Padre Captain
Prompt: IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT
Name: Padre Captain
Social Media: Twitter
IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT
"Find your way back
Big, big world, but you got it, baby
Find your way back
Don't let this life drive you crazy
Find your way back
Come back home 'fore the street lights on
Find your way back
Find your way back"
- Black is King "Find Your Way Back”
As of writing this, 134 days have passed since Warrior Nun Season 2 was released on the Netflop who shall not be named. In the grand scale of things, that is not a lot of time. Nevertheless, I feel like I've lived at least three lifetimes in the span of it. As of writing this right, I am recovering from burnout. The weariness - it has sunk into my bones - permeates the way I speak, write, and show up for both internet friends and physical world friends, let alone myself. In the midst of that storm, I am still committed to finding joy and balance again.
With respect to the Warrior Nun Fandom, I seek to craft in this piece a small window into the practice of remembering. In the remembering some of the beautiful moments in the fandom I have had the privilege of being a part of restore the joy in this moment so that I can partner with - sail with - co-create with folks in the next movements being made to #SaveWarriorNun and with other fandoms who are in a similar boat on the same cancellation sea.
I am still baffled how the stars aligned and my own gumption to ask for and find the groups I have in this Warrior Nun fandom, but here goes a bit of my history and experience within the fandom. I will not be able to speak to each person I've met in the fandom, nor every event small or large that I have witnessed.
In the Beginning
I was a fan of the show back when it was released during the pandemic. However, the second season snuck up on me like a rouge who rolled a natural 20 stealth check (DnD neard moment.) Nevertheless, when I heard season 2 was released November l0th, I exited jujitsu class and ran not walked back home to watch the show. At 9 pm when I started watching the show, I had only intended the first few episodes. However, the show was just that incredible that at 1.5 times speed and 5 hours later. I had watched the entire season. The last act I made before I slept was texting my jiujitsu instructor that the snow was great if not dare I say magical.
The Twitter Spaces in between
I am not nor have I ever been an avid twitter user. The introduction of twitter spaces was instrumental if not the sole reason I made connections on this sillv birb app. It truly took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out even the basic Ul. In this space (pun intended, I would like to highlight Toya Turner interview space and how that came to be. It captured the respectful audacity and spontaneity that characterized the WN fandom twitter spaces at the time. Just on the heels of the public news that the show had been cancelled and the 5hr plus 1hr twitter space to end all twitter spaces for the warrior Nun Fandom, one of the fans had been able to contact with Toya via twitch. The crew did have time to prepare some questions for Toya, take notes on some questions fans wanted to ask, and set boundaries on what areas of conversation were appropriate for the space. Nevertheless, after several hours of Fortnite Toya Turner too snuck up on us like a rogue with a natural 20 stealth check. After a chaotic scramble to create a new Twitter space that was going to be recorded (it took two tries,) @Gatasmilk06 got the space running and the fan chat which operated like an interview was held.
It was such an honour to witness and be a part of this space. The fans were so respectful and I really appreciated the humble way the hosts made the space to acknowledge and recognize the challenge of not being able to allow everyone to get a chance to hop on the mic. Also a moment of appreciation for Toya who still took time out of her busy day to speak with us even though she was unable to take a more active role during season 2. The generosity is what leaves echoes in my mind. It reminds me of what this fandom, the cast and crew have done with us.
There have been so many more things I could speak to in this fandom, but they are not my stories to tell. I hope this small moment of remembering Toya, Gatasmilk, and the other organisers and giving them their flowers in this life can warm folks heart on the journey of sailing in the next of these #savewarriorNun seas.