AO3 Output - January-June 02020

I am behind on this! That says something about how the virus has been affecting brains and more. But, all the same, here we are in a place for commentary on six month's worth of work. Here we go.

( The Output )

Sunshine Challenge 2020 #1: Red, Like Roses

The sunshine_challenge begins today, and it looks like this year is going with a spectral theme! (It's no-pressure, things every other day, and there's no penalty for only doing the things you like or have the capacity for.)

Here's the 1 July 2020 prompt on the theme of red:

( Prompt! )

( And here's what it means to me. Includes Steven Universe spoilers )

Anyway. Red is a color I mostly feel closed off to, because of the representations that it has about diving full-bore into emotions and societal implications I don't particularly like or want. A little red is fine, because sometimes you have to tap the well, but it's not the color I would want to live in. Pink took a little getting around and a certain amount of "if someone gives me gendered grief about wearing a pink shirt with Steven Universe and Rose Quartz on it, they'll be reminded that pink is a still light red" to myself. It's fine, but it's also not a color I want to live in, mostly due to the over-commercialization and strong romantic associations with it. And because living in pink in a toxically masculine society means having to deal with the constant drumbeat of "you are not acceptable" and I have so many other colors I enthusiastically like better.

That really wasn't much fannishly at all, but in the spirit of both "more courage than brains" and "sometimes the real breadth of options appears when someone shows a different path," here it is, all the same.