To the Westallen Fandom...
So, in honor of all my followers (a majority of which is part of the westallen fandom), I just wanted to make a post about how much I appreciate you and how knowing all of you has changed my life.
Before The Flash, before getting sucked into the westallen fandom on Tumblr, I can honestly say there were parts of me that were very different. I wasn’t as well-informed about celebrities or what was going on behind-the-scenes, but that is the very least of what was different.
I’m not going to say I was ever racist, b/c I don’t believe I ever was, but I will say I was a little less appreciative of POC and WOC. I didn’t recognize how important representation is and how lacking women and WOC specifically is in media and television today. I didn’t notice when there were more white people or when men usually took up more screentime than usual. I knew it was more exciting when there was more diversity or more than one gender took up majority screentime, but I never took the time to think about why I felt that way. And I didn’t get why having an interracial couple was such a big deal. People were just people and couples were just couples. Screentime was occupied by whoever was necessary for the storyline. I didn’t question whether that could be wrong or necessary or if another character was more deserving or could offer something more interesting. And most importantly, I didn’t get how incredibly reflective this was of American society and culture in the present, the lack of representation and opportunities. It just completely never occurred to me, something which I’m kind of ashamed of now.
So much has changed though. I see the importance of women, WOC, and POC. Representation is a big deal, and it’s important. It’s amazing when it happens. It should keep happening, and Candice is a HUGE part of that happening. She recognizes that. She talks about it. She’s a hero for so many people b/c of it, and that is the absolute coolest.
Westallen is such a pure, good, healthy OTP. The way they are portrayed makes any interracial couple pique my interest elsewhere. Like, that is a TYPE for me now. WOC draws more interest for me, as does POC. Irl too I sit up more and pay attention when non-white issues raise up. I’m protective and defensive on their behalf. It is honestly incredible, and I have all of you to thank for this change me. So from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
In addition to this massive change in me is the fact that I feel so incredibly loved on here. For the most part, you guys just LOVE on me. You acknowledge how I think and feel and you credit my work. I feel like I’ve found a family on here in this fandom. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt in any other fandom. Every time I come on and talk to anyone really, it just feels like…I’m home. The support system is unreal. The happy and excitement and joy and enthusiasm over everything we discuss is indescribable the way it makes me feel. I don’t know who I’d be, how I’d think, or what my emotional health would be like. I can only hope that in exchange I’ve offered some of you some semblance of the same thing.
And NOW for some special shoutouts:
To @inksmudge - she was my first introduction to westallen fanfiction via her incredibly detailed spot-on better-than-canon headcanons that still blow my mind to this day. Also, she’s incredibly sweet. I’m thankful every day for having met her and wish her nothing but happiness.
To @valeriemperez - my strongest support, the westallen Stan that GETS me even if she doesn’t always agree w/ my opinions, the best beta I could ever hope for, an amazing friend, and an absolute inspiration in her personal life (not to mention her insane comics knowledge that forever fascinates me). She’s such a great calming force in the fandom. She plays peacemaker w/o even trying & she’s 100% successful every time imo. I do not know where I’d be w/o her.
To all the absolutely incredible WA fanfiction writers that not only read (& sometimes review) my fics, but sometimes also think it’s a great idea to be my friend: @irissswests @wanderer765 @latebarryallen @sophisticatedloserchick @inksmudge (again!) @mosylufanfic @minute42 @cbsnforeverandalways @trufflemores (& more!)
To an incredible WA vidder who also has become my friend: @cisco-iris
To all the people who reblog my posts and leave comments in my tags!!
To those even who always like my posts and tag nothing at all: @frogleggz @dawsey62 @waflashlover123 (& others whose names don’t quite come to mind, sry!!)
To those who’ve helped me brainstorm my fics (most of which I’ve already mentioned, but I’m sure others too!!)
To the inspirations I rarely talk with but still love: @iriswestallens @trufflemores @redstreaking @iwasalwaysaromantic
To the reviewers who became friends: @westallen94 (& others)
To those who recognize me: @theartofdreaming1 (& others)
To those who take my gif requests: @nikascott
@valeriemperez
To those who challenge me: @westallenfun
To all of you, to everyone, you mean the world to me. You make my day, my week, my month, my year… You make it all worthwhile.
And for those I haven’t mentioned, you know who you are and you know I love and appreciate you. ESP my anons. God, where would I be without my fun, thirsty, supportive, INCREDIBLE anons??
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for following. Thank you for giving and receiving. Thank you for supporting, defending, cheering me on. Thank you for sharing your life with me and really for just EXISTING. All of you make a difference in my life.
