While sharing this, though, I’d like to address something down below. Not gonna force anyone to read but it’s something I want to talk about
So I’m not new to Tumblr. Back in late March of this year, I had made a blog by the name thedevious-rileyc. I posted mostly Captive Prince fanart, shared a few thoughts on the series, some Dark Rise fanart, then some OC stuff.
I ended up deleting that blog around September because of a lot of anxiety I was experiencing. That anxiety essentially revolved around a single drawing. I’ve drawn a genderbent version of Damen and Laurent before. If you recognize my old blog name, you may know it.
Before I show the drawing paired with the idea I’d been going for with it, I’ll clarify why I want to talk about it. While it was well received by the fandom, it had two reblogs I found (there could’ve been more back then) in which said things like ‘racism in 2025’ and how Capri fans are all shitty people but because I genderbent lamen it was a ‘diversity win’ in an attempt at mockery. When I describe what these reblogs said, I in no way mean to attack the people who said them. But I was disheartened and overwhelmed with anxiety.
Now when I say that last piece about the chain, it was more of a personal reflection on how far I took the imagery. Due to my own ignorance, I created a piece that played on negative stereotypes. That was never my intention. (Also sorry I noticed the spelling error that should say “original”)
I also know the caption I had on the post was not helping the situation. It essentially went “Princess Laura and her slave, Damia”… yeah… attempting to describe the art in an outside manner like the summary on the back of a book failed miserably.
After seeing the reblogs I discussed earlier, I made a small rant about how liking Captive Prince doesn’t mean someone, or even the book for that matter, endorses the negative things that occur in it. I later on deleted both the rant and drawing. Unfortunately I later came to realize deleting something that’s been reblogged doesn’t get rid of it from other’s blogs.
I know those who do not like Captive Prince have their reasons. I’m not trying to point at them and go “but you’re wrong! You didn’t read it right and it actually—“. I understand the fact those two blogs, or perhaps the many more that saw their reblogs, were disgusted. I had a very good discussion with some lovely folks on Discord as to why the drawing had negative interpretations. The series isn’t perfect, as I’ve seen it said that there are some “micro aggressions” that may have not been intended, but are there nonetheless.
The whole reason I bring this up is because I feel disgusted in myself for what happened. Still liking Captive Prince and engaging with the fandom won’t make me a saint to those who don’t like the series, but I just want to acknowledge my wrongdoing where it happened. The whole reason I like the series is watching these characters break down walls, acknowledge their faults, overcome obstacles, and grow together. I like Lamen as two people who had no business falling in love learning to care for one another. I didn’t read Captive Prince because I wanted racist slave/master erotica. It’s important to critically engage with media we like. I’m not very good with my words, something I’m working on, but I want to face the fact I messed up and do better.
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