Alright, to ao3's soon to be arriving Wattpad Refugees, a basic guide to general user culture:
1.) Unlike Wattpads vote system that let's you like each chapter, the ao3 equivalent kudos only allows one per work. Everyone is generally quietly annoyed about this. To engage with each chapter, you're heavily encouraged to comment. Trust me, it makes people's day.
2.) Ao3 has no algorithm. By default it's latest updated work first. You can find things to your taste through searches, filters and tags.
3.) 'No archive warnings apply' and 'user has chosen not to use archive warnings' mean two very different things. No archives warnings means the work is free from any content that could require a warning tag (character death, graphic depictions of violence, non-con, etc). User has chosen not to use archive warnings means it could contain any of the warning content, be it hasn't been explicitly tagged. Treat it like an allergen. No archive warnings apply is allergen free. User has chosen not to use archive warnings, may contain traces or whole chunks of the allergen. If you're likely to have a bad reaction, maybe don't take the risk.
4.) Speaking of warnings, ao3 has very few restrictions on the type of work that's allowed. Whatever your personal thoughts or feelings on that are, thats how the site is. You're likely to run across some dark subject matters and a lot of people are uncomfortable with reading that. You're well within your rights not like these works and have your opinion on whether they should be allowed, but harassing the authors of such works (or any works) is more likely to come back on you than them. Ao3 operates on a strong policy of 'don't like, don't read'. Use the tagging system to your full advantage to only engage with the kind of works you want to see.
We look forward to welcoming you all and seeing the fantastic works you create. Happy writing!
so embarrassing when i forget im checking someone's blog and i start scrolling through and liking and reblogging shit as if it's just my dash. it feels like wandering into someone else's apartment and not noticing and making myself lunch
Heard some important information on Twitter today, and thought I’d post it here for anyone who may not have heard it. This is actually a thing, devised by human rights organisation called Karma Nirvana.
currently writing a radiostatic fic..... i think yall will enjoy this snippet <3
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“I wonder my dear,” Alastor purrs, “you’re so obedient, would you let me rip your throat out if it were by my teeth?”
Vox is crying now. Softly, slow tears, the pain is part of it. Sure. But the real reason Vox is crying is because he feels humiliated. Alastor is aware of Vox’s obsession. And Vox doesn’t care (liar) that Al is just using him. But the fact that Al is rubbing it into his face. Damn near mocking him.
“Dammit Alastor,” he whispers brokenly, the lights in his room flood with a deep romantic red, it brings out Alastors eyes. “Don’t ask questions you know the answer to.” Vox hisses and Alastor cauterizes the surface of his latest bite.
“Darling…” Alastor murmurs. “I’d like to try something.”
Alastor’s going to kill him. Vox takes a deep breath. It- it hurts to know that Al only sees him as a source of meat. At least Al can freeze him. Maybe he’ll carry some of Vox’s bones in his breast pocket- letting Vox stay with him forever- or until Nifty carelessly throws away his bones.
By that point he’ll be dead though. Because Alastor wants to kill him. “Can I- can I kiss you first?” it slips out before Vox can stop himself. His voice is rough. “Please?” It’s one of the few times he’s asked Al for something.
Alastor softens, “Of course Darling.” Pity oozes from the words- or maybe Vox is just projecting. He kisses Alastor deeply. Sexlessly. A kiss that is all romance, a kiss that is accepting of his fate. A kiss that with every touch, tells Alastor ‘it’s okay, I’m not mad you’re going to kill me, just sad I won’t help you forever.’
When Alastor finally pulls away to look down at Vox, he feels his life flash before his eyes, he feels it in his bones. He feels longing for Alastor. And Alastor looks down at Vox like he wants to devour Vox.