IDIC

It’s the final few days of the Bluminarmour Project! After some issues with Kickstarter let’s see how far we can get!

If you want to see fantasy tropes, historical movement and silly tricks tested in authentic full plate armour, please consider chucking a few quid over (or like and share this post):

Kickstarter removed my highest funding tier so I lost £11k of funding since earlier today.

BUT

I think about this kind of thing a lot, anon, and I think my generation (Gen X/xillennial) kind of did folks dirty a bit.

In our defense, we didn't know we were.

I'm an educator by profession, as well as on this hobby blog, and so I spend a lot of time thinking about how people learn things. A lot of learning is social, and a lot of it happens when parents teach their children.

When I was growing up, pre-internet, my parents taught me how to talk to other adults in our community, how to play with other children, how to order food in a restaurant, how to call a business and ask a question. They literally walked me through how to do all of that stuff and more because those were daily skills in the world at that time.

We've spent the last 20+ years talking about how kids today are "digital natives" - but have we spent enough time teaching kids how to keep a conversation going when you're not in the same room as the other person? How to leave a comment on a post by a person you don't know? How to show your appreciation to a content creator? What a content creator even is and how that differs from a fan creator?

I know there are a lot of jokes out there about different things that would kill a Victorian child, but I think what would actually be difficult for them would be the lack of rules and instructions that kids today receive from the adults in their lives.

I don't have kids myself, so maybe this is all just bullshit and I'm talking directly out of my ass. But a LOT of the time when I notice someone doing something 'wrong' it's because no one ever told them how to do it right.

I kind of suspect that might be part of what's happening in fandom these days. Combine the above with the fact that fandom got inundated with new members in 2020 during quarantine and lock downs, and it's not surprising to me that a large percentage of the people in fandom today don't approach things the way that we used to before.

i don't fault them for it. When fandom was smaller and the internet was new, we used to take the time to bring people in. But now, it feels like 'everyone knows XYZ' so why does it need to be taught? And with how fast things move, it's more rare for newcomers to lurk for a while before they dive into everything.

This is a very long answer to a problem that probably just needed a listening ear, but I hope what you take away from this is an understanding that you're not the only one who feels the difference. I see this same experience shared in the notes on my posts all the time.

There is no easy fix for the situation and it certainly won't be fast to change, but maybe if we mentor a bit more when we have the spoons to, we can shift the culture a bit? One fan at a time?

If you managed to get all the way to the end of this, do yourself a favour and leave a comment on a fic or reblog a post with some chatty tags. DM somemeone or tag them or send them an ask just to let them know you see them and you think they're cool.

Jonathan met Jervis in college while visiting a local art museum (Despite his nature, Jonathan really values artistic things) Jervis was sitting on a bench and taking in some of the rococo paintings when Jonathan walked by

Something about Jervis had caught his attention, maybe it was his eccentric looks or the fact that he was so immersed in the art. Only Jonathan knows for sure

But as it happens, they quickly hit it off. Jervis knew quite a lot about the painting and shared what he enjoyed about the style, such as the carefree feel they encompassed within the brush strokes

The two men would alter come to visit together at a local coffee shop. (Jervis really enjoys their tea) and honestly, the rest...is history

Jonathan enjoys Jervis' gentle nature, the fact that he always without fail will hold his hand in return or smile at him when he needs it the most.

Jervis on the other hand really admires Jonathan's ability to remain emotionless when faced with the worst outcomes. Of course, that doesn't mean he's without emotion. In private, their talks can last for hours and are full of emotional energy.

It took several months of slowly introducing Jonathan to more than just sweet tea to get him to switch. Jervis was patient but also not having that shit

Jonathan really likes when Jervis gets on a step stool to kiss him

And Jonathan also likes giving Jervis forehead kisses <3

They never kept their rogue personas from each other, actually going so far as to ask each other how their various plans sound and how their outfits are designed

Yes, Jervis did make Jonathan's outfit. But he kept it simple because the man loves his burlap haha -- he does use a hand crafted leather hat though!! (minus mind control, ofc)

Yes, Jervis is the interior decorator but he allows for plenty of creepy items while living with Jonathan. The cute wonderland stuff is kept to a minimum (they both have their own office type space, so this doesn't booster Jonathan too much)

Jervis taught Jonathan how to crochet! He was naturally very good at it, being as he knew sewing

Jonathan stays up late most nights and is not a morning person, to contrast this Jervis goes to bed early and gets up before the sun rises

Surprisingly they don't argue over this, and will still share a sleeping space. They actually own one of those fancy mattresses that fold and change shape per side. So one can be up reading while the other sleeps soundly

Jonathan is the cook between the two, while Jervis is the baker. (In this verse Jon can't bake from scratch to save his life) Jonathan knows all kinds of recopies and always has a home cooked meal made for Jervis

They often work together as rogues, planning devious destruction and cunning capers. Their goons have no idea they are "together" but there are some rumors floating around ;)

If they knew of fandom things, no, they would not like the term "Hattercrow" - they prefer "Wonderland Terrors"

Sometimes Jervis catches Jonathan after a stressful day and in those moments, he likes to spoil him with acts of vole. Bubble baths, massages, pumpkin cookies -- you name it

On the other hand, when Jonathan notices Jervis is overwhelmed he lowers his voice and speaks like a storyboard narrator, making up little tales to bring a smile to his partner's face

Jonathan really likes Jervis' pumpkin cookies btw. They're his favorite thing. He'd do almost anything for those cookies hahah

One of Jervis' favorite gifts from Jonathan was a original first edition copy of Alice in Wonderland. Took him months to track it down, as well as a half year of profit to buy it

Flip it around! Jonathan's favorite gift from Jervis was a taxidermy crow, but not jut any crow! It was his beloved Nightmare who had passed away shorty after they were married.

They have been together for over half their lives! Slaaaay

Sometimes they argue, but more often than not they solve differences quickly. Both are very good at making compromises because they couldn't imagine a life where they were always angry at eachother

They enjoy taking baths together, not showers though. The height difference is difficult when Jonathan's head hit the ceiling

Their anniversary is on Halloween but they first met in March (because of course they did)

They have never stepped foot into a hobby lobby again after Jervis showed Jonathan all the local craft stores in Gotham

Yes, sometimes they do still go back to the museum they met at or the toffee shop they frequented as young college kids

Let’s play the biggest game of kick the can on the internet.

(this came out of a conversation in the comments on a previous post about an author threatening to stop updating a fic because of lack of engagement)

So there’s this idea that fic writers should write for themselves and not care too much about stats or engagement,

and i totally get the sentiment behind that. if writing becomes entirely about stats and external validation, something important does get lost - creative freedom and joy, conviction in your own writing

but i also think:

“i write for myself, but i post for others.”

because posting fic is not only self-expression. it’s social. ao3 is called an archive, but emotionally it often functions as a community space.

people post for connection, for participation, for others to bear witness to their pain and trauma and grief,

and i don’t think most people are asking to be admired so much as acknowledged. there’s something deeply human about wanting another person to encounter something that mattered to you and go:

“ok, yeah, I see what you were trying to say. I see you.”

especially because fanfic is often people processing very real feelings through fictional characters at a safe distance, one step removed,

and then uploading that deeply personal thing into a shared archive and hoping somebody else might connect with it.

And i think that’s why it hurts so much when you summon up the courage and post a fic into the void and you get nothing back,

and then it’s like,

I've gone. Not one for goodbyes, I thought it best to slip out quietly. Love to you all, Giles.

Eye of the Storm, by Harut Danielyan, 2025