Ashspren

I've been on this wild roller coaster of a fansite for four years and I ain't about to get off anytime soon. Here until we crash and burn, baby. ...Let's not, though. 

This time I'm going to save musings for after the Compliments Section. This is so I can put the staff right at the top, as they tend to have limited time, so certain people don't have to ask for a TL;DR anymore.  I intentionally won't try to mention everyone, or anywhere close actually, but I love every single one of you. 

First up: @Chaos, as intimidated as I used to be by you, I now think you're wonderful and kind and I really admire you. I enjoy talking with you even when we're both tired and really should be sleeping. Can't wait to read your book someday. 

@Argent, your humor and measuredness make the world a better place to be in. I'm very glad I get to know you. 

@LewsTherinTelescope, you're cool and things. Words are hard but talking with you is always Good. You know what I mean. 

@Otto Didact, one day I am going to meet and hug you and the world will probably be at peace or something. I need to talk to you more because you're amazing and your Dad Vibes are healing. Also, you have possibly the best hair in staff chat. Don't tell Evgeni.  

@Kaymyth, speaking of parent vibes, you are really cool like so cool and also so loving and also like can I have your autograph someday?? Literally, I mean, I'm gonna be buying your books eventually  

@Paleo, your wizardry is fantastic, but your creations aren't the only thing making you awesome. I appreciate you and your help very much. 

@Voidus, you and your care and thoughtfulness have never ceased to be there, and I hope I get to talk to you, read your RP, and hear about your campaigns and kiddos being cute forever. 

@firstRainbowRose and @little wilson, meeting you two at the last Dragonsteel Minicon was so fun and you're both so nice! I'm excited to see you both again. Mi'ch, you are incredible and don't forget it. Kendra, sometimes I just think of you and your offers to talk about stuff and it's...steadying. <3 

Working with all of you continues to be an honor and a joy, and hanging out with you more so. On to non-staff! 

IT'S TIME FOR ME TO TALK ABOUT THE BENES. @The Awakened Salad @Tesh ARE YOU GUYS READY TO BE DELUGED IN LOVE? I hope so because you're my best friends and more important to me than all the world. Specific compliments elude me when everything applies, so...reread our platonic wedding vows, kiss your pet, and know that you are the beaniest FAB Squad ever and I will never, ever forget you and our conversations and hangouts. 

You are skilled, you are loved, you are interesting, and I will always listen to you. May dragons, avi.  

To the many people I've met in-person at various times over the past year - I absolutely loved it, for the record, and you are as awesome as sour Skittles. 

To those I've talked with after absences, I'm overjoyed to speak to you again. Special shoutout to @Ashspren - chatting with you on Discord has been great, Ash! 

@Robin Sedai, I don't know you super well yet but you're really kind and I hope your life is going well. I always look forward to singing Hamilton with you  

@Wyndlerunner beep. *boops your nose* 

@#1 Taln Fan, you are awesome and amazing and funny and don't you ever let yourself forget it! 

All of you reading this deserve individual statements, but I'm too tired to do something more elaborate - totally lost track of the days and wasn't writing this one in advance. No way I could keep up the giant lists forever, anyway. You all take care of yourselves, you do deserve it - and I know it's hard sometimes, or most of the time, but it will get better, I promise. No matter what. Keep hanging on. 

I haven't been very active on the forums this past year. I mean, I've been on, but only about ~500 posts outside the games is telling. Still, despite that, I've had a grand time both here and on the server. I've graduated, gotten a job, and become a different person in many ways this year. I'm fairly happy with who I am now, which is nice, lol. 

I won't apologize for this not being more ornate, I'm too tired. Knowing the lot of you is an adventure, and I never want to give that up. 

*toasts you all with a glass of eggnog* Love ya. May this next year be better than this one, and with less hardships for those we love. 

So I guess it was my Shardiversary yesterday... huh. 

I just want you all to know, before I begin, that I’ve been hyped about writing this literally since I posted the last one. I’ve mulled over what to say, tried to remember parts...yeah. So that’s fun.  (Despite this, I’m still managing to write most of this way too late at night.) 

I’m posting it both in a status update and in my blog as a way of transitioning this tradition to my blog in the future. I’ve only done it once before, so does it need a transition and can I call it a tradition yet? Who knows. 

With that out of the way...another year happened. Which is a decently big deal on the Shard, for those of us who haven’t been around for ages, at least. It’s now been two years since I read the Sanderson Memes and Sanderfan threads during school, then decided this place was pretty cool. 

In the last year I’ve gone from thirty-one followers to fifty-four, thirteen days won to fifty-seven, and 1,038 reputation points to 3,904 of them. I made a blog and submitted my crappy art to the gallery. (Be glad I never submitted my Inquisitor sculpture...) I started some more forum games and some more roleplays too - who’s surprised - and the old ones have been just as fun. I even participated in a few discussions about the actual books.  

(I also joined Discord, which in my case is essentially an extension of the Shard, and that let me meet and talk to even more wonderful people. I don’t regret that choice.) 

This means it’s also been two years since I started gradually meeting some of the best people in the world. Because really, you are. Again, I can’t list all of you because I will literally run out of original compliments, and it’ll end up as something like “you’re cool! And you can write! I like what you write and how you talk!” for everyone and that’s not very nice of me, so to everyone I didn’t mention - that does not mean I don’t enjoy talking with you, laugh when I read your RP, and overanalyze your member titles. It just means I’m running out of ways to say those things without saying the same thing to all of you and feeling guilty about it. 

I’m going to begin by saying that it wouldn’t be fair to mention the people I focused on last time again, but also I can’t not because they are amazing too, so consider yourselves mentioned! Archer continued to help me through some emotional death sessions and Mist saved my butt recently. Also Po is Po and I really don’t have words for her. (@Archer, @Mistspren, @Blessing of Potency) 

Sorana is another storming awesome human being who must be talked about. If someone had told me a couple years ago that I would eventually be friends with a literal angel who also is an adult in Europe, I would have been very confused. But I am! And you are! You’re one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my entire life, and everything you spend your time on, from sewing/quilting/doing magic with cloth to alltypes of roleplay, is just so grand. Your writing style is so beautiful and also you’re one of those cool smart people who’s bilingual. I know there are a lot of them, especially in countries that don’t speak English, but that doesn’t make them any less smart. So yeah, you’re awesome. (@Sorana, @bilingual people) 

Guess who else rocks? Meta. Meta does. You’re so witty that you should be Ene! Also, you write well. No arguments - you do. In addition, I have come and died in your inbox and you just causally revive me and send me off again to keep living in the world. How do you do this? No idea, but I’m convinced you’re a Feelings Sorcerer. Thanks for the Rioting and recommendations; you’re hilarious and way smarter than anyone has a right to be. Please do not stop being these things. If you do I will make sad puppy eyes at you. (@MetaTerminal) 

Next up on our list of Extremely Fantastic Human Beings is Stick! DoomStick, I will clarify, because this site has a trillion of them! Stick, we’ve been talking for ages and I would like to not stop, because you’re always super fun and clever and interesting. Like seriously, always. You can cook and bake and play an instrument and speak Latin and make epic rainbow loom things...the world is running out of things you haven’t conquered, dude.  Every time we chat, whether on the Longest Status Update or in the plethora of other updates or TLPW or our AMAs or anywhere else, you’re a delight to talk to, and RPing with Tourmaline and Olivia is no different. Thank you. (@DoomStick) 

WYN. YOU’RE A PERSON. A great person who has heartwarming RP, sweet things to say to everyone, and palpable love just...emanating from you. You and your stories are fantastic. James is fantastic - thank you so much for being in TKND. I hope that girl at your school learns how awesome the “janitor man” is. Your faith and humor deserve accolades. (@Wyndlerunner) 

Silva, for all y’all’s information, is also incredible. I mean, how many named NPCs do you have? And you keep them all organized and write awesomely with them! At this point you can’t convince me your brain could make words go together badly. Maybe if you had a concussion. No matter what we’re talking about, religion or magic dreams or cute deer, you are consistently amazing. (@Silva) 

Getting on Discord introduced me to Storm, and I am eternally grateful. I already knew you were fairly cool from our small Shard interactions and the fact that you founded TUBA, but now I know your coolness in detail! You’re funny and an epic storyteller, and I really like our conversations. I look forward to RPing with you. (@Stormblessed Dolphin) 

Lunaaaaaaaaa!!! I’m not sure why I typed your name like that, but! Whatever! You’re exciting! Having adventures with you is a highlight of my Sharding experience, and you seem to be able to just make fun nonsense happen through sheer force of being you. Also you can write! “Well I’ve never RPed before” *proceeds to make characters who I fall in love with instantly* (@Lunamor) 

(You can probably tell I’m tired by now, and this is getting long, but spike it I’m gonna rapid-fire verbally hug you all in no particular order fight me) 

Invo, you are obviously The Cool Kid but also you’re really thoughtful and you give smart advice. I’m glad I know you. (@Invocation) 

Salad, you are literally the best in every way! I love talking with you, and also we are the same in like fifteen different ways. Everything you say, I can relate to or agree with, with the sole exception of your British spelling. You’re a writing ace. hahahahaha worst pun ever we’re gonna pretend that didn’t happen okayyyyy I am so sorry but also I’m leaving it in so how sorry am I really (but seriously you are a good writer) (@The Awakened Salad) 

Ele, you were the first person to welcome me to the Shard, but I only really got to know you on Discord. You’re friendly and funny and I’m sorry I haven’t watched that one general man’s video you gave me yet, but I’m happy to know it’s there if I need encouraging. (@ElephantEarwax) 

Per, you’re supportive and cool and I am so sorry I haven’t been around to watching RWBY with you, it was fun! Jay, it’s great talking to you and I’m going to buy your books someday! (@Emperor Stick, @Jaywalk) 

Lith, you break my brain with your creativity! Zinc, your art and writing are frighteningly good! Star, your enthusiasm for your art is inspiring! Xino, you know how great you are at worldbuilding! (@ShadowLord_Lith, @ZincAboutIt, @Shard of Thought, @xinoehp512) 

Venture, you are steadfastly amazing and brave! Jac, you have really great ideas and chatting with you is a pleasure! Rebecca, I love talking with you in TUBA PMs and thank you for being a great Maid of Honor, even though it went nowhere! Same goes to Ash, who also killed me with her ships! (Condor will never be resolved...nooooooo...) (@Butt Ad Venture, @bees?, @Rebecca, @Ashspren) 

Mac, I marvel at your advice and wisdom! Truthless, I’m sorry I left HAHAR (hold up, that was its acronym? Ha har, a laugh? That’s gold lol) but RPing with you was fun! Honorless, your discussions are always great! (@MacThorstenson, @Truthless of Shinovar, @Dreamer) 

To everyone I have ever roleplayed with, I sincerely thank you. 

Let me get really serious for a sec. A common phrase when people are expressing love is “I love you to death.” Which makes some sense: “I’ll love you even past death.” “I’d kill for you.” It could also be interpreted as “I love you so much I want to kill you.” (Let’s hope not.) And...”I would die for you.” 

The thing is, I do love all of you, as friends, sometimes as much as family. Honestly, more than my own family in some cases. And I will continue loving you in the afterlife that I believe in. I would not, however, kill for you in most cases, nor would I kill you. Or die for you. 

But the last year or so has just hit me so hard that I don’t even want to think of a good enough metaphor. Sometimes the Shard was the problem, or made the problem worse. But most of the time, you guys have saved me. I’m not suicidal, that’s not part of my depression portfolio. But I’m living emotionally and mentally as well as I am because of some of you people. 

So I don’t love you to death. I love you to life, because that’s what your love did for me. 

*hopes that wasn’t as stupid as it sounds in her head as she pulls out a root beer and proposes a toast to another year* 

So it’s been a little while since I’ve been properly active on the Shard... hi everyone.  
 

Go ahead and drop something in my AMA! With a newfound abundance of free time, I might start posting some stuff again.

Yeah this fits me perfectly  

https://www.16personalities.com/infps-at-work 

Guys. Does anyone remember me?

I have decided that I can’t wait for my next Shardiversary, I must do this now. 

THANK YOU TO ALL THE AWESOME PEOPLE ON THE SHARD. Thank you for reassuring me through the hard times and laughing me through the good ones, telling me I’m not the worst human on the planet both spontaneously and when I’m convinced I suck. 

Also, Potency, you do the above AND you have a great face. I like your face almost as much as your brain.  

Sorry, I just felt compelled to say that. I’ll stop bothering y’all with notifications now. 

Thought I would just give everyone a quick update, so... 

Hello everyone! I'm alive. Life's kinda crazy right now, but you know how it goes. *shrugs*

Everything's been pretty great recently. Super happy, which is always good.  Hope everyone else is doing well! Reading something good, enjoying life, etc etc. 

Because I needed an excuse to actually post this, I'm just going to ask a quick question: what's a song that's stuck in your head right now? 

I'm in a strangely (for me, I hope this is normal for you ) happy and bubbly move.
So please join me in complimenting everyone! Everyone deserves to feel love, and you're all awesome!

HA HA HA HA

YEAH

On 6/18/2019 at 7:31 PM, AonEne said:

This is a bit off-topic, but I just realized I recognize the people in that meme now! That's Captain America and Iron Man! *is proud of self* *should probably not be proud of that*

I got nine upvotes for this.

I'm certainly not protesting, but someone explain.

This has to be the scariest thing I've ever seen.

Hey everyone, sign up for the Roast Battle Tournament! This round is non-Cosmere, which should be super interesting.

Wow. 1000 posts. I guess since this is a milestone, I should make some sort of speech about it. 

Man, the Shard has been a great place with great people, ever since my introductory post, all the way down to the latest antics of 'The Knights Next Door.' However I feel a need to point out some specific people and things. 

@Firerust, most of what I can say to you has been said already, so just accept my thanks for getting me on here. you're a great man, Fire

@Box Turtle, for being a great friend,and my singular Sanderson Convert.

@Ashspren, I have had possibly some of the most fun I've ever had on the Shard on your Roast Battles, despite not winning a single one.

@AonEne, @Lunamor, @Sorana, @Dr. Dapper, @BookishOcelot: I know it's kind of weird to consider y'all close friends, but I do, and thank you all for that opportunity to get to know you in some small fashion.

Also, if you follow me, and I didn't mention you, here I shall: I honestly find it astonishing that people like what I have to say about these books enough to want to follow me. So thank you very much

Here's to a great 1000 posts, and here's to another 1000 more!

- Wyndlerunner

It’s my two year Shardiversary!!! It feels kinda weird having my two year, while most everyone else I know is having/recently had their one year.

I've got to stop talking to the kinds of people who lean against walls around the backs of buildings. I always end up feeling like Robin from the Adam West Batman series. 

Me: *eating from a box of Lucky Charms* Hey.

Him: *giving me a skeptical glance* Hey. Care for a light? 

Me: Um. Um, I'm, really, um... 

Him: *crushing his cigarette beneath his heel* It would be a mistake to refuse my generous offer, kid. 

Me: Oh. Well okay then.

Him: Wait, not like that. 

Me: what do you mean? 

Him: STOP DOING THAT WITH MY LIGHTER

Me: u mean roasting these marshmallows

It's officially been one year since I joined the shard!

2500 rep during that time, thank you all for the support.

6,135 posts.... I've got the eleventh most posts of anyone on the shard lol

I've been on every day I had internet access since I joined. For now that plan will continue

Um, I've got a petition-y thing going on for me to kiss Ark when I meet him. 

Who would like to contribute upvotes?

Why?

Why?

Arial again?

Why, Chaos? Why?

Seriously, though, it would probably be a permanent change from Calibri to Arial (Arial letters are so sharp and blocky...Calibri is so much nicer and smaller and smoother...) that would get me to leave the Shard. 

*is sad*

Today is Kaf-Zayin Nissan. Yom Hashoah. יום השואה.

Or, the Jewish Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Normally I try to balance out negativity with positive, but to put a filter on the Holocaust is disrespectful.

So I won’t.

Someone once said that “one person’s death is a tragedy, six million is just a statistic.”

What happened was horrible. Words can’t even describe completely.

People try though, in their own ways. Because that’s what we do. We try to understand. Some attempts are more successful than others, but when all is said and done, that’s all they are, attempts.

But what’s hardest for me personally is accepting this: If it weren’t for the Holocaust I wouldn’t exist. I wouldn’t be typing this. I wouldn’t be here.

If it weren’t for the Holocaust, half my ancestors would never have left Europe. They wouldn’t have come to America. Wouldn’t have me.

How many others are like me in this?

Probably a lot.

It’s impossible to condone something that almost destroyed a people. It would be wrong to.

Because of that I take my existence as a sign of something else. Bad things will always happen. They’re inevitable. Some are worse than others even though all are horrible. Just know, at the end of the day, at the end of the era, good will return.

Even if it’s not obvious.

So, please, as the day comes to an end, take a minute. Really appreciate what you have.

A home.

A family.

An identity.

In the memory of those who had even that taken away from them.

It's official now!

1 year!

So, I'm feeling happy. Could be the sudden absence of the slight headache I've had all day. Could be having just gotten back from Teen Author Boot Camp, which was AWESOME because I got to meet amazing people (read: Sharders) and also free stuff and of course the talks. Duh. Orrrrrr it could be the fact that as of tomorrow, I've officially been a part of this wonderful, friendly, funny community for a year.

A RUSTING YEAR, GUYS.

Three hundred and sixty-five days after that spur-of-the-moment join, thirty-one people thought I was interesting enough to follow (or heck, just felt obligated to), there were thirteen days when people really loved what I had to say, one thousand thirty-eight times when someone visibly enjoyed a post of mine, and I'm in a countless number of PMs where I can talk to hilarious and intelligent people anytime we're both on. I lead a Great Guild, have participated in and started a few forum games, roleplay like crazy - starting several of those as well - and am known by an affectionate nickname.

The Shard introduced me to Housepets and some good authors. It gave me an outlet for my love of RWBY and obviously Brandon Sanderson's books. It lets me share anything I need to - personal problem, original joke, fanfiction, random idea - and then it helps, laughs, reads, or considers as appropriate. It's a clean fandom, for the most part, and one I don't know if I'd have survived without.

And of course, it's the Sharders who facilitate all that. I can't name you all. I won't even try. But there are some of you whom I have to mention. You've been too great.

Archer. Archer, Archer, Archer. For inviting me to join TUBA. Always being a good friend. Always there with advice, support, love, fantastic humor, everything for everyone. You gave me leadership advice - were prepared to give it to me before I even asked - and talked with me when I needed about personal stuff. From Empty Quiver's beginning to assisting negotiations out of scary spots with TFA, rabbirds and corrupted ducks to Klo and his wrench...at this point, just seeing that you posted makes me smile. If I had an older brother, I'd want it to be you. Thank you so, so much.

Tesh. I don't want to get repetitive, but you know what I said in the KotC chat. Love ya, sule. When you're ready, I will be waiting.

Mistspren...Mist, you've always been such a great friend. Your characters sweep me away. Your willingness to talk and RAFO in equal measure, your mastery of seemingly everything a roleplayer could think of, the way you joke. You'd better know how awesome you are.

Witless, having fun at college? Don't forget to visit every now and then, or a horde of upvote-wielding Sharders will show up at your door! Storytelling, comforting, roleplaying, you throw yourself into whatever you do with obvious eagerness. The dictionary definition of epic is you.

Mraize, or Meeker as you are now. I haven't spoken to you in much depth lately, and I know you parted ways from our gang for reasons that make perfect sense. That doesn't mean the time I had with you was any less fun, and I look at Journey to the Unclaimed Hills with fondness. Your plots are crazy good, and you haven't run out of that playfully mysterious charm yet. Please never do.

Ink! THANK YOU for Housepets. Wasn't it also you who convinced me I was a shipper? That was the right choice. Your roleplay enthusiasm, your determination to stand up for what you believe in and bravery in doing so in front of those you know, your offhand comments that sometimes randomly make my day, these are all things that make up Inklingspren. When you come back to us, I'mma hug you. (BoS, would you mind sending him this - even if not the whole thing, this portion? I'd be indebted.)

Wait a sec, does Potency count? If not, too bad, y'all get to read about her anyway. Po, I'll keep it simple. You're funny, sweet, aware, and I feel irrationally safer when you're driving me around on a four-wheeler than when my dad is. You don't make fun of me for not knowing certain nerdy stuff. You introduced me to RWBY. I'd go on, but I said I'd keep it simple. Must not fantasize about Po's laugh. Noooooo. Stoooop iiiit.

Ax? You're just plain awesome. Ap, if you come back, I miss your company. Zath, HOLY CRAP YOU ROCK. Ash, I'll miss you so much. Fire, your writing is insane and so's your music. Sami, Cole, Phoenix, you've made Knights of the Cosmere a third home (TUBA being a second). Okdes, Arlin, Cae, for V1. Everyone I haven't mentioned yet who's a TUBAist, for being in the best guild and for various other great attributes. Voidus, I have to bring up your humor and devious intelligence. Stick is pretty amazing; same with Lith. Every active Homeless, for making the Alleyverse the craziest family I'm a member of. Jay, Scintil, SF, for today and every other while we're at it.

[Anyone I somehow missed], you know I love you too. I just have an awful memory and can't rant about everyone forever, as much as I may want to.

I love you all. The Shard is the best. *raises glass of water* To next year being even better than the first! WOO!