#glad you like the post overall

[calamityskies]

(1/2) Over the weekend I visited the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum at Thorpe Abbotts and IWM Duxford so thought I’d share some pics in case it’s of interest to anyone!

The museum exhibits are mostly housed in the (original!) control tower pictured, the displays are a little scattershot so better if you’re already familiar with the history (i.e. watched mota) but it’s very personable with lots of personal collections & items!! Some of my fave things:

Detailed displays about the Bremen/Munster missions

I was really charmed by this map/diary- the missions the author flew are drawn on in the red lines & the simplicity of the handwritten notes is so stark and heartbreaking

THE FEZ!!!! (Actually belonging to Frank Murphy, but there you go)

(They had a whole display dedicated to Rosie as well which I didn’t take a picture of for some reason 😭 I think because it was mostly photos/info that weren’t necessarily ‘new’ to me esp having read the book but it was really sweet!)

[prince-liest]

I’m a sex-repulsed ace, and reading the latest chapter of 666 (as well as your analysis here on Tumblr) made me realize that I have been subconsciously thinking about MY OWN sexuality from an allo perspective? And that it has kinda been messing me up?? Like, ever since I learned that sexual attraction was actually a Thing and that it’s Important To People, I had been carrying around a fear of being deficient in some way and not being able to love to the same extent as allos. (1)

Even though I know logically that’s complete garbage and totally untrue, I felt left out of the loop because people seemed to care strongly about this thing I couldn’t even imagine. Whenever it looked like a relationship might happen I panicked for a reason that I couldn’t understand. But now I’m starting to realize that it’s because I was subconsciously terrified of an ‘ulterior motive’ behind the other person’s reasons for wanting to be with me. (2) That part of the reason they even cared was because of something I don’t experience. So thank you, because this realization just clicked into place while reading your work. The thing is, this way of thinking was just internalized in such a way that I didn’t even realize it was there until literally this week. And I think you’re right; one of the main reasons behind that is because I’ve always consumed media written from an allo perspective. (3) If ace/aros are shown at all, they’re depicted as “lacking” and their character development usually revolves around being “fixed” by the story. When I was ~10 years old my mom sometimes let me watch the Big Bang Theory with her (looking back, maybe not the best decision). Anyways, there was one episode deep into the series where Sheldon (who for the past nineish seasons was probably the closest thing to mainstream ace rep) has sex with his girlfriend for the first time. (4) Afterwards, he says something along the lines of “that was better than I thought it would be”, and it’s presented as a Very Good Thing and a big step in their relationship. I think a lifetime of stuff like that makes it very easy to internalize aphobia and feel like the lesser part of the relationship. Or to feel like the other partner is making a huge sacrifice to be with you. That got wayy too long, sorry. All that was just a lot of words to say that I appreciate you. Take care of yourself!(5)

The portrayal of asexuality that you see in media being almost exclusively as you described is very tedious to me because it presumes that something is inherently lacking in aro/aceness rather than that feeling of "lacking" being something that is induced by societal norms. Actually, one of the things that I find additionally alienating is that fandom spaces specifically have been getting better and better about ace characters - but got damn does fandom not jive with aromanticism. Like, a character doesn't want to fuck? That's becoming a liiiittle more fine, it's 2024, we stan consent. But not shipping someone romantically?? Not so easy, now.

I'm glad that my work has been something that resonated with you in this respect! Alastor cares a lot about his reputation as a demon but is pretty blatantly a person who could not possibly give less of a shit about being "wrong" for not being experiencing romantic or sexual attraction. The explanation Viv gave at one point for his own understanding of himself (that he thinks he's just "waiting for the right woman") actually stuck out to me a lot because it's a very "well, nothing is wrong with me for not feeling anything, it's the world that's failed to produce a suitable person" perspective.

But having that kind of confident perspective of your own rightness in the world is really not often portrayed in media, or even in fandom, which even ten years ago was still in the throes of standardizing "Oh, no! Me, gay? These feelings are so wrong!" style m/m content and is honestly not that far off from essentially that for aro/ace characters.

Anyway, all of that is to say that there's not yet much out there that doesn't frame allo/amatonormative values as the default that "even aro/ace people can (and should want to) achieve," and that it's really fun to write a fic that is unequivocally from the perspective of a character who is aroace and doesn't see it as even remotely a fault in himself. Does he have moments where he's a little confused and trying to process how things fit for him? Absolutely. But he just doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who thinks he owes romance to Vox of all people, hahaha. I've written him trying to conform to allo/amatonormativity more with Mimzy, because I think the social standards of their time could push him into it, but Vox? Absolutely not, he does not respect Vox enough for it to even enter his mind.

And then, on the other hand, writing it from an aroace perspective centers the way that romantic and sexual interest can feel like a betrayal of a good thing. With a character like Alastor, it frames romantic and sexual attraction the same alien way that we usually see aromanticism and asexuality framed as.

In the end, this is just one of a plethora of different experiences that aro/ace people can have, but it's one that I really wanted to see represented more, so I'm very happy to write it. I'm glad that you're enjoying it!

[schnaf]

day 23 aka THE COUNTDOWN IS OVER - jungsu's past birthday brrrr ppoppos

[jichanxo]

ref

[thedrotter]

as a little treat i am sharing with you little Aya doodles I've done over the last few days to unwind ww just little expressions based on lines in-game because those are always fun to draw. nothing too special just biscuit

it's Aya because upon doing bizarrely throughout playthroughs of the game for still unspecified project purposes I've gained a soft spot for her she's my daughter now my mental tier list on my favorite characters is so confusing right now

[batfossil-fr]

I’ve been really thinking of reopening my art shop soon… I’ve been taking some practice doodles (hence all the posting lately) while I shake off my rust and I’m finding things I enjoy working on again. I miss trying my hand at more dragons/OCs and colors. my shop’s so broken rn lmao but that’s a problem for a later date it’s just nice getting back into art

[cuteniaarts]

2 hour rough drawing of Ehuang, my precious Green Opal child who I don’t draw nearly enough <3

[pepsimaxolotl]

I often think about how different my life would be if I never roleplayed Pokémon via tumblr ask blogs as a teenager

[kittttycakes]

[blurb] i dream of you, to wake

summary: It’s hard to lie to yourself in your own dreams. It’s harder still to hide the meaning of those dreams from the one man capable of entering them himself.

contents: established Morpheus x Reader x Hob Gadling, she/her reader, no use of Y/N, third person POV, mortal (for now) reader, angst (insecurity, fear of mortality), hopeful ending, 0.8k

notes: written for “dancing” from my promptober 2022 self-challenge. you can find the entire list here. if you’d like to get a feel for the atmosphere, this is the song I was picturing in my head as they’re dancing

In her dreams that night, she dances.

She is in a ballroom she has never been in before, although it looks a bit like an amalgamation of every regency drama she’s ever loved. Her white dress twirls around her legs as her partner spins her through the crowded dance floor, her feet moving as if she’s known the steps her entire life. She thinks she would know the song that’s playing, the crescendo of violins, if only she could focus on it, but she’s too preoccupied by her changing partner.

Although the man in her arms never leaves her, he changes as they turn, from Hob to Morpheus, Morpheus to Hob, and back again. Whichever man isn’t dancing with her is watching them from the crowd, and she is becoming exhausted: the lights are too bright, the room too crowded, and she can’t focus enough to beg the man in her arms to tell her, please tell her, what’s happening.

The music grows louder, the strings drowning out any coherent thought, and for the first time, her partner lets go of her. It’s Hob, she notes absently, watching him disappear into the crowd, finding Morpheus and standing beside him, watching as she’s left alone, in the middle of a floor full of pairs.

Although she hasn’t ever before been able to control her dreams before, she feels a shift in the room as she comes back to herself, the music finally fading, the lights dimming to a more manageable level, although the couples keep spinning around her, unconcerned, as if she isn’t even there. She searches the crowd for a familiar face: Hob or Morpheus first, but then anyone, turning in circles but still unable to leave the ballroom floor.

Out of the corner of her eye, a man appears beside her, and in the logic of dreams, she knows who he is immediately.

“This is all a dream, isn’t it?” She turns and looks up at him, emotions at war on her face. She’s always been so easy to read, if you knew how to look.

“It is,” he replied, tone matching her own as he looked down at her, offering her his arm. She took it, allowing him to lead her back into the crush of people around them, the frantic pace of her earlier dancing slowed to something that feels almost soothing.

“Then it isn’t real.” She tries to smile at him, the expression not quite reaching her eyes.

“You don’t think your dreams are real? They are a part of you.”

“I’m not even awake. I won’t remember it when I wake up, or if I do, it’ll just fade away.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.”

“A bad dream, that’s all. It’s…better now.”

“Do you know why you dream?” He has danced them to the very edges of the group, where there is more room to breathe, and she takes a moment to appreciate the cool air coming in from the open windows at the edges of the room.

“The scientific explanation?” She frowns up at him, trying to remember anything she might have absorbed in a years-ago science classroom. Her head aches. She wants to lie down.

“Your dreams show you many things. Your hopes, your desires…your fears. Often, things you are unable to confront, in the waking world.”

They’ve stopped dancing, even if she can’t put her finger on when. She stands in his arms, making no move to pull away.

“What are you afraid of?”

Looking away, her eyes search for Hob out of habit, but he’s nowhere to be found. She can’t bring herself to say it; she doesn’t have to, but she is also unable to meet his eyes again, afraid of what she might find there. She doesn’t think she could stand it, if it was pity.

“It is not real,” he says, unbearably gently, and she starts to pull away. He catches her wrist, touch as soft as his tone. “Let me show you.”

She closes her eyes, and nods once, wanting to believe that he can.

When she wakes the next morning, her legs ache, as if she had spent the night on her feet instead of safely in the bed she shares with Hob. She can’t remember all of her dreams from the night before, but she has vague memories of dancing. These half formed remnants aren’t nearly as happy as the memories of the dream that followed: a white dress, a field of flowers, and both of the men she loves looking down at her, as if she had hung the moon.

She watches the man still asleep beside her for a moment, allowing herself to stay tangled limb in limb with him for just a few minutes longer. Later, they will talk, the three of them, together, about the fears that all three of them share. But for now, for this moment in the soft dawn light, she lets herself believe that one lifetime could be enough, not yet daring to hope for more.

[hungrycanidae]

youre so nice 😭 cant always express it but i do appreciate when you come around and masslike stuff srsly

AAAH THANK YOU, also i'm glad that you aren't bothered by my mass liking @jzq

[micahdotgov]

this conversation is so strange and has been on my mind since i first watched it like. how in any way is it rusts fault that marty cheated on his wife especially when the affair started before he had even met rust like how could this be on rust. martys reasons for cheating on his wife are that his dad died a year ago and rust exists. also rust misogyny reveal people say he isnt sexist bro look at how he is talking about women. bimbo. crazy pussy. and im not even going anywhere near "all the dick swagger you roll" what does any of this mean what is wrong with them

[melit0n]

MEL I AM BUYING YOU DINNER WHEN I VISIT LONDON. That tag was KEY.

I'm glad I could help! Other than immediately thinking 'OH MY GOD THIS IS MY CHANCE' my thought was trying to get you tickets as well 😭

As someone who runs on takeout most nights, whatever you buy me would be much appreciated <33

[ehlnofay]

hi, new follower, i LOVE efri and on the last post the tags mention smth about mzulft. i am ALSO planning on writing something about mzulft so i was wondering what yours will be??? (if you’re open to talking about it before it’s finished lmao)

I don't have anything to write specifically in mind about mzulft at the moment though I would definitely like to at some stage, it's just where I'm at in my slowly developing reimagining of the questline (I've assigned three characters to it who are extremely poorly suited to such a task so. a lot of things need adapting.) I will say that I think efri brings the whole gang along to mzulft (brelyna says "hear me out. maybe we don't steal correspondence from the master wizard's office and try to track down an off-the-map dwarven ruin alone." efri says "thanks for the input! disregarded.") and she has a pretty cool time there overall. runs into her old friends from the caravan on the way and makes friends with the falmer hive hanging out deep in the ruin. someone probably almost dies at some point but it ends up fine so it's all good! look forward to posting something about it when I've figured out more :)

[pandora15]

not spoiling either of the new bad batch or mando episodes that dropped today but

I have mixed feelings about these two shows, especially mando. to the point that I'm deeply worried that if they do end up renewing obi-wan for a second season, it would end up suffering from the same issues that mando and tbb currently have, while obi-wan as it currently sits does not have any of those issues at all and is really cohesive and tells a beautiful overarching story for its main character.

so yeah I've been super back and forth about it. I imagine if they do announce it I'll definitely be excited and on-board for it and everything but I just worry that a potential second season could ruin what we already have, which is so beautiful to me. also I do want ewan to return as obi-wan so that makes me even more confused about whether or not I want an actual second season asfljkdalfjasdf

[kurolini909]

I'm your fan too TwT

[otaku6337]

I’ve had multiple comments demanding updates today. Both of which are on fics I’ve posted within the last forty-eight hours ago (one was literally only seventeen hours prior, in fact).

The sentiment is lovely; I’m glad people are enjoying, and want to see more.

But using block capitals to say PLEASE UPDATE SOON just isn’t a nice vibe, and it’s difficult to respond to, and it makes the whole comment feel demanding and rude even though I logically know it (most of the time) isn’t supposed to be that way.

I’m not saying I don’t want readers to express excitement for more - of course I do. I’m not doing a good job of my writing if people who are otherwise enjoying aren’t looking forward to another part.

But I think it’s easy for commenters to forget how different an “I can’t wait for the next chapter!” can feel, how much nicer it is to receive, in contrast to a shouting request-at-best feeling of PLEASE UPDATE SOON.

Please, if you’re a commenter, just reread over your comment and try to consider it with the eyes of someone who has spent time and effort writing what you’re commenting on, and who has a life and feelings beyond what you see. I’m so grateful for the comments I get, but sometimes they just aren’t good vibes, and I really do think that most people mean well, but it’s hard to appreciate that beyond feeling like people are demanding more from me without a single thought beyond their own consumption.

Particularly when, having just paused writing this to check, neither of those people kudosed either, despite saying that they liked it and demanding more. Does it necessarily matter? Not really. Equally, does it only add to the overarching feeling of them wanting more with no thought to the fact that they’re commenting on a work that took time and effort? Yes, yes it does.