#love the bird symbolism that was pretty much everywhere

[claudiaeparvier]

I have so many forspoken thoughts idek where to begin honestly

[esthercore]

Thinking of older Fatui men with a young, promiscuous and insatiable lover (Genshin Edition) 18+

Featuring: Dottore, Pantalone, Capitano, Pierro

Cw: Dumbification. free use, exhibitionism, cock warming, tiny body worshipping, pet play, throat training, dacraphyllia

★ ⋮ Dottore ⸝⸝

Is somebody gonna match my freak? No, cause he's ten times worse then whatever the fuck you are.

On the counter, on his table, in his lab, in front whatever abominations he's working on, in the Sumerian Forest to relive his younger years and traumatizing all the aranara, yes sir, you two being fucking 24/7, you wanna be a needy little bitch, my my, he would love to indulge.

Now, he can't exactly just stop his work but that doesn't mean you gotta stop, just lap his balls like a good lil pup, and warm it while he work. And don't you dare try to retreat when somebody walks in his lab, nuh uh, you gotta do your job like a good baby, and focus on him and his cock.

Big on dumbification too, you wanna be little whore and give him those fuck me eyes 24/7? You wanna be a shameless slut humping on his leg when he's working cause you just need it so bad?

Silly thing, you are just asking for trouble aren't ya, getting the big scary doctor addicted to your insatiablilty, unable to focus on his work without his baby pleasing.

God how much he hate when you are doing something else than focus solely on him, and he equally hate when his darling is sad, but he is at the end of the day Dottore, so of course he won't deal with his worries normally.

So, hitting to birds with one stone, he will make sure one way or other to make you his personal fleshlight, constantly pleasuring him and since no thoughts except cock, no sad darling.

Though the jerk sometimes will deny you pleasure or outright attention if he wants in the mood to spice things up. Will lick stains you tears after you fall asleep after crying.

Oh, and despite all the agents in his faction being uncomfortable with the blatant shamelessness of their Boss, and the struggle they go through to not catch a glance of naked you in between his legs, cause that would just lead to their beheading, at least they are grateful that you being there makes him at least a bit rational.

★ ⋮ Pantalone ⸝⸝

Oh he digs it, definitely the type keep you as his sugar baby, his pretty eye candy he likes to stay on his lap during his meetings. Dressing you up in the prettiest jewels and the softest fabrics, his sweet sweet status symbol.

Loves just being with you 24/7, you make up as a fine entertainment, having you hanging around his arm, groping you in front of whoever's talking to him, shamelessly if they are someone below in rank or discreetly if he respect the other person in front of him. But never showing much of your skin, although he loves to show off his darling, their precious body is only for him to savor.

And also the type to not mind if you have a promiscuous reputation, finds it cute even, you are a trained and experienced one, so that just means better quality, might even tease you about, if he can get a good reaction.

But, that doesn't mean he likes when someone else, especially your ex hook ups point it out, especially if you don't like that. The business smile on his face will remain the same except he will have that anime villain black aura around him, that make the latter super uncomfortable. Don't sweat your pretty head if you later found that person wailing in the northern bank, just focus on your lover.

Big on cock warming too, except instead of oral like Dottore he likes to use your warm holes. Not a big fan on keeping you on the floor, kneeling in front of him, you are his treasure, you deserve to be in equal standing. Sometimes during his break he like to lift you to his table, and pleasure you orally, savoring your taste for a good while, as a thank you for keeping him company.

★ ⋮ Capitano ⸝⸝

For the captain it's just another one of your cute traits, his needy little lover he likes to take everywhere. Now especially a much younger lover will make Capitano extra protective of them, hence being the only one who will find your insatiably a bit worrisome, especially concerned with how much he could indulge due to being extremely well endowed down below.

Now unlike the other three, his work is out in the battle fields, and heavy expeditions, and normally he would prefer to keep you tucked in Snezhnaya, but insatiable darling is a special case, where he can't just leave them alone with no one to pleasure which means, he just have you travel with him, wherever he goes next, having at least 10 fatui members as your body guard 24/7, and him carrying you princess style, on his back, whatever fits wherever the carriages during the travels can't go, cause fucking him is a goodbye to your legs.

Now back to Capitano's big dick problem, this man loves to use your mouth, but his dick is so hard to fit in! So before travelling with you, back in Snezhnaya he had you warm his cock for prolonged amount of time, slowly increasing the length everyday, so your throat can accommodate his monster of a cock, till you can deepthroat like a pro!

Also likes to pleasure you with his mouth and fingers, stretching you out before every session, despite how much experienced you are, because his cock will hurt, and he can't have his little darling in pain, that just ruin his own pleasure.

But, that's Capitano on a normal day, cause behind the gentle boyfriend persona, there's a devious monster, which comes out when the adrenaline kicks in, especially after a battle, the second he sees you, he's ripping your clothes up, plowing you like a rice farmer, with his tongue shoved down your throat. This isn't jut sex anymore, it's your lover's need to be deeper inside you, as a person, as if he wanna fuck your soul, desperate to have you in his eternity.

Kinda likes exhibitionism too, gets super flustered if you point out the soldiers outside your tent could probably hear you getting railed and then start fucking you even harder, blessing them with your pretty moans.

No one brings up your past or your inability to walk for few days after they heard you moaning loud enough to wake a village like a chicken, out of respect for the captain.

★ ⋮ Pierro ⸝⸝

He's too old and grumpy to keep up with your bullshit. Try to flirt with him in front of someone and he smack your head. No he's not blushing! Don't point it out, he has he reputation to keep up.

Out of everyone on this list, Pierro will be the one most embaressed to have a lover like this. He has never been the type to around, always been a straight forward man, focused on his work, ethics and goals, even during his days before Khanneria fell. So now having to deal with you it trully is overwhelming for the old man.

Now that doesn't mean he hates it, this man is a simp in heart for real-for real, he just don't know how to show it and has a big enough ego to not try, so yeah, he's tsundere granpa.

Not a big fan of people talking about your reputation, that just pisses him off, you might have a past, but now you are entirely his, and if someone dares mention it, they will disappear from the face of Tevyat.

Also cause grandpa, he fucks the least in the list, but when he doesss. The man fucks nasty, like a rabid animal, making up for all the denial, 10/10 eyes rolling, multiple orgasms, thighs weakening, throat drying by how much he make you scream.

Likes to degrade you for being a desperate whore, calling you mean names till you cry, only to fuck you harder when he start seeing your tears, god this man loves those tears.

Big on pet play too, like calling you his dumb bunny, telling you how you are as simple minded as an animal, as you mouth his dick, earning you a smack as your teeth graze his cock. Once he starts coming out of his shell, he like to keep you in a collar, sometimes even adding a collar to your neck, and just look at you or drag you around.

| Tell me suggestions for other men who fit in this trope (current list: (Genshin) Zhongli, Neuvillette; (HSR) Welt, Blade, Jing Yuan)

[ssa-atlas-alvez]

Hi! I'd love to drop some thoughts on cowboy!reader.

I think they get tattoos that are symbolic of things/people that mean a lot to them. No fear of the permanence, because cowboy knows that if something means that much to you at one point in time, it'll always be a part of you anyways, tattoo or not.

So basically i can see the whole team discovering that cowboy!reader is half covered in tattoos (maybe on a really hot climate case etc) and they're like what do all those mean?! and cowboy is like well, i have one for each of y'all. then they all of course feel a need to guess which ones are representative of them. maybe only then do they realise just how much of an impact they've had on him. idk.

much love,

-🦕 anon (if that's available of course)

No warnings, also I love this idea so yeah! Also we're going to pretend that the 'plot' makes sense aha

Taglist: @xweirdo101x @xdark-acadamiax @ara-a-bird @heidss @chubbyboyinflannel @pendragon-writes @migwayne @bigolgay @technikerin23 @supercriminalbean @honestlycasualarcade @caffeine-mess @1s3v3n1 @oddmiles @kevyeen @stealing-kneecaps @criminalskies

It was ridiculously hot, you honestly felt like you were melting (and this coming from you, so it was ridiculously hot). And then a police officer bumps into you, spilling his freshly made (and very hot) coffee onto you whilst you were making your way to the briefing room set up for the case.

You huffed as you walked in, trying to get the shirt as far away from you as possible without actually taking it off. "Someone spilt coffee on me," You pouted, JJ chuckled slightly.

"You're going to need to change shirts," She said, as she was closest she fished through your go-bag, grabbing a shirt and throwing it at you. You caught it, shooting her a grin as you did so.

"Shirtless warning," You warned, they all rolled their eyes at your laziness to find a secluded place to change shirts. You quickly removed your shirt as you then tried to find the opening for your other shirt.

"Since when did you have tattoos?" Morgan asks with a grin.

You turned to him, "For a while now," You shrugged.

"What do they all mean?" Spencer asked, tilting his head.

"They've all got different meanin's," You said. "Some of them are for the people I've met and have impacted me, others are just pretty,"

"Pretty?" Morgan grinned.

"Yeah, pretty."

Spencer looked at your tattoos before pointing at one. A small black bird on your chest.

"Who's that one for?"

"That one's for my baby brother Aden," You grin, "When he was a kid he used to make me sing Blackbird when he was scared,"

"Have you got any for us?" Spencer asked curiously.

"Yep," You said, "I've got one for each of y'all,"

"Seriously?" Emily's eyes widen when you nod again.

"Of course," You said, "Y'all mean a lot to me,"

"Can we guess?"

"Sure," You grin.

There was silence for a moment as you stood awkwardly whilst the team's gazes travelled your chest and back, searching for tattoos that could be linked to the team.

"Is- Is that one mine?" Spencer asked, pointing to the small chess piece on your torso, a pawn with a shadow of the queen piece.

You nod, "Yep,"

"Why the queen shadow?"

"You're a whole lot more vital to this team than you give yourself credit for," You shrug, Spencer blushes.

"This one has to be mine!" Penelope chimes, pointing at the tattoo of her favourite octopus mug. "You seriously got this tattooed onto your skin forever?!"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's on there forever,"

"It's a reminder," You said. Seeing the slightly confused look on her face, you continued, "It's a reminder that you had an impact on my life, that you meant so much to me that I wanted that remind with me, forever."

"You're so sappy," Morgan laughed, you rolled your eyes. "Wait, is this one mine?" You looked, he was pointing to the small MP3 player with a set of headphones and you nod.

"Uh-huh," You said, "You take them everywhere, it couldn't have been anything else," Morgan rolled his eyes slightly.

"Who's is this one?" Emily asked, pointing at the fountain pen.

"Hotch," You answered, "His favourite pen is the fountain pen Haley got him one Christmas,"

"Oh! Oh! This one has to be Emily's!" Garcia exclaimed, pointing to the small black cat. "It's Sergio!" You laughed as you confirmed.

"What about this one?" Reid asks, pointing to the small butterfly. "Is that one for one of us?" You nodded.

"I got that for JJ," You said with a shrug, pink dusting over your cheeks, "She told me she collected butterflies when she was young,"

"When did you get it?" JJ asked softly, staring at it. It was a Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly, a rare and beautiful butterfly.

"Bout a year ago," You said with a shrug, "That conversation made me realise-"

That I had fallen in love with you.

"That I belonged on the team," You said, giving a small crooked smile.

"Wait, is mine a plate of pasta-?" Rossi asked. You grinned at him sheepishly.

[definetelynotavampire]

Oooh sorry if you've already shared them but I'd love to hear some Nikolai headcannons you have!

My Nikolai theories/ headcanons

I have been waiting for someone to ask me about this :D

(also spoilers for Gogol's "The Overcoat")

1. Born with an Overcoat

In his speech about true freedom he goes on about wanting to „fly like a bird“ and to „not be bound by gravity“. I know he also meant this in a mental/ emotion-bases sense but it got me thinking... is he stupid? His ability is tailor cut for this? By all means, he should be able to fly.

His ability can manipulate space and by extension also gravity (to some extend), thats basic physics. He even uses this to save Sigma when he fell off the sky casino – Nikolai reduced the gravitational force on Sigma by manipulating space.

This got me thinking - Couldn’t he technically fly if he adjusted his portals, so that one is on the ground and the other is in the sky/ under his feet?

Well, why hasn’t he done this? - Because his ability is limited by his Overcoat.

Which is strange, why is his ability affected by something external? Is he lying? Is this a mental thing? Can it be any Overcoat or just his cape? If it’s really a necessary part of his ability, then either it’s not his own and someone else made this restriction for him or his Overcoat is part of him - he was born with an Overcoat . Personally, I think it’s both.

At this point I decided to look up the source material, and by that I mean I read the wikipedia article about „The Overcoat“...

The main character Akaky is described as „being born in undress uniform“ and that basically, since the day he was born, his future was already decided. This obviously plays into bsd’s Nikolai's arc of freedom/ not following a predictaple path. But still it’s a funny simile.

Like I said, my theory is that he was both given the ability and that he was born with it. This seems like an obvious contadiction unless you say Nikolai is, like Sigma, a product of the book.

In conclusion i think that the Overcoat/ his ability is both his freedom and also the very thing he has to ‚overcome‘ in a sense.

2. Nikolai is self aware

This is kinda like a continuation from the first theory. I think it would make so much sense for his character, that he knows he has a set role in the story, especially when you look at his desire for true freedom. Maybe I just like the tragic irony, that no matter what, he can never get to that point.

Anyways, if we assume he’s self aware, his actions and idea of sanity is much more interesting. What would you do if you know your actions and emotions are pre-written? I have no idea, but whatever Nikolai has going on seems like a pretty valid reaction to me.

Also what does the conversation with Fyodor mean then? Is the book a God symbol? Why does Fyodor know? Is he older than the book? Is he affected by it?

2.1 This is a bit silly and I’ve talked about this before. Nikolai teleports his right eye to observe everything like a movie. Where he himself is, again a character. This fits well within the theme of his depersonalisation.

3. His Freedom in the context of „The Overcoat“

The obvious comparison is, of cause, „Nikolais obsession and desire for freedom“ and Akakys’ obsession with the Overcoat that he wants. Further than that i have honestly no idea. Akakys irony is that, after he gets the overcoat, it is taken from him immediately and he dies but I’m not sure how that could translate. What i mean by that is, i don’t want it to because i want Nikolai to get a good ending. Which would probably mean an ending that he chooses for himself. Okay thats basically also not very good… well shit... ._ .

4. The silly headcanons

4.1 Nikolai has no idea what an overcoat is, that’s why he wears a cape and calls it his Overcoat

4.2 Nikolai and Ranpo are brothers, i have no reason for this besides it’s funny and i like them both.

4.3 Nikolai does not know how to use public transport because he always teleports everywhere

4.4 He has a disney princess hair care routine (for obvious reasons)

4.5 He has very normal hobbies

5. The "Is it really silly tho?" headcanon (yes it is)

5.1 „We all came out from Gogol’s Overcoat“ - a quote by someone, idk by who

Nikolai is, or will be the author of the book. Idk how or when, but at one point he makes a decision about abilities or ability useres and it affects everyone. Maybe that could be his moment of freedom, because it would be a paradox if that decision wasn’t truely made by him. And then it’s something like he burns the book so abilities and everyone created from the book is gone. I can see that happen.

okay these are just the things i could think of rn, there are probably more ._ .

[alpha-window-9]

Okay, my voice designs are complete! I am about to ramble about them.

Some general comments before getting into each individual one; I'm terribly inexperienced at drawing creatures, so while I adore how some artists are making them different birds and I would've loved for them to have actual beaks, I care too much about quality to do that to myself. So I just gave them pointy noses. Don't question the ears. At first I was just going to make them all have different outfits that could be worn by any gender or shape of person, because anyone can play the game, but that got in the way of other ideas I had. So they all have different styles/proportions to make them stand out. At first they had different feather bits, but then I realized how much I liked the cannon Long Quiet's little head bits that look like cat ears, which are already super expressive. So I went with that.

Going in rainbow order, first we have Voice of the Paranoid!

I'm pretty sure his was the first of the group I designed, or at least, he's gone through the least revisions. I went full bug-eyed panic obviously. The eyes also make squinting in suspicion very obvious. While I like the designs that include the vital organs he keeps running, he serves a more general role in other routes. The outfit was the hardest to figure out, but I landed on the baseball tee because it was a bit more distinct, not too childish, but still very casual. Some symbolism I realized later is that you get to the Nightmare route by making choices that are uncomfortably in the middle, and that's reflected by Paranoid's shirt and pant sleeves stopping in the middle of the arm, right in the joint.

Voice of the Skeptic.

This one was the hardest for me. I don't know him too well, and he doesn't have a specific action or attitude to play into. I finally got an idea when I decided against using realistic proportions for a different voice, that Skeptic was perfect for realism, he's all about facts and reality. The glasses came pretty quick, and I decided on the beard because he needs something to stroke in contemplation. He almost had a pipe as well, but I decided against it. The outfit was difficult again, I looked up a lot of references to scholars and various sherlock interpretations, and finally decided on a dark academia style turtleneck and the long coat, which was everywhere in my searches. If you could see both of the little head thingies the other one would be sideways kind of like a quirk eyebrow.

Voice of the Contrarian.

While I adore the jester parallels so many others have made, I wanted to focus on the immature side of him. So he's a little brat with a backwards baseball cap because he's rebellious. I wanted to make sure to incorporate the sympathetic side that shows up later in Stranger.

Voice of the Opportunist.

He's honestly one of my favorite voices, and I think part of that is how he's good with people and social interaction, so I leaned into that side by going for a sleezy business man aesthetic. He also mentions that he likes to travel, so I gave him that excellent shirt. He's on the business casual side because you can't be serious all the time, you need to relate to the people. He doesn't know what the earpiece is for, it's just there.

Voice of the Hero.

Everyone's favorite boy! My main goal with the body type was friend shaped. Cause he's your bud. Went with the classic Link tunic because it's so incredibly hero coded, and the half cape to keep it fresh and friendly. I liked that another design gave him pauldrons to convey an upside down triangle shape, which represents intelligence and change, which I thought fit him very well. But fighting isn't really his thing, so I went with only one, putting the design off balance in a way I really liked. The head thingies came like first try, he's definitely swoopy and dynamic.

Voice of the Hunted.

This one sucked to design because as I said previously, I'm bad at animalistic designs and shapes. My first thought was an Australian Bear Grylls type survivalist with realistic proportions, but it wasn't quite working and I loved everyone else's feral creatures. So I tried. The hair thingies came to me at random, and I like that they look like deer antlers. By this point I had everyone else down and none of them had a top heavy face shape so I tried that for Hunted and I liked how it turned out. I learned in my failed creature designs that a wide neck was important, so I did that. I kept the shark tooth necklace for flare.

Voice of the Cheated.

I got very tall vibes from him for some reason. Maybe because it helps contrast his squinty eyes. For his outfit I went with a "someone who went broke at the casino" vibe. It felt right for everything to be mismatched, uneven, and messy. He's also the only one I gave a tired line.

Voice of the Stubborn.

Of course he had to be buff, also wide things are sturdy. The tank top was the best shirt to show off those muscles, and I feel like the basketball shorts were a necessity for this stereotype. Thick eyebrows because angry. His head thingies are tiny and adorable mostly because I found it a funny contrast. The blue was honestly a bit of an afterthought, I'd already given red to Paranoid, and the orangy colors felt too weird for him. I think the blue works though.

Voice of the Broken.

He's small. I had to go for a hoodie because it's gloomy and also to give cult vibes. The face needed to be big in order for those watery eyes to be prominent, and I felt keeping it in shadow was the easiest way to keep it simple. I had a lot of crazy ideas about unmatched puzzle pieces and wobbly towers that I'm incapable of executing, but I needed some sort of literal expression, so there's that big scar. The little line on the top is supposed to evoke a puppet whose string has been cut. I imagine that the others drag him around by it if they get frustrated.

Voice of the Cold.

It was a bit difficult to figure out his design until I realized that he's the type to do hard drugs if given the opportunity to. Then things clicked. And once I made the connection of black lipstick, everything came together. The head thingies are supposed to look like dreadlocks.

Voice of the Smitten.

I struggled so hard with this. I can not draw handsome people, but I can't have Smitty looking like a dork. The swoopy head thingies were easy enough, but most of the rest didn't look right, or was literally just Roman from Sanders sides. But I got in a chin, and decided to go for the heart body shape and I think it turned out well in the end. I was even able to keep the shirt sleeves and bowtie that I had discarded earlier for being too dorky.

[steddiesupportpodcast]

Meet the Podcast Team!

It's about time that we introduce ourselves, we're the team behind the Steddie Support Group Podcast 👋 Big thanks to @glitterfang for the amazing portraits 🎨🖌️

ALENA aka @peter-pantomime

Any Pronouns | Virgo | 30

I’m a veteran fan and amateur academic who loves analyzing individual characters and their interpersonal relationships, the plots, themes, symbols, and genre staples of pop culture media, and the dynamics between media fans and creators. I’m coming to Stranger Things from a long history of examining how fans participate in the process of making meaning through their interactions with media texts, and to Steddie from an even longer history of being emotionally devastated by blorbos and ships, the most notable being Destiel, Stucky, and Reddie. I love talking to people about all these ideas everywhere from Tik Tok comments to academic conferences, and so I’m super excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this podcast with so many wonderful people!

Guest & Host Appears on: Episode 4, 5, & 6

Twitter: @peterpantomime TikTok: peterpantomime Youtube: Peter-Pantomime

AMY aka @mojowitchcraft

She/Her | Scorpio | 33

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since day one, but fell headfirst into the Steddie hole last summer. There is no way out, I’m trapped, I’m stuck in here with them. Before Steddie I’d been an avid fanfic reader but I was always too shy to write anything. Over the past year my confidence in my writing has grown so much and I’ve met so many amazing and wonderful people in this community. Very excited to be part of the podcast team and lend my voice to our discussions! 

Producer, Host, Guest & Promo Team Appears on: Episodes 1, 4, 6, 7, & 13

Ao3: weird_witchcraft Twitter: @mojowitchcraft TikTok: mojowitchcraft

ASH aka @steddiehands86

They/He | Gemini | 37 

Joined the Steddie community around October and have been nonstop writing and cosplaying since. I have been writing on Ao3 since ‘09, but never so much as with this fandom. I’m so fortunate to be a part of this lovely group of people to talk about our brainrot in a safe, sane, consensual space… I’m also a Gemini, and like long walks in the woods. 

Guest, Mod Tech & Transcript Editor Appears on: Episode 1, 8, 11 & 12

Ao3: steddiehands86 Twitter: @steddiehands86 TikTok: steddiehands86 Instagram: steddiehands86

BECCA aka @glitterfang

She/Her | Taurus | 35 

I was a casual fan of Stranger Things up until Season 4. Now the brainrot’s got a hold of me and won’t let go. I’ve spent most of my time in this fandom as a small potatoes fan artist but have recently started writing fic as well! I love our little Steddie family and community and I’m just happy to be here. 

Host, Guest & Resident Artist Appears on: Episode 3 & 9 

Ao3: pizzabones Twitter: @glitterfangart TikTok: glitterfang Instagram: glitterfangs

BECKS aka @beccichu

They/She | Aquarius | 24

“Nope, you can’t start watching Stranger Things just because of him” were my thoughts last year after hundreds and hundreds of Stranger Things and Eddie Munson edits on tiktok. Well, after binge watching 4 whole seasons (the last one two times in a row) I fell head over heels for Steve and Eddie and into the Steddie hole pretty fast where I’ve been here ever since. I do write every now and then but my passion is cosplaying, talking about the blorbos nonstop and sharing my love for this community with others! 

Promo Team

Ao3: MsBecciChan Twitter: beccichuu TikTok: beccichu Instagram: beccichu

BIRDIE aka @audacityofbird

She/Her | Leo | 39

Bird isn’t even her real name, but she wasn’t sure if going by ‘The Motherf*cking Lizard King’ would be appropriate. Bird has been a fan of Stranger Things since the start. The ensemble cast, nostalgia and the way the show wove music into it in such a beautiful way hooked her immediately. The brain rot didn’t set in firmly enough to scour Ao3 until  2022 at the release of Season 4 but then the rest was history. A fandom lover and fanfic reader/ writer at heart, but her favorite role in fandom spaces is cheerleading, beta reading and being a part of the community. The love for these characters and the stories run deep but her gratitude for the friendships she’s formed here runs deeper. 

Guest, Mod Tech & Audio Editor Appears on: Episode 3 & 10

Ao3: audacity_of_bluejays Twitter: @audacityofbird

CADY aka @lostinadmiration

Any Prounouns | Capricorn | 33

Cady was a casual fan of Stranger Things until Eddie Munson flirted with Steve Harrington and then went and fucking died. She went online to cope with the grief, and stumbled onto Steddie art, which snowballed into discovering fanfiction, and landed her in a beautiful community of loving and supporting friends who love talking about those gay dudes! In the year of brain rot she completed two fics, has two neglected WIPs, and loves chugging out art. She also wants everyone to know she’s IYLO’s biggest fan and would love to discuss it with everyone and anyone!

Guest & Host Appears on: Episode 1, 9, 10, & 13

Ao3: lostnadmiration Twitter: @lostnadmiration TikTok: lostin_admiration  Tumblr: lostin_admiration

DAE aka @strawberryspence

She/Her | Libra | 23

Dae has been watching Stranger Things from the beginning, falling in love with the friendships and found family tropes in its core. She has always had a soft spot for Steve Harrington, this only intensified when Eddie Munson was thrown in the mix. Dae spends her time writing Steddie fics (mostly angst), editing and having mental breakdowns about gay fictional characters. 

Guest, Graphics Creator & Promo Team Appears on: Episode 4

Ao3: strawberryspence Twitter: @strawberrysomin TikTok: strawberryspence

JESS aka @mydarkdevotion

She/They | Pisces | 31

I’ve been watching Stranger Things since the beginning and fell in love so hard that I ended up getting Eleven’s 011 on my wrist in my cousin’s bedroom. I’ve been reading fanfiction way before stepping into Steddie and writing has grown more since then too. I guess you can say my friends see me as the person that would dive right into the danger (No tag reads/ No summaries) What can I say? I love surprises. Even if they end up in tears. Anyone who's seen my tiktok knows. But all in all just a real down-to-earth friendly person enjoying the thing I love.     

Guest | Appears on: Episode 5 & 11

Ao3: MyDarkDevotion Twitter: @mydarkdevotion TikTok: MyDarkDevotion

KAYLEE aka @sweetz059

She/They | Libra | 24

Kaylee has loved watching Stranger Things since she was 16, reading cutesy Byler fics and appreciating all the found family the fandom had to offer, and always having a soft spot for Steve Harrington. They didn’t really dive in until Season 3, however, when she finally was given a character that they could see themselves in. One Robin Buckley. Which just intensified her love for Steve even more. Then Season 4 happened, and Eddie Munson happened, and Kaylee finally saw the perfect match for Steve. Now they’re one fic down, and who knows how many more to go, and she wouldn’t want it any other way.

Guest, Host & Producer Appears on: Episode 3, 6, 8, 11, & 12

Ao3: sweetz059 Twitter: @sweetz059 TikTok: sweetz059 Instagram: sweetz059

KK aka @knormalizeknitting

Any Pronouns | Taurus | 39

KK is a genderless void who has been a nerd since time immemorial so naturally they’re obsessed with Stranger Things. They were a “normal” level of into the show, for a total geek that is, until Eddie Munson appeared and the Steddie ship set sail. Now KK spends all their time projecting Steddie onto every fictional pairing that has ever existed in media and finding new ways to torture Steve Harrington before letting him finally kiss Eddie. They’re extremely excited to be part of the podcast, make new friends on the server and talk Steddie / ST with so many lovely people when they’re not giving Steve even more trauma on ao3.

Guest, Host, Audio Editor & Mod Tech Appears on: Episode 2, 8, 12 & 13

Ao3: knormalizeknitting Twitter: @knormalknitting TikTok: knormalizeknittin Instagram: knormalizeknitting

KRIS aka @kwills91

They/Them | Gemini | 32 

I’ve written and read fanfic for many, many years, but it had been a while since I existed in a particular fandom. Then Season 4 of Stranger Things came out and I fell in love with Steddie. After mass consuming as many fics as I could get my eyeballs on, I decided that there weren’t nearly enough Steve breakdowns in them and began writing my own, and I’ve been unable to stop writing since. Hundreds of thousands of words of writing and millions of words of reading later and the brainrot is showing no signs of dying. And hopefully never will. Which is why I’m so excited to be part of this podcast.

Guest, Host & Mod Tech Appears on: Episode 2, 3, 8 & 10

Ao3: Kwills91 Twitter: @k_wills91 TikTok: kwills91

MANON @transmascsteveharrington

They/He | Aries | 26

“The binge watch format of Netflix shows hinders the growth and development of fandoms compared to linear released shows. Therefore it is unlikely that many viewers of Stranger Things will ever participate/form a fandom and read or write fanfiction-” is a sentence I once wrote in an essay in 2017 for my undergrad. Then the universe had a right laugh and several years, one gender crisis, and about 250k words of written steddie fics and countless words of read steddie fics later I am now here. I’m an avid writer and reader of stangst (Steve angst) and could talk about it for hours. That’s why I’m super excited to be part of this podcast. 

Guest, Host & Producer | Appears on: Episode 2, 6, 8, 10, & 13

Ao3: ChristinMKay Twitter: @t4teddiemunson TikTok: ger_manon

SAGE aka @miserablekingsteve

They/Them | Virgo | 24

I watched Stranger Things back in 2016. Only because my mum was watching it in the other room, and I heard Joy Division’s ‘Atmosphere’ start playing. Causing me to come running out of my room and question what she was watching. Prior to that fateful moment, I was probably holed up, writing Torchwood fanfiction or listening to the audio dramas while live posting on tumblr. Safe to say I’ve been in fandom spaces for quite some time. Yet never had written anything with as much velocity as I did when Steddie quite literally dove into my periphery. What? Eddie Munson was doing Ketamine and being ridiculous, hard not to relate to that one. I’m super stoked to have had any opportunity to be involved in fandom this much and I’m excited to see where it continues to take me!  

Guest & Promo Team Appears on: Episode 6, 8, 11 & 12 

Ao3: miserablekings TikTok: miserablekings

SARA aka @3blackhearts

She/Her | Leo | 36

I’ve been watching Stranger Things since the beginning. I loved how creative and nostalgia-driven the show is. The death (maybe, hopefully not, let me be delulu a little longer) of Eddie Munson is what drove me to read my first fanfiction ever. I hadn’t resonated with a character that much in a long time and having his ending be so unsatisfying on the show led me to want a world where that’s fixed or never happens (shout out to AUs). Since joining the fandom I’ve found my niche by making podfics, and now this podcast. In real life, I work for a local non-profit and am a visual artist.  President & Founder of the DILF Steve Harrington Fan Club.

Guest, Host, Producer, Mod Tech & Audio Editor Appears on Episodes: 3, 4, 5, 10, & 11

Ao3: 3blackhearts Twitter: @3_blackhearts TikTok: 3blackhearts

[chzdavmpr]

Goodnight Punpun Reading Diary Volume 2

Content Warning: I try to avoid going in detail about the more explicit parts of this story, but this does book gets real explicit for a while, so I'll still warn here that this post will discuss a plot point about abuse and sexualization of a minor. Also if you plan on reading this book yourself PLEASE LOOK UP THE TRIGGER WARNINGS FIRST CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE ONE I CAN'T AVOID TALKING ABOUT

Theory: perhaps "God" represents a part of Punpun's inner thoughts. (Note: I tend to be pretty bad at picking up on themes and symbolism in a story before finishing it, so for some of you that statement is probably pretty obvious.)

There's 2 of him now???

With the wager Punpun and Yaguchi set up it's very much them ignoring Aiko being her own person, but for different reasons. For Punpun he's in his incel arc but for Yaguchi it very much he more has his own issues in how he sees himself that he needs to overcome before he's ready for any relationship.

In volume 1 I thought Punpun's uncle was a chill dude, but he not only has a pretty cynical outlook at life, but he thinks his own sister should die just for having armpit hair, but gets off to a vhs labeled "high school hotties" and now I think I hate him. [Note from after finishing the volume: it get's worse. Now I 100% hate him]

Ok so either we are getting guy-with-afro lore that he works the this karaoke bar, or he's just a gag character that the author puts everywhere for no reason

Uh oh. UH OH. I see where this flashback is going STOP USING THE SAME WORDS YOU USED FOR THE POTTERY TO DESCRIBE THE 16 YEAR OLD!

As of the end of "part 3" I am very uncomfy. And that's probably the point, it forces the reader to be like "that's fucked up" and then look back at that whole date scene that was played mostly wholesome and say "this whole situation is fucked up" (which they probably should have already but the legacy of Scott Pilgrim has taught that you can never be too obvious with this stuff).

They have a lot of zoom ins on Yuichi's eyes in the scene where he brings- what's her name again (checks list of important characters at beginning of part 4) oh shit her name hasn't even been said. That makes this even worse then I thought.

Back to the point though, the scene in Yuichi's apartment has a lot of zoom ins on his eyes being drawn in a more human and realistic manner. I think this is to remove that "goofiness that undercut the darkness" I talked about for Vol 1. If this scene played out and was constantly showing Yuichi as a little bird in a crude artstyle it would make it easier to look past the monstrous behaviour of him by writing him off as "silly." But I feel the author really wants you to stew in the uncomfortability of this so that you really grasp that Yuichi is a bad guy.

Since Yuichi is the one telling this story, I wonder if he's lying about any details, in particular I wonder if he did actually go all the way with the 16 year old. I hope I'm wrong, but there is a chane.

WHY THE HELL IS THE CAFE GIRL STILL INTERESTED IN HIM? Honestly that makes me highly suspicious of her, cause I don't buy "love at first sight" for an appropriate motive to still be interested in a guy significantly older then you, who you've gone on ONE date with, who just told THAT story. Honestly I hope that there's more to her motive cause if not I will be honestly disappointed in that character writing.

Wait the guy who attempted to murder the mom and then set himself on fire isn't either dead or in prison? He's just fine?

The appearance of another "God" who is a different face raises a lot of questions and I don't think I have enough info to piece together an answer rn.

It's definitely healthier then being dead, but this relationship with Yuichi and cafe-girl doesn't seem healthy at all.

"God" opened his eyes. I wonder what that could mean.

So it looks like there will be a 2-year timeskip at the end of each book. Assuming Punpun was like 8 in Vol 1 he'll be like 20 in the last. Interesting.

Closing thought on the volume: This is honestly more what I expected going into Volume 1. I would no longer call this a "dark comedy." We are in full on dark drama now, just with some goofy elements.

Looking back at my notes I had a whole lot more to say about Yuichi's story then I did Punpun's, and I'm trying to think about why that is. Cause Punpun's story is one which I feel I probably should have more to say about but most of the time I'm just kinda along for the ride and don't end up having much to write notes about. The only thing I can think of that I probably could comment on is how Yaguchi is like the only morally good character (except maybe cafe-girl) in this whole volume.

I think part of this is that Punpun himself isn't really the strongest character to me. I know about him, how he feels, what he wants, but him rarely talking and has almost non-existent body language so his scenes flow weird. He can't really bounce off the other characters. I hope that by the end of this story I have less of an issue with this.

While reading this volume I also, as an exercise to get better at media literacy, tried to ask "what is Goodnight Punpun about?" What is the main thing this story is trying to tell? My conclusion so far is that I have no idea. My best guess is it has something to do with how being surrounded by negative influence can make someone worse. Which I guess isn't the worst first attempt at figuring out the theme. But with later reading diaries we'll check back in with this theme and see if it holds up.

Also I realized I only used 1 image for this, and it was for basically a background detail. I should be more liberal with them next time.

[daughter-of-melpomene]

NEW THEME NEW THEME

also new opla oc?? SPILL -🍂

NEW THEME YES!! I've probably been due for one for a while, honestly, but when I saw Rachel Zegler as Lucy Grey Baird I was just like, yes (😅). Anyway, I'm glad you like it!!

And yes, I would be more than happy to tell you about my new babe! Here goes:

So, for starters, her name is Hayashi Lark and she's a Sanji ship, because I do love that gruff kickass cook. A lark, if you didn't know, is a bird that's pretty well-known for its beautiful song, but also for the fact that they don't sing while in captivity. As you may imagine, there is some symbolism going on with the name here.

Lark has been a singer employed by the World Government since she was very young - her parents were both governors of a relatively large village, and when their daughter began to show serious talent with singing from a very young age, they immediately put her in vocal lessons and lessons for various different instruments, and, when they deemed her trained enough, began to trot her out to sing at public events and at get-togethers with other Government officials. When Lark was nine, her parents both died from a bad fever that had ravaged the whole village, and since she had no other family to take her in, she was given over to the care of the World Government, and several officials remembered her performing at Government dinners and were like, "You know what? Let's turn this little nine-year-old girl into a showpony!".

And so it goes - from the age of nine, Lark is shoved into pretty dresses and shipped all across the several oceans, performing at Marine bases to boost morale. Most of the songs she sings are boring and mainly focused on how brave and just all Marines are, propaganda songs written by the Government itself, but she also writes her own songs, though most of them are much too focused on freedom and rebellion for her to be allowed to sing them onstage. She's also fascinated with pirate songs and sea shanties, the kind Marines would never be allowed to sing; whenever she can escape her handlers, she'll go looking for any place in a given village she thinks might have information on them and writes down whatever lyrics and notes she can find, saving them in a beat-up notebook that she takes with her everywhere. She wants nothing more than to escape the life of borderline captivity that she's been living and learn to play and sing as many pirate songs as she can, and maybe even write some of her own, but for a very long time that feels impossible.

And this, as you may have suspected, is where Luffy and company come in. In between Syrup Village and Baratie, they dock at the village Lark is currently performing in to pick up some extra supplies and stop to see her show in the town square. They're all really taken with her voice and presence onstage, but Luffy, being Luffy, can tell that she doesn't actually want to be doing any of this, and approaches her to offer her a place on the crew, or at least to help her get away from the Government and take her someplace else. Lark immediately accepts the place on the Straw Hats - after all, what better way to learn more pirate songs that to be on an actual pirate crew? - and with some moderate difficulty, they manage to collect the few belongings Lark wants to take with her, including her notebook and guitar, and escape on the Straw Hats' ship.

Now, when they get to Baratie and Luffy winds up being taken as a chore boy, Lark offers to pay off their dinner debt by doing a show at the restaurant. Zeff doesn't want a singer in his place, but agrees to let Lark sing one song in exchange for a month off of Luffy's sentence. Lark sings one of the only pirate songs she knows in full, actually managing to quiet the whole restaurant full of rowdy pirates with her voice, and Sanji takes one look at her while she's singing and goes, Oh, I'm in love. And though finding the All Blue is still Sanji's dream and main motivation, he will admit that some part of the reason he left Baratie with the crew was wanting to get to know Lark better.

Aaaand that's about all I have for her so far!! It might be a bit before I have a proper intro post for her, but if anyone wants to ask me more questions in the meantime, feel free!!

(Tagging the other OPLA girlies @starcrossedjedis and @auxiliarydetective!!)

[usagimen]

Valentine's Day Application

Name: Amon Koutarou Age: 32 Do you like to cuddle?: "… Only with you, bunny. I like being close to you and holding you in my arms. Think we've already established that early on, but I'm more than happy to offer you plenty of evidence to prove my case." Can we make-out?: "When the mood is appropriate… ahem. It's a possibility, so I wouldn't rule it out just yet. That's for me to know, and for you to find out." A night in or dinner out?: "Think we can kill two birds with one stone, let's do both." Whip cream or chocolate syrup?: "… Is this for dessert? Both, I suppose?" Chocolates and roses?: "Well, I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, would I?" The answer's yes, and with a giant bunny plush to add to the collection. What makes you a good Valentine?: "… I'm a committed partner, and I'm getting better at dancing." He feels somewhat awkward at having to advertise himself and fill out an application when they're already in a relationship, but he doesn't mind entertaining her and what seems to be a rabbit game. "You'd never have to worry when you're with me. Does that make me a qualified candidate for this holiday, or should I list specifics?... Is this an interview, baby girl?" Would you cook for me?: "I'd take care of everything." Even the hunting; she won't have to stain her pretty hands with blood anymore. Would you let me cook for you?: "Sure, if that's what you'd like. I'd want to help you out in the kitchen and with gathering the materials, though." Where would you take me on a date?: "… Somewhere you'd like to go? A trendy upstart restaurant with a dance floor and a good bar, and then somewhere more intimate where we can see the stars and slow dance underneath the night sky. I'll take you anywhere you want to go, just say the word. I'll make sure you feel safe anywhere and everywhere in this city." Who’s paying?: "-- Hey, don't worry about the money, alright bunny? I'll take care of everything." He's a gentleman who's adamant about never letting a lady pick up the tab. What did you get me for Valentine’s Day?: "Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, but I guess it's fine if I show you early." Matching promise rings with gemstones to symbolize their connection and commitment to each other, paired with a flower bouquet of her namesake and another giant bunny plush so the one he gave her for her birthday isn't lonely. It almost resembles him, with the same deep blue eyes and steady smile. "... Will all this do, Miss Sayuri? Am I the perfect fit for the position?"

     Mangled flowers && cheap blood wine, the smell of intoxicating masked with decay, isn’t it comical? A ghoul that wishes to know what love is, the affection of a heart that brims with nowhere to go. Her stained dress, the ripped fabric of light gossamer && silk bows, slices of meat with the smell of cigarettes - she hated this, loathed it, none of it served meaning but only temporary reprieve from the vacancy that lingered. To live among those that admonished their existence, playing games in order to blend in, youthful with nowhere to go - always hiding. The rabbit who tried to believe her destiny was being snared by the wolves, might as well forget everything else that couldn’t be. When did she ever begin to care? Coffee that was brewed with love, the epitome of an indomitable spirit or the false belief maybe the inherited past they sought to escape could be washed away in the lull of lazy music && simple chatter. A dove, she remembered the worried voices murmuring, he’s found way into her burrow. It would be easy, fool him with the deception that whoever had the information he sought was just another nameless head to claim. Lower beings that caused too much trouble, ruining their fun but instead, she found herself inquisitive.

           The curious being who would listen to him speak && laugh, nihilism entangled within the saccharine tone && champagne towers, what was this sensation that grew in the depths of her stomach? It was not hunger, she had not yearned to eat in years, neither was it the pleasant numbness that spread, dulling the ache of self loathing, it was warm - pleasant. Slowly, it grows as time goes by the actions that go against reaction, low snarls that start to transpire as kin mock her - just eat him, you feel only obsession, it will go away soon. Safe, he constantly says this where she shook && trembled, confessing she has never felt it, biting before she could be bitten. Like a great towering ghost, there she remembers, it burned again that same odd feeling rooted in the depths of her stomach - blooming, twisting, when she wished to slaughter him on the spot. Pathetically clinging to the regrets that she could never utter; stay here with me, I can protect us, why won’t you stay? Those who live solely for the entertainment that anchored itself in utmost debauchery were not meant to harbor such emotions, a life that was careless without regret, how distasteful. “You’re terrible” she finally laughs, meager && soft, unable to be deciphered if it’s amusement or scorn. Berry-stained, her bottom lip is tugged between her teeth. The fabric of a white sundress bunched in her grasp, humans love trivial things, don’t they? They like to flamboyantly express their affections, without knowing the reality of what devotion means.

            The pale ghost reaches forward, slender fingers, too worn && yet, gentle, reach to touch his jawline. Affection that bore itself as she took the lead, a shimmering beacon of temporary reprieve from the mundane, Koutarou - he never saw this. Illusions that she cast in order to escape the existence that was deemed wrong from the start, another runaway, seeking to find freedom when there was none. He granted her the ability to believe that it was possible, this raw thing she called a heart was not useless. It still bled && pulsated with the tenacity to live even if she couldn’t recall why. I love you, the first time she says it the air is pulled from her lungs, the second time, it no longer is caustic on her tongue, slowly morphing into ways to remind him; we can face this together. “Just like always, making me blush && unable to say a thing, you’re such a heartthrob, investigator” finally, emerald eyes crystal with a thin sheen. She reaches to embrace him, tight && firm, like a bastion that refuses to fall - how could anyone be so pure in their beliefs? Even when disillusioned, even when the same system threatened to eliminate such truths, he was unwavering as ever.

        “Already I can sense hunting is off the table, you’ll find everything before I could even oppose, still troublesome as ever” thin slices, tightly bound && placed on the counter, the savage gesture to kill for another was to proclaim; no longer shall you be alone, no longer shall you despair, this sorrow is now shared. “Still nostalgic for your salaryman days? You filled it out perfectly, Koutarou, there would never be a life that I wouldn’t choose you” sunlight, she saw it for the first time with him. The morning that came where she did not rush to escape, dwelling deeper into the darkness awaiting for the stars to rise, instead she listened to the birdsong that was long forgotten. Hope, burning like an inferno that refused to die, that was what she came to understand; the belief, there was more to this life than merely breathing.

        “Dance with me, in our home, till the stars come out && we can talk underneath the moonlight - just like before, but this time, there’s a tomorrow”

[bird-likes-to-fandom]

All for Tammy Edwards (also Penny and Ezra if you want)

☼ -

▼-

☾-

Tammy -

☼- Appearance Headcanon: She's short, plus-sized, and generally composed of round shapes. She wears her family heirloom silver cross necklace and has little golden hoop earrings she constantly wears, but they're very small and unnoticeable. She loves pinks and reds and wears those colors in her makeup all the time. She has a very pretty golden blonde hair that's wavy and shoulder length and blue eyes.

▼- Childhood Headcanon: She used to be really close to her older brother when they were kids! He would give her piggy back rides. He cut himselff off from the family when she was thirteen, and she misses him very much. She's not allowed to speak of him anymore.

☾- Sleep Headcanon - This girl sleeps like a princess. She doesn't twist and turn, she sleeps on her back with her hands folded across her stomach. Sometimes she has nightmares about her parents, though they don't come very often.

Penny

☼- Appearance Headcanon: Very tall. The tallest girl in Uranium City. She likes vintage clothes and only wears clothes she finds at the local resell and thrift stores, partly because they're all she can afford. She does tend to go for the older styles. She wears lots of bracelets! Tammy made her a friendship bracelet that she will never take off, and Ezra likes making her those rainbow loom rubber band bracelets. She also likes old bracelets from thrift stores. Her ears are not pierced, and she has a heart locket with a photo of her parents inside it.

▼- Childhood Headcanon: Penny was afraid of the dark <3 She would not sleep without a light. Ezra liked turning off her light and being a little shit. The Lamb siblings grew up with Sesame Street and Penny had the Big Bird Nightmare (yes even though canadian sesame street didn't have big bird bc fuck accuracy. i have bestowed my highest gift upon her: my first ever memory)

☾- Sleep Headcanon: NIGHTMARES!! My girl has sooo many nightmares. Mostly about Elysium getting burned down, her parents in jail, or losing Ezra. Also classic school and teenager related nightmares about being bullied, showing up to school naked, not being able to find classes, etc.

Ezra

☼- Appearance Headcanon: Lanky but short. Composed primarily of rectangle shapes. Only wears black, but sometimes green and purple. Loves WWF/WWE, and his Undertaker Shirt is his favorite piece of clothing ever. He got it at Wrestlemania while he and Penny were in the US, he made her buy it a few sizes too big so he wouldn't grow out of it for a long time. He always has a hairtie handy, but mostly because he wears them as bracelets. And obviously, he wears his cape everywhere.

▼- Childhood Headcanon: Ezra wasn't popular among the Elysium kids. They thought he was weird, too morbid and dark. He had a couple friends, but that was it. Penny was one of those friends.

☾- Sleep Headcanon: This kid falls asleep in sleep positions unknown to man and wakes up in sleep positions unknown to God himself. He tosses and turns so much.

send a character and some symbols for this headcanon ask game

[spyromancy]

i haven't done one of these in a HOT minute... tagged by @good-wine-and-cheese ! <3

Name your favorite movie, character, animal, drink, song, season, book, color and hobby.

Movie: Difficult right off the bat... I always go back to Tekkonkinkreet, it encapsulates so much of what I love in a movie. It would also be easy, yet truthful, to mention Everything Everywhere All At Once... Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is also up there.

Character: Dang okay this is another hard one. Kenzo Tenma from the animanga Monster is REALLY important to me and probably one of my alltime favorite characters... but I also really deeply care about Cole from Dragon Age: Inquisition. And for a completely different mood, I'll always hold a very special place in my heart for Sonic the Hedgehog ever since I was a toddler LMAO

Animal: Pretty even split between birds and deer, slight preference towards birds! I really like the aesthetic and... symbolism? i guess? of wolves, though.

Drink: Appley juice :) (I also like homemade sangria wine haha)

Song: RRRRGHHH okay that's too hard. Small Hands by Radical Face is a big one though, as is The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades by Sufjan Stevens. WAIT. Also The Girl in Byakkoya - White Tiger Field by Susumu Hirasawa.

Season: Autumn, easy! Spring is nice, too. I prefer the inbetweenies to the extremes.

Book: Love reading, love to do it someday. UHHH. I remember the Incarceron / Sapphique series by Catherine Fisher really impacting me as a younger person. And Catcher in the Rye is also a really special book to me, one I don't think I'll ever re-read, but I read it at a really crucial time in my life and it made me feel... better? About everything.

Color: Lavender! With soft sky blue, almost periwinkle, as a close second. Also a big fan of sunshine yellow.

Hobby: I woulda said drawing but honestly since it's partly my career these days, I enjoy it less so... writing really consumes most of my brain like all the time, so maybe that's my favorite hobby. Or is that a passion? HMM. I also really like practicing banjo, though I'm not as good as I wanna be.

Tagging: Anyone who sees this and wants to do it!

[the-haunted-office]

🍁+ what are the office gangs' favorite seasons (or at least whichever muses you'd like to answer for!)

Send 🍁 + Any question you’ve been curious to know about my muse!

Cyrus - Spring. He loves the warming of the weather, all the budding trees and flowers, baby animals, bees coming out, clear skies by sometimes rainy weather, the symbolism of new life.

Doomsday - Autumn. She loves Halloween, thunderstorms, the changing of the weather, the changing of the leaves on trees, the way leaves rattle on the ground and race on the wind, the smell of fall in the air, bonfires, stargazing under clear skies.

Oleander - Doesn't have a favorite. They just don't have a preference. All seasons have merit, and they have complaints about every season too. Summer is too hot, winter is too cold, spring is too tornadoey, and autumn is too windy. They'd rather stay indoors and avoid it all.

September - Winter. She loves the snow, the look and feel of it, how quiet it is and how it absorbs sound, Christmas, the peace of being outside in snowfall, the look of dead, leafless trees while knowing they will always come back in spring, the way animals survive something so desolate and endless, numb cheeks that feel tingly when they warm up, soup.

Thursday - Autumn. Same reasons as Doomsday! She also loves cuddling up under warm blankets and turning on the fireplace, sitting by the window when it's storming outside, drinking coffee and tea.

Dorian - Spring. Pretty similar reasons to Cyrus, it loves all the new life everywhere, the fresh air, the clear blue skies, all the little bird nests and baby birds all over the outside of it, the feel of fresh rain on its exterior.

Stanley - Winter. Christmas. That's pretty much why Stanley likes winter haha.

[practically-an-x-man]

Get to know your fic writer asks! God there are SO many good questions in this one, forgive me for the large stack:

1, 4, 11, 19, 20, 26, 33, 35, 45, 51, 55, 69, 72, 77 [Catch and Release]

<3

oooooh my friend this is a FEAST of prompts you are sharing with me!! so excited to dive into this!!

(fair warning, this is... gonna be a long one)

<3

Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chaptered fics?

Multi-chaptered! Partially because I have too many ideas for my own good, but mainly because the context of a character's relationship feels very important to me and I find it hard to capture that properly in just a oneshot. Even the oneshots I have written, at least so far, all connect in some way to a larger established storyline instead of being truly standalone.

4. Where do you find inspiration for new ideas?

Reading (I do a lot of that), followed by periods of in-between where I can just let my brain marinate. For example, I just reread the first three Fablehaven books while on this band trip, and combined with entirely too much time spent staring out the window of a bus as we got from place to place, I already have an OC and a storyline cooked up for it.

If I need a smaller-dose burst of inspiration, like to get past the writer's block for a particular chapter, I'll go take my dogs for a nice long walk and let my mind wander for a bit.

11. Link your three favorite fics right now

This is admittedly a cop-out, but I have to skip this one for now. I haven't been at my computer in well over a week thanks to this trip, and most of the fics I've been reading lately have been from friends anyway (y'all are amazing writers and your fics were the first in my mind when I read this, but I want to stay neutral about this). Plus I've been up for over a full 24 hours at this point and I really don't have the energy for this question lol

19. What is the most-used tag on your ao3?

Fluff and Angst are tied, which is not a surprise in the slightest. I'm also not great at tagging stuff, so it all gets a little repetitive

20. Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

Music is definitely my biggest tie-in, it's everywhere. Fics/chapters titled after songs, music present in the fic, notable lyrics, you name it. Music is a huge part of my life, and it weaves into my writing almost everywhere I go.

Aside from that, I feel like there's a lot of queer and neurodivergency themes in my writing, for the same reason as the music: it's a big part of my life and my worldview, and that bleeds into my writing both intentionally and unintentionally.

Symbolism-wise, I think I work with mythology a lot, as well as themes of birds and flight.

26. Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

Hm... that's a tough one. They're all pretty wild in their own way.

I'm inclined to say A Love Once New, just because that one's so long that a lot is contained within it, but it also follows a pretty standard X-Men type formula once you look past the length itself.

I think it's a tie between Smoke and Mirrors and Nom De Guerre, though. Those have some of my most dynamic characters, the most intense and unpredictable villains, a few good twists, and I don't rely on the plots of an established movie (Catch and Release is a good wild ride too, but a lot of that is just No Way Home itself coming into play). I think Desert Song will be pretty wild too, but we're too early into that one for me to reveal my secrets just yet ;)

33. Do you want to be published some day?

Yes! I actually started writing fanfic as a way to hone my skills in writing, with the eventual goal of having something published. I don't intend for writing to be my primary career, but there are definitely a couple ideas that I want to get out there, and I want to write them my way.

35. What is one essential thing to remember when writing a villain? 

Show their humanity. Give the audience something to relate to. Show the audience a character of unfathomable darkness and they can't relate, at best you just spark a mild intrigue in the angst. But maybe that character does it all to save their younger sister - and you've struck empathy with every older sibling reading. Maybe that character has a favorite pastime, a childhood hobby, a pet, a personal quirk - and you've reached everyone in the audience who has that same quirk.

And once you've tapped into those points of connection, that's when you can play with something deeper than intrigue. It doesn't matter how much magic or power you give your supervillains; if the audience could encounter the same person, or better yet, become the same person through some twist of fate, that's a good villain.

45. Do you want to break your readers‘ heart or make them laugh?

Both. Sometimes at the same time (or at least I try).

51. What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,087,068. I write a lot...

55. Of the characters you write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain ones?

Ooh, tough one. I think of the canon characters, the Corinthian is my favorite to write. I love writing characters who are charming, and he fits that down to a tee. Plus, it's fun to explore his sense of morality (or lack thereof), since most of the other characters I write for trend towards the morally good. Billy/Four is a lot of fun too, namely in Desert Song - I can't quite articulate why, he's just a lot of fun to write.

Of my OCs, that's a little tougher. There's something unique that I love to write for each of them: Quinn's allegories on gender and disability, Jasper's empathic sense, Rae's bordering-on-foolhardy sense of justice, Katherine's link to mythology, I could keep going. That's partly how I keep myself motivated, really - I explore something new and different with each of them, and it's hard to choose one favorite.

I will say, though, writing Ophelia is a lot of fun. A lot of my characters are fairly spunky, since I like a good strong character to command the narrative, but Ophelia has something unique that makes her spunk a little different from the others. She genuinely doesn't care how she's perceived by others, and it results in some very fun, very daring interactions.

69. What work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing?

I mean... Behind the Scenes. AKA, the first fic I ever wrote and posted. I thought it was rough even then, which is why it went abandoned at 7 chapters, but I'm even more embarrassed about it now that I've grown as a writer. I don't look back at it often, but whenever I do, I'm just reminded of how wholeheartedly rough it is compared to what I write now. I really should delete it or orphan it or something, but I don't want to get rid of it until I've started a rewrite for it. Which might mean I never get rid of it. But embarrassing or not, I don't just want it to be gone - it's not my job to determine peoples' personal preferences, what if there's someone who actually likes it?

Don't read it. But it's there for the people who have read it, just in case.

72. What order do you write in? front of book to back? chronological? favorite scenes first? something else?

Front to back, because I don't write the full thing before I post (I write it by-chapter and rotate my updates). Also, if I wrote my favorite scenes first, I'd probably end up with about as much writing as I have now... but it would go absolutely nowhere. Writing the gradual build, while it does get tedious at times, definitely helps me pull together a clean and unified final product.

77. Do you have a favorite scene you’ve written from [Catch and Release] story/chapter? 

I was really happy with some of the flashback sequences. Originally there were only supposed to be a few, to help guide Ophelia into her place in the story, but they went over really well and I just kept having ideas, so I kept it going.

I think my favorite is the one in Chapter 10, where Harry meets Olly under the bleachers shortly after her parents died. I feel like it really showed a lot of both Harry and Olly's character, and the darkness that had begun to spread in them even as they tried to offer each other support. There also was a good bit of foreshadowing of Harry as the New Goblin in that chapter, which I put a lot of thought into.

[rowsandrows-of-roses]

Flores de Colombia

So, I have two Colombian coworkers, whom I love talking to because they were both born and raised in Colombia and give me such amazing stuff for Isabela all the time. (Her love of horses comes from my coworker, Nancy, whose father raised Paso Finos. <3) I learn a lot about the country and culture from them. And one thing they always say is how beautiful Colombia is and how much biodiversity there is because of the Alpines, the Amazon, and the coastlines.

It is one of the most biodiverse places in the world. They have the most indigenous flower species and the most butterflies, as well as others. Not to mention, they are second only to the Netherlands in flower exports. (The next time you buy flowers, look where they are from! Especially if you're in North America, chances are the flowers are from Colombia. The ones I have in my vase rn are from there.)

I am sure the creators of Encanto knew this and it's part of the reason that Isabela has the gift she does. Isabela knows this too and it makes her feel very connected to Colombia, even though she never lived there.

This list is not necessarily her favorite flowers (though some of them are on here), or her favorite ones to create (though some of those are on here too), but more of a love letter to all the beautiful and culturally significant flowers of Colombia! (I did so much research for this, lmao.)

Cattleya Trianae Orchid: The national flower of Colombia! Colombia is known for its diversity of orchids. The Cattleya is also called the “mayo de flor” or the May Flower. It is known for the fact that it grows on trees without feeding on them. (Something, something, metaphor for Isabela.) Also, it was the inspiration for the color of Isabela’s dress in the movie and the reason her favorite color is purple! Unfortunately, they are one of the most threatened species of orchid in Colombia due to habitat destruction.

Freedom Roses: Colombia is also a huge exporter of roses and they have many different kinds, but freedom roses are the classic bright red rose that is cultivated all over the world. Also, the petals of the freedom rose are used in many Colombian desserts. It also has medicinal and cosmetic properties. 

Carnations: Another extremely popular export. Carnations come in nearly every color, though in Colombia they are mostly bought and given for Mother’s day--mostly in white and pinks. They can also be considered as “flirty” flowers, symbolizing pure love and innocence. Isabela loves carnations. If you got her a bouquet of carnations over roses, she’d be very impressed.

Sugar Flower: These flowers often decorate gardens and are extremely popular to put outside your house.  I am sure they are all over the walls of Casita. They symbolize innocence and are edible! A lot of time they decorate cocktails and have a slightly spicy taste. (I’ve actually tasted these, since they grow in California too, they’re pretty good, lol.) They also dance! If their petals get too close to another flowers, they shrink or move.

San Joaquin: Another edible flower! These are a species of hibiscus and aren’t actually native to Colombia, but they grow everywhere. Again, they decorate doorways and are used to beautify neighborhoods. Another flower that probably adorns Casita in the summertime. (They bloom June-August.) 

Heliconia Bird of Paradise: One of Isabela’s favorites, just because they’re so pretty and unique. They’re a little different from other flowers too, so she kind of keeps it to herself that she likes them so much. They can be found in many colors and are extremely bright and eye-catching. Considered more exotic and rare. 

Alpinia Purpurata: Another more “different” flower that Isabela really likes. These grow in Casita’s garden, for sure. They can get very big (up to 2 meters high). They’re very showy plants, due to their large size and bright colors. Part of the reason that Isabela loves them so much. 

Amazon Victory: The giant amazon water lily! The biggest species of which is found in Colombia. I want to HC that there is a pond in the Casita garden where some of these grow. Isabela also has a large pond in her room which definitely has these and sometimes she likes to lay on them, lol. (Her room in my mind is like Monet’s garden in Giverny). This is another one of those kind of “weird” flowers that Isabela probably wouldn’t super openly admit to liking, but she loves them. (Water lilies are also my favorite flower, fun fact, so I had to include them.) Their flowers also bloom every morning at sunrise and close again at night, which I love.

Iníridas: I found these flowers in my research and while they aren’t well known or particularly culturally significant, they are helping indigenous communities thrive with the exportation of the flowers to generate income for underserved areas. Additionally, the flowers are important because they can soak up metals in the soil and help restore balance to polluted areas. They are an “umbrella” species. By protecting them, you protect several other species around them. [link to the article, if you're interested.]

[supernovafeather]

A Dream

Leto Atreides x F!Reader

Content : harem, concubine!reader, mutual pining, nudity, fluff.

Please comment and reblog if you liked ! 😊

Thanks to weeks of training your danse is synchronized perfectly with the softest music filling the air. The chords move in harmony between the thin and skilled musicians' fingers, as well as your limbs turning in the air with precision.

The group of ten concubines you are a part of has mastered this choreography a long time ago, but this time the Duke himself and an audience restricted to his most loyal men and women witness your hard work. Here on Caladan you are a model of elegance when it comes to traditional music, the symbol of feminine and distinguished delicacy the Duke only can get a taste of. More than a harem of favorites depending on a single pan you had become an important part of the traditions conservation.

Black flat shoes, a long white and beige dress you can make float all around you in swift and mastered twirls without undoing the complex bun crowning your head. Where many uncultured eyes would see a group of women parading for the Duke, you see the tales narrated in all the nuances of your gestures : the wind hitting the cliffs during thunderstorms, conquest, the birds songs, the rise of the House Atreides. These stories fill your heart with pride and melancholy as after a few steps back you stand in the fourth line, kneeling in front of another concubine doing the same, your hands linked as you look at each other tenderly as the music slows down.

An approving series of claps erupts all around you as the privileged audience goes back to its previous interactions, buzzing with compliments for the Caladanian culture and good taste in art.

To your surprise you see a blond maid coming to you with a slight bow, her soft voice being another treat for the guests.

"Duke Leto requires your presence."

Barely a few seconds later you walk up to the Lord's sides, staying at a reasonable distance out of respect. You are a concubine among others, and despite some temporary surge to sit on his lap or to hold his hand you know better. Affection display in public must come from him.

"Here you are." Leto purrs with a grin. "Come here."

"Yes my Lord."

He stands up from his chair, his gentle eyes slightly watering due to exhaustion and alcohol remaining somehow as charming as ever as they examine your face.

The soft kiss on your cheek surprises you by how sensual it feels. Nothing too explicit but the sheer gentleness of his gesture and the pressure resting there for more or less five seconds as he holds your hands firmly doesn't feel acceptable in front of an audience. They may be all talking to each other but in these kinds of events one's eyes are always everywhere.

"You were magnificent." He tells you tenderly at your ear so that you are the only one hearing his words. "It's always a pleasure to see you loving this."

"If you loved it then I consider my mission completed my Lord." You reply with a flattered smile. "I hope they all appreciated it."

His thumbs apply some pressure on your palms as he rubs them and it feels pretty good, especially under this playful gaze so close to your face.

"Please join me tonight."

"I will." You say with a kiss on his bearded cheek.

Dancing is a good source of pleasure but you have to admit that making Leto fall harder for you every day is an indecent one you cherish more than anything else.

You joined the harem out of selfishness, it's true but after all you needed to make sure that you could get a much better situation. You used to target some important man in the court before catching the Duke's eye and to your disbelief you could only watch yourself getting absorbed by his numerous qualities.

After your bodies reach their climax his embrace tends to be more protective than possessive, his fingers tracing some patterns on your skin as you listen to his heart beating, your eyes closed with a content smile. You had never done such a thing with anyone else. Why would you care about a heartbeat when all you wanted to do was either leave the bed or fall asleep ? But with Leto it's different. It connects you to him.

"Your skin is softer than usual." The Duke mumbles sleepily. "I love it."

His hand rubs your back up and down with slow gestures before reaching your shoulder blade, then nape.

"I chose a new soap. I knew you'd like it."

"Oh, so this was all planned ?"

"Everything went well according to my diabolical plan. You just can't resist."

He snorts before kissing the top of your head.

"I can't. You're right."

A long and almost silent yawn later you feel him shifting a bit underneath you. This signal is enough to make you roll onto your side as the Duke leaves the comfort of his bed, your eyes admiring his simple naked beauty. Sometimes you wonder whether famous sculptors would be able to copy his body properly. After all they don't have the chance to touch and see him the way you do so often. Would they be able to reproduce the firmness of his muscles, this subtle softness in his features once relaxed, the length of his eyelids that adds a more feminine aspect, his curls, this belly that feels so welcoming for your head the days he gained weight ? They would never dare to show anything negative about their leader. You, you can see him fully.

"Do you want to take a shower with me ?"

Leto turns to you, and your only answer is a shrug as you keep watching him with an adoration you don't care about hiding from him. He's handsome, what can you do against it ?

"What about a bath ? It would feel better to take our time after the festivities."

"My eyes are up there." He scolds you with a fake serious tone. "And I know that if I let you take a bath you are going to fall asleep again."

"But there's nothing better than sleeping in hot water with my Duke and his stories."

He chuckles loudly and walks away, shaking his head before entering the bathroom.

You love how casual your interactions can be when you have time. This got never discussed between you but you hope that one day he is going to make you his Duchess out of all his other girls, one looked at with genuine affection. Maybe it's an unreachable dream but you doubt it. And if it is that unreachable, then you are going to allow yourself to keep dreaming with innocence. This world is full of injustice and dark elements, why would you stop believing in what brings you light ?

- - - - -

Please comment and reblog if you liked !

@salome-c @stevenngrant @lavenderluna10 @one-hell-of-a-disappointment @dailyreverie @thecursivej @lady-targaryen @general-latino @harrys-tittie @laura-naruto-fan1998 @later-gators12

[perispinel]

My Best Guess as to the story of Don't Hug Me I'm Scared

Yellow Guy, apparently named Doi, is raised by his father Roy Gribbleston.

Roy believes that his son has been corrupted- describing it as 'allowing his eyes to grow arrogant and rude.' Given the answers that his son gives in the interview, it is clear this must refer to just how he thinks much differently than others.

For this, he decides to take him to 'punish land,' meaning that he intends to teach him 'what's right from wrong' through a series of lessons.

While we see Roy use a pretty old-fashioned computer at one point, it is clear he is more up-to-date with technology than he appears, as it is shown that the teachers are all apart of some computer program. Every teacher can be summoned with the push of a button, so even while all of them have physical puppets, they are in-universe just realistic simulations.

As the series goes on, the teachers begin to devolve, growing less coherent. While Sketchbook's lesson is pretty concise- it is fun to be creative but you have to be creative in the right way- and Tony at least makes an effort to explain that time is a way to measure the day, future teachers barely give any concrete information or just make things up entirely.

Colin, for instance, spends most of his lesson bragging about his own intelligence rather than showing what he can do, and when it comes time to show off the Internet, it turns out to just be a selection of three things- essentially, 'facts and figures, showing yourself off, and mindless entertainment.'

Shrignold, similarly, gives vague and unprovable platitudes about how 'love is everywhere' and 'everyone has a special one' before delving into full cultish territory, and the food teachers constantly contradict each other and barely seem to understand what they're trying to teach.

Finally, the Lamp has no actual information to give about dreams that can't already be surmised by just having a dream- simply listing off different dreams one can have and explaining that they happen while you're asleep. His song being the most simple, a repeating melody over and over, also adds to the idea of the teachers devolving over time.

Near the end of the sixth episode we have it depicted that there were many teachers Roy created that did not make the cut- many other lessons he considered to give to his child but chose against it.

Why did he go for creativity, time, love, computers, healthy eating, and dreams? While it could be that those were what he considered to be the most important, it may be closer to the reason why teachers will often put movies on in class rather than actually teaching anything- they have time to kill and didn't prepare anything more.

How did the Duck Guy and Red Guy get pulled in, though? If he wanted to teach his son right from wrong, surely he should've done it solo, right?

Well, perhaps he was hoping to kill two... no, three birds with one stone. He hoped that, by virtue of his son's naturally charming demeanor, his enthusiasm for 'lurning' would make the Duck and Red Guy follow along.

However, this was proven wrong swiftly. Duck Guy and Red Guy continued to be the ones weighing the lessons down in Roy's eyes- the former asking pressing questions and the latter having a deliberate lack of interest in anything going on.

When it seemed as if they would be a detriment to his son's learning, he took them out of the 'class' entirely. Red Guy was forced into another layer of the simulation that would try to make him feel comfortable in a world of likeminded individuals, and Bird Guy was killed off...

...but not for real, as we see that with a press of a button Red Guy could summon him effortlessly. Does that imply Bird Guy was a simulation too? More likely, it means that his death was fabricated and meant more of a symbolic gesture of ousting him from the lessons.

Now, at the end of the sixth episode, Red Guy unplugs the computer despite what appears to be a silent protest by Roy. One could interpret him as learning the error of his ways and trying to point him toward the plug, but I see it more as him going 'stop meddling with things' and hoping he'd just step out of the way and let him fix things back to normal.

What does it mean that we see a differently colored crew at the end? I feel this means that the trio is free, replaced by a new collection of students who will go through their own lessons...