Countdown to small gifts 1/7: Introductions!

[smallgiftsmods]

Welcome, folks! Every year at small gifts, we start off the holiday season with a week's worth of discussion posts. It's a chance to get to know other participants (or say hi again), meet our readers (hi, readers! we love you!), and while away the hours before December 1. We'll have one topic per day until November 30.

Today: introductions!

1) Leave a comment letting us know who you are as a fan. (Leave your Tumblr name/AO3 name as well as your DW name, if they're different.) How long have you shipped R/S? Are you a reader? Writer? Artist? Crafter? Do you participate in any other parts of Harry Potter fandom? Are you active in any other fandoms right now?

2) Say hi to someone else!

Comments

[magnetic_pole]

Hi, folks! I'm Maggie, one of your two mods. (Min is the other.) I'm magnetic_pole here in DW and notquitepetworth on Tumblr.

I'm a huge R/S fan. I've been participating in small gifts since our very first round, back in 2006. I love all the adult-generation characters and the mystery of how they got involved in the war at such a young age and how Peter, such a good friend, came to betray them and how Remus and Sirius dealt with the beginning of a second war. I'm also a big, big fan of femslash and women-centered stories. Minerva, Lily, Alice, Petunia, Moaning Myrtle, even Dolores Umbridge....they're all fascinating. Mostly I write, but sometimes I (try to) make art.

I also adore Korra (Korrasami!!!) and Sherlock Holmes (I've been shipping Sherlock/John since the 80s, before I even knew what shipping or fandom were).

Looking forward to seeing some returning readers and participants and meeting newcomers! M.

[llaeyro]

Hi Maggie! Thanks for running this fest again, it is the highlight of the winter period for me =) Also, there's no 'try to' about it, you make amazing art ♥

[wild_flame]

Hi!!

I'm Bea and I'm new!! I'm wild_flame on DW and you can find me on tumblr on @wild-and-flammable. Yes, there is a bit of a running theme...

I'm relatively new to the world of R/S shipping, and indeed the world of fanfiction and shipping itself. I can actually trace the start of this madness back to about two years ago when I stumbled upon "Very bad things" by Freudian Fuckup on ffn.net. Now I am hooked and there is no going back!

I am an avid reader, and unfortunately a bit less of an avid writer! I really enjoy the freedom writing gives me to use my imagination and create things (especially slightly ridiculous things) but often there is just no time or energy or both!! :(

I am a fan of many things but only really active in the HP fandom. As well as fanfiction, fanart, fanmemes, etc. I love a good meta discussion!

Looking forward to meeting everyone and seeing what everyone else who is participating has made!!

[llaeyro]

Hi Bea! So glad we could tempt you to come and play in this sandbox ♥

[aurelie_saintjuste]

Good afternoon! I'm Aurelie and I am also new to the festivities. I found out about them after a binge reading festival last year on AO3 when I noticed a trend that many of my favorite Wolfstar fics were created for the exchange, and made it my mission to not miss them this year!

I'm a Slytherin who lives in sunny Central Florida. I spend a disproportionate amount of time in the Wizarding World - sometimes just strolling in to read and drink Butterbeer on my own. I'm best described as an extroverted introvert and I'm happy to say that many of my friends have come from a mutual love of Harry Potter.

I grew up with Harry, starting with the first book about twenty years ago. My favorite characters were always members of the Order and Remus always stood out amongst them as my most loved. I share a lot of the same personality traits and quirks with him, including a love of Sirius Black (oops), so to be a Wolfstar shipper seemed fairly natural for me.

My background is in performing, so I was always drawn to stories through strong characters. As a result, my fandom beginnings came from a RPG writing and worldbuilding background and have only just started writing standalone fics. (Okay. Drabbles/one-shots.) I'm "agent-aurelie" on Tumblr and I can talk a lot, so feel free to reach out to me there. <3

Happy to be here and very excited to read.

[llaeyro]

Hi Aurelie! Welcome to the fest =)

[human_veil]

Hi!! I’m Kat, snax0 here on dw and humanveil over at tumblr (and ao3).

I got into R/S when first reading the books. It was my very first HP ship and is actually what got me into HP fic, but I only started writing them last year (I think). I’m a writer and reader (and sometimes artist), and am active pretty much all throughout the HP fandom.

I’ve been active in a few fandoms over the years, though currently I’m only writing for HP and Star Wars. My interests tend to fluctuate a lot so it’s always different, but HP is always the one to pull me back.

This is actually my first year of actively participating in LJ/DW fests, so this is my first time with small gifts, and I’m so excited!! I can’t wait to see what people create.

[llaeyro]

Hi Kat! Wolfstar got me into fandom too =) Welcome to the fest!

[mindabbles]

Hi Everyone!
I’m mindabbles everywhere, including Tumblr, but I will admit I don’t really understand Tumblr yet and haven’t done anything over there. Maybe this fest this year will help me.

I only participate in HP fandom. I’ve tried to get into a couple of others, but haven’t been able to manage it. I guess I’m loyal. R/S was my first love and is still my greatest love. I do read and write almost any pairing or gen (although I mostly write m/m and f/f), and I love the creativity and comraderie I see in fandom. I was a huge fan of the first small gifts and the writers and artists and so, when Maggie put out a call for someone to help run it in the second (or third, maybe?) year, I was really happy to do it. I’m not nearly as active as I used to be, but I do keep coming back and love this fest. I think what I love most about HP, including our blokes here, is the complexity of the characters and the relationships — no one is perfect and (almost) no one is all bad. I also love the primacy of the friendships.

[llaeyro]

Hi Min! I'm the same with Tumblr, but hold out less hope of getting to grips with it :P Thanks for all your modliness ♥

[llaeyro]

Hey guys!

I'm Ami, and you'll find me as Llaeyro on LJ, DW, AO3, IJ (but only use it for Daily Deviant) and Tumblr (but I have no idea what I'm doing). I'm a one-fandom slash multi-shipper who writes a lot of smut. I've shipped R/S for fourteen years, it's the ship that got me into fandom and still has a very special place in my heart. As far as I'm concerned, Wolfstar is canon :P I used to read, but these days I only seem to have time to write, which is sad. Every year, Small Gifts is my only winter fest so hopefully I can squeeze in some reading for this one!

[human_veil]

Hi, Ami! Having no time to read is a familiar sensation, so I feel you on that one. I think half reason I signed up for small gifts is because they'll be easier to get through.

(Also, I love your icon).

[rj31]

Hi everyone, I'm RJ. I'm snakeowls on AO3 and tumblr. I'm pretty excited to be taking part in this fest, it's my first time participating. I had a looong fandom hiatus of about 9ish years, but I'm very happy to be back. R/S Games 2017 was the first time I've written fic for ages, and I'm glad to be back writing again.

I honestly don't know when I started shipping wolfstar, probably when I read Prisoner of Azkaban! They are definitely my happy place. I also definitely read more than I write (which isn't hard since I've written hardly anything!), and R/S Games cured me of my terror at commenting on fics. Wolfstar helps us all in the end ☺️

I read in other fandoms, but HP is the only one that I participate in. I have a soft spot for AUs, anything to keep our boys alive, really.

Lovely to meet you all!

[human_veil]

"anything to keep our boys alive, really."

Oh, how I agree. Nice to meet you, RJ!

[jencala]

Hi everyone, I'm new this year as well! I write under JenCala on Ao3 and JenCala28 on FFN. You can find me on Tumblr at JenCala as well.

I'm a Slytherin, wife, and mom of 2 little monsters, er lovely boys, and live in central Florida. You would think this would enable me to visit WWoHP often, but I've only been once so far. I need to go more!

I've been in the HP fandom for many years, but only got into Wolfstar a couple of years ago and it quickly became my OTP and I am obsessed with these dorks and just love them to bits. I write a lot of smut and do venture into other pairings occasionally, but Wolfstar has my heart. I do enjoy other fandoms, but I'm mainly happily entrenched in HP.

[aurelie_saintjuste]

Hello fellow Central Floridian Slytherin! How about that crazy Dementor fog this morning?!

[shaggydogstail]

Hello! I'm shaggydogstail everywhere and have been for a long time. My commitment to brand recognition is strong. I've been a shipper on and off for about 12 years - I drifted away from the R/S corner of fandom for a bit and then had a complete fandom hiatus. It was doing small gifts last year that brought me back in!

No other current fandoms, though I'm tentatively thinking about dipping my toe back into the Doctor Who fandom now we're getting a new Doctor.

[maraudersaffair]

Hi! How long was your fandom hiatus? I didn't participate for like 6 years lol

[maraudersaffair]

Hey everyone!

I'm Linsey (maraudersaffair on LJ/DW/AO3/Tumblr). My main tumblr is atomic-space-babe but I also post as maraudersaffair for fandom stuff.

I've been writing as maraudersaffair since . . . 2005? I wasn't involved in the HP fandom for years, but this fall I got back into participating in all the fic fests and it's been so much fun! :D

It's hard to say how long I've shipped R/S. I participated in this fest (I think) in 08, 09, 10. But if I'm being really honest R/S has never been like my *favorite* ship. I think my fav will always be Snupin, but I've written a ton of Drarry in the last couple of months.

Anybody thinking about participating in wolfstarbigbang? I really want to write an epic fic where Remus is torn between Sirius and Severus, but ultimately ends up with Sirius.

[rj31]

Hello, lovely to meet you!

I like the idea of participating in Big Bang, but it would take me years to get that many words out! I have a lot of respect for anyone who can do 30K, that’s for sure :)

[ruinsplume]

Hi everyone! I'm ruinsplume everywhere--that is, on dreamwidth, AO3, and tumblr. I have been in fandom a little under two years. I didn't even know fandom as such existed until one day in 2015 I was re-watching movie!POA and thought, wow, that is really the most homoerotic scene I've ever seen in a kids' movie. So I googled, "Is Remus Lupin gay" and the rest is history. I fell very, very hard. Wolfstar remains my ship of choice, though I do sail with all sorts of other HP pairings as well.

I'm always curious about how people chose their pseuds. Mine is an anagram of a certain person's name.

I love this fest and am really pleased it's on dreamwidth this year.

[nerakrose]

I never realised your username is an anagram of "remus lupin!" Everytime I see your username I always have to think of like...a plumage of ruins :'''D

Mine is boring in comparison. I made it when I was 15, and it's just my name backwards + my middle name in English. Because karenrose was taken everywhere... :'''D

[nerakrose]

I'm nerakrose here and on ao3, and greaseonmymouth on tumblr. This is the fifth time I'm doing r/s small gifts!

I'm not sure how long I've been shipping r/s tbh, but it's been a while. I didn't get into the fandom until late 2010 though, so I guess I've been around a while by now. :) I'm less active in r/s these days, but I still write and read a bunch of hp fic. My current hp wips are Percy/Oliver (favourite rarepair ngl) and Harry/Draco.

I'm also in the volstovic cycle fandom (some might know it as havemercy), aka the fandom for the fantasy series fabled shoebox project writer ladyjaida/jaida jones went on to co-write and publish. They're some of my favourite books, chock full of queer characters, and the fandom is small but lovely. I'm doing the festivebastion exchange this season in addition to small gifts, and I'm very excited :D my icon *points* is fanart of the character Balfour from that series.

Lately I've also been getting involved with yuri on ice and just finished writing a long fic series about Emil/Mickey...I love my rarepairs and small fandoms, what can I say.

[rj31]

Hello, lovely to meet you! The volstovic cycle sounds interesting, I’ll have to check it out!

[bigblackdog]

hello!

sorry i’m late, but also, that’s a bit typical of me. i’m bigblackdog on dw and ao3 and bigblckdog on tumblr.

i’m started out in the fandom when i was 12?? 13?? right around ootd. then i took a long hiatus and picked it up again about 3 years ago? i read the shoebox project and that was it for me :) wolfstar is the ship for me, but i also like linny and flonks. jegulily is cool too. anything queer really.

this is my first r/s small gifts and second ever fest. i just did r/s games and it was so wonderful. the fest set up is really a good system for me. it’s so nice to get to know the r/s fandom. you’re all wonderful people.

[ruinsplume]

Welcome! Your contribution to r/s games was really special, so i’m Very much looking forward to reading your gifts fic. Also, you wrote the most beautiful comment on my games entry—thank you again!

[sostrata.livejournal.com]

Hi! (sostrata here from lj). I've been reading rs small gifts since the beginning and have written for two fests, including last year. I'm not participating now because I had already missed one fic fest deadline this year due to health reasons and thought I'd better not risk another. However, I would like to pretend that I am participating, anyway! I'm still trying to figure out how exactly to do that :). I don't have a dreamwidth account, but I'm sostrata on AO3.

I've been a R/S fan since...2006? 2005 at the earliest. I tried to be a fic writer both because I wanted to "fix" things in the books and because the specific types of fics I like are not written as much as others- I like book era or after Harry bonding with R/S in particular, plus happily ever after fics- and I thought I would have to write them myself. I haven't finished a lot, however, because of my health. I was out of fandom completely 2009-2016 because of extreme illness. But I'm back and, while still struggling to write, I hope that I can contribute a bit more!

At any rate, I know I will enjoy what others write for this year's small gifts. A lot of the prompts were just my kind of thing!

-sostrata

[mindabbles]

You are participating! You are most welcome to be here. We’ll post regular updates on LJ, but please keep check in here when you can. I am sorry about the health issues. I am sending good wishes and healing thoughts. You’d be most welcome to participate in the bonus round if that works for you. No pressure and no word requirement.

[abyss_valkyrie]

Hohoho! I'm gonna join in late here!
I'm abyss-valkyrie like everywhere, on tumblr too where I'm most active these days!I've finally fallen into the tumblr pit!
My foray into shipping started with Dramione, some Weasley twins with the other characters and then BAM, saw a fanart of Remus and Sirius and it was all over for me!Or not!!
I still do and will forever ship RS, they will always be my OTP though these days Credence/Graves from fantastic beasts is a second close!
I've mainly been writing for fests alone the last few years and drawing some fanarts!I'd love to fill the RS fandom with lots of arts to be honest, but I find myself doing anime stuff! Meow!

Anybody out there into FBAWTFT, anime and errr, Wolfstar, message me on tumblr and I'd love to add you! <3
I'm gonna be traveling to US in a week, my first ever long journey to another continent,lol!All the way from Saudi Arabia!

Currently wolfstar and Gradence is my escape from the fact that I'm considered a spinster at 25 because I'm Bengali. :3

[museinabsentia]

Oh my goodness, I'm sooooo behind. I promise I'll say hello to people eventually.

I'm museinabsentia well, here and on LJ which I don't actually use anymore. muse_in_absentia on ao3. I don't actually use any other platforms. No tumblr for me.

Wow... umm, I've shipped R/S for years, since I read the books the first time, but I didn't get into fandom until much much later, as I didn't even know it was a thing. I mostly lurk around reading, these days and only really write for fests. Well, at least, in the HP fandom. I do write for one more and am working my way into a third when I finally have some free writing time. (Never. That will never happen.) But R/S will always be my first love.

[bastardsirius]

I think I remember you from waaaay back when on LJ! I used to be Lejic back then, no idea if that rings a bell or not.

Yay for lurkers; to be honest as much as I love consuming fic/art, somebody's gotta be there to read it, ya know? :)

[chasingbluefish]

I am so behind!

Hello all! I am new to posting this year but I've followed both r/s for years. I've pretty much shipped them since I read the third book? Haha. I have never posted before and then missed the sign ups for the final r/s games and was elated to realise I could do this one. So thank you so much for doing this again.

[jepierre]

HI!

I'm a little behind and I'm so sorry.
I'm JEPierre (previously Pierrej92) and I am so thankful you all let me be apart of this. I love Wolfstar, but I do love a good AU and I joined the fandom only a year ago now.

This is my first ever R/S exchange. :D

Thank you so much for having me, and hey :D

[amahami]

Hello! We are happy you're here ^^ I hope you're enjoying yourself. Fests are amazing, and I hope this is a good experience for you:)

Late

[amahami]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I'm Ryan Michael (amahami here and on AO3; ryanthedemiboy on tumblr).

I've shipped wolfstar since I first read the books, but I didn't realise I did until like a year and a half ago. I really like Peter inclusion, trans characters, and jegulily (james/regulus/lily).

I'm a writer, definitely. Overly so, in fact. My poor gifts fic is over 18k and I'm not even halfway done. x.x

Other parts of the fandom? I mean, I read fic and occasionally make Tumblr posts about them? Idk.

I'm not /really/ active in any other fandom atm, but I am active in the disability community and the autism community c:

Re: Late

[bastardsirius]

Oh man, getting into this a year and a half ago must be AWESOME. So many things to read and look at!! Hope you're enjoying going down the rabbit hole! <3 <3

@ too long writing: Oh my god I can relate. Verbose writers UNITE!

[bastardsirius]

Aaah it's been so long, sorry for the very delayed intro! Been a bit crazy at work lately.

Now:

I am Lejic/puppylovele/bastard.sirius/Ed/I-don't-even-know. I'm a reader/writer/artist. I've shipped R/S since the third book came out, really. Do NOT want to think about how long it's been, hehe. Most active in mid-2000s if I remember right. I used to enjoy a LOT of the HP fandom, particularly the fanart and forums, but nowadays it's almost exclusively S/R.

I also have been dabbling in SGA fandom a little.

[shoebox_addict]

Hello! I'm shoebox_addict on AO3 as well as DW. I've shipped Remus/Sirius since the summer of 2006, when I discovered the Shoebox Project on LiveJournal. That discovery spawned one of my longest-reigning ships as well as my LJ/DW screen name, haha! I'm a writer and a reader of R/S stories, and that's where I'm mostly active. I haven't been too active in the fanfic/fandom world as of late, but I'm feeling the itch to write again, thus my participation in the small gifts exchange.

Agh! Late to the party

[luminousgloom]

Hello gang, I'm luminousgloom here, on LJ, and on AO3 – not on tumblr though, that's someone else. I chose the moniker mainly because of its sibilance, but also because while my wardrobe is almost entirely black (and I love make up that makes me look ghostly or dead), I'm ever the optimist who tries to see the good in any situation.

R/S is definitely my OTP, I came across it accidentally and have been actively writing for a few years. Third time participating in Small Gifts! Love it very much, thanks for running it again this year! Unfortunately it's a very hectic time of year for me so I'm late with everything this time, but hopefully getting there asap!

[coffeeincosmos]

Hi, I'm Tanja and late to the party. I was also a few years late to the Harry Potter party and started reading around the time GoF had just been released. This was also around the time I discovered the internet, fanfiction and what the yaoi/slash warning actually meant, so I basically went into PoA being a slash-obsessed twelve-year old and obviously never stood a chance. (I've grown to love R/S much more and on a much deeper level since, though.)

I'm a pretty rusty artist, but both Small Gifts and this year's RS Games have made me want to draw (and actually improve) again, and I'm very grateful for that. <3

Due to a lack of alternatives I'm on tumblr as spacerhapsody.

[necessarian]

hello! i'm late to the party! my name is mallory and i'm on ao3 as renaissance. (my tumblr is renaissancefic but i don't use it much.) i write primarily for r/s and trio-era minor characters. (ask me about zacharias smith!)

i've been in the hp fandom for, hmm, about 12 years now? and shipping r/s for more than half of that time! i've been active in patches, lurking every now and then and popping out of the woodwork for a few years at a time to be very active. this is one of those periods of activity and i'm hoping it lasts! i'm not really in any other fandoms at the moment. peripherally, yuri!!! on ice and merlin.

[coffeeincosmos]

Ooh, please tell me about Zacharias Smith, I always love getting obsessed with new minor characters - and what we see of him in canon definitely has the potential to be really interesting.