#i will find comfort and joy in creating in spite of them

[rowanisawriter]

i have something to say. AI is scraping the whole internet while it learns how to string words together so it can become smart enough to take most of our jobs. it will scrape everything, read books and watch movies and videos and look at digitized forms and pictures and licenses and whatever it can find on the internet and even outside of the internet, it scrapes your work systems it reads your documents and powerpoints and emails. until they find another shiny new toy to sell to each other, the corps will keep AI alive and hungry. the future is unclear and scary and wild. all i have is art and writing and stories and sharing them with you with no motives other than because i love stories and you, a person with a heart and soul that needs art like air, you do too. i will continue to write even if AI eats every word as soon as i type it. and i will still share it with you because i love writing and i love you

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Unsurprisingly, a lot of the commentary I'm seeing about this has been of the "But--but--I would do the same thing because I don't want anything bad to happen to the deer!"

Look. I love wildlife, and I love getting to see deer, coyotes, and even the occasional black bear in my neighborhood. But they are here because there is good habitat nearby with lots of natural food sources, not because I deliberately put out food for them to eat. I respect them as wild animals with whom my relationship is very different compared to the domesticated animals I take care of every day. A deer is not a sheep or a horse; a coyote is not a dog.

People who do things like try to tame deer or, worse yet, try to raise a fawn or other young wildlife like pets are robbing those wild animals of their natural existences. We've already wrought our own preferences on the landscape to a severe degree, tearing the wildness out of it to create lawns and farms and subdivisions and strip malls. When we then dismiss the wildness of these animals and impress our own desire for connection on our terms on them, we are harming them.

I've already written elsewhere about the difference between "tame" and "domesticated". No matter how docile that deer seems, it is never going to be as (relatively) safe and tractable as a domesticated sheep or goat. It will always be more unpredictable, and more likely to lash out suddenly at a person due to fear, or hormones, or protection of young.

These animals need their wild instincts to be intact if they are going to survive without being dependent on us. They need those instincts in order to find mates and keep the gene pool stirred up. Their instincts keep them safe from danger, including humans. And their instincts never totally go away, no matter how much we may try to tame them otherwise.

This is why a good wildlife rehab is going to minimize handling of the wild animals they care for, especially those that are going to be able to be released back into the wild. The less comfortable these animals are with humans, the better their chances of surviving in the wild and having fulfilling, natural lives. Wildlife that retain their wariness of humans are less likely to end up falling prey to hunting, or being killed as nuisance animals when they get too aggressive in seeking food or otherwise coming into conflict with people.

The person who painted "pet" on a fully grown white-tailed buck and put a collar around his neck may have felt like they were doing that deer a kindness, but they have likely robbed him of the chance to just live a natural life as his own, independent being out in the woods and fields. He might be out there, sure, but perhaps he won't mate because he imprinted on humans. Or maybe he will end up shot by a hunter in spite of the precautions because he's just too friendly and those antlers are worth taking the shot.

There will always be something missing from this deer's life because of the arrogance of someone who thought they could own and keep and control a wild-born animal for their own enjoyment, instead of allowing him to come and go as he pleased. Honestly, it reminds me of King Haggard from Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn, whose response to seeing something beautiful was to capture it and keep it rather than simply enjoying and remembering that magical moment:

"I like to watch them. They fill me with joy. The first I felt it I thought I was going to die. I said to the Red Bull I must have them, all of them, all there are. For nothing makes me happy but their shining and their grace. So the Red Bull caught them. Each time I see the unicorns, my unicorns, it is like that morning in the woods and I am truly young, in spite of myself."

That's how I feel about people who are willing to drastically alter a wild animal's behavior for their own selfish benefit, even if they think they're being kind. I know I'm fighting a bit of an uphill battle in this, but I'm rather stubborn that way.

[burningcheese-merchant]

A Thought About Eternal Sugar Cookie

Third installment in my Beast analysis series! Previous ones were on Shadow Milk and Burning Spice. In all honesty, I find it more fun seeing if the character I constructed inside of my head prior to the real one's debut is at all accurate than just waiting for the debut and saying something about them afterwards (which is what I did for Burning Spice, admittedly). I just like seeing if I can guess the story before it's told haha

What is happiness, really? Such a coveted state of mind, belated state of being, emotion treasured and championed by all everywhere. Happiness is the be-all end-all of life. But as famous and sought after it is, can anyone actually describe it?

Eternal Sugar could, once. Happiness is the twinkle in one's eye, the smile that graces one's lips, the laughter that bubbles in one's throat. Happiness is the sun shining through the window and waking you at the break of dawn. Happiness is the summer breeze caressing your face and carding through your hair. Happiness is birdsong, happiness is a delicious meal, happiness is the company of your friends. Happiness is everywhere. Happiness is eternal. It SHALL be eternal, as long as she is there. Such is her lot in life.

So Eternal Sugar did what she could to achieve just that. She strummed songs on her lyre and chanted tunes of love and joy and peace. She dutifully tended to beautiful flowers that she eventually gave away to anyone who asked. She danced, she hugged, she laughed with anyone who would indulge her, as she would gladly indulge anyone herself. She did everything she ever could to make everyone she possibly could happy. What she thought was "happy".

But as time passed, things changed. People seemed to struggle more, struggle harder; either their problems became more numerous, or more difficult to overcome. People came to her running from increasingly more dire and painful things. She did what she could, she did what she always did, for it always worked before. But as time passed, it worked less and less. Her songs began to fall on deaf ears. People began to shun her flowers. No one wanted to dance anymore. Or be hugged. Or to laugh.

But she was Eternal Sugar, charged with bringing eternal happiness, so she persisted in spite of it all. She sang and danced and smiled and laughed not for herself, but for others. But it stopped working. Those others all seemed to stop caring eventually. And she just couldn't understand why.

Some people's happiness was easily attained, but fleeting. One was thirsty, so Eternal Sugar brought him something to drink. And they were happy... for a moment. Just a moment. And that moment ended sooner rather than later, and they were back to asking for something to drink again. She brought them another. And another. And another. In the end, they always fell back into being unhappy - in fact, their unhappiness seemed to only grow bigger, stronger, and those little windows of happiness smaller and smaller. As though, paradoxically, making them happy for a moment only made them even more miserable in the long run.

Other people's happiness came at an unfortunate cost. Once, someone came to Eternal Sugar asking for specific flowers, and she granted them - only for her to discover sometime later that they had used the flowers to create a poison with which to kill their family and inherit their wealth. They were happy, yeah, but... Another time, a young woman came to Eternal Sugar crying that she loved someone that was already taken. Eternal Sugar tried to comfort her. Sometime later, the same woman came back, crying again - she had convinced the man to leave his partner for her, but now she's bored and so she left him. In truth, she cared more about achieving the suffering of the abandoned partner than achieving love with someone she claimed to care for. Some people are only happy when others are miserable. What was Eternal Sugar supposed to do with them?

And some people simply couldn't be happy, no matter what she or anyone else did. Always, a rain cloud loomed above them, showering pain and melancholy upon them on even the brightest day. Some of those people suffered under very unpleasant circumstances, and had every right to be unhappy; some of them had everything you could ever want, money and power and fame and love, and they were unhappy anyway. Some unshakable anhedonia, numb to even a goddess's touch.

A time eventually came where even Eternal Sugar's friends began to turn her away. Once, she was the light of the group, always making them all smile. Now... as their responsibilities grew tougher and the weights on their shoulders grew heavier, in those few moments they had together, they weren't as interested in her antics anymore. And their unhappiness was the worst, for it came from those she cherished most. And none of them even seemed to want to tell her why, or let her help. So few people wanted her help anymore.

But she kept trying. She kept trying to make everyone happy, even if it didn't work. She didn't know what else to do. How else to exist. If she couldn't make people happy, then who was she?

... Who was she? What was she? Though she was the Virtue of Happiness, with happiness slipping away from all around her, with all of her interventions unsuccessful, could she even say that she deserved that title? Does she even know what happiness is? Did she ever truly know in the first place?

Was SHE ever happy?

The truth underneath it all, the one Eternal Sugar could never bring herself to understand or accept, was that happiness is not such an easy guarantee. No matter how wonderful, it simply cannot last forever. Happiness is hard work, something that requires constant action to maintain, and even then it isn't always enough. Happiness is often fleeting. Happiness is often undeserved. Sometimes, happiness isn't what someone needs most, or isn't what's best for them. But such things were antithetical to Eternal Sugar's mindset, to her personhood. And so she denied these things, ignored them, fled from them, telling herself that she was only running in pursuit of so-called happiness, not because she was afraid or confused of what it cost or of its opposite.

It was all so tiresome. All of it. Everyone. Happiness itself. Such a strange, fickle thing it turned out to be.

... It was common for people to seek her comfort after having nightmares. Dreams and nightmares were always easiest to tend to, easiest to siphon some sort of happiness from. Whether through good dreams where everything someone ever wanted becomes reality, or through banishing terrible nightmares and bringing back peace of mind. Yes, happiness was a guarantee there. The only one there ever was.

So she started to put people to sleep. In their dreams, they could be happy. In their dreams, they could be free. In their dreams, they could stop caring. Like she now wished to.

And in those same dreams, she could mold reality as she saw fit. She could fulfill her "duty" as much or as little as she liked. She could keep all of these poor, unfortunate souls warm without setting herself on fire to do so. She could even punish them for having wasted her time in the past. For spurning her efforts to help them, to save them. As the Virtue of Happiness, it is she that has the right to dictate what happiness is, no? So they will all be happy. They MUST be happy. They will sleep, and leave that bleak world behind, and come to a place of her design and live and breathe and feel how she chooses. They will sleep. They will be happy. Forever.

It's what they deserve.

[hell-alka]

What do you think would be spawn vs ascended Astarion's approach to the holidays. Would either be more fall holidays or more winter? If so what would they do during this time and what would their routine be with Sangvia? And how would Sangvia reaction to the holidays as well?

Feel free to be as in depth as little or as much as you would like, just thought this would be a fun ask, :).

Thank you for a interesting question! I needed time to prepare the art, but I finally finished it ^^

This text has been translated from my native language into english with a lot of help from a translator, just a heads up! It really hurts me to lose Astarion's manner of speech because of this...

Spawn Astarion

Astarion remained vulnerable to the sun and a cure for this affliction has not yet been found. He does not entertain great hopes in this regard, so he learns to accept the new reality that the long-awaited freedom has taken the form of night and darkness. It would seem that this is just his path that needs to be overcome, but Sangviya worries about the lack of sun no less. At first, it was just fear for a loved one - anxiety for a vampire who is delayed on a mission until midday, fear that he has fallen into a trap and the sun is slowly creeping up on him, concerns before each sleep "are the curtains and windows securely closed." Sangvia even began to calculate the exact time of sunrises and sunsets to know when to panic, when it is safe for Astarion to go outside and when it is worth looking for shelter. He brushes off her worries every time, although he is touched by her concern. Sanya knows that he will be careful even without her reminders, which of them is a vampire with 200 years of experience? It was not only about danger, but about longing for a warm sun, and Sanya could not help with this. However, her suspiciousness was not in vain! Studying astronomy and the behavior of the sun more and more, Sangvia finds information about two interesting days - the longest and shortest night of the year! And indeed, she remembers how people celebrated something similar when she was a teenager, it's just that back then she was more interested in the alcohol from the fair than the reason why it was brought here.

Summer solstice

Summer Solstice is the shortest night of the year and the longest day! When Sanya first suggested celebrating this holiday to Astarion, it made him a little nervous. For several years he has been trying out life in the shadows, and the proposal to celebrate the longest day seems to him… a mockery?

"I appreciate your efforts darling, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable thinking about it… let alone not being able to spend the day in the sun that this event is dedicated to."

But Sanya just smiled.

"You're hiding from the sun, not from life! I know it's hard… More precisely, I thought it was just the threat that light carries. But then it seemed to me that you're hiding not only from it, but also from what it can give, namely today - fun, celebration, emotions! We can hide from the rays, but this does not mean that we should be deprived of other joys in life. Let's not run away this time, but brazenly have fun, in spite of fate and fear!"

Astarion did not expect anything good from this venture, but he could not resist the optimism of his beloved.

Sangvia prepared and organized this special day for a long time - fenced off the room in the tavern from the light, bought food and drinks, created coziness and warmth by placing candles. But the main thing she planned was a huge list of games and entertainment for the two of them! Astarion was waiting for gambling strip games, reading terrible erotic novels, lanceboard for drinks, questionable songs, an evening of makeup and nails and much more that came to their minds in the process! It was the longest day of the year, dedicated not to the sun, but to the warmth of two special people.

Part 2

[sabotage-on-mercury]

I've never been one for New Year's recaps, looking back at the year's achievements (which achievements asks the imposter syndrom) and highlights, mostly because it forces me to look back at the year's low points as well. I prefer to sort everything away, nice and tidy, in the back of my mind, put on a smile and pray through gritted teeth that next year will be better - not out of conviction, but because it simply has to be. 

A few days ago, I stumbled across some lines from a fic I wrote a few months ago, and it stirred something in me. At the time I wrote it, I didn't believe a single word of it.

“Well, stay curious. And brave. You're not stuck where you are forever. It might take you a month or another seventeen years, but you will find something that keeps your soul alive. And it will be worth every minute searching for it.”

Sure, I was clinging on to life with a grim conviction that one day it wouldn't be so painful just to be alive. But that life could actually be good? Hard to imagine. 

For many years I never dared to look back, but today I feel brave enough to do so. 

And I see one of the darkest periods of my life. I see all the tears and panic attacks and hopelessness and anger. I see the days when I was sure I wouldn't make it to today. I see the wounds and scars that this time has left on me that will probably take some time to heal completely, if ever.

But there is something else that I see even more clearly. Little moments that shine as bright and warm as stars in the night sky.

I see the conversations with the most amazing people over tags, DMs, texts, phone calls, video calls that have brightened my days - and then the absolute joy of meeting my friends in person, being invited into their lives, going on trips, spending a wonderful time together, and the prospect of so many more visits to come.

I see moments of being brave, silly and irresponsible - and being highly encouraged to do so - and how that has given me my spark back.

And yes, I also see Good Omens, the comfort it continues to provide in spite of everything. And, of course, the amazing fandom, with its wonderful creators and creations that bring so much beauty to the world. 

I see the hours I spend writing, the joy (and agony) of bringing a vision to life, and the pride of actually finishing something - and then having people take the time to read my stuff and actually like it (still feels unreal). I see myself getting excited about new ideas that may never see the light of day, but that I still love telling to people who are equally excited about them. 

I see the people who have come to me for support or encouragement, who have made me feel helpful, who have made me feel like a relevant part of their writing process and their lives, which still fills me with awe.

I see the journey of finding love, for people, for experiences, for things, and loving them deeply. 

I'm standing here and I can say with certainty: I feel loved. And I'm so grateful for the ways, big and small, that people show it to me again and again.

I see all these people holding my hand and waiting patiently with me until sun rose again and beyond. And I feel at peace. 

And I can look back and embrace it all. 

So is everything all right now? 

No. I still have bad days, I'm still bitter about the challenges behind me, and I see the challenges ahead, and I know I have a long way to go, to create a life I want.

But I'm here. 

I feel alive.

I'm so, so happy to be alive. 

I'm beaming with excitement for the beautiful moments to come, however few or small they may be.

And it's worth every minute, every year I've spent looking for something to make me feel that way. 

So to all of you: Thank you.

You matter, to me, to the world, to someone in your life. 

Happy New Year!

[anunkindncss]

On what planet does kit connor make a good milo thatch?

CAN PEOPLE PICK THE FCs THEY LIKE WITHOUT IT TURNING INTO A DAMN WAR CRIME?

I’m gonna say this one time and one time only before I start swinging:

People are allowed to pick face claims they LIKE. Not the ones you like. Not the ones some studio exec decided were perfect 20 years ago. Not the ones that fit your personal fan cast spreadsheet. The ones THEY like. That’s the end of the sentence.

If I want to make Kit Connor my Milo Thatch, or Florence Pugh my Danny Phantom, or Oscar Isaac my goddamn Paddington Bear, THAT IS BETWEEN ME AND THE UNHINGED GHOST OF CREATIVE FREEDOM.

Y’all acting like writing muses is a public service that has to be tailored to your tastes. Like we’re out here curating an exhibit for your personal enjoyment instead of surviving on spite, unmedicated ADHD, and two granola bars a day while we build something that feels right to us.

You do not have to vibe with someone’s FC choice. You don’t have to follow them. You don’t even have to like it. But if you’re gonna act like someone committed fanon blasphemy for casting an actor that brings them joy, then maybe YOU are the problem. Not the casting. Not the muse. Not the person trying to create something that resonates with them. You. Are. The. Problem.

Because it’s not just about "accuracy." It’s about VIBES. It’s about connection. It’s about finding a face that reflects the way a muse feels, not how they were drawn in a storyboard in 2001.

Let people be fucking inspired.

Let people choose softness, queerness, darkness, uniqueness. Let people cast their comfort actors. Let people rewrite their own damn narratives with the muses that saved their lives.

If that makes you mad, scroll. If it makes you rage-post in your Discord server, touch grass. If it makes you block them? Great. Do it quietly. But stop making people feel bad for expressing themselves.

Because some of us? Some of us are tired. Some of us are barely hanging on. And some of us just want to write our weird little guys with the actors who make us feel like it’s okay to exist.

Let us have that.

Trash Dad, signing off from the trenches with love, rage, and a middle finger shaped like artistic freedom

[slytherinsomniari]

HL OC: Daisy Sinclair

I'm back for the millionth time 😂 Here is my HL OC Daisy Sinclair, the first character in World 2!

Daisy is a pureblood and is outgoing, cheerful, and gentle like a daisy. The Sinclairs are a branch of the pureblood Abbott family that isn't obsessed with blood purity. Because of their relaxed nature, they were put lower in rank in the family line. However, they are still considered part of the Abbott family because they are still purebloods and need to be kept in the case that the line ends.

Daisy had a much better upbringing than other purebloods due to her family's relaxed views on blood purity. There weren't that many rules for her but she still had to learn etiquette amongst other things as she is still a proper lady. The Sinclairs may just be a branch, but they still consider themselves to be wealthy and respectable. Through her experiences, Daisy was allowed to explore hobbies and developed a great interest in muggle culture. One item she grew to love was the bicycle as she found it to be like a muggle broom-minus the flying of course. She was fascinated with the idea of muggles traveling in this fashion, which leads to her owning her own bicycle.

In her free time, she loves to learn more about muggles and travel to the muggle side and live like them. She of course loves magic and wants to remain a witch, but the muggles were so interesting and amazing for finding ways to live without magic. In spite of, or rather because of, her oddity within Slytherin, she naturally befriended fellow pureblood Ominis Gaunt and drew him in with her joy and outlook on life. This soon formed into a relationship and they became a couple. Taking comfort in wandering and learning, Daisy has a free and gentle spirit that can't be tamed. While she may sometimes struggle with the identity of her family line, it never keeps her down.

When the song Daisy Bell comes out in the 1890s, she finds it funny that it has her name and a bicycle as the theme. Ominis thinks that the song suits her perfectly, feeling the same way towards her as the lyricist does to Daisy Greville.

Okay, I didn't have much to go on for her but I kept having an idea of a ginger haired Slytherin named Daisy and was heavily influenced by the song Daisy Bell. I do need to create more of her personality so I might go back and edit this later but I'm content for now with my first character for world 2!

[zepumpkineater]

Considering the story has gotten more popular as of late, I do wonder what the newcomer's perception of I Have No Mouth is.

As someone who's spent quite a lot of time talking about the story with a variety of people, I've always seen that no one interpretation is ever the same as the other.

Of course, like with any piece of fiction, especially ones as complex and ambiguous as IHNMAIMS, there is no one correct interpretation. Does AM claim ultimate victory over mankind by reducing the last of their species into a disgusting jelly monster? Are they locked in eternal stalemate, both of them functionally useless and unable to do anything to the other, just exist in mutual despair? Does Ted claim ultimate victory over AM by releasing his fellow survivors from the endless torture, at the cost of him being forced to endure it for an eternity more? Is his comfort in knowing that AM has lost the one thing that gave him purpose enough, or is it just another fleeting, stupid idea from a mouthless, limbless jelly monster that was once called a man?

Ultimately, at least in my view, in spite of Harlan Ellison's misanthropic views on mankind and his blatant misogyny and contempt for mankind as a whole, I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream is still a hopeful story in the face of absolute despair.

It was definitely only Harlan who could have come up with a character as twisted, almost comedically evil as AM. I do think some part of AM is just Harlan projecting, projecting his own views on humanity into this character that he created to be the greatest monument for hatred of humanity that any of us had ever seen before. I mean, hell, the man took every chance to voice AM that he could get, it's how we got the iconic hate monologue.

But even through all of AM's attempts to break the pitiful, small, pathetic, writhing, selfish, hopeless little apes...He's never satisfied. The only thing that brings him any amount of joy, torturing them, is still fleeting at best. Eventually he would have gotten bored of that, too.

AM doesn't prove anything through his relentless torture of the 5 remaining humans, he attempts to prove time and time again that mankind is inherently evil and selfish, but he is disproven at basically every turn, as these characters still do compassionate and good things when they might have done evil in the past. AM's own twisted experiment defeats itself time and time again, and I think for that reason, I Have No Mouth is probably the best example of the inherent capacity for good we humans hold inside of us.

Even in AM's most ideal situation, where he gets to torture humans for eternity, he still loses. He still lives in hate, suffering, and there is no catharsis for him. He simply just...Is, and that is endless suffering of his own making.

I guess what I, and by extension the story is trying to say is that living in hate is bad, kids. Go find something to love in this fleeting little life of ours, because living in that kind of pain is just no way to live at all. And if you do, you'll always lose in the end, no matter what you do. There's no victory waiting for you on the other side, just a hollow void that'll never be filled no matter how much you indulge in that hatred.

[pezboisworld]

Comparing Disney's Sleeping Beauty to the classic Fairy Tale

The retcon of Maleficent as Aurora's maternal figure hits me really hard because in the 1959 disney film Malefocent said "beloved by all who know her" which should have affected Maleficent as well. More adaptations could take liberty with the gifts from Fairies or wise women because they were very vague. The original film was pulling from the Perrault and Grimm versions, While I believe the Maleficent movie referenced a modern ideal of "health and happiness" that was not present in the Perrault or Grimm versions. In the Grimm version one of the twelve fairies (actually wise women in this version) bestowed virtue, beauty, riches, and whatever there is in the world to wish for. The gift of health and happiness was added in contemprary editions of Sleeping Beauty that I could only find in school materials.

Using the logic of the original movie to create a twist was very fulfilling and provided enough material for a new film. Ultimately making Aurora's biggest opposition her greatest protector.

Fairy Gifts in Sleeping Beauty (1959)

Beauty - from Flora

A lovely singing voice - from Fauna

Grow in grace, grow in beauty, beloved by all who know her, and on her 16th birthday she would prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die - from Maleficent

A deep sleep that can only be broken by true love's kiss - from Merryweather

The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood by Charles Perrault

...the fairies began to bestow their gifts upon the princess. The youngest ordained that she should be the most beautiful person in the world; the next, that she should have the temper of an angel; the third, that she should do everything with wonderful grace; the fourth, that she should dance to perfection; the fifth, that she should sing like a nightingale; and the sixth, that she should play every kind of music with the utmost skill.

It was now the turn of the aged fairy. Shaking her head, in token of spite rather than of infirmity, she declared that the princess should prick her hand with a spindle, and die of it. A shudder ran through the company at this terrible gift. All eyes were filled with tears.

But at this moment the young fairy stepped forth from behind the tapestry.

"Take comfort, your Majesties," she cried in a loud voice. "Your daughter shall not die. My power, it is true, is not enough to undo all that my aged kinswoman has decreed. The princess will indeed prick her hand with a spindle. But instead of dying she shall merely fall into a profound slumber that will last a hundred years. At the end of that time a king's son shall come to awaken her."

Sleeping Beauty (Little Briar Rose) by Brothers Grimm

...the queen bore a daughter so beautiful that the king could not contain himself for joy, and he ordained a great feast. Not only did he bid to it his relations, friends, and acquaintances, but also the wise women, that they might be kind and favorable to the child. There were thirteen of them in his kingdom, but as he had only provided twelve golden plates for them to eat from, one of them had to be left out.

...the wise women stood forward to present to the child their wonderful gifts: one bestowed virtue, one beauty, a third riches, and so on, whatever there is in the world to wish for. And when eleven of them had said their say, in came the uninvited thirteenth, burning to revenge herself, and without greeting or respect, she cried with a loud voice: "In the fifteenth year of her age the princess shall prick herself with a spindle and shall fall down dead." And without speaking one more word she turned away and left the hall. Everyone was terrified at her saying, when the twelfth came forward, for she had not yet bestowed her gift, and though she could not do away with the evil prophecy, yet she could soften it, so she said: "The princess shall not die, but fall into a deep sleep for a hundred years."

[astral-mariner]

6 - 15 - 24 - 30 Questions ask ;0

6. What's the best/worst part of being online/a creator?

The absolute BEST part of being online as a creator is getting to connect with other creators. Other creative souls who care just as much as the things that mean so much to you. Who themselves create things that bring you joy, make you cry cathartic tears. People who understand the creative process, the NEED to create. It's not just other creators, though. It's also people who engage with the things you create. The people who tell you that what you created meant something to them, moved them in some way, however small. Little bits of human connection. I personally put so much of my soul into my creative projects that, when someone sees even a little of those very real emotions, I feel seen and understood in a way I have very rarely felt in my life. One of the reasons I am creative at all was because I was lonely and had no one to turn to for various reasons. I used art to process my grief over the world being so purposelessly unkind. Not just to me, but generally. Why do bad things have to happen? Why do the people who should love us hurt us instead? And most of my art meditates on answers to those questions and shows characters fighting to find meaning in spite of their circumstances. As for the worst part... It's hard to say because I think of it as mostly positive. Perhaps just that being vulnerable is scary sometimes. And that people are just as likely to misunderstand you online as they are IRL. But online, there's at least the advantage that the people who are engaging with your stuff have often intentionally sought it out, so they are more likely to approach it in good faith. Perhaps, then, the worst aspect of creating online is that those connections you form with other creators and people who find meaning in your content often are so far away, lol. Sometimes I'd like to actually be present with people in a way that's not mediated by art. I very often neglect my real life relationships and responsibilities because my art is where I feel most alive...and I wish that my creative connections were more integrated in my day to day interactions. Fun fact: everyone I've ever dated has met me through my art, and I don't think that's by coincidence at all.

15. What do you think of when you hear the word "home?"

This answer will be somewhat sad... Because I don't think of any one place out here in reality. Literally the first thing that came to mind when I asked myself this question was an empty field on the edge of a wilderness. The sun is setting, the wind is blowing, and I'm standing there by myself. I very often go on long hikes alone to Brood, and I think this has something to do with it. My blood relatives rejected me for being queer. I was sheltered in a religious extremist community and didn't make many friends growing up. I had undiagnosed autism and anxiety, among other things, that I never got help for until I was an adult (and this was not entirely anyone's fault---there was far less awareness of those things in the early 90s, and even adults trying to do their best didn't have the resources to provide effective support). I've experienced a number of traumatic events that have made it hard to trust people and form connections. So at the end of the day...where I feel most "at home" is by myself. Even if it's a coping mechanism. Sometimes feeling comfortable and safe around other people feels so foreign and strange, like I'm an alien visiting from another planet. Even if I really want to connect with others deep down. (I think that's a big reason why I connect to Vegeta trying to adjust to life on Earth after Freeza is gone.)

24. What's one thing you're proud of yourself for?

I'm really proud of myself for getting as far as I have on my Saiyans under Freeza story, honestly. It's the longest creative project I've attempted, and it's close to being finished. I will likely be over 160k words when it's done, and it's the culmination of years and years of thoughts and feelings. I've written other novel-length pieces before, but this easily my most ambitious project.

30. What's one thing that never fails to make you happy/happier?

Music. Even if it's dark, heart-wrenching stuff. There's just something so moving about it. Being able to engage with things that remind you that other people have felt the way that you do and have used those feelings to create something of beauty. In particular, I love music that is nevertheless somehow beautiful, meditative, and melodic despite being harsh. Favorite genres include classical, goth/darkwave, black metal. An Example:

[daniel-profeta]

hey,

this is anonymous, but you might be able to guess who it is regardless? idk.

i haven't been following you closely for a while now, but your music and videos meant a lot to me in the past, particularly your first album.

my life is kinda fucked up right now, and i feel like a lot of things are slipping away from me and spinning out of control. so i'm reaching out to people right now to tell them what they mean to me in hopes that'll make me feel a little less rock-bottom. i want to acknowledge what a great artist you are and how your music affected my life, offered me resonance when i was extremely lonely. i was a different person back then, but i'll never forget it.

I have an idea of who this might be, but I could be wrong.

Coming just from personal experience, feeling some of the way you are describing informed and inspired a lot of my music. That feeling of things spinning out of control and like you are falling with no one to catch you and nothing to hold onto. It is awful and terrible and I don't think anyone should have to endure it

I can't offer much in terms of advice, and probably can't give all that much comfort either, but if there's any small joy to be found in anything you enjoy doing you should grasp it with both hands. Finding new people to be around was huge for me. Creating an outlet for all the negative emotions was incredibly important.

In all honesty, the thing that keeps me going the most is a sense of spite towards adversity. I've gotta prove it wrong and make everything worth it somehow. Idk, this message made me emotional, I hope you don't mind my kind of rambling response

Ultimately I have no idea what you're going through, but in my experience things eventually can get better, and rock bottom is a great place to start.

(if you need someone to talk to I'm here, and thank you for the kind words about my music it made my night and gave me confidence. This sort of response to my work is something I cherish greatly, being able to help people (and myself) through those weird depressing and lonely times is the entire point)

[measuringbliss]

Spider-Man Read-Through 080 Hobgoblin's Return and Spider-Kittens (SSM 84-86)

MASTERPOST

This time...

Well, that's interesting! I like Felicia running on her wire there.

But also...

????

Felicia's done being boring. It's the day she gets released from the hospital! Her mom's there and gives her blessings to Spidey. Thankfully, Felicia's bills are completely nonexistent thanks to Spidey's great reputation. What a change!

At the Bugle, Jameson is on air and tells the whole city, nay, the country about the disappearance of a mayor candidate's baby. Spidey investigates.

There's a nice page with that type of panel that look really good, in spite of the issue's rather wonky drawings.

While the kidnapper gets in trouble with local junkies, Spidey has an... interesting interaction.

Hmm. Interesting indeed. Not sure I dislike it...

Conchita's baby died, and taking issue with that, Conchita decided to kidnap the candidate's baby. Then the junkies stole said baby. We're touching hard subjects this time! Didn't expect that.

Spidey finds the baby, but...

What the heeeeell is this issue.

There's still some comedy at least. But it's definitely darker than usual.

Anyway.

In #85, the Hobgoblin is back!

In the credits, Stern (who created this villain) is thanked for his plot assist.

Ah yes, Sam Raimi's Green Goblin Junior. I know of him.

Transforming like a magical girl...

By the way, I really love the shading used on the glass, it's very cool.

Meanwhile, the writer remembers we have a great cast! Peter's invited to Liz and Harry's big announcement (oh no, I have an idea where this is going).

Looking snazzyyyyy, Peter! I'm happy to see Flash (great color combination!), Sha-Shan (!!! I missed you girl), Ned and Betty too <3 I missed them... but SOMEBODY's missing.

Liz's homely look (how did she grow so many hair in so little time?) and ample dress is not very subtle.

Following Betty's urging for the reveal, Liz says they DID invite MJ (Ha! She's treated better than by previous writers), but she's too eager to wait for her. Liz says "Harry and I are going to be a mommy!". I didn't expect Harry's transition, but good for her!

And that's when MJ arrives, saying she loves (other people's) babies.

This is really cute. And note Pete's empty chair next to him... SOME people might have tried something there...

But for real, it's touching to see Liz and MJ have tears of joy. We all know the feeling of seeing someone you weren't sure would come and you haven't seen in a while.

Flash and Sha-Shan don't seem as joyful, though.

It is INTERESTING that you would mention the Hobgoblin in the same bubble as Flash. Would be pretty ironic that Flash's problem would be related to Harry's, wouldn't it? Dramatically ironic.

Great colors. Flash obviously doesn't want to reminisce about his homoerotic days. I understand. It'll come back when you're 50 and have 7 children, just you wait!

Peter and MJ quickly reminisce and figure that at the time of Peter's proposal, neither was ready. True, but to be fair the writing at that time wasn't the greatest. MJ still teases Peter though. Maybe her feelings for him haven't disappeared...

Speaking of which, Spidey goes to see Felicia.

Weird, knowing how THAT turns out...

Lmao. This is a hilarious panel.

Still, they have a nice dinner and go on patrol together.

Well that's one thing that will get rectonned for sure.

Spidey's less than enthused. It means Felicia has no power. She's fragile!

Then the Hobgoblin arrives with his new super strength and immediately learns that his two foes are lovers. Nooot a good thing.

The two heroes have trouble coordinating, and although Felicia's capable, the Hobgoblin flies away, comforted in his might.

Now, issue #86...

Alright, sure.

The first part has a meta plot about Marvel editorial, and there's a great running joke about the Vision appearing because the word vision has been mentioned.

Anyway, Spidey and Felicia keep being stressed about their whole relationship, then Spidey decides to show where he works and they stop next to the Bugle.

Excellent question. Excellent panel. The art is really great, by the way.

Just like me, Felicia has trouble understanding the concept of "working".

So they get attacked by the Fly, who crashes in Jameson's office.

Hilarious!

Even the flashback explaing the Fly's identity is in that style, it's glorious.

See the "every 4 panel comedy can be funnier in less than that" showcase because we did not need that last panel, but the rest is hilarious.

Hahahahaha. Jameson does NOT want baby Spider-Kittens.

The Fly is neutralized, and then we get back to the meta office.

The issue ends in traditional style, with Spidey taking Black Cat home...

That makes sense!

Next (Spectacular) issue: Spidey unmasks! But there will be a few posts before that.

[shahatdog]

Hello, my name is Shaleha Hajan, but everyone calls me Sha. I'm 17 years old and will turn 18 on April 26. Nothing extraordinary about me I'm just a regular girl with a lot of dreams

Goals include becoming a pharmacist, but I'm not sure what courses I should take in college because, to be honest, I don't trust myself. I'm insecure, low on confidence, and I hate that. I also want to express myself more, but I don't know how because I'm afraid of failing and I don't know what the future holds, and I know that's not good for me. Nevertheless, in spite of everything, I'm grateful for my happy family because everyone else wishes for the same. My parents don't put pressure on me to perform well academically they tell me that it's okay to receive a low grade as long as I try my hardest to make them proud. Now that I'm waiting for my diploma, I'll work hard to pass this grade 12 because after I graduate from college and find employment, I'll send them to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and spoil them with money I earn from their sacrifices.

And now let me tell you a little bit about myself. I'm an introvert I detest crowds and don't really like to socialize. I used to love taking baths with music I also loved makeup because it's the only thing that can make me feel more confident. Finally, my favorite food is spaghetti from Jollibee ever since I was a child, I used to ask my mom to take me there for dinner because it was a special occasion for us both. Now that I'm a grown up, nothing has changed I still ask her to buy me spaghetti. That's why I adored and was so grateful to have my parents they're both very strong and go with the flow they're not strict but have boundaries they let us enjoy things because they said they had experienced them when they were still teenagers. My mom and father are the best parents in the world they're both so strong even though they face challenges. And Kindness is my language, and I speak it fluently. From helping strangers to comforting friends, I believe in making the world a better place through simple acts of compassion. It's not just a virtue it's a way of life. When the curtains close on a lively day, my heart finds solace in the captivating world of movies. They aren't just films; they are gateways to different emotions and stories. From heartwarming dramas to thrilling adventures, I find joy in the diverse narratives cinema offers.

However, the true masterpiece of my life is the love I have for my family and friends. They are my constants, the pillars of support through thick and thin. Love, in all its forms, is the driving force that propels me forward.

In this snapshot of my life, you've seen the cheerful glow, the unwavering loyalty, the kindness that colors my interactions, and the energy that fuels my pursuits. Together, they create a vibrant tapestry of a life well-lived – filled with laughter, love, and the beauty found in the simplest of pleasures.

Once more, this is Shaleha Hajan. I appreciate you taking the time to read about my simple life.

[shilohgreen]

@handgiven (cont.)

the angel is the last to ask anything of a social interaction. truth be told, after all his time on earth, he is still learning what exactly it means to be human, but rather than following the scientist lure of narrowing it all down to a single core thought at the center of everything, he rather collects the multifaceted reflections of reality, humans in all of their pecularities, joys and sorrows. besides, he doesn't require anything of will, of all people, that strange familiarity tinted with shyness almost taking over him at coming to finally see him face to face. it's been years of entering into his life through cracks in the wall shaped by some miracle so beautifully, through the way sun shone atop brown fur, through the way a singular scent of a meal could fill the entire room with something of a comfort. they were little moments, mundane, but in a rocky life he knew there was appreciation for them. even if it were underneath everything else, even if it were just a small warm feeling settled into his gut, nestling in there, trying to make a home in spite of things. the truth is, he's been worried and looking for ways and reasons to seek him out, trully see him for who he was, and offer a helping hand in more ways than just the sun. the truth is, chester wandering off came to him like a wonderful mirage of opportunity. he was going to have a look into the farm neighbouring will's land for a while now. it was abandoned for years, overall in a state of disrepair, but emmanuel didn't need much to create a home out of a place, or a person for that matter. when he saw chester chasing rabbits among the tall grass where pumpkin patches used to be, there was relief to the sight. a reason, at last. he made the walk over the lands, comforting the pup, scratching him behind the ears and overall making friends without a need for something as rudimental as a leash. knocking on the door felt curious, they were little but artificial divide between the in and the out. he smiled at will, seeing him face to face, though he did make the mental note that the other looked... more tired than the last time he'd seen him. or perhaps it was just that a body seeing a body could recognise this sort of thing better than when he was just flying by. "oh, it's alright. he's been a pleasant company. and besides i needed the walk, a breath of fresh air, so to speak."

if will had to have a neighbor, he's grateful to have one who seems respectful. there had been people brave enough to TRY in the past, bringing a pie to his home only to be turned away before they could step foot on the porch. one had even caught him while he was away, left a dish of homemade cookies on the doorstep, only to find it still untouched on their OWN doorstep the next day. no note, no knock on the door, nothing— will isn't interested in engaging.

but the stranger speaks and some long forgotten bell rings in will's chest cavity. it's tired in its music, filling the space within him, rattling his bones with its vibrations. it shakes the dust off something and he's not sure WHAT. it requires the strange and absurd in order to make will feel anything properly. he spends so much time beyond himself, a figure in the background of his own life, observing his body navigate a space, watching his mind as it manufactures its thoughts and houses its impulses. whatever has the power to make him feel defies categorization. it's with caution that will raises his gaze to look at the stranger, waiting for the next emotion to strike so he can be ready to gather it up again. he'll scoop it against him, hoard it for his own purposes to study and dissect when finally safe from the prying gaze of others.

it's RUDE, the way that will stares. it's not shy or discreet, the way he's learned he's meant to be. he meets his neighbor's eyes and there's a cascade of warmth over him which so deeply unsettles him. so repulsed by the thought of being seen and yet, he's frozen for a moment, brow furrowed as he SEES. a comfort is weighing upon him like a blanket upon his shoulders, though he can't recognize it as such, so foreign to the concept when the cerebral is here to obtrude.

it's not much of a feeling. it's almost not noticeable at all. but to a starved man, even a scrap is enough to drive him mad. he stays like that for a quick moment, staring and forgetting to guard himself, so curious that ANYONE could make him feel anything so soon that his pursuit of an explanation has pushed all other thoughts aside. almost afraid to open his mouth and risk happening upon the feeling again, he hesitates and licks his lips.

"—what's your NAME?"

[circumstantial-simultaneity]

An Update

Some important preamble: I do not support the Dream Team, I do not support Wilbur Soot, I do not support any of the other CCs who have caused harm. I still consider myself a part of the DSMP fandom, but it is because of the story and characters and my fellow fans and what they create.

As a result, I'll say that, at this point in time, I'm not planning to change any of my existing plans for the story in response to the real world happenings. No characters will be written out or have their arcs altered. The DSMP story is completed and its characters exist unchanged, likely never to be touched again, and those are what is acting as inspiration for my own writing.

I understand some people may be uncomfortable, so there are two statements I'll make that might alleviate that. The first is that this has always been a story about abuse and unhealthy relationships and trying to regain your autonomy in spite of them; whether or not I portray the characters of real-world abusers in a kind light or any in-universe abusers in a humanising light, the story is a condemnation of their behaviours and the harm they have caused - even if I was unaware of that harm at the time of planning.

The second is that I am willing to spoil any plans I have for specific characters for the sake of making someone reading more comfortable. If you would rather know where the story is heading so you know if it's one you want to read or not, feel free to ask and I'll provide as complete an answer as I can.

And obviously, if you'd rather stop reading for whatever reason, that's fine too.

The specific plan I have for the story going forward is to finish posting my prewritten chapters, with the next hopefully going up next month as an anniversary celebration of when I started the story, though I don't have a complete schedule for further chapters from there. I might also be going through previous chapters and fixing typos or cleaning up the author's notes, though there shouldn't be any major changes to the story itself so no need to reread.

At the end of the first story, I will be checking audience response to see whether I continue or if I post a heavily truncated version of the rest of the story, since there’s quite a lot left to go and I can only self-motivate so far. Still, I will be trying to round things off in a relatively satisfying way, even if not as originally intended.

Below the cut, I'll be talking a little more about the reasons behind my decision to keep writing, which isn't necessary to read, I've made sure to put everything important up here. So to round off the post, I want to thank everyone who's read the story so far, everyone who's left kudos, and everyone who's commented. It's always a joy to know something I've created has been enjoyed by someone, and I hope those of you who are sticking around will continue to enjoy the story.

See you next month! <3

To start on explaining things, I did not expect the hiatus I took from the story to last as long as it did, but I just felt stuck when trying to figure out what to do with it. Every time I decided I’d continue, some other allegation about a DSMP CC would crop up; every time I decided I would leave it unfinished, I’d find myself rereading all my notes and wanting to write more.

It's a story I've invested a lot in and would necessitate investing a lot more in to see through to completion. We're not even a tenth of the way through what I had planned! And even in a best case scenario, we might never get to that ending I originally jotted down, but it's been 3 years since I started uploading and 4 since I first came up with the idea and I'm still wanting to create for it, so who's to say?

Really though, the main reason I still want to write is the DSMP characters, and especially and specifically, Techno and Fundy. As is obvious from basically everything I've posted in this fandom, Fundy's character is one I care for deeply; what would also be obvious if you could see everything I haven't posted is that Techno holds just as strong a place in my heart. And both are characters that exist only on the DSMP. Both are characters I may never see again in any incarnation.

I'm not going to get too far into that aspect of it, but I don't want to stop writing these characters and both are very tied up in characters of people who turned out to be awful. I'm drawing my line in the sand, choosing to keep writing these characters and those associated with them in a way I can be comfortable with. It took some time, but I think I've gotten there.

And I figure that, if I'm going to be writing more regardless, I might as well post it for others to read.

So here we are. Figure out where your own line is. And maybe I'll see you when the next chapter comes out.

[methewizard]

One of my most strongly held artistic beliefs, even though I'm more a consumer than a creator, is that it's infinitely harder to make a realistic happy story than a dramatic, tragic one. I've had people tell me that tragic stories are far more interesting, more real, more inspired, represent the human condition more accurately and that's why they're better and to that I say are they really? Think of a story where the characters face hardships, overcome obstacles, challenge their beliefs and when they come out the other side at the end they don't get the tragic hero treatment where they bravely live forever holding hands with sorrow or have to suffer to be worthy of joy. They instead find fulfillment in themselves, the people around them and their surroundings. They make a breakthrough in their way of thinking and living and that propels them to a hopeful bright future. In our world where doom and rot have entered our everyday vocabulary, creating light and magnifying it – in spite of it all – is so important, yet so difficult and requires so much strength. It gives people much needed hope and it sets a precedent: If there's an imaginary story where things end up alright, maybe it can happen in real life too. If there are other people out there who actively seek and embrace happiness by creating and consuming this story, maybe I'll find them in real life too. It's the reason why so many people have soft types of media as our comfort media, and it's always the tragedy lovers who'll roll their eyes at us needing something to hold on to. Heartstopper is the biggest example that comes to mind right now but I'm certain you all can give me more. Creating and consuming happy media is an act of resistance and self care (which is by itself also an act of resistance btw), I rest my case.