#you're a well of creativity and I love you

[psychhound]

im preparing to defend my thesis on therapeutically applied ttrpgs tomorrow and im sitting here and pondering ttrpgs and how unique they are as a genre and how you might describe them as texts and objects to someone who's not too familiar

because like ttrpgs (the texts) are very creative and theyre very artistic and inspiring and beautiful and moving and they're also ... instructional manuals. lmao. yknow? theyre Technical Writing by and large unless youre looking at like a lyric game or something. the main purpose of a ttrpg text is to instruct you how to carry out a series of tasks and rituals in order to produce a desired outcome. theyre instructions on how to facilitate a specific experience

and theyre pretty unique in that as a genre (in the writing studies sense of the term - a specific type of creation with shared features, uses, and intentions)

like kind of the only way i can think to compare them to something else is if you had a play script, right

and in the play script you have a description of all the characters. and you had a description of the setting. you know how many acts there are, maybe those acts have titles. the play might give you suggestions on how to design the stage and what props to include. and then as you're flipping through it all the stage directions are there and you know which order things are supposed to happen in

but all the character dialogue is blank

you cant really look at that and say "wow ive been moved by this story" because like. well. the story isn't there yet. it's potentially easy to tell what the intent of the play is - what kind of story it's likely to tell. you can look at the set of characters and reason out what might happen if you put them all together. you might even know some of the actions that are meant to take place in this play because of the stage directions (does someone shoot a gun? do the characters cry? does everyone fall over dead or do they dance?)

but at that point, even though it's creative and maybe even beautiful, this is really mostly an instructional manual. the story hasn't been told yet. there's a lot of room to imagine and generate and create - within the confines of the instructions they've given you. surely this is art, right? but what kind of art is it?

ttrpg texts largely aren't telling a story, they are instructional manuals on how to generate a specific story in the confines of that specific game. beautiful, lovely, creative instructional manuals that are really hard to explain to anyone who hasn't been involved in the experience of generating from one before

but ... yea :) thats the best metaphor i could come up with. thesis defense tomorrow !!

[oopsiedaisydeer]

how to lose a guy in 10 days

slow burn, mutual pining, dual pov, fake dating, angst, comedy, miscommunication, fluff, enemies to lovers (kinda)

word count - 700ish

day one

Boston bars on a Thursday night had a specific flavour… half-sour beer, half-sweat, half-despair.

The kind of place where office workers unwound and undergrads overcompensated. She fit somewhere in the middle, technically employed, emotionally unmoored, trying not to think about the fact that she was doing this on purpose.

Her drink came sweating in its glass. She took one long sip and scanned the room, reminding herself: first guy who smiles.

She didn’t have to wait long.

Two minutes later, in walked Matt Sturniolo, hat tucked in his back pocket, rings on his fingers like he was trying a little, but not too much. 

He had spotted her immediately. Alone at the bar, one heel slightly hanging off her toe, like she hadn’t decided whether she was staying or leaving. When she met his eyes and smiled, he thought, Shit. That’s her. 

He walked over anyway.

“Hey,” he said, leaning just close enough to be heard over the ambient buzz. “Can I buy you a drink?”

She raised her glass. “Bit late for that. This one’s already mine.”

Matt blinked, smile just a little crooked, like he didn’t trust it to land right. “Right. So… maybe your next one?”

She tilted her head. “You always open with math talk?”

He laughed, nervous but genuine. “Only when I’m nervous.”

That made her pause. She expected smooth, maybe cocky. Not this. “You’re nervous?”

“A little. You looked like someone who’d see through bullshit.”

He gave her a look as he did this, scanning her posture, the way her skirt hiked a little too high from how she sat, unintentionally flirty, hair slightly wavy, haloed by the bar’s neon light. 

She smiled again, slower this time. “Fair.”

They talked. Not for five minutes. Not for fifteen. For nearly two hours.

He asked her favourite movie. She said The Truman Show and then wouldn’t explain why.

She asked about his worst habit. He said, “Saying I’ll call and then forgetting my phone exists.”

She gave him a look. “That’s comforting.”

“You haven’t given me your number yet,” he said. “So technically, I’m still innocent.”

She snorted. “Charming.”

Someone’s laughter cracked in the background, but all he heard was the ice clinking in her drink as she laughed at him.

“Flattered. You’re terrifying, by the way.”

She tried to hide her smile behind her glass.

“Do you always go to bars alone and talk to strangers?” he asked her then.

“Only on nights when I’m feeling creative on my mission to try and ruin my life.”

He laughed, the sound coming all the way from his stomach. When he finally caught his breath, he told her, “then I guess I’m your lucky mistake.”

“You wish.”

He raised his eyebrow at her and she looked away, already reminding herself the point of all this flirting. But fuck, it didn’t hurt that he was hot. 

When the bartender called last call, she didn’t check the time. Neither did he.

She pulled on her jacket. Matt cleared his throat, watching her down her drink as he subtly pulled out his phone.

“Can I get your number?”

She raised an eyebrow, playful but cautious. “Already?”

“Well, I don’t know if I’ll be able to find you in this bar again next Thursday.”

She tilted her head. “You planning on being here again next Thursday?”

He grinned. “Only if you are.”

She looked at him for a long moment, like she was weighing something. Then handed him her phone.

“Text me something weird,” she said, a small smile on her face. “So I know it’s you.”

As they left the bar, Matt held the door open for her, and she slipped past him, brushing her hand gently over his forearm as thanks.

I'm gonna make you wish you were dead, she thought to herself as she looked into his eyes.

As Matt met her stare, there was only one thought on his mind: You're already falling in love.

Later that night, as he was brushing his teeth he remembered the girl from the bar. He pulled his phone out, letting the toothbrush dangle from his mouth as he found her contact.

Back in her apartment, she tossed her phone onto the bed, feeling the kind of buzz that had nothing to do with alcohol.

And across the city, Matt lay in bed staring at the ceiling, already wondering what the hell kind of trouble he’d invited into his life. Because this girl?

He ran his hand through his hair sighing, realising he had no idea what he’d just gotten himself into.

But for fifteen grand? He was all in.

One down. Nine to go.

dividers by @bernardsbendystraws ꨄ

a/n: i hope you guys like this <3

[juicebuck]

I could always count on 911 being the type of show that doesn’t drop its storylines. There has been stuff that’s been called back that I didn’t expect to be called back, but the difference is is that back then there are some sort of conclusion? Even if there wasn’t closure, it was sort of concluded in that arc of that makes sense? Hen cheating on Karen. Karen finally being able to tell Eva (Ava forgot her name) that shes always afraid of her disrupting their lives. Athena and finally being able to find the person that killed her fiancé. Like I know this show can properly pick strings back up but when they pick the strings they were at least solid. Do I have too much hope that they’ll revisit the “you think I’m in love with Eddie”? Yea sure but any string they grab will be so flimsy. They couldn’t add something at all to the finale if that’s where they’re taking it?

yeah. and well, i mean the issue is tim and the way he runs this show. and that needs to change. or he needs to take a step back and hand the reins over. because his vision (if we can even call it that) is directly at odds with what people want. and i'm not just talking about buddie. but just, in general. the GA has been just as unhappy with his "creative decisions" as the rest of us. bobby being #1 on that list. but also, eddie and christopher being gone and the lack of normal emergencies have come up in the facebook comments a lot. he's lost what the heart of the show is. and, it's not that that heart is gone completely, it's that he doesn't seem to care to find it again in any real way. we get glimpses of it that ultimately come to nothing. and a lot of the issue is that tim doesn't plan anything. he scraps and changes things last minute, it's literally an in-joke with cast and crew that they have no idea what's going on (script tbd cocktail 😭) because they don't. they get scripts mere days, or the day before shooting. which are insane conditions to work under. he killed bobby off on a whim, even though peter hadn't expressed any interest to leave. ryan wasn't even sure whether he'd be coming back. and all of this SHOWS on-screen. because he drops threads to pick up other ones, to only then drop those and do the same. and on and on and on. and it's frustrating because we know the show CAN be good, the heart IS still there. like, the shake-up the show needed was NOT killing off bobby nash. it was better planning, it was committing to the stories you're telling, it was actually CARING about the characters. and the thing is, there are actually some really good writers on this team that DO care, and it shows in some of the episodes. that's where the heart still is. tim either needs to start listening to people other than himself or take a step back. and well, i do actually have hope for season 9. especially after the mass backlash from all corners over the past few weeks. that things could change for the better. and i'm not going to spend the whole summer dooming. i still love these characters and i still believe that many people involved in the show do too, and that they can come back from this. but things DO need to change.

[submattsmxmmy]

ᯓ⋆˚✿ stepbro!chris nsfw alphabet

ᯓ⋆˚✿ A - Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

Chris wouldn't be caught dead being clingy or needy for your attention after sex. He becomes rather avoidant after, not wanting you to think that he's there for anything more than that.

However, when you really need it, he'll cuddle with you until the two of you fall asleep. Although he acts like it's the biggest inconvenience in the world, he does really like these moments - spooning you with his legs tangled in yours, your warm body pressing against his, and the rhythmic sound of your breath lulling him to sleep.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ B - Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Chris' favorite body part of his own is his arms, more specifically his biceps. He loves wearing tank tops and cut off shirts around you to show them off.

His favorite body part of yours is your neck. He loves marking it up with his teeth and wrapping his fingers around it.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ C - Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)

Chris loves cumming anywhere - your ass, your thighs, your tits, your stomach, in your mouth, but he especially loves cumming on and in your pussy - especially since you're on the pill, but his favorite place to cum is on your pretty face. He can't get enough of the way you look up at him, smiling after he finishes on your gorgeous features, his pearly white fluids glistening on your perfect skin.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ D - Dirty secret (pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Chris occasionally steals your lingerie to jack off into, and he's been doing it since before the two of you ever did anything sexual together. He always washes it and puts it back after he's finished busting all over it while he pictures it draped over your body. You've never caught him or noticed any of it missing, so he's decided to keep it to himself.

You secretly wish you'd come home and stumble upon Chris jerking off. You love the idea of watching him bust all over his hand while you're peeping on him.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ E - Eating you out (how do they like to do it?)

Chris loves going down on you. He loves the way you taste, the way you squirm under his tongue, and the way you moan his name when he closes his lips down around your clit and sucks on it with the perfect pressure. He sees eating pussy as an art form, and he's always dying to creatively express himself through it.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ F - Favorite position (this goes without saying)

Chris' favorite position is definitely doggystyle. He can't get enough of the way you arch your back when he pulls on your hair. He loves staring at your ass, watching it jiggle and slapping it hard, making you yelp and leaving behind red handprints on your plush skin. A close second favorite of his is when you're down on your knees with his cock tucked behind your plump lips.

For you, your favorite is missionary, or just any position that gives you the opportunity to gaze into his perfect blue eyes. There's something about the way Chris looks at you while he's choking you that makes you cum harder than any other position.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ G - Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)

Chris will definitely crack a few dark jokes here and there, but despite this, his demeanor during sex is rather serious, and if you try to joke around with him in a way that he doesn't find witty or clever, it would definitely ruin the mood for him.

"Oh, y'think you're funny? Shut the fuck up and take my cock, ya little slut."

ᯓ⋆˚✿ H - Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)

Chris keeps it all natural, occasionally trimming when his hair gets out of control, but for the most part, he just leaves it be.

He prefers when you do the same, and he'll sometimes ask you to put off wax appointments because he just has a little bit of a thing for body hair.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ I - Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)

Chris wouldn't use the word romantic to describe the way he has sex, but he is passionate.

You, however, have seen his romantic side. Despite how rough and unhinged Chris is when he's fucking you, there's something about the way he holds you, touches you, kisses you, and looks at you that you would describe as extremely romantic.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ J - Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

Chris loves jerking off when you're not home for him to use. He loves looking at nude pictures you've sent him and using your satin lingerie as fuel for his dirty fantasies he has about you.

He often finds himself in your shared bathroom, one hand gripping the edge of the counter and the other hand using your panties to jerk off as he stares down at his phone, eyes glued to the various pictures of your tits, your ass, and your pretty pussy. He loves running his thumb over his tip, and he can't help himself from moaning your name while he does this, pretending it's your mouth in place of his hand.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ K - Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Chris has nearly every kink under the sun, but his big ones are when you call him daddy, when you cry and beg for him during sex, and when he fucks you so hard that you go dumb on his cock.

"Oh, Chris - I- F-fuck," you stumble over your words, struggling to get a coherent sentence out in between moans. "What's the matter, pretty girl? Did daddy fuck you so hard that it scrambled your brain?" He coos in response, relishing in how simple it is for you to forget your train of thought while he's railing you.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ L - Location (favorite places to do the do)

Chris loves fucking you everywhere in the house. He loves fucking you over the arm of the couch, on the kitchen counter, on the dining room table - anywhere he can get his hands on you that's out in the open where your parents could walk in on you at any given moment.

When they're home, though, he likes to keep it just a bit more private - fucking you into your mattress or his, railing you in the shower, or bending you over the bathroom counter and making you look into his eyes in the mirror while he takes you from behind.

You prefer having sex with him in his car over all other places, mostly because he drives you out to the mountains or the forest. You can be as loud as you want, and the risk of the two of you getting caught there is much lower than if the two of you were home.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ M - Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)

What turns Chris on the most is your desperation. You begging for his tongue, his fingers, his cock, or begging him to let you finish is like music to his ears.

"P-please, Chris. So close. Can't take any more teasing," you insist, knuckles turning white as you grip the sheets beneath you, tears pricking the corners of your eyes and rolling down your cheeks as you wince in pleasure.

"So desperate for it, aren't ya?" He purrs, a smile curling on his lips as he takes in the sight. "That's it, pretty girl. Keep cryin' for me."

ᯓ⋆˚✿ N - No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)

Chris would never let you dominate him under normal circumstances. It would have to be a special occasion, or you'd have to blackmail him into it. Despite the fact that he's curious about it and secretly wants to see your dominant side, he'd never tell you that.

There are only two things you'd never do - anal and giving a footjob. (Chris has asked for both.)

ᯓ⋆˚✿ O - Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)

Chris loves giving you head. He's incredibly good at it, and he knows it. That's part of why he likes it to so much. He knows exactly how to flick his tongue in a way that makes you squeeze your thighs around his head and tug on his hair.

Even more than giving head, Chris loves receiving it. It's his favorite thing ever. Especially when he's in control. He loves looking into your teary-eyed expression while he's ramming his tip into the back of your throat over and over, his fingers threading themselves into your hair as he forces you to swallow more of him.

"Fuck. Such a good little slut for me. We both know you can take more, and we both know you're dyin' for it, aren't ya?"

ᯓ⋆˚✿ P - Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)

The only time Chris is slow and sensual is when he's teasing the fuck out of you or edging you. At first, he's soft, his movements controlled and methodical, but once he builds to the hard, fast, and rough, he can't do anything else. Luckily for him, his relentless and unwavering pace is perfect for you.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ Q - Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)

Chris loves the quickies you guys have, considering that most of the time, you have to be quick about it, so the two of you don't get caught. However, you both appreciate it when you get to take your time and aren't in a rush.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ R - Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)

Chris' motto is 'high risk, high reward.'

He'll try almost anything once, and the more adrenaline he gets from sex, the better. He especially loves having sex in risky places where the probability of being caught or walked in on is higher.

Along the lines of risky sex, he loves BDSM positions and practices that are dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Thankfully, Chris does know what he's doing, and he'd never put your safety at risk, but he loves choking you until you pass out and hog tying you when you've misbehaved.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ S - Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)

Chris can last for nearly an hour if he needs to, but he can also finish in under a few minutes. It depends on the situation and how long it takes you to finish first.

He can go multiple rounds, thanks to his high sex drive and all the time he spends playing basketball and working out. He'll fuck you as many times as you need, and he won't stop until you're shaking.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ T - Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)

Chris doesn't own any toys of his own, but he does like using your toys on you. He knows which vibrator is your favorite, and he loves bringing it into the bedroom to tease you with it and heighten the experience.

The only thing Chris wouldn't be down with is you having a toy that's bigger than he is. He'd certainly take it as an insult.

"What? My eight inches isn't good enough for you? Greedy fuckin' girl." He definitely wouldn't let you keep it.

Good thing he doesn't know about your nine-inch suction cup dildo you have hiding in your drawer!... or does he?

ᯓ⋆˚✿ U - Unfair (how much they like to tease)

Chris is the ultimate tease. He always keeps you guessing about his next move. He loves bringing you right to the edge over and over again, and he's not opposed to just not letting you finish at all if he didn't like your attitude that day.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ V - Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)

If the two of you are trying to be quiet, Chris will definitely hold back a bit, keeping his noises to a minimum, just grunts here and there accompanied with a lot of low volume dirty talk.

However, if there's no reason to be quiet, he doesn't hold back. His sounds are loud, guttural, and almost animalistic. He'll growl, moan, and won't worry about the volume of his dirty talk.

You, on the other hand, have a hard time staying quiet regardless of the circumstances. Chris loves this because it gives him an excuse to clamp his hand down over your mouth when your parents are home. "C'mon, sis. You don't want your daddy hearin' your pretty pussy gettin' ruined, do you? Shhh. Stay quiet, then."

ᯓ⋆˚✿ W - Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)

Chris is incredibly jealous. If he even thinks you're looking at another man or another man is looking at you, he'll become possessive very quickly.

Typically, when Chris is in relationships or even just hooking up with a girl, he likes to let everyone around know that she belongs to him. Especially when he notices other men checking her out, he likes to establish dominance. He'll pull her close, kiss her, and wrap his arms around her waist, and it kills him that he can't do that with you.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ X - X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)

Chris is packing, and he knows it. He loves it when you tell him it's too big or when it takes you a moment to adjust to his size.

"Too big, hmm?" He coos with a self-satisfied smirk plastered on his face as he pushes it in just a bit deeper. "C'mon. We both know you can take it all."

ᯓ⋆˚✿ Y - Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)

High. Incredibly high. It really doesn't take much to turn him on. At any given moment, Chris is ready to go, and your sex drive is about the same.

ᯓ⋆˚✿ Z - Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)

It doesn't take long for Chris to fall asleep after. Usually by the time he's done fucking you, he went so hard, so rough, and so fast that he's exhausted.

You, on the other hand, especially if Chris falls asleep in your bed, you'll spend a little while watching him sleep. Not in a creepy way, but more so in an endearing way. Chris has caught you a few times, drifting in and out of consciousness, his eyes fluttering open to catch yours studying his gorgeous facial features.

"What are you lookin' at, creep?" He's jokingly asked you before, but he actually does find it sweet that you like looking at him so much. It strokes his ego that you find him so attractive.

[tojigasm]

imagine bucky introducing reader to the thunderbolts and she’s just blushing and smiling around yelena like “she’s so cool and pretty🤩” and he’s like “really😐”

Polyamory isn't a new concept to Bucky or yourself –having discussed it among each other here and there.

You're interested and intrigued by it – always wanting to push the limits of conformity and find what works for you through trial and error.

Bucky, he's not so receptive.

The culture difference is striking —not to mention, the two of you already receive shit for the age gap you share.

Bucky thinks adding another person into the relationship would just add an entirely new aspect to the dynamic you share and how the public views your relationship.

You know he means well, and he knows you love him deeply so you both settle on 'we'll decide later maybe.'

Everything remained rather mundane at that conclusion –which helped to keep Bucky's anxiety levels at a maintained comfortability.

That is, until you were introduced to Yelena.

There was something about her that just completely enamored you.

Her hair, her makeup, her pouty lips, the way her tactile suit made her appear all the more bigger and stronger than you.

Not to mention the way she introduced herself to you with a charming smile and a thick accent, looking you up and down while asking: "Who's this pretty one?"

Bucky was not amused.

You and Yelena were like two peas in a pod. Instantly bonding over shared interests in creativity, goals, fashion, humor.

The entire night, the two of you were almost inseparable –bantering back and forth, throwing lighthearted jabs at Bucky who took them graciously.

"Careful, Bucky. Might end up taking your girlfriend one of these days, yeah?" Yelena teased.

You both knew she was joking but there was a moment where you and bucky met eyes from your seat beside Yelena on the couch.

She was scrolling through her gallery trying to show you a photo of a cat she'd seen while out on a job.

Bucky was sat at the bar, a small glass of whiskey in his metal hand.

His eyes softened as he met yours and gave you a gentle nod.

His way of saying: "you're okay."

The night continued on until the three of you parted ways, but not before both Yelena and you exchanged numbers to keep in contact.

She'd told you she'd be out on a job and wouldn't be as responsive but to text her about life and to send her any photos of kitties you might see.

The walk back to Bucky's floor was filled with an understanding and peaceful quiet.

The topic wasn't discussed again, but there was an understanding.

Bucky's hand was at the dip of your back as he guided you into the wide floor.

"Know I love you right?" Bucky asked, pressing a kiss to the shell of your ear, "want you to be happy."

You nodded, reaching a hand behind you to scratch at the scruff of his beard.

"I'm only happy with you."

[have-you-seen-my-sanity]

I want you to think about what it would be like to get fucked by the moon boys in their respective suit since they give our boys even more strength and most importantly STAMINA! 🌚😏

Honestly I would lie if I haven't thought about it too because obviously that would be hot

I genuinely think Jake would have you on his lap inside his cab, the suit on and just impaling you on his cock. Obviously he's so cocky about it and he knows he can go multiple rounds and likes to tease you about it. "Aw, look at the mess we made. Think you can go some more for me, bebita?"

Marc just goes absolutely feral about it, he's already strong but the suit makes him so much stronger!

(now thinking about the strength I am not doing well, please pick me up)

I think the moment you tell him you like the glowing eyes, he gets creative and fucks you in your room at night, the only light source being the faint light from your window and his glowing eyes. He would give you atleast a few orgasms before he let's you rest with his throbbing cock still inside you and only moving subtly to get you riled up again. Also, the moment you decide to tease him while he's in the suit he could snap and just pick you up, letting you know there is no escape until your legs are rendered limp.

"You're such a tease. But guess what honey, I just finished my duty! Don't worry though, I'll carry you once we're done."

AND STEVEN?! Boy the way you'd get a mask kink with him (I know I would)... Because let me tell you when he comes home all exhausted, throws his suit jacket and vest off?!? Only him, topless, pants down, the mask on and he's just making you a hot mess.

At first he forgot to take the mask off and fucked you with it on but you didn't say anything. So when you tell him how sexy it is with the mask on he's just getting all kinky and from now on you should expect him when he comes home to just rail you for a couple hours after dealing with Khonshu's shit.

"You bloody love it when I wear the mask, yeah?"

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Tags:

@steven-grants-world @nekoyin @buckyssugarchick @iolaussharpe-24 @my-secret-shame-but-fanfiction

@silvernight-m @buckyssugarchick @klillaah @stevendameron @ingoldthewizard

@alexxavicry @xxjust-a-kidxx @krakenkitty

[hellooobees]

I can't stop thinking about how the show sets up selfishness and selflessness as two sides of the same coin. How do you walk the line between making sure your loved ones can achieve their own dreams even if it means hurting yourself, and hurting your loved ones because you're hurting yourself for their sake?

It all goes back to Thame putting up his wish on the orange tree that he'll make all of the other members' dreams come true. Thame, who agrees to a shitty contract and works himself to the bone and makes it completely his burden to prove that Mars is a good investment for the company. Thame, who is made to believe that that very act of love and sacrifice is only debilitating his friends' dreams and the only way to keep his original promise is to leave.

We see Thame essentially being back at square one in this episode. He has to leave and go to Korea alone so the people he loves can achieve their dreams. But so much has changed since then. Thame had found hope, that he could simultaneously keep his promise and be selfish to want both his band and his partner. He's once again been working himself to the bone, giving up all of his time and attention between the band and Po, because his tiredness is such a small price to pay to turn that dream into reality. Why wouldn't he gladly take on all of that tiredness and more?

But despite all of the groundbreaking things he's achieved and everything he's given of himself, it doesn't work. His friends break down around him possibly reigniting the same insecurities from earlier that he worked so hard to ensure wouldn't come to pass. His boyfriend breaks up with him despite Thame promising to take on all of the burden and tiredness to make it work. He's being forced to leave everyone behind and he's being left behind too.

That flip from Thame being convinced that the best thing for him to do would be to leave for everyone else's sake, to the rest of Mars and Po being convinced that the best thing for them to do is to step back for Thame's sake is so so important to me. It's not just Thame who made making his friends' dreams come true into his own dream. The rest of Mars and Po did the same thing with Thame's dream. But how does it all work when the sacrifices you're willing to make for the dreams of your loved ones are at the cost of their happiness because they're at the cost of your own?

Thame's effort didn't go to waste. We see all of that effort manifesting in how it opens doors for the other members and Po so much more easily now. But it's also true that at the base of those new successes lie the shattered hopes of that shared dream between them.

The show sets up the question of whether the person who's leaving others behind feels hurt, and we see so many iterations of it. We see Earn leaving behind the person who was an instrumental part of his success without a second thought. We see Thame giving himself up and leaving for the band's sake. We see Jun leave twice, the first so that his friend would for once think of himself and his own success instead of letting the others drag him away from it, and the second when he's sure that his friend can be what the person that he cares for deserves. We see Pepper being completely willing to leave if the two biggest parts of his life cannot exist together and we see Gam actually leaving when it proves to be true. And we see Po leave because he cannot let himself become an obstacle in Thame's path and make all of their efforts come to waste. If that's the price to pay so that the people they love can have what they want then so be it, right? Their sacrifices are insignificant in the face of that.

But what happens when all those sacrifices still aren't enough? When the cost becomes too huge to bear?

[asgardian--angels]

....idk in a fandom this gigantic how are people already coalescing onto a handful of popular headcanons and scenarios that just become the baseline now, when the source material gives us literally limitless possibilities to work with

[petrichal]

It's absolutely a me thing, probably, but people who say that they hate an author and have the time to reiterate it endlessly but continues to support their work- without ever crediting the good part of the writing that makes them a fan to begin with- irks me so goddamn much.

An author and their work is very intrinsically tied together. They write their beliefs of the world in the text, their sociopolitical stance practically bleeds out from the pages. Of course this isn't the case when you're making a comic or book/any form of media for the sake of it being disturbing, but the point is, I need people to understand that an artist's work is an extension of themselves and you need to respect that especially if it's a work that you love and connect with.

[sisterdivinium]

As the owner of the post where the WN commentfic fest is taking place, I get notified of every single new addition (which can also apply to you if you have a DW account and track the post, btw!), be that a prompt, a fill or a comment -- and let me tell you just how giddy I get to see participants posting an idea, a story, or even just cheering others on <3

[teh-nos]

genuinely feel like a baffled alien when i read posts about how 90s-00s media was all made for the love of the craft, with not a care about profitability, and how the budget for famously expensive tv shows was in fact thruppence ha'penny and the fancy CGI effects were somehow intended to look shit because wheeeeeee people just enjoyed things back then!

[deviousdiesel]

.

[miqojak]

.

[vulpinesaint]

what they don't tell you is that writing poems can be so. difficult. when you're doing it for a purpose and not just to write a poem.

[outlying-hyppocrate]

Dear Crispin:

I am quite pleased to inform you that I, that is to say Valerie, have returned with much energy and capacity to ramble away to my heart's desire. Furthermore, today was quite a success intellectually, as I managed to do quite a large degree of thinking and philosophical exploration (as strange as it sounds, I am proud of myself for thinking). This meandering monologue is to say that I indeed, like a merchant of ideas, come bearing my wares: many a thought for you to consider. If it would please you, would you like to take a gander? To be precise, I would like to share with you a concept I have been working on for quite some time, a core mechanic and cornerstone of worldbuilding in my (largest) WIP fiction. If you are interested in metaphysics, discussions of ontology, and memetics, then I think you may find it worth your while (as all ideas are, naturally). Should anything else pique your interests, please do let me know.

Kind regards, Valerie.

dearest valerie,

[painsandconfusion]

Writers, here’s your reminder that you should be doing warm-ups!

Athletes need to warm up. Musicians need to warm up. Artists need to warm up. Heck, I even have to play a few matches in video games before I get into a groove every day.

Warm-ups help you get into the right headspace, give you more control of your actions and word choice, get you comfortable in your physical setting (eg: with your keyboard, notebook, tablet, or whatever you're writing with), and spark creativity.

Even if you don’t think you have spoons to write, sit down and do a couple warm-ups. If you still don’t want to, that’s alright. But. I think you’ll be surprised how often they help break that ice.

5-15 minutes is all you need. I personally set a timer for ten minutes each time and do not stop writing until the time is up. Your warm-up can be anything at all so long as it gets you writing and starts nudging those creative juices.

Here's some common warm-ups:

Journaling. Just jot down some notes about your day. Feel free to really lean into something that you noticed. We're going for description and details -- try to avoid settling into a spiral or focusing on something negative that will upset your creativity.

Short story prompts. Type that into Pinterest and pick the most ridiculous, cliche thing you can. Write a little scene, story summary, or even a rant about why you do or don't like the prompt. Just write.

Vocab challenge. If you like a bit more critical thinking to get you in the zone, have a random vocabulary word generator spit out five or so words. Check their meanings and jot down a little story or thought that includes all five. You get more familiar with beautiful and descriptive language, and it gives you a much narrowed prompt (which is lovely if you're like me and suffer each time there's an open-ended task assigned).

Character moments. Try putting your character into a generic setting and write down almost meticulously what their thought process would be. Follow them realizing they've just stepped in mud or dreading the start of the day. Pick a mundane thing and describe them working through it. This will not only get your writing going, but it will wake up the character's voice in your head.

Ongoing storytelling. Did you know that Whinnie the Poo was A.A. Milne's warm up story? He would jot down a quick little story with those very basic characters and did so every day. Whatever came to mind. He kept writing little tidbits on the same characters and eventually it turned into a series. Having that ongoing plot with isolated scenes and simple characters can help you feel more motivated to sit down and write.

Get-to-know-you-questions. Google a list of basic first-date questions (there are a million out there) and answer one yourself. Go into specifics. Where do you most want to travel and why? Let yourself ramble until the question is fully answered.

Writer's block blues. This is a favorite of mine. If you're truly stuck, write about being stuck. Eg: 'I'm supposed to write for ten minutse, but that feels so stupid and impossible. No one is goign to read this anyway. I have no ideas and the page is so overwhelming when its blank. I used to be able to write on and on and nothing could stop me. it was like breathing. but now I have nothign and do nothing and I can't even do a stupid prompt-' Even the rambling and ranting got me writing. It made things easier. It made writing this post easier. Also -- notice the typos? Yeah, don't fix those. You're in writing mode, not editing mode when you're doing this. If you edit while you write, you're forcing yourself to stay in your executive and calculating headspace rather than falling fully into creativity and dream. Ignore the mistakes. That's for future you to handle.

I've officially rambled far too much, but I hope that helps even a little bit. Live well and write often, my friends. Best of luck to you <3