#Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

[supercap2319]

Honey, put your sunblock on. It's hot!!

Johnny Storm x male reader

Summary: During a photo shoot for sun lotion, Johnny gets his big problem taken care of.

Y/N watched Johnny as he prepared for his Coppertone photo shoot, promoting the official sun lotion of the Fantastic Four. Who better than the Human Torch himself, a walking, talking man on fire? Johnny Storm, his eyes sparkling with mischief, traded in the royal blue trunks they had him wear for a smaller, tighter white speedo with a four logo on the upper left corner. To prepare for another set of photos.

The superhero adjusted the swimming bottom to a more comfortable position in the crotch as smirked at Y/N.

It wasn't abnormal to think Johnny was hot. He was. Both figuratively and literally. Lots of women, even some men would have liked to have his undivided attention on them, so it wasn't a surprise when Y/N felt heat flush his skin at Johnny's sly wink.

Johnny noticed the effect he was having on Y/N and couldn't help but play it up a bit more. He struck a pose for the photographer, bending slightly at the waist to show off his toned backside in the white speedo.

The photographer was oblivious to Johnny's true intentions about showcasing his muscular and tanned body. He was giving the full back and frontal view. The photographer snapped several shots, captivated by the perfect angles and Johnny's charming smiles. Unaware of the flirtatious game Johnny was playing with Y/N standing nearby. Johnny then turned around slowly, giving a full frontal view this time, his hands casually resting on his hips. "How's this look?”

Y/N was caught off guard by Johnny's sudden interest in his opinion. Truth be told, he only came to this photo shoot in the first place because Susan Storm asked Y/N to keep an eye on Johnny. And keep an eye on him he did, just not in the way he planned.

"Johnny, this is great! We'll be able to promote tons of this sun lotion to every corner of the world. It will be flying off the shelves," the Photographer promised. Not that Johnny was vaguely interested in what he was saying.

As the photographer continued to ramble on about sales projections and marketing strategies, Johnny's attention remained solely on Y/N. He took a step closer, his voice lowering to a seductive purr. "So, what do you think, really? Be honest.”

"It..well, it's kind of showy. I think I like the trunks better, Y/N said, even if it was a lie.

Johnny chuckled, clearly amused by Y/N's lie. He stepped even closer, invading Y/N's personal space as he ran his fingers along the waistband of the tight speedo. "Is that so? I think this shows off my assets better, don't you?”

"Well, sure. I mean, all the gals are gonna be over the moon to get their hands on this sun lotion," Y/N told the hero. Johnny's fingers lingered on the waistband, his knuckles lightly brushing against his crotch. He leaned in closer, his warm breath tickling Y/N's ear as he whispered, "But what about you, Y/N? Are you over the moon too?”

"Maybe..." He admits to Johnny.

Feeling emboldened by Y/N's admission, Johnny slowly pulled the waistband of the speedo down, exposing more of his muscular hips and the top of his thighs. He looked up at Y/N with a challenging smirk. "Maybe enough to help me take this off later?”

"Sure," Y/N felt his voice squeak.

The photographer, oblivious to the growing tension between Johnny and Y/N, called out for another shot. Johnny turned back to face the camera, but not before giving Y/N one last wink. As he struck a pose, he deliberately adjusted himself in the speedo, making sure Y/N could see every detail.

After the photo shoot was done, Johnny asked Y/N to accompany him in his dressing room. He walked down the hallway towards the place Johnny was supposed to be changing at. The dressing room was dimly lit, with a large mirror taking up one wall. Johnny closed the door behind them and leaned against it, watching Y/N with a hungry gaze. "So...you said maybe." He started walking towards Y/N slowly.

"I did, but Susan just called me. She wants us to be at the Baxter Building early for dinner, Y/N said. "We should probably head there already," Y/N suggested.

Johnny's face fell slightly at the mention of Susan, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "Yeah, yeah... dinner it is." He moved past Y/N to grab his towel from the hook by the door, deliberately brushing against Y/N's arm as he did so. "But…”

"Yes?" Y/N asked.

"...maybe we could have a little appetizer before we go?" Johnny let the towel drop to the floor and stepped closer to Y/N again. His eyes were dark with desire as he reached out to cup Y/N's cheek. "Just something quick.”

Y/N felt shivers down his spine at Johnny's words. There's not denying that this was the perfect moment for something a bit intimate. "Like what?" Y/N asked.

"Like this..." *He leaned in slowly, giving Y/N plenty of time to pull away, but hoping he wouldn't. His lips were soft but demanding as they pressed against Y/N's, while a hand slid around Y/N's waist to pull them closer. "Just a little preview of dessert…”

"I don't want dessert, Mr. Storm," Y/N said.

Johnny chuckled against Y/N's lips, his breath hot and heavy. "No? Then how about a main course instead?" His hand on Y/N's waist slowly slid down to palm at his rear, squeezing gently as he deepened the kiss.

Y/N gasped and moaned as Johnny squeezed his sensitive ass. It was so naughty. So dirty. He liked it. "Mr. Storm...have you already taken off the speedo?”

Johnny broke the kiss with a grin and took a step back, giving Y/N a good look at him. The speedo was indeed gone, leaving him completely naked from the waist down. His hard-on was on full display, long and thick and pointing straight at Y/N. "Guilty as charged.”

"Oh. I was hoping to take it off you myself, but may I?" Y/N gestures towards Johnny's cock, already leaking pre-cum at the tip.

"Please..." Johnny's voice was low and needy as Y/N reached out to wrap a hand around his cock. He groaned as Y/N started to stroke him slowly, the sensation almost too much already. "Fuck, if we don't get going soon, I might just bend you over this counter.”

"Maybe later, but for now...can I take care of this for you?”

Johnny watched as Y/N slowly lowered himself down to his knees. His abs tightened as he realized what was about to happen. "God, yes," He hissed as Y/N stuck his tongue out to lick away the bead of pre-cum from his tip. "You don't have to.”

"I want to. I wanna make you cum, sir," Y/N said before he started sucking.

Johnny moaned loudly as Y/N's warm, wet mouth enveloped his entire head. His tongue swirled around his tip, pressing against the sensitive spot underneath. "Holy shit," He gripped the edge of the counter tightly, Johnny's knuckles turning white as Y/N began to bob his head slowly.

The blonde hero tasted surprisingly good for someone who could catch fire at any moment he wished. He looks up at Johnny with innocent eyes that were far too naughty to be innocent. Johnny's eyes rolled back slightly as he looked down at Y/N, the sight of those innocent yet naughty eyes almost making him lose it right then and there. "That look," He groaned deeply as Y/N took him even deeper into his mouth.

Y/N sucks Johnny off faster like it's his damn job. Which it technically is.

"Oh my god! oh my god!" *Johnny chanted over and over again as Y/N's head bobbed faster and faster. His hips started to move on their own, thrusting forward gently to meet Y/N's mouth. He was getting so close, his legs starting to tremble.

Reaching out a hand, Y/N played with Johnny's balls while sucking his cock. Taking him as deep as he could, choking himself in the process. With a loud, guttural moan, Johnny came undone in Y/N's mouth. His hot cum shot out forcefully, filling Y/N's throat as he continued to suck and play with his balls through the orgasm. Johnny gripped Y/N's hair tightly, pulling him closer as he emptied himself completely.

Y/N slows down his sucking as he starts to lick the leftover cum on Johnny's cock from his explosive load.

Johnny was shaking from the intensity of his orgasm, completely spent and boneless. He gently pulled Y/N back up to his feet, breathing heavily as he looked at them with pure lust and gratitude. "Where the fuck did you learn to do that?”

“Summer camp,” Y/N jokes.

[doyouknowthismusical]

[centrestagereviews]

Fantastically Great Women who Changed the World - The Other Palace

[fuckyeahchinesefashion]

hi, do you think you could please recommend some popular c-dramas for me? I am thinking specifically like palace intrigue types. Thank you so much and have a great day!

"Empresses in the Palace" (also known as "The Legend of Zhen Huan" or "甄嬛传") This is a classic and widely loved drama set in the Qing Dynasty. It follows the story of Zhen Huan, a young woman who enters the imperial palace as a concubine and navigates the treacherous world of court politics, betrayal, and power struggles. The storytelling is intricate, the characters are complex, and the costumes and sets are stunning. It’s a must-watch for anyone who loves palace intrigue. "Empresses in the Palace" is pretty much considered the number one Chinese palace drama out there. The script is super deep, it shows sympathy for what women went through back then and celebrates their spirit of fighting back. Another drama with a really deep story is "War and Beauty." (金枝欲孽) It’s in Cantonese, and while the costumes and sets aren’t as fancy as "Empresses in the Palace," the way it portrays tragedy is just as powerful. Fun fact: the original novel of "Empresses in the Palace" wasn’t nearly as deep. The screenwriter totally changed its meaning. In the book, the emperor was super handsome and charming, but the director scrapped that idea. They went with an actor who wasn’t conventionally attractive but had incredible acting skills. That choice made the tragedy hit way harder. Honestly, without the amazing performances and the rewritten script, "Empresses in the Palace" wouldn’t have become such a massive, nationwide hit.

"Yanxi Palace: Princess Adventures" (or "延禧攻略") Another Qing Dynasty drama, this one focuses on Wei Yingluo, a clever and determined woman who enters the palace to uncover the truth behind her sister’s death. It’s filled with scheming, revenge, and intense court rivalries. The production quality is top-notch, and the female lead is strong and resourceful, making it very engaging. Compared to "Empresses in the Palace," it’s not as deeply tragic. A lot of it obviously doesn’t match real history, but it’s super emotional and moving. The pacing is fast, and it fits more into the 古装偶像剧guzhuang idol dramas that often cast young pretty actors, and are set in several hundred years ago but talk and act like people in modern days. For Qing Dynasty palace intrigue dramas, I only recommend those two (Empresses in the Palace and Story of Yanxi Palace). But there are other amazing historical dramas, like "Kangxi Dynasty康熙王朝(2001)," "Yongzheng Dynasty雍正王朝（1999）," and"Young Kangxi少年康熙(2004)" etc. They’re all fantastic, though they’re a bit older. I think they have english subs on youtube too. I don’t recommend those Qing Dynasty time-travel palace dramas because, honestly, the scripts just aren’t as good as the ones I mentioned. Either the acting’s not great, or the story just feels boring and dragged out. As for "Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace," just… don’t. It’s a total dumpster fire—pretty much universally agreed on by Chinese netizens. If you’re curious what trash tastes like, well, there you go.

There are palace intrigue dramas based on the Ming Dynasty too, but they’re not as popular. Partly because the scripts aren’t as strong, and partly because the Ming Dynasty just didn’t have the same elements for palace intrigue. That’s a whole other topic, so I won’t get into it. But there’s one Ming Dynasty drama that’s absolutely brilliant, it’s called "Ming Dynasty 1566大明王朝 1566 (2006)." You can find it on YouTube with English subs.

The script is based on serious history by some top notch script writer, and it’s super amazing. I’m not sure if it’s for everyone, though. It’s all about political schemes, imperial strategy, and the cutthroat world of Chinese bureaucracy. If you’ve read books like "Stories about Ming Dynasty/Those Things about Ming明朝那些事儿 by shi yue石悦" （This series had me laughing so hard I was literally pounding my bed in the middle of the night. I stayed up all weeks reading it. Sadly, I don’t think there’s an official English version. It was a huge bestseller in China, though, topped the charts for historical fiction. It brings historical events to life in this super witty way, and the characters feel like they’re right there in front of you. They have e-books version on WeRead of WeChat), you’d probably love it. But it doesn't appeal to people who don't like to see real power plays. Ming history is fascinating, I think it has some of the most intense power struggles in all of Chinese history. But just to be clear, it’s not a palace intrigue drama. It focuses on the imperial court, not the palace后宫hougong (harem).

Also, many old Chinese dramas are incredibly well-made and have stood the test of time, though some might not have English subs due to their age. If you’re interested in exploring more, I highly recommend "Palace of Desire" (大明宫词Daming Gong Ci).

This drama is set in the Tang Dynasty and revolves around the life of Empress Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, and her daughter, Princess Taiping. It’s a poetic and deeply emotional portrayal of love, power, and tragedy within the imperial court. The dialogue is beautifully written, almost like a Shakespearean play, and the costumes and sets capture the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty perfectly. While it might not have the same modern production quality as newer dramas, its storytelling and historical depth are truly exceptional. It has this captivating aesthetic of Tang. If you’re open to exploring older classics, this is a gem worth checking out.

If you’re interested in diving into another epic historical drama, I highly recommend "The Emperor Han Wu" (汉武大帝)(2005). This one is about Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, one of China’s most famous and powerful rulers. It’s a gripping story of ambition, strategy, and empire-building.

The lead actor Chen Baoguo is phenomenal. He totally brings Emperor Wu to life, showing his brilliance, ruthlessness, and complexity. The drama covers everything from political intrigue and military conquests to personal struggles and relationships. It’s a bit more serious and grand in scale compared to palace intrigue dramas, but if you’re into history and strong character-driven stories, this is a must-watch.

I don’t really recommend "Joy of Life庆余年" because, well, it’s based on a straight chinese male-oriented novel男频小说(sorry straight men sir i'm not targeting you or calling you out i know threre are many normal and decent straight men it's just this one is really 直男 if you read it you know waht i mean....). Women aren’t exactly the focus here. It’s also got this heavy fantasy vibe, mixing politics, martial arts, and a bunch of other stuff, kind of like a big, chaotic stew. The male lead basically struts through the story like it’s his personal runway. It’s not historical like "Ming Dynasty 1566" or "The Emperor Han Wu" it’s completely架空 (fictional). So, it’s not my cup of tea. But if you’re curious, give it a shot. Just don’t expect much from it, the hero's girlfriend is pretty much the "perfect woman" fantasy you’d expect from a chinese male-centric novel XD like uncanny valley to me. It reminds me of that cringy feeling I got reading about Luo Ji and his wife in "The Three-Body Problem."

If you’re looking for pure romance and a love story that’s both wildly passionate and utterly heartbreaking, you have to watch "Goodbye My Princess" (东宫). It stars Peng Xiaoran and Chen Xingxu, and their chemistry is off the charts. This drama is all about intense, desperate, soul-crushing love, it’s the kind of story that will absolutely wreck you in the best way possible.

Yes, it has some of the limitations of its historical setting, but the female lead is such a radiant and compelling character. If you want to experience that mix of heartbreak and emotional satisfaction (you know, the kind that hurts so good), this drama is number one. It was insanely popular when it came out, and even now, its theme song is considered a classic.

I don’t really recommend Song Dynasty palace dramas—same reasons, there’s just not much to work with in terms of后宫 (harem) stories. But Song Dynasty slice-of-life dramas? Those are amazing. The best one is "A Dream of Splendor" (梦华录). It was insanely popular, broke records, and even got picked as one of China’s top 10 national TV treasures that year—the only historical drama on the list. A Dream of Splendor absolutely shattered the popularity records for historical dramas. It’s the most genuinely popular costume drama since "Empresses in the Palace."This year’s dramas like Perfect Match have borrowed from its style, whether it’s the setting, the character designs, or the storytelling.

I’m also watching "Perfect Match" (五福临门) right now. It’s set in a similar world, focusing on everyday people and their lives, with a bit of bureaucracy and some palace scenes here and there. The main characters aren’t royalty, though. The plot’s kind of all over the place, and Chinese netizens love to roast it for being illogical. But if you don’t overthink it, it’s a pretty fun watch. I hope you enjoy all of them😊

[thydungeongal]

Hi, this might be a weird question, but if someone wants to get a proper groundwork of ttrpgs, really understand the medium and what it does, what games do you think they should play? Like which systems would be much checkouts to really GET what kinds of things happen in the space and what kind of games are out there?

I don't think there can be such a thing as a definitive list simply because the medium is so varied, but what I can give is a list of games that have had a massive effect on how I personally look at games. Mind you, I don't think you strictly need to play all of these games, although why not they're hella fun, because even reading them can mindblast you open:

Dungeons & Dragons, multiple editions. Ironically, even though D&D was one of my first games and it for a long time served as a template for what I expected games to be more or less like, coming back to it and exploring the history of the game after delving into a bunch of indie games that were doing completely different things was eye-opening. D&D is not only good to be aware of and keep track of because, for better and for worse, it ends up defining entire design movements (D&D 3e still has an effect on modern trad RPG design), but also because the game itself is a microcosm of how the changing design of a game can end up shaping play culture and the discourse around the game.

RuneQuest and other BRP games: RuneQuest was the first d100-based system but also very much a game clearly in conversation with early D&D, and it's neat to be able to look at two games from that same general period and see how games were already changing at that early a stage. Other BRP games like Call of Cthulhu, Stormbringer, and Pendragon are very useful to look at in the historical context of being some of the very earliest examples of very traditional RPGs incorporating mechanics that tied into character psychology and personality in a way that almost bordered on genre emulation (Sanity, the alignment tracks, personality traits and passions).

Vampire: the Masquerade and other World of Darkness games: these games were revolutionary at the time they came out because while they were still very traditional in structure at least on a discursive level they presented a clear unambiguous break from the hobby's wargaming roots and towards roleplaying games as a form of collaborative storytelling. They also represent a shift in terms of who the game was marketed towards, with these games' success being in no small part due to the fact that they actively catered to women and queer folks at a time when that was still out of the ordinary.

The Shadow of Yesterday and a bunch of other stuff that came out of the Forge: the Forge was a website dedicated to talking about tabletop RPG design and it was basically a gathering ground for people who were really into the promise of RPGs as collaborative storytelling but had grown to see, through play, that Vampire: the Masquerade the System had a completely different idea of what kind of story it wanted to tell than the text implied. TSoY is just one of my favorite games that came out of that design movement and it is a game that really tells you what it's all about, and it is fun to trace its effects on modern game design (it has had a measurable effect on Apocalypse World and Blades in the Dark and thus a significant effect downstream from those two).

Apocalypse World and Monsterhearts. This is my duo of the best PbtA games out there: Apocalypse World for being the first and still almost unparalleled in how it just completely ignored expected ideas of what the act of play should look like and also accidentally became one of the most copied games in the world. Monsterhearts is a fantastic example of a game that builds on the strengths of Apocalypse World's framework while doing a completely different genre and also a great example of a textually queer game.

Dream Askew and Wanderhome. Dream Askew was the first Belonging without Belonging game, a framework of games that very much developed out of a diceless variant of the Powered by the Apocalypse, and the framework is very much defined by its tagline "no dice, no masters." The best I can describe them is as games where the traditional role of the GM is divided across the entire group and while there are game mechanics at play (usually taking the form of using tokens) those are also entirely in the hands of players and not arbitrated by dice rolls. These games thus act both as great examples of what GMless play can look like as well as what diceless play can look like.

Eureka: Investigative Urban Fantasy: with this one I have to admit to being personal friends with the people behind the game, but my friendship with these people actually blossomed out of a shared love for games and talking about them, and Eureka is not only in my opinion the best investigative RPG ever made, it is a fantastic piece of design that clearly tells you what it's about (I like games that are loud about what they expect you to do: the aforementioned TSoY and Apocalypse World are two others). What it also does very well is re-evaluate a lot of what has come before and synthesize them: yes, RPGs are shared stories, but they are also games. We want stories about heroes succeeding, but in games it is possible to fail; and while the game does build into itself a lot of systems to mitigate the chance of failure simply via playing the game (what a lot of games have tried to do inelegantly in the past with "Idea rolls" and other contrivances to force the characters on the path to success if they fail simply due to bad rolls) it also very openly says "hey, a story about the heroes failing is still a story. Not every story will have a happy ending." And I think that is great, because RPGs are games in addition to being little story factories, and some of the best story moments can come from those times when the game itself says "not today" to your perfectly planned narrative moment and instead tells a completely new exciting kind of story. Anyway, check out @anim-ttrpgs for where you can find and download Eureka, and follow along for more exciting stuff they've got cooking :)

This is not by any means an exhaustive list, but just an "off the top of my head" of some games that I think are neat and that have blasted my brain and altered the way I look at the medium. Anyway once you're done with those be sure to check out Rolemaster as well for the best comedy RPG ever made,

[reflectingiridescent]

I think a lot about how Sophie and Parker both had male mentors who saw them more as tools than as people, and how so much of their defining characterization comes from how they took (and mastered! and improved upon!) the skills of their mentors but rejected the way they were taught by those mentors to interact with the job. Parker was taught to work alone and save herself first and always. Sophie was taught to push away any and all emotion.

And it's their choices — including choosing Leverage — made all the difference. We actually see them become greats because of it? People from Sophie's past — when she wasn't even fully formed as a criminal — know that Sophie’s the only one who can take Ramsey down — and she does. From what we understand, she’s one of the few who was able to stop working for him, albeit at great personal cost to herself.

And Parker!!! The greatest thief in the world! The mastermind to lead Leverage into the future! Parker not only carves out a space in a family who carves out a place for her — but also her ideology is just so compelling that she does change Archie’s heart and mind just by being her. And she didn’t even set out to do that.

It's not even like they both stop at finding better situations for themselves. Mentorship is shown to be a factor in both women's backstories more than anyone else on the crew we've seen...and so I don't think it's a mistake that Sophie and Parker both are shown to have become fantastic mentors in their own right?

How many times have we seen Sophie encourage someone to lean into their emotions or empathy during a job, as a superpower? How comfortable have we seen Parker become helping team members with work and relationships?

Leverage is a show about found family, which means that it acknowledges that people not of your blood can hurt you as much as help you. Sophie and Parker were significantly shaped by people they were not related to, and that also means that they inherited those intergenerational curses.

And despite being such different people, they both break those intergenerational curses so magnificently in ways that only they can? What a treat to watch.

[sanjerina]

I’ve reread the whole of the Goblin Emperor books and am neck-deep in fanfic ahead of the release of THE TOMB OF DRAGONS in a few days. (Do not spoil me for a couple of days — we’re short-handed at work so I actually need to go to work on release day…. Anyway!)

The fanfic in this fandom is at such a fantastically good standard, but there are these little worldbuilding infelicities sometimes. I’m aware people don’t like concrit in their comments anymore in these days of easy polarization. But I’m about to go off on a whole rant here anyway.

Language things:

- In general, switching registers (We/I, You/Thou) is a conscious choice which has a lot of emotional meaning in this series. Fluent speakers of languages which have both a formal and informal register rarely confuse them within a given interaction. Maia’s minor errors of register at the beginning of TGE emphasize his isolation and insecurity.

- Thou art the subject when I am speaking to thee about thine usage and thy grammar. I thank thee for thy sufferance and appreciate that thou art doing thine own best. (Didst thou see what I have wrought here?)

- The stem for Maia’s house name is Drazh- — it’s Drazhar, Drazhin, Drazharan, Drazhada, Drazhadeise. Take off the -in, -ar, or -aran to discover the stem. I’ve seen *Drazharda, which does not need the R in it.

- then there’s the -zh endings, which… sigh.

- look, there’s a guide, it’s fantastic, please read it, elrohir wrote it already, so nobody else has to reinvent the wheel here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62916235/chapters/161109679

Canon things:

- Tomasaran’s maiden name would have been Rozhin, I think — her family were the Rozhemada. Her name was not ever Tomasin. That was an error on Vernezar’s part; he seems to have not known/cared that she was a widow.

- Women can attend the universities, but at the start of Maia’s reign it’s explained that this marks noblewomen as unfeminine and not fit for marriage among their own rank. Vedero and Csethiro and their circle can’t study at the universities, but women from less rarified ranks can and do. Presumably this will change during Maia’s reign. I expect Ino or Mirëan will be able to attend if they want and may be trailblazers.

- it’s honestly not clear from canon whether nohecharei all have to die with their emperor if he, like, dies of a virus. They are expected to commit revethvoran if their negligence causes the emperor’s death. It’s also not clear if both sets would have to die on that event, or just the ones on duty. Also also, what if an emperor reigns a long time and the dudes who are with him for the first forty years up and retire? Who has the honor/duty of being buried with the emperor?

Anyway, there are several stories that play with this in various ways, so I got curious — my own guess would be that early emperors were buried with a full retinue of dead people, and then just the nohecherei, and if that IS still a rule I expect it will not be as soon as Maia gets so much as a head cold.

- Shalëan, Ursu, Holitho, and Nadeian are the natural or illegitimate daughters of the Great Avar. His legítimate daughters are Thever and Chenelo. Of them all, only Chenelo and Ursu have had children so far. And of course Chenelo has died (except in AUs and that one story that’s still updating).

Anyway, Chenelo’s estimable sisters are all Maia’s aunts, not his cousins. His only first cousins, unless I have miscalculated, would be Ursu’s children.

- I am so happy to share my utterly useless Chronicles of Osreth canon hyperfixation with literally anybody writing more fanfic for me to devour like the shark that I am. Here or Discord are good places to find me, same username.

- I can also do these stupid canon tricks for Victoria Goddard’s Nine Worlds series, but as I am but a humble unmarriageable min of the middle classes, I now must go to my “job” and do “work.”

[pitchsidestories]

Voices ahead of the England vs. Spain Women's Nations League game tonight

During their press conference on Tuesday, the forward Alessia Russo and England head coach Sarina Wiegman were speaking on their solidarity with Jenni Hermoso and the Spanish team.

"It says how brave they are. It says, first of all, that it is a very good team. Spain has a very good team. But it also says that they show resilience and they're so brave. We're talking about it again today. I think we have to keep talking about it, I would almost say unfortunately, and we have to keep telling the world that we stand in solidarity with them and hopefully it will make change. I think it already made change, but now we want to talk football again and play an incredible game tomorrow here at Wembley." (Sarina Wiegman)

"We've stood in solidarity with them since the moment that it begun and it's really a shame that they've had to have gone through this, but we hope that it makes change going forward. It's a testament to the players to be so brave to speak out but also to still be performing at the level that they are. I've got teammates that have been through it and they've acted with so much class through it all. We stand with them and back them all the way. "We're all with them through the process. I know it's been tough on teammates who I've played with. They're fantastic girls and they act with so much class. I think it's a real shame, what they've been through, but they've been professional through it all and have never let their football standard slip, so massive respect to them all." (Alessia Russo)

They both highlighted the importance of community in the women's game.

"I think in the women's game, that community, that's kind of special," Wiegman said. "We're absolutely competing when we play each other but when we go off the pitch, we support each other, we support the Spanish, they're in a situation, but I think overall, women's football players are supporting women's football players and women in society. I think that's a bigger picture than just that." (Sarina Wiegman)

"I think the community that women's football has is really special and quite unique about the game," she said. "I think whether it be good or bad, we help and we come together as one. I think we're really good at celebrating each other's successes. Ultimately, we all want the same for women's football. We want it to be at the highest level without moments like this happening. But I think the community of women's football in general is really special." (Alessia Russo)

Spanish head coach Montse Tome, who was Jorge Vilda's assistant at the Women's World Cup in 2023, said she was solely concentrating on the football ahead of Spain's game against England, meaning she would not answer questions about the Luis Rubiales case.

“I appreciate Sarina’s words and she’s a great coach who I respect,” Tome said. “My intention has been to ensure that whenever we are together on international duty and training camps we need to talk about football." “I would be grateful for questions about football. Now the case is coming to an end, it is clear we have sided with the player. We hope things will go back to normal now. We want to focus on football and we are focused on the match tomorrow.”

The midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, who, contrary to Tome, gave an statement. She thanked Sarina Wiegman and English players such as Alessia Russo and Lucy Bronze for supporting them The two times Ballon d'Or winner added:

“Everybody here knows what has happened in the last few months and years. The sentence is correct, it is a positive thing and the team feel the same,” Bonmati said before Tome’s press conference. “I was surprised that there was no sentence linked to coercion but the trial has served a purpose. We are all happy. We have been doing well on the pitch and supporting our teammates. We have battled hard and we know what we have done has not been in vain. “I hope that this case makes changes in our country, in our football, to respect us better as footballers. But it’s also a global case. I don’t want to only speak about footballers. I think this happens in other jobs. I hope this case helps anyone who is going through these things. I hope this will help to respect women's rights.”

Will you be watching the game tonight? You might be as excited as Arsenal's Spanish defender Laia Codina, who is looking forward to playing at Wembley Stadium.

"When we found out the groups, we were speaking a lot in the [Arsenal] changing room. I spoke with Alessia [Russo] because she is next to me," said Codina. "It is special - not just because it is against England - but also because we are playing in Wembley. It is such a nice stadium." "I said to [my Arsenal team-mates] that we have to get to the FA Cup final because I want to play at Wembley. Now we have the opportunity with Spain. "That is so special. Now England is home to me - so I feel like I'm coming back home with my national team."

[lucy90712]

I saw that you requests was open, could you mby do a Hector fanfic 💋 ty xx

Football has been part of my life for as long as I remember my older brothers have always played so from birth I was taken to matches to watch them play. As soon as I was able to I played too and I was good at least people told me I was I developed so quickly as a player that I was put into boys teams under the advice of my coaches so that I could continue to develop. That's when my life really changed after one particularly good match my parents were approached by someone from Barcelona's academy offering me a place there. Of course I wanted to go but it was a tough decision for my parents letting their little girl go to play football when there is no guarantees of making it but I begged them enough to convince them so at 10 I went to La masia. 

La masia is the best place in the world or at least I always thought it was for a kid who loved football getting to play almost everyday while still doing school was the best thing ever. It was there that I met all my friends all of the girls were close as there wasn't as many of us but we also made friends with the guys like Hector, Lamine and Pau. They were rough but they made us all better players and I like to think playing with players who have made it now like Lamine made me a better striker. At just 16 I started to play for the women's b team which was a fantastic experience my first few games were tough but then I figured it out and since I've been scoring goals consistently most matches. 

During my time at La masia I got really close to Hector we used to play together after school I'd try and beat him to score goals which helped us both practice our skills one on one. That innocent childish relationship changed as we got older we both developed feelings for each other which Hector was brave enough to admit so from that moment we've been together. That happened when we were 15 and now we are both 18 and still happily together. Throughout that time we were the power couple of La masia the star striker and defensive protégée of the academy. Then Hector started playing for the first team while I stayed with the academy and for a while that hurt. Watching him do so well with the first team was amazing and I love watching him live his dream but it did hurt deep down as I was still stuck playing for the b team. 

Hector has been great at encouraging me he still comes to all of my games that he can make and celebrates every goal like it's my best or likes it's the champions league final. He will practice with me and he makes Lamine train with me so I can learn from him too. That's all nice but the best thing he does for me is just be there when another match goes by that I don't get called up for he is there to comfort me if I cry or to listen if I need to vent. Even when the men's team is winning and doing well he can put that behind him and be there for me which is one of Hector's best qualities. He believes in me more than I do sometimes so it's his support that keeps me going and his encouragement that keeps me motivated to keep going and keep proving that I'm worthy of a chance. 

After training today I stayed behind to practice for longer which is when the manager of the first team came out to the pitch and walked in my direction. I panicked thinking I wasn't supposed to be out on the pitch but when he got closer I saw he had a smile on his face which calmed me down a bit. 

"Just the person I've been looking for y/n it's nice to meet you" he said 

"It's nice to meet you too coach" I said 

"I have some news I think you'd like to hear it's been a long time coming but I'm going to call you up for this game this weekend" he said 

"Thank you so much I appreciate the opportunity I won't let you down" I said

"I don't doubt you'll be amazing we have training tomorrow at 9 I expect you to be there" he said 

"Of course I'll be there" I said 

Suddenly I no longer wanted to train I just wanted to go and tell Hector he didn't have training today and I told him I'd come over when I finished training. I made sure to call my parents and tell them the good news they were incredibly proud of me but they couldn't make the game as they are both out of town for work. My brothers were the next people I told and they promised they'd try and make it to the game but I know they won't be there they never are they are jealous that I'm the one with the football career and they have to work normal jobs. Their jealousy doesn't bother me anymore I have plenty of people who care about me and are proud of my achievements. The person I really care about is Hector and I know he'll be over the moon for me and I can't wait to tell him. The drive to Hector's felt like an age but eventually I got there and I ran up to the door jumping around on the spot waiting for Hector to open the door. 

"Hey love I wasn't expecting you here yet" Hector said 

"I was going to stay late but I just had to come here and tell you something" I said beaming 

"What is it?" He asked 

"I'm being called up to the first team for the match this weekend and I'll be training with them all this week" I said 

He didn't say anything he just picked me up and spun me round while kissing all over my face. Once he put me down he told me how proud he was and he promised me he'd be at the game whether I played or not he said he wouldn't dare miss my first game. I was there for his first game with the first team and the first time he played and now he gets to do the same for me. He said we have to celebrate so he ordered dinner from my favourite restaurant for dinner and we got to cuddle while watching our show which is exactly how I wanted to celebrate this occasion. 

~~~~~~~~~~

It's match day and I've been so nervous all day. Last night I stayed with Hector as he didn't want me to be nervous alone as he was alone before his first game and he swears it made him more nervous. He made me breakfast and drove me to the training ground so I could meet with the rest of the team to go to the stadium. That's when we had to leave each other but I didn't want him to go I need him by my side to keep me from getting too nervous he's been through this he knows how it feels and how to cope and I need that knowledge. He stayed for as long as he could but eventually we had to leave and get on the bus so he gave me one last hug and kiss on my cheeks and lips before handing me an envelope. 

"I know you'll get nervous so open this before the match and if you need to read it again at half time but remember you're amazing and you can do this you wouldn't be here if you weren't I believe in you so you should believe in yourself" he said 

"Thank you" I said 

"Now tell me that you can do it" he said 

"I can do it and I will do it" I said 

"Thats my girl now go and kill it I'll be there to watch every second" he said 

I ran onto the team bus holding the envelope smiling knowing I could do it. That confidence carried through right until after the warm up when it realised this was actually happening. I started to panic until I remembered the envelope so I grabbed it from my bag and opened it. Inside was a handwritten note from Hector reminding me of all my achievements and telling me that I'm more than capable of doing this and if I wasn't I wouldn't be here. His words really helped they reminded me that I'm not just some kid I have 12 goals in the first few matches of the season for the b team I'm a professional footballer and I deserve to be here. 

As I thought I didn't start and nor did I play any of the first half then some subs were made and I still didn't get to go on and then another few subs were made and still I was just warming up on the sidelines. Then it happened I was called over and told to get ready to go on I thought I'd feel anxious in that moment but instead I just felt excitement I was finally getting my debut and all I wanted was to prove that they made the right decision in calling me up and bringing me on. While waiting at the side to come on I looked up to the stands to find Hector who was right where he was said he would be beaming ear to ear and gave me a thumbs up for encouragement. 

I stepped out on the pitch not expecting much to happen but straight away we were on the attack and I had the ball given to me but I wasn't in the right space to get the shot in but I managed to pass it back so we could rebuild. The next time the ball was coming my way I was in a much better position I wasn't sure if I was slightly offside but I made the run anyway and somehow the ball landed at my feet right where I wanted it to be so instinct kicked in and the next thing I knew the ball was in the back of the net. It didn't feel real but when the rest of the girls all ran to me cheering and hugging me it hit me that I just scored on my debut for the first team. I've never had a goal celebration but in the moment I couldn't stop my hands from making a heart and thanking the crowd. 

The rest of the match felt like a blur I managed to score a second goal which had me on cloud 9 the match couldn't have gone any better until I found out I'd received player of the match so I had to go and do an interview straight after the match even though all I wanted was to find Hector and celebrate with him. I did my interview to the best of my abilities before I was finally let go and managed to find Hector stood at the entrance to the tunnel waiting for me. Before he could even move I ran up to him and jumped in his arms which luckily he was ready for and he caught me and managed to spin me round. He treated me like I was simba in the lion king it felt like he was holding me up to the sky to show me off but really he was just so happy he didn't know how to process his emotions. I was thrown in the air a few times before Hector put me back down on the ground and kissed me in front of everyone still in the stadium which was most people which I should've cared more about as I don't like everyone seeing the private parts of our relationship but in the moment I couldn't care less. 

"You were amazing out there I couldn't believe it when you scored the first goal let alone the second now don't tell anyone this but I cried a little watching you celebrate that first goal" he said 

"If I wasn't so full of adrenaline I might've cried too" I said 

"I can't even put into words how proud I am of you but you should be even prouder of yourself what you did out there was amazing you proved exactly why you should be here every week" he said 

"Thank you I don't know if I'll be able to play for the first team again but this has been an amazing experience" I said 

"Oh you will be back here trust me" he said 

He gave me another kiss before we were approached by a tv crew wanting an interview. Hector tried to step aside to let me do the interview but they asked if he would stay as they captured our moment together earlier and wanted to give their viewers an insight into what this game meant for both of us. I was nervous about doing it but when Hector squeezed my hand I knew it would be ok so I agreed to it. 

"So y/n this is your first match for the first team and to score two goals that must feel amazing" the interviewers said 

"It really does I wasn't expecting to score at all let alone two goals I feel invincible" I said 

"Now you two had a heartfelt moment after that match Hector you must be incredibly proud of her" the interviewer said 

"I couldn't be prouder of her I'm proud to call y/n my girlfriend I was proud before but now I'll be shouting it from the rooftops I just know she's going to be an incredible player and she already showing that" he said 

"It seems we have a new power couple in Barcelona on our hands" the interviewer joked 

"She's certainly a star I'm just lucky to be along for the ride" Hector said 

The interviewer thanked us both and finally we were able to walk down the tunnel and get some privacy. I quickly got changed and grabbed my things and met Hector right outside the door to the locker room so we could go back to his place and celebrate as he promised me we'd do that no matter if I played or how well I played and seeing as things went so well we have a lot to celebrate. 

[spineless-lobster]

Okay so it is 1:20am and I should be going to bed but instead I’m gonna contribute to the endless conversation about how fucking fantastic the representation in hades is

Like as a queer person of colour I just get this massive wave of joy when I see my favourite characters look like me. Like I often forget how underrepresented people like me are in the media until I actually see it and it changes me fundamentally lol

Orpheus and eurydice have afros LIKE ME! Athena, ares, zeus and patroclus are black LIKE ME! Dusa is asexual and trans LIKE ME! Chaos is nonbinary LIKE ME! There’s also east/south asian representation via hermes and dionysus. And it’s all portrayed so casually, it’s not there to tick off a diversity box. Supergiant actually put thought and care into these designs and stories and that’s just so amazing to see especially within the gaming industry

To quote the creative director of supergiant from this article (which you should DEFINITELY check out)

“As we discussed and researched the Olympians from canon sources, something stood out that in retrospect was obvious: They’re called the Greek gods because they were worshiped in ancient Greece, not because they themselves are ethnically Greek.”

“Zeus rules all the heavens, not just the airspace over Greece, Poseidon rules all the sea and land. They sprang from the Titans, who sprang from primordial Chaos, the source of all creation. So it stands to reason that the gods represent all the people of the world, at least indirectly.”

Not only is it great to see sexuality represented but it’s represented well. Like everyone just knows zag is bi, there’s no coming out story and there’s no threat of discrimination. It’s just like yeah this is zagreus he likes men and women and pissing off his dad. When zag asks dusa about her body and she declines to talk about it he apologizes saying that he didn’t know any better. Everything is treated with so much respect it’s just so great

Again, my heart feels so full when I see portrayals like this. I looked in the mirror the other day and made a joke about how my hair looked like orpheus’ and that honestly made me so happy and giddy it was a little embarrassing lol

Anyways, I think I had more to say but I’m tired and my brain is foggy but I needed to rant about this because otherwise I might’ve exploded lmao

I just love this game so much

[greenconverses]

Recently read: Up to 25 books for the year! This latest batch was a fun mix.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones was excellent colonial horror, featuring a Blackfeet vampire seeking revenge against buffalo hunters. Fantastic concept, great execution, and very, very bloody. Takes a bit to get used to writing style, but once you settle in, you're in for a ride. (★★★★.25)

When Women Ran Fifth Avenue examines the lives of women who ran department stores in New York City in the 1930s and on. Super interesting, especially the sections discussing women in the workplace and the inevitable backlash they faced. Crazy how today's tradwife influencer talk isn't that far off from newspaper columnists in the 1940s. Would recommend for anyone interested in women's history or about fashion and shopping. (★★★★)

Loved the audiobook narrator for The Wedding Witch. Her comedic timing was excellent. The story itself was fine, a low-stakes time travel plot that takes some time to get going. This is probably the best of Erin Sterling's Graves Glen series which, honestly? Not a high bar to clear. (★★★.25)

I have one thing to say about Sunrise on the Reaping: suzanne collins, why did you do that to ampert, what the fuck is wrong with you (★★★★★)

I adored First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison! I wasn't sure about it at first, but the concept was fun, the banter delightful, and the characters had great chemistry. Def gonna read another book of hers. (★★★★)

Last Change to Save The World doesn't stand as well on its own as the other two novellas in Beth Revis's Chaotic Orbits series. It probably would've been a more satisfying read tacked on to the second one, creating a duology, versus being the airless third book flop. (★★★)

[centrestagereviews]

Interview: Rachel Seirian - Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

Interview: Rachel Seirian - Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World

The empowering smash hit pop musical Fantastically Great Women Who Changed the World is coming to London this Summer!  Based on the popular book by Suffragette relative Kate Pankhurst, this inspiring, joyous show has won over audiences across the UK with its catchy pop soundtrack, inspiring heroines and TikTok favourite choreography. Ahead of their London opening we’ve spoken with Rachel…

[ladysomething]

i was re reading the chapter where pierre and lando come over so they could ‘smooth’ things over, and while i don’t particularly like lando in this book since i mean he’s causing chaos for charles and max however i can see landos point of view. i understand him completely and i don’t think his reaction is a little too out of the ordinary, to lando, charles has a perfect life who gets to have max and anyone he wants all to himself and everyone is always so inlove and all over him since he doesn’t know about the auction, the yatch party and how the fact that everyone is so inlove and all over him isn’t actually a good thing for charles. lando just wants what charles has. and while everyone here collectively hates lando, i think it’s great that we can also see his view on the situation. i’d love to see that if lando ever was to find out about the auction or how charles truly feels if his view on charles would change. i know you have mentioned that this book is a symbol of gender representation (i think??) and i think you are doing such a great job of it. you have truly done an amazing job of showing how women are always jealous and envy each other and will always be against each other instead of trying to understand and i think the way you captured it with lando and charles is just immaculate. honestly a fantastic chapter (and book) though and i cannot wait for what’s to come !!

controversial take, but I love lando in wygig. not like I love Charles and Max, but like how I love Cersei Lannister. I want to study him like a bug. maybe that's also a little bit because I know where his character is going lmao.

but what do you MEAN he's been in love with somebody for years who just used him for sex

what do you MEAN he's just trying to protect Max from somebody he thinks is using him

WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW OMEGAS ARE TREATED IN THE WORLD AND IS THIS JEALOUS OVER SOMETHING HE CAN NEVER BE OR HAVE

lando has never been told no once in his life and does not understand that Charles has been put in a terrible, terrible position, and as such is so incredibly misguided. but lando, sweet lando, wants two things in his life, and that's Max and a Championship and Charles STOLE them from Max and cheated to do it!

he's jealous and envious but has never had to step a mile in Charles' shoes, and it's making him do terrible, awful things, because he is incapable of any level of reflection on the situation.

and Charles ... Charles took one look at Lando, and got so jealous of HIM, that he said "if you go low, I'll go lower."

they're caught in a death spiral, and they're both actively making each other worse people because of it. an intriguing dynamic!!

(ps. yes, this is my dissertation on gender dynamics, and thank you so much for saying I'm doing well!! it's very hard haha)

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

MODERN AU: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have modern AU! Check under the cut for a whopping 24 fics that all take place in modern times, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

LOVE & OTHER ENCHANTMENTS by LivThael (2092, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

An imagined review and synopsis of a movie about a Shadowgast modern-setting bookstore AU.

Reccer says: Hilariously awful, I say with great love, and by that I mean it purposefully and artfully swan dives out of the AU tree and hits every trope on the way down. This was written to be as cursed as possible, and Liv really delivers both that and non-stop laughs. This is clearly a love letter to terrible romcoms, cliché fanfic tropes, and the Shadowgast fandom as a whole. A+ satire, PLEASE read this!

like 80/20 on the kinsey scale by jakia (2772, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb bangs his hot TA and panics about it the next day. Beau did not sign up for listening to this.

Reccer says: Caleb -- who's only dated women before -- discovers he LOVES the D.

ask to be unbroken by chaotic_geeky (40038, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes, Unfinished Cliffhanger

Caleb gets a last minute chance to be a photographer at a big runway event. He meets the star model at the afterparty, and things go from there.

Reccer says: The premise is great, the story is excellent, and the characters are enthralling. It does end on an unfinished cliffhanger, but the beginning is so good it's worth it.

Fundamental Forces Other Than Gravity by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (40676, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

How cold, ruthless and lonely Essek Thelyss (a brilliant student with a secret) accidentally makes some friends and falls in love: a Shadowgast college AU.

Reccer says: This is a fantastic college AU! And the characterization is done so well it's phenomenal.

a smile is more than showing teeth by thought (13642, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

"you are welcome in Zadash should that be an option for you," Caleb had written, "and I would be pleased to set aside a few days to work with you in person." Or How to seduce your academic pen pal through basic kindness, stolen sweaters, and books. Mostly books.

Reccer says: This is the start of an incredible AU with two more after it in the series. I love this version of Essek and Caleb falling in love. SO MUCH.

Paradigm Shift by full_time_dreamer_behold (114291, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb joins a law firm. He meets Essek, the IT manager. Things happen. They fall in love

Reccer says: It's a super sweet slow burn!! Essek and Beau have a really fun dynamic and the budding romance is very satisfying.

(your face in my hands is) everything good i need by mllekurtz (25884, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Academics Caleb and Essek are nerds and fall in love over the course of a conference

Reccer says: I liked it!

like colored indigo inscribed with my name by KmacKatie (kmackatie) (30648, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

An exploration of tradition, culture, what is worth sacrificing in finding yourself and family. Essek learns how to make a new family.

Reccer says: This is an incredible pic with a lot of beautiful world and culture building set into it. Though I love the idea that Essek knits, I am especially fond of the other handcrafts that the Dynasty may do culturally, and this one does such a great job with it. And the interpersonal relationships are absolutely incredible!

we learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts by vegabondfirelily (5777, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Caleb will always be there for Essek, though, even after a life-changing accident. Non-linear narrative, angst with a better ending

Reccer says: I love this pic, even if it makes me cry every time. It is emotional and brilliant.

the fire kept closest (burns most of all) by Mousecookie (21822, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death

Takes place on a modern Rumblecusp, Essek and Caleb are volcanologists. Absolutely bonkers genre mashup of scifi disaster thriller ghost story romance that somehow works. There is a MCD warning but it is also tagged as Happy Ending and that does come through!

Reccer says: The writing style is like watching a movie and it made me cry both sad and happy tears.

Starting with your heart (bright heart) by 2manyboys (9914, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek and Caleb have been taking showers together, but it's totally platonic, they swear

Reccer says: I liked it!

scene: a shift in tempo by hanap (6790, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek, first soloist of Rosohna Ballet, comes across the mountains in an exchange to be Caleb's new partner.

Reccer says: A beautiful fic! I love the way the AU fits our characters so beautifully, and how it honors ballet while also subverting it just a little. Gorgeous!

A King in Cat's Clothes by royalgreen (1544, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Frumpkin is extremely suspicious of this interloper Essek who keeps visiting Frumpkin's domain (the cat cafe) and sniffing around Frumpkin's human

Reccer says: Frumpkin's POV is utterly hilarious. He is so angry that Essek is sweetly romancing Caleb.

read between the lines (everything is gradual) by SpottedEnchanse (SpottedEnchants) (3047, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

A series in which Caleb owns a cat cafe. It's amazing.

Reccer says: SpottedEnchanse's writing can do literally no wrong ever. It's like flossing for the brain

the golden thread around your neck whispered visions of my undoing by MarsBar2019 (191412, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek is the CEO of an arcane tech company in Roshona where Caleb gets a job as his personal assistant.

Reccer says: A tense slow burn that's sexy as hell, one of my favourite fics.

Sleep, With Benefits by KmacKatie (62272, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb tries out his coworkers' mattress. That's definitely all and not that he has a major crush on Essek.

Reccer says: I liked it!

take chances by 06151126 (3021, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek left Formula One and came back, but his return isn't going well. He hires Caleb to help.

Reccer says: This is the second work in a series, and the whole thing is wonderful! Well written and honest, it's very cool to see how Essek and Caleb come together over the course.

Empire of Lights by mllekurtz (TheKnittingJedi) (17215, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Rosohnans call it the rainy season: a time of humid days, heavy showers, and suffocating heat. Caleb, who feels less and less like a stranger in the city he recently decided to call home, finds it's also a time for revelations.

Reccer says: This is a fantastic, sweet AU of our wizards getting together and I love it.

A mile high by Mousecookie (545, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Caleb and Essek (try to) get frisky in an airplane lavatory.

Reccer says: It's cute and funny.

The Kitchen Sink by mousecookie (17126, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek is a supermodel and Caleb is a jack-of-all-trades, and they keep meeting in increasingly unlikely circumstances. WIP with 6/12 chapters.

Reccer says: It's funny and the writing style is almost Pratchett-esque at times

The following fics each received 2 recs each!

Something to Believe in by AwesomeFroggy (108948, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek's mother sends him to Nicodranas as punishment, where unbeknownst to her he already has a friend. Jester thinks he'd really get along with her friend Caleb.

Reccer 1 says: I liked it! Reccer 2 says: This is an amazing incredible story! I love it so very much! The story is complete, though it is marked as one chapter left as no epilogue is out. Don't let that stop you from reading! I love every single second of this story so very much.

I’ve been lost before (and I’m lost again, I guess) by toneofjoy (165k, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Rock climbing AU! Caleb is the new athlete to the gym and Essek takes over his training. Despite the specter of their pasts, feelings blossom.

Reccer 1 says: It's well written, most of the esoteric climbing stuff is explained well, and I really enjoy their characterizations. There's a good balance between the relationship-building and the climbing part. Reccer 2 says: This is top three Shadowgast stories ever. It's a wild, beautiful, heartfelt ride. It's worth every second of time it takes to read. Also, this will make you want to take up climbing or at least start watching climbing. It's so well written and enjoyable. Everyone should at least give it a try!

The Secret Romance of Caleb Widogast by Cardinal_Daughter (15680, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

All Caleb wants is a peaceful, romantic weekend alone with his boyfriend. The boyfriend none of his friends know about. Naturally, nothing goes quite as planned.

Reccer 1 says: a sweet and silly story where we get a glimpse of the absolute chaos of a M9 group chat Reccer 2 says: A fantastic AU with a brilliant sequel. I love it!

coping skills by eldritchmochi (251061, Explicit) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

BDSM fic for a disabled Essek and the trials he experiences

Reccer 1 says: There is so much good about this WIP! The depiction of both Essek’s disabilities and the kink community are so well done, and the characterization is super fun. Well written and super hot. Reccer 2 says: This is one of the best long fits out there for a modern prompt. It is an absolutely wonderful story, heartfelt and meaningful, and the characters have so much depth. And I'm a sucker for a well written chronic illness/chronic pain Essek, and this one is so realistic it walks the line to uncanny. I love this!

Aeor is for Lovers is an 18+ Shadowgast Discord server. The above fanfic recommendations were pulled from our community for this weekly event. All fics, unless otherwise specified, will primarily feature Shadowgast. Have any questions about what this is? Check out the FAQ! Next week, we’ll be back with WIPS

[lizardsfromspace]

MONSTER MONDAYS #4: BATTLE IN OUTER SPACE and MOTHRA

I’m watching every Godzilla and Godzilla-adjacent film, from the original to 2004’s Final Wars. This week: the last week of our Godzilla drought, but who cares there's Mothra

Battle In Outer Space

1959 - directed by Ishirō Honda - dubbed

Battle in Outer Space is a quasi-sequel to The Mysterians, in that it's a similar type of science fiction, has a similar "the Earth comes together" theme, and a few characters have the same names as ones in The Mysterians, though they're not played by the same actors.

But while The Mysterians had a breakneck first act - disappearing village! GIANT ROBOT! ALIENS STEALING OUR BABES! - Battle in Outer Space is slow to start, with about thirty minutes of UN hearings and one chase of a man possessed by aliens before anything really happens.

While the Mysterians were mutants in colorful helmets who wanted to mate with our human women, the aliens in this one stay mostly off-screen, appearing only once outside their ships (and they're weird little guys - no giant monsters in this one). Besides a gimmick for mind control, they don't really have an identity beyond wanting to conquer Earth, and flying in flying saucers.

(I did watch the dub, but I'm assured that it has only minimal changes, unlike most Toho dubs of the time)

But the special effects in this one are amazing. The great Eiji Tsuburaya makes some of film's first space battles; dogfights with flying saucers on the moon in moon-cars floating with air & space fighters versus flying saucers in space, in very proto-Star Wars scenes, plus some of our first international landmark destruction (New York City and the Golden Gate Bridge get got by some space torpedoes). It's honestly some of the best effects yet. Also, this happens

Battle in Outer Space is pretty thin & I prefer The Mysterians but Tsuburaya's work is great. 🛸🛸🛸

Mothra

1961 - directed by Ishirō Honda - subbed

Yeah it's Tuesday what are you gonna do?

The best Toho kaiju movie since Godzilla '54 goes in a wildly different direction - namely, by being completely fantastical, a trip to a classic lost world of an island complete with blood-sucking plants and enigmatic natives.

And, of course, the tiny fairies. Within minutes of their discovery, Clark Nelson - a wealthy man from Rolisica, a country whose name is a portmanteau of America and Russia, but is mostly America - is picking them up and saying he might sell them to a film producer. What can you say but yikes. The journalists & scientists agree to hide the existence of the fairies to protect them from nuclear testing & exploitation; Nelson returns to the island with a gun, shoots everyone, and takes them by force. I'm starting to think greed is bad

The human plot makes up the bulk of Mothra, and it's a good one, with a likable journalist protagonist (Frankie Sakai), but it's driven by the wild ass greed of Nelson (Jerry Ito), who immediately puts on a show with the Shobijin; in one nice shot, we see their show, dances against fake backdrops of the sea & nature, superimposed over the larval Mothra storming across the ocean. They sing a song to Mothra, and few comprehend the degree to which this means everyone present is fucked; a sense deepened when they talk to the fairies, and they keep saying it doesn't matter if they're released, because Mothra will deal with everyone, and they should really just run.

Mothra is single-minded about rescuing the Shobijin in this one, crushing anything in her way without any heed, making a cocoon and emerging from her larval form as Mothra proper for the last 20 minutes of the film. And Mothra just gets to leave. She isn't defeated by a new weapon, or by another monster; humans engage in her rituals to get her to return home in peace. Mothra wins.

Queen shit. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

List update:

Next Week: I heard that in America we're watching King Kong vs Godzilla, but in Japan we're watching Gorath

[toughtink]

anime/manga i really enjoyed in 2024:

i wanted to do some kind of end of year recap because i really got back into watching anime and reading manga this year and last!! here's some of what i loved~

~dungeon meshi~

action, adventure, cooking show, and necromancy! i honestly thought the premise of “classic dnd style adventure party kills monsters and cooks them into iron chef-worthy dishes” sounded boring and that it’d get old fast, but it was actually a fun way to do world building!! and they change things up just as the episodic nature of the monster food starts to feel too repetitive, unlocking waay more depth than i ever expected for this story! find your inner senshi to treat yourself to something delicious and nutritious, your inner chilchuck to know your own value at work, and your inner marcille to remember that “forbidden” is really just a strong word for “super cool” when applied to magic.

the manga is complete (english box set available + there’s an extra companion book about the world you can get!), and the current anime has season 1 out in full which gets about halfway through the story. it’s become well known in fandom spaces for having a main character who is often read as autistic and has a relationship between two women central to the storyline. though it’s not explicitly made romantic, it’s easy to read it that way. it should be noted that this is not a romantic series, but the (platonic) relationship building is superb. warning that this show can be violent at times and they don’t shy away from bones and flesh, but it's not so much a gratuitous gore fest as mostly just informative, tbh.

~apothecary diaries~

half historical drama, half episodic mystery show—and then there’s the slow burn romance…like really slow burn…like i binged the anime and then the manga and now i’m wondering if i gotta get my hands on the light novel. maomao is a fantastic lead character, and i honestly can’t get enough of her dry wit.

the light novel series, manga, and anime are all ongoing. the storytelling is often goofy but also has many more somber moments as it does deal with serious themes such as sexual exploitation, child loss, and extreme power imbalances due to the hierarchy of the palace. for example, the main character grew up in a brothel and is kidnapped and sold into servitude right at the beginning of the story; the plot revolves around her job in the inner palace where all of the emperor’s concubines live and try to give him heirs. it’s based on imperial china, but technically its own world.

~skip & loafer~

i haven’t fallen so hard for a slice of life since…ever? the plot is kind of meandering, but we're here for the sweet and slow growth of friendships and romance in adolescence! the first season of this anime technically aired entirely in 2023, but i've been keeping up with the manga and loving every second.

the main character is a small town girl moving to tokyo for high school with big dreams to return and save her dying town. she lives with her glamorous aunt nao (who we later learn is trans and has some of THE best writing i've ever seen in manga for a trans character) and slowly builds a group of great friends, including the school's "popular" boy. it's about first impressions and assumptions and the awkwardness of growing up. the creator has an ethos that treats every character as fully rounded, no one is just a side character. it's hard to pin down what exactly i love about this series so much, but it's sweet and earnest and made me feel both nostalgic and also more compassionate to who i was as a teenager--as well as all the other teens around me just trying their best to get through it all. it's just lovely and calming, and i highly recommend getting your hands on the manga while we wait for the second season of the anime!

~dandadan~

this anime landed on the radar of my husband and me around the same time but separately—he thought it was a supernatural horror series, and i thought it must be a romantic comedy based purely on fanart. turns out, we were both right! it's chock full of references to classic horror and sci fi with a teen romance b-plot and an outrageous sense of humor. no really, i've seen way more outrage about this one than i ever expected. i'd compare it's energy and level of ridiculousness to kill la kill, maybe less kinky but definitely still raunchy!

the plot revolves around two teens who have run afoul of both their local ghosts/yokai and space aliens who want to use/collect human reproductive organs. i've seen multiple people shocked by the creepiness of the aliens strapping down and stripping the main female character in the first episode, so here's your warning! the MCs unlock their own supernatural powers to fight back the baddies, but our male main character realizes he needs to get back his own genitalia which becomes the main plot. like i said: raunchy! outrageous! maybe not for everyone! the creator is pretty clearly just throwing whatever sounds fun as the next monster of the week for the crew to face up against rather than agonizing over drama or anything, which is sort of refreshing to see. this series certainly gets creepy at times but never grotesque, at least not to me (i feel like i have a relatively low tolerance for grossness?). it's honestly been shockingly fun and goofy, and the friendship and blossoming romance between momo and okarun is very, very sweet. that said, it may not be for you if yokai stealing balls isn't a premise you can get on board with.