ArtisticMomma

Wife, Mom, and Principal. Christ follower. Enjoyer of everyday moments. Legend of Zelda & Spy x Family fanatic, colored pencil artist, and fanfiction writer! @flutefemmeart on Instagram @flutefemme on twitter, Ao3, and Cara

[flutefemme]

I think it's going to be revealed on Smoking Behind the supermarket with you, that Yamada and Tayama are really good friends.

😏

[flutefemme]

"Beside Me"

A Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You Meta Analysis

Recently, I've completely fallen in love with this manga (and now, consequently, the anime!) and you know me and meta posts, so I naturally had to do one for these two sillies! 💙❤️

The heart of this manga lies in its reverence for the ordinary. It gathers countless little moments between Sasaki and Yamada—moments that might seem forgettable or even boring on their own—and quietly reveals them to be the building blocks of intimacy.

Every shared silence, every awkward exchange, every small act of kindness carries them one step closer to each other. Their romance blooms not in extraordinary circumstances, but in the gentle sanctuary of everyday life, where love is expressed through steadfast support and sincere compassion.

One of my favorite exchanges takes place on Sasaki's birthday. After scanning his points card, Yamada realizes it's his birthday and immediately turns on the full customer-service charm, greeting him with her brightest smile. In true Sasaki fashion, though, she's met with the kind of deadpan gloom only he can deliver. What's even funnier is that Yamada is genuinely disappointed and a little put out by his lack of enthusiasm. 🤭

She ends up pouting and venting to her much older coworkers, who quickly explain a truth every forty-something knows all too well: after a certain age, birthdays just don't carry the same excitement they did when you were young.

Completely baffled—and more than a little skeptical—Yamada decides she's going to find out if that's really true. Is it like that for Sasaki-san, too?

The next day, Yamada returns as her unguarded back patio self and quietly reminds Sasaki of the previous day's exchange. In that moment, she confirms what her older coworkers had predicted: he'd forgotten his own birthday entirely.

The realization hits Sasaki hard. Almost instinctively, he slips into the familiar pattern of guilt and self-recrimination, unable to think about anything except how carelessly he'd responded to Yamada's heartfelt gesture.

Then Sasaki reveals an incredibly painful self-truth: his words lay bare the loneliness he's been carrying. He's reached a place where he no longer expects to be celebrated, affirmed, or even thought of. Birthdays have become meaningless because, in his mind, no one is waiting to celebrate them with him. If another year has passed without anything changing, why pretend it's a day worth remembering?

But Yamada won't let him write himself off. She reaches for his hand and tells him what he desperately needs to hear: that he matters.

She doesn't celebrate him because it's his birthday. She celebrates him because of the person he's become. His kindness gives her hope. His character makes her look forward to growing older. In her eyes, the greatest proof that his years have meant something is the man standing before her.

For Sasaki, the words land with breathtaking weight. He's so moved by her sincerity that all he can do is look at her in stunned silence.

For a brief moment, they simply look at each other. Sasaki quietly promises himself he'll never forget this day or the feelings it stirred within him.

Naturally, the mood doesn't stay solemn for long. Yamada points out the size of his hands, and Sasaki finally realizes they've been holding hands the whole time, sending him into an adorably flustered panic. 😏

What follows is a beautifully understated exchange of gifts. They trade cigarettes, transforming an everyday object into a symbol of the bond they've just affirmed. Each pack becomes a reminder that someone sees them, values them, and chose to leave them with something to remember that by.

Bringing the conversation full circle, Yamada playfully points out that they now each have a pack of cigarettes to show for another trip around the sun. To punctuate the sentiment, she gives him one more of her bright, uninhibited birthday smiles.

On his walk home, something remarkable happens. Sasaki's inner monologue, so often dominated by self-criticism, begins to shift. His thoughts drift to the young employee he's been mentoring at work, and he realizes that even if his efforts never earn him a promotion, a raise, or any public recognition, they still have value. The lives he's touched are proof enough.

He pulls the cigarette pack from his pocket and smiles at the name printed on it. It feels almost poetic—an unexpectedly perfect symbol of the quiet, precious relationship he's found with Yamada. 💙

[flutefemme]

"Only with You"

A Spy x Family TwiYor Analysis

Until he meets Yor Briar, Twilight has deliberately chosen never to let anyone see a crack in the carefully constructed facade he wears as a spy. He lives in isolation—thinking in private, feeling in private, breaking down in private. He has convinced himself that isolation is not only necessary—it's survival.

But Operation Strix demands something entirely different. To succeed, he has to convincingly become a devoted husband and loving father, and from the very beginning, that role begins to chip away at the walls he's spent years building. You can't be a truly present husband and father while keeping the people closest to you locked out. And no matter how skilled he is, no one can maintain a performance every waking moment.

That's where Yor becomes so important. Her kindness, patience, encouragement, quiet thoughtfulness, and endearing sincerity are the perfect antidote to the emotional fortress Twilight has built around himself. Little by little, she creates a space where the man behind the mask can finally begin to exist.

Twilight absolutely trusts his fellow agents with his life—but that's very different from trusting them with himself. They'll never see him unguarded, emotionally vulnerable, or genuinely struggling. Those parts of him remain carefully hidden behind the identity of "Twilight."

We see this repeatedly throughout the series. When Handler casually asks whether he enjoyed his vacation with his family, he immediately brushes the question aside, insisting he couldn't possibly have enjoyed himself at all—a response that earns nothing more than an amused smile from Handler, who seems to recognize the denial for what it is.

Even after Wheeler leaves him battered and barely conscious, Twilight instinctively slips back into the role of the stoic protector, focusing on taking care of Nightfall despite having been unconscious only moments before.

It's almost reflexive. No matter how exhausted, injured, or emotionally shaken he may be, Twilight's first instinct is always to put the mask back on. Competence is the only version of himself he allows his colleagues to see.

As Twilight learns to navigate life as both a husband and a father, it's Yor's quiet persistence and unwavering sincerity that begin to wear away the walls he's spent a lifetime constructing. Like a stream slowly smoothing stone, her kindness doesn't break through his defenses all at once—it patiently reshapes them until the man hidden behind the mask can finally begin to emerge.

The transformation is both gradual and surprisingly swift. No single moment changes him; instead, it's the accumulation of a thousand small choices—every word of encouragement, every act of trust, every quiet moment of acceptance—that invites Yor deeper into the parts of himself he's never allowed anyone else to see.

This is the beauty of their love story: it isn't defined by dramatic confessions, but by the countless quiet moments that allow two fiercely guarded people to become each other's home. Their romance is built on the safety to be vulnerable—the willingness to let the other care for them in ways neither had ever believed they deserved or even knew were possible.

It's this feeling of home—and the quiet gravity of Yor becoming his safe place—that stirs something in Twilight he hasn't felt since childhood. Ever since losing his mother, "home" has been less of a place than a memory. He's survived by convincing himself he doesn't need one.

But now, almost against his will, his heart is being drawn toward the very thing it's been missing all along: someone waiting for him at the end of the day, someone who sees him, cares for him, and offers him the kind of rest he's never known as an adult.

It's no wonder the lines between duty and desire begin to blur. The certainty he once relied on is giving way to something far more human. The result is complicated, messy, and wonderfully rewarding to watch unfold.

We're all cheering you on, Twilight.💚

[weaselmcdiesel]

go my sxflings

[flutefemme]

💯💯💯🩷💚

[flutefemme]

Snuggle time. 🥰

(Bonus points if you know where they are 😏)

[rottencandyapp1es]

Spider-man Kiss™ but make it zelink ❤️💋💙

[flutefemme]

"Mr. Buzz"

A Spy x Family Damian Meta-Analysis Post on Growth and Maturity

First, it's important to understand that even though he says he's happy about his new classes without Anya, Damian hates change. He defaults to what is familiar and safe.

Anya, on the other hand, easily adapts and improvises in new situations with confidence. I say from personal experience that little boys love to play with little girls that have this type of personality. In PreK - 1st grade, both my daughters had a little cult following of boys...

During recess, both of them got kissed by boys 😂 (it was innocent & was addressed) and both got little marriage proposals from boys. This is the age where kids begin to learn how to handle all sorts of feelings. My son kissed a little girl classmate at recess in Kindergarten! 🤭

My point is, this isn't abnormal, and it's a healthy part of growing up. But for kids like Damian, it's scary because it's unfamiliar. So he fights these new, intrusive thoughts and feelings. They're a threat to his feeling of safety. He doesn't have the tools yet to process them.

Oh boy. Aside from Ewen—and even that sparked jealousy—he’s never seen boys show interest in Anya. This is new. She’s glowing, but not for the reason he assumes. It hits like a freight train. Denial won’t save him if he admits the truth, and it is the only coping strategy he knows.

Enter Becky, our high emo IQ diabolical pot-stirrer. Here for the drama. She makes a bad situation worse and throws Damian into a panic. And what's Damian's biggest fear? Being forgotten. He has a terrifying vision of losing Anya forever, and he's shook.

Becky, you play dirty.

Cue the nightmares, poor guy! I love that he's clad in a Stella shield and Eden's logo circlet. He sees this as a threat to his success, and the Goliath of jealousy and envy ultimately defeats him, because he cannot deny his true feelings - something we all have to learn as we mature.

Finally, Damian admits to himself that his feelings are legitimate and starts thinking on it. His buddies notice him struggling and offer support but he's not ready to fully share his realization just yet. Cue the brilliant "So I have this friend" idea😂We've all done it!

Damian's feels are big. Bigger than most kids. So when his buddies see how much this is affecting him, it has unintended consequences for them, too. Now nobody can sleep😭The fear of being forgotten is very real & scary, especially for kids this age. Time for a new strategy!

I love Mr. Green. I love that the boys trust him enough to ask him for help. He suggests that new and unfamiliar feelings must be understood, acknowledged, and accepted for what they are before we can process them in a healthy way. Then and only then can the paradigm shift. Brilliant.

As a master teacher, he then gives them their first new tool for their tool belt. The boys take the info back to Damian and adorably mistake the rare ability to "paradigm shift" for a "paradise fist" and Damian is naturally drawn to the idea that he can take control of his own thoughts.

Damian rarely lies, but he makes up a silly distant "friend" and tells Ewen and Emile what they need to hear: they are his only true friends and they're dear to him😭and we get to witness a sweet moment with these three boys that care for each other so much. Be still my heart!

Cue the best Damian scene in the manga to date. He has a heart of gold. With the proper tools in his belt, this boy can change the world. We finally see him embracing the new - empowered, courageous, and willing to make peace with conflict - a huge "paradigm shift" for him!

This moment had me tearing up, tbh. It is not only a huge moment for Damian, but for the story. We have a Desmond who has an open heart; desiring connection and understanding before dismissal and judgment. He has a beautiful spirit. Man, I love this kid. Future leader of integrity.

This boy takes his tools seriously. He's a scholar, and his approach to his emotional learning is no different. He designs a little Paradise Fist (SO CUTE), symbolizing his new mindset paradigm shift. Becky makes fun of his nerdiness, but there's only one person's opinion he cares about.

The first test! Mr. Buzz appears. Anya and Damian notice each other and he braces for the worst but she is enthralled with his creation, gushes over it, ignoring the other boys.

My absolute fave is the little buzz falling off screen as he gets the reward of her attention just for being himself.

Damian and Anya don’t realize it yet, but they fit perfectly: imaginative, driven, bold, and hilariously nerdy. Becky may try to change Anya—but Damian will always love and appreciate her as she is. Soon, he’ll realize the key to Anya's heart is exactly the same.🩷💚 +100 for growth!

[flutefemme]

"The Romance of Admiration"

A Twilight POV Spy x Family Meta Analysis

There are very few people in Twilight’s life he’s ever truly admired. Admiration requires attachment, and attachment is dangerous for a spy. Even among his fellow WISE agents, the strongest feeling he allows himself is professional respect. Before Operation Strix, the only people who ever inspired genuine admiration in him were his childhood friends and his mother. The moment Yor enters his life, Twilight finds himself facing the dangerous pull of admiration, along with a cherished sense of closeness he hasn’t felt since childhood.

And eventually, that admiration blossoms into genuine affection.

Yor unnerves him from the very beginning. Her intuition cuts dangerously close to the truth, leaving him both fascinated and wary. For the first time in years, Twilight briefly wonders whether he has found an equal. His response is immediate and impulsive: he tells her - plainly - that he finds her beautiful.

Before Twilight can settle on a course of action, Yor beats him to it, taking control of the situation and catching him completely off guard. It marks the beginning of her profound influence over him, as her ‘dangerous’ intuition consistently nudges him toward growth.

What begins as a mission quietly becomes Twilight’s path toward becoming a better version of himself.

Twilight’s first outing as Yor’s fake boyfriend goes catastrophically off-script when his mission and real identity violently collide.

Completely destabilized, he watches Yor believe every increasingly outrageous excuse he invents and can’t decide whether she’s terrifyingly perceptive or hopelessly naive😂

Yor’s swift incapacitation of the ‘patient’ marks the first moment Twilight experiences genuine admiration toward her. The impact is immediate and profound, culminating in something the series almost never allows him: authentic, uninhibited laughter.

Even more telling is his reaction to Yor’s hastily constructed excuse—he accepts it outright, bypassing the suspicion and scrutiny that define him as a spy.

Yor once again seizes the initiative, proposing outright before Twilight can fully assess the situation. The man is so shocked he faceplants.😂Then, in classic Yor fashion, she reels him in completely, and he agrees almost instantly.

The exchange that follows is genuinely one of the best vow scenes ever written.

For Twilight, Yor opens access to a life he once believed impossible: the hope of an ordinary life and meaningful companionship. Although he continues to frame everything as part of the mission, her impact on him is unmistakably genuine.

For someone as deeply conditioned as Twilight, voluntarily drawing attention to himself runs counter to everything he believes about survival and espionage. Nevertheless, Yor’s influence repeatedly pushes him beyond those boundaries. She even influences him to accept heartfelt praise with genuine humility—and the look of admiration he gives her afterward is so warm and obvious that Anya gleefully notices before he can hide it!

Yor demonstrates unusual strength and physical prowess in front of Twilight throughout the series. Each time, she offers up excuse after excuse - and Twilight keeps believing her without suspicion, time after time.

Aside from embellishing the existence of a deceased wife, Twilight’s account before the interview panel is rooted in truth. Yor, too, answers with sincere honesty.

But when Swan humiliates Yor and Anya, Twilight’s composure collapses under a wave of genuine fury. His reaction is instinctive, emotional, deeply personal—and afterward, the realization unsettles him enough to question his own suitability for espionage.

Twilight knows that he's only supposed to rely on himself and prepare for the worst but throughout the series - again and again - he finds himself rationalizing the benefit of feeling the emotions that he so desperately craves: hope, happiness, and a life with people he genuinely cares for.

What frightens Twilight most is not the danger surrounding the mission, but the realization that Yor and Anya have become irreplaceable to him. Somewhere along the way, the fabricated family ceased to be fiction. Unlike previous relationships, which remained emotionally detached and transactional, this bond is genuine and reciprocated. He now recognizes that he cares deeply about their emotional well-being and stability.

Through Yor’s influence, he is finally forced to confront the impossible question at the heart of his transformation: if forced to choose, would he sacrifice the relationship (himself) for the mission—or the mission for his family? Only time will tell.

[flutefemme]

Favorites vs Populars Tag Game

(Created by @abbyz-elda!)

I’ve noticed through lots of different conversations that an author’s most popular fics aren’t necessarily their favorites! I wanted to create this opportunity to let people share their top 3 fics by either hits or kudos, followed by top 3 fics by personal favorite (and share where they do or don’t line up!)

How fun is this! Actually haven't thought of this before. Here are mine!

TOP 3 BY KUDOS

"The Zelink Chronicles"

This was my first collab fic with a few wonderful friends of mine. We did world-building, I drew a map for it, and it is fully illustrated. I can definitely see why it's my top fic. It also has my absolute favorite Link/Sidon fanfic moment of all the Link/Sidon fanfic moments I've ever read anywhere (even if I do say so myself LOL). Let's just say Zora wedding traditions are delightfully mischievous 😂

"The Fallback Plan"

This was my very first fanfic I've ever written, and it is the fic that got me started in the Zelda/Zelink fandom. It definitely aligns with my top 5 faves, and is a work AU! Also a longfic - Link is a police officer, and Zelda is a new teacher in town at the local middle/high school. Much shenanigans ensue. Corporate espionage, all the things lol!

"The Long and Winding Road"

This is currently my crowning achievement (IMHO) fic. My favorite fic I've written to date, and the one I'm most proud of. It's a Cowboy!Link Twilight Princess AU set in 1920's western US. It has the mob, country living, and Teacher!Zelda...plus Link's a widowed dad of a fiestly little guy who's the terror of the local school. It's a really heartwarming redemption arc fic, and I actually go back and read it often!

TOP 3 FAVORITE FICS

"The Long and Winding Road" - My favorite, as stated above.

"Billet-Doux"

I wrote this fic for Zelinktines a couple years ago, and I fell in love with it so hard. This is my second-favorite AU. Librarian!Zelda and Journalist!Link start a romance in letters at the local library. The story is told mostly through their letters, and Purah is Zelda's best friend and wingwoman, and I really have to go back and reread it again now because my heart just squeezed thinking about this fic LOL!

"The Winter Star Soiree"

This is actually one of my Spy x Family canon-compliant fics. It's currently in process - only one chapter left to go! It's a Damianya story, because I just adore their dynamic and bantering kids with one of them having a one-sided crush is just too fun not to love from the bottom of my heart. Writing kids is my favorite thing to write. It's silly and fun and my goal was to make it feel like a manga arc. 🩷💚

Honorable Mentions:

"Technically Speaking" - A PurRobbie fic still in progress; I'll finish it someday soon...

"Wherever You Go" - A Ruth & Boaz Zelink crossover story collab I did with @abbyz-elda that I also read a lot ❤️

Thanks for the tag, Abby! Hm. I suppose I'll tag @1up-girl, @cooking-with-hailstones, @drsteggy, and @zeldaseyebrows !

[flutefemme]

A Hero, Humbled

For "Near Dawn: A Twilight Princess Zine"

I'm excited to share my piece for @neardawnzine ! Leftover sales are happening now, so go check it out!!

What an incredible group of artists and writers! I was honored to be the writing mod for the zine, and had the opportunity to write my favorite genre - kids.

Here's a little excerpt and a game screenshot. I love how Link is great with kids. But he's a kid himself, so he's plenty ornery. Check it out on my Ao3!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/82556046

[flutefemme]

Happy Resurrection Sunday from my family to yours!

Thankful for the gift of each and every day to do life with these special humans and always try to count my blessings in both the good days and the hard ones.

My prayer for you all is to find light, love, joy, and a peace that passes all understanding in your lives! Love you all!

[flutefemme]

Officially announcing my next Spy x Family writing project!

"Cuz Now I Have To"

A written adaptation of manga chapters 95 & 96 (The End of Term Gala) coming soon to Ao3! Give me a follow or subscribe for updates 🥰

I ran a poll on X to see which chapter I should adapt. It will be true to the manga but just fill in some of the hazy bits to make it an official fanfic adaptation. I'm super excited! Release date announcement coming soon!

[flutefemme]

Best Friends Forever.

An adaptation of my favorite official artwork of these two sweethearts!

[flutefemme]

Flashback to my birthday morning in Fall of 2021 when my mother sent me a panicked birthday text before 8am. Seriously the best birthday text I've ever gotten 😂😂😂

[flutefemme]

"First Kiss"

A Damianya Aged-Up Short Story

Academic collaboration is difficult. Academic collaboration with Anya Forger is a recognized hazard. Somewhere between research notes and Valestrian social customs, Damian realizes the real danger was never the deadline.

It was nearly half an hour later when Anya suddenly shifted. She pulled her chair in with a quiet scrape and leaned closer to the book, pink hair spilling forward onto the pages as her expression sharpened with interest. The movement caught Damian’s attention. He glanced up, mildly annoyed. “What.” She hummed softly, like she was savoring something. “Did you know that in Valestrian culture, when two opposing parties wanted to settle a grievance, they were required to seal the reconciliation with a kiss?” Slowly—far too slowly—she lifted her gaze from the page. Her emerald green eyes were twinkling with mischief. Damian’s stomach dropped. He knew that look. It was the same look she’d worn on the first day of orientation—right before she’d sucker-punched him. The same glint she’d had when she stood up to the Red Circus leader on that hijacked bus. The same reckless resolve she carried into the abandoned school building. The same unwavering fire in her eyes when she’d sworn to uncover who framed Henderson. It was the look that meant she had already decided something. And that something was about to become his problem, too.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/80334136

[flutefemme]

OMG so this just happened! That snuck up on me!! Thank you, everyone that has followed over the last several years! Honored that you'd like my blog enough to stick around 💜💜💜

[flutefemme]

"First Kiss"

A Spy x Family One-Shot for my 500 follower celebration on X!

Here's a sneak peek - coming soon to Ao3! Characters are aged up (8th Graders).

“Un-freaking believable,” Damian muttered when he saw the History project pairing list. With Anya. Again. He lowered his gaze toward the front of the room, jaw tightening. It was Master Henderson’s last semester before retirement, and lately the man seemed especially fond of putting the two of them together. As if it were amusing. As if it were some grand social experiment. It was infuriating. His eyes drifted—traitorously—to the familiar sight a few rows ahead: long pink hair cascading over narrow shoulders, catching the glare of the new full-spectrum lights the school had just installed. The strands shimmered when she moved. She was impossible to work with. Always tossing some sharp little comment over her shoulder. Always teasing him instead of focusing on the assignment. Head perpetually in the clouds, that ridiculous smile curving across her face like she knew something no one else did. And worse—far worse—she was beautiful. Green eyes that flashed like polished gemstones when she was excited. Cheeks that flushed rosy when something delighted her. The kind of details he absolutely did not need catalogued in his brain. He swallowed and scowled at his desk. Why did his thoughts always turn like this? Every single time. No matter how thoroughly she exasperated him—how fundamentally incompatible they were—his heart refused to cooperate with his logic. He had been hopelessly undone since that humiliating sucker punch in first grade. Pathetic. He despised that weakness most of all. His mind knew better. His pride certainly knew better. And yet his heart stubbornly refused to fall in line. One day—one day—he would finally say everything he’d been holding back since the beginning.  She wasn’t terrible. Not exactly. Just insufferable, inconsiderate, and absurd. And entirely too important to him.