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cousticks · 5 months

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I think one of my favorite things about all the collective BSD medias is that we can see glimpses of characters at so many different stages in their lives, and are given the opportunity to watch them grow and change. Like... sure, there's a lot of medias with dynamic characters that change across it, but something about these snapshots of characters' lives we see across the novels & main series feels more organic and alive to me.

We see Oda at 14, already jaded and with blood and his hands, in Untold Stories. We catch him again at ~21 in TDIPUD, just kind of... minding his business. And already. he seems so different from this teenager, more content with his place in life, but he's still outrunning his past. It isn't a completely different person, the past still follows. And then again in Dark Era, where he's made connections with others, connections with places, and has someone to miss him when he goes. I don't think 14 year old Oda had that.

Dazai, too, of course. We can see him at 15, at 16, at 18, at 20, and at 22. We get Dazai at so many stages. His descent into the mafia and the absolute misery around him, and his slow crawl up to the light and how its changed him. How it lingers.

I think Ranpo's arc from terrified 14 year old boy who can't understand the world in Untold Stories to the confident, self-assured and generally relaxed detective he is by the main story is one of my favorites. You can see how clearly he's always been the same, but the change in his confidence and his security on his place in the world is incredible.

There's so many arcs I could talk about. The way pasts linger in BSD makes every character's arc feel so much more real. The way they're all striving towards something but slip, but aren't perfect at hiding where they came from, and how each character's journey and arc is completely different. They aren't all cookie-cutter arcs of 'haha was a bad guy now a good guy,' there's convoluted non-linear climbs that makes their arcs feel so much more realistic. I love being able to see characters in so many places in their lives I love being able to watch how circumstances ruin them, how circumstances bring them back. Incredible. I'm obsessed with all of them.

#bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd oda #bsd dazai #bsd ranpo #bsd untold stories #bsd dark era #white hill road #placeholder oda tag #placeholder ranpo tag

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temporary-tats · 14 days

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Hey I'll take you up on that offer of a list of your favourite Bees fics 👀👀👀

Always looking for more. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface though. And if they're half as good as the Midnight Bees fic then yes please!

Oh Anon do I have a list for you.

A Note Before We Begin: Most of these Bumbleby fics are lengthy, multi-chapter pieces, often coming in at 70k+ words. The majority of these recommendations are not light reads because I am a sucker for emotional journeys full of ups, downs, and angst. If you're looking for more lighthearted recommendations, then I am unfortunately too much of an emotional masochist for you! (But, considering you've come here as a fan of MM, I have a feeling you'll enjoy these)

I'll also be updating this post with new fics occasionally, and to update my Top 5! So if you ever need something new to read, come back and check out this recs list :]

~ 💛💜 Now, let's begin 💜💛 ~

My Top 5 Favorite Bumbleby Fics (as of April 2024)

Paring down this list is Incredibly (TM) difficult, but these are 5 fics that brutally obliterated me, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc.

when I dream of dying I never feel so loved by lescousinsdangeroux - Mature; 73k Words; Alternate Universe - Edge of Tomorrow/RWBY Fusion (Sci-Fi, Time Loop, Grimm, Semblances); TW: Repeated (Temporary) Major and Minor Character Death and Mild Gore

I Know You by Monochrome_Gray - Mature; 238k Words; Alternate Universe - Witches; Semblances as Magic; Clairvoyance; Poly Raven, Summer, and Taiyang; Slow Burn; TW: Minor Character Death, Depression, and Minor Dysphoria (NB Yang)

hear her in the wind by lescousinsdangeroux - Mature; 109k Words; Alternate Universe - The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/RWBY Fusion (Remnant = Hyrule, Maidens = Champions, Adam = Ganon; Yang = Link and Blake = Zelda; Grimm) TW: PTSD

Gunslinger by pugoata - Mature; 218k Words; Alternate Universe - Western; No Semblances; Sheriff Yang; Politics; TW: Intense Faunus Racism (it's 90% of the plot), Public Execution, Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Implied/Referenced Abuse

you're a mountain, full of glory by lescousinsdangeroux - Explicit; 111k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern/Snowboarder and Skier; No Semblances; No Faunus; Friends with Benefits; Found Family; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse

The Hall of Fame

These are fics that, at one point, touched the Top 5 list. They may have been nudged out by another work, but they're still top tier.

They Can't Steal the Love You're Born to Find by timeespaceandpixiedust - Mature; 101k Words; Alternate Universe - Courtroom, Childhood, College/University; Non-linear Timeline; Adam on Trial; Very Emotional Conversations; Healing; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse, Brief Depictions of Violence, PTSD, Depression;

Compass by pugoata - Mature; 74k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern, Roadtrip, Soulmates; No Semblances; Hitchhiker Blake; Tense Tai and Yang Relationship; Healing; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse;

Shelter by pugoata - Mature; 73k Words; Alternate Universe - Farm; No Semblances; Runaway Blake; Farmer Yang; GOATS; Healing; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse, Brief Depictions of Violence, PTSD;

Brighter by y8ay8a - Explicit; 212k Words; Alternate Canon; Events from Volume 2/3 - Beginning of Volume 7; Very Emotional Conversations; Blake and Yang in the Before and Healing Through the After; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse, Depression, PTSD;

let you see my wilder side (if i can see your bones) by explosivesky - Explicit; 107k Words; Alternate Universe - Hollywood, Rockstar and Movie Star; Actress Yang; Rockstar Blake; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse, Brief Depictions of Violence;

take it from your grave by explosivesky - Mature; 48k Words; Alternate Universe - Gothic Horror; Monsters; Curses; Forbidden Romance; Forbidden Found Family; TW: Brief Depictions of Violence, Depression, PTSD;

Other Amazing Works

Didn't quite reach the Top 5, but these fics were still phenomenal.

Midnight Menagerie by Kaelidascope - ONGOING; Explicit; Currently 289k Words; Alternate Universe - Future Dystopia, Sex-Industry, Crime Syndicates; No Semblances; No Faunus; Bartender Yang; Dancer Blake; Street Racing; Gritty Fic, but with Lots of Fluff; Slowburn; Gunning For the Top 5 Once Finished;

NOTE: This fic tackles VERY emotionally intense and gritty topics. While done (in my opinion) very masterfully and with great care, please proceed with caution. TW: Graphic Depictions of Violence, R@pe/Non-Con, Human Trafficking, Past Abuse/Assault of a Minor, Death, PTSD, Emotional Manipulation, Physical Abuse, Suicidal Thoughts;

Praeludium and Allegro by yangsbandana - Mature; 68k Words; Alternate Universe - Orchestra, Conservatory; Viola/Violin Blake; Cello Yang; Healing; TW: Depictions of Abuse, PTSD;

Best Laid Plans by Sawrin - Teen and Up; 10k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern; Dog POV; Fluffy;

Expecting by Sawrin - General Audiences; 8k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern; Best Laid Plans Part 2; Dog POV; Baby on the Way;

From the Heart by Softlight - Mature; 77k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern, Bakery; No Semblances; Baker Yang; Bookstore Owner Blake; Healing; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse, Brief Depictions of Violence, Depression, Grief

what if it's all just a black abyss (and lips that kiss you) by lescousinsdangeroux - Teen and Up; 30k Words; Alternate Universe - Star Wars; Force Bond; Found Family; Smuggler and Pilot Yang; Runaway Sith Apprentice Blake; TW: Brief Depictions of Violence;

it's not living (if it's not with you) by explosivesky - Mature; 10k Words; Alternate Universe - Pop Punk/Rock Band; No Semblances; No Faunus; No Angst Just Fluff;

Crash Landing by kienava - Mature; 43k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern, College/University, Text Messages; No Semblances; No Faunus; Crack but with Serious Moments; Slow Burn; TW: Implied/Referenced Drug Use;

roads that lead you home by lescousinsdangeroux - Teen and Up; 15k Words; Alternate Canon/Future RWBY; Weiss POV; Bumbleby Included but Not the Full Focus; Found Family; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse;

you've got me seeing stars by explosivesky - Mature; 25k Words; Alternate Canon; Beacon Never Falls; Happy and In Love Bees; Pining; Partial Sun POV;

shake us together like a snow globe by explosivesky - Mature; 34k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern, College/University, Fake Dating; No Semblances; Home for the Holidays; Mutual Pining; More Emotional than Angsty; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse;

Mixed Melodies by EmpressOfEdge - Mature; 25k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern, Rock Band; No Semblances; Drummer Yang; Bassist Blake;

Waiting (on You) by Mikotyzini - Teen and Up; 133k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern; No Semblances; No Faunus; Ultimate Slow Burn; Yang is Oblivious;

You and Me, and One Hot Summer by EmpressOfEdge - Mature; 98k Words; Alternate Universe - Modern; No Semblances; Summer Romance; Ultimate Wingman Sun; TW: Implied/Referenced Abuse;

#bumbleby fic recommendations #fic rec #bumbleby #a03 #rwby #rwby fanfiction #a03 link #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #alternate universe #alternate canon #temp tats top 5 bumbleby fics #emotional destruction imminent

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crimsonrainseekingflower · 26 days

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Chapter 1 (Opening Crawl - Episode I) & Chapter 2 (The Protagonist Awakens - Act I)

Relationships: Shen Qingqiu/Luo Binghe

Rating: M

Tags: Alternate Universe - Star Wars Setting, Non-Linear Narrative, Canon-Typical Violence, Established Relationship, T4T Bingqiu, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Current Word Count: 10.4k

The Jedi Council nearly sends Luo Binghe back to Tatooine. The Force is strong with him but he is too old, they say, he cannot be taught. And his emotions, ah, there is so much anger within him. It seeps into the Force—sharp and pulsing. He is not worth the risk, they think. And the dispassionate admission to his worthlessness, his undesirable nature, causes heat to build behind his eyes. He will not cry. He is too old to cry. “Ridiculous,” Shen Qingqiu scoffs. His gaze is not so much cold as it is emotionless. It brings to mind the regal statues made of stone that Luo Binghe glimpsed from the airspeeder that brought them into the Senate District. “I’ll take him.” Hope sputters to life in Luo Binghe’s chest. Much like his anger, it has no doubt been felt by the surrounding Jedi. Shang Qinghua glances at him from his place between Wei Qingwei and Qi Qingqi. They have not spoken much since the journey to Coruscant and Luo Binghe must admit that his focus has been skewed towards the green of Shen Qingqiu’s fan—the rich teal of his robes, the proud jut of his chin, the confidence he exudes with mere presence alone—so it's difficult to decipher the strange look in Shang Qinghua’s eyes. Yue Qingyuan blinks. Slow. Like a tooka-cat. “As your Padawan?” “What else?” Shen Qingqiu leisurely fans himself. “Your past clouds your judgment,” Liu Qingge says, leaning back in his seat, ankle crossed over his knee. “My past allows insight,” Shen Qingqiu bites back. He glares at his fellow council members, as if daring all eleven of them to disagree. There is something else behind his eyes when he focuses the full force of his attention on Yue Qingyuan. “I will train him.” And to Luo Binghe’s surprise, Yue Qingyuan merely nods. “As you wish.”

Read the rest of chapters 1 & 2 here!!

#svsss #luo binghe #shen qingqiu #bingqiu #bingqiu fanfic #my writing #my fic #the scum villain's self saving system #image description in alt #proud immortal jedi way

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ponderwuff · 2 months

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progress is slow and non-linear and the journey is meaningful for how specific to you it is

(this is about become a hugely obese man one day)

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niggamag · 10 months

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The Blood Of Jesus (1941)- Dir. Spencer Williams

In the rich history of low budget Black cinema, there are a few rare gems that I feel every Black person should see in their lifetime. Among them is "The Blood of Jesus" (1941), a groundbreaking film directed by the multi-talented Spencer Williams. This film lays the groundwork for Black indie films with its ghastly folk aesthetic, non linear storytelling and angelic imagery. "The Blood of Jesus" remains an essential cinematic experience even after more than eight decades.

Now why THIS film?

"The Blood of Jesus" holds a special place in the annals of Black cinema as one of the first feature-length films to be produced and directed by a Black filmmaker. This milestone not only paved the way for future filmmakers but also provided a platform for authentic representation and storytelling.

The storyline is the classic “in between heaven and hell” trope and it is executed in such a stylistically sound way that it kept me glued to the screen. It reminded me surrealism and Dadaism which was huge in white cinema and literature at the time. This is early Afrosurrealism, dare I say. We see masterful interaction with atmospheric lighting, symbolic dream sequences, and breathtaking slow dissolves. It has lots of non-linear storytelling which is seen in many different Black indie films, especially from the 90s and it was fun making this connection.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

The film tells the story of a young woman named Martha, played by Cathryn Caviness, who is accidentally shot by her husband, Razz Jackson, portrayed by Spencer Williams himself. As Martha lies between life and death, her soul is caught in a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. The narrative takes the viewers on a spiritual journey, as Martha's soul encounters various characters, symbolizing the temptations and choices she must confront. The film skillfully weaves together elements of Christianity and African American spirituality, highlighting the interconnectedness of faith and culture.

Written by your favorite Black film head, welcome to Nigga Mag.

-M

#surrealist writing #black storytelling #black stories #vintage black glamour #black films #surrealism #film blog #filmmaking #director #first post #decade: 1940s #1940s cinema #afrosurrealism

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hypergamiss · 29 days

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Hello there! I wanted to reach out as I've been working trying to align my values with my actions and being in a healthy mindset this year. However, I've had to stop some of my favourite daily rituals due to some unforeseen accidental second-degree burns that limit my movement. I'm currently working on getting back to my favourite self, but it's taking a bit more time than I anticipated and I am trying to redefine growth now and start from scratch, any advice for staying gentle and patient physically and mentally after a pushback? 💌

Listen to your body: It's tempting to push past pain, but respecting your limits is crucial. Rest when you need to, and don't rush back into activity too quickly.

Celebrate small wins: Progress after an injury might be measured in tiny increments. Focus on each improvement, however small, instead of what you can't yet do.

Alternative activities: If your usual routines are out, find gentle movements and exercises that are safe for your recovery. This keeps you active without risking further setbacks.

Reframe your expectations: Recovery is rarely linear. Adjust your goals and be kind to yourself on days when progress feels slow or non-existent.

Focus on what you CAN control: You can't control the speed of healing, but you can control your attitude. Practice focusing on gratitude, what your body is capable of, and the positive support around you.

Find outlets for frustration: Journaling, talking with a trusted friend, or engaging in a calming activity can help vent emotions and prevent them from festering.

Small acts of self-care: Relaxing baths, enjoyable podcasts, or your favorite foods can be little mood boosters when things feel hard.

Don't compare your journey: Everyone recovers at their own pace. Focus on your progress, not someone else's timeline.

Remember: Patience and gentleness are skills you're strengthening through this experience. Be kind to yourself!

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prettyiwa · 3 years

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AO3 | Mature | Non-Linear Narrative | Playlist

STATUS: In Progress WORD COUNT: 11,910 May 2023 -

Relationship: Miyuki Kazuya x F!Reader Rating: Mature 18+ Content Tags: POV Miyuki Kazuya, Non-Linear Narrative, Slow Burn, Hurt/Comfort, Childhood Best Friends to Lovers (it's really hard to define these two), Soulmates (if you squint), Two Ships Passing in the Night, Always Bordering Something More, Home Is Where You Are, Mentions of Grief, Anxiety, and Depression, Mentions of Alcoholism (not Miyuki and not reader), Reader Smokes (sorry), Miyuki Toku!!, (MORE TO COME) Summary: He existed as a beacon for you—someone who had been there since before you can remember, someone who always found you when you got lost. All you wanted was to be able to stand on your own two feet beside him. OR Kazuya's there for you in your journey to come back to yourself. You two always seemed to grow better together than apart. Inspired By: "i'm having a shit time but boy did my ego just get fuelled when she told me 'he doesn't want to come anymore bc you wont be there'"

I'm Coming Back (Age 18)

Every step of the way | Age 13 Hear you out | Age 18

Be there to take you home | Age 14 Go pro & make it up to you | Age 20

The one to patch you up | Age 13 Find you when you don't wanna be found | Age 22

Your number one supporter | Age 15 Ask me to come and I'll come running | Age 25

Always choose you over anyone else | Age 14 Gonna achieve my dreams & stand by your side as your equal | Age 27

Daiya no Ace Masterlist

#✒.ix writes #✒.promises we echanged #pwe #daiya no ace x reader #miyuki kazuya x reader #daiya.✒

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psychewritesbs · 7 months

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This ask has something to do about the new 237 leaks so you don't have to entertain this but-

As much as I want to be optimistic. Is this it for Megumi? I'd like to think not, but somehow I wouldn't put it past Gege to pull something off like this. Not even a farewell, or a pov on Meg inside. He's just -

If this is truly the end for my boy I might have to stay away from the manga for a while.

Hola!

So... since I am slow at replying to asks, ch. 237 leaks are a thing of the past at this point lol.

I hear you anon! I really want Megumi to come back ofc, and I love all of the evidence that has been presented about his return, it all makes so much sense from a thematic pov. Even from a depth psych perspective, I can do mental gymnastics around the idea that what he's going through right now is necessary for the next stage of his growth.

In fact, come to think of it... when I wrote my Megumi and fate ramble, one of the things I predicted was that he would have an experience that would mirror the experience he had under the Hasobachi bridge, and that it would lead to a completely new understanding of himself.

I'm not sure if I said this before too, and if I didn't I totally meant to say it, but I felt like this experience would have to cause a much bigger shock than the previous one. It's hard to explain...

So if what Megumi has gone through isn't the ego death I predicted, then I don't know what is. This tells me that, yes, Megumi died in the sense of the word that he experienced ego death (which I also wrote about), which means that being possessed is just part of his transformational journey.

And yet, I totally understand where you're coming from in feeling like you wouldn't put it past the cat to be done with Megumi. Like... isn't it so relatable how a lot of people are like "Gojo is not coming back! Move on!!!"?

Anyways, the way I see it, Sukuna reincarnating his og body at last kind of does feel like he's overcome Megumi's sense of self completely. That's my understanding of it.

HOWEVER, Gege has shown us a couple of times already that the body's original consciousness sometimes does come through and either overrides the presiding sense of self (i.e. Geto overcoming Kenny for a bit) or that the body's consciousness is so intricately tied to the sense of self and the soul, that it can override the host body (Toji in Shibuya).

SO! Here's to hoping anon...

That said, I think that ch. 236 made it exceedingly clear that Gege is a non-linear writer and that he writes in a circular fashion sometimes. What this does is that it gives new meaning to past events. So I wouldn't be surprised if he gives us that Megumi flashback, etc. We just have to wait for it.

Basically, nothing wrong with stepping away from jjk until then. I know I sat out the majority of Gojo vs. Sukuna. For me, I am fascinated with Sukuna so I am going to continue reading.

Thanks for stopping by anon!

#ask the mental gymnastics anime girl #god I love jujutsu kaisen

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mindfulwrath · 1 year

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Books of 2022

Not including DNFs.

“The Authentic William James” by Stephen Gallagher - a British show cowboy is accused of setting a theater fire that killed a German noble. Sebastian Becker, special investigator for the British Crown, must find the accused so he can be scapegoated before rumors of assassination spark a pan-European war. Along the way, Sebastian finds that the accused man’s daughter has been kidnapped by another, rather more authentic stage cowboy. This book has an awful lot, folks: murder, Theatre, cowboys, turn-of-the-century Hollywood, labor rights, addiction, insane asylums, and more! Fans of “Murder with the Devil and Friends” will probably enjoy this one (I did). Recommended.

“The Amulet of Samarkand” by Jonathan Stroud (reread) - A young magician in the heart of the British Empire summons a djinni to steal an artifact from the man who humiliated him, and fucks it up worse than any other protagonist I’ve ever read. The story is half told from his perspective, and half told from the perspective of the snarky, self-aggrandizing djinni whom he has enslaved to carry out the theft. Mr. Stroud did not pull his punches with this one, I tell you what. Still, it works infinitely better as part of a trilogy than on its own, maybe more than any other Book One I’ve read. Recommended.

“The Golem’s Eye” by Jonathan Stroud (reread) - MR. STROUD DID NOT PULL HIS PUNCHES WITH THIS ONE, I TELL YOU WHAT. Our young magician from the last book continues fucking things up, but this time while the djinni ruthlessly roasts him for his fashion sense while the two of them try to get to the bottom of a series of mysterious break-ins. We also get to spend some time with our third protagonist, a young woman who has a resilience to magic and is part of a small Resistance, whose goal is to break the stranglehold the magicians have on the government. Boy, if you thought Book 1 was scathingly critical of empires and those who run them, Book 2 doubles down on it hard. Chillingly relevant, despite being written in 2004. Stroud also does a great job writing a protagonist who exhibits the very real disease of being 14. Recommended. (Bonus points for correctly attributing golems to Jewish tradition!)

“Ptolemy’s Gate” by Jonathan Stroud (reread) - MR. STROUD DID NOT COME TO FUCK AROUND, GODDAMN. The thrilling conclusion to the Bartimaeus trilogy, and it really delivers on every front. No setup goes without payoff. Honestly, it feels like these 3 books are really just one very long book, because details from Book 1 and Book 2 come back with real significance, little fanfare, and a hell of a lot of momentum. I really fucking love this series, and this book drives home why. Recommended.

“How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi - Dr. Kendi defines racism, antiracism, and many related terms and intersections, goes through the origins and history of racism as well as his own journey from being raised in a racist world to choosing to be antiracist. A greatly clarifying and galvanizing read, at least for me. Dense at times, but well worth slowing down for. Recommended.

“Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Vol 2” by MXTX - Things get much worse but also much gayer for our fast-talking protagonist - although really the vast majority of this book is about side-stories that happened many years in the past. The side-stories are really good though, and add to the narrative tension rather than distracting from it. I really do think this series (and probably all MXTX novels) could be used as a masterclass in non-linear storytelling. Recommended.

“Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix” (vol. 1) by Shiro Amano - An abridged version of the story of KH1 told in graphic novel format: kid’s world is swallowed by darkness, he gets separated from his two friends, he somehow acquires a magic key-sword that lets him fight the creatures of darkness, he goes on a quest to find his friends and ends up saving a bunch of Disney worlds along the way. It’s got some interesting little tidbits and alternate translations (and very, very cute art), so I certainly enjoyed it. Recommended if you’re already a KH fan or if you want to get the basic story without playing several hundred hours of games or watching a few dozen hours of cutscenes.

“Heaven Official’s Blessing: Vol 2” by MXTX - The plot thickens and things get worse for the protagonist (and isn't that just a summary of all MXTX novels?). I had some trouble with keeping all the names straight in this one because everyone has three names and it's a little trickier when I don't have a face to pin them all to, but it's still a good read. You can feel the plot putting on weight like a teenager getting ready for a growth spurt. Plus there's a really fun scene in a gambling den that is simultaneously the most chaste and the dirtiest thing I've ever read in published fiction. Recommended.

“Dracula” by Bram Stoker (reread, via Dracula Daily) - A fresh methodology on the old classic. I'd forgotten some of the twists and turns since I read this book back in high school, and the "daily" format is something I'd long wanted to engage in (i.e., reading a book that has a set timeline according to that timeline). The community of memes and analyses was a great joy to partake in, too. Recommended, particularly via Dracula Daily (there's always next year!)

"Dreadnought" by April Daniels - A teenage trans girl inherits a superhero mantle that not only gives her superpowers, but the body she's always wanted. This causes a tremendous amount of problems and immediately flings her into a mire of political turmoil while having to navigate high school and an abusive father. This is a book that knows its stuff back to front and remixes it adeptly. Recommended, but with trigger warnings for abuse, transphobia, and some fairly disturbing gore (and that's coming from me).

"Heaven Official's Blessing: Vol 3" by MXTX - The plot thickens, and things get worse for the protagonist. No, I mean really, REALLY worse. But there's also a damn good kiss in there, and plenty of other fun stuff to keep it from being oppressively grim. Recommended.

"Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie - A fragment of a ship's AI, confined to a human body, seeks revenge for the murder of her favorite lieutenant. Unfortunately, the person she's seeking vengeance against happens to be the emperor of a massive, millennia-old space empire, whose consciousness occupies a thousand bodies. A sedately paced, intricately built story about love and imperialism and culture and war and music. If you like Robots With Feelings, complex political dramas, or conlangs, this book is for you. Recommended.

"Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation: Vol 3" by MXTX - This one is primarily flashback, although not all the same flashback (have I mentioned the whole "masterclass in nonlinear storytelling" thing yet?) and stitched together in a way that flows naturally and keeps you reading to the very end. Also, a damn good kiss in there (vol 3 seems to be the magic number for that). But also also, some really fucking horrifying gore, to the point that I went: "who looked at this and decided they could make a show that got past the censors?" I mean, they were right, whoever they were, they managed it and "The Untamed" kicked ass, but I have to wonder what kind of person rolled up their sleeves to do it. Recommended.

"The Long Earth" by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett - The course of human history is forever changed when a rogue scientist releases the designs for a device that allows people to step to parallel Earths, all of which seem to be uninhabited. A young man named Joshua, able to step without the aid of a device, is recruited by an artificial intelligence to go on an expedition to find what's at the end of the seemingly infinite stack of Earths. An interesting read with a lot of cool speculation about alternate Earths and some very grounded and unfortunately relevant observations on the nature of humanity. It doesn't read like a Pratchett, although it has some very Pratchett-esque concepts in it. I liked it okay, but not enough to particularly want to read any of the sequels.

"Moving Pictures" by Terry Pratchett (reread) - The wild ideas of Holy Wood are escaping into the Discworld and causing hauntingly familiar scenes to play out in a little spit of desert by the sea - but anywhere where Things That Don't Exist can become Things That Do Exist, there will be Things That Want To Exist trying to come through.... Dryly funny as standard for Pratchett, and probably at least a quarter written just to see how many film references he could upend in one go. Featuring (what I think are) the first appearances of Gaspode The Wonder Dog and Archchancellor Munstrum Ridcully. Recommended.

"Fadeout" by Joseph Hanson - Dave Brandstetter, an insurance investigator who is "contentedly gay," investigates the mysterious disappearance of a small-town entertainer who hit the big time. Atmospheric, noir-adjacent, and pleasantly twisty, this mystery also benefits from half the cast being queer. It would be excellent if written today, and considering that it was written in the sixties, it's in a league of its own. Recommended.

"Are Prisons Obsolete?" by Angela Davis - A novelette-length essay on the origins, consequences, and possible alternatives to the prison-industrial complex, as well as a litany of reasons why it's imperative for the health of our society that the carceral state be dismantled. Thought-provoking and perspective-shifting in many ways. Recommended.

"Station Eternity" by Mur Lafferty - Mallory Viridian seems to constantly be followed by murders - and constantly finds herself solving them, too. She thought escaping Earth to a sentient space station would free her from her 'curse,' but, whoops, it doesn't. Featuring multiple sentient alien species, military interferism plots, eighty percent of a romance, and several murder cases across space and time, this felt like a book trying to do too many things at once, each interfering with the execution of the others. The detective story got lost in the space station story, and the space station story suffered from having to serve a detective story. The dialogue and the plot both clunked audibly at times, although the third act featured a clever twist and a fairly satisfying finale. The book wasn't so grating that I gave up on it, but I was glad to be done with it.

"Iron Widow" by Xiran Jay Zhao - A young woman living in a world that’s a milieu of ancient and modern China seeks vengeance against the celebrity kaiju pilot who killed her sister. And then seeks vengeance against the system which allowed said sister to be killed. And then decides: "since this system is fucking over everyone and everything I care about, how about I fuck it right back?" It's like Pacific Rim meets Handmaid's Tale meets real Chinese history, and that’s not even getting into the nuanced and incisive meditations on gender and sexuality. Recommended, but with content warnings for body horror, familial abuse, heavily implied sexual assault, and hardcore misogyny.

#books of 2022 #my goal was to read more books this year than last year #and i managed it (just barely)#otoh my reviews got MUCH longer this year lmao

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noveratus · 9 months

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I just finished watching the Witcher season 3. Here are my thoughts on this season:

First, I should make it known that I have not read any of the books and I played the witcher wild hunt very briefly since I wasn't a huge fan of the combat system, so there is a chance that I'm not the target demographic for this show. Perhaps they were trying to appeal to the fans of the series. If that is the case, I apologize for my thoughts. These are the thoughts of a casual watcher of the series who is very passionate about writing and stories and general.

The best word that I would use to describe this series and just the whole show, in a whole, is confusing. Things just seem to happen, and I am left wondering what even is the story here. The show feels both too slow and too fast for the story it is trying to tell.

Season one is by far the best. Despite the non-linear timeline, you can understand what is happening, you understand what the arcs are, what the characters want, and you have a notion of what is going on. There are still confusing moments, particularly those with the elves and Cintra. Her journey feels so slow compared to both Yen and Gerald since, once you remove all the magic and all the dressing, their stories are about family, with Gerald's being about the fear of letting people in and Yennifer's being about being accepted enough to be loved.

Then we have season two, which is just political nonsense for the most part. We barely get any time with the main trio, and it is mostly just a lot of nothing. People speak and tell your their plans and whatever, but it summarizes to a bunch of nothing. There is a 6. Everyone wants Cintra, but that's it. There is essentially just one character arc in this season that goes through a character arc with that being Yennifer, and while I do have conflicting emotions about it, it is definitely a character arc. Besides that, the closest thing you get to character development is Cintra's fight montage scenes, and while those can be fun, not everything has to be deep and sad and depressing, that is not what they are. They try to be exactly that. Bleak. Like the show is turning to you and asking, "Aren't you enjoying seeing how much these characters for basically no reason? This is what will make them stronger! They aren't really learning anything, just getting beaten until they seem like they can be excusable to be strong enough to survive what will throw on them next! Isn't this deep? Isn't this exciting? Bleak and depressing equals deep guys! C'mon!" When it comes to the plot, it is essentially people saying "shit is going to happen, shit is really going to happen. We will kill this baby. You know we will kill this baby! Wanna see us do it? We will do it! Just watch it! And hah! We did it!" And that's pretty much it. Pretty much the only thing that carries over from season 2 to three is Yen's arc, and the first thing they try to do is try to retcon it. So yes, season 2 is a boring, confusing slog where things just happen and feels very pointless.

Then we move on to season 3. Season three starts well. I honestly enjoyed the first episodes, with Yennifer trying to regain the confidence of both Gerald and Cintra, and I think it works. I enjoy seeing Cintra and Yennifer butting heads, it makes sense, they are different people who can teach each other a lot after everything they went through, and you see glimpses of this, and while Gerald's hunt doesn't make a lot of sense since he just let the guy go, I think that the subsequent plot with the fake Cintra and the missing mages is fine, I'm invested, I want to know what is going on, and then the ball happens and that is a good episode, it has mystery and this sense of magic and actual illusion and I was hyped. Truly, I couldn't wait to see where this was going, and then we had a betrayal, and then another and suddenly the elves are here, and they are the bad guys and the racist is in the right and gets treated like a hero and Ciri is there and then she isn't and why did you leave in the first place, Yennifer, if you were going to come back to help your people?! What did you think was going to happen? Sunshines and rainbows?! There is this huge battle where a lot of people die, but I'm left just confused because, oh my god, there is even more political nonsense here and it carries on through the last three episodes where, again, nothing really happens besides the nonsense politics while Gerald is recovering and I'm so done. Ok, that is not completely true. There are two segments that I would like to mention, the sorcerers and Cintra. I think that, while not that important development wise, since Cintra goes from point A to point B back to point A, the desert part is good. It is visually interesting. It shows her skills, and while bleak, it is entertaining. They are showing you something that isn't characters talking about something no one understands or trying to make something deep out of something that isn't. This is a girl trying to survive in a desert in a harsh environment. I can understand that I want her to succeed in that. Now, for the sorcerers, they are mourning, they are dealing with loss in the middle of war. I can understand and sympathize with that, but then you have Tissaia's death that is framed as this noble sacrifice when it isn't. It is sad, yes, but the audience isn't really given a moment to process that, it is framed so that her death is about Yennifer, like losing her will make her stronger and I have serious problems with any media that shows suicide as anything noble or brave or good, like one's death is preferable to them being alive.

Now, I have avoided speaking about Jaskier so far because, and I want to make it clear that Jaskier is my favorite character in this show, he is sadly pointless. Don't get me wrong, Jaskier is essentially the heart of the Witcher, but when it comes to the narrative, the story itself, he is only there for fan service. They tried to fix this with Radovid, but it still didn't work, it didn't truly affect the narrative since the most important part of Radovid's character is that he becomes the king and, so far, that has nothing to do with Jaskier. Dandelion is just there to look pretty and occasionally get saved by Gerald, which I find particularly funny during the action scenes where he just disappears or runs around with nothing to do. The sad part is, Jaskier is a bard. A man known for the art of speech and song and playing with people's emotions. He would be perfect for a political piece, which seems to be what the show is going for, but instead, they put him in situations where he is completely pointless.

So, in the end, I didn't like season 3. I liked the first half of season 3, despite its issues like the Wild Hunt bit, but the ending was disappointing. It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the first part, so that is something I guess, but still. And I want to make it clear that I don't think this is the writer's fault. I would like to put my theory hat here for a moment and take a shot saying Netflix desperately wanted the Witcher to be game of thrones. They wanted all the politics and gritty realism and bleakness from that show, but the Witcher just isn't that, is it? I haven't played the games a lot, but from what I understand, the Witcher shines most with its side missions, the ones where you don't have the end of the world, but a person trying to survive, and love, and find happiness in a world where humans seem to be at the bottom of the food chain. The Witcher's tv show seems to completely forget about monsters until it is convenient for them to remember when, in the game, even if you are powerful, there is a chance you will struggle with what you are fighting if you don't know how to fight them. And this, this sense of survival is pretty much gone in the show. It is just politics that say nothing really with a moody superman thrown in the middle of it.

#the witcher #the witcher spoilers #the witcher critical #review #the witcher criticism

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frozen-fountain · 10 months

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Summer reading-writing-creation tag game

Tagged by @vcaudley.

describe one creative WIP project you want to work on this summer: The big one, that I'm closing in on the end of the first act of the first draft of, concerns Cloud and Tifa FFVII trying to repair both their relationship and their world after the events of the game, over-compensating for their lost youth with a lot of ill-advised sex and substance use, to decidedly mixed results. It's about doing human connection the hard way, shaking a rigidly constructed identity in favour of fluidity, and the non-linear process of peaks and troughs that is recovering from life in the world as it is. I figured the sticky, sweaty, and uncomfortable season would be more bearable if I could essentially frame it as method writing. In this one I get to delve into the day-to-day workings of the proto-anarchist village that's been the main setting of the series this fic belongs to, since previous stories were smaller in scope or contred on characters who aren't as central to its running; I'm also going to bring in some elements of the wider worldbuilding I'm excited for soon. If anyone thinks the whole thing is too rose-tinted, they won't for long.

I also like to cross shorter fics off my list between drafts of bigger ones. It gives me more space to reflect on what I've written and what it needs, and also lets me get a fix of the heady rush of finishing and posting something while plugging away at a longfic. Next on that docket, I think, is a weird thing about Shadow from FFVI. It's been well over a decade since I attempted second person POV, but some characters are crying out for it and I think his fractured headspace is one. I also want to use it to try to make something resembling sense of the train that takes you to the afterlife. Nothing too concrete for this one yet, but I tend to find my oneshots during the writing process anyway.

recommend a book: If not cultivating despair is the theme for today, then I think everyone, everyone, should read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Kimmerer and A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit. The former is the chronicle of an Anishinaabe botanist's journey in reconciling her studies with her cultural heritage surrounding the natural world and our place in it; the latter concerns the co-operation, community-building, and mutual aid that the author observes emerging in the aftermath of horrific disasters. Both are highly readable with Braiding Sweetgrass especially flowing like poetry, and if you're looking for antidotes to doomerism or inroads into reading more non-fiction, you could do a lot worse.

recommend a fic: I'll do what I usually do and recommend this series again. Not just because the author is a dear friend (though that's true), or because anyone can jump in even without prior fandom knowledge (as is that), but because it deserves so much more readership than it's gotten. If you enjoy dark fantasy, lush atmospheric prose, slow-building tragedy, and/or bittersweet and complicated bonds between bittersweet and complicated characters that drive their narrative, you'll find a lot to love here.

recommend music: Potentially my favourite album of the year so far is Katie Gately's Fawn/Brute, so here's one of the title tracks from it. She's been making gripping and unique bangers for about ten years, but for as much as I enjoyed her previous albums I found them pretty inconsistent overall; on this one, though, she really pulled it all together.

share some advice: If you feel discouraged from expressing yourself creatively due to the reception (or lack thereof) work that you poured yourself into is meeting, well, that's understandable. But I think it's really worth sitting with that disappointment and demoralisation and asking yourself; what would be enough? What would have to happen, what would need to be said to and about you, and how high would the numbers have to climb for you to feel the effort was worth it?

That's not an easy question to answer, at least in my experience. And while it's of course natural that we want these pieces of ourselves to resonate somewhere, it's too easy to get caught up in the numbers and the ratios and the need for some impossible concrete proof that we haven't failed. And when that starts to obscure our pride in our work and the connections we have made through it, that's tragic. It's an impossible standard to hold your beloved work to, that it'll fix what's missing in your life that's got you feeling so down on it. And I'm speaking about myself here - and to myself - and would not want to assume this is universal. But it's something to think about.

Stop looking for reasons to discredit yourself, basically. God knows this capitalist hellworld will give you enough of them simply by merit of having to exist in it.

Almost forgot! I nominate @bowiesinspace, @ourspecial, @keioschaos, @hrh-spinach, @visualheresy, and @danceswithdarkspawn if you're so inclined!

#froze fics #froze tunes

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sitp-recs · 2 years

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Hidden Gems by scoradh

Scoradh is another personal fave that I don’t see being recced as much as she should, or at all. Which is a shame because her HP fics are absolutely brilliant! Most of her works were written back in 2005-2008 and updated later on AO3 so maybe that’s why they’re all hidden gems? You should all go check her LJ page too, which is where I found out she’s in her 30s now, and that knowledge left me shooketh. How is that even possible?! Guess some people are born genius like that 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m listing below some works that may have fallen off the radar, Drarry and rare pairs at your heart’s content. Tbh I haven’t read some of those more than twice because this author has a penchant for MCD 💀 I don’t go there anymore but those fics still left a big impression on me not only in terms of world building and narrative but also in terms of clever dialogue and characterization, chef’s kiss content.

Rachel’s writing is unique, charming and full of wit; it builds the mood effortlessly and allows the characters to come alive and work their way inside your heart with their banter, their pining, that sexy angst and those emotional endings. I love her perception of Harry and Draco as two quirky, vulnerable, edgy and complex creatures. This is the kind of author that gets me willing to try pretty much everything they decide to write no matter the ship or trope. Mind the tags and feast on these treats!

Drarry

Clear As Mud (2005, M, 10k) - brilliant fwb, pining & jealousy, miscommunication, mentions to infidelity (Hinny). One of my favourite Dracos ever!

Set post-war and post-Harry's-conscience...Read my rec here.

Open Season (2005, M, 10k) - hilarious one shot, 8th year get together, meddling friends

Disaster lies in wait for the unsuspecting. Harry encounters a series of confusing events which lead him to one person: Draco Malfoy. Unfortunately, Draco is as befuddled as he is ... featuring a cast of thousands who are all in the know, and two boys who most emphatically are not.

Snakes and Ladders (2005, M, 20k) - Professor Draco, dad Harry, enemies to friends to lovers, slow burn. Cw: Cho bashing, misogyny

Sixteen years after he last clapped eyes on the Boy Who Lived To Be A Thorn In Draco Malfoy's Side, Draco is filling Snape's old shoes with aplomb. History, though, has a nasty habit of repeating itself. Draco has his comfortable existance turned topsy-turvy with the appearance at Hogwarts of Harry's son, who turns out to be able disrupt Draco's life with as much competency as his father.

Drawing Down The Moon (2006, E, 20k) - another fave with disaster Draco and pining Harry giving him some love advice, fake relationship, found family, all the good stuff. Cw: major character death

After breaking up with Blaise, a drunken Draco begs Harry Potter for help in winning him back. In a fit of misguided philanthropy (plus one or two ulterior motives) Harry agrees. In the midst of the ensuing chaos, at least one person falls in love.

DIY Messiah (2008, M, 26k) - so well written! friends to lovers slow burn, kid fic, divorced Draco, living together. Cw: infidelity (Hinny) - Ginny is awful here, you’ve been warned

Harry stopped hating Draco Malfoy on Bring Your Kids to Work Day.

Interview With The Hero (2006, E, 71k) - Draco in Egypt and Spain, identity porn, a thrilling mystery and great OCs! This fic is a fantastic journey. Cw: domestic abuse, prostitution, major character death, ambiguous ending

At the age of twenty-five, Draco is confronted with the past he'd rather not remember and the questions that still need answering. Still, a little Slytherin guile goes a long way. The only problem is that he might discover more than he bargained on about the people he thought he knew.

Rare pairs

Of The Race That Knows Joseph (2006, E, 8.4k) - excellent Remus/Regulus with enemies to lovers, getting back together, non-linear narrative, background Remus/Tonks

When dead men walk and badgers give you sarcastic looks, it's time to re-evaluate what it means to be a werewolf.

Like Candy From A Baby (2006, E, 13k) - sweet and funny Harry/Ron with friends to lovers, pining and sexy Ron on a mission to seduce oblivious Harry!

Ron seduces Harry.

May Contain Nuts (2006, E, 32k) - brilliant, hilarious, chaotic post-war Harry/George, a must read. cw: major character death

After Voldemort is defeated, the script for Harry's life comes to an end. Unsure of what to do with his life, he does nothing. Only one person is on hand to show Harry that a hero is not the sum of his vanquished enemies, but he's got problems of his own.

The Road Less Travelled (2007, M, 55k) - a very sweet and refreshing Scorbus journey (written before CC)

The adventures of Albus Severus Potter and his best friends, Scorpius Malfoy and Rambo Dursley, as they face down bullies, make friends and in passing learn some magic at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

#hidden gems #day 28

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fandom-hoarder · 1 year

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[Really simple phone edit by me; made using Home of the Nutty screencaps]

Fic Title: [and] turn this up on the radio

Fic Summary: A somewhat non-linear telling of Sam’s journey back to Dean in Heaven, and the buoys along the way; inspired by my ficlet “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Chapter 4: Sam, pt. 3

@j3bingo Square: picture prompt of single layer!Dean in a grey t-shirt, looking into the Impala’s opened hood, holding a shop rag and a disposable coffee cup – I’ve taken creative license and decided the cup can be a beer instead.

Warning: Chose Not To Warn

Rating: Explicit

Pairing: Wincest (SamDean)

Chapter Length: 4k

Chapter Warnings: incest, established relationship, canon-typical crime and violence, grieving, fluff and angst, slow dancing, mpreg, explicit sexual content [see ao3 post for full fic warnings]

Summary: Sam isn’t sure now why he’d thought Heaven would be perfect – why he thought all the wounds in his soul would magically disappear and leave him in Paradise.

#j3bingo #wincest #wincest fanfiction #my fanfiction #carry on fic #sam and dean in heaven

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formula-fun · 9 months

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Hi, love! ♥️ Just wanted to let you know that after each update of your fic, I need a couple of days to recover and stop non-stop thinking about it. 😂 (You’re THAT good of a writer 🤷🏻‍♀️😭❣️) As always, incredible work, I love how you choose not to rush things and do justice to your characters by giving them time to grow. Though, I’d REALLY love them to have a baby by the end of the series, I can see your point of not trying to “force” a baby into their lives for the time being. With that being said, please, take your time (as if you need me to give you a permission for that) and do what feels natural and right. I’ll be over here impatiently waiting to read ANY POTENTIAL chapter 3, 4, 5, 6 … of the series (🥹🙏🏻🤞🏻) as well as ANY of your work. Have a beautiful day/night. LOVEEEEE ♥️

P.S. For the future, I think, I’d love to see the possible/potential chapter 3 of the series cover their journey to pregnancy/parenthood and will be fairer to Charles, his condition, gender and first pregnancy. Again, absolutley NO pressure, just a mere idea. 🤞🏻❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

Hiii thank you so much!! You’re so sweet 💛💛 It’s been so fun to write something kinda heavy and slow like this, and I really love knowing people like reading it and digesting it slowly too!! So glad you’re liking it 💛 I’m gonna answer the rest under the cut in case it’s spoilers that people don’t want!

I know a lot of people want them to have a baby really soon and I definitely thought about it, but ultimately it’s not something I really think is possible in this fic. this has always been a fic about them having a miscarriage and dealing with how it’s pushed them together or apart. The core of it to me has always been about how that’s a catalyst for them exploring themselves and their own relationship, and the ultimate conclusion of a story that explores those things is them finding resolution with themselves and each other, not just an answer to whether or not they can have a baby. They’re only just figuring out how to love each other and do their jobs while also acknowledging their own needs, and to throw a baby in at the very end that would put their careers on hold and completely change the dynamic of a household they haven’t even really built yet just didn’t feel right to them or to their kid. So idk if you’ll see that in chapter 6, sorry for the spoiler! I promise they’ll have more than enough on their hands without a baby on top of it

Also, the pregnancy was kinda one in a million already, and Charles hasn’t even been to the doctor yet to make sure he’s okay. Max doesn’t even know if he wants to retire or if he was just using Charles’ pregnancy as a reason to put his career on hold. They have a lot to figure out so it might not be possible for them, at least not right now!! And do they even want it rn? Who knows. They certainly do not fjgjfhdhfh like they haven’t even had The Talk yet. Are they even together???? They don’t know they love each other. They have some things to talk about before they have a child

BUT! If it makes you feel better in my head there is a universe where they never have kids and adopt once they’re 40, and there’s a universe where they have three kids. Life is easier for them in the universe where they adopt, but in both they’re ultimately happy. Idk if I’ll ever write either since this fic consumed my life already but I do have a vague outline of what would happen if Charles were to get pregnant again. It’s about as intense emotionally as this was, and a lot more complicated. Raising kids is hard, especially when one parent is always on the road. But idk!!! If I end up writing it it’ll probably be less linear than this and more of a series of vignettes or something

Thank you so much, I appreciate your patience so much and just am genuinely so happy to get comments like this 💛💛💛💛 love love love hearing from people about my silly little fic!!! you’re so so kind and I hope you’re doing well! Xoxoxoxoxo

#writing tag

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