#Characterisation Marches On (trope)

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

If a character is going to have a defining characteristic,

wouldn’t it make sense that it was always there, not disappearing for no reason, only to turn up when it’s convenient.

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

So, I did find those fics after all, and binged them over, I dunno, a month or so (￣▽￣)

It stuck out to me how some of the fic writer fandom had pegged Mamori as “oblivious”. About half of the team also took a while to figure out Sena's secret, including those who found out earlier but not because they guessed it but because of the reveal preceding the Death March. So I thought this a bit of an unfair characterisation, as Mamori is pretty sharp enough in other areas of their team management. But, once we’ve reached Sena's public reveal, it’s almost shocking that Mamori still didn’t know about Sena’s secret.

In the earlier part of the manga, Mamori notices Sena missing during games. Surely she would notice that it was a pattern?

She has looked out for him since elementary school and would likely recognise his movements and body language even if he were dressed differently. Heck, their friend Riku, who they haven't seen since elementary school, deduces Sena’s alter ego immediately.

I guess simply, it's Rule of Funny or a form of the Oblivious Younger (in this case, Older) Sibling trope. It's just... for fun, guys. A gag. I guess.

I do like to think that as Mamori becomes absorbed in her role as team manager, she stopped looking out for Sena during the games. Is this also part of the shift she personally goes through, where supporting Hiruma became more important than looking out for Sena?

Even at their school field day, she sees Sena during the competition, and she has her usual thought about protecting him - but it’s one of the few times she hesitates.

[thinkingimages]

When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February 2022, Elena Subach found herself unable to photograph those fleeing the conflict. Instead she turned her lens on what they left behind

Elena Subach was born in Chervonohrad, a small coal-mining city in the Lviv region of western Ukraine. Her father was a miner while her grandfather painted icons for local churches. Such buildings are characterised by shiny, Baroque-style domes and ornate interiors, and make a spectacular impression on the city skyline. Subach uses her camera to make sense of the post-industrial landscape, but also the strange foreboding mood that defines cities like hers, and the ways that spirituality and superstition seep into everyday life in Ukraine.

As her artistic practice has evolved, Subach’s projects have become more vivid and evocative. Her work celebrates the inconspicuous objects that often evade attention, elevating them to near iconic status. She turns the fabric of life into a technicoloured patchwork of reality and myth. “Elena Subach is a tender observer of small moments and daily rituals. Ordinary items become totems: old ladies are elevated to the status of goddesses, and a simple hand gesture makes us think of magic,” says Polish photographer Rafał Milach, who nominated her for Ones to Watch. “She mixes memories, tropes and clichés, continuously drawing on and reimaging the visual identity of Ukraine.” 

When Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, disrupting and devastating the lives of ordinary Ukrainians, it was the biggest military attack in Europe since World War Two. At the time, Subach was living in Lviv and working as a researcher at the Lviv National Art Gallery. With the sound of air-raid sirens warning citizens of incoming missiles, her instinct was to leave the city and go to Poland. Instead, she and her husband drove to Uzhhorod, a city in western Ukraine situated between mountains where she felt they would be better protected.

The following day, the couple joined the local volunteer movement, the Transcarpathian Gastronomy Battalion, which organises shelter, food and psychological support for fleeing Ukrainians seeking asylum in Europe. Subach’s team was stationed closest to the border zone. In March, martial law was imposed in Ukraine, banning adult men from leaving the country, and the days became marked by farewells. Men drove their families to the border and dropped them off; couples parted ways; all of them hugged, kissed and said goodbye.

“All this time, I couldn’t photograph people,” says Subach. “I did not want to, I did not dare to interfere in their already violated personal space, despite understanding the importance of documenting this history.”

Instead she turned her lens on the empty chairs on which people left their belongings, imbuing them with gravitas while preserving a sense of humanity.

“They seemed to me like small islands in a sea of people – places to stop and relax for a minute. In many cases this would be the first time a person had a chance to sit down in 24 hours. Thousands of people have passed by these chairs. I think [the chairs] are very important witnesses to this war.” 

Documentary photography can often reduce the victims of war to wounded bodies, and turn individual refugee experiences into one single story. Subach’s work does not show people encountering war but compels us to imagine them beyond the frame. 

www.elenasubach.com

Subach’s latest photobook, Hidden, is published by Besides Press and launches 15 September 2022.

[maironsbigboobs]

End of Year Fic Recs!

Recommend up to 5 series or multi-chapter fics from 2023 that everyone should read (multi-year WIPs count, if the last update was in 2023).

Recommend up to 5 single chapter fics/one-shots (long or short) from 2023 that everyone should read.

Recommend up to 5 fics NOT from 2023 that everyone should read (oldies but goodies).

Recommend up to 5 of your own fics (completed or WIP) from 2023 that everyone should read.

I wasn't tagged by anyone, but I can't resist the chance to share some faves:

Multi-Chapter Fics/Series

Reconcillation – by @transmairon –  T, Sauron/Celebrimbor, ongoing – Fourth Age Sauron facing the consequences of his actions and trying to reintergrate himself with the world. I cannot wait to see Celebrimbor’s reaction to meeting him again.

From Mother to Daughter – by Galenfea – Gen, 5k – The fiber arts passed down through the generations. This is the kind of topic I love; a peek into the everyday lives of elves.  I loved the world-building!

companions in shipwreck – by spellworth – T, multiple, ongoing – An exploration of canon of female characters. I love this one, wonderful writing and creatvity – especially when writing about characters where canon gives them a name at most.

Haunted, Hunted  - by @imakemywings – T, Elwing & Maedhros, 9.3k - Elwing goes for a walk in the woods… This one is so cool, I loved the fairytale elements and Elwing’s horror was palpable!

dye me, nocturne – by @solmarillion – T, Daeron/Maglor, 12k – Darron finds a stranger on the shore and they get talking. I love how messy Maglor is here, trying to get what he wants out of Daeron, and how raw this fic was in the grief and bitterness in these two exiles at the end of the First Age.

Single Chapter Fics/Oneshots

elvenkings – by @meadowlarkx– Gen, 1.5k – A look through history at Menegroth’s fall. This one had me sobbing, it’s so beautiful and full of tragedy.

Bow and Helm and Hand –  by @jouissants – E, Beleg/Mablung/Túrin, 3.5k – Mablung joins Beleg and Túrin on the marches. Very sexy and filled with wonderful characterisation and delicious hints of angst and foreboding.

Echo of the Music – by @starspray– Gen, Thingol/Melian, 471 – A sweet look at Melian and Thingol’s relationship to each other, to art and to music (and the Music)

"…on a place of insecurity." – by @carlandrea – Gen, Thingol/Melian – This is one of my favourite Thingol/Melian fics, it’s so tender and Melian’s foreboding makes me so emotional.

At the Moment of Parting – by @daegred-winsterhand – T, Beleg/Túrin, 1.5k – Sweet and sad, Turin’s grief is so thick and real.

Pre 2023 Fics

The Gleaming Road – by melblue – E, Éomer/Faramir, 28k – Misunderstanding is a favourite trope of mine and it adds to the Drama here, with poor Eomer not knowing what Faramir is expecting from him. I don’t read a lot of LOTR era fics at the moment but this one is an old fave!

The Marchwardens – by roseofthebrightsea – Gen, Beleg, Mablung, Haldir etc, 6k – I love fics that are snippets of characters lives and this has some wonderful writing and sharp characterisation in short words.

A Challenge  – by @polutrope – M, Daeron/Maglor, 1.4k – The fic that got me into Daemags! Such a fun and entertaining fic!

Unkinged – by @arofili – E, Finwë/Miriel/Indis, 1k – Looove this, a beautiful moment between the three of them in a happier time.

The Gold Are Venomous – by @aipilosse – E, Sauron/Celebrimbor, 3.1k – I love Fourth Age silvergifting and I love mischievious Annatar is here, still up to no good after all this time… though Celebrimbor isn’t complaining (much) 😉Sexy and amusing.

My Fics

I risk my life to make my name – E, Galadriel/Melian, 10k – Gawain and the Green Knight AU. This was my first attempt at something multi-chaptered and I really like it still; it was fun to write and I am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Starlight – M, Mablung, 944 – Mablung falls in Menegroth. This is was fun because I love angst and I liked playing with the structure with flashbacks.

Feast – Gen, Idril & Turgon, 1k – Idril reflects on her time on the Ice and how her father looked out for her. I love thinking about Idril & Turgon.

Reunion – Gen, Andróg & Andvir, 858 – Andvir finds his father in the wilds. I am never not thinking about the Gaurwaith.

Jealous Kiss –  Gen, Celebrimbor/Sauron, 370 – Annatar teases Tyelpe. I love it when Annatar causes problems on purpose.

[laserdiscnvhs]

Double Impact remains amongst the seminal works of action films that can be credited to the sterling prowess of Jean-Claude Van Damme. Inarguably, the film is a tour-de-force that sets a high bar for an extensive sequence of action-packed content. It successfully integrates critical elements such as choreographed combat and an orchestrated narrative to invariably result in a visual feast for action enthusiasts.

The visiting card for Van Damme’s marquee talent has always been his unparalleled martial arts skills. The film, Double Impact, is no exception to this, providing an outlet for Van Damme to truly showcase his articulate control over martial arts sequences. His performance as the twin brothers, Chad and Alex Wagner, is a remarkable specimen of his capacity to deliver comprehensively. These two character roles illustrate the wide range an actor can play within the confines of a single movie, demonstrating impressive versatility.

Chad is portrayed as a light-hearted, jovial character, while Alex, his twin brother, has a darker, sterner aura about him. Van Damme manages to give each twin a distinct personality, proving his acting mettle beyond just his physical exploits. His brilliant execution of the two disparate roles significantly enhances the film's plot and makes it a gripping journey from the start to finish.

The narrative, presented in Double Impact, is marked by an intriguing set of plot developments. Built on the classic story of revenge, it takes an interesting turn as it uses the most vintage formula of the 'long-lost twin' trope. However, the trope is employed innovatively, not allowing the narrative to be hampered by any possible accusations of cliché or triteness.

As the twins accidentally stumble upon each other and subsequently, discover their shared past, the narrative escalates into a thrilling tale of action and adventure. The clever weaving of familial relationships into the tale, ties extremely well with the mechanics of action sequences. It enables the audience to invest more deeply into the violent pursuits unfolding on the screen.

As remarkable as Van Damme's performance, the film equally capitalises on its keen vision for choreography and cinematography. The fight sequences are crafted to perfection, with a striking balance of finesse and raw power, making each moment a fascinating spectacle. The iconic scene where the two twins take on the mafia is intensely breathtaking and stands as a testament to the choreographer’s prowess.

The film’s landscape is as dynamic as its characters, marching to the exciting rhythm of an international chase. From Los Angeles to inventively replicated streets of Hong Kong, the film offers a vibrant canvas for its action-filled spectacle. This constant change of scene injects a fresh breath of vitality into every shot, keeping the viewers hooked at every turn.

The director, Sheldon Lettich, who co-wrote the film with Van Damme, plays a pivotal role in realising the visions conceived. His mastery over staging action scenes and his acute style of direction brings to life the vital elements of an action film. The narrative and the action are seamlessly blended through his proficient sense of storytelling.

On the flip side, critics could argue some scenes are over-extended and some dialogues saturated with cinematic clichés. However, even these elements contribute towards knitting the film into its chosen genre, providing an authentic action movie experience to the viewers.

Double Impact delivers on the promise of an engaging, thrilling experience, driven by the compelling storyline, unique characterisation, and superbly choreographed action sequences. These combined with Van Damme's incredible performance as the twins, Chad and Alex, make the movie a turning point in the action film genre.

Jean-Claude Van Damme, with Double Impact, has indubitably etched his standing in the timeline of action films. The movie does not merely entertain but also impresses its audience with the craft involved in making such high-octane action films. It showcases an amalgamation of bold storytelling, powerful acting, meticulous choreography and an engrossing narrative setup. This combination of skilled execution and an action-packed storyboard ensures that Double Impact leaves an imprint in the minds of the audience, even long after its credits roll.

[saetgviareadsbooks]

top books of 2024 (so far)

unfortunately, school is back on... so in these 4.5 months i've read 19 books!

top book: since this is a collation of 4.5 months and i read i lot of series, i'll pick 2: the house with chicken legs (read march, rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐) & i hope this doesn't find you (read may, rated ⭐⭐⭐⭐) both of these books were wonderfully written with an engaging plot and covered some deep themes without it getting heavy or boring. these were a

top series: picking two! nevermoor by jessica townsend (i read all 3 of these books) and the illuminae files (read 2/3 books). both of these series are ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ because. they're just. amazing.

other books i read:

three dark crowns series by kendare blake ⭐⭐⭐⭐. MWAH. DELICIOUS. fantasy lands, murderous sisters and politics? COUNT ME IN. the first book was crazy boring since it was all context but it's IMPORTANT context. also the last 10% of it is INSANE. would recommend!

the legends of eerie-on-sea series by thomas taylor mysterious orphan trope going adventuring done right. the suspense is crazy and even after re-reading these books for like the 3rd time it's still as engaging as ever! ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

the mulberry tree by allison rushby mc is annoying sometimes, but overall a good book with a good plot and i'm ngl i really liked the realistic fantasy element of this! would recommend for younger readers since immy (mc) is 10 turning 11 and i think adults would love it too. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

before the coffee gets cold by toshikazu kawaguchi sweet, heart touching stories and a cup of time travelling coffee. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

coraline by neil gaiman a horror story for kids, but i loved it. i'm ngl the concept did creep me out, and it did its job well. would definitely reread. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

othello by shakespeare it was actually not that bad! iago was characterised really well and the machiavel characterisation used to justify is actions (a machiavel is just someone who justifies morally wrong actions to gain power) was really interesting. watching othello's descent into madness was also well written. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

demon slayer (kimetsu no yaiba) vol. 1 by koyoharu gotouge how can you NOT like demon slayer. go read it rn. or watch it. whichever. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.

the spanish love deception by elena armas, icebreaker by hannah grace and accidentally amy by lynn painter these are all grouped together bc they're all romances i dnfed. i need some sort of plot in my novels and i need it to be 70% plot 30% romance or i lose interest. this was 90% romance and 10% plot so i really just couldn't. accidentally amy was decent since lynn painter is really good at writing romance, but in both icebreaker and spanish love deception they fell in love really easily. also, i skipped like 80% of icebreaker since it was all smut and i don't really want to read that.

[firesign23]

Fandom Trumps Hate 2023

I'm participating in Fandom Trumps Hate (@fandomtrumpshate) this year, and like I should probably promote it so y'all are getting a too wordy post on the topic and I apologise for that.

What is FTH?

FTH is a cross-fandom charity auction that has been running since 2016, focused on supporting small-scale non-profits on a series of progressive issues in the US. Why the US? Because the auction began as a direct response to the results of the 2016 elections there. This year's supported organisations cover a variety of issues.

How does it work?

This is not a commission. The FTH tumblr goes into this more in-depth, but in essence: creators such as myself decide which organisations they would like to support, and bidders bid the amount they are willing to donate. The highest bidder at closing donates to one of the chosen causes, then receives a thank you gift for their donation, tailored to their preferences.

Important dates and details?

Auctions are currently open for browsing! This will give you an opportunity to see what fanworks are on offer before bidding opens. The easiest way to do this is by browsing the tagsets for fandoms that interest you.

Bidding opens March 1st (08:00 EST) and closes March 5th (20:00 EST). Proof of donations are due March 12th.

Why are you doing this?

Because I can.

Nah, participating in a fandom auction is one of those things I've said I'd like to do once and never actually managed, and I got sweet talked into it this year.

What are you offering?

Ohhh, this is the fun question, isn't it? I've officially offered a story of up to 5K words in one of three fandoms, but if you are interested in a fandom I've not offered but previously written for that may be negotiable. As for length, I have found that fics will be precisely as long as they want to be--I'd much rather say up to 5K and write 10K than say 5-10K and write 3K.

Examples of my work Game of Thrones and Wheel of Time fic can be found here and my Miss Fisher fic here, but in general my work leans towards character-driven and bittersweet fics, competence kink, and the mortifying ordeal of being known. (Are the cool kids still saying that? Probably not.) My smut leans into soft horny even when kinky, which tends to be either very much someone's tastes or very much not. I love writing so many classic fic tropes and kinks, so if there's something you're interested in but are uncertain, feel free to ask!

Unwilling to address: Scat/watersports, ageplay including usage of daddy/mommy/girl, underage/high school AUs or college AUs where focus is on the college element, casual misogyny or sexual violence (narratively relevant is fine), dubious/non-consensual sex that is not treated as such, revenge porn (literal revenge porn or the "Punish character X" type), power dynamics where there’s a potential abuse of power, humiliation.

Now, onto the fandom specific details:

Game of Thrones: Jaime/Brienne, other pairings with discussion. Prefer to avoid Brienne with major body image issues, ESPECIALLY when phrased about feeling like a “real woman”--insecurities, yes, but not as the driving narrative force. Not interested in Cersei-bashing fics--she's awful, I'm happy to make her awful, but I don't want to make her one dimensional. While happy to incorporate elements of the book canon, this story would be primarily driven by show canon dynamics/characterisation. Happy to write in a canon or AU setting. Into this fandom, but what I offer isn't quite to your taste? Check out other asoiaf/GoT creators here.

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: TV/film canon. Any pairing, canon or fanon. I primarily write Phrack, but as my ao3 will tell you there's very little I've not dipped my toe into. If you are interested in Dot/Hugh fluff, I'll do it but it's not a strength. I strongly prefer canon set stories for this fandom. Into this fandom, but what I offer isn't quite to your taste? Check out other MFMM creators here.

Wheel of Time: I am offering anything centred around Lan, Nynaeve, and/or Moiraine, whether it's platonic or romantic or pre-romantic. I have read the books many times, but this offer is for TV canon only due to other commitments. If, however, you want something like a missing scene from the first few books, that can be discussed during the bidding process. I strongly prefer canon set stories for this fandom. Into this fandom, but what I offer isn't quite to your taste? Check out other WoT creators here.

Anything else?

Not really! My offerings page can be found here. When auctions go live on March 1st you will be able to access the bidding page from there. If you have any questions, whether that's about how this works or what I am/am not willing to write or something else entirely, my Tumblr inbox is always open and I'm happy to answer publicly or privately. If you prefer the answer be private, please ensure you have not selected to make it anonymous and mention it in the message!

[ashhlysarts-blog]

Blog #03

     Monday, 27 March 2023 | The LEGO Movie & Convergent Culture of Film Adaptations

When I first started watching the film, I was quite biased against it as I had watched it before and did not enjoy it to say the least. To me, The Lego Movie was nothing but a silly child's movie – it didn't exactly help that I first watched this film with children –. It was filled with stereotypical and surface-level-thought-out-characters, colourful and cheery atmosphere – obviously –, the unbearable attitude of the main character, and it seemed like an overall cash grab for the referenced franchises. When I watched it a second time, I saw that the story ran a little deeper, which, was a plus on their side. But it still was not enough to be forgiven for their character writing.

Starting by the protagonist of the film, Emmet Brickowski, he is the epitome of the “everyman syndrome” children’s films have had going on for themselves. He has never had an original thought in his life – except for his bunker couch –, he has the personality of a cardboard cut-out of anyone you could think of, and yet he still believes the world revolves around him. The fact that by some miracle he becomes “the special one” does not exactly help that fact at all. Moving onto Wyldstyle, aka, Lucy, who seems to have a Mary Sue-esque characterisation going on for herself. She sees herself worth of the non-existent “special one” and gets jealous of Emmet when she doesn’t end up getting the worthless title. Still, unlike a Mary Sue character, she has clear flaws throughout the film which gives her a sliver of potential of being a decent character. Except for these two, I believe the other characters are made out of shallow stereotypes consisting of Vitruvius the old wise man, literally, the police character seeming to have DID (dissociative identity disorder) consisting of his “bad cop” and “good cop” sides, President/Lord Business which symbolises capitalistic rich businessmen that want to end the world, and the other cameo characters from different media.

In short, I saw the film as any other children’s movie with the most popular tropes in their characters with the male character saving the day and “getting the girl”. I still do think it doesn’t go deeper than that, but it does have a good message beneath the surface which tells the tale of the relationship between a son and a father, as well as being a good example of breaking the assumptions about how certain media are expected to be approached which is explained well in the essay analysis of this film.

The essay Bric[k]olage: Adaptation as Play in The Lego Movie (2014) written by Madeline Hunter is described as an approach to meta-adaptation, theories of play, and convergence culture but I will be focusing on certain topics of the article such as: play, convergence culture, and LEGO as a medium. Hunter describes play as a method which players manipulate the objects around them to both bring order and disrupt the already-existing one. It is a creative way for someone to test the boundaries of their minds and the resources they have which usually consists of colourful blocks and minifigures. This play’s agility turns into the many ways a work can be adapted to different mediums which can be both digital or in psychical format. This media convergence is explained by Hunter as: “Convergence culture is a culture in which media is ‘mobilized and manipulable, spreadable and sharable’ (Voigts-Virchow ‘Memes, GIFs, and Remix Culture’: 395). Users are increasingly empowered to appropriate the work of others, producing fanvids, remixes, gifs, memes, and host of other digital productions that mash together video, sound, and text in an endless chain of textual variation. Such appropriation finds an affinity in play in that it is the product of ‘non-functional’ (394) acts of creative and communicative exchange in which users test their creative and technical capabilities against the constraints of the media with which they work (…)”.

With this perspective in mind, we can all agree to Hunter in LEGO being not only a toy brand but a multi-functional medium that individuals use as a means of expressing themselves and their worldview using the many themed sets they have produced. This means of expression can be easily used as a method of adaptation of a script to a LEGO set which encourages the players into making up variety of stories to be acted out via the playsets. Their mobility and compatibility to different forms of media gives them the opportunity to be used to mix and match with a variety of additional pieces to tell something, anything, which is exactly what The LEGO Movie achieved – and the many that followed their predecessor –.

To summarise what I’ve written so far, I was wrong in the regard that I viewed the film as just a cash-grab by including a variety of characters and environments achieved by using different playsets to keep the children watching engaged, and also beg their parents to get their own many franchise-themed sets. But the film-inside-the-film twist towards the end added a layer of integrity of the seemingly shallow story. An ordinary man gets chosen to be “the special one” in their order-following society – which also criticises how capitalistic worldview has affected the minds of individuals living in said societies – and at the very end, we learn that we don’t need to be special to achieve something of importance. Seeing the real-life twist of the film, which essentially symbolised the good guy as the human protagonist Finn and the villain of the story as his father, the message deepens to reflect the relationship between the father and the son. The means they used to establish the symbolism was quite clever, and will be shown in the pictures attached below, and at the end we see that “playing with (not) toys” don’t need order and perfection. Playing only needs a little creativity and a means to provide the needed media to perform that creativity.

Bric[k]olage: Adaptation as Play in The Lego Movie (2014) – Madeleine Hunter The Lego Movie (2014)

Video: Clip of Emmet and President Business as their real-life adaptation characters

[oh-i-swear-writes]

March Fic Read List

It’s that time again already somehow!  Here’s a little rundown of everything I read in March <3

The Root and the Stalk by @the1918

~36k, Farmer Daddy Steve, Farmhand Bucky, Age difference

Oh my GOD.  The ending of this.  Lynne the ending….  What did you think you were doing?  By the time this is published, thankfully, we’ll be on Story 5 of this wonderful series, but honestly the growth in this and the sensuality of Steve and Bucky’s relationship is absolutely gorgeous.  Master wordsmith at work right here - we all need to thank Lynne for sharing something so gorgeous with us <3

He loves me cause i’m cute, he thinks i’m pretty funny by @its-tortle​

~2.5k, shrunkyclunks, Tiktok, humor and fluff

Bucky puts up a video on Tiktok about who he’d like to date… and… well.  That video is brought to the person in question’s attention with adorable results.

We can take tonight (and make it last forever) by @greyhavensking​

~7k, asexual Bucky Barnes, birthday fic, Absolutely adorable Steve Rogers

So you guys know I loved the first of these, with Steve and Bucky having this glorious relationship where they’re intimate without sex - a.k.a. The Ace Dream.  Well… this one is set in the same verse and basically describes Steve Rogers being absolute romantic idiot/adorable boyfriend and treating Bucky exactly as he deserves to be treated on his birthday.  It melted me into a happy puddle, that’s all I need to say.

Pancakes and Birthday Candles by @underwhelmingalchemist​

~2.5k, Birthday boy Bucky, Birthdays through the ages

This can be summed up in how Steve helps Bucky to celebrate 5 years worth of birthdays, the common theme being they spend them together.  Very sweet little fic, perfect for a birthday celebration! 

The Way I Feel For You by @becassine​

~78k, fake dating, a/b/o, absolute adorable trope-fest

Oh my god, my journey with this one - I feel - begins at the beginning of it, when Bex was first writing it.  I’m completely emotional that it’s now done and fully posted and honestly, if you like fake dating and/or A/B/O and you haven’t read this, what are you doing?  The writing is gorgeous, the characterisation is beautiful and there are some real heart stomping emotional moments.  I definitely got teary at the (very happy!) ending and would totally recommend this one! 

The Stalk and the Storm by @the1918​

~45k words, Farmer Steve, Shrunkyclunks, end of series

So yeah, we’re back to the Lynne fangirling again as this has finished… and I am slightly heartbroken but that ending was perfect, in my humble opinion.  I know there are hopefully some ficlets in the same universe to come, and I am absolutely living for it because these two have been living in my head rent free since this started.  Honestly, if you’ve not read this, now is your time.  You don’t even have to wait for the week by week installments because it is DONE and it is WORTH IT. 

Houden van mij kan ik niet niet voor je doen by @hawkeyeandthewintersoldier​

~3k, A/B/O dynamics, hurt/comfort, happy endings, amnesia within a Bond 

This was a lovely little fic by the very lovely Elle, in which Steve and Bucky are Bonded from Before when Bucky comes back, except Bucky doesn’t remember it.  It definitely leads to some angst but ends in the nicest way!  Definitely worth a read! 

Our little secret… by @roe87

~25k, A/B/O, surrogacy gone wrong, mpreg

Steve and Peggy are married (though the jury is out on whether you’d count it as ‘happy’) and can’t have children.  They use a surrogacy agency, and end up paired with a young male Omega named Bucky.  When Bucky doesn’t conceive through insemination, he and Steve end up doing it the ‘old fashioned’ way…  I mean, what could go wrong, right?  Absolutely no chance of issues here… Anyway, I think everyone knows I love a good mpreg, and this was fun, it kept getting longer by the author’s own admission (and you will see no complaints here!) and even in the angstier moments, I really enjoyed it!

And an honourable mention (because I loved this!) to...

Sam and Bucky Text Saga by @darter-blue​

~ Sam & Bucky, Stucky if you squint, Friendship

So, this started from a thing that was being reblogged of what Sam’s texts to Bucky (probably) looked like, and it being very clear one Sam Wilson was not afraid of being left on read.  Anyway, following an ask, Bec made it into the cutest story about how Sam and Bucky’s friendship might actually work out.  I absolutely loved it and it was the perfect brain refresher/lunchtime read <3 

[saturatedsinset]

7, 8, 19, 23!! pssst mwah

mwah!!!

7. What do you think are the characteristics of your personal writing style? Would others agree?

uhhh god i don't know. Vibe. atmosphere. love a good weird metaphor. i think people consider me good at getting the Headspace right, i get a lot of compliments on characterisation + internal monologue. do others agree??? god only knows

8. Is what you like to write the same as what you like to read?

ummmm yes and no? i really hate writing sex scenes but i love reading a good plot-heavy sex scene. but also i have successfully bullied like every wrestling pal i have to write in the ffau. so.

19. Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe ‘too often’, trope you can’t get enough of?)

YEAH god fuckin. absolutely. i feel like i describe touch as "not quite gentle" all the fuckin time like i Get it you're conveying that one party thinks something different is going on here than the other one but like!!! get more words for it!! as i've mentioned before i've had a fair folk au in every single fandom i've ever been in, so there's that in general. i also - just, undernegotiated or Bad kink in general, tasty tasty for me. that's all i got

23. What’s the story idea you’ve had in your head for the longest?

oh i like this question. hmm. resurrection fic i started just before adam cole debuted in aew. FACE REINVENTION 2 i've been meaning to write fr2 literally since like a week after i posted face reinvention. 5+1 adam transes her gender i started like two days after i posted sunshower. uhhh matt warm blood-alike i've been thinking about since march 2021? so. face reinvention and matt kink. although if you're including posted fic in this i was fucking. we had the idea for the fucking. piss fic. and then enj bullied me for Eighteen Months until i caved and wrote it

[chill-that-ur-inmyhead]

three tv shows I would have joined friend groups in:

New Girl

One Tree Hill

Community

three animated universes I wouldn’t have minded living in:

Shrek

Zootopia

The Little Mermaid

three fictional characters I relate to:

Elliot Reid from Scrubs

Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls

Ladybird from Ladybird

three fictional characters I wouldn’t vibe with:

Monica Geller from Friends

Pete Campbell from Mad Men

Rachel Barry from Glee

three fictional characters I would be good friends with:

Brooke Davis from One Tree Hill

Grace Hansen from Grace & Frankie

Rachel Barry from Friends

three fictional characters I would probably most definitely have romantic feelings for:

Nathan Scott from One Tree Hill

King Arthur from Merlin

Stefan Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries

three superhero abilities I would want to have:

Ability to speak all the languages

Be naturally good at everything

Time travel

three ships I sail as the fierce and feared captain I am:

Lorelai & Luke from Gilmore Girls

Angela & Dwight from The Office

Percy & Annabeth from The Percy Jackson series

three fictional female characters I feel empowered by:

Jo from Little Women

Malory from Archer

Emily from Gilmore Girls

three fictional male characters that deserve everything:

Jim Halpert from The Office

Luke Danes from Gilmore Girls

Troy Barnes from Community

three fictional lgbtq+ characters I would take bullets for:

Lionel Higgins from Dear White People

Raymond Holt from Brooklyn 99

Santana Lopez from Glee

three fictional places I would have liked to visit:

Kingdom of Far Far Away from Shrek II

Olympus from The Percy Jackson Series

San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6

three costumes worn by fictional characters I would have rocked: (more like I want to rock)

Amy March’s blue dress and cape when Laurie tells her she is beautiful form Little Women (2019)

Sabrina’s classic Givenchy dress from Sabrina (1954)

Rita Moreno’s Anita in the pink/ light purple dress when performing America from West Side Story (1961)

three characterisation tropes to describe myself:

Nostalgic

Honest

Witty

[inspectorspacetimerevisited]

In a serious case of characterisation marches on,

the Inspector turned from consuming tea during the Classic Series to drinking coffee in the Revived Series.

(Not to say that he/she turns down a cup of tea, but his/her preference is clearly for the Middle Eastern beverage.)

[onewomancitadel]

I was reading the JNPR Anthology manga. and the end of one of the stories caught my attention. the story takes place after the fall of Beacon jaune is mourning pyrrahs death, kind of saying his goodbyes to her. The last line is the one I find interesting because the thing Jaune says is "without you, I am nothing" it's interesting because cinder is the only character associated with that line. I feel it connects them even more, but what are your thoughts on this?

I haven't read the manga, so I don't have the reading context for this, so you'll have to take my opinion very measuredly. I do appreciate you asking for my opinion though! That's very flattering lol

And um... he says, 'Without you, I am nothing'? A line that was very much emphasised and repeated in Volume 8? Obviously the JNPR anthology came out May this year (thereabouts?) and V8 finished airing in March-ish, so I'm trying to think of how their production schedules might've lined up... from what I've heard, the manga had free direction and wasn't necessarily cross-referenced with canon? I'm not sure how much conferring there was between creators, that type of thing. It seems like a really specific line to include, especially because both Jaune and Cinder are very wrong on this front (Fall Maiden's lesson: look at all that's already in front of you).

But yeah, I don't know if it's intentional, I couldn't say. I do think it's really weird they put that Knightfall dream scene in, I know I had people saying it's supposed to sort of be parodying shoujo tropes because Jaune is a bishounen (the most absolute correct characterisation of him) but I have no fucking clue why they'd decide to do that with Cinder. The line, 'Without you I am nothing,' is very suspicious too. Idk, I just don't see the point of doing it. I know they're seeding more sympathy to Cinder (in my opinion) but what are they trying to do here lol?

I always lean towards scepticism, that is, the author thought this would be a good way to portray Jaune's loss and also his sense of self-sacrifice explored in V4-5 (the implication I get is he feels he should've died instead of her). 'Without you, I am nothing,' is a fairly common sentiment, it's also a very distressing one. The thing I am curious about though is that in Cinder's context, it's not meant romantically and it's obviously very bad; it's equally bad in Jaune's circumstances. In Cinder's case, it's her slavish mantra.

But not to me...

You are more than your loss, and you are your own person, and I mean, ultimately that's what Jaune learns (we've already been through that), and he's able to help Ruby with his remaining team. I'm that horrible person who loves team RJNR and wanted more lol.

Idk, I can't speak to how much conferring was done. They're both wrong, though, and it's already been proven so in Jaune's case, and I would like to equally see it proven wrong in Cinder's case. 'Because of you, I am everything,' is Cinder's finishing line to that sentiment, and that's because she leans so hard on her sorrow giving life meaning. She's right, suffering IS necessary, but she knows no real joy. Not true, unconditional joy. She's very numb. That's my reading anyway, I'm sure there are people who would challenge me on this.

It is interesting that there's a mentality like that to link the two of them though, and I think it does provide more reasoning for why Jaune is the ironic set-up for her redemption arc.

And his wound can only be healed by the person who dealt it.

[scraregenrecs]

Rec Roundup – February 2021 #2

Well hello, you!

Alas, February is shrinking in the rearview mirror, and while it left us yearning for another taste of its sweet tang, we must bid adieu to the month of amor, while ushering in … March.

See you for another round of fic recs on the Ides of March! But don’t let David know, we wouldn’t want another nighttime oopsie daisy.

~Side note: We’ll be doing a separate @scseason7 roundup after author reveals on the 6th, so keep an eye out for that.~

Downtime by another_hero, Alexis & Ruth, G, 1198 words

Summary: Alexis and Ruth have a slumber party at a fancy hotel.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: First of all, love the concept of Alexis and Ruth being besties. Second of all, the way their personalities play off of each other here is so much fun. I would love to be invited to this slumber party, and the nice thing about these two is that I think they'd gladly extend an invitation to everyone to join the fun.

falling in love at a coffee shop by @thankstwy, @landofsonlali, and @anniemurphys, Alexis/Twyla, G & T, 2059 words

Summary: Alexis has never been good at getting the timing right. Twyla decides that it's about time that they do.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: Full disclosure, I wrote the first fic in this series – but the other two fics are so wonderful, I couldn't let them go unrecced. I love when fics give Twyla a chance to take charge of her destiny and to step out of the sidelines and into the spotlight in a way that canon never did. And the final fic is a picture-perfect rom-com in all its trope-y glory. 🥺

from words, but not from beauty [The Good Place crossover] by synchronicities, Alexis Rose & Tahani Al-Jamil, G, 2111 words

Summary: Two wine-drunk socialites have a fight.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: Everyone who has ever talked about Alexis Rose and Tahani Al-Jamil meeting is one thousand percent correct, no matter if they think it they’d be enemies or BFFs or lovers (or enemies-to-bffs-to-lovers). So I was DELIGHTED to see this fic pop up, and it’s charming from start to finish. The name-dropping! The characterisation! I would read a million more words of this, and yet at the same time the amount of words I got is PERFECT.

i can tell that we are gonna be friends by @thankstwy, David & Twyla (background Alexis/Twyla), G, 700 words

Summary: When it's time for the newly-branded Twyla's Café Tropical to reopen, Twyla asks David for a favour. AKA: Help me, David-Wan Kenobi! You're my only hope!

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: I am such a sucker for any fic that explores David and Twyla being friends, and I particularly love this one being set post-canon! Of course Twyla knows the way to David’s heart is by valuing his skills, and of course David wants to try.

I’ve Got This by @missgeevious, Patrick & Alexis, G, 392 words

Summary: Patrick and Alexis get pulled over.

Rec [written by yourbuttervoicedbeau]: This fic packs so many jams into such a small wordcount — I love Patrick and Alexis’ relationship, I love frustrated Patrick, and I love that I can absolutely envisage Alexis’ expression every step of the way through this. This fic is the definition of short and sweet!

I want to show you the shape I'm in by @yourbuttervoicedbeau, Alexis/Stevie, T, 1017 words

Summary: The backing track for 'Money, Money' is already pumping out of the speakers when she pokes her head around the door to see Patrick and Stevie stomping around each other like they have been in every rehearsal, while the smokeshow Alexis assumes is the choreographer takes notes on a little clipboard.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: Patrick and Stevie's dance rehearsal lives rent-free in my mind, and I suspect that I'm not alone. I love how fanfic can not only answer all the little "what if"s that pop into our heads, like "what if Alexis saw one of their rehearsals?" but expand upon it so that the answer becomes greater than what you thought it could be. There's such a natural evolution from amused curiosity to want, and the tone is so light and playful, this could have easily taken place within the canon.

perfect cup of coffee by @samwhambam, Stevie/Twyla, T, 842 words

Summary: Twyla learns that Stevie is very good at making coffee.

Rec [written by doingthemost]: I love reading about the excitement that comes with the start of a new relationship, and this quiet, gentle little fic delivers that in spades. Not only is it such a sweet reflection on their relationship, but it's also such a good character study of these two. The promise that life has to offer the two of them is so evident and heartwarming!

Recognize my role, i fucked up the timing (gonna pay dearly for years full of silence) by @turningtimeinthetardis, Alexis/Ted and Alexis/Twyla, T, 338 words

Summary: She and Alexis have something. Or they're on the verge of having something. Right?

Rec [written by samwhambam]: Short and sweet and full of angst. Just like I like my coffee in the morning. (Truly, give this a read if you want your heart to be broken in 338 words. Hurts so good.)

Swiping Regret by @treepyful, Ray & Ronnie, T, 3197 words

Summary: Ray’s adventures on Bumpkin: the aftermath of five bad dates and one good one.

Rec [written by samwhambam]: It’s a 5 + 1 of Ray DATING!! D-A-T-I-N-G and then going to his bff’s house afterwards to debrief. It’s a perfect fic. It’s the kind of fic that makes you want to go hug your own Ronnie and tell them thank you for also supporting you through your own tinder adventures. Also there’s a hinted relationship between Ray and a townie that has me wanting more.

This Stupid, Wonderful, Boring, Amazing Job by @lilythesilly, Alexis/Twyla, G, 1129 words

Summary: “I once had my own reality tv show, ‘ A Little Bit Alexis’; maybe you’ve seen it? I was also a plant on three seasons of ' The Bachelor Australia .' So I’m, like, super familiar with how confessionals work. Anyway, I came to Dunder Mifflin because I needed a quick temp job since our super shady business manager ran off with all of my family’s money, and it turns out I can literally sell anything to anyone. Even paper.” A cute lil 'The Office' AU.

Rec [written by samwhambam]: Do you love Alexis/Twyla? Do you love the office? If you answered yes to either one of those, you will love this fic. This moment between them perfectly mirrors a Jim and Pam scene and it really makes you root for them. I highly recommend.

Happy reading, friends!

[toxicpineapple]

Well, this year is coming to a close!!! Here are my favourite writings from the year 2020 :)

---

January:

“A penchant for looking at rocks”, the first ever Amamota fic I wrote (it’s been a long fucking year, haha) and another 5+1 things fic! Buckle down LGBTQ+ community because there are a lot of these, in fact I’m pretty sure I started off last year’s compilation with a 5+1 things fic? Anyway, this one was the five times Kaito helps Rantaro when he’s hurt, plus the one time Rantaro helps Kaito. I love me some good whump and I felt I had to choose this one because it’s one of my favourites just generally speaking.

Content Warnings: Injuries, tending to injuries, asthma attacks.

---

February:

“Ibuki Mioda’s Kisses”, which I wrote for day fourteen of Femslash February. Boy, if I thought I wrote a lot in January, just take a moment to peek at February 2020… I was churning out a fic daily for the entire month. I don’t regret it though! I got to write a lot of characters who I haven’t written a lot, and explore a whole lot of prompts, and if I can remove my head from my ass I fully intend on participating in Femslash February again next year. Ibuki Mioda’s Kisses is the piece I wrote for Valentine’s Day, which was my two year anniversary with my boyfriend, so I wanted to write something special commemorating our relationship. No idea how I’m going to top that in 2021, but uh, check out the fic! It’s cute and I like to think it’s clever.

Content Warnings: The Mortifying Ideal Of Discovering Oneself, secondhand embarrassment, bad kisses. (I mean in the sense that texturally they’re just, unpleasant. It’s about asexuality, alright.)

---

March:

“Adventure”, which I wrote for day five of Amasai Week, which was the first ship week I hosted and participated in in 2020! This was the longest piece that I wrote, and my favourite, just because I really really love the childhood friends trope, and I liked writing Shuichi and Rantaro as children, adventuring together and just having a fantastic time. Amasai Week actually took place while one of my parrots stayed overnight at the emergency vet after a fight with another one, so it was a pretty stressful time for me, but I’m proud of myself for completing it and looking forward to hosting Amasai Week again in 2020! Stay tuned, we’ve almost got the prompts worked out.

Content Warnings: None.

---

April:

“A couple of ghosts”, which is the fic I wrote for Kaito’s birthday! I see we’ve reached the part of 2020 where I met my abuser, which, yaaaaay, but also, I’m still really proud of this fic, despite how much I kind of associate it with him now! It’s the fic where I said, y’know what, no, we can’t have nice things, and gave Kaito a horrible, traumatic reason for his fear of ghosts, as well as two dead parents. It’s Saimota though and there’s a cute hurt/comfort scene at the end so go ahead and check it out if you want.

Content Warnings: Car accidents, minor character death, injuries, PTSD.

---

May:

“Are you down to play?”, the fic that I wrote for day four of Saimota Week, wherein Shuichi has a secret and Kaito makes a bet with Kaede to figure it out. Man, if you thought I had bad associations with the fic I chose for April, look at this one, haha. But it’s objectively the best writing piece I uploaded that month, I’m really proud of my characterisation and the scenes in the fic, and hopefully someday I’ll be able to read this piece without thinking about him. :)

Content Warnings: None! This one’s just a fluffy feel good fic.

---

June:

“Tamago kake gohan”, the Sonanami canon compliant hurt/comfort fic I wrote for my friend Void’s birthday. I put out a whopping three one shots in June because I’d really hit the swing of my roleplaying and hadn’t adjusted to it well enough to be writing fic at the same time yet, so, yeah. This one’s cute, though! Sonia is sad about Gundham and then Chiaki makes her some food. They’re sapphic.

Content Warnings: Canonical character death.

---

July:

“Good night”, the Amasai 5+1 things that I wrote for my friend Neb’s birthday! This is the five times Saihara slept in front of Amami, plus the one time Rantaro slept in front of Shuichi. It’s cute! They’re tender! It features the trope where you sleep in front of a loved one! I love that trope! And it’s Neb’s favourite so I had to go for it, hehe. These two are cute boys and they deserve to be happy.

Content Warnings: Breakdowns, nightmares. (But neither is from the narrator’s perspective.)

---

August:

“Making that dream come true”, the royalty AU Kaede and Rantaro become friends fic that I wrote while I briefly hyperfixated back on my royalty AU. I got into another writing groove during this time so I actually have a lot of really good fics up from August (including Mutual Vulnerability… Amamotas I’m sorry to have cucked you like this that fic was so damn good) but this one was my favourite. I love writing in first person, and I love writing platonic relationships, and someday I’m going to write the multichapter that this fic sets up for.

Content Warnings: Arranged marriages, and something else but it’s a secret, shhh.

---

September:

“A lot of firsts”, the Harumami fic I wrote for the first day of Amami Week, which is a personal writing challenge that I did this year to celebrate the week leading up to Amami’s birthday. September was a really dry writing month for me, partly because of the roleplay stuff and partly because of personal issues, but I’m still proud of the heteroeroticism (heh) in this one. Maki and Rantaro have chemistry, what can I say.

Content Warnings: Stab injuries (not from Maki to Rantaro, please).

---

October:

“October 3rd”, the second fic I wrote for Rantaro’s birthday, and also the Oumami fic that I wrote for day seven of Amami Week. I’m a fan of most of the fics I wrote in October (I wouldn’t gift someone a fic I’m not proud of and most of the fics I wrote, including this one, were gift fics) but this one is my favourite just because of the introspection, and also because of the fact that I got to write Ouma, because he’s always so much fun. I enjoyed writing the two of them going back and forth and have another Oumami fic on the way so stay tuned, haha.

Content Warnings: None.

---

November:

“It is what it is”, the fic I wrote for day four of Amamota week, which takes place when Rantaro is an adult, and out at a bar with his friends, where he meets Kaito and goes for a walk outside. It’s a melancholic piece for sure, but I like capturing those vibes with my fics, and I got to write a group interaction which is always one of my favourite things to do. Amamota is my biggest comfort pairing and I’m glad that I got to host Amamota Week this year, because I enjoy those two so much. :) Great chemistry.

Content Warnings: Recreational alcohol use (everyone is drinking legally and tentatively responsibly), general sad vibes idk.

---

December:

Okay, honestly, I haven’t posted anything yet this month aside from a vent, and since the vent I posted talks about my eating disorder and it’s not really very good writing anyway, I don’t feel comfortable putting it on this list. I have a multichapter holiday themed Oumami fic on the way that I will hopefully finish before the end of the year, as well as a fic I’m working on for a writing and art trade that I ABSOLUTELY need to get off my ass and work on, so those will hopefully be out by the end of 2020.

But yeah, that aside, that’s the complete list of my favourite fics from 2020. It’s been a long year and I’m glad to have stayed a member of the Danganronpa fandom through it. I really appreciate all the friends I’ve made, and the fun times I’ve had while I’ve been here.

2020 has treated me pretty terribly, haha. I met someone who I really wish I could’ve gone without, and my health has suffered, and I’m hoping to be able to start my recovery properly in 2021. Guess if I have a new year’s resolution, it’s to let go of what he did to me and start trying to get better. So I’m going to work on it! I can’t say that I think 2021 is going to be anybody’s year, but maybe it’s not about what the universe has in store for us so much as it is about what we make of it.

I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful new year, I love you all dearly, thanks so much for the support and the laughs, and I’ll keep on hanging around and spreading my Amami propaganda.

Someone has to, haha.

[quelsentiment]

The fanfic questions: 2, 12, 18, 24 please!

Thank you 😊

2. least favorite fic you wrote this year

Probably Like it was at the start

No hate on her, I just don't think it's as good as I would have liked it to be and I struggled with it quite a lot. Tbh I probably would have given up on it if it hadn't been part of a fest. Other people seem to have liked it though so *shrugs*

12. favorite character to write about this year

Zayn is always a fave for me to write no matter the fic, but New York Kiss!Zayn is definitely very special to me, and I still think about him quite often

18. current number of wips

Just 2! One might be my biggest project so far and I don't think I'll post it anytime soon because I'm taking my time with it. The other one is a short piece I'm writing for the Trope Mashup Fest, and it should be out in February or March.

24. favorite fic you read this year

It's a difficult one... In terms of all the fics I've read this year regardless of the posting date, I'm gonna go with but monsters are always hungry, darling. The characterisation in this is stellar and very inspiring. I've also just finished Permanent and it made me cry a few times, which is a pretty rare occurence for me so it should be noted!

In terms of fics that were published this year, I'll be making a specific post for this later this month!

Fanfic end of the year asks