#I bought Dostoevsky’s crime and punishment (do I know anything about it no. but there’s a whole bit-)

[readingwriter92]

Guess who bought an obscene number of books today? (She bought 12)

[parttimedragonslayer]

I used to keep a twitter account that was basically just a reading log. I haven't touched twitter for ages but I kind of miss keeping the reading log so I'll try updating here.

I tend to read a lot of books at once. Depending on the situation and how I'm feeling at the time will depend on what I pick up. I either read on my kindle, phone, and sometimes on laptop, and audiobooks. I miss physical books but I've read the ones I brought with me and haven't bought any since moving.

So here's the current state of play:

Tranny by Laura Jane Grace

Gender dysphoria is something I struggle to understand, but I appreciate it's a reality for many people. I was never really am Against Me fan, I wasn't really listening to much punk as they were gaining momentum. I'm finding Laura's story fascinating though, the glimpse into the culture I was enamoured with for many years alongside learning about how she found her identity is fantastic.

Audiobook, 36% completed

Usually listening while riding to amd from school.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

I've been pleasantly surprised at how easy a read this has been. I stayed away from Dostoyevsky for a long time thinking it would be a hard slog of a read, but this has been really smooth. I wonder how much of that comes down to the translation. I started reading by audiobook but switched to ebook when my loan of the audiobok came due.

Audiobook and Kindle, 74% completed

Bed time reading rotation.

120 Days of Sodom by Marquis de Sade

I've been 'reading' this since sometime in 2021. I'll try a few pages here and there but I don't know if I'll finish it, I might just ditch it. Marquis de Sade might have some historical significance, but the book is just sickening. Like, literally makes me want to vomit.

Kindle, 59% completed

Bed time reading rotation.

Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

Working my way through Murakami's catalogue. This is only my second novel of his, but I really liked Killing Commendatore. Also read The Strange Library and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. There's a few of his that I'm really looking forward to, but want to get my feet wet with a few of his other works first.

Kindle, 36% completed

Bed time reading rotation.

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

I'm consciously trying to diversify my reading and this book was highly recommended. I'm enjoying it so far, the MC is a bit annoying but I think it's intended and second half is going to resolve that. Started with audiobook and then also borrow the ebook and switch between the two.

Audiobook and ebook on phone, 53%

Daytime naps reading and waiting rooms.

Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb

I read the Farseer Trilogy in my youth and loved it. Read it again later and found it to be kinda irritating and couldn't get over the MC being so whiny. So far I'm enjoying this though and finding the characters a little more mature.

Audiobook, 39%

Bed time reading, turn out the lights and listen until I fall asleep.

Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson

Book two of the Malazan series. I read part one of the series a looooong time ago so I read a recap before starting but I still didn't remember a whole lot. I'm enjoying book 2 more than I remember enjoing book 1. It's long though so gonna take a while to get through it, and I think there's 10 books in the series?

Kindle, 20%

Bath time and loungeroom read.

Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit.

Not sure why this one was on my TBR lost to be honest, but I've started now so I'll keep going. I'm not really seeing a lot in it at the moment, but it's a quick read so I'll keep going. I read this one on my laptop at school when I have kothibg to do or need a break from lesson planning or studying Japanese. I figure it's a safe read to have open in case anyone reads over my shoulder there won't be anything offensive in it.

Ebook on laptop, 48%

Reading on laptop at work between lesson planning and study.

And that's everything I have in the go at the moment. Currently, my TBR list is sitting at about 500 books, which seems fairly insurmountable, especially because it tends to grow faster than it shrinks. I think I either have to be more willing to stop reading partway through books that I'm not enjoying much, or at some point, maybe do a cull of my TBR list. Maybe go through and remove everything that I can't remember the reason for it being in the list in the first place. If only there was enough time to read all the books...

[ol-razzle-dazazzle]

The World (and Copious Amounts of Vodka) at Your Fingertips

For my darling @perfect-murderer / @angel-of-murder who’s OTP is Fyodor x Oguri (The latter account is for Oguri and the former for Ivan, so if you love RP blogs of classy rat bois check her the heck out) 

I haven’t really gotten up to date with the BSD manga so I flicked through some summaries of the wikia and made up what lil gaps I had with my own interpretations (particularly that for Oguri, considering he is relatively new) so I hope I did these two justice! If not feel free to Crime and Punish(ment) me

TW for alcohol obv, someone being murdered and covered up, sensual situations (not inherently NSFW but like, if you were at work and someone saw you shipping authors I’d be fucking confused too) God complexes

It was a dim lit night, another job. Information scattered, people silenced, the usual. Despite the slimy depraved sense of the bar, a dapper man with combed hair perches On a barstool, adjusting his tie and signalling the barkeep for a glass of vodka.

A woman is sobbing, face pressed into the wood, about her fiancée, being dead. She lets out a wail, and falls to the floor. Can't have any witnesses now.

Emotions are such strange things. Even if he could erase the crime and any traces, with the white spirits that soak up the blood, there was always some crying and grief to be accounted for.

The white spirits leave her lingering, settled on the floor with a bottle in her hand. "Honestly, people should learn to hold their alcohol..." He scoffs, the white will o wisps getting pat before they disperse. How impulsive...he can't just kill off anybody like nothing. Hmph, it's all pitiful anyway. The hand holding the glass held an impossibly priced ring, and irregular dots along her arms.

"Another glass, sir."

Hmm?  Now don't falter. Nothing has happened after all.

"Good evening, you must be Oguri Mushitarou, right?" That was rare, for someone to know his name. He liked the sound of it off the other man's lips.

"Ah, and who might you be?" Oguri brushed aside his bangs, hands shaking slightly as he took another sip.

"Why I was the one who contacted you, well...The Rats in the House of the Dead." Oguri raised an eyebrow. Could be a spy, after all.

"I have n-no such recollection."

"Now, now- we are drinking together-"

"You have only but held a glass to your lips." Oguri sneers.

"Very well." The other man downs the shot, "I also must add, that you seem rather undisturbed for killing someone before an entire audience's eyes."

Oguri beams for but a moment. "Hmm? No one saw anything. I'm perplexed."

"Don't act so defensive, just because I have 'Crime and Punishment', doesn't mean I shall assert it on you."

"Well this is a cordial way to introduce yourself to me, Doestovesky." Ah, so it is him. Perched Ushanka, gratuitous coats, and red lines on his hands.

"You are a very collected man Oguri, perfect for what I need you to do for me..." Fyodor hums, the buzz of alcohol is making this whole situation of murder a lot less stilted. Perhaps Oguri should have such meetings here often.

"You know what I'm here to do, correct?" Fyodor murmured, a hand settling on Oguri's shoulder.

He reeled back suddenly, causing Fyodor to withdraw. "Ah, my apologies, I realise that with my ability you would be nervous..." That wasn't entirely it...but one shouldn't divulge such weaknesses.

"It doesn't matter to me." Oguri cleared his throat. "I'm just here to do what you require of me."

"..." Fyodor sighs, "That's a pity."

"How so?"

"This is an organisation, to purge the world." Fyodor smiles, "I think that this would be cause for us to become...comrades."

"I prefer to be...professional." Oguri mumbled. "Besides, I wouldn't think it would be best to be acquainted with God."

"I'm not God yet." Fyodor laughs, "Besides, drinks are much nicer with company."

"Perhaps, you shouldn't go around throwing your ideas of comrades to a murderer." Oguri hissed. "We tend not to make very good 'company'.

"You forget who you are talking to, remember?" Fyodor snickers, clinking his glass with Oguri's own. "...You don't particularly like being close to people, do you?"

"In this city, now why should I?" Oguri's hands clutch the glass, knuckles turning white.

"Ah, I shouldn't push for it, right?" A raised eyebrow.

"You haven't even bought me a drink or taken me to dinner yet." Oguri snickers.

"Shall I change that? Barkeep, if you please." Fyodor smiled, pouring the two glasses before with a smirk.

"...You don't hesitate do you?" Oguri mumbles, a hint of a grin on his face. The two drink once more.

"Your eyes are...fascinating."

"Ah yes, a regular pick up line."

"Well, Oguri, I can't say I get lost in them." Fyodor stifles his laughter. "They're lovely."

"The eyes of a crazy 'sociopath' and a 'psycho', I'm sure." Oguri dismisses the compliment.

"I don't believe your body count influences your eyes." Fyodor muses. "After all, you haven't done anything, correct?"

"I have never murdered a soul." Oguri winks.

"Of course..." Fyodor coughs.

"You better watch how much you drink..." "Or else I'll end up like her?" Fyodor points to the 'collapsed' body.

"Precisely."

"You shrink at a touch and  yet dismiss a murder." Fyodor's hand trails the glass.

"Isn't that precisely what you would want, Dostoevsky?" Oguri raises an eyebrow.

"I could think of other things..."

Oguri tinged a slight red at the thought, "Perhaps you should watch your liquor."

"Nonsense, I may be anemic but I am Russian."

"I would've figured someone like you would be anything but stereotypical." Oguri tilts his head.

"Under the influence of alcohol we are all equal and unable to be differentiated."

"Well I won't care for you too much if you go overboard."

"I'll keep that in mind, my dear Oguri."

"Oh? I'm 'dear' to you so quickly?"

"I did buy you a drink."

The two laugh, "I suppose so."

The slight haze started to affect the two, Oguri fiddling with his fringe as glasses were refilled.

"Someone's rather hypocritical..." Fyodor smirks at Oguri's more frazzled state.

"N-Nonsense! I'm perfectly...fine." Oguri tries to save face, eyes flickering between shut and open.

"I'm sure you are." Fyodor settles the glass further away, snickering. "Are you going to be okay? It doesn't seem like you drink a lot..."

But Oguri's muffled, mumbling into the wood.

"Hmm? What was that?"

"I...said I'll look forward to working with you." Oguri murmurs, plucking himself up as he tries not to lean on Fyodor's shoulder.

"Shall we leave?"

"...Perhaps."

"You're being rather inconvenient, making me carry you like this..." Fyodor pouts, "It seems you enjoy being in my arms..."

*****

The morning was hazy with the aftereffects of murder and liquor, only the latter of which Oguri was rather inexperienced with. While he was one to drink to avoid talking such strategy was usually done with water, and he rarely recognised the consequences of vodka.

Still despite waking up in a home that wasn't his, in a bed that wasn't his, he felt rather calm. The turning to further cocoon himself in sheets made him suddenly aware that he wasn't wearing his jacket- nor his shirt or pants.

A glance over his shoulder in slight panic meeting Fyodor's own eyes. "I trust you slept well?"

"...Was all I did sleep?"

"Ah, well you divulged the secret to your murders, I have it in a tape recorder. Guilt claims the conscience of every man I suppose."

Oguri felt his blood run cold in that smile.

"Just kidding." And warm again.

"...Anything else?" His eyes gestured to his clothes, rather, lack thereof (aside from briefs).

"Without your begging me to do so? Oh goodness no." Fyodor waves a hand dismissively.

Oguri stared at the other's exposed skin, grazes and the remnants of a bullet would on his shoulder.

"You normally open the curtains to stare at the view, don't you?" Fyodor raises and eyebrow, drinking in Oguri's subtle dusting of pink.

"You can't blame me for catching a glimpse of God, can you?" Oguri turns over to him, catching Fyodor's as to set a kiss on his lips.

"Hm, I guess you can't..." Fyodor stifles his laughter, returning the favour.

"Though I do admit the professionalism could do with a bit of work." Oguri chuckles, "One has to wonder if you do this often.

"We haven't done anything yet, have we?"

"I suppose we haven't." Oguri brought Fyodor's hand to his lips, kissing along the red marks chastely.

"But isn't it more exciting this way?" With his free hand Fyodor swept his fingers through the other's slightly messed fringe. "It feels like we have the whole world at our fingertips."

"Am I your whole world now?" Oguri smiles into his skin.

"Well we are 'partners' now, no?"