#I think this is rapidly becoming an issue with fandom in general

[shiraishi--kanade]

I remember hearing a video essayist for a different fandom saying a lot of people are having wild takes on the media in question because it's becoming more common to get information about the books second-hand than to actually read the books. And I think something like this happened with pjsk. Except worse because we don't even have video essays we have tiktoks. And that's why We're Like This

[alarrytale]

I agree with you Marte about being concern of Louis smoking. I love Louis and I know he is an adult and can make his own decisions but my wish for him is that soon he stops smoking. In school we learned all the side effects smoking can give you and is just so damaging. I know he is aware in general about the side effects but is not something that make him stop doing it. For what I notice for the documentary besides his addiction to the cigarre he also smokes more when he is anxious/nervous. I really wish is a habit that ends it soon but I don't have a lot of hope.

Hi, anon!

He's an adult and he's allowed to do whatever he wants to his body, even if it's bad for his health. My biggest issue is that smoking is a part of his image (as well as drinking/doing drugs) and that he think it looks cool, badass, anti-normie and that it makes him fit in with the crowds he hangs with (assimilation) and that he gains respect from men (elusive target audience). He smokes publicly, puts a cig behind his ear and often sings about smoking in his songs like it's cool and tough. If he didn’t have that image to uphold he wouldn't have that pressure on him to smoke/drink and do drugs. It would certainly be easier to lay off and become healthier.

I also have a problem with fans in this fandom who glorifies smoking, saying he looks hot or sexy when he's smoking and generally giving him attention and admiration when he does. That's not going to give him any incentives to stop. Quite the opposite. For Louis, smoking has become an addiction. It's not a mere vice anymore. I don't think he'd be able to cut down just like that if asked to. It not only has long term consequences, but he's already showing the negative physical signs of a smoker. He's aging rapidly, skin pale and ashen, and his skin lacks elasticity. Pretty sure his premature graying hair can also be, partly at least, attributed to smoking.

I also take issue with him glorifying smoking to his impressionable young fans. He's a role model whether he likes it or not. If his fans find him sexy smoking, they maybe want to try it out too. It's a fucking vicious circle. It's certainly one incentive to make him stop.

The only thing we as fans can do is stop glorifying smoking. Make it uncool. If you think he's hot when he's smoking, fine, but keep it to yourself. Don't reblog pictures or comment on him smoking. That's the only way to help him and help other fans from copying him.

[irradiate-space]

Notes on Rebuilding Fandom

(a condensed write-up of my notes from a Pemmi-Con NASFiC panel)

The greying of fandom. Falling attendance. Conventions closing or going on "temporary" hiatus post-pandemic. This discussion tries to examine the issues and come up with some solutions. Should we even try and consider just bowing out gracefully?

I think the major irony of this session was where it was held. The 2023 Pemmi-Con North American Science Fiction Convention was, people tell me, quite poorly run. The panel discussion included many specific actions that other cons commonly do, which Pemmi-Con did not do.

(The question of whether it was this con specifically, or whether this con-running crew is competent to run any con, is a conversation that I'll leave to correspondents more embedded in the Canadian SFF fandom scene. I'm relatively new to the organized SFF fandom, and I'm lacking context.)

So let's talk about the state of the Speculative Fiction Fandom:

Fans today are more often interested in specific fandoms, not general-content or genre fandom

Fanzines are dying out; there's a history of bad-apple editors and editors who retire

Yet there are many conventions which are topical to Speculative Fiction, or topical to Fandom-writ-large, which are growing rapidly and drawing record crowds.

The question opening the panel was, "how can we get kids-these-days to be the sort of fans we were?" which I added 🤔😅🙃 to, and so did many members of the audience and panel.

The response question was, "how can we adapt organized fandom to meet kids-these-days where they are?" Many expressed the sentiment that fandom changes over time, so the organized fandom must change to adapt.

Also raised was the question of demographics. Yes, Fandom is greying. It will continue greying, one year per year, until we defeat death and become immortal. To keep the average age low, recruitment is necessary. But how do you recruit younguns to get interested in the Traditional Speculative Fiction Fandom events?

A number of strategies were identified in the panel:

Rebuild mutual support: It used to be the case that con-organizing organizations were many. Now they are few. With this dwindling in number has come a dwindling of mutual-support opportunities. It used to be the case that different orgs would help each other run events. This is a dwindling case. Someone has to offer first; let your org do it.

Make in-person events attractive: Before the Internet, it was harder to be a Fan. Without an established in-person fannish presence, you were a loner. Fandom conventions were the sole way to sate your urge for fannish socialization. Nowadays, Fandom is like any other niche social group: It's really easy to find compatriots from the comfort of your home, and you don't have to travel to have a meeting of the minds. Look at the successful in-person events to determine what draws people: novelty, merch sales and swaps, in-person competitions, event exclusives, photoshoots.

Outreach: You're running a generic con? Great! Find all the specific cons and specific fandom groups and ask them to panel and attend. If you're running a scifi con and haven't invited the local chapters of the 501st, the Rebel Legion, the 405th, the Royal Manticoran Navy, the 1701st, Mandalorian Mercs, cause-players, any local university clubs, and any local anime or furry conventions, then you're doing organizing wrong.

Advertise: This one is multifaceted, and had a lot of comments in response to Pemmi-Con. Notable points: Publish your schedule early enough that people can buy tickets and book a hotel room because they know there's a panel they want to attend. Publish your schedule early enough that your panelists know they're going to be paneling. Do badge swaps, table swaps, and pamphlet swaps with other cons, so that you can advertise at each other's con. Do this especially at cons local to your city, and at Big Cons. Continually expand your comms infrastructure until every attendee has a reasonable chance of seeing every important update.

Multimedia: If you're going to have hybrid panels, make sure that the remote panelists have good audio before the session starts. Provide slide deck editing services, to make sure that text can be read from the back of the room. Position your projectors so that the display is large enough and not canted.

Experiment with format: Not everyone wants to go to spend a weekend in panels getting lectured by grey-haired white people, or sing the same filk songs again. Mix it up. Pemmi-Con had a legitimately interesting innovation: a pinball tournament. One of the most-popular John Scalzi events at Chicon 8 was the dance he DJ'd. Anime con photoshoots are hugely attended. Board game conventions are similarly popular. Host an AMV contest. Run a room that's just a TV clip show. Have a library room, like the Carolina Manga Library. In addition to Masquerade, run a cosplay critique panel, and run it on multiple days so that people can bring different costumes to it. Do the fukcing Ribbon Game.

Look to the future: A lot of Traditional SFF Fandom is about the past. But some of the most-highly-attended panels at Anime and Games cons are about the future: things which are in the pipeline for next season or next year. Already-funded Kickstarters. Already-signed series. Do that at your Traditional SFF panels.

Train the next generation: Recruit volunteers, and when they tell you they have a better way to do things, don't turn them down immediately. If there's a reason, explain the reason. If their idea is good, adopt it. They're trying to make things better. If you drive out the next generation of con-runners, there won't be a next generation of cons.

[the-panmixxia]

Black Cat For Luck (1)

Fandom: Sander Sides

General Warnings: None

Potential Warnings: Mentions of being eaten/Animals dying, panic

Characters: Virgil, Patton, Remy

Relationships: Platonic

Pronouns:

Virgil - Spook/Spookself

Patton - Fae/Faem

Remy - He/She/They

Summary:

Virgil is currently facing a very annoying issue; spook pissed off some old friends badly enough to end up with a curse. One that turns Virgil into a cat at night fall. It was an inconvenience, sure, but Virgil was managing it. That is, until a certain werewolf that's been rumoured to enjoy cat meat comes along...

[Halloween Exchange Fic :)]

This is an entry for @ts-halloween-exchange, where I funnily enough ended up writing for a good friend of mine, @tiny-peter-rabbit

Super stoked about posting, it was intended to be much longer of a fic, but I'm very bad at keeping on top of things, so it is becoming it's own series/au

Shout out to @stemroses for being a lovely beta.

Read on AO3 [here]

part two [here]

Virgil yowled in frustration as spook rapidly pressed the elevator button, willing the carriage to arrive faster so spook could get to spooks apartment quicker. Spook couldn't afford to waste time.

Virgil was spellbound, after all.

At exactly nine twenty-five pm Virgil would turn into a very particular animal, and maintain that form until the same time the next morning. It was an awkward curse, especially in winter, and Virgil was even more thankful that spook worked at home.

The curse was for leaving, moving away from Jan and Re, the only sorcerers that would ever bother with a dumb human like Virgil - and how did spook repay them? By running away like a coward and ending with this stupid spell as punishment-

Ding!

"Oh thank fuck." Spook mumbled, stepping into the elevator, pressing the faded '16' button.

Before the doors could shut, however, someone was rushing towards spook, holding up the elevator to step in. The person was extremely big, though friendly looking, tanned skin covered in freckles and what appeared to be temporary tattoos. Their hair was curly and came to their shoulders, a small braid just behind their ear, the curls dip-dyed a soft blue colour.

They settled next to spook, seemingly very comfortable and smiling, pressing the '12' button. Virgil gritted spooks teeth at the delay it would cause, getting off on a floor before spooks own, but it wasn't like Virgil was ever going to say anything.

"Heya there, I don't think we've met before, so it's nice to meet you, neighbour!" The cheerful person smiled, turning to Virgil to try and talk. Virgil only shut down more, glancing away and willing the elevator to go faster.

It was nine twenty, spook only had four minutes.

"Oh, sorry, you're a little shy, huh? Well, I'm Patton. My pronouns are fae/faem and sometimes he/him, depends on my badge!" Fae explained, pointing to the sleeve of faer jacket - which was tied around faer's shoulders - and had a few badges on it.

The one fae was indicating to was twice the size of the others, a light salmon colour with 'FAE/FAEM' in big, green letters. It would have been hard to miss, but Virgil was pretty focused on not making any form of eye contact.

Virgil nodded to show spook had heard, eyes now drawn to Patton's forearm, and the impressive amount of hair on it - dark brown tufts almost completely hiding the few bracelets fae was wearing. A sudden, horrified thought crossed Virgil's mind as the dots connection on just who spook was in the elevator with.

Patton had to be one of the werewolves that had moved in a few floors down, the same family that spooks vampire roommate was complaining about.

-

"Werewolves, Virgey, I swear they're evil! It's no coincidence that my cat goes missing after they've moved in, I bet they ate her or something!" Remy complained, drinking from a blood bag that Virgil had provided.

Virgil sat a little dazed from providing, but managed to chip in. "Couldn't she have run away? She did manage to sneak out a few times."

Remy gasped in offence, plopping next to Virgil on the couch. "I bet Emile told you that! Well they don't know what they're talking about, Latte would never run away from me, I gave her the world!"

Virgil remembered Emile's advice to leave Remy when she was ranting, and wisely shut spooks mouth. It was best to just tune Remy out as Virgil chewed on spooks cookie.

-

"...I would like to get to know our neighbours a little but the folks in here don't seem very chatty and - oh, it was nice to meet you kiddo, but I'm getting off here, uh…hope we can talk again soon?" Patton smiled awkwardly, probably scared that fae had broken Virgil - since spook had not moved or spoken to them the whole ride - and promptly left.

Virgil checked spooks watch. Nine twenty three, spook was surely fucked.

After a moment the elevator opened once more, and Virgil flew out, very nearly hitting an elderly woman and not having the time to apologise - that would surely taunt spook as spook was trying to sleep for a good long while.

Keys jamming into the door, Virgil muttered curses and rapped on the door - though it was useless, spook knew that Remy would be at work by now. Virgil just had to get this stupid door open -

Clack.

Virgil smacked face first into the door, thrown by the momentum spook was placing in trying to unlock the door. The cause of the throw was clear, as Virgil realised that spook had snapped the key, half of it stuck inside the lock.

"Fu -"

Before Virgil could finish the curse, spooks body was thrown back, a familiar but uncomfortable feeling of magic flowing straight through spooks bone marrow.

The effect took less than a minute to finish, and soon Virgil's body was morphed into one of a small cat - the only saving grace was the fact that spooks cat form was all black, maintaining spooks edgy exterior. The downside was how small said cat was, kitten sized, fluffy with green eyes.

Let's face it, Virgil wasn't scaring anyone away from spook in this form.

Panic took hold, the thought of being stuck outside spooks apartment caused enough alarm that Virgil took off running, not sure where spook was going. Near the stairwell, Virgil could hear the click-clack of high heels, and wisely ducked away into a nearby potted plant. Expensive looking heels passed spooks view, and without much of a plan, Virgil bolted through the gap in the door that led to an extensive set of stairs that gave Virgil anxiety on a good day.

Breathing through the rising anxiety, Virgil decided it was best to go down, maybe try and find an old storage room to hide in until the stupid curse faded for the day. One step at a time, spook made spooks way down the steps, mentally muttering - and verbally chittering, not that Virgil noticed - to spookself.

It was taking longer than usual, and felt much more tiring, having to hop down each individual step in such a small body. After travelling down four set of stairs, Virgil decided to take a rest, not sleeping, but to form a plan - and hopefully soothe spooks anxiety a little.

Okay. Virgil mused, this situation isn't great but I can make it work. I just gotta get through tonight and then I'll…have to worry about tomorrow night…

Without warning, a hand twisted into Virgil's scruff, jerking spook backwards in an uncomfortable position. Spook yowled, flapping and flailing to try and scratch at the offending hand. How had Virgil not heard someone approaching? Was spook freaking out that much?

A childish voice gasped and cooed, chubby fingers poking at spooks belly.

"Momma, I found a kitty - kitty! Can we keeeeep it?"

Oh fuck oh no I'm going to be adopted by some clumsy toddler and forced to have tea parties and what if she squeezes me too hard and -

"Oh, sweetheart, we don't have time for a kitten," Larger, and more careful hands scooped spook up, and Virgil turned to peer up at spooks saviour. "I bet this cutie belongs to Patton, there's always new cats in that apartment! Come on, Liz, we gotta take this kitty home real quick."

"Okay!" The child chirped with way too much optimism, unaware they were sending Virgil to spooks impending doom.

Because surely they meant Patton as in the werewolf because how many Patton's could be in this building? Maybe Remy was right, and the wolf was eating cats - why else would fae always be getting more?

Hopefully being such a small cat would convince Patton not to eat spook because of how little meat fae would get.

Then again, veal is popular, perhaps it is a delicacy.

"Whoa, calm down, bud, I'm taking you home." The woman laughed nervously as Virgil swiped at her fingers with all the fierceness a kitten could muster, trying to entice her to give up and let spook down. No such luck, bony fingers instead coiled around spooks body - paws pinned uselessly. "Must be a feral baby, probably why it's so eager to get out."

The last part was mumbled quietly, as though musing to herself, and Virgil resigned spookself into just watching as they travelled down the row of apartments - the layout was practically identical, on floor twelve, and soon stopped in front of apartment '126'.

It was an unassuming, nice looking apartment, the door painted a light blue in contrast to the usual swamp green that the landlord liked to cover each door, skirting board, and window sill in. At least Virgil was getting eaten some place nice looking.

Two sharp knocks on the door and a moments pause later, said door was swinging open to reveal - predictably - the exact same werewolf Virgil had met in the elevator. This time Patton was dressed for bed, light blue tartan pants and a white shirt that seemed to be some form of pun; a cartoon turtle and giraffe, with the turtle asking the giraffe 'what's up'.

"Oh, hello Charlot- Aww! You have a kitty!" Patton smiled, attention wholly on Virgil, even more uncomfortably large in this form.

The woman holding him laughed gently, holding Virgil out for inspection. Virgil hissed spooks disapproval but it did little to dissuade her. "Hello Patton, sorry for knocking on at such a late time, this kitten was on its own in the stairwell - I thought it might've been yours?"

"Aww, I wish! Look how cute ~! But I can definitely take them for the night, try and find an owner."

"What's one more cat, right?"

Patton laughed as fae scooped Virgil up into much larger, more secure hands. Despite the situation, Virgil couldn't help but muse how gentle Patton sounded, surely a disguise to hide faes true intentions. "Absolutely! The more cats the better, its like, basic science."

The two chatted over Virgil's head, as spook spaced out and decided to muse over what led spook to this situation. Barely turned eighteen and already captured by a werewolf to be eaten. Maybe this was Janus and Remus' plan when they cursed spook, the saying was true - there's nothing more spiteful than a sorcerer seeking revenge.

"Now, kiddo," Patton started, and it took Virgil a moment to realise fae was talking to spook. "Let's see if we can get you all cosy, huh?"

Virgil meowed sadly, trying spooks hardest to wriggle out the wolf's hands. Patton simply laughed and rearranged fae's hold.

"Ooh, I've got a little wriggle baby. Maybe you need to become a purrito to chill out. Would that make you feel better, baby?"

Virgil may not have a cat spookself, but spook had been on the internet more than long enough to know what a purrito was - and the last thing spook needed was to be restrained. Spook whined sadly, willing spooks body to relax in the arms of a predator.

"Aww. We'll eat first, then try and sort out where you'll sleep. Now let's see if Pat can figure out how old you are…"

Without any more warning, Patton's fingers were in Virgil's mouth, tugging the jaw open with the utmost care. Virgil whined in vague disgust, not wanting to think about what Patton could've touched. At least they looked somewhat clean, painted light blue with white pawprints - though they were chipped slightly, and Virgil could see the tell tale black nails of a werewolf underneath.

"Hmm, about four or five weeks?" Patton mused, paying no mind as the kitten tried to bite fae's fingers in return. "You're a little small, kiddo, but that's okay. Papa Patton can fatten you right up."

Oh god, spook was going to be eaten, but only after spook was sufficiently chubby. Virgil thought of all the meat videos spook had watched, the ones that convinced spook to turn vegetarian, how the farmers would force feed the cattle to make more desirable cuts.

Obviously Patton planned to feed spook over the course of a few days, maybe even a few weeks. By morning Virgil will be human again, but would that make spook safe? Virgil was aware of the violent stereotypes around werewolves, and didn't personally believe that they were inherently bad - but if Patton was going to eat a kitten, would an anxious human really be above fae's morals? It's not like there'd be any evidence, or anyone looking for spook. Well, maybe Remy would try hunting spook down for Virgil's cut of the rent.

"And, whalla!" Patton's cheerful voice snapped Virgil out of spooks musings, placing spook down on the counter top with surprising gentleness. Then, a small plastic dish was placed next to spook. "There we go, some yummy milk for the cutest kitty."

Peering into the dish, it looked like rather like porridge, with way too much milk - lukewarm and completely innocent looking. Virgil made an odd chirp before looking at Patton. The Were was watching Virgil closely, smiling gently and leaning against the counter.

A few awkward moments passed where Virgil merely blinked at Patton, before testing spooks luck and trying to wander off. Predictably, gentle hands scooped spooks up, being placed back in front of the bowl.

"C'mon, kiddo, you need to eat up." After another awkward wait, Patton mumbled to faeself. "Hmm, maybe you haven't been weaned yet, might have to get the feeding syringe…"

That certainly caught Virgil’s attention, cringing inwardly at the thought of being force fed through a syringe. Would it be better to eat it now? This way spook has control over what spook eats, but what would happen when Virgil was full?

That train of thought was too intimidating, so Virgil shook slightly before inching forward, gently lapping at the milk. It didn’t taste particularly drugged, so all Virgil could do was hope it would be alright.

“Here’s the feeder, I’ll just make some milk -” Patton turned to the counter with a feeding syringe, before stopping and smiling. “Aww, you figured it out, good job, kiddo! Just, uh, you eat that, I’ll try and find the flea and worm treatments…”

Virgil grimaced, lapping away at the creamy milk. Tonight was sure to be long night.

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Untitled Linzin fanfic

(Yet again?)

This came to me while staying at home one day (one day of many, mind you). Am I okay with starting another multi-chapter Linzin story? Maybe. Will I push through with it? Absolutely. Should this be taken seriously? No, please don’t. Am I abandoning my other work? Of course not.

Don’t take this plot seriously since it’s just something that I felt like I want to write down and share. But… let’s see. Consider this a crackfic /trope centric fic eh haha. Consider this my contribution to this teeny tiny space in the fandom.

Please leave a comment or a reply as to what you think about this. I’m gauging this to be like 3 to 4 chapters long only though.

I think this will keep as untitled for now – until I figure out the right title. And summary / overview.

---

Untitled

Overview

Legend of Korra fanfic – Linzin endgame AU

1 of 3 (or 4?) chapters (or more, if I decide to post them in chunks) – I really haven’t thought this out (shrugs and looks around shiftily)

Pre-canon AU (prior to Book 1)

--

The airbender gently slid the door closed, careful not to disturb any of its sleeping occupants. He knew he was late but as with everything – his children always came first.

He looked up at the moon, peeking from behind gray clouds. The rain did not let up at all during the day.

It was a pity. It was, after all, the first time that his children found themselves on an Ember Island vacation. It was to celebrate Jinora’s birthday – at least that was what the press release was.

He hurried across the courtyard, ignoring the squelching sounds that his sandals made on the mud and puddles.  Passing no one on his way, Tenzin finally reached the right hall.

He quickly dried himself before entering what everyone knew as the Fire Lord’s family hall, which was precisely why they selected it. He crept into the dimly lit hall, shadows were wavering across the pillars and the walls. Nonetheless, the pretense of a nightcap among the grownups was well executed with the spread on the long table.

He sat down immediately beside his mother, who inclined her head in acknowledgment.

Fire Lord Izumi cleared her throat and the soft buzzing of conversation silenced.

“Now that we’re complete – let’s get right to it.”

The airbender’s eyes wandered across the room, to everyone sitting at the long table of the Fire Lord.

Everyone who was anyone to his late father was present. Everyone alive, that is. The lack of guards or security personnel was nothing new in this situation though – in a room of bending masters, it was almost foolish to expect guards to be standing in attention, alert for any disturbance.

“As we know the Red Lotus is back at its game.” Lord Zuko now presided the meeting and went straight to the heart of the clandestine gathering. “There has been reliable intelligence that they are gaining traction on the ground and there are rumors of freeing their known members.”

To their credit, no one in the room gasped or expressed their incredulity of such a claim.

Bumi began to share all the pertinent information from the report (Tenzin idly thought that being a commander suited his brother’s temperament). It was alarming to hear of pockets of violent incidents across the nations and the United Republic that can be traced back to the Red Lotus.

Chief Tonraq took the action to inform his brother Unalaq to strengthen the guards at the North as one of the prisoners were being held there.

Katara said that the White Lotus has already been informed of the case and she had personally requested to have the number of Zaheer’s guards increased. Bumi spoke of fortifying the defenses in all the other security prisons.

“Well, if everything is secured, why even call for us?” The gruff voice of Toph Beifong finally joined the foray.

Suyin fidgeted from Toph’s side, clearly uncomfortable with the discourse.

Truth be told, he did wonder at Suyin’s presence.

When Lord Zuko issued the invitation to Ember Island, he was surprised at the arrival of the Zaofu Beifong family, knowing that they have been estranged from some time. He thought that maybe it was just in keeping up with the ruse of a family reunion. Nonetheless, here they are now and Su was found to be in their midst. She was the youngest child of their generation and had been, more often than not, shielded by her mother when it came to serious and bordering dangerous matters. It had always been the eldest Beifong daughter who shouldered the brunt of the situation.

But then again, no one called attention to the empty seat at the other side of Toph Beifong tonight. Tenzin was sure it was not allotted for Baatar (who had stayed behind to see to the bedtime of the children).

Despite her stature, Toph still managed to command the room. “The Avatar is currently far from Republic City and I don’t think her parents will be taking her on a trip to Zaofu anytime soon. I don’t see the need for us,” Her emphasis heavily implying her family. “To even be here.”

All of a sudden, Tenzin realized the former Fire Lord looked all of his age as he drew in a breath. “While that may be true, Toph, the Red Lotus is looking for a gateway to the spirit world. They think true power and equality will only be brought about by uniting our world with the spirit world. Or barring that, a way to force the Avatar’s hand.”

“But she’s a child!” The Avatar’s father choked out.

“We are well aware that never stopped them.” There was a slight pause in remembrance on what had happened the first time the Red Lotus attacked the Avatar’s family. There had been losses.

Kya spoke up, trying to figure out what that could mean. “If the prisons are heavily guarded and all the leaders of the nations have their own security detail, what else are they looking to? What is in Republic City? What are they targeting?”

“The airbenders.”

All heads turned to a figure who had been leaning in the shadows of one of the pillars. Tenzin wondered how he could have missed her.

Lin Beifong pushed herself off the pillar and grudgingly took a seat beside her mother. “Is it the airbenders then, Lord Zuko?”

All of a sudden, Tenzin realized Lord Zuko looked all of his age as he nodded solemnly. “They knew they need to lure the Avatar or in its place, use a master airbender to their bidding.”

Said master airbender’s eyes flashed. “I would never -!”

“They could use Jinora as leverage.” Understanding was visible on Bumi’s face. “Everyone knows Jinora can already airbend.”

“That’s sick.” Su managed to murmur, sinking further into her seat. “Using kids in their nefarious plans…”

“They’re not known for their mercy, sweetheart.” Bumi shrugged, years of being in the military hardening him some.

“We can add more protection for the children.” Katara threw a concerned glance at her youngest child.

Toph scowled. “So, what are you suggesting? Aside from the White Lotus, Republic City police would need to pull funds to provide bodyguards at Air Temple Island? Mind you – it would be hard to get this funding for a civilian.”

“I’m sure the White Lotus would be enough.” Fire Lord Izumi attempted to mediate what was rapidly about to become a heated discussion.

“Maybe not,” Tonraq disagreed, already shaking his head.  “If we pull in resources across the nations for the high security prisons and the sentries for Korra, I don’t think we would have any to spare for Air Temple Island at this period. Recruiting and training more could jeopardize the quality of the White Lotus.”

As the people around him continued to toss around arguments and recommendations, Tenzin could feel everything closing in.

When his wife passed a little over a year ago due to a stomach bug that had gone untreated for so long, Tenzin had stepped down from his role as part of the city council and instead turned to raising his two daughters and rebuilding the Air Nation (or what was left of it). The transition of public figure to private citizen was a welcome balm to him and his young family. His mother and sister had stayed on the island for a couple of weeks during Pema’s illness and subsequent passing, but they did have lives to go back to in the South Pole.

Tenzin thought he managed okay – training acolytes, tending to his daughters’ needs, documenting what was available of the Air Nomad culture… His visits to Republic City were now less frequent compared to his council days. He had developed a routine and he thought they were coping well.

But now, with the tenuous peace that he finally thought he attained was now at the risk of crumbling, he was at a loss on what to do. It had been a while since he felt like this – back when his father passed, and even then there was someone he had with him to support him.

“We need to send them away then.” Iroh’s voice drew Tenzin’s attention back to the discussion. “They’ll be sitting ducks at the island.”

Toph snorted and Izumi glared at the blind woman’s reaction to her son. “Yeah? Then what – they join the Fire Lady’s entourage? Or maybe head on to the tundra with the Avatar? The Red Lotus would probably be grateful that you placed all their targets in one area.”

Izumi countered. “That would solve the issue of spread out resources – if we concentrate them in a location, that may work.”

“On the other hand, what sort of excuse would you give for Master Airbender here to be away from his temples that long?” Lin asked with a tone so casual, you would have thought they were discussing the weather. “It would not do for the Red Lotus to know that we are unto them so soon when we have yet to strategize how to take them down.”

Tenzin found himself silently agreeing. Lin always was the pragmatic one.

Zuko stroked his beard in thought. “We could have them over – extended vacation maybe? Or we go around on vacation to the temples? That way we can use the Fire Nation’s security detail.”

“That would be a negative.” Iroh reddened as he realized he just spoke against his grandfather. At his encouraging nod, the younger firebender continued. “That would be a logistical nightmare. Too many variables to consider.”

Bumi suddenly perked up. “That’s it!” The shaggy-haired man stood up with a snap. “Variables – and what you all said.” He waved a hand across the table. “They can join the Fire Lady’s entourage -.”

“What!” The collective disbelief echoed in the hall.

He raised his hand in supplication. “Hear me out -what if he joins the Fire Nation Royal family as actual family? Surely questions won’t be raised.” Seeing that no one was getting his point, he decided to say it plainly. “I’m saying what if Tenzin marries Izumi?” There was a lot of disagreements to his pronouncement and so he raised his voice. “That way, it won’t be odd if he stayed there or if they become under protection of the Kyoshi Warriors.”

If Lin was the pragmatic one, Bumi always was the wild one.

And practically everyone had a say on that.

“That would never pass, Bumi.” Lin.

“You can’t pull the wool over the eyes of the public with that. What more the Red Lotus?” Kya.

“Sorry but I don’t think Master Tenzin here is my daughter’s type.” Zuko.

“Dad. Well, aside from that, the optics for that kind of union would not bode well for international peace.” Izumi.

“I don’t need a stepdad.” A beat. “Siblings would be welcome though.” Iroh.

“I agree with Izumi -this may come across as the Air Nation siding with the Fire Nation.” Tonraq.

“I doubt the Earth Queen will remain quiet too.” Su.

“Meh. I say just toss Junior here and his spawn to some remote resort (or here even) and just say he went on a vacation.” Toph.

A snort. “Now that won’t fly – Tenzin never goes on vacation.” Bumi.

“Bumi, it’s not nice to make fun of your brother’s troubles.” Katara.

Tenzin simply shook his head at his brother, who still did not look deterred at all even as the conversation around continued to dissect and put down his ludicrous suggestion.

The older man was frowning, walking around the table while partaking on the board of dried meat, fruits and cheese laid out for them.

From the other end of the table, Lin tossed grape into her mouth while Su said something that sounded like “manners!”.

At that moment, Tenzin made the mistake of catching his brother’s eye. He did not trust the gleam in Bumi's eyes.

“I got it!” Bumi once more got hold of everyone’s attention. “True, Izumi as a bride  might be to farfetched, but there are merits to the Tenzin gets married deal. No questions will be asked if he spends time with family, out of the public eye, you know – a regular honeymoon. As to the lovely bride, why not someone he has had history with – that would make the whirlwind romance and wedding more plausible, won’t it?”

Tenzin’s heart sank at who his brother was implying. 

Oh no. Surely he didn’t mean…

“Why not marry Lin Beifong?”

---

Note: Why not indeed? 🤔 where am I going with this? You shall find out real soon. Lemme know whatchuthink.

[yankasmiles]

As someone who already does not repost art, and only reblogs it, is there anything we can do to help you and other artists when we see stolen work?

The easier, more immediate action would be to let the original creator know about it so that they could decide what they’d like to do. Not all artists are against reuse and reposts, but in general majority do request for credit/attribution at the very least. Although you could also try to report stolen work on your own, with the way most online platforms operate, they usually don’t entertain reports unless they’re filed by the original creator themselves. Informing reposters of the distastefulness of reposting and editing without permission, and tagging original creators in the comments for other people to know, can be helpful to some extent as well.

The unfortunate truth though is that people will continue to steal work unless it starts becoming unappealing to do so. Social media algorithm favors accounts that post frequently, and so it rewards active repost accounts with opportunities to have more engagement. Most casual social media users and people who are new to fandom don’t really equate art as something that is created by an individual, but instead view it almost like communal property that can be spread around and used freely. Most people also see art as a sort of consumable thing, and want it constantly and rapidly, so it’s more appealing for them to follow repost accounts, browse sites like pinterest, and to check out “art share” videos to see a wide array of art quickly, rather than to follow individual creators that might share content much more slowly. In order to prevent more reposting and redistribution, I think this is really an issue of supply and demand. If people were to stop giving reposters likes, views, and follows, only then would repost culture really taper and die out, I think. But this would bring into the equation how social media platforms are structured in a way that promotes fast-paced media consumption, and how most people don’t really value art enough to care to seek out or support individual creators. But maybe I am also just looking too deeply into things, haha! Regardless, it will be a long while before we’d see any impactful change in online communities regarding this though.

tldr; let the original creators know, don’t give reposters the attention and online validation they crave, and perhaps inform others about how reposting and redistribution is harmful. And if all else fails, just support your fave artists anyway in whatever ways you can. Maybe for every repost you see, then like/reblog or comment on the original artist’s posts! They’d appreciate it, no matter the day~

[filthforfriends]

Hey, what's your opinion on fans gatekeeping the band and what issue do you think the band have created. There seems to be a lot of discourse around atm 😊

On todays episode of apparently I have to idea what's going on in this fandom...y'all are gonna need to send me more info. general opinion on gatekeeping is the word is misused. Gatekeep means to limit access to something which we don't have the power to do because internet. however the emotion "gatekeeping" refers to is valid.

when I joined this fandom it was welcoming, but I know theres been a cultural shift. The sudden influx of new fans can result in complex, negative emotions in fans that have been here for years. the urge to "gatekeep" is totally understandable, but its not productive because the band desperately needs to rapidly gain a following right now.

I'm not sure in what capacity new fans are being kept out. fandom "gatekeeping" usually refers the the social rejection of new fans by current fandom members. Its often due to territorialism or the expectation that new fans should come into this fandom with an understanding of its social norms. If you've devoted a lot of time and identity to Maneskin, territoriality is a natural reaction. when you're really close to the band its hard to remember that they're public figures. as much as it might sting to feel you're loosing intimacy with the band, you've got to allow people room to grow. I made a couple social blunders when I joined this fandom, but y'all still accepted me. a lot of these fans might be younger as well.

my general rule of thumb is that if you're gonna be a dick to someone you better have a really good reason. people aren't going to not become fans because the fandom rejects them, its just going to result in a fractured fan community. don't be bully its not going to keep anyone out it'll just hurt their feelings

as for the band, I think they've done the opposite of "gatekeeping" they've made their TV performances more palatable. people might be having a difficult time with the bands standards and morals, but that doesn't mean they're "gatekeeping" Maneskin shouldn't have compromise their message because people are having a hard time accepting it.

again, I haven't personally seen any posts pertaining to this.

[kimberly-spirits13]

Right Hand Man (Loyal to the End) Pt. 9 (Final Part 😢)

Pairing: Damian Wayne x reader

Synopsis: You were like Talia’s daughter. The only thing was that you weren’t and instead, you had grown up in the foster care system and at a young age were taken by and personally trained by Talia. Along the way, you meet Damian and the two of you start to work side by side and eventually, after some time become closer and closer. However, when disaster in the league strikes, you face balancing an old, forgotten life as a normal child and the burden of right hand to the demon heir.

Note: I know that this is long and that there are a good number of time skips, but I didn’t want to make this into a series and just wanted it as a long fic because .... well because I can lol

Also, I didn’t want to have Damian so young in this so just go with it. I’m thinking maybe early 15 or almost 16 at the most. Idk I just don’t like writing for young Dami.

Warnings: mentions of blood, injury, almost dying, pit madness, angst 

Word Count:1285

Masterlist for Series

After Alfred removed the pipe that was in your stomach you started bleeding heavily. No one was ready for it and the amount of blood made it hard to work. Damian looked over and saw you bleeding out on the table and went into panic mode. He jumped up and started looking through your belt for something.

        “Damian- what are you...” Your eyes went wide as he pulled out a small glass of liquid, “You’re not going to do what I think you will are you?” You groaned.

        Talia had allowed you to have a vile of the pit just in case something happened and you needed to use it on Damian. If it was injected, it would be stronger so you always carried the proper supplies for it.

        “Pennyworth, a moment?” Damian pulled him to the side once you weren’t totally bleeding out, “She’s going to die isn’t she?”

        “Master Damian I- yes, she will die if something else isn’t done. I do not know what can be done.”

        Damian sighed, “We have to inject this into her, where ever the wound is. It’s a vile of the water from the pit. She has it to use for me, but, she needs it now.” “I’ll hold her down.”

        “Why ever would you have to...” Alfred thought about it before a long look came over his face, “I understand. Right away then.”

        Damian walked to you carefully, knowing you had an idea of what was to happen.

        “Dames, please don’t.” You whimpered.

        “Beloved, I know you hate it but it has to be done. I’ll be right here for you the entire time, you won’t be alone this time, I promise.” He said taking your hand in his, “Just let Pennyworth do this quickly and it’ll be over faster.”

        “Damian no!” You started crying, “Please not this, just let me die, please!”

        “Y/N, no you have to just listen to me. I’m right here, the entire time.” Damian said after Alfred put a hand on his shoulder.

        He pulled you to his chest close and held your hand as Alfred injected you with the stuff. Damian knew it would work, he just didn’t really know about what would happen to you after that. The issue of the pit’s madness might not be one here, however no one was entirely sure what an injection of it would do. He knew shortly after though.

        You screamed and cried into his shoulder almost not being able to breathe.

        “Make it stop please!” You begged, “It hurts, please!”

        “Beloved I’m right here.” He said, “I’m not leaving you.” A few minutes had passed and he knew from past experience that you’d be back in just a second. That didn’t make it easier. As you came off of the hallucinations and pain, you were silent. The silence was the worst part. It was like after all of that, you went into autopilot now just trying to figure out where you were and how to get topside. The sudden mental change was all too familiar but instead of waking up alone and in a cavern illuminated by the light of the pit, you woke under florescent lights that had been dimmed and a figure holding you tightly after Alfred had left. Your hands immediately found his hair and with the comfort and familiarity, your heart rate dropped to something normal instead of rushed.

        “Dami?” You blinked a few times, “Is it over yet?”

        “Yes beloved.” He said looking up, eyes puffy with tears in his eyes, “I’m sorry beloved, I just, I can’t... I don’t know what would happen if I didn’t have you with me.”

        “It’s okay Damian. It really is this time.” You sat up clutching your side some, “Doesn’t mean it won’t hurt for a little bit though.”

        “Here, let me help you.” Damian helped walk you upstairs to his room and wash your hair. With the number of wounds you had to have dressed and cleaned, you didn’t need a shower, just the rubble and dirt out of your hair. He pulled up a stool in front of the sink and held your head up and he washed the hair.

        You didn’t really know what to do or say, so instead you just sat back and let him take the lead for once. After drying your hair enough, you went and sat on his bed, him sitting behind you. He took sections of your hair and started braiding them over and over again.

        “I thought I was going to lose you Y/N.” He said, “You’re so stubborn.”

        You scoffed, “You’re one to talk demon.”

        “That is true General.” He remarked, “What you did was truly remarkable though.”         “I had to do it Damian. She was around the same age I was when I was brought to the league.” You said.

        “You should’ve seen the look on the mother’s face when I brought her back. She was so happy to see her.”

        “Well, at least if anything happened, a family would not have been lost tonight.”

        Damian didn’t respond, you knew he couldn’t because while he knew you were right, it pained him to think of you leaving him.

_______________________________________________________________________

        It was a few days later, your wound was healing rapidly probably just to leave a scar and sun was finally shining onto Gotham. Damian was out with the guys not of his own free will though. You were sure that when he got back there would be a ranting session about the dramatics of it all. Alfred had a day off right now and the rest of the family was gone. For the time, it was just you in the large house left alone to roam around as long as you wanted. With that silence and peace however, was an interruption. A knock at the door came and when you went to check, nothing was there but for a parcel sealed in wax addressed to you.

        You looked around knowing it was Talia’s writing and nodded before walking back inside and heading for your bedroom. Once sitting at your desk, you opened it up with the small knife you kept on you. Unraveling the letter that was set atop the actual package, you read it.

General Y/N,         I send this letter as an update to the league. Nothing has changed as the last one has arrived to your doorstep but for the slow process of filing through recruits once more. The attack was assisted by an inside source which is now being handled as seen fit. As for you, I have heard the news of your recent relationship with my son. I give you my blessing to continue, seeing as I have anticipated this for an extended amount of time. I also write this as a thank you for your recent near sacrifice. You have lived to my expectations dramatically and I see you were the right fit for this position. As such, I have obtained a second vile of the pit and sent it to you as a token of my gratitude.         Sincerely,         Talia al Ghul

      You smiled reading the letter before in code writing the important parts down in a leather journal you kept locked in a trick door on the third drawer of your desk. With the actual letter, you burned it in the fireplace which was already going. And with the ashes of the letter, you knew that this was the start of something new. You watched the rest of the letter disappear into the rest of the ashes and then headed outside for a walk in the sun, letting go of all of your issues for even a few moments of serenity.

-

-

GUYYSS I’m so sad that the series is over 😭! I loved writing this series so much and I really hope you guys enjoyed it too! I’m planning on making some headcannons and spin off one shots for it that I’ve thought up of and I wanna play more on the singing part cause I’ve developed more for it. Anyways... I’m starting a new series or smt I think cause I miss this series like Algebra misses its x

Tag List-

@we-want-mini-mini​ @a-door-into-my-mind​ @idkmanicantenglish​ @queengeorgiaaa​ @lucy-roo​ @wolfiemichele​ @grey-water-colors​ @random-fandom-girl-24​ @crumpets-are-better-with-jam​ 

[q--q]

So, I think I'm going to have to abandon my attempts to write for Romance of Tiger and Rose. As much as I love the characters, it's becoming rapidly apparent that:- 

1) I'm struggling to come up with a convincing plot which:- 

 a: results in my end-goal of OT3;

bi: gives Pei Heng a meaningful character arc (something the show flirted with but ultimately ignored);

 c: doesn’t feel horribly derivative; and

2) I lack the cultural understanding to write for cdramas in general. Like, I get the basics of the family dynamics/naming conventions etc. But as I’m writing it is becoming very clear that I am approaching all moral dilemmas, character arcs etc from a western perspective. And ... it’s not good. At best it’s clumsy and at worst it’s just outright offensive. It’s a valid criticism that’s been levelled at The Untamed fandom and I’m going to make the decision not to contribute similar issues to the RoTaR fandom. Ideally I’d work with a writing partner to deal with any issues of tone-deafness but no one I know well enough to write with knows any more than I do.

So, alas, no fanfic from me on this one.

But I really hope other people keep writing for the fandom. The show was cute and whilst it did have some problems, fanfic is the perfect way to address those.

(Also, I will remain a staunch Pei Heng/Han Shuo/Chen Qianqian fan - and really I want to read things which make that a reality. Also justice for Pei Heng - he deserved a better character arc)

[escarlatafox]

whispers for the 'send you a series' meme, i'm tempted to just be Unoriginal and say kung fu panda, but if you'd rather something else, i'm seeing a lot of steven universe around here jfjfiea

Masha ily. You know that, right? :D

Kung Fu Panda:

Favourite character: Who else but Shifu? XD

Second favourite character: It might actually be Po

Least favourite character: Hard to think of a least favourite character. If we ONLY count the main cast + the villains in the movies and exclude any other minor characters, then I’d say Kai maybe? Just wasn’t as impactful to me as the other characters/villains. Or if we include minor characters I might say the hugging panda from the third movie because the gag and his character didn’t really add much. Also, I’ve already spoken about this in the past, possibly more than once, but back when I was a child upon watching the first movie, my answer to this question would actually be Ping. Suffice it to say, my opinion on him changed a LOT. XD

The character I’m most like: Maybe I am like Po in some ways. At my core, I’m a fangirl lol. And I like food :O

Favourite pairing: Don’t really have any ships. Crane and the girl from that one short tho. Like idk if I’d want them to get together, maybe not now that I think about it. But it would be nice to see them interact more.

Least favourite pairing: HAH. Let’s just say I really hate what Legends of Awesomeness decided to do with Shifu in the shipping realm and leave it at that. :P

Favourite moment: YOU’RE GONNA MAKE ME CHOOSE? There’s no way. I could only list off notable ones. Okay, if we narrow it down to non-Shifu moments, off the top of my head, you obviously have the iconic cannonball scene at the end of kung fu panda 2, and in the THIRD movie I love love love how when Po is in the spirit realm and he says “turns out... I’m all of them” and the music swells and the framing and the scenery is just. so gorgeous . I love. So much. If I sat here thinking too long I’d probably start recapping all the movies SO since I’ve thrown those two out there I’ll cut myself off before I get too out of hand. XD

Rating out of 10: First movie is just 10/10 for me. It’s my favourite movie, not just in the franchise but like, probably ever among movies in general, and just about every moment and scene feels like home when I watch it. The trio of movies I’d then put at probably around 9/10.

Steven Universe:

Favourite character: I can now say with confidence that it is Steven Universe.

The people who liked Steven “before it was cool” certainly have bragging rights, because I was one of those people who failed to find myself among them, as I lacked the foresight, or... future vision for it. :P. At first, in the very early days, I didn’t really care for Steven. It’s often very easy to gloss over a protagonist, and, in my case, not truly appreciate what’s great in a character like early-days Steven, or even Po. Now, Steven and Po are, naturally, quite distinct characters in their distinct franchises but there are certainly parallels that can be drawn, not only in their character but how I initially felt towards them. By asking for both fandoms in the one ask, I feel like you’ve given me the opportunity to speak about this, which has been idly on my mind every so often. XDBoth Steven and Po are the protagonist of the franchise they’re in. They’re both fond of food, they both start out needing training and then develop incredible skills along the way until they become one of, if not the most powerful in the cast. They’re both generally very easygoing, excitable, enthusiastic, FRIENDLY, and generally kind. At the start of their journeys, there’s a lot of focus on how much they’re lacking in skills and abilities, how difficult it is for them to accomplish even the basics. They both gotta Save The World, whether it be more in the sense of the universe as a whole or China.And the thing is I had the same issue with Po as I did with early-days Steven; I didn’t realise how great Po is. I was just a little too dismissive. With time, (and I’m talking around the point where I actually entered the fandom after the second movie was out, so it was mostly kid me who is guilty of not recognising Po’s greatness) I grew to realise just how cool Po is, to truly appreciate his genuine enthusiasm and excitement and also utmost reverence and admiration of kung fu. I simply Expected Po’s character to be less than it was, which is what caused the oversight. But Po is honestly so fantastic and deserves every last bit of love the fandom has to offer him. Also, seeing his potential and him reaching his potential is so damn epic. See: his “turns out, I’m all of them” quote/scene I mentioned earlier.So to bring things back to Steven, whose character arc nonetheless has its VERY stark differences from Po’s, it was around when Steven managed to calm down and stop the cluster that it fully registered in my mind how fantastic and amazing he is and how much I appreciate his character. In fact, it was a little earlier than that. Pretty sure I hadn’t actually started watching the show yet when Sadie’s Song aired, but I was getting all the deets secondhand on my dashboard and I loved what I heard and saw in gifs/pics. A boy who just wants to perform and dance around on stage in heels and a gorgeous outfit to boot (I really liked the thought of trans girl Steven at the time tbh, which was being thrown about on my dashboard back then, though of course that’s not the path the show decided to go down, so he/him it is...!). He had my full support. And THEN when he calmed the cluster down like that... (and I think I was probably watching the show at that point?) I just, loved his incredible talent to reach out to others and HELP them, I loved his magical gem abilities and how he always seemed to be triumphing against the odds, and as the show progressed his feats only started getting more and more impressive. I absolutely noticed how much responsibilities he’d started forcing onto himself, how he was trying to manage everyone and be an adult to all the adults in his life, I was kind of intrigued by how much he was shouldering, and it struck me that he had developed an Atlas Personality long, long before he was ever listed as an example of it on the wikipedia page. I simply adored Steven and his placement in the show and everything.He’s also completely ACING things as usual in the movie too.And then Steven Universe Future hit, and oh boy, that’s a whole other story. Steven truly emerged as the forefront seeing as the focus was now unrelentingly on him and his issues. What initially got me really hooked as well, was the inherent shock and intrigue of seeing a character who would usually always do the right thing, who always seemed to know what was best for everyone, who always seemed to be able to read a situation and understand who needed help and then reaching out and offering them help... not only completely failing to recognise that HE was the source of a given problem (see: the pink dome rapidly closing in), but to actively dig himself deeper by being convinced SOMEONE ELSE was at fault, and whirling around and trying to pin it all on them. Before Steven whirled around to point at Lars, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was about to be like “guys, you know what? I think I’m causing this - I think I have some stuff going on” LOL NOPE. And that was only the tip of the ice berg. Steven had nowhere else to go but down, and boy, down did he go until he hit rock bottom, pulled out a shovel and started digging.

Second favourite character: Hard to say. I do know that I am crazy about the zircons (I mean c’mon - lawyers!). I was crazy about Blue Pearl when we first saw her too. My answer might’ve been Aquamarine or even Eyeball if it wasn’t for Steven Universe Future. Seeing more of them just kinda made me go “ok you know what, yeah this isn’t really what I expected and they’re not actually really my thing after all.” I reeeeally don’t know. Steven Universe has such a stellar cast of great characters. Steven Universe Future also kinda threw me off Spinel, but obviously Spinel is A+ as well.

Least favourite character: I don’t really care about Lapis. She just kind of lost appeal as a character to me and I never really understood her I guess. I was also never fond of the diamonds... because you know, discourse, and like, the discourse kind of has a point. But after Steven Universe Future I might invest more in trying to understand their positioning in the show a little more, now with the confirmation that Steven never did actually forgive them. I completely wrote-off White Diamond’s seemingly quick turnaround for the longest time and honestly never bought it and felt it was WAY too easy and rushed/forced. But I came to an internal understanding quite recently and I THINK I finally get what the show meant there so I think I can buy it now and find it believable at last, which is nice. So don’t quote me and don’t crucify me, but I might warm up to the diamonds a Little.

The character I’m most like: omg. There’s so many characters idk who is most like me hahaha

Favourite pairing: Connverse. Connie kissing Steven on the cheek in the movie made me SO pleased, and I can say this is my favourite pairing if only because the prospect of it not working out and instead going up in flames and not actually having a good resolution - which is a threat that felt so very real during Steven Universe Future - was deeply, DEEPLY upsetting to me. Like I didn’t care because I’d been taking it for GRANTED, but the moment anyone suggested, with alarming plausibility that they may split up or whatever, I was immediately on edge like “NO NO NO NO NO”.

Least favourite pairing: Stevinel. Stevidot. Just, any ship with Steven and any of the gems is an instant no from me. D:

Favourite moment: omggg. Again, there are simply way too many, so no answer I give here can or will be definitive. So I’ll simply state my love for when Steven is singing Change and Spinel yeets him in the sky and there’s the stellar animation where he goes “You can make it different... You can make it right! You can make it better! We don’t have to fight!”

Rating out of 10: I’d probably give it a 9/10, if only because, look. There are a LOT of shows out there. There are a lot of pieces of media I’m into and have watched. And Steven Universe is just. It’s good. Even when I like another piece of media MORE than Steven Universe, I can still more than readily acknowledge when/if SU has vastly superior writing. And it usually does. The only thing stopping me from giving it a 10/10 is because for the vast majority of SU’s existence I was mainly only ever a passive watcher/fan and/or got secondhand knowledge (closer to the start of it airing), so it lacks that fundamental closeness to my heart that something like Kung Fu Panda has. (Though I got way more close to it during SUF, as my reblogs can attest to LOL). The other thing stopping it from hitting that 10/10 is there are things I still take issue with, like how the Rose=Pink reveal undermines Pearl’s character (the “rebellion” aspect) and casts an EXTREMELY uncomfortable light on Pearl being in love with Rose. Yes, the show already showed us that Pearl’s obsession with Rose is unhealthy and problematised it. But regardless of how problematised it already was, I’m just not comfortable with a former slave being shown as being in love with their former master at all. What does that add, realistically? There are other valid criticisms that have been pointed out, namely how aspects of the show such as Sugilite’s role in Coach Steven do fail its Black audience. That undercurrent is there and it’s unfortunate.

[confessionsofa-roleplayer]

A lot of people don’t like submitting passwords. It’s a formal, slavish kind of task that makes people feel unequal, like they’re begging or demanding an RP, when maybe all they want to do is say ‘hi’, chat, and test the water. I’ve met quite a few people who won’t RP with someone if there’s a password, especially if it says in their rules they read the rules of everyone they’re interested in RPing with.

Passwords don’t do what people want them to, either. There’s no guarantee just because someone submits a password, they’ve read and understood the rules. People scan rules to find the password and submit it without reading more.

I used a password for a short time and rapidly gave it up because I found it was a barrier to RP, but I’ve found it isn’t quite enough to just expect someone to read rules before interacting. These are a few ways I deal with the issue of having my rules read, and I hope these techniques help someone.

First, I put an online name I use in my rules and invite people to greet me with it. I don’t use this name any other way, never identify with it on the blog or introduce myself with it. If I’m introducing myself, I use a shortened form of my url. People who have read my rules usually address me by my name. It’s kind of like a password but not; it’s not extra to ask an rp partner to use a name.

I’ve found having a combined rules and bio page is a great way to get people to read rules. People want the question of who someone is answered. They read bios. I’ve found it very helpful to start with my bio and then have my rules underneath, so it’s just a matter of scrolling down. It makes it clear that I identify with my rules and they’re not extra to me.

I make my rules page detailed. I put everything an rp partner could possibly want to know and everything they need to know about me in my rules. The whole point is that we don’t have to discuss anything about me in the initial chat and my partner and I can get right to rping, talking about muses and plotting. If people ask me about things they should already know, then I tell them where to find it.

I personally don’t like generic rules. This is why people start ignoring rules pages and don’t read them, honestly, they think they’ve read 'enough to know’.

I make the link to my rules easy to find. It’s a big button on my blog with the word 'RULES’ on it. I’ve had to hunt for rules pages before, mouse over a bunch of sparkles a few pixels in size to find the one that has a link attached.

Something else I do is in the initial chat is discuss rules, both mine and my partner’s. I’ll ask questions about things that are unclear in my partner’s rules. If I’m approached by someone unexpectedly, I’ll say “Hi, nice to meet you! I haven’t had a chance to read your rules, but I’m doing it right now!” (and go straight to their page and read them, of course) Something I like to ask is what tag they want for their triggers. If their rules are simple and generic, I’ll ask if there’s anything else they want me to know.

I’ll ask, 'did you have any trouble with my rules?’ Usually people will say they’ve read them or they haven’t glanced at them yet. If it’s the latter, I say something like 'my rules are long, the only thing that’s really important are this and this and this’. This not only highlights the bits in my rules that are definite boundaries, it actually, weirdly, encourages people to read the whole thing!

I have a 'no bullshit’ clause. This is where I put all the stuff that doesn’t fit under any of my other rules, usually anything about rping that’s become a peeve of mine, something I don’t want to do again, ever; for example, discuss my interpretation of my muses and how it’s 'wrong’, engage in fandom drama, and of course, deal with people who disrespect my boundaries and don’t read my rules.

A 'no bullshit’ clause is really helpful for other things, it can ward off all kinds of toxic behavior and give people a real feel for interpersonal compatibility.

I hope this helps someone negotiate the tricky business of getting people to read and respect rules.

[missmeikakuna]

Chad and the Incel Chapter 8

Rated: M

Fandom: Original Fiction (but inspired by the Virgin vs Chad meme)

Relationship type: Male/Male with a bit of Female/Female (the lesbians are adorable, btw) and unrequited Male/Female (in other words, the guys are bisexual).

Description: Chad is, well, a Chad, or at least he looks like one. He’s got his sights set on the cool nerd Becky and enlists the help of her shy incel ex-friend Noah, offering to help him get the gorgeous girl (Stacy) he desperately wants. Noah is reluctant to help, believing that he will be stuck in inceldom forever, but Chad’s interest in his life gives him hope. When their plans go awry, they start turning their romantic attention towards each other.

Content Warning: Given the subject matter, you can guess that this story has dark themes in it, such as suicide and self-harm (plus the mental health issues that often cause them), sexism, slut-shaming homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. There is also swearing and some mentions of sex but nothing too explicit (hence the M rating as opposed to an Explicit rating).

8th Post: [LifeFuel]  My crush likes me back

Noah rapidly raised and dropped his laptop, standing up and turning away from it. After remembering the price of the thing, he checked it for damages. Upon seeing no problems, he sighed and sat back down.

He put his headphones back on and played the game again. All the cartoonish gun sounds couldn’t drown out the voice in the back of his mind.

What’s with you lately?

He chose to ignore the voice but it only got louder, and as it got louder it pushed him to play harder, firing at everyone. Yes, even his teammates. He wasted bullets on players that couldn’t be harmed by him.

After his team lost the game, he slammed the headphones against the desk. Once again, he sheepishly checked for any damages and found none.

He leaned against the back on his chair and looked up at the ceiling.

The voice had disappeared but was replaced with an image of Chad smirking on the ceiling. He scowled at the image in his mind, only to swallow air when it was replaced with Chad’s fish-out-of-water face.

‘You’re… hot…’

Noah felt a twinge in his heart and throbbing down below. His shoulders became heavy as he unzipped his pants. As per usual, he pictured smoke rising from his hand and tried to ignore it.

After washing his hands, he picked up his phone, scrolled through the contacts and almost deleted Chad’s. His thumb hovered over the screen until he decided to keep it. The voice came back.

You should get a picture of him for the contact.

The thought put even more weight onto his shoulders. As if he was going to do that. It wasn’t like he missed him all that much.

He lied down on his bed, staring at the screen and trying to avoid the contacts app, though naturally his eyes kept going back to that little address book.

He groaned. ‘Fine,’ he hissed to himself. He sent Chad a message.

How are you? Been a while.

Chad replied surprisingly quickly, causing Noah to fumble with his phone after almost dropping it in shock.

Yeah, it has. I’ve been good. I need to go to bed soon so I’ll talk to you at school.

Chad kept his promise and chatted to him during class. At first, the conversation was slow and awkward, both boys trying to tiptoe around the issue of Chad calling Noah hot.

The conversation began to centre around sports, with Chad trying to convince Noah to watch one football game, something Noah had not done since he was eight. He reluctantly agreed on the condition that he watch Chad play first.

At football practice that afternoon, Noah leaned forward with his hands maintaining a strong grip on the metal bar in front of the bleachers. His eyes never left Chad as the player threw the ball with one of his muscular arms.

When practice ended, Noah congratulated Chad on doing well before sneaking out of the bleachers and shuffling to his car. On his way home, he saw a little NFL shop about to close for the day.

He rushed in and bought a generic poster with the NFL logo and a picture of a football. At home he blu-tacked the poster on the wall behind his bed’s headboard. 

He went onto his laptop and looked for ways to torrent NFL games. Instead of studying he ended up watching one and a half games until he fell asleep. His eyes subconsciously sought out the most handsome players and he even found a guy who looked like Chad. 

During the moments the players stopped, fantasies danced around his mind about what Chad would do with him in that uniform of his. At first, these fantasies were purely carnal, though they gradually changed into something a little different.

For instance, he imagined Chad running to the bleachers to kiss him after scoring a touchdown. He thought of the boy training him in football, complimenting his skills. He even made up a scenario in which he tended to Chad’s injuries.

After that last daydream, one question popped into his head.

The fuck is wrong with you?

He woke up late in the morning but couldn’t bring himself out of bed. He just lied there thinking about what those fantasies meant, what any fantasy he’d ever had about a guy meant. It wasn’t like he was gay. As much as women frustrated him to the point of stirring hatred within him, he still wanted them. No, he needed them.

His heart leapt in shock and something that totally wasn’t joy when he heard his phone buzz. It was a message from Chad.

Where are you?

Noah spent half a minute coming up with an excuse.

Sick.

Chad replied with some sad emojis like the normie he was.

I’ll meet you after school to check up on you.

Noah groaned.

You want to catch something?

Chad’s response sent a wave of warmth throughout Noah’s body.

I don’t, but I’ll feel worse if I don’t see for myself that you’re okay.

Noah smiled as he got up and made himself a meal he had learnt how to make from an anime. After finishing off his lunch, he went back onto his laptop and debating (or, to be more accurate, arguing) with someone on an anime forum.

Chad did what he said he was going to do, and quicker than expected. When Noah opened the door for him, Chad asked him how he was.

Noah coughed. ‘Good. I feel better now. You wait in my room and I’ll make us some coffee. You okay with having it black?’ 

‘Yeah, but aren’t you still sick? I should make it.’

‘It’s fine, really.’ Noah nudged him into his room.

Chad spun around on the chair by the desk. As he stopped the chair, his hand slipped on the mouse, moving it enough to wake the laptop from its screensaver mode. A tab showed a forum debate entitled ‘Are Traps Gay?’

When Noah entered the room with two cups of coffee, Chad asked him, ‘What are traps? I’m guessing you’re not talking about stuff used for hunting, unless hunting’s a gay activity now.’ This caused Noah to spill some of the coffee as he slammed the mugs on the desk.

‘N-none of your business.’ Chad took out his phone. ‘Wait!’ Noah shouted as he closed the door behind him. He whispered, ‘Okay, so, uh, in anime there are these guys called ‘traps’ who look like girls.’

Chad joined him in speaking with a hushed voice. ‘Sounds like an insult.’

‘H-how?’

‘Well, a trap means you’re, I don’t know, tricking someone, right? Are these anime dudes who look like chicks tricking people or something? Or is the word a coincidence or something like that?’

‘Well, uh, no, I mean, I think the word comes from that, but, uh…’ Noah looked around the room for a way to change the subject but found nothing. The whispering ended. ‘It-It’s a compliment nowadays!’

‘Really? Doesn’t sound like one,’ Chad said as he shrugged his shoulders.

‘The question isn't really about those guys anyway, so it doesn’t matter if they’re ‘tricking’ you or not. It’s more about if you’re gay for liking them. They’re, uh, popular with dudes.’

‘Sounds pretty gay to me.’

‘It’s not! Absolutely not! You think some faggot would be into anime characters who look like girls? No, it’s the realm of the straight men. Only straight men can appreciate these beauties.’

Chad stood up and leaned closer to Noah. ‘So you’re into dudes?’

‘No, it doesn’t count, it doesn’t-’

‘Would you fuck a real-life guy in a dress?’

‘Uh… n-no…’

Chad smirked as some mysterious, much more confident force possessed him and made words he never expected to say spew from his mouth.  Perhaps it was Noah’s relatable nervousness that made him feel oddly safe. He put his hand between Noah’s shoulder and his neck, lightly rubbing the area.

‘Would you fuck me if I looked like a girl?’

Noah didn’t respond, at least verbally. He just stared at Chad, who leaned closer and drank in the delicious sound of his heartbeat.

The stare lasted a good twenty or so seconds before their bodies joined together in a heated kiss. As Noah panted with desire, the zest of ginger and the scent of honey from his lunch lit up Chad’s mind, as did his partner’s heartbeat, which continued to get louder and faster. Chad’s heart and breaths quickly matched him as he held his cheeks, his thumbs stroking the hair in front of his ears. He continued kissing him even as he started becoming more aware of what he was doing, as any fear he could possibly feel was replaced with the endorphins he usually got playing football.

Part of him had expected an overly slobbery kiss, so he grinned when he noticed that this wasn’t the one he was having. Noah’s lips were a little rough but Chad enjoyed every inch of them. Noah’s skin was hot and, in contrast with his lips, soft. 

He pushed Chad onto the chair and stuck his tongue in his mouth, reaching for the taller man’s coat to take it off. Chad shivered at this sudden display of dominance and helped him fling off the coat. Noah only let go of him to turn on the CD player and soon the sounds of their kiss were hidden under the swelling of a boisterous symphony. They moved to the bed, grasping at each other’s clothes to remove them as quickly as possible.

The air was filled with heavy breaths that gradually slowed down. The duo felt almost sick from the smell of the room. The CD player finished its current track before Noah turned it off. He turned until his back was facing Chad, who placed his hand on the shorter man’s hip.

‘How was it?’ he murmured. Noah shrugged, refusing to look at him and yet again focusing on his own hands as if smoke was emanating from them. ‘That bad, huh? Sorry, I’m new to this. That was my first time.’

Noah rolled back with the speed of a tumble dryer. ‘The fuck are you talking about? There’s no way you were a virgin. What about all those girls that throw themselves at you?’

‘What girls?’ 

Noah stared at Chad like the man was high. Chad stroked his hip with his thumb as he said, ‘And besides, even if I did sleep with girls, it’s not like that would prepare me to sleep with a guy. I doubt many girls would be interested in doing what you…’ He laughed nervously.

Noah covered his eyes with his bangs. ‘Oh. Yeah. Speaking of which, are you… sore?’

Chad shifted his butt on the bed. ‘A little. Maybe we should have done more prep.’ He reached underneath the sheets and pulled out a bottle. ‘This is pretty good stuff, though. And the condoms… why’d you have these on you?’

Noah gulped, staring at the ceiling, then the door, anything to prevent him from having to look at Chad.

‘In… in case I needed to use them… with a girl. I bought them when you made me think for a second that maybe I could actually get a girl.’

Chad sighed. ‘Yeah, so, uh, what exactly are we? I mean, are we… what’s it called… bisexual?’

Noah pulled the sheets up despite showing no shame a few minutes earlier. ‘No way,’ he said with a shake of the head like a dog leaving a bath. ‘This is… fucked. I shouldn’t have… we shouldn’t have… Let’s just forget about this. It never happened, alright?’

Chad dropped the bottle and looked down at the sheets with a frown. ‘Was I really that bad? Or couldn’t you picture me as a girl? Maybe you are straight after all-’

‘You were fine!’ Noah snapped. ‘And I didn’t imagine you as a girl. You were… okay. It felt good.’ He looked at the evidence of this: the condom in the bin. ‘It’s just that… my first time wasn’t supposed to be ‘okay’.’

‘What’d you expect it to be like? It’s not like either of us are very experienced.’

‘I don’t know. Just better. It almost feels like nothing happened. I mean, for Christ’s sake, I lost my virginity! That’s a big deal, isn’t it? It’s not like I can undo it.’ Noah tightened his grip on his sheets until his knuckles turned white. ‘So why don’t I feel any different?’

With another sigh Chad turned around and got off the bed. Unsure how to reply to that question, he asked Noah where the bathroom was but, before Noah could answer, they heard a knock on the door. 

‘Noah, are you decent?’ a feminine voice called out.

‘No!’

‘Well hurry up and get dressed. Family meeting.’

Noah looked from side to side in thought before shoving Chad in the closet and pulling the quilt over the sheets to hide the evidence. He picked up the clothes he wore from before and threw Chad’s clothes into the closet.

‘Family meeting? Since when do we have those?’

‘We do now! Your father and I can’t decide on dinner.’

Noah pulled his jeans up, trying to ignore the sudden stickiness of his underwear. ‘Well, decide for yourself! You don’t need me.’ Chad felt his heart twist but he focused on his task of putting clothes on while cramped in a closet. Noah threw a shirt on and opened the door just a little, not so much as to show what was on his bed.

His mother pinched her nose. ‘What’s that smell?’

‘Nothing! I’m sure it’s nothing.’

After hearing the door slam shut, Chad made his way out of the closet, picked up his bag and coat and snuck out of the room. He tiptoed through the living room. He locked eyes with Noah, who gave him a deer in the headlights look. His parents turned their heads and Chad ducked down behind the couch, holding his breath. His heart sped up as he crawled to the door. He looked at Noah one last time and put his hand on the door.

Noah looked in the opposite direction and yelled, ‘Did you see that? Mittens just jumped for no reason!’ Chad opened the door. ‘I think she saw a mouse!’ Chad closed the door behind him and slowly exhaled. 

Once the family meeting ended, Noah took to Incels.me and discovered that the website was gone. He was fuming when he learned that it was taken down. He searched around for a replacement and quickly found one. He joined it under a new username and began to write, changing Chad from a ‘he’ to an unnamed ‘she’.

Rotcel2003- [LifeFuel] My crush likes me back

Well, this is only half life fuel. On the one hand, I just slept with my crush. It was fairly good, and she’s pretty hot, but it wasn’t life-changing. It kind of makes me question why I was so obsessed with losing my virginity. Is this really the life of an ascended incel? I don’t know. 

I can’t help but wonder if it was worth doing stuff with her. I mean, what kind of femoid would be into me? She clearly has low standards to date a sub-3 like me. And it’s even weirder when you consider that it started with us talking about anime. She doesn’t even watch anime! Plus, we were talking about traps, not exactly prime normie material.

So yeah, I’m conflicted.

When Noah went back onto the post, he was shocked at the influx of replies calling him a bluepilled cuck and saying he was bragging. Someone even accused him of being a normie trying to pass himself off as an incel.

It was that night when Chad decided to look up this whole incel thing. He came across the same forum Noah visited and saw a post about a discussion of anime ‘traps’ leading to sex.

His fish-out-of-water eyes returned. 

[sadboi-in-a-sweater]

Interfandomal Power Scaling is a Pointless Mess

Plot summary: Sadboi uses general physics and creativity to explain why Deathbattle shouldn’t be a valid measure of a character’s crossover strength, while slowly going feral.

Alright, you were curious enough to expand this post. Sit down and buckle your fxckles ‘cause I’m going to go INTELLIGENTLY *FERAL*. SENTO HAZARD OVERFLOW MODE IF YOU WILL.

I have a bit of an issue with interfandomal power scaling. You know, the kind that people have made into memes. I have an unironic problem with it, specifically when people legitimately try using it as a measurement of a character’s strength.

For one, I do not have the time to argue for/against your case for many reasons, for two, most of these measurements are probably estimates or approximations done by other fans and are probably not exactly canon (and while I’m all for headcanons and fanon that make sense, in franchises not open to fanon changes then I simply can’t take those numbers as complete, confirmed canon), and for three, “[X character] could/could’ve/should’ve beat [Y character] in a fight” isn’t my thing, because bro IT’S STORYTELLING, the writers do what they want with/without the director’s whim. Interfandomal power scaling is a mess because most of it is done by many fans of many series.

That isn’t to say I advise against pitting two characters each from two different franchises against each other in a fight, it’s just that trying to use such things as anything but entertainment comes off as... I can’t think of the word if it exists, but a word similar to pretentious but about pop culture stuff.

Anyhow, onto the part where I explain how infinitesimally pointless using deathbattles as a legitimate measurement is with physics.

Using Kamen Rider Agito Ground Form as an example, according to the Kamen Rider Fandom Wiki (Source: https://kamenrider.fandom.com/wiki/Kamen_Rider_Agito_(Rider)#Ground):

  - The rider’s weight is 95kg

  - The rider’s maximum jump height is 30m

  - The rider’s maximum running speed is 100m/5s

  - The rider’s kick finisher has 30T of force exerted on the target

Assuming that the example scene is the typical setup for any good ol’ rider kick: then the target (which is Panthera Cyaneus for our example) is standing, staggered and staying still on the ground; while Agito is 30m in the air and is rapidly approaching at ~20m/s (100/5=20, with some wiggle room for gravity as acceleration), finally colliding with the Lord some seconds later at a FRIGHTENING contact force of 249,199.5N (converted from 30T). With some thinking and MSPaint magic, we get Diagram A:

If you’re like a lot of people, then you’re struggling to comprehend that number. So for reference, most everyday actions like walking exert contact forces that’ll probably never reach those numbers (feel free to correct me though since physics isn’t really my thing).

How hard was poor Cyaneus rider kicked, you might now be wondering? And if you aren’t, too bad I already did the math and I got this number.

Again, feel free to correct me because I only know how to clearly do this because I’ve been taking general physics recently for college, and my main passion is being that one friend in the group chat who crushes fandoms together and has the drawing skills to decently back it up.

Again, most people (like myself) tend to struggle with visualizing numbers greater than like, 20 or 30. So numbers large enough to be 4+ digits long tend to become abstracted in the human mind to be just a number and is unable to truly understand the magnitude of values that great.

In my opinion, spitting out numbers that long with a unit tagged onto the end goes through the brain without being fully registered in the brain.

If you’re like me (if the Kamen Rider Agito example didn’t already give it away), you’ve probably hovered around the Toku fandom, specifically the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai sides of it. And since this is a long post about power scaling, then you’re already anticipating what I’m going to bring up:

Kuuga’s Rising Mighty Nuke Kick.

Those five words would be the ones I would use if I were asked why interfandomal power scaling is pointless in a limited amount of letters. Some franchises just go on for so long that the stakes are eventually going to get mind-bogglingly intense.

For context (because I know this is going to reach people that otherwise wouldn’t understand), Kamen Rider Kuuga has 12 forms: Growing, Mighty, Dragon, Pegasus, Titan, Rising Mighty, Rising Dragon, Rising Pegasus, Rising Titan, Amazing Mighty, Ultimate, and Rising Ultimate; so there are 6 tiers of form strength (Growing, Standard, Rising, Amazing, Ultimate, and Rising Ultimate). Rising Mighty is a form on the second form strength tier, however of any first upgrade tier for any primary kamen rider that I can think of, Rising tier is probably the most insane I can remember in terms of power gap. To be fair, Kuuga was the true testing ground for kamen rider forms as we know them today, so I could imagine that not everything was ironed out back then (because off the top of my head, I can’t think of any riders with a true “base form” aside from Kuuga and Den-O: Kuuga having Growing Form and Den-O having Plat Form. Both are practically useless in combat and are mostly used as a base to put another, stronger form onto, like a nice paint primer.)

That out of the way,

As the complex noun “Kuuga’s Rising Mighty Nuke Kick” might suggest, it is the rider kick finisher that is available with Kuuga Rising Mighty Form which has the strength of a nuke. Otherwise, I consider it a statement to how mind-numbing trying to make a character stronger than one that is nigh already destruction itself is. I don’t even know what to talk about anymore.

If you made it all the way down here, then thanks. I needed to get this out of my system. qwq

[aibidil]

2017 Feel-Good Drarry Fic

A few days ago I posted a rec list of 2017 Drarry fic that tackled Important Issues. But not every fic has to be important or political, and I wanted to also put together a list of some fics that have made us smile, laugh, cackle, awwww, and generally feel good about life. Thank you to everyone who puts a smile on the collective face of the fandom. Again, this is not a “best-of” or “favorites” list, and it is unavoidably subjective (and thank you to everyone who contributed ideas to the list!), but I hope you get some joy from these fics. Humor, fluff, crack, and smiles ahead (in no particular order)!

Pretty Fond of Not Very Good Ideas by @lqtraintracks: Harry Peterson, Orderer Extraordinaire, and his trusty sidekick, Ray. Or: Harry's been hit with a memory charm, but it's okay because he realises he's bent for Draco Malfoy.

It looked a lot bigger in the picture by @ravenclawsquill: Draco is determined to experience the full novelty of an authentic Muggle holiday. Harry doesn't quite understand, but when does he ever understand Draco? (Or, the time Harry and Draco accidentally went dogging in a car the size of a matchbox.) 

I Can’t Take It! by @xx-thedarklord-xx: After the war, Draco Malfoy became an author. A best selling author whose books move the hearts of those who read them. Which wouldn't be a problem for Ron if all of them weren't about Harry! It was obvious to him that Malfoy was in love with his best friend but why was it that no one else seemed to think so? He was going to get to the bottom of this and get Harry to stop mooning over the blonde idiot at the same time. Perhaps, they just needed someone to come along and get them to fess up. For the safety of his own sanity, Ron was going to help Malfoy ensnare Harry. That is, if they can get along long enough not to kill each other.

It’s Our Party and We’ll Fuck If We Want To by @firethesound: It's like if a tree falls in the forest, Harry thinks. Sneaking away to blow his boyfriend in a coat closet at their own housewarming is only a bad idea if they get caught, right?

A Hyperactive Fruit, a Nasty Neighbour and a Love Story by @synonym-for-life: Potter’s pet Niffler is wreaking havoc in Godric’s Hollow and Draco, the Assistant Head to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, is the one that has to deal with it. Repeatedly. The fact that Potter keeps coming to Draco’s office in grey jogging bottoms - repeatedly - does in no way help the matter. 

Just Friends (Or Why Draco Malfoy Shouldn’t Have Sex in His Office) by @unadulteratedstorycollector: Harry and Draco are Auror partners, friends, and um... well, that's it. Yes, Hermione, that is it. At least it is until Harry catches him doing a certain something that he can't get out of his mind.

Mugglewear and Broomstick Skills by @callingdrarry: The eighth years attempt a game of football in Muggle Studies. What is meant to be an insight into Muggle sports turns into a fashion show of ridiculous outfits and Harry nearly losing his mind.

when life hands you (lulu)lemons by @carpemermaidtales: Harry grows bored with his usual running path, and finds himself a surprising new jogging partner when he takes a different route. 

The River Thames on a Sunday by @lqtraintracks: A slice of their life in London. Harry jogs. Draco tinkers about. There's rimming. And tea.

Better Than an Origami Bird by @o0o-chibaken-o0o and @jadepresley: A series of letters in which Harry and Draco argue, play truth or dare, get kinky, and are a couple of very naughty (or very good, depending on who you ask) boys during class.

The Sleeping Beauty Curse by anonymous for HD-Erised: When Draco Malfoy falls into a cursed sleep and can only be woken – at least, according to the Daily Prophet, that impeccable source of truth – by ‘true love’s kiss’, Harry Potter knows there’s no way on earth he’s the answer to this particular riddle. Is he . . .?

The Full Monty by @magpiefngrl: Harry poses for a naked Auror calendar and Draco goes batshit crazy with lust.

Fervor by @goldentruth813: Draco hates being woken up in the middle of the night. But he likes sex, and he loves Harry. So maybe it's not so bad after all.

Divination for Dickheads by @seefin: It doesn't actually turn out to be the worst birthday present he's ever been given.

Can I kiss you? by @rose-grangerweasleyisbae: Teddy had been over the moon when Harry had allowed Draco to tag along with the annual Weasley beach weekend when Andromeda couldn't come. Draco not so much. Would Teddy's cousin and godfather ever get along?

Shatterproof Plan by digthewriter: Teddy drags Draco to Australia for Christmas. Draco is down on himself for being forty and still single. They see Harry. Angst. Past relationship drama. Happy ending.

There’s No Espresso in Azkaban by @sassy-cissa: When Harry finds Draco working in a Starbucks, he finds coffee has suddenly become more interesting.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Cake Rota by @gingertodgers: Harry and Draco are drafted onto the office cake rota.

The Slickening: From Devil’s Snare to Penetratio Totalus by @aibidil, @bixgirl1, @carpemermaidtales, @femmequixotic, @noeeon, @shiftylinguini: Sometimes help comes from the place you least expect it.

Moon-Eyed by @l0vegl0wsinthedark: Draco Malfoy, Head of Veela Affairs at the Department of Magical Beings, does not do people favours. Harry Potter, recently turned werewolf, is not “people” – not to Draco anyway. Does Draco plan to fall in love with Harry when he decides to help him? No. Does he end up falling in love with him anyway? Pft, what do you think?

He Whose Hand and Eye Are Gentle by khalulu: Draco reads poems and sometimes writes them. Harry receives poems and sometimes reads them. Rutherford delivers poems via the scenic route. Wombat snores. Eventually, all comes together, with help from the foxes in red bibs and the sumo referee.

Shades of You by @bloodyflammable: Draco certainly never intended to be a style consultant for the seriously fashion challenged, but after the war and the reparations his family had to pay, it was clear he would need to earn a living. However, if having to earn a living meant he got to admire Potter’s arse and shoulders in well-fitted clothes, it wasn’t that bad. Or was it?

Group Chat by @jadepresley: A screenshot of a group chat conversation between Draco, Harry, Ron, Pansy, Hermione and Theo.

Like Cinderella, But With Cock by @l0vegl0wsinthedark: ”Oh, shit,” he groans, “This is like Cinderella, isn’t it?! Like Cinderella, but with cock. Cock instead of slippers.” Where Harry’s hexed so that he can’t lose his erection until he sleeps with his soulmate. If only those were easier to find.

November Third by @queenofthyme: November third. It should have been a day like any other. Except it never was. Not for Draco Malfoy. Every November 3rd, the universe seemed to grant Draco Malfoy a chance with Harry Potter. A chance for what exactly, it wasn’t always clear. But something more than their rivalry. Something more than the empty words they shouted at each other across the schoolyard. Something that grew into a little bit more something every year.

Howlr by @partialtopotter: Howlr is the new dating application enchanting Witches, Wizards and Everyone in between. Are you looking for the one or a one-night stand; it’s all here folks. Howlr is sponsored by Weasley Wizard Wheezes, the same team that brought us the Spellular just two years ago. Ginny Weasley, famed chaser for the Hollyhead Harpies, swears by the app, ‘guaranteed to make sparks fly,’ she says. The magic awaits you!

It’s Joggers Season (or so the Muggles say) by @carpemermaidtales: Everything about Draco’s life since May has been one bloody long exercise in subverting everything he’s known, that’s expected of him, in an effort to get as far away from the mistakes he’s made—the wrong choices he was forced into. He’s returned to Hogwarts to take his N.E.W.T.s and everything is different—namely, Harry Potter strutting around in clingy joggers that Draco can’t get off his mind.

Quietly, as Requested by @shiftylinguini: Harry was trying to pretend Draco’s warm thigh against his own didn’t make his heart thump and his cock start to fill out inside his usual lazy Sunday attire ― which consisted of a t-shirt with a hole in the armpit and the world’s oldest, rattiest, ugliest and most comfortable pair of joggers. In comparison, Draco was wearing a buttoned up shirt and a pair of crisp, black trousers, which made him both seem impressively attractive and also entirely overdressed for this kind of occasion. Harry lifted one knee, trying to shield the view of his slightly tenting joggers, and the state he was rapidly finding himself in. Perhaps inviting Draco to Sunday Bad Movie night at Ron’s wasn’t that smart an idea after all.

Tackson Pollock [ALIYTM oneshot] by saras_girl: It’s a wet Sunday afternoon. What are a beetle and a Gryffindor to do? 

Dance Magic, Dance by @jet-playin: Only one person can make this Halloween night worth Harry's ridiculous costume, and he's not here...

Christmas lights to melt your heart by phrynne: The light does not move. It does not flicker, does not fade. He has the strange feeling it’s waiting for him. Basically, what the tags say + Harry is romantic af + Draco is clueless.

The Romantic Prawn Who Loved Christmas by @bixgirl1: When Draco, forced into sharing a room with Potter for the year, finds out that Potter has a sleepwalking problem, he expects the odd conversations and the weird games of chess. What comes as a complete shock are Potter's other activities...And why he seems so intent on having Draco join him. (Relax. It's just like a holiday Hallmark movie! ...With, uhm, sleepwanking.)

[davidmann95]

I feel like public opinions on Superman is higher than its been for a while, thoughts?

I’m afraid I very thoroughly disagree. In fact, thinking about DC’s handling of Superman recently - a common topic of late-night brooding sessions - it really occurred to me what an absolutely hellish decade the dude’s had.

2008: Kurt Busiek leaves Superman, James Robinson takes over (according to some in the place of Mark Waid), the book immediately goes to shit. New Krypton later begins, the entire Superman line collectively understood among fandom as going to shit along with it.

2009: As a consequence of the aforementioned New Krypton situation, Superman is in neither Superman nor Action Comics for the majority of the year, both being taken over by - generously - C-listers.

2010: Superman: Earth One, I would sincerely argue the worst Superman comic of all time and one that even at the time drew snickering comparisons to Twilight, is DC’s major outreach towards the bookstore market. Young Justice begins to considerable approval, portraying him as essentially a deadbeat dad who refuses to acknowledge Superboy as family, or even acknowledge him period to the extent that can be helped until the season finale. New Krypton fades into Grounded, among the most widely reviled Superman stories ever.

2011: Smallville, the last ongoing TV series to star Clark Kent, ends; many (even if I’m not among them myself) are understandably enraged that Tom Welling never actually appears as Superman aside from a split-second shirt rip, seeing it as a betrayal of the premise of the series and ten years of buildup. Meanwhile, the comics reboot him with a Jim Lee design that, at arguable best, works in few hands but his own (or more honestly is flat-out bad). Grant Morrison’s seemingly sure-thing relaunch of Action Comics, while greatly enjoyed by some such as myself, rapidly faces negative comparisons to his All-Star Superman work, which paired with dismal showings for the character in Justice League and Superman proper, along with publisher statements attempting to reinforce him as a brooding, violent, lonely avenger, result in a substantial and enduring fan backlash.

2012: The reboot separation from Lois Lane and tone-deaf efforts towards making Superman cooler culminate in a painfully stiff new relationship with Wonder Woman, to even further fan backlash. Noted sexual harasser Eddie Berganza, already internally acknowledged by DC as such, is demoted and handed custody of the Superman books in what was apparently considered an appropriate punishment. Scott Lobdell, already under fire for his treatment of Starfire at the beginning of the New 52 and facing a generally tepid creative response to his DC work, including Superboy, is given Superman proper.

2013: Man of Steel debuts to…let’s say divisive results. Injustice becomes his most prominent video game incarnation since Superman 64 by default. Grant Morrison’s Action Comics concludes, with incoming Andy Diggle leaving the book before his first issue is even released, and ending up under Scott Lobdell for a bit before finally finding its way to Greg Pak.

2014: At the tail end of a mercifully pretty dang good year, with even the customary bloated crossover Doomed ending up better than most (in spite of a shoehorned in pair of instances of Superman being forced to kill to match the movies), Superman Unchained concludes after months of devastating delays, signalling the beginning of the end of the creative triumvirate of Scott Snyder/Jim Lee, Geoff Johns/John Romita Jr., and Greg Pak/Aaron Kuder/Jae Lee attempting to rehabilitate his comics image. Before long, Johns leaves his book to Gene Yang’s hands in what ended up an unpredictably disastrous tenure, while Pak and company are buried under crossovers.

2015: Truth begins to - aside from a headline-grabbing early segment by Pak and Kuder with Superman standing with protesters against police - near-universal hatred by the fanbase, seeing it as DC’s latest cringingly tone-deaf and desperate effort at making Superman conventionally cool, while severely undermining Lois Lane’ character in the process.

2016: Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice is released, almost immediately becoming the most ubiquitous cultural shorthand for ‘bad movie’ since Transformers. Tyler Hoechlin debuts as Superman on Supergirl to the most mainstream praise the character has received in literal decades, with the CW and WB responding by publicly stating that they have no intention of developing a series for him. Superman dies in the comics after a short and ignominious crossover, replaced - to be fair, to no small degree of fan acclaim, even if I didn’t share in the love - by his own past-continuity self, a state of late-90s X-Men-esque continuity bugfuckery lasting about a year. Superman: American Alien, the most generally well-received Superman story for years in either direction, concludes; its author would flee from public life the following year after being repeatedly accused of sexual assault.

2017: Justice League’s attempt at reorienting Superman towards a more classic take, while winning some praise, is generally useless in the face of critical antipathy towards the film and crushing financial failure relative to expectations, with the bulk of Superman-related discussion spinning out of it focusing on his unfortunate CGI mouth. Injustice 2 is released, with no ‘good’ universe Superman this time to contrast the games’ take on him as a tyrannical mass-murderer.

2018: Action Comics #1000 dropped to broadly positive results…with the exception of the story by the actual incoming writer of the line, which while I enjoyed it, was hated by a significant number of readers as far as I can tell. Additionally, if the new rumors are true, the team behind All-Star Superman had a story prepared for it that was spiked to avoid somehow clashing with Doomsday Clock - a company-steering comic advertised as being largely about him that has yet to feature him in any meaningful capacity one third of the way through aside from him cameoing having a nightmare - and if that’s true, whether as a matter of unfortunate logistics or ego, if there’s a metaphor for everything wrong with modern DC comics more potent than Superman being so profoundly screwed over for his 1000th issue on his 80th birthday for the sake of not maybe spiritually contradicting them doing more Watchmen knock-off comics, I can’t think of it. As of this writing, Superman is one of the two Justice Leaguers not officially known to have a movie in active development; by next year there will be TV shows starring Supergirl with Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane with Lex Luthor, and Jor-El’s father with Adam Strange, but no indications have emerged that Tyler Hoechlin might reemerge in any capacity, nevermind get his own series; aside from the Bendis run, the only major Superman comics project on the horizon is his one book for the Black Label (where Batman and Wonder Woman get two projects apiece, largely by fan-favorite creators), Superman: Year One by Frank Miller and Romita Jr., the former being the writer of the infamously racist Holy Terror.

So no. Superman is not doing good. Not on any front. There has been good stuff to be sure, but on the macro scale? Superman hasn’t been doing good in a very, very long time.

[recentanimenews]

My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As I Expected, Vol. 6

By Wataru Watari and Ponkan 8. Released in Japan as “Yahari Ore no Seishun Rabukome wa Machigatte Iru” by Shogakukan. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Jennifer Ward.

This volume was pushed back a month or two, and when it finally did come out I didn’t have the time to read it except in short chunks. This is probably one of the reasons that I feel so exhausted after reading it, but the other is the subject matter. For a book that’s supposed to be a “romantic comedy”, which does have a generous helping of humor, it can be extremely depressing. It doesn’t help that this is exactly what the author is going for – after yet another problem is solved by Hachiman getting everyone to unite in hating him (and thus supporting the girl with the problem), his teacher reminds him that while Hachiman may not care about everyone’s bad feelings, there are others that worry about him. This includes her, as well as Yukino and Yui, but learning this lesson is, I think, going to take a few more volumes. Meaning that I may still be glum about this humorous series.

The subject of the book is the school’s Cultural Festival. Hachiman’s class is putting on a production of The Little Prince, which is not BL despite the best efforts of its adapter. Hachiman himself is on the festival committee, despite his best efforts, in the “Records and Miscellaneous” department, which rapidly becomes “defer everything we don’t want to do to here”. The supposed Festival Chairman is Sagami, a young woman with confidence issues who tries to get herself back in the “cool kids” group by taking this on, but in reality everything is being done by the vice-chairman, Yukino, almost to her physical and mental detriment, because since the chairman is flaking on things, everyone else decides to flake as well. And there’s also Yukino’s older sister lurking around the festival, making things worse in the way that only family can. Is this festival really going to be OK?

Well, yes, it pretty much is. There are no major festival disasters on this watch, mostly as Yukino is very good at organization (delegation, not so much). We are gradually seeing her warm up to a few people, particularly Yui, who remains the bright ball of sunshine in this series despite not having all that much to do in this book. The trouble, of course, is Hachiman, who once again narrates the book in a jaded, cynical and otaku-ish tone that serves to belie the fact that he really does care about these people and, when push comes to shove, wants to help them. But because of his self-image, he feels that it’s fine to solve a problem by throwing himself under the bus. Which is ironic, given how our three leads’ lives interacted at the start of the series. Despite being reminded that there are people who value him, the book ends with Yui taking a reluctant Yukino to the after party, while Hachiman resolutely doesn’t go.

I realize that once Hachiman learns from his past mistakes, we’re reaching the end of the series. And this is still very well written with interesting characters I want to see succeed. But man, it’s a slog, and right now I don’t really want either Yukino *or* Yui to end up with Hachiman. (There is a yuri fandom for it, right?) Definitely recommended for fans of the series, however.

By: Sean Gaffney