#as for me i'm dealing with my own struggles so i'm not going to immerse myself in fandom drama

[dnfshmeeneff]

idk if anyone still following me is even active anymore or will see this, but apologies for how inactive i’ve been. i was planning to start posting more when the dteam meetup happened, but in early september my dad passed away. it was really sudden and unexpected, he was still pretty young. and even now i’m still dealing with everything that comes with the loss of a loved one. so since then i have been on a deliberate hiatus, and quite honestly i’m not sure when i’ll be ready to come back, it may be months yet. i just figured i should probably say something in case anyone was wondering where i disappeared to.

that being said, i am also aware of what’s happened recently, namely the allegations against dream, and that there’s been a bit of a mass exodus in fandom. as for where i stand, i will continue to consume and enjoy dteam and dnf content until something both concrete (aka irrefutable) and actually illegal surfaces. until then my opinion on the more questionable alleged interactions that took place will remain critical in the absence of sufficient proof or information.

#in case it wasn't clear enough #i'm not judging either side right now #quite honestly with what's going on in my life rn i can't be half assed to care about it #but good for dream for finally lawyering up #i feel bad for both parties tbh bc lawsuits are incredibly stressful #i hope they both get the help they need both legally and emotionally #as for me i'm dealing with my own struggles so i'm not going to immerse myself in fandom drama #and if anyone sends me anons about it they're going straight to the trash #anyway #hope you're all doing well #and a little piece of advice from someone who can no longer apply their own #spend as much quality time with your loved ones while you still can #give them a call or a text #tell them you love them #life is scarily fleeting so make the most of it

[rebelrebelwrites]

Fic Friday! ❤️ Rebel's Weekly Fic Recs

This week's recs are...

As always, please mind the tags on any recommended story for your own personal preferences.

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The Classic You’ve Heard Of But Somehow Haven’t Read Yet: That Which Lies Across the Sea by EisforEverything

What you need to know going in:

Mmm, this fic. Part of a larger series called Use Well the Days (also primarily all WIP) that follows Mairon's story from his fall to his days with Galadriel and beyond, this fic is the last in the series, and it sees Sauron following Galadriel to Valinor after the end of LOTR. Humbling himself before the Valar, he seeks something if not true redemption. Meanwhile, the rest of Valinor chafes at his return, and without saying too much, there are repercussions to his—and everyone's—actions in Middle-earth. This ruminative, spellbinding story is rich with lore and just rich in general; a sumptuous feast of a fic you can sink your teeth into. Galadriel and Mairon's moments together are potent, but it's not just them. Prepare for heady altercations with many of your Tolkien favorites here.

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on AO3.

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The AU You Need to Immerse Yourself In Because, Well, Wow: A Stressed Tiding by @formerlyir

What you need to know going in:

-fans self- THIS FIC, let me tell you... was one of the first I read in this fandom, and hot damn, what a way to dive into Saurondriel/Haladriel. I've recommended @formerlyir's fics before, and will again because they're stupendously written and well-realized, but this one holds a special place in my heart for its steamy-as-all-hell premise and smut. A one-shot, post-S1 in which Galadriel offers Sauron a tantalizing deal: one night and one day together if they both don't participate in their impending battle—to help her turn the tide of the war, of course. 👀 This is seriously Saurondriel at my absolute favorite: brimming with angst and enemies-to-lovers-but-basically-still-enemies and 🔥🔥🔥 smut? Burning hot.

Complete, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Twitter, Instagram, and on AO3.

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The Complete But Never Forgotten Masterpiece: Through Peril and Fire by @yletylyf

What you need to know going in:

I struggled between picking between this fic and another I'm reading of @yletylyf's as they're both wonderful, but decided I should start with this completed fic! Post-S1, Galadriel follows Sauron to Mt. Doom, and facing a threat larger than their current conflict with each other, they team up (with help from some of our other Tolkien favorites) to save Middle-earth together. What struck me most about this fic is just how damn delightful it is. Don't get me wrong, it has its moments of angst and inner turmoil for our two lovebirds, but it's also so witty, so winsome in its banter and characterization and fine-tuned plot, you can just gobble it up for hours. A damn delight, indeed.

Complete, Teen & Up

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

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The WIP That Will Wreck You (In the Best Way): The Lesser of Two Evils by @thrillofhope

What you need to know going in:

Another post-S1 masterpiece in the making to share! Can I ever get enough of those? Absolutely not, and I'm sure many of you can't either. In this one from @thrillofhope (another writer you'll see repeatedly on this list, I'm sure), Sauron returns to Eregion to strike an alliance with the elves and our dear Galadriel, for fear of a returned Morgoth. Grudgingly, they concoct a plan to work together against the OG Dark Lord, who's still regaining his full strength. One of my favorite things about this fic is simply how much of a smarmy little shit Sauron is—it feels so achingly in character, and makes for a biting interplay between him and Galadriel that's delicious to consume. Characterization is super strong in this fic, and not just for our favorites, but for all Tolkien characters we have the pleasure of seeing in this story. There's still more to go, but I recommend you get caught up immediately... I have a feeling this one is going to be even more of a doozy than it already is.

WIP, Mature

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and AO3.

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The Can’t Stop Consuming No Matter What Time It Is Fic: Beasts of the Hill and Serpents of the Den by @demonscantgothere

What you need to know going in:

Another @demonscantgothere classic! I'd be surprised if you haven't read it yet, as I feel like it's very well-known and well-loved (rightly so!), but just in case some of you haven't, the premise sees Galadriel in the First Age, offering herself in place of Finrod when he's trapped in Tol-in-Gaurhoth, BATB-style. This fic evokes feelings of a fairytale, but with a LOT more smut, and it's spicy. All manner of spiciness here, folks. Hot Ones has nothing on Helholden (@demonscantgothere). In addition to the absolutely 🔥🔥🔥 smut, prepare for a very mercurial Mairon—sorry, Halbrand! Couldn't resist the alliteration—a younger, more innocent but no less exacting Galadriel, and other wonderful inclusions from the First Age, including werewolves, Thuringwethil, Morgoth (at least by association, so far), and more. I don't want to spoil anything, so just go read it. 20 chapters in, 80 to go, according to the current count. In other words: hell yes.

WIP, Explicit

Read the story.

Follow the author on Tumblr and on AO3.

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🤩🤩🤩

Me at all these fics:

Don’t see your story on this list yet? Keyword: yet. Please don’t fret! I can only recommend so many each week, but I am always looking for more stuff to read, share, and generally shower with love, so please feel free to reply with your own fics or your personal faves. I have plenty more to recommend… ❤️

Until next week!

#saurondriel #haladriel #sauriel #saurgal #galadriel x sauron #sauron x galadriel #galadriel x halbrand #halbrand x galadriel #fanfic #fanfic recs #fic rec #fic recs #saurondriel fanfic #haladriel fanfic #trop fanfiction

[niuniente]

All right. Asking for some advice here. If you can help, great, if not, that's fine too. At least I asked. So, I'm schizo, so I don't always trust my instincts. I'm also autistic, so I don't trust myself often. But, as an empath, I've been able to feel and see things, but I'm not sure how true it is. This is my dilemma. I often rely on my dreams for contacting certain things. But when it comes to answers, I don't know if it's real or not. Sometimes, I don't contact them. They contact me. As a child, it was more obvious. But now, it's gotten harder without thinking, "Oh, you're just hallucinating." Luckily, I'm on meds and in therapy for it, but it's still hard. Anyways, what I'm trying to get at is... How is one able to tell a difference between what's true and what isn't? Sorry if this comes off offensive or bad. I tried to put it together as best as I could.

Same anon as earlier, but I also been thinking something's trying to contact me, but I'm not sure to believe it. Plus, I don't trust the answer or feeling. I guess now I just kinda think it's only in my head. How do I get rid of that mindset?

----

I'm not in any way specialized in mental health disorders, so I can speak only from the spiritual perspective as the general guidance which we all have. Take what resonates with you and ignore the rest as we all have our own individual journeys, and what might work for me might not work for you, and what might resonate with me might be off putting to you. This is the first step with the connection to your intuition; always trust your gut feelings and how something makes you feel. Not as a strong emotion, but typically as this small "knowing".

It's not easy to trust your gut feelings or the messages you get. You're not the only one with the struggle. A good rule of thumb is that if it makes you feel uncomfortable, then it doesn't come from a good source or from an intuition but might be just your own thinking, fears etc. Even if the message was hard to digest, it should still feel liberating or give you an AHA-moments. That's how I go. Or then the message, the thing, etc. is not for you but it's for someone else.

The Spiritual side and all the helpers there will guide and help you, whether you are aware of them or in a direct connection to them or not. You're always guided, in a way or another. Kind of the same way as when a child is playing, immersed in their own play, and aren't aware that the parent is keeping an eye on them at the same time. My favorite analogue is the small story of a dog, who wanted to have chocolate from her owner, and when she didn't get any, she went to mope under a table. She also was watched over by her guardian, this time the owner, even when it felt unfair for the dog not to get the treat she so much wanted.

I would recommend reading or listening to spiritual books, if possible. Youtube has pick a card channels which might also deliver you the messages you need. And of course, there's always an option to have a personal reading done, where you can get a better answer, just for you, for example from me via my Etsy.

And hey, if you do not want to believe, create an intentional connection, deal with your intuition etc. you don't have to. It's not mandatory.

Do what feels the best to you. Always.

#ask niu #spiritual

[tau1tvec]

got back in sims 4 cause i missed my sims so much, but i'm struggling with the immersion especially the world-wise. wanted to ask how do you deal with it?? cause you're right when you say it really breaks the game + was wondering if your save is a base game/ea save that you're modifying with lots and tool as you go on or if you started with a blank save or something like the plumbob kingdom one that already had some tool in it

Weirdly enough I don’t use custom saves, so I just fill worlds with lots I find here or on the gallery as I need them. I use TOOL, but sparingly, since despite being useful, it’s still quite time consuming, and I spend long enough working on sims and actual lots as is. Especially since it isn’t so much how the world looks that pulls me out of it, but how tiny, empty, useless, and sometimes void of other sims they feel. Sims walk around it yes, but it’s obvious that they’re just there for the purpose of convincing you the world isn’t empty, so it all ends up feeling very Truman Show, as opposed to The Sims 3 where they walk around town, bc they actually have things to do, and jobs to tend to.

Now I’ll be honest, there really isn’t any way to avoid a lot of these feelings, I’ve tried, but this game will always find a way of frustratingly reminding me these problems exist, but I think the most I really enjoy playing this game is when I create a household I really like ( or a few to rotate through ), and build the world up around them for their specific needs. Giving them plenty to do off of their home lot helps keep things interesting, if for a while until you burn out, bc sadly the biggest issue The Sims 4 has is that its just very limited, in almost all aspects save a few.

You need to be willing to micromanage, and fill in a lot of the blanks with your own imagination, bc many of the systems and gameplay to do that for you is virtually non-existent, or stuck in the UI, and mods can only add so much to a game that lacks a lot of the content it needs to build off of.

This does have its pluses though if you’re a generally creative person, who doesn’t mind interpreting stories through pictures, but if you’re just purely playing ( as opposed to posting ), you’d probably be better off focusing on challenges, or idk, building a giant death trap for a bunch of unlucky sims to see who survives, as I’ve done at times when regular gameplay gets boring, although at that point I’d just likely play something else. 😆

#asks #anon #help

[lucysarah-c]

I think some people online need to understand that being young isn't a get out of jail card for when they happily post things online that could spark hurt

I completely agree with what you said, even though I'm not fond of AUs, that doesn't mean we should be overlooking the talent that goes into portraying the characters we love in a completely new setting

People complain about fandoms dying out once the main source of official content ends, then turn up their noses at very well made fan creations, or say something that could drive away those fans and make them not want to write

It's alright to not have a preference, but when you throw that preference that can come across negatively in a public tag, people are of course going to have their own thing to say, which I feel like a lot of Tumblr users need to remember

I'm sorry you have to deal with this <3

Hello! How are you?

Honestly, I 100% agree with you. I've even talking with my friends how I feel like I've been part of the fandom long enough to consider myself "an old sister" or a "senior in high school." I feel a sense of responsibility to step in and say, "no, that's not nice." I'm not sure if that comes across as entitled, lol

But as I mentioned, I have friends who have been considering writing their first fic as a modern AU so they can explore their writing by starting with something close or relatable to them. And by that, I'm not saying it's "easier"; for example, I struggle a lot with writing modern AUs because I can't envision Levi in another world... I feel like characters are shaped by their upbringing. I adore canon Levi; that's why I write about them.

Also, as you mentioned, it's completely alright to have preferences, as I've mentioned mine. What's not nice is posting negative comments with hashtags of the fandom that anyone could stumble upon while searching for content, as I did. I was actually going to mention that, as I said, words hold power, and how you use them can elicit two completely different reactions. If their post had been phrased like this:

"I personally enjoy canon time fics so much; it's my guilty pleasure. I adore the military setting, the thrill of survival, the period touch. Immersing myself in a completely different and detailed world is so enjoyable! Canon SNK fics always have that special touch for me."

It would be completely different because instead of denigrating other content, you're praising another. I don't know, it's just my way of understanding the world, social interactions, and how my words could inspire rather than bring down.

Have a lovely day!

#tw discourse #tw: discourse #personal

[syncrovoid-presents]

Researching for my hazbin fic (A Cannibal's Guide on Living Comfortably) has also made me realize that my adoptive family (and me in relation to my birth family) actually suffer from cultural loss. And this ties to my adoptive family being half french like Alastor.

This is sort of a personal ramble about my experiences and how it relates to cultural loss. Just thoughts I've been having that's making me rethink a lot of things from my life.

(Technically I'm not but that's a whole other thing. I was found as a kid and never allowed to learn about my birth family or heritage so yeah. I'm just whatever people say I am. Means I have double the cultural loss, both from the people that raised me and my own! Yippee! <- sarcastic)

Both my parents are half french and grew up in small communities where there was very very high English vs French tensions. Both of my parents parent's decided that it would be best to give their children the easiest life they could so they raised them as English as possible.

They weren't allowed to learn french and were punished if they tried (both by family and the community. It was a lot worse where my mother grew up), and weren't allowed to continue any traditions, songs, or anything culturally French. Assimilation was the best chance at a future, but meant that they lost all ties to culture that wasn't acceptably English/colonial.

They were born a long time ago, so this was during the era of corporal punishment in school, my mother wasn't allowed to wear pants, my father was punished repeatedly for using his left hand, etc. They were also forced into churches because that's what The Good English Do, even though neither are religious now nor would they have been forced to if the hatred against the french hadn't been so strong.

The small town my mom grew up in had a segregated neighbourhood for the french, and her family fought to cut all ties. Her mother was french but was forced to only speak English and cut all ties to her family.

I don't know as much for my father, but it was his father that refused to teach or share anything French because of the hardships he went through growing up (he also ran away and lied about his age to fight in the war too young, so he likely faced heavy trauma too)

While neither of my parents are half english, they were able to pass as english at the expense of their cultural identity and connection to their family. I've spoken to my mother about it and she says white culture is genocide, but I don't know if she realizes how it hurt her too (not to say the french did nothing wrong. They were colonialists and took part in genocide as well)

It's weird to realize. I was put in french immersion and while my french isn't great, I've realized that my parents did that to give me the only opportunity I could have to learn about their lost culture. They learned a bit from me and would use french words and sometimes share translation quirks their parents had caused by learning english after french.

I grew up thinking that because I don't know anyone I'm related to that i had no culture. I've realized that part of the reason it feels that way is because anything non-English was forced out of people. The more you could pass as english the heavier the assimilation is. To join the oppressors is to sacrifice culture, history, and family, but that's a choice both my parents parent's made and it's one we all struggle with.

As far as I go, I don't know my precise ancestry, but I do know my birth grandparents fled from a country that was dealing with fighting for independence and a highly struggling economy. I'm not supposed to know that or know anything more, but from what I can guess and based on what people have said I look like (closest thing I got) my ancestors dealt with fighting against being colonized for centuries, their culture and history actively being destroyed and demonized, and the language borderline dead because of it (isnt the british imperialism great? <- sarcasm). A bit over a century ago it would have been the cause of much prejudice and hatred, but like my adoptive parents parent's they traded culture for assimilation.

It's.... weird. There's not much I can change nor not much I can do with this information movie forwards. It has helped me connect my experiences more with that of cultural loss, especially those felt by others who don't know any birth family. Because I pass as white (I do not know my genetics, so I'd rather say that than call myself white. Especially because what ancestry I do know I have weren't historically called white and faced discrimination by white folks) I previously thought these experiences could not apply to me.

As a side note, I do hold the belief that orphans like me, or others that lacked any family for much of their lives are part of a "hidden" minority. I faced a lot of extra difficulties, social pushback, and was treated worse than my peers because I am an orphan, as did different foster siblings I had over the years. Adoption means either never speaking about my life to pass as "normal" or speak about it and face the consequences. Every person's experiences are different when it comes to this, but it really changed the expectations adults had on me and forced me to be more mature, resilient, perfectionistic and less reactive to my peers. The expectation was if you acted bad you didn't appreciate having a home and therefore didn't deserve it. What others kids could get away with can be what loses your home when you grow up an orphan.

Anywho, circling back to my fic I'll be adding some elements of my experiences in there too. Not as the main focus, mind you, but some of the struggles of adapting/assimilating to the majority to avoid discrimination will be present (as well as some French (more focused on Creole French history. It was something a few of my french teachers focused a lot on) ). Just background info, I'm as of yet undecided on how much of a character study it will all be, but if it does go into it more then these themes will be present

#syncrovoid.txt #personal #ramble #delete later #to delete later #cultural loss #colonialization #british imperialism #at least mention of it anyways #tw cultural loss #tw foster care #foster care #actually orphan #idk if that is a tag but perhaps others can relate #ignore thos lol ill probably delete later and be sad i shared such personal information #also been thinking about this because my family recipes is just depression era food #literally got adopted and then had to eat like it was the great depression #and spent more years living in unfinished homes than anything else #electricity? a privilege. running water? as long as one faucet works that's good enough. heat? wood fires. food? stole some sometimes lol #upside is that i have a lot of skills and whatnot. downside is that SOMEHOW i grew up like it was nearly a century ago??? #literally didn't get a phone until like 2 years ago #grew up spending most of my time in the woods too. modern world? nope! forest! #ALSO THR LOSS ONE FEELS WHEN THEY SEE PEOPLE TEAR DOWN THEIR FOREST IS REAL AND INTENSE AND THE WORST LOSS I HAVE #also while my adoptive mother doesn't practice vodou she is considered a spiritual healer that shares ties with vodou #it is a closed thing tho. either their own spiritual practice or a cult so. but it doesn't hurt anyone and aims to heal but can be demonized #obviously not the same HOWEVER the feelings of bring in that environment and then suddenly not and realizing that basically no one #knows anything about it? has insulted it at best or will think you're crazy for talking about it? having a different point of view on life #because of it? #like. obviously it isn't the same thing and i can claim not level of connection to vodou nor the history of those who practice #but is sorta get it. kinda. in my own way. it absolutely sucks

[thedragonflycluster]

It's still weird to think what I struggled so deeply with as a teenager isn't really a thing for me anymore. I dealt with maladaptive daydreaming for a good few years as a teen, back then it wasn't really "a thing" so I called it my Paracosm. (There still isn't a lot of attention on maladaptive daydreaming, but arguably a lot more, because I was surprised to see people start talking about it online a few years ago, with a name to put alongside it).

The only info I found on it at the time were obscure, abandoned forums of adults who struggled with the coping mechanism, how it poured into every facet of their life and strained their interpersonal relationships and work, and how so many of them felt they'd never be able to express what they dealt with on a daily basis to anyone. It didn't have a name, but it belonged to more people than just me, and it made me feel a little less alone and isolated from the world than I already was because of it.

I've always hoped now, that those nameless people found what they needed to come back into the real world and live their lives.

I started daydreaming at around 12. At the time I was dealing with a lot of abuse, generalized anxiety/panic and the usual struggle of self confidence and insecurity teens tend to deal with. In the beginning it was an escape from what I had around me; I made up people and places where I could be, people who cared about me and wanted me to be there with them. In that world I was important and valued, and I took joy in being a part of it. I could create my own joy and sense of belonging for myself.

Over the years, the world I had made up and immersed myself into became a lot more painful as I added what I was feeling on the outside world. It began to pour into the one I'd made. The paracosm I created was tainted by the depressive thoughts and tendencies I had as a teen, and as a result it was far less welcoming. Even then, I still found myself daydreaming, because it was all I felt I had. And sometimes, it really was all I had. It wasn't like I had a support system, friends, or counselor, or a family that cared at all to see I was trapped in my own jagged world.

I became so immersed into this world that the lines between this one and "that one" were blurred. I fell into psychosis, for years I believed that the people I had "created" were real, formed by my thinking, and were one day going to take me with them where I "actually belonged". At times I would hallucinate silhouettes of people, and "knew" it was them phasing through to "this world" to try and reach me.

At the time I saw nothing strange or odd about this. It was just a truth I held and hoped would come sooner than later, as my home life progressed in terms of neglect and abuse.

I was deep in this hole I had made on my own, my depression and daydreaming incapacitating my entire life. Until one day, it wasn't anymore. Though I won't share what put an end to my daydreaming(it's not relevant and a traumatic part of my life), I can say that turning your view onto something in the real world, and really anchoring yourself into it can help you come out of it. Or at least lessen the time you spend maladaptive daydreaming.

I don't daydream at all anymore. I'd say it became something I'm averted to. Sometimes that interferes with things like creating art or stories, but it feels like a small price to pay for what it gave me. I'm present and happy when I can be, dissociative disorder aside.

To anyone(&) who reads this and struggles with the same: I hope you understand that you aren't alone and that things can improve. I think as time goes on, there's going to be more resources and people talking about this experience so many seem to have. This world and your life can be livable again and you can find joy here. It's not your fault that the world made you shut yourself away from it, but things can always change. I believe in you and know that one day you can find a way through. ☘️

#maladaptive daydreaming #maladapting daydreaming disorder #paracosm #o.c #text post #cw psychosis #This isn't a topic I see expressed many places so I guess I'm tossing my hat in. #Hopefully it reaches anyone who feels alone about it #I sure know how it felt to be so alone in it #It will be ok :^) #tw delusion

[liladiurne]

Fic-authors self-rec

Fic authors self-rec! ✨ When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers ❤️

Thanks so much @perverse-idyll for tagging me!

I'm a bit late doing this. I wanted to do it, but I just couldn't seem to find the energy to babble, even about my own works. It's been sitting half-completed in my drafts for a while. Has anyone else had such a rough beginning of year?

I don't really know who to tag, so please feel free to pretend I tagged you if you feel like playing along.

1. with great outbursts and lightnings

There was no other way to start this list than with my very first snarry, and the piece of writing which I consider the culmination of years and years of struggle to find my personal style and my voice as an author. This story is such a big part of me, and each read, each comment, each kudos means more to me than perhaps all the hits and comments and kudos from all my other works combined. I guess this is my Horcrux, of sorts. I've poured my soul into it in a way I haven't done with any of my other works. I had to dig so deeply into myself and though it's left me raw in many places, it was a good sort of raw. If that makes any sense. It contains a part of me that I don't usually show people, I think. My most cathartic work, to be sure. Anyhow... I made an individual self-rec post about it a while ago, which explains it a bit better, maybe. You can find it here if you want to know more.

To summarise it briefly, Outbursts is a Muggle AU in which Severus is a poet suffering with depression and still mourning the loss of his lover. In an attempt to escape the pain and try to start over, he moves back to London after living in Paris for almost two decades. There, unexpectedly, he meets Harry and their connection is so instant and so strong that Severus believes he's found in him the solution to all his problems. But as it turns out, despite appearances, Harry has been much more damaged by life than he seems, and he carries scars that Severus couldn't begin to imagine. The story deals with a lot of loneliness but also with a lot of hope. It's about two broken people finding each other at key moments in their lives. It's about love, not only romantic but also love for life and the little things we should appreciate each day. It's also about inspiration, and so I've filled it with poetry and music, with pining and longing. It is the first of a series, which I will come back to one day. But for now it can be read and appreciated perfectly as a standalone.

2. Brighter Than Bright

My lovely, slow to update, too often neglected WIP. My monstrosity of a story. Its completely unexpected success is at once incredibly flattering and a bit terrifying, to be honest. I started writing this fic during lockdown, at a time when life was full of uncertainties, and it quickly became my safe place, a sort of peaceful story to immerse myself in. Still now, during the hard times I like to go back to it and find comfort there. And to know that so many other people find comfort in it too is just the best feeling there is. I was excited about it when I started, but far from expecting how many people would be on board with the idea. It was pure self-indulgence, which I expected only a select amount of people to appreciate. But it's grown so much! Look at it go!

The idea to write an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice also offered me the perfect opportunity to finally try my hand at a/b/o. The question of how to explain an accepted m/m relationship during Regency gnawed at me, and omegaverse proved to be the answer. As a big fan of a/b/o and an avid reader of it, I've often found what I've read lacking in certain aspects. Don't get me wrong, there are excellent fics out there, and I will read and enjoy them completely. But a lot of what I've stumbled on left me wanting more, in terms of societal aspects and culture. The smut is hot and I seek it out as much as the next person, but there were always questions of "Why?" and "How?" and "What does the bigger picture look like?" that nagged at me. And so when I began planning BTB, I knew I wanted to explore not just the smut aspect or the dynamics aspect, but answer the question of how it looks and how it's seen in society in a realistic view, not just a black and white view, but a very grey one in which everyone has different views depending on their background. And the addition of the Regency era, in which rules are so firmly set, proved to be a very interesting ground to work on.

Through the character of Harry (and also through Severus), I wanted to show what it's like to be stuck in a role projected on you by the whole of society, to be inundated with false information and not know where to turn to understand the truth of your own nature. I wanted to show that it's okay to want to try to break free from the mold, but it's also perfectly okay to want to stay in that mold.

3. Certain Dark Things

I'm a huge fan of Call Me By Your Name. It's one of my absolute favourite books, and of course the movie is sublime. And so, the idea of doing a snarry adaptation of it had been lingering for a while. It was in the plans, though I didn't know exactly how I would go about it. And then we started putting together the prompts for the first edition of Adopt-a-Prompt fest and I stumbled on one in which Harry was raised by the Malfoys and fell in love with Severus, his father's best friend. And the big AU fan that I am immediately latched onto this prompt. And somehow I had the idea to throw in it some elements of CMBYN (the Italian setting, the villa, the lazy afternoons in the sun, the precocious young man lusting after the older visitor) and kill two birds with one stone. The resulting story is Certain Dark Things.

I wanted to challenge myself with this fic. I've written Harry in a completely different way than I usually do, making him into a strangely enticing character fit for this AU in which the reasons for his adoption remain mysterious and half unexplained. And I also made the decision to write the fic in first person pov. I know that this decision has sadly lost me a lot of readers, because a surprising amount of people aren't willing to give first person pov a chance, but I'm glad I stuck to it, because it fits the story wonderfully, and it works flawlessly. I also tried to keep the backstory to a minimum, because I tend to lose myself in this part of worldbuilding and plotting, and this fic was a true exercise in only giving away what is necessary. I hope I managed that in the end.

4. On the Deficiencies of Translation Spells

I have such fond memories of writing this fic. My very first fest fic, written for CrossGen 2020. I put BTB on hold to work on this, smack in the middle of lockdown, and spent a good two months working on it almost every day and binge drinking iced coffee. I had an absolute blast.

In this fic, Harry falls for Severus during his recovery from the snake bite, but his love declaration goes horribly wrong and results in rejection and then in Severus leaving without a trace. A few years pass, during which Harry leaves his wife and his job and moves to Paris in an attempt to find meaning in his life. When he takes a teaching position at Beauxbâtons and finds out that Severus is already teaching there, his whole world is shaken.

What I love the most about this story is Harry, and how carefree and easygoing he is, all the while carrying around such a heavy heart and not quite being able to find his place in the world. I also loved doing the worldbuilding for Beauxbâtons, though I had to hold back and leave a lot of stuff out for lack of time. The downside of fests! I have a sequel planned, which I hope to get to one day.

5. Miraculous

I popped out this little fic (little in comparison to the others, I mean) for Snarry-a-thon 2022. Once I saw the prompt, asking for escort!Harry and rich!Severus, the Muggle AU lover that I am just had to snatch it up! But it's a stressful thing, doing thon. Such a legendary fest, in a way, with such an astounding quality of authors. I had more than a few nervous breakdowns while working on this, but I think it worked out fine in the end. Once more, sadly, for lack of time I had to shorten it. Originally it was going to be much longer, but I put a lot of pressure on myself and always end up being too slow and having to change my plans. Either way, I can say I'm satisfied enough with the result. It was a very self-indulgent piece which I had a lot of fun working on (despite the nervous breakdowns), with such a gentlemanly Severus, and such a charming and caring Harry. I can't get enough of them.

#lila posts #lila fics #snarry recs #snarry #tag games

[moccahobi]

July and August Reads

Every time I write these, I am in awe at how fast the months go by. I won't bore you all with the same conversation about wishing to have read more because it seems like the pace I have been reading is about as average of a pace I can do. Which is ok! I read a lot of books but I struggle to read on my phone anymore and I think that has been one of my biggest barriers lately. I have another tangent about a big barrier for me atm but I want to reserve that for a reblog and not clog the original post from the amazing fics that I did read these two months.

Note: While I do not have a minors DNI mention on my blog, please remember to check the authors about me and/or headers and respect the boundaries they set about who they want reading their blogs~

BTS MxR

Drunken Confessions (Seokjin x Reader) ( @hoseokhasmyheartxx)

When you go to pick your best friend up from the bar, the last thing you're expecting is a drunken confession.

Warnings: alcohol consumption

SFW 

1k

Fluff, Non-Idol AU, Friends to Something

Ahhhh! This is such an adorable fic! I love how Steph took the idea of drunk words being sober truths and ran with it with this confession scene! It's such a great play on it! Anyone who loves fluffy confessions and (rightfully) hesitant main characters will LOVE this cute little fic! Truly it left my heart fuzzy and happy! 

Period Pooh (Jungkook x Reader) ( @vvh0adie )

After a long week of work, your week can only get better with a pregnancy scare. You really don’t need this especially when you already take care of your biggest baby, Jungkook. And he seems to be taking this the hardest. Either way you two will get through this together.

Warnings: mature language, anxiety, sexual language, feelings of emotional neglect, allusions to abortion, allusions to sex, allusions to assisted masturbation, pregnancy scare, excessive eating, parenthood talk

5.6k

Angst, Fluff, Established Relationship

Note: this fic is in a series but it can be read alone.

If you enjoy raunchy humor and a vast display of love languages, this is the fic for you! I loved the ways in which Plym showed the MC and Jungkook expressing their love for each other through the various love languages! Acts of service, words, gifts, time together. Even with their suggestive humor, they’re big softies for each other and it really shines through! Although this fic deals with some heavy topics, Plym keeps the story light as the MC and Jungkook try to comfort each other. It was such a great read!

BTS MxM

Better Left Untouched (Namkook) (AO3)

With a simple touch, Namjoon can hear thoughts. Jeongguk has a very good reason to never let him touch.

Warnings: No archive warnings apply

6.8k

Idol AU, Fluff, Supernatural 

OMG OMG OMG I'm going to preface this review with saying that after I read this fic I binged a bunch of other stuff in this author's masterlist. I'm obsessed with their writing! Especially in this piece, I found myself getting sucked in to the softness and the poetic waxing of everything that was happening. They balance tension and fluff so well and I absolutely loved the amount of non-sexual intimacy that was present in this fic. So often I feel like intimacy is very focused on sexual aspects, and as an ace person that doesn't really immerse me in a story as much as those non-sexual moments of intimacy that's just full of fluff. And this fic is just absolutely talked full of that and I loved it!

Heard them Talk (Namkook) (AO3)

The guy reaches for Namjoon’s tail again and Jeongguk can’t take minding his own business anymore. Gym bag thrown to the ground, his feet carry him forward in a thoughtless fury. “Don’t fucking touch my boyfriend!” he hollers and shoves the guy’s hand away.

Warnings: No archive warnings apply, multiple sex scenes, bullying

NSFW

24.7k

Fluff, Light Angst, Smut Hybrid AU, Supernatural AU, Fake Dating

Okay! Another fic by this amazing author and I absolutely love the ways in which both Namjoon and Jungkook have parallel struggles that they're going through. As a hybrid and a mostly non-hybrid area and a person with a bunny daemon, they both face a lot of scrutiny from the town that they're in. And they're insecurities because of this really parallel each other in a way that both keeps tension going, allows them to understand each other, and really just leads to such a beautiful connection between them. It also has some really fun scenes of them learning about each other and their experiences and way of life. It was just so enjoyable. 

Pufferfish (Namgi) (AO3)

Namjoon finds a battered, unconscious mermaid on the beach one morning and takes him home.

Warnings: No archive warnings apply, sex scenes, allusions to violence

NSFW

10.6k

Fluff, Smut, Mermaid AU, 

I absolutely love mermaid centered stories! And this one had such an interesting opening plot, with Namjoon just wanting to help Yoongi and inadvertently hurting him… but Yoongi just such a flexible person and he quickly adjusts to the world of humans. Through the story we really see friendships and romance bloom and an interesting conversation about the stereotypical path of a romantic relationship and the conflict that might come into play if you don't follow that traditional path.

Unfamiliars (Sope) (AO3)

Hoseok rescues a kitty in a summer storm. Thanks to some weird magic, Yoongi is that kitty. In a tiny apartment full of plants and moonlight, a simple, aching happiness blooms. But with what Jungkook knows, how long can the happiness last?

Warnings: No archive warnings apply, loneliness, unhoused moments, depression, multiple sex scenes

NSFW

Fluff, Angst, Shifter AU, Witch AU

NVOVNEVONEOCNWOGNEOCNEOFNEOFNDODNCODNDKCK WHEN I SAY I INHALED THIS! I'm a sucker for hybrid/shifter aus. If you looked at my older stuff and looked at some of the works that I beta, I really started exploring supernatural stories through hybrid aus. I find them so fun and there's really so much you can do with them and this story is such a great example of the many things you can do with them and the many paths you can take. It was such a bingeable and excitable read and each chapter I was left hanging on the edge of my seat and needing to know more!

#lillia recs #such amazing fics

[st0rmyskies]

May I do one of those answer all the questions things again? Mwah😘

Of course you may bae. Let's get to the ones I didn't get asked.

Under the cut for length.

✨What's a fic you've posted you wish you could breathe life into again and have people talking about it? (or simply a fic you wish got more credit)

I have too many active projects to have any that I want people talking about more. If anything I wish I could stay focused on one series HSH as opposed to having the braincell pulled in 800 other directions.

💫what is your favorite kind of comment/feedback?

Live reacts are the shit. Really though any thought-out comment makes my day. I put a lot of effort in to what I put out there, so having that recognized - to have people pick out subtle themes or characterization notes or what have you - is really rewarding.

🌈is there a fic that you worked *really fucking hard on* that no one would ever know? maybe a scene/theme you struggled with?

I think y'all know that I work pretty hard on what I put out there. My biggest struggle right now is the climax of HSH, just too many moving parts and I need to make sure I do everyone justice. Yes, even Number.

🦋what are you most insecure about when you post a fic?

Whether or not I'm outing one of my own weird kinks.

🌿how does creating make you feel?

Relaxed. Stressed. Elated. Drained. Productive. Like I'm wasting my time.

🎈describe your style as a writer; is it fixed? does it change?

Hard question. Like, my style of getting things down or putting words in order or ???. Idk I'm stubborn so perhaps I'm fixed.

🎉how often do you celebrate completing & posting a work? how often do you give yourself the credit/validation that you seek from others when you post? (if you don't, you should!)

Completing and posting a work feels good, but I don't really seek validation through posting. I just... put it out there. Read it, or don't.

💞what's the most important part of a story for you? the plot, the characters, the worldbuilding, the technical stuff (grammar etc), the figurative language

The language, by far. Language can either immerse you in a given scene or bitchslap you straight out of it. It can make a given character's actions seem brash or planned, their motivations selfish or selfless. The importance of word choices CANNOT be overstated.

🕯️was there a fic that was really hard on you to write, or took you to a place you didn't think it would take you?

Among Us got really hard to write because the ending is Not Good. That story helped me realize that I really can't do bad endings.

🍭why did you start writing?

Because I wanted to read Marth/Roy (SSBM) fic and couldn't find anything I enjoyed well enough.

🤲what do YOU get out of writing?

I get to create the kind of stories I'm interested in reading.

☯️how do you think engaging with each other through tumblr, twitter, comments, kudos, creates healthy fandom experiences? How do you deal with that if you're not a social person/experience social anxiety?

Engaging with fans and other creators through tumblr and discord has really broadened my creative horizon. It's made me think about the potential of characters I otherwise wouldn't have considered exploring, and explore sides of characters I didn't even imagine could be there.

💌share something with us about an up-and-coming work (WIP) that has you excited!

80% sure that by the end of HSH: The Brave, Time is going to be walking with a cane.

#stormy asks #toadbae asks #writer ask game

[damn-daemon]

I intended to write this for you a while ago, but things have been crazy busy, sorry.

I first started reading fanfictions when I was about 13 and I came across your work (AVWH) a couple years later in 2016 (when I was in High School) and that was a big deal for me because I remember being completely amazed by your writing (and still am): it was fluid, compelling, felt real, and made me  feel so completely immersed that I would easily spend 30 min or more reading in the same position, with my eyes glued on your story.

You're also became a big inspiration to me when it comes to writing/publishing an original material. I've published one OUAT story years ago, it was just a couple chapters and not really well written (I was still beginning to learn english then) but I remember only feeling confident enough to do it, to finally publish it, because you said something then about how you also overthink about your writing now and then, the struggles you have with it but you still do it anyway. That was really important for me to hear! Now a days I'm currently writing articles on movies and stuff, but I look forward to going back on writing fanfictions and publishing my original work out there :)

So yeah, thank you for putting so much dedication on your work considering that you do it all for free while also having other things to worry about such as a job and life itself (which isn't easy at all). Also, thank you for doing it during the pandemic, God knows that reading your stories was one of the things that helped me keep my head sane those days.

I wish you the best! 💜

P.S: I loved your last update!

This was so wonderful to read. I think I've read over it a few times at this point. It just gives me such a wonderful, light-hearted feeling. I definitely teared up the first time I saw this. And you've been around so long, so there is something so profound about hearing this from you. Words cannot describe how happy and at ease this all makes me.

It still blows my mind, the concept that my story really has been around for a while. It still feels like something I came up with yesterday (also I won't lie - I did feel a little old when you mentioned when you started haha). The idea that you have journeyed with this and inspired to do your own work because of something I said...I don't know, it's just equal parts crazy and wonderful to me. I never thought my story would be anything when I started out, and seeing and hearing this from you just helps reassure me that this has all been worth it.

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all the kind words you have said to me. And please, don't feel the need to apologize for not saying it sooner. Life is life, and so many things go unsaid. I am simply grateful you took the time to say something at all. Thank you.

I wish you all the luck on your current and future writing endeavors. Kick some butt out there!

#also sorry i took a minute to reply #i wanted to do this on my laptop #and I hadn't had the chance to dig it out yet #Thank you so so much again #this means the world to me

[magicalrocketships]

i read NYFBM when i was in university almost ten years ago and I can vividly remember how the depiction of louis struggling and then realizing he's dealing with depression was such a huge catalyst in me being able to name and deal with my own struggles. there was a lot of cathartic crying reading that fic that ultimately helped me be able to express what I was going through to the people around me and feel less like I was just... failing at being a person. so thank you for writing that story and sharing it! I'm sure it was tough to immerse yourself in that pov for however long it took you to write but it had such a huge impact on me and I can pretty confidently say reading it was the first step to me being able to help myself and end up living the life I wanted to be. it'll always hold such a special place in my heart!

Thank you ❤️

I'm so glad to hear you're doing well now :)

[streettealee]

Hi, no pressure at all btw, but are you planning to continue your fic titled 'the rain (it rains every day)'? I love that one but, again, no pressure if you're not planning to

Hi there! I'm so glad you love the fic (and thank you for the ask!) It was an idea I had for ages that I finally messed with after some summer research for it, and it holds a special place in my heart as someone with a Greek background getting to explore that culture from a more personal lens (not saying I am the most authentic, as I am an immigrant grandbaby in another country, but I also am not one to water down mythology or modernise it too far, unlike quite a few folks these days). That being said, there is a vague plan to continue, though I would need to immerse myself in all the story and ideas I had again, which can be tricky since I have a habit of fixating on one story and world at a time, only to deviate randomly to quickly blurt out other ideas and then move on. At the moment, I've been focusing on my original works, which I post about over at @laylaraptis.

Anyway, fanfic has become a bit of a standstill at the moment. I had a great spurt around about a month ago now where I started writing to work through a lot of emotions I had from my personal life, and I felt the pressure of the upcoming second semester of university starting up soon. I believe I updated 'soft hearts, electric souls' during my first week of study before I got swept up in my coursework. I'm studying law, so it's a heck of a lot of work. I have to keep a schedule of my daily tasks to ensure I keep up with everything, while also keeping in mind that I need to rest and take care of myself and juggle a social life and other responsibilities. Writing (and even commenting on the works of other fan authors) often feels like more work added on top of that and my time has become, I guess, a bit more precious to me? Additionally, I got tired of a lot of TLH commentary that I kept seeing, as well as TSC in general. I more consume these things than participate in many discussions these days. It gets exhausting, a little depressing, and even somewhat boring. It got to a point where I felt like I would rather spend my time working on something far more detailed (knowledge-wise because it's something I created and therefore I know all aspects of it by technicality, whereas I do not know Cassandra Clare's mind) and within my sphere of control that I've been meaning to do for years, than spend another minute investing all my left over energy while I'm studying into fanfic of someone else's work -- especially because I have my own to work on, you know? (Please note that I do not scorn fanfic -- I love it and still read it, and I will always support other writers choosing to do what they love. Fanfic can sometimes be better than canon, and it has my full respect. My own choice that I prefer working on my novel rather than doing fanfic for the moment is a result of a bunch of factors.)

I've also been very unwell lately (think of health as like a number line, with neutral at 0, positives going up the healthier I am, and negatives clearly being the opposite. I dipped well below the negatives.) Within the span of six days, I completely exhausted my body, had multiple illnesses going on simultaneously, and was struggling just to stay awake and get through each day. I won't go into further detail as it deals with some health topics that some might find distressing, but basically, I'm still on the mend for the next three weeks just to try and reach that neutral 0 again. And from there, I still need to work up the positive side of the number line. Because of this, I've barely had time to even work on my original pieces.

So, that was a long way to say: the future of the fic 'the rain (it rains every day)' is kind of uncertain, and I apologise for that. My main fic, WBITHOM, might end up being definitively discontinued simply because I feel like I put a lot into it and the pay-off hasn't been great. I was writing, not just for myself, but for an audience. My old writing partner was someone I relied greatly upon to gauge reception, and yet I think they inadvertently also lead to me being disappointed in how little folks think about what I write. I like to do a lot of symbolism, for example, and a lot of foreshadowing (I'm always worried it comes off too heavy and obvious), but they very rarely picked up on the purposeful decisions I make in writing, and I felt like I was being too serious about something no one else took seriously, if that makes sense.

But now I get to write for me, in private, with no chapter updates to anxiously wonder if people are going to comment on or read at all, and it's been quite nice. Lonely, at times, but nicer somehow because it feels more self-inflicted. I get to work away and just post snippets and background information and progress updates and just enjoy myself. Plus, I get to explore not just Greek culture, but other Balkan cultures too in my original writing! With characters already made to fit! I'm not working with CC's characters and trying to balance fandom expectations. My characters are my own and I know them far better than I could anyone else's. Granted, I am still in early stages of this current draft, and I expect I'll stray back to the comforts fanfic offers eventually for a break, and 'the rain (it rains every day)' is at the top of the update list since everything else has had its time and this one was always scheduled next. But for now, all my fanfics are on hold until further notice. Any content produced from me will be found on @laylaraptis for the next 140-odd days (I've set a deadline for myself, which you can read more about over on that blog).

Hope this was an okay answer to your question 💀 I am very aware that I ramble a lot.

#tlh #the last hours #fanfic #tlh fanfic #wbithom #wasting beats in this heart of mine #the rain (it rains every day)

[grubliinu]

Hello, apologies if this is interrupting your day but i absolutely in love with your writing which is very immersive! I want to write like you. Do you have any recommendations for sources and tips of writing for beginners? Also thank you so much for all the fics. Love them <3

Aaaa oh my gosh this comment just made my day, thank you so much I'm really flattered you think so highly of my writing skills! Sorry it took me a while to reply, I have been busy and wanted to take my time writing a reply. Hopefully, you'll find this useful!

I can't think of any specific sources I have used but my tumblr should have some stuff if you search the ''writing'', writing stuff'' and writing reference'' tags (I think those are the ones I use but man, I really should organize them better lmao) But here are also some other tips I use frequently while writing that I can think from the top of my head:

1) Make a separate document to ''doodle'' on This is a big one for me. I'm not quite sure what kind of writer you are (are you the type to meticulously plan everything before you start writing, or do you go with the flow?) so I don't know how useful this is for you, but I am strictly the former. When I start planning a fic, I make two files – the actual fic, and a separate document that is basically a sketchbook but for writing. There, I write down everything, from ideas to random bits of dialogue that I thought sounded cool and could be used in the future.

Another thing this doodle document is super useful for is creating summaries. Since I write a lot of angst, I often have to write scenes that deal with the character's emotions and inner thoughts. While I like writing that type of stuff, I often struggle to articulate my thoughts and interpretation into something coherent that I can put into words and I have discovered that simply writing a short breakdown essay of every aspect I want to explore in that particular scene. For example, in chapter 4 of Lungs Full of Roses, when Childe destroys the hilichurl camp, in that scene, I wanted to establish how he views his relationship with the tsaritsa and family, as well as reveal how he really feels about Zhongli, so I wrote separate sections for Tsaritsa, Childe's family, and Zhongli, and how Childe feels about them using very simple terms.

I also tend to never erase anything from those documents so that I can revisit an idea in the future. Instead, I just make the font smaller for those parts!

2) Balance between purple prose and ''pragmatic'' (idk what to call it really) This is especially related to your question since this is something that is constantly on my mind as I write – I love using a poetic style of writing full of words that I think sound pretty. However, I personally can't read writing that only consist of that type of purple prose, so I often have to resist the temptation to add more poetic flair to the more mundane parts. But honestly, sometimes you just gotta focus on making the plot move from point A to point B and that's okay! Every sentence doesn't have to be a work of art – in fact, I personally think (or hope in the case of my own writing) that saving the poetics for the more emotional scenes makes them hit even deeper.

3) Use gestures to convey emotions This is like an actual tip from writers but it's also something I try to be aware of when I write. Instead of using something like 'he felt angry', try something like 'he clenched his fist' etc. to convey the anger. The Internet is full of lists of body language and gestures that are created for writers and I recommend checking those out! You can also use metaphors to convey emotions – using the example above, you could write something like ''anger surged through him like a wave''. I like to mix gestures and metaphors.

You can also use the structure of the sentence to convey emotion. For example, if the character is angry, use short sentences. If they're panicking, convey that panic by using a longer sentence that just kinda spirals into panic. (I don't know how to explain so here's an example from Lungs Full of Roses where Childe is both angry and panicking lmao)

[Childe breathed in. Out. He felt trapped, like a giant beast in a small cage, and Archons how he hated it. Hated how his skin crawled with the need for action, hated how his instincts were screaming at him about nonexistent eyes watching his every movement even though he knew that he was alone. A part of him, the part that had been forged by the suffocating mists of the Abyss, itched to destroy his room, no, actually the room wasn't enough – destroy the hotel, the city, the whole goddamn region that prided itself on the fictitious freedom and cloying wine until nothing but ashes remained.] 

As you might have noticed, I wrote ''he felt trapped'' – which is what I just said to avoid. However, I remember thinking that the scene needed something short and simple and I figured that this was the way to go – which goes to show that the rules of writing aren't set in stone and you can absolutely break them if you want (imo the only rule I think everyone should follow is to USE PARAGRAPHS if you write fics, it is really hard to read fics that don't use them)

Annnd that's about what I can currently think of, hopefully, there was something that you find useful! My writing style is something that has been developing for over ten years so it is hard for me to like actually explain it so I'm really sorry this is so disjointed. Again, thank you so much for your kind words, I'm so glad that you sent me this message anon!

[flameohotwife]

Ooh can you tell me more about the mixed cloudbabies fic wip? 👀👀👀

Absolutely! So, this is unfortunately one of those fics that has a general outline but nothing written yet, because I need to do a LOT of research. For instance, the first chapter was going to focus on Kataang, and then there would be a subsequent chapter for each cloudbaby that shows various instances of racial identity/experiences of racism/struggles throughout their lives. I want to really dig into the customs and celebrations they may have experienced and how those might feel as a child/teen/adult who is mixed. New Years was always a really big deal to my Asian parent and grandparents, and we would make a lot of ethnic food and celebrate with friends and extended family in the way many people celebrate Christmas, minus presents. BUT *I* (as a mixed-race kid but also as a 4th generation Asian American) never really understood the significance, and have kind of had to piece together my own meaning for that celebration throughout my life. We never really celebrated Boys/Girls/Childrens Day as a family, though I know Japanese American families that do, and I didn't even learn about it until college when I was taking a Japanese language class, and then that really threw me for a loop because... how much did I even understand my own culture??

I imagine the cloudbabies might have that sort of experience learning about ancient Air Nomads in school. Even if Aang spends every night telling them stories about his childhood, he is not going to be able to cover everything, and his culture is no longer immersive. They live on Air Temple Island, yes, but with acolytes, not other airbenders, and obviously a lot of the culture has needed to be modified to fit this new reality. I imagine Bumi, Kya, and even Tenzin feeling some weird disconnects at times, while at others really strongly identifying with one or another of their heritages. I've read bits and pieces about different celebrations, but I don't know how much to trust my sources, and obviously there is a language barrier to me reading first-hand accounts. I want to do this respectfully, but this is also difficult subject matter to write about, even WITH a full understanding, and I'm not sure how long it will take me to get enough knowledge of the cultures to feel comfortable writing this.

Thanks for playing the WIP Title Game!

#wip title game #mixed race cloudbabies #mixed race cloud family #northerngoshawk #asks #cultural sensitivity is so hard sometimes but SO SO SO important #i want to get this right and i'm scared #it's too easy to inadvertently hurt someone this way #that said if anyone has good credible sources i would LOVE them <3

[likeatlas]

A Despite his leading roles in In the Heights by Lin-Manuel Miranda and the fifth installment of screamMelissa Barrera is convinced that Keep Breathing it is the biggest challenge of his career so far. “I think that every role I take on, I do it with all my heart and soul,” explains Barrera. “But this one specifically cost me a lot. I left my heart in that forest.” Created by Martin Gero and Brendan Gall, the Netflix series revolves around Barrera's character, Liv Rivera, a New York lawyer and the only survivor of a plane crash on the Canadian border. To survive, Liv must fight life in the wild as she deals with demons from her past. Instead of the dance routines she was used to after studying musical theater at New York's Tisch School of the Performing Arts, Barrera had to learn new physical skills for her outdoor scenes. She had scuba certification, cold water immersion to prepare her body for freezing temperatures, and breath-holding training to expand her lung capacity for underwater shots. When they filmed on a glacial lake that had been frozen a week earlier, Barrera couldn't breathe. "The water was so cold that I couldn't get enough air," says Barrera. "I was a little dizzy, but I used what I was feeling, the nerves and the shallow breathing, for the character and turned it into Liv's panic." Barrera, 32, was born and raised in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. His career began when he competed in The academy, a singing reality show, and later starred in several Mexican soap operas. In 2017, she acted in the dramatic comedy Ravens Club from Netflix, and the following year landed the lead role as Lyn in Life by Starz. Her big role in Hollywood came when she was cast as Vanessa for In the Heights, by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Despite the negative reviews it received In the Heights and the low box office numbers, Barrera says he appreciates the experience he had with the film and the impact it had on people and his career. This year she starred in the fifth installment of scream like Sam Carpenter. "The fight never stops," says Barrera. “I never stop knocking on doors. I never stop auditioning.” His most recent series Keep Breathing, premiered on July 28 on Netflix. His next films this year are a thriller, bed restand a musical drama, Carmen. On her preparation for her role as Liv in Keep BreathingBarrera had to do a lot of things on his own. The directors told her "well, now you have to build a shelter, go ahead", the cameras began to record and she had to try to solve it. “A lot of the frustration you see on screen is very real because I didn't do any research on how to survive because Liv doesn't have those skills,” explains Barrera. “I wanted to be as honest as possible with the character because she really is a city girl. She doesn't know how to build a shelter and light a fire." As Liv battles the wilderness alone, she also struggles to find healing and peace with her past traumas, which we learn about through a series of flashbacks, many of which deal with her troubled childhood. “Something that I take away from the series is the idea of ​​breaking generational patterns in families,” says Barrera. “Just because your parents are a certain way doesn't mean you have to be that way. Although many times without realizing it we become like our parents, we have the strength and power to break those chains. Keep Breathing (Netflix) Like Liv, Barrera considers herself a survivor and fighter. As Liv learns to survive in the wild, Barrera identifies with her as she survives in Hollywood and advocates for Latino representation in film and television. “Sometimes I feel like I'm swimming against the current and fighting against the current for my life,” admits Barrera. barrier explains that Keep Breathing It wasn't written for a Latina lead, but she hopes it can be used as an example to give more Latinos opportunities to star in projects where their characters aren't based solely on their identities. “Yes, I am Latin.

But that's not what the show is about at all," Barrera said. "It's rare that you have a show with Latinos at the front that doesn't constantly talk about being Latino, or force them to speak Spanglish or talk about where they come from." Barrera remembers that when she was younger, the trailblazing Latina actresses in Hollywood could be counted on one hand. "Before we only had Salma Hayek and that was it," Barrera said. Now, she considers her status as a role model for Latin actresses a blessing from her. “I am writing, producing, acting and fighting for more roles that are not written for a Latina,” Barrera continues. “I keep fighting because I know that eventually one of us will be able to open that door and change someone's mind. And that's how we started to change everyone's opinion about us being protagonists. And not just on shows that are classified as Latino or Latinx or whatever, but on mainstream media and shows that are global.” Barrera believes that the best way for Latinos to have representation in Hollywood is for them to produce their own content. "That's the way we really make significant progress, not just waiting for opportunities, but creating them ourselves," says Barrera. But even with his current successes, he recognizes that the fight is never over. "It's never really easy," says Barrera. “The landscape just changes. But you always have to keep digging, and I find a lot of comfort and encouragement and support from my people in Mexico.” As Barrera continues to pave the way for Latinos in Hollywood, he says he keeps his family and roots as a motivation in his career. Every time he sees comments that remind him of the beginning of his career in Mexico, he realizes how much he has grown over the years. “It just reminds me of how far I've come,” says Barrera. “Knowing that there are people who have been following me and have been with me on this journey ever since, I just want to keep going for them. I just want to keep fighting for them and for my gratitude for sticking with me." 'Keep Breathing' is currently available on Netflix.