#but ive never seen that and yet the comments under videos like this are

[gibbearish]

wanted to throw my hat into the ring specifically in regards to james responding to the bigotry claims bc i havent seen anyone address the aspects i wanna talk abt in full yet, it kinda got long as fuck for a p short excerpt so putting it under a readmore

so here's the section (text from @storagebay29 's v helpful transcript):

"I never ever intended to hurt anybody. I never thought that that's what I was doing. Before I went- before I went to the hospital,¹ I read a lot of stuff from people who were really hurt, not just authors and stuff but people who watched my videos who were hurt by stuff in them. People think that I hate ace people and women and bisexual people and lesbians and that's not true. It's really- it's just- it’s not true. And I’m sorry that stuff made it into videos² that just shouldn’t have been there: misinformation and lies... But I promise you I did not write that stuff.³

I should have been a lot more exacting when Nick and I would be editing scripts but I promise you that those are not- I don't think those things.⁴ I specifically want to apologise to asexual people who feel⁵ that I just completed delegitimised you. Nick being ace, I- I know that it's kinda like you know, no two gay people are exactly the same, no two ace people are exactly the same, but I kind of, when it came to that I just kind of ran with Nick's judgement⁶ and his observations and stuff like that. And I’m not trying to throw Nick under the bus,⁷ which a bunch of people are saying that I was setting him up as doing, which is not true…"

so! let's break this down

¹ "Before I went- before I went to the hospital" - firstly i want to be clear of my position with the "did he actually attempt" question bc ive seen some people being absolutely vile already, which is that while i understand doubting his story considering his history of lying and manipulation and obviously skewed moral compass, i also feel like it is VERY much plausible enough that publically speculating abt whether it's true or not is shitty, especially telling HIM you think he's lying. best case scenario you're right, worst case scenario you're crossing a hell of a line, and he's obviously done enough stuff that the situation can be addressed pretty comprehensively without risking getting that coin flip wrong. i think we should proceed under the assumption that lying about that is one line he wouldn't cross, and if proof comes along that he was lying then obviously fuck him, but otherwise i think that aspect should be off limits. and having said all that, even under the assumption he is telling the truth, the way he brings it up in this apology is still manipulative, as many have already pointed out, and this is an excellent example. by bringing it up right before addressing his bigotry, he a) implies to the audience that these comments in particular are a notable part of what sent him there, and therefore plants the idea that if they continue to address it while knowing how badly it's already affecting him, they'd be deliberately trying to hurt him or push him to attempt again, and b) tries to distract the audience from the fact that he's addressing his bigotry and get them to go easy on him, since clearly he's already punished himself over it enough. but harming yourself does not actually make up for harm caused to others, and even if it did, unlearning the bigotry that caused the harm in the first place doesnt end at "feel really bad about it," that's actually step one. and as i'm sure you're already aware and i'll get into more in points 4 and 5, whether he's even at step one yet is doubtful!

² "And I’m sorry that stuff made it into videos" - others have covered his passive voice the whole way through so i won't dwell too long beyond pointing it out, it's mostly just highlighted here bc of how it ties into the next point

³ "But I promise you I did not write that stuff." - just, beautiful in so many ways. performance art, even. firstly, the fact that one of the closest places he comes to calling it plagiarism is in defense against a second allegation? just lmao. and secondly, this is about the most solid proof you could get that he indeed did not watch hbomberguy's video (or at least the whole thing) because hbomb very conclusively showed that if there are /any/ original thoughts of James' in his scripts, it is the bigotry, because he showed multiple examples of James /specifically/ rewording things he plagiarized to ADD IN the bigotry. so then tying back to point 2, his passive voice then becomes about ten times funnier here because he was just. blissfully unaware we all already knew exactly how it "made it into" the script and that his next statement would be a lie. just incredible

⁴ "I don't think those things." - notice the lack of specificity here, the most he can say is "people think i hate these groups" and "i don't think those things" and not "this is exactly what i said that was harmful, here's how it was harmful, here's the correct version of it, and here's how to avoid similar pitfalls in the future", yknow, like what people do when they actually accidentally say bigoted things bc they don't know any better? and again this point ties into the next one:

⁵ "I specifically want to apologise to asexual people who feel that I just completed delegitimised you." - ah yes, nothing says apology like "i'm sorry you felt like what i said was hurtful," where the message is less "i did something wrong and hurt you, i regret this and want to fix it," and more "you were too sensitive and got your feelings hurt by something i didn't intend to be hurtful, but i GUESS i'll be the bigger person and say sorry even though i didn't actually do anything wrong🙄". and see again 4, if he actually had looked into it and learned why it was wrong, he wouldn't be saying people "felt" delegitimised. he would be explaining why people reacted that way ie what it was a reaction to, why this reaction was correct, and providing actual information about asexual people. but he doesnt, because he didnt, because he doesnt care. which is all ESPECIALLY fucked because in saying it this way he's. delegitimising what they were saying. like some kind of fuckin aphobia ouroboros

⁶ "when it came to that I just kind of ran with Nick's judgement" + ⁷ "And I’m not trying to throw Nick under the bus" - here we are, the crown jewels. so obviously ppl are already talking abt the performative allyship of "but my best friend is minority and they said it was fine!!1!" which is fucked up on its own, but then the fact that he immediately jumps to "and also i'm not throwing nick under the bus" shows us that within the greater context, point 6 did indeed mean "the bigotry in the scripts that i am currently apologizing for and explaining the presence of in this section is there because i repeated the things nick told me were true, these ideas originate from him." aka blame nick, not me. but then he remembered that scapegoating nick is also something people are accusing him of so he had to backtrack over it, which if it was actually an innocent statement, it yknow. wouldn't need to be backtracked over? it's like he thinks just because he doesn't outright say "nick has bigoted ideas that i parroted so basically its his fault" that no one can pick up on the subtext? and frankly i don't know much about nick (or james beyond this whole thing tbf so obv take everything i say with the whole shaker of salt) so this very well could be the truth to a degree, but if nick does hold bigoted views too, that's TOO. not instead. for james to repeat them without question to the camera means he doesn't disagree. even if hbomb hadn't proven the bigotry did originate from him, it would still be meaningless, because if it came from nick then that would just mean james decided to stay close working friends with a shitbag and repeat all of his garbage to his fans uncritically!

so in summary, in just this one chunk he: reminds you to be extra niceys to him because hes delicate right now, immediately lies about where the bigotry came from, talks around what he actually said wrong or that he was in the drivers seat for it, then blames nick for it before hearing himself say it out loud reminds him people are picking up on that now too and has to walk it back.

to spoof the roblox oof video: when we look at the sum collective of all of his claims regarding his bigotry, and we put it in context with. the fucking everything about him. when james says the bigotry didn't come from him, this might just be me. but I don't believe him!

[psychicbergara]

The comment section under the apology has a few comments that are like "They've left a bad taste in my mouth, it's too late now," and shit like that. I can relate but it's the FANDOM that left a bad taste in my mouth, not them. Like, I'm actually ashamed of how some people went after their entire social media presence including their wives, friends and EVEN families. Like, it actually disgusts me and I will be ashamed next time I click on a Watcher video and think about this fiasco. I couldn't even look into their eyes during the video. I'm happy about the decision as someone who has no control over her money yet and couldn't afford the platform and as someone who was angry about the hasty and sloppy launch - but how the fandom reacted is literally inexcusable and so, so fucked up. I hope they're ok and I hope they haven't seen EVERY comment. Jesus.

no literally this fandom left a worse taste in my mouth than watcher ever did. and watcher didn't even come anywhere close. like the hate ive seen in this fandom... i knew this fandom wasn't the best. it never was considering with past incidents, racism would also spew from so many people's mouths. but this time, it was just full mask-off, fully proud of their racism and shit.

and not just racism, just how cruel this fandom truly is. the fact that they sent mean comments on their loved one's posts, their families?? literally they do not even deserve to have internet access if they're gonna act this way like i'm so serious. watcher deserves an apology from these people fr.

and literally i hope they're taking a step back. i know they have a live tour this week, which... god i hope that goes okay. like after making the best compromise possible, those people at those live shows better be acting on their best behavior. it's common decency.

[salemoleander]

VERY interested in creator commentary for the 3rd life webweave (seriously one of the coolest things ive seen made in this fandom, its gorgeously edited AND very funny AND the quotes themselves are all knock-your-socks off material. That Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Line Holy Shit)

Okay so first off THANK YOU that's super kind! It's nerve-wracking posting graphic design that is reconstituted from other sources, bc I've seen it perceived as a 'lazy' or unskilled format, so this is really really encouraging to hear.

I am not a concise person, which is why this has taken so long! I realized as I was initially responding that I was trying to dive into three separate topics:

The actual process I follow, my tips + tricks on making web weaves

Analysis of my 3rd Life web weave

My philosophy towards web weaves and collage as an art form

Only one of those is the question you actually asked, so #2 is what I'll be talking about in this post! However, I am working on a video overview of the other topics, because I think they're worth exploring - I will obviously post that on this blog once it's done.

To avoid jumpscaring anyone with a wall of text, I've thrown my commentary under a readmore.

The one takeaway I'll mention before we dive in is if anyone has a character/narrative web weave request, please hit me up! I have so many I'm working on, having a next topic suggestion is super helpful to narrow things down.

General Creation Comments

I am At All Times collecting images, so it's only a matter of time until I make a webweave for a group/ concept/ person:

(My phone storage is Certainly being utilized. Also I will never be free of making these.)

It just so happened that my Third Life folder filled up fastest/ felt like it was in a good balance to work with, so that's what I started with!

I try to use a mix of text and images, and both serious and funny stuff. Even at its most serious the Life Series is also funny, and it's important to reflect that!

That said, if you compare the jokes I've picked in this piece vs the void falling web weave, you'll notice the jokes on this one trend sharper. The 'How to Detect Misery' and 'How to Tell if it's Over' memes (both from @thatsbelievable, who is a GREAT source of web weave content) are morbidly funny. Surviving horrific circumstances, preparing to suffer, unimaginable violence, eroticism and death, covered in blood - all of the jokes are violent.

As I go, I weed out posts that don't fit, or (mostly) prune text posts out. Too much text ruins the flow, and I LOVE words so I tend to have too much writing and not enough art.

3rd life had only a few things that didn't make the cut, bc I was fairly judicious as I added to that folder, but these were scrapped:

As I added the posts I knew I wanted and split them between panels, I naturally started seeing a 'flow' from early game biomes/bases and the more tender pairings, into violence + devotion, and then ending in.. something. I wasn't sure what I wanted the end to be yet.

I ran out of posts, and knew I needed Wayyy more images to offset the text, so I went looking through the Smithsonian's excellent collection of CC0-licensed art!

That's where I found the Perfect Image - that last picture of the red angel laid low. I knew immediately that it needed to be most of the final scene, with very little obscuring or distracting from it.

Okay, diving into specific panel analysis!

Panel One

It's the beginning, so everything is still fairly light - lots of brown and green tones.

The summary (imo) is that every faction in 3rd Life is in different stories!

Grian and Scar are playing cowboys, an old Western style narrative where they're beholden to each other, out to get the Bad Guys (even if objectively they're the ones being violent little instigators).

Flower Husbands are a greek fucking tragedy, Jimmy's sudden loss and Scott in mourning, trying to cause as much destruction as possible before the gods knock him down too.

Dogwarts are a middle English story of fealty and homosocial bonds and dying for honor.

And the Crastle is like. Shakespeare or Arthur Miller or Stoppard. They are in a theater, they are playing with all of the narratives. Too aware of the trajectory they're on, and entirely unable to stop it.

The images on the first page are the four primary pairings in 3rd Life - top left, in the background of the 'How to Detect Misery' meme, is the desert. The sudden punchline of that meme felt like a good starting point - a creeper-blast of a joke.

The pair to the right represent Scott and Jimmy. I liked the Impressionist and classic myth-inspired stylization. Also, the toga blended near-seamlessly into the desert hill so it looked almost like a wing, implying a tie to angels as well as foreshadowing Jimmy's death AND Scott's partnership with Grian/Scar.

Up in the top right-hand corner is a little Crastle, and the pair embracing on the right side of the page are Bdubs and Cleo. The red hair fit, but it was the old-fashioned clothing and sense of finality that I really liked.

On the left is Dogwarts - Ren and Martyn. I wanted an image that had a very different style, as they were opposed to desert duo + everyone else. I felt the sketchy ink stood out and elicited ideas of worn vellum paper. It felt like a sketch you'd discover sitting in a chest of a long-worn-down enchanting room.

There's a forest and a mostly-occluded castle in the background art on page one, also meant to represent Dogwarts. That forest bleeds into the next page, where the violence really begins.

Panel Two

We've started with a forest, but it's darker than the last one, and wilder.

Bursts of red stand out violently on the page.

'Fallen Angel' is a classic for emotionally fraught blorboposting! There are many, Many Mountain Goats songs that fit, but the way a-doctor-not-a-fangirl paired this line with this painting was striking to me. In particular, I like how 'getting revenge' was something that drove most of 3rd Life, even though Red Lives (come unhinged) were meant to be the driving force of violence. They weren't supposed to have bonds, they weren't supposed to have allies! But it's the bonds that drove the violence.

The 'I heart eroticism and death' cut-out plopped onto the collage was intended to feel like a kind of cheesy tourist stamp - 'I killed my friends in horrible death games and all I got was this lousy t-shirt' vibes.

The 'First off' comment feels like the illogical thought proces all of the doomed players (so, all of the players) were following - "if I just do well enough at murder, this will all be over."

The 'moments of grace' image is probably my most indulgent addition. I wanted a softer, quiet nod to the good parts, to the fun and the joy in between the violence. In particular, the dawn breaking on waves reminded me of the short span Grian and Scar spent tensely placing TNT under sand in the desert. I imagine silent cooperation and the sussuration of sand on sand, and quiet for just a few minutes.

'It's better to know how to let others unmask you and to endure the rule of the game' means: if you are too good, if you survive long enough, you will end up alone. This is about Bdubs and Cleo - kings of roleplay, of being a little overeager and dying for it and getting a mercifully quick ending. It is also about the cactus ring.

Panel Three

The centerpiece of this page is 'G-d's Idea', the beautiful abstract painting of a blood-soaked angel. It makes me insane every time I see it. Grim reaper in mourning kinda guy

I wanted to do something to tie more directly to the end, but didn't want to pull a disembodied-face-in-90s-grad-photo approach to add Scar. So I found a drawing that looked like the Monopoly Mountain build, and carefully added it onto one wing. I really really like this as an addition, it is probably my favorite combination in this post.

The Anne Carson quote is obvs in Minecraft font - I also split up the lines, so that the left and right side loosely create their own sentences/ideas. "There is a theory that watching other people is good for you" and "Unbearable stories may cleanse you of your darkness." I wish I had been more careful with the contrast on 'yourself all', but oh well, we can just call it being difficult to read an experiential facet of the poem.

"Do you want to go down to the pits of yourself all alone?" is a good fucking line, and manages to mirror both the commentary on us the viewers AND the experience of the creators AND the experience of the characters. We get to experience violence vicariously, the creators get to experience it with friends + in safety, and the characters (or character, I should say, just Grian left by the time you're reading this) are experiencing that low point totally alone.

Aside from the obvious fit, the Rosencrantz + Guildenstern lines stand in as a conversation between the viewers and the characters. The appraising description of kiling and dying beautifully makes way for a mournful interruption that no, fuck that, this isn't a game for us (with some obvious irony there).

Finally, I needed it to end funny; the whole thing is already more serious than it probably should've been. I like this joke because it's short, and it implies the aftermath in a comedic way. Picturing everyone spawning back into Hermitcraft, covered in blood, upset, but mostly with a profoundly awkward sense of 'well I fucked that one up. That got a bit more homoerotic than intended, and now every other shopping trip I have to make awkward eye contact with the person I mcMurdered."

Again, thank you so much for your ask and kind words! I'm looking forward to making a general guide video on web weaves one of these days :D

[woomycritiques543]

Charlie is a Hellborn demon. She's not white. She's not a human.

Do you even know what "coding" means anon?

It means "applying racial traits and or sterotypes to a non human character." Are you people just trying to gaslight at this point?

She's white coded asf, the people that are shown as the "worst" in the series are poc coded asf or are darker skinned. Those are some weird asf implications. Considering that her appearance is inspired by a white, European doll (which still makes this the "white" savior trope if the main character is implied to be based off of the appearance of a white person. She's also a person in power. So having a white coded rich character + poc coded characters being shown as "more evil" = huge disaster.) most of the poc characters are greywashed despite the show clearly being ok with giving demons human looking skin colors, yet Charlie is shown to be the "heroine" of the story while the "sinners" she has to "save" are (almost) all confirmed to be poc.

They're showing demon with the physical traits of a white person to be the "savior" of demons with the physical traits of a poc. While showing the poc coded ones as "c^nnibalistic savages" and the rich, white coded one as the "sweet preppy one who wants to make them good again!" (somehow) while her poc gf works under her as a manager to her hotel. Same with how the show presents a victim mentality with a british sounding monarchy who's shown to mistreat a minority (sound oddly familiar poc followers?) yet the show wants to present him as the victim and not actually hold him accountable for this. While his "love interest" is one of those minorities, who ive heard, "used" to be his slave that was sold to him by his rich, british sounded father for a day. Yet ive also heard that despite that, the british sounding rich character still uses his past slave to his advantage and constantly treats him as "bellow" him on top of it.

They also named the only character who has an afro and darker skin "COCO." after the fact that she's based on a black woman while naming another black character "RAT."

Yet much of you still find that these implications arent weird?

Because as someone of a minority, this combined with the "slave" plot from Season Two of Helluva Boss is EXTREMELY weird.

What the fuck?!

(This is describing things that are canon and said by the creators themselves. Please dont spam me about quoting the wiki.)

(The series also never explains what they were arrested for (not like Verosika was performing "illegally" and they wouldnt have known whether Verosika caused the sea monster since they dont know about demons. So with the "SICK DEVIANTS!" and the "pig dick" along with the constant hate comments from the script on their sexual nature. Theres a huge chance that the script (the writers) choose for them to be arrested just for being... sexual. Yeah um... a person of color getting arrested for showing their sexuality... being played off as a "joke." You legit cant call yourself "progressive" and then constantly pull shit like this towards minorities (autistics and all) and not somehow be seen as a hypocrite. Jesus Christ...)

(self explanatory 👆🏾)

(the lower class minority of the series (imps) being sold as a slave to the british monarchy of the show and the series labelling the ex-slave's relationship with his past master who takes advantage of him constantly as a "cute" and "romantic" relationship.👆🏾 Did I mention that they are also showing the minority in the situation as "theives" towards the monarchy with a british accent?)

(The representation of Voodoo as "evil"/only showing the evil spirits/misrepresenting harmful spirits as "evil.")

I swear that I am this close to making a video on this.

Yikes!

[meltwonu]

| 🍒 CH-CH-CHERRY BOMB! 🍒 |     [CHAPTER 20] FINAL

pairing; dom!seungcheol x camgirl!reader

this chapter’s notes; camshow, sex toys, shibari, dom!seungcheol, dirty talk, overstimulation/forced orgasms, squirting, degradation, name calling, daddy!kink, gags! 😍💕 ✨HAPPY NEW YEAR!!✨ Here’s to more fun fics in 2021! I can’t believe this is our last chapter though omg 😭 It’s been suuuuch a journey and a privilege to write this little series out! I’ve honestly thought about a camgirl/boy series for like, over a year now, and I’m glad I finally did it! I completed one of my goals! 🥺💕 2020 was definitely a wild one, but I want to thank you all so fuckin’ much for supporting me and stickin’ it out with me all year! Here’s to more in the coming year!💕 Also I was proofreading this at the dining table last night thinking my roommate wouldn’t come out of their room but they did(while I was making dinner and my hands were dirty so I couldnt close my laptop ☠️) and they walked past my laptop and now I’m convinced they saw my fucking smut fic right in the open so yes my little mini-break next week is MUCH needed cause I am ✨embarrassed✨ 🤣 I’ll still do my inbox roundup tomorrow and probably answer a bunch of small thirst posts ‘n stuff throughout the week but there won’t be any drabbles! For now, enjoy chapter 20 🥺, have a safe weekend, and remember that I love you~ ❤️🍒💕

chapters; 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 COMPLETE

Seungcheol wakes up much earlier than you do the next morning; pressing a kiss to your forehead as you groan and snuggle deeper into your pillow.

“Baby, I need to go run some errands for a little bit, okay? Just keep sleeping, you don’t need to get up yet. But, I made breakfast and put it in the microwave for you when you decide to get up later.”

His voice is muffled and you can barely understand what he’s saying but you nod; a soft sigh on your lips when you drift back into dreamland. He takes his time getting ready, checking his phone notifications as he gets dressed and places a note on the nightstand knowing that you didn’t catch a single word he said.

‘Hey, did you get everything I asked for?’

Jimin🧍🏻: of course, who do you think I am? Jeongguk?

Jimin🧍🏻: and btw, i’m just giving you a crash course okay? We don’t really have a ton of time

Jimin🧍🏻: did you watch those tutorial videos I sent you?

‘Yeah, I did some practice on my breaks, but I guess you can tell me if I’m doing anything wrong.’

Jimin🧍🏻: okee, i’ll be waiting. Don’t get here too late!

‘I’ll be otw soon. Thanks again, Jimin.’

“Ow--damn, okay, you don’t need to tug on it so much!”

“Sorry, I’ll be careful! And why are we practicing on you anyway?! Couldn’t you just have shown me pictures or something?”

“How else will you learn if not on an actual body? It doesn’t work the same way, Seungcheol.” Jimin pauses, checking himself in the mirror. “Also, keep in mind she does have boobs so just… go slow, okay? It’s not gonna sit like this on her.”

Seungcheol blushes a crimson red; biting the inside of his cheek at how amateur he was at this.

“Okay…”

Seungcheol is gone for a lot longer than you anticipate and although he replies quickly to your texts, you can’t help but be curious about where he’d gone and what he was doing.

Especially knowing that the two of you had to film tonight and knowing that everything was up to Seungcheol.

A shiver rolls down your body at the thought and you quickly try to shake off the nerves that seem to slowly invade your body when your mind starts to wander.

“It’ll be fine, I’m sure…”

“I’m home!”

“Where have you--oh, that’s… a b-big box? Um, should I be concerned...”

Seungcheol grins, shrugging as he sets it onto the kitchen counter. “Just some supplies for tonight. I had to go pick them up from a friend but I had to make sure everything was right.” He notices the way you can’t seem to take your eyes off of the box; eyes twinkling when he makes his way towards you.

He tilts your head up to meet his in a searing kiss, lips easing into a smile when you wrap your arms around his neck and melt under his touch. You moan against his lips just before he pulls away; staring dreamily at him while his hands start to roam over your clothed body.

“We have a long night ahead of us, sweetheart. Let’s pamper you a little before then, hmm?”

j__min: ??? where’s the loverboy

j__min has donated $200

angelhan has donated $75

therealchan99 has donated $50

xcaliburDK has donated $75

xcaliburDK: is that the sybian? Haven’t seen that in a looong while

You bite your lip and nod, somewhat shy as you sit alone in front of the camera. “Seungcheol’s still… setting up but he told me to start! I’m a little nervous, to be honest…” Your eyes flit to Seungcheol who rummages through the box in the kitchen and from the angle you’re sat in, you can’t see a single thing he takes out.

Earlier, he’d cooked you your favorite meal and even took the time to give you a full body massage before the two of you cuddled on the sofa and watched a movie. To you, it seemed a little too suspiciously tame and you only found yourself more nervous when he made you drink two glasses of water and ever so quietly announced it was time to start getting ready for the camshow.

“He’s being so suspicious! He was even gone for a few hours earlier today…” You mumble; brows furrowed at the camera before checking the comments.

It still amazed you every time with how much money you and Seungcheol made from the camshows and videos and it made you feel even better knowing that everyone loved the chemistry the two of you had together. There were a lot of video requests and ideas mixed in with the comments at any given time and you were definitely ready to pitch some to Seungcheol now that you’d rebranded your channel to be a couple’s channel instead.

“Almost done, sweetheart!”

gc__koo: he told me to watch cuz he was being suspicious with me too 

gc__koo has donated $50

alphagyu97: what is he even plotting

alphagyu97: i am excited to see the sybian again tho ngl

artist8hao: pretty baby gonna squirt for us again?

universe_WZ: hell fuckin yea let us see how fuckin wrecked you get on that machine

You feel your pussy clench around emptiness at their comments; already feeling yourself getting wetter and wetter with the anticipation.

Movement out of the corner of your eye catches your attention and Seungcheol walks towards the bed with a wide smile and the same box in hand. “Ready?” You can only nod back slowly, watching as he dumps the contents of the box right next to your body.

gc__koo: oy

chwenon: oh shit

sleepy_wonu: oh baby, you’re in for it now

sleepy_wonu has donated $100

Your entire body fills with warmth as you look over the various objects; unsure of where to really look first. “I, um--”

A stack of red ropes sits next to a small bullet vibrator that sits next to a ball gag that sits next to a pair of EMT shears and your eyes immediately flit up to Seungcheol who only smirks back at your shocked expression. “I had some other toys I wanted to use but I figured I should go easy on you, y’know? Since you showed me some mercy last night.”

Nodding, you reach out towards the ropes, touching them shyly. “Why red?”

“Thought they’d be on theme for you, babygirl.”

Seungcheol takes his time; remembering Jimin’s words when he tugs the ropes around your wrists.

“Colour, babygirl?”

“G-green… daddy…”

He nods, sitting up on his knees behind you as you sit on the sybian and face the camera. You bite your lip, somewhat embarrassed that you were already soaking the toy underneath you as Seungcheol worked to bind your arms behind you.

“D--daddy, where did you l-learn this?” You whisper, somewhat curious if this had anything to do with why he was gone for so long earlier in the day.

“Mm, daddy’s friend Jimin was kind enough to help me get the tools and teach me a few tricks to make sure I kept my babygirl safe. Wasn’t that kind of him?” You nod gently, gulping when you shift atop the machine slightly in hopes of relieving some of the growing sexual tension in your body. “Why don’t you thank him properly, sweetheart?”

Your hazy eyes make eye contact with the camera, head tilted slightly. “T-thank you, J-Jimin… for--for helping daddy…”

j__min: omg a shoutout ive made it

kitty_junjun: we never thought we’d see the day

tangerine_kwan: and here we all thought you were gonna be the bad guy huh

hoshi_tiger_xx: like when u only see previews of the book online but the rest of it is different ykwim

Seungcheol makes sure your arms are bound snug enough but not too tight; leaning away slightly to admire his rope work. “Feeling okay so far, babygirl?”

Nodding, you whine back slightly. “Y-yes, daddy… But… my--my pussy wants s-something…” He laughs in return, readjusting so that he’s sitting on your side this time to give himself easier access to start the rest of the bindings.

“Is that so? You’re gonna have to be a little more patient this time ‘cause daddy’s not done yet.” He starts working on the rest of the harness; going slow and checking in with you often to make sure none of the ropes were digging into your skin or making you uncomfortable. “You’ll have to forgive me a little though, I’m admittedly a ‘lil inexperienced so our pretty babygirl is only going to be tied up in this pretty harness for tonight.”

gentleman_josh95: the fact u even took the time to learn just for her

gentleman_josh95 has donated $100

artist8hao: seriously, the dedication

kitty_junjun: we stan a man who knows safety and etiquette 

Comments of reassurance and donations flood in at Seungcheol’s small apology and although the two of you are in your own world; you can tell from just the amount of pings coming from your laptop that they all seemed to be encouraging him.

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence as Seungcheol continues to move around you on the bed to finish the harness and a smile graces his lips when he starts to secure the last knots in the back. He can’t help but mentally pat himself on the back at how neatly he’d done it for his first time.

“There. All done, baby.”

Your eyes flit to the laptop’s screen to see yourself; cheeks hot when you see how fucked out you already look and he hadn’t even touched you properly or turned on the machine.

The star harness Seungcheol had tied looks pretty with red ropes and you can’t hide your smile at how good it looks on you too either. “Ah, daddy made it really p-pretty… Thank you.”

This time, Seungcheol nods, letting you admire yourself as he silently reaches for the small remote for the sybian, switching it on.

Your entire body lurches forward as soon as the vibrations attack your clit and you immediately find yourself moaning and grinding down onto the machine as he gives you some relief.  

“You’re welcome, babygirl. Now let’s really have some fun, huh?”

You need to cum.

Badly.

“Awww, is my pretty baby drooling? Does it feel that good on your sensitive ‘lil clit?” He teases, smoothing down your hair as you cry around the ball gag in your mouth; drool seeping out from the side of your lips when he raises the vibrations a setting higher.

You don’t know how many times he’d played with the settings and edged you by now, but all you do know is that the urge to cum only grows stronger as you grind against the machine, soaking it with your wetness as you chase the pleasure building up in your body again.  

Surely cumming was okay, right? He never said you couldn’t.

You whimper around the ball gag, eyes fluttering shut when the tension in your body snaps in the blink of an eye and your thighs clamp down onto the sides of the machine. Throwing your head back, you moan against the gag and ride out your high as Seungcheol watches you from the side.

“Mm, bet that felt good, huh? But I know you want something in that greedy ‘lil cunt of yours, don’t you? You want daddy’s cock slamming into your tight ‘lil hole ‘til it’s full of my cum, right, sweetheart?” He licks his lips, turning off the sybian as you slump forward.

universe_WZ: shit shes so sensitive

chwenon: especially with her arms bound like that i bet she’s on cloud nine rn

gentleman_josh95: her cute lil head is probably all fuzzy already from all the sensations

therealchan99 has donated $100

gc__koo has donated $75

j__min has donated $150

All you can do is whimper and nod; teary eyes blinking back at Seungcheol as he smirks and leans in towards you.

“Mmm, you’ll get what you want eventually. But for now, you’re gonna cum again.”

He turns the sybian back on, licking his lips when he sees your body tensing again. It was always easier to get you to cum a second time and his point is proven when you mewl around the ball gag a few minutes later; chest heaving in stuttered breaths as you try to shy away from the toy still vibrating against your overly sensitive clit when you’re quickly thrown into another orgasm.

“You always cum for daddy so easily, don’t you, babygirl?”

Your head feels fuzzy after already cumming twice in such a short span of time but you nod, head lolling to the side as Seungcheol finally turns the sybian off for good.

Seungcheol gives you a second to catch your breath before he’s scooting in and fiddling with the clasps at the back of your head to take the ball gag off.

A thread of saliva connects your lips to the gag and you whimper at how good it feels to be able to actually speak again. “D-daddy…” Drool drips from your mouth as your lead lolls forward and Seungcheol is quick to bring a hand up to keep your head up as he looks into your lust filled eyes.

“Colour, sweetheart?”

“Still g-green…” He nods back, checking to make sure none of the ropes had shifted. “Would you like some water before we continue, baby?”

“Yes, daddy…”

He fetches you a glass of water, tilting it against your lips as you down the entire glass and you find yourself a little surprised at how needed it was. “Thank you, d-daddy…”

“You’re welcome, babygirl. Ready to keep going?”

You nod, a little bit more energized. “I hope everyone, mmh, l-likes the show so f-far~” Your teary vision prevents you from reading the comments and before you can even make an effort to, Seungcheol is already helping you off of the machine and helping you sit on the bed across from him.

alphagyu97: ugh she looks so fucking good in that harness

angelhan: right? That shade of red looks so good against her skin too

angelhan: so fuckin pretty

tangerine_kwan: pics for the private room later? Plz i beg

Seungcheol takes this time to take off his boxer briefs, cock curving up against his abdomen when he’s fully naked across from you. He wraps a hand around his cock, moaning and spreading the precum down his shaft as you watch. “D’you want this, baby?”

Your lips fall open in a silent moan as you watch Seungcheol jerk himself off and you can’t help but squirm. “Y-yes…”

“Tell me exactly what you want then. Let them hear what a filthy little slut you are for me.” You can’t help but feel miserably empty watching him and despite having already cum twice, you want his cock fucking you open and making you cum again.

“I--I--”

“Yes, babygirl?”

“I, ngh, I want d-daddy’s cock… Please? Ah, I--I wanna feel you fucking my--my pussy into the, mmh, s-shape of your c-cock… And I w-want you to c-cum inside my--my slutty little h-hole…”

Seungcheol scoffs, hips shallowly thrusting up into his enclosed fist. “That’s right. You’re just my slutty ‘lil babygirl that lets me use all her tight holes how I please, right? You like it when I cum down your throat and in your pretty ‘lil ass. But we all know you like it best when I cum in your hot ‘lil cunt. Makes you feel all warm and full, doesn’t it? You like it when my cum is dripping out of your spent cunt and sliding down your shaky thighs.” This time you nod furiously as you whine back in response.

“P-please… Can’t wait any--anymore!”

This time, the impatience takes over as you slightly tug on the ropes; whining when they don’t give. “Daddy!”

And this time, he gives in quicker than he anticipates, growling as he reaches for the EMT shears to cut you from the harness. “Don’t let your arms down, no matter how much you want to. You’re going to strain your arms if you move too fast so let me handle it, okay, sweetheart?”

The sudden gentleness in his voice has a giddy warmth pouring over you as you nod and sit still while he cuts at various points of the harness to make the ropes fall loose around your arms and chest. You keep your arms in the same position like he requested and you soon feel his hands roaming your skin and massaging your arms to get the blood flowing again.

“You’re so good for me, baby.” He whispers against your hair, leaning down to kiss your shoulder before he slowly easing your arms down from being folded behind your back.

He continues to massage your arms for a few more minutes before it’s you that’s getting impatient. “Daddy… Can you fuck me now?” Whispering, you slightly turn your body to the side to meet his gentle stare.

Seungcheol laughs under his breath, nodding. “Lay on your back for me, legs spread.”

You follow his orders as you quickly scramble to get into position; legs spread wide for him to situate himself between.

“Mm, your pussy is still so fuckin’ wet. I wanna taste you on my tongue, baby.” Whines spill from your lips as you shake your head ‘no.’

“No! My p-pussy feels empty, I need y-your cock, daddy… ‘n I’m so wet, you can probably, ah, just s-slide your cock in…”

He wraps a hand around his cock just as you wrap your legs around his waist and he guides himself until the head of his cock is right at your entrance.

Neither of you say a word as he slowly starts to sink his cock in; guttural moans on his lips when he meets no resistance and bottoms out in a singular thrust. “Holy fuck, your cunt is so fuckin’ wet. Shit, and so t-tight!” You clench around him, already feeling good with his cock inside of you as you beg him to fuck you hard and fast.

“Ngh, p-please fuck me like--like I’m your, hah, c-cocksleeve… I want it f-fast, daddy!”

He grits his teeth at your words; drawing his hips back before snapping them into you just how you wanted. “Fast, hmm? All you think about in that pretty head of yours is my cock pounding you open, huh? Slamming into you so fuckin’ good, it makes your toes curl when you cum.”

Seungcheol starts a quick pace, already feeling the pleasure building up for himself when you’re reduced to garbled noises and broken cries of his name. The heels of your feet dig into the small of his back as you try to press him in closer and he’s quick to reach for the small bullet vibrator left on the bed next to your body.

“Your body is so fuckin’ sensitive, I can already feel how tight you’re getting around me. So fuckin’ greedy to cum too. Already came twice and you still want more. You’re not satisfied until your whole body is shaking underneath me, huh, sweetheart?” He turns the small toy on, pressing it to your clit as you yelp and let out choked sobs.

“Ah, ngh, d-daddy, my--my clit’s t-too sen--sensitive! I--I can’t--!” Squirming, you feel the pressure building up obscenely quick; bottom lip quivering when he takes one of your free hands and makes you hold the toy to your swollen clit.

“Just a little more, sweetheart. Don’t you wanna cum?”

He angles his thrusts to graze against your g-spot and loud cries of his name leave your lips in a hurried, jumbled mess when he only doubles his pace.

The sound of donations and comments pour in like water and get lost within the ringing in your ears; unable to even warn Seungcheol that you’re about to cum when you feel your entire body starting to lock up underneath him.

Your lips part in a silent scream and your back bows off of the bed, thighs shaking uncontrollably as you cum for the third time. Seungcheol growls, fucking you through it as you squirt all over his lower half.  He finds it harder and harder to thrust into you as you cum, but he feels himself quickly following suit with your warm walls fluttering around his cock.

“Fuck, baby, that’s right. Squirt for me, get me fuckin’ soaked while you cum.” He uses a free hand to make sure you keep the toy pressed to your clit, growling when he starts to unload his cum inside of you. “Mmh, gonna fill your cunt up with what you want, baby.”

A shaky moan leaves your lips as you feel him throbbing inside your pussy; walls clamped down onto him in a vice grip as you ride out the remnants of your orgasm.

“Ah, d-daddy’s cumming suh--so much inside of my p-pussy…”

Whining, you feel Seungcheol’s grip on your hand give way as he rides out his pleasure and you take the opportunity to turn off the small bullet vibrator while he doesn’t notice.

You watch his face contort in pleasure, hips still shallowly thrusting into you as his entire body shivers above you.

“D-daddy’s so h-handsome...” You mumble, cheeks hot when he cracks a smile through the pleasure wracking his body and chuckles under his breath. 

“Thank you, babygirl.” 

After you end the show, Seungcheol makes sure to cuddle with you on the bed for a little while longer.

“One more glass of water, baby.” You whine in response, pouting up at him before he gets up from the soaked sheets. 

“But I already had a glass! If you have a piss kink just say so, ‘Cheol!”

He lets out a boisterous laugh at your comment, trudging back to the bed from the kitchen with another glass of water for you. “You need to be hydrated, sweetheart. You came three times and we played a little more rough today. I just wanna make sure you’re okay.” 

“Fine, but you didn’t deny my comment.” You snarkily reply, taking the glass from him as you down the water. 

“Don’t make me have to punish you again! I’ll have you know I still need to get you all washed up and change the bed--”

A faint pinging has the two of you turning to the laptop; still on your camming homepage from where you’d checked the revenues from tonight’s show. 

A small [1] sits above your inbox and Seungcheol is quick to turn to you with an eyebrow raised. “I thought you turned off the messaging system on your profile?” 

You tilt your head in confusion, handing him the emptied glass. “I did. The only messages I should get are from, like, the actual system admins or other creator accounts which, I haven’t received any ‘til... now, I guess?”

Seungcheol sets the glass down onto the nightstand before he takes a seat next to you, dragging the laptop closer as you go to check the notification. 

“’Love&Letter Films’? Aren’t they one of the biggest adult film companies?” Mumbling, you click on the message, giving yourself and Seungcheol a second to process the message that stares back at you; a shocked smile on your lips.

‘Hello!

I hope this message finds Cherry and Seungcheol well. 

We, at ‘Love&Letter Films’, have really enjoyed the shows and videos from your channel throughout the years and we really have enjoyed watching the growth of your channel and the addition of Seungcheol to it. The dynamics between the two of you are rare in this industry and we’ve yet to see anyone like the two of you in this market. 

The shows from the last two nights have proven that the two of you have the right kind of chemistry to film together for bigger productions and we would love to hire you for a few film productions we have planned in the upcoming weeks as a feeler. Of course, all expenses paid by us if you would kindly take our offer. 

We love the various scenes and roles that the two of you take on with ease and we would love to help propel your careers forward, should you pursue a career in the adult entertainment industry. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me as I’ve listed my contact information below. I’m excited to hear from the two of you and hope to work with you in the future on many projects.

Respectfully, 

Kwon Soonyoung, L&L FILMS CEO’

[uwua3]

Hello! Sunflowers hold a really special meaning for me so when i read the "sunflower dreams" My heart was so happy!! I havent felt this happy in a long time since quarantine started so thank you for taking the time to write it! It really made my day. If i could request a kazunari x reader where they're both artists that would be amazing. Maybe the reader can be a famous anonymous art influencer? Its up to you! Again thank you so much for writing "sunflower dreams" 💜

i’m so happy i could make you smile ‧⁺◟( ᵒ̴̶̷̥́ ·̫ ᵒ̴̶̷̣̥̀ ) it’s messages like these that absolutely make my day! thank you so much for taking your time to even read it, i’m glad to know it touched your heart ♡ i hope you have a good rest of your day—please know all of a3! love you vvv much!!! ｀･ω･)9 i hope this makes your heart happy just like before! thank you, anon, for everything

summary: every time you fell in love, you made a new art piece

author’s note: please smile from this absolutely soft and endearing kazunari fluff! in times like these where negativity is all around us, it’s good to take a break and purposely give yourself happiness. i hope this is a light in your day and makes you experience all the goodness of love! ♡ — concept based on “to all the boys i’ve loved before”

word count: 3,389

music: i like me better – lauv

to everyone i’ve loved before.

🌻🎨 miyoshi kazunari

you created art every time you had a crush so intense, you didn’t know what else to do

no matter how big or small it was, or how long or short it lasted, love is love. even if it was a random stranger you’d never see again or someone you knew for a lifetime, love is love

therefore, there was no exact total. because even if you didn’t remember every single person you’ve made art for, you clearly remembered what it was like experiencing the euphoria of love. the phenomenon of your heart selflessly beating for someone else. the attack of getting hit by cupid’s arrow out of no where. the rush of emotions unlike any other

love was everywhere and you made sure to create something that was a memory of it. that was when you decided to practice art after being unable to recall a person’s face a moment too long

it was your form of a love letter. a picture spoke a thousand words you couldn’t write, and art was the perfect way to convey that. online for everyone to see were your love letters in art form: portraits of everyone you’ve loved

you fell in love again and again, a new art piece posted soon over the years of your life. under the username, to-everyone-ive-loved, a lifelong project was in the works for all of social media to see

unknown to the rest of the world, you were the artist behind the blog “to-everyone-ive-loved” who created portraits from memory

but, you didn’t mean to fall in love with another artist as well

all it took was one comment and you were theirs

it was one of your most recent posts, a finished piece on a stranger you saw. you found yourself in veludo way, the ideal street to find people you’d never forget. after witnessing a sudden street act, only one actor caught your eye that day

you didn’t know his name, but you didn’t need to. you were in love

you immediately rushed home without a second thought, the inspiration and creativity infectious after watching him perform. something about his energy was wildly entertaining and bizarre, like a modern pop song as a person. he was effortlessly trendy, popular, and charismatic just from the few minutes you saw him

the moment he stood up on that street corner like it was a stage, all eyes were on him and he knew it. as you sketched into the day, you remembered the small details clearly. dirty blonde hair with no dark roots in sight, glittering green eyes, wide welcoming smile. he had the face of an actor, that’s for sure

when you posted it right after finishing, you didn’t expect any major attention. on average, your posts got 100 likes or so. while it was an impressive feat, nothing could’ve prepared you for that one comment

kaz-PIKO: i’m in love with your art ♡

as your popularity and fame grew before your very eyes, you clicked on his profile and realized it was him. the actor you had seen earlier at veludo way

you didn’t know what happened, but all you knew was you couldn’t forget this one person, miyoshi kazunari, no matter how hard you tried

no matter where you went, you couldn’t draw anyone else except that boy named kazunari. after scrolling through his entire instablam account, you found out he was an actor for mankai company’s summer troupe. he was a star in his own right, with a stage presence like the spotlight was constantly on him and a heart of gold

this was the first time you ever got so caught up on someone that they didn’t leave your mind. hours became days, and days began becoming a week before you let yourself follow him back

everyone you had ever drawn had never recognized themselves before. it was all because a follower connected the visual similarities between your art and kazunari’s unique traits that kazunari knew you had seen him before

if only he wasn’t a social media influencer with followers reaching the hundreds of thousands. at least, his popularity attracted attention to your profile...

this was a problem, however. because if you couldn’t draw anyone else, what could you do? once again, you stalked kazunari’s blog once again like it was a habit

it was never really a rule to make one love letter per person, but you never had wanted to make another for the same person. until, now

video after video. picture after picture. story after story. you could see kazunari’s face even when you closed your eyes. what about him made you daydream about him constantly? was it his charming voice that could make anyone stop and stare? his intricate piercings that were different every day? his ability to make you feel at home? whatever it was (or maybe it was an accumulation of everything and more), you had to draw kazunari again

when you posted it, you typically didn’t add more to the caption than the date and time. except this time, you felt like all your rules were being broken over someone who had no idea who you were

to-everyone-ive-loved-before: XX/XX/20 (3:33 A.M.) — social butterfly

you watched it upload. it was a piece you had never done before. glowing butterflies of all colors surrounded the center of the masterpiece, a smiling kazunari

hopefully, this would solve whatever feelings you were having and the world would go back to normal. you’d move on, fall in love with someone else, and repeat

it didn’t work, because some time later, you woke up to a comment that made you feel the butterflies in your stomach

kaz-PIKO: like a butterfly, i’ll fly to you, wherever you are~ ☆

and for some reason, you wanted kazunari to find you

you had never felt so motivated to draw before. however, your muse was the same. a beautiful boy named miyoshi kazunari who was slowly capturing your heart without even knowing it. you watched the pages in your sketchbook lessen and lessen. the corners of assignments and napkins and anything in between was covered in doodles. if there was a writing instrument in your hand, something related to kazunari would come out of it

it was a fascination. a fixiation, even. you had only seen one performance before falling in love. was it because kazunari responded that it made you feel like you had a chance?

you wouldn’t admit it, but it was becoming embarrassing with how much you were staring at the few unread messages from kazunari in your dm box. they came in right after you had followed him back, and more arrived when you posted the “social butterfly” piece

what was stopping you from talking to your muse? you knew the answer without thinking: what if these feelings were real?

obsessions and crushes come and go, but... love, love stayed. there wasn’t any possibility you could love someone from afar without knowing anything about them, right?

but, then again... you did know some things about kazunari. you knew kazunari was the best actor of all time, with expressions and gestures the equivalent of art. kazunari was art—in every single way possible. everything about him made you want to draw and draw and draw

you only drew kazunari for a certain time, no matter which stranger crossed your path. people you knew you would’ve sketched simply became passer-bys, and it was all because of kazunari’s sunny smile that you were in love. or, what you thought was love

the more you thought about kazunari’s unread dms, the more you wondered what this was. why did kazunari make you so happy? was this truly the first time you were experiencing... a crush?!

for the first time since that street act, you found yourself in veludo way. while half of you was hoping you’d randomly bump into summer troupe’s moodmaker, the other half was petrified about how kazunari was a real person. a very much popular, recognizable person

it was the weekend, and the burden of university projects was telling you to go back and focus. yet, with a sketchbook in one hand and a pencil tucked behind your ear, you were very much prepared to draw to your heart’s content

as you tried to flip to a clean page, you heard something that made your heart flutter. despite the noise and busy atmosphere of veludo, a distinct laugh was audible above the crowd. when you looked up, your eyes barely registered a deep blue jacket before walking straight into the person

you nearly tumbled to the ground before two hands steadied you, a surprised “whoa!” leaving their mouth before being followed by a gentle laugh. the usual embarrassment didn’t set in until you went to go thank the person, only to stop

oh my god. you had just bumped into miyoshi kazunari, your muse for the past month or so

kazunari grinned, even though it faltered slightly at your wide-eyed expression and awkward silence. he didn’t seem to mind as he adjusted his black top hat, pocketing his phone and confidently meeting your gaze

“i’m so sorry~! i hope you’re okay, i’m kazunari!” kazunari introduced and you realized he didn’t know you were behind to-everyone-ive-loved-before. you quickly adjusted yourself, pretending as if this wasn’t the highlight of your entire week

when you introduced yourself, kazunari’s eyes sparkled with interest as he easily led you into conversation. despite being a bit of a socially awkward artist who preferred being alone over anything else, kazunari was... comfortable. you didn’t feel self-conscious of how you acted, because he readily accepted how you were with a smile

was he like this was everyone or... did he find you to be a work of art, too?

standing off to the side, you finally noticed several members of mankai were advertising their latest play. bright, aesthetically pleasing flyers were being handed out to everyone walking by, and you seemed to look a moment too long before kazunari followed your gaze and suddenly snapped his fingers

“oh! are you interested in theatre?” you really weren’t, but you nodded anyways just to see kazunari’s excitement. he pardoned himself for a moment just to snatch a flyer, returning to show it off with a proud smile

“please come to mankai company’s summer performance!” kazunari’s smile sparkled and before he looked around to see if anyone was watching, he winked. kazunari covered the side of his face that was facing his troupe members, pretending as if you two were sharing some big secret

“plus, i’ll be there. if you come, i’ll make sure to do my very best~” kazunari bargained, even though you already knew he was already planning on wowing the audience with his charisma. you took in his genuine want to impress you and the butterflies came back

“i’ll come.” you agreed without even checking the date or reading anything. now all of you just wanted more & more opportunities as the person kazunari was surprisingly interested in, not as the artist who was basically in love with him

agreeing right away was worth it when kazunari shot you a grateful, blinding smile in return. you stumbled over your words with how taken back you were, but asked anyways, “do you like flowers?”

kazunari’s eyes softened for a moment, his usual energy suddenly gone before returning. he seemed genuinely moved by your question, and you wondered how many flowers it’d take to see him smile again like that

“i do, especially if they’re from you.”

“what kind?”

someone called kazunari’s name, insisting they were going to be late for practice. kazunari shouted back an agreement by telling them to go ahead first, before putting all his attention on you once again

“hibiscus.” meaning delicate beauty

before kazunari could ask for your socials, with his hand already reaching for his phone, you cut him off, hoping your voice wasn’t off

“next week. 7 P.M., mankai theatre. i’ll be there, front row.” you promised and took off, rushing off with a wave as kazunari stared after you for a second before waving back enthusiastically

as you left, kazunari was about to leave before he noticed something on the ground. it was a plain sketchbook, unassuming at first but it was nearly bursting at the binding with how many pages there were

when kazunari picked it up, he was about to flip to the first page before mankai called his name again, impatient this time. kazunari held onto the book and sent one last glance towards your direction before disappearing, hurrying to make sure the director wouldn’t penalize him for being the reason everyone was late

when you arrived home, you instinctually reached for the pencil behind your ear. at the same time, you put your hand in your bag, attempting to feel the familiar edges of your sketchbook

then, after turning your bag inside out and finding nothing, you collapsed onto your desk chair with shock and disbelief

you lost your sketchbook in veludo way the moment you met kazunari. what if he had it?

you drew another piece and stared at your screen, wondering if you should post it. it was kazunari once again with a yellow hibiscus flower behind his ear, the same gentle smile you couldn’t perfectly capture gracing his lips

you typed the caption and backspaced before settling on something that only you and him would know

to-everyone-ive-loved-before: XX/XX/20 (8:01 P.M.) — delicate beauty

you hesitated before deleting the post a second after. maybe, you’d keep some artwork to yourself

kazunari had the sketchbook open next to his bedside, his phone in his hands and your profile open. he could recognize your art style a mile away, and the moment he saw the first sketch after practice, he couldn’t believe it

did this explain why he felt such a natural attraction to you? when you bumped into him, kazunari swore he could see the sparks flying. you made him feel like he was falling in love and you only proved him right when you two talked earlier. he wanted to know everything about you, he wanted to see you again

was this what love at first sight felt like? kazunari giddily typed a message over and over again, the unread messages of his filling his screen

kaz-PIKO: heya!! ★>d(,,･ε´-,,)⌒☆ just wanted to say i LOVE your art fr!!! we should totes collab, you know???

kaz-PIKO: thanks for drawing me btw :0 does this mean you live near veludo? let’s meet up!!!

kaz-PIKO: ,,, i don’t usually say this but, that social butterfly piece was breathtaking. you must really like me, huh? (･ω<)☆ jk haha

kaz-PIKO: no but really, it’s beautiful. thank you, honestly. it made my day, you make me happy ♡

kaz-PIKO: you must be really beautiful, too. i would want to draw you as well. lmk if ur up for that haha

kazunari read back his previous messages, all of them delivered but unopened. he realized how... how open he already was with the anonymous faceless artist, despite never interacting with them

now that he knew what you looked like, it only reassured his intuition that he was rightfully head over heels for you

kazunari typed something before deleting it, closing out of instablam and throwing his phone somewhere on his bed

kaz-PIKO: i was right, you are beautiful. i may have fallen in love, too

some things were better left unsaid. after all, you two had until next week to figure everything out

for the rest of the week, all you and kazunari did were think about the other person. a small part of you was afraid kazunari wasn’t the dream boy you imagined, but he was much more. you noticed he started posting more often and turned his notifications, wanting to be one of the first to see his practice videos and university selfies

you didn’t post any of the art you made of kazunari, making it the longest you hadn’t posted ever. kazunari couldn’t help but refresh your account every now and then, hoping he’d see his face again, as selfish as it was. kazunari wouldn’t know how’d he feel if he saw someone else had your heart

the longer time went on, the more you were certain. every fascination you had with someone was temporary, and you remembered the feeling rather than the person. but, with kazunari, you liked him for who he was. everything kazunari made you feel was new and exciting, but even when that went away, you still liked him

kazunari was your first crush, for real

kazunari liked making people like him. so, your online confession through art wasn’t exactly a surprise. but, yours was different. it was earnest, honest, and everything he didn’t know he was needing

kazunari looked through your sketchbook again and again, tracing over the notes you wrote in the margins and admiring your skill

kazunari liked you, and he was certain he would’ve still liked you even if you weren’t to-everyone-ive-loved-before

when showtime arrived, kazunari was oddly nervous. peeking from behind the red curtain, kazunari could already see you were one of the first sitting front row, just like you said. he had practiced his lines a thousand times and summer was fully prepared, why was he nervous?

before he went on, kazunari ignored the urgency of the mankai staff and quickly texted a message to your profile, hoping you’d at least see the notification this time

kaz-PIKO: i like you, too

(when you felt your phone buzz, you quickly silenced it)

the show moved you to a standing ovation, just like everyone else in the audience. as summer walked out to bow and express their gratitude, you watched kazunari’s eyes search for yours as he tilted his head towards backstage. you nodded, knowing you’d do anything to see this kazunari. actor kazunari, who was on cloud 9 with his performance and glowing from praise

you wanted to see, to experience, to draw, all versions of kazunari

after the applause, you looked around backstage before feeling a hand on your arm, the feeling reminiscent of the first time you bumped into kazunari

“you came.” kazunari breathlessly stated, as if he was surprised. before he could say anything else, you presented him with a bouquet of hibiscus flowers. the same shade of yellow you drew him with

“of course, i wanted to see you again.” you honestly admitted, knowing it made you flustered. kazunari carefully took the flowers before grinning, gently placing then beneath his chin. he looked like a vision, you wish you could’ve asked him to stand still so you could capture this moment forever

“i wanted to see you, too.” kazunari softly said, all the energy of being on stage gone. it was tranquil and peaceful, like you two were the only people in the entire theatre

kazunari took a moment to admire you before realizing something, taking something from behind him and presenting it to you. it was your sketchbook on the bottom, but a smaller version was on top of it, signed in silver sharpie. kazunari’s signature was glittering like his eyes as you took it

“next time, let’s draw together.”

kazunari’s sketchbook was filled with you. anything from small doodles to encouraging messages was found inside, with tens of post-it notes of just thoughts about you. kazunari’s art was colorful and extremely out of the box compared to his usual traditional style. it made you smile

kazunari watched you flip through it, already knowing this was the greatest act of love he could’ve declared this early on. he anticipated for you to reach the end

when you landed on the last page, you saw a note

do you want go on a date with me?

“next time, respond to my dms! that way i don’t have to write everything~!” kazunari teased and you two shared a laugh, knowing everything was going to be okay

“yes.”

“yes...?”

“yes, i’ll respond to your dms. and yes, i’ll go on a date with you.”

eventually, you ended up closing your blog for good. your last post was a picture of you and kazunari, with one caption

to-everyone-ive-loved-before: XX/XX/20 (3:33 P.M.) — to the one boy i love now, i love you

kaz-PIKO: i love you, too ♡

[liliesoftherain]

Ground Zero reads Thirst Tweets

A/N: Hey guys, this is a collab with @pinky-the-elephant-room​ !! This is the first part, and the second part can be found here! Her part is NSFW so since i’m a SFW blog we thought it would be best to split the parts! So here’s my contribution! 

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x Reader

You walked inside the studio, thanking the heavens that it was cooler than it was outside. Greeting the producers of the setup, you gladly made your way by the set to see two stools placed side-by-side in front of a blue backdrop. 

“Hello, Seize-san! Thank you so much for coming in today, I am Hana and I’m here to help you through this!” You grinned at the young woman who walked up to you. She was short stature and plump figure and gave off the impression of a warm and welcoming personality. Instantly putting you at ease.

“Thank you so much for having me! It’s an honor to be showcased here, along with another hero! You guys are truly kind to grant the opportunity to work alongside you, and please, call me (l/n).”

She nodded enthusiastically, grinning at the praise from such a top hero as yourself. 

“Thank you again, (l/n)-san, come let’s get you ready for the camera! Are you in need of anything to drink, anything to snack on?”

“No ma’am, I am fine! I’m just ready for the shoot!”

“As is your partner!”

You both shared a laugh, both knowing the person you were recording with today was the opposite of ready for this.

“Oh, I’m sure that is the case, ma’am, where is he by the way?”

“He’s right behind you, stupid.”

You turned to see the annoyed blonde behind you, being escorted to the seating area close to where you were being led.

“Ah Ground Zero, good to see you haven’t blown anything up yet.”

“Shove off, hurry up so we can get this over with.”

You laughed, waving him off as the members looked on with concern.

“Don’t be rude, Bakugou! I’ll be there with you soon enough; all you have to do is be good and wait for me.” You winked, eyeing him up and down before turning back around, allowing Hana to guide you off towards your station to get ready. 

The makeup artists just refreshed your makeup and made you ready for the video. You came out of the dressing room, dressed in your usual hero costume but looking less like you’ve been running through the streets of Tokyo. Bakugou was in usual costume but without his hand gauntlet. 

 “Okay you two, we’d like to thank you for taking the time to come on set and do this showing. These tweets are real, and we just want your genuine reaction from them! We’ll try to limit the cuts to be able to ensure that real response, and don’t be afraid to let loose! These are Thirst Tweets for a reason!”

You laughed along with everyone else, except Bakugou who looked a little annoyed by the entire thing. You gave him a slight shove with your shoulders, biting your lip subtly as his gaze locked onto yours. 

“Cheer up already, this is supposed to be fun. What, do you not want to be here with me?” 

“That’s not--Shut up, shitty woman. Just get ready.” he huffed, glancing away from your stare as he mumbled back.

“Okay, starting in 3, 2…,” The cameraman pointed instead of saying one, signaling the tape was now rolling. You beamed at the camera, working your charm as you gave a little wave.

“Hi, guys! I’m, (l/n) (y/n), or better yet, Seize!”

“And I’m Bakugou Katsuki, Ground Zero.”

“And today we’re reading…,” you trailed off, looking expectantly at your partner.

“Thirst Tweets.”

“You could be a little more enthusiastic you know.”

“Oi, shut it!”

You giggle, looking deviously at the camera before swiping his mug-shaped container.

“Oi, what are you-”

“Let’s see what people are saying about our dear Ground Zero, hm? That’s alright with everyone else, right?”

The crew joyfully agreed at the twist, and with their approval, you shoved your container in Katsuki’s chest.

“All right, let’s see,” You snorted, slapping Bakugou’s shoulder as you read the first tweet, “‘I would love to be able to rip that Hero suit right off of Ground Zero and rub my face along those God-like abs. Can a man be any hotter!? Have you seen his moobs!? *dROOLING*”

“Ha!?” Bakugou looked at the tweet with narrowed eyes before looking back at the camera, “Do you know how expensive this hero suit is!? You ain't ripping shit! Plus, what the hell are moobs?”

“Oh Bakugou, half of the world's population would love to rip that suit off, myself included. Plus, those are your man boobs, and they are absolutely correct, you have the best titties I have ever seen!” You winked at the camera while throwing the paper over your shoulder, “NEXT!”

You gave your bucket a good shake, making eye contact with the confused blonde who was still stuck on your last comment.

“‘Y’all don’t understand what I would do just to have @GroundZero to choke me with a gloved hand. Or do anything to me really. He could hit me with his car, repeated use his quirk on me, give me paper cuts all over my body and throw me into a pool of lemon juice, and I’d beg for some more like yes zaddy **** my ***** up!,’ OH MY GOD.” You used one hand to hold your mouth in amusement, putting the bucket between your thighs so you could show the tweet with your now free hand. 

“You have some pretty kinky fans, Bakugou,” you teased, waving the paper in his face as he grabbed your wrist to hold it steady, staring in disbelief.

“You all are disgusting, why in the fuck would anyone do that to you? Let alone me, who the hell do you think I am!?”

“I mean, you can’t judge, can you?” 

He snaps his head to look at you, a heated glare on his face.

“The hell, of course, I can judge! These people want me to torture them, sick bastards.”

You laughed as Bakugou sucked in a sharp breath between clenched cheeks, you were thoroughly enjoying his discomfort. 

“NEXT!” You shouted, crumbling the paper and tossing it at Bakugou.

“How many of these are there?” He sighed, looking in your bucket in his hands and shaking it around.

“With the way you look there are bound to be a ton.”

“What-”

“‘If I were only able to take just Ground Zero’s jaw out on a date, I’d never be happier’ Oh that one isn’t so bad-”

“My jaw? What the hell-” He looked over your shoulder, reading the tweet.

You looked up and stared at the blessed jawline.

“That’s what it says, but I gotta disagree,” You grabbed his arm and squeezed it while smirking deviously into the camera, “These arms are better, I’d take these bad boys out for coffee over his jaw any day.”

Instead of shaking you off, you swore you felt Bakugou flex slightly under your hold and couldn’t help the shit-eating grin that overtook your face as you stared up at him through your eyelashes.

“Are you flexing, Ground Zero?”

“HAH!? NO WAY, READ THE NEXT DAMN TWEET AND GET OFF OF ME ALREADY.” He snatched his arm from your hold as you waved him off, grabbing the last tweet from the container.

“Aw guess there weren’t as many as I thought, we’re already reaching the end-”

“Good because I’m tired of these wackjobs.”

You scanned over the paper, unable to contain yourself as you busted out laughing. You knew Bakugou was glaring at you, but you couldn’t help it, you almost fell off your chair, having to once again grab his arm for support.

“This, I just- Oh my God, Bakugou you’re-HA!”

“Can you knock it off and read it before I blow your ass up!” He hissed at you, and you knew you shouldn’t have made the situation any worse than it was- but sometimes you can’t help yourself.

“Damn, I mean if you really wanna tap this ass Bakugou, how can I say no~?”

He growled lowly, glaring harshly at your face as you only winked in response. 

“Watch it, (l/n)-”

“‘Ive always been straight BUT i wish ground zero would rip me apart like he did to tht one moth villain, n after tht I have literally never questioned my sexuality so hard, I would let tht man bury his **** so far inside my *** tht i become the Queen of the f**king gays, all hail to me, GZ’s b**tch.Thts it. Thts the tweet.’ HAA.”

You felt Bakugou tense beside you, and when you looked over you saw him shaking in anger.

“Oh what, it’s charming!” You slowed your laughter down to measly chuckles, catching your breath as you were wiping tears from your eyes.

“How is that god damn charming!?” He seethed.

“You know, I can see it.”

“See what?”

“You being gay-”

“HA!? WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING.”

You look back to the camera and give an innocent shrug.

“He could've fooled me, I swear I saw him checking out Deku a few missions back-” A small explosion cut you off, and you rolled your eyes.

“So dramatic, it’s no big deal. I check out Deku all the time too.”

“You fucking what?”

“Oh yea, I mean I check out Shoto too but Deku’s got a cute ass. What can I say-”

“You’re fucking pathetic.” He huffed, snapping his gaze away from where you sat.

“Sorry, was I overstepping? I’ll leave your man alone!” You teased, poking his thigh as you did.

“Goddammit (l/n), I’m not fucking gay for Deku!” He swatted your hand away, scooting as far away as he could from you.

Which wasn’t very far, seeing as he made no effort to move the stools away from each other.

“So you’re gay for-”

“NOBODY!”

“Okay okay!! Just read my tweets already, I know they’re getting antsy watching us just talk about your closeted sexuality!”

“...tch.” 

You could practically see a vein popping out of his neck, and even though you were sure he was picturing murdering you in his mind, you couldn’t help but think of how sexy it was.

You watched as he unenthusiastically pulled out a piece of paper, bored eyes scanning till they narrowed.

“You’re fucking fans are worse than mine.”

“What! Read it, I wanna hear!”

“Do I have to-”

You cut him off with a sharp look of your own, wearing him down until he sighed and did as he was supposed to. 

“‘I would pay any amount of money, or literally give up any organ-appendix, spleen, gallbladder, lungs, my damn heart, just so Seize can spit on my face and call me a worthless, good-for-nothing loser, then kick my body and walk away. It would be my honor and my greatest life accomplishment.’” He threw the paper in front of him as if it were burning his skin, once again staring at the camera in disgust.

“Wow,” You giggled, “I don’t even know how to respond. I don’t really think that’s worse than yours Bakugou, but thanks I guess?” 

“Thanks!? That’s all you’re going to say? How about I kick your ass and call you a worthless shithead myself, would that turn on all you perverts watching this, ha!?” 

You smacked his arm playfully as you tried to get him to calm down, but his heavy breathing was an indication he wasn’t having it.

“I’m sure it would-,” His head whipped to face you and you clicked your tongue at his behavior.

“Oh, c’mon don’t be a prude, these are juicy and I for one wanna keep hearing them! So, hurry up and read another one before you blow a gasket.”

“Whatever, this is fucking stupid.”

“Alright stupid, just keep going.”

He side-eyed you, grinding his teeth together in what you assumed was to hold back even more vulgar insults.

“‘Don’t kink shame me..’” Bakugou paused, a long sigh coming from him as he reluctantly continued, “...’Don’t kink shame me but it’s my goal in life to die by @Seizes thighs. Her thighs are so strong but soft looking and I swear they can crush me in an instant-’”

“Ohh that’s true. These can crush anyone.” You slapped your thighs for emphasis, a cheeky grin playing on your lips.

“Are you seriously proud of that?” He deadpanned at your joyful expression.

“Uh, yeah? What, a woman can’t be proud of her thunder thighs of steel! You're just jealous you’re not being crushed by these babies.”

“Why the fuck would I be jealous!?” 

“Cause I have amazing thighs that any man would love to be in between-”

“Next fucking tweet,” Bakugou cut you off, “‘I will eat Seize ass with a spoon, be havin’ that as breakfast, lunch, and dinner n never get tired.’ Okay but seriously what the hell is wrong with you people? With a damn spoon?”

“It’s flattering almost, don’t you think? I would be their favorite meal that they never get tired of,” You look to the camera and wiggle your eyebrows, “I mean I don’t know if I’m down for that, but if you wanna snack sometime, link up with my manager-”

“Absolutely not, don’t give these perverts any more fucking ideas.”

“Okay, dad.”

“Quit being a damn brat and just accept that these are weird and not cute, for fucks sake!”

You look to the crew behind the camera, bowing your head a bit as you spoke.

“Sorry, you’re going to have a lot of bleeps because of this big lug.”

“DON’T IGNORE ME-”

“Read the next tweet,” you extend your words in a whiny voice, “I wanna hear what else people think about me!”

You watched as Bakugou clenched his hand before relaxing, reaching inside to pull out another folded paper.

“‘@Seize is the best ever. Strong and compassionate, honestly my favorite hero by far. She’s giving the other pros a run for their money, good job and keep it up!’. Tch at least we’re done with the weird ass shit. ”

“AWHHH, you guys are so sweet! I don’t know how I match up to other heroes-”

“Tch, she matches up just fine-”

“Well, if we’re talking about boobs, especially if you compare mine to yours, I don’t stand a chance!” You reached a hand over while your body was still facing the front and squeezed one of his pectorals. 

“YOU HAD TO TURN THIS INTO SOMETHING FUCKING STUPID, DIDN’T YOU!?�� He jerked away from you; eye twitching as he took ragged breaths.

“What, just stating the truth. Now, c’mon if we had the same number of tweets then this should be my last, why do I have to drag these out of you?”

“Shut the hell up,” He picked out the last piece of paper as he tossed the bucket on the ground, ignoring the way you complained about it. “‘Got damn,’ Holy hell I’m going to lose brain cells, ‘Got damn, Id suck a fart’...’suck a fart out of Seize’s ass and woul beg for more as she suffocates me, no cap. Lick her from those ankles to those thighs n back, I bet she tastes like one of those sour n sweet skittles wid the way she sweaty from beating others asses but good from the way she hot, and dat shit be the best shit u can taste. wont even say sorry, jus flip her over and eat that ass’...’#NomNomNom’”

“Wow, some of you guys are pretty creative. I mean, I can’t tell you what I taste like but if you wanna try it out, lemme know.” You giggled, winking at the camera as you made the ‘call me’ sign with your hands. 

You were waiting for another blow up from the angry blonde beside you but were surprised to see him silent. He was clenching his jaw harder this time around, eyes narrowed in fuming slits and he shook slightly by how hard his body tensed. You were about to ask if he was okay when you got the signal to end it, so you ignored it for the moment as you gave a bright smile to the camera.

“Well, that seems to be the end of this little segment, boo!,” You gave a pout, before smiling again, jumping back up and tossing an arm around your cast-mate, “Thanks for having us on today, and to end on a serious note make sure you’re staying safe out there. We all care about every single one of you, that’s why we do stuff like this, to stay connected! Have fun, be safe, and remember, be heroes! This has been Seize, along with,”

“Ground Zero.”

“Bye!”

“Cut!”

As soon as it was over, you were thrown off Bakugo’s shoulders as he stood up abruptly. You looked over in worry as he rigidly walked off and you wondered what had went wrong.

During most heavy-duty operations, which are the only type of operations you both worked together, Bakugou was always silent and calculating. He angered easily, and the time to fear him most is becomes quiet. Making a villain piss his pants with his yelling was a skill indeed, but when a villain saw that angered and dark gaze, that’s when they should be terrified. 

You tried to follow him, but you were immediately swarmed by your manager who had apologized for arriving late.

“Yes, it is alright! I understand I was able to start perfectly fine, it’s no trouble at all.”

You didn’t listen to his answer, scanning the crowd to realize you had lost the pro.

“Dammit.”

“Ne, (l/n)-sama is there something wrong?” 

“No,” You shook your head with a sigh, “Nothing at all.”

-----------------------------

[lunatic-fandom-space]

Alright, Period Cramps just set in and Im looking for songs anyway so Im gonna be listening to every RWBY Song (V1-V7) in chronological order and rank them, starting with the worst. Lets go!

Caffeine: Thank god the team with the Nazi-based leader has the shittiest song so far.

Celebrate: Why tf is this here

Shine: Ehhhh. I dont really know why but the vibes were all off, somehow. The fact that really dislike Jaune (and as an extension, Arkos) doesn't help either.

Forever Fall: This song was 5 minutes long and it felt like 20

Brand New Day: I barely even registered that

Fear: not the worst

Lets Get Real: Either Im too tired or the songs are getting worse

War: Im ranking this one higher because it wasnt over 4 minutes

Bmblb: All the love songs are so generic

Dream Come True: Im listening to all these songs in the form of Lyric Videos and the art used in this one made me think 'Oh, a Jaune Song... Great. Well, maybe we'll get Jaune pining after Phyrrah now! Yknow, to balance it out. A cute lil song of him pining for a nice girl might me like him a bit more!' and guess what. It wasnt that. It was another Arkos Song from Phyrrahs perspective. AND this one had unnecessary Girl-Hate towards Weiss! For no reason! The only reason its above Shine is because they atleast got the vibes right this time.

Not Fall In Love With You: I think Im just not a big fan of the love songs.

Boop: It was pretty cute but nothing to write home about

Until The End: slow piano

Touch The Sky: Its not that bad, its just that Im tired and this song is too goddamn long

This Time (From Shadows II): A just fine song for a shitty arc

I Burn: I liked fine, until they started rapping.

Like Morning Follows Night: I thought this was gonna be one of the better love songs, then he started rapping.

Smile: All this does is make me question how Ilia was in the wrong even more. Sounded alright though.

The Triumph: Eh, pretty unremarkable opening for an unremarkable volume

This Will Be The Day: A very promising start! There's honestly not much to say here

From Shadows: It was fine. I liked the overall sound but the lyrics and the singing are just a bit too edgy for me.

Bad Luck Charm: Someone in the comments under the lyrics video said "looks like someone found his middleschool poetry" and honestly, yeah.

I May Fall: Hey, yknow how the FoB was apparently meant to happen in Volume 1? Yeah. Overall, I thought it was pretty alright. (You can probably already tell that Im not too big of a fan of the louder, more energetic songs so far.....

Trust Love: This is by no means a problem I have with only this song, but I hate how theyre all like "oh this isnt some FaIrYtAlE kid, this is real n dark n shit" as if RWBY isnt the least dark and least subversive story Ive seen in recent time

Rising: Alright but unremarkable

Miracle: Another alright but unremarkable one. At this point I feel like listening to these songs is frying my brain

Ignite: I was just gonna say its an alright Yang Song but that rap...

Big Metal Shoe: I can appreciate some fairy tale references

Gold: The chorus got a bit repetitive but I thought it was pretty cute

Home: Another cute lil family song! This one was kinda long though

Lionized: I really appreciate the vibe of this song

All Our Days: Adorable! I didnt really expect a Taiyang Song but this was pretty nice

Sacrifice: Not really much go say about this one, I thought it was fine

Neon: I feel like I just got aggressively flexed on in the nicest, yet most condescending way possible

Lusus Naturae: Very edgy, but in a way that I can appreciate more

Red Like Roses I: I really like the sound of this one! I kinda wish we had more lyrics, but this was the song used in the Red Trailer so Im assuming it was made to compliment the action more than anything. At the start and end there was this series of notes, that Im assuming is gonna be the Leitmotiv? Either way, Im curious how theyll use it

All Things Must Die: I feel like this song is definitely at its best during the slower bits

Lets Just Live: First of all, I cant believe they live-laugh-loved us. They kept mentioning like, stories and how 'this isnt your TYPICAL fairytale', I could practically feel the writers being like "Huh, huuuuuuuh? Arent we CLEVER? Yes we are, yes we are!" But other than it was mostly fine. A bit long, maybe.

Armed And Ready: Pretty alright Yang Song, I felt like it was just a bit too long

It's My Turn: Not much to say, I thought it was a fine Weiss Song

Nevermore: I think its good

Wings: I really enjoyed this song! Caseys voice is lovely and I think its a very good Blake Song

Indomitable: I liked this one, but I feel like its mainly because the line "the spirit is indomitable" reminds of Flame from VRAINS

When It Falls: This song is trying very hard to convince you that RWBY is Dark Now. And given that Im pretty sure this is V3s opening, I guess it fits. Oh well, it still sounded pretty nice.

One Thing: A real slappin song thats going straight to my YGO-playlist as well

All That Matters: Very neat song about Yang's conflicting feelings on Blake's return. Shame theyre literally not conveyed at all in the show.

Die: Very agressive title, but okay. I also enjoyed this one, who wouldve guessed. I love this whole vibe of Desperate Heroism In A World In Ruin, yknow? Its there in Time To Say Goodbye and Red Like Roses II (two of my favourite songs so far) too. Though it is quite dissapointing that the show never really matched it.

Hero: I dont get how people can look at this and go "yeah, Ironwood was clearly always a tyrant who never even remotely cared for others". Also Caleb Hyles my beloved

Time To Say Goodbye: Another very nice song! I also think the foreshadowing in the third verse (yknow the slow one) was quite well done. The only real issue is, that the plot point its foreshadowing is stupid as hell

The Path To Isolation: Why is Weiss a better character in her songs?

Divide: This song is trying very hard to convince you that RWBY is Dark Now pt 2. It is a banger though, so its fine.

Mirror Mirror: Funfact: This was technically the first RWBY-Thing Ive ever consumed! A Youtuber named Strawbelly made a german cover of this song (and the songs from the other trailers, I believe) and it was one of my favourites for a while. Ive also already listened to some of Weiss' other songs and I remember enjoying them too. I can definitely already tell that I prefer Caseys voice in the slower songs, so I really hope this keeps up

This Life Is Mine: Yoooooooooo, Caseys voice was amazing in this one(especially at the very start)! This is one of the Weiss Songs I listened to before I even watched RWBY and what can I say, I loved it back then and I love it now

I'm The One: Oh, this was absolutely lovely. For the first few seconds I thought I wouldnt like this one, but its a banger! I love the lyrics too, theyre very clever I think

Red Like Roses II: DUDE, I adored this! I did not expect there to be lyrics for Summer at all and I was so pleasently surprised! Sandra's voice was lovely, and I really hope I'll get to hear her again. But on a slightly more negative note, I feel like this is really where the whole 'RWBYs Songs Characterize The Protagonists In A More Compelling Way Than The Show Does'-Problem starts.

I originally wanted to write some kind of conclusion but Im tired and wanna read angst fics. Have a good night!

[a-marlene-s]

So....

I am looking back on past posts of stories that I plan on writing. I thought I tagged them all... but I don’t know if I got them all.

Here’s what I have so far... (Keep in mind, the majority of them are from story prompts from other people or were from asks.)

Bruce Wayne Addams

Cousin Bruce.

Gomez and Morticia love their adopted nephews very much.

Dick is going insane.

I don’t remember if this is a crossover with Miraculous Ladybug. Let alone with my au, She’s an Addams!

She’s an Addams!

Marinette’s mother is Wednesday Addams.

Jagged Stone is an Addams.

Debating if she’ll be with Nino or Canon!Felix.

I don’t remember if this is a crossover with Batman. As I remember a scene where Jagged and knew each other back in college due to them being in a band together... now that I think about it... I think that was part of another story...

Quirk: Miraculous Ladybug

Marinette Dupain-Cheng: Thread Manipulation/Miraculous Ladybug

Adrien Agreste: Formerly Quirkless/Cataclysm

Alya Césaire (class deputy): Computer Interaction

Nino Lahiffe: Frequency manipulation.

Chloé Bourgeois: Paralysis Inducement

Sabrina Raincomprix: Invisibility

Rose Lavillant: Plant Manipulation

Nathaniel Kurtzberg: Digital Art Manipulation

Juleka Couffaine: Identity Manipulation

Lê Chiến Kim: Emotion Weaponry

Mylène Haprèle: Slime Manipulation

Max Kanté: Technological Combat

Alix Kubdel: Flash Forward

Ivan Bruel: Earth Transformation

Lila Rossi: Feign Damage

Aurore Beauréal: Weather Manipulation

Mireille Caquet: Omnilingualism

Jean Duparc: Miming

Luka Couffaine: Sound Manipulation

Marc Anciel: Ink Manipulation

Kagami Tsurugi: Elemental Manipulation.

For this au, it could be as is, or as a penpal au with Marinette being friends from someone from UA. Izuku, Shoto, Hitoshi or someone else.

Justice League Banned from Paris @vivilakitty

JL finding out they got banned from Paris. 

Someone visits for the holiday or some shit that brings them there related to the League.

They see the akumas and they wonder why no one called the league for help. Especially after seeing two kids fighting the Akuams.

"The hero's tried. They were just children when shit started. My kid is thirteen and is the size and age of our hero's were when they started! We tried getting ahold of the League. The Mayor, the heroes, civilians! Everyone! We got called a joke and were told never to contact them again. Then we got blocked."

Mayor decided to bane the League from Paris. If they did not want to help, then they are no longer welcomed in the city of Paris.

The call first got through to some random civilian communicator that goes along with the name of John Christan Ryan Mark Johnson, nickname… whatever the hell first comes up in someone’s mind. When League found out, Chad became a joke among the league and got demoted. Even so, the League went to Paris as civilians and did their best to help out.

There will be mayhem from the Batboys.

Turtle Bug @jacquesthepigeon

Where Fu chose not to put the cat miraculous in play and instead gave his own since Ladybug’s partner would need to protect her. He chooses Nino to be Carapace.

Paris’s anxiety ridden superhero duo is Ladybug and Carapace.

ONE MORE THING! @vixen-uchiha​  

Jackie Chan adventures. Jackie and Sabine are cousins. Jackie decided to take a much needed break from doing what he does best. He and Jade go to Paris to have a simple... fight free... vaca.... great... seems like their vacation is short lived.

What’s the Stitch? @kanamexzeroyaoifangirl

Kim Possible/Miraculous Ladybug crossover where Marinette and Kim are cousins though Gina. Lila lies about knowing and going on side missions with her when Marinette’s the one going on missions with her when she’s in town or visiting. Class minus Chole, Nathaniel, & Kitty Section believe and bully Marinette due to Lila’s lies. Kim shows up during it one Tommie then uses her connections to show the truth and take her down. All bullies are sued and are banned from the bakery.     

Presentation Day @art-deco-shrimp​

Ms Bustier assigns each of the students to do a report on someone they know, with a presentation at the end. They need to pick someone to report on, learn about their daily life, interview at least three people close to them, and then do a presentation on that person when the project is due in two weeks (arbitrary time limit is arbitrary). When Alya comments that it’s too bad that the restrictions mean a report on Ladybug is probably out of the question, Marinette suggests Ladybug’s best friend as a substitute. Alya can interview Lila’s parents as one source, Rose can probably connect her for a short Q&A with Prince Ali about someone who’s done so much for his charities, and Alya can even justify asking Ladybug some questions for the project this way!

The Delinquent  @rubixchick​

Lila assumed the older guy Marinette has been hanging out with lately, is just some delinquent due to the guy’s tattoo’s, pericings and ripped up clothes. Spinning her tales, Lila made it difficult for Marinette to hang out with this guy or trying to occupy her time by smothering her to no end. Things go bad to worse… for Lila when she accused Juleka’s brother, whom she never met before, being the delinquent.

Hear Me Out

Story idea from: @maxdark158​  Full prompt here: https://maxdark158.tumblr.com/post/187476540811/hear-me-out-ive-got-an-au-idea

Best Friends Adrien and Marinette. No love interest or love square here.

Marinette paired with either Damian, Tim, Jason, Dick, or someone from Dc.

Adrien, I don’t know if I want to pair him up with someone or if I do want to pair up him with someone, I don’t know with whom yet.

Adrien is protective of his best friend.

Lila Salt.

Alya Salt.

Passive (Agreste)sive.

Marinette Mode @vivilakitty​: Full prompt here: https://vivilakitty.tumblr.com/post/189567415622

Marinette takes on an apprentice ship under the one and only Edna Mode.

I know her, I’m close friends with her son~  @countingdowndays: Full prompt here: https://countingdowndays.tumblr.com/post/189602949856/prompt-lila-salt-adriens-mom

Adrien mentions the movie his mom stared in to the class. Lila latched onto it, claiming she personally knew the actress and that she could introduce Adrien to her. “Great, let me know what my mom says.”

OHSHC x My Hero Academia: My Hero Host Club @amynchan 

Ships: IzoOcha, BakuKiri, TodoMomo, TetsuKendo, OjiTooru, TokoTsuyu, JiroTama

Summary: Create a club they say. Create something to do in their spare time, they say. Do something creative, they say.

“WHY DID YOU FORCE ME TO JOIN A HOST CLUB!!!”

“In all honesty, you destroyed an expensive vase and you need to pay us back. And joining us, you could easily pay it back… unless you want to pay it out of pocket.”

Kyoka Jiro gripped her hair in frustration. Her parents had told her she needed to create or join a club. Her classmate had told her about the club she had created with her friends… but said friend never mentioned it’s a host club!

Record: Drag Her. @miraculouscontent

Tikki Records Lila's threats

Tikki records Lila's threat towards Marinette with the latter's phone. "Oh, and Marientte? Drag her."

My girlfriend could kick your butt!

Peter Parker got kidnapped and cannot use his abilities without exposing his identity to the whole wide web.

There he is, strapped to a chair with a camera facing and recording his every movement.

Then the bad guys started to threaten Peter that if he doesn’t talk, that they’ll use Peter’s girlfriend as leverage.

“My girlfriend could kick your butt!!!!”

Not even a minute later, the video fed went out and when it went back on, all the bad guys are knocked out and an unfamiliar girl is untying Peter from the chair, all the while apologizing for taking too long to get to him.

This is a debate on which one to write for Dragon Age Inquisition.

Warden Cullen

HoF!Cullen

Champion!Cullen

Inquisitor!Cullen

It will take place in DAI. Pairing are yet to be seen.

If I miss a story prompt, please tell me. I have lost count or I cannot find the posts.

[min30am]

Does the music you listen to shape your perception of the world?

Immediately, yes. Definitely, no doubt. I pretty often link songs to different times in my life or places or specific events or people. It’s actually more difficult for me not to do that. 

Hotline Bling - driving back up del Este, or back to the parking lot for mock trial practice at 5pm. It’s the winter months usually, so it’s pretty dark out at that point. Quick snacks from the local Quickly are always a good bet, or Chipotle of course. Bright classroom lights, hearing the rest of the trial drag on in the adjacent room while the pre-trial attorneys hang out doing nothing really in the room facing the street. 

Starboy - we’re in an Uber to the ice rink in Oakland, it’s the evening after Yule Ball. We met at my first ever Halloween party but I’m decently sure I like you; I’d pretty much broken up with someone else that same night, over speaker phone with more than a few friends eavesdropping in our room. Anyway, we’re in the backseat of the Uber and you mention that you really like this song, and you start singing along and it’s cute- cute enough to make an impression. You turn out to be a really really good skater, and you don’t leave my side all night even though I’m an awful one. 

Under the Cover of Darkness - first time hanging out with a few people just having a jam session with our mix of guitars. A slightly condescending guy who’s good at solos teaches me a set and decides he thinks I’m a fast learner. Flattering enough. 

Out of My League - I looped the Fitz and the Tantrums album that this belongs to that summer that I spent painting the house kokong built at Marcy’s. There was a lot of detailed work that went into it, and I sketched the designs meticulously in pencil before going over it with the metallic paint shades I’d picked out. 

You & Me - this particular Disclosure song was really popular but after that one YouTube comment talking about how the highs were screechingly, painfully high, I could never listen to it without being way too aware of that. Thanks, whoever that was. 

Location - this was a song I generally really liked when it was in its hayday, but it’s had a little bit of a different flavor and nice comfortable blue bit of nostalgia ever since Eli told me he associated it with me. 

High You Are - the height of my Youtube playlist days, barring the AMVs with Linkin Park songs. I had another Odesza song that I linked to this one, Say My Name featuring Zyra. Great times, definitely middle school and early high school. 

Tennis Court, Wires, King - all linked to the same person, listening to these songs by the stairs at the far end of the high school on a shared pair of wired earphones after school, blue skies and mild breezes and radiant sun off the metal handrails. 

Fell in Love With a Girl - hilariously coincidental lyrics, thanks for this one. 

Trndsttr - driving back from the hospital, specifically in the morning after drop-offs at work. It’s cold and not too bright yet, but the sun will definitely be in my eyes on the drive back up toward the fountain intersection. My contacts are cooperating at least. 

One Time - that one concert we went to with Kou, pretty spontaneously but it was pretty good. Cool venue too.

My Funny Valentine - listening to this on the bus to Loch Ness, the same trip I believe that we hit heavy traffic on the winding road back toward Glasgow. There’s a beautiful lake at the bottom of the hill that our road spans, lots of the richest green you’ve ever seen in trees. The whole Ella album was pretty popular that trip, and this particular song felt like an inside joke to listen to next to you. 

Love Galore - we’re up by the Sutro Tower parked in a little dusty area by a few other cars that made the winding drive up. The view is pretty clear and definitely impressive, we’re trying to identify things and you’ve already finished telling me a long made-up story about how the tower works- which I believed because you, after all, have a masters in engineering. 

Foreplay, IV. Sweatpants - it’s first year and we spend all our free time meeting up at night just to freeze our asses off because we’re talking and it’s so easy and so funny and we don’t want to go home. It’s the 2am campanile talks at the bench, where we move at the pace of kdramas. It’s sitting by the now-renamed boalt hall, I’ve never met anyone I clicked with better and I still won’t say I’m in love.

Cheese & Wine - bro forreal your dad’s an asshole. seriously.

TALK ME DOWN - senior year of high school, you’re obsessed with Troye Sivan but he’s pretty good so no one in the car complains. Our friend group is hanging out so often at boba and coffee places and just talking nonstop, we have every class together pretty much and so many small things happen in that last year. 

Girls That Dance - that overcrowded, cozy, compact dorm room on the eighth floor. We’re there so often, you always pick me up from mine and we walk or bike down together, sometimes we take the shuttle. Jerry is always there, always greets us and talks to us about his nephew and his life. We have Olay by the mirror near the door, which I discover serves as a bit of a primer and is SPF15. We make ramen and Jess uses your desktop to play games while we watch Netflix movies in your top bunk. 

Cardiac Arrest - I, like the monumental asshole I am, make it a point to finish chemistry lab in the morning as quickly as possible so I can be the first person to leave every time. I always play this song as I’m going up those curved wide stairs to take that little bridge back up to the castle on the hill. I almost invariably get back to my room and waste all the time I saved by finishing early. 

Liquor Locker - chilling at lab, doing what I’m supposed to be doing between classes or meetings. Dilution calculations are scribbled in my green lab notebook. I’m responsible for many colonies of single-cell babies but at least a quarter of my attention is on the bus tracker while I run the math in my head. 

Shutter Island - we’re all at the Vevo Halloween concert together in a gigantic warehouse on the water’s edge. I’m absolutely taken with the singer and thus starts a pretty long infatuation with her music. No one else agrees, they definitely think she was the worst of the night. Fair enough. 

GOLD - we’re in the backseat of his car and he and his girlfriend are great. We already had dinner all together that one night before the concert- a vibe check - and now we’re in San Jose to check out a viewpoint where you and I just enjoy each other’s company. It’s our first double date(s) really, and it’s pretty great. 

Trois Gymnopédies - honestly, such a great song but I deadass sought it out after seeing it on a sad parrot video. 10/10

Heebiejeebies - definitely love this song but I don’t know if I can listen to anything from this album without remembering how you were so ready to start a fight at that concert. Again. 

If We Ever Meet Again - I have really strong feelings of being on a field trip associated with this song somehow. 

[hold-our-destiny]

if you can't breathe- chapter 7

its finally here!!! a bit longer than the other chapters! I worked really hard on this one! comments are always appreciated!

read it here on ao3

-------------

Peter was fading in and out. At times he could feel the ghost of pain across his skin, that's when he wished to fade out, and when he did, he wished to be present again. it's been so long he's become slightly numb- at least that's what he thinks, he knows that he damaged his wrist at some point, but he can feel the pain there now, it was slightly relieved. His thoughts are mostly blurry now, if they're even there at all. He hasn't moved in, what was it? 5 days? There’s no way to tell, no light, no windows. Peter knows it's been a while. His lips are dry, lungs wheezing slightly, when he can feel pain it's almost always in his stomach.

Peter fades in again, his eyes focus slightly and he recognises the faint outline of the cell door. God how much he wished someone would walk through there at this moment. Anyone.

His brain flicks back to the last memory he had before his master left him there. He was bending down in front of him, saying- something. Peter tried to concentrate.

“I know what it's like. To wait. I waited for weeks for my friends, they ever came. And neither will yours”

The way he said it was almost soft, as if he hadn't just spent weeks terrifying the boy.

Peter blinks as he remembers, he knows it's not true, it can't be, but at this point he’s starting to doubt himself. What has it been? Three and a half months last time he heard, probably longer now, Tony wasn't looking for him, he couldn't be, the video would've been enough to assure him peter was dead.

-------------------

“I haven't seen him out if his room in a week, steve”

“I know, im trying to get him to at least have a shower but he hasn't left his bed”

“He can't keep going on like this, it's been weeks”

Tony could hear the conversation from his bedroom, his position in the bed had not moved in days. He couldn't bear it. His mind was permanently rushing with thoughts of ‘what if we found him in time, what if we found him the first day? What if they never got to him? He would still be here, living, breathing, he isn't, all because of you’

Rationally, Tony knows he shouldn't be thinking like this, that they did all that they could. But it just wasn't enough was it? They didn't get there in time, and Tony had to reassure his kid as he slowly gaped for air that would never come. Tony squeezed his eyes shut and after a full day of the thoughts circling his head, he drifted off.

Outside though, steve and nat were still talking, trying to figure out how to help the grieving father, knowing that they’ve already tried everything.

“The only thing we can do now is wait and be there for him, hope that he sorts everything out soon,” Steve said solemnly, bowing his head and walking to the kitchen, him and nat both wished they could do something, anything to help.

Steve essentially dragged tony to the kitchen the next day to get him to eat something. He didn't take no for an answer. Tony was sat on one of the kitchen bar stools, hair mussed up and clothes crooked in every way. Around the kitchen were also nat and sam, making their own breakfasts and making casual conversation (Tony couldn't see how they could talk as if they didn't watch a child die a few weeks ago).

“You know Tony, you can't keep beating yourself up about this,” Tony blinked and noticed now steve was leaning over the counter towards him and speaking in hushed tones.

“I-” tony tried to intervene

“it's not your fault, you have to accept it, that kid’s gone, we all know” steve had a sad look on his face, tony was absolutely raging. ‘that kid’?

“Peter.” he essentially spat. Steve looked surprised that he actually spoke, let alone the fact that he was angry.

“I- what?” the captain spluttered

“His name. Was peter.”

“Oh”

“And don't you dare say that it wasn't my fault, it was all of our faults, we couldn't find him in time.”

“Tony-”

“No, steve” he hissed out his name, “don't say it, it's our fault, and yes, I am aware that he is- that he isn't here anymore- im very aware of the fact, so you can keep your damn mouth shut”

Nat decided to speak up now.

“Tony , we know you’re grieving” tony growled, yet she continued “your kid- peter. He's gone, there’s nothing we can do about it now but its been months, you’ve got to move on-”

“I cant!” tonys hands found themselves yanking at his hair, making it more messed up than it already was, “don't you think ive tried? Hes always here, i cant go down to my lab without seeing his things, hes room is opposite mine for fuck’s sake. And I can't even sleep! All i see when i close my eyes is his face, as he gasps, searching for reassurances as he fucking dies! And what did we do? We watched it happen! That's what we did!” Tony's face was now covered in tears streaming down his face, not intending to stop.

Tony took one more look at the three people in front of him, before turning on his heel and leaving, heading straight to his room, throwing himself on the bed and passing out.

--------------------

“Boss, you have one new message”

“ugh, ignore it fri”

“Sir-”

“I said. Ignore it.”

“Okay boss.”

Tony was sat in his room, staring mindlessly out the window for the last, hour now? He didn't keep count. With every second sat there, he wished one more time to just forget everything.

Two minutes later, friday spoke up again.

“Boss, you have been sent one video”

Tony groaned.

“Who’s it from fri?”

“You don't have them saved in your phone sir, the video contains two people, one identified as peter parker, the video is dated from a week ago I believe-”

Tony jumped up at once, not wasting a second before running into the hallway and heading straight into the lounge where the others were, they all looked surprised at his presence.

“He sent another one” he directed the statement to steve.

“What?”

“That- that- that guy sent another video,”

“Tony calm down, what guy? The guy that took peter?” Tony didn't bother wasting a breath, already hyperventilating at the realisation, peter, his kid could be alive, very much hurt but breathing. He was reeling. He still had doubts circling in his mind, it could be an old video with a different date, or it could be his body, oh god-

“Fri, play it on the screen”

The tv screen turned over to a black screen before flicking to a frozen picture of peter- god peter- tied to a chair, that bastard of a man stood behind him. Tony stood in shock, tears building in his eyes as he processed what was in front of him. The video started playing and the man started speaking, circling peter in the chair as he did so.

“Ah, hello again mr stark, so sorry we haven't been in much contact recently, today is- the thirteenth- so about a week before ill bother sending it to you.” Peter looked up slightly, eyes glazed over, gliding over everything, never locking onto anything, “such an unlucky number isn't it? Thirteen? I never found out why, something to do with the devil. Anyway,” he clapped, making peter flinch and tony curse under his breath, the others all stood in silence, stone faced and in shock, “so stark, this child right here is finally perfect, granted it took a bit of- conditioning, we got there in the end, didn't we pet?” the guy put a hand on Peter's shoulder and his eyes grew wide, finally processing everything.

He nodded, staring straight ahead, almost in a trance.

“Yes we did, though his vocal chords did get a bit damaged, this little one cant talk properly, partly because of the shocks and also because of- well you can guess. Anyway, im finished with him now, you can come get him,``Tony opened his mouth in disbelief, the man suddenly looking bored, peter’s face not changing, “yes, I know, you can really have him back, he’s useless to me anyway, no fun anymore. So here’s what's going to happen, ill send you this video along with the location in about- a week, and when you make it here, the child will probably be dead or dying from his injuries, who am I to say?” he chuckled.

“Oh and one more thing,” peter flinched, “before I leave, ill be sure to make my last mark on him, give you something to remember him by, you know?”

Peter looked straight into the camera for a moment in shock, before it cut out. Tony called the suit to him, the rest of the team already suiting up.

--------------

The base was almost empty, FRIDAY’s scan only picking up one heat signature. Tony decided to go alone, the rest of the team waiting on the jet if he needed backup. The team were all in their gear, except from bruce, who was on standby with medical.

“Tony, are you sure about this, we’ll all be fine going in with you?” steve grabbed his arm as he was about to fly to the base.

“I'm sure, steve, trust me on this, i'll call you if i need you.”

Without another word, Tony took off in the suit, helmet flipping down and friday marking out where the heat signature was.

Granted, it took a bit of searching, but eventually tony found the room, standing just outside the door he froze for a moment. What if peeta wasn't there? What if it was someone else?

No, it had to be peter. Without another word, Tony opened the door.

It was dark in the room, Tony's suit glowed in the darkness as it shone a light around the room. Tony’s eyes landed on a body in the corner, suit retracting as he stepped forward, He raised his hand to his mouth in shock as he got a closer look at the kid.

Peter didn't seem to be badly hurt, his right arm was bent at an odd angle, making tony grimace. His left ankle seemed slightly swollen, dried blood coated nearly all of the kids bottom half. He was deathly thin, he looked more like a skeleton then anything. Tony reached forward to rest his hand on the boy’s curls but gasped when his head fell limply forward.

Tony tapped the comm, activating it.

“I-i've got him, bringing him back to the jet now, get bruce ready,”

He then deactivated it before he could hear a response from steve. He stood up and scooped peter up in his arms,careful not to hurt him any further. He let his suit guide him out of the facility and back to the jet, he only looked up when he reached the others, laying peter down in the stretcher ready for Bruce to help him. He didn't take his eyes off his kid once.

You're okay now kid

tags:

@dreamingformuses

@baloobird

@keep-a-bucket-full-of-stars

@just-the-daydreamer

@verdonafrost

@tmifangirl21

(msg me if you wanna be tagged!!)

[enbyboiwonder]

Tagged by @frozenmemories1987

So I don’t really understand how this one works, so I’m just gonna answer all the questions and number them consecutively. Upfront I’m gonna say that I’m not tagging anyone, but as always, if you wish to do it, consider yourself tagged. Also, this is going under a read more. Save the thumbs of any mobile users

01. What was the last movie you watched in theaters?

It’s been months, so I can’t remember, sorry

02. What’s your favorite game to play?

Currently it’s Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2. I hadn’t played it since I got it (and beat it all in one go), and I forgot just how much I love this game. It’s like Pokémon meets Dragon Quest, and it’s amazing. On the one hand, making a team entirely of dragons might be a bad idea, but on the other hand, I freaking love dragons. I should probably synth one with a healing skillset if I’m gonna do that - possibly Cure-all since that’s got Multiheal. My current party is a Lv 20 great argon lizard named Rory, a Lv 24 slime stack with Cure-all named Sticker, and a Lv 19 aquestrian gladiator with Huntsman named Mizuno. When I leave them to their own devices, Mizuno really loves using Penny Pincher, which tbh I cannot fault him for - normal damage plus the chance to pinch a few gold coins? Heck yes. At least he’s got 44 MP, so I haven’t had to change his tactics to “Don’t Use Magic” yet (the skill costs 2 MP)

03. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate

04. What’s the last show you binge-watched?

NUMB3RS (though I’m still working on that one)

05. Do you have any pets?

No

06. What’s your favorite fairy tale?

I dunno. I don’t actually read very many fairy tales

07. Who’s your favorite superhero?

Superhero stuff doesn’t normally appeal to me, but I do like Cisco Ramon/Vibe and Ray Palmer/The Atom from CW’s Arrowverse

08. Who’s your favorite Disney princess?

Erm, Rapunzel, I guess?

09. Where’s the first place you’re going to go after social distancing is over?

I know I’m gonna hang out with my friend like we were planning to before this started, but as for where... probably Barnes & Noble since that’s where we usually go, but who knows (I say, knowing full well that neither of us know where to go, and we go to HPB when we’re specifically looking for a book but default to B&N bc of the café and seating area)

10. Cookies or cake?

Cookies

11. What show could you watch over and over?

Monk, CSI, and Psych, to name a few

12. Favorite song lyric?

See, I have to believe that there’s more than this seems More than a soul in a boat in a sea of sinking dreams And I have to be sure that there’s gonna be a cure ‘Cause, somewhere down the line, I lost that part of me that’s pure

 - Where We Belong by Thriving Ivory

13. Favorite season of your favorite TV show?

S14 of CSI, probably

14. What never fails to make you smile/happy?

Seeing I’ve got a comment on AO3

15. How are you doing with all that’s going on in the world (coronavirus, having to do social distancing, etc.)?

My lifestyle hasn’t changed at all, though for some reason I’ve actually been getting way more crocheting and video-gaming done than usual (at the expense, of course, of less reading and writing and TV-watching. Unfortunately). But we have lost business at the doughnut shop so I haven’t been working as many days - usually I work Monday and Friday - which, on the one hand, less money, but on the other hand, I’ve gotten more rest so my bruised ribs (from coughing; I had strep about a month and a half ago, and that always leaves me with a cough for a while, though it’s never been this bad before) are mostly healed now

16. We all love new music to listen to. Name an artist that is underrated/you think people should check out:

Thriving Ivory/Midnight Cinema (same band, different songwriters; Thriving Ivory is more piano-driven and leans more toward alt/alt-rock, while Midnight Cinema is more pop)

17. TV shows or movies?

TV shows

18. Favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. A song that describes you:

I’ve always related to Some Kind of Home by Thriving Ivory

20. Describe your tumblr in three words:

“hella queer animal-lover” idk

21. What’s your favorite hobby?

It depends on my mood, but rn it’s crocheting!

22. What’s your favorite book and/or a really good book you’ve read recently?

CSI: Miami: Cut and Run by Donn Cortez is amazing. I read it back in January and then reread it this month. Probably will be rereading it again before long tbh

Another really good one I’ve read recently is How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason. It just came out like six months ago, so the second one won’t be out any time soon, but I am ready for it when it does (more than ready, actually; I can’t wait)

23. What’s your favorite ship that will never happen (or hasn’t happened yet)?

I really wish they had done something with Greg/Hodges. I mean, they had the perfect setup for it in 11.07 Bump and Grind, what with their “man-dates” (that never get mentioned again)!! Their man-dates become a regular thing that they do like every week or whatever, eventually they realize that they’re actual dates and have been for a while and they start consciously dating. Maybe Greg already knows he’s bi and is totally cool with it, maybe David’s been repressed and realizes that, oh, that’s why something’s always seemed like it was missing when he tried dating before: he’s gay.

Unsurprisingly, I have a few 11.07 fics in my WIPs

(But also, considering CSI’s track record with respecting queer people [poor], I’m kinda glad they didn’t. Woulda been nice, though, long as they'da done it right)

A ship that I’m really hoping will happen is Penelope and Schneider from One Day at a Time. I love them so much

24. If you could spend the day with any living celebrity, who would it be?

I would rather meet a celebrity in passing than spend a day with them. I am far too awkward and anxious, and I’m afraid it would not be an enjoyable experience for either of us

25. The best worst movie you’ve ever seen - a movie that you know objectively is trash but you can’t help but really enjoy it:

I don’t think I have any like this

26. When you read, do you prefer an eReader or an actual, physical book?

Paper books all the way, baby

27. Favorite movie?

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, probably

28. What does a normal day look like for you?

I stay in bed reading or playing games on my phone (or, more recently, on my DS) for as long as possible, dick around on here for a while whilst also trying to get at least some SwagBucks in another window, try not to forget to eat lunch, play the free money apps I have on my phone while either listening to music on my laptop or watching shows either on my laptop or the TV, try not to forget to eat dinner, watch some more TV or get some reading or gaming in, try not to stay up too late, take over an hour to fall asleep, maybe if I’m lucky get some writing done at some point during any of this (and if I’m really lucky it won’t be while I’m trying to sleep, but usually it is, damn brain)

29. Have you ever watched a show/movie for one character? If so, who?

Normally when I watch something specifically for someone, it’s for an actor I like, but I started watching CW’s The Flash specifically for Cisco Ramon (well, and Harry Wells and their relationship, but mostly Cisco) and Legends of Tomorrow specifically for Ray Palmer, whom I fell in love with in his ep on The Flash lol

30. What is your ultimate concert (musicians/bands from any period, alive or dead)?

I don’t go to concerts (they seem like they’d be very overwhelming), so, none, I guess

31. Book that you were forced to read in school that you hated the most:

God, I fucking hated To Kill a Mockingbird. Actually, I think the only one I actually liked was The Importance of Being Earnest

[abr4sar]

This is For Sure To Get You Followers On Instagram

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It's no indistinctive that thing opportunities are quickly growing on Instagram. approximately 80% of Instagram's 1 billion active monthly users now follow a thing account on the platform. even if Instagram hasn't reported its current number of thing users, the platform reportedly hosted more than 25 million of these accounts in tardy 2017. As the platform continues to build up and build more interactive features, such as Instagram Stories, businesses are regularly using it as a tool to humanize brands, recruit difficult employees, showcase products and company culture, delight customers, and generate supplementary business. But here's the deal: Unless you're famous, it's essentially difficult to build up a huge taking into account on Instagram without some difficult work. The average person or business, growing your taking into account takes epoch and attention on a daily basis.

Luckily, there are a few things you can reach right away to accumulate at least 1,000 character cronies for your personal or professional Instagram account. It's every just about knowing where to invest your epoch and effort. Let's discuss a few strategies that will put up to you gain those followers, from creating a follow-worthy Instagram profile, to using contests, to staying legal to your brand. First things first: customize your Instagram profile to create it look good, tell your potential cronies who you are, and meet the expense of them a reason to follow you.

How? begin by making clear your username is recognizable and easily searchable  taking into account your thing name. If your thing reveal is already taken, attempt keeping your thing reveal as the first part of your username hence that people searching for your thing are more likely to come across you. For example, the Australian activewear line Lorna Jane uses the username.

When youre just starting out taking into account an online business, it can be venturesome to imagine how you can successfully sell your product through Instagram taking into account you have built taking place your follower base. But unquestionable is, your first 10,000 Instagram cronies are the hardest to get. Why? No one knows who you are yet. Youve still got to prove yourself as a successful brand and influencer. But that doesnt point toward its not possible. If you follow this guide on how to acquire cronies on Instagram, you could hit 10,000 Instagram cronies in as tiny as six months.

Are you just starting to learn how to acquire cronies on Instagram? This tactic is best for beginners. Some Instagram newbies have seen their Instagram cronies increase fast. What did they reach differently? They associated combination groups. even if it can be enthralling to belong to the biggest Instagram combination groups, the unquestionable is youll acquire a more targeted list of Instagram cronies by sticking to your niche. You can find combination groups for travel, beauty, fashion and more. In these groups, you can acquire cronies and likes from people who have shared interests. But if youre omnipresent just about getting the attention, you should furthermore reward the favor by taking into account follower pages for people who belong to the group. Ive had connections acquire 2,000 supplementary cronies in single-handedly a couple weeks using this strategy. even if it might not put up to taking into account brusque sales, it helps you gain credibility at the forefront on hence your Instagram page doesnt put it on that you single-handedly have 38 followers. This is more of a short-term strategy for your first few weeks on Instagram, not a long-term one for getting Instagram followers. You can learn supplementary unbelievable Instagram behavior taking into account this in our forgive Instagram course.

When I was starting out taking into account social media marketing and building my stores Instagram account, my entire posting strategy revolved almost reposting supplementary peoples content. The single-handedly artifice to reach this without getting flagged is to version the original flyer in your description, every time. Instagram has now updated their policy and youre required to question for permission since reposting. taking into account I first started, Id understand screenshots and build up the pictures to my Instagram. What essentially helped my page understand off was the Repost app. It allowed me to begin reposting video content on Instagram. One of the biggest house runs I had was taking into account I re-posted a video that accumulate 52,862 views, got 1264 comments and 9,147 likes. At the time, I didnt even have 10,000 cronies hence this was a huge freaking deal.

Whyd I repost supplementary peoples content on the other hand of posting my own?

Because I knew that it was easier to repost content. Plus, my visual and video content would never be as good as someone elses. Hey, at least Im honest just about it! How did I know what to repost? Id look at the numbers. Hashtags are a great artifice to acquire supplementary followers. I was lovely active on Instagram hence Id browse the list of hashtags I came taking place taking into account and used daily to find the summit drama posts that werent posted by supplementary follower pages (so not my competitors) but by individual people. Id subsequently watch the videos and look at the pictures to look which ones I had the biggest reactions to. If I felt the urge to part someone elses post, I knew I had to repost it onto my page. hence if youre just learning how to acquire cronies on Instagram, this high-impact strategy is simple ample for a beginner.

If youve never had a customer before, achieve out to influencers in your bay taking into account under 5,000 followers. I know the number seems low but influencers taking into account few cronies on Instagram want to monetize their accounts and will be pleasing to understand pictures taking into account your products at a much belittle rate. You can furthermore meet the expense of them an affiliate harmony where theyll acquire a commission for every sale they score taking into account their customer referral link. If youve already had a couple of sales, achieve out to customers and meet the expense of a forgive gift or cash incentive for taking character images taking into account the product they purchased. Offering incentives isnt going to be your long-term strategy but for the short-term, even if you attempt to construct your brand, this can put up to you grow. As more customers begin seeing customer photos on your Instagram, theyll naturally begin tagging you in posts taking into account they receive their products. If you comment on their post, repost the content and follow them youll likely acquire them to follow back. even if some will follow you after tagging you in their reveal on their own.

Say you have a corgi follower page, every day you reveal gorgeous corgi pictures and videos without fail. If Instagram users keep seeing your posts eventually theyll reach that you always reveal the cutest corgi content. hence they follow you taking into account the expectation that your account will always be more of the similar type of content. Having a consistent style or theme is more than just a branding play, its just about creating an expectation for your Instagram account that your cronies or potential cronies can tote up on. They want to look more of the similar type of content, every day. If you can talk to that consistency taking into account every post, youll build up your cronies on Instagram at a faster rate beyond time.

Many experts will tell you to single-handedly use 5 or 11 hashtags or some supplementary arbitrary numbers. But taking into account I was building my stores Instagram account, I ignored their advice and ran wild taking into account it. Id copy and paste a list of hashtags from my phone onto my app. Then, Id sometimes switch it taking place to attempt oscillate hashtags but eventually, I knew which ones usually worked best. Usually, Id go as near to or right to the max number of hashtags possible. 30. Thats the illusion number. unquestionable is, you build up every those hashtags in the first comment. And as your page combination grows, no one will ever look the first comment because theyre too blooming tagging their friend in your post. Sure, taking into account youre starting out people might look it. But if the point toward is to increase visibility, the easiest artifice to reach it is to build up more hashtags. As you gain followers, your posts will rank difficult for those hashtag keywords giving you even more visibility. If your hashtags are bay specific, youll increase your likelihood of subconscious found by a relevant audience which will put up to you build up your cronies on Instagram as well. hence avoid generic hashtags taking into account #love or #picoftheday if youre selling fashion, for example.

Say you have a fashion blog, you might write a blog reveal just about styling tips. You can pick posts from Instagram where you put it on pictures of your layered outfits or a accepted outfit look. Youd subsequently go onto the Instagram website on your desktop, go to your page, click the post, click the  icon and click Embed. subsequently you copy that belong to into your blog posts code section. beyond time, more people will be visiting your blog and will be more likely to check out your Instagram account too.

I know that this is more of a long-term game. Especially if youre not getting traffic today. But adding together your Instagram posts right from the introduction gives you a difficult unplanned of visibility taking into account six months from now you essentially begin seeing omnipresent returns.

To acquire that Instagram cronies increase you dependence to find people who follow brands. Who are your biggest competitors on Instagram? Write them down. Then, browse their posts to look whos commenting on their posts. Follow them and engage taking into account them.

Keep in mind that taking into account choosing competitors on Instagram its bigger to go for the smaller brands. Why? Because if you were selling makeup brushes and irritating to acquire people who comment on Sephora, theres a good unplanned that theyre not the right audience despite subconscious in a similar niche. bigger brands tend to have more customer loyalty.

However, if you have a competitor who has 100,000 fans on their page, they may not have a allegiance to that brand.

When commenting on posts of those you follow, dont panic them off taking into account a sales auditorium or the similar comment for every person you message. If they question a https://www.socialpave.com/ question on their post, meet the expense of them an answer. look at the types of comments others are giving and use that as a guideline for what you can comment too.

As you keep engaging and taking into account people, youll begin to build up a strong taking into account of your own.

If an influencer has a faithful following, they can meet the expense of you a shoutout thatll consequences in supplementary cronies for your account and possibly a few sales.

Be clear to write taking place a settlement that prohibits the influencer from sending put it on traffic. We taking into account worked taking into account an influencer who gave us a shoutout and we got 2,000 put it on cronies on our account. It was obvious she used a bot. taking into account you acquire a brusque hurry of put it on follower on your account you risk getting your account banned.

If youre looking for a more keen entre to acquire supplementary followers, question the influencer you put it on taking into account to reach an account invasion on your Instagram Stories. That way, people will have to follow your page to view the story. Youll dependence to acquire him or her to let their audience know a few days in advance.

If you host giveaways on Instagram and have a small audience, you might be nimble to acquire more followers. But if you host giveaways on your website and tote up an another to follow you on Instagram and supplementary social networks, youll have a much bigger reach.

If your audience size is small you can reveal your giveaway in clear giveaway facebook groups or on giveaway blogs.

When I first started keen in marketing, Id achieve out to giveaway blogs. Id send them some forgive products in row for a review post. Most certainly to it for the forgive product even if some did question for payment as well. Theyd reach a product review reveal filled taking into account pictures and their experiences taking into account the product. At the end, their audience would enter to win the product under the condition that you send that customer the product. Wed acquire hundreds of supplementary cronies on every our social accounts. This is a great artifice to acquire supplementary cronies if you dont have an audience. But it might not be as targeted than if you were to host a giveaway on a relevant bay blog.

If youre just starting out, giveaways can put up to you acquire more cronies on Instagram. However, if you reach them too often, you might not acquire the right type of audience you want. If your point toward is to acquire sales, giveaways wont necessarily put up to you acquire more of them. even if you can attempt this giveaway hack to acquire more sales. But if youre single-handedly looking to acquire Instagram cronies fast, this strategy can put it on quite well.

If youre just learning how to acquire cronies on Instagram, a tricked I hypothetical even if keen on my case psychoanalysis was to understand my own product photos. on the other hand of reposting supplementary peoples content, supplementary brands reposted one of my photos crediting me. since the brand has approximately 300k cronies I ended taking place getting a few supplementary Instagram cronies from their audience. I didnt have to reach any at the forefront put it on aside from taking my own photos. I didnt even have to achieve out to acquire supplementary cronies on Instagram. They reached out to me. And they werent the single-handedly brand to reach so.

When I first started building my stores Instagram account, I used a bot, an app to increase Instagram followers, called Instagress. It worked essentially capably at first which allowed me to easily construct taking place the first few thousand Instagram followers. Eventually, I stopped because I didnt dependence it anymore. Unfortunately, Instagress and supplementary apps to increase Instagram cronies usually acquire shut down. And some people who use them can acquire their entire Instagram account shut down. even if they can put it on well, the risk just isnt worth it.

The apps to increase Instagram cronies that you can use tote up marketing automation tools taking into account Buffer, HubSpot, or Hootsuite.

Free Instagram follower apps include:

Discover Instagram accounts that have unfollowed you, those who havent followed you put up to and similar accounts you should be taking into account through cronies for Instagram. This Instagram follower app is absolute to comprehend how to create your cronies happy and what content to reveal in order to acquire more cronies on Instagram. achieve out to those who unfollowed you to find out why and begin to tote up your Instagram follower metrics today.

Inactive cronies are a much talked just about subject within any social media platform, and Instagram is no different. Inactive Instagram cronies could be spam accounts or accounts from people who no longer engage on the platform hence if you are looking to build up your taking into account and combination level, it would be a good idea to ax your list of inactive followers. Crowdfire identifies your inactive followers, recognizes taking into account people unfollow you, and helps you find supplementary followers.

Get cronies & acquire Likes is a forgive Instagram cronies app aimed at increasing both cronies and likes. Providing instruction on hashtags and followers, this app allows you to analyze instruction and create great decisions that will increase Instagram cronies on your account straight away.

Social Rocket gamifies social media combination to set in motion you to interact more. Although not a great long-term strategy this could be a great starting point. The basic premise is that every epoch you taking into account someone elses reveal you will gain points to row for cronies or likes on your own posts.

There arent any keen tools for Instagram unfollowing or taking into account accounts in bulk. Tracker for Instagram gives you this another in their app. The app furthermore provides analytics hence you can analyze how cronies engage taking into account your account. Want to become an Instagram master? Sign taking place for the forgive Instagram course taught by Instagram guru Gretta Van Riel. Whats been your indistinctive to getting beyond 16k cronies on Instagram?

Engagement makes a difference. Its important that your cronies know that you appreciate them just as much as they reach you. For increased engagement, users should search the hashtags used to attract followers, find users that stand out, taking into account a few pics and comment. Youll gain the curiosity of those youve engaged with, theyll follow your page, and tag their connections on your posts.

Did you use any apps to increase Instagram followers?

Initially, tools taking into account Instagress were useful for engagement, but taking into account the expertise to point toward cronies and sponsor content, theyre no longer needed.

What advice would you meet the expense of someone who asks you how to acquire cronies on Instagram?

Post, post, post! The more users [you have seeing] your content, the more familiar theyll become taking into account your brand, causing them to like, follow, and share. The more you post, the more users character taking into account they know you.

Imagine if you woke taking place at midnight to a noise in the kitchen. You control downstairs to find Oprah drinking a mug of coffee. Most people wouldnt call the cops, why? Because theyve seen hence much of her content, they character taking into account they know her. Some would even character privileged to have her in their kitchen. Thats the effect that constant content provides for influencers.

If you had to reveal one thing you reach oscillate than anyone else on Instagram, what would that be?

My account encourages, inspires AND informs. It influences the influencers taking into account a brand voice that relates and educates. It attracts the SHE-E-O and the girl neighboring door.

Talia Koren is the mastermind astern the ever hence popular put it on Week Lunch which has an astonishing 114k cronies and counting. We asked her what the best artifice to acquire Instagram cronies is and this is what she told us:

workweeklunch meal prep InstagramWhats helped you build up your Instagram cronies to a six figure number?

I hear to my audience and meet the expense of them what they question for. It shows that Im invested in them and in reward they meet the expense of me their epoch and attention. Also, consistency. I put it on taking place every single day taking into account indispensable content in posts and in stories that helps them on the other hand of just talking just about myself. Lastly, I pay near attention to the changes to the platform. Using supplementary features taking into account version highlights and settlement the changes to the algorithm helped me build up too.

Have you used any tools to put up to you build up the number of cronies on Instagram you have?

I dont use any tools outdoor of the analytics within Instagram. Theyre great! Analytics are important because they put up to you figure out whats keen and whats not.

We often acquire asked how to acquire cronies on Instagram, what should someone starting out focus on?

When youre starting from 0 or less than 1,000 dont pay attention to the follower number hence much. Its going to go taking place and alongside and its going to be slow. on the other hand focus on ways you can attach taking into account and put up to others and acquire them talking just about you.

What reach you think separates your Instagram account from others out there?

Well, my account isnt that oscillate from many out there but I dont reveal any pictures of myself. Its not just about me its just about my audience! I furthermore use stories as a vlogging channel which my cronies love.

Gracie Parish is an Instagram influencer who grew her Instagram taking into account to an impressive 41.3k. We asked her to part her advice on how to acquire cronies on Instagram, heres what she said:

gracieparish coachella InstagramWhat steps did you understand to acquire beyond 41,000 cronies on Instagram?

I understand a lot of epoch to engage taking into account my cronies through Instagram, emails, Facebook, and Pinterest. I understand epoch each week to answer to as many cronies as I can as capably as I create clear to engage taking into account my cronies on their posts as well. Through collaborations, I have been nimble to cross-promote taking into account many bloggers or brands that I character fit my brand and this has essentially helped build up my following.

Whats had the biggest impact on increasing your Instagram followers?

I put it on essentially difficult on building reality on my blog to create a more legal relationship taking into account my followers. To reach this I single-handedly puff brands and products I essentially understand in. Through five years of blogging, I essentially realized how to pick the brands that fit my blog and style best as capably as the brands that my cronies enjoy seeing which has contributed to my success.

If someone asked you how to acquire cronies on Instagram what advice would you share?

Be yourself and dont lose confidence in yourself. Building a blog took years of difficult work, and if you are nimble to preserve a brand and stay legal to yourself, your cronies will understand proclamation of that. I would furthermore advise someone to not acquire discouraged in the beginning, because it takes a lot of epoch and practice. No [influencer] was an overnight success.

Whats the one thing your Instagram does differently than supplementary Instagram accounts?

One thing my instagram does differently than supplementary accounts is I essentially attempt and meet the expense of cronies perception into my real life. even if a lot of my content is sponsored, I essentially attempt to posts real, character posts as capably to put up to my cronies acquire to know me bigger and meet the expense of them the content they are asking to see. A lot of bloggers acquire caught taking place in the thing aspect and even if a blog is a business, it is important to not lose your reality and to stay real taking into account your followers.

How to acquire cronies on Instagram Summary Figuring out how to acquire cronies on Instagram is the hardest in the beginning. taking into account youve passed your first 10,000 cronies youll dependence to continue using some or every of the strategies in this article to keep growing your account to 100k or even beyond one million. Dont forget to update your profile regularly, especially your Instagram bio to tote up supplementary CTAs or engaging news. At the end of the day, youll dependence to put yourself out there more than you ever have before. most likely posting on Instagram three epoch a day every day of the week to put up to you build up your visibility. But eventually, every that difficult put it on will pay off. And youll have gained an Instagram taking into account you can be proud of.

Want to learn more Instagram hacks? Sign taking place for Shopifys forgive Instagram course today! In our first two weeks on the platform, we went from zero Instagram cronies to more than 10k followers. We achieved this by taking into account a lovely within reach process we hacked together during the relatively at the forefront days of the platforms growing popularity (although the principles we used still withhold up).

Then, taking into account some experimentation and elbow grease, we went from 10k cronies to accrual more than 1 million real Instagram followers, making us one of the summit Instagram accounts in our niche. Thanks to Instagram, weve furthermore been nimble to rout sales and conversions, drastically increase our online ventilation and audience, and scale our thing at a rate thats exceeded the norm and even our own expectations.

In the taking into account accumulate post, weve outlined, step by step, exactly what we did to find such wild expertise taking into account Instagram. Now you can learn how to acquire more cronies on instagram. However, as Instagram and its audience have continued to evolve, hence have we. In order to continue scaling, weve had to understand note and acclimatize to these changing conditions taking into account oscillate strategies.

Some didnt put it on out hence well, and others have been crucial to getting us to beyond 1 million cronies on Instagram in such a brusque epoch of time. hence now were going to tell you every just about the ones that worked the best. Without supplementary ado, here are our detailed results and findings hence you too can cultivate a omnipresent taking into account and begin taking advantage of the talent of this venturesome and ever-flourishing social network.

Heres a video from Nathan on the summit five forgive ways to build up your Instagram. In this video, Nathan talks just about some of the strategies we discuss in this article that Foundr used to build up hence rapidly. This part is going to understand some thought and effort. To gain a huge taking into account of real people on Instagram, you have to build content thats not single-handedly made specifically for Instagram, but furthermore content thats the right fit for what your audience wants. Finding the right entre and style is crucial, because its going to become the artifice your cronies understand you.

Generally speaking, there are types of images that put it on capably taking into account a lot of industries; posters taking into account inspirational or humorous quotes, character food photography, or scenic images are safe starting points.

That subconscious said, intentionally deem what type of content it is that youre producing. You have to recall that Instagram is such a hit because its a wholly unique platform, and the experience it provides the addict is certainly oscillate than something taking into account Facebook or Twitter.

Consider things like: How are people going to find your content? What hashtags are you going to use? If someone searches one of these hashtags and finds your posts, are they going to be intrigued ample to click through to your account, or will they be disappointed that theres no correlation amongst your reveal and the hashtag?

What is it just about the images you build that will create people reach more than just scroll on by? According to Zabisco, humans process visuals 60,000 epoch faster than plain text. In less than a second, a person decides, based on the images you share, whether or not youre worth their time. That means you dependence to stand out. taking into account you harmonize on your content type and strategy, its certainly important that you fasten to that theme. The number one thing that keeps people coming put up to to any brand or thing is consistency, whether its a Starbucks Macchiato or a Snickers bar. Its exactly the similar taking into account the kind of content you produce.

The reason Foundr has hence many real cronies on Instagram is because people can expect a consistently high level of character from us. They know that on Instagram, we build a clear kind of post, and that trust is what keeps them coming put up to for more.

This is furthermore why were intensely selective of the type of accounts and posts we select for a share-for-share (S4S) (more on this later). Were certainly protective of our brand and our audience, which is why we single-handedly ever want to be producing content were absolutely clear our bay wants. A common misfortune a lot of people aim taking into account starting out on Instagram is that theyre not certainly clear what type of theme or content it is they want to produce. Unfortunately, there essentially is no simple solution, because at the end of the day you dont want to be a copycat of a larger account. To be essentially successful on Instagram, you dependence to be a tiny unique.

The best artifice to acquire started is to reach some hashtag research (dont worry, were going to dig deep into hashtags in Section 6). Check out SaaSs (software as a service) taking into account Iconosquare to find out what hashtags are trending and which one fits you best. find competitors who use the similar hashtags as you do, or even find users who follow these hashtags and look what supplementary kind of content they like. From there, its just a thing of psychoanalysis out your content. reach some A/B testing, attempt one type of content one week and attempt something else the week after. find out what works best, and essentially acquire to know your audience.

To acquire you started, be clear to check out apps taking into account WordSwag and Typorama for text-focused Instagram posts. We use these certainly similar apps for our own Instagram account! taking into account you know what type of content is right for your brand, its epoch to essentially focus on creating great posts that you know are going to attach taking into account your audience. This might seem obvious, but we always look the content foundation itself getting neglected. find out what your customers enjoy seeing on Instagram or what themes resonate taking into account them, and populate your account taking into account relevant images.

But youve got to attach taking into account your audience, specifically. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Thats why its hence crucial to build a good relationship taking into account your audience, hence you learn what type of content it is they like. There have been numerous epoch taking into account weve posted something that we thought would absolutely rout it taking into account engagement, but it turned out to be a dud. supplementary epoch weve been left scratching our heads as to why this one reveal is hence popular.

One good artifice to find out what your customers taking into account is by checking out what your competition is posting, or what kind of imagery is used on the websites or blogs that are popular in your industry.

If youre in an industry where what youre selling is already visually appealing, photos of what you reach is not a bad idea either. However, keep such images in the minority; posting a lot just about yourself on social media is just taking into account subconscious the person at BBQ who single-handedly talks just about themselves.

On that note, its essentially important that you dont control the risk of oversharing. A celebrity can acquire away taking into account it because a large part of their appeal and brand is their personal life. Fans are genuinely interested as to what Beyonce is having for dinner or what exactly it is the stone is cooking. If youre executive a personal account, thats furthermore certainly fine, because its explicit and clear that this is an account for sharing your indistinctive life.

However, if youre executive a professional account, unless your personal photos actually fit in taking into account the theme of your brand, its not a good idea. For example, as a CEO or founder, a personal photo of how youve organized your put it on desk would fit in taking into account your theme. A personal photo of you in Vegas doesnt have the similar effect.

Oversharing means that you lose out on combination because your content is just too off subject and uncertain to construct a consistent audience.

On Instagram, combination is king. For best results, we found images that set in motion an emotion or questions that elicit some thought put it on essentially well. For example, this image under got beyond 95% more combination than our regular posts. For Instagram, were told that 1% combination in terms of likes is a good metric to follow.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram People taking into account Seeing supplementary People Include faces in your photos. Images taking into account faces have been known to increase engagement, because our brains naturally want to interact taking into account supplementary people. Also, images that dont tote up faces, but using a point-of-view shot where the camera acts as the eyes of the audience can put up to them create them character taking into account theyre a part of the image. Despite having fewer likes, you can look how the taking into account reveal by Mecca Maxima has far afield more comments compared to their posts that dont tote up faces.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram using faces Calls to Action Every reveal should have a strong call to put it on or CTA (marketing talk for an instruction for your viewer to reach something) encouraging people to follow you or taking into account the reveal in the caption. By adding together in a call to action, people are 25% more likely to follow through on that put it on than without it.

This CTA should be relevant to the photo, and not the similar as the one you used in your bio (more on your bio later). Its a softer ask.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram Think of a CTA as a artifice to remind people that there is an put it on they could take. By adding together a CTA to your image, every youre put it on is reminding your cronies that they dont have to just scroll on past, they can actually reach supplementary things, including liking your picture, or writing a comment.

Ask questions in your captions to put up to people to respond. This is a certainly simple tactic to create clear that your Instagram cronies are interacting taking into account your account.

Putting a question in your caption always creates combination and forces people to entre and hopefully respond.  Bianca Cheah, founder and MD of Sporteluxe

Remember, the one thing you want to achieve the most taking into account your audience is engagementyou want them to be interested in and personally amalgamated to your brand and your account. Gently encouraging them to invest less than a second into each reveal does wonders for cultivating that engagement.

Examples of CTAs are tag your connections who are taking into account this, or double tap if you agree. Always meet the expense of your fans something to do. This helps your account press on taking into account wildfire.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram Using belong to in bio Its Storytime! Develop a version taking into account your posts. invade peoples attention by providing a narrative; dont just harmonize for a generic line of text. acquire people invested and put it on off how much value you can meet the expense of in one go. One of my favorite accounts to follow is cereal.entrepreneur. Each Instagram reveal is accompanied by either a small bio, or interview taking into account the featured explorer hence you acquire a unplanned to know a bit more just about them and what they do.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram 2018 cereal entrepeurner Developing a version furthermore ties into emotion. Always look to elicit an emotion taking into account your posts. Whether youre looking to inspire people, create them laugh, or stun them, your posts should always aim to set in motion an emotion taking into account your audience. A great example to look at here would be Chubbies, and note how theyre always looking to create their audience giggle by posting an assortment of jokes and memes.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram using addict generated content User-Generated Content Post user-generated content whenever possible. Not single-handedly will this meet the expense of your brand social proof and create people far afield more likely to follow you, but itll furthermore put up to you construct a blooming and engaged community almost your Instagram account. Frank Body have almost built their entire Instagram strategy by curating user-generated content. This has helped them construct a community of engaged Instagram followers, as capably as create hundreds of faithful brand ambassadors. To find out more just about their social media strategy, reach create clear to check out our interview taking into account the founders of Frank Body.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram frank bod how to acquire more cronies on instagram Using addict generated content Here you can look weve got a photo of someone taking a photo taking into account our coffee table collection Foundr V1.0 Regularly use your posts to question cronies to part their content taking into account you. create clear to meet the expense of them an incentive for put it on this, though, taking into account executive an Instagram competition or giveaway. You can easily curate their posts by asking them to use your branded hashtag.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram by reposting Your Instagram Theme Getting more people to interact taking into account you furthermore involves maintaining a consistent aesthetic theme hence that your Instagram feed reaffirms your brand identity. A simple artifice to reach that is to use the similar filter. It makes your images more recognizable and your overall feed look more professional. proclamation how Herschel Supply maintains their aesthetic theme by for all time making clear their posts have similar tones and colors. Not single-handedly reach these posts look great, but because of the consistency you can look how their feed has a natural flow to it that builds familiarity and affinity.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram using an instagram theme Remember that character always beats quantity taking into account it comes to Instagram posts. Dont reveal something for the sake of posting. Always create clear your content is providing value to your audience in some way.

Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 3: Treat Your Community on Instagram taking into account Gold One of the biggest mistakes people create taking into account building their Instagram account is that they single-handedly ever look their cronies as numbers.

Followers arent the single-handedly metric that matters taking into account it comes to Instagram, but you can acquire caught taking place and become hence obsessed in growing your follower tote up that you forget that each person who chooses to follow you is actually a living, blooming human being. It doesnt thing what kind of account youre running, whether its personal or business, the similar is legal everywhere.

You must always honoring your audience.

I essentially cant stress that enough, and its become even clearer to us as weve gained experience taking into account the platform. If youre not paying attention and listening to your audience, subsequently youre no longer building something that has any sort of meaningful impact. every youre put it on is stroking your ego.

So how reach you know if youre connecting taking into account your audience? even if your follower tote up may be the most important metric, our journey to 1 million cronies taught us that you must furthermore pay attention to your combination levels. This means how many likes youre getting, how many people are bothering to actually comment on your posts, how many people actually go through your Instagram sales funnel.

According to the famed Pareto principle, 80% of your results single-handedly come from 20% of your audience, or 80% of your revenue single-handedly comes from 20% of your customers. even if more of a deem of thumb than a difficult scientific fact, the Pareto principle should create you reach that its not just about having a large follower tote up as much as it is just about having a large core of engaged followers.how to acquire more cronies on instagram increase instagram engagement You dont want a huge follower tote up because it gives you bragging rights; you want a huge follower tote up because by increasing your achieve and exposure, you increase the likelihood of finding one legal follower.

A legal follower is someone who absolutely loves your content and what you do. Theyre the one that, if asked, will put alongside keep because you asked them to, or purely because its something that you made. Think just about any epoch youve been faithful to a brand and chose them beyond something else.

If you ever want to build any sort of move or exposure, this should be your primary point toward in growing a huge follower count. Ten thousand cronies isnt impressive unless you have at least 1,000 legal followers.

Thats why we treat our community taking into account gold.

For example, we are certainly strict on making clear we answer to every comment possible.

how to acquire more 10k cronies on instagram how to increase combination on instagram You want to inspire comments that go beyond the generic nice pic, and awesome post! variety. Actually put it on that theres a human astern the screen. Its a surefire artifice to create yourself stand out from the crowd.

Be as conversational as realizable taking into account engaging taking into account supplementary users, and be legal to how you talk in real life. stress the personality astern your brand and let people know that youre not just another robot. Again, understand a look at how Frank Body uses their Frank persona to engage taking into account their cronies to great effect.

Its unbelievable how many brands forget the social aspect of social media networks. Its no longer a one-way communication model where the audience passively has to accept what you have to say. If someone takes the epoch to actually write a comment on your post, the certainly least you can reach is reply.

Its a simple reward for those who bother to engage taking into account you in a dialogue. Something as simple as that goes a long artifice toward turning someone into a legal fan. Well even send private messages to our supplementary cronies taking into account its appropriate. The key here is to create your Instagram cronies character welcomed and happy to be a part of your community.

As we discussed in the last section, youll find posts that have calls to put it on asking people to comment tend to garner the most shares and tags. By starting a conversation this way, you can put it on your audience that youre not some faceless corporation, but a person or people who actually care just about others opinions.

how to acquire 10k instagram cronies in 2018 It might even assent brusque results, as we often find real gems within our comments for ideas on articles and oscillate people to interview.

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Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 4: reveal on Instagram Regularly Aim to reveal on a regular basis, just about taking into account every three to four hours. However, dont bulk reveal a accumulate bunch of photos in one sitting; users will often regard this as spam and unfollow you. Think of it taking into account sowing seeds. You dont want to just plug every your seeds into a hole in one go; you want to press on them out.

Youre going for consistency. If your audience cant comfortably rely on you to reveal regularly, youre not going to find many people pleasing to follow you on the off unplanned that youre going to reveal something every now and then.

Fortunately, you can schedule your content if you use a tool taking into account Later. Unfortunately, Instagrams API doesnt let supplementary services reveal for you, but you can pre-fill and batch them.

how to acquire more instagram cronies best instagram tools 2018 *Please note you can single-handedly reveal from the Instagram Mobile or Tablet app. You cannot reveal via the difficult website taking into account you are logged in.

Use Iconosquare to put it on out the best epoch to reveal to your account and maximize exposure. You can furthermore use Instagrams original systematic platform if you have an Instagram thing account.

how to acquire more instagram cronies 2018 One supplementary posting tip is to always reveal on Sundays. Sunday is usually a lovely silent day on Instagram, making it the absolute opportunity for you to acquire ahead of the pack and acquire your posts in stomach of even more people.

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Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 5: Theres Gold In Your Instagram Bio On Instagram, your bio is a crucial piece of real estate. You can best create use of this section by having a strong call to action. You can use taking place to 150 characters, hence a brusque snappy CTA works best.

A strong CTA should be an absolute no-brainer for your audience. You already know that they can look your content, hence create it worth their even if to actually understand a look at your bio by offering something that you know theyll love.

To create a strong CTA, you want to be as simple and no-nonsense as possible. Because you single-handedly acquire one living belong to taking into account it comes to Instagram, which is in your bio, you want to be nimble to acquire as much value as realizable out of that link.

how to acquire more instagram cronies Using belong to in bio to steer more sales using instagram Your bio should furthermore be compelling. Your potential cronies on Instagram have a few seconds to deem whether or not they want to follow you. Your bio should invade their attention and create them want to follow you, or at the certainly least, scroll alongside supplementary to check out your content.

Notice how we extra the tagline in our bio, Building a thing is hard. We extra this to arrest the attention of people who visit our profile for the first time. We want to acknowledge a point of relationship and evoke some kind of emotional wave hence Instagrammers follow us and continue the relationship.

Your bio should furthermore be searchable. We included the keywords startup, entrepreneurs, and entrepreneur magazine hence taking into account people search on Instagram using these terms, our profile will put it on taking place in their search results.

how to acquire more instagram cronies use hashtags Want To acquire Even More Instagram Followers? Sign taking place For Our living Masterclass

Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 6: Use Hashtags to acquire More Instagram Followers Hashtags (keywords preceded by #) might seem taking into account something single-handedly maddening youngsters use, but trust us, thats not the case. They are a artifice for viewers to navigate easily to topics theyre interested in. Attaching #hashtags to your image, therefore, enables your content to be found more easily by those who dont already follow you.

First, research the most popular Instagram hashtags in your niche, and subsequently compile them. For us, this keen building a huge list of keywords that we found were relevant to what we reach and what our images generally are just about (#entrepreneur, #business, #startup, for example).

Instagram Hashtag-Finding Tips Check out what the top-trending hashtags are taking into account Tags For Likes. Use Hashtags, TagFire, and Grama to find hashtags relevant to your niche. Copy the hashtags that the summit influencers in your bay are using. Use this as a artifice to not single-handedly generate more ventilation and gain more Instagram followers, but as a artifice to acquire on the radars of supplementary influencers. Users can use Instagrams examine feature to find posts amalgamated to trending hashtags such as #LoveWins, #CanadaDay, and #FullMoon. If these trending tags are relevant to your brand, tote up them in timely posts to aid discovery. on the subject of search, Instagram furthermore introduced the expertise to search by emoji.  Jim Tobin, president of frustrate Social Media.

Round taking place just about 30 that tote up a mix of high-performing and low-performing hashtags. Use almost 10 hashtags that have beyond a million posts, subsequently another 10 hashtags that single-handedly have 10k to 50k posts, taking into account another 10 anywhere in between. This artifice you create clear your posts acquire as much ventilation as possible. Find out what the hashtag of the day is and use it. Whether its something taking into account #motivationmonday, #fitnessfriday, or #trumpettuesday, acquire in adjoin taking into account an even larger audience by participating in these hashtags. Create combination sets of hashtags to maximize exposure. Dont just harmonize for one set of hashtags, create almost three oscillate sets of 30 hashtags each. Regularly oscillate them hence that your posts achieve a variety of people relevant to your niche. keep them in a comments file hence every you dependence to reach is copy and paste them, and not have to bother just about writing each one out every single time how to acquire more instagram cronies use hashtags Instagram Hashtag Use Once you compile your hashtags, build up them to a comment under your post.

Dont put your hashtags into the version of the photo itself. Putting them in the comment section on the other hand will hide your list of keywords after others have extra comments. You furthermore wont unnecessarily bulk taking place your photo description, allowing you to you keep your version section forgive for a compelling blurb just about the photo.

how to acquire 10k instagram cronies 2018 Reference each reveal taking into account a full 30 hashtags. Instagram allows you 30 hashtags per post, hence use each and every one of them to maximize your posts exposure.

Branded Instagram Hashtags Create a branded hashtag to create it easier for others to find you. original hashtags can put up to you encouragement conversations, increase your brands reputation, and put up to you construct credibility.

Use your custom hashtag to construct a community almost your brand, and to regularly engage taking into account your Instagram followers. Its an incredibly simple artifice to create your cronies character taking into account theyre a part of a larger community. You can look how customers and cronies of Frank Body follow the custom hashtag #thefrankeffect, and how large a community has come together because of this hashtag.

how to acquire 10k instagram cronies 2018 You can furthermore use a hashtag in your bio hence that your account gets more exposure. This is a certainly simple artifice to create clear that your account shows taking place in hashtag searches as well.

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Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 7: Network, Network, Network: The talent of Shoutouts Its not every just about lovely pictures and keywords. To proliferate on Instagram, youre going to have to achieve out and interact taking into account some real, living humans. Networking can put it on wonders, not single-handedly IRL, but furthermore in the social media sphere. It was a huge driver of Foundrs success.

When we started, we managed to acquire introduced to this huge network of entrepreneurs, every taking into account accounts of beyond 20,000 Instagram followers. They helped us out huge epoch by sharing our content, and there are similar networks for every kinds of industries, taking into account users who are every pleasing to put up to out, hence long as you reward the favor of course!

Remember, if you put up to people and dont expect whatever in return, not single-handedly is it good karma, but it comes put up to to you tenfold. hence dont entre joining and teaming taking place taking into account supplementary accounts taking into account an attitude of, Whats in it for me? Rather, think of it as just helping your fellow person out, and you never know, good things may happen to you alongside the road.

Use Shoutouts To acquire More Instagram Followers When it comes to growing a huge taking into account on Instagram, youre going to have to acquire used to the idea of collaboration beyond competition.

This is where the incredibly powerful concept of S4S comes into play. For newcomers, S4S stands for share for share. If youre looking to house a million cronies on Instagram, or even tens of thousands, you dependence to acquire used to the idea of sharing supplementary peoples content.

The basics of S4S are quite simple. You question another influencer in your bay if they would taking into account to part your content, and in reward you will part theirs.

This artifice youll be nimble to let breathe each others brands to each others audiences, some of whom likely have never even heard of you before. The best part is that if you pick who you reach S4S taking into account carefully, youll probably find someone taking into account an audience who you know will taking into account your content too. Youll quickly discover that one of the greatest things just about Instagram is that it allows you to tap directly into a bay taking into account clear likes, interests, hobbies, and needs.

how to acquire more instagram cronies using part for share As you can look from the image above, it doesnt have to point toward directly sharing each others content; you can just meet the expense of a shoutout to someone elses account in the caption.

These types of transactions are unique to Instagram and absolutely invaluable for anyone who wants to cultivate a huge following. But recall that you should always look to be providing a mutual row of value.

Dont think of others in your bay as your competition, but as potential partners.

If youre afraid that someone is going to steal your followers and, as a result, refuse to put it on taking into account others, subsequently it is intensely unlikely youre going to build any kind of real traction on Instagram.

So taking into account that in mind, heres the neighboring indistinctive on how to maximize your S4S potential: belong to a shoutout group.

A shoutout outfit is basically an informal outfit of Instagrammers who have come together in order to withhold each supplementary by put it on S4S for one another. hence on the other hand of having to for all time find someone supplementary to reach S4S taking into account every single time, youll on the other hand have a dedicated outfit of people who you can reliably depend on to row shares.

Of course, shoutout groups come in every shapes and sizes. Sometimes youll find a outfit taking into account taking place to hundreds of people who are conveniently shopping for supplementary people to reach S4S with. kind of taking into account an ad-hoc Instagram marketplace.

how to acquire more instagram cronies using s4s part for share Other epoch you might find a more dedicated outfit of people who are certainly selective of their members and might have even created a set schedule for every members to follow.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram using a yell out outfit You might be amazed by how capably you acquire to know one another beyond Instagram, and even accidentally set taking place your own mastermind group. You might reach more than just row tips just about Instagram, and even begin helping each others businesses out more directly. You might even create a friend or two.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram taking into account s4s But dont begin thinking that these are some sort of red triangle illuminati groups that require cryptic foundation processes.

Most groups, and Instagrammers in general, use Kik as the primary source of communication. However, Ive seen and been a part of groups that use Slack, GroupMe and even regular Facebook groups.

All it takes is having a kind attitude even if put it on S4S and looking to construct a relationship beyond Instagram. since you know it, youll find yourself subconscious invited to an S4S outfit yourself. Or you might even want to create your own and invite others!

Types of Instagram Shoutouts When youre just starting out, it can be a tiny intimidating to question supplementary accounts to reach a shoutout for you, but the encouragement essentially reach outweigh the costs. Having a large account yell you out will reach more for your follower tote up than whatever else. But its super important to create clear that youre choosing the right accounts to acquire a shoutout from.

If youre choosing an account based on unquestionable cronies and their theme or audience doesnt harmonize yours, subsequently every youve ended is wasted epoch and money, because theres no guarantee that such a shoutout is going to acquire you a good ROI.

There are a few oscillate types of shoutouts you can pursue.

Caption single-handedly shoutouts: The page uses its own image and style that it usually would, and mentions your page in the caption. This works, but is not as keen as your own image or branded image. Caption single-handedly can be a cheaper alternative. OR

Your own image taking into account your product or encouragement + caption. This works bigger than just a caption-based shoutout, but you have to create clear the call to put it on is good. Some accounts will single-handedly let you put taking place the image for a clear epoch of time, and others will let it stay up. Usually the difficult traffic the page, the more you look rules and restrictions. The strategy astern the shoutouts can furthermore vary. What we recommend is adding together a CTA to follow your page on the other hand of one that leads people to subscribe or optin, as you can invade the audience and engage taking into account them more. We have tried both pushing the Foundr subscription and getting the viewer to follow our page, and we have found its artifice more keen to acquire them to follow you. You have to recall you cant put clickable connections in the captions, hence it can be difficult to acquire people to put it on specific actions. It takes more epoch for people to go to the bio, find the link, click on it, and subsequently subscribe, than it does for them to click the follow button.

S4S Bargaining taking into account Youre Just Getting Started Just taking into account any supplementary transaction in the world, S4S is every just about having a mutually beneficial exchange. You have to ensure that both parties are getting something of similar value out of this exchange.

If you have an account taking into account single-handedly a few thousand cronies and question another account taking into account 500,000 followers, youre either going to be ignored, good-humoredly refused, or outright laughed at. What realizable gain could that larger account acquire from the smaller one?

Unless you have something equally indispensable to leverage, subsequently you shouldnt be asking someone to reach S4S for you. Thats lovely much the equivalent of bringing a knife to a gunfight (dont worry, nobody is essentially fighting).

That leads to one of the questions we acquire asked the most at Foundr, How reach I meet the expense of leverage in S4S?

A lot of people acquire discouraged by the idea of almost bigger accounts for an S4S, because it seems taking into account they dont have a comparable follower count. But even if your follower tote up may be the most important metric on Instagram, it doesnt point toward that it is the single-handedly metric on Instagram. If it was, subsequently anyone could be an influencer taking into account a couple of bucks and few thousand bots as Instagram followers.

The best artifice to find leverage, in any thing deal, not just Instagram, is to understand a step put up to and think just about what it is that single-handedly you can offer. What is that unique aspect you can bring that the supplementary person might have a difficult epoch getting?

For one, you can compare your combination levels. If you can guarantee a intensely engaged audience taking into account many legal Instagram cronies subsequently you can easily use that as leverage in S4S. Because the level of honoring and allegiance you command from your audience is single-handedly something you can give, and that makes it a indispensable commodity.

Beyond that, think just about what else you can offer.

You can easily bring value and generate a ton of harmony by subconscious a regular commenter for a larger account. A indispensable comment is something that is more than just the generic oh wow, this is great! statement. Stand out by taking the effort to be different.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram how to leverage s4s Start an engaging ventilation and let your targeted influencer know that you exist. Who knows, you might actually catch them in a generous character and most likely theyll meet the expense of you a shoutout just because they taking into account your moxie.

Using Your Bio belong to as a Bargaining Chip One certainly simple artifice to meet the expense of leverage in a real and genuine artifice is by offering supplementary accounts your bio link. on Instagram, the single-handedly place you can put a living belong to is in your bio. This is vitally important if youre executive any kind of sales funnel, but its furthermore an certainly useful tool taking into account irritating to build up your follower count.

Use tools taking into account Bit.ly or lovely belong to to track and monitor how much traction your bio belong to receives. This will meet the expense of you difficult data on how much value you can meet the expense of them.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram acquire more part for share As long as you keep the belong to short, roomy and youre clear that the landing page leads to something your audience wants subsequently theres no reason not to meet the expense of your bio belong to as a artifice to leverage value. Its a great artifice of establishing a thing relationship by becoming an affiliate, and by offering something indispensable in your bio belong to there is no reason you wont be nimble to steer your follower tote up up.

Paying for Shoutouts As in every walks of life, keep talks. That means you can buy shoutouts. Prices for shoutouts will amend by account. We found that the pages taking into account the best results are motivational or thing accounts, hence you dependence to find high-traffic pages that have good engagement. We constitute good combination as at least 1-2% of likes per how many Instagram cronies the account has.

Also be clear to stay active in the comment section of every shoutout post. Itll significantly steer taking place your own combination levels and increase the chances people will bother to click through to your account.

For an account taking into account decent combination and 200,000 Instagram followers, we wouldnt pay more than $50 per shoutout, and we would want to use our own image.

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Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 8: keen taking into account Influencers To acquire More Instagram Followers This is by far afield one of the best ways to increase the number of Instagram cronies you have. Youll be hard-pressed to find any supplementary tactic to generate as strong of an ROI.

Create a list of 10-20 influencers youd taking into account to regularly engage with. Know exactly who it is free followers on Instagram you want to acquire in adjoin with, because these will be the people who can put up to understand your Instagram account to the neighboring level. acquire influencers to part your content or yell you out. Arrange for influencers to meet the expense of you a shoutout by participating in an S4S deal.

Its the #1 artifice to build up for free.  Jason Stone, founder of Millionaire Mentor.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram put it on taking into account instagram influencer Use hashtags to find out who the summit influencers in your bay are. understand a look at what the summit hashtags in your bay are and look if you can identify any particular account that consistently appears in the top or trending posts. You can lovely much guarantee that theyre an influencer and someone you want to attach with.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram how to find and put it on taking into account instagram influencers Paying Influencers You can furthermore pay influencer pages to part your content. If every else fails, pay someone to meet the expense of you a shoutout. But since you do, create clear that you can acquire a guarantee on ROI. What youre looking for is someone taking into account an engaged audience, not necessarily a large number of Instagram followers. recall that 1-2% combination is a minimum for keen taking into account someone. The higher, the better.

Influencer Account Swaps Do an account oscillate taking into account supplementary influencers in your niche. understand beyond someone elses account for a day and put it on off who you are to their audience and vice versa. This is a great strategy for anyone taking into account a personal brand. Buffer would furthermore sometimes let their employees understand beyond their Instagram account for a day. This artifice their Instagram cronies could acquire to know more just about Buffer, their workplace culture, and what went on astern the scenes.

how to acquire more cronies on instagram using influencers Want To acquire Even More Instagram Followers? Sign taking place For Our living Masterclass

Learn How to Go From 0-500K+ cronies in 12 Months! belong to our forgive living Instagram Masterclass! 9: extra Instagram cronies increase Hacks Need some more increase hacks to supercharge your Instagram follower count? Here are 10 of our favorites!

Giveaways Hold giveaways on Instagram that require users to follow in order to enter. Everyone loves forgive stuff. acquire a bunch of cronies overnight by executive a giveaway, but create clear to puff it, on the other hand you wont be seeing many results.

Require cronies to tag their connections in order to enter. This is one of the best, and most organic ways to quickly construct your Instagram followers. A general deem of thumb to follow, though, is to withhold your Instagram competitions taking into account you have at least 10k cronies in order to look the best results.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram using giveaways Instagram Ads If you have a budget, and an Instagram thing account, we intensely recommend that you understand advantage of Instagram ads as a artifice to invade supplementary Instagram followers.

Viral Images Create viral images encouraging your fans to tag their friends. acquire ideas for what types of posts tend to be popular by watching whats trending in your targeted hashtags. create similar posts in your own style, and question people to tag their friends.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram in 2018 using viral images Geolocation Targeting Use geolocation targeting to identify cronies relevant to your bay in a clear area. If you happen to control a brick-and-mortar business, this is an excellent artifice of getting the attention of local clientele.

Offline Marketing Take your promotional efforts offline and puff your Instagram account through the use of subconscious products taking into account branded stickers or pamphlets, for example. If you happen to have a custom hashtag youd taking into account to promote, use these subconscious products as a artifice to acquire people more interested and on fire just about your accounts.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram using offline marketing Fan Pages Create follower pages and use them to steer cronies to your thing pages. Instagram now allows you to control combination accounts through their app, hence understand advantage of this by creating another account intended to withhold your main account. Use it as a artifice to experiment taking into account oscillate strategies and attach taking into account supplementary influencers.

The Thunderclap Strategy Organize a thunderclap and acquire combination accounts to part a reveal of yours at the similar time. This is a astonishing strategy to steer more traffic to your account, especially if youre looking to sell a product. A shoutout from not one, but combination influencers in your bay will guarantee that several thousand potential Instagram cronies will look your post.

Social Sharing Automatically part your Instagram posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. create a simple process taking into account something taking into account IFTTT hence your Instagram posts are automatically shared on your supplementary social media accounts. meet the expense of your posts that supplementary bit of ventilation even if simultaneously growing your supplementary social media accounts.

how to acquire 10k instagram cronies 2018 Lead Magnets Invest some epoch in creating Instagram-specific guide magnets within reach single-handedly on your account, whether its an ebook, a webinar, or even a simple PDF. This will incentivize people to follow your account, and it should be an integral part of your Instagram marketing strategy if youre planning on generating sales and conversions through your account.

how to acquire 10k cronies on instagram using guide magnets Like-for-Like Groups Join and participate in like-for-like groups to tote up your posts organic reach. find and attach taking into account a outfit of in accord people who are in a similar bay to yours. put up to each supplementary out on Instagram by liking each others posts or neglect comments. These groups are a great artifice to supplementary your network, and build stronger interaction taking into account supplementary influencers.

Use your like-for-like groups to fall like bombs or engagement bombs on posts to increase their chances of trending. create a custom hashtag that single-handedly you and your outfit are familiar of hence that its easier for you to find each others posts. Then, as a group, everyone taking into account or comment on one persons reveal to meet the expense of it a huge boost in organic traffic.

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[butchedyke]

(for the char thing) stanley uris, mike hanlon, and patty blum

migz!!!! i’m sorry i abandoned this in favour of video games and capitalism i hope i can make it up to u uwu

this is mostly going off the movies but there’s occasional book and miniseries input- i’ve only read the first few chapters, a few wikia pages, and some character meta from the book and i’ve only seen the miniseries once vs the however many times ive watched the movies in the last 2 months so don’t expect consistency between canons

 (also i’m gonna put these under a cut because this post got really long)

stanley uris

How I feel about this character:

there is a reason i use the tag baby boy for stan (and also for miniseries eddie)!!!! he’s my favourite loser other than eddie and i want to like. hold him and make sure he’s happy and healthy and i think stephen king should treat his characters better.

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

patty!!!!! their relationship in the book makes me so happy and anyone who’s ever spoken to me about stanpat knows that i am at all times thinking about how she calls his car sedanley.

that being said, i respect stenbrough, stanlon, and streddie but overall this is a stanpat household

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

stan with all the losers but especially richie! which isn’t very original since they are literally best friends but their dynamic!!! good!!!! i’ve not been able to stop thinking about that one scene from the miniseries where richie introduces stan as “this is stan the man uris, he’s a jew,” partially because it’s fucking funny because who says that richie what the fuck, but also because stan just instantly follows up by saying that richie has a high metabolism which makes him hyperactive, and maybe it’s because the miniseries is campy and a little bit shit but the delivery of those lines makes it seem like they do this a lot! they have these introductions ready to go! and i love the idea of them as a platonic package deal even if we don’t get to see much of that in the movies

My unpopular opinion about this character:

i don’t think i really have any? i tend to follow people who hold the same opinions as me tho so i have no idea what’s popular outside of that dshfk

i mean i do think fics that save eddie but not stan aren’t really fix-its and going off the amount of fics where stan’s still dead i guess that’s somehow an unpopular opinion? i know everyone’s focused on reddie rn but god like. stan is right there can we stop ignoring him pls

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

i mean the most blatantly obvious answer here is that i wish he didn’t die! he should’ve gotten to go on his holiday and rail/get railed by his wife and live to meet his friends as adults, catch up on the 27 years they didn’t get to be with each other. he should’ve gotten to have kids, once everything was over, and they should’ve been able to grow up with 5 extra uncles and an aunt bc u can’t tell me the rest of the losers wouldn’t be deeply embedded in their lives. i just wish stan had a chance to be completely, 100% happy without the underlying terror of his childhood.

on a smaller note i also wish we’d gotten to see more of his interest in birds in the movies bc like. he’s babie. and who knows! maybe would’ve helped stop the perception that his entire personality is just being a bitch that hates richie jshfd

mike hanlon

How I feel about this character:

part of the reason i wanted to read the book was for more mike content because i adore this lil farm boy and the movies. well. y’know. :). characters who just openly and whole-heartedly love their friends and go straight ride or die like 10 minutes after meeting them have my whole heart! he’s so smart and so kind and just wanted to protect his friends as best he could even though he dragged them into this whole mess bc he doesn’t want to lose them again!!!! mike deserves the whole world and if his way of getting that is by getting out of derry and getting to know that his friends remember and love him and each other then that’s all i want for him.

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

i wasn’t overly set on any particular mike ship until i watched the miniseries and saw the homoerotic bike montage and now i’m fully on the hanbrough train. choo choo.

just like with stan i support stanlon but endgame hanbrough is just. it’s right there in the text. bill didn’t divorce audra for nothing in ch2.

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

this also kinda ties in with the last point, but jane @billdenbrough opened my eyes, in the middle of a very in-depth conversation about audra’s minion strap, to the world of best friends mike and audra who are both with bill which is both galaxy brained and an incredibly good concept which i think about a lot

also i think mike and ben could’ve had something Incredibly soft if mike wasn’t treated like a background character in the first film and a quest-giving npc in the second one :) :)

My unpopular opinion about this character:

i headcanon mike as gay, i have no textual evidence for this, i just think he’s neat. i think it’s a pretty popular opinion that the movies treated him poorly? and i also think that in ch2 he was just trying to protect his friends in a scenario that did not lend itself at all to protection. drugging bill and not telling the others about the full ritual might not have been the best thing to do, but he was in a goddamn bitch of an unsatisfactory situation, and he was trying his best to save his friends no matter how impossible it may have been.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

i uh :) i don’t know if anyone’s figured out yet :) that i wish many things had happened with mike in canon :) :) the first film doesn’t give him much but the second film just infuriates me completely tbqh! he’s basically entirely there to push the narrative (his dialogue doesn’t even sound like dialogue! it sounds like prose explaining the plot and the next steps the characters have to take!), or to drug and lie to his friends. i wish they’d kept his backstory the same, that we’d actually gotten to see him find his token, that he’d gotten a token relevant to him as an individual rather than the group, that we’d gotten a flashback for him, that he was given more screentime and development across both films, like... i wish he’d been treated like the other losers and not a plot point.

i also wish we’d gotten to see him on his travels post-canon, seeing the other losers, and just generally actually getting to be happy- we see the start of it but god i just want to see him having a good time outside of derry.

patty blum

How I feel about this character:

if she were not stan’s wife she would be my wife. we don’t get to see much of her in the movie or miniseries and that is a fucking crime!!!! i’ve already mentioned sedanley but like. sedanley. i’ve read patty’s bit in the book and that’s all i need the other 1100 pages can get fucked, she’s just here to watch family feud and love stan which i can confidently say is a huge fucking mood

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

STAN. i guess i already talked about this before but i’ll keep going!!! my love for stanpat overwhelms my usual distaste towards straight relationships bc they’re so good!!!!! the fact that they’re really the only happy relationship to come out of the 27 year gap and they love each other so much and so like... wholesomely? but they still blow each other’s backs out on the reg and it’s what they deserve.

also i sometimes think about patty/audra as like. kind of a crack ship kind of a “i’m a lesbian and i’m desperate to see lesbians” ship. i haven’t thought about it in depth i just want to plant the seed

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

stan introducing patty to the losers and patty becoming an honorary loser is my weakness!!!! patty being comfortable enough to rib richie (and richieandeddie) with stan, but also vice versa going along with richie’s bits. patty and bev getting close because as much as st*phen k*ng and co push bev as One Of The Boys(tm) there’s just something in having another woman around that can be refreshing especially when they’re both bicons. patty and mike enthusiastically sharing holiday pictures and tales of their trips. patty noticing when eddie’s having a bad day, whether it’s anxiety or lingering trauma, and supporting him through it, regaling him with stories about stan and what essentially amount to dad jokes (sedanley!!!) and making sure he knows he’s loved and supported by all the losers. patty, the teacher, and ben, lunchtimes-in-the-library ben who never outgrew his love of reading, nerding out over shit that the others don’t really know about. bill telling patty all about what stan was like as a kid in that way only bill can, richie chiming in with crude comments sometimes but noticeably keeping quieter than usual, and patty returning the favour, telling them about the last 27 years, and not even richie makes a single joke when everyone tears up (because he’s tearing up the most). stan sitting there the whole time not even bothering to point out that he’s right there because it’s enough for him to see the romantic love of his life and the platonic loves of his life bonding, and yeah, maybe it was worth sticking around for.

My unpopular opinion about this character:

i don’t know if this is unpopular but patty pegs. that’s all.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

more patty. let me see my wife.

[bettersafethandicks]

[takes a huge hit of a blunt] hey dude what if you were like the calypsos pet and some vague bandit group kidnapped you and held you for ransom lol

@sugar-high-viking this is 4 u binch

troy n tyreen x gender neutral reader

as you all know nothing sexie happens that ‘x’ just emotional 

warnings for getting beat up by extremely rude and rowdy boys and also for calypsos showing genuine care and affection also for lack of any editing

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

           You kicked and writhed as the marauder dragged you by the ropes digging into your wrists, rubbing them raw.  Your pleas and curses were muffled by a rough cloth gagging you, and you were already bleeding from the scrapes and cuts you’d gathered while trying to escape.

           “Keep ‘em yellin, its picking up great.”  The guy following you with a camera laughed, keeping you in focus.  

           The bandit dragging you jerked the rope to one side, causing you to slam your cheek against the filthy floor with a yelp.  It wasn’t long before you were hoisted up, the bindings at your wrists looped over a ceiling beam; high enough to keep you barely stable, on your tiptoes in a position that was going to ache sooner rather than later.  You stopped your cries and panted harshly, worn out already.

           “Right, you freaks listenin?” The camera operator spoke to his future audience, panning the device around you.  You tried to follow him, turning your head as he circled you. “Your poor little pet is only gonna get more banged up the longer you keep us waitin’.”  

           At that, the masked man who dragged you in slammed a punch into your side, earning an audible crack and a piercing shriek.

           You couldn’t make out more of his words, twisting in your strung-up position, yelling in agony, each breath bringing bolts of pain streaking through your body.  

           “Shut them up for a second, will ya?”

           A hand wrapped around your throat, cutting the air from your lungs and silencing the already muffled wails.

           “Guns and cash- not delivered by you two.  In fact, send someone disposable; it’ll be a little trade-off.  No funny shit, or you’re gonna be getting this thing back in installments.” The knife biting into your jaw was barely noticeable beyond the panic of oxygen deprivation.  “Ohh, maybe we could make their face look like brother Calypso’s?! Wouldn’t that be fun?  Why don’t you put your suggestions in the comment section, huh?”              

           The camera lowered, and the lead guy gave a nod; the pressure came away from your throat, and you gasped desperately.  Your side was screaming in pain, bone shifting like a handsaw under your skin, but your lungs took over reflexively and tears sprang to your eyes as you wheezed.

           Your chin was grabbed to look forward, face slick with blood from where the knife sliced you.  “Nice job pet.” He said it like an insult.  “I can see why they like putting you on their fucking videos so often.”

           “Should we send an ear or a finger?”  

           “Mmmh…Nah, not yet.“ He was typing on the ECHO device, probably sending the video to the twins.  “Let em respond; see if they know we’re serious… Then we can figure out what to start slicing off.”  

           “God I wish I could see their faces when they get that message.”  The bandit beside you was moving you, pushing you to turn, off-balance and huffing. “Can I even out their ribs?”

           “Eh, sure.”  He was already turning to leave the room, giving your guard a lazy wave of his hand.

           The door slammed shut just as the metal-studded knuckles cracked into you for a second time.

           The blood drying on your skin itched.  Not that you could reach well to scratch it with your wrists still bound; you had tried to get the bindings slippery with blood to wriggle out, but the rope was too tight and you were too weak to put up much of an effort.  You were curled up in a tiny cell now; (more like a cage, if you were honest) shattered ribs aching no matter which way you lay.  

           The taste and smell of copper was overwhelming. Thankfully you still had all your teeth, but your lip was split and the insides of your cheeks were torn and bleeding. You’d swallowed enough of your own blood to be sick, as if the regular pain wasn’t bad enough.  You weren’t sure what was making you more dizzy; the blood loss or the hunger or the dehydration. It had been close to two days now since you had been dragged from the wreckage of an ambushed caravan, out of the Calypso’s watch for once while you and a few other cultists ran to the nearby town.  You sniffled, blood still trickling from your nose.  You just had to go into town that day, huh?

Every hour or so (you think; the best way to tell time right now was by seeing how long it took for blood to dry) someone would come by to make sure you were still conscious, kick you around, snap a few pictures, and then leave. You wondered if the twins were even going to save you.  You had devoted yourself to them and they seemed to care for you but… you’d seen them throw other followers away when it was convenient.  Or when they were bored. True, never ones they had doted on this much but…you hadn’t seen every pet they ever had.  You trembled slightly and curled in on yourself more, trying not to tear up at the thought of being abandoned by your gods to be tortured and die here.  

               “Oh shit- TROY IN HERE!”  

You felt like you were hallucinating.  You cracked an eye, the one not stuck shut with blood, to see Tyreen, your queen, your god, rushing to you and falling to her knees to put her hands on you, caress your face, make sure you were breathing.  Troy barreled into the room moments later, covered in blood that wasn’t his, coming to kneel beside his sister.

Tyreen held your head up off the ground “Faithful, can you hear me?” She was worried.  She was worried about you.

You hummed out a soft acknowledgement.

Troy ran his fingertips over the cuts and bruises that bloomed across your shoulders and sides, pulling away before he reached the rainbow of red and black and blue that sat over your broken ribs.  You had never seen him so…upset.  A mixture of hurt and angry, like he wanted to go back and kill the bandits all over again.

“Oh, sweetheart…”  His voice was soft.  “Tyreen can’t you-“

“They’re too old.”  You could swear her voice cracked.  “The injuries are too old I can’t-  It won’t work.”  You tried not to groan in pain when she moved you to pull you into her lap.  “Call the medics- Fuck, Troy they’re freezing.”

You had enough of a grip on reality to know you were in shock by now, shivering weakly.  Tyreen cradled you, pulling her shoulders in to surround you protectively.  Troy was barking orders through his ECHO device, though you couldn’t pick out words anymore.  You just wanted to fall asleep, finally safe in her arms.  They were here, after all; this was all you had hoped for.  Tyreen stroked over your cheek, you couldn’t even feel the gash there anymore…this was alright.  You were alright.  

  It was bright.  Your eyes were closed but it was too light, overpowered bulbs searing through your lids and waking you up.  Stupid as it was, you opened your eyes directly into the artificial sun sitting over you, squeezing them shut just as quickly and turning your head to the side with a barely audible groan.  

“Tyreen! Hey!  They’re awake!”  Footsteps rushed closer as you opened your eyes to see Troy Calypso, twin god and all-powerful siren keeping a nervous watch over your bed.

“You’re awake…”  He murmured it mostly to himself, running a hand over your jaw.  You could feel him thumb over the dull bumps of stitches in your skin, comfortably numbed by the best painkillers on Pandora.

Those narcotics definitely came in handy as Troy wrapped his arms around you, pulling you halfway off the bed and sending IVs and monitors clattering around.  He buried his face into your shoulder, inhaling your scent like he was making sure it was real.

“Troy…” you were almost scared at how faint your own voice was.

“Troy!”  Tyreen yelled.  “You’re gonna break them again!”

“Oh shit- “ He jumped, nearly dropping you before setting you gently back on the bed and attempting to realign the blankets and IV.  

  Once you were deemed stable, the twins insisted you stay in their room, and it wasn’t like you were about to argue.  They didn’t want to let you out of their sight for any longer than absolutely necessary; you got the feeling anyone who tried to approach you would be evaporated on the spot by one of them.  

It was surreal, having the Calypsos care for you. Feeling Tyreens careful hands undoing the wrap around your chest, soothing you as you take a few painful deep breaths to keep pneumonia at bay.  Troy pulling the bandages off and making sure your stitches were holding, cleaning the blood away from the wounds with a cool washcloth.  Both of them helping you out of your clothes and into a warm bath, hushing the sharp hiss you make when the water hits your injuries.  Troy usually had to pull you out, the hot water making you too weak to climb, and Tyreen would be right there with a fluffy towel, not caring if it became stained with your blood.

Once it’s safe enough, the two of them sleep on either side of you, tucked in a luxurious nest of pillows and blankets, each of them keeping at least one hand on you through the night.  Even after you’ve healed up enough to change your own bandages, they insisted on being there, making sure everything was clean and uninfected. Tyreen even pulled your stitches out herself; it barely even hurt.  Even later, it became a habit for them to idly trace over the lingering scars as you sat by their thrones, neither of them having to look to know exactly the path the marks cut across your skin.  

Away from cameras, they’d kiss over raised lines, assuring you that you belonged to them, and no one on the planet would ever take you from them.

[sshbpodcast]

An Elegant Weapon

by Chris

[Spoilers for “The Rise of Skywalker” follow, along with all the movies before it]

All images (c) Disney. All existence (c) Disney, eventually.

The lightsaber is an iconic item from a franchise that has been positively burying pop culture under iconic images, sounds, and music for over forty years now. Except that, when you really think about it, we almost never get a good look at them. Oh, sure, we’ve seen plenty of lightsaber fights with wildly varying styles across trilogies, but at the end of the day we mostly think of the glowing energy blades; think of a lightsaber and you’re likely to just picture a fairly featureless metal tube. Mostly because that’s almost exactly what the original saber - and the one we get the most close-ups of thanks to Episodes IV, VII, and VIII - was a somewhat-modified camera flash bulb mount.

With some tweaking, that simple bit of equipment would become Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber, which would be passed on by Obi-Wan Kenobi (along with some DIRTY LIES) to his son Luke, before SOMEHOW finding its way into the hands of Maz Kanata. She would, in turn, try to hand the weapon over to Rey but settle for Finn as a temporary custodian before the former finally accepted her role in the Joseph Campbell cycle.

On the left above we have Anakin’s weapon from Episode II. Working backwards from what was seen onscreen in 1977, the filmmaker’s created something quite similar, but a little more bespoke and also integrating bits later seen in Vader’s saber. As that one is destroyed in the same movie, he has what will become THE lightsaber in Episode III, seen on the right.

Speaking of Vader, in what can only be described as a “happy coincidence” since Lucas didn’t know DV would actually BE Anakin until writing Episode V, his hilt is in a VERY similar vein to Anakin’s. Now you may think, well, that’s because they were just basing it on the one they already had. And while that is true, they could have chosen to go very different, anyway. As we see with the below...

These are Obi-Wan Kenobi’s lightsabers. Episodes I, II, and III/IV, respectively. So we can see, even with the flash mount as a template, the 1977 team came up with something wildly different for Obi-Wan’s own weapon. Again working out of order, the prequel designers decided to have Obi’s original saber(s) be a much wider departure from his final one, tho small similarities remain, like the studded base and a ribbed aspect. This is at least partly explained away by his basing his original ones on that of his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn.

And while you can certainly see that they are in the same family, Qui-Gonn’s is still quite a bit simpler, even more utilitarian-looking than Anakin’s eventual model.

Perhaps even simpler, however, is Darth Maul’s, the first double-bladed saber seen in a “Star Wars” film. With all the pizzazz surrounding that fact, the design of the hilt itself seems to have almost been an afterthought. Tho it does contain the Prequels’ love of big, obvious, red activation buttons.

In quite stark contrast, then, is the lightsaber belonging to Darth Siddious/Emperor Palpatine, Maul’s master. Say what you will about the guy (absolute prick, frankly), but he put some real care into making an absolutely unique, beautiful, and - dare I say it - actually-elegant lightsaber hilt.

Not that the prequels didn’t let SOME Jedi go a little fancier with their weapon of choice. Mace Windu didn’t just have a unique blade color (per actor Samuel L. Jackson’s request), but a damn pretty hilt. While most other Prequel Jedi were rocking gray-and-black, Windu threw a little gold into his, making it stand out among the other Jedi weapons seen thus far.

Then Yoda has to go and mess things up by being all dull and gray again, giving us what almost appears to be the baby form of Anakin’s saber. Let’s be honest, watching him fight with the thing is a lowlight of the franchise.

But hey, let’s not forget Christopher Lee’s Count Dooku! He’s a former Jedi-turned-Sith, plus apparently a nobleman of some kind! What his lacks in color it makes up for in a unique, bent hilt, HUGE activation trigger, and...whatever that thing is jabbing out next to the emitter. Seems like it should just get melted by the blade...

Hey, why are you showing Obi-Wan’s lightsaber again? I’m not! In the best way I can think of to segue back from the prequels, this is the lightsaber Luke built himself sometime between “Empire” and “Jedi”. Despite the Emperor’s comments that Luke’s saber was “much like his father’s”, it’s pretty clear it’s actually more like his first mentor’s.

“Ok, what the HELL is that?” you’re asking. THAT is the VERY-briefly seen-in-a-flashback lightsaber of Ben Solo, Luke’s most disastrous student/failure and future Kylo Ren. Very simple color scheme, it has a much more carefully sculpted design. But what’s of real note is...

Rather than made a whole new weapon when he fell to the Dark Side, Ren appears to have modified his Jedi hilt into his crackling, vented saber. A nice little touch.

Speaking of modifications! There are no good pictures online yet, but it certainly does appear that the saber Rey builds herself at the end of Episode IX uses the middle of her old bo staff for the hilt. A logical choice for a character we first met as a scavenger, No word yet if it has a second blade...

Remember, Maul could activate his one at a time, so her only switching on one there doesn’t rule it out.

Last, but not least, the saber with even FEWER decent photos of online than Rey’s. Seen briefly in “Rise of Skywalker”, Leia’s lightsaber shares a Kenobi-esque silhouette with Luke’s, but also has a lot of elegance and work put into its overall design. Give it a peek when you can once the movie hits home video.

And that’s your lot! I’ve really nothing hugely clever to say. It just occurred to me that so much work went into so many of these things, and they spend the majority of their screentime covered by hands or hanging from a belt, obscured by a robe or somesuch. I figured, hey...let’s give them their moment to shine WITHOUT their blades.

If you’ve come across this via random means, why not check out the Facebook Page for “A Star to Steer Her By”, the podcast this is part of? We’re actually a “Star Trek” podcast, but occasionally branch out into other topics. Last week we covered “The Rise of Skywalker”, and will be returning to “Deep Space Nine” this Thursday. Give us a listen, why not?