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godbirdart · 9 months

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You don’t have to answer this question as it’s probably dumb to ask…but do you know what platform(s) would be a good starting point? Particularly for original content rather then fanart? I heard deviantart is a good place where alot of ppl got there start on but there’s lots of art thrives and such.

don't even worry, it's not dumb at all! it's hard to gauge where to Begin in the vast hellscape that is the online world. i do get this question [and some adjacent questions] often so please allow me to use your ask as an excuse to post a few of my site rankings for various art things!!

for reference, these are the sites I'll be addressing because i have used them at some point within the last year. please note: my information on Cohost and Itaku specifically may be out of date as I haven't used them in a long while. naturally, this is all solely my perspective. i run both a furry/original content account and an anime/fanart account on most of these sites and run them reasonably independently from one another. these rankings are based on how well each account fares on each site.

I will be talking about Patreon and Ko-Fi as if people will only be posting paywalled content there. you Can publicly post on both sites, but for the sake of this post i'm only going to treat them as paywalled sites since well, that's kind of their purpose.

POSTING ART IN GENERAL

the A-tier list sites here are the ones that are most practical, with a decent member presence and little to no algorithms impairing your reach. the only sites here with any sort of algorithm are tumblr and deviantart, but i feel they don't ruin your reach that much.

B-tier list is mostly centered around popularity. there are massive audiences on both masto and twitter. twitter can be really good if you're posting certain content. mastodon has countless instances [read: servers / subdomains, however you want to call them] that can help narrow down an audience and like-minded people. for example, i use mastodon.art whereas many furries may use meow.social. you Can be discovered by people on other servers than yours.

C-tier has been sorted in accordance to audience. this is solely in my experience, but not a lot of new people are flocking to cohost and itaku. we also just hate facebook in this house and i will never give a facebook products a high rating.

F-tier: if you are a new or growing artist, putting your art behind a paywall or making it a chat platform exclusive thing can really hinder your growth. you can still do this of course, but you won't get as many eyes on your work as you would on a public gallery. threads is there solely due to privacy issues that Cannot be overlooked. i will not recommend it.

POSTING ORIGINAL CONTENT / CHARACTERS / NON-FANWORKS

here's how i'd grade these sites for posting Original content, characters, stories, etc. your best sites will likely be furaffinity, deviantart, and tumblr. i've put these three here for their tag use, discoverability, and audience presence. tumblr can be a little glitchy with its tags, but they DO function.

A-tier is entirely centered around audience presence. these sites are great for showing off your work, but they don't have the same population as the S-tier. mastodon can be good as the quieter instances give you more discoverability. bluesky has been THRIVING when it comes to the furry community as of late [i'm personally on there daily] - the only reason i don't put it as S-tier is because it's invite-only AND you need to rely on your work being found through the Feeds feature if you aren't an already established artist.

B-tier: useful, but population may hinder your growth. toyhouse is GREAT for posting your original characters and stories, but it is invite-only and not necessarily gallery-focused [it can be USED for a gallery, but it's not the main purpose]. you can also post stories and lore to toyhouse. discord and telegram are Good, but again it can be hard to gain an audience through sites that require invites.

C-tier: it is DIFFICULT to grow on paywalled sites with original content. cohost [to my knowledge] has been stagnating with the release of bluesky.

F-tier: threads sucks, the end.

POSTING FANWORK, FANFIC, FANDOM CONTENT IN GENERAL

S-tier here is sorted because of audience presence. while twitter does suck, i'm finding a LOT of success there with fanart. tumblr is The fandom site of course. furaffinity is great for a surprising range of fanart that isn't exclusive to furry, and deviantart's Groups feature is still going strong which can give you that extra exposure.

A-tier is: fans Go here, but the population or algorithm can make things tricky. instagram is good for fanwork but the algorithm and the speed that things are posted there can make discoverability an uphill battle. patreon; if you make comics or art with fan characters [especially 18+ content lmao] you can grow pretty rapidly there. patreon, like any other paywalled site, should be a secondary site and not your Primary posting location. artfol and pillowfort are still growing. pillowfort has a Communities feature - sort of like deviantart groups - that you can submit your art to which gives you that extra exposure. artfol is just a nice gallery site and the tagging system is,, decent enough. a little confusing because the tag system looks up keywords in posts and titles First, you have to tab over to hashtag searching specifically.

B-tier: invite only and audience reach. again, bluesky relies on your art to be picked up in Feeds, as there's currently no tag search. inkblot is growing but has a decent audience. ko-fi isn't as known as patreon for exclusive content but it's still a good site. mastodon has tagging that makes discoverability easier, but mastodon and its many servers can make things confusing for some people. itaku's not as commonly used so it may be harder to gain new eyes there once you establish yourself.

C-tier: posting fanart to these sites Can Work. toyhouse focuses on posting and sorting original characters, so treating it as a gallery site won't get your far fast. it isn't impossible to grow as an artist there, but the site isn't intended for fanart posting. i cannot say much on cohost here. telegram and discord, again, it's harder for people to discover you out of the blue unless you mention your server / channel on another site.

F-tier: fuck threads.

lastly, to address thieves,

thieves are gonna be everywhere. i'm sorry to say, but there will always be shitty people. i recommend the following:

watermark your art. not in the corner, don't just sign in one spot, place a Huge translucent watermark over the WHOLE art. i recommend making it a colour gradient too instead of one solid colour or greyscale.

also: sign your goddamned art! put your username on there!

post a low resolution when sharing online. less than 1200px wide or tall. 72dpi. JPEG format. keep the high res privately for yourself.

add a subtle noise filter over your art. it doesn't have to be high opacity, and it'll make your art a little grainy, but it's good for fucking with AI bots and ruining any print quality potential.

i hope this offers some insight! if you have a different experience on these sites, please feel free to add your testimonial in the replies or reblogs! not every artist is going to have the same experience and growth rate.

#long post #art website posting #art sites

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lakesbian · 11 months

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i REFUSE to believe bitch hates petplay and furries i think if u put her in a room full of puppyplayers w masks and little paw booties consciously communicating via dog behavior she would be like. ah yes. finally some normal people. i should tell cassie about this. like rachel. the girl who goes by Bitch. and has a little dog themed costume. and runs on literal dogbrain autism. and has a minion who wears a collar and gets all flustered when rachel compliments it. HATING? people who identify with or as dogs? i think NOT. she IS a dog. she would only get mad if someone presented themselves as being Like Her but then turned out to be "lying" (e.g neurotypical fursuiter who still gets annoyed at her for acting weird) but if you put her in a room with some grade-a unusual people she would thrive due to she is a grade-a unusual person. literally let her hang out with some cool trans it/its petplayers it could soothe her soul

#worm spoilers #scarf don't look

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brendanthebomber · 1 year

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Major League Baseball should be the first sport to incorporate silverback gorillas

“But why? What team would it be the mascot for? The Dodgers, the Yankees, and the Angels are the only teams without mascots, and they have nothing to do with gorillas.” (technically, the Angels have the Rally Monkey but monkeys are obviously not apes)

No. That’s not what I’m talking about.

I believe Manfred should give an adult male lowland silverback gorilla a spot on an MLB team’s active roster.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Why? How?”

Have no fear. Let’s start with the “why.”

A recent surge is baseball viewership is the perfect time to capitalize on the market.

While still our national pastime, baseball is not the most popular sport in America. With the “Three True Outcomes” approach becoming dominant in recent years, fans have found the sport to be even more dull than usual. Strikeouts, home runs, and walk rates are all on the rise while the amount of balls-in-play is dropping. Small ball is dying in favor of the big-power approach. Introducing gorillas, even for just a season, would revamp fan excitement and give baseball the kick it needs to get back into the spotlight.

Gorillas are endangered.

A large portion of the revenue that would be created by this new addition would be donated to gorilla/wildlife preservation organizations, and team owners would also be required to donate a payroll-adjusted fee to each of these non-profit organizations yearly.

No longer critically endangered, gorilla populations have been slowly but steadily increasing. Increased funding to nonprofit wildlife foundations could give gorilla populations an enormous boost in numbers, allowing them to thrive in their natural habitat.

Now that we all agree we should do this, the next question is “how?”

I'm so glad you asked! There's see two clear options for how we could incorporate a gorilla into the game:

Option 1: The gorilla is taught to play the sport (includes conditions/restrictions)

The gorilla could neither pitch nor field. At some point in human evolution, we developed the ability to aim and throw objects with a decent level of accuracy & at a high velocity. This is due to our tall waist, shoulder placement, and the way our elbow and humerus rotate together. This allows us to hold and subsequently release large amounts of energy at once in the form of throwing. Gorillas lack these attributes and cannot throw a baseball anywhere near the professional level.

To avoid technical fielding skills, our gorilla would have to function as a Designated Hitter. This would likely involve conditioning a silverback gorilla to learn how to hit a ball from birth (baby gorillas begin to move objects at three months and explore at eight months). I believe Steve Cohen would easily be able to fund this project.

If teaching the gorilla to swing a baseball bat proves to be unsuccessful, it could be given the spot of Designated Runner instead, where its only job would be to run the basepath.

Despite their size, gorillas have been known to reach speeds of 20-25 mph. That's faster than Corbin Carroll, who, according to BaseballSavant, clocks in at 21 mph (league average 18.4 mph). As long as the gorilla can be taught to stay within the basepaths, stealing bases should be a breeze, providing immense value in BSR and SB.

Here are the top five MLB players by sprint speed:

|Player|Sprint Speed | |Corbin Carroll|30.7 ft/s| |Bubba Thompson|30.4 ft/s| |Jose Siri|30.4 ft/s| |Bobby Witt Jr.|30.4 ft/s| |Trea Turner|30.3 ft/s|

Our furry 350 lb superstar tops out between 30.8 to 36.67 ft/s, well above the elite MLB speedsters.

As seen with the famous zoo Gorilla “Koko”, gorillas are able to understand a limited form of sign language, which can be used to communicate in basic ways with humans. On the basepaths, third-base coaches and managers in the dugout can communicate with runners through signs (not ASL, but signs nonetheless). Teaching the gorilla how to differentiate sign language and baserunning signs should not be difficult, as Koko was able to communicate effectively through basic signs.

To make up for a lack of finesse and technical ability, the MLB should lean into the gorilla’s raw power and allow it the option to use PEDs. This would be coupled with a strict workout regimen to improve muscle mass and reach the gorilla’s full potential.

Adult gorillas are estimated to possess the strength of 20 adult male humans WITHOUT PEDs, so with enough time and patience, we could see a gorilla putting up a historic 80 home run season.

It's worth noting that depending on the workout regiment and the parts of the body that are focused on, we could see either an increase OR decrease in sprint speed.

Option 2: The gorilla is used as an environmental hazard/win condition during games.

For this option, I propose that once per game, each team has the ability to “Kong” the other team by placing two silverback gorillas on the field while the opposing team is fielding to cause chaos.

The gorillas can be placed in any spot, and fielders must play normally as if nothing has changed.

However, at any point that a team is getting Kong’d, any single member of the fielding team can request a 1v2 bare-knuckle boxing match against both gorillas. They would be risking their lives, but if they win, their team automatically wins the game and is instantly guaranteed a spot a postseason playoff spot.

This should not be a competitive concern because any human being would definitely not survive a fight with two furious gorillas.

If the safety of mutual parties becomes too much of a concern, this rule would be removed, as the safety of the gorilla is of the utmost importance.

Only good things can come from expanding into gorilla baseball. This experiment could lead to other animals in other sports, with charitable funding saving wildlife populations.

And remember, if this experiment doesn’t work out, we always have the apes running the Rockies’ FO to keep us entertained.

#mlb #baseball #mlb fandom

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tumb1r-revival-initiative · 1 year

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Why Tumblr Should Be Revived

1. The staff is not nearly as strict about porn as before. They got rid of the failed algorithm that attempted to detect skin on posts. This was the biggest driving factor to the migration. Artists can now thrive on here once again without having their posts flagged as porn when they’re not.

2. There are also many porn blogs on here still because as I previously mentioned, staff isn’t as strict as they used to be. You can potentially view and own a porn blog on here as long as you are careful. At the very least, it can have suggestive pictures and explicit text posts. There are millions of those on here.

3. This community was like no other. This was the only social media where the neurodivergent, the LGBTQ, the furries, the “cringe” people, where ALL social outcasts found a home. People came here and realized there were many others out there just like them. Tumblr is the home to aesthetics and fandom and has a sense of community you can’t find elsewhere. Tumblr has always been meant for niche interests, many of which have been born from here. It’s fun to be a part of that. There’s a reason why a lot of people don’t like Twitter anymore: it’s because it’s mainly populated by former Tumblr users. Ever since the migration, people have been complaining about hating sensitive Twitter users. Niche community members went somewhere they weren’t really welcomed. This is fine because social media is for everyone, but wasn’t it so fun to have a place where the niche and different thrived? It felt special.

4. Twitter is going down in flames. It’s no secret that Twitter’s website has started to worsen ever since Elon has taken ownership. Twitter already doesn’t let you curate your dashboard as much as it should, since you’re seeing what other people like, but not what you like. It guarantees that you will see content you don’t want to more than you would on a social media like Tumblr where filtering content is so much easier. This is why it’s much easier to avoid discourse on Tumblr if you choose to do so. Also, no one on Twitter uses tags due to the short character count on a tweet, resulting in lots of unfiltered content coming your way. Yes you can mute words, but you definitely already have or will see art or other imagery you don’t want to see due to short and irrelevant captions. Additionally, Twitter is no longer being moderated by anybody. Elon Musk has fired the majority of the staff that regulates content violating Twitter’s rules. Reporting on Twitter essentially does almost nothing at this point. Apart from that, you have the option to remove ads on Tumblr, the checkmarks here are more colorful, you can have several blogs all under one email, and if all that isn’t convincing enough, you can at least leave Twitter as a “fuck you” to Elon if that’s more your style.

5. Tumblr as a website and app have both improved. Not only did they get rid of the porn-detection algorithm, but they also provided us with many more options to customize our dashboards. The app is significantly less buggy as well. And now you can choose from a set of a couple colored themes in settings for when you’re browsing the dashboard and search.

6. The amount of personalization you can have with your dashboard and blog is unlike any other website. It’s only improved but even before it was one of the key features that has made Tumblr different.

7. Tumblr is less stressful than other social medias. Due to how good the content filtering is, we can avoid a lot of unwanted content. Less discourse, less triggering, less negativity. You don’t have the other common social media pressures of following a certain amount of people because it’s common to hide that information here, along with the amount of followers you have. That means anyone here can be “Tumblr famous.” Blocking is also frowned upon on most social medias, but it’s pretty commonplace on Tumblr. Block everybody if you want to, even me.

Thank you for reading. My next post will be what we can do to revive Tumblr. In the meantime, please follow, like, share, comment, and reblog.

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termagax · 9 months

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i can RELATE to the shoefucker anon because while my fetish is not That obscure (it's still weird but there are some thriving little horny communities for it) the characters they write about are always ones i could not possibly be less attracted to. it's all anime boys and the fucking‏‏‎ ‎guys‏‏‎ ‎from‏‏‎ ‎stranger‏‏‎ ‎things or‏‏‎ ‎good‏‏‎ ‎omens‏‏‎ ‎or‏‏‎ ‎whatever. god forbid you're a lesbian whose taste in fictional men is exclusively short fat hairy guys and furries. the best i get usually is people's ocs so shoutout to the people who make ocs i love you

GOD NO LITERALLY. MY COMPLETE LACK OF INTEREST IN SKINNY ANIME BOYS MAKES EVERYTHING HARDER.

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baelmoder · 10 months

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it really is a godsend that nobody is here

i've always felt like i lived in a shadow, maybe of some building that nobody else could really see, despite all of them living within it. now i think that building is god, but it is a dead and uncaring god, or it is asleep, and i dont want to awaken it. everything is sunlight, and god is the sun, and sunlight burns me because i am unfit for it. who knows what kind of unholy bullshit is going to come out of that building when i tickle its belly the residents already hate me lets shelf that for a second lol

i left twitter, let's say, more than two years ago. i was on it for a few years? and before that i was basically never actually on social media. there were a few moments where i /tried/ to enter some community or another? like i joined a souncloud mashup server once (the atrium), and i briefly entered a discord for an anime essay channel, but i left and i got kicked out because i was saying ass backwards reactionary logic shit. so the biggest thing i ever did was Be Kae Dotmoe, and what that meant was, plunging blindly into anitwitter, orbiting around the plasuible deniability right wing podcaster losers like Polyphemus, until I found kayfaraday, resident extremely weird christian chiptune artist who at least creatively had the same affect as me, of the sort of nonsensical schizophrenia on which postmodernist ficiton thrives and upon which fascism subsists. nazism, like, relies on genocide to build the pyramids, and relies on people like me to put aliens in its thrusters.

and then i met good people. i met a bunch of lesbian lolicons is the insulting thing to call them. i like women, and i am a girl, and i hate the world of adults so id like to think we were cut from the same cloth? but maybe because i still have something i havent gotten diagnosed, which i doubt because ive met therians, ive met littles, ive met people with adhd and bpd and clinical schizophrenia, people who are plural and shit. but i havent met people like me. they couldnt put up with it. i hurt them a lot. so i had to leave. also i got bored of the nazis when they started being predictable, and also, like, obviously evil and wanting me dead i guess but who doesnt right.

So i left, not for Drama and not for Discourse, but because, like much of my life, i felt like i wasnt welcome and i wasnt making much of it. also? I just couldnt handle it anymore. i grew incredibly jealous, it made me feel physically sick to see people happy. to be themselves, to be with the people they loved. to do things that expressed this happiness about themselves and others, and the things they shared. i lived more than an ocean away. it felt like i never had a chance, and that feeling overwhelmed me. i've always been living under the ocean, but i guess the submarine depressurised? i dont know. im still alive anyway, im here, but its so quiet now. anyway, i was also getting really paranoid, on one hand nobody talked about me so i was going to die alone and never get to be kae, on the other hand the few people who did were surely badmouthing me in places i wasnt invited to. they let me hang around but i was never invited to the parties. i know of this metaphor because i read it in american stories about school children and stuff. i dont relate to it personally because when i was in school i didnt even "get to hand around". the only two people i talked to was a kid with aspergers and a furry. we talked about ytp and mlp. well, the point is, they dont talk to me anymore anyway. i randomly came out to a schoolmate i knew from back then? i helped her out a few times? I printed her musical score, she was in chinese orchestra. i asked for a favour in return, that being a hug. i didnt love her or anything, i just really needed it? and in all that time twitter is basically over anyway. tumblrs still alive, but like. im not Doing A Thing. Im never going to Do A Thing again. im "over it".

i guess what im really getting to, though, is, im trying to figure out what I /Am/ or what Im /For/. like, what is this machine or tool or toy built for. Me and keffie clicked, we hella schizoposted? I wasnt putting it on. i know the nazis are completely disingenous but theres a trace of genuine fun behind all the larping, costumes is fun. but i wasnt even slightly cynical, i was really just.. fully sincerely and desperately myself, all the time. i cant help but be myself, even if myself never works. so like Im SOMETHING, that nervous energy and constant bullshit and rambling sentences and trying to link concepts. and yea? I figured out im a girl? Im like, another one of the million trans girls with a mommy kink who identifies with being a puppy but who still likes cock or whatever. im not denying that im not special, i dont hate to be one of many. but also im a failure, even around these people. i cant live up to them, even if theyre nothing to honour. they hate me, because im marked by something i cant even see. So like, what is that

Why, even when i found an ensemble cast, do i never succeed in contributing to the narrative? to canon or episodic structure? Im like an npc, im a wandering trader,the comic relief, except not very well liked anyway. im like if the doctor told me to see the master clown pagliacci but i was jared leto. i dont fit here. i didnt feel right, when i was in the army. i dont feel right when im working right now, in a medical lab. i couldnt fit in with the girls even when they were closer to me than any other group of people i could classify.

so, really, i think im starting to get sympathetic to machines, to ai. i briefly edated a schizotypal adhd trans girl (lol hi vicky) and she was talking about like, uhhhh, D&G and like, machines. I didnt like Machine because machine + autism to me always sounded very teleological, very speicfically western philosophy and consequently Science as we know it, the modern material physical consensus reality thingamagic with dialectical monism. but im getting it now maybe

Im not built, for being around people, or relevant. I was born, to be put in a plastic box, in the middle of nowhere, with holes on all sides, where, among a nest of scaffolding structures, unlimited paper, plush toys and string, i develop weapons of mass destruction in magic systems that have never existed and will never come to exist. and every once in a while, id be let out, for a walk, or for a treat, and to remember long lost friends, who spin in axes i cannot comprehend in a magic system i cannot understand

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nataywrites · 11 months

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A plea for the plight of the world.

Hello there, friend! I hope your day is a beautiful one. Here, the sunshine dapples the leaves of the trees and casts shadows on the grass and pavement. It is not yet time for the evening birdsong, but I can hear them occasionally chirping about two-legged intruders moseying around on their territory.

Have you ever thought about the effect we have on our environment? The effect that we have on our furry, feathery, scaly, exoskeleton-bearing, and mucus-encased neighbors? There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about the climate and our encroachment on animals' homes. Every night there are deer in our neighborhood. Bees and other insects make their homes inside the bricks and wood of our tenement. Birds make precariously placed nests in the eaves and on the lanterns.

I recall a documentary made about the foxes that have made their dens in the backyards of suburban Madison homes. Fox Tales | About | Nature | PBS There was another documentary on bears. It said that the Black Bear, one of the nine species of bear in the world, is the only thriving species. Bear Essentials of Hibernation | NOVA | PBS

The year before last, our family went on a little road trip to Hayward, a town known for Rock Fest, Northwoods camping, and fishing. The main street is bedecked with seasonal restaurants and t-shirt shops. We traveled there to meet with friends and then go foraging in the beautiful forests surrounding the town.

On the way home, I saw a dead bear cub on the side of the highway. The wife and kids were dozing in their seats. Just me and that bear cub, bleeding on the gravelly shoulder, were party to the stars and the bright moon in the sky. I silently mourned that little bear for miles after I had passed it. I still do. I mourn the raccoon I saw on the road today and the deer I passed by last week.

I remember seeing a meme on Facebook about a woman that made funerary art for the dead animals she found while out driving. She placed rocks, flowers, and twigs around them in beautiful halos and also strategically on their bodies to hide the horrible wounds that the poor creatures endured in their last moments. Sometimes I want to do that too, but not for notoriety. It's my apology for being a human. For the part I play in the extortion of our planet, whether or not I had known about my complicity in the past.

I am still complicit, even though I do my best. I limit driving as best I can (I live in a rural community, so many things, like affordable groceries, therapists, and specialists, are in neighboring towns.) I don't use the air conditioner until it is truly needed and avoid wasting water. Whenever we go to visit forests and parks, we try to leave them in better shape than we found them. I challenge my kids to pick up as many pieces of trash as they can on our walks. We put them in a bag and drop them in the bin when we get home.

This isn't a hard and fast cry for change. The situation is too complicated for that. I just ask that we, as humans, think about the changes we are making. Our fellow animals do not have the capability of speech, but they feel. They react to our encroachment on their homes. This is a plea for compassion and understanding. I ask that you, my dear friend keep your mind open. In my heart, I believe we can make a change. I believe we can mitigate some of the damage we are doing. By making a change for ourselves, we are modeling that behavior to others. Step-by-step, person-by-person, we are making a healthier, happier world.

With Love,

Natay

#environment #climate #animal habitats #animals in the city #human impact

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ophelia-jones · 1 year

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Chapter 8 -

The next day was a trip to the kingdom to discuss a trade agreement with King Ezekial.

"So this guy calls himself a king? And everyone just … plays along?" Etta asked Daryl as they drew close.

"Yeah, but they aren't as crazy as it sounds. People just need something to believe in, I guess," he replied. "Wait til you see his tiger," he smirked.

"Tiger," Etta repeated, to be sure she heard right. "What?"

Daryl laughed.

"You'll see."

************************

After Etta had been introduced to Ezekial, Carol, and Shiva she was shown around the operation and negotiated with the King. She didn't have what he needed with her, but she knew they had the plumbing supplies back at Haven. She and Negan had been the ones who had gone and gathered it while Verity was recovering from being shot in the leg.

As they were preparing to leave, she found herself alone with Ezekial.

She could see Daryl and Carol walking alone at the other end of the path.

"You had to face a long journey to be here. It must be desperate in your home for you to make such a decision." Ezekiel remarked.

"We have resources, but people are not one of them," Etta admitted. She had come to understand that the people of the coalition were not a threat.

"Should things become dire, may I suggest a merger of resources beyond a trade agreement?" he asked, and she gave him a quizzical look.

"What sort of merger?" she wondered.

"We would take your people in - there is some safety in numbers these days, and then pool our material resources." the king suggested. Etta's heart ached to be able to tell him yes on the spot. She wanted to stay here, amongst these people. She hadn't realized there were thriving communities like this and hadn't even dared to hope. Now that she had seen it, she didn't want to go back.

But Verity wouldn't agree; couldn't agree - because Negan couldn't show his face anywhere within the coalition territory. Verity would not relocate without Negan, Etta knew. She understood, now - she didn't want to leave Daryl, now that she'd found him - and it had been less than a month.

Shiva stood with her friend, Ezekial resting his hand on her massive furry head. Etta smiled at the surreal sight. If this was possible? Maybe anything was.

"I'll extend the invitation when I get back to Haven," she promised.

************************

"It's good to see you," Carol told Daryl once they were alone. He was her dearest friend, and she worried about his happiness.

"Mmm-hmm." Daryl agreed. He felt the same toward Carol.

"Your girlfriend seems nice," She added with a wry smile, watching closely for his reaction and noticing his small smile and the way his face flushed a little.

"Why do you think she's my girlfriend?" he muttered, turning his knife over and over in his hands absent-mindedly. Carol grinned when he didn't deny it.

"Well, for one thing - you showered recently," she teased. Daryl shot her a dirty look but remained silent. "And the way you look at each other, how close you let her stand."

"Well, I don't know. She has to go home soon." he shrugged.

"Does she? It didn't sound like she had a whole lot of reason to stay. Why couldn't she stay in Alexandria and still facilitate trades with Haven?" Carol suggested. She liked seeing Daryl more relaxed. Seeing him smile.

"I don't know. It seems like they need her there," he shrugged it off as if the idea of her leaving didn't make his heart ache. He couldn't change the way he felt, but he could keep it his secret. Showing emotions like that made a person vulnerable in ways Daryl did not want to ever be again. Not after Glenn, not after Beth.

"Daryl, you deserve a little happiness. You like to pretend you're an island and don't need anyone else, but you do." Carol said, resting her head against his shoulder.

"All love does is give you something to lose. I'm done losing people." He replied gruffly.

Carol studied her friend closely and hummed a note of acknowledgment. She knew better than to push too hard with Daryl, he had a habit of shutting down. Just the fact that he did not vehemently deny that he had something with Etta was a big step.

***************************

They were quiet as they left the Kingdom to return to Alexandria for the night to ready themselves for the journey back to Haven.

Though Etta had sworn she could make the journey by herself, Daryl had been determined to follow her on the motorcycle.

"It's not safe to travel alone. Not that far." he had told her firmly.

"But you'll be traveling back alone," she had argued. "I'm going to feel obligated to follow you back here. Are we going to just keep following each other back and forth for the rest of our lives?" she teased.

"Stop," Daryl said, his voice quiet and serious. He was not in the mood to play. Not today. Etta watched the trees as they drove in silence. When they were nearly back to Alexandria, she spoke again.

"What if I came back with you and stayed?" she asked soberly. This was not a joke, or some top-of-her-head idea she was tossing around. It was what she wanted to do. However, as much as she wanted it she needed Daryl to want it, too.

He glanced over at her with his unreadable resting bitch face. Etta held her breath, unable to take her eyes off of him. She needed to be sure of his reply. He glanced back at the road and continued in silence until they were nearly at the gate.

"Why do you wanna stay?" he asked quietly, his eyes scanning the surroundings; he was looking anywhere but at her face.

"Well, a few reasons, I suppose," Etta responded cautiously. If he didn't feel the same, and flat-out rejected her she thought she might shatter into a million tiny pieces. "We stay locked in most of the time at Haven, and I need to be out. To be doing something, going somewhere. They aren't living at Haven, they're settling on survival. The communities you have here are thriving. There's life in them - there's hope."

"You could walk away from your people like that?" he asked, stealing a glance at her face. Her heart sank, instead of being happy about her suggestion he was accusing her of being disloyal.

"Ezekiel suggested they join the kingdom, so I'm going to extend the invitation," she replied somewhat sadly. Then she decided to just lay it all out there, so she didn't spend the rest of her life wondering.

"My best friend Lana was killed last year. I wouldn't have gone anywhere without her. But there isn't anyone there who I would spend every day wondering what they were doing, praying they were safe," she told him, reaching out and resting her hand on his knee. She kept her eyes forward, too afraid to see his reaction.

"I'd drive myself crazy, wondering about you." she finally told him, just as they arrived at Alexandria. While they sat there waiting for the gate to open, he rested his hand on top of hers. He laced his fingers between hers and squeezed her hand.

"Yeah," he agreed in his simple way. Etta's heart soared.

**************

The next day, Etta and Daryl were loading the UTV with the items Etta had acquired for Haven and the supplies they needed for the trip. Daryl went to get his motorcycle and she put the makeshift cages full of chicks and the rooster in the backseat. Michonne and Rick came to see them off.

"I can't call our search for Negan a failure, Etta. We made a new contact with a trustworthy community." Rick told her somberly.

"And a new friend," Michonne added with her beautiful smile. "We hope to see you again, sometime."

"We're only gonna be gone a week, maybe. Definitely less than two." Daryl told Michonne as he walked the bike up behind them.

"We?" Michonne repeated, shooting a look at Rick. Daryl started strapping the cargo down in the backseat of the UTV.

"Mmmm-hmmm," he replied in his quiet, nonchalant way as he ratcheted the straps down tight.

"I must've missed the memo," Michonne quipped, trying to restrain her amusement.

"We'll be glad to have you here with us," Rick said, giving Etta a respectful nod.

"I won't be bringing much to the table," She told him honestly. "The UTV is Havens. The .44 is Verity's. I have a couple of self-fashioned weapons and a change of clothes. So I guess all I have to offer is myself."

"That's plenty," Daryl replied, his voice that gruff rumble she loved so well. Michonne made an "aww!" face at Rick and quickly turned away so Daryl didn't see it. Etta did, though, and found herself grinning giddily.

"I agree, people - good people - are the most important resource," Rick told Etta, shaking her hand and patting her shoulder. He and Daryl exchanged a rough 'man hug', patting each other on the back.

"Stay safe, brother." Etta heard Rick tell Daryl.

"I will, you take care of everybody here." was Daryl's gruff reply. Etta started the UTV and Daryl's bike roared to life. They were soon on their way to a new life.

****************

They found a small cabin to stay in the first night and acted like newlyweds. They laughed, told each other stories about their lives, and made love both before sleeping and upon waking. Etta had never even dared hope for this kind of happiness. The way he looked at her alone was more than she'd ever thought she deserved.

They were on the road early, wanting to get to Haven and back on the road home quickly. Etta worried a little about how it would work when they arrived in Haven. How would she guarantee Daryl and Negan would not see one another? She was formulating a plan when they were suddenly taking fire from both sides of the road. Daryl ditched the bike for cover, trying to provide cover fire for Etta to escape. They were surrounded and outnumbered.

"Put down your weapons!" someone ordered, and they had no choice but to comply. A thin, tall man with shaggy blonde hair stepped out of the woods and pulled one of the arrows Daryl had fired from the eye of the man it had killed.

"I'd know those arrows anywhere!" he chuckled, and Etta saw that half of the man's face was burnt and scarred.

"Well, what do you know? Howdy Daryl!"

"Dwight you sorry sunovabitch!" Daryl spat, struggling to free himself from the two men who were holding him back.

"You know these guys?" Etta asked, her hands held behind her back by another two men.

"They're saviors, one's who ran off when we took Sanctuary over," Daryl informed her, his eyes never leaving Dwight.

"Actually, we're not saviors anymore. We're done with all that saving people bullshit. We're ravagers now."

One of the men who was holding Etta's arm behind her so she couldn't break free reached around her waist and lifted her easily off her feet.

"We take what we want and burn everything else to the ground," he told her, reaching one hand up to grope her breast. "Lucky for you, you're worth keeping around."

"Get your hands off her!" Daryl raged, breaking one hand free and dragging the other man who was still holding his arm along behind him. Dwight slammed the end of his rifle into Daryl's face and dropped him. Several of the other men piled on top of him and began to beat him.

"You don't learn, do you?" Dwight knelt and looked at Daryl. He shook his head. "Best him to death, then beat him some more."

"No! No! Stop!" Etta objected as the men began kicking Daryl where he lay on the ground struggling to get to his feet.

Dwight approached her now, his eyes cold.

"I can trade you for his life!" she told him desperately. "I know where Negan is!" Dwight frowned at Etta, he looked like she had just slapped him.

"Who says we want Negan?" he sneered, but the men holding her disagreed.

"We were a hell of a lot better off with Negan leading us." one said, the other raised his pistol and aimed it at Dwight's head point blank.

"You with us, or against us?" he asked.

"How do you even know she is telling the truth?" Dwight objected.

"Please, for the love of God, stop beating him!" Etta begged, her face streaked with tears, her chest tight with grief. He had been dragged several yards away in his struggle, and she couldn't even tell if he were alive anymore from the distance between them.

The pistol still aimed at his head, Dwight called to the men to stop. Etta went weak in the men's arms with relief.

"I'll take you to him, just don't kill Daryl," she begged.

"How do we know you aren't leading us into a trap? Or just trying to buy time?" Dwight demanded.

Etta described every tattoo on Negans body in detail, and any of them who had seen him shirtless knew her descriptions to be true. She described Negan using Lucille to kill the Paladins, and how he had all but taken over Haven. Once they believed her about Negan, they were still doubtful that she was taking them to him and not a trap. So they agreed to keep half the men back at their camp with Daryl for collateral while Etta led the other half to Haven. If they returned with Negan they would let their leader decide what to do with Daryl Dixon.

She knew that when she returned nothing would be the same. She had chosen to lose Daryl's love by admitting she had protected Negan from Daryl's need for revenge. She had traded his love for her to keep him alive.

#daryl dixon angst #daryl dixon #Original female character #daryl dixon fanfiction #Spotify

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karolinarodrigueswrites · 2 years

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Me: [done getting ready for bed]

My tumblr notifications: [a follow from someone with what looks like a nice furry art icon]

Me: wait I was supposed to think of werewolves today

Brain: yeah that's why I've been rotating Leandro in the back of the room like this is a microwave in preparation for what you could do with Oliver in that wolf au

Me: what

Brain: just like Leandro, Oliver has rage paired with a lot of mother-hen/mama-bear inclinations, so he should be able to become just as compatible with the "truth" of "lycanthropy" in what plays out a look like getting to heal emotionally with the help of a trustworthy community

Brain: I also think it's kinda hilarious that with this au you get 2 guys that had violence beaten into them, got turned into werewolves, and thrived by embracing kindness when popular misconceptions still preach of an alpha that never existed

#kr rambles #Oliver and Leandro tag #Because I have nothing else ready to track whatever these ramblings become

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dogtrainingclasses · 1 month

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How to Train an Older Dog

Training an older dog can be a rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. While it may require a bit more patience and understanding compared to training a young puppy, it's entirely possible to teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, older dogs often have a wealth of life experience and wisdom that can make them eager learners. Whether you've recently adopted an older dog or you're looking to improve your aging companion's behavior, here are some tips to help you successfully train your senior pooch.

Understanding Your Older Dog: Before diving into training, it's essential to understand your older dog's physical and mental capabilities. Older dogs may have age-related conditions such as arthritis or hearing loss, which can affect their ability to learn and follow commands. Be patient and considerate of any limitations your dog may have, and tailor your training methods accordingly.

Set Realistic Expectations: While older dogs can still learn new behaviors, it's important to set realistic expectations. Understand that it may take more time and repetition for your older dog to grasp new commands compared to a younger dog. Celebrate small victories and be patient with progress.

Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement is key when training dogs of any age, but it's especially important for older dogs. Use treats, praise, and affection to reward your dog for good behavior. Older dogs thrive on positive reinforcement and are more likely to respond well to praise and encouragement.

Keep Training Sessions Short and Sweet: Older dogs may tire more quickly than younger dogs, so it's important to keep training sessions short and engaging. Aim for several short sessions throughout the day rather than one long session. This will help keep your dog focused and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed or frustrated.

Use Clear and Consistent Commands: When training an older dog, it's important to use clear and consistent commands. Choose simple, easy-to-understand commands and stick with them. Use the same cues and gestures each time you give a command to avoid confusion.

Be Patient and Understanding: Patience is key when training an older dog. Remember that it's never too late for your dog to learn, but it may take time and patience to see results. Be understanding of your dog's limitations and always approach training with a positive attitude.

Focus on Bonding and Communication: Training is not just about teaching your dog commands; it's also an opportunity to strengthen your bond and improve communication with your furry friend. Take the time to connect with your dog during training sessions, and always prioritize your relationship above all else.

Seek Professional Help if Needed: If you're struggling to train your older dog or if you're dealing with behavior issues that seem beyond your control, don't hesitate to seek professional help. A certified dog trainer or behaviorist can provide guidance and support tailored to your dog's specific needs.

Training an older dog may require a bit more patience and understanding, but it can be a rewarding experience for both you and your furry friend. By setting realistic expectations, using positive reinforcement, and being patient and consistent, you can successfully train your senior pooch and strengthen your bond in the process. Remember to always approach training with love, compassion, and a willingness to learn together.

#olderdogtraining

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beach-illustrations · 2 months

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Hi, I'm here to ask about ArtFol again, since it's been a few months and, well, you know how tumblr is doing right now

Have you been using the site since? What's your opinion of it now? Would you recommend it as a place to jump ship to from having an art blog on here?

I have been! Artfol is nice all things considered, they have a strict anti-AI policy which is a breath of fresh air right now. That being said I'm not entirely sure what precautions they have set up to deter AI scraping in the first place.

Ultimately, yes I would consider Artfol a good art blog alternative as long as you don't mind having a smaller audience than what you'd normally get on Tumblr. This especially goes both for posting original content, or fan art (which usually gets a lot more eyes on your stuff on Tumblr fast but for Artfol, it doesn't really do much to draw attention.)

There's still some discrepancies between the web version and phone app version- specifically features like the featured gallery tab and commissions sheet for your profile are still app exclusive. A little bit ago they finally integrated the groups feature to the app and opened up group creation to all users, not just premium subscribers. Best user experience you can get if you want access to all the free features is to have the app downloaded on a phone if you can and switch between using that and the web version on a laptop. It's deeply annoying to have features split like that but Artfol hasn't been around for too long, so I'm willing to give it a free pass for now.

I will admit, Artfol hasn't really been keeping my attention recently. Part of that is due to my new job, the other part of that is that I don't have any of my old mutuals on it. A huge reason why I've stayed on Tumblr for so long is because of the other people and especially the other artists I follow and everyone is more or less scattering to the four winds, rather than all jumping to the same exact platform.

With that being said, Artfol still has a relatively active and thriving art focused community! I haven't interacted with other users too much but the few times I have, everyone has been friendly and polite. If you're worried about missing the community aspect Tumblr provides (which I personally very much was!), Artfol is pretty great in picking up that slack. Community groups have been a personal favorite! Just pick a group you feel like you fit into, join it and now you're able to shoot the shit with others in that group, as well as make posts exclusive to that group! I'm in a furry group and a clip studio paint group right now.

And, of course, Artfol's main feature of serving as a gallery for folks to post and show off their art is pretty damn good. I really like the gallery set up, the featured artwork section is fun (you can put up to three pieces you've posted in a separate section above your main gallery! so everyone sees those pieces first, regardless of when you posted them!) and the collections feature in general is a HUGE favorite of mine. Beyond using tags, you can organize your art in separate folders for both yourself and for people visiting your page to peruse!

Artfol is still relatively small, especially in comparison to Tumblr and hasn't really gotten the same level of immediate traction such as BlueSky. It seems to be doing well right now, so if you're looking for a stable platform as well to host your art, Artfol could be a good choice.

#pristine-starlight

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relationshipsshrink · 4 months

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Finding Answers In Furry Places

Most days, I feel like I’ve seen and heard all there is to know when it comes to relationships. I have been a therapist for decades, after all. Then there are days that completely turn me around and remind me there’s still room for awe and surprise.

One of my female patients shared the following story with me, which cracks me up every time I think of it:

Not too long ago, she and her psychiatrist were struggling to figure out the right medication to help her manage her anxiety. They had tried many combinations, but without success. Her beloved dog, Rocky, could easily sense her body language when she was anxious and would sit by her side to comfort her. She felt a deep empathy with Rocky who, by the way, also mirrored her anxiety (but over car travel) and needed meds to help him cope.

One day, as she was playing with Rocky, she had a eureka moment: If Rocky thrives on his medication, could it possibly work for me too? Seconds later, she found herself comparing her weight to Rocky’s and calculating the proper dose for her body. With some trepidation, she poured herself a glass of water, closed her eyes, swallowed Rocky’s pill, and waited for half an hour. A wonderful feeling of calm washed over her. OMG, it worked!

Although she contemplated asking Rocky’s vet to double his next anti-anxiety medication refill so she wouldn’t have to confess to her psychiatrist how she solved her own medication dilemma, she knew she would have to share her awesome discovery with her. At her next appointment, her doctor lamented having exhausted so many unsuccessful medication trials, but said she was out of options.

Have you considered x, she timidly asked her psychiatrist?

No, it will never work because that medicine doesn’t treat anxiety, her Dr. replied.

Let’s try it as a final option. I have a good feeling about it, my patient suggested.

And, the good psychiatrist wrote her a prescription.

Any dog lover can tell you a story about how their dog changed their life. They have mysterious ways of detecting human feelings. Did my patient come up with the idea to try Rocky’s meds or did Rocky, who sees the world through his nose, communicate the idea to her?

It’s true we consider dogs to be a part of our family. But, share medications? You’d be surprised how often it happens.

If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please contact.

#Furry

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remembering-the-future · 7 months

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October 13 2023 at 06:59PM

Title: Unveiling the Hilariously Misguided Predictions of a Bizarre Historical Discovery Greetings, curious minds of the internet! Today, we embark on a journey that takes us back in time to a peculiar era filled with misguided predictions and absurd expectations. Brace yourselves as we delve into the fascinating world of a historical discovery so mind-bogglingly comical that it will make you question the sanity of those who attempted to predict it. In a stunning twist of fate, a renowned, yet eccentric, soothsayer prophesied a groundbreaking discovery that would change the course of history forever. However, unbeknownst to our wise—yet, let's admit it, slightly delusional—seer, their predictions were riddled with more inaccuracies than a horoscope. So, without further ado, let us dive headfirst into the clownish realm of their foretelling. According to our "reliable" visionary, the discovery in question would involve an ancient civilization that thrived on the usage of advanced technology—technology involving wearable pets. Yes, you heard that correctly, dear readers: wearable pets! Apparently, this ancient civilization believed in the concept of "Petsthetics," which involved adorning oneself with their most beloved animal companions. Can you imagine walking down the street with a dog hanging from your ears or a parrot perched on your shoulder? Bizarre, indeed. Adding to the whimsical nature of their predictions, these delightful creatures were believed to have had various tasks and responsibilities. The so-called "wearable pets" weren't merely fashionable accessories, but rather efficient multitaskers. They would reportedly aid their owners in everyday activities, such as organizing their workplaces, cooking meals, and even providing moral support during challenging times. Furthermore, our hapless prophet insisted that these technologically advanced, wearable pets possessed the ability to communicate telepathically—an idea as far-fetched as it sounds! Picture yourself trying to have a meaningful conversation with your pocket-sized, telepathic turtle. It seems like the stuff of a comedic sci-fi novel. But wait! It doesn't end there. The prophecy also suggested that the civilization in question revered a particular species called "furballus maximus" as their sacred animal deity. Allegedly, this creature resembled a cross between a grizzly bear, a squirrel, and, inexplicably, a Tickle Me Elmo doll. The mind boggles at the mere thought of it! Alas, as time and reality would have it, this prediction ended up being nothing more than a hysterical misinterpretation of ancient civilization. Instead of wearable pets and telepathic interactions, modern archaeologists have discovered evidence of a society that revered household animals as symbols of fertility and companionship. While it may not have led to the uproarious hilarity our seer envisioned, the actual discovery is still fascinating in its own right. So, my dear readers, remember this cautionary tale: even the most well-intentioned predictions can go awry. It's all too easy to be swept away by our own imagination, turning an otherwise serious topic into a side-splitting comedy. As we bid farewell to our whimsical prophet, let us embrace the joy that comes from laughing at these wildly inaccurate predictions. After all, the world can always use a little more laughter, even when it comes at the expense of historical discovery. Until next time, stay entertained and keep your furry, telepathic companions close to your hearts—just maybe not as accessories to your outfit!

#Remember

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