#that story gives me SO MUCH grief but i truly adore the characters with my whole heart. kon/yulei/nara are my oldest blorbos

[muddshadow]

find the word tag

my procrastination has rewarded me a small legion of words to find! i guess i should probably write more to keep up! thank you dearly @pinespittinink and @aninkwellofnectar​ for these word sets <3 tagging @jess-p-edits , @theskeletonprior , @sentfromwolves , @dandelion-tea, @dramaticvoiceover , and viewers like YOU.

your words ; clear , cold , crisp , crush , carry

ROSE // at the bottom of the waterfall

Louis cringed, convinced this was a polished performance, and he really didn’t want to chat with two shopping bags crooked in his elbows. “Magi Lavonde is available through appointment only,” he tediously recited. “And she’s never interested in political solicitations, so if that’s your angle…”

“No, you misunderstand! I’ve a query for you.”

“Well, I don’t talk to strangers. Go away.”

The stranger chuckled. He removed his tall, pointed hat and swept it to his chest in a bow. Louis thought it was sarcastic until the stranger rose and gave himself a proper name and prestigious magician title.

“Fabian Daye?” Louis echoed. He narrowed his eyes. “Why does that sound familiar?”

BLUE // trystan

“The universe fucking hates me today,” I say, mostly to myself.

Magdalena still graces me with an answer. “Don’t be rude, Trystan.” She wears a yellow dress and sunhat, coiled hair a black cloud beneath it. A cigarette fits between her fingers, nails perfectly manicured and painted nighttime blue. They’re always a different color. She bores quickly. I’m hoping I can bore her out of a conversation, because I already have a horrible one planned.

Magdalena lowers her designer sunglasses and glimpses me over. “You look terrible.”

SHADOW // at the bottom of the waterfall

“Your self-pity does not taste very good.”

“That’s all I can manage at the moment.” Ysabelle contemplated letting it erode her a few minutes more, and her shoulders collapsed with a sigh.

“Attempt some dignity.” Lo’s voice prickled suddenly. “There is a guest.”

Rousing from her mope, Ysabelle studied the trees. Between the willow fronds and inside the safety of shadows, something flickered like soft candlelight. But there was nothing soft about the hidden creature.

Ysabelle held herself very still.

“Now,” she said delicately, “I know what you might be thinking…”

And instantly, the eavesdropping wisp cackled at her, shrill and utterly rude—and the willow fronds rippled as they escaped.

Bright anger turned her veins molten, and the instinct for violence came with the ease of breathing.

FADE // trystan

Chemistry set forgotten, sprawled on the couch beside me, Sebastien releases his own world-weary sigh. “Doesn’t matter if the Moon is weak or strong. They try every cycle to crown them emperor, and it never takes. Our magic belongs to us.”

“It does matter,” I say.

“When did you start giving a shit?”

“Because the Moon is a bulwark. And if they’re weak, then…” I falter. I can’t help it. “Then the Veil is strong.”

Sebastien turns his head on the couch. I see every faded freckle, the pine and hickory in his eyes, and I can’t help glimpsing the edge of his thoughts. When he asks me this time, I know what he really means. “Did something happen?”

HEARD // to forget a prince

Together, they peered over the edge. And then from behind, Kon heard shifting gravel.

“Hello! Don’t be alarmed!”

Quite alarmed, all four of them swiveled to face the forest.

A woman stood a mere few paces behind them. Built small and square, she dressed in layered grey with a sword buckled to her waist and a satchel slung across her chest, and she glowed with a lopsided grin so bizarre it momentarily removed Kon from his senses.

But only momentarily. Kon strummed an arrow from its quiver and pulled the bow from his back. As he aimed, the woman staggered back a step.

“Whoa! Let’s not make any permanent decisions…”

“Who are you?” Kon demanded.

DARK // bloodhounds

Meisha pulled her nose from her journal long after dusk collapsed into darkness, and only because her flashlight began to drain. She flicked it off for a minute, tilting her head back. Crooked, bare branches cobwebbed the sky, distant facility lights shifting through the dark, and beyond the trees and stale white glare yawned the deep indigo night. Meisha scanned for her six favorite stars.

Exactly northeast, patrolling the mountains, and crowning Mount Cynhir in the dead of winter. Meisha lifted her hands, hovering the constellation with her thumb and first finger connected to shape diamond jaws. And always, she thought of her dad.

“We called that one the Starving Beast in navigational class,” he used to tell her. “First, it’s great big bite will swallow the mountains… and then the world!” and he’d chomp Meisha with his hands until she laughed.

“It’s actually called Cyn-437,” Meisha would inform her dad again, just in case he’d forgotten. And he always pretended to.

FACE // bloodhounds

Rowan never claimed to be any sort of genius, but he was hardly ignorant to the stares he received. He liked them much better behind his back where they required no acknowledgment. The bravery of those who gawked head-on both impressed and infuriated him; a fragile balance Rowan didn’t always handle like a gentleman.

Today, Rowan needed something, and that required a mostly civilized tableside manner. Strangers like him were a spectacle, after all; tall enough to bump his forehead on door frames, burly enough to shuffle a crowd, skin sun-weathered and marred like he’d been tossed under a farming plough, and a pair of energy weapons strapped to his back. But it was always the full-faced, black-plated mask that caught the eyes. Plenty of folks wore masks for plenty of reasons, and Rowan had worn his long enough to know the faceless language. For him, speaking intimidating came easy.

CURL // to forget a prince

Drifting inside the room, Nara chose a book from the nearest stack. He leafed through pages of dryadic dinner recipes as Esyl quarried the mess. “Are you searching for anything particular?”

“Particularly interesting, maybe.”

“Stuffed inside a closet?”

“I forget things, you see,” Esyl said, tapping his forehead like it might dislodge a memory. “Where I put things, or if I ever really had them at all, and now and again it’s best to take inventory. There’s just so much stuff that comes about over the years.”

The years, at first glance, didn’t appear like much. In body and face, Esyl could generously be described as twelve years old, with doe lashes and hickory dark hair that curled along his brow. Soft-footed, slim-framed and hardly to Nara’s shoulder, no one paid Esyl much attention. He delighted in giving ramshackle advice, but spoke a language consisting entirely of cryptic metaphors and unfiltered gibberish, and he was very talented at dragging people into such conversations, filling them with tangled thoughts and vague feelings of unease.

NAILS // to forget a prince

Deya crossed his arms. “Going after the Shade is a death sentence. That’s just history.”

“Aevana survived the last time.”

“And lost both her legs and an arm, and the Shade escaped to the moors anyway.” Deya scoffed. “Come on, Rosevyn. You’re not really entertaining this?”

Leaning back in her seat, Rosevyn considered the murals above them and clacked her nails along the table. “I imagine that after all this time, Loteri is a weak vessel…” And Nara realized she was absolutely entertaining the prospect.  

Joan noticed it too. “I’m not fucking doing it,” she said.

“Not my fucking job,” Deya agreed.

GRIN // trystan

When the door lurches open, it isn’t Cherry, and it isn’t funny anymore.

“Hullo, Sebastien!”

“What the fuck are you—?”

I hear Sebastien’s nose break. It cracks through my ears just before his shout does, and he staggers backward with blood spilling down his chin and into his hand. I’m on my feet and bolting toward him. A hulking figure ducks under the door frame to meet me.

I look up. I don’t often do that.

“Hullo, Trystan!” Percy says, grinning wide and gap-toothed and with the delighted enthusiasm of encountering an old friend. Then he tries punching me too.

SNARE // to forget a prince

“Shit,” Kon said, because she looked halfway devoured. The last hungered had Yulei pinned and dangling from the cliffside. Claws snared her shoulders, teeth poised her throat, moonlight crested the spines of its barbed hide. Bowstring taut, Kon glanced between flaws in the armor, grateful her corpse made a useful enough distraction – but then Yulei shifted her feet, arched her back, and the hungered’s limp body plummeted over the edge and into the canyon.

Kon hesitated. He advanced a few tentative steps.  

Covered in flakes of bone and rotted leaves, gripping the heartroot in her fists, Yulei released a jolting laugh. Then she snagged his gaze.

“That was really close,” she told him with a grin. 

#mud writes #muddshadow #i still have so many words to find. i will spam everyone with a few this weekend <3 #my favorite out of this is probably 'dark' because i wrote it in a spree and it turned out pretty great. and i love meisha #the 'heard' and 'snare' parts are set close together too it's when kon squad meets yuleui for the first time hehe #that story gives me SO MUCH grief but i truly adore the characters with my whole heart. kon/yulei/nara are my oldest blorbos #anyway thanks to anyone who reads <3 #wip. to forget a prince #wip. bloodhounds #wip. waterfall #wip. trystan #writeblr tag games #find the word tag

[shannankle]

My Top Shows 2023

Doing this at the last minute but here goes--the top 10 shows I watched in 2023!

*Note: I rate my shows on a letter scale cause I don't like narrowing it down to a specific number. (S-standout As-Strong Bs-Fine Cs-There's some problems Ds-ooof)

1. Oh No! Here Comes Trouble

This one instantly became an all time favorite. It covers themes about grief and loss in a deeply empathetic and humanizing way along side the supernatural elements. I don't know if it's because I've experienced loss myself or because it's a universal experience, but I love shows like this that help you understand what it means to grieve and heal in a familiar yet new light. It reminded me a lot of Natsume Yuujinchou (another favorite) in that respect.

Aside from the larger themes, you have a distinct directing style, quirky sense of humor, well-rounded cast of characters, and excellent acting (the lead actor was also in Your Name Engraved Herein and he's just as standout here). In addition to all that, the show gives us a main trio of characters whose strengths are deliberately not their wits. This is used for humor but also to make more meaningful points about connection, empathy, and different ways of thinking (yes, I headcanon the main trio as neurodivergent).

Rating: S+

2. The Eighth Sense

This show! Another piece that is deeply rooted in exploring trauma and loss. This time within the framework of a romance. I'm usually pretty hesitant with stories that bring disability into romance, especially mental illness. There's a tendency to lean into the idea that love cures all and other not so great tropes. The Eighth Sense does a great job balancing that line, giving us romantic beats without wading into them uncritically. In the end, healing and love are things we choose not something guaranteed, but there's still an immense hope in that. I'm an giant sucker for shows that tackle both queer and crip experiences with nuance and grace, and the Eighth Sense hit that mark for me (so much so it even had me writing a little meta). On top of that it has beautiful cinematography and visual choices.

Rating: S

3. Moonlight Chicken

A beautiful show all around! P'Aof constantly knocks it out of the park with every show he directs, but I felt particularly strong about Moonlight Chicken. I adore the way it centers on themes of home and community. It even inspired some meta and a bit of personal reflection for me on what it means to choose home as someone who is queer and disabled. The show gives us the messiness that comes with navigating new and old relationships and somehow also the simplicity of it all. And of course, the show includes a Deaf character and handles his story with nuance and clear care.

Rating: S

4. Shadow

Singto, Fluke, and Fiat in a queer horror show--sign me up! It wasn't as scary as I expected, more psychological (which is good because I am so picky about what types of horror are too much for me vs what I enjoy). I loved the way the show played with time and reality and drew upon various religious practices to create a unique atmosphere. I also adored the attention to small details that make the piece ripe for analysis. I will probably be eyeing clocks and tech in many shows to come. It's also a show that is bringing up themes about queerness, mental illness, domestic violence, and historical trauma. I'm continually drawn to pieces that are queer and crip, so I suppose it's no surprise that this one drew me in too.

I know this show was divisive, about as many people thought it stuck the landing as didn't. I happen to land in the former category. I adore media that makes me stop and think, and given the amount of meta the show had/has me writing, I'd say it well and truly tickled my brain. The show didn't always go where I most wanted or expected but I think that challenged me even more to really think about what the show might be trying to do (my thoughts on that here, spoilers though).

Rating: S

5. Our Dining Table

Japan does a lot of things well, but I'm particularly fond of their slice-of-life. Our Dining Table fits right in there with food and found family at the center. It's warm and cute, but has a depth beyond it's soft exterior, delving into loss, loneliness, and what it means to be fully seen by those around us. All of this tied up in a queer bow. It was easily the show I was most excited to watch each week when it was airing.

Rating: S

6. Mysterious Lotus Casebook

Another one I fell in love with this year! While it has plenty of tropes, cutting through the core of all of this is the growing friendship between the main trio, especially between Li Lian Hua and Fang Duo Bing. Their relationship and personal growth as characters was really beautiful to watch, on top of it just being a fun show with a great balance of humor and drama. Plus Fang Duo Bing's mom 😍

Rating: S

7. One Room Angel

Another solid entry out of Japan. As much as I love Japan's bright slice-of-life offerings like Our Dining Table, they also excel at stories that don't shy away from heavy or complex emotional themes. And I'm noticing as I tackle this post that I really resonate with heavy themes. One Room Angel has it's lighter moments and own quirky humor. But it also tackles depression and suicide as it explores the journey of finding enough connection and meaning in life to keep moving forward.

Rating: S

8. I Feel You Linger in the Air

I Feel You Linger in the Air was such a beautiful show! I'm so happy we got a historical thai bl this year and that it was so so lovely. I really liked last year's To Sir With Love but it does have it's Lakorn/soap style that is a bit more of an obstacle for me. IFYLITA certainly has it's drama, but it feels more tightly drawn. Throw in a little time travel and beautiful love scenes and it was a delight to watch.

Rating: S

9. My Beautiful Man S2, Eternal

When I watched the first season of My Beautiful Man I liked it but wasn't exactly sold. I read a bit of meta from the community which changed my tune a bit. But it wasn't until watching season 2 and Eternal that something really clicked. I immediately went back and watched season 1 after finishing the film and oh boy did I fall in love. Not only do S2 and Eternal give us great character growth and forward motion to Hira and Kiyoi's relationship, and they feel like a natural expansion of the first season in the best way possible. What can I say, I love the whole series!

Rating: A+

10. Kiseki: Dear to Me

Kiseki: Dear to Me feels like an outlier to me. It's hard for me to put my finger on just what made it click for me, but I was so into it when it was airing. I recognize that plot wise this show is a bit of a mess, but at the same time it hit something just right in my brain. Perhaps it was the emotional intimacy the actors portrayed? They did a fantastic job drawing me in. Apart from that I couldn't take my eyes off of Ai Di's impeccable fashion choices, and the many many cameos were quite fun.

Rating: A+ YMMV

A few close contenders:

My School President (S) *split airing 22' and 23'

Tokyo in April Is... (A+)

Laws of Attraction (A)

Bed Friend (A)

The End of the World with You (A)

Me, My Husband, and My Husband's Boyfriend (A)

If it's with You (A)

Our Dating Sim (A)

Love Tractor (A)

The Warp Effect (A) *split airing 22' and 23'

The New Employee (A) *split airing 22' and 23'

La Pluie (A-)

Midnight Museum (A-)

#i completely flaked on doing one for 22 #but this year I made it just in time #80% of these are queer pieces #my top shows #my top shows 23 #my posts #bl series #oh no! here comes trouble #the eighth sense #moonlight chicken #shadow the series #our dining table #mysterious lotus casebook #one room angel #i feel you linger in the air #my beautiful man #utsukushii kare #my beautiful man 2 #my beautiful man eternal #kiseki dear to me

[snow-and-saltea]

something about titles for stories that sound utterly generic but it ends up being a masterpiece you binge read for two days straight. i love it so much. go read "my in laws are obsessed with me" on webtoon

rambling under the cut; some spoilers but nonspecific and vague

i fkn love so much the show not tell element in this story, it never feels like i'm being spoonfed information by having five speech bubbles in one panel. characters rarely say what they truly think or feel, atmosphere and mood are set solely by composition and art, some of the most heartbreaking and scared ive felt reading this manhwa had NO speech bubbles at all and there was no fancy effects or sfx you'd normally see in comics. the world goes on normally while you see a character in pain, full body wailing with grief at the ache of heartbreak. i teared up and i didnt even know what her voice sounded like, i didnt know what thoughts were going through her mind or the overwhelming bodily sensation of emotional pain that must've wrecked her. the build up of seeing an adaptable, grounded and sometimes cute and awkward person you've gotten to know over 50 ish chapters, only to then see her doubling over in pain and screaming, soundlessly to my ears. one of the most visceral experiences ive had recently.

i don't even care if i sound like im being biased or gassing this manhwa up btw Who Give A Shit bc not me!! i will talk about the things i like about bc i like them!

i love the mc / fl most of all because of how she's such... a neat vessel to the world. not spoiling it about her backstory and disposition and such, but the way she, on paper, sort of fits into that niche of people who don't know how much they matter to people around them. usually in regression / revenge stories with an insecure low self esteem FL, they start out really defensive, angsty / edgy, and then mellow out as they receive love. but our FL is reasonable, even-tempered and logical - that her emotional "insecurity" in regards to being tethered to people around her is mostly rooted in her own "seeing is believing" mentality and understanding, somewhat sympathetically, why people wouldn't / don't like her, and she doesn't really take it to heart.

what's funny is that even when people are subtly showing adoration and love for her, she doesn't know how to take it to heart, and she gets uncomfortable and awkward about it. not in a usually fluffy "this is so moving that i cant respond sensibly" way, the way most loved FLs usually pass by as a marker to Growth, but because it puts her in an awkward situation and she doesn't know what to do about it. she gets a little embarrassed but doesn't overreact, because she probably doesn't realise the depth of their affection and doesn't attribute it to herself directly, but rather by other people's kindness. multiple times she's been surprised at when someone (who didn't before but has now warmed up to her) responds kindly to her inquiries, and while i understand her surprise, it's still funny and a little sad to me that she was prepared to take it in stride if people STILL didn't like her after all the ways she's benefitted them.

in other words pereshati you're my queen and i love you. literally who would not love her. her ease and understanding at being distrusted makes her ironically easier to trust because she doesn't hold anything against you and understand that you need to form your own judgement, even if it doesn't turn out well for her. literally who is doing it like her. queen

#yuu rambles #yuu reads #ougjfhdhfjdhfhfjfj I LOVE THIS MANHWA A LOT. SOMEONE READ IT WITH ME #my in laws are obsessed with me #initially got reading it being like oh wow cheesy ass title but i see it get recommended all the time #and now im like. im so sorry i ever doubted you girl. this is one of the best manhwas ive read this year #granted its only like march but still #SOMEONE TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS MANHWA PLEASE

[morkofday]

My TOP 5 Vice Versa Episodes ↳ as a goodbye and for @stormyoceans ♥

"Though we aren't together tomorrow, you're always here in my memories." – we will meet again on the other side ♥

@asiandramanet event 01 – get to know the members ↳ the drama that shaped me

i'm not sure if i will ever be able to truly say goodbye to vice versa bc it is part of me, part of my heart and soul, but this felt fitting. this is a moment of change as we move on to a new era this week. puentalay's story is over, the other characters have found their ends, too. it's time to focus on other things, on other stories.

i wish them all only happiness, as much as they've given that happiness to me ♥

and then briefly about these episodes:

i. fire yellow – missing forever my favourite episode in this show. it has been that ever since i first watched it and it remains up there, a perfect combination of joy and grief. i love the story arch this episode puts in motion and i love the things it somehow brings to an end. it feels perfect, full. i want to take it inside my palms and hold gently.

ii. real red – home the most heartbreaking episode in this whole show, fitting to be the dreaded episode 11, but also so brilliant no other can compare. i am never, never moving on from parts 1 or 4 as i've never getting a separation this painful, or a reunion this fulfilling. we are all home here.

iii. multi color – our ways to love i wanted to include our skyy 2 into this bc it's part of their story. those two episodes showed me sides of love i never thought i'd yearned to see on screen like this. puentalay in those two episodes are the epitome of comfort, and this second episode especially manages to bring me to tears every time with how well they just work together. i have no doubts they will last until the end of time.

iv. deep magenta – giving hope one of the prettiest episodes in this drama. i truly adore the way the glasshouse café gets introduced to us and i never tire of watching puen fall in love there. i love the wedding. i love all the flirting. i love the drama. it's an episode full of hopes and naming those.

v. midnight black – i know you i debated for a long time if my number 5 would be this or episode 10 pink. i love the goodbyes and the thought of dedicating a whole episode to those. but i think i love this episode more. i love following talay on his journey to understanding other people better. i love his conversations both with kita and pang. he might have his own views but he's very open to changing them. and gosh, there's no better romance than the bucket hat scene at the end ♥

#asiandramanet #asianlgbtqdramas #vice versa #vice versa the series #thai drama #viceversaedit #puentalay #jimmy jitaraphol #sea tawinan #countaspieceofme #userjjessi #tonanons #mjtag #lextag #uservid #usertoptaps #usertaeminie #userconcrete #tuserspicy #tuserchlo #lightmiup #ninisdarlings #becauseigtf #nothing will ever replace them #but i want to give my time for lt now #(and if i come back with another vv edit #a week later then u saw nothing)

[wildstreak]

My thoughts on Skybound's Transformers!

Includes Issue #1 SPOILERS

So, I finally got around to reading the new Skybound Transformers comic, and I must say I quite like it so far! (The post is long but there are snapshots!)

The depictions of the relationship between characters had me devouring Issue #1 with wide eyes and gasps; I love that it is extremely evident that there is history between the characters.

That Skyfire and Starscream are the first duo featured speaks VOLUMES. Instantly, there is friction/conflict and tension. From the first moment, there is their trademark tragedy written into their stories. What a treat for SkyStar shippers!! >:)

As for Optimus and Bumblebee, I found the moment when Optimus sees Bumblebee's mangled corpse particularly impactful and absolutely love its portrayal. The parallel that it shares with the beginning was an appropriate way to evoke a readers' sympathy. In the panels around this, Spike's expressions also greatly reflect the sorrow that can be felt in the moment; even a bystander can feel Optimus' grief and understand him, making Optimus all the more human. Not to mention Optimus' portrayal—his optics, his posture, the way he hunches over Bumblebee and holds him; the care and the grief, it's written and drawn all over this. I love its masterful portrayal. On a less profound note, it's hilarious that the first one to die is a fan-favourite 💀 Spiteful!

And then there is Soundwave and Ravage. Soundwave definitely cares for Ravage, and who am I but a sucker for a close relationship between carrier and cassettes.

And the trine was so close to completion! Maybe Starscream is agonising over the loss of an asset, but I think there's something more affectionate to it than that.

That being said, Starscream is such a wicked bastard in this one and I love that for him. It serves as a good reminder to Decepticon sympathisers how much of a cunt he truly is.

On another note, the comic starts off with strong sympathetic human characters. This is something that I greatly appreciate because humans, for so much of the franchise seem so redundant with the exception of a few rare gems (ROTB, for instance) so having a good impression of the humans right off the bat is leaves quite a good impression.

Spike and Carly both have dreams yet struggle to achieve them which gives readers a good starting point to start rooting for them.

The fact that we see them passing the night by stargazing also sets a calm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere for them which helps readers warm up to them better, as coontrasted to IDW with an angsty thief for a character 💀 (I really didn't like her, but I also didn't give her much of a chance to develop as a character.)

I also like how they reacted in the crisis of getting caught in the crossfire between the Cybertronians. They reacted sensibly by first considering escape but being humans, their curiosity overcomes them in an understandable manner. When the violence begins, they stay out of sight, panicking but not overreacting. This makes them infintely more relatable and likeable. And I love that Spike got himself involved by pushing the gun towards Optimus! That was rather sweet of him. (Also, I thought the gun was Megatron for a whole second before my brain caught up to the context and went 'Wait, that can't be right, right?' but there's a lot of potential in all the ways that can go)

Alsoe, I adore the design on Carly's van! <3

In general, I love the art in this.

Especially the unglams.

I had a blast and it's only Issue #1! I can't wait to see how deep a hole I dig for myself in the following issues. Hopefully, I can organise my thoughts in a more coherent manner next time; I simply didn't expect to be this impressed by the Energon Universe.

If you've made it this far, wow, thank you for reading! Please feel free to come talk to me about anything Transformers (your blorbos, your thoughts and takes, anything!) in my asks or message me directly. No spoilers for future issues please!!

#transformers #maccadam #skybound #energon universe #optimus prime #bumblebee #soundwave #ravage #skywarp #starscream #skyfire #spike #carly #tf eu spoilers #wildstreak words

[bookaddict24-7]

REVIEWS OF THE WEEK!

EVERY WEEK I WILL POST VARIOUS REVIEWS I’VE WRITTEN SO FAR IN 2024. YOU CAN CHECK OUT MY GOODREADS FOR MORE UP-TO-DATE REVIEWS HERE.

___

76. Legacy by Nora Roberts--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There's truly something magical about reading a Nora Roberts novel--they're fun, sometimes simple, and a great way to pass the time. I'm starting to notice the formula to her romantic suspense novels, but you know what? I will devour them every time.

LEGACY was a good read with some sweet characters and a really creepy serial killer stalking women and hunting them. This is one thing I think Roberts is a little too good at--creating those creepy evil people stalking and threatening to kill the MC.

I loved the dogs in this and how everything came together at the end. I'm glad I was able to give this one a shot!

Will hopefully read more of her books in March!

___

77. Love Me Today by A.L. Jackson--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I started LOVE ME TODAY because I have found myself craving more romantic suspense and this one fed that craving pretty well. It had the romance, the smut, the mysterious murderer haunting one of the MCs, and the incredibly adorable kid. Also, the single parent trope? Yes, please.

LOVE ME TODAY wasn't anything mind blowing, but it was such a satisfying read. The FMC was someone who wore her heart on her sleeve and was so pure (not in a gross way, just in a "I will love you no matter what" way), that her personality on the page felt very wholesome. She was a great foil for the MMC, who was the epitome of dark, broody, and jaded.

While I did enjoy their romance and their interactions with the tiny human, I thought the nickname the MMC had for the FMC could have been...better, or at least not repeated as much LOL. The spicy scenes were sometimes cringe because of the repetitive use of the nickname.

Really, really enjoyed the murderer reveal. Also, now I want to read the next one in the series because it's another trope I love.

___

78. Villain and the Geek by L.C. Davis--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

That ending and the fact that the next one doesn't have a release date yet? Ahhhhh!

These are short, emotional, smutty, and addicting books. I devoured the first series near the end of the year last year and was thrilled to see that this one was coming out so soon after I finished book 1 in the sequel series. I want more! I want to get some answers and I want to see Constantine spoil the hell out of Devon because he deserves that.

I'm not going to lie, I love the whole emotional aspect of this book. It's like a punch to the heart to see how Constantine treats Devon, knowing it's going to bite him in the ass.

I need more and I'm sad the next book is supposedly the final instalment in their story.

___

79. The Book of Doors by Gareth Brown--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

I don't know what I was expecting from THE BOOK OF DOORS, but it wasn't the twisty way everything connected. Or the way the characters were written and grew so much with the story. Brown absolutely killed it with this book and I definitely want to keep an eye out for his next books now.

THE BOOK OF DOORS is a book about magic, yes, but also about love, family, friendships, and grief--the power of letting go and how sometimes, even if we have the power to change things, it's sometimes best to leave things as they are because of their impact on us. Brown's book had so much more depth than I was expecting and I'm here still recovering from it all.

The amount of times I was left with my mouth open because of a revelation, or a turn in the storyline? Phew.

I highly recommend this one, even if the friend of the FMC was annoying LOL. She grew, too, as a character, but man I wanted to slap some sense into her LOL.

Definitely add this to your TBR! You may or may not want to cry a couple of times, too.

___

80. Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

FANGIRL DOWN is the first book I've read by Tessa Bailey in a long time and I have to say, I'm both surprised and impressed! I think this is going to be the perfect summer read for anyone looking for a light, quick, and sexy summer read.

The dynamic between the two characters worked fantastically and their communication level was *chef's kiss*. I also appreciated the inclusion of a main character with diabetes. Although I don't have diabetes myself, it was great seeing that representation in a romance novel.

The FMC was a badass, even if she was sometimes stubborn to the point of it being a bit frustrating. I loved how she handled the people around her in her new famous role. I extra loved that any simple issues surrounding that world didn't become any main issues in the book. I liked that Bailey focused on the couple and their growths as people.

I know nothing about golf, so it was interesting reading about a romance that featured it--it was strangely refreshing that it wasn't another hockey, or football romance.

I do recommend this one, if not for the great characters, then for the smutty good times.

___

81. Dead in the Family by Charlaine Harris--⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'll admit that it took me a bit to get back into this universe with DEAD IN THE FAMILY. I think because a lot seemingly happened between the last book and this one. I'm sure there are short stories and novellas, but I didn't read them so jumping into this one was like jumping into a deep end I didn't even know was there.

But when I finally DID get back into this, I actually found myself really enjoying it. Sookie is growing super jaded as she gets older and I'm actually enjoying that because it's more realistic. There's a scene where a character comments that the Sookie from a year ago would drink something without a second thought and now she's all worried. I like this because Sookie has seem some Shit.

I also really liked this one because it dealt a lot with grief and familial connections. ALTHOUGH, this is also creepy af with some of the themes and one new character. That made me incredibly uncomfortable.

___

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

___

Happy reading!

#Review #Reviews #reviews of the week #booklr #books and reading #books #read #reading #bookish #features #bookworm #bookaholic #book blogger #book blog #book tumblr #readers #reader #readers of tumblr #my writing #my opinions #book list #long text post #books books books

[cataclysmicevie]

I just wanted to thank you, for your fics, but mostly for ‘no paths are bound’ and ‘the soul remains’. I adored heaven’s official blessing with all my heart but- the way that the story between HX, SW, and SQX sat… badly, in my heart, in many ways. i understood that the story was saying but it honestly kind of evoked this strange hopelessness in me after reading it all.

but- the story and arcs you’ve given those three ( + pei ming) in these two fics meant the honest world to me. SW and SQX are honestly amongst my favorite characters- ever, in so many ways, but you expanded on them and made them so much- deeper and more nuanced than I could’ve imagined. The way you had SW truly- own what he did and why- but refuse to regret it bc it was to save someone so dear to him- SQX’s complicated feelings with it, holding SW responsible for his failings- but also holding HX to his, and themselves to theirs, and loving all three, the two men who were so flawed but loved them so deeply- and loving themselves, despite their own failings and working to better themselves. all of them trying to grow and be better. paying respect to HX’s grief, but calling him out for the ways that he was SW’s mirror- and in some ways worse after, but then still giving all three so much grace and understanding- and then giving all three ( + pei ming, love u buddy) a path and story that truly felt HEALING and deep, that resonated so, so deeply.

i don’t know. it just… i don’t feel hopeless when i think about those characters anymore, and that means a lot to me. thank you.

(also your portrayals of just.. EVERYONE are so deep, and nuanced, and absolutely gorgeous. i have no words. I will always love the original canon- but your writings in a lot of ways, have just- stolen my heart even more, and held it captive. and i’m so glad that i found them)

i hope you’re having a wonderful (insert time period of day/night here). I hope the world is being kind to you.

Thank you so much! I love that you love what I did with those characters because, well....I always feel like people get annoyed for the stretches my stories often go without focusing on hualian, haha.

But for me, I have always loved examining different kinds of relationships in my writing, and very rarely is the central focus always going to be the romantic ones. Because, for me, romance has never been the most important part of my life. For me, that has always been family members and friends that I've had since I was a kid. So, focusing on that in my writing has always felt a lot more genuine and sincere for me--because while I love the all consuming romantic love that you often see with ships like Hualian, I've never actually experienced that myself. Often, when I'm portraying that, the writing feels aspirational--like, "if I'm ever lucky enough to love someone this hard, I hope this is what it feels like." But when I'm writing the relationships and the motivations that can be found in the Blackwater arc--it all comes from a far more sincere place. There's a general treatment of Shi Wudu's character by the general audience that, while I understand it, I've always found to be the least interesting approach. Yes, what he did to He Xuan was selfish and ultimately cruel--but his intentions weren't. And when you read the text for what it actually is, the situation is a lot more complex than I think a lot of people want it to be. Shi Wudu is selfish, cunning, and he often places what he imagines is best for Shi Qingxuan over what Shi Qingxuan actually wants--but that's a very human thing to do.

That was the thought process behind one of the lines I repeated pretty often in No Paths Are Bound, "there is no such thing as monsters, only humans who make monstrous choices."

Shi Wudu to me, while he was arrogant, selfish, and controlling, was also a deeply human character. I am closer to my sister than anyone else in the world, and if I was in the exact same situation--I can't say that it wouldn't eat me alive--but yes, I probably would sacrifice someone else if it meant saving her. I don't think that makes me an evil person. A flawed one, yes, but part of being human is loving each other so much, that fear of losing one another can reveal cracks in the morals we wish we could stick to.

And by that logic, I can also understand He Xuan's choices. Because like him, I love my family fiercely--but I also know that I'm a person with a tendency to need things to be fair. I can't move on easily from an injustice, not if I feel like the person who wronged me or the people I loved is just getting away with it. If an eye for an eye wasn't in human nature, we wouldn't see it repeated so often.

That creates this beautiful situation--and I think MXTX is so wonderful and ultimately vexing for making such a gripping story a side plot--where everyone is understandable, even as they do horrible things that ultimately hurt one another. And I've never found the most interesting and / or satisfying take on the Blackwater Arc to be one where there's a singular villain (usually Shi Wudu), and everything would be fixed if you just got him out of the way. The truth of the Blackwater Arc is that it examines the complicated lines between family and friendship, loyalty and deception, and how vengeful justice can be just as monstrous as the crime it avenges. I also like the pairing of He Xuan and Shi Wudu for that reason--not necessarily because I think it's a healthy ship, it's absolutely not--but because the two characters are such direct foils of one another, and because if you're going to make that relationship work, it forces you to tell a story about taking accountability as well as a deep capacity for forgiveness. And I think those are the most interesting stories to tell.

#mxtx #tgcf #he xuan #shi wudu #shuangshui

[well-dressedwords]

My Picks: Top Dramas of 2023

This is really for me to refer back to when people ask me what to watch. In no particular order or category:

Meet Yourself - having leads that were already well-established in their adult lives and careers was sooo refreshing. And though my heart got utterly torn out in episode one, I was completely invested in seeing Xu Hongdou's journey through grief and back into truly living.

The Blood of Youth - I can't recall why I gave this a chance, but I am extremely glad I did. I possibly watched the whole thing 3 times from forcing friends to sit down with me, and I appreciate the humor and characters even more on re-watches. The only romance I remotely cared about was the tragic one, but that was okay because romance was not the point of the main plot.

The Trust - I had actually watched the animated version of this story, which is maybe the 2nd I watched all the way through, and I loved the live action as well. The lead actors did a good job playing each other, and the humor was a nice relief during a hard time of the year for me.

A Familiar Stranger - I think I finally am okay with short dramas because this one was so well done. I adored their relationship, and even despite how terrible the secondary couple could be, wished for them to have a happy ending (in another life). I considered watching My Journey to You for Cheng Lei alone after this performance, but just couldn't get through it.

The Scent of Time - I know "popular" opinion is that the ending ruins it, but as a writer, I can accept the different possible endings - the novel's version where she gets her peace and someone to be her loyal companion, as well as the dream ending where she will have to work again to make a life for herself with the prince. I will eventually make a post on my thoughts about it. But it made me fall deeper for Zhou Ye and excited to see other dramas with Wang Xingyue...

Story of Kunning Palace - I love Bai Lu. I haven't watched all of her dramas, but there's something about her that I really enjoy in the right story. I liked that Xuening was still flawed and so was Xie Wei, and yet this time all of her harem get (relatively) happy endings. I was also surprised by Liu Xiening's performance as the princess. In some respects she had more chemistry with Xuening than either Zhang Zhe or Xie Wei. Wang Xingyue, did you intentionally do two projects with this premise on purpose?? [Also, those aggressive kisses?!?! Zhang Linghe, I didn't know you had it in you.]

A Journey to Love - I haven't finished it as I only watch a few episodes per day, and I did spoil myself on the ending. I can accept it because there has been so much foreshadowing. I'm here for the mature relationship, the humor, the friendships, the princess (my god, the PRINCESS!) and to be baffled by people disliking Liu Yuning.

Honorable Mentions:

The Starry Love - I need to go back and watch the episodes I fast forwarded through... I was more invested in the older sister's love story initially. Nevertheless, this is one I will rewatch.

The Love You Give Me - not at the very top because the plot feels overused and there were too many plotholes for my writer's brain. But I love their chemistry and Quanquan was worth sticking it out for.

Provoke - After enjoying A Familiar Stranger I had to give this one a shot. There were so many scenes that really captured my imagination. The leads carried their roles so well. It's my first Republican Era show and I suddenly get the appeal. Also, I love Du Jingchuan as a villain. He's so good at being skeevy.

Exploration Method of Love - I struggled through terrible subtitles because I've dreamed about these actors in a drama together. Gao Hanyu grabbed me in Love is Sweet, and Song Yanfei was great in The Trust.

*Butterflied Lover - I've seen one episode because the rest is behind a pay wall... but I am determined to watch it!

*Hilarious Family - at times the humor felt forced, but other times it hit for me. It wasn't compelling enough for me to finish it (yet) though I am curious as to what the ending is going to be.

#shows i'm watching #cdramas #best of 2023 #my *super* impartial list #lol #meet yourself #the blood of youth #the trust #a familiar stranger #the scent of time #story of kunning palace #a journey to love

[tytangfei]

Jina’s dramas awards 2023

It’s here! I feel like I say this every time, but truly, this year, I had less time to devote to dramas. Also, there were few dramas that held my full attention from beginning to end, so this year's list will be pretty short! (Check out my favs from 2020 , 2021, and from 2022.)

As usual, these are mostly Chinese historical/period romance dramas. I do have a category for modern dramas but I didn't watch any this year, so I'll be taking it off for this year. :)

Best Overall Drama

Lost You Forever (Season 1): A brilliant first episode played by talented kid actors who just drew you to this solemn, aching world of xiao yao and others. Technically, the drama isn't over, but my goodness, the characters are so good. The actors are chef's kiss.

Most Delightful/Fun Drama

The Starry Love: Knowing xianxia and wuxia genres, I expected this drama to have more angst, but I was laughing more than I was crying. A strong ensemble cast too that made everything more fun. I love this drama so much.

Most Impactful Drama

Lost You Forever: I still mull over certain scenes, cry over the characters' back stories and motivations and what gives them grief. I am still patiently waiting for season 2.

Drama with the Best Soundtrack

Circle of Love: Bangers after bangers. I still play it after all these months. The drama is such a wild intense ride, it was super entertaining.

Best Costume/Design/Set Drama

My Journey to You: Everything felt so elevated and elegant and sharp and mysterious and dangerous. Love it.

Best Short Drama

Butterflied Lover: This director never misses. Adore the two couples, even though the plot slowed down a little bit about 2/3 of the way. Beautifully shot, interesting storyline, happy ending. Nothing else I could ask for from a short drama.

Most Unexpected Drama (aka the Dark Horse) / Drama(s) I'm Enjoying Right Now But Have Not Finished

Mysterious Lotus Casebook, A Journey to Love, and The Last Immortal. For all three, I was surprised I enjoyed them so much. For MLC and AJTL, I know there are some major characters deaths, so I have yet the heart to finish it but I know that I've enjoyed a huge portion of it and I know their endings will not ruin that.

The Last Immortal is still airing and could have a disastrous end since they have to cut a lot to fit the 40-ep max limit, but I am surprised that I really like the characters. Unlike their prequel An Ancient Love Poetry where I did not care for the male lead's God self, for this drama, I care much about gu jin/yuan qi and a yin. I hope this drama ends on a good note.

------------------------------------------------

That’s all for me! Did we share any favs? Which drama would you in what category? Feel free to let me know. :) Thanks, all! Here's to new and beloved dramas in 2024!

#lost you forever #circle of love #my journey to you #butterflied lover #mysterious lotus casebook #a journey to love #the last immortal #chinese dramas #jina dramas awards 2023 #jina dramas awards list #jina watches cdramas

[dewphox]

I can’t believe people would use a being that is a homage to the late Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, as uwu-waifu bullshit.

So disrespectful.

I see where you're coming from, though I don't think that the way you are going about it is constructive or appropiate at all. Since you're on anon I can't say for sure if you're like 10 or 30, but I'm not mad either way.

So yeah I wanna give an honest answer to this, if anyone else feels the same way and maybe wants to have a discussion (though the whole anon thing feels like talking to a wall) you can really just talk to me. Ngl I am incredibly emotional and quick to get defensive, but the beauty of messages on the internet is is that I can give myself time to calm down and be rational and process these emotions before I respond. So Anon I hope that once you've hopefully seen my response that if you still feel a certain type of way about it that you can maybe give me the same courtesy. I just think that there's enough hate to hate communication on the internet already and I'd honestly truly appreciate the effort.

To start of I think it's ignorant to say that how I choose to enjoy my favourite media is ''uwuw-waifu bullshit''. People enjoy different things in many different ways. The way I do it is no different from D&D. There is a world with lore and characters that i adore and I love it so much that I want to experience it through something I've made. Making a character for a franchise is connected to so much research on the source material, as careful as it was crafted I take the time to think of many different ways to integrate a whole new person that hypothetically could fit like a DLC or you know, my player character (sometime it is more indepth than other times, but I always do research one way or the other).

Being put into Links shoes is a predetermined lens which i can enjoy as it's own story, but to me, I like to be a part of it either with a straight insert or an otherwise character of my own making. A tale of legend and heroic deeds is but one perspective and I love to see in what different ways this story or world can be enjoyed and looked at. And i don't think that this is wrong or something to look down upon. Just as is romance within that world and other bonds and relationships one will create and connect to their creation. Like how I made the windfish my OC's Father.

It is so much more than you make it out to be and I have had so many people throuought my art journey come to me and grief because they were bullied for simply having an oc be romantic with a canon character or god forbid a selfinsert or mary sue (and most of them were children, though I was more sad about the adults who's passion was taken from them before they could fully explore it). It is makebelief and hurts no one just because these people decided to share these scenarios with other people. I hope that in the future you can be less dismissive about that. I think it's important that we take the time to be kind, even if there's something we might disagree with and want to debate.

Now to the main point. To put it simply I think a character is allowed to be it's own entity regardless of intent, if ofcourse the intent isn't explicitly stated. (Like for example when they literally have Barack obama as a character in South park etc. Then that's not a refrence but a depicition) Which in this case it isn't actually. While researching what came up was filled with ''maybe'', ''possibly'', ''probably'' etc. More importantly though the game itself never states it and a game and franchise should always be able to be judged on it's contents alone wihtout outside remarks people may or may not have made.

Then there's also another character within the game. Botrick. His wiki also eludes to the fact that he might be a homage to Satoru. Wikis however are all written by fans and we can all just speculate even if the probability is very likely. The difference however is that Botrick shares a similar appearance with Satoru while the lord of the mountain has a similar name and I think both are tributes in their own right. Though Botrick may be a physical reference while Satori is a sort of spiritual tribute to him as a mentor and guardian figure. But it's still it's own character. Both of these characters aren't Satoru, the same as how actors aren't synonymous with the characters they play.

Also what if someone doesn't do deep dives into wikis and articles and forums? What if someone simply plays the game, enjoys it and make characters, contents AU's for it? What if had only read the genral wiki and not scrolled down to the trivia section where people first brought up it might be a tribute? I don't think that it should be neccessary to first get a bachelors degree in order to enjoy a game in fear of missing a detail that although never mentioned in the game was once maybe hinted at by someone. It feels like a roundabout and tiring way to enjoy a medium. And you should give people a fair chance and not come at them so aggressively, even if you're emotionally charged.

Having said all that, I was actually hesitant to make this idea I had using Satori for the same reason haha. Since I generally don't like characters that are meant to be real life people ( the same I don't like to ship with characters that are in canon relationships (hence i dropped Sidon UU ). With Satori however I felt it's removed enough that it's not an issue for me as explained above.

But I'm not opposed to the idea of changing a few things up! Names are changed in the blink of an eye and i am not uncreative enough to be incabalbe of thinking of different ways to incorporate my design into the lore. I could make it a blupee instead, or a descendant, or otherwise further removed entity with close ties to Satori. (My OC Dreem was close to being something like that before I thought of the windfish!) I simply adore these nature god archetypes like the forest god in princess mononoke and since in it's lore Satori was a sage before that died the idea of a humanoid version wasn't too far off for me.

So yeah, tell me what you think, I'm open for discussion and how other people see it as long as you give me the same courtesy and time that I did to formulate an appropiate response! I hope that we can all be kind to eachother and I wish you all a wonderful day!

#i actually wrote a different and longer answer #more detailed but it broke on me #it was so much omg I cry it was so good and nicely phrased #so sorry if this sounds less that #I wanted to answer and there's a lot that needed to be brought up #but like #it already took me hours the first time :')

[just-emerald-star]

Some Extra Thoughts About Check Please

Sooooo I didn't mention it in my video essay about Check Please, but I have some further thoughts about the different depictions of coming out shown in the comic.

First off, if you haven't already, check out my video essay on the comic. it was the last full-length essay I made before I retired from video essays & I highly recommend it. You can watch it HERE.

Now onto my extra thoughts!

I failed to mention it in the video but I absolutely loved the mini arc between Bitty & Whiskey. It was honestly such a nice subtle way to depict the idea that folks aren't ready or even want to come out publicly and how that's totally fine. At that point in the story, Bitty & Jack are already public knowledge, putting them both in the spotlight at every turn. Naturally Whiskey notices this and realizes that he's not quite ready to be open about his sexuality. He says as much near the end of the story.

I bring all of this up cuz it reminds me of how people are trying to force celebs aka REAL LIFE PEOPLE to come out or give them grief for "queerbaiting" even tho that can't be the case. I always go back to the biggest example via Kit Connor (of Heartstopper fame) being forced to out himself cuz a couple of biphobes couldn't handle a man holding a woman's hand. Oh no, the horrors.

In the moments that Bitty saw Whiskey fooling around with a fella at that party, he could've said something. But instead, he kept it to himself and made it clear that it's Whiskey's business if they choose to be open about it or not. And just that small moment alone warms my heart & gives me hope.

It's unclear if Whiskey ever truly came out or not. IDK if we'll ever know. and the gag is we don't have to. But the fact that he has that choice is even better. Cuz irl nowadays, there are many folks out there who have to remain closeted for their safety or simply have no interest in ever being public about it. And they deserve that privacy just as much as someone who's out & proud deserves to be treated with respect for how they choose to identify.

I can admit that I was one of those "if they're not queer, they shouldn't play a queer character" folks all those years ago. But as I came out in 2016, further explored my own sexuality & actually took a deep dive into more queer media...my whole view on that completely changed. It's a very nuanced convo and honestly, how one feels about it will vary & that's ok.

I just find it fascinating that a quirky sports comic about a couple of gay hockey players managed to depict 3 different ways queer folks deal with their identities while living their lives. I adore Check Please for managing to do that, among other things.

Anyway, these are some extra thoughts I had about the comic that, for some reason, I didn't mention in my video essay back in May. But hey, it's out now so here ya go lol

#omgcheckplease #omgcp #esvideoessays #some extra thoughts #omgcp bitty #omgcp whiskey #coming out

[iiruwu]

give us some harringrove recs bestie!

i gotchu bae!! but be warned, many of these are pretty much just the ones i've read at the top of the list, filtered by most kudos b/c thats just how i find all my fics. so, there's a chance you might've gone through them already. regardless these are some of my faves and have stuck with me for years after reading them. (this was also requested by @roseinthewoods so here you go!)

let us begin:

Under the Covers by ToAStranger -> my all-time fave harringrove fic. this absolutely deserves its popularity and has one of the best characterizations i've ever seen of the entire cast post-s2. not only are billy and steve super fleshed out, but i just adored how steve interacted with jonathon and nancy (who were equally great as far as characterization goes) along with many other characters. but steve rlly shines in this one! this author truly brings the world to life with their writing and makes you feel like you're really watching everyone's lives unfold in an organic, but also bittersweet story :)

dried up, half full by lymricks -> SUCH a good billy characterization. i mean, truly. also one of the best interpretations i've seen of what could have been billy's journey towards becoming a better person. lots of angst and inner turmoil. made me feel like i was truly in billy's shoes and rlly conveyed this sense of just not being able catch a break in any aspect of life throughout the story. im also gonna throw a quote in here that i have had saved for a while just 'cause it was so heartbreakingly good:

we could be heroes (just for one day) by brawls, ToAStranger -> another fic with really good characterization overall. unfortunately this one is unfinished but as im skimming this im remembering that the dynamic between steve and billy for this was just AGHHHH i was frothing at the mouth the whole time. so funny and sweet and very slowww to build up. it was a very realistic take on billy in specific post-s3, but, more than that, i loved the inclusion of almost the entire ensemble throughout this fic. the kids were such rays of light, it rlly made this fic that much better :)

master of puppets, i'm pulling your strings by wearealltalesintheend -> ONE OF MY FAVES!! this fic hooked me on the idea of billy & robin being friends and i was totally obsessed for a little while afterwards. the author wrote the two of them so damn well together in the s3 plotline and i just love how they were snarky as hell but also progressively more friendly and deeply trusting of each other as billy continued to open up. its also refreshing to see harringrove from an outsider perspective, with robin being there to help them connect the dots. (also characterization was an a+ as usual!)

Don't Leave Me (Hanging on the Telephone) by Glitter_Bug -> this is a fic that is a lottt more recent in comparison to the others. i've been reading this since it was about halfway done and i must say - the banter is PHENOMENAL between steve and billy. the dialogue alone hooked me in with how accurate to the 1980s it was with references and had me reading non-stop. the concept of billy being stuck in the upside-down and only able to contact the real world through the phone at steve's house is sooo damn good. it rlly offered a lot of opportunity for fun scenes with them through phone calls. this is also a fic that is actively being updated and is nearing the end soon!

Renegade (Who Had It Made) by moonflowers -> this was a very tender fic about billy's supposed death and included multiple POVs. i found max's POV abt her grief and coming to terms with his death to be such a nice inclusion that added a great touch to the story and also the many journal entries that she found as well!!! this fic felt very human and personal, like it was something not meant for ppl to see - which, considering the concept of max finding billy's journal with notes about steve in it and giving it to steve, makes sense. it was a nice harringrove slowburn overall!

andddd there we go! these are the most memorable ones i've read but there are so so many more harringrove fics out there that are just as good. i found some interesting ones just while skimming the tag alone. hopefully you liked this anon!!! these are very near and dear to my heart :')

#st #stranger things #billy hagrove #steve harrington #harringrove #max mayfield

[irregularcollapse]

Hello!!! first and foremost i must gush about in another time of course!! i’ve been in this fandom for like 5 years and while there is of course many works that i adore with my whole heart this fic has very quickly established itself as an all time favourite from any fandom, the way you write is truly beautiful and your understanding of the characters and how you choose to write them is UGH

anyway!! my question!! will we see more of how damon feels about the flogging? does he know laurent saved his life? did it affect how DAMEN views laurent?? just!! what are your thoughts on how damen experienced the whole thing!! (unless it’s coming in future chapters which i await like a war wife)

thankyou!! i wish you good sleep and happiness!!!

Alright, MY first and foremost is that for people who have been properly in the fandom for ages, I can’t imagine how odd it is that I’ve just dropped out of the sky with a 200k longfic, having not written anything in this fandom before (and with only one other fic currently on ao3 😂)

I can imagine you’re all like “who the fuck is this” but I’m just so appreciative of how supportive the fandom is being overall, and how well people have taken to the fic. So basically uhhhhhh I’m super overwhelmed and really grateful towards many of you for taking a chance and reading it.

Now: Damen and the flogging.

A few people have commented on how attentive and patient and kind Damen is in this — that’s entirely intentional. The way Damen is in this fic is a deliberate amplification of the way he is with Laurent mostly in the Kings Rising era, and then in The Summer Palace and the Charls story too. Without the trauma of being Laurent’s slave and a target of Laurent’s own trauma/grief/rage, I felt that he would much more easily be able to see Laurent for who he is, and love him all the quicker for it.

This is also all filtered through Laurent’s narration, and of course, Laurent is falling in love. Part of writing this fic was about giving Laurent a sweeping love story — giving him the romantic hero, the young love he never got to have, the whole courting experience and being swept off his feet. It is about Laurent coming to love himself as well, and to value himself. Laurent, ultimately, choosing himself.

One of my favourite lines in canon will always be, “No, I—thinking about you and being with you are different, you’re always more powerful, more—” (from The Summer Palace) and it’s that idea of Damen that I really wanted to lean into. That he is just potent and influential and all-consuming, and not only is that why Laurent falls for him, but that is why he is beloved by his people and they believe in him as a King.

This may seem off topic, but hear me out. All of this is why, yes, Damen absolutely does understand that Laurent saved his life. He’s also an incredible military tactician, and read the situation with the Veretians before Laurent did (remember the wordless warning he gives). He also recognises that Laurent is from somewhere “easier”, and had no idea how bad the alternate option would be.

That said, does he wish that Laurent were less reckless? Absolutely! This is implied by his anger in Chapter XIII: “There should not have been an opportunity for that to happen. But once again, you could just not help yourself.”

The thing is that while Laurent’s boldness is part of why Damen loves him, it also has the potential to be his fatal flaw in a sense — something which Damen acknowledges here, and reveals that he feels a lot of worry over (for Laurent, himself, the future of their campaign, etc). Although the surface of their conversation/argument in Chapter XIII is about Laurent and the stabbing, it is as much about the flogging too. Hopefully, with a close reading of that scene, this all comes through in Damen’s reactions and what he says.

But, the most crucial thing (and maybe the most Damen thing): just as Laurent feels guilty about his responsibility for the flogging, Damen feels guilty over his role in things that have happened to Laurent. I can promise that this point will come up in a future chapter, and the outcome of their conversation will be. Very satisfying 👀

Thank you so much for this question!!! I have horrendous insomnia of late, which is why I’m answering this at 3am, but after blathering for a bit I think I’m ready to try sleeping again 😂 Loved this question a whole bunch though!! So grateful that you sent it 🖤

#captive prince fic #capri fic #captive prince fanfic #damianos of akielos #lamen #asks #my writing #even in another time fic #these compliments about my writing and characterisation #be still my beating heart #i just. can’t deal

[lokittystuckinatree]

LCU (Loki Cinematic Universe) Rewatch Part Three here we come!

Thor: the Dark World

Oh Gods I forgot how…indescribable this movie is. I have no words. The outfits and settings look so real and the elves look so fake?

Me every time I see Loki: oOmMgGg Hiiiiiiiiiii 😘

“Mother did I make you proud?” And the whole way he handles this scene…How did anyone ever take him seriously - no wonder he went off the rails, that’s his greatest fear

“Do you not feel the gravity of your crimes” ok this is pure speculation but going off of what we know about Loki’s moral and emotional system - he’s capable of remorse and empathy, but he tends to compartmentalize and bury guilt and shame, repress and conceal his true feelings, and rationalize, minimize and justify his actions instead of accepting what he sees as weakness, so yes, I’d imagine that deep down he absolutely fucking feels it. And it don’t feel good.

Loki justifies his imperialism genocide and violence in an imperial genocidal militaristic society but the second he becomes king he decreases military intervention something something (one of the good bits of Ragnarok)

“I don’t enjoy hurting people” But Odin does. And so Loki pretends to.

BOOOOOO Odin no one likes you BOOOOOOO SCREW YOU

oMggg Sif hiiiiiii. Look at her, Thor. LOOK at her! With your eyes! She prettyyyyy

Odin and Thor: talking about Thor’s love life. Loki probably: rocking back in forth in his cell because no one’s ever gonna love him. Another Loki at the same time: chasing his soulmate across spacetime because she pulled a Loki on him and he finds that endearing

The sets and ambiance of Asgard are gorgeous how do I move there

Yet another obscure character I don’t remember, Darcy’s in the comics now I’m so proud, Selvig’s lost his last marble, so have I Selvig, so have I

The weird gravity/time space anomaly/warp thing in that abandoned building actually makes for a fun scene. You cannot change my mind on this. The Aether is pretty creepy though ngl.

Thor and Jane are so cringe together. I love them. They also break my heart

The plot of this movie is really…something

Loki and Frigga’s bond actually makes me teary I know they didn’t have the best relationship it was strained and toxic at times but omg they care about eachother so much I’m getting emotional…she genuinely was the only person Loki truly loved in a healthy way. And he fucking lost her. FUCK

Cut to me relating to Loki so much it makes me physically recoil. I’d get into why but I’m not trauma dumping today.

“I don’t know why Loki helped the dark elf get into the palace”…lol stop lying to yourself you know the reason very well. You have the same resentment and lust for chaos inside you that Loki does…that desperate grief that makes you want to burn down the world that burned you. you know. I see my worst in Loki, and his story gives me hope that I can change. There’s a good chance I will die young (medical shit) and Loki dying young also gives me comfort.

This movie is peak Loki. I just fucking adore the little shit. I just aahfhkjkmng *aggressively squeezes*

Heimdall is underrated

Someone on discord said Frigga autocorrected to Fridged on their phone and Frigga’s dying and that’s all I can think about rip…bruh this scene hits a lot harder after my dad’s death ✌️

HE WASNT EVEN ALLOWED AT HER FUCKING FUNERAL FUCK YOU ODIN DRINK BLEACH!!!!Anyways I forgot how cinematic and heartbreakingly beautiful the funeral was

YOU CAN SEE THE SPARK LEAVE HIS FUCKING EYES IM GONNA FIGHT ODIN IN A DENNYS PARKING LOT. I’m ending on the Loki illusion scene for tonight because it’s 3 am and I’m in emotional distress.

How can anyone watch the illusion scene and the deleted bits and actually believe Loki is a cold hearted psychopath? I have this fucked up headcanon that Loki almost attempted suicide after Frigga’s death and either stopped himself…or Thor showed up right on time. I can’t prove it but I know it’s true by gut instinct.

There’s something so weirdly profound about someone who seeks out death being unkillable. Character who thinks he represents death actually represents life. That’s something the Loki series actually did well. They definitely screwed up his character in places, but I can see the backbone of what they intended. I don’t know how to explain this, but I don’t ship Sylvie with TVA Loki, I ship her with Pre-Ragnarok Loki. Aka, I characterize TVA Loki as closer to OG Loki than he is thus far.

There’s a tiny detail about Loki that makes me go feral. You have to psychoanalyze a little, but Loki doubts his brother even cares about him, so whenever Thor says he feels betrayed and threatens him, Loki smiles. It means Thor cared. It means there’s hope. Negative attention is better than none at all. Disappointment is better than apathy. I wish I didn’t know how he feels.

#if I can find my other post with parts 1 and 2 I’ll link it here #LCU rewatch #Thor the dark world #to be continued

[the-judicial-assistants-notebook]

Who is your favorite character from every Ace Attorney game?

For me its:

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Maya Fey

Ace Attorney: Justice For All - Pearl Fey

Ace Attorney: Trials And Tribulations - Ron DeLite

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - Trucy Wright

Ace Attorney Investigations - Kay Faraday

Ace Attorney Investigations 2 - Sebastian Debeste

Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies - Bobby Fulbright (not the Phantom tho)

Ace Attorney: Spirit Of Justice - Nahyuta Sahdmadhi (I like characters with missed potential

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles - Susato Mikotoba

SUSATO SWEEP!!!!! It's really hard for me to pick, like, favourite favourite characters from each game; I like them all so much <3 But just as an instinctive list, I'd go (under the cut because it got long):

AA:PW - I almost never talk about him, but I really love AA1 Edgeworth. I would say Larry, because I love Larry so much, or even Phoenix because. Guy of all time, but I think it really is Edgeworth. Got through 3/4 of the game going, "I need this man dead", and then spent the last 1/4 fighting so hard to save him, I was screaming for most of the case. Truly one of THE character arcs in video games. I also really like Cody Hackins and April May <3 I hope we see them again.

AA:JfA - Pearlsy is my little darling girl, and she ties with Franziska for obvious reasons, but you know who I think is extremely underrated in this game? Gumshoe. He's one of the few who can really sympathise with Phoenix's grief and Franziska's, he's compassionate, extremely helpful, SUPER cool with some fantastic lines and he saves Maya at the end!! JfA is the Gumshoe game to me; I love him so much. In terms of those exclusive to this game's cases, Mimi Miney takes it for me. I adore her.

AA:T&T - IRIS MY BELOVED!!!! IRIS IRIS IRIS. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, IRIS!!!!! And Dahlia, too <3 Also Viola Cadaverini because she's my world.

AA:AJ - Um... Probably Vera Misham or Alita Tiala? I'm not huge into the main cast, but I find how these two relate and are important to them and their themes extremely interesting, especially with Vera. She's so integral to Phoenix's story, and by extension Apollo and Trucy's, that it's wild to me that she doesn't reappear. Both their character motivations and background are really quite compelling, I feel (I know Alita is just technically a mix of Dahlia and Mimi, but I like both of them so I'm not complaining), and I really wish we got to seen more between Vera and Phoenix. I also like Machi Tobaye a lot.

AA:DD - Ah, we're on to the games I really Do Not Care For. Ummm... I want to give this to Athena, but, honestly, I despised her mechanic (not her fault), and Bobby was the only character really keeping me playing or entertained. So I'll have to give it to Bobby. Robin Newman was really fun, too.

AA:SoJ: Maya. I know this isn't the best depiction of her in the games, but it's her reintroduction into the series, and, despite the less than stellar writing and treatment of her character, she was consistently the one I was happiest to see onscreen. I really wanted to like the Khura'in cast (the first characters in the series to take direct and obvious inspiration from my culture and heritage? I was stoked), but, alas, the colourism and, more importantly, how utterly boring I found them, ruined them for me. I also liked Uendo Toneido as a witness.

AAI - Kay win. I love Kay so much here. She's so fun, and wonderful, and competent, and cool, and honourable, and funny. Kay, you're a dream <3 Also Rhoda Teneiro?? She was so funny??? I loved her as Edgeworth's assistant; I wish we got a bit more time with her. And Detective Badd? And Agent Lang? Calisto Yew? This game had a brilliant cast; I loved them all dearly. Calisto Yew, no one is going to do it like you again. They need to bring her back. For me.

AAI2 - JUSTINE, MY BELOVED!!!! JUSTINE WHO'S SO STRONG AND WHO'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH!!!! JUSTINE WHO HAS A SON SHE TOOK IN WHEN SHE WAS STILL IN SCHOOL!!!! JUSTINE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO ACHIEVE JUSTICE IN HER OWN WAY!!!! JUSTINE!!!!!!! Also John Marsh and Sebastian <3 They're a family to me. And I don't sleep on Raymond either. He brought a lot to the game (his theme is so good), and it was wonderful to meet Gregory's assistant. Honestly, the Investigation games generally have a really solid cast all around. So many fun characters.

DGS/TGAA - SUSATO-SAN SWEEP!!!!! SHE OBLITERATES THE COMPETITION. ONE OF THE FEW AA CHARACTERS I CAN POINT TO AND SAY, "THAT ONE'S MY FAVOURITE". But Ryuunosuke is my favourite defence attorney, and DGS Sherlock is my favourite adaptation of Holmes ever <3 This game is another whose cast I think just kills it the whole way through. Everyone was such a joy to meet and interact with. Hosonaga, the Skulkin Brothers, Nikola... Natsume Soseki was a shocking and utter delight <3 Shamspeare was hysterical. Olive Green was heartbreaking (I really love the gas case). But yes. Susato-san <3 Her <33

PLvsPW - Bonus one because I needed to put the main guy, the original man somewhere on the list <3 Phoenix, I love you so much. Genuinely, this game has so many great Phoenix moments, and him being a highly enthusiastic baker was phenomenal. I loved him so much here (the entire main cast was fantastic), and he had so many great moments with Maya and Luke that really showcased who he is and let him shine next to the Professor. PLvsPW, I will always love you. Game of all time, which helped set up so much of what would come in DGS, and it deserves all the respect for that alone. Stellar experience.

#love that im ending 2023 by answering asks and talking about things i love thank you for that <3 #asks for the notebook

[castiel]

i was tagged by @clarkenting (thanks bestie!!) to talk about 8 shows as a way to get to know me better, so here they are :)

1. x-files: one of my first big ships. how can i possibly resist the skeptic and believer dynamic? the vibes and aesthetic of this show are also top notch. spooky foggy nights, fbi jackets in an empty field, travelling across the country solving mysteries! plus i’ve always loved the paranormal. also the height difference between mulder and scully is off the charts. YOU’RE MY ONE IN FIVE BILLION <3

2. merlin: god the BANTER. another one of my early ships. starts off lighthearted and then progressively gets darker and more intense as the seasons go on but still has silly moments to lighten the mood. honestly love every character in this show so much. and i’m sure i don’t even have to mention how much the finale broke me completely.

3. star trek - the next generation: i grew up on this show and it will forever be my favourite trek. used to watch it with my dad and sisters and i have very warm fond memories of it. despite some truly bad episodes, i always loved the vibe of exploring and learning in space. if i could live in a fictional show this would be the one. i just want to go to space so badddd

4. the oa: goddd this show. the magical realism! the vibes! the aesthetic! bonds across universes!! i’ve watched it so many times (more s1 than 2) and it never fails to give me goosebumps. that long cold open in the pilot leading to the sweeping violin theme over snowy landscapes.... perfection. 

5. maniac: very similar vein to the oa for me. i’ve also watched this multiple times. i love that it’s a self contained story and i ADORE the themes. soulmates across universes! friendship! dealing with loss and grief.. it has it all. also the music in this is so good. the ending just fills me with warmth and hope and i can’t get enough of it. we need more shows like this.

6. supernatural: finally succumbed to the pull of this show. i resisted for years but now i have the brain worms. i’m sure you’re all aware but like COME ON. an angel saving the righteous man, teaching him faith and in turn learning doubt! nothing will ever be like them.

7. chernobyl: i have watched this multiple times and it’s still just as good. just a masterpiece of a show. the storytelling, the cinematography, the music, and the acting is all phenomenal. probably seems like a bit of a weird one to have on this list but it’s just ART. 

8. midnight mass: i love all of flanagan’s shows but this one is easily my favourite. the aesthetic and vibes of this one are just UGH... so good. the writing is chefs kiss. all those character specific monologues... and don’t even get me started on the themes around death and finding meaning, the darkness around religion and faith, the bonds of friends and family... heartwrenching but beautiful.

honourable mentions:

handmaid’s tale: june’s anger and increasing insanity speaks to my soul. also every episode directed by elizabeth moss is just SO good. 

succession: i love that you aren’t spoonfed and there is so much to read into one liners. the dynamics between all these awful people and how they’re all deeply broken through generational trauma and abuse, wanting to be better and having no idea how to do that. they’re all terrible and i love them.

i no pressure tag: @septembersghost @highlynerdy @angelcasendgame @hiraeth-doux @universalcas @sunglassesmish @deanbroco @angelsdean @klinejack @jactingjoices @deanncastiel @nesnej and anyone else that would like to :)

#i loooove talking about shows #writing this made me want to rewatch all of them right now lol