#this creative block of mine has been the wORST

[gatheredfates]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers (ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡

Aww, I love positivity asks! I can't say mine are in any way profound, but:

My loved ones. Cheesy, I know. Shout-out to my partner who does have a Tumblr account but refuses to be perceived because I know he'll read this and appreciate the fact I didn't tag him. I've been asked before how on earth I've been in a relationship with one person for over half my life and that's simple: I fell in love with my best friend. 💖 Also huge shoutout to @riftdancing who will be perceived because she's the platonic love of my life and, without her, I would not be who I am today. These two have seen me at my literal worst and stuck by me — I love them to bits! There's also my FC members/close friends @lightwrought / @gaygentofchaos / @whirlwyrm / @snakemoltsiren / @swingbeard / @dragons-ire / other people I have missed and/or wouldn't like to be tagged but know you are included because I love you. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW. Also everyone in Seafloor!

Music. I've always loved music, but I really only got into music and listening to different things later in life! Sleep Token fundamentally altered my brain chemistry and I will thrust them on anyone who will listen (start with Sundowning through to Take Me Back to Eden if you want the whole ~experience~ but Jaws is also a good separate introduction). I've also come to love Crywolf, Ashnikko, Bad Omens, as well as old faithfuls like Red, Evanescence, Halsey, etc.

My cat. She's not really my cat, but she adopted me. Ratticus le Catticuses the third of her name; brat cat, rat cat; little goblin; my little baby girl, love of my life. (Her name is Lucy).

Graphics design/creativity. I make it no secret my favourite part of my irl work is when I can make a brochure/pamphlet/poster. I don't profess to be an absolute master in it, and I'm entirely self-taught, but there is something about making something better. It's the same with GPOSING and the like. I don't do it often, but my edits are there. There are people in the community that use the little dividers I put together in Canva. It makes me happy!

My current mental health/personal journey. I'm in a really good spot mentally. My diagnosis has changed my life, and I was already on a good trajectory with my personal mantra/outlook on life prior to it. A few years go I was extremely depressed/anxious, I had a lot of trauma/paranoia around my spaces, and acted in ways I'm not proud of. I've reached out and reconciled a lot of it, and it's allowed me to engage with this community and my personal projects in a manner that's healthy and engaging for me. I was in a spot of ~drama~ recently (which I won't get into — that's another personal choice I made to keep things between relevant parties) and, rather than freaking out and thinking everyone hated me... I just dealt with it. I took all sides, formulated my opinions and blocked the people I didn't want to deal with. I was SO proud/happy with myself — I still am! It's not world-ending like it used to feel and that's so freeing for me as someone who used to be a chronic people-pleaser/conflict averse. I still want to try to be the latter, but I really believe the manta of 'be kind, take no shit'. It's done wonders for my happiness.

This got really long, I appreciate anyone who got to the bottom! I'll send these out to ten people from my permanent interaction call because I think that's nice. Thank you @disciple-of-frost for sending this in!! ✨

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Open When...

FEBRUARY FICLETS #1

A/N: Happy February, everyone! (Yes, it' true, January is finally over!) For me, has historically been a month of writing slumps and creative blocks. In an effort to try to fight that this year, I am choosing a few prompts from this list and writing something short for them. I have no idea how many I’ll get to, but for now here’s a little Ezra to get things started. This is part of the Angelfish universe.

Prompt: love letter

Warnings: brief mention of accident and injury

Word Count: 1.6k

Summary: Long distance relationships are always tough, especially when the distance spans different planetary systems. But you still find a way to be there for Ezra without ever leaving your post on Lau.

The relentless hum and buzz of life at Bahkroma base was silenced as Ezra reached his bunk and slid the door shut.

What a day. He sighed, bringing his right hand up to the back of his neck. The smallest tilt of his head released an audible pop of tension that he felt beneath his fingers. What a Kevva-fucked day.

Though the potential for danger on the Green Moon was always high, most dig shifts went smoothly. Trek out to the site, fill the day’s aurelac quota, secure the gems and trek back to base. The terrain was rough, the chemicals used to coax the gems from the fleshy roots was caustic, and without a filter the air would kill a person in just a handful of cycles. But when protocol was followed and equipment maintained - as it always was when Ezra was leading an expedition - the job could be done with relative safety.

Of course, there were still plenty of ways that a dig could go awry.

That day, it happened to be an expired vial of chem left behind by some drifter whose body had long since been consumed by the mossy forest floor. Flesh decays, and the Green is always hungry for carrion. But inorganic material remains for far longer - roto scalpels and extraction forceps left to rust, containers of phaser becoming covered by growth, laying in wait like landmines to be struck open by a drill head or pickaxe. Unlike some of the substances used in filtration and cleaning that lost potency over time, phaser solution only became more volatile. More dangerous.

Which was why Frontier Mining Company had invested in top of the line scanning equipment that checked the ground for evidence of abandoned dig sites before crews were cleared to begin.

The scans came up clean, though. Ezra stepped away from the door and crossed the small space that somehow felt smaller since you’d left for your posting on Big Blue. Choosing what had always been your side, he sat on the edge of the bed and gripped the mattress. They were clean. We were cleared, and then-

He screwed his eyes shut against the memory of what happened next - the distinct sound of metal finding glass, the hiss and bubble of the leaked fluid reacting to the water in the plantlife it spilled onto, the stillness in the half second before the explosion, and the anguished screams that came through the comms in his helmet.

In the end, it could have been worse. No one was killed. Everyone had been knocked to the ground, a few people had been banged up a bit. But Danelo, one of the crewmen Ezra had known for as long as he’d known you, had been the unlucky bastard whose ax had hit the vial. He lost a hand to the blast. Ezra had responded quickly, grabbing a field kit and loading the foam gun to cream up the wound as best as he could until the team was able to get the injured man back to base for proper medical treatment, and that had likely saved him from the worst of the infection.

It was still a grizzly sight. He opened his eyes and they landed on the photo he kept tacked up on the wall - one of you in his arms on the covered porch of your floating apartment out on the Skiffs, the shockingly blue water shimmering in the sunlight and your smile directed at him and not the camera. The picture instantly helped to put him at ease if only just a little. I’m glad you weren’t here for that, Angelfish.

He was glad, even though his missing you ran deeper than the ocean you were stationed beneath, that you were no longer at risk of falling prey to any of the Green Moon’s hidden perils. Glad that what happened to Danelo would never happen to you. Glad that your day to day operations on The Dive were far more stable than the wild nature of Aurelac mining. Even though he ached to hold you, especially on days when just a tiny shift in circumstance could have made it impossible for him to hold you ever again, Ezra was beyond relieved that your days on the Green were through. And that my own up here are numbered.

But days like that - and several others - were exactly what you had prepared for the last time you were both on leave together. Because you think of everything, don’t you?

Reaching up to the shelf that was built into the wall above the bed, Ezra pulled down a string-wrapped bundle of letters. There were fifteen in total, each of them meant for different occasions. You’d sealed each letter with a drop of wax and labeled them with their intended purposes. Open when you score a big pull. Open when your stand is halfway through. Open when it’s your birthday. Some of them were still sealed, awaiting the right time as per your instructions. Others were already opened, their pages folded and refolded along creases made by your hands so he could read and reread them as needed. Open when you can’t sleep. Open when you need a laugh. He thumbed through the semi-wrinkled paper, fingers finding the one he was looking for and pulling it from the stack.

Open when it’s been a hard day.

That one was still crisp and unopened. Slipping the shoes from his feet, Ezra swung his legs up onto the bed and leaned back against the wall, and then he slipped his finger between the edges and tore them apart. So far, every single one of your letters had perfectly matched whatever reason he’d had for opening them. Each one was a reminder of exactly what he needed to hear, as though you were right there. And each one only proved what he’d known for years - that you loved him just as much as he loved you. Let’s see what you’ve got to say this time.

Like always, as he read he could hear the words in your voice, as close and clear as though you were there tucked against his chest.

Oh, my Ezra,

A hard day, prospector? I’m sorry, love. These are the days that I wish I was with you the most. Even if just to put my arms around you to give you a few minutes of relief. You make all my worst days more bearable and the fact that I'm so far away on one of yours is something that I would change in a heartbeat if I could. But since I can’t, this will have to do.

Do you remember that day on H4, back at the training facility, when you asked me to partner up with you for the Vezna excursion? I’m sure you do. It was our first experience on a fire planet and we were both nervous about it. What I never told you, though, was that earlier that day I was very seriously considering leaving the Frontier program altogether. I’d blown my Sector Six practice exam that morning and even though the field assessment was still a week away, I could already hear the gossip. I knew most of the other trainees didn’t want me there, didn’t think I could hack it. None of them were eager to be put on a crew with me, and I was really starting to doubt myself. Doubt my dreams. It was my hardest day of the 582 that we spent there.

But then you came along and you had that smile on your face and you said “Angelfish, there’s no one I’d rather walk through the flames with.” And even though you didn’t know it, that was exactly what I needed to hear. That you saw me as someone who was strong enough to do hard things, even things that made you nervous, too. You saw me as someone to depend on, even when I couldn’t see it for myself.

Ezra, I don’t know what happened today to make you open this letter in particular. But I do know that what you said to me that day? I feel the same. There is no one in this or any universe that I would rather walk through flames with, because I know that you can. I know that whatever struggles the day brought you won’t keep you down, because you’re stronger than anything that might try to stop you.

And do you remember what happened after the Vezna excursion? After we got back to H4 and passed Sector Six? Those ten days we spent in The Ephrate during semester break? I do. And I know you do, too.

I love you, Ezra. You’ll get through this hard time, and we’ll be together again soon. So soon.

He read your letter three times that night, running his fingers over the indentations made by your pen, tracing the lines and curves of the letters where you signed your name. You always ended each letter the same way - Your Angelfish - and each time he read those two words they filled him with a warmth he’d only ever felt when you were there beside him. You were his, and he was more yours than his own.

Flattening the letter over the center of his chest, Ezra turned his head to glance at the photo again. “You always know what to say, Angelfish.”

The reassurance that you believed in him - believed that he was capable of doing what was necessary to get through the hard days, whatever they bring - was the reason he was able to fall asleep that night.

But your mention of that long ago trip to The Ephrate? That was the reason for the things he dreamed about. And he couldn’t wait to be back on the Skiffs with you to tell you and show you that yes, he absolutely remembered those ten days.

.

.

.

Thank you for reading! If you would like to be added to or removed from the taglist, please feel free to let me know or you can fill out the form on my masterlist.    

Tag list: @something-tofightfor @alraedesigns @valkblue @a-court-of-feysand-and-elorcan @cannedsoupsucks @tobealostwanderer r @paracosmenthusiast @gracie7209 @dihra-vesa @marauderskeeper @novemberrain221 @littlemisspascal @mishasminion360 @stevie75 @nyctophiliiiiaaa @practicalghost @tanzthompson @harriedandharassed @woodlandmouth @thescarletfang @trickstersp8 @imtryingmybeskar @wildmoonflower @mswarriorbabe80 @theredwritingwitch @silverstarsandsuns @pedro-pedrito-pascalito @jedi-in-crocs @anoverwhelmingdin @chiyo13 @myloveistoolittle @Noisynightmarepoetry @Severin-proud

[ryemackerel]

HALLO i was wondering how you get out of art block?? your art is very expressive and i absolutely adore all your colour choices and designs. ive been having trouble with art block for a very long time now so i’m just trying to ask other artists how they get outta it <3 i hope u have a niceday yesyes

OUGHH HELLO!!! holy crap, art block is the WORST. everytime i encounter it, its always hard to beat it D: theres days where i feel like i WANT to draw something so badly but my brain just. cant function

i dont have a definitive solution for art block, but whenever i do, i have a few ways to cope with it. sometimes they work, sometimes they dont? but whenever the time comes and im just sitting at a brick wall, i got some survival tips

1. come up with random silly ideas,, it could be anything: random words, phrases, scenarios. they can be as nonsensical as you want them to be. during art blocks, my mind is completely dry with ideas, so i always try to compile a list of ideas from the past so i can come back to them later on. i try to come up with random duos or something as simple as “mcdonalds date”. i might not work on these now, but maybe some random lil word can spark that creativity in me

heres my art ideas list… i have some ideas that are like 8 months old in there BGAHSGA, but i save em there till i feel like working on them

2. STRUGGLE DOODLES!! i like to make a bunch of doodles of random scenes that i think about in my head. doodle practically anything. your favorite person, favorite animal, something you see outside your window, frogs?

heres a few of mine. most of the time, i NEVER get to finishing them. however, during art blocks sometimes i like to go back to really old, incomplete guidelines and add some new, random addition to it. sometimes i forget what my sketches were exactly meant to be? and i guess thats the fun about interpreting stuff and giving things a new spin to them. during art blocks, i HATE trying to come up with new drawings from a blank canvas (since i dont even have any ideas to begin with). but working on old wips, or completely revising them? sometimes these can be super fun :]

[and bonus tip!! and this is like, a golden tip that everyone loves: going back to super old drawings and redrawing them!! its my favorite. i absolutely love seeing the improvement ive made over the years. its also pretty easy to work with since you dont have to stress about coming up with completely new ideas from a blank slate! GAHH i should do that more often.]

3. search up your favorite fanart, go on pinterest, anything. i love this one.

search up some really cool photos of outfits, aesthetic backgrounds?? i find myself searching up a lot of fanart of fandoms im in, any word with “aesthetic” at the end, casino aesthetic, anything! pinterest has always been my go-to platform to find ideas. i go on the app and not even a second in, im blown with all of this cool art n character designs. i have a problem saving almost everything i find into my boards, but at least i saved a chock-full of ideas i can work with. :)

a thing about me: ive never been the type to try and force my art block out. whenever im facing a block, its extremely difficult for me to come up with things on my own. sometimes i let it wait for a while, but that tends to take a REALLY long time. D: if i dont feel like drawing, or doodling, or really doing anything? i always like scrolling through really pretty photos. that tends to spark a small idea in me i can work with, and sometimes i manage to get out of art block from there. it starts out small, then over time it gets even better.

these photos especially gave me WAY more motivation than i ever had to draw wilbur during an art block moment. i started off making small random doodles of him in a neon city and over time it kinda turned into a fixation for neon cities. i LOVE imagining characters in random photos i find on pinterest.

wishing you the bestest in your art journey!! this crap’s tough but i know you can break it yo. thank you so much for the ask!

feel free to reblog and add your own ideas below :] i was only able to come up with a few, but if youd like to add on, go right ahead! /noforce

[zylian]

Can you just imagine being Parrot and realizing that you accidentally helped Spoke get op and than witnessed Vitalasy also do some not so possible type of things and than know Ashswag was apart of this at the start and you accidentally got tricked into giving him creative at somepoint and players are saying Subz has to have something to do with it but there’s no evidence on him and now your being forced the ultimatum of saving the server and you can’t do nothing because than your really the worst but you know better and the people you need to protect are berateing you once you talk to them because they’ve BEEN dealing with this and you budding in is “too late”

Imagine

cause if it wasn’t lifesteal I genuinely wouldn’t believe anything happening from any side on that server if I haven’t been watching from the start

Like DAMN dude got blackmailed, gaslit and manipulated to the max- where the people who were actively suffering didn’t give a damn about him being on any side since they’ve all lost faith in him months ago.

How big of an L can a person take AND since everyone was practically breaking rules he couldn’t really ban anyone

Like if he banned Spoke would Ashswag and Vitalasy be banned as well since they were helping with all of this?

Could you imagine lacking the tiniest sliver of knowledge about command blocks in a mine cart being placed by someone using op that you screwed over your ENTIRE server and EVERYONE and proceeded to watch your server fall into even more shambles as your rendered useless and still saying to “believe in your best friend”

Dude. I can’t- literally Spoke could have actually been a menace and like Subz said he could of made the whole world disappear leaving void, what type of trust did Parrot have to have if it wasn’t lingering hope?

Nahhhhh lifesteal continues to cause so much trust issues with each other, those guys can never fully trust each other again it’s so insane how it gets worse with every season.

Anyway I need these thoughts out before s5, hoping day 1 teams are crazy and goofy and fun.

[greetings-inferiors]

INTENSE MINECRAFT SLANDER IS COMING UP

If you like Minecraft, good for you! It just isn’t for me, so I play other things. Don’t take anything I say here as an affront to your video game tastes, nothing I say is objective, it’s just how I feel. I swear I don’t hate Minecraft, but this has been bottled up inside me for a while and I needed to let it out. Please enjoy my dissent into block induced hysteria:

Okay I was going to go to bed but I saw Minecraft mentioned and just had to write this down I’ll sleep I swear

But like

OH MY GOD MINECRAFT IS THE MOST DULL GAME I’VE EVER PLAYED. I’VE GENUINELY NEVER BEEN MORE BORED IN A VIDEOGAME, ON MY OWN, WITH FRIENDS, WITH STRANGERS, IN MINIGAMES, IN CREATIVE, I DON’T KNOW HOW PEOPLE DO IT

At least security breach makes me FEEL SOMETHING. That game is so bad it makes me SAD. It makes me ANGRY. Minecraft just HURTS TO PLAY.

Literally everything combines in a way specifically I don’t enjoy. I hate sandbox games, and Minecraft is a particularly slow sandbox. It’s open world, and I have an inherent bias against open world games - if it’s a ‘just good’ open world game, I won’t enjoy it at all. It’s story is so directionless and nonexistent, and the thing I love the most about videogames as a medium is their unique way of telling stories. I hate Minecraft’s gameplay loop, you get wood to get stone, use stone to get iron, use iron to get diamond, use diamond to get netherite, which would be fine but that’s IT. Like maybe there’s going to a different dimension for netherite but mostly it’s just IT

Like terraria does have kinda a similar progression, especially in hardmode where you mine cobalt to get mithril, use mithril to get titanium, use titanium to get chlorophyte, but calamity completely solved that problem because YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO BEAT BOSSES TO GET TJEM

Oh my god, the worst part of Minecraft is the bosses, or lack thereof. The combat is so kind numbingly dull, they keep trying to fix it but it keeps not working, at least it isn’t just ‘click fast’ anymore but still. And there are only two actual bosses, and they’re both so endgame that most people have never even attempted to fight them. And what do you do once you beat the game? How do people keep playing their worlds? What do you do???? Most people have to make up their own stories because there’s just nothing to do, and that’s well and good, but I specifically play games to be told a story, not to have to make up my own. Like I said, not for me.

Lots of people compare terraria to Minecraft, but they’re not similar in any way except style. Minecraft is a sandbox (my literal least favourite type of game) and terraria is a boss fight simulator (my literal favourite type of game). Every single thing you do in terraria is to get an edge against the next boss. Most things you do in Minecraft… might have a point? Most of the point is just ‘cause I want to’ which works great as a way of viewing life but in a videogame? Where I’m trying to escape? I don’t want to be an optimistic nihilist, I want to do cool shit, and not have to spend two hours building to do that cool shit.

And the drip feed of hardly any content is just insufferable. I get why, they’re the best selling game of all time, they want to make sure everything’s perfect, but that just means that they don’t touch any of the core parts of the game, not saying they have to, because some people do enjoy it, I just don’t. I hate it. But like, the newest update added what? Frogs? It didn’t add fireflies because they wanted to be realistic, and I get why but still it just sucks either way. The actual new content makes me go ‘huh that’s neat’ and forget about it after a day. Every terraria update adds a fuck ton of new content, especially the major updates, which essentially completely overhaul the game every time, stardew valley’s major updates may as well be whole dlcs, the most recent one added A WHOLE NEW ISLAND, Minecraft doesn’t feel any different now than it did three years ago. The only exceptions are the caves, which I must admit are cool as shit, but KNLY IF I CAN STAND TO LLAY LONG ENOUGH TO FIND THEM

It also has no story to speak of. Sure you can show me the game theory videos (I’ve watched all of them) but that doesn’t fucking count, because no one would’ve noticed because it is literally matpat’s job to look over games with a fine toothed comb. My biggest requirement in games is a story. Undertale is a beautiful tale. Omori is similar. Risk of rain’s story of the two brothers and fighting to survive in a planet where everything wants to kill you is so intriguing. Team fortress 2’s characters are some of the best written characters in anything ever. Hollow knight uses environmental storytelling like nothing I’ve ever seen, and it’s lore is of a fallen kingdom, something that I absolutely adore.

Speaking of fallen kingdoms,

A FIVE MINUTE MUSIC VIDEO HAS MORE DEPTH THAN THE BEST SELLING GAME OF ALL TIME

I get why people enjoy Minecraft. it’s calming, maybe they have the patience, enjoy the zen of it, enjoy the grind, but I have never played a game that feels more like it’s designed to specifically make my life a misery with how fucking boring it makes me. The only time I’ve ever enjoyed Minecraft is watching technoblade, god rest his soul, and the dream SMP, but I DIDN’T EVEN WATCH IT. I GOT ALL MY DSMP FIX WITHOUT WATCHING THE STREAMS BECAUSE ACTUALLY WATCHING THEM PLAY MINECRAFT IS SO FUCKING ABYSMAL

I’m so sorry, if Minecraft is even in your top five games I know this is probably really saddening, but it’s just so popular and I really want to like it and I try and I try and every time I almost drive myself to tears because everyone won’t stop talking about this stupid ass boring game that I can’t bring myself to like no matter how hard I try, and it’s all just bursting out all at once. I don’t hate Minecraft, I really respect it, but I feel about it the exact same way I do about sex. It makes me feel nothing, yet I’m still compelled to try it, whether from peer pressure or libido, and everytime it makes me feel like shit because I’m trying to like something that I just don’t.

If anyone even is just neutral about Minecraft can they back me up I can’t be the only person who doesn’t like it right please can I just escape Minecraft for one week I can’t take it anymore

I HAVE MORE FUN PLAYING MINECRAFT IN SUPER SMASH BROTHERS THAN IN ACTUAL MINECRAFT. SUPER SMASH BROTHERS ULTIMATE’S STEVE IS MORE FUN THAN LITERALLY THE BEST SELLING GAME OF ALL TIME. STEVE.

Fuck

Okay I’m fine now. Minecraft just isn’t for me. Clearly it’s for some people, for some people it’s their favourite game. But literally everything it does is exactly the opposite of what I like games to do. And it’s unbearable to play.

[linklethehistorian]

I'm curious about 4. and 16. for the choose violence ask!

Sure thing! Since you didn’t specify a fandom, let’s go through them all. ^-^

Under the cut for both length and spoilers for some of the fandoms. lol Proceed with caution as always.

4. what was the last straw that made you finally block that annoying person?

Bungou Stray Dogs fandom: Well, I’ve blocked about seven different people in this fandom, actually; for the first five, it was because they were a group of five haters who, by their own self-admission, instead of blocking or avoiding me for the sake of their own mental health when they found my content uncomfortable, continued to keep me unblocked and even actively seek out my page just so they could get angry/upset and then send me harassment in asks and/or vague post about how much they hated me.

Personally, I didn’t care all that much about the vagueposting; as I’ve said in the past, I actually kind of find hate motivational and fueling for my creative fire from time to time, but it was clear that it was getting very unhealthy for them, and since they hadn’t the sense to do it themselves, I simply blocked them from my own end so that they couldn’t see me anymore.

For one of the other two, they just had the worst fucking takes in the world, and their content kept somehow getting recommended to me as being “based on my likes” despite that I had never liked anything similar (or even anything from them), and since I found it to be headache-inducingly bad — and not even in an entertaining way, either — I simply blocked them.

And for the last one, they actually used to be a friend of mine, but they unfortunately seemed to have fallen down into a toxic rabbit hole since our last interaction years ago, and eventually came back and started accusing a close friend (and me, purely by association) of terrible shit for absolutely no reason, so I blocked them. I really do wish them well and that they come back around to their senses someday and realize the error of throwing accusations around simply because you’re still bitter over a breakup, but seeing as that’s unlikely, I’ll spare myself the trouble and just keep them blocked.

Legend of Zelda fandom: I said in a previous post where I listed out answers to all of the questions for this fandom that I’ve never blocked anyone in the Zelda fandom for fandom-related reasons, and that’s true, but I did block someone in this fandom once, for other reasons.

It’s a little bit of a long story, but to put it simply, there was this guy who had been stalking my now ex-girlfriend (mtf, tho she hadn’t come out as trans yet at the time while we were in the relationship) and had created a sock puppet account on a large Zelda forum we were on in order to find out information about me.

The story actually runs a lot deeper than just being a cut-and-dried “oh, he was a creepy stalker who had bad intent” situation — there’s a lot of nuance involved that would take quite a while to dig into and explain — but as I don’t really feel like getting into the whole tale right now, I’ll just leave it at that even tho the guy came clean to me out of guilt shortly after creating the account, it was my ex’s firm insistence that I block him, and so I did as she asked with it. And that was that.

Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel fandom: I’ve never blocked anyone from this fandom, but God has it been tempting sometimes… Thankfully, I don’t follow any blogs that make me feel like that, but if someone’s annoying ass bad takes ever start continually appearing on my recommended like they did with BSD, believe you me I’mma start blocking faster than the speed of light.

Other fandoms: I’ve never blocked anyone in any other fandoms, actually, and I can’t say I really have any active reason to at the moment, as most of them seem chill enough to not be an active and rampant threat unless you go looking for them.

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

Bungou Stray Dogs fandom: … sighs …We’re really doing this, aren’t we? Okay. Listen, I want to start this out by saying that I am a huge advocate for AUs and personal canons and ships and whatever else out there in the fictional world that you can imagine — go ham, have fun with it.

That being said, I will never in my life understand the appeal a very specific portion of the fandom finds in the concept that Arthur Rimbaud/Randou is as equally cold, unhinged, and detached as Paul Verlaine — often to the point where people genuinely allow that AU headcanon to skew their view of canon and convince themselves that it is such, when nothing could be farther from the truth (and the truth is actually far more unique, deep, and interesting).

Although the block button has largely solved this issue for me these days, my eyes have unfortunately already seen far too many posts of people talking about how a large majority of the fandom “gets Arthur wrong” because they don’t make him and Paul into this unhinged, cold-hearted assassin duo, and frankly, it’s just bullshit.

You can enjoy and/or ignore whatever the fuck you want in a series for your own personal canon and AUs, but don’t delude yourself and lie to others about official canon in the process because you’re pissy that the uppermost levels of official canon don’t represent certain characters the way you’ve imagined them in your head.

For one thing, if everyone around you is supposedly the issue, and even the uppermost levels of official canon themselves in their original language are supposedly the issue….then I hate to say it, but the only person or thing in need of a reality check is probably you.

Arthur was never an assassin; these people out there who are acting like “oh, Arthur being a spy means he must be cold-blooded and must have committed as many murders as Paul has” are insane; despite what certain stories in media will tell you, being a spy does not necessarily have to ever involve murder, and even if it did, Paul could have easily been the one doing the murdering. Is Arthur 100% innocent? Are his hands 100% clean of blood? No! But canonically, the only 1,000% confirmed act of physical harm he has ever committed was the attempted murder of Dazai and Chuuya, and even then he showed significant hesitation, and only committed to doing that so as to both save Paul and to avoid potentially harming significantly more people should assassins have been sent after him. Is it probable he may have killed people during the faked Arahabaki incident? Yes. Is it probable he may have either directly or indirectly killed at least a small number people while either working as a spy or as a mafioso? Yes. But is it confirmed? No. There is nothing at all that directly, explicitly confirms he himself has ever killed anyone at his own hands. It is likely that he has, but unless it is ever directly stated that he did, it is still technically not canon and thus 100% up for interpretation based on what you would like to believe about him. Until we know otherwise, he could have killed as few or as many people as you so desire.

However, what is not up for interpretation when it comes to official canon is that if these murders did occur, they were absolutely not done in cold blood. True canon — the original JP light novel(s), and, second to that in the canon hierarchy, the original JP Stage Plays — have gone far out of their way to express that Arthur is the farthest thing from a cold, emotionless killer. Despite how some would like to believe, Paul is not his “one exception”; Arthur cares about the lives of literally everyone and feels deep, intense remorse and hesitance over the idea of harm coming to literally everyone. If you think this man is “cold-hearted”, you have not read the actual canon — you have either watched an adaptation that took some massive liberties and not looked past that, or you have made up a story in your head based on what you would have preferred, and you refuse to accept the validity of anything that disagrees with it.

…Anyhow, yes…while people can absolutely make him such in AUs and personal canon if that’s what they enjoy, it makes me extremely annoyed when people conflate that with canon, and I will never be able to truly understand the appeal of it in general. The idea of two characters who are just “absolutely unhinged, cold blooded assassins who care only about each other” is, in my opinion, far less interesting than, and even downright insulting to, the deep characters that both he and Paul are, and the great narrative foil that the emotional, shy, sensitive, openly caring, and much more mercy-minded and life-valuing Arthur makes to the admittedly unhinged and cold-blooded (but still very much deeper than fandom treats him) Paul.

People can like what they like, but man, it is definitely not for me, and I feel like if that’s the dynamic you’re really looking for, there must be better characters out there to do it with.

Legend of Zelda fandom: See [here].

Doctor Who fandom: I’m sure there is something, but I honestly can’t think of it at this moment in time. Most of what’s enjoyed even vaguely popularly in this massive fandom is…pretty alright by me, honestly? Or at least understandable.

Ace Attorney fandom: Honestly, I have more to say on what this fandom doesn’t like than what it does, so we’ll skip over this one for now. If I think of something later, I’ll amend it.

Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel fandom: The idea that Stolas is a bad father and an equally bad person to Stella. Also that everyone in Hell must be bad in some way.

Final Fantasy fandom: …Final Fantasy VIII. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t think it’s a bad game by any means, or even a bad Final Fantasy game; I just don’t think that comparatively to some of the actually (in my opinion) amazing games that get way more shit from than they deserve, it’s really that much to write home about.

I think that it had a ton of great ideas going for it, but that a lot of those ideas got lost along the way in the quest to explore other ones — which ultimately led to the vast majority of them just barely getting touched on at all. And, of course, there’s a big major plothole where the main character gets absolutely fatally impaled by the main antagonist and then it just…basically doesn’t even get addressed at all? Also, all of the main characters sharing the exact same backstory and then just having conveniently forgotten about it was…deeply underwhelming and felt a bit lazy, to be honest.

And…yeah… I liked some of the characters a ton, and I enjoyed some of the plot points, but I definitely can’t understand why it’s hailed as being so great compared to certain others that are just…objectively actually more solid and well-written.

Pikmin fandom: I wanted to try to be as absolutely thorough as possible in listing out any of the series that I love and have actively participated in the fandom of (whether that be going out of my way to interact with fan content for it or making my own, or both), but honestly, I haven’t been around the fandom of this one quite enough to know if there are any popular takes or favorites out there that I’d strongly disagree with, or of which I’d particularly question the appeal.

Xenoblade Chronicles fandom: I know this is probably going to piss off a lot of people out there, but honestly, both Xenoblade 2 and Xenoblade 3 — but for opposite reasons, and with the DLC games notwithstanding for both of them, as I have few complaints with either of those.

I understand why people love Xenoblade 2 as a story on the whole — even if I think the first five chapters are largely very weak with only a few highlights and far too much filler and have terrible pacing — because the last five chapters just make every bit of the initial drudgery worthwhile, but I what I cannot and will never understand are the people who think the gameplay is somehow anywhere even close to good — much less god tier. Genuinely, there are not a lot of games I would call worse and less user friendly gameplay-wise in the modern era than Xenoblade 2; as a matter of fact, there is so much wrong with it that I can’t even begin to unpack all of the problems here, except to try to just lump it all together and put it very simply by saying that a fully paid-for, full price game absolutely should not entirely rely upon you having good luck in an absurdly rigged, file-dependant rng pity-system-granting uncheatable gacha system in order to progress the main plot, and even still make you sit through hours waiting for the skills to unlock on those characters that you have to be lucky enough to get good RNG assigned to your file to even get a halfway decent chance to get through further, still absurdly rigged RNG.

Normally, I would say how good a game is or isn’t is just a matter of personal opinion and what one is looking for, but legitimately, if you see no problem with this game’s gameplay and view it as something that should be defended, then you either got the best possible RNG in the world and played the game at such an absurdly slow pace that you somehow never even encountered one instance where skill unlocking slowed you down from progressing the plot, or you are just the biggest simp in the world for this game and you’re lying because you just can’t stand the idea of not defending every single aspect of this game even if you know for a fact that part of it is awful and inexcusable.

And as Xenoblade 3, that game has the opposite problem; whereas Xenoblade 2 had an overall amazing story the farther you progress with terrible gameplay, Xenoblade 3 has overall amazing gameplay with a (for the franchise) absolutely weak story that just completely drops the ball at the end. Thankfully, just as Torna: The Golden Country largely improved on the gameplay of Xenoblade 2 with its release, Future Redeemed largely improves and even fixes and, dare I say redeems, the story of Xenoblade 3 (even if it does make it feel a bit redundant in some aspects)…but…that doesn’t excuse the game being weak initially to begin with compared to its predecessors, and I truly can’t understand what all the hype for it was before the DLC released, as at the time I only found it a massive disappointment in all of the worst ways considering its series’ strong reputation for cut-above storytelling and incredible foreshadowing.

Also…in regards to Xenoblade 1…I don’t understand the appeal of Shulk and Melia as a mutually required ship — I’m sorry; if you love it, that’s 100% valid and I hope you have fun with it, but like…I just see zero romantic chemistry between them on Shulk’s side; I honestly see more chemistry potential between Fiora and Melia and that isn’t even canon on any level. I really think Melia is just best narratively having a one-sided interest in Shulk; anything else has always just felt forced to me.

Pokémon fandom: This is one of those fandoms where I have more of a problem with the dislikes than the likes, but I guess as with most games, I don’t really see the appeal of a truly open world; Scarlet and Violet pulled it off alright, but it wasn’t entirely open, and even then it had the typical issues of limiting storytelling ability through lack of any linearity at many points. I know many people are going to say “oh, but Pokémon has very rarely had a super deep story; it’s pretty much only a select few of the middle and more recent gens that did this”, and that may be true, but…why should we have to go back from that?

People use this excuse with many older games that have had a long series — that because their first iterations “weren’t that deep”, it’s somehow the natural and most acceptable course of action to go back to those roots, even if they’ve come very far from that over the years, and to me it’s just absurd. It’s like saying that we should go back to using outhouses because that is the purest form of using a bathroom and it was the way bathrooms were always meant and intended to be used; as we get more advanced in technology, we are naturally going to progress and do more that once could only have been a dream to us before. All old games weren’t necessarily lacking story because they “didn’t want to do anything more”, but because they didn’t have those capabilities. 2D games weren’t all 2D because no one wanted them to ever be seen in 3D, but because 3D wasn’t possible yet.

I will never understand the desire to backtrack on progress made simply because “that’s how it was back in the day”.

…Also, as far as the anime, I get that the idea of Ash growing up would’ve been cool and all, but like…I seriously don’t understand why it’s that big of a deal to people. Ash staying in a form that’s iconic is hardly surprising or beyond understanding, and really I would’ve cared more to see Ash grow emotionally from all of his journeys than physically, but eh. To each their own.

Super Mario fandom: The OoC situation that happened with Princess Peach at the end of Super Mario Odyssey. Straight up, I will say that I’ve never played the game, but from what I have heard (and please do correct me if I’m wrong!!!), Peach straight up rejects both Bowser and Mario from marrying her at the end, and like…for some reason everyone thinks this is some cool girl power moment instead of realizing that this, while maybe a cool message had it been any other character with any other two pushy suitors, is…actually deeply out of character for her.

It wouldn’t be so incredibly OoC if it weren’t for the fact that in all previous Mario games, Peach has been explicitly in love with Mario and very, very happy to be with him and be very romantic with him every time he’s rescued her, and he’s always been a gentleman to her, too, so like…the whole thing just sounds really off to me and I’m not sure why not many people are bothered by this like I am.

Maybe I just don’t have the context everyone else does. I don’t know.

Persona fandom: …Persona 5; don’t get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the story of this one quite a bit and I think it had great foreshadowing, but like…at least comparatively to 3, I don’t know why it seems to be “the baby” of the fandom. As a story, 3 is just so much more compelling and emotionally high stakes, with a lot more actual deaths and consequences and, frankly, more interesting twists and characters on the whole, and that’s all I’m going to say on that…for now.

Persona 5 was…pretty alright; Persona 3 was stellar.

Makai Ouji fandom: Pretty much the same situation as Pikmin here; while I’ve technically been in this fandom for at least 7 or 8 years, I…don’t really have enough active interaction with the greater fandom to know if there are any popular opinions or ideas I’d disagree with.

There are some fandoms that I just…don’t really have the drive to engage with that much outside of the source material, and this is one of them. Sometimes you feel called to engage with and observe the larger fan base and its creations, and sometimes you just don’t; this is one of the latter times.

Person of Interest fandom: I’m just gonna say it — Shoot. I know it’s canon, but honestly, that pairing felt so fucking forced — and I don’t mean forced as in “oh, they need to stop shoving gay relationships down our throats” like you’d expect to hear from some bigot or something, I mean forced as in they weren’t compatible, there was no chemistry, and literally no strong lead-up to the relationship whatsoever. One day the Machine was just like “oh I predict a possible timeline where you two get together” and then suddenly that one hypothetical possible scenario was enough for them to actually get together after an eternity of hating each other and torturing each other and literally trying to kill each other.

I think the pairing sucks and it felt terribly shoehorned at the very end of the show, when there were a million better options out there for the both of them, and then within like two episodes they killed one of them off anyway.

If anyone reading this likes it, then good on you, but personally I will just never understand the appeal of it.

Code Vein fandom: Honestly, the same situation as Pikmin and Makai Ouji here. I love the game dearly and I definitely consider myself a member of the fandom, but also I’ve never truly interacted with the rest of the fandom enough longterm to pick up on any grievances I might normally have about it; what little I have seen of the fandom, they’re very nice and chill people who really enjoy character creation mode, and pretty much that’s all I know of them.

Five Nights at Freddy’s fandom: Damn, I guess this is how I come out about being this one after years of silence, huh…

Oh well… I’m sure there are actually many things I could be talking about here if I put my mind to it lol, but I’ll probably just go with the fact that wayyyy too many people are comfortable and content with just writing off Gregory as evil or cold-blooded, when Ruin made it pretty damn clear that the Mimic was the one who made Cassie take the plunge in the elevator, and not him.

This fandom has a lot of wildly incorrect theories, though.

…Also, I don’t really understand the appeal of wanting to fuck the animatronics, but meh, maybe they’re just not humanoid enough for me. *shrugs* I like my anthropomorphic animals to have a massive dash of humanoidness to them and these guys just…don’t. Also they’re inherently super spooky and I’m not usually about that life.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE fandom: Dude, we’re seriously a fandom of like literally 5 people across the entire internet; we ain’t big enough of a fandom to have problems amongst ourselves about popular takes. A take from one single person could be considered popular here. …But really, we all seem pretty cool from what I’ve seen.

Fringe fandom: I don’t usually actively engage in this one’s large-scale fandom, either, but when I have…I can’t say I’ve ever seen a take I disagreed with, really; at least not one that’s stood out to me, so…yeah. It’s all good, I guess.

Nier Replicant/Automata fandom: Honestly, we have the same situation here as Pikmin, Makai Ouji, Code Vein, and Fringe. I have no idea about the favoritism or the takes because I don’t really hang out in this fandom in my spare time all that much.

I’m sure there are things I’d take issue with if I searched enough, but what little I’ve seen of it is fine.

Other fandoms: Since I’m sure I’m forgetting quite a few and/or don’t consider myself a big/long/active enough fan to list them here, I’ll just lump all the rest into this category and say, obviously if I have had any interactions that I’ve learned fandom takes or favorites I’ve disagreed with from, they didn’t make a big enough impression to end up on this list, so all things considered, they must not be super bad to me — probably.

—

Aaaand that’s all of them! Thanks for the ask and happy reading!

[archduke-enver-gortash]

9. Favourite OC? for the ask meme! 👀

oof, tough one. ven is my special little clown woman. oleander is my special forest monster guy, the best and worst father of all time. jokes aside, they both mean so much to me, playing these games, shipping them with reg and cami, and getting into the fandom (well, the tumblr fandom. i am not really active on reddit) unironically made my life a lot better. as stupid as it sounds, thinking about them interacting with the world and smooching their LIs literally got me out of a massive creative block. i didn’t draw anything in 2021, and i stopped writing in like 2019. now i am drawing something at least every week, and while i am still too shy and insecure to post any of my writing, i am still writing a few sentences every other day. all because of these idiots :)

and while she has been dethroned by these two, niendayphyll was literally all i thought about from the moment i created her in 2020 to early 2022 when i started kingmaker, so she deserves an honorable mention. and so does n, my oldest character who i’ve had for ten years now, the reason i started creating when i was a kid. they are also the only character of mine who regularly appears in my dreams, so i feel they just should be here too.

[atelier-kristel]

The Future of Art and AI

The age of AI is upon us and we are all left wondering what this could mean for all of us. Are we about to lose our jobs to a couple of lines of code? Are we all replaceable with a bot that can do whatever we do but 10 times faster? As an artist, I wonder what this could mean for the future of art?  

AI has always been a topic of fervent discussion with futurists and the science fiction enthusiasts, but this discussion has come to the forefront of mainstream culture recently with rapid developments being made in the AI field making it accessible than ever before. We have ChatGPT or the AI Art Generation portal that anyone can use to generate original digital images or written content with a click of a button.  

In the past few weeks, I have taken a deep dive in the world of AI exploring what it has to offer to artists like me and how it can be used as a potential tool to use in further developing my craft. So, in this blog, I will be sharing my thoughts on the intersection of Art and AI and how it can be a vital part of the future of creativity.

A Tool for Kickstarting your Creativity

As creatives or artists, we all struggle initially at putting pen to paper and getting started on a project. We sketch, draft, doodle and scribble – it is a lot of trepidation and constant questioning of ideas that we go through. This can often lead to developing a creative block at the worst possible time. I have found that AI tools like art-fy.net or the New Bing can come in really handy to quickly churn out a couple of rough visualizations of your ideas and thoughts of your potential artworks before you dive in headfirst. As someone very visually driven, this is sometimes just what I need to jumpstart my creative inspiration and start creating.

A Medium for Generative Art

Having created my very own generative art series, The Ethereal Gates, I am endlessly fascinated with this mingling of Art and AI. As explained in a previous blog of mine; generative art is a fascinating concept as it merges the spontaneous and impulsive beauty of creating art with the unwavering stability and consistency of automation, computer generated or otherwise. The term itself, “Generative Art”, is descriptive enough to explain that it defines all artworks that have been produced using a generation process that involves an automated system which when set off, results in the creation of art.  

With Ethereal Gates, we were able to use AI algorithms to mint NFT artworks which featured one of 9 different gates, props and backgrounds in completely randomized order generated through the algorithm. The gates were my recreations of iconic gates and doorways from fiction and history, while the props in black and white were visual representations of various terms from the crypto world such as “moon” and “whale”. It is amazing how even though we had a sophisticated system producing these art pieces, they were still able to capture my visual style and essence perfectly.

An Instrument of the future and artistic innovation

Some of the most exciting things to come out of this AI and art merge is the freedom that artists to experiment with augmented and virtual reality. Utilizing AI algorithms, artists can bring forth interactive installations, immersive experiences, and dynamic artworks that dynamically respond to viewer input and environmental stimuli. The integration of AI-powered virtual reality and augmented reality has revolutionized the art landscape, dissolving the boundaries between the physical and digital domains.  

I firmly believe that this merging of AI and art is the beginning of a new chapter in the realm of intelligent creativity and presents a realm of exciting possibilities for artists and the art world as a whole. AI serves as a tool to amplify human creativity, allowing artists to explore new dimensions, break creative barriers, and engage audiences in novel ways. Through AI, artists can generate unique content, discover unexpected connections, and challenge traditional notions of artistic expression. As AI continues to evolve, its impact on the art world will undoubtedly shape the future of creativity, providing artists with endless opportunities for exploration and innovation.

Artists who embrace AI as a creative collaborator will be at the forefront of this transformative movement, leading the way to a future where AI and human ingenuity blend seamlessly to redefine what is possible in the world of art.

Shop my artwork collection HERE.

Check my digital artwork collection HERE.

[recipro-turbo]

brother mine - year seven

Chapter Rating: G Chapter Word Count: 946 Chapter Notes: originally posted to twitter here. tensei is 22 in this chapter.

Read on AO3 | Previous Chapter

Tensei had known this day was going to arrive at some point. He thought about it a lot back in high school, when Shota and Hizashi were too busy sending each other into gay panics to notice that he had been unusually quiet. The expectation that he would one day take over Team Iidaten was always there, weighing down on his shoulders.

He just didn’t think it would be this soon.

Some part of Tensei expected that the transfer of power would come years down the line, around the time he turned 30. Maybe that had been Father’s plan, too, but the knee injury he sustained a couple years back left lasting damage, even with Recovery Girl’s help. The fact of the matter is that Gearshift’s hero career had ended a while ago, and it had taken their family two years to really come to terms with that.

A tiny part of Tensei resents that. Maybe it’s because of the Iida family legacy, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s his father, but he dreads taking over. He doesn’t feel anywhere near ready, no matter how fast his response time (second only to All Might) or how well he’s doing on the Hero Billboard Chart (#21) or how beloved he is by the general public (fifth most popular).

Tensei sighs, scrapping the last few lines of the speech he’s supposed to be preparing for Gearshift’s farewell address. Progress is slow, and the fast-approaching deadline does nothing to light a fire under him. He wants to go for a run to clear his head, but he knows if he steps away now, he won’t come back to it tonight.

One week. Tensei has one week until Gearshift officially retires from being a pro hero. He has one week before he becomes the head of Team Iidaten. One week to finish this speech that he doesn’t want to give.

What would a world without Gearshift look like? To Tensei, it’s as if it was All Might retiring―it was unfathomable. His parents always seemed so invincible to him, especially when he was little. They were giants, untouchable, unkillable.

“You’re a smart, capable young man, Tensei,” Father had said when he broke the news to him a few months back. “I have faith that you’ll be a good leader for Team Iidaten.”

Logically, Tensei knows he’s good at what he does. He’s good at coming up with creative solutions to problems, he’s second only to Mother when it comes to Quirk assessment and team compositions. But he also knows there’s so many other heroes at the agency just as capable―if not, more so―to lead Team Iidaten.

“Are you okay, Oniisan?”

Tensei looks up from his laptop. Tenya stares at him, a concerned expression on his tiny face.

“Writer’s block,” Tensei lies. “Writing a speech is hard, little man. Easily the worst part of the job.”

That answer, apparently, does not satisfy his little brother. Tenya abandons his coloring book and pads over to the couch, taking a seat next to Tensei. “You’re a really bad liar.”

Tensei snorts. “Are all seven-year-olds this cutthroat?”

“Probably,” Tenya says. Then, after a moment, he quietly asks, “Is it about Father?”

“Are seven-year-olds supposed to be this observant?”

Tenya shrugs.

After a moment, Tensei lets out a sigh, slumping back against the couch. “Yeah, it’s about Father.”

He can feel his brother staring at him expectantly. Tenya’s a smart kid―way smarter than Tensei was at that age, and he’s not a bit ashamed to admit it―but he’s still a kid. He thinks long and hard, trying to find a way to explain what’s going through his head that won’t be so overwhelming for one so young.

“Do you remember when your Quirk manifested?” Tensei asks.

“Yes,” Tenya replies, raising an eyebrow.

“And you remember how, when you first used it, you crashed into the tree out back and knocked yourself unconscious?”

“...yes.”

“Father said it was because your Engines were just a little too powerful for you to handle on your own. He compared them to shoes that were two sizes too big―functional, but if you weren’t careful, you’d trip and hurt yourself.”

“Why are we talking about shoes?”

Tensei laughs, throwing an arm over Tenya’s shoulder and pulling him close. “It’s part of the metaphor, kiddo. I’m getting there.” His eyes go back to the screen of his laptop, staring at the unfinished speech. “You know being a hero runs in this family. We have a legacy―a respected one―and there’s a lot of expectations that come with that. Here, those are the big shoes.”

“You have big feet!”

“Not literal shoes, Robot Boy.” Tensei looks back down to Tenya. “What I’m trying to say here is that Father has given me shoes that are six sizes too big, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to trip and hurt myself… figuratively speaking.”

Tensei can see the gears turning in Tenya’s head. “Well… what’s wrong with what you do now?”

“I mean… I’m good at what I do, but… what if I’m not ready?”

“Wouldn’t Father have asked Mother to take over?”

“I guess.” Tensei sighs. “It’s a lot… it happened a lot faster than I expected, and I guess I’m a little scared I’ll fail.”

After a moment, Tenya leans against his side. “You won’t.” He says it with such conviction, Tensei can’t help but believe him.

“You won’t be alone,” Father had said, “Team Iidaten is exactly that―a team. You’ve worked with these people for years, and they’ll support you just as you’ve supported them.”

That’s it!

“You know what, Tenya? I think you just helped me get over my writer’s block.”

[grahamstoney]

My 12 Rules For Your Life

New Post has been published on https://grahamstoney.com/life-coaching/my-12-rules-for-your-life

My 12 Rules For Your Life

In response to Jordan Peterson’s recent phenomenally successful best-seller 12 Rules For Life, I thought I’d put out a few ideas of my own on how to live the good life. I don’t know if they’ll provide an antidote to the chaos in your life because they’re mostly aimed at keeping it out of mine.

Strap yourself in:

1. Move Down The Back Of The Bus

For fuck’s sake people, there are other humans that want to get on the bus after you and you’re blocking the whole goddam aisle. The universe does not revolve around you just because you’re not paying attention. Who brought you up anyway?

2. If You’re Tired All The Time Do A Sleep Study

If you’re tired all the time you may have sleep apnea. It turns out that I do, despite the fact that I don’t have any of the risk factors. I went through 10 years of hell that I’m not getting back before being properly diagnosed. Don’t trust those overnight sleep oximetry monitors; they only pick up apnea’s, not hypopneas. Sleep apnea could be ruining your life and you wouldn’t even know because you’re asleep; sort of. If you feel exhausted all the time, get a comprehensive sleep study done.

3. Stop Telling Other People What To Do

It’s fucking annoying having you constantly telling other people what to do all the time, especially when your own life is still a mess. Take the good doctor’s advice and clean up your room. Self-righteous social justice warriors are the worst hypocritical offenders: you think other people’s intolerance is based on prejudice, when really people hate you because you act like a dickhead.

4. Forgive Your Parents

For fuck’s sake, are you still blaming your parents for your shitty life? It’s time to forgive and move on. And I mean really forgive, not just moving interstate or busying yourself so much that you don’t have to deal with them. Get yourself some emotional healing and quit dumping your unhealed insecurities on other people all the time. In short, grow up.

5. Stop Doubting Yourself

All that self-doubt bullshit in your head is not helping you or anyone else. Quit whining in your internal dialogue and start living. Forget about what other people think; they’re idiots. Most people’s IQ is only average or below. Their opinion doesn’t matter. Get over it.

6. Do Something You’re Proud Of

Life is too short not to do things that make you feel good. Take a risk and do something that makes you proud. If it fails, at least you had a go. If it succeeds, you win. If it contributes to other people’s lives, all the better.

Stop playing it safe or living by other people’s rules all the time. Learn to follow your internal guidance on what makes life meaningful for you. Stop wasting your valuable time reading other people’s shit on the internet, like this for instance.

7. Stop Whining About Your Job

If you hate your job, your boss or your colleagues, quit. But most importantly, quit whining to me about it.

Of course you should temper this advice with some common sense. I hate my boss sometimes: he can be a real arrogant, self-righteous prick. But he’s also adventurous, creative and can be awesome fun to work with. Obviously, I’m self-employed.

Don’t quit just because you’re having a single bad day at the office but if you’re consistently hating what you’re doing, get out. Nobody’s forcing you to stay.

8. If Something Isn’t Working, Move On

If there’s something in your life that isn’t working, move on. Life is too short to stick with a career, relationship or hobby that you hate.

This is really a generalisation of my rule #7. Nobody other than you is forcing you to live the life you’re currently living, chronic health problems notwithstanding. Virtually everything else comes down to the consequences of our own choices.

Stop playing victim and start designing the life of your dreams rather than living someone else’s nightmares.

9. Learn To Be Persistent

Persistence and resilience are key strengths for a successful life. Very little of meaningful value can be achieved without persistence.

Few people achieve overnight success; most labour long and hard behind the scenes before breaking into the big time. Sure, some people are luckier than others and some have the advantage of certain privileges, but don’t underestimate the importance of hard work.

If you give up at the first difficulty you’ll never get anywhere in anything. If this rule seems the exact opposite of #8, that’s because it is. Which brings me to…

10. Learn To Deal With Life’s Paradoxes

For every profound truth, the polar opposite is usually also true. For example, there is no God. But your life might work better if you acted as if there was. Being wishy-washy about it, on the other hand, doesn’t cut it. The Christian bible says that God is love, and the more love you have in your life the happier you’re likely to be. So start believing, buddy.

Of course the bible also says a bunch of other stuff much of which is mutually contradictory, so the trick is to know how to separate the wheat from the chaff. To do this you have to learn to think for yourself and accept the inherent paradoxes in life.

Given that I’m an atheist, that was a pretty crap example but did you spot the self-referential paradox regarding biblical interpretation? I love that theology shit; you can use it to support any premise.

11. Quit Playing Victim

I don’t know why I didn’t make this #1, because it’s pretty damn important. But then, so is moving down the back of the fucking bus. Nevertheless I have at least already alluded to the fact that playing victim to the circumstances of your life isn’t a powerful strategy for personal fulfillment.

I don’t know what has happened to you and I get that most of it wasn’t your fault or your responsibility, but if you’re going to keep whining about it then for god’s sake go find a decent therapist you can pay to listen to it and who can help you move on. You’re not responsible for what has happened to you but you sure as hell are responsible for how you deal with it.

12. Stop Taking Everything So Seriously

Life is a game and it’s filled with paradoxes, risks and inconsistencies. It’s also filled with love, peace and joy; albeit usually at different times. Suffering is part of the package. We are all humans and humans get upset when things don’t go our way. But one thing that magnifies suffering is when we take life too seriously.

Quit getting all offended just because someone expresses a viewpoint that you happen to disagree with. Focus on making your own life great and learn how to play the game regardless of what other people think and do. Don’t go acting in ways that make everything worse just because you’re pissed off. This point is a consistent theme in Dr Peterson’s philosophy and it’s definitely worth stealing so I’m going to use it to wrap up with.

There, I just saved you $25.

[couchcinema6]

Minecraft Would Not Have To Be Arduous. Read These 5 Ideas

Over the years, Minecraft has released totally different versions of the sport, including the popular Java Edition. With the ever-increasing recognition of the game, it was about time that Mojang launched a devoted version for Home windows 10. In comparison with Minecraft Beta and Minecraft Education Edition, this one is a perfect alternative for sandbox sport lovers and hardcore fans. Followers will not have to miss out on Minecraft Stay, although. And for those adolescents who do spend time with buddies during the pandemic, they don't at all times share the main points of their plans and activities, for concern they are going to miss out socially, that their freedom can be limited for the sake of security. I will likely be calm, because I by no means taught my mates dangerous things, we had been equals and simply friends, ”said the teenager at a gathering on February 8, writes BBC. You taught him to trip a bike. In the sport, you want to mine, construct, and accumulate materials to beat obstacles. Like previous versions, if you download Minecraft, you want to gather and harvest provides, run from monsters, build properties, and protect your self at evening. In Creative mode, the player has all of the materials they need and are invincible; the emphasis is on using creativity to provide you with bizarre and wonderful constructions.

In Survival mode and the tougher Hardcore mode, the item is to collect supplies and construct a home to dwell in. NVIDIA first revealed it was engaged on these real looking visuals for Minecraft final yr - now they’re set to roll out to Windows customers on April 16th. Presently in beta, the release would be the familiar Minecraft single-participant expertise, except with ray-traced reflections, shadows, lighting and customised, practical supplies. If you’re enjoying Minecraft for the primary time, you’ll enter the sport as a confused soul, without any knowledge of the targets. At the moment, you can be a designer, an engineer, a creator, and even an architect. But, even with such ease, these features are extremely highly effective. Fed up with having to pay for features in games or pay for the game itself from the official app retailer? If you're a racing and realism lover, Actual racing three has features to convince you.

The sport is cracked by teamextrememc who're well known for his or her uploads in addition to their self hosted servers. The players will likely be a killer who has to kill all incoming deadly creepers to save Minecraft world from the darkish. Axolotls' place as a fan favorite can be evident from their frequent appearances in standard Minecraft players' YouTube videos, with some raking in hundreds of thousands of views. The game itself is about gamers utilizing pickaxes to mine blocks, decide them up and then build constructions with them. Added new blocks, better graphics and superior world technology! Whereas the focus is on a retro-looking pixelated world, Minecraft Home windows 10 Edition comes with improved graphics and soundtracks. You want to outlive in a pixelated, blocky world, where monsters haunt you all through the evening. You probably want an ABET accreditation that certifies bachelor's and master's levels in engineering, engineering, pc science, and utilized science to learn from larger salaries.

The Etch-a-Sketch was a feat of science -- aluminum. Whereas Worst lies speaks to the agency expectation to absorb information of different Whole Conflict amusements, Warhammer carries with it the wonderful look, feel and surroundings and for lovers of each, there's plenty of hours to soak in. There are millions of online gaming enthusiasts that spend hours each day to play their favourite video games. There are additionally hundreds of thousands of rupees earned by them within the billiard video games. Badland 2 is a sequel to top-of-the-line aspect-scroller games ever. For these of you who're wondering if this is malware, just scan it together with your AV program or use an online one like VirusTotal. This program is unique, however, in the multiperspective modes it offers: first-person and third-individual perspective. However, the essence has remained the identical. However, prices in this class are subject to frequent fluctuations and are also constantly subject to particular offers and limited offers. Journey mode deals with exploration and assembly different creatures, some hostile. Play with your friends within the multiplayer mode or hunt creepers within the singleplayer mode, it’s as much as you!

[amedetoiles]

Jiang Cheng for the Give Me A Character thing

[All gifs are mine. No stealing or reposting, thank you. ♥︎]

★ How I feel about this character

I love (1) fashionable angry grape!!!! But he also frustrates the fucking hell out of me. sTOP TALKING TO PEOPLE’S BACKS U STUBBORN FUCK I don’t know why I always pick the trashfire characters. Like he has a very demeaning view on the worth of people’s lives when they are not directly under his responsibility, and we know he makes some Choices on this. He’s sharp-tongued, prone to anger and putting his foot in his mouth, and has an intense fear of failure/low self-worth. A truly perfect (horrible) storm when you toss him into this oppressive hierarchical society with an impending war and shitty abusive parents. BUT his earnestness in wanting his family to be safe and together is very moving and heartbreaking. He tries really, really hard through it all actually. It would have been very easy to side with his mother, but instead, he nopes the fuck outta that disaster, takes his sworn brother, and goes to their sister instead. However bitter he is that he’s never good enough for his father, he for the most part makes a rather concerted effort to not let that be Wei Wuxian’s fault. He is (grudgingly) proud of his brother and proud to be Wei Wuxian’s brother. Jiang Cheng is a person who loves and feels so intensely that he doesn’t know what to do with that tornado of emotions, and oh man, is it a journey watching him try suffer.

★ All the people I ship romantically with this character

Zero..? I’m not super interested in romantic ships for Jiang Cheng. I ship my guy with therapy, recovery, and emotional growth with his family. However, I do have a soft spot for meaningful courting combs being kept safe in a handkerchief hidden somewhere in the back corner of a drawer that he never looks at and pretends doesn’t exist but is always acutely aware of.

★ My non-romantic OTP for this character

YUNMENG SHUANGJIE. Need anybody even ask? *screams and screams about it in the corner* Look, they deserve happiness after all the massive fuckery they and the rest of the world put each other and themselves through. I have read excellent meta about letting go and moving forward from unfixable relationships. But– I call bullshit. They’re brothers. Not only that, they want to be brothers. They want to reconcile. They just don’t know how for a lot of traumatic childhood reasons. But they should be allowed the chance to try, now, without all the distractions of war and imminent death. Like sure, they could be have a version of happiness and at peace without each other, but I don’t think they could ever be whole without this relationship. You can’t be Jiang Cheng without Wei Wuxian, and you can’t be Wei Wuxian without Jiang Cheng. Their happy endings include each other, so why not watch them bloom together? 

★ My unpopular opinion about this character

Jiang Cheng was Right™ to be upset about the golden core transfer. (Is this an unpopular opinion? I have no idea what’s popular and unpopular.) He wasn’t being an ungrateful whiny little weasel or other what-have-you reasons that I’ve stumbled upon in the, uh, not-so-nice side of fandom. I say this even though Wei Wuxian is hands-down my absolute favorite character whom I will die on this hill defending. But Jiang Cheng was being rightfully angry over being forced to undergo a life-threatening operation without his consent that left his brother crippled, then lied to about it for 13/16 years. Was his sacrifice very noble and heartbreaking? Yes! Did he do it because he loved his brother? Yes!! Was it still selfish as fuck? You betcha son!!! I don’t know how anyone can look at the utter devastation on Jiang Cheng’s face during the golden core reveal and think “stop crying and be grateful.” That shit hurts.

I’m not judging here. For an orphan, who just lost his second family and was wrongfully blamed for it, to then have to hear his little brother say he wants to die, Wei Wuxian would’ve done anything to save him. But it doesn’t make it any less selfish. While we as an audience knew exactly the kind of sacrifice and pain that Wei Wuxian endured, Jiang Cheng didn’t. To him, his sworn brother and best friend simply decided very abruptly without explanation to fuck off to demonic cultivation and then more or less abandoned him after Jiang Cheng sacrificed his core to save him. Of course, that’s not Wei Wuxian’s fault because he didn’t know (funny how that works), but as you can see, we have, before you, the Twin Idiots of Yunmeng.

★ One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon.

OCTOPUS HUG HIS BROTHER AGAIN GDI!! I will forever be mad about Jiang Cheng’s loud ass pining from across the courtyard in full view of like everyone, followed by his stubborn unshed tear and bittersweet smile whispering, “Take Care.” Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian in his pretend post-resurrection zen of “that was all in my past life” only to have the most heartbroken face as soon as Jiang Cheng looks way.

Please gtfo with this goddamn bullshit, and go fucking hug each other, you absolute mORONS.

[notyouraveragedickgrayson]

Dick Grayson/ Nightwing 26 pansexual. DC open Indie roleplay blog NSFW 18+ Brudick Jaydick friendly. EST. 16th august 2020

(Bio and Rules below. To see the full blog you will have to view on desktop.)

BIO

Dick Grayson is a character from DC comics, animated series and games. He is associated with Batman as robin and then went on to be in multiple groups and solo as Nightwing over many universes and timelines. Below is the story I am following with my incarnation of Dick Grayson/Nightwing.

Dicks parents (John and Mary) were aerial acrobat performers. With their son Dick Grayson they performed under the name The Flying Grayson’s and were a part of a traveling circus called The Haly International Traveling Circus.

The Flying Grayson’s were famed for performing without a net making them a headline act. When the circus came to Gotham City crime boss Tony Zucco ordered the circus to pay him protection money. When the circus couldn’t pay Tony Zucco sabotages the trapeze ropes causing Dick Grayson’s parents to fall to their death.

Dick was 9 years old when his parents died so tragically. Bruce Wayne, billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy was at the show that night as a special guest and watched it all happen. He decided to take Dick Grayson in and then eventually adopted him. Dick was lonely, angry and grieving. Bruce trained him to fight and used what Dick knew from the circus to his advantage. Dick at the age of 12 became Batmans sidekick Robin. Robin was a nickname his mother gave to him as his costume had a red chest and he flew through the air. Dicks first robin suit was inspired by Robin hood.

over the years Batman and Robin went on many adventures, solving crimes and catching bad guys. As Dick Grayson he had to keep Batman and Robin and their identies a secret. As Dick Grayson he was billionaire Bruce Wayne’s son and had to play the part. He attended school and smiled at galas but alone he was very lonely and still grieved for his parents and the circus.

At 19 years old Dick was fired from his role as Robin and fell out with Batman and Bruce Wayne. He decided to create his own persona Nightwing.

Nightwing has had many changes over the years and been in many groups such as, teen titans, outsiders and Titans as well as working with other vigilantes.  In his private life Dick is a hopeless romantic, he is very caring. Dick is pansexual.

Dick’s first love was Barbra Gordon, they had a troubled but intense relationship and Dick will always have feelings for her even if they cant be together.

Nightwing stands for justice, he always wanted to be the open hand to Batman’s closed fist. He respects Batman and appreciates Bruce’s effort to take him in bit still sees that B has not got all the answer’s. B’s tactics on bringing up children are certainly unconventional and lacking warmth and understanding a child and teenager needs. Dick put aside his disagreement with B to come back and help train the new members to B’s family while also being the person he never had growing up under Bruce Waynes roof and under the direction of Batman.

Dick wants to be the best at everyone of of his roles, friend, brother, hero, mentor while trying to scrape together whatever private life he has left for himself. He may come across as having everything together but the truth is that its hard to live with the world on your shoulders, living with regrets and being his own worst critic.

RULES

18+ NSFW This is a smut friendly blog. I will not write with any minors and this blog is made for people who are 18+.

Grammar and Spelling I believe in content and substance instead of perfect grammar and spelling.

Smut and Ships I am a shipping whore. I love writing ships. All the ships and smut on all of my blogs are for creative writing purposes only and do not reflect my own thoughts and feelings. If you do not like a ship of mine such as Brudick and Jaydick then you don’t have to write it, if it makes you upset then feel free to block me.

Replies Replies are slow due to real life responsibilities. It is normal for me to take a while and take breaks as well as a hiatus. If we have a thread then I will reply to that thread no matter how long it has been. If I have not replied then feel free to let me know and I will give you an update. I am a literary writer, I enjoy long detailed replies.

Triggers and Dark Themes I write dark themes. I try and add trigger warnings but it is not guaranteed.

The obvious No godmodding unless we have previously plotted or we have a long writing history or an understanding. Anon hate will be deleted. This is a drama free blog.

Have fun Lets remember that this is a hobby. Lets have fun. I am just a message away if our threads are not working or if you have an new idea.

No Judgement Zone if we write together you are allowed to bug me with ideas, your allowed to be excited, you are allowed to drop threads and concentrate on writing partners that make you happy. You are allowed to come to me with weird and twisted ideas, I may not want to write them all but I will not judge you.  Follow your happiness.

[hwrryscherry]

 The one where the reader meets Harry as Jack

characters: HARRYxREADER!FEM

blurb: Harry is filming Don't Worry Darling in Palms Springs while Y/N is moving in in her new house in the neighbourhood where the movie is being filmed. Turns out the fate wanted to cross Harry and Y/N's way as a box full of books is very intriguing to Harry and Pride and Prejudice becomes Harry's new favorite.

word count: 2.7K

author's note: Heyy guys, it has been SO LONG and honestly I don’t think this is best work yet lol but anyway, I had the worst writer’s block of my life so it was so hard for me to write a single word. Honestly, I felt kinda pressured to write. I felt like I was pressuring myself for that so I had to take advantage of this block and take this idea out of my mind. I want to say something important too; I really want to say that the only story of mine that I’ll keep the face claim is HARRYxMODELY/N, just because I like to use the photos to make instagram posts sometimes. I will no longer describe types of hair as I used to say ‘’long strands of hair’’, it will be neutral for you to imagine yourself in the story. It’s all about you guys and how you can visualize the story and the character, if you want to imagine a face claim that’s cool but if you don’t want to it’s cool too. Feel free to read and visualize, it’s all about you. Thank you for the support on my account and my writing. I’m aware that I’m not the best lol, but I also think that I have so much to learn from you just as I have to teach. I’m so grateful for everyone who reads and like my stuff. Never forget that you’re unique, you’re loved, you’re so golden and treat people with kindness always.

   "Why is it so hot in here? It's fucking December!", you'd think to yourself as you drove your new car through the streets of Palm Springs. The thing is that after you moved from Columbia to reside so many years in New York while you were studying English Language and Literature in Yale, you just got so used with the usual colder weather from NY and it's just a different vibe from California. You had such a hard time to decide what you wanted to do after graduating, though. And after a few weeks and some long conversations with your family, you decided you would go to California. Palm Springs, to be more specific. You decided that because you remembered all the times you went there when you were a kid because your grandmother lived in there before she passed. You remember spending your summer vacation with her and how cool it was. It was in the early 2000′s and there was many kids on your age that lived on her street. You remember playing with them all day and then getting back into your grandma’s house and feeling that cinnamon scent that for some one only her house had. It wasn’t a usual cinnamon scent. It had something special in it. It made you feel so warm and welcomed. You remember helping her to bake the most delicious cookies, brownies and cakes in her kitchen. You remember the kitchen had a yellow counter, but the entire kitchen was white. All very pale and then the cheerful yellow in the kitchen that colored everything. You remember going to play bingo with her and how it made her happy to having you around. You both were so close and you had such a hard time when she passed, but the most important was she taught you so many things during your time together, and you’d never forget those things and her.

    As you drove, you’d remember those streets vaguely. You’d pass through the soccer court you typically used to go with the other kids and spent hours playing in there. You were vibing with the song in the stereo as you started getting closer to your new house’s street. It was Carolina by Harry Styles; you have to admit you’re not the biggest Harry Styles fan in the world, but you were definitely a One Direction fan when you were around 16, but you couldn't be considered a directioner either. You just listened to a few songs and thought it was good. But anyway, this specific song is one that you particularly like. It may have something to do with the fact that you’re from Carolina, of course. But it’s more about the vibe and the melody that by being animated it could actually cheer anyone up and the lyrics were undeniably good though, a little sexual, but good. It’s more about the vibe and the melody that by being animated it could actually cheer anyone up and the lyrics were really good though, a little sexual, but good.

    When you turned the right way into the street of your new home, you came across much more than you expected to see on your moving day. There were, as it seemed, paparazzi. Apparently they were shooting a movie right in your street, and it had also many people with many cameras and trailers that probably were dressing rooms. Naturally, you knew that thousands of films were shot in California, that’s obvious. But you didn't expect one to be shooting exactly on your moving day and specifically in your street, let alone that the street would be this crowded since the world is experiencing a global pandemic, ironic. You observed some of the people walking down the street, or should you call it a set? You don't know, but there were many people and many cars, at least they were all wearing masks. It had many classic cars, probably in the 40s or 50s style. They were colorful; vivid colors, though. Colors like yellow, blue and lilac was really present. To resume, the whole street looked like a movie from the 50s and for sure that was the intention because you could notice some extras walking around the set dressed up as 50s people used to.

    As you carefully drive through the street, you’d notice that from what seemed like a divine miracle, there was a vacant parking spot right in front of your house and you can’t help but smile when you see it. The first time you came here to see the house. You were with your family, and that was about four months ago. You just loved the house completely as it had such a different vibe from the place you used to live in New York, and honestly, just the thought of the house made your creativity activate as it had some really cool colored walls and you bought some colored mobile as well. Anyway, you stopped the car right in front of your house finishing the engine and grabbing your mask and putting it in your face as you'd use your hand to get rid of the seat belt and your other hand to open the car door and get out of the car.

    After closing the driver's seat door, you go around the car walking to the trunk where you use the car key to open it. When you open it, you are faced with two cardboard boxes. One was full of books. Books of all kinds, books of period novels, books of suspense, books of investigation and etc. Books that piqued your curiosity and made you want to finish reading it as quickly as possible. The other box was already full of clothes, those last clothes that you would finally be taking home. Your mother has done the biggest job in the moving issue; she was the one who was bringing the furniture and your things while you finished packing the rest of your things to leave New York. You try your hardest not to pay attention to the set of recordings and the people who walked back and forth, at the same time that you tried hard not to make any noise, because if you accidentally disturbed a scene, you would feel extremely embarrassed and would probably not even show up at the gate until the end of filming, but that was not the case. You removed the two boxes from the trunk just before closing it completely. You chose, perhaps, to enter the clothes box first. You bent down taking the box in your arms and walked to the door of the house where you used the key you received from the real-estate agent to unlock it before entering. You immediately noticed that some sunbeams reflected on the living room floor due to the white linen curtain that covered the glass windows. You observed the contrast of the sofa in such a light tone with the lilac wall just behind it. You walked with the box in hand by the door extension to the room where you placed the box on the small coffee table in front of the sofa. Returning out of the house, you can see the figure of a tall man dressed in a brown suit crouched in front of the box of your books. He had brown hair and properly cut. It didn't look like he was messing with your books, but he was definitely looking at them and it seemed like he was trying to read the covers of it for some reason. You slowly got closer to the man's body without making too much noise while you analyzed him, you crossed your arms upon your chest as you noticed the book cover he was looking at: Love is a mixtape by Rob Sheffield.

— This one is amazing! — You said, surprising the man that stand up fastly with the book in his hands connecting his green gaze with yours. He was tall, really tall by the way. His suit seemed perfect, just as his hair. He had a black mask on as a protection but the 16 year old teenager inside of you could never mistake those eyes. It was Harry fricking Styles. You considerated being quiet as you, yourself were pretty surprised now, but then you took your gaze to the book in his hand and then back at his face — It's like comparing love to a popular song that we usually search to define love. Just to find out that love is like oxygen, or love is a kind of drug, or a battlefield for some... — You said referring to the book with a tender smile on your face that Harry couldn't essentially see, but talking about a book that you loved caused this on you. And as you talked you didn't notice that Harry had a smile on his face as well. Maybe it was because you completely ignored the fact that he is Harry Styles and he was messing up your books as he's on the set filming a movie, or maybe it was the fact that he loved this book just as much as you did. He'd use to say this is probably one of the books that if he had to read just one book to the rest of his life, he'd chose this one and he usually had so much to talk about this book and so much to put on an argument about it but now he was completely speechless. He was just tongue tied. He was tongue tied about your reflection of one of his favorite books and how it looked so identical to his own personal reflection. He was tongue tied for the number of great books that he always wanted to read that was on that box. He was tongue tied at the owner of those books and her beauty, her intelligence of her voice and her voice as well so he just chuckled. A nervous chuckle as he leaned his head to look at the floor for a second before looking at you and holding out the book in his hands to you that calmly took it from his hands.

— I know! It's one of my favorite books! — Harry'd ultimately manage to say it as he observed you admiring the cover and running your fingers through it as a truly book lover would do — It's very interesting the interpretation you have of it.

— Don't you agree? — You'd interrupt him rising your head to examine at his face. He seemed paralyzed by some way, little did you know that Harry was mesmerized. He enjoyed the informal way you were speaking with him, and it genuinely felt like you already knew it each for years.

— That's the intriguing part. We have the same interpretation! — He'd say serenely, and then running his hand through his hair as he frown a little because of the sun that just hit on his glowing eyes.

— Well...Maybe you're just trying to imitate me to impress me! — You'd joke, with a mocking expression on your face making Harry giggle at your words and your face. It was the sense of humor to him.

— Oh really? And what makes you think I'm trying to impress you? — Harry'd say back with the same mocking tone that you formerly used. He'd observe your face go from playful to thoughtful in just as you to come up with a response.

— I mean...you were the one looking through my stuff, mister! — You say raising your eyebrows as you utilized one of your hands to take some strands of hair out of your face.

— Right... — Harry said with a defeated voice before as he compressed his lips together and moved his suit away from his shirt a little as he places his hands on his waist — I'm sorry about it, though. There was this box hanging here and I guess I was just intrigued! — He said shyly making you start walking towards the box walking closely to him causing him to feel a hot warm from your body as you passed. You'd bend over to grab the box but was stopped by Harry taking the heavy box from your hands — Let me help you with this! — Harry said as he held the box on his arms.

— There's no need for that. It'll ruin your splendid suit! — You'd say gently to him as he was standing up in front of you carefully holding the loaded box. Legitimately, he looked hot. He properly looked like a 50s husband helping with the moving with this outfit — And if you piss off your costume designer because of me I'll die! — You'd complement receiving a loud laugh from Harry's lips that shook his head while looking at you.

— She’ll be fine! — Harry'd argue back, then get a sigh from you before nodding at him as a statement.

— My house is right there! — You'd say using your right hand to point at your house, watching Harry turn his back to you and start walking towards it. You followed him through the door that was already open. Harry looked at the house immediately. It had a good vibe, and he wouldn't deny it. The choice of colors was exceptional, but he also noticed it was not very tidy, which would probably indicate that you were moving today.

— Where do I leave it? — Harry asked, referring to the box as he went farther into the living room.

— You can just leave it on the floor — You serenely said crossing your arms together and watching as he left the box on the floor and turned around to face you, but then deflecting his gaze to the ceiling before staring at your face again.

— It's a beautiful house! — Harry said as he moved his gaze through the room. He observed everything. He likes to observe. He likes to notice things that maybe other people didn't — Just like the owner, if I might say — Harry said cheekily and charming hearing your giggle invade his ears as you started walking towards the box of books that he previously set on the floor.

— The owner says thank you — You said bending down and starting to take the books out of the box and place it on the coffee table beside you as Harry watched your movements. You shyly looked at him thinking for a second and them smiling under your mask — For both compliments! — You said getting your attention back to the books. It's not that you don't want to give him your attention. It's that you genuinely think that he's just being nice, and he's probably not even interested in anything that you say.

— So... I have to go back to the film now but maybe you can give me your number so we can talk about your interpretation of my favorite book — Harry said shyly. His words took you by surprise actually but you couldn't hold back the smirk you had under your mask as you stand up again turning to face his green eyes. You noticed that he had his phone on his hand, hoping and waiting that you'd give him your number even though both of you knew that the book excuse was nothing more than an excuse as he was truly interested in knowing you.

— Well, it depends... — you said slowly as you took a deep breath before actually saying anything — If you agree to read my favorite books too, I'll give you my number!

— I'd be honored! — Harry chuckled after letting a sigh out feeling relief that you asked for something so simple that he'd love to do if that would make you happy — What's your name? — Harry said as he unblocked his phone screen and started to save your phone number.

— Save it as Elizabeth Bennet in there! — You said fastly with a proud smile on your face as Harry giggled and did as you ask and then looked at your face as he put his phone back on his pocket.

— Only if you save my name as Mr. Darcy when I call you! — Harry said knowing that after this, Pride and Prejudice would definitely become one of his favorite books ever.

[seraphdarlimg]

wish I were...

after Harry kisses reader, she watches him mesmerized as his ex walks by

‘heather’ by conan gray WARNINGS - ANGST. WORD COUNT - 2,109

A/N: this is the first imagine I’ve ever posted on here hehe. but this most likely will be a 2-3 part mini series of pure angst...so yay!

____________________________________________________________

   "My goodness, I can't believe it's been a year and this is how we're celebrating it? " I take a sip from my wine glass with a raised brow towards Harry. We were sat on the floor at the recording studio, having a makeshift little picnic to celebrate a year. A whole year of a beautiful friendship. "Well I thought it'd be fitting, ya know this is where we met and stuff. Look, I even got those Korean chips that you snacked on that day!" I laugh as he comically picks up a chip and places it in his mouth, followed by an exaggerated moan. I try to hide the blush rapidly heating up my face at how much effort he put into this silly thing. It started as a little joke I brought up to him one day when we were having a lazy day, and of course Harry would take it seriously. He planned the little picnic basket after a day in the studio when everyone else left and he had asked me to stay a little longer to help him with lyrics and whatnot. It was a complete surprise and I couldn't help but adore how happy and proud he was setting this up. 

"Alright I gotta give it to ya H, you are the bestest friend anyone could ever ask for. I'm just happy that you didn't include those disgusting kale chips of yours." The smile that hasn't left his face drops into a shocked and offended look. 

"Hey, you said you wouldn't make fun of my addiction anymore." He scoots closer to me, gently poking my rib to which I immediately jump and swat his hand away. "I'm sorry- I'm sorry!" I giggled when he makes himself comfty sat right next to me. 

Subconsciously, I move closer till his shoulder touched mine. "I like this sweater, it's fluffy and keeps people warm." I say, huddling into the fabric that Harry gave me to wear when it got colder. "You know what, I like all your sweaters H, they're all impeccable."   He chuckles, "really? It looks better on you than me, bubs." I smile, using the over-sized sleeves to cover my face and faking a groan. "Oh you would with that cliché ass line."  "It's true! Beautiful in m'clothes." He mumbles and I had to only respond with gratefully lending my shoulder as a resting spot for his head. Considering he literally had to bend his whole body to do so every time he does this, I never understood how he found this comfortable. We shared a comfortable silence for a minute, sipping on our wine, the bottle nearly finished. The courage coming from it is telling me this would be the perfect time. It's the right setting to finally tell him that my feelings go beyond friendship and that it has been since the first month. The thought made me nervous at first, but there had been so many signs from him that had me thinking he's feeling the same way. Maybe those were just my expectations and how loving Harry is, but every time I look at him, I'm mesmerized. "Honestly don't know what I'd do without you bubs." Harry suddenly says and I snap out of my thoughts to glance down at him staring at his empty glass. My heart started beating fast and my breathe hitched when he pulls away only a few inches away to look back at me "This was a tough year and you've been there with me through it all, haven't been this close to someone in that short of time." He says lowly, looking right into my eyes. I take his hand in my small ones and play with his fingers in comfort, as we reflected on how this was both the best and worst year for him. While he became such a successful solo artist after the band and created the best relationships in his life, he reached a mental low dealing with his own insecurities and went through a breakup that took a major toll on him. They ended on good terms, but Harry went through the aftermath of a loss alone. I came in a month after his break up, hired as a lyricist to help him get out of this creative block but also to help him realize how much he was really worth as a person. It was a gradual slow process of friendship at the start, but it quickly blossomed into becoming best friends, growing feelings in between for me. "You're so good to me, I don't deserve it." He was so close and I couldn't tell if I was leaning in or not. My chest feels like it's bursting. "Harry, you've done so much for me, don't put yourself down like that. You deserve my love, mkay?" He looked so vulnerable, staring into my eyes as I couldn't pinpoint what emotion he was feeling right now. I was always able to read Harry easily, but maybe it was the wine that made it harder to understand what was racing through his mind. I couldn't register it. His lips on mine were foreign but felt right, like they fit perfectly. His hands cupping my face gently made me realize this was actually happening. My best friend who I've loved for so long was finally kissing me. "You absolutely deserve mine... "                                                        ***    My anxiety was getting the best of me. The party wasn't like any other rowdy and crowded New Year's Eve celebration. It was a gathering of close friends and mutual at a penthouse with just enough drinking and fun shenanigans. I knew all these people and they knew me, yet it wasn't easy to breathe regularly for some reason. I smiled and laughed along with the conversation among the circle of friends I situated myself in with Harry standing to my right, two people in-between us. I anxiously played with my fingers wrapped around a bulbous wine glass, zoned out but somewhat participating with the group. I caught his eyes, both of us giving a smile when he shot me a quick goofy face. His eyes trailed down to my hands, an obvious tell. I respond with a reassuring smile, placing my hand on my chest to which he steps outside and moves to stand next to me. I soften as he places a hand casually on my back, rubbing up and down. The nerves die down a bit. Usually, I would of been full comfortable but it was different now. After the kiss Harry and I shared, nothing had changed as much as I wanted it too. There was still the casual flirting and touchy gestures, but other than that, Harry never brought it up. "Soo, what now?" I had asked him when he dropped me off at my apartment. He gives me a tight smile and takes my hand in his, bringing it to his lips. "Still my best girl." I was confused afterwards, not fully understanding how he felt towards me. "Hey, I kind of wanted to talk to you about yesterday... " I approached him in the studio, his sweater keeping me warm that morning. "Oh yeah, you never told me what you wanted for Christmas. And by the way, I'm gonna need that sweater back sooner or later." He chuckles, going back to writing down chord progressions. Him avoiding the subject made me think he didn't want to talk about it, so I stopped trying. It made me insecure a bit to show him any type of affection back, but I didn't have it in me to tell him when I'm engulfed in his huge frame, feeling safe and happy at the moment. What made me snap out of my thoughts was his hand leaving my back and slipping into his jacket pocket. He then started being part of the funny story Mitch was telling, including his own side and little comedic comments that made the group laugh. As much as it brought a smile to my face, there was nothing more I wanted to do than take his arm, wrap it around me and kiss his cheek before laying my head on his chest. He took a second here and there to glance at me, probably aware how tired i was getting even though it was only a few minutes before midnight. The kiss defiantly affected something here, as much as Harry was trying to show that it hasn't, I can at least appreciate the acknowledgment that he shared similar feelings towards me. Maybe this was him thinking about the possibilities afterwards, knowing Harry wasn't very much a confrontational person and has taken time to learn to process things more logically rather than pure emotional instinct. When he catches me staring and throws a knowing smirk followed by a wink, I melt right on the spot but at the same time, holding back from rolling my eyes. I felt his stare kept on me when I looked away, feeling less frustrated and more understanding of his situation. Maybe I do just need to give him time... When I looked back at him, he was now looking away at something else apart from the group. I didn't give it a second glance till I noticed he was fully distracted before Mitch kept calling his name but getting no response back. Harry was in deep trance at something more fascinating than his friend's story, and when I caught sight of what was distracting him, I fully understood why. She stood out, so it wasn't to hard to point her out. But of course she would, she looks stunning in that dress that happens to only be a different shade of color from mine. The natural glam and brightening smile on her face as she talked to mutual friends perfected her look, but it was the sound of her melodic voice that just set the deal. It was her laughter from across the room that caught his attention first, what made him break his gaze on me to her. My first thought was concern for Harry and if he was suddenly feeling overwhelmed or distraught by her presence after a breakup. But then I looked back at him and only saw longing and adoration. It was a look I only was recently familiarized with. I purse my lips to hide the frown set on my face while I felt my heart beat much faster initially, watching him mesmerized as she walks across the floor to greet more party guests. Her blue eyes wide and shining, most likely something Harry was dying to see once again as he hoped she would turn his way. Is this what hopelessness feels like? Mitch gave up on trying to catch his attention as soon as he realized who Harry was looking at, and so did the rest of the group. But here I was, desperately looking up at him in hopes that he would suddenly break away and meet my own eyes that stood right next to him. "Guys! The count downs about to start!" Someone called out, followed by cheers and applause as everyone slowly started gathering towards the balcony to see the firework show and celebration of the city below. She moves away from the crowd though, choosing to be semi alone next to the aquarium with a glass of martini in her hand. More people started crowding around us, the group disintegrated into a whole, but my focus was on Harry. As much as my anxiety and tiredness was getting worse, it couldn't compare to the ache in my chest when he takes a hesitant step towards her direction. In a second, my hand flies towards his and gently tugs to me in a last ditch of desperation while I softly call out his name. Maybe it was the way he stopped and turned his head slightly before completely pulling away and walking towards her, leaving me engulfed with the crowd alone. Or that I could picture the loving look on his face when she finally sees him approaching and gives him a welcoming smile while the sound of people counting down from 20 is muddled into the background. All I could imagine to hear was his small 'hi' and compliment for how beautiful she looks, knowing how nervous he would be. "3, 2, 1! Happy New Years!" The celebration of those around me drowned out my glossy eyes as I see Heather take Harry's hand in hers, sharing that same complete adoration look on her face that I was only just becoming familiar with.

_____________________________________________________________

part 2 A/N: feedback would greatly be appreciated :) 

[oops-prow-did-it-again]

I’m back!

So, I kinda quit using this blog a while back. There are some notes about it in my old pinned post and probably on my fanfics, lol, but basically, I felt overwhelmed by fandom and everything going on irl and I crashed. I just withdrew from like, everything. I still logged in on Tumblr but I just liked things to later view them with the boyfriend or laugh at them again myself.

Honestly, it’s not that fun, just doing that, and not really that fair to people who put effort into their posts like art, music, writing, etc., or even just people who are very passionate about a subject and may want it to reach others that are the same. Because I know I’m like that!

But anyway, this is going to be my new pinned post. So! (More under the cut, please keep reading!)

About Me

You can call me Prowess, I’m a FtM transmasc (he/him please)! I use this space to elevate my personal works, such as art or writing, while also occasionally posting about topics I am passionate about. I realized I was trans in 2020 at the age of 19 years old, in the midst of a pandemic and college fallout, so as you can imagine, I’m still riding the rollercoaster of emotions that come with that. I’m also ADHD... so expect some posts about those sort of things.

But that is hardly the focus! I am big on art and writing. While I am mostly obsessed with Pokemon, I am a lover of stories, and so generally, I love most fiction, even the really bad stuff. Along with my Pokemon stuff, you can expect posts involving ARK: Survival Evolved, The Tales of Miraculous Ladybug & Cat Noir, animated movies (Luca, Toy Story, Spirit - you name it, I probably love it), and plenty of other stuff.

While I have too many older posts to go through and try to sort out the unclean tags, going forward, I am going to use these sort of tags: subject (whatever the post is about, for example, Pokemon), characters depicted, media (whether it’s art, writing, animation, or a mix), and any warnings that may need to go with it (for example, cussing when stronger language is involved, or racism if racism is getting discussed, etc). Memes or one-off posts will likely be tagged with simply “memes.” While this is pretty true for most any blog, this is so you know if you need to block certain tags! For example, if you hate Miraculous Ladybug, you’d just blacklist ‘Miraculous.’

I will also reblog a lot of posts asking for help or boosting awareness. I will try not to inundate the blog with these, but as I will likely have to make a post asking for help at some point myself due to unfortunate irl circumstances, I want to pay it forward in advance. These will be tagged with simply “help needed!”

Below are some projects I’m working on + what you can expect from this blog.

Pokemon Retold

By far, my biggest project to date, is Pokemon Retold.

This is an expansive written anthology of all the pokemon mainline games as far as generation 8. Red, Heart of Gold, Omega Ruby, Platinum, Black, Black 2, Y, Ultra Sun, and Sword are all intended to get rewritten and posted on both my FanFiction.Net and Archive of Our Own accounts. I may also post some chapters here, but I admit Tumblr makes that difficult sometimes.

These stories are very personal to me, as I started writing them when I was struggling in college with undiagnosed ADHD, and felt like my life was falling apart and I was alone. I started writing a retelling of Sword, but the more I wrote, the more disappointed in it I felt, so I started writing Black instead and scrapped Sword altogether.

I’ve had some rough road since, but Black is complete, Black 2 is also complete, and Ultra Sun is (mostly) complete (but with plans to be heavily altered), while Red is underway!

WARNING: These stories can get DARK, and I would rather my readers be over 18. They are not dark with the intent to squick out or upset people, however; they are dark with the intention of exploring thoughts and ideas I find too difficult to think about directly. There are more personalized warnings at the beginnings of each story. With that out of the way, please just try and move on if you find yourself disliking a specific story or part of a story of mine... If you want to give constructive criticism, you are more than welcome, but tearing into me and my writing just because you didn’t like something helps nobody. Keep in mind I write these for fun and as a form of self-therapy throughout some of the worst years of my life.

Furthermore, I edit them a lot. And I do mean a lot. My FFN profile acts as a “changelog” for what has changed in the stories over the course of the time they’ve been posted.

Pokemon Retold posts are tagged “Retold.”

My FFN Profile

My AO3 Profile

Pokemon Retold: Black has been added to TVTropes! I honestly don’t even care that this person digs into it a couple of times, I was so incredibly flattered they took the time to do that at all. (But be warned the page does have some spoilers!) I have no idea if you enjoyed the story or not upon reading over that page, kind stranger lol, but I really appreciate that you took the time to do that nonetheless! <3

Creatively Destructive

This incredibly well-titled story is an idea I have for a retelling of Miraculous Ladybug. I know, I know - absolutely never been done before /s

While I know there has got to be a thousand retellings of this show by now, based on just how.... terrible, the writing is, I want to try anyway. Because I genuinely love the premise of the show! I’m just constantly disappointed by how it seems to never go anywhere with its plot or characters.

So, Creatively Destructive will be a fanfic, and when I have more information on it, I’ll post it under the tag “creatively destructive.”

Roleplays

Me and my boyfriend love to RP a lot. From Monster Hunter to Pokemon, we do a lot of different stories. Sometimes, I really get inspired by what we come up together and I want to share it with others! Be it quick art based on a scene from the RP or a quick rundown of what occurred in an RP, you can catch these in the ‘Prow RP’ tags.

Currently, we are having a lot of fun with an RP based on the Hoenn pokemon games that I am sure I’ll be posting about!

I may also be open to RPs with others in the future :> Don’t be offended that I’m not open to them already... I’m just a very easily overstimulated person.

The Ballad of the ARK

ARK: Survival Evolved is a lot of things. It’s an amazing concept, an open-world game where you befriend dinos and fight alongside tribemates against other tribes, or work together to survive the hostile environment. But the true tragedy of this game goes so much deeper than that, and I want to explore that in writing, starting with my story, my experience, and then graduating to where I think the issue primarily stems from. 

This strange memoir will be posted under the tags of “Ballad of ARK.”

Commissions

I hope to take commissions for art and writing in the future!

However, I need to figure out the parameters of what I’m willing to draw (and what I can feasibly draw), as well as what I can promise when it comes to writing, not to mention pricing.

That’s not to say I’m not open to ideas though! Feel free to message me/send me asks anyway and we’ll see if we can work something out. :)

Although I am not in a financial disaster just yet, I feel like I am not far from one. This is why I hope to try to build on commissions in the future. I know they will never support me, but I would still like to try to be useful and helpful to some. I currently live with my grandmother, having left my abusive home with my father, and although she generously allows me to live with her for the low cost of merely helping with some electricity and my own food, I struggle to remain abovewater financially due to difficulty finding work (thanks to issues with ADHD and physical problems following a bout with COVID in early January 2021).

If you would like to help anyway, feel free to subscribe to my Patreon, or make a one-time payment via PayPal. I promise no matter what or how much it is, your generosity is greatly appreciated!! <3

My Patreon

My PayPal

My Ko-fi

(Note that my Patreon is... very outdated and needs to be updated. I will do that soon!)