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A Wana-be Writer

@serina-leigh

Geeking out over weird shit since birth.
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serina-leigh
inevitableenquere
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decorkiki

A Visual #Fashion Guide For Women - Necklines, Skirt Types & More!

By KikiCloset.com

Rebloggimg for writing reference

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lolawashere

Wow! Now I know how to properly name all the things I don’t have the money to buy…

thank you

THIS

serina-leigh
zebrabaker
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miyuliart

I’ve been studying the classic black tie dress code (mainly from here) so I thought I could share my notes. Maybe they can be helpful to someone else, too. If I made any mistakes or things are really confusing please tell me.  I also have some notes on white tie which I could share as well…

serina-leigh
tygermama
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wordsnstuff

Resources For Describing Emotion

Emotions

Specific Emotions

Emotional Wounds

Motivation

Support Wordsnstuff!

serina-leigh
injuries-in-dust
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writingwithcolor

Skin.

Writing with Color has received several asks on this topic.

Everything from “how do I describe my character’s skin tone without being offensive?” and “what’s the problem with comparing my character to chocolate and coffee?”

I’m hoping to address all these and likewise questions in this guide on describing POCs’ skin color, from light, dark and all that’s in between.

The Food Thing: So what’s the big deal?

So exactly what is the problem with comparing a POC’s skin tone to cocoa, coffee, caramel, brown sugar and other sweets and goods? Well, there’s several potential problems you come across when you pull out the old Hershey’s bar comparison for your dark-skinned character, even if offense is not your intention.

Keep reading

serina-leigh
injuries-in-dust
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writingwithcolor

Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!

This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.

So let’s get to it.

S T A N D A R D  D E S C R I P T I O N

B a s i c  C o l o r s

Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.

“She had brown skin.”

  • This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.
  • Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.

C o m p l e x  C o l o r s

These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.

Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.

  • Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.

For example: Golden brown, russet brown, tawny beige…

  • As some of these are on the “rare” side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.

“He was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.”

  • Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:

“His skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.”

M o d i f i e r s 

Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.

D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l

W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n

F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e

Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pink…

If you’re looking to get more specific than “brown,” modifiers narrow down shade further.

  • Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.
  • As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.
  • While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like “tan” “fair” and “light” do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for “naturally tan” and much more likely a tanned White person.
  • Calling someone “dark” as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)

U n d e r t o n e s

Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isn’t just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.

pictured above: warm / earth undertones: yellow, golden, copper, olive, bronze, orange, orange-red, coral | cool / jewel undertones: pink, red, blue, blue-red, rose, magenta, sapphire, silver. 

  • Mentioning the undertones within a character’s skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.
  • As shown, there’s a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).

“A dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.”

“He always looked as if he’d ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.”

Standard Description Passage

“Farah’s skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summer’s sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.”

-From my story “Where Summer Ends” featured in Strange Little Girls

  1. Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.
  2. Note my use of “fawn” in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, it’s also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.

Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time I’m no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.

C R E A T I V E  D E S C R I P T I O N

Whether compared to night-cast rivers or day’s first light…I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.

I’ve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their “smooth rose-tinged ivory skin”, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.

Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where. Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if they’re not even a secondary character.

Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do what’s good for your tale.

N A T U R AL  S E T T I N G S - S K Y

Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.

  • Now before you run off to compare your heroine’s skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.
  • When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.
  • So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them to.
  • Also consider whose perspective you’re describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who can’t stand the person.

“Her face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.”

“She had a sandy complexion, smooth and tawny.”

  • Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.

F L O W E R S

Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose

  • It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didn’t have a 20 character name or wasn’t called something like “chocolate silk” so these are the finalists. 
  • You’ll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.
  • Also be aware of flowers that most might’ve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.

“He entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?”

A S S O R T E D  P L A N T S &  N A T U R E

Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber

  • These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because I’ve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.
  • At least they’re common enough that most may have an idea what you’re talking about at the mention of “pinecone.“ 
  • I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how it’ll sounds.

“Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.”

  1. I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.
  2. I don’t suggest using a comparison just “cuz you can” but actually being thoughtful about what you’re comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.

W O O D

Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash

  • Wood can be an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having “foody” terminology within their names, but again, associations.
  • Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure it’s appropriate to the character if you do use it.

“The old warlock’s skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.”

M E T A L S

Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze

  • Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skin…
  • I’ve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.
  • These also work well with modifiers.

“The dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.”

G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS

Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum

  • These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.
  • If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually “fits” the book or scene.
  • Even if you’re able to get us to picture what “rutile” looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.

“His skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.” 

P H Y S I C A L  D E S C R I P T I ON

  1. Physical character description can be more than skin tone.
  2. Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, hands…body posture, body shape, skin texture… though not necessarily all of those nor at once.
  3. Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.
  4. How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldn’t overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspots…

G E N E R A L  T I P S

  • Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.
  • Get Creative On Your Own: Obviously, I couldn’t cover every proper color or comparison in which has been “approved” to use for your characters’ skin color, so it’s up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.
  • Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isn’t always enough to indicate someone’s ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to “dark white” or something, more indicators of race may be needed.
  • Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you don’t, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the “Other”).
  • PSA: Don’t use “Colored.” Based on some asks we’ve received using this word, I’d like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color “colored” please. 
  • Not Sure Where to Start? You really can’t go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. It’s actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.
  • Want some alternatives to “skin” or “skin color”? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.

Skin Tone Resources

Writing & Description Guides

I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasn’t been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!

~ Mod Colette

serina-leigh
zebrabaker

im starting a picrew chain because i found this picrew i love

i tag @tayareum @mxnyardsfoxes @pjo-and-jollof-rice and @neverbeenskiing​ and anyone else who wants to do it!

link

HI i wasn’t tagged but i wanted to join too!

i wasn’t tagged but who cares anyway fdfghjksdasfgd

tagging @moonlxrk​ @immortal-enemies​ @tsaritsas​ @genyasqfin​ @angelobiancas​ @/whatever rissa’s url is and anyone who wants to!

Thanks for the tag Bianquilla! :) this one was really fun 💕

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ichigoherondale
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megs-readstoomuch
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magnus-the-maqnificent
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jazzkaurtheglorious

U had me at the tiny pets

@yandriels @secrets-ill-take-to-my-grave @some-major-ishues @paranoid–introvert and anyone else who want to <3

ahh this was so good! thank you for the tag!

@mazzell-ro​ @aspiringsomeone​ @ilikebigstucks​ @aadya23​ @mango-pickle​ @strudel-and-creme​ @paranoid–introvert​ @that-awkward-sapien​ and @anyone who wants to! <3

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mango-pickle

thanks for the tag ishu! 

this is nice! tagging anyone who sees this

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iveofficiallygonemad

Tagged by @mango-pickle !!

I’m tagging @tothebbarricades @landturtlealyce and whoever else wants to!

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landturtlealyce

Thanks for the tag <3  Tagging whoever wants to do it

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spoopyslayer

I love how we all liked the yellow hoodie sjsjsjjsjs

@i-put-the-me-in-disapoinment @bagels-n-things @khunned

thanks fren! it meeee

tagging @pawsomelybuggy @xthreeravensx @supergirl9130 and anyone else who wants to

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2sunchild2
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zebrabaker

I love it!!

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serina-leigh

This is so cute (*^▽^*)

serina-leigh
thewackest
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blackpowwer-blog

REBLOG: go to your blog and click the egg to see what hatches

I got Sonic the Hedgehog.

Sonic the fucking Hedgehog.

Maybe I cracked the egg too fast.

I got Rogue Titan gettin’ krunk. I was not disappointed.

OH MY GOD I GOD EREN IN TITAN FORM TWERKING

image

aHHHHH THIS IS WHAT I GOT IM sO HAPPY

>u> I wanna know

HOW RHOGGH

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therealchicaplier

This isnt working for meeeeee

*you have to click on the egg on ur blog lol if anyone can’t get it to work

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da-moonmoon

*Pokes at egg*

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chais-chaos-corner

E

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dads-back-from-the-store

I wana try

fuck it why not

serina-leigh
lookatmytitle

Update I just got an opportunity to make exactly $115 and i’m not kidding so like. Reblog to make $115.

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klove-peace

I don’t normally do these. Only this one bc I’m a broke hufflepuff 😂

serina-leigh
rhub4rb
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weavemama

you can’t deny the existence of rape culture when our judicial system is ran by these gross ass men who justify it 

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queenstravelingdarling

I’m so fucking done with this country. We aren’t even going backwards in time, we are going to a whole new level of ignorance, hate and evil.

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graystar-legacy

WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE FUCK WHAT

America really fucking hates women huh

Fuck America

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officialtonystarkprotectionsquad

Well fuck you too America, you officially fucked up. This is utterly disgusting.

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drstrangefangirl8900

Toxic Men making Women feel like they sinned for being born as a women, and destroying trust on good men out there!

Shite. Fuck. BLOODY MOTORCYCLING HELL

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2sunchild2

Bruh

I’m happy I don’t live in the US

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serina-leigh

I’m just so sad! Like, this makes me physically ill! And I used to be proud of my country, now we’re doing this shit and I just want to cry!!

serina-leigh
liltama-things
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illinicoise

“But if you forget to reblog Madame Zeroni, you and your family will be cursed for always and eternity.”

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spn-fandom-breathing-heavily

not even risking that shit

scrolled past this, re-evaluated my life, then SCROOOLLLED back up and hit the damn reblog button. 

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tumblgang
  1. She ain’t no games in real life so I take her serious all the time
  2. Anyone with a name that starts with a “Z”, ends with an “i”, and isn’t some kind of Italian pasta, IS SERIOUS
  3. I’m not climbing no mountain with a pig on my back, 🙅🏽🙅🏾🙅🏿 Negative.
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skuubasally

Nope. I know better, have your reblog Madame Zeroni.

luckytaters

who the fuck is Madame Zeroni

Look at these stupid children who don’t know who Madame Zeroni is

☝🏾😂

Man lissen if you don’t know you better ask somebody AFTER you hit the reblog button

Idk who she is but I have an exam today so I’ll reblog her

idk who she is but i have an exam today so i’ll reblog her

^Haiku^bot^0.4. Sometimes I do stupid things (but I have improved with syllables!). Beep-boop!

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jacobmick

Because wise, I am.

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seymonecristina

Oh fucks no she’s back lmao must reblog. I’m sorry guys

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blackgirlart

2 million people aren’t wrong

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serina-leigh

I don’t want to eat onions on a mountain top sooooooo

serina-leigh
liltama-things
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0deerling0-inactive

If you’re one of those people who thinks executive dysfunction only happens for things we don’t like (school, cleaning,) then please consider the fact that I’ve been meaning to plug my phone in for 20 minutes and I’m now at 2% and still putting it off to write this post ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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hawkeyedflame

My anime/video game list consists of over 100 titles, easily, and yet I almost never get around to watching/playing any of them.

Executive dysfunction is not just for boring or unenjoyable things. It’s for everything. Even eating.

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biphobicerasurer

What is executive dysfunction? O.o

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hawkeyedflame

Put simply, it’s difficulty/inability with initiating tasks. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions, like decision-making and impulse control. People with ADHD and other neurological disorders that affect the prefrontal cortex often experience difficulty making decisions and performing tasks, as well as exercising self restraint. Part of why people with ADHD tend to procrastinate so badly is out of genuine inability to begin tasks, even if they’re very important.

It feels, for me at least, like I’m constantly waiting for something and I can’t start X task because I’m waiting. I never know what exactly I’m waiting for, but that doesn’t stop me from wasting hours and days not doing the things I need to do, even if I have a desire to do them.

It feels, for me at least, like I’m constantly waiting for something and I can’t start X task because I’m waiting. I never know what exactly I’m waiting for, but that doesn’t stop me from wasting hours and days not doing the things I need to do, even if I have a desire to do them.

Oh thank god, someone put it into words.

For me it’s also waiting for the “right” time to come to complete the task because for some reason my brain thinks doing the task at any other time is horribly, horribly wrong, weird, and out of order. The “right” time might come eventually, might not. It’s a lottery.

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chaoticlivi

i feel it’s worth noting that even if you’re able to get yourself started, initiating tasks when you’ve got executive dysfunction drains more energy than it normally would. so for example, there are a lot of days when i feel like i have to choose between tasks i *need* to do and tasks i *want* to do. the idea of both doing laundry and writing a drabble in the same evening, on those days, becomes impossible (even though the writing is supposed to be fun, creative tasks require a bit of extra brain power. so either it looks like i’m becoming less active in my hobbies, or i don’t get chores done.

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serina-leigh

Oh shit! Is this what this is?! I didn’t know this was even a thing! I’ve just, like, always been told I’m just super lazy. I’ve tried to explain to my parents but . . . I never knew it was a real thing I just thought I was a whiny brat honestly. Though . . . I don’t know for sure it’s just this sounds exactly like what I’ve been trying to figure out.

serina-leigh
justpidgance
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elisamaza

y’all

a mutual of mine

suddenly has posts on their blog

with links to “find women to have sex with”

my mutual is NOT POSTING THESE

tumblr just got even worse

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elisamaza

on that note PLEASE let me know if i’m suddenly posting random pictures of women with a link underneath the photo. don’t click the link, just FYI.

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elisamaza

i do suggest reblogging this in case someone sees this happening to someone else they follow

O shit i unfollowed a few because I assumed they were taken over by bots!!! If that’s one of y’all, let me know holy shit.

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yipyap

wait what

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petri808

Oh yes if this ever happens please message me!!! I would never post links like that.

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serina-leigh

The fuck does this even mean? Like. Is tumblr fucking with us at this point or what?