u/Previous-Fun7234

Forgive me if I don't type very well, I'm just typing off the top of my head and I stayed up til 3am making this so I'm very tired right now.

I'm sure the vast majority of you have not seen the announcement that u/awesthedragon made, but he's a moderator here that's stepping down because his health is in rough shape, and his treatment is not going very well. I know about the cliche about redditor mods being cringe and all that, and so some of you might be thinking: "Ok why should I care?" But as a friend of his who constantly sees the amount of work he puts into this subreddit, I just wish for you guys to know at least a little bit about him.

I'm sure that you all think that this subreddit is a pretty fun and cool place, right? A lot of it can be attributed to him. One of the best parts about this subreddit is that so many artists can have their works be seen- on other social media you kinda have to prostrate yourself to the algorithm Gods, so that you might have a morsel of attention. A lot of you guys don't know this, but he really cares about every single artwork that you guys make here- even the beginners. We've had so many conversations together about what we could do to get other people's works to be seen when they are drowned out and don't have a lot of attention on this subreddit. I've seen him encourage and talk to so many artists and people on here, and part of the reason why this subreddit is so safe and clean is because he's just constantly on it sniping all of the bad stuff.

I read every single comment (even if I don't respond to all), and there are times where I get like... super weird or mean comments lol. I don't report them, I just ignore them because who cares. But when I go back to read some comments when I have free time, sometimes I see some little traction rude comments get removed by a moderator, even though I never brought it to his attention. I've seen this happen in other posts that aren't even mine as well. He's honestly really thoughtful of people's emotions and how to protect their feelings. I remember one time he predicted my reaction to something and I was like "Hey!!! I mean, you're right, but hey!!!! I'm not that easy to read!" (...turns out I am...)

Even the silly little jokes on this subreddit that you see pop off now and then! A lot of the time he's also the cause of many silly little things that happen here, even though you might not know it lol. I've said it before that this place feels like a community, and a lot of it is just because of the love that the moderators have for this place. They genuinely work hard to make this place kinda feel like a home for people to post and just... I dunno, just feel each others hearts. (I know that sounds cheesy as hell but I genuinely believe this).

And I've talked about what he has done for the subreddit because that's what you guys probably care about hehe, but if you can allow me to just talk a little bit about who he is as well... He's truly a dragon at heart. I wish I could show you just how connected he is with his feelings, and the feelings of others. He might seem serious at first, but if you talk to him more you can see how much of a goofball he can be. He doesn't think fur belongs on dragons but I feel like I have wiggled into his heart a little.... I say, but he keeps threatening to shave me lol. Honestly, whenever I feel like ranting to someone and into the void, he's always been there to lend an ear, and his thoughts. He's seriously a really sweet person, and he's really good at reading people. You know the kind of person who is like... not super known because they always try to help people and encourage them from the shadows, and then kinda sit back happy at what they did even if people don't notice what they have done? That's literally the kind of person he is.

He's trying to be humble, but I think he should be a bit more greedy like the dragon he is. He really did build up this place to be what it is currently, so I hope that he can be recognized a little bit for his legacy. I hope that you can all wish him good health, and I desperately pray this this is not a true goodbye, but a see you later.

This is getting to be really long now, so I just want to say that we all love you Tess. Thank you for just... literally thank you for everything you have done. And thank you for being my friend. Well you still are my friend. You better not go away lol. Once you're in my draconic little hoard, you stay there forever.

I hope you all can wish him well, and for his treatment.

Art and ramble by Ryukiri