Time-Wasting and Reblogging

I think about the writer who stopped writing because people went after them.

I think about the new reader who got scared off from commenting because they might say the wrong thing.

I think about the artist who was going to dip their toes in, but saw a blacklist posted and debated in the fandom they so recently were excited about.

I think about all the people who would be here with us, writing meta and squeeing and creating and lifting up creators. Who became ghosts, afraid that to speak up is to stick out your neck.

How many stories won't we get to read, how many pieces of art won't take our breath away, how many comments won't be put in notes or on stories that push us through our blocks... because anger and pettiness and jealousy and aggression are so common in fandoms that so many become ghosts before their time, and the ones who stick through it are still healing from their battle scars?

I mourn all the stories I will never see, all the friends I will never make, all the headcanons that will never bring stars to my eyes.

And I hope that all those who went quiet before they could speak will find a place to be safe, so that one day I may hear their voice.

That fic you wrote?

The one about the ship no one else cares about, or the deeply unpopular character, or the extremely unusual AU?

The fic that got no comments or kudos when you posted it?

Months or years from now, that fic might be exactly what someone is looking for in the sea of fics about all the popular characters, ships, and AUs.

Your fic might be the only fic out there that has what someone is looking for. The only fic that scratches the itch that it turns out you and that reader share.

And that's awesome.

you don't need to write a dark deconstruction of Peter Pan where he's willing to kill people and his state of eternal childhood makes him morally ambiguous, JM Barrie already wrote one and it's called Peter Pan

A 60-year-old man.

I need to draw more furries.

So something I'm loving about the unsleeping city so far is the commitment to being kind? Like I don't know if it's intentional but from the very first episode onwards we meet people like Kingston, whose whole aim is that he protects the city. He's there for his people, his neighbourhood, his community, he's giving himself to help them. He's a nurse- a healer- he knows everyone and everyone knows him. Kugrash, who lurks in subway tunnels and sewers, watching over subway workers and giving warmth and shelter and food to those who don't have it. Who makes little plastic shoes for a drunkard in an alleyway. And Ricky, whose only desire is to keep people safe, to use his skills to fight danger on their behalf, to interpose himself in harm's way. Even though it's not as evident in the others, it's still there. Sofia addresses a bachelorette party after her husband leaves her not to mock them or discourage them- but to wish the bride-to-be happiness and joy. Pete (though again, not as obvious, especially at first) takes his ex, who was actively trying to hurt him at the time, in his arms and carries her to safety. And Misty, though often vain and dismissive, has nothing but kind words and compliments for her friends and compatriots. Sorry for the rant, it's just something I think is really cool, especially given the setting of new York being portrayed as somewhere where people are cold-hearted and self-centred.

Day 23 - Kugrash and Sofia from the Unsleeping City

Brennen, these kids need a nap.

They optimized the hell out of that fight. Well done intrepid heroes!

Yup this is something I've drawn.

A friend referred to Project 2025 as 'the usual Republican fuckery' and it's like... sure, this is the kind of shit we always suspected was their endgame, but that's because they've been working towards it my whole adult life.

Like I'm sure that to you it's just 'business as usual, the Republicans are evil what else is new.'

But to me-

They want me dead.

I think that's worth a bit more energy than 'Republicans doing what Republicans do.'

LARRY

u sure u don't want me to stay?

very funny (irritating) to me that everyone whined and yelled about stupid rainbow capitalism and how performative wokeness/allyship is a net bad we should all refuse to support and now like.

tumblr is doing nothing for pride and target isn't selling much (if any) of their pride collection offline except at certain stores (in democratic areas, basically) and build a bear has a much tinier collection than normal and all the actual pride stuff is on their "adult" website (not sure if it's in stores, but pride = adult is a hell of a message)

there are genuinely good criticisms for performative allyship in all its applications. it shouldn't be the only thing we expect from people and companies. but if all the shit I see being called performative stopped tomorrow then in terms of the LGBTQ+ community especially we just. wouldn't talk about queerness or queer issues or celebrate pride or do anything.

open your fucking eyes. we are very close politically to having gay marriage rolled back. now companies are basically being let off the hook to even make a miniscule effort (which matters to the people who don't have access to any other kind of support in their communities! which normalizes the community in public spaces!) because the only reaction they have gotten over the last few years are negative ones from BOTH sides.

we are so entrenched in discourse at all times for the sake of our OWN performance of who is the wokest and who is REALLY an ally or a good community member that we have basically handed over all the work of activists of the last several decades to the other side because we'd rather scream at each other over fucking chicken restaurants and shit than the real life backsliding that's happening.

and this goes for other shit too. feminism, poc rights, all of it.

also. trans rights aren't discourse and aren't just culture war arguments. in case any terfs think they can spin this to be antitrans.

Was is on this post or a similar one where someone said that the corporations going all out for pride month is our canary for queer safety and this year the canary has stopped singing?

she has been pickled for her crimes