#Lark made me cry

[lawless-walrus]

[nonebinary-leftbeef]

Will naming Henry's kids Lark and Sparrow was a personal callout to all nonbinary people with noun names

[crossbackpoke-check]

do u ever speak too soon & immediately regret it.

[kaseyskat]

okay since they said that the san diego show is gonna be the only one Not recorded, i'll do my best to summarize the show for y'all!!!

-glenn's dad fact: the glenn close trio instagram (? i think?) is full of pictures of glenn standing next to a picture of the real glenn close

-darryl's dad fact: he and carol go to san diego very frequently because darryl likes the breweries and carol likes surfing! they have not "had sex" there once, but they HAVE made love (statements that made me cringe out loud)

-henry's dad fact: he and mercedes make a fake san diego burrito for themselves and the twins. it sounds awful.

-ron's dad fact: he thinks san diego is a type of eggo waffle

-the prompt that we rolled was called DADDY BABIES. the plotline? the dads (and paeden) went to the dimensional witch tilt toblerona to ask her to give them the strength of their youth back so they could find their kids. instead, tilt turned them into babies.

-the dads still have all of their memories of who they are as people and they can talk to themselves and to paeden (tilt does not understand them though, tilt only hears baby noises) but physically Being a baby affects their mental state just a bit

-ron wanted to stay a baby forever. henry tried to explain the concept of ageplay to him, darryl got confused thinking that ron just wanted to HAVE a baby like with samantha, henry had to explain fetishes

-during the baby section, henry is the most "adult" and ends up having to corral the others. darryl is a close second, but glenn and ron both Suffer Immensely

-while tilt is making. applesauce? the babies scheme on how to escape, involving an elaborate scheme in which henry uses mold earth on playdoh to make fake versions of themselves blue in the face and choking in a plastic bag and ron throwing his voice to sound like a baby crying. beth made the worst fake crying noise ever but then also gave us an INSANE dolphin noise when anthony called her out on it

-(also the dads had to roll object permanence to see if they thought tilt was gone forever when she was out of their line of sight. glenn failed this check very badly. darryl even played peekaboo with him to demonstrate object permanence and it failed. anthony made a horrible horrible joke that glenn's not a bad parent he just has bad object permanence even when it comes to nick)

-somehow this works? they trap tilt toblerona (glenn using illusory mind prison to make tilt think SHES the one choking on a plastic bag, henry casting stone wall on her to build a lego wall around her and effectively cask of amontillado-ing her) and then wander around the house looking for a way out.

-they realize they need tilt's key to escape, but first they watch an episode of bluey! henry is the only one who saved on a roll to Not be sucked into watching bluey and ends up unplugging the TV and going on a tangent about how screentime is bad

-(which is really fucking funny because he very explicitly says "lark and sparrow are well behaved because we set boundaries and have them play outside instead of using screens" and we all know how lark and sparrow are like. not???? not well behaved. henry im so sorry to break this to you but they are not well behaved-)

-anyways they get back to tilt, find and steal her key, and then open the door, promptly getting sucked through dimensions

-(darryl thinks for a second that he's in the rapture and tries to baptize himself in case his baby form isn't baptized. henry tries to help but goes on another tangent and they miss the opportunity)

-when they awaken, they find themselves now as teenagers in a classroom! and they see a GOTH PUNK SEEKER OF DARKNESS (phrases that made the entire crowd erupt in screaming, myself included)

-this time, darryl is the most stable of the dads! glenn coming in second, and then ron and henry were both. very teenager.

-darryl immediately offers to play ball with link. link is interested but ultimately gets shot down by tilt, who explains that they are in interdimensional detention forever

-glenn and taylor immediately bond over how cool they are

-scary asks ron if she can copy his math homework because he seems smart with a tie. ron agrees to let her but is very nervous about it (we later find out this is because he is not very good at math)

-teenage henry is a fucking delight yall. he sits there staring out the window at the trees and writing poetry (with long hair! long hair teenage hen is real!!!) about the trees and enjoying nature

-scary has to roll not to fall in love with him the second she finds out that he writes poetry (she fails)

-normal tries to bond with his grandfather. henry brushes him off entirely. its heartbreaking and also hilariously funny

-normal goes fucking apeshit yall. he gets so fed up of henry ignoring him and the others not talking to him and being trapped in this small room that he takes a crossbow and threatens tilt with it. she calls his bluff and he SHOOTS HER?

-at least, he tries. she catches the bolt and then tells him that if he's serious he needs to actually stab the bolt into her heart himself. he does. he's unhinged.

-tilt tries to explain her entire sob story backstory. darryl interrupts to boo her and call her a loser.

-glenn and taylor throw a desk out of the window to break it open. going out the window Will Kill You.

-ron paints the window like a slip and slide to try and trick tilt into going into it. it doesn't work. however two guards come in and it DOES work on one of the guards

-the other guard eventually gets physically thrown out of the window by taylor, who proudly declares that this will not affect him at all

-henry goes to talk to scary. scary gets excited, but then henry just asks if she thinks that teen darryl would go out with henry because even though he's "not henry's type", something about him is captivating. scary is heartbroken.

-darryl overhears this and rejects henry on the basis of him still dating carol! but offers to set henry up with carol's friends.

-glenn and taylor use awful fireworks to blind tilt, the other guard (that taylor kills), and normal since he was in range.

-scary tries to be bitter and calls henry out for being blind, but henry wasn't hit with the spell and immediately says some fakedeep shit about seeing more than most people do. it is insanely funny i cannot stress how funny teenage henry is

-link is now convinced that public schools were a mistake and he needs to leave Right Now. he rolls a nat 20 on taking the key, but uses it for himself to fucking dip. he just ditches them. he bolts for it. normal even tries to give him a high five and link completely goes NOPE.

-when nobody else has another form of escape, henry takes out his sketchbook? that apparently he always has as a teen? and uses summon creature to draw a boar and bring it to life. the boar smashes through the door and now they are saved!

-it is here that it is revealed this was all a dream but specifically a dream set pre-canon. darryl makes a comment about link being a narc. glenn tells taylor to never change because he's perfect exactly the way he is. scary tells ron that he sucks at math (and ron is very confused about scary's existence he doesn't know who she is).

-HENRY. tells normal to be the best version of himself. AND TO HELP HIM WITH THAT. he draws. TEENY. TO GIVE TO NORMAL AND INSPIRE HIM TO BE HIS BEST SELF. and that is how normal came up with teeny the teen as the mascot of teen high

-it was such a fun show, i'm so glad i got to attend! shame that it isn't being recorded

[aries-writingblog]

If We Have Each Other

Summary: Dick Grayson has always been a saint for his friends, but especially for his best friend and her daughter.

Pairing: Dick Grayson x F!Reader

Word Count: 3.4K

Warnings: reader is a single mom, language, mention of adultery/ cheating

AN: this can be read as a platonic relationship or romantic, photos are from Pinterest

“Grayson, you’re an angel.” YN announced as she opened the apartment door.

Dick chuckled, turning away from his current task of gathering stray clothes that had never seemed to make it to the laundry basket. He dropped the pair of socks into the pile, quickly approaching the two newcomers.

“Oh, my favorite person in the world.” He reached out and snagged the baby from her hip. Olivia gurgled, her hands grabbing out for him. “And her mother, of course.”

“Ha, ha.” YN droned, allowing him to take both bags and the carrier from her, as well as the baby. “She was a little fussy during the night, but she’s happy as a lark now.”

“Never mind, that, I’ll handle it. Olive loves me.” Dick grinned, tilting the baby’s body side to side, only to listen to the giggling and cooing she made. He tucked her against his chest, cradling her with both arms. His attention returned to YN, as she closed the door. “How’ve you been holding up?”

YN exhaled. Hands falling to her hips.

He could see the exhaustion on her face. In her eyes. It was more than a restless night’s worth.

Between her job, errands, and daughter, YN was stretched thin. It was her own choice— a stupid one, considering Dick had offered his assistance, time and time again. She refused, more often than not.

It didn’t stop him from going over to her place and ripping the baby away, forcing her to relax.

He wished she would let him do more.

“I’ve been hanging in there.” She admitted I’m taking Night Shift next week, first time since Olivia was born.

“She can stay with me. I’d love to have a house guest; We can watch Golden Girls together and have all sorts of fun.” He promised, eager to lift her burden, even just for a few nights.

YN shook her head, instantly; She dug around through the backpack, brows furrowed. She swore she packed Olivia’s blanket…

“No, I’m calling the babysitter. She’s college age and could use the cash—“

“No way!” Dick interrupted. He sighed, shifting Olivia to his hip. His free hand reached out and brushed her arm. Holding at her elbow. YN finally stopped shuffling the items, meeting his eyes. “Look, I know it’s tough for you. And I know you want to do everything yourself, but I’m not gonna let that happen. You already know, I don’t mind helping out.”

YN swallowed, her eyes stinging with tears.

God, she didn’t deserve Richard Grayson.

He wasn’t the father of this baby, he wasn’t even in a romantic relationship with her, and here he was, giving up the best years of his life for some other man’s neglect.

For her choices.

And he did it all with a glimmering smile in his eyes.

“You’re a life saver, Richard Grayson.” She croaked, blinking rapidly to quell the tears before they fell.

Dick chuckled, lightly brushing the stray tears from her cheeks.

She had been all over the place, ever since she found out she was pregnant. Crying at the drop of a hat, angry the next, overwhelmingly happy, rinse and repeat.

He was fully capable of surfing the waves of mood swings, by now.

“I’m your life saver, baby.” He nodded. He placed a hand on her back, pushing her along toward his bedroom. “Now, shoo. Go and sleep. Relax. Take a bath, read some books. Lunch is in the fridge when you’re hungry. Let the babysitting commence!”

He turned, holding the baby above his head and stomping back to the spare room, turned Olivia’s room.

Olivia giggled, as Dick wiggled her body in the air.

YN smiled, shaking her head. That man was something else entirely.

Pulling into a safe parking space, Dick turned his car off, searching his console for his wallet. Olive sound asleep in her car seat in the back. The girl could sleep through a hurricane, as long as she was in a moving car.

He was impressed, really.

Exiting the car, he rounded the back— making a pit stop on the left to grab his bag— then to the right side of the vehicle. Opening the back door and unclipping the belts around the baby’s chest.

Olivia cracked her eyes open, at all the new movements, a yawn escaping her lips.

“Grocery shopping with Olive.” Dick sang, tugging the knitted beanie snuggly onto Olive’s head. Covering her ears as she awoke, groggily staring above his head, into the shaded skies of Gotham.

He slipped the baby carrier over his shoulders, then scooped Olivia from her car seat and settling her against his chest.

She made no fuss, just curled her fists between their chests and propped her head against him. Cooing quietly as she tried to settle back into her nap.

Dick locked the car behind himself, backpack full of baby supplies, and his own necessities, on his back. Baby on his front.

This was how a majority of his errands were run, now. His ‘leaving home’ list a bit longer. Keys, phone, wallet, baby, diapers, etcetera. He preferred this over his bachelor days, anyhow.

Snagging a cart on his way in, Dick shrugged the backpack over his shoulders. Depositing the bag into the largest portion of the metallic apparatus. Withholding the infant, still against his chest.

Dick was more paranoid than YN was about a baby in the world. Bludhaven wasn’t as dark or despicable as Gotham’s streets, but having grown up in the dark made his affinity for the light that much greater.

And he never let Olivia out of his sight.

That included grocery store shopping carts. Not only were they hot beds for every snot nose kid’s germs, Dick could see a scenario playing out before his eyes. He leaves Olivia in the cart, cart gets snagged, baby gets snatched, and bye bye Dick Grayson.

Six feet under, murdered by a very angry mother.

Snapping away from the violent daydreams sucking him toward a crisis, Dick refocused on where he had aimlessly drifted. Luckily, down the right aisle.

Breakfast foods.

“You want Cheerios?” He muttered, moving his chin back to look at her. She didn’t seem to care about his words. It didn’t matter to Dick. “Hell yeah.”

He tossed the box into the cart, picking up a few other breakfast materials as he went. Several aisles passed, Olivia keeping herself occupied as he shopped. He talked to her nonstop— convinced that her grasp on the language would be better if he did.

And he didn’t care how stupid he might’ve looked doing it. Anything for Olivia wasn’t stupid at all. He was long past looking stupid in public; It was a juvenile fear of his that he surpassed quite easily, after his first few patrols with Bruce.

“Does the Olive want olives?” He asked, showing her the jar. Olivia turned her head to the opposite aisle, her eyes scanning the items. Uninterested in his proposition. “Yeah, me either.”

Dick swapped out the jar for a smaller one, putting it in the cart instead. He had nearly gagged the day he saw YN eating olives out of the jar— like they were potato chips. And at first, he was going to blame it on her sixth month pregnancy situation, but he couldn’t even do that because she had eaten them on many things, willingly, before that incident.

He usually had a small jar at home— pushed to the very back of his fridge, where YN would be the only person to eat them.

He didn’t even want to look at the things.

Dick hummed under his breath, bouncing gently. Olivia let out a long noise, the tone fluctuating as he bounced her.

She ended in a giggle; Wild laughter that echoed along the aisle. Dick scrunched his nose, mocking her. She only laughed harder.

He smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Dick pulled to a stop at the end of the aisle, glancing both ways before turning down the next.

But just as he pulled to a stop for Goldfish and other various crackers, he heard his name called from behind. Turning, keeping one hand on Olivia, his eyes landed on an approaching, feminine figure.

Kelly— the Police Sergeant’s secretary.

Her smile broadened as her eyes scanned to the baby strapped to his chest.

“I didn’t know you were a father.” Kelly smiled, her eyes switching back and forth from Dick to Olivia.

Dick laughed, following her gaze.

“Oh, technically— this is a friend.”

She blinked, brows creasing as her eyes flicked from the infant to the man she was strapped to again.

“The… baby?”

Dick gave an elated ‘uh-huh!’, before tilting his shoulder so that Olivia’s face was visible. Kelly cooed, doting on the baby instantly.

“Say hello, Olivia.” Dick shifted, trying to keep moving so that she wouldn’t fuss. “Her mom is a close friend and a single parent so, on my days off, I watch Olivia while she rests.”

“That’s so sweet of you.” Kelly pressed a hand to her heart, her eyes darkened, tilted so that she gazed at him through her lashes. Dick grit his teeth through a smile. “I’m sure her mom appreciates it.”

She was practically purring— in front of a baby, no less. A shiver of discomfort snaked down his spine.

He knew she had always been friendly with him at work, but he had never paid attention to just how friendly.

When he was younger, before YN and Olivia, perhaps he would have noticed. Perhaps he would have done something about it. But now, he just dreaded the scene that played out before him.

How was he supposed to word this and let her down easy?

“Yeah.” Involuntarily, his palm pressed to the back of his neck, brushing the strands away from his nape. “She’s a nurse at the hospital so her hands are always full.”

“I’ll bet you’re a hit with the ladies.” She giggled, fingertips brushing his bicep as she removed her hand from Olivia.

Bingo. Perfect opportunity.

“My days of chasing ladies are over, I’m afraid.” Dick chuckled, his hand pressed to Olivia’s back. She was wide awake now, and leaning into his palm, arms and legs outspread. Dangling from her seat. “It was nice seeing you, I’ve got a few more errands to run and Olivia has a date with a couple good looking toys on aisle seventeen.”

“Oh, don’t let me hold you up.” Kelly responded, her hands held in surrender. She gave another dazzling smile before leaning back down to the baby. “Bye, Olivia. It was wonderful to meet you. See you Monday, Grayson?”

“Monday, it is.” He confirmed, a nervous chuckle slipping from his lips. Satisfied with her work, Kelly turned on her heel and began making her way back to where she came from. Only glancing over her shoulder twice to send him a smirk— to ensure he was watching her walk away. Watching the sway in her hips.

As soon as she was out of sight, Dick exhaled a breath he hadn’t been aware was stuck in his chest.

“Oh, boy.” He groaned, relieved at his lonesomeness once again. Olivia gave a light grunt, fingers trailing over his lips. Removing the offending wigglers from his mouth, he leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. “You’re a godsend, babe.”

She gurgled happily, completely ignorant of the words he spoke.

Even though she technically got him into the altercation, she also got him out of it. He didn’t feel bad taking advantage of her presence; Though, he may owe her a toy or two, after all.

It was mid afternoon before Dick and Olivia showed face at his apartment again. She was strapped to his chest, his arms full of his reusable grocery bags. Backpack on his back.

YN, who had taken it upon herself to finish up the laundry, pushed herself to her feet at his arrival. Her hands outstretched for the bags hanging from his arms.

He grunted.

“I’ve got them, don’t worry about that.” Dick refused. Instead, opening his arms so that she could unclip the infant.

So, she did what he asked. A wispy smile on her lips as she removed her daughter.

“Hello, darling. You have fun today?” YN asked, cuddling Olivia close to her chest. Dick gave an ‘uh-huh’ to answer; YN narrowed her eyes playfully, a smile pulling her lips involuntarily. “Were you able to get all your errands done?”

Dick nodded, dumping another bag onto the counter. He gathered a few items, then turned to put them away in the fridge.

“Yes. We went to the grocery store, the bank, picked up some documents from the station, defeated a whole gang of drug dealers, and got seven phone numbers.” He informed with a lilt in his voice. YN snorted, and Dick turned away from his fridge to continue his story. “You know how concerning it is that women practically fall over themselves for a guy with a baby? What if I were married?”

He pressed a hand to his chest, scandalously. As if adultery was the worst someone could do.

As if he didn’t see the utter destruction of human nature night after night.

“You should accept some of those, definitely.” She nodded, teasingly.

“Now why would I do that? I’ve got all the ladies I need, right here.” He grinned, holding her tightly against his side. She rolled her eyes when he squeezed her shoulder. “You staying for dinner?”

YN paused, running down her to do list. Nothing that couldn’t be put off another few hours.

“I don’t see why not, long as you’re not tired of us.” She bargained. Dick scoffed, sweeping her hair away from her face.

“Never.” He promised.

YN smiled gratefully, staring up at him. The domesticity of the moment was endearing. His blue eyes even more so. She should’ve been thinking a million different things— hell, she had been thinking at least a thousand before he looked at her like that.

Now, the only thought in her brain was that it was a shame her baby didn’t have those bright blue eyes.

A sudden, loud growling noise erupted from between the two adults. Yn’s face flushed with heat as she averted her gaze to the child in her arms.

“Speaking of dinner, someone is hungry. After that big day of fighting bad guys, we’ve got a tummy rumbling.” YN’s voice lowered, pressing kisses to Olivia’s face.

The baby laughed, her hands smacking her mother’s face and smushing her cheeks.

“You and me both, sister.” Dick concurred, brushing a hand over Olivia’s head.

YN readjusted to grab Dick’s backpack and start sifting through it.

“She have any milk left over?” She asked, pulling out his wallet and keys, pepper spray (like he wasn’t six foot and one eighty nine), various items of Olivia’s. She finally produced two empty bottles.

“Not a drop.”

“Damn.” YN muttered. Half relieved at the fact the infant was healthy and hungry, half annoyed she drank everything. Standing from her seat, YN began making her way out of the kitchen. “I didn’t have time to pump this afternoon, I slept most of it. Looks like we’re going old school, sugar.”

Dick reached over to the drawer beside the sink, rummaging through tea towels and potholders to find a burping rag.

YN caught it as he tossed it at her, throwing it over her shoulder. She made her way toward the living room to procure a modicum of privacy.

Dick hummed at her newest situation. He’d seen her topless far too many times to count. His embarrassment had long worn off.

That first night, in the hospital, he had tried to give her as much privacy and respect he could. He would turn away every time a nurse or doctor came in to check her; At every feeding, he would keep his eyes glued to her face so intensely it became a source of her self consciousness.

‘Get it over with and just look at my tits, Grayson.’

‘YN!’ He’d squawked— eyes going wide. She chuckled. ‘You’re my best friend and that feels like a boundary we shouldn’t cross.’

‘You’ve seen it all, Dick. Trust me when I tell you, this is the least embarrassing thing you’ll see me do from here on out.’

And she was right. As always.

But he liked to think himself a gentleman, and still gave her what she deserved in dignity.

Which is why he stayed in the kitchen, his back turned. YN’s soft hums floated in the air, along with the smells of dinner, being reheated on the stove.

It felt terribly domestic. It didn’t feel real. Like this was something he had dreamed up. Conjured in his mind to satiate his loneliness.

But his mind wouldn’t have made YN pregnant by a man who didn’t hold his word to her. Who didn’t have her back. Dick was too good a friend to imagine a future like that for her.

Even if he benefited from another’s loss. It hurt the ones he loved in the process.

“Your dinner, madam.” He presented the bowl graciously, his head dipping into a bow. YN snorted, eyes rolling. He settled in beside her, careful of the baby in the rocker in front of them. YN gently pushed it back and forth with her shin, keeping Olivia in motion. “Hey, wouldn’t it be hilarious if her first word was my name?”

YN sent him a side eye glance.

“If she says the word ‘Richard’ on first try, she’s—“

“No.” Dick laughed, the look of pure indignation on her face was too good to pass up. His original statement had been half a joke, but now… what he wanted to tell her wasn’t. He hesitated, fingers tracing over the handle of his spoon. “I mean like… dad.”

Yn’s chest tightened, her knee stopped moving. Her eyes pierced through him, though his own gaze remained glued to his soup.

She couldn’t say he had blind sided her— not really.

Dick had acted like Olivia’s father for as long as YN could remember. He had been the first person she called when she found out.

And he had been there every step of the way.

Of course, Olivia would call him dad. That was a given, that she had already confronted.

But for Dick to accept it? Encourage it?

That was almost too much to ask for.

“I’d like that,” YN murmured, clearing her throat. Dick’s gaze was heavy, as he lifted it to level with her. Her face was kind— her eyes gave away her true excitement. “You being her dad. Better than her real father.”

Dick scoffed, anger stabbing at his chest at the mention of the man who fumbled the best two people he had ever laid eyes on.

“That guy can kiss my entire ass.” He grumbled, tilting his bowl to his lips. YN hummed quietly, shifting Olivia closer to her body and carefully bringing a spoonful to to her own mouth. Olivia’s chubby hand reached up, attempting to disrupt the course. Dick smiled softly, reaching over and taking her hand. Pushing it down. “I do consider Olivia mine, you know. And you.”

He was trying to give her a heart attack.

And he was gonna get what he wanted.

Her heart pounded against her sternum. She had known for a while that Dick was slowing down in his older years. He hadn’t been on an actual date in… she couldn’t even remember.

At first she wanted to scold herself for being such a bad friend that she hadn’t even asked about his love life; But then, she realized, he hadn’t even mentioned anything like that recently.

He was being serious.

He hadn’t even needed to ask her and she agreed to his sentiments, wholeheartedly.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“It’s nice to feel wanted.” YN murmured, failing at her attempt to guard herself.

Dick swore he heard heart strings snapping at her tone. He widened his legs, pressing his thigh to hers, ankles intertwined.

As close as he could get without disrupting their bowls, or the baby.

“I’ll always want you.” He promised, carefully leaning closer. “Even if you are obnoxious.”

YN let out a laugh, drenched in her tears. But Dick was prepared for them this time.

At least they were happy tears.

[imakemywings]

Below will be fanfic recs for TOLKIEN, HADES, DRAGON AGE, MASS EFFECT ANDROMEDA and THE TERROR. Once again, I’ve tried to break the Tolkien recs down by character groupings but you all know what a thankless task that is. Asterisks by particular faves! (〜￣▽￣)〜

(Photo credit to Craig Pattenaude on Unsplash.)

Past fanfic rec lists

Tolkien

Sindar

As a River Flowing Into the Sea by Melesta - E - 3.2k - Elwing nurses a long-standing crush on Princess Idril. Love the symbolism and the characterizations here!

Bitter was Their Parting by Atalantie - G - 2.2k - I can’t speak, I’m crying about Arwen and Elrond.

Different Ways to Light a Path by baby_bat_98 - G - 5.1k - If you are looking for early stages of Gimli and Legolas coming to understand each other this fic is for you! Legolas is having a very bad no good time in Moria and Gimli offers some assistance.

* Chain and Trammels by am_fae - G - 322 - AHHH! It is SO testament to Lark’s writing ability that so much is fit into such a short fic. This speaks VOLUMES about Melian and her choices pre-canon and throughout Silm. And so poetically written, as always!

Hemlock and Niphredil by theScrap_Witch - G - 4k - Absolutely wonderful and crushing examination of Thingol and Elrond in Aman bonding over a daughter who chose mortality.

* A King is He That Can Hold His Own by iddump - I hear you. But Mae, you say, you’ve recced this fic like five times already. but listen. Listen. This week’s new chapter was so good it has to go on here again. Blown away once more by iddump’s grasp not only on the characters but their relationships with each other. This fic is a thesis statement on Maedhros and Thingol and I am here. for. it.

Nothing Beside Remains by TheChasm - G - 1k - Elrond and Elros take a trip to Doriath and everything is bittersweet. Wonderful exploration of their relationship to each other as well as to their family history.

* The Redemption of Daeron by Runedhel - T - 7.3 - Entirely in verse, this dedicated love letter to Tolkien and Daeron in particular blew me away. This author has fantastic talent and I was amazed at how well Tolkien's poetical style was captured. And of course, I love a happy ending for Daeron, even if it takes him a while to get there <3

The Self is Not So Weightless by Alyss_Baskerville - G - 1.3k - Sobbing again over Elwing meeting Thingol in Valinor. Absolutely wonderful fic!

To Speak of Nothing by Alyss_Baskerville - G - 3.7k - Honestly going a little wild over this take on Elrond and Elros’ relationship with Maedhros and Maglor. This look at the twins’ final goodbye to their kidnappers and caretakers is SO good and also shows how each of them views it a little differently.

Noldor

The Beloved by am_fae - E - 7.1k - Lark literally never misses. Once again Finrod and Sauron’s dynamic is utterly transfixing and their growing internal conflict over their feelings is delicious.

* Calma, Lambe, Lambe, Ore by sallysavestheday - G - 656 - Maglor and Daeron both made me laugh here and I loved the tone of this piece. Pretentious Maglor and snarky Daeron makes for such a fun dynamic.

The Chain that Snaps by am_fae - T - 5k - This masterpiece comes to a stunning and explosive conclusion to masterful effect. The emotions here come through so powerfully and vividly you can't help but be on the edge of your seat.

Deliberate by unendingwanderlust - E - 1.1k - Delightful bit of Meladriel smut with Galadriel getting the spanking she sorely needs. Very fun character dynamics!

Ensnared by swanmaiden - E - 749 - Messy messy Celegorm fucking one of his followers. His attitude here is so believable and as usual, Heather excels at capturing self-destructive characters. Nice work!

Hearth Fire by Atalantie - G - 1.4k Lovely little look at a tenderer, if still contentious, relationship between Feanor and Findis as the rebellion of the Noldor draws nigh.

In Fields of Gold by Arveldis - G - 350 - This is such a lovely glimpse of Finwe and Indis’ happiness and love. Beautiful imagery!

Just Call Me Home by sallysavestheday - T - 1k - A sweet moment between Celebrimbor and Finduilas after Celebrimbor disowns Curufin. Very touching <3

Maglor Indebted by SpaceAsthmatic - T - 8.2k - Very interesting look at Third Age relationships! When Maglor is badly wounded, he’s found and nursed back to health by an unlikely culprit–Legolas, only child of Thranduil, former Doriathrim. I really enjoyed the character interactions here!

Most Grievous of Partings by AngelQueen - T - 2.3k - Ahhh this look at Feanor and Nerdanel’s last parting is SO </3 The author does a great job capturing Nerdanel’s perspective.

Sown as Seed in the Dark by Melesta - G - 837 - The flowers are on Fingolfin’s side. Beautiful dialogue, and another angle for us all to weep about Fingolfin.

Starless by ncfan - T - 1k - Wonderfully claustrophobic look at Aredhel’s pregnancy in Nan Elmoth.

Tapestry of Years by NiennaWept - M - 5.7k - Love the dynamic between Galadriel and Melian here, and how despite her best intentions, Galadriel just can’t stay away.

True Wife by spellworth - G - 700 - You know that feeling when you supported someone on something because it seemed right and then later you realized they were totally in the wrong? Nerdanel knows that feeling :’) Fantastic dialogue and I love how the relationship between Feanor and Nerdanel is portrayed here.

Untitled by tanoraqui - This is such a fun look both at Finarfin’s relationship with Earwen as well as his position as Finwe’s youngest child. Great prose and a really sweet relationship between Finarfin and Earwen here!

Untitled by that-angry-noldo - ugly crying about Finarfin and Finrod’s relationship…also Finrod’s relationship with Nargothrond…really great work in using only a few lines to convey so much.

* Wan Little Husks of Autofiction by clovis_unleashed - T - 7.6k - Ahhh this is SUCH a fucking fantastic characters study of both Maglor and Daeron and how they are processing the Feanorian violence of the First Age a long time past. Absolutely phenomenal conceit of the conversation allegedly being about music. Cannot recommend enough.

Who did I suborn to do this piece? by birrdieEdwards - M - 1.1k - Fucking oof, brutal look at the kinslaying at Sirion with a painfully realistic Maglor and just enough canon divergence to make it that much more tragic.

Men

Ease Out the Thorns by myliobatis - G - 1k - Eowyn tries to help her soon-to-be-wife Faramir feel more comfortable in her own skin. A really sweet fic <3

The Horn of Gondor by saentorine - T - 3.5k - Very sweet and yet foreboding look at Boromir in the final days of Finduilas’ pregnancy with Faramir.

Labor of Love by Scyllas_revenge - G - 2.6k - Little Aragorn with his Super Serious crush on Arwen is adorable and poor Bilbo gets caught up in this XD

The Last Queen of Numenor by NevillesGran - G - 2.1k - Beautiful meeting between Tar-Miriel and Earendil at the fall of Numenor. Really captures the mythological energy!

Lavender Fields by Spurandsaddle - T - 507 - Arwen is less-than-subtle with her flirting, but it still takes Eowyn a moment to grasp it.

Rebuilding by bomberqueen17 - M - 7.7k - Excellent portrayals of both Eowyn and Lothiriel. A believable coming-together after the fight for Minas Tirith and good explorations of their feelings about their roles in life generally!

Ride Out with Me by raiyana - E - 2.1k - A really cute Eowyn/OFC fic from Eowyn’s youth!

Terra Incognita by aurembiaux - E - 8.1k - Faramir’s only been with men. Eowyn’s only been with women. They both try to get through their wedding night without having to admit this. Cute, sweet, funny.

With Every Seed You Sow, Let it Wash Away, Wash Away by hexagons - G - 3.9k - A beautiful exploration of Faramir post-canon and his budding friendship with Legolas. Excellent character portrayals!

Hobbits

Come True by Vulgarweed - G - 1.7k - Cute little fic about Elanor Gamgee meeting one of her heroes: Eowyn of Rohan.

Hades

Eternal Reward by cyankelpie - G - 2.3k - A lovely and touching look at the start of Asterius and Theseus' friendship.

Night Sightings by youtomyme - E - 6k - Sexy voyeurism between Hades and Persephone with Nyx's help.

Dragon Age

Anything Worth Doing by @chocochipbiscuit - E - 4.7k - Fabulous look at both Aveline and Isabela and the shift in their relationship after Aveline and Donnic divorce. I really enjoyed how real this felt (but still sexy!) I felt like this captured believable attitudes for women well into adulthood and that was very enjoyable.

Mass Effect Andromeda

Drusilla's Phosphorescent Adventure by drladybird - T - 6.6k - This is SUCH a fun look at Peebee and Vetra's relationship. Their banter fascinated me in-game and this fic does a commendable effort at capturing both the initial tension and the developing friendship.

Not So Recent History by Inquartata - T - 2.8k - Hundreds of years after the Andromeda Initiative arrives, Ellen Ryder awakes and meets Peebee, then a matron. Honestly, this fic convinced me that Ellen/Peebee is a far more compelling ship than Rybee. Let Ellen have some fun!

The Terror

Come Knocking by wildflower_47 - E - 3.5k - Delightful shenanigans when Francis, newly promoted, arrives at Franklin's house with a polite gift and is waylaid by a very intent Sophia. Love the dynamic of their relationship here!

Dark Red by flowermasters - E - 2.8k - Tasty sexy university AU where Francis is a professor at Sophia's university and she likes having a toy around. Really does a great job capturing the physical intimacy combined with the absence of true emotional intimacy.

An Ember, Stoked by Anonymous - E - 3.7k - Did you know "The Terror" has the most fanfics in the "sexual dysfunction" tag? Jopson is here to help Captain Crozier out with that.

Find the Wind to Fill My Sails by mothicalcreatures - G - 1.1k - A really touching moment where Sophia helps transwoman!Crozier explore privately presenting as a woman for the first time.

State of Grace/A Closing Flower by sshysmm - T - 432 - A short, sweet moment between Sophia and Francis before the departure of the expedition.

[willow-lark]

lark's recently-read byler fic recs

thought people could use some uplifting 💕🫶 please remember to hype up your favorite fics and art and other creative work & remember there's always something new to enjoy!! browse the tag or ao3 page & give someone's work a some love!! xoxo

If Time Runs Out by @rainypebble07 (T, ongoing, 14k+) - BYLER PIRATE AU!!! 🏴‍☠️ i literally just discovered this one today and i'm actually obsessed. i have never seen any other pirate aus (🤨) n i just wanna say u guys are missing out on the concept and on this fic bc i'm so invested. i'm so excited to see where this fic goes. royal mike x pirate mike is SO GOOD.

how to get your crush to believe you love him: a guide by mike wheeler by @newlesbianprideflag (T, 3/4, 11k+) - mike goes across the country to visit will at college in an attempt to confess his feelings to him. will, who has a boyfriend already and would like to think himself very over mike, thank you, is not impressed. this one deconstructs a lot of popular/fanon tropes and is really great so far!!

california show your teeth by @fireflywitch (T, 8/19, 63k+) - ok this one mayyybe only has background byler but i'm reccing it anyway bc it's one of my FAVORITE regularly updating fics maybe EVER. in early 1985, chief hopper and his average, normal family move from lenora hills, california to hawkins, indiana--the latter of which has had multiple tragedies over the past few years, to which the new chief's family may or may not be linked. LIKE WHATTTT 👀 go read it RN. masterpiece

All Good Dogs by @hellfiremike (T, 1/1, 3.8k) - this one actually made me cry. featuring: an EXCELLENT character study of will byers, a heartfelt examination of canon and what comes after, and chester the dog getting the attention he deserves and never got in canon 😭

kiss me (try to fix it) by birthofv3nus (T, 1/1, 4k) - will has kissed every member of the party except for mike, who is, understandably, taking this news *SO* well and is not jealous about it at *ALL.* but maybe his situation is not quite as dire as he believes it to be....ugh this one was such a fun read, and you know i loveee party dynamics!!

drank my poison all alone by silverluminoqity (T, 1/1, 4k) - mike is going through it, and, though vecna seems to have been vanquished, maybe he's not so completely gone as everyone thinks.... this is an excellent exploration of both mike's guilt as well as his evolution as a character, and how he views himself. super in-character and super good!!

high tide came and brought you in (and i could go on and on) by silverluminoqity (T, 1/1, 8k) - MOTEL FIC MOTEL FIC MOTEL FIC 🥳 or, mike and will have yet another heart to heart, and some things are revealed. this fic is just so completely heartfelt and UGH i was MELTING the ENTIRE TIME, holy SHIT. probably in my top 3 motel fics EVER tbh.

Chasing Heartlines by @cherryisgone (T, 1/2, 6k+) - i was so excited to read the first chapter of the sequel to maybe one of the best byler fantasy aus ever!! knight mike pining after prince will is something that can actually be so personal to me. i love a good mike-won't-shut-up-about-will fic. the attention to detail in this fic is actually INSANE.

[risetherivermoon]

because i have a lot of headcanons to do with the kiddads given they are npcs that we dont tend to get much information on, especially in season 2, heres a shit load more! a lot of these are sad because these guys make me sad

- Sparrow starts wearing glasses in Middle School a little after they get back from Faerun, Terry Jr. starts wearing glasses when he gets to his 30's, and Grant started wearing glasses when he was in Elementary school

- When Nicholas starts to remember stuff from the Nick timeline, (basically 'becoming' Nicky if you will) scars he'd gotten from stuff in that timeline start showing up on his body, notably one is a burn scar on one of his hands from him spilling acid on it in s1 ep 34

- Lark has very scarred hands from when he was buried in the rubble in Neverwinter, though his mobility stayed relatively the same because of how quickly the wounds were healed, there was a lot of left behind scar tissue

- Sparrow has a scar across his mouth from when he was latched onto Boreanaz by his teeth when the pyramid fell

- Grant takes video games way too seriously and has in fact made his friends cry over it (Most specifically Sparrow and TJ)

- Terry didn't tell any of the other kiddads how he was going to die, just that he knew how

- Terry also knew Grant was going to be the one to kill him, but he never mentioned it, Grant was very confused on why all of a sudden TJ was becoming distant

- And he found out how he was going to die before he met Veronica, so when he met Scary he almost debated not marrying Veronica, not because he thought it would prevent his death but because he wanted to spare Scary of that pain

- Lark is incredibly confused like half the time (with basically anything) and to cover it up he usually acts stoic and tough

- Nicky is the type of person to do anything if someone phrases it like "bet you wont do *insert thing here*" no matter what it is

- Sparrow has a ton of tattoos that Nicky did for him

- Lark is colorblind but hasn't told anyone because he's too embarrassed to admit it

- For Grant and Marco's one year anniversary the kiddads all got them Titanic themed gifts, (Nicky got them sixteen dvd copies of the movie, they dont own a dvd player)

- Terry was Nicky's best man at his wedding, and Nicky was going to be Terry's best man but the betrayal happened before Terry even met Veronica,

- to add onto the angst none of the kiddads attended the wedding because it was after code purple and after they'd decided not to be involved in eachother's personal lives outside of D.A.D.D.I.E.S.

- to make this at least a little funny Veronica just doesn't think Terry has any friends-

- On the topic of weddings, Lark got so drunk at Sparrow's wedding that for his best man speech he just started reciting the Declaration of Independence (he opened the wrong tab on his phone and didnt notice)

- Grant has claustrophobia (from being inside the chimera)

- Lark used to be way better at pretending to be Sparrow but now he lacks too much spirit and gives up way too quickly for it to be convincing to most people

- Terry Jr. is extremely gullible and is usually the one Nicky would prank and trick the most just because literally everything works on him

- Nicky activated the sprinkler system at D.A.D.D.I.E.S. so much they took it out

- Terry used to talk to Jerry the Whale like he was his therapist

- Nicky would take a bunch of polaroids of the other kiddads all the time, he kept a photo album at his desk at D.A.D.D.I.E.S., it still sits there because none of the kiddads had the heart to clean it out

- Terry had beef with Darryl for a while as a teenager, for literally no reason (it was probably because he still had a lot of emotions and didn't no where to put them so he decided to just hate on his friend's dad)

[ilynpilled]

"When we were little, Jaime and I were so much alike that even our lord father could not tell us apart. Sometimes as a lark we would dress in each other's clothes and spend a whole day each as the other. Yet even so, when Jaime was given his first sword, there was none for me. ‘What do I get?' I remember asking. We were so much alike, I could never understand why they treated us so differently."

"Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We are one person in two bodies. We shared a womb together. He came into this world holding my foot, our old maester said. When he is in me, I feel … whole."

"Jaime lost himself in her flesh. He could feel Cersei's heart beating in time with his own and the wetness of blood and seed where they were joined."

"What a jape the gods have made of us two," she said. "By all rights, you ought to be in skirts and me in mail."

Within the tower, the smoke from the torches irritated her eyes, but Cersei did not weep, no more than her father would have. I am the only true son he ever had.

It was queer, but he felt no grief. Where are my tears? Where is my rage? "Father," he told the corpse, "it was you who told me that tears were a mark of weakness in a man, so you cannot expect that I should cry for you."

Sometimes he even wept, until he heard the Mummers laughing. Then he made his eyes go dry and his heart go dead, and prayed for his fever to burn away his tears.

Cersei gave them all the words that she had in her, gave them everything but tears. That they will never have, she told herself.

"Would it amuse Your Grace to be a man one night?" If I were a man I would be Jaime, the queen thought. If I were a man I could rule this realm in my own name in place of Tommen's. My brother, Jaime, thirsts for battle, not for power. He's run from every chance he's had to rule.

"Is that what you would do, if you were a woman?" If I were a woman I'd be Cersei. "If I were a woman, I'd make them kill me.”Deep down Robert Baratheon was a coward. In time the assaults did grow less frequent. During the first year he took her at least once a fortnight; by the end it was not even once a year. He never stopped completely, though.

"Pull his mane, I dare you." He never did. I should have had the sword, not him.

If the gods had given her the strength they gave Jaime and that swaggering oaf Robert, she could have made her own escape. Oh, for a sword and the skill to wield it. She had a warrior's heart, but the gods in their blind malice had given her the feeble body of a woman.

But Jaime's walls were gone. They had taken his hand, they had taken his sword hand, and without it he was nothing. The other was no good to him […] It was his right hand that made him a knight; his right arm that made him a man.

"The lovers," Shagwell sighed loudly, "and what a lovely sight they are. T’would be cruel to separate the good knight and his lady." "Ah, but which one is the knight and which one is the lady?"

"What is this woman to you?" "My protector."

"Was it your hand they hacked off in Harrenhal, or your manhood?"

"Oh, an angry cripple. How terrifying." She laughed. "A pity Lord Tywin Lannister never had a son."

I thought that I was the Warrior and Cersei was the Maid…

Ser Galladon was a champion of such valor that the Maiden herself lost her heart to him. She gave him an enchanted sword as a token of her love. : She reddened. "My name is …" "Brienne of Tarth." Jaime sighed. "I have a gift for you."

[dujour13]

Owlcatober 19. Duty

featuring the teen Free Crusade orphans, Clenna and Daberoche

Unsubtle hints at a massive spoiler for the azata path

Also on AO3

“Magical Elysian flowers don’t need fertilizer, potatohead.”

Clenna went around to the next stall and hefted a shovelful of steaming manure into the wheelbarrow that her small companion, Daberoche, was trying to work up the leverage to push behind her.

“All flowers need fertilizer,” he grunted. “How can they grow if they don’t have stuff to eat?”

“Flowers don’t eat poop. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Rustic in her brown smock and the oversized boots Thall had given her, she blew a loose strand of mousy hair from her face and leaned the shovel on the shed wall so she could pat the speckled pony inside. It blinked its long lashes at her over its shoulder.

Daberoche gave up with the wheelbarrow and came over so he could run his palm along the pony’s barrel-shaped tummy. “Yeah, well, what we used to eat wasn’t much better, and look at us.”

Clenna gasped. “Remember the donkey turds?”

“Ugh,” the halfling boy moaned, doubling over dramatically. “Remember how Mother Narita called them ‘bean croquettes’ like they were some kinda fancy food?”

“She was the one full of beans.”

Daberoche made a rude noise and they both laughed so loud it disturbed the pony. “Do you miss her sometimes?” he asked suddenly.

His teen companion grabbed the shovel and marched to the next stall. “Nope.”

He tried backing against the wheelbarrow, lifting the handles over his head and pushing it with his rump. “She was nice sometimes.”

“Do not tell me you’re homesick for the orphanage.”

“That’s not what I said!”

“Sh, look who’s coming.”

Daberoche made another rude noise, just between the two of them, and Clenna snorted with muffled laughter.

“Early Sunset!” Her smile was genuine even though the azata wasn’t her favorite person in the Court of the Lark. Strange that a real azata from Elysium wasn’t even as much fun as a stuffy old noble like Daeran Arendae.

“Hello, children.”

They waved but kept working, aware by now that Early Sunset probably wouldn’t suggest they slack off and do something fun. In fact he cast a bit of a sobering pall over everything, like a hall monitor.

“Working hard for the Crusade, I see. Pushing demons back to the Abyss one shovelful at a time. Such drudgery must be a disappointment.”

“Better than mopping the kitchens at the orphanage any day.”

“We all pitch in and do our part!” said Daberoche stoutly.

“Still a far cry from the glorious dreams that brought you runaways all the way to Drezen, I imagine.”

“We’ll get our chance. I’m training with the Valhaflings!” Daberoche punched the air.

“Aranka’s teaching me to sing and play the lute. Although... I’d rather learn guitar.” Clenna’s face went scarlet and she hunched into her shoulders as if she’d revealed the most embarrassing secret in the world.

“I’m sure you would,” said Early Sunset evenly. “Then what are you doing here instead of training for the Crusade? It seems to me the Cavalry Sculptors are taking advantage of you. Getting you to do their dirty work while they get all the accolades.”

“They need to rest between adventures out in the Worldwound,” Daberoche informed him. “Swooping in to rescue the Knight-Commander in the nick of time.”

“So if I understand correctly,” Early Sunset mused, “the Valhalflings and the Cavalry Sculptors simply decide to charge in, not when the Knight-Commander orders them to, but whenever the fancy strikes them, unexpectedly turning up to save the day. Doesn’t that worry you? What would happen if one day they decided not to venture out, and the Knight-Commander found himself in mortal danger and no unexpected rescue on the horizon? I can only imagine: falling to his knees, knowing his luck has failed him, dying alone on the battlefield... What a terrible shame.

“I do hope you’re not considering flying to his rescue yourselves. You are valiant-hearted, and I have no doubt he would be deeply grateful for such an act of heroism, but it would be against the rules. And I’m sure the two of you are far too respectful and obedient to do something so rash.”

The teenagers glanced at each other.

Daberoche frowned. “Why don’t you go save him if you’re so worried?”

“I am not the martial sort of azata. I prefer more civilized methods of doing battle.”

They glanced at each other again.

“Whatever,” said Clenna, rolling her eyes.

“You’re weird,” said Daberoche.

“Aren’t azata always ‘weird’?”

As soon as Early Sunset was out of earshot Clenna snorted. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Daberoche made a rude noise.

They nodded in unison.

"Mother Narita only not nice," said Daberoche.

Clenna did her best scandalized old priestess voice. 'Children. Be civilized!'"

Giggling they braced the wheelbarrow against a pair of rocks, and Clenna helped Daberoche tip it up, and then with the edge of her shovel pushed the load of pony manure over the edge of the floating island and away into the Worldwound.

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

i need a good cry, this is a free ticket to hurt me

In another life, you suppose as you wander the showing- this could have been you. It could be your paintings on display.

But you banish the thought before it takes root. You hate these things. The make you feel so... stupid. The people milling about to see and be seen have all these big ideas and outsized egos. They have real opinions. Real experiences.

And you... don't.

Instead, you're listening, smiling and tittering appropriately at a bawdy story someone is telling your husband about a recent trip to Amsterdam and the infamous red light district on a lark.

It's vulgar. And frankly disgusting. Of all the things in the world to do why would anyone do those things? Much less display them like a badge of honor.

The conversation flows around you. Warping and changing. And you let it flow. Paying just enough attention to interject or fluster at appropriate intervals.

None of this is real. None of it matters. And the only reason anyone notices you at all is to get a favor from your father or your husband or both. As if you could influence them at all.

The noise of it all is folded into the landscape in your mind. The carefully crafted shelter you've made. Today the sky is a flawless sapphire blue and the poppies are in bloom. Monstrously tall. So tall they blot out the crystal stars. And the laughter outside is nothing more than the distant cries of birds.

"Are you alright?"

"Too much champagne, I think-"

You hear your self murmur, "Just a late night." And the knowing laughter saves you from another gaff. You must have missed something someone asked. But now you've bought a little more time to be anywhere but here.

[mj-thrush-gxn]

listening to retail therapy and bawling my eyes out.

this is the first time in all of my 11 relistens that i have cried to the walter scene.

the second anthony said “secondly” i realized what was about to go down and i started crying. the reveal made me openly sob.

and then lark😭

AND RHE COMMENT OF SPARROW SMILING BUT HENRY BEING ABLE TO TELL THAT HES ACTUALLY SAD

IM NOT OKAY

It’s 6am. i’ve been up since 4am, binging the whole moat thing.

[sneezingisnotnormal]

The Definitive Best Episodes of DnDads

What do I mean by best? These are the episodes that have so many good emotional/hilarious beats that it’s hard to pick out any single moment in it. Every second is iconic. They are in chronological order, but they coincidentally also build from least iconic to most iconic. Spoilers, obviously.

Season 1, Ep. 44: Deck Picks

I think about this episode so much. The literal terror in the air from every which way. The jokes about this being the last episode. Ron literally getting punted out of the story forever. Mr. Moustache weighing the options of getting back his only friend ever or the person he used to be, then completely unrepentantly choosing Scam Likely. Scam Likely then IMMEDIATELY becoming Well Actually. Henry just casually getting a card that makes Lark hate him, literally setting up the ENTIRETY of season 2. Glenn picking a fight with a literal squirrel. Glenn winning AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. Glen losing. So. Hard. It’s the ultimate karma episode. Every moment feels predestined. There is nothing that makes a story better than complete and utter chance.

Season 1, Ep. 55: Mark! A Vagrant

Just conceptually, this episode is absolutely perfect. Bringing Ashly in to add to the utter chaos of the Jodie/Glenn dynamic was the PERFECT CHOICE. You have Goliath!Darryl having an identity crisis in the background. You have Will playing Jezball. You have Ashly and Anthony whipping out every embarrassing childhood memory they can think of. And of course, the crème de la crème, you have Glenn and Jodie fighting so hard to get the last word that they can’t even finish the goddamn fight. I swear to god I think about that shit every day.

Season 1, Ep. 56: SWAP (SWitched Ass Papas)

I mean. It’s a body swap episode. Of course I’m going to love it. Everyone’s interpretations of each others characters are so fucking perfect. Will!Ron looking to Beth!Darryl for advice on how to be a better Ron?? Immaculate, no notes. Beth!Darryl being fully just handshake and Catholicism? Hilarious. Matt!Henry basically just having a panic attack the whole time? 10000% accurate. Jimmy!Glenn and Freddie!Jodie sniping at each other every 5 seconds? I love it. One of my fave Beth May lines of all time: “I see the dramatic irony and I stick out my hand and say ‘Hi, I’m Darryl Wilson.’”

And THEN the conversation between Jodie and Dee Snyder. The call from Morgan that Jimmy!Glenn picks up and the pain of Glenn hearing his dead wife alive and well but no longer his wife. All of reality crashing down around these two men. A perfect blend of sad and utterly hilarious.

Season 1, Ep. 61: Death of a Salesman

Ron Stampler my absolute beloved. This is the only episode on this list that isn’t really funny and that’s because Beth May and Anthony Burch can tell a story like no one else oh my god. Going through Ron’s memories to find his anchor was such a clutch move. Starting off with something simple like Willie pushing him into the pool to teach him how to swim. Going on to Ron trying to cook dinner by himself. Then finally doing something good, something that made him worthwhile, only for Willie to walk in the second there’s an accident. Having to give up his dog. And finally, the fishing trip. Older Ron watching his younger self sadly, trying to prod him to do what Willie wants him to do, to not be a fuck-up, even though everyone else can see that it’s not his fault at all. Glenn going back to punch his principal. Finding the anchor in the fishhook, the thing Willie told him was special, that led Willie to trying to kill Ron, falling and dying in the process. It’s so fucking poetic and it makes me cry every time and everything about it is so well done. I could write essays about this episode.

Season 2, Ep. 34: Finding Tori

This is the episode I come back to if I need something to listen to because there’s no slow moment in this episode. It’s bit after bit after bit and I just cackle my way through it. I’m just gonna have to go chronologically through it.

First, the tight fives. Linc earnestly sitting down and over-explaining his favourite funny movie for 5 minutes is actually the most realistic thing I’ve ever seen. Taylor as Austin Powers doing anime themed stand-up to an utterly unimpressed Tori. Will being so fucking mad that he doesn’t get to be Austin Powers. Beth completely misunderstanding the assignment and doing 5 minutes of Napoleon Dynamite standup that’s 90% sexist jokes and 10% “wanna hear my Goofy impression? Gorsh.” Normal getting flustered and just completely ruining his chances with Hermie, who just fully to his face goes “you never loved me.” Anthony putting on full Joker makeup and delivering the BEST Gotham stand up the world has to offer. Tori just completely ripping each of them to shreds. Hermie’s “oh that’s ok I’ll kill myself.”

And like. That feels like a whole episode right? BUT NO. SCAM LIKELY JUST THROWS THEM INTO SPACE WITH A LIMBLESS NICHOLAS.

And now we have such bangers as Scary going insane! The wildest plans you’ve ever heard! ALL OF THE TEENS GETTING MARRIED SO THAT THEY BECOME ONE SOUL AND CAN USE BANISHMENT. The second they go to space it’s just a complete scramble to find a mechanic they could possibly use to get out of this. It’s truly DnD to its MAX, using the tools available to you to think outside the box.

Season 2, Episode 35: Apollo Four Teens

This episode, man. It almost feels like a completely different genre. I literally can’t pick a favourite part.

I mean you have them being forced to navigate their CANONIZED AND LEGAL POLYCULE. Anthony sending them back into space for 12 hours every time they try and say that their marriage isn’t real is maybe my favourite bit of DMing ever. Linc dealing with the episode 2 trauma of having a whole other life with a whole other wife who told him that she never wanted him to remarry???? Literally Matt is the king of random bits of lore that are brought up and resolved within 5 minutes I love it. Terry calling her mom to tell her she’s married is so fucking funny, I love Terry Marlowe. All the conversations about what pet names to call each other and the logistics of potentially opening up their relationship?? I love these guys being forced to seriously handle the consequences of their bullshit, it’s actually beautiful.

And then the fucking love triangle drama?? The Hero/Taylor enemies to lovers suddenly being shattered by Linc just trying his best to wingman for his husband?? Hero forcing Normal into all of this as HER wingman??? Normal pining like crazy over Hermie while Hermie suddenly falls HARD back into his crush on Terry??? And then Hermie offering a thruple to Normal to get him to wingman for HIM??? Peak comedy, someone get Normal therapy, he needs it after this shit.

And then you’ve got their plan to get Red Bull to sponsor them. Fucking insane plan to start with, and then they almost fuck it up just by literally doing the lamest stunts possible. I just can’t these teens are so stupid I love them so much.

Season 2, Ep. 37: Cut My Life into Pizzas

Ok. This is my favorite episode of DnDads. Hard stop. No other thoughts behind it. And that’s because it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, it makes me scream. It’s perfect.

First off, the All Star parody. Why did they do that to me. My heart simply cannot take it.

And then you have Terry freaking out, trying to find a way to fix the problem, putting on the hat just to get it out of the way, having all the memories flood back in. And Scary just can’t process what happened. And you get to see in real time as Scary realises that Willie doesn’t actually give a shit about her. And she decides that she CAN’T lose her stepdad. And you get to see in real time as Scary tries to fight back only to find that she’s given all her power to a man that wants to use her as a telephone. And you watch her lose all hope. She leaves her friends. She leaves her stepdad. She joins the kiddads and goes to help them get the final anchor.

The final anchor, which is the garlic knot heart of a pizza king. And it’s that kind of crazy ass piece of this world that makes DnDads the funniest fucking podcast out there. You will never make me laugh as hard as when I’m about to start crying.

And then you have the whole battle of Linc, Taylor, and Normal trying to get up the tower. Linc and Taylor becoming a fighting machine. The absolute insanity of Linc using Taylor’s toes a la ratatouille??? And of course, completely leaving Normal behind, causing Normal to officially snap: “LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE’S FALLING IN LOVE EXCEPT ME.” Deeply hilarious, and also deeply tragic in such a small and painfully familiar way. Meanwhile Scary is trying to find consolation in Sparrow’s stories about Terry Jr. and just feeling worse and worse. The👏emotional 👏turmoil👏

And then they get to the top and it’s a fucking meat door labelled vegans only. Anthony you motherfucker. And Scary just teleports in and rips that man’s heart out and offers it to anyone who can revive her stepdad. And she just completely shuts down when everyone says they can’t because she’ll never get to tell him what he meant to her.

And THEN, AS IF I’M NOT CRYING ENOUGH ALREADY, Linc confronts Grant. This kid who IDOLIZES his dads has to confront his dad and say “you’re doing the wrong thing. You had a choice and you chose wrong. And I can’t forgive you for that.” Grant trying so hard to explain to Linc that he can’t change who he is, only for Linc to say “well you knew you were messed up and you still chose to raise me. You chose to put all this onto me one day.” Jesus Christ. I need a character study on the Wilson’s. They hurt me. So bad.

Honorable Mention: 3.6 A Car is Born

An episode so fucking insane that the least memorable part is Francis getting a FUCKING GUN. The Tony Collette backstory. The moth Jesus. Dewar. I can’t with these idiots

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 23 - Tov’s Log

Daiki (41) vs. Khoi (58) -> Khoi Win

————————————————————

Vermillion was dead.

Daiki was dead too.

Tov didn’t know how to feel. Especially about Daiki.

The television started working again before Round 23. Possibly the first sign that the lockdown was coming to an end.

Tov wasn’t sure what compelled her to watch; call it morbid curiosity. But she gave the performance her full attention.

Daiki sang about a vortex of emotion. Truth hidden away in shadows. Fates out of one’s control.

Then.

The music stopped.

A different melody swelled to fill the silence.

And she was singing again.

"In other words, hold my hand~ in other words, darling, kiss me."

"You are all I long for, all I worship and adore."

"In other words, please be true, in other words, I love you."

Daiki was singing for someone.

Just like Tov had sung for Tallis.

She loved someone.

The same way Tov loved Tallis.

How could she fault her for that? For wanting to win — for wanting to live — to stay with that person?

Tov would’ve given anything, done anything, to stay with Tallis.

Perhaps she and Daiki were more alike than she cared to admit.

Maybe they could’ve come to understand each other, under different circumstances.

But Tov would never disparage her opponents. Not in life, and certainly not in death.

The thought of being so flippant about the death of another contestant made her sick to her stomach.

Tov understood what Daiki did for love.

She couldn’t forgive her for her arrogance.

Even still, something small and tender in Tov’s heart broke when the guard shot Daiki straight through hers.

———

The lockdown lifted the next morning.

Breakfast was held in the canteen.

Tov didn’t see Himei yet, so she sat across the table from Lang.

Lang looked up at her with big dark eyes rounded in surprise.

There was so much Tov wanted to ask her about Nyx.

How was he when you last saw him?

Was he scared? Nervous?

Did he laugh or cry?

What was the last thing he said to you?

With only eight contestants left, the room was so much quieter than it had been just a short while ago.

Even if she whispered, the guards would still hear.

So Tov said nothing more than a quiet, “Good morning.”

Lang caught herself, nodding once, “Morning.”

They’d have to talk more candidly later.

Though Tov wasn’t sure how much privacy they would be granted back.

“Morning ladies.” Himei greeted as she took the empty seat next to Tov.

Tov’s spoon, raised halfway to her mouth, clattered onto her tray at the sight of Himei’s face.

New, blooming bruises littered her face. Scratch marks covered both of her cheeks. Her bottom lip was split open.

She sucked in a sharp breath, “Andromedas, what happened to you?”

Himei wouldn’t meet her eyes.

Her collar turned from orange to red.

“It was Noora.” She said quietly.

Tov frowned. “Noora did all of this?” She almost couldn’t believe it.

Noora hadn’t been a violent girl back in Anakt Garden. She was sweet, almost saccharine at times, and bubbly in a way that wasn’t irritating.

Wren reminded her a lot of Noora.

Was someone like that really capable of doing something like this?

If the proof weren’t right before Tov’s eyes, she would’ve said no right away.

“I think she panicked when she realized she’d lost.” Himei said.

She supposed that made sense. You never truly know what a person will do in the face of death until it’s right there in front of them.

But still… something didn’t feel right.

Tov couldn’t help but wonder if Lark played a role in Noora’s outburst.

It was no secret that Tov and Himei were close. Just like it was no secret that Lark and Noora were close.

Could Noora have attacked Himei as revenge?

If Noora thought Tov poisoned Lark, taking him away from her, could she have attacked Himei to take her away from Tov?

“I’ll heal in a few days, Tov.” Himei said, drawing her out of her thoughts. “Don’t worry too much about it.”

You’re one of the only people I have left in my life.

I’m always going to worry about you.

Tov didn’t say any of that. She simply sighed and returned to her food.

———

After breakfast, the contestants were allowed to walk back to their rooms without any escorts.

Not that this provided much in the way of freedom. There were still guards posted at each of the doors on their dorm floor.

As soon as she reached her door, Tov took one look at the guard’s shoulders and knew immediately that they were the messenger.

With breakfast now in a public space, she wasn’t going to get any more notes.

This could be her last chance to find out who was behind the notes and what their motives were.

She needed to act.

The guard stepped aside to allow Tov entry. As she passed by, she noticed a uniform patch stitched on the back of their right arm.

It was white with a green border and a matching green cross in the center.

The guard is a medic.

It figured they would be if they were assigned to her, given her heart condition.

She could use this to her advantage.

There wasn’t enough time to fully flesh everything out, but some semblance of a plan quickly coalesced in her mind.

Tov shut the door, locked it, and set about preparing.

If she wanted to isolate this guard, she needed to get them in her room.

The only way to do that without drawing suspicion was a medical emergency.

Her heart was far too fragile mess with for some information that may or may not be worth the risk.

She would have to fake it instead.

There were two medical alert buttons in her room: one next to her bed and the other next to the tub in her private bathroom.

The bathroom would work the best.

Tov took off her medical band and set it on her nightstand, before going into the bathroom.

She knelt down next to the tub and turned on the faucet, but left the stopper unlatched to prevent any spill over. Tov just needed to get the guard’s attention, not flood the place.

Once she hit the button, she’d only have a few seconds to get in place before the guard came in.

Forcing them to unlock the door first would only buy her a little more time.

No sense in waiting around.

Tov pressed the button and took off, pulling the bathroom door shut behind her. She could already hear the guard working the lock open.

She vaulted over her bed and pressed herself up against the wall just as the guard came in. The door swung all the way open, effectively concealing Tov from view.

Good.

Keep going.

“Subject-020547?” They called out.

Footsteps quickly crossed the room towards the bathroom door.

They pounded on the door three times.

“Subject-020547? I received your medical alert message. I’m coming in.”

As the guard pushed open the bathroom door, Tov quietly pushed the entryway door closed.

The guard still had their back to her, looking dumbfounded at the empty room with a running tub.

They shut off the faucet.

Tov clicked the lock into place.

Perfect.

As if they had a sixth sense for danger, the guard whipped around to face her.

“Tell me everything you know.” She ordered. “Now.”

————————————————————

Oh how the turn tables…

I had way too much fun writing this log lol. I’m only stopping here because it’s already way too long.

Rest in peace to my favorite morally questionable lesbian, Daiki. You picked an absolute banger of a song to go out on 😔👊 (stream Vortex pls, it’s great).

I thought it was fitting to have Tov see some of herself in Daiki, since Himei tried to embody Daiki during her latest performance. Parallels and all that.

I wasn’t sure if anyone other than Daiki knew about Tina, so I kept it ambiguous who Daiki was singing for here.

Tov also caught onto the fact that Noora attacked Himei for a different reason than she’s telling her, but then completely missed the point and blamed herself. *sighs*

Daiki belongs to @daiki1k.

Himei and Tallis belong to @lookatmysillies.

Lang belongs to @pwippy.

Nyx belongs to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Noora and Lark belong to @kamersona.

(Please let me know if you don’t want to be tagged in these posts, I totally understand that I have a tendency to yap… a lot.)

[luvp-music]

Mesmerizer [English Translyrics] メズマライザー

Original Song by 32ki {Satsuki] References from Official Upload

»»————-　♡　————-««

There’s nothing to worry about! Still pretending to have doubts? Your heart inside is demanding you to shout out Your safe spaces shrink by the day There’s nowhere to run away How shameful, there’s not much to say

Is that so? Then do I have an option only for you It's a good ‘ol escape! Just like that… And with your body your mind and your heart and your soul You will soon be saved! This cruel world is a living, breathing, baking hell You can’t say strong, though you try, in the end Just keep faking it until you make it Cleanse your mind of anything, despite

If even flowers can make hearts beat all the time Is it that wrong to call them that real on a dime? And even if the world’s rules would bend again I’ll show you there to see it in the end

So see ya, made like a doll for an era long gone With cracks that show on your crying face~ You’re just fooled by the act your heart’s put on for years C’mon and let your heart beat loudly for the whole world to hear Cool like a cat yet the future’s all black ;-; * The walls that kept you standing caved~ Dodge the world as it tries to keep you on your toes Although you must keep liv– Oh god, it hurts, can someone help me please? (^^♪

Better not blink, you’ll stay in your seat You’ll end up asleep, hypnosis complete Your mind and body and your heart and soul With your life to the beyond you’ll go Fall for those tricks you won’t want to miss No, nothing’s amiss, there is no abyss So everything’s fine, we’ll start with a lie And then we’ll commence with the SHUT DOWN Better not blink, you’ll stay in your seat You’ll end up asleep, hypnosis complete Your mind and body and your heart and soul With your life to the beyond you’ll go Fall for those tricks you won’t want to miss No, nothing’s amiss, there is no abyss

No matter how you choose to hide your flaws The pain still follows everyday~ You’re just fooled by the act your heart’s put on for years The cycle stuck repeating itself ‘til you drown in your tears There’s no more hope, no more luck to guide you What’s the point of life anyway~ If your very existence isn’t flawless so Be pushed to the back of the line, back where all you phonies go

Made like a doll for an era long gone With cracks that show on your crying face~ You’re just fooled by the act your heart’s put on for years C’mon and let your heart beat loudly for the whole world to hear

Grin like a lark who has lost all it’s spark Just hide away your breaking pain Disconnect all yourselves from this reality Face forward and you’ll go half blind So do it sometimes just for me (^^♪

»»————-　♡　————-««

* I thought the ‘many of your lives are being lost’ line gave the same energy as the ‘cats have nine lives’ saying, so I combined both

[iwriteasfotini]

OLIWITS Excerpt from TBOF Chapter I

Excerpt from Our Love is Written in the Stars: The Bonds of Friendship, Chapter I - Just Another Summer Day

(Continued from this Excerpt)

“Get off me,” grunted James, shoving Sirius who scrambled back. But as James went to stand Sirius caught hold of his foot and yanked hard, sending James back to the floor with a cry of outrage. 

“Am'mā! Get him off!”

But Sirius had already stood, and was smoothing back his hair. James kicked him in the shin. 

“Ow! Wanker!” Sirius clutched at his leg. 

“Sirius, please watch your language at the table.”

“Mrs P, as you can see I’m not actually -”

But James watched as if an invisible line was pulling Sirius forward by his torso, into a chair, and right up to the edge of the table. 

“You were saying?” His mother was smiling fondly. “When we had James I never envisioned I’d be parenting two teenage boys.”

“Morning am'mā.” James walked around the table and gave his am'mā a peck on the cheek. 

“See Sirius, James knows how to treat his mother.”

Sirius bustled from his chair and gave Euphemia a peck on the cheek as well. “Morning Effie.”

“You are a dear, Sirius,” Effie said, patting his cheek. 

James, who was fixing himself a cup of tea at the sidebar, made gagging sounds. And Sirius elbowed him in the back as he passed, causing James to spill half his cuppa. 

“Oi!” But Lark was already underfoot, and then the spilled tea was gone as was the elf. 

“Sit down boys, sit down. Eat something. You are skin and bones.”

“Not me,” James announced proudly. “I’ll have you know Frank said I was looking fit when we saw him at the Wasp’s match last week.”

“Frank has always had a secret crush on you mate,” laughed Sirius. 

“Not ‘fit,’ fit!” James flexed his biceps. 

Sirius rolled his eyes. 

“Be patient boys, you’ll both fill out soon enough. I remember back when Monty -”

 “Are you sure you want to finish that thought love?” Fleamont Potter strode into the dining room, adjusting the buttons of his kurta. 

“Nīṅkaḷ evvaḷavu valimaiyāka iruntīrkaḷ eṉpataip paṟṟi nāṉ ciṟuvarkaḷiṭam collikkoṇṭiruntēṉ.” I was just telling the boys how strong you used to be.

“Payaṉpaṭuttappaṭṭatā?” Used to be?

Effie gave her husband a smirk. 

“Nāṉ mikavum olliyāka irukkiṟēṉ eṉkiṟār am'mā,” James whined. Mum says I am too skinny. 

“You are teenage boys. You are supposed to be all knees and elbows,” chuckled Monty. 

“Maṟṟum pātaṅkaḷ,” Effie added. 

“Yes, and feet.” Monty kissed his wife’s cheek and grabbed his robes. “I’m off to the ministry today boys. Be good for your mother.”

James gave Sirius a withering look. But Sirius was looking rather pleased. 

Soon they had both consumed enough breakfast fare to feed the average adult for an entire day. They skipped from the table and out into the back garden of the Potter’s estate. 

James loved this house. Mostly because they had several acres of land which included a bit of woodland area where Monty had constructed a quidditch practice field. The goal hoops were only half the height of regulation hoops, and there was only a single set, but it was better than nothing. Best of all, there were wards and glamours on the entire wood, so James could fly about twenty feet above the treetops before the ward halted his progress. 

There was a little broom shed tucked in the trees, which is where he and Sirius were currently headed at a run. 

James grabbed his Nimbus and Sirius grabbed James’ old broom, a Comet 220. They sailed into the air letting out joyful whoops. James did a couple of loop-de-loops to let off some steam before charging at Sirius and initiating a game of chase. Sirius, who loved to fly, wasn’t as keen on drilling quidditch plays with the quaffle, so James always made sure they had plenty of fun before he asked him to help with skills practice. 

“What do you think Remus and Pete are doing today?” said Sirius as they glided next to each other in a large circle around the clearing. 

“Probably not this,” James smiled. 

“Nah, neither of them even own a broom.”

“Because they hate flying.”

“I think Remus is warming to it,” Sirius said, laying back on the broom and gazing at the sky. James had practiced the trick with him for the first few weeks of summer and he knew Sirius was itching to show it off to the other boys. 

“You can scare his pants off if you bring that broom to Hogwarts this year,” said James, nodding in Sirius’ direction. “We can go flying on proper brooms for once, not those dinosaurs they call school brooms.”

“Dinosaurs? Have you been reading muggle books?”

“Har har, mister hypothermia. I know Remus is sending you his cast offs.” 

“Too true, I recently read one about a kid who wants to climb a mountain.”

“Like climbing a tree?” James asked, he too lay back on his broom. The trick was to be able to steer with very little visual guidance, which when flying in a fairly gentle leftwards angle wasn’t too hard. 

“Nah, like walking, with boots, and ropes, and other tools.”

“Why would anyone want to do that, you could fly up there, easy peasy. Or even better, apparate to the top!”

“Muggles can’t. Apparently it’s a big deal for them. They go on all sorts of grand adventures. Sleep in tents and cook over fires. It’s very macho.”

“My cousins in India go on grand adventures hunting for Occamy. They try to snatch its eggs, because the shells are made of silver. In fact, I think I had a great uncle or something who died when an Occamy attacked him. Bet muggles don’t often face down vicious beasts on their adventures.”

“Thank you mister I-will-always-one-up-you-Potter.” Sirius tsk’d. “I wish we could fly farther, I like going fast. But in a straight line.”

“We can at Hogwarts. The grounds are far bigger. Bring the broom, go on.”

James could practically hear Sirius’ eye roll. It wasn’t charity, really. James knew Sirius’ family could afford to buy him an entire quidditch team if he wanted. But they weren’t likely to pass him any favors anytime soon. Sirius had wanted a broom for two years, the one he was riding was never even used anymore. 

“If you don’t bring it, I’m having dad put an undetectable extension charm on my trunk and I’ll pack it anyway.”

Sirius huffed, “fine.” But when James glanced over at him, he could see Sirius was smiling. 

Flying lasted all morning. James only made Sirius drill for an hour and a half, which he felt was rather generous. Sirius seemed to think it was about eighty minutes too long and whinged constantly, even though he continued to practice drop passes, and reverse passes, and even played keeper for the last fifteen minutes. 

“You know,” said James as they walked back up to the house, “you really aren’t half bad at actually playing. You could go out for the team if you -”

“You pull this on me everyday Potter. No is no. I can’t risk my face being bashed in by a bludger. What would all my admirer’s think?” Sirius asked, taking his hair out of the bun he wore while flying and shaking it out. 

James wolf-whistled. 

“Girls love quidditch players, it will add to your bravado.”

Sirius quirked an eyebrow at him. 

“And boys, they love quidditch players too.”

Sirius scoffed, and James held up his hands in innocence.

“Did you really snog someone last year?” James had been trying to get this information out of Sirius since their first day at the Potter’s house but Sirius was adamantly refusing to share details. It took James three weeks of wearing him down before Sirius even admitted that he had kissed one person, one time, but he wouldn’t say who it was. 

“But it was nothing, it didn’t mean anything,” Sirius had argued. “So it really doesn’t matter who it was.”

And although James didn’t actually care who Sirius had snogged, it was more the principle of the thing. Not to mention, they had had a bet on about who would kiss a girl first. Sirius had retracted the bet at the beginning of second year, and it was for this reason James was suspicious of the gender of the person Sirius had been kissing. It wasn’t like him to back out of a bet, but James wasn’t stupid. He had never heard Sirius make a comment about finding a girl attractive. Sirius rarely made comments about finding anyone attractive, which was ironic because practically the entire school thought they were in love with him. If they knew how bad he farted after eating curry every night… but James sighed internally, he doubted even that would deter the rampant Sirius Black obsession. 

“You’ll tell me when you’re ready,” James said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. Blimey they really were rather boney, weren’t they?

“Don’t hold your breath,” replied Sirius. But he slung his arm around James’ shoulders. Living exclusively with Sirius and having no formal schedule of classes to attend, James had learned a few things about his best friend which he hadn’t known. First, Sirius was extremely touchy. James always knew he was on the touchy feely side. Sirius loved to wrestle and be tickled, shoved, and even sat on, all in the nature of good fun of course. But it was like Sirius couldn’t not touch someone if it was allowed. He always sat right next to James on the couch so their sides were pressed together. He always bumped knees or arms when sitting at the table. He always ended up skin to skin with James in bed. James didn’t really mind, but when he brought it up, Sirius acted like he didn’t even realize it was happening. So James dropped it.

The second thing he learned was Sirius needed a family, and as his own family was total shite James had privately encouraged his parents to incorporate Sirius into their family as organically and enthusiastically as possible. Seeing Sirius light up when Effie and Monty treated him as lovingly and with as much care as they did James, made James’ heart swell. Sirius would never, ever admit to enjoying the attention. James was certain of this. And James would never, ever admit he had told his parents to lay it on heavy. Sirius was happy, which made James happy, and that was all anyone needed to know. 

The final thing was Sirius really, and truly farted like an Erumpant on a diet of primarily Indian cuisine. 

…

Next week, look for an excerpt (plus title, POV, and posting date) from Book 4. Daily posting will begin on AO3 on February 14 :)

Check on the weekly posting/writing status update here!