#I'd never be able to properly edit them all

[victorluvsalice]

Victor Luvs Alice --> Victor Luvs Alice N Smiler...sort of

Yes, I was going to change my full blog url to "victorluvsalicensmiler" -- but then I went to make this post, pulled up this year's "A Gush About Valicer" Thanksgiving reblog, and realized to my horror that suddenly almost all of the links on that post were broken. So I hastily ran back to the blog settings and changed my url back to "victorluvsalice." XD So yes, @victorluvsalice is still how you tag me, but the icon, header, blog title, and blog description have all been changed to reflect that my OTP is now my OT3. Just in case you're wondering "who the fuck is that icon??" XD

[nanaarchy]

Hey chat !!!! I'm going insane.

Ever since my first listen to TMA, I've had a huge question that NEVER got answered.

Never. Not in the whole series, not Q&As or the wiki or anything. I thought I would never find answers. I thought it would be forgotten. I thought it was a small insignificant detail and I'd have to live with never knowing the truth about it.

Now with TMAGP 19, I might finally know the answer.

Maybe. Maybe maybe. But It Could Be. And now I'm losing my mind at the implications.

((For the record, I know that the stories and worldbuilding are inherently separate - hell, there are even timeline differences in the cases I'm using as evidence. But the overlap might be important, especially when it comes to the Web.))

Spoilers for both shows below!

Its branches were exquisite, and delicate, swaying slightly from small eddies in the liquid, and they shone with every spectra. I must confess that to look upon it, one was – (sigh) filled with profound wonder at its exquisite elegance. [...] Even I, steeped in worldly matters as I am, recognized The Lord’s words to Adam, and was much dismayed at the implication. Isaac then plucked the delicate fruit with ungloved hands and held it before me. [...] The creature was taking root. Strands of its mottled brown hair were extruding downwards between the floor, seeking the dark earth below. Then, too, its back began to sprout, radiant branches unfurling and thickening before me, reaching upwards towards the sunlight with a seemingly insatiable desire. [...] I tell you here, Robert, it saw me, and it knew me. (TMAGP 19 - HARD RESET)

It was an ornate wooden thing, with a snaking pattern of lines weaving their way around towards the centre. The pattern was hypnotic and shifted as I watched it, like an optical illusion. I found my eyes following the lines towards the middle of the table, where there was nothing but a small square hole. Graham noticed me staring, and told me that interesting antique furniture was one of his few true passions. Apparently he’d found the table in a second-hand shop during his student days and fallen in love with it. It had been in pretty bad shape but he’d spent a long time and a lot of money restoring it, though he’d never been able to figure out what was supposed to go in the centre. He assumed it was a separate piece and couldn’t track it down. (MAG 3 - ACROSS THE STREET)

Re: Magnus Institute Ruins. By RedCanary on Saturday April 23 2022 12:17pm. The photos from the spelunk seem properly gone, but I did find an old wooden thing with a bunch of similar symbols on. Some kinda empty box, not really sure what for, though. Gonna see if I can get the light right for a decent pic. Edit: No dice, I’m afraid. Must be something up with my phone camera. Really not helping the whole paranoia thing either. Anyone know anything about photographic distortion? Gonna see if I can borrow my dad’s SLR tomorrow. (TMAGP 1 - FIRST SHIFT)

Adelard Dekker stood in the corner. He was straight and motionless, his lips moving rapidly, though no sound came out of them. In the centre of the room, stood a table carved from dark wood and wrapped all over with a sprawling, intricate pattern. And in front of that table was the thing that had said it was my cousin. It was long and thin, the tops of it bent against the ceiling and its stick-like limbs flailed from too many joints and elbows. Wrapped around it were thick strands of what I think was spider’s web, stretching back into the table, which I now saw pulsed along its carved channels with a sickly light. The face at the top of that gangly frame was like nothing on earth. (MAG 78 - DISTANT COUSIN)

Now... Now I get it. I get it. I finally gave an answer. Or, at least, I think we'll get a concrete answer soon. But I think I get it.

I think I get where the web table comes from. I think I know what it's made of. why it glows. why it had a hole in the middle. I think I might know how the web gained control and sentience so much faster than the other fears. and, if it still manifests in the same way in the Protocol universe, how it also quickly became "the manager" of other fears, as theories suggest.

More importantly, I think I know what was up with the mysterious tree from so, so long ago.

Now I have an answer.

Why was there an apple buried in Hill Top Road?

I opened the box and sitting inside was a single green apple. It looked fresh, shiny, with a coat of condensation like it had just been picked on a cool spring morning. I picked it up. I wasn’t going to eat it, I’m not that stupid, but more than bleeding trees or phantom burning, this confused me. As I took it out of the box, though, it began to turn. The skin turned brown and bruised and started to shrivel in my hand. Then it split. And out came spiders. Dozens, hundreds of spiders erupting from this apple that was rotting right before my eyes. I shrieked and dropped it before any of them could touch my arm. The apple fell to the ground and burst in a cloud of dust. I backed away and waited until I was sure all the spiders had left before retrieving the box. I smashed it with a crowbar, and threw the remains into a skip. (MAG 8 - BURNED OUT)

And now I have an answer. Maybe.

[otterish]

A weird favor please...

I'm in a weird sort of bind... You see, I'm autistic, and along with that, I have narcolepsy and misophonia. What does this fucked up collection of weirdness mean? It means I am very sensitive to sound (The misophonia and the autism), and I have seizures that are triggered by stress and the tension headaches I get because of my spinal fusion.

Why all this info? You see, I have a lovely little MP3 player loaded with the most perfect white noise that is guaranteed to calm me down. It takes corded headphones, which is great because I can never find any bluetooth buds that fit in my ears. I have a birth defect that makes it nigh impossible to find any that fit. I did find some amazing corded earbuds though! They are the JVC Gummy in ear earbuds, and I've been using them for over 10 years. They only last about a year or two, but they are like 9 bucks and fit perfectly. Here is an amazon link so you can see what I mean: https://a.co/d/0drGMzDN

The thing is... I can barely afford food (We were on SNAP but they fucked everything up. AGAIN!), let alone the earbuds I need. One of my main misophonia triggers is anyone snoring, mouth breathing, and even sometimes just breathing normally. My husband snores really loud, and tends to have a stuffy nose a lot, so I cannot sleep in the same room with him if I don't have my headphones. If I had to, I would find something sharp and puncture my ear drums. It causes that much anxiety that I sincerely want to lose my hearing.

I'm down to my last pair of headphones, and when I couldn't find them at first I had a severe melt down. I wear them to bed due to my husband snoring, and I want to stay near him. I sometimes rest my hand on his back to feel him breathe, and when I wake up screaming due to nightmares, he always wakes up and holds me until I stop crying.

I know this is a long post just to ask for earbuds, but they work best for me and my sanity depends on them. If you can, I'd love it if you were able to slide one or two my way. I'm not picky on color, so my amazon wish list link is here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/GTTJGT54GKDN

If you want another way, my cashtag is $JustAddOtter.

THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE! My disability case is still going slowly through the pipes, plus when it goes through I'm going to have to pay $85 out of pocket for some blue lenses which will help with the seizures.

Also, may the assholes who removed headphone jacks from phones always have angry wasps land in their ears.

TL;DR: I need new headphones to help with my disability.

BTW, no guilt in not donating or even not reblogging but I would appreciate a sage nod of understanding when you read this.

EDIT: Thank you to those pointing out that my wishlist wasn't working properly, it's all fixed!

[acourtofchaos]

A LITTLE DEATH (snippet/teaser) | Mattheo Riddle x F!Reader x Theodore Nott

Summary: Your best friends offer their help when they find out that you've never been able to finish with anyone you've been with. 18+

A/N: this is unedited and probably absolute trash but I was hoping to finish the fic today and that hasn't happened, so I thought i'd post a little snippet instead. I've still got a little bit to write before I edit which knowing me will mean adding another 1-2k to the word count 😂

Song inspo: A little death by the neighbourhood

But for whatever reason, you couldn’t say no to the offer they'd laid before you. 

It could have been down to the cherry vodka coating your brain in cotton wool or the firewhiskey burning warm through your chest - running hot in your blood.

The way you were high on having them both so close after another long month apart. How it always felt like you'd been missing pieces of yourself and only realised the hollowness that clung to your bones when they returned to you - a gold rush feeling chasing away the shadows as they slotted back into the places you'd carved out for them.

Maybe that was what was making you ache for them even closer, pressed up against you without an inch to breathe.

Or maybe it was the way Theo’s gaze roamed over your face, his hesitancy at war with his want until he watched the way you followed the swipe of his tongue over his bottom lip with a hitched breath, your own mouth parting slightly at the action and drawing his undivided attention.

The way Mattheo’s eyes had grown darker than the night surrounding you, ink black and hungry, his features sharp with a tinge of desperation - that insatiable need of his to indulge you in anything and everything you asked for. 

Despite it, their faces still held that touch of softness that told you if you declined they would swallow down whatever feelings had arisen from their offer and never let them show again. That no desire would ever come before your comfort and trust in both of them.

So maybe it was because you knew with utter surety that if anyone could take care of you properly, it was them. 

You let out a shaky breath, your hearbeat somewhere up in your throat but your mind made up, as you whispered. “Yeah okay, show me.”

You weren't sure what you were expecting when the words left you.

You’d seen both of the boys in action plenty of times during your time at hogwarts, the parties thrown by your housemates that practically promised an endless night of sin and debauchery.

You'd seen the way Mattheo and Theo had grinned like devils, dirty and wicked, in a pretty girl's presence when they knew they had them exactly where they wanted them. Witnessed how both of them kissed, all rough and fast and messy, hands fisting into hair and at the silky edge of a too short dress. 

But there was none of that now. 

Not yet at least.

Instead, Mattheo released a rushed breath of his own and slowly stalked towards you, walking you back until you met the firm heat of Theo’s chest.

Ringed hands pulled you in tighter, gentle as they curved around your hips, thumbs slipping beneath the hem of your shirt and pressing maddeningly slow circles into the skin there as Theo’s cheek brushed against your own when he bent to trail sweet kisses over the slope of your shoulder. 

You were dizzy from the attention almost immediately, overwhelmed in the best way with how good it felt to sink into one of your best friends hold and let him take care of you like that, eyes fluttering shut and head falling back against his shoulder as his kisses grew bolder.

When the air in front of you subtly shifted you knew Mattheo had drawn close enough for you to feel him despite the fact your bodies weren't touching. That the heat that swept over your skin was from his gaze devouring every inch of you, focusing on all the places Theo touched or kissed that made soft little noises catch at the back of your throat. 

It made the ache that had started as dull thrum in your veins grow into a wild, gnawing thing. Every inch of you electrified, teetering on an almost painful edge as you waited to feel him too, to see if the slow approach he was choosing to take would change once he got his hands and mouth on you. 

But then Mattheo closed the gap, pressing himself into you until you were wedged tight between them both and you couldn’t stop yourself from gasping, eyes flying open to lock on his.

The hand that wasn’t tangled in Theo’s hair shooting up to twist in the fabric of his shirt, whether to steady yourself or pull him closer you were unsure, but Mattheo let you grip him like a lifeline anyway whilst his fingers ghosted the lengths of your arms, sweeping up,up,up until he held your face between his calloused palms. 

He dipped his head and nudged your nose with his, close enough that each breath he exhaled was a warm huff against your lips, and when you started to think that he was attempting to steal the very air from your lungs and drive you insane he finally murmured your name.

Curled his tongue around the taste of it like it was something holy. Divine. Like it was a prayer. “You going to let me kiss you?” 

Theo groaned, lashes fluttering against your neck as the hand you had threaded through the soft strands of his hair tightened, his own coming to rest lightly against your neck, thumb pushing lightly against your jaw to keep your eyes on Mattheo and a messy kiss planted beside it when you made to look at him instead. “Answer him, dolcezza.” 

Salazar save you.

"Yes.” You rushed out, voice hoarse. “Please, Mattheo–” 

His mouth was on yours before you could finish. 

[writtenbymisunderstoodnerds]

You didn't actually think I would miss this, did you? (Tobin Heath x Reader)

Just a short little fic for Tobin's birthday. Not really edited so mind any mistakes. Hope you enjoy!

Between work getting busy and studying, life has been busy lately so writing has unfortunately been put on the back burner so fics might take longer than usual. My final essay is due in less than 2 weeks so hopefully I'll have more time to write after that!

Words: 1.4k

Y/n: Nobody on earth can make me feel the way you do. Everyday I wake up you continue to amaze me in every way possible. Your kindness, empathy and compassion are what make you the most amazing woman I've ever known. Please never stop being the beautiful, confident and sexiest person that I am madly in love with. Everyday I am blessed to have you by my side. I hope today is filled with love, friendship, surprises and fun. Thank you for going through life with me. Happy birthday my love. I love you today and always.

Toby: Thank you baby. There's no one I'd rather go through life with than you. I love you so much.

Toby: I wish you were here with me today... I miss you

Y/n: I miss you too Toby. We'll see each other soon. I'm sure you'll have an amazing day regardless. I wanted to have this text ready for you to wake up to, but I got busy :(

Toby: It's okay, facetime later?

Y/n: Wouldn't miss it. I have to go, but I'll message you a bit later. I love you

It was Tobin's birthday today. We had been together for 7 years and this was the first birthday that we would be apart for. Since we started dating, we had always made sure to be with each other on our birthdays. This year though, I was playing in Europe meaning I couldn't be there this year. Well that's what she thought anyway. I was out for a couple of weeks with an injury and coach had agreed that I could return to the states as long as I kept up with physio. 

Tobin's birthday happened to fall in the middle of a national team camp. One that I couldn't attend due to being injured. I knew they would be planning something so I had reached out to Ali to let her know I was surprising Tobin. I trusted her to not let it slip and she was able to keep me updated on their plans so I could surprise her. I didn't want to miss her whole birthday, instead I had found a flight that would get me there in time to surprise her at lunch. 

I got through security as quickly as possible. Knowing I was so close to seeing Tobin again was making me impatient. This was probably the longest we had gone without seeing each other. I hated it, but playing internationally had always been a dream of mine. They had organized lunch in the meal room at the hotel seeing as there were so many of them. I quickly dropped my stuff in Tobin's hotel room and cleaned myself up a bit before heading down to the meal room. 

Ali had organized a game of guess the person. Tobin was blindfolded and had to guess who was in front of her based on the feel of their hands and face. The girls smiled widely when they saw me, somehow managing to not completely freak out. I watched Tobin go through a few more of them. There was a wide smile on her face, the corners of her eyes no doubt crinkling. I knew pretty much all of Tobin's expressions at this point, even without properly seeing them. It made me happy knowing that even though she was missing me, she was still able to have fun and be genuinely happy. 

After a few minutes, I stepped up to Tobin, placing her hand on my arm first then my face. I knew there was a high chance that once she felt either of my hands she would know it was me. Besides the years of almost constant hand holding, I had a scar on one of my hands that was very noticeable.

I lent into her touch, enjoying the feeling after almost six months away from her. That must have been a give away, because her hand froze briefly before moving to my eyebrow that also had a scar then my left hand. She ripped the blindfold off, eyes wide as she stared at me in shock. 

"Y/n!" Tobin pretty much squealed, jumping up, arms wrapping around me as she jumped up, legs around my waist, "You're here, you're actually here."

"You didn't seriously think I would miss your birthday did you?"

Tobin kissed me hard, filled with passion and love. I knew the team were watching, fake gags coming from them, but I did care as I cupped the back of her head, not letting her move until we were both out of breath. Tobin watched me for a few seconds before speaking, "I love you so much. How long do I have you for?"

Reluctantly, I put her down, feeling my knee starting ache, "A couple of weeks. Pretty much until I'm ready to join practice again as long as I keep up with physio here."

Since there weren't any real plans for after lunch, Tobin and I snuck off to the room. We didn't do anything other than cuddle and make out a little bit. I was exhausted from my flight, all I wanted to do was hold her after months apart. When Tobin eventually had to go to the bathroom, I got the piece of paper and ring box from my bag. I quickly hid the ring box as Tobin came back into the room. I still wasn't sure if I was going to propose right now with just the two of us or do something with the team later. I wanted to have it with me for when I decided the time was right.

"I got you something."

"You didn't have to, just being here is enough."

"Shush and take it. I think you're going to like this."

I handed her a piece of paper. She read over it slowly before jumping on me, peppering kisses across my face, "You're coming back?!? We get to play together again?"

"I'm coming back. I still have to be there for a couple more months though. I love playing for arsenal, it's been a great experience, but it's not worth how much I miss you." 

A few tears fell down her cheeks as she kissed me slowly before a smile stretched across her face, interrupting the kiss. Her smile was one of my favourite sights so I wasn't mad about it, "You are amazing, I love you Y/n."

"I love you Toby." 

Once again I found myself watching her. Taking in her smile, the way her eyes crinkled, the dimples I was obsessed with, her beautiful eyes that I could look at forever and the short hair that drove me crazy. It was my first time seeing it in person, I had ran my fingers through it countless times already and was currently resisting the urge to do it again. I loved her more than I thought it was possible to love another person. She was the person I craved, the first person I thought of when I woke up or before I went to sleep, the first person I wanted to tell when anything happened. She was the person I wanted by my side for the rest of my life. 

"I meant what I said in my text."

"Which part?"

"All of it. Even after 7 years, you still make my heart race, butterflies and sparks to explode at even the slightest touch. No one has even made me feel the way you do and no one else ever will. I thank everything in this world that you chose me, that I get to be with you and love you every day. You are the only person I want by myside through everything life throws our way. The good, bad, funny, messy, whatever it is, it will be okay because I have you. I am so madly in love with you Tobin Powell Heath, I want to do life with you for as long as you'll have me. Will you marry me?"

Tobin launched forward before I could even get the ring box. She hugged me tightly, tears landing against my neck, "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. I love you so fucking much Y/n."

My own tears fell, the happiness bubbling over as I chuckled, "Can I get the ring now?"

"You got me a ring?"

I reached under the pillow for the ring box, opening it for Tobin to see. It was just a simple rose gold band, it fit who she was and the type of style she liked. She grinned widely as I easily slipped it onto her finger, "Of course I did. I've been planning to do this for months now. Only the best for my girl or should I say fiancé?"

"God I can't wait to marry you Y/n."

[monsterlimbs]

Stinky little idiots <3

I cannot stop writing these two together. I love them. HATE Gortash but love him with durge.

RAMBLE AHEAD!! Also maybe spoilers??? I realized the format didn't work properly so I edited out all the spoilers I believe, but just in case, if you don't like spoilers, scroll SUPER fast. I doubt anyone will read it all because it is VERY long but I just really needed to get it out somewhere and if someone does read my ramble even just a little bit of it, heads-up for spoilers and shit grammar pfft!!

This is part of something I drew because I have in mind for an AU where Mordriel wakes up in the ship, thinking of Gortash. In my "canon" story for him, he sees Gortash in his visions when something reminds him of his background, but for this AU, Gortash isn't just passing visions here and there, with no name only face and vibes, he's in Mordriel's mind 24/7 essentially. Along with Gortash being his first though, he never met Neil (his sister) again after losing his memories, which means he never saw Neil care for Karlach, which meant he never even met Karlach or heard of how Gortash treated her, and because of this, never saw Gortash as a creepy little guy, only as his beautiful little lover. On top of that, without meeting Neil again, he falls into his deepest "dark urge-est" life. He only really had control because of Neil, because he was scared to hurt her again after his first transformation (even though partial), he lost full control and hurt her trying to protect her. So, without needing to be careful of hurting his little sister, he has no reason to hold back.

He also never caught feelings for Astarion because he knew he already had a lover waiting for him. Although, that didn't change his and Astarion's relationship very much because Mordriel treats his friends with just as much love and value as his lovers, just with less kissing sometimes. The only real change in the relationship relationship is that Mordriel didn't sleep with him at all. He still adores Astarion deeply, and takes care of him just as he takes care of Lae'zel and Gale and Shadowheart and all of the others he's taken in.

This drawing is kinda after their first reunion. In both his "canon" story and this AU, he goes to meet Gortash alone. Only in his regular story it's because he's worried of Gortash's explosive personality bleeding out towards his precious party members, and in this AU, he really just wants to see his boyfriend alone and be able to get all sappy and emotional without Astarion in the background scoffing at the sight of emotions. After they talk for a long while they go out to the woods together by Mordriel's request and have a ton of cuddles. And a little more, but it's way more emotionally driven than just being horny. It's so much more than being horny, it's seeing your lover in what feels like eternity, having only your own thoughts for solace when your lover had been your everything for the past fifteen years.

Another thing is that I just love him now?? I hate him but I love him?? I don't know, I'm a sucker for dramatic, over-the-top, evil little emo villains with big noses and sad eyes and smile lines. He reminds me of Lucio (from the arcana) in a way, because I LOVE Lucio in his route. He's my sad little sweet man and I'd kill for him. He's just a sad guy who needs some love and care, and someone to show him he's worth loving. But then in Muriel's route, just Lucio's name sets me off. Which is how I feel about Gortash

Okay I'm done :)

[ashwritesmonsters]

The Thru-Hiker (part 2)

Female Reader x Male Mothperson (Desmond)

Prev: [Interlude] Next: [Part 3] Words: 2.9k Note: Yes, this story is alive! Don't mind me just editing things like 80 times 😭

As you wake gently to the sun shining through old lace curtains, you enjoy a delicious moment of not quite knowing where you are. Your body feels rested properly for the first time in ages, and the bed underneath you feels impossible to get up from. This all changes when you remember you're in Willow Grove, on the second floor of Evangeline's Bed & Breakfast, and running into Desmond again is a very real possibility. The town was a tiny one, after all, and Moths like Desmond literally stood head and shoulders above the humans, Selkies, and Lupines in town.

With the possibility of seeing him again giving you much needed motivation to get out of bed—you literally imagine yourself hugging him and nuzzling into his soft neck fuzz—you quickly freshen up with an indulgent hot shower and throw on some fresh clothes. You never realized how much you missed wearing things like leggings and sweaters until you wore nothing but purpose-made hiking gear for months. 

The moment you step out of your cozy room, you're dragged by the nose downstairs towards the aroma of fresh croissants. As you step into the kitchen, Evangeline pulls a baking sheet with half a dozen of them out of the oven, her tail wagging with satisfaction.

"Good morning, dear," she greets you, moving with impressive speed to set out a plate and silverware for you in the breakfast nook. "How did you sleep?"

"Perfectly," you reply, playing hot potato with a fresh croissant as you sit at your plate. 

"I've forgotten how nice it is to sleep in a real bed. I seriously considered never getting up."

"Well that just wouldn't do!" She smiles warmly, baring her sharp canines. "Otherwise, who would I share breakfast with?" She turns her back on you for a moment to reach for jugs on the counter. "Coffee, orange juice, water?" She offers.

"Coffee, please," you ask. You heft your camera off your shoulder strap and onto the table, where it's joined by a mug of steaming coffee. You don't have to be a coffee snob to tell by smell alone that this is better than the freeze-dried stuff you had with you on the trail.

"You're a photographer, I take it?" Evangeline asks, eyeing your toaster-sized camera.

"I am," you say between bites of warm croissant. She smiles as you enjoy her delicious handiwork.

"Is that what brings you to Willow Grove?"

You think while you chew. Yes, you could tell her that you're here because you hiked five months to find a Moth you hooked up with in the woods, whose full name and contact info you don't even know, and you're sorta hoping to just bump into him in town and...

"Pretty much," you lie. "I took lots of photos on the trail, and I guess I didn't want to go straight back to the big city. Willow Grove is a very pretty town." That last part is honest.

"Well you are in for a treat." Evangeline leans in, elbows on the counter. She's proud of her town and her tail wagging is proof. "If you're looking for something to do today, I'd love to help you with some recommendations of mine."

"That would be lovely." Just like that, your croissant is nothing but crumbs, so you sip your coffee.

"Well, I think you should start at our library." Evangeline reads your mind and grabs you another warm croissant. "I'm sure you would find the archival photos there interesting. There are some from nearly a hundred years ago on the microfiche."

"Wow. That's pretty good archiving." You start working on the second croissant. You're drawn in by the chance to see this town in photos a century old. The town already feels so steeped in history; you'd love being able to see it for real.

"For a town this size it's unheard of. The library really is the centerpiece of the town. It's the only building with three stories and it's a beauty, too. It's all red brick and stained glass on the outside, with stained wood and brass fittings on the inside. It's pretty enough to photograph on its own, now that I think of it."

"I'll have to do that, then," you chew. "Thank you for the recommendation, Evangeline. I'd be lost without your help."

"Of course, dear. Don't hesitate come by and chat with me again."

You nod eagerly and thank her again. Between Evangeline's generosity and the small town charm, Willow Grove was growing on you. Once you finish your coffee and croissant, your camera finds itself slung on your shoulder once again and you set off, stepping out into the crisp Autumn air.

The walk to the library is a pleasant one, with the scent of fallen leaves and woodsmoke in the air. As you approach the building, you see what Evangeline meant when she said it was the town's centerpiece. The red brick exterior is adorned with intricate stained-glass windows depicting scenes of nature and the townspeople. Where the morning light shines on the exterior just right, you frame a shot and snap a photo.

Stepping inside, you're greeted by the rich, dark wood interior that oozes warmth and history. If you weren't drawn here by the lure of the archival photos (and didn't have a Mothman to find), you'd want nothing more than to curl up in a warm corner and finish a book in one sitting. Your eyes are drawn to the towering bookshelves that seem to reach for the heavens, each equipped with rolling ladders to access the highest volumes.

Following Evangeline's advice, you make your way to the microfiche room, eager to delve into the historical photographs she had mentioned. Upon entering, you find yourself alone under the dim lighting with only the sound of analogue machinery as various machines hum and click around you.

You take a seat at one of the microfiche machines, both eager and intimidated. You're no stranger to old tech, but you've never used one of these, and the machine's knobs and scroll wheels seem don't match anything you've used before. With determination, you begin to attempt operation, threading a nearby spool of delicate film through the machine and squinting at the projected images on the screen.

Despite your best efforts, the machine proves stubborn and uncooperative. The images refuse to focus properly, and the scroll wheel seems to have a mind of its own as it either moves too fast or not at all. Growing increasingly frustrated, you ball your hands into fists and fight the urge to smack the machine. You'd probably end up more damaged than the machine if you did.

"Ugh," you mutter under your breath, trying to channel your patience and remind yourself that it's just an old machine. "Why won't you cooperate?"

Taking a deep breath, you look around the dimly lit room, seeking solace in the quiet space. As your eyes adjust to the low light, you notice the intricate details of the machinery and the countless reels of microfiche waiting to be explored. Thinking about the long history of this town and the fact you're only one of many people determined to photograph it and record its charm calms you down a bit.

You refocus your attention on the stubborn machine, steeling yourself for another attempt at coaxing it into cooperation.

Just as you're about to touch the scroll wheel again, a gentle tap on your shoulder startles you. Your heart leaps into your throat as you spin around, only to find Desmond standing behind you with a warm smile on his face. 

"Hey there," he says softly, his big red eyes sparkling with amusement. "Need a hand?"

"Desmond!" you exclaim, unable to contain your joy at seeing him again. With a mix of delight and relief, you sweep him into a tight hug, lifting his featherlight frame off the ground for a moment. His fluffy wings flutter against your back, and you can't help but smile even wider.

"Wow, someone got pretty swole on the trail," Desmond jokes awkwardly as you set him back down, his chitinous features accentuating his shy grin. "I'm glad to see you too."

"Sorry, I just got carried away," you apologize, cheeks burning a little. "It's been so long since we last saw each other."

"Yeah, it really has," he agrees, rubbing the back of his neck. "How have things been for you since we... parted ways?"

"Tiring, but good," you reply, trying to focus on the positive aspects of hiking and living like a caveman. "I actually finished the trail just a few days ago. You weren't kidding when you said the town was right near the trail's end."

"Well, welcome back to civilization. I don't need to reintegrate you to society do I?" He teases.

"Shut up," you land a playful shove against his shoulder. "What are you doing in the library, anyway? You haven't been stalking me since I got into town, have you?" You tease back.

"Actually, I work here. It's what I did before I hiked the trail and it's good to be back."

Desmond the Librarian just seems too fitting for him. "How's life as a librarian?" You ask.

"Quiet, mostly," Desmond admits with a chuckle. "But I like it. It gives me time to read and watch old movies, which is nice. Plus, I get to help people find what they're looking for, whether it's a book or a piece of microfiche."

"Speaking of which," you say, gesturing toward the stubborn machine, "any tips on how to make this damn thing work?"

"Of course," Desmond says, stepping closer to the microfiche machine. With a few deft movements of his slender fingers, he adjusts the knobs and scroll wheels, and the image on the screen comes into focus.

"Thanks," you say with relief. "I was about to give up on this thing."

"Anytime," he replies with a warm smile. Then, he glances around for a moment before leaning in slightly, voice hushed as if by instinct in the quiet library. "Hey, do you want to see something really cool?"

"Sure, what is it?" you ask, your curiosity piqued.

"Come with me," Desmond says, leading you out of the dimly lit microfiche room and toward a staircase tucked away in the back corner of the library. "There's a private office upstairs with an amazing view of the town. I think you'll like it."

As you ascend the stairs, you notice the atmosphere shifting from the cozy bustle of the library to a serene, quieter space. The dark wood paneling continues upwards, and the scent of old books melds with the faintest hint of dust.

Desmond opens the door to the private office, revealing a room filled with antique furniture and more floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. A large, arched window dominates one wall, offering a stunning view of Willow Grove below.

"Wow, this place is incredible," you breathe, taking in the beauty of the room and the town beyond. Townspeople below mill about, getting ready for a lazy morning. You can see the cafes on the main street starting to fill up and people driving their cars on the winding roads to the neighboring towns.

"I thought you might like it," Desmond says, a hint of pride in his voice. "It's one of my favorite spots in the library."

You both step closer to the window, absorbing the breathtaking view and enjoying each other's company in the peaceful atmosphere of the office.

"You know, um..." Desmond starts, fidgeting with his neck fluff, "I'm happy to see you again. I'm glad decided to find me again."

"Me too." You sidle up to him, enjoying the warmth of one of his wings. "I worried you'd think I was crazy, or you'd have gotten over me, or..."

Desmond stops you. "No, not at all. "I'll admit, this would have been much easier if I just gave you my number," he chuckles, "but it just didn't feel right back then, you know? But now that some time has passed and I've gotten to be on my own for a bit... this feels right, having you with me."

"Thank you," you reply, touched by his words. Your heart swells, and the knowledge that Desmond is just as happy as you are to be here has your face filling with warmth. If Evangeline's croissants were a feeling, they'd be closest to the sensation of Desmond wrapping a soft, warm, fuzzy wing around you as you both watch Willow Grove come to life.

Just as you're about to stand on your tiptoes to plant a kiss on him somewhere, the door behind you swings open.

"Desmond, I need to talk to you about..." The voice, strong and low like dark chocolate, trails off as the Mothwoman enters the room and spots you. Immediately, an aura of coldness and intimidation emanates from her, making the air heavy with tension. She's taller even than Desmond, and her black wings, spiderwebbed with streaks of white, wrap around her like a cloak.

"Who is this?" she demands, her gaze fixed on you. The warmth in the room dissipates like a snuffed out candle.

"Mom, this is my friend," Desmond says, trying to defuse the situation. "We met on the Appalachian Trail a while back."

"Friend?" Samara narrows her eyes, suspicious of your presence. Her overprotectiveness of Desmond is palpable, making you feel like an intruder in their world.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs... um..." You stammer, offering your hand in a polite gesture.

"Samara," she replies icily, ignoring your extended hand. She turns her attention back to Desmond. "You never mentioned any new friends from your trip."

"Ah, well, we just recently got back in touch," Desmond explains, his voice wavering slightly under his mother's scrutiny.

"Is that so?" Samara regards you with a steely gaze, her tone accusatory. She begins asking terse, probing questions, attempting to assess you as if you were a threat. "How did you meet? Why are you here in Willow Grove?"

"Um, we met by chance on the trail," you respond, feeling uneasy under her intense stare. "As for the rest, I'm just here to take some photographs. It's a hobby of mine." You try to remain polite, but can't help being taken aback by her coldness.

"Photographs," she repeats skeptically, looking you up and down. There's something unspoken in her expression, a hint of distrust that you can't quite decipher.

"Mom, please," Desmond interjects, coming to your defense. "It's really not a big deal. We're just catching up."

"Fine," Samara relents, her tone still chilly. "But don't plan on spending all day with her. You're needed at the circulation desk soon." With that, she gives you one last lingering glare before turning and leaving the room as abruptly as she had entered.

You stand there in the wake of her departure, heart pounding, as the atmosphere slowly begins to return to near-normal.

"Sorry about that," Desmond says with an apologetic grimace. "My mom can be a bit... overprotective."

"Is she always like this?" you ask, still reeling from the encounter.

"Unfortunately, yes," he admits. "Especially lately, with the town's Founding Festival coming up. She's been under a lot of stress." He rubs the back of his neck sheepishly before continuing, "I guess I should let you know she's the mayor of Willow Grove, so the responsibility of overseeing the whole event falls on her."

"Your mom is the mayor?" Your jaw goes a bit slack. Having his mom dislike you is one thing, but when she runs the whole town? You try to shake off the lingering unease, focusing instead on the warmth of Desmond's wing as he returns to your side and rests his hand on your shoulder.

"Yeah," he chuckles nervously. "She's a bit of a local celebrity around here. I'm really sorry for how she acted towards you. I promise, it's not personal."

"Thanks," you say, managing a small smile. "I appreciate you sticking up for me."

"Of course," Desmond replies, his gentle eyes meeting yours. "You're important to me, and I don't want my mom's behavior to drive you away."

The sincerity in his voice makes your heart flutter, but there's also a pang of disappointment. When he had introduced you as "just a friend" earlier, it had stung a little, even though you understood why he did it. You wonder if that's all you can be to him when Samara is around – just a friend.

Desmond seems to sense your uncertainty, and hesitantly reaches out to take your hand. "Hey," he says softly, "if you're up for it, I'd love to take you on a real date soon. Somewhere outside of this dusty old library."

"Really?" The hopefulness in your chest flares up at his words.

"Absolutely," he confirms, giving your hand a reassuring squeeze. "I want to show you the town and get to know you even better."

"Then I'd love that," you reply, feeling a mix of emotions, but still hopeful. Willow Grove seems like a town just magical enough to make this work, no matter how much warming up Desmond's mom needs before she gives up the cold shoulder.

[simbouquet]

The Sims 3: Showtime (Singer Profession OST)

This is not a game mod! Just something I put together for fun. :)

Ever since Showtime came out I really enjoyed the songs from the Singer profession, but I'd never been able to find them uploaded in good quality anywhere online. So after over a decade of waiting and searching, I decided I'd just do it myself!

I extracted every song directly from the game files using TS3 Sound Tool. The songs are actually divided into sections, so really I had to grab all the pieces of each song and make full tracks out of them. In the end I had 58 different tracks: every song performed by female and male vocalists in every possible arrangement (in-game, the arrangement of the song changes depending on the venue you're playing a show at.)

With that out of the way, I also went ahead and made everything look a little prettier: I gave all the songs proper file names and titles, grabbed some official key art to use as the album cover, and tagged each file to organize the tracks into three discs, one for each arrangement, with the tracks being numbered in the same order that you unlock each song in the game.

Full disclosure: I did no editing to the files besides arranging the sections into full songs, so what you get is exactly what you hear in-game. I also used the internal file names as a reference for which arrangement each song was in, which may or may not perfectly match the availability of each song arrangement during gameplay.

The final result is a full album with everything already laid out pretty neatly that you can just plop into your iTunes or wherever you listen to music. You could also theoretically put these files in your Sims games as custom music, but YMMV – you may have to convert the files into a different bitrate and whatnot for them to play properly, not really sure.

Have fun 🤍

Download: Google Drive

[honeybadger-69]

Just thought I'd get this out there, I've started writing in a secret note app on my phone about things I want to happen or come into existence and truely belive that when I write this stuff it comes true if anyone has any ideas or comments please let me know no hate or Diss thanks enjoy♡

MY SUBCONSCIOUS

Priority high

I'm aligned with my subconscious and working together it's helping me do everything and putting it all together for me at an expert level and sorting things out if they happen or making sure they don't happen and it's looking after me like it's showing care I'm in control of my subconscious being able to truely manifest and my thoughts about what im doing is spot on and in control and my thoughts and my head and my body and my mind is all being expertly helped and sorted by my subconscious it's actively helping me and working towards a successfull outcome and it's safe from anyone else interfering or changing it or putting bad thoughts into it or creating it to be an invisionment and it's working fully and using all of itself to achieve anything is possible and things are working always state of being and anything I could ever dream of or belive is becoming a reality for me and I'm in control of my dream and reality and it's not a mess and it's the best time and no one hates it everyone is sorted that needs to be and if I end up being the world properly again my subconscious will fully support me to be the best it can be and keep everyone happy and myself happy and entertained by the absolute weird skill of the world happening around me

SMOKING A PIPE

Priority high

when I smoke the pipe I smoke it properly all the way so it's the most effective and what the ice does is it's going to make me smarter thinking faster thinking more creative things will come to me naturally magic will happen because of it it will make me process things faster problems solve really easy fix things with ease upgrade me and all my things I have and do it alot so it's really strong it will be in my system and activate the ice cells in me making the ice become more than it was and really feeling it in my system and getting me up and stimulation my central nervous system properly

MY ALIVE AND ALL ABOUT IT

priority high

I'm alive. there's no doubt about that and I'm fixed from any injury I thought I had or was shown and my alive is stronger than ever and holding me up and continuously going and supporting me and keeping me safe and not scared I'm also not feeling any dead or attached to anything that's going to make me feel otherwise me being alive is important and it's kept safe and will survive anything humanly possible and extraordinary possible it's also smarter than it ever was and will survive and keep up and safe and hidden and will help me do everything I need to like eating walking standing doing all done properly and it can also upgrade/supe up to save itself or me and it's the power and effort of something out of this world and the smartness of it is with out a doubt the best it can be and it's not anyone else or any invisionments and it's the same as myself and the self of me that will never change and my heart is in the correct and safe place and never leaves me and stays strong and alive and doesn't run out or stop ever and can do anything that is physical possible to succeed and does

MY NOTES

priority high

no one can change them they are permanent and can't get effected by anything and they are all legit like how I got them and it is always legit

and it's not effected by my thoughts or blocked by any of limitations i might have it will just happen that's it real life and in the flesh and through and can't be changed

MY SHADOW

priority high

my shadow weighs a ton it's by my side protecting me with expert skills and expertise and the absolute knowing and will power that it has and the old edit still kicks around too but my shadow is sacred and has ultra power powerfully enough to tip a cow to make someone go boo to restore me back to health and protect me from anything and it has complete control of its power and it's always full and if it gets used it fill up instantly the shadow is fast faster than normal and can use skills like that that is has to help me or supe me up or get me out of a trouble and my shadow never loses it has the best win there ever was invented in the intiety of the all and everything and has complete understanding and and can fully understand his power that never leaves him and he becomes one with it and it's not anyone or an invisionment and is the best protector from anything and the best helper that ever existed

so for starters I fix myself from all my injury or connectivity to the rinse and fix up from any of it just remove it or change it to not show (to help me know I'm rinsed kind of thing easy to handle) once that's all fixed and I'm alright to become alive again I imagine myself be able to and actually doing it is supping up or fixing up from this and completing a process to get me alive again aswell as me doing things to do that as well like my head and heart and mind and soul I do this restore all my stuff that's important all the way back to full health and myself still everything there is about me that would of got affected and begin to beat and feel my love heart/ heart same thing you know what j mean not a secondary heart or somthing like that working again instead of being told not to beat or something random like that because I'm not actually dead I just have to seem like I am that's also part of the process helping me understand the rinse or not through convincing and then to get my subconscious trained into getting alive and up easily through trying again and again different things still making sure my hearts beating and is working telling myself I'm alright this whole time then checking inside myself for anyways to help be smart and correct and on point with this process and I start by getting up and noticing a feeling of my head like it's rinsed from the injury and I tank it by getting that stuff that can sorted then after I do that and feel my heart get up then move on to going into a process like you come alive and feel like you have woken up from a nightmare remember it's important to not feel like you've woken up as someone else or you might not be yourself and once that process goes through I had a bit of scarcitues like I remember like my alive has been sleeping this whole time and it's been unaware of anything apart from when I was scared and pretend rinsed off and now it's like it's straight back to that so that's when you know you've come alive again but a different approach now to just calm down from that even if you have to fake rinse again little bit cause there someone else almost feelingvlike they are scared and shit not ment to be real and now I'm alive just need to get up/do that process again alot smoother and wake up from the moment where ij now since my heart/alive isn't in sleep mode anymore and is learning and defending and preparing naturally so I just get my self into a process started (when this process happens your heart fixes up your body and all your stuff and emotions and essence and aliveness about you that's missing fix up and is there again and so much more like a good feeling and you feel fixed and alive) by feeling alive breathing safe heart beating head thinking emotions high and lifforce lifeforcing and completer the whole process but in a much nicer way and can feel things again like the first time I tried the process but it's alot safer and I start to control my heart and my head and thoughts fix up and my body isn't weak or uncoordinated or heavy or disconnected and I'm not loose or too tight but I'm just right as what j need to be to be fixed alive save and stay alive and up just like that.

BECOMING ALIVE AGAIN FROM BEING MADE TO BELIVE I WAS DEAD

priority high

so for starters I fix myself from all my injury or connectivity to the rinse and fix up from any of it just remove it or change it to not show (to help me know I'm rinsed kind of thing easy to handle) once that's all fixed and I'm alright to become alive again I imagine myself be able to and actually doing it is supping up or fixing up from this and completing a process to get me alive again aswell as me doing things to do that as well like my head and heart and mind and soul I do this restore all my stuff that's important all the way back to full health and myself still everything there is about me that would of got affected and begin to beat and feel my love heart/ heart same thing you know what j mean not a secondary heart or somthing like that working again instead of being told not to beat or something random like that because I'm not actually dead I just have to seem like I am that's also part of the process helping me understand the rinse or not through convincing and then to get my subconscious trained into getting alive and up easily through trying again and again different things still making sure my hearts beating and is working telling myself I'm alright this whole time then checking inside myself for anyways to help be smart and correct and on point with this process and I start by getting up and noticing a feeling of my head like it's rinsed from the injury and I tank it by getting that stuff that can sorted then after I do that and feel my heart get up then move on to going into a process like you come alive and feel like you have woken up from a nightmare remember it's important to not feel like you've woken up as someone else or you might not be yourself and once that process goes through I had a bit of scarcitues like I remember like my alive has been sleeping this whole time and it's been unaware of anything apart from when I was scared and pretend rinsed off and now it's like it's straight back to that so that's when you know you've come alive again but a different approach now to just calm down from that even if you have to fake rinse again little bit cause there someone else almost feelingvlike they are scared and shit not ment to be real and now I'm alive just need to get up/do that process again alot smoother and wake up from the moment where ij now since my heart/alive isn't in sleep mode anymore and is learning and defending and preparing naturally so I just get my self into a process started (when this process happens your heart fixes up your body and all your stuff and emotions and essence and aliveness about you that's missing fix up and is there again and so much more like a good feeling and you feel fixed and alive) by feeling alive breathing safe heart beating head thinking emotions high and lifforce lifeforcing and completer the whole process but in a much nicer way and can feel things again like the first time I tried the process but it's alot safer and I start to control my heart and my head and thoughts fix up and my body isn't weak or uncoordinated or heavy or disconnected and I'm not loose or too tight but I'm just right as what j need to be to be fixed alive save and stay alive and up just like that.

MY SIZE SHAPE AND SPOT

priority high

my size is small that I'm use to without changing my shape too much and away from anything effecting me my shape is fixed with something like the new thing i put there that shape where I am and spot where I can see myself always but it's hidden from anyone doing anything to me or looking at me or changing me and I'm fixed like my face is skinny/small when I see it but it's in control not losing the big and I'm like how my hands where like smaller and bone like

[dude-wheres-my-ankheg]

Baldur's Gate 3 is a year old today!!

This game is honestly so so special to me. I've been hooked on Baldur's Gate since 1998, and I can't even count how many times I've completed 1 & 2. I'd totally given up on there being another mainline game.

I was so excited when it was announced that it was being made, wary it wasn't bioware but still hopeful. Honestly I was kind of heartbroken when I tried the Early Access - the play style was completely unrecognisable and had of course jumped several editions of D&D. I couldn't get into it at all and I was devastated.

I gave it another go when the full game came out and I am so glad I did.

Not only do I adore the game and will play it just as much as the others, but it was what made me step into fandom properly. I've made some wonderful friends here. Made a character that honestly helped me in ways I never could have imagined. Plus finally got me over not being able to write and read nsfw which sounds daft but yknow. Raised Catholic™️

Plus, THEM 🥺🥺

Thank you Larian for taking my lifelong obsession and adding another wonderful installment ❤️

[saintsaensreads]

Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!

This year, maybe more than any other before, I've been plagued with a reading curse : a curse of DNFing books. Not out of boredom or dislike, maybe the exact opposite : a too passionate approach.

This year has been a year of many first in various aspects of my life. One of which less enjoyable than others : my health has taken a toll (which, fingers crossed, will not bear any physical consequences) but which for sure left me with quite a shaken spirit.

One of the effects of said shaken spirit was a feeling of general instability. While, at the same time, I was quite sure to have left behind most of the instability I had lived through until this year... Well, life never goes as planned it seems. Unfortunately, both my physical state and this now infamous feeling of looming instability left me reeling, and I found myself properly unable to finish books which I enjoyed a lot. It sounds strange, believe me it is even stranger to go through it !

The victims of my DNFing :

[Covers of : The Books of Jacob - Olga Tokarczuk (english edition) ; L'Arte della Gioia, Goliarda Sapienza (italian edition) ; Histoire d'un ruisseau, Histoire d'une montagne, Elisée Reclus (french edition)]

These books were fascinating for me, for different reasons :

The Books of Jacob explored a narrative style, as well as a subject and a place throughout centuries I know next to nothing about.

L'Arte della Gioia offered a uniquely endearing story, coupled with a writing style which left me breathless, while also challenging my understanding of italian in a literary setting.

Histoire d'un ruisseau, Histoire d'une montagne might be the odd one out : I would take this book, which is both a study in political ideas and geology, with me while going on hikes. I wanted to observe and be in a similar environment as the one studied there. Obviously, my health being what it is, I didn't hike nor walk as much as I had hoped for.

These books, varied as they are, were so fascinating that I gave it my whole energy when I read them. I would settle, start a sentence, think it over because of how beautiful or thoughtful it was, start dissecting it (as one can do when one is a former literature student...)... and then two chapters in, the energy is out of the window, because life is not un long fleuve tranquille, and I'd find myself at a loss on what to do when my mind cannot focus anymore as much as I would like it to. What a conundrum.

I'm not loosing hope I'll ever be able to read those books entirely at some point (maybe next year even!), but what I can take out of this year is that I might need to stop pushing myself too much.

It's easy, in a way, to feel pressured to read books quickly in our current society. Even more so when there are so many great books that seem to be waiting at your fingertips. And wen book content is being published by single readers at an unfathomable speed, content creators who talk about books are showing off monthly TBRs so high it might swallow them whole if they fall on their heads... How can you remain distant and unaffected ? The answer is quite simple : you can't. So you want to read. You want to read a lot. More. Always more.

And with such an environment, it's just as quickly guilt-tripping to know you enjoy books, to know you are able to enjoy books, but to physically or mentally be unable to read or to stick to a story. I have been through this so many times this year, it's mentally exhausting.

Now, while I had tried this year to work on finding a healthier balance in my work life, I now also hope to find a healthier balance in my hobbies, of which includes reading.

I love reading, but I don't want to feel pressured into reading. I also don't want to spend my free time only reading as a consequence (which happened sometimes, because I felt urged to finish books...for no reasons at all). I have a lot of hobbies besides reading that I which I could dedicate time to : writing first and foremost, but also (as you might have noticed) knitting and embroidery, learning languages... there are so many creatives outlets I wish I could focus on !

But most importantly now, I want to be able to enjoy the books I'm reading without depleting what little energy I have. I want to have a healthier relationship with my hobbies. And while before I was afraid of loosing time by not being in a good enough physical state, I want to take care of myself so that, when I have the energy, I can fully enjoy the hobbies I set for myself. Reading is about learning, discovering, emphasizing. It takes even a lot more out of you, if you try to get out of your comfort reads : changing genre, styles, periods or languages... there is no shame in that. And there is certainly no shame in needing time.

In the end, I DNFed these lovely books out of self-preservation, to go on with a lighter mood and find a better balance in my reading life. Hopefully, in a few months, I can come back to them in a calmer mind and a calmer environment, where I'll be able to dive without fear into their stories to discover them fully, enjoy them fully... and share them with you as much I as I like !

[thevikingwoman]

I wanted to do one of these this year, as I've been really pleased with what I've written this year, especially in the back half.

For November and December I tried writing or working on my writing (outlining, editing) every day, and I was able to do so almost every day. I think it unclogged something, and I'll try to keep going with this in 2024.

This year I tried out a new fandom, FFXIV, it's been an interesting experience. I love what I've written and where it's taking me. I've had fun developing Meryta and getting to know her, it has taken a bit for her to let herself get known to me, and it's still a process! I'm enjoying having something new to dig into. I've also written a few shorts for Wayfarer IF, and my MCs do live rent free in my head - but for now they're mostly biding their time.

I'm looking forward to writing in 2024!

Overview

Fandoms: 2

Fics Published: 10

WIPs (actively working on): 3

WIPs/ideas (back burner): 5

I haven't tracked my words all year, so I can't properly tell. I've split up my in-progress fics as I tend to get ideas and jot down the gist or even write a little and then abandon. Some of them will never see the light, but some of them have more than 2000 words in them and I do want to finish them up.

For me, it's a constant balance of following the new idea or buckle down and finish something. I will work on this, I have things I want out in the world.

Fic List

Reprieve - FFXIV | E | Meryta x Emmanellain | 4206 words

I started this fic as a sweet kiss, and decided later to add the whole encounter and the morning after to the fic in November. I'm glad I did and it's been so fun exploring the sweetness between Meryta and Emmanellain.

Distance - FFXIV | M | Beatin x Gairhard, Meryta & Beatin | 1542 words

I have such a fondness for the DoH quests, and the ARR carpenter ones in particular. This is one of the favorite things I wrote this year, and one of the first.

Wayfarer short trio - View (G), Alone (G), Flirt (T) | 1474 words total

I wrote three short fics for @wayfarer-week, one for each of my MCs. They are all pre-game, and I'm very happy that I got these done, and the moments I choose.

Wrong - FFXIV | G | Meryta & Urianger | 691 words

I wanted to explore how Meryta felt about Urianger after the HW patches, and how this could lead to a beginning friendship

Under Familiar Stars - FFXIV | E | Meryta x Tansui | 2085 words

I so enjoyed Tansui when he showed in MSQ, and by mid Stormblood I had the idea of Meryta having a fling, so I wrote this. I really love how SB was both a homecoming and turning point in her maturity and confidence, and this fic does explore some of this - along with the smut ;). I'm really happy how this turned out.

The Perils of Ishgard Publishing | FFXIV | G | Meryta & Emmanellain | 428 words

A fun note on (fake) wol romance novel became this, and I really love how I was able to write off the cuff - and get to explore Meryta and Emmanellain's friendship after their fling.

Stress Relief | FFXIV | T | Calantha x Hien | 527 words

This was a gift for @galadae, and I'm so happy I got to write Cala and Hien. I love their relationship, and I'm so happy I got to write this, and that my writing has unwound itself enough to write a small gift fic.

Passing Through | FFXIV | E | Meryta x Tansui | 4518 words

By the time November rolled around I'd went off cliff on Meryta and Tansui's relationship, and this fic is my favorite of the year. I'm having so much fun exploring their dynamic, and writing some pretty fun smut. This one made me happy.

End notes

this was the year of FFXIV writing, and it does feel different writing for this fandom than other's I've engaged with. I don't know if I can or will set words on it, but I do look forward to exploring more ffxiv writing and reading next year.

The past two months have been so fun to me, and I've been pouring more words out than the entire year. For next year, my goal is to feel more free, to keep writing what sparks interest, and especially not worry of fitting everything perfectly into a fixed timeline. Not worry about living up to other's or my own expectations or bar for "making this thought a fic", not worry about pairings or topics, and just have fun.

happy writing to us all in 2024!

[darkstarofchaos]

Unpopular Opinions: EarthSpark Wishlist Edition.

Was going to give some thoughts on S1 a while back but never got around to it, so eh. Let's look ahead to S2 with some things I'd like to see and some I wouldn't.

Characters:

Ironically, the one character I wanted to see but didn't think would fit the show seems like he's actually going to appear. I've already written up an extensive Prowl wishlist, but to summarize: socially awkward and seemingly cold or rude, but nice once you get to know him; either not a cop or an ex-cop; disability optional but strongly encouraged. Also, if he's going to have low empathy or a strongly numbers-based approach to the world, don't villainize him for it.

Aside from Prowl, the only characters I have strong feelings about are ones I don't want to see. Basically all of them are MTMTE/LL characters, but the only ones I'm going to call out specifically are the DJD: I feel like they would need to be a season-long threat to be properly utilized, and since we've already had one major "hunt down Decepticons" plotline, I'm not interested in seeing another.

Not a deal-breaker, but I'd rather not see any more gender-swapping. I don't mind Ravage or Nova Storm and I warmed up to Frenzy, but Skywarp just doesn't feel like the same character. By which I mean I wouldn't be able to write her the same way I write him, because the way I write him would be a female stereotype applied to her. And I couldn't do her relationship with Starscream the same way either (same goes for her relationship with Thundercracker if he shows up). So as far as fanfic goes, she's literally a different character who I'd need to approach completely differently, and I just. If you need a bigger female cast and you can bring in characters like Hardtop and Skullcrusher, you can give little-seen female characters some time in the sun. Do that instead.

Pairings:

So first off, kudos to EarthSpark for finally producing a Megatron & Optimus dynamic where they actually feel like friends, but that's all I see them as, tbh. In fact, there's only one pairing I have any interest in so far, and that's MegaStar. And with that being said, I would like to see some development between them in the next season. But not Megatron trying to make things right with Starscream: Starscream deserves to have his desire for distance respected. Instead, put them in a situation where they're forced to cooperate and let them start to work things out from there. Maybe some apologies that neither is required to accept (we don't actually know what Starscream might have to apologize for in this universe, but I'm sure there's something).

As far as potential future pairings, I guess I wouldn't hate TaraProwl. On one hand, I would prefer as few IDW influences as possible, but on the other hand, the monsterfucker in me wants someone to pair Tarantulas with. But if they're going to interact, I need Prowl to not be a jerk and I'd love it if they didn't already know each other.

Other Random Desires:

Minimal IDW influences.

Normally I wouldn't think about this in a Transformers show, but after the Mother's Day episode: no more holiday episodes please (I will make an exception for an Independence Day episode that highlights recreational explosives as a horrible way to celebrate. Seems perfect for this show).

Still torn on whether or not I want to see Nightshade become aware of transphobia, but I'm thinking not. Won't say no to having more trans/nonbinary characters, though (I will make an exception to the no gender-swapping thing if the swapped character is explicitly trans).

More disabled characters! If not Prowl, then someone (was kinda disappointed that Twitch's optic got repaired by the Magic, not gonna lie).

Okay, that's all for now. Might revisit this when we get a trailer for S2.

[the-fandom-crossroads]

So the poll on the Tumblr staff post asking if you are a queer Tumblr user is going to pass 100,000 votes later today which seems like a lot. But as folks pointed out it's probably only getting around the lgbt circles. So I went and looked for the actual numbers.

According to this and most other statistics articles from this year on average 130+ million people login to Tumblr at least once every month. The number of people who log in every day is about 12 million. Suddenly that 100,000 doesn't look like a lot.

But how many people would need to vote in the poll to be a good number of all users able to see the poll in time? since this poll will only last a week the 130 million doesn't apply. If we guess 1/4 of those 130 million login during the week this poll is active it would be 32.5 million plus the 12 million that login every day that's 46 million people that could vote if 100% of the possible users voted. Obviously it's impossible for all of them to see the reblog chain so for a good number of votes I'd say a couple mil maybe 5-6.

So yeah that 100,000 is less than 1% so it being 90% queer people and 10% cis het people tells us nothing. But I would like to know how Tumblr staff got all the way down to 1/4 of active users. Like is that only counting folks who have their identity in their blog bio? Because if so myself and this blog wouldn't be counted. Or maybe you have to post enough times in lgbt tags but then they might just be an ally. Basically it's really hard to properly collect demo data like that on a blogging site like Tumblr and Tumblr staff probably shouldn't have tried to put a definitive number like 25% onto one of their clearly louder demographics.

Edit: wait never mind they have our gmails linked to account creation. Google just gives them whatever demo stuff they've collected from our browser habits. Still doesn't make 1/4 accurate just tells you where they are collecting the info from if not our blogs or optional surveys.

[browneyeddevil]

Twenty Questions: Fanfic author edition

thank you to both @goldenslumberowo and @thesweetnessofspring for tagging me! sorry it's taken me so long to get to this

How many works do you have on ao3?

I have 10 works

2) What's your ao3 wordcount?

85,510 - which is an absurd amount given how irregularly I post

3) What fandoms do you write for?

The Hunger Games. I have thought about branching out but nothing has really inspired me quite like The Hunger Games has :)

4) What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Brightest Timeline - Canon divergent Silence me, Trust me, Love me - Post canon The Elephant in the Room - Post canon The unlikely Coming-of-Age of Katniss Everdeen - Canon divergent Isn't it Strange - Post canon

5) Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I try my very best to respond to all the lovely comments readers leave. I appreciate them a whole lot and find them very encouraging, I also just like to hear what readers are thinking, especially for multi-chapter works. Although, I admit, sometimes it takes me a while to respond, and there are occasions where I just straight up forget for a couple years.

6) What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

It'd probably have to be Underground; I kind of killed off Peeta 👀. It's a brief canon-divergent one-shot during Mockingjay that more or less focuses on Katniss and her grief and anger. In retrospect, it's kind of like the evil twin of "The Brightest Timeline" in which Peeta is rescued from the Capitol unhijacked.

7) What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Ohhh, Full Circle no debate. It's the happiest fic I've written, full stop. It's post-canon. Prim is alive, and Peeta and Katniss find each other again. All quite sweet and fluffy.

8) Do you get hate on fics?

Not to my knowledge. People have been critical of some of my earlier works, sort of disagreeing with my interpretations of a character, but I wouldn't call that hate. I hope I don't ever have to encounter the more vitriolic side of fandom.

9) Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Noooo. I get nervous when describing a kiss that isn't chaste lol. I just don't think I'm very good at it, to be honest. I have considered writing more steamy scenes, especially for my WIP's, but I just don't think I'm there yet as a writer.

10) Do you write crossovers?

No. But never say never.

11) Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not to my knowledge. I don't think my work is really popular enough to have to worry about that lolll.

12) Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but I'd be fine with it if I was asked first :) I think it would be super cool.

13) Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

No, but I wouldn't be against the idea, per se. I'd just feel super guilty, my schedule is very unpredictable and I wouldn't want someone else having to deal with my erratic writing habits, it's bad enough that I do lol.

14) What's your all-time favourite ship?

Gotta be Everlark for sure.

15) What's a WIP that you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Oof. I mean... if I'm honest Stop the Clocks, I think for me to be able to finish that I'd have to sit down and plan it out properly. It's also just always been a fic that I've struggled to sit dow and actually write for. In short, it needs a LOT of work and care. It's not badly written, buttt it's also not the best.

16) What are your writing strengths?

I'm pretty good at descriptions and being able to bring a setting alive. I've been told that I write very in-character and that my characters are consistent, which is nice because writing a character's inner monologue comes quite naturally to me.

17) What are your writing weaknesses?

I struggled for a long time with writing natural and organic dialogue; it has definitely become easier with time and practice, but it's still something that I obsess over a little. Also, transition paragraphs are the bane of my existence and I tend to avoid them where possible.

18) Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I'd definitely be comfortable with writing in German as it's my second language. I'm currently learning Spanish, so maybe? I think it would depend on the complexity of what the character is trying to say. I think anything else, no. Not without consulting someone who speaks the language first anyway. I've seen first-hand how google translate can butcher simple phrases lol.

19) First fandom you wrote for?

The Hunger Games! My one and only 😍

20) Favourite fic you've ever written?

Isn't it Strange 100%. I put a lot of care and thought into it and it will always have a place in my heart. Rereading it there are some things that I would phrase differently now; and a part of me itches to change it, but another part would rather leave it as a time capsule to display my younger self's writing and how much I've improved since then. Weirdly enough though, it's just one of those fics that never got much attention lol *wink wink nudge nudge*.

This was super fun, so thanks again for tagging me!

I don't know who has or hasn't participated already so if anyone wants to hop on feel free to :)

[ariessafandoms]

Hi everyone, decided I should have a main post for all of you to see to get some information about me! My name is Ariessa or Ari. I am 21 years old, and a huge fan of video games, cosplay, cartoons, & more. My DM's are always open to chat about similar likes or anything of the sort, don't be hesitant to send me a message! I will likely use this account to mostly post things from VrChat, since I really enjoy taking photos on there with my friends. If you have any requests for characters or photos, I'd be happy to take them and see if it's something I'd be up for doing! You can request those on this post. Please only request characters/franchises that I list below however, since I'll better know those characters and be able to get avatars for them.

I might occasionally post some edits like I do on my Instagram, but Tumblr for me is mostly a place to come see amazing artists draw the things I love.

Shows I enjoy watching and chatting about:

Murder Drones

The Amazing Digital Circus

Trollhunters

The Owl House

Amphibia

Infinity Train

Gravity Falls

KIPO and the Age of Wonderbeasts

Steven Universe

Games I play and like:

Genshin Impact

VrChat

Undertale / Deltarune

Five Nights at Freddy's

Minecraft

Roblox: Pressure

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Current anime I am into:

Zombieland Saga

Blue Exorcist

FairyTail

Mob Psycho 100

Assassination Classroom

Demon Slayer

If we have any similar likes and you want to talk about it or just chat, shoot me a DM! I would love to make some new friends on here. I've had Tumblr for quite a while, just never really properly used it. So.. we're gonna start using it!

Anyway, thanks for reading to the bottom, and I hope to enjoy the Tumblr community and make some new friends!