#( YOU'RE ALWAYS SO FUN TO TALK TO AND OUR PLOTS MAKE ME EMOTIONAL )

[radicalreliablerandomness]

Podcast Rec Masterpost

I've been asked a couple times for podcast recommendations so I thought I'd post a compilation of some shows and a bit of info about them. Most shows I talk about are tagged below (I ran out of tags) so you can look through fan content as well if you're not one to care about spoilers. My asks are still open for personalized recs if you send me some others that you've listened to just because I love you, yes that's right! You. The person reading this right now!

Here goes!

Dungeons And Daddies *not a BDSM podcast

This show is a dnd actual play podcast. The first season is about four dads from our world lost in the Forgotten Realms in search of their lost sons. It’s a comedy but as with all comedies, you will cry by the end of it. It's super easy to get into with great chemistry between all the cast players and the dm, no prior knowledge of dnd is necessary. They do invoke slight horror sometimes so do keep an eye out for content warnings. Season 1 has 68.5 episodes along with bonus content and a mini campaign in between seasons 1 and 2. Season 2 is currently ongoing. Transcripts available.

The Bright Sessions

This is a science fiction podcast. The premise is a collection of clinical recordings of superpowered people's therapy sessions. The plot gets more interesting and convoluted as you get further in. Incredible voice acting filled with emotion. Does have some heavier discussions so be on the lookout for content warnings. It has 7 seasons (the last two are technically not part of the first five seasons' plot) and is completed. Transcripts available.

Hello From the Hallowoods

A post-apocalyptic fiction podcast. A beautifully written and preformed podcast that explores identity, religion, and other themes in vignettes throughout this haunted world narrated by an omniscient being. Some heavier topics are included so check the content warning before each episode. Seasons 1 and 2 are completed and season 3 will be done soon. Transcripts available.

The Magnus Archives

A horror fiction podcast. A well written chronological story told through anthology which seem to be tape recordings from a paranormal investigation institute. Incredible writing and actors that really bring it to life. This is horror so make sure to check the content warnings. The show is completed at 5 seasons. Transcripts available.

Neighbourly

Another horror fiction podcast! An interesting look into all the houses on Little Street and their peculiarities. Some more peculiar than others. The podcast is absolutely delightful with a horribly fun narrator. I would suggest checking the content warnings as some episodes are more intense than others. The show has 2 completed seasons. Transcripts available.

The Fall of the House of Sunshine

A musical mystery fiction podcast. The first season is about an investigation on the murder of a beloved host of a children's tooth-themed show. That's all I can say without spoilers. There are 3 incredible seasons along with short stories in between each season. Transcripts available until halfway through season 2.

Welcome to Nightvale

Possibly the most well known science fiction podcast, it really speaks for itself but I'll do my spiel anyways. Recorded as snippets of a daily radio broadcast, the show details the weird goings on in this strange desert town of Nightvale. Narrated almost completely by the radio host's smooth voice. It's ongoing and is currently sitting at 233 episodes. Transcripts available.

The Two Princes

A fictional queer romance podcast. It takes place in that special part of fiction that always starts with "once upon a time," it feels like a story book almost. The show is based around two boys meeting in the woods. Spoiler alert: they fall in love. It's just a cute feel good show. The podcast is complete at 3 seasons. Spotify auto-generated transcripts available.

What's the Frequency?

A self described psychedelic noir podcast. It's an absolute blast even if it is a bit hard to follow. Takes place in the 1940s in LA when all radio broadcasts were turned to static. You kind of just have to go with it until you get to the end. Completed at 12 episodes. Transcripts available.

Story Break

A writer's room podcast. The basic concept behind Story Break is 3 Hollywood writers in a room together take a prompt and try to make a story for it in an hour. There are many laughs in this podcast and just all around good humor and vibes. The show is complete at 169 episodes plus two full movie scripts. No transcript.

Who Killed Avril Lavigne

A science fiction podcast. It's about a time traveling pop punk loser and that's all you need to know. It's a podmusical so you'll be getting great nostalgic pop punk type songs along with crying from laughing so hard. Completed at 8 episodes. No transcript.

The Behemoth

A fiction podcast. Based around an unexplainable creature emerging from the ocean and how the world, and one girl in particular, deal with this phenomenon. It is pretty short with the longest episode being about 12 minutes. Completed at 20 episodes. No transcript.

Rude Tales of Magic

A dnd actual play podcast. It is mainly focused on the actual roleplay and story telling as opposed to the actual play. A handful of college students from Polaris University fuck the world up by completing a hazing ritual which in this case is a supposedly demon summoning. Obviously now they need to fix the world. Currently 64 episodes and ongoing. No transcript.

Midnight Burger

A very well written fiction podcast. It’s about a time/space traveling diner where the employees try to help solve a problem every place they land. Think Doctor Who adjacent vibes but with more drama. There is an overarching plot that comes together so look out for that. It has incredible characters that are really nicely fleshed out. You’ll somehow like and hate all of them as much as possible in the best way. Currently has 29 episodes of the main feed and a 9 episode mini-series. Transcript available.

Monstrous Agonies

A fiction podcast. It’s an radio advice segment on a station for “liminal Britain” aka the monstrous world to put it plainly. It’s really chill and comforting. There’s very good advice there and the intermittent ad reads will have you giggling to yourself. Episodes are on the shorter side, averaging about 15 minutes each. It does have some heavier discussions so make sure to check the content warnings. The show is completed at 111 episodes through 3 seasons. Transcripts available.

Desert Skies

A fiction podcast. The voice acting in this one is incredible, it’s the same person the whole time. The show as a whole is also just super well done. The premise is that when you die you show up on a highway and get to this astral pit stop. I’m not going to spoil it anymore you just have to experience it. There is an additional show, Desert Skies FM that's a buddy to this one. I recommend listening to both. Season 1 was completed at 12 episodes. Transcripts available.

Wooden Overcoats

A sitcom dramedy podcast. The show is about two siblings that run a funeral home on an island. It used to be the only one, it isn’t anymore. It has a wacky cast of characters and even wackier plot points. The dialogue can be a little hard to get used to at the beginning but once you get into it it flows easily. The show is completed at 4 seasons. Transcripts available.

Greater Boston

An audio drama podcast. It's set in Boston if you couldn't tell from the title and starts with the death of a man on a rollercoaster. It blends real life with some subtle (and at times not-so-subtle) fantasy elements. It's currently at 4 completed seasons. Transcript available.

Gay Future

A science fiction podcast. In a world where everyone is gay in the future we focus on this one straight kid. Following his journey to destroy the government who are making everyone gay. This is a satire by the way. 1 season completed at 6 episodes. No transcripts.

Death by Dying

A dark comedy podcast. The show follows an obituary writer while he does things that are totally under the jurisdiction of his job. A well written and preformed show. There are a lot of laughs and obviously some heartbreaks as well. Currently 1 completed season with season 2 sitting at 2 episodes for a bit now. Transcript available.

Not Another D&D Podcast

An actual play dnd podcast. This one's more mainstream than my other podcasts so I don't talk about it as much but that doesn't mean it's not incredible. The first campaign is about 3 adventurers off to save the world. Obviously. It can be a bit slow in the beginning but anything past the second half of the first season is incredible. There's humor, drama, love, and much more. The DM is also just incredible. 1 completed season, a couple mini campaigns, and the second season is currently at 43 episodes. No transcripts.

Forgive Me!

A fiction podcast. It starts based around vignettes of confessionals in this small town taken by a new father in the local church. An overarching plot is present but it's generally a feel good, sweet and simple show. They have 2 complete seasons with season 3 currently at 9 episodes. Transcripts available.

Real Housewives of D&D

An actual play dnd podcast. This show is based around the concept of a "Real Housewives..." type show but you don't need to know anything about those to listen to this. It's about 4 reality TV stars thrown into a magical fantasy world with no knowledge of how to get home. There's drama, excitement, danger, and lots more. The first season was just completed at 16 episodes. Transcripts available.

The Silt Verses

A horror fiction podcast. Two people who worship a banned god travel together up a river in a pilgrimage. There is incredible worldbuilding in this show along with acting and sound design. This is horror and a very good one at that so make sure you check content warnings. Season 1 and 2 are completed and season 3 is at 2 episodes so far. Transcripts available.

The Land Whale Murders

A comedy fiction podcast. It takes place in the year 1899 and is about a pair of friends? maybe not, that metaphorically explore the world they're living in. It is a commentary on the world we live in and the problems in it through a hilarious and wacky cast. There are currently 17 episodes between both seasons 1 and 2. Transcripts available.

Elaine's Cooking for the Soul

A post-apocalyptic cooking podcast. The show is about a dentist who makes her way through the fallout of an apocalypse while also making a cooking podcast. It does have depictions of violence, war, and dentistry so check out the content warnings. There are 2 completed seasons. No transcripts.

Fawx and Stallion

A mystery podcast. If you hate Sherlock Holmes you'll love this podcast. Also if you love Sherlock Holmes you'll love this podcast. It's based around the detectives who live across the street from Holmes at 224B Baker street. It's pretty goofy. Season 1 is completed. Transcripts available.

The Amelia Project

A fiction podcast. Follow the shenanigans of this death-faking organization as they take in new clients and hear their stories. It does develop an actual overarching plot later on but every second is fun. Seasons 1-4 have been completed and season 5 is in progress. Transcripts available.

A Voice From Darkness

A horror podcast. It's centered around a radio show hosted by Dr. Malcolm Ryder, Parapsychologist. He helps people who call into his show with supernatural problems, gives PSAs and warnings about strange happenings, and more. Season 1 is completed and season 2 is at 9 episodes. Transcripts available.

Station Arcadia

A dystopian fiction podcast. Formatted through a radio show, it tells the story of a world that's slowly dying. There are vignettes of different characters through different areas of the world. Season 1 is completed at 25 episodes. Transcripts available.

Margaret's Garden

A science fiction podcast. It has two plots running at the same time which keeps you on your toes but makes for an intriguing story line. In one plot line, two agents are sent to investigate the strange happenings of a weird little long abandoned town. Simultaneously, we hear from the past of that town as it catches up to the agents. Completed at 10 episodes. Transcripts available.

Camp Here & There

A horror comedy podcast. It's recorded as a set of daily announcements over a loudspeaker at a totally normal summer camp. The announcements are made by the camp nurse and he's also totally normal. I promise. Make sure to check in with the content warnings as some topics are a little mature or graphic. There are currently 34 episodes. Transcripts available.

Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye

A companion horror podcast. This is actually a bit meta because it is the result of a youtube series. This show is the one the podcast hosts in the series release, it's definitely worth both the watch and the listen though. It's got werewolves and drama. Completed at 10 episodes of video and 10 of the podcast. No transcripts.

I am in Eskew

A horror podcast. It's about a man who's trapped in a city where the buildings always change and the rain never stops. There's a weird monotonous creeping horror in this show that just draws you in. Check for content warnings definitely. Completed at 30 episodes. Transcripts available.

Traveling Light

A comfy cozy fiction podcast. It follows The Traveller on their exploration through space, visiting alien planets and collecting stories to send back to their community. For supporters of the show, it almost functions as a choose-your-own-adventure with choices to vote on and listener submissions. It's made by the same people as Monstrous Agonies so if you enjoyed that, you'd enjoy this and vice versa. There are currently 16 episodes. Transcripts available.

Not yet described but still recommended:

Eeler’s Choice

The Secret of St Kilda

The Endless Ocean

The Department of Variance of Somewhere, Ohio

The Sword & The Stoner

World Gone Wrong: a fictional chat show about friendship at the end of the world

Travelling Light

Waterlogged

Brimstone Valley Mall

[puckszone]

my musings on how to leave longer & more regular comments on fics:

We all know comments are good - readers have probably heard authors on tumblr talk about how valuable comments are for ages, and I hope most of the authors reading this have felt that validating joy first hand.

But we also all have lives, and only so much energy in a given day. Maybe you have worries about leaving a comment that's too "weird", or "awkward". Maybe you LOVE a fic, but have no idea how to put those strong emotions into words. Maybe you leave short comments, but wish you felt comfortable crafting the paragraph-long detailed comments that some readers gift to their favorite fics.

If you've ever thought about trying to comment more often, or trying to leave longer comments, then here are some ramblings of mine that will (hopefully!) bring comment-inspiration your way.

A quick table of contents:

Lower the mental stakes

How do I comment on porn?!?!?!?

My approach to paragraph-long commenting

My call to action: challenge yourself to go one step further

Lower the mental stakes:

When I first joined a writing discord, I was genuinely blown away at the amount of support and love the HRPF community contains. I was also blown away at the amount of people that were actually reading my works and messaging about them!! It is still one of the coolest feelings ever.

In my mind, this is an example of a "lower stakes" ways to talk about fics: messaging a friend, or a group chat, or a discord server.

It takes a lot less energy for me to type a rambling text about how much I love the fic I'm currently reading vs. typing a cohesive, well-thought out comment for the author themselves.

One of those two options is much more intimidating!

I want so badly to tell the author how much I love their fic, but I'll never find the time to write all the things they deserve to hear!! So the tab sits open on my phone for months, and the comment never gets written.

If you relate to this: try to lower the "mental stakes" of writing your comment. Remember: this is a fun thing!! Fic is fun!! And I promise, you don't have to write the "perfect" comment to make an author's day.

A potential solution: treat the comment box a bit more like a message to your group chat. Not in a rude way - let's stay polite to the writers in our community, and recognize when unsolicited feedback isn't wanted.

But instead of forcing yourself to always have the "perfect" comment, think of something lighter. Think of what you would text to a friend if you were going to send them a link to the fic: maybe "dude this fic is so funny you need to read it", OR "this is INSANELY good", OR "i've been reading this all morning you need to check it out right now".

Then write that!

Comment: "this fic is so funny oh my god. love it!"

Comment: "this is INSANELY good"

Comment: "SCREAMING. I LOVE THIS"

Comment: "i haven't been able to put this done all morning! sooooo good!"

Comment: "i read the first chapter of this fic and instantly knew i had to send it to all my friends. i love this so much!!!"

Also, this might just be personal preference but: a discord message can get lost to time. AO3 is an archive, and comments there are much easier to look back on!!

So send that discord message to the author in a server you're in - they're going to appreciate it so much!! But consider copy-pasting that as a comment in AO3 as well, no matter how short it might be. It means a lot!!

How do I comment on porn?!?!?!?

PWP fics are known to have a large number of hits, with less kudos and even less comments.

Listen. I get it.

Especially in a fandom like HRPF, where many fics are user-locked, it can be intimidating to comment with no chance to hide behind anonymity.

But remember this: anybody who might "see your username" has also clicked into that very same fic and gone alllllll the way to the end. We're all in this together!!! I promise!!

Maybe the actual logistics are difficult for you - how do I leave a comment on an 8k porn-no-plot fic?? how do I explain that I love this fic without making the author uncomfortable?? - so in that case, let me give a few brief ideas for you to work off of.

Some words I like to use a lot: dirty, nasty, HOTTTT, sexy, intimate, vivid.

If you're feeling especially blindsided by the Everything of it all: i like to throw in a good "stupidly hot". "my brain is melting out of my ears". "soooooo dirty nasty hot". "WHEWWWW this is making me feel insane".

Don't overthink it!!!! Speak your truth!!!

And, final point: don't be afraid to highlight specific favorite parts, like you would with any other fic! Say it with your chest! If you liked the frottage, then say "the thigh riding was sooooo stupidly hot". I promise, the author put it in because they also thought the same thing!!!! It's going to make their day (and maybe result in more fics with that same favorite part of yours).

My approach to paragraph-long commenting:

I just want to reiterate: there is no right or wrong way to write a comment. But here's the general breakdown of how I think about leaving more detailed comments, if you want some ideas.

I copy snippets from the fic that call out to me as I read

I go into my clipboard to paste them all into the comment box

I write 1-2 sentences about WHY i copied down that specific snippet

Sometimes, it might be hard to know exactly why you were so affected by a given line. Here's some things you might especially appreciate in a fic:

Characterization: maybe the dialogue felt especially realistic. maybe the character's decisions made a lot of sense to you. maybe the way two characters interact is just exactly how you picture it. write that down in one sentence!! done!

Prose/writing style: maybe the line was a really gorgeous metaphor, piece of dialogue, etc. copy and paste that shit into your comment + add some "!!!"s, or maybe a single sentence like "this is so so gorgeous" or "INSANE metaphor" or "beautiful prose i'm chewing on glass"

The plot: "I have no idea where this is going next, and I can't wait to find out" / "OH MY GOD THE CLIFFHANGER"

The emotions you felt while reading it: this one's an easy one I promise! "the way you wrote [CHARACTER]'s pain hurt sooooo good" / "this is making me feel ill" / "i actually gasped out loud on the bus" / "i'm so nervous for the next chapter" / "i'm SO excited by where this fic is going" / "i teared up reading this"

A long comment will come organically & very easily, even if you only have 2 copy-pasted snippets!! And the author gets to hear very specific feedback about exactly what you're enjoying - that's SO unbelievably rewarding to hear.

So, my personal call to action: challenge yourself to go one step further!

If you don't usually leave comments: try leaving one or two one-line comments this week. Throw in a quick "i love this!!" next to that kudos!

If you usually leave one-line comments: try leaving a couple sentences! describe one specific thing you liked about the fic, or one specific emotion you had.

If you often leave comments on the fics of people you know: try going outside your comfort zone and commenting on a stranger's fic. you got this!

Push yourself one step further, whatever that means for you! It's such a beautiful thing, to be able to read and love and discuss fic in a shared community, and it's worth the effort!

If you've read my ramblings the whole way through: thank you!!!! This was mainly an outlet for me to put all my thoughts into real words, and I sort of can't believe you read all the way through. <3

I welcome any and all additions to this post!!!! The more we talk about commenting, and the more we comment, the more this community grows - and that's a positive thing for all of us, readers and writers alike.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC REVIEW: One Kiss to Desire by Grace Callaway

4.5/5. Releases 9/19/24.

The Vibes:

—true blue grumpy/sunshine

—dirty talk dirty talk dirty talk

—GHOOOOSTS

—messy sibling drama (complimentary)

Heat Index: 8/10

The Basics:

Xenia has made a reputation for herself as Sirena, telling dirty tales for patrons of a high-end brothel—while on the other side of a curtain. Temporarily out of a job and seeking shelter, she takes on the persona of your typical housekeeper, taking a post at a gloomy mansion with a gloomier boss. Ethan is hiding away from the world after a tragedy that changed his life; and he has no time for the perky, mousy girl who can't even seem to cook. But as danger lurks beyond the walls (and maybe within) they're forced to work together... among other things.

The Review:

If there's one thing Grace Callaway knows how to do, it's write a ROMP. This is her take on a Gothic historical romance a la Northanger Abbey (which is to say, kind of a loving spoof of Gothic romance with a real, warm love story at the center). Arguably, other Grace books have actually been a little heavier on the Gothic; I'd actually call this one of her lighter outings. But you get spooky stories, you get terrified servants, you get creepy things that go bump in the night and also non-creepy things that go bump in the night by which I mean OUR LEADS.

Speaking of, if you're a fun of grumpy/sunshine, this is about as Grumpy/Sunshine prime as I think you'll ever get. Ethan's not an asshole, exactly. I mean, he kind of is, but in a sympathetic way that really doesn't get that heavy. He's not mean, he's grumpy. And with good reason, even though he needs to straighten up (and does). Xenia is sunshine personified, sweet and perky and funny in a way that Callaway writes so well. It's no wonder he's charmed by her. You, the reader, are charmed by her from the jump.

Ethan and Xenia have both been through it. As someone who enjoyed The Lady Who Came in from The Cold, Ethan's parents' book (would recommend) I was a little worried about what would have him so torn up as this novel opens. Fortunately, it did nothing to ruin the general Blackwood HEA (and I should have figured as much). But it is a very valid issue, and I really liked both the classic Gothic drama of it all and Ethan's very real insecurities and loss of identity.

Xenia... has quite a backstory. I can't give any of it away, but BOY was the climax of this novel (besides the other climaxes) crazy. Which is what I want from a Grace Callaway book. I want sexy, I want funny, I want feelings-y, I want... yeah! A little zany! In part because of the removal from the hub of London (we're squarely in Chudleigh Bottoms, from whence one of Callaway's favorite historical romance families hails) and in part because of the madcap Gothic plot, this one reads a bit more "adventurous" to me, whereas Grace's previous series had more of a mystery/potboiler vibe.

You get some secret identity shenanigans, which I'm personally into—but if that isn't your thing, don't worry. It isn't dragged beyond its logical conclusion, and honestly? Once these two are really on the same page, they're rather adorable together. They have this fun, sexy relationship, and Ethan clearly cares about making sure Xenia feels respected. There's something kind of doting about the way he cares for her, and I'm personally about it.

In all, I'd say that though there is pain and a satisfying emotional arc, this is one of Grace's less angsty installments compared to a book like Pippa and the Prince of Secrets or Regarding the Duke. There's angst, but it's definitely more on the fun and sweet side.

The Sex:

OKAY.

Grace Callaway sex scenes always stand out, but this one really goes to a different place with it. Because yeah. Xenia is a virgin. But she certainly has a filthy mind, and she put its to good use weaving erotic stories for her clients. And yes. Ethan does get in on that action.

The way it's written, especially in the scene where they... do the full nine yards with it... is both hot and fun. It's over the top in the most self-aware, delightful way possible. I was kicking my feet all the way through it.

And the more "standard" sex scenes are of course, a lot of fun as well. Callaway simply writes sex scenes like she actually enjoys writing them, which I appreciate.

I noticed more attention paid to the safety aspects surrounding sex in this one, which I also appreciated. Definitely seems to be a trend I'm seeing more of in historicals recently, and it's done here in a way that fuels the tension rather than taking away from it.

It's adventurous, it's light, it's got a bit of an autumnal thing going with the Gothic of it all. And it's kicking off a new series, with fabulous teases for the next siblings. (One of those brothers is going to destroy someone's heart. I just know it.) I am MORE than game.

Thanks to Grace Callaway for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[flowerslut]

I don't know about you but I've always hated the trope of vampires being addicted to blood like it was drugs. That's like saying that a human can be addicted to regular water if they drink too much so they have to filter it or something to change it. I don't know, I just don't understand why they would be 'addicted' to the very thing they need to survive? It makes me think of the quote from Mad Max; Fury Road "Do not, my friends, become addicted to water. It will take hold of you, and you will resent its absence!" In saying that, I do find it very funny that Jasper can be addicted to certain emotions, like how he was following Bella around the house and reluctantly leaving rooms she was in when she came to visit because he was getting 'high' off her good mood and Edward was so bemused to see him in that state because he's typically sounded by moody bitches who always argue and complain so he's not used to someone (other than Alice but I think he's used to her now, whereas Bella would be a bit like a slap in the face I think) being so genuinely happy that he follows her around like pepe lepew and skunk stink. I read a fic once about Jasper/Alice and Emmett/Rosalie going to college and meeting there and joining frats and they were around a bunch of drunk college kids and Jasper was ALSO starting to act a little drunk and loose and silly because SO MANY DRUNK KIDS all in the same space together was starting to affect him too. I don't know. I've just been thinking about it

I've never really thought twice about the whole "blood thirst as an allegory for addiction/human vices" because that's always been tied together really well with most vampire stories. I sort of expect that measure of symbolism from vampire media now, and tbh you'd really have to do some heavy, intense worldbuilding to make a vampire universe where bloodlust isn't akin to sex or addiction or some sort of taboo in order to make it still have the correct ~vibes~ (not that it's impossible, but I think the struggle to having to resist, or not resist, is honestly part of the lure for some people.)

and I know what you're trying to do with the "humans can't be addicted to water" thing but if water could only be obtained through killing other people (which, ahem, *gestures to history books*) then people sure would be snapping necks to get it, aaand that makes for an interesting story! I think it (obsession with blood being used as an allegory for drug addiction) can lead to some really interesting story dynamics and plot conflict!!

"I just don't understand why they would be 'addicted' to the very thing they need to survive?" because it's interesting! what do you do when you have to kill to survive, even if it goes against everything you've ever been taught? i love it. 10/10. bring on the pain game. I want to see the hoops people will jump through to moralize their choices!!!! its fun dude!!!!! 🤩

it is cute that jasper's drawn to happy emotions but the way that stephenie implements it makes me roll my eyes half of the time. especially when edward is like "wow bella, jasper loves being around because your emotions are soooo nice and pure and good and addicting because our love is so #Strong! 😌" like, yawwwwn. talk about an informed trait. sorry steph I will never care about edbella 😔 and also, like, reading twilight from bella's pov we... really don't get the proof of her being such a happy person. homegirl has self-esteem issues out the ass so color me skeptical that her emotions were really that alluring 🙄

but it does lead to fun opportunities for headcanons whenever people ask "so...alice just walked up to jasper and he just? went with it?" because if all it takes is a bitch with a good mood to have this war criminal trailing behind them then jasper never stood a chance at being an independent entity. he would've been simping for the first person who didn't feel revulsion toward him. I guess we should be happy it was alice that scooped him up and not someone less cool and hot and fun

but yes! i love the opportunity for jasper's gift to really mess with him and its SO fun to play around with it in fic!!!! breaking dawn doesn't have a lot that I love but if does have some fun "jasper having to feel some nonsense" moments

[lupaeusarc]

𝘑𝘜𝘚𝘛 𝘍𝘌𝘌𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘗𝘖𝘚𝘐𝘛𝘐𝘝𝘐𝘛𝘠 𝘝𝘐𝘉𝘌𝘚 𝘐𝘋𝘒

i saw some people doing these end of year posts and i'm in a sappy mood so happy holidays and here's some people i adore !!

@stanfordprepped JARED my bestie my love the light of my life you're genuinely one of my best friends and an absolute day one ride or die i can't even describe how much samemma and cassdell mean to me and our other ships are top tier as well i'm so glad i met you and i'll get to updating cassie's aesthetic and bringing some cassdell to the dash right after this 🤍

@carp3diems ceejay . bestie . partner in crime . sounding board for every chaotic thought that goes through my mind . i adore you and our plots and threads and the way i can just hop into your dms like " hey can i traumatize our muses rq " and you're always down lmao you're so talented and i'm just very thankful for you and for colbemma and for all of our chaos

@multi-royalty maddieeeeeee i love you so much my big little sissy 🥹 the only person i'll write em in the tvdu for and the reason i'm still writing at all i owe so much to you and i appreciate that even if we don't talk constantly you know i think you're the bees knees and you make the rpc a better place you absolute ball of sunshine

@stilesstylelinski trick you fuckin goblin i don't know what i would do without our bullshit or your unconditional emotional support you and i have both had a pretty shit year and i'm just really glad we could lift each other up even a little bit throughout all of it . stemma owns my soul and i'm still just in awe of your portrayal okay you basically pull the boy off the screen

@boundforhale MOM mom i love you mom i'm so grateful for you and for the gremlin chat and for all the support and love you give . you're so talented and kind and you need to be NICER to yourself for taking your time with replies i would be happy with a reply a year okay plus derek is a stubborn asshole it wouldn't make sense if he woke up all the time lol when he does he comes out swinging though you knock it out of the park every time

@ruinedmyself twin 🤍 i think you're so neat okay the way your brain works is so fascinating and the love you put into your muses is like palpable you're so cool and so talented and brooklyn and sam are so fucking funny i can't watch the basement yard anymore without thinking of them . i'll make more edits of them soon the accuracy is just so unreal lol

@inkedmuses VVVVVV listen i have such brainrot for john b and emma right now they make me so happy all of our ships are so cute and interesting and i love them so much you have some of the coolest plot ideas ever it's so chaotic and so fun to just yell ideas at each other and bring them to life

@guiltye LILLY i mean i just could yell forever and i will i WILL yell forever i can't even believe how intricate and deep and unique all of our plots are i'm constantly in awe of your mind every time i get a meme or reply from you i'm starstruck i love you and i love yelling about noah with you and i just think you're so fucking cool and so creative and talented and interesting and strong as all hell and you just never fail to make me smile *mandolin playing* you got all my love 🤍

@n0prom1ses lumiiii listen i love these idiot sisters so much already and i think all of our ships and dynamics are so neat 🥹 i'm sad we lost so much time especially knowing why but i'm so glad nature is healing and that sonny is once again dragging asher by the balls bc frankly it's what he goddamn deserves

i could literally go on for hours but i do want to get some things done lmao so here's some more people that my note to is this : i adore y'all and i hope you have the best holidays / new year and that 2024 brings you everything you hope for 🤍

@svnflowehrs , @escapedfromthevoiid , @hellgiven , @qapsiel , @westwingsolo , @r4chelamber , @ofcrxwns , @ofblackskies , @neverrcry , @gunchamber , @controlledvolatility , @sarcasticsnackpack , @localsalt , @fuckmeupindie , @hstoryhuh , @mecwmellc , @surgcns , @unitcd , @unbearablyindifferent

[wallbeatjournal]

Have you ever noticed there are loads of surface level plot similarities between the pilots of riverdale and dawsons creek. Also mr honey is the actor who played jack and greg berlanti worked on both projects. Just a topic i used to like to think about a lot….

yes yes yes omg yes!! sibling shows!! and this is intentional for sure, i was looking at articles about riverdale from pre-series (circa 2015-16) yesterday to cite the perks of being a wallflower movie as a core inspiration for s1 and roberto mentioned dawson's creek regularly, too. actually way before the twin peaks pastiche started getting promoted, dawson's and perks were coming up.

it's really really wonderfully apparent if you're into the gay-auteur genre of teen dramas or the intersection between teen dramas and gay horror media. dawson's creek ran so riverdale could soar (lean in even harder on genre-archetype-and-trope-as-social-construct, not be hung up by don't-ask-don't-tell era tv writing restrictions...except by choice for queerbaiting fun and spite). and even failing to soar, dawson's creek season 2 might remain a perfect season of television for me.

(note for the readers who aren't operating in the 5th dimension like me and anon, yet: kevin williamson made our favorite genre-aware homoerotic slasher movie, scream, and dawson's creek both, and the only functional difference between them is what genre conventions he was allowed to play with to make it. in scream he got to have his repressed closet cases do murder. in dawson's creek, dawson must pick up the camera and make his friends into Characters, instead.)

dawson's creek and riverdale are suuuuch spiritually similar shows, at least the parts of DC that williamson was involved with - so for sure seasons 1-2, and then his comeback many seasons later for the finale (which i think the riverdale finale also riffed on heavily. mwah). you've got:

the original controversial "teenagers don't fucking talk like this omg cringe" ft. heightened theatrical hyperstylized dialogue full of movie references

comphet camp. no character is truly coherent unless you pepper in the fact that they're lgbt and repressing it as hard as they can. barchie, meet dawson/joey. it sucks here sooo bad but it's certainly in the social script and legacy expectations. might try to make it last a lifetime!

meta plot about the whole show possibly being the creation of the most repressed and judgmental (and asexual) control freak main character. plus many in-universe metaplots where said character makes autobiographical work romanticizing/projecting all over his friends

titular location (riverdale, the creek) is both a story setting AND a narrative mousetrap that the characters are trapped in.

there are tons of direct DC<>rvd plot and character riffs and web-weaves. like anon mentioned, principal honey really does play like a later-in-life continuation of kerr smith's role as jack in dawson's creek, with dawson creek jack's values and beliefs. most of the s1 rvd characters make more sense in the context of dawson's creek archetypes, too (especially jughead, veronica, kevin imo). many plots seem yanked off a teen drama tropes bingo card that dawson's creek filled out for them (complimentary!!!!).

they also both just have a really similar character writing approach to their campy genre pulp. the shows are very arch and into their coding games and doublespeak, the text is a fluid thing never taken too seriously or held too dearly. but the characters are nearly always treated earnestly and with love, we're allowed to grow so fond of them as an audience bc the narrative is one of love (sometimes an oppressive love full of meta-projections from its unreliable narrator-creator, but LOVE!!). it's a priority that while the weird tropey shit is happening, we still really are allowed to care about how it feels to be archie or pacey or jen or betty, and the emotional repercussions of any weird tropey happenings are carried through fairly consistently*. dawson is THE WORST. but he's beloved. he's vivid. he's coherent. his feelings are wrong but they're real and we do care. we do!! we must!!

anyway. you made me go back and look at posts from when i went back and rewatched dawson's creek in 2022. here's an assortment of random hot takes and fawning fond adorationisms, if you even care. look at my closeted friends from the creek. they're stuck like this!

PS: i made a list one time of the 6 essential dawson's creek episodes (i would add the 2-part whole series finale to this list in retrospect, so 8 episodes total) that one could watch out-of-context to open their <understanding gay-auteur camp teen drama comphet-lamenting queer-coding tropes and conventions> third eye. it's here on my personal blog! most recommend the daddy/mommy issues fishing trip ep (parent<>child dynamics and gender...riveressentials) and the gay two-parter (principal honey!!).

PPS: @kevin-keller-artistic-director used to post about rvd and dawson's creek semi regularly and probably would have great thoughts about this topic beyond what i just dredged up <3 also interested if anyone else wants to riff on the topic of riverdale as a successor/sibling to dawson's creek 👀

*pacey's CSA plot (DEROGATORY) a notable exception to this. but that's because dawson's creek isn't trying to depict abuse, it's trying to do a queer closet metaphor, where "being in high school but dating an adult woman" is the same as "having a same-sex relationship with a peer" in terms of secrecy and shame and social impact...just NO thought to power dynamics or trauma AT ALL. it's basically the kevin/moose plot from riverdale and pacey is impacted by it like kevin is. gross!!!!

[lonelylonelyghost]

Love me, love my voice - a Cdrama where good things happen to good people

Fair warning - it's the fluffiest fluff that ever fluffed the Earth, so if you crave some drama and violence at the moment, then maybe save this one for later.

The plot of this drama is extremely simple. A university student, going by her second identity online as Sheng Sheng Man, produces/sings traditional style music. Due to a coincidence she gets acquainted with Qiang Qing Ci - a very famous but mysterious voice actor who never shows his face in public, with whom she bonds over a shared passion for good food. And a slow, gentle love story starts from here.

If you are tired of misunderstandings, love triangles, stupid decisions and unnecessary conflicts between your romantic leads; if you want to witness healthy relationships, tight friendships and just an ungodly amount of cuteness - then you came to the right place.

(Also there's a lot of cooking and/or eating delicious food. In every episode. Really, don't watch it when you're hungry, you'll die)

Now, I don't usually read or watch something that has romance at its front and center (though there are always exceptions, albeit rare). But I'm obsessed with Under the Skin, and I loved Word of Honor, so I decided to give Tan Jianci and Zhou Ye a chance for at least one episode, and well - here I am, writing this whole thing after watching the show and then even reading the original novel.

Qiang Qing Ci (or Mo Qing Cheng irl) is a smart and kind man, a doctor, who can cook and has an absolutely gorgeous voice that he uses for good but could use for evil (Tan Jianci could hypnotize people and I wouldn't even mind tbh). How can he work as a doctor and actor simultaneously, you might ask? That's Cdramaland for you, baby! His outer softness doesn't mean that he is completely harmless however. For all of you little freaks out here (myself included), there are some *ahoy!* moments too

Sheng Sheng Man (or Gu Sheng irl) is a girl surrounded by the love of her parents, five slightly overprotective cousins and her friends. She's shy and a bit sheltered, but not stupid, and Zhou Ye's acting makes her character very charming instead of the cringe that is usually associated with this kind of type of girl on screen.

Almost every character there is a good person, and you know, sometimes you just want to see those kinds of people have a great time. They do what they like for a job, fall in love, go on holidays, have friends that are ride or die for them and vice versa. There's no jealousy and backstabbing, all problems are resolved quickly, and everybody can actually COMMUNICATE.

One thing that I'd noticed while watching that surprised me a lot - is how everybody's acting is so relaxed and natural. When they're in a group together, you genuinely believe that all of them are good friends with each other in real life too. The light teasing, interrupting one another while talking, their mutual support and closeness. The actors probably had a lot of fun while filming. And goddamn, it's so good to see it! I'm also insanely jealous.

Music

Traditional music and the profession of voice acting are as much of main characters as our romantic leads are. The way that it was shown was so full of love and respect for the craft and people involved in it, it's amazing.

Despite the simplicity of the plot, there are still moments of heightened emotions, and people there deliver! Their acting shines through especially during the on-stage performances.

That "Swan Song" broke me. I swear, during this whole performance I was bawling my eyes out.

(also insert here a joke about Shen Yi probably being able to recreate Qiang Qing Ci's face based on just his silhouette).

(This is a Night Show in Yangshuo that the characters attend at some point, "Impression Liu Sanjie", an absolutely incredible performance, and I'd pay all the money I don't have to go see it personally)

Side characters (a completely self-indulgent section):

This is a rare Cdrama where there are no annoying side characters. I love them all and would kill anyone who'd think of bothering them even slightly.

These are MuMu (outwardly cold but actually very kind and empathetic) and MoBai (a lovable dumbass), a couple of cosplayers that pop up here and there, and nothing that you say will convince me that they're not together.

(And sure, you can read it as purely platonic friendship between bros, but honestly why would you. Also, I think the creators made a perfect recipe to avoid the wrath of censorship - just get two guys, occasionally make them say that they're single and looking for girls, but then show them always together, and just don't explain anything.) (Watch me finding a subtext even in the straightest show I've watched in years.)

The same goes for singers Fei Shao and Wang Ke, except for they're both bumbasses, and I love them dearly.

Dou Dou Dou Bing, a manager of their recording studio as well as the voice actress, and she's awesome.

Jue Mei Sha Yi, a voice actor, a CEO of his own company and the one that the Viki's live comment section thirsts for A LOT.

Feng Ya Song, a voice actor and a pediatrician as a side gig, and he's cute.

Geng Xiao Xing, a friend of Gu Sheng, works for some app (?) that collaborates with the voice studio. She's also cute and I like her hairstyle.

... And some others.

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

If what I've described here interests you at all, then feel free to check it out. I think this is a good show to watch right now, as we all collectively try to crawl out of the winter depression.

This has been your friendly ghost from Abyss, with some recommendations on how to distract yourself from the horrors of existing（*＾-＾*）

[toshinoris-spouse]

Permanent Roleplay Ad

Pen Name: Writer Age: 23 Currently: (Selectively) Accepting Age for RP Partner: 18+ Location: Discord/Google Docs/G-Mail Warning: I am very selective about this, please read the entire post.

All info that I figure is relevant has been posted under the cut. Enjoy!

Requirements

Literacy: Literate/Advanced Lit Size of Replies: 6-8 paragraphs per side, so a total of 12-16 paragraphs per reply. Anywhere from 3.5k chars to 8k chars per side, usually (500-1,000 words per side). Genres: Romance, Adventure, Action, Fantasy Preferred Reply Speed: Anywhere from once a week to once a month. POV: Third Person, Past Tense. Fandom: My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia Universe Type: Soulmate AU (more info later on) Where: Discord/E-Mail/Google Docs NSFW: I am happy portraying NSFW, but only between adult characters.

I will not accept adult x minor RPs. I am more than fine accepting CC x CC, OC x Canon, or SI x Canon from other parties.

I will not accept adult SIs that have been aged down to ship with teenagers.

The inverse holds true as well- I will not accept minor SIs that have been aged up to be with adults.

I can portray anyone for your OC (or canon if you want a CC x CC on your end), but do keep in mind that I only accept Toshinori Yagi as Finley Well's love interest. If you do not want to portray Toshinori Yagi for me in exchange for whoever on your side, please do not contact me.

Whether you prefer Discord. Google Docs, or E-Mail, I will be making a web of ways to talk to you. Bare minimum will be channels/E-Mail threads for: general OOC conversation, artwork and reference images, music we may want to send one another, character headcanons/info, plotting, specific in-universe details, planned events, filler ideas/little in-universe events, and another channel/thread for the roleplay itself.

Regardless of what you want to RP on (Discord, Google Docs, G-Mail), if you have a Discord, I will probably ask for it so I can at least set up an OOC space for us.

Please be alright with my side (YagiFin) being a quickburn. I don't want to portray any slowburns (that's- not really my style) but I'm more than fine to do medium burns, if it's preferred over a quickburn romance.

You must be capable of writing in complete English, with decent grammar and spelling. A mistake every now and then is fine, but text loaded with spelling/grammatical errors will not be accepted.

While it is not required, I'm a bit of a purple-prose writer- so I enjoy writing emotions and thoughts into my responses, as well as general scenery and the like. It would be nice if you could match this, though it is not required, if you're more of a technical writer. I do, however, wish you luck in somehow meeting the word minimum.

Initial Message

Please send me a writing sample early on. I will not move forward to making a server/handing out my E-Mail until I have read your writing sample.

Please send me the info listed below, I don't have a passcode, but if this is not sent I will not respond to you:

Pen Name: Age Range: Favorite Genre to RP: Least Favorite Genre to RP: Preferred Romance Speed (quickburn/mediumburn): Favorite MHA Character(s): Favorite Arc (if any): OC / OC Info (if applicable): Who you'd like me to portray for you (can be one character or a list): Timezone: Writing Sample:

Extra Stuff (That Fits Nowhere Else)

Another 'not required' but it is in this area since it fits nowhere else: it would be nice if our characters could root for each other! Whether it be your OC and Fin's being friends supporting the other's blossoming relationship, or other such things- I just find that kind of link between characters helps make the roleplay more fun!

Please be sure to read the Soulmate AU Info section in its entirety. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know- and if you can, please let me know early on if you have anywhere in particular you want the Words to be for your pairing, as well as what the Words are!

The RP will always start near the start of the MHA series. I like to RP through the series from the top, in each RP. I also enjoy incorporating each of the movies (as I can) into the RP, depending on how far I get.

Note: My timezone is EST! Also, I will not be doing any RPs that are particularly angst-heavy, as that isn't my style. I prefer fluffy romance, but I will do some angst (since fluff cannot exist in a vacuum). If you're here just to torture a couple, please contact someone else, that's not my jam.

Soulmate AU Info

The Soulmate AU I’ve crafted starts with one of the base ideas of a generic Soulmate AU - the first Words your soulmate will ever say to you (if you have any) are written somewhere on your body, in your soulmate’s native language and specific handwriting. These Words are pitch-black until spoken to the target, and once spoken, they will glow- until the target realizes who their Soulmate is. One cannot die until their Words have glowed at least once, so there are some who are incredibly reckless as a result. There are some who wander the world, their Words having been glowing for years- but with no idea as to who their Soulmate is.

The Words begin to feel as though they are burning if a Soulmate is in danger- it can range from a faint uncomfortable sensation to an intense agony, like one is being branded or cut through with a blazing knife (the strength of the burning sensation depends on the danger the Soulmate is in, with life-threatening being the most painful). Any injuries that occur to one’s Soulmate’s Words can be felt by the other person, on their Words. Words are also located in generally the same location, and Soulmates can be polycules or couples, or anything in between- and range from romantic to platonic.

Some actively seek out their Soulmate(s) for the sake of the power boost such a meeting offers. To meet your Soulmate is to have your stats suddenly see an increase- though it isn’t always the best. Heroes have been tied with Civilians. Villains have been tied with Heroes. Soulmates of powerful or important individuals (if an important individual has a Soulmate) have to be careful due to the target on their back, since if your Soulmate dies, so do you. It’s not an immediate death- but within the course of a month, if one’s Soulmate has died… They will wither away as well, the speed at which it occurs depending on their willpower, but none who have Soulmates survive beyond a month after their Soulmate’s death.

Sections of Hero Agencies have been dedicated to protecting Pro Heroes’ Soulmates, and kidnappings have been known to happen when a Villain finds their Soulmate. Civilian pairings are the safest- but by no means happen all the time. Some think the Words are a curse, but there is no way to remove them.

There are also some Quirks that are Soulmate-centric, and thus do not affect those without Soulmates.

Toshinori Yagi has spent years keeping All Might’s Soulmate tie a secret. He made sure his costume’s sleeves were long enough that no one would ever see the two simple Words written there- dodging questions about having a Soulmate every chance he could. He’d never met them, his Words were pitch-black… Two simple Words, in scratchy English: Oh, hi!

He could never let anyone know All Might had a Soulmate. The target that would be painted on such an individual… They would never survive.

Toshinori’s stat increase was that his timer as All Might doubled, and even after episode 49 of the anime/his fight with AfO, he can technically turn into All Might for a few minutes at a time- but his power is still greatly diminished. Diminished far too much for him to continue his work as a Hero, though it does help in split-second circumstances, if he burns through what few minutes he has in a momentary burst of strength.

Fin’s stat increase was a general increase to their strength, speed, and stamina to near superhuman levels- they can lift up to 550lbs after meeting All Might, and run up to 24mph (though it takes a little bit to get to that speed). Their Quirk remained as it was, with no noticeable increase- though at the time that Fin met Yagi, they didn’t know ‘Quirkless’ meant something a little more when it came to them.

Generally, when I RP in this AU, one of my first questions for others about their ships is: What Words they want their ship to have, and where. This helps immensely in setting up the starter.

Writing Sample

My writing sample is actually available on a document, now! Enjoy~!

[dreamtydraw]

hi there!! so I was recently looking for visual novels to occupy my time with, and I came across 21 questions, so I played it. and I loved it. so I played tulipe. and I liked that one a lot too. then I checked out your social media and I was really curious about the ✨️paranormal club lore✨️, so I just played all of them-

I didn't realize it when I was playing the game, but I've seen a lot of your our life art here on tumblr and I can't get over how pretty it is! even when it's just doodles that you do for fun, I still really like your style cause you make everyone look so nice. even if you're just drawing clem in a clown suit, we still love that

I don’t usually draw anymore because even though I used to like it, I feel like I lack all motivation to do it now, but seeing your art is really giving me inspiration to pick up a paper and a pencil and start drawing again :D

I personally share your love for visual novels, and I enjoy replaying yours because they're honestly so nice. I guess I just like seeing the way the story progresses and how relatable the characters feel, especially as a non-binary person who struggles to see themselves represented in games. plus I just like the voice acting in 21 questions

if I'm honest, even if it wasn't my usual genre of romance, night shift was a good play as well, especially for your first game! I can feel the inspiration from horror games and I love those types of things sm. I get why you'd wanna go back and redo it someday, but I think especially in terms of the plot and characters, it had a captivating plot and it was well written... françoise betrayed us tho rip

also this isn't about the games but from what I've seen, it honestly feels like you're a really nice person who happens to be really talented and so you deserve really nice things. even if you haven't been getting them until now, I hope you do start because you deserve it!! I like reading your visual novel rambles bc I agree with a lot of stuff, just me nodding my head in agreement like I wouldn't look crazy if anyone saw me. and it feels nice to see that people still talk about fictif stories to this day cause god they've been collecting dust 😭 I miss those days where I'd be so excited whenever an update was announced... guess I'll never get my rime route now :(

lastly, I just wanna say that I love clem sm. they're literally so cool but still so adorable and I wanna give them all the love and affection. I want us to bake together and then paint each other's nails 💅

and this question has been keeping me awake at night so I just have to ask, I know that at the end of the game he said we'd keep in contact like aurore and her partner, but would they let mc just. follow them to London while he does his thing? there's no point in being in France without your blond french, and I've always wanted to move to an english speaking place anyways... clem can put me in their suitcase, I'll be good 🫶

thank you for listening to my silly rambles, I hope you're having a good day and if not, I really hope it gets better! remember to take care of yourself and take breaks whenever you need them, you're only human so you aren't always gonna be perfect, but at least you know you always try your best even if things don't go the way you want them to <3

Anon whoever you are I love you and I really wish you a wonderful day I started sobbing a bit too hard and now my eyes kinda hurt a bit but your message makes me feel a lot of things and I’m really grateful for such kindness. I’m fucking crying on my poor plushies cause I don’t have tissue, they are all wet and miserable 😭😭😭😭 Words trully can’t explain how much this message means to me, like, this is the kind of message that i’ll keep in my phone gallery to look at when i feel sad and it’s just so sweet and it rassure all the bad things I think about myself so I’m very emotional. It’s 2 am and I had a very long day so I physically and emotionally don’t handle it well but i promise it’s / pos i’m just blabling incoherent thoughts just to say thank you so much and I’m glad you enjoy what I create and I’m glad you draw again and I hope you find joy in making stuff you like + you get soft and cold pillow at night and warm meals in winter anon.

Now i am so sad to spread bad news BUT…. The canon ending of 21 questions is the platonic ending. 21q happens in 2019, Clem move to London in 2021 and ( spoiler alert ) will be spotted in Apple bag which takes place in 2022. Clem’s character and story haven’t entirely been revealed in his game for reasons that I’ll hopefully share in a futur but it’s for the same reasons that realistically… the relationship in 21q is destined to end with distance.

BUT that not the end if you imagine a future with Clem. If your intention is to romance them then there is an open window for the timeline where he’s a bit older. When exactly ? I won’t spoil but all I have to say is that this relationship can work on long term ! It’s just a good person, wrong moment situation and once you know everything about him, then his romance options become more real :}

Mystic talk sorry, like i said i just had an emotional breakdown and it’s late so i will shut my mouth and go to sleep ! Once again thank you so much for your kind words an hopefully you’ll like what I plan to release in the future. Tons of love ❤️

[coping-mechanismz4life]

here's a silly WIP for an ao3 fic I'm making

chapter 1 —————— All 9 of the hashiras, retired or not(kyojuro is retired here for the plot), have been called for a meeting by the master. Everyone was extremely confused why they were called for a meeting, while nothing important has happened, even Himejima-san who Oyakata-sama tells everything to most of the time.

"Tomioka-san! It's very rude to insult someone, and you should apologize to Iguro-san." Kocho had been scolding Tomioka for 'starting' the 'fight' with Iguro from earlier.

"Kocho, he was the one who went too far. He's insulting me and telling to fuck off every chance he gets. He's like 'yeah you suck because you never talk and you think you're better, even though I have zero evidence that that's true. I sit in a tree all day telling people what to doo, ohhh I'm so cool even though I'd kill everyone except Kanroji and maybe Shinazugawa!!' He really sounds stupid, you knoe?" Giyu had started rambling about how arrogant Iguro sounds every time he even come 6 feet in the vicinity of the serpent hashira.

"Woah! This is the most I've ever heard you talk, Tomioka-san! That's great but please apologize to him." Kocho is clearly trying to get him to apologize just so she can just go off and sit in peace, Giyu for some reason can always tell by her expressions. He's surprised no one has noticed that she's not very good at hiding emotions, really.

"No, I'll just be heading to sit down to hear all this bickering. I'll just wait for Oyakata-sama so we can get this meeting done with." Tomioka had gotten up to go to the other side of the courtyard because he tired out of these air-headed people(no he's our silly little airhead), and no one really stopped him anyways.

"Okay, fine, Tomioka-san! Just try to be more open, please! Maybe people won't dislike you so much!" Kocho liked to tease him this way because she thought this shit was funny as hell. Y'know, she has a foul mouth, and only uses in her office because no one wants to hear people say that.

"Kocho! I told you to stop saying that!" Tomioka wasn't furious, him and Kocho bicker all the time. Sometimes for shits and giggles, and sometimes because they both had some pent up anger to bombard each other with(they see it as a fun exercise, while everyone stares in disbelief at how they insult each other so much and are not affected.)

Oyakata-sama finally arrived after the hashira waiting for a good 10ish minutes. All of the hashira got into places to greet their respective master.

"I'm sure that you guys are wondering why I have called you for the meeting this morning." Oyakata-sama spoke to the hashira as he appeared in front of them. "I've actually come here to make an announcement, sorry I kept you waiting for longer than expected."

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

These are just some notes I had in my notepad so they're not betaread or corrected, it's really just some drabble, but I hope I finish it for once😃(I'm listening to angry classical music for writing on spotify rn it's great)

yk for a fic that's sanegiyuu (shinogiyuu friendship), there's a lot of shinogiyuu going on here, eh whatever

[lilareviewsbooks]

Dallergut Dream Department Store: 2.5/5

2.5/5 stars 243 pages contains: cozy vibes and dream magic!!

As some of you may know, I make the São Paulo – Boston trip quite frequently! I'm a college student in the US but live in Brazil, and so that makes for very long plane rides. We're talking 14 hours here. So, to keep sane, I usually download a couple books into my Kindle, pray they're interesting enough to keep me interested, buckle down, and read. 

I've just made the trek once more to spend the summer holidays at home, and I decided to download some books I'm reading for r/Fantasy's Bingo Challenge. One of them was The Dallergut Dream Department Store, by Lee Mi-ye, which clears my "alliterative title" square! Of course, because I can't make anything easy on myself, I read this Korean book in its French translation. Because of this, I feel like it's fully possible I didn't grasp the story in all of its complexity. I'm kind of bad at French. And I might have also been high on sleeping pills for half the book. So, take this review with a grain of salt.

In general, I thought this was a 2.5 star read. For me, that means it's decent. Like getting a C in school — you passed, but your work is far from stellar. What I did enjoy was the concept: the story follows Penny as she begins to work at a magical store people visit in their sleep, and where they "buy" their dreams for the night. And for the most part, the book is a world-building exercise in the concept of the store. It researches how every situation would work, from nightmares to people who day-dream, to animal dreams. Personally, I love a good deep dive into a world, so I was having fun, especially during the first half.

But after a while, it gets repetitive. The chapters are mostly loose stories that don't circle back to a particular theme or event. Penny is almost always there, though, I guess, but I'll get to my problems with Penny later. Although the stories are well-written, very easy to read and can sometimes be quite compelling, they don't make a novel when they're put together. They make up a collection of episodes with the same vague amalgamation of characters. The gimmick gets old pretty fast, and I was quickly looking for some emotional stakes, an overarching plot, anything. And although I am a fan of a good plotless, vibes-only fantasy, the lack of connection I felt with our main character and the fact that she and her friends do not change at all throughout the stories made it a very stale reading experience.

And Penny? Oh, Penny. My question became, quite simply, why are we following her? She's not a particularly interesting character, with no defining traits, nothing she needs or wants (besides working at the store, which she achieves in chapter 1)... Meanwhile, other characters in the novel have more personality, more interesting backgrounds, and they barely get to shine. They're buried behind an overabundance of Penny doing not much of anything, and being a self-insert/audience for Mr. Dallagoot's sermons. I kept wondering if it wouldn't be more interesting to follow any one of them. 

And I think Ms. Lee wondered this too, since she includes two epilogues which are, in my opinion, completely unnecessary, and are told entirely from the perspectives of two other characters. They just prove to the audience that Penny is a dreadful character by abandoning her at the end, leaving two random anecdotes about side-characters, which could've been anywhere in the book, to finish the novel off.

Although the vibes are good, the world is interesting and the book reads very cozy, there's a lot that you're left wanting, here. I think what this book needed was an editor, or a workshop session. It has so much potential, and if some crucial changes had been made, then I think Ms. Lee would have a wonderful final product on her hands.

[kingboohoo37]

Rant of the week: RWBY

Ah yes, I was waiting for this one. If you ever wondered what really grinds my gears and what kind of shape my ideal fictional world would have, well you're in luck. Because RWBY is the one show that probably comes the closest to that.

I remember when my then-best friend showed me this animated show and told me she loved it. Back then only 3 seasons were out and the show looked like it had a budget of around 7 $.

Yet I still fell in love with it. The perfect synergy of building characters, story, comedy, and voice acting made this my all-time favorite.

Season 9 finished a few months ago and I still had the exact same amount of fun watching as I did over 7 years ago.

So put on your seatbelts and let's dive into the world of remnant!

RWBY takes place in a world that is probably the most comparable to My Hero Academia but much darker.

The story revolves mostly around our four main characters: Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Belladonna, and Yang Xiao Long.

All of them have the same goal: They want to become Huntresses.

On remnant there are creatures to be found that are lured by negative emotions and death. They torture the human race and it seems like they have only one goal: destruction. These are called: the creatures of Grimm.

Hunters and Huntresses are the ones whose primary focus is protecting the human race from these monsters. Usually, they are assigned into teams of four where the letters of their names combined make out their team name.

In the world of remnant, every person also has a special kind of natural ability called a semblance. Naturally, Hunters and Huntresses make good use of them in combat.

The story starts off by introducing us to all these characters in a very unique way and then proceeds to show us their school life.

Along come several hardships.

Ruby struggles to be a team leader because she is the youngest and thinks she doesn't have what it takes.

Weiss comes from a rich family, can't stand Ruby at all and it's abundantly clear that she isn't good at working in a team.

Blake is very quiet and seems to have a dark past that she doesn't want to talk about. On top of that: she is a Faunus. Magical creatures that are basically humans with animal traits. Therefore they are different from humans and of course, that means... they face discrimination.

Yang is Ruby's older sister and tries her best to support her and become friends with the rest of the team. She is the one that mostly contributes to comedy but has a knack for letting her emotions get the better of her. Also: she seems to develop a certain attachment to Blake

I could go on but it would make this post waaay too long if I did and would also spoil stuff for people who might wanna watch it.

Besides team RWBY there is another team that plays a major role in team JNPR which contains my favorite character which is why I mention it xD but saying more about that certain character would probably lead to spoilers. People who know the show can probably guess who it is:

Pyrrha Nikos. The rising star of Beacon Academy. Everyone seems to think she is the best of the best and put her on a pedestal, whereas in reality she just wants to be seen as a normal person... yet almost nobody seems to treat her normally... almost.

I don't think I wanna make the post much longer so let's go to the question we've been waiting for:

What makes RWBY so great?

This is gonna sound a bit anticlimactic but I honestly don't really know what fascinates me so much about this show.

I always watched it and there was never a single thing, a single plot hole, or bad character development that bothered me.

The show is not perfect by any means and there is quite a lot of drama around the producing company Rooster Teeth with them not treating their employees right...

On top of that after 2015 the show took a drastic turn which is very much noticeable because the original creator Monty Oum died.

Despite all of this I love RWBY with all of my heart. The introduction of the characters. The unique world-building. The simple yet effective design of the story. It's just nothing you'd ever see in any anime. There was never a major necessity of explaining lore to the viewer until Volume 6.

The voice acting is sometimes a bit weird in the beginning but usually still very decent which is amazing considering Monty Out just picked up Kara Eberle (voice of Weiss) from a receptionist's position (hilarious trivia xD).

But he knew what he was doing and it really showed.

I can only recommend watching it for yourself. You will find most of it on Rooster Teeths website except for Volume 9 which is only on Crunchyroll.

The first couple of episodes are also very short but effective.

If you love fantasy and shows with characters with special powers... *cough* and girl-bosses *cough* this is the show for you xD

Hm... I always feel like I'm missing a few things in these posts. I don't even know if I describe the series optimally so I'm a bit unsure about these extremely long posts.

Feel free to tell me if there is something you're missing or if there is something else you wanna know about.

Thanks for reading ^^

Sources:

[hollowfaith]

✧･ﾟ:* PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP/PLOTTER CALL

hi have you ever been touched by an angel anyways you know the drill please like this post to give me permission to:

hop into DMs for plotting (short or long term)

send you starters/minis (with permission)

@ you or drop into your inbox

throw memes + headcanons about our muses

[insert stuff between us here]

as for relationships here's how aurelius would classify potential candidates:

𖤍 FRIENDS (derogatory 💔) - it's easy to be his friend even if you're just a lowly mortal, as long as you're interesting or different in some way. are you motivated by a goal or crippled by expectations? is something about you fundamentally wrong or broken? talk to him, he's a good listener and he loves to ramble, especially if it's philosophical discussions or chats over tea or advising someone after hearing their sob story (humans get emotional over the funniest things). he can't help the holier than thou attitude, but he's great at keeping his condescending thoughts to himself and treating you almost like a real friend! so there's that. most of his "human friends" fit here because of his superiority complex >w>

𖤍 FRIEND (affectionate 💖)* - unlike fake friends you get to be real friends if he sees you as an equal. the easiest way to get there is to be as cool and strong as klaus. or you beat aurelius himself somehow (but you need to convince him to accept the results first). please be okay with murder and cannibalism before you apply. he doesn't have any real friends (not even klaus) so you'd be one of a kind, which makes you special. but do you really want to shoulder the pressure of someone who knows too much for the rest of your days...

*(limited to 1 slot only for now, everyone else is just friends [derogatory] to some extent, alas)

𖤍 ENEMIES 😡 - be a demon (sorry angel prejudice here). ruin his suit one too many times (he believes in 3rd chances but no more). it doesn't matter if you're nasty or mean or sinful (those are interesting), the issue is trying to drag him in with you when he says no (those are annoying). trying to control him in anyway. trying to control or take klaus in anyway. generally getting in his way. not all enemies are kill on sight, most just get demoted to the friends (derogatory) category if they're a waste of time or get more of his time in return, because you can't stand him either and misery loves company.

𖤍 SERVANTS/SUPPLICANTS...? 🙏- do you like to take care of people. do you enjoy the freedom of following orders. are you okay with prostrating yourself at random intervals to offer prayers and praise to some self-entitled stranger. have you given up on life and just want guidance. OK, then submit your hand for the standard brainwashing procedure (a formality for now until it's actually unlocked) and let him look after you, you poor lost lamb.

PROS: he will come to your events in support (like a soccer mom) and protect you while looking great doing it too;

CONS: you're more of a possession than a person so your rights don't really exist (but that doesn't matter too much in normal life anyways)!

YMMV: no insurance package included but you do get complimentary healing/blessings against demons* for life? *this and all other perks pending unlock of abilities

𖤍 DEPENDENTS 🙇 - you don't actually worship him but you sure do rely on him a lot (mentally/physically/emotionally/whatever), and for some reason he humors you because he thinks it's fun. maybe you consider him your mentor or savior, maybe he considers you his pawn or toy. less expectations and responsibilities from both sides but you can still call on him in a pinch, you just won't be his first priority if he's busy. also, he's nice to you. always. because you're just that pathetic worth it. : )

𖤍 TRUE NEUTRAL 🤝 - you're not weak-willed enough to be used but not strong enough to overpower him, you're just there. maybe both of you have something useful (intel. chess games. recipes?) to offer the other and that's why you get along. you might help each other one day and stab each other in the back the next, but that's fine because you weren't friends (or enemies) to begin with, yes? good for...business associates/drinking buddies. less manipulation and minimum disdain (if any) here, there's polite indifference on both sides.

𖤍 "LOVE" RIVAL....? ?? 💀 - for the love of god if you like klaus or have close relations with klaus you are automatically on this list and need to get off it or get a lover so he can ignore you permanently. a better category than enemies because he doesn't try to destroy you on sight, but the guy sure knows how to smile and glower at the same time. danger level expected to increase after he actually starts developing the right feelings towards his "partner." perhaps you want him to remain oblivious indefinitely instead.

𖤍 ROMANCE 😂 - there's only one person he's obsessed with at the moment but if you one-sided crush him obviously enough he will take pity on you and give you token chocolates on valentine's and etc. so that you don't die of a broken heart (or embarrassment). it's only natural for him to have adoration from multiple sources even if he never returns those feelings, so if you're fine with treating him as some otome game boyfriend come to life with no real results he doesn't mind playing along. it's kind of a mercy for you to be loved this way, don't you think?

𖤍 OTHER 🤔- make up your own category lol

[anincompletelist]

Hi Sarah! 15, 17, 33, and 37 for the ask meme if you're feeling up to it. Hope you're doing well 💜

HI FRIEND! :D I am definitely feeling a little worn out but having fun answering some of these before bed :) I hope you've had a lovely day today!

+

15: Do you write in the margins of your books? Dog-ear your pages? Read in the bath? Why or why not? Do you judge people who do these things? Can we still be friends?

oh absolutely. most of my reading is non-fiction psych books and/or poetry, so there are all sorts of feelings that must be written down expeditiously usually, and if I write in a notebook instead then the two get separated inevitably so I've found it much easier to write right there on the page. I love making a book my own and making it feel 'lived in'. looking back one day and being like hey! this made me feel things!! so much so that I had to write it down or highlight it or circle it or earmark the page to come back to again and again! I LOVE. (I do not, however, read in the bathtub because I have anxiety and am far too afraid I will drop it in the water on accident ksjhdk)

17: Talk to me about the minutiae of your current WIP. Tell me about the lore, the history, the detail, the things that won’t make it in the text.

as we all know, I have an unholy amount of wips in the docs currently but I feel like my 'main' wip is bridesmaids, which is concluding at the end of this month! it definitely has more lore than most of my other fics do thanks to a bunch of the characters being originals! when I outlined for this fic I had pages of background info for each of the characters and how it affects their behaviors and ties into the major plot points, but a lot of those details got cut as the fic crossed 100k and I didn't want to include a bunch of lore that wasn't directly relevant to our main characters/pairing. but the little found family in this fic is so special to me and if anyone's ever interested (or maybe if I do another fic set in this verse one day?) I'd love to delve into the original characters a bit more! they have tons of quirks and little details that are so much fun hehehehe

33: Do you practice any other art besides writing? Does that art ever tie into your writing, or is it entirely separate?

I will do literally anything creative even if I am not good at it ksjhkdh I love to create! I've tried a bit of everything here and there, but I regularly enjoy photography, painting, and occasionally drawing! if poetry counts, I have written poems for fics, both in posted works and some upcoming ones, but other than that I've yet to have any of these crossover!

37: If you were to be remembered only by the words you’ve put on the page, what would future historians think of you?

ooooh what a good question!

ideally, I think I'd like some of the main takeaways to be that I felt deeply, did not shy away from hard or emotionally nuanced topics but always managed to find a bright spot within them, that ultimately leaves people walking away from my work feeling seen, validated, and/or inspired.

realistically, they might stick me in a textbook under the category 'words that should have been said to a therapist that have instead been immortalized on ao3 [tags include: emotional hurt/comfort, shameless smut]' SKJDHSKJDHSJH we out here!

+

[send me a weird question for writers or reblog to play along yourself!]

[cupids-chronicles]

The Twisted series: Twisted Lies #4

Author: Ana Huang

Genre: Romance, New Adult

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.

Spice: 🌶🌶

Goodreads rating: 4.2/5

Pages: ‎560

Published: 30 June 2022

Twisted Lies Review

Note: This book is intended for mature audiences over the age of 18 due to explicit content (steamy chapters).

Ana Huang is back, and she's twisting our emotions yet again! ‘Twisted Lies’, contrary to its name, unfolds a narrative with genuine emotional gravity. And yes, it’s also peppered with some sizzling spicy scenes. Let’s just say, if you need to know when things start to really heat up, flip to chapter 19.

This lengthy book, boasting 56 chapters, is the longest of the "Twisted" series. And in these chapters, we dive into the dual perspectives of Stella and Christian, a combination so fiery and contrasting that I’m surprised the pages didn’t combust. Stella's a social media influencer and a certified introvert. You know, the type that would choose a cozy night with Netflix over a bustling party? And then there’s Christian, the building's enigmatic billionaire owner, who might just have a marshmallow core beneath that brooding exterior.

Stella and Christian's relationship takes us through an emotional conga line – it’s fun, a bit chaotic, and occasionally someone’s stepping on someone else’s toes. With tropes like billionaire romance, forced proximity, neighbor romance, and the always-fun fake dating, it feels like Huang threw all our favorite romance elements into a shaker, poured it into a chalice, and served us a delightful margarita.

However, a fair word of warning: while this cocktail is mostly sweet and fizzy, it also has some heavy undertones. Huang doesn't shy away from real, gritty elements. We're talking stalking, graphic violence, kidnapping, and several poignant themes like Alzheimer’s and the death of a parent. This ain’t your grandma’s romance… unless she's into intense billionaire dramas. If so, go Grandma!

Perhaps the quote that stuck with me the most was, “You will always be my first, last and only love.” It’s sentences like these that make you go, "Ana, who gave you the right to tug at my heartstrings this way?"

The juxtaposition of Stella's quiet intensity and Christian’s seemingly brash exterior converges into a love story that leaves an indelible mark on the reader's heart. For every time Christian seemed like he might explode into a supernova of rage, there's a moment of vulnerability that makes you think, "Ah, billionaires. They're just like us. Kinda."

To wrap this up (before I begin gushing uncontrollably), 'Twisted Lies' is a masterclass in how to craft a layered romance. Slow burn? Check. Intense chemistry? Double-check. A plot that has you clutching your chest in emotional turmoil? Triple check.

So if you’re in the mood for a bumpy road of feels, complicated characters, and a narrative that goes between intensely tender and electrifyingly spicy, 'Twisted Lies' should be on your reading list. It’s the kind of book you dive into on a lazy weekend – and emerge on Monday, slightly dazed and wholly satisfied.

And as we bid farewell to the 'Twisted' series, I echo the sentiment: Ana Huang, whatever you're writing next, my heart and my cup of tea are ready!

Please note that this book is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Wait a minute boys and girls, check out these trigger warnings first:

Alzheimer’s

Anxiety

Death/graphic violence

Death of a parent

Emotionally abusive parents

Kidnapping

Mention of suicide

Stalking/cyberstalking

Romance Tropes, you ask ?

Billionaire

Fake Dating

Forced Proximity

Morality Chain

Neighbors

Roommates

Who do we meet in this book ?

Stella

Christian

What to read next:

Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey 

The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams

Taken by a Sinner by Michelle Heard 

[cl00udyyanan]

the zodiac based matchup has intrigued me, could i request kazuha and scaramouche/wanderer? i’m a scorpio

sigh... another scaramouche huh? jkjk now i haven't even done the research while typing this and i don't have the highest hopes im sorry.... i think with kazu it'll be better since you're both the same signs but we'll see

scorpio and scorpio

okk our fave blond boy,, off the bat you two are ATTACHED AT THE HIP. literally don't leave eachothers side, beidou makes fun of yall saying you guys are cojoined bc yall are always right there ("whatever you need to tell kazuha, you can tell me too!" type vibes, ya feel) its kinda cute??? ig.... lol even though kazuha is a traveler, no matter where you go as long as its together, its home. yall do anything and everything together. you can talk about anything or anyone (gossipers much?) both are so loyal to eachother and fight for eachother really. i mean you both are scorpios, you have to be the perfect match huh?

WRONG! you both are too controlling! kazuha is more calmer than the average person, but he has a possesive and jealous nature that is very strong, he doesn't act out on it initally but the after math is terrifying. you can see him staring red daggers into you from afar, silently plotting against you when he's mad. he may seem intimidating, but just go over and kiss him and hug him a bit and he'll be ok he's just a bit jealous. its possibly the same for you, when you miss him you may not say anything at first, or you'll go all out and beg for him to come to you. even demand. thats where your downfall is, yall are too emotional with eachoter.

this relationship is the one, everyone talks about. you guys are the couple thats lowkey toxic but you guys are toxic together. the good moments make up for all the bad ones and all you guys need to do is kiss and make up a bit,, come on itll be ok.

compatibilty: 84 basically perfect for eachother

capricorn and scorpio

sigh,, scara. actually you guys can basically trust eachother no problem. you both have the same goal in the relationship, which is to feel something. you both need that sense of touch and to feel love and man, you two can bring it. if you need a hug, even though he's hesitant, he's gonna give it to you. if he needs a nice peck, just give him one and he'll be satisfied for the whole day really. ya'll are cute together truly. you guys have a respectful communication, wherest you can give eachother space when its needed and love when its wanted. you guys help eachother grow and try not to give a negative atmosphere to the other. you don't want to bring eachother down, and you can spend good quality time together. its a nice peaceful love.

that its, its peaceful when you guys aren't fighting. its not a loud angry fight, its quiet and scary. like watching to cats prepare to pounce on eachother, just hissing at eachother and throwing fake paws. you two have emotional issues (he's got mommy issues when know that for sure) you both can't help eachother with it all that well so your relationship is mostly a physical one, where you think thats enough but. you both need that emotional support that you just cant give him all too well.

this relationship is kinda,, sad. its love and thankfully it has nothing to do with how you treat eachother, its how you both feel inside. hopefully you're both able to work on your confidence because i promise, when you both learn to love yourselves, you can love eachother. (i means this! ik this is fake but i hope you love yourself!) in the end, you both feel guilty, feeling this relationship isn't enough for the other,but its an enjoyable one. so even if it does end, you love eachother sill no matter what.

comaptibiltiy: 62