#to match a bit more with canon

[nattikay]

OC lineup! All the characters that currently exist in this "story"

[solaestial]

i made an end roll fan video 🙈 the song is tenohira wonderland by sasanomaly

watch on youtube!!

[ddruxyart]

Have you no idea that you're in deep? I've dreamt about you nearly every night this week

The second picture is based on this Artwork by Andy Virgil from "Good Housekeeping Magazine" - March 1995

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Sorry I'm a bit late on this, but I just wanted to say congrats on finishing season 1 !! 🥳

LOSING MY MIND AT HOW PERFECT THIS IS!!!!!! THANK YOU PIO!!!!! B'*)

[harvestmoth]

been playing awakening for the first time lately, youll never guess who my favorites are

[cuteniaarts]

@katkastrofa, circa 40-ish hours ago: Hey, what if our newest bunch of OCs adopted a baby from one of the other brothel girls who knew she couldn’t afford to raise one? That would make for some fun shenanigans :D

Me, with a notoriously non existent sleep schedule, instinct of self preservation or concern for my poor wrist: Alright, bet. Watch how fast I can make you fall in love with this hypothetical baby >:)

Daneli as a gentle and loving caretaker-turned-adoptive-mother is something that can be So Personal, actually, and originally I was going to leave it at this quick sketch, but then I got carried away thinking about what this child will grow up to be like raised by this little gang of misfits, so…

Here she is!! A little older and so, so beautiful, I need more of her in my life immediately, she’s way too precious

And, because I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t also add a sapphic element to this absolute cinnamon roll, a small crack ship that I’m only half serious about for when she’s a little older still:

All in all, we may be getting impossibly far from canon, but I for one already cannot get enough of sweet darling Kumisai <3

(I fully drew three pieces from scratch in 9 hours I cannot feel my brain or my hands anymore send help)

[ginnyrules27]

It is officially July 12th, 2024. Rise of Red will be available at 3:01 am my time (Eastern Standard Time). I have work in the morning. Do I do the mature thing and save RoR for after work or do I watch it when it drops?

*checks fridge and confirms the existence of caffeine*

My curiosity is piqued even if I have yet to read the book lol!

[swan2swan]

Absolutely incredible how I went into both Camp Cretaceous and Chaos Theory fully ready to commit to a gay ship but both of them wound up giving me next to nothing in the first season.

[atopvisenyashill]

i finished my family tree for corlys/house velaryon/dragon twins AND i used that to solidify one for my “freya hightower” au which i decided to combine with my “ned finds out he has magical kids” au for shits and giggles. Catelyn deserves a crazy Hightower mom to queen out with alright!

Who wants to hear me ramble for like 5k words on the Summer Isles’ diaspora and the way the various cultures in Westeros mesh together.

[gayabeilles]

me, a former homestuck cosplayer, seeing all the other alastor cosplayers at the con wearing gray facepaint:

[musical-chick-13]

I actually genuinely kind of do want to make a "Just My, As In Tumblr Musical-Chick-13's, Ships" poll.

[shadowgamed]

Magic, the occult, ancient Egyptian spirits and nonsense talk of fate and legacies of the past... it's all nothing but bullshit.

Seto knows that. No matter what, it has to be true. He's not stupid - he knows the things he's seen, but... Seto is a man of science, and he also knows just how unreliable the human mind can be. Perception is a fragile thing, and the mind is easily tricked and influenced by what it thinks to be true... that in combination with the solid vision system he created opens up a great number of explanations, most involving the shock of that system on the mind being far greater than he anticipated.

Deep down, it feels like he's making excuses. But is a far-fetched scientific explanation really any more absurd than a supernatural one? Besides, even if by some miracle the supernatural really was real, there's no way-

-He'd ever be a part of it. Seto's mouth curls into a grimace at the thought. It all comes back to the mind. His own, loathe as he is to admit it, has been a mess lately. Ever since Battle City, when he'd finally thought that Yugi might have been right; that there was more value to friendship than he had first thought... he thought he'd finally been ready to start again with Mokuba, but letting go of the chains of the past is harder than it sounds. It infuriates him. Seto Kaiba is a man of the future - no past can hold him down or stop him from doing what he wants to do!

But he's impatient, and the road before him is a slow one. Still, though - just when he'd felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest, it now feels like a new, different one has replaced it just as quickly. It hadn't been that way at first... he'd been happy with Mokuba, taking steps towards their dream, but it had snuck up on him slowly and with the subtlety of a serpent - so the question is: what changed?

He wants to see Yugi. That's something he knows for sure. The thought that it's something he needs is something that he won't acknowledge, so instead, he tells himself it's to challenge him again. That's the reason he came back to Japan, and yet... right now, faced with him again - all he can manage to muster up is a sneer.

You look like you weren't expecting to see me. Is it really that much of a surprise?"

@nevertem ( starter for atem! )

[zakuryoishi]

this is me when i see tsunami norika and hamano together in a fanart btw

[kootiepatra]

#FFxivWrite2023 - Day 25: Call it a Day

Went ahead and took a break yesterday for the free day. Back again, playing a little bit fast and loose with Stormblood MSQ. Lyse my beloved.

===============

Keimwyda had not really known what to expect from their venture to Ala Gannha.

It would seem Lyse hadn’t, either.

It was hard to watch. Lyse had only just picked herself back up after losing Papalymo. She was making brave decisions to fight for what she thought was right. And Keimwyda genuinely did think she had her heart in the right place. But—despite her labors with the Scions, she was yet young, and had faced a much different set of trials than her countrymen had.

Keimwyda did not have much of a head for politics. When it came to the movements of militaries, trade bargains, alliances—and now, she supposed, rebellions—she felt she had very little to bring to the table. But she knew a thing or two about reading people. And it was not hard to look around the village and infer the mood of the place.

Not that she could blame them.

Like any native of Eorzea, she was used to living in the shadow of the Empire. The constant threat of invasion ever darkened the borders of her home. And of course, the disastrous events of the Calamity had been wrought by imperial hubris. The Garleans were frightening neighbors indeed. But unsurprisingly, they were even worse overlords.

It was one thing to hear the grim tales from the older residents of Little Ala Mhigo in Thanalan. It was quite another to set foot in the aftermath directly. Ala Gannha had suffered no small amount of loss—loss of livelihoods, loss of dignity, loss of life. Here lived a people beaten down within an inch of their lives, barely able to muster enough strength to face the morrow, much less to rise up in revolt.

It had been Meffrid’s idea to spend time among the villagers, attending to small tasks as they could, and earning what trust they may. The effort seemed somewhat worthwhile. Keimwyda had gotten to speak to a few people, and, despite quite obviously sticking out as not Ala Mhigan herself, they seemed more or less receptive to her. She knew better than to try recruiting anyone. She just listened. She had finished what errands she could for now and leaned against the fence, watching Lyse.

Meffrid, too, seemed to be returning from his duties, and walked up wordlessly beside her—his eyes following hers to see where she was looking. Lyse was engaged in conversation with a man who looked to be a few years her junior. And it would seem that things were getting heated.

They were too far away to make out words, but Lyse was gesticulating in obvious protest, her face at once angry and pleading. The young man was moving to loom over her, putting a finger in her face in rebuke. Meffrid took a step towards them as if he was of a mind to break it up, but Keimwyda motioned to him to wait. It would surely not endear them to the residents to team up against one of their own. And if the man was foolish enough to try to make the fight physical, well—Lyse certainly wouldn’t be the one who needed saving.

But in very little time, the stranger stormed away. Lyse put a frustrated hand to her forehead and began to pace aimlessly, working off steam. It was then she saw Keimwyda and Meffrid in her peripheral vision. She jogged over.

“I hope you’re faring better than I am,” she said miserably.

Keimwyda shrugged. “Well enough, I suppose. What was that about?”

“Oh, it’s just…” Lyse trailed off, trying to figure out how much to say. “I had hoped the fact I was born here would help. I thought it might show that we had something in common, that they could trust me. …It seems like it’s just doing the opposite.”

Meffrid looked uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, Lyse.”

“I just don’t understand. They’re obviously suffering. The Empire’s influence here is worse than I even imagined. They shouldn’t have to live like this. No one should.”

“And no one would argue with you there,” he replied.

“I just want to help,” she said in frustration. 

“We know,” Keimwyda said gently, “...and I would even wager they do, too.”

Lyse rubbed her hands over her face, trying to pull herself together. “It’s not like I expected a homecoming, you know. I didn’t think anyone would treat us to a hero’s welcome. I didn’t think all we’d have to do was give a rousing speech and have that be the end of it. But this…?”

“They have been through more than you know,” Meffrid said grimly. It was not a rebuke. It was simply a fact. “The elder is right; they have precious little left to give.”

“Which is why we must all oppose the Empire now, before it is too late!” Lyse cried, impassioned. “We have not had such a chance to strike back in my entire lifetime. We may never have an opportunity like it again. And the longer we wait, the more the imperials will wear us down, and the harder it will be to ever do anything.”

“No one disagrees with you on that point, I think,” Keimwyda quietly offered.

“We can fight, and we can win, but we have to all do it together.” The desperation in Lyse’s voice was sincere, and her passion was real. Her arguments all made sense on paper. 

But what made sense on paper had no bearing on how Ala Gannha felt to be crushed under the Empire’s heel, for two decades going now. Keimwyda knew that Lyse was not stupid. There was no doubt in her mind that her fellow Scion could, and did, understand why her hometown was giving them such an icily cold shoulder.

But right now they were two opposing forces. On the one side stood Lyse, who had lived free, experienced hard-won battles, and been mentored by people replete with hope for a brighter tomorrow. She had suffered, aye—she had experienced defeat, and she had experienced losses, her father and sister among them. But she had also tasted victory. She could envision it. She comprehended that Ala Gannha was exhausted and despairing, too weakened to put up much resistance. But she felt how close—and how fleeting—the chance for revolution was, and her heart burned to see her people free. She could not give up.

On the other side stood the inhabitants of Ala Gannha. They had long lived under constant oppression, so long that no small number of them had been born into it. They had been continually pressed and warned and punished for all manner of infractions, real or imagined. Every message given to them from on high was that they could never, ever break free. Historic precedent seemed to bear that out. So no matter how badly they hated Garlemald, and no matter how much sense they saw in the Resistance’s renewed efforts—they were tired. More than tired. Spent until there was nothing left. To hope was agony; to resist was only and always a precursor of worse things to come. They could not imagine freedom. It was too painful to even try.

“They just need some time,” Meffrid concluded, sounding saddened, but not surprised. “We have done what we can. We will regroup, and think things through, and try again when the people feel more ready.”

Lyse crossed her arms and looked off into the distance, blinking back a hint of mistiness from her eyes. It seemed she recognized the wisdom in Meffrid’s words, but she still didn’t want to accept them. She turned back towards the town. “Perhaps if I just go talk to the elder again…”

Keimwyda reached out and lightly put her hand on her comrade’s arm. “Lyse,” she said gently. “He is right. We should go.”

Lyse’s eyes briefly flashed as she looked back at her—then they softened, and then they fell. The walk back to Rhalgr’s Reach would be a quiet one.

[choccy-zefirka]

I was never really satisfied with Wendy Surana's face; her looks have been a changing nebulous concept in my head, plus I don't really enjoy playing DAO (much as I love it as a concept). So I went down my usual path and made Wendy in the BG3 character creator.

As a bonus, her mans

Am I going to abuse the evil tadpole powers to have them smooch? Perhaps

[pipermca]

New AO3 Tag Wrangling Policy and the Transformers Fandom

(This is a long one, folks, but I think it's important.)

A new tag-wrangling policy on AO3 has the potential to create some massive confusion and chaos in the Transformers fanfic community, with regards to fandom tags. There is a Reddit post about it here with a focus on anime fandoms, but I want to give some concrete examples for the Transformers fandom on why we DO NOT WANT this, and why I think it's a horrible idea.

The Problem

Basically, AO3 is looking to get rid of the "All Media Types" fandom tag across the board, either by dismantling them or just not maintaining them. The Transformers - All Media Types tag has been an all-purpose tag that you could select when your story doesn't fall into any one specific continuity. Additionally, all most (see below) TF continuities on AO3 are considered a subtag of the Transformers - All Media Types tag. For example, if you look at the link above for all works in the All Media Types tag, you will see fics that are also tagged ONLY with Transformers: Animated, because it falls under the All Media Types tag.

One exception: With the upcoming Transformers: One movie coming out imminently, there will likely be a big influx of stories tagged with Transformers: One. In fact, there are several already. However, it hasn't been linked to the larger Transformers - All Media Types tag yet. I wasn't worrying about it though, because I know these things can take time.

With information about this new tagging policy, however, I'm now wondering whether it'll EVER get linked to the All Media Types tag. If that happens, and when more continuities are developed in the coming years (since you know Hasbro loves creating new universes) this has the potential to cause massive confusion when looking for stories to read.

Searching for Stories with the New Tagging System

So let's say the All Media Types fandom tag isn't accurate anymore, because it no longer includes ALL of the continuities (such as TF:One). You will need to include ALL the Transformers continuities when browsing for TF fics.

How many tags is that? Well, here are all of the tags currently listed under the Transformers - All Media Types tag:

Note that this doesn't include Transformers: One since it hasn't been categorized yet.

You will potentially have to have 40 or more different fandom tags in your search, just in case the author tagged their story with something you weren't expecting.

This massively decreases the findability of a story.

Tagging with the New System

The email response from the Tag Wrangling group (see the linked Reddit post above) seems to be a bit flip in the response to the user's concern. "...encourages creators to tag with the media they intend."

While I appreciate what they are attempting to do, this policy change feels like a solution in search of a problem, especially in larger fandoms with multiple continuities, versions, and media types that are all cross-pollinated in both canon and fanon. While I'm focusing on Transformers fandom, imagine a creator in the DC comic universe writing a story that incorporates bits and pieces from a dozen different reboots.

For example, let's say that I am writing a fic about Ratchet. I am using the setting of the original G1 episodes, but I also am using the characterization of him as a bit of an old man grump. That characterization originated in the Animated continuity, but I want to incorporate bits of pieces of his other characterizations as well (old friend of Optimus from TFP, Ratchet ran a faction-free clinic like he did in the War for Cybertron series, he's got a Decepticon boyfriend like in IDW1 - or maybe even Cyberverse, etc.)

With this new tagging structure, I might potentially have to tag the story with ALL of those continuities. So instead of just slapping down the "All Media Types" tag (and maybe one other fandom tag that matches the characters as best I can), I'll have to analyze my story and try to figure out how best to tag for the characters I used.

And what if you're doing a completely AU version of the story? For example, a humanformers story, or merformers? Using the All Media Types tag along with a Alternate Universe - Human or Alternate Universe - Mermaid tag worked perfectly, since you weren't writing the story to fit into one specific continuity. But now, that might not be an option.

What To Do??

The first thing I would suggest is to contact AO3 (using the Feedback and Support page) and let them know (nicely) that you think this is a horrible idea. Give them some examples on how you use the All Media Types tag to find stories to read, or to help you tag a story. People outside of the Transformers fandom don't always appreciate how absolutely tangled the continuities can be with each other, and providing examples might help them see why this would be a really messy change.

Readers: Be aware that when you are looking in the All Media Types tag, it will no longer show newer continuities. And if AO3 starts dismantling that tag like they suggested they are doing, be aware that some stories won't show up in that tag like they used to. You can also create and then bookmark a custom search page that includes all 40+ continuities. REALLY annoying, but it's a workaround.

Writers: Until they start dismantling the All Media Types tag, ALWAYS ALWAYS tag your stories using Transformers - All Media Types... Especially for newer continuities. This will be especially important if you are writing a Transformers: One story. Right now, anyone who is only browsing the All Media Types tag will not see a story tagged only with Transformers: One. Make sure you're aware of how tags work and how they can affect the visibility and findability of your story.

Epilogue

Ugh. That's a lot of words for a long-weekend Saturday. And maybe I'm overreacting a tiny bit. But my work involves information architecture, and this change just absolutely baffles me. It's almost as though they want to make it harder to find stories. Considering that AO3 won a Hugo partially because of its fantastic tagging system, this change seems like AO3 is doing its best to shoot itself in the foot.

When you have a square hole, a round hole, and a rectangular hole… Yeah, you DO want each peg to go in the "right" hole. But if all of the pegs fit in the square hole, who cares? You got the job done.

I love you @ao3org, but please reconsider this change... Especially for IPs that are as old and are as varied as Transformers.