#this doesn’t count my audiobooks

[ckerouac]

Too many books came in at the same time from my library queue, so @redheadgleek suggests a poll and yes, let’s poll! Y’all can see my… varied reading interests lol

What should I read next?

Daughter from the Dark: Late one night, fate brings together DJ Aspirin and ten-year-old Alyona. After he tries to save her from imminent danger, she ends up at his apartment. But in the morning sinister doubts set in. Who is Alyona? A young con artist? A plant for a nefarious blackmailer? Or perhaps a long-lost daughter Aspirin never knew existed? Whoever this mysterious girl is, she now refuses to leave.

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett: Wanting to organize an assisted death on her own terms, world-weary octogenarian Eudora Honeysett forges an unexpected bond with exuberant ten-year-old Rose, who drags her to tea parties, shopping sprees, and other social excursions.

Flesh and Bone and Water: André is a listless Brazilian teenager and the son of a successful plastic surgeon who lives a life of wealth and privilege, shuttling between the hot sands of Ipanema beach and his family's luxurious penthouse apartment. In 1985, when he is just 16, André's mother is killed in a car accident. Clouded with grief, André's father loses himself in his work while André spends his evenings in the family apartment with Luana, the beautiful daughter of the family's maid. Three decades later, and now a successful surgeon himself, André is a middle-aged father, living in London, and recently separated. One day he receives an unexpected letter from Luana, which begins to reveal the other side of their story, a story André has long repressed.

Geek Love: The Binewskis are a carny family whose mater- and paterfamilias set out-- with the help of amphetamine, arsenic, and radioisotopes-- to breed their own exhibit of human oddities. There is Arturo the Aquaboy, who has flippers for limbs and a megalomaniac ambition worthy of Genghis Khan. Iphy and Elly, the lissome Siamese twins. Albino hunchback Oly. And the outwardly normal Chick, whose mysterious gifts make him the family's most precious-- and dangerous-- asset. As they set out across the U.S., family values will never be the same.

Same Bed Different Dreams: March 1919. Far-flung Korean patriots establish the Korean Provisional Government to protest the Japanese occupation of their country. This government-in-exile proves mostly symbolic, its petitions ignored by heads of state as Korea's nationhood is erased. After Japan's defeat in World War II, the KPG dissolves and civil war erupts, resulting in the North-South split that remains today. But what if the KPG still existed now, today-working toward a unified Korea, secretly harnessing the might of a giant tech company to further its aims?

Unholy: why white evangelicals worship at the altar of Donald Trump: Fueled by an anti-democratic impulse, and united by this narrative of reverse victimization, the religious right and the alt-right support a common agenda--and are actively using the erosion of democratic norms to roll back civil rights advances, stock the judiciary with hard-right judges, defang and deregulate federal agencies, and undermine the credibility of the free press. Increasingly, this formidable bloc is also forging ties with European far right groups, giving momentum to a truly global movement forecasted to last long after the Trump era.

Comemadre: In the outskirts of Buenos Aires in 1907, a doctor becomes involved in a misguided experiment that investigates the threshold between life and death. One hundred years later, a celebrated artist goes to extremes in search of aesthetic transformation, turning himself into an art object.

I Who Have Never Known Men: A young woman is kept in a cage underground with thirty-nine other females, guarded by armed men who never speak; her crimes unremembered... if indeed there were crimes.

Road of Bones: Kolyma Highway, otherwise known as the Road of Bones, is a 1200 mile stretch of Siberian road where winter temperatures can drop as low as sixty degrees below zero. Felix Teigland, or "Teig," is a documentary producer, and when he learns about the Road of Bones, he realizes he's stumbled upon untapped potential. Accompanied by his camera operator, Teig hires a local Yakut guide to take them to Oymyakon, the coldest settlement on Earth. Teig is fascinated by the culture along the Road of Bones, and encounters strange characters on the way to the Oymyakon, but when the team arrives, they find the village mysteriously abandoned apart from a mysterious nine-year-old girl. Then, chaos ensues.

#reading poll #this doesn’t count my audiobooks #but we’re gonna go with murderbot 2 for that

[vvynia]

abby and your family’s thanksgiving

pairing: a. anderson x black southern belle!reader

genre: fluff w/ brief mention of smut (mdni)

word count: its headcanons so its short but idk the specific number sowwwy

warnings: not beta read, brief mentions of homophobia but only bc reader’s family isn’t like that, mention of family drama, pregnancy mention, brief moment where religion is talked about (saying grace/prayer)

synopsis: this is literally just headcanons of what would happen if our beloved abby anderson attended your family’s thanksgiving/reunion if you don’t celebrate. very much black reader-centric, but anyone’s welcome to read it esp if you’re from the south cause this is also heavily southern reader coded.

bringing abby anderson to your black (southern) family’s thanksgiving would be a sight to behold.

and imagine its everyone’s FIRST time meeting her too. assuming everyone is super cool and unhateful, i just know she’d have all the aunties’ attention. they see her height, her build and turn to you talkin about, “now, where’d you find her?”

abby would 100% be in ya grandmama’s backyard huddled around the grill with the uncles and dads. she’s got a lil beer in hand (she probably doesn’t even like beer but she likes fitting in and it isn’t all bad when the bonding is genuine) one of em goes “mhm that turkey bout done smokin” and abby is taking mental notes cause one day, she’s gonna smoke a turkey for you two’s family, in your backyard, and your grandkids are gonna be running around

the kids are OBSESSED with her. they climb her like she’s a jungle gym, ask her to throw them in the air, ask her all types of questions. “ABIGAIL! come play with us!” and she does, but the whole time she’s wondering how they discovered what her full name is cause she sure ain’t tell em lool

sometime after, she gets together in the livingroom with you and your cousins, then that one uncle or aunt comes in, says a few words, then leaves with a plate. the gossip commences lol and she’s so in tune to what ya’ll are talking about. she thought her family could dog somebody out?

all that pales in comparison to yall’s words. these sly (and sometimes even blatant) insults are unhinged, the storyline is juicy. she feels like she’s listening to an audiobook of lore. and whenever she asks a question for clarification, someone is always ready to start from the beginning with “see, what had happened was” and “to make a long story short” (the story was not made short)

then it actually comes time to eat, time for her to have her taste buds born anew

your family has whipped up some southern classics: sweet potato pie, pig feet, neck bones and collard greens, cabbage, pound cake, and every other dish you can think of.

you were in charge of the sweet tea, but this year you made a peach batch cause you know abby likes peaches 🥰

ya’ll say grace cause lets be real, if this is the south, somebody baptist and its probably the family matriarch lol

abby is respectful about it whether she believes in god or not cause your family has treated her with the most open of arms and she can feel the love and hospitality all around (if god is real, she thinks, he would’ve wanted everyone who believes in him to be like my sweet girl’s family)

when ya’ll are done and everyone has plated their food, they’re all silently waiting for the white girl’s reaction. they’re trying to play it off, be casual, not stare LOL but they know what’s coming i must admit

and abby doesn’t disappoint cause as you’re sitting next to her, soon as she puts some of them collard greens in her mouth and a couple candied yams and your grandaddy’s secret cast iron skillet macaroni recipe in her mouth, the satisfaction is written all over her face

everyone starts laughing when one of the kids say, “damn, girl, is it good?” to which they’re scolded lol but ofc abby nods like she’s trying to shake the hair follicles out her head

after everyone has ate and said what they’re thankful for (she says she’s thankful for you ofc but she leaves out how thankful she is for getting to strap you down at least twice a week), you two go sit on the porch alone.

you’re leaned against her in a two-seater rocking chair, bellies impossibly full, enjoying the gentle breeze and setting sun and the scent of food that is still wafting from the house

one of your cousin’s kids runs up from the backyard, comes up to you asking for help with opening a new toy, so you help

abby sees how cool you are, how in your element you are with your family, and this moment truly solidifies how much she wants this with you too. ya’ll have had the kids conversation before, so she knows you want at least one

she can’t help but think how gorgeous you’d look bein her housewife, barefoot and pregnant and divine and ethereal, starting a family, never having to worry for a thing bc she’s gonna take care of you

and she knows, when she needs it, you’ll take care of her too

I LOVE LOVE

#abby anderson x black reader #abby anderson x reader #abby x reader #abby headcanons #abby anderson #thanksgiving #tlou 2 #tlou #lesbian #wlw

[wolfjackle-creates]

Ghost!Robin Arc 2 Part 2

Ghost!Robin won this week's poll as well! So have a little bit more of the fic for WIP Wednesday. *resolutely ignores the clock that informs me midnight was an hour ago so it is clearly Thursday*

Check out this week's poll if you want a say in what I post next.

Story Summary: Everything changed the evening Jason met Jazz's brother. Danny introduced him and his entire family to the ghost that is, apparently, haunting him. The ghost of the Robin he had been.

The ghost of the person everyone he's ever known wishes he still was.

All he wants is to make it go away.

First, Previous

Word Count: 1.2k

-----

Jason did not sleep that night, spending his time beating up a punching bag instead. What sleep he did get was laid out on the mats in the workout room. Even that was plagued by nightmares.

So it was with The Joker’s laughs still echoing in his ears that he finally dragged himself to the kitchen to start making breakfast.

Danny was no where to be seen—probably sleeping—but the ghost was. He was staring out the window not doing anything.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” grumbled Jason.

The ghost did the head motion every Robin learned to indicate they were rolling their eyes. Can’t he signed.

Jason grunted. He…probably should have figured that one out. “Well go read a book or something and don’t bother me.”

The ghost gave him a very deliberate look before flying to one of the bookcases and reaching for a book. Only for his hand to go right through it. He glared back at Jason.

“Oh.” Jason did not feel bad for the creature. He was the interloper here. But the silence in the room was not helping anything. Not with his nightmares so close to the surface. He hooked his phone up to a portable speaker and pulled up his audiobook library. Today was the sort of day for an old favorite.

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence…

Jason hummed in satisfaction and turned his attention to the fridge. What to make for breakfast? He resolutely ignored the ghost who’d settled in his living room.

A few hours later, Jason was finishing the homemade fruit sauce when arms wrapped around his stomach and a head rested against his back.

“Mmmm, smells good,” mumbled Jazz, her voice rough with sleep.

Jason patted her arm. “I remember you liked the strawberry topping. Figured we could have it over pancakes. Batter is in the fridge.”

“Best boyfriend ever,” she said. She rested her head against his back and Jason felt himself relax in a way he hadn’t since he’d stepped out of the dining room and saw the ghost. “You left early.”

His stomach sank. Of course she noticed. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Jason,” she said flatly, a hint of warning in her tone.

He sighed. “I just couldn’t sleep. Too many thoughts going ‘round my head.”

“Hence the Austen?”

He chuckled. “Hence the Austen.”

She yawned and pushed away from him. “I’ll go brush my teeth and get Danny up.”

“He was up pretty late himself; might need to sleep in.”

She groaned. “Of course he was up, too. Well too bad. He could’ve gone to bed earlier and I think we need to have a talk about what to do next.”

“He said something about doctor yetis and a place called the Far Frozen,” Jason said. He stirred the strawberries and lifted a spoonful to test it’s consistency. Perfect. He turned off the burner.

“Oh. And you agreed?”

Jason shrugged. “Doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice if I want that”—he jerked a thumb at the ghost—“gone.”

“Jason…” her voice had gone soft and he winced.

“I know,” he admitted to the stove. “I know it’s gonna be more complicated than that.”

She was silent for a moment before sighing. “I love you, Jay,” was all she said before walking away. Presumably to the bathroom to get ready.

Which meant he had to start the pancakes. He pulled out the griddle, added a wad of butter, and turned on the heat.

By the time Jazz and Danny returned, Jason had made a pile of pancakes large enough to satisfy a speedster. Next to it sat the strawberry topping and a jar of syrup in case that was Danny’s preference. On an impulse, he grabbed the chocolate chips, too.

Chocolate and Austen, the perfect combination for a crappy day.

Unfortunately, breakfast passed much too quickly for his tastes and soon enough they were packing away the leftovers in the fridge.

“Jazz, you’re so lucky you found someone who could cook,” commented Danny.

Jason had to laugh. “Yeah, not one of her skills, is it?”

“Not one of either of our skills. Has she told you about what our kitchen was like growing up?”

“After your knife comment last night, I feel like she may have left some things out.” Despite everything that had happened since, he hadn’t forgotten that little tidbit. Jazz was so tight-lipped about her childhood that Jason made a point to horde every detail she let slip.

Jazz groaned. “Nope. I’m full of delicious food and happy. I do not want to have to remember the hell that was the Fenton kitchen.”

From the corner of his eye. Jason could see the ghost looking at them with interest. He glared at him; the ghost glared right back.

“That’s enough, you two,” ordered Jazz.

Jason broke eye contact and stared at the floor to mumble and insincere apology he knew wouldn’t fool Jazz.

Luckily she took pity on him and didn’t push. “Danny, Jason said something about you taking us to the Far Frozen?”

Danny nodded. “Yep! Frostbite might be able to tell us what happened and have some ideas on how to help them.”

“Well, Jason, Robin,” started Jazz and Jason had to force himself to not wince at the way she addressed them both. “When do you think you want to go?”

“Now,” said Jason immediately. “Or as soon as possible. I want to know what’s going on.”

The ghost nodded his agreement and made more of those chirping noises that Danny seemed to understand.

“Then let’s get going,” said Danny.

Jazz sighed again. “Hold it, Danny. Jason, you and I should go get changed. There’s a reason it’s called the Far Frozen.”

Jason took her advice and dug deep in his closet for the heaviest winter gear. Before too long, Jazz declared them both dressed in enough layers to satisfy her. They returned to the living room.

“Do you need us to do anything?” asked Jason.

“Nah.” Danny raised his hand and made a slashing motion with his fist. “That’s all it takes. There’s some benefits to being the Ghost King: my ring can open portals anywhere.”

Following the motion Danny had made, a tear formed in the very fabric of the universe. Though it, Jason could see a swirling sky of Lazarus green. Over his years as a vigilante, Jason had seen many strange and impossible things. But that tear unsettled him on a more visceral level than most. It reminded him of the pits, he wanted to run away. It felt like home, he wanted to run forward. Instead he stared, transfixed by the way the bit of sky—was it sky?—through the portal appeared to flow like water.

Jazz grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

Danny didn’t hesitate and flew right through, transforming as he did. The ghost followed right on his heels. Both turned to stare at him and Jazz.

“Come on,” she said. “We’ll be perfectly safe.” She walked forward and Jason followed, half a step behind.

His conflicted feelings got stronger with every step, but he kept pace with Jazz until they were through. No ground existed wherever they were, but he and Jazz were able to float in place.

Behind them, the portal disappeared. Taking with it his only hope of retreat.

-----

Next

They've made it to the Infinite Realms! And Jason still has Feelings™️ about the ghost that's following. (Do you notice he never refers to Robin, even mentally, as anything other than "the ghost"? That's a very deliberate choice.)

The strawberry topping is a thing I make semi regularly. I will sit there and eat it with a spoon it's so good. But over pancakes? Absolutely decadent. (The recipe calls it a pie filling, but eh. I'd rather just eat it with a spoon. Or over ice cream. Or pancakes.)

#dpxdc #ghost!robin #jason todd #jazz fenton #anger management ship #i need to make pancakes one of these days #theyre yummy #danny devoured his #hes spent so little time on earth lately #that he was ecstatic to have good homemade pancakes #hed only ever had them when sleeping over at tuckers before

[jesuisici33]

WIP Wednesday

tagged by @daffi-990 @carlos-in-glasses @paperstorm @bonheur-cafe @fortheloveofbuddie @spotsandsocks @actual-sleeping-beauty @wildlife4life some more of my romance audiobook narrator au. and could i have come up with more clever names for the in universe book they're recording? probably. but i also think i'm funny

Nowadays the only time Bobby asks Buck to come to his office is either when Buck has done something bad or if Bobby is going to have Buck narrate the next big romance book that’s going to hit bookstores. Buck hasn’t done anything for him to get reprimanded (that he knows of) so there’s an extra pep in his step as he thinks about which author is set to come out with a new book soon. 

His thoughts are put to a hold as he opens the door and sees Eddie Diaz sitting casually across from Bobby. It’s only a few weeks since he joined the 118 and Buck still can’t stand him. Can’t stand how easily everyone warmed up to him and treated him as if he’s always belonged here. Even his sister, Maddie became excited when he ranted about him. Telling Buck how Eddie is her favorite romance audiobook narrator. When Buck asked what about him, Maddie raised her eyebrow and replied, “Why would I listen to you, Evan?” 

“What’s going on?” Buck asks Bobby. A Bobby who looks a bit too delighted by whatever news he’s about to give him. “I thought this meeting was just between you and me.”

“I said I wanted to meet you this morning. Nothing about a meeting with just you,” Bobby corrects. “But now that you’re here, we can get this started.” He gestures for Buck to sit down next to Eddie. Eddie, the bastard, is polite and gives him a smile as Buck sits down. “I got good news. The best news. There’s this book that’s trending everywhere – Instagram, Booktok, Twitter, Goodreads, the whole works –”

Both Eddie and Buck snort at that. When is there not a romance book trending on those platforms?

Bobby ignores them and continues on. “ – and the book isn’t even out yet. All very positive reviews from early ARC readers. And dozens of preorders. And the best news is that you two are offered to narrate the audiobook.” Bobby pulls out two copies – one for Buck and one for Eddie – from a drawer in his desk. It’s a book called Up in Flames with two male firefighters smiling into a kiss. Buck opens the book and glances at a random page in it. Something involving one of the characters getting shot, told from the point of view of the character Oliver. The writing is good. 

“So what, do they want a duet narration?” Eddie asks. Buck notices he hasn’t touched the book Bobby gave him. It still sits on the desk where Bobby laid it near him. 

Bobby grins. “Yes! Two of the best romance narrators doing a duet narration for the next hottest romance book coming out this year is exactly what they were thinking about doing! So, what do you guys think?”

Eddie shrugs, looking over at Buck. “I mean, could be fun. I’m game if you are?”

Buck narrows his eyes. He doesn’t know why, but this cavalier attitude Eddie has over this whole thing, makes Buck hate the guy even more. He looks over at Bobby. Bobby still has a grin on his face, although this time it’s a bit strained. It’s not a secret he doesn’t really like Eddie. And he can tell Bobby is probably counting on him to make nice with the guy. So plastering on a wide grin. “Count me in. Although I want to voice Oliver,” he says, showing Bobby the page he was reading from. 

With everything settled, Bobby lets them know he’ll get the contracts set up for their salary and he’ll let them know when they’ll start recording.

tagging @hippolotamus @malewifediaz @eddiebabygirldiaz @monsterrae1 @911-on-abc @thewolvesof1998 @liminalmemories21 @pirrusstuff @loserdiaz @disasterbuckdiaz @lover-of-mine @apothecarose @mammameesh @your-catfish-friend @rmd-writes @rosedavid @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @steadfastsaturnsrings

[you-remind-me-of-the-babe]

Another lovely year in this wonderful fandom. Here’s a little recap of how my year went:

My Writing:

Depth of Reason - Mature - 70k

How to Avoid a Scandal - Teen - 43k

Episode 3: The Diplomat, A Star Trek Redemption story - Teen - 13.5k

This list is much shorter than my list of fics written in 2022, but my fics last year were much shorter. Also, this word count is deceptive, because I wrote about 22k of Depth of Reason last year and about 20k of How to Avoid a Scandal last year as well. But! My writing goals this year were to finish these two WIPs and not take on any other projects until they were finished and I very nearly did that! Took on two projects (and more below), but I still finished these before the year finished, so pretty good!

Total words:

About 83k. Last year was more like 120k.

Other works:

Podfic of Petrichor - Teen - 34 minutes

Themes:

Finishing long works apparently! One was for my 2022 COBB and the other for my 2022 CORB. Even though these were started last year, they are the longest things I wrote since my first fic (49k) back in the second half of 2021.

Also, trying new things! Writing sci-if and recording a podfic felt very outside my wheelhouse at the time, but ultimately, I’m glad I went for it.

Top 10 fics I read in 2023:

Someone Wicked - Explicit - 60k by @artsyunderstudy

Three Months or 3,000 Miles - Gen - 3k by @larkral and art by @theimpossibledemon

Blood, Salt and Hummingbirds - Teen - 32k by @hushed-chorus

Restoration Ecology - The REmix (Baz’s version) - Explicit - 62k by @royalasstronaut

Good at Something - Explicit - 19k by @larkral

A Gift From the Propheseals - Mature - 6.5k by @skeedelvee with art by @letraspal

What Remains After the Storm - Mature - 86k by @hushed-chorus art by @erzbethluna

To Do, to Know, to Want - Mature - 8.5k by @facewithoutheart

Mishaps on Zoom - Explicit - 10k by @eelwinks

Swords Into Plowshares - Teen - 6.5k by @ileadacharmedlife

WIPs I’m excited to keep reading in 2024:

I Knew A Boy, I Knew A Man - Teen, by @shrekgogurt

Hiding Out In The Open - Mature, by @cutestkilla

A Little Bit Deadly- Explicit, by @emeryhall

Basil Pitch’s Diary - Teen, by @bookish-bogwitch

Other notable fandom things:

I helped to run @carryon-reverse-bang again with @angelsfalling16 as well as helped to put on a new event this year, @caught-on-tape-fest with @cutestkilla and @sillyunicorn

I met up with fandom friends while on a trip this past summer. Making personalized friendship bracelets as gifts, doing fic readings and crafts, and putting on our own Lady Ruth style tea party were some of my fave moments <3

I did a book club style reread of some of my fave fics with friends. I hope we do a few more in 2024!

It’s safe to say I engaged with this fandom everyday of 2023. I might get quiet on the main Discord server or Tumblr, but I’m certain I read, reblogged, wrote, DMd or otherwise participated in some way, shape or form throughout the entirety of the year.

Goals for 2024:

Read more fic! This fandom has such a wealth of works, my TBR list is a mile long and isn’t organized. I’d like to formally rework my AO3 bookmarks to exclusively show recs and either utilize the Marked for Later function or make a spreadsheet or something to better organize a proper TBR list so i don’t lose track of what I want to read next. Currently, having a dozen tabs open on my phone and another dozen on my iPad doesn’t really work well. If anyone has a brilliant system you’d suggest, please enlighten me!

I also want to read all of my physical canon books this year. I’ve only ever listened to the audiobooks! I’m currently reading my anniversary edition of Fangirl. (I think this is the prettiest book I’ve ever owned.) Up next, the Fangirl Manga, followed by the trilogy and Snow for Christmas.

More fandom meet ups! Already planning for June…

I don’t have any writing plans currently, so we shall see if/what I decide to create. I have a few ideas rolling around in my head, but nothing I’ve felt urged to put down in words. I’m sure I’ll write something, I just don’t know what it’ll be yet.

#That’s a wrap! #Love being a part of this fandom #Y’all are wonderful #here’s to another great year! #fandom year in review

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

Driving Habits -Octavinelle Edition

Can they drive? If so, what kind of drivers are they? What are their car habits?

Characters; Azul Ashengrotto, Jade Leech & Floyd Leech

Content; mentions of road rage & whatever Floyd has going on

Word Count; 500+

Find the Rest of the Series; Heartslabyul, Savanaclaw, Scarabia, Pomefiore, Ignihyde, Diasomnia

Author’s Note; As a reminder, do not put my work — or others for that matter — into AI as it steals. Link to Masterlist

Azul Ashengrotto

Can’t drive. He has read all the books, and has had Jade try to teach him, but it’s all like flying class all over again. He hates it and he hates that Jade and Floyd tease him about it.

He even tried the driving simulation games with Idia, but those didn’t help any either. All it did was get him pissy about getting blue-shelled in Mario Kart.

Whenever he wants to go places he either has Jade pick him up or calls a taxi. There is no chance he is getting a ride with Floyd. Actually makes Floyd sign a contract to never drive him.

Will go over paperwork while sitting in the passenger seat (Jade) or back (taxi), or look out the window deep in thought going over a new promotional item for the Lounge. He refuses to take public transit, since last time he had to sit next to a screaming toddler.

At least he won’t need a license or car back in the Coral Sea, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t grumble in private and question why he can’t master it.

Jade Leech

Great driver, goes by the book. He has a dash cam set up in case the time comes should he really need it not for an alibi. This has gotten Floyd into trouble on more than one occasion.

Drives in dead silence or listens to a mycology podcast or audiobook. May occasionally hum a little tune to himself when he’s in a good mood. No one is allowed to touch the aux, if they try they may lose a finger or two; Floyd can attest to this fact.

Keeps his phone on silent. He does wear a bluetooth headset so he can take calls while still driving but only picks up if it’s from his parents, Azul (75% of the time), or Floyd (50% of the time).

Doesn’t have any bumper stickers, but does have several mushroom decorations hidden throughout his vehicle. If he could, he would have everything mushroom themed, but he needs to keep up his appearance. Keeps his keys on a mushroom lanyard. Keeps everything spotless.

Silently rages in his head at people who really shouldn’t be on the road. He just clutches tightly onto the steering wheel with a cold smile. 

Floyd Leech

He can either be an okay driver or driving like he’s in GTA and making a getaway, there is no in-between. It depends on his mood, time of day, moon cycle, and weather.

Has the music to full blast and singing along. And his playlist is the most chaotic thing, it can be 80’s one minute, dubstep the next, and then musicals. If it’s loud and chaotic, he’ll play it.

Has called Jade and Azul on speaker while he’s driving. Jade is used to this behaviour. Azul is livid, especially if he’s in class or at the Lounge. Don’t be like Floyd.

His bumper is covered in the greatest assortment of cursed bumper stickers. You can’t really make anything out. The inside is just as chaotic as the outside, but it all reflects what is going on inside his head.

Has road rage, and will act on it. Is the type of person to race people who pass him. Honestly, no one really knows how he still has a license or if he even got a license in the first place… wait, he has a license, right? RIGHT? FLOYD?!

#twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland headcanons #twst headcanons #azul ashengrotto #twst azul #jade leech #twst jade #floyd leech #twst floyd #azul ashengrotto headcanon #jade leech headcanon #floyd leech headcanon #so yeah only jade can really drive #and i choose to bully azul /affectionate #*blows air horn at car; car honks back #do not get in the car with floyd if you value your life and/or sanity #octavinelle headcanons #in all seriousness azul just has the vibes ya know [speaking from personal experience but i actually enjoy public transit]

[etirabys]

I listened to a bit of an Internal Family Systems audiobook and it reminded me of a claim that comes up a fair bit in therapy/communication frameworks that’s never sat right with me

Reconstructed quote from the IFS book: “If some part of you is getting angry at your partner, you’ll find that it’s projection – the thing that made you mad is an exile subcomponent that you have”

NVC has a similar-feeling thing: if something pisses you off, you need to investigate your feelings and discover what need is not being met

These frameworks really want you to find a personal reason you hate something, which makes sense, because people hate things for personal reasons all the time and these are frequently tractable to introspection or negotiation!

However, there’s a major human drive that these frameworks fail at dealing with, and it’s norm enforcement. Norm enforcement instincts are not reducible to needs or projection. My mutual on twitter posted various personal stats for 2022 (like sex count, mood, alcohol use) and went viral because she only took 37 showers in that time. People got real mad about that. I don’t think it’s projection or a need not being met – it’s a purity instinct and a norm enforcement behavior kicking in.

When I see someone cutting in line, I get angry even though it doesn’t affect me, and therapy system shaped explanations like “I’m afraid that someday someone will cut in line in front of me and cost me 2 minutes when I’m in a hurry” fall flat. "I have the emotional need for people around me to behave in respectful and predictable ways” is an in-between one that sounds better, but it covers way too much stuff, and therapy books rightfully dodge using this example.

I think we have prescriptive instincts based on our understandings of “how humans ought to be shaped to interface with each other” that are more rigid and less psychologically deep than NVC/IFS/etc would like, and interpersonal clashes based on these norm enforcement instincts are hard to resolve using these systems. Sometimes there isn’t a deep reason you hate something and you’re going to confuse yourself and go in circles if you try to find one.

#rambl #human stuff

[jackoshadows]

Listening to the AFfC and ADwD audiobooks and it just hit me in the face with my unconscious biases.

Asoiaf ramblings under the cut...

The Jaime AFfC chapters just reinforced my dislike of the character - I saw no redemption, just a Lannister helping the loathsome Freys and his own house/family strengthen their stranglehold on the Riverlands. From doing nothing about poor Jeyne Poole being send North to marry Ramsay Bolton to threatening Stark allies in the Riverlands, Jaime is only concerned about the Lannisters coming out on top.

Jaime keeps making excuses for his support of the Freys being in direct opposition to his oaths to Catelyn by using the literal meaning of not fighting with a sword. All the while threatening to trebuchet Edmure's baby, taking Catelyn's family as hostages and even adding more guards when they are being transported so that there is no chance of escape or anyone freeing them. It's especially galling because for me the Freys are such loathsome cockroaches while poor Edmure has all my sympathy.

Which is why I am 100% for Ladystoneheart wrecking havoc in the Riverlands. Everytime there is a mention of the wolves or a band of outlaws taking down Lannister allies in the Jaime POV chapters it makes me so excited for the Freys/Lannisters getting utter wrecked!

If LSH wants to hang Jaime Lannister for crimes committed, I am here for it! I can understand where Brienne is coming from considering he saved her from unimaginable horror and yet the man deserves to hang.

And then I was listening to ADwD, and there's Jon's chapter of letting the Wildlings through the Wall after negotiation with Tormund and it struck me that as far as the Freefolk are concerned, Jon Snow is really not a nice guy is he?

The hostages went first—one hundred boys between the ages of eight and sixteen. “Your blood price, Lord Crow,” Tormund declared. “I hope the wailing o’ their poor mothers don’t haunt your dreams at night.” Some of the boys were led to the gate by a mother or a father, others by older siblings. More came alone. Fourteen and fifteen-year-old boys were almost men, and did not want to be seen clinging to a woman’s skirts. Two stewards counted the boys as they went by, noting each name on long sheepskin scrolls. A third collected their valuables for the toll and wrote that down as well. The boys were going to a place that none had ever been before, to serve an order that had been the enemy of their kith and kin for thousands of years, yet Jon saw no tears, heard no wailing mothers. These are winter’s people, he reminded himself. Tears freeze upon your cheeks where they come from. Not a single hostage balked or tried to slink away when his turn came to enter that gloomy tunnel. Almost all the boys were thin, some past the point of gauntness, with spindly shanks and arms like twigs. - Jon, ADwD

And this is where GRRM's oft mentioned quote comes into the play -

The villain is the hero of the other side, as sometimes said. That doesn’t mean that it’s all morally relative. That doesn’t mean that all things are equally good and evil. I think there is good and there is evil in the world, but I regard the struggle between good and evil as being waged within the individual human heart. ------ I’ve been always very impressed by Homer and his Iliad, especially the scene of the fight between Achilles and Hector. Who is the hero and who is the villain? That’s the power of the story and I wanted something similar to my books. The hero of one side is the villain of the other side. - GRRM

I sympathize with the Tullys and the Starks because we get their POV chapters and have spend time with them and are strongly pro Stark, pro Tully etc. And yet we get no such POV for the Freefolk even though characters like Mance Rayder are righteous in their goals, are shut off from the rest of the realm with a Wall and are only trying to survive.

Davos is often celebrated as being a voice of the Smallfolk despite supporting someone like Stannis Baratheon and yet I feel like Mance Rayder is where that praise should ideally go to. His freefolk parents killed by the NW, raised by the NW, experiencing first hand their bigotry and truly trying to help his people by gathering them together and getting to safety on the other side of the Wall. Like literally this should have been Jon Snow when defending the Wall against the Freefolk getting through...

And this is also why I dislike the double standards when it comes to Jon and Dany, both of noble houses, both their arcs as leaders having parallels in it's complexity and nuance - they both make morally grey and ruthless decisions and yet it's only Daenerys who is often called out on hers. Jon Snow's arc would be as much of a 'white savior' arc as Dany's and the only reason it isn't deemed as such is because of GRRM's orientalization of Essos. And that's a flaw of the writer, not the character.

#asoiaf ramblings while listening to AFfC and ADwD

[jinx-you-owe-me]

PART 10

of the dfk audiobook translation

@cnka

Direktorin Kreuzkamm: „I hereby hand over the production for the closing celebration to you.“

Narrator (Nichtraucher): Given her overflowing time planner…

Direktorin Kreuzkamm: „Have fun and toi, toi, toi!“

[Note: is „Toi, toi, toi“ a thing in other countries?? Its basically a way to wish luck in the theatre. Like „break a leg“]

Narrator (Nichtraucher): …Frau Kreuzkamm counted on Jo and the self-responsibilty of the students.

Narrator (audiobook): Jo steps in front of the group.

Jo, overly enthusiastic and cheerful: „Let’s get started!"

Narrator (audiobook): Ruda, however, doesn’t play along with it.

Ruda: „You can do that on your own.“ Jo: „Come on, guys, it’s gonna be cool! Who's with me?“

Apart from Jo's friends, only Egerland raises his hand, but Sebi slaps it down again and pulls him with her.

Narrator (audiobook): The Externs leave the hall as one, and even the majority of the Internals have other plans.

Internal: „Sorry, Jo, we’re not getting involved in that.“ Other Internal: „Too much stress for us…“

Everyone leaves, muttering among each other („No, no thank you“)

Jo: „Are you serious?!“

Narrator (audiobook): Apart from our four friends, all the other Internals seem to be serious about it as well, because Martina, Jo, Matze and Uli are the only ones left.

Jo: „Ugh, it can’t work with this amount of people!“ Martina: „It has to work! If I get a reprimand, I won’t be taken in.“ Matze: „Ask me, my father always punches me in the face when I get another one!“ Uli: „…It would be my first one…“

Jo: „Guys. I have an idea.“

Narrator (audiobook): Jo brings her friends back to the clearing and proudly points to the train wagon.

Jo: „Okay, guys, this is the flying classroom! We’ll put a nose on the front. A wing here. And a rocket engine in the back. We get the stuff from the theatre fundus, and then we produce a film that we’ll show at the closing celebration!“ Martina, lighting up: „A film?“ Jo, excitedly: „Yes!! And-“

Narrator (audiobook): Jo falls silent. From the inside of the train wagon comes piano music.

Jo: „Do you hear that?“

Narrator (audiobook): She sneaks to the wagon and looks through one of the windows. She sees a man sit there and play with a cigarette in his mouth. All of a sudden, he abruptly turns his head and looks directly into her eyes.

Narrator (audiobook): Jo frantically comes running back to her friends.

Jo: „Shit, guys! Do you hear that? There’s someone in there! He saw me!“

The door of the train wagon slams open. The kids gasp.

Narrator (audiobook): Suddenly, the door of the wagon opens. At first, the Internals only hear a voice.

Nichtraucher: „Are you trying to break in here?“ Matze: „Co-come on, let’s scram!“

Narrator (audiobook): But Martina forges ahead.

Martina: „Excuse us! We got lost.“

Narrator (audiobook): The smoking man -approximately Herr Bökh’s age- steps out of the door and examines the Internals closely.

Jo: „Uh- What- What are you doing here?“ Nichtraucher: „That’s really none of your business.“

Martina, with emphasis: „Jo, come on!“ Jo: „No, wait- Do you sleep in there?“ Nichtraucher: „… This is private property here.“

Narrator (audiobook): But Jo doesn’t let up and persistently asks further.

Jo: „What was that song? Who is it from?“ Nichtraucher: „…“ Nichtraucher: „From me.“ Jo: „Do you give lessons?“ Nichtraucher: „Piano?“

Jo: „No, for smoking. Of course Piano.“

Nichtraucher: „No, I don’t.“

Nichtraucher: „Ok, and now off you go, you little squirts!“

He turns around to go back inside.

Jo: „No, stop, wait! Uh… We’re four Internals from the boarding school Sigismund. And we want to shoot a movie for the closing celebration. Because we have trouble with the Externs and… Doesn’t matter, you can’t explain that. In any case, we wanted to ask if we could shoot on your property.“

The Nichtraucher pauses when Jo mentions the boarding school and turns around.

He listens silently and seems to be thinking.

Narrator (audiobook): Robert, that’s what the man is called, who, as previously mentioned, is also the author of this story, seems to be surprised by this blunt question. He takes a long drag and looks Jo in the eye.

Jo: „Please?“

#das fliegende klassenzimmer #dfk 2023 audiobook translation #das fliegende klassenzimmer 2023 #dfk #how its just casually brought up that matze’s dad physically abuses him and then they never mention it again 👍 #mine #also that the narrator emphasizes that the nichtraucher is „approximately herr bökh’s age“ #really smooth very sneaky

[tyin-cherry-knots]

my mom told be I should excercise because it’ll improve my mental health but apparently stumbling around our neighborhood at odd hours while listening to tsh audiobook doesn’t count

#what’s a girl to do #tsh #chaotic academia

[notbecauseofvictories]

hi Sarah! loved your breakdown of your year in books -- I don't think I was able to finish a single book this year, so I wanted to ask if you have advice or tips for getting oneself to read more? (specifically I have problems with jumping from book to book without finishing any, as well as just having the time/energy/brain to read; my job is pretty heavy on reading and assimilating info, and I'd assume yours is similar, so your perspective on that aspect especially would be much appreciated!)

I think if you want to get back into reading---not in an "eating your vegetables" way, but to genuinely rediscover something that brought you joy---the key is to play on easy mode.

By that I mean: there is a reason I can blow through pulp horror, romance novels, and YA books in a couple hours when a real, thoughtful novel written by an author in command of their craft takes days to get through. Those books are easy! They are designed to be easy. They are shaped to go down smoothly in an airport or an afternoon, and---sure, maybe you can feel guilty about that, but more importantly, you are reading them. And the more “easy” books you finish, the more practice you’ll have in sitting still, in paying attention---in finishing at all.

For whatever reason, it’s easier to pick up a meaningful book and commit to it if you know you’ve already finished a lot of very silly books first. (If I knew anything about exercise, I might compare it to endurance training. However, as I am someone who loves books and bread, my knowledge of how the human body performs miraculous feats of strength is nonexistent.)

Or maybe your easy mode is audiobooks! Those are still books, they absolutely count. So are graphic novels, or comics. I struggle to get through a full-length nonfiction book, but I’m wild for longform journalism---that’s reading too! The more “easy” writing you find and read/listen to/view, the more you build up that internal muscle and the more you’ll be ready (and eager!) to reach for more.

And if that doesn’t work, if you’re still struggling to motivate yourself after giving yourself permission to seek out whatever is easiest and most fun....join a book club. Rather than try to muster up your own internal initiative, outsource! Make other people hold you accountable, and the looming meeting guilt you into reading whatever the book of the month is. This genuinely works---I have read a lot more interesting books as a result of joining a book club than I ever would on my own.

So there’s no one strategy. But I strongly suggest picking whichever one gets you reading---and whatever form that takes is in fact the right one.

#from the bookshelf #making brie en croute and reading my next book club pick so I'm feeling very fond of all the ways we stumble into reading

[cailynwrites]

Harry Potter Rec Fest Day 3 - Podfic

In addition to being a podficcer, I DEVOUR podfics and audiobooks, so this @hprecfest is very difficult. So I picked one person who I think is consistently putting out incredible work.

JocundaSykes has been doing incredible podfic work for several years, and writes as well! Her voice is incredible, especially her Snape. And she has a beautiful singing voice as well. Her recordings are sharp and clean and so listenable. With almost 100 works, where to start? I'll rec two of my recent favorites:

Waiting to Divide written by emynn Pairing: Harry x Snape Word count: 22K Length: 2:11:00 Rating: E Summary:

Harry always thought soulmates were the domain of overly soppy romantics. What he didn't realise was that they were very real, very dangerous and very inconvenient... especially when your soulmate is the very dead Severus Snape. Fortunately, with the help of his friends and a Time Portal, he's able to get past that pesky obstacle... and finds his life completely changed.

The Space Between Failing and Falling written and recorded by JocundaSykes Pairing: Harry x Snape Word count: 45K Length: 4:45:00 Rating: E Summary:

A very long time ago, Severus resigned himself to the reality that he doesn’t have a soulmate after all. He’s finally a real Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and his life is perfectly tolerable, thank you very much.

However, at the age of thirty-nine, it seems his soulmate has come of age. He will ignore this new development and carry on as he always has.

************************************************************************

As for self-recs ...

I wouldn't be doing any of this if it weren't for @etl-echo-audiobooks. I used to record public domain audiobooks for Librivox and I am a huge proponent of increased accessibility of art and literature for all. Please check out all the talented narrators (and the bevy of editors, quality control, and management behind the scenes) who do incredible work for ETL Echo and have put out millions of podfic words over the last few years. Check the linktree for all the the stuff, and ...

A Season for Setting Fires by @mightbewriting - a Podfic Pairing: Draco x Hermione Word count: 95K Length: 11+ hours Rating: E Summary:

Torture smells like spring.

Like daffodils and tulips and snowdrops. Like the bouquets brought inside from the manor gardens to lend their life to cold stone walls that house criminals. Easter mixed with madness makes sense in this twisted landscape; Draco’s only chance at survival is to endure it. He knows this. But that doesn’t quell the twitching in his calves, the flexing in his fingers.

Granger lifts her hand off the floor and Draco nearly loses his lunch, stomach churning as he watches her extend her arm, reaching through the translucent cord, reaching towards him. He tries to blink it away, blink blink blink, but both she and the cord are stubborn, persistent things.

[In which a soulmate bond appears while Hermione is tortured at Malfoy Manor. Canon divergent from that moment onward.]

I was so excited to get to narrate @mightbewriting's work. Her prose is so economic and lovely, and it packs a serious punch. I think it translates really well to the audio medium because it's easy to immerse yourself in the story and follow along. Mind the content warnings, this is a pretty dark fic.

#hprecfest2023 #jocundasykes #etl echo #podfic #hp podfic #snarry #dramione

[blairwitchapologist]

I'm really bad at reading and I get easily distracted and feel bad when I don't understand something im reading :( I wish I could read more books

ok i 100% get you and i know you didn’t ask for advice here but i’m going to give you some anyways and if you don’t want it or you think it’s bad advice then just ignore it

i was a big reader when i was a kid and IRONICALLY when i started taking adderall (i was like 13) my ability to read for fun just went away completely (not to sound like a boomer but social media probably also contributed to this) and when i stopped taking adderall at like 20 that was one of the big things i decided i wanted to get back and it literally felt like i was reteaching myself reading comprehension as well as just How To Enjoy Reading Again lol

one thing i did was go back and reread all of my favorite books from when i was 11, like every chapter book i could remember that i liked as a kid (twilight was on this list but other than that they were books for elementary/early middle schoolers) and just kind of had to force myself to not be embarrassed that i was an adult reading books for kids bc hey at least i was trying!! and if you weren’t a reader when you were a kid either then i need to remind you of this: Librarians Exist and they Want To Help You!!! go to the library and ask them for recommendations on books for people who aren’t necessarily “readers” and i’m sure you will leave with some great ideas

and then another thing was that my phone had to be out of my sight. preferably in the other room on silent

i also learned what environments were best for me to read in and honestly it’s so weird but for me, i was able to do so much reading at bars? i do really well when i’m surrounded by people and people mostly leave you alone if they see you at a bar/restaurant table by yourself reading a book lol so maybe it would be nice to figure out what that is for you!

and this kind of goes hand-in-hand with the library thing but if possible, you should find a book club near you and join it. there’s so many specific kinds of books clubs out there (my friend is in one where they only read fantasy smut books) and you don’t have to participate in the discussion if you don’t want to! sometimes listening to other people discuss the book that i’m reading helps me understand it more! if there’s no in-person book clubs around you, look for some online!!!

also i know there’s people who will make you think that listening to an audiobook doesn’t count as reading and i am going to just let you know that those people are Stupid and Wrong! end of story!

and also just remember that you are (i’m assuming?) an adult, it’s not like you’re getting graded on reading for fun or anything! i know that this whole culture that’s happening rn with booktok and bookstagram and people who have crazy reading goals and finish a book every day is really intimidating so i avoid that! i follow some ig accounts for book recs but i’m not paying any mind to the wealthy unemployed 22 year olds who are able to spend their whole days reading lol. just give it a shot and you’re allowed to not finish a book if you’re not enjoying/understanding it!! but if you want to be a reader you just have to try!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[divine-donna]

buckle up, f*ckers

it’s been a bit since i’ve made a post. so have these driving head canons in a modern au for the hotd cast. idk i honestly think it would be funny when thinking about them driving.

ser criston cole

criston is pretty rigid when it comes to driving. he prefers the car to be silent while he drives so he’s not distracted. and sometimes, it can be really awkward because you don’t really feel like you should talk while he drives. he is generally smooth, good at following traffic laws, and he gets to places. but he’s someone to join when you need to run errands.

“(y/n), there is no eating in my car! you will make a mess. besides, you can wait another five minutes for us to return home so we can eat.”

daemon targaryen

a much cooler driver, daemon is a lot more casual with traffic laws. sometimes, he doesn’t signal when he turns (a little frustrating). but he tends to drive at night when there’s no one else but himself around. he prefers late night drives and scenic drives and be alone with his thoughts. but he will play his music loud just to annoy the hell out of criston.

“something on your mind (y/n)?...well, how about you come with me? late night drives are the best way to clear your head.”

rhaenyra targaryen

rhaenyra is someone that doesn’t drive often. but when she does pull up, it’s in a nice fancy car, windows rolled down, sunglasses on. she’s a cool aunt after all and rather lax with driving. driving with her is always a joy as you two catch up on what has happened recently. she also loves going fast and stepping on that gas petal.

“do you need me to come pick you up?...okay. i will be there in a few minutes. i just need to grab this bottle of wine first.”

alicent hightower

our residential soccer mom, alicent has everything and anything anyone needs. a change of clothes? in her car. snacks? in her car. makeup? her car. she has the minivan and everything, always counting heads and making sure everyone is inside and buckled up first. she loves her minivan! and when she’s not with her kids, she’ll turn on an audiobook while she drives to work.

“i should have it in here...aha! a change of clothes for you (y/n) and some snacks. if you need anything else, just tell me.”

aegon targaryen

aegon isn’t allowed to drive. not with the large amount of duis and speeding tickets stacked up at alicent’s desk. he drives anyways. it’s just a matter of him not getting caught after all. aegon loves to go fast and he’s rather careless. oftentimes, he doesn’t buckle his seatbelt or signal his turns. it’s kind of a miracle that you haven’t died yet.

“(y/n)! i’ve come to pick you up!...what? not happy to see me? i’m not like my mom, i know. but we can go to wendy’s on the way?”

aemond targaryen

aemond is a very responsible driver. he prefers to have someone in the car with him, like you. after all, you help him with his blind spots and with spatial awareness. he’s practiced a lot and spent many hours on the road so he can master driving. he passed his test with flying colors. you much prefer to be in the car with aemond. plus he has better music taste than aegon.

“if you want, you can attach your phone to the aux and play whatever you want. we’re going to be on the road for a while. although that’s the price of going to this concert.”

helaena targaryen

helaena is one of the best drivers among her siblings. she does, however, get really anxious on the road. there are plenty of times where she had to pull over to calm herself so she wouldn’t get into an accident. poor girl has still not gone onto the highway because of how intimidating it is.

“i hate the highway. always so scary. and people can be unnecessarily mean while on the road. well, at least we’re going to the mall.”

jacaerys velaryon

jace is like his mom in many ways, in that he has a more relaxed attitude towards traffic laws. but he’s also a safe driver, making sure everyone is buckled in and that everyone has everything. he’s often the go-to soccer mom among people his age. he takes all of his friends on trips to restaurants and the mall.

“(y/n)! i’m outside! let’s get going! we have to pick up helaena and aemond. i don’t know why aemond’s coming though.”

#hotd #house of the dragon #hotd headcanons #modern au #ser criston #rhaenyra targaryen #alicent hightower #aegon the usurper #aemond targaryen #helaena targaryen #jacaerys velaryon

[westanthewaterman]

Wakey Wakey Protocol - Engineer!Mark x GN!Captain

Rating: NSFW

Word count: 1700+

TW: consensual somnophilia, fingersucking, possessive captain, oral (m recieving)

Notes: Thank you so much for the request, I hope you like it! Also yes, I know oral is on my will not write list but I’m experimenting.

MASTERLIST - AO3

Wakefulness washes over the Captain slowly, like a wave gently lapping at the shore. They yawn, blinking their eyes open. It’s quiet, the audiobook of poetry they’d put on when they had climbed into bed has long since finished and the only sound to be heard is the quiet breathing of them and the man sound asleep behind them.

Mark is tucked into the covers, his arms loose around the Captain’s waist. With him pressed against their back like this, they’re able to feel his chest expand and deflate with every deep breath he takes.

It also allows them to feel other things.

Something hard is pressed up against their ass and it doesn’t take the Captain much guessing to figure out what it is. Mark always tends to get hard in his sleep. Usually, they pay it no mind, but, tonight, they’re feeling mischievous.

Ever since Mark and the Captain had finally given themselves permission to take up residence planetside, there was always something to do. Too much, if the Captain was honest. The two have hardly had any time to relax, much less to relax together.

But it’s the middle of the night and there are no alarms, no system malfunctions, no wormholes. Sure, Mark could use the sleep, and so could they, but the more they think about it, the more the Captain wants - no, needs - to have him right this second.

They move slowly, gently pushing Mark’s arms off them and rolling him onto his back. He’s a very heavy sleeper, which came as a surprise to the Captain the first time they’d slept together. After everything they’d been through, even just a slight change in the building’s air conditioning will have the Captain up and alert, but they’re happy he feels comfortable and safe enough with them to sleep so soundly.

They’re also happy it makes some things so much easier.

Undoing the tie on the front of Mark’s pajama pants is simple and the Captain slips them down his hips, along with his boxers, just enough to let his cock spring free from the confines of the fabric. He’s almost fully hard, a drop of precum beading at the tip, and the Captain can’t help but lick their lips.

He’s a good length with a little more girth than what might be considered average. It always feels so good when he’s inside them, stretching them open just enough to leave them feeling it for a few hours after they finish messing around. Just thinking about it has the Captain all hot and bothered and they quickly remove their pajamas, leaving them only in a pair of underwear, the cool air in the room doing wonders to their heated skin.

They reach out slowly, wrapping their fingers loosely around the base of his cock, keeping an eye on Mark’s face in case their touch starts to rouse him from his sleep. He’ll have to wake up eventually, it’s much easier to do things that way, but the Captain wants to have their fun for as long as they can.

With a gentle grip on his cock, the Captain starts to stroke up and down his shaft slowly. A small grunt comes from deep in the engineer’s throat, but, otherwise, he remains still, unbothered.

The Captain shifts quietly, moving so they’re laying on their stomach between his legs, face only inches away from his cock, giving them the perfect angle to watch the way it twitches in their hand and also keep an eye on his face.

Slowly, so slowly, they duck down and start giving small kitten licks to the head of his cock, pausing when Mark lets out a soft whimper, before returning to the task at hand. They take the tip into their mouth, tracing their tongue over it, giving special attention to the spot on the underside where the shaft meets the head.

Feeling brave, the Captain takes him further into their mouth, hollowing their cheeks around his shaft and bobbing their head slowly.

Mark’s hips buck up involuntarily and he startles awake with a moan, looking down at them with wide, glassy eyes.

“C-Capt-”

He cuts himself off with a long groan as they take him all the way into the back of their throat, swallowing around him. Mark buries one hand in their hair and the other in the sheets, back arching at the sudden onslaught of pleasure.

“Captain!”

They pull off his cock with a pop, licking a stripe up the shack before giving him a demure smile. Mark’s chest is heaving with deep breaths, face red, and the Captain swears he’s never looked better.

“Morning, baby.”

“Not that I’m complaining about the wake-up call because,” Mark groans when they start to stroke him slowly. “trust me, I’m not, but w-what’s gotten into you?”

“We haven’t had any time to ourselves lately and I could feel how hard you were when I woke up, so I thought I’d give you a little TLC.”

“Well, I could get used to waking up like this.” He rolls his hips up into their hand.

“You may regret saying that.”

They crawl up the bed, straddling him and ducking down to steal his lips in a kiss. Mark’s responding kiss is slow, uncoordinated. He’s clearly still drowsy and they like how relaxed and pliant he is beneath them, giving them a lazy smile.

“Baby, will you let me have you?” They whisper against his lips.

“You already do.”

“Yes, but you know what I mean. Will you let me fuck you?”

Mark groans, throwing his head back against the pillows and nodding slowly, staring up at them with wide, hungry eyes. “Whatever you want, Captain. You know I’m yours.”

“You are mine. Mine to touch, mine to tease, mine to take .” They roll their hips down against him, making them both moan. “Mine.”

He whimpers at the possessive edge to their voice, turning his head to the side to hide his face in the pillows. “Captain.”

“You look so good beneath me, baby.”

The Captain slips his shirt off over his head quickly, their underwear following suit. With his tanned chest now on display, they trail kisses up from his sternum and all the way to the corner of his jaw, nipping and licking as they go, leaving behind a trail of marks.

Mark groans at the feeling of their teeth scraping over his skin and bucks his hips up, rubbing his cock against the sensitive skin between their legs.

They groan. “So impatient.”

“Please,” he whines, “don’t make me wait. It’s torture.”

“Not yet, baby. I need to get myself ready for you. Open your mouth.”

Without any hesitation, Mark parts his lips. The Captain slips two fingers inside, pressing them against his tongue and easing them in and out slowly. He groans around them, squeezing his eyes shut and sucking on their fingers happily.

“You take me so well.”

Mark glows at the praise, doubling down his effort, bobbing his mouth up and down the length of their fingers.

Once the Captain decides he’s gotten their fingers nice and wet, they slip them from his mouth and down between their legs. Tracing over their entrance, they press their fingers inside themself slowly, letting out a soft groan.

“Mark,” they moan.

“What is it? What do you need?”

“I want you to touch yourself for me, stroke your cock. But you don’t get to cum until you’re inside me, understand?”

“Yes, Captain.”

Eyes fixed on where the Captain’s fingers disappear inside them, Mark fists a hand around his cock, stroking up and down over the shaft quickly.

“Oh god, Captain, I want you so bad. Waking up with my cock in your mouth-” Mark cuts himself off with a moan, stopping his strokes to tighten his hand around the base of his cock, staving off his impending orgasm. “P-Please, I’m so close already.”

They groan, curling their fingers to hit that sensitive spot inside themself. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m gonna take care of you.”

The Captain removes their fingers from themself, slipping them back into his mouth. Mark groans, eyes rolling back as he sucks on them. They reach between their bodies and take ahold of his cock, guiding the head to their entrance and sinking down slowly.

Their fingers fall from his mouth as Mark groans and reaches up to get their hips in a vice grip that is sure to leave bruises, not that they mind. The Captain lowers themself slowly until they’ve taken his entire length inside. They still once their hips are flush with his, resting their hands on either side of Mark’s head and dropping their face into the crook of his neck.

“How does it feel, baby?”

“God,” he groans, “so good. You always make me feel so good.”

Slowly, they raise up and sink back down onto him and Mark swears he can see stars flashing in front of his eyes. He bites his lip, desperately trying to hold back the orgasm that just keeps creeping closer and closer with every roll of their hips.

“It’s okay. Give in to it, let go.”

He shakes his head furiously. “N-No, I want you to cum first. Want to make sure you feel good, too.”

“Oh baby, you always make me feel good, especially when you’re cumming inside me. Love knowing I’m the one that made you cum. You’re all mine, isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m yours, Captain, all yours.”

“Good. I want you to cum, baby, make a mess for me. Show me who you belong to.”

Mark cums with a cry of their name, hips rutting up into them as he fills them with warmth. The Captain groans, picking up their pace to fuck him through his orgasm. It doesn’t take long for pleasure to overtake them as well and they still in his lap, pressing their forehead to his chest while they catch their breath.

“You okay, Captain?” Mark rubs their back.

“So good. How ‘bout you?”

“I’m great.” He sighs happily.

The Captain rolls off him and tucks themself into his side, wrapping their arms around his waist. “I needed that.”

“Me too, we can’t let it go that long again.”

“Agreed.” They yawn and lean up to kiss him. “I love you, get some sleep now."

“You too, Captain. There might be a surprise waiting for you when you wake up.”

#engineer!mark x captain #engineer!mark x captain smut #engineer!mark x gn!captain #captaineer #west writes #engineer egghead #the watcher #nsft #tw somnophilia #tw possessive behaviour

[lovelywooz]

Boo Seungkwan - Night Walk

This is kind of a short open letter to him if I’m honest? I see so much of myself in Seungkwan. He’s a wonderful soul. One of my favorite people to have been born on this Earth. I’ve had something in my drafts about him for a while, but I wanted to wait to post it. Here it is now<3

Word Count: 743

Warnings: None, could be a little bit angsty? It’s short which I know takes some people out of the zone.

As you’ve gotten to know him, you and Seungkwan both see so much of yourselves in the other. You started going on nighttime walks about a month ago to let go of your deeply set stress together.

*******************************************************

Everything about Seungkwan is so tranquil. The way he holds your hand gently, but with a loving firmness. The way your pairs of feet make a tiny splash with each watery step on the park sidewalk. The way raindrops pitter-patter so effortlessly perfect you could be fooled into thinking its a studio recording.

You’ve each got one earbud in. The wired kind since Boo says that it’s ‘more intimate’ that way. Your left ear and his right ear both tune into the audiobook you’ve chosen for the night: Alice in Wonderland. It’s actually quite a long book and each chapter is about 45 minutes of blissfully calm narration. Both of you enjoy a little light ASMR here and there. You figured it’s good to start with the classics, since Boo said he’d never read most of them before and frankly it’s been a long time since you had either.

This little habit of yours, walking at night hand-in-hand while listening to an audiobook, has become an essential part of your relationship with Seungkwan. Though it’s only been a few months since you started dating, you’re not sure you ever truly lived without him.

He can see you’re stressed. You can see he’s stressed. And so the earbuds and umbrella come out and you’re out the door. This routine works to serve both of you. Sincerely you hope that you can bring him even half as much comfort as he gives you just being in his presence. His aura is like that of a blanket thats been warmed next to a roaring hearth. Even in the nighttime rain, you can still feel his burning heart through your connected palms. He’s the guy you wished- no, prayed was out there waiting for you.

Suddenly, he comes to a stop next to a large tree. He always looks around in peaceful silence, but he’s never outright stopped during one of your walks before. He speaks in a calm tone, still audible enough to be heard over both the rain and the narrator’s voice in your ear. “I used to walk here by myself a lot when I had thoughts to sort out”, he releases your hand and reaches his fingers out to trace them over the bark, “It makes me so happy that you like coming here too”.

“Any place with you next to me makes me happy” you chirp. A smile blooms across his features as he turns his head to look at you.

“I’m sorry that,” he hesitates, “that I don’t tell you enough. That I can never seem to show you or put into words how I’m feeling”. Knowing that you’re going to deny his words right away, he puts a finger to your lips. “Don’t go saying that it’s not true, because I know it is”. Despite what it seems like, Seungkwan doesn’t sound sad at all. His tone indicates more of a reflective mood than anything else, like he’s somehow collected all his thoughts and is ready to lay them out one-by-one. This is a rarity for him.

He continues, “Part of why I feel so drawn to you is that we are so similar. In some ways I love that we can instantly figure each other out, we know what the other needs without saying anything. It also makes me feel so bad for you at times, because I know how complicated you feel when you’re hurt. It’s hard when we choke up each time we’re asked how we’re doing. Because we honestly don’t know”.

His index finger reaches up from your lips to brush a strand of hair from your face. “When I look in your eyes, I see all the fondness I once begged for, the assurance that I need, a reflection of what I have always wished and hoped would come to me. It amazes me all the time that there is someone who just- gets it. That understands me. As if we’re bound by some cosmic force that I can’t see. Or cut from the same cloth”. He laces your fingers together once again. “I just have to say it, while I’m feeling brave, and I have you here in front of my eyes, I have to tell you what I’ve been feeling”.

The audiobook chapter ends, just in time for you to hear him clearly between the patter of the rain on your umbrella.

“I love you”.

#boo seungkwan #seungkwan #seungkwan fluff #seungkwan angst #seungkwan imagine #seungkwan drabble #seventeen #seventeen imagines #seventeen fluff #booseoksoon #seventeen drabbles