#blogging is about sharing your knowledge with the world. Writing about things that you are passionate about makes the process of starting a

[thelittlelegends]

THE LITTLE LEGENDS

This is a blog for sharing and spreading love for the smaller Zelda games in the fandom!

For everyone crying over Spirit Tracks being forgotten, to people who wish someone else remembered the struggle to find a fourth player for Four Swords or sobbing at the end of online co-op for Tri Force Heroes – this is a home to join others in that love. Mainline and third-party Zelda games are all included!

The criteria for which Zelda games count as “small” is hard to quantify. To make things easier, we went by the numbers posted to Archive of Our Own, which has the option to disambiguate which game you’re writing for and is the current best-known fanfiction site. From there, we removed some things to try and narrow it down to core game fics and picked everything that was under 1000 works.

The resulting list of Zelda games is as follows:

CDI games = 14

Zelda cartoon = 29

Cadence of Hyrule = 50

Tri Force Heroes = 51

Oracle of Seasons = 76

Oracle of Ages = 85

Zelda II: Adventure of Link = 93

Zelda (1986) = 180

Spirit Tracks = 183

Phantom Hourglass = 191

Link’s Awakening = 256

Link to the Past = 260

Minish Cap = 290

Four Swords = 359

Four Swords Adventures = 423

A Link Between Worlds = 587

Wind Waker = 739

Some of this will be a case of poor tagging, and things winding up in the wrong place. (eg. Four Swords has 1200 entries, but upon removing all Four Swords Adventures or Manga story tags it reduces to 359.) Others may not be here at all because nobody has posted it under it’s own name vs a related game or “& Related Fandoms.”

While this means these numbers are not absolute, they still represent the problem: it’s hard to find content for your favourite games if it's in the list above, and we want to fix that!

WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

The event we’re planning is very chill, very low-stakes way of building up interest and knowledge, and then collecting and sharing fanworks produced.

The event month will be AUGUST, 2024.

Every few days in August we’ll make a post for each game on the list (and any bonus games that were highlighted alongside the main ones), which people can reblog with a link to the fanwork they created! You can also make your own posts and tag the blog plus the game of the day but we cannot promise to see and reblog everything.

In the lead-up to August, we will be doing round-up posts for each of the above games.

Some will be doubled up and treated as “bonuses” due to their small pool of fans (CDI, the Cartoon), and if there are some we don’t know about we may take them on as suggestions!

Each of these initial game posts will include basic stats about the game: when they were released, on what hardware, where you can find them now, and what their story was. It will also include links to a walkthrough or two, for those without access to the necessary hardware.

The purpose of these posts is to be shared!

Reblog them with your favourite artwork, current fanworks you love and adore, your favourite AU they’re featured in! Share the lore you wish everyone knew, and the characters who get forgotten!

Share prompts you’ve never gotten around to using, or ones you don’t feel competent to handle!

Do not feel bad about doing this! Every exchange or event I’ve been in, people desperately wanted prompts and ideas to spark their own imagination!

The goal is for people to learn more about games that they may have never heard of before, or not had the time or ability to engage with in full on their own. And from there we can push up those numbers on AO3 for everyone to enjoy!

The scheduled games to be “main” features of this event, and their respective introductory dates, are as follows:

May 5th = Minish Cap

May 12th = Zelda II: AoL

May 19th = Oracle of Ages / Oracle of Seasons

May 26th = Cadence of Hyrule

June 2nd = Phantom Hourglass

June 9th = Four Swords Adventures / Four Swords [Game]

June 16th = Link’s Awakening

June 23rd = Zelda (1986)

June 30th = Link to the Past

July 7th = Tri Force Heroes

July 14th = Spirit Tracks

July 21st = Link Between Worlds

July 28th = Wind Waker

Exact dates for the posting schedule of new fanworks in August will be released soon!

[leezlelatch]

There seems to be some discourse lately about content, the kind of content, and the community as a whole. Now, the last thing I want to do is stir up anything, but I had some thoughts that I'd like to type out, and I appreciate whomever decides to read it.

The purpose of this band is to make us happy. You've heard it time and time again, as long as we go home at the end of that show feeling just a little better, then TF is satisfied. And it seems like lately that happiness is hard to achieve here, on twitter, or wherever else one is active.

On Headcanon

Were you sitting at work today? Home? And suddenly that thought popped into your head, a little scene playing out about Copia, or Terzo, or Secondo, or Primo. A thought that filled you with excitement, butterflies dancing in your belly, which had you smiling because yes, in the world that makes you happy, that is what they are like. That is what they do. That is what they say. It's an amazing thing and it's good and okay, and you should be excited about it. Because you just added another chapter to the amazing story in your head. And you decide to post about it, but...someone left you an anon. Someone left you a comment. Someone vague posted. And it hurt.

This is happening far too often across tumblr, and it needs to come to a close. I understand that we all have vastly different ideas of who the Papas are and how the Ministry works, but that does not give a single one of you an excuse to say anything untoward or foul to anyone else on this platform. And this isn't talking about any particular group because more often than not, posts like this are used to justify the actions of others. You do not have permission to use this to further your agenda. Be kind. Choose to ignore that fic. Choose to stay off that person's blog. Stop making posts at the expense of others just because you don't like a particular aspect of their world.

I promise you'll still be able to sleep at night.

On F! Reader and x Reader Fic

I have seen many posts since I joined tumblr to write for the Ghost fandom that express a dislike toward reader fics, and in particular f! reader fics. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd like to just reflect on my own thoughts on the matter, and once again, I appreciate the time taken to read and perhaps understand where I'm coming from, and know that it is a place of care.

I am a woman. When I write fic, I am writing it to satisfy my own little world in my head. So naturally, I am going to make the reader female, because the universal you is not only the friends I share it with or those kind enough to read, but the you is me. Every sweet word whispered, or gentle touch from a Papa is something I wish would happen to me.

I do not have the right to invade someone else's perspective. I do not understand what it is to be a gay man. I do not understand what a trans person experiences every day, and therefore, I do not feel like it is my place to write these perspectives in an x reader fic, or more so than that, in smut. And otherwise, I'm just not comfortable in doing so. I know my experience, and isn't the first step of writing, writing what you know?

I want there to be inclusivity in writing, but that doesn't start with attacking other authors for writing from their own perspective. It doesn't start with making hostile posts about reader fics, because what's the outcome? You just end up with some people very hurt and unwilling to post their stories because they think it's unwanted.

If you feel comfortable exploring these topics, talk to your mutuals. Say hey, what can I do to gain a better understanding of the content that I'm writing? What can I do to ensure that I'm not fetishizing due to my lack of knowledge? Be a community, and help each other out.

On Notes and Reblogs

A note is not the value of your writing. Whether you receive just a few or hundreds, you have impacted someone. Someone loved your story. Someone is thinking about your story all day. Someone was able to make it through because that one thing line you wrote spoke volumes to them.

We put so much of our energy into worrying about notes that the reason we started writing in the first place is lost. It becomes a chore. There are a hundred WIPs sitting in our folders because it becomes so goddamn painful just to work on one.

No one owes you a reblog. No one owes you a like. And even though it's nice, and it's gratifying to see nice comments on something you worked hard on, notes cannot be used as a currency between followers or mutuals. It just becomes a poison. Your entire tumblr experience is going to be marred by the constant worry that you aren't good enough just based on a number.

Learn to appreciate the ones who do read. Allow your story to make you feel good because there it is! That thing you've been thinking about. It's written down. You brought it to life. That is far more valuable than a tumblr note.

If you've reached this point, thank you. Everything you're feeling is good, and okay, and we're gonna get through. Because even now? When it feels like things are more hostile than happy? You still have Ghost. And you still have everything.

[blazescompendium]

Explaining the Origin of Megaten demons: ShikiOuji

I am sure that, if you played any Megaten game in the last 20 years or so, you ended up seeing this paper dude. His name is always stated as Shiki-Ouji, and he once shared the same design with the Demon called Shikigami.

The weird thing is that when researching Shikigami on my studies, i never found anything about this one so i put some detective work to find out about the origins of Shikiouji, the (yet another) dude who oftens repel physical damage in Megaten.

The creature is often describes in the series compendium as a powerful Shikigami, that only the most powerful Onmyoji could summon, and they have a vicious temperament.

When we talk about Shikigami, the first thing that comes to mind are paper dolls. This is no surprise, since Shikigami are summons Onmyoji binds to paper dolls or talismans, so they could interact with the physical world. This is also because paper is a very easy material to destroy, if things go south. Onmyoji are the equivalent of western sorcerer, that followed the Onmyōdō, a esoteric cosmology. It started in the 6th century in Japan as a divination practice, and evolved from there. I won't go into detail, because this is meant to be a short post. But materials about this practice are abundant on the internet.

The main concept concerning us here is the Shikigami. These are basically some kind of familiar, a spirit or demon if you want, the sorcerer could conjure to protect him or do his biding. The Cultural Alliance Brazil- Japan, which i already mentioned in other posts, states that:

''Shikigami can be Oni or demons, that should serve and protect an Onmyoji. Your abilities would be determined by the abilities of his master.

A Shikigami could assume the form of small animals, birds, etc... One Shikigami from a powerful Onmyoji could possess and control one animal. But only a real powerful Shikigami could possess a person.

When an Onmyoji is fighting another Onmyoji, they employ the use of their Shikigami. Some Onmyoji could spot the enemy Shikigami beforehand, and try to convert it to his side with magical powers. In this game, the converted Shikigami would come back to the old master, and attack with double the force. This pratice was called Shikigami Gaeshi.

Abe no Seimei is said to be the most powerful Onmyoji to ever exist. Some rumors say he had twelve Shikigami, while regular Onmyoji would rarely have more than one Shikigami at the same time.''

So, that is a rough definition of what a Shikigami is.

But, when researching this creature you would not be able to regularly find Shiki-ouji. The fastest method for him to appear, was the English Wikipedia article about Shikigami, which weirdly had this part about Shiki-ouji, but offered no source to it:

Having the kanji to Shikiouji, and some keywords, i found someone at Tumblr who asked the same question 6 years ago, in Eirikr's blog.

From there, Eirikr offered a link to a blog post writing about Izanagi Ryu Shikoku. Ryu Shikoku is an ancient folk religion and pratices from the Kochi prefecture. It is still practiced in the area to this day!

In this belief system there is the tradition of the Shiki-kui masks. Which.. bear a very uncanny resemblance to our paper guy, subject to this post:

These masks would be hang above the place the ceremonies of the Izanagi Ryu take place. They would have magical powers that could repel evil spirits, and non believers from coming to the ceremony and disturbing it. They would also serve as talismans, or paper dolls, in a simmilar vein the regular Shikigami pop image you have in mind.

Since they are used to summon spirits, bind them, and as talismans, these creatures can be, technically called a Shikigami.

With this knowledge in hands, i went to the Japanese web. And sure enough, i found this site: The Nippon Foundation Library. It has an article detailing the paper talismans used by Izanagi No Ryu Onmyoji, and their meanings, powers, and also explained a bit about Shiki-Ouji!

Here is what they have to say: (Please be warned that i do not speak Japanese, and used machine translation. Any corrections are Welcome!)

Shikē Ōji… Shikē Ōji is a spiritual entity invoked by the taisa during prayers for the sick and the "toriwake" ritual to expel evil spirits causing illness or calamity. Its birth is described as abnormal, and due to its excessively violent power, it has no place to reside. Usually, it is sunk in the pond of Tendō-nanta, and summoned only when needed to guard ceremonies, to pray as the guardian deity of ceremonies, or as a prayer deity of Jumon no hakase. There seem to be several types of Shikē Ōji depending on their purpose, such as Takata no Ōji for toriwake, Gotai no Ōji for prayers for the sick, and Ōtaka-shiki for insect prayers. Additionally, talismans such as Sangoku Arashiki, Chimura San Ōji, and Sakago no Ōji are handed down, and it is inferred that they were used according to the content of the prayers, although many details of their usage are unknown.

Using the powerful Shikē Ōji against humans becomes a curse. In Kochi Prefecture, "hitting a ceremony" is widely used to curse people. Many people use this term without understanding its original meaning. "Hitting a ceremony" refers to attacking someone using Shikē Ōji. While Shikē Ōji can benefit people if used for good, it can harm them if used for evil. Talismans of Shikē Ōji, possessing such terrifying power, often have several incisions on them, each containing twelve notches, giving them a rough impression. However, unlike talismans found in mountains and rivers, they do not seem to have incisions for eyes or mouths. In this regard, they are closer to the cutting style of talismans for house gods and sacred gods. Here, one can sense the emphasis on the powerful nature of Shikē Ōji's talismans while also distinguishing them from strange monsters.

So, as you can see there is some key information about the creature here. But the most important ones:

1- It is bind to a talisman, just like other Shikigami. The text here explains it is a paper talisman with notches, just like regular ones used in religious ceremonies.

2-It has a powerful and violent nature, just like the compendium often indicates in Megaten games. It seems hard to tame and use properly without getting hurt.

3-Shiki-Ouji can be powerful and violent, but it seems they dislike being used to hurt people. Instead, they are better employed to use their magic to other deeds. However if you still use them in that regard, they will most likely curse you.

4-Their talismans have twelve notches, no incision for eyes and mouth due to their aggressive nature.

I am sure that, if we follow this trail we will find many more sources. Going by key words i found in this text, i found many other sites and books, but since i have no time now to fall a rabbit hole, nor do i speak Japanese... That is it, i think this is a satisfactory answer to where this Megaten Demon came from!

The real forms of Shiki-Ouji

The last thing in want to talk about, is Shiki-Ouji real appearance. Since we have a seemingly wrong impression of they in Megaten, since Kaneko took some artistic freedoms.

First and foremost: From the few things i studies about Shikigami, we know they do not have a real physical form. The paper talismans are just a way to give them physical form. But it was incredibly hard to find a Shiki-Ouji talisman, which was weird because it was so distinguishable. The main reason being that: Shiki-Ouji seems not to be believed to be easy or safe to summon, and also their talismans would be destroyed asap after use.

But with the description i got, it would be this one that matches it the most:

No eyes, or mouth. Twelve Notches, six from each side, and some incisions. Very similar to a regular talisman found in other types of ceremony. Just as the text suggested.

I got this picture from this book:

Tosa, Monobe Village: Shapes of the Gods

Monoba being the village where most of these rituals came from. The book is from 1999, and contains many pictures of actual talismans.

You can see that, aside from the head shape, Kaneko took some freedom with this design. The sources state that Shikiouji talismans should not have a face, nor limbs, since it was too powerful, and should have 12 notches. For some reason, Kaneko drew it in a human-like form, but the face still resembled the Shiki-kui masks. The earlier design of the demon was even more closely resembling the masks:

Shiki-ouji earlier design from Devil Summoner (1996). It was later repurposed as the demon Shikigami. It is almost an exact match to this talisman. I can not however identify the original source.

Shiki-Ouji current design by itself could have been based on this one talisman in specific, at least some parts of it like the head with horned-shaped appendages:

It was sourced by the National Museum of Japanese History, but the post went down. The low quality image of the talisman can still be seen on google, but the link is dead, unfortunately. It seems that this item is in possession of the Museum in Japan. Kaneko could have seen it in pictures, or in person. This one seems NOT to be displaying a Shiki-Ouji thought.

Maybe the Kaneko take is that Shiki-Ouji was summoned with limbs, and facial features and became much more stronger as a result? We may never know...

And finally there is also an occult book that i found in Amazon Japan that is called: Exploring Izanagi No Ryu: ShikiOuji.

It is supposedly a manual on how to practice Izanagi no Ryu, and magics. I could not find the book online, just the summary. But it mentioned nothing about Shiki-Ouji. Probably has some sort of tutorial to summon it, in fact i was able to find many of those tutorials on the Japanese web.

Now, that is it. I think this puts to rest a little bit of mystery involving the origins of this specific demon. Kaneko sure took some freedoms, but it is still one of the more popular and recognizable characters in the series.

Final considerations:

This most likely is the answer to its origin, but i am not some sort of owner of all truths, so feel free to correct me in anything i said wrong. I am still an amateur scholar, and even if i do know a lot about mythology and ancient religions because i read many books and study a lot of hours of my days, i am by no means a specialist in Japanese Mythology specifically, specially Shikigami practices. The reason is that, i find it very difficult and time consuming to research Japanese sources, since i do not speak Japanese. I will one day, try my best since there are a lot of good Yokai to cover in future Scientific Papers.

I can, however, guarantee that i did my best in a deep search!

And i have spent a lot of time looking through pictures of Shikigami talismans, and i found some really cute. Like this one. What a whimsical little fella...

[spshipstats]

Are you curious about what South Park ships other people in the fandom know about and how they feel about them?

I've been thinking a lot about how varied the SP fandom's shipping culture is, so I made this! It's a survey containing every single SP ship I've seen in art, or fic, or just heard people talking about (every single ship between the kids, that is). If you have the time, please help me by taking and sharing the survey! I'll be posting results from time to time on this blog.

Additional information below the cut, but feel free to contact this blog if you have any further questions.

Anticipatory FAQs

Is this anonymous?

Yes. There is no place you’re asked to give your name/username, this survey is not collecting emails, and you don’t even have to sign into Google to do it. It’s totally anonymous so please answer as truthfully as you’d like.

What’s this for? / Why are you doing this?

The pursuit of knowledge! South Park is such a huge fandom with so many ships and the fandom's opinion and knowledge have shifted dramatically over the years. I just want to see where it’s at right now. Also I like procrastinating real world responsibilities by making consequenceless projects for myself.

Why are the ships listed in the order that they are?

When writing this all out, I wrote down individual characters and the ships they’re a part of. I started with Stan (arguably the main character of the show) and then went from there. When a character didn’t have a ton of ships by themself, I grouped them with other characters. The ships were inserted into the survey alphabetically but I’ve set the survey to randomize the question order so there’s as little bias as possible.

“OP how dare you not include [insert your OTP I didn’t include here]”

My deepest apologies for forgetting a pairing. I did my best to think up every single ship I’ve ever seen included in fics or depicted in fanart or discussed by people. There is a final question where you may make me aware of one (1) ship you didn’t see. This survey is already a behemoth though, so I don’t think I’ll go back and insert any additional pairings unless a lot of people suggest one particular ship. Same thing for any poly ships and ships between the South Park parents/adults (the latter may get its own poll if I find the inspiration).

Can I post this to [other social media sites/Discord group chats /anywhere]?

Please do! Getting accurate results for a survey like this requires a large crowd. I actively encourage and ask you to please share this with your friends and followers wherever you can. You could even pretend you made the survey for whatever twisted reason. I don’t care, I’ll still get the data I want.

[andrew-ism]

Hey, I just wanted to ask as a person from the Caribbean also. What got you so passionate about, or I guess got you into the political sphere. A lot of the things you speak about aren't typical of a lot of Caribbean YouTubers one of the reasons your content stood out to me.

From a very young age, I noticed the problems in my country (Trinidad & Tobago) just from looking around and I wanted to change things. Many of my old drawing and writing books were thus filled with ideas for change or worldbuilding fantasies. I've always loved writing and seen it as my way of shaping the world. As I got older, I spent more time trying to understand the issues, the history, and the contemporary situation by reading, chatting with folks in person and online, and consuming edutainment. My passion for learning was also helped by my homeschooling experience.

Without getting deep into my whole life story and political journey, this pursuit of knowledge and solutions was kicked into overdrive in 2019 as I was introduced to the ideas of socialism and anarchism and later in that same year experienced the depressing and life-draining nature of full-time work for the first time (previously I had done a few part-time internships, short-term contracts, and sole trade work). While in the office, I read digital copies of both The Communist Manifesto and The Conquest of Bread, which led me to start a blog in 2020 where I would be able to publicly share what I had been thinking about and learning about for so long. That was on Medium.com. At that point, I wanted to be an art journalist.

Before long, radical ideas explored through a local lens became the prime focus. But due to low readership over months of consistent effort, I came to see blogging as a medium with limited opportunity for reach in our increasingly video-dominated age, which culminated with the creation of my YouTube channel.

However, as much as I wanted to keep my focus on the country and the region, I couldn't limit my message. I don't tailor my voice and message to either a local audience or an American audience. I grew up on content that acted like America was the only country and audience in the world, but I knew there were people like me globally going through the same issues who didn't want to hear every message filtered through the American lens.

I think both globally and locally when I make my videos, and I believe my approach has allowed me to reach folks internationally, which has gotten me to a size where people across the islands can now more easily take notice of my work and hopefully get some good out of it. My heart remains here in the region, and I would like to expand my reach here in the region, but it's easier said than done. I've seen an opportunity in TikTok, but I really can't add more to my plate at this point. A burning passion for learning combined with consistent effort, the help of various folks, and luck sprinkled in has brought me to where I am now, and that's what I'm trying to maintain going forward.

[lovelybrooke]

Here I am again, answering more Elden Ring stuff from @oldworldpoolhall. I've been thinking about making a separate blog for Elden Ring Stuff, just because I think It vastly different from the other stuff I write for, but ultimately it's just a thought.

"About the post, I do agree with Miquella feeling a bit prideful about how the reader is close to him. It’s easier too, with how his powers are implied to function, and well— as unconventional as it sounds his appearance somewhat helps his case for you to be less guarded around him, as wise and smart as he may be...And there’s a specific closeness that isn’t available for the others like you said, because Miquella has known them for longer through the dreams. Being in dreams feels a lot more intrusive, a lot more intimate in a way."

A large reason reader feels so safe around Miquella is because his looks. He's probably one of the strongest Empyrean's and is the most likely to bring about a new age, but reader doesn't really process that since they aren't of this world. They can't really comprehend how strong Miquella is, and it's what makes him so easy to trust when reader first finds themself in this strange world. And like you mentioned, Miquella knows a lot about reader because of their shared power over dreams. Maybe Miquella teaches reader more about their powers, in hopes that reader can stay with them longer.

"Although that is one of the things Miquella is superior in, it doesn’t mean his siblings doesn’t have anything to offer for the reader. For example Malenia, though she’d choose to admire you from a distance to avoid hurting you with rot by accident, it’s very sweet, because there’s just the charm of someone a bit quiet and resilient finding comfort in you, someone who doesn’t really quite know any better because you don’t belong in this world...We also have Godwyn who has Fortissax, while his siblings can provide you with what he may lack, there’s his friendliness, and the fact that he may even tell you stories of glory and dragons and take you flying through the air with him. He cannot take you back to your home, but he’ll try to make you appreciate the lands he was born in a bit more with him."

I failed to mention this earlier, but I do think reader would meet Melania second, after Miquella. Obviously, he wants you to meet his twin, and I think since she's able to tell that Miquella cares for you she grows close to you quickly. Like you said, she keeps a distance from you for your safety, but she does find you very comforting. A friend who isn't just her brother. I could imagine her seeking comfort in you when she loses limbs and parts of her eyesight. It's nice, and when she's with you and Miquella she feels almost normal. I think the other Demigods have their own way of bonding with the reader but I think it has to do with how closely they are connected to Marika. I think she doesn't let you be around Rennala's children as much, Radagon having to be the voice of reason. You do eventually meet them, but I think there would be a lot of tension between the two families when it comes to you.

"In a vaguely romantic context, I think Miquella would prefer the reader as a consort. They’re someone he’s close with in a way, connected in a manner that no one else knows. Although this is done in the typical Elden ring fashion lmao."

I imagine Marika has totally control over betrothals, and could see her betrothing you to one of her children as a last resort. She notices you fading, leaving this world, and so she betroths you to one of her children to hopefully keep you from leaving. Of course, this doesn't work, and you eventually return back to your world, but it was a last ditch effort to keep you with them. I could see her betrothing you to Godwynn, perhaps even one of Ranni's children if she wants to keep tensions low with them, but Miquella might be a good contender.

From my knowledge, Miquella's Haligtree was created after the Shattering, as an opposition to the greater will. I think this because I don't see Marika allowing direct opposition to the Greater Will, especially not from her children. If she sensed a bit of defiance from her son then she would be less likely to bethroth you to him, and in fact even keep you away from him. If he really wanted you to become his consort, then it would be after his mother/father was trapped within the Erdtree.

[caspersickfanfics]

Appreciation Post #1

(This is my way of thanking other creators! If you're mentioned here please know that I appreciate you and your work has made my day (probably multiple days, actually). Having said that, if you don't want to be in this post, please let me know and I'll be happy to edit it!)

Through the Snow by @dutifullyshamelessearthquake

Warnings: vomiting, standard sickfic stuff Fandom: Genshin Impact Characters: Cyno, Tighnari Highlights: long!!! (almost 20k!!!), attentive/gentle Tighnari, suffering/clingy Cyno, slow build-up and pacing

Excerpt: Cyno coughed violently into his hands, before his body lurched with the motion. Tighnari cringed, hearing liquid splatter on the wooden floor. Cyno's back heaved violently beneath his hands, and there was more splattering. He coughed wetly a few times, before inhaling a sharp, shuddery breath. The air smelled sour.

There was no question that this would be in the list this week - what an absolute dream to have a multi-chapter Cyno/Tighnari sickfic! The excellent pacing and general progression of the writing paired with extremely attentive caretaker Tighnari makes this work one of my all time favorites. Overall just a great mix of hurt and comfort!

Very Important Bonus Note: There's also some amazing art for this fic here and here by @relevantlucidity which I revisit frequently and even more art for it here by @myfriendscallmeasimp which is so precious!!!

Unfortunate Circumstances by @imill

Warnings: vomiting (induced and natural), scat/diarrhea, standard sickfic stuff; incomplete fic Fandom: Genshin Impact Characters: Scaramouche, Childe Highlights: long - about 7k of pure misery, balances complex emotions - fear, worry, guilt, disgust, pity - extremely well, wonderfully descriptive diarrhea + vomit combination if that's your thing, 2 sick characters for the price of one

Excerpt: Childe gasped, his chest tight as he looked at the trembling figure in front of him. He had thought semi-conscious, carsick Scaramouche looked horrible but this one looked even worse. Without a second thought, he pulled the smaller harbinger into a hug, fingers gently running through his wet hair. And Scaramouche didn’t try to fight it, he didn’t have the energy. He sobbed into Childe’s chest, mentally cursing himself out for being so fucking weak.

The number of times I have reread this fic specifically is frankly concerning. If you're into the emeto/diarrhea combination, it's a must-read. It's heart-wrenching, brutal, and ultimately really sweet and comforting. I don't always like fics where the caretaker is also ill, but this one feels realistic without minimizing either characters' pain. It's just an absolute treasure and I adore it.

Scaramouche Art by @warmmilkytea

Warnings: vomit/emeto art Fandom: Genshin Impact Characters: Scaramouche Highlights: lovely + comforting art style, captures the ✨ angst ✨ so well, such a great visual depiction of the buildup before being sick

This entire blog is right up my alley to be quite honest. I'm really not knowledgeable about art but these works make me feel things!! Wonderfully comforting things. When I look at these pieces, it's easy to picture a narrative around them and I adore that. This one specifically does such a lovely job of depicting one of my favorite bits to write - the buildup. I visit this blog often and just scroll through when I'm struggling with inspiration to write, so I'm very grateful that it exists!

Sharing a Receptacle by @danafeelingsick

Warnings: vomiting, food, standard sickfic stuff Fandom: Genshin Impact Characters: Tighnari, Cyno Highlights: extremely high quality writing, beautiful balance of dialogue / body language / descriptions of the internal world and emotions of the characters

I've been waiting for a month to recommend this fic, I've read it so many times it must be tattooed to the back of my eyes by now. I'm struggling to say what I want to about this fic because as I'm trying, I keep wanting to read the whole thing again. I don't know, it's just a masterclass in balancing the external world with the internal, emphasizing the hurt and the comfort just exactly right, and managing two sick characters on top of it all. I love it more with each reread!

Bonus Note: Dana's writing is the reason I started playing Genshin so everyone thank them for unintentionally reviving my desire to write after 5 years of writer's block XD They also have a bunch of incredible artworks which will likely appear in future appreciation posts (if I can ever stop waxing poetic over their writing).

A (Flame)light in the Dark by @aeryssickfics

Warnings: literal torture, mentions of blood (specifically coughing and vomiting up blood), vomiting, mentions of wetting and messing, vomiting on oneself, being chained up, mentioned force feeding, hallucinations Fandom: Genshin Impact Characters: Kaeya, Diluc, Aether, Lumine Highlights: intense whump/angst makes the eventual comfort and caretaking feel even better, very unique fic, intriguing combination of plot and hurt/comfort, depicts Kaeya/Diluc nuances really well

Upon rereading this fic for, genuinely, probably the 10th or so time, I just now picked up on a really interesting parallel between the sibling pairs in this fic. So now I love it even more because I am nothing if not absolutely weak for well written subtext and themes. I'm not usually big on whump fics outside of emeto stuff, but this one hits the spot. It flows very nicely, depicts some challenging perspectives and topics with the weight that they're owed, and I just highly recommend it to anyone who's curious and who doesn't mind the warnings!

[themetalvirus]

I just can't find information anywhere but knowledgeable people. I'm asking any person who can help me. You see, I am writing a story in which one of the main characters is autistic. There is very little information on the internet about autistics, or it is unreliable.

I want to ask about you have with the world around you. I mean, I've read that some autistic people have an unusual imagination, a vision of events.

i want to give you the benefit of the doubt on this, but it is difficult. just searching "what is it like to have autism" brings up several videos.

make sure to not watch one person and think you get the whole story. one issue i see with a lot of autistic people talking about their experiences is that they assume the way they see the world is THE way autistic people see the world, which is not true - autism is a spectrum, a very diverse experience. if you really want to represent us faithfully, you have to understand more than one perspective. it seems you haven't done even basic research into this, which is disappointing.

this, this, this, this, this (this guy's whole channel seems to be a good resource from the glance i took), this (another great person, familiar with her stuff), this, this, this, and that's literally just the tip of the iceberg on the WEALTH OF INFORMATION on this subject.

most of what came up in that initial search was white people, but DO NOT FORGET TO LISTEN TO AUTISTIC PEOPLE OF COLOR. pay attention to whose voices you are missing in your research. platforms do not make it easy to find creators of color. seek them out. listen to them. videos here, here, here, here, here, here, here.

articles, not videos, here, here, here (ASAN is an excellent resource), here (suspicious website but good quotes), here (seems to be a good website for articles), here, here

book recommendations: the reason i jump and any other book by naoki higashida, literally any book or article from devon price. haven't read many more but literally just googling "books by autistic people" brings up a lot of good stuff

important note for research: ONLY WATCH OR READ THINGS MADE BY AUTISTIC PEOPLE. any "simulators", any "how to cope with autistic family members", any anecdotes from people who are not autistic but claim to be close with autistic people, THROW. THOSE. OUT. throw out anything related to autism speaks, throw out anything related to puzzle piece imagery, throw out anything advocating for ABA therapy, throw out any autism mom blogs. you'll need to skip over half or more of what you see. ONLY listen to words coming DIRECTLY from autistic people.

other things to avoid: "asperger's" (was a nazi, the term is outdated, any place still using it is suspect), functioning labels (high functioning, low functioning), anything about trying to cure or "change" (dogwhistle for cure) autism

i should not have had to do this for you. i don't know how you were looking for information, but the idea that you somehow couldn't find ANY resources from autistic people voluntarily sharing their experiences is deeply suspect.

do not just use the links i have provided. do more research. there is, in fact, a wealth of information on the autistic experience on the internet.

i should not have had to do this for you.

[yandere-sins]

Okay so that random thought post kinda blew up, but I’m glad it resonated with you guys :D

Thing I’ve been thinking about ever since I did it - and this is strictly my opinion, you don’t need to share it to keep enjoying the blog, it’s just been on my mind - is that the post really showed me that to keep yandere interesting, you need that horror. That underlying, spine-creeping, horror aspect.

This is a bit of word vomit just to get my thoughts out lol.

Even if one was to write a scenario from that list, and choose a rather tame one, like, let’s go with the tamest of one reincarnation falling in genuine love with the yandere, you’d need the horror of the underlying knowledge that the yandere knows too much.

The:

“Oh, I never got to introduce myself--”

“[Name], I know.”

“O-Oh? How did you know?”

“A lucky guess.”

You see, the darling in the story doesn’t know who the yan is, but the yandere knows, and you as the outside reader know why the yandere knows. Isn’t that spine-tingling? It’s so exciting!! You know the yandere did a shitload of things that were disgusting and uncomfortable and downright shitty!! But here is the reader in the story falling in love with the yan’s quirkiness, or their attentiveness or how they always remember anniversaries, BECAUSE OF COURSE THE YAN DOES!! Of course they remember how the darling likes to eat their cereal, the yan eats it that way whenever they have to wait for the darling to reincarnate again (even if they hate the cereal)!! Of course the yandere knows the anniversary!! Of course they know exactly how and why and in which way the darling likes xyz and they are so perfect as a lover if you allow them!! It looks so wholesome too when they go and make pictures and you just have the yandere look at their beloved as if they are the sun and the yandere’s world circles around it (kinda true).

And then, from a strictly storyteller perspective, then... you let something happen. And it’s this deep sitting, always expected confirmation that you and every reader was right all along because the yandere is shitty. Even if it’s just,

“I don’t really like this friend of yours.” “Do you really have to go? Are you coming back right after? Why not?” The yan standing next to their darling while they pet a stray dog, and just staring at the pet stealing their darling’s attention.

It can be SO small of an indication that once again, even after every experience they made, the yandere still isn’t able to enjoy life with their darling properly. That deep down, the must have them completely and wholly or it will rip them apart the longer they try to bite their tongue and ball their fists.

And that’s what I love about yandere. That’s what gets me so excited every time I write ♥

[godstrayed]

before you interact please read the post! / mutuals only.

hello! it’s that time again i try to sell myself as a potential writing partner. i have written these in the past and been successful in occasionally finding roleplay partners who are interested in the same sorts of things as me. so i am looking for people who want to world build with me. i really like discussing plots, headcanons, and anything that can make me understand your muse better! i love sharing memes, drabbles, not roleplaying linearly and tossing around multiple threads! i don't need many people to write with but i really prefer to have a handful of people who i know well, am invested in their muses/feel super comfortable with my knowledge of their muses & pingpong my annoying ideas at them easily.

i tend to write lengthier things but i am okay with any length as long as it’s not one-liners! i also have zero interest in writing with someone who i will only have one thread with and never speak to again. 💀 i just rather focus on threads that will grow outside of just one single reaction! i like to think i am pretty easy to toss shit around with but i am a little shy so sometimes it takes a while for the ball to start rolling but once it is i am full-sending that shit.

so if you’re interested please GIVE THIS A LIKE and I WILL APPROACH YOU after i check out your muses/rules, if i haven't gotten around to it already! i am 100% gonna write the starter for whatever we come up with! i just ask if i take the time to write the starter that you reply to it at least once. failure to do so will result in me soft blocking since it happens so often and is super discouraging (and a waste of my time tbh). that might seem harsh but we could always write together when you do have the time or availability to reply.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ME: can call me nic! 29. cst. they/them. selective. slow replies due to work and other responsibilities. willing to make new muses for people if i really like an idea/plot! emphasis on slow activity! please keep in mind that i take a whole lot of time sometimes.

THINGS I REALLY LIKE: pacific rim, the 100, the walking dead, baldur's gate 3, queens gambit, any apocalyptic setting, harry potter series, alice in borderlands, video games, league of legends, any mcu movie, x-men series, fantasy shows/games, fairies, hunger game series, graceling & demon slayer.

TYPES OF AUS: any type of apocalypse setting, fantasy, crime aus, soulmates au, period/era verses, dystopian, slice of life, mythological, anything with werewolves, royal aus, vigilantes, & mutant aus.

VIBES: angst (tbh most of my blog is angst), fluff, horror, cliches, tropes welcome, & the occasional smut when it fits the mood.

CHARACTERIZATION: i exist in extremities. i like writing really bad villains with zero remorse or softer characters with a more righteous morality. i enjoy writing against almost everything. i am open to exploring most things and you can find out more extensively my habits through my rules.

open to any type of relationship: family/friendship/romantic/enemies. doesn’t have to be romantic. however, if it is – i always write with anyone so gender/fc/etc doesn’t every bother me. write who you want to!

be prepared to: communicate, toss around ideas, explore plots & dynamics, share your interests with me as well, & be adored / have your muse(s) adored by me & mine.

  links: muses & laws. memes. verses. wanted plots.

[kiefbowl]

In response to your post about recently peaking: I think I'm still very much in the progress of getting into radical feminism, but one of the things that made me start to search it out was the huge discrepancy I noticed online with regard to how for example J.K. Rowling is treated by TRAs compared to any man ever who also has a "bad" opinion. That made me want to look up what so-called TERFs actually have to say, and I had to admit to myself that a lot of it made sense. A lot of things I felt uncomfortable about regarding gender politics and sexwork for example started falling into place as I read through more radfem blogs on tumblr. I want to use my free time this summer to read some proper feminist literature (very open for recommendations!)

I must say I feel hesitant sometimes to go further and actually peak though, because ever since I went on this journey a few months ago I've started to notice the misogyny in many places where I could ignore it before, and it scares me sometimes. I'm worried that if I become to aware the anger I feel about how women are treated will keep growing and I won't know what to do with it.

Sorry for rambling in your askbox! It felt kinda nice to write it all out once, I don't feel comfortable yet discussing all these thoughts with the people in my life unfortunately

Anger can be a very productive emotion if you're willing. I've been watching a youtuber who does recaps of SisterWives, and she said something in one of her videos recently that I agree with but never heard it articulated this way. I'm paraphrasing but: Emotions are like our five senses, they're there to give us information. Then, you have to process that information and decide how to act on it.

The example she gave is if you see someone far away that looks like your friend, but you're not sure - your eyes gave you information, but you have to go look closer to investigate to see if it's really them. If you feel angry, you have to investigate and take some time exploring why, and to what extent, and what you're willing to do about it.

Maybe you've never had anyone say this to you plainly but: I don't see my ideologies as an identity. I don't see my social identities as extensions of my virtue. I'm not afraid to get angry because if I'm angry it's probably something worth getting angry about. As with sadness, or happiness.

Misogyny is scary, but life has many facets, and truth is a worthwhile pursuit. I can't imagine my life another way because I can only be living this life as me, and like every life, it's full of complexities. I'm subjugated, I'm privileged, I'm a good person who has made bad choices, I'm a smart person who can be obtuse, I've been poor but never the poorest, I come from grandfathers who fought in wars and grandmothers who raised children in a bad religion yet they are all so deeply in my heart, and I've had to weigh my values against self serving decisions time and time again to get some of the comforts I have now. I have to live in the world now, and I'd rather live with open eyes despite any pain, because otherwise I miss out on joy. This is my only chance of joy, so I'm taking it. I will never turn my back on knowledge lest I leave joy on the table. Maybe one day, you'll see what I mean. Good luck sis! Thanks for sharing :)

[deusvervewrites]

You are being put on a pedestal.

Do not resist.

Mm. I think I will resist, actually.

This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a comment like this on my blog. As a matter of fact that last one was on a post I reblogged about the anxiety and dread that comes with unrealistic expectations of being placed on a pedestal.

I’m sure you think that it’s flattering to hoist up a creator high above the ground and crane your neck to see them, but as the creator you’re currently lifting into the air, the only thing I can see is the ground.

There’s a post I’ve seen around, which posits that putting a creator on a pedestal is dehumanizing, and it is.

I am not your friend.

I’m a stranger on the internet who happens to write things you enjoy.

I am a human being.

I can, have, and will hurt other people. That is what happens when you interact with other people. There is no way around it. And what may be helpful to some people will hurt others. There is no way around that, either.

A pedestal is not a position of privilege, it is not an honor. It is a burden. It is the crushing weight of expectation. It is the knowledge that at any moment, people may decide your ability is greater than it is, and wonder why you cannot measure up to the you they invented in their heads. It’s looking at a chapter you’ve poured your heart and soul into and thinking, “This will never be good enough.” It is knowing that making a mistake is no longer allowed. That any mistake you make can and will come back to haunt you, dragged up from the depths of the internet where everything lives forever.

I have seen creators who were constantly badgered by their pedestals until they deleted fics so people would stop asking about them.

I have seen creators who were crushed by their pedestals and stopped writing altogether.

You know, I’ve been drawing for a hell of a lot longer than I’ve been writing, and like literally everyone ever who drew as a child, I had people tell me how good I was and how they wished they were as good as me, or wanted to know how I got so good, and the answer is that I drew a lot more than they did. I read books about drawing. I looked at stuff online eventually.

And, like everyone ever who drew as a child, when asked those questions, when I answered honestly, the people who wished to be as good as I was all lost interest. I wasn’t even that good, looking back, on account of being, you know, a child.

And yet they put me on a pedestal anyway. A pedestal so tall that they believed themselves unworthy of a hobby. How many wonderful, beautiful ideas never came to be because of that damned pedestal?

I’d rather look at a thousand poorly-composed and shoddily drawn pictures than anything made by an AI. I’d rather watch people learn and grow and improve and share their ideas with the world.

The pedestal is not an honor.

It’s a wall.

A weight.

A burden.

A fall.

A thousand tragedies wrapped together in the illusion of a compliment.

So I’ve chosen to say no. I will not be placed on a pedestal.

I engaged in the divine act of creation, but I am no God.

I am a human being.

I will resist.

[daddysgothbimbo]

Hi!

I figured I'd do a quick little introduction post so people can get to know me a bit and to let everyone know what you might find on my blog.

Firstly, hi, I'm Daddy's Goth Bimbo, I haven't really thought about anyway to shorten that or anything else I may want to be called on here, so that'll have to do for now. If you would like to know a little about who I am outside of RP (yes this is RP, this is kink, this is not me 24/7, this is just for fun) as my bio says, I'm a 28 year old (at time of writing this) feminist and leftist from Aoteroa/New Zealand. I am also a genderqueer and bi/demisexual sub leaning switch.

I am disabled and chronically ill, I have adhd and autism (with pathological demand avoidance/pervasive drive for autonomy, which makes kink dynamics like power exchange very interesting. If anyone wants to know more about how Daddy and I have found a way to make things work for us feel free to ask) I'm a big nerd, I love gaming, writing, reading, any means of losing myself in another world. I'm a real whore for knowledge (real bimbo behaviour, I know) and I put a decent chunk of my energy into activism and supporting my communities. This is where I come to switch my brain off and learn to be a dumb little slut for my Daddy.

Even though I may have patriarchy kinks, they are just that, kinks, fantasy. I do not carry any of this over into my real life, nor do I believe that any sex, gender or any other group of people are inferior or lesser in anyway and I will not tolerate any genuine bigotry of any kind. Consent is key :)

As for my other kinks and interests, I am also into degradation, humiliation, objectification, hucow, lactation, breeding, bimboification (obviously), dumbification, praise, pet play, bdsm as a whole, exhibitionism and a whole host of other things that are currently escaping my mind.

You can expect to find some pictures of me here as well as things I may write and anything else that Daddy requests, but mostly you'll probably just find me reblogging things I like and stuff of that nature.

That probably just about covers it, though I am likely forgetting a few things, the brain fog is getting a bit too thick so this will do for now. I hope you enjoy your stay on my blog :)

Please also read this post https://www.tumblr.com/daddysgothbimbo/746159884331024384/i-just-want-it-to-be-known-that-even-though-i-do?source=share

[the-lonelybarricade]

I have something to confess

so I've been a follower of yours for many months now. I just love your work and how you write. it's so captivating and I would read everything your wrote to keep up like crazyyyy

you're such a good writer, that I deadass thought you were making on original story. I never heard of ACOTAR when I found your blog, so I thought the characters were made up in different au's and I was like "oh this is sick as fuck"

then about 2 months ago my friend was telling me about this book she started reading. she was telling me about it and I was like "hold up" and she was telling the characters name's and im like "that sounds familiar" but im so DUMB that I didn't connect the dots until a month ago.

and boom, that's how I found out I was reading fanfic of ACOTAR while my friend was reading the real thing.

not that it matters! your writing is still so good and I love how you write the characters. and the smut?? lord have mercy im 'bout to bust. I always tell my friend's about your blog and that they should read it, you're that good. literally having me recommend a blog on Tumblr

anywho, yeah, thought you should know. ily <3

Hi lovely!! Thank you so much for sharing this with me!!

This is absolutely wild, but extremely flattering, thank you!! I have so many questions 😂😂 but more than that, I’m very honored that my fics were able to connect with someone who had no prior knowledge of the source material!

All this time I’ve been writing with the assumption that my audience has a basic knowledge of the acotar world and characters and now I’m so curious how that translated and impacted your interpretation of my stories! Im absolutely fascinated by your discovery of these characters! Were you ever like “Uhh where did that come from? He has wings now??” 😂

If you haven’t already, you’ll have to read the books and let me know how SJM does justice to my characters! 😉

And if you don’t mind me asking, what was the first fic of mine that you read? How did you stumble upon it in the first place? 👀 I’d LOVE to try rereading it from the lense of someone who’s never heard of acotar

[writingquestionsanswered]

Writers & Writing

I've been thinking, and I have some things to say...

You're probably here because you're a writer.

Maybe you journal. Maybe you blog. Maybe you write stories for yourself or your friends. Perhaps you write fan-fiction that gets lots of kudos, or you're writing a memoir. Maybe you write novels and are slogging through the query trenches, or maybe you're a published indie author. Whatever the case may be, if you write, you're a writer. And whether you write or not, I'm glad you're here.

Whether or not you've ever shared your writing doesn't matter to me. Whether or not you're published or ever plan to be published, doesn't matter to me either. Traditional publishing? Self-publishing? I don't care... they're BOTH valid paths to publication, each challenging and rewarding in their own ways. There are amazing traditionally published books, and there are horrible traditionally published books. There are amazing self-published books, and there are horrible self-published books. Your method of publishing says nothing about the quality of your book or your writing.

If you're published, it doesn't matter to me if you have one book or ten books or fifty books. It's not a contest. You're not more or less valid as a writer or author because of the body of your work.

And now, I'm going to say this:

If you think "writer" is a title that must be earned… if you think the title of "author" only belongs to those with multiple traditionally published books, who do book tours and speaking engagements, with books gracing the shelves of every Barnes and Noble and Waterstones… if you think writing skills and knowledge must be validated by gatekeepers…

… I would kindly ask you to reconsider. Open your eyes to the bigger world around you. Consider that everyone doesn't have the same desires and goals. Everyone doesn't have the same privileges, opportunities, and accessibility. Everyone has their own background and their own ways of gaining experience. The destination you choose and the route you take to get there are your business. Likewise, someone else's destination and path are not for you to judge.

We're ALL valid here. We're all doing a thing that we love. We're all accomplishing what we can, how we can, in the way that works best for us. Let's support each other through that instead of judging, criticizing, and tearing each other down. Honestly, there's enough of that in the world. We don't need it here. ♥

[anarchywoofwoof]

I'm in high school right now. I live in a red state, and because of that, I hear a lot of people express pro capitalist or anti trans sentiment. Everytime I hear it it makes me feel so hopeless and small. Do you have any tips on how to not feel so bad when I hear that stuff? I'm so tired of it.

before i answer, fyi: this is why i don't have "minors DNI" all over my tumblr, btw.

not because my blog is an inherently safe place for toddlers and preteens. probably not so. but neither is tumblr as a whole, so...

however, i don't blog anything X-rated or too NSFW specifically so younger people don't feel awkward following me, because this is honestly how you learn and find some sense of goddamn community in the world when you are isolated in a red state and have no one to relate to without being told you're too young to understand.

to answer your question anon... get ready, because you asked.

first things first, you need to know that it's okay to feel upset and tired when you're constantly faced with these types of opinions or people. it's a natural response to an environment that feels hostile.

but, here's something important to remember: no matter how it may appear at times, you're not and will never be alone. even in the reddest states, there are communities and individuals who share your beliefs and will stand with you.

it might take some searching and some serious stepping outside of a comfort zone for you, but look for local or online groups that align with your values. this could be LGBTQIIA+ organizations, leftist reading groups, or environmental activism communities. connecting with like-minded people, even briefly, in passing or virtually can be a powerful antidote to feeling isolated.

also, remember that small actions can make a big difference. maybe YOU can start a club at school or in your community that focuses on social justice, environmental activism, or supports LGBTQIIA+ students. sometimes, simply having a space where you can openly discuss your views and feel supported can be incredibly empowering. you have no idea who you may attract in the process who feels exactly the same as you and just didn't know what to do.

educating yourself and others is another thing that you shouldn't take for granted. knowledge is a form of resistance. read up on the issues you care about. books, documentaries, podcasts – there's a wealth of resources out there, i've shared a lot of them on this blog.

and when you feel up to it, spread this knowledge in ways that feel right to you. it could be as simple as recommending an article or documentary or podcast to someone who appears to be misinformed, or even something like writing an article for your school newspaper, or putting up posters, flyers, etc.

remember to practice self-care and set boundaries. it's okay to step back from conversations or situations that are draining. protecting your mental health isn't just therapist speak, it's revolutionary behavior. nurturing yourself helps you stay strong and continue fighting.

last and most important thing, dear anon - hold on to hope. change often feels slow, especially in the thick of everything going on today, but it does happen. there are tales all throughout history where high school-aged people have been at the forefront of social change. your existence, your resistance, and your voice are already contributing to that change.

take care of yourself. thank you for being here.