#London Calling|Legend au

[brooklynislandgirl]

Advent Day II ~ Many Times, Many Ways @ronmanmob

Things are a lot different in London than they are New York but even so, Ron tries so hard to make her feel connected to her lifelong traditions and rituals even if they are a little alien to him. Thanksgiving was shared with his family ~the only thing that near spoiled the lovely supper was Reg's comment about not really knowing why they had to move up Sunday dinner though a singular look from Ron had removed the prickly bits from the panini as it were~ and there was a certain cosiness to it, even if the food was a tad different. For years now he'd listened to her stories of Shaka Santa and him arriving in the islands on his outrigger canoe, pulled by dolphins rather than reindeer which has always seemed a little odd to her. Maybe because she'd seen more dolphins in her life than she had real reindeer. He'd gracefully accepted that from that night forward there needed to be carols on the radio, that she wanted to get her tree as soon as was reasonable and all the questions about where to get a living one that could be planted after the season. He did say February was a touch excessive for the end of Christmas but he conceded to at least waiting until Epiphany before he'd help her take it all down. What was a relationship if not a series of loving compromise? Beth hadn't had much shopping to do on the ominously titled Black Friday as she was the kind of person who simply bought a gift for someone when she saw something that reminded her of them, or that she thought they might like. She spent most of that day in fleecy pyjamas, watching American football ~she assured him, it was the first time ever that they had a game on this particular day~ and otherwise grazing on left over bits from the night before. She isn't so very hard to please. So by the end of the first week of December, all the major tasks for the holidays had been accomplished, except for the tree. Their Christmas card which boasted Ron and herself and the entire pack of pups in holiday sweaters were already sent out, each one with a personal hand written note. She'd chosen to take the month off, and had listed herself as absent but for case of emergency. The forecast was fairly warm for the approach to winter, with overcast skies and the potential for a slow, all day sort of rain. Everything was almost perfect. She brought two mugs of cocoa ~whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon atop~ to where he sat and climbed into his lap, nestling herself against him and resting her head on his shoulder. One hand rests on his chest, soaking in the feel of his heartbeat, and she sighs with blissful contentment. "I know is still two weeks out," she begins when he finishes his article and folds his paper, setting it aside in favour of enveloping her in his embrace. His thumb comes to rest just below her ring, in the space of that finger and her littlest one. They haven't rushed yet to set the date. "But you still haven' tole me wha' ya wan most for Christmas." She might mean the Solstice, she might mean the actual holiday, she might mean Boxing Day. "I wan it to be perfect." Exactly the way he's shaped her life and how she feels about this, him.

[tarnishedhalo]

"get in here."

Home is Where the Hurt is || Accepting

"Heya Rawnie," he drawls in that way of his, though as far as sight and scent can say he's completely sober. He's also a little banged up, has a sea bag slung over his shoulder, and maybe, maybe he's a little apologetic. "I know you said I could drop in any time, and I hate to do it...but I'm on leave for the next three weeks, but it's a couple days before I'm up for a ride back state-side, and I was wondering if...you didn't hate the idea, if I could hang with you." He absolutely could get a hotel room. He could fly first class commercial, or worse case, he could lean on his aunt and her private jet. But honestly, what better way to spend time in a city than hanging out with a friend, when you don't have a curfew or fire watch or an alarm going off at 0-Four Hundred. "I mean, if you're engaged already or otherwise busy, I can catch a cab. I don't wanna be a problem."

[brooklynislandgirl]

Beth is, as ever, grateful for Big Pat to come driving to her rescue. She's surprised but not shocked that the car is conspicuously absent one Ron. They do not have to be grafted the hip and it's better for the dogs that he be home with them especially when her shift is running her raggedly late, there's a few stops that need be made, and the weather is starting to turn. As she had always done when younger and could get away with it while the Admiral was at sea, Beth chooses to pop into the front seat rather than the back, and she makes small talk the entire time. Pat indulges her because he has a soft spot that is shaped very much like her. They make her stops, and he insists on carrying the packages. Repeated once again at the door of Cedra Court, and all the way to the elevator, which is where she puts her foot down. "You're dear," she tells him. "But I got dis. I'm just going up to our flat, an' den crawlin' into pyjamas, an' really you don' wanna watch me snuggle up an' make kissy faces at him." There's a chuckle and a concession and he bids her G'night Miss. She pulls him down, gives him a kiss to the cheek and reminds him there's flowers for his own Miss in the car, and a wink to suggest it's a secret where they came from. It's less than minutes before she's letting herself in. Heralded by not much fanfare is just fine for her. The pups might be tuckered out. She places her purchases on the counter. "I'm sorry for being late but-" Her voice falls flat. -But is seeing Ron sitting in his chair but not aware of the room around him. It's seeing Claude's great head resting against Ron's thigh and the absence of the rough pets to his ears and neck, the conversational tone with which Ron tells Claude a good deal of his secrets and dreams, like at breakfast before he looks up toward Beth and his phantom smile flashes. He knows she knows he's telling her too, and sometimes she'll answer for Claude and they have something of a laugh. This is not one of those moments. She approaches slowly, step by step, intentionally letting her footfalls make noise. About an arm's length away, she crouches down and appeals to him softly so as not to startle, no matter how afraid FOR him she is, how much she worries something has gone spare. "Kanuha? Is me, is Beth. You…you doin' okay?" Her hand hovers in the open air, free for him to take or avoid as is soothing to him.

@brooklynislandgirl

..He's sitting..Sitting still, yeah..Yes..Head's down..Heavy..Pounding..It's pounding..Hurts..Too heavy..Why's he looking left?..What's left?..Windows!..Light's too bright..The curtains, Ron..Shut 'em..SHUT 'EM!!..He can't..WON'T..No, can't..It's too much..There's too many..He's naked..He's NOT though..You're lying..Liar..See the dressing gown? He's touching its cuff..Look at 'im..Pathetic..Can't move..Won't move..Keep still..Keep still Ron, don't look..The cup..He's looking at the cup..Blue..It's blue, dark..Full..No, not full..He's drunk a sip..Ronnie..Ronnie..HE'S DRUNK A SIP.. RONNIE?!? WHAT'VE YOU DONE RONNIE!?!..

Where he sat, trembling and stiff, Ron jerked like he'd been shot. A sickly laugh, voiceless to the rest of the room, oozed up between his ears. Had he words to put to it, he'd call it evil. Weren't nothing he wanted less than--

.. ..Cunt winced!..

--than it's company.

..Scared 'im look..Poor bunny..Broken, 'ee's broken, May!..Broke 'im, didn't it, losing-- Rose..Why's his head in his hands now? Why's it low..Why's he scratching..S'like 'ee was..Rockin', broke in 'is room dahn Vallance..Aw Ron, why's y'not fixed? Why's y'not tryin'.

[captainreecejames]

Masterlist!

Includes finished work and prompts I am working on!

If you have any ideas or want to request something just send me an ask or message!

legend

∞ social media au ¬ writing

Series

My Exboyfriend is a Footballer Series

Back too Famous ∞ • in which you fail to soft launch your relationship because his back too famous

You Can Call Her Phone ¬ • in which you can call her phone but she ain't gon answer

Wrong City ∞ • in which you post pictures of one city with a caption of another city

Falling ∞ • in which you fall (literally) for charles leclerc

Pick Me Up ¬ • the 4 times charles picks you up + the one time you pick him up Pick Me Up SMAU ∞

Miss Moving On ∞• in which your exboyfriend is now engaged and thinks you haven't moved on

You Can Call Her Phone ¬ • in which you can call her phone but she ain't gon answer

Failed Soft Launch ∞ • in which you fail to soft launch your relationship because he doesn't change

Still Me Here ∞ • in which your album the good witch comes out and the internet speculates it's about lando

Hey Girlie Part 2 ∞ • in which lando 'hey girlie's you

You Can Call Her Phone ¬ • in which you can call her phone but she ain't gon answer

Can't Crop ∞ • in which you fail to soft launch your relationship because you can't crop

X2CU ∞ • in which you really just want your ex to see him

fired by a thirst trap [part 2] ∞ • in which you dated kylian mbappe until a lewis hamilton thirst trap hits the timeline

You Can Call Her Phone¬ • in which you can call her phone but she ain't gon answer

He's Tall ∞ • in which you fail to soft launch your relationship because he's tall

Can't Have a Good Thing ∞ • in which you used to date an american soccer player

So Long, London ∞ • in which your childhood sweetheart was a chelsea player

Just Friends ¬ • in which you really need a friend, then you need something more •• companion piece to so long, london

Down Bad ∞ • in which you should date someone you're own age

OTHER

Fernando Alonso

I Hope ∞ • in which you manifest some shit

Working on George Russell -> my ex is a footballer Whumptober Prompts

[aziraphales-library]

Dearest ineffable mods

Thanks for your amazing work! Long time lurker, first time asker. This is my favorite library by far!

Do you have any recommendations of fics focussing on the staff of the Ritz? And how they view our favourite idiots throughout the years/dinner? Preferably not AU. I checked the outsider pov tag but didn't find any.

If you could recommend some, it'd make me immensely happy ❤️ thank you in advance!

Here are some outsider POV Ritz fics for you...

The Ritz's Biggest Ineffable Husbands Shipper by frogfaced (G)

The staff of the Ritz had created a name for the couple once, a long time ago, it had to have been at least twenty years or so ago by now. It stuck, whispered fervently when they appeared in the queue. “Did you hear?” A comment passed from one hostess to a waiter, whispered quietly almost like a secret kept close to her heart, almost like a prayer. “It’s them.” ----- Or, Aziraphale and Crowley have become something of a legend at the Ritz, and have become the basis for many of the employee's gambling problems.

The matter of the Definitely Not Husbands by plainrefillnotepad (G)

The waiters and waitresses who worked at the restaurant at The Ritz weren’t what you would call a tight-knit group. If there was one topic of conversation, however, which every staff member had at least heard of, it was the matter of the Definitely Not Husbands.

An Angel Dining at the Ritz by misslmf (T)

The staff at the London Ritz become quickly familiar with the regular customers that come into the establishment, especially if those regulars were polite and easy to remember in some way or another. A pair that stood out to every member of staff after a while were the two men that came in at least a few times a month, always seeming to have a reservation despite never ringing to book one. Which is why it was so unnerving when neither of them showed up for a month. *** Or, how the staff at the Ritz are also children of divorce since Aziraphale left Crowley

Table For Two by JM_Finnigan (G)

Thomas Kinsley has known the two regulars - the red-haired man and the blond one called Fell - for as long as he's worked at the Ritz, so he is caught quite off-guard when only one of them makes an appearance one night. The aftermath of Aziraphale's return to Heaven as told through a Ritz waiter's eyes.

Code Angel by orphan_account (G)

She didn’t fully understand this kind of miracle but she knew one thing for sure. When a Code Angel came to The Ritz, they should expect miracles to happen.

There Were Angels Dining At The Ritz by AstersLibrary (T)

The employees at the Ritz have their favourites. And they're no so subtle about them.

- Mod D

[allwaswell16]

A fic rec of One Direction fics that take place in the Victorian era as requested in this ask. If you enjoy the fics, please let the writers know through kudos and comments! You can find my other fic recs here. Happy reading!

~ Louis/Harry ~

🌿 A Taste of Desire by @casuallyhl

(E, 104k, omegaverse) Harry is the owner of the most successful cotton mill in Manchester, and Louis is an opinionated social activist about to disrupt Harry’s world.

🌿 Victorian Boy by @audreyhheart

(E, 101k, murder mystery) Victorian AU. Harry the virgin Duke of Somerset knows little of love, while Louis the sly Duke of Warwick knows too much. 

🌿 The Rose of Whitechapel by @itsmotivatingcara

(E, 100k, murder mystery) Jack the Ripper au - Detective Constable Harry Styles and his partner, DC Liam Payne, lead the case on the Whitechapel murders. Louis Tomlinson, the Rose of Whitechapel, is harbouring secrets of his own, along with a dark and sordid past. 

🌿 And down the long and silent street by whimsicule

(M, 86k, hurt/comfort) Wherein Louis and Harry are on the opposite ends of the social ladder, but their paths still cross on the filthy streets Louis calls his home. The odds are staked against them from the beginning, and even more when Louis' past finally catches up with him.

🌿 Coax the Cold by MediaWhore / @mediawhorefics

(M, 86k, mermaid) When he hears whispers of a travelling freak show newly established in London claiming the existence of a monstrous sea hybrid, half-man, half-fish, Louis sees it as his ticket to credibility amongst his peers. 

🌿 Secrets in Winter by @softfonds

(E, 82k, omegaverse) If Harry Styles thought he was going to have a peaceful winter while staying far away from the rake who lived across the street, he was sorely wrong on two fronts. A Victorian AU.

🌿 An Ever Fixed Mark (series) by My_words_fly_up

(E, 66k, sex work) Harry Styles lives quite scandalously in the slums of London and never expected to cross paths with a kind, well-bred gentleman like Louis Tomlinson. But once they meet neither will be the same again.

🌿 these still waters run deep by @levelofcharm

(E, 64k, aristocracy) Having accepted his engagement to Viscount Andrew, Louis is aware that it isn’t a love match and has no wish to be swept off his feet… until he meets the viscount’s brother, Harry, who makes him second-guess everything.

🌿 an everlasting eclipse by you_explode / @nobodymoves

(M, 63k, adaptation) Anne of Green Gables/Anne With An E AU. In 1891, orphan Harry is adopted by the Teasdales and goes to live on their small farm in Holmes Chapel. In his new life he finds supportive relationships, he finds himself, and eventually, he finds a home.

🌿 saw some things on the other side by we_are_the_same / @so-why-let-your-voice-be-tamed

(M, 61k, mystery) Louis’ plan doesn’t take into account the fact that instead of writing murder mysteries, he will find himself in one.

🌿 Forever Never Comes by Larry_you_know / @larryyouknow

(M, 25k, friends to lovers) Victorian au, where Harry Styles, the youngest son of the Duke of Sutherland, was always a little in love with his childhood friend Louis Tomlinson, the young Earl of Doncaster, though he would never have told him in a million years. 

🌿 The Four Seasons After You by neptune rising / @thelesserneptune

(E, 14k, adaptation) Corpse Bride inspired story where, after months of grief and guilt eating away at Harry’s soul, he finds forgiveness and tentative happiness in an advantageous marriage; only, Louis hasn’t quite caught up yet and isn’t ready to let him go so easily, not till death do them part - if that.

🌿 Even Supposing - by @casuallyhl

(M, 14k, established relationship) a Dickensian London AU where Harry and Louis overcome illness, small budgets, and their own stubbornness to give each other an unforgettable first Christmas together.

🌿 You Light Up the Path by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(T, 12k, mermaids) Harry, or so he likes to be called, is the myth and legend himself known as the Staithes Mermaid. No one has laid eyes on him, but everyone loves to tell tall tales.

🌿 lead me out on the moonlit floor by @scrunchyharry

(E, 12k, Christmas) Victorian!AU where Louis is a wealthy lord throwing a masquerade ball for his birthday and Harry is a toymaker who's only confident when he's wearing a mask.

🌿 We Never Said Our Love Was Evergreen by Pumpkinspice_Lou

(E, 9k, kidnapping) A Victorian Masquerade Ball AU where Harry is basically the Phantom of the Opera

🌿 You're Already Home by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(G, 5k, historical fantasy) It's Christmas Eve and Harry's life is normal. Then he finds someone's barred the door to his favourite hiding spot -- the old groundskeeper's cottage -- and suddenly Harry's life isn't normal anymore.

🌿 Unto You by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup

(T, 3k, winter) Louis is a lamplighter celebrating the saturnalia season in his own way. Harry is heavily pregnant and new in the city. The holiday of Christmas is yet to be created.

🌿 a rose by any other name by delsicle / @eeveedel

(G, 3k, omegaverse) Harry is a sheltered omega who is the pinnacle of good breeding, but the flowers in his family’s garden – and the alpha gardener who keeps them – prove to be his greatest weakness.

🌿 Rapture by @allwaswell16

(E, 3k, vampires) It was New Year's Eve in Victorian London, and a lonely vampire could no longer resist the stunning lamplighter he watched night after night.

🌿 Too Great a Temptation by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird

(E, 2k, girl direction) Harry and Louis attend a fancy dress ball.

~ Rare Pairs ~

🌿 for years or for hours by narryblossom

(G, 8k, Niall/Harry) a Corpse Bride AU in which Harry wants to marry for love, and does, after The End.

[brooklynislandgirl]

@ronmanmob

[headcanonsandmore]

Thasmin Fanfic Recommendations, a master post

Hi all! A fandom is at its healthiest when we share things, so I thought it'd be a good idea to share a list of all my favourite Thasmin (Thirteenth Doctor/Yasmin Khan) fanfics that I've read over the past few years. I'd highly recommend all of these. And, if you have any to add, please reblog with the links!

I Think You Might Like Me by Holie47. The Doctor asks Yaz to try and help her figure out what's going on and ends up coming to a realisation. Rated G for General Audiences. Cute Thasmin first kiss.

In This World Of Strangers I Belong To Someone by timetravelbypen. Autumn, 1904, London. Yasmin Khan is newly arrived in the city, eager to start the law degree she's spent so much time working towards. Determined to prove her worth to sceptical classmates and professors, she throws herself into her work. But a chance encounter with eccentric clockmaker Johanna Smith - and a mystery surrounding a progressive pamphlet written by someone called the Doctor - might just remind her she's worth more than her doubters could ever imagine. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Edwardian!AU with human!Thirteenth Doctor. One of the best Thasmin fics I’ve ever read (if not THE best!). There’s also a series of short sequels which you can find here.

to know how it ends and still begin to sing it again (as if it might turn out this time) by  Eriadu (@eriadu-in-the-wildwood) and timetravelbypen (@timetravelbypen). They’ve been here before. The Doctor always sidestepping, always avoiding; Yaz always following, always hoping. But in a museum simulation of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, confronted by an all-too familiar tragedy, the cracks begin to show. If they’re going to get out alive, something has to change. They’ve been here before… this time, can they make it through? Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Thasmin fic, set inbetween ‘Legend Of The Sea Devils’ and ‘The Power Of The Doctor’; some really interesting and in-depth characterisation for both Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor, with some awesome sci-fi elements too.

Flying Lessons by timetravelbypen. A series of vignettes set between Ryan and Graham's departure in Revolution of the Daleks and the end of The Power of the Doctor. In which Yaz learns to fly the TARDIS, and learns just how capable - and how loved - she is in the process. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Just a word of warning, to quote the author; “there is a reference to an attempted suicide/self-harm in line with its depiction in Can You Hear Me as Yaz and the Doctor encounter someone else in a similar situation and Yaz deals with some flashbacks. If you would prefer not to read that, you can skip Lesson Five: Controlled Fall.”.

falling down the stairs (of your love) by timetravelbypen. The gravitational pull Yaz has over the Doctor is unavoidable, inescapable. The Doctor is falling for Yaz... and the Doctor is also falling. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Thasmin sweetness set after ‘Legend Of The Sea Devils’. Fluffy with a bit of angst; very sweet.

Two Idiots In A Box by timetravelbypen. Dan realizes quickly that, if left to their own devices, Yaz and the Doctor are never going to just talk to each other like functional adults. So he and the TARDIS hatch a plan. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. So funny and so sweet!

In fact, just read anything by timetravelbypen; they’re an amazing writer and understand these characters and Doctor Who so well! Their Tumblr blog is here; @timetravelbypen; send them some love!

Miniature #13 - The World Will Wait For Us by vaelerius. Yaz and the Doctor go on a totally-not-an-actual-D.A.T.E in Sheffield to Yaz's favourite restaurant. What could possibly go wrong? Rated G for General Audiences. Easily one of the funniest Thasmin fics out there; this is a good one to read when you want cheering-up.

You Have A Wife??? By LonelySpaceAce. Yaz asks the Doctor about something that she's been wondering about since they fought the Sea Devils. Rated G for General Audiences. This is written by one of my awesome Tumblr friends, so please check it out.

You Have Kids??? by LonelySpaceAce. Yaz learns that not all the Doctor's companions have been in love with them A sort of sequel to "you have a wife???”. Rated G for General Audiences. It also scratches my particular itch for having Thasmin with a side helping of Tegan/Nyssa.

(Un)familiar by EvvieJo. Yaz is trying to settle into her post-Doctor, UNIT life. Rated G for General Audiences. Less of a Thasmin fic per-say as opposed to a bit of closure for Yaz after leaving the Doctor, although it does have a lot of Thasmin elements to it.

The year of the cat by zurau. post-lotsd. thirteen disappears, again. a cat appears. it's some consolation. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Funny fic about a mysterious cat that appears whilst the Thirteen Doctor has disappeared; you can probably guess where this is going…

Candy Floss And A Carousel by 13beautifulghostmonument. Team TARDIS make a festive stop over in Cardiff. Yaz and the Doctor finally admit to their feelings. Rated G for General Audiences. Very cute and sweet.

Courage & Stupidity by seaunicorn. Yaz was his best friend and, much like the Doctor, Dan would do anything for her. Four years marooned in the past can forge quite the friendship, and he would go to great lengths to protect her from anything, or anyone, that hurt her. Including the Doctor herself. After Dan learns what happened on the beach, he confronts the Doctor. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Set after ‘Legend Of The Sea Devils’ and with some excellent character work.

giving up and giving in by seaunicorn. It takes Yaz almost dying for the Doctor to actually confront her feelings. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Really sweet fluff and first kiss stuff.

All The Time In The World by Metal_Gear_Steve. Yasmin has developed feelings for the Doctor, but she isn't sure how to bring this up with anyone. Ryan and Graham have settled after their first few crazy adventures, so it's not like she can rely on the "adrenaline and whimsy" excuse to explain her standoffish behavior forever - sooner or later, she has to bite the bullet and confess her feelings to the Doctor. But there's so much that she doesn't know about the Doctor, and any number of factors could get in the way of a potential relationship. Will Yasmin's confession be successful? Is there room in The Doctor's heart for a new love after a multitude of relationships, most ending in disaster? Will Graham get to try that alien ice cream again, with what's-its-name seeds in it? I guess we'll find out - we've got All the Time in the World. Rated G for General Audiences. Some really wonderful fluff; super sweet.

Our Moment on the Beach by docwhovians. When Yaz and the Doctor find themselves held prisoner a hostile pirate ship, there's not a whole lot they can do except talk. Feelings that have been brewing come to a head. When the moment is interrupted by an order to walk the plank, things get interesting. Rated G for General Audiences. Really cute fluff with some pirate stuff.

A Home For The Holidays by mag_lex. In which Yaz and the Doctor visit Yaz’s family for Christmas after the events of the Flux, and Najia decides to intervene when she realises something is going on between them… Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Sweet domestic fluff and a little bit of angst thrown in (since it is related to series 13 of the modern series).

i will always hold you close but i will learn to let you go by jodieoswald. Yaz listens to Dan's advice, and takes the leap, hoping that the Doctor will listen. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Angst with some fluff and a happy ending. Very sweet and tender.

The One With The Hen Do by isabrella. Yaz takes the Doctor to a friend's hen party to cheer her up. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Angst with a happy ending; very tender. 

Confessions by SimpleSapphic. Set directly after Eve of the Daleks (and directly after thasmin becoming canon may I add akshakdhsksh), Dan does what Dan does best: he plays wingman to get those two to *finally* confess their feelings and actually do something about it. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. A fair bit of angst but with some really sweet fluff at the end. Gotta love wingman Dan!

The Lodger by bells_n_roses. The Doctor moves in with Yaz to investigate the mysterious upstairs lodger. As they spend more time together, however, feelings start to build. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Very cute and sweet, but with some mild angst mixed in.

I Still Burn For You by timelostdoctor. Yazmin Khan and the Doctor's relationship has been over for ten months. Ten months in which they haven't seen or spoken to each other. With Sonya and Ryan getting married, they are both part of the wedding party. How can they find happiness for their friends when they both wish it was their wedding instead. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Oooh, mate; this is one of the tenderest Thasmin fics I’ve ever read (complete with a human!Thirteenth Doctor); sweet with just the right mix of angst, and a good bit of humour as well! Always worth a read when you want something to get lost it (and, yes, I hope that Mandip Gill has read this one since she asked for fanfic recs).

Love is a lottery, and I’m betting on you by riptheh. The Doctor knows how it is with the female companions. Lived it dozens of times before. And this time, she's determined to make sure it doesn't happen. Or, five times the Doctor was so busy making sure Yasmin Khan didn't fall in love with her, she failed to realize that the opposite was happening. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Tons of fluff, mistaken-for-a-couple, bed sharing, this fic has it all!

February by softestbutch. The Doctor stepped a little closer, still partially obscured from view, still animated in the quiet orange glow. ‘Oh, it’s a little silly,’ she said. Yaz raised an eyebrow for her to continue. ‘I can go,’ she said, and Yaz breathed an endeared laugh.‘What is it, Doctor?’ she asked. A pause. ‘It’s snowing,’ the Doctor said. In short: the doctor is incredibly excited about the snow, and yaz is incredibly in love with her. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. A cute fluffy fic about Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor having fun on a snowy day.

Live inside my mind forever by timelxrd. Yaz fell asleep precisely ten minutes and thirty-two seconds ago. The Doctor knows, because it’s been ten minutes and thirty seconds since she’d had to consciously regulate her breathing and the rise and fall of her chest against Yaz’s soft cheek so not to jostle her. Rated G for General Audiences. Cute fluff about cuddling and hair-plaiting.

A trusted place to rest by multifanwho. After she manages a prison break, the Doctor finds herself exhausted with her feet carrying her to the one place on Earth she feels most safe. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Fluff with a side ordering of angst.

Cuppa? by softly-penned-valkyrie (softly_speaking_valkyrie). The Doctor's slipping and she knows it. Everything's getting too much for the first time in thousands of years and she's finally having trouble coping with it mentally. How often does that happen? Following a double adventure involving the Judoon, incredible revelations and alien birds, it all becomes too much to handle, and when the TARDIS itself nudges at Yaz to go help the Doctor alone, it becomes a little too much for the copper too. But when the Doctor lands in Yaz's kitchen desperate for help, how can she refuse the woman she loves.... Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Fluff, hurt/comfort and some mild angst.

not-so-fake-feelings (and their very real consequences) by ActuallyMe. Yaz needs someone to pretend to be her partner whilst some really annoying family friends are in town. Turns out, the Thirteenth Doctor is happy to play along… Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Fake dating scenario, with some hilarious fluff.

astronomy in reverse (it was me who was discovered) by transboytwelve. Fake dating, bed-sharing, camping fic; Thirteen has to pretend to be Yaz’s partner for a family get-together. Hijinks and definitely-not-just-platonic confusion ensues. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences.

Around The Rink by sheregenerated. The Doctor and Yaz get a bit competitive, Graham has some cocoa, and Ryan rides a reindeer (sort of). Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Cute fluffy goodness.

The Changing of the Seasons by rubyofkukundu. The Doctor gets her first period. Thankfully, Yaz is on hand to help. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Fluff with a bit of hurt/comfort and humour.

Hooked on all these feelings by Moonlightkitten (orphan_account). In which Thirteen wants a set of earrings to match Yasmin's and won't take no for an answer. The only problem? She doesn't have pierced ears. Yet. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Very sweet and very funny. The person who wrote this has since orphaned their account.

Erlebnisse by Val_Creative. The Doctor surprises a very ill Yasmin with a visit. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Very cute and sweet.

I Met Her On The Beach by C1ashi1dr. While Graham and Ryan are taking a break from traveling, the Doctor and Yaz head for a relaxing day on the beach. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Some really lovely fluffy goodness.

Trick or Treat by HalfBakedPoet. What do the court of King Louis XIV, a futuristic pumpkin-based religion, a secret pumpkin carving society, and a two-person horse costume have in common? The Doctor and Yaz celebrate Halloween in a variety of ways. Apple bobbing ensues. Leads up to (presumably, hopefully) the beginning of Flux. Rated T for Teen and Up Audiences. Some fun Halloween fluff.

Hope you all enjoy these fics; I know I certainly did! Remember, if you enjoy a fic, please leave a comment; authors love it when we recieve comments and it inspires us to create more!

[dsco-kjs]

"Now that I think about it, this demon reminds me of a puzzle!"

Centuries ago, demons have simply been a popular myth or something to believe in, their legends depend on where they have been seen and their actions.

These beings had many names, types and identities, however, none failed to convey terror in the streets when they left their homeland to spread to other parts of the world.

These demons terrorized people for centuries, consuming them and feeding their evil, forgetting the humanity they were born with.

That was, until thanks to a powerful swordsman a powerful and unique legacy was made for humans.

The demon slayers...

These slayers were in charge of eliminating these demons for generations, an organization that spread in the same way as the demons, with a technique called "Breathings".

Being a silent war that sought either eternity or peace.

On the streets of London, their situation was no different. Plunged into terror in the face of terrible and horrible murders, disappearances of people loved or hated, with no murderers to blame. No matter how hard Scotland Yard tried, there was nothing they could do to solve the cases, however, a man always appeared to answer these mysteries, without knowing that this same man belonged to the demon slayers. And that man with the top hat would hunt and find every demon until he knew…Who was responsible for their miserable existence.

-----

Greetings to this little introduction of an AU that occurred to me, a combination between Demon Slayer and Professor Layton! I had fun making this, I hope you like it !

Here are some additional data from the AU:

London was invaded by demons when one was transported on a cargo ship from Japan

Each country has its own organization allied with the original one,the Ubuyashiki family. This organization is not supported by the government or recognized but is financed by the Delmona family.

The London organization has the same type of rank as that of Japan, meaning that it has its hashiras/pillars. (I won't say who they are for now, but who do you think they are?)

Hershel finds Flora long before he meets Emmy or Luke. Taking her as his student

Luke is not interested in being a slayer but he wants to continue learning from Hershel to be an excellent gentleman.

The breath that Hershel and Flora use is called "Insight." A breath inherited by former professor and former hashira, Andrew Schrader

Insight breathing has 7 postures.

[bitter69uk]

Thirty years ago, maverick punk conceptualist Malcolm McLaren released his 1994 album Paris. McLaren’s former lover, artistic collaborator and co-producer Eugenia Melian has reflected in a juicy recent blog post about the record’s tortured genesis. Paris was meant to feature collaborations with iconic Parisian women like Jeanne Moreau, Juliette Greco, Catherine Deneuve and Françoise Hardy. Melian has wild anecdotes about how difficult and volatile these divas were, and it’s miraculous Paris came out at all! Most challenging was Moreau: “When we sat down with Jeanne Moreau in her living room it was me who was star-struck, even though I had already exchanged a few phone calls with her directly. Sitting on the sofa in front of me was the legend, the spunky odd beauty with the raspy smoky voice whom Orson Welles had called the "best actress in the world.” Jeanne and Malcolm chatted amicably, her English was impeccable. Malcolm was writing a song called “Paris Paris” for her. Then she asked us who else was on the album. When she heard that we had approached Greco, “Oh, that lesbian?” Jeanne said, but when Malcolm told her that we were also approaching Françoise Hardy and Catherine Deneuve, her face became stony and hard. She lit another cigarette and blew the smoke out slowly saying: “It’s either ME, or them,” and the meeting ended there. Jeanne practically pushed us to her door … au revoir. Mortified, her agent Tony Krantz who I had become friends with, invented an excuse that Jeanne was not available, and her agenda was full. Much later, in November when we had nearly finished the recordings, I tried again, pitching to her Malcolm’s idea of me conducting a 15-minute interview with her in French, that we could use in the album. Jeanne replied “NON, too busy.” Only later did we find out that she was in rehab … In January 1994 Tony Krantz contacted me to say that Jeanne was now free and really wanted to be on the album. It was too late. The team was already back in London working on the mixes. What a shame.” Read full post here. Portrait of Moreau by Helmut Newton.

[laiqualaurelote]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤

1. World Enough And Time (MFMM/Doctor Who, Phrack, 51k)

This will always be my favourite of my fics. It's the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries/Doctor Who crossover where Phryne is a Time Lady, Dot is from the past, Mac is from the future and Jack is just trying to work out what is happening. It's an AU that contains eight other AUs (including a Regency AU, a Mad Max Fury Road AU and a fake-marriage-with-aliens AU) and it represented an enormous milestone for me in my writing.

2. all the men and women merely players (Ted Lasso, Ted/Trent, Roy/Keeley/Jamie, 50k)

The Ted Lasso Station Eleven post-apocalyptic AU in which, in the wake of a devastating global pandemic, American comedy actor Ted Lasso leads a Shakespearean theatre troupe across the ruins of England. It combines my love of Ted Lasso, Station Eleven, Shakespeare and theatre, and it's probably the fic I've worked hardest on.

3. I Live And Lie For You (Good Omens/James Bond, Bond/Q, Aziraphale/Crowley, Adam/Eve, 13k)

The fic in which Wensleydale grows up to be Q. Features avocados, cats named after mathematicians, car chases in the Bentley, questionable ice-cream flavours, far too many spies at St James' Park, the Antichrist in his fuckboi era and tardigrades. I don't even like James Bond but I loved writing this.

4. The Legend Continues (Rivers of London, Michael Cheung/Sahra Guleed, 8.5k)

A closer, canon-compliant look at how a hijabi cop might have inadvertently apprenticed herself to the legendary swordsman of London's Chinatown and then started dating him. I always wanted to write an wuxia in English! Features my holy trinity of subtle Asian traits: bubble tea, passive-aggressive aunties and an original character clearly based on Michelle Yeoh. Fun fact: this fic was named after an actual Chinatown restaurant called Leong's Legend Continues, a spinoff of Leong's Legend (ironically Leong's Legend is still around but the Legend Continues has since, well, failed to continue).

5. Best Revenge Is Your Paper (Daredevil/The Punisher, Frank Castle/Karen Page, 15.5k)

In which Karen Page gets a bunch of bylines, pisses off a lot of people, tries not to fall in love with her newsmaker and fails. Kastle was the ship that brought me back to fandom after a five-year hiatus, and Karen remains one of my favourite fictional reporters of all time (the others are Trent Crimm, of course, and Hildy Johnson from His Girl Friday). It's been another five years since this fic and oh, I've had such a time.

Thank you for this ask!

[brooklynislandgirl]

"--D'you get--?" Ron's question paused as he reached for Beth, glancing up from his book towards the kitchen. It was a recipe book he had open that contained some delicious sounding ideas he fancied trying, but the moment his mind lit on that notion and his eyes flicked up to the kitchen...something inside him sort of...felt...heavy? Overwhelmed but not in the I gotta escape sense, just...

The vocabulary wasn't with him. He needed another brain on this. Hence, a gentle touch of fingers to Beth's forearm.

"...Is it wiv cookin', luv, i's all...too many steps? Got th'step by step-" He gestured to the book, regarding Beth curiously as he tried to explain the grief he was having. "Got th'energy. Wanna do it, jus'...Y'go t'do it 'n it becomes a billion steps 'n which is first? Where'd I start? S'too many, so put it dahn 'n get a cuppa instead?"

Beth has been hovering on the edges of the counters. Her rather problematic relationship with food being what it is, she can't help but to want to nose around. Settle into the idea of a meal much in the way some folk do a too-warm bath. Just a bit at a time. Acclimation. The spinach looks fresh, the cheese does not immediately put her off, were it not for the tomatoes coming in a tin, she would have gleefully crushed them in her own small fists and letting the juices run between her fingers. Not a thing wrong with the ingredients, then. Of course maybe the wine is the star, but she doesn't touch for lack of knowing if it's going in, or to be savoured along side the food. Ron graces her with the herald of touch and that moment allows her not to flinch. She likes that better than she likes the wine, and so she abandons her project of stacking the penne noodles in little log cabin configurations. She nods in her silence. Follows his shepherding toward the cookbook, then right back to his face, his mouth. Her lips part and close a time or two, almost like a goldfish as she searches for her own contribution. "Madmatics all wrong. Fractions an' decimals for ingredients. Ratios, yields, percentages. Dey beautiful an' precise...it's da moving parts dat don'...don'...Algebra all wonky. Results...non-Euclidean." She frowns. Ron understands the need for numbers to bear true. In many ways his life tends to run on them, especially eights. Infinities. Another pause, an even quieter voice. "Andy says always start wi' prep. Have every kind in its...mise en place. Dat is where ya start. Cut veggies. Measure an' mix up dairy. Boil waddah for pasta, pinch of salt for flavour an' for some alchemy I don' understand dat make it not stick. I can chop if you give me da kine... dat needs cutting. I know how to dice, chiffonade, all kines. But I t'ink we should have a cuppa togeddah, an' start ovah. No Colonel go into battle wi'out his armour, yeah?"

[tarnishedhalo]

"Go'orn then lad" Ron snickered, toasting this latest offering from the table-top get to know your pals better game Pat had left out round Ron's. It's not like he and Riley needed Ice Breakers - that was the name of the game. But it was a hell of a laugh seeing what the cards put them up to next. "Giv us a pro 'n a con'a datin' yah. Extra points if I agree wiv th'pro."

Guilty of a Good Time || Accepting

The prompt and question earned Ron one of those exceedingly rare full and unguarded smiles that both emphasized that Beth wasn't the only one of the Rileys who was fangy, and that brought to life his own deep dimples. The way he turns his head causes the bar lamps to cast him in golden light, tarnishing his dark hair with its natural blonde highlights. The tip of his tongue rolls against the back of his teeth.

"Yeah, okay, Rawnie," the New York Irish drawl of his friend's name is nothing he can help, but it's still a intimate step-up from the the whole 'Kray' part. As if he's never known anyone to have a given name. Of course Riley keeps a list in his head of qualities both good and bad. Each of them slivers beneath the usually pristine veneer he wears though his hair's getting a touch long, and he's not been too careful with the razor.

"The pro is...I know like hundreds of different love songs, any genre or era you like, an' not just American ones." He spreads his hands on the table-top, gives them a flex. "Acoustic, electric...can play any guitar. Can play the piano, drums ~including the bodhran. Violin. Harmonica. And everyone loves a music man, right? Plus I'm hell in the kitchen, and I'm house-broken." He doesn't elaborate on what that last means but delivers it with a chuckle.

"The Con? I'm old-fashioned. I don't really do one night stands, and I'm very careful who I let in my inner circle. Introducing someone into the family can be hard, what with my sister, and because it takes me a while to get used to someone new. Especially after havin' danced with the Devil and the mess she made when we divorced. Also...I'm told I'm bossy as fuck, take with a grain of salt or three." There's a split second where he's unguarded and there's something fairly young and vulnerable resting against the back of his eyes that shades the rest of his mien. It gets shrugged off with a lift of his whiskey, and a snake-like strike at the next card in the pile. "Hypothetically speaking, if you could ask your future self one question, what would it be, and why?"

[brooklynislandgirl]

Wizard. That's not the first or last time she's heard something like that in reference to her sibling. There was nothing Andy couldn't do when he put his mind to it. Made everything he wanted to look easy. She has to admit she'd always been a little envious. She'd never had the confidence or the skill to match his. Looking at the counter tops, she can't help but feel guilty though there's no real reason for it. Butterflies unfurl wet wings and test spindly legs in her belly as she watches him. She isn't worried that Ron might have fallen into deep waters inside his own head, he makes himself perfectly clear with few words that aren't tangled up when they reach her. No, the nervousness is in her own failings and inability to help beyond relaying advice given to her years ago. Would he think she's far too privileged if she admitted that she always had others cook for her? That she keeps a cook and a housekeeper employed in New York even when she isn't in residence? That when they took their holidays and days off that she survived on vegetarian or vegan take-away? Sometimes she's exactly the kind of person she dislikes amongst her social class. She thinks he gets a pass because she knows his mum, his aunties, his enjoyment of the various establishments around London ~both the ones he owns and those he doesn't~ so he can be forgiven for not being much of a chef on his own. Now it might be a little sexist but maybe it helps that Ron is a man, and these things aren't exactly required of him as a life-skill. It isn't as though they go hungry either, even if they are only beginning to walk down culinary paths. And perhaps they need to start a little smaller than this meal. Sandwiches are manageable, salads. These are easy. Toast. Chips fresh from the fryer though technically that doesn't count as there's back of house at the Trader. She hears him but not what he says. Eyes up, wide and round. "Huh?" Oh, yes. The suggestion of tea. Beth had intended it to mean they should have a cup and then try cooking again but there's a relief that glows around her Ronnie that she can't argue against. She knows that flooding relief of being given an escape route, though hers usually comes in the form of being able to avoid conversation with the Admiral or having a legitimate reason to reschedule a therapy appointment. Still, she's not going to dampen his day with an argument, nor is she going to offer to do the lion's share of the work when the truth of the matter is, however lovely the ingredients and potentially delicious the outcome, she isn't all that hungry anyway. "Yeah, I t'ink so. A'least one or two days," she nods and perks up to show quantifiably that there are no harsh feelings. "…Biscuits wi' da chocolate bits? I like dose best."

Continued from (here) with @brooklynislandgirl

A grumble of acknowledgement and consideration came up in Ron's chest at Beth's mention of her brother and his skill with all things cookery. The advice made sense to him, the structure, the one, two, three of prep - cut veggies, measure and mix dairy, boil water, salt for taste and--

"Wizard..."

That aside didn't come from quite so nowhere as it might've seemed. Ron added to it as he examined the still unprepped, still neat and tidy and ingredients-strewn worktops. "Man's a cook-wizard." There, see? Context. And a not inaccurate assessment of the named but absent sibling's skill as compared to Ron's. Man may as well have been fuckin' magic by that measure, aye? Time was that Ron had burned water. But that was then and this was now and he had better tools at his disposal in the present moment - what with his cookbook, his Beth and her skills with chopping, and this notion that was as alien to him as the dark side of Mars--

Food Prep.

To and back from the cookbook in his hands Ron's attention went, his proximity to Beth kept as she explained as best she could how her brain tackled the same activity his struggled so hard with. He didn't think in numbers like she did - at least not in such complex forms - but he understood what she meant when she spoke of wonky algebra; of things just not...adding up right; not coming out like the formulas say they will or should. There was nothing 4, nothing 8 about cooking as Ron computed it; nothing even, or easy on the mind. Nothing like his Beth pressed against his side as they surveyed the panoply before them and found, after due consideration, that--

"--Tea."

Yes. Much better a proposition, that. Much more even a proposition, never mind the steps it had about it. Once Ron's cookbook was set down, their mugs appeared as if by magic off the mug tree and were sat beside a teapot ripe for the readying. Up above the worktops with the makings of dinner on lived the tea cupboard. Ron opened it, enjoyed the welcoming scent that escaped, and found the selection within in its bright coloured boxes and tins so much more welcoming than the notion of cooking.

"---If I get-" he began, glancing round and down at Beth. "...If I get biscuits...I bet this lot--" A nod at the unprepared but lovely collection of ingredients before them. "I bet it'll keep if we fridge it, aye?"

That was an out, right there.

One for them both, should bad math win.

[carriagelamp]

Man I got lucky this month, I got to read a bunch of excellent books, including some really neat queer novels. Nothing like a break to really get to kick back and enjoy reading for the sheer pleasure of reading rather than a desperate escape

Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation manhua v1

Unsurprising to absolutely anyone who’s been reading these, I picked up the first book of the manhua adaptation of Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation. It covers the first part of the first book, which basically amounts of Wei Wuxian’s revival and his flight from Mo Manor to the mountain and the Night Hunt. Besides for WWX, we get to meet Lan Wanji, the juniors, and Jiang Cheng, all of which have great designs. Like the rest of this series, it was a pleasure to read, the adaptation was done really well, and I’m excited for the next volume.

The Ice Monster

This book was very… meh. I was pretty disappointed, because I’ve really enjoyed the other two books I’ve read by David Walliams so far, and this was probably the one I was most excited about, but it was… incredibly middling compared to the others.

The Ice Monster is about a Victorian orphan, Elsie, who escapes from the brutal orphanage she had been raised in and was making her way on the streets. During this time, a great mammoth that had been found in the Arctic was being transported to the museum for display. Elsie feels a kinship for this “monster” and begins a series of events that lead to it being freed from the ice and set loose in London.

There were good moments in this book and I’m sure a kid would enjoy it, but ultimately it felt like way too many fart jokes and not enough substance compared to Walliams’ other books.

I Think Our Son Is Gay v2

A very sweet manga series I’ve been reading from the library. It follows the POV of a mother who suspects that her son is gay but who isn’t quite ready to come out yet. It’s a nice balance of humour — the art is cute and the characters have fun reactions to various silly things that happen in their lives — and love while still asking what it must be like to be gay in a homophobic society. A good read.

Legends & Lattes

SUCH a fun novel, it was exactly what I needed this month.

The story is about an orc mercenary called Viv who, after 20 years of fighting and killing, has had enough and is ready to settle down. Using the mysterious reward from her last adventure, Viv leaves her old company to find what she hopes will be the perfect city to open a coffee shop. Which is a daunting task in a part of the world that has never ever heard of coffee before and is suitably leery of this “bean water”.

If you want an action-packed, edge of your seat adventure book… don’t read this. This is the epitome of “cosy” fiction — its tag line is “high fantasy and low stakes”. If you want a dnd coffee au in novel form that’s about friendship and food… then this is THE perfect novel. It made me feel so warm and happy (and hungry).

Lucky Luke: The Oklahoma Land Rush // The Man Who Shot Lucky Luke

Lucky Luke is a BD series I’ve heard a lot about, and after seeing a couple episodes of it on Prime I decided I needed to actually pick up a volume or two. I’m delighted I did and I think I’ll need to read more now! 

The general premise is that of a western. The titular character, Lucky Luke, is a clever and nearly unflappable gun-slinger who can “shoot faster than his shadow”. Luke gets into a range of silly, comedic Wild West adventures and inevitably comes out on top for the sake of justice. Naturally, the genre being what it is, the whole First Nations thing is… rough, but the books were enjoyable if you can look past that.

The first book I read was The Oklahoma Land Rush which is fairly indicative of the series I believe and is about Luke being hired to help police the desperate rush of settlers to claim land in Oklahoma. The second was The Man Who Shot Lucky Luke which was written by Matthieu Bonhomme instead of Morris and is a slightly grittier, more serious take on Luke. I enjoyed this one just as much — it still managed to be funny, but the stakes felt much higher. And the art was just stunning.

The Night Gardener

A fun, creepy middle grade horror. A story about two young Irish immigrants trying their best to survive in the absence of their parents. In a last desperate attempt to get work they find themselves way out at a desolate, crumbling English manor that has been almost completely consumed by a strange tree. The family there is as desolate and strange as the grounds, pale and sickly and carrying a mysterious secret. The siblings realise just how strange and dangerous this estate might be as they’re drawn deeper into the secrets and begin to suspect that there’s something else living and working on the grounds…

I really like Jonathan Auxier's writing and I’ve been meaning to try this novel for years. I was glad to have finally done it.

Doctor Who: The Runaway Tardis

Just a cute little picture book. Pop Classics does some fun work and the art style really worked for Doctor Who. It’s about a little girl who has moved and is struggling with needing to make whole new friends in a place she doesn’t know. The themes of loneliness and goodbyes and needing to move on and make new friends was actually perfect to pair with Doctor Who; despite being quite simple and silly looking, it actually made me feel things for both the Doctor and the little girl.

Sandman v1/2

Everyone has been so hyped about The Sandman! I’ve been wanting to get in on it but I’m not very good at sitting down and watching shows so I thought I might try the original comics. Honestly I should have known better. I don’t really like this harsh style of American comics and if we’re being totally honest I don’t generally like Gaiman’s longer prose. This, unsurprisingly, combined two things I don’t like and ended up with a comic I didn’t like. Things only went down hill when fucking Batman appeared. It didn’t even really feel like it had the humour I would at least expect from Gaiman besides for a few brief glimmers. I appreciate that other people really like this series but oof. Not for me. 

The Secret Garden

I love The Secret Garden, it’s one of those comfort books that I need to reread every few years. I was listening to it as an audiobook this time and it was so lovely to see the first signs of spring appearing while listening to this story. If you want something feel good I highly recommend starting it because we are in the season for it.

If you’ve never read The Secret Garden, the premise is of a young, spoiled, but horrifically neglected child who was raised in British-occupied India. She is a bad-tempered, sour, and demanding child known to others as “Mistress Mary quite contrary”. When her parents die of a cholera outbreak she is sent back to England to live at her uncle’s manor on the Yorkshire moors. This relative is also distant and bitter, apparently hunchbacked and widowed. Once more alone, Mary is suddenly expected to do things for herself and isn’t given her every demand — instead she begins to befriend the cheerful, plain-spoken maid and starts spending time outside, exploring and playing for what feels like the first time in her life…   

Wallace & Gromit: Crackers in Space

I stumbled across this as an audiobook. After the fact I realised it’s also a comic. Oddly enough, the comic seemed profoundly bad — I’ve never really liked any of the Wallace and Gromit comics — but the audiobook version was a delight. It has the actual voice actor for Wallace, so it sounded completely like I had just put an episode on in the background that I had never watched before. They were also very clever about giving Gromit a “voice” despite him being a non-verbal character! It was actually a lot of fun!

Wallace decides to attempt making his own cheese out in the garden shed… only things go badly, as they’re wont to. Instead of making a lovely cheese, the whole thing ends up getting launched into the atmosphere because of a helium mishap… which might not be so bad if the zero gravity wasn’t making the Home Brew Cheese Kit kick into overdrive. They’re going to have to figure out how to deal with the massive, mutated cheese comet that’s now threatening all of West Wallaby Street. 

Wave Me Goodbye

An absolutely charming book, I didn’t want to put it down. This book takes place at the beginning of the Second World War, when children were being evacuated from London (which was at risk of bombing) and being sent out to live with volunteers in the country. Shirley is one of the children being sent out, but right from the beginning she finds herself struggling with feeling like the odd one out. She doesn’t feel like she fits in with her rough-and-tumble classmates, and when she does make a new friend on the train it’s clear that she doesn’t properly fit in with the posh covenant girls either. Things only get worse when she is one of the only children not picked to go with a family, and suddenly she and two other unwanted boys find themselves foisted on the unwilling inhabitants of the Red House. But in wartime, one has to make due, so she, Kevin, and Archie begin to explore this strange, half-empty house and get used to a very different way of life way out in the country.

Shirley is a huge reader in the book, and it actually made me pause reading to go and read some of the books she references! It was a lot of fun! Some of the books I read last month that Shirley reads are Ballet Shoes and The Squirrel, The Hare, and the Little Grey Rabbit. It’s also what made me decide to reread The Secret Garden, since they feel like similar genres.

When the Angels Left the Old Country

I read some great books this month and it would be hard to say for certain which was my favourite since they were in quite different genres, but this would be a strong contender. Holy shit was it good. The tl;dr is that it’s a bit like a Jewish Good Omens but also nothing like that at all.

The Angel (as angels don’t have permanent names, but rather names that describe what they are currently doing) and the demon Little Ash have been study partners for centuries, happily existing in their little Shtetl without feeling much need to change things. But things are changing and with the press of poverty and rise of violent anti-Semitic feelings many residents of the Shtetl are now leaving for America in the search of work and safety. Little Ash is determined that they should join these immigrants, and when a member of their Shtetl goes missing on her own voyage it seems inevitable that they go and track her down to ensure she is safe and well.

At its heart this is an immigrant story about people and prejudice and love, and it’s really written beautifully, the way you see all the hardship that goes into such a voyage even for supernatural beings.

[pizzainator]

34? :0 And if you wanna sketch a character, how about c!Tommy :)

okay funny thing- #34 on my playlist was the Wizard101 Celestia Combat Theme so here's a silly au type drawin of tommy and wilbur (I know u only asked for Tommy but I had to draw both once I had the idea) if they were in w101. Also I've thought wayy too much about what w101 schools each dsmp character would be so extra info below the read more :-)

Okay I went for Fire school for both Wilbur and Tommy. The W101 website says this about pyromancers:

Fire is passion, the bright, burning flame of raw emotion sweeping over everything. Those who follow the School of Fire, known as Pyromancers, are tempestuous, quick to anger, and consumed by whatever drives them at that moment. They tend to walk a fine line. Having great passion and enthusiasm for one’s loves in life is good, but watch out! Passion can burn you up and consume you, leaving nothing but a charred husk of your former self. Pyromancers use Incantations to dominate and convince Fire creatures to do their bidding.

I felt like out of all the schools fire fit both of them pretty well but I thought it would be interesting to give them a secondary school as well, so Tommy has Ice and Wilbur gets Myth.

Ice: Ice Magic is all about persistence, slow but steady progression and advancement, like the great glaciers forever sliding across the landscape. Those who embrace the power of Ice, known as Thaumaturges, exhibit great patience and strength, but as a result they sometimes become rigid and inflexible. Thaumaturges use Chants to bargain or plead with Ice creatures to serve them.

and Myth: Myth is imagination. The power of the mind, and everything it can create, drives Myth Magic. It is illusion and dreams made real. If the Wizard can conceive it, it can be brought forth and even brought to life. Beware, though, for when imagination becomes too fanciful and whimsical, dreams can escape control and run wild. Wizards of the Myth School, known as Conjurers, use Naming to summon beasts of legend by memorizing and calling out their True Name.

Some small interesting things with this is obviously Fire and Ice are opposite elemental magic. Myth is instead a 'spirit' school not elemental and according to the website: 'Myth dwells between Fire and Ice, for that is where the shadows lie, and Myths are the shadowy forms of thought made real.'

For their outfits- Tommy is in the default first outfit you get at the start of the game, very much a beginner wizard. While Wilbur is wearing Meowiarty's Intense Robe which you get from the end boss of Marleybone which is a London themed world.

I gave Wilbur one of the sword wands, I just think they look cool. But now that I've clicked the wiki link to the wand I chose I realize that its the Valor Wand which was a veterans day special item...

anyways- I'm gonna reblog one of my super old posts about my dsmp w101 school headcanons.