#dan and phil fanfiction changed me

[mybreadsmybutters]

when i was a kid i wanted to be a famous youtuber like dan and phil so that people would gay ship me with my irl best friend and we would be sooo weirded out by it and laugh and make videos joking about it but secretly it would make her realize her repressed gay crush on me and i'd help her through her gay crisis and then we would have a sickeningly sweet sappy romance and read fanfiction about ourselves together... anyways just found out she's married to a guy in the mafia now so i probably don't have a chance

#dan and phil fanfiction changed me #come into my lady door #and teen me saw that and went “i need to be that so fuckan bad” #i wanted to be dan but now that im a mature adult i understand that phil is better. phil guy 5ever nowadays #do i tag this as dan and phil. i still dont know tumblr site tagging norms and im like a year in now #dan and phil #dnp #phan

[mbat]

before i pass out for the night. since my brain is back on dan and phil as if its 2016 or something i need to put this out into the world. this isnt some sort of important life changing post, just a personal funny thing

so when i was 13 and fixating on dan and phil, i read a lot of fanfics. like, i guarantee that even after all these years that, if i had the statistics, that fandom was the one i read the most fanfics for and constantly. i couldnt tell you what nearly any of them were about, and i have a feeling that many of them are probably lost to time by now. i also dont know if i need to mention that yeah, a lot of them were shipping, and yes ive long grown out of that. (the dnp fandom is actually what made me grow out of that)

anyway all this to say that over the last 6 years after i stopped fixating on dan and phil, one fanfic stuck with me and i just. i think about it every once in a while. its been over half a decade. it wasnt a groundbreaking fic, i dont remember any quotes or specifics, just the premise as of at least the first few chapters. idk why it stuck with me

it was literally a fic about. if the world had gotten to a point where almost every child was born as like, a science baby instead of a natural baby, and phil was a science baby, but dan was a natural baby. and there was somehow this like, thing where the science babies would bully the natural babies for some reason idek, and this was a highschool setting and i think dan was a new kid in school. and what gets me about the fic is that dan was some small shy scared kid and phil was some mean jerk bully. and how wild that is compared to how they are in real life

this isnt me trying to find the fic or the person who wrote it or any of that, this is literally just. i remember this fic at least once every few months and i needed to get it out of my brain somewhere

#there are few fics that i remember several years after i read them the first time. this is one of them #depressingly. some of the fics that are on that list are most definitely gone by now #there was one in the vt fandom i still think about 6 years later that i loved. but the person who wrote it hated it :[ #the others that are on that list off the top of my head are the hlvrai mermaid fic and the hlvrai alien weed fic #my brain latches onto the most random fics to remember forever lol #my post #dan and phil #<- tagging for blog purposes. not because i want people to see this #if you see this post. good for you i guess ajfjshd #bur seriously if you know the fic/author of what im talking about. i mean itd be neat to find it again. but dont bother them yknow #its also wild how thats like. such a dystopian novel premise. not in a bad way just a neutral way #i love the premises that people come up with for fanfiction. like. ANYTHING can be a fanfic premise and i find that so magical #i had a fanfic premise that was originally meant to be a dnp fanfic that ive long since changed to be an original thing lol #and its... a weird premise lol. at least i think so #anyway since this is the bottom of the tags and no ones going to read this. i gotta say i have so many thoughts on dnp fanfic culture #and my personal relationship with it which i think. my personal relationship with it was heavily influenced by me being like. #transmasc + mlm but not knowing either yet and how wild that is to look back on #its why i love that one meme pic thats like. 'straight girls who fetishize mlm look like this in 5 years' and it shows a pic of jessie #jessie from breaking bad sorry the tag length ran out #but anyway im not gonna make full posts about that. just wanted to mention it somewhere lol

[yonpote]

sorry i dont have anyone to talk to this about lol so it's going in your inbox but i'm in my mid-20s and only now for the first time in my life have i changed my mind on rpf specifically because of phanfic. i'm a returning phannie but like.... the last time i watched them was all the way back in 2012. and was very ani-rpf then and have continued to be through the years. and i think in a lot of cases i maintain that position. but after falling back in love with dnp and the phandom and caving into the urge to read some phanfic knowing that dnp themselves encourage and respect it im kind of shocked to find it's actually a really beautiful, metatextual, interactive creative outlet. i think youve talked a bit about how phanfic isnt really rpf to you and i kind of agree, because dan and phil to me are like.... an idea, a mythology, a narrative, that theyre aware of and have built as well as being aware that we're aware of. like the idea of dan and phil has been constructed by them and their fans hand in hand for over a decade. and i find that phanfic itself is very aware of this and exists to expand upon those ideas. lol. yeah that's it sorry for this ramble. i just find it surprising that something could change my mind on that in this day and age but it's been a very cool experience.

hello welcome youve come to the right place for this yap because i COMPLETELY understand you. like genuinely i am not this attached to any other "rpf" content like this? ok i had an egobang phase but honestly arin and danny have grown to share a similar but not exact same connection as dnp BUT I DIGRESS

but yeah i think a lot of it is due to the contrastive relationships between the brand of Dan and Phil™, their separate individual brands Daniel Howell and AmazingPhil (particularly dan), the Phanon dnp, and the actual real people dan and phil. i always go back to the fanfiction segment of tatinof but its just such a perfect example of what i mean. like, the entire idea to have a fanfic scene was ofc the real people's idea, and they used tropes they would see in the phanon to convey the audience interactive story, but at the same time had to keep it at least Somewhat appropriate for the Brand™ at the time being very pre-teen and teen focused. honestly idk how much you've gone back and watched of what you missed, but i would suggest doing that not just cuz theres some incredible stuff from those eras, but also seeing the intersection of the brand, fanon, and real people and when they split apart. you see it a lot especially in gaming videos imo where theyre unscripted, and once they got more comfortable in the gaming channel roles the energy shifting away from Brand but never too far... until ofc now where what even is their brand anymore just Chaos and Queerness i guess

OH ALSO go read some old fic and compare to newer ones like its not just that writing styles changed or that dnp themselves have changed, but the like. energy and intent put into fic has changed. i would say in the past it was more exploratory, putting dnp in AU's and imagines, or exploring what Could have happened. whereas now, yes ofc there are au's and fic for the purpose of exploring a concept or world, but also its a lot more introspective. exploring the inner world a bit more. idk i just thijk dnp are funny lil guys and they accidentally created some freaky lil creatures in a lab somewhere...

#the brand #phan #myrambles #i feel like i have other tags i could give this idk

[wanderingblindly]

Yay tag game time!!!! Thank you @borntogayz and @ravenrage27 <3333

what color are your eyes?

Medium brown?

tell me about your pets. or your dream pet.

THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, MY TEENY TINY LITTLE CAT HONEY!!!! She's a total coward, I love her more than anything in the world. I adopted her at six months old <3333

share some interesting fact about yourself.

My go-to fun fact is that I won a FIFA medal when I was in my teens, but a vaguely more recent fun fact is that I was almost deported from Japan during my study abroad after being PROFILED AS A DRUG DEALER????

what was the first fandom you were a part of?

Visual Kei in like, 2011? After that was Dan and Phil (shame, shame)

do you have any phobias?

Not a phobia per se, but I couldn't touch cardboard for most of my life; I still can't bring myself to touch Styrofoam and Sherpa. Oh, and the national alarm systems/automated alarm voices make me cry/physically ill.

are you a picky eater? if so, what food can't you stand?

Not really! I'll try anything once, at least. But, unfortunately, most nigiri or sashimi -- the texture of raw fish doesn't work for me.

do you eat the burger and fries at the same time? or one after another?

One after another, but the fries are going in a milkshake whenever possible.

winter or summer?

Winter!!!! I'm too sweaty for summer and it sucks!!!!

what fanfiction tropes are your favorite?

SWEET FLUFFY STUPID AUS!!! Coffee shop AUs? Bookstore related AUs? College/University AUs? Inject them directly into my bloodstream.

are you studying or working? what did you study, what is your job?

I work full time! I'm a data analyst/UI sort of mess.

what is the last country you visited?

Italy, 2018 (jesus christ has it really been that long?? changing this asap)

what country would you want to move to after retiring?

Hmmm maybe somewhere in Scandinavia? I haven't thought much about this.

who was your first crush?

I think Bill Kaulitz when I was like, 11. Strong start.

how did you get into f1 fandom?

I looked up f1 tags on AO3 as a """""""joke""""""" one time, then realized f1blr existed after devouring all the sebchal available to me. And now I'm here, thriving.

Idk who hasn't been tagged!!! maybe @ocontraire, @jennarations, @albonoooo, @creabirds???

#tag games :) #never forgot the deportation story of 2018 or whatever lmfao #rambling.txt

[mimixmunson]

Get to know you tag!<3

I was tagged by the lovely @oatmilk-vampire and I tag @finntheehumaneater @stevesjockstrap @edsbug @stevesbipanic @succubusmunson @stevethehairington @henderdads @excaliburstark @ticklishraspberries @eddieunbanished @unclewaynemunson @munsonluhvr ♡ (yes I tagged random users but pls don’t feel you have to do this!!<3

Who was your first fictional crush?:

I have a hard time remembering my childhood but the earlier crush I remember vividly was Beca Mitchell from Pitch Perfect. Anna Kendrick is a pretty little thing!

What's the first colour you think of when I tell you to think of a colour?:

Red??

Which fanfiction emotionally scarred you and still makes you shudder to this day?:

I had a lot of friends into Dan and Phil when we were teenagers but I never really got into them, but I had a friend read me a fanfiction of them and it involved a hamster and it was weird.

I'm coming to your house for dinner, non-negotiable, what are you making me?:

I am a terrible chef. Absolutely awful, but I make a good teriyaki stir fry!

Do you prefer lions or kangaroos?:

Kangaroos!!

Which fictional villain do you brush past the glaringly obvious issues for because you really like them?:

Henry Creel or Kurt Kunkle. Cursed by the need to ignore the biggest red flags for pretty boys..

What would accompany your picture in the Burn Book in Mean Girls?:

Mimi is addicted to flavoured air, painfully bisexual and writes below average fanfiction. PS- her hair is dyed red and she has a septum ring.

How many days would you last in the universe of your favourite fandom?:

Zero. I’d die from having no rizz but surrounded by hot people.

Have you heard of Mischief Theatre?:

No? Should I have?

Do you feel sorry for Medusa?:

Of course. She’s a victim.

Which song makes you think of your OTP?:

Obviously you’d have to change the pronouns for Steddie but Jackie and Wilson by Hozier ♡

Which song makes you disassociate and daydream the fastest?:

We’ll never have sex by Leith Ross it’s so beautiful I zone tf out<3

#get to know me #get to know me tag #stranger things #mine #about me

[k4tisblog]

08 MEDIA DIARY: Dan & Phil & Privacy

HELLO INTERNET!!!!!!!! If you didn't know me in 2012-2017, you might not know about my little fixation on these two British men on YouTube. Meet Dan Howell and Phil Lester. They started out as teenagers making silly videos in their bedrooms. Dan inspired by and a fan of Phil, made his own content and - come 2009, ended up meeting Phil.

(Moral of the story: Parasocial relationships work! Sometimes!)

Chaos ensues, they bond for life.

Now you can never really think of one without the other.

Without getting too much into it, yes. You know the internet. There was HEAVY speculation on their relationship and sexuality. I never got into it myself, but it was a huge part of the "phan"dom in the early days. Inescapable. Them openly denying that they were gay while their fanbase wrote insane erotic fanfiction (think: hamsters, peeling of skin), made "evidence" edits, and leaked footage from their private lives - It was a wild ride, and dare I say invasive at times. They did come out as queer at the end of June 2019! In Dan's 45-minute-long video titled "Basically I'm Gay", we get to know a lot of his personal battle with his sexuality, yet while still barely scratching the surface of it all.

"Obviously we were more than friends, but it was more than just romantic. This is someone that genuinely liked me. I trusted them. And for the first time since I was a tiny child, I actually felt safe. And the relationship we formed at that point was something that I needed in my life. We are real best friends, companions through life, like actual soulmates." is what Dan says about Phil, choosing not to elaborate further. He sets a boundary with his audience, stating that he wants to keep his personal life private (and so does Phil).

I respect that dearly, and I am glad that the fanbase has matured a bit more over the years to abide by that boundary (at least from what I've gathered. I hope... Looking up their names seems to say otherwise). Learning what to keep private and what to turn into content is a fascinating practice. Especially when you're a celebrity whose entire brand revolves around your person, stories, and hijinks. There will always be people who you can't control - those who view you as a commodity, a story to unpack and watch unfold. I feel like none of us are built to be seen by this many people at once. On a personal account, everytime I've encountered a brush of virality I go a bit cuckoo and I find myself withdrawing into a shell. It really does take a certain strength/dissociation to be perceived by so many.

Anyways, they uploaded a video on their shared gaming channel recently! "A Fan Perfectly Recreated Our House in Roblox". Self-explanatory, and also not clickbait! It was fun seeing their old apartment perfectly recreated as they occasionally showed clips of videos, reminiscing about their old content.

...Pretty jarring to see their real street views outside their windows, though! (O_o) ( 8:38 ) A bit funny, but also not funny at all. I giggled, had a bit of a haha hehe, but I also worried. There are definitely people out there who stalk creators by going to places they frequent, or even their own homes just from clues online.

Everyone is a content creator to some extent, so we need to be mindful! Digital footprint, guys! Moral of the story is shut your blinds and throw away your phones and delete yourself off the face of the internet and change your name and live off the grid and. I'm kidding... I also wrote this at 1.25am and am unsure how to end it. GOODNIGHT INTERNET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Goodnight Chris.

#youtube #dan and phil #word vomit #blog post #media diary #digital diary

[lesbianphan]

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

💕💕💞💕💖

- @philsbrownquiff

Somehow thought I replied to this and forgot! Better late than never

1- Cats!!! I am a crazy cat lady to my core, I stop to say hello to every cat, I wanna be their friend and ally always!! cats!!

2- When you write a sentence and you edit it to perfection and it flows in a pleasing tingly way in your brain and you're like YES I wrote that!

3- when you read a sentence that has the same effect as point 2 and you're like AHHHH this changed my brain chemistry forever! YES! it's EXACTLY what I needed

4- Fanfiction in general! We just write stuff and share for free!!! wow?? in this capitalist society?? might be the one good thing left, u go fic writers!

5- Dan and Phil finding each other in a world of infinite possibilities and building this entire universe.... Dan and Phil loving each other so much it's impossible to miss if you have eyes. Dan and Phil making me believe in love and happiness.

#phan #personal #there u go

[chronic-invisibility]

4, 12, 39

4. what’s an inside joke you have with your family or friends?

My family and I like to do voices for my dog, we imagine he has a squeaky voice and he says “I don’t care for that” when we poke at him and pick him up sometimes and also that “but it could be for doggies” meme that probably everyone does with their dog when he wants something that is not for him.

12. what’s some good advice you want to share?

Bring a portable charger with you when you’re going out for more than a few hours. It’s better to have it and not need it than to run out of battery on your phone or whatever device you have and be stuck. Also, don’t listen to people who judge you about your style or expression, they’re boring. Dye your hair, get that piercing or tattoo, wear whatever you want (for the most part), if it will make you happy, do it. You can always redo your hair or take a piercing out or change your clothes, nothing is permanent (except for tattoos but they’re fun and also who cares).

39. youtuber you’ve been obsessed with and why?

Oh gosh, ok so I was a major phannie. I was REALLY into Dan and Phil. Like really really into them. I started watching their videos in 2011 and they were pretty much the only thing that kept me alive in 9th grade when I was in a really bad place mentally. I had most of their merch (I still have it, most of it’s in my basement), I wrote fanfiction (most of which never saw the light of day and never will), I even got my mom into watching their videos. I was one of those obnoxious kids who shipped them really hard and was very annoying about it, I have since learned from my mistakes and now I feel like if you do ship real people, that’s ok to an extent but keep all your talk about it somewhere where they aren’t going to see it. Online fandoms are so tricky because you have to know what is appropriate to talk about in different spaces. I saw both of their stage shows when they toured the US and I spent a bonkers amount of money on VIP tickets to meet them on their second tour and totally cried all over them and I got them to draw me a little doodle each and got them tattooed on my arm to remind me of how much they helped me. I remember where I was when they came out, I was at work and I briefly checked my phone for the time and saw a Youtube notification from Dan called Basically I’m Gay and I lost my shit because I had like 5 or something hours left of my shift and had to wait until I got home to watch it. I still love them both, I literally wouldn’t be here without them, but I kinda feel like I’ve grown out of them a little bit. I still watch their new videos and I’ll never forget how much they mean to me, but people change and I’m not so completely obsessed with them now as I used to be.

Thanks for the questions!

#ask games #answered

[jash-dun]

i defended dan and phil fanfiction for way too fucking long dawg. rpf is WEIRD. some of my opinions have changed within the last year but rn i think is the official realization confirmation of i am fully against all rpf thats about like romance. not a lot of ppl write rpf about ppl being friends and buddies but thats fine. frerard and rhys darby fans made me realize ITS FUCKINF WEIRD TO WRITE FANFICTION ABOUT REAL HUMANS. i cant believe it took my rotted tumblr internet brain like 8 years to actually understand this but im the most human ive ever been rn i have like a job and shit.

#text post

[alyfawx]

there was a time...

there was a time when you made fanfiction and not got too badly judged by it and or canceled for it....i know sexual things makes people uncomfy but we shouldn’t be judge by what we like in bed point blank peridot being ashamed of our sexuality shouldn’t be think...everyone had there preferences and kinks and we should not be judged as bad people for those things since the dawn of time sex has been a thing for centuries and i just...don’t get why everyone want to make people feel like shit for being open about there sexual life image...i don’t have sex in real life because i know I'm an emotional person and i will be attached to my partners on a deeper level then what is the nrom...so i write fanfics to let out my ergs in a SAFE and non-harmful way...for my person for my body...with everything that happening now a days these things agree really fucking scary now...i am not going to let myself be manipulated by love bombs with no background to it no weight now a days people like to manipulate other people and use words to make you feel like an asshole for rejecting them from sex and that's why since 2014 i haven’t had sex like at all because i just can’t trust guys to genuinely LOVE me for me and not my body or try to manipulate me to feel bad for not wanting to have sex even if they are my partner...and maybe that trauma in me because of my ex getting overly obssesive to the point he almost tried to kill me for rejecting his desires...i feel safe in fan fics because i have all the control and i can make my partners in there more simpatic to my rejections or my offers...i use to write fanfics of real people with real lives and i see now that was messed up of me to think that was okay and harmless because the reality is that not everyone will see that as harmless...but i should not be judge for my avatar in the stories because it was overly faulsified and i pushed for conflict for a better story at the time...or what i thought would make a better story...and i used to get good feedback with some fans of that person i wrote about...as i got older i realized i was not thinking at all of the persons feelings towards it because i thought it would be like shrugged off and not used as a weapon against me because everyone else was a topic of a fanfic if you had a wider audience like Dan & Phil and Damon fizzy and so much more...and i was blind to the fact that it might make others uncomfortable...when everyone was getting canceled left and right for mistakes made in the past it escalated once that shit was on the rise to cancel people who make people feel uncomfortable i was in the cross fire by a fanbase i was in...i at the time i fought back and tried to defend my reasons but it was shut down immediately because the evidence of me sexualizing a real life person was grater then my reasons...and so i quit writing fanfics all together because i didn’t want to be seen as a problematic person...because normally i am not...its just...for that particuler person my feelings were on a rise at a all time high and if i continued to do that i would lose him in that process too...so i stopped...i wrtie fanfic now only with anime characters now...and they have been times where i was demonized because of that too...and this is why i’m writing this now....i feel like if they are not real you shouldn’t be judged by sexualizing anime characters because in the end they are pngs and jepegs...and have no feelings what's so ever and they are just creations of other peoples thoughts...and really shouldn’t be put under the ssame standards of real life human beings because they are not real...but i’m sure people will say otherwise in the comments and probably due the cringe that comes with it so people want to avoid seeing things unsavory of there favorite characters or even envision it because they are probably kids that don’t understand it or adults that have no desire for sex whatsoever...i hate to tell you guys but there's no avoiding sexual stuff with characters or anime and nothing you can do will ever change that you’ll just spread romers of peoples self image as a bad person when actually it might surprise you okay so wait for it...the are good people who have sexual desires too...and those sexual desires can be controlled yeah crazy i know its so unheard of wow. But its true...what i do in my fanfics are desires i wouldn’t have the gall or morality to do in real life...Venti for example...looks young acts kind of young but he is like a god who lived for thousand of years but a real like 15 year old in real life has no effect for me in real life...its like no attraction what so ever in a real life situation but everyone thinks just because i like venti in that way i must have a think for guys who sure young like that but i don’t not even a little bit...i like Venti’s style his personality but he’s fictional and no one in the world would be able to look like him...and even if they some how end up looking like him to the t...if there the age he looks i will have no desire to pursue that...because its disgusting and bad...anime venti YES real life Venti look a like age 15 NOPE...so this is what I'm trying to say...just because i like an anime character that is like 15-16 in the anime doesn’t mean i will like a 15 -16 year old in real life...that's pedophile and that's bad and they should get help if you know that's what they actually like in real life...the dilemma is every anime in existence is based on high school students and that's because its a good base mostly...and high school is what people flock to story wise so with that logic everyone is a pedophile even if they like any of the anime characters in there favorite show...but everyone doesn’t want to admit that people can like anime characters sexually but not like real life teenagers in real life and anime is the exception because people love to cancel people for just about anything now a days...and that is as problematic as if the latter...so there was a time people didn’t give a shit about other peoples desires and business because it wasn’t heavily put in there face as before tiktok and youtube and other platforms...you would had to be perposly looking for it at the time like googling rule34 or something...so this is whati think should happen now...

ready for it?

okay?

are you sure its a doozy?

here it goes....

Shut the fuck up...just shut the fuck up and do your thing and let them do there thing...if you don’t like what you see block them...make an effort in changing your point of view...stop making other people feel like shit for liking what they like within reason...this world had became so judgmental and its so fucking tiring...i don’t want to second guess my morals when i know i’m a good person in the end...i don’t go ot of my way to hurt anyone or troll them or make them feel like shit for what they like

i watched a whole video of tik toks with MHA stands and i’m like as long as they are not hurting anyone in real life...we should just shut the fuck up about what they do...if they are happy FINE sure it looks off pudding to most people and they only see what is show and automatically think they are mentally ill for shipping there two favorite characters just let them...stop taking every character personally...like i love my two favorite bois Kokichi and Nagito so soo much but i’m not gonna take it personally if they are sexualized because that’s just stupid and filled with stress that i don’t need dude...

i wish cancel culture just didn’t exsist because it has been weaponized for stupid things like this instead of helping actual people and fixing REAL problematic people dude...

we are just weebs dude and we are vibing we are not horrible people...

#fanfics #weeb culture #sexulizing #anime #cancel culture

[homo-sex-shoe-whale]

Online shipping, the fetishisation of gay men, and the romanticisation of queer trauma

An essay by me!

Word count: 2.8k

A link to the Google Doc version of this essay.

A big thank you to my friends Nathan @themeerkatnate, Mav @not-mavv , and Duke @dukedark-ness for reading this essay and giving me their thoughts as mlms on the topic. Make sure to check out their blogs and give them a follow!

So I was on a lovely website by the name of Twitter.com yesterday, just scrolling through while having my afternoon cup of coffee, when I saw that viral post of a girl reading a Larry fanfic through a classroom projector. I'm sure most of you have seen it. It's gone viral on Instagram, TikTok, and likely Tumblr too, and if you haven't come across it I'm positive you will soon.

Now, after getting through my initial reaction to that post which was, holy fuck, that's so embarrassing, I had a second reaction of... wait, this ship is still around?

And after I had some thoughts on the incredible permanence of some online ships and the weird obsolescence of others, I did get to thinking of how lots of these popular ships seem to stem from the same types of perceived relationship dynamics and homophobic stereotypes.

These online fandoms often seem to have an obsession with objects of queer trauma, such as having to hide a relationship, lying about sexuality for self-preservation, and even social rejection. So, after some opinions from my followers and the great archive that is the internet, I've decided to discuss some of the most popular examples of online shipping and the particular nuances they came with.

NOTE: Out of respect for all these people, I won't be sharing viral images or videos of them in perceived romantic proximity (or even kissing, as is applicable for some examples), but I will be describing certain moments I deem to be relevant. So even if you're unfamiliar with them, you won't be confused as to what I'm talking about.

NOTE 2: Although not all people within these fandoms were/are toxic, this essay is focused on the overall toxicity of the fandoms, and how they are toxic more so as a "hive" than as a group of individuals. When I refer to a fandom I don't mean every person involved in the fandom, but rather the collective impact of the group.

 1. Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson 

This is arguably the most popular example of online shipping. The absolute permanence of this ship, and how its fandom never seems to fully die off even beyond the lifespan of One Direction as it once stood, is downright impressive.  

I'm going to be the first to admit I was never in the loop with this fandom. My childhood best friend was actually a massive Larry shipper and asked me to beta read one of her fics, but that was before I even knew who tf Harry and Louis were! Not because I avoided the fandom or even because I rejected the online shipping, but just by coincidence, I delved into the world of pop punk music right when One Direction began gaining its popularity. I bought my first ever album, Riot by Paramore, in 2011- only a year after One Direction made their X-Factor debut. So, this fandom just bypassed me by a sort of weird coincidence.

But I don't need to be in the loop with this fandom to know the astronomical obsession with these two men, no, these two BOYS, was extremely toxic. In 2010, when One Direction made their debut, Harry Styles was only 16 years old. And Louis Tomlinson wasn't much older at 19! This made the two of them incredibly young when this unprecedented wave of shipping hit the internet, and although that must be traumatising for anyone, I cannot even fathom how overwhelming it must've been for two boys that young.  

I'm 18, almost 19 now, and I cannot begin to imagine how scary it was for the two of them to have their every interaction nitpicked within an inch of its life by thousands upon thousands of people online. I do not know this myself, but from numerous recounts by some of my followers, this massively impacted Harry's and Louis' nondescript relationship in real life, seemingly driving the two previously close friends apart. 

Now, before we move on, there's something we need to talk about. And that is the obsession with the dominance/submission dynamic within the world of gay shipping. 

With almost every popular mlm (an acronym meaning man-loving-man) ship based on real people, it seems that fandoms have a particular fascination with power imbalances in these relationships. You don't even need to look at the insane amount of fanfictions based on BDSM to figure this out. In almost all of the examples I'll be citing today, there is an age gap within the perceived relationship and a person the fandom has seemingly decided to be the top/dominant figure. 

Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson are 3 years apart in age. Although it isn't all that relevant now, an age gap of 3 years when you're in your late teens is a lot more significant. In 2012, for example, when this shipping really started gaining traction, Harry Styles was 18 and Louis Tomlinson was 21. That power imbalance, albeit not that significant, is enough for a fandom to latch on to. We'll see this a lot more in the coming example with Dan and Phil.

 2. Dan Howell and Phil Lester

It's impossible to have a discussion about internet shipping without talking about Dan and Phil.

 Dan Howell and Phil Lester, although being popular YouTubers individually, are arguably one of the internet's most iconic duos. The two creators published their first videos together in 2009, and while their relationship was already a motive of speculation back then, the peak of the "Phan" shipping definitely came in the 2013-2016 era of Tumblr.

Now, I'm going to admit… I was actually on Tumblr when that happened. 

The 2013-2016 period perfectly aligns with my middle school days (I started middle school in 2013 and high school in 2016), and I was not only on Tumblr back then, but I was on Wattpad too! Again, this wasn't a fandom I had much contact with as I had a huge anime phase in middle school and I was on Tumblr posting mainly photography and Soul Eater content more than anything. 

But I did watch some of Dan and Phil's videos! And the occasional "Phan" content did not completely evade me as one of my closest friends in middle school had a fanchat for them. I wasn't involved in the fandom myself but they were actually one of the few English-speaking YouTubers I watched once in a blue moon (back then I watched mainly Brazilian YouTubers). One thing I did in fact notice over the years, around 2014ish perhaps, was that the two of them seemed to grow increasingly "awkward" around each other, in a way that many folks on the internet thought was reminiscent to Markiplier/Jacksepticeye, two YouTubers who also dealt with extraordinary amounts of shipping.

I'm not the only one who thinks this. The change in Dan and Phil's relationship, at least to the outside world, was clear to almost anyone who watched their videos for a while. I cannot blame them at all. The shipping was nuts. Between the countless fan videos, speculative comments, and insurmountable number of fanfics, there's no way the two of them didn't feel the weight of the shipping. The term "demon phannie" made its way into internet vernacular and there it stayed for years. Even Shane Dawson, who was one of the largest creators on the platform at the time, made several videos speculating on the nature of Dan and Phil's relationship and their sexual orientations. 

There was even porn made in which actors with similar appearances to the creators were made to have sex on camera. 

Now, this is actually a rare example where the two people involved in the ship actually came out as gay once the shipping seemed to die down. I'm incredibly happy Dan and Phil both reached a point where they were comfortable being publicly out, but I hate to say I'm shocked this day ever came. If I'd gone through what the two of them did, I don't know if I'd ever trust the internet. 

And again, this ship's fandom definitely had an obsession with the power dynamics they thought existed between the people within the ship. Dan Howell is 4 years younger than Phil Lester, and was only 18 in 2009, when they started making videos together. From my personal understanding, the shipping was often quite focused on this dominant/submissive dynamic especially in discussions from their early relationship. And this is in no way exclusive to Dan and Phil.

This general fascination with the older man/younger man dynamic, in my opinion, plays into the homophobic stereotype that gay men are predators. The idea that gay men usually seek younger men, and somehow "convince" them to engage in homosexual relationships, is popular homophobic rhetoric. The popularisation, exaggeration, and fetishisation of these power imbalances, in age and/or in relationship dynamics, is directly harmful to the mlm community. 

Not only that, but the romanticisation of a "hidden/forbidden relationship" is also detrimental not only to gay men and the mlm community, but to queer people as a whole. Queer people face huge trauma having to hide their relationships; queer attraction is already a societal taboo. And acting like this is good, or even desirable, is harmful to queer people as a whole, regardless of whether or not it's actually applicable to the people being shipped. It normalises this trauma not only to cisgender, heterosexual people, but to impressionable queer youth who grow to believe this type of trauma is to be expected. 

3. Frank Iero and Gerard Way

This is another example where the perceived power imbalances between the two subjects of the shipping were directly exploited online. Now, this ship did precede the others mentioned above. If we're looking at this topic chronologically, this particular ship did come first in the shipping timeline. It's closer to the origin of the shipping extended universe, if you will.

In case you aren't familiar with them, Frank Iero and Gerard Way are both members of the American emo band My Chemical Romance. This ship is the first one here of which I don't recall the full popularity. It really peaked in popularity around the late 2000s, circa 2008. And I don't remember this moment online as in 2008, I was only 6 years old and believe it or not, I wasn't really all that concerned with rumoured homoeroticism as a first grader. 

However, the popularity of this ship did carry over into the 2013-2015 Tumblr shipping boom. The emo fandom (or "bandom" as it was called) involving not only My Chemical Romance but other similar bands such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Pierce the Veil, found its hub on Tumblr. 

During this time, I did in fact listen to this style of music, but was focused a lot more on the anime side of Tumblr as mentioned earlier. Of course, I wasn't 13 years old like, "hey, this type of content might be harmful and can inadvertently perpetuate homophobic stereotypes," I just happened to care more about my silly little anime and ended up not getting involved. 

This ship does involve a discussion that the others don't, however. With Frank Iero and Gerard Way, there is quite often a certain sentiment of, "Oh, they brought this upon themselves!" as the two band members very famously kissed during a show in 2007. In my opinion, though, this doesn't really justify all the obsessive shipping. If you look at Green Day, a band often grouped in with MCR as another famous pop punk group, the members don't follow too different of a trajectory. Billie Joe Armstrong has, on numerous occasions, kissed both of his fellow band members onstage- particularly Tré Cool, the drummer. And Billie Joe Armstrong is openly bisexual, which none of the members of MCR seem to be but some, or even all of Billie's bandmates, are too. 

You'd think Green Day would face a lot more shipping as the more persistent onstage homoeroticism and Billie Joe's openness about his sexuality would warrant more "substantiated" speculation. However, Green Day faces nowhere near as much shipping as My Chemical Romance. Why is this? I actually don't know. It might've been because Green Day has been around for over a decade longer and generally has an older fandom, but I really am not that sure. 

 It could also be because of the lower lack of potential for forced relationship dynamics. The members of Green Day are all less than a year apart in age and are even similar in height. However, Frank Iero is 4 years younger than Gerard Way, who is not only the frontman of My Chemical Romance, but also considered to be the group's intellectual and creative "leader". Even beyond that, Gerard Way is quite visibly taller, and the perceived power difference between the two of them definitely did not elude their fans. 

This difference could even be partly due to the lack of a "mystery" with Green Day. There's not as much to speculate as, well… the members of Green Day are already open about their sexual orientations. It might be that shipping in the Green Day fandom has less of a forbidden appeal for most people. 

Of course, I won't just keep repeating myself, but my previous points about forced relationship dynamics still stand.

4. Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch

Better known for their roles in BBC Sherlock as Sherlock and Watson, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch unfortunately had their roles follow them well into real life. This is the example I know least about, so have these thoughts from a follower by the name of @indubitably-a-goblin, who had the following to say:

"the main issues i had with it were:

a) they were both married at the time, freeman to amanda abbington and cumberbatch to sophie hunter (in which both had children)

b) the main reasoning for it was their chemistry in the many projects they've done together. which is, shockingly, their Whole Job. They're actors! That's what they're supposed to do! if they weren't good at interacting then they wouldn't be good actors! i don't know how people can't understand this.

c) they're real people. we don't know them. we aren't friends with them. we aren't their family members. we have zero right to be pushing this onto them and ruining their friendship by doing so. (this one relates to most of the ships you've mentioned though)

d) healthy friendships between two men are ignored so plainly in most medias and in fandom. its obvious that these two men have a relationship, but that doesn't mean it's a romantic one.

e) its fine to ship their characters, but actors shouldn't be treated as less-than-human or some sort of prop. they're doing a job, and once they are off-screen, they aren't here for your entertainment."

I believe she did a great job of summing it up on her own, and for the sake of avoiding redundancy, I'll leave it at that!

5. Corpse Husband and Sykkuno- an emerging yet subtle example

I am absolutely positive you remember how popular the game Among Us was a couple of months ago. And with the popularity of this game, some of its most prominent content creators became the targets of online shipping- as is the case with YouTubers and streamers Corpse Husband and Sykkuno. 

Although the shipping involving these two creators is nowhere near as strong as it was/is with the examples above, I do think there is once again a reemergence of a common theme here. Whilst Sykkuno is known for his happy-go-lucky, almost "innocent" persona, Corpse Husband is the antithesis of this, known for his much darker and moodier personality. 

Do I even have to mention what the common theme seems to be?

Again, although the popularity of shipping - at least with real people - seems to have died down a bit since the Tumblr shipping boom of the early to mid 2010s, I do believe this example is worth mentioning. Even though the creators are still close, they have in fact expressed discomfort regarding the shipping, and I can only hope the internet as a whole lets their friendship blossom and exist naturally without obsessive speculation. 

My final thoughts

As explored in the essay:

The romanticisation of objects of queer trauma as a part of online shipping normalises queer trauma to both cishet and queer youth. 

Online shipping, especially at a high intensity, can end up negatively impacting the very relationships they pine over. 

The relationship dynamics often forced on mlm ships perpetuate homophobic stereotypes about non-heterosexual men. 

If anyone else has thoughts on this matter, do share! This essay is moreso an opinionated observational piece and isn't meant to be taken as fact but rather just as my thoughts on the matter. I hope it was useful as a reflective piece regardless!

Date of posting: June 16th 2021

#lgbt #lgbtq #gay #mlm #I cannot believe I said the phrase 'shipping extended universe'

[romance-de-la-luna]

Okay here we go: my answers to ALL of the asks I reblogged 🙄

Thank you SO MUCH @ginny-lily 🙄

This was so fun 🙄

Describe your favourite shirt

Don't care about clothes enough to have one

If you could, would you change your eye colour?

No

Name of an artist you think is underappreciated

Emy Taliana

Favourite flower?

Dandelion

Preferred type of weather?

Storms

A poem you think describes your closest friend?

Hmm let me write one: PURE EVIL. BUT I LOVE HER. THE END.

Do you keep your fingernails long or short?

Short (for climbing)

Favourite sea animal?

Don't have one (it's not sharks. I don't have favourite animals)

Favourite land animal?

Again, I don't have favourites. I have absolutely no preference for birds, moths and shieldbugs. I love all animals equally.

Are you religious? Spiritual?

Religious? No. Spiritual? Not really

Can you fold a fitted sheet?

Umm? I can fold sheets?

Are you part of the lgbt+ community?

You know what? I think I might be xD

What's saved as your phone's lockscreen?

Do you thrift?

That's an American word. I'm skipping this question

What's your natural hair colour?

Brown

Have any pets?

No

Would you ever try going vegetarian or vegan?

Already vegetarian; would consider going vegan one day (but would probably fail)

An animal you wish hadn't gone extinct?

Uhh, all of them?

How many languages do you speak?

English and un-fluent Spanish

Do you care for clothing brands?

Not at all

Favourite scent on a person?

Coconut? Or nothing?

Have you ever been camping?

Yes, many times

Do you play an instrument?

Used to play the piano

Gold or silver jewellery?

Gold

Any piercings or tattoos?

No but I wanna get tattoos! And maybe get my nose pierced as well

How many pairs of sunglasses do you own?

One

Would you ever want to play a game on television?

I'd be too scared of getting things wrong on a quiz game, but things like Total Wipeout (do people know what that is??) look so fun!!

Have you ever lived on a farm?

No

If you had the option, would you choose to move to another country?

Of course! I'd go and live in Rome with my sister!

Relationship status?

Single

What is your best school subject?

Spanish or English

Any unpopular opinions?

As you know, my opinions on food xD

Another name you think would suit you?

I've been told my name suits me very well?? But imagine if I was called Moon or Rain or Ocean...

A subject you enjoy learning about?

Ancient Siberian tribal rituals involving fly agarics 😏

A -core you enjoy?

Is it just me who doesn't understand all this aesthetic stuff?? I don't know 😂 I really don't know

An TV show you used to love? (AN TV SHOW???? WHAT IS THAT???? ARE THERE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO DON'T REALISE THE LETTER 'T' IS A CONSONANT???? IT'S *A* TV SHOW)

My parents never let us watch normal kids' TV when we were little, so all we used to watch were cartoons like Tom and Jerry and Bugs Bunny 😌

Any interesting family stories?

This is the best I can come up with:

You know those blocks with letters of the alphabet on that you have when you're little to help you learn how to write? Well apparently my dad used to spell rude words out with them 😂😂 and of course I had no idea what they meant so he could get away with it (he is just generally the most immature person ever. 😝 For example, EVERY time we eat melon he makes jokes. Every time anyone mentions buttering toast he makes jokes. Every time anyone says or does anything remotely innuendo-sounding, he makes jokes. And honestly I love him for it 😂)

Do you wear your socks mismatched?

I prefer to walk barefoot everywhere, but yes, when I have to wear socks they're ALWAYS odd

Your thoughts on magic - does it exist?

Maybe... ✨

Form of art you enjoy doing?

I can't art 😝

Any sideblogs?

Nope

YouTubers you enjoy watching?

Jonna Jinton, Keara Graves (IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, YOU MUST WATCH THEIR VIDEOS!!!! THEY'RE AMAZING AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH), Dan and Phil, Frank James, and my group of cringey American YouTuber friends (the AMP squad)

Do you have a type?

I can have more than one type right? I love people with red hair, goths, weird people...

Twin beds, queen, or king?

Queen? I think?

Do you have strong feelings against the colour pink?

No

A food you've never tried?

I don't think I've ever had steak? And I probably never will

Dogs, cats or fish?

Dogs

Do you collect anything?

Let's just say I went through a phase that I'm not proud of, and I may or may not own about 30-50 lip balms 🙈

Earbuds or headphones?

Headphones

Jean jackets?

I... have nothing against them? But I've never owned one?

Have a job?

Nope, too lazy 😇

Kill the spider or take it outside?

Make cute eyes at them and tell them how adorable they are, then either leave them to it or take them to my room

Do you think you can sing well?

Amazingly 😉

Favourite flavour of gum?

Mint?

Shuffle your playlist, what's the first song that comes up? (that should be a semicolon 😜)

Enter Sandman - Metallica

Icecream or cake? (ice-cream!!! Hyphens exist!!!)

Cake

Can you do your own makeup?

Nope

Ever written fanfiction?

Surprisingly, yes

How many blogs do you follow?

341

Do you brush your teeth before you eat?

You mean before every meal???? I don't do that! But I normally brush my teeth before breakfast

Type of phone you have?

Samsung Galaxy S20 5G apparently

What's your first choice at the vending machine?

BBQ Mini Cheddars (or crisps, to be less specific)

Beach or pool?

BEACH

Least favourite condiment?

I don't know? I think I love them all?

How much sugar in your tea/coffee?

None because I only drink chamomile tea

Ever broken a bone?

No

Rings or necklaces?

Necklaces (but I very rarely wear jewellery because I forget it exists)

Do you still play Minecraft?

I love Minecraft!!!! But I usually only play it at Christmas

Ever ridden a motorcycle? (MOTORBIKE 😡)

No

Favourite holiday?

Christmas ^^

Opinion on 3-in-1 body wash?

What is this question?? 😂

Practical, but I don't trust it

Do you follow politics?

Not really. I like taking online quizzes though so I've done this a few times, and that's as far into the world of politics as I'll go xD (WHY AM I NOT FURTHER LEFT??? I SHOULD BE FURTHER LEFT?? THIS CONCERNS ME??)

Your instagram handle?

I'm not sharing it on here! I've been thinking about giving you my normal insta though, Fransiska (if you want it)

#I'm too good to you sometimes #and you already know half of these answers!! 🙄 #franzi ilysm you make me so happy and idk what i'd do without you you're amazing

[gayasher77]

Hello hello! My name is Asher! I wanted to introduce myself!

I am 19 years old, turning 20 in November.

I am trans(non-binary umbrella), use he/they pronouns, and hope to legally change my name to Asher when I can!

I live in Southern Canada, but am saving up to move out of the country.

I love to write, and have just recently finished my first book(a fanfiction, but still).

One day, I'd love to be an interior designer.

I hate fish. It's like a thing with me lol.

I don't have a normal sleep schedule[it is currently 7:34am lmao].

I'm obsessed with knowing random facts that will never come up in normal conversation.

I've been on a "mission" for the past five years dedicated to finding the best bath bombs.

I have anxiety tics and my favourite tic is me yelling BEETROOT. My best friend is so used to it that she yells it back.

I'm TERRIFIED of spiders[I say this as a FUCKING SPIDER JUST CRAWLED ON MY ARM]

Fun fact: I'm scared of all bugs. Anything that crawls or squirms creeps me out. The only insect I like are flys.

And my favourite things!!

My favourite show is Supernatural.

My favourite book series is Hush, Hush.

My favourite movie series is Harry Potter.

My favourite online duo is tied between Dan and Phil, and Tubbo and Ranboo.

My favourite food is lychee pudding.

My favourite game is tied between The Sims 4 and Minecraft.

And my favourite beverage is coffee, specifically cold.

I am lgbt+ friendly so I don't want any homophobia on anything I post. Thanks and good day!

Don't be afraid to talk to me, I'm very friendly!!

#dan and phil #get to know me #introducing me #new account #lgbtq #jse community #the flash #the sims 4 #phil lester #daniel howell #cozy places #rainy days #reality shifting #soft aesthetic #scripting #red aesthetic #idk what this is #idk what's going on

[angelmichelangelo]

1/2 nah foh with the homophobia argument thats such an odd and sad cop-out when it comes to someone having a different opinion to you... i also would hardly call myself a phanti at this point i just get so??? when ppl post abt dnp being 100% in love and blah blah like. alright! im of the opinion that i wont post any of that shit until they want us to fully know theyre together which they clearly dont. like yes ppl can read between lines i know but they still .. havent said it and dont start

right off the bat, i really don’t like the tone of this ask but yknow i’m gonna give you the satisfaction of me answering this so we can have a... somewhat civilised conversation about this, since i did invite anyone with their own “phanti” opinions to come give me their reasonings.

the homophobia explanation is definitely not a cop-out for someone having a different opinion to me. like i said, i really do not care in what you believe when it comes down to dan and phil. it just truly baffles me as to why phantis wanna come onto our side and get flustered when we start talking about it, like? do you not have your own fandom spaces to make those kinds of posts? you clearly know that a majority of us here are not gonna agree with you. but, i digress.

dan and phil, a long time before coming out, lived in, what a lot of people called; a glass closet. so, obviously they weren’t actually out out, but they insinuated. they got comfy with us. they let us, the viewers know, and that’s why we have a somewhat.. relaxed relationship with them. they consider us more than just “fans” (a word they don’t even like to use) because yet. the whole “they know we know” DOES matter. dan’s mentioned it countless times before, that his audience helped him overcome certain things in regards to his sexuality. he’s said that because of his support and of our understanding, it helped him come out.

anon, if you don’t want to believe it. i really am fine with that. it’s not my job to change your mind. for whatever reason you’re so against it, then... idk. i hope you figure that out. dan and phil aren’t gonna scold you for thinking “hey! they’re cute together!”

the most interesting thing to me is, how a lot of people like yourself always try to... i guess, defend? dan and phil? and. yknow. i guess your heart is in the right place! you don’t want them to get hurt or upset and i get that. but dan and phil are quite literally grown men.

it kinda links into the argument of “why do you write fanfiction about real people thats so gross!” and when it applies to real people who have opposed of having fanfiction written about them, then sure i guess. but dan and phil have mentioned a bunch of times that they’re fine with us writing smut and drawing them in any which way. and that ties in with discussion their relationship. they’ve liked fanart before that has them being “couple-y.” phil’s read out comments before that joke about relationships. dan’s been VERY open on stereo lately (see, story about phil’s bare ass) and from what i can gather, they really don’t have a problem with that. the things dan mentioned in BIG about people prying, is in reference to things like people stalking his brother for information, or when people found phil’s private facebook and starting sharing his personal things around. THAT, yes is too far. but from what i’ve seen since i’ve been here? none of that. we just have a good time and get to look up to two queer icons and celebrate their love! why not be on that side!! it’s so much more fun, i promise!

i can assure you anon, if we’ve stepped anywhere we haven’t been allowed, dan and phil are very capable of telling us. there’s a trust between them, and their audience. that’s why they’re finding it easier and more enjoyable to be more open with us. that’s why they’re celebrating their forever home with us. so if that’s what you’re worried about, you really don’t have to. dan and phil are dumb but they’re not idiots.

#i hope this makes sense #ask #anon #if this needs tagging then lemme know

[nostalgicpixie]

hello

hello there again tumblr

I got through my adolescence scrolling you, getting stuck into the fandoms, reblogging photos of dan and phil and harry potter fanfiction, discovering what it means to be LGBT+ and finding my place within the community. i learned a lot about myself here and a lot of my personality was formed by you. and then i hit an age when tumblr was ‘cringe’ so i stopped using you for my social standing. ~ you introduced me to bad traits too, bad habits and feelings of wanting lifestyles and friendship groups that i would never be able to find in my real life. i spent so much time on this site that i didn’t quite understand how to adjust to the ‘real world’. i neglected school work and didn’t reach the potential that i could have.  that wasn’t your fault, tumblr. that was my fault for not having the self control. for prioritizing escapism and what not. no hard feelings, tumblr.

i’ve changed a lot since that blog. i haven’t looked at it in a while, but it still exists.  now i have returned, and my blog content is going to be different. i think i just...want to grab at any parts i can of my teen years. i’m having a difficult time accepting that it’s getting time to grow up and that i can never go back to life how it once was. i’m after that escapism again. longing to interact with people online again.  maybe i’m hoping you can help me find who i am again, like you did all those years ago.  because right now i’m feeling lost in life.

i have all of the elements in life to not feel lost but feel lost.

#blog #diary #dear diary #lost

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Dancer!Phan (4) Masterlist

part one, part two, part three

Dancer (wattpad) - tcosmos

Summary: A fanfiction where Dan Howell, the confident and self centered professional ballet dancer meets Philip Lester, the blundering 17 year old guy who started taking classes not so long ago.

Dance With Me - cocktailaunt

Summary: Popular!Phil wants to ask Shy!Dan to the school dance.

Drink Up Your Movements (Still I Can’t Get Enough) (ao3) - obsessive-fics (xoPrincessKayxo)

Summary: All Dan, an extremely skilled ballet dancer, wants to do is make it through the next dance competition. So extra rehearsals with Izzy, a ballerina he’s known forever, are just another step towards the win. What he doesn’t expect, is the constant, extremely distracting presence of Izzy’s older brother, Phil.

Falling for you (ao3) - Phantje

Summary: Moving out is probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened in Dan's life so far. It's an overwhelming experience which he wasn't too keen on having in the first place. Now that it's settled that Dan will move, he only has to worry about the normal stuff: making his new apartment feel like home and finding friends. All of this is already really crazy for Dan who has not yet seen much of the world. Of all the things he didn't anticipate, falling for a voice on the phone wins the price by far. How is he supposed to concentrate on his work when his life keeps taking unexpected turns?

Got It (ao3) - Spring_Haze

Summary: Dan surprises his partner with a little stress relief while traveling on tour.

Here We Go (ao3) - beware_phangirl (dantiloquent)

Summary: in which PJ’s shooting a ‘kinda romantic’ film, Phil’s dancing with other youtubers and Dan is just coming along for the ride.

i'll spend forever wondering if you knew (ao3) - rosecolouredjosh

Summary: Dan came to his parents house in London for the annual charity event where his mother is responsible for the catering. As he had been helping her in this event since he was a kid, he was already preparing himself to the feel extremely out of place and lonely.

But maybe, someone could help him enjoy the night a little more.

its just a dance, lover (ao3) - lilyxxxooo

Summary: When at his brother's wedding, Phil can't help but feel sad that he has no one to dance with. Briefly based off "Lover" by Taylor Swift

Lightyear Groovin' (ao3) - Tarredion

Summary: In a galaxy far, far away, there’s an abundance of 70s clubs. On Krithoo, local party freak Dan Howell works as a waiter at an often overcrowded cantina, Virgo Volans. And maybe, just maybe, has an infatuation with the extraterrestrial dj frequenting their stage.

Lucky (ao3) - lilyxxxooo

Summary: Dan and Phil are at a Lester family party with their two children: Emily, 7 and Colby, 2. Phil spends the night twirling them both on the dance floor and Dan spends the night watching his husband and wondering how he got so lucky

Oh Well, Oh Well (ao3) - incandescentphan

Summary: Phil never expected to find a home in the arms of a dancer.

Pleasers (ao3) - philsbignaturals

Summary: In which Dan is a former stripper and Phil appreciates their services

Shut Up and Dance (ao3) - spacemanlevi

Summary: Dan finds a beautiful man at a friends wedding, he just hopes he can work up the courage to ask for a dance.

Strictly Come Dancing but make it GAY (ao3) - natigail

Summary: @danielhowell: maybe i’d actually consider doing @bbcstrictly if they allowed same-sex couples. who wouldn’t want a sexy man spinning you around? it’s not just a girl’s dream. c'mon people let’s see some pretty and fierce girls pair up and handsome and strong boys get it on. i dare you.

Dan Howell calls Strictly out on Twitter for not allowing any same-sex couples and accidentally volunteers himself to be one of the contestants if they were to change that. It was a joke. It had so clearly been a joke. Why did they take him up on it?! He’s sure he’ll trip over his own feet and hate every second, but then he meets his partner, the endearingly clumsy dancer Phil Lester.

take a breath and dance (ao3) - lyricallyharley, writtennotsung

Summary: When Phil takes his friend's daughter to dance lessons, he doesn't expect to meet a dad who has a passion for dancing himself, and who's story is, well, interesting to say the least.

thrill me, chill me, fulfill me (ao3) - sadlybunny

Summary: Phil is playing Rocky in an upcoming production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and is sent to work with a choreographer for extra help on a song. A choreographer that turns out to be extremely fit, and a song that turns out to be extremely sexual.

Tiny Dancer (wattpad) - tipsy-mermaid

Summary: Dan is a ballet dancer and Phil just really likes watching him when he's not practicing for his next boxing match.

Will it All Turnout Okay? (ao3) - katicanteven

Summary: Dan is a dancer. Phil stumbles into the studio with the intention of taking some ballet classes, but ends up with more than just good technique.

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