#Hoffmann you are amazing

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Out December 2023 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose 🧡 Heartstopper #5 by Alice Oseman 💛 This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede 💚 All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows 💙 Vampires of Eden: Book One by Karla Nikole 💜 Not My Type by Joe Satoria ❤️ Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck 🧡 Eternal Embrace by Luna Lawson 💛 A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford 💙 Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney 💜 Through the Embers Volume 2 by Adriana Sargent 🌈 Lucero by Maya Motayne

❤️ The Poison Paradox by Hadley Field & Felix Green 🧡 Second Chances in New Port Stephen: A Novel by TJ Alexander 💛 Matrimonial Merriment by Nicky James 💚 Under the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Ramsden 💙 Every Beat of Her Heart by KC Richardson 💜 The Memories of Marlie Rose by Morgan Lee Miller ❤️ Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers 🧡 Always Only You by Chloe Liese 💛 Fire in the Sky by Radclyffe and Julie Cannon 💙 Nuclear Sunrise by Jo Carthage 💜 The Naked Dancer by Emme C. Taylor 🌈 Resurrections by Ada Hoffmann

❤️ Destiny’s Women by Morgan Elliott 🧡 Framed by Kate Merrill 💛 The Spoil of Beasts by Gregory Ashe 💚 Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert 💙 A Cynic’s Christmas Conundrum by L.M. Bennett 💜 Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn ❤️ One Swipe Away by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue 🧡 The Gentlemen’s Club by A.V. Shener 💛 A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold 💙 Secrets of the Soul by Holly Oliver 💜 Like They Do in the Movies by Nan Campbell 🌈 Limelight by Gun Brooke

❤️ Heart First by S.B. Barnes 🧡 Grave Consequences by Sandra Barret 💛 Haunted by Myth by Barbara Ann Wright 💚 Invisible by Anna Larner 💙 The Murders at Sugar Mill Farm by Ronica Black 💜 Coasting and Crashing by Ana Hartnett ❤️ Fairest by K.S. Trenten 🧡 A City of Abundant Opportunity by Howard Leonard 💛 The Dark Side of MIdnight by Erin Wade 💙 Mending Bones by Merlina Garance 💜 Transform by Connal Braginsky & Sean Ian O’Meidhir 🌈 The Apple Diary by Gerri Hill

❤️ TruLove by Nicole Pyland 🧡 Structural Support by Sloan Spencer 💛 Whiskey War by Stacy Lynn Miller 💚 Overkill by Lou Wilham 💙 Heart of Outcasts by Nicole Silver 💜 In the Shadow of Victory by J. E. Leak ❤️ Just Like Her by Fiona Zedde 🧡 Gingerbread: Claus For Christmas by Miski Harris 💛 Lies are Forever by C. Jean Downer 💙 The Boys in the Club by M.T. Pope 💜 Lasting Light (Metal & Magic) by Michelle Frost 🌈 Tell No Tales by Edie Montreux

❤️ Radio Silence by Alice Oseman 🧡 Even Though We're Adults Vol. 7 by Takako Shimura 💛 The Accidental Bite by Michelle St. Wolf 💚 Mated to the Demons by Taylor Schafer 💙 Someday Away by Sara Elisabeth 💜 Gatherdawn Luminia Duet Volume 1 by Lee Colgin ❤️ Curse of Dawn by Richard Amos 🧡 Healing the Twin by Nora Phoenix 💛 Ride Me by KD Ellis 💙 How to Bang a Vampire by Joe Satoria 💜 Cthulhu for Christmas by Meghan Maslow 🌈 Prestige by Toni Reeb

❤️ Don't Look Down by Jessica Ann 🧡 Winter and the Wolves by Chris Storm and Kinkaid Knight 💛 Hat Trick by Ajay Daniel 💚 Starborn Husbands: Return to the Pleiades by S. Legend 💙 Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume by Vawn Cassidy 💜 Practice for Toby by Amy Bellows ❤️ The Siren's Song by Crista Crown 🧡 Hers to Hunt K.J. Devoir

[grace--le--domas]

Mission Impossible Rant ? Part 1

had a breakdown and watched all 7 (seven) Mission Impossible movies over the course of *checks watch* three days? Read more for an unhinged rant. Or scroll away. Don't care either way cause life is pointless etc etc

MI:1 - The beginning. The oldest of the bunch. And just like all elder siblings, this one's stoic as hell. Ethan Hunt is introduced to us as this charismatic, cocky agent, out for chaos. Movie looks like it's going to be yet another generic action thriller. Except- his entire team dies (Well, not all of them- more like most of them). Thus begins a noir drama of sorts and honestly? It still holds up. It is paced perfectly, has those late 90s over-the-top action sequences and is a good time all around.

2. MI:2- So, this is where it gets interesting. For some background trivia, let me tell you why this movie's existence is interesting as hell. Up until MI:2, Tom Cruise has never participated in a sequel. People were wondering if he ever would, and sure enough we soon got MI:2 . MI:2 can be best described as a Woo- fever dream of sorts. The only things I can remember now are Thandiwe Newton, pigeons (and doves?) and a cliff climbing. It is the weakest of the bunch in my opinion.

3. MI:3- Lack of critical reception to MI:2 led to a change in directors. Tom Cruise ends up watching Alias and falls deeply in love with JJ Abrahms. JJ has a whole new aesthetic for the franchise. And action!

The entire ending of MI:2 is forgotten. No, seriously, this one begins with Ethan's engagement party to a random girl. He has taken a step back from spying, and is just chilling about- mostly teaching the craft to other agents. Keri Russel is one such agent, and when she gets kidnapped, Hunt springs into action. Russel is killed (wasted Keri Russel imo- go watch The Americans) , Hunt gets married, his wife gets kidnapped and nearly killed- this one's a doozy. Philip Seymour Hoffmann (RIP) is exemplary as a villain though.

Another highlight is Benjamin "Benji" Dunn. More on this later.

4. MI- Ghost Protocol- Keeping in with the let's- get- a- new-director- tradition, this one has Brad Bird at its helm. Bird hasn't directed any live action movies at this point, but he does have more than a decade's experience with animated material (The Incredibles, Ratatouille).

Honestly, this is my absolute favourite of the bunch. This film has everything- the iconic Burg Khalifa sequence, great dialogue, AMAZING pacing. The supporting cast have this incredible chemistry with each other. And this one has humour too! (most of the credit due to Benji, played by Simon Pegg).

Absolutely everything goes wrong in this movie and that's why it slaps. The tension is palpable in almost all scene. This movie is the one that revitalizes the franchise. It only gets better from here.

[torontophantom]

The Phantom of the Opera - 35th Anniversary Live on Broadway

Not usually one to post this sort of thing, but considering the historical significance I couldn’t not. Please enjoy.

The Phantom of the Opera - 35th Anniversary Live on Broadway January 26, 2023 - The Majestic Theatre New York City

Download

Cast: Ben Crawford (The Phantom of the Opera), Emilie Kouatchou (Christine Daaé), Paul A. Schaefer (u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny), Raquel Suarez Groen (Carlotta Giudicelli), Craig Bennett (Monsieur Firmin), Nehal Joshi (Monsieur André), Maree Johnson (Madame Giry), Carlton Moe (Ubaldo Piangi), Sara Esty (Meg Giry), Carrington Vilmont (Auctioneer), Jim Weitzer (Monsieur Reyer/Hairdresser), Tug Watson (u/s Jeweler), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur Lefèvre/Firechief), David Michael Garry (Joseph Buquet/Don Attilio), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino), Kfir (Hannibal Solo Dancer), Weston Krukow (u/s Il Muto Solo Dancer), Kanisha Marie Feliciano (Page), Chris Georgetti (Porter/Fireman), Trista Moldovan (Spanish Lady), Satomi Hoffmann (Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante), Elizabeth Welch (Hannibal Princess), Kelly Jeanne Grant (Madame Firmin), Janet Saia (u/s Innkeeper's Wife), Jason Forbach (e/c Marksman)

Notes: Recorded from the Front Mez. The person beside me was enjoying some theatre snacks throughout the show, so apologies for any disturbances as a result of this. I also missed the very beginning of the Entr'acte, but there's a few other masters out there should you want to do an insert. Includes the full speeches during curtain call (including the boos when they mention the closing), and the shout out to the swings. We missed you Greg!

Truly a magical night, with absolutely amazing energy. As others have said, Emilie's "Wishing..." might be the best I've ever seen.

And to the guy outside the theatre with the sign asking for an extra Playbill, who I graciously gave my extra to, only to then notice him tuck it into his jacket and continue to stand there gathering more of the limited edition Playbills: the Opera Ghost is not pleased...

- O.G.

(•}•)

[derwahnsinn]

31 Days Idol Challenge - Oliver Riedel

Day 10 - Favourite Look in a Group Photo

When I made this challenge before this year's tour, I was not sure which photo I would go for. As soon as this Adieu photo by Jens Koch was published, it became easy.

Of course, it is separate shots put together, but it's still presented as a group photo - and Oliver looks fabulous. I like how he has a prominent placement, how his posture and facial expression is so different from how we normally see him in photos, and how he looks hands on and ready to go. It totally fits the character he had in the Adieu music video, where he totally rocked that mini-gun.

Seeing this photo blown up and used for Rammstein's merch booths this tour, was amazing. The details were mind-blowing. I actually took photos of one of those banners, and while my angle and lighting was not perfect, I have tried to adjust the colour balance and aspect to resemble the original. The spots on the photo are spots that were on the actual banner I photographed.

Since this photo is photoshopped and not accurate, please do not circulate it. I put a disclaimer on it as well, so no one will think of it as the original photo. While it is not perfect, it does show a little bit of the crazy detail in this fantastic photo.

Bonus material: 1) Dreamy young Oliver with hair, by Fritz Brinckmann 1995. 2) Pile of Rammstein where Oliver has more hair than Schneider, by Joachim Gern 1995. 3) Barefoot Oliver front and centre, by Jan Hinrich Hoffmann 1995. 4) Photo where you can really see that Oliver is younger than the rest of Rammstein, by Frank Lothar Lange 1997. 5) Oliver and Richard sharing a moment, by Ross Halfin 2001. 6) Shaved Oliver with glasses, by Olaf Heine 2004. 7) The Rosenrot photoshoot, by Kasskara Agentur (Mat Hennek and Felix Broede), 2005. Oliver looked confident and proud, perhaps because the band was dressed up by his wife? 8) The German Conference, Sonoma 2008, by Olaf Heine. I like how the others are listening to Oliver (well, apart from Richard, who is posing for the camera). 9) In LIFAD costume, by Paul Harries 2010. This was a really good look for Oliver. 10) Oliver in his element, by Frédéric Batier for Mein Land 2011. 11) Smiling Oliver on the photo shoot for the Untitled album, photo by Jes Larsen 2019.

--

Others doing this challenge:

Till: @endlich-allein Flake: @anwiel13

[layaart]

Sorry/not sorry for spam reblogging (to my angrycryptic account) but you have the most amazing taste in sapphic books!!! And your art for the characters is so perfect. I'm making a list of books I didn't recognize from your fanart tag bc I need to read them all ASAP.

Do you have a top ten list?

Hi, thank you!!! idk why I never got a notification for this but I just happened to find it in my ask box now, lmao, sorry

tbh if you want me to make a top 10 book list of anything you need to be a little more specific than that because i don't think i can narrow down 500+ sapphic books into a top 10 LMAO. also if you want book recs my book blog is @aroaessidhe!!!

but heres a random list of the first 10 good sapphic books that came to mind:

the space between worlds by micaiah johnson

sorrowland by rivers solomon

girl serpent thorn by melissa bashardoust

the unspoken name by ak larkwood

the misadventures of an amateaur naturalist

the scapegracersb y h a clarke

a half-built garden by ruthanna emrys

extasia by clare legrand

the outside by ada hoffmann

this is how you lose the time war by amal el-mohtar and max gladstone

[monotonous-minutia]

Not a question, but just wanted to say an extreme thank you for your detailed summary of Hoffmann! As the 2024 last minute replacement for Nicklausse it explained so much and helped me be WAY less confused about what I need to learn. Thank you so much for taking the time to write that up because it's literally saving my life!

omg I'm so happy to hear that!! I love this opera so much so it is great to hear my nerding out has helped someone. I hope your experience with this role is amazing!

[suchamiracle-does-exist]

1, 2, 5 and 11 for the tea and book ask game, please. 😉🩷

Thanks @missholson for participating!

Tea and Books Asks: 1. What period of history do you enjoy learning about? Definitely WW2 and Cold War. It started when I saw Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) based on John Le Carre's novel. I was dazzled by the way the film presented the spy world and the time period in Britain, when there was no clear good West and evil East. I started reading Le Carre's books and then a German Deutschland '83 tv show was running on tv and there came more German shows about WW2, post war period and DDR. I was mesmerized by the German perspective and their critical way of telling stories.

2. Who is your favourite fictional character and why? I can feel the 🥴 behind this question. Marius De Romanus from Anne Rice vampire novels is the answer. I just feel sympathy for his struggles as a perfectionist to do things right and to fail badly. 5. Do you have a favourite film soundtrack? I have several favourite film soundtracks and as I chose in Favorite Movie Meme -post La Cauge aux Folles (1978) by Ennio Morricone is quite perfect. Giallo soundtracks in general are amazing. 11. What character archetype or trope is your favourite? Nasty choices Miss Holson. We discussed about this after @faisonsunreve answers, because this is a though question. The good and the silent ones who doesn't make a big number about themselves (Klaus Hoffmann in Das Boot). The evil ones who have feelings like infatuation (Conrad Veidt in I Was A Spy) or caring (my childhood crush Darth Vader 😂). And the antiheros who pretends to be good but acts badly (Henry Lloyd Hughes in Indian Summers).

[highflyartist]

Welp-

I am in tears.

I am actually crying-

Wanna know why?

CUZ OF THE NEW SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK I BOUGHT!!

--

Clara & The Nutcracker is supposedly a sequel to the og story written by @kaleidraws

This is the second self-published book I bought; the first one being Hidden Flames by ToonyFando

I heard about it and I wanted to read it so badly, but it cost a lot of money. So I waited and waited AND WAITED and then my grandma gave me a digital amazon gift card with 50 bucks.

So I did the thing I always wanted to do. I bought the book. It arrived today and it took me 2 hours to read this thing and let me tell you-

IT WAS WORTH IT!!

--

I loved the hell out of this story and I freaking couldn't stop going back to each chapter, wondering "OMFG did he/she really do that?!"

I was so into the story that even though I had set goals to take a break after a couple chapters, I just couldn't stop reading! My curiosity peaked at its highest!

The story plot, the characters, like all of this stuff that happened 20 years later after the og story was mindblowing!

As usual, I won't give out spoilers but if you want a book that reminds you of the classic tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann along with more adventure and exciting and heart-wrenching moments that happened, I recommend this book cuz holy shit!

✨I LOVED IT✨

--

If you wanna buy a paperback copy (like I did), they're on sale on Amazon:

If you want the Ebook Version, it's on Amazon Kindle. (Surprisingly, it's free on Kindle-)

--

OVERALL REVIEW SCORE OF CLARA & THE NUTCRACKER:

10 out of 5 Stars

Cuz I loved this story to heck! This is just amazing! (God makes me wanna draw more fanart of this story)

--

Clara & The Nutcracker was written by @kaleidraws

*Disclaimer: This review is my personal opinion only.

[emabatis]

so here's a fun oddity

I found this poem, "Post-Mortem" by Richard Hoffmann, in my 1934 edition of "Poetry, Its Appreciation and Enjoyment." I can't find it anywhere online, and can't find any leads on the poet other than a psychiatrist with the same name born in the same year. It could very well be him, but given that it's a common name and I can't compare death years, it's still a bit of a mystery.

There's probably so many poems in this book that are similarly undocumented, but I noticed this one because the page it was on was bookmarked.

Transcription under the readmore:

Post-Mortem

When I shall answer Charon's call

They'll find I have no heart at all;

At my post-mortem they will say,

"He must have given it away."

When you are freed from worldly woes

What will your autopsy disclose?

Pathologists amazed shall be-

Two hearts instead of one they'll see.

And wonder shall on wonder fall;

This miracle will not be all-

For of the two hearts in your breast

There'll be but one shall be at rest.

-Richard Hoffmann (1887- )

[youre-ackermine]

Hey Val! Since we are new moots and I don't know you that we'll, I thought that I would ask you a few questions (obv if you don't mind) bc I want to get to know you better. ( if you feel uncomfortable and don't want to answer some questions that's totally fine!) :))❤️

Do you have any pets?

What's your favorite genre of music?

Favorite place you have ever visited?

What's your favorite color?

What's your favorite animal?

What's your favorite book? (if you have one)

Your top three aot characters are?

Hey Klara !

Thanks for sending me an ask, it's a nice surprise !

Speaking of moots, last month has been crazy since I had 39 followers in november & 110 now ! I can't explain what happened though, trying to figure out how people follow me in the first place lmao

* Pets : three cats (one for each member of the family - same litter)

Mine is called Morphée ; I saved him from starvation & his green eyes say "thank you mummy" when he looks at me. Long-haired grey & white, huge. Also my child's is Onyx, huge, long-haired, black with yellow eyes & vampire fangs also called "le doux matou". My waifu's is Macha, short-haired, mostly white with brown & grey spots, she's thinner.

* Music : goth, metal, but I recently broaded my musical horizons ( link to spotify playlists for those interested ; I also have a Levi playlist + a Levihan playlist) & I'll be glad to get new suggestions !

* The most breathtaking place I've ever visited is Stonehenge (except for the crowd tbh). My heathen heart was filled with joy (we "celebrate" Alban Arthan / Jul & Litha with my husband). The site is amazing ; I was speechless

* Favorite color : black (also dark red & dark purple)

*Favorite animal : cats & big cats 🐯

*Favorite book : this one is too difficult, so I'll cheat ! I read A LOT, but I have favorite authors.

French : Maupassant, Baudelaire, Lautréamont, Villiers de l'Isle Adam, Verlaine, Albert Camus & contemporary author/director Philippe Claudel - I highly recommend the last.

Also Pablo Neruda, Franz Kafka, Edgar A. Poe, Oscar Wilde, Hoffmann, Paulo Coehlo.

*My top 3 AOT characters : no surprise, even when you barely know me, Levi, Hange & Erwin 💚💜💙

I'm sorry, this is a very long reply !! I got carried away 😳

I'll be more than happy if you could answer the same questions yourself ! I'd like to know you better as well 😉

Thanks again for your ask & take care of yourself Klara 💖

[dweetwise]

[Riconti] Performance anxiety

Happy (late) Valentine's day! To celebrate, I bring you an awkward first time fic ❤️ Rated M | Light smut 3.2k words | ao3 link

The atmosphere in the car was filled with anticipation. 

Felix tore his eyes away from the nightly Coburg streets to glance at the passenger seat, where Ace was toying with the cuff of his blazer. Upon catching Felix's eye, he gave a secretive smile, eyes glinting with promise.

They were driving home from one of Felix's company parties. It had been simultaneously nerve-wracking and exciting to publicly introduce Ace as his partner to Lauren and the other people he worked with, but the evening had been a raging success. There had been laughs and easy chatter over dinner, some good-natured teasing on Felix's behalf, and even an impromptu dance battle when—after Felix's stubborn refusal to dance to 90's pop music sober—Ace had instead dragged Lauren onto the dance floor.

Throughout the night, Felix's fingers had itched for something stronger than water. But after the half a shot of whiskey he'd had at home—just to soothe the nerves—Felix had managed to ignore the urge since he'd promised Ace he was going to drive them home tonight.

And it didn't escape Felix's notice that Ace had avoided drinking as well. He'd asked for alcohol-free champagne at the welcome toast and only had soda for the rest of the night. Every time Felix gave him a questioning look, Ace had only winked conspiratorially.

The not-so-subtle flirting was only emphasized by the fact that Ace had chosen to wear an outfit that had If lost, return to Felix written all over it. The stylish blazer and dark gray slacks Felix had purchased for him weeks earlier, but the turquoise dress shirt he'd raided straight from Felix's closet and—in Felix's humble opinion—it looked a hundred times better on Ace's tan complexion. It still did something absolutely stupid to Felix's smitten heart to see Ace wearing his clothes; desire curled low in his belly and as much as he enjoyed spending time with Lauren and their colleagues, Felix couldn't wait to go home with Ace.

And from the way Ace hadn't even attempted to hide the way his eyes lingered on Felix and how he kept finding excuses to touch him all night, neither could Ace.

So when they finally arrived at the Richter manor, Felix supposed it was only natural that they instantly collided into a passionate kiss as soon as the front door closed behind them.

Ace's mouth was hot under Felix's lips, both of them groaning into the kiss before Ace tugged Felix further into the house.

"Please," Ace said, his eyes half-lidded. "Please tell me this is going where I think it's going."

Felix could relate wholeheartedly. Ace had spent the majority of these three weeks following Felix's cousin's wedding in Germany, and it had been nothing short of amazing. Even when Felix returned to work and there were no more extravagant wedding activities like the week they got together, they'd managed to slot into each other's lives just right.

Somewhere in between waking up next to each other every day, of showing Ace around Coburg, of curling up on the couch together to watch Felix's favorite German movies or swear at one of Ace's online poker opponents, Felix had fallen harder than he ever had in his life.

Yet, with all the kissing and confessed feelings and everyday intimacy, they'd never gone further than that one night of clothed petting in the Hoffmann estate. And though Felix was glad they had waited, he was also glad that the wait was over.

"Yes,'' Felix said, breathless from anticipation. "God, yes, I want this."

Ace's smiling lips crashed against Felix's and eager hands pulled him towards the staircase.

—

In just a few minutes, Felix had Ace naked under him in the king-sized bed. Ace was smirking, eyes wild and his face flushed, before pulling Felix on top of him and into another kiss.

And Felix knew that this was worth waiting for.

Felix felt bold enough to deepen the kiss, teasing his tongue against Ace's. The action earned him a filthy, open-mouthed moan and then Ace's hands were all over him, running over Felix's shoulders and back.

It was so much like that time, after Vanessa's wedding: him and Ace pawing at each other in the tacky guest room, everything a blur of heat and want.

Except this time, Felix had no idea how to proceed.

Doubt nagged at the back of Felix's mind and washed over him in a cold wave. Now that he had Ace exactly where he'd wanted to for so long—naked and panting with arousal—he realized he'd never planned further ahead than this.

Felix had never been with a man before, and certainly not with anyone like Ace. He hadn't expected that to be a problem, as Ace knew full well his lack of experience in this area; yet their position clearly left it up to Felix to set the pace for tonight.

Missionary wasn't something Felix particularly enjoyed. He couldn't even touch Ace in this position, lest he want to squash him under his weight. He settled for kissing Ace some more and awkwardly petting his bicep—the only thing he could reach with his arms still supporting himself.

Ace pulled away with a hum and started nipping at Felix's neck, his hands getting bolder and one dropping down to squeeze Felix's ass.

And Felix just stayed in place, cluelessly hovering above Ace. Of course Ace would get bored of just kissing. They were supposed to be having sex, after all—something Felix had been fantasizing about nearly every single day, but that now felt impossibly daunting. 

Felix would never measure up to Ace's past partners. They were all probably confident and expert lovers, who know exactly how to please a man and could sweep Ace off his feet—

Ace let out a quiet moan and his hips bucked up against Felix's, his hardness rubbing wetly against Felix's hip. Unfortunately, the skin-on-skin contact gave Felix the mortifying realization that because of all the self-doubt and overthinking, he'd completely failed to get erect.

Ace didn't seem to notice Felix's length hanging uselessly flaccid between them. If anything, grinding against Felix only spurred him on, and he sucked at Felix's neck before his hand snaked down Felix's stomach towards his groin—

And Felix panicked.

He grabbed Ace's hand and yanked it away. Ace made a questioning noise, leaning back against the pillow to meet Felix's eyes. Despite his obvious arousal, there was clear concern on Ace's face; he was always so much more patient than Felix deserved, and now Felix couldn't even give him this—

"I'm sorry." Felix's voice cracked. "I can't—I'm not…"

He swallowed what would otherwise have been a pathetic sob.

"Hey," Ace said. His erection twitched against Felix's leg and that definitely didn’t help. "What's up?"

Nothing, and that's the problem! Felix wanted to scream.

Instead he steeled himself and sat back on his haunches, showing Ace the issue.

"I'm sorry," Felix repeated, looking away in shame as Ace's eyes trailed down his torso and found his useless dick. "I can't… perform."

Ace was silent for a few agonizing seconds, and that in itself was cause for concern. The situation must have been truly awful if even Ace couldn't manage to joke about it.

Felix already anticipated the look of offense and disappointment that would surely be clear in Ace's expression. When he finally dared to look, Ace was…

Smiling?

Ace's smile was easy and warm as he regarded Felix. "First time jitters, huh?" Ace asked.

How could Ace sound so casual about the issue, when Felix was ready to crawl out of his own skin from mortification?

"Yes," Felix said. "And I'm sorry, I promise it has nothing to do with you—"

"Oh, pfft, come on." Ace grinned and playfully nudged Felix's leg with his knee. "Do you know how many times I've had to give that speech? There's a reason I practically only had apple juice tonight, you know."

Felix frowned; Ace seemed to be implying that he was no stranger to this problem, yet…

"But…" Felix glanced at Ace's dick—which had deflated some, but still looked very much up for the task at hand.

"Yeah, well, I'm a horny old bastard with a very gorgeous man in bed with me." Ace smirked. "Even if Ace Jr. has gotten a little finicky in his old age, he's not gonna pass this up."

And Felix… didn't really know how to feel about that statement. Should he be relieved that Ace wasn't storming off? Feel even worse that Ace had obviously been looking forward to this? Or simply cringe at Ace talking about his penis like it was a person?

"It's okay, really," Ace said. "As someone with a dick who has enjoyed many other dicks in my lifetime, I know it happens. And I know that right now it feels like it's the end of the world, but it's really not a big deal."

And god, Felix wanted so desperately to believe him. "Okay," he said, lying down next to Ace and finally relaxing marginally. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, sugarpie." Ace winked and then leaned in for a kiss.

Felix signed into it and hesitantly brought up a hand to cup Ace's cheek. In return, Ace splayed a hand over Felix's chest and rubbed in slow circles.

"Can I still touch you down there? Or do something else for you?" Ace murmured. "If nothing happens, that's fine. I've just wanted to get my hands on you for so long and, well, this seems like a prime opportunity."

Felix swallowed as Ace kept caressing his upper body. He was asking so sweetly instead of pushing, but Felix had already made up his mind.

"No,'' Felix said, and disappointment flashed over Ace's features. "I'm sorry. It's not going to work—not tonight, there's too many thoughts and I just…"

Ace nodded and nuzzled affectionately against Felix's jaw. "That's okay."

Because Ace knew how bad Felix's worrying could get and for some reason, had still chosen to be with him.

"I know that I won’t be able to tonight, and I'll only feel worse if you try," Felix explained.

"Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks for telling me." Ace said, then seemed to perk up. "So, do you wanna call it a night? Maybe watch another episode of that stupid cake show you were pretending to hate?"

The smile Felix adored was back in full force as Ace beamed up at him, making Felix's heart throb with fondness. Ace truly was too good for him: always handling his irrational anxieties with compassion and gentle jokes. Ace also looked completely at home here in Felix's bed, with his kiss-swollen lips pulled up in a dorky smile and wholly unselfconscious by being completely nude next to Felix.

And as Felix's eyes roved over all the tanned skin and salt and pepper body hair, he could see why.

Ace was gorgeous.

The realization made Felix's cheeks feel hot and his fingers itched to touch. Throughout his internal panicking, Felix had managed to forget the most important thing—the reason why they were doing this in the first place. 

Because Felix wanted Ace; wanted to make him feel good.

When Felix told him as much, Ace honest to god blushed and his answering "Well then, I'm all yours" was breathless even as the smile never left his face.

—

Through some maneuvering into a position that worked for them both, Felix kissed his way down from Ace's lips to his stomach—and maybe took a little detour to Ace's nipples that, based on the sounds Ace made, was wholly welcome—until he was eye level with Ace's crotch.

Felix placed one last peck on Ace's hip to gather courage. Then, before he could chicken out, he hesitantly pressed his lips to Ace's erection.

It twitched under his touch and Ace let out a quiet groan of encouragement. That was a good start, but Felix needed him to know…

"I, ehm," Felix said. "I've never done this before."

Ace's smile was full of adoration even through his obvious lust.

"I know; it's okay," Ace said, and Felix almost believed him. "I'll give you some pointers, if you want?"

Felix couldn't have agreed faster. "Please."

—

Ace's advice proved to be an absolute lifesaver. 

After some hesitant touching and trying to recall the times someone had done this for him, Felix slowly got used to the motions of pleasuring someone this way. Soon enough, he was working his mouth over Ace, to the sounds of Ace guiding him while obviously enjoying himself.

“Mm, yeah—squeeze your lips a little tighter." Ace was panting, now, voice rough with pleasure. "You don’t have to go deep, just—oh, god, just like that. Fuck, that’s so good, baby.”

With the constant reassurance, Felix was able to relax and throw himself into the task headfirst. He'd always been good at following instructions and this was so much easier than having to figure out what Ace liked by himself.

Ace didn't seem to mind teaching him. Even once they got to the "Fuck, don't stop" part, a steady stream of pet names and praise kept rushing out from Ace's mouth, until he cut himself off with a groan and spilled into Felix's mouth.

And smiling around Ace's slowly softening dick, Felix finally felt like he'd done something right.

—

After a short cleanup of Ace's nether regions and Felix washing the unfamiliar taste out of his mouth, they settled under the covers together.

But even as Ace let out a happy sigh and sank into Felix's arms, Felix couldn't bring himself to fully relax.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't…" Felix trailed off, swallowing. "I promise I'll do better next time."

Please let there be a next time, please don't leave me because of this—

"Are you kidding me?" Ace said, pulling back in their embrace. 

Felix's heart briefly dropped, until he realized that Ace was grinning brightly.

“You—quite literally—blew my brains out in like two minutes. Are you sure that was your first blowjob?” Ace asked, incredulous.

Felix's face heated from the compliment and he offered a half-shrug. “I just did what you told me to. And—" He cleared his throat. "And I’ve seen some—ehm, movies.”

Ace smirked. "Oh, I bet you have. You're a visual learner, after all."

Felix huffed out a laugh even as his cheeks pinked. How Ace could even make pornography sound so casual was a mystery.

"I'm just glad you enjoyed yourself," Felix said.

"I enjoyed myself immensely," Ace said. "And from what I gathered, you just needed a little verbal encouragement."

Felix tensed. Was he really that obvious?

"It helps. Knowing what you want and what you… like," he admitted.

"Hey, nothing wrong with that," Ace said, gently brushing a lock of hair back from Felix's forehead. "I'm sorry I didn't pick up on it sooner. I've, uh, consciously had to dial down what I say during sex, over the years. Jury says I talk way too much in bed."

Ace looked sheepish at the confession, and Felix realized that maybe he wasn't the only one with insecurities. Come to think of it, that was probably why the whole thing had felt so weird earlier; Ace hadn't been talking his usual nonsense of a running commentary and sweet-slash-annoying pet names.

"Never," Felix promised. "You should never have to hold back with me. I wouldn't be with you if I didn't enjoy the constant talking."

Ace laughed at that, before smiling at Felix warm and bright. "Yeah? Not even if I start cracking jokes when I’m balls-deep down your throat?"

Felix smiled. "Just make sure I don’t laugh too much to choke."

Ace winked and leaned in for a peck. "I make no promises."

—

They stayed like that for quite some time, kissing and caressing each other in the warmth of the thick duvet and newfound intimacy, in no rush to get dressed or get ready for sleep.

Ace immediately started making good on their new agreement, murmuring endearments and "That was amazing, sweetheart, you're so good" between kisses. Felix practically melted; it was all so comfortable, enjoying the afterglow with the man he loved.

…Oh. Apparently a little too comfortable, according to a certain part of Felix's body.

Felix cleared his throat and averted his eyes. "Of course, now it decides to work," he muttered.

Ace blinked before peeking under the blanket and laughing. 

Because Felix was hard; his dick had finally gotten the memo, only a little too late.

"I'm sorry," Felix said. "I didn't mean to—"

"Shh," Ace said, kissing Felix's neck with a grin. "Does this mean you'll let me return the favor of that spectacular blowjob earlier?"

Felix hesitated. Some of the nervousness from before still lingered, but the arousal was quickly taking over. 

Felix nodded and stuttered out an "If—if you want to."

Wasting no time, Ace flung the blanket off the bed with a wide smile and kneeled down by Felix's legs. His eyes were bright with eagerness as he leisurely worked his mouth down Felix’s sweaty body, before parking his face right next to Felix's dick.

"Hey there, gorgeous," Ace said, wrapping a hand around Felix's erection to steady it. "A little shy, are we? Needed some time to come out of your shell?"

Felix snorted a surprised laugh. Ace talking to his dick should be ridiculous, but instead it made affection bloom in Felix's chest. If Ace felt comfortable enough with him to say silly things like that, then surely, nothing Felix could do would risk messing this up.

"I know I left you high and dry last time we met a few weeks ago." Ace grinned up at Felix over the head of his cock and then pumped up and down the shaft, making it harden even further. "Let me see if I can kiss it better." 

With that, Ace engulfed Felix’s waiting dick in his warm mouth. Felix let out a startlingly loud moan and immediately knew that this wouldn't take long.

—

Ace never broke eye contact while working his sinful mouth over Felix’s length so perfectly, and Felix was helpless to do anything but clutch the sheets and let out embarrassing whimpers of pleasure. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes before Felix was making a strangled noise and coming down Ace's throat faster than was probably acceptable of a man his age.

But when Ace pulled off his now softening dick—and then swallowed, dear god—both of them were smiling, and any shame on Felix’s part gave way for pure, giddy happiness. 

Because he knew that Ace wouldn't judge him; not for this, and not for anything else Felix did or didn't do in bed.

"Mm, sweetheart," Ace purred, laying his cheek on Felix’s hip. “That was so good. Thank you for letting me do that for you.”

All sorts of embarrassing emotions crawled up Felix's throat and threatened to spill out. Despite everything, this evening had been better than he could have dreamed of. 

He could only pull Ace up, hug him tight and whisper countless "Thank you"s between kisses on smiling lips.

As first times went, it might not have been what either of them had expected. But they were both happy and sated and—Felix felt bold enough to assume—more in love than ever.

And Felix really couldn't ask for anything more.

[flowercrown-bard]

4, 6, and 8 for the nano ask game🤗

thank you!

4. Any writing buddies?

yes! My incredibly talented and amazing partner is the one who explained to me what exactly NaNo is and how it works and they encouraged me to join by becoming my writing buddy :D i couldn't do it without them

6.What genre are you writing?

Fantasy (fae, magic, blood curses, blood rituals), political intrigue, lesbian romance, and i don't think it's a genre but fucked up family dynamics

8. Any inspirations?

Wellll the original inspiration for the worldbuilding and magic system comes from E. T. A. Hoffmann and secondary literature about the genre Schwarze Romantik (i think it's called 'dark romanticism' in English), specially the trope of stealing someone's shadow and/or reflection to steal their soul. But uhhh i pretty much scrapped most of that original idea yesterday. So now I'd say the biggest inspiration is @dhwty-writes. The way they talk about worldbuilding and their bravery to write the most fucked up characters (and the inclusion of blood rituals) is teaching me a lot about making my own world and characters less boring and going for a darker vibe than the fairy tale vibe i initially wanted

Nano ask game

[tiredela]

Summer reading/writing/art tag

I was tagged by the wonderful @orfeolookback! Here are the rules

1) Describe one creative WIP project you’re planning to work on over the summer.

I definitely want to work more on my TES oc's and give them the love and attention they deserve! And by that, I mean actually drawing them (again) and maaaybe also writing a thing or two about their adventures 👀 We'll see

2) Rec a book!

I haven't been able to actually sit down and really read any books in the last few months/years (I've been reading research papers instead), but I guess a few that I can recommend are Hoffmann's “The Sandman”, Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front”, and Chekhov's “The Cherry Orchard”!

3) Rec a fic!

As I've stated above, I haven't really been able to read anything lately, and this sadly goes for fanfiction too :(

4) Rec music!

Personally, I get the most inspired while listening to classical music! Especially everything the man the myth the legend Shostakovich has ever created, his works are absolutely amazing and actually make you feel emotions (i especially like this one if you're having a bad day and just need a metaphorical shoulder to cry on).

Oh yeah, and also the whole arena and daggerfall soundtrack ✌️

5) Share one piece of advice!

It's all going to be alright in the end. No matter what hardships you currently face, they won't last forever, and you will get through. Don't worry, just breathe and relax. Cry, if you need to, and try to find the little things that currently bring you joy. You can do this, I know it :)

—

idk who i should tag, please feel free to feel tagged if you come across this post!

[amostexcellentblog]

Finally went to see a movie at MOMA yesterday after taking an embarrassingly long time to actually go to one of their film screenings. They're doing a Powell and Pressburger retrospective and I got to see The Tales of Hoffmann for the first time.

This is such a cliche cinephile thing to say, but it really looked amazing on the big screen, the colors popped more and you could really appreciate the details in the sets and costumes. I just wish I'd liked the story more, it was a pretty faithful adaptation of a 19th century opera and I just could not get into it, or follow what was going on. Still gorgeous to look at though, it's like they set out to top the ballet sequence in The Red Shoes by making an entire movie in the style.

[haroldgross]

New Post has been published on Harold Gross: The 5a.m. Critic

New Post has been published on https://literaryends.com/hgblog/eric/

Eric

[3 stars]

Creator Abi Morgan is no stranger to dark tales or mysteries. And Eric is a disturbingly powerful and true-to-the-era series that is as hard to watch at times as it is rewarding. From the color-timing of the visuals to create that slightly washed-out 80s pallet to the costumes, attitudes, and politics, Eric resurrects the mid-80s in NYC with uncomfortable accuracy.

The story itself is challenging. It is a long and uncomfortable slog to get to the semi-uplifting ending. But when you’re dealing with addiction, poverty, AIDS, political abuse, and other fun stuff that isn’t a surprise. But each of the story threads is compelling and each has a committed actor that will drag you with them.

The top-liner is Benedict Cumberbatch (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar). He pulls on the mantel of the very broken Vincent disturbingly well. And Gaby Hoffmann excels as the co-dependent and disillusioned  wife and mother. As accurate and believable as they are, they are also both a little one-note for most of the story. There are few levels to their anger, grief, and anxiety. The steady drum-beat does become numbing after a while, making it a hard show to binge.

The detective searching for the missing child of the central couple, McKinley Belcher III fares a little better on that front. His story is complicated and all-too-common for the era. Watching him navigate it is one of the better aspects of the mini-series. And Erika Soto adds a wonderful counterpoint to his situation.

The rest of the cast is equally on point, and often with some nice stories of their own; Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledoor) and Wade Allain-Marcus in particular. But few of the stories offer respite to the main tale of the missing child. However, this story doesn’t quite play out as you imagine, and it has its triumphs of sorts. It also echoes the politics of then and now in a very harmonic way that is particularly hard to ignore or deny in the final moments of the story.

Eric is worth the time you invest, but it isn’t for a night where you’re already feeling a bit beaten down or need a laugh. However, it is an amazing recreation of city at that time, and the performances, even absent some stress-relieving levels, are all fairly stellar.

Where to watch

[afropuffsartstudios]

List of All my 2023 Reads

[ ] The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

[ ] Penguins Love Color by Sarah Aspinall

[ ] The Bugabees: Friends With Food Allergies by Amy Recob

[ ] A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon

[ ] Stop Monkeying Around by Christine Swift, et. al.

[ ] Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly, et. al.

[ ] The Potty Book for Girls by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, et. al.

[ ] Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

[ ] Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds, et. al.

[ ] Creepy Pair of Underwear! Aaron Reynolds, et. al

[ ] Creepy Crayon! by Aaron Reynolds, et. al

[ ] Nickelodeon Blue's Clues & You Learning Series by Phidal Publishing

[ ] Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts by Rebecca Hall, et. al.

[ ] The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

[ ] A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

[ ] The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson, et. al.

[ ] Stay Out of the Basement by R. L. Stine

[ ] Stuck on Murder by Lucy Lawrence

[ ] Barbie Dolls by Nathan Sommer

[ ] Welcome to Dead House by R. L. Stine

[ ] What Is The Constitution? by Patricia Brennan Demuth, et. al.

[ ] Barbie My First Pony by Mona Miller, et. al.

[ ] The Black Queen by Jumata Emill

[ ] The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

[ ] Stinetinglers by R. L. Stine

[ ] A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 by Kathryn Lasky

[ ] Stuart Little by E. B. White

[ ] Monster Blood by R. L. Stine

[ ] Make a TikTok Every Day: 365 Prompts for Attention-Grabbing TikTok by Dave Jorgensen

[ ] Richard Scarry's Best Little Word Book Ever!

[ ] Obeying the Law by Kirsten Chang

[ ] Shrek! by William Steig

[ ] The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh (1-4) by A. A. Milne

[ ] Last But Not Leashed by Eileen Brady

[ ] Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

[ ] The House on Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne

[ ] Police Station by Amy McDonald

[ ] What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan

[ ] The Great Patty Caper by Erica David

[ ] The Amazing SpongeBobini by Steve Banks

[ ] What Were the Twin Towers? by Jim O'Connor

[ ] A Christmas Candy Killer by Christina Romeril

[ ] The Supermarket Mystery by Richard Scarry

[ ] Postman Pig and His Busy Neighbors by Richard Scarry

[ ] How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead

[ ] Monsters Unmasked! (Scooby-Doo) by Nicole Johnson

[ ] Alice's Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

[ ] The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

[ ] The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P.D.James

[ ] Hooked in Murder by Betty Hechtman

[ ] Here Comes the Body by Maria DiRico

[ ] The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

[ ] Gossip Girl (#1) by Cecily von Ziegesar

[ ] The Great Banned Books Bake Sale by Aya Khalil et al.

[ ] How to Catch Santa Claus by Alice Walstead

[ ] Indigo and Ida by Heather Murphy Capps

[ ] The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

[ ] Killer Christmas by John Hall

[ ] Charlotte's Web by E. B. White

[ ] Queen Bee by Amalie Howard

[ ] The Between by Tananarive Due

[ ] James and Giant Peach by Roald Dahl et al

[ ] This Book is Banned by Raj Haldar

[ ] Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

[ ] The Nutcracker: The Original Holiday Classic by E. T. A. Hoffmann

[ ] The Christmas Murder Games by Alexandra Benedict

[ ] Kismat Connection by Ananya Devarajan

[ ] The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

[ ] The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

[ ] The Chocolate Sundae Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner

[ ] Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud et al

[ ] Halloween Cupckaes Murder by Carlene O' Connor et al

[ ] Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie et al.

[ ] Slime Doesn't Pay by R. L. Stine

[ ] Drive Thru by Erica David

[ ] The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart

[ ] Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard

[ ] What Was the Underground Railroad? by Yona Zeldis McDonough et al

[ ] Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

[ ] Peppa Loves to Bake by Eone

[ ] Where Do We Go From Here : Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King Jr

[ ] The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

[ ] Halloween at Creepy Castle by Alison Inches et al

[ ] The Christmas Story: Experience the magic of the first Christmas by D. K. Publishing

[ ] ABCs of Kindness at Christmas by Patricia Hegarty et al

[ ] Apple and Pumpkin: The Battle for the Best Fall Treat Is On! by Jeffery Burton

[ ] Winter: A Solstice Story by Kelsey E. Gross et al

[ ] What was the Holocaust? by Gail Herman et al

[ ] Barbie in a Christmas Carol by Mary Man-Kong

[ ] Franklin's Christmas Gift by Paulette Bourgeois et al

[ ] Unicorn Christmas by Diana Murray et al

[ ] Dino-Christmas by Lisa Wheeler et al

[ ] NPR: The First Forty Years

[ ] A Nancy Drew Christmas by Carolyn Keene

[ ] The Christmas Swap by Talia Samuels

[ ] History Smashers: Christopher Columbus and the Taino People by Kate Messner et al

[ ] The Teacher March! by Sandra Neil Wallace

[ ] Christmas Is Here! by Charles M. Schulz

[ ] Mermaid Day by Diana Murray et al

[ ] Four Found Dead by Natalie D. Richards

[ ] Love In Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello

[ ] The Picture House Murders by Fiona Veitch Smith

[ ] Plankton's Christmas Surprise! by John Cabell et al

[ ] Dashing Through the Snow by Debbie Macomber

[ ] History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner

[ ] Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

[ ] Miles and Miles of Reptiles by Tish Rabe et al

[ ] Christmas in Camelot by Mary Pope Osborne