hi I just crushed my leg with a fourwheeler a bit ago have a piglin fella I wanna use for a roleplay

hello lovely! Hope you're well! Maybe I'm interpreting it wrong but I keep thinking about how if tsaheylu is such a comforting bonding action, do you think the na'vi only join during mating or in other cute private moments too? I can't stop thinking about tsaheylu whilst cooking together or just star gazing/cloud watching and soaking in each others existence - how do you think the avatar mens relationships might incorporate tsaheylu into the little moments with their loved ones??????

author’s note ; ANON!!! ARE YOU LIVING INSIDE MY WALLS?? i was Literally thinking about this concept a few days ago.. so like the nerd that i am, i did a Lot of research on this topic and, no joke, i read a ton of official content about na’vi culture and customs; but tsaheylu is only described as a neural connection served to share sensory information between the na’vi, pandora and its’ creatures. but the fun of fandom is that i can make with that whatever i want ;) also, wasn’t in the mood to make a header or post separately :p

pairing: neteyam, lo’ak, tsu’tey, jake, ao’nung, rotxo, tonowari x reader

content ; tsaheylu as a bonding pastime and a form of affection, established relationship + mating bond, afab!pregnant!reader, na’vi!reader, dreamwalker!reader, eyktanay!neteyam, children + parenting, fluff, aged-up!characters, lowercase intended

・・・・・・  ɴᴇᴛᴇʏᴀᴍ

  ﹒ɞ  during meals by virtue of being so busy with his eyktanay duties, the second in command in the clan after his father, neteyam ensures to cherish all of the moments he gets to spend with you, as sparse as they may be. he makes sure to hunt your favorite meats and harvest the tastiest of fruits, with only your satisfaction at the forefront of his mind. whether you choose to have your meals on the communal grounds, or separately, at your marui, or any other place, neteyam aims for your comfort. he will let you accommodate yourself, always giving you some space to sort yourself out—but the moment you sit down alongside him, he's quick and eager, carefully grabbing both of your kuru and performing the connection. neither of you minds whoever is near, as you prepare the food to your liking, all the while sitting so close you feel like one. the physical proximity only intensifies the tsaheylu, it makes your skin prickle with sensitivity, hairs standing on end, only soothed by the warm touch of his hand on your hips, shoulder, and arms. there's no need for talking, aside from quips and short comments regarding his duties, anything else is shared through the bond, picked up by your neural tendrils and felt deep in your being. the food tastes better, your responsibilities are merely distant thoughts, there’s not a single worry in your mind, and all because of him.

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・・・・・・  ʟᴏ'ᴀᴋ

  ﹒ɞ  when cuddling i say that lo'ak performs tsaheylu with you the second most out of all of them. he is an affectionate person by nature, always craving your touch and connection, and the familiarity it brings with it. he enjoys spending all of his free time with you, either in the presence of others or by yourselves, but he prefers to keep the action of bonding just between you two. whether you're unwinding at your marui after a long day, or cuddling into his side at the shore as you watch the sunset, there's no doubt that either of you has reached out to connect your tswin just as you arrived. it is a comforting practice, having you pressed against him as you enjoy the leisure waves of your emotions washing over the both of you. pair that with his physical intimacy, in the form of a gentle stroke of your hair, the faint graze of his fingertips along your skin, his tail playfully flicking at yours, the low murmur of his voice next to your ear, and you're sure to reach nirvana. it's not uncommon for both of you to fall asleep like this, tangled in one another, swayed and lulled into slumber with the only thought in your minds being each other.

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・・・・・・  ᴛꜱᴜ'ᴛᴇʏ

  ﹒ɞ  while performing your chores it took quite some time for your human mind to comprehend the spiritual and physical importance of the kuru to the na'vi. tsu'tey had slowly guided you through the process of bonding with a pa'li and an ikran, patient with the minimal grasp you had over his customs and culture, all the while, you were completely unaware of his desire to bond with you, or of that being a possibility, even. now that you are bonded, he is overtly eager to perform the tsaheylu with you in your day-to-day; of getting to feel all of your emotions, and acquaintance himself with all of your thoughts, desires, and fears. it's exhilarating and domestic in a way you wouldn't ever think capable of being. any time you are at your marui, cleaning, weaving, tsu'tey is always at your side, tswin connected to yours, as he partakes in his own activities. you can feel the shivers along his skin, the itching thought that plagues him, that warm, fluttering feeling whenever he gazes at you. time goes by quickly like that, with neither of you noticing or caring—too enthralled by the intimacy and the distinct softness of your affection for one another, with no need for touch.

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・・・・・・  ᴊᴀᴋᴇ

  ﹒ɞ  while caring for your children parenthood came easy for both you and your mate, it just felt right from the beginning, when you held your firstborn for the first time and everything just clicked into place. jake loves spending time with the kids, and it seems that it's all that you do as of lately—four children are quite a handful, after all. and so, in the middle of all the craziness of your family life, you separate a few moments for yourselves, to be connected and present for one another, through the tsaheylu. be it during a cuddle pile, as your children snore and drool over the both of you, or as you bathe them in a lake one by one, both feeling all the happiness and love doubled through the bond as you watch your kids splash each other and play their small people games. the comfort the action brings is very grounding; a reminder that you're present with each other, as well as present for one another during all the moments of your lives, and your children's. jake loves feeling your emotions through the link, and he never forgets to sit down for a while and watch it all unfold, your bright smile and the gleam in your eyes. it's a special moment between all of his favorite people. 

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・・・・・・  ᴀᴏ'ɴᴜɴɢ

  ﹒ɞ  as you prepare to sleep sob, sniffle, just thinking about ao'nung sorting out a time for you every night so you can talk over your day and bask in each other's presence <3 he gently takes your hand right as you enter your marui, careful not to drag you abruptly, and leads you toward the hammock so you can sit down to rest your swollen legs. you're accustomed to it by now, reaching for his kuru absentmindedly as he stands over you, spilling every single thought inside his head, while he dries the saltwater from your skin with a cloth—and if you take too long, he'll hastily connect your neural tendrils himself. his yearning to perform tsaheylu with you is adorable, not only because he adores you and always wishes to be tethered to you as one, but he aches to feel the child in your womb, as well. he places his forehead on your belly, speaking to you quietly in between the kisses he pecks over your skin. it is all very delicate and vulnerable, as you can feel all the affection he pours through the link, and it always brings tears to your eyes. that's his way of reaching out and connecting with you, of letting you feel all of the enthusiasm he doesn't outwardly show. 

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・・・・・・  ʀᴏᴛxᴏ

  ﹒ɞ  when weaving and crafting your mate spends a lot of his time weaving and crafting you gifts, pouring much of his love into the craft. and it's no surprise that you're with him in those moments, either lying beside him as he works, or sitting so close to him he sometimes feels the need to ask for some space, or else his hands begin to falter. every time this happens, your tswin are linked, and you peacefully enjoy the quiet as you watch him work. you can feel all his dedication and affection through your connection, and it's all very sweet, as you watch his hands dexterously create something completely dedicated to you. the tsaheylu only strengthens rotxo's words and actions, not that there is any need for it, because he makes it very clear how devoted he is to you and the relationship. so you take the opportunity to let him know, and feel, how much he means to you, and how grateful you are for being so loved and taken care of—by thinking and remembering of all your favorite moments alongside him, so that he can feel all the love and devotion through the link. sometimes you're so intensely invested in this, that rotxo needs to stop weaving from how hard his hands are trembling.

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・・・・・・  ᴛᴏɴᴏᴡᴀʀɪ

  ﹒ɞ  while counseling the clan people tonowari is such a busy man—both of you are, being leaders of your clan and ministering every decision and caring for all of the people. the time you spend together is scarce and it ends too soon; for most, that would be the cause of countless fights and the origin of unhappiness, but your love is strong and you nurture it every day through small, meaningful acts. Any time spent together is an opportunity to be as close and connected to each other as you can. So performing tsaheylu while tending and counseling the clan folk is common, and despite being such an intimate act, not a cause of embarrassment. in fact, being connected while making important decisions has proved to be very effective, as you can feel each other's emotions and thoughts through the tswin as if they were your own—it makes it easy to understand your mate and compromise with him. it makes for a beautiful impression, as you sit side by side in the middle of the dwelling, knees and thighs touching; tonowari expertly soothes and advises a hunter, meanwhile, you tenderly spread healing balm over the wound of another. it is a sentimental form of intimacy, a testimony of the devoted understanding in your relationship. where others see hassle, you and tonowari only see cooperation.

Hi!

I’m currently struggling to go to sleep the night before a big solo performance for a school event, so I figured I’d ask one of my favorite authors a couple things I’ve been wondering about. (Does flattery still work on people?)

So, I believe I remember you saying something along the lines of “people ask me why I write about weird sex magic. It’s because I read Greek mythology, and it has a lot of weird sex magic.” And I’m paraphrasing that horribly, but I was wondering, what things *have* you drawn inspiration from? I’m in love with the way magic is portrayed in both the Dreamblood books and the Broken Earth trilogy (I’ve yet to read the inheritance series), and I was wondering what inspiration you had? They feel kind of different to me—dreamseed and it’s counterparts seem really rooted in the four humors and the way some older mythos have a big fuss around the seed of gods and all that fun stuff, but the magic in Broken Earth feels a lot more . . . introspective, I guess? It seems like you’ve written it to be much more focused on the individual’s own perception of it, and that influences what they can do/how they do things. And I don’t really think I’ve seen anything that leans into that angle, as far as mythos goes. (Though I really, really cannot claim to be knowledgeable in that.)

And for the second thing: do you have any tips to becoming a good reader? I can read *fast*, but I really feel like I don’t get more than just the surface and shallow ideas about the message/themes the author might intend. It always seems like people are able to come up with very introspective, in depth dissections of their favorite characters and books, and I can’t help but look at those sometimes, and go, “wow, what was *I* reading?” I guess that it might be a learned skill, but I don’t really know where to start. I guess I also wanted to ask about what themes and such you wanted to incorporate into the Broken Earth trilogy (that was my introduction to you, then Dreamblood, then the Great Cities), but that’s really just a secondary thing to this question.

Well, regardless of whether or not you answer, I just wanted to ask so I could stop thinking about it constantly. I can’t wait to jump into the Inheritance Trilogy next time I buy books.

Flattery doesn't work on me, but I do love to talk shop, so... 😄 Cutting for length:

To your first question, about the different ways I depict magic -- first, it's not just Greek mythology that I use. There are soooo many cosmologies and cosmogonies out there that show gods as rowdy, horny, petty, and basically human, just with weird magic powers on top of that. The Dreamblood books are specifically informed by ancient Egyptian mythology and culture. I did some research into ancient Egyptian medical texts -- in particular the Edwin Smith Papyrus -- so I drew from those to create Gujaareh's four dream humors. I wanted Gujaareh to feel like an ancient Egypt that might have developed if magic actually worked... and if its own version of Imhotep had been a manipulative megalomaniac who decided to start a magic-controlled theocracy. tl,dr; Ancient Egyptians had a thing for humors and surgery and gods that were into sex lettuce, so that's what I claimed for Gujaareh.

With the Inheritance Trilogy I ranged more widely in what I mooched from existing cosmologies, because I wanted to build a belief system that resembled real-world stuff but wasn't just our world's gods in costume. For example, I noticed that lots of systems suggested that existence or human genesis begins with gods banging or fighting (or both), so I came up with a creation myth chock full of gods banging and fighting. Familiar hanger, new clothes on it.

But the Broken Earth books aren't about gods. There's a mythic frame "explaining" the Seasons and past disasters and Father Earth and so on, but that wasn't the focus. I was more interested in the ways we apply myths to people, treating some marginalized groups as simultaneously superhuman and subhuman... but never simply human. Same for the Great Cities books. It's meaningful that other cultures have discovered the existence of city avatars and worked them into their cosmologies, but only as a bit of detail to make the world more complete. Again, the mythology isn't the focus there.

I can't help you on becoming a good reader, sadly, because I am a very bad reader these days. I have a lot of trouble shutting off my "inner editor voice," which is a thing that I've heard a lot of other pro authors (and editors, and reviewers) mention. People in my business spend years developing the ability to spot problems in writing... and the inner editor is what happens when you stop being able to shut that ability off. The typos, the clichés, the patches of language that could've been trimmed out, all of it just starts to glare. The thing is, all books have issues like this, and most of the time they're not even errors, just... pecadilloes. The little things that are part of reading work made by human beings. They mean the writer was tired and didn't proofread as closely as they should, or maybe the writer was waffling on word use and inadvertently ended up using one a little too much, or maybe they were having a fight with their copyeditor about spelling and missed a grammar flub. Just part of reading. But if you, like me, have an inflamed inner editor, then instead of taking in the whole picture of whatever the author is trying to show you, you get nitpicky. You get irrationally angry at typos. You hyperfocus on the author's tendency to use one word too much. (A writer friend told me I use too many "plinths," for example.) You spend time thinking about structural issues and not noticing the language, or vice versa.

But since I'm currently in self-imposed reading rehab, maybe this will help you: For me, it helps to move away from what's familiar. I read a lot of stuff outside the SFF genre, because it's easier to shut off my inner editor when I'm less familiar with the tropes, the styles, the concepts. I've also really gotten into audiobooks, for example, because when I can't see the text I can't critique it, or at least not as instantly. So that's all I can suggest. If you've developed the habit of gulping down books, find a way to throttle the flow, so to speak. Try playing audiobooks on half speed, to train yourself to patience. Read outside your comfort zone, which will force you to slow down and take things in because of the unfamiliarity. Maybe try ebooks with the text blown up a lot, so that you have to turn the page more often; I don't know, just spitballing now. Maybe folks will have better suggestions in the comments. Hope it helps!

The Ultimate Guide to Femininity ✨

I know there are some girls who would love to tap into their hyper-feminine side, but just don’t know quite where to start. Well this guide is here to help. I’ll be telling you all you need to know about tapping into that ultra feminine woman buried deep within you. Now this guide isn’t to help you mold a new copy and paste personality, that’s something that can only be achieved through self exploration and acceptance. It is however a fun guide to help you become more well versed in fashion, self-care, confidence, and femininity. Especially culturally. Starting with your history, or as Rupaul would say, your herstory .

Movies and Shows

Chick flicks are essential to this journey. As you find yourself indulging in more girly things, it’s important to digest media that will stimulate your girly impulses.

Mean Girls and Clueless are cult classic chick flicks that, in my opinion, every girl must see. Both have amazing themes about being yourself without having to conform to a clique or other peoples social standards. Then you have Legally Blonde and the Devil Wears Prada (TDWP). Elle Woods and Miranda Priestly are icons. What I love about them is that they dominate their careers and never feel the need to tone down their femininity to be taken seriously. Along with tons of other chick flicks, these four are essential!

Although Gossip Girl isn’t the best show in the world, I truly admire it for two things, and that’s the cinematography and fashion. Gossip Girl is visually stunning with impeccable costume design. You just feel rich watching it, and I feel like it’s a show that could definitely boost confidence. Sex and the City and Girlfriends are two great shows about camaraderie and successful women, I definitely think these shows could be helpful in navigating female friendships. And lastly Gilmore Girls, is a really endearing comfort show with tons of laughs and relatable characters. If you have a “girl” issue, whether it’s a breakup, and hater in class, or a fight with your mom, Gilmore Girls most likely has an episode for it.

Fashion

Fashion is whatever you want it to be. I hate that some people equate being fashionable or feminine to always wearing pink, or heels, or dresses, and etc. Obviously I’m a huge enthusiast for all things pink, but I also love sneakers, sweatpants, and baggy jeans. However I will say that some of my good sistas really need help when it comes to silhouettes and styling. I’ve learned a lot about fashion from watching archived runway shows on YouTube and subscribing to magazine blog sites like InStyle and Elle. Simply researching runway shows for brands you like gives you a whole different sense of what clothes can do for you.

Four of my favorite fashion YouTubers to watch are Modern Gurlz, Black Femininity TV, Haute LeMode, and Mina Le. I believe without a doubt that watching at least one of these influencers will help you become more stylish.

Dieting and Health

I’m no dietitian so I wont try to lay out a meal plan seeing as everyone’s body and habits are different. However I will give tips on little things to improve your diet. Starting with a tip I picked up from “She is So Bougie”, wake up and go to sleep earlier. Depending on your job and schedule the amount of sleep you get can fluctuate and I get that, but when you can, try to go to sleep no later than 10:00p.m and wake up no later than 7:00a.m.There’s just so much more you can accomplish when you wake up earlier, and going to sleep earlier will ensure that you get a full night of beauty sleep. Also try to incorporate some type of physical activity into your day, it could be something as simple as yoga and stretching, to jogging and going to the gym. Lastly I’d say incorporate more water and fruit into your diet. The way your skin glows when you ditch grease and sugar is heavenly.

Self Care and Discovery

This last part is a fairly simple concept, but it’s one that people tend to struggle with the most. BE YOURSELF. Always move with yourself in mind first, never move for other people. Obsessing over the worlds perception/acceptance of you will be you’re downfall. You should never seek approval from others in anything that you do, achieve that summer body because YOU want it, buy that expensive purse because YOU like it, once you fall in love with yourself the world is yours💕✨.

5, 12 and 27 for Hector (or any other BG3 characters that you have thoughts on, haha)

(Pop Culture and Fandom-Themed OC Questions)

Hee - ty for the ask! Hec's the only BG3 OC I've deeply developed at the moment, so we'll stick with him for now.

5. What song(s) do you associate with your OC?

Ooh. I'm always very bad at this. [goes to look at Spotify] I don't tend to think of these in advance, but some thoughts off the top of my head.

"She Sets the City on Fire" by Gavin DeGraw has some good vibes for his romance with Karlach; not entirely correct in all the lyrics but the chorus is Very Good.

Everybody knows she's a perfect 10 And I'm hanging on tight till the whole thing ends, 'Cos New York sky can't get much brighter. She sets, she sets the city on fire.

There's actually a lot of songs in my main Spotify playlist that make for good Hector/Karlach feels - "Gone Gone Gone" by Phillip Phillips and "Daylight" from Maroon 5 also fall in this category.

As for Hector himself... this is more challenging, but "The Cave" by Mumford and Sons sticks out at me as a possibility. Its lyrics are pretty metaphorical and subjective but I think (or at least am choosing to think in this moment) that its references to Plato's Cave suggest that it's about someone opening their eyes to the wider truths of the world and incorporating them into a wider, stronger worldview. Which is certainly a good representation of Hector's journey over the course of the game.

12. What animal would your OC have as their His Dark Materials daemon?

Fun question! I love His Dark Materials haha.

Hm. An owl, I think. Fairly wise, not flamboyant but observant. And a guided missile predator when needed. :D

27. In a murder mystery, what role would your OC play? (e.g. detective, sidekick, wacky suspect, rival investigator who gets in thew way, red herring, true culprit)

I'm guessing he'd be the detective, given how thorough he's been about researching the Open Hand murders and how mad he got at Valeria about her not taking her job seriously. XD

I just saw your latest ATLA (Zutara) art and it's just AAAAHH (Cultural accuracy is always loved in that house) I love it so much ;-; Your artstyle is so detailed... In your brainrot time, I wanted to share my ATLA brainrot : Lian "The Maker", a character exclusive to the first videogame.

To quote one of the Avatar Generations main developers, "She likes builds big robots, she's just so cool"

She's a non-bender, but she builds steampunk-like mechas, she is that cool.

YOOOO i love that she gets the "she's just so cool" stamp from the developers that's hilarious i love that for her. i love niche interests. i havent played the video game and i have to stop myself from buying every atla media ever bc i will have no money 🥲

as for cultural accuracy? thank uuuu i am having a lot of fun researching fashion from around the world to incorporate in my designs 🥰 but honestly i dont know if accuracy is the best word because ive been combining designs from different cultures based on what i think the real-world equivalent would be. im thinking of specifically zuko in which i combine thai and chinese traditional dress bc there's canonical precedent and my personal headcanons about zuko's fashion choices. i may make that it's own post. that and talk about the storyline for my 20s Gaang AU that currently lives rent free in my brain

4 and 7 for the writing game 🥰

omg... tumblr user filbort !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. What's something you've researched but haven't incorporated into your fic?

ermmm ermmm.... ive done a lot of native swana culture research but never been brave enough to really incorporate that beyond a few throwaway lines in fic !!! im too shy LOL

7. What character do you enjoy writing most? Why?

omg i wrote so many... but if i had to boil it down to three it'd be Katagawa, Sasha, and Naoko. For Kat, he's got so much personality and he's just. so animated so writing him is a LOT of fun. he's very rewarding and different stages of his redemption so to speak are really fun to jump around.

For Naoko, she's equally as rewarding imo!! getting to see her change from what little we have in canon to whatever i put her through (sorry girlie ily) makes me feel really rewarded and happy LOL. it's also fun to write her interacting with people and in situations she hasnt previously been through!

and for my dearest darling Sasha... I think it has a lot to do with how complex she is.. she's a much deeper character than people give her credit for so it's always a joy to explore her character and how she ineracts with different people :3 <3

What was your initial inspiration for your story? What idea came first, the plot or the characters?

ahh, what a great and slightly complicated question ! i’ve addressed the basic “how did the story come to be” question a few times in bits and pieces, particularly this answer about sources of inspiration, but the gist is:

the direct inspiration was alyssa’s story (@thegrimalldis). hers is how i learned “royal simblr” was a thing. i was intrigued by the tropes that accompany most royal stories, by the big events friends did together, by the collaborative storytelling possibilities. i've always been scornful of irl modern royalty, tbh, although the history is more interesting. i'm trained in "history from below," so i don't spend much time at all thinking about kings and queens and rich elites during work hours. why not do it with a hobby, i reckon ! in this general sense, the plot came first, and was a basic starter premise of “what if the right/wrong person married into the wrong/right family.”

however, the characters—some of them—were very much preexisting. i’ve been playing with the same family, the bancrofts, since … winter 2016 or something like that. the key to longevity, for me, had been incorporating new ideas or fascinations into my legacy gameplay. obviously, if i wanted to do a royal story, then it would have to be connected somehow ! i refashioned rowena a little bit, since i’d played with a story involving her in the past, and decided she’d make a perfectly scandalous imported princess. therefore, rowena existed first.

i think it's fair to say that royal simblr is mostly white and euro/anglo-inspired, in terms of the characters and the cultures depicted, so i wanted to go in a different direction. i created the reyes family once i had the story idea, and they ended up being shaped by courses i was taking at the time and curiosities living rent-free in my mind. it's hard to escape the influences of colonialism even in fiction, but the kernel at the heart of my worldbuilding is meant to be a rejection of settler colonialism first and foremost. so, the plot and characters have become intertwined with that creative interest—imagining an otherwise, another version of the past, if you will, to be cheesy. apparently, one thing about me is that i love doing research for work and also for fun fkjdlgjfksg

Ayo Rhemia!! I haven’t seen you around a lot, but there’s a big topic I’ve been wanting to ask but haven’t because I thought it was a weird topic to ask about, so just ignore it if it is. Or discord pm about it instead lol

I haven’t read much of team player, but I’ve been interested in the ask blog. What I’m curious about is how you’ve incorporated the themes of politics into the characters and how you’ve gotten the research as a young writer (that sounds… intense… but this is just for my own practise and fun basically.)

I ended up accidentally creating a set of ocs where I realised young adult modern politics is basically the main theme, and seeing in ur work it seems really interesting. But I don’t know much about politics other at all (than seeing tumblr posts, which is uh-not a really credible source of information), and it’s pretty scary to begin research :’)

So I thought I’d ask how you did it! If this is all too much, I’d just be curious how you came up with the idea of team players.

hihi!!! cant say that i've done much deep research SPECIFICALLY for teamplayer (other than re-checking details about luis and lily and their culture cause i dont wanna get it wrong, i keep it in mind whenever i write them) because i'm just naturally a very political person, and the way that the teamplayer characters themselves are built from experience. none of them are intended to be political mouthpieces for me! all of them are hugely on the left but they have varying inner-community opinions, and they're all very... teenaged.

a lot of the experiences of the characters are just mirrors of what i've picked up from being in both the online LGBT community and the one i knew in middle and highschool. it's a bit of a comedic parody of the whole twitter environment in 2020-2021, though the year isn't all that specific!! one of these bitches dsmp fans though lets be honest

i'm sure a lot of the topics i talk about will shift as i grow myself, and as the characters grow, but as they are right now, these are mostly 14-15 year olds only dealing with the effects of large-scale problems like climate change, lgbtphobia and poverty, and they generally respond like 14-15 year olds in those issues. they're not old enough to dig their claws in deep to the root of the problem, but they've got shit to say about it, especially because it directly hurts them. and they'll occasionally argue about it! cora and fate's cartoon argument was very funny (especially because i agree with neither of them)

fate is the biggest projection of me in terms of political opinions, but he's also the projection of the political opinions i had when i was 14, which were naive and well meaning but ultimately harmful and ignorant. i've always been deeply political, and i've just stumbled into my way into a story that tackles a LOT of topics about lgbtphobia.

also i would recommend checking out the comic if you haven't!!! im not super proud of chapter one and will probably redraw it someday but chapter 2 has been very silly so far

Hi! I'm writing a book about a princess with far too many love interests and not nearly enough brain cells (she shares one with her handmaiden, Sappho, who usually keeps custody of it.)

The majority of the book takes place in a fantasy world equivalent of the Mediterranean. Since there are gods and goddesses who aren't always portrayed very nicely and aren't based on real religions, I decided it's better not to make the setting a 1:1 reflection of the real world. However, I still want to honor the cultures that lend these fantasy lands their backbones. I'm still researching and developing characters and countries, and if anyone has feedback on how to write better representation, I'm happy to receive it!

If I'm doing a good job:

Thalia, Sappho, Pelagios, etc. = Ancient Greek (with intentional liberties, especially regarding religion). It might help me to influence their values and personalities based on different regions and time periods in Greek history

King Cyrus = Achaemenian. He's not very sympathetic so I should probably include at least another Persian character.

Faraj = of Amazigh descent (Likely his mother should have passed down more of his culture to him than she currently has. That needs to be fixed.)

Aisata = Undecided (more research needed at this point), from a nation in West Africa, possibly Mali

Zhurong Yu = Tang Dynasty, with tropes from Xianxia and court dramas. Strongly influenced by Taoist and Buddhist beliefs despite having a strong Confucian streak.

Zhuge Wu = More aligned with the culture as it's reflected in the Warring States period, again incorporating tropes from Xianxia and court dramas. Very Confucian in philosophy.

Empress Diao = Likely from the region near Turkey; more research and probably a name change are needed. Again, not the most sympathetic.

Things I want to avoid:

Explicit references to real religions

Treading into unsavory territory regarding tropes and stereotypes, intentionally or not

use of the word "tribe"

A "western" concept of "good" and "evil." Thalia's character arc is influenced by the Taoist idea of yin, yang, and balance, but I'm also going to be researching other cultures' concepts as well.

implying slavery is okay, even if the characters have their struggles working out the ethical implications when it's all they've known

characterizing any one group as being mainly or mostly heroes or villains or being inherently better or worse

Poorly navigating the power dynamics between Thalia and her peers, particularly Faraj.

Erasing Thalia's bisexuality, even if she has a preference for men

Romanticising Thalia's depression.

My Wish List

More characters of a wider variety of ethnicities and more significant parts for the non "Greek" characters, especially early on.

Improving relations between Thalia and her fellow wives as she lives in court. Some can be mean, but there needs to be some camaraderie

Passing the Bechdel test in most chapters lol

Visible trans characters (I have some, but "outing" them feels like it's not my business?)

Visible disabled characters

Aisata deserves all the love. She should win a popularity contest.

Thalia entering her Villain Era should be fun to read

A consistent message and theme about the importance of listening to, learning from, and uplifting others; intersectionality

Trying to get back in the reading scene. Currently reading A Court of Thorns and Roses. I'm always looking for new friends, so feel free to say hi, especially if we have stuff in common!

What are some things you do to edit your fics/nail down your characterization?

i usually do my editing myself since i'm too shy to approach a beta reader! i think the hardest part of that is that, as a writer i'm always so proud when i come up with a good scene or paragraph that in my desperation to include it somewhere, i might end up putting it in a fic where it doesn't really...belong. i'm trying to be more discerning about that!

when it comes to characterization, i'm guessing you're mostly talking about knb because that's the only fandom i post fics for on my main blog and honestly, i've watched the anime like four times so i kind of know the story like the back of my hand by now 😂 it's just a matter of selecting what parts of the character interest me and what dynamics/relationships i enjoy, really. the thing about canon-compliant fanfic (at least for me) is that you're building on material that's already there, unlike in an AU where you have some liberty to make stuff up a little, so i try to find the balance between what we know and what hasn't happened but could happen based on what we know.

the great thing about visual mediums is that you can see characters' expressions and body language, what ticks them off, what makes them shy, etc. for instance, in the manga/anime, aomine loves to avert his gaze when he's either a) lying or b) avoiding sincere emotion, so that's something i incorporate into my fics too, if that makes sense! since we try to picture things and imagine things when we read, it helps me to focus on some of their mannerisms, speech style/patterns, etc. the fun thing about anime and manga is that the characters are almost always japanese, so there's a distinction in speech style where some characters are more formal than others and have a stiffer/more formal way of speaking, and the joy of writing in english is trying to capture that speaking style on text because speech quirks are such a big part of characterization, after all!

also, in knb, most of the characters play a sport, and sports culture tends to be very esoteric. they have rituals, they have rules and conventions, and it's important for me to try and capture the "world" they live in and what it means to live in that world. naturally, since i already have canon to help me, i don't need to do a lot of external research, but sometimes i do!

generally speaking, i try to set out with a goal in mind: who is this person? what do they want? what are they struggling with (since all my favorite characters are Strugglers), who is a support system for them? how do they achieve their goal? how do they feel about xyz [love, life, gender, work, friendship, family, whatever applies to the situation of the fic]. it's important for characters to Have Opinions, even if they might not be my own because a person's opinions say a lot about them! the interesting thing about characterization is that, on one hand it's something that's sooo subjective. the way i see a character is different from the way someone else does, which is why it fluctuates so much in fanfiction. it's inevitable and sometimes endearing. HOWEVER, i do think there are some things that are just...baseline and when you change those, you're basically writing an OC. i try really hard to establish that baseline and ask myself what makes Character X...Character X. the things that are absolutely integral to the character, like worldviews, opinions, personal history, cultural context etc.

at the end of the day, i try to meet characters in the middle and not change them to make them more stomach-able. if they're assholes in canon, they are going to be assholes in my fanfic, it's just a matter of picking apart their inner thought processes, their ways of viewing the world (however messed up they are). characters aren't interesting if you're changing everything about them to make them palatable, which is why i never write characters i hate! fix-its are HARD if you're writing good ones that actually care about what you're trying to fix!

i know it's kind of controversial in fandom circles to say this, but i do think canon often has a lot of interesting things to say, which is why i consciously try to work with canon and around canon, rather than discarding it as a whole. no work is perfect, and i find it more meaningful to engage with a series and what it has to say + what i think about it. the interesting thing about fanfic is that it exists in this little venn diagram between a series and how a fan engages with that series, and the interesting ones (to me) have always been the ones that have something fresh and original to say while engaging with the same underlying story. aomine's character arc but under the lens of mental health. kuroko's character arc, but as a trans allegory. kuroko's basketball, but from satsuki or riko's point of view. something that takes whatever we already know and tries to study it from a personal standpoint while still staying true to the broad strokes of the character!

Building on a Theme – Decorating Rooms

Designing and planning how you will decorate a room, rooms or even a house can be a lot of fun. Incorporating a scheme or theme into the space can help to give it a certain charm.

Whether you work a theme throughout the house, or consider each room individually, creating ambiance and character will maximise the rooms potential. Using this to your advantage can make a living room relaxing, a bedroom comfortable or a workspace inspiring.

Your décor could take you back to a time, a place or it could help spark conversation. You can also use your decorating to make rooms feel bigger, smaller, shorter or taller. However, you decorate, the important thing to remember, is that it should speak to you.

Your living spaces are just that, yours, so be sure to create something you can fall in love with.

Let’s take a look at how to build on a theme.

Step 1 – Choose a Theme

Logically, your first step will be to decide on a theme. This could relate to a colour scheme, lifestyle, places, interests or even culture. Think about what the space will be used for; bedrooms should have minimal distractions and avoid bright colours (the exception to this, is a child’s room). Shared living spaces can benefit from inspiring artwork or photographs that nurture conversation.

Step 2 – Research

Once you have decided upon a theme, you should begin to research the theme. This can even be applied to colour schemes, finding out what colours are complimentary to each other or what feelings can be evoked by certain colour schemes.

If you have a theme related to a place, time or culture, look into the history and imagery on the internet. You never know what sort of inspiration you may find.

Step 3 – Planning

Planning how you will implement your theme into your space can help identify potential clashes of colours or other disruptions before you get started. Working out the size of your space before you buy materials will help needless waste or shortfalls. Also think about the tools you’ll need for a perfect execution.

Pro Tip – When planning to decorate a space, add a 10% margin to allow for mistakes and mismeasurements. It’s better to have too much, than not enough.

Always consider your furniture as well as décor; do you plan to buy new furniture or are you working around existing furnishings. Can any existing furniture be upcycled or refreshed to better fit with your theme? Having a plan in place will almost certainly help keep your work inline with your vision.

Step 4 – The Task at Hand

With plans in place and materials on stand-by, its time to get stuck in. Remember to follow your plan and try not to rush things. Mask off to keep tidy edges and clean up whilst you work. Keeping the area free of clutter is sometimes easier said than done, so take regular breaks and have a little tidy as you go.

Step 5 – Sit Back and Enjoy the View

Once you’re finished, the masking tape is off and the furniture is in place, it’s time to enjoy your handy work.

As you can now appreciate it in all its glory, try adding some little finishing touches to compliment the theme. This could be a relatable item on a shelf or bookcase, a picture, painting or other artwork. House plants are always a welcome addition to living spaces.

Adding a final touch brings a sense of closure to the job allowing you to enjoy what you have created.

In need of some inspiration?

Why not take a look through our homewares collection? With throws, coffee tables, artwork, and much more. Our Scandinavian inspired designs and décor take a minimalist approach using natural textures and neutral palettes, perfect for creating relaxing, contemporary homes.

Okay, I’m on my phone so I’m on the struggle bus with copying and pasting but:

🛒💖👀

🛒 What are some common things you incorporate in your fics? Themes, feels, scenes, imagery, etc.

I am a sucker for romance. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's all I've written so far lol. Every chance I get, I always try to incorporate some kind of intimacy (non-nsfw, I'm not quite there yet), like small touches, glances, kisses, all that stuff that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I love writing scenes that are quiet (or at least that feel like they're quiet), that if a pin drops, the scene would just shatter and the moment would disappear. I ALSO LOVE INCORPORATING SEASONS. Whenever I can, you can be sure I'm going to use the seasons to divide time, to amplify and depict a character's emotions. I hope all of this made sense! ❤️

💖 What made you start writing?

When I was an elementary school student I loved to write. I would hand write story after story after story, and even when I wasn't writing I was making up stories in my head and daydreaming about my made-up characters 24/7, but when I entered HS, I just stopped. I think I stopped because I was too focused on my HS classes and trying to get into college, that I placed all of my creativity on the backburner. When I went to college, my roommate was a huge LOTR fan, and she shared with me an original story that she was writing that was inspired by the series. Just seeing how excited she was about her story made me nostalgic for writing and I picked it up a little, but college got in the way and again I stopped writing. In 2020, I ended up finishing Inuyasha (after not having seen more than 10-15 episodes in 2004) and a billion Google Searches later pertaining to questions I still had about the anime, I ended up on Tumblr. I swore up and down that I would never in my life write a piece of fanfiction. (I never really understood what fanfiction was and had some terrible erroneous misconceptions about it at the time.)

But as I started coming across some bits and pieces of IY fanfiction on tumblr and the fun interactions between writers, artists, and readers + my feelings about the IY anime (I just felt like there was so much left unexplored in the IY universe and I witnessed how people were tackling those open ends through art and fanfiction), I slowly got drawn in by everyone's ideas, creativity, humor, and warmth, and now here I am writing fanfiction of my own. The IY fanfiction community has given me a safe, supportive space not only to explore Inuyasha but to also gain confidence in my writing again (which is VERY LOW at the moment) and reignite my passion for writing.

👀 Tell me about an up and coming wip please!

OMG I am hyperventilating! I am so excited but also terrified about mentioning this WIP that has been living in my mind rent-free for over a year now.

At the moment, I am working on an InuKag Bodyguard AU. I am knee-deep in researching, plotting, and world-building because in this work I've literally decided to incorporate a whole bunch of things I know nothing about. From bodyguards to weapons to martial arts to the business world to Japanese culture, it's a lot for me to handle mentally and emotionally, but I am trucking along and doing the best I can.

Thank you so much for these questions, Moose!!! I love you <3

Creating an Indigenous Character (Fallout Edition)

Hello there!

I've been encouraged to do this so here it is!

Making Indigenous Fallout Oc's (a guide for non-indigenous people)

Let's start with this, fuck the Honest Hearts Dlc portrayal of Tribes and Natives. Its racist and incredibly ignorant. If you're going to be making a Native OC, please don't look to Honest Hearts for guidance.

Also! You don’t have to follow this exactly if your character isn’t involved with their tribe all that much. I personally have no real connection with my tribe, like, I don’t live near where it is based so how could I? It’s okay if your character doesn’t have an established relationship with their tribe, just be mindful of the culture. 

What you SHOULD do is:

RESEARCH

Literally, research the tribes in the area! Learn a bit about their culture! These tribes have been around way fucking longer than America, you think their culture wouldn't survive a nuclear apocalypse?

Treat them like any other character you would make!

Research names! It's okay if you don't give them indigenous names, it's a lot better than giving them names like Salt-upon-wounds or white bird

Give them indigenous features! (however! Indigenous features are diverse because Black and White natives exist! It just depends on how you'd like to design your character!)

What you SHOULDN'T do is:

Whitewash them

Base them off stereotypical and racist portrayals of indigenous people

Give them: Hair Feathers or spirit animals (check notes at end of this post for these two things specifically), Tribal Tattoos, Regalia inspired clothing, names such as Two-Bears-Highfiving, Follows Chalk, Waking Cloud, etc

Base them off of fictional tribes in the fallout universe

Make them speak in broken english

Make them "uncivilized" or portray them as "savages" (do I even need to add this?)

Make a white character and slap the title of "indigenous" on them

Important notes

When it comes to Feathers and Spirit animals, I recommend a few things.

If they're from an in game tribe, skip this entirely. Dont give them feathers or spirit animals. Dont attempt to give a fictional tribe whatever lore, I dont trust fallout's take on tribes or tribe members

Research the (REAL!!) tribe that this character is from, do they use feathers? Do they have spirit animals? How do they earn spirit animals and feathers?

if you're gonna use feathers and spirit animals, id research the meanings of those things from each tribe that you can incorporate correctly into the character

If you do your research and DO decide to do this, consult a native friend or person! My inbox is always open, I know a few different people from a few different tribes from across the united states, I should be able to get feedback from them and help you out. (My tribe isn't based in the United States, but I can still try to give the best feedback I can)

Remember to have fun and be respectful! These are real peoples cultures and isnt something you can just play around with all willy nilly!

I've been meaning to do some Stormlight fanart, but I'm not entirely sure how to envision the clothing. Do you have any resources or tips? (Your art is incredible, by the way!)

Hi daintyspeedwalk, Thank you very much. Hmmm... the first thing, I think, is to really reflect what your brain conjures up when you read the text. What is there in the text that describes what is actually worn (I often browse through the descriptions on the coppermind wiki, if it’s about a section I want more info on) and what does your imagination pick up, add or simply change by itself? You can look at how other people interpreted the clothing. Are there parts you agree with or some that don’t feel right to you personally? What kind of feeling do you want to invoke with your clothes? That works better for some than for others though, so I guess a second thing is to ask yourself about the context of the clothes you want to put your characters into: who is wearing it and why? What cloth would it be made from? How is it cut and made? Are there similar garments in our reality worn for similar reasons or circumstances? (That can include station, profession, weather, character, mental state of the character, practicability, cultural influences and traditions, ect... ) And that is where the third option comes in. Research. There is so much information out there. May it be wikipedia, fashion blogs, history nerds, amazing costume designs for movies and series, people analyzing said costumes designs in great detail, or just the good old image search. Which doesn’t nessecarily means copying directly from what you find but incorporating details from all kinds of things to achieve the right feeling for your own look.  That is the fun, especially with a fantasy setting, that creativity can do all kinds of crazy things here. I try to incorporate a lot of inspirations from all over the world, old and modern, but it is not always easy to determine where a great appreciation for the incredible variety of human-made garments on this planet merges with more problematic aspects of cultural appropriation, so I’d say it is not a bad thing to at least keep that in the back of the mind and try to understand the context of your resources and to credit designers if there are ones to name (especially when quoting them directly). And other than that? Try things out! Experiment! Keep tinkering. and most importantly, have fun. 😉

Author Spotlight: Wowbright Day 2

Author: @wowbright​

​Share one of your strengths.

Life experience combined with a genuine love of doing background research.

Share one of your weaknesses.

I don't write stories in the order that readers are intended to read them. I don't think it's a weakness per say, but it's a weakness in terms of building an audience. I’m not a writer who can post Chapter 1 when I haven't yet written chapters 2 through 25, because:

(a) as I write, I'll decide that there's another chapter that should have gone before chapter one, and also that the way I described the room in chapter one needs to be tweaked for plot purposes 

(b) I do not stick to outlines—I write them, but they are the beginning of the road for me, not the road map

Which fic has been the hardest to write?

Hardest emotionally? Probably The Brave Ones https://archiveofourown.org/works/1500119/chapters/3168443 (and Il Maestro https://archiveofourown.org/works/683932 and Slow Dissolve https://archiveofourown.org/works/5099165 and …).

Hardest technically? Probably Fidelity (https://archiveofourown.org/works/823619/chapters/1561602), because it was my first novel length fic and because I knew the audience for it was very small so there wouldn't be a big payout in terms of readership. But I learned so much from writing it, and the readers who love it really love it, so it was definitely worth it.

Which fic has been the easiest to write?

Song of Hope (https://archiveofourown.org/works/3572264) just flowed out. There have been other fics like that, too, but since this was my last episode reaction fic ever, I actually remember what it was like to write it.

And in terms of research, Everything’s Connected, If Only You Can Feel It (https://archiveofourown.org/works/909985) was super easy because I already know a stupid amount of stuff about bicycles.

Is writing your passion or just a fun hobby?

Both? It’s not something I need to do, but it’s something I love. And I can be very passionate about it when I’m in the thick of things.

Is there an episode or character or arc above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?

KURT HUMMEL!!!!!!!!!!

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever come across?

I’m not sure this is the best advice, but it’s the piece of advice that always comes to mind when “writing advice” is mentioned” “Stick a character in a tree. Throw stones and see how they react.”

Though really, that’s less advice and more a description of the western approach to storytelling. Oh well, I’ll stick with it. It might help somebody.

What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever come across?

Never begin a sentence with “And …”

If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

Jonathan Unruh (https://archiveofourown.org/works/7723831/chapters/17603965)

What’s your process? Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order? Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines? What are the perfect writing conditions for you?

I write out of order. I sometimes use an outline. Mostly I use scrap pieces of paper and the backs of envelopes to write notes that I later incorporate into the story, or simply lose track of. These days, I mostly write by dictation due to hand issues, so the perfect writing conditions involved no one else being around (cats excluded) and weather that is warm enough to keep the windows open so I can hear the birds singing.

***

Check out Wowbright’s Fics

Jonathan Unruh: Jonathan Unruh is a teenager in a conservative Mennonite community that practices plain dress, simple living, separation from the world, and radical pacifism. In a culture that expects him to get baptized and married to a member of the opposite sex after high school, falling in love with a boy named Seth Groening is not part of the plan. When Jonathan’s school choir goes to sing at a glee club competition in Lima, Ohio, he starts exploring the small city and its gay (and gay-friendly) community. For the first time, he has friends he can be out to. But he can't quite leave his Mennonite-i-ness behind. Based on a rough draft also on AO3 that's described as "A Glee WIP about a gay guy from the Mennonite group that competed against the New Directions at the 2012 Sectionals. In which Lima is some people’s Hell and other people’s Salvation."

The Brave Ones:  After a homophobic assault, Kurt tries to make New York City a safer place all on his own. Blaine's left on the sidelines, wondering what's happening to their relationship. Meanwhile, Sam seeks justice in a different way.

Slow Dissolve:  Kurt changes the summer after he graduates. No one fully understands what it means – not even Kurt.