#OR get detailed recs from people whose taste i trust or who know my taste enough to know what i'd like

[queenerdloser]

i feel like media reviews have gotten more and more useless to me. rotten tomatoes and letterboxed ratings have nothing to do with whether i'll enjoy a movie or not. goodreads ratings regularly give 4+ stars to books i hate and 3 stars to books i love with all my heart. it's coming to the point now where i really am like. okay i just have to experience this myself and see if i like it bc the only person's taste who i trust is mine.

[freykitten]

Frey’s fic recs list!

I realised there’s a dry spell happening in my fic reccommendations tag (”can i interest you in this masterpiece”, perhaps with a question mark at the end idk anymore), and we’re off season, so appreciating the writers creating content now is very important, so here’s a very incomplete list of season 12 (with a smidge of CDR) fics I’m obsessed with. 

It’s absolutely not all the fics I would happily rant about to everyone who listened - it’s very on top of my head - but almost all authors I mentioned have more RPDR works, so check that out and browse the tags of ships you’re interested in (that’s how I found a big part of those gems). Oh, and comment, even if it’s just keysmash or screaming. It means the world, trust me on that.

“we didn’t start the fire” by @pink-grapefruit-cafe - lesbian AU, multichap, in progress (Jankie, Ninex, Trixya + I’m hoping for Kamasia)

When I think of this story, I start smiling and bounce with excitement, because it’s just that freaking fantastic. I’m still in awe with how well Charl is executing this concept, and I stopped expecting anything less than splendind from her even before I got to know her. How does she know so much about firefighters? I’m guessing a lot of detailed research came into outlining this story and I have the most respect for that. But the plot! Okay, so it’s a firefighter AU. I can’t tell you too much not to spoil anything important, but it starts with a bang to your own head, and then it doesn’t slow down. We get to explore characters one by one, but through the lense of relationships and dynamic, and it’s done in such a smart way. I promise you’ll be hooked one paragraph in, and by the end of the first chapter- you’ll be addicted.

“A Goode Idea“ by @goodemornting​ - lesbian AU, one shot (Crygi)

I had and incredible pleasure of betaing it, but I’m not biased at all what I say this fic is hilarious. It’s fantastically written and had me surprised at every turn. I had the most fun reading it each time. The idea is, well, absurd. Like, literally. Crystal gets her hand stuck in a vending machine on her way to a blind date. But our girl is not a quitter, oh no, but the machine is runway commentary on Drag Race and Crystal’s hand is jokes about Michelle’s breasts. Just... can’t let it go. Thankfully, there comes salvation in a form of Gigi Goode, who’s been stood up on a blind date. Are you, like, connecting the dots here? Because they’re not. At all. This fic is prime entertainment, give it a read.

“I Remember“ by @imposterzoe - one shot (Jiji)

MY HEART WAS RIPPED OUT, SET ON FIRE, AND STEPPED ON, BUT NOT IN ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE FLAME. I thought about this fic and, jesus, it still hurts. It’s a great angst, truly a great one. It’s all loneliness and heartbreak and yearning that makes the lungs burn. “dear god he needed a hug. But the one person he would accept it from was in another man's arms, on the other side of the country.” - I can’t get this line out of my head and I don’t regret it - it’s a very good one, but it just hurts a lot. Incredible, incredible work. 

One Direction (to your heart) by @opalescent-cheetah​ - lesbian AU, multichap, in progress (Jaida/Crystal)

Back to the fun stuff! IT’S A SOULMATES AU. I’M WEAK FOR SOULMATES AUs. And you might not understand my love for that trope (it’s legit my favourite one ever), but you will understand my love for that story as soon as you start it. It’s a fun spin on the soulmate tottoos trope - you’re not born with it, but once you get your first tattoo, it’s mirrored on your soulmate’s skin. And Jaida really doesn’t get the appeal of having the universe decide for you about who you’re going to love - she prefers to make that decision for herself, so when arabic letters spelling “One Direction” appear on her chest, it’s less than ideal. But she doesn’t think too much about it. That, or the fact her new coworker insists of blasting 1D songs all day long. She might not enjoy Crystal’s taste in music, but she sure enjoys her company. A lot. A whole lot.

I almost forgot to mention it, but the fact each chapter has a seperate illustration drawn for it? And they’re all so pretty? Wonderful.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered by @missjanjie - lesbian AU, multichap, in progress (Sportsdoll, Crygi)

I promised myself one rec for one author and with Joley it was the most difficult to stick to that rule (and we’ve had Charlotte on this list, and I’m whipped with everything she writes, so visualise the struggle here). But I chose this one, because it’s just!!! so good!!! Jan is a simple collage student with typical collage student problems. You know, exams, boring readings, pining for your French pen pal, morning lectures, handing in assignments on time. Crystal is her roommate, and has typical roommate problems: sharing chores, remembering which sweets are whose, and telling your secret crush you have to pretend to be in love, because your roommate decided to invite her French pen pal to your wedding, so now you have to stage everything. That’s a normal Tuesday evening for them. And an awesome story for you to follow.

“small wonder“ by wildewoman_22 - lesbian AU, one shot (Jankie)

This list is supposed to be fics that live rent-free in my head, so this one should have been put as the first one. It made me sob. It’s so unimaginably beautiful (I’m already getting tears in my eyes and I’m not even talking about the plot, oh my god). Jackie and Jan decide to have a baby, and it’s the most raw, magnificent, but also heartwarming portrayal of pregnancy and different ways to understand motherhood I’ve read. So absolutely beautiful and filled with love. Just, a masterpiece. So mindblowing.

“Some Things Are Bound To Be” by @dollalpaca​ - lesbian AU, multichap, in progress (Kyara)

In Polish we have that saying, “to approach something like dog would a hedgehog”, and to say that was me with that fic is like not saying anything. I love Zyanny and I’m always going to be proud of the things she creates - be it a fic, a moodboard, or a bullet journal - but I didn’t really watch CDR, and the bit I have seen didn’t convince me. So it took me a while to get to that fic. But when I did. Jesus, the only advantage of catching up on it late was the fact I didn’t have to wait for updates, because it’s so good I’d go crazy, like I am now. Kyne is an accountant in a big company, all she wants is to do her job and mind her own business. Really. Give her her papers and peace. That’s all she’s asking for. So of course she’ll get something else - a rumour she’s dating the daughter of the company’s boss. But Kiara is hot and nice and seeing her laugh makes Kyne’s heart do stupid things, so what the hell. One thing she doesn’t know is Kiara’s past, and that might complicate a few things. I don’t know Kiara’s past either and Zyan won’t tell me and I’m going crazy here. Come join me in my misery - the way her characters are written makes it all worth it.

“countless chances” by @essenceofhall - lesbian AU, one shot (Crygi)

IT’S A HARLEY QUINN/POISON IVY AU, PEOPLE. And it’s blowing my mind. The characterisation in that fic is immaculate - it’s like original personalities of Ivy and Harley were mixed with something very, very original, and it’s owned - done so surely and with so much craftmanship - they feel organic as Crystal and Gigi. This fic is the best way of creating an AU based on existing characters I’ve read, and with a lot of certainty I can say that it will remain as the best one. It’s pure brilliance. I am blown away. Impressed beyond the point of expression. 

“Blue Neighborhood” by @imalwaysaslutfordrag - lesbian AU, a series of astounding one shots, in progress

I won’t write too much about this, because I probably could whip out a separate post about BN and it would be just as long. It’s one of the best stories I’ve read in my entire life, and I don’t mean just fics, I mean all literature. Every aspect I could talk about is entrancing. Phenomenal work that deserves all the praise.

[bookcub]

11 Questions

I got tagged in a bunch of these, so I’m doing them in one go XD

@aliteraryprincess‘s questions 

What was your most anticipated book of 2018?  Did it live up to your expectations? Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor!!! And yes, it did. I thought it was amazing, great book and great conclusion. 

What’s your first read of 2019? Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

Any favorite TV shows based on books? I’m more about comic books becoming tv series. I was into The 100 for a while, but I dropped it in season 3. 

What was the last book you read in translation? Oh, The Mulatto maybe? It’s a short story and I’m pretty sure it was originally written in French. I liked it a lot and it was about slavery and a low key thriller. 

If you could have a pet from any book/series, what would you want? Okay, so he’s not a pet, he is Sylvie’s best friend, but Ebon from Pegasus. Because I will always want a pegasus bff. 

Are there any genres that you never read? I say horror, but I read the more psychological stuff. And I rarely read non fiction, but I will read it every now and then. I keep saying I’ll never read New Adult again, but I keep getting intrigued by the synopsis and I’m always disappointed. 

Do you have a favorite classic? Anne of Green Gables is a classic, right? Cause that’s my favorite. But I like quite a few. 

What book-to-movie adaptation would you completely remake?  Why? Percy Jackson!!! Although, I’d just record the musical, which was brilliant on 18 different levels. The movie completely missed the point of the books, misinterpreted all the characters, and  the plot made no sense??? Musial was much better. 

What was your least favorite read of 2018? Enemies Like These by PK Gardner, maybe? It was painful to read. 

Are there any authors whose books you automatically buy no matter what? Brigid Kemmerer and Sarah Rees Brennan. 

What was the last book you bought? I don’t buy many books. I either get them at book sales or on a rare treat. I usually go to the library. But I think it was .69 for the complete collection of Anne of Green Gables as an e collection. Or the short story Atoning by Kelley Armstrong, spin off to Darkest Powers. Can’t remember which I bought first. Unless you want to count books I buy for school. Then The Last September, which I never read. 

@booklisted‘s questions

1. Who do you always trust to give you book recommendations? My mom XD. Although are tastes have started to differ more as I have gotten older.

2. What do you look for in a bookstore? I don’t go to book stores. And theres only one local one and it’s . . . fine. But I don’t trust BAM. 

3. What is a book you loved as a child, only to go back to it as an adult and not like? Turns out baby me and adult me see eye to eye on most books. This wasn’t when I was a child per se, but I did like House of Night when I first read it and now I hate it. The whole series is ridiculous. I read EIGHT of them, what a waste of time. 

4. What is a book you thought you were going to hate, but then were surprised by? Hmmm, most classics I like. I didn’t expect to love The Storyteller as much as I do. Thought it was going to be predictable fluff. 

5. What book did you identify with most strongly as a teenager? Like, every other book I picked up.

6. Did you have phases of reading certain types of books growing up? Describe them! I haven’t outgrown any reading phases. I still love fantasy, children’s and YA. I just keep expanding them. 

7. Have you ever received a book as a present or recommendation which you didn’t like? Did you tell the person? Pretty sure yes. But I can’t think of any examples. 

8. Have you met any of your favourite authors? If so, who? I met V E Schwab at a book signing. She was nice. 

9. If you are reading something written originally in a different language, how much do you care about the translation/translator? A lot!!! I started this one book, The Book Jumper. The translation was sloppy and stiff and choppy. It felt like a child wrote it. I couldn’t read more than a few chapters. The Storyteller was stunningly translated, straight up lyrical. Very easy to read and I got lost in the writing. Pretty sure they were both German too. 

10. What is the strangest book you’ve ever read? Hm. I want to say The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King. It was about a girl who was cursed to live 100 lives as a dog before she could be human again. Most of it was her 102nd life when she was a girl again. She referenced her past lives, and went to search for her treasure and her hopefully reincarnated boyfriend. Not bad. But strange. 

11. One book you would give a 12y/o child to read? One??? Kiki Strike: Inside the Shadow City by Kristen Miller cause it’s amazing and most people give 12 year olds books about boys and a lot of the same ones over and over. 

@thereadingchallengechallenge‘s questions

What’s your favourite book at the moment? I always go back to The Name of the Wind

Did you read all the books you wanted to in 2018? Lol NOPE 

Did you discover any new favourite authors or books this year? 

Any book recommendations? We could be here all day, just check myy-book-recs tag for more detailed recs. 

What’s your favourite fairy tale? Probs Beauty and the Beast 

Are you looking forward to any new releases? Brigid Kemmerer’s new book 

What genre do you read the most? YA cause I can’t stop 

What’s your favourite book-to-movie adaptation? Stardust cause I like the movie more. And To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. 

Any reading or book-related goals for 2019? My goodreads challenge is like 70 books. 

What do you think will be your last read of 2018? It was Dumplin 

Have you read any books by Australian authors? Yes, Marianne Curley who wrote the Guardians of Time. A few others, but I forget them now. 

@darkestwings‘s questions 

Do you have any pets? Nope 

What is your favorite thing about winter? SNOW!!! COLD!!!! BLANKETS!!!! COCO!!!! 

What was the last book you read? Puddin’ by Julie Murphy 

Talk about a fictional character who inspires you. Recently, Millie from Puddin’. She is so motivated and organized and determined and optimistic. I adored her!!! 

What is your number one pet peeve? I don’t know, so many things. Chewing with your mouth open bothers me to no end 

What is something you are proud of? . . . I can cook okay and bake better. 

Share some good advice you have received. It’s okay to fail

What is the last thing you bought (not counting groceries)? Movie tickets to Mary Poppins Returns 

Share the most useless piece of trivia you know. Dolly Parton was inspired to write “I Will Always Love You” after she wanted to leave a business relationship. Also, Elvis wanted the rights to the song but wasn’t willing to give her royalties. Whitney Housten made a much better deal, both crediting her and bringing the song to new levels. 

What was your first job? I volunteered at a library 

What rating system do you use for books? Five stars but I just kind of wing it. I’m not crazy consistent. 

[hogwartsfirebolt]

Well, that original post hurt me a little.

I recommend fics on here. I do it often and I only ever have two reasons for it:

1. I want the author to know in DETAIL (my recs are quite long) everything I loved about their story, and I want to add a little edit because to me, those two things are the biggest ways I have of expressing it when I truly, truly love something in fandom. I tag them, and on the occasion where I’ve recommended a fic from an author who didn’t have a tumblr, I contacted them and sent them a link because my primary goal is always to LET THEM KNOW how their craft made me feel.

2. Of course the second thing I want is for as MANY PEOPLE TO SEE THE REC AS POSSIBLE, because this is the third way I have of expressing my love, doing it LOUDLY. I guess I always assume if an author dedicated so much time and gave so much love to a story, as much as it is for how rewarding writing itself can be, it’s also for people to read it. When I love something so much, I absolutely want to help them accomplish that, if I can. It’s not like there’s ads in fandom, it’s not like an author can do much to promote their story, it’s not like I can do much either, but if I can get even one more person to read a story they maybe hadn’t given a chance to before because hearing how much I loved it resonated with them, that’s enough for me. That makes me happy. I loved this author’s work, I think more people should, and I definitely always encourage them to comment and give the author their love.

I have gotten followers doing this. My rec posts are some of the ones that have more notes in my blog and I’m happy about it, because it means the sentiment reached more people, and I hope they all went and read the thing. I always do hope a lot of people will see it. If someone follows me for a rec, I take it they like my taste, and I take it they trust me to recommend something good next time. I can’t monetize this, followers don’t mean power to me, and the only thing other than recommending I do on tumblr is reblog other people’s posts, very occasionally I’ll write a drabble, so really there’s no reason for me to want to “draw attention” to myself by doing this, because honestly? There’s not much to see in my blog, and as much as followers are appreciated, they’re just followers, and this is just a social network.

My recommendations always come from a place of love, but I see I can’t assume the author will know this. If you’re an author whose story I’ve recommended and I hurt you by not leaving kudos, I’m really sorry.

I really miss the LJ fic rec culture tbh. It used to be that if somebody recced your fic, they’d leave an actual comment on your fic about what they liked as well as a link to the rec they left.

these days it’s all “hm, a spike in kudos. I wonder if my fic got recced” and then you have to spend half an hour creatively googling in an attempt to find the rec, if it exists, and every single time it turns out to be a rec by a person who never commented and often never left a kudos in the first place.

which, and this is the salty part, makes me wonder what’s the point of a rec if it’s not to tell the author that you liked their fic so much that you absolutely must share that with other people? I could be wrong, but from where I’m standing it looks a lot like recs these days are just a way for the reccer to generate notes and attention towards themselves with little effort put into actual content creation, that is to say, using other people’s fics as tools to boost yourself.

[theteaisaddictive]

Beauty and the Beast Fic Recs

So! Fandom fic rec days are here (which, no, I totally did not forget about until I saw a post this morning), which means it’s time for me to share some of my all-time favourite BatB fics with you all. Most of these stories are on ff.net - please, don’t let that prejudice you against them. Every single one of these stories is thoughtful, well-written, and delightfully in-character. 

Let’s begin under the cut.

Multi-chap stories

Nothing like a multi-chap to keep you going, well into the night, right? Well, here are some of my personal favourites. 

Kissed By A Rose - SamoaPhoenix9 To begin, one of my absolute favourites, and one of the first BatB fics I ever read. The Beast is older, here - cursed from 15 to 25, with a heartbreaking backstory to why he is so closed-off to love and emotional vulnerability. Belle comes to the castle not just to save her father, but for another reason - she has been raped by Gaston, is now pregnant, and more than anything wants to avoid marriage to him. Her rape is never explicitly described, nor is it seen ‘on-screen’, but the emotional after-effects, and the way Belle and the Beast slowly learn to trust each other again, are touching and respectful. I would be here all day if I recc’d everything I want to by SamoaPhoenix9, so suffice to say that all of her BatB fic is excellent and you should read it now. 

Picture This - TrudiRose A believable Belle/Gaston fic? Where Gaston undergoes character development and changes as a person? And you actually end up rooting for Gaston? On my computer? Jokes aside, this is an absolute favourite of mine - TrudiRose has such a grasp on Gaston, and without fail manages to bring him over to the light side, instead of letting him spiral into the dark. For those of you wondering, there is no Beast in this fic - however, we really get to know the villagers as individuals, many of them based on the characters we see in ‘Belle’.

A Prince in Disguise - TheGreenArcher When Belle does’t get to the castle in time and is dragged back to the village by a victorious Gaston, the Enchantress takes pity on Adam and turns him back into a human. Instructed to find Belle and share her love, he ends up rescuing her from a blackmail-induced wedding to Gaston. Then, Belle, Maurice and Adam go on a road trip to escape Gaston -  neither of the former two realising that her beloved Beast is right beside them. This is described as an ‘alternate ending’, which I for one really enjoy - Lefou gets character development, we see Adam come to terms with his human body, and there’s even a Shrek tie-in!

Tune As Old As Song/Song As Old As Rhyme - So-crates Johnson These stories are closely related to each other, as both share the same premise; Belle, a book reviewer for the paper, meets guitarist for local rock band Adam while helping fellow reporter Chip with a story. While dodging the affections of the sports reporter, Gaston, Belle and Adam find that they have more in common than their tastes in music might dictate. ‘Tune As Old As Song’ has a fluffier storyline, as well as several bonus chapters detailing Belle and Adam’s tour of Europe with the band, and some hidden scenes. ‘Song As Old As Rhyme’ follows the movie’s plot a little more closely, but both are excellent stories. 

The Fairest of Them All, Who’s As Beautiful As Me - TrudiRose Another wonderful Gaston-centric fic from TrudiRose, this time pairing him with Snow White. Yeah - I know it sounds weird, but the two of them actually fit really well together. And there’s still plenty of plot - the Evil Queen wants Snow dead, Belle and Adam have to deal with Gaston still being alive, and a certain Prince shows up, determined to win back the girl he sang to so sweetly in the forest. This is another fic involving the villagers - you really get a sense that Molyneaux is a real town, filled with real people. 

One-shots

All Along - SamoaPhoenix9 Canon Belle and the Prince having a stroll through the gardens - and they both have some explanations about the curse they need to share. 

The Last Dance - TheGreenArcher The elderly Prince must learn to accept his beloved wife’s passing. But Belle always had a surprise up her sleeve to help him. 

Tea For Two - Pushmipullu Maurice and Mrs. Potts share a spot of tea on the evening of Belle and the Prince’s wedding. Cute and fluffy, especially if you ship the two of them. 

The Girl He’s Going To Marry - SamoaPhoenix9 The Prince had met the Enchantress before, as it turns out - and her relationship to Belle is one he finds equally surprising. 

Spring Fever - CarolNJoy A two-shot (?) where the Beast takes Belle out on a picnic to the lake in his castle. 

WIP’s

A Prince in Molyneaux - So-crates Johnson A non-magic AU, where Adam flees his father to avoid a) an arranged marriage and b) work. After a robbery, he’s left stranded in Molyneaux working for Gaston in his tavern. Although he gets off on the wrong foot with Belle, he soon finds that she is intelligent, kind, and intriguing. I love how So-crates gives the Bimbettes characters, and also how wonderfully boorish Gaston is. 

This Idyllic Scene - TrudiRose A sequel to ‘Picture This’, Belle and Gaston have four children and live their lives, interacting often with the other villagers - and occasionally with a certain Prince who lives nearby. I love this sequel, but if you dislike the ‘plotless’ feel of Anne of Green Gables, then this isn’t for you. 

The Mirror of Eden - GreenArcher An Assassin’s Creed crossover. When Belle, Adam, and their young son are separated during a siege of the castle, Adam fears he’ll never see them again. However, when a skilled Assassin named Arno saves their lives, and reveals that Adam’s father was involved with their organisation, the three of them know that their lives will never be the same. This is interspersed very neatly with flashbacks to earlier in Belle and Adam’s relationship, so you really get a sense of who they are and where they’re coming from. 

And of course, I finish by recc’ing my own stuff, like the hack I am. 

Behind A Fair Facade Belle and Adam are college roommates whose dislike soon melts into friendship - and maybe more. But Adam has a reason beyond Belle's smile for pursuing her love, to do with his parents tragic death ten years ago. And Belle has her own motives for choosing a college over a hundred miles from her beloved father. Can their friends get them to fall in love? Or, a modern AU where the curse is in the law, the Bimbettes have characters, for some reason France has been replaced by Scotland, and everything is linked thematically. If anybody drops a review on ao3 I would probably die of joy. 

A Rose’s Thorn (WIP) Because a prince insulted a witch, he was cursed. Because a girl fell in love, the spell was broken. But when a merchant chooses to trust his horse, the prince risks never breaking his enchantment. And the merchant's daughter will be trapped in marriage with a man she doesn't love. Can they find each other, even with all the changes to this tale as old as time? Or, Maurice never takes the fork in the road that leads to the Beast's castle.

The Beauty of a Beast An on-going series exploring Belle and Adam’s lives before, during, and after the curse. a03 - here ff.net - here

[multsicorn]

9, 12, 20, 31, 41. I am greedy.

and I am thrilled to be asked!

9. What are the best things about your current fandom?I don't know! - honestly I still feel a bit frustrated, trying to get into it, like I'm knocking at the door.  Most popular ships, including the biggest, don't interest me all that much; I'm only moderately a fan of the canon itself.  (well then, mults, why are you in this fandom?)  (i fell wildly madly in love with one tiny sliver of canon, don't talk to me, okay).  But there is definitely quite a bit of fic and art that I love so much - don't get me wrong! - (and I still haven't managed to comment on so much of it, gah).

Some best things are: @littlestpersimmon’s art, and @yoursummerfrost’s stories… and @camilliar’s and @tomato-greens' wonderfully correct Opinons ;).

But I think the VERY BEST things are the it's-always-a-hiatus random shared creativity shitposts that every so often take over my dash.  Things like @des-zimbits' bittypoots au, and @shitty-check-please-aus’ 'what if your soulmate turned into an oven.'  … and those posts are very much not just them, they are group creations!  But I can't follow everyone, so that's what I see, and that sort of shared madness is the best thing in this fandom, to me, and I wish my brain worked faster so I could join in more.

12. Who is your current OT3?Pimbits/PB&J, OF COURSE.  I think they might actually be the ot3-est ot3 I've had ever?  Because I always polyship, and I always multiship, too, so usually when I love ot3's I also love all the component otp's, and quite a few ot4s/ot5s/other polycules that include but don't end with the ot3.

But, here - zimbits is great and I do believe that they're happy and set up well for the long haul 1. Actually, a lot, maybe most, of the fic projects I have going are Jack/Parse set during the Q?  But that's never gonna end happily.  And sometimes even I want a happy ending, damnit!2. Kent/OC is another Very Excellent Option and in fact quite a lot of what I read, and makes for a great sort of story with regards to healing wounds and moving on.  Which is.  Yes.  Kind of what I'm in this fandom for.3. But Jack and Bitty are Real Live Actual characters that Exist, and I can't ship Kent with either of them in a happy ending way *without* the other… and if I ship all three of them together, it's less close to canon, yeah, it doesn't feel likely to happen, but it could!  And there's just SO MUCH potential drama and complicated dynamics there, like, that's at least a large part of what I'm #here for in a ship.

I need to make a post about it.  (And I don't need to wait for an excuse!  But now that I do have an excuse… ~scalene ot3 post coming up Next.)

20. Any ships which you surprised yourself by liking?Ha, I don't know!  On the one hand, ALL of them, cause I typically never know I'll tip over into caring about something till I do.  On the other hand, that makes it more or less impossible for me to pick specific ones to answer this question with.  I never thought I’d care about SPORTS, wtf, till I fell into omgcp; I never thought I’d care about the FOUNDING FATHERS, again wtf, till I fell into Hamilton; or a HIGH SCHOOL DRAMEDY, until I fell into Glee...

Most recently I've gotten into the idea of Jack/Shitty.  And Jack/Lardo!  Not as, y'know, ongoing Real Ships, but as 'hooked up in the past and now we're friends' things.  (why is this dynamic so appealing, @me.)

31. What’s the nicest thing someone has ever said about your writing?Many people have said many very nice things and it's always hard to think of 'the nicest' off the top of my head!  When my friends who are among my favorite writers say that I'm one of theirs; when people whose skill and taste I respect tell me that they trust me to handle difficult stories; those are the VERY BEST, generally.  I count myself thrilled that these things have happened more than once or twice!

(I'm still not sure anything has thrilled me yet more than the last time I answered this question, which is that time I wrote a fic that might've been about Blaine being manic and @misqueue said it was a good depiction thereof which was just.  Amazing.  Cause I don't know what that's like, but she does…!)

41. List and link to 5 fanfics you are currently reading:

I'm not currently reading any WIPs, so I will make this '5 fanfics I have read and loved recently.'  WITH RECS/DESCRIPTIONS cause I remember you said that’s a thing you like!

Ain't a Rule (That Ain't Worth Breaking) by @yoursummerfrost.  bittyparse: Kent is tired of being in the closet; Bitty helps him cause a scandal.There's a zimbits-hopeful ending, but I mostly just love the way that Bitty and Parse connect in this.  Parse's mix of vulnerability and bravado - and hey, come to think of that, Bitty's too.  No wonder they could have some sympathy for each other.  And yoursummerfrost's details, from imagery to dialogue to sudden too-sharp inner observations, are always on point.  ("Bitty doesn’t even like Kent Parson. Or, if someone asked, that’d be what he said. But right now, on this sticky dance floor with the music too loud and the taste of overpriced liquor still on his tongue, he’d probably kill for him.")

i don't see your name on it by @heyfightme.  zimbits soulate au: Eric is eighteen when he meets the eleventh Jack of his life.  I love what this does with the soulmates trope, of course: at this level of fandom saturation, I don't think I could love a soulmate au that didn't put some sort of specific spin on it.  But in this case the unusual part isn't the mechanics, per se: it's how Bitty reacts to his name, and how Jack reacts to his, and just how much it, for the most part, doesn't change between them at all, even as it illuminates something about them in the story.

No Crystal Stair by @vampireisabitstrong.  gen Jack Zimmermann fic, about his Issues and his recovery.  ("Alicia just wants Jack to find happiness, whatever it takes.")  Lyrical, perceptive, and just really sad enough to feel really hopeful about it after all.  (If that makes sense.)

Stuck Inside the Silence by @omgpbandj.  pimbits: Kent lies in bed, listening to his two best friends fuck and wondering what the hell he'd done to deserve this.  It's… porn, a lot of it, and it's hot, and it's a pretty simple oneshot, but still, I just LIKE it, the character notes, the simple tension of liking someone (someones) maybe too much, and thinking they don't want it until they do.  I think part of why I love this particular fic is imagining the comfortable friendship between all three of Kent, Jack, and Bitty that's the background of it: and then part of it's the little things, Bitty's insecurity (“I wasn’t sure you’d be attracted to me"), Jack chirping Kent ("Probably Jack would have laughed at him a little fondly, like he did the first time Kent said that he wanted to buy his mom a house with his first paycheck"), I just!  Love these characters!  Okay!  And I love watching them be themselves.

100px To The Right by @jedusaur.  weird metafic: Bitty comes out to Johnson in the Haus kitchen after baking four pies in a row.  What can I say?  A short little WEIRD fic, but… it has tags like "the sociocultural context of this webcomic" and "the illogic of caring about sports", and it earns them, cause Johnson the Metaphysical Goalie comes by all his outside-the-box thoughts quite legitimately.