#2024 the year of self indulgence

[palettepainter]

I’ll be posting a little writing WIP for Hired Sparky later today, but for the Undertale fandom, may I propose an idea with Siren Horror?

I’m a shameless fan of HTTYD and the Sea Beast and 2024 I am dubbing my year of self indulgence so I’m posting this. I might write this if it’s popular enough or if I get the confidence too, but imagine: 

Y/N as a newcomer to a seaside town, neatly nestled on a coastline in the middle of nowhere. It’s bitterly cold nearly all year, and the people are about as sweet as vinegar. But the housing is dirt cheap, considering the looking threat of sirens that infest the waters. Y/N is nearly dirt broke and is looking to build a life outside of their family home, so the unwelcome seaside town it is! Not many people are willing to go fishing in waters popular for siren sightings, so the pay is pretty impressive (even if the work field is a bit competitive at times)

They’re hired onto a boat crew of hardened fishermen who all retell gorey tales of siren attacks in great detail fairly quickly, after doing a bit of research on sirens. The crew are at the point where they’ve learnt to laugh a little, they’ve worked the job long enough that they’re pretty relaxed despite the looming threat of danger on the water. Y/N is not so eased. They’re hired purely as a second hands on the boat: tending to nets and sorting fish once they’ve hauled onto the boat, nothing else. But the captain still hands them a rather heavy harpoon gun with permission to fire if need be. 

They set off into deeper waters where few fishing boats are given the clear to fish, meaning it’s basically free game for anybody with a net to catch fish of all kind. The weather is rough, but the crew bat their hands and say they’ve faced down worse storms 

But then a siren is spotted breaching the water a little ways from the boat. They’re not in immediate danger, and so reader assumes they’ll simply sail out of its line of sight, but the crew already fire a warning harpoon into the water to try and scare it off. For a beat, there is nothing, before the siren attacks the ship - a kraken of all things, one of the most dangerous species, considering its ability to grasp at the ship 

The harpoon has wedged itself into the creatures skull, piercing through the top and dimming it’s eye lights. It screeching, in confusion or anger, maybe it’s the panic coursing through their system, but the protagonist thinks that maybe, their might be fear mixed in with that shrieking. More harpoons and swords are fired at its heaving body, chipping at already injured and cracked parts.

When Y/N is ordered to shoot they instead aim for the rope attached to the end of the harpoon wedged in the creatures head, it grazes the rope, but it’s enough for the creature to snap is with a violently throw of its head. The creature sinks back into the water, the boat tossing from the loss of its weight, sending many of the crew overboard - including reader 

They try to swim back to the boat, but swimming in the confines of a pool to practise swimming in the sea proves that the sea is far more ruthless. They end up being dragged out to sea, climbing to a part of the boat railing that had been snapped off during the attack. Reader wakes up in some kind of enclosed cavern like structure, obviously forged overtime from the waves chipping away at the rocks. They’re cold, hungry, terrified…but alive. And they learn quickly they’re not alone. The siren is nearby, confused, disoriented and greatly weakened from the spear still stuck in their head. They can barely keep their head upright before they topple back into the shallow water with a grunt of exhaustion 

It takes a bit of effort, and gently coaxing, and a hell of a lot of stupid bravery, but when the siren has tired itself out enough and after several failed attempts at trying to swat them away (missing mostly each time thanks to their vision being heavily impaired from their injury) but eventually, the reader dislodges the spear, and is then promptly smacked *hard* and is sent flying into the sand 

Reader is certain they heard something snap as they fall back onto the sand, but miraculously, they don’t collide back onto any rocks. Feeling sore, they sit up, the siren is supporting itself on an arm with laboured breaths, the other clasping at the eye socket on the injured side of its head. Gradually, a red, focused eye light burns to life, focused dead on them. The siren looks at them curiously, as if they’re only just realising it’s alone - Y/N expects an attack, for it to pounce, so something…instead, the siren snorts, shakily hobbling off to the were the water is deepest 

Basically: what if Reader was THERE when Sans got that injury on his head?? The two have been washed into a cove by the tides: Sans is too exhausted to climb out and the water is dangerously shallow, there isn’t enough food for him to sustain himself, and without it, he won’t heal. Reader goes through the whole “Maybe these monsters are only monsters because we chose to see them that way” and overtime the two form a somewhat bond, reader bringing Horror food and such while he heals and Horror showing them that sirens are far more intelligent than what silly books have documented about them 

I’m a sucker for enemies of two separate tribes or species breaking the generational hate and learning to be friends it is SUCH a good dynamic and it scratches my brain the perfect way 

[ayilings]

do we fuck with black parade hatsune miku [wip] 💀🖤

[momo-t-daye]

For @superfallingstars Snapetober 2024 prompt "Garden"; toddler Draco getting some lessons in the garden from Sev

Draco thought it was downright pathetic the way Gryffindors whinged and whined about Professor Snape being scary. Professor Snape had to follow a syllabus that was Dumbledore-approved. Professor Snape didn't get excited and go off on tangents about all the ways a plant could kill you or parasites could eat your brain, Professor Snape had to teach the same lessons year after year and was probably quite bored. Severus, who DID get excited and go off on tangents about all the ways plants could kill you or parasites could eat your brain, had terrified/trained Draco out of sticking random objects into his mouth at a very early age. He might be scary, but he was a very effective teacher.

Text reads:

-and the seeds are chock-full of cyanide! Do you remember what cyanide does for us? That's right! It shuts down cellular respiration and you die from histotoxic hypoxia! But that's not all, every leaf has our old friends oxalic acid and urushiol, which can mess up your kidneys and ruin your day. Even worse, the sap is incredibly phytotoxic and the blisters will hurt for years. Isn't gardening fun, Draco?

[ask-october-fox]

I felt a warmth swirling through me, something I felt I had long forgotten. The world around me felt so much more alive than it did before. It was like the magic returned. A happy Halloween to you all~ Until next year..

Happy Hauntings and stay spooky~ 🤍🖤🧡🕯️🎃���🍎

[elivanto]

STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH 3.12 JUGGERNAUT

[briebo-art]

managed to break through the art block for my first drawing of 2024, my trans tiefling oc Belladonna in a pretty outfit. coincidentally, she was also my first drawing of 2023! they are one of the only things my brain lets me put to digital canvas, but i'm not fully complaining <3

it's always quite affirming to draw pretty trans women who have broad shoulders, narrow hips and sharp jawlines. as someone with those features, giving those to my ocs is always very fun!

as always, timelapse is under the cut, warning for flashing lights due to how the speed works.

ta! that's all.

[cynderrfall]

[tenmastrousers]

Happy Pride 2024!!!! ❤️

[wolvenjay]

Scarecrow Week 2024 - Day 3 Farm-Life Family

[rkn001]

you gotta keep what's precious, and hold onto it tight baby!

[essenceofarda]

Once i had a fic idea (that I still wanna get back to writing one day) that was the REVERSE* of the "Girl falls into middle Earth" trope, so instead it was "Prince Eldarion of Gondor falls into modern day Earth", and lives for a very confused time in modern day America, where he falls in love with a modern-day woman who he ends up taking back with him to Middle Earth when he Does manage to return, and so the fic would cover two timelines so to speak, or more...

take dual place in both like,,, modern day Earth where he's grappling with the craziness that is technology and modern day... everything, and then also in Middle Earth where she is grappling with "holy shit he was telling the TRUTH about where he came from????????" etc and it was... yeah sure, ridiculous, cliche, and probably something no one would be interested in reading, LOL, but it would satisfy that itch of mine to write a SUPER Self-Indulgent lotr fic 🤣🤔

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

Books of 2024: November Wrap-Up.

Hi, y'all! I'm actually shocked that I managed to get through four (4) books this month, because it was NANO and I also WROTE A WHOLE BOOK!! The (written) book in its two notebooks is pictured beneath the pen and NaNo Earrings :)

All of these reads were NaNo-adjacent, somehow (I like to stack my reading with my writing project so all the Vibes are Correct)--either Space, or Haunted, or Fucked Up Fungi (I wrote a weird book this month)(I had a great time).

Photos and/or reviews linked:

A HALF-BUILT GARDEN - ★★★½ I enjoyed this! It was very slow and contemplative, and I was surprised by how long it took me to read (#NaNoProblems), but I'm glad I did, and Rhamnetin was a DELIGHT.

JUST LIKE HOME - ★★★★ Reread for me, holds up very well! Star rating unchanged from first time through. I actually do recommend rereading this one, knowing exactly when Daphne dies.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT - ★★★½ I enjoyed this one too! Short fun weird little insomnia romp. Love a good fucked up fungus and a motley POV crew.

THE NIGHT GUEST - ★★★★ This was DEEPLY fucked up and AMAZINGLY crafted horror/suspense, and I definitely had delayed nightmares about it. I also love a good spec fic in translation (this one's from Icelandic!). Cats are NOT safe, very graphically so, so proceed with caution if that's a warning you need.

Under the Cut: A Note About ~*★Stars★*~

Historically, I have been Very Bad™ about assigning things Star Ratings, because it's so Vibes Heavy for me and therefore Contingent Upon my Whims. (Example: I don't like that stars are Odd, because that makes three the midpoint and things are rarely so truly mid for me)(I have hacked my way around this with a ½). Here is, generally, how I conceptualize stars:

★ - This was Bad. I would actively recommend that you do NOT read this one, no redeeming qualities whatsoever, not worth the slog. Save Yourself, It's Too Late For Me. Book goes in the garbage (donate bin).

★★ - This was Not Good. I would not recommend it, but it wasn't a total waste or wash--something in here held my interest/kept my attention/sparked some joy. I will not be rereading this ever. Save Yourself (Or Join Me In Suffering, That Seems Like A Cool Bonding Activity).

★★★ - This was Good/Fine/Okay/Meh. I don't care about this enough to recommend it one way or another. Perfectly serviceable book, held my interest, I probably enjoyed myself (or at least didn't actively loathe the reading). I don't have especially strong feelings. You probably don't need to save yourself from this one--if it sounds like your jam, give it a shot! Just didn't resonate with me particularly powerfully. I probably won't reread this unless I'm after something in particular.

★★★½ - I liked this! I'll probably recommend it if I know it matches someone's vibes or specific requests, but I didn't commit to a star rating on Goodreads. More likely to reread, but not guaranteed.

★★★★ - I really enjoyed this!! I would recommend it (sometimes with caveats about content warnings or such--I tend to like weird fucked up funny shit, and I don't have many hard readerly NO's). Not a perfect book for me by any means, but Very Good. This is something I would reread! Join me!!

★★★★★ - I LOVED THE SHIT OUT OF THIS, IT REWIRED MY BRAIN, WILL RECOMMEND TO ANYONE AND EVERYONE AT THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION (content warning caveats still apply--see 4-star disclaimer). Excellent book, I'll reread it regularly, I'll buy copies for all my friends, I'll try to convince all of Booklr to read it, PLEASE join me!!

[vonpharma]

Fandom: 逆転裁判 | Gyakuten Saiban | Ace Attorney Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Ayasato Mayoi | Maya Fey/Karuma Mei | Franziska von Karma, Karuma Mei | Franziska von Karma & Mitsurugi Reiji | Miles Edgeworth Characters: Karuma Mei | Franziska von Karma, Mitsurugi Reiji | Miles Edgeworth, Ayasato Mayoi | Maya Fey, Naruhodou Ryuuichi | Phoenix Wright Additional Tags: Sicktember, Sicktember 2024, Sickfic, Hurt/Comfort, Sick Franziska von Karma, Post-Gyakuten Saiban 123 | Phoenix Wright Trilogy, You know how I am constantly getting poetic describing snot, I went all in here. you're welcome, ITS MY BIRTHDAY (no it isnt), Crushes, Developing Relationship, Breaking Bad References, Wicked (2003) References, and i guess also, Wicked (2024) References, look. this is the most self indulgent thing i've ever written, Fool Count: 24, Pining Franziska von Karma, we love a flustered gal, 2/3rds of this is just franmaya arguing

Summary:

“Yeah, see, after, uh… certain events,” says Maya, so clearly tiptoeing around the exact case in question to spare Franziska the humiliation of reliving it, “I know a tightass overachiever like you would rather die than let herself get fucked by a missing murder weapon again. ‘Specially if you’re up against Nick. And it looks like even my hyperbole wasn’t far off, ‘cause here you are looking like you’re about ready to kick the freakin’ bucket.” “Give it,” Franziska says, teeth grit hard, “to me.” “Ah-ah-ah,” Maya tuts playfully, “you’ve gotta give me something first. Fair’s fair, y’know?”

Written for Sicktember 2024 Day 20: Medication Bribery

[READ ON AO3!]

[turbulenthandholding]

This utter indulgence of brain-rotted fluff is my love letter to many things: the Sydcarmy fandom; Jason Isbell’s song Stockholm, for its inspiration; my adopted hometown of Chicago (and its largest airport); and the lovely city of Copenhagen, where I spent three beautiful days back in June of 2017.

[cloudcastor]

we’ve done it again folks….onwards to 2025!!

[confused-disaster32]

okay i've seen dancers x challengers (and also some really great Ballet!Art Donaldson which I am eating up btw)

But like, what about other areas of the Arts? Please?

My idea was some form of performer like a musician or like a stage performer or smth (Imma just focus on music for this one tho).

(continued under the break or whatever it's called)

Character who is obsessed with their art form the same way Tashi is in love with tennis - it's their life, their passion - they put everything into their music. They're deeply in love with it, obsessed even, they're practically a prodigy - instruments, singing, listenning they love it all, they never feel anything like the way they feel when they hear music.

But no one ever matches their passion in anything - for them it goes music and then love and no one really wants to match that - to them it doesn't even have to be music, they just want to see someone who has passion, obsession, who's so good it makes their chest hurt and makes them sit on the edge of their seat because they can practically feel how good they are radiating from where they sit.

That's how they end up meeting Tashi - because she's amazing and she's obviously so fucking passionate and it's amazing to watch her and be near her and at some the two of them get close - sure character isn't a tennis pro but they're one of the only people who has/will never complain about Tashi's obsessive nature towards tennis, because it's amazing, so of course though they never play they learn everything, go to all of Tashi's games, go to games with Tashi to watch - they're her biggest fan, supporter and bestest friend.

So of course they get pulled in to the whole mess with Art and Patrick because they can see the fact that it's good fucking tennis and they know instantly that Tashi is going to be interested in the duo that just won.

(Not sure where to go with this but is anyone else seeing me vision? pls say yes 🥺)