Figured it was about time I create a masterpost to pin on my blog.
Name: Kogarashi, Amanda, "hey you"
Editor, (fandom) writer, freelance artist
Multifandom geek and generally crafty jack-of-all-trades (master of none)
~ I Draw ~ I Write ~ I Craft ~
Outside links here, but the most relevant is probably my Archive of our Own page.
You can buy me a cocoa (Ko-fi) if you want to throw a tip my way, and you can buy things with my art on Redbubble (slowly adding to inventory).
I also have a side blog for reblogging art I like, and now a side blog for reblogging other people's fiction.
I have a tag list for things like tag games. Want on (or off) the list? Just leave a comment on the linked post.
Fandoms, collected posts, commission info, etc. below the cut to keep this shorter on my page.
Quick links to my OCs:
Castelin Cousland | Aelinn Hawke | Tyria Lavellan | Saadrah Mercar
There are a lot of fandoms I'm in (or at least consider myself a part of, even if mostly on the sidelines). The biggest three would probably be:
Sonic the Hedgehog
Dragon Age
Mass Effect
But you'll find me posting things from other fandoms from time to time. If you followed me for one specific fandom but it seems like my hyperfixation has shifted, if you stick around long enough I'm sure it'll shift back.
I've got some sets of posts where I've put together a masterpost to link them all in one place, or have a collective tag for useful things. You can find them here:
Writing Tips (mine specifically; you can find more under the tag "writing advice")
Art Resources (I may not have every resource post properly tagged for this one, but I did my best)
My fandom headcanons
Yes, I do take commissions for both art and writing. If you don't see a type of commission listed below that you're interested in, you can always send me a message to ask.
OCs or canon characters (or both)
No NSFW
I find mechs difficult but I'm willing to give it a fair go
Digital delivery
Payment will be handled through Ko-fi (if you don't see an option on Ko-fi, message me), or you can send me a DM to discuss alternate payment methods.
What you Get:
High-res digital copy of your commission
Limited personal-use print rights (no re-selling, but you can get it printed on media/merchandise of your choice for your own use)
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
β Live Streamingβ Interactive Chatβ Private Showsβ HD Qualityβ Free Actions
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Calling all artists and Sonic fans! To celebrate 35 years of the Blue Blur, we're partnering with iam8bit on an art exhibit featuring pieces from 30+ artists, fan art, and the SEGA archives.
RSVP and learn more about how to have your art featured: sonic35.iam8bit.com
I saw @westernlarch reblog the blank (made by @milkywayes) and thought that looked like fun. I've done similar for my DA ladies, but my Shep deserves some love too, I think. And maybe more thought into her character, because I didn't have easy answers for some of these and needed to do some thinking!
I've included links to images that aren't my own screenshots.
Casual Outfit or Armor: Alex is a "slumming it in the N7 hoodie and dark t-shirts" kind of girl. She definitely gets that from me.
An Interest or Hobby: Exploration. In my ideal post-trilogy setting, she's honorably discharged from the Alliance and uses her downtime (when not on active Spectre missions) helping to explore the galaxy. (Photo from Unsplash)
An Animal that Suits Their Personality: This one was a tricky one. Several of my other OCs have clear animal associations, but I'd never considered it for Alex. I wanted something stealthy to reflect her Infiltrator role, but also something loyal and protective. Ultimately I decided on a wolf (playful, family-oriented, good hunter, can be stealthy depending on the circumstances). (Photo from Unsplash)
An Object in Their Bag: Alex keeps a star keychain her father gave her for good luck when she was younger. He'd give it to her every time he left on a tour of duty, with the promise that she'd give it back to him when he returned. Now that he's gone ("on the longest tour of duty," as she tells people), it's hers. (Photo from Amazon)
My Shepard: Alexandra "Alex" Shepard, N7 Infiltrator, spacer and war hero, basically 99.99% Paragon (feel free to ask about the bits that are Renegade).
A Favorite Weapon: Her Black Widow rifle, a Spectre-requisitioned replacement for the M-98 Widow the Alliance took when she turned herself in at the end of ME2. (Photo from StarJeff3D)
Their Canon Love Interest: Garrus Vakarian, hands down, forever and always.
An Abstraction/Aesthetic that Captures Their Vibe: I don't know how abstract this is, but since she's space-born and has always been in love with the idea of traveling the galaxy, it had to be stars. I went with this photo of the Eagle Nebula (Sourced from here).
A Favorite Food or Drink: Another tricky one. I looked through Unsplash for food photos until I found one that worked, and decided her favorite food is "everything salad," when you get a bunch of greens and veggies and then throw all sorts of other toppings in there too (proteins, dairy, fruit, grains, fried things, etc.), whatever you're feeling. Add a good dressing (ranch is a favorite for these salads for me), and done. (Photo from Unsplash)
Tags below the cut.
First up, @lermisv4 and @lizardsexposed because I know you're both ME fans.
Also, my tag list (I don't know how many of you are into Mass Effect, so feel free to ignore if this isn't your thing. π)
Pivoting on the Lucanis topic: How do you think he views Teia, and the rest of the Veilguard, considering he said that Rook was his only friend aside from Illario? How do you think he makes the distinction and where do you think it began?
Now, if we're being nitpicky - and I love being nitpicky - Lucanis says "my only friend, before you" to Rook when they suggest that Illario was his closest childhood friend.
To me, that implies that Rook is his *first* friend after Illario, not necessarily his only friend.
And given his description of Rook ("my ... colleague") when planning Caterina's funeral with Teia, I think it took a while until Lucanis arrived at that revelation even after Rook freed him from the Ossuary.
That's where the distinction of everyone he meets into either Family, Enemy or Contract does a lot of the heavy lifting, I think (though I would say that Colleague should be on this list too - someone he can have a shallow working relationship with who isn't actively trying to kill him).
Growing up, *Friend* wasn't a viable category - I doubt Lucanis was ever allowed - or ever allowed himself - to grow close to someone in the way you are close with friends; there's a level of trust required that he wasn't able to extend.
That's why I don't think he's ever considered Teia (and by extension Viago) his friends. They were Colleagues at best and, no matter how amicable their relationship may have been, potential enemies (because of Crow power struggles) at worst.
The Veilguard is possibly the first time Lucanis has worked in tandem with a group of non-Crows for any length of time - people who are technically colleagues, but who do not behave as colleagues should, muddling his carefully drawn lines.
It starts with Rook, who grows in an important friend in every iteration of their relationship, and I think that opens the door to consider the rest of the Veilguard his friends, too - at least by the time Illario is confronted.
Personally, I think it starts when Rook saves Treviso in that timeline, and a little time after Weisshaupt in the other.
When you don't romance him, he tells you that he enjoys being able to take care of people he cares about through something as simple as cooking (or some such - I am utterly incapable of romancing anyone other than him, I'm afraid, so I have no convenient save to check that dialogue). To me, that is a new experience he unlocked working as part of a team and making friends.
Teia is still an edge case, to me; I don't think he considers her a 'friend', per se. Maybe a friendly colleague, something like a trusted coworker, pooooossibly family adjacent (because f the whole Nonna thing), but she is still a Talon and to be treated with the respect that title carries.
Going back to this and also this other ask - can you imagine what a revelation shared meals at the Lighthouse must have been?
Considering how much of a tomb Villa Dellamorte is?
Like, has this man *ever* had warm and happy and loud shared meals after most of his family was murdered? Dining out with Illario on a job or otherwise may have been fun in a familiar kind of way, filled with the kind of barbs and laughter you'll only share with someone very close, but that's only one person.
The Lighthouse is filled with them, and you can't tell me they didn't talk over dinner, exchange ideas and stories and talk over each other and just be so vibrantly alive.
A whole table of friends, all happy to eat Lucanis' food and enjoy each other's company, even on difficult days.
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@woundedsoul12 and @redaresss tagged me on this last week, but I wanted to hold off until this week because I knew I would be posting both a new Dragon Age fic (Shadow Dragon Week) and a new Mass Effect fic (Shakarian Mini-Bang) and wanted to include them. π
Rules: Post the first sentence of your latest 10 fanfics, then tag 10 people.
1: Priorities β My entry for the Shakarian Mini-Bang 2026 (check out the collection on AO3!). (Mass Effect 2)
drip.
(more first lines below the cut)
2: Dum Lux Es, Spes Est (where there's light, there's hope) β My fic for Shadow Dragon Week. (Dragon Age: the Veilguard)
There were, in Saadrahβs opinion, far too many shadows in Minrathous.
3: Tenebroso β My Lucanis Week fic. (Dragon Age: the Veilguard)
Moonlight spilled across the tableau of knives laid out on the pitted surface of the small table, cold silver sheen on death-sharp edges, throwing angled shadows across the floor.
4: If the Seas Catch Fire β My Sonic the Hedgehog Big Bang 2026 fic. (Sonic the Hedgehog, AU)
The train hissed as it rolled into the station, plumes of white billowing around the engine and past the windows of the first-class car.
5: What You Strive For β My DAO novelization. (Dragon Age: Origins) (This line is older than anything else on this list, but the fic was updated semi-recently, so it still qualifies.)
The piercing clang of metal rang out across the crowded castle courtyard, cutting through the din of voices and horses and creaking wagons, as two warriors danced across the packed earth and lingering frost of the fenced-in sparring yard.
6: The Neromenian Job β My DA Rogues Week fic. (Dragon Age: the Veilguard)
If you asked Saadrah, Neromenian smelled like rain, cheap wine, and bad luck.
7: Touched by Fate: Fragments β a collection of warmups and vignettes for Saadrah Mercar. Pulling from just the first entry in the work. (Dragon Age)
The Hanging District was gone.
8: What You Strive For: Fragments β a collection of warmups and vignettes for Castelin Cousland. Pulling from just the first (and currently only) entry. (Dragon Age)
Castelin stood in the arch of the portico that sheltered the keepβs main door, hugged her fur-lined cloak closer around her shoulders, and stared out across the pristine blanket of white that had transformed Vigilβs Keep overnight from sturdy fortress to winter miracle.
9: Through Chaos and Hate: Fragments β a collection of warmups and vignettes for Aelinn Hawke. Pulling from just the first (and currently only) entry. (Dragon Age)
Bethany was dead, and there had been no time to grieve.
10: Carry All as One: Fragments β a collection of warmups and vignettes for Tyria Lavellan. Pulling from just the first entry. (Dragon Age)
The bones in Cullenβs spine popped sharply when he finally leaned back from his papers and stretched, and the migraine that had been his constant companion since he left Kirkwallβsince heβd stopped taking lyriumβclawed at the back of his eyes with renewed vigor to remind him that it was late.
Apparently, Saadrah likes to start off some of her stories with her opinion. π
Tagging ten people for this: @westernlarch, @the-arcane-archivist, @mama-qwerty, @jellyeliart, @rooks-dagger, @sandcastlekings, @chaosherald, @himluv, @davrinsleftpectoral, @pixiedurango
Show me your last ten first lines, if you want! π
important reminder that most people you follow online are significantly lamer than you think they are including me. and if you feel insecure comparing yourself to someone online: DON'T. theyre probably also lame and weird. most people on the internet are
I know hosting an event can be hard and there's a ton of work involved. I don't want to discredit everything you're doing because it is huge.
But this response doesn't encourage people to participate. You never know when an event is someone's first ever foray into fandom or first event. They may not even know there is an FAQ.
The person asking even asked as an anon - likely nervous.
It can be frustrating to answer the same questions over and over again. I know. I get it. It drives me up a wall some days.
But this response would have scared me away when I was new in fandom.
Thanks for your feedback, I've taken it into account and removed the tags. I was not trying to be discouraging and I was not frustrated, from my perspective I was just being direct. Clearly this is not how it's been taken, and I apologize if I was out of line.
Please feel free (everyone) to address any concerns you have, it's always welcome. If you do it through reblogs/comments, there's a slight possibility that I may miss it, if I do miss it, contact me through DM/ask because I am not ignoring you purposefully.
Taking this opportunity to ask for any feedback and suggestions about the FAQ's visibility. On desktop, you can find it next to the askbox. On the main event post, it's one of the first things on the post, and it has direct links both to the desktop version and to a mobile version that I made because people weren't able to access it on phone. This post with both links is pinned for easy access. What else can I do to make sure this FAQ is both visible and accessible?
I saw in the comments that you were having issues making your link clickable, the code for that is "<a href='https://dragonagekissweek.tumblr.com/FAQ'>FAQ'</a>". Drop it into your bio and it should work on mobile. Does on mine. Hope that helps.
That said, the screenshot you posted also does not answer the question they asked. 'Making Content' does not necessarily suggest short fics given many events have word minimums or some other criteria. If there's no criteria that should also be stated otherwise it makes it very difficult to read the tag as if it was given in good faith.
If you find yourself answering the same question more than a few times, revising your FAQ for clarity might be necessary. Events grow and evolve as they're happening. There's nothing wrong with adding to catch more cases as they come. If anything, it shows that the event is well managed and cared for.
Running an event solo is extremely difficult. Having a second or third person would be a good opportunity to bounce this sort of post around so that the messaging is clear. It would also give a pool of people who can answer so the burden of answering isn't on you alone.
This event is well loved and I can't wait to see kisses flood my dash. Hope the vibes for it can turn around. Good luck!
Adding on to this, it may be worth considering a revision to your blog styling to make the links easier to find (larger font, different color, using the "insert link" function in the pinned post to create an embed, whatever works for you).
And be ready to answer questions you thought were answered obviously by the FAQ, because sometimes things get interpreted differently (or details get missed) when someone else reads it. There's no shame in adding clarification to a FAQ.
Luck from me too on running the event! I'm still looking forward to it, and a lot of that is the gracious reaction when the issue was brought up.
Was chatting the other day with @serialsforbellara, and remarked on how I found it amusing what colors I had mentally assigned my Rook (Saadrah), Spite, and Lucanis. Completely unintentional in the pattern, but...well....
The next shot I want to share is this nice moody one of the Archon's Palace as seen from Dock Town. Gloomy lighting, the ominous silhouette of the palace, the stark architecture... A very striking view.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
β Live Streamingβ Interactive Chatβ Private Showsβ HD Qualityβ Free Actions
Free to watch β’ No registration required β’ HD streaming
I know hosting an event can be hard and there's a ton of work involved. I don't want to discredit everything you're doing because it is huge.
But this response doesn't encourage people to participate. You never know when an event is someone's first ever foray into fandom or first event. They may not even know there is an FAQ.
The person asking even asked as an anon - likely nervous.
It can be frustrating to answer the same questions over and over again. I know. I get it. It drives me up a wall some days.
But this response would have scared me away when I was new in fandom.
Okay, this one definitely looks fun (I'm impressed with all the options!).
make this picrew and put your name in the incorrect quote generator!
Thanks for the tags, @sandcastlekings, @genjyoandgojyoandhakkai, @serialsforbellara, and @jellyeliart! I loved seeing what you guys got for your quotes. π
No long braid option that I could see, so loose hair it is! And after Vilz pointed it out, I couldn't pass up Sonic-related options.
And that...is actually something I could see myself saying.
You know, things are going a bit too smoothly. Let's fix that. π Featuring some new Enemies, but also a rogue Rook's canonical pocket full of firecrackers.
Dum Lux Est, Spes Est(where there's light, there's hope)
Chapter 4: Enemies
Rating: T
Words: 1,461
Snippet:
Minrathous nights near the markets were not at all sleepy, Saadrah determined, walking back to her rented room in the Hanging District after another long day of work. Her muscles burned with the not-so-pleasant ache of hard labor, and she was sure her calluses had calluses by this point, but it was also payday, and she could feel the comfortable weight of coin thumping against her thigh as she walked. All around, she could hear the sounds of the districtβs night life. Different in turns from that in the other districts, but also quite the same. Music and cheers in the taverns. Conversation on the street corners. Merchants still calling out their last-minute wares, promising discounts for the late hour.
People living.
The air was warm and smelled like fried foods and cheap beer and a salty wash of the sea. Not home, but not terrible either.
Almost a year in the city, and Saadrah was finally starting to see how it could grow on a person.
Like a fungus, sometimes, but still.
A routine planetary mission to collect a few caches goes awry when the Hammerhead is shot down. Shepard finds herself falling back on her N7 training to get herself and Garrus through their unfortunate predicament, with more than a few bones to pick with Cerberus about their idea of "field-ready."
Posted to the Shakarian Mini-Bang 2026 collection on the AO3.
I tagged anyone who may be interested. I decided to go through with it. This is a sideblog where I'll be posting music I like. That's it. Just music. I don't tend to share much about my preferences but I always adored music. My taste tends to be all over the place, so I hope you like at least some of the stuff I find. (99% of it is on youtube btw)
This is the account: @lapsed-alto
Feel free to share it to anyone who may be interested. I'll be making a few posts for the vibe.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
β Live Streamingβ Interactive Chatβ Private Showsβ HD Qualityβ Free Actions
Free to watch β’ No registration required β’ HD streaming