#hesitated to post this one bc of the subject matter but like

[oh-no-its-bird]

Hiname makes a poor decision or three? Was the first poor decision trusting the twins with anything ever?

From this ask game

Oh boy ok this is a messy one actually, and a bit on the angstier side

So like, basically: this one is a vague plan for a cut chapter of wolves of the woods where an 18/19 year old Hiname spirals, tries to convince Haruka to sleep with her, then gets momed instead as Haruka pretty much goes "ahahaha so we aren't doing that actually <3"

With that said, copy pasted from my notes app:

Summary// Her wolves were dead, their blood on her hands. Ichigo was years gone, for all her mismatched eyes still haunted her. Her plans to abolish the caged bird seal have hit a wall she can't seem to break. Rapidly spiraling, Hyuuga Hiname propositions one Hatake Haruka. Haruka is less than amused.

+ general notes:

(Haruka guides Hiname to a room and sits her down on the bed. Hiname is practically shaking. But Haruka just tucks her in and leaves, coming back in a little bit with soup. Hiname is ?????? But Haruka goes "clearly you've lost your mind, silly :)" Haruka asks her why she doesn't just sleep w that servant of hers thats always following her around but Hiname says it's like. Wrong. She wouldn't know how to say no, she's too loyal. Hiname can't put her in that position. Haruka just pauses and pats Hiname's head and goes, "You're a good girl, Hiname." This does not help Hiname feel any less mortified about her current situation.

And some actual writing:

Haruka stopped. Looked at Hiname, really looked at her. The notch that had been taken out of her lip the month prior had only just finished healing. Her chipped tooth flashing from behind the sliced skin as her lips flattened into a frown. "You're... propositioning me." Haruka said, for once devoid of amusement. "I am." Haruka cocked her head. "I'm not unaware of the effect I have on kids your age." Hiname's face practically lit up red. "I'm not a kid, I'm—" "Yes, yes, oh wow you're so old, a whole eighteen! How wonderful for you. I am, however, more than three times your age." "Well—" Hiname floundered for a moment. "How old do I have to be?" "Normally?" Haruka tapped her lips, humming. "I mean, I don't usually ask, but if they tell me the number or I can guess it we'll enough, at least 25, preferably. I might give lower 20's a shot, if it's a one time thing and they seem to know what they want. For you though?" She propped her head up on her palm, humming theatrically as Hiname's fidgeting increased, growing more and more impatient with every second Haruka dragged on. Finally, Haruak smiled sunnily, and tapped Hiname's nose. "Mmmm... 30." "30—!?" Hiname gaped, and Haruka's grin only grew. "Yes, come back to me when you're 30, and maybe I'll give you a chance." "But— But— I'll probably be dead by then! You'll probably be dead by then!" 30 was an ambitious age for any shinobi, never mind whatever number Haruka would be on by the time Hiname got so far. "Well not with that attitude!" Haruka mocked. "What?"

So. First off. Midway through writing this post I got distracted and decided to draw older Hiname. So. Take this:

Hiname my beloved ,, she deserves to pull some dumb bitch moves as she struggles to keep herself afloat, trying her best to find a road that will allow her to abolish the caged bird seal at only 18/19. (Not that it'll bring her anything but an untimely death of her own, rip)

I think she gets to become especially close with Haruka after the twins deaths, not just bc of naturally going for her for the comfort of a trusted older woman figure in her life but also like. Bc part of her "let's get rid of this fucking seal" plan involves approaching other clan heads for political backing, which Haruka readily gives her without any strings attached.

She's one of the few allies Hiname has left in the world that are behind her 100%, just because they support her and her cause

Haruka will not, however, be giving her the time of day in any sort of romantic or sexual way. Sorry Hiname! She's known u since you were a kid, that's fucking weird for her.

She will instead take this opportunity to pick you up, declare you daughter shaped, and put you in her pocket (and continue to prove that anyone she decides to consider daughter shaped is doomed to die an early death. Oops! Should have learned with Shiruka, idk)

Tbh I think there's just a lot of good space and potential for an interesting story to tell in like. The messes we can make as lonely human people, especially in our most stressed moments.

Hiname just wants some company from someone she can truly trust, and maybe deep down she chose to approach Haruka bc she knew that Haruka would treat her right— which in this case, meant telling her no (like a responsible adult) and trying to help her explore her options and talk through her feelings

In media I'll often see similar stories of some young adult throwing themselves at a much older person, and I do think it can be interesting and fun to see from a story telling standpoint.

But also like— age and the history of the people at play should play into a dynamic like that, and it always annoys me a little when it's not brought up, or just brushed over, or when it is played into its not played into enough— like, cmon guys if you're gonna go down that route at least make it interesting!!! You have all the ingredients for some prime soap opera drama, why aren't you using them to their fullest potential???

So anyways. I think it'd be fun to try to tell one of those stories— but then it turns out that the adult having a young woman throw herself at them is actually (gasp, shock, I know) a normal fucking person who doesn't want to fuck a girl she's arguably been close with since she was 15.

Maybe it's catharsis for every time I end up screaming at my computer screen watching Kennie JD summarize a shitty tubi movie where a guy readily fucks a girl he's known since she was a minor while he was in his late 20s. Maybe this is my own fix it version of that story where the guy isn't a creep.

Who knows.

So like, circling back to ur original ask. Actually, you were actually right actually bc Hiname's first mistake really was trusting the twins (to survive) <3

Anyways. In summary:

(I've been waiting to post that one for a while FJFBSOBFKSNDKS)

[piierogis]

Javert asks to get fired - extended cut

A word of explanation: Les Miséres is Victor Hugo's 1848 draft - a prototype version of Les Misérables. The followng are notes on its version of chapter 1.6.2 - How Jean may become Champ.

The full text (in French) is available here: https://chanvrerie.net/outtakes/madeleine-fr/

The Les Mis Letters server had a field day with it, so I'm posting the notes for the world to see :D especially since it's @valvertweek and this version is... you know.

The notes below were written by our beloved Yazhmog from the Les Mis Letters Discord server <3 so keep in mind that they might be subjective

Jean notices immediately how weird Javert seems and softly asks him what’s the matter

Javert calls himself an idiot (he says he has ”the hatred of an idiot” against Jean/Madeleine) & implies he stalked Madeleine (he talks about ”illegal surveillance”. It seems he’s mostly referring to snooping into Madeleine’s past here)

Jean has to take a paper to pretend to look over it as Javert gears up to explain, in order to keep his countenance because he Feels like he’s gonna need it. The paper is upside-down, which Javert doesn’t notice bc he doesn’t observe Madeleine like he did beforehand.

”J’espère que cette fois-ci j’aurai raison contre moi-même et que vous n’hésiterez pas à faire punir l’inspecteur Javert sur le rapport de l’inspecteur Javert.” = "I hope that this time I will prevail against myself and that you won’t hesitate to have inspector Javert punished on the word of inspector Javert"

Javert gives backstory on how he ended up guard in the bagne!!! he’s been noticed in his youth for his scrupulous work (? the french says service)  by M. Thierry ”captain of the kingdom’s chains” [no idea what that it. presumably an overseer of the bagne???] who, after a voyage or two, was satisfied of him and gave him his bagne post.

"J’ai rapporté de là des souvenirs, une espèce de feuille de signalement dans la tête. Que voulez-vous ? on peut faire des rencontres plus tard, et je croyais cela bon pour le service." I don’t get what Javert means here, if someone else wants to take a crack at it....

it seems Javert has a harder time admitting his ”fault” than in the finished book. he meanders a lot, is generally vaguer about where his suspicions came from and outright says ”how am i going to finish saying what i have to say?"

he mentions that  Madeleine is so honored in the kingdom that he (Javert) should be on his knees to talk to him.

When Javert finally says he suspected Madeleine of being the convict Jean Tréjean, the paper Jean’s holding starts trembling so much he has to lean on his elbow to stop his hands from shaking. Javert doesn’t notice.

Javert says he suspects that Jean stole from the bishop, but that the bishop covered it up by charity. He draws a parallel between that attitude of the bishop and Madeleine’s and says ”That bishop was a man like you” (as in, they’re alike)

at that, Jean slowly looks up at the ceiling with an indefinable expression. Javert still doesn’t notice and continues talking.

He says that Madeleine looks a little like Jean Tréjean and that he (Javert) is ”cross with it” [i’m having a hard time translating ”j’en suis fâché” with the right vibe]. Madeleine and Jean don’t have the same sound of voice though.

”que vous étiez passé dans la ville comme un champignon” wtf is that comparison Javert uses. ”that you went through town like a mushroom"????

Javert mentions rumors that no one has seen Madeleine’s passport (he specifically says ”the color” of his passport but idk if it’s supposed to be literal or the expression ”voir la couleur de” which would just emphasize that no one has caught even a glimpse of that passport).

he also mentions that Madeleine’s mourning was said to be for the bishop

Javert’s speech sounds a bit lower-class in that version than in the final one

Javert calls his assumptions ”mean and absurd”

when Javert offers his apology, Jean looks at him super deeply, ”as if trying to "rummage through Javert’s soul” and the narration emphasizes the role reversal: ”Now it was Madeleine who was scrutinizing Javert.”

The most mysterious sentence Javert has said in his speech is for Jean ”Now I know the truth, there’s no more mystery.". Jean finds that sentence ”strange and frightful”. But he stays silent.

Javert is unconsciously making little folds in the fabric covering the table. (in the finished LM, he fiddles with drying powder for ink instead)

Madeleine is waiting for Javert to speak again, but waiting ”with the facial expression of a man who’d wait and stay quiet as red-hot pincers chew his entrails and eat his stomach”

after a FEW MINUTES Javert asks if Madeleine has questions for him. Madeleine says no. Another silence, before Madeleine admits that he doesn’t quite understand [at that point, he doesn’t yet know why Javert’s suspicions stopped].

Javert then explains, and starts with saying how monstrous it would have been for a convict to ”desecrate” a magistrature. He literally says it’s worse than murder in his eyes. And he says that convicts ”never repent” even if they seem to (he warns Madeleine against them).

Javert would have found unmasking a convict mascarading as a magistrate a great service to society. He calls it an ambition that blinded him. He again calls his suspicions ”stupid”.

Jean is breathless [i’m not sure that’s quite the right word. It’s ”haletant” in french, as in taking big, only half-efficient gulps of air. he’s like. on the verge of a panic attack i’d say in this context] at that point

Javert bows to Jean. His eyes are wet and he almost seems like he’s going to go down on his knees.

He asks Jean fervently to ”punish him and forgive him”. He doesn’t want Jean to be angry with him. The narration says that ”Javert was almost eloquent” saying this.

They’re stuck into anxious silence a moment, Javert still in an imploring position. Each of them awaits a word from the other one.

Javert finally asks if Jean is cross with him. Jean tells him he’s waiting for him to finish. Javert tells him, seemingly a bit baffled, that he has finished. [he still hasnt explained why he dropped his suspicions]

Jean fiddles with the fire in the hearth (to give himself time) before asking again for confirmation. Javert insists that he’s finished.

Jean has managed to put on an expression of calm. He takes up his paper again, fakes quick rereading it, pretends under his teeth he’ll have to write to someone about a probably fake case, write something probably random on it before turning back to Javert. He asks him how he found out ”the truth”.

Javert apologizes, says he was so preoccupied with himself that those details didn’t seem useful because "you don’t need someone to prove to you that you’re not Jean Tréjean"

Jean fiddles with the fire again

Javert mentions that Madeleine might have met Champmathieu walking around in the countryside. His explanation is generally pretty close to the final version. Some differences: 1) He does mention though that kids stealing apples like that is nothing, but a man doing it is serious. 2) he qualifies Champmathieu of ”sly” when he denies Brevet’s accusation 3) he mention that Jean Tréjean is not an idiot when he supposedly lets ”Jean Mathieu” become ”Champmathieu". 4) He doesn’t say that he’s upset to have ”recognized” Jean in Champmathieu 5) he insists on the proof of everyone recognizing Jean in Champmathieu by saying ”Two plus two equals four"

Jean searches for the sincerity in Javert’s face and finds it, along with sadness.

Javert says that when he suspected Jean he was constantly in doubt and had a lot of bad nights because of it. In contrast, he’s certain that Champmathieu is Jean Tréjean.

Champmathieu ardently protests in this version

Javert has a funny phrase, saying ”the old rascal will be condemned, like I eat my soup”. He adds that the prosecutor is very good, and writes verses.

Javert’s sadness lifts as he talks about the chances of condemnation for Champmathieu.

Jean flips through his papers before pulling the same trick as in the final version to get the day of the trial.

Instead of insisting that he has to be fired, Javert says ”Monsieur le maire forgot that I am now nothing.”

Jean says he finds Javert serious and honest, and that he holds Javert in high esteem, especially for his rigorous self-denounciation.

Javert mentions he has made several secret reports to the Paris police headquarters. He wants to be brought to justice like Jean Tréjean (by having Madeleine fire him). He doesn’t want Madeline to treat him nicely, as he finds that Madeleine’s type of kindness disorganizes society.

Jean is taken by a temporary ”painful” and ”irresistible” sympathy towards Javert at his tone (that tone being very humble, proud, sad and convinced).

Javert doesn’t mutter to himself the line of him being only a mouchard now and adds a ”What is said is said. In 8 days, I’ll get fired or resign." before leaving.

[lycheedr3ams]

Death's Angel

Part 6: Escape

royal!fem!reader x executioner!konig

Summary: It's 1554. You're one of the eight daughters of the Austrian royal family, and your parents do everything they can to ensure their kingdom is prosperous and peaceful. No royal court is complete without their hand-picked executioner, one who stands out against the sea of black, faceless bodies that make up the profession. It just so happens that your family's new executioner, one who has made a name for himself far and wide for his skill with the axe, has caught your eye and ruined you for good.

Warnings: MDNI! smut, mutual pining, forbidden love, death (konig is an executioner duh), mean sisters, mentions of medieval-type violence, overbearing parents, konig is brooding and a perv, some predator/prey dynamics, possessive!konig, maybe dark themes bc reader likes seeing him kill people and bc he's a perv?

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 7

IMPORTANT NOTE: the taglist is getting too long for me to manage, so this will be the last post that I will have a taglist for. i appreciate all the support!!! just be sure to check my blog for future updates. if you aren't on the taglist but asked to be here, either i missed you or tumblr won't let me @ you also, we are nearing the end! I think this is gonna have 8 parts. thank you for your support!!!!

.......

series inspired by the art below!

konig's promise of taking you away at any moment you asked him weighed on you for weeks. the more you grew attached to him, the harder it was to hide your relations with him. you couldn't exactly go on proper dates in his cold, dark room in the castle basement. he couldn't take you on picnics, take you on carriage rides, or anything that any normal couple would do. you weren't a normal couple. you were a princess, and he an executioner. you two were never supposed to even speak with one another.

the one thing, the one romantic thing that you could do in his room, was dance with him. konig didn't know how to dance. he only knew the dance of an axe over the chopping block and how to sharpen its edges with stone. he was hesitant at first, but loved how close to you he could be. he was quite clumsy, and he'd frequently step on your toes every now and then. but each time he did it, you smiled.

"it's okay, konig. you'll get the hang of it," you'd say as you smiled up at him sweetly. he would quietly nod and furrow his brow in concentration as he danced with you.

his hand would be so gently laid on your waist, and his large hand on your shoulder grounded you and kept you in the moment. it didn't matter what mean thing your sisters had said to you, or the fact that you couldn't care less about your provincial duties. when you were with konig, when he was touching you, you were there, and that was all you knew.

but his hood always remained on. you asked him, once, if you could see his face, and all he answered with was a quiet "no" and you never broached the subject again.

...

"konig," you said to him after you two had danced and then made love. truly, made love. it was so soft, and he pressed so many kisses on your neck and boobs and back. konig always grew a little soft after you two danced.

"ja, liebe?" he asked as he gently stroked your hair.

"do...do you think we could...leave, soon?" you whispered as you gently balled up your fist.

his hand stopped in your hair for a moment, but he quickly resumed his gentle caresses. he breathed deeply. "it's as i said. say the word, and we go."

"i...i want to go soon, konig. i don't know where. just far from here."

"how soon?" he asked.

"next week," you said before he could even finish his question. this had been on your mind for so long. konig changed you, the night he asked what you would do if you weren't a princess. you'd been fantasizing about having your own cottage with him, being able to garden and tend to your animals everyday while he was a blacksmith, maybe, or a mercenary. the cathedral ceilings and polished dinner plates of your castle no longer appealed to you.

konig kept caressing your hair. "and how far?"

you gulped. "could we...leave the country? just go to a neighboring one. right near the border."

konig thought for a moment. "ja, we can. i know of a village just beyond the mountains. you will like it. i will build a house for you."

you smiled against his bare chest. "i'll build it with you, konig."

he shook his head gently as he squeezed you. "nein. i will build a house for you, by myself."

"if you insist," you said as you pressed a gentle kiss to his chest. "a house for us, konig. us."

konig was silent for a little while. you were growing worried, but he finally replied. "a house for us, meine Engel. i will build a house for us."

"i've already begun to stow away some of my savings," you whispered as if you feared the stone walls had ears. "we will be set for life."

"do not worry about that, Engel," konig said confidently. "i will take care of you."

"i know you will," you said gently. "but you'll be giving up your profession for me. i want to repay you in anyway that i can."

"there is no need for that," he said quietly as he held you closer. "you are worth more to me than all the riches in the world."

your heart fluttered as you closed your eyes and relaxed against him. your cheeks grew warm and you smiled.

"i love you, konig," you whispered as if it were the most normal thing in the world to say. once you processed what you just said, your eyes shot open, but your face stayed glued to his chest so that he couldn't see. you held your breath.

"and I love you, meine schatz," he said as he gently pressed a kiss to your head through his hood. you looked up at him with gleaming eyes, and he lifted his hood up slightly to kiss you.

you made love again that night. the words that had lingered in silence for so long had finally been spoken. he put you in missionary, focused entirely on your face as he filled you so gently yet so fully. his hard, smooth cock dragged slowly along your slick walls, and you moaned into his mouth as he kissed you.

"i will do anything for you, Engel," he rasped into your ear as he filled you. "i will take care of you."

"konig!" you moaned. you looked up at him, cock-drunk and in love. "i'm yours. i'm yours." a few tears escaped your eyes.

you kissed him again, and your fate with him was sealed.

...

a few days had passed since that night. the day you and konig were planning to run away was quickly approaching. you had packed a few things in a spare backpack, including the trinkets he gave you through the course of your relationship. you hid the gold entitled to you interspersed through socks and underwear in your backpack. you looked out the window of your bedroom out over the castle grounds, and felt resolved. you were ready to leave this life behind, and just be. with konig.

you got dressed in your room as normal, and made your way down to the banquet hall for breakfast. but when you reached the banquet hall, you found three of your sisters shouting to your parents. your other sisters sat as still as statues at the dining table. all heads turned towards you as you stepped in.

"what's going on?" you asked nervously.

"you harlot!" one of your sisters exclaimed. your mother and father looked like they had seen a ghost. you looked around, and the room was spinning.

"you've been sleeping with the executioner!" another sister yelled as she held up a black executioner's hood. that was one of konig's gifts to you, and you thought it would be kept it safe in your bedside table.

"you went in my room!?" you yelled.

"guards! get the executioner at once!" your father yelled. time began to move slowly. your sisters were screaming, the guards' metal armor clinked and clacked as they ran down to search for the executioner, your mother hugged you tightly in fear. but all you could think, the one thing that managed to keep you grounded in the ensuing chaos, was konig.

you thrashed out of your mother's embrace and ran faster than you ever had in your life to find him. the guards could run, but not as fast as you in their armor. you ran to the only place he would be at this time in the morning.

you burst through the castle doors and ran, panting, up to konig, who was sharpening his axe in the blacksmith's hut. he looked up at you happily at first, but his expression changed when he saw the tears flowing from your eyes.

"konig! konig! they know! they know!" you yelled as you panted. konig looked over you and saw half a dozen guards running towards him with swords drawn.

you looked up at him, your eyes wet and puffy, your dress wrinkled and heels broken.

"come," he said as he picked you up in one motion. you yelped, but held onto him as he ran towards the stables. the alarm bell was ringing in the castle as all guards now saw the executioner running off carrying a princess towards the only escape. your siblings and parents watched from the great porch with horrified expressions.

"i'm so sorry konig," you cried into his shoulder as he ran.

"shh, shh," he soothed between breaths. "i told you i would take care of you, didn't i?"

you nodded and gently squeezed him. you finally reached the stables, which had been unattended momentarily during the chase, and konig threw you on top of the biggest horse before putting on its bridle and getting on in front of you. there was no time to put on a saddle.

"hold on, Engel!" he yelled before smacking the reins against the horse's neck. you held onto his hard, tree-like torso as he kicked the horse with his heels, and it shot off through the stables. the guards that had made it to the stable doors were swept back as your horse sprinted through.

you looked behind and saw that there were now three mounted guards following you. "konig!"

he spurred the horse on faster, but the main castle grounds gate was already closed. "hold on, this will be bumpy!" konig yelled. he sharply turned the horse around and you flew over the castle grounds as he guided the horse towards the hidden exit behind the grounds, past the gardens. the guards' horses were fast, but no match for the bestial horse konig had chosen.

you buried your face in his back as the wind whipped by you and the ground rolled under your feet like waves. the alarm bells sounded louder over the grounds as panic rose, echoing against the stone walls of the castle, and screaming could be heard from servants out in the fields as you passed.

your horse jumped over the hedge at the edge of the grounds, the guards far behind, and you fled with konig through uncharted wilderness with nothing but the clothes on your backs.

taglist: @kneelingshadowsalome, @plumdreadful, @dumb-dumb-idiot-girl, @elichisstuff, @konig-breedme, @tr4psta, @cutiecusp, @konigsleftkidney, @local-vampire-s1ut, @ihaveaproblematicbrain, @twice360noscope, @madzeesstuff, @crazy-phan-girl13, @babygirl-panda19, @warrior-of-justice, @eluffi, @mooniesthings, @elowynnlane, @zaxlrza, @red-bed-bug, @alexdoesntlikeyou, @helmipss, @11aplacesange11, @rouge-swears, @pasta-m1lk, @ghostinvenus

[staycorpse]

how do you think corpse would be with a tall gf??

Corpse x Tall! Gf 🖤

author’s note: that’s all i can think of at the top of my head rn 🥹🫶🏽 thanks for requesting this! hope you enjoyed! 🫧

not me forgetting how tall this man is 🥴

it’s a mix of him being your biggest hype man nd being a troll

right off the bat, just want to clarify: i don’t see him having a preference over his partner’s height. honestly i see it as something he doesn’t give a fuck about. he loves you for you, period. whether you’re taller or shorter, it doesn’t matter to him.

if you are confident about your height, best believe that both of your feeds will be of the two of you slaying fit checks like it’s nobody’s business!

every post on his platforms will be of him hardcore simping over you, how such a baddie you are- becomes a whole stan acc

best believe you will be the album cover or single cover on any of his music projects

if it’s something you are insecure about, he’ll go out of his way to hype you tf up! every. single. time 👏🏽

like for example, you’re planning on going out nd dressing up. nd you’re debating between wearing those cute heels/platforms or some regular flats

the correct option is to wear those cute heels/platforms 🤷🏾‍♀️ especially if it’s what you wanted to wear in the first place!

will end up making you late bc he’s trying reassure you that you look great in the heels/platforms. doesn’t want you to leave the house without wearing what you actually wanted to bc you were worried about being taller than everyone else

ngl corpse likes it when you’re even taller bc of the shoes you’re wearing (i didn’t forget him simping over lady dimetrescu from re8 so… 🫠 don’t @ me)

he gets pouty bc you don’t understand how being taller makes you even more beautiful to him

will always compliment you and tell you how beautiful you are

every time you enter the room, you hold his attention without even trying nd you’re just subjected to constant love, praise nd support

he could be on a stream/call with his friends nd will pause for a moment just to tell you that you’re hot af nd that he loves you

whenever his friends ask him if he feels a lil insecure himself about being shorter than you, he shuts that shit down IMMEDIATELY

will always let it be known that it’s never a problem, just an added bonus bc its you

he could get teased himself for being shorter than you nd he doesn’t hesitate to hit anyone back with his sass/put them in check

to him, it’s such a nonissue nd it sometimes makes him laugh that people will find the time to talk shit about your guys’ height difference

will share stories with his friends where he does tease you a bit bc of your height

like for example, you both are in the kitchen and he asks you to get him something from the top shelf

even though you know he’s more than capable of doing it himself, when you do entertain him by grabbing the thing he asked for, he’s just gets giddy about it

like wow is this how girls feel when it’s the other way around? 🤭

one time you thought it’d be funny to pin him against a wall to see his reaction nd he got so stunned! he was a stuttering nd blushing mess 😂 lowkey likes it when you do it to specifically put him in his place when he gets too bratty or sassy with you

if you want to know the quickest way to get him to fold, slowly pin him against the wall without breaking eye contact. you’re welcome 🤪

expect a lot of back hugs! he just can’t help himself. you could be cooking or streaming nd he’ll just hug you from behind. he lives to be the little spoon when you two cuddle.

nd if his head is not laying on your chest so he can hear your heartbeat, he will throw a pouty fit 🤧

he’s really just living the girl fantasy nd he wouldn’t trade it for a second. like he’s so baby girl coded when it comes to you

will sometimes ask you how the weather is up there 😭 which results in a swift ‘stfu babe’ but!!! if you do decide to entertain his bullshit, it’s usually followed up with a sarcastic answer

“currently a thunderstorm rn..” or “pretty cloudy today.”

“aww babe,” he’ll coo, “c’mere, let me make it better.” you lean down to his level nd he’ll just kiss you

even better if you’re standing over him, he’ll just motion for you to lay on top of him or sit in his lap nd he’ll just shower you with kisses

after of giving you your very much deserved love nd affection, he’ll see the smile on your face nd say, “hmm, i think there’s a 100% chance of sunshine today~”

[chaaistained]

Hi Chaai!!

I just realized something.

So yesterday, last night, I was getting ready for bed. I set the intention to wake up at the middle of the night. I went to bed, got comfortable to fall asleep. I simply said “Wake up at the middle of the night”. No hesitation. No questions asked. And I fell asleep.

And guess what? Yes, I wake up at the middle of the night. So what I’m saying is I could use this for shifting! If it was THAT simple to just set the intention to wake up in the middle of the night, I could use that to wake up in my dr!. I’m going to keep practice set my intention because I’ve been having the wrong idea about it but I know this is good process. Not only that but I’ve been having vivid dreams and dreams about people from my dr🫶🏻

And this is so off topic but I just wanted to say I LOVE how you write! Very detailed and creative. It inspires me to write more poetry and songs. Not only that but to script!🤍

- B💋

HIII !! dude LETS GET INTO SETTING INTENTION

IT IS SUCH A MISUNDERSTOOD METHOD BY A LOT OF SHIFTERS ???

even i overthink it sometimes — and i’ve LITERALLY succeeded in setting intention to shift/manifest ??!!??

but yeah no B? it is SO POWERFUL i’m so glad to hear that you just had trust and let go and understood the finality, inevitably being proven right and waking up just as you intended

it is a REALLY good process !! i started “small” by intending to see shifts in my cr, manifestations, the most recent intentional shift was to shift before i turned 21 and i DID — i shifted to my arrowverse dr (albeit i did not open my eyes but I WAS THERE I COULD FEEL AND EXPERIENCE MY SURROUNDINGS???)

anyway thank you sm for the update !!

and THANK YOU FOR LOVING MY WRITING

i honestly get a little emotional when i talk abt writing and creativity as a whole subject matter bcs i was MEANT to write, i was put on this earth to be a writer, i am nothing if im not coming up with a story or a piece of dialogue or a poetic paragraph of prose — i NEED writing to help keep me sane

it’s literally the only reason i wake up some days, it’s literally one of the few things that makes me feel alive

so thank you so very much for loving my writing and thank you More for being inspired by it????

i’m eternally grateful that MY writing is inspiring you to put your creativity out there, even if it’s only for you to see — trust me, it’s still worth it !!

and YES writing is so much fun when it’s for scripting?? idk what it is but there’s like, flavour there? for lack of a better descriptor hahahaha

anyway, if you ever post some of your writing i’d LOVE to see it !! (no pressure my love)

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

I love reading your realizations about TTPD! I think that just bc of the dense and emotionally challenging content matter in TTPD it can be harder for people to just drop in and out of casual convo about it (which is why discussions seems to be more lively around more surface level interpretations/muse talk/current events in swiftdom). Not that people don’t want to talk about the deep stuff, but it is harder for the whole dash to be cooking the same sauce at the same time bc some days I might just be too sleepy to delve into the psychoanalysis of exorsizing traumatic demons 😅. I find it helpful when people reblog their own related posts when a new interesting one pops up (and that’s also the best part of tumblr; the zombie like resurgence of older discussion material).

I do also think, fwiw, that there is a lot of hesitancy to discuss certain topics among fans who were on here when Taylor was. It’s not good or bad, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with airing on the side of respect. I feel like sometimes the culture on here tends to rely on euphamisms or censoring ourselves bc we’re worried that others might think we’re crossing a boundary. (Especially if we are trying to take our cues from people who have been here a long time - which could be a good thing!) And the tumblr culture of passive aggression and vague posting can end up being a strong persuasion against posting something that might be more “risky”.

I’m always trying to figure out where my boundaries are wrt what I will get into on my blog, and I often feel like my instincts are not quite in line with the majority of swifties I really really respect. So I keep my thoughts to myself… but maybe it’s okay to push a little further into more interesting subjects and there’s ways to do that and still be respectful. maybe Taylor herself changed the “rules” when she made it clear that she is not on tumblr (at least using her real name) anymore. I think that action sort of reestablished this space as a fan-only space and not a mutual relationship, which might change the approach to discussion, and maybe it’s okay for different blogs to have different personal boundaries. I would probably post differently if Taylor followed me, but she doesn’t, and idk if I would want her to 🤷🏼‍♀️ .

I think it’s okay to talk about art in a deep way and include public knowledge of the artist, and to connect it to my own life and even it’s okay to be wrong (not ok to spread lies maliciously though). Taylor releases art, not an autobiographical testimony (even if TTPD purposefully invokes and validates that!)… I honestly think it sometimes does a disservice to her artistry when we self-sensor our commentary. Art should be talked about!!! Idk I think I’ll always be navigating that dilemma as long as Im active on my swiftie blog (and, I think she will always continue to wrestle with her end of that bargain in her art for as long as she chooses to be in the public eye). And! I adore the space you’ve carved out here and the perspectives and opinions you share about Taylor’s ouevre!

Anon thanks for your very thoughtful insight!

I do get that TTPD is dense and I feel like I should get better at tagging so that people can skip it on their dash if they're not interested or something because my thoughts are often equally dense lmao.

That's actually a really interesting observation that perhaps some of the self-regulation comes from the fact that this actually used to be a platform Taylor engaged with and I hadn't considered that. I guess that may be one of the byproducts about being a latecomer to the online fandom (though not to tumblr or to Taylor's music-- e.g. I knew Taylor was on Tumblr but I was invested in other fandoms at the time so never really engaged in Swiftie tumblr until the pandemic because I can only handle one fixation at a time apparently lol) in that I don't don't know how much that has influenced fandom behaviour.

I count myself extremely fortunate for finding a small community here that has welcomed me so generously, so I largely don't see or experience negativity and have a mercifully curated fandom experience. But even at that, I feel the unease about the potential threat of, well, unpleasantness, and it's a weird sort of limbo to find yourself in when at the end of the day, you're just a person with a blog typing from the safety of your own little hovel like anyone else here.

And it's also such a fine line to straddle because on the one hand, you want to be respectful and not invasive, but on the other hand, the art is SO rich and SO revealing, and Taylor herself has spoken about how gratifying it is for her to be known, even the parts that would be considered unsavoury or unpleasant or prying, which I find incredibly brave. Obviously that doesn't mean people should be stalking her or making insinuations or presumptions or whatever, but I also absolutely agree with you that I think sometimes the policing (and I'm not talking about anyone in the community here, I'm talking about the internet in general) almost does a disservice to that wish of hers to be seen. I don't know if that makes any sense.

For instance, you all know how much I love TTPD with all my heart and think it's the quintessential thirtysomething album, because its themes and experiences are so, so, so common, if not in detail than certainly in emotion. The same can be said for her other albums. I have friends who have gone through the oven-microwave/wedding-no wedding/etc. experience and I wish they were Swifties because I feel like they'd be blasting this on a loop lol.

I can think of so many other examples, but the other day I was in the car with a friend and she started talking about something difficult she'd gone through last year in a way she's only beginning to really process now, and I had to resist the urge to say "there's a Taylor Swift song about that," but it was true-- what she was saying was just like, exactly what the song was about, with pretty remarkable parallels (and even wording). And all jokes aside about there being a song for everything, I was thankful that by being familiar with Taylor's work, I actually felt like I had an even better understanding and way to be supportive of my friend in her sharing this. And what I mean by this all is, what a gift it is that there is this art that delves into these very human experiences: not just the difficult, the sorrowful, the painful, but also the joyful and life-affirming. I'd have to imagine that's part of why Taylor feels it's so important to share her work: not just so that she's known, but that others can feel seen in return. Nobody is alone out there when you know that someone else has been there or can understand you. And why the good feels so good after going through the bad.

(Actually now that I think of it, I was at another friend's house the other day and we also had a completely different conversation that was exactly in line with "Robin" which is another example of the breadth of Taylor's songwriting and reflections on life.)

So while I absolutely understand being sick of rehashing the same old things all the time, to me the reason why I'm constantly thinking of this music is BECAUSE it's so relatable. Having conversations with friends here sheds light on new things or forms new connections. Thinking about my own experiences or those of my loved ones connects even deeper. I don't want to make presumptions, but I would venture to guess Taylor would find that really wonderful too, as someone who spends her life distilling her own lived experience into something weirdly universal.

There's obviously a line fans shouldn't cross when talking about these things, but I guess it's trying to figure out that line. And personally I'm just always trying to be conscious of if I'm being annoying by talking about these things over and over again, even though I'm not coming from a place of like, obsession (much lol), but more like, new understanding or appreciation on each listen. I've said before that Taylor's music scratches the same kind of itch that prestige TV dramas do, in that they're not only entertaining on a surface level (to listen to), but the storytelling is so interconnected, and having knowledge of not only her discography but the experiences that informed it I think makes it even more poignant. So you can enjoy the music for what it is (which I absolutely do -- I'm not saying I do a critical analysis on each listen! Some days I just want to yell I LOVE YOU AIN'T THAT THE WORST THING YOU'VE EVER HEARD), but it's also not wrong to be impressed by and inspired by the layers underneath.

I suppose I'm lucky in that my platform is tiny and inconsequential so I have certain freedoms I know many blogs don't, and I probably don't need to tread as lightly as I feel like I do right now. Maybe I'll get braver in the new year if the mood strikes lol.

Thanks so much for the food for thought anon!

[dragonsarecats]

[ Previous anon ]

 I'M SORRY FOR WORDING IT LIKE THAT I played the Golden Deers, some of my favorite queer ship are with Deers and some of my favorite character are among the deers! My favorite deer ship is probably Leonie x Lysithea ( She litteraly say Leonie would make an incredible partner! Why do their support stop at B again?? ) and my otp is Hilda x Edelgard ( do not judge me I have REASONS ). And also, one of my favorite queer headcanon is trans aro-ace Claude! So I genuinely love the Deers as queers!

However, for me the deer and the diverse queer content around them is heavily a fandom thing. When I say the deer are "too straight for me", I meant it for the game directly. Like you have the Black Eagles where not only litteraly every characters is canon queer/has heavily subtext but has also its whole narrative drenched in queer metaphor! You have the Blue Lions where, while there's less "canon queer", you litteraly cannot say most of its members are straight with how heavy the subtext that's barely even subtext anymore is: there's 0 straight explanation for Felix crying more at Dimitri death than his wife, or him dying the same day as Sylvain because they can't live without each other.

But for the Deers... You have Hilda/Marianne and Claude/Lorenz as the most popular one but while their relationship are so fascinating, when you only look only at the game, they feel too platonic? Especially compared to a Dedue/Dimitri ( like a family in private. took up a post at his grave for the most of his days. BURIED BESIDE EACHOTHER ) or a Ferdinand/Hubert ( rare A+ support, with blushing, their own little surname, Ferdinand/Edelgard support changing just to mention Ferdinand drinking coffee ). Otherwise you have Leonie/Lysithea which stop at B. You have Raphael/Ignatz where they decided to just push the relationship to make their ending all about Ignatz with his sister.

Like really, the Deers manage to have less in game queer moment than the Church of Seiros, Rhea aside, of all things! We were so robbed! The rainbow house deserve better. I'm a lesbian and after all my playthrough Verdant Winds was my only route where I had to marry a man, all I wanted was a lavender wedding with Claude while I have a passionate romance with Leonie :(

To sum up: Lysithea and Leonie should kiss, Intelligent Systems are fucking cowards 

For the fandom I'll have to disagree, I think the Deers have a lot a queer content and it's amazing :] My only thing might be how Claude has become the first character you think of when talking about bi fe3h character which is kinda telling how wlw are dismissed in the general fandom, but its better than some people insisting he's totally straigh so eh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

( Also I big agree on Hilda support being gem, she's such a great character and one that's much more complex than given credit for!! )

Oh and I think I disagree with Deers being the more family found-esq ( saying that bc it's a great subject of I discussion and I want to hear more about your opinion on the matter )

The Lions is the family where they all stick together through thick and thin, following Dimitri to hell and back, but their relationship are complexe and not always healthy ( mostly at the beginning with like Dimitri & Felix or Ingrid & Sylvain ).

The Eagles are the found family where a lot of them bitch about each other at first but they end up with deep relationship where they take care for each other and stand together against the world, even sticking together during the time skip ( also because they kinda all killed each other dad ).

The Deers are for me more like an actual close group of friend: their life are not going to revolve around each other like it does with the other houses, but they won't hesitate to come for that 5 years reunion to see the other. It's kinda like you say they're so normal in a good way! They tease each other but they don't hate each other in the way of a Dimitri/Felix, a Caspar/Petra, a Ferdinand/Hubert ( except for Lorenz but like, it's Lorenz ). They won't kill the other dad, but they'll sure as hell support each other like Lorenz and Ignatz or Marianne and Raphael. They might not start a revolution together but they will listen to the other even when it’s total heresy ( Leonie & Claude, such an incredible support :’) ) and help the other to reach their goal… I do agree with you it’s linked to not knowing each other before, but on that, isn’t knowing each other before more of a Lion thing than not knowing being a Deer thing? I don’t know, the BE are kind of a middle ground.

( Sorry for my ramblings- It's so fun talking about the deers )

AA anon thank you for the long ask!! Okay I'm gonna take this point by point under the readmore!

"My favorite deer ship s probably Leonie x Lysithea ( She litteraly say Leonie would make an incredible partner! Why do their support stop at B again?? )"

INCREDIBLY fair and based of you, lol, I read Lysithea as gay and it's 100% because of the support conversations she has with Leonie and Hilda (which to me implies an ADORABLE crush--Lysithea seems to genuinely respect and admire Hilda which is not something you'd expect from like, a surface level reading of their characters).

I'm gonna admit my own bias here in terms of canon text endings--my favorite Lysithea ending is her paired ending with Lorenz. It really reads like a queer platonic relationship to me--I don't really get romantic vibes from either of them (gay as they are) towards each other, but the commitment and care they have for each other genuinely warms my heart. Especially the fact that like, Lorenz is SO determined to ensure Lysithea takes care of herself and the ending doesn't really imply that she dies young (only that her health is delicate/poor) in comparison to others, and she and her family get to live the quiet life they want. Of course, as an aro/ace disabled person, I think it probably hits differently for me than people who aren't just because of the fact that after the most recent time I saw their support chain/got their ending I teared up a bit (and also why I'm now adoring your trans-aro-ace Claude).

ANYWAYS, I agree IS are cowards and that's why Edelgard is the only Lord who can romance both male/female Byleth.

"For the fandom I'll have to disagree, I think the Deers have a lot a queer content and it's amazing :]"

I probably didn't word what I meant completely lol correctly-- it's not that the Deer don't have a lot of queer content, it's just that overall, they have less content in general made for them then the Black Eagles and Blue Lions.

I do ALSO love so much of the queer content made for the Deers! The Three Houses fandom is amazing.

"My only thing might be how Claude has become the first character you think of when talking about bi fe3h character which is kinda telling how wlw are dismissed in the general fandom, but its better than some people insisting he's totally straight so eh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯"

Okay, so I was kind of dancing around saying this to your last ask but you hit the nail on the head lol. I genuinely think the reason why the Deer might come across as less queer is because the "main ship" for them, so to speak, is the WLW pairing Hilda/Marianne.

Ironically when I think about bi fe3h characters my first thought is consistently Lindhardt?

"Oh and I think I disagree with Deers being the more family found-esq ( saying that bc it's a great subject of I discussion and I want to hear more about your opinion on the matter )

The Lions is the family where they all stick together through thick and thin, following Dimitri to hell and back, but their relationship are complexe and not always healthy ( mostly at the beginning with like Dimitri & Felix or Ingrid & Sylvain ).

The Eagles are the found family where a lot of them bitch about each other at first but they end up with deep relationship where they take care for each other and stand together against the world, even sticking together during the time skip ( also because they kinda all killed each other dad )."

Okay so I definitely agree with you that they're all found family, explicitly in the text lol. What I meant in my statement that they're the most found-family-esq is that you get to see the development of ALL their relationships and becoming that family together on screen.

The Lions (a mess, and I love them), are pretty heavily involved with each other at the beginning of the game. A lot of the intrigue with them is the fact that they all have backstory stuff going on with each other (save for Ashe, I think, but we kill his dad on screen so). Mercedes and Annette went to Sorcery School together, Felix/Sylvain/Dimitri/Ingrid are all childhood friends with intense complications, and the trauma and deliberate kindness that brought together Dimitri and Dedue makes me emotional.

Similarly to them, the Black Eagles all have a history with each other (save for Dorothea) as well. There's the insane and amazing devotion between Edelgard and Hubert, Lindhardt and Caspar's childhood friendship, the onesided rivalry going on between Ferdinand and Edelgard since they were kids and Hubert's judgement of Ferdinand for it. Petra and Bernadetta, technically don't have pre-established relationships with the others, but in ways that are deliberately intense. Petra is blatantly a political hostage in the Academy Era in a way that really informs her relationship with Edelgard and Hubert even before they get to know her. Additionally Bernadetta's isolation creates a kind of infamy between her and the other nobles.

The Golden Deer, on the other hand, don't really have as many intense bonds going in (and thus, in my opinion, makes it easier for Byleth to integrate amongst them as an eventual equal). There's the preestablished dynamic of Lorenz being suspicious of and wanting to best Claude, but it's a recently developed dynamic, as Claude only appeared a year ago. This would be a bigger personal issue if he was leading a house like the Blue Lions or the Black Eagles (noble heavy as they are), but it's barely an issue in the Deer and not just because of the commoners. Hilda, Lorenz, Lysithea, and Marianne are not close. In all his supports with the three of them, Lorenz is the one reaching out because of his belief that their time in the Academy should be used to form better and closer connections with other nobles. There is nothing to imply that there was any substance to their pre-existing relationships. The only two who have anything to their relationship before the game starts, are Raph and Iganatz, who haven't spoken in years, mostly due to guilt on Ignatz's behalf for what happened to Raphael's family.

So as a result, you get to see the bonds being formed and deepened with the Golden Deer from scrap. Obviously some development happens off screen during the time skip, but other than that the Deer's found family forms and develops completely on screen, which is why I think it's the most found family-esq of the three.

In fact, it's a huge part of Claude's story. It's something you don't really notice in his route, but it's really clear when you don't pick him. While Edelgard and Dimitri kind of can't function and literally can't without Byleth's support, Claude has probably the highest survivability rate when you don't choose him of any character save technically Marianne. He survives the Blue Lions route, the Black Eagles route (if you spare him), and is implied to have survived the Silver Snow route. When he doesn't have Byleth, he still survives, so not choosing him isn't as dramatic. But it's easy to see that without Byleth as a teacher, he doesn't open up enough to the Deer. Dimitri and Edelgard have assured loyalty from their houses (even Ferdie and Felix) becuase of these pre-established relationships and positions, but Claude has to earn it. That's why Hilda, despite being his vassal, is recruit-able so long as you don't choose Black Eagles (the only route where he can die). Without Byleth, although the Deer do grow close, they don't do it as quick or as closely as they do with the Professor. Claude is a character who's never been able to truly rely on others, even if they care about him, and being able to rely on Byleth allows him to open up and rely on the Deer and truly trust them. I mean, Claude's two most relied upon people in the Deer (as seen in 3Hopes when he goes against Dimitri) are Hilda and Lorenz. I don't think people talk enough about how insane it is that Claude trusts Hilda Goneril with his life, considering he's an Alymran prince.

That's also why I think the Deer are so good for Byleth. I don't think any of the other route's are bad for Byleth at all, but I think the deer provide something to Byleth that neither the Lions or the Eagles can bring to her: a single of equivalency. Byleth is only slightly older than her students in the Academy Era and is in fact younger than most of them in the War Era, and yet it's only really with the Deer that she feels like she's amongst peers (whether it be because of the commoner/noble ratio or that she's as much of a stranger to them as they are to each other.) I mean, Claude is literally the only character who doesn't call refer to her by her Profession.

Anyways, TLDR: I think they're the most found family because a huge part of the Golden Deer route is them getting to know and love each other from scratch, and being a found family is a much bigger thematic aspect for them then it is for the other two houses.

"However, for me the deer and the diverse queer content around them is heavily a fandom thing. When I say the deer are "too straight for me", I meant it for the game directly. Like you have the Black Eagles where not only litteraly every characters is canon queer/has heavily subtext but has also its whole narrative drenched in queer metaphor! You have the Blue Lions where, while there's less "canon queer", you litteraly cannot say most of its members are straight with how heavy the subtext that's barely even subtext anymore is: there's 0 straight explanation for Felix crying more at Dimitri death than his wife, or him dying the same day as Sylvain because they can't live without each other."

"But for the Deers… You have Hilda/Marianne and Claude/Lorenz as the most popular one but while their relationship are so fascinating, when you only look only at the game, they feel too platonic? Especially compared to a Dedue/Dimitri ( like a family in private. took up a post at his grave for the most of his days. BURIED BESIDE EACHOTHER ) or a Ferdinand/Hubert ( rare A+ support, with blushing, their own little surname, Ferdinand/Edelgard support changing just to mention Ferdinand drinking coffee ). Otherwise you have Leonie/Lysithea which stop at B. You have Raphael/Ignatz where they decided to just push the relationship to make their ending all about Ignatz with his sister."

Okay, so I definitely agree with you that those things are canon queer and subtext, and that it's a shame they don't push the Raphael/Ignatz stuff and focus on Ignatz and Raph's sister (which is admittedly adorable to me).

Again, I'm aro/ace, so for me, queerness doesn't necessarily require romance as a prerequisite? Which is why I like Lorenz and Lysithea's ending, lol.

Hilda/Marianne in no way reads platonic to me, so I really disagree with you there. Hilda treats Marianne completely differently to how she treats everyone else in game. Their support chain is focused on how Hilda, who manipulates her way out of doing anything she doesn't want to, chooses to consistently over and over again do things for Marianne that she can't, and refuses to let Marianne feel bad over it. She leverages this into Marianne buying her pastries and them having a lunch date together. Their A support consists of Marianne questioning their regular dynamic of doing this and Hilda reassuring that she enjoys it so much she'd feel odd if it changed. They compliment each other to the point where Hilda starts to get a little flustered, and Hilda's even able to poke fun a little at Marianne and get Marianne to poke fun at her back. Marianne laughs at Hilda, and Hilda textually thinks it's adorable and can't even get mad at it because it's so cute. Marianne seems so genuinely happy and herself (even in negative ways!) with Hilda, and can rely on her in a way that doesn't make her feel inadequate or a burden.

I can understand as being able to view Claude/Lorenz as platonic, especially since I will never diverge from my Claude/Byleth endings, but I think they can also still be read pretty textually clear and potentially romantic. Part of this is Lorenz, who just, is very clearly gay to me? But again, part of this is the fact that a huge part of the Lorenz/Claude dynamic is them being viewed textually as equals, which is something that will and can never happen with Edelgard/Dimitri and their rival characters. Their support chain is all about getting to know and respect each other as they grow to care for one another, and while it isn't explicitly as romantic as Marianne/Hilda, I think their paired ending really speaks a lot for itself, in that Claude trusts Lorenz to be Fodlan's face of diplomacy towards Almyra. He trusts Lorenz to help him achieve his dream in the most direct way possible, something I think you can absolutely compare to his relationship with Byleth in their S-Support. Additionally about their support chain, their A-support really is about affirming to the player how close they've become, how fond they are of each other, and how neither of them can imagine the future of Fodlan without the other one in it. While there isn't a lot of direct text between Claude/Lorenz, I think there is absolutely enough subtext that you could read them romantically, especially from Lorenz's POV. The hard thing with this game is that each character needs to be able to be paired with Byleth, so they can never be textually obviously/blatantly in love with another character save for Byleth until their paired ending, and I think that absolutely holds doubly true for Lord characters, which is why I think Claude/Lorenz relies more on subtext.

I do think it's a shame that Lysithea doesn't have any A supports with women in her own house. Leonie like you mentioned is an adorable one, and I think Lysithea has a huge crush on Hilda in the ones with her, and there is definite potential in the one she has with Marianne (which in my opinion is a kinder, more gentle version of her supports with Ignatz).

I also think there's a few other support chains where there is a queer romance blossoming, they just don't get the chance to have an ending. A big one for me, personally, that I think deserved more, is Ignatz and Lorenz. I also think Leonie and Marianne's support chain was very cute, and deserved an A.

This is kind of what I was saying when I answered your last ask, I think, wherein the Deer have queer romance, but because the don't have a big blow up mlm ship (Claude is more often shipped with Dimitri + a lot of people aren't as fond of Lorenz as I think they should be lol), they kind of get sidelined as their big queer ship is WLW. And unfortunately in most fandoms, wlw ships are rarely as popular or have as much pushing force.

And also, I think, that the deer are queer without having as much romance. Their romantic pairings are far less set in store then the other two houses, I think, and part of that is because a lot of their endings read really queer platonic to me. Plus, a lot of the heavy romance lifting in the explicit text for a lot of supports tends to happen in the A/A+ region, and a several of the wlw/mlm golden deer pairings only go to B, which I think is a shame and forces them to rely more on subtext.

Additionally, because they're not the revolutionary or chivalry aligned House, a lot of their endings aren't written as...dramatically? Like I adore Felix/Sylvain to death (I have a print of them hanging next to my Claude one lol), but their childhood promise is very much the product of living in Faergus, similarly to how Hubert and Ferdinand's relationship is defined by them living in the Empire. I think because the Alliance politics are far less dramatic (or are far more dramatic in a visibly different way) the subtext for Claude and Lorenz's Romeo/Juliet for politics thing doesn't come across as huge as two characters who promised to die with each other as kids and keep it (insane I love them).

That's why in my original post I talk about loving how normal the Deer are, and I think ultimately a part of that comes from their setting: the Alliance. In my first play through, I specifically chose having my loyalties lie (in the initial meeting with the Lords) with the Alliance, because to me, someone who had no real context for the game, the Alliance was the closest thing to a democracy from what little we'd hard of each nation. Politics informs almost every aspect of the Golden Deer; sure it's played for angst and importance in the other two routes (Duscur/Sylvain's Crest Complex/Felix's problem with the chivalry system for the Blue Lions--with the latter two never being things that are textually resolved in the Kingdom's government--and Enbarr/those who Slither in the Dark for the Black Eagles), but Claude actually has to balance what other lords want in the War phase, and it's his ability to be so good at politicking that enables the Alliance to consistently remain neutral in the war. So a lot of the subtext stuff comes to fruition through the realm of politics in a way it doesn't entirely through the other two, if that makes sense. It's a huge gesture of love that Claude can trust Lorenz with his dream.

"The Deers are for me more like an actual close group of friend: their life are not going to revolve around each other like it does with the other houses, but they won't hesitate to come for that 5 years reunion to see the other. It's kinda like you say they're so normal in a good way! They tease each other but they don't hate each other in the way of a Dimitri/Felix, a Caspar/Petra, a Ferdinand/Hubert ( except for Lorenz but like, it's Lorenz ). They won't kill the other dad, but they'll sure as hell support each other like Lorenz and Ignatz or Marianne and Raphael. They might not start a revolution together but they will listen to the other even when it’s total heresy ( Leonie & Claude, such an incredible support :’) ) and help the other to reach their goal… I do agree with you it’s linked to not knowing each other before, but on that, isn’t knowing each other before more of a Lion thing than not knowing being a Deer thing? I don’t know, the BE are kind of a middle ground."

I both agree and disagree with what you've said here!

I think it's true, that in any route where you don't choose Byleth, the Deer are textually viewed much more as just close friends rather then found family, whereas I think if you chose their route they end up much closer (as I said above). I think the Black Eagles and Blue Lions have their lives, by nature, revolve around each other since they're literally all Nobles and thus part of the governning system of this world (with the exception of Dorothea). I think the Golden Deer have to make it a much more deliberate choice, and I do think it's something they do after the War in any route (assuming the majority of them have been allowed to live) because that sort of thing just forms a life long bond between people that's hard to shake without deliberate effort I can't imagine any of them truly wanting to put in.

They are normal! None of them hate each other! They don't have that sort of intensity, but they do have a lot of complexity that lends itself very well to found family. I think a big part of that complexity lends itself to the lack of killing (although I don't really think any of their parents deserve to be killed whether they've alive or dead?). The fact that Lorenz's dad has Claude's uncle killed (which when combined with Hilda, again, being a fucking Goneril is INSANE my man's two best friends are people who have reason to kill him for BOTH SIDES OF HIS ANCESTRY) and thus gets Raph's parents killed is something truly heartbreaking, and yet I think it's because there's no violence amongst each other or against the previous generation that characters like Claude (has had violence perpetuated against him for his heritage), Marianne (has had implied violence perpetuated against her for her crest), and Lysithea (has had violence perpetuated against her to get her second crest) are able to feel safe amongst the Deer. Violence is an intense choice, but I think lack of violence should also be viewed as something deliberate and chosen, esp. in the world of Three Houses. I mean, throughout Verdant Wind Claude is constantly complaining about the perpetuation of violence caused by the War! He's someone who deliberately chooses direct harm reduction. Although, to in fact speak of violence, I think it's absolutely insane that Hilda "I refuse to die for my friends" Goneril will willingly die for Claude "DO NOT DIE FOR MY SAKE FLEE PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU RETREAT" von Riegan's sake.

I do think that the Golden Deer are the most similar to a modern queer friend group and thus would be the easiest to make a 1:1 comparison, but again the events of the game do kind of necessitate that they are found family because they go through a war together. Their group dynamics are probably the most influenced by Byleth (Dimitri and his relationships with others while "mad" of course, aside), and it's really hard to make generalizations about them because again, the fact that she is not there to facilitate these close bonds makes it a lot harder for them to be as close as they are before the war as they end up being, although even without Byleth I still think they're exceedingly close. But yes, I agree, they do not live in each other's pockets, which does not make them any less found family, but does, probably, make them healthier in modern context lol.

(As a side note about Byleth and the house leaders: I think what she visibly provides to Edelgard and Dimitri is a lot more obvious than what she provides to Claude. She helps the both of them in maintaining themselves and not loosing themselves to the burden of leadership and trauma. Claude, however, is a character who has been handling both of those things alone, and we are shown that he is capable of handling them alone without massive cracks appearing in Three Houses. Claude does not need Byleth to live, as the other two directly do. Byleth gives Claude someone consistent and trustworthy to rely on, which opens him up to being able to do it with the other members of his house far easier then he's able to otherwise.)

Anyways! I think the Golden Deer are very queer, just more subtextually so then the Black Eagles and Blue Lions. I personally view a lot of the straight endings, so to speak, as queerplatonic (again Lorenz/Lysithea and honestly Leonie/Ignatz). Romance is a pretty easy metric to view queer storytelling through, but I don't think I'd see Sylvain as any less of a queer character if he didn't have his paired ending with Felix because of how his story is written. In a similar way, I think characters like Ignatz (wanted to be a painter, but it's not what his family wants for him; yearns to be creative and is self conscious about people thinking it'll interfere in his duties and has to learn to accept himself and his true dreams) and Marianne (sees herself as a monster that other people won't accept if they knew the true her and what she's hiding) are also queer without needing to be in romances, which is why the fandom gets a lot out of them subtextually.

Acceptance, I think, can be viewed as a very queer theme, and I think it's a prominent one within the Deer.

[tradetobest]

hrpf recs? 🙏

OH BOY OK. so. this list definitely leaves out some of my faves, but thats just because there are some things that i Will Not rec... like 300 of my bookmarks are private its CRAZY. anyway.

in the interest of length i will probably only be reccing 1-3 fics per ship, so this is my ao3 recs section shortened from the 78 eligible items to whatever i thought fit this list best. so. with that out of the way lets get started

sidgeno

More Things In Heaven And Earth by CloudCover (Unrated, 23.8k)

The hydrophones have been picking up nonsense for the past three days and Zhenya has had it up to here, honestly.

i must have babbled about this fic for a full fucking week to anyone who would listen after i finished it. MERMAIDS. the way their relationship develops over time. the way. the way EVERYTHING. i love this fic with my whole heart

Just What Was Rumpelstiltskin Expecting to Do with a Baby, Anyway? by withershins (T, 24.7k)

Turning to a witch to save a loved one's life is one of the riskier gambles a person can take, but it's one that's arguably noble and brave. Falling in love with the witch, though—now that's just foolish.

now if theres any sidgeno fic i have recced more than the first one its this one because OH MY GOD i love this fic so much. like .... the tumblr post its based off of is one of my favourite little blurb posts EVER and withershins captured it PERFECTLY this fic is PERFECT to me..... please read this

Clear Blue Morning by CloudCover (Unrated, 10.4k)

Zhenya is re-looping the hair elastic around Alina's braid when he becomes aware there’s someone standing in the doorway. He glances up, and his hands freeze in place. Sidney fucking Crosby is standing there, looking hesitant, with a half-empty water bottle dangling from one hand.

not only am i a sucker for kid fics i am an absolute SUCKER for single parent/hockey player fics, and this encapsulates my love for that. plus, geno's daughter is adorable in this. i ADORE this fic ive read it like 8 times.

the full version of this list is here and i would REALLY recommend checking it out because all of the fics on it are really good and i literally got a headache trying to cut it down bcs of how good these fics are ok

1634 (marnsthews)

Pull a Tavares by nationalhorribleleague (Series link, T, full series wordcount 42.2k)

Mitch Marner signs as a UFA with the Toronto Maple Leafs after seven years as an Arizona Coyote. How Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner deal with it (and fall in love).

OUGHHHH..... WHAT CAN I EVEN SAYYYY,.,,, yotes mitch to toronto and him and auston fall in love is like My Perfect Fanfic. literally my dreams come true. if you have never read this PLEASE READ BOTH FICS theyre both so fucking good

Three Loves by MycroftexMachina (T, 20.8k)

Mitch Marner: secret genius.

i used to joke about hrpf fics being super minimalist in their tagging and descriptions but holy fuck does this fic's outside understate whats on the inside. i have never felt the way i felt while reading this fic its literally insane. if you read nothing else on this list read this because the sheer emotion it evokes and the subject matter and everything to its core spoke to me on an insane level. i love this fic so much.

mceichel

LITERALLY ANY MCEICHEL FIC BY IDDAY IS GOOD. ALL OF THEM ARE GOOD READ ALL OF THEM. THIS LIST WOULD BE ALL IDDAY IF I RECCED ANY OF THEM JUST READ THEM ALL (but particularly you can make me a drink, take it offline, camera flashes make it look like a dream, with abandon, no other shade of blue but you, and out of the blue) READ ALL OF THOSE TRUST

Part of Me (Pours out of You) by crankyrage (M, 14.2k)

“I don’t know if you’ve heard but Edmonton Oilers’ Captain Connor McDavid is using your last single as his goal song this year,” the interviewer tells him lightly. “I’ve seen,” Eichel smiles at him charmingly. “I write songs for people to cry to at 1AM, so I’m not really sure if he understands what that song’s about.” (Or, Jack's an international, grammy-winning pop star, and Connor's, well, Connor.)

once again i fall victim to my own nonhockey/hockey tendencies, but this fic is worth all of it and more. i AM crazy about popstar jack and the entire plot of this fic. please read this

Some People Watch Golf on TV (and Neither of Those Things Make Sense to Me) by crankyrage (T, 40.4k)

His relationship with golf is probably one of the most complicated in his life. He loves it. Breathes it. Lives it. Gives everything to it, and the only thing he gets in return sometimes is rejection and this pain to carry around to remind himself that he’s a failure – that he’ll never be what they say he could be. And yet, no matter how much golf rejects him, makes him hate himself, makes him hate the world, hell golf even took his best friend from him, he always comes back. It’s almost like an addiction. So, Connor loves golf. Would die without it, probably. But, at the same time, sometimes not only is it not rewarding, it isn’t fun in the slightest. (Or a PGA Tour AU that no one, truly no one, asked for)

I ASKED FOR IT. I DIDNT KNOW I ASKED FOR IT IT BUT I DID AND IT IS AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL AND OHH. THIS FIC LITERALLY ALMOST MADE ME WATCH GOLF. in all seriousness, i have blabbed about this fic so much anyone who knows me irl would probably roll their eyes but its just so good, such a good exploration of learning to love and just. god. read this

the ghost you're dressed up as by brockachu (E, 36.7k)

Jack thinks he made his own dream boy. Jack thinks he made his own nightmare. "The whole house creaks, long, drawn out, groaning, like some sort of creature calling in the night. Maybe old houses just can’t help being old. Connor leans into Jack’s left side, runs soft lips up the curve of Jack’s ear, whispers not-words that Jack can’t process. The hum cuts out. The groaning snaps off. There is no sound. No Connor."

a MASTERFUL exploration in how writing can be used. literally one of the best pieces of literature i have read PERIOD. i have never been a big fan of horror OR non-linear narrative but this fic does both AMAZINGLY and in such a way that i can and will talk about it all the time. READ THIS FIC.

mcstrome (plus)

The Next Next One by yourblues (M, 71.2k)

No, Dylan has not picked up a copy of the book, nor does he plan to anytime soon. No, he has not talked to Connor about it. He hasn’t talked to Connor about anything in a long time, but the media does not need to know that.

oh my god. this fic got recced to me and i didnt read it and shoved it in my marked for later and it kept like, popping up to haunt me and finally i said fuck it and read it and OH MY GOD ITS SO FUCKING GOOD!! nevermind that im insane abt the 2015 draft class this fic is just SO GOOD its insane. read this because op did SUCH a good job i cant even describe it

nobody wants to hear you sing about tragedy by orphan_account (T, 14.4k)

The thing is, Dylan and Mitch and Connor used to be in a band, in high school. They were a fucking trio, like Blink-182: Mitch on drums, Dylan on bass, and Connor on guitar. They called themselves Ten Minute Misconduct, and they fucking ruled. They sold an unprecedented 40,000 copies of their first album, which was out before they’d even graduated high school, and they went on legit tours and had legit fans. Brothers for life. They were gonna conquer the world together. And then, two years ago, Connor abandoned them. (Or, sometimes you just have to bury the hatchet. The Pop Punk AU.)

the second in a series that has a benneguin prequel that is also very good!! i LOVE bands . and my bandom history made me read this and NO REGRETS i loved this fic so fucking much. if you love bands and warped tour and like. that sort of Vibe please read both fics in this series

Heart Duplex by jamesiee, solarperigee (T, 15.6k)

“Oh, shit,” Dylan laughs, pointing at the screen. “What about this guy?” The description is objectively bad and Dylan has to bite his lip to keep a straight face while Connor reads it. What up I'm Mitch I'm 19 and my best friend fuckin ditched me to get a place with his hot swedish boyfriend so I need someone cool to make him jealous Must be chill w hockey (leafs 4 lyfe) gays (dick 4 lyfe) and video games (fortnite 4 lyfe) NO LIZARDS THEY SCARE ME “Oh my god,” Connor whispers in the flattest voice possible.

this is the plus in mcstrome plus because this is mitch/connor/dylan!! it is FUCKING HILARIOUS and amazing and beautiful and just. the vibe is excellent. i have reread this fic so much and it gets better literally every time because its just that good. insane.

mattdrai

liebe geht durch den magen by lighthousetowers (T, 6.2k)

All Leon wanted were some easy recipes, and instead he got this guy, this – Matthew Tkachuk, alias tkachukycheese, YouTube channel owner by bi-weekly afternoon and dietician who works a lot with school classes by normal profession. Matthew holds up a potato peel broken in two pieces. “And just remember, if it doesn’t work out perfectly, that’s fine. It’s all about practice and trying and enjoying the process. Perfection isn’t a prerequisite for being liked. Just look at the Oilers."

this fic unironically singlehandedly got me into mattdrai. literally SO good i have read it so many times. and another nonhockey/hockey au. you know me.

ambigous middle area between mattdrai and mcdrai. mcmattdrai

(Get a Torch and a Flame and) Burn the Path You Want by Linsky (E, 80.2k)

If there’s one thing Leon knows, from the very beginning, it’s that Connor McDavid isn’t for him. If there’s a second thing he knows, it’s that Matthew Tkachuk is a grade-A asshole.

common linsky banger. i LOVE the wolfverse and these three in this fic are jus SOOOOO,..... GAWD. like i ate it up like fucking . pasta with butter. and i LOVE pasta with butter.

mcdrai

if we make it through december (we'll be fine) by softnoirr

“Are you uh,” Connor takes a breath, “Are you doing anything for Christmas?” Leon pauses. Or: Connor and Leon go home for the holidays, break up, and come back together, just not precisely in that order.

WHO BRINGS THEIR EX TO THEIR PARENTS PLACE FOR CHIRSTMAS. connor mcdavid, thats who. and it makes for some EXCELLENT FIC. i lovelovelove this one so much

j,. jamie and trevor?? ship name. 611???? what are they called

There's Gold in Them There Hills, or Alchemy for Dummies by CitrineDaydream (E, 43.2k)

Jamie Drysdale is a witch. Well, a witch-in-training, out on his final journey to prove himself-- a pilgrimage to put himself through the seven steps of Alchemical Process. His contentious spirit guides have sent him across the continent from Ontario to California to find something that they refuse to reveal to him. Trevor Zegras is a rookie ranch hand, leaving New York for the freedom of the West. Far from home, he's still kept up with his families traditions and the ways they work with nature for prosperity and protection. He is absolutely, definitely not a witch. Jamie is at least intuitive enough to know the gold he seeks isn't literal metal, but that's about as far as he trusts his instincts, and that's the majority of the problem. When his spirit guides freeze him out in an attempt to foster his intuition, the goofy cowboy seems to be the best bet he's got to unlock his path to growth that he can't seem to find to on his own.

this started my cowboy kick literally this fics fault its CRAZY. i dont even. know how to describe how much i fucking loved this fic its so good PELASE read it if you love cowboys or witches OR if you have eyes. 10/10

AAND THERE WE GO!! or at least. i have to stop because i ran out of open ao3 tags and the site has stopped working. please enjoy when you can anon!! and if you want somethign specific just lmk

but also there is this one elias pettersson/brock boeser or however you spell that fic and i literally know NOTHIGN about these guys but this fic was so good ask if interested because i am interested in introducing others to it

[stateofdreaming14]

Au where season 5 Arthur time travels back to season one but it's our normal Arthur as we know him

A lot of tt aus have a fictional happy post s5 high king Arthur be the one to time travel but I think it would be great if it's just our Arthur

Our Arthur who doesn't know about Merlin's magic, who has come to love his silly manservant more than he could rightfully admit, has gone through so many hardships/betrayals + is still fighting. Give me an Arthur who looks at this fresh faced cinnamon roll Merlin full of hope and realizes that he completely changed right under Arthur's nose and the king just doesn't know why And on his journey to understand it (experiencing his past from a new perspective) he grows to finally know and understand his friend in a way he never has

Give me a King Arthur thrown into Uther's court who finally has the confidence and experience to stand up to his father, no longer afraid of his disappointment (an Arthur who tries so hard to act like just another visiting royal despite the circumstances but he can't stay neutral at all bc this is his home and his people) and juxtapose it with his remaining hesitance on the subject of magic bc Arthur knows that a punishment should be based on the crime– that magic itself isn't a crime– but he still fears that magic is a power that corrupts and show me how this complicates his relationships with Morgana and Merlin

Bc they are looking at the Arthur that they always dreamed of him becoming except he falls short on just this one aspect and how many years in the future is that Arthur from? They're looking at that long plus who knows how much more before Arthur can accept magic but on the flip side they can see the potential there Morgana sees the potential there. Meanwhile Arthur is looking at this baby Morgana and savouring it bc she's his beloved sister and no matter how much they hurt e/o Arthur will always love and miss her and this is a Morgana who doesn't hate him Show me an Arthur who shows Morgana how much he loves her, as much as he is able to despite how awkward he is about it bc he knows he won't have a chance to in the future

Then show me an Arthur who treats Gwen like an old friend, who can't tell her that they promised to be partners in life and on the throne, but who decides to be partners in crime as Arthur tries to understand the shift in their shared best friend (and he's going to be so normal about it when he finds out about Gwen's season 1 crush on Merlin bc fellas what does it mean if you and your future wife have a crush on the same guy )

And then give me season 1 Arthur with all of his insecurities, faults, and inability to let people close and let s5 Arthur be so protective bc he remembers how hard it was being him, he remembers how afraid he was of letting everyone down and how toxic his ideals of what it meant to be strong were for him and he decides to show him a new Let s5 Arthur be the older male role model/brother figure that he was never able to have and S1 Arthur is as amazed as he is horrified bc s5 Arthur is what he always dreamed of being deep in his heart and also it's extremely embarrassing to see his older self being more openly affectionate with Merlin, Gwen, and worst of all Morgana (he can't help being an annoying little brother about it lol) that isn't even mentioning the anxiety, fear, and elation he gets seeing this older version of himself standing his ground against Uther

And anyway S5 Arthur just stuck in S1 Camelot would have so much story and character arc potential and it would just be funny to see all of the characters trying to cope

✨What would Arthur from season five say to Merlin from season one?✨

It's so sweet and sad at the same time... This series is my personal comfort zone

[whoblewboobear]

AHHH you sent me a ton of numbers!!! hang on I’ll follow up: 4, 8, 12, 28!

!!!!!! Thank you for more!!

4. a story idea you haven’t written yet

I'm very very very attached to my lil rockstar!jace blurb. I can see myself writing a handful of chapters or a very lengthy oneshot about Jace coming back from a month hiatus to get sober, it doesn't work but he's hemorrhaging money from rescheduling tour dates. He notices his new sound equipment manager, Porter, for the first time. Porter thinks Jace is a little bit of a joke, like he's wasting the career that Porter wished he had. He doesn't hesitate to put Jace in his place and Jace LOVES IT. He hires porter to handle equipment while he records his 3rd album once tour wraps and Porter accepts. When tour is over, Porter is at jace's all the time. Either to fuck or to help with the album. It's not a bad gig, and he starts to fall for jace on those late nights when he's just at his piano or writing. He knew jace as this whirlwind, tweaked out, celebrity. He spent most of his time backstage, he didn't get to watch the emotion play out on Jace's face when he sang. Or how lost in the music he was when played his piano. LMAO so yeah, I haven't written this YET. But I just might, even if it never gets posted. I love behind the scenes and musician tell all kinda things (Daisy jones & the six being a biiiig recent favorite of mine. Loved the book, kinda didnt love the show, LOVE the album) It'll be a little heavily on the subject matter bc this Jace is an addict on his recovery journey and everything that comes with that. But Porter sticks by him.

8. if you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for…

Religion’s in Your lips aka Period fic~ So I had two crack fic ideas and kinda combined them bc I had a silly idea called Family Dinner where porter & jace gather the rat grinders and tell them the plan is off. So kipperlilly gets so pissed she puts her rogue hat on and digs deep into Porter’s past and finds out that he dated someone from every adventuring party he was in. Which then ties into the Porter’s scott pilgrim 7 evil exes moment. I just wanna play with the slapstick silly goofy aspects of the FH universe AND Jace and Porter deserve to have a little fun. In this universe they also are very much stupid like they share a brain cell and Porter refuses to hold it bc it’s too much work but Jace is like I.. can’t hold it I’m too pretty to think (He ends up holding it bc someone has to. Zara loves Jace but she simply refuses to hold it, her hands are full)

12. a trope you’re really into right now

I loooooooove the sunshine x grumpy/black cat trope SO BAD which is why j2jace got my ass so fiercely lmao. There's just something about a super sunny and sweet character being like I love this meanie, they are mine. And the grumpy one just being so c: about them. Like aghhhhhh. And there's so many ways to explore it, i just eat that shit up with a spoon. It's my weakness.

28. your least favorite part of the writing process

Starting a new chapter!!! Hate it! Like I love it but I hate it bc the getting started is like pulling teeth for me.

[redxriiot]

        “There are best friends...and then there’s people you’d commit murder with.”

[tau1tvec]

You ever notice that literally the only people saying “reblogs dont matter, you can’t force people to reblog things” are the ones with 1k+ notes on their own posts

Idk bout 1k+, but I remember mentioning something like it on a post a month or so ago.

The only posts I see getting those numbers is typically something that’s so mind blowing and outside the box that it spreads outside the community, but more often than not it’s cc posts, which the person posting it I’m sure is expecting other people will reblog it, esp during its early access period, though I don’t know how well that’s going these days with everything that’s happened on that side of the community, since EA’s changes. There’s some I’ve seen won’t generate those numbers until they’ve gone public, but still, I think it goes without saying that there’s certainly a mindset between cc and non-cc reblogging that is very different, and I feel for very obvious reasons.

Now bc of the existence of mod/cc posts, it’s clear that people are aware of the power of reblogging, and how it helps exposure, but hell a lotta times when people reblog cc it isn’t typically on their main, and it’s usually only reblogged for archival reasons, or to help with WCIF’s.

When I look at all this through the lens of a person who isn’t just in the sims community however, like I think it’s pretty obvious I play and post other games, how simblr works and how other gaming tumblrs work, esp when it comes to reblogs is pretty eye opening. There isn’t this hesitance to reblog anything a lotta the time, some will for like “aesthetics” sake or whatever, but so long as it’s a game, they’ll usually reblog it.

There’s also rlly big blogs that are just wholly devoted to reblogging other people’s content, esp on gaming tumblr, like you tag them in your post and they’ll reblog you to their feed for their tens of thousands of followers to see, and so it really helps out smaller blogs, by getting them some exposure, while also offering their followers something new and fresh to look at everyday without having to following a bunch of people, so it’s this trade off. The only thing we see of this type in simblr is cc-finds blogs, another reminder of the obvious rift in the sims community. There’s also a difference in mindset, a lot of the time when people post gaming edits it isn’t just for “themselves”, there isn’t this very individualistic ideal behind it and it’s much more community minded, bc a lot of the time they’re doing it for other people who like it too, as if it’s this collective act of taking people back to a special moment they experienced, or a game they played as a kid… so there’s hardly ever this assumption of like “oh you’re just doing it for notes”, like who cares, look at this really cool gif set of my favorite old game, *slams like, slams reblog*.

To me, I think a lotta simblrs do this too, I know I do, a lot of how I structure my posts is indeed trying to pull some sense of nostalgia out of people who share that nostalgia with me. I won’t pretend that people don’t like or know my sims, sometimes they like and know them more than I do, and so I post them as much for me as I do for them… so it’s weird seeing people push this “post for yourself” mindset.

I’m pretty sure you’re not just posting for yourself, and like… that’s okay, lol.

Now I’m rambling so I’ll wrap this up, but I think the only other thing I’ll add while I’m on the subject is that The Sims as a whole, despite its popularity… really does exist in a bubble, bc even a lotta gaming blogs won’t reblog it, perhaps bc they know simblr exists and is pretty big already, or perhaps bc a lotta people still don’t think it’s an actual “game”, or perhaps it’s bc though earlier iterations have set characters and set stories, the majority of the community doesn’t even touch upon them, which explains why text posts, memes, gameplay involving premades, and things like scenery posts will always tend to get more traction, bc these are all experiences a much bigger collective community acknowledges and remembers. There’s also a certain stigma around The Sims in general. For a long time there were those who played it, but wouldn’t even admit they played it, but with its recent influx of newer players thanks to how accessible The Sims 4 is platform wise, and will be even more so when it goes f2p, it’s kinda becoming much more mainstream than b4.

Will this at last burst the sims community’s bubble, and put them out there in the wild with all of the other gaming communities, and therefore change how it functions as a whole?

Idk, but in conclusion there’s many reasons why simblr works like it does and always kinda has, so it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what’s “wrong” with it and whether it’s worth even “fixing”.

My only advice is do what you want, blog aesthetics and community etiquette be damned, but still be aware of how your behavior affects others.

[eternalfrowning]

Hello! Do you have any advice on how to get followers for an art blog? I’m just a beginner and it is really disheartening to have no feedback on my work :(

Anything helps! :)

Hello ! your question is a difficult one for me aaa;;, but i'll do my best !

i remembered i replied to an ask a bit similar to yours some years ago actually, maybe it can be helpful? (copy/paste bc link doesn't work aaa) :

" Anonyme said: "whats your advice to beginner artists wishing to get a bit more exposure"

im not sure to be the best person to ask, i see exposure like some kind of accident really. like, you make a drawing that may suddenly fly far away and then lots of people can see it and among them some will maybe enjoy looking it as well, etc etc! but ofc, and you probably know it, if you make fanarts, your works have higher chance to visit lots of blogs, because they are in the tags, and the person seeing your works is also already invested in the original manga/book/game/…, so it’s always super nice to see fanarts of it! That being said, it wouldn’t be interesting to draw things just bc you know they are popular or something. Draw for yourself. If you’d like to draw a fanart of this or that, then do it and enjoy it ! and if you don’t want to, do not force yourself.

tbh, i think if i have an advice for beginner artists, it would be to continue to draw, simply. exposure will come with time. There is the undeniable luck factor, and there is also the fact that, with your drawings becoming better and better, more people will come see them and share them. Make it easy for people to find your works with relevant tags on platforms you like, and either you draw only original / fanarts / …, you’ll definitely reach people who will enjoy your works. Be patient, be happy with what you draw, and work hard. if you need advices or constructive criticisms about your drawings etc, don’t hesitate to ask ! everyone is learning and every artists had to begin at some point. and yeah, i’d say that, if you’re beginner, don’t rush and think that what matters when you share your art online is the number of this or that etc. don’t mix up your works’ popularity with the value you grant them yourself. Be proud and fairly, kindly, critical about what you draw. focus on getting better, and have fun!

I don’t know if my reply is answering your question, it’s not an easy subject and yeah that’s just how i see things for now. i hope you still find some useful things in this ! and if you dont mind me talking a lot like this and still have questions, i can try answering them as well

i wish you the best on your art journey! " hehe sorry for the novel omg,, also about followers, and maybe it's annoying to read this but i need to say it as it is important : numbers don't matter much ! you can have millions of people following you and still get no feedbacks; while having 2, or 3 people following you, who interact often ! and those are the people that makes posting so much more fun and make it an even more happiest place for you ! there are always artists and art enjoyers close to your tastes and 'art-worlds' (sorry im not good with explaining;;), if they don't find you, don't hesitate to look for them! we're all the same, sharing our lil posts! also, the most important i'd say is, remember that your first public is yourself !! Draw what interests you, what makes you happy. The people liking the same things as you will come with time ! you're in no rush, and art is a never-ending journey! i hope you could find some helpful things in all this ?;; this is just what i think for now, i'm no expert, and i have difficulties explaining my thoughts also;; And don't forget that making an art blog is firstly for you, and be proud of yourself for having the courage to share your creations ! i know how stressful it can be (i still have stomach cramps everytime i post, im not exaggerating ToT) ! be happy of this space you created ! and i wish to you as well the best in your art journey <3 <3 !! have fun, enjoy what you draw today, look forward to what you will draw tomorrow!! you got this!

[alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer]

yall please put warnings on your fics... I'm not trying to call anyone out specifically bc I've seen this multiple times by multiple people and it's getting really frustrating. I also know I'm Old or whatever and not everyone knows how or why to do this. so behold:

generally speaking, the following things should ALWAYS have warnings (its why they're the ones you check off on AO3)

Major character death

Rape/Non-con

Underage sex

Graphic violence

Obviously, something like graphic violence is a bit subjective, but if it's significantly more detailed and violent than what would happen in-canon, it needs a warning. on ao3 there's an option for "creator chose not to use archive warnings" but on tumblr there's no good equivalent so you really just need to warn for it. this is fandom etiquette.

other things that you should warn for as a courtesy are things like:

child abuse

substance abuse

domestic abuse

hate crimes

sexism

racism

homophobia

transphobia

abusive relationships

etc., etc., etc.

further you need to put the warnings at the TOP of your fic. it needs to be a line before the text of your fic. tags on tumblr are at the end of the post. you need to put your warnings at the BEGINNING. you can tag it as well but if you have warnings at the beginning, it doesn't matter because if someone sees the warning they can scroll past.

if you think this will "spoil" your fic, the vast majority of the time it will not. if you're writing a one-shot featuring major character death, it's usually the premise of the one-shot. fics posted on tumblr don't generally include a summary so the warning also serves as an indicator to the reader of what kind of fic it is and what the premise is. I promise you that warning your readers about potentially upsetting content is far more beneficial than "spoiling" your fanfiction.

if I see any of yall continue to not put warnings on your fics I'm just gonna send you this post... i've gotta be honest the tendency of people in this fandom to not put warnings on their fics makes me hesitant to read any fics and diminishes the enjoyment from the fics that I do read. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

just put warnings on your damn fanfics

[rwbyinserts]

Hey there, I really like the quality of your posts and I hope request are open. Can't find where your rules are posted but if they are, could you do headcanons for how winter and raven would explain to their S/O about their maiden powers, and what it'd take for them to talk about it (bc we all know raven wouldn't wanna talk about it)

Absolutely! Odds are requests will remain open indefinitely unless I need to take a hiatus! Apologies about the difficulty in finding the rules, I didn’t realize I didn’t specify they were in the drop down menu! I’ll be sure to add that real quick now though. Thank you for your request and compliment! It means a lot to me! <3

-

Winter and Raven explaining to S/O about their maiden powers

Winter

You couldn’t blame Winter for being a bit distant after everything went down. She was never cold to you per se, but you could tell she was suffering. It was hard, seeing someone you looked up to and adored struggling, especially when before this she was such a beacon of strength and courage to you and many others. She was a natural leader, and seeing the way she seemingly fought with herself on what to do now tore at your heart.

You knew how she was. The idea of asking for help was going to be hard for her. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust you - she did, immensely. Even so, it was ingrained so deeply in her to keep moving forward no matter the cost, to not ask questions and to simply obey. Asking for help didn’t feel like an option she was allowed to have.

Now though, the leader she swore to follow was gone, along with everything she had been fighting so hard to protect. It had all crumbled around her, the hope that she was on the right path slipping through her fingers like a fine thread. The weight on her shoulders had only grown heavier and heavier, and it was becoming apparent to everyone who knew her. Especially you.

It surprised you when she asked you to visit with her, alone. It wasn’t unusual in itself - the two of you had spent time together alone before. It was unusual because you hadn’t expected her to reach out to you after all that had happened, at least not so soon. She had been so deep in her own thoughts you had considered trying to reach out yourself in an attempt to help her in whatever way you could, but she beat you to the punch.

When you sit down beside her, she scarcely looks at you. The look in her eyes isn’t one of fear, merely concern. You wonder if it was obvious how much you were worried about her, and it becomes clear when she speaks to you that it had been.

“I… Apologize. For how I’ve been lately. I’ve had a lot to think about, I’m sure you know. About everything, including us.” Those words froze you to your spot, your blood running cold. You didn’t like those words at all. Was she going to push you away for good, just like that? Should you have reached out first after all?

“Please, don’t look so afraid. We’re not… I’m not ending this. I’m giving you a choice. I need to tell you everything. I just need you to listen, please.” Her tone was softer, a hint of guilt behind it. It was then that you realized what was going to happen. Everything you had missed up until this point was about to be explained to you, and it was. She told you about the maidens, about Penny and the power that had been bestowed upon her in that fateful battle. You hadn’t been inside that abyss to see it, and so up until now she had kept you in the dark. You could tell she felt bad, and she confirmed it.

“I’m sorry for not telling you after it happened. I still hesitated today. I worry that telling you will put you in danger, but… you need to know.” If you’re female, she’d even explain how if something were to happen to her, it may very well transfer to you. Of course, you don’t like that subject, but you understand why she told you. You’d need to know. “I understand if you don’t feel you can remain with me after this. I breached your trust. Regardless of my reasoning, I understand if you’re upset with me.”

Of course, even if you were a little hurt it would only be because you couldn’t have lifted that burden from her shoulders sooner. You could see even as she had spoken to you how some of the burden had been lifted just in finally revealing the secret to you, and you wished it could have happened before all that stress and worry had built up.

You’d assure her you’re willing to work through it, and though she still has some of that worry behind her eyes, there’s also a hint of relief. You’re someone she wants to protect, no matter what. She vows, even if to herself, that she will use her new power to do so.

Raven

It becomes clear to you that something is wrong with Raven rather quickly. Ever since she returned from Haven, she seemed… off. She had already told you that Vernal had been lost, and so the logical conclusion to you was that she was mourning even if she refused to outwardly show it.

This didn’t feel like mourning though. You were one of very few people to see the faintest hint of vulnerability from her before, even if only for a moment. She had confided in you in the past, even though she always framed it as seeking a second opinion when she would ultimately do what she thought was best. You never questioned it, simply offering advice where you could and following her lead.

Now though she seemed… distressed. Whereas normally she would be a bit snippier when she failed one of her self made missions, she seemed a bit more… subdued. It wasn’t something you were used to - no one in camp was. Unlike you though, many of the others didn’t have the heart to speak up about it. Vernal would have been the only one other than you, and with her gone, it was up to you.

So you decided to take matters into your own hands one night. You stand outside her tent, making sure no one else is in sight before you murmur her name softly under your breath, hoping it’ll be just loud enough for her to hear. You’re in luck, as she soon appears at the entrance and though her gaze seemed hardened as ever, you noticed the flicker of realization in her eyes as she regarded you before she allowed you entrance.

You offer to pour her tea before you sit with her, but she puts up a dismissive hand before doing it herself for the both of you. When you sit across from each other your eyes meet, both trying to judge the other to see just who will break the silence first.

“Well? What did you need?” It’s her, unsurprisingly, ever the dominant force even when she’s off her game. It’s almost enough to make you smile despite the situation. Almost.

You ask her straight up what’s on her mind. You’ve noticed her watching you more often, subdued or not, as if she wanted to talk to you but had no clue how to approach. She seems vaguely irritated when you bring this up, but it’s too late to take it back and reword it.

“Just what are you trying to insinuate? If I wanted to talk to you, I would. I don’t need your permission.” Her tone is sharp, but it lacks the usual venom of genuine anger. You know her well enough by now to know she’s bluffing.

You change tactics though, if only to avoid making her retreat further into her shell. You tell her how much you care and that you know she can handle herself, but you want to be there for her. Though you don’t tell her this, you know there’s something important she won’t tell you. She remains quiet for a moment, her gaze concentrated as she stares into your own, almost as if she were trying to judge something. Something you could never begin to know. When she finally speaks, you have to contain your shock, keeping your gaze as even as her own.

“When Vernal died… Her powers were transferred onto me. It was… a shock. I’m still trying to decide who to trust with that information.” Her tone was even, not betraying the lie she was telling. She was convincing, she always was - and she knew you would take her words at face value. Of course, you did. You were happy she could trust you enough to be the first. Or at least you assumed you were the first. You assured her the secret was safe with you and that you would support her in any way you could, and she offered you the faintest of smiles, one strictly reserved for you.

She knew you would, just as she would keep her own secrets safe, for both of your sakes she hoped.

[b612sunsets]

Since we have less than half a season left, how do you think Gaon and Soohyun's friendship is gonna turn out? Love you and your posts!

Stop being cute! Thank you, anon! Lots of love. Sorry for the late reply but I wanted to watch episode 10 before giving my thoughts on this.

Soohyun should take a hint and move on, you know? I had a similar situation with one of my best friends. They confessed to me about 3 times during our friendship but I never felt the same and just wanted to be friends and not feel pressured or bad for not liking them back. I never knew if I was hurting them by saying and doing things that they could interpret wrong and at the same time I didn’t want to change how I treated them because I knew it would hurt them too. It was really hard for a long time, I felt uncomfortable too but I couldn't blame anyone. You can’t control who your heart wants. But you can and should work on moving on if you keep trying and being rejected. It’s a matter of self-love as well. And that way you can save what you have and build a stronger and more legit friendship from both sides.

Soohyun is always showing how hopeful she gets whenever they’re interacting and tries to make Gaon look like her bf in public or take his words with a romantic meaning when he’s always clear it’s platonic and he’s speaking about something else completely. Soohyun wasn’t even a first love. Soohyun only confessed when Gaon was crying and vulnerable about something in his life (like, wtf?). If Gaon does feel something back for Soohyun as more than friends, the writers are doing a shitty job of showing and developing it. Okay, he liked hearing her voice and in episode 10 Gaon said he had Soohyun, along with good memories of his family and his house (if I'm not taking into consideration that you can like your friends voices and the fact you have them in your life). But does he? Maybe that’s why he hesitated to admit it to her. Because up until now he only wants to have her in a friendly way, she wants more. He can’t show his true self or tell her everything he thinks and does because she would judge him and turn her back to him. He feels insecure and hesitates to do that with someone that's supposed to be his best friend since childhood. Unlike with, say, Yohan and Elijah. So no, it doesn’t seem that Gaon truly has Soohyun as more than a childhood friend for good moments and playing the good cops. Yeah, he seeks comfort from her but that's it. He doesn't reveal the details about why he needed comfort and often goes to see her only to hold back from doing something she wouldn't approve. If it's not the way Soohyun wants, she would arrest him (going by her own words, maybe in a real situation she can surprise us because she’s biased with Gaon and everyone else, if they’re not Yohan.) and whatever else that would make Gaon feel bad.

I have no idea how their relationship will turn out.. if they will distance themselves more from now on or get closer. What I don’t want to happen and don’t expect happening anytime soon or ever (bc let’s face it, it’s too late to start this narrative after 10 episodes of 16 even for slow burn romances) if the drama keeps it up with the good writing, is Soohyun and Gaon ending up in a romantic relationship. Same for Sunah and Yohan but if there was still doubt for the latter, episode 10 cleared it up. They can never be anything more than enemies until one of them destroys and stops the other. And I’m team Yohan haha

Woah, sorry for my rant! But there you go, that’s my take on Soohyun and Gaon’s friendship. I do respect different opinions so people should feel free to discuss about it, I just don’t think I can change mine regarding that subject.