Talent in the Arts and the Good or Niceness of People

Since the whole Gaiman debacle, I should say something. 

While there has always been the issue of the death of the author and how the support meant funding them, the revisionism of ‘of course all long they were a terrible artist’ going on is very degrading to art in general. 

This mentality will not help you at all. Yes, you could look back and see now red flags that foretell their thoughts. But creativity and imagination are a thing. While you can put down your own experiences, there is nothing wrong with imagination written from the heart. 

Dungeon Meshi is written by a woman who is admittedly not a good cook nor an adventurous eater but her imagination is so well done. She still loves the series but being the opposite of the creation does not negate her as a creator especially when she didn’t experience these in the so-called right manner such as being a good cook and adventurous eater. Having the imagination to provide a fantastical world with its own ecosystem and overall world makes good fiction. 

Art is subjective. ORV and Princess Tutu hit the things I love but it might not sway others. Code Geass regardless of nationalism claims is still a classic series that still deserves its place in history. Kenshin is still excellent despite knowing that the author had actual child porn and got off scot-free because of his connections. 

People have to reckon that talent is not a measure of being a good person and good art from bad people. Simply connecting with the good art written by bad people does not automatically negate you as a person trying to uphold a puritanical view of yourself. 

Neil Gaiman has done horrible things to people from women to fans to colleagues to BIPOC people. He is still a very talented writer whose art has impacted a wealth of people. 

John Lasseter is well past his prime but he’s still well-known for actually having a hand in his creation. Film is a collaborative work and Lasseter is not the only voice just as Butch Hartman was as Thomas Astruc was. They might have called most of the shots and controlled the general story but they literally weren’t the one. 

Talent is not meted out to the purest. It’s simply a skill. 

Bad people make good art as good people make dark art. Good people can still write all those triggers in stories and still be good. Bad people can make creatively impactful art and it’s still aged well. 

Vic Migogna is a very good actor and his voice for Ed Elric and Tamaki are perfect. HP Lovecraft managed to make a whole new genre of his own. 

I haven’t met any people in the pin community who are personally bad people. I only ever heard of their bad business and the jerk attitude they employ. I won’t be naming any names but using a business as a side hobby is not a good way to make business because people buying the art are your customers and you would want to establish that customer base’s trust in actually getting the products. Money is involved and the moment you have the money, you must make and deliver the product as a business. 

Still those are businesses. Outstanding small businesses will take constructive criticism and mobilize their business to actually have great customer service. 

Just because a person you admire and even like is nice to you does not mean that you are bad for not recognizing it. You might not even be the intended target yet you were treated so nicely. 

The point for these criminals is to hide. Blaming others particularly fans for their creator's secretive nature is not good. 

Just let people and yourself off the hook for simply having flawed judgment. We might never know literally everything about the person who interacted with us nicely. We won’t ever know and that’s alright. 

To say after the fact when it’s all revealed and it’s obvious you didn’t catch the hints that you never liked it in the first place is disingenuous to the time you spent on it. You shouldn’t have to take the way out by not admitting just how much it hurts you and owe up to it instead of making a proud face. 

Having pride just to keep from the feeling of hurt is valid to some extent but still feeling hurt from something you love that you didn’t ask for 

A large part is to uphold a puritanical view of oneself by wanting healthy and pure relationships with no drama. 

What is bad about wanting all those things without acknowledging the flaws. These people want the sake of literally everything they consume to be good and pure. 

This is a bit of an extension from the ship rants I did before but these people shouldn’t be expecting that for their own self-congratulatory puritan. What they spewing is what conservatives used against anything they deem horrid.

Grappling with these thoughts in regards to creator and creation has been a thing forever. Meting out cowardice like saying it was bad when reading comprehension and media literacy are a thing. English classes teach you these things. 

There is nothing wrong with admiring art but there is zero need to idolize the author too when it somehow connects to your politics and whatever you see fit. 

My cousin still loves Harry Potter given how she asked our niece a question relating to it. I don’t think she’ll ever support the transphobe in any way. 

This is just one case. 

I don’t really read up a lot on the author’s thoughts too much. In the case of SBS, I cannot know everything. I’d rather have compiled links so I can make the decision myself whether I appreciate the intent versus the interpretation. I rather not misinterpret the text but extrapolate meaningful readings from subtext and text. Shipping I see is again fun and derived from whatever is there or not at all to have Barbie dolls playing. 

JK Rowling’s intent very much differs from her execution and worst yet the things that are foreboding to her radicalization. She speaks of bravery and such but the execution speaks that she’d rather not change the status quo. 

Neil Gaiman’s style leans more into headcanon territory where the actual canon answer can waver and isn’t set in stone. Again, this is a perfectly fine applicable way without forcing headcanons into the canon. Acknowledging canon without letting the image of whatever is in your head take over. 

It’s okay that you cannot or no longer interact with the art you used to love because there is so much baggage associated with the creator in question. It’s okay that you can divorce yourself by other means such as buying them a third party and making sure your money doesn't go back to them. 

What we ultimately interact with art that has been damaged by cruel creators is to find in ourselves not cowardice but to confront what we wanna do in the face of it. 

While the creators are ultimately unwelcoming, the space created by fans and the circle thereof is better than anything a big creator might say to hurt people. 

Hurt fans can gather up their spite and pour it into their fanmade merch. Fans who refuse to contribute to the creator's money often go for fanmade merchandise. For some, it’s completely guilt-free. 

Personally, if I ever buy Harry Potter and Twilight fan merch which I never will, I’ll donate to the trans community and the Quileute tribe. For me, it’s not guilt free at least when it comes to those. 

I completely understand that the media I love is not without flaws. That’s why I say Aven is Romani rather than to use the in-game word which is a real Romani word. 

It’s another when the work isn’t tainted not by flaws intrinsic to the storytelling but by the fault of the creator who used the prestige the works grant access to for their horrid cause or to victims. 

For others, the thing they have loved since forever will forever be tainted and they can’t ever see them interact positively again. They can try with other fans reckoning in their shared grief and rage 

I roll my eyes whenever I see news regarding JK Rowling. Since in her mind is anti-trans to the point it’s all she ever talks about, she of course never brings attention to serious matters women are facing except her own. She is only about Neil Gaiman now because he supports the trans community and nothing else. 

Anybody who tried to bring attention to that woke crowd going after leftist Neil Gaiman is stupid. Wokeness was the buzzword they used to get attention without any nuance or empathy toward fans. Usually, the 'woke' crowd has more legitimate criticism than that crowd because it's down to something as simple as empathy. 

Godoka, while Trump will be having some infighting dogs and that his Executive orders are nothing more than force, there will be ways to fight back than roll over and comply with fascism. They want us to give up on the onslaught of laws that Trump is in a hurry to act and harbinger as a king rather than a functional governing body that only won not by a landslide. 

Remember that Democrats don’t even broadcast their wins they absolutely have to. We are heading into a dreadful conservative era in which the dominant white Christians are relishing their supposed take back of power from their supposed oppression and persecution. They have always been in power and the clear division of BIPOC was their gains to divide. These guys felt so safe in their bubble that even a demand for rights for BIPOC people was seen as a threat to their privileges. Even now these guys still feel they can trademark the word pho and go after actual Viet for it and trying to appropriate Agua Fresca and boba is just sickening. 

I know both sides are always bad things but for the love of Godoka, which of the lesser evil will you pick? Complaining about how both sides are doing bad things with such cynicism would not help the movements. We need to stick together and be loud in every available route we can to tell our government that we don't want this and they will be forced to change their tune with the overwhelming lawsuits. We'll be hurt on the way to our future but it's better than seemingly declaring everything is bad because both parties' actions are bad. It is unhealthy and we must focus our energies on gaining ground on what we can do. 

It's harsh now in the conservative fascist era we're entering but we cannot let this get us down. Go and be involved and do something instead of just dumping it all on a story and expecting the worst from it instead of actually doing something such as putting up links where people can actually help against the said disgusting act from the government administration.  

Pin Collecting and Collecting as a Hobby

I keep getting myself into expensive hobbies. Gunpla, figure collecting, manga, books… Thankfully, they aren’t the first edition. 

Since I’m a veteran collector, I have seen complaints raised against pin makers that aren’t about money fulfillment of orders or updates about anything. It’s about quality and quantity. 

I know my limits. Heck, the Thanatos figure was a grail for a long time that it relied upon they rereleased it for the anniversary. 

I know that at this point in time, I don’t have enough speed to get anything that doesn’t have PayPal/Shop Pay. 

I know by now I cannot hesitate when it comes to drops. Mamobot trained me well with that lesson when I got cart swiped and paid more for it when preorders went up after it sold out. 

I know that I’m better at limited-time preorders than LE preorders. I cut my losses pretty naturally. I mean I can try to attempt but if it's like a pickup for a convention, it's a tossup if they can get it before sellout. Heck, I made my peace I didn't get one. 

No amount of guilt-tripping should have a pinmaker send personal copies to these guys. Listen I get you want the item but you are no more special than anyone who trying to buy the pin you wanted in question. 

If that was the case, they probably should've known how the pin community worked by now or arrived at a drop late. 

Not to mention drop buddies are a maybe, not a demand for satisfaction. I haven't drop buddy for anybody since I'm wary of my own money and that needs to go to necessary orders I want to keep. Still so happy with the pins I got in. 

Heck, I wasn’t expecting to get my beloved Pokemallow Dragonair at all. I was just one of the many who wanted the AX exclusives and I was lucky enough to get mine. She’s forever homed, my fave of all faves. 

I did not ask my pickup buddy for more than asked for and was willing to compensate if they had managed to snag that one. They didn't and it's fine. I didn't think I was deserving of it more than anyone else who was there. Heck, I managed to get it later even if it hasn't shipped at all at the time of writing. 

With scouring around reliable pin makers and their grading systems alongside people's experiences with the said grading system, I know reliable preorders that I will get the pin and the grades that aren't flawless because they're handmade. 

I know that pin makers have varied standards. There were lower grades that looked like it doesn’t have a flaw and there were those that people couldn’t believe it’s that bad. 

I can trust PSS’ B-grades for instance given the praise from people who bought from her hence I can buy off her that way without guilt. With her BOGO, she tried to match it with the pin you bought. I know somebody in the pin server I’m in got a Zelda freebie with the Xiao pop she got so I got an idea. Given I’m pretty much buying Genshin and HSR off her, yeah. 

If they can understand that pin makers have varying eyes for standards, then they should be able to make peace that it wouldn’t be perfect. 

I perfectly understand if a pin doesn’t have an art proof at ready by presale or you want to see a sample, hell if it weren’t for the fact that I needed to snatch a spot, then I wouldn’t be preordering as much. Sometimes preorders might be the only chance to get it. 

If people are unable to get past they won't be getting flawless pins completely and utterly, pin collecting isn't the hobby you should be in. All pinmakers including the bad ones outright said that they're handmade and thus prone to errors during the process. 

It has gotten to the point that I have seen a reliable pinmaker and popular one too forced to add mixed grade mention to any big three more pins, a size that should get more flaws with the more details it gets, or a pin set that will be prone to human error like hand mixing pearl or painted by hand.  

If they are forced to add that much detail albeit brief or even showing examples of what counts as each successive grade in their book, then maybe these complainers shouldn’t be in this hobby if they all want perfection. 

I won’t collect C-grades unless it’s my own chance for the pin or if I can trust people’s experiences. 

Even a detailed grading system is needed considering another maker had to try to set up a new one. 

No pin is ever flawless. The maker will try to quality check for the best ones to send out for preorders and won't ever send out their worst grades to those who preordered, those who waited for months. The worst grades are typically at a discount or explicitly said; if they are willing or don't care about it as long as they have it, they can have it. 

I don't know why these people are this mad about flaws even regarding standard or A-grades in general. I only collect lower grades if I can trust others to deliver or if it's the only chance I can get it. I got my Moulin Rouge pins at a B-grade. At the point in time, I really don't care as long as I have it. 

Now this is about the quantity. Depending on their lives, they can have open preorders or not. More often or not, they are often LE with the occasional reruns. 

Mamo and Nuwa leave their preorders open for a week with some going on for a few days. There are people who run on the higher ends that have extended preorder limits in the same way as they do such as Witchxing and Abigeyedowl. 

Not every pinmaker can make every pins they have open preorders. Maybe within a limited timeframe sure but limited nonetheless. 

LE is simply easier on what these pin makers can do. They might increase the numbers with more interest than they thought. 

Participate more if you want the numbers raised. If you want the number raised, comment. 

If you want the LE, go practice with the website, just don't press buy at the moment. Just click the buttons as fast as you can without buying the practice product. 

Practice makes things easier for you. It's how I managed to secure some of my snags for LE pins and gacha that sells out within a minute or two. 

After getting cart swiped which is not a great feeling, I know I have to have no hesitation. Actually, it was amazing that I wasn't cart-swiped with the Neuvi and Meg preorders I got probably because of the Shop Pay. 

Again, know your limits and if you want it, practice your speed with the preferred method of payment. 

Nobody is entitled to enamel pins, a hunk of metal. You can ask how to purchase but at the end of the day, ISO is there and given the right help, the pin might come to you. My Espeon Pokemallow was this. 

Now, I pay for keeps. I don’t preorder as often as I have seen others do in a month. I'm pretty sure people spend at least a thousand a month. I barely cracked 500 on my worst spending months. I already warned my wallet in July 2024 that it would experience pain. 

Sometimes there are preorders that came up that threw me off course from my intended budget for the month. I know this feeling all too well. Either it's pins that have been on my list forever, surprise art reveals, or characters I never intended to collect but will make an exception for this one. 

I wasn't intending to make a Disney collection by any means. I saw Nuwa Evil Queen and I fell down the rabbit hole. It does help that the Evil Queen was threefer (love the classic Disney Princesses as I watch it all the time as a kid so it's a great symbolism for that era, my love for villains, and it's a beauty). I saw Nuwa Mali and wasn't that interested but I'm awaiting her Lady Tremaine. 

I always planned to start an HSR pin collection but it kept pushing back until May. ORV is still pushed back due to budget reasons. If it weren't for the fact that Penacony finally pushed me into buying it, who knows how long it would take to get that into gear. My misgivings about the final execution of the entire Penacony in its totality aside, it's still the final straw for me to finally collect it with Aven being the main drive. 

I didn't intend to get a Jing Yuan in any case but the Midnightmoon Purple Chrome variant did the job for me and I made an exception for getting him. I do not plan to get the Minty Jing Yuan anyhow. 

If Sunday is indeed a makeover with black clothes, oh I'm so tempted to get him that way. That's an if. There’s one Sunday but I don’t know. Again, my primary focus is on Aven, Ratio, Acheron, and misc characters at this point. 

I'm honestly waiting for Abigeyedowl to release the Ever After pin set because, unlike others, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get hers and put it on my Cinderella board. If she does indeed make the other Cinderella such as Ella and Kit, then I'm a goner. Again, the only exception for a Disney Princess I will collect will be Cinderella. Witchxing is on the radar for that alone for her Girl with Sword series which I made the exception of getting Punzie. 

All in all, a hobby should make you happy. Pin collecting is just one of the many expensive hobbies I partake in. Concentrating on a hobby makes you money rather than making you happy wouldn't make anybody happy.

Singularly focusing on a pin and nothing else isn't really good for the psyche and maybe they should take a step back from the hobby if they are that happy for not getting a pin. 

Because of my previous expensive hobbies, it's no harm done if I don't get the pin immediately. Fuck, I still haven't gotten to the Real Grade Gunpla my brother bought for me for my birthday because I don't feel that I'm not at that level yet. 

It’s simply for the peace of mind that I get the pin at preorder. 

Heck, I easily let pins I won't be able to get pass through me once I see I have no chance and maybe one I might possibly get it. 

What I won't let pass me are Mamo's preorders because from what I heard from him, the second wave of the Eevee Fusions have in-hands but for some of them, there won't be in-hands at all. Thank Arceus, I snagged them all. 

I understand if a maker won’t make extras or can’t. I have a bunch of miscellaneous men from Genshin and Honkai that I can sufficiently make an ita bag day for it if I feel like it. If I’m feeling Pokemon Chandelure one day then hot Hoyo guys next then Cinderellas next, who knows. Though with abigeyedowl I’m refusing to let that out of a shadowbox if the Cinderellas would ever be released for presales. 

My Yugioh collection is tiny. KHR, GX, Digimon, and even CCS suffered from being on the back burner. Been trying to get in the groove with my fave animanga CCS by getting a pin at last for it after so many Sailor Moons. 

It's also fine if art doesn't jive with you. I passed on a few artists because they simply aren't for me. Some styles just don't do it for me and it's okay. Honestly, given how many hours passed since then, I was able to live with that and didn't suffer any FOMO. 

I passed on several that won't ever have restocks again or have limited extras that I know will sell out quickly. Though some had been pushed to buying need once I saw the full art. God, I got a Kaveh at last to balance out the Aven now in time for Kaveh’s birthday too. 

If Pris.pins is doing her half of the HSR pins which includes the Ratio Chibi I needed, I will cry. I've been waiting for that Chibi to be in my possession one way or another. Putting Aven and Ratio next to each other is so nice. 

Again, I think my main problem was the temptation. So once the temptation solidified after months wait, yeah, it's going on the list. There had been solidified choices that made my wallet cry in terror. 

There are common themes to my collecting: As of note, I don't have traders usually. I would offer the pins I don't like that I either have to buy to get. I was able to offload one now even if I got it in presale. I have yet to sell the Link I have as I decided not to collect LOZ. 

I’m pickier than most people but my budget will balloon if something I had been eying have a surprise drop and I somehow snagged it. I knew July was gonna be a big spending month but it ballooned my budget through surprise drop and designs. Ugh, I’m pretty sure what my ballooned budget doesn’t even touch others and even my cousin’s combined budget for both gacha and her love for board games whether through kickstarters or bargain. She has two petting Sprigatito dolls. 

• Fave characters from a series that I have major love for in the past 10+ years 
• Fave characters from recent series that have my heart or still feel love even after not getting into since then only through the peripheral grasp of other means 
• Purple - depending on the design, I have to get it. If it’s one of the two variants, so far I picked those two already. I didn’t intend to collect Jing Yuan but have a purple variant nor do I intend to collect Punzie but have Witchxing Girl with Swords purple variant. I don't collect all characters who have the motifs of purple in them such as Raiden Ei or Punzie. I much prefer Sailor Saturn or Kafka. At least I’m collecting the purple characters I like. 
• Pretty art that is up my alley. See Witchxing Girl with Swords Punzie purple variant and so much more. I do not collect Apothecary Diaries yet have one. I’ll likely get PSS Sunday but Aven will remain a priority with Acheron and Ratio due to being buff as he is going to be in the limited ones like Haitham. Maybe get Minty Sunday but since I wasn’t a fan of the Minty Kafka design, I’ll stick with PSS topper for the preference that the Pop didn’t entice enough with the purple. I'll just gift these Sundays to my cousin after a while of displaying and keeping them for a bit for the art alone. 
• Encapsulation or telling a story - I'm a sucker for stories so it's a given if it's an encapsulation of say foils or relationships to an extent, I'm more driven to get it. Hence the only MHA and AD pins I will ever own. Nuwa's recent series The Landscapes is up my alley in these terms but I'm not feeling a need, only temptation.

From what is above, do not compare your collection to others. You do not need artists and pinmakers' pins that are out of your reach if it's out of your budget or another. 

For example, I'm still wary of spending 100 on a pin and that's without shipping. I can spend if it's just a little over 100 only if the shipping goes over that. I can spend over 100 and even some 200 on a set and that's because it's a set. 

I struggle to think of spending over a hundred for a pin so that's why I prefer to buy presales from Witchxing than in-hands or aftermarket for her to keep it down. 

Just know the limits of your budget and yourself and decide what matters most to you in your collection. You know your collection and comparison aren't good for your mental health, be it jealousy, cockiness, or another negative emotion. 

Staying in pin clubs especially when I previously missed out on exclusive drops for said pin club is what I know I want to do. I refuse to step out of Mamo and Nuwa's pin clubs because what if I missed an exclusive drop that is for Patrons only?? 

I’m attempting one and hope to Godoka and Arceus I snag it. I need the Neuvi for my board and I’m so happy I snagged it. The beauty would go great on that board. The colors would do well even if I put my Childe on there or heck my Suicunes. 

I followed Reylo shipper pinmakers. The ship itself is more of a pesky fly than something I prefer not to see in my feed hence me unfollowing any maker even making a mention about EndHawks. Sorry, that ship gives me psychic damage whereas Reylo is an annoying fly. Honestly, lucky them because I would’ve avoided the hell out of more great artists if Reylo became the level of avoidance for peace of mind that only one ship had. NaruHina a popular ship in the pin-making community just make me sigh and move on while I try to out that movie out of my mind, and worst case feeling uncomfortable. I don’t want to unfollow these artists. 

I dedicated a chunk of my budget to Witchxing Girl with Sword Punzie which I know is a need. Nuwa, as the one who careened me into collecting Disney with her beautiful Evil Queen, is tempting me with the Kiss the Girl Landscape in particular but if she had done Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, I would've bought it. Again I only collect Disney if they are villainous, Cinderella, or if it's misc, then it has to be something that I really love for my collection. As someone who loves Sleeping Beauty art, I would love that. Again, Nuwa only with misc hoping to Abigeyedowl and Witchxing. Maybe Mamo would have continued the Fashion Disney because I would've purchased the Yzma. I joined Nuwa's patreon mainly for her FTD though I did get her Sakura once a spot opened up for her but with FTD expanding to others than just Disney, I'm happy enough to hope one day to get an FTD of the others she's drawing that is not Disney if the design drives a need. 

For budget reasons, I have to pick and choose. For example, in August, since between a series I like and a character I love, it’s the one design of a character I will love forever that gets me. I had to choose. It’s for the sake of my wallet, I’ll go with my collection than something I promised myself I can’t collect. 

I collect Disney very casually for peace of mind. If anything, my wallet is mainly screaming in pain due to the magical girls, Genshin, and HSR purchases. Hence, I reserve my Disney purchases to Nuwa mostly with special occasions going to Witchxing and Abigeyedowl. 

I've been trying to look for Sailor Saturn filler pins so I've been on the lookout for LavenderxSilvy Outer Senshi filler pins and Cutematter's Kickstarter which I know will feature Saturn. I know that with any upcoming Saturns I will get, filler pins are the way to go at this point should I get the board that satisfies my favorite scout. 

I know I'm switching between an ita bag or a board or both for my Kaveh collection. Aven has the same amount too. 

Saturn exceeds the number but nowhere near others’ collections. Even my Pokemon collection which far exceeds Saturn in number has different Pokemon with the only Dragonair getting 3 and Mimikyu 4, Psyduck at 2. By number, Pokemon is my largest with magical girls coming in second with my Sailor Moon purchases inching it closer. By individual characters, Saturn won by a long shot with Kaveh and Aven coming close behind at 4 each. Serenity, Sakura Kinomoto, Cass Cain, and so many more sat at 2 or 1. In the case of Zhongli, Chiori, Acheron… it’s nothing even though I want to collect them. Ironically, despite not wanting to collect SatoSugu as an exclusive OTP, I got 5, technically 4 since it's a variant so about the same length as my fave sailor senshi... I'm stubbornly going to put together an OTP board so SatoSugu is not getting a board of their own I refuse. 

Compared to my cousin's spending on her hobbies, I'm more restrained even when I spend close to 3000 in the course of a year, it's nothing compared to her addiction to her gacha games and her board games addictions. She spent more in a year than I did in a single year of my pin-collecting hobby. 

Just putting down what I want in future presales barring any surprises just makes my soul go up in smokes. I got my credit card but a slight decrease in paycheck might hinder if I plan everything right barring a few surprises. I’m still considering any Mamo Moon Prism Project Serenity and that’s it since I collect Blonde Serenity (white haired Serenity isn’t my thing or at worst a shade of gray that isn’t in the original art so forgive me I want the blonde ones more) only as well as eying a variant about FTD Neo-Queen Serenity. Again, I turned into a Serenity collector by an artist and it was so slippery that I utterly refused to do that again with other characters of any media I love. Fuck, I am stopping myself at 4 Sundays, literally zero chibis. Luckily, I found almost nothing regarding PGSM pins so I have to wait to see Dark Mercury again from Mamo. At least unlike Serenity, there is almost zero Darkury I can choose from. 

At least with Disney, I allow myself to have all except Frozen, Pocahontas, Wish, Raya, and Brave. I'm open to everything but those. Because it's still under the Disney umbrella, I can collect pins from Nuwa. 

I do not have enough props at home to make pin pictures. Just showing it in bags and shadowboxes is enough for me to decorate. I still have to make my shrines and boards because that's far more of a priority than having a pin pic with a background I barely use. Giving shrines to my fave characters and fave designs is enough to push me through the pin box purgatory. My pins are stuck in boxes and I really love to decorate them. I have so many ideas for my beloved Saturn, Kaveh, and Aventurine boards or at least interchangeable swapping from board to ita with Kaveh in particular. I do not have it in me to have that many pins to flex more or less. Even my one of my insta highlights became a pin mail but it's not all of them. I was too lazy to take pics of then pin mail and only used the pics I had in my photos at that time sent to people who knew my hobby. Some individual pins will get their own special singular board. I have some ideas for some already but I have to spice up the board a bit. 

I can do work-in-progress photos of pinboards and ita bags that I will just end up putting on the walls or bookshelves whereas pin mail would just be photos that I had sent to others that I later used for stories. 

Funko's Problems

 

Despite my problems with Funko, I don't have any problems with people collecting it. 

There's news of Funko restructuring and laying off employees due to the debt they accrued. 

If nothing else, they need to go back to the basics that made them famous in the first place.

What Funko needed to do was:

• Drop the 3-liter Sodas
• Scale down the regular Sodas to make them limited and obscure. Be more creative with the Chases. A 10k or less than 7k count is best and Sku counts need to drop. 
• Throw away the Blockbuster Rewind completely. It has the potential but its size is less than a regular Funko pop negating it. Make them con-only if you want to keep them. Keep them only if you want if limited.
• Throw away the Big Pins too. Standard pins are fine but big ones are a big waste. 
• Scale back the Pop announcements at conventions. Stick to at least 20. Drop sku count and introduce limited pops again. No big announcements every year, just go back to the March lineup announcements and smaller ones throughout the year. 
• Sell stuff better in certain countries
• Have products that people want and love rather than have millions of commons with Chases and other unique Funko varieties here and there. 
• Spend more on licenses that Funko never had like Top Gun, Roadhouse, Days of Thunder, etc. 
• Tighten up the licenses too per year especially with flexibility with movie/TV tie-ins when a project is delayed 
• No puzzles and board games
• No more Deluxe Albums and Gold figures
• Be more selective with Comic Covers so that way it would make the price reasonable for the right one. Keep them con-only if you want to keep them. 
• Drop Battle Scenes and Sports Cards too. If want to keep, limited only. 
• Drop Snaps and Poppsies 
• Keep commons limited to a few for each license. 
• If you are redoing a character, do them once and move the fuck on. 
• New pops for big licenses like MCU shouldn't be full and do people need like ten pops? If it's a character that hasn't been done before, do that and if a character has been done before, keep it limited. 
• If it's a big franchise, go for obscure references while the movies and TV should get smaller lines. 
• Get rid of 25k legacy pops and die-cast
• Drop or keep NFT pops limited at con-only.
• No more ornaments and plushes. I understand that a seller, they needs to diversify to attract those who want the same thing but something else. Again, for the ornaments, keep them con-only or holiday releases only if you want to keep them. 
• Drop the Pocket Pops. 

The itty-bitties pops are doing fine and no need to change there. Keep the minis and keychains. 

A basic problem was just words exclusive, limited, and common that Funko lost sight of due to greed and their want to be the next Hasbro and Mattel, not knowing those companies succeeded due to focusing on several licenses and doing it well. Fuck, Pokemon and Magic of the Gathering was able to recover post-pandemic. Funko is doing well or decently but they are throwing anything at the wall and hoping it sticks. A major problem is oversaturation. Largely, they need to trim the fat.  

They are already pulling back on ten-inch Funko pop production. Keeping it limited and for larger characters would make more sense than having every character have this. Well, not every character but enough to have Funko cut back. 

In stores, pops might as well warm the shelves before going into the clearance section. That's brutal. 

I applied to a recently open Funko store in the mall and it’s a lot of pops in there with a life-sized Luffy Gear Four Funko at the window beside the entrance. At this point, I didn't care I would be near Funko as long as I was working a full-time job. 

I know at the cashier were the limited ones or the autographed ones I think because the back of the cashier showed autographs on the plastic for the respective pop. 

As for other stores, I remember in one shop that sells Japanese items, the pop section had actually sold pretty well as I recall only a few on the back by the time I was exploring the shop. The Funko pop shelf in that store is the only pop shelf there that has considerably sold. The anime figures section is still relatively big with those going up by a lot. The plushies were still considerable too but those are fairly expensive. Then again, it's a huge retailer that is primarily Japanese products that for someone who loves Japanese products with the occasional Korean products says a lot. If I get a job at the mall, then during my breaks outside of eating would totally go into the Japanese shops to buy. 

Those pops are exclusively animanga though I did see some Marvel then and there. 

Anyways, the oversaturation means that the bigger franchises would be staying on shelves for a long time. Do we need that many Darth Vaders and Spidermans? They are popular IPs and characters surely but not every Funko collector would pick them up because they're common and neither will the casual or the impulse buyers who just like the product. 

Making them limited again would not put them into the clearance section or worse a landfill. 

While anime figures are coming over here with too costly a price for prize figures and while popular figures should have the same price as the ones sold in Japan typically, I'm usually wary about it since I'd rather pay how much it would cost typically than more than I should have. There is still a variety in prize figures though regardless of the cost here. 

In Funko, differences are so minuscule that a regular person would wonder why they want to buy another when they could have the figure anyway. Why do people want a repeat figure with little change regardless of glitter or chrome? 

I know commons have been argued as a point for why Funko was able to make so much money but at the same time, too many commons for too many figures cannot be offset by that. The issue is that they are making too many pops that nobody wants and it's wasting away on shelves and clearance. There has to be a line. 

Funko has licenses that not every license will dole out to others hence its accessibility. Commons made that work because now everyone can have their own figure from their favorite show that won't likely be made in other merchandise. 

Do people expect figures made for Twin Peaks or genres people don’t expect merchandise from? Considering Squid Game’s merch goes against the themes and messages, capitalism overtakes anything. 

Funko is easily the most accessible thing to make figures of. I am not hammering them for having figures for licenses that people didn't expect too much merchandise from. If anything, that's a boon when Japanese figures that do have DC and Marvel figures that are high quality are often relegated to the higher tiers of figure making; very rarely do I see prize figures made for the DC and Marvel figures because I know Q Posket is often a prize figure that I do see but I don't see outside of that. My Hawks figure is about the approximate cost for those DC and Marvel figures I see often in the Japanese figure makers on the side of things. 

Funko just needs to trim the fat of what's not working and focus on what they do best with limited to several per license per year announcements big and small. 

I can't believe I'm advising a capitalistic company that, unlike the artists I support through their small stores, wants money hence all the problems they have. 

If nothing else, if fans of Funko want to have them without the newer ones taking up too much space and costly and too many that it's warming the shelves rather than have customers actively buying, then have at it. 

Funko, what you are running isn't the Disney Pins trading business. Disney can release pins every single day and not suffer any setbacks because it's a Parks activity just as much as Figment remains strong. Even outside the parks, Disney pin trading still happens with people buying Disney pins from various companies such as Loungefly and BoxLunch. 

While there is trading in Funko pops and pins, commons do not afford much trading. At least pins are made limiting numbers due to cost. Popular activity yes but it’s not so common even as a regular site in the parks and other certain communities. 

At least anime figures aren't that common as it's regarded as an otaku activity just as much as any train otakus. Funkos unfortunately have the problem of commons whereas prize figures are typically won via game or retail for a low price. 

When most of their stuff is going into landfills whereas anime figures are getting distributed even if it's upped for a slightly unreasonable price in some places, doubling what it would cost in Japan originally, it says a lot that while Funko does have to go back to the basics given its oversaturation. 

Moving it into landfills because it's not selling says everything about capitalism really. Instead of donating it, they filled up trash with these plastic and cardboard boxes. Sure, it can be funny like the case of the ET Atari game in the landfill incident but it's still pretty bad to just dump it like that instead of dumping excess into charity for positive PR than for the cost. 

That’s getting into a conversation about capitalism and the larger aspects. 

While we are discussing a capitalist company with their capitalistic desires, that doesn’t mean they are the true evils of the world, the lesser evils against extremist nazis. I’ll take Disney’s side over Ron DeSantis because one wants money but the other wants me dead. Criticize we will about Disney but taking the side of a Nazi who wants us dead in the end will kill me and other people like me. Capitalism wants our money but would you take the side of people who wants the queer community dead just because you are criticizing the choices of a mega multimillion company with the current CEO trying to fix his own mistakes and decidedly anti-SAG-AFTRA and anti-WGA strike (it’s the summer of strikes heading into autumn but I’ll rather have Hollywood shut down until these guys get their dues, no competition who gets the worst treatment or deserve more because it feeds into the Hollywood narrative when the visual medium demands so much collaboration in the first place)? Hell no! I’m admitting I’m taking the side of a capitalist in the fight against nazis who are targeting them now or at least Disney but if Disney is using their scary lawyers then what about the others? but I’ll never side with Bob Iger on the strikes. This is the issue vs broad activism again that people in the strikes are combating with the leader of SAG-AFTRA being anti-vax. We are fighting for better pay and treatment but we won’t agree on other particular issues. 

Well, you know my piece on that without a huge post about it. I’m not part of either nor am I pro-Hollywood. Hollywood going woke and Oscars So White are the symptoms of the larger systematic injustice but at least they’re trying even if their tries tend to be toothless and at worst perpetuate stereotypes. I can ignore all the remakes even though they are stirring up worthless controversies. Again, I question people trying to stir up controversies over the live-action Disney remakes given its track record. The Snow White after the Little Mermaid is repetitive at this point. 

Journey into Pin Collecting

 

I never expected to fall down this rabbit hole. 

After experiencing things that are normal to pin collectors in the community, I'm still learning. This glossary here is useful. If I never need help regarding designing pins, I refer to this to achieve the best I want.

While I spent over a thousand at this point, I considered myself still pretty decent. I think I gave up a lot of potential pins because I could live without them or put them off till later. 

Honestly, with the pin collecting, I’m getting to know myself as to what themes I subconsciously lean-to. 

I love Nuwa’s art but I wasn’t intending to get any Disney fantasy pins at all until I laid my eyes on the Evil Queen. It's too lovely not to have and now I’m building up a Disney Villain board with Nuwa Yzma being my first FTD preorder. I mean who wouldn’t get Yzma? 

I still like glittery diamonds enough. I still like light designs of my favorite designs in a particular series. 

However, I noticed I tend to pick the goth and dark designs even with the cute and girly designs is a theme even with the theme of characters representing darkness death, and destruction. 

My first Patreon reward was Nuwa Sakura for November. My second and third were Mamobot Dragonair and Califlair's new theme series that will be delivered in February. I refuse to leave those three pin clubs particularly not letting go of Califlair's pin rewards after seeing the two so far. My third was Califlair’s Angel & February reward. 

FTD Yzma is my first ever FTD preorder whereas my first ever Patreon discount was the three Fashion Gardevoirs I've wanted. I haven't exactly had a true Patreon early access preorder from Mamobot just yet. Moon Prism Project Saturn is my first Patreon exclusive preorder as all I seen from the series it’s all in the pin club shop. I don’t think it was ever in the public shop. 

Neuvi Tarot is my first PSS pin whereas the Childe PoP I refuse to give up is my second PSS pin, both preorders. 

My first-ever group presale is the Silvy Moonie Saturn and I need to buy it the moment it releases. I do not know how many spots are there but it’s probably 40-ish given the previous full presale; surprisingly only two so far managed to get full: Riftan and Saturn. I scored a spot as soon as I got the confirmation of the group formation and now awaiting the date. 

I have seen the Mercury presale and already taken off after the first day and probably all of the group members paid already. I have seen early access members paying by other means than this. 

As much as I will be in pin jail for that, as long as I don't spend way more than I'm expecting, I'm okay. Honestly, as long as Mamobot doesn't fail me now by releasing the Eeveelution Crossbreeds Wave 1 in February, then I'm fine. 

Thank god I mostly stick with Saturn and Moon, but the only sometimes is because there is so much that I would buy at one point. 

Getting access to pin clubs is like getting crack to be honest. Nuwa's FTD series and Mamobot releasing early access Patreon open preorders are so bad to me but I know when to pick and choose. I feel like I'm being forced to pick and choose the Eeveelution Crossbreeds but I have to get the ones I know I need as February will be the hardest obstacle to get over. 

Because I'm actually spending not that much by comparison to others, in fact, I think what I'm spending in February alone is comparable to one of my cousins spending on a Kickstarter bundle that included add-ons of specials, I'm only focusing on designs I wanted. Sure I follow over a hundred artists on Instagram, but I'm only focusing on what I can do right now. Heck, I haven't spent anything on Mamobot in January other than getting the monthly reward. 

I'm investing in Califlair as I plan to stay all year. I'm staying in Mamobot and Nuwa's Patreon for obvious reasons. I don't plan to join any Kickstarters even for any ita bag once I manage to scrouge enough to buy an ita bag for my liking. I only joined a DC Kickstarter once and I've fallen down the rabbit down to not join a Kickstarter at the moment. 

Even if the creators are now limiting the LE so as not to create any dead stock, creators are still upping their game all over the place. I have seen pin designs that are just so good and there are some I know I can't pass up comes the preorder date like Silvy Moonie Saturn that I refuse to let go. 

Sure there are some stray pins I'm eying like from PSS and if a design I really love pops up in Discord Instagram or Patreon, it's all up in the air. The only designs that I know I want are up on Mamobot 

And I was right. Mamobot threw my intended budget out the window with the release of Eeveelution Fusions Wave 1 and Moon Prism Project Saturn. I was just lucky I only spent 109 previously including the pin clubs I stayed in but Mamobot revealed the Jirachi one and I really like this reward.  

In February alone, I will wound up preordering two Saturns, one from Mamo and the other from Silvy. They are going to look great in my Saturn shrine anyway so no regrets. No regret buying Wave 1 either. 

I already have two boxes at this point with the Wave 1 plus Saturn and the other was six of Wave 2 Fashion Gardevoirs. I'm pretty sure my 212 order that comes with a freebie pin and a free Mamocard essentially brought up the total to 15 items in total all of which are two inches with one 2.85 with the card being a card so it has to be a Mamobox. 

The start of February and the tail end of January already have been one bad financial decision after another. But those are designs I don’t regret. I cannot regret the upcoming Childe PoP that I have been waiting a long time for. At this point, after February, I’m gonna stick with planned purchases. 

Though with Mamobot’s sets I’m eying, some surprises that would set me off to get the earliest and cheapest pricing I can get. The Saturns could be counted as impulse purchases but they are also planned ones as I told myself that I only want Moon Prism Project Saturn and that PoP. I told myself Saturn and maybe Moon and haven’t stepped out since. 

I prefer to get them at the early bird price rather than later. I’m still spending badly but less. 

Since my budget is way off now, I will see if the Dabihawks zine leftovers and Dark Miku will be released in February to budget for the reward and the other Saturn. Honestly, I also need to see Nuwa's March reward and her FTD release to be sure too. At least I'm gonna score the Childe PoP. 

Mamo and Nuwa usually do open preorders for an entire week with an early bird discount is what I will try to get even after work. PSS always did a 48-hour preorder period only extending if not getting preorders to justify production; she only recently did the IF series as a week-long to have more than one character per month. I hope to see Itto and Kazuha even Tomo. 

I also have to take into account future waves of the Eevee Fusions because I need to buy them as well as Wave 3 of Fashion Gardevoir. I already completed Moon Prism Project Saturn, I just need to focus on Pokemon for Mamobot. I can’t afford another Moon Prism Project when the Eevee Fusions are calling me; I promised myself Saturn and that's it on the Moon Prism maybe with the possibility of Moon/Serenity. 

Again, other than Mamobot and Nuwa, I’m looking at PSS and hopefully, Zupins, the latter of which I hope to open an OP for a design I really want. 

There might be stray designs that would come up that are going to be hard to pass up on my budget. Silvy Moonie Saturn ended up being that and Nuwa Yzma. 

I know PSS will be plenty hard on my budget and no less following over a hundred Instagram accounts when it pops up a design or an in-hand sale I've been wanting for a while. 

To save as much money as I can, I have to see what Mamobot aka the Dark Miku and Nuwa aka the FTD and the monthly reward have to offer as well as any news on the Dabihawks zine leftovers to get certain designs such as PSS' Zhongli while still retaining one paycheck for a design I joined a group for. Mamobot already threw me off budget. Though after the eyeliner weirdness on the finished IF one, I’m wary and now aimed for a Zupins OP. 

I want the Zhongli but have to give up the Jirachi and if Mamobot releases the Dark Miku in February, I would likely have to give up the Zhongli for the time being or even look forward to the in-hand release of it or find another Zhongli. Again, it all depends on so many factors at this rate that the only thing I know I can spend on is the Silvy Moonie Saturn and IF Childe PoP. I refuse to give up the Dabihawks pin and now a Wriolette pin. Those will do great on my OTP board. 

I can give up that Zhongli for Midnightmoon Zhonglis. If there is a Zhongli open preorder for Zupins, you bet I’m gonna buy it. I mean there's a new series supposedly with Kaeya open preorder in January, I don't know what is coming next now that I finally followed her at last. 

Push comes the shove, I have to sell some pins. I'm considering the freebies I don't like and impulse purchases. I'm only going to sell some of my personal collection if I'm gonna make something from it. I'm likely going to sell the Nuwa Cinderella and focus entirely on villains for Nuwa. 

I can just sell the Nuwa Link and Nuwa Cinderella next month or this month for some quick cash. Unfortunately, I have to sell them but it’s for funds and I can part with it. 

I didn't want to sell the Nuwa Link after seeing the sample but if I have to. 

I am cautious about Silvy now, especially after seeing the Sakura, Syaoran, Venus, and maybe Riftan. Pluto did turn out great as does previous turnouts like Luna and Serenity. The skin for Sakura and Syaoran turns out too dark and the coloring is off from the original art so it didn't translate the shadowing and bright lights as it should've done. As for Venus, the hair splays to the side whereas the flowers on the left are on two levels. 

I know pins are artistic interpretations of the original art and aren't one-to-one but at least try matching. The worst I saw was somehow just changing the colors outright and UV printing exclusively to the exclusion of everything that could be done to make look good. I have no idea what happened to that pin in particular because it's so changed and so disappointing that it didn't try to match. 

Mamobot is great with Pantone and his pastels always turn out great. 

All I know about Sakura is that when presale buyers in the group noticed the darker skin, it was too late to ask her to change it because she already put it into mass production at that point. What I can say in the end, the pins are pretty but overbaked or have slight inconsistencies that might detract if noticed just enough. 

They are still pretty pins but I just hope that she doesn't stray too far from the original art to match it in some way in her later pins. I have not seen a production sample of Mars yet.  

Her style of shadows and bright lights can work but not always so I hope Saturn turns out great. I know that she always uses effects to raise the price extremely that she and her business partner exclusively sell expensive pins. 

At least her other series are doing fine. 

Pin mails have been a pick-me-up treat. Finally receiving the first pin mail of February certainly makes me happy. I’m waiting for the Dragonair and Fashion Gardevoirs to arrive especially putting the Dragonairs side by side. In March, it’s the Nuwa Link and Califlair again. Unless the largest Mamobot preorder comes in late March, I’m happy. In April, there would be a lot of packages. 

Again, preorders and pin rewards. 

I don’t know about in hands yet but I hope I get the Dark Miku and Dabihawks pin. Those are priorities at the moment as in hands. Maybe the Wriolette pin but that’s not a priority. 

Future preorders would be Eevee Fusions Wave 2 and 3 complete sets (since there are 9 in total, there’s gonna be three waves about 185 at early bird pricing so two more to go) and Fashion Gardevoir Wave 3 some pins (I must get Mew and Florges). It’s very rare for me to want to have the whole set and the Eevee Fusions put me over the edge because every design is too good not to have. 

I knew one of these days I would be spending close to 200 or just a little 200 on Mamobot as I will use the discount codes when I can if only to save money. 

I really like freebie stickers. It's either of the designs I didn't like enough to get as pins like the two Fashion Gardevoir stickers I have of the original and the Butterfree design. I actually like the Butterfree sticker well enough but does it ignite a feeling of FOMO? Just a little but not enough especially in the month I'm prioritizing certain pins. I've seen the pins I didn't buy in better lighting and it looks good but not enough for me to buy it and keep it for life. To be honest, I'd rather get the Sylveon Fusion with Beautifly rather than the Butterfree Gardevoir. At least that would fit in nicely with the Goth Pokemon board I'm basically designing. I tend to be drawn to the relatively dark designs of Mamo's art because it's for my inner Goth lolita soul hence the Dark type Miku. With some exceptions, I'd prefer some Shiny designs over the original. 

Even if the Dark Miku isn’t going to be released in February, I still have to go and basically practice for its eventual drop so I can grab and go but without buying the practice item. 

Pokemon will always be my biggest collection by far. Again, Mamobot is piling that up. 

I haven’t collected CCS and other magical girls in a while. I’m considering MonocacyBottomPins’ upcoming Syaoran or Tomoyo whereas I bought two Saturns in one month. However, there’s Meg I’m looking forward to. I am keeping my Disney collection as small as I can with Nuwa, Mamobot, and maybe some extras. I’m hoping that Nuwa doesn’t release an FTD I want in February because for Mamobot, I am focusing exclusively on the Dark Miku for in-hand drop whereas focusing on preordering for the ones I wanted even if again it would set me back 185. I haven’t heard anything about the Dabihawks leftovers as the last round of shipping batches has yet to be announced nor have the leftover sales been announced; all I know is they were shorted an item. In fact, I have no idea which item was shorted and there is still no news of delivery batches sent of the remaining packages. 

My Digimon and shounen collection is so tiny. Disney is only inching just as much as Sailor Moon through Saturns and whatever comes up. I'm keeping an eye out for any interesting Saturn/Hotaru Tomoe designs that might come up from reliable pin makers. I love Saturn's OG costume though so I kept an eye out for that too. 

My love for magical girls is mighty but I haven't decided on any CCS lately, only Saturns. Pokemon is my priority more so than anything interesting that might be up for Nuwa's FTD series. If it’s like Jasmine a design I can live without, I can skip. If not, we shall see. If it’s Alice, I’m in trouble because she can do youthful characters. I preordered Yzma so quick as it’s the quickest I did for Nuwa notwithstanding the drops for Mamobot because I will be fighting. I can’t be cart swiped for the Dark Miku. 

Like I collect and love Moulin Rouge, but I don’t collect all Disney crossover with it. I prefer to see Satine and Christian than having characters in those roles.

Thankfully I'm not trying to collect that much Disney, only the designs that interest me though I would love a Yzma from Mamobot. 

Honestly, it helps that I'm already picky so I usually just pick up designs I actually want to keep forever. I aim for preorders from very reliable pin makers who fulfill orders and preorders in an orderly manner. Honestly, Mamo and Nuwa are like machines more Mamo as his customers get preorders earlier, and if something is late, he’ll let us know as it took nearly two months for me to get the Dragonair. Even then, getting the rewards is still timely as we can get it the month of or within one to two months. 

Califlair is also reliable because her pins are tiny and single-layer unless they are on the bigger side. Unless something comes up, she gives news in the newsletter. 

The drama with Different Distractions with Jessica admitting to it was just awful, especially with the rumors against reliable pin makers or those who make so many orders in a month but barely show the manufacturing process. 

In fact, one creator I’m following had a lot of uploads on pins that people haven’t seen yet on the updates. The only thing missing is the Mars pin. 

I don’t follow scammers or those that take years. Unlike Hederahelix who has artisan pins made, they are always on time and never ever take as much time as Man on the Moon or Nyxxi. I would like a HederaHelix pin one day but I feel justifying one hundred for a pin is too much for me. Still, if I somehow scored a preorder because I can trust them, others I feel I can’t lest it falls through as one case I saw where it took a year to refund. Hederahelix can take up to two years for their most complicated pins but will give updates. 

My rule of thumb is to affordable as long as I'm willing and able to be selective for creators. At the moment, I'm a dedicated customer of Mamobot foremost with Nuwa closely behind. I cannot afford Califlair unless I spend a bulk on her once a year so it's best for my budget that I stay in her pin club. 

Most designs I do want are concentrated on Mamobot with some stray designs that are often out there.

I prefer to stay in Mamobot and Nuwa's pin clubs for the foreseeable future as they are often the most affordable and accessible. The open preorders they do are like heaven for a newbie like me. 

Honestly, thank god I'm not a massive Sailor Moon and Disney collector. I never bought from Different Distractions and thank my lucky star I did not when I have been eying others within my budget. I didn’t have any thought of buying from Silvy and Lavender until I saw Saturn. 

Seriously, again Saturn especially if it's a design or a line that I would've like such as Mamobot's Moon Prism Project that is Patreon pin club exclusive then I have to get it. I have zero clues about Mamobot if he's going to release the second wave of the Eevee fusions next month because late March at the very least will be the preorders sent out for Wave 1. 

I know that Sailor Moon, Disney, and Pokemon are enough to create a whole category for pin/sticker clubs. Silvy has a whole Moonie Club while Poroful has Pokemon Food tier club as examples. Noddiart has SM and Disney categories as well as Ghibli is another example of a dedicated fandom club. 

If you really like the artist and you really like the characters of a particular fandom in their style, then go for it. 

Though considering some pin club tiers sometimes have limited spots so there will be spots to essentially fight for. 

Of the creators I'm currently buying, Mamobot and Nuwa are basically crack for a newbie. Again, relatively affordable if you can be selective. I can't afford to stay out of planned purchases now. Nuwa creates great designs so I would like to set aside money for them but it depends on the design. Yzma won over my heart less so her Jasmine Red. I love Yzma so I have to get her never mind that Nuwa drew her absolutely gorgeous. Her art on Alice is nice but no dice in keeping it forever. I can see myself keeping the Evil Queen, Vanessa, and Yzma forever. Yzma has the honor of being my fastest FTD and in general pin preorder yet. To be fair, getting the Moulin Rouge pins was fairly fast too as I want to keep those forever. 

As for ita bags, I’m even more pickier. It was only recently I wanted an ita bag and it was a Mehrak ita bag too. My Genshin pins which are still in the production phase are limited to three. I love Kaveh and it should be appropriate that I should get another Kaveh pin. My first Genshin preorder was Kaveh amusingly so it’s fitting my first ita bag is Kaveh-themed even if it’s gonna be a Genshin bag in the end due to my pickiness even with my OTP pins. Getting Velkia pins is a must and obviously go great with the bag. Now the pins turn three to five with the Velkia pins that I have to get both of. My second Kaveh and first Al-Haitham. I haven’t gotten a Zhongli yet! I don’t know if that’s comical or just haven’t found the right one. 

I still haven’t done up my goth Pokemon board mostly because I don’t have the centerpieces and lots of others. They are Mamobot-only designs. For example, my much-needed Dark Miku and the darker colored Eevee Fusions (Sylveon fusion with Beautifly for example is such a need especially would look great on the goth Pokemon board). I can't build a board just yet without those and their specs. 

The Disney board is what I'm trying to keep relatively small. I have no clue why I had a Disney Villain board even when the Evil Queen started out that Disney collection. Still have no clue how to go about that especially when I don't know if Nuwa is gonna release more designs I like. Yzma was the last FTD I liked so I hope to see more. Again, I'm not planning too big a Disney collection. It was Nuwa who kicked it off. 

As always, there are artists commissioned or otherwise who won’t do certain fandom stuff. David J Brunson, an exclusive artist for the Pin Hut and Pinchantress, refused to do anime after only doing 2 Demon Slayer designs for the former, as he considered the medium perverted; what to note was his outburst to someone asking about them was unwarranted and really shouldn't be said to make anyone feel unsafe in the community so Pin Hut and Brunson apologized in a post acknowledging he knows nothing about anime with the latter taking down the story itself. He took time off after that to reevaluate himself and from what I saw, he doesn't have many stories other than previews of his art. Penguchan refused to do any Hazbin Hotel designs as she dislikes the show. 

Just because they are well-respected artists in the pin community does not mean they will get on every trend or like everything. There are other fish in the sea. 

However, as anime is very popular as well as any current hot topic fandom that arises from anything popular, there are other fish in the sea. If you want detailed hot waifus and husbandos, you can look elsewhere. Heck, some shops have NSFW artwork for pins. 

Just a heads up and really a sensible thing though these artists have to say that. Anyhow, Mr Brunson is the permanent artist for two people so his commissions are coming in great for his profits as he’s primarily a Disney fantasy pin seller. 

I still have no clue why I got myself into an expensive hobby. Combined with ita bag/display case/shadowbox, my spending on pins is considerably less than others. I would know considering the pin discord server I’m in prominently, it doesn’t even scratch the surface. My big money spenders usually goes to four people now: Mamobot, Nuwa, PSS, and MintyxPins now that I joined her HSR club. 

There are designs I simply cannot leave thus it had planned even before my bank account is treading closer below the needed amount that I would have to pay a waiver. 

Sure, there are pin makers I follow so I can get varied art of characters. Been eying a couple Genshin pins from Putorblue. If anything, those threw me off. 

Like Genshin, I’m trying to narrow down characters I like. For Genshin, it’s Kaveh, Childe, Neuvilette, Zhongli, and a little bit of Alhaitham and misc characters. Yeah, female characters in Genshin have potential but it’s really hard to when I’ve been burned too many times by it even when these ladies can be well-written at times. After Signora, I'm just waiting for Arlecchino to get me the bad crazy villain with potential that can be fulfilled. After Raiden Shogun, I felt too burned to get future Archons including Furina and Nahida which didn't convince me enough to collect them. Genshin, can I get my evil villains or morally ambiguous women like Ruan Mei or Sparkle, I'm begging? I don't want waifus, just my villains. 

For Honkai, it’s Aventurine, Dan Heng, Dan Feng, Blade/Yingxing, and a bit of Dr. Ratio and maybe Firefly and Acheron. Again, the ladies can be well-written but it’s just hard after being burned by Genshin’s writing of women and unwillingness to take potential. 

Hunk designs I’m not drawn to since hunks aren’t my preferred type. Any Haitham and Ratio pins are under that many hoops for me to consider. I think what got me was Ratio’s weirdo and fan service combo whereas Alhaitham as a foil got me. 

Choosing to collect ORV after getting the Dabihawks pin is for my sanity. ORV became one of my favorite pieces of literature ever. It’s just best for my sanity and wallet I get it after I get my only MHA pin. 

I'm already planning to collect lots of Honkai pins after all. I'm not collecting Boothill in the same way as I will not be collecting Itto. Genshin has a whole lot of likable characters but I'm going to specifically aim to collect only characters I know I'll keep forever. I'm just hoping to see more Ratio and 

Getting pins of one of my fave books of all time is a thing I need to have because I don't know if ORV is going to get the MXTX treatment with the books translated. The webtoon is made into comic books that you can buy and translate so I would take what I can get. 

Zines

 

Zines, you heard about them. 

In the past, they were cheaply produced and distributed for free or cheap. There is rarely ever any merch added to them. 

The point was to spread the word and to reach the community in a way that is easily distributed. 

Nowadays, less so. I feel that unless the fic is uploaded into AO3, I cannot read shit except excerpts. I want to take part in the community that I dearly love but because of the priceyness, I can't buy it easily. 

Okay, so zines nowadays are essentially booklets instead of cheaply made and distributed. 

A reasonable price for a zine is 5 or less. More than that is not a zine. In fact, it’s best to get it free even as I read free zines before. 

This isn’t gatekeeping or imaginary semantics. It’s about the exploitation of punk amateur production values to induce creators to work for less and eschew of formal guarantees and protections they are entitled. Best of all, they are accessible to the community for cheap. 

I made the exception of getting the Dabihawks Lunar Flare zine because multiple of my favorite Dabihawks writers and artists are on there and not much more. The creator was out front admitting it was for profit. If it wasn’t for the sheer fact that they gathered the best of the best of the Dabihawks community, I never would’ve looked at it twice since I prefer to read mine for free or cheap. 

Once leftover sales opened up, fanfics and fanart that were created for it began spilling for free so yeah, these people want the fandom to at least have that much even if they can't pay for it. I wanted the zine and the pin and that's it. I can look at the pretty art on social media. 

I do not plan on creating a MHA or a dedicated specific pairing board. Having OTPs is enough for me as well as having an expensive Hawks figure. Just putting one Dabihawks and multiple SatoSugu is enough for me whereas I’m putting the Timkon pin with the other DC pins because of how rare I found Kon. 

Fuck, I’m not creating a Haikaveh or a Ratiorine board entirely. I rarely get sets unless I really like the art of them. Hunky guys typically aren’t my cup of tea (still don’t get when Touya got the time to work out?? I wasn’t planning to collect MHA that only a zine pin satisfied me but even from a story standpoint, why the hell is Touya that way?? I get Hawks but not Touya.) so it will take something interesting for me to collect them. I want emphasis on Ratio’s weirdo behavior for one thing. I love Haitham and Ratio but they are buff guys and buff guys aren't something I usually collect or bother to collect. I've preordered a Haitham (a Velkia one but that's one required and I wanted a Haitham for a long time that Velkia is perfect) so I'm just waiting for Ratio pins that just make me want to make their forever homes. Even Itto suffers from this. Buff guys aren't for me, only bishies. 

My primary focus is Kaveh and Aventurine with sprinkles of Haitham and Ratio. Love Zhongli, Childe, and Neuvi but I’m even more pickier. I collect other miscellaneous characters so they are there but cluttered. Kaveh is just growing a collection at this point because I really love his character so much that is not healthy. It’s about 3 preordered pins with one Haitham and an upcoming Haitham from Putorblue. I got about 3 Saturns and an upcoming Saturn preorder in June. Need to see cutematter Saturn and others in order to make it since I’m planning to get the Aventurine anyhow. I only got 3 chibi PGSM pins and that’s all I have to declare my love for PGSM. 

I collect every single character of ORV because ORV isn’t that popular and small by comparison. There’s a difference. I can find lots of Genshin and HSR’s popular characters whereas I can only find the main three and their incarnations and Biyoo and Uriel. With the exception of Punisher which I cannot find a pin of, ORV just makes me start a collection later due to that fact. 

I don’t collect ALST and Solo Leveling no matter how much I like the series. My priority is one of my favorite books of all time. At least fans have food, ORV fans likely won’t have the chance of their fave book officially published for a while if at all. Would we see an upward of pins once the movie comes out in 2025? I hope so. Korean movies are well known to be good so I hope the ORV does go over well. 

I'd rather have all of the fanfics and fanart that are supposed to be free and cheap for zines to be available to see and read after everything is done and over rather than having to pay for that is not really a zine in the end. 

Again, the only reason I got the physical zine is because of the sheer fact that the zine itself gathered the best of the best of the Dabihawks community. 

They are essentially art books that aren’t accessible to the rest of the fandom. Fans are either building a shrine of manga or figures rather than having an art book of their fave OTP. 

Worst yet, they also have appealing merchandise. Finding pins of ORV is so slim I was forced to rely on zines. I was also lucky that ORV pins are still available as overall ORV isn’t Solo Leveling popularity. I can only find two ORV kickstarters and that’s it. Starting the ORV collection with that scene is a great banging start. 

Very rarely do I see a zine pin be presold separately from the bundles. 

I was freaking lucky that I managed to find a pin maker who was willing to make ORV pins due to me following as many creators as I can. I was damn lucky that I managed to get the Velkia Haikaveh pin set (ordered separately but are a set regardless because they were supposed to be released during Valentines' but pushed back to March and April. Really, because I was collecting Kaveh as a major point at this point, I hummed in interest but kept an eye out for the story just in case. When I recognized Velkia's art style, it went from tiny interest to need because I've been trying to get Velkia's art as pins for a while now. It's definitely in my forever home pins though most of my pins are typically.) as much as I did due to following a prominent pin maker that allowed an open order on those pins. 

Preorders for pins are taken as nicely for me since I'm so used to fanfiction not updating for a long time. At least fanfiction is a hobby whereas pin businesses are small businesses and thus I have to research businesses that sufficiently fulfill my order reliably. It does help that I have a Mamo discord which is my main pin discord. 

It's preferable for me to secure a spot and I have a tendency to hyperfocus on a pin preorder period so I can get it. 

It was a bloodbath during the Dabihawks zine release but I secured what I wanted due to my quick training from Mamo's in-hand releases. 

Now popularity in a general fandom does not always translate to the pin community. There are famous anime that are talked about that rarely if ever get pins. Take Monster but you hardly ever find fan-made pins. 

Anime pins are expensive with Shounen being regarded as the stock market hilariously. Disney and Sailor Moon pins are more expensive than others. 

CSM pins aren't as in demand now as during its hype. The fandom all but died but there are still people who are fans who collect stuff from it. 

What I paid for my expensive pins typically would give me looks. Had they been sold for retail, they would've averaged from 30 at the very least. Even official Disney pins are around that frame upon release; it's only after everything's sold, that it's upsold for much higher due to its scarcity. 

I really don’t want to pay over 100 for one hunk of metal. Unless it’s really worth it or I can work up my feeling to get a HederaHelix pin, I usually don’t spend that much unless I really want the pin. 

My family is already judging me for my purchases. What I purchase doesn’t scratch other pin collectors’ collections. 

I’m usually picky and buy to keep therefore I usually judge by whether I really want it or not. For example, I was considering Witchxing Chimera Falin but decided against now the release of other Falin Chimera pins. I’m just going to wait to see future musical installments since she did Phantom of the Opera. The only musical I ever collect is Moulin Rouge so hoping for that. 

My monthly purchases do not scratch even those who buy at a higher rate than I. The sets I buy are typically from Mamobot so it’s rare for me to get them. I got the Velkia HaikAveh because it’s Velkia. I’m very happy to get the set not just because of Velkia but also because of 4.6, it felt right. Now I’m on the hunt for another set or a pin that got both of them. 

From the beginning, I only collected what is best for me, concentrating on my planned purchases from Mamobot which took up a lot of my budget frequently. The final set of the Eevee Fusions and another of the Fashion Gardevoirs as well as the Project Voltage until later this year. I’m still debating getting which of the new Pika Spooky designs outside of getting the stickers of the old designs. 

The small businesses have that much pricing due to the effects, size, etc that it raised its price up. Mamo and Nuwa are far more reasonable with their pricing but still I followed pin makers who have daily 100 or just scraping 85 for the lowest grades. Really the highest I ever spent in one month was just a little over 500. 

Nowadays because of the economy, people aren’t spending too much on pins and focusing on certain characters. Even in the previous fandoms and outright medium of anime, people are focusing on what they want. 

Yeah, there are pin makers who focus on extremely detailed PoPs and large pins with lots of detail effects and mechanics that are costly still. The Venn diagram of pin makers who throw effects at the wall to see what works and pin makers who don't really think what looks good on enamel pins vs printed art is a circle. 

In fact, I only read zine fics after the fact when they are uploaded on AO3. If they were uploaded at all. 

I refuse to get a Twitter X account for the sake of my sanity. I got myself an Instagram if only because I need to see accounts. In the end, I end up participating in pin community like C2C groups. 

However, in the pin community, due to small businesses and how easily they can be ripped off or lose money, it’s easy for people to feel personal. In all my nearly two decades-long fandom curation, I never witnessed more arguments and boiling unreasonableness to the point of hatred almost, dragging innocent people into the crossfire. I’m mainly just there trying not to read the stories. In the end, good intentions have the road to hell, and unreasonable anger is felt in the pin community. Due to my research, I know which shops are definitely to avoid and to make sure I get into something that is reliable and gives updates. 

I have seen way too many pin makers complain about customers' complaints. It's too commonplace to see these rants alongside the rants of people who felt they were ripped off or lost money and weren't even refunded. Customer service is part of the deal of business. Why are you treating your customers so poorly when you could just have highlights or a separate account for progress alone? So unprofessional and mental gymnastics that it's fine to be unprofessional in what the end is a business that concerns money and products that can lead to fraud and thievery in the worst case.  

Considering how pins exploded during the pandemic, it's much easier now to see when a pin isn't put into production or not paying the rest of the money for the pins they made where delays can't no longer be blamed on the pandemic. The issues of cut-and-run makers are rampant with so much theft and fraud that these guys are either unprepared for the workload of a pin maker and overwhelmed due to excessive preorders or just shut down or criminal fraudsters thieves just made it clear there is a thin line to prepare for this line of work. Apparently, it's much easier to take money rather than make pins. 

The other ones that got overwhelmed and just disappeared are unprepared which the buyer usually doesn't see. All the cost for production and other additional effects is overwhelming. They treat it as a hobby and not an actual business with customers who need to see where their money is going and when they are going to receive the product. 

I have seen this even in a previously well-respected Disney fantasy pinmaker no less. He used to create pins that go for a lot in the pin community. Now after his divorce, he just vanished and doesn't respond to customers' concerns at all to the point that customers at this time could freely discuss now. 

If you are planning to go into pin-making, just understand there is a workload that we buyers don't see at all. Be prepared to spend a lot of money or lose a lot of money if you do pay for production for official arts and the like. 

Since I don’t collect P4P outside of ORV, I am decidedly not the best person for that due to my own pickiness. I’m too picky. Because there are so many Kaveh to choose from, I only pick out the ones I know I cannot live without. I’m still gonna collect him even after I fill up the ita bag. 

Y’know after getting into the same hyper fixation levels since Kaveh with Aventurine and noticing my link with Hawks, yeah, give me blond self-destructive morally gray or in Kaveh’s case good at the very least alignment with issues and a complicated relationship with their foil. While I don’t think Aventurine is Ratio’s foil, there are still some parallels to be made such as the god’s eyes on them and such. 

I’m a sucker for foils complicated relationships hence shooting up to OTP levels quick. I know when I see a foil relationship. Even without the popular Dabi is a Todoroki theory, I just know Dabihawks is like Shizaya and Suzululu from the flashback alone. I know my preferred ships well. Heck, when I finally got to Sumeru, after meeting Kaveh and Alhaitham's story quest, I knew immediately that this was the ship for me more than Zhongchi which I still read. Just to note, I missed how the fandom reacted to Haikaveh so Ratiorine is just what I needed. Considering my obsession with ORV, it's understandable about that too. Give me self-destructive fictional men who don't know love or have felt love but fear/feel they don't deserve it now. 

I’m getting way off-topic. Zines!

There are cases where a zine is just stopped. Back when I was able to access Twitter, I remember an infamous case of a mod using funds gathered for a Genshin gacha and was kicked off as a result. 

Zines need a lot of care at least in the days of not cheaply-made ones and there are loads of scandals more than misused money. 

It’s a great way for popular fan writers and artists to get together to create an art book really. Again, it’s not a zine if it isn’t as cheap as dirt. 

Again, there is so much money at stake if these things don’t go into production correctly. 

In the current zine time, too much money is poured into this since it’s a for-profit generally. 

At least they are upfront about that. 

At least the creators have some claim of power instead of their shitty entitled fans who cared more about their own profit. 

Sometimes zines might be the only chance you can score a merch from a popular fan merch maker. 

I think I’m just gonna get the Ratiorine merch for the zine precisely since it has both Velkia and Lushiette, the latter of which is hard to secure. It was difficult scouring if Velkia had any collaborations with pin makers so it’s a relief that I got the Insomniapins Velkia Haikaveh set. 

It's better for peace of mind that if you are planning to get some merch from a fan artist who just quickly sells out. If there is a zine out there that has them on there on the merch front, get theirs! 

Zines are often preorders til a certain month. So yeah, if you want to get a creator's work, then it's better to get it that way. 

The zines of today are not zines but artbooks with accompanied fics. There is great merch that went with it. 

Zines demand so much time and effort certainly in these times when it could’ve been solved by giving to the community in its free state at the cheapest. 

While I would like some physical zines then and there, my main preference would be the merch. I’m getting Lushiette’s merch one way or another. 

I would like zines to go back to the cheapness so that it can be easily accessed. Sure, everything will be released after the leftovers but it'll be a year at least. That is nothing compared to fanfics updating after so long. 

If it was a year at that, I heard cases where the printed zines weren’t produced in over two years. I was lucky enough to be near zines that have dedicated parts to show everything. 

I’m so used to fanfics not updating for a long time that preordering pins and waiting for 3-6 months from reliable pin makers (or pin makers who used to be reliable and big in the community backed out due to stress and just ran with the money; since it’s a long time now, Pin it on Magic and Archibald pins are just disappointing considering their pins are now sold for cheap now or DSS in comparison to how they were sold before they left a disappointed base of customers). 

I'm not hammering against these artists who want to make artbooks of their fave ships and characters but it's not truly a zine if it's that expensive and only applicable to release to the wider fanbase during leftovers for the entirety of the reveal. 

Enemies-to-Lovers vs Rivals-To-Lovers

 

Just a brief note, my interest in MHA is still shot. Between the lack of regular updates even though the Dabihawks tag now has just past 10000 works on AO3 and I just can't skim through and nod with the direction theorized by people who know the characters best, I just can't be interested. 

When I'm far more interested in just making Hawks and Dabi's Palaces and Dungeons and Endy's Palace, fuck even the Madam President and Nagant (all of them certainly have palaces as their goals/causes do distort their reality very much) and I have more fun creating Hawks' Shadow than I thought I would have, the Dabihawks tag is something I just look at odd times now. Aside from the Bachelorette series and the Moulin Rouge AU, I could barely read through any other because as much Dabihawks is my MHA OTP, the general interest in MHA was pretty much killed that usually sustained the ships I like and until I get back on it, I don’t know when or how. 

Besides, I'm in the Stranger Things Steddie and Pokemon fandoms again. Pokemon draws me back like a moth to a flame. I'm teetering back on Persona given what I just said but it's a teeter as I'm just having fun with imagining little scenes and especially the Shadows eviscerating their real selves in front of the kids, heroes, villains, and the Persona characters at the scene. 

I can't believe I have to put this as a separate post. I cannot believe people can't tell the difference between enemies and rivals-to-lovers ships. I cannot believe people just can't understand the basic concept of enemies. 

I was utterly exasperated by the completely stupid reaction to Dabihawks and Akeshu. It's as if people don't understand the basic concept of enemies much less enemies that can reconcile and understand each other. 

It's as if they never experienced popular ships from other fandoms when MHA and P5 had yet to exist. Have they experienced Suzalulu, Shizaya, and Lawlight?

I want to throw those ships to those people's faces and say that Dabihawks and Akeshu's popularity is expected and it's nothing unusual. 

Legitimately, I question these guys even trying to contest Dabihawks and Akeshu when from all my years in fandom Dabihawks and Akeshu is nothing different from Suzalulu, Shizaya, and Lawlight. 

For Godoka's sake, Lelouch killed Euphie! 

To make true enemies-to-lovers, there has to be a power balance. If one side tried to kill the other with the other not trying to fight back, then it's actually abusive. Both sides have to fight each other be it with scathing remarks or with physical fighting which is attempted murder at the very least. 

Akeshu got Akechi trying to kill Akiren certainly but at least Akiren is a far better fighter and can outsmart him. While here Akechi is the only one who would do the killing due to Akiren’s Thou Shalt Not Kill, Akiren can fight back and won’t take it lying down. Akiren won’t kill him but sure as hell will give him a fight that will have Akechi reeling. 

In that Dabihawks fight, it was remarked by Dabi that sentimentality tripped up Hawks because if he wasn't so distracted by Twice Hawks could've better fought off Dabi. Hawks fought back even though it's pretty obvious Dabi won that fight only based on brute force, concentrating on Hawks' wings and just monologue. It was still a relatively equal fight even though Twice got the bum end of the deal. 

Because that's the point when Horikoshi is making these two foils fight each other. They are equal. 

It was remarked upon by Dabihawks fans that had the two not concentrated on their personal missions and been honest with each other, the life of Twice would have been averted as well as many others because those two would work better together if they want to be together. 

This is the same case for Suzaku and Lelouch. Lelouch knows full well that he and Suzaku are better working together than apart and we see this in canon. The first time we see Lelouch and Suzaku actually work together albeit from opposite sides, they are spectacular. 

Both sides are too principled and have to compromise for them to work. 

As much as I see Hawks siding with the League fics and I like that, there’s just no way unless Hawks meet in the middle with Dabi. Hawks won’t go full villainy just as Dabi won’t go quietly for many reasons. Hawks have to let go of some but not all of it. He wouldn’t sacrifice thousands of lives for his own selfish wish even though he so badly deserves it; he doesn’t want to kill Twice but at the same time he can’t listen to the everyday distresses of the normal people joining PLF because the mission and the need to prioritize the needs of the many. I wonder if he spent more months he’ll adapt possibly. He’s been groomed so it will take a lot to break out of if he even wants to process anything at all, just pushing away potential bonds for the mission he has been spending the last 15 years dedicating himself to just as Dabi spent the past decade on his. Their missions have been something they dedicated so much of their time to so it will take a lot for Hawks and Dabi. That’s on top of their issues. The only way Twice can possibly be saved is if Hawks and Dabi chose to be emotionally honest and compromise. 

This would've been the case for Dabihawks as well had Dabi and Hawks just been honest. 

At this point, I have no idea what Dabihawks canon relationship even is. While some Dabihawks shippers hold out for the childhood friends theory, I have a preference for the chance-meeting fate kind of thing. That the two people destined for each other have their paths crossed coincidentally and fall hard for each other. Seriously, what is the point of that tear at the corner of Hawks' eye?! Is Dabi crying too?! We know Tokoyami and Dark Shadow cried but the subtlety of the tear on Hawks and the possibility Dabi is crying then just throw everything for a loop. What is Dabihawks canon relationship to the point Hawks will cry when he's preparing himself to die?! He sure has hell not crying the other times he's preparing to die in the case of the AFO fight at Gunga Villa ruins. We didn't see little Keigo cry himself! Except for again a subtle moment in the flashback when he saved the bus full of people. 

I feel like a BXG all over again. Just what kind of relationship does the canon Dabihawks even have to have Hawks cry when he knows he's gonna die then and there when at other times when he's preparing himself to die, he didn't cry, implying that Hawks was hurt and upset by Dabi specifically?! Are they friends? Coworkers with benefits? Lovers?! Just what kind of relationship do they even have, Horikoshi, what did you intend to have?! For fuck's sake, Hawks is the first person to learn Dabi's true identity, not the LOV or Endy or Shouto. Why are Hawks adamant Dabi has to be someone and not some random person? Why does Dabi say Hawks wasn't looking at him, the looking motif attached to the Todorokis? Why is the conversation so loaded now looking back with the tear that throws everything off? 

We could say Hawks was crying then because Keigo was pulled through the shattered mask of Hawks. Because the fight started out as Dabi vs Hawks but ended with Touya vs Keigo. Or crying out of pain because of you know. 

Regardless, he's crying in a scene he was going to die when in others he's not even crying. 

I was fine with the two divides of Dabihawks shippers wherein one camp is adamant there is no way there is a bond between them because they are far too focused on their missions with all the paranoia and suspicion while the other camp is adamant there is a bond that is having a divorce right now. Now it's likely with that tear and possibly tears from both sides, there is a bond but what kind of relationship?

This entire relationship is just ambiguous. Post-canon, I’ll rather see them develop a healthy friendship while still keeping it open-ended enough. Just a hint of a platonic friendship. Again, they can understand each other as do Togachako, DekuBaku, and DekuShiga. Again, even in canon, Togachako is going to end up having a platonic friendship too. It's very unlikely we're gonna get more than friendship. Besides, ship fixes are found in fics, not in canon. Again, if you have been in fandoms as long as I have, ship fixes are better found in fics than in canon. Why bother canonizing or insist it should be canon whereas shippers are drawn to the potential relationship and wish to explore it? Yes, I do agree that if it’s canon, the story potential will be upped coinciding with the themes and characters, but at the end of the day, it’s non-canon and whatever potential with the ship is best told in fanfiction.

I don't mind if Dabihawks won't meet again as long as their foil storylines conclude satisfyingly though it seems they will be in the Dabihawks divorce 2.0 for at least for that but afterward who knows. Individually, it's fine. On the other hand, Hawks had to confront Dabi about the wings at the very least. 

For the love of Godoka, boiling it down to hate just because one tried to kill the other makes no sense. You are allowed to not ship them but say there is no way because of hate instead of being enemies. They’re enemies. The relationship is ambiguous but I always have disdain for people who just can’t see these two are foils who can understand the other. 

Hawks don’t hate Dabi and we don’t know Dabi for Hawks but Dabi hates Hawks after the fight because that’s of the trauma, Dabi responds with overpowering emotions of hate. Dabi kept saying he doesn't care about the LOV when he does. Dabi has a tendency to say he doesn't care about somebody and does care. 

Why are ShigaDeku, DekuBaku, and Togachako fine in understanding each other but not Dabihawks?

You know what, I'll throw my Dabihawks headcanons at you!

After much healing together and learning who Touya and Keigo are together, they lived together in this private beach house. Either they run away together and lived in another country or it's post-war where they are living on one of the coasts of Japan. Keigo works as a paramedic after retiring post-war while Touya works as a writer/artist/potterer because he would rather not destroy but create something with his hands without his fire. Just to be clear, they are already a married couple via elopement that they spontaneously have without considering anybody: the Todofam insisted on a vow renewal years after. They were already married before Rei and Best Jeanist married though this one depends whereas Rei and Best Jeanist married first before TouKei post-war while TouKei would marry first before Reijeanist in the running away scenario. Regardless, they are still the first of the Todosibs to marry. Yes, Reijeanist has surprisingly ensnared me though Dabihawks remained my OTP with Spinneraki in 2nd place. The kids though at this point are in a polyamorous relationship because I can't choose at this point. Rody and Toga are not helping, throwing them in this salad. 

As a couple, TouKei likes to annoy each other as much as they annoy the family. Not helped the two are dramatic and the Todofam has to deal with it. They are annoying as fuck. 

If I have to see Dabihawks to another ship, it would be Gomez and Morticia. Honestly, it’s a dynamic I like: scary, very sexual, devoted, in love, and romantic. In the Hawks chooses Dabi* or the happily ever after scenarios, this is what Dabihawks becomes openly, not caring that their PDA disturbs both sides though the villains had time to adjust though not without mental scars while the poor heroes have to witness especially Endy. Endy, the loser, has to watch his son be touchy-feely with a former colleague for their love was a chance encounter fateful meeting that turned the UST into ever investment of a relationship that they will be attached to the hip. After Endy, it would be HPSC, particularly the madam president. Ohh, how I would see her face that Hawks is now openly affectionate with his lover now husband, not giving a shit about her. 

* As much as I like Hawks getting selfish for once and choosing Dabi while Dabi becomes selfless as he waits for Hawks to make the first move, it’s incredibly unlikely Hawks would choose not to kill Twice. If there is a work that showed Hawks choosing Dabi, it must come to an understanding of all the ramifications of averting the war and running away. If that fic is the only fix-it in the author’s mind, let me say that other fanfics that showed Hawks choosing Dabi before Twice’s murder and remaining in character are limited and I would like her take on that. I will not be pleased if it’s the only canon fix-it that she is ever going to write even when she admitted that she personally does not see any world where Hawks didn’t murder Twice and saying that Dabihawks will get back together regardless while also admitting Hawks choosing Dabi for once selfishly while Dabi becomes more selfless for waiting for the first move is her favorite flavor, whether she is talking about the talk where Hawks admitting he belongs to Dabi or just kissing him as the first move in the start of the romantic relationship or fuck even the different choice of instead of the murder, find another way to stop the war I do not know but I am not pleased. When I never once had any Dabihawks fics come close to my bookmarks, I would like to see other fix-its that take different routes. After her friend’s fic teased the other choice for that one shot, I am left wanting that fix-it when other fix-its are not to my tastes. Godoka, I sound entitled but when the selection for Dabihawks flavor is limited, I only found one fic that takes a lot from the author and had Hawks choose Dabi because I know that author admires the other author. Just anything at all that has that choice because another fic got so close but I need the next chapters to see if they’ll make it to my bookmarks. Seriously, while other fics mention the selfish choices, they never once touched on the Twice issue if at all. Considering canon Hawks is increasingly reaching a breakdown and slowly growing insane from his issues, Hawks is simply not self-reflecting and self-destructing in his toxic martyrdom. I’ll make sure he’ll self-reflect because the three Wild Cards will see nothing less than growth as they know Akechi and even Adachi did. I’m pretty sure Hawks’ Shadow is simply little Keigo wanting his real self to just look at him and reflect, overwhelmed with emotions that Keigo won’t let out. Oh, Hawks’ Shadow is delicious in both his Palace and his TV world Dungeon. I’m sure the three Wild Cards will be these therapists as they are authorized psychiatrists to help him through his PTSD and trauma he refused to acknowledge, and just turn away from. I’m sure Minato might see little of himself in him. Oh, I’m sure to write that these adult Wild Cards will ask thought-provoking questions through sheer charisma and will say Hawks will choose the terrible option because of the lives of many even if he can’t save the other person while also saying Hawks need all the help. Of course, they can’t sound invasive but their concern is so mighty that they, Tokoyami, Dabi, and the LOV will break his fortress walls for him to choose something for himself for once. They might even suggest other heroes who could break his walls down. Because breaking down the walls are far more necessary for him to grow as a person, the Wild Cards know the potential for growth there. 

They are an artsy couple. They love Van Gogh's art and decorate their house with it. There are shelves of books all over the house. They go to museums and planetariums often yet just as much homebodies to relish in a quiet day together. They love stargazing as they chose their house for that reason, far from the city so they can see the stars. They love slow dancing together. Touya, a hopeless romantic, gave everything a romantic can take and give to Keigo who is just as much as a romantic. 

They love nicknames for each other; it was when they were Dabi and Hawks, that they use as words of affirmation when they couldn’t say the words they desperately want to tell each other. 

Touya to Keigo: birdie, pretty bird, songbird, little bird, (turtle) dove, angel, Kei. I have seen Altair used but not too often. 

Keigo to Touya: ‘ouya, Tou. I saw Nova and nicks relating to stars but I never saw a lot of it. 

All the normal stuff like dates they never were able to go before or were out of their reach before as normal life was denied to them, they went happily, having a date day every week. All those cheesy dates you see like apple picking dates, kayaking, you name it. They tried it because they wanted it.

It took Rumi - then dating and later marrying Fuyumi - time to warm up to Keigo who is vastly different from the hero mask he portrayed in the past. She had liked Hawks which Keigo made explicitly clear was a mask and not the real him. A lot of the heroes, Hawks' sidekicks, and Tokoyami took some time to adjust to who Keigo is after having Hawks since his debut. Keigo is an introverted quiet gentle introspective personality who listens thoughtfully with a lopsided true smile and hyena laughter who wants to help and really doesn't want to deal with the trappings of the hero life he hated before, making them realize that he truly did hate the life he led as Hawks. Part of the reason he fell so hard for Touya Todoroki was that he sees past the mask and seriously affected him and just wants Keigo as Keigo wants Touya. It took them a while to learn just how much he hated when he offhandedly mentioned Dabi back then declared he would’ve burned down the HPSC HQ for him as one of the most romantic things he ever said to him. I mean it shows them two things Hawks was fucked up to see an act of terrorism as a romantic gesture and Hawks hated his life back then. 

Unlike Tokoyami and Jeanist who make a face upon seeing Touya and Keigo so affectionate initially (Hawks just won't stop visiting him to the point of having an equivalent of a conjugal visit post-war because Hawks went back to him! The guy who almost killed him and gave him the most brutal injuries he ever have! And he went back to him! To poor Tokoyami and Jeanist’s dismay.), Shouto took to it gladly since he was very supportive of it once he learned of TouKei's weird lovers status; he took Hawks' lie that he didn't know his brother at his time infiltrating rather well as he'd want his brother to be happy. Then again the honest conversation he later had with Hawks was eye-opening on Hawks’ interest in his brother. Hawks made it clear there was no honeypot scheme because flirting with Dabi never ever crossed his mind even as a part of his hero mask. Hawks said Dabi flirted with him first that took him off-guard which Touya corroborated; Hawks did admit trying to use the flirting charmer persona on Dabi but Dabi was never interested in that kind of flirting as he prefers Hawks giving him sassy and witty flirting, giving as much as he got and just won’t take shit from him kind of flirting. Sleeping with him and later being domestic with him that his love for Touya was something Keigo ever have for himself and learning to keep it. 

Heck yeah, when they were Dabi and Hawks, they were fuckbuddies in a weird relationship, falling in love but using each other for their end goals. They are both Demi Homo and had casual sex before but stopped because all the talk of sex and booze and parties filling the void isn’t doing it for them which is all the better for them as they could concentrate on their goals. When these two met very much attracted to each other and have sex, it was holy shit because this was the sex they were told about. They are very sexual because there are few places they hadn’t had sex in Hawks’ old penthouse, Gunga Villa, and their home. Poor Natsuo who still knows his eldest brother well doesn’t want to know about his brother and his brother’s husband’s sex life even though he is far more likely to know. They’re the type of couple to have a few to several rounds of sex in one day. 

While I don’t like mentioning Enji near my Dabihawks, his reaction to Hawks sleeping with Dabi and knowing him intimately than just the sex was spectacular, especially upon learning about their dates, elopement, and life together after the war or after they ran away together. The only two people who even visits him were Fuyumi and Shouto and the latter was sporadic at best. First, one of his coworkers married his son, then another married his ex-wife, and another married his daughter. 

About Rumi x Fuyumi, they didn't meet until after the PLF war and before the start of the second one. At this point, Fuyumi has yet to know about Hawks' true relationship with her eldest brother; it wasn't until after the war or after her brother revealed that he had no plans to stay in Japan in the runaway scenario, that she and the family learned it. Though they are still happy nonetheless that Touya and Keigo found each other. 

Unlike Touya and Keigo's spontaneous quiet elopement in which they invited nobody and an intimate vow renewal ceremony years later as both ceremonies are private, Rumi and Fuyumi have a proper wedding, which helped Rumi has the fortune to spend. It's on the semi-formal side as Rumi just dislikes formal stuff. 

Okay, I'm digressing. 

Enemies are enemies. Opposite sides. An attempted murder at the very least. Opposition with massive dislike or even hate, refusing to join the other. Hell, think Beatrice and Benedick who never got over each other yet don't like each other with all their verbal prowess and wit to snap back. Both sides have to be equal only if both sides have at least taken lives in the past or fought on equal footing. 

Both Dabi and Hawks aren't entirely good people. They both had taken lives and had sins to atone for. Hawks is a government assassin who probably killed when he was 15 and in black ops when he hit his teens. 

Similarly, Lelouch and Suzaku explicitly kill people. We see this onscreen! They explicitly want to make up for it in R2. 

We know with the Port Mafia everything, Dazai and Chuuya killed. 

I like my pairs of assholes. It's nothing unusual in the grand scheme of things when both sides preferably had done terrible things. Please Luffy had done terrible things by basically allowing the escape of criminals in Impel Down loose after his breakout. I love Luffy but I know that was just terrible. 

Why can’t you see the eroticism of attempted murder and betrayal? It’s the point of enemies. A lot of my ships have this whether it was each other or someone close to them. 

There has to be a power balance. 

It's not just being terrible people. It could be using each other that helps level the playing field such as in the case of Dabihawks. Dabihawks shippers know they are using each other thus equaling the balance between them just as Dabihawks are in this weird relationship they can't name but are in love yet they are using each other. Hawks won't even deny it but Dabi would have to admit that he used Hawks too. 

What tips the balance into actual abuse is what makes abuse, ya know. Not fighting back in any way is one such thing. The other cannot be a doormat just to bend over. There must be antagonism there at the very least. 

Rivals are different. They aren’t trying to kill each other. Sabotaging each other or cheating is likely from those on the side who want to do that. They want the honor of having that prize. They’re aiming for that accolade. At best, it’s respect even begrudgingly. 

Rivals that do try to kill will cross that line into enemies. 

See the difference. 

Enemies should be on opposite sides with their different ideologies. With understanding and empathy, they could either reach a compromise or something to achieve a happy ending. Enemies should at the very least attempt to kill the other if that’s a viable option. 

However, there’s a difference between that and enemies-to-lovers ships that just isn’t possible. Like, hey, there’s this white conservative man and indigenous progressive woman who is depicted as such. There’s no way that’s possible unless it took the white man to admit fault because there’s no compromise here. It’s one thing about state policy but about the -isms about the world that is where they won’t compromise. 

Just I saw that and I was WTF because there is no way. Seriously, Stede x Ed has a better chance as the series actively examines the layers in which their race, class, and queer experiences impact the relationship. That other relationship needs more than romcom good feels. Stede x Ed is a romcom but we see that actual movie irk is still needed. Just as Mary and Stede were able to reach an understanding so can Ed and Stede. 

Just that there are enemies that won’t compromise. Dabihawks can compromise as they are foils and can reach an understanding. That other het ship is unlikely to happen. 

Just to be clear, when -isms are at play and the conservative side refused to see their wrongdoings and privileges, then it’ll get ugly. This is more than just people breaking up relationships with anyone over political views. If you are being an ass to these people who just want to be treated as an equal and have enough of your privileged bs and calling you out for it, then you are an ass. If you are being an asshole in general with no provocation and refused to have basic human decency, then you are an asshole. Instead of looking inwardly, these guys would pretend the issue is ludicrous and avoid accountability by saying the opposite is too sensitive and talk smack as soon as their backs turn. They would be happy to say not all whites and not all men when exactly they have privileges. Using one privilege is better than admitting no wrong. 

Honestly, speaking of heterosexual enemies-to-lovers, it's still far more accepted. Not me, I don't want heterosexuality in these kinds of ships. 

Yet it's still relatively more accepted. 

While ships as a whole had been lampooned, heterosexual ships escaped the scrutiny the homosexual ships did. Even Allurance fared better despite the terrible writing. Even canon pairings in shows like SVTFOE are still better received even when they are lambasted for bad writing. 

Honestly in those situations, people complained about how ships ruined the writing as the romance plot tumor. They are still heterosexual ships so unlike the queer ships that got explicit art, they aren’t lampooned or tried to make as clean as possible. It’s the homosexual ships with explicit art that is the target. 

Seriously, Dabihawks had it existed around the time of Suzalulu people won't even blink. Now, people argue against it because it's now 'toxic' which is laughable, people are unable to get past the enemies part when they clearly did for Reylo, and the purity bs. 

I'm not all enemies-to-lovers, particularly if it's heterosexual. I wasn't interested in Reylo especially when I'm far more concerned about the entire whole trilogy and every part that is just going wrong. 

Darklina is still fucking accepted when it's obvious it's a grooming situation! Reylo is accepted because it's fucking heterosexual! 

These are enemies-to-lovers ships that are generally accepted and fared better than Dabihawks and Akeshu. Apparently, in the latter two, people are unable to get past the enemies. 

All I ask is would they accept enemies-to-lovers if it's heterosexual? Or is it shipping that is the problem? 

Because nobody argued against Reylo outside of being a ship from what I have seen. I have hardly seen enemies or even fucking purity be put forward because apparently, Rey is a girl boss and Ben is a traumatized white boy. 

Because queer enemies-to-lovers ships are far more toxic than heterosexual enemies-to-lovers ships. Because all queer enemies-to-lovers are toxic over Darklina and Reylo. 

Enemies are all about ideologies, compromises, and physical altercations that inevitably will hurt each other. 

Listen, there is a major difference between Dabihawks and Harringrove. Dabihawks are foils and can help each other as we can see the other foils are also doing. Harringrove and perhaps even Steddie began as enemies. However, Harringrove, while having foils as well as Billy foils Jonathon as well, had one major difference: understanding as in knowing each other so well that they could know themselves more and making each other happy and better. Billy cares not to understand his foil outside of lusting after him. He cares not to understand Lucas or anybody in Steve's circle when Steve cares so much for his kids and it was Max who threatened him and he actually kept his damn promise. Really, it seemed like Billy avoided Steve and the kids after the events of S2 and they returned the favor by trying hard to ignore his existence. He made no effort to understand nor change himself for the better except keep at a distance. 

Steddie, wow, we can see the change in the interactions we do get to see and the implications. King Steve and the Freak never interacted but heard about each other, regardless of their misconceptions blocked out potential. Though Robin and Dustin definitely acted as buffers, if they interacted before, it would be icy as Steve wouldn’t take to understanding the socioeconomic statuses he took for granted. Steve unfortunately knew more about classism now than his ex-girlfriend. 

Yeah, I am not letting go that Nancy insulted Jonathan with the Oliver comment. Wow, way to make the endgame couple so poorly handled. It’s not even the first case the Duffers handled romance incorrectly as we do see Jopper with the crazy lady by Hopper after the S1 comment. No improvised kiss was enough to get that taste out of my mouth despite knowing Jopper is an endgame. 

In the scenes we do see, there are a lot of positive emotions as we see Steve reassure Eddie and Eddie assuring him back and in their final scene together, Steve worried for them both and trusts Eddie with Dustin’s safety. Their views of each other were destroyed and Steve was just as protective of Eddie as Eddie was in awe of him. 

This is what I mean by understanding each other and making each other happy and their best. 

For the love of Godoka, any antis trying to say the fucking obvious ‘they hate each other, why ship them’, fuck you and your self-righteous ass. You are helping nobody, neither the shippers nor yourselves. 

Shipping is fun, not activism, you dumb idiots. Let ships be ships and don’t try to dissuade. 

I already said my piece about EndHawks and I refuse to touch their grounds. You do not see me invading EndHawks spaces to say that they shouldn’t be shipped even though I do think their existence is a horrid ship. Trying to invade these ships and say the fucking obvious as if you can’t use your imagination other than whatever it is and try to imply the ship is bad because you’re unable to get past enemies… I have seen this so many times in Dabihawks with the antis invading the spaces that it’s just annoying. 

The antis are annoying and add nothing to the conversation. At least in Dabihawks spaces, I don’t see a lot of Dabihawksers invading other ship bases to prove a point. If anything, the Dabihawks antis want to prove a point while the shippers just want to be left alone. 

Just leave us alone. 

I have seen antis invade spaces where they aren’t welcomed simply because they want to be right. In spaces where people want to have fun. 

Shipping is fun. Antis invading ship spaces of ships they don’t see or hate is just annoying and prove nothing but their lack of imagination and trying to be right in a fandom where fun is the point. 

I have been in fandoms for nearly two decades. What antis say means nothing in the face of my fandom experience. What they say means nothing. 

Enemies are not rivals. It’s not the same. 

Rivals. It’s obvious what rivals differentiate from enemies. Rivals are in the same field aiming for the same goal. 

That’s so easy. 

Rivals are Contestshipping, Appealshipping, Comashipping, and Palletshipping to name a few. Those are rivals even argumentative ones but don’t hurt each other the way enemies do. Sure they’ll use cheats but they won’t kill the other.

Why is this so hard to understand? 

The most famous rivals to lovers ships are from Ace Attorney, Narumitsu and Klapollo. Narumitsu has gotten chance childhood friends thrown in there. 

Seriously, those two pairs aren’t trying to kill each other. Teasing each other yes but no death.

Really, Jessie’s initial cheating, Harley’s sabotage, and Paul’s hardness are rival behavior. Fuck, Edgeworth and the von Karmas’ intimidation are rival behaviors than the actual attempted murders on the part of Dabihawks and Shizaya. Those guys are actively trying to kill or ruin the other. 

It’s not the same. 

People seem to lean more on the rivals side of things in the ongoing war against any critical thinking or are unable to look past enemies. 

Enemies won’t be looking to a tea party and picnic. Well unless they want to poison them or try to threaten them somewhere they have power. 

At least with rivals, we get to see those begrudging outings. Fuck, we see Harley with his rivals when we do get to see the Hoenn coordinators. 

Rivals that cross into enemies are trying to actively kill each other at best.  

Why is it so hard to comprehend the difference? 

Of course, it comes down to antishipping vs proshipping, shipping wars with new paint, and just as annoying. I refused to take sides on a nonsensical war that just has new paint on it. 

I agree misogyny has a large part in popular mxm shipping and queer ships but that’s another nuanced conversation about the overall genre in relation to women, both real life and fictional. Fuck, I have seen inoffensive ships twisted into pretzels because a character seemed ‘minor-coded’. I won’t discuss it here because it’s tiring when I keep giving the same advice and I’m not the best person to discuss that even though I read queer and shounenai. 

I’m basically an oldie in fandom. I know how to curate and how to ship without going into all that nonsense. No, I won’t make a post discussing that when it’s just so stupid.