...you would see it as an alien and know your eyes have been graced with something beautiful

it's a little crazy to me how we have reached almost 1k fics on ao3 and so many new entries every day to the tag on here. so many talented artists, writers and invested people in general that have made up a semi-cohesive canon we can all share in. that's the coolest thing about fandom to me: rubbing our 2 braincells together to create sparks that burn like a bonfire with just enough stick poking care

if you are reading this THANK YOU just for being here, it's been a great time so far. and happy pride month, stay gaying

disc template under the cut cause this took too long to make it look blank to not have other people use it if they want

Mack was so happy, and all his teammates were so proud of him. I mean, just look at him, surrounded by people who actually love him for who he is and don't think his superstardom or his personality is too much for them to handle.

I admire how none of them were envious of him because we know how it can get sometimes. They were so attentive and made sure that he knew they were proud of him. Then, this goes back to him being in a postgame interview, saying he didn't think Graffer was going to pass to him on the empty net. I think it was that or something like that. But anyway, it's almost like he couldn't believe how much Graffer wanted it for him rather than himself. It makes me want to cry because, yes, Macklin, your teammates love you so much to the point where they will give up goals just to see you finally celebrate your hockey milestones in your life at such a high level.

And don't even get me started on William going to get the puck. He is such a good friend to Macklin; it's not even funny. It could've been anyone else, but William was there with him in that moment and wanted him to know that it mattered. He wanted him to have a part of that moment to cherish for all eternity. In that moment, it had everything to do with Mack and the help of his teammates getting him to surpass that milestone that was once Jumbos and frankly his now.

I just love the way all his teammates support him because, Lord knows, he needs it with the weight he has on his shoulders. They really make sure he feels the love, and he gives it back tenfold. It’s so beautiful to watch it all play out.

And one more thing: Kiefer Sherwood is one of the ones I admire in these moments because the big hug he gave Mack was unreal. He had so much love for him already, despite just joining the team, and that should tell you something, if not everything, about Macklin and Sherwood themselves. These people love so, so hard it’s not even funny.

Ten years ago today, I posed Crash Into You, my first post on AO3. If you look at my account, you'll see a few things older, but those were backdated, things I posted elsewhere that I wanted to collect on AO3. So while Crash wasn't technically my first fanfic (in two ways, because I wrote 3 Doctor Who fics beforehand, and because I wrote almost all of If Running's a Plan first, but it wasn't quite done when I blurted out all of Crash and threw it up on my brand new account first) it still feels like the Start of Something.

That start, was being a Part of a Fandom, instead of just someone who loved a property. I'd been in love with things before, but Marvel fic was the first time I participated in fandom community, and wow, I can't begin to express what it's brought me.

I've made so many deeply important friendships, including bonding with the person who is truly my soulmate and is inextricably wound into my whole life now. I've participated in and run so many events, most notably, being a founder and the lead developer of Marvel Trumps Hate, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity - something that still absolutely blows my mind.

In those ten years I've made a human (and started making another one, Ferretling #2 en route for Sept 2026!), ran and then closed a business, got a new amazing job with two of my favourite people on the planet (one of whom I met here in fandom!), started and finished a podcast, renovated my house, lost people I loved, gained people I love, rescued over 70 animals, and written over 3 million words of fic.

3,333,555 words, to be precise (and okay, yes, when I went to check it, it was 3,333,554 and I added a word to a fic because I'm a sucker for a pretty number, so sue me).

So, I mostly just want to say thank you. Thank you to fandom at large, for reading, writing comments, giving kudos, for building spaces, moderating, running events, welcoming newbies, celebrating creativity, and even donating your time and money to worthwhile causes. For giving me a home, even though the shape and colour and size of that home has shifted and changed over the years.

I am in the mood for yapping about Hudcon. This time I want to comment about the feeling I get everytime I see their interaction. And by interaction I mean these:

I can't help but notice how peaceful and calm Hudson looks in these pictures. All in the presence of a certain Texan man.

Whenever hudcon are together in the same place I almost always find a moment, whether in photo or video, where Hudson has this blissful expression.

I always say that I can feel his smile from across the screen. It feels like a smile that comes from the soul, not just the heart. Maybe that's why I also feel his peace.

And it's amazing how this expression always comes to the surface for Hudson whenever Connor's around. And from many articles about Hudcon so far, Connor also sparks a sense of excitement in Hudson whenever they're together.

Hudson's reaction after being separated from Connor for several hours, btw.

Peacefulness and excitement. Two states of being that seems contradictory but actually proof of how in alignment these two are. Connor is like a soothing balm for Hudson, but at the same time also a charger for Hudson's energy.

Maybe the best I can describe the situation is being with Connor is like coming home for Hudson. And I think the same also applies to Connor. They are each other's safest place, but also source of energy. Like a home where we're safe to be our true self but also energize and inspire us to tackle the world.

This VDay Story is heavy with feelings.