#and your creations are always such a huge source of inspiration for me!!

[misakarose]

"My friends strengthen my heart! For those that I love, I'd throw away this body!" ↳ happy belated birthday @naruzumake!! ♡

#fairy tail #ftgraphics #fyfairytail #fairytailsdaily #dailyanime #fyanimegifs #anisource #erza scarlet #queen #*mine #*ft #*graphics #raaaaaiiiiiiiii my darling I'm so sorry I'm so late ;-; #I was working on this off and on and then some stuff happened and it just kept getting pushed off #but I hope you like it!! #you are a very dear friend to me that I deeply cherish #and I couldn't be happier to have gotten to know you!! #I'm sorry we don't talk nearly as much as we should #but just know that I always love seeing you on my dash #and your creations are always such a huge source of inspiration for me!! #I truly hope life is treating you well my dear~!! #❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[mayumiiyuu]

ok i know i just requested something yesterday, BUT I HAVE A REALLY GOOD SONG FIC IDEA - steve harrington x reader and the song is you belong with me by taylor swift where steve’s dating a cheerleader and the reader and him have been best friend’s since forever but the reader has had a huge crush on him, I THINK IT’D BE SO CUTE

s. harrington || you belong with me

A/N: my personal thanks to u and our lord and savior, source of all my inspiration: ms. taylor alison swift

The day you met Steve Harrington was one you couldn’t quite remember, granted the two of you had been in kindergarten then. Your mother loves to recount the story on your birthdays, how he had stolen your favorite crayons and you retaliated by flicking your mashed potatoes at him. Eventually, you both made up and bonded over finger painting, and you both had been inseparable since.

Even through the awkward years of pre pubescent middle school kids to the more intimidating environment that was high school, you both had managed to remain as good friends, best friends, that was, when Steve wasn't out with his other more well known friends.

Of course you saw it coming, even from miles away, as you and Steve first set foot on the High School campus, you knew deep down that he would be swept away by the popular crowd, because even you had to admit that he was charming, the fact that he had perfect hair only ever boosted his reputation.

Passing notes and always spending you lunches together turned into short 'hi's' and 'hello's' as you passed each other by in the hallways, every time Steve and you had managed to snatch some alone time to talk, somehow one of his friends always managed to barge in, dragging Steve away with him.

Despite how dejected you felt whenever he was taken away from you, you let him go each time. It wasn't as if you were together anyway, you and Steve? The king of Hawkins High with some band geek nobody? Not a chance.

After years of being friends with the Steve Harrington, absolute heartthrob of the school, could anyone truly blame you if you told them you'd had a crush on him since the fourth grade?

For years you had buried whatever feelings you had for him deep inside you, locked up in a dungeon of your own creation along with all your dreams of becoming a ballerina or astronaut.

You convinced yourself it was never going to happen, especially now that he was currently dating the captain of the cheerleading team who also happened to be one of your biggest bullies, none other than the queen of hell herself: Heather McNamara.

You told yourself it was natural, predictable even. She was pretty, she was popular, she was actually a really talented cheer leader, and she made him smile--despite how she tormented you, you tried to force down the bile that crawled up your throat whenever you saw his arm slung around her shoulder, the little kisses she would throw him while she did her cheer routines as he played basketball, while you were the one stuck on the bleachers.

Curse the stupid made up hierarchy that was high school.

Although you and Steve seemed to be drifting apart while at school, that wasn't the case at all outside of class. Sometimes, every after school when you didn't have band practice and Steve didn't have whatever sports practice he was into at the time, you would both spend afternoon until night driving around Hawkins, with music turned up and the windows down as you two yelled out the lyrics to your favorite songs.

Those were the moments you liked most, where you could be you, and he could be the Steve you always knew him to be.

Then he'd drive you both home, which was easy, considering the fact that your houses were right next to each other, with his bedroom window only a few feet away from yours. When you were little, to avoid waking any of your parents up, you and Steve would communicate with big pads of paper, chatting through writing way past your bedtime.

You smiled at that memory.

"And then Heather said 'I'll bring my own cassette tapes next time,' like, um, what? Y'know, if she didn't like my music she could've just said that and I would've turned it off, I don't know why she had to be so passive aggressive about it, and her tone was just--"

You furrow your brows and shake your head. "Dude, if that annoyed you so much why don't you just talk to her about it?"

Steve groans. "That's the thing! Whenever I try to talk to her about something that's bothering me that she does, she always twists my words and make it so that I'm the villain! I mean-- that's not fair!"

You huff, giving him an incredulous look. "If it's like that every time you confront her for stuff that she does to make you feel bad, why are you still with her then?"

"Because!" Steve starts, shrugging. "I don't know, I think I might really like her, she could be the one, y'know."

You let out a fake barfing noise. "Gross, keep that sentimentality away from me please."

"You know, I think you'd have a better understanding if you were in the same situation." He says before turning the steering wheel down towards the park you were supposed to be going to.

You scoff, turning in your seat to face him. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean," Steve inhales before blowing out of his mouth. "You've been single for like, the longest time, (y/n), you sure there aren't any cute band geeks you're hanging out with?"

"As if I'd ever want to be all mushy gushy with someone like that." You roll your eyes for what seemed to be the tenth time during this car ride. "Like 'oh babe how are you, I missed you so much', 'oh baby I missed you too'." You tease, mimicking Steve's deep voice and Heather’s high pitched one as you say those words, right before putting your fingers together and making your hands kiss while imitating kissing noises.

"Hey! Stop that." Steve whines, slapping your hands down as you giggle.

"Now I get why no one wants to date you." He murmurs, but you hear his words perfectly, causing you to punch him square on the bicep.

"Ow! Hey, I was just joking, alright? You're great, (y/n), I'm sure you'll find someone soon."

"Last time I checked, Harrington, I don't need to date anyone simply in order to boost my popularity, okay?" You retaliate, crossing your arms.

"Ouch, (y/n), you make me seem so vain." Steve places a hand over his heart to feign hurt.

You laugh sarcastically before looking at him while batting your lashes. "Glad you noticed."

He rolls his eyes at you, nudging your forehead with his fingers and you laugh.

You'll find someone someday, his words echo in your mind.

But as you watch him laugh and smile with joy as he turns up the volume to his favorite song with the afternoon sun pouring through the car window to illuminate his face in gold, you didn't need to look any further.

Because you had already found someone.

...

It was a typical Tuesday night, your current favorite song blasting through your speakers as you read a book that you needed to understand for class. Unable to even remotely understand the author's words in their 19th century grammar, you let your mind wander as you stared at the page.

Prom was coming soon, and there was no doubt in your mind that Steve would be crowned prom king, along with his snooty little girlfriend.

You sigh, shutting the book. You spot Steve in his room from the view you had into his bedroom window, he was pacing around the room, the phone wire getting caught in his chair before he yanked it out.

You didn't know exactly what was going on, but you saw his animated hand gestures, the frustration on his face as he ran his hand through his hair.

With your eyebrows knitted together, you get off your bed, making your way towards your window. Steve finally slams the phone down, his face tinged with red from all the yelling he had done. He catches your eye, and you give him a concerned look through your window. He quirks his eyebrows, shrugs, and shakes his head.

Swiftly, you grab the big sketchbook that you usually reserved for your art classes, writing a message to him in big black letters with your sharpie.

He looks at you with confusion as you scribble down your message, his eyebrows turning upwards as he realizes what you were doing.

'Are you okay?' It read.

He grabs his own pad of paper, the yellow pad he was supposed to use to take notes in, scrawling his own message in black marker.

'Not really.' He replied.

You shoot him a frown.

'What happened?'

He shakes his head, sighing, before turning the pad of paper towards you, revealing his message.

'We had a fight again :('

The sad face he doodled almost makes you laugh. He was still the same dorky Steve under that popular mask he wore after all.

'Sorry about that'

He comes closer towards his window, opening up the latch to slide the window pane upwards.

"You wanna go for a walk?" He calls out.

You smile, opening up your own window. "Sure."

...

You sneak your way into the kitchen and out the back door, memories of doing the same sneaking out as kids when either of you were grounded replay in your mind.

You carefully unlatch the gate to his backyard, making sure there would be no noise to alert anyone, tiptoeing your way up the back porch until you stood at his own back door, waiting.

"Hey." He greets, eyes not meeting yours.

"Hey," You smile. "Everything okay?"

He makes his way past you, shaking his head while you follow him.

"No, not really."

"What happened?"

"She," He hesitates, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "She broke up with me."

You feel bad for him, you do, but if that meant him finally being free of a toxic relationship, you couldn't help but feel relieved.

"Oh." Is all you manage to say.

"But I'm gonna get her back." He says with conviction, nodding his head as his eyes looked far away into the horizon, as if he was imagining the ways he would somehow win her back.

You furrow your eyebrows and scoff, which catches his attention and snaps him out of his daydream.

"What?" He says, bewildered and confused by your reaction.

"You're kidding, right?"

"No? I'm serious, I'm gonna win her back, just wait and see."

You roll your eyes, incredulous at his response.

"Why? You don't even like her that much!"

"How could you even know that? You don't know me!" He cries out, emphasizing his words with wild hand gestures.

"That's another thing you're wrong about, Steve, I do know you, and I know that you're making one of the biggest mistakes in your life." You say the last few words with a hint of cynical laughter in your voice.

"Where the hell is this even coming from, (y/n)? I really like this chick, what more is there to it?"

"Oh so you 'really like this chick' but you just so happen to complain about her all the time?"

Steve stammers for a moment. "Love's complicated like that, I don't know, I just know that I need to take her to prom too--"

"Oh so that's it!" You exclaim sarcastically, moving your hands into wild gestures of their own. "Steve, the king of Hawkins High, is afraid to go to prom without a date."

"Yeah, well, at least I actually have the chance to have a date on my arm, not sure I can say the same thing about you, can I?" He seethes.

You squint your eyes at him in disbelief. "You're seriously bringing that up right now?"

He shrugged. "I figured that since you were such an expert about love you'd be in a relationship oh no wait," Steve points at you. "You're not."

You let out a laugh devoid of any joy. "At least I don't go out with people who aren't good for me for the sake of keeping my social status." You reply, words dripping with poison.

"Yeah well, at least people know me. I mean, who even are you at school besides the band geek who follows Steve Harrington around like a lost little puppy?"

You lick your lips, resolve faltering. "Is that really what you think of me?"

Steve sucks in a breath, closing his eyes as he rubs them, then shakes his head. "No, no, (y/n), I--"

"You know what? Fine, I'll stop following you around like a lost puppy. As far as I know, you're on your own, Harrington." You say, anger bubbling in your veins as you stomp away from him.

You don't even notice the look of regret in his eyes as you turn your back.

...

It had been a week since you last stopped talking to Steve, avoiding him at all costs whenever you were at school, closing the curtains to your window to make your one message very clear: Don't talk to me.

Sometimes you wondered what happened to the two of you. You two used to be like two peas in a pod, he told you everything there was to know about him, his entire life story.

Steve felt nothing but guilt as you brushed past him in the hallways, barely even sparing him a glance. He remembers those days where the two of you would sneak out to go on walks, or 'nightly adventures' as you two used to call it growing up. He recounts the moments he'd spend with you, sharing secrets, hopes, and dreams under the stars. He had told you everything there was to him. Steve was stubborn, but he knew you were right; you did know him, down to the very specs of stardust in his bones. He had told you his life story, but he forgot to mention all the chapters you had always been a part of.

...

Prom was only a day away now.

As much as you brushed your friends' invitations off, you couldn't ignore the endless pestering of your mother.

"Oh, come on, (y/n), it's your high school prom! I remember how fun my little proms were, come on, sweetheart, you need some sort of grand moment in your life to commemorate your high school days! Pleaasee." She had begged and pleaded with you.

Finally, after more pestering and nagging, you relented.

So now here you were, walking your way towards the gym after your mother had dropped you off, snapping an endless supply of pictures of you on her polaroid, gushing about how stunning you looked.

Before you left the house, you had caught your reflection in one of the mirrors by the living room, and, as vain as it was, you had to admit that you looked good.

Your hair was meticulously styled courtesy of your mother, makeup brushed on to highlight your best features, that, along with the elegant dress of your favorite color you and your mother had chosen paired with the matching jewelry made you feel the best about your appearance for the longest time.

You walked into the gym, decorated with various balloons and streamers, your mouth widening into a smile as you caught one of your friends from band. You ran over to them as best as you could with the strappy heels you wore, tackling one of them in a hug.

As you laughed and drank punch with your friends, your eyes caught a glimpse of none other than Steve 'the hair' Harrington. He glances towards your direction and you two make eye contact, which you immediately break as you turn to your friends.

"So, you guys see anyone cute yet?" You say.

"Uh, duh, Steve Harrington is literally standing right there." Your friend replies, quirking an eyebrow.

"Actually, he's walking towards us now." Your other friend says as she fixes her hair.

You bite your lip, sure, you weren't mad at him anymore, but you were still a little annoyed. Ever the prideful one, you only looked down at your drink as Steve approached you.

He waved to your friends, sending them a small smile before he turned to you.

"(y/n), can we talk?"

"What's there to talk about?" You casually shift your eyesight to the side, intent on not even making eye contact with him. While he was the pretty one in the friendship, you were most definitely the petty one.

He rolls his eyes at you and sighs. "Look, I know you're probably still annoyed at me, and I'm sorry, but can we please just talk? You and me?"

You close your eyes, letting out a breath, before you look at him. "Fine."

He grins, finally, you were talking to him. He leads you away from your friends and to the dance floor.

You quirk your eyebrow at him. "Steve, where are we--"

"Come on, (y/n), dance with me." He holds out his hand towards you.

Memories of you pining for him for years envelop your heart, and you just couldn't tell him no, not with those sweet, pleading eyes of his.

You take his hand, and as if on cue, a slow song starts to play.

Before you know it, you had your arms wrapped around his neck and his hands at your waist. Your heart thumped against your chest, still, you tried your best to play it cool. After all, the two of you were completely platonic, And, much to your dismay, nothing could ever change that.

"You were right." He says, snapping you out of your thoughts.

"What do you mean?"

"About Heather," He says, looking into your eyes earnestly. "She and I.. we just weren't right for each other."

"Oh, um, okay." Is all you can manage to say as you felt your cheeks flush pink when you caught his gaze flickering towards your lips.

"I've spent my entire life chasing after things, people, because I guess being popular and liked by a lot of people made me feel wanted, loved." He laments, gazing at your features with affection.

You let out a soft chuckle in an attempt to ease your nerves. Throughout your entire life of knowing Steve, you had never been so close to each other like this. "Glad you finally noticed."

He laughed, softly, before he licked his lips. "Guess I was too busy trying to impress the world that I forgot about the one person who I saw as my world."

When he looks at you like that, with that affectionate, kind look in his eyes, how could you ever stop your heart from melting?

"That person's you, by the way." He smiles, clearing up his words.

You squint your eyes at him, despite the smile that graced your lips.

"That was the cheesiest thing I've ever heard, Stevie."

He laughs, shaking his head. "It was worth a shot."

"What, did you spend like 30 minutes of your time practicing that line in front of your mirror or?" You teased.

He rolls his eyes playfully at you before leaning his forehead on yours.

"Can't get anything past you, can I?"

You beam at him, eyes crinkling as you smiled. "Never."

He laughs before he kisses you on both cheeks, then on your nose, then your forehead, until he reaches your lips. You practically melt into him as his soft lips move against yours, ever so gently, and you swear you could stay in this moment forever. Despite the sea of people around you, whispering and gossiping about the band geek and the king of Hawkins, all of that faded away as you swayed to the rhythm with Steve, your Steve, who you knew inside out, who knew you down to the tiny specs of stardust in your bones.

And nothing and no one could ever take that away from either of you.

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x yn #steve harrington #stranger things x reader #stranger things #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fanfic #stranger things imagine #stranger things fanfic

[romirola]

Hey Romi~~ 😄 hope you've been having a good day~ 💕💕

I'd love to know 13, 55 and 68 for the writer ask~ 💖

From this ask game. (Asks still open!)

Hi, @pinksparkl! Thank you for these questions!

13. what’s a common writing tip that you almost always follow? I'm a big, big fan of the writing philosophy that drafting is for getting words onto the page. Write write write the words while drafting. Worry about all the details, nitty-gritty choices, and fine-tuning when you revise and have work in front of you to strengthen.

55. Of the characters you write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain ones? Ooh, this is so hard! I'll tell you, I always try to find something that is my favorite thing about the character I'm currently writing to get me excited. It's hard to sit down and say to yourself, "Well, X isn't my favorite, but I'm going to write about [them]. Ho-hum." That sucks, so I like to say, "Hey, I'm writing about X today, which means I get to write [this cool thing about/for X.] Yippee! But, okay, okay, okay. If I really have to pick, then Sweetheart is my favorite character to write. I feel that I get them, and it brings me joy to share my conception of Sweetheart with the fandom. No, I can't say I feel swayed by people's reactions one way or the other.

68. What, if anything, do you do for inspiration? I think about how cool it will be to have the scene/chapter/fic written so that I can read it in its entirety! I like to post snippets when I feel I have made a substantial amount of progress. I like to share ideas with people who might be interested to see this plotline or that trope. <- That last one is a BIG source of inspiration. Huge. So many great ideas come from bouncing ideas off one another. That's why my stories often begin with a list of shoutouts/thank you to people who graciously donated a headcanon, idea, OC, etc. Yay creation and community!

#thank you!

[thusatlas]

Okay, after spending what feels like 5 hours to try to send a longer message on tumblr – as the comments would only let me send a short paragraph and I didn't want to spam (to my shame I have to admit I’m not here very often and don't know how to tumblr) – I might finally be able to send this (or accidentally make a post or start a new cult instead, who knows, I'm talented like that). 🙈

First of, hello 😊

You have no idea how relieved I am to have found this information on The Fuckening. I just wanted to reread it (again 😅 because it's one of my go-tos for comfort reading) and was shocked to see it gone. I had feared that it would be lost forever, but knowing now that it will be back – no matter in which form – I’m glad. And you can bet that I will buy the hell out of your books when they arrive ❤

Do you have a rough estimate when I will be able to give you all my money in exchange for the best entertainment of my life? I will wait forever if I have to, of course, I’m just curious (and as you can guess eager to see how the story continues) 😅

And I don’t know if you want to give away any kind of information, but will Taliesin still be in it? I have kind of (read: completely) fallen in love with his character. And if I wouldn’t already ship him with Agent Jay like I (maybe too often) mentioned in the comments on the story (because I can’t help to be like that and obsess over minor characters and tiny side characters – just like with Theo and Blaise in the original books... and someone who almost no one understands, Zacharias Smith... but I'm repeating myself), I would want him for myself. 😅

I wish you the best of luck with your project and much inspiration 🍀❤

P.S.: Sorry for the many paranthesis 😅

Hello, my dearest! I have missed hearing from you! Kudos to you for figuring out the ask system - ngl, it all remains a mystery to me and I end up spamming people because I haven't the foggiest where to begin on fandangling the website to bend to my will. So well done! You're doing better than me! (But also, I will always endorse the creation of any cult, so I feel like you should do that anyway).

The only reticence I had about pulling the Fuckening was losing contact with the regulars who weren't necessarily in contact on Tumblr, so I am relieved to see you here. And I am really pleased you're still invested in the story despite it shifting universe - it's actually a huge relief. I hope you like where it ends up!

As for a rough estimate of when it'll be available? Not a clue. Not this year. I'll aim for an optimistic soft deadline of it being available in some form or another in 2024, but this is dependent on a million different variables that I don't really have control over. I'm going to try the traditional publishing route first, so this is going to eat into a lot of time, and then, in the miracle that I'm successful at securing the various buy-ins, the timeline will be dependent on a whole host of other things, so it may not even be in that year at all.

Failing all of that, I'll just self-publish, which shortens the timeline substantially. But even still, got to at least give the trad publishing route a go first before writing it off.

And this doesn't include the inevitable periods of writer's block and lack of will.

Either way, I'll keep you all updated with news, etc.

Alternatively, I've launched a (rough) author website and a Twitter where I'll be posting short stories and probably looking at newsletters, etc: Regan Atlas Website, Twitter

(I hate the whole marketing side of this business. My roommate is trying to convince me to start a Tiktok... I don't know if I can bring myself to that yet). For now, Tumblr will be my main source of coms because I am comfortable with hiding in this hellsite.

(( Also, spot the author name))

As for details, I love that you appreciate Tal and Agent Jay. I loved them very much too, so, of course, they will be appearing in the adaptation. The relationship between Tal and Hermione was something so tender that I think this new world is going to need to offset from the rest of the fuckery. And Jay and Kilmore are essential for the whole worldbuilding shenanigans so they'll def stay for the ride.

Thank you so much for your kindness, and I hope you know how much I have and continue to appreciate you. Stay in touch!! <3

#the fuckening adaptation #answered ask #the fuckening #yellowhufflebee #original work

[winchester-reload]

As sort of a follow up to the ask about artists trying to break the perfection mentality.

How do I, as a non-artistic person, most effectively encourage artists who see the flaws instead their amazing talent?

I have a fandom friend who is hella gifted. You've seen their work, know their name just by looking at it, and they create such gorgeous art. But they also are hypercritical of their work, and while I understand that (I feel the same way about stringing words together), I also just want to point at every single thing that makes their art so amazing to me and be like, "You did this thing that I can't do, and it's a such an extraordinary gift, and I can never thank you enough for sharing it. Have my non-existant first born as a sign of my devotion."

This friend has admitted they don't really want to create in this medium anymore, which I respect and won't push back on. I just wish they could *feel* how much their art touches me.

For other artists, though, how do I help? I know that positive feedback is always welcome, but sometimes I wonder if there's something else artists find useful when it comes to reactions.

(P.S. Rainbow Mohawk Cas is, and always will be, one of my favorite pieces of your artwork, and you could try to pry him from my cold, dead hands, but you'd fail.)

Okay, I’m gonna try to answer this but it’s gonna be difficult for me because, full disclosure, I’m getting through a huge art dip right now.

The reality is, this issue is as varied and complex as the artists you’re kinda asking me to group up and speak for here. So let me be clear, I can only speak for myself and my own experience with fanart, an online presence within a fandom, and how those two things impact creativity, motivation, and self-perception. But know at the same time that my experience is not going to be exactly like other peoples’.  

First, as you noted, there are always going to be the obvious things people can do to help promote their favorite artists: 

Reblog their posts

CREDIT THEIR WORK ELSEWHERE

 Likes

Comment

Commission them

Don’t steal

Be respectful: refrain from criticism or personal biases on their posts <—Are you allowed to have your own opinion? YES! Do you need to barf it all over their comment section? No. If you don’t agree with something they made, go make your own art. Can’t make your own art? Then go supply positive support to artists who do create the things you enjoy. *Some of you may be surprised to learn that we do read comments, tags and reblogs. No matter how *big* or *small* you perceive us to be. So if you leave some shit in your tags, we’re probably gonna see it. 

But now here comes the complicated part. 

The thing about fanart creation is, it’s very much a labor of love. The time, effort, and mental energy required to make, post, and manage the feedback may often outweigh any external benefits of making the art (income, accolades, fandom celebration, etc). So there'll always come a point when artists hit a wall and need to draw on their own self-motivation. This happens over and over again, not once or twice. It’s kind of like a wave that ebbs and flows with the mood of the fandom. And with Supernatural specifically, you can imagine that wave is a little more like a typhoon: sunny beach moment one day, drowning in inescapable toxicity the next. So it doesn’t surprise me to hear you have a fandom friend who might be done creating in this subject. Does it make me sad though? Yes, incredibly. We’ve had a myriad of talented artists throughout the years that’ve since moved on and I mourn every one of them. But I also support their decision to do so. If the current subject is no longer a source of inspiration, it becomes impossible to create for it. 

I do hope your friend is still creating though.

However, since you mentioned hyper-criticality, I’m afraid they might not be. The thing is, I don’t have a solution for ridding yourself of hyper-criticism as an artist. It may sometimes appear as though I do because I have a lot of art out, but that’s just an illusion. The reality is, I don’t like most of my art. And, like your friend, I’m often hyper-critical of it. The difference is, I post it anyway because I decided I don’t need to like it. I just have to make it. And if I make it enough, I build the skills I need to, every once-in-a while, accomplish something I do like. And everything in between those pieces are just stepping stones. Which is why I always finish a piece of art and tell myself “it is what it is, on to the next.” That kind of thinking has helped me move past what might otherwise be a immovable obstacle. 

So, if I have any advice for your friend, it’s that. You don’t have to like your art. You just have to make it, and keep moving forward. 

This is where audience interaction becomes so incredibly important. Artists always get caught up in their own head about what they’re making, but the positive feedback can help us see it through your eyes. And it isn’t everything, because tbh we’re always getting our feet caught on mental hurdles and faceplanting in our own puddles of self-loathing, but audience support can get us up again, refill our wells of motivation, and help reaffirm our goals.

I mean, I can honestly say I would not be here without the support I get. But it’s even difficult for me at times, and I’m fully aware that I benefit from much more support than many other skilled artists do.  

So, @eyesofatragedy67, all of this is to say I do believe your friend knows how much their art means to you, just as I know how much my art means to other people--even the pieces I don’t like. It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to get out of our heads about it. Ultimately, it’s something we have to overcome ourselves, but that impossible task is made infinitely easier with a kind, supportive audience base. So, you keep doing what you’re doing, and I’m gonna send a little nod to your artist friend: I miss you already, but I can’t wait to see where you find your new source of inspiration. 

#asks #art asks #wonderful people

[thegatesofinfinitespace]

A belated birthday ask for you as well, Cris! When we first met, I'd known you as "Kara's wife" and... not much else, to be honest, but that was a long time ago. I think it took me a while to feel close to you, but now that time feels so so far away. I've learned that we have a lot in common, and it's a huge comfort and source of inspiration for me. You are a source of inspiration. You're a force of nature and incredibly brilliant, and all the stories you tell are so full of life. Every piece of world building you give me feels like a scavenger hunt, and being able to watch the pieces be put together is truly a delight. I love you very much too, Cris. You have given me so many ideas and encouraged me to indulge and be proud of my creations and ideas, and I'm stronger for having known you. Thank you. Happy (late) birthday. ❤️

((dfhakdsgf I've been trying to figure out how to reply to this because Willowwwww ;;;;A;;;;

Idk if I have all the words for this, but also I really want to thank you for being in our lives. Things are a lot more fun with you around, and there are only a handful of people I feel super close to in this community, you being one of them. Every time you share ideas with us, I'm always super happy to hear about them.

I also very much enjoy letting you run loose, and getting you to cut loose with your muses! Believe me, it's super exciting to see you have fun with your characters, and push them to their extremes (both emotionally and indulging in the chaos that is using an OP muse lmao).

Can I also... thank you? For being so enthusiastic about the writing Kara and I make, and for being so invested in our muses and story. TvT It really is a confidence booster to hear genuine excitement about our plot twists, and the angst we write, and the relationships that we create. I really do appreciate that encouragement; it's just so very nice.

Also like, can I say I always love hearing about the things you and Hunter make together, like it makes me super happy to read, and to see both of you be so excited together. I hope to see so much more in the future. <3

I know Kara's said it, but we both love you very much. Thank you for being here. Thank you for writing such cool characters, and for giving me the chance to get to know them in your own style.))

#outofinfinity'sreach

[quitefair]

Kind of sort of always been thinking about how much Narnia inspired the creation of my Adaars and since nobody really on here knows much about the original story of my Adaars, I feel like it’s a little bit cringe to wax poetic about the inspirations and parallels that I (subconsciously mind you) created for them.

But it is 2022 and I am cringe and also free so I am going to wax poetic about them now.

How my Adaars are paralles to the Pevensies: an essay

So yeah, it may be no surprise to people who know me that I have a very good relationship with my siblings – they’re 5 years younger than me (twins) and most people irl assume that oh that there’s a large age gap, we wouldn’t be like close or anything because of this.

Without going into too much sappy detail -  yeah, we are close. I consider them my best friends. We’re all some form of neurodivergent, and all have our own weird little hyperfixations that quite often overlap.

Which is why when I first watched the original Narnia movies, and then read the books, the idea of four siblings going on this crazy adventure together, them being bound together as kings and queens, then going on to rule a country together as siblings for a long and prosperous period of time was so fucking revolutionary to me. It was like, yeah man, I too would love to go on a wild-ass adventure with my siblings, yeah we’d definitely argue and hate each other and kinda want to kill and betray each other along the way, but in the end it would be us, sticking together and doing our thing.

It also appealed to my aroace self – instead of a singular king and queen (married couple etc), it was like… yeah instead of this weird succession thing that causes a lot of wars (im looking at u game of thrones), it’s like, yeah. All of you are gonna rule together now. Peter is technically High King because he’s the oldest and technically has the most braincells of the lot being like maybe 14? But its made absolutely clear that he relies on the other three for counsel. Edmund is his right hand – very obviously the wisest and Just, knowing evil for what it is, having nearly been swayed to its side. Susan and Lucy too having their own roles to play within the kingdom.

So yeah when I created my Inquisitor it was back in the day when Inquisition first came out. I realized that the backstory for an Adaar was super vague (as is the problem with all the Inquisition origins but that’s another rant), and the only very clear details you get are like – you’re a Vashoth born outside the Qun, the thing your parents escaped from. You’re from the Free Marches. You joined a mercenary group that’s now extra security for some huge meeting at the Temple of Sacred Ashes.

I for one, was fresh from playing Dragon Age 2, fresh from the nuanced, complicated sibling drama that my Hawke and my (templar) Carver went through. I was such a huge fan of that – and wanted to bring some added flavour to Tashak’s character and backstory. Over the years I’ve seen so many people create other OCs and a rich, beautiful backstory for their Inquisitors. It’s such a source of joy and fun and a great worldbuilding exercise for those that are fans of the setting.

At first, I created Karavaad. The excuse was that I wanted to play a male Adaar mage I think, but that slowly evolved into the character he is today. A steady, solid emotional crutch for his incredibly emotionally repressed elder sister. Kind of the opposite of what Carver and Hawke’s relationship was, an actual strong sibling bond.

And then I created the younger two – brash, shit talking Sekhara and innocent, eager to help Vashan. The pattern of sister-brother-sister-brother was subconscious, and only much later did I realise that oh wait… that’s a mirror image of the Pevensies.

And then I reread The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. And then I thought some more about the collective Adaar kids origin story.

And then I had my oh moment.

Tashak, the eldest, having to look after her younger siblings, having to grow up quicker than she would ordinarily, not just because she’s a qunari in a world that hates qunari (that’s again a whole other essay), but also because they lose their parents very early on. Having to be the grown up, to parent the younger ones even while struggling with her own self-worth and grief and other darker thoughts. But she is capable, confident, grows into a sure and steady leader. The High King, the Inquisitor, brave and true and Magnificent.

(The parallels between Peter killing the wolf and Tashak confronting Corypheus alone at Haven are something I’m still trying to figure out myself but it’s there damnit.)

Karavaad being the Mother Hen to Tashak’s Stern Father Figure. Despite being large and imposing in frame, he is a quiet and kind soul. Always found to be listening to the worries of others – and he’s good at that, being his elder sister’s confidante and voice of reason. He is a mage, but specializes in growing things, preferring to spend his time in the Skyhold gardens, tending to the herbs and other plants, than to be cooped up in the mage tower. Most upon meeting him, are surprised at how Gentle he is, both in personality and conduct.

Sekhara, oh Sekhara. She often bears the brunt of the elder two’s scoldings because she is prone to being too much. Bubbling over the edge. Her mind is quick and sharp, her eyes keen, her tongue scathing. Often, she’s the one that starts arguments between them, but when she says something, it’s often true, even when the other three don’t want to admit it. Tashak will often look to her when making difficult decisions, because she can count on her to speak what is true, what is Just.

Vashan, the baby, the youngest, but burning the brightest. The other three often talk over him, thinking him still a child when it comes to decision making. But he has grown now, sure and steady, and despite not being allowed to be involved in the planning and thought process of the Adaars, he still watches. Listens. And when he speaks, he provides insight that none of his elder siblings could have imagined. He sees things others do not. And when it comes to defending those that he loves, he takes what he has seen of how Tashak protects his family, he rises to his own, with his shield and sword and takes on any threat with what can only be called Valiant.

Also, in my fic that is being written and rewritten to infinity, yes Tashak is the bearer of the Anchor and therefore default to be the leader of the Inquisition, I feel it would be fitting for her to only be the High King… that the Adaars are more suited to function as rulers together, as a whole, as a unit. Because where one would provide insight, the other would compound it. When Tashak would be out in the world carrying out what her duties entail, the other three could be working on things within Skyhold, or beyond even on missions of their own to strengthen the Inquisition, with what skills they have.

(This also has been inspired by the image of the ending of the LWW movie, at Cair Paravel with the four thrones, equal sized on the dais for the four kings and queens. Instead of a singular, looming throne in the Skyhold main hall for judgement – again another thing I feel uncomfortable with and could write a whole essay on – there could be just four smaller chairs/thrones, for the four Adaars and perhaps the other advisors as well. Judgements should not be made by one person – in my mind the Inquisition is a democracy, despite having a singular leader, there should be discussion and fair judgement, a governing body unlike any other seen in Thedas)

 I dunno. I just love the idea of the four ‘kings and queens’ of the Inquisition, and the Romantic Fantasy of Narnia infiltrating my thoughts and worldbuilding of the Inquisition.

#meera talks #narnia #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dragon age ocs #tashak adaar #adaar kids #my writing #once in a while i think of narnia and then those thoughts overlap with adaar kid thoughts and i get all Emotional

[bionicfinds]

REVAMPING SOME TAGS + NEW! Important🤭

Hey chooms,

Fuck, 😎 😁 I’m so happy that many of you seem to love this little sideblog of mine. Almost 600 Followers. Thank you so much for following!  Just want to mention and explain few new things that I will do from now on.

New Tags As you guys know I’m a huge fan of the cyberpunk/scifi/alien genre.  I added to HUB a new category called Cyberpunk Stylz

Inspired by my pinboard “Cyberpunk Styles” I try to find items that fit in those following categories. In case they don’t fit any? There wont be a special tag and you need to check the general tags I already provide. Of course this is all subjective but may it helps and gives you an inspiration. I haven’t seen anything like that in our community. It’s pretty new but soon it will contain a bunch of things here and I will update the old reblogged content with those tags.

Entropsim “Neccesity over Style”

Kitsch-Style “Style over Substance”

Neo-Militarism “Substance over Style”

Neo-Kitsch “Style & Substance”

You may have noticed that I add styles already on some assets based on the genres (especially for lookbooks). Yeah, those will remain and can contain assets from CAS or BUY/BUILD. As you know I reblog mostly maxis-match stuff but some dope fine alpha assets will always be here, too. Especially those I love.

More NEW Tags

pride   😊

nocc ( yep, no custom content) 😏

Changing Tags

Collabs, Sets and Fanmade Packs will have only few tags from now on! I’m no longer tagging each item. Found out that tumblr has limited the tags to max. 20. So I will tag only the type of set (collab, set, or fanmade), creator’s name and the top categories like clothes, top, bottom, shoes, acc. If it fits a certain style it will have that, too.

Kids & Toddlers: I will change their tags with time! Bare with me they will have simple tags only kc = kids clothes (stays) but I will change following ktop, kbottom, koutfit (for kids) same rules will apply for toddlers) 

Clothing tags for adult regardless gender will stay the way it is. ( Just want to separate kids from adults stuff ;)

More Alien Stuff will be added soon, too!

Highly suggest to check my updates as it contains a bunch of useful information why I tag certain things the way I do. You will find here some tags that many other blogs don’t use at all and I hope you find it helpful that I provide such tags.

VERY IMPORTANT! 🤔

Don’t hesitate to tag me at @bionicfinds  if you create any content (Lookbooks, Lots and CAS/BUY/BUILD) that fits or is related to cyberpunk//scifi/alien/dystopian, streetwear, punk and grunge genre!

Did you know that you can also submit via PROVIDE your creations? If you think it fits the genres I have go ahead! Help to make this blog the best source for such content!

Mostly Maxis-Match (there is the catch, yeah but I don’t mind if it’s mixed)

If you have suggestions simply jack-in and let me know!

Patreon/Boosty Exclusive vs. Early Access and other Paywalls

As you noticed I don’t reblog any absolute exclusive content and nothing that is otherwise hidden behind any sort of paywalls etc.

This place is for Content Lovers and such Creators who don’t have the need to be exclusive, who understand that the community makes a creator big.

Cheers, chooms hope you find what you are lookin’ for! 🤗  

#update

[musicarenagh]

Nature's Muse: Exploring Clara Cloud's Musical Journey Hello guys join us at Musicarenagh as we leap into the world of Clara Cloud's captivating world, a world where music weaves stories and nature's enchantment blends with ethereal melodies. In her latest single, "Weathervane," Clara takes us on a compelling journey through self-doubt, infusing indie-pop elements with the rich tapestry of Greek mythology. As we embark on this musical journey, Clara invites us to explore the depths of her creative process and the inspirations driving her unique sound. Drawing from her Canadian roots, Clara incorporates elements of Celtic and folk into her indie-pop creations, crafting rhythms that are both mesmerizing and evocative. For Clara, music is a form of magic, transporting listeners to ethereal realms. Her upcoming video album, "The Woods," promises to be a captivating journey, where Clara's distinctive sound and evocative lyrics come together to create an immersive experience. Now join us as we delve into Clara Cloud's musical world, exploring themes of nature, myth, and the human experience that resonate in her art. Clara shares the stories behind her music and the journey of this season. Let's dive in! Listen to Weathervane below https://open.spotify.com/track/6UIeSHKc72HhCVntWa6KNa Follow Clara Cloud on Spotify Bandcamp Youtube Instagram Tiktok What is your stage name? Clara Cloud Is there a story behind your stage name? My last name is MacLeod (pronouned Mac-Cloud), which I love and think also gives a really ethereal, airy vibe, but a lot of people would mispronounce. So to keep the vibe without the risk of mispronouncing, last year I changed my music to be under "Clara Cloud" Where do you find inspiration? I find a lot of inspiration in nature and in storytelling. I always weave in some personal experience into lyrics, but my biggest inspiration has always been telling a story through music (both sonically and lyrically). I'm also a huge lover of Greek mythology, so that theme makes its way into a lot of my work too! What was the role of music in the early years of your life? I started music classes when I was 5, but even before that it was a huge part of my life. My favourite movies were The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Anastasia, and anything Disney, and my mom would make a stack of books into a "stage" for me to perform on. My whole life, music has been a constant source of joy and an outlet for me. [caption id="attachment_54126" align="alignnone" width="1912"] I started music classes when I was 5, but even before that it was a huge part of my life.[/caption] Are you from a musical or artistic family? Yes and no! My parents both work in education and don't have any musical background, but somehow all of my siblings and I ended up loving music. I have two brothers and two sisters, and all of us are connected to music in some way (my sister is a drummer and singer, my other sister plays piano and guitar, my brother plays guitar, and my other brother plays the trumpet). My family has always been supportive of my musical endeavors and all my siblings too. Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry? My background is originally in musical theatre, so Julie Andrews played a huge part in inspiring me to pursue music professionally. For my own identity beyond musical theatre, I was inspired by my partner Tristan, my best friend Jenna, and my family. I've always loved writing music and singing, but had never really shared it. During the pandemic, they encouraged me to put myself out there! How did you learn to sing/write/to play? Writing and storytelling is something I learned from my mom. She had me reading well above grade level (perks of having a teacher as your mom!) and fostered in me a love of stories. She also endlessly encouraged me to create my own. For music, I had some amazing teachers growing up that taught me piano, guitar, and voice. I also went to university for musical theatre and continue to learn as much as I can!

What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform? I grew up in a really small town and didn't get to see a ton of concerts growing up, but I remember I did go to see a local band, Lillix, when I was probably around 8 years old. That to me was so cool because they played pop-rock music, and most of what I'd seen live in the past had been classical or orchestra-based. It inspired me to want to do something like them one day! How could you describe your music? Indie-dreampop-folk with some alternative and Celtic elements! Describe your creative process. I like to try and get into a flow state where I just relax, don't hold anything back, and let whatever words or music that want to come out of me, come out. If I'm already editing as I'm writing, or I'm thinking and analyzing the technical side as I'm creating, I know I'm not writing from an authentic place. As weird as it sounds, I find it best to sometimes zone out and allow the music to happen, then go back and adjust things later. What is your main inspiration? Nature, mythology, and the desire to tell stories! What musician do you admire most and why? So many! But two that always come to mind are Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles. I listened to them both A LOT in my formative years and was always swept away by their storytelling and how they conveyed emotions and stories not just with words, but with music too. The fact that they both went on to compose for musical theatre too is SO inspiring to me, as that's a path I would love to go down as well. Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career? It definitely did. When I first started, I was more focused on writing within the limitations of what I thought people would want to listen to, so everything was a lot more generic lyrically and musically. [caption id="attachment_54127" align="alignnone" width="1214"] I was more focused on writing within the limitations of what I thought people would want to listen to,[/caption] As I continued, I let myself explore a lot more. My roots as a person are in musical theatre and Celtic music (I grew up as a highland dancer), so I let those two elements shine through a lot more rather than suppressing them. I also let my lyrics become more specific based on the stories I wanted to tell. Who do you see as your main competitor? I don't think in the music industry there really needs to be a competition element! If someone is doing a similar thing to you, it's actually a really cool thing because that means there can be some fan overlap. In my experience, fans don't listen to two artists, pick the one they like better, and stop listening to the other. I believe in anything that my biggest competitor is myself, and I'm always trying to grow and learn as an artist. What are your interests outside of music? I love acting and dance (particularly highland and tap!), writing stories beyond just songs, and creating new theatre works. I also love spending time outside, and spending time with my partner Tristan and puppy Pabu. If it wasn't a music career, what would you be doing? Teaching 100%! My parents and grandparents are all teachers and really impacted me growing up. Even while pursuing music, I still work as a music teacher. What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music? Honestly, funding! Funding is really hard to come by especially if you're a very small artist. This album project is one I had to fund myself because every grant I applied for turned it down. There were a lot of times it almost didn't happen (and it still has two more things we need to finish!), but I'm endlessly grateful for all of the amazing people who came together to help me bring it to life. If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be? More accessible funding for emerging artists who have not had a breakthrough of any kind yet. Many of these grants cited lack of social media following and lack of streams to the reason

they wouldn't fund this project, and I feel like that's a tough cycle that a lot of indie artists get stuck in, and the reason so many amazing artists and songs never get to see the light of day. https://open.spotify.com/artist/1glSXALtMuOL6AOkfxuoBV?si=Gc4o1RnTSRy5MVNECyWBHg Why did you choose this as the title of this project? Weathervane is all about essentially being caught in a storm of emotions. And if we think about an actual weathervane, when the wind is calm it points clearly in the direction it intends to, but when the storms pick up, its arrow swings around and loses all sense of direction. It ties back to that idea that when times get tough, we can lose ourselves, our emotions can spiral, and we can be more easily influenced by what others are telling us. What are your plans for the coming months? My debut visual album "The Woods", which this single is from, is coming out in just a couple of months! Do you have any artistic collaboration plans This album was done in collaboration with over 20 creatives from across BC. It was a project built from collaborative effort. What message would you like to give to your fans? I genuinely see every single stream, every single view, every single action of support, and I cannot even tell you how much I appreciate it. Music can be a really discouraging industry, but knowing that someone out there is listening at the end of the day means more to me than I could ever say. Thank you

#Interviews #ClaraCloud #ClaraClouddropsWeathervane #ClaraCloudoutwithWeathervane #ClaraCloudreleasesWeathervane #ClaraCloudWeathervane #ClaraCloudwithWeathervane #Weathervane #WeathervanebyClaraCloud #WeathervaneClaraCloud #WeathervanefromClaraCloud

[spectrowhirl]

Hi!! Im a huge fan of your work, i just got the second edition and its really lit a fire under my butt to learn more behind the symbology of the original rider-waite in order to compare with other decks (especially yours!). I have two questions if youre willing to answer, but its okay if not:

First: What is your biggest inspiration for your art? The way you blend bright colours and swirling imagry is such a huge inspiration for me, im always searching for artist of the like- but the way you merge it with spirituality is especially motivating for my own work. What makes you do what you do?

Second: for an aspiring rainbow wizard who always wants to learn more, is there any directions you'd be willing to point me and others to? Any people, places or sources that you woukd find benefitial for others looking for a colourful path?

Thank you for your time and i hope you habe a good day!!

Oh wow, I missed this message. Thank you so much! That's incredibly kind of you and I'm extremely flattered and honored. I'm glad you like the deck! I'll try to answer as best I can.

First Q: My inspiration weirdly goes way back to this tiny article I remember seeing in grade school about some young painter who said in the interview "I just love colors!" And as a kid who drew a lot (mostly superheroes) I thought "I want to be the type of person who loves colors." And since then, I've tried to use crazy amounts of colors in my art. That said, my paintings started out kind of monochromatic, but I realized over time that I could push the limits of how much color could fit in one painting, so now I just use as much as humanly possible haha. My other inspiration has always been a sort of mysticism or supernatural sense about the world. I have a lot of existential cosmic awe (or some might call it cosmic dread) about the universe, so I like to imagine these infinitely complex systems that operate the cosmos and interpret that into art in some way. Like "this painting represents the creation of life" or "this imagines some arcane mystical tablet of gods never discovered," or something like that. So it's a mixture of real representations of nature and some fiction. But it's all just sort of vague concepts in my head hahaha. I don't expect people to "get" that from my art just by looking at it. The tarot cards are more inspired by the Rider-Waite imagery as you probably guessed. I tried to mix the most important symbols from the RW decks into my psychedelic style. Like the High Priestess has pomegranates and the black and white columns from the original RW card, as an example.

Second Q: Not sure where I'd send someone except to other great colorful artists like Hannah Bunzey, Callie Fink, or on Instagram: lueli.blue, roving.stars, or shea11024.

I hope that helps! Thank you again so much for your support. It means everything to me.

[hopeonmyphone]

BTS J-Hope’s “On The Street” Actually Began With This Singular Voice Memo

He shares how it all began and even writes a letter to ARMY

BTS‘s J-Hope recently posted a sentimental letter about his recent song “on the street” featuring J. Cole, along with a series of photos and videos from the song’s video, production process, and more.

His letter explained not only how much the song meant to him, but also his thought process as an artist, describing how his own intrinsic desire to do what he loves is more important to him than any other kind of success. Being able to work with his childhood idol, this song perfectly represents the sentiment that J-Hope will always do what feels right for himself.

"I think j-hope is a person made up of a series of little things coming together. Little by little I and we have kept creating and shaping ourselves. Music is the same to me. I studied and created as music ebbed and flowed through me always, everywhere. Along the way, two bits of flint strike with a shower of sparks. The flames feel more intense maybe because this is the part that’s tough for me, that challenges me. I think all I did these days was relive this process in my mind, over and over again. It still feels like a dream! With it, my belief that the truth prevails always and everywhere keeps getting stronger too. I had fun!! And I was happy!! Because truth more than triumph makes me content, my inner light more than my success. Thank you for listening to a song that means much to me. I love you !!!! 💜" — J-Hope

He also included behind-the-scenes moments from the journey of creating the song and music, including photos of himself and J. Cole…

…as well as parts of the production process for the song.

One of the most impressive details J-Hope shared was the original voice memo he created that sparked the idea for the entire song. When the melody suddenly popped into his head, he immediately recorded himself whistling, which became the first step towards the creation of “on the street.”

Additionally, he shared a behind-the-scenes moment when he sent a video message to J. Cole, wishing him a happy new year at the beginning of 2023 and looking forward to working with him on the song.

"What’s up, Cole? I’m J-Hope. Happy new year! I hope you and your loved ones are always happy and healthy. You’ve been a huge influence and inspiration for me ever since I first started making music many years ago, so I can’t wait for our J. Cole and J-Hope collaboration. It’s going to be a vibe. So, take care bro. Peace!" — J-Hope

Congrats to J-Hope on his recent success with “on the street” and achieving his goals!

Source: Koreaboo

#jung hoseok #hoseok #jhope #정호석 #호석 #제이홉 #방탄소년단제이홉 #방탄소년단 #jhope news #BTS

[singofsolace]

In celebration (and mourning) of Jill Murphy, I am taking stock of my own relationship to The Worst Witch and what it has meant to me.

In light of the recent deaths of Jill Murphy, the author of The Worst Witch book series, and Una Stubbs, the original Mrs. Bat, I have a lot of feelings I'm working through this morning. I'm crying as I write this, so it might not be as eloquent as I want it to be. I'm sorry in advance.

It's hard to articulate what The Worst Witch means to me. I've read the books and watched both the 1998 and 2017 television series. They've provided me endless hours of entertainment and inspiration. I've spent countless hours writing stories inspired by Jill Murphy's creations, and I really can't express how much her work has helped me in my worst moments.

To this day, there is one scene that never fails to make me cry:

I remember how I felt watching this the first time. Seeing this scene unlocked feelings in me I had locked up for a long time. It showed me how an adult should handle a conversation like this, even though as a child, no adults in my life had ever treated me with this kind of respect. It showed me that it was possible for an adult to receive criticism--even criticism they disagree with (like when she reacts pretty strongly to Mildred saying that she doesn't like it when she shouts). No adult has ever in the history of my life accepted criticism like this without some sort of retaliation, deflection, or just complete denial. (Key example: "I didn't say that, but even if I did, I didn't mean it like that, and even if I did mean it, it was your fault because.... blah blah blah")

There was such a... I don't know... softness to this conversation, even as Miss Hardbroom is explaining all the reasons she gives Mildred a hard time. I love how Constance allows Mildred to have her say, because as a child, adults never treated me like my thoughts and opinions mattered to them. In this scene, Constance allowed Mildred the opportunity to criticize her freely. (My mother and father and teachers would never?!?!). It was nearly beyond my comprehension that an adult would do this. I'm crying harder just thinking about it, and that's that on childhood trauma.

Anyway, when the new Worst Witch series came out, I wasn't expecting to fall in love with it as much as I did, but Raquel Cassidy won me over as the new Miss Hardbroom. And when Pippa Pentangle was introduced, I fell hard for their beautiful, complicated, not-so-subtly sapphic relationship. And while I didn't enjoy where the series winded up going, I will always be grateful that the first two seasons of The Worst Witch exist for me to revisit whenever I desire.

And now, taking stock of my own writing, specifically my hicsqueak The Proposal fic, it occurs to me that the date I last updated it is significant. March 8, 2020. I stopped publishing the week before the world (or at least my small section of it) shutdown. I was teaching a college-level creative writing course at the time, and little did I know that after that week, I would never see my students in person again.

My world changed. Everyone's world changed. And I tucked the fic into a drawer, unable to look at it. I've revisited many times over the last year and a half, and even got donation-commissions to update it by several people (for my failure to do so, I am very very sorry). There was something about that fic that represented "before" for me. The Proposal was "before" everything fell apart. The Proposal was "before" I was separated from my students. The Proposal was "before" I was excessed and lost my teaching job. The Proposal was before I spent every day worrying about my extended family and friends falling ill with a virus I didn't understand. The Proposal was before I lost all faith in humanity, with people refusing to wear masks and get a vaccine simply because they didn't want to.

Before the pandemic, I truly believed that if a global crisis happened, people would go out of their way to help each other. I believed protecting our grandparents and the immunocompromised would be more important to people than the personal discomfort of wearing a mask, social distancing, and getting a vaccine to help protect yourself and others. I suppose you could say that over the last year and a half, I became completely disillusioned. I hated my neighbors more than I loved them. Huge rifts formed between family and friends over covid safety. My country saw the first NON-peaceful transfer of power in our nation's history. The Black Lives Matter movement made the nation confront centuries-long injustices that we still haven't been rectified or resolved.

The world came to a boiling point, and I thought, "surely, this can't last? surely, things will get better?"

They haven't.

It might sound silly, but for a year and a half, the failure to update this fic has been a major source of sadness and frustration for me, and I feel that it's very much related to having my faith in humanity completely ripped out from under me. The fic represents a part of my life I feel like I will never be able to return to.

And yet, here I am, sitting in the midst of a tropical storm, desperately wanting to return to my story, and crying over it rather than making any progress.

I don't know why I'm sharing this. But the news of Jill Murphy's death has triggered a lot of emotions I don't know what to do with. I'm sorry for rambling, but maybe someone will read this and understand.

#personal #jill murphy #una stubbs #hicsqueak #the proposal #hecate hardbroom #pippa pentangle

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

hi! 👋🏻 Ur a really awesome writer! i was just wondering if I could ask for some tips? maybe some advice or insight on how to deal with it when you’re not receiving the response you wish for?

Dear Anon,

I'm afraid I'll be making a few assumptions in order to answer this, so please forgive me if I'm way off. I'm guessing you're speaking about fanfiction writing specifically, and perhaps are fairly new-ish to posting your fanfic? Or maybe you've been posting for awhile and are getting discouraged from a lack of response.

Fair warning, pretty much none of this advice is easy to follow, and I still struggle with it sometimes too, but I do think it has helped me. It may not help you, as everyone is different and most of this is pulled from my own personal experiences. I truly hope it does help you though, because posting something you've worked so hard on and put so much love into, only to get little to no response, really sucks.

Something to remember before I dive in is that all of this advice is based on the idea that everyone fandoms in their own way and at their own pace. This includes you the writer -- we're always talking about don't pressure writers to update or make them feel bad if they can't produce because there's a person on the other side of the screen who isn't getting paid for this and is dealing with their own life... But Fandom is a community and a relationship. So you have to allow them the readers the same courtesy.

So here we go:

1) Timing can have a HUGE impact on the response you get. Sometimes you post right before or right after an established writer posts a long awaited update. Sometimes literally everyone in the fandom is posting on the same day. It can often feel like feast or famine around here when it comes to fan created works. There's no giant publishing companies staggering our releases so everyone's gets some kind of attention. Instead, we're a milieu of posting and yours just... might get shuffled to the bottom. How do you deal with this? Give yourself permission to reblog your own stuff at different times. It's okay to plug yourself a little. You worked hard on it and maybe somebody just missed it.

2) Kind of goes with the first... Exposure. AO3 has a great tagging system, but it also shows things in the order of posting, newest at the top. This means that if you post something to AO3 and it gets buried under things that post after yours, then it is less likely to be seen. Now, there are readers who will scour the tags and read literally everything in them and still be ravenous for more. Bless those sainted readers for their time and enthusiasm. BUT most readers aren't like that. This means that you can't always just put it up on AO3 and be done with it, and the readers will pour in!!!! Maybe... but probably not. This is one of the reasons why I still have a tumblr. It's another source of exposure and I have a little more access to more eyeballs/ears. Post here about your work. People get intrigued if you have inspiration pictures, songs, little snippets up on your blog. Part of the fandom experience is that ability to interact with the creators in a way that the vast majority of us simply cannot do with the creators of the source material.

Participate in challenges or group blogs, if there are any available and you have the time. In terms of the Everlark and THG fandom... it's an older fandom with very little to zero new source content. Which means the activity will be in constant ebb and flow. Famine or feast... and this is going to include reader response. If the rate of creation of fanworks fluctuates, then people will wander away and return. Don't even try to find consistency in the level of response you get because you won't get it. For example, there was a drabble I posted well over a year ago that barely got any notes. Well, someone reblogged it recently and it's suddenly gaining notes, and not just from people who are new to the fandom either. From people who simply missed it the first time around for one reason or another.

Understand that even if you do this, even if you directly ask people to read your stuff, they might not do it. They might read it and not like it. Just like you are under no obligation to produce fanfiction at the rate the fandom wants, they are under no obligation to read and like your stuff at the rate you want. :/ The fandom door swings both ways.

3) And this one's not easy.... accept that sometimes... it is not about you. Everyone fandoms in their own way and at their own pace. This means there will be readers who read everything they can get their hands on. They might miss your works anyways for one reason or another because they're still human too. There will be readers who will not like your writing, either because there is something in the style or the content that just isn't their thing. This is not an insult towards you or your writing style. It is merely a reflection of the widely varying tastes we as readers have. Examples!

Someone once told me that they liked my fanfiction so much because there is something about the way I use the English language that made it easier for them (a non-native English speaker) to understand the story. I can't even tell you what it is about my writing that apparently gives it this quality, only that it worked for someone. I say this only to point out that for the most part, you have ZERO control over how people react to your writing.

Preferences are a BIG THING to fandom readers. I am not a big fan of huge age gaps or huge power differences. Student/teacher? Nope. Not my bag. Really not a fan of dubious consent being treated as romantic. Now I've read some of those pieces, but very sparingly because it's not something I really enjoy so finding one I do like is difficult. There are writers who I've tried and I just can't... either because of the tropes they frequently use or the way they characterize the characters just doesn't jive with me, or because they (SERIOUS PERSONAL PREFERENCE HERE) heavy load the exposition up front in their stories which leads to them telling us what's going on or what the world is like rather than SHOWING us. But that's my preference. I don't read anything that's even close to something I'm writing myself because we're already all playing with the same source material. The last thing I want to do is inadvertently pull inspiration from another fan writer and make them feel like crap for it. So right now... I read zero Olympics, zero witchcraft fics, zero shapeshifters... I can't say other people do that but hey, maybe they do.

These are my personal preferences in what I read. Does that mean that if you write those things, I think you're not worthy of recognition or response? Hell no. Because there are readers out there who want those things. But I am, as a reader, very unlikely to even spend the time reading your work if it falls into those categories. As a writer... this means that when I write anything that I know people might be averse to, I CANNOT TAKE OFFENSE. I have to, as the writer, accept that it isn't necessarily about me, acknowledge that there are A MILLION REASONS why someone might not be reading my writing and accept it as being OKAY. Does this make sense?

My point in speaking about my own preferences is merely to highlight that all of us are different and fandom differently. So chances are pretty good that someone out there will like what you write but you will never ever EVER please everyone. Don't even try. You might only appeal to a few people, but I'm willing to bet if you're writing niche then those people are going to be OVER THE MOON for it. But again... If I am allowed to have preferences in what I read, then I have to allow everyone else in the fandom that same right. I have to allow and accept that there WILL be people who don't like my writing. Who think it's awful or overrated or awkward or incomprehensible. That is their opinion and they are allowed to have it. Now, of course, fandom etiquette says you shouldn't SAY that to someone but that's a whole different post. ;)

Also... there are readers who do not read fics unless they are complete. That's their preference and you have to allow for it. Now, it makes it discouraging for a newbie writer who doesn't have a fic under their belt so... either try to spit out some drabbles or oneshots to garner interest in your writing or.... have some patience.

4) So... write for you. Yes yes I hear everyone groaning and complaining, really kdnfb? That cliche???? Yes. Really. So here's the thing. Let's say you've got a birthday coming up. You're stoked for this birthday. It's going to be EPIC! You've asked for this way cool jacket you saw in a thrift store and tickets to see your favorite band in concert. Your birthday rolls around and... your Mom gives you cash to go buy the jacket, but not the tickets. Is your birthday ruined? Is it the worst birthday ever? Heck no! Look at your bad self in that awesome sauce jacket! You rock!

What I'm saying is, find something in your writing that YOU like. That YOU are proud of. "I really love my world building in this piece." "I wasn't sure I could pull off that character alteration but I really think i did." "I actually posted smut *GASP!*" Whatever it is, bask in it. But don't hinge your happiness on other people on this one. I'm trying to say, want more than one thing out of your writing. Wanting something for yourself makes it easier to handle when you don't get something from anyone else. Is this easy to do? Nope. It sure as shit is not. But this is why we writers are always freaking complaining about how hard writing is. Onward!

5) Respond. Fandom is an interactive community and people can be shy, nervous, feel awkward, a thousand things. This is again a personal preference of mine, but I try very hard to respond to every comment left to me on AO3 and every ask sent to my inbox. The exceptions are the blatant bullshit hate and someone who is clearly trying to start a fight. Hopefully you're not dealing with that and never do. ff.net is a hot mess and I haven't even logged on in years because they never make anything easy, so I haven't answered those reviews in ages. And I always get turned around responding to comments left on tumblr posts and in the tags so I'm bad about that... But I will eventually, religiously answer every comment in my AO3 inbox. Anyways. My point!

You've already bravely put yourself out there by posting your work? Bravo! Somebody takes the brave step to comment on it? THANK THEM FOR IT. No seriously. I'm convinced I've got at least half a dozen regular commenters who stuck around in part because I THANKED THEM FOR IT. Community. Two way street. Show love to the readers who worked up the courage to give you the love and it will multiply. Now, not everyone does this, I know. Some people will say that posting your writing is showing enough love to the fandom, you shouldn't have to do this extra step... and they're not WRONG, I'm simply offering this as a piece of advice that I think has helped me gain an amazing level of response.

6) Nobody likes to feel guilty or like they're being guilted into reading something/liking something. It's okay to say that you're not getting the kind of response you want, or that you feel like you put a lot of effort into this and got very little traffic on it. Because it's a valid feeling and it sucks to feel that way. BUT if you're constantly posting about it or complaining about it, then that is going to drive people away... it is. I'm sorry. So maybe temper how often you do this. It's a balance between expressing your frustration and alienating people, and it's not simple. I wish I could tell you it was.

6) Try not to be jealous of other writers. I'll admit this is one of the top two hardest bits of advice I'm going to put on this list. There is always a bigger name writer. There is always someone out there for whom a lot of people in the fandom will drop everything to go read their updates. And it's frustrating to witness that and not have that kind of attention yourself. It's especially difficult if you're a fandom reader and you don't see the great things in those uber popular writers what everyone else seems to see. But again... everyone fandoms at their own pace, in their own way. Readers have preferences and that's not necessarily a reflection on you. You cannot expect them all to respond the way you want them to. Easy to do? Nope nope noooooope.

7) Expect exactly zero people to read your material. That's right I said zero.

ZERO. NONE. NADA. ZILCH! THE BIG FAT GOOSE EGG!!!!

Is this easy? ahahahahahahahhahahahahaha. This is probably the hardest piece on the list, and I'm sure a lot of people are going to be infuriated by my even suggesting it. But you asked my advice and this is an attitude that I have worked very hard to cultivate in myself. I'm still not always successful, and I'm also aware that I'm saying this from a position of extreme comfort in terms of reader response. I've been in this fandom a long ass time, through A LOT of ebbs and flows, and I'll be the first one to admit that I likely gained a large portion of faithful readers because when the initial dip of creator activity happened after the movies were done being released, I was still writing... A LOT. That era was perhaps one of my most prolific and since a lot of creators lost interest and moved on, readers flocked to the few writers still producing. So yep. I gained readership by fandom attrition. It's okay, it happens. Can't tell you how I kept so many of them for as long as I have...

EDIT TO ADD: If you expect nobody to read it, imagine how ecstatic you'll be when somebody does. But the point is, since so much of this is out of your control, and because there are a thousand reasons why you might not be getting the response you want, this attitude happened to work for me. Maybe it'll work for you too, maybe not. Worth a shot, though.

8) Give it time. You cannot cannot CANNOT expect immediate attention. And if you've been here awhile and you're still not gaining the response you want? Well... hopefully some the advice here helps you deal with that. Try to shift your attitude and perspective, as difficult as that might be. Because you can't force people to read, to like, to respond. You can't. So again, if you tie your happiness in fandom writing to the level of response you get, it's only going to end badly.

I hope this helps, Anon. I know it's not easy. Trust me. I started writing for Everlark in 2013, the year Catching Fire the movie was released. My god that was a chaotic time of just furious production. And I was one of the little newbie fish in a huge pond of Big Name creators. Hang in there, love. Because if it's something you love to do, then you can weather some discouragement.

Happy Writing!

<3 kdnfb

#writing is hard #good lord this got long #that's what the read more is for!!!!

[bambeptin]

the map of infinity was wild as hell: an analysis

ok, let's get this out of the way first: there's no reason why Professor Paradox had to make the Map of Infinity other than "for fun".

which makes sense! he’s immortal, he’s been travelling for a while, and he’s likely very, very, very bored. anything he does is probably to chase new stimuli. his sense of morality is off, from human standards.

it's the complete space-time map of 17 different dimensions, which Paradox doesn't technically need, since he has the Chrononavigator and his own innate time powers. he doesn't even need it to reach the Forge of Creation, since he can literally just like, walk there whenever. Paradox was the person that made the barrier between the Forge and the rest of the Universe in the first place. was it even always outside of the universe? did he send it out there? I imagine it sort of went like this:

"boy, am I bored today!"

"let's see if I can make an in-depth map of a bunch of different dimensions"

fought Celestialsapiens when he reached the Forge of Creation, K6BD-style. they can't kill him (his powerset matches up well against theirs) and he can't kill them all (and they’re starting to mess with his time plans), so eventually they agree to a treaty. he found the war sorta fun

bored again

"what do I do with this map I made? destroy it? no, that would be pointless..."

"oh! I know!"

"split it into 4 parts, 2 of which are keystones to a world and 2 of which are in death trap temples, because that would be 1. fun to make and 2. could lead to fun situations in the future"

let's go over them all!

Map Piece 1. Mykdl'dy

gesundheit. if you don’t remember this planet, it’s the half hot/half cold one that Paradox made a death trap temple on, which is now guarded by Necrofriggian cultists.

"welcome to my crib....... I enjoyed creating brutalism-inspired shapes of dark grey prisms against the ever-changing backdrop of ice and fire. in front are two statues of a mysterious person in robes, because I thought it would look cool. within are some dastardly traps that I designed myself, so watch out! the Necrofriggian colonists making a religion out of it wasn't my intention though. it's just a coincidence that they're the same species as the statues! I felt like the high point of this temple is dragon-wyrm that I created! the acid is a fantastic extra touch.”

“dungeon design is my passion.”

it seems like he decorated the inner parts the most, lovingly, with his shade of blue, used a bunch of magical spells (presumably; elaborated on later) for that part too, then realized that it would be a bit of a pain decorating the rest of the place and made the rest plainer. I wonder if he made it all himself, or like, hired some dudes

Map Piece 2. Piscciss

it’s hidden as the anti-gravity multiplier that holds Piscciss together.

“huh?” you might ask. “why would that piece have that power?”

I don’t know, maybe they all had that power or something. maybe if Aggregor just took one and started blasting everyone with anti-gravity the arc would be over way faster. maybe it’s magic. maybe Paradox is fucking with you.

“wait???” you might ask next. “it’s hidden as WHAT????”

that’s right! this is the little thing that keeps Piscciss a planet and not a bunch of water filled with dead fish floating around in space. “haha yeah this works perfectly... trust me it's not a macguffin that will be stolen and break your planet apart and someone in the future will have to sacrifice an alien to replace it lol...” - Paradox handing the anti-gravity multiplier to the Piscciss Volann when they were making an artificial water planet for them to live on

either that or the Piscciss Volann stumbled on the piece in an unseen other death trap temple, found its powers, and decided to use it, which sort of goes against the whole “Paradox hid all the pieces” thing if he simply never checked up on them

Map Piece 3. Perplexahedron

I know they went to Ledgerdomain third but that is saved for the end because it’s fucking mental. so we’re gonna talk about the Perplaxahedron. it’s the cube from Cube (1997).

if you don’t know what that is, it’s an absolutely huge artificial planet/building that’s entirely made of death traps. each new room is an exciting and fresh way to die. invigorating! while it does have a simple design, it’s efficient at what it does, and the clinical nature adds to the theme of being an unknowable deadly object. that’s what he probably describes it as anyways. again, did he build all of that himself? can I make a “Paradox construction squad” OC?

maybe Paradox made these dudes to help build the place, and kept them around as guards, because that’s efficiency.

this dude’s sole purpose in life is to wait there and hand over the Map of Infinity piece to whoever’s smart enough to get inside. I assume Paradox made him, because he disappears from reality like ten minutes after he hands it out, but Paradox has hired people to be guards in his temples before. the pay must be really good. maybe their culture is like that. maybe he didn’t disappear and actually it was an actor to squeeze the most drama out of the universe.

anyways, if he was real, Ben basically ruined his life before he died by tossing out the very important piece of the Map to Aggregor for basically no reason. oops!

Map Piece 4. Ledgerdomain

“he can reach the Forge of Creation. so obviously he can reach Ledgerdomain, a dimension of pure mana. what’s the problem?” well, there’s really no problem. it’s quite cool! no, what’s wild is that nobody really thinks about the ramifications of this piece of the Map of Infinity. for a refresher, this is what it’s hidden as:

“It is an object as old as time itself, through which all magic flows. It is the keeper of the true name of [Ledgerdomain]; source of ultimate power! And it is mine!“ - Charmcaster

the secret true name of magic. if you have it, you have power over magic itself.  it can revive the dead or instantly kill people. that power corrupts its wielder easily. also, if it’s removed from Ledgerdomain, the realm loses all natural entry/exit points, destabilizes, and begins the crumble. that’s right! it’s the Alpha Rune.

Paradox is confirmed to have actually made the Alpha Rune, not just hidden a piece as the Rune. I implore you to think about what that entails.

he knows magic (3-page minicomic I made about that topic). he doesn’t just know magic, he knows the secret name of magic, automatically making him a disgustingly powerful mage. either that or it’s possible to get the secret name of magic without knowing magic, which is fine too, but just being around the Alpha Rune makes you able to cast spells. he probably ripped the Alpha Rune from the Omniverse and bound it to his will because he had nothing else better to do that day. could he make even more Alpha Runes (even if they’re weaker copies), since it knows it already? did making it into Rune form rip it from his own mind? I like to think that the reason why he can’t lie is because if he does, his latent magical abilities will automatically attempt to cast a spell to make it real.

here are three ways you can interpret “Paradox made the Alpha Rune”.

he found the secret name of magic and made the Alpha Rune out of it

he literally made the secret name of magic. i.e. he made magic itself. that would be wild as hell.

the writers didn’t really think about the ramifications of any part of the Map of Infinity past “cool artifact”, which, to be honest, fair enough.

he probably finds all the magic really useful, since it helps streamline all of his temples and stuff. all of the bright blue lines connected to Paradox’s creations might even be magic! or his time powers.

by the way, he pulls the same split-something-into-pieces-and-hide-them-with-death-traps stunt with Maltruant, so I think this is his hobby.

#human au paradox runs an escape room business #the time war is even in a closed-off time loop which is very impressive. i dont even think maltruant knows who paradox is #ben 10 #professor paradox #paradox is eldritch in my mind and you'll never take it away from me #meta #long post

[ryuby]

Let’s come back on Genshin Impact with more Tartagalia! Always amazed by the HUGE quality of cosplays this game uninterruptedly inspires! Make up, cloths, poses, every detail here and there is the stunning source of frenzy delight and deep admiration from your devoted Tumblr. The long boots on the middle pic, my gosh…Honestly it clearly deserves the award of the most (skillfully and gorgeously) cosplayed fictional universe since its creation. Tell me if I’m overexagerating, get very excited when talk about what’s striking and thrilling my heart. xD

Btw what’s your fave character? Way hard to choose if you ask me. <3

*Ryuby*

#aesthetic #aesthetics #beautiful #beautiful boy #bishonen #bishonen enthusiast #bishonen worshipper #childe #childe genshin impact #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplayholic #fave character #favorite character #fave video game #favorite video game #gay #gay aesthetic #gay aesthetics #gayaf #gay af #gayboy #gay tumblr #genshin impact #genshin impact cosplay #handsome boy #gorgeus #tartagalia #tartaglia genshin impact #tumblr

[and-there-were-words]

A Spider Life: Foundation Stones (Chapter 04)

First if all, huge thanks to @firekitten830 and her amazing annons for so many tasty HCs that inspired me to take the pen into hands to begin with. I’m still feeling the writing juices strongly, so expect more chapters during this week. Also headcanon heavy chapter ahead!

---

Taking place during “Dumpling Destruction”, the rest of the Spider Gang blissfully unaware of a potential soupy doom.

Goliath understood that sometimes, certain tasks could not be solved with brute strength but instead required more finesse and stealth. Now that Huntsman was out on a mission, someone else seemed to grow a little more comfortable to be social. (Wordcount: around 1290)

---

Ever since the disaster that had been the New Year’s festival, the strong spider had not left the tunnels of the Silk Web Cave. Mostly because he didn’t need to, but it wasn’t like he really cared to do otherwise either. It was great to be back home, and there was always something to do. He didn’t understood much of modern technology, he couldn’t be of help in that regard – still feeling so out of touch since he had woken up. So instead, Goliath made it his own little side project to repair and rebuild the old walls. There was a sense worry why the place looked so jagged and crumbled, but he felt like he would open an entire can of worms if he was to ask his Queen about it. Maybe another time when she felt like she could relax again.

Heaving rock after rock, pushing away boulders and slowly but surely the foundation stones became visible. Warmth filled his chest when fond memories came flooding back. The small palace they had created here, the few buildings they made as their base of operations – times when things had been more simple. When the Queen was able to just lose herself in her weaving, creating one masterpiece after another. When Huntsman wasn’t as overzealous to find the next adrenalin kick. Things had been so tense ever since… that day, Goliath feels, before they had to hibernate and left their safety in the Spider Queen’s hands. Basically leaving her all by herself for how knows long.

Something in the air shifted ever so slightly, so putting his own somber thoughts to the side, Goliath turned his head to find the source of it. The smaller man was watching him rather intensely, not saying anything as he just stood there with hands in pockets. He did call himself Syntax, right? The newest addition to the team, even though he didn’t knew how the scientist had joined prior. Their Queen didn’t mention it at all, this was just how things were now, and they had to simply accept that fact.

Huntsman had still been furious. After the first night, the hunter had pulled him aside and started his angry rant. In all honesty, Goliath had kind of zoned out after a minute and just let his buddy vent his frustration. He himself didn’t see any problem with this. Sure, maybe Syntax didn’t look quite right, maybe he was smelling like a human. But the more the merrier, right? The Queen had been rather picky of whom she wanted within her clan, so each new face was a joy. And it only meant that Syntax must bring astounding abilities to the table to have her favor.

Only now did Goliath notice that they still stared at each other in complete silence. The scientist hadn’t even coughed as much as a word, as if he was waiting for something. Goliath blinked a little bit before offering a small smile. “Can I help you, buddy?”

That got a twitch out of the other man, now looking ever so slightly flustered. Whatever Syntax had been waiting for, this clearly hadn’t been what he expected. He looked around, seemingly a little nervous, obviously trying to buy himself some time to mull over words. “What are you doing here?” A simple question, there was no bite behind it. Just curiosity.

“I am trying to repair the old palace. Wanna help?”, Goliath offered, stepping ever so slightly to the side, so the other had a better view on the foundation stones he had been uncovering. The scientist gave a little snort, tilting the head with a toothy grin. “Doubt I can lift any of that.”

Ah. Right, there was that. It already escaped Goliath’s mind that the man seemed to be lacking the physical strength or the skill in web manipulation. He thought about it without really thinking about it, if that makes sense, only to simply shrug. “That’s alright. I don’t mind if you just want to hang out either.”

That brought another flinch out of Syntax, as if he had been hit against the shoulder a little too strong. Now radiating a slight air of unease. Goliath raised a brow at how jumpy the other was. However to his satisfaction, the scientist moved closer, settling down on one of the smaller rocks. With that settled, the strong spider returned to his self given task. The only noises now filling this part of the cave, were his own grunts and heavy breathes, as he moved rubble to clear the place.

“Why aren’t you using any of your web? I know you’re capable of making them.”, it took Goliath a second to register that Syntax was talking to him again. Deciding this was a good moment to take a break anyways, the strong spider sat down, leaning against the cave wall. It was good that the scientist finally had found the courage to ask some questions he clearly had on his tongue for a while. Goliath had noticed ever since they met up in the city streets, but it wasn’t uncommon that everyone always seemed to forget how perceptive he was in the end.

A small smile appeared on his lips as he spun a few strings of silk between his fingers. Creating a little funnel. “My webbing is too thin to be used for such tasks. Is just something that’s in the family, you know?”, he pulled his fingers further apart, at some point the silk simply tearing. “Ain’t enough to weave clothing either, but that’s more of a me problem, I guess.”

Syntax had his brows raised at this revelation, first trying to find any sign that Goliath was simply messing with him, before looking back at the torn threads. It was endearing to watch how the gears in the scientist’s head were turning, trying to connect knowledge he had gathered by just watching before. He was almost hesitant to voice his next question, as if fearing that he was overstepping boundaries. “But Huntsman’s… you two are not related?”

He couldn’t help himself but burst out in a short laugh. Syntax's nervous twitching signaled him not to laugh for much longer. “Oh hell nah. Huntsman is from a complete different family, as is the Queen. What do people call it? Found family? It doesn’t matter where we are from, it’s the trust that makes our bonds strong.”, Goliath explained without a second thought. At that, the scientist seemed to deflate, almost curl up on himself. Ah, that had been a little tactless… considering how everything was standing between Syntax and Huntsman, this was obviously a bit of a sore spot. And a way more complex problem that needed careful entangling. For another day though.

Goliath scooched a little closer towards the small man. Raising some new strands of silk, offering them to Syntax. “Wanna try it yourself?” For a moment, he feared that the scientist wouldn’t move at all, or worse, just leave. But eventually, small hands picked up on the threads carefully, looking a little lost of what to do next. Goliath leaned in, giving him instructions on how to create a small woven square, while providing material if needed. Syntax almost seemed to beam at the simple creation, though he was quickly hiding it behind his more professional mask again.

“If you have any more questions about the stuff, feel free to ask.”, Goliath hummed, pleased when Syntax slowly nodded, mumbling a low: “I will… prepare a list.” It wasn’t much for now, but the strong spider still felt good that new foundation stones had been layed. Maybe it wasn’t too bad that they all had to rebuild their lives in some way or another.

#goliath is the emotional brain of group you cant change my mind #doesnt mean he is super empathetic but more so than other demons #lego monkie kid #lmk goliath #lmk syntax #lmk spider queen #lmk huntsman #headcanon