How many times do we have to do this, y'all?

It's not just pixels. It's not just "separate the art from the artist". In a fandom with a lot of youngsters in it, as well as many people that come and stay for the good vibes, incest is not okay.

Incest should make you uncomfortable, no matter which set of siblings it is. I don't care if it's the Bros, the Koopalings, either set of Pines twins, any of the Ninja Turtles, or whoever else you can think of. If you're defending it, take a step back and ask yourself why you're cool with it, because you really shouldn't be.

And for those saying to just block and move on, or even going so far as to tell people legitimately triggered by this sort of thing that it's on them...well, my man up there says it best. (WARNING: I show the evidence for the sake of the meme.)

Anyway, @/dreamyluigi is a creep. They've posted ship art of Luigi and Mr. L as well. Love the style, but good art doesn't justify gross beliefs.

Got a kid who's insisting they don't wanna sleep? Refuses the power of white noise and warm milk? Pop on this track, hug them tight, and hum while you rock them off to Dreamland.

Got another soft video game track? Use that too. Power of music, everybody. Keeps me sane while I scrape by between jobs, and might just help out a parent or relative trying their best to get a kid to calm down. Just make sure it's slow, drums are minimal, and there's no tempo changes or sudden guitar riffs.

Anyway...2024. There was a lot happening there.

If we're looking at Tumblr alone, it's pretty clear that this was the year that solidified Mario and Luigi as a hyperfixation for me. Helped along by the mutuals I made along the way, I turned out a lot of stories for AO3--moreso than I'd ever done for any other fandom prior to this. It's...mindblowing, honestly. Just the year before, I'd written and deleted my works after becoming convinced that it wouldn't amount to anything and ought as well not be out there. It was a pattern I longed to break, and I think I've finally cracked it, and I've never been happier to put myself out there and be cringe and free.

The rest of 2024 was a hell of a lot of change for me--mostly good. I moved across the country, started writing for another company, found another special interest in the form of Mario RPGs. I also realized that a load of my extended family have garbage takes, and that I alone can't fix that for them. My cat needed teeth taken out, my car got hit by a delivery truck in the parking lot, and I got holed up at my in-laws' house with the flu on Christmas Day. I'm still trying to make real-life friends, which seems to be an outstanding issue for little ol' me. Outside of college, I've never been great at making and keeping friends.

But I do have my network, without which I wouldn't have been able to publish a story, plan a big move, or even doodle on occasion. And you, dear mutuals and others, are a part of that, I've come to realize. It's stupid and corny, but there's something really neat about going to the internet and nerding out about things through headcanon posts, fabulous art, and wonderfully-written tales. What's even crazier is what fanwork can drive me to do in my original little things.

So, for 2025, along with some outstanding fics I need to wrap up and work on, I also want to put some work and effort into fleshing out a long-running project of mine: the world of Astrara, the worldhoppers moving throughout, and the threads of the universe tying it all together. There's characters I've been bouncing around in my skull for nearly a decade now, and it's about time I clear the sad lack of confidence from my space and actually draw them to the life they deserve. Might I make a comic? Who knows. For the next year, I just want to draw my little dudes until I run out of pencils, and then scan it in and color digitally. I want to make more art, and I want to write out the story of Lenora, Aylín, and their absolutely batshit journey to find their way home. Or at least, get the bullet points down and go from there.

It's crazy, but I thought turning out over a dozen fanfics was insane as well, and look where I'm at. Anything can happen. The spark has caught aflame. I want to keep creating. For the first time ever, I want to keep going with whatever the heck I've got going instead of letting it sit while I grind to live.

So, follow me as I get this going. See how far I go or fall short. Maybe ask me some more about what exactly I'm working on. I'd love to brainstorm and share and get others interested, too.

A bit of insurance in the form of doodles. Lenora on the left, Aylín on the right. One's being careful, the other wants to fight.

Kinda funny how much I project onto my own little stories.

Thank you all for sticking with me. Sorry this turned from reflection to a bit of narcissist goal-setting, but I've never felt so set on a creative goal before. This project means a lot to me and my growth over time, and without stepping out and meeting you all, I'd never be able to do this. So, thank you for being there, and I hope I've been able to do half as much for you.

A nation of firsts, amirite? We could've really taken a step forward, but I guess we're going back.

I just...I am at a loss. Not for words, but I guess for confidence in my fellow Americans? I have so many family members that think this guy is the greatest thing ever—even as he worked to tear apart the things that benefited said family.

My white-ass grandpa flies a Trump flag despite having Puerto Rican family.

My uncle backs the blue despite all the police have done and will do.

My aunts, my grandma, my own fucking mom. All were complacent as well, letting their votes be swayed by the men in their lives.

And I have to face them all at Christmas.

Hey there, anon!

As someone who was emotionally neglected and verbally abused by narcissistic parents, allow me to make this perfectly clear: narcissism exists on a spectrum. I made no mention of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, nor am I playing armchair psychologist. All I am doing is pointing out a pattern of behaviors that correlate with what I grew up with and, to this day, still experience from my family.

People can be narcissists without having NPD; the qualifier is being narcissistic to a degree. I can't say for certain whether Jelly's arrogance, lack of empathy, or strong desire for attention and praise extend beyond her online manipulation of her victim. That being said, there is enough there to at least observe that Jelly has displayed narcissistic behaviors from past to present regarding this whole situation.

All that to say this: people can be narcissistic without having NPD. I hope this helps you see the nuances of narcissism, and that you won't make such wide reaches in the future.

EDIT: removed tangential backstory, as it was irrelevant and detracted from the point I was trying to make.

Today's crying sesh? Why I can't buckle down and draw as often as I'd like because ADHD really likes working against that particular activity.

Solution? Finally getting a PCP up in [PLACE I MOVED TO], getting a psychiatrist in place as well, and hopefully resume focalin.

All of this, and maybe try not to burn out on work because of my lack of focus. No one's caught on yet.

Dunno why I'm posting, really. I'm fortunate enough to have a partner with a working car, and a garage to park that one in. I suppose this was bound to happen, parking out in the open for delivery trucks to hop the curb and smack my car sideways. I suppose I could've waited on repairs, losing a busted bumper to rust and continuously taping my taillight rather than taking it in and getting hit (AGAIN) by a goddamn salt truck the night before the new bumper was to be installed.

It feels like I'm committing the sort of first-world whining that people like to tear into--the sort of thing I ought to keep my mouth shut about. But I suppose when this happens to your first and only car, the vehicle that's stuck with me through high school and college and several moves, it's only natural to get attached. I paid for this car. I maintained it. I did all the things one ought to do, and through no fault of my own, it's beyond reasonable repair. It sucks.

And yet, there's still some good to it.

No one was hurt. Insurance is cooperating with me. There's video proof of who hit me the second time, along with pictures throughout the whole ordeal. I've got my records detailing services done within the past few years. I can take my time on my next car, should I choose to buy another car rather than share with my partner from here on out.

Sorry for getting personal over something so shallow and material. There's so much more happening in the world right now. I just wanted to vent and reach a bit of "car"-tharsis before I figure out what to do next. Depending on the payout, I might just pocket it and continue saving for that elusive goal called "personal property"--that, or keep finding GFMs and charities to chip into.

That's all for now. Sorry for whining. Have a photo of my favorite sticker, the one that probably deterred a few tire slashers and rude peeps on the interstate.