Sorry for the weird title, umm...so this is going to be a very difficult journal to write. Like...I assume many will find it odd, or disappointing perhaps. No worries, it isn't anything like "I'm removing my account" or the like. Rather, it's something that quite a few close friends know about already, as well as a few here and there that have asked me out of curiosity.
However I figure that it may be best to simply come out and say it up front at this point. To which I am...exceedingly nervous about doing, hence all the build-up in typing this out. Call it prolonging what I need to say.
But, alright. So the writing has been on the wall for quite a while now. Those that know me know that my characters represent different parts of my own interests and desires, while holding a personal connection to me. Hence the fact that they can change so...well...suddenly at times. One of the big changes as many likely noticed, was Stormy and Seval becoming female instead. Likewise, Ryme typically is represented as such as well. Cres had a brief period where she was male, but that since has subsided as well.
So, with the writing on the wall, I guess it's fair to finally come out and say this for myself.
I prefer, consider myself and identify as female. Thus would, if possible, prefer to be referred to as such.
This isn't a new thing, it's something I've been struggling with for many years, even before joining FA. Back before that point, I've always wanted to be a "wife" if you will, and likewise, preferred to be female and always wanted to be. However, due to many situations involving those that desired...otherwise, I retracted it and kept it to myself. I avoided the ideas of it, even going as far as to try and make it a rule not to make any of my own characters female, just to try and attempt to remove it. However, since getting Cres and having Stormy, the feelings have resurfaced, becoming harder and harder to bear hiding about that fact each time I type. It's to a point that I practically dread even writing some descriptions of my characters as male or even labeling myself as such.
But with recent happenings, I figure it's best to finally say it publicly. I know it likely kills much of the interest anyone had surrounding me, in many regards, and I apologize for it.
As far as characters go, as of now, the one still in limbo, Seval, is definitively female. It does hurt to say as such due to wanting more male meganium art, but given how important a character Seval is to me, they are one of the ones that needs to change.
Thadius will remain male, so that won't be changing (likely to the relief of some), and while Ryme still has male parts, she is still referred to as female as well. Ryme won't be changing due to story and narrative reasons.
That leaves Yori. This one is definitely the toughest to talk about due to a number of reasons. For the time being, Yori exists as both. There exists art of Yori as female already and I will see into uploading them in time. I don't want to disappoint those that see Yori as male however, but also personally do not see Yori as male myself and have referred to Yori privately as female for quite some time now, for over a year now if I am honest. There is a high likely hood that Yori will also change in the near future, with a commission depicting her as such to be made relatively soon. Will there still be male Yori art? Yes, should I see it fit the character better, then yes. However, I would say that it may slow down due to this.
Updated ref sheets will be made in time for the changes, but ultimately I just...well mostly hope that I didn't end up killing everyone that actually had interest in my characters and me as an individual. I sincerely apologize for the long windedness of this journal...and hope that everything is alright. I am deeply, empathically sorry for all those who would be disappointed by the contents of the journal.