My, my those eyes like fire...

I love Bioware games, otome games, and most other hopelessly (and bittersweet) romantic things.(You can refer to me as JD)

[the-triangle-cat]

I'm officially ending the Stand-in comic with this post (main storyline only. There may still be short side stories or personal experience sharing in the future).

First of all, thank you again to the readers and partners who have helped and continue to help with correcting the comic's dialogue. 

Here, I want to especially thank @brynwyth and @hiimtryingtounderfell (Kaitogirl) for assisting with language corrections all the way to the final episode. Without their dedication, completing this work would have been unimaginably difficult. Their contribution was crucial to this work.

I also want to thank @celmif 's team for translating the comic into Russian over the past eight years. Their devotion and determination have made this story accessible to an entirely different audience, and I believe their work is the biggest reason I still have a wonderful Russian-speaking fanbase to this day.

I would also like to acknowledge the many other translators and comic dub creators who worked on this comic. While it is unfortunate that they were unable to continue for various reasons, the time and effort they put into their translations and comic dubs deserve recognition and gratitude all the same.

Thank you to @shayromi and @jjaydazo for inspiring me with how to present certain parts of the story. Special thanks to Shayromi for also helping me navigate Tumblr management in the early stages, and for the opportunity to collaborate with her Frans children, Elys and Arno.  

Thank you to @sharkowskii for allowing me to participate in her Underlab AU by creating the (Uncle) Chara character. It was a lot of fun and a great honor to be a part of this fantastic AU and work with one of the best artists I have ever known.

Thank you to all the friends I've made in the fandom from the early days of serialization until now. Your companionship gave me the most amazing experience during the golden era of the Frans community, and became the strength that kept me going.

Thank you to my Ko‑fi members for their financial support:

1797329, Angel, Astilla, Catalyst, ChitaMoMo, Cutegemster, Goosygander, Herewego, Ko‑fi Supporter, Leifeil, MeriahLatyar, Nancya, Olivia, Princess, Pun, Rdoel72, SofiMofi, Tamara H, Tiny Raven/Chel Maxfield, $WOOD$

Special thanks to TheMsource, @tangyactually, and @bloody-writing for subscribing to the higher tier. Tangy has always been extraordinarily kind and enjoyable to be around, and it is my privilege to have a supporter and friend like her. TheMsource has always supported me in exploring my creativity for Stand-in, and her positivity has made our time together memorable. Bloody-Writing's energetic vibes have been a constant source of encouragement. Their friendship and encouragement have meant more to me than words can express. 

I'm also grateful to everyone who has supported me with one-time donations on Ko-fi. Every contribution has been deeply appreciated.

Actually, I never intended for the Stand-in comic to be about profit. But I have to admit that continuing to update this comic completely free of charge would put much heavier pressure on me, especially during the mid-to-late production stages. To those willing to support me financially, all I can do is continue doing my best to fulfill my promises to my members and offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported me.

Thank you to everyone who has created fan art and fan fiction for Stand-in. Each time new fan work appears, it lifts my spirits immensely. Your creative contributions to this comic are my most precious treasures.

Thank you to Toby Fox, Temmie Chang, J.N. Wiedle, Magnolia Porter, Gigi D.G., Bob Sparker, Sarah, Michelle Fus, Kenju, Merrigo, Chess, Clairevoire, Easynam, Guzusuru, Everdraed, Flashygoodness, Leon Arnott, Mike Reid, and everyone involved in developing this game for bringing us such a uniquely special story, interactions, and gaming experience. This game has deeply inspired our lives, and I believe it will have a profound influence on both our past and future.

(Reference source: https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Undertale_Developers)

When the Stand-in comic was first created, it was just a comic I drew in my spare time as doodles. At that time, I had an idea that had been brewing in my mind for quite a while, and I simply wanted to see it actually drawn on paper. Back then, I had no idea this comic would grow to such a scale and take so much time.

Although my goal has always been the same: to complete this comic properly (at least not end it too hastily), and I never thought about giving it up, I won't say the process was without obstacles. During these years, watching the production progress repeatedly delayed by various necessary matters in real life, my doubts about "whether I could really finish it" never stopped until I actually completed it. Only then could this doubt and burden in my heart finally be released.

I want to thank God for His care and guidance. The truth is, this comic has been like a dream to me, a dream I've had for nearly ten years. Whether my circumstances were good or bad, I've felt His love through creating this story rooted in Undertale's themes of choice and mercy. It was my mental oasis that helped me barely hold on when I was on the edge of severe depression. In a sense, I'm still walking in the dark tunnel of my own life. The light is far away, but fortunately, it hasn't disappeared yet. This dream has reached its final stop. And I will, and must, find a way to keep moving forward.

I also thank my family for their help and support in my daily life. They may not know much about this comic, but because of the living conditions they created, I had the space and capacity to complete this work.

Finally, thank you to every reader who has followed this comic and made it to this point. Being able to share this joy with you is my greatest honor.

To all of you who have walked this journey with me: I hope that wherever you are in life, you'll find your own light in the darkness. 

May you have the courage to keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear. May the stories and connections we share continue to bring warmth to your days ahead.

May mercy be with you.

[apostatefeverdream]

"can you explain this gap in your resume?" I once breached the Fade in the name of another, to serve the Old Gods of the empire in person. I found only chaos and corruption. Dead whispers. For a thousand years I was confused. No more. I have gathered the will to return under no name but my own, to champion withered Tevinter and correct this blighted world. Beg that I succeed, for I have seen the throne of the gods, and it was empty!

[strawberryjayne]

antique.alchemist : instagram

[lecialucille]

੭* ੈ♡‧₊˚ porcelain animals

[tentacleteapot]

your unreliable narrator fucking bit me

[charl0ttan]

thats not how they told it

[sttinkky]

An overgrown light pole in Poland

[fem-harel]

Just so you know, I am side-eyeing anyone and everyone very hard for using AI detectors to try to prove or disprove AI generated written works. You are literally using AI to suss out other AI!

[fem-harel]

Be me: terrified of cement mixing trucks ever since one crushed a motorist to death near my university.

Also me: had to deliver food to a cement plant with cement trucks all around

[morebird]

mr thrill of the chase

[daily-spooky]

[possessionisamyth]

In light of recent events, here are some mantras I think everyone should keep close to their chests.

1) Horrible people are capable of making amazing art.

Morality has no marker on experience and skill level. Only what they produce can, in theory, reveal their inner beliefs.

2) Do not put famous people or anyone on a pedestal.

You can be inspired and touched by what they create. There's no need to raise them to a hero or god like status in your mind. They will be awkward, annoying, and so very human it may lead you to disappointment and sadness when they don't meet the image you made of them in your head.

3) "Separate the art from the artist" rhetoric only works if the artist is dead or can no longer profit from the IP.

Every dollar you give to a franchise with a living bigoted artist is supporting their life style. They still receive that money even if you don't vocally support their beliefs. Please remain aware of where you put your wallet since financial support is still support. Pirate if you're desperate, but do not pretend buying merchandise directly from the store is harmless.

4) Respecting victims should be your priority.

You were not the ones hurt the most by events which occured. Conversation around this topic needs to be tagged appropriately and spoken of with sympathy.

As many people want to claim "they knew there was something fishy about X", it's not about lounging in your self perceived righteousness for not being into the thing. You are neither unique nor special for not getting into a media where the creator was revealed to be harmful. You were just as ignorant as the rest of us, and your bad feeling being validated is about as significant as claiming to sense ghosts in a house full of black mold.

In addition to this, fans of the media should not be taking this time to victimize themselves. Learning information like this so suddenly means we are aware you didn't know. There will not be your imaginary mob coming into your inbox to send you death threats or dox you for having made fan content. Stop acting like self flagellation or taking up arms is the next logical step to defend your interest.

5) You are allowed to be angry and hurt.

It's easy for me to say don't make people your heroes, but I know this isn't a mindset many people adhere too. Especially not people who are looking for footholds to build their skills and find inspiration and connection in the art someone of their similar passion creates. You can sit in your frustration and despair for a little while. Give yourself time to fully process what has occured, and then choose your next course of action. The internet has taught many people to react immediately to everything, but this is not nor has ever been required of you.

✌🏾

[houseofcucci]

Being an adult is so weird. I’m just unsupervised all the time??? How unsafe

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Industrial wastelands to wildlife oases: Five nature wins that have actually worked

Nature is in rapid decline but here are five ways to make positive change.

The short version of this article basically boils down to "protect and restore habitats, restore native species while removing invasive ones." These are very flexible plans that can be done on a wide variety of scales, even a small yard or garden. At a time when things seem dire for the planet and its many ecosystems, these deceptively simple solutions can have a major impact.

For example, removing invasive species can make an ecosystem much more resilient in the face of anthropogenic climate change. While this is sometimes easier said than done (ask me how much Scotch broom and autumn olive I've pulled over the years!) the sustained effort of habitat restoration is worth it.

Plus there are already people around the world engaged in restoration ecology. There might not be as many volunteer activities as there are here in the U.S., but that doesn't mean you can't do your own pulling up of invasive plants in your yard if you have one, for example, or along a local streambank. Each one removed means fewer in the local gene pool and competing with native plants.

Many small efforts add up, and while it won't solve all the ecological problems, it's a way to do something concrete that works.

[telltaletypist]

weirdest part of being an adult is the fact that you can put off watching a movie for nearly a decade and barely notice

[mayothompson]

not normie enough to fit in but not fringe enough to lean into being a freak, worst of both worlds, pure liminality, just the weird coworker, and unrelatable classmate. and your mutual

[timethehobo]

A lich lords’ glamour. ✨💀

[ozziyo]

thinking about fancy parties and the romance of wearing each other's colours

+ the trials of marrying a scrappy little lord of fortune