#Of course I love seeing my creations like fics reblogs but also if it does not fit your blog it's fine thanks for like at least

[beauty-beast-week]

FAQs about participating in Beauty and the Beast Week 2024

Beauty and the Beast Week 2024 is starting soon! Here are answers to some questions I’ve gotten or that you may be wondering about before participating in the event:

Can I join?

Yes! This is an open event with no sign-ups. You don’t need to notify me or get my permission. Everyone is welcome.

Do I have to do something for every one of the prompts?

No! Just one is fine. You can do more if you wish, or multiple works for the same prompt, but none of this is necessary. The list of prompts is here.

Do I have to write about the specific plants in the prompts?

No! They are meant to be metaphorical and spark inspiration. Go with the vibe that the plant suggests to you. Some suggestions are shown on the prompt list, but you can interpret each plant however you wish. And if you do wish to depict one of the literal plants in your work, that’s fine too!

What should I do if my work doesn’t fit with any of the prompts?

That’s what day 7, the free day, is for! Anything goes, that day (provided you still follow the rules, of course!).

Do I have to create my art/fic/whatever on the day itself?

No! That would be super hard to do—I’m not that mean! Create it now, and just hold off on posting it until the day of the prompt you used.

Does my fic/art need to take place in the Disney BatB universe, or are AUs allowed?

As long as you have at least one Disney Beauty and the Beast character, you can stick them in whatever universe you wish. Make Belle a mermaid in a pirate AU, make Gaston an astronaut in a space AU, give Cogsworth and Lumiere a meet-cute at a coffee shop, or just keep everyone in the canon-compliant universe of the film. Anything goes!

Can I include non-BatB characters in my creations?

Sure! As long as you have at least one Disney Beauty and the Beast character, you can include whatever other characters you wish. Characters from other media, OCs, reader inserts, they’re all fine. And remember that there is no bashing of others’ characters or ships! Accounts that do so will get blocked. Review the full list of rules here.

Can I make [fill in the blank]?

Yep. Any type of fanwork you can dream up is welcome, not just fic and art. Crochet a Beast hat and post a pic of it, make a photo montage of yourself doing cosplay, make a music video, we love it all!

Is NSFW allowed?

Yes, with any sort of content and kink you like, but since there may be minors following this account, please tag it appropriately. If posting mature content directly on Tumblr rather than AO3, also use its community labels function and/or hide the content under a “keep reading” link. And minors—do not engage with content that is not meant for you.

Is AI allowed?

Absolutely not. This account will not reblog, include in master lists, or include in the AO3 collection anything that was made with AI involved to any degree. Even if you just use AI to make a banner to go along with your fic that you manually wrote, we will not reblog it. Review the full list of rules here.

How do I post my work so it gets included?

The most important thing to be sure to do is to tag the @beauty-beast-week account in your Tumblr post so we can see it and reblog it from this account. Also, please use the hashtag #batbweek and/or #batbweek 2024. Full posting instructions are here.

Should I post my fic on AO3 or Tumblr?

Whatever you prefer. If you post it on AO3 and also make a Tumblr post to link to it, we will reblog the Tumblr post. If you only post to the AO3 collection, we will have nothing to reblog, but we will still link to your work in the master lists.

I don’t post my art on Tumblr; can I still participate?

Yes, but you’ll need to send us a DM via Tumblr with a link to your work on Instagram, Twitter, DeviantArt, etc. We will then include it in the master lists.

I’m not going to get my work done on time; can I still participate?

Please do! We’re happy to accept late entries! We understand that life happens, so just tag us when you’ve posted it and we’ll reblog it, though it may not make it into the master list post at the end of the event.

How can I connect with the other people participating in this event?

Building personal connections between those in our fandom community is the main reason @firawren created this event, so while there’s no Discord server specifically for this event, there is the “Frozen Hearts Worth Melting” Discord server. It’s a super chill server for Beauty and the Beast and Frozen fanfic writers and artists; DM @loonysama if you want to join this server. Also, feel free to DM @firawren if you’d like to connect one on one; I’m always hungry for more BatB friends!

Did I miss any questions that you still have? If so, please reply to this post, send me an ask, or send me a DM.

[kakashiweek]

Kakashi Week 2024 FAQ

If your question is not answered here please reach out to us via message or ask, or reply to this post!

You may also be looking for our 2024 prompts, or find our full guidelines helpful.

What kinds of works can I create? Anything centred on Kakashi and inspired by one (or more) of the prompts! That goes for any media and any type of content, so long as the work(s) are newly created by you. No usage of generative AI is welcome in Kakashi Week.

What mediums can I work in? We are a creation event, but so long as you have created something, it counts! That goes for fanart and fanfiction, of course, but also meta, not!fic style writings, GIFsets, physical crafts like amigurumi, etc.

Are there minimum requirements? Only that you newly create something inspired by one of our prompts! Sketches and doodles are welcome! So are short or micro fics!

Do I have to work from the prompts? All Kakashi Week submissions must be inspired by one of the prompts (including, of course, the Free Day, for which you are welcome to create to whatever theme or prompt you dream up, and Any AU, which can apply to any style of canon divergence as well as full-on AUs).

Do I have to use both prompts to participate on a day? Absolutely not! If you wish to combine them, feel free; if you wish to write something separate for every prompt, we are impressed and you are welcome to do so! You are only required to use one prompt to inspire your work, however.

Can I combine a prompt from this event and [some other event] to inspire one work? As long as it is within the other event’s rules, go for it!

Are early/late submissions accepted? No submissions before September 15th, please! Late submissions will be accepted until the end of September.

You're welcome to post previews, peeks, or snippets before the event, however, and if you mention/tag us we'd love to reblog them too!

Are non-Kakashi ships allowed? As long as Kakashi (whether in a ship as well or not) is the main focus of the piece, any background/side ships are fine.

Are Kakashi/OC ships allowed? Of course!

Is NSFW content allowed? Absolutely! We do require you tag and warn appropriately, and keep NSFW content behind a cut if posting on Tumblr, but all ratings and content are welcome.

Is [sensitive/triggering content of some kind] allowed? Absolutely! We do require you to tag and warn for the content appropriately, as well as tucking it behind a cut if posting on Tumblr, but all content is welcome.

Can I submit an older/previously posted work for the event? Sorry, no. Only new works will be accepted for the event. New works that are connected to existing works or series are more than welcome however!

If I write for one prompt, is it okay if I draw for another? Of course! Mix and match between whatever mediums you choose for any of the prompts that inspire you.

Can my work be a WIP? Sure thing! As long as chapter one (or whatever) is inspired by one/more of our prompts and posted during the event, it's welcome! You can post the rest of the work at your leisure.

Does my work have to be in English? Nope! Works in any language are welcome - just please tag/mention what prompt it's for in English, for the sake of our ability to locate and track your work!

What do I have to do for you to reblog my work? We'd love to! Please mention us in your post @kakashiweek (you may also wish to use our tracked tag, #KakashiWeek2024, but those sometimes go astray), and also be sure that the above rules for NSFW or triggering content being behind a cut (with a warning) are followed. Fics (whether in Tumblr post or linked to another platform) must have a header that at minimum gives a rating and any ship(s) featured, and warnings if applicable; lengthy, as well as NSFW or triggering, works must be behind a cut.

What do I have to do to get my work in the AO3 collection? Our AO3 collection (Kakashi Week 2024) is open but moderated solely to filter out any mistaken submissions and to be sure that we see all works for the event! All you have to do is submit your work to the collection and we’ll check that it’s for Kakashi Week so we can track it, then approve it! (If we haven’t done this within a day or so, feel free to reach out to us via message or ask on Tumblr.)

I have a question that isn’t answered here! Please send us an ask or message, or reply to this post, and we’ll be happy to answer it! By default we will publish asks, but we will keep answers private if you prefer, or you are welcome to ask anonymously.

~Kakashi Week Mod

[thespianinthebackcorner]

so in a reblog of a mutual's post I said this

And I realised I also need a definite backup copy of said comments, since Ao3's comment layout makes it impossible to read on mobile.

So I'm copypasting the whole thing here under the cut. Long post incoming. its from this fic btw

Thespian: "PLEASE just let me gush about them for a moment I BEG" absolutely go off author your Rhinealice fics are beauty and perfection I can return with some of my own headcanons if you like

Purplesan: Thank you so very much! That means a lot >< and yes PLEASE do, I'm very curious to hear about them! :O

Thespian: Thank you 😊 and you deserve the praise you're a great writer. Anyway I was headcanoning yesterday that Rhinedottir is actually really nice at heart but the Cataclysm kinda closed her up (which is why she raised Albedo the way she did) and ever since she let go of him Alice has tracked her down every now and then to make sure she's healing and attempts to convince her to live in Mondstadt with her family. So basically she puts on a front of being cold an calculating n stuff but she's just. A regular person who's slightly deranged whenever Alice is around cause she knows she can trust her gf with herself. :)

Purplesan: Thank you so much! Asdfghjkl your headcanons about Rhinedottir are very similar to my own, I absolutely love that. While I do think Rhine has always been somewhat analytical and more "knowledge over emotions", I completely agree that the Cataclysm made her even more closed off. She used to be nicer and kinder, but trauma makes her feel like she isn't allowed to be/cannot afford to be. (Also why she eventually lets Albedo go because "she has nothing left to teach him" - he allowed himself to feel emotions, and she feels like he surpassed her in that. So she doesn't want to (accidentally) stop him from feeling those things).

And Alice looking after her and checking up on her is so!!! YES. Just yes. Around most people she just calmly explains her research and work, but around Alice?? Unhinged over-excited researcher who wants to show their partner their work like birds showing off pretty rocks. I always headcanon Alice's absence and adventuring as her looking for her emotionally constipated wife who is afraid of commitment :p

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for sharing your headcanons! I absolutely love them and am so happy to see someone else making headcanons about this ship. Thank you! <3

Thespian: It's not a problem at all :D I love sharing headcanons especially with rarepairs like this. Also the thing about Rhine letting Albedo go cause he's started feeling and she doesn't wanna stop him??? Precious mom moment truly. Especially since she sent him to ALICE who's the PERFECT PERSON to help him emotionally develop... My heart 😭 I swear the moment she called her creations her children in that one cutscene I just began thinking like wait. What if she's actually a mom underneath that and just let her negative traits get the better of her to emotionally survive after the Cataclysm. And now she doesn't trust herself with emotions and she doesn't really know how to properly raise a child so she sent him to Alice.

Thank you for having such a nice reaction to all my comments, I'm sorry I'm just dumping them on you but I love talking... :) sorry 😅

Purplesan: YES! They do not get the attention they deserve (yet) so getting to share these headcanons and theories is great. Rhine is a better mom than she herself (and others) give her credit for >< she definitely made mistakes and isn't a great mom per se...but she DOES consider herself one and calls her creations her children, which is a big step in the right direction.

I feel like she'd often go "what would Alice do in this situation" since to her Alice is a better example of a mother. And of course she trusts Alice to look after Albedo for her and teach him about emotions. The typical example of a parent who knows she isn't great at parenting but wants the best for her kids anyway *sobs*

Not at all! You have absolutely nothing to apologize for. Talking about this rarepair brings me a lot of joy, so it actually makes me very happy that you're thinking about them and sharing ideas <33 dump away :p I promise I enjoy it!

Thespian: Thank you!!! Knowing you enjoy my ramblings does warm my heart :)

Rhine going "what would Alice do" is SO AAA that's amazing. I can just imagine little Albedo's curiosity getting him into... Well, curious situations, and Rhine just has to look at this through the mum lense cause if she doesn't she'll get so confused as to how he wound up there 😂 using her bestie as a role model? Priceless and also 100% bestie behaviour. Actually this does fit with a little shoobity doobity I came up with a while back where little Albedo tried to fit back in his old lab bottle and got in fine but couldn't get out... Ended up breaking the thing and Rhine was just standing there like "genuinely wtf did I witness you do why on EARTH" until she had to get him away from the broken glass 😂 I imagine little Albedo as a bit of a pudgy baby so Alice always wanted to hug him :)

Purplesan: They absolutely do!

Rhine will never admit it out loud, but she thinks Alice is great :p I can just see little kid Rhine observing the other kids at the playground and being unimpressed...until Alice barges in Lilo and Stitch-style blowing something up, and Rhine just goes "that one. I want that one as my friend", lmao.

YOUR SHOOBITY DOOBITY IS A MASTERPIECE I TELL YOU. The mental image of that happening is hilarious, oh my gosh. Curious little baby Albedo would probably get up to all kinds of mischief, and while on the one hand Rhine is punching the air like "heck yeah curious alchemist gene", she's also like "oh gods no, curious alchemist gene...he's going to hurt himself". While Albedo has to learn to discover the world around him in a safe way, Rhinedottir has to learn that little children have the survival skills of...well, children. (And of course, judge him a little in the process because W H Y.)

And I wholeheartedly agree with Alice finding pudgy baby Albedo being irresistible to hug!! She has so much love to give that kid. (And so much teasing for Rhine :p )

Thespian: Omg yes. Rhine just watching other kids around her be extremely unimpressive (I have this hc that Dainslief, Chlothar and Halfdan were her cousins and she just grew up watching them be obedient little Alberich boys) and then Alice just barges in at some point breaking stuff and Rhine is like. you. 🫵 you're the good one. And Alice kinda returns the favour by doing an extrovert adoption and just taking in Rhine as her new bestie.

I can just imagine Rhine not being able to leave toddler Albedo alone because if she does his curiosity will get him into a bad situation... Also thank you, I remember in the original shoobity doobity he did actually get hurt and ended up having little scars on his hips from the glass that he still has 😊 everyone has something left over from childhood injuries and I'll be damned if I leave Albedo without any. I can just IMAGINE Rhine having to pull him away from whatever weird shit they had down there and teaching him over and over again how to inspect it safely instead of just doing what kids to and shoving it in his mouth... Lmao 😂

Purplesan: She would absolutely HATE obedient and mindless kids. Mischief and curiosity is her jam :p I absolutely love your headcanon about them being her cousins as well, omg. A friend of mine also came up with a storyline about her and Dainsleif's parents having an agreement/arranged marriage thing going on (and both of them hating the thought of it, for obvious reasons. Guess that marriage not happening was the one good thing to come out of the Cataclysm XD). But Dainsleif, Chlothar and Halfdan being her cousins is also REALLY good and I like the idea a lot. (And of course the general idea of Rhine going "I'm done with boring, obedient and brainless people" stays the same regardless :p ). THE EXTROVERT ADOPTION, YES. Their dynamic is a typical example of "moody introvert who acts social and affectionate with no more than 1 (ONE) person, who is the complete, extrovert opposite of them". And I love that for them.

Absolutely! She can't take her eyes off him for even a second, or he might accidentally blow something up. (Maybe that's why Klee likes him so much). Asdfghjkl I think that's ESPECIALLY perfect for Albedo, because him having such a normal, typical detail of his childhood will help him feel a little more human. A small reminder he's like those around him. And YES, it was a painstaking process to get Albedo to stop putting things in his mouth, lmao :p (maybe that's how he found out spiders are tasty.......and MAYBE he still has a tendency to taste certain things to identify them. Sucrose watches him do it once and is like ???? "Mister Albedo that could literally kill you" "it's just chalk" "did you know that before or AFTER you put it into your mouth?" "no comment").

Thespian: Goodness gracious yes Rhine just. Does not tolerate anyone except Alice and the Hexenzirkel girls... She's probably jealous as hell of Alice's husband. Ngl Alice would probably cheat with Rhine on a complete whim and her husband just wouldn't care cause Alice gives pan energy like you wouldn't believe, she will date anyone so long as they catch her fancy and this includes Rhine... honestly Alice would get married on a whim and then start dating someone else next week without breaking up or anything cause she just forgot she's married. Also I love your friends arranged marriage thing, I can just imagine their parents watching them argue and be like "they'll learn to love each other :)" not realising that (a) Rhinedottir is def simping on Alice and (b) Dain is the least dateable man on the planet.

Also yes Albedo would 100% pull a Doctor Who and just straight up lick a wall and then be like "yeah no they didn't come through here" and leave and everyone else is like ????? The fUck? Ngl I bet the other 9 KoF captains have probably made it a thing to hand him random shit while he's reading and see if he licks it lmaoooo if he's not concentrating he just has a natural instinct to check what it is using pretty much anything besides his hands... Except when he's around people he doesn't, cause he gets anxious about trying to be a "normal person". And yeah I def like giving him those little childhood scars that make him a lot more human, I have this hc that he actually can heal quite quickly but has a limiter because Rhine didn't want it being suspicious and she also wanted him to have a couple reminiscent scars. Considering that almost all her sentient creations (Nigredo is an outlier and should not be counted) call her "mother" by THEIR OWN WILL even before the Cataclysm, she definitely treated most of them like kids until the Cataclysm got to her and she started building emotional walls. 🖤🖤

Purplesan: Asdfghjkl I like your way of thinking!! I also like to think that since Alice is (part?) elf, courting and marriage just work a little different for that species, so it's either very open/casual, or being poly is the norm. EITHER WAY, Alice 100% gives off pan vibes and I love that. LMAO SHE WOULD THOUGH. Considering she travels wherever her brain takes her and does impulsive things every other second or so, it wouldn't surprise me. And YES! The only reason Dain and Rhine remotely get along is because they're both misfits in their own way so they have at least a sliver of respect for each other. But aside from that??? Arguing galore :p (Rhine has already given her heart away to Alice, and as an alchemist obsessed with hearts and creating life, she takes that very seriously).

I am positively screaming, I need to write this down for a future fic or something. This is genius and I 100000% agree he does/would lick pretty much anything. So long as it's around people he trusts or is close to, because YES, I love the "I'm going to act as much as a normal human as possible until I know it's safe to get a little unhinged" thing he has going on. It adds a lot to his character! I love Albedo as a character a lot already, but little things like this make it even more special. Your headcanon (which I'm just going to accept as canon from now on because oh my god it's perfect) also makes me think maybe he'd purposely do reckless things in the hope to get scars and feel more human. "Mr Albedo I really think you should use your glider to traverse this cliff" "NAAAH". And him actually looking elated when he has a scraped knee or something.

I swear I could write an essay on the complexity of Rhine as both an alchemist and a mother. She cares for her creations like children and wants the best for them, but she also realizes "the best"...doesn't include her in most cases. I am BEGGING Hoyo to introduce us to more of her children, or expand on her lore, because there's so much to explore there. I want to know what she was like before she started building those emotional walls, and her interactions with others. I could go on for ages XD

Thespian: Yes!!!!!! Im sorry I forgot to reply cause I get distracted *very* easily but yes! I imagine Klee's dad just being like "this is my wife... And that's my wife's wife." And then when people get confused he's just like *shrug* "they're in love they're gonna get married whether I like it or not" and he's completely chill with it. He married Alice knowing full well she'd probably have several spouses and as long as they're nice he's fine with it. I hc he was also childhood friends with the Hexenzirkel kids so he's known Rhine a long time :)

Also yeah i think he does do that, he's always trying to act normal but when he's with people he trusts or alone he has a couple weird habits that come out. They're all probably ones that started when he was living underground with Rhine, where survival probably took the priority over being normal. And YES I LOVE THE IDEA OF HIM GETTING HURT ON PURPOSE. he'd rather take his chances and end up with a memory than come out unscathed. Maybe that's why he's one of the few Geo characters that doesn't really shield unless he uses crystallise- because he doesn't mind getting hurt.

Aakdbfjeuxhrbs go and write that essay buddy you have every right if no one's going to do it you should :) and also yes!!! She does care!!! But she also thinks that they would be better off without her, so she keeps setting them free, and in some cases (i.e Durin) that's exactly what they like, but in some cases (like Albedo) they end up missing her and she doesn't realise their lives would actually be better with her in it cause they love her too much and they don't want to leave her behind. And I also wanna know what she was like before all those walls got put up! I like to think she started alchemy with the end goal of a human child cause she couldn't have children herself somehow- she really wanted to be a mom but when faced with not being able to have her own child she chose to make her own. 🖤 maybe that's how she met Alice, two young women who had the same end goal and a long enough lifespan to do it whichever way they liked.

Purplesan: Don't worry about it!! Distraction is my middle name :p so I completely understand (and I'm late with replying now too XD). LMAO he'd be very casual and understanding about it YES. And Klee trying to explain to people "my mom, and my dad, and my other mom, who's my mom's wife."...pure chaos. It suits them :p That's so adorable!! I love the fact he just wants Alice to be happy. Like he grew up alongside her and knows EXACTLY what kind of person she is, and just went "cool" and rolled with it. OOOH I could definitely see Rhine being wary (maybe even a little jealous) of him while he's just trying to be nice and be friendly with someone he knows Alice cares a lot about. (she will of course eventually grow to appreciate him more).

YES I LOVE THAT. He didn't really learn what "normal" was until later OR had other priorities (because as you say, survival was important), so it's hard to let go of those habits. Thank you, glad you like it!! Albedo is definitely the kind of person who loves making memories to cherish, rather than being super careful all the time. OH. OH MY. That is actually a REALLY good explanation??? That makes sense tbh, and fits perfectly with his character :O

LMAO thank you thank you :p one day I shall write my essay to give Rhinedottir the attention she deserves :p (or at least a dozen fanfics worth of one, that counts too). YES!!! I love how you worded that, it's such a good explanation of the whole thought process. Rhine wants what is best for her children, but like any parent, she can't give them that without communicating with them about WHAT that "best" is in their opinion. I really hope Albedo will get the chance to reunite with her someday so they can talk about what they learned in their time apart.

And that is such a beautiful headcanon <3 I absolutely agree she wanted to be a mom, except she couldn't have/was afraid to have children in the usual way. So she tried (and succeeded in) finding an alternative. Considering how adventurous (and intelligent) Alice is, it wouldn't surprise me if she was fascinated with Rhinedottir's approach. Even if they're very different personality-wise, their desire to learn new things is definitely something they'd bond over. (And of course, they're both moms in their own right. I also feel like that plays a role - they both wanted to be moms, but not in a conventional way). It's so interesting to think and theorize about <3

Thespian: Omg yes. I can just imagine Klee introducing her big messy family and people are just like ???? And then Alice just laughs and says "dw about it it only gets weirder from here." Cause like, it does. And YES!!! Rhine being wary of him cause he married the woman she loves (esp since she's from Khaenri'ah which is likely fairly strict with marriage) and then he just goes "btw if you wanna marry her as well go ahead I don't mind have my blessing" and she's just like exCUSE? And after everything gets cleared up she starts liking him a bit more cause turns out he's just a bit of a dad who knows he's the safety net for the kids if their moms go a little too out of whack. Sometimes I imagine that Albedo calls Alice's husband his father cause he's the only one he's had (and a damn good one) which does annoy Alice but Albedo sticks to calling her aunt 😂 probably out of spite at this point

Yes! I think part of Rhinedottir's problem is that she's forgetting to actually communicate with her kids what she thinks is the best for them and let them voice their opinions on what they want. She knows she's been blamed for the Cataclysm and thinks that if her kids stay with her they'll cop the results of that. But she's forgetting that they might have their own wants. Hopefully they'll be able to talk it out someday.

And YESSSS!! They both want to be moms but fate has led them onto different paths... Maybe they made a pact when they were younger that they'd raise their kids together, but by the time they achieved their goals, Rhine had no choice but to send her son to her wife alone. :0 WHAT IF THEY GOT MARRIED IN SECRET ROMEO AND JULIET STYLE. that'd be cute.

Purplesan: My apologies for the late reply! ><

Klee isn't even fazed anymore XD her explanations are chaotic and incomprehensible, but to HER it all makes sense, which is what counts. YES. Rhine never liked the strict rules Khaenri'ah has but she obviously did grow up with them and is used to them. So the surprise she must feel upon meeting someone so chill??? Insane. I LOVE the idea of him being the one that keeps it all going smoothly and safely. I can just imagine him helping out anywhere he can (maybe even gifting Rhine alchemy supplies every now and then), being the middle man when anyone has an argument...just a chill guy who loves his little family. I SUPPORT THIS THEORY!! I am a sucker for the "Alice keeps trying to convince Albedo to call her mom" thing, so him calling her husband "father" would drive her crazy :p

I will stand by this theory for sure. On the one hand she's like "I'm your mom, I know things" but on the other hand she's like "yeah so maybe don't turn to me for emotional advice" and it gives an...interesting combination. If only she learned to communicate with her kids >< I do feel like Albedo made some progress with her, but there's a LOT left to learn and improve on. YES EXACTLY. The Cataclysm definitely hit her hard and caused her fear. I really, really hope Rhine's character story/arc will focus on her reconciling with some of her kids, or at least making an attempt to. I also like to think one of the reasons for leaving Albedo is because she feels like "the pupil surpassed his master" and she could learn from HIM (emotionally, mostly) and that kind of scares her. Because she's always been the smartest person in the room.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT. I feel like they'd be the kind of people to go "what if we just started adopting all the unhappy and neglected kids we find" and took that mission very seriously. And making a pact is so in-character for them too. THEY ABSOLUTELY DID. They certainly have the same kind of tragic love story as Romeo and Juliet (although I'm hoping for a happier ending).

And the added bonus: Rhinedottir making a ring for Alice out of alchemy, and even when they're apart, that ring is a reminder to Alice that her wife is okay, because if she wasn't, the ring would have disappeared along with her.

Thespian: Yes!! They mean something to her and that's what matters. Klee's not good at explaining but she gets it. Also!!!! I just found out!!! Chlothar was actually a rebellious child and hated the rules (even researching the gods out of spite) so they would've been chaotic besties. Maybe even siblings 😂 And yes absolutely Rhine would be shocked at the revelation of a guy so relaxed as Alice's husband. And then he's just really chill and acts the middle man and Rine realises why he's there... he can put some space between the wives if nessecary 😂 and absolutely Alice is driven insane by Albedo calling her husband father. Actually I released a fic last night where he did that but it was a minor part lmao.

And yes!!! Rhine tells her kids that she's their mom and she knows things, but she doesn't know everything, she's lost her emotional capability, and it's scaring her that her kid is beginning to emotionally develop because she can't help with that. She has to let him go because he's reached a point where his mum can't help him anymore and he has to do this on his own. But she still doesn't want him to not have help so she sends him to Alice. And yes my ultimate hope for Rhine's arc is learning to reconcile with her kids and relearn that it's safe to be human again, no one's hunting her down for the Cataclysm anymore. It'll be a rocky journey for sure, especially with the knowledge that Subject Two is alive, cause he won't be happy with her and she's probably going to be incredibly surprised and/or guilty, but hopefully she'll get there eventually. And yes! I think she has realised that Albedo has reached a point where she could actually start learning from him, but she's at the point where she's been the teacher for such a long time the thought of learning from someone else scares her. And YES they would absolutely adopt the neglected kids. I came up with a fic idea the other day where Alice makes an orphanage for abandoned or orphaned non-human kids after the Cataclysm and it was a really cute premise but I never posted it cause it wasn't writing the way I wanted it to write. Yes yes they did. OMG IMAGINE IF- WAIT LEMME WRITE THIS DOWN RIGHT- Chlothar and Rhine are in Mondstadt for some legal reason, where they meet their respective future wives, and they both get married together in a secret double wedding 🖤❤️🤍💜 OMG THAT IS ACTUALLY THE CUTEST THING EVER. LIKE PLEASE. and what if Rhine has a matching one, what if they made them together with alchemy AND magic. And Rhine's has a little clover made of rubies on it and Alice's has a gemstone flower of some sort on it. Omg with that kind of thing, every time Alice comes home she probably subtly makes sure Albedo can see the ring on her hand so that he knows his mother's ok 🤍

Purplesan: Klee loves her family and will protect them at all costs (not to mention adopt more people into it, because I firmly believe she picked up the "if someone feels unloved then I will MAKE them feel loved" habit from her mom, lmao). ASDFGHJKL THIS IS FANTASTIC NEWS TO ME. I smell another potential fic coming once I am finally caught up with Genshin again :p that's so cool. YES, I feel like Rhine doesn't trust people easily and is suspicious of almost everyone, so for the husband to be so chill is a pleasant surprise. The middle man we all need XD OOOH I must read that!! Even if it's just a minor part, it sounds fantastic.

Rhinedottir isn't a great mom, but tbh that "I know I can't give my kid the support and understanding he deserves and needs" proves she's trying her best and I love that. ME TOO, ME TOO. I need a Rhinedottir arc focussing on that, and I need it done well. Especially since the whole Subject Two story was an event-only thing, I NEED to see more of him in the main story. All the angst, misunderstandings, and feelings included. It will be a bumpy, rocky, tough, long and emotional ride, but it'll be so worth it. I agree!! It's scary to know suddenly she's no longer just the teacher. I WOULD SO READ THE HECK OUT OF THAT??? I completely understand it's tough when a story doesn't end up like you wanted it to, so absolutely no pressure. But if you do decide to re-write/post it someday, I just know it will be good and I'm gonna be hooked on it. I LIKE THIS A LOT. You come up with so many epic ideas and stories :O the double wedding would be everything. There's something very romantic about them deciding to marry their loved ones in secret despite everything.

THANK YOU, I'm glad you like it!! I absolutely LOVE the idea of them making the rings together. The whole "alchemy and science meeting magic" trope is perfect for them and proves that their combined powers are a force to be reckoned with. THAT IS BEAUTIFUL. And the thought of her sharing it with Albedo even more so <3 she would definitely do everything she can to reassure him.

Thespian: Yes she DEFINITELY picked up the "if someone feels unloved I will MAKE them feel loved" habit. Look at the way she talks to everyone, she even felt bad for an Abyss Mage. There's no way she didn't get that. Also yeah you and I need to write a fic together somehow. You've got such good ideas aaa

YES!! I love it when characters who've learnt to never trust anyone just meet someone so blatantly trustable. He was definitely a culture shock for her, if Alice wasn't bad enough 😂 Aww ty! The fic where it happens is named What Belongs to Us if you wanna find it.

And yeahhhh, we need a good bumpy ride of a reconciliation arc for both her and Subject Two. They'll get through it, but not without Alice's help :) And yeah! Realising you're just not the authority anymore after so, so many years of being in that position must hit hard- especially when it's her son that does eventually take over her in skill.

Awww thank you!!! I may try and rewrite it when I have the time :) I was thinking of posting more oneshots so I might as well and I do like the premise I'll keep you updated if it's ever posted!!

And yes!! Secret double wedding!!! I bet that after they got married Chlothar was intending to keep his wife safe by keeping her in Mondstadt but she was feisty and was going with him back to Khaenri'ah 😂 he couldn't help but let her.

They literally ARE the "science meets magic" trope. They are a force to be reckoned with and honestly I'm wondering what Celestia was thinking when they nuked Khaenri'ah- that was basically Operation Piss Off Alice if Rhinedottir had gotten hurt at all. The next Cataclysm will be in Celestia and she will be at the centre of it all. And yes Albedo knows full well that his mother isn't too safe alone out there and he's worried he'll never see her again, so knowing that she's still alive and he has a chance is definitely reassuring. And who is Alice if not someone who reassures others.

Purplesan: EXACTLY! Klee has a massive heart with space for even the most unusual people and creatures. And honestly? Good for her. She will make the entirety of Teyvat feel loved. Asdfghjkl we should! Your ideas are great too, together we'd be unstoppable, hehe

SAME. The whole trope is just adorable. The whole "wait so some people are ACTUALLY just nice and aren't trying to gain something??" shock is hilarious. And thank you, I'll definitely check it out!

We absolutely do, but to be honest, bumpy rides are the most fun when it comes to character development arcs. Alice's help is definitely required! She's one of the few people Rhinedottir will take advice from. (I like to think she also plays with that fact sometimes by telling Rhinedottir the strangest things knowing she'll believe it, but it's always harmless. Something like "if you compliment this plant every day for three weeks it will grow a flower". These two trust each other and neither of them would ever want to betray that trust. Pranking, however? Now that is a different story XD). It's hard, but hopefully she'll come to accept it so they can learn together >< at the very least, she knows her knowledge is in good hands.

That'd be amazing, good luck to you! And thank you, I'll look forward to it :3

This is absolutely how it went down, I don't make the rules :p I feel like a lot of these characters are very loyal and dedicated to people they care about, so letting them go to a dangerous place alone is just not happening. Whether that's Khaenri'ah upbringing or just their personality doesn't matter, they're just...very determined to keep each other safe ><

One of my favourite tropes brought to life in the best way possible. LMAO you're absolutely right there - Celestia made a huge mistake and they will in fact feel the wrath of Alice and Rhinedottir combined. The only reason they are still standing is because Rhinedottir survived so immediate revenge wasn't necessary. YES! That is definitely how it will go down! She will wipe them out with a smile on her face.

Alice is honestly a sweetheart for that. Obviously canonically it's lovely that she looks after Albedo like he's her own, but her making sure to reassure him emotionally as well just warms my heart even more. Their little family just makes me so happy, and them looking out for each other is a big part of that.

Thespian: Yes! Kaeya said Klee heals people and honestly yeah. Yeah that's going to be her entire fate. She could probably resolve the most traumatized person of their problems with, like, one sentence. Also, if we are going to write a fic I think we need a slightly more convenient mode of communication... Ao3 comments aren't exactly the most convenient 😂

And yes she'd be so shocked to discover that some people are just nice lmaoo Actually that's kind of not a good thing when you think about it

Yeah Alice is probably one of like 2 people Rhine will take advice from. (The second is her husband lmao.) YES ALICE WOULD PRANK HER SO BAD. Imagine Rhine just rapping on Alice's door and IMMEDIATELY starts bitching after the fake advice didn't work and Alice is just on the floor laughing. And eventually Rhine just can't help it cause Alice just has a contagious laugh and they both just end up sitting down and laughing. Yeah, hopefully she will end up accepting the fact that she's been overtaken. Who knows, maybe she'll be happy that she's found a true heir that's already surpassed her at such a young age. And yeah, she knows her wisdom is in safe hands :)

Aw, thank you :) I'll probably finish my current WIP then get working on it! (press X to doubt)

Alice and Chlothar's wife are basically like "it's dangerous to go alone! Take this!" And then just hug their partners and wait till they get it. And then when the Khaenri'ahns protest theyre just like "no" and shut them up somehow (with a kiss mayhaps???)

Yes Celestia made a huuuuge mistake by antagonizing Alice. I think that might be their fatal flaw, underestimating just how determined and how powerful their own creations can get, especially when they're backed against a wall or defending something/someone they love. They got off easy the first time, but that arguably put them in a worse position- by keeping Rhine alive, they've let her have an heir, who's more precious to her and Alice than anyone else either of them know. If Celestia targets either of the women, they'll incur the other's wrath, but if they're not walking on glass around Albedo, they'll have two PISSED lesbians on their hands, and this time they're not getting away.

Also id just like to mention that right when I read the second to last paragraph the music I had in the background was all "I've found you now, looks like I've won, pay the consequence" and that fit far too well. Esp since the song was Hide and Seek by Lizz Robinett so it sounds like a child singing. Terrifying perfect timing and honestly it fits. Alice walks straight through Celestia's doors all beat up and she's like "you hurt my fam. I found you now, you're paying the consequences, your time is mf UP" and give them the kick in the ass they deserve.

Yes she is a sweetheart!!! She always takes time to make sure Albedo's feeling all right. especially since he gets lonely easily and tends not to do anything about it 'cause he thinks it's be better if he isolated himself. (Which is in itself part of the problem.) He thinks he's dangerous, so he isolates himself, then gets lonely and needs someone with him, but he's too scared to get close to anyone... it's an awful cycle he keeps putting himself through but Alice always steps in and makes sure he's okay, and if she's not there then her husband does. Having a sensitive son can be a hassle but they're ready and willing to put in the work to make sure he's okay!

Purplesan: Klee becoming a healer not in the traditional sense (she loves blowing things up after all), but the mental kind of healer is so extremely wholesome. Asdfghjkl you make a solid point there XD what platform would work best for you? I usually prefer Instagram or Twitter, but I also have a Discord. I just always forget to check it (oops) so I might need to get into the habit of doing that more often >< let me know what you'd prefer!

Rhinedottir when she finds out people are capable of being nice: *surprised Pikachu face*. (Is this what she gets for isolating herself for so long??? MAYBE.)

Oh absolutely. Rhinedottir is used to correcting people (and sometimes maybe has a little too much faith in herself...or at least not enough faith in others), so there is a VERY select few people she will take advice from. There is some irony in the fact 1 of the people she will take advice from is also the most likely to prank her though :p That is absolutely ADORABLE and feels so in character. I feel like Alice is one of the few people that can draw genuine smiles or laughs from Rhine, and her having a contagious laugh certainly helps. TRUE. Maybe she will embrace that "proud mom" feeling instead of being insecure/feeling like she doesn't have a purpose. There is hope yet!

Asdfghjkl a big, big mood. "I will finish this project eventually!" I say, when starting 3 side projects. GOOD LUCK THOUGH!! I'll be rooting for you :D

This is canon in my eyes now. Absolutely what they would do and say. They are SUPPORTIVE spouses and nothing will stop them. (At that point, the kiss is mandatory :p most effective way of shutting them up)

The downfall of any species, gods or not, is underestimating a species they consider “weaker”. And underestimating human emotion? Now that’s a fatal flaw if I’ve ever seen one. And you worded that so beautifully!! Celestia better fear the combined power of Rhinedottir and Alice – two of the most dangerous and lethal lesbians in Teyvat. (Lethal lesbians sounds like a cool team name, lmao). Either way, their family means the world to them and not even Celestia can withstand their wrath if any harm befalls that family.

I am an absolute sucker for badass, dramatic entrances, so the timing of that song combined with the visual of Rhinedottir waltzing in, ready to beat up gods? An absolute masterpiece. Music can give so much inspiration for scenes like that ><

He takes after Rhine huh :p I adore how gentle and patient Alice is with him yet will firmly let him know he doesn’t need to suffer alone in silence. BEST MOM AWARD GOES TO ALICE FOR SURE. Sometimes you just gotta let your kids know you’re there for them *sobs*

Thespian: Every other chibi is a physical healer, Klee is a mental healer. We've cracked the code and I will now be putting prototype Amber on Klee to make her heal physically (I am kleeless) Also Instagram works! I have an unused writer account we can talk with (@back_corner_writer) if that works. (It's actually for a story I'm writing but it'll be a while before i start using that acc for that purpose so for now it's just empty lmao.)

That is absolutely what she gets for isolating herself for so long. Then again it's also partially the fault of everyone she grew up with not being nice...

She's definitely used to correcting people. I feel like she'd be the kind of student who ends up knowing more about the subject then the teacher 😂 Yeah that irony is definitely part of what makes their relationship. Alice pranks her so much that Rhine doesn't want to trust her, but she balances with just enough actual advice that she has no choice lmao. And YES Alice is one of the few that can draw actual smiles from Rhine. It's something she finds endearing the way Rhine just softly smiles whenever Alice does something. It's a tired kind of smile that absolutely got passed to her son. And yes she will embrace the proud mom feel but not before having an existential crisis over her successor getting to her level. Alice, you're up (we're just making fic plans aren't we)

Jfjsnrbsj yeah I always come up with stuff when I'm not in a place where I can write it (i.e bed) and then when I do sit down and try to write I have to start from the beginning, whereas in my head I'm like four years down the track 😭 why must I use my fingers to write

SUPPORTIVE👏SPOUSES👏 And yes the kiss is absolutely the most efficient way of shutting them up. Jektnejdjenjdbr the mental image of that and then Rhine and Chlothar just go totally red is so beautiful to me. The Beginnings of a Beautiful Romance

Yes! Underestimating human emotion is what causes their downfall. It's interesting how in most literature the gods are usually a saving grace, while here that's turned on it's head where they're most often the problem. And yes, Alice and Rhine are dedicated to their family, and they're not giving the gods any mercy if they touch their families. Just 'cause they're gods doesn't mean they cannot be judged.

Yes music gives so much inspiration!! Can't tell you how many times music has inspired me to do stuff.

Jdngkehfbsjd yes exactly Alice is there for him and she lets him know he doesn't need to suffer in silence. He does anyway cause damn he just doesn't listen when he gets told stuff like that. Jdjfbehxbr stop doubting yourself Albedo.

Actually I came up with this headcanon at some point that Albedo was modelled off Rhinedottir's first and only biological son, who died at some point as a child... so she started studying alchemy in the hopes of recreating a child in his image artificially since she couldn't have children of her own anymore somehow. Just since he looks so different from the rest of the Alberiches we know, I was wondering why.

Purplesan: EXACTLY! Mental troubles? Call Klee! Emotional instability? Call Klee! She's a true hero. (May you one day be lucky and get Klee in your pulls!!). And that's fantastic, thank you! I'll give you a follow :3 my name on instagram is almost the same as here: "purple.san". (OOOH lots of good luck with that! It's fun to have so many projects planned)

Asdfghjkl very true, the environment someone grows up in does tend to affect what kind of person they become. And for Rhine...well, it's certainly not ideal.

Oh absolutely XD constantly raising her hand to make comments, add things, correct them, ask impossible questions...to the point she'd get a ban, lmao. Or at least a limit as to how many things she's allowed to ask/say. Alice and Rhinedottir have one of my favourite relationship dynamics in terms of trust. The whole "I'll annoy you to no end but I'd still trust you with my life any day". Once again I LOVE the visual of that, because it just feels so in-character for both of them. The subtle smile they THINK goes unnoticed but actually has their partners feeling all giddy upon seeing it. Oh absolutely, an existential crisis is almost mandatory for any character development story :p (honestly, at this point we should almost start keeping a list of all these ideas XD)

That is the biggest mood ever. The most relatable paragraph ever to exist. My brain is already halfway through the story at that point, so when I have the opportunity to write and have to start from the beginning again?? Impossible. Some of my favourite ideas never get written because of this XD oops.

SUPPORTIVE SPOUSES ARE BEST SPOUSES. And yes, yes absolutely. Characters who are usually pretty good at hiding their emotions, but then go red-faced at a simple kiss or compliment? Words cannot describe the amount of serotonin that provides.

One of my favourite tropes ever is when people realize the gods aren't as helpful and good as they appear at first. The whole "wait, they're not just here to help" realization...sometimes even realizing gods can be petty and mean. And Genshin HAS ALL OF THAT, or at least potential to have storylines like it. "Found family trope" meets "not all gods are good" trope - the perfect fanfic soup. And with characters like Alice and Rhinedotir, you BET they will go after them.

Big same! Fic titles, storylines, or just simply getting into the right headspace/vibe.

LMAO honestly he's a mood for that. "Yes I know you're right, that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it or that I will do it".

THAT. THAT IS. VERY SAD. VERY HEART-BREAKING AND SAD AND PERFECT AND CLEVER AND TRAGICALLY BEAUTIFUL. I am a SUCKER for this headcanon, because it adds so many extra layers to their stories. Not to mention it adds even more to Albedo's whole "am I living up to her expectations" plotline. And Alice watching Rhinedottir spiral all for the sake of "reviving" her dead son...now that is top-tier angst, my gosh.

Thespian:

Yes! Klee is an emotional healer and that will be so important down the track. I got your follow too! :D I'll send you a hi if we're online at the same time (And Ty! I'm thinking of finding someone to help me draw the concept art for the characters but I'm not exactly well-versed in the art of paying people over internet... And I can't draw myself so until I get the concept art sorted that acc will be empty.)

Jsjfneh yeah "not ideal" is one way of putting it.

God I almost feel bad for Rhine's teachers. Although if they didn't know the material that's their fault lmaooo It's lighthearted banter that's made to make Rhine smile a little when she can. I think especially since the Cataclysm Alice has had a real focus on trying to cheer her up in small ways so that she doesn't lose her mind. Also, Albedo 100% does the small smile thing, idc who he gets shipped with he does that. And YES MANDATORY EXISTENTIAL CRISIS!!! (I'll be real I've been using this comment chain as the list lmaoooo but I think we do need an actual list...)

God same I have so many ideas I haven't started yet cause I'm way down the track in my head... or I start writing them and then never finish... I have so many documents full of unfinished fics...

SUPPORTIVE SPOUSES FTW jfnektjsnrbe I love the mental images of tough-as-nails stoic people getting any little bit of attention from their crush and just going fully red. Dofjrbsihheifhrjsjdnebdjfbsbfjeb

Yes yes Genshin has all that potential!!! Especially since they're all quite secretive about a lot of stuff- unless it's, like, an emergency, they don't tell us shit. Meanwhile regular humans tell us more about this world than the gods ever have. God yes I love trope mashups and this one sounds so tasty. Alice and Rhine will be taking the shots, with the rest of the Hexenzirkel at their back. Celestia can run but they can't hide from the lesbian queens

Real. I can't write unless I've got music going in the bg.

Yeah I think one of his biggest struggles is going to be letting himself listen to people and start healing from the damage he's done to himself by not listening even when he knows it's for his own good. It's that difference mentality- it's like the reverse of what he said in his story quest, "a doctor can diagnose you because they are you." He knows there's no one around that's quite like him, and that inherent separation is what's causing him to not really take advice he's getting. It's that "you wouldn't know" kind of thing, except what he doesn't realise is that while, yes, the people around him don't exactly know how he feels, they've still had similar feelings themselves (most of them, anyway) and can use that experience to help him. Relying on others is something he's not very good at and he has to learn how to do, but it's his own mentality that's stopping him- he needs to get through that first.

JFNDJTHSB THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THE HEADCANON Gosh I didn't even think about the fact that albedo might consider it part of living up to her expectations, when I first came up with it he didn't even know about that it was a secret... But God that gives so much Angst Potential for both him- trying to live up to expectations that were never really placed on him- and Rhine, who has to try and heal herself and make up for her lost opportunities to love him like a son. AAAAA and Alice watching her spiral YES so much angst... this fic finna be hurt no comfort at this rate lmaooo

Purplesan: She absolutely is! Teyvat needs more people like her :') Yay! Feel free to message me when I'm not online too! XD I think at some point I may have turned off the display-thingy for when someone's online, so it's okay to just message me whenever and I'll reply when I can ^^ (which is, hopefully faster than I do on here, oof. What even is time :') (I really hope you'll be able to figure it out!! Online payment is confusing as heck (the only thing I really know is Paypal, but even that is only when it comes to official stores), but it'll be SO worth it. I'm sure you'll do great at creating a wonderful universe and characters ^^)

Ehehe :')

She just can't help herself :p And yes definitely! Alice may act carefree and happy a lot, but I feel like she's actually just trying to be a positive influence on people she cares about. The light in the dark. (And I imagine that also means she feels guilty whenever she feels down or upset herself...). I FULLY AGREE, HE DOES. (Asdfghjkl fair enough tbh :p a checklist for fic conceptss does sound perfect. "Must include: existential crisis, angst, friendly banter, two emotionally constipated idiots...". A fanfic-recipe so to say XD)

I recently went through some old documents and realized that, aside from the ones I KNEW I didn't finish, there was so much more I had forgotten even existed XD the curse of writing, I suppose.

I SUPPORT THIS VISUAL. One of my absolute favourite character tropes. ESPECIALLY if it's someone known for always keeping their cool.

There are so many unanswered questions and so many mysteries. And on the one hand - that's a fanfic writer's dream, so they can go all out with headcanons...but on the other hand, I NEED ANSWERS, HOYOVERSE. I BEG. Either way I agree I want the Hexenzirkel to come and back our queens up while they conquer Celestia :D (One of my friends shared a theory that Diluc's mom might be/might have been part of Hexenzirkel and I have not been able to stop thinking about it since).

YES. Music is everything

This. THIS. You put it into words perfectly. That feeling of "I'm not like you, so how could you possibly understand me" versus "you're not the enigma you think you are, don't distance yourself even further because you think that's what's best for you". He must feel so ALONE for not knowing anyone quite like him, yet at the same time he struggles with allowing people close when they want to/are willing to learn. So much room for character development and stories there *sobs*

I ABSOLUTELY DO. Him not knowing (and potentially finding out later) would ALSO be heartbreaking tbh, because then he might wonder if any praise she ever gave him was actually directed at HIM, or if it was meant for the "other him"....but also, the angst potential of him knowing and having so many expectations to live up to. So it doesn't matter which way you look at it, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER EITHER WAY. A lot of hurt with very little comfort :') and their loved ones watching them spiral...yup, this one will hurt real good

Thespian: Teyvat does need more people like her. She'll definitely be very useful at the end of the game, because we all know that some big disaster's gonna happen and she'll be much needed comfort.

Yes yes! I'll message you when I can :D Speaking of, what should we use to actually write the fic? Cause we'd need a shared document. (Aw thank you!! I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out eventually. For now though I'll keep planning the worldbuilding!)

Augh I didn't expect that Alice might not be who she is on the outside... Aaaa the angst potential. The fact that she tries to be positive for everyone around her??? And then she's just a little down on herself when she's alone?? But then she feels guilty about being sad because she's Alice, she can't be sad. :0 she's putting up a happy facade to cope with the fact that her girlfriend's not contacting her. EXACTLY HE DOES THE THING. Wait I'm pretty sure that's canon actually cause he did it in 2.3 when someone complimented his cooking. (It is a fanfic recipe. Put them all in a document, mix them around, then put it in the oven at 300°C and let the characters cry lmao)

YOU. YOU GET IT. Characters who always keep their cool losing it when they get attention from their s/o? Amazing. Alternatively, their crush turns away and starts talking to someone else and brushes them off a little and their shoulders droop a little and they're just ever so slightly visibly sad. But no one notices and they just kinda bottle it up like they do with everything else.

YES!!! Answers, HoyoVerse. Please. I was hoping we'd get a winter update in 4.3 that'd give us some extra Hexenzirkel lore or similar, but apparently not >:( HoyoVerse has Albedo locked in the basement and I am crying trying to get him out But yesss Alice and Rhine go for Celestia!!! Take them down (I don't mind the theory about Diluc's mum, although it's possible Alice just gave the tea set to him. Especially since she basically adopted him after Crepus died.)

GOD, yes. He would feel so alone, and he doesn't realise part of the reason for that is himself- if he loosened up a little, he would figure out that a lot of his problems are easily solved if he just leans on someone, but noooo he has to keep trying to do everything alone. He acts like he's got it all together, but he's just so lonely underneath it. His little heart is broken and he knows it should be fixed but. But he just can't, because he prioritises others over himself and to him, it comes down to others' safety and his wellbeing, and he doesn't know that most of his friends wouldn't mind the risk just to make sure he's okay.

aUGH YES. him knowing, him not knowing, whatever path you choose it all ends in spiralling. ESPECIALLY since Albedo seems to overthink a lot. Omg okay so I was looking at the other Khaenri'ahns we know for visual references and thinking about that headcanon and then I was like,,, "Rhine/Dain is good but Rhine/Halfdan???" And then I realised that Halfdan's hair colour is closer to Albedo's than Dain's is. And also Halfdan would be a much better dad. And also the potential for angst during the Cataclysm while he's fighting for his citizens against the very creatures his wife made to protect them. Thinking of where she might be and just knowing she'll be blamed and even though there's lives at stake he just cannot help but think how will she survive? Both mentally and physically. And hoping against hope that they'll both make it out. And then Dain blaming her for Halfdan's death and she's just like ...what? Because she didn't know. Ohhhhhhh yes this one will hurt very very good.

Purplesan: Gosh, I just know the end of the game is going to make us suffer :’) emotional damage times ten. Where are the emotional healers when you need them?Oooh good point! I think Google Docs is the most “collaboration-friendly” way to write in the same document? I know multiple people can work in the same file simultaneously, while also leaving comments and suggestions and such. Unless you’d prefer something else of course! ^^ (Also very important! I’ll be rooting for you :3)

I just love the happy-go-lucky characters who act all silly around their loved ones, yet at the same time have their own (invisible) struggles. Bonus points if Rhinedottir notices and calls her out on it (by offering comfort in her on way). ANGST POTENTIAL INDEED. Asdfghjl I love it when canon confirms our theories in some way :p (LMAO, exactly! Five-star dining, with a disclaimer/small print about the recipe not being responsible for ~emotional damage~ sustained by it)

It’s my favourite thing ever, without a doubt. The way they just melt completely. And OF COURSE, the mandatory angst always accompanying the good fluff. Someone who acts all cool and touch, melts at the smallest hint of affection…and who’s secretly not as tough as they seem and actually needs that validation/attention from their partner. (At this point we’re describing like half the Genshin characters but shhhh). YOU GET IT.The fact Hoyo takes forever to update the good bits has me screaming. I understand a game takes time and they can’t drop it all at once but *sobs in a corner* I need my answers. My lore. ALBEDO AND CO. HEXENZIRKEL. PLEASE. (Ooooh good point! I hadn’t thought of it like that yet, but knowing Alice (or at least the small bits we’ve seen so far), that would also be a very realistic possibility :O)

Literally crying over your top-tier fantastic 10/10 description of Albedo’s inner workings, thank you. THIS IS PERFECTION. He definitely prioritises other people’s safety over his own, sacrificing his happiness if it means keeping others safe. (His “if I lose control one day…” plea to the traveller being just one example to back that up). Damn it Albedo just accept people care about you already :’)

……I would read, no, DEVOUR this, tbh. Like, that’s brilliant thinking and THE ANGST. I love angst (what a surprise, lol), but this??? This is the exact flavour of angst I live for. The sheer guilt of “I tried to do everything right but instead it all went to hell”??? The survivor’s guilt???? THE NOT KNOWING???? I am a goner. My heart. Thank you for this wonderful, magnificent rollercoaster of emotions.

Thespian: The end of this game is going to kill us all. First Splatoon and now this, is it impossible for me to get into a game that won't make me cry and laugh at the same time??? Stop giving me women that would fistfight their manager in space for the sake of their girlfriends (read: Alice and Neo 3)

Google Docs sounds good, it's definitely a good long term option. I do have a Microsoft account so we could use word but by end of next year it'll be deactivated so it might not be a good idea. How're you gonna share the Google doc with me, though? As far as I'm aware we don't know each other's Gmails which it requires. (Awww thank you!!!! It's going well, although I've extended it from an 8-part series to a 16-parter... This should not be my first published work)

God, yEs. Character who acts all bubbly and happy, then sits in their room and cries at 3am??? Everything. Oh yes absolutely ten thousand bonus points for that one, pLEASe. and yesss, canon-confirmed headcanons are always such a source of joy, it's like :0 I know this character so well I thought of something they'd do and they actually do it!!! (Five star dining until the author picks "Chose not to use archive warnings" and doesn't tag the major character death or something 😂)

Yes yes yes!!! Especially when they're tired or something, they get a single touch from their partner and they're gone. No more operating, Partner is Here and Hugs are Needed Immediately. Bonus points if it's been a hard day and they cry a little. It's the little things that make them human- that need for affection even if they deny it. Dying of loneliness is a thing people, don't bottle shit up. Speaking of bottling things up, there's a dialogue option in the Lantern Rite event that says Traveler prefers bottling their feelings up... AND THERE'S NO OTHER OPTION. ITS CANON TO BOTH TWINS. GIRLIPOP NOOOO (I took a screenshot I'll send it to you.)

God yeah. Me and a couple of my Tumblr moots have been waiting for ages (the amount of copium I've been on the last few weeks has had me higher than Cloud Retainer's kite) for a new Hexenzirkel patch. We think it might be coming next patch or after but please, Fontaine and Natlan years would be perfect. Nicole in Fontaine and Natlan being the nation of dragons (cough cough RHINEDOTTIR) would be perfect for more Hexenzirkel lore. Please please.

Hahaha my good friend Monard cries over my albedo work too, I'm not sure how I do this but apparently I can use this boy to make people cry :) and yeah, he absolutely prioritises other people's safety over his own!! It's a trademark of a good head scientist, taking responsibility of his assistants and taking responsibility for whatever happens in experiments, and comes in handy as a knight too. Problem is it backfires in regular life, and while I admit he doesn't exactly have much of a regular life (lab rat ass, get out and have fun) it does mean he often sacrifices his own feelings (i.e. his experiment) for the betterment of others (the safety of his assistants). It's the same train of thought, but it doesn't run quite the same way in social situations as it does in the lab. He does absolutely need to figure out that other people love him, that's why he needs a bf

I know right??? It's such a good concept and I don't have the time to flesh it out on my own. If we're planning this fic I'd like to include this idea, it feels like one that could reach peak potential with two minds and also our different schedules leave us to flesh out each other's ideas. Halfdan is perfect for fitting into the rhinefam because he is so similar to Albedo in that his close connection to Rhinedottir would give him this weird sense of guilt for what she's done, but also the intrinsic knowledge that she's not what Celestia makes her out to be, but he can't out and say that because it might hurt him and his other loved ones. And of course Rhinedottir has such monumental guilt once she finds out Halfdan didn't survive because of her... What do you think Rhine would have been like if Halfdan had defied Dain and gone to help her instead? What do you think would have happened if they raised Albedo together, way underneath the earth... aUGH the ideas are flowing again. Words are going tonight. You are very much welcome. :D

[nonbinaryeye]

Without reblogging I give like to a post telling me to stop liking stuff and start reblogging them. It's not a bad message but the comical hypocrisy of doing so was just too tempting.

[whumptober]

Whumptober 2020 - Updated

Welcome to Whumptober 2020! We’re doing things a little differently this year so please make sure to read the Event Info carefully. We are also excited to announce the addition of an AO3 Collection, which can be found here.

We hope you’re as excited as us to watch the Whump Community come together once again for a month of bone-crunching creativity and collaboration!

(All 31 Themes + Prompts, Event Information, and FAQs are posted below the cut!)

No 1. LET'S HANG OUT SOMETIME Waking Up Restrained | Shackled | Hanging

No 2. IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY  "Pick Who Dies" | Collars | Kidnapped

No 3. MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY Manhandled | Forced to their Knees | Held at Gunpoint

No 4. RUNNING OUT OF TIME Caged | Buried Alive | Collapsed Building

No 5. WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING? On the Run | Failed Escape | Rescue

No 6. PLEASE.... "Get it Out" | No More | "Stop, please"

No 7. I'VE GOT YOU Support | Carrying | Enemy to Caretaker

No 8. WHERE DID EVERYBODY GO? "Don't Say Goodbye" | Abandoned | Isolation

No 9. FOR THE GREATER GOOD "Take Me Instead" | "Run!” | Ritual Sacrifice

No 10. THEY LOOK SO PRETTY WHEN THEY BLEED Blood Loss | Internal Bleeding | Trail of Blood

No 11. PSYCH 101 Defiance | Struggling | Crying

No 12. I THINK I'VE BROKEN SOMETHING Broken Down | Broken Bones | Broken Trust

No 13. BREATHE IN BREATHE OUT Delayed Drowning | Chemical Pneumonia | Oxygen Mask

No 14. IS SOMETHING BURNING? Branding | Heat Exhaustion | Fire

No 15. INTO THE UNKNOWN Possession | Magical Healing | Science Gone Wrong

No 16. A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY Forced to Beg | Hallucinations | Shoot the Hostage

No 17. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING Blackmail | Dirty Secret | Wrongfully Accused

No 18. PANIC! AT THE DISCO Panic Attacks | Phobias | Paranoia

No 19. BROKEN HEARTS Grief | Mourning Loved One | Survivor's Guilt

No 20. TOTO, I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE Lost | Field Medicine | Medieval

No 21. I DON'T FEEL SO WELL Chronic Pain | Hypothermia | Infection

No 22. DO THESE TACOS TASTE FUNNY TO YOU? Poisoned | Drugged | Withdrawal

No 23. WHAT’S A WHUMPEE GOTTA DO TO GET SOME SLEEP AROUND HERE? Exhaustion | Narcolepsy | Sleep Deprivation

No 24. YOU’RE NOT MAKING ANY SENSE Forced Mutism | Blindfolded | Sensory Deprivation

No 25. I THINK I’LL JUST COLLAPSE RIGHT HERE, THANKS Disorientation | Blurred Vision | Ringing Ears

No 26. IF YOU THOUGHT THE HEAD TRAUMA WAS BAD... Migraine | Concussion | Blindness

No 27. OK, WHO HAD NATURAL DISASTERS ON THEIR 2020 BINGO CARD? Earthquake | Extreme Weather | Power Outage

No 28. SUCH WOW. MANY NORMAL. VERY OOPS. Accidents | Hunting Season | Mugged

No 29. I THINK I NEED A DOCTOR Intubation | Emergency Room | Reluctant Bedrest

No 30. NOW WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Wound Reveal | Ignoring an Injury | Internal Organ Injury

No 31. TODAY’S SPECIAL: TORTURE Experiment | Whipped | Left for Dead

Alternate Prompt List

Alt 1. Punctured

Alt 2. Falling

Alt 3. Comfort

Alt 4. Stitches

Alt 5. Stoic Whumpees

Alt 6. Altered States

Alt 7. Found Family

Alt 8. Adverse Reactions

Alt 9. Memory Loss

Alt 10. Nightmares

Alt 11. Presumed Dead

Alt. 12. Water

Alt. 13 Accidents

Alt. 14 Shot

Alt. 15 Carry/Support

Event Info

WHUMPTOBER is a month-long, prompt-based creation challenge (think: Inktober, but whumpier). There are 31 Official themes this year - one for each day of the month - which can be used, skipped, or combined in any way you’d like. They are meant to serve as inspiration without being taken literally (e.g. you don't have to include the exact wording into your work). Additionally, there are 3 prompts for each theme.  These are optional suggestions and can be used in conjunction with the theme, or as options/alternatives.  We want to give everyone as much creative freedom as possible, as well as increase event accessibility for folks with triggers and squicks.

Creators can PRODUCE work in any media they choose, including but not limited to: writing, visual artwork, and photo/video/audio edits. Creators can PARTICIPATE as much or as little as they want (i.e. you don’t have to do ALL the prompts if you don’t want to) and prompts can be used in any order. They are also free to use even after the event ends.

When uploading Whumptober content to your blog, be sure to tag the with:

#whumptober2020 …..(the event tag)

#no.1, #no.2, #no.3, …..(theme number)

#bruised, #stabbed,  …..(the theme or specific prompt you chose)

#fandom or #OC

#medium …..(gifs, fic, podcast, art, etc.)

#teeth, #etc …..(trigger warnings & any additional tags. Keep in mind not to add “tw” in front but only use the word/trigger itself, because tumblr sucks)

#nsfw, #nsfwhump …..(only for nsfw content)

PLEASE BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR TAGGING. Only properly tagged posts are considered for archiving on the official @whumptober2020​ blog. They must be tagged in the order above.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of participants in recent years, we cannot guarantee your work will be archived. A random selection of properly tagged posts from all genres will be reblogged each day.

Whumpers who produce content for 31 total theme days are considered event completionists and will be tagged in a masterpost at the end of the month.

Questions not addressed below can be directed to this blog as well.

Thanks for reading, and happy whumping!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What kind of content can I make? Can it be NSFW?

This is a MIXED MEDIA event! You can write fic, post meta, doodle or paint, create a gif set or photo edit, link a song, or get crafty with video - anything goes. As for NSFW, make what you like, we just hope that you’ll tag your work accordingly so that others participating in the event can stay safe :)

Q. Do I have to do all 31 Days? Can I post early/late?

Participate as much or little as you like, and post whenever! Just be sure to tag your posts properly (ex. #no.11, #psych101). Combining prompts into one piece of work is okay, and posting late is as well so as long as it’s in October.

Q. What if I don’t understand a theme?

Send us an ask! We’re happy to help clarify. That said, the themes are entirely up for interpretation :)

Q. Can I combine Whumptober with other creation challenges?

Absolutely! That’s like shooting two whumpees with one bullet :)

Q. Can I upload/repost my whumptober content to other social media platforms?

Of course! We’ve created an AO3 Collection to archive any fics posted there. The archive can be accessed here. The blog is the official archive, so please respect the boundaries of any closeted whumpers in your social circle :)

Q. Can I use prompts to write a new chapter for an existing fic?

Yes

Q. An existing fic I am currently writing contains many of the Whumptober prompts, can I use it?

If you are actively writing this fic at the moment with the whumptober prompts in mind, yes. If it just conveniently checks the boxes, then please don’t. You can, however, add new chapters answering one or more of the prompts.

Q. What kind of characters can I write for?

Fandom characters, OC characters, human, furry, alien, cyborg, whoever you like.

Q. Can I use a prompt multiple times?

Yes,  but it only counts once

Q. If I’m not comfortable with one day's prompts can I use a prompt of a different day as a substitute and still be a completionist?

Yes, but please do not use a specific prompt twice. We have also created an alternate prompts list that you can draw from [here].

Q. Where can I post my work?

Post where and how you want. You don’t even have to (cross)post it to Tumblr. Just keep in mind if it’s not on Tumblr we will not be able to add it to the blog archive.

Q. Can I start posting early?

You can, but this is an October event and wouldn’t it be more fun with everyone doing it at the same time? That being said, you can post early, but we won’t be reblogging any work predating October 1st.

Q. Do I have to finish a fic I started/can I post WIP’s.?

Yes you can post WIPs. And you’re not obligated to finish it in October for it to count towards being a completionist.  

Q. Is co-writing allowed?

Yes, absolutely, and it would count towards being a completionist for both/all of you :)

Q. Do I have to create 31 standalone pieces to be considered a completionist or can I write one continuous story?

One continuous story is fine.  The challenge is to write something for 31 prompts. If that’s spread over 31 fics or just one, you are still considered a completionist. (The same goes for every other media you choose.)

Q. Is there a min/max limit on word count?

There is no limit

Q. Can I combine prompts? Is there a limit on how many?

No limit and combine as many as you’d like.

Q. Is a hc/angst focus ok?

Of course!

Q. What’s considered nsfw?

See this post

Q. What's whump?

See this post

Q. My interpretation of the prompt isn't whumpy at all, does that count?

No, sorry, but keep in mind that whump [see definition] is something very nuanced and different for everyone and emotional whump/angst is just as much part of it, as is physical whump and torture. So before you dismiss your idea, think about this.

Q. Can I start working on the prompts before October?

Absolutely! That’s why we posted the prompts a month in advance. We recognise how difficult it can be creating for 31 days in “real time”.

Q. How do I tag triggers?

tw at the end of the word, ex. emeto tw

Q. Do I have to use your tags?

Yes, if you want your work archived on the blog. If not, feel free to use whatever tags you want.  

Q. Does combining prompts count towards completion?

Yes

Q. Can we @ you?

Yes but we mostly rely on the whumptober2020 tag

Q. Is there anything we are absolutely not allowed to write?

There are no rules, just be sure to properly tag your trigger warnings. And keep in mind Tumblr’s policies if you are posting it here (or the policies of whatever site you use).

Q. Where can I go for brainstorming help?

Here on Discord

Q. My characters are minors, is that ok?

Yes, but as with everything else, tags are your best friend.

Q. Can I cross post on other blogs?

Yes, multiple platforms and blogs are perfectly acceptable. You can also post different works to different accounts under different names, without posting them everywhere at once.

Note: This is a creation challenge, please don’t repost your old work under our tags (unless it’s been changed or edited for the event).

[mickey-henry]

𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐈 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝

pairing: bucky barnes (bookstore au) x reader

summary: eager to escape the heat, you find yourself in the presence of a mesmerizing bookstore and an irresistibly beautiful man.

word count: 2.3K

author’s note: hello! welcome to my third fic😊 I’m eager to share this with you all! I now have a taglist (the link is also in my bio) if you’re interested🥰 thank you to @certainaesthetic​ for helping me workshop this idea, @fuckandfluff​ for the grammar help, and @midnightf​ for hyping me up as I wrote it! likes, reblogs, messages, replies, and comments are cherished! the header images are from pinterest and the divider is from here. I hope you like it! 💖

You’re desperate to escape the smoldering heat. It’s too hot to rest in the car; it’s been baking all day beneath the sweltering summer sun, parked just outside your place of work. If you attempt to sit in it now, you’d only be greeted with a wave of torrid air, stung with the touch of your seatbelt, and burnt from the searing leather of your steering wheel.

You’re off from work earlier than usual—the blinding sun is usually long beneath the horizon before you head home for the day. The pathetically small sun visor does nothing to shade your eyes from the blazing sunlight. Rather than driving half-blind, you decide to wait out the setting sun.

As you ponder how to spend the rest of your afternoon, you realize that now is an opportune time to visit the new bookstore, The Book Haven, that opened last month. After changing out of your uniform and throwing your work stuff in the trunk, you walk across the plaza to the shop entrance.

The bookstore greets you with the chime of a bell and a rush of cool air as you step in, a blissful contrast to the scorching outdoors. The welcoming scent of coffee grounds and the tangy aroma of old books accompany the refreshing breeze. You take a deep breath, appreciating the convivial atmosphere. The bookstore is a sublime sight; words almost can’t describe its charm.

Shelves like skyscrapers—stuffed to the brim with books, magazines, and comics—graze the ceiling. An intimate reading nook lies next to the door; an inviting window seat dwells beside a floor-to-ceiling window. Clear mosaic window clings cover the glass, casting beautiful rainbows throughout the store. Stringed vintage light bulbs illuminate the shelves; candle-lit sconces adorn the top corners of each one. Oriental rugs lay between the shelves, covering a dark mocha floor. Tucked in the back of the store is a small coffee cranny, hidden at first glance. Frank Sinatra’s charming, rich vocals travel through the air, tickling your ears. The owner clearly put the utmost time, energy, and love into the creation of their shop. It is unequivocally perfect and already one of your favorite places.

You wander to the classics section, enthralled by the exquisite covers. Sensing someone nearby, your eyes glance at movement caught in the corner of your eye. Your stomach somersaults at the stunning stranger. The instant you lay your eyes on him, you forget to breathe for a moment—your breath engulfs your throat. You’re astounded by the Adonis of a man before you.

Bristles of scruff grace his defined jawline—his low man-bun neatly styles his dark chestnut hair. A grey short-sleeve button-up shirt hugs his toned arms; a white tank top clings to his lean, fit frame; cuffed slim-fit khaki pants, help up by a bronze braided belt, embrace his thick thighs; and weathered, chunky brown leather shoes don his feet.

Through the rose-colored glasses that surround your heart, your soul imagines a life with a perfect stranger. The hopeless romantic in you can’t help but steal glances, hoping to catch a better glimpse of him. The moment he turns to walk away, your heart sinks to your stomach. You hope this isn’t the last time you see this gorgeous man.

A few minutes later, you’re mulling over a collectible edition of The Catcher in the Rye, attempting to justify purchasing yet another copy of your favorite book. A melodic voice interrupts your pondering. “That’s a pretty edition of The Catcher in the Rye you’ve got there.”

You turn towards the charming voice. Lo-and-behold, it’s the love of your life: the handsome stranger you’ve mentally lived a lifetime with. His beauty is even more profound up close: now you can see that his eyes are a lovely shade of blue. His eyes, haunted by a subtle sadness, draw you in, unlike anything you’ve experienced before. You find yourself entranced in his sea-blue current; you could easily drown in his gaze. You attempt to hide your awestruck expression and converse with him like a normal human being. “I agree! I already own a copy though, do I really need a new one?”

“I think we both know the answer is always yes,” he assures.

“Okay, you’ve convinced me. I'll get it! Thank you for justifying my unnecessary purchase.”

Your words hang in the air, everything going quiet as you wait for the ravishing stranger to introduce himself. The two of you stare in silence at each other, the tension thickening as the seconds pass by. After a few moments, his face flashes in realization—you were waiting for his name.

“I’m Bucky,” he offers with an enchanting smile, extending his hand out to you. You share your name as the two of you shake hands. Your eyes stare down his veiny arm to his ring-studded fingers grasped around yours. You allow yourself to imagine for a few moments how amazing those fingers would feel tracing your arms, tangling your hair, and teasing your inner thigh. Your lustful reverie comes to an abrupt halt at the sight of the book nestled inside the crook of his elbow: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the bane of your existence. You scoff with furrowed brows; of course, Mr. Handsome Stranger would be interested in the one book you despise.

“Got something to say there, sweetheart?” he questions with an amused grin.

“Out of all the classic novels in this entire store, that’s the one you chose? The Metamorphosis?”

“What’s wrong with this one?” he jives.

You pause for a second, debating whether it’s worth it to argue with a stranger. The pondering lasts only a few seconds; the exhaustion from your day disintegrates your filter. Besides, you loathe The Metamorphosis.

“What isn’t wrong with it? The dude wakes up thinking he’s an insect? The reader has to sit there throughout the entire book, wondering whether he’s a man or a bug? What the actual fuck? I didn’t appreciate the existential crisis that book gave me at fifteen; if I can help someone else avoid the suffering caused by that monstrosity, I'm going to do my part,” you huff, unamused by the joy Bucky seems to gain from your zealous analysis.

“Wow, what a passionate review! Perez Hilton would be envious of your slander. Okay then, what classic would you recommend instead?”

You cross your arms, expecting him to challenge your response. “The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.”

“That’s a play,” he counters.

“It’s published as a book; it counts! It’s witty, playful, and has a happy ending, which is the most important point of all. It also doesn’t make you want to pull a Fahrenheit 451 and burn every copy in existence,” you attest.

He steps closer to you, tucking loose strands of his hair behind his ear. “Life doesn’t always have a happy ending, sweetheart.”

Great, there he goes again with that freaking pet name; it’s going to be the death of you. He knows your name, you just gave it to him, yet here he is, infuriatingly insisting on calling you sweetheart instead. Stupid pretty boy with his ocean blue eyes and amorous smile.

“That’s exactly the point,” you sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose. “So, why would I want to read something that doesn’t end well? If I’m going to escape this reality for a while, it better be for a happier one.”

“And if it's not?”

“Then I’ll throw the book across the room and make up my own happy ending!”

“Ooh, aggressive,” he tuts. “The owner of this place might not be too happy with you if you’re throwing books all over the place; it’ll scare away the customers.”

“Then it’s a good thing the owner isn’t here,” you interject confidently, knowing full well you have no idea who the owner is.

“Well, that just isn’t true, sweetheart. You’re looking right at him.”

He’s lying—he has to be. Why would a dreamboat like Bucky own a bookstore?

You scoff, “you’re not the owner of this place.”

“I’m not? What makes you say that?” he banters.

“People like you don’t own bookstores!” you exclaim.

“People like me?” he goads, cocking his head to the side. The action erupts butterflies in your stomach.

“Attractive people!” you groan.

“So you think I’m attractive?” he plays, stepping to close the gap between you.

“Psh, no, you wish,” you muster. The heat spreading across your cheeks betrays your bluff.

There are mere inches between the both of you now; you hope he can’t hear your racing heartbeat. You watch his eyes go down from yours to your mouth and back up again. He eyes you with a smirk, his teeth playfully tugging his bottom lip. It takes everything in your power not to give in to his spell.

“I’ve known you for what, five minutes? I don’t go around kissing strangers, Bucky,” you falter, taking a step back from his closeness.

“Then let’s not be strangers, sweetheart. Grab a coffee with me; I know a nice place, not far from here,” he flirts, gesturing to the counter at the back of the store.

“Let me learn more about what goes on in that pretty little head of yours,” he purrs, his breath tickling your cheek.

“Okay, fine. I’ll have a coffee with you,” you surrender.

A bright, honeyed smile dons his face.  

“It better be good, though. Not the stale crap you usually get in the middle of the afternoon.”

“I’d only give you the best, sweetheart,” he winks, extending his right hand. You take it; he gives you a soft squeeze before weaving you through the towering shelves.

Your discussion continues with another passionate book review as he prepares your drink. He’s a sucker for gritty dystopian novels while you gravitate towards sappy romances. He shares his passion for painting as he guides you to the reading nook. The artwork hung on the edges of the bookcases is crafted by him—a detail you hadn’t noticed at first glance. His stunning work features both landscapes and people. He loves to sit in a picturesque landscape and paint for endless hours. Occasionally, he takes his old polaroid as he explores the town, snapping moments between strangers, translating their intimacy to canvas when he gets home.

He gestures for you to take a seat in the reading nook before handing you our steaming cup of joe. You sit with your legs crossed, your hands hugging the mug in your lap. Bucky sits with his leg draped over the side of the bench, his left foot pressing into his right thigh. The conversation shifts topics; the two of you divulge your desires and unfulfilled ambitions. You aren’t sure if it’s the look in his eyes, the sweet cup of joe in your palms, or the aroma of coffee surrounding you, but in his presence, your senses feel wide awake.

Before you know it, the mesmeric moon replaces the sizzling sun, melting away the blistering heat, and the steaming cup of coffee in your hands has long chilled. Bucky’s employee interrupts the blissful rendezvous, informing him that all the closing duties are complete, and he’s headed home for the night.

You stare at your watch in shock—it's five past nine. Where did the time go? You apologize profusely to the poor kid who had to close up alone; he assures you it’s no problem.

A melancholic pit in your stomach forms as you turn back to Bucky. He’s nestled himself into your soul; you don’t want to say farewell to him so soon. He has a sad glint in his eyes; you hope it’s because he’s also dreading the end of this perfect night.

“Can I walk you to your car?” he asks timidly, his earlier suave demeanor gone from his voice. He stands up in front of you, offering his arm to escort you.

“I’d love that,” you reply with a shy grin, grabbing his arm and hugging it tightly.

In the blink of an eye, you’re in front of your car. You let go of his arm and lean against the trunk. You stare into his eyes, hoping that he can see without the use of words how much you don’t want this moment to end. There’s a few moments of painful silence before Bucky clears his throat.

“So, now that we’re not total strangers, how about that kiss?” he flirts with pleading eyes.

“Okay,” you reply with a bashful smile.

He slowly reaches his hand towards your cheek, softly stroking it with his thumb. He presses his forehead against yours. “Are you sure you want to do this? ‘Cause if we do, you might not be able to get rid of me, sweetheart.”

“Yes I do, Bucky,” you giggle.

He grins as he gently presses his pillowy pink lips on yours. The kiss steals all the air from your lungs—his touch sends tingles throughout your body, electrifying your veins. You’re breathless when your lips finally part.

“Let me get your number before I let you go,” Bucky insists. You nod and hand him your phone, unable to form a coherent thought.  The ghost of his lips and fingers trace your figure. You’re barely acquainted with his tender touch, yet you feel naked without it, yearning to once again be within his grasp.

You exchange phones—adding your number and name with a sparkling heart emoji and swiftly passing his phone back before you can change your mind. Bucky snaps a quick selfie for his contact, smirking for the camera. You grin when you see he also put emojis by his name: a beetle and a kissy-face.

He pecks your cheek before opening the car door for you. “Hope to see you around, lovebug.” The new pet name burns your cheeks and erupts butterflies in your stomach.

He doesn’t leave the parking lot until your car disappears completely from his view.

You drive home with thoughts of Bucky swirling in your mind. You send a silent thanks to the universe for bringing this beautiful man into your life. His voice, touch, and smile echo in your thoughts for the remainder of the evening—his presence paving its way through your dreams. You’re falling hard and fast; you only hope he’ll be there to catch you.

tagging a few mutuals who expressed interest in this story🥰please fill out the taglist form if you’d like to be tagged in the next story! 💖

@ritesofreverie @midnightf @certainaesthetic

[sazandorable]

About moderating and banning content on AO3!

Okay so! I haven’t had the spoons to do this for a while but I cracked and ranted about it on twitter which is... not... conducive to long rants, so!

This is a h u g e discussion part of the l o n g history that led to the creation of AO3, which older, more informed, and more articulate people have talked about at length and can be found around if you look (I reblog some of it in my AO3 and fandom history tags for the curious). So I won’t go into that here, nor into the practical reasons why it’s not even possible to put that system in place anyway.

Arbitrarily, or the purpose of this post, because it’s the biggest topic I’ve seen brought up lately, I’ll be talking about fic depicting underage characters in se*ual situations, but honestly I could hold the exact same conversation on literally any controversial content.

This is about why you, specifically, if you are a content creator and especially if you are marginalised and especially if you are queer and especially especially if you are sensitive to fiction depicting certain things... do not, actually, want a banning system on AO3.

What? Of course we do. There’s a lot of p*do shit on AO3 and p*do shit is gross. No one should condone that, wtf? It would be easy to do — just periodically delete the entire Underage tag!

What will happen if that is done is that people will re-upload and continue to write it, they’ll just stop tagging and you will run into it with zero warning nor ability to filter it out. Again, this is not a theoretical — we know this is what happens. When I was a teen, adult content (all adult content) was not allowed on FF.NET; it was everywhere regardless, and without tags. The exact same thing happened on tumblr when adult content was banned as well. It’s not a matter of “staff not handling it well” — it just doesn’t work.

To keep safe the people who need to be able to exclude that tag, that tag needs to exist and be used.

Well, shucks. A reporting system then?

A reporting system would operate in one of two ways:

-an algorithm, which would delete a lot of stuff we wouldn’t want it to delete.

-humans, which is... the bigger problem.

An algorithm sounds great. We do want it to delete everything.

Okay. What about the daddy k*nk fics between consenting adult characters? What about the fics featuring characters that are children in the canon but are adults in the fic? What about the fics about teenagers exploring their se*uality together, written by adults about the experiences they remember having or wish they could have had? What about the thousands of SasuNaru and Drarry and other shounen and YA fics that will get written, by teens or by people who remember being teens? What about the se*ually explicit fic written by teens who are se*ually active in real life? What about the fics about CSA as trauma, about healing from it? What about the fics written by survivors of CSA to cope about their trauma? What about the fics that clearly show that it’s evil and traumatic? What about the super dark, harrowing, but beautiful and artistic that I’m glad I read even though it fucked me up for days? What about the ones that were really shitty but also horribly hot?

Well, some of these are still not okay, but maybe some might be. It depends on how it’s written. We’ll have humans moderating content and deciding, then.

Okay.

The thing is, I don’t know which of the things I just listed were okay for you to be depicted in fiction and which were too much. Odds are I don’t agree with you. Odds are if I asked 10 people randomly picked off the street, not everyone would agree.

Odds are, even if AO3 arbitrarily decided on which of those are allowed and which are not, you would not agree with their choice, and you would still be unhappy with the decision. (Or you would be happy, but your friends wouldn’t.)

Odds are, different AO3 content moderators might not agree on whether a given fic qualifies or not — is it artistic enough? Does it show enough that these actions are evil and wrong? Can the author prove they’re a teenager? Can the author prove they are a CSA victim? Can the author prove that this is to help them cope with their trauma? The author seem to be functioning alright, they mustn’t really be traumatised!

You know what I mean! There’s absolute, objectively gross shit out there that is not artistic and should not be published.

I agree that there’s vile stuff out there that makes me sick and that I think is very clearly just ped*philic trash. But there is no way to, 1) stop those from getting published anyway, 2) take those down and preserve the safety of everything else.

If we start forbidding some things, there’s two ways to go about it.

One single, clear, arbitrary rule — for instance, absolutely no adult content featuring characters under 18 (leaving aside the fact that this would not even work for the reason cited above). So we lose all the stuff from teenagers, all the coming of age stories about adolescence, all the stuff from CSA survivors; people who need to write it can’t publish it anymore, and people who need to read it can’t anymore either (and as a cool bonus, they’re told it’s wrong and made to feel bad about it). Depending on whether the rules applies to characters that are under 18 in the canon, we lose entire fandoms.

Or, subjective moderation by humans, according to what they estimate to be gross.

Let’s assume all moderators can agree on what’s gross or not.

If there is a system in place to ban some underage works because “gross shit”, then that means other gross stuff can be taken down on account of being gross and harmful.

Yeah! Gross stuff should be taken down! Come on, surely everyone agrees on what’s gross and harmful.

Ah.

But the problem is.

Here is a list of things I have seen — with my eyes seen — called harmful to be depicted in fiction:

Murder

Non-con

Inc*st

Cannibalism

Torture

Self-harm

Mental illness

Drugs

Racism

K*nk

Non-negotiated k*nk, but healthy k*nk is ok

Spanking k*nk

BDSM where the woman is a bottom, but woman top is ok

Healthy depictions of BDSM

Unhealthy depictions of BDSM

Queer people doing bad things

Abusive relationships

Rival/Enemies to lovers

Redemption stories

A happy relationship between a 17 yo and an 18 yo

A happy relationship between a 20 yo and a 60 yo

A happy relationship between a boss and their employee, or a college teacher and a student

A happy relationship between a 14 yo boy and an older teenage boy, because that’s reminiscent of older men preying on younger gay boys IRL

Se*ual content featuring a character whose age is unclear in canon and some people headcanon them as being underage, some as being a young adult

Loving, consensual fluff between characters that are evil villains, because it romanticises them and their actions

Dark content shipping female characters

Fluffy content shipping female characters, because it’s misogynistic to act like lesbians are only soft all the time

Consensual s*x featuring a canonically asexual character, because it implies that all aces can and should still have se*

Fics about the same canonically asexual character hating s*x, because that erases the experience of s*x-positive aces

Shipping a character who is perceived by some fans as queer-coded with a character of a different s*x

The tendency to ship a black character with white characters

Fluffy drunk s*x, because that’s not actually consensual

Sleep s*x, because that’s not actually consensual

Trans characters not experiencing dysphoria, because that idealises the trans experience

Consensual s*x between adults that are not married

LGBT+ content, because kids shouldn’t see that.

I guarantee you: you, I, and 10 random people plucked from the street will not agree on what, in that list, is and isn’t okay to publish and consume fiction of.

So why should your taste be the one followed? Why should it be the taste of mods you don’t know? Why should anyone get to dictate? What if the mods think your OTP is gross and your NOTP is fine?

This is the slippery slope argument.

Yes, it is the slippery slope argument. Because we know it happens. Because we’ve been there, because I’ve seen it happen myself twice already and I’m not even thirty. Because we know people do complain loudly about all of these things.

And because the second there is a banning system in place, assholes will use the system to abuse it and get stuff they just don’t like taken down using the “it is gross” argument, and one day you’ll wake up and the beautiful fic that helped you come to terms with your abuse/trauma/identity/orientation/k*nk for feet will be taken down and wonderful vulnerable creative people will have been harassed out of fandom because they argued with 1 person who didn’t like their foot k*nk fic that happened to also feature, for instance, a CSA trauma backstory.

Again: not exaggerating. Not theoretical. It happens, we know it happens, AO3 was created literally because it happens.

I still fucking hate that stuff.

That is completely fine and normal. No one likes everything. Me too! Most of the dark stuff is niche and the creators know only few people will like it the same way they do.

(For the record, I get grossed out and triggered by fics about an asexual character who does not like s*x having s*x with their partner to make them happy. Deep in my gut everything screams that that’s fucked up, terrifying and harmful, how can people write that. But I recognise that there are people who love and need that, and I leave those people and their content alone.

OTOH, I read a lot of otherwise dark shit and I enjoy it in the same way I enjoyed, say, Hannibal, in the same way some people enjoy true crime documentaries, horror movies or r*pe fantasy k*nk. It helps me explore stuff that I like to see in fiction, in a safe, controlled way. I’m also asexual, 90% s*x-repulsed IRL, and, obviously, I would never abuse a child. For that matter, I wouldn’t kill and eat people, either, nor would I do 90% of the tamer k*nky stuff I read.

Of course, Hannibal was fucked up and lots of people probably think Hannibal was gross and should not have been aired — but as exemplified by the fact that it was created, aired and watched, lots of people thought it was fine, interesting and even fun to watch.)

You can and should curate your experience and protect yourself. The AO3 website now allows you to exclude certain tags, and people have developed tools to help with that such as plugins that save your filters or hide fics that contain certain words.

But no, it isn’t going to, and it shouldn’t, get banned.

[emsylcatac]

Love you and your blog so much! You are a lovely artist and writer, I super enjoy seeing your creations! Do you have any recommendations for other ML artist Tumblrs and ML writer Tumblrs to follow?

Hey! ♥ Aaah thank you, you’re very sweet!!! 🥺 Comments like this make my day!!!

Yes of course, I have blogs to rec!

I had made a list back in September, so I’ll link it here again and there’s already plenty of blogs!   Have a look at it so I don’t rec the same persons again but I would cause they’re all great!! (Note: since the last post, chatnoirinette changed her url and can be found at @carpisuns, ladybuginettes too and is now @ladynoirist, and the_picayune is now @picayunearts)

I will add a few more people to this list though, however you probably know some of them already (order is alphabetic):

@aerequets — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Very funny and cute comics that makes your heart full of love!

@buggachat — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: She makes some of the funniest & wholesome small comics, her art is precious and she has written some fanfics that are pretty cool!

@bugsandchatons — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Rachel is a fantastic writer, she hasn't written for ML a lot yet but is definitely someone to keep track of because the one she wrote made me scream & cry & filled my heart with love!

@caytaclysm — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Cay has some very cute and wholesome fanart, and particularly Ladrien fanart which automatically makes her awesome. She reblogs also lots of posts and it always makes me discover new art or fics, which is really great!

@chocoluckchipz — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Lucky does amazing art & writes nice fics as well, so have a look around her blog!

@eggrestes — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Luna's really nice and funny and supportive, I love her posts too!

@fearlessinger — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Chiara has great analysis and insight on the show, and she's super sweet!

@fizzyarts — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: her art is gorgeous and she has made recently very beautiful edits/drawings of the ML characters.

@hannahyonana — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: I adore her comics & her art style, and she makes super fun post-episodes comics these days it's amazing.

@jennagrinsoverml — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Jenna writes lovely fics and is super supportive of writers! She seems like a delightful person, I really recommend her blog & her fics!

@jjuuppiter — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: I really love their art, and they sometimes do short animation that are insane!

@kittychatnoire — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Bri writes beautiful fics, and posts wholesome content; she's really cool and nice!!

@ladyofthenoodle — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Noodles has great analysis, great fics, great & fun fanart and is a great person overall so give her some love!

@lc-holy​ — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: I cannot say how much I adore her art style! On top of it all, she makes very good comics with thoughtful & intriguing plots or original AUs, fully coloured and super professional-looking, it’s crazy. Really wholesome content, I highly recommend!!

@lnc2 — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: She writes very good fics & is an amazing writer, and her posts are pretty fun as well!

@marinetteplztakeabreak — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: She's very sweet and writes fun fics and very insightful meta! She also has super funny posts.

@peachcitt — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: Her writing is so good, I really recommend her fics!!

@sweetjupiterr​ — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: They’re new to Tumblr but I saw their art before on instagram and I adore their art style! They make pretty wholesome drawings so I’d advice everyone to check them out!

@thesquipproject​ — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: I discovered her blog pretty recently so I can’t tell much about the other content she does yet, but she has very cute and fun fanart and seem like a lovely and supportive person!

@yuumi0035 — fanart / fanfics / gifs-edits / analysis - meta - theories / shitposts - memes - jokes: She makes adorable fanart & is pretty fun!

Otherwise, you can also follow:

@discoveringmiraculousartist and @discoveringmiraculouswritersthat are blogs made specifically to discover artists & writers! They've both managed by the sweet @verooquieremimir (who also draws herself lovely art!)

Aaaand I’ll stop there, I probably forgot tons of people & I’m sorry!

Note that I selected blogs that aren’t (or minimally) salty, and I’d rather avoid anyone adding salty blogs in the comments, thanks ♥

[vkelleyart]

Thoughts on fandom: inclusion and engagement.

(Art credit to the kindhearted @penpanoply​!)

There’s been some stuff floating around on Tumblr about strife in the CO/WS fandom, and though I haven’t been explicitly named-dropped on anything public, my DMs have been... active. lol Rather than rehash what’s been said already, I just want to impart a little wisdom and perspective in the hopes it may soothe frayed feelings and offer a way ahead for cultivating a respectful community. As someone who has been an active participant in online fandoms since the mid-’90s, which was the advent of online fandom content creation (shout out to my fellow X-Philes!), and who has also spent a chunk of her professional life managing social media for the federal government and for activist groups, I can promise you it’s all gonna be okay.

Here’s some context for why strife happens and what we can do to create a more inclusive and communicative fandom environment. 

1) It sounds cliché, but fandoms go through growing pains. 

In the case of the Simon Snow fandom, what was once a small and cozy space untouched by cataclysmic events (such as the release of *gasp* a sequel) has grown exponentially in a relatively short amount of time following the release of Wayward Son. Newcomers are eager to find a home in this space at the same time as folks who’ve been here a while may be consciously or unconsciously wary about widening their circle, and It’s important to remember that this is not necessarily an expression of bad behavior on either side but just human psychology doing its thing. 

The byproduct, however, is that tension and stress builds over time from the lack of meaningful communication across the divide, which subsequently fuels misunderstandings. Ironically, the interfaces we use to communicate don’t help with this because any existing communication about the tension happens in tiny vacuums until a trigger goes off and bad feelings go public. 

Way Ahead: These moments of destabilization are opportunities to see where we can be more self aware about how we engage with fandom and the kind of community we want to be. Can you promote, support, or befriend someone trying to gain a foothold? If yes, please do! Each person must reach their own decision about what they can do within the confines of their available energy, health, and time, but a little self awareness goes a long way as long as you’re honest with yourself and others if applicable about what you can contribute. Anyone who judges you for it isn’t worth the strife.

2) In a fandom comprised of vulnerable/marginalized people, it’s more accurate to say that cliques are “bubbles of trust.”

This one's important. Just by nature of the source material, the CO/WS fandom includes fans with a wide array of backgrounds and experiences, especially when it comes to those who identify with the characters’ queerness, mental illness, and/or trauma. I really believe––based on individual conversations/group chats––that the difficult lived experiences that so many of our fandom peers have endured has produced one of the most open, aware, and accepting fandoms I’ve had the pleasure of participating in. Our vulnerability is, in a real way, our strength.

That said, a community of survivors also has the side effect of cultivating small circles of engagement that I call “bubbles of trust.” When you’re a survivor of abuse, marginalization, mental illness, fill-in-the-blank, it’s often quite hard to risk casting a wide net and expanding your circle to include new faces––which can subsequently be internalized by equally sensitive and vulnerable newcomers as rejection, judgement, or inadequacy.

Way Ahead: First of all, there may indeed be gatekeeping and exclusion going on. But before internalizing someone’s cagey behavior as gatekeeping or purposely exclusionary, ask yourself if you have all the information. Many people are private (I include myself in this assessment) because life has regrettably taught them to be this way, and so they may insulate themselves to a small group of people who have earned their trust. Some people might also triggered by certain content (case in point: smut triggers my anxiety) so they don’t engage with it. Others might have something in their pasts that define how they handle certain subjects (for example, a person of color should not be tone policed for getting angry when confronted with a racialized microagression, however accidental it was). You just don’t know what you don’t know. 

The solution here is to regularly check your privilege and ask questions in a private space if you sense you’re being treated unfairly by someone. If you go public with your grievances in hopes of mobilizing the mob, you may accidentally find yourself stepping into the role of the aggressor instead of the victim.

3) Social Media is not built to help you get engagement. It’s built to help itself make money off of you.

Repeat after me: Hits/likes are not a measurable indicator of talent or worth. There are ridiculously talented folks on Tumblr and elsewhere who, for whatever reason, haven’t had their viral moment, and it’s not their fault. Loads of factors come into play where things like likes, reblogs, and comments are concerned, among them being posting frequency, subject matter, the time of day, the day of the week, the week of the month, the month of the year, the current administration, the stock exchange, the concentration of middle class users, who just won the Superbowl, a madman trying to steal an election and undermine the democratic process, a PANDEMIC, do you get where I’m going with this?? lol

At the end of the day, my humble successes have been helped along by good luck, good timing, high profile signal boosters, and an absurd amount of work. (This is why I try to signal boost new work whenever I get a chance over at @vkelleyshares.) 

So while you cannot control Tumblr’s interface, trends at large, or your fellow users, here’s what you can do to ensure you give your work the best possible chance of exposure.

Have an image ready to go with your post. Tumblr is a visual platform (no matter what it says about being good for text). Not good with images? Set up a Canva.com account and get access to free graphic software with a gazillion templates to create whatever attractive image you want to attach to your post.

Keep the outward facing text brief and easy on the eyes. Too long and eyes will glaze over. Put excess text behind a “read more.”

You may think you’re being cute when you do this, but don’t put yourself down in your posts. (Don’t put yourself down in general, of course.) Doing so acts as engagement repellant. If you don’t believe in your work, no one else will.

Related: Be your best cheerleader. Confidence is a magnet, and if you don’t have it, go ahead and fake it until you start to convince yourself you are worth the buzz. So promote yourself! You have gifts that only you can impart. Use that knowledge to fuel everything you do from your art/fiction writing to your outreach with other content creators, and by golly, if someone’s done it already, acknowledge that contribution and then tell the world that this is YOUR unique take on it.

Treat your fellow fandom creators as human beings, not art/fiction/content boosting machines. I cannot count how many times I’ve had folks slide into my DMs with offers of friendship only to disappear once they realize I’m not available to draw a picture for their fic. It hurts because it’s manipulative and it makes me want to hole up and not signal boost anyone. Creators who truly support each other will not give off a transactional vibe. I want to help you reach more people, but not if that’s all I’m good for in your eyes. 

The long and short of it: Lead with compassion, do your best with the opportunities at  your disposal, and remember that fandom belongs to everyone in it. ❤️

What saves a fandom made of sensitive and vulnerable souls from imploding when it goes through growing pains is radical compassion from those who can offer it. Begin with the assumption that your fellow fandomers are not trying to harm you, and wade into the water knowing that your insight into the lives of your peers is limited by default and you may need to temper your words or actions accordingly. If you’re a content creator, save compassion for yourself as well, as there are indeed challenges to gaining an audience, and lack of engagement does not mean you lack talent or skill. Be your best advocate, and if you have the bandwidth to lift up a fellow creator and make a new friend, please, go ahead do it! 

And finally, fandom belongs to everyone, and no one has a monopoly on characters, tropes, or themes. Create and consume what you love (with respect for your more vulnerable peers), and bask in the variety, my friends!

That’s all I’ve got in my head at the moment, although I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting. Thanks so much to @penpanoply for letting me use her art for this and to everyone else, hang in there and try not to judge each other too harshly. These are unprecedented times, and most of us are doing our best in circumstances that are pushing us to our limits. 

As always, if you have questions or want to sound off on anything, shoot me a message or an ask, or ping me on Discord. It might take me a second to respond (thanks, Covid) but I’ll get to it! Love, love, and more love to all.

[lambourngb]

day 6: lesser known creators and creations- the hidden gems of fandom

Belated for @roswellnewmexicocreate [last few days have been challenging!]

New creators are the lifeblood of fandom, because not everyone stays in fandom or stays inspired to write for it. While there are times I just want to re-read a classic, there really is something fun about clicking on a new name to see what they think of our beloved alien show.

We have very long hiatuses, and sometimes people pull away until the show comes back, so I thought I would also highlight some lessor known creations as well from our last hiatus. As we are blessed in the malex side of fandom, there’s a small but mighty group of fans and creators, churning out new works every day, so maybe you might have missed these works.

***

calamitous by @bubblesyoh (3,962) - Two times they apologize to each other and three times they are so in love they can't even fool one another. 

why i like it: most of us know bubblesyoh as being a supportive friend, reblogging and commenting so prolifically- but they are also an author! Malex have without a doubt hurt one another in canon, and there is an art to writing a good apology fic and this story does it well.

***

kill me tonight, darling by u1ltsa (4.867)-Alex and Michael have a memorable first meeting at a party. They keep running into each other and can't seem to get enough of one another.

why i like it: It’s a human AU where over the course of months, these two keep running into each other. Michael is so smitten in this story and can’t help chasing Alex and how Alex makes him feel. It’s sexy and kinky and ends happily ever after. My favorite meeting is still the bar scene that ends up at a hotel- wow.

***

next time will be the last time by kit alridge (1,715) "It's not how it's going to happen, next time. Because next time will be the last time we do the falling-back-together thing." After a close shave, Alex and Michael come close to falling back into old patterns, but have a much-needed conversation instead.

why i like it: I’m so weak for the “we survived let’s fuck to celebrate” trope, and this story explores what it means for Malex to fall into it, and how closely it mirrors some of their past, unhealthy behaviors. Anyway this hits all the notes that I pray we get in the second half of season 3, where these two finally talk and admit what they want. 

***

tell me what you’ll do, please by @entropychanges (3,054) So, Michael, dripping like a wet mop on the restaurant’s tile floor, stood silently as he looked between the sister of the girl whose murder he covered up only two months ago, and his lover who would rather be sent off to war than be with him. Great. He swallowed, figuring he may as well break the silence.“Sorry, I wasn’t sure if-”“The kitchen is closed,” Liz interrupted, looking him up and down before saying, “but you can stay until the storm lets up.” Or, in which Michael gets caught out in the rain while sleeping in his truck, and ends up taking shelter in the last place he wants to be.

why i like it: Sometimes I like to cry about Michael, especially Michael at 17-18, after the shed. This story serves up all the angst of what his life looked like then, along with the grief that Liz was living in and the grim determination that Alex had about his own fate. They were all such babies and they were in such pain, and ugh that breaks my heart.

***

I’ll take care of you by @cosmiceverafter (2,055)  When Alex stops by Michael's airstream to confess how he's feeling, he ends up taking care of the alien he loves so much instead. 

why i like it: classic hurt-comfort here, which I always eat up with a spoon. Highlights for me in this story was Michael was hurt working on a project from a natural disaster, and not anything self-inflicted, and then Alex finding that iconic picture of the two of them in the desert with guitars. Ooof so many feels!

***

look after you by @ravens-words  Everyone checks in on Kyle. 3x04 Coda

why i like it: well before we had it in 3x06, EJ delivered the whole found-family feels of everyone coming together to make sure Kyle is okay. As they should. Kyle holds the only brain cell. EJ has been a coda-writing machine since returning to RNM with the show, so definitely check out the whole collection for season 3, and not just the chapter I linked to because they are all so good.

***

honey, i’m going to love you all my life by wwwjudedotcom (3,729) Alex leaves Michael a voicemail after he loses his leg because he doesn't want to die without telling Michael that he loves him. 

why i like it: this part of a great little series of fics surrounding prompts about ‘ways to say i love you’ - I’ve probably imagined Alex’s life post-injury in Iraq a million times, I so badly want to know if he dared to call Michael, did he call out for him in his morphine daze, is that how Greg knew about Michael? And I’m unsure if the show will ever answer this question, so it’s up to fanfic writers. Anyway, I love this little AU that lets Maria know just how important Michael is to Alex right from the start and where Isobel sends them to be with Alex in Germany. Ugh what a sweet thought (probably too sweet for the angst machine that is RNM).

[kakubun]

Animator!Y/N

karasuno x gen!reader, hinata x reader

a/n: people who do animation, just take my whole heart pls

this felt like a proper fic but sorry if it's short,,

(please reblog darlings)

yachi first started being curious about you since you were one of the teacher's pet, always lingering around the art teacher asking questions with a tablet in hand

she was nosy, she had to admit

she wanted to sneak a glance whenever you drew on your tablet and you would glance at her if she wants to take a look but she managed to look away before you saw

but she finally founds out what you're doing when some students partake in presentation (even if you didn't want to, the teacher liked you so you had to) and you presented yours

her little heart couldn't handle her excitement when fluid carefully drawn animation popped up on the screen and you looked at your hard work with pride

whatever subject was in the animation you discussed about it with the class and you couldn't help but of course notice the crooked smile that yachi had

she was impressed and filled with so much undescribable feelings, she could cry with how astonishing your work is

after art class yachi decided to approach you and ask a bunch of questions to you and you had the pleasure to answer all of them

you also wanted to cry because of how hyper of a puppy was when yachi would bounce up and down when you started describing about your work and how she would apologize if she was being too excited which you would shake your head to and laugh

you started exchanging numbers and you saved her under "gal who won't stop staring", of course you noticed

she couldn't hide it,,

after finding out where she was after school so you could ask her about art projects or catching up when you're absent, you started going to the club a lot more to also see the boys

they would always see you sliding into the gym and going to one of their managers and asking yachi about something

which they didn't mind much, the simpy duo thought you were stealing her away which you teased them by putting an arm around her as she laughs and says "there was nothing to worry about, y/n doesn't bite"

the whole team suprisingly loves to see your work especially hinata since he would make sound affects for your characters if you haven't added any audio yet

he would leap when your character does a transition or the scenery changes and he would gush about how cool you and your animation were

you, hinata and yachi would walk home admiring your work and yachi would also pull out her drawing as well to show both of you

hinata were both your hype man, he would compliment and point out every detail he loves

(i'm also convinced he has made doodles but they would look wonky but cute)

and since you two were close you always had sleepovers!!

usually it was at hinata's house so you could bond with natsu and she was entertained by your animations that you set up on your projecter

sometimes hinata's mom would pop up and see how it goes and she appreaciates having you over since you were such a kind and close friend of hinata that matches his energy

it was such a blast, stuffing yourselves with snacks and chortling till midnight which hinata's mom would try to shush all of you but she couldn't help but join in because it was so much fun

you would all have headaches though the next day buuut it was worth it~~

whenever you feel out of it, yachi's there

she would always be there to give you snacks or ask you take a few breaks if you worked too much

she would try to scold you and you just can't help but follow because it would be mean of you to ignore her words

and oh they were so wise

it helped you through times when she wasn't even there and it was good that you followed so you didn't hurt your mental health from the get go

now to timeskip,,

T I M E S K I P :

you were an independant animator animating part of your manga with your crew which you grouped together with your friend who was the boss of everything

you felt proud of yourself since you reached a long way,

how your parent/s didn't suppprt you from the start to how stress swallows you whenever you were near a deadline to how people complain if their request wasn't fulfilled to their liking,

yes, you still experienced it but it was a lot more better now than your highschool years telling you to shut up about your dreams

here you were animating frame by frame of your own creation,

what exactly was your manga about?

volleyball :))

yachi and karasuno's volleyball team has inspired you so much about how much team work and pain they went through and your heart stop whenever you remember

your big inspo, yachi who would never stop babbling about you and being right by your side when you need it

you might cry on the tablet you're drawing on which make your crew question on what are you crying about but you held back which also made your crew question why were you smiling so hard

nonetheless, you were almost happy everyday because you could reminisce with the ideas yachi gave you back then which you still kept dearly because they were great plot points

and how you stick close to each character no matter how goofy or chaotic they were, they had a lesson for each time they appear and dissappear

that's how the stadium smelled like, the colours and the adrenaline you felt by cheers from the crowds, you felt like you could fly right now with how much you wanted to scream the team's name and let them notice you

it smelled like the victory the monster duo had, it filled you with so much glee to watch them gain fans from the sidelines

you also felt hinata and kageyama's pride swelling and you could knock your chair over if you kept this up

there he was the orange haired boy who used to be your biggest fan standing in front of you who now has a lot more fans trailing behind him

eventhough he smelled musky and felt sweaty you can't control the urge to hug him and he also can't too

you later hugged kageyama and just spilled all your excitement to both of them on how well the matches went and hinata couldn't resist hugging you again and twirling you around

he planned on telling you all about your manga and how he haven't catched up on it yet on some of it and a pang struck your heart as you teared up which confused hinata

ah, he still remembered

"are you crazy, of course i did!" his boyish laughter was louder than your sobs when he rested your head on his chest and pushed him off, complaining about how sweaty he was

oh you silly goose, of course he did

you also met up with the rest and tumbled into yachi when she appeared around the corner and everyone laughed it out

either of you got a headache as you both help each other up

hinata and kageyama would stand near the third years who held their hearts and congratulated them

which kageyama would smile and nod while hinata would still bashfully scratch his neck while happily thanking them because his seniors were proud of him

you would take a selfie with yachi and hinata, yachi would be the one leaping off the ground and eventhough the picture was a little blurry atleast you could catch both of their smiles

the next time you meet up, hinata was there in his comfy clothes melting into all the pillows you pelted at him and you snuggled right next to him when you both were fresh out the shower

just like the old times, how he would wrap around your arm and yachi would be on your left doing the same

except this time, you were the one snuggling onto hinata's arm

you felt kinda sad that yachi couldn't join since she was really busy

but hinata interrupted your thoughts with a screech when you whipped your head back to see what he was doing

the television showed your blood sweat and tears of the countless projects and art that you did about it, dropping your head on hinata's shoulder as not even a second in, you got a series of shout and yells of eagerness from him

"i added a reference of you somewhere~" "huh! really? did you add kageyama?? he'll text me about it later-"

and the night was drowning in the amounts of laughter and euphoria you two shared,

the number 2 who supports you will always be the number 1 in your heart

[klave-fucktober]

Klave Fucktober Fest - Info Post

Hello Party People, the Hargreeves’ birthday is nigh and what’s a better present for our lovely Number Four (and us) than getting him and his main squeeze thoroughly wrecked? Without further ado...

Welcome to Fucktober! A prompt fest dedicated to creating mature fanworks for The Umbrella Academy pairing of Klaus Hargreeves/Dave Katz.

Details under the cut…

Cool! So, who is it that’s hiding behind the curtain?

Your fest runners for this event are CriseCardiac (@thistlemoth) and Teddy  (@yeah-klave), just a couple of friendly neighborhood smut enthusiasts dying for some content in these dark, dark interseasonal times. Any questions, you can find us on tumblr or, more often than not, hanging out in Elliott’s House.

Okay, how does this work?

You can submit a prompt here from now until September 17th. The submitted prompts will be posted on September 19th, on which day claiming will open and participants can begin working on their submission(s). Multiple claims are allowed on prompts, and you can claim as many as you want. Collabs are great! We don’t want to be restrictive – the idea of this fest is to encourage as much smutty Klave creation as possible: we want ALL THE SMUT.

Once you have completed your work, you can either: (1) add it to the AO3 Klave-Fucktober Collection - “Klave Fucktober 2021″; and/or (2) submit it to the Klave-Fucktober tumblr page. The AO3 Collection will go live on 30 October and any works submitted to the tumblr page will also be posted at intermittent times throughout the day on the 30th October, and, depending on the number of entries, the following days.

Alternatively, you can post your work to your own tumblr, however, if you’re doing this, we ask that you don’t post your work until 30 October, please. If you’re posting to your own tumblr, please remember to tag your work #fucktober. Also, if you tag either @klave-fucktober, @thistlemoth or @yeah-klave, one of us will reblog on the official fucktober tumblr page.

Please note, if you are creating nsfw art, you must adhere to the rules of the site you are posting your work to.

What can I prompt?

It’s a free-for-all baby! Want to see Klaus and Dave having sweet, sticky Saigon sex? Prompt it! Want to see them getting down and dirty in the jungle? Prompt it! Modern AU lazy Sunday morning lovemaking? Angsty, post-argument make-up fuck? Gender-swapped klave (i.e. our lovely Klesbians) princess/stable girl illicit love affair? Office co-workers enemies to lovers? Sex dungeon? Semi-public? Trans? Threesome? Moresome? Full on orgy? First time? Prompt it, prompt it, prompt it!!

So, in summary, as long as Klave is the main pairing and it involves some form of sex, you can prompt anything and everything. This could be as simple as a particular kink or you could submit a detailed scenario. Whatever you’ve been craving, this is your opportunity to get it out to potential nsfw Klave content creators.

Are there any exclusions?

No rape and no underage, please. And absolutely no kink-shaming.

Can I submit a prompt if I don’t plan to contribute?

Of course. As a prompt fest, there’s no commitment. Often the prompts are a gift in themselves. Your prompt may inspire something wonderful – so please, prompt away!

What can I create?

Anything you want, as long as your creation is in some way fucktastic! Write something, draw something, use those graphic-design-is-my-passion skills. Know some songs you think the boys would get down and dirty to? Make a playlist! All fannish talents are welcome and encouraged. We’re here for a fun, adult time together. Go wild.

As a note for fics: there are no word count restrictions. You can write a sexy bite-sized drabble or a slow burn epic where all that antici-- pation and build-up doesn’t come to a tingly, pulsating climax until chapter 10. Multichapter fics do not need to be completed within the fest window.

I’ve made a claim but I’m afraid I won’t finish my submission on time. What happens now?

No worries, it happens! Neither of us will run screaming after you in the night. Claiming is mostly to give us an idea of what to expect and allow your potential audience to get excited about what might be to come. Allowing multiple claims means you can be as ambitious as you want without preventing other submissions.

If you change your mind about a claim, decide to fill a different prompt instead, create something that hasn’t even been prompted, post only the first chapter, post later than the fest window – that’s all fine!

I’ve never created anything nsfw before – I’d like to participate but I’m nervous about the theme.

This is not an exclusive environment. We know there are many smut veterans out there who will be eager to participate in this event, but we also want to use this as an opportunity to encourage as many new participants to get involved as well! Whether you’re new to creating nsfw content for this pairing, or just new to creating nsfw content at all – we would LOVE for you to get involved!

There’s no getting around it, posting smut can be very daunting. Maybe you’ve always wanted to create something nsfw but have always felt too exposed or nervous to post it? Maybe you’ve created something in the past but have always thought it was not good enough or not sexy enough to share? To all you lovely people, we beckon you over, throw our arms wide and invite you to join the smut club.

Smut comes in all shapes and sizes and styles. Just like kinks. Just like people. Everyone has different tastes and preferences – there is no right or wrong way to create smut. What works for one person might not work for another, but that’s part of the fun of it!

So whatever your previous smut experience level, we would love for you to take part. And remember, if you’ve got any questions, concerns or you just need a little positive encouragement, you can always reach out to one of the event runners – we’re very friendly and we’re both smut-writers, so we’d be happy to chat with you. Feel free to drop us an ask or a DM.

Any warnings?

This is an open prompt fest, where just about anything goes, so please be aware of this when reading prompts and fills.

We ask our creators to tag all works accordingly, so nobody gets any nasty surprises, i.e. any potential triggers, unusual kinks or non-klave pairings (particularly any sibling ships). However, we caution everyone to read/view/participate at their own risk.

I am underage, can I participate?

Sorry, but no. This is a smut fest, 18+ only please.

The Timeline

Sept 4th -  Prompting begins

Sept 17th (noon PST/ 7pm UTC) - Prompting ends

Sept 19th (midnight PST/ 7am UTC) - Claiming opens

Oct 30th (Devil’s Night) - The revelry, I mean posting, starts!

[ohnothewheatisonfire]

ok J&H Fandom, let’s talk:

“Popular” blog @thatsmyhyde​ is a prominent creator in the J&H Fandom. But here’s where the problem shows up: 

the content they make is concerning at least, and full of red flags at worst. 

DISCLAIMER: This is all information I have gathered through their tumblr blog - I am not aware of what other things they may be posting on other social medias or their written work.  ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: Please be polite, I am a minor, and am just creating this post to ward off / warn other minors from following this person. If you are an adult interacting with this post and blog, be mindful of your actions and be responsible

Trigger warnings for: discussions of homophobia, discussions of p//phillia, fat-shaming, fat-phobia (?), etc. Just be on general edge for this post, we’re talking about a lot of weird stuff

I will be linking their posts as I am not going to take screenshots of their art.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the things they’ve done - these are the ones I could think of and was able to adress. If you have anything additional you want to add to this post (such as concerning things they may do on other social media), feel free to reblog and add on the things you need to say, just please don’t be dumb. 

Let’s start with the premise: Henry Jekyll creates an alter ego, Edward Hyde. They begin a relationship - an emotional and physical one. Their AU features Jekyde (A popular ship in the fandom, the name stands for Jekyll x Hyde), people have various views on this ship. 

So far so fine, right? Here are the problems:

1. Their Henry Jekyll is an awful person. Now, let’s start by saying that of course you can have bad people in your works, those are, after-all: villains. The problem is,Henry Jekyll is a harmful walking gay sterotype, and an outlet for Biscuit’s obvious fat fetish. But their relationship isn’t just toxic it’s romanticised in how toxic it is.

a. The harmful stereotype - Their Henry Jekyll has a “thing” for younger men, even though he is in his middle-ages, and Hyde looks like a young child. (Age gap relationships are their own thing - they come with their own burdens, and this is not the post to discuss them. This topic will lead into the Edward  Hyde section of this post.) But, it was a known homophobic scare-mongering tactic of straight parents to accuse everyone who is gay that they are ‘out to prey on your youths’. This is a stereotype that stigmatized the LGBT community, and still harmfully affects them to this day. 

b. The fat fetish: Jekyll is frequently seen with cake (as seen here, here, and here)  or being self-loathing, to the point of suicide. (click the link here to acess a list of suicide and other crisis hotlines! you matter to me!). Now, the self-loathing could be a symptom of depression or other mental illness, so I am not going to talk about it, as a person with mental illnesses.  But the self-loathing in addition to him being fat is not good. Media is drowning in the “self-loathing fat person” and as someone who isn’t thin i’m tired of seeing this. 

- The fetish aspect comes in him constantly being referred to “Chonky”, a term usually used for overweight/obese cats and being drawn obsessed with cake. It fetishises his weight and dehumanises him into something people call their animals. Also, here’s more of Jekyll eating food and being embarassed by it, though this time because it’s seen as “servant’s food”. 

- Biscuit admits to liking them “Big and chunky” in posts like this. 

[Photo id: A string of texts that says: tantok, frankenstein, twink lore, dorian slipped through the cracks and got himself sketched by yours truly the other day because he brought lord henry along, he and the slime didn’t have to fight to the death because they’ve both got their own chonky old toxic henries to focus on, but this blog still ain’t big enough for the two of ‘em. end id]

- They also talk about how they ‘prefer’ to draw fat (chonky) people. Image attatched above. the thing that should be noticed is that they say ‘chonky old toxic henries’ . they, once again, are making fat people a fetish. 

[Photo id: Anonymous asks: are you gonna make a victor design tho biscuit responds: Oh, man, anon, I hate to disappoint but.....probably not. Aside from my non-humanoids and hellspwans (slime gremlins, corpse creatures, and etcetera), I’m extremely uninterested in drawing young thin men. I really need middle-aged chonk to hold my attention. If poor Victor Frankenstein had only been 40-something and round when he made his great creation, then he’d definitely get a design from yours truly. As it is though, he’s not holding my attention enough to want to. end id] 

Biscuit once again talks about how he doesn’t want to draw ‘thin men’, because he is only interested in older ‘round’ people. He, is, once again, bringing to light his fetish for fat people. 

2. Edward Hyde is basically a child - Edward Hyde is drawn in boy’s school clothes, is taken in and raised like a child after Jekyll’s death, and is constantly cooed over by the creator, even earning a nickname of ‘slime’ from them. In addition, he also has ‘family photos’ taken with Utterson, has his toenails kept, is the height of a child, and teeths. This, paired with the fact that he is in a toxic, abusive, relationship with a man in his middle ages is concerning and should not be romanticised. 

[Photo id: the text reads: In his first year of existence, Hyde lost teeth and regrew them in a mildly similar fashion to a kid losing baby teeth - except it wasn’t all of his teeth (Just the canines and some random molars) and they weren’t replaced with a larger set, just with teeth exactly the same as the ones that had been lost. No one knows what was up with this. the teeth are still in Jekyll’s study in a little jar. end id]

a. Hyde is treated like a child after Jekyll’s death. Hyde teething is concerning because that’s something infants do. He also clings to utterson like a child. The idea that he gets taken in by Utterson, whisked away to an estate out in the country, despite both of them having romantic feelings for Jekyll is. how do I put this: WEIRD. (seriously, imagine your father/father-figure dating ur significant other / having a crush on them before you two got together and after). 

b. Hyde dresses like a child, whilst being sexually active and wearing lingerie. Now, on their own, these traits aren’t a problem - but together? They are very much a problem.  

- Hyde dressing as a child is concerning because he is also treated like a child at certain points in their “lore”. After Jekyll’s death, Hyde becomes a singular entity, and is taken away by Utterson. To care for, like a child. This post sums it up well: he wears both children’s clothes and lingerie. 

- Hyde has a very strange appearance - if you compare it to his early design (which was less cartoony and looked more like a man in his twenties), Hyde’s current design is concerning. Why does he have the height of a child? Why does he have eyes that take up a grand part of his face? Now, one could argue that ‘he is not human’ - but if he is treated like a human, whilst wearing children’s/youthful clothes, teeths, and his general enchanment with the world - he appears as human (and looks eerily similar to a child), which is why him being sexually active, wearing lingerie, and being friendly with prostitutes (one that gave him underwear and other articles of clothing)  is concerning. 

- That said, Utterson is directly talked about being ‘adopted into gremlin fatherhood’ (paraphrasing). 

[Photo id: the text reads: 59. Jekyll is irresitibly attracted to everything about Hyde, but if he could somehow be forced to list hte most attractive physical attributes of Edward Hyde in his opinion, aside from Hyde’s youthful appearance in general it would be his eyes, his overbite (Jekyll perceived the way Hyde’s-) the screenshot cuts of the rest of the paragraph. end id] 

- Jekyll has a ‘thing’ for younger men. This is to the point that the most attractive part about Hyde is that he is young. (or looks like it), Hyde looking very young is concerning because that would make their verison of Doctor Jekyll a p*dophille . This is something the artist has either not recognized, realised, or simply does not acknowledge. 

3. The toxic relationship (and how it’s romanticised) - The relationship in this ‘AU’ is: love comes first, toxic nature comes second. If you scroll through the blog you may see some reference of ‘Henry Jekyll is such a toxic person teehee’ and a lot of them kissing, being together, smiling, or enjoying life. Now, obviously, an artist - if they do not want to - should not draw characters being toxic to each other. But it is concerning when the above points come into a factor, that the toxic nature of their relationship comes second to the highs of their relationship, at least on their blog. 

Here is one of the only examples I’ve seen of Biscuit talk about the relationship in a detailed negative light. 

4. The fandom - Whilst Biscuit says it’s ok for minors to interact with his blog (in that blog he says that he tags nsfw - which is true.) he does not regularly mention that his jekyde is toxic - not in a concerete way. He romanticises it (despite acknowledging it’s flaws), and the only way it may or may not be (i would not know) acknowledged is his fic: which is mature and not meant for minors. He does not tag his posts with regular triggers for things like: alcohol, drugs, mental illnesses, or abuse (any variants). They’re not even in his blog’s description! If Biscuit had acknowledged it in his blog, something along the lines of: “Hey! This blog has <content warnings> be warned when interacting! But no, he does not. 

- A lot of the people who draw things, or generally interact with Biscuit are minors. Being exposed to such a thing may be harmful to my peers, and I am worried. To minors who are fans of Biscuit: if you’ve made it this far, thank you, I know you’re mature and responsible, but being exposed to content creators like Biscuit could lead you down a dangerous path of having this kind of thing normalised to you. Be careful with the content you consume, please! And thank you for making it this far, I’m sure you’re a lovely person :)!

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Stay safe, tell the people you love that you love them. 

[alterloveserver]

happy holidays! to celebrate, alt er love server will be doing an advent calendar, which will be open for anyone to participate. all you have to do is head to the google form (linked in the replies) and fill it out by monday, november 30. once we have enough responses, we will create the schedule and send you a message to let you know which days you need to post. 

you can find more information under the cut and feel free to send us a message if you need to know more! and as always, if you’d like to join the server, you can do so here.

how does it work? each of you will be assigned a day* between december 1 and christmas on which you will post your contribution on your own blog. please use the tag #alteradventcalendar. we will then reblog all contributions to our server blog to archive the calendar. *if you have time for more than one contribution, you can also be assigned more than one day 

what is considered a contribution? anything! you can make a gifset, write a fic, make a videoedit, draw something, make a playlist... get creative and surprise us!

when and how will you tell me my day? as soon as we can! we haven’t set a deadline yet, but we’ll make sure to let you guys know on time. once we have the schedule we’ll get in touch with you. 

are there any restrictions for the contributions? it has to be skamverse related and since we want everyone to be able to enjoy the calendar and feel comfortable we’re asking everyone to please keep it PG-13. it would be nice if your contribution could be holiday or winter-themed but it doesn't have to be! 

i want to change my contribution/my preferred week. is that still possible? of course, just let us know in advance so we can ensure that there will be a contribution on each day and that there won’t be any similar contributions in a row, e.g. three druck gifsets in a row. 

do i have to keep my contribution a secret? you don’t have to but it’ll be more fun if each contribution will be a surprise (just like it would be in a real advent calendar). 

if you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an ask! once we create the schedule, we’ll also send you a format for the caption of your contribution so all our calendar posts will match. we’re very excited to see everyone’s creations and happy creating!

[rainbow-paints-for-after-colony]

Prompts creation...complete!

The prompts and the calendars they sit on are complete.

I see you scratching your head. Calendars? What do you mean calendars? June only has one calendar, it only has 30 days!

Well I like having options. I like switching between Netflix, Hulu, and Discovery Plus depending on what I’m in the mood for, because that way there’s so many movies and TV show options, and I end up watching nothing because there’s too many options. Options give life variety, and so why wouldn’t I want y’all to have options?? This isn’t your run-of-the-mill 30 days of Pride challenge here.

(Or maybe it is, I haven’t done one of these since my days writing fic on Livejournal.)

Instead of having one set of prompts and a calendar to follow, we have three of them! Three sets of prompts to choose from! Hurray variety!

And the spreadsheet cells together make up the rainbow, because who doesn’t love rainbows???

(No one I know.)

How do these prompts work?

So you have Options A, B, and C. Options A and B have your typical word prompts, things like “shoreline” and “moonlight”. You take that word, and you use it as inspo for your fic or art piece, keeping in mind that it has to do with LGBTQ+ themes. Option C has song lyrics for your prompts instead, but otherwise work the same way.

Okay, cool. What if I want to do more than one set of prompts? What if I want to do song lyrics and word prompts?

Well you’re in luck, hypothetical reader! You can do just one set, two sets, or all three! You’re an overachiever if you decide to do all of them (there’s one overachiever in every family, you make me so proud!), but there’s some things to keep in mind if you decide to do that.

Say Day 1′s A prompt is “shoreline”, B’s prompt is “moonlight”, and C’s prompt is “darling don’t be scared/baby let’s go anywhere”. If you decide to do all three, you must either incorporate all of those into one piece, or do each one separate, and they have to be posted for Day 1.

You can do one set of prompts for fic, and another for art, if you wanna do both types of media. Or you can do more than one set for fic, or all of them for art.

Do I have to post them all at the same time?

AO3 allows you to change the date of publication if you’re going to only post once a week (to avoid spamming the tag), or every few days or what have you. We do encourage posting things the day you’re supposed to (so Day 1 would be posted June 1), but you don’t have to. The labeling is more important just for tracking purposes.

Where do I post things?

Post wherever you normally do for fic or art, whether that’s here on Tumblr or over at AO3. Just give us the link so we can share the links :) There will also be a collection on AO3 you can put your things in so people can find them easier.

If I get a head start on the prompts, and I’ve finished, can I post them early?

You cannot. Day 1′s prompts can’t be posted before 1 June. Any time after that is fine.You can of course queue things up on Tumblr for posting, and have things drafted and ready to post on AO3 before then, but they can’t be posted before that prompt’s date!

Is the content we make ours to keep?

You’re posting these things to your own accounts, we’re just reblogging and retweeting the links and summaries here for more easier tracking. The content is yours to keep, we’re happily sharing it around with you.

Do I have to remain canon compliant or can I do an AU?

Your works can be canon compliant, canon divergent, or alternate universes. What’s important is that you keep the prompt in mind, and that your works contain Gundam Wing, and LGBTQ+ themes.

So yes, you can happily yeet Frozen Teardrop into the sun if you so choose.

Does my work need to include an LGBTQ+ pairing as the focus if I go the romance route?

I mean. Pride is about the LGBTQ+ community. You don’t have to have romance, but you do need to feature that LGBTQ+ representation.

Which yes, that includes ships.

You can have het ships in your works, but they shouldn’t be the focus, because that kind of defeats the purpose of LGBTQ+ representation.

What about ships that are considered “het”? Can I write them as being a queer ship instead?

If you want to make 1xR or 2xH or whatever het ships not het (maybe Heero and Relena are both bi, or Relena is pan and Heero is ace, or Heero is questioning; Hilde is genderqueer; Noin is non-binary, Sally is a lesbian, and Une is bi, etc.), that’s fine. But don’t use this as a way to try to sneak in het ships as a focus, this is about LGBTQ+ representation.

Can I write about polyam?

Absolutely. You can have your 1x2xR, your RxDxC, your 9x11xS, your pilot piles, etc.

Bottom line, have fun with these prompts, and don’t be afraid to unfurl all the LGBTQ+ flags and let them fly proudly!

[arwenfest]

FAQ

Who can join?

Only the elite of society. jk lol... anyone can! Even the plebeians.

Are there any minimum requirements?

Nope! You can make as much/as little content as you would like. Whether it be a meta post, an edit, a gifset, fanfic, a moodboard, a playlist, fanart.... whatever else your mind comes up with. We’re just here to encourage and support the creation of new Arwen content, so we’d be honoured to have anything you want to give :D

What are the themes?

Day 1 (sept. 26): Of Sunlight and Violins (Kisses)

Day 2 (sept. 27): With All My Heart (Marriage)

Day 3 (sept. 28): To Be So Loved (Sacrifice)

Day 4 (sept. 29): Is That a Yes? (Humour/Fluff)

Day 5 (sept. 30): Once and Future (Badass)

Day 6 (oct. 1): You Mean Everything to Me (Angst)

Day 7 (oct. 2): (Free Day)

How do I know if what I created fits (??)

I mean you can always ask??? i think we trust u tho???

Any restrictions on content?

There are no restrictions besides the obvious - follow the theme of the day and make sure it prioritizes Arwen. That being said, tagging your content appropriately is always expected. We will not be reblogging work that is not appropriately tagged. Also, please remember that the mods retain the right to not reblog any work that they consider disrespectful/harmful (bc this is, in fact, a dictatorship) (jk jk) (....unless...?)

Are collabs okay?

Of course! Make sure it’s not a hostage situation though

Do you have a collection where I can post my fics?

We have an AO3 collection here. It is closed for now, but will open one day before the fest begins (on sept. 25)

Does my wip count?

As long as it’s a new chapter, sure! This is meant to generate more/new arwen content, so as long as it’s new, it’s welcome - nay, enthusiastically welcome! (the enthusiastically sounds so obnoxious im so sorry but it does add a lil depth to our characters i think)

Can I contribute more than one thing?

PLEASE!! The more Arwen content the merrier!! (seriously we're on our knees here)

Must I post for each theme?

Nope! You can post for any theme you want. um. but like. like any of OUR themes. not just a random theme from a random fest bc. um. that would be weird.... and very awkward,

Can I cross-post with other fests?

As long as the other fests have no problem with it, we have no problem with it. (☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞

WHERE can I find other people's contributions?

YOU can find them on our account! We will be tracking #arwenfest on tumblr, so if you just tag your posts and mention us, we will be reblogging everyone’s contributions.

Who are the (very incredible, very amazing, best of the best) people running this thing? Can you be trusted? Are you REAL??

[beckons u closer] [whispers] wouldn't u like to know, weatherboy

edit: this was written before we found out thAT YOU CAN SEE OUR GODDAMN USERNAMES IN THE AO3 COLLECTION OH LORD. WHERE are the braincells i ask. WHERE!!!! hope u werent expecting any einstein bullshit from us cause ur gonna be very disappointed im so sorry <333

What is a Good (tm) Arwen song? (actually this isnt a faq but i wanted to answer it anyway)

PAPER RINGS BY TAYLOR SWIFT (if u disagree argue with the wall) (or make a playlist on one of the days otherwise argue with the wall)