#hm what tags get traction here?

[atmeho]

[eris-snow]

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨

Tags: fluff, shoto x gn!reader, shy reader

Going to Shoto's agency for the first time.

A shitty receptionist.

An angry Shoto.

Shoto was melting.

He'd just gotten back from a patrol out in the autumn air of Tokyo, but he was melting.

Seeing you at the receptionist of his agency in his hoodie that was a tad baggy because of your size difference. He can't see your head because you'd decided to throw the hood up, but he knew it was you because he could hear your voice tremble as you nervously tell the receptionist why you were here

The weather was cold outside, and even under your second layer and baggy pants, you were shivering.

"Shoto forgot his lunch at home, so I'm here to deliver it. I-I have a note if you need verification-"

"Sorry, but you'll need to schedule an appointment if you want to visit his office." The receptionist said snootily without taking her eyes off the computer. "I need to ask you to leave before security gets here."

Shoto knows how meek you are, knows how you would never want to trouble anyone and are so insecure about your decisions. If someone tells you you're wrong, you start second-guessing yourself and stop speaking up after that.

So he was surprised that even after a few more seconds of hesitation, your shaky voice whispered back to the receptionist.

"B-But then Sho won't have lunch today. Please believe me, I really don't-" You tried, even putting yourself out there no matter how humiliating it is because you know how busy he is.

"Look," The lady finally stopped typing to shoot you a sharp glare. "Sho doesn't have time to deal with pushy fangirls like you, sweetheart." She jabbed a finger at you, which makes you shrink back slightly, "So why don't you take your little bento and find someone else to give it to, hm? Better yet, dump it in the garbage bin outside. It's where all you tryhards' gifts end up anyway."

Your face flushed scarlet red with shame as you try to ignore all the traction you were getting at the receptionist's outburst. You muttered a soft apology as you trained your eyes on the floor with the bento clutched tight in your ice-cold hands. But right as you start making your way to the big sliding doors outside, Shoto quickly put aside his growing anger and races to catch your arm before you can step out.

There are gasps from various interns and sidekicks, and when you whipped around to see who had caught your hand, your expression melted from embarrassment to relief. You've never come to his agency before, after all, and only Shoto's closest sidekicks have seen how you've looked like.

They were all not here (how convenient), of course.

"Sho-?"

"What are you doing here, love?" He asked, bringing your hood down to get to see you better. "You're freezing cold,"

"You forgot your lunch," You giggled, oozing with comfortability now that he was here as you hand him his bento. "I was afraid you'd get hungry."

He smiled softly at you taking the bento from your hand and replacing it with his palm.

The receptionist, who once wore a smug smirk was now sputtering in disbelief, biting her lip nervously as she watched how intimate the both of you were.

"I have a break now. Do you want to join me upstairs?" He inquired, warming you up with his left side. You shift closer to him a tiny bit as you nod your head vigorously.

As the both of you neared the lifts and passed the stiff receptionist, Shoto's face morphed into a hardened scowl. "By the way," He turned to face the lady.

"Don't bother coming to work tomorrow."

[the-himawari]

A3! Usui Masumi - Translation [SSR] MANKAI Feature (3/3)

*Please read disclaimer on blog; default name set as Izumi

---

Izumi: All three of your costumes and makeup look good to go.

Sakuya: Thank you!

Chikage: I didn’t expect I would appear as well.

Sakuya: I’m happy I get to act as Blanc again! Let’s do our best, Masumi-kun!

Masumi: …Yeah.

Izumi: Are you going to be alright, Masumi-kun? I heard you had a tough time with your role study…

Masumi: It’ll be fine. I asked Tsuzuru to make us act just like we always do.

Izumi: (I see. So that’s why the script is…) Alright, let’s start filming then. Break a leg, everyone!

-pause-

Izumi: (Nero and Blanc are walking through the city on their way home from shopping. Nero suddenly stops when he hears a melody playing from a streetvision.)

Nero [Masumi]: “…”

*flashback starts*

Blanbun: “Take that! We’re not gonna lose to you!”

Whibun: “That’s because we’re—"

*flashback ends*

Nero & Blanc: “The strongest Rabbit Twins!”

Nero [Masumi]: “Ah.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Ahaha. Jinx!”

Izumi: (What played on the streetvision was a toy commercial from a show called “Rabbit Twins”.)

Blanc [Sakuya]: “This anime sure takes me back. Watching the twin rabbits beating up wicked grownups was really cool, wasn’t it?”

Nero [Masumi]: “Yeah.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “I’ve been seeing a lot of their merch around these days. I wonder if it’s getting popular again due to their revival?”

Nero [Masumi]: “…I wonder if we've been able to become like them.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Hm?”

Nero [Masumi]: “Never mind.”

-pause-

Izumi: (The two were called to the office, and once they arrived, Uryu was the one who greeted them.)

Uryu [Chikage]: “I come bearing good news. I’ve got a tantalizing job that only you twins can handle.”

Nero [Masumi]: “Eh~. What the hell?”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “That sounds sus.”

Uryu [Chikage]: “Haha. Your distrust is showing clearly on your faces. Now. Now. Please take a gander at the materials.” “It’s a job related to the commercial characters for a new game from a major gaming company.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Wait, what!?”

Nero [Masumi]: “You weren’t kidding when you said it was a tantalizing job!”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “And look, Nero! This new game is…!”

Nero [Masumi]: “A game for the Rabbit Twins…!?”

Uryu [Chikage]: “Indeed. This work has been gaining popularity again these days.” “It seems the project this time will be a tag-team match between V-talents over the commercial characters of the game.” “Are you two in?”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “You don’t even have to ask!”

Nero [Masumi]: “It’s a no-brainer we’re gonna do it.”

Uryu [Chikage]: “I thought you’d say that. The materials also contain the list of your opponents, so take a look.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Let’s see~… Ah, these V-talents are…”

Uryu [Chikage]: “Oh, them. They’re twin V-talents who have been gaining traction these days.”

Nero [Masumi]: “Right, I feel like I’ve been seeing their names here and there lately.” (Twin V-talents…) “We absolutely have to win.”

-pause-

*both unleash attacks*

Nero [Masumi]: “You’re too slow, Blanc! I just told you to pay attention, didn’t I? Follow me properly!”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “M-My bad…”

-pause-

Uryu [Chikage]: “Now, now. This is just practise. Why don’t you relax and tone it down a bit?

-pause-

Nero [Masumi]: “We absolutely have to win this time. If we don’t, then we’re—”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Nero…”

-pause-

Uryu [Chikage]: “Oh dear… this might be a bit worrying for the real match.”

-pause-

*both take hits*

Izumi: (As Uryu feared, both of them are a mess in their first match against the twin V-talents.) (Meanwhile, their opponents unleash a combination without using words, and Blanc and Nero are defeated in a flash.)

Commentator: “Holy! What a spectacular combination. It’s like they used telepathy! That’s twins for you—oh, I guess they both are though.”

Nero [Masumi]: “…Tsk.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Hey, Nero. Why are you so anxious?”

Nero [Masumi]: “…Shut up.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Geez… I don’t understand you, Nero.”

Nero [Masumi]: “!” “That’s right… I mean, we’re just fakers. We can’t beat real twins.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “…!” “…”

*Blanc beams out of the game*

Nero [Masumi]: “…Blanc. I don’t understand you either.”

-pause-

Uryu [Chikage]: “Nero, have you found Blanc yet?”

Nero [Masumi]: “No… so much time has passed, yet he hasn’t come home… What do I do…!”

Uryu [Chikage]: “Do you have any idea where Blanc would go?”

Nero [Masumi]: “Any ideas… I’ve got nothing.” “…If we were real twins, then maybe we could understand each other through telepathy. But we’re different.”

Uryu [Chikage]: “Whether it’s real or fake is indeed important.”

Nero [Masumi]: “…”

Uryu [Chikage]: “However, you guys are the real deal, aren’t you?” “What’s important isn’t your blood ties or your family register. It’s the time you spent and the feelings you hold for each other.” “That’s why, if it’s you, then you should definitely know where Blanc is.”

Nero [Masumi]: “Blanc…” “…That’s right. He might be there!”

-pause-

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Nero…”

Nero [Masumi]: “…So you really were here.” “When we were little, we once ran away from the orphanage together.” “The place we ran was to the toy store. And this was where we first encountered the Rabbit Twins.” “We swore that we would become the best and strongest twins too.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “…That’s right.”

Nero [Masumi]: “That’s why there’s no way we can lose in this project. We have to become the strongest twins there are.” “Just like these two…”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “…! I think so too.” “What the heck? We felt the same way all along, didn’t we?”

Nero [Masumi]: “Let’s win the next match for sure.”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Yeah!”

-pause-

Izumi: (And so, they reached the final match for the project.)

Nero [Masumi]: “Let’s go, Blanc!”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “Okay, Nero!”

Nero & Blanc: “HAAA!!”

*both unleash attacks*

Commentator: “CRITICAL HIT! The match goes to Nero and Blanc!”

Nero & Blanc: “We did it!”

-pause-

Uryu [Chikage]: “…It looks like they’re back on track.”

-pause-

Commentator: “Congratulations on the win! Any comments for us?”

Blanc [Sakuya]: “That was only natural, right?”

Nero [Masumi]: “Yeah. Because we’re—”

Nero & Blanc: “The strongest twins, Nero and Blanc!”

-pause-

Sakuya: Great job out there! Thanks, Masumi-kun. I had so much fun.

Masumi: …Well, the play wasn’t bad. I feel like... I had fun too.

Izumi: You two were amazing! Nero and Blanc were totally in sync. You were just like real twins.

Sakuya: Thank you so much…!

Masumi: I’m glad if you say so…

Chikage: I take it your role study was useful?

Masumi: Rather than role study… I just got Tsuzuru to make the story about the issues I thought of while I was preparing for my role. … (Chikage mentioned that you can become a family even if you’re not related by blood. That’s not a lie. I know I feel that when we’re acting.) (But I have a feeling he was also talking about someone else besides us.)

Chikage: Hm? Is there something on my ring?

Masumi: …It’s nothing.

Chikage: Are you sure?

Masumi: (I’m sure Chikage also has things he doesn’t want to be asked. We’re family, so it’s alright if I don’t ask about it right now.)

Izumi: In any case, Masumi-kun and Sakuya-kun were spot on in today’s play. But Masumi-kun and Chikage-san were also perfectly in sync.

Chikage: Well, you know.

Masumi: Even if we don’t purposely try to match each other, it just happens.

Chikage & Masumi: …Because we’re family.

---

previous |

[fillinforlater]

Hey, I just recently started posting my stories to Tumblr, and I was curious how you find stories (I've seen your Monday of Appreciation posts). I'm just wondering because it seems more difficult to gain traction on this site compared to some of the other ones (easily getting 100s of reads in a short time after updates), but I am probably just doing something wrong. Anonymous ask because I don't want to seem like I'm trying to advertise without permission!

Hm, lemme gather some advice for what I believe is somewhat the meta on how to get into MoA, along with bonus advice for our Tumblr-writing-bubble in general.

MoA-Advice:

1. I try to widen my scope of idols I read about, but I won't lie: IZ*ONE, IVE, as well as other idols I really like are a lot more likely to land on MoA. Basically: write them and you have a bigger chance.

2. Appereance is key. Put interesting information about the fic right at the top, below the title (like e.g. I do) or maybe below the pic/gif. Also: USE PICS, but y'all probably know that. It really helps to kickstart the imagination, even idol X might wear sth different.

You don't have to put in every detail at the start like I do, but hints about length, tags, kinks, other interesting trivia are crucial for me to continue reading.

3. Grammar and spelling don't have to perfect, and your style does not have to be exquisite or utterly brilliant like some of the legend on here, but:

Show variety, use different structures for your sentences and unique words. Repetition can make a fic jarring to read.

Tumblr-Bubble-Advice:

1. If your goal is to be succesful, you should try to get a feel for what is Meta in terms of length, idol and kinks.

Length above 5k and below 10k is in my observation what a lot of readers like. It's not too long to take too much time (to fap or whatever filthy things you naughty ppl are doing), but at the same time it's more than just a scene without substance (meaning there is more than dull, blunt sex, probably).

Meta-Idols... are hard to define. Popular groups should always work, but there is still a difference between Mina/Tzuyu and Jihyo/Jeongyeon, so even in a GOAT gg like Twice you should go for more popular members (if success is your only goal). Other than that, Karina, Yuna, Ahn Yujin are always popular; young, big boobs/butts, idols with mature/sexy concepts in their group (LSFM, (G)I-DLE) are often well received.

Daddy-Kink has been overused, but it never fails soooooo feel free to use that. Any kind of dynamic with power (dom!idols sub!reader as well) can definitely work, really depends on the idol though. Rough, hard sex for "sluts" (confident, sexy idols) and cuddles and kisses for cute idols...

2. This one is obvious: DON'T STEAL WORK/IDEAS! Someone will find them and it's also lame af

3. Ignore everything I said as it is only an observation and subject to change because everything does with time. Write what you want, how you want, when you want. Have fun, otherwise it's not worth it.

(We don't get money on here btw, at least not from notes)

(Also: don't write ua idols. Use your brain.)

[zorkaya-moved]

6, 12, 18, 24, 30!

@intone

oh gods, that's so many questions... :'D

send a number for me to talk about one of the following topics!

6. excessive ooc

I mean? As long as it's tagged? That's fine with me because I tend to post a lot of ooc posts as well. Though, I guess, my policy is that I clean it up a bit if it's too much. But then again: what is too much ooc posting? What is considered excessive ooc posting? I would say my excess where I draw the line if for 5 straight pages of a blog I don't see any rping at all or any plotting or any headcanons/metas written out. Then again, every person should do what they are comfortable with and not try to please the RPC when it comes to how they operate on their blog when it comes to OOC. I don't follow blogs who only post ooc posts, but I also know that my personal ooc posting during the week can get a bit meh. So, really, it's a case-to-case basis but it's just personal preference for each person, I guess. I block the ooc tag if it's too much for me sometimes? Hm, but yeah, I honestly don't have a big thought about this because it really do be a case to case basis. Some people need ooc to discuss possibilities, to talk about life, to connect with others. But then there is toxic ooc content where there is a lot of guilt tripping and 'woe is me' kind of content. So really, it depends!

12. promos

Promos only work when people reblog the post and not when they like it. That's my stance on it. I think as a collective rpc, we should reblog more promos of each other to spread the word. It's especially true for newer rpers in the rpc. How are they going to gain traction if older rper don't reblog their promos? Honestly, it was an issue for me in the Genshin community when I was starting. However, I also think that those short text promos are fun. Like small and funny ones. Cool and aesthetic-wise are awesome, but those small and funny ones are also pretty darn awesome.

18. shipping

There is a lot to speak about shipping, but I'll cover one of the themes of shipping: progress and asking. In the current day and age of RPC, the collective trauma of many rpers feeling like they're forcing something on another without actually forcing anything should be healed. It speaks to the fact that we are lacking communication, which is a continuous issue with rpc as a whole here and there, especially in some fandoms. I believe it'd be nice to speak more with people about different ships that are platonic, antagonistic, etc. I also think we should be more honest with each other on what kind of ships we see happening between our muses! Just be polite, honest and don't be weird. Like, damn, I want more antagonistic and toxic ships! I want villains to be villains and have those tense and complicated interactions!

24. your first RPC

Already answered here!

30. your choice!

I want to give a massive shout out to multimuse blogs! I think multimuse blogs are extremely complicated and hard to manage, which makes everyone who have multimuse blogs are damn SUPERHEROES. Everyone who can handle more than 1 muse is a deity of creativity and I admire every single one of you. Canon or OC, multimuse blogs require the ability to think of different characters insted of just one. I have a hard time doing it, which makes me admire everyone who has multimuse blogs so much.

[lokioneshots]

Pleasure PART 2

Summary: Loki finds out that you faked an orgasm the last time you and he had sex.

Character(s): Loki & Reader

Series: One-Shot

Read part 1 here

Requested by: @sunshineyrosie

Taglist! (click here to join a taglist!)

Strikethrough means I can’t tag you for some reason.

@1marvelnerd3000 @agentkinghorn @angeldarkness95 @arypesanchez @chaotic-neutral-queen @donttouchmylaevateinn @emerald-alone @eyesbluelikethetitanic @fa-me @ferriswheel97 @geeky-politics-46 @holdmytesseract @iris-shihabi @itsybitchylittlewitchy @jeongadelarinia @lokistoriesblog @lougy @melianisnothere @mqrvelbvnch @mm2305 @mortallythoughtfulgurl @nms224 @prettysbliss @shraddhadeveshvikram @xoxoloverb @you-will-find-peace-someday

Loki had your clothes off – strewn across the bedroom. You were still in his lap – leaning backward on the bed while he held your knees over his shoulders. The god was in awe at your slick cunt – begging him to taste it. You crossed your ankles behind his back so he could let go and use his hands for other things. His large hands began to explore your body – starting from your clit and goes up to your belly button.

"What do you want?" he asked – his voice muffled against the skin of your inner thigh.

You couldn't speak – the sight of his hands setting your core aflame. Loki let one of his hands go back to your clit, and he smacked it before twisting the little nub. He chuckled against your thigh when you squealed. "Tell me, kitten. Tell me what you want."

"L-Loki," you managed to moan through heavy breaths, "pl-pl-please...eat me."

Your husband looked up at you – his dark blue eyes looking into yours. You could see the lustful gaze, and it was almost enough to have you coming undone. However, instead of giving you what you wanted, Loki had other plans.

"You were a bad kitten last night, weren't you?" he asked – his voice dark and gravelly. "Faking such a thing."

You nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Hm," Loki hummed – looking at you in amusement – a sly smirk on his lips.

Loki moved you off his lap and positioned you on your knees. "You're going to suck daddy's cock," he demanded.

"Yes, sir," you nodded – licking your lips as he took himself out of his boxer briefs. You moaned at the sight of his large erection. "You're so big, baby," you smiled – grabbing his cock with both hands. Loki's breathing started to speed up, and his hand went to your hair – his fingers tangling in it. You saw the precum begin to leak from his head, and when you bent down to lick it up, you felt Loki's body shake.

"Don't you dare tease me," he ordered through his clenched jaw.

You giggled – wanting him to show his dominance – giving him small kitten-licks on his cock. He began to groan at your boldness.

"You're going to make me fuck your mouth, huh kitten?"

"Maybe," you winked in a singsong voice.

Loki hands went directly to your lips – prying your mouth open with one and guiding his cock into it with the other. "There we go," he sighed – moving his hips to get some sort of traction.

You giggled with your mouth full of his cock – wiggling your ass for his viewing pleasure. Soon, you were met with a hard smack – pulling a squeal from you and sending vibrations around his member. Loki's fingers made their way to your pussy while you began to bob your head – forcing yourself to take all of him in your throat. He let out a dark chuckle, and you immediately felt him using the wand on your cunt – letting it push you as close to the edge as possible.

Normally, he'd edge you – making you wait for the one orgasm to drive you crazy. This time, he was making sure you never faked an orgasm with him again.

You moaned around him as you came undone – the toy remaining on your pussy as your sensitivity grew.

Loki pulled out of your mouth – roughly grabbing your face as he lay you back on the bed – spreading your legs wide and diving into your swollen and throbbing cunt.

"Mmm," he moaned – drinking up everything he could. "My baby girl tastes so good."

Your hands found their way to his hair, and you held him as tightly as you could to your pussy. Taking it as a sign that you wanted more, he conjured another toy, and you felt the plug begin to enter your rear.

It was a larger one – larger than usual.

It felt like heaven.

Your husband drinking from you as well as stretching every hole sent you over the edge once more – your body shaking and writhing under his touch.

"Loki, oh my God!" you screamed – trying to get away from his touch. "Oh my God, oh my God."

Loki chuckled as he placed small kisses on your highly sensitive clit. "Oh, my kitten...you didn't think I'd let you get away with faking an orgasm with me, did you?" You closed your eyes and titled your head back – smiling as his hand wrapped around your throat. "You," he groaned – sliding his cock into your cunt, "are...going to...beg me...to stop."

He spoke his words as he thrust in and out – his grip on your neck tightening and loosening as he went. It didn't take him long to work you over once more – letting you feel lightheaded as you covered his shaft with your cream – your pussy turning red, sensitive, and swollen.

"Don't...stop," you breathed out. Loki chuckled and rammed himself inside you even harder – listening to your screams of pleasure as your walls clenched around him once more. Tears started to fill your eyes – escaping from the corners of your closed lids. You could hear Loki chuckling at your reaction. "Loki," you moaned out – feeling your pussy becoming even more sensitive as another orgasm washed over your body. "Please," you asked quietly through clenched teeth.

Loki leaned down – keeping himself buried deep inside as he planted kisses on your breast. "Please, what?"

"I...I can't," you breathed out. "Please."

Loki hummed in satisfaction – sitting back up and pulling you closer to him. "Are you sorry, little one?"

You nodded against his chest. "Ye-yes," you managed to say – your body shaking in his arms. "Please...please jus-,"

Loki lay you back down and rammed himself a couple more times – planting kisses on your body as your tears conveyed your limit had been reached. Your husband's thrusts got sloppier, and you came undone around him one more time – your scream being muffled by his lips as he spilled his seed into you. Loki slowed his movements – bringing the two of you back down to earth. Your eyes, however, were not reopening – your mind and body exhausted after the hours of sex and dozens of orgasms Loki had pulled from you. You could feel him pull himself out and lie next to you on the bed – waving his hand over the two of you to get both of you and the bed cleaned up. Loki pulled you into his arms – wrapping his body around yours as you rested your head on his bicep, and your back was pressed against his chest.

"I love you," Loki whispered into your ear and rubbing your back – knowing that you were falling into sleep quickly – exhausted from the mind-blowing sex he had given you. "And I'm sorry for not listening...I swear to always listen to you."

[thechekhov]

sigh, chekhov, I've been working on a Steven Universe au for like a year but I feel like it gets a fraction of the fan interaction that comics do. I sort of feel like giving up. any thoughts on growing an audience?

Well... hm. 

Here’s my thoughts. 

Five years ago, in March 2015, I sat down to watch Steven Universe for the first time and subsequently ended up drawing my first fanart of the Crystal Gems.

Five years later, it has 126 notes (most of which are actually more recent, from people digging into my blog.)

Since then, I have a total of 240 posts tagged #chekhovs draws su

of those posts, over 20 of them are long-form comics, being 10 pages or more. 

On top of that, I published a comic that is 100+ pages, Pearls Before SW1N3, 3 years ago, which are posted elsewhere and therefore not included in this 240-post count.

On top of that, I have since started my WD!Steven AU on a separate blog not included here, which has been going for 2 years now and has well over 170 episodes.

ON TOP OF THAT:

I started my foray into Steven Universe fanart when the show was at its PEAK fandom. It was right after Jailbreak aired. People would reblog ANYTHING Steven Universe. There were thousands of loyal fans and it was NOT difficult for any fanart or fancomic to gain traction. 

...

So. You are worried that your SU AU isn’t getting as much traction as your comics (I presume you mean other comics you’ve drawn?) 

I say: Yeah, that makes... sense. 

(My comics from 5 years ago used to get 20k notes consistently! My current WD!Steven comics which are way better quality are now hard-pressed to get more than 2k. I’ve got 10% of my previous engagement. And I’ve been doing this five times longer than you!)

I understand a year is a long time, but you have to think about other timescales. 

For a show that just ENDED? For a fandom that’s been on a slow decline way past its tallest engagement peak? 

Getting any engagement at all for having ONLY started a year ago is already incredible work!! Give yourself more credit!

DON’T blame yourself for something that is the consequence of what is... essentially... fandom weather! You cannot fight a storm. You cannot fight a drought. What is important is if you’re enjoying creating your story. If you think it’s worth it, you should keep going. 

(And if you feel like giving up... well... that’s okay too!)

Here’s a post I’ve written up in the past about getting noticed on dumblr.

If you want to try other ways of growing an audience, I greatly encourage you to read through this post as well (click!)

[honeypwark]

[ You're Important ]

  ↳ N.O era

     ↳ Yeosu goes to get coffee with Namjoon.  She has a run-in with some "fans."  Yeosu talks about Namjoon’s importance to the group.

m.list

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Namjoon waits at the counter for his name to be called, taking the two cups the barista hands to him with a smile and a thank you.  He takes a sip of the coffee in his right hand, walking through the tables of the cafe until he reaches a booth by the window. Yeosu sits in one side, chin in her palm as she looks out the window at the people passing by.

“Noona,” Namjoon calls to get her attention.

“Oh, thanks,” she says, taking the iced tea he holds out to her.

Namjoon sits down across from Yeosu and her gaze goes back out the window.  They both sip from their respective drinks.  Yeosu sighs and leans her elbows forward onto the table, holding her iced tea in both hands.

"I know why you asked me here, Joon," she says.

"I just want to make sure you're doing okay," Namjoon says gently.

She smiles at him softly, "I'm fine."

Recently, BTS has gained a little traction.  They've gained more fans and attention, though nothing exponential.  However, they're mostly getting attention for the wrong reason.

People have quite strong opinions on Yeosu that go one of two ways.  One: they believe she has a lot of idol potential but shouldn't be in a boy group, especially one with such hip-hop/badass concepts.  But most people fall into the second category: people who are fans of BTS but seemingly hate everything about Yeosu.  They believe she's untalented and a try-hard.  They judge her for minuscule things and constantly voice their distaste of her.

The second type of people made themselves known a few days ago while BTS was leaving Music Bank.  While trying to maneuver through a crowd of fans to reach the van that would drive Yeosu and the boys home, a girl grabbed Yeosu's wrist and dug her fingers into the soft skin of the inside of her arm.  She'd called her an untalented slut among other colorful insults.  She told her she should leave BTS.  And apparently she'd brought a friend with her because just after she'd called for Sejin, her manager, something cold and thick was poured over her head.  A smoothie.

The crowd went into an uproar but the girls were gone in an instant, replaced by Sejin's firm hand guiding her to the van where the boys were waiting.  The boys were furious, obviously.  Sejin locked the doors just in time to stop Yoongi from jumping out of the van to chase after whoever had done it, who cares if he doesn't know what they look like?  Yeosu showered when they arrived back at the dorm and spent the evening in bed.  Taehyung and Hoseok tried to cook dinner and she was appreciative but not talkative.  The next morning she was up before everyone else as usual and making breakfast as if the day before had never happened.

Still, Namjoon asked her to go to a little cafe he'd read about online with the pretense that she would like it and he needed someone to drive him.  So they sit across from one another now, in a booth up against the window that looks onto the street outside.

"I know that people have been pretty vocal about their opinions of you recently," Namjoon says, "There's been a lot of negative comments.  And then what happened after Music Bank on Saturday..."

Yeosu takes a drink of her tea and sighs again, "If I'm being totally honest, there's some truth to their words.  I get where they're coming from but it's whatever, honestly.

"No, not whatever," Namjoon insists.  "They don't work for the company.  They're not a part of our group.  They don't get a say in whether or not you should be a part of BTS.  Not to mention that they're completely wrong."

"I know that.  I just understand their reasoning."

"Yeosu-“

"I have to use the bathroom.  Be back in a jiff."

Yeosu escapes to the restroom, using those few minutes alone to collect her thoughts and think of how to explain to Namjoon her thoughts on the hate she's been receiving.  She exits the bathroom and starts back toward the booth.

"Hi, are you YB?"

Two boys in school uniforms approach her cautiously.  Yeosu immediately turns her expression pleasant and smiles at them.

"I am.  Are you two fans?"

"Yes," the taller one says.

"Very big fans," the shorter adds.

"Well, it's lovely to meet you," Yeosu says.  She gestures to Namjoon sitting by the window, "If you like BTS, Rap Monster is right there, too."

The boys look back at Namjoon when she motions toward him and they seem almost disappointed to see him.

"Oh."

"What?  Were you hoping to catch me alone?" Yeosu jokes, not entirely sure what to say to their reaction.

"Maybe just with anyone but him," the taller one mutters.

"Excuse me?" Yeosu says.

The shorter boy elbows the taller.

"What is that supposed to mean," she looks at the taller boy's name tag, "Jo Sangin?"

"H-He just meant that- um..."  The shorter boy searches for the right words, "We're part of ARMY that feels that Rap Monster is... a visual hole."

"He's not very handsome and that becomes more obvious being next to someone as pretty as you," the taller boy says as if that's supposed to some sort of compliment.

"We just feel that BTS would be better off without him," the shorter boy finishes.

"Hm."  She looks at the two boys for a few moments then takes a slow breath, "And ARMY would be better off without you two."

Without another word, Yeosu leaves the two boys standing there.  She walks back over to Namjoon, who'd seen her be approached but not heard anything.

"We're leaving," she says, grabbing her purse, rain jacket, and drink.

She doesn't leave any room for objection, immediately marching towards the door.  Namjoon quickly grabs his own rain jacket and drink before rushing to catch up to her, casting a glance over his shoulder at the two schoolboys as he leaves the cafe.  He looks either direction, spotting Yeosu walking dutifully away from the cafe to his left.  He runs to catch up with her, weaving between pedestrians as carefully as he can.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

"It's ridiculous!  Honestly!  Literally don't even get me started on Korean beauty standards. You're seriously so handsome and just because you're not cookie cutter beautiful doesn't mean you're unattractive.  And how can someone who calls himself our fan not realize how important you are to the group?  You're our leader and main rapper.  You're insanely talented and we'd be left out to dry without you.  People outside of the group could never even begin to understand everything you do for us and how important you are.  I just can't understand-"

"You do realize how everything you're saying relates directly back to you, right?"

Yeosu stops mid-rant as Namjoon speaks up.  They'd found their way to a park, donning their rain jackets as it began to drizzle drearily and eventually sitting down together on a bench.  Yeosu just sat in silent anger for a minute, drinking her tea unhappily until Namjoon dared to ask what happened.  She'd told him what the two boys had said about him and then went on to rant about how stupid it all was.  She'd started pacing along the sidewalk in front of the bench.  Luckily the park is empty due to the dismal weather, so no one is here to witness Yeosu's irritation. During her rant, she's unknowingly voiced Namjoon's thoughts about her.

"You're not allowed to turn my words around on me."

"Watch me."

Namjoon sets his coffee cup down and gestures for her to sit on the bench beside him.  She does with a small huff.

"You're important to the group," he says.  "Even if you weren't the most amazing dancer I've ever seen or you didn't have an amazing voice, you're still a fundamental part of BTS.  You take care of all of us and you have to know how much we appreciate you and everything you do.  You are important to the group and there is no basis for people to think otherwise, so don't even consider it."

Yeosu is quiet for a moment.  Then she wraps her arms around Namjoon's shoulders.  He wraps his arms around her middle, the material of their rain jackets crinkling as they hold one another in a hug.

"You know I don't agree with them," Yeosu says.  "I know how lost you boys would be without me."

"We'd eat nothing but ramen and takeout, probably."

"Jin can cook."

"Not like you can."

"It's a hobby."

Namjoon laughs then rests his head in Yeosu's shoulder.

"You know how important you are, too, right?" Yeosu says.  "You may not be mother hen, but we need you.  And you are handsome, even though that's not what's important.  What is important is that you are talented and dedicated and such a good person.  Anyone who says otherwise can deal with me."

"I would never wish a protective Yeosu on anyone."

"You're one of my boys, of course I'm going to be protective."

When Yeosu pulls back, Namjoon ducks his head and wipes at his eyes.

He gestures upwards flippantly, "It's the rain."

"Uh-huh."  She fixes his hair for him, "Sure it is."

[mystxmomo]

Have any of these people existed on a site besides Cherp before? They act like half the internet isn't anonymous, let alone websites like Omegle and f-list that have existed before it. I'm just confused as to where they got the idea that this is for their safety

Hm.

Okay so to give you some history of the site and why the rule was instated in the first place. Now, granted, a few of the details might be muddied and messy. But here's the general gist of it;

There was a few instances near the beginning of Cherps history where the site had to go offline so that the feds and team could scope through the code, after it was revealed that a minor was roleplaying nsfw content with an adult and they'd moved off site. After this happened a few times, they banned minors from the site altogether (this, in my opinion, was a good call, especially after getting multiple modding experiences under my belt keeping minors in your spaces is just asking for more trouble then it's worth) and said that people couldn't contact one another off site because so long as you're on the site, the bracket 18+ anonymous rule protects you from any liability that comes if a minor (inevitably) does slip in through the cracks.

While omegle and flist are good comparisons, I think a better comparison is probably sites like roled (who, rest in peace, is having trouble gaining traction. It's a good site, similiar concepts to cherp, with more lax rules regarding outside connections. I know the owner/team poke their nose in the tag, so maybe they have something more concrete to offer regarding laws surrounding 18+ websites and similiar situations) and mxrp. Neither of home, to my knowledge(?) Have rules regarding offsite connections. Now granted, this might have changed for mxrp, given that it's been through more drama in its lifetime then I have time to document and also are pretty tight knit with the cherp staff these days but digressions.

Though flist is also a good comparison, given that it's an 18+ roleplay site that started as a hobiest website that allows outside connections.

I've made this comparison before, but the only mainstream site I can think of with this sort of rule is habbo hotel, and that was a sort of. Like there's a lot to say about habbo hotel, but a bit part of that has to do with the fact that when you make your main social group on a site where you can't go offsite to talk, you're pressured into doing things that will make you more popular in that sites social sphere. Ie, inevitably spending money on the site to get better stuff, and look cooler.

I. Do not think that is what's happening here. I genuinely think that it's something that the mods just do not want to deal with, despite the way it evidentially inconveniences them (with the verification system) to find an alternative.

But you have to remember. A lot of the people on cherp are left over from those on cherubplay, as I mentioned earlier. And if we look at the state of the Homestuck fandom now, a lot of people that are still in it and attracted to it are so tail whipped by what pumpkin that it's laughable. So if mods are telling them that this is the only way to protect them, then so be it, and anyone that questions that is ungrateful to the time and energy the mod team has put into maintaining this site (because, you know. You can't both criticize someone and appreciate the work they put into things).

I think another good comparison is the nuzlocke forums. Which, unlike the other aforementioned sites is not 18+ but does host mature (not sexual) content under a 13+ rating. I've talked a little about my experiences being on staff team there, and I'm still wary to do so. But for all the shit I give it, I know for a fact the people keeping it up are all hobiest that deal with a shit load of stress and a thankless userbase. Like. Most roleplay and forum sites are hobiest sites, held up by the backbone of people that are passionate about what they do. None of them prevent offsite interaction because it's a Ludacris rule to uphold in the age of modern technology.

It's a little silly, in any other circumstance. I think.

Edit; I lied. The other times I can remember rules like this popping up are old school fanfiction archives that would lock their porn behind verification. But then people that thought that too much trouble went off and created their own websites. Because you could just do that back then. And many of them stayed up for long periods of time, until websites like ao3 and fanfiction dominated the market. But that's entirely a tangent for a different day.

[beerecordings]

How did you get people to start interacting with mbc?

hm well first of all I started it right over here

Stories like What We Have Left and The Missing Piece were posted here, where I have a pretty good writing reputation, and I was lucky enough that a lot of people read them. So I had the chance to show people that I had an idea that was not only engaging and complex, but that was very unique to me, because I write Anti’s “puppeting” in a way that was pretty new and different, at least at the time, at least in formal fics. and let’s be honest they were just good stories

so 1. have a very unique idea and earn some traction for it before the actual ask blog, especially with some fics if you can! or that’s what worked for me anyway. people need to know you can write well and have interesting ideas!

after that i needed to check if there would actually be enough interest to sustain an ask blog or at least get it off the ground. i ran an ask event right here on my blog, again garnering interest, and got a wonderfully overwhelming amount of asks lol. so 2. find people who are actually interested in your idea and use your main to show off what the ask blog would actually look like. not going to lie being a slightly more popular blog helps a lot but if you don’t have that, try to write fics before you start the ask blog and seek out traction for them!!

honestly I didn’t have to promo too much after that.

I have never put MBC in the tags once. not even when i was first promoting it. not even when i started making writing long and complex and engaging responses. i think maybe i tagged a single post with ‘writers of jack’ like a week after i posted it but TAGS ARE NOT THE KEY TO RUNNING AN ASK BLOG DO NOT TRUST THEM TO SUSTAIN IT OKAY MY DUDES PLZZZZ. i see people tagging every single ask blog post they make in the jse tag, the writers tag, every single character’s tag, and on and on, and dude i totally get the temptation and i know you really want people to interact!! but i will tell you right now that is not what does it! you have to have like a really engaging story and actually have a platform that garners interest first! obviously there’s nothing wrong with tagging your ask blog asks but i just hope you don’t rely on that as your only source of attention okay!! it will not be enough!! i do not mean to be harsh but that is facts you gotta have somewhere else to be like promoting it. i am lucky enough to have a moderately popular main with people who trust me to write well so i was able to get a lot of initial interest because of my formal fics regarding the subject and then the ask blog event which showed people what it would be like.

and then after that you 3. have a plot in mind and real opportunities for plot events and character development. this is keyyyy please don’t expect people to come up with a plot for you okay! and preferably not just one plot…. many plots, subplots, many events, many characters ahhhh as complex as you can get it! GIVE THE READERS SOMETHING TO WANT DUDE THEY ARE SO COOL THEY WILL FIGHT FOR IT AHHH YOU WOULD NOT BELIEVE i love my readers so freaking much they really want to see the boys get free….. give them chances to keep working towards the goal they share with the characters!!

but what do i know lol!! I am very lucky that people stick around for MBC but let’s be aware this isn’t like a huge fandom, i get like nine notes a post, fifteen on a good day, and i would guess there are about fifteen to twenty people helping me keep it up and going!! thank you to those people i love you so much!!!!!

and it’s also just a really delicate science and it takes some luck and a lot of creativity and complexity and effort, okay? if it’s not taking off as fast as you had hoped or something please don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s really not that easy

disclaimer i am not liable if this doesn’t work for you lol but that’s what i recommend and seriously i have seen some good ask blogs struggle so be very gentle with yourself

U GOT THIS N I BELIEVE IN U and i’m very passionate about mbc lol thanks for sticking with me over there guys

[salmonidparty]

All was quiet in the patient ward as night crept through the tiny window perched high on the far wall. A strange Octoling sat huddled on his bed, tentacle arms wrapped around his knees. He couldn’t help but find the normal silence disconcerting as he tried to wait patiently for a knock on the door. He watched it with extreme care, straining his short ears for some sort of cue that someone was passing by... Now and again he’d hear the heavy footsteps of a guard, getting his hopes up.

He thought back over the events of the day. It felt like a complete whirlwind, rife with startling news and plans for escape. Though he had lived his entire life in this laboratory he could hardly call it a “home,” as he was nothing more than a test subject, and a failed one at that. He had outlived his usefulness, but rather than releasing him to Octo Valley or something of the like, there was something vile stirring under the surface. 

Malintent was conspiring within the head scientist’s mind. The tests to augment DNA and advance creatures to their next stage of development wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more, she wanted to create fascinating and powerful creatures that had never been seen. And to do that, she needed all of her eggs in a basket. Security was locked down, guards now stalked the halls, and cameras were being installed everywhere, not just in testing chambers. Test subjects had gone missing, replaced with... Something new.

One scientist, a frilled jellyfish who went by the name Jellsica, knew she couldn’t stop it, but hoped she could save a few poor, unfortunate souls before they fell to the same fate. She had conspired an escape plan with a few subjects while the head scientist was out, and now the strange Octoling was waiting for his cue...

There was a gentle knock at the door, which jolted him upright. A beat later and he could hear the door unlock. Immediately to his feet he nearly flew to the door, met with a pair of weary eyes through the cracked opening. 

“Qu-quickly, now!” came the jellyfish’s voice. She spoke in a low whisper, beckoning for him to slip out the door with one arm.

He squeezed through the door, but his heart skipped a beat when he saw a few of the guards standing around a number of Salmonlings, Octarians, crustaceans and jellyfish. He started back for his room, but was quickly stopped when the door shut on his back. A gentle arm touched his.

“Don’t worry,” Jellsica whispered, “They’re patients dressed as guards. This is the easiest way to get everyone out without drawing too much attention.” she guided him to a spot between a guard and a towering Salmonling, who had a sleepy look in her eyes, “You’ll be taken into the courtyard for some enrichment.” the jellyfish winked.

The lineup started moving. As they walked the Salmonling behind him leaned over and started whispering, “Hey, y’ ready t’ get outta here?” despite her large size, she had a surprisingly calm voice.

The Octoling was too nervous to vocalize, fearing that his broken voice would be too loud. But he glanced over his shoulder and smiled with an eager nod. Now he realized that he couldn’t see the edges of this Salmonling’s mouth--it was so large, and her dusty blonde locks covered her cheeks like curtains. Even still, he could see her forming a smile.

“I admit,” she continued in a low voice, “I’m a bit nervous. Dunno who y’ can trust out there now... But it oughta beat bein’ in here. Gonna see if I can’t find my ol’ homestead ‘n make it there.”

With a furrowed brow the Octoling looked to the white halls ahead. So she wasn’t here her whole life... That must have been awful, being ripped away from friends and family. But he couldn’t fully imagine it; he didn’t have anywhere to go himself, no one to return to. He wondered... Could he tag along with her? When they stopped at the courtyard door, he quickly turned to her and pointed at his own chest, then to her’s with a hopeful look in his eye.

“Hm?” she blinked slowly, “Oh, y’all wanna come with me?” she smiled sincerely, “Sho’, I don’t see why not.”

The courtyard door was opened, and the patients spilled into the fenced enclosure. The night air was cool, and the larger ones took to stretching in the open. The disguised patients started stripping off the guard armor. They started to mill about in mild confusion, looking this way and that as they tried to figure out what exactly was going to happen next. A few started to mutter bitterly to each other, thinking that Jellsica had lead them into a trap of some kind... 

As if summoned the jellyfish quickly darted to the head of the group, her legs working overtime. Stopping at the wall where a dark brown tarp rested, she checked a small device with a glowing screen before tossing the tarp aside.

“Hurry, now!” she called. Her face screamed a level of anxiety, “Through this hole!” indeed, there was a wide hole that bore under the thick cinder block wall, “My cousin will meet you on the other side and lead you to his boat. Board it, and you’ll make it out.”

The patients complied, filing one after another to slip through the hole--the larger individuals had to squeeze through, but much to Jellsica’s relief nobody got stuck. Once everyone was through, she started filling the hole. It was safer to have to re-dig it, instead of leaving an obvious hole where the head Scientist could find it...

“Oh?” the tall Salmonling glanced back at the wall, “S’ppose Jellsica ain’t comin’. I even helped her dig that hole...”

Another frilled Jellyfish wearing a sailor’s uniform emerged from behind a rock, “She isn’t! She thought it’d be safer for her to stay behind and cover it up. She’d like to bring more patients out, you know!” he stretched an arm high into the air and waved a little pennant flag about to get everyone’s attention, “This way, now! We don’t have much time!”

He lead them some distance away, through trees and tall unkempt grass to the open water. Even as thunder rumbled in the distance the patients couldn’t help but bask in the fresh air, reaching out to touch the bark of the trees and tug on the grasses. It was difficult to hold their excitement at the prospect of freedom.

A large, sleek black boat rested at the shore--that must have been their ticket out of here. The Jellyfish used his arms to pull himself on board, lowering a rope ladder for the others to follow.

“Climb aboard! If you see someone that can’t get on, help them up!” he called down. Looking to the horizon, he sighed, “Blast... I had hoped that storm would hold of... Ink-based individuals best stay below deck if we can’t avoid that storm!” he silently wished they could wait, but there was little he could do... He had to get these patients to safety, and soon. Once the head scientist returned, a search would start, surely.

Once everyone had boarded the boat shoved off. The strange Octoling found himself sticking close to the tall Salmonling. She didn’t seem to mind very much, even when he wrapped a tentacle around her webbed hand. The boat was hardly quiet, as the others were discussing what they’d do once they got to safety. But there was little talking between the Ocotling and Salmonling. They seemed to just enjoy the company of another person.

The rumble of thunder grew in volume, and a light rain started to fall over the passengers. 

“Brace yourselves,” the Jellyfish called, “We should be able to avoid the worst of it, but please be careful and head below deck!”

Upon the call, a number of Octarians went below deck. The strange Octoling stuck beside his new friend’s side, however. He didn’t really know much better. He huddled closer to her when the winds started to pick up, and yelped when rain started hitting his face. It didn’t hurt, but it sure felt weird!

“Maybe y’ should head downstairs,” the Salmonling spoke up, “Y’all ain’t so good at dealin’ with water, y’know.” she looked down to him with a smile, giving him a gentle nudge towards the stairs. When the Octoling shook his head briskly, she gave a simple shrug, “Alrighty then, just stay next t’ me. I’ll protect y’ from th’ rain.”

He found security huddled beside her, even as the roar of thunder grew louder and louder with each flash. The wind whipped around them, and the boat started to rock at a far more violent rate. The sea was always changing, and never forgiving--even to those familiar with it. The storm had arrived quicker than anticipated. Concern growing, the Salmonling started to push the Octoling away.

“Y’ should really head below. I’ll go too, alrigh’?” she suggested. The rain became a downpour, and water was starting to puddle on the deck. The wind was now pushing the smaller passengers about, their feet slipping on the slick metal floor.

“The storm came to us!” the jellyfish’s voice came through a speaker, “Get below deck, now! I’ll try to steer us out of this safely!”

The boat lurched as a massive wave passed by and there was a cry for help. Suddenly the Octoling was all on his own, exposed completely to the elements. Ink started to drip from his tentacles, but he ignored that as he searched for his friend--she was leaning over the side of the boat, as if holding onto something or someone that had fallen over the edge. He called out to her, bit his broken voice could barely be heard over the rain and roaring sea. 

“She’s helping someone who fell!” a voice suddenly called. A claw carefully hooked one of his arms, “Come on, you’ll melt at this rate!” before he knew it he was surrounded by dozens of bodies trying to seek shelter below.

“Hold tight, I gotcha!!” he could hear his friend’s voice call.

As he was pushed below deck, he watched in horror as his friend tried to pull the other person back on board. Half her body was over the edge now, her tail sticking in the air as her webbed feet had a difficult time finding traction on the soaked deck. He pushed against the others, wanting to help her, but he was too small to make it through. The boat lurched again, and he felt the weight of a number of bodies press against him. There was a shout from above, barely heard above the drumming of the rain...

When he finally could see the deck again, his friend was gone. 

-----

The strange Octoling felt so alone. He rubbed at his face, feeling pressure behind his eyes. Even as other passengers tried to console him, nothing seemed to register--he had gotten so attached to that nice fish, and now she was gone before she could even get home! What if something were to happen to a new friend he made here? 

He kept to himself for the rest of the voyage. When the boat seemed to stop move, the Jellyfish came below deck to tell everyone that they had made it to land. He folded his arms together in a regretful way, bowing his head low as he apologized deeply for pushing them through the storm, and that two passengers had fallen overboard.

The words of the jellyfish gave him little ease on the mind. He had hoped that maybe, somehow, his friend and the person she had tried to save were okay. That the captain had found them and pulled them back on board... But no such luck. He stood in the same spot, staring blankly at the floor. Where was he to go now...? Could he go out and find her himself? He didn’t know how to sail a boat, and his time in the rain showed him that he was hardly fit to deal with the opn water.

There was a gentle push at his side. The jellyfish captain glanced up to him with a worried look in his eye, “I’m sorry, little one.” the Octoling rose an eyebrow--he was taller than the jellyfish was... “It’s going to be ok, I promise. Salmonids are strong, the two could be fine.” the Octoling didn’t respond, “Maybe the other Octarians can help you out for now. There are plenty, and I’m sure you’ll fit in fine, there!”

The strange Octoling blinked silently, but eventually made his way for the stairs. He shielded his eyes from the bright sun, blinking furiously. So bright, after such a dark storm...! If the storm could clear up, maybe there was hope that the tall Salmonling was still out there... He wondered, should he stay with the Salmonlings, or go with the Octarians? 

His question was quickly answered when an Octoling that had been put through similar tests came over. They smiled at him brightly, welcoming him along. He’d stay with them for a time, yes… But then he would go looking for his Salmonid friend when he was older and stronger.  

[britneyshakespeare]

tagged by the lovely Tay @bohemian-brian :-) thank ya girly

1) Do you have any party tricks?

I can transform into a bat.

2) what’s your type?

I’m aromantic.

Ghost, or vampire. I’m pretty flexible between those two.

3) what do you like about your personality?

I never say a single thing I don’t mean!

No, I don’t know. I guess my strength of composure, my constitution. I been thru a lotta bs in my days.

4) what do you like about yourself physically?

I try not to fall prey to that kind of vanity; it fucks me up (don’t worry though, I’ve plenty other sources to humor my many other vanities). Other people like my hair, though, if that’s satiable for an answer.

5) what do you do when you're sad?

Depends what I’m sad about. I mostly just internalize that kind of stuff and try to move on with it.

6) what do you do when you're angry?

I don’t get angry, my dear; I get mad.

7) what flowers do you associate with your childhood?

Little baby wildflowers. I don’t know what any of them are called but there are a few different kinds that grow in my yard. Some are white, some are yellow, some purple. When I was a kid I used to pick those in clumps and bring them inside for my mother and call them a bouquet. Look, mommy, weeds!

8) what quirks do you have?

I’m mentally ill!

In all seriousness, I don’t know. I guess I am sort of a strange, eccentric mother fucker in general. Odd taste in everything. Desultory, anachronistic. I murmur to myself and never suspect anyone of being able to see me. And I overuse exclamation points!

9) fave fairytale?

I don’t know if A Midsummer Night’s Dream or the Tempest would count, but if they do, then, those. 

10) aside from porn bots, do you block people on tumblr & why?

Uhhh. I don’t tend to block every person I see who I vehemently disagree with (like terfs for example) because that’d just be exhausting, to search everyone’s blogs to see if they’ve got one insidious opinion tucked in there somewhere. My strategy is to block popular blogs I see with a lot of traction and notes who make gross and vicious posts (especially discourse blogs) so they can’t interact with my shit; I’ve had those kinds of blogs reblog my original posts before, and they blow up, and for days my notes are filled with people of various toxic microcommunities that I don’t want to be associated with. Sometimes someone’ll send me an innocent little meme or something and it won’t go through because I have OP blocked for whatever reason.

And then, like, for obvious reasons. I’ll block someone if they’re being rude or a creep directly to me, in my messages or on my posts.

11) do you enjoy spending time alone?

It’s my life babe.

12) ringtone?

God, I never take my phone off of silent. 

13) if you could be anywhere rn where would you be?

I don’t know! Where should I be?

14) fave drink?

Water really is that good shit.

15) do you collect anything?

Years on my lifespan & poems in my notebooks. Old diaries from childhood and my early teen years. I also have a shitton of comics and graphic novels from over the years. And regular books, of course, but I don’t have any organization, as I don’t have a bookshelf of any sorts and I just keep my comics in an old drawer. All of my books are either scattered throughout my bed, in my backpack, in other piles throughout my room (on my nightstand, on the floor). I think I’ve still got some in a suitcase I unpacked when I came back from Florida in March, but I just keep books in there too. Books, man. I’ve got too many books and my dumb ass still be out here wanting more.

Hm. I’ll tag @nospoonsgiven @doitforparamore @sneez @shecomesincolors @pavlovers @aliceic @jewishusnavi @david-watts @derricklogan2 @laurenthelyricist and @thatstupidgirlshow if y’guys are interested.

[talkingsquash]

New wave of materials in Squash Racket

Squash is one of the most exciting sports you can play, right? Like how you get a great workout, have awesome networking possibilities and most importantly- FUN! When it comes to the rackets we use, it seems like squash racket manufacturers are always talking up their "latest and greatest" technologies that they are selling. And that's just what it is; what they are selling.. But perhaps the technology can help you keep playing squash? Here are some of the best real life advancements in racket technology that we have experienced as squash enthusiasts and racket testers in store. First we present 4 rackets with different takes on the new technology, then give some basic explanations of the actual materials that are used and how they perform. I will present the rackets in separate posts following this one.

The new materials

All of the featured rackets here have the modern materials that are making the game more enjoyable. Those players who previously were plagued by tennis elbow or other arm issues can now extend their playing capabilities thanks to these advancements. Pro players and squash keeners can now practice and play for longer without risking long rehab breaks. Prince uses a flattened carbon that gives increased strength with less materials used, so that way the rackets are balanced well with a moderate reduction in vibration. The other rackets are using a blend of new materials that takes away the vibration while keeping the stiffness high at the same time. If you imagine a diving board that propels a person upwards, as the person dives off, the diving board can move up and down for a while after. What the new material is doing is to essentially take away that movement that occurs after the diver leaves the board, or in the case of squash, the material stops the vibration in the racket after the ball has left the strings. Because we believe so much in these frames, we have made an even more arm-friendly setup option on them, that comes at a huge discount. For $25 CAD extra, you can get a soft multifilament string from Tecnifibre and the X-Glu cushion grip from Xamsa.Rackets are strung at 26lbs by default or modified to your desired tension, using a razor accurate Wilson Baiardo stringing machine.

The racket brands

HEAD - has consistently made better squash rackets for the last 3-4 years. Earlier HEAD made rackets broke too often, felt too stiff, and were coupled with a high price tag. Over the last few years they have made huge strides towards playability, durability and kept prices in line with other top end rackets. They are still very stiff, but in the top models HEAD has used Graphene Touch to reduce the vibration and arm fatigue that often comes with the stiff rackets. Prices have come down and durability is among the best in the industry now. Xamsa - a local Canadian brand that has steadily produced top quality frames. Their frames have also gotten incrementally better, utilizing available technology and know how. Paired with a low cost distribution chain and low overhead costs, they have made high-end rackets available at intermediate prices. All the frames have been retailing for $79 US/ $99 CAD. Lately Xamsa have been utilizing different hardening materials for durability and blended Carbon Fiber with anti vibration material. The newer frames are also made with the latest advancements in HM Japanese carbon fiber, paired with the traditional all black or snakeskin cosmetic. The advantage here is that you are not paying for someone’s marketing budget. You are however getting rackets that are at the top of the quality scale and play as good as or better than the majority of other rackets available. Wilson - has had its followers mainly because of how they dominate the tennis world. For most squash players this does not mean much to their buying decisions, so the frames were not selling on tennis merits alone. Often you would find Wilson rackets on clearance as they could not make any volume sales on regular pricing. The rackets were not terrible, but tended to lean towards the unpopular head heavy setup with uninspiring graphics. Paired with minimal marketing effort on Squash, it is easy to see how the frames were not performing nor selling well. The new frames though, featuring the Countervail material are absolutely awesome! Not only because of the materials, but Wilson have really made huge strides in making well balanced and playable frames that looks really good! The cosmetics that has been carried through from their current tennis line is absolutely stunning. Even the rackets that does not contain Countervail are well balanced and great performing racket, i.e. the Blade Ultralight is a very good racket made with traditional materials. Prince - Prince has had a challenge regaining traction in the market that they had in days past. In order to climb back up on the podium of racket brands, Prince developed some really nice squash and tennis frames featuring the revolutionary material teXtreme. Prince was the first company to use this new anti vibration material in their high-end frames for squash and tennis. At first this caused some problems as the flagship model had breakage problems that the new material was supposed to prevent. Currently it seems they have figured out the bonding of the new and old material, and durability is no longer a big issue.

[minnievirizarry]

5 Powerful Insights an Instagram Tracker Should Reveal to Your Brand

While Instagram might have felt like uncharted territory in the past, the platform represents major possibilities for marketers today.

The numbers don’t lie. According to recent Instagram statistics, brands are hopping on board en masse as the platform approaches 1 billion users.

Meanwhile, approximately 80% of Instagram users regularly follow and engage with their favorite brands who are seeing more revenue than ever as a result.

However, a major struggle for brands on Instagram has been a lack of in-depth analytics and tracking tools versus the likes of Facebook or Twitter. Growing and scaling is nearly impossible on any social platform without understanding your presence by the numbers, right?

Thankfully, times have changed.

Having an Instagram tracker on deck (such as Sprout’s very own) can clue your brand in on some major insights that could potentially transform your social presence. Whether you’re looking for more followers, engagement or revenue, the importance of investing in analytics for Instagram can’t be understated.

But what exactly can you learn from an Instagram tracker? What burning questions should your analytics answer?

We’re so glad you asked. Here are five insights you can gain from an Instagram tracker:

1. Which Hashtags Should I Focus On?

Brands that understand how to use hashtags receive more love from their followers, plain and simple. That said, there’s a lot of room for error and improvement when leveraging hashtags for any given brand.

Think about it. Your hashtags are ultimately what make your posts searchable and crucial for drawing in new followers. Check out how Canva uses hashtags akin to keywords without coming off as spammy or salesy:

It's the weekend! Don't forget to treat yourself! 🍦Inspo and Photo by @blarejune.♥️

A post shared by Canva (@canva) on Aug 26, 2017 at 1:38pm PDT

Furthermore, branded hashtags are essential for keeping track of your marketing campaigns. Considering that 7 out of 10 hashtags are branded, creating your own hashtag is also an expectation of modern marketers.

Here’s how Photoshop uses their #PS_Summertime tag to help curate user-generated content for their feed:

Get lost in the curl with this #Ps_Summertime piece by @molham.haidar.

A post shared by Adobe Photoshop (@photoshop) on Aug 31, 2017 at 9:50am PDT

It also pays to uncover new hashtags relevant to your audience and brand beyond your own. Community hashtags such as #motivationmonday and #workoutwednesday can help expose your brand to fresh faces who otherwise might not interact with you. Here’s a prime example from the official English Premier League Instagram using the #throwbackthursday tag:

Since netting against Liverpool in 2012, @10aguerosergiokun has scored in all five #pl matches he's played against the Reds at Etihad Stadium . #tbt #throwbackthursday #premierleague #aguero #mcfc @mancity

A post shared by Premier League (@premierleague) on Sep 7, 2017 at 5:44am PDT

Plenty of variety, right?

Whether you’re trying to figure out which hashtags to use or how often to use them, an Instagram tracker eliminates the guesswork. For example, Sprout can inform users at a glance which hashtags are receiving the most love from your audience.

From determining which types of tags resonate most with your followers to avoiding using the same tags again and again, an Instagram tracker keeps you from playing guessing games. In other words, you always know which hashtags to use based on your business’ data.

2. What the Perfect Time for My Brand to Post?

Time is everything when it comes to social media. This rings true when determining what time of day to post and how many unique photos you should push per day too.

Perfect timing is a two-way street, though.

Posting infrequently means fewer opportunities to engage your followers and bring in new ones. On the flip side, posting too often could label you as a spammer. Finding that sweet spot in terms of frequency means understanding the best practices of your industry and the best times to post on Instagram, respectively.

Many major brands do well with just one carefully-crafted post per day, still receiving plenty of “Likes” and comments. For example, daily posts are commons for ecommerce brands like ThinkGeek who consistently push products and deals to their followers:

From Hoth to hearth. Star Wars Wampa Cave Snow Globe

A post shared by ThinkGeek (@thinkgeek) on Sep 6, 2017 at 1:23pm PDT

However, some brands and industries such as beauty and fashion regularly post three times or more per day. Brands like Victoria’s Secret and H&M, who are among the most popular brands on Instagram, are notorious for this:

We're halfway through the week. Here's a great outfit to wear during the weekend! #HM❤️

A post shared by H&M (@hm) on Sep 5, 2017 at 11:03pm PDT

Posting less frequently is fair game depending on your goals. Larger brands like Arby’s who are known for their humorous and creative posts obviously put a lot of work into their content. As such, their hungry followers don’t mind waiting:

Seat belts, everyone!

A post shared by Arby's (@arbys) on Sep 5, 2017 at 9:02am PDT

But what does “ideal” timing and frequency look like for you?

With the help of an Instagram tracker, you can experiment yourself and see what times your posts typically garner the most engagement. Furthermore, Sprout’s Instagram scheduling better ensures you can stick to a timing schedule without sweating about being glued to Instagram 24/7.

3. Which Types of Posts Are the Most Popular?

In terms of the types of content you can publish on Instagram, there’s often much more than meets the eye.

Literally.

While Instagram might be viewed as little more than a place to post memes or snapshots of cocktails, it’s a prime platform for promotional content. In fact, Instagram users spend the most on products purchased through the platform versus any of the other major social site.

Of course you can’t just go blasting product photos and expect traction. Brands are expected to diversify their content accordingly. With the help of an Instagram tracker, brands can hone in on the exact promotional posts that win over followers. At the same time, you can phase out non-performing post types and only focus on what’s driving your engagement upward.

For example, user-generated content is absolutely crushing it right now as regrams are among the most popular types of posts on Instagram.

Not only do such posts show off your followers, but they also provide opportunities to let your fans promote your products and brands on your behalf. oVertone’s feed is almost exclusively UGC as fans are constantly willing to submit their own photos and leave positive feedback on those same posts:

@gscarolinelbr: "Custom hair painting by Caroline (pre-lighten) and incredible pastel pink conditioner by #overtone."

A post shared by oVertone (@overtonecolor) on Sep 6, 2017 at 6:57pm PDT

Analytics are key to effective UGC campaigns as you determine who your brand evangelists are, what types of posts get people talking and what products are most popular on Instagram. The same rules apply to other types of content including text-based posts, contest posts, videos and everything between.

With the help of an Instagram tracker, you can even assess often-overlooked aspects of your posts such as captions. For example, popular Instagram pages such as that of Humans of New York boast huge numbers with long-form, storytelling captions and no hashtags. Not exactly conventional, but clearly effective for their unique brand:

“My English is not good. Spoken English is very difficult. But I want to study at Columbia so I am trying to improve. I decided to come to America because of Forrest Gump. I’ve watched the movie five times. I like Forrest very much. Forrest is very simple. He picks one thing, and he keeps going. When I was young, I thought Forrest was stupid. But now I have a different view. I think people are too complicated. They complain about everything. Forrest never complains. Forrest chooses one thing and he keeps going. I watched the movie last month to encourage me. My life is hard because people don’t ever know what I’m saying. But I just think of Forrest. Forrest figured everything out because he just kept going.”

A post shared by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on Jun 16, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

Again, the possibilities on Instagram are seemingly endless. That’s why keeping stock of your content is so important. While hashtags and frequency are easier to break down by the numbers, the type of content you post requires a strong sense of awareness.

Maybe over time you learn that your followers are in love with selfies. Perhaps you text-based motivational content gets the most “likes.” Either way, an Instagram tracker can paint a clearer picture of what’s performing and what’s not by tagging your campaigns and tracking them accordingly.

4. What Do My Followers (& Competitors) Actually Look Like?

Ask yourself: how well do you really know your Instagram followers? What about competing brands in your space?

When you’re running multiple social platforms, keeping track of your followers and competitors alike can feel like an uphill battle. With an Instagram tracker and keen attention to your Instagram analytics, the task becomes much, much easier.

Important variables to note when considering your content and tone on Instagram include:

The demographics of your followers (age, gender, geolocation)

Where your followers are coming from (your website, email list or other social sites)

How often your followers engage with your content (and what they’re saying when they do)

For starters, don’t assume that your followers on Facebook or Twitter are the same as your followers on Instagram. After all, you don’t want to simply repeat the same posts over and over across all of your social platforms, right? That’s why having content tailored exclusively for Instagram is always a plus.

Also, users on Instagram tend to skew younger and female according to demographics data, which might, therefore, influence what sorts of content you push to the platform.

And finally: what about your competition?

Although chasing your competition’s follower count shouldn’t be a total rat race, it does help to understand where your numbers stack up against each other. An Instagram tracker can help you keep an eye on competing accounts without totally obsessing over them.

Sprout’s Instagram competitors report allows you to “spy” on what the competition is doing, and identify potential opportunities for your own brand.

5. How Are People Engaging With Your Posts?

Last but not least, with engagement being one of the key pieces to Instagram’s algorithm, you need to track comments and likes. The more often people engage with your content, the more likely you’ll be to pop up in their feeds.

But don’t just stop there. Make sure you’re taking the time to reply to any comments you receive. According to one of our surveys, 15% of consumers will unfollow a brand if they fail to reply to their messages.

In order to avoid losing followers due to unresponsiveness, use Sprout to reply to Instagram comments on desktop or our mobile app.

One of the biggest advantages to using Sprout to track Instagram comments versus replying directly on Instagram is you have all of your comments in a single stream. On Instagram, incoming comments are mixed in with all your other notifications like new followers or likes. And Instagram only shows your 75 latest notifications. So if you get a lot of likes and new followers, you can easily miss new comments, especially on older posts.

With Sprout, you can filter engagement to just show all your comments.

Then you can reply directly within our app and mark messages as complete so everyone on your team knows they’ve been responded to.

Are You Using an Instagram Tracker to Fine-Tune Your Social Presence?

Even though the platform is still relatively young, your Instagram presence shouldn’t be covered in question marks.

Long gone are the days where marketers can treat Instagram as a sort of “great unknown.” Through analytics tools and monitoring metrics, we can better glean what types of content encourages new followers, when to post it and how often to push out new content.

If you aren’t using an Instagram tracker, there’s a good chance you’re flying blind in terms of your social presence. Instead, take control and fine-tune your posts based on data versus guessing. Start by signing up for a free trial of Sprout to experience how beneficial an Instagram tracking tool can be for your brand.

For those of you who’ve been sleeping on Instagram analytics, what’s been holding you back? What’s your biggest struggle when it comes to locking down your Instagram presence? Let us know in the comments below.

This post 5 Powerful Insights an Instagram Tracker Should Reveal to Your Brand originally appeared on Sprout Social.

from SM Tips By Minnie https://sproutsocial.com/insights/instagram-tracker/