#this is absolutely incredible and I truly loved every moment!!! PLEASE give us more!!!

[dark-and-kawaii]

bg3 men of your choosing and kinks?

Notes: Yummy!!! I got you dear anon xoxo

⟡ Characters: Halsin - Gale - Zevlor - Haarlep - Raphael - Wyll - Rolan

⟡ Content: NSFW - Kinks - Lots Of Kinks

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Zevlor loves a good creampie. Like, please let this old man cum deep within you!!! It will literally make him go insane, his tail thrashing around behind him as he fills you so full of his seed. Especially if you let me do it after only just meeting. It’s been so long since he’s felt such warmth envelop his cock. Gods, and when he sees the way his white milky substance leaks out of you afterwards… it’s enough to keep him hard and wanting to go at it again. Maybe it’s part of the breeding kink he has, the dire need- of wanting a family to call his own. And you just look so pretty like this- with your legs spread and his cum spilling out.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Haarlep is an incubus, a demon- a chaotic being so of course dacryphilia. Whether you’re crying from his cock stretching you or crying from the way this creature overstimulates you- he relishes in it. Haarlep adores taunting you, always adding a hint of mockery to his coos, “Awh my little Dove, does it hurt?” Before leaning down to lick away the tears running down that pretty face of yours he loves so much. “Or is it simply too much for your mortal body to endure?” As he lets out a wicked laugh, flashing you his infamous smirk.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Rolan not only enjoys overstimulating you, but also craves being overstimulated himself. This grumpy tiefling wizard has more depth than meets the eye. He’s so pent up from studying and perfecting new spells that when he finally gets his hands on you he’s using your body as a means of release. He unleashes all his frustrations on your tight little fuck hole, pounding you relentlessly with his cock. Bullying that body of yours until you’re nothing more than a babbling mess with your tongue lolled out, until his body gives up on him, collapsing on top of you, gasping for breath. The slightest touch sending his body into shock.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Raphael is a cocky bastard, and everyone knows this. Gets off on denying you your orgasm. Loves being in control of your body, mind, and soul- the devil will wait until you’re begging for him to give you your release- begging for his cock acknowledging that only he can bring you such intense pleasure. Telling him that no one- nor anything matters, only him. Once you’ve pleaded enough, he’ll express how satisfied he is with your obedience and will hint at granting you that long awaited release.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Wyll adores praising you, worshipping you in your intimate moments. He genuinely worshiped every aspect of you, even finding all your imperfections incredibly beautiful. Especially if you have a scar, no matter how small or large, he’ll lovingly kiss along it. And he takes such delight in receiving the same level of adoration from you, as you worship his cock, the very cock that causes your toes to curl and your body to writhe beneath him.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Listen, Halsin sometimes involuntarily shifts into a bear, and he always apologizes for it. But if you accept him for who he truly is, Gods he’ll be utterly smitten with you. As things start to get a bit more steamy his body begins to glow as he transforms into his bear shape. But, if you playfully giggle at him and start to run, enticing him to chase you by wiggling your finger, oh yes, it will not only arouse him further to chase you, but also show him you’re open to some unconventional foreplay. Being a bear he’ll eventually catch up to you and pounce on you as gently as he can. It’s so endearing to him how you softly plead, “oh no~ plllleeeease~ someone help~” as your fingers run through his fur.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ Gale is so cute, he just absolutely craves the sensation of your fingers tugging at his hair while you ride his face. He always smiles while probing you with his tongue when he feels your nails digging into his scalp as his stubble tickles between your thighs. And when it comes to your hair, well you best believe this man takes joy in giving a gentle tug here and there. Not too rough, but enough to crane your neck back so that he can lock eyes with you before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss.

[awkward-walking-potato]

Can I request headcanons for Remy, poly Wade, and Logan would think about his shy gender neutral s/o asking him to kiss his forehead in hopes that he would feel loved like they do whenever they receive one from him please?

Remy LeBeau (Gambit):

- Remy is a natural flirt and charmer, so when his shy S/O asks for a forehead kiss, he can’t help but tease them a little, a playful smirk spreading across his lips. He loves how bashful they get when they ask for something so sweet and intimate.

- Despite the teasing, Remy is all about making his S/O feel loved and cherished. He’ll lean in slowly, letting the anticipation build before pressing a soft, lingering kiss to their forehead. He’s careful to make it as tender and meaningful as possible, knowing that this small gesture means the world to them.

- After kissing their forehead, he’ll pull them close, murmuring in his Cajun drawl about how much he adores them. He might even throw in a few words in French, just to see them blush even more. Remy’s all about making sure his S/O knows they’re loved and that their happiness is his priority.

Wade Wilson (Deadpool):

- Wade would be absolutely thrilled that his S/O wants something so sweet and wholesome from him. He’s all about grand gestures, so what starts as a simple request for a forehead kiss turns into an exaggerated, over-the-top display of affection. He might even make a dramatic speech about how honored he is to bestow such a kiss upon their “royal forehead.”

- Despite his usual antics, Wade has a soft spot for his S/O, especially when they’re vulnerable. When he actually gives them the forehead kiss, he does it with surprising gentleness, his usual wild energy dialed back. He knows how much it means to them, and in that moment, he wants them to feel every ounce of his love and care.

- After the kiss, Wade would probably make a joke to lighten the mood, maybe something ridiculous like, “Did that kiss level up your self-esteem stat? Because it should be at least a +10 now!” But beneath the humor, he’s deeply touched that they trust him enough to ask for something so intimate, and he’s determined to give them all the love they deserve.

Logan (Wolverine):

- Logan isn’t used to being asked for affection, especially something as gentle as a forehead kiss. When his shy S/O makes the request, it takes him by surprise, but in a good way. There’s a softening in his normally gruff demeanor, a hint of vulnerability that he only shows to the people he truly cares about.

- Logan has a tough exterior, but when it comes to his S/O, he’s incredibly protective and gentle. He’d nod gruffly, his expression softening as he leans in to press a warm, firm kiss to their forehead. It’s a quiet, intimate gesture, and he makes sure they feel every bit of the love and care he has for them in that single moment.

- After the kiss, Logan might not say much—words aren’t his strong suit—but he’ll linger close, letting his presence speak for him. Maybe he’ll give them a small, reassuring squeeze or pull them into a comforting embrace. He wants them to know that they’re loved, that he’s always there for them, even if he doesn’t always know how to express it in words.

[bird-inacage]

Love in the Air: At the Mercy of Love (Sky x Prapai Confession Scene)

So the confession scene is easily one of the most important and pivotal scenes in Sky x Prapai’s storyline, and I have a lot to say about it. This scene left me quaking because it’s very, very layered. I’ve had to delve deep to truly try to understand the emotional perspectives of both characters in this moment.

From Prapai’s point of view, Sky has just attempted to ruthlessly hurt him, which was incredibly out of character. Prapai knows this isn’t his Sky. Knows Sky wouldn’t say and do things like that, but he doesn’t understand why Sky is saying this. And Sky is a person who comes with a lot of ‘whys’ that Prapai doesn’t yet have all the answers to. He decides not give up, because his love and concern for Sky far outweighs his own pain.

I’ve tried picturing how Prapai felt when he read those words in Sky’s notebook. The first few pages are sweet and endearing, Sky’s notes begin purely as a record of facts. Slowly those become more telling, more revealing in how much Sky values Prapai’s presence, but also how much good he sees in Prapai.

Up until this point, Prapai has been putting his everything into pursuing Sky, in the hopes that Sky may at some point reciprocate even a fraction. Even in the previous episode, when Prapai gets angry, he says, “I might be a psychotic stalker in your eyes, but please understand how worried I am of you”. Despite how assured he comes across, Prapai is actually very insecure about how Sky feels about him. He has no real grasp on Sky’s true feelings. Though he suspects Sky returns them, he doesn’t actually know for sure. Sky’s notes reveal that he’s taken note of every gesture, every act of devotion that Prapai has made thus far. Nothing Prapai has done has gone unnoticed.

Prapai must have felt overwhelmingly validated and touched, that the person he loves has equally treasured every single moment of his presence. All the effort, all the time he has poured into Sky, has been seen, and is absolutely worth it. But Sky wanted to keep all this hidden. He didn’t want Prapai to know. And that fact was likely going round and round in circles in Prapai’s mind, whilst he sat there in the dark - stewing, and getting increasingly angry and hurt by the entire revelation.

Which leads onto the part which devastated me. Sky insecurities, fears and anxieties laid raw and utterly unfiltered in excruciating, heart-breaking detail. Sky’s complete sense of worthlessness couldn’t be any clearer. Prapai knows there’s a shadow chasing Sky but he still doesn’t know what that shadow is. He loves Sky but Sky doesn’t love himself, and you can’t simply re-programme someone’s mindset like a switch. It doesn’t matter how much you love someone, that isn’t enough to convince them to love themselves as much as you do. Sky truly doesn’t feel worthy of Prapai’s affections, and so that entire final passage is Sky pleading, bargaining for Prapai’s attentions to stay with him. It’s the most agonised, distraught, desperate cry for someone to stay and not abandon him.

Sky is so determined to project a strong façade. To have his worst fears being read out to him by the man he loves, the man he thinks no longer wants him anymore - is like hearing the taunting voice of his demons being actualised through Prapai. An echo of what I assume his ex intentionally may have done to mentally torture him. This whole exchange proves to be downright unbearable for Sky, because his attempt to maintain any semblance of control or strength is utterly shattered. The only thing he could withhold from Prapai were his true feelings, in order to protect himself. Now Prapai knows everything. Utterly everything. He’s completely at Prapai’s mercy. And he promised himself he would never let that happen again. Sky, who is overcome by a vision of his worst hell, can only dread what comes next, that Prapai could use his fears as further fuel to hurt him.

Now my interpretation of Prapai’s response is that he is fundamentally still fuelled by anger (again out of concern and heartbreak for Sky). The tone he uses throughout is absolute admonishment, ‘You really thought that you could be the bad guy? You? Who were you trying to fool? Why were you trying to make yourself out to be the worst when I know you’re not? Why would you even try to get me to hate you, resent you, be angry at you?’ The fact that Sky even attempted to turn Prapai against him, to save himself from actually seeing Prapai do it of his own volition, is again a huge sign of self-sabotage.

We’ve seen Sky do this before. He’d rather try to hasten what he considers is the inevitable, taking the choice and control out of the other person’s hands. So yes, understandably Prapai is furious. He’s so helplessly angry because Sky tried to stop him from having any say, to stop him from having any choice in the matter. Sky jumped the gun and cut him off, and to top it off, tried to make Prapai completely hate him for it. To Prapai, what dealt the biggest blow, what was potentially the most hurtful, the one thing he could not accept - is even if Sky truly didn’t want him anymore, he has no right to take away Prapai’s love for him. ‘Don’t you dare try to make me hate you, when you have no idea just how much I love you. You are not allowed to take that away from me. You have no idea how utterly impossible that would be.’

Along with Prapai’s anger, is also fear. The thought that he may have never known, never heard these thoughts and feelings. The thought that he may have never found out, or been willingly told by Sky himself, had he not come across the notebook. Knowing what he could have lost, missed, passed by, had he not decided to persist. That Sky was going to take away his right to know. And the anger, pain and frustration at the thought that Sky would keep that from him. That one thing he values above all right now, which is Sky’s love.

Within Prapai’s tone, there’s also a degree of, ‘Why would you do this to yourself? How could you be so cruel to yourself? Do you even know how you sound? Why?’ Prapai hates the fact that Sky keeps bringing himself down. Sky’s self-esteem is already sitting at rock bottom and for some reason Sky (being his own worst enemy) only continues to reinforce this. I think Prapai reading out every word was a way of hitting it home to Sky, that there’s no way on this earth that he could ever convince Prapai or anyone else that he doesn’t care. Because someone so broken, so insecure, so desperate of love - someone who wrote those words, thought those words, could never.

I also believe Prapai’s hurt here stems from annoyance at himself. Annoyance that he ever, even if for one second entertained any doubt. That he ever thought badly of Sky, because this, THIS, is stone cold proof that Sky could never do anything capable of hurting him. Every word in that notebook is probably like a stab in the heart. And perhaps Prapai reading it out loud was to remind himself that he shoulders the blame. For not being able to get through to Sky, for not being able to be everything Sky needs.

Now, I think the almost interrogative way that Prapai reads the notebook whilst Sky breaks down is an attempt to tear down every wall and façade that Sky has remaining. We could see this as an act of ‘tough love’. Prapai has tried coaxing, and soothing, and being soft and gentle with Sky. But maybe the anger in this particular moment led him to try being blunt for once. Prapai so desperately wants Sky to be completely unshackled, unburdened, stripped down to his most basic fundamental. The Sky he was before all the pain was inflicted on him. The Sky underneath it all who wants him and loves him. The instant Sky confesses, Prapai’s face immediately smooths over like he’s finally gotten through. There’s an instant register of relief like ‘there it is, there you are.’

I feel like the purpose of this scene was to be a moment of catharsis for both characters. As much as I do feel Prapai went in pretty hard, I also recognise that he’s been dealing with a lot of pent up frustration, fear and worry, that he hasn’t been able to direct anywhere. And to the man’s credit, he has been incredibly patient and understanding with Sky thus far. He refuses to let any of it out on Sky, so all of that worry has been kept largely to himself. The revelation of Sky’s true feelings just unleashed all that coiled up tension. For both of them actually.

To date a person who is dealing with severe trauma is not for the faint-hearted. I’m really glad this was addressed, because trauma may manifest as instances of misunderstanding or miscommunication, that will inevitably cause issues, disagreements, and possibly fall outs in the relationship. Sky will always be prone to think and assume the worst. All those fears don’t just go away as soon as you’re in love. Their relationship is going to be a real challenge, there’s no skirting around that. I do think this was a great dose of reality for Prapai, because this was the first real instance where Sky’s demons have manifested into an actual obstacle. Before that, Prapai has always been pretty steadfast and unfaltering. This completely hit him out of left field, and he realised that yes, he can be shaken too. He’s not invincible. He can also be subject to doubt, hurt, and anger.

What I am really appreciative of is that this scene acted almost like a reset. It allowed them to be completely honest and laid bare. Now there’s no question to be had how they feel about one another. And that’s a good place to move forward from.

[indynerdgirl]

[Image Text: Please, please, please, if you even so much as glance at this post - share it for us and help us storm heaven!!! Our little girl needs a miracle and I beg any and every one of you to pray, pray, pray! Even if you don't know how to pray, please just ask God to heal Vianney’s brain. Now is the time for her miracle. We are devastated. Ever since we first found out about her diagnosis of left hemimegalencephaly, we have been praying and asking you all to pray that her right brain be spared. And you have shown up and helped us pray for this intention! All along the doctors have told us how strong and beautiful her right brain looked. However, this all changed sometime in the night between Friday and Saturday. At a time when we thought we were in the clear and were actually making plans to go home in a couple of weeks (!), something happened. The doctors can't explain it, they are looking into every avenue, as this was completely unexpected and unexplainable. She was awake. She was breathing on her own. She was moving. Shad was with her Friday night and video chatted me and I could not wait to see her the next day, finally alert! But suddenly very early that morning she took a turn and stopped responding. That's when her seizures started and they were indeed coming from the right side this time, due to whatever injury the right side sustained. They said her injury looks consistent with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy but none of her vitals ever changed and her labs have remained great. There is truly no explanation at this time. My heart is broken. I cry out to God to understand why, in this final moment, when we were so close to her recovery, did this happen? I am trusting in Him with all my might and KNOW in my heart and soul that He is loving her far greater than I, but oh man I am absolutely broken. She has lost 40-60% of function in her right brain. Even typing it out and reading it in this post is too cruel to bear. They don't expect that she is in dire life threatening circumstances yet but they also can't say that her brain won't be injured further - since we still don't have a cause. Even if she survives all of this and is able to come home, we don't yet know what kind of life our little, beautiful perfect girl will have with only 25% of her brain. At this point, the most basic expectation is that she will not be able to walk or talk along with many other difficulties. She is outside of what they can do (other than trying to prevent more damage) and is truly in God's hands now. I told our priest yesterday before we got the full news - perhaps God is giving us the most dire of circumstances to give us the most miraculous of recoveries. In a world that needs to witness a miracle more than ever, I am praying to God that He show us one now. Please, please, please, keep praying for our Vianney - that her brain is completely healed and she can defy all medical expectations. And if now is the time for a miracle, then we are asking you to also beg for the prayers of the Blessed Ulma family. Soon I will share more about this incredible family, but for now we are asking them to pray along with us for our little Vianney’s miracle!]

Please storm heaven for my friend's little girl! 🙏

You can follow their GiveSendGo for updates

Prayer for the Intercession of the Ulma Family

Almighty and eternal God,

We thank You for the testimony of the heroic love of the spouses Józef and Wiktoria with their children, who gave their lives to save persecuted Jews.

May their prayers and example support families in Christian life and help everyone to follow the true path of holiness.

Lord, if it is in accordance with Your will, kindly grant the grace for the complete healing of little Vianney, for which we are asking You through their intercession and count them among the Blessed.

Through Christ Our Lord

Amen

Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory Be…

[cloggedarteri]

♡im back to thinking about ignis and his lil baby girl. omg we already know how dexterous ignis is but i find it incredibly funny if the one thing he cant get a grasp of is Black hair (im projecting). and ignis isnt typically one to give up so easy but every attempt he makes to make a simple bun or braid or part isnt working and the expectant eyes that stare up at him through the mirror are growing more and more frustrated. so ignis steps back for a moment. breaths. collects the 2 brushes, gel, and scrunchies he'd been using. picks up his daughter off the stool she'd been standing on. and walks out the door. 

♡it was truly a lucky coincidence that he'd lived next to a rather friendly man who swiftly opened his front door and ushered the pair inside. 

''you're late today''

''yes, an unfortunate oversight on my part. i apologize for the inconvenience. '' 

''ah no biggy. im happy to help. ya got everything she needs? brush. gel. bands.''

''yes, right here''

''scarf?''

''ah''

''dont worry bout it'' 

♡ignis' baby retakes her spot in front of a mirror, her furrowed brows and pout in clear view. the man sits behind her and starts taking down her hair. 

''whats with that pout, sweetness?''

''i wanted space buns today'' 

''then you'll get space buns'' 

"okay"

'you're still pouting precious. whats wrong?'

♡the girl only shrugs, her eyes looking anywhere but in the mirror

"school bumming you out?"

"i dont wanna go today...it was supposed to be our day."

"and you think he forgot."

"he's been busy"

"yea but never too busy for his baby—turn your head."

♡ignis whos silently watching the two, going through the mental gymnastics trying to remember his scedule for the day. there are meetings he needs to attend, documents that need to be subimtted, projects he must manage, people he must advice. there are too many people that depend on him being present. but his baby is one of those people too.

♡ignis whos texting his assistant to push his meetings, to do whatever they need to to get extensions on his assignments + reserve a table at the aquarium restaurant that opened recently.  he's just finishing up his message when his neighbor and his daughter step into his view. in her puffs are a few carefully placed butterfly barrettes, their wings an assortment of soft blues pinks and greens (so cute).

"you like it daddy?"

"i love it dear"

"thought she's like the few barrettes i had lying around"

"they're beautiful but are you sure?"

"no no please. keep em. my niece wont miss em...now dont let me hold you two up. i hear you two have a date"

"you're absolutely right"

♡ignis watching his daughter whip her head to look at him in disbelief, her mouth slightly agapted. its takes a few seconds for her to close her mouth and then, with a huge smile, break into a sprint out the door to their apartment. the two adult are left by themseleves. 

"maybe slow down when you can ignis. you're working yourself too hard"

"maybe. maybe so...do you have any plans tonight?"

"not that i can think of...why?"

"come over. as thanks for all youve done."

"i dont do this so you'd be indebted to me mr. scientia"

"think about it...id be honored to host you as youve hosted me"

"i'll think about it. alright, get going. dont wanna keep her waiting"

"right. right. thank you again"

♡ignis who, once he steps foot inside his apartment, feels the hurried beating of his heart in his chest. since when had eye contact made him this breathless? it was just a simple conversation so, why was he so damn breathless? ignis who isnt able to stew in his emotions for long with his daughter barreling into him with quick 'hurries' and 'lets go's'. he'll have to think about it later. 

[acebytaemin]

can this be all ana songs event please and thank you… and tbh choosing numbers was very hard wish you made a podcast episode talking about all of them… but for me 6, 17, 23, 26 and 30 🫶🏻💝🎶

anything for you my sweetest darling teo also i WISH like we need to sit down over coffee and actually both of us go through the whole list to one another. deal? deal! anyway let’s GO i’ll try my hardest not to be too insane about this.

6: A song that makes you want to dance

literally first song that came to mind is get up by ciara and the second one was SO honestly low by flo rida what can i say the step up movies moved me. i was so sure i’d start a dancing career like if you know how taemin said while he was a trainee he’d dance in the street while going home from school just to spend every second practicing well. could’ve been me if that motivation lasted for longer than 30 mins after each movie

17: A song that would sing a duet with on karaoke

teo ik the question doesn’t specify w whom but you and i need to do (listen to me carefully now please see my vision): promiscuous by nelly furtado & timbaland (celibate priest version) please it would literally the best thing ever. we could do a twin moment like bey & shakira in beautiful liar too omg my brain. WHEW

23: A song that you think everybody should listen to

okay well without being goofy at all like no-brainer freedom by beyoncé. gives me chills and moves me to tears every time like it’s the first. incredibly powerful and so moving just. well. me talking about it is redundant i truly think everybody should listen to it

26: A song that makes you want to fall in love

lest i do another bey song (i got this number multiple times actually so i’ll do that in another ask hehe stay tuned!) but for SURE love from NGC 7318 by tanerélle (actually multiple songs by her make me feel this way) she’s so insanely good at translating emotion. Especially with ‘NGC 7318’ being a pair of colliding galaxies several hundreds of lightyears away from earth and with the lesbian theme oh it is just incredible. i don’t even need to be in love to feel in love when i listen to this song

30: A song that reminds you of yourself

i could go for so many fun ones (like i did the first time i answered this) and you did say this is an all ana songs instead of shinee event but oh i just have to say elevator by jonghyun. if i get into it i will absolutely start crying and i don’t wanna do that (and it’s absolutely an if i loved you less i might be able to talk about it more type of thing - a problem that i often have smh) but anyway i’ve been vocal about this being my soul song ever since it first came out so let me talk less for once and have a quote do the work for me this time: “he is half of my soul, as the poets say”

[pragmatic-optimist]

This week's theme: Rec a fic that starts with the same letter as your username (or, if you like, a part of your username). 

The rules: Tag a fic that starts with the same letter as your username and describe why it's so good / how it has a hold on you. Then tag some people to see what everyone else is reading. Spread the love! Please tag @welcometololaland or tag #fic rec friday so they can compile the masterlist.

Okay, so clearly, I can’t read because I chose fics that started with an “S” for my actual first name and not my URL lol. I tried to fix this, but the amount of fics that start with a “P” in my bookmarks is almost nonexistent. So I’m going to just stick with my incorrectness; forgive me. Lola - thank you for always tagging me; I finally managed to post because looking through my AO3 bookmarks made this “easier.” You know how indecisive I am. Lol. I also promise I tried to keep this short, and this is what keeping it short looks like.😂

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911 Lone Star

Say You’ll Remember Me: This is a Ryderdie WIP by @myemergence, and I really look forward to more. It’s one of my absolute favorite tropes (Amnesia!) and a canon-divergent AU for 2x9 featuring one of the best fictional couples to ever exist. I love Judd and Grace Ryder so much. Jenny nails the angst in that way where it hurts but GOSH it is good. It’s just *chef’s kiss* and I can’t wait to see where the rest of the journey takes us. 

Searching For A Trail to Follow Again:  Paige’s (@sunshinestrand) fics are classic, butterflies in your stomach, grinning from ear-to-ear, romantic comedies. This AU was so charming and, like all of Paige’s writing, leaves you with the biggest smile on your face because you’re just over-the-moon Carlos and TK have found one another in this story and in all her AUs (again and again and again). Contrary to popular belief among certain showrunners, letting characters just be happy is quality and compelling storytelling, and I’m grateful for fic writers like Paige who know that and give us a slice of that joy. 

So Many Somethings: Rae’s (@iboatedhere) AUs are iconic by now, but this one will always be near and dear to my heart. Not just because it’s the You’ve Got Mail AU and it’s an incredible nod to the film, but also because it was the first fic I ever beta-read for her, and the whole process bonded us. Rae, thanks for trusting me! This fic is remarkable, I love the balance of enemies-friends-lovers and the banter. Oh, the Banter™️. Nora Ephron would be proud! 

Sanctuary: If I had to use one word to summarize this fic, it would be ✨DESTINY✨. Honestly, I think all of Kim’s (@reyescarlos) fics have a destiny vibe to them, you can feel that these two characters are meant to be together, and they will find a way. I loved the first meeting in this one; the tension in the scene was palpable, and Kim’s writing always makes you feel like every interaction is happening right in front of you. She’s magic in that way ✨. 

Slowly Becoming Lovers: I love fics that show us the little moments between Carlos and TK, how they fall in love through the little things, and the way Holly (@morganaspendragonss) portrays that journey in these short vignettes is so so SO beautiful. This is one of the fics I have reread the most, according to the AO3 clicks lol, and there is a reason for that. It is truly lovely. Also, the title is inspired by one of my favorite Ben Platt songs, and fits the story perfectly! Highly recommend! 

Red, White, and Royal Blue

Snowed in? Snow problem: This fic is such a blast to read, lol. I laughed so hard, and I still laugh just as hard when I reread it because the ugh!Hunter slander is top-tier. A direct quote: “Well, I’m not bunking in with Hunter or you’ll be dealing with a murder by the end of the day.” Same, Alex. Same. Forever mood.😂 Add to that, “there was only one bed” plus Rae’s (@rmd-writes) ability to write Sexual Tension™️ x 5467893204858, and this college au is a must-read. Also, THE TITLE. YAAASS. A+ pun. No notes. 

Sink Beneath the Waves: This fic. THIS FIC. You know how in every fandom, there are stories that are essentially required reading, this one by @indomitable-love is one of those fics for me in the RWRB fandom. The love, the yearning, the pain, and the utter joy at Henry’s “I’m into making History.” Getting the chance to see these canon plot points from Henry’s POV is a gift, and I’m so grateful this fic exists for us to revisit again and again. 

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I think this has made the rounds already because it is Saturday for me, so consider this an open tag to whoever has fics they would like to share with us! 

[nedjemetsenen]

Why do Fanfic writers generally hate “constructive” criticism?

This is a topic that comes across my dash a couple times a month, but those posts generally focus on how unsolicited criticism is rude. Today, I wanted to take a moment to talk about the ways that it’s also generally useless even if you’re trying to be helpful. To do this, I will be using examples from my own comment section, but please do not seek those comments out. This post is about informing, not about creating a hate mob.

Issue One: You don't know if your criticism is already known

No story is perfect. There will always be flaws. Sometimes you find a flaw that the author can improve on. Sometimes you pick up on something that the author accepted as a flaw during the writing process for whatever reason. It may have been because they're writing for fun. It may have been because they liked the flawed version of the story better than the story without the flaw. It may be because they genuinely didn't know how to fix it, but still wanted to tell the story flaw and all.

To give an example of this, here’s an excerpt from a truly lovely comment where the person also tried to give some helpful feedback:

you did a fantastic job with the characters you altered to fit the story. They were mostly rounded and felt like whole people instead of cardboard cut-outs. However, this made the characters that you didn't change feel very flat. [List of characters] often felt like window dressing, like they were included solely because they were part of the original show.

This is exactly why those characters showed up in that fic and the issue of them being window dressing isn’t something that I introduced. It’s a flaw in the original work. To fix this issue, I would have cut these characters or merged them into one character. But this wasn’t original fiction. It was fanfiction, so I decided to sacrifice quality for the sake of honoring the source as it felt wrong to remove these guys when they’re a classic part of the roster. I also actively chose to not develop them more as it would have killed the pacing and added nothing to the story I was trying to tell. There are characters that I arguably should have given more screen time to in that fic, but these were not those characters.

Issue Two: Timeliness

Unless the story is newly published, you have no idea if your criticism is still useful. Even if it is newly published, how long has the fic been going for? Are you critiquing a chapter from 3 years ago or last week? Unless it’s the latest chapter, you don’t know. Even if it is the latest chapter, you don’t know when it was written. Sometimes people find an old work of theirs and just post it without editing because they don’t want to edit and they know people will enjoy the story as-is. Sometimes people write the whole fic and then post it week by week while they work on the next one.

I recently had someone ask me for some feedback on a section of dialogue and I pointed out an area for potential improvement. The person who asked for the feedback has read some of my stuff and pointed out that I’d used a similar technique in a fic and they were absolutely correct. I had. But the fic was a few years old and I simply haven’t yet taken the time to go back and edit all 100k+ of it. I write at least a quarter of a million words every year and that means that I’m always learning. It’s incredibly rare for me to reread an old piece of mine without finding something to edit. It won’t always be something major, but it’s there. Waiting. Taunting me.

Along similar lines, if you're pointing out a flaw that's specific to the story, I'm not sure what you're expecting to happen next. While some writers go back and edit old works (I certainly have), a lot of writers consider older works done and prefer to focus on new ones.

Issue Three: Most people are shockingly bad at giving good constructive criticism.

Constructive criticism is a skill that you have to learn and practice. It’s also genuinely difficult to learn as it's the difference between helping a person tell the story that you want to read and helping them tell the best version of the story that they want to tell. The first is not good crit, but it is the crit that most people give.

There are times when I’ll beta for a fic and think “that character would never do that”, but that’s terrible feedback because I’m imposing my version of the character over the author’s take on the character and they’re not trying to tell a story with my headcanons. They’re using theirs and my job as an editor/beta is to accept that and help them tell their story as best they can.

I've also been given feedback like this. Here’s an excerpt from a comment where someone pointed out something that they didn’t like in one of my fics:

it's cute to see him like this once in a while but he's a grown man and "adorable" feels a little out of place in this situation

This is utterly useless feedback and I will die on that hill. In my opinion, I wrote this character perfectly because this is how I see him. It’s my headcanon and the version of him that you'll see in all of my fics. What’s funny is that I actually think that I got the female lead in this story a bit wrong. I should have toned her down, but this was early in my journey to learn these characters and then we’re back to issue two.

Final Thoughts

If an author asks for constructive criticism, then absolutely feel free to give it to them, but if you've ever wondered why most authors don't, the above is probably why. It's why I only welcome grammatical corrections and historical/cultural accuracy corrections on my own fics. Those are the only comments that I've ever found useful.

There are times when I seek out other types of feedback. I just don't get it from random readers after the story is already published. I get it from select individuals during the writing process and that's the feedback process favored by most writers as it's the one that's most likely to lead to improvement.

If you ever come across a fic that you love, but you feel like it could use an editor, my advice is to leave a comment saying how much you love the story and then offer to beta read (the fandom word for an editor. No I don't know why fandom has a different definition for that word than the definition used in the publishing industry. It just is what it is.) And if you don't want to take the time to beta for someone, that's okay! But if you don't want to make the massive time commitment to truly help the person improve, then maybe don't give unsolicited feedback that's more likely to make them stop writing altogether? I promise you, that person will improve on their own just by writing more. I certainly did! If you read the fanfic that I wrote when I was 13, you'd be shocked by how bad it is compared to my current stuff.

I personally consider that fact a source of pride.

[remyfire]

It sure was Flootz's! Love Is a Sacrament, and god that's another I've reread several times because I just LOVE the dynamic at play there. It also hits so many of my "interests", so to say, and truly is such a good showing for that ship. I also love that even though it's a modern AU, they're still written exactly the same, just with the added bonus of actually being married.

And y e s I can definitely see that! I need BJ to confront the parts of himself he doesn't want to acknowledge the existence of, please and thanks. I know there have got to be things he represses and ignores, and I'm sure Sidney can tell too, but BJ never lets him get close enough to figure out what those things are. But BJ babygirl sometimes you have to talk it out! And truly if you wrote more fics of them I would read every single one.

I could definitely tell something was up in that scene in Eye for a Tooth too, Margaret may get fed up with these boys but she's not outright cruel or vengeful. I was so interested to see where it was going, and BJ's reaction did not disappoint. Admittedly I don't really ship them however I absolutely respect that rarepair, and even platonically I can sooo appreciate that care and softness he showed her! It was all acting and she was in on the plan but it's still so clear that BJ wanted to make absolutely certain she was okay the whole time and god just what a man. Everything he does is underscored with so much love and I love the little moments we can see it like that hand hold and check in!

As for Mulcahy, I definitely see your point about the wanting recognition vs the Catholic teaching of selfless help. I also thought it was interesting that the immediate next episode was Dear Sis, where we see Mulcahy struggling again with feeling useless and unrecognized in the unit. I loved Hawkeye's talk with him and trying to show him he was wanted, I think he really deserved that. And as a former Catholic myself, I find the idea of the dismantling of a belief system you've followed your entire life soooo interesting. And the fact that Mulcahy has managed to hold onto his beliefs for so much of the war tells me that any questioning he does would be painful and long-felt, and that just makes it even better. Any introspection with him would be fascinating and would take so long to dive into, like you said, but damn it if I'm not having some thoughts of my own.

(God bless the MASH writers who decided to give us shower scenes in literally any of the episodes they appear in. Also that chopper pilot is correct, because I too want to blow Mulcahy's back out. I think he deserves it.)

And P.S. please don't apologize for the length or rambling! As you can see, I'm fully able to match your energy in that regard. I love getting the peeks into other peoples' minds like this and also writing obnoxious character studies in tumblr ask boxes. So ramble away!

It's always interesting to see what transposes well into a modern verse and what doesn't carry through, right? I respect authors that can make it work for them so easily because I struggle sometimes to really manifest ideas of what would be the modern equivalent of being trapped in a very small area with a very small group of people to essentially evolve the characters into the ones we come to know and love. Like, they are not the same people when they get there as the ones who leave, and the majority of the reason they become who they are is due to the stress, the constant psychic damage of it all.

I realize ofc this is the autism of it all, really, me making things overly complicated for myself as an author 😂 But it's fine

That being said, justalittlegreen did it in a way I really enjoyed with her "A Full, Rich Day," which is BJ/Hawk/Trap and setting them in a modern verse where they're all in residency together, and having the frantic and sometimes incredibly heavy/grief-stricken moments really pulled it all together for me in a way that just hit. So I'm always turning thoughts like that over and over in my head to figure out what might finally inspire me to possibly try something similar one day in my own work.

(also please, don't worry, you don't have to tell me you don't ship BJ and Margaret. I am the captain of their canoe with roughly four other individuals as passengers, just paddling our way through the ocean. I assume that no one else ships them, trust me 😂 )

If you're not careful, though, you're gonna get me talking about just the sheer husband-coded nature of BJ and how he is constantly looking for ways to microdose on that aspect of himself while being so far away from Peg. It kills me. Man is out here carrying Margaret around any chance he gets, being so respectfully tactile with the nurses—a hand on the shoulder or the arm—his instinct to check in on them when he can tell something's wrong. Like, YES, so much of it is that he is genuinely an incredibly good man, but it's such an interesting part of his character to me, how often he'll go out of his way to do these things and genuinely seeming to get a degree of personal fulfillment out of it, bless his heart.

I am fighting tooth and nail to hold Mulcahy back in my brain right now. Lovely, sweet man, genuinely misguided in many circumstances, fully aware of a lot of the pain that he brings by nature of being a Catholic priest (I have a lot of thoughts about it regarding the S8 episode "Yessir, That's Our Baby" that are always trying to bubble over, so lemme know if you have some yourself when you get there haha) and yet still so keen on his mission all the same, whether it's compassion or conversion. And Dear Sis, fucking Christ, what a whammy of an episode. That conversation between him and Hawk in it lives rent free in my head. God. Did you know this is a good show? /lh

[scalamore]

(Thoughts) Rupert - “Transactional” bonds

I just love how consistent Rupert’s characterization is. The slight manhwa change in Ch 111 bothered me (?) - not because it was bad, but because it highlighted Rupert’s current mindset on his relationship with Lari and how he thinks of ANY relationship with anyone is a transaction - if you want something, you have to give something in return that the other person wants.

This reflects his consistent characterization:

A master of alchemy, where the principle of the discipline is “equivalent exchange” - to use it, he must use a part of his life/blood for maximum strength and efficiency of a technique

He cared for his mother very much, and endured her abuse because studying hard and doing well, learning alchemy, ingesting poisons made her happy. He suffered all that and dealt with it, because he liked to see her “happy”, or at least satisfied/pleased, even if he knew she didn’t love him at all.

He wanted the position of emperor, so he did whatever the crazy Emperor wanted and more just so he could earn that position with his hard work and diligence.

He only trusts Tori because it’s ingrained in her the [order] to listen and serve him. Eva created her as a tool, and that’s it. He gives her orders, she fulfills them

He pays Louis a high salary for his loyalty and service.

He helps out Fassbender, in order to help obtain control over the merchant groups.

That’s his character: Rupert’s interactions with everyone around him involves some sort of give and take transaction. That’s all that he knows.

It’s stated over and over in the series that Rupert feels lacking in the sense he’s never known affection his whole life: He’s never received it from anyone, so he’s incredibly awkward when he tries to fulfill Lari’s request of being someone he cherishes.

But the thing is, just like any other emotion, “affection” comes naturally to him when he’s around Lari. For him, it naturally manifests as wanting to see her happy, healthy and safe. He wants to be with her all the time, so his only wish is that she stay by his side, and doesn’t expect anything from her. She just has to stay where she has been, as she has done over the years. He just wants to keep their current, comfortable every day life at the palace. But of course, he’s very anxious about that: if all he knows is a give-and-take relationship. What happens when Lari doesn’t want anything from him? He’s stuck. He feels he has nothing tangible to offer her. He tries to encourage her to think of something, ANYTHING she wants from him, to reassure him that she’ll stay. Rupert has absolutely no concept of the possibility of a selfless love, where a person can choose to be with someone just because they want to. He doesn’t even realize that that’s what he’s feeling towards Lari as well: he just wants to be beside her, he doesnt want anything from her. He doesn’t expect any special feelings from her either. As bad as it sounds, Rupert is ‘correct’ when he says that [He wants Lari]. It sounds so negative, so possessive and obsessive… but when you think about it, it’s because again, that’s all he knows because that’s what he’d experience with Crazy Emperor.

All he knows is that Crazy Emperor was obsessed with Eva, and wanted her so badly he ruined her. Rupert doesn’t realize that his own desire for Lari is different, because as horny as he is for her, he values Lari’s happiness above all. Yes, he has moments where he wants to grab her and kiss her and be intimate, and has a burning desire to touch her —- but he resists it every time, because he knows Lari won’t consent to it and will hate him if he goes out of bounds. That detail is soooooo important, because it makes him leaps and bounds different from the crazy Emperor. Rupert cannot become him, as he truly loves Lari and cannot hurt her in any way, because he cares for her to the extent where if she’s hurt, he feels hurt too, and if she’s sick and dying, he feels miserable as if he’s the one hurt too. That’s the lesson that Rupert learns during the separation: of what he truly wants from Lari, and what he wants from her too.

That’s what makes manhwa chapter 111 so powerful to me, is because Rupert doesn't recognize the extent of his feelings. He almost lost Lari to the fire, and he’s about to lose her (seemingly) forever again. He’s so desperate, begging her to tell him what she wants, he will give it to her. If she hates him she can hit him, if she wants everything he’ll give it all to her. This is so powerful, in that he’s now the Emperor, he has everything, he’s at the top of it all - but in one moment, he’s literally on his knees, begging her to reconsider her decision and offering EVERYTHING he has - his life, and his life’s work. It’s just so messy, desperate, pathetic even that he has to grovel like that. He stood strong towards everything, but now he’s just a weak, pitiful, kid begging a powerless girl not to leave.

But again, Rupert’s current relationship with Lari is just so vague and uncertain. Whatever their fragile bond was, couldn’t last and inevitably would break off (in this case, super dramatically). It’s also so powerful to see Lari be upset at Rupert’s desperation: she still doesn’t want anything from him, She doesn’t WANT to see him grovel and beg her for anything. She doesn’t want a relationship like that, where it’s something give or take. So she’s firm and says no, and leaves. And of course, Rupert loves her too much, so he allows it even if he doesn’t want to. Because he can’t bear it to be the reason if she’s sad and crying all day. He will never force or trap her in any way for her to choose death again.

Unfortunately, while a lot of his current thinking is from his experience, another part is an emotional block from Eva: she had told him that as long as he’s alive, no one will love him. After all, he’s an unwanted bastard child, whose mother didn’t love him either. He’s a fake, how could ANYONE love him? So he internalized that for years, and had no expectation that ANYONE, even Lari, would even see him positively like that. So he chose to just be nice to her, cherish her the best he could because she requested it, and also because he wanted to be nice to her and treat her well. The moment we find out Rupert’s lightbulb moment during the separation where he FINALLY, finally realizes that he should try to earn Lari’s affections and have her like him back…. Is such an awkward, “wow you are such a loser/dork Rupe…” moment because it’s just THAT obvious. IN his 19 years of life, Rupert NEVER considered the possibility that Lari could fall in love with him, he didn’t make particular efforts to woo her, didn’t think of a romantic relationship with her until after she left. It literally took him FOREVER to figure out such a simple thing (its ok rupe, I love how dorky you are, ur a learning boi ^^)

But yes, I find the moment where Rupert learns that not all love is a transatctional give -or-take, but rather romantic love exists, especially a selfless one where two people mutually care for each other and doens’t want anything from the other (except to be together) is a thing. Because it’s so rewarding to see Rupelali as a couple later: Lari chooses to be with him because of love; she doesn’t want anything from him, except to be with him and support him as always. Same with Rupert - he only wants to be with her, doesn’t expect anything from her, but also gives her the greatest possible gift: he allows her to continue living life how she wants = her freedom, independence, and maybe continue to include him in “her world”. :)

[ghost-proofbaby]

Hello!! Hope you don’t mind me sending this, but I’ve been a quiet admirer of your work for a little while now! Shire was the first piece I read and I have absolutely fallen down the rabbit hole 😅

Now normally I like to just exist as a quiet fan, BUT when you bring the sleepy bois into Eddie fan fic???? Absolutely DECEASED.

The whole sugar thing, Blood Sport 😭😭 then seeing all the songs you relate to the story as well? Perfect. (I do also get big Dark Signs and Fall For Me vibes, particularly when Vessel screams “Oh God I wish you were here”)!!

Funnily enough, I did actually start a fic with Eddie writing and performing some Sleep Token songs! However, did I ever finish it?? …no lol. But I’m thinking maybe I’ll go back and give it another go!

I am so glad you were able to see them recently too! I was able to see them in April of this year, and now I get to seem then April of next year too!! Sleep Token concerts are just something else entirely!

Anyway I think you are very cool and incredibly talented and I would like to be half as talented as you and please continue to be amazing and use Sleep Token everywhere pleaseandthankyouyoure thebestiloveyou

DARK SIGNS AND FALL FOR ME VIBES YES YES YES YES YES.

sorry i just got outrageously excited because i ALSO relate that line to them. i can picture eddie just screaming that so painfully and want to cry. dark signs has actually been on my writing playlist for the fic for a while too, for the line "and i miss the man i was, the moment we left off. and i hate who i have become, every time i wake up."

and hell yes to someone else also doing that in a fic!!! oh my god, yes. eddie and sleep token just fit together very well in my mind lol. i'm so glad someone else feels the same way <3 i entirely support giving it another go - it produces the most wonderful brain rot!

also, that's so amazing! it's truly an otherworldly experience and so many times during the show i just would stop and stare at the stage and realize how grateful i am for this music, this band. they're talent and allure is unmatched. forever grateful. it's clearly called 'worshipping' for a reason - and it's well-deserved, on their part.

i appreciate this message so very much and am always so happy to make friends with fellow sleepy boi fans <3 also, spoiler alert, but you definitely are already half as talented, if not even more so. i pinky swear haha. but no worries on using sleep token everywhere i possibly can; i'm a menace with the things i love and will find ways to entangle them and inject them into everything every chance i get.

[bainhardt]

Curse Crackers really fun

gotta find more games like this and Gravity Circuit, love me some tight movement control retro style platformers or whatever

guess I'll just crosspost my Steam review here for posterity

Curse Crackers is so much fun. This is one of those games where you wish you could find excuses to keep playing even after you're finished. It's a good game. I say buy it, especially if it's on sale. The rest of this is just going to be me running my mouth.

The core gameplay is simply a delight. I love "get to the end of the level" platformers and this one is fun nearly at all times. All the different ways of jumping around are fun, bouncing off enemies or your buddy Chime is fun, finding secret items and hidden doors is fun. Even dying can be pretty fun because respawning is quick and painless and gets you right back to stubbornly trying that specific way you want to clear the screen again until it works (maybe that's just me). This is also one of my favorite character concepts I've played in a platformer. An acrobat with a persistent-projectile-platform-throwable-thing you can use in so many ways is just plain cool and a joy to fiddle around with and figure out as you play the game. You can dunk Chime into fatal pitfalls so he'll bounce back up to save you, and pulling it off in moments of clutch feels incredible.

Having hidden Roses to collect or Medals earned by beating stages with special conditions are natural choices; they keep you playing or even re-playing stages, and they're uniform across all stages, so it's always easy to check what you've done. The game also offering a small sampling of unlockable upgrade-type items makes sense, giving you new abilities to toy around with in a limited capacity. Some of them are endgame locked because they break the movement wide open, but that's fun in its own way. Some of them (Food) are contextual, but then afterwards become purchasable-consumables to bring along to stages as you please, which I think is strange. If they're single-use, I'm just never going to use them. All upgrade items are quest locked, which means whether or not you even notice they exist will depend on how much side content you check out.

There's a lot of other stuff in this game outside the stage-based main game and it's all... fine? But I think some of it distracts from the focus of the experience, and there's virtually no synthesis of these elements. There's a world map (fairly normal admittedly), side areas that aren't stages, side quests, and TONS of NPCs and dialogue. Some of the collectibles are straight-up books you can read in a library. Many are not uniformly distributed between stages - Swords, Tablet Pieces, Lost NPCs, and postgame Spirits all join the Books comprising a dizzying array of hidden goods. There is an admittedly cute in-game way of checking collectible progress, but it costs money, and I think it wouldn't have been too much to ask for some kind of stage checklist in the menu if they were going to be this random. I played all of the stages first, then went back to do most of the quests and talk to everyone. I ran all over doing fetch quests for people, revisiting almost every stage multiple times, learning who all the characters are and a lot about them and the world of the game...

But after all's said and done I still don't understand WHY this is all done this way. NPCs never show up in the stages or anything, and while a couple quests culminate in special extra stages, that's about it. All of this side content does not truly "matter" to the main game whatsoever and feels like a different game alongside it. I ended up playing all of this content and unlocking all achievements because the core game is so fun, but it felt like a mountain of extra effort. That's not to say any of this fluff couldn't be of interest to some players out there, and it is impressive in its sheer scope. But for me, it has absolutely nothing to do with why this game is fun. Personally, getting to play more stages no questions asked would have been good enough.

I'll say it again for good measure: it's a fun game. If you like unique platformers, buy it.

[eclipseshotel]

!! Some bad mental health talk ahead !!

(Hi, I'm having a shit time rn mentally, just every waking moment trying desperately, often failing, to make The Thoughts™️ remain background noise and I'm so tired & hopeless & bitter & angry. The constant buzzing of bad thoughts is draining, not to mention the balancing act I always do for others around me, be that family or work. [Also you know, the Capitalism] There's more but I don't want to clog this up more than I already am.)

And I just so so want a nice old-ass yautja husband to accept and care for me regardless of how pathetic & unworthy I feel. Reassure me of his love, be absolutely devoted to my wellbeing. That'd just be really nice right now...

(Sorry I just dumped this here, please feel no pressure to respond and I hope the above warning is enough. I wish you a lovely day 💛)

Anon, for starters, I'm so sorry I can't offer you the guidance and solace you truly deserve. I appreciate you coming to me to vent about some of the things that trouble you. While I don't feel like I'm much help, I am always here--whether you prefer anon or through private dm--if you wish to vent or talk to me further at any point!

As someone with a highly overactive mind, and who grapples with anxiety and mood swings on a daily basis myself, it's incredibly hard to tune it all out--impossible, really. It's why I find myself constantly trying to occupy myself with stuff to do so it lessens the noise, even for a short time. It's the little things in life that keep me from flying off the hinges completely.

With the volatile state of the world, on top of feeling tethered by obligation towards my own family, to the point where I feel like I'm not even living my own life for me (or at its full potential) half the time, it's no surprise that we slip and fall into that pit of despairing, self-deprecating thoughts. It's suffocating, even downright depressing. It seems to use up so much energy to not be buried alive by it. To say it's a struggle is an understatement these days...

You're not clogging anything up! I'd rather you reach out and unburden yourself than pent stuff up to the point of imploding, or worse... Everyone is fighting their own battles, but we still gotta look out for each other however we can. A little kindness and understanding goes a long way.

As for a yautja husband, my god, ME TOO. The longing is shared!!! Pains me to my soul... Oh to be cradled in the arms of something far bigger than yourself. Someone with the utmost patience, fortitude & sincerity so unlike anything you've ever experienced. If one were to give me the tightest of bear hugs, my touch-starved ass would sob like a baby, no question. Your yautja would have you strong. Even when you feel like you don't have the strength to keep going, he'll show his warmth and devotion by carrying you. You wouldn't even have to ask.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me any time, anon! Or anyone who follows or comes across me, for that matter! I’m very awkward when it comes to these things, but I will try my best to alleviate any worries or troubles you might want to talk about. All my love ❤️

[motherartistsmakingart]

Hey MAMArtist* JENNY MERCEIN (she/her)

What are the ages of your child(ren), and where do you live?

My daughter is 7 and we live in New Orleans!

How do you describe your art practice?

I am an actor, a writer, a director, a producer, a storyteller, and a teacher. I am interested in creating socially relevant theater that speaks to contemporary issues. My plays are not didactic, but hopefully they inspire meaningful post-show conversations (and also make you laugh along the way!). I always tell my students: I don't believe theater can change the world but I do think it can spark conversation that can lead to positive social change.  An example of this is ROLEPLAY, a feature length documentary I am producing. It follows a diverse group of college students as they use theater to confront sexual violence on campus -- grappling with questions about sex, consent, identity, and power on their path to adulthood. We are in the final stages of fundraising for this film. I truly believe it will be a catalyst for game-changing conversations on high school and college campuses across the country.

Who is your artistic crush?

As a solo performer, I fell in love with the form via the solo plays of Wendy Weiner, an amazing writer and performer who I met when I first moved to NYC in the mid-90's. Wendy has a new show called The Mystery House which recently played in Edinburgh. I hope it has a long life! I also must add Heidi Schreck. I've been a huge fan of her work since I was in grad school in Seattle 2000-2003. I loved her first as an actor, then as a writer. The fact that many people have compared my show TWO ELIZAS to "What the Constitution Means to Me" is the highest compliment to me! 

What is a superpower Mother+Artists have?

Probably not an original answer, but we can multitask!

You have something exciting coming up! PLEASE SAY MORE ABOUT IT! My solo show TWO ELIZAS explores motherhood, women's rights, and intergenerational resilience. I will be bringing TWO ELIZAS to the Whitefire Solofest in Los Angeles on January 12th, 2024!! I am so excited to share this piece with West Coast audiences. 

How did motherhood directly, indirectly, oppositionally or integrally influence this project? TWO ELIZAS is 100% influenced by my experience of motherhood. The entire show was born out of the experience of becoming a mom. The play explores the true story of my ancestor Eliza Mercein Barry and her landmark 1847 U.S. Supreme Court case Barry v. Mercein which established a woman's right to retain custody of her child. Eliza's story is juxtaposed with my own complicated journey to motherhood, which included fertility struggles and mental health challenges. The play affords me the opportunity to share the anxiety I faced as a 40 year old woman feeling enormous pressure (societal, familial, and internal) to marry and procreate, as well as to talk candidly about my IVF journey and my experience with miscarriage. I am grateful to be able to openly discuss topics that are sadly still shrouded in silence and shame. The story of my ancestor is also an incredibly inspiring story of resilience, and of the US Supreme Court upholding a woman's bodily autonomy... which unfortunately highlights the ways in which the courts no longer seem interested in supporting the rights of mothers.

What are you currently reading or listening to that is giving you thoughts, feelings and reactions?

I absolutely adored Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, which explores motherhood and theater. And I just listened to a deeply disturbing episode of the podcast The Daily about CTE in young football players. I collaborated with KJ Sanchez on a docudrama called X's and O's that centered on the role of football in our society, so the piece impacted me profoundly. 

Any message for Mother+Artists reading this?

It is never too late. Give yourself grace. Every moment you spend raising your child(ren) is giving you life experience that will ultimately serve your art. By the same token, don't feel guilty when you leave your child to do your work. If you are lucky enough to have childcare, a supportive family member, or other resources that enable you to step away to practice your craft, DO IT! You are being an exceptional role model for your kid(s), showing them that pursuing your passion is worth devoting time and energy. And time away/ time spent on your craft rejuvenates you as a parent. But again, it's never too late. If you need to pause, pause. If you need to step away to focus on family, step away. You will always be an artist. 

BEST LINKS to find you and your work!

TWO ELIZAS in Los Angeles at the Whitefire Solofest on January 12, 2024 Information about ROLEPLAY, the feature documentary about love, sex, power, and consent on college campuses www.JennyMercein.com

*Each month The MAMAs features a Mother+Artist and their work in the world. Thank you Jenny!

[potatoes-in-bloom]

All Asian TV-shows/ bls I've watched so far rated (in order of personal preference):

Not me (10/10)

This is my favorite specifically for the characters and the plot, the romance wasn't bad but definetly not what makes this special.

Loved the character development we see the characters going through, loved the take on social activism, the entire twin plot (gun attaphan really does amazingly here, when the music Video started playing after the last episode It took me a moment to understand that that's the same person). All the characters are completly three dimensional and lovable (yok is still my absolute favorite) and in my opinions there is absolutely nothing wrong with this masterpiece.

The Eclipse (10/10)

The other way around - don't watch this expecting a great plot (or one that is nicely resolved) but watch this for the chemistry and the eye-fucking (truly, that alone makes it worth it). Loved the characters - Khotung playing Ayan as a mega-confident, never backig down head turner is just so much fun and seeing Akk's brain functions just stopping every time makes it even better.

A lot of people loved the side couple but for me the focus were definitivly the main two.

My school president (10/10)

Just the absolutly softest thing out there. Every conflict gets resolved nicely and soon, there is no unnececary dragging out, (besides maybe the kiss but to me that was more of a fun way of toying with the audience while protecting the young actors) and both Fourth and Gemini are amazing in their roles. Wouldn't recommend this as one of the first watches as they use the typical thai rom-com style that's sometimes just hard to get used to but they do absolutely everything right in this one and I was smiling almost all the way through. (also Tinn is just one of the greenest flags ever)

Moonlight chicken (10/10)

This was just so aesthetically pleasing! But also - a plot resolving not around petty drama but actual real life problems? Amazing characters that we see going on different journeys? Just an amazing show.

Surprisingly to me Li-Ming and Heart absolutly stole the show even though all the other actors have so much more experience (and are truly great actors).

Bad buddy (9/10)

Also not recommended as a first watch even if it's an amazing show. They take all the tropes and make them better - that just gets completly lost on you if you do it like me and watch this as one of your first thai bls.

I especially loved the entire Episode 5 progression, both the characters are lovable and the chemistry is great.

The entire Romeo and Juliet Story was not completly my cup of tea (since it was so unneccesarily dramatic) but I like the way it was dealt with.

Semantic Error (9/10)

This was such a fun watch, fast paced and never boring while also giving room and time for character development.

Loved the coding metaphors and the natural progression their relationship took. (And also the style, clothing and the music, a rare occurence for me in this genre) Rewatch potential.

Never let me go (9/10)

For me also a hit in characters and chemistry, I just like when you can feel the attraction from miles away but the characters still don't notice. There is an actual plot featuring dead/injured parents, a power hungry villain, lovable but misunderstood characters, several beach episodes and a power dynamic that the characters have no choice over and the organic overcoming of the wedge that dynamic places on them. The end could have been better but all in all this was great.

Our dating Sim (9/10)

Just so incredibly cute! Absolutely loved their playful dynamic and the story was just done so well. Short and sweet.

My tooth your love (9/10)

This one felt really realistic to me, loved both of the main characters. The Dentist is just an all around green flag and our Bar owner gives us grown ups with stuffed animals represantation :)). Their relationship feels just very real and there is lots of fluff (if also lots of past trauma).

Kinnporsche (8/10)

A loot of peoples favorite. Mafia-Bodyguard themed so it does have a plot!

There's a few things that are not okay but the story doesn't treat them as if they are, so I didn't have a problem with any of those (not even our favorite Stockholm-Syndrome couple). A lot of fun and high heat even if I'm absolutely sure no one would ever run a Mafia this way. (the cost and risk for people they hire in their Private body guard club can't possibly match the money they make)

I was a little annoyed with Porsche at the beginning but you just start enjoying the characters after a while.

Also, there is a tour with the actors and everytime I see a gif of it it's like the wildest things possible in the best way.

About youth (8/10)

Very sweet story about two high school boys from very different familys getting closer and closer. I absolutely loved all of the four characters of both of the couples.

This show had enough plot points that could fill an entire 12 hour thai production instead of the 4 hours it got but the story cares way more about characters and couples than it cares about plot, you barely notice all the things happening.

In the end it doesn’t feel as if all the plot lines are finished and there's still so much open that it feels to me as if there is a missing second season(?) (a lot of things are mentioned but never picked up or completed, but you almost don't notice)

Also absolutely hated the parents. I know that there are technically worse bl parents out there but I just deeply dislike the way they treat their son..

Love is science? (8/10)

Not a bl but I watched the bl cut on youtube. (about 2 hrs in total) Since this is a side couple the pacing is a little off but the dynamic is a loot of fun and I really enjoyed both of the characters. "Straight" playboy and confident gay guy annoying each other, falling in love and then speedrunning their entire relashionship.

-----^ faves

Minatos Laundromat (7/10)

Usually neither age gap nor a plot that only resolves in the last literal Minute are my favorites but this one was just very sweet and the age gap was dealt with nicely and not just conveniently forgotten at some point.

Honestly, probs to Minato, I also would turn down someone that much younger but I don't know if I'd be as strong as him if that someone is such a cutie and does absolutely not ever give up in the sweetest possible way.

We best love 1&2 (7/10)

There's just everything right with this couple, good chemistry, a fun story and a second season that just completly changes the genre. The progression of their relationship was fun to watch and both of the characters are likable but for some reason this didn't make the jump to my favorites.

Roomates of Poongduck 304 (7/10)

Liked the power-dynamic struggle those two characters go through with their boss and landlord dynamic and the classic rivlary moving towards romance of it. Thought it was especially fun how none of the coworkers could understand what happens between those two and why their boss is acting so strange all the time.

My beautiful man 1&2 (7/10)

This is just removed enough from reality to make the whipping boy trope and idolization that's going on enjoyable. I especially enjoyed the second season since they actually deal with these problems without rushing the character development to unrealistic standarts.

Triage (7/10)

They changed the Timeloop rules just enough to keep this engaging all the way through and actually make a love story possible and I absolutely enjoyed that choice.

I actually really enjoyed the plot even if the twists at the end where not entirely what I hoped would happen but it was still really good. Some tiny stalker vibes were unavoidable due to the time-loop thing but all in all a fun watch.

To my Star 1&2 (7/10)

Fun story of an undercover star and his involuntary roomate. I prefered the first season as the second season has waay more angst but it was still fun to watch and I liked both of the characters and their chemistry.

He's coming to me (6/10)

This one was just really prettely acted (I mean Ohm and Singto, this can only turn out great) and very unproblematic and fun. To me it was a little slow in parts and a little sad in others but it was also really funny and lovable. An actual good coming out scene (!), fantastic crying scenes and lots of sweet moments.

Love mechanics (6/10)

I enjoyed this way more than I should have, considering that the whole story consists basically of different cheating Plots from different angles (that all get treated wiiildly different? And not in the order they should get treated) Everytime you think 'they wouldn't pull that dirty plot device, would they?' they will pull exactly that dirty plot device. And if they're out of ideas lets sprinkle in, you know.... a car crash? Some jelousy? Armed people endangering a character?

Saying No is nonexistant in that universe since everyone seems aware that it would be ignored anyway. The only reason to ever back off of someone you're persuing is when they are in a different relationship, or sometimes when you lose a bet. (a la 2gether... But seriously, this happens like 5 times throughout the show)

Still, the chemistry is truly great and you'll end up having a soft spot for both of the main characters. (Especially Mark) In the end you'll still be rooting for their relationship even after all they went through. Also to me one of the most believable relationships in how the characters behave with each other.

Manner of death (6/10)

Started strong, I was a bit disappointed the plot turned out to be more mafia than murder-mystery and to me it was chaotic at times but the characters and chemistry were good. A nice grown up bl with some actual plot.

Old fashioned Cupcake (6/10)

Really enjoyed the concept of their anti-aging program, and the way the show handled the contrast between playful and grown up. The characters internal conflicts seemed belivable and I really liked the endling.

Cherry magic (6/10)

Very cute mind reading bl. It's fun that you always know both of the characters exact thoughts and see their progression throughout the series.

A tale of 1000 stars (6/10)

Sweet story of a small village and an unlikely new teacher. I absolutely loved the children and the dynamic of the place as well as Tians development and wish to fit in and help the villagers. The romance was slow but well done. Just a nice watch.

Ingredients (6/10)

Very sweet but only very little (to no) plot. Definetly the most elaborate (and sweetest) ad I ever watched :D. A lot of cooking and fluff and everything happening in their shared flat. Also enjoyed the reacurring joke of Jeffs character disliking a new creature entering their home and then bonding with it within the next five minutes.

Seven days (6/10)

Very old but very fun. Liked the concept and the characters but only found this with horrible quality.

----^ definetly recommended

Choco milkshake (5/10)

I just couldn't get over the fact that these grown men are dating personified pets. I know there is much more to the show and it's more of a fun idea and shouldn't be taken too seriously but still, pets.

If you are able to look over that the show is really fun, both of the pet actors do an amazing job and are absolutly belivable as a cat and a dog. Absolutely loved the cat character and his outfits really stole the show for me.

Between us (5/10)

Lots of people loved this but I just don't enjoy when one character seems like they don't enjoy any form of physical contact (even if in this case we know he does).

This is basically about two boys who can't communicate but definetly can sleep with each other finding their way into their relationship.

Something in my room (5/10)

Horror elements mixed with ghost trope. Kinda messy (don't watch the youtube version, they just cut out a lot with no regard for plot-relevance and leave you confused).

I liked the characters and the entire mystery aspect to it but all in all not that great.

Tamara and Amagi (5/10)

Sweet story about figuring out how relationships work. Very cute and I liked the way they tackled a new small issue every episode.

A man who defies the world of bl (5/10)

This is just a fun watch. Don't watch this for the romance but watch it for the fun twist on bl tropes.

----^ still worth a watch

Big dragon (4/10)

Was little confused about how fast the transition from 'Rivals who had sex once' to lovers was and this show is messy at best but the premise was kinda fun and it's a little high heat.

Star in my mind (4/10)

To me this was kinda boring even if we only have eight episodes. The initial idea is kinda fun and I enjoyed the 'they both have a crush on each other' thing but they just dragged the miscommunication a little too long. Also in the last third there's some weeird choices made by the characters that make the entire story feel off. Didn't even watch the Sky in your heart part.

Dark blue kiss (4/10)

I personally just don't enjoy jelousy as a plot device and this is basically what the show is about. I also think that this is not a healthy relationship but other than that this is relativley unproblematic. Just not my cup of tea. (I enjoyed the side couple way more in this, that one was actually kinda fun)

Sotus +Sotus S (4/10)

I expected the worst when starting this and was actually positively surprised? (With any other kind of mindset this might have been very different)

The quality is horrifying, every shot has a different sound quality, background noise and saturation (ranging from almost black and white to almost human-coloured) but you kinda get used to it after a while.

Yes the hazing is kinda weird but Kongpobs character is really fun and the entire thing is weirdly enjoyable. Also there was a lot less problematic stuff than I expected and this is in a universe where not everyone is magically atrracted to guys so the entire thought process about realizing your sexuality was nice (exept of course the entire 'I'm not gay I only like him' thing but since this has only one occurance it's ignorable)

2gether + Still 2gether (3/10)

My first ever Thai bl - and if I wouldn't have given it another chance and looked up recommendations only to find not me that would have been the end of my thai bl journey.

The story is actually really fun to watch up to a certain point (when you realize their chemistry is just better as long as they're not technically a couple) but there's just so much going wrong.

Saying No is just not a thing and when you do say no you just get ignored anyway. (to the point at wich the entire plot is based on Tine just not being able to get rid of a guy crushing on him. Attempted drugging or fake dating seem more promising options than straight up telling him off.) No one ever backs off at all in this show. Non consensual kisses are no problem but once you are a couple? No way you would ever seek any type of intimacy.

It's still somehow fun and I get why people like it but... I think no one likes this because it's actually good.

Fish upon the sky (3/10)

Quite a few things wrong with this one, as always Mork is not half as much a great guy as the show wants us to believe. The chemistry is okay and the story is actually funny now and then but all in all not good enough to be worth it and boring at times.

What I enjoyed most was the side couple that just completly leaned into the comedic aspect of the show and were a lot of fun to watch.

The shipper (3/10)

Not a bl! Watched this mainly out of curiosity (First and Ohm with some kind of romantic story??? A lot of people who hate it but a few who love it? Body swapping?) and kinda got what I expected. What I did not expect where First and Ohms characters to be brothers, I know technically with the body swapping and all that shouldn't be a problem but it still weirded me out in the way it is done.

I hoped the shipper storyline would get some kind of resolution about it's harmfulness but they just kinda turned that around into 'they just want the best', and the ending as well as some of the plot choices where definitivly not the best but the show keeps you on your toes. Lots of twists and turns and the characters are actually more than two-dimensional, it's funny in parts and has a few actually good elements. Just know what you're in for in advance and this can be enjoyable.

Vice versa (3/10)

I feel almost sorry that this is so low since there is not really anything wrong with it. Still, to me this was one of the most boring bls I've ever seen - so much so that it rates lower than a lot of really problematic stuff. And that even though we have interdimensonal travel, body swap and a star in the mix. Loved the nurse-character and their little writing team but not much else. (also, why did they never tell us what happened with their body swap partners??)

Love in the air (2/10)

I understand why so many people really like this show. The chemistry is great, there is a lot of heat and the dynamics are kinda fun (especially if you enjoy dominant characters, wich I don't really).

But there's just soo much wrong with it. Everytime a bit of plot emerges you wish it wouldn't, and I'm just not able to turn off my morals to that degree.

They manage to casually throw in sexual abuse, rape, sexual cohersion, kidnapping and so much more all while both dominant characters are red flags who are completly boundary-blind. (Also Rain is just one of the dumbest characters ever written)

Still watched the entire thing in morbid fascination while pausing every few second to go on whisper-rants.

What scared me the most are the amount of Youtube comments (presumably young girls) who praise Payu as the Ideal boyfriend :(. Please run if you ever encounter a man like this in real life.

[piko-power]

It's moments like this where I'm glad my inbox isn't opened. XD

Hey, @welcome-to-green-hills , I am EXTREMELY sorry about all the crap you and your friends have to go through. That asshole has no right to push you around for the sake of SaViNg soNiC 3.

Your blog is so cool and filled with lots of cool art and loving posts. And your AUs are incredible. You are talented, caring and just an absolute sweetheart and basically the mom of the fanbase. (Someone else said that and I thought that was SO TRUE.)

It genuinely sucks that there are people out there who don't give two shits about people like you. I seriously don't understand how these people can be so weird and cruel. And the fact that this had been going on since this early decade really breaks my heart knowing that this sorry excuse for a Sonic fan has been harassing you and even your friends for this long.

Honestly, it reminded me that even Tumblr has the worst people here, not just other platforms. The reason why I even have a blog is because I thought it felt more safe and loving here than anywhere else. But of course, once every blue moon, people like him show up out of nowhere just to ruin the mood.

Like, it's not that hard to be nice. Or at least leave somebody alone. And knowing the Sonic fandom, I believe everyone should know that.

It makes me sad seeing these amazingly talented fans and content creators get bashed just because they simply have a different opinion than their's or whatever.

Heck, some artists that I love even left the fandom because of bullying and attacks, all because they like a ship they don't like, and that is just absolutely horrible.

I don't want these kinds of things to happen often to everyone on any platform. I don't want anyone to leave their profiles and blogs out of fear or giving up on something they love because of these bullies. And I especially don't want you to do any of that stuff.

That weird-o can't keep doing this to people like you. He and others like him are wasting their time bashing on one of the most incredible people out there.

I don't know when that guy will ever give up. If he doesn't then I will just pray that nothing bad happens to you or your friends. You truly don't deserve this. At all.

There may be some jackasses out there who love themselves more than anyone and will not hesitate to insult your work of art or the media that you love so much. But don't let them take over and ruin you. Don't let them bring you down.

You just gotta keep your head up high and keep running.

That right there is why I love Sonic the Hedgehog, and why I am still here today despite everything. I'm proud of myself that I came this far, but I am more proud of you, your friends, and everyone else besides the fandom that has done something great for the community and the Earth itself.

You're one of those many people that did all they can to be there for everyone and spread good vibes near and far. you've done so much in your life so far and I am proud of you. We are proud of you.

I'm here to remind you that even though there may be some bad or weird people out there getting in your way, there's also us.

Please don't forget how much you matter to us. You've came a long way and your journey isn't going to end anytime soon. The progress you've made in your career and in this fandom have been worth it.

It's going to be okay.

You're going to be okay.

We've got your back.

You matter.

Please. Don't ever forget that.

Don't forget that we love you.