#pixie rambles

PROS: (And yes, there are a few)

I get more notifications for things I reblog if I've added something to them (fun, love it)

I can like different versions of posts, so when other people reblog my writing posts with comments or addons, I can give them love without UNliking someone else's

I can see how many reblogs or likes a different reblog in the chain has (nifty, not a bad idea, though I wish there was a less obtrusive way to see that; I've always loved that experimental feature that looks like a web and shows you where all the reblog chains went)

Knowing which reblog in the chain someone is replying to in the comments is helpful (though this could have been done in a different and WAY better way - a link back to the reblog above their comment, perhaps? Segregating the comment section is awful)

CONS:

OP does NOT get the notifications for their own post if it's a step down in the reblog chain (why??? it's THEIR post???? they should get notifications for it forever unless they turn it off themselves????)

Comment sections are now separated into hundreds of mini comment sections that you can only find if you actively search through all past reblogs in the chain, which is bullshit considering it negates the purpose of a social website. Put all the comments and replies back together. We're all friends here.

There is no longer a master notes count??? For OP's post???? Why???? We WANT to see how many notes the entire post has, not just which reblog is "most popular" afterwards, especially if OP's post goes viral because of a back-and-forth conversation or because someone else boosted it. The original post is still the thing being reblogged. There should be a total number for that.

Recently our little corner of the DA fandom has picked up the use of tag lists and so did I. Because it's kind of convenient and tbh a matter of copy and past easy going way to work against the constant fear of forgetting/not including anyone. This being said, I created my list trying to include everyone I think might be interested to get tagged in games or wants to see stuff about my OCs and/or read my fics. I regard tag lists as a helpful tool and follow a few simple rules:

1. I have my own tag list, thus you can be 99,99999% certain, I want to be on YOUR tag list, too.

2. Never be shy to tell me if you need a break from me and want to be removed from said list.

3. Even if we've never interacted before, I will gladly add you to my tag list.

4. Even if you are on my tag list NEVER EVER feel pressured, to play along with anything which is not your jam or because you're exhausted and lack the spoons to do it right away. I also don't expect comments or likes on anything (nonetheless, I'll be all giddy and will love you forever if I get to read some reaction from you)

This all being said, now have my current tag list, let me know if you want off ;)

I got bit by the fangirl bug.

Now i'm a 30-something year old grown ass woman. I been fangirling since I was 14.

Being bit by the fangirl bug has happened before and it will happen again.

Its actually a relief. My previous fandom obsession (Eruri) was stagnating a bit and I was also in this weird position where I was actively avoiding fandoms that I used to love with all my heart which were suddenly both putting out content again (Stranger Things and IT).

So I was feeling a bit disconnected, depressed and lost.

Then Heated Rivalry came along. And I was like "hoo boy this is going to be a problem for me" in a cheery naive way. And then...

I DIDN'T SLEEP FOR OVER 36 HOURS!!!

Like I literally could not shut off my brain. I forgot to eat and shower. I was so tired but I could not stop scrolling on my phone (for the record, I never do that. I'm a technophobe, I don't like being on my phone). I have access to prescription and non-prescription sleep aids and I took 2 different ones (maybe a 3rd, can't remember) over the course of the 36hrs and still could not fall asleep.

I'm not ADHD but I literally was looking up articles on how to break out of a hyperfixation. Because I was so tired but I couldn't sleep.

Like I said earlier I've been down fangirl rabbit holes before but never like this. It was just a lot.

Anywhoo... thats not meant to be a negative reflection on Heated Rivalry. Probably more just about where I am in my life. Also there are a few marked differences.

1. I have no desire to read fic for Hollanov because like, I read fic to explore things that werent in canon. But with Hollanov, its all right there on the screen. Nothing is subtle and yet it is so beautifully subtle.

2. This show makes me homesick for Canada. Like Shane Hollander you are so precious and Canadian to me. Tell me more about your cottage you polite dork.

3. My actors are on this show. Yes I worked in the entertainment field when I lived in Canada. No I will not tell you which actors are mine cause I KNOW those brats have their names on google alert and I don't want them to find me and see me fangirling. But gosh, that just makes me tingly all over to know I played a small part on those actors journeys to where they are now.

4. The press tour from Hudson and Connor (and special mention to Jacob because he seems like a hoot and he makes their interviews better). They are so fruity and freaky and obviously have so much affection for each other. It's taking me back to my McFassy days.

5. All The Things She Said was part of my young queer awakening. Jacob Tierney how fucking dare you!

6. A return to episodic TV!! Like it is absolutely golden to make us wait a week and go absolutely feral before giving us a fix!

7. You cannot watch this show and do something else at the same time. I'm terrible for watching things and playing candy crush at the same time (leave me alone, i'm old) but you literally can't with this show. And not just because you will miss the subtitles during the Russian bits. There is so much FUCKING DELICIOUS acting going on. I'm glad I got spoiled about Shane's character being ASD because Hudson is giving a masterclass right now that might not be understood by people that don't know this significant thing about his character. Also Connor is also giving a masterclass because Ilya couldve so easily fallen into a horrible "bad boy trope" hole but he didn't. He's so achingly serious half the time and then so light and charismatic and sexy the next. Its actually weird to watch the 2 actors in real life because Connor is so smiley and Hudson... Hudson is just a revelation. A nutty nutty revelation. So different from their characters.

Oh this is a super fun one! Thank you to @dude-watchin-with-the-brontes for the tag, I'm chuffed to bits about that.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

127 over 17 fandoms

2. What’s your total A03 word count?

928,129. Unfortunately I have to deduct about 95k because of a fic I didn't actually write that my friend added me as co-author on and I will not remove myself from.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently? The Old Guard. I tend to stick to one hyperfixation at a time and can't write for anything else unless a sudden burst of creativity leads in that direction. There was some overlap with Star Wars, however, and I might dip my toe back into that at some point. I'd also like to write for Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Ever Decreasing Circles (Star Wars, 2021-2022, 2794 kudos) - my big DinLuke fic. I don't think anything will do better than this, lol.

Not Going Anywhere (Voltron, 2016, 1856 kudos) - ugh, Klance. This was written when Galra!Keith was still just a theory, like just in the wake of season 1 dropping. It was a different time. However, still one of only two fics I've ever gotten fanart for, which did make me super happy.

Smile with the Rising Sun (DC Comics, 2018, 1526 kudos) - Somehow JayRoy&Lian + Batfam Christmas fluff is super popular. Weird!

Fledging (Star Wars, 2022, 1348 kudos) - Ah yes, the Skywalker Family AU. Anakin's pov, he was so much fun to write. Always meant to write a sequel to this, but completely lost steam because I didn't really have a plot for it.

Stitch by Stitch (DC Comics, 2019, 1196 kudos) - Prequel to the one mentioned above, written after, apparently the masses are starved for decent JayRoy? Took me a whole year to write this one, oof. I was (understandably) not doing well from about 2017 to 2019.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try to always respond to comments! Even with just a thank you! I love every single one, they make me so happy. If I don't respond, it's because I forgor.

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I used to occasionally write MCD, like one per fandom. That practice has very much stopped, and anyone who knows me can guess why. But even when I do write something like that I tend to end on a hopeful note, that's just my Theme, I guess, so I'd say it's a tie between Schwanengesang (Hetalia), because that one is just straight-up depressing MCD (and kind of old, eurgh) and The Baffled King Composing (The Silmarillion) but that's angsty in a meta way, because the reader knows what actually happens to the Union of Maedhros in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and knows the characters' hopes are all absolutely, completely and utterly misplaced.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Apart from the smut? *waggles eyebrows*

Let's see... Ever Decreasing Circles ends on a high note, with the reclaiming of Mandalore and Din and Luke married. Just all-round positive.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

There was a comment on Fledging which started bashing the hell out of Luke and Leia for keeping Anakin in the dark about their relationships, but that's the only one I can actually remember.

9. Do you write smut?

YUS! I used to write a lot more back in like 2016 (it's why my Voltron fic count is still so high, ugh) but occasionally the muse beats me over the head and I put out a straight-up PWP. It's more likely that I'll put it in a longer fic, nowadays, though.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I have, on occasion, written a crossover. Can count them on the fingers of one hand, mind. One was a RotG/Frozen crossover (fucking embarrassing, ew), the other two are, unfortunately, crossovers with N*il G*iman works (RotG/American Gods and The Old Guard/The Sandman). So I'm not linking any of them.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

If I have, I don't know about it. I personally think I'm too niche.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Three of them! One for Free! into French (By Any Other Name), two for Star Wars into Chinese (The Jacket Fic and Write What You Know).

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Sort of! I gave my friend Braincoins an idea, and she ran with it headlong into 95,000 words. I didn't write a single thing for it, but I still keep it. It's very precious to me, since she passed away.

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

I don't think that's possible. I have an OTP for every fandom, and each one I love for, potentially, different reasons. The current favourite ship is Joe/Nicky, but other long-lasting favourites are Sauron/Morgoth, Glorfindel/Erestor, Hulkling/Wiccan and Fenris/M!Hawke. I find myself coming back to that last one, on occasion, and I've been meaning to write some sort of Glorestor epic since like 2014. Still bloody haven't.

15. What’s the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Usually once I abandon a WIP, it remains abandoned. I just never have the will to go back to anything. The continental shift necessary for me to ever continue Those Hands of Yours, That Count the Nights would be able to reform Pangaea, I had some really fun ideas for that one (Padmé fleeing Vader on Naboo, Din and the Mandalorians in the Rebel Alliance, stuff like that). Alas, I doubt it will ever come to pass.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Threes. I'm always listing shit in threes. A friend pointed it out and I've been self-conscious about it ever since, but I like the flow too much to change it, usually. I really overdo it with the animal similes. Certain words crop up constantly as well (my overuse of "bright" is doing my head in). I hate hate hate writing action scenes, and I'm tremendously insecure about any smut I write.

I cannot write mysteries or intrigue. I am so guileless it's impossible for me to do so with characters.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Guilty of it, even when it's unnecessary. I try not to use Gratuitous Elvish in Tolkien fic because I find that distasteful and old Jirt himself believed in Translation Convention anyway, but in real world fics I am so fucking guilty of it.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Naruto. That was not on Ao3, and you will never see those fics. I started with self-insert stuff, then fell headlong into Kakashi/Iruka.

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

Three of them, because I can't choose, and I'm proud of them for different reasons:

Toccata (Hetalia, 2013) - This one still holds up well, it was my longest fic for a good few years (so it was a milestone) and I feel like I handled the themes and character motivations really well in it.

Even in Another Time (The Old Guard, 2024) - This one holds a section of my soul in it. It means a lot to me, perhaps for silly reasons. I feel proud of the amount of research I did, but mostly I hope I did justice to the real historical event it is based on. If even a handful more people know about the men of San Giovanni a Porta Latina because of this fic, it will be have been worth it.

Ever Decreasing Circles - There's some characterisation I'd do differently now, especially in the earliest chapters, but this proved to me I could write a long multichaptered fic. It's my only fic over 100k and that makes me exceptionally proud of myself, considering I have to fight tooth and nail against my ADHD constantly to get anything done. Seeing it through was a huge accomplishment.

so, if you're from quotev, my username is/was .preciouspixie

obviously going to be logging out of that fucking account and never using it again until the site fixes itself