#also my emojis aren’t showing up in text posts so I’m in the pits of h3ll 😭😭😭

[mercurywaters]

any update on fuel? even just an acknowledgment that it’s on hiatus would be nice! hope all’s well

hi!!! FTP is not on hiatus, writing has just been super slow lately because I’ve got a lot going at the moment 😭

all is well, it’s just been a hectic few months with work and life!!! I hate giving out concrete dates since I almost never meet my own deadlines, but chapter three shouldn’t be much longer. I know that waiting for updates sucks, so I really appreciate the patience and continued interest 💗💗💗

[tickle-bugs]

I had two people ask for some advice on starting up/running a blog, so I thought I’d make a little post for anyone else looking for advice! There’s no one right way to run a blog and I am by no means an expert. This is just a compilation of some of the things I’ve learned :) 

Feel free to add advice to this!

- The first thing is something I cannot stress enough. Write for yourself first. You will be absolutely miserable if you’re only writing for attention. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s so incredibly important. If you don’t like a prompt, fandom, or scenario? You don’t have to write for it! A personal example: I’m a theatre kid and total musical nerd. I could probably write some compelling Dear Evan Hansen or Hamilton headcanons if I wanted to, but I don’t. That’s fine! I’m allowed to say I won’t write for it and deny prompts/requests for those fandoms. 

- Set boundaries. This is a very mixed community with all sorts of creators and participants with hands in different baskets. Don’t want minors to interact? Put minors DNI in your bio. SFW only? Put it in the bio. No RP? Bio. This goes for private conversations/askbox/other interactions as well. If someone comes into your askbox/dms and says something that makes you uncomfy, shut it down. 

- My advice is more geared towards writing than art or video, but I suppose you could apply this advice as well. Make what makes you happy! If you’re only in one fandom, feel free to stay there and make content for it. Multi-fandom? Excellent! Completely non-fandom? Epic! Make the content that you want to see and the content that makes you happy to create, especially if you’re in a more niche fandom/area. 

- Organization. ...I’ll admit this one is more of a personal pet peeve than something urgent, but it is something that people positively respond to. If you have some sort of consistency/organization to your blog, it’ll make it easier and more enjoyable for people to navigate. Make a fandom list/indicate your fandoms somehow (mostly for prompt purposes. people can’t read your mind, so it’s important to tell them what you will write for and what you won’t, however you want to do that)! 

Make a masterpost/link your fic tag! Use a fic tag of some kind. Give your fics summaries and leave a little bit of the fic above the ‘read more’ to intrigue folks (look at #my fics and my masterpost for basic examples of how I do this, if you need!). Use read mores. Please use read mores (if you can, idk if they’re on mobile. regardless no one wants to encounter a three thousand word block of text on their dash). (No seriously though, organize your blog, even if it’s super simple. literally just a ‘mine’ or ‘my fics’ or ‘[pseud] writes’ and a fandom tag. It’ll make it easier for people to find your stuff and support you)

- Practice general internetiquette. Please remember that the people in this community are real people with feelings, boundaries, and lives outside of the blog that they run. Be genuine and people will respond to you! Don’t manipulate people into likes/reblogs/attention. No one wants to be on the other end of that. Being in this community isn’t a transaction or a mosh pit, it’s an experience.  

- Be ever-so-liberal with the block button. Someone’s user makes you uncomfortable? They give you bad vibes? They’re a minor/older than you and you don’t want them interacting with your content? You don’t wanna see their blog for some reason? Block em. This goes for anons too. That’s what the button is for. Don’t feel guilty for using it. Use it. 

- How you write is 100% a personal choice and not really something that I can give advice on, but embrace your style! take prompts if you want, or don’t. Write oneshots, series, drabbles, or novels. Write romantic, or don’t. Etc. Change things up if you feel like it. Do what you want. Your blog, your style, your rules. 

- Numbers matter. Don’t let them define you. This is a bit of a harder one to explain, but I will try. I often say that I don’t care about numbers, and I really don’t, but that’s not to say that I don’t see them and they have zero effect on me. I absolutely notice and am bummed if a fic doesn’t get notes, or at least the notes that I was expecting. That is entirely normal and okay to experience. What isn’t okay, though, is creating for the sake of getting notes/numbers/attention (re: write for yourself first, internetiquette). If you find yourself relying on tumblr for gratification and a reward, I implore you to take a break. I’m not your therapist or your parent, I’m not gonna tell you what to do, but when you make things only for the sake of notes, people notice. Celebrate your milestones. Know that it’s okay to be bummed about low notes/celebrate getting plenty. Just make sure that you don’t depend on the numbers for your happiness, or you will be miserable.

- You’re (probably) doing this for free. You are providing people content: a service. Produce as much or as little as you’re comfy with, but always remember that. No one is entitled to what you make. If someone asks you for headcanons, sends a prompt when prompts are closed, etc, and you don’t feel like fulfilling it? You have no obligation to do that. Getting commissioned is another story entirely, but as long as you’re making free content, you have zero obligation to do anything for anyone and certainly no time constraints. It can take me months to finish prompts, and that’s okay. I do them when I do them and I fill them how I want to. If my prompts are closed, I deny new ones until I’m ready to accept them. Make yourself happy first.

- How you interact with others is up to you! It’s generally considered good practice to like/reblog your mutuals fics/art, but this is not necessarily a hard and fast rule. I veeeeeery rarely reblog fics for fandoms that I’m not in, even from my mutuals. What you can do to show your support (and you should try and show support somehow. No one is in competition. Everyone’s in your boat, whether they have no followers or 1k) is send an ask/reply to the post/leave tags to let the author know you liked it. Like the fic and don’t reblog it, if you don’t want to. Just make sure you show your mutuals (and others in general!) roughly the same support they show you, however you decide to do that. Treat others how you want to be treated, as cheesy as it sounds :)

- Don’t repost content that isn’t yours without express permission from the original creator, and credit them appropriately. If you see a cute piece of tickle art and the artist doesn’t want it reposted? Don’t repost it. Don’t post fics/videos/gifs that aren’t yours (obviously if it’s like a scene from a movie/a clip on youtube that’s different, but don’t take credit for things you didn’t make, including ideas). Can’t tell you how frustrating it is to have work stolen from you. Don’t be that person. ‘Credit to original artist’ and ‘credit unknown’ is total bullshit btw. Link/tag the creator in the original post and make it clear you don’t own the content. Best practice is to ask the original creator if they’re okay with reposting, work inspired by or connected to theirs, etc. This goes doubly for saving/downloading someone’s fics. 

- It is not illegal for a minor to have normal, nonsexual, healthy friendships with people older than them. There’s a weird attitude that minors have nothing of value to offer adults besides a relationship/sex, which is...not true? Minors are thinking, living human beings with feelings, thoughts, and opinions. You can talk to them like normal people, because they are. Just obviously don’t talk about/introduce sex or endanger them. Minors don’t bring up sex/activities you’re underage for with an adult. IDK this isn’t a seminar just...don’t be weird. Adults can offer great life experience, support systems, and the basic joys and needs of human connection. Minors can too. Mind your business unless someone’s actually in danger. The next point is a caveat, though: 

- If you’re a minor, don’t interact with NSFW blogs/blogs with ‘Minors DNI’, NSFW blogs don’t interact with minors, etc etc. Not your parent or whatever but this is pretty common sense and it’s for everyone’s safety, but especially the NSFW person. internettiquette!

- If you use your TK blog as a side blog (meaning you have another blog as your main blog, not two separate accounts) and don’t want your main exposed, that is up to you. I recommend not liking posts. Also, follow people that you trust. These actions route through your main blog and your main will show up in the notes. You can reblog from a sideblog. If you want to send an ask “as your tk blog”, send an anon and sign it somehow, like ‘hey :) // @/tickle-bugs’. It should tag you in the post so you get a notification when it’s answered!

- Find your people! As an anxious person this one has been hard for me, so I know it’s hard for a lot of people. Fandom is literally a community of shared interest. Peachy and I have an iron bond almost two years later and we met talking over shared interests. You can absolutely find your people here. If someone makes you happy, strike up a conversation! Send an ask! You never know what doors it might open or whose day you might improve :)

- If you were an anon/lurker on someone’s blog and they inspired you to write/submit/start your own, sign your messages!! the common form that I see is either an emoji or [noun/context of the ask]!anon (prodigal!anon (i miss u every day), butterfly!anon, etc.) Let us know how to find and support you!! Those messages produce good brain juice. 

- The big finale: Have fun. If you’re not having fun here, maybe you could tweak something to make things enjoyable. Running a blog is like driving a car. Keep your hands on the wheel, respectfully indicate your intentions (flashing lights optional), and be safe. Poebody’s nerfect, y’know. If you make a mistake, course correct. I’m by no means perfect. Your favs aren’t either. Just do your best and have a good time :)

@rosytickles and the anon in my inbox, I hope this helps! Thank you for asking me, I’m very honored that you value my opinon/experience/advice. I apologize if I come off as preachy or aggressive, I envisioned grabbing my younger self by the lapels and shaking me vigorously while I wrote this. Probably a bad idea. 

Anywho, hope it helps. Anyone with questions, additions, or comments, my askbox is open! Just be constructive, is all I ask. 

[izzy-b-hands]

Live From Garden Lodge

Written for my DL server Bingo Card for the prompt Social Media AU. Also an AU in which we have Freddie and Jim with us in current times!

It took me ages to finally pull something together for this prompt, but this was fun to write, once it finally came to me! If there’s interest and I can get my WIP list managed again, I might consider writing a follow-up in the future, especially if folks are interested!

A quick synopsis: the lads and a livestream during the current pandemic.

My love to all who read/like/reblog!

“This feels like a bad idea,” Freddie said gently. 

Around him, Adam, Brian, and John were fussing with their phones, the webcam setup, and god only knew what else (it wasn’t that he wasn’t interested in learning about it, but right now it was all horribly overwhelming, since they’d more or less sprung the idea of a livestream on him.) All of it had taken over the spare room in Garden Lodge that Freddie had volunteered for use for the event. 

“It’ll be fine,” Roger reassured. “Hm. Brian, We have to post about this, right? With the link?” 

“On Instagram, yes, that’s what we said we’d do earlier in the week when we announced this,” Brian said, shuffling some of the equipment over, only for John to immediately move it back to its original spot. “Are you asking me to do it for you?” 

“Not exactly,” Roger said. “I remember how.” 

“Do you?” Brian asked.

“...I haven’t called Sarina to let her know how we’re doing,” Roger said. “I should do that.” 

“Don’t call her to beg her to do it, just let me help you,” Brian held out his hand for Roger’s phone. “There’s no shame in it. How much tech have we had to learn over the years; so what if you can’t remember how to use some of the newer stuff?” 

Roger frowned, but handed it over. “As if you don’t forget how to post things on there too.” 

“I do,” Brian said. “On occasion.” 

“Oh, just ‘on occasion’?” Roger scoffed. 

“Both of you, stop,” Adam interjected gently. “Or I will reveal just how many texts I have from all of you, asking me how to do this or that online or on an app.” 

“You’ve only got the one from me,” John protested. 

“Yes, and that one was just you texting me your number,” Adam said. “I wasn’t counting that one. I think you could do circles around me with most electronics.” 

“I try,” John said, and batted away Brian’s hand as he reached for a cord. “I’ve got it as it should be! Let it alone!” 

“Grumpy,” Brian teased, settling onto the couch near Freddie, tapping at the screen of Roger’s phone. “Roger!” 

“What?” Roger asked. “Something wrong with logging into it?” 

“You left your password as ‘Password!’” Brian scoffed. “We’ve talked about this!” 

“Oh, and what are all yours? Password1?” 

Brian went quiet, and resumed his tapping. 

“Is this something they really want?” Freddie asked. “The fans, I mean. Surely, this won’t be as interesting as they’re thinking-” 

“The last few times we’ve done any livestreams, video Q and As,” Adam interrupted him. “They’ve asked where you and John are. They know you both don’t want to be doing this all the time, and the majority are great, and respect that. That said, I think some of it is just out of worry. They want to see you both too, know that you’re okay, doing well, especially with everything going on. As it is, I answered so many messages and comments asking if we were quarantining together and doing this all safely, to reassure them that we were.” 

Freddie nodded, but it was evident to everyone that he wasn’t shaken of the uncertainty of the situation. 

“I get it,” Adam said. “It’s...a little weird. No matter how many times you do it, talking to a camera, knowing that people are watching, but you can’t tell unless they comment or react. We don’t have to make this a regular thing, if you guys don’t like it. Brian does enough like this to keep most of the fans busy, I think.” 

Brian smiled. “You do quite a bit yourself.” 

Adam nodded. “And if we still want to give them something else, there are options. A podcast, or videos we can make ahead of time and release every other month, or something. I think a lot of them are feeling alone, and it’s a nice connection, you know? To feel like you’re shooting the shit with a musician you like.” 

“Jacky and some others from the fan club are moderating for us as well,” John added. “So if anyone crosses lines, gets out of hand, they’ll be politely warned once, and then kicked off the stream if they can’t behave.” 

“I’ll try, if nothing else,” Freddie said. “Have they given us some idea of what they want us to talk about?” 

“When we asked on Instagram and YouTube,” Brian replied. “We mostly got requests for tour stories. Behind the scenes things, stories from the studio. Nothing too wild.” 

“Except for that one,” Adam giggled. “Pretty obviously just fucking with us, but it was funny, even if they aren’t getting an answer to their question.” 

“Dare I ask what it was?” Freddie smiled. “How horribly salacious was it?” 

“Asking how often we’ve seen each other naked, things like that,” Roger scoffed. “As if we’d even be able to keep track of that. I’ve never tried, but if I had, surely I would have lost count by...god, probably ‘77? And the millionth too-small shared dressing room, where you either strip in front of everyone or perform in whatever you wore to the venue.” 

“A few were a bit insensitive,” Brian winced. “I feel it would be wrong not to tell you that. Asking about Jim and yourself, your health, John being away, and not asking in the kindest way, either...” 

A bit of tension entered the room. It was an unspoken rule that the nineties and the horribly close call they’d had in nearly losing Freddie was talked about only if Freddie brought it up, and if he asked for the talking to stop, it did immediately. As it was, it was still a sensitive topic when interviewers tried to bring up the break Freddie had taken, and that he had helped them bring Adam in as a co-lead singer/frontman. The rags seemed to always want to pit it as Adam vs. Freddie, when it wasn’t like that and never had been, and anyone close to them knew how upsetting it was to both Freddie and Adam. 

There was also the unspoken rule that John’s break from the band (during the same period as Freddie’s) was handled the same way. If he was comfortable talking about it, fine. If he wanted discussion over it to stop, then it stopped. 

“Well,” Freddie said slowly. “We’ll see. If anyone asks during this stream, maybe I’ll address some of it. I don’t want to think they were all intending to be crass or rude, after all.” 

“But at the same time, you’d like to tell the ones who are that way to fuck off?” Roger guessed. 

“Yeah,” Freddie admitted. “Some of them are younger though, they don’t know any better, I figure. I’m trying to be understanding, in my old age.” 

“Shush,” John laughed as he finished the last of the setup. “You’ve still got nearly all your damned hair, and at most of its natural color, no less. Old, my ass.” 

“I’m the oldest out of all of you,” Freddie said. “Don’t talk back to your elders.” 

“I dare you to say that on the stream,” Roger chuckled. “See how the kids react to that!” 

“I’m sure they’ll be wild enough,” Freddie said. “I won’t antagonize them more unless they ask for it.” 

“Talk like that and you’ll get half of them calling you Daddy,” Adam smirked. “And that’s a...different thing, now, with the internet.” 

“I’m aware,” Freddie said, and the room went quiet. “What? Just because I don’t do all this social media shit doesn’t mean I don’t go online! I email all of you, for fuck’s sake!” 

“Right,” Adam said. “But that particular trend is a, well. A sexual one. So I suppose I didn’t expect...but you know what? That’s on me. I shouldn’t underestimate any of you, frankly.” 

“Dangerous thing, that,” Roger nodded. ���We’re all just powder kegs, don’t you know, Adam?” 

“I should probably know by now,” Adam laughed. “Do the powder kegs want tea, before we get started?” 

“Already on it,” Phoebe had a tray in his hands, pushing aside the door, a few cats following him as he walked in. 

“What would we do without you?” Freddie smiled, helping him settle the tray on one of the few empty surfaces in the room. 

“Make your own tea, I suppose,” Phoebe chuckled. “Or make Adam do it, perhaps?” 

“I would look good in an apron, in the kitchen,” Adam said. “If you take a vacation, we’ll have to give it a try.” 

“If you can teach this one to use a microwave, go for it,” Phoebe said, gesturing to Freddie, who let out a gasp of faux-shock. 

“I know how to use it,” Freddie defended. “I just don’t give a shit to use it if one of you will do it for me. It’s valid, as the kids say.” 

“They do say,” Adam nodded sagely. 

“Nearly time,” John noted, and they crowded together on the couch as Phoebe herded the cats out and shut the door to the room behind him. 

---

“Songs with Adam, that have been written?” Freddie read off the screen. “Would I let them be released?” 

He scoffed. “Of course! But I can’t say anymore, secrets, secrets...” 

“As it is,” Brian noted. “I just got a text from Mr. Jim Beach. He said ‘say no more!’“ 

“See?” Freddie gestured at the camera, as if he was talking face-to-face with a friend, and not at the thousands of people that were watching the stream, according to Jacky, who was texting them updates re: moderation of the stream. “Strangled from giving you anymore information, I tell you! You’ll all have to be patient!” 

A stream of happy emoji reactions flooded in, and he smiled.

“Not as bad as you thought?” Roger whispered as Brian took over for a moment, addressing a question about his stereoscopic company. 

“Not so bad,” Freddie replied quietly. “Could almost get used to this, on occasion.” 

“Monthly, or every other, maybe,” Roger agreed. 

Adam winced at the next question. “I know, we’d like to be out playing as well. But it’s not safe yet, and I know you all know that already, but it bears repeating. Masks on, social distancing, and if we’re lucky, maybe we’ll be back to playing shows in some places by the end of next year.” 

“And that’s probably a bit generous of an estimation,” Brian said. “We’ve got health in general to consider, not just the virus. We want to be out there as badly as you want to come see us, but we’ve got to do it safely. Doctor’s orders, family’s orders, friend’s orders!” 

“Could do something like this, couldn’t we?” Freddie suggested, and the emoji reactions pinged loudly and quickly. “I mean, it won’t be anything like a proper stage show, mind. Anyone coming in with that expectation should leave it at the door. But I wouldn’t mind trying it.” 

“We’ll put it on the list,” John said, and laughed at the first comment that came up. “Yes, I’m still here. Sitting aside, drinking my tea. I had retired, essentially, you know! I’ve got to warm back up to all this.” 

“I think you’re doing wonderfully,” Freddie said. “Oh, what’s this one? How is Jim? Ah, well-” 

Before he could finish his sentence the door popped open, and in ran the latest adoption. A black cat, that despite all attempts to rename it, only responded to the name ‘Cat.’ 

“You aren’t supposed to be in here right now,” Freddie scolded as he picked Cat up. “Well then, say hello to everyone!” 

The chat flooded with comments and heart emojis as Cat meowed at the camera. 

“Now, to answer your question,” Freddie started, only to be interrupted again as Jim rushed in. “Never mind, he can tell you himself!” 

“Sorry?” Jim asked, taking Cat from Freddie’s arms. 

“They want to know how you are,” Freddie said, and gave a sweeping gesture towards the camera. “So, how are you?” 

“Failing to wrangle cats?” Jim laughed softly. “Sorry about this, by the way. He knows how to jump at the door handles until they open...” 

“It would be a talent, if he used it for good,” Freddie said, giving Cat a quick kiss on the head. “But he came from a rough home, according to the shelter. He’s still learning how to use his powers for good, aren’t you?” 

Cat mewed, and wriggled in Jim’s hands. 

“We’d better go,” Jim said, and out of habit, leaned down for a kiss from Freddie, who more than happily leaned up to meet him for it. 

The chat exploded. 

“Goodness,” Freddie blushed. “I’ll agree with the first comment I saw now: he gets to kiss me, so he must be doing well! I suppose he must be. Including myself in that, since I get to kiss him.” 

“Can we meet the other cats?” Adam read off the screen. “Freddie?” 

“That would be an undertaking,” Freddie smiled. “And we’re nearly at time, aren’t we?” 

“Unfortunately, we are,” Brian confirmed. “But it’s been a good hour or two here, hasn’t it?” 

“It has,” Freddie said. “To answer all those comments coming up, will we do this again? I know it was hinging on myself and John...” 

He looked to John, who smiled and nodded. 

“We will indeed be doing this again. Maybe not on a regular schedule, but with plenty of time to make sure you all are ready to join us. The lads here mentioned some other options we have to talk to all of you, podcasts, things like that. Maybe we’ll look into those yet, especially if we’re all to be stuck at home for some time. A way to keep all of us sane, hm?” 

The chat was full of happy replies and comments and emojis as they said good-byes and closed out the stream. 

“You mean it?” Brian smiled. 

Freddie nodded. “I don’t think I’ll ever be help in setting all of the gear for it up.” 

“That’s what I’m here for,” John said. “No worries.” 

“We can help too,” Roger said. 

“Sure,” John said, but he shook his head just a bit as he caught Freddie’s eye.

“It was wonderful though. They really just wanted to hear us blather, to tell them stories,” Freddie said. “I mean, I know you all told me about their want for that when I first came back years ago, but I didn’t realize how strong it was.” 

“Especially now,” Adam nodded. “People are lonely and scared, missing human connection.” 

“I didn’t realize how good it would feel to have that with them,” Freddie admitted. “And kudos to Jacky and the lot looking after it all. It must not have been too bad?” 

John shook his head. “Nah, not too bad. She texted me the grand total of people kicked, only round ten of them.” 

“That is surprisingly good,” Adam said, and seemed legitimately shocked. “Then again, we’ve got good fans, don’t we? Don’t have to worry so much about them getting out of hand.” 

“Aside from the question or two about our undressing in front of each other,” Roger smirked. “But they are good. I’m happy we’ll be doing this again for them. Gives us something to do, to keep us from going mad as well.” 

“...Got to be over 400,” John mused. 

“What?” Brian asked.

“Times we’ve seen each other naked, changing for shows, and all that,” John replied. 

“Have you been thinking about that this whole time?” Adam giggled. 

“Well, that’s with your count in as well, Adam, but that one is a bit lower of a number to add in. Even so, if we consider how many shows we’ve played, occasionally with multiple outfit changes...It’s an interesting stat, is all I’m saying. I can see why they asked,” John said, as sensibly as if he was discussing the weather. 

Brian shook his head. “Well then. If that person asks us again, we’ll have an answer for them!” 

“Speaking of the requests,” Freddie said. “We didn’t talk much about backstage going ons and all that this time. We could focus on that maybe, for the next one? If they’re all still interested, of course.” 

“I think they’ll be plenty interested,” Roger said. “And I like that idea. Shall we just plan out the next one, before we clean all this up?” 

The empty cups of tea accumulated, alongside a few plates of various snacks, over the rest of the night as they worked. The actual setup wouldn’t be cleaned up until nearly midnight, but by then, they not only had the next few livestreams planned, but also the first episode of a podcast. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to show that even if the world was currently down, it wouldn’t keep them down and out.