showing how he’s never going to accept himself for who he is, and is using this to conceal his emotions. The moustache here, represents hiding your true self and repressing your desires, acting as a “mask”. This to me, is very reminiscent of how Eddie appears with his moustache, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up with the same metaphorical reasoning.

In the first episode (the only episode that’s currently out), we saw that Gerrard approves of his moustache, himself being the typical masculine archetype that Eddie may believe himself to be or believes that he should be. Not that Eddie wants to be like Gerrard; of course not, he’s a bigot. It’s that portrayal of masculinity which ties into how he was brought up, and the ideals of the catholic church surrounding gender roles and sexuality. I thought this direct comparison was interesting between them as Eddie is definitely doing this for approval if not from others, but from himself that “this is who he is” when in reality it’s not. In my interpretation, the fact that they’ve specifically mentioned episode six as when he shaves off the moustache and has this physical manifestation of his inner demons, screams to me a queer arc for Eddie. I think there is so much potential for his character and storyline, not just for the ship he’s involved in but for himself and everyone who sees themselves in Eddie.

In conclusion, I really hope they go down this route and if they don’t, once again, it will be a huge, missed opportunity and I wouldn’t be certain where they’d go with his character if not there. This was just a chance for me to get my thoughts out, ahead of the upcoming episodes and I really hope we get to see a positive outcome for his character, whatever route they take.

[selfshipbox]

a new blog to store references and so much more for selfshippers!

hi! this is selfshipbox, my attempt at bringing a collection of things to all selfshippers who need it. here i want to keep a list of imagines blogs and promo them, alongside sharing ask memes and post discussions, commissions for those who offer them, and other fun things like polls and ship templates!

i'm posting this yes to promo myself, but also to start gathering! selfshippers, please send me what you have! from your favorites or even your own imagines blogs, your ask memes you like, whatever may be! i'm excited to start collecting things for all so everyone can find what they need in selfshipping :3

❌ THIS BLOG IS NOT FOR PROSHIPPERS. PROSHIP/COMSHIP/"NEUTRAL" SHIPPERS DO NOT INTERACT I WILL BLOCK YOU. ❌

[funarisjournal]

It has arrived!! PART 2!!

Oh would you look at that...it's absolutely gorgeous. And it's mine~...er, ahem! So! Yes, you are looking at the cover to the Season 2 DVD set of "She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat." I actually got it a day early, alongside other pre-orderers...which is amazing because I'm in the Northeast US and most everyone else who has pre-ordered this is probably only in Japan. That's some amazing shipping power, hot dang!

Anyway, below you will find more photos and me gushing about this firsthand~ [for my S1 post, check here]

The power of fandom knows no bounds, sometimes....The only reason this DVD came to be was thanks to the vocal Japanese fanbase begging all the NHK channels to release it on home media after the show ended back in February. They filled out surveys, they would answer the little engagement posts on Twitter and the like. And bam. Suddenly, in August, this just kinda gets announced out of nowhere! That was when I looked into proxy shipping with CDJapan (I definitely recommend them if they can ship to your country!). I have had this pre-ordered since SEPTEMBER. It has been a long, eager wait.

This one has 3 discs (I love the 2nd disc's photo lmao). After all, S2 was 20 episodes long. Needs more room! But this also has a few more extras than last time, video-wise. The booklet is simpler in comparison, but I did appreciate an actual relationship chart with the whole season's cast featured on it (and I mean whole cast. It even has Fujita's coworkers and the folks that Nomoto and Sayama were working with). That one I will attempt to translate for you all, just like I did with that Yuri Yamada foreword in the S1 set.

The other noteworthy thing from the booklet is just the art that's featured in it. I mean the actual photos and art pieces, not just screencaps. The cover alone? A pretty mash-up on that two-photo set from the promo poster shoot. The first page features some art from Yuzaki-sensei. It's some regular illustrations as well as the announcement illustration made that a S2 was happening. Gotta love the pancake motif~

And then I was floored by the end of the booklet. The same photo is used on the back of the DVD, yes, but let me tell you, it looks REALLY AMAZING as a standalone. I mean, look that that. It's so warm, almost ethereal, the two women looking forward into a brighter future, together!

I should totally also scan that when I scan the relationship chart as well. You all deserve this.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish a Good Couples Day illustration and then proceed to enjoy the three different extras featured in this set (a 5-min PR vid, the one 10-min special with Higa, Nishino, and Fujiyoshi, and I guess some social media ads? Something like that, anyway~)

[skystarsmutexchange]

Yes, We're Doing It Again!

It's time for another round of steamy stories, art, and podfic celebrating the passion between our beloved Seeker and Shuttle. This year, we're switching things up by using a Discord server for the exchange. When assignments are given out, participants will also receive an invitation to join the server.

This year's schedule:

Sign-ups: February 3-10 (close at 11:59 PM PST)

Assignments go out: February 12

Check-Ins: This year we will be checking in with each participant individually to make sure assignments are on track.

First Check-In: March 1st. At this point, participants are expected to have chosen their prompt(s) and have a plan for how they're going to fill them. This could mean a sketch, an outline for a story, or (if you're a pantser) a general sense of where your piece is going. If you're a podficcer, you need to have chosen the story you plan to record.

Second Check-In: March 15. At this point, assignments are expected to be well underway (30% to 60% finished). This will be the final drop-out deadline, and assignments that have not yet been started will be reassigned to a pinch-hitter. We're being strict about this, because we want everyone to receive a gift.

Gift completion deadline: March 31. We will touch base with you once more to confirm that your assignment is complete and ready to be posted. The moderators can give feedback on request, but our primary focus is ensuring that each submission meets the prompt requirements and is fully finished.

Posting: April 8-12. You can post SFW promos of art to Tumblr, and according to Tumblr’s guidelines you can post NSFW text, so fic should be fine. You can post your completed art on Twitter without having to censor it, and you can post uncensored fic and art on AO3. The AO3 collection is HERE. It will open for posting when gifts are due. If you tag the Tumblr/Twitter account, we’ll reblog/retweet your posted gift.

All gifts MUST be posted by April 12.

Rules for sign-up/prompts:

All participants must be over 18. Yes, mods will check your social media and make sure.

Fill out the questionnaire below. We’ll need your Discord handle so we can contact you with details of your assignment and invite you to join the server.

Please provide a minimum of 3 prompts, but preferably more. Be specific about what you want and don't be afraid to provide detailed prompts. The more information you provide with your prompts, the easier it will be for your gifter to fill them!

Rules for filling prompts:

Gifts can be art, fic, or podfic! Art must be lined and colored; fic must be at least 1000 words. Podfic must be of a fic that is at least 1000 words, and recorded clearly.

You MUST fill at least one prompt, but you CAN fill multiple prompts for your giftee if you wish!

Be kind! We’re all here for horny reasons, but sometimes folks aren’t into the same stuff. Remember Kinktomato: Your Kink Is Not My Kink (And That’s Okay). The assignments are made randomly, but the mods will look them over to make sure no one is writing a kink they aren't comfortable with as per their entry survey. If you really don’t want to write any of your giftee’s prompts/kinks, please contact us immediately, and we’ll see if we can swap your assignment.

Be considerate! Please include tags and/or content warnings for common triggers (eg dubcon, gore, etc).

Be responsible! By signing up for this event, you are making a commitment to fulfill at least one of your recipient's requests by the due date. We understand that life can be unpredictable, but it is your duty to inform us promptly if you believe you may not be able to complete your assignment. We reserve the right to ban individuals from future exchanges if it appears they are not making a sincere attempt to finish their assignment on time.

Fill out the form below if you’re interested, and feel free to DM us if you have any questions! The exchange mods can be contacted through their Tumblr or Twitter accounts, or through the accounts specifically for the exchange. We look forward to hearing from you!

Your Friendly Moderators:

Dark Star of Chaos (they/them):

darkstarofchaos on discord

@darkstarofchaos on tumblr

@DarkStarArt1 on twitter

Grayseeker (she/they):

grayseeker on discord

@grayseeker​ on tumblr

@grayseekerfic on twitter

Official Exchange Accounts:

on tumblr 

on twitter

AO3 collection link 

Happy smutting! Please reblog to spread the news! :3 SIGN-UP FORM HERE

[nortism]

Nor's Ultimate BBC Ghosts Fic Recommendations

I decided to put my obsessive AO3 bookmarking to good use and recommend you all some of my favourite ghosts fics (not all, there will likely be a part two). I tried my best to include a variety of fics centring different characters and ships as well as lesser known fics. Please feel free to reblog this post and add your own recs (self promo very much allowed). I've tried to add tumblrs were applicable but if you wrote one of these fics or know who did, please let me know and I'll edit the post. Happy reading!

It by Scriblit

Rating: M

Ships: Mary/Robin, Julian/Robin

Summary:

You lose three mates, ten babies, both parents, all your siblings and then every friend for scores of millennia and still entertain the concept of being 'sweet' on a dead woman still consumed by her own pain. Doing It never had much meaning to Robin, even when he was alive. Now that he's dead, it's really just something to while away all the years. At some point, he's asked most of the ghosts if they want to do it. Some said no, some said yes. His only rule is, they have to genuinely want to do it, too. And, they mustn't be too sad. One of the ghosts was too sad, for so long, so he waited. And waited.

Notes: The first two chapters of this fic are an amusing exploration of caveman sex and the boredom that comes with eternal purgatory but the last chapter is where it gets really, really good. Genuinely one of the most poignant and devastating explorations of grief I've ever read, I cannot recommend it enough.

The Curse by Scriblit

Rating: T

Ships: Robin/OFC, Humphrey/Sophie

Summary:

Over the years, the centuries, the millennia, the residents of, and visitors to Button House and the land it's built on have experienced strange things, and heard strange tales. Multiple mysterious, macabre deaths. Unruly electrics. Blurry shapes in photos. St Elmo's Fire. Burning smells, a mysterious, singing voice in the cellar. Rumours of witchcraft, an ancient amulet and visions of Satan himself. Is the land truly cursed? Or is this just a place of 250,000 years worth of human sadness?

Notes: I only wanted to include one work from each author but I couldn't take this off my list. The only way I can describe this fic is clever. It's one of those things you just have to experience for yourself. Criminally underrated. Just read all of Scriblit's work, I'm their biggest fan.

Family, Family, Family by MadameReveuse

Rating: T

Ships: Primarily gen with side Julian/Robin

Summary:

Green Party Fundraiser Time! Rachel Fawcett comes to Button House, despite struggling with her feelings regarding a certain extremely unfortunate death there. Ghosts and the living alike are thrown into turmoil, especially when it begins to look like someone at the event may be attempting to harm the up-and-coming young politician. Can Julian stand idly by? Well, he's a ghost, so yeah, he has to.

Notes: This fic has it all; father/daughter bonding, a murder mystery and plenty of tory bashing. My entire perception of who Rachel Fawcett is comes from this fic, I was almost glad we never met her in canon as the author does such a fantastic job characterising her.

Ten friends total by notupforpolo (@notupforpolo)

Rating: G

Ships: Mary/Annie

Summary:

After the initial shock of dying wore off, Kitty was so excited to have Mary and Annie as friends. Kitty would notice how they spoke and gossiped just like Eleanor and her friends would do. They were potential friends until they just became friends. Then, when Annie was sucked off, Kitty was there to comfort Mary. Until Mary followed.

Notes: There is a severe lack of both Kitty-centric and Mary/Annie fic in this fandom and this fic covers both bases. Just a really excellent Kitty character study and a great exploration of grief

House Share by Sheepyblue (@ginevralinton)

Rating: G

Ships: Alison/Mike

Summary:

In which Mike makes a New Year's Resolution, with varying degrees of success (Or, a story of Mike spending time with the ghosts)

Notes: I've read a few variants of Mike spending time with the ghosts but I really like this one. My favourite chapter was definitely the Humphrey one, I won't spoil it but it's very funny. This author has far too many Ghosts fics for me to include in this post so I'd recommend you look through their other works

...And A Rainbow! by Spineless_Lobster (@spineless-lobster )

Rating: G

Ships: None

Summary:

Alison buys the Captain some pride merchandise, Kitty gets very excited that an entire room in the house is covered in rainbows. The two ghosts decide to have a sleepover to celebrate the (gay) occasion.

Notes: For all my Cap & Kitty lovers, this is pure fluff. Made me giggle.

Nothing Like a Round on 'The Krypton Factor' by neverfaraway

Rating: T

Ships: The Captain/Pat

Summary:

Wedding season approaches at Button House and, for once, everything is going off without a hitch. Of course, there’s the slight issue of Pat’s recent epiphany about his sexuality, Kitty’s determination to get her hands on as much badly-written erotica as possible, and the peasants becoming decidedly revolting. Still, if only the ghosts can refrain from murdering any of the builders, Alison is fairly sure they can pull this off. Or, Pat and the Captain negotiate coming out, even if it's only to each other.

Notes: Even if you, like myself, aren't a Patcap shipper, this fic is worth the read solely for the the subplot about the Plague Ghosts staging a leftist uprising. The perfect blend of comedy and heartfelt moments, this fic feels like it could have been an actual episode of Ghosts.

Don't Let The Good Life Pass You By by Impossibly_Izzy (@impossiblyizzy)

Rating: M

Ships: The Captain/Pat, Alison/Mike, minor Robin/Julian

Summary:

When the ghosts are mysteriously resurrected, life at Button House only gets more chaotic. Asking, how do you live in a world that wasn't built for you? How do you find meaning in a cold uncaring universe? And what does the Captain eat for breakfast?

Notes: Crack treated seriously is one of my fav AO3 genres and this fic is the cream of the crop. Despite being a Patcap fic, all the characters reactions to living in the modern world were explored in a detailed and hysterical way. I think about the scene where the whole gang goes to the pub constantly.

Queer Eye (The Captain Edition) by swimmingfox

Rating: Not Rated but I'd give it T

Ships: Past The Captain/Havers

Summary:

In a miraculous world where they have the ability to see ghosts, the Fab 5 descend upon Button House to transform the Captain (and, well, everyone).

Notes: Exactly what it says on the tin. Just pure hijinks, I can't fault it. Don't let the script format put you off, the author has done an excellent job of characterising everyone's voice

Fabrications by SwaggerStick

Rating: T

Ships: The Captain/Julian

Summary:

"It's true," said Julian. "You lot couldn't lie to save your lives." The Captain took personal offence at that statement. So, apparently, did Pat. "Oh give over," he said. "Like you can do better." ---------- The ghosts decide to figure out which one of them is the best liar. Competitively.

Notes: Another fic that really feels like it could be an actual episode. Very funny and also provides an explanation to the ghosts' pee turning to dust thing that has been bothering me since last Christmas so honestly you should just read it for that. Ship content is minor if Julicap isn't your thing (it's not really mine either)

Good Boy by Ailendolin (@ailendolin)

Rating: T

Ships: Mike/Alison

Summary:

"I’ve been thinking – Robin saved my life, didn’t he? Last week when I was out in the storm.” “Because of the stupid bear,” Alison couldn’t help but remind him. “Yeah, whatever,” Mike said with a roll of his eyes. “So when he redirected the lightning I saw him for a brief moment and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that.” Alison felt her eyes soften. “Oh Mike, why didn’t you say anything?” “No, it’s not like that,” Mike waved her worry away. “I know we’ve thanked him for what he did but with the gatehouse burning down and the whole insurance mess it feels like we haven’t really appreciated it enough, you know?” Mike and Alison plan a surprise for Robin.

Notes: Very sweet addition to the season 4 finale. Would have loved to see something like this in season 5 but this is almost as good.

fieri sentio et excrucior by oui_oui_mon_ami (@sunshine-soprano)

Rating: T

Ships: The Captain/OMC

Summary:

It all begins when the Captain meets the Roman centurion ghost next door.

Notes: An absolute fandom classic, I couldn't not include it. Not normally a huge fan of ocs but this one is vey well done. You can tell the author is very passionate about Latin and roman history which I always enjoy seeing (the passion not necessarily roman history).

The Moneypot by someplsloverobbierotten (@caps-clever-girl)

Rating: T

Ships: Julian/Robin

Summary:

Julian bet Robin a tenner over Heather getting sucked off. He of course tries squirrel his way out, but Robin’s not letting him off that easily. OR: Robin and Julian like their bets, but what's a ghost to spend imaginary money on?

Notes: Another fic that is basically canon to me. The author absolutely nailed Julian's voice. Overall just a fun read with some genuinely sweet moments.

Thanks, Skipper by NaughtyBees

Rating: G

Ships: None

Summary: Button House gets a visitor, someone specifically looking for Pat.

Notes: No 1 trans ally Pat Butcher, what more could you ask for? The definition of short and sweet

smoke gets in your eyes by sidelined

Rating: T

Ships: Alison/Mike, The Captain/Havers, minor Julian/Robin

Summary:

Alison and Mike move into Button House and, completely unintentionally, teach the ghosts valuable lessons about love. (In which Alison worries about a first date, Robin and Julian discuss marriage, Thomas accidentally humbles himself, Kitty discovers that romance can live everywhere, and the Captain ponders his loneliness

Notes: A really sweet set of vignettes about the ghosts and love. The Mike and Alison first date scene is canon to me, the author nailed Mike.

[twopoppies]

I get triggered when I see fans saying everytime we see harry it's staged. It doesn't treat him like a human who has his own life just out and about doing things. Of course some things we are meant to see I'm not naive but he's also a low key millionaire who tries to have a normal life. Your friend who lives in London has seen him right? So imagine if they happened to take his picture and posted it and fans were saying it was fake I really don't like that.

Yes, they’ve seen him. Multiple times. I have a couple of friends who live/work near Erskine who have seen and met him. Of course he goes out and about as part of his regular life. He’s not working my 24/7. But I do think it’s important to recognize that PR and marketing has gotten more sophisticated than it was in the old days when it was just Boopsy and the London stalker crew who used to get inside info and they’d always be the ones meeting the boys etc.

I do think you can often tell a genuinely random meeting with a fan, from something planned. There’s not always some nefarious purpose to the planned ones, but these “random” sightings often are about promo (for H/L , for something they’re connected to—like Pleasing, an event that might need a boost in ticket sales, etc.) and to get people talking about them/feed the fandom.

Some people do go overboard with thinking by everything is a clue or a sign or has deeper meaning. And I understand that it’s frustrating to see people constantly point out inconsistencies or dig into who’s posting things etc. It’s nice to believe that Harry or Louis are just going about their days and that the interactions we get a glimpse of aren’t manufactured. It makes us feel included and closer to them. There is a line between paying attention to patterns and making wild theories that have no basis in reality.

Personally, I think it’s important for fans to have some understanding of how the world of PR works so that they’re less likely to be manipulated, or are more likely to understand the source and purpose of the attempted manipulation. I actually find it less stressful to be able to recognize the patterns. It’s one of the reasons I rarely get worked up about “stunts” and PR relationships.

Anyway, all you can do is curate your online experience so it’s set up in the best way for your personal needs. But I do recommend having some knowledge about media manipulation and PR tactics. I don’t think simply believing everything you’re told is a particularly healthy approach to life. 💖

[maul-of-shame]

Catching Up & Charging Into 2025: Schedule time!✨

Well, friends, the end of the year decided to hit harder than a kick from Roach on a bad day. Between holidays, deadlines, and the ADHD doing what ADHD does best (i.e., everything but what I planned), I’m finally wrangling my chaos into a schedule. Yes, shocking, I know—a schedule. The wildest magic of all.

Here’s the plan:

Gilded is officially returning with weekly updates every Wednesday! That’s right, mark your calendars because the angsty Elrond/Galadriel not very slow "slow burn" and the Nimue/Gil-Galad will be marching into Rivendell like Geralt storming Kaer Morhen.

The other WIPs? They’ll be sprinkled throughout the week like lembas crumbs (but tastier, I promise). No specific dates or like "days" for them but you'll see them!

One-shot requests? I know I’ve been saying I’ll get to them, but listen, the end of 2024 hit like the Wild Hunt, and I’ve been dodging their chaos ever since. I will post them ASAP—thank you for being the Samwise to my Frodo and carrying me through this madness.❤️

On the resolution front, I’m keeping it ambitious but self-indulgent:

Write more and write better—because if I don’t have at least one ridiculous metaphor per fic, am I even me?

Get more detailed. I want vibes so strong you can taste the Rivendell wine.

Finally, finally—this is the year I work toward getting published because, honestly, why not shoot for the stars? Or at least the vast, chaotic, occasionally troll-infested nebula that is Amazon KDP. If Frodo can lug the One Ring all the way to Mordor, I can certainly wrestle my way through formatting, covers, and self-promo attempts that are somehow both cringe and iconic. I’m not just dipping my toes in—I’m cannonballing into the world of publishing like Geralt diving into a lake full of drowners. Will it be messy? Oh, absolutely. Will I probably cry over an ISBN at least once? Without question. But this year, I’m not waiting for the stars to align. Oh no, bestie, I’m grabbing a baseball bat, swinging for the fences, and making them align. If the constellations won’t cooperate, I’ll just rearrange them myself—Orion better scooch over because I’m aiming for a home run. Because if there’s one thing I understood in 2024, it’s that I’m tired of saying “maybe someday.” Someday is now. Whether it’s the self-indulgent dark fantasy epic no one asked for but I need to exist, or a collection of my most chaotic and heartfelt one-shots, I’m ready to stop talking about it and start doing it. And when the time comes, you better believe I’ll be aggressively yelling about it into the void like Éowyn calling the Witch-king the "B*tch King of Angmar". To the Amazon KDP battlefield I go, pen in hand, ready to plant my flag in the great realm of indie publishing! Wish me luck—and maybe a little patience. This hobbit has a long road ahead, but the snacks will be worth it.... Right?✍️

Dive headfirst into writing more self-indulgent stuff, from supernatural AUs to niche pairings, because we’re here for a good time and a creative time. Speaking of which, prepare yourselves for my return to writing Supernatural fics—it’s been since 2018, PEOPLE. Dean Winchester is calling, and I’m answering.

If 2024 taught us anything, it’s that self-indulgent content—be it fics, art, playlists, or even random headcanon rants—makes everything better. Why settle for "leaning into it" when I could be diving headfirst into the deep end? No hesitation, no looking back—just full steam ahead like a hobbit spotting second breakfast or Geralt running straight into a fight without preparing his potions (*cough cough* if you know you know LMAO).

Here’s to chasing exactly what sparks joy basically, being unapologetically self-indulgent, and creating the kind of stuff that makes me grin like I’ve just discovered a hidden stash of Rivendell wine. Whether it’s that one wildly specific AU, the niche pairing nobody asked for but everyone needed, or art dripping with vibes that are just for me, I’m beelining for it like my life depends on it.

Because life’s too short not to make the content you love—and if others love it too, well, that’s just the icing on the lembas.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your patience, your comments, and your enthusiasm. You’ve been absolute legends this year, and I promise 2025 will be filled with even more fics, chaos, and banter (because let’s face it, I can’t stop being salty and dramatic—it’s my calling).

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to wrestle my schedule into submission like Geralt facing a noonwraith. Stay tuned, stay fabulous, and get ready for a new year of epic fanfic adventures.

[xoxo-ren-xoxo]

4, 7, 13, and 19 for the fanfic writing asks

4. Link your three favorite fics right now.

Oh man, you're making me CHOOSE??? This is fucked up and evil actually. Okay. Ugh, there are so many I love... buuut I can probably muster up three currently updating fics. If anyone wants my completed fic recommendations then ask away!

First of all, @angeart 's wonderful(ly evil) Help Me To Breathe, which I have been commenting essays on for a while now. I'm biased because we're friends but this fic does so many things right - it is long but for me it's definitely worth it. How she handles mental health struggles is really poetic whilst remaining grounded, which I appreciate a lot. If you're looking for... 242k words (so far) of scarian angst, this is the fic to check out. It's not finished yet but it is worth waiting for.

Next, @definitelynotshouting 's lost in the dark (he's got a heavy heart) is THE fic that started my obsession with watcher!Grian. It's the fic that inspired my own watcher/listener series (shameless self promo) and it is constantly taking up space in my brain. It is devastatingly sad, but it is about recovery, ultimately, and again I really love how it's being handled so far. Really worth the read.

Finally, @uhohbestie 's There Are Monsters Nearby .... when I say this fic has been living in my head rent free... I mean this fic has been LIVING. THRIVING. in my mind. This is truly classic zombie fiction, where the zombies are kind of second to the relationship drama. I love the explorations of disability in the apocalypse, something I myself have been advocating for in my original writing, and the depictions and emotional beats surrounding cheating, flawed perspectives and jealousy are heartbreaking and so realistic. Wonderful fic. I am in shambles. Please read it.

7. Do you prefer to read short fics or long fics?

My ideal fic seems to be anywhere between 5k and 200k, but then some of my favourites have also been oneshots. I tend to go for any multichapter with more than 1k words per chapter, and any oneshot that takes my interest (though a longer one (5k +) will catch my eye a bit more than a drabble). It's kind of hard for me to tell, because I read a lot of unfinished fics, but I do kind of prefer fics that take months to update but give a 5k + chapter every time... longer *tends* to mean slightly higher quality, but that is not always the case. Agh. I don't know. Every rule can be broken.

13. Do you outline your fics? How much of a headache would someone get if they just looked at an outline of yours without reading the fic?

Yes and no. Multichapters tend to get their own little document for organisation with each chapter broken down into scenes. However, for Comms AU, I quite insanely went into it with no plan or outline. Yes, I am just now getting an outline together. Yes, it is a fic with 5 different timelines happening at once. Yes, I am regretting the lack of plan.

19. Do you edit your fics after you write them, or do you prefer to just hit post and run (because it’s someone else’s problem now)?

I write, then pass at least once (usually twice, sometimes even three times) to edit. My edits usually attempt to flesh out things that feel rushed or don't make sense. My writing is tricky sometimes, I hate writing plainly and that then becomes a weakness when I spend 5 paragraphs describing the texture of the air without actually explaining what's happening. So I try to clean that up. Comms AU gets one edit, usually, because it is just "audio", though with all my fics I sometimes edit as I write - especially if I've taken a break and decide to re-read what I've written.

Thanks for sending these asks! I have discovered that I need to make a longer fic rec post omg...

The ask game!

[ananc1tes]

promo posts for my AO3 fics because why not 💕

Not Lost, Just Undiscovered

Rating: E

Words: 107K

Relationship: WangXian

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe Modern Setting, Arranged Marriage, Friends to Lovers, Fluff and Angst, Mildly Dubious Consent, Eventual Smut, Eventual Romance, Idiots in Love

Summary/Excerpt:

Wei Ying has a bit of a problem.

He hasn't seen Lan Zhan in 10 years, and now he's being asked to marry him.

Why?

Because apparently that's the only way to save not only Jiang Cheng's stupid ass but also the entire Jiang family business, which is unfortunately a very good reason for this very dumb idea.

"Marriage!" Wei Ying snapped at Jiang Cheng. "You want me to marry Lan Zhan. Are you serious?" "Yes," Jiang Cheng grinded out, "that is the offer on the table and that is what you will do." "I think we need to break out a dictionary and check what the word proposition actually means, because that sounded very much like an order." "I can make it sound any way you want, but this is happening." "Obviously," Lan Xichen folded his hands on top of the table, "the final decision will lie with-" "Oh, trust me," Jiang Cheng interrupted, "he's gonna do as he's told." Wei Ying had noticed the quick glance Lan Zhan had shot in Jiang Cheng's direction before he blinked exactly once and then his eyes were fixated on that illusive point in the middle of nowhere again. It almost made Wei Ying laugh. Lan Zhan had never warmed up to Jiang Cheng, no matter how many times Wei Ying had told him that beneath the brusque outer shell, there was actually a sweet, lovely human being hidden somewhere underneath. Deep, deep down underneath, and sometimes you needed a pickax and a headlamp to find it, but it was there. Stunts like this, however, where Jiang Cheng would loudly interrupt people or bark at them like a rabid pit bull, that had never helped to endear him to Lan Zhan. "Have you guys looked at a calendar lately?" Wei Ying asked with a light chuckle, attempting to soften the mood. "It's the 21st century. Arranged marriages aren't really a thing anymore." "They also aren't not a thing," Jiang Cheng countered. "This is a business arrangement." "Then you marry him. You're the CEO, not me." Wei Ying was pretty sure he saw Lan Zhan flinch, if only for a nanosecond. To him, the idea that he would be made to marry Jiang Cheng was probably even worse than... well, quite frankly, the idea that he would have to marry Wei Ying. They hadn't seen each other in forever, it had been years, decades, centuries even. Well, maybe not quite as long, but it had been a while since they'd gone to school together, and afterwards they had lost touch entirely. Mostly because of what had happened shortly before graduation.

[bestofsophieturner]

I don't have Twitter, I think it's a toxic cesspool, you can rarely find positivity there, and it's hard to find it while walking past tons of hate, so I haven't looked at Twitter for a long time. I've had enough with Instagram, although it's getting on my nerves more and more and I'm thinking of sending it like Twitter. I'm not surprised by the stupid and toxic fans of joe and I don't even want to know what exactly they write. They are just worthless and envious. They cannot accept the truth that joe is not perfect, that he is a disgusting cheater, that he is a psychological abuser. Look at the latest rumors that his new permanent girlfriend may be pregnant, and the divorce is not even finalized and the issue of custody is still being resolved, this is the kind of scandal, if it is true. And by the way, this is not the first rumor about his girlfriend after the divorce, who was maybe pregnant and the other is more younger. And his fans swallow even such trash and try to fight back and justify joe. That's why they attack Sophie, they try toslander her so that joe can be better in the public yeys. But I'm sure all their attempts are poor. And it's so funny that they think joe is more popular than Sophie. It's funny, she's famous all over the world, she's a popular actress, and he's just a mediocre musician with his brothers, his fans should kiss Sophie's feet and worship her like a goddes, if it wasn't for her there wouldn't be a jonas brothers reunion and if it wasn't for Sophie joe now although he might not be popular, he is popular only because he was the husband of Sophie Turner herself and always followed her by the tail to all her events, but she was at his events only a few times, much less often than he was at hers, and he always called her to some of his interviews, etc., so that she would appear at least for a moment and increase his views, etc. etc. That's why his fans are poor mind. Without Sophie, joe was forgotten with his not very popular group, they seem to have had only one hit, nick was more popular solo. That's why joe is who he is now only because of Sophie and it pisses me off how he treats her and treated her, I never loved him, but I put up with it for Sophie's sake and now I'm glad that she's free from him and that she's thriving now. It's just a pity that because of the children she won't be completely free and she will still have to deal with him, and I really hope for a higher percentage of custody for her. Wait when the divorce and custody will be completed. That's why he and his fans are nothing but worthless and stupid. Sophie is so beautiful and her new hairdo suits her very well. Waiting for a promo for Joan. Sorry for so many words, accumulated over a very long time. Have a good day!

Hi !

Twitter can be a very toxic place, indeed. I don't use it that much. I barely post. I only check the Sophie Turner hashtag to read the news. I mean the movies announcement for example first started on Twitter.

I don't really want to talk about the pregnancy rumors. It only started because of a picture she posted on Instagram. I find it extremely weird when people (fans) start commenting on people's body. Honestly, they should talk about the fact Stormi started dating a minor, then married him and had a child with him. That's such a weird thing.

Oh yes, he was very much a fan of Game of Thrones and while I understand being overjoyed your girlfriend is on the show, it was always weird. Like his birthday cake on which he was sitting on the Iron throne and Sophie was just there by his side. And he was very happy going to LV shows with her. (I remember his family suddendly wearing LV when they started dating). He was her plus one at the MET gala too. Nick kinda did the same with Priyanka. But he seems far more respectfull towards her. But I don't know much about them.

The Jonas brothers got back together because Nick wanted to. It's Sophie being closed to her brothers that inspired Joe to accept. I remember him saying it in an interview. And Sucker was so damn successful because Danielle, Priyanka and Sophie appeared in it. Even the brothers know it. Their fans obviously less so when they claim Joe made Sophie popular. They probably don't even care that the Jonas brothers have a hard time selling the tickets for their concerts. It just shows they're not as popular as they were when with Disney...

For Sophie, I like her new haircut too. It looks pretty. And it changes a lot from long hair. I believe we have to wait this summer for promo if Joan really gets released in September.

[wrongcaitlyn]

not fic related but i know you are an editor (i follo you on insta!!) but i wanted to ask you how did you start editing and most importantly how did you learn? i’ve always wanted to start editing bc i just have sooo many ideas but i can never figure out where to start and what programs to use. what would you recommend?

ahh omg yes!!! AN EDITING QUESTION god i havent talked about editing in so long even tho im trying to get back into itskldjf

(for those who don't know, i do have an editing insta and tt acc (though i'm not active on tt)!!! @/thae.rchxr on insta and thaerchxr on tt)

i started editing in 2020 during quarantine, and on capcut! i think that it's a pretty good starting spot, especially because it's free and it allows you to understand what you really want to make with your edits/what kinds of edits you want to make - velocities, lyric edits, transition ones, etc

i have to say i wouldn't recommend templates and i'm really not a fan of them. that's my only neg abt capcut now, even though i don't use it... yea i've seen too much of these template apps literally stealing the hard work of editors and it sucks

but anyway!! i currently use after effects, and have used it since early 2022, however it's a computer program, and - though you can pirate it and there are lots of videos online on how to do that - it also costs money if you don't wanna pirate (i got it as a christmas gift so i have the paid version but there's really no difference)

no matter what program you use, TUTORIALS!! youtube is your best friend. i have a youtube channel actually but i mainly post transition inspo instead of tutorials, however if you want some recs (for ae, i unfortunately don't know a lot of tutorial channels for other apps), i learned so much from klqvsluv, ae.chambb, and clewxdre on youtube! and, of course, lauren. she's kind of a mini celebrity in the editing communitysdklf - and there are so many more as well

if it's transition edits you're specifically trying to get into, def try and master the basics - zoom in's, out's, slide left/right, shakes and turbs if that's the kind of edit you wanna make. but honestly, the entire thing is just practice practice practice!! even though i only started editing on ae 2 years ago, i used to make edits, like, every day. i was obsessed. i would wake up and spend hours on edits, trying new transitions and new plugins and effects, and i think it really paid off :)

another thing you can do is attempt to remake edits! most editors will be completely alright with it (as long as you don't steal, ofc) and many even put out project files (i do have a few on my payhip- linked in my insta lmfaodjsf shameless self promo) that you can look at to see how they did certain transitions. remakes are good because it takes out the factor of having to figure out what transitions you want to make and lets you focus entirely on the technical aspect - which will then make it easier for you to pull off the transitions you think of yourself!

so, to conclude this ramble bc i can never shut up - i think i would definitely recommend ae if you have a computer/laptop. but i also think that other editing apps (the ones i see most often are videostar, alight motion, and capcut - all of which are mobile apps) can make absolutely incredible edits. i have friends who use each of these different editing apps and i know they can make some of the most mindblowing edits, even though i personally have no idea how to use vs or am lmaodsjf

so it's up to you! look at some tutorials, don't feel too intimidated, and go with the layout that makes the most sense to you. then just don't be afraid of making a "bad" edit bc let's be real the first edits are alwaysss shitty. i cringe when looking back at the edits all the way to last summer. but that's the beauty of it, because you can see your editing style and skill grow over time, and then you can eventually make edits that you'll be really proud of <3 i wish you the best of luck on your editing journey!! it's honestly so fun once you get into the swing of it :)

[more-than-a-princess]

17. When do you block someone?

More Munday Questions - Accepting!

As some of my mutuals can attest, I'm pretty bad about blocking people, even when I probably should. In general, I'm pretty particular about who I interact with in the first place. If I'm sure that a mun's posting frequency, writing style, and/or muses will not vibe with mine, I won't follow/follow back.

So, beyond that, here's a few reasons why I've soft/hardblocked people:

Forced an interaction on dash, particularly in the context of assuming I was playing my muse in a certain way without even asking. (In this particular case, it was assuming that I would just write Sonia as a Remnant of Despair, when I try to convey in my rules that this is usually my least favorite verse to write in).

Attempted to force a romantic relationship without plotting or buildup.

Showed general hate/bigotry/the things I don't want to see on my dash.

Non-RP blogs reblogging my threads/headcanons

RP blogs stealing headcanons

If they're clogging the dan.gan.ron.pa RP tag with one-liner askblog responses. I try to use the fandom RP to find promos for new blogs to follow and in the past year or so, it's been completely overrun with askblogs putting every interaction in the tags. As I'd prefer not to interact with any of these, I just hardblock them all when I see them.

But beyond that, the biggest thing I should block for is the following:

Excessive complaining about the RPC on dash.

There is nothing more unappealing to me than venting or passive-aggressively shaming someone's mutuals into writing with them. Whether it's consistently answering anon (or non-anon) OOC drama on the dash, PSAs, or just complaining that someone has no interactions/a specific type of interaction. Particularly if the mun complaining is barely writing threads, or has no active threads at all.

Listen: it's fine to feel frustrated. We all do! However, it is extremely discouraging, at least for me, to interact with a mun who is constantly expressing their frustration with their threads/drama/the RPC on dash and expecting their mutuals to interact with them after.

Vent to friends on DMs/Discord/elsewhere (I certainly do!), but on dash, you're going to have to be the change you want to see in the world.

Do you want more threads/interactions/ships/etc. but memes and starter calls aren't cutting it? Send asks to muns you want to write with. Send DMs and chat/plot with them directly. Be proactive. It won't always work out but that's part of being a roleplayer. You'll never stop putting yourself out there and yes, you'll get rejected quite a bit. But you will find your writing partners and friends who do want to write with you, who do understand you, and who really enjoy your muse(s) and what you'll create together.

I've been writing text-based roleplay for over twenty years at this point and in that time, I feel it's safe to say that people want to write with other people who are eager to do so. It can be tiring and disheartening when things don't go your way at times, but perseverance really is key in this hobby, and a positive attitude.

[real-life-senshi]

Our beloved live-action Tsukino Usagi/Sailor Moon - Sawai Miyuu posted a long post on her Instagram to share her thoughts on the 20th anniversary of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon!

Here's my attempt at translation. She's gotten really deep and poetic in her writing, so please know by no means my translation would be as eloquent as her writing is in Japanese.

ふりかえれば 20年という月日は あっという間でした

Looking back The period of 20 years Has passed in the blink of an eye

作品のちから 想いや絆 今だからこそ感じること

The power of this production The thoughts and our bonds It's because I'm here now that I can feel them so strongly

作品が繋げてくれたご縁 月の光が導いてくれるかのように 奇跡のような出逢いが重なり合う

The connections formed through a work of art As if guided by the light of the moon A series of encounters happened and overlapped like miracles

幾度となく心がくじけそうになったり 悔し涙を流した日もある

Many a time I had felt disheartened And there have been days when I cried tears of frustration

その大切な時間を共に過ごせた仲間 かけがえのない仲間 ずっと繋がっていられるのは

The friends that I spent those precious moments with My irreplaceable comrades We will always stay connected to each other

美少女戦士セーラームーンという作品のおかげです

This is all thanks to the series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

一度きりの人生だから 偶然もチャンスに変えられる生き方を これからもしていきたいです

Because you only live once To be able to turn coincidences into opportunities This is how I want to continue living my life

いつもメッセージをくださるみなさんへ

To everyone who always sends me messages

月野うさぎちゃんと私を重ねてくれて ありがとう

For associating me with Tsukino Usagi Thank you

彼女のようにみんなに支えられて愛されて 人を照らせるような人間になりたい

To be supported and loved by everyone as she does I want to become the type of person who brightens people's life

出逢わせてくれてありがとう

Thank you for being part of my life

大好きです

I love you

実写版美少女戦士セーラームーン20周年ということで 想いを伝えたかったのですが 伝えたいことがありすぎてまとまりませんでした。

As it is the 20th anniversary of the live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon I wanted to convey all of my feelings But there were so many things I wanted to say that I couldn't put them all together.

ただ、ただ

But this I must say

戦士のみんなをはじめ セーラームーンの作品に関わった全てのみなさんと 今でも好きでいてくださるみなさんに 出逢わせてくれてありがとうという感謝と 愛のメッセージを

Starting with every one of the Senshi And everyone who was involved in the production of Sailor Moon As well as to everyone who still loves the series I am thankful we have crossed paths, with gratitude This is a message of love

#実写版 (live-action) #美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon) #pgsm #月野うさぎ (Tsukino Usagi) #セーラームーン (Sailor Moon_) #🌙 #笑顔あふれる毎日を (everyday full of smiles) #😊 #明日もきっと素敵な一日 (tomorrow will be another great day) #✨ #沢井美優作品撮り(sawai miyuu's photography) #さわいのひとりごと (sawai's monologue) #呟き (mutters) #ひとりごと (monologue) #伝えたい (things to tell) #笑顔のちから (the power of laughter) #あなたはひとりじゃない (you are not alone) #💐 #🌸 #🌷 #💠 #🌻

Additionally, because of how much Miyuu has written, she also posted an Instagram story and a Twitter (X) post linking to her Instagram post, with the following brief caption:

実写版美少女戦士セーラームーン 20周年の想いをこめて 月の光は愛のメッセージ🌙✨

Live-action Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Thoughts on the 20th Anniversary The moonlight is a message of love🌙✨

Miyuu has fully embraced and immersed herself in the imagery of the moon, pouring out all of her love for this series into words!

Additionally, Kitagawa Keiko (Rei/Mars) is currently on a book sales tour for her official photo book "37", commemorating her own 20th anniversary of her debut in the entertainment industry, as an actress through working on PGSM, and as a model in the Seventeen magazine. (Yes, she had a double debut!)

Miyuu retweeted Keiko's promo post and added this:

Congratulations on the 20th anniversary of your debut! I am grateful for the miracle that we were able to meet. Thank you for your continued support ☺️