#im not looking for a big following or to use my work as clout

[xamaxenta]

Also i know its not a race and theres no rush but sometimes i wish i was a little faster at finishing art

[anitosoul]

random blog #1 (post-jungle gym thoughts)

just wanna reflect rq...

wow, im buzzing right now. we just had our jungle gym event last night into the morning and it went better than i couldve imagined. the idea for the event came about during a point of time in my life last year when i was struggling to figure my shit out and leaning heavily on music to give myself a sense of direction. i got linked up with the artist hxly xo through a random reddit comment i saw - he had posted a comment on a reddit post of his music saying that he was the one who made it and i responded saying that i really like his tracks and he invited me to his ink & wash discord server. through spending time on that server, i realized how much creativity and music was happening online in digital communities like these and learned a lot about production from the folks in the server.

we had been organizing events with planetqueer and i realized there was this whole wave of artists making reinterpretations of dance music that were growing really big followings online but hadn't gotten the chance to perform because they primarily got their starts during the lockdowns. a lot of them were based in different parts of the US/world too. as someone who got into dance music from going to clubs and events in nyc pre-pandemic, i was very interested in this pocket of primarily internet-based artists making dance music on the merits of its sound alone. i was really into the way they were transmuting genres like jungle, ukg and dnb which are still not that well-known in the us. we started chatting about what it could look like to host a show with the artists and it developed naturally from there!

afterwards, it was slow but steady months of planning and coordinating. the hardest part was finding space to host the event, and nextdimensional (lisa) was such a champion and supporter and we owe her sooooo much for the event happening the way it did, even without her being there. from artist bookings to venue reach-outs to event promo, she was incredibly helpful and encouraging in navigating the entire process. the space we had it at was equally supportive, and you could really tell how their team knew the experience of djs, performers, and artists. major shoutout to radioface for having it on lock the entire night and working with us and supporting us the whole way through, even when the cops came by (twice!). the space had such a perfect diy feel for that scrappy, sweaty jungle basement rave energy. the cdjs were literally about to fall off the table at one point because everyone in the room was jumping so hard!

it feels funny being post- an event that had been in the works for so long. so much thought, time, planning, and energy goes into just one night, one hour long set, etc. this was true for us as organizers as well as for the artists who performed--for many of them it was their first dj set/live performance, ever. for us it was our first all night rave and our first event of that scale. i had the sense that it was a lot of the attendees' first rave experience as well. fostering and platforming opportunities for performance is a major tenet of what we're trying to do with planetqueer, and seeing it play out on that scale (a sold out show! :o ) was so special.

the vibes in the room were so wonderful--the crowd was cute, diverse, supportive, and most of all there was no sense of superiority/being "too cool." the excitement of everyone was palpable and the crowd and performers were feeding off each other the entire night. seeing how much the event meant to the performers, to the attendees, and to us is what made all those efforts worth it.

this music thing is admittedly a challenging hobby. the challenging part being protecting your mental. it's so easy to get swept up in comparison, envy, ideas of "success," recognition, clout, finances, numbers, self-promotion and social media in general, and last but definitely not least the vulnerability that comes with creative self-expression. as i've worked through my own ways of dealing with these challenges, i find myself going back to moments--moments when you see someone on the dancefloor absolutely brocking out, when someone tells you how much they needed the space to not think about shit for a night, the smile on a dj's face when they're performing for the first time and they feel the crowd reaction and the nerves just melt away. i guess it's counterintuitive, but for a creative practice that's so focused on the individual, i feel the most relief when i realize that so much of this isn't about me. the context, the community building, the history, the culture, and the storytelling is all so much bigger than any one person can comprehend and im just grateful to be a part of it. truly on some just glad to be here energy. anyways this has been my post-rave processing and i figured i'd share this in case it resonates with anyone else. if it does, don't hesitate to reach out to me. im down to chat :)

✌️ michael aka anito soul

[stillthesunkenstars]

,

[bigmammallama5]

Dear ms llama,

How do draw?

How do learn draw?

Sincerely, the gayest mess who wishes to draw all the things

Dear Pizzarolls,

I'm sorry this sat in my ask box for two months, life has been very hectic and it slipped off my radar. D:

How do draw: get a pencil and paper, set your self critiques and harsh expectations to the side, and draw your favorite character or otp. It's intimidating still even for me, but just being in the moment and creating something that makes you happy is worth it.

How do learn draw:

draw. get used to the motions, problem solving, and repetitiveness. make sure you stretch and take care of your hands. also drawing with friends is very fun!

look for references and resources and tutorials! looking at what you want to draw will help you understand how to draw. wanna draw a skelly boi? look at lots of skeleton pictures. using a reference is not cheating, so dont let people tell you that. i would also suggest taking your own reference pictures if you can using yourself/your friends/or those little wooden bendy dudes you can get at the craft store. i didnt really use those but i have friends who swore by them. worth a try!

trace. yes, im saying this. tracing for the purpose of learning is not inherently bad. if looking at a picture of a skeleton and following a tutorial are just not clicking, print that sucker out and tape it to a window and trace him. focus on the part that you arent understanding and see if it clicks then. if it does then yay! you have successfully learned. now draw him again without tracing and see how you do!

***an addendum to tracing: i would suggest not tracing other people's artwork without asking first. a fair amount of artists are okay with you using their work as inspiration, though the topic of tracing has always been polarized. use caution and err on the side of screenshots and stock imagery!

draw for yourself. the lure of popularity and "clout" for notes and likes is really pervasive in a lot of online spaces now, and ive seen it destroy artists and fic writers. ive seen how it can negatively impact individuals to the point of hatred and jealousy and while it is extremely easy to want to get notes and recognition and we as humans thrive on feedback and community... draw for yourself. you will find your community and people who genuinely enjoy what you make. your worth is not measured by likes or algorithms.

On a more academic note some actual resources I and other artists do recommend are the Morpho books. I'm sorry for the am*zon link but that should give you an idea of what to look for. They're affordable, well illustrated, and cleanly put together. I would also look at those fun stock image packs of dynamic poses! Like the ones you find on deviant art. Those are super great for drawing your oc's and otps. I'm also a big advocate of live drawing, which i know isn't always available for some people. Drawing a Real Body right in front of you with an instructor is invaluable, but also asking to draw your friends sitting at the lunch table is just as good.

Um yeah. That how draw. And disco music. here's a skelly boi for your troubles

hes doing the marge simpson dance

sincerely a very tired and gay llama

[celticcrossanon]

I’m so sorry for the rant. I just needed to clear my head and got compelled to do it in your inbox. 🙇🏾‍♀️

Not a question just some thoughts. Sorry I’m spamming you so much. I just read your latest reading about the wanna be“tour” and all I can do is SMH. I think to some extent we saw this coming but they are dialing it up and expanding. Conscious humans would’ve called it quits by now. The Remembrance Day pap walk, Going to elementary schools, “donations”, writing letters like they are world leaders, etc. On one hand I can’t see this becoming much of a “thing”. I don’t think MM and Jarry will go on doing this for long unless they can get some Hollywood to pay attention and acknowledge them. I think another reason with the more public European Royals work so well in their media is because their countries are relatively small, like California and Texas are on the large side in comparison, am I right? So much can happen on one side of the country that I only hear of thanks to friends back in California. I can’t see these two visiting any farm in Montana as “royals” if ever. They got a Clinton and Perhaps more big names and “engagement” is to come (oh god 🤦🏾‍♀️) I’m sure they and the sugars are just loving it but it all looks, sounds and feels so incrediblly STUPID & ABSOLUTELY VAPID AND INSULTING. etc etc. I cannot stand entitled people and the fact that these two cut off, trashed, and demand from their own families for a fleeting moment in the spotlight is unfathomable. That’s a testimony to how strong narcissistic delusions can be. It must be the best high I could ever ask for. 🖤Im new to “Royal Watching” if you can call what I do ‘that’, so I don’t really care about all the other indiscretions. I don’t trust the media and I think it’s just the BRF turn in the hot sun to catch hell. See Andrew, see the Clintons and all the others. Whatever drama is going on with Charles, see the rest of big business. I’m a narcissistic abuse survivor and I still study on the disorder. Now here I am watching these two who make my skin craw, this train needs to SPEED UP . I think I’m just looking for a bit of JUSTICE in the world right now. Between this administration, COVID, my job and all my other drama (I’m sure we all have some, if not BLESS YOU and pass it on 🥺) I’m flabbergasted and a little sick in my stomach at watching yet another set of people be able to walk through life seemingly so unbothered. It’s like the world is closing in and I’m suffocating. 🖤Like, your telling me that just because he was born a Prince and she married him and found a way to have children they get to get away with all of this?. The entitlement, the lies, the forced Wokery, using heavy and important subjects like mental health and racism for a PR boost all just to get a⭐️ on the Hollywood walk of Fame? For a couple of royals they sure know how to dump cold water on ya, they are the epitome of LIFE ISNT FAIR. And I’m sure that all depends on perspective, for example; their sugars who must be going diabetic RN. THEY think they have suffered as well. Look at the Cambridge’s who have not put a foot out of place yet have to deal with these tantrums from all over their family. All families have drama and I can see how the Harkles and the rest could be a payback of the Firm and family as a whole. The Queen covered so much and never really saw that Henry and Andrew and god knows who else were set straight. Look what having so much privilege can do. But is there a limit, anywhere?🖤

🖤Anyways, another thought I had was, this could be the end for any thought of reunion. This Narcissist has worked her magic and this clueless tone deaf fool has really gone and done it. I was driving and I thought of Prince William and the entire remaining Windsors & Mountbatten Windsor’s and the whole Aristocracy cutting the Harkles off entirely because the BRF called a wrap (or had to) and the UK became a Republic after Her Majesty. MM get the privlage in her narcissistic head that she’s the last ever to become a Duchess, Cathrine wouldn’t become the Princess of Wales and it all came down in part because of her and Henry’s actions. Yes Andrew and whoever else aren’t helping but these two made it exceptionally difficult. I think they would take pride in that especially publicly but only when they are praised for it. I think the Cambridge’s would have an easier time with moving on with their family, free to live as they please with no pressure to serve the public. Cathrine can be “lazy”, sleep in, & raise her kids and Wills is free to🖕 the paps who would surely still follow them. A La “where are they now”. The two that would have it the worse are the Harkles as they last bit of what they had to separate them from the rest of Hollywood is gone, no more Royal sheen but they don’t have much now. It would be stupid to use the titles after an abolished monarchy but they’d do it and expose themselves further.🖤 If you made it this far, one last thing. I got cut off while driving. That’s not unusual in this Miami traffic and usually i ignore it but with my mental state I couldn’t help but to compare. it was a packed road and I just really wanted to know where the heck the fire was. Why did this person need to rush so much on a busy road that no one else mattered even though we all have somewhere to go? That’s how I feel about the Harkles. What’s the point, where are they going? They went to New England for Christ sake to play faux royalty, in more trashy outfits might I add. 🤦🏾‍♀️

I guess I do have a question, DOES THE WORLD REALLY BELONG TO THOSE WHO JUST Get UP AND TAKE IT?

Thanks for humoring me and providing this space. ✌🏾

Note: My apologies for this very long post, everyone. I can't put a page break in and the writer needs to let it all out. I am sure a lot of you will be feeling somewhat similar to them.

Reply under the cut, so this is not any longer

Hi april14vc,

You are welcome to rant here.

It sounds like you have a lot going on at the moment and it is all becoming a bit much to handle, as there is no relief anywhere. Is there something fun and relaxing that you can do for you sometime today, just to have a break from it all? I feel like you need to tune out for a bit and do something that is just for you.

I am so sorry that you suffered from narcissistic abuse, and so glad that you survived this. I think the Harkle shenanigans must hurt you in a more personal way than those of us who have never suffered under a narcissist. It is very hard to watch the Harkles seemingly get away with all their entitled abuse without any form of justice coming for them.

I think the Harkles are suffering. They usually are unable to get any sort of attention from the media unless they pay for it, and even then they don't trend - it is a 'blink and you miss it' situation. Look at what happened with Meghan's 40 for 40 program - it was dead in the water before the day was over, and she spent a fortune on PR for that. Compare that to the natural (not paid for) hype that surrounds anything that the BRF does, especially the Cambridges or HMTQ. That hype and attention is what Meghan wants, and she is not getting it.

What the Harkles are getting, and what they hate, is mockery. Look at the response to their Times 100 cover. Look at the comments on this pseudo-royal tour. They are a walking joke, and no narcissist would like that. They tried to cull all negative press while they were members of the BRF, were unsuccessful in stemming all of it, and now have no clout at all to stop any negative media attention. The Harkles may live in a delusion of success, but to the vast majority of people they are no more than very risible z-list celebrities.

The Harkles also have serious money troubles. They may be ignoring them, but those debts will have to be paid, one way or another.

What we are seeing now is the slow slide of the Harkles into obscurity, and their desperate attempts to reverse the process, which never work. They are no more popular and wanted now than they were at the time of Megxit, and in fact their popularity has declined since those days. They may look like they are winning, but it is all an illusion, caused by the amounts of money they are prepared to pay to give the illusion of wealth and star-quality celebrity. The paid for events happen, and then nothing. The paid for PR happens, and then nothing. Their slide downwards continues, and nothing that they do is reversing it.

Yes, at the moment they are on a high and beaming put of every report on their activities. Wait a week and then see where they are. This is like the Oprah interview all over again.

My next reading is going to be on the consequences of this pseudo-royal tour for the Harkles, so maybe there will be some justice for you there.

Edited to add: As for taking down the monarchy, I can't see that happening. For starters, the British government would have to put the matter to the people for a vote, and even if they are insane enough to do that, I can't see the British public voting to remove a beloved Queen because of the antics of two people who are despised that that country. The logistics of replacing the monarchy are also staggering - you have to rework the entire government of not just Great Britain, but of all the commonwealth realms who have HMTQ as Head of State, and that is not an easy task or a light undertaking. In addition, those Commonwealth Realms can keep HM as their head of state even if she is ejected by the British people (which would never happen, but I am stretching the bounds of probability here). After HMTQ comes Charles, who will have a short reign simply because of his age and health, and then William will be king, and he is also loved by the British public. I just can not see all that thrown away for the Harkles, who are rightly hated by the British public.

[classpectingshitposts]

welcome to classpectingshitposts. we have a good time here

 hello. unfriendly local neighborhood mod li here to give you a funny little rundown of what goes on here. this is the recently refurbished classpectingshitposts blog, on tumblr dot com, if you missed the memo. an faq:

did you guys used to be classpectingquotes?

yep. now we are not. 

why did you change?

felt like it. also, we did not really do the quotes thing anymore. it was a lot of work, and for me, it was way more fun to interact with the community. we keep getting new followers, so it seems to be working. who knew.

can we still submit quotes?

yes! the submit box looks exactly the same. go for it. 

what kinds of asks do you accept?

not nsfw ones. pretty much everything, except for most of the things that normal classpecting blogs accept. dont send us classpect shipping requests. please. ive done roasts ten times over, so probably dont send more of those. if you want us to do a rundown of your classpect, we probably wont. theories though? things you think are funny? insulting words? any random bullshit you think of? “im x of x and i think ____” ? yeah. go for it. we do get a great deal of asks, though, so if we dont respond to yours, it is not because we hate you. and if you really want it answered, send it a second time after like three business days. 

how much clout do you guys have?

so fucking much

what are the mods classpects? what are the mods pronouns? mods? information on the mods?

heres a basic rundown. i, mod li, am writing this, and the others can feel free to edit whatever they want on their bios. i do not want to put words into their mouths.

hello. i am mod li, and i am also the local asshole, which you might be able to guess if you knew that i am a thief of time. my pronouns are they/them, and i am an adult. my ego is huge. my main purpose is to get into fights, about many things, but especially sylphs. i have very strong opinions on those. if you get an ask answered, it will most likely be answered by me. my least favorite classes are bard and page. my favorites are the rest of them, in some descending order beginning with thief.

Hi hello My “name” is “mod” astro, and I enjoy “using” quotation marks to “throw people off their rhythms”. I am a rogue of space who uses he/him pronouns, and have been diagnosed with terminal cishet 😔. Anywho, big fan of The Medium, specifically lands and player quests. Interests include: making dnd characters without campaigns, confusing mod li, music, and storytelling. My main blog is @astrologicalcedars , so do what you wish with that. My only rules here are please don’t be weird with the asks and don’t be a jerk. Do that and we’ll be fine. Anyways, Aradia Medigo best girl non-negotiable.

mod morning is the owner of the blog, a sylph (?) or witch of light who uses she/her pronouns. 

mod astrid is a witch of hope who uses she/her pronouns. 

why do you get into fights so often?

its pretty fucking funny man idk what to tell you

do you mean it?

do i?

whats the link to the discord?

it will be forever closed.

[muwur]

snapchat headcanons

✧ hc’s ✧ for using snapchat w ur boi toi ft. the pretty setter squad

❧ gn reader

✎ 3.1k words

a/n: kinda a combo of how they use sc and the kinds of snaps they send you! along w wat u send them, and uh... dating stuf n shenanigans? texting/snapping habits? my fantasies? IDEK ANYMORE EOFHEFJ

this was born from the recesses of my mind , which desired nothing mor than snapchats from suga , us sending cute selfies , others bein dumb n chaotic , no context videos , n him snapping me photos of some mangoes on sale he said he’ll buy for me DXX it’s too late for me now

doing research on hq bois and surfing thru sc features (im just now realizing theres quite a bit?? im hoping i address most of them at some point lolol) instead of real life tings aHHhhhHAHA

requests: open! will be working on a suga one i got, dw, requester!

sugawara

✧ sends good morning and good night snaps

✧ so he’s rlly good at keeping streaks, probs has the longest ones (one of them being y’alls streak)

✧ posts tidbits of volleyball practice on his story every once in a while

✧ snaps you pics of his sleeping teammates when they’re coming back to school after a long day of matches , adding a single ‘❤️’ as a caption

✧ he will also create colorful masterpieces on all of them

✧ gives daichi a santa beard, tanaka a squiggly stache (i imagine it to look like spongebob n patrick’s seaweed ones now that were mEN), n kageyama sum angry brows,,, wait he already has them lolol u good der kags

✧ posts a picture of you when you’re hanging out, captioning it: “🥰“

✧ has conversations with you purely via snaps

✧ ranges from casual chats and checking up on u to crackwhoring ( ** indicates the photo, while the “” quotes indicate the caption, all snaps are italicized, otherwise its regular dialogue)

✧ suga: *peace sign* “hey sweetheart, how r u?”

✧ you: *pics of homework* “ahh, drowning in school ;-; i cant wait for this week to be over fghjkl”

✧ suga: *close up with :o on his face* “let’s study together tmrw!”

✧ or

✧ suga: *complete darkness* “its 3 am n i cant sleep”

✧ you: *the top half of your head, laying on a pillow* “ ;( aw babe. do u want me to send something to help u sleep?”

✧ suga: *still in darkness* “y u still up?? go sleep. n 🥺 yes pls”

✧ you: *snaps pics of feet* “that’ll be 50 bucks, pay up” 

✧ suga: *darkness remains* “can we make a trade instead? i promise to make it worth ;)”

✧ ok now u BOTH cant sleep (im sry my crackheading be acting up around 2am eeryday, i stan a mischievous suga--)

✧ video chats (in the darkness lol) instead until you both pass out (im not in luv u r 😭)

✧ super down to take filtered selfies w you

✧ does all the silly ones with you (things like ’angry face’ or the frog one)

✧ but also rlly digs lookin cute with you using some heart crowns, y’all an aesthetic (n crakhead) duo fosho

✧ def subscribes to life hacks and tries them out himself, has a 50% success rate

kageyama

✧ doesn’t rlly use snapchat too much

✧ but when he does

✧ will either send you a picture to indicate he’s at volleyball practice (wow wat a sexi lookin gym floor)

✧ or some random picture of whatever he’s doing at the moment (*drinking milk*)

✧ this is mostly in order to save streaks

✧ he’s so bad at streaks

✧ “why does it matter?? what’s the point of sending just black screens or whatever’s in front of you at the moment??”

✧ can’t keep a consistent streak for more than 3 days and also doesn’t care (until hinata challenges him to see who can have the longer one)

✧ when you send him videos of him playing, he really focuses on them to try to improve his technique. asks you to send those vids to him (assuming u saved them, which u did)

✧ but when you look over his shoulder when he’s watching a video and give him some compliment (“i recorded at the perfect moment! that was a really good set, kageyama!”), he gets a bit flustered

✧ gets even more flustered but pretty happy whenever you post videos on your story showing karasuno winning some points with captions like:

✧ “footage of the legendary quick >.>” or “karasuno crows flyin high!” or “these bois make my heart 😭 im so proud”

✧ you WILL catch him off guard in photos, using filters that surrounds his head w/ emojis like 🥺💖🥰💘

✧ you also put these on your story (to his dismay)

✧ ppl comment on these mor than anything else (n for those who dont rlly kno kageyama, theyre kinda surprised to him like this)

✧ hinata snickers “hey kageyama you look pretty good here--”

✧ takes some selfies with you, mostly cuz you want them

✧ saves them after u send them over (n secretly cherishes them)

✧ occasionally watches his subscriptions, they’ll usually involve sports, mostly volleyball (who woulda guessed)

✧ you use his bitmoji to test out random facial expressions you would never see him wear

✧ you: “can you smile and wink like this? act like you’re the obnoxious charming guy in a shojo.”

✧ will actually attempt, but it looks so bad that you die inside and he never wants to try again cuz of ur laughing outburst (you: “😭😭 bb im sorry i couldnt help it”)

oikawa

✧ literally sends you anything and everything

✧ morning bathroom selfie to show off how good his hair came out that day, saying:

✧ “he has risen”

✧ or “i woke up like this”

✧ and my favorite, “you’re lucky you get this content for frEE”

✧ selfies with iwa, who just looks annoyed and exasperated at the camera

✧ sends you pics of his lunch and snacks (“bet u wish u had milk bread too”)

✧ always packs extra milk bread so he could convince you to stay at his practice after school--

✧ FILTERSS

✧ I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENUF

✧ will either use the filters that make him kayooottt (cute)

✧ loves the ones named ‘hearts,’ ‘soft,’ ‘peach,’ ‘butterfly cheeks,’ vsco filters LOL, etc

✧ uses ‘big mouth’ when he feelin a bit sASSY; also loves to use this one when he rants, it channels his inner valley girl

✧ sometimes he’ll be snacking or drinking something while he does so (“hey guys today im gonna eat these milk buns from my favorite bakery and this bomb orange juice and complain about this little kid who talked smack to me earlier and almost made me cry--”)

✧ takes cute selfies with you, is an aesthetic selfie king, puts them on his story to show off he’s hangin with you

✧ but on your story you only post the ones he looks bad in LOL

✧ has separate stories for his every need, some r private (and lucky you, ur included in all of them)

✧ titles them ‘mean things iwa said to me today,’ ‘ranting hotbox + mukbangs,’ ‘a day in the life of oikawa,’ ‘volleyball 🏐,’ ‘unpopular opinions,’ etc. 

✧ fitting room photoshoots lol

✧ “y/n, what do you think of this??” “and this?” “oOH WHAT ABOUT THIS??”

✧ ends up calling you through video chat so you can live critique his choices

✧ “oikawa, please no, i can’t be seen with you in public if you wear those--”

✧ also changes his bitmoji’s outfits from time to time, hopes you’ll notice, but you don’t LOL (oikawa: ;((((((( )

kenma

✧ uses sc usually just to reply to messages ppl send him

✧ indifferent about streaks, but keeps a few with ppl he’s closer to

✧ mindlessly plays the snapchat games with you, finds some of them kinda cute

✧ you both made his bitmoji for him, dressing his up in the orange cat suit

✧ you also helped make kuroo’s and put his in the black cat suit to match--

✧ snaps you every time he gets a new game, starts playing it, and once he finishes

✧ started to post some gameplays and reviews on his sc story (might as well add them to sc since he was already on other social platforms), and ended up amassing a large following

✧ follows the tech and gaming stories on sc

✧ as well as the ones with cute animals--

✧ open to selfies with you, usually wears a calm expression and holds up a peace sign

✧ even occasionally sticks his tongue out

✧ his story is occasionally heavily bombarded with candids of him w/ pretty sc filters, all taken by you

✧ but of all the filters, you love using the clout glasses on him

✧ especially when he’s just minding his own business

✧ “kenma, in his tru habitat” when hes cocooned in a blanket

✧ “kenma, on his way to steal yo manz” while on his way to the bathroom

✧ “kenma, next iron chef. watch out gordon” as he’s cooking instant ramen

✧ “kenma” n das it

✧ but he thinks it meme-y so he lets you do whatever you want, kinda digs it

✧ you end up dedicating your snap story to memes of kenma and the nekoma volleyball team. ppl are in it for the shits n giggles n hot bois

✧ you later discover someone else did the same thing with their volleyball team filled with hot bois from shiratorizawa, and you befriend tendou and share funni internet tings

akaashi

✧ 99% of his photos include either you or bokuto or both

✧ bokuto spams akaashi’s story and contact list with selfies and videos of himself using weird filters, often gets you to join him

✧ has several streaks, but will send something with more substance than a black screen or his bedroom window

✧ will usually involve smthng that just happened to him or smthing he saw, like:

✧ “a kind older lady offered me some apples in return for helping her”

-or:

✧ “how do i break the news to bokuto that the yaikniku place he’s been wanting to go to for the past week ,,, is closed today”

✧ o n let’s not leave out:

✧ “is it possible to conjure a ghost using a wooden spatula, ketchup, and a chalk drawn hexagram? bokuto’s been paranoid ever since he tried last night and i dont know what to tell him. seriously, help”

✧ looks through stories occasionally, comments whenever bokuto makes questionable decisions

✧ also comments on whatever you’ve posted. his words range from “you’re cute” to “why,” depending on the content

✧ ppl know when y’all are hanging out cuz he’ll post smthing to indicate he’s with you, usually it’s some candid and you’re not paying attention

✧ appreciation posts for you as well! esp if you got him something, like onigiri or his fav, Nanohana no Karashiae , for lunch! (akaashi: *snaps a pic of his food* “thank you y/n for feeding me”)

✧ prefers video calling over texting/snapping whenever possible tho

✧ occasionally reminisces thru his sc memories

✧ enjoys the flashback feature and will send them to you and bokuto (cuz they’re about y’all anyway lolol)

✧ also has secretly saved a bunch of selfies of himself, consists of him trying out a lot of the filters (he feelin himself)

✧ you, one day, looking thru his phone and discovering them: “akaashi, you’re so pretty wtf”

✧ akaashi: “...”

koganegawa

✧ sends you selfies of him before practice

✧ during breaks

✧ and after practice, usually makes a comment about how it went for him that day like:

✧  “i hit a decent toss today and futakuchi actually complimented me!”

✧ that, or:

✧ “i got yelled at 17 times today 😢😩”

✧ has quite a few streaks, his longest ones being with you and hinata

✧ def uses filters

✧ tries out every funny one he finds and sends you videos

✧ “look y/n im an aaaaAALlliiEEENnnNNN oo oo hoo hhhooOOh”

✧ “now im a chicky nuggy!!” (chicken nugget)

✧ also enjoys the doodle feature

✧ but he uses the filter with the clout glasses unironically--

✧ usually when smth good happens to him and he feels happy and/or cool about it

✧ “just beat the boss in this game on my 69th try B)”

✧ “kogane, that’s--”

✧ plays sc games with you and thinks bitmojis r cool

✧ kinda sad he cant find a hair option that matches him tho lolol rip

✧ you: “you hair’s just,,, unique,,,”

✧ subscribed to anything sports and fitness, as well as pop culture so he can stay in the loop

✧ also watches everyone else’s stories, pointing out whenever he sees smthing cool and/or interesting

✧ “woahh, karasuno’s at nationals right now! i wish we could’ve won, but next year for sure!!”

✧ you encourage him at all his games, hyping him up irl and online

✧ “koganegawa: best setter 😍!!”

✧ luckily you didnt record the parts he completely messed up LOL

semi

✧ before going out with you, snaps you a pic of his casual outfit like:

✧ semi: “does this look ok”

✧ you: “babe you look great, tendou was just messing with you”

✧ will make unwanted appearances on tendou’s snap and complains to you about them

✧ “i didnt consent to being part of his meme page” and

✧ “okay, but he didn’t only have to share all the moments i messed up--”

✧ also indifferent about streaks but will do them

✧ sometimes sends snaps/streaks indicating he’s practicing his music

✧ when you see these you usually ask him to send you vids or if you can come over n watch

✧ initially is a bit shy about it but he loves what he does and you and knows you’re genuinely interested and supportive so he agrees

✧ secretly rlly enjoys having you as his personal audience

✧ lowkey into asmr, like the soap cutting shit as well as chewing crunchy things

✧ also watches food porn and clips of mukbangs, then can’t resist going on youtube and watching the whole thing

✧  “y/n, can we try this, it looks so good--”

✧ will also often watch oikawa’s stories, especially his ‘ranting hotbox + mukbangs,’ and makes comments about him being an idiot

✧  “this kid he’s talking about is a savage”

✧ but admits they’re quite entertaining

✧ just looks serious in all the selfies you take with him

✧ you: “can you look like you’re enjoying yourself?”

✧ semi: “i look cooler like this tho”

✧ sc memories filled with shenanigans from you and the volleyball team, doodles, and mirror selfies with him experimenting diff looks (you: “tendou, you got him way too concerned about this”)

✧ also enjoys showing off he’s with you, taking a short video of you when you hang out

✧ you: “semi, i look bad right now”

✧ semi: “but you can never look bad”

✧ you: “🥺 bb”

✧ viewers: “aw”

✧ shiratorizawa: “can he be this nice with us LOL”

shirabu

✧ his main mode of communication with you is mostly through the regular messaging app, so he doesn’t use sc too much

✧ also doesn’t care for streaks and is bad at keeping them

✧ will answer to you or his senpais rather soon tho

✧ but lets all his other notifications pile up a bit before finally going thru them

✧ goes through the snaps he receives really fast, spending like 2 seconds each to look at them cuz aint nobody got time for dat

✧ doesn’t even rlly open goshiki’s LOL

✧ you have fun using filters on him and taking videos while he’s just doing his own thing peacefully like studying

✧ it takes him a second to notice and when he finally looks up, he just gives you an exasperated look

✧ cue you cracking up with laughter bc the filter finally shows up on his face

✧ his eyes and mouth are now on mike wazowski

✧ that, or his face becomes so disturbingly moRPhed like an alien

✧ caption: “ken-chan, my future medical man 😍”

✧ “y/n, please, this is like the 7th time in the last 20 minutes--”

✧ finally convinced him to take a study break and hang out with you

✧ which usually consists of snacking and light banter while you lay your head on his lap

✧ and scrolling through snapchat stories and showing him what everyone else is up to and cool things you’re subscribed to

✧ “loooook, dr. miami’s doing another butt job! is this the line of work you’re studying so hard for?”

✧ “no, it’s really not”

✧ is actually very soft with you and likes having the photos and vids for memories

atsumu

✧ sends you snaps where his brother looks bad, captioning it:

✧ “this is evidence that im the hotter twin”

✧ likewise, osamu sends you snaps where atsumu looks even worse

✧ like, the mans passed out, looking rekt and open mouthed, drool seeping into his pillow

✧ osamu: “u still have time to break up with him”

✧ also lucky for you, atsumu also loves to take unflattering photos of you and send them to you randomly at like 2 am

✧ you: “nani tf when did you even take this??”

✧ usually posts a snap while he’s out somewhere like at a match, the gym, outside on a run, a party, or just hanging out with you or his frens

✧ however, makes sure you look good if you show up on his story cuz he wants to show you off

✧ doesn’t really care for streaks, but has a lott

✧ but also has a tON of unopened snaps

✧ is the type to send just a black screen n call it a day, or maybe spice it up by sending a pic of the sexi gym floor (a comeback) w his shoe in the corner

✧ will, however, consistently respond to you and kinda looks forward to ur snaps (secretly hopes you show ur face)

✧ but when you dont:

*in class*

✧ atsumu: *a smirk on his face* “your content’s kinda dry today” 

✧ you: *your sexi desk* “my nudez ain’t free, i demand compensation”

✧ atsumu: *grasped his chin in thought, but angled the cam up bc he needa hide his phone in class lolol* “what if i... take you out on a romantic excursion”

✧ you: * your face but with ‘sausage’ filter* “🥵🥵🥵🥵 yessir, what u want”

✧ rlly only wants to have pics of your face wat a closeted sOFTIE

✧ likes to have content on his flashbacks

✧ usually has other social media sources to keep up to date with things

✧ actually rlly digs using sc filters, mostly ones that’ll make him look like a queen

✧ captions a selfie of you two like: “me >>>>>>> y/n”

✧ but nearly everyone who comments on it is like: “i think you flipped the sign, bro 🤥”

✧ judges ppl who are into soap cutting asmr (you will never hear the end of it if you also like it)

a/n: sc kinda dying for me, my use went from suga to an atsumu to like nearly nonexistent LOL

also o gawd i already have ideas here n there for a pt 2 so stay tuned fjxnwfesd hope it takes me less long cuz this one took me fkin foreva LOL

idk y i made semi like mukbangs but i feel like he’d be rlly into them--

[thewebcomicsreview]

Homestuck 2 has updated! Christmas is ruined!

Previously, on Homestuck 2: Literally nothing happened, and a non-trivial portion of the patreon supporters gave up and quit. Can this update pull a Christmas miracle and right the sinking ship of Homestuck 2? Probably not, but let’s find out! 

We’re back in Candyland, having completely skipped over Karkat and John talking about Dave’s apparent death, because this comic is only interested in long conversations when they’re boring and not about anything at all. That’s alright, I got the gist of it.

When Karkat is finally gone, John still doesn’t move. It isn’t as though he has nowhere else to go, since there are quite a few places he might attempt to make himself useful, for better or for worse.

So, it appears to be morning now, meaning that John’s son has been missing in a war zone for almost 24 hours and I guess John literally forgot Harry existed?

Prediction: This conversation is going to end in some variant of “Where is our son?” “Oh shit!”

ROXY: hey john can u do me a quick solid

ROXY: actly idk how quick itll be but its definitely solid

ROXY: harry anderson says i just missed u being here but could u skip back on over?

What.

So, I went back and checked, and apparently nowhere is it explicitly said that Harry Anderson was also looking for the Vriskas, so I guess he....stayed home? Which makes sense, I suppose, but maybe a “Stay here I’ll go look for them” would’ve helped. I wasn’t the only one who thought Harry was out looking for Vriska too. 

ROXY: sup

ROXY: follow me

ROXY: well were just going to my room so i guess technically u know the way

JOHN: haha ok.

John follows, trying to shake the ominous feeling he got from what she’d just said. He’d been in and out of this house a lot in the past few days. Why should this be any different?

Is Roxy....horny? Is the solid she’s looking for John’s dick? I mean, that’d make her saying Harry wasn’t available kind of weird, but I think this framing is a fake-out.

...

What the fuck is that lamp, Jesus Christ it’s awful. Just a cat’s asshole, facing the door.

ROXY: r u kiddin me rn egbert

JOHN: i’m not? unless you were, in which case yeah lets say i was also kidding.

JOHN: oh my god, i’m sorry, i don’t know why this making me freak out.

ROXY: i remember our past boot knockin with fondness but that is a situation im not interested in revisiting

Oh hey, it was a fakeout. Good job, Homestuck 2. You successfully implied something just through the art. Art which, by the way, looks a lot better than the last chapter. There are backgrounds and everything. I wonder if Chapter 15 was rushed out due to Hiveswap and that’s why it was so weak?

He’s almost embarrassed by how relieved he feels. So what if his ex wife wanted to hook up? Shouldn’t that be a situation he could navigate? Don’t people like to find solace in human physical connection during dire times? Why did the idea of it make his mind white out in panic more than, say, any number of the traumas he just experienced?

I’m not the biggest fan of the way the narration is going JOHN IS AFRAID OF SEX WITH ROXY LIKE HE’S A TEENAGE VIRGIN AGAIN (LIKE IN HS1!) AND IT DOESN’T REALLY MAKE SENSE PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IT’LL BE IMPORTANT LATER, but okay, noted.

ROXY: u said ur house is gone??

JOHN: yep.

JOHN: completely.

ROXY: jeez

Heh. I like Roxy, still. 

JOHN: so i just sat there, watching, trying to figure out why watching my house burn down felt like i was being released from prison.

If this comic actually uses the phrase “home” and “stuck” in the same sentence I’m turning this blog around and we’ll go right back to Winnipeg.

ROXY: aight then no wind bending just use your mangrit

Roxy flexes, the corner of her mouth pulled up into a familiar grin. John feels his guts, so recently calmed, twist up into knots again. Her eyebrows shoot up and the smile loosens. He must have shown something on his face.

ROXY: ok or just like push when i push

ROXY: we both got sick muscles

ROXY: no other adjectives necessary

I feel unqualified to talk about how hard Roxy is pushing the June Egbert thing.

....Is that the fucking portal from Hiveswap under a tarp? Also hi Candy Callie, appearing in HS2 for the first time. One of the Calliope’s is nonbinary, I think, but I honestly can’t remember and I think it’s Meat Calliope? 

JOHN: do i get to know what that big thing under the sheet is?

ROXY: hmmmmmm no

JOHN: oh ok.

JOHN: are you sure? i mean, it seems like a pretty prominent feature of the room.

JOHN: space.

JOHN: wherever we are.

ROXY: and a totally mysterious n COMPLETELY inconspicuous feature it will have to remain for now

ROXY: we r kinda in a hurry here fyi

ROXY: and by that i mean

ROXY: we are in precisely the amount of hurry that means im excused from having to a that specific q rn

JOHN: right, sorry.

JOHN: i will pay no attention to the object behind the curtain.

ROXY: u catch on fast egbert

Oh thing HS2 has not been great at is that it has a lot of plot mysteries that are supposed to keep us enticed but they don’t really get implanted into the audience’s head (Remember Vrissy mysteriously collapsing that one time? Probably not, she did it off screen and the boys kind of laughed it off). This one’s hard to miss.

JOHN: so... this is all downstairs?

JOHN: it seems like you had a lot of work done.

ROXY: well no not x actly

ROXY: were in the old meteor

It’s kind of weird how this meteor keeps popping up like this. 

CALLIOPE: besides, hUman divorces are even more fascinating than i had ever imagined, and being able to witness yoUrs in motion was an honoUr.

This is an unexpected but not unwelcome direction for Callie to have gone.

CALLIOPE: ah right, right. yoU're probably a little cUrioUs as to where the dickens we are.

CALLIOPE: how much do yoU know aboUt black holes?

Oh, wow, we’re going right there, then. This does seem like a bit of a reaction to complaints HS2 wasn’t shmoovin’ enough, but maybe I’m reading too much into it.

CALLIOPE: no, i mean, what if oUr whole WORLD was inside a black hole.

JOHN: ok.

A’ight, that got a laugh out of me

JOHN: ugh, i fucking KNEW it!

JOHN: i'm so sorry.

JOHN: i'm so sorry that i put the earth inside a black hole everyone. ):

I like this conversation a lot. 

ROXY: iirc at least part of y u got so weepy was the fact that u couldnt believe a version of earth existed where ppl got 2 watch more mcconaughey films than you

JOHN: listen.

JOHN: i simply don't think you all appreciated the gift you were given.

Quite a bit, in fact.

ROXY: ur not gonna enter a weird time vortex and change the trajectory of a little girls life with the power of love

JOHN: aw.

Roxy and John have a good dynamic. 

CALLIOPE: bUt Upon her departUre, the rift closed for good. as far as i can see, there's simply no way for Us to commUnicate with the world oUtside the black hole.

CALLIOPE: i woUld certainly be very sUrprised to find oUt that anyone had managed sUch a thing!

JOHN: ...right.

John’s phone has very good coverage, since he was able to talk to Terezi in the epilogues, as we’re being subtly reminded of here with that ... before the “right”. I wonder if it still works after alt-Calliope left.

CALLIOPE: oUr exclUsion from the overarching coUrse of events which governs all reality means that oUr existence here is liable to dramatic and violent Upheaval.

CALLIOPE: to pUt it another way, becaUse nothing in here "matters", we are likely to be sUbjected to things which are a bit bats in the belfry, for no reason other than it's totally insignificant to the wider canon of reality.

CALLIOPE: and mUch thoUgh i am personally titillated by some of the conseqUences of this predicament, it is a degrading way for Us to live. u_u

Okay, so we are now being explicitly told that living in the black hole is fucking with the characters and is part of the reason they make such baffling decisions, like Rose not telling Kanaya about Yiffy, or naming her daughter “Yiffy” in the first place.

CALLIOPE: we need yoU to free vriska from the clUtches of oUr misgUided friend jane, and bring her here, to the singUlarity.

ROXY: weve been calling it the plot point

CALLIOPE: yes, the plot point is a key part of oUr plan

CALLIOPE: as far as we have been able to sUrmise, the only remaining method for escaping oUr grim confinement depends on leveraging the UniqUe properties of this location to create an event of sUch catalcysmic proportions that it simply cannot be contained within the black hole any more.

CALLIOPE: something SO dramatic, so hyper-relevant, that it becomes ontologically impossible for anyone to ignore it.

CALLIOPE: for that, we need an individUal of sUfficient narrative cloUt, so to speak.

CALLIOPE: and to liberate her, who better than the embodiment of the aspect of freedom itself?

So, the plan is literally for Vriska to be such a Huge 8itch that the black hole itself gets sick of her and yeets Earth C out of its own event horizon to freedom.

This is actually a great plan. 

And that’s Hamsteak. This definitely feels like a bit of a reaction to complaints about HS2, but hey, I dig it, I guess? Definite improvement over the last chapter.

[bakujho]

Strap in folks, it’s rant time.

So, let's talk a bit about manipulation and abuse present in fandom. It’s uncomfortable, but fuck it lets go, I’m tired of the “good vibes only” push that sweeps all this shit under the rug. I’m not pretending to be an expert by a longshot here and I’m happy to discuss, but I have dealt with enough abusive and manipulative people personally and professionally to spot em a fucking mile away and generally keep my distance. Unfortunately, I’ve noticed a gross trend where there are people being attacked, then are guilted into keeping quiet because the Abusers make it seem like it’s not worth mentioning or that it doesn’t really matter... Unfortunately, the Abusers know exactly what they’re doing, they’re really fucking good at it, and they know exactly the kind of response they’re going to receive (because in some cases, this isn’t the first fandom they’ve pulled this same shit in). 

Right off the bat though, lets get some basic facts about fandom out of the way. No one in fandom owns any character: be it interactions, personality or anything else about said character. No fandom creator owns an idea, or has any right to tell people off for having similar ideas/techniques/styles etc. There’s no such thing as a completely original singular thought, and pretty sure if you think of something ‘original’, there’s inspiration from another source. No one owns a hairstyle, a costume, a backstory, a colour scheme, an item, a scar etc etc. If someone has a similar thing, neat, clearly you’ve got similar tastes. If someone has a carbon copy of your creation on multiple points, ABSOLUTELY question it, but having the same hairstyle isn’t copyright infringement, and having a similar history isn’t ripping someone off, it’s coincidence. 

Going to put the rest under the cut, CW for manipulation tactics, abuse, and all those sorts of goodies.

So, I’ll start with the Abusers here. Everyone knows who they are, they know who they are, unfortunately the victims of them are worried about speaking out because, for the most part, the ones abusing people are in a position of perceived power and speaking out against them can put the victim in a tricky position. No one wants to be ousted from a fandom they enjoy for speaking out against someone that’s been around fandom since its inception. Which brings me to my first point.

Power: Abusers LOVE the feeling of having power (be it follower count, general clout, perceived hierarchy etc) and get really uncomfortable when they feel someone new comes to threaten their position. So, what do these people do in that situation? Option A is to completely ignore and hope they’re not dethroned, Option B is befriend immediately and subtly manipulate the person to keep a close eye on their actions. Keep your friends close, but enemies closer amirite? 

So how the fuck does a person subtly manipulate another person, shouldn’t it be obvious? Fuck man, I wish. But there’s a lot of different techniques used to keep people reigned in and submissive: guilt tripping, evasion/diversion, attention seeking, lying, intimidation, playing the victim etc etc. So obviously these will all present differently based on the abuser, but the goal of all of them is the same. To stay in power, and keep control over everything they can. 

So how would all of these present online? (of course these examples leave some wiggle room for context lost in text/translation/cultural differences etc, but for the most part it all fits the same pattern that the abuser would use in a face to face situation). 

Guilt- tripping: “Well you wouldn’t be here if not for me” “You owe me for your place in the fandom” “well if we really were friends you’d do this for me…” etc etc. Things that pit your emotional attachment to the Abuser against you, the closer you are, the easier it is. Suddenly the Victim finds themselves indebted to the Abuser for their ‘friendship’ that the Victim didn’t realize was conditional. 

Shaming: Invalidating the victims feelings by saying things like “even a child knows better than this”, “it’s okay you don’t understand, you’re probably young”, “I’ve been around fandom longer so I know how things go” etc etc. It makes the Victim feel like they’ve done something wrong by drawing boundaries for themselves, or sticking up for themselves. Remember, the Abuser doesn’t want to lose their crown so they will talk down to their Victims to make them more unsure of their stance, second guess themselves, and feel bad that they spoke up in the first place. 

Projection: “Others have done X to me, I would NEVER do the same” It’s a simple yet effective tactic. The Abuser takes the things they’ve done to people, say it happened to them, and shift the blame to the now faceless enemy so the Victim feels obligated to side with the abuser because, yea, those things mentioned fucking SUCK and no one wants to experience it. No one wants to be that asshole saying “no you deserved it” (because no one fucking deserves to be doxxed, swatted, hacked, etc etc)

Playing-the-victim: Abusers LOVE playing this game. It’s their bread and butter to set the stage for manipulation. “Having a really hard time rn, sorry im such a fuckup”, “struggling with mental health”, “this is all so hard for me” (legit though, if you are struggling please seek help where/when you can, mental health is important). So any of these statements alone can be harmless, and overlooking someone's mental health can have dangerous outcomes, HOWEVER, when these sort of statements are paired with the other things mentioned, it’s no longer simply a vent or a way to work past personal demons, it’s a way to gain sympathy and support, and it is very intentionally done to garner that emotional response from those that will listen to them. 

Attention-Seeking: can be as simple as “no one interacts with me anymore”, making a dramatic vague post, deleting that same post and making a newer, more dramatic post but this time seeking affirmation from the good responses of the last post, posting cryptic messages that ooze “ask me what happened” (vaguebooking is a plague), basically anything that is asking for a response without asking. How is it manipulative though? Guilt. If you’re aware of the Abuser, these types of posts are meant to abuse the Victim's sense of empathy, the natural response to these sorts of posts is “what happened, I’m sorry that happened to you”. 

Diversion/Evasion: straight up changing the subject or switching the blame to anywhere BUT the Abuser. The Abuser says “change X you’re copying me”, the Victim responds “I feel I didn’t copy you”, and the Abuser presses “well the fandom might not think so” and changes it from a personal issue to a larger, more aggressive problem. In this case, the Abuser is the ONLY one with a problem, but are purposely misleading the victim to take the blame off themselves. It’s not THEIR problem, it’s the FANDOMS problem...now making it the Victims problem. 

Blame: Abusers love to blame everyone BUT themselves for their perceived problems. Fandom isn’t interacting with them as much? It’s the fandom that’s dying. More drama in the fandom? Well there’s too many people here now. Getting called out for bad behavior? That’s the problem of the person who CLEARLY doesn’t understand how fandom must work. It’s the age old tale of “I’m perfect, it’s obviously everyone else who is wrong”. At what point does the Abuser realize that they may be the cause for their own misery? They don’t. 

Intimidation: This is a fun one that’s usually a last resort because if the Abuser is pretending to be a sheep caught in a snowstorm, it doesn’t look good for them to publicly announce they’ve been the wolf the whole time. It looks like “well I have X on you”, “if you only knew what I could say about you”, and “I could ruin you” type shit. Of course, in most cases, the Victim hasn’t done anything to warrant this sort of aggression, but the queen is losing her pawns and is now grasping for anything to fight back with. And who knows what sort of lengths the Abuser has gone to to gain information on the victim. It’s pretty easy to find out a lot about a person online, so the Victims back down due to the threat of the unknown.

Avoidance: refusing to talk about the problem, which is an issue I have with fandom itself, in this case. The “no drama good vibes only” is so fucking detrimental when there are problems that need to be addressed. An Abuser will push the narrative that they’re only here for a good time and don’t want drama, while actively creating drama in the shadows. Its not a problem if we don’t talk about it, right? If no one knows, it’s fine. It’s fine. No, it’s manipulative, and if there are problems they NEED to be talked about, because that’s how you find resolutions. 

Denial: This one ties in with avoidance and blame, in that the Abuser will straight up deny that they’ve ever been, or have ever created a problem. The Victim is making a big deal from nothing, they can’t control how others feel about them, so they’ve done nothing wrong. The Abuser will claim they had the best intentions when approaching someone, so clearly they have done nothing wrong. 

Lying: Including omitting any information from arguments that may paint the Abuser in a bad light. The Abuser absolutely doesn’t want anyone to find out what they’re up to, so they’ll say exactly what they need to to change the narrative surrounding them. It could be minor changes to conversations to complete fabrications. Ex “I only approached X to make sure they were okay after X happened”, but X screenshots tell a completely different story. It’s not always easy to catch an Abuser in a lie, especially when there’s the push for “no drama” so no one talks about their personal experiences and can confirm/deny what was/reported to be said. 

So bringing all of those points together and bringing it back to the Abuser wanting to have the power to control what they like/don’t like in fandom. Once they have that feeling of invincibility, they may coyly ask people to delete posts that could lead back to them looking bad, politely ask another creator to change their creation because the Abuser doesn’t like it, or them asking nicely to stop interacting with another member of fandom the Abuser doesn’t like. It may not seem like much at a first glance...after all they asked nicely. However, once you look a little harder and a little longer, it becomes very clear that the intention is to stay in control. The Abuser will do ANYTHING to stay on top, and will employ every trick they have in their arsenal to sew discord and mistrust amongst other members of the fandom to keep the fingers pointed anywhere but at themselves.

So, sound familiar to anyone? My inbox is open for anyone who wants to chat about the topic. If I’ve now made you uncomfortable and you’re going to unfollow/block, cheers, wish you the best. And if you’re feeling called out and attacked by my post? GOOD, stop being a fucking shitty person. 

A few last reminders before adding some resources:

Setting and enforcing personal boundaries is not abuse.

Choosing not to interact with those who make you uncomfortable is not rude.

It is important to call out abuse when you encounter it, it could save someone from becoming a victim themselves.

Always stand up for yourself, you’re your own best advocate. 

Now for some resources: I used a few of these while researching along with my old textbooks from my psych, abnormal psych, and human relations classes I took back in university.

Manipulation tactics

How to recognize a guilt trip

How to spot an attention seeker

[ja-khajay]

Here’s a weird one(maybe):

🔥 For the anime artstyle. I’m curious about your thoughts on it

now obviously i will make generalizations in this but here we go. while i have a sort of fondness for “old” anime (say, 50s to 90s) there’s a lot of it i dislike. i don’t actually mind the character designs of 00s stuff either, even a lucky star where the little ladies have eyes half their face and funny hair styles, even if it’s definitly not my go-to style of art i feel like there’s a charm to it, probably nostalgia from my past years as a middle school proto-weeb witnessing anime in the middle of the death of early web. 

but i have a huge distaste for “modern” styles. for me the biggest shift arrived with digital media - simply put, cel animation had a lot of limitations that forced you to stay a bit humble in your art style. colors are kept to flats and maybe one or two other colors for shading and highlights due to how they all had to be hand painted. palettes themselves were limited too. backgrounds were allowed to be more funky but you still had to have a guy paint them. i think Akira is one of the fanciest movies I know was cel-animated, the palette they used is massive and the animation is very detailed but it doesn’t look gaudy. And if you go the opposite way and look at one of the ugliest animes i know in terms of animation, twinkle nora rock me, the stills still look.....okay?

cause now with computer animation you get to enter the world of post processing which i hate soooo much. you get that sort of simple art style with unecessary light effects everywhere. you can slap that on your mediocre animation to make it look better and while it works wonders to make anime fancier i happen to be a hater that thinks it’s fuck ugly. the base animation and designs is what i like in a series not the damn light effects lol which leads me to my second pointttttttt you probably saw it coming

THE DESIGNS oh my god i do not consider myself a genuins character designer but if there’s one pet peeve i have it’s characters who do not look diverse and anime is so good at this. i hate that the Anime Style (tm) is big eyes small noses because to me the nose is like the most important facial feature to make your guys look different from each other. i don’t even have face blindness but if you hairswapped most of the cast of evangelion i would not be able to tell them apart. there’s also a specific school of character design i shall call the final fantasy genshin impact goth magic universe where all the characters wear completly impossible outfits of a very specific aesthetic and i always wonder how it’s allowed. were you never thought to make your designs simple for animation? how many people genuinly enjoy this sort of aesthetic? would you dress like this irl? are you letting underpaid bitches draw 12 fps of this for the flex or out of malice?

luckily for me a lot of series i have seen gathering clout from artsy minds in the recent few years all subscribe to a similar art style of colorful lines flat colors and very simplistic desigsn + complex animation (like mp100 eizouken and everything the guy who worked on devilman crybaby directed) so i hope anime trends follow like they do in the west where artists make cool stuff and everyone starts to copy them. please. but also it might just be a niche thing idk im so picky i do not watch 99% of anime that comes out and everything i watch right now is over ten years old

TLDR : i dont like it. used to be good. will probably get better.  

[retconomics]

as someone who is considering using twitter for art, im curious what it is abt the platform & its art community that u find to be offputting?

Literally everything.

If you really want to grow your art following, I'd suggest Instagram. Granted, I'm not a great person to ask for two reasons: I hate "professional" and personal social media (I like the anonymity of Tumblr) and I do art almost exclusively as a hobby. I have no interest in doing it professionally or full time.

But if you really want my opinion:

First point: Twitter is not conducive to growing an audience. For art or otherwise. Most of the big names already had a following before joining, and as far as I've observed, lots of the "popular" artists actually have bigger followings on Instagram or even Tumblr. There are probably some exceptions, but you shouldn't ever bank on being the exception to the rule when considering your future, imo.

Second point: if you want to join Twitter for art, it will, more than likely, have to be EXCLUSIVELY art. I can't tell you how many big artists I've seen get bitten in the ass for trying to engage with followers or saying something that gets misconstrued or blown out of proportion once they get big. If you want to use Twitter to grow your art platform, you're gonna have to be on "professional mode." I find that fucking exhausting and think it sucks the fun out of stuff, but again, I'm not looking to be professional.

Third: there's... A weird culture around art. I can't really describe it, but it feels weird. It's a combination of feeling like there are "cool tables" that you have to position yourself in in order to be able to ride coattails (if that's your kind of thing--its not mine) and also a sense that you have to be on Twitter CONSTANTLY to produce and engage and be seen which.. isn't healthy. Like, shit gets buried and fads fade so fast that if you're not FIRST you're missing out. FOMO is so real.

Fourth: the clout chasing (and subsequent backlash to it) is, no joke, even worse than it is on Tumblr. It doesn't always work its way into art, but it's always looming. Theres also a crazy amount of racism, anti-semitism, sexism, etc. (The shit that I see trending sometimes blows my mind). So you're gonna see that. You might not be surrounded by it, but you'll see it.

I don't know I'm sure there are some circles that are better than others, but in general I find that Twitter operates in this uncanny valley space where some people use it as a hate forum, some people use it as their own personal diary, and some people use it for making professional connections?? All at the same time??? Hello???????? Idk I can't make sense of it and I have no desire to.

[hanabiira]

THE MEGA RP PLOTTING SHEET / MEME.

First and foremost, recall that no one is perfect, we all had witnessed some plotting once which did not went too well, be it because of us or our partner. So here have this, which may help for future plotting. It’s a lot! Yes, but perhaps give your partners some insight? Anyway BOLD what fully applies, italicize if only somewhat.

MUN NAME: Bunny   AGE: 26      CONTACT: IM & Discord

CHARACTER(S): OCs, and technically Kensei but I have neglected him as of late. 

CURRENT FANDOM(S): Bleach 

BLEACH FANDOM(S) YOU HAVE AN AU FOR:  None that I’ve actually written yet but I have an Avatar LOK AU for Miki.

MY LANGUAGE(S): English, no other languages I can fluently write in. I can read hiragana and katakana and very basic elementary kanji. 

THEMES I’M INTERESTED IN FOR RP: Fantasy / Science fiction / Horror / Western / Romance / Thriller / Mystery / Dystopia / Adventure / Modern / Erotic / Crime / Mythology / Classic / History / Renaissance / Medieval / Ancient / War / Family / Politics / Religion / School / Adulthood / Childhood / Apocalyptic / Gods / Sports / Music / Science / Fight / Angst / Smut / Drama / etc.

PREFERRED THREAD LENGTH: one-liner / 1 para / 2 PARA / 3+ / NOVELLA.

ASKS CAN BE SEND BY: MUTUALS / NON-MUTUALS (for OOC questions only) / PERSONALS (for OOC questions only) / ANONS. (for OOC/IC questions)

CAN ASKS BE CONTINUED?:   YES (please do!) / NO    only by Mutuals?:  YES / NO.

PREFERRED THREAD TYPE: crack / casual nothing too deep / SERIOUS / DEEP AS HECK.

IS REALISM / RESEARCH IMPORTANT FOR YOU IN CERTAIN THEMES?:   YES / NO.

ARE YOU ATM OPEN FOR NEW PLOTS?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS.

DO YOU HANDLE YOUR DRAFT / ASK - COUNT WELL?:  YES / NO / SOMEWHAT

HOW LONG DO YOU USUALLY TAKE TO REPLY?: 24H / 1 WEEK / 2 WEEKS / 3+ / months / years. / DEPENDS ON MOOD AND INSPIRATION, AND IF I’M BUSY I

I’M OKAY WITH INTERACTING: ORIGINAL CHARACTERS / a relative of my character (an oc) / duplicates / MY FANDOM / CROSSOVERS (if I know the fandom) / MULTI-MUSES / self-inserts / people with no AU verse for my fandom / CANON-DIVERGENT PORTRAYALS / AU-VERSIONS.

DO YOU POST MORE IC OR OOC?: IC / OOC.

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WITH FOLLOWING OTHERS?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.  

BEST WAYS TO APPROACH YOU FOR RP/PLOTTING:  Tumblr IM or if you know me, discord. Once you have my discord there’s no reason to IM me really. I’m more likely to notice a message from discord than tumblr since I have discord on my phone and laptop. 

WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO YOU HOLD TOWARDS YOUR PLOTTING PARTNER: I mean, if we’re actively plotting something I at least expect some back and forth?? But if it’s just general spewing of shit about stuff our characters might do I don’t necessarily expect it to become a thread or anything. Sometimes I just like to scream and think about stuff with other people lmao.I don’t even really expect plotting all the time, unless you have a really good idea then I’m all for it!! totally!! I love a good plotted thread but I am also cool just going with the punches. 

WHEN YOU NOTICE THE PLOTTING IS RATHER ONE-SIDED, WHAT DO YOU DO?: If the person doesn’t seem into it I’ll probably just drop it? I’m not going to pressure anyone into any sort of rp they’re not vibing with, it’s fine. 

HOW DO YOU USUALLY PLOT WITH OTHERS, DO YOU GIVE INPUT OR LEAVE MOST WORK TOWARDS YOUR PARTNER?:  I love that this meme assumes I plot a lot lmfao. Uhh...I find it quite difficult to come up with a lot of different active scenarios or stories but I do frequently like to discuss what ifs between my characters and whoever I’m talking to and that often can evolve into an idea for a thread which I am all for taking places. I wouldn’t necessarily call it plotting because it doesn’t always have to turn into something, but its just fun little banter about our characters and their reactions. If I am trying to buckle down and plot I will do my best to contribute to whatever we’re trying to plan? 

WHEN A PARTNER DROPS THE THREAD, DO YOU WISH TO KNOW?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS. - And why?: I won’t be mad, just be like ‘hey can we drop this?’ and I’ll be like “cool”. I get that sometimes you just can’t find the words to reply to something and that’s ok. But just let me know so I’m not sitting there waiting for a reply I’m never going to get. 

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD YOU TO DROP A THREAD?:  Either an natural ending of the thread or I just....can’t think of any juice to keep it going and get stuck behind a wall. I am MORE than happy to start something fresh and new when threads are ended or dropped! 

- WILL YOU TELL YOUR PARTNER?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS.

IS COMMUNICATION IN THE RPC IMPORTANT TO YOU? YES / NO.

- AND WHY?: I think a lot of misunderstanding stems from a lack of communication. Do I talk OOC with ALL the people I rp with? No, but If I have concerns or questions about a thread or something we’re doing I am 100% going to talk to them about it to make sure nothing gets misconstrued. I get people get anxious but like...if you have the balls to write a character on the internet with a stranger you can send them an IM if you have a questions/concerns. None of us are mind readers, so don’t leave your partner in the dark about your thoughts and feelings. Obviously if they are writing with you they don’t hate you. 90% of us don’t bite and are just lame nerds behind a computer screen, so.... 

ARE YOU OKAY WITH ABSOLUTE HONESTY, EVEN IF IT MAY MEANS HEARING SOMETHING NEGATIVE ABOUT YOU AND/OR PORTRAYAL?: I mean, I’m not going to LOVE hearing something negative but if its a valid point or concern I’m absolutely going to listen to it and try to rectify it? Problem is a lot of people thinly spew hate or baseless negativity and then thinly veil it as “criticism” that stems their personal feelings about a character than it really is anything constructive, which is a no go for me.  Will I 100% always agree with how everyone else plays their characters? No, but if its not hurting anyone and they’re having fun I’m not going to say anything to them. I 100% welcome constructive criticism or tough questions! It’s one way to improve. 

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE SUCH SITUATION IN A MATURE WAY? YES / NO.

WHY DO YOU RP AGAIN, IS THERE A GOAL?: My goal is really just to have fun and enjoy myself. The longer I am here the less I am worried about doing big deep threads or having amazing fancy graphics for that RPC clout. I’m here to have fun with my friends and play my OC that I love. Again, I don’t profess myself to be much of a writer so I’m not technically here to really further and deepen my writing skills. That sounds bad, I don’t mean to say I am adverse to improvement and I am always looking for ways or feedback that could make my storytelling better, but it is not my main goal or reason for why I rp, if that makes sense. Telling a narrative has always been something that’s been difficult for me (I HATED having to write stories in school and avoided creative writing like the plague) but I really welcome ways that could help me be better, because it hasn’t always been something natural to me. 

WISHLIST, BE IT PLOTS OR SCENARIOS:  I YEARN for a good thread with a Shunsui about Miki taking over the 8th division and how she changes it since his time there. She really worries about still holding onto his legacy while also making a name for herself and differentiating herself from him and how he ran things and would really want his feedback and approval. I would also really love if there were some characters that really took an interest in the kinds of stuff she does with the things she grows in her garden and greenhouse. It is more than just “ooh, look at the pretty flowers” and it is not really something I’ve gotten to explore despite my time here. 

THEMES I WON’T EVER RP / EXPLORE: Anything gross. Rape/noncon/underage/furry or weird extreme fetish shit. I 100% do not vibe with racism, transphobia, homophobia, etc. I do not mind some darker themes but I don’t really have any interest on writing any threads where Miki is deeply deeply hurt or tortured or anything like that, which kind of falls under the gore category. Will I write her injured and do I welcome some kinds of sparring/fighting threads? Yes. But I won’t subject her to gross violence and having the shit being beat out of her. Miki is not infallible but I don’t want to write it. 

WHAT TYPE OF STARTERS DO YOU PREFER / DISLIKE, CAN’T WORK WITH?:  Starters that are too open ended, start with a general with a question and/or little scenario building. You know like the “why are you here”, “what are you doing”, “who are you” sorts of starters. They’re boring and I will most likely run out of ways to keep going with them. Set a scene for me and I will have a much easier time! 

WHAT TYPE OF CHARACTERS CATCH YOUR INTEREST THE MOST?:  That’s a good question...Miki tends to like friendly people (obviously) but also gets a kick out of interacting with cold or difficult to talk to characters (think Soi fon, Kensei, Byakuya etc) because she sees it as something of a challenge. She wants to see if she can befriend them. I also like characters that have an interesting theme or shitck . 

WHAT TYPE OF CHARACTERS CATCH YOUR INTEREST THE LEAST?: Characters that are not really in her age group (think the karakura kids). I have the most difficult time thinking about how they might even interact in a way that is not on the most superficial level. Also characters that I can’t realistically see her meeting or running into. 

WHAT ARE YOUR STRONG ASPECTS AS RP PARTNER?: I am pretty easy to reach OOC, and once I’m in I’m in. I love talking about our characters interactions and will spam you with asks and shit if that’s what you want. I will talk all day about our characters if you let me. I will send you stupid memes. Even if I am not posting on tumblr I’m easily reached through discord. And Idk my oc is good??? maybe??? 

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAK ASPECTS AS RP PARTNER?: I would say I’m inconsistent? I know its covid times right now but I do work a full time job that takes a lot of my time and energy usually and I absolutely can’t write when I’m mentally exhausted. It won’t happen. So there may be times where you just won’t see any posting from me and it may take a long time for me to answer a thread or ask. As much as I also don’t like to label myself this way...I guess I technically do suffer from chronic pain (I have a hip malformation), and sitting is one of the things that really can exacerbate my hip and back pain meaning sometimes I just can’t tolerate sitting at my desk for very long or even sitting up in my bed which really prevents me from writing sometimes even when I want to. I wish mobile draft writing was better lol 

DO YOU RP SMUT?:  YES / NO/ DEPENDS.

DO YOU PREFER TO GO INTO DETAIL?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH BLACK CURTAIN?: YES / NO.

- WHEN DO YOU RP SMUT? MORE OUT OF FUN OR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?: Too much smut is boring, obviously, and I’m not really a fan of smut really just for the sake of smut and threads like that tend to die for me.  And I also don’t rp smut with just anyone, there has to be an established relationship between the characters. But if it flows with the story and it makes sense for the scenario then yeah, I’m down for a good smut thread. 

- ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO RP THERE?: I’m pretty vanilla and I didn’t really give Miki anything that’s really nonstandard. I’m not going to shame anyone for what they’re into or their characters but there’s just kinks I couldn’t convincing write, would be ooc, or I just would be too embarrassed. So far I have not run into anything weird though. 

ARE SHIPS IMPORTANT TO YOU?:   YES / NO 

WOULD YOU SAY YOUR BLOG IS SHIP-FOCUSED?: YES?? / NO. Though I mean ship not in a strictly romantic ship sense. I value all ships as in friendships and other relationships, mentor mentee, etc. and it really helps drive story for both characters I think. Miki CRAVES FRIENDSHIPS!! SHE WANTS TO BE YOUR FRIEND!! LET HER!! Even negative relationships have value.  

DO YOU USE READ MORE?:  YES / NO / SOMETIMES WHEN I WRITE LONG STUFF (ooc stuff).

ARE YOU:  Multi-ship / Single-Ship / Dual-Ship  —  Multiverse / Singleverse.

- WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO EXPLORE THE MOST IN YOUR SHIPS?: 

ARE YOU OKAY WITH PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS?: YES / NO. - As long as its discussed before hand or is easily implied (say like, an 8th lieutenant). 

► SECTION ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

- WHAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE YOUR MUSE INTERESTING TOWARDS OTHERS, WHY SHOULD THEY RP WITH THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTER OF YOURS NOW, WHAT POSSIBLE PLOTS DO THEY OFFER?:  Miki is unique, I’d like to think. She is a blend of soft and gentle, but also stubborn, opinionated and desperate to prove that she shouldn’t be messed with. I basically wanted a character that just seemed like a living and breathing springtime breeze. I’m not saying necessarily that some of the tropes she holds are entirely unique to the series, but I think its the blend of all her aspects that make her different compared to other canon characters. Plus if you love that plant and flower aesthetique™ you have come to the right place. Plus she takes it further than just an aesthetic or a surface level “I like flowers” aspect of her personality. It runs so deep and she is so passionate about it in so many different ways. 

- WITH WHAT TYPE OF MUSES DO YOU USUALLY STRUGGLE TO RP WITH?:  Again, ones that I can’t find much of a commonality with so those who are not her age or are strictly human. Though it is not impossible to interact with humans, I prefer to develop her story within the scene of the Seireitei. Also characters that are super volatile and aggressive. 

- WHAT DO THEY DESIRE, IS THEIR GOAL?:  Peace, accomplishment, happiness mostly. Miki wants to be recognized for her hard work as well as desires to form positive relationships with others. She wants the Gotei to feel less disjointed. 

- WHAT CATCHES THEIR INTEREST FIRST WHEN MEETING SOMEONE NEW?:  The way they talk, their facial expressions, their eyes. 

- WHAT DO THEY VALUE IN A PERSON?:  Kindness, determination, drive, sense of humor. 

- WHAT THEMES DO THEY LIKE TALKING ABOUT?:  Plants, flowers, flower arranging, gardening, poisonous plants and their potential affects and uses, tea, shitty jokes, food, general day to day gossip, handsome men (lol), books, kido and other shinigami arts, human world stuff. 

- WHICH THEMES BORE THEM?: Math, long convoluted talks about history, people who talk too much about themselves. 

- DID THEY EVER GO THROUGH SOMETHING TRAUMATIC?:  The thousand year bloodwar. The death of a romantic partner. The death of her mother. 

- WHAT COULD LEAD TO AN INSTANT KILL?:  It’s really hard to imagine a scenario where Miki would immediately go in for the kill zero questions asked with no context. Probably only if it’s someone known to be a threat, has done things that are terrible, and is likely to continue being a threat to others or is actively killing/about to kill someone else. 

- IS THERE SOMEONE /-THING THEY HATE?:  Birds. Hypocrites. Super self important people. 

IS YOUR MUSE EASY TO APPROACH?: YES / NO. - Best ways to approach them?:  Just roll up on her. She’s easily found in her barracks. 

SOMETHING YOU MAY STILL WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT YOUR MUSE?: uuuuuh she bean.

CONGRATS!!! You managed it, now tag your mutuals! ♥

Tagged by: @bazzardburner technically but for quincy miki which I will also tweak and post there. 

[dolansmith]

Thoughts on the “Trisha Drama”

I’m going to preface this with my previous thoughts of both sides. I didn’t know who Trisha was until after I found out about the vlog squad about a year ago. I didn’t mind her, i thought she brought out an interesting perspective to the group. Then I thought she was literally off her rocker. 

I loved the vlog squad bc I found them in a really difficult time in my life and they kept me from getting too deep into a depression. While I saw some of their mistakes, I saw the best in them all and hoped for change or at least some kind of accountability. 

This is gonna be really long and idk if anyone is even gonna read this/care lol but Im just so frustrated with a lot of the people that are into the vs. Like after really looking into everything that happened, I felt kind of ashamed to be backing the vs bc they’re doing some fucked up stuff tbh. 

So lets do a basic rundown of mistakes made. 

Mistakes in their public relationship:    -Trisha: made sexual jokes about jason’s friends, started arguments about her insecurities instead of starting a conversation.     -Jason: made sexual jokes about girl’s a decade younger than trisha (and 2 and a half decades younger than him), would complain about having to go do things trisha liked doing and would pout the whole time  (i.e. disneyland and a couple of the hamilton viewings), would egg on trishas insecurities, literally dumped her on a daily basis and call her crazy when she voiced said insecurities and then would basically get back together within an hour and practically give everyone whiplash, also talked about her weight and eating habits CONSTANTLY (fucking dick)    -David: inputted himself in their relationship, recorded their fights and encouraged their toxic behavior to both his friends and his audience

Mistakes in the “official” breakup:    -Trisha: talking about jason’s ex and kids, comparing david to ted bundy (a lil wild but tbh not that big of a deal bc no one actually believed thats what she meant but anyway), the brandon thing (we’ll come back to this)    -Jason: continuing to make jokes about fucking a 19/20 year old despite his gf saying she didn’t like it, not putting an end to David “pressuring him” to making said jokes, the brandon thing    -David: ignoring his “friend” when she said not to put something in his vlog, putting his image and career first

Mistakes after:    -Trisha: constantly going on rants about david and Jason.    -Jason: staying in contact with trisha secretly. (ill get back to this too)    -David: putting his image above all else. 

Now we’re going to get into some uncomfortable hot takes. I’m gonna get a whole lotta hate from stans but tbh idc anymore

The Brandon Thing (I’ve done some digging since her video exploding at Jeff): 

   -Brandon began a relationship with a high schooler. She was underage the first time they had sex. There’s receipts and timelines set up. I’d recommend Petty Paige’s Youtube video on it for specifics.     -Lot’s of vs fans say she only brought it up when her and Jason ended so that meant she didn’t really care, but I’d like to point out that she has stated (on more than one occasion) that she voiced her thoughts on this multiple times to the group in Private and no one cared. Y’all are always going on about how she should say whatever she has to say in private but when she does and is ignored, what then? Just a thought.     -Let’s also bring the rest of the vs up in this. How come none of them ever said anything? They’re the ones still out here tolerating him. Pretty hypocritical. I’m not gonna aim anything at the girls bc none of them have Brandon in their videos but the guys? Jeff, Jason, David, Todd and I think Scott too, have all had Brandon in at least one video. They’re out here talking shit about Trisha amongst each other but are friends with a predator? Lmao Okay, cool. 

Jason Keeping in Contact for months: 

   -This was dumb.     -As someone who has suffered from mental health issues and has been in a mental hospital and suffered from attachment AND abandonment issues, Trisha would’ve been better off had Jason ended things and kept them that way. Instead, he ended their public relationship and friendship. He kept her a secret from even his “friends” and then dragged on their “friendship” for months. For what? He should’ve just given her her things and closure and kept it pushing.     -On that, why did he keep her belongings for so long and refuse to give it back until she said something public about it? He ignored her calls and texts about her very expensive things for weeks. Then she made a video calling him out on it, and she got her stuff back.    -I’m seeing a pattern here, aren’t you?

The Jeff Thing (did some digging on him too...by digging i mean google):

   -This one makes my blood boil for several reasons. ESPECIALLY AFTER TODAYS VIDEO. It rlly put everything into perspective omg.     -The starbucks story that Trisha told was the same everywhere: ‘I saw Jeff at Starbucks and said hey. He ignored me and was such a pussy he left his order at the counter after having paid.’ His masculinity is SO FRAGILE that he twisted it into ‘I’m not gonna be fake with someone who fucked over my friend. Can’t fuck them up either tho lol’ and ‘i’m not gonna make shit easy on you, i’m gonna make them feel weird’. What a baby lmfao    -His assault joke rubbed me the wrong way. I know Jeff’s schtick is the whole “I was in jail for a few months and I was a drug dealer I’m big and scary” blah blah blah. Listen, I’ve met men that have been in jail longer (he was in for only 4 months he once said I think) and had worse upbringings than he did and HAD to do some of the shit Jeff was doing (which lemme remind yall, was on his own accord). The men that I know that have lived similar and worse lifestyles than Jeff, would never and I REPEAT NEVER, make a joke about assaulting a Woman over “fucking my friend over”, when the situation was what it was. Which was: an exposé, basically. That’s some petty shit, it’s for the birds. (Also, Todd and Jay’s jokes about the assault joke? Ain’t it. They were just as bad as Jeff’s original joke.)    -Do y’all know what Jeff’s been to jail for? He tried to assault someone that worked at a 7-Eleven after he and his dumbass friends were fucking around in the store and got yelled at and ended up assaulting a woman walking by.     -He also talked about her mental health issues. Maybe he wasn’t talking about her specifically, but it was REAL specific. He said that it was crazy that a “psychopath” that’s been in a mental hospital still had a platform on youtube. That they shouldn’t have one. Trisha made a really good point of, “some could say the same about your time in jail.” Because they could. And mental health can be managed. So can your outrageous anger issues, Jeff. This was really ignorant on his part.     -I also want to remind everyone about the time he said he didn’t understand how men could be sexually harassed. That all you had to do was say no.    -He says he likes to “make things awkward” and make everything a joke when really he’s just being ignorant and doesn’t want to get real hate when he gets inevitably called out

Trisha’s “Dirt”:

   -Trisha doesn’t know anything that the rest of us don’t. We’re just all IGNORING it. Why? Bc David’s charming and Todd and Jeff are pretty? Ridiculous. This is the last vlog squad post i’m going to make because I’m done. So the following is going to be a rundown on the “dirt” on them that made me come to the decision that I wouldn’t be supporting them anymore. I’ll also put my own thoughts and comments underneath in case y’all are curious. Staying silent about these situations is the same as complacency.     -Brandon Calvillo: Covered this but to reiterate, he dated a high schooler and slept with her/dated her knowing her age. He then lied about it in a video to cover his tracks.           *I am well aware that she was months from being 18. This doesn’t make it okay. What does a 26 year old have in common with a 17 year old? And just because this is the first girl we know about, doesn’t mean she’s the first at all or even the last.     -Durte Dom: He was accused of assault at vidcon.            *This hasn’t been confirmed. But it also hasn’t even been discussed. This girl is getting hate from vs stans and the vs have stayed silent. I can understand not wanting to show attention to people who make accusations for clout, but assault is serious and should at the Very Least be acknowledged privately or legally bc it could be considered slander. Don’t let your fans (or your friend’s fans) do your dirty work.      -Jeff Wittek: He has major anger issues. Makes jokes about assaulting women after actually having assaulted one in the past (accidentally but doesnt take away from what he did) and has made jokes about sexual harassment against men not being viable             *tbh he has a “pretty white boy complex”. Meaning he knows that he can say and do what he wants and most people will let it slide bc he’s a pretty white boy. No education needed.     -Jason Nash: Is friend’s with a predator, is quite possibly setting an awful example to his kids, namely his daughter.          *Listen. I’m a feminist, a woman should be able to decide what to do with her body after she turns 18. But being groomed and hit on by grown ass men when you’re barely legal, ain’t it. If you want to and feel ready, there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it BUT 9.9 times out of 10, that fucks a woman up in the future. One day, she is going to see her dad hitting on a 19/20 year old Tana and see that her dad’s  26 year old best friend dated a 17/18 year old and lied about specifics and might think that’s normal and how men should treat her. I won’t support that shit.

And as for all the other member’s of the vs, they either don’t care enough about what their friends or friends’ friends are doing, or they’re not bothering to even consider it’s happening and that isn’t cool either. 

Be better. 

As for Trisha, she’s had her own faults and fuckups, no doubt about it. I’m not a big fan of her content but i FELT for her. Her name has been dragged through the mud because of this more than anything else and it doesn’t sit right with me when her only real fuckup in THIS situation was bringing the ex and kids into it the way she did. Everything else either could have been avoided or she had a right to say to the public since they put everything about the relationship out in the open as much as she did. If Jason and David had reached out and admitted their own mistakes and asked her to stop talking about them online the way she was, she probably would’ve chilled out. What happened, what they and their fans (us) have done has been nothing short of traumatizing, no doubt. The way these 30 year old boys (Jeff, Todd, Scott and Jay) are reacting to her? They’re the real joke if we’re being honest.

Note: I’d also like to say that if you do still support them and have differing views than I do, I’ll respect you and your views no matter what. Everyones entitled to their opinion and thoughts. These are just mine. 

[busket]

so i thought i’d address something having to do with my old nsfw blog. an apology

so back in like 2015 or 2016 i had a nsfw blog, and since i was big into gravity falls back then i drew nsfw of ford and stan. but this has been sort of weighing on me since i closed it because honestly its really embarrassing.

first of all, i used to be big into billford. people who have followed this blog back then know that, i wasnt secretive about it. i think in a way i was kinda working out my own garbage, trying to process different things, cos when i look back on that time of my life, it wasn’t really bright. i was pretty depressed. im not making excuses, just trying to work out reasons for why i was attracted to a ship like that. i hyper-fixated on it p bad and i drew and wrote some fucked up stuff. all though i didn’t view it like that at the time, it was romanticizing serious abuse

that doesn’t align with how i view it now; i think if art can be used to groom victims then it shouldn’t be made, or at least it should be handled way more delicately than what i did. it was around the time that i deleted that nsfw blog that i was beginning to realize “this is fucked and i dont want it associated with me anymore” but i was too embarrassed to publicly address it

i also posted fetishistic nsfw of trans men. i didn’t know shit about trans issues back then. i had like one trans friend that enjoyed it and so i assumed that everyone might. i was being inconsiderate and creepy. i’ve learned a lot since then, so it upsets me that people think that the only reason i support trans ppl now is for clout or attention but secretly im fetishistic them behind their backs. as a cis person, i know now its not my place to draw or write stuff like that and i haven’t done it since

i understand why people might call me a hypocrite, i was so vocal about being against incest and pedo ships back then (i still am), meanwhile my fave ship was super abusive and i was completely ignorant about trans people. im ashamed of that, and im sorry. im sure some people think this is a silly thing to apologize over, but its been weighing on me for 3-4 years and i wanted to get it off my chest. so thank you for reading

[froggheadd]

I just saw a local BMC production and it was so good

Jeremy is sooooo tall, oh my god. He genuinely looked like WPC, I was amazed. He was wearing an x-men snapback so when he said “Like X-men” He guestured really wildly to his hat. His voice kept cracking when he was singing but it WORKED! It was as close to seeing wpc as Jeremy as I’ll ever get.

Christine was adorable, she had big curly brown hair in pigtails and her first outfit was a flowly long pink dress/shirt with unicorn rainbow leggings and white converse. Then she switched to a rainbow stripped sweater with a yellow overall skirt, and then for the voices in my head she has a white short sleeved shirt with a long yellow dress over it. Her backpack was reversible sequins and had buttons all along the straps.

They went for a red scheme for the squip and he had red contacts in!!! 

During two player game, Jeremy and Michael had matching mario luigi remotes

Speaking of Michael, he’s SO MUCH shorter than Jeremy and he has ultimate curly hair but cut like how you'd imagine Michael’s hair looking. His hoodie is the weird teal purple squiggle that’s on cups a lot. He genuinely looked like he was 15 or 16 but I talked to my friend in the cast and he’s actually 21??? He looks like a baby. His mitb was s o g o o d I was about to cry...my friend I was with did cry. 

Michael’s pac man tattoo was a fucking tramp stamp

when Mr. Heere came in during two player game like "IS THAT A GIRL" Michael did a lil smile with squinty eyes and a lil wave 

BROOKE IS ADORABLE AND I ADORE HER!! Her hair was half up half down in space buns, and there were lil pink bows on the buns. She was wearing a pink, yellow, and white fuzzy stripped sweater crop top? With a pale pink overall skirt, and her shoes were half see through if that makes sense? With pink fuzzy socks.

The "girls shirt" that Jeremy picks up during The Squip Song pt 1. was a jean jacket with studs ALL OVER. jfc Jeremy you mess.

During the Squip song pt 2 when Brooke left she said ‘au revoir’ bc she thought jere dated Madeline who's french

During the scenes in upgrade with Jeremy and Brooke, starting when Jeremy starting crying, they had dramatic movie music playing and what sounded like rain. Very Notebook-y. The ensemble was on stage with some boxes set up like bleachers, in 3d glasses eating popcorn like the whole thing was a movie

The squip was always kinda followed about by a group of four girls in red lip stick, red heels, clout glasses, and white dresses and i love all of them. By Pitiful Children tho they’re dressed in all red dresses with hoods? That’s coming back to the Squip’s color scheme being red. HE WAS WEARING AIR PODS HOW COULD I ALMOST FORGET!!! HE HAD FUCKIN AIR PODS IN!!!

A GUY THAT ID KINDA BE INTO!!! Everyone came out in renaissance outfits and were ball dancing around Jere and Christine. They were kinda dancing like that one scene in pride and prejudice where everyones in white dresses

They had basically a giant lazy susan on stage? Think the spinning stage in hamilton except it was above the floor. There was a hole in it the squip popped out of it??? I think it mightve been for More Than Survive Reprise??

When the Squip tucked Jeremy in, he held up a blanket that had a giant picture of Spock on it

Jeremy dressed up as Spock for Halloween (good riddance to the spandex cyborg costume!)

In the dance battle Jake only did Fortnite dances

During Do You Wanna Hang the Squip said “SEX! The final frontier” while doing the hand thing. 

Michael was dressed as Darth Vader. His entrance was cued by the star wars music and Darth Vader breathing. 

When Jake breaks in through the window the whole thing went to slow motion, with Jeremy dodging punches and running past Brooke. It was a really funny addition.

The Squip’s final costume was hilarious he had shoulder pads that came out like 6 inches. Hold on I cant even describe it lemme draw it. Ah yes. The look of pure evil.

Mr Heere was as much of a nerd as Jeremy. All of his interactions were delivered like he was trying to make dad jokes until his fight with Jeremy. That whole scene was amazing, all of the joking faded away and he was really trying to find out what was wrong with Jere. Amazing.

In the pants song when Michael sang "when you love somebody" all the lights turned pink. So.....

Mr. Heere and Michael starting doing lil karate moves together. We love a power duo.

People being "squipped" was them putting on clout glasses

OH! There wasnt a Mr. Reyes!! It was Mrs. Reyes and she reminded me of Ms. Darbus from hsm so 10/10

The fight during the play with Jere and Michael was staged like mortal combat fight? It was really cool, I loved it.

When Mr Heere came on during the hospital scene with a tie and pants on, the tie had a lava lamp on it (like I said. Huge nerd)

When Michael said “Im sure someone would be lucky to have you” he patted him on the back and Rich SQUEAKED! Then Mr. Heere came in and patted Rich’s shoulder and he squeaked again. Poor boy.

Rich was leaving the stage and he fell right next to my seat. When he came back his chin was bleeding :( 

I talked to the guy who played the Squip after and he said he saw us and he almost started laughing while singing

[georgecrecy]

Charlie 4

"This is a fine pickle we're in now, bucko." James said as he rested on the ground against the side of a breathing, scaly mass behind him. The grizzled miner leaned against the belly of a massive, eight ton lizard-like beast that he had called compatriot and friend for several years, scratching at an almost perpetual five o'clock shadow on his chin. Charlie in turn was curled on the floor of the cargo hold, while the comparatively massive eyes looked guiltily past its snout toward James. "And all because you had to have a big romp through a public park. One'd think you'd been drunk again." Casting a sidelong glance towards the large head nearby James said, "You weren't, were ya? You didn't get into the Adroxan Ale again, right?" The only reply was a thump of the long tail that hit the metallic floor with a clang, along with a quick snort of hot air through the ribbed nostrils.

"Mhmm, sure you didn't. Don't mean I ain't gonna check their levels later." James chuckled lightly and patted the side of his scaly companion as he heard the beginnings of a slight whine forming in the vocal cords. "Agh, don't you be worryin' my ole friend, I ain't holdin' nothin' against ya. Bunch of uptight snobs anywho if'n y'ask me." His arm continued to brush against the large heaving side as he thought back to a week ago, when lawyers from the Southtech Corporation had brought a warrant of restraint and removal for Charlie because of destruction of company property at their park. Despite James’ protest, Charlie was led away by several wary members of animal control to be impounded. James immediately went with the lawyers to their headquarters, where he met a loathsome cretin - or as they called him VP of Operations. Seated at his desk as the group walked into the expansive office, he sprang lithely out of the chair to stand in front of an ornate and needlessly wide desk.

“Ah, the miner... James, is it? A pleasure.” He held out a hand which James didn’t deign to take. Rather than taking offense, the suited man smiled even wider with teeth that were too white as he put his hand back down. “I am Crassus Jaul, I understand there has been an unfortunate incident at our park including your….” Searching for the word for a moment, he snapped his fingers at one of the lawyers flanking James, a brief blaze of anger showing through the facade. The lawyer jumped and mumbled hurriedly, “A- a Tilluxian Dragon sir-” “A Tilluxian Dragon, yes.” Jaul interrupted officiously. “But naught to worry, once the Dragon is disposed of, you only need worry about the replacement costs, and then-” “Wait a goddamn minute, you’re gonna put down Charlie? Like he was some dirt beneath your shoe? He ain’t done nothin’ to deserve that!” To his credit, Jaul looked surprised at being interrupted, but he was better able to hide his anger this time. “Why, Mr. James, I’m afraid you forget what sort of pet you brought to our planet. You chose to bring a Hazard Class 1 species into a populated urban area, so be grateful you aren’t locked up as well for endangering the public.”

“Look mister, he ain’t no pet, he is a thinkin’ being who didn’t mean any serious harm to nobody, and he’s my friend. You ain’t gonna put ‘im down. Not on my watch. And, ain’t there somethin’ we can do? We’d be happy to pay ya back fer any of the minor damage he might’a caused.”

Jaul gave a calculating look at the miner before motioning to the other lawyer, who handed him a combi-pad. His manicured fingers perused through lists for a few minutes before saying, “I’m afraid it is more than minor damage. Several acres of lawn torn to shreds, an imported Japanese bridge from old Earth now on its side, its pylons needing repairs, this is a hefty sum that I doubt a man of your… station… would be able to afford.” His grey eyes brightened as if hit by a sudden thought, “However, we could come to some sort of arrangement. You have a good-sized freighter if I heard correctly? Then we might have a quick set of jobs that a man of your rough and tumble talent might be able to handle. My men will hand you all the information, and once done, you can return for your little… ahem - friend.”

James, however, was already shaking his head. “Oho no, that ain’t gonna pan out. Charlie ain’t a fan o’ bein’ caged. He’d do more damage to wherever they tried keepin’ ‘im than would be worthwhile. And I ain’t gonna let ‘im be mistreated like that. He’s comin’ with.” Jaul smile turned into a dower scowl, “We can hardly let you merely wander off never to return with your pet. But I suppose what you say might be true. In that case, we will be implanting a charge tracker.” James began to protest, but Jaul held up a hand, “No, Mr. James, I’m afraid that we at Southtech have to protect our investitures, a charge tracker will have to do. Let us say that it will add further… incentive to get back to us in good time with the tasks complete. Now, please follow these gentlemen who will give you the particulars. Goodbye now.”    

Waving them off without hardly a glance, Crassus Jaul wound his way back to his chair on the opposite side of the desk, while the lawyers none too gently escorted James out of the office. The last thing James saw as the doors shut behind him was Jaul dialing into a keypad to make a call.

From the end of the catwalk above, a control panel next to one of the doors which exited the massive cargo bay beeped insistently, which roused James from his thoughts. With a sigh and a groan, he hauled himself off the metal grating which comprised the floor, heading for the ladder leading up. Charlie’s large head rose with him and tracked his movements with cat-like grace despite the size.

"But we got a job to do now, much as we don't like it. They gotta whole bunch o' clout with the right folks, leavin' us little choice. And we gotta be there for each other." Clambering up the ladder, he punched the annoying alarm off before heading through the door towards the bridge. As he left the room, the Tilluxian Dragon snuffled mournfully and bent his head back over his monstrously taloned feet, its gaze snapping back to the door soulfully every few minutes, and scratching at a puffy incision mark behind its left ear.

“Please, you mustn't take it! What will we do when the winter comes? Our children and old will starve!” The tinny, croaking audio from the auto-translator did little to mitigate the urgency of the colony headman. James hung his head in defeat and frustration, and could only say in return, “I know, mister. I really wish it could be different.” Prior to setting down on the planet, he had poured over the documents trying to find some loophole that the Corporation’s own nitpicking accountants hadn’t already factored in, but he couldn’t find anything that would save them from their debt being collected upon.

The Yallarians had had the misfortune of a bad harvest after buying what seemed a foolproof farming package deal for their new colony from the Southtech Corporation. They were refugees to begin with, and they didn’t have any founding society to rely upon to back up their losses, so their only capital to bargain with was their future crop return, and they lost the roll. Now with nothing left to leverage, their one source of future food - the greenhouse network and it’s main processing computer, which the whole system relied upon - had been ripped out and placed on a hover dolly on its way to the hold of James’ freighter. The eyes of the headman looked desperately after the retreating computer core over James’ shoulder, but he ripped his eyes away from the agonizing sight as James continued, “You know, I got a few friends at a colony only a few jumps away, helped them with a problem a few years back, they might have some extra food for you to get through the winter with.”

The blubbery skin of the Yallarian shook side to side in their version of motioning no, the auto-translator again sounding tinny and light despite the gravity of the situation. “What would we pay them with? Even if we could pay them, what will we do at the end of the season? We have nothing left to bargain with, our colony is doomed. I do not know what will become of us.” James shook his head, “But you got yourselves, yer hard workers, I seen that in the reports.” The Yallarian’s eyestalks narrowed, and the other bystanders to the conversation all began to mutter fiercely among themselves. “You suggest we become enslaved? We left our planet because of such depravity, and are not intent on returning to it.” The miner held up his hands in what he hoped they understood to be a conciliatory gesture, “Us humans haven’t been to fond of it either, not for a few millenia now. I’m suggestin’ a mutual agreement between yourselves and them to help each other, given they accept, and I’m sure they might. They owe me big time. I only need ta get ‘em on the horn. Please Headman Ulla, I wanna help.” Through the frustration and defeat he had felt during his task, the idea had come across his mind as they were signing the paperwork. He wasn’t completely sure it would work with the interests of two colonies and their residents having to be considered on a single planet, but he had hope.

James could tell that Ulla was conflicted, as well as skeptical. First the miner had destroyed the future of their colony by repossessing their computer, and then in the same breath offered a possible salvation. The headman wasn’t sure if he wanted to attack him or hug him. The eyestalks cast about the faces of its fellow colonists, which returned his gaze with uncertainty and fear. In the distance, he watched as the strange man’s colossal friend played with the young in one of the fields, showing a gentleness and grace with them while they weaved through its legs despite the size. Finally, he made a decision.

“Call them.”

After what seemed to James as forever, he cast himself wearily onto the couch/bunk of his rather spartan crew space. A vessel even of this size was largely automated, which was what first drew him to it many years ago, given his preference to go solo at the time. It hadn’t been built with the expansive crew quarters of other comparable mining or hauling ships. Given his rather bachelor lifestyle, it was also bereft of more than basic decoration, except for two pic-files that were mounted in frames on a wall rack near the bed. One showed him from a few years ago, his grizzled frame nearly being ousted out of the shot by a massive and scaly snout with a row of dangerous teeth flashing out of the top and bottom lips, one of James’ arms curled around from underneath as he laughed. The other was a shot of a beautiful vista in twilight, and in the foreground were two figures silhouetted by the two suns they were gazing at together, one a small blue cat-like species that sat atop Charlie’s head. Both were bathed in the pink and aquamarine color that permeated the thin atmosphere.

He gazed at these reminiscently as his mind also battled the conundrum he was currently positioned with. The Yallarians were but one of several colonies he had been tasked with repo-ing something from over the last three weeks. Besides the computer core of the Yallarian colony, there had also been the entirety of a mining system from another colony of Vashas, a lab setup from a startup research firm, and the defense network from an outer rim planet that really didn’t want to give it up. Considering the amount of pirate activity in the area, he could understand why, but if the Southtech folks hadn’t also sent along the kill codes for the network, he was sure the negotiations would have been short for him indeed for the last one.

With every part of the job he had pored through the orders and the warrant information that showed the credit history of each, and all he could do was scratch his head. He was a miner, not an accountant, and while he knew his way around ore breakdown folios and asteroid surveys, he was lost elsewhere, and he didn’t risk sending the info to someone who did lest it cost him his friend if the company got wind. In frustration he hit his hand on the hard metal bulwark, and instantly regretted it, grunting from the brief stab of pain. From the cargo bay he felt the weight of the ship shift as a lizard-like muzzle poked as much as it could through the open door, its nostrils sniffing the air for trouble. Clutching his smarting hand, James got up to show his friend all was okay, and scratched the skin around Charlie’s nostril with his non-injured hand, which he knew he liked and would calm him down. From the door he watched as Charlie lifted his serpentine head and neck off of the metal catwalk, which groaned and creaked in protest from the weight now lifted off it. Once Charlie had settled back on the floor of the bay, James slowly turned and walked back through the compartment and past the bed which his body achingly called him back to.

Instead, he continued past and through another door which led to the bridge. Sitting down and ordering up another cup of coffee from the dispenser to his left, he picked up his combi-pad and scrolled through the mining returns of the Vasha colony again. He scrolled past lists of part requisition orders and breakdown logs to the return forms of all the ore they had sold. It seemed their system was a good investment if the surveys were anything to go by, but they still couldn’t put enough dough up to cover the expenses for some reason. There were a lot of breakdowns, but the company listed the majority as user error, and the Vasha were well known for being hard on equipment without caring much about maintenance, so he was left stumped.

The ding of his dispenser alerted him that his coffee was ready, and he gingerly sipped it as he gazed out the cockpit window. The many stars of the surrounding sector glistened and shot past like the fleeting thoughts in his mind. Despite being overjoyed at finally being done with this loathsome assignment, something was nagging at the back of his mind.      

Two hours later, their freighter jumped out of warp nearby the green and blue planet where all the trouble had begun. He had been cleared to land and with Charlie in tow made their way to the Southtech Corporation Building, a tall white edifice that contrasted against the dark clouds which had begun to darken the skies as they had descended, people gazing in awe or simply fast-walking by a different route once they saw the pair. Since Charlie could hardly fit through the front doors, they were instead ushered in via one of the supply docks to the side of the building. It was in the expansive warehouse section that they were met again by Crassus Jaul, flanked by several of the building security forces. He wore yet another expensive suit, his shoes clicking on the smooth quik-crete floor.

“Ah, my friend, you have returned! We have received all the shipments in good order, so we must congratulate you on a job well done. Surely it is men such as yourself that ensure all creditors are good to their word.”

James merely scowled in return. “Save it, Jaul. We’ve done your dirty work, now get that damn charge tracker out’a his neck and we’ll be on our way. Where’s the vet?”

Jaul pouted his lips in an almost mock expression of sorrow. “Ah, yes, about that arrangement of ours. I’m afraid our lawyers first glance at the law came a bit short. The charges are a bit more serious-”

James’ anger and frustration burst through the surface, “What!? What’re you talkin’ about, you bastard! We had a deal!” Charlie growled menacingly, and the guards immediately raised their rifles at the ready. Jaul quietly pulled out a small remote pad from a pocket in his jacket, and waved it suggestively in the air. James signaled to Charlie to calm down, but even with Charlie’s growls down to a low murmur, the room was tense. Jaul smiled sickeningly. “That’s better. Now, as I was saying, the charges against you and your mutt are more serious than we first realized. I’m afraid your services - while appreciated - was not enough for judges on the planet to look the other way considering. Not to mention that your little shenanigans with the Yallarians cost us a repeat client. So I am afraid the government will be taking possession of the subject and terminating it.”

James was dumbfounded. Barely keeping a bubbling fury in check, he said through clenched teeth, “How convenient. I looked into this world ya know, and your corporation owns this whole damn planet! You own the judges, you own the lackeys in the government, you practically write the damn laws! We done your laundry and you still gonna leave us dry? Why don’t you just write another new law, eh?”

Jaul barely tried to hide a crooked smile. “Why Mr. James, I haven’t the slightest clue what you are talking about. We live in quite the democratic society, and one which fines heavily for such slanderous and unsubstantiated talk, which we shall overlook considering the stress you are in at the moment. Now, we can do this quietly and it can be put down in a more civil manner tomorrow. Should you try to cause trouble, however, that charge tracker in its neck has enough explosive to send its head across the room, and you will get to clean up the mess in chains, after having been sentenced, of course.”

Inside his head he expected screaming, the sound of combi-blasters and roars, but instead it was only silence. He realized he was in shock. The only thing he could think to ask was, “Can... I say goodbye?”

Jaul shrugged unconcernedly. “Fine. Be quick. Make the thing stay quiet when it is taken if it is possible to keep such a beast in check.”

Not even bothering to look towards the loathsome prick, James shouldered past the guards and went straight for the huge head of his friend who had been with him for so long. Behind him, the guards looked surprised at each other. Most were uncomfortable being as close as they were now to such a stereotypically dangerous species, let alone go and hug the maw of one, bristling as it did with sharp teeth. James buried his face against the bridge of Charlie’s nose so Jaul and the others wouldn’t have the satisfaction to see the tears now glistening down his scrabbly cheeks. Doing his best to bite back the sobs which threatened to burst forth, James could barely put two words together to say, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry bud. Now you gotta be quiet and nice okay, and… I’ll come see ya before… before.”

Jaul’s feet clicked impatiently on the floor. “That will be all Mr. James, the government needs to take possession of your beastie, and I’m sure there is some asteroid or godforsaken planet for you to crawl around on, or whatever it is you do. Guards, please escort them both out.”

Charlie could tell something was wrong, his human never acted like this. He was always so strong-willed, like a pup first learning how to hunt despite a lack of success. And now he felt wetness on his muzzle where the human’s not-muzzle was… also wet? He didn’t understand until he felt the rope being wrapped around his neck and flanks and begin to pull him away. He snapped at a few of them before he noticed his human sign for calm. He was confused, didn’t the human not want them to take Charlie? He obeyed, but he keened a cry of anguish low and long, as he had heard several times before on his home when his family grieved a still one. Charlie saw the human sign several more times the calm signal, more wetness cascading down the human’s not-muzzle.

James stood there and shook in silent sobs as Charlie reluctantly let the guards drag him into a different room, and as a door slid down to close, Charlie made sure to crane his neck down to follow the opening so as to not lose sight of James despite the ropes which bit at his neck. His bellowing rumbled through the large warehouse until the door sealed the sound away to a low rumble. The guards practically had to drag James as well back out the door. Once outside, however, one hesitated and looked backward briefly before sifting through his pockets and writing on a business card. Silently he handed James the card, which he discovered had a time and address scrawled on it. The guard quickly closed the door in his face as he looked at the paper in disbelief. He wanted to scream. He wanted to bash the walls down with his fists until he found his friend. Instead, after what seemed forever, he dazedly turned around and staggered out of the side alleyway. He stood there at the junction of the street and alleyway for a while before turning again and starting down the street with only one destination in mind.

After two information kiosks and several police officers accosting him for possible vagrancy, he looked up and realized he was at the address listed to where it was to take place. What greeted him was a solemn, dismal building that matched the unforgiving purpose that lied within. Dirty sandstone columns rose up to meet with ionic capitals, all of which supported the top of the triangular roof in the fashion of a Greek temple from old Earth. The pediment inside the triangle formed by the roof showed a large sculpture of galaxies and stars, which were intertwined with a scroll with the ancient Latin words listed in a flowing script, ‘fiat justitia ruat cælum,’ which a posted info tablet told him was translated as ‘Let justice be done though the heavens fall.’ Without comment, James sat down at a nearby bench to wait the many hours that were left, which to him didn’t seem to be enough.

By the next day, news had gotten around the city that a big and dangerous Tilluxian Dragon was set to be destroyed by the state, and many arrived as the hour drew near to see the spectacle. It was a brusk morning, and dew glinted off of the street lamps that lit the area, including one that hung over a lone bench that a haggard man with dirty orange overalls and a haunted, grizzly look on his face sat on. Bystanders would be hard put to tell whether the glistening water that sat on the end of his stubble was dew or tears. He sat staring at the words etched in the granite above without moving until an hour before when the doors were unlocked and opened. People in business attire and upscale clothing alike were allowed in, but when the guard at the door saw the miner in his dirty clothing come up, he was about to turn him away. James flashed the card he had been given, and after a quick check was allowed in, though the other people looked at him with disdain. He followed the flow of people which eventually led to a dimly lit audience hall, where several tiers of seats faced a curtained plas-steel window. James found a seat near the front, barely noticing the looks cast his way, or the fact that quite a bit of clearance was given him on either side by those afraid for the sake of their clothes being stained.

The murmuring in the hall came to a standstill as the lights dimmed further, but changed to an audible gasp as the curtains were mechanically drawn apart, revealing the lighted chamber beyond. Inside stood several solemn looking people in white doctoring robes as well as several armed guards, but everyone’s attention was drawn to what was restrained in the center.

His muzzle was clamped shut, and his legs had been forced into an uncomfortable lying position on the black and white tiled floor, many lengths of titanium cord three inches in diameter wrapped around the large body before bolting to the floor. The sheer size and a glance at the muscles tight with tension added an element of wonder that the comparably minuscule restraints seemed inadequate for the job, but they held. Charlie’s head had little leeway left to move, but he could glance up as the curtain opened to see the room outside, and a deep and rumbling howl echoed through the plas-steel and quaked inside the very bodies of the bystanders watching in awe. Charlie’s eyes cast about the room frantic and confused, before finding the eyes of James. When he saw him, he lashed about in place, unable to move enough to find purchase to get back to his friend, though trying with all his prodigious might. His head did not stop looking at James though, with a puzzled and frustrated expression, his keening now coming at a feverish pitch.

The doctors and guards were startled for a moment at the sudden movement before bursting into action, the guards standing ready with rods in hand as the doctors readied their gruesome concoction. A final somber figure entered the scene from the side and stood in front of the crowd, though keeping well away from the thrashing thing to his side. “Thank you all for coming today, as we witness the destruction of a member of the vilest and most perilous species that plagues our corner of the galaxy: a Tilluxian Dragon. We have it well restrained, I can assure you all, and in one minute, it will be put down, and from there taken to the Adrax Laboratory for study and dissection to further the cause of fighting these beasts.”

James barely comprehended the words the official said, he was having more trouble ensuring that he kept to his seat instead of bursting towards the glass because he knew that even if he spent all the fury welling inside of him, the glass would barely show a scratch, and he would only make matters worse. He rocked imperceptibly back and forth as the last minute he had with his companion of several years ticked down, wishing he had the chance to hug his enormous side, or sit with him one more time in the familiar space of his freighter’s cargo hold, the memories of many adventures flashing with lightning speed through his mind.  

The doctors inserted several large needles into Charlie’s side, each connected to a different container of fluid. The official watched a clock inset onto the wall in the tiled room as Charlie stopped thrashing, his energy spent. Instead, he called out to James again and again with pitiful bleats, confused and feeling abandoned. Why didn’t his human come to his call? What kept him in place? What was going on? Finally, the official motioned towards the lead doctor, who nodded and switched the pumping mechanism on. First one fluid, then another, and then the last began to pump into Charlie’s veins, and his bleating and keening finally quieted down after several agonizing minutes, the large eyelids slowly closing over the yellow eyes. A heart monitor sat nearby which beeped with a constant, but slowing rhythm until at last, it held a continuous flat line. The official nodded again, and the curtain drew closed.

The audience chamber was awash with light again, and the burbling of chatter from the many excited people dwindled away as the room emptied out, leaving a solitary orange-clad figure sitting where he had since the beginning of the macabre event. Ever so slowly, he stood, and finally exited the room to head to a lonesome ship on a landing pad on the other side of the city. Outside, the clouds still clung dark and brooding, brushing the tops of some of the spires of buildings. Where the quiet of a single-crewed ship had once been exciting and preferable to James when he first bought it, it now seemed unbearably lonely and bleak.

Behind the curtain, shortly after it had closed, Crassus Jaul entered the room, and with a wave sent the official and most of the other staff packing, which was just as preferable to them. The lead doctor stayed per the plan, but he still nervously shifted from foot to foot. Jaul tenderly felt the now stilled side of the monstrous body before him, feeling his hand slide over layers of scale and the muscle underlying it, now lacking the tension it had had before. The doctor coughed anxiously which Jaul annoyedly acknowledged with another wave of his hand as one would do to swat away a fly. “I know.” After several more minutes of gazing, Jaul motioned the doctor to continue, and he swept into action. Inserting a large syringe into the closest vein he could discern, he wiped the sweat off his brow as Jaul stood like a hawk at a distance, surveying his work. The doctor deployed the antitoxin and after several minutes gasped in relief when the heart monitor bleeped back to a slow and steady pulse. The sides of the Dragon began to lift up and down as a regular breathing rhythm accompanied the bleep of the monitor like the lashing of waves on the shore. Jaul clapped the doctor on the shoulders who had been watching the readouts from his machines carefully, making the nervous man jump. “Relax, my friend, you have done well! I was sure your expert hands could perform this little miracle of ours. Now, you can expect remuneration shortly in your account, and we needn’t have to worry about the welfare of your wife and children if this stays between us. Understand?”

The doctor’s eyes grew wide in fear, and without speaking nodded emphatically before ducking out of the room. Jaul then turned his eyes back to his new prize and smiled fiendishly in self-satisfaction. “Now, my pretty thing, you are much more profitable to me alive. My friend will be paying a pretty penny for your smelly hide. I’ve made sure of it.”

Read the other parts of the series!

Part 1: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183762132696/charlie-1

Part 2: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183787102041/charlie-2

Part 3: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183794906326/charlie-3

Part 5: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183818824461/charlie-5

Part 6: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183819131196/charlie-6

Part 7: https://georgecrecy.tumblr.com/post/183819391261/charlie-7