Mae 美妍
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atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Mae 美妍
@atfruitbat.myatproto.social
850 followers 170 following 5.4K posts
She/her. Chinese Singaporean immigrant in the UK. Writer. Shortlisted for the Hachette Children’s Novel Awards 2025.

Here's where I write about writing:
https://bsky.app/profile/maetang.myatproto.social
Posts Replies Media Videos
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
My partner told me the blood donation service started doing this. When he's given blood it's gone all over the country - further afield that you might initially imagine. It's cool to know where my blood went!
A text message reads: Thank you so much for donating on 22/10/2025. Your donation has now been issued to Bradford Royal Infirmary. Every donation counts.
November 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
I really hate how when there's mass violence now, the police have to make a point of saying the perpetrators are born in the UK. Because otherwise the default assumption is that it's going to be immigrants. And we all know that would be an excuse for the racists and xenophobes to attack us
A screenshot of a digital news headline reads: "Cambridgeshire train stabbing: suspects both British and 'nothing to suggest attack was terrorism, say police"
November 2, 2025 at 1:05 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
This was true of Twitter. It's true of Bsky. It's the thing Bsky has never wanted responsibility for, and so continually fails to handle well. It's the main reason no one will wind up paying to use this place. No one should, because the moderation is inconsistent.

www.theverge.com/2022/10/28/2...
A screenshot of text reads: The essential truth of every social network is that the product is content moderation, and everyone hates the people who decide how content moderation works. Content moderation is what Twitter makes — it is the thing that defines the user experience. It’s what YouTube makes, it’s what Instagram makes, it’s what TikTok makes. They all try to incentivize good stuff, disincentivize bad stuff, and delete the really bad stuff. 
October 4, 2025 at 1:03 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Good write up about American Christofascism. We can expect Farage and Reform to try to enact that in the UK, especially to justify their desire to do violence to immigrants, people of colour, gay folks, trans folks.

www.milwaukeeindependent.com/column/chris...
A screenshot of text reads: In describing the ideology as Christofascist, commentators typically highlight these tendencies: Authoritarian Leadership: The portrayal of a strong, decisive leader who wields near-absolute authority, often claimed to be sanctioned by God. Exclusionary Policies: A belief that the government should enforce a Christian moral code, marginalizing or punishing nonconformists or those of other faiths. Nationalistic Mythology: The use of patriotic and biblical motifs to assert a divine right to sovereignty, casting dissenters as enemies of both church and nation. Moral Absolutism: Complex policy questions are reduced to all-or-nothing, good-vs.-evil propositions that leave little room for compromise or nuance. Critics fear these themes erode democratic ideals by conflating political dissent with moral or spiritual betrayal. They argue that once religion is used to consecrate political authority, it becomes difficult to hold leaders accountable through constitutional means, as opposition is framed as being against the will of God.
September 18, 2025 at 11:41 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
What's a pic that belongs in the hall of fame?
(Xiao Zhan edition)

#XiaoZhan肖战
It's Xiao Zhan from the Harper's Bazaar photoshoot with him and Wang Yibo for The Untamed. Against a backdrop of dark green cloth, Xiao Zhan's head and shoulders, his hair pulled up and worn away from his face, a few strands trailing down beside one eye. His dark shirt is crowned by a ruff of long, thick, greyish fur. His raised hand is holding a small spray of green bamboo leaves, which he's peeking out from behind. His eyes are gazing at the viewer intently.
September 13, 2025 at 6:26 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
OMG I would have played an entire game just about these two! If you are also playing Road to Empress, don't forget to check out the video extras after the chapters, because you get so much more of their romance in those. Like almost an extra 10 mins of background and tragic, romantic love story. 😭
A screenshot from Road to Empress. The Prince, Li Chengqian stands over the shoulder of his soulmate, Chen Xin, who is playing the qin. Both men are staring at the musical instrument and have their hands together on the strings. Chen Xin is sitting with his qin, and Li Chengqian is leaning down towards him at his side, with an open book in hand, probably writing down the music. The scene is backlit with a soft glow from the paper-covered windows behind them, and both men at smiling at each other. Chen Xin holds a book as Li Chenqian plays a flute. Behind them, past a wooden railing are trees and a flower meadow. Chen Xin stares up at the sky, his eyes tearful, as he sits on some stone steps. Li Chengqian is sitting beside him, and gazing at his face, moved.
September 11, 2025 at 10:18 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
So anyway
It's a tardigrade playing a violin.
September 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
And on avoiding false equivalences:
A screenshot of text reads: The new study challenges the argument that the experiences of some of the White British people in workhouses could be compared with what enslaved people endured. Williams said: “There has been a false equivalence made between the horrors of chattel slavery and the harsh conditions endured by paupers in the British workhouse. “In some quarters, the suffering of British paupers is used to dismiss notions of white privilege and downplay the need for slavery reparations. It is quite clear we shouldn’t make this false comparison.”
September 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
More details:
A screenshot of text reads: The research describes how workhouses directly supported the slave economy by producing textiles to be sent to plantations and oakum, which was made from old ropes and used for sealing gaps in the timbers of slave ships. In addition, workhouse inmates in Bristol and elsewhere were transported to Britain’s colonies as a source of indentured labour, boosting the profits of planters and allowing them to purchase more enslaved people.
September 8, 2025 at 9:58 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Walked past this "Kier Starmer the OAP harmer" graffiti on a local wall, dating from the days Starmer cut winter fuel payments to pensioners.
Spray painted writing on a red brick wall reads: "Kier Starmer the OAP harmer". There's a halo painted over the "Kier".
September 3, 2025 at 5:45 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Stereotypes about the "decadent East" again.
It's a mobile phone. A woman is dialing it. The onscreen name of the person she's calling is Edward Saïd.
August 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Went for an evening walk with my partner. Then we played some shuffleboard.
The towers of York Minster cathedral, glimpse through the trees, against a soft, blue sunset sky.
August 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Ooooh. At least I was expensive to murder. 😂

The quiz is both fun and extremely informative, BTW.
Text reads: My Anglo-Saxon weregild. Anno Dimini 900-1100. 200 shillings. Modern Value: $26,600. Gender: Woman. Rank: Ealdorman. Manner of death: I was run through with a seax by your neighbor during a highway robbery.
August 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
The female gaze
Wang Yibo and Xiao Zhan model for Harper's Bazaar. Wang Yibo has his hair up, with tendrils trailing around his face. He wears a white, open, v-necked shirt over a long, white pleated skirt. He has a guqin on his lap whose strings he is plucking. Beside him, Xiao Zhan wears a black shirt and black trousers. He is sitting with one knee raised, which he is resting both hands on top of, and the foot of that leg is bare. His hair is up in a high ponytale. He is staring intently at Wang Yibo's face, as Wang Yibo concentrates on the guqin. They are both sitting on a wooden dock with lotus leaves and flowers around them, against a smoky blue backdrop.
July 20, 2025 at 2:43 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
The face I'm submitting to Bluesky for verification.
Xiao Zhan as Zang Hai from the Legend of Zang Hai, after he's emerged from the tomb, wearing pale robes and a white headband, his clothes and hair dishevelled, blood and dirt on his face, arms and garments, a thousand yard stare in his tearful eyes.
July 11, 2025 at 9:26 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. It seemed to me I stood by the iron gate to the drive, and for a while I could not enter, for the way was barred to me. There was a padlock and a chain upon the gate. Perhaps they shouldn't have fired their project manager after all.
Kevin McCloud wears a blue parka and stares pensively into space, while standing in front of the notorious, lighthouse-inspired Grand Designs home featured in the "saddest episode" of the show. It took 10 years and cost the owners millions. There's a rounded modern tower, lots of glass windows and an infinity pool. It does not spark joy.
July 10, 2025 at 12:52 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Youku app notifications are extremely weird. Like someone smashing together random tropes, but in a way that feels distinctly off.
A Youku app notification reads: "Love Empress has 5 husbands? Blossoming Romance💗Late-Night Waist-..." The acconpanying screenshot is of the head and torso of a young man in a black robe with blue piping, his arms crossed over his chest.
July 3, 2025 at 6:24 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
My partner sent me this graphic of the Glastonbury site overlaid on York. It's huge.
The overlay covers a very large area, well beyond the boundaries of the city centre.
June 29, 2025 at 11:02 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
What athlete's expression will stay with you for the rest of your life?

Pretty much any of the Buster hugs, really. This is an especially nice one, because Tim Lincecum looks like a gleeful squirrel, as Buster hoists him up like a kid ecstatic at winning the biggest cuddly toy at a funfair. 😂
At the end of Tim Lincecum's first no hitter in 2013, Buster Posey has run up behind Timmy, and is hoisting him into the air, his arms wrapped around Lincecum's chest and midriff. Timmy has wrapped his own arms around his catcher's, with Timmy's yellow glove to the front. Buster is yelling, a huge grin on his face, and Timmy is all-smiles, gleeful smile-lines furrowing his cheeks.
June 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
As far as animals with particular expressions go, I also really like the viscacha
It's a viscacha with a world weary look on its face as it sits on a rock in a teddy bear stance.
June 14, 2025 at 7:07 AM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
We went to see Shonen Knife in York today. As usual they were amazing. The set had new songs, old favourites and at least one or two tracks they don't play as often, so definitely something for everyone.
June 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
(Mais pas avec un iPhone, parce que Charlie Stadtlander dit que ça c'est construit par les jeune femmes Chinoise avec ses petits mains)
Sad looking Celine Dion holds a phone to her face. Meme text reads: "Je téléphone à Edward Said".
May 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Take the fictional characters quiz and post the first four you know:
openpsychometrics.org/tests/charac...

OK. Yeah, I suppose so.
Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ariadne from Inception. Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Valentine Wiggin from Ender's Game.
May 18, 2025 at 5:42 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
If you see this, post a ship that makes you happy

(Will probably never get over these two, and don't even want to! 😂)
Wei Wuxian (played by Xiao Zhan 肖战) in black, and Lan Wangji (played by Wang Yibo 王一博) in white, sit together on the ground, facing each other among green leafy shrubs. They are in profile to us. Wei Wuxian has his right hand raised, near his face. He has dropped his gaze. Lan Wangji is reaching out to catch Wei Wuxian's raised hand in his left hand, his white sleeve trailing as he does so. His head is slightly tilted to his left as he gazes at their joined hands. The logo for The Untamed is superimposed in the upper left corner of the photo.
May 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
atfruitbat.myatproto.social
Ed Davey talking sense in this. Probably along with the Greens, the only real opposition to Reform.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Screenshotted text reads: But in a warning shot to Starmer, Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said it was wrong to “pander” to Reform. “The Labour government needs to take Nigel Farage head on, not pander to his attempts to divide our country,” Davey said. “We saw in Canada how Mark Carney turned the tide against populism by standing up to Trump and staying true to his values. In this week’s elections, we were the only party to hold back Reform with our focus on community values and pavement politics.”
May 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM