#LIKE I REMEMBER 4 YEARS AGO SEEING SO MANY POSTS ON MY DASHBOARD

[spatziline]

I finally watched Good Omens and I love it

[nectar-cellar]

Reminiscing about The Sims

Share how you discovered the Sims franchise & the very first sims game you played (e.g ts2). 

Thank you for tagging me @nocturnalazure !

Long, meandering post ahead 😂

Have some spicy pictures of Amir to make up for it. He’s thinking. It’s on theme.

@thesimperiuscurse you are responsible for pic 1 btw

The very first Sims game I ever played was The Sims 3, on the Xbox 360 console, when I was a teenager. Back then, TS3 was one of the bigger and newer EA games of the time, and it was everywhere. I spent hours in front of the TV, playing my households with no CC or DLC, wrapped up in my own imagination, no consideration for picture-taking, nothing! Just pure self-indulgent fun. I wasn’t a PC gamer and I had no idea CC or Simblr even existed. It was a much simpler time.

I think it was around the final year of high school when I first stumbled across sims CC somewhere on the internet. (Someone had posted screenshots of their very attractive male sim, that I do remember. Explains a lot doesn’t it?) I can’t remember the exact time. It might have been on my personal Tumblr account (all my friends had one and we thought we were so cool) or even Google Images lmao. My mind was blown. I never knew you could make hot sims. I immediately bought a Sims 3 CD and installed it on my Dad’s laptop. The PC version of TS3 was so much better. That was also when I started a Simblr, to follow others and share my own pics... this very same one!

After I discovered CC and Simblr, I never played the game the same way ever again. My interest shifted to character creation and ~fashion~ I guess. The endless amount of simspiration and CC spoiled me and ruined my appreciation for the game in its untouched form. I wanted my sims, my builds, my pictures, everything to look perfect, and I was never satisfied. I viewed my game and my content through other people’s eyes, not my own.

I remember being so in awe of everyone else on here. At the time, I only had the base game, I didn’t know how to torrent anything, my Dad’s laptop could barely run the game, I didn’t have money to buy dlc, and I had no idea how to make any kind of CC other than the simplest graphic edits. All I really did was make sims and pose them for photoshoots. Obsessively downloaded a shit ton of other people’s CC. Wrote a little bit here and there. Played my household once in a blue moon. Everyone else, with their cliques and fun legacies and bachelorette challenges and CC creations and intricate builds and amazing editing, seemed so much cooler than me. There were so many different websites and forums and blogs. The TS3 player base was huge. I was amazed by all of it. I couldn’t believe we were all playing the same game. I couldn’t believe people were so creative and talented. It was an odd mixture of admiration, envy, and feeling like an outsider compared to the “big” Simblrs of the time.

I made some simple cc here and there to contribute to the community, but I didn’t know what I was doing and I didn’t take it seriously. I wanted to create better things but it all seemed so complicated, and I didn’t think I was smart enough to learn.

Then, I went off to university. Away from my Dad’s laptop, I lost interest in the game, and became preoccupied with other life things and other console games. I wasn’t really around for the release of The Sims 4. I was busy, and it just didn’t have the same magic. For a few years, I didn’t even log into this Tumblr account. I didn’t pick up TS3 again until right before the pandemic happened, on a nostalgic whim. 

When I first started posting again in 2019/2020, I didn’t expect much. A lot of my previous Simblr mutuals/friends were no longer here. Every post on my dashboard was about TS4. Most of my followers from years ago were no longer active. There were only a few familiar faces left. It was lonely, coming back here only to see how everyone had moved on, and I was nobody. But still, the game was just as fun as I remembered it, with years’ worth of new CC to check out, so I kept playing and posting and catching up on all I had missed, and slowly I started finding community again.

Now that I’m a bit older, I find myself appreciating the game a lot more, in ways I couldn’t before. The beautiful scenery. The open world. The Create-a-Style tool. The maxis-match aesthetic. The humor. The dated yet charming look of the clothes and the townies and the worlds. The time in my life when the game was still new.

I also feel like it’s easier and less stressful to participate in the community now that I have a little bit more maturity than when I was 18. It feels freer and more fun. When I read posts by simmers talking about how they feel like their content is not good enough, or comparing themselves to others, I feel sad. I used to feel the same way. But being “good” at Simblr/social media, and having fun with the game (in whichever way you define fun), are two very different things. I hope that makes sense. It took me some time to learn how to not let comparison steal my joy, and give myself permission to just do what I wanted to do, regardless of whether other people might like it or not. When I look back on my older posts, I feel like I’ve grown so much, both as a simmer and a person.

Well, maybe I haven’t changed that much. I still love my hot pixel men.

I’m so glad I came back to Simblr. My simming hobby has turned into a much bigger thing than I ever thought it would. I mean, I learned how to make CC that other people like? I’ve made so many new connections? My sims have become OCs I’m attached to? I see the TS3 community being revived again as EA drives TS4 into the ground more and more each day? Who would’ve guessed 😆 

I love this game, I love the creativity it inspires in me, and I love the wonderful people that make up this little corner of the internet. ✨💛

[kasienda]

Fanfiction Year In Review - 2020

The rest of 2020 was rough, but I sure wrote A LOT! And that feels good. 

1 List of fics completed this year in the order they were finished:

Confessions to a Statue (Ladybug) - I’m lowkey shocked that this was finished in 2020. I feel like I wrote this one an eternity ago! It’s honestly not my favorite story, but I’m grateful to it for getting me writing in this fandom! 

Stutters (Ladybug Reveal - Marichat)

An Open Secret (Ladybug for Gift Exchange)

Instagram (Ladybug Reveal - Ladrien)

Anything to Protect You (Sailor Moon for Gift Exchange)

Locked in a Closet (Ladybug Reveal - Sequel to MissNoodle’s wonderful work.)

New York (Ladybug Reveal - Ladynoir)

A Craving For Chocolate Milkshakes (Sailor Moon)

Eight fics in total! Four of them multi-chapters! Crazy!

2 Number of words written: 

Written: 139k (as tracked by 750words.com)

Published: 105k (according to ff.net).

This is amazing! This is the first year (that I know of anyway - I’ve only been tracking for three years) that I broke 100k in one year!! I wrote every month, and I published at least one thing every month except August (I was moving in August).

I’m thrilled to see the written to published ratio as high as it is! It’s not something I’ve tracked before, but I always feel like I’m writing a ton and publishing very little, but it looks like that impression is fairly inaccurate. I’m publishing a lot more than I realized relative to how much I’m writing.

3 Your most popular fic:

My Miraculous Reveal Series has also gotten the most recognition of all my works this year, but it’s difficult to splice out which short is the most popular because I publish it as one series. Keeps my dashboard neater and gives the old ones a bit of attention whenever I post a new one. 

4 Your personal fav:

I think I’m insanely proud of both An Open Secret and Anything to Protect You. As I published each chapter, I often had the thought “This is the best thing I’ve written!” And that feels good. 

But right now, I am going to have to say an unfinished fic that I started this year - Restorative Justice - is my favorite. This is a fic that has pulled me out of my usual genre and gotten me closer to my life as a teacher. And it’s powerful and cathartic to turn these experiences into a story. I also really enjoyed exploring Chloé’s headspace. She’s just so angry, and like, this year that has been really easy to channel for some reason, and it all transferred to paper rather well. I’m kinda stuck in this fic at the moment though… 

5 Your fav scene:

I literally cannot decide. I could maybe pick a favorite scene in each fic I finished, but just one?! Nope! I can’t do it. So here’s my favorite scene in the three works I’ve spent the most time on this year: 

An Open Secret - the scene where Ladybug confesses to Chat Noir in the rain. The moment it all comes together for Adrien. I made myself cry. 

Anything to Protect You - Honestly, this one is HARD to pick. I really like the UsaMamo kiss in the first chapter, but I also love the dates. Especially the moment where she tells him she’s Sailor Moon and he thinks she’s joking. And the cattery date.

Restorative Justice - Chapter 3 - Where Chloe and Marinette are screaming at each other. I found it so satisfying. 

6 A fic or scene that challenged you:

Writing the festival scene in Anything to Protect you was an absolute slog! I was struggling so hard with trying to somewhat accurately capture a cultural event that I myself have never directly experienced (I did so much research - I read a lot, I listened to music, I watched videos), and at the same time not stall the pacing of the story or emotional anchor of the piece. It was so hard, but I was really happy with how it came out. 

7 A line of writing you’re proud of: 

From the most recent update of a Craving for Chocolate Milkshakes: 

So she dove back into old habits and started drawing chibi-tuxedo masks all over her worksheet.

Go ahead. Do your worst. 

He always had some playful or snide critique of her scribbles.

She waited a whole ten seconds before she realized the mental silence would not be filled. Because he wasn’t there. He couldn’t see her doodles.

She burst into tears.

8 A comment that touched you: 

Honestly, this year it wasn’t so much what was in a comment, so much as it was when a comment arrived. Like when I was ready to tear my hair out arguing with the bank or insurance company, and then a review would pop up out of nowhere! Or when I was sitting next to my son at the hospital. Sadly, I don’t remember which comments were the ones that did this. But I think LitaKino had especially good timing more than once this year. And jennagrins as well! But there were so many others! I’m tell you all - comments are love!!

9 Something that inspired your writing:

There’s lots of the usual suspects - life, husband, children, students, etc.

But a lot of it this year has actually been reading other people’s stories and wanting them to keep going, or wanting them to have taken a different turn in the story arc. And then I have to open a doc a start a whole new fic! It’s kinda a problem honestly. I have thirteen active stories and another ten that I’m like - I would like to work on that, but it’s not happening at the moment. 

10 Your proudest accomplishment (that one scene; finally finishing that one fic; posting your first fic; etc):

That I finished four multi-chapter fics! (Though two of them it was just the last chapter). I think I’m proving to myself that I can be somewhat disciplined about what I’m working on, so that the projects I want to finish, get finished! 

And I’m also learning that you can write a lot with just chewing away at it bit by bit. It’s not about the 3k word days. It’s about it being a habit. If you can write 100 words every day that’s 36k words in a year! I wrote an average of 378 words per day! My goal is only ever 200 words, but I try to have an unbroken chain. I did not succeed this year in that due to weekly work deadlines, but I came a lot closer than I ever have before.

11. Do you have any writing goals for the next year?

I read my goals from last year and laughed. (Apparently, I wanted to finish Chocolate Milkshakes by the end of January. Bwahahaha!) But that’s okay. I wrote a ton this year!! It just wasn’t where I expected it to be. So that’s what I want this year to be about. I want to focus on my own personal projects by not making commitments for exchanges or events.

I have three WIPs right now that are just far more personal than anything else I’m working on. And these three stories are the ones I want to focus on this year. 

Invisible Wounds - (Ami/Zoi - Sailor Moon)

Restorative Justice - (Chloé POV - Ladybug) 

Right Behind You (Unpublished Adrino story - Ladybug) 

I imagine though that there will be one-shots that demand to be written in between, or one shots that will work me out of ruts, too. Or one shots that will explode into seven chapter outlines like jerks! Haha! 

But overall, my main goal is to just try to write every day!

I tag the following people to tell us about your fic writing accomplishments this year because you’re amazing!! @tinacentury @floraone @starlingsinclair@mikauzoran @chronicallylatetotheparty @ladyofthenoodle @alexseanchai @galahadwilder And anyone else that wants to! And of course, if I tagged you and you don’t want to, there is NO pressure. I’ve just enjoyed doing this over the years, and wanted to share the joy! 

[fizzydrink698]

interview tag game

tagged by @lavenderbexlatte which made me so soft when I saw 🥺🥺

also buckle up, pals, this got a little long

Why did you choose your url?

OK, so I’m pretty sure ‘fizzydrink698’ has been my only url in my entire online experience. When I was like, 9 or 10, I was signing up to some kids website thing, and a classmate called Lauren put ‘lollipop’ in her url because the first part of the word sounded like the first part of her name. I shamelessly copied her, and the only sweet-related thing I could think of that had ‘Fi’ in it was fizzy drink – which I hated as a kid, but that’s by the by. I added ‘698’ because I needed numbers, and because I just liked the sound of the numbers together? They don’t correspond to any real-life information about me – which makes it the perfect online security choice, I guess.

Any side blogs?

Nope, my main blog is just a chaotic mess of my interests. A nice little digital scrapbook of what I’m into.

How long have you been on Tumblr?

I had to check my archive, and apparently I’ve been here since September 2012. I’m fairly sure I might have started a little earlier because I remember going through a cringe-induced deleting spree of my super old posts, but it was definitely 2012. So, 9 years?

Do you have a queue tag?

Nope, I don’t think I’ve ever actually scheduled a post in my life. I just post when I want.

Why did you choose your icon/pfp?

I was super into those dress-up games as a kid, and I used one to make myself and my friends as anime characters? Like a proto-picrew I guess. Anyway, I’m pretty sure it’s also been my icon for the past 9 years. I’ve been debating changing it, just because ‘anime icons’ have a certain connotation online. Eh, we’ll see.

Why did you choose your header?

It’s a hedge maze from a scene in my favourite movie, ‘Labyrinth’. I could honestly tell you the exact dialogue of the scene, the scenes directly before and after, at what point it takes place in the plot. I know that movie too well.

What's your post with the most notes?

Haha, so I was wondering when we’d get into this. Some of you may know that kpop fanfiction isn’t the first thing I’ve written for. Like I said, this blog has no theme, I follow my interest and I write what I like. Anyway, in 2017, I watched Descendants 2 with my little sister, it was like a tradition because we saw the first one together when it aired. And the concept of the series was super interesting, and one of the new characters was pretty hot, so I decided to write some fic. And it got way more popular than I was expecting – I still get asks and notes on it 4 years later. The post with the most notes is ‘reunions’. Enjoy my teenage self and her clumsy first attempts at Y/N.

As for kpop posts, I think the Instinct masterlist? I’m pretty happy with that, it has the first moodboard I ever created so that’s fun.

How many mutuals do you have?

Not that many? A handful? But, like, a big handful?

How many followers do you have?

OK, this number doesn’t sit right with me because a lot of it came from that wave of Descendants fans from 4 years ago, and I’m pretty certain most of the accounts have died out now, but my follower count technically stands at 994. But I’m fairly certain that the number of followers I’ve gotten since I first started posting kpop fic is closer to about 200?

How many people do you follow?

43, and a lot of those are fic writers I like and people I know IRL. I like to keep my dashboard light, makes the Tumblr experience feel more personal, I guess.

Have you ever made a shitpost?

Have I ever not made a shitpost?

How often do you use Tumblr each day?

Too much. At least every single day. I have developed a knee-jerk response of checking Tumblr when I’m bored, and I would estimate that I spend about 1-4 hours a day on it on average. But when I’m in the mood to read fic? Or chatting to people? Longer. Much longer.

Did you have a fight/argument with another blog once?

Honestly, I’m pretty liberal with my ‘Block’ button. If I see particular bad-faith criticism or just people who really strongly dislike my interests, I pre-emptively block because…why not? Life is short.

How do you feel about 'you need to compare this' posts?

I tried to Google what these are and literally found nothing. So, uh, pass?

Do you like tag games?

YES. YES I DO. People thinking of me enough to tag me is a love language all of its own and it makes my day.

Do you like ask games?

YESS. YESS I DO. LITERALLY ASK ME ANYTHING.

Which of your mutuals do you think is Tumblr famous?

I follow a few kpop fic writers who also follow me back, but I’m usually too nervous to actually interact with them. (to the point where I’m not gonna tag them here because embarrassed)

Do you have a crush on a mutual?

I don’t think it’s a ‘crush’ crush because the dangers of parasocial relationships am I right? but I spent an ungodly amount of time interacting with a certain mutual pretty much every day over a period of like three months? The serotonin hit when they responded? Unmatched. Our time zones also did not match at all, so I’d be staying up until like 3am. The first time they complimented my writing, I literally messaged an IRL friend in all-caps about it, and she just laughed and said ‘sempai noticed you, huh?’ So, like…there’s that? I’m pretty sure that mutual knows who they are. Hi. I’m gonna go hide forever now.

This was fun! Tagging: @formidxble @healinghyunjin @the7thcrow (and @herelittlefish 😈😈)

[capricornus-rex]

A Shadow of What You Used to Be (4)

Chapter 4: Brother, Brother | Cal Kestis x Irele Skywalker

Requested by Anon

Summary: There is another! Years after young Anakin Skywalker departed Tatooine, his mother Shmi delivers a second child—this time, a daughter. Whilst the circumstance of the girl’s birth remains unexplained, Irele Skywalker has yet to choose the true path between those laid out for her.

Tags: Fem! OC, Irele Skywalker, Force-sensitive! OC, Anakin’s Younger Sister, Skywalker! OC, Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice, Long-lost Sibling

Also in AO3

Chapters: Prelude – 1 – 2 | Previous: Part 3 | Next: Part 5 | Masterlist

5 of ?

They arrived at the moisture farm, the exact one that Watto told them. The domed abode stood out across the surrounding dunes, behind it were the suns hoisted in its point for high noon. As Anakin and Padmé approached, a dark-colored figure got into their better view—little did the Jedi knew that the figure posted outside was the droid he had created years ago.

“Oh!” startled, the droid turned around to face the visitors. “Hello, how may I be of service? I am C—”

“3PO?” Anakin squinted some more, unsure whether the sunlight was playing tricks on his already narrowed eyes.

The droid paused, its photoreceptors processing the face of the young man before him, and then it dawned on him.

“Could it be? The Maker!” the black droid exclaimed. “Master Ani, I knew you would return! Oh and Miss Padmé, oh my.”

At least Padmé was delighted to have been remembered by the droid she has not seen in a decade.

“Bless my circuits! I’m so pleased to see you both.”

“I’ve come to see my mother,” the droid’s maker said in the same steely tone he used when speaking with the Toydarian, affording no moment for the droid to celebrate this small reunion.

C3PO stuttered, unsure how to begin responding to that purpose.

“Yes, well, I do believe it is best I bring you inside.”

The droid stiffly turned around, expecting the human pair to follow, and they were escorted into the ground floor of the Lars homestead.

From the kitchen, Owen could hear C3PO speaking like a tour guide. He had figured it might have been the person he thought would come, he just didn’t realize it’d be today. Out of common courtesy, he—along with the Whitesun girl—came out of the kitchen to greet their guests.

“Master Owen, might I present to you the two most important visitors.”

“I’m Anakin Skywalker.”

“Owen Lars. And this is my girlfriend, Beru.”

Beru managed a smile to both visitors before softly saying “Hello.”

“I’m Padmé.”

“I guess I’m your stepbrother,” he swallowed. “I had a feeling you might show up someday.”

Anakin didn’t take that kindly, he had no emotional reaction to it—he’s just here for his mother.

“Is my mother here?” he demanded, stepping away from his apparent stepbrother.

“No, she’s not,” a gruff voice drew everyone’s attention to its direction, followed by the soft whirring of a hoverchair.

Cliegg had aged, though not quite well, given what had happened in the past. He extended a hand as he introduced himself.

“Shmi is my wife,” he added. “We should go inside. We have a lot to talk about.”

Owen quickly came to his father, taking the two handles protruding outward from the backrest of the chair.

“Where is your sister?”

“She hasn’t come back yet,”

“Well, she better come home quick.” Grumbled the elder Lars only within Owen’s earshot.

They all gathered at the dining table. Cliegg began with how he met Shmi, how he bought her, and eventually freed her. The old man chuckled once as he studied the boy’s features while he was listening in carefully, even while he stares at his hands clasped together.

“You know, it’s funny,” he began, the remark caught Anakin’s attention. “I never realize that you and Irele have the same eyes—but I think she resembles Shmi’s the most.”

Anakin’s eyes shifted shakily, his lips parted but no words escaped from it; he looked alternately between Cliegg and Owen, wordlessly demanding some clarification to what Cliegg said. Anakin blinked once, dramatically so, and finally managed to let out the words: “I… Irele?”

Everyone on that very table exchanged looks, but the other party was more confused and perhaps curious on who’s this Irele person that they don’t know of. Cliegg’s last words also got to Anakin and he decoded it quickly—but as he solved the minor riddle, more questions piled up after the answer. Has his mother given him a sister without his knowledge? Why hasn’t he felt her through the Force? Is she not gifted with the same abilities as he is?

“W-Where… Where is she?”

“She’s probably out in town with the other children her age. Irele is coping, you see, but I don’t think it’s not doing her much good. Overworking, finding and taking one too many odd jobs—more than she can handle—”

“Coping?” Anakin asked for elaboration.

Cliegg guessed there’s no way of sliding his way out of that question. They will come to the point in the conversation on what had happened to Shmi. The mood in the dining room changed significantly. A gloomy silence befell Owen and Beru as they waited for the head of the house to begin the tale.

“Your mother went out early—just before dawn—to pick mushrooms, like she always does. But this one time, she was ambushed by the Tusken Raiders, they had been prowling by the ridge waiting to raid the farms when there’s no one looking—but they saw your mother. They attacked her and took her with them, kept her hostage. And your sister, well…”

The elderly man sighed, taking and then letting out a deep breath, he attempts to continue.

“She left the house to search for her the moment she got out of bed. I found her woken up by a cold sweat, then she insisted that something was wrong. I trusted her, believed her, and let her go find her mother in the fields. She came back empty-handed, I had already prepared a search party. Those Tuskens walk like men, but they’re vicious, mindless monsters. About thirty of us went, only four of us came back. I’d be out there with them, but after I lost my leg… I just couldn’t ride anymore until I heal. I don’t want to give up on her, but she’s been gone for a month.”

The silence was distrupted by the sound of light footsteps, the only noise that rung across the homestead apart from their voices.

“I’m home!” a girl’s voice announced. “Dad? Owen?”

Her voice and her arrival caught the attention of both her family and the two visitors. Anakin stood up and stepped out so that he can see—and be seen—the rotunda. Just a meter and a half away from him was a girl of ten years—nearing eleven—standing from the stairs from where he came when he himself arrived in this house.

Irele was immediately taken aback by this stranger, not because it was a new face—but because she was bothered by how familiar he looked and felt. A good minute has passed and it dawned on her. She knows who this is.

Anakin examined the girl: black hair tied back into a ponytail, donning a woven scarf to protect her from the sands, and a pair of earthy hazel eyes hooded with a somber, unreadable gaze—nearly similar a hue to Shmi’s eye color. Looking at her was like seeing Shmi in her girlhood, for Irele could perhaps grow to be the spitting image of their mother. This is his sister, he thought, but he wasn’t sure what to do or how to react and interact with her—neither of them have known much about the other. And they’ve only just met! To Irele, it felt like she had waited a lifetime to meet him; she always had that feeling, perhaps over time, she didn’t anticipate him as much.

“Irele…?” Anakin uttered.

“H-Hi…” she stuttered shyly, reacting to her name.

Cliegg spun his hoverchair, “Irele, this is your brother. Your real brother.”

Irele’s brows furrowed, she blinked several times as she examined Anakin’s features. Perhaps she could not spot any resemblance yet, but eventually she would have—if she gave it time. As the siblings stared at one another; thoughts, questions, and even comments about each other’s appearances flood their minds.

What does she know about me? Did Mom ever tell her about me?

There’s something I feel about him… though it’s making me too nervous. It’s almost like it’s something bad… or maybe because he just looks a little mean.

Before giving a proper reaction or even speaking a single word, she sprang to her heels and fled to her room, flimsily holding her satchel loosely by the strap, dangling just inches away from the ground as she ran.

The adults dismissed it as bashfulness and also surprise. Anakin did not go after her anymore and went to the direction of the front door.

“Give her time,” Cliegg advised.

“Where are you going?”

Anakin’s eyebrows slightly pulled, but Owen did not notice, “To go find my mother.”

“Your mother’s dead son, accept it. There’s little hope she’s lasted this long.”

In fact, he didn’t. He could never ever. Then Cliegg sighed in defeat, knowing that this boy might be just as stubborn as his little sister. He reached for Anakin’s forearm and clutched it weakly, slightly startling him.

“If you can’t do that… at least talk to your sister.”

The sky had burned into a golden orange hue, sunset was nearing. Night will be upon them soon. Anakin found Irele in the workshop, he recognized some of the apparatus to be Shmi’s—apparently, she had brought those with her when she and Irele were bought.

As he was approaching her, he caught a glimpse of what she was doing—she was piecing together a sort of tech that seemed familiar, along with a little help from her friends in town.

“Irele, I…”

“She told me about you,” Irele matched her brother’s firm tone of voice, though the hint of uncertainty rang along her words. She did not look at him, she spoke to him while keeping her eyes on her handicraft. “A long time ago. I just didn’t think we’d meet at this time.”

Anakin got close enough to get a better look at her tinkering, he examined the small machine and discovered that she was retrofitting a podracer’s dashboard.

Attempting and hoping he’d establish a connection with her, he caved in to listen on what Irele has to say.

“She told me that you were a great racer. You won against Sebulba.”

“Sebulba? He still races?”

Irele turned to Anakin, not exactly surprised that he still remembers the cheating Dug, though a decade’s worth of not knowing anything happening in Tatooine would at least fog his memory. His sister nodded slowly and then returned to fixing the dashboard.

“No, it’s…” she trailed off when she got too focused on arranging the wires. “It’s from a customer in Anchorhead. I used to be in a podracer’s pit stop entourage, when I was like six.”

“Do they still race?”

She shook her head, and answered the question she knew was coming, “Accident. Can’t drive a pod with just one arm, huh?”

Her posture straightened, she moved the magnifying lens away from her, and then secured the dashboard in a leather sleeve before settling it down neatly in the center of the workbench. Irele finally afforded a good long look at her big brother.

Big brother… kinda weird to call him that.

“Ani,” she uttered, though she meant it as a practice of getting used to addressing him when talking to him. She didn’t really intend to call him, but he looked at her anyway. There was a pause before she continued.

“How much did Dad tell you—about Mom?”

It slightly baffled Anakin how casually she called Cliegg her father, he cannot blame her anyway if this is the father figure she grew up with.

“Just enough for me to know,” Anakin answered.

She hummed. Then Anakin decided to ask the question that has been lingering in his mind. If this was his birth sister, was she born in the same way he was?

“Irele, perhaps you can tell me something,” he began.

Detecting the seriousness in his tone, she swiveled the chair to face him, propping her elbow on the table. Staring back at him with those hazel eyes that he cannot gaze upon without remembering Shmi—because he could definitely see his mother within his sister—he licked his lips before speaking.

“Cliegg isn’t really your father, is he?”

His sister stared at him some more with squinted eyes, bobbed her head to the side as she got the idea of his question. She wordlessly shook her head; when she did, then Anakin’s presumptions have been realized—she was exactly like him. Within their moment together of just conversing, he could feel the Force flowing in her, although it was faint and seemingly dormant. In that case, her Force-sensitivity might be still untapped—what seemed to be a small stream on a quiet summer morning will eventually turn out to be a powerful, raging dam. And so it begs the question: will he report her to the Jedi Council?

“He told you about the Tuskens, didn’t he?”

“Yes.”

“Oh…” Irele’s eyelids drooped as she looked randomly on the floor, avoiding her brother’s gaze. Another moment passed, both siblings were inept in speaking to  one another casually—unlike how Irele is to Owen—but then she lifted her head again, and this time, she looked at her real big brother with pleading eyes, suggesting a sense of longing for their mother and sadness. The latter being a dangerous emotion to dwell on. “You’ll bring her back, won’t you… Anakin?”

Then at that moment, Anakin was both determined and burdened to keep such a promise. He was confident and hopeful that he would rescue Shmi, but with such a motivation fueled by the fear of loss, Irele was beginning to sense something ominous from him. In the back of her head, she was regretting what she asked of him. She saw a shadow loom over Anakin, as dark as his long robes that sweep the sand as he strode. Her heart pumped slowly and heavily, it suffocated her and made her nervous.

There’s something not right with him. Something… bad. She thought to herself, her fingers twitched with anxiety. It’s too late to take that back. Anakin has sealed a contract forged from her behest—which was also his. Now she wanted to stop him, because she know something bad was going to happen—executing the same foresight she had for Shmi.

“Anakin, are you alright?” Irele asked, and that seemed to snap him back to reality.

He stammered as he answers, “Yes. I… I just blanked out, I guess.”

“Right…” she groaned with a growing suspicion. “Just… Just don’t lose sight of what you came for.”

Her vague warning would allude to the preceding events. Anakin took her words to heart, and his being a Jedi gave him the advantage to read people better than most, to analyze their motives and desires. Hearing Irele say something like that hints her Jedi-like abilities: her foresight, which was something Qui Gon had noted of Anakin himself when he was still a child.

“I won’t,” he said with conviction, and then he managed a smile in the hopes of easing her spirits. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring her back.”

Irele’s thin lips pursed and watched her big brother turn around to leave her be in the workshop. When his back turned to her, that smile instantaneously melted away; her stomach slightly churned at the sight of his robes shadowing his figure—he looked broader and more intimidating, and quite ominous.

She had a bad feeling. A very bad feeling about this.

[aiden-png]

to celebrate the end of 2020, I’ve decided to share the highlights of the writing I did this year! I’m going to share a few of my favorite snippets from 2020, and I think this could be a fun tag meme to invite friends to join in on so they can appreciate their progress and hard work too! I couldn’t have written so much if it wasn’t for the great online community supporting me and all my wonderfully talented friends!!

I’m gonna tag @freshie-writes @silverdragon-imagines-blog @st0rmy-writes @fuckit-hero-of-trains @no-themes-just-memes @timeturner-jay and anyone else who wants to join in, feel free! you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but you all wrote amazing things this year and I’m gonna appreciate you for them!!

snippets below the cut (please do this or make a new post if you wanna join, just so we don’t flood everyone’s dashboard lol!)

it’s difficult to count for certain, but across 7 google docs from April to December 2020, I wrote 324,782 words just of Legend of Zelda fanfic! it’s been a crazy fun year and I think my writing has improved a ton since I started writing fic again in April! thank you all for supporting me through the last 9 months!! <3

here’s a highlight of some of my favorite excerpts from fics I wrote this year! Smoke on the Wind and Dream With Me are two of my favorite pieces I wrote this year for angst, while Four Feet of Pure Flirtation and Lessons in Love are my favorites for crack/fluff :D the other snippets are featured bc I’m proud of how the fics turned out !

Dream With Me: June 28, 2020 Legend and Hyrule sat on the beach, a mere two feet separating them. It felt like much more. Farther than they’d ever been apart before. The other heroes stumbled onto the sand, frozen in shock as they took in the scene before them. Legend, knife drawn and hands shaking dangerously. Hyrule, knees buried in the sand and hands held over his chest, trying desperately not to reach out again. The sun was rising, pinks disappearing into vibrant gold and crushed purple and bright blue. As dawn broke, their vision wavered. Hyrule gasped, Legend blurring before him, the sand beneath him fading, the roar of the waves diminishing. Magic hour was ending. “This isn’t a dream,” Hyrule whispered, and Legend’s shoulders shook with silent sobs. “I’m real. I’m here. Legend, come with me.” Hyrule stretched out his arm, fingers splayed, eyes begging. Legend flinched back, dagger slipping from shaking fingers. He stared, disbelieving. Vertigo consumed Hyrule’s senses, his vision clouding with black dots. “Take my hand, Legend!” Hyrule cried, and Legend jumped. He sprung forward, hand grasping. Hyrule felt nothing as Legend’s hand passed through his. “Hyrule!” He blinked, and found himself in an unfamiliar field, reaching towards sunrise.

Smoke on the Wind: August 7, 2020 Wind hadn’t always had this ability, but before his second adventure, before the ghosts became tangible to his skin and visible to his eyes, he still had a sixth sense of sorts to rely on. Back then he’d called it instinct, but now he called it a curse. It never helped him do better on his adventure, never showed him the way, never allowed him to prevent someone’s demise--only forced him to bear witness to it in all its excruciatingly gory detail. Some spoke of death like a mercy, others like a boon. Wind knew death like an old friend and he despised it with all the rage contained in his tiny body. Some feared death, some prayed for its delay. Wind feared no man, god, or figment of imagination. There was no reason to fear something he couldn’t prevent, there was no reason to pray to something that would never hear or listen. Some ran from death, some hid. Wind stared death in the eye and spat in its face. He thrust a magical fucking sword through its head and banished it to a watery grave.

Four Feet of Pure Flirtation: June 26, 2020 Maybe he should have shared just a tad bit more with them, but that was a regret for future Four to deal with. And really, he hadn’t been expecting it himself, so they couldn’t exactly blame him when Dark Link materialized in their camp one morning and sent Four’s heart racing in an unfamiliar-familiar way. Four felt the heat crawl up his chest, felt his tongue loosen, felt his eyes trail over Dark’s lithe form just a bit too slow to be innocent. No one had told him Dark was attractive. Although, Vio reminded him, we are the only ones attracted to villains. We are most decidedly not! Four shot back. The denial was empty. They most decidedly were.

Hero Through the Ages: June 19, 2020 Wild sighed, chin resting on his knees. He glanced over at Sky, feeling anxiety buzz within him as a question pushed at the back of his mind. “Hey, Sky… does the sword still recognize me?” Sky froze at the unexpected question, eyes searching Wild’s carefully schooled expression. Wild felt his anxiety rise but he held his ground as the older hero tentatively reached back and unsheathed the Master Sword. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Wild tried hard not to notice the new eyes on them as he waited for Sky’s response. He knew what the answer should be, but when the other slowly opened his eyes and held the sword out for Wild, it was still conflicting to feel the familiar weight of it in his hands. Not too heavy. Not burning. Perfectly at home, as if he’d just begun his adventure and still had many years left before the Calamity struck. Wild felt a pit in his stomach as he handed the sword back, Sky’s concerned gaze not helping. “How old were you when you pulled the sword?” Sky asked quietly, and Wild stared at his hands as they trembled slightly in his lap. “Too young.”

A Shower to Remember: July 4, 2020 Enter Twilight and Wild. TWILIGHT     I can see thee up th’re.     Come hither.     I simply wish to speak with thee.

Enter Legend to Shower Crashers. LEGEND     all’s well that ends well, I believe our plan hath been a success. cheers to thee all. FOUR     didst thou not see     Wild running     for his life not     a minute past? LEGEND     that is’t his problem, not mine.

Lessons in Love: July 9, 2020 The offer though, that’s what truly made Legend pause. Show you the ropes, he’d said. He should be insulted that Ravio thought he was that hopeless, but the man wasn’t wrong. Legend was absolutely, positively hopeless, evidenced by the situation he now found himself in. Should he say no and move on? Should he accept--and then what? Maybe he should laugh it off, say he was joking, or perhaps he should come clean now and tell Ravio how he felt? But he still didn’t know if Ravio felt the same, those dark eyes betraying nothing in the fading light of sunset. So, naturally, Legend continued to panic. “What do you mean by ‘show me the ropes’?” Legend asked, quick, defensive enough to pass as insulted. Ravio snorted, tasting the hot chocolate, and Legend’s eyes were drawn to his lips once more as if under a spell. “I mean no offense, Link,” Ravio laughed, seeming not to catch the blush on Legend’s face as Ravio used his name. “I just figured you might want some pointers. Flirting, hand holding, relationship advice, y’know? You don’t have to accept the offer by any means!” Flirting? Hand holding? Legend gulped. He was already an idiot. Maybe he could play dumb for a little while longer…

Scars: June 2, 2020 “I used to try and cover myself in public--I didn’t like the way people would whisper or stare when they saw. But eventually I came to accept the scars as part of me. I remembered how I got them, and I realized I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the journey that led to me getting these scars. And I like who I am…” Wild trailed off, sifting sand through his fingers as Warriors listened. “I’ve come to love my scars, because they hold such important memories for me. Even if some of the memories aren’t so great, I wouldn’t be who I am today without them, you know? And I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

Beneath the Surface: July 13, 2020 For the first few months he had lied to himself, blaming the others or the weather or Shadow or Vaati or anything rather than admitting he had a problem. But Blue did, in fact, have a problem, and fighting and yelling it out wasn’t the healthiest solution. For the others it was easy. Green had Vio, for Wind could rarely move Earth, and Red got along with everyone he was so full of love to give. But Blue wasn’t good at teamwork, he wasn’t good at strategizing, and he wasn’t good at showing affection--he was good at being angry, and that was it. He was the protector, the toughest of them all in strength and will; but when you’re always protecting others, no one protects you. Not like Blue made it easy for the others to approach him, and he didn’t blame them for giving up. They were all struggling, they all had their own issues, and while Wind was a gentle breeze and Fire a warming comfort and Earth a steady rock--Water was impossible to hold down. He was forever changing, flowing, and while it meant that he could adapt well to new situations, it also meant that every time he felt close to getting a handle on his emotions they would slip from his grasp once more. His magic ebbed and swayed and his emotions followed their tide, not his, and so he pushed others away rather than admit he couldn’t handle himself. If protecting them meant distancing himself, then so be it.

The Point of No Return: June 19, 2020 He turned back to Four, brushing the back of his hand across his cheek. He’d wanted to share a meal with his partner. He’d wanted to see Four’s small smile--just for him--as he tried Hylian food for the first, second, hundredth time. Long ago, they’d promised to travel the world together. Four wanted to share everything with him; wanted to show him the forge, wanted him to meet his Grandfather, wanted to take him to see the Minish. After the adventure, Four had promised. He’d be free to go and do whatever he wanted, right by Four’s side. Well, he was at his side now. And this was not what they’d promised each other.

A Major Test of Strength: May 7, 2020 Even being worthy of the Triforce of Courage didn’t mean he was brave enough to act on, or even think, about how he felt about Sidon. He reasoned it was better not to say anything, especially now. He was going off to a battle he may not return from. Even if he burned to know if Sidon felt the same, it would be selfish to ask knowing he may be leaving for the last time. Link would rather go to the grave with his feelings then leave Sidon alone with them. At least if he died before confessing, Sidon would be able to move on, he hoped. Sidon was his best friend, and that was enough for now.

[hargrove-mayfields]

tagged by @dyingontheharringrovehill! ty much! <3

1. why did you choose your url?

This was only ever meant to be a placeholder url! I didn’t expect my blog to gain traction so fast (or at all really, love y’all sm) so I didn’t have a backup ready and now that’s just what I’m known as so I didn’t want to change it! But I think I’m gonna change it pretty soon anyways.

2. any side blogs? if you have them name them and why you have them.

I have two, but they’re not really active yet, ones an overwatch side blog @silverandsoftly and ones a batjokes blog @haha-hacienda ! Any original works that eventually get posted over there will end up on my ao3 though!

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

Gosh I don’t even know how long. Maybe 8-ish years?

4. do you have a queue tag?

Nope! Tumblrs queue system confuses me too much!

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

To share my writing! My hyperfixation switched and I wanted really bad to write for stranger things, but my other accounts were basically dead and not getting attention anymore, but I really adored the community here from an outsiders perspective, so I just started over and it really paid off!

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp?

Before I had picked a picture of Steve that I just saw too many other people so I picked one I hadn’t seen a lot of! It also matched my header so that was a bonus.

7. why did you choose your header?

It matched my pfp at the time and it was a wide shot so it worked well! Not much thinking behind it really other than they match colors wise.

8. what’s your post with the most notes?

This ficlet I wrote about Billy coming out to Max! It has 221 notes!

9. how many mutuals do you have?

Probably about as many as I follow, not really sure though!

10. how many followers do you have?

160 exactly!

11. how many people do you follow?

80! Almost positive I used to follow more than that but tumblr does that thing where it unfollows people for no reason to me all the time.

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

Yep. I think what constitutes my sense of humor and literally everyone else on the planets though does not line up and I get like, two notes on those posts tops.

13. how often do you use tumblr each day?

Quite a bit, but I’ve been really bad at looking at my dashboard recently. I get on and respond to messages/rps and then I’m off again trying to write or do other things. I wish there was more time in the day so I could spend some more time reading and looking at other peoples work!

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? who won?

Never! I hate internet conflicts, it makes me so nervous even seeing other people fighting. I answer most hate anons, but I hardly think that counts as a fight, because I have yet to have one leave more asks and try to comeback at me. (I probably just jinxed that though)

15. how do you feel about “you need to reblog this” posts?

Not good. Do y’all remember those comments on like dress up game websites and YouTube years and years ago that you had to share them and write stuff down or just do little tasks so you would be lucky or safe from monsters and stuff? Because I was probably like seven when I started seeing those and those triggered terrible obsessions in my brain for literal years that I needed therapy to get over, so now I just steer clear of anything like that at all for fear of triggering my ocd, even if it’s not spam and it’s the most well intended post.

16. do you like tag games?

Yes! Oversharing is my game!

17. do you like ask games?

Same as tag games, I find them really fun! The hardest part is just knowing who to tag and worrying about spamming my followers!

18. which of your mutuals do you think are tumblr famous?

All of them! I don’t know what really counts as ‘famous’ on this app, but I think as long as you have even one person following your work and something your followers know you for, you can feel pretty famous, I know I do sometimes.

19. do you have a crush on any of your mutuals?

Nope!

20. tags?

All my usuals, @lifegaurd-hargrove85 @strangebrainrot @deardmvz @mediocre--writing and anybody who’s interested!

[shochmonster]

84 Questions

original: https://fuckyeahsurveys.tumblr.com/post/61049002526/84-questions

Put your music player of choice on shuffle and list the first 10 songs Guns of Brixton - The Clash Holiday in Cambodia - Dead Kennedys  Chainsaw - Nick Jonas California - Joni Mitchell Make It Wit Chu - Queens of the Stone Age This Woman’s Work - Kate Bush The Bad Thing - Arctic Monkeys Between the Bars - Eliot Smith Drown - The Smashing Pumpkins Different People - No Doubt

If you could spend a week anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Would you take anyone with you? I’d take @duoloopo to the UK. I’d like to see places other than London.

What is your preferred writing implement? (eg. Blue pen, pencil, green pen)  I use my iPad stylus the most, but I have this heavy mechanical pencil I really like for drawing. 

Favourite month and why? October. I just love the fall vibe. 

Do you have connections to any celebrities (even minor)? List them. I went to undergraduate school with Rebecca Sugar. We used to ride the bus between NYC and DC together on holidays. 

Name 3 items you could pick up from where you are. Can of seltzer, pencil case, stack of bills

What brand logo is closest to you currently? REAL Skateboards

Do you ever play board games or other non-computer games? Got any favourites? I love Small World and Munchkin. 

A musical artist you love that isn’t well known Laura Stevenson and the Cans

A musical artist you love that is well known Red Hot Chili Peppers

What is your desktop background currently? Thomas Barrow on the beach in the Season 4 Christmas Special

Last person you talked to, and through what you talked to them @duomaxwell02 with my face :O 

First colour name you can think of that isn’t in the rainbow White

What timekeeping devices are in the room you are currently in? Two wall clocks, though one is very old and doesn’t wind anymore. I also have a clock @duoloopo ‘s dad made for me. It’s on the piano. 

What kind of headphones do you use? JBL Bluetooth, noise canceling 

What musical artists have you seen perform live? Foo Fighters (3x), Incubus (3x), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Beastie Boys, Audioslave, Justin Timberlake, Troy Sivan, Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Queen (but with Roger Daughtry, not Freddy... for obvious reasons.). Probably a whole bunch of others I’m blanking on. 

Does virginity matter to you? Not really. 

What gaming consoles do you or your family own? PS4, PS2, PS1, XBox 360, N64, Gamecube, Wii, NES, SNES, various Gameboys, Nintendo DS, PSP

What pets do you have? What are their names? Two cats, Hemingway and Renji

What’s the best job you’ve ever had? I like freelance art gigs the best. As for ‘normal people jobs’, I once was a sign painter for Whole Foods. That was pretty fun, minus the work drama. 

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had? Food service. 

What magazines do you read, if any? I’ll pick up Time once in a while

Inspiration behind your URL? My classic original URL was LinkWorshiper and had been since AIM first existed. I picked it because Zelda was the first fandom I ever joined. Now I’ve changed all my handles (except on AO3) to reflect my actual name, as my literary agent thinks it’s more professional. 

Inspiration behind your blog title? Mean Girls. I always chuckle imagining Thomas and Jimmy as some Edwardian version of the Plastics. 

Favourite item of clothing? My Downton livery waistcoat. And the stiff bosomed shirt and collars I have to go with it. 

Are you friends with any exes? Nah. By the time I felt comfortable enough to possibly try, I also didn’t care enough to. 

Name at least one book you loved as a child. His Dark Materials (the trilogy by Philip Pullman). I still love them and am jazzed that he’s writing more these days. 

What’s your native language? If that language has distinct regional variations, which variation? (eg. AU English, US English) US English, mostly a northeastern dialect/accent

What email service do you use? Gmail

Is there anything hanging on the walls of the room you are currently in? So much stuff. I have a mood board full of Downtons stuff over my desk, various DA posters and memorabilia, plus some artwork I’ve done, and some of my JC Leyendecker collection. The aforementioned wall clocks, a San Francisco cable car bell, Sailor Moon and a few other little knickknacks, like my hamsa. To name a few lol. 

What’s your favourite number, and why? 212 because it’s Manhattan’s area code and also because it used to be the notation for one of my favorite ships in an old fandom. 

Earliest moment in your life you can remember? Sitting under the table and looking at my grandma, who was wearing a Cruella Deville dress she’d knit herself. Like, it had the actual Disney character on it. Pretty cool to a little guy, I guess!

What did you have for dinner yesterday? Quesadilla 

How often do you brush your teeth? Whenever they feel gross

What’s your favourite candy/chocolate? Lately, I’ve been into Junior Mints. 

Have you had other blogs on Tumblr? Do you have any other blogs currently? This blog used to have my old handle, linkworshiper. I did a small Whole Foods blog when I worked with them, but it never went anywhere. 

If you were suddenly really hungry, what would you choose to eat? Sushi

What fandoms would you consider yourself a part of? Downton Abbey, though lately I’ve been crazy busy and not as active as I once was. Casually still poking at old fandoms like Zelda and Gundam Wing to name a few. 

If you could study anything, what would it be? More art education can’t hurt. Maybe some formal history education. 

Do you use anything on your lips? (eg. Chapstick, gloss, balm, lipstick) Chapstick 

How would you describe your sense of humour? Seinfeld 

What things annoy you more than anything else? Mouth noises

What kind of position are you in at the moment? Sitting

Do you wear much jewellery? Nope

Who is the leader of your country, currently? Any other levels of government with leaders? (State, region, province, county, district, municipality, etc) Three supposedly equal branches of government, currently being run into the ground by a clown 

Last 3 blogs on your dashboard, not including any of your own @halcyondaze @mab1905 @lavender-hued-melancholy

What do you carry your money in? I try to never carry cash, but I carry a small wallet 

Do you enjoy driving? Why or why not? I like it but sometimes it feels like a chore, especially during a commute. @duoloopo thinks I’m a shit driver so she tries to drive whenever she can, which has pluses and minuses. 

Longest drive you have ever been on? Savannah GA to San Francisco, CA in a UHaul

Furthest away from home you have ever been? Germany 

How many times have you moved house? God, I don’t even know. More than ten. 

What is on the floor of the room you’re currently in, not including furniture? Cat toys, unused canvases

How many devices do you own which can access the internet? Phone, computer, iPad, various game consoles 

Is there is anything that is guaranteed to always make you happy? Thomas and Jimmy <3 <3 

Is there anything that always makes you sad? Thinking too hard about being a failure

What programs do you currently have open? I just rebooted, so only Chrome, Spotify and Photoshop

What do you associate the colour red with? This line in the Kate Bush Song Blue Symphony, which goes, ‘I associate love with red, the color of my heart when she’s dead.’ 

Last strong smell you can remember smelling? The Greek food I ordered in for dinner

Last healthy thing you ate? Roasted veggies

Do you drink tea or coffee, and how much per day? I prefer tea, and I drink coffee for energy, though sometimes I think it just makes me crash harder. 

What do you associate the colour blue with? The sky

How long is the closest ruler you can find? 12 inches

What colour pants/skirt/etc are you currently wearing? Dark blue

When was the last time you drank water? About a minute ago

How often do you clear your browser history? Rarely

Do you believe nude photos can be artistic, rather than erotic? Yes

Ever written fanfiction for anything? Oh God, yes. You can still find it under Link Worshiper on AO3, though some of my ‘classics’ have been removed since I turned them into original manuscripts 

Last formal event you attended My cousin’s wedding

If you had to move your birthday to another date, which one would you choose and why? Maybe inch my birth year up just by two so that I’d stop being called a damn millennial. At my age, I really just don’t relate to the generation even though technicalities make me a part of it. 

Would you prefer to be at a beach or in the countryside? Beach

Roughly how many people live in your town? 52,000

Do you know anyone with the same birthday as you? Leonard Nimoy :D 

Favourite place to shop? Can be a certain store or a place where there are multiple stores I haven’t really gone shopping since the pandemic. Right now, it feels like the only place to buy anything is Amazon XD

Do you have a smartphone? What kind? If you don’t, do you want one? Samsung. It’s not a Galaxy but is a new model and a fraction of the price. 

What is your least favourite colour, and why? I don’t think I dislike any colors honestly. 

How do you spell grey/gray? Grey. I’ve got too many British online associates to ever go back. 

Go to your dashboard and describe the image shown in the radar section (below the “Find blogs” link) It’s Umbrella Academy fanart of Klaus. He’s in black and white with this hands over his eyes and the background is red. It’s very graphic. 

What difference is there between how many followers you have, and the number of blogs you follow? 736

How many posts do you have? 8,859

How many posts have you liked? I can’t find the stat D: 

Do you post mainly reblogs, or your own content? Mainly reblogs but I pepper in my own content when I can. Lately, I haven’t had time to do as much fanart though, and I kind of feel like it’s not worth bothering to post my original stuff. Nobody follows my blog for that. 

Do you track any tags? No. 

What time is it currently? 7:33 PM CMT

Is there anything you should be doing right now? Waking up @duoloopo. TIME TO JUMP ON THE BED. 

tagging, if they feel like it: @abbys-little-whippersnapper​ @bumblebarrow​ @irrationalgame​ @downtoncat​ @mab1905​ @duoloopo​

and everyone who I’ve forgotten

[aelaer]

300

Tumblr’s algorithm picked up my last whumptober post and that unexpectedly rocketed me up to over 300 followers (welcome new folks, I haven’t had a chance to even look at y’all yet). But really it’s quite flattering. (I think at least 10% of them are pornbots, but beggars can’t be choosers.)

So I guess in uh, celebration/woohoo, I’m just gonna post snippets from my WIPs (outside of the whumptober ones as those are coming out in the next couple days) which… well, it’s something. :3 Yes it all has to do with Stephen, I’m going one-trick-pony mode right now and it’s a friggin blast.

This is long and has WIPs of art too, so cut cut cut bellllooww.

The farking Doctor Strange/Sherlock crossover that’s been at 80% complete since July and still has no title

However, before Sherlock got caught up into the cloak once again, he forced his eyes to the man’s hands. A lot could be discovered by someone’s hands.

And what hands they were. His eyes involuntarily widened at the sight of the ragged, and in some places hypertrophic scars on the back side of each finger. He quickly looked to the other hand; they were there, too. Clearly they were crushed in some sort of accident, but an accident that left him upright and without any hint of a limp. It was possible that they were caught in some sort of machinery, but both at the same time? Statistically speaking, a car accident was more likely. A car accident that damaged the bonnet of the car and crushed his fingers between the steering wheel and the dashboard, more than likely leaving permanent nerve damage. Unfortunate.

The age of the scars showed that they were healed over, but their nature made it difficult to determine how long ago they were received. With the overall lack of fading, however, it was likely that the damage occurred within the last few years. He could not see his palms and determine anything from there, but the callus upon his right middle finger determined which hand he wrote with. Or once wrote with, at any rate. His hands could certainly be worthy of further study, if only to attempt to determine their surgical history.

Upon his left wrist was, of all things, a wristwatch. He narrowed his eyes. It was a Jaeger-LeCoultre and it was not a counterfeit by any means, but it was not a model he recognized. It looked very similar to the Master Ultra Thin Moon only just released; was this an early prototype for a new model? Even as the question fluttered through his mind, he immediately chastised himself for his stupidity. There was clear wear on the band that spoke of it being worn for years, never mind the cracked face. 

Custom-made, he eventually concluded, though even that answer did not quite sit right with him. Regardless, it spoke of a man who had wealth— or used to, in any case. The wear and damage on the watch told a new picture now, but he seemed to still be connected to some form of influence. His clothing was of a very rich quality, and that was not including the unique cloak. Perhaps he was now connected with someone in the Greater Tibetan area, or someone of wealth in the Indian subcontinent. Or from there, at any rate. 

He let his eyes go up the length of the man’s sleeves. Cloth bands decorated the forearms of his otherwise seemingly-plain shirt, likely made of wool and hemp. He indulged himself and studied the embroidery on the edge of the cloak again. He received no further information concerning its origin and make beyond what he had already determined, but there was something about it that was absolutely enchanting.

But enough lingering; he finally turned his body to lay on his side and brought his eyes up to meet the bearer of this very odd ensemble of attire.

And he saw himself.

Within the Shadows (villain!AU) sequel that finalllyyy has a title, Inhibited Lodgings (I think this one is about at 85%! So soooonnnn)

When one of the nurses came in with dinner, Stephen hardly acknowledged him. The nurse set the tray on the overbed table and, after a quick, “Eat while it’s hot!” left the room.

Stephen ignored it. He continued his obsessive perusal of the tablet, shaky fingers managing to steady enough to click link after link after link.

Stark came in an hour later and the tray was still untouched. He quirked his brows up. “Y'know Doc, if you don’t eat, Doctor Cho is going to be very stern with you and you’ll feel terrible after that.”

He raised his head from the tablet at the sound of Stark’s voice, blinking. “What?” He then looked at the tray of food. “Oh… right. I forgot that was brought in.” He looked at the now stone-cold chicken and broccoli with a small grimace.

“I’ll have them make you another plate. Send that info up, FRI.” Stark sunk into one of the chairs beside the bed. “What has you so distracted, anyway?”

Stephen turned the tablet around to show him his screen, which had a list of all the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 for all genres in 2011. “I only considered yesterday that there might be differences in music between my reality and this one. A check to see if my favorite artists existed here turned into something of a full day project.”

Stark was clearly interested. “No kidding. Did you find any differences?”

“Dozens. In some ways it’s amazing that it’s only that many across hundreds of artists and songs, but I cannot imagine not having Rocky’s training montage paired with ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ ”

“I know I’ve seen a couple of those films, but I couldn’t tell you the name of any training song off the top of my head,” he said. “But I’d probably remember a song with that name.”

He nodded. “Exactly! I can live without the 'Macarena’ and 'Kung Fu Fighting’, but that song made that sequence legendary.”

Stark’s lips twitched in amusement. “I’ll take your word for it. Anything particularly good from your reality that you found missing?”

“I’m still debating if losing all of Journey’s discography is worth never having to hear 'Don’t Stop Believing’ again.”

Time Travel Pseudo!villain Stephen aka Freakin Carmen Sandiego (yes, this is gonna happen. But it’s not happening until those two above are completed, and it’ll be written concurrently with the rest of the villain!Stephen series, as I suspect it will be on the longer side. The outline’s 4 pages long…)

He walked over and crossed his arms as Bruce replayed the video; it was definitely a better quality than the pixelated mess of everything else he’d seen so far. Even with the high-definition, though, the man’s fully-black outfit made him difficult to see against the night sky, and his face was completely covered by what looked like both a mask and hood. He’d be all-but-invisible without the glowing lights all around him. A gasp suddenly ran through the crowd, and the camera swiveled to look at the Palace of Westminster, now bereft of the tower. A few shouts then broke through, and the camera footage swung back to the night sky, but the man was gone.

“Where’d he go?” Tony asked as he leaned over Bruce and pressed both the replay and mute button.

“Uh, according to witnesses, after Elizabeth Tower vanished, he darted under the bridge— probably at the end with the screaming there— and disappeared.”

“I thought that was Big Ben,” he muttered, pressing replay again.

Bruce shook his head. “No, Big Ben’s the bell in Elizabeth Tower. I knew someone in college— British— who got rather annoyed over that misnomer. Really annoyed, actually.” He made a face to himself.

Tony, however, was busy squinting at a bit of the footage he had paused. “Does it look like he has a sort of— something— on his chest?”

The physicist leaned in and squinted alongside him. “Yeah. I’d say it almost looks like one of your arc reactors, but I don’t think your arc reactors do this.”

“But it could still be a power source,” Tony answered. 

“Definitely,” Bruce answered. “It looks almost like he’s pulling from it.”

“That makes no sense, but a lot of this alien tech is nothing like anything that exists on Earth right now. I’d be interested in figuring out how it works.”

Bruce continued to peer at it. “So would I,” he said. “If you can keep it from S.H.I.E.L.D long enough to do so.”

Tony makes a face. “They have the scepter to play with. They can have it when I’m done.”

“You’re going to have to catch him first,” he pointed out.

“Pshh, after Loki, this’ll be easy-peasy. We’ll have him caught within two days.”

ARTS (just the two Stephens for now)

I didn’t have time last weekend to work on digital Stephen, but he’s still a lot farther ahead than when I last posted here sooooooo. (I won’t have time this weekend either, so… he’ll come sooner or later).

Annddd I figured out what my ugly yellow corner square is gonna be. I’m doing fan art for a fan fic like a real nerd. Bringing out the prismacolors again. Right now I’m still in the ‘messing around with line art’ phase. I plan to do this while I’m at tabletop gaming on Sundays.

And that’s that for WIPs. Now I need to go work on ficlets.

[2lovesihaveofcomfortandfandoms]

Skinamalink: Chapter 7

Despite being in lockdown, it’s still taken me 4 days to post this somehow. Ah well. It’s up and I’ve also made some edits back the ways as well - nothing major just a bit of fixing the flow.

archiveofourown.org/works/20955815/chapters/55940269

Or here, if you fancy:

Chapter 7: Monster Back In Town

Vlad smiled wide – crooked teeth on show. Shark’s teeth – or a wolf’s. Either way, something carnivorous and hungry. But perhaps what was more terrifying was how genuine Vlad’s smiles were. Dark eyes brightened and laughter lines gathered around them.

           ‘Are you ever going to let me off the hook for that?’ Vlad chuckled.

‘No.’ Edward’s response was solid and definite, leaving little room for argument. Nevertheless, Vlad tried,

‘Be fair, Eddie – I was doing what was best for you.’

           ‘Debatable.’

‘Is it? What do you think Sikes would have done to you if he knew you were my son?’

Edward didn’t need to think – he knew. And it would probably have started with his kneecaps and a crowbar. But he wasn’t about to give Vlad the satisfaction, so Edward only shrugged in response.

           ‘Fine. Sulk if you want to. You’re avoiding the question. How do you feel now that Sikes is awake?’

Where to begin? He had taken to checking over his shoulder more often in the past week. And double-checking that the door was locked. Scrutinising the crowd in the café for familiar but unwelcome faces. But that was natural, wasn’t it? A man who wants to kill you comes back into the picture, you're bound to get a little paranoid. Edward knew the kind of man that Bill Sikes was and what he was capable of. He had witnessed it – even participated in some of it. And don’t all monsters fear the monster who made them? Not that Vlad would understand that – he was a monster all by himself.

           ‘Eddie?’

‘Look, I’m not doing great, but I’m handling it. Dorian’s the one we should be worried about.’

           ‘That’s really why you called me, isn’t it?’ Edward nodded. ‘You think he might start using again?’ Another nod. ‘He’s been clean five years.’

‘Sikes being in a coma helped with that. And honestly, I’d find it hard to blame him if he lapsed. Sometimes... sometimes it was the only thing that could get him through it at all.’

           ‘You didn’t need it.’

‘A lot of the others did. Sikes made your life his or he made it hell – sometimes both. A lot of us were too young to see and do the shit we did – so we found ways of coping.’ And then he said in a whisper, and mostly to himself, ‘We were just kids.’

           ‘I know.’

Vlad cast his mind back to the first time he’s seen Edward. Fifteen. Hair shaggy and black. Green eyes unmistakable, even with the bruising around one of them. The split lip. The slight limp. His face had been so thin and tired that he looked several years older than he was. Now, Vlad didn’t often get sentimental, but Edward had slowly teased it out. And the thought of anyone harming the boy... incited a vicious streak and violent thoughts that surprised even Vlad. And if Sikes did come for his son... well, this time Sikes wouldn’t even make it back to the hospital.

           ‘I should go. I’ve got work to do.’

Vlad squeezed Edward’s shoulder,

‘Alright, Eddie. You know that if you need anything – anything – you come to me.’

           ‘Yeah.’ Edward reached for the car door.

‘Eddie... if things get worse with Dorian – you will let me know, won’t you?’

           ‘Course I will.’

Edward left the car without a backward glance. Vlad watched as he walked back inside the café, closing the door hard behind him. Vlad paused to adjust a cufflink and said with incredible nonchalance,

‘Renfield, I want another man put on the hospital.’

           ‘Yes, sir.’

‘And if I find that any of our dealers are distributing to Mr Gray, they will find themselves on the nasty end of a spike.’

           ‘Of course, sir.’

DS Newcomen was in a growling bastard of a mood. Once again, the news had been delivered that his application for the post of Detective Inspector had been denied. No, no – someone else was being transferred into the unit, they said. A more efficient use of resources, they said. A load of bollocks, Newcomen thought. He’d been a DI once, hadn’t he? He still would be if Sikes hadn’t gone and got his head bashed in a car crash. Eight years ago, he had been on the heels of something great – just a few steps away from getting Sikes behind bars for good. But no bad guy, no case. No case... ten years of his life up in smoke.

           But now... now he had a chance for redemption – a chance to finally make the case and get everything back. And it was getting snatched away again.

           When Newcomen heard that Sikes was awake, he damn near fell out of his seat. He’d rushed straight to the hospital and had stayed there for hours until the doctors had let him in the room. There had always been something about that car crash that didn’t feel right – something that didn’t quite fit – and he was going to get answers.

           Sikes had smiled at him when he stepped inside,

‘Well, well, Inspector... time wasn’t kind to you, was it?’

           ‘It’s Sergeant now. You cost me DI.’

‘Shame. Where’s my fruit?’

           ‘What?’

‘You visit someone in hospital, you’re supposed to bring ‘em fruit.’ Newcomen bit the inside of his cheek and swallowed down the urge to arrest.

           ‘I ain’t here for a visit. I have questions.’

‘I hope it ain’t on current events – I’m a bit spotty there.’

           ‘No. I wanna ask about the car crash.’

‘Car crash?’ Sikes shrugged his shoulders and grinned like a hyena – deliberately evasive. ‘What car crash?’

           ‘Yes. Car crash. That’s how you got here. You know that. Do you remember anything about it?’

‘Nah. Nothing.’

           ‘Nothing?’

‘Nothing. Dashboard must’ve hit the ol’ noggin too hard. Sorry.’ Again, Sikes smiled and shrugged – it wasn’t apologetic, it was smug. It said, you couldn’t touch me then and you can’t touch me now – if you think I’m going to answer your questions, you’re even stupider than I thought you were.

           ‘I’m done here, Sikes. But I’ll be back.’

‘Next time bring fruit. I like strawberries.’

Newcomen had left and had been in a bad mood ever since.

           He flipped through the meticulously arranged binder on his desk – one of three. All on the same subject – the life and crimes of William Sikes. Some might call it obsessive. It was obsessive. But when questioned, Newcomen would always say that to catch a criminal you need to be a little obsessed. A cup of bad coffee from the machine was placed on the desk in front of him.

           ‘Ugh, Skip, again with the binder?’

‘It’s called police work, constable.’

           ‘The new DI’ll be here any moment.’

‘Exactly. I’m gonna give ‘im this and tell ‘im we should take the case.’

           ‘What case, Skip?’

‘Sikes is awake. Which means, after all this time, he can be brought to justice.’

           ‘Skip, I don’t get it. There’s plenty bad guys out there – what is it about Sikes?’

‘How old were you eight years ago?’

           ‘Fourteen.’

‘You’d have been a good age for him.’

The constable shifted uncomfortably where he stood. Newcomen turned his attention back to the binder.

           ‘What... what exactly does that mean?’

‘Sikes liked drafting kids into his crew. He’d find kids in need. Give ‘em a place to stay. Get ‘em fed. Make ‘em feel safe. But now they owe him, so he asks ‘em to do a job – and they feel like they can’t say no. So, they do it. And now he’s got ‘em committing a crime, so he uses it to make ‘em do more. Before long, he’s groomed these kids into criminals and they’re a long way from who they used to be. So it’s not just that Sikes is a bad man who does bad things. He drags other people down with him.’

There was a pause, then the constable said softly,

‘How many kids?’

Newcomen flipped several sections of the binder and spun it around for the constable to see. The page bore a list of names. There were forty-three in total but to look at it, they seemed to go on and on. All forty-three were arranged neatly alphabetically with birthdates – and in the case of an unfortunate handful, death dates. The constable blinked, refusing the tears passage.

           ‘You understand me now?’ The constable nodded. ‘Then get back to work.’

The atmosphere in the café had not improved and everyone felt the tension. Lucy was staying quiet. Justine bore it, even though confusion poked and prodded her. Adam stayed in the kitchen away from it all.

           The winter sun had set two hours ago – still leaving them with another three to go. Lucy rapped her knuckles on the side of the kitchen window.

           ‘Adam?’

‘Yes, Luce?’

Adam ducked down so that his face was visible through the gap.

           ‘Close up the kitchen, love. I’m gonna shut us for the night.’

‘What about the boss?’

           ‘The boss’ll deal with it.’

Adam nodded and gave a small smile. It was one thing to be grateful for – Adam’s smile had never been affected by the scars across his face. It was a good smile – kind and genuine.

           ‘How are you doing with all this, love?’ Adam shrugged.

‘Not gonna lie, Luce, the thought of Sikes being awake... of him being out again... I don’t like it, Luce. Not at all. I mean, sure, the goons who did this,’ Adam gestured towards his face, ‘are long gone – but the man’s a monster... and he’s going to hurt people.’

Lucy reached out and gave Adam’s hand a squeeze. It too was patterned with raised scars.

           ‘It’s gonna be ok.’

Lucy left Justine to start cleaning. When she reached the door of Edward’s office, she knocked softly.

           ‘Ed?’

There was no response. Lucy pushed the door open. For a moment, Lucy thought that Edward must have left. He wasn’t at his desk and his jacket was gone from the back of his chair. A slight shuffling sound drew Lucy to the couch. The leather jacket was serving as a makeshift blanket and his shoes were kicked off so that he could curl his legs up.

           ‘Ed? Ed!’

Edward jolted awake – eyes bleary and hair tousled out of place.

           ‘Jesus, Luce – what the hell?’

‘You’re sleeping?’

           ‘I’m fucking tired. I was woken at five.’ Edward rubbed his eyes. ‘What d’you want?’

‘Wanna close the shop.’

           ‘Shit, is it ten already?’

‘Seven – but it’s quiet. And I don’t think anyone is feeling it tonight.’

Edward didn’t even have the resolve left to contradict her. He started to pull his boots back on.

           ‘Alright. Let’s close it down. Where’s Dorian?’

‘Gone.’ Edward jolted upward.

           ‘What!?’

‘Ed, it’s alright. He left with Basil an hour ago.’ Edward grumbled and sank back down on the couch. ‘Ed, is Dorian using again?’

           ‘No. Maybe... I don’t know.’

Lucy settled herself beside Edward and put an arm around his shoulders. They stayed there for a long moment, silent, in the reassuring company of the other.

           ‘We’re all gonna be here. Whatever happens, Ed. We’ll stick by you.’

‘You shouldn’t.’ Edward shrugged Lucy’s arm away. ‘Sikes is gonna come for me – and when he does, no one can be anywhere near me.’

           ‘He might not, Ed.’

‘I put him in a coma, Luce,’ said Edward, hands running through his hair. ‘He’s coming for me.’

[wolf-555-writer]

Still Breathing Part 1

So.. this is like my first attempt in writing a fic. Let me know what you think about it. Hope you like it! 

Also a special thanks to @baked-bean-bekah​ for giving me the courage and support to post this story ;). You are amazing!

Alex Danvers x Reader

Word Count: 2,795

A quick slip to the left, followed by a mean left hook, making a loud punching sound. Moving back to the right, continuing with even more punches. Sweat is dripping onto the floor, heart rate rising. After a couple of minutes you stop moving, trying to catch your breath.

“Phew.. enough hitting the heavy bag for today”, you state to yourself exhausted, feeling your muscles burn.

You loosen the velcro of your left boxing glove with your teeth to be able to remove the glove from your hand. You throw both gloves next to the towel that is on the floor nearby. While unwrapping your hands, you hear the doorbell of your apartment buzzing.

“Who could that be?”, you think.

Rushing to the door to open it, you almost trip over your hand wrap which you were still trying to uncover from your right hand. When you open the apartment door you look surprised. It’s someone you haven’t seen in a while. You feel your heart rate rising again, heartbeat pounding on your chest, but now for a different reason. A couple of seconds it’s silent.

“Hi-”

You both simultaneously say. She hesitates: “Sorry, you go first”.

“I meant to call” you reveal, wiping the sweat from your forehead, still from your workout that you finished a couple of minutes ago.

“Is it a bad time?” She asks. “Not at all!”, you state. “Just finished my workout, come on in”.

///

[Roughly 2.5 years ago]

Seated in the passenger seat of a humvee, staring at the rocky road up ahead where you and your squad are driving. Because of the rocks, making it a bumpy ride, you hold on tight.

“We’re nearly there” you announce smiling, knowing that you’ve almost reached base camp.

Feeling relieved that you had succeeded a rather dangerous mission, you look outside through the small, unclean window on your right. Suddenly you hear your name calling.

“Sergeant (Y/L/N)?”.

“Yes?”.

“What’s that?”

Your private responds, pointing outside where a huge cloud of sand appears. You turn around to look. “Can’t really see anything”, you reply, so you reach for your binoculars somewhere inside one of many pockets on your uniform. The dust is blocking your sight, when suddenly you see a figure appear.

It looks like a person. Red cape blowing majestically in the wind, long blond shiny hair and a blue suit marked with a large ’S’ on the chest.

“Supergirl?”, you question with an uncertain, yet surprised tone in your voice.

“Who?” you pick up from your left.

Suddenly you hear a loud explosion behind you. You quickly look and see that the humvee riding behind you is no more. Only bits and pieces of metal scattered all around, with approximately in the middle a wreckage that’s half on fire.

“What the h-”.

You freeze for a second, shocked by what just happened. But quickly snap out of it, knowing you need to take action now. “Keep driving!”, you order profoundly, with also a slight sense of fear noticeable in your voice. “Sergeant (Y/L/N) to base camp, we’re under attack by an unknown creature. We’re 2 clicks out south. Over”, you announce into the radio attached to the dashboard. “Base camp to Sergeant (Y/L/N)” you hear back, “Do you need backup? Over”, they ask. You try to reach for the radio again but it’s already too late.

A strong force lifts the vehicle you’re in slightly up in the air. It thereafter causes the humvee to tilt and roll over a couple of times. You try to hold on tight but can’t counteract the power that is pulling onto your body while you are rolling over. It’s all going so fast and you and your squad are for sure severely injured. The humvee has come to a stop.

Or at least, what’s left of it...

When you come to your senses a couple of seconds later, you smell something familiar. It’s gasoline that is leaking from the fuel tank. “I have to get out of here!”. You try to move to free yourself from under the wreckage, but no movement is possible. Not even the slightest motion is noticeable.

You’re stuck.

You try to locate the rest of your squad that was in the humvee by carefully turning your head, only to discover their lifeless bodies.

“Is this the end?”, you think desperately.

Almost losing all hope and consciousness again, you see a woman in a black uniform looking through the wreckage. You try to scream, but no sound is coming from your mouth. You feel a severe pressure on your chest. Suddenly you hear the woman yell: “Supergirl, I have a survivor, come, quick! You’re going to be okay, my name is Alex.”

The following things she says to you are lost as you don’t have the strength to keep your heavy eyes open. Everything is becoming pitch black.

///

You wake up in what seems to be a hospital. Your whole body aches.

“At least I’m still breathing..”, you say inside your head.

When you look around to take in your surroundings, you see a woman seated next to your bed. She is wearing a suit. Somehow you slightly recognize her. When she notices you’re awake, she stands up.

“Hi, my name is Alex Danvers, I’m a Special Agent with the FBI. Do you remember what happened?” She asks.

You’re still a bit sleepy and look confused.

“The last thing I remember… w-was being saved by Supergirl… and... I think seeing you”, you stammer with a hoarse throat. “But I’m not sure, the whole situation is a blank space inside my head.”.

You’re kind of intrigued by her, as of course you cannot resist a woman in a suit. Because honestly, who can, right?

“Snap out of it, this is serious business”, you quickly tell yourself. “She of course wants me to not remember.”.

With full concentration you start asking a lot of questions, which are not appreciated by Agent Danvers. You notice that Alex is not at all amused by you. But you have to. Because after all, you definitely know that she’s lying. Just knowing the truth about what exactly happened that day would give you some peace. Also, how is it possible that something like that could happen? You also suspect that Alex Danvers does not work for the FBI at all. She probably works for some secret government organization that deals with aliens.

“Should I say it or not?”

You’re exhausted and used up a lot of energy with your ‘little’ interrogation earlier. But you’re still able to produce one, last sentence.

“I know you’re not FBI”, you imply worn-out.

“I think it’s time for me to go” she responds, avoiding eye contact with you.

Alex leaves the room in a rush. “This is not over”, you think. Not shortly after she had left the room, you fall asleep again, not trying to think about the tough, difficult road you have up ahead.

///

[Back to the present day]

You smoothly grab your training jacket and put it on.

“Tea or Coffee?” You ask.

“Coffee is okay”.

You walk to the kitchen and grab 2 mugs from the kitchen cabinet. The coffee machine is still filled with coffee you made earlier that day. You quickly take a sip to make sure it’s still drinkable. “It will do”, you state tasting the bitter liquid.

You rush back to the couch where she is already seated. Gently, you put both mugs on the table and sit next to her. You apologize: “Sorry for the smell, it’s like a dampy gym in here”.

Alex chuckles. “I don’t mind. So how long have you been back in National City?”.

“For over 2 months I guess?” You reveal. “I meant to reach out, once I was settled in, but I guess... I don’t know… I was kinda afraid maybe”.

“Afraid?!” You?“ Alex bursts out looking a bit confused and smiling. "If I know one thing for sure, it’s that you don’t scare easily (Y/N)”.

///

[2 years ago]

Confidently walking out of the hospital, you slightly lift your head up and close your eyes. You feel the warmth of the sun, gently shining on your face. Something you never thought would be possible again. After recovering for 4 months from the accident, you can finally go home. 

You sometimes think back, trying to put the pieces together of what exactly happened. But mostly it’s all just a blur. What you do remember clearly is the Agent that visited you in the hospital. You’ve thought about her more times then you care to admit.

All of a sudden your phone buzzes.

You’ve received a text message from an unknown number. It states your full name and some time and place you apparently need to be tomorrow. You don’t recognize the address.

“What the hell is this?”, you think. But because of your curiosity you decide to search for the address online, only to discover it’s a large building located in the middle of National City. The strange thing however is the floor number stated in the message, it doesn’t exist...

///

You lay awake in bed that night, thinking about the weird text message you received.

“Should I go or not? I mean- why not”, you debate, “it’s not like I have anything better to do...”

There is a small part of you that expects it has something to do with the event that happened four months ago. Because after all, it’s an odd coincidence that you’ve received the text just as you got out of the hospital. You also of course hope it’s true, because, well, let’s be honest, you know why. Eventually you fall asleep.

///

In the morning you decide to go. If it’s a trap, you know that you can take care of yourself and after all, you’ll be careful.

You turn off your motorcycle and take off the helmet you’re wearing.

“So, this is it then”.

You’ve reached the building. Doesn’t look too suspicious. Once in the elevator you push the highest number you can find, which is still not the right one, but you have no other choice. Standing in the elevator you feel like you’re being watched and examined by the other people that are in this tight space with you. You begin to doubt yourself. Were you really expecting a secret government organization here? Hiding in plain sight? But you ignore your thoughts and the people standing next to you. You carry on, waiting for the elevator to reach the top floor.

After passing three-quarters of all floors, you are alone in the elevator. You’ve eventually reached the highest level, but somehow you mysteriously pass it, still going up. It confuses you. How is this possible?

The elevator doors open and you enter a large space, with your motorcycle helmet still tucked away under your right arm. You look around. 'DEO’ is the first thing you see, written on a logo. You also see people in a black uniform walking around, sitting behind a desk with computers or talking to one another. You hesitantly walk out of the elevator when suddenly you perceive a familiar face.

It’s the woman that saved you that day and visited you in the hospital. She notices you and your eyes meet. You don’t even realize that a huge smile has appeared on your face. She also smiles back. But someone snaps you out of this slightly magical moment.

“Hello Sergeant (Y/L/N). Welcome to the DEO. I apologize for the cryptic text message, but it was necessary as we are a secret organization.” A man says while you shake his hand a bit clumsy since you’re busy switching your helmet to your other hand. 

“My name is Director Henshaw”.

“Nice to meet you”, you say. Why exactly am I here?“ You almost immediately ask.

"If you would follow me” Director Henshaw announces.

He walks towards a staircase with an accelerated pace in which you try to follow him. You quickly look back to where you just saw Alex, but she apparently went somewhere else as you can’t seem to find her anymore.

You enter a sort of briefing room with on the table a set of files.

“You can sit here” Director Henshaw states while pulling back a chair. He sits down at the place where the files are. Just as you sit down you hear someone else entering the room. Quickly looking up, you see that it’s Alex. A subtle grin appears on your face.

“This is Agent Danvers” Henshaw introduces, “You have already met in the hospital four months ago”.

She walks toward you whereas you quickly stand up again and shake her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again” you deliver.

While you are seated again, you notice Alex is now seated next to Henshaw and grabs some files too.

“So I see you have been an excellent soldier” Director Henshaw declares opening one of the folders .

“Thank you sir”. You’re still a bit confused about what you’re exactly doing here in which you reply with: “I don’t follow, what is it that you need from me?”

Alex replies with: “We are in need of good Agents here at the DEO. Your military background and also your knowledge of the DEO makes you a perfect candidate for this job”.

You don’t hesitate for a second and a smile appears on your face.

“Count me in”, you confidently answer.

///

[Back to the present]

“So, how are things in your life”, you quickly ask, taking a sip of your coffee.

“No, no, I know what you’re doing (Y/N)” Alex reacts. “I was asking about you”. “How was your time away in Europe?”.

“Well I needed time to recover and I did, but I’m still not back to my old self”, you hesitantly reveal. “Are you asking me to come back to work?”, you ask the DEO agent.

“No that’s not why I’m here, just wanted to se- check on you”. 

She looks at the time.

“I actually need to go now. But if you ever want to talk or just drink a beer, you know how to find me!” Alex expresses while taking a large sip of the coffee and almost simultaneously standing up from the couch. Rushing to get her leather jacket.

She opens the door and says with a smile: “It’s good to have you back in National City”. She closes the door while you’re still sitting on the couch with the warm coffee mug in your hands.

“It’s good to see you too” you softly speak, knowing Alex couldn’t hear you anymore.

“First a shower, then I’ll send her a text”.

///

Sitting nervously at the bar with a beer in your hand, you keep looking at the entrance of the pub.

Why are you so nervous? Maybe because you decided to finally admit your feelings to Alex and reveal how much you’ve missed her when you were away. And that you didn’t know how to reach out to her once you were back. And how happy you were that she came by yesterday. And that you-.

You were pulled from your rambling thoughts once you saw a redhead walk into the bar. When she spotted you, she smiled and made a small wave.

“Drinking all by yourself, (Y/L/N)?”. She chuckles.

“Not anymore” you gladly respond while gesturing the bartender for another drink.

“I like the new hair by the way Danvers!” You say admiringly to Alex, noticing a little blush on her cheeks.

“You know, it’s actually Director Danvers now”, Alex proudly states.

You almost choke a bit while taking a large sip of your beer.

“Wow! That’s amazing, I’m really proud of you!”. “It feels like I missed so much”, you return with a somewhat disappointing tone in your voice.

“I understand that you had to leave after being badly hurt again”, Alex comfortingly says, placing her hand gently on your shoulder. “I know it brought back some old memories of your time in the army. Don’t beat yourself up over that, it was not your fault.”.

“I know… Hey Alex…”

“Yes?”

Just say it! Now or never! Are words spiraling through your mind.

“You want to play?”, you speak, pointing at the pool table that’s located across the bar.

“You know I’m going to kick your ass, right?” She teases with much confidence in her voice.

“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe I learnt some tricks while I was away”, you answer a bit mysteriously, following Alex to the pool table.

“I’ll tell her tomorrow”, you reassure yourself, trying to work up the courage you’re hoping will magically appear overnight.

“At least I’m still breathing”.

Continue with part 2

[sebastiianstan]

Tumblr content school: why you don’t always get notes and how to (potentially) get a bit more

So in recent weeks, I’ve seen quite a few posts floating around that centre around the same subject: content creators, mainly gifmakers, not gaining followers as quickly as they would like to and/or not getting as many notes on their original content as they would like to. Most recently I’ve seen people share their like-to-reblog ratio, with a call to users to also reblog content instead of just liking it, which would result in more exposure and recognition for the creator.

Now, while all of those feelings are perfectly valid and you’re obviously allowed to post whatever you like on your blog, the conversation around this is quite unnuanced and, at times, a bit uninformed. I’m not claiming to be some kind of expert, but having been a content creator (gifmaker) on this platform for quite a few years, with my own small share of popular gifsets floating around and having built both my own blog an two fansites/group blogs to at least moderate success, I do think I have a certain degree of insight re: getting notes, so I thought I’d put in my two cents. Please note that I’m not making this post to be condescending in any way, or even to tell you what to do/how to create content, but I thought I’d help as much as I can, based on my own experience.

Below the cut are 1. reasons why I think gifsets don’t always get the number of notes you wanted/expected them to, and 2. tips on creating and posting content in a way that will potentially get you more notes.

Why you might not be getting (a lot) of notes

So let’s start with some general trends re: gifsets not getting as many notes as you’d like/expect, and not as many as they would have maybe a few years ago.

1. Tumblr is past its peak

Based on experience, I’d say fandom Tumblr reached its peak in 2015-2016, and was riding that out in 2017. I’ve mainly been a Marvel blog in recent years, so I can’t speak for other fandoms, but Tumblr was... wild in the lead-up to and aftermath of Captain America: Civil War (2016). Wonder Woman (2017) was a similar situation on the DC side of things. 

New Marvel releases (like Ant-Man & The Wasp, Avengers: Infinity War and probably most notably, Black Panther) still get a lot of traction and fandom definitely isn’t dead on Tumblr, but I feel like 2015-2016 were definitely peak years. I only recently returned from a year-long hiatus; I stopped being active in late 2017 and even then my dashboard wasn’t quite as active as it was a year before that. Upon returning here about a month ago, most of my mutuals from back in the day had also become inactive and a lot of gifmakers I used to follow were not creating content anymore.

So it boils down to this: I think it’s very likely that the amount of active users within your fandom has diminished significantly as compared to two years ago. A set that may have gotten 10k notes within a few days in 2016 might now only get half of that.

2. The URL thing

This is a sad truth, but it does seem that having a semi-canon or canon url does at least help with getting a larger amount of notes on your content. I have no tips on getting a canon url (I got very, very lucky with this one), but this is a simple observation I have from over the years. Url trading/selling has basically become a genuine business due to this - canon urls are in high demand.

More importantly, what I can say is that it’s smart not to change your url too often. Becoming a popular content creator on this platform is basically the same as building a brand - and a brand has an easily recognized name. Once you have a url you are happy with, try to stick to it for a while. When you change your url, links break on reblogs of your old gifsets, by the way.

3. The like-to-reblog ratio has always been unbalanced

For as long as I can remember, posts have gotten more likes than reblogs. If your ratio is 2-to-1 or 3-to-1, trust me, you are doing perfectly well for yourself! Again, as with my first point, this might have gotten a bit more extreme since 2016, but it’s not a new thing.

4. Popular users support each other

Obviously there’s nothing wrong with this (in fact, I love that we all support each other), but yes, in general big/popular blogs are friends with each other and tend to reblog each other’s content, which can be discouraging for smaller or aspiring content creators on the platform.

However, please be aware that these big blogs built up the following they have by posting content for years and it just takes time. Also, know that most users on here actually really enjoy being tagged in your posts - so if you gif a movie or tv show you know a popular user (that you follow) likes, tag them in it and if it’s high quality content (I’ll touch on this later), they’ll probably reblog it.

Tips on getting more notes

Alright, on to part two: my personal tips on getting more notes. These are strictly based on my own experience, and as a repeat of my disclaimer earlier: I am genuinely trying to share my knowledge; none of this is with the intent of being a condescending know-it-all.

1. Don’t look like you’re complaining

No matter what the intent behind your post about your lack of notes and/or followers is, it’s very likely you’re going to come off entitled or ungrateful. I’ve personally unfollowed multiple users who post consistently about reaching their next thousand, who make angry/frustrated posts when their followers don’t increase as quickly as they’d like to, when they lose followers, etc. I understand that the hustle is frustrating, but posts like these are really quite annoying for your followers; you’re complaining about followers you don’t have to followers you do have, who are then more likely to unfollow you because it looks like you’re complaining. Your mutuals might understand why you’re posting this, but others probably don’t.

When it comes to posts about like-to-reblog ratios, which I’ve seen a fair few of recently, please consider a couple of things. 

When you ask people to reblog your post instead of liking it, you are essentially telling them what to put on their own blogs.

A lot of users on here have carefully curated content; while some users simply blog about everything they like, others stick to a certain set of subjects/movies/tv shows. If they see a post they like that doesn’t fall into those categories, they’ll give it a like to keep track of it and show their appreciation, but won’t put it on their blogs. You can’t tell people to reblog something they don’t want to.

You’re essentially asking people that you do not really personally care about to do something for you. Most of the likes you get on your post are likely from people that you do not follow yourself. I’m not saying that you hate your followers or don’t care for them, but you can’t really ask anything of a user that you don’t even follow yourself.

Look at it this way: Tumblr is basically a mini society, with its own market in the form of content creation. The ones who have a few thousand followers, and who get a few hundred or a few thousand notes on their posts are already the lucky ones. If you’re a user who gets hundreds/thousands of notes on their posts (even if it’s not as many as you like or deserve), you should keep in mind that the vast majority of users on here are small blogs that don’t have the traction that you have. If you post a screenshot of the like-to-reblog ratio on a post that has 2k notes, they’re going to think, “what on earth are you complaining about?”

Posts like these can really only backfire. I don’t think it’s likely that a lot of users will suddenly start reblogging instead of liking because of them. I know those posts are getting traction, because your mutuals and fellow content creators understand your frustration (believe me, I do too!), so they reblog/like/comment on it, but you’re essentially in an echo chamber of content creators. Anyone outside of that circle will not understand it and might unfollow you because of it.

2. Quality

Another disclaimer: I’m not implying that the people who have made posts about notes/followers don’t make HQ gifs. This is simply the “tips on getting notes” section of this particular post, so that’s what I’m doing. Veteran gifmakers can skip this section because I won’t be presenting anything new here.

Here’s the thing: high quality gifsets get notes. I know that what constitutes a HQ gif is subjective, but there is a consensus on this amongst big blogs, so I will summarize it below.

Make gifs from high-quality video sources. If 1080p is available, use that. Don’t gif from videos below 720p. Also, the larger the t*rr*nt file, the higher the quality. If a 1080p t*rr*nt from a movie is under 2GB in size, it’s probably not decent enough to gif from.

Use the new dimensions. Tumblr changed from 500px to 540px over 3 years ago now I believe, and all the big blogs use these dimensions. I rarely see sets like this anymore, but some users do still hold on to the old dimensions. Obviously, you should do what you like, but know that you’ll get more notes if you make the switch.

Do not skip frames. If you use screencaps, extract 25 frames per second. If you are an ‘Import video frames to layers’ kinda gal, like me, import all frames.

Sharpen your gifs! It makes an insane difference. My faq section links to a sharpening action.

Your frame delay should be 0.05. If you have a low amount of frames, you can get away with 0.06, but do not make your gif any slower than that. It will look unsmooth.

Go for natural coloring, where you simply brighten up the gif and enhance the colors (beware of whitewashing tho). I know that using PSD’s from resource blogs is tempting, but it’s very likely they will not work for the particular scene you’re giffing. It’s best if you learn to color yourself and adapt your coloring for every set. Also, it’s up to you what you think is pretty, but extremely vibrant and extremely pale coloring isn’t very popular anymore. Natural is the way to go. (This is with the exception of those gorgeous color edits people have been making recently. Y’all are queens & that shit is hard to make yo!)

If your gif is larger than the 3mb limit, NEVER sacrifice colors in the ‘Save for web’ window. Always delete frames to lower the size of your gif.

Just saying, but Photoshop CS5 has been known to make the best gifs.

For beginners out there, please don’t be discouraged. I’ve been making gifs for years, and they were absolute shit in the beginning. It just takes time to learn, but if you stick to it, you’ll get there.

3. Concept over quantity

Allow me to draw a comparison with YouTubers here - I think we all prefer YouTubers who post one well fleshed out video a week (for example, Safiya Nygaard) over YouTubers who post an okay video every day.

I think a lot of users think the way to get notes and followers is to post a gifset every day. This probably does work to an extent, but I personally think it’s better to come up with original concepts that you post every few days.

When you watch a movie, you can make five gifsets out of scenes from that movie, or you can come up with a concept. For example, parallels between scenes, parallels with other movies, the best lines of a certain character, etc. This takes more work, but sets like these are highly appreciated because they’re original, and they tend to get more notes.

This doesn’t apply to new releases, as you are probably among the first to gif a particular scene, but if you’re giffing a scene from a movie that’s been out for a while, you’re very likely not the first to do it. People will see it, realize they’ve already reblogged something very similar, and keep scrolling. But if you come up with a new idea, that’s what’ll get you more traction.

To give you a personal example; I recently rewatched all of the cap films. Now, I could have giffed popular scenes like “I could do this all day” or “I’m with you ‘til the end of the line”, but that’s been done before... a lot. Instead, I came up with this, and got 6.5k notes. I haven’t posted that many new sets on my blog recently, but posting content like that has gained me some followers and new mutuals.

4. Timing

All this requires is keeping an eye on your dashboard and taking note of when most of the people you follow are online. I sometimes see European content creators posting their sets smack dab in the middle of the day. Lemme tell y’all something: the Americans are sleeping.

I’m in timezone GMT+1. My dash wakes up around 5pm. I never post before 6pm - I’ll post anywhere between then and midnight, so feel free to convert that to your own timezone. The scheduling feature on posts comes in handy if you’ll be asleep or at school/work around that time.

If you post when Tumblr isn’t active, your set will drown in all of the other content, so be smart about timing.

5. Strategic tagging

It seems that a lot of users still don’t know this: only the first five tags on your post show up in tags on Tumblr. Anything past the first five will only be useful for your own tagging/archiving system, but will not show up in any tracked tags.

So first point: always use the most prominent edit tag for the fandom you’re posting in. Examples are #marveledit, #hpedit, #filmedit. These are frequently used, and often tracked by big blogs.

Second point: figure out who the big fansites/group blogs are, and if they track a tag, tag them. Make sure you follow them, obviously. If your post is funny, you might wanna tag bob-belcher (#bbelcher) as well - this blog is popular across fandoms and posts content from all over!

Third: tag users who you think will like your post. Don’t be thirsty with this. Again, only do this if you follow them. Tagging 2-3 users is ok, but don’t be out there tagging 8 to 10 blogs on your post. Not only is that a little pointless (because only the first five tags will show up), it also makes you look thirsty. Users might not appreciate this, and ultimately might not reblog your post because of that. Also, try not to tag the same users on every single one of your posts.

6. Popular content

If your fandom is niche, so is your content. That’s perfectly fine; don’t feel pressured to post about anything that isn’t your passion.

But if your goal really is to get more notes and followers, create content from fandoms that are big on the platform. Examples are Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, film blogs, etc.

7. Join a fansite/group blog

Every big fandom on Tumblr has one or multiple fansites/group blogs. I recommend you figure out who they are for your fandom, and apply to one that’s accepting new members. You’ll likely get in if your gifs are HQ.

I know this sounds a bit counterintuitive, as you’ll be posting content on another blog that will be getting the notes and followers from it, but it actually is a good way to gain more exposure. These blogs have large amounts of followers, and they usually allow you to reblog your own content to them, as long as you’re active. I think it’s a great way to get your content out there.

Alright, time to wrap up this post. I’m not personally calling out anyone who has made posts about followers, notes, like-to-reblog ratios, etc. I’ve seen at least 15 of those posts in recent weeks so I’m just reacting to a trend I’m seeing, by presenting a potential solution to a problem people seem to be having. 

My last tip is this: if notes and followers on Tumblr are making you feel down or frustrated, maybe it’s time for a little hiatus or a step back. In the end, you are not getting paid for this and your popularity on the platform has no bearing on your real life. This is supposed to be a fun outlet for your passions and interests, not a source of frustration and anger. Don’t take it too seriously! You’re doing amazing sweetie.

[flirting-with-psychology]

Truth of Dare (and I’m gonna do them all cause I’m bored)

1: (truth) Who was your first major celebrity crush? (dare) Put your music player on shuffle and post the first five songs.

Truth: I guess Peter Pan even though technically he was a character and not a celebrity

Dare: 1. The Stranger - Billy Joel. 2. You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift. 3. You’ll Be Back - Hamilton. 4. The Trolls - Frozen. 5. Second Chance - Shinedown

2: (truth) What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you in the past week? (dare) Refresh your dashboard and send an anonymous compliment to the person who posted whatever’s at the top of your dash.

Truth: I got tongue tied in front of a cute guy. He either found it adorable or pathetic

Dare: Done

3: (truth) What are your three favorite things about your appearance? (dare) List all nine of your tumblr crushes, and describe each blog/blogger in one word.

Truth: My eyes, my hands, my boobs

Dare: Mint-rumneigh: funny. nope4hope: roommate? potatouprising: nerdy. thegirldownthelaine: cool. wonderwomanlovesyou: fandoms. flynnomalleys: Choices. choicesobsession: Choices. mrsperegrintook: Roommate. an-indecisives-choice: Choices

4: (truth) What is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you? (dare) Post the oldest selfie on your camera roll.

Truth: Raised me

Dare: Done

5: (truth) If your parents knew everything you’ve ever done, what would they think is the worst thing? (dare) Tag the three nonmutuals you admire most.

Truth: Probably slapping myself when I fuck up

Dare: @taylorswift @the-average-gatsby @juliajm15

6: (truth) What is the last thing you purchased? (dare) Tag three people you’ve thirst followed.

Truth: McDonalds

Dare: @asimplepotatofarmer @therulesdonotknowme @joshpeck

7: (truth) How many hours did you sleep last night? (dare) Send an anonymous compliment to the last person who followed you.

Truth: Like 7 whole hours but I’m still tired from this week

Dare: Done

8: (truth) If you could go on a date with any of your mutuals, who would it be and what would you do? (dare) Send an anonymous compliment to one of your four “Biggest Fans” on tumblr.

Truth: Therulesdonotknowme but unfortunately I’ve already burned that bridge, I think the only reason we’re still mutuals is because he never gets on tumblr. It would be cute for him to show me around his city

Dare: Done

9: (truth) How did you meet your best friend? (dare) Refresh your dashboard. Open the blog of the person who posted whatever’s at the top of your dash. Reblog their most recent selfie.

Truth: Our parents got us together when we were one

Dare: Couldn’t find one

10: (truth) What was your favorite band five years ago? (dare) Tag a blog that posts very different content from yours, but that you couldn’t imagine not following.

Truth: Glee

Dare: @benditlikegumby

11: (truth) Where did you get each article of clothing you’re wearing right now? (dare) Pick up the closest book to you. Turn to page 39 and copy down line 7.

Truth: Necklace: museum gift shop. Shirt: my friend’s grandma. Pants: goodwill. Glasses: glasses store. Bra: Kohl’s. Underwear: Kohl’s

Dare: It’s blank

12: (truth) What are your five favorite girls’ names and five favorite boys’ names? (dare) Copy and paste the 14th line of text from the last document you worked on in Word or Google Drive.

Truth: Rachel, Diana, Phoenix, Hannah, Star (why I picked it). Shane, Eric, Matt, Lucas, Connor

13: (truth) What’s your most irrational fear? (dare) Tag five mutuals who take amazing selfies.

Truth: Spiders

Dare: @mellifllxous @cultured-pearl @benditlikegumby @im-significant @homofied

14: (truth) If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life (consisting of clothes you already own), what would it be? (dare) Tag someone you follow who has amazing fashion sense.

Truth: A dress that’s comfy but also cute

Dare: @thewonderofafairytale

15: (truth) If you could rock any unusual article of clothing/makeup technique/hairstyle, what would it be? (dare) Go to the blog of the last person you reblogged a text post from. Reblog your favorite of their selfies.

Truth: A bob. But I tried it and I can’t quite rock it

Dare: Couldn’t find one

16: (truth) What is your dream job? (dare) Post the four most recent pictures in your camera roll.

Truth: Something in the film industry

Dare: Pretty much done already, half of them were in another post

17: (truth) Where is the last place you went that took over two hours to get to? (dare) Post screenshots of your phone’s lock screen and home screen.

Truth: Probably somewhere close, fuck the bus

Dare: Done

18: (truth) How old were you when you had your first kiss? If you haven’t had it yet, how old do you want to be? (dare) Go to the last app/tab you opened. Post a screenshot.

Truth: I was 18

Dare: done

19: (truth) What is the first thing you remember having to keep secret? (dare) Tag five bloggers who you associate with being obsessed with something particular, and list what each of them is obsessed with.

Truth: Me and my friend climbing onto the cat structure

Dare: @literally all the choices blogs: Choices. @parfaitfaye: kpop. @cultured-pearl: boys and Taylor Swift (it’s ok me too). @person #1 who I’ve fallen out with: Once Upon a Time. @other person I’ve fallen out with: music. I know they’re not all really tags but I couldn’t think of many

20: (truth) What does your bedroom look like? (dare) Take one selfie and post it. You only get one shot! (No old selfies or retrying, even if you think you look bad)

Truth: Actually pretty cute, pink and turquoise accents, posters and stuff on the walls

Dare: Done

21: (truth) What three fictional characters would you most like to meet? (dare) Write your name down on a piece of paper and draw a quick picture of yourself. Take a photo of it and post it.

Truth: Kelsier from Mistborn, Harry Potter from Harry Potter, Raydan from Choices

Dare: No more pictures, my phone’s dying

22: (truth) What are three things you’re looking forward to? (dare) Tag the last three people you reblogged posts from, and estimate how many followers they have.

Truth: Film shoots later this summer, seeing the cute guy at the gym cafe, getting some damn sleep

Dare: @nayla-sa: 4000. @potatouprising: 1500. @thegirldownthelaine: 2000

23: (truth) What are your three biggest turn ons, and your three biggest turn offs? (dare) Put your music player on shuffle. Without actually listening to it, write the lyrics to the chorus of the first song.

Truth: I’m bored of this question, I must have answered it a thousand times

Dare: My phone is dying so no

24: (truth) If you could only own five material objects (not counting life necessities like food/water/a house/etc) what would they be? (dare) Put your music player on shuffle. Post what the first three songs are, and for each one, tag a blog that the song reminds you of.

Truth: Laptop, phone, stuffed dog, crush log, stuffed cat

Dare: Phone is dying so no (i’m on a school computer for the rest of this)

25: (truth) What is the last thing you lied about? (dare) Tag three people you want to know better and ask them each three questions about themselves.

Truth: The reason I was late to work was a half-truth

Dare: Nah fam that’s too much work

26: (truth) What’s the last movie you watched? (dare) Reblog the most recent of your own selfies posted on tumblr, and in the tags say two things you like about your appearance in it?

Truth: Coco

Dare: Done

27: (truth) What are three things you like about yourself unrelated to your appearance? (dare) Post a picture from your camera roll that you’ve been meaning to post on tumblr.

Truth: I’m creative, I’m smart, and I like boys

Dare: Phone is dead

28: (truth) How do you take your coffee? (dare) Post the last picture you posted on a social media platform other than tumblr.

Truth: I don’t

Dare: Phone is dead

29: (truth) What are your worst habits? (dare) Put your Top 25 Most Played songs on shuffle and list the first five.

Truth: Procrastinating, staying up late, eating junk food. Most of my bad habits involve lack of impulse control

Dare: I don’t even know how to do that

30: (truth) What is the last thing you did that you have to keep secret from someone? Who do you have to keep it secret from? (dare) Tag five blogs with great URLs.

Truth: Crushed on a married coworker. I have to keep that secret from pretty much everyone including him

Dare: @irunwithscissorstofeeldangerous @the-average-gatsby @huffylemon @joshpeck @this-is-my-temporary-url (I helped her pick it)

[reesewestonarchive]

tagged by @alittle-writer for the 10 questions thing!

1. Do you share your writing online? Why/why not?

technically yes, since it’s out there? but more and more I... don’t finish things. or I recognize while I’m writing what needs work and I don’t want to release that out there until it’s fixed. the first draft of shadowed’s still out there, the second draft of waiting on someday, some bits and pieces of a few other wips. it’s not really a priority for me right now, though, to share full projects?

2. If you had to write outside of your genre what would you pick?

I genre-jump anyway haha but I really want to make fantasy work for me. I really appreciate and admire people that work (and work well) in it, and it just seems like there’s so much... creativity in it. I might romanticize the work a bit haha. I just consider every idea that I could play as fantasy as being kind of... generic, I guess. so I just watch everyone else with their ideas and fall in love a little.

3. List up to 5 WiPs that you are currently following on writeblr.

oh good it’s only up to five--I’ve caught bits and pieces of writing that I’ve seen thus far and haven’t yet figured out who it’s by, so a lot of it has been lost in the VERY speedy dashboard, however I CAN tell you that I’m really interested in these three:

@alittle-writer - specifically time & space because that’s what I know the most about, thus far, but honestly everything I’ve seen has been intriguing and I am always looking forward to more

@ava-burton-writing caught me off guard with a snippet posted from (from? or just in the universe? I’m not sure) interim, and it was fantastic

finally, @merigreenleaf‘s unexpected inspiration series, because it sounds so exciting and original, and I’m always interested in reading more about it

4. Do you have a favourite author?

nope! I haven’t followed one specific author since I was a teenager. now I just read what sounds interesting. (again probably something I should get better at)

5. What was the first story you ever finished? How do you feel about it now?

technically a modern fantasy back when I was 11. I’m fuzzy on the details but it was about a group of friends that, if I recall correctly, had something to do with portals...? I want to reread it but alas it is lost to time.

6. If you could only ever read 3 books again in your lifetime what would they be?

emma donoghue’s room?? it’s the only book in recent memory that I remember loving enough to want to read over and over again. (I read a YA book called if I was your girl that was really good, too. maybe that one?)

7. What are your long term goals for writing - is it a hobby or do you hope to publish one day?

I’d like to publish one day. shadowed’s already been in my head for nearly 10 years, you’d think I’d get on that someday. but ultimately if I can write something that resonates with even one person, that’s good.

8. What would you like to write about more?

sci-fi!!!!! alas.

9. Have you ever written something you regret?

...no. I’ve done a lot of experimental writing, stuff I’d never thought I’d write, but I don’t have any regrets about things I’ve written. everything served a purpose when I wrote it, so... hey! whatever!

10. Is your writing a secret or do people irl know about it?

nah people know I write. to my knowledge they just don’t know what I write about. I kind of prefer it that way?

I was also tagged by @leicawri for 10 other questions, so is it cheating if I answer them all here? :P

1. If you could trade places with a character (yours or someone else’s) who would it be?

nope! nope. if pressed, maybe ryan from from the roof of my mouth, but that’s because he’s a family-rich white dude that’s had pretty much everything handed to him in his life and his biggest challenge in his life is his best friend nakoa, so that sounds rather simple.

but you know. if pressed.

2. Who’s your favourite Author role model?

...I don’t have one. oh.

3. Where’s your favourite place to write?

my desk, right now, but it changes. anywhere I can get away from distractions, honestly.

4. What book made you want to write?

...again I don’t know that I have one, haha. or if there was an influence, it wasn’t a specific influence so much as it was a just general feeling that ‘jeez I wish I could write a book!’

5. Where do you see yourself as a writer in five years?

with a final draft I can actually be proud of, ugh. but I said that five years ago so.

6. If you could rewrite any famous book would you do it, and how would you change it?

it’s not so much a specific book, famous or otherwise, but lgbt books with sad and depressing endings. why you gotta do that? what is it about lgbt books that make authors go ‘you know what this needs? unnecessary heartbreak and/or disaster.’ also, books that consider unhappy or bad endings to be THE ONLY WAY to end a book. I just... why? consider: allowing your characters, and your audience, to finish your book and be happy about it.

7. What is your wip about?

which one? :P my wip page is here (and needs some html editing, I see). if I go with shadowed, though:  The city of shadows. That’s what the locals call it, anyway. As a child, Matt thought it sounded mystical, like something from a novel, where one day, he’d be whisked away, told he was the crown-prince of some fantastic kingdom, and fall in love.

The reality is that Matt’s mother leaves one morning with only a note, and in the aftermath, it’s easy for his father to take his pain out on him. And Jon, knee-deep in the crime-infested underbelly of Shadowbrook, whisks him off to a world of which Matt had once only heard whispers.

What do you do when you think you see something in the shadows? You turn your gaze, close your eyes, and pretend it’s nothing.

8. Favourite bookstore?

don’t have one. oh well.

9. What colour do you want your first book jacket to be?

well... the whole thing’s already greyscale, I think?

10. How many words do you plan on your wip being?

the original draft was ~100k, so maybe about the same?

questions for everybody else!

1. is there a wip you’ve wanted to write for a long time but haven’t, for some reason?

2. what piece of yours would you consider the most experimental or the most ‘out there’?

3. how long have you been writing?

4. what do you consider your biggest inspiration?

5. what was the last line you’ve written?

6. is there a specific place you like to write?

7. do you make any kind of edits or playlists for your work?

8. how do you get yourself into the writing mood?

9. do you have any tricks to get yourself out of writer’s block?

10. do you prefer typing or writing by hand?

@mywritinghideout @ken-kenwrites @thelittlestspider

[valleanenowe-music-walk]

Start album as soon as foot leaves far porch side

Try to estimate based on location and remaining album time when I should start walking home. Aim for album ending as soon as I get back

If album ends early, restart it and listen to the first couple tracks or so but at a very low background volume

Remember to check for invalid tracks

Wow! Post number nine. Valleanenowe Music Walk season 9. Are you seeing this post on your dashboard? Like shortly after I post it? If you are, that’s very rare, since I don’t make new posts here much! And this blog only has 2 4 followers. Quite rare! Quite rare. This is the last post, before, this blog, will have 2 PAGES. Wow. I’ll probably have to do something about that when the time comes WOW, this post got a note! This blog has never gotten a note before

07/15/2018 Ah, Frank, your piercing gaze will greet me atop this post for years to come On the 241st walk I listened to “Apostrophe (’)”, by Frank Zappa. It took about 32 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Roxy & Elsewhere”, also by Frank Zappa

07/16/2018 On the 242nd walk I listened to... No Now? By Clarence Clarity?! What the fuck?! This is the biggest goddamn cheat album I’ll ever have on here! I must have already heard this a billion times! A few years ago! Why did I even add this, so many moons ago? Why have I kept it in the queue all this time?! I feel like I’m only doin this to finally... Put the album to rest! Really internalize it! God damn It took about 1 hour & 2 minutes It was pretty enjoyable! Hah, makes ya imagine how all these walks would be if they were all to albums I’d actually heard before! Heh hah I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “One Size Fits All”, by Frank Zappa

07/16/2018 On the 243rd walk I listened to “No Plan”, by David Bowie. It took about 18 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Bongo Fury”, by Frank Zappa AND Captain Beefheart, which is now next!

07/17/2018 On the 244th walk I listened to “Bongo Fury”, by Frank Zappa & Captain Beefheart. It took about 41 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone

07/17/2018 On the 245th walk I listened to “No Sorrow Video Series”, by Born Gold. It took about 14 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “The Hybrid”, by Danny Brown, and “Atmospheres 第4″, by Eco Virtual, the latter of which is now next

07/17/2018 On the 246th walk I listened to Atmospheres 第4″, by Eco Virtual. It took about 19 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. 

07/18/2018 On the 247th walk I listened to “The Hybrid”, by Danny Brown. It took about 47 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Rausch”, by Gas

07/18/2018 On the 248th walk I listened to “Nordwrong”, by Lindsheaven Virtual Plaza. It took about 55 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. 

07/18/2018 On the 249th walk I listened to “The North Borders”, by Bonobo. It took about 59 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “All Day”, by Girl Talk, which is now next

I have skipped “All Day”, by Girl Talk. I have used the freed space to add “Timeless”, by Goldie

07/19/2018 On the 250th walk I listened to “Nostalgia”, by Annie Lennox. It took about 43 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone

I have skipped “nostalgia,ULTRA.”, by Frank Ocean. Wow, Frank, way to one-up Annie up there, you whore. You may be wondering why I typed that if I’m not listening to the album yet, making it so that it totally blows up in Frank’s face ... Well, I didn’t realize until after typing it that I’m skipping the album, and I wanted to preserve the uh ... Thing. 

07/19/2018 On the 251st walk I listened to “Now You're Gone – The Album”, by Basshunter. It took about 56 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. 

07/20/2018 On the 252nd walk I listened to “NTSC Memories”, by Lindsheaven Virtual Plaza. It will took about 35 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Saturnz Return”, by Goldie

07/21/2018 On the 253rd walk I listened to “Number 1 Angel”, by Charli XCX. It took about 37 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Vroom Vroom”, also by Charli XCX, as well as “Ring of Saturn”, by Goldie

07/22/2018 On the 254th walk I listened to “NYC, Hell 3:00 AM”, by James Ferraro. It took about 1 hour & 2 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “GFOTYBUCKS’, by GFOTY, which is now next WOW I ... I saw No Now coming but I totally forgot about this one, this one is probably even more of a cheat album. And about the same length. I really love it though

07/22/2018 On the 255th walk I will listened to “GFOTYBUCKS”, by GFOTY. It will took about 38 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone

I have skipped “Nyetscape”, by Nyetscape

07/23/2018 On the 256th walk I listened to “Nyetscape 2.0″, by Nyetscape. It took about 17 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “The Journey Man”, by Goldie, which is now next

07/23/2018 On the 257th walk I listened to “The Journey Man”, by Goldie. It took about 1 hour & 49 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Tinto5 EP” and “Super Kawaii~”, both by Poopooface, as well as “One Year: A Collection Of Old Tunes”, Children’s Music For Big Kids”, “An Obsession With Kit”, and “Rewards”, all by Graham Kartna, who also is Poopooface, as well as “PHU➒➐~”, “☎ＴｅｌｅＤｒｅａｍｚ™”, and “♪♫평양 피아노 학교♪♫”, all by FＯＯＤＣＯＵＲＴ➒➐~, who also is Graham Kartna. The... Um... I THINK ... uh ... 9th of which is next? Oh, no, the fifth! This guy sure has a lot of short releases! What an exciting and fortunate alignment

07/24/2018 On the 258th walk I listened to “Children’s Music For Big Kids”, by Graham Kartna. It took about 23 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Hi​-​Skool MacDude©” and “Rhetoric On Sublime”, both also by Graham Kartna, the former of which is now next

07/26/2018 On the 259th walk I listened to “Hi-Skool MacDude©”, by Graham Kartna. It took about 20 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. 

07/26/2018 On the 260th walk I listened to “Nyetscape 3.0″, by Nyetscape. It took about 16 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Tug of War”, by Carly Rae Jepsen 10 walks left for post 9!

07/26/2018 On the 261st walk I listened to “Nyetscape 4″, by Nyetscape. It took about 28 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Kis”, by Carly Rae Jepsen, which is now next 9 walks left for post 9!. Heh. That’s like a palindrome. Heh

07/30/2018 On the 262nd walk I listened to “Kiss”, by Carly Rae Jepsen. It took about 43 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Emotion”, also by Carly Rae Jepsen, which is now also next! 8 walks left for post 9!

07/30/2018 On the 263rd walk I listened to “Emotion”, by Carly Rae Jepsen. It took about 44 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone.  I have used the freed space to add “Find Me”, by Christina Grimmie, which is now next 7 walks left for post 9!

07/30/2018 On the 264th walk I listened to “Find Me”, by Christina Grimmie! It took about 29 minutes I have now deleted it from my phone I have used the freed space to add “With Love”, also by Christina Grimmie! 6 walks left for post 9!

08/02/2018 On the 265th walk I listened to “Nyetscape 5″, by Nyetscape. It took about 40 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Who Killed Amanda Palmer”, by Amanda Palmer 5 walks left for post 9!

08/02/2018 On the 266th walk I listened to “Observatory Cg II & III (Coconut Of Teotihuacan)”, by Arecaceae, aka James Ferraro! It took about 18 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone 4 walks left for post 9!

08/02/2018 On the 267th walk I listened to “An Obsession With Kit”, by Graham Kartna. It took about 13 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone.  3 walks left for post 9!

08/02/2018 On the 268th walk I listened to “Obsidian”, by Baths! It took about 43 minutes Only 2 walks left for post 9!!

08/03/2018 On the 269th walk I listened to “Off Duty/Boat Trip”, by Sun Araw. It took about 45 minutes. I have now deleted it from my phone. I have used the freed space to add “Theatre Is Evil”, by Amanda Palmer”, and “Side A” and “Side B”, both by Christina Grimmie Only 1 walk left for post 9, and page fuckin’ 1!!!!!!!!!!

08/03/2018 AND THE END OF THE 1ST PAGE OF BLOG GOES TO WONDER MAN MR . !!!!! FUCKIN !!!! DANNY BROWN !!!!!! OO DANNY BROWN OO !!!!! ON THE 270TH WALK I LISTENED TO “OLD” BY “DANNY BROWN” IT TOOK ABOUT 57 MINUTES I DELETED IT I ADDED “ALL IS VANITY” BY CHRISTINA GRIMMIE IT’S NEXT NOW I LOVE YOU CHRISTINA I ALSO ADDED “TA13OO” . BY DENZEL CURRY LAST WALK OF POST 9 LAST WALK OF PAGE 1 LAST WALK OF POST 9 LAST WALK OF PAGE 1 ITS OVER ITS DONE

[jonghyunar]

tldr; i’m going to try to move forward (reblogging posts slowly, starting my queue again, making other gifs), i’m keeping my blog name as this, and feel free to send in requests for jonghyun memories for gifs. 

i’d like us all to try to remember him together and think about how he’s made us smile.

trigger warning: death tw

one week ago today marked the end of an era. the end of a life. the end of so many things, yet half still don’t seem real.

these past seven days haven’t been easy, but i’ve been getting better. a lot has to do with many of you with the little check-ins, the ability of staying home without the need to go out, no school work to worry about... things have been getting easier, slowly but surely.

i’ve thought a lot about how to move forward. over the past few days, i’ve seen so many different ways of people coping. whether it be like me, mostly silence except for little snippets of jonghyun/news/other celebrities’ mourning, or only personal text posts filled with feelings and emotions of sadness, or just going back to normal and reblogging everything. my dashboard has slowly come back to life, and honestly, i’m a bit conflicted as to what to do now.

i’ve seen people return to tumblr, people who’s names i haven’t seen in such a long time, to come and express their own feelings of disbelief at such a horrible tragedy. seeing them come back was nostalgic, like a piece of the past coming back, but it was also sad to me because this shouldn’t have been the reason for their return. this shouldn’t have been why they came back.

one of my college friends had messaged me about jonghyun one week ago. i briefly told him snippets of what i was feeling and i mentioned that my blog name had his name in it. he then asked me if i was going to change the name and it really made me think... should i? does his name hold a certain level of sadness now? what would i even change it to? would people be offended if i didn’t change it?

when the news first dropped, i saw so many posts, tweets, thoughts... i saw people saying they would never be able to listen to shinee again. i saw people saying that every time they looked at a photo of him, they would start crying. for me personally, i felt... torn. people cope and mourn in different ways, right? but was his passing really a reason never to look at him, think of him, listen to him, ever again?

the beacon of light for me though seeing other people saying to remember who he was, not how he left us. to remember what he did while he was still alive, to remember how he made us happy. i don’t know about any of you, but kim jonghyun has, and still does, make me so, so happy.

for those of you who don’t know me or haven’t been following for long, i’ve had this blog name for 4, almost 5 years now. for most of my time here on tumblr, this has been my url. after some thought, i’ve decided that i don’t think i’m going to change it for a while, if ever. he has been, still is, and always will be my favorite k-artist. 

this is a personal blog; it reflects my interests, my emotions, my passions, me. many of you may have noticed the other groups that i’m interested in before this incident, especially over the past two years. i don’t know if people will be upset moving forward, seeing me reblogging things that aren’t shinee or jonghyun-related, but at the same time, should i really have to defend myself? should i really be providing an explanation as to why my blog is like this? these are questions that i still feel rather unsure about.

i’ll slowly be reblogging things moving forward; i think that i’m in an okay enough spot to do so. i’m currently on break until january 7, so i’ll be able to gif freely up until then. feel free to send requests in; i know i’ll be trying to gif some of my moments that have made me happy over the years.

for those of you who actually read this, thank you. it hasn’t been easy over the past few days, but we’re all coping and mourning in our ways slowly together.