#(and honestly i love the book and i love the film. you'll always get more time and development with books)

[thebramblewood]

Apologies if you've answered this before, but I was looking through your asks and couldn't find anything.

Do you have any advice on how you take such good screenshots of your game? You have such a knack for lighting, having variety of shots, and making them immersive.

This is so sweet. Thank you! 🥰

If I'm being honest, it's 90% vibes and gut feelings for me. I don’t have any formal background in filmmaking or photography, and everything I know is by sheer osmosis. There’s a lot of fancy terminology to describe why certain image compositions look better than others. I admire and respect anyone who purposefully keeps that in mind. But I am definitely not that person. I think I’ve watched enough film and TV, though, to subconsciously be doing the "right thing" - or at least what looks right to me.

That being said, I think the best way to improve is practice. If you spend enough time doing something you'll obviously get better at it, even if you don't realize it at first. So the most important thing is to give yourself the patience to grow and the freedom to experiment! At any rate, here are some things I've learned that will maybe be helpful to others.

Camera Tricks: We all know the camera in TS4 can be a little wonky at times. I use Buckley's camera mod. It hasn't been updated in eons but still works as far as I can tell. It gives you more freedom with movement, and I've found it especially helpful for getting shots that are lower to the ground.

Now that I've realized how sneakily useful first person camera can be, I also take advantage of that all the time. There's the trick of making your Sim look in a specific direction. (This works with poses and gameplay actions, by the way! For example, I used it to turn Caleb's head toward Lilith while he was trimming the bonsai tree.) There's the Dutch angle trick explained in this video. This is great for moments of disorientation and unease. I also just straight-up used first person camera to convey Helena's confusion upon waking after being turned.

Also, saved camera positions are your best friends. You can save up to five positions using CTRL+5-9. Then you just click the corresponding number to return to that position. I've used these for so many reasons. By taking two shots in the same position and Photoshopping them together, I've been able to edit Sims in (like Vlad below), fix accessory clashes (the book was in the hat category, so Lilith couldn't actually wear it at the same time as the towel on her head), and to pose Sims in open doorways (Helena had to walk through the door to open it for the Vatores, so I shot both halves separately).

Zoom: I love smashing that zoom button, whether it's zooming way in or way out. Zoomed out shots are perfect for establishing setting or as interstitial shots during a long conversation when you don't want to always focus on Sims' faces. They're also great for the draaama. Extreme close-ups are great for emphasizing emotion or a tiny but significant detail. Playing around with the extremes of zoom is one of the best ways to achieve shot variety!

Focus: I don't think Reshade is a necessity for good visual storytelling, but it does make certain things easier. I rely a lot on depth of field shaders to pull focus in shots. I like using cinematic depth of field especially in conversations to blur some characters while emphasizing others. I feel like this helps ground conversations because it reminds us there are multiple participants instead of always zeroing in on the speaker alone. Another way to play with focus is to allow the angle to mirror the emotions of the conversation. It's an older shot, but I always liked how Caleb seems to cower beneath Lilith's bat form here even though she's technically smaller. And in the recent conversation between Lilith and Helena, I kept the camera to Lilith's back to emphasize her vulnerability and discomfort and put the focus on Helena's reaction to it.

Framing/Angles: I do this by pure instinct, honestly, and have gotten better at getting it right on the first shot over time. I used to take half a dozen shots of the same pose from different angles and choose the best one. Nowadays, I'm quicker to commit and often take only one shot. I've learned that if something immediately tickles my brain, it's usually the way to go. I usually angle shots so that the characters aren't looking directly at camera, as it seems more natural that way. On the other hand, sometimes the direct to camera look can actually work in more confrontational or unsettling moments.

Environment: If I can help it, I don't do my own builds. In some ways, this is a disadvantage because I have to set up the scene within a space that wasn't specifically catered to it. On the other hand, it makes for fun little surprises, like the ability to peek in through a skylight or frame two characters within perfectly placed archways. I like using objects and structures to create interest when I can. I often don't discover things like this until I'm pulling the camera around and randomly happen upon them. I definitely recommend navigating all around to see what you've got to work with before committing to any specific angle. You might find one you didn't even think of!

Lighting: I do what I can with the game's lighting. I avoid placing ceiling lamps or at least turn the brightness down much lower, and I don't usually turn all the lights on in a room at once. I tend to change the color to one of the warmer golden hues to avoid a stark white that washes everything out. I always like when I can get some sources of light into frame because it adds a lot to the ambience. But I've also been using Relight on all of my posts lately. It's an addiction, and it truly makes all the difference. I'll use it to give light sources a stronger glow so they stand out more and also to create shadows on Sims' faces. It's also very good for flashlights and computer screen glow!

After having self-indulgently written all this, I'm not sure how much is usable advice versus rambling musings. I find it hard to give storytelling "tips" because so much of it feels innate and personal and hard to put into generalized terms. I also don't want to imply that every one of my shots is perfect or that there aren't a million other ways to go about achieving good results. But thank you to anyone who's made it this far, and I hope you found it worthwhile. 💕

[lacomandante]

We had a power outage for almost 30 hours and I ended up just writing letters by candle light and reading by the fire. And I will say I have changed my mind about Sharpe's Rifles now that I've finished it: I actually thoroughly enjoyed it, and it's probably one of my favorite Sharpe books. Yes, there's a Teresa shaped hole in it, but even past that I loved the character development, I love how detailed it is, the action is really good, and Vivar is more interesting, I think, than we get in the films. My favorite bit was definitely the end because it throws you for a loop and has a surprise reveal that even shocked me bc I hadn't put two and two together which I really liked- it showed off Sharpe's cleverness and, though he struggled, his ability to lead men and go above and beyond to get the job done. I honestly think I like it more than Eagle, because Sharpe's already established as a good officer in that one, having earned the respect of his men, versus Rifles where there's danger on all sides and you get to see how he earned that respect. Plus I'm a sucker for partisans so I like seeing how Sharpe interacts with his environment and around others outside of the military.

Now I'm just waiting impatiently on the local bookstore to find their copies of Havoc, Fury, and Battle, and I can continue!

[kjupchurch-xx]

🩷 Conflicting Feelings 🩷 Part 3

Hugh and I ended up getting take-out for lunch. We spent the last 24 hours together. Things were nice. Things were right. The last 24 hours had been spent working out kinks of what was to come next. It was spent with hours of being in each other's arms and many passionate kisses. He'd been my person for years. These things had only ever taken place in my dreams, I never imagined them becoming a reality.  I'd always wondered what his kisses were like. The thoughts made me smile as a red blush appeared on my cheeks. 

He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and looking at me through the full length mirror while resting his head on my shoulder. "What's got you turning red?" He asked, smirking at me through the mirror. 

Our height difference was pretty silly considering I'm 5'0 and he towers me at 6'2, so imagine him bending down to actually rest his chin on my shoulder. I tilted my head looking at him through the mirror, "Nothing." I said pursing my lips together. 

He chuckled, "Are you sure, love?" He asked sweetly. 

I quickly nodded, "I'm sure." before turning to look at him, staring for a moment, "What?" He asked laughing. I shook my head, "Nothing. I just can't believe this is even happening right now." I said honestly. 

He smiled, "Well it is. And if you'll have me, I'm all yours." His gaze went down to my lips for a moment before meeting my eyes once again. 

Flashback to September 5th, 2021: 

I was back home in South Carolina visiting family. I'd just finished playing an extra in a movie when my phone started ringing. It was Hugh, who was in England filming for his new movie The Son. Figuring he was just calling to ask about my filming experience, I answered. 

I could hear sniffling, "Hey, how was filming?" I asked, trying to hide the concern in my voice. 

He sighed, sniffling a bit more as he belted out, "My father died." the tremble in his voice killed me. 

I sighed, "Oh shit. I'm so sorry, babe. Is Deb on her way?" I asked, hoping she'd canceled whatever she had going on since he was in England alone. 

That simple question broke him, "I fucking rang her and she just said 'I'm so sorry babe, I'll see you when you get home. I can't leave the dogs.' Who the fuck says that?!" His voice dripping with hurt as he continued breaking. 

I closed my eyes, feeling my teeth start to grit, "Are you serious?" 

He sniffled, choking on his tears, "I just lost my fucking father. I'm in another country filming a movie I can't even focus on at this moment and that's all I get from her." 

I quickly put the phone and speaker and sent Deb a text. 

Me: Hey, I saw the news. If you guys need someone to keep the pups while you go to Australia, I don't mind keeping them. I miss Dali and Allegra!

She text me back almost immediately after I hit send.

Debbora-Lee: Thank you, honey. I appreciate it but I'm not going to be able to go. Ava has school stuff we can't miss unfortunately. 

I sighed, "I'm so sorry, babe. You're in England, right?" I asked knowingly as I began searching for flights on my phone. Someone has to be there and I guess if she refuses to be there, I'll have to go to make sure he can make it through his film and to make sure he's okay. 

He coughed again, "Yes, I'm in fucking London." 

I bit my bottom lip as I booked the first flight I saw, "Meet me at the airport at 11 pm your time." 

He sniffled, surprised, "Where are you? What do you mean?" He asked, confused. 

I sighed, "I'll be landing in London at 11." I said while grabbing my things, throwing them in my bag to haul ass to the airport. 

"No love, you don't have to do that. Don't mess up your time with your family." He said softly. 

"It's already paid for. Just pick me up at 11." I said as I ended the call. 

I'm pissed. I'm pissed she can't get off her ass to fly to be with her husband who just lost his father. I'm pissed my time with my family got ruined because of this fucked up situation, but he's my best friend and he obviously needs someone on his side. He called Deb, then called me. I'm pissed that I can't show this man what he means to me because of a marriage he's in with such a selfish person. But I'll go be the hero and save his ass because she refuses to. Time to put my platonic face on. 

11 PM, London, England: 

After a 10 hour flight, a comfortable bed is all I'm after. I booked a room at the same hotel Hugh was staying to be close by. I hadn't seen him in months. I was excited, despite the circumstance of why I came in the first place. I stepped off the escalator, the airport was practically dead at this time. Maybe 20 other people and I'm sure they all just got off the flight I was on. I quickly found the baggage claim, grabbing my things and checking my phone. 

"You really didn't have to do this." I heard a familiar voice, my favorite Australian say as he approached me, pulling me into a quick hug. 

He looked awful. His eyes were swollen from crying, his hair was a mess. He was almost unrecognizable.  

I shrugged, "You didn't have anybody else. That's what I'm here for." I smiled. "Take me to the hotel. I'm tired and ready to be away from airports and planes." I said, walking towards the doors. 

He gave me a sad smile, "Isn't this your first time out of the country?" He asked, looking at me, walking with me towards his car. 

I nodded, "It is. Finally putting the passport I've had for a year now to good use." I laughed. 

As we approached his car, he opened the door for me and grabbed my bags, placing them in the back, then coming to get in the driver's seat. "I'm so thankful to have someone like you in my life. Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me." He said, his voice slightly shaking. 

I took a deep breath, trying to contain my own emotions, "Don't mention it. That's what friends are for, babe." I said with a small smile. 

He took me to a fast food place to grab a bite to take to the hotel with me. As we reached the hotel and got up to the room, he stopped holding his composure and broke. I couldn't help but pull him into my arms and stroke his back as he wept. I'd never seen Hugh actually cry and the sight was heartbreaking. Nonetheless, I'm glad I'm here so he isn't alone. We spent hours with him crying, telling me stories about his father and the kind of man he was, we rehearsed his lines for The Son until the sun came sweeping into the hotel room. 

Present Day:

"What's on your mind?" He asked, giving me a serious look. 

I looked at him, "Nothing, I was just thinking about the night I flew to London to see you." 

He chuckled, "Ah, the night that started it all."

I playfully rolled my eyes, "I don't remember anything being started on my part. I remember trying to call your wife and let her have it... but you wouldn't let me." I laughed at the last part. 

He laughed, "No, I wouldn't. I told you that you were better than that and I didn't want her to ban me from seeing you." He said with a smirk. 

"Honestly though, that was the night that really did something for me. I had nothing but platonic feelings for you until you did that for me. After that weekend with you, just being there, being yourself and being there for me, helping me keep my head in the game with my film, it was hard to separate myself from developing feelings for you." He said quietly, slightly shaking his head almost as if he were in disbelief.

I kissed his cheek, "I'll bet you had no idea that I was absolutely smitten with you long before that. Which is why I flew to England. Do you think I fly across the world at the drop of a hat for anyone else?" I giggled. 

He looked at me, eyes widening a little, "What? You were not. You never showed it at all." 

I rolled my eyes again, "Um sir, you were married and I did not want to fight someone over their husband. I enjoyed our friendship and respected your marriage too much to do something stupid." 

He smirked, "No, but we did have a cuddle in London." 

I gasped, laughing, "No shit, you were an emotional mess. I wasn't going to just say 'Hey, I'm heading to the other room. See ya tomorrow, big guy.' What was I supposed to do?" I said crossing my arms. 

 He laughed, pecking my lips, wrapping his arms back around me, "Okay, point well made." 

It was starting to get late, now getting closer to 10 pm. I yawned, looking at him, "I'm sorry, but I refuse to sleep on the couch again tonight. I'm going to sleep in my bed tonight. You're welcome to join me unless you want a hard sofa." 

He smiled, "I'll be there in a second, love."

I smiled sleepily, yawning again before walking towards the bedroom, "Okay." 

As I got to the bedroom, I put on a tank top and matching pajama shorts before climbing into the big king sized bed. It wasn't as comfortable as my bed at home, but it would do. About 10 minutes later, Hugh walked in interrupting the annoyingly funny reality show I was watching. 

"Miss me?" He asked cockily while taking off his jeans and t-shirt, moving the blankets to lay beside me. 

I chuckled, "No, I had Mama June and Honey Boo Boo keeping me entertained."

He rolled his eyes, "I can't believe you actually watch that." He laid his arm over my shoulder, pulling me closer to him. 

I played as if I were offended, "Don't hate. They're hilarious." 

He looked at the tv, "I'm sorry it took me awhile to come in here. I was on the phone with Oscar." His voice sounded sad.

I chewed at my lip, nervous for what was to come next, as I rested my hand on his bare chest, softly caressing it. "It's okay. Is he okay?" I asked. 

He sighed, "He's fine. He's disappointed that his mum and I couldn't fix things, but he's old enough to understand that people have to do what makes them happy."  

I looked up at him, "Well, at least he understands. Does he know where you're at?..." I asked lowly. 

Hugh sat in silence. 

"Hugh... You didn't tell him you're with me, did you?..." I asked, growing worried, lifting up to look at him. 

He shook his head, "Well not at first, no. He asked where I was. I simply said LA. He asked who I was with. I didn't say. He said 'You're with her, aren't you, dad?' and you know I'm a terrible liar." 

I exhaled the breath I'd been holding in hopes he did not tell his child I was with him. Oscar and Ava adored me, but I did not need the world thinking I ripped this man out of his marriage and away from his family. 

He rubbed my cheek, "He knows you didn't do anything wrong. He's old enough to understand the issues Deb and I have. He knew his mum and I had been practically separated for years but didn't want to actually separate for their sake." 

I shook my head, "I hope you're right. I also hope he doesn't call her and tell her." I said without thinking. 

He shook his head, "He won't. He doesn't know what we're doing or what we've talked about. He knows you're always there. He probably thinks you're making sure I don't do something stupid and just being a good friend." 

I nodded, "Okay... If you say so." 

Hugh's phone lit up, a notification from Ryan Reynolds. It was a text. Opening it, it was a screen shot of his soon-to-be ex-wife, posted up with another man. I looked at Hugh, chewing my bottom lip, anxiously awaiting his response. 

He looked at me, "Good for her. She deserves happiness." He said bluntly. 

I pursed my lips, "You took that better than I imagined." I chuckled. 

He smiled, holding his phone up to take a picture with me. "What are you doing?..." I asked, not ready for his response. I knew exactly what he was doing. He was going to post his own selfie to get back at her. 

He smirked, "I'm just taking a selfie with my best friend that will be going on Instagram with the caption 'That's what friends are for'." He exclaimed proud of himself as he forced me to smile for the camera by tickling my side. 

"I can't believe how toxic you are." I said with a chuckle watching him post the picture to his Instagram. You could clearly see he was shirtless, I'm in a tank top and we're close to one another. This was going to go over great on the internet. 

He chuckled, "I can be toxic, but in a sexy way." He reminded me. 

Author's Note:  I'm actually having a lot of fun writing this. Let me guess... You guys want a part four? 

[krispycreamcake]

Kanato Sakamaki bf headcanons𖤐𖤐

🧸- This is so random and probably not the best way to start things off, but he frequently dresses your hair

🧸- It literally doesn't matter if you're male or female or even a woolly mamoth, you're never seeing the inside of a salon/barber again

🧸- While it's generally fun for him to do his s/o hair, he also uses it to his advantage to essentially groom you to his likings and preferences (no not that kind of groom get out)

🧸- If you have a stuffed animal or a collection of the sort, they will be invited to his tea parties and he'll even teach you how to sew little outfits for them

🧸- Honestly as childish as Kanato is, I think the reason he acts like this is because he feels emotions very intensely

🧸- I have a similar issue and people will often undermine it as just having a "dramatic" or "childish" personality, when in reality the poor guy just feels things 10x more than your average Joe

🧸- And because of this, I think one of the main issues that'll present themselves in your relationship is that you might unknowingly hurt his feelings

🧸- Let me elaborate. Basically calling him "cute" for making a mistake, or let's say even just brushing off his tantrums by saying "that's just how he acts and I'll need to get used to it" is essentially babying him

🧸- The uh easiest way to fix this would be by letting him know you're there for him and ready to work at whatever the issue is, together

🧸- Ok I lied, it's not going to be easy when it comes to Kanato or any diaboy honestly, but I promise you it'll be worth it

🧸- Treat him like his own person while still retaining your compassion and sympathy for him and you'll be rewarded immensely in your relationship

🧸- In my opinion, Kanato seems like his love language is gift giving and quality time

🧸- Now I'm not saying you have to spend a pound and a crown to get him the fanciest Dubai chocolate or crumbl cookie box, I'm talking on a sentimental value level

🧸- So for example, he mentioned how he needed a new hat for teddy but couldn't find one that was right for him, what you would do in that scenario is go on YouTube, look up a tutorial on how to make shit with felt, fail like once or twice and THEN give him the gift of his lifetime

🧸- Now let's say you aren't the artsy type, pay attention to his wants and likes and even if it's a tiny cute little keychain from the dollar store, once he likes it, he'll cherish it forever

🧸- Ok I realized that I'm talking a loooot about the whole gift giving thing, so I'll just write a bit on quality time to even things out

🧸- Graveyard picnic dates, watching the stars on top the roof, 90s horror film night, you reading to him something from the Grimm Brothers, tea parties in the dungeon

🧸- When thinking Kanato, think "wow this is kinda fucked up but it strangely doesn't feel that way when I'm with this person"

🧸- I'm so dumb, I talked about his love language and didn't mention what he'd do for YOU💀

🧸- Well for starters, he's the type of guy to not say I love you a lot but instead write you songs and serenade you

🧸- Clothes galore with this guy. He's always making or buying some kind of outfit for you

🧸- If he knows you like a certain collection of an item (ie. Books, tea sets, stuffed animals, dolls) he'll get them for you, trust

🧸- He LOVES going bone hunting with you, literally loves it so much

🧸- Date night is a regular Friday night occurrence so do NOT miss it

🧸- Oh right, his favourite time of the year is Halloween and he LOOOOVES making you do creepy couple costumes, baking fall/halloween themed cookies with you, carving pumpkins. It's especially his favourite time of the year to take long strolls through the cemetery

🧸- He loves tracing the veins on your wrist with his nails

🧸- Speaking of nails, I imagine he has medium length nails and keeps them rounded but just a tad bit sharp and he likes to pierce your flesh with them if he's in the mood

🧸- Do you know that whole "would you still love me if I was a worm?" Thing? Yeah, that's him but replace worm with decomposing corpse that has lost all its beauty

🧸- His favourite spots to bite you are your lips and your hips

[ghoulfuckersincorporated]

Pls More general sfw headcanons of cooper and reader? Ghoul or pre war whichever you prefer honestly.

General SFW Prewar!Cooper Howard Headcanons 2

(I'll do some Ghoul SFW in a follow-up; this got away from me a little.)

Clearly he enjoys film and theatre, but he has a fairly secret soft spot for musicals. Pretty much any musical will pique his interest, and you'll spend a fair few date nights out seeing shows. You find it very endearing that he wants to share his interests with you. He's got an especially soft spot for some of the older, cheesier musicals though; hope you're ready to see "Brigadoon" like a half dozen times! He's got that one on tape.

"Old Yeller" is banned media in the Howard household (as are most things about dogs who die), as well as books like "The Velveteen Rabbit", which he read to Janey when she was four and never truly recovered from. Coop cries like a baby every time and gets so embarrassed. You once asked Janey if she'd ever seen it, and she tells you, rather conspiratorially, that she once watched it at a friend's house.

The old man actually cries quite easily when he's moved by something. He'll try to hide it away, but every once in a while he fully loses it (tbh it's the 'child death' type stuff that really upsets him; to this day, he's still a little mad at Barb for showing him "Bridge to Terabithia" on family movie night and thinking he would like it). You think it's the sweetest thing and you always reassure him that it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I imagine that, like a good, engaged father, he takes a particular interest in Janey's likes and hobbies; if you ask him what she likes, he can give you an entire list of things you can engage with her on, every single one of them accurate and up-to-date. If Janey really likes a book series, he'll read it (or maybe listen to it if he's short on time). If she really likes a band, y'all have fun at the concert! Every group comes through LA so you may be going to several concerts a year eventually. He even knows who her favorite member is! He only falls in love with you more when you do the same with her.

He's a true romantic at heart; despite being really torn up about the divorce and thinking he'll never fall in love again, he does, and hard. It's not long before he (unbelievably, to him especially) finds himself wanting to propose. He waits a while, though, wanting to feel out the dynamic between you and Janey, worrying about how Barb will feel when she ultimately finds out. He doesn't want to be married to her anymore, but he still cares for her, and he doesn't want to hurt her.

I'd like to think that he and Barb had a pretty nice, large wedding (as I've said before, likely at an older age than many of their peers, even if, canonically, it seems they were already dating during Cooper's military service; they both strike me as the type to want to wait until they were better established to actually marry). Not anything too crazy, but since Cooper's career was really starting to take off, she did want to use the wedding as an opportunity to rub elbows, so there were quite a few people in attendance that he flat-out didn't know. It didn't bother him much at the time; Barb always loved an opportunity to network and Coop could never deny her anything. But, given a chance to do it over, I think he'd do things differently.

With you, he'd wanna go to the courthouse. He'd be happy to have a nice, private ceremony eventually, maybe a little vow renewal for your one-year down on the beach in Mexico or something. But when you get legally married it'll be at the courthouse, just the two of you and Janey. You wouldn't have it any other way.

You try your best to keep it under wraps, but, well...marriage licenses are a matter of public record, and there are people whose whole job is to unearth things like that. The fallout (ha) from it may be stronger than you anticipated, but, at the end of the day, you have one another, and you're happy with that.

[emilybeemartin]

Ok ok ok ok listen. Because I have anxiety I feel it's my duty to say that this show won't be for everyone. I came to it over quarantine because my husband suggested we read Bernard Cornwell's series together, and I agreed because I liked Hornblower and knew this was the army equivalent and, let's face it, I wanted to see scruffy mid-thirties Sean Bean in uniform.

THE PREMISE:

Richard Sharpe is a lowborn rank-and-file soldier in the 95th Rifles during the Napoleonic Wars who is raised to an officer after saving Sir Arthur Wellesley's life (this all happens differently in the books, but the basic event is the same). Throughout the series, he rises in the ranks thanks to his bravery and heroism/recklessness, but he's always caught between two worlds--trying to be a leader of common men while never being accepted by the rest of the highborn officers.

Let's start with the bad:

CONS:

Look, this is a 90s drama glorifying the British army. So like, there are gonna be issues. Women are mostly romantic side pieces to be wooed and rescued, and there are plenty of subplots, verbiage, and stereotypes that didn't age well. Production values are low for the first few and so you've got battle scenes with like fifteen guys and a horse, which honestly I find endearing. But no episode is more cringey than Sharpe's Gold. Due to legal issues, the script had to be rewritten with none of the original material, and it turned into this bizarro semi-supernatural horror involving Aztec gold (in Spain, yes). It's completely different from all the other episodes, and even Sean Bean didn't like it (he called it a "mish mash," which is true). It's such a weird piece of work that we almost stopped watching the show, but we continued, and we were relieved to find that the rest of the series is markedly better. History Hack podcast does a great dive into why this episode was so whack.

PROS:

I MEAN COME ON

Sean really understood this character--absolute chaos on the battlefield and shy and awkward pretty much everywhere else. He's amazing in battle scenes and he's EPIC at acting wounded. But the scenes I replay over and over are when he's socially out of his depth and gets flustered and sputtery and so Sheffield the captions can't handle it.

Supporting cast:

You'll find a lot of your classic British TV favorites making appearances throughout this series, and the camaraderie among the riflemen is always fun. Obviously this is a dude fest, as stated above, but some of the women are also written and acted really, really well--- Assumpta Serna as Teresa is that winning combination of a love interest/action heroine who doesn't devolve into a damsel in distress, and even passes the Bechdel test on a few occasions. And Diana Perez as Ramona is so badass and enjoyable.

Locations: Aside from a few interior sets, these films are mostly shot outside on location, with practical effects and stunts. There's some gorgeous scenery of the Crimean peninsula standing in for Spain and Portugal, and it's just really fun watching these guys run around rocky escarpments and fields with flares and stage explosives going off around them.

Music: I saw someone tag the opening theme as "electric guitar jumpscare" and they're not wrong. It's wonderfully anachronistic and totally 90s and you'll never get used to it. But far better are the soldiers' songs John Tams threads throughout, as well as his and Muldowney's thematic scores, and you will always, always finish an episode with him singing "Over the Hills and Far Away" stuck in your head.

Filming Lore: There was a LOT that happened during filming. Everything from Paul McGann having to drop out as the lead to misadventures in filming in Crimea just after the collapse of the Soviet Union. History Hack podcast has an awesome series of "filming of" episodes with input from cast, crew, and historians, and Jason Salkey (Rifleman Harris) has a book called "From Crimea With Love" that details the batshit filming adventures. I haven't read it but he references it every six minutes throughout the podcasts.

So: you've been warned, you've been primed. Start with Sharpe's Rifles; it's on Youtube. Watch it and Eagle, maybe jump to Battle or Siege if you're not sure, and then make up your mind.

If this all sounds enjoyable to you, but you wish there were more tall ships, more Paul McGann, more heroic brooding, and even MORE true love cosplaying as masculine camaraderie, you're in luck! Because you should also watch Hornblower!

And then draw fan art of it all! Please,,, I am so lon el y

[daenysthedreamersblog]

not sure if you’ve answered this already but have you read the tbosas book ? if so, how would you compare it to the movie

i have read it! honestly i will always like books/source material over the film adaptations. i dont think you'll ever get the in depth details when you have to condense something into a 1.5-2.5 hour movie and so the source material takes a hit

but in regards to tbosas i think coryo was way more unhinged in the books and that didn't transfer well to film bc u never get his internal monologue and so they made him more sympathetic than he should have been. like he came off as an antagonist more than the future villain u see in THG. i still really enjoyed the movie, loved the music, but i wish we could have at least gotten some internal dialogue from coryo just so u can truly see how cruel and calculated he really was. i also wish we got to see clemmie becoming snakelike lmao but i know they have to cut stuff to fit it into the time frame. some of the deaths we're changed in the games and so therefore it changes LGB character and how coryo portrays her so idk

grrm said it best, ignore canon and the world u created falls apart like tissue paper. but tbosas didnt suffer too badly from the changes but it definitely didn't give off the same vibe as the books but thats okay. its still really enjoyable. its probs my second fav movie from the franchisee but catching fire will always stay on top

[guys-in-distress-database]

Reintroduction Post

Since I've been getting a lot of new followers and attention lately, I figured it was high time for a reintroduction post (which is honestly just a proper introduction since I never really did one)

Hello! I'm the Guys in Distress Database, your one-stop shop for all things male bondage related. The original and still primary focus of this blog is to compile male bondage scenes across all forms of media in a database-like format that makes it easy to find the scenes you are looking for. I do not include screenshots, but I do dictate the medium, character, type of restraints and where you can find it within the piece of media. Over the three years I've been running this blog, I've collected scenes from film, television, literature, video games, stage plays, music videos, comics, webseries and even obscure things like podcasts and colouring books. I aim to be accurate, detailed and not discriminate between different forms of media when it comes to guys in distress.

I am most interested in animated GID (guys in distress) and my favourite restraint/gag combo is the good old rope with a cleave gag.

While I am not a whump blog officially, I do dabble in whump content and I am highly interested in whump, so you'll often see me posting about that. Whump and GID overlap significantly and as someone who is more interested in the angstier side of bondage, whump, of course, tickles my fancy. I am interested in (obviously) kidnapping, captivity and hostage situations, but I also enjoy torture, hurt/comfort and whumpee/whumper dynamics.

My DMs and asks are always open, so feel free to shoot me a message. I love talking with people about bondage and whump and it's honestly so nice to have this community here!

[feydstan]

People You'd Like to Know Better tag game!

got tagged by @spacepunksupreme thanks!

three ships:

first ship: The Dark Urge x Gortash from bg3 (yes, this is ofc durge specific, but let's think "typical" durge or pre-amnesia durge, whatever durge that's scratching and biting gortash and fucks him while doing so) second ship: Mizrak x Olrox from Castlevania Nocturne (gays, angst, I just want them to be together, they have me barking, also hail them for making Olrox this fucking pretty and making such a good chara (@kakimari we probably owe you our thanks)) third ship: Esen x Ouyang from She Who Became the Sun/He Who Drowned the World (very niche but I am crying, throwing up, dragging my teeth across concrete bc of these two) media: last film: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (let's say the title is very fitting because it could almost have been a musical if more people than Lucy would sing plus someone really turned out to be the biggest fucking snake to no one's surprise, but overall a good prequel, lots of references to the hunger games movies (obvi but u get it)) currently reading: He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker Chan (my favourite author and I honestly think that the second book of the duology is even better than the first, it's gay, angsty, humorous, exciting, I literally never got this attached to characters in a book, it's also super interesting even without much knowledge about China's history and Mongol invasions, you'll learn a lot, and luckily a map is provided in the beginning, I literally have to check it each time) and The Genesis of Misery by Neon Yang (Just started but the action in the book is amazing and I can't wait to read more, I love the main character) currently watching: Narcos (I never got around it up until now but I love it, it's super interesting, informative, and since I'm learning Spanish, I get to enjoy that part of it, too (Casa de Papel taught me the basics such as dinero and joder) and well another big plus is Pedro Pascal) and the Once Upon a Witchlight campaign from Legends of Avantris (a DnD campaign I very much love, peak entertainment, my fucking legs) currently consuming: anything Baldur's Gate 3 related, vampire-related stuff, Dune as always, Tolkien stuff currently craving: the will and strength to write my fucking book, to draw all I want to draw, manage to open commissions and stuff, and I'm also craving MORE ART and the SOULS OF ARTISTS tagging: @alex-goes-brrr @moryri @tripleyeeet @carrot--cube @volotramp @mr-oldman-appreciator @feylights

[runawaymun]

Just wanted to get back to the answer you gave for question 23 and say that while I’ve been out of the game for a couple of years now because of life, I have read every chapter of Boundless Sky and after every chapter I make a mental note to comment but I never remember to do that because somehow I’m always in a hurry.

I remember when I started reading Stars and I followed through the process since I believe chapter two, and I had never read such a thought through and well structured fic before and it totally stole my heart. Your fics keep inspiring me and now I’m getting motivated to start writing again.

Honestly the way fics and comfort characters get us through difficult times is something I will never stop being amazed by. Stars got me through an incredibly tough year filled with death and new beginnings and twelve hour days. I could have had the worst or longest day ever and still feel excitement and joy about a new chapter at the end of the day and before going to bed I would read it and end my day with a smile. And of course we need to remember that we’re talking about a pretty heavy hurt/comfort fic which I think isn’t the way most people would want to end their day with xD

Is there something wrong with me? Probably. Do I mind? Not really. Tomorrow I will start writing again because that’s absolutely what I need right now. Ooooh I am so excited about everything and I totally forgot why I was writing this in the first place, but I want you to know that you inspire me and just keep rocking!❤️‍🔥

Ahhh sorry for taking so long to respond, I wanted to give this the attention it's due. <3 First of all you are never obligated to comment! Please don't feel pressured at all. I am lovingly placing each (slow-to-update) chapter in your hands. You are very dear to me.

And god. Thank you so much. I think one of the best things ever as a writer is hearing that my art inspired someone else to make art. There's really nothing better than that. IDK I just adore humans I adore the way our brains work I adore how we can get inspired by other people & art is inherently collaborative and art begets art. It's collaborative between the viewer/reader and collaborative between other writers, and honestly like. The idea that I could inspire someone to start writing again means so much to me! There are so many times in my life where I felt discouraged and walked away from writing or art for a while, but then there is always a piece of art or a fic or a book or a film/tv show/video game that makes me want to start again and it always saves me every time so-- it's lovely to be able to pass it along.

;-; and I am so glad that Stars/Boundless Sky has been comforting. It's been so comforting and cozy for me too (despite all the crazy stuff we're getting into with Boundless Sky). Just-- yeah. I know I will miss hanging out with the fam when it's over (not that I won't write more). But I'm just so glad that it has been helpful and comforting to read!! Honestly that's my goal that's always my goal like-- to be able to create something a reader can escape into? For me that's the highest form of my art so like, the fact that it worked for you means so much, really. Thank you.

<3 <3 <3 YESSSS GO WRITE YOUR HEART OUT. I hope that you are still writing. Sometimes breaks are good. Nothing blooms all throughout the year. I hope that you've been able to enjoy it and make something you love -- and if you haven't I hope you'll gently push yourself through until you do. Sometimes the faucet gets a bit stuck and it can take a while for new stuff to come out, but once it does it's just the best feeling.

Thank you so much for this, really. <3

[bonesandthebees]

Also, I can’t believe I wrote two whole text walls and didn’t even talk about the corn metaphors. Wilbur being tied down by the roots, the same roots his father is buried between, being forever connected to that unmarked grave. And it literally rooting him into place. Also them disappearing when he sees Phil because he always feels safe with him and then coming back day during his fight with Tommy because the guilt is resurfacing. Oh and the deer in the headlights metaphors very clearly tells us how Wilbur sees their relationship (even if it’s a scewed view).

Also, I very much loved how secretive they were being about it with Phil around, almost like they were using his presence as a shield to not talk about it, to not have that conversation, yet they are still unable to properly talk about it without him there.

Then there’s Tommy coming out with the gun and Wilbur needing to take it from him. I’d have to reread it, but I can’t image the image of his, now grown up, younger brother with a gun in his hands was good for him. So he needed to take that gun, like he feels he should have taken it years ago. And he tries to rewrite his wrongs and actually protect him this time (like he didn’t last time, like he didn’t actually get their dad to let go). But he still can’t shoot because he’s a pacifist.

Lastly, the imagery works very well. This could be a really good short film with the way you described the flashback and when the gunshot would be placed. I also feel like this would work really well as a little novella, but I’m not sure it’s long enough for that. Maybe a book bundle with some of your other stories because from what I’ve heard you write really good ones (and now I’m feeling like I might actually want to read under the brine and I can’t remember the title of the other one, but I know there’s at least 2 more really really good ones).

Anyway, third times the charm so I’m stopping here before this turns into yet another wall of text (no 4 paragraphs does not count as a wall). And now I’m going to go a be productive because school really is coming for my throat (I can’t wait to graduate, I’m so done)

-🌲

YEAHHH CORN METAPHORS YOU GET IT!! he's quite literally rooted to that place. to his father's grave buried within the cornfields. the roots that tie him there are his guilt over what he did and while they briefly go away when phil hugs him they come right back when he's reminded of his guilt again.

having phil there makes it easier because they quite literally can't talk about it so it frees them from the expectation, but at the same time they can't avoid it. it's just this heavy Thing between them neither one can completely ignore and it just makes everything so much more complicated

yuppp wilbur had to take the gun the second time around because he didn't want to fuck up again. he didn't want to fail tommy a second time. he couldn't let tommy be the one to fire the gun this time. but then wilbur himself still can't shoot because that's just not who he is. he's not the one who can pull the trigger and he never will be.

honestly if i had the patience to sit down and write a screenplay I think this would be best formatted as a film. there were a few more scenes i had ideas for but i wanted to keep the story on the shorter side but i could definitely lengthen it to a full blown movie. maybe one day... but yes I have a soft spot for my novella length fics they're very special to me

(ok not trying to hype myself up but if you wanna read any of my novella length things I highly recommend under the brine like it's an oldie but a goodie i'm still very proud of it. that one and starman waiting in the sky have my heart i love both of those so much)

best of luck with school spruce you'll get through this!!

[youcalledmebabe]

Rec me films pls because you seem based

Hi!! I took so long to answer this because I was like well now I need to prove that I am based with my movie recs. Jury’s out on that! I chose five of my all time favorites in no particular order.

1. You’ve Got Mail. I LOVE Nora Ephron and she wrote and directed this one so it’s extra special. Tom Hanks (of hbo war fame) and Meg Ryan play rival bookstore owners who are, unbeknownst to them, online pen pals. It’s a classic romantic comedy—the bickering! the chemistry! the banter! But it sticks with me because it has this very compelling sense of melancholy to it that makes it feel more real. It’s bittersweet, and it gets a lot of flack online for the bitter parts of the story, but I think those parts make it truer. Anyway it’s New York in the nineties and it’s Meg and Tom and it’s warm and nostalgic and I watch it every year. favorite line (okay two because I couldn’t pick): “No, but there is the dream of someone else.” “how about coffee, drinks, dinner, a movie… for as long as we both shall live?”

2. Before Sunset. I ADORE this movie. You have to watch before sunrise first, which is also really great, but Sunset is my favorite. Another film that lives and dies by the chemistry between its two actors and the script. If you’ve read my webgott fic you know the gist of the plot but basically: two lovers reunite after one perfect night nine years ago. Jesse wrote a book about Celine and she comes to the reading. Then they walk around Paris and catch up on the last nine years of their lives. It’s all about the magic and the romance of a second chance. But it’s also about how spending so much time apart and growing and changing complicates that. It’s another movie that I find all the more romantic because it feels real. favorite line: “I guess when you're young, you just believe there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life, you realize it only happens a few times.”

3. Say Anything. THEE best of the 80s teen movies, endlessly parodied, but somehow underrated. Average guy Lloyd Dobler falls for the beautiful valedictorian Diane Court after graduation. This is the origin of the famous boombox over your head romantic gesture. It’s a very sweet movie about first love and coming of age. Endlessly quotable and clever. John Cusack is just so, so likable and so you really understand why Diane likes Lloyd so much. The John Hughes movies get all of the love but this is the one that stands the test of time. favorite line: “I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.”

4. The Social Network. I mean it’s the social network! What is there to say? Incredible cast, incredible script, incredible directing. It’s one of those movies that’s such a movie. I’m most interested in it for the tragic doomed friendship between Mark and Eduardo. I LOVE a friendship that rots and crumbles but is somehow always with you anyway. We see them as best friends who create something together and then watch it fall apart and we see how it affects them in the present. They snipe at each other and yet still have the odd impulse to defend each other even as they’re on opposite sides of a lawsuit. Under all the pain there’s still love. favorite line: “I was your only friend.”

5. Bridget Jones Diary. A little bit sillier and fluffier than the rest but still excellent. First off, it’s British, and I love the Brits. The cast is endlessly charming. It’s so funny. Bridget is a mess—like actually a mess, and not in that usual boring rom com way—and I love her so much. It’s based on pride and prejudice (as is you’ve got mail) and that’s one of my favorite dynamics. It has the funniest fight scene in the rain with one of the best needle drops of all time. Honestly it has many great needle drops. It’s a movie about finding someone who likes all those weird messy parts of you and I find that very romantic. favorite line: “No, I like you very much. Just as you are.”

thanks for the ask!!

[omgitsaime]

Movies I'll Probably Never Make: Open for Business

Three quirky best friends go against their principal's wishes and open up an anonymous advice column in their high school's dying newspaper.

Written: 2015-2016 (I was 14 and 15, y'all!)

If you liked these, you'll probably like this: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986), Sixteen Candles (1984), To all the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy (the books especially, given the time this script was written), Paper Towns (2015), Pitch Perfect (2012), Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)

Characters: Allie (14, Not Like Other Girls, always knows the right thing to say, aimlessly in love with Brad, clueless about Peter's feelings for her)

Peter (14, video game enthusiast and definitely smarter than you, fiercely loyal, always coming up with new ideas, has a crush on Allie)

Trevor (14, class clown, golden retriever boyfriend, the only things in life he takes seriously are Brianna, the advice column, and his friends)

Brianna (14, rich girl cheerleader with a heart of gold, fashion forward, always trendy, Allie's soon to be step sister, Trevor's girlfriend by the end)

Brad (15, popular football player of the junior varsity team struggling to find himself, well meaning but easily influenced, big heart, Not Like Other Jocks, redeems himself by the end)

Callie (16, lead writer of school newspaper, book smart, but not all that street smart, determined and not afraid to break a few rules to get what she wants)

Ben (17, editor in chief of school newspaper, quiet, reserved, a little more reluctant to break the rules, but will do anything to get into a good college)

Principal Cochran (late 40s, principal of the school (guys, it's been almost a decade, I don't remember the name of the school lol), stuck in his ways, overly strict, money obsessed, think Principal Rooney)

Why I stopped writing: I literally lost the script. I know I sent a draft to an old friend of mine, but that email has been lost to time, and now that I don't have the base, I can't remember which direction I was going in with the story before I stopped writing.

Themes from this story that appear in my other stories: Found family, platonic love, individuality, fighting manmade systems, lots and lots of 80s pop.

One interesting plot thread/character arc is that almost a full decade before the likes of Andrew Tate came onto the scene, telling young boys to be "alphas" and that they need to discard "low value women," Brad's plot was that he felt guilt over the prank he pulled on Allie to secure a spot on the varsity team, and over the course of the film, decides that being a man lies not in who he hurts, but who he helps. I was literally a fourteen year old girl writing this. I don't know what prophecy came to me in my sleep, but...holy shit.

Would I revive this story: Hell yeah! This is such a cute and solid story, with 80s influence, sweet moments, and honestly, the kids need a fun high school romp that is just about enjoying life and being 14. @sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog, I'm so sorry. I am so, so sorry for the abuse we put you through back in the day. We really took you for granted.

Fun Fact: The one and only surviving artifact of this film is the Spotify playlist. It is peak mid 2010s quirky teen comedy, and if you're old like me, this'll take you straight back to high school. I think you guys will love it.

Let me know if y'all think I should make this a series! I have a lot of scrapped scripts that I lowkey still think about lol

[scaryspears]

Fem Young Severus Snape - Let's discuss

So I'm working on a story on archive of our own where Severus Snape leaves Hogwarts, but it's a fem Snape and it's tagged as Snape/Sirius and James, which I'm still unsure about. I love stories where characters realise their self worth and the toxic people behind and having character growth. Fanfiction or not those stories are the best.

But I'm mostly wondering what people think young female Severus Snape would look and be like, ignoring my fanfic counterpart that I already wrote up. I will be switching between him and her for addressing canon and fanmade Snape.

Now before any Snape supporters or bashers get onto me, I'll just quickly reveal that I haven't read the books and have only watched at least 4 films, but did some research in my mid teens in curiosity. I've always been interested in the characters, their dynamics, and what if scenarios, but never the magic.

There's a lot of fanart where she's given the same hair style as her male counterpart, and honestly I believe her hair would be much longer. Long to the point where it's unusual and makes her look unhinged. Long to the point where it's too easy for someone to pull it. Most of the time using it to cover her face, unsuccessfully hiding herself from the marauders. I can imagine her eyes and face glaring creepily at anyone who disturbs her, with her nose sticking out through it. She would have a really ghostly appearance, and if you count the mudblood incident you would sense the distress, anger and sadness waving off of her. I'm also thinking of this fanart made by @iscawen.

For an obsessive personality I would take inspiration from Palm Siberia. Palm starts off as creepy but goes off to become someone we sympathise with. Not saying that you have to sympathise with Snape, but I think he's someone to pity at a logical standpoint. I'm also speaking as someone who could relate to certain parts of his character.

Her obsession with Lily has more to do with being her first and only true friend. I think Snape wants love, but that love needs to come in different forms other than romance. With the whole unpleasant parents thing, and people staying many feet away from her due to her unruly appearance, it's safe to say that Snape latches onto Lily for a reason. She wants to be appreciated, cared for, recognised for something good rather than the bad omen that the people she's stuck with think she is. And she doesn't want to be punished for being a bad omen. I guess the same could be said for canon young Snape.

I don't ship them together, and I cringe whenever I come across a fanfic that does. Not only is it fun to hate Lily, but the whole marrying your former friend's childhood bully even though he's changed is super suspicious.

With the leaving Hogwarts thing Snape would have to realise that Lily isn't the angel that her mind made her out to be, but I don't know if that's while she's at Hogwarts or after she leaves.

By this time Snape gets a makeover, none of that altering physical features stuff. Just giving her healthier hair and skin, I don't think she needs make up but I think something Goth related would suit her. The story is set in the 70s so it was more of a decade filled with punk fashion (not everywhere of course) which would suit Sirius. (Another note that isn't relevant, when the fandom gives Snape makeover stories they always change his nose to be smaller, you'll be some hating ass people). I bet Snape had a thing for formal attire so I think she'd wear something similar to Wednesday Addams. I can definitely picture her with a black pencil skirt and blouse.

Also the 70s where a different time when it comes to beauty standards compared to the ones of today, I genuinely think a lot of guys would be into her even though a lot of people in the fandom love making Snape out to be some hideous creature. I think she would resemble Shelly Duvall or Angelica Hudson.

Note: @iscawen sorry that I didn't use your permission before putting up the art, if you want I can edit this post and remove the picture. I really love it and wanted to use it as a reference as well as inspiration.

[wangmiao]

(sorry it's long, not a troll)HI sorry to bother you, hope you're alright! i searched for 3 body tag here on tumblr for the 1st time and this blog is lrtly the only one i found (more or less) i had no prior knowledge of the trilogy until a few months ago that i started reading it, i'm crntly reading the 2nd book !!and im totally hooked! anyways,, sorry for the babbling, my question is! or rather, my request: is there any luo ji official poster or just abt any visual of him from "official" sources? i haven't rly went through the tags or searched online bc i'm afraid of any spoilers lol but i just want luoji visuals for reference!! thank you!!

hello friend! first of all, don't say sorry. it's always nice to get enthusiastic asks! secondly, thank you and i'm glad that you like my blog <3. it's just unfortunate that three body is like 95% of the shows on tumblr with a fandom that won't last for more than 2 to answer your questions, the cdrama only covers the 1st book, so you won't be spoiled of anything by watching it. as for luo ji, there's no official live action reference yet since the actor hasn't been picked/announced for season 2. i don't know if you want reference from the animated show even though it is really not good (douban rating for the live action cdrama is 8.7, and the animated show is 3.8; i never watched the animated show). i know there's a three body manhua, but i know even less about it...so just an animated luo ji:

i know some people ship shiwang just because of the novel, but honestly, most of us never expected shiwang to be such an obvious thing in the cdrama before it aired. but the cast and crew proved us wrong, and gave us such an epic paring that is loved by many, and is shipped by even the cishet guys lol. anyways, i'm super glad you are reading the trilogy, and i hope you'll enjoy the cdrama as well.

haha, again, you are not being creepy at all. i have to say that, unfortunately, when the chinese tomb raiding genres started to get popular a long time ago, i went for candle in the tomb instead of the lost tomb because almost everyone around me was reading candle in the tomb xD, so i actually never got into the lost tomb. BUT, since the actor (zhang luyi) who played wang miao in three body filmed tibetan sea flower, and he played wu xie, i'm totally going to at least watch and post about tibetan sea flower when it airs. i literally can't wait to see zhang luyi in another homoerotic role lol.

you have a lovely day/night too ^_^!

[rosyjuly]

hi rosy! i've been wanting to get back into reading actual books instead of fic because i used to read so much and now i kind of don't anymore. and i was wondering if you have any good book recs or books that have stood out to you in the past months/years? i'm pretty much up for anything and you seem like a really good person to ask 🫶

hiya anon! thanks for the question -- i used to be an avid reader basically up to uni, and then stopped reading for pleasure because of my assigned readings. and then when i picked up books in my free time, it was always something related to my studies to #advance my knowledge and at that point it was honestly dreadful. so don't make the same mistake: start whatever genre you like most! is it fantasy? romance? thriller? stick to that genre for the first few books that you'll read!

thinking of the most fun books i read the past years, one of the first books i got lost in once i finally had some free time for my actual hobbies was The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. it was really big around in the late 00-s but i was too young for it back then and then just never got around it (have no idea whether the movie is good), and the two sequels are also incredible. if you haven't read the Hunger Games trilogy, the books were sooooo well written and so much better than the films! i also absolutely loved Neil Gaiman's American Gods and also Nevermore (i actually liked both more than Good Omens). i just finished this week She Who Became The Sun and it was incredible! if you like something more melancholy, Swimming In The Dark was amazing, and if you're looking for something dark, dystopian then i can deffo recommend the Handmaid's Tale, and also the entire Arch of a Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. and if you want to start reading poetry, then my go-to would be Devotions or American Primitive by Mary Oliver :)

also if you're like me -- you might find that your attention span is worse than it used to be when you read a lot, and you'll start worrying whether you'll be able to get lost in books again. the answer is yes! not to sound like a boomer but screens and the tiktokification of the internet is indeed ruining our concentration, but it will totally get better with time. so be patient with yourself, try to get rid of distractions, and enjoy yourself!