Hi, finally remembered to actually post something on here. I swear I act like I'm dead sometimes-
Anyway! New fandom, I'm posting here! The Freak Circus has got my soul, and I'm loving it
These are little doodles are based on a AO3 fanfic I'm just adoring so much right now! It's called "If he spared me just one glance (he would know my longing)" by @thesnakesmouse
(Now, some of these doodles are based on actually scenes in the story, and others are just me drawing these specific versions of the characters how I'd like. They're a little shitty but I enjoyed making them- also don't mind my spelling pls-)
If you like Pierrot x Harlequin x MC, then you should definitely check this story out. It's so cute, and I really enjoy how long the chapters are and how detailed the story is. I genuinely love stories that make me laugh and have to take double takes because it's just so fun to read
You were tired. That was all there was to it—no other word to describe the emotion, no long-winded explanation. At least, not one you wanted to dive into. You were tired, exhausting, just completely done with the day and the people around you. You felt like you could cry. Or scream, maybe. Probably both. Just one more little piece of straw to break the camel’s back.
Because Leviathan had complained loudly, in extreme length about the romance in his new game he was playing. It was some slice-of-life, cozy farming sim with a gacha mechanic to it. You never tried it yourself, personally.
“They added rival romanceables to it,” he had explained, “and now I have to choose one or the other! What do I do if I wanna date both, huh? Honestly, when are the devs gonna add a poly option…”
That would be cool, you had thought to yourself. But Levi had to continue.
“I mean, if I choose one, the other is gonna end up all sad and miserable and stuff…totally not fair.”
Is it really that big of a deal? You understood if Levi was that attached to the characters, but a character not being married at the end of the game wasn’t a world-ending thing, right?
“It’s just that—if I lead them on, and then don’t choose their option, they’ll end up alone!”
Again: is it a big deal? Being alone? Was romance the only “correct” option?
Levi attempted to explain himself. No, of course not, people can be happy with no romance in their life! Really, he’s not trying to say that at all, it’s also just that there’s some cool character lore that’s locked behind the marriage route, and-
You appreciated him, you really do. You appreciated that he cared. You still sighed and shook your head as you moved onto a different topic.
And that was what the brothers did. They tried. They tried so much for your benefit because it's so obvious that they care about you, but it was an uphill battle, one you’ve been fighting for so long now.
Satan would always recommend a plethora of books. It had once been a wide range of books, until he started to narrow it down to genres you liked, different tropes you enjoyed. You had asked for books without sex in it, and the numbers dropped, but he still handed you books.
You asked for no romance either; it was harder for him, but he was still trying. A furrowed brow as he muttered to himself, skimming through books.
No romance, no sex. That’s doable.
You then asked for a character who explicitly did not want romance in their life. Not someone who isn’t interested, only to find their “true love” in the end—no, a main character who knew what they wanted, which was no one.
A handful of books came back your way. You then asked for good books.
He was still looking for those.
And there were so many books that almost hit the mark. Ones that he handed off to you with a big smile, obviously pleased with his hard work. You didn’t have the heart to tell him that it wasn’t quite what you were looking for.
You supposed you had to be grateful that he was even trying in the first place. Grateful that there were even books that had characters who didn’t like sex, or didn’t want romance. You didn’t think it’d be hard to find one with both, even more so to find one that suited your tastes, yet here you were. Still searching.
Sometimes he gave you books outside of what the requests you made.
“I know this isn’t what you asked for,” he said, “but I marked all the pages you can skip. Maybe it’ll still be enjoyable?”
There were a lot of flags in the book. You took it anyway.
Asmodeus’ touches were platonic, you knew that. Somedays you liked them, others you didn’t. He always listened though, when you voiced this. But it was his words actually, that somehow hurt more.
“So cute!” he had squealed, and appreciated himself in his full-length mirror. He did a spin and gave a lofty sigh. “Honestly, who wouldn’t love this?”
You wouldn’t, you had joked. Because you didn’t love anything. You thought it was funny. It wasn’t serious, you wanted him to laugh. And he did, but then-
“But surely you love me in a platonic way, right?” he had asked innocently, batting his eyes as he watched you through his mirror. And—and maybe you did. You supposed so. You cared for the brothers, just as deeply as they did for you. But love was a term that felt…wrong.
You voiced this. Asmodeus laughed again like you said another joke.
“I guess so,” he had said, “but I can’t help but love everything with my full chest. Not even in a romantic way—like how I love my brothers, even the insufferable ones like Mammon. And even you! In an extremely platonic way, of course.”
And. You don’t know how to respond to that. Good for him, you guessed? Glad he felt that way. Didn’t mean that you did, but whatever. You were used to people assigning their own thoughts of love onto you anyway.
Lounging with Belphie and Beel was always easygoing. It was nice to chill and zone out. Forget about the world. The TV played a cooking show as you ate a burger that was ordered for takeout. Beel was eating three, and Belphie lazily munched on a fry.
“These burgers are amazing,” Beel had commented in between mouthfuls of food. “I think I’d die without these in my life.”
“You say that about every food you eat,” Belphegor had replied. “You would marry it if you could.”
“I would…” he had agreed. “I just love it too much.”
Damn, you wished you could love something just as much as Beel did for that burger he demolished. Life would be so much easier for you, wouldn’t it?
“It would,” Belphie agreed with a smile. “I’m sure there’s something out there like that for you, yeah?”
“Belphie loves the stars,” Beel continued, “and I love food. I’m sure there’s something out there that you love. Like a hobby, or something.”
There was a difference to something bringing you joy and something that you loved. Maybe there was something that made you happy. Like pretty sunsets, or beautiful movies. Just as food brought joy to Beel, and the stars for Belphie. But love?
“If it makes you happy, then you probably love it, right?” Belphie replied. And he was right, in a sense. You understood where he was coming from; that love wasn’t only just stored in romance or only for people. It could be stored in TV shows and music and artwork. But what if you didn’t feel love for that, either? What if you didn’t feel a platonic love for people as Asmodeus had suggested, or love for things as Beelzebub did? What then?
“Oh—damn, sex scene.” Mammon fumbled for the remote, finally fast-forwarding to the next scene. Not that it had mattered, seeing as there was only a few seconds left of it. He had shot you a sheepish smile. “Sorry ‘bout that, completely forgot about that scene.”
It was fine, you told him, because it was—not everyone shared the same distaste for sex scenes in movies and TV shows as you did. Most people didn’t care, actually. You were one of the weird ones.
“It gets really good after this, I promise.” And it did, probably. But it just left a sour taste in your mouth, one that made it so hard to enjoy what else the show had to offer. It was always like this when trying out something new with Mammon, or even with Levi; the brothers always did their best to make you comfortable, but there were slip-ups. You should be grateful that they tried in the first place.
It was definitely a “you” problem. The aversion of sex. The need to find something, anything that didn’t have sexual content or—even better—romance. But asking for the latter was like asking for a cat to please get out of that cardboard box please, I need to toss it out now. You might as well just give up.
Maybe if you just could bear it. Get a grip and power through it. Grow up like everyone else and just deal with it. Stop being a baby and get with the program already. But the thought of that made you want to cry, which was just as dumb as not wanting to consume media with romance in the first place.
Romance was the only viable option, in the end, the only “good” one in video games; there were no books that had a protagonist like you, not one you could enjoy; if loving romantically wasn’t an option, and that was fine, really, then surely you still held so much platonic love for everyone, right? Better yet, love for ideas and works and hobbies, because surely you still had some sort of love stored within you; nothing is made for you in mind, you just have to ignore and power through it.
It was just—it was so much. One after the other. And none of this was new to you; it was always like this since day one. You knew how much these ideas were a constant in the world, just simply how everyone felt and thought. And you didn’t blame the brothers, because they cared so much that it almost hurt, but it still wasn’t enough. They still functioned on the idea that romance was natural, that love was the most important thing in the world. You knew that you voiced how you felt, it would just make them sad, and they would claim to try better—and they would, which fucking sucked. You couldn’t blame it on them, seeing how hard they already try, and yet fumble at the same time.
It just was exhausting, seeing it all the time. Being unable to escape it. Knowing that no one will feel how you feel, or know what it’s like to hear people talk about things that you don’t think should be the end-all-be-all. Was romance really so important? Was it really all that it cracked up to be? So much so that it was all anyone ever cared or talked about? That it was worth being left behind for?
“-I don’t know, the human just started cryin’! I didn’t have nothin’ to do with it, I swear!”
Oh. You hadn’t realized time had passed, or that you even began to tear up. But your face was hot, your nose clogged with snot, chest heaving as you fought off the urge to really let go.
A hand, sturdy and stiff, landed on your head.
“You’re fine,” Lucifer murmured, voice warm yet rigid, as if he was saying something absolute and true. “Just calm down.”
He stayed there, silent. His hand did too, on your head. Eventually the tears faded. He gave you a look as though he was waiting for an explanation. He most definitely was.
It was dumb, you had told him. It was just one thing after another, all rolled into one, a reminder that everyone’s priorities are so different from yours. That it wasn’t fair that people felt love and you didn’t. That they cared about characters they could romance in games, or the end-game pairing in a book, and that you didn’t. That they could get behind you not being into romantic-love, but probably wouldn’t be able to grasp if you didn’t feel platonic love either, or love for anything. That it was so obvious how much love played a major role in their lives, and it was hard to feel included in things because of it.
“Well of course,” Lucifer said. “They don’t understand what it's like for you. What it means to truly live a life without a care for romance. If they did, they would recognize your pain and struggle much faster.”
He shifted, removing his hand off of you. “I, however, recognize where you’re coming from. I know it’s hard, but please believe me when I say that I will do everything in my power to make you as comfortable as possible. A difficult task, I know, but I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.” A smile threatened to appear on his face. "It will be fun, I believe. I have many things I could introduce you to that I like to think you'd enjoy."
You laughed. Lucifer was always one you felt like you could depend on, it felt like. The older brother that always sought to help out his family.
Just as long as he didn’t fall in love with you, you had joked.
He smirked. “How about a trade, then—I don’t fall for you, and you don’t love me back. Deal?”
A laugh bubbled out of you once more. That was probably the easiest thing you could do.
I need an aroace character in an open poly relationship with their friend group for the sole purpose of taking care of them because they just love all of them so much. Pure platonic on the mc's part
Occasional kisses, lotsa cuddles, fun dates, violent encouragement of their partners' more romantic bonds compared to theirs, and bullying them into getting laid
Preferably in a superhero world/fantasy setting, which is what I meant by the "taking care of them" part. They're all some kind of hero or powered people in fantasy in power for taking care of like a city a nation or whatever. But also each other
Mc is the friendliest little bean ever because I hate that the media always portrays ace characters as "too intelligent, closed off, awkward with people, loner". It's just NOT true it's so invalidating and stereotypical it drives me insane. But I need the mc to be definitely on the spectrum, smart, protective, friendly, that fretting mom friend type (hence the reason they got into the relationship in the first place anyway), very affectionate and touchy. Like the type of person cishet people look and say "but you don't LOOK aroace!" like idiots. You get me?
Bonus points for omegaverse, our main aroace babe would still have mates to help with emergencies and ruts/heats, and not feel the pressure of a monogamous relationship where they'd feel guilty for not "taking care of their mate's needs". Because they have others to take care of each other like sexually and romantically where the mc can't step up naturally
Hello, hello! I know it’s been a hot minute since I gave you guys any updates on the progress of Blood On A Yellow Rose, but I’m happy to report that my vampire novel has just been beta read, and now the final version is in the works! I’m not sure when it will be ready for release, but I’m aiming for late October or possibly early November ^^
A huge thanks to @gioia-writes-and-others for very generously offering to beta read Blood On A Yellow Rose, and for providing such detailed feedback! Thanks to you, I know that I’ll be able to make the final version a masterpiece! Stay tuned, as the official cover reveal, and concept art will be coming soon!
BOAYR Tag list! (Let me know if you wanna be added!):
For my apocalypse story: I need some suggestions for some events or storyline plots you guys would like to see. Suggestions in the comments are welcome!
The main character (unnamed and is being kept that way) is aroace so I will not be giving them a love interest, I might give them a best friend though.
Companion/who they should travel with?
Animal Companion
New friend
Old friend
Group of friends (all friends before MC)
Group of friends (MC slowly collects them all)
Multiple of these
Multiple of these with super depressing deaths and traumatic events
When a deadly plague sweeps the land, the priests of the Parents accuse those deemed to have incurred the gods' wrath. Leiander, unmarried and with interests unbecoming to the woman people consider him to be, flees for his life.
With the Night Demon Kevv'ach by his side and his deepest wish undiminished, he journeys to the Great Lith, said to still channel the magic of the Parents. He will beseech the gods to remake his body in the image of the Father, so the world sees him as his true self: Leiander.
And here’s what you can expect:
- A character-driven medieval-ish fantasy story;
- Transgender aroace main character seeking to live his life and maybe bake;
- Cinnamon roll Night Demon bestie with partial amnesia (and a sweet tooth);
- Steadfast friends turned found family (and occasionally, a pair of mules);
- Absent gods who left behind mysterious blue monoliths;
- Strict gender roles dictating what jobs people have, what colors they wear, and what tattoos they get + a couple of fanatics hell-bent on enforcing said rules;
- Extensive travel through a plague ravaged realm;
- A conspicuous lack of magic; or swords; or sorcery; or monsters;
- Even more giant statues;
- A bunch of recipes to try for yourself, from Romanian, Austrian and... whatever cuisine baked goat cheese in walnut crust comes from;
- Named chapters! Pronunciation guide! Maps for each part! Extensive content warnings! Handy reference chart for timekeeping! Cameo appearance by my cat!
- Eventually, I promise, a happy end.
You can already preorder the ebook on Amazon and have it synch to your device on Friday, when the paperback will also be available there. If you’d rather support your local indie bookshop, go for it! You can ask them to order a book for you once published, by providing them the following details:
Title: The Stones Stay Silent
Author: Danny Ride
ISBN: 9783982494906
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If it’s not up your alley, you don’t want or can’t afford to buy the book, you can still support - it would mean so much!
- share this post
- let your friends know
- ask your local library to order the book for you! (you and anyone else can read it for free then!)
- suggest it as reading for book clubs
- add the book to your list on goodreads
- mark it as to read on the story graph
- upvote it on reedsy discovery - there is a detailed review there from an independent reviewer, and you can also read the first chapter for free!
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images:
1) promo material of the book featuring the book cover
2) moodboard of the seven parts and the epilogue
3) promo material showing a sample of the book interior
If you enjoyed Scooby-Do a lot, this might be the book for you. It’s very Scooby-Do-esque and longtime fans might find this enjoyable.
Even though this wasn’t my favorite book, I still think that the story the author created was unique and shows quite a bit of imagination, which makes me want to at least attempt to read other books by this author especially as their writing career progresses.
i spent all day listening to firebreak and i needed something to work on during so post ending fanart
(designs inspired by @layaart)
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taglist: @joshkiszkashusband @thedrowningpoetofdionysus @thedragonemperess @genuine-possum @depressedtransguy @someguyiguess @blueskiesandstarrynights @ayraluv (lemme know if you want to be added or removed)