#Or I can at least; I guess I didn't share the year in review from my main. I think I still could actually.. maybe I will

[whatevertheweather]

Thank you all for the tags @run-for-chamo-miles @monbons @forabeatofadrum @rimeswithpurple @ileadacharmedlife @artsyunderstudy @noblecorgi @you-remind-me-of-the-babe! You're all making me very emotional about fandom, and my TBR has gotten out of control.

So. It's 2024 for a little bit more. I'm not sure what's going to happen as I write this post, but I know it's not going to be succinct, so we're just going to start below the cut and see what happens.

I'm waffling over where to start, but I've decided on what we're here for, which is the fic recap. I did actually make fic goals in 2024, and I did actually meet some of them, which I'm trying to focus on instead of the parts I didn't meet. Here's a nice lil screenshot to sum that up.

I did give Bait and Switch a checkmark after some hesitation, because it says ongoing, and I did keep it going. I just didn't finish. (The new goal is before CORB 2025 I guess.)

So I completed 2 fics. Continued 1. Posted 60,917 words, AO3 says, even though that's including the chapters of the WIPs I started last year, and by my clumsy calculations with that in mind, it's actually 32,990. Did not meet my goals, struggled to write most of the time, but when I was looking for these stats, I found AO3 doesn't even give me a 2023 tab (rip first chaps of Bait and Switch and Musical Chairs, I guess), so it's an improvement over last year.

It just doesn't feel like it, because so much of what I did is unposted. So those are the stats I'm gonna give.

Words that didn't get posted: 23.5k

Fics this close to done that I just couldn't get any farther on: 4

Fics started: 3

Fics lovingly revisited after being abandoned for a long while: 2

Number of projects I got really excited about writing: 3

Number of times I wrote AHAHAHA in brainstorming documents because I figured out what I need to do to fix the problems I was having: 5

How long it will take me to turn those ahas into action: I cannot possibly say

Number of times I should have reached out for brainstorming help: 50, probably

Number of times I actually reached out: 3, I think

It's these last two points I actually care about. Well, no, I care about all of it, but it's these last two I've been thinking about. I had writing goals for 2024, I'm going to have writing goals for 2025, but I also had a more nebulous goal to participate in fandom more, and that's the one I'm actually bothered about not meeting.

I have a bad habit of thinking the only way I can participate is by getting fic done. Sharing it. Posting snippets if it's not done. Like I can only rejoice in other people's WIPsday posts if I have my own, instead of just being inspired by other people's writing and art. Or I can only share excitement or progress if I'm sure it's going to go somewhere, instead of just posting what I have and letting the community of it all be its own excitement. Or I can only comment if I have the headspace to put together a stunning review that perfectly encapsulates what I liked about a fic/art/anything, instead of just saying what I can or messaging someone to tell them I loved the thing they made, as if I don't know how wonderful it feels when that happens.

I'm getting sappy and maudlin on main, but I appreciate this fandom so much, even when I revert to lurking, and I want so much to get back to participating and talking to people and sharing in all the amazing wonderful things this fandom does. Y'all are some of the most talented and creative and kind people and I adore you all. So that's my main (fandom-related) goal for 2025, and any fic completed will just be bonus points.

But! Since we're here for fic at the end of the year, I will round out this rambling post by saying there are at least 3 ideas I'm hopeful I'll be able to maintain my current level of enthusiasm for, and beyond that there are about 5 that are a few sentences away from done, so there's hope for seeing at least some fic from me in the new year. Related, here's a peek at the first three documents on my drive.

Two of these fall in the "a few sentences away from done good lord why can't you just finish this" category. The other one falls in the category of things I'm actually very excited about, and hope to at least have a WIPsday post for it before too long. Because I'm thinking keeping things secret for fear of never finishing them is actually kind of silly, and I don't need to keep trying to create things in a vacuum.

Finally, a mess of tags that is me waving hello with both hands: @fatalfangirl @moodandmist @martsonmars @facewithoutheart @whogaveyoupermission

@mostlymaudlin @sillyunicorn @aristocratic-otter @bookish-bogwitch @alexalexinii

@ivelovedhimthroughworse @iamamythologicalcreature @ionlydrinkhotwater @thewholelemon @bluedahlia912

@youarenevertooold @cutestkilla @raenestee @confused-bi-queer @basiltonbutliketheherb

[pedrithink]

love is not easy (2) ✩ kylian mbappé

summary: everything seems more difficult when you are the shadow of your older sister and Kylian and her are in love with each other.

notes: don’t worry, it will have a part 3 (with happy ending) :)

@nightlockcornucopia @gaviandgrizisgirl @blubffsd @philipetchebest @sunnytkm23 @topguncultleader @http-isabela @bisexualbith @laylaynaynay130 @lovekm

(part 1) / (part 3)

Ky <3: Hey, are we going out tonight? There's a new pizza restaurant that opened and I want to eat all the new flavors with you.

You: I can't today, sorry.

Ky <3: Oh.

Ky <3: Another time then.

Ky <3: HEEEY, pretty. I have tickets to see the Beauty and the Beast musical. Let's go?

You: Hey, Ky. Sorry, but I have to review for the exam.

Ky <3: Oh, got it.

Ky <3: How about we go for some sushi tonight?

You: I've already made an appointment with a friend :/ Maybe another day. Seen.

Ky <3: Ice cream Saturday?

You: Not today, Kylian.

You: Sorry!

Ky <3: What's your problem?

Ky <3: I've been calling you out almost every weekend and you don't even make a point to set aside ONE DAY to be with me.

Ky <3: If I did something at least tell me so I can fix it, but don't leave me in the dark. It hurts.

You: I'm sorry, Ky. You didn't do anything, I'm just full of things to do.

You: Call Ana, I'm sure she'd be up for it.

Ky <3: What the fuck? I don't want to go out with Ana, I want to go out with YOU.

Ky <3: Is that so hard to understand?

You: I'll talk to you later, Ky. I need to get back to studying.

You turn off your phone and take a deep breath. Kylian has noticed your behavior and knowing you well, he won't settle down until he knows what's really going on. You understand the frustration he's been feeling because you've shared an 11-year friendship and you don't want it to end. You just need some time for your thoughts to reorganize themselves and for the loving feelings about Kylian to disappear from your mind.

Your thoughts disperse when you hear some knocking at the door and the figure of Ana appears. "Can we talk?"

You frown and take care to agree with a brief nod.

"It's just that you haven't been the same…I don't know." Ana says with a frustrated tone of voice, she makes clear when she lets out a sigh. "Did I do something? If I did I'm sorry, but I don't want to see you away from me. It's always been the two of us together against everything after we moved away from Mom and Dad."

You feel a huge weight on your shoulders for having made Ana imagine she did something, she is your best friend, but you just needed some time to yourself. That's all. "Ana, no. You didn't do anything, I swear. I'm just really busy with college."

Ana walks over and sits on the edge of the bed. "I know it's not just that.” Ana stares at you intently. "Kylian texted me that you haven't had a Saturday night together in almost two months, and it's been a tradition since you guys were 14." You take a deep breath and try not to feel bad about it. "What about that day at the breakfast? And seriously, you ALWAYS have something to say over breakfast." She lets another sigh fall from her lips and affirms. "I just want you to know that if anything is going on, you can count on me. You'll always have my support, always."

You throw your weight on top of Ana and remain hugging her for a few minutes. "I know that and thank you for everything." You hold her hands. "I guess…I don't know. I just need some time to myself, you know?"

She smiles and nods. There is no reality that you don't love Ana, she is your best friend and best partner in crime there could be. Since you moved to Paris, away from your parents, you have witnessed every good and bad moment together. You need her as much as she needs you.

After this conversation you had, Ana had to leave for some things at work, and you decided to finish an article for college. You had so much to do that you felt a little lost.

Halfway through your article, you hear the doorbell ringing and get up, a little confused, to answer it. Who would it be at 6:30 PM on a Saturday? Ana had the key, so you couldn't think of anyone else. Until you answered and found yourself face to face with a Kylian Mbappé with two pizza boxes and a mischievous smile on his face.

"Since you are running away from me, I decided to come after you." You widen your eyes a little and let a surprised expression take over your face. "Aren't you going to let me in?"

You, still a little stunned, to let Kylian go into the apartment. He faces you and watches your expression. "Aren't you going to tell me anything?"

"I don't know, Ky. I'm just a little surprised you're here unannounced." You say following his figure as he walks over to leave the pizza boxes on the kitchen counter.

Kylian turns to you. "Well, if I said something, you'd make up some other nonsense just to get out of answering me."

"That's not true…I'm just busy with college." You swallow dryly and try to help him get plates and cutlery. "What do you want to talk about?"

Kylian washes his hands at the kitchen sink and turns a little sideways to face you. "You're the one who should tell me, aren't you?" He says with a tired tone. "What's going on? And don't lie to me, that's all I ask."

You wait for him to finish washing his hands and move over to wash yours. "I don't know, Kylian. I guess I just needed some time to myself."

"Does that time mean without me?" Kylian lets a sad look take over the face you love so much and his tone of voice…sounded so brittle that you tried to explain yourself.

"No one, Kylian. I can't explain, I just…" You turn to him and make it clear that the problem is not him. "I've been feeling weird about everything and I just need to figure myself out, the problem isn't you or Ana, it's me. I'm the one who has to sort out my thoughts and I don't want to hurt you with my crazy head."

You bow your head after talking a bit about how you feel and Kylian tries to take both your hands and bring them close to his chest, you could feel every beat of his heart through your fingertips. "It was always you and me against the world, remember? When I lost my ground during the World Cup you held me by the arms and were my greatest source of strength." He pulls you close to him and fits his hands to your face. "Don't leave me in the dark, I'll take it if it's just to stand beside you in silence. But please don't push me away. Because I don't know what to do without you."

You let an exasperated sigh escape your lips and can only nod at him as you stare into those dark eyes. Your heart just wants to scream at him, "I love you. And I could never imagine someone with such intimacy and intensity, I didn't even know I had the capacity to love someone so much," but your brain commands you to push him away so that you don't suffer from the 99% chance that he will say he doesn't feel the same way.

Kylian pushes away this direct contact between you and pulls you over so that you both can sit and enjoy pizza together, like every Saturday of every month. Saturday was the sacred day for you to reserve a moment to spend together. It was always like this, you together against the fucking world.

You try to concentrate on what Kylian is saying, you really try. But, it seems your mind just tells you to throw the weight off your shoulder and tell him you love him. You hold on for a few more minutes, but you can't. You've tried.

"Hey, can you hear me?" You lift your gaze to him and whisper a "Kylian…", he just lets out a "Hm?" and lets his gaze fall to your trembling hands under the table.

Kylian takes your hands and lets a look of concern assume his face. Just as he was about ready to say something, you let go like a bomb about to explode. "I love you."

Kylian understands the way you mean it. You have already said "I love you" to each other, but he knew this time was different. He knew it from the way your hands trembled, the way your eyes filled with tears, and the way your voice sounded pleadingly. He knew.

"And I know it may sound crazy, but…it's been like this for 8 years and I can't hold it in anymore." Your voice sounds brittle and you try to hold back your tears, but two escape from your eyes. You close your eyes tightly to try to pull yourself together and continue, "I promised myself that this would never leave my thoughts, that it would be the single most intense secret I would ever keep from you. I just… love you. They say that true love transforms. How then could I doubt that you are my one, great love? You transformed and continue to transform everything in here. You gave me the joy of living, the pleasure of loving. I hope I can give you back at least a drop of the ocean of happiness that you have brought me since you came into my life. Even if it was unconsciously, you gave me the most beautiful way to love someone and I just want to thank you for it."

Kylian stands stunned in front of you and stares at every tiny part of your face, he doesn't know what to say and doesn't know how to act. He just stands there with his breathing fast and shallow, he didn't expect this and you know it.

You just hold his hands and smile weakly. This hurts more than anything you have ever witnessed in your life, but at the same time it is a relief that this weight is off your shoulders after so long. "Hey…" You whisper with a smile that hurts more than a knife through the heart. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything, just go home."

"But what about you?" That's the only thing he can think to say after you unleash a baggage of feelings on him and it makes you smile in the truest possible way.

"I just need a little time to think about everything and so do you, but know that nothing will change between you and me." You pull his body to the door and hand him his cell phone that was lying on the table in the living room.

After Kylian leaves you can only put your hand over your mouth and try to hold back a loud cry, you can only feel a burning in your chest and the pain of knowing that things will never be the same. To love and not be loved hurts, and it's not that pain that you take medicine and it goes away, it's the pain of the soul.

Ana comes home and almost gets into despair after seeing you like that, she can only take you in her arms and hug you to see if she can stop that painful crying that makes you shiver and your chest hurt.

You finally gave up this war and it hurts more than if he had screamed in your face that he would never be able to love you like that.

Kylian leaves the apartment with his heart racing and unable to think straight. When he gets home, all he can think about is "what have I done?" He should have spoken what has been in his heart for years, he just couldn't. He just couldn't react. He stood there and left you with a feeling of sadness, a torn heart and the thought that you were not loved back.

[theres-a-body-here]

Ghostface with Creep!reader

A new killer has been snatched by the Entity. Something about their cheap Halloween werewolf mask and casual clothing made some of the realms residents uneasy

Was drawn to you from the beginning

Not in the way you'd expect

He was offended

He saw you as a cheap imitation. A copycat

A masked killer that stalks their victims and records their last moments?

You were basically begging to be stabbed

The Entity shut that down real quick before he could push his blade into your liver

He made sure to downright ignore you after that event

That was until he spectated your trials

As the Entity's favorite, he had many "perks". Being able to spectate matches as they happened was one of them

You weren't bad, but you weren't great

He'd grit his teeth whenever you'd prioritize filming the survivors with your video camera instead of injuring them

He'd facepalm whenever you'd swing at a vaulting survivor, only to hit the wall

He needed to intervene

Don't get it wrong. Not for your sake, but for his

Danny hates copycats, but he hates it even more when said copycat is shit at it

Makes him look bad

After your trial, he grabs you by your arm and pulls you deep into the forest

The Entity hasn't stopped him yet, so you guess he isn't trying to kill you again. You let yourself get dragged along

Get ready for a long rant followed by an even longer lesson in stalking

"What the fuck was that? You didn't even bring one slowdown perk. Come on now. If you're going to imitate me, at least do it with finesse." Behind his mask, Danny's lips twisted into a snarl.

You occupied a spot on a toppled tree trunk, engrossed in reviewing recordings on your video camcorder. Evidently, his lecture failed to captivate your attention.

"The Entity seems to be pleased with my performance. If I was doing bad she would've let it be known. Get off my back"

Your voice retained an air of calmness, though the underlying hint of a threat was unmistakable.

Despite how it appeared, you and Danny have started to "hang out" more after that

It usually goes like this: you exit a trial and Ghostface begins to hound you over your mistakes. However, he always gives a few pointers before he leaves for his own trials

He would never admit it, but he slowly started warming up to you

Not even 2 months later, Danny shares his perks with you

"Here you faker. Maybe now you'll finally get more than one kill per trial"

He still criticizes and taunts you as you both sit near the fire with the other killers within hearing range

But it's more friendly than malicious

Amidst the silence around the campfire, Danny couldn't resist taking a playful jab at your looping skills, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, I've seen toddlers with better footwork when it comes to catching survivors."

You shot him a mock glare. "Hey, not all of us can be stealthy killers with years of practice."

A chuckle escaped from Danny's masked lips, but before the moment could settle, Frank chimed in with a taunt of his own. "Yeah, Danny's right. I've seen snails with better chasing skills."

The campfire's atmosphere shifted instantaneously. Danny's chuckles ceased, replaced by a tense stillness. His masked gaze settled on Frank with an intensity that sent shivers down the spines of those around.

Danny's voice was low and controlled, his anger barely contained. "You've got a death wish, asshole?"

Frank seemed to realize his mistake too late, his face paling behind his own mask under the weight of Danny's glare. He stammered, trying to backtrack, "I... I didn't mean..."

But Danny's patience had worn thin. He stood abruptly, the menace radiating from him unmistakable. "You listen, and you listen well. You don't get to insult them. Only I do."

Frank swallowed hard, his bravado evaporating. "I... I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean anything by it."

Danny's gaze didn't waver, his message conveyed without a need for further words. Frank nodded frantically, looking as though he'd just escaped a close encounter with the Entity itself.

Danny's shoulders visibly relaxed as he resumed his seat by the fire, his attention returning to you. His voice regained its familiar tone of teasing, but there was an undertone of possessiveness. "Now, where were we? Ah, yes, talking about how you managed to lose a survivor while they were practically walking backward."

You and Danny didn't exactly exemplify the poster image of a perfect and conventional friendship dynamic, but it worked out well enough

Masterlist here

[magicalyaku]

Greetings! Welcome to my 2024 reading wrap up! Or my awards ceremony for books (and bookish media) I enjoyed the most. Looking back to my introduction to this post last year, I wrote that I'd try to write better reviews. I didn't do that. And I'd try to better remember what I read. I didn't to that either. Hmmm ... New year, new luck or something. Nevertheless, thank you to everyone who took time to look at my posts and read some of them! May the good books find you!

The one goal I accomplished 2024 was to read less (reading is fun but I have other things that need doing unfortunately), though it was not necessarily out of my own free will. I was just tired (work was annoying). I read a total of 64 books, including two graphic novels (not counting any manga), four non-fiction books and three audiobooks. 13 were borrowed from the library and 18 were sequels or spin-offs. I only DNFed one book and disliked two more (as if not to say, I hated them with a passion~).

The only pieces related to literature I hated more were two plays I saw: adaptions of Oscar Wildes's The Importance of Being Earnest and Eugène Ionesco's The Bald Soprano. I like both pieces but the adaptions had atrocious endings (The Importance of Being Earnest suddenly had vampires out of nowhere and The Bald Soprano had its final scene edited to 20 minutes of telling us how important love is ...) I didn't think I could walk out of a theatre that appalled and filled with hatred.

Worst Books:

Heir to Thorn and Flame (Ben Alderson)

Saint Sorrow Sinner (Freydís Moon)

Favorite Character: Patrick Collins (A Ferry of Bones & Gold/Soulbound series) (let's be honest, it's the same type every year)

Favorite Covers (or maybe: just give me a pretty illustration):

Memorable Quote: "If it can learn to talk, then it can learn to be good." (The Prince of Nowhere)

Highest Emotional Investment (aka The cutest shit and please please please don't break my heart Award): Prince of Fortune

The Wildest:

A Ferry of Bones and Gold

Running Close to the Wind

Favorite Books:

Prince of Fortune (Lisa Tirreno)

Icarus (K. Ancrum)

The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen (KJ Charles)

Running Close to the Wind (Alexandra Rowland)

The Diablo's Curse (Gabe Cole Novoa)

Sorcery and Small Magics (Maiga Doocy)

A Ferry of Bones and Gold (Hailey Turner)

The Prince of Nowhere (Rochelle Hassan)

Cursebreakers (Madeleine Nakamura)

More Books I greatly enjoyed:

Into the Glittering Light (Kelley York)

The Boy who steals Houses (C.G. Drews)

This Fatal Kiss (Alicia Jasinska)

Tadek and the Princess (Alexandra Rowland)

Darker by Four (June CL Tan)

The Paris Affair (Maureen Marshall)

Legend of the White Snake (Sher Lee)

Upside Down (N.R. Walker)

The Prince's Assasin series (Ariana Nash)

Most used name: Dylan (at least 3 times)

Most used twist: The person I'm talking to is actually dead! (3 times)

Bonus! Queer story-focussed games I loved in 2023 and 2024:

Haven

I was a Teenage Colonist Exocolonist

All(?) the aro/ace books I read:

Dear Wendy (Ann Zhao)

Upside Down (N.R. Walker)

Ace Voices (Eris Young)

How to be Ace (Rebecca Burgess)

Don't let the Forest in (C.G. Drews)

The Eidolon (K.D. Edwards)

I want to be a Wall vol.3 (Honami Shirono)

Fallen Thorns (Harvey Oliver Baxter)

Little Black Bird & Tall White Tenement (Anna Kirchner)

That's it! While 2024 was not my best year, in terms of books I'm still content. I'm pretty good at picking the ones I will enjoy, so I usually have fun reading and what else would I want? I will continue to read in 2025 (not sure in which form I will share here yet), and I will continue to write! None of the aspec books really captured what I wanted to read, so I guess I have to start writing that myself. :'D Here's to hoping that you find the books you want and the books you need this year. Happy 2025!

[seaofreverie]

Today I want to share the joy that Reading A Newspaper has brought me recently (yesterday).

Because you see, it's not very often that I can read a several pages long good quality feature on a band that I'm something of a fan of, considering that until last year at best, all and any musical favourites I had were next to unheard of in the, let's call it, professional music business. And said feature also gave a few mentions to the one and only fav band of all time which I'm also still not used to being able to read about in my language (because it only happened like 5 times in total so far anyway, but still). And I can buy the newspaper in my local store in this minuscule town and find Sparks inside, like wow, it really is My Sparks, in this real life physical newspaper that I just got. This was like a belated but very epic christmas gift for me and I'm not kidding.

But well yeah getting to the point now, Franz Ferdinand are starting their tour soon promoting their upcoming new album and they're stopping in Poland too, so there was this whole 14-pages long overview of their whole career, and while I was obviously interested in the whole thing I was most hyped about the fact that there would have to be something about FFS and Sparks there and this brings me to my delighful observation that wow, all of this is so, connected in a way. Like how there are these connections in inspiration and collaborations between many of my favourites that I didn't even think about probably being a thing before, but when I think about it it just makes so much sense. Like how in this interview with Alex Kapranos, the interviewer brings up Talking Heads and specifically Fear of Music, because the new Franz Ferdinand album also has this sort of overarching theme of fear. And it's funny because that's the first Talking Heads album I've ever listened to and still my favourite from them to this day and overall one of my all-time favourite albums. And I guess it shouldn't be that shocking that it'd come up here because Talking Heads were super influential and inspired thousands, but also until now I didn't think about how both these bands share the general direction of creating dance-able type of rock with lyrics that are often on the more reflective and "intellectual" side. And also that album has been recommended to me as the most TMBG-like of theirs so. Wow I wonder why I like it.

Ok there were also all these other things that I want to mention too, so, other miscellaneous points of interest:

In the debut album review, the reviewer said that during Tell Her Tonight Alex sings a lot like Russell Mael, who likes to sing in falsetto. And well I know there's also the Sparks connection in the form of FFS to come later but still, this was such a great SPARKS MENTION!!!! moment for me anyway. But also they got one thing wrong, because it's not that Russell likes singing in falsetto, Ron forced him to sing in falsetto by writing all of his songs in this crazy uper range of notes, and that's a very important detail !!!!!!

And ok I had no idea that Piss Off already existed in some form as far back as 2004!! Or I knew about this and then I forgor. Either way, fascinating piece of information

I need to know more about how these star-based ranking systems work because why would you call FFS an "excellent album" and then rate it 4 stars. Instead of, I don't know, 4 and a half or 5 maybe?? Especially since it apparently has only 2 "weak songs". And I have some major objections when it comes to this too, because we're calling Things I Won't Get a weak track now?? It's just underrated as heck, and that's a hill that I will die on

Also I could never be a music reviewer because these people can fit their whole commentary on one song within one sentence and I feel like I would have to write at least 3 paragraphs on even the least exceptional of songs on a given album before I can feel like I did it justice. I mean, this whole post itself shows how much of a problem this is for me, lol

Also guys were we all aware that FFS turns 10 next yeah. Oh god. Well I need to remember to keep my tradition and preapre a cool piece of fanart for that occasion then. Maybe they should give us FFS 2 to celebrate, I'm pretty sure there'd be lots of interest among the fandom in something like that. Anyway

Well also this wasn't the only article in this whole thing of course and CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, there was a little bit on the Harrison & Belew Remain In Light Tour, which I will also be attending!!! Lots of great stuff is cooking for the first half of 2025 for me musically I can't lie

And also CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, that a year and a half since it was supposed to be released "worldwide" and long after I already lost hope that I'd ever see it in a cinema, they're releasing Stop Making Sense in cinemas over here too. Fucking finally!!! By gods and heavens, that rare moment when you learn about something crucial through a goddamn instagram ad of all places. And then they also reminded me about this in an actual article so well wow. Can you believe this. I can't. So stocked for next saturday when i'm seeing this movie the way it was always supposed to be seen hehehe

Ok I think that's it. Thank you for reading and maybe I should really make that personal website for my rambles in the new year. I'd definitely put that thing to use.

[tearitar]

2024 WRITING REVIEW

tagged by @rolameny tagging @smaller-comfort, and anyone else that wants to.

number of stories posted to ao3: 20 this year! (223 in total… over a 15 year period, it was my ao3 acct’s 15th bday on dec 20!!)

word counted posted for last year: 90k-ish :P

fandoms i wrote for: destiny, team fortress 2, top gun

pairings: andal/cayde-6, spy/sniper (A LOT OF THAT), granby/kennedy 

stories with the most kudos, bookmarks and comment threads: Most kudos and bookmarks were for thrifty, which I think is flattering! It's got a....high private bookmark count, lol. Happy Hour had the most comment threads, and that was a multi-chaptered fic so it makes sense. Happy Hour had some of my favorite thoughtful comments as well, lol.

work i’m most proud of (and why): I've talked enough about ARMSTOPPER so I'm going to say Off the Starboard Bow this time. I liked what past me started all those years ago and so it was really easy for 2024!me to swoop in and finish off the quick pwp part, lol. Rereading it, I love the tone and the banter, how easy it all the characters mesh together. There's not much worldbuilding involved but I like the sense of Laurence just... knowing people outside his usual circle. And that Granby sort of sees that.. oh. Most of the Navy isn't super stuck up, it's just Laurence that is so severe about it, LOL.

There should be more Hornblower and Temeraire crossovers! I think the double Williams and Archie/John Granby angle is SO CUTE and fun to do. The thought of Laurence having more buddies from the Navy (that are Bush and Hornblower) is pretty funny. You think aviators are weird? Buddy, he's been surrounded by weird people since day 1.

work i’m least proud of (and why): nah. I'm gonna riff off pell's answer and say that I'm quite happy to have posted anything at all. I don't think I've had a perfect execution on most of them but that's just something to think on for my next fics.

share or describe a favorite review you received: lol, i save a bunch of comments in my inbox so that I can go back to reread them whenever I'm feeling low about my writing, but there's a comment I specifically treasure--from a minific for the sniperspy collar fic. Like, it was one of the least expected comments since... idk. The ficlet was so short and silly, but the commenter really had an eagle eye and sense for what I was really trying to explore; implied kink discussion/negotiation, disguised as silly banter and jokes.

You know, I hope everyone gets to experience these golden comments where it has everything; the reader's favorite part in quotes, an opinion, a specific read/analysis that nails what was in your head, and then more points where you didn't consciously consider. (That makes you go "DID I WRITE THAT ON PURPOSE?") I think about their comment a lot and kick up my little feetsies every dang time.

a time when writing was really, really hard: on an 18 hour flight where I couldnt adjust the font size on my tablet so I think maybe some people behind me saw me writing fic. my bad.

more seriously, at the beginning of the year I was really struggling with some Top Gun, Bad Batch, and Master of the Air WIPs. My heart wasn't in it and I was forcing myself until April where I just sorta gave up and went into "I will write my Star Wars OCs" and even then I wasn't very happy.

Then! I read a couple of novels to get back into the groove of reading published works and it was refreshing.

a scene or character you wrote that surprised you: Aside from getting back into tf2 in general, not really? I guess I'll hand it off to just might come crashing. It's very................romantic. As romantic as I like sniperspy without setting myself on fire from sheer embarrassment. My idea of fluff for them is... just this.

a favourite excerpt of your writing: 

“I'll stay if you'll have me,” Sniper says, undressing in the bathroom. He pokes his head out. “Daft fuck. I know what you're doing. You assumed I’d go out by my lonesome for two entire weeks. No people. No civilization. No showers.” “Yes.” Spy raises an eyebrow. “Since you were raised by wolves in a cave.” “Oi, show some respect for my parents,” Sniper says. “I'll have you know me mum’s a very lovely ‘roo. Raised me proper. In a pouch and everything.” “That does certainly explain many things,” Spy replies. Sniper steps out of the bathroom, naked but still sadly unshowered. He strides over to the bed and takes Spy by the chin, his hold firm. “I'm gonna spend the night with you ‘cause I wanna, alright?” Sniper says, leaning over him. His sharp-eyed look is back, the one Spy finds both dangerous and endearing. “You really thought I was gonna fuck off in the woods the whole time?” Spy doesn’t answer that particular question, at least not directly. Still, he feels as if he’s admitting something incriminating when he returns Sniper’s look. “I wouldn't be upset if you did.” The corner of Sniper’s mouth tics upwards. “You miserable shit,” Sniper says fondly. He drops his hand to turn back to the shower.

bruh... this part makes me blush. it's a confession without the explicit confession... I like it a lot. it's mostly dialogue but... there's a lot of teasing affection. being comfortable. i wrote an entire fic just to have context for this scene.

how did you grow as a writer last year: did you know.. did you know if you write 2-3k words consistently every week you can keep this up for 4 months because you kept in practice? wow. new concept alert. no one has ever thought of this i bet.

how do you hope to grow this year: get more deranged. stop being afraid of people younger than 24. they mean well when they say sigma.

who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer, beta, cheerleader, etc.): as always.............. spite. im so sorry to be so evil coded, but it's spite. I write when I'm not getting the themes and pwps I want so I write out of spite and anger, especially when I don't have my usual group of friends in the same fandom. This is why I struggled with MotA and Top Gun fics. I was eating so good there wasn't any need to cook for myself. u__u

On a more positive note!!!! I got back into sniperspy because of a fanart I saw for barter. :')

anything from your real life show up in your writing last year:

I’m always taking inspiration from real life but usually in an indirect or vague sense. Not a specific event. There are a few parts from ARMSTOPPER that I draw from irl knowledge that occasionally comes in handy when writing violence. TF2 lends itself to gory humor which is absolutely fine and dandy, and I like to play into it in a slapstick kind of way. I don’t often go beyond that. I’m definitely not writing medical/surgical jargon for free (and tbh it’s not entertaining writing if you do find yourself going into that much detail), nor do I feel compelled to write a story that has to do with work. 

For instance, I would not write a surgery/hospital AU. I would not write about various insane items getting stuck up people's butts. Not an aux cord up someone's penis. Never about a penile fracture caused by someone riding cowgirl. You ever been called to work at 3am for this? It would not be fun. I would hate every second, and I actually enjoy my job, aside from the getting-called-at-3am part. :P

That being said, there’s a part in ARMSTOPPER where Spy describes amputating Engineer’s arm in a kind of romantic way—the physical description on how it feels is true to my own experience but obviously not the romance of it, LMAO. Then later when he sees the Gunslinger as a particularly gruesome weapon, those descriptions are meant to be off-putting. Those are real details that I've personally seen before. So that, I suppose, is my real life job bleeding (hehe) into my fics. I have helped cut off a lot of limbs in my career………………………. (dead stare)

I didn’t mean to get super into this question, but I pretty opinionated on this, lol.

any projects you’re looking to starting (or finishing) this year: god, the follow up to hindsight is kicking my ass. i've set it aside for now but I would to finish it in 2025, and not.. say.... in 2040. but who knows.

other current wips, for those curious:

psychological horror spycest

various stupid pwp fics (ie sniper in a maid outfit)

spy being mature(?!) about deescalating a coworker-with-benefits relationship, sniper about to throw up from having normal emotions about it

I have a feeling sas:rh s2 will kill me dead so I want to finish this fucked up Augustine/Paddy->Eoin(dead) situationship fic I've been noodling at for the better part of the past 8 months.

the fuckingnk... the fucking top gun... top gun mindbond fic. u__u

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S02E02 - Over Ice

Eh, yes that definitely needs to be under the cut because it's long.

It feels wrong that this show had an ice skating episode before a hockey episode lol

"You should keep your dog on the carpet. It's slippier than it looks". He has four legs. And claws.

Charlie and Sarah are flirting over the body again. This is unacceptable (please continue). And we learn about Sarah's figure skating past.

"Who's afraid of little old me?"

The mom was so annoying for most of the episode.

"Enjoying" figure skating.

In the first couple of seasons there must have been about a dozen references about Jesse never going home.

I remember I had a lot of trouble finding the killer in this one. They all seemed very suspicious.

So it's not illegal to be in possessions of steroids, you just get in trouble if you use one while competing for stuff?

Julia's confession to Sarah is a nice scene. And I like Sarah's subtle reaction and support. It's not anything too dramatic, or shallow, and I honestly don't understand why some of the audience react the way they did (imdb reviews can give a hint). Not to mention that this episode gets "wokeness warning" (I can't think of any other way to put it) in backwards countries like... the US. Do you know how ridiculous it is for an episode with a minor trans character to be treated like that in the US while in countries that are a hundred years back in social issues like Greece no one bats an eye? Eh, a lot. (In Greece it aired in a major free broadcasting network and was a bit before legislation protecting trans people had passed, so I thought that we'd be the ones to cut it or we'd remove stuff in the subtitles. We didn't cut it and the subtitles were normal, plus that season was repeated like 3-4 times.)

Sarah: "I'm not a cop". You're not a cop now. In S4 you will be carrying a badge and gun.

Ah, the freezer, finally.

I am simultaneously happy and sad that this shipper moment happened so early. Happy because it was well made and if you don't put crumbs early enough, then who's going to ship it? And sad because, well, imagine this happening in S4 for example. It would have been so good and it would have been laced with an extra layer of angst.

No but Charlie was very quick to panic.

Charlie: Rex, open the door buddy! || Rex: Once again, Charlie, I don't have thumbs.

I love Charlie's detailed instructions to Rex. Sir, he's a dog. You're lucky he actually knew where to go for help. And I have to note that the most helpful suggestion came from Sarah.

Work never ends, not even when you're trapped in a freezer.

Getting to the good stuff. Couples whump, yes please.

How can anyone claim that they weren't meant to be a couple like???

"I guess I peaked early." "Hardly".

Meanwhile, Rex is trying to find the right people who will understand that when he's without Charlie, Charlie is in trouble.

Sharing body heat (and coat).

Jesse: Rex, wait up! || Rex: No, my humans are in danger! Can't those two legs of yours go any faster?

Oh, you know, just chilling.

And then Charlie asks Rex what took so long? I'd have left and locked the door again. Joking, Charlie thanks him afterwards. Just globber him in saliva, Rex, that will show him.

Random thoughts: Charlie's arm around Sarah. Also Jesse dying from all the running in the back, and no one paying attention to him lol

S4!Charlie would have at least knocked Lucas unconscious for locking him and Sarah in the freezer. At least Rex bit him and threw him on the ground.

The following interrogation scene is lookwarm and they don't mention the fact that Lucas tried to kill two more people after that. The jury is not going to like the fact that he moved the body afterwards? What about trying to kill two cops?

I like the ending scene. It ends on a high note. As for the "wokeness", just as I remembered, it doesn't present anything other than that trans people exist. It doesn't make any statements. So, I'm confused by people's reactions yet again.

[sno4wy]

Did you seriously drop that much money to try to make your awful ship more valid? Guess what? You didn't, hope you enjoyed wasting a ton of money. It doesn't matter how much money you pay, you and your lame friends will always be the only ones who prefer your fugly builder with Miguel. Just give it up and go jump off a bridge already.

Hey Anon, based on the three messages you sent me today, it seems that my sharing of my commission from Momodeary in the official Pathea Discord server really upset you. Your rage felt really familiar to me, and I thought about this a lot about why. I'm going to hazard a guess that you're lashing out at me more than usual because of the price aspect, especially for something that seems so frivolous. I get it -- I grew up in abject poverty, and I harbored a lot of rage about it both directly and indirectly for many years. It really sucks not having the money to do what you need, or even what you want, and it can feel like having salt rubbed into the wound when someone else shows off some pricey non-necessity that they got. Everyone deserves to get what brings them joy, as long as it isn't something that causes harm to others, and it sucks that capitalism/corporations/societal structure/etc make most people unable to attain that. I sincerely hope that things improve for you.

I'm fortunate now to do well enough for myself that I can afford a pricey commission like the one that I shared. I got the commission because I like Momodeary's art style, it's not a style that I see myself personally doing, and I'm making it up to myself now for all the things that I couldn't do in the past. I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to say it was to support the artist, as she has tons of clients and certainly didn't need my money, I'm really lucky to have been able to get a slot with her. If you have the means to do so and want to, I really suggest contacting her directly -- the worst thing she can say is no, but more likely is that she'll put you on an (admittedly long) waitlist. The point is, if you're upset about not being able to get a commission from her, don't write it off until you try. Worse comes to worst, she can't fit you in, but there are tons of skilled artists out there with similar styles that you can commission instead. It's ok though if you have your heart set on Momodeary, most artists are very accommodating as long as the client is understanding and willing to wait.

If your anger has to do with not being able to afford a commission from Momodeary, I'm really sorry about that. There are some ways that I can help, if not directly to get you a commission, but perhaps means to address the funds shortage issue. I managed to claw my way out of poverty, and in the process picked up more than a few ideas and tricks, however at the end of the day, there is no magical get rich quick scheme, and everything that you hear about how to find a job is sadly mostly true. For instance, a good resumé is an integral part to finding a job, and a big part of what makes a resumé good is proper formatting. Having gone from someone who sent out hundreds of resumés to someone who's had to review hundreds of resumés, I can tell you that so much of the time, it's a lot less about the contents of the resumé and more about its appearance. Countless qualified, heck, overqualified, people get turned down for positions because their resumés don't even get looked at. I'm happy to look over a resumé if you'd like, and of course I'd understand if you need to anonymize most of it before showing me. Please note that it is sadly the case that having a good resumé, or in many cases, all the correct qualifications, don't necessarily guarantee you a job. Connections are at least, if not more, important, so don't be shy about asking for help from friends and family in this aspect.

Finding and securing a job can be a long-term project though, so picking up some side hustles might be a good way to generate some income, especially as you can keep these side hustles after finding a job. A lot of people have even done so well with their side hustles that they were able to make them into their careers. I'm happy to make suggestions, but I'm afraid that my knowledge is chiefly confined to the US and my ideas may not be applicable or workable in other countries. I have found however that a fairly universal way to generate some income via a side hustle is through selling crocheted items. Crochet is very quick and easy to learn and master, and yarn is very cheap, especially if you get store brands like Joann's Big Twist. Red Heart Super Saver is also very cheap yarn that comes in a ton of colors. There are countless free patterns on the internet, and ones that aren't free tend to be pretty cheap, generally within the $5 range. It is totally legal to sell the stuff you make from purchased patterns; some patterns even explicitly state that this is the case. The best part about crochet is that you can do it while doing other stuff, like commuting to your job, watching a show, listening to music, etc. It's totally possible to churn out a ton of crochet animals (amigurumi) in one day. Dipping into fandom stuff by making characters from a certain franchise is a great way to sell crochet products. Another really cool thing is that there doesn't currently exist a way for crocheted items to be mass produced; while there are items that look crocheted, they're actually sewn together pieces and not true crochet. Machines can't currently make crocheted items. Buyers looking for real crochet products want something that only a human can make.

Online marketing tools are also pretty solid. Etsy is the way to go for handmade crafts, although they do take a pretty hefty fee (15%). You can try to cut down on that fee by listing on your own social media, in which case you'd still have to pay a 3-5% handling fee for payment processors, and it can be a pain trying to beat social media algorithms. If you're handy with TikTok, that's a great way to boost awareness of your brand, and you can use those same videos as Reels on Instagram and Facebook to get your accounts noticed faster.

If you're an artist, you could of course always try to go the commissions route, but I've found that this is a much harder uphill battle than trying to break into the scene marketing crochet goods. If you do decide to give crochet a shot, I really recommend investing in a quality hook -- Clover Armour is many crocheters' go-to. They are pricy, around $9 for a hook, but they last forever and they're super comfortable to use. You only need one to start -- I recommend the size G (4.0 mm) one, as that goes with the most common yarn weight for a lot of amigurumi. Big Twist and Red Heart Super Saver are also both Worsted weight yarn, for which you use a G hook. If this is something you really want to do but are really tight on funds, I'm happy to get one of those hooks for you, just tell me how to get it to you.

I have a lot of other ideas for possible side gigs, which all will require a lot of work, but will return income. However, I'd just be spitballing, so hit me up if you want to talk shop. You know where to find me. ;P

[leftclown]

So now I'm gonna move on and actually describe an experience I have had as a trans man who is currently detransitioned due to financial status. This experience involves both misogyny and transphobia, and I'm not really here to debate weather or not I Can experience these things, instead I'm just going to share it.

So I guess somewhat important context to this is that I am rather feminine by appearence. If you encountered me in the wild you'd think I was the hoodie and cookie monster pajama girl from high school. My partner, also not currently receiving gender affirming care passes a bit better than me. He at the very least gives people pause or incites confusion. Usually, though, people just assume he's a young man.

I was going to get a state ID because I had moved recently to another state. My ID from my previous state had my gender marked as M because I went through the due process to get that done. New home state has a policy that if youre from out of state you have to get your ID processed at the police station. My partner is also trans and had gone a week prior to get his done, and they had respected his ID's gender marker, moving all of his information from the out of state record.

I go in and of course I am marked F, so upon reviewing it I said thats incorrect, because my ID says M. We go back and forth and I eventually produce my partner's ID and say "you did it for him just last week". Big mistake on my part because I'm honestly still learning how not to give people like this the benefit of the doubt. Regardless, they go to their manager to figure out what to do.

A few minutes later I am called alone into the managers office. Here's a shortlist of this meeting;

-Thet confiscated my partners ID without him present

-Told me my due process didn't matter, that I can only change it if I had a letter saying I had already had SRS.

-Took my previous ID and voided it so I couldn't change my birth certificate

-Made me submit my ID as F

-Tell me my partner has to come in to correct his to F as well

This all happens very quickly, and I try to advocate for myself and lose. By the end of it, I am crying a bit and I mutter to myself "This is fucking insane".

This is the part that really fucked me up.

The manager stepped forward toward me, holding her hands in that defensive position, the one cops to do say 'I'm calm but prepared to use force', you know where they tilt their hips forward and rest their hands on the front of their belt. She tells me "I understand you're upset, but there is no swearing in here."

I am a nearly 30 year old MAN. And she is trying to tell me not to swear like I'm some teenager giving her lip.

"I'm not from here, this is just how I talk" I say, not yet realizing that she is trying to instigate. She prods this issue again, trying to detract me, trying to get me to cuss more. Trying to rile me up. I become quiet and still, thank them for their time and leave. She called me Sweetheart as I left.

And there is nothing I can do in this situation. Im dealing with cops in a red state. There's nothing I can do but cave to the authority because my plans are bigger than this. Because to further advocate is to put myself in danger and she made that very clear by drawing a line at me swearing. So I submit.

Submitting in a situation like this feels like your power is being taken from you. Like they are physically removing something from your arms and trying to get it back would be a major risk. It's not just that someone is stepping on me, it's that theyre telling me politely to get on the ground so I can be stepped on. It felt especially oppressive in this scenario, but it always feels like this. In the workplace, in social group, in family, a trans man is the least respectable thing you can be because not only are you a woman, but you're a crazy, damaged woman and if you're me you get ire for being a waste of a pretty face.

There's always a timeline too, it can be long or short but it always goes like this; People receive me initially with feigned tolerance and some mild comparisons to my partner's masculinity. Then they start poking and pushing and trying to see if I'm really a trans man in ways they think is subtle but to me is very unsubtle. Eventually, when they've disrespected me to the point of reacting emotionally, they act like they've gotten their gotcha moment because I've displayed the Ultimate Thing that makes you Not A Man: Tears. Most of them don't even need to get to there to conclude I'm a trender because well if I'm already almost 30 and haven't transitioned, I must not want it bad enough.

I'm sharing this story not just because it displays the intersections of being a trans man, how hard it is to obtain respect and how fragile that respect is, but also because I know there are guys out there who are like me. I see you, you with the puffy lips and round hips, you who can't transition right now, you who feels like he's waiting for a some day, for a time when it's just okay to exist out there and be treated with the basic fucking dignity of telling someone "Hi, I'm Dave" and having them reply without looking at your tits first. Who has beat himself up in the quiet hours for years for being too emotional, too feminine, feeling assaulted by the way the world wants to commodify your body and demonize your mind. You deserve to be seen and respected.

[baenyth]

Bethany's Bizarre Miraculous Character Rundown: The Other Four

Alright, I'm still psyching myself up to go back to reviews, but first, I wanted to do a character rundown of the four characters that got a Miraculous in Penalteam, as they all share the fact that of the Miracukids they're barely utilized. So let's go!

Ivan Bruel

Alright, starting off with the Big Guy. Honestly of the four it's honestly the strangest he didn't get his own episode, considering that the other half of the auxiliary duo he's in, Mylene, got her own episode all about her and making her a Miraculous hero. Like, he'd work well in Optigami against Style Queen as well! Maybe Optigami takes place far earlier in Season 4 so we can get that sweet sweet Lukanette and Adrigami content before it all falls apart and Marinette's parents learn about the whole 'Ladybug and Guardian' thing so they can save her bacon and possibly become Miraculous wielders themselves, and Ivan is one of the few survivors of Style Queen's murderous rampage! There's parallels to him being the first akuma as well! But I guess his character is just going to be "Mylene's girlfriend" instead. As for my interpretations on his character, I read two fanfics that both had a segment that interpreted his silent giant character as very perceptive. In one he figured out the identities of both Ladybug and Chat Noir without seeing them transform, and in another he realized Lila was lying in Chameleon almost immediately and was crucial in taking her down. I really like this interpretation, to the point where I headcanon that he knows the identities of most Miraculous heroes and knew Lila was capping. Also I felt like he was too soft in Penalteam. He doesn't normally want to hurt anyone but if it's for the greater good he'll do it is my interpretation. Other stuff, other stuff... he likes death metal. That combined with him being in Kitty Section makes me believe he's a Jojo fan, because the rest of Kitty Section are definitely Jojo fans. Except maybe Adrien. Maybe not. Also I don't like his voice but that's no biggie to me. Like, if his voice is supposed to deep-yet-crack-y, then I'm chill. Representation for the kids watching this show.

Nathaniel Kurtzberg

Honestly, of all the Miracukids, Nathaniel is the least interesting to me. Like I feel like I know all I need to about him through canon and headcanon. He was bullied for being shy, meek, and Jewish, and that resulted in him becoming mistrustful, vengeful, and at points grouchy. His interests are drawing superhero comics and watching superhero media. Before Marc came along they didn't have too much of a complex ongoing story. He wants to be a comic artist when he grows up, specifically of Ladybug. He's boned if people realize how weird it is to make merch and other stuff of real live superheroes without their permission or even giving them cash. He's bi. He knows the identities of the Miraculous heroes. He has two first cousins once removed. One of his parents is a doctor, while the other can stay at home. Like, that's it. Even moreso is that he keeps on getting forgotten in the Miracuclass. Apparently he just vanished in Zombizou.

Marc Aniel

Honestly Marc feels like he has even less personality and time in-show yet I can headcanon more stuff about him than Nathaniel. Why is he friends with Marinette despite us never seeing him before? In the first year of middle school, he and Marinette were seatmates in the same class, and said class had no Chloe, so they had time to be safe and bond over being victims of bullying and the joy of creation. They're transmasc and nonbinary, using they/he pronouns. They have two moms and zero dads in sight. They got into soccer from soccer yaoi. In general they're a big yaoi consumer, mostly of twink yaoi. They're a wolf furry. They're a weeb, too. Actually maybe he just has more varied interests than Nathaniel. I guess when given the chance they can passionately ramble on about the stories they're writing is my interpretation,

Sabrina Raincomprix

Sabrina's a fun one, as she wasn't always shoved to the side. She was a main character in season 1, arguably more than Nino was! And honestly, I got a lot of character from her. My interpretation of her is that as a baby child, she imprinted heavily on Roger's ideals and her philosophy is a person's worth is dependent on what they contribute to the lives of others. That, combined with the mommy issues she has from never knowing her mom (I don't know what happened to her,) is the reason why she's so servile to Chloe and at one point Marinette. She loves Chloe and thinks that deep down, Chloe loves her back. Morally, she's true neutral, which is why she's fine with breaking into Marinette's house to steal her diary or locking Juleka in the bathroom. She doesn't necessarily hate them, though. She's just doing her job. She's both an accomplished and a disaster lesbian, and I love her for that. I feel like you could make a damn good long story about her. In general while Julerose is amazing sweet wholesome yuri, Chlobrina is amazing toxic yuri. Why is this show so good with side character yuri?

Also, here's what I think wholesome adult Chlobrina where they both developed as characters and came back together would look like if they were cats:

[llamaisllama777]

TSAMS, EAPS EPISODE REVIEW!!! 👏👏👏

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!

Welcome to another episode of Davis has to be in two places at once.

I like having Sun and Monty hang out it is really weird having them talk in a friendly manner and not trading insults or Monty trying to extort money from Sun and Moon. Lunar sleeping in the box room is priceless, and I want to see the inside of the Nutella room. And now on to the big thing I want to talk about

Spoilers in 3... 2.... 1....

Monty wants to ask Earth's hand in marriage!!!!!

Oh my gosh! Yes!

I love how Sun and Lunar were just like WHAT?!

I do agree with them. Wait, maybe at least a few more months or another Year Monts, but I also get where he's coming from they are all dealing with so much and could die at any minute. Why wait? But also, Monty, I'm pretty sure you still have plot armor. You'll be fine. You can wait maybe another eight months or another year. But none the less, I'm mega happy for them!

Also, did anyone else think Sun had some hesitation giving Monty his blessing, or when Monty told them that he wanted to marry Earth, Sun was a little hesitant about it. Obviously, Sun isn't Monty's biggest fan like at all. So, for a minute, he was probably thinking, "aaahhh, do I really want to be related to this guy?"

Love the hesitation there, Sun. What would have happened if he told him no? That would have been a sight to see. Sun just says no, and it starts a Sun v Monty arc? Or maybe an Earth v Sun arc?! All I'm saying would have been a sight to see.

Can't wait to see what will happen if Monty asks Moon and Solar about this.

So, GR! Ballora is trying to make some friends. Huh, I wonder why no one wants to be your friend? HMMMM? I really wonder why?! 😑😑😑

Anyway, Eclipse throwing shade at Puppet there at the beginning. Love it. GR! Ballora still can't get Puppet's name right, good to know.

Sunrise is taking sharing his time..... "well."

Ballora and Moon being friends is something I didn't know I needed till now.

Monty in this universe needs to chill a bit, she be crazy. 🤪 I mean our Monty is too but still.

They should really find away to make that Ballpit not as deep cause that is a lawsuit waiting to happen... and just when I was thinking Henry in this universe would make Fazbear better than it is in our universe.. guess I was wrong.

Eclipse.... what do you mean that you have something at the bottom of the ballpit? Eclipse, did you build a portal generator in that pit?!

Someone take away the blueprints to that thing! No one should have this! It causes more trouble than it solves! But it is Eclipse, so what do I expect?

The ending was cute. Puppet got to have a little girls' night with GR! Ballora and Monty. Never would've taken GR! Ballora as a Deadpool and Wolverine fan kinda love that.

11/10! Can't wait to see what happens next 👍

Also, I still hate YouTube for the Laes situation. I know they'll get it back soon, but dang, I really hate YouTube for that! YouTube fix your poop! Bring back the Lunar and Earth show! They did nothing wrong!

[bloodmaarked]

babel, or the necessity of violence: an arcane history of the oxford translators' revolution // r.f. kuang

first published: 2022 re-read: 26 may 2024 – 10 june 2024 first read: 2023 pages: 542 format: hardback

genres: fiction; adult; fantasy (urban/magical realism); historical fiction favourite character(s): don't make me pick just one least favourite character(s): again, i can't choose (because they're all brilliant)

rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 thoughts: haters will hate but they will never make me hate this book! i didn't realise i'd read babel the first time around so recently (about this time last year) - i guess i was that eager to read it again, and luckily it was just as good the second time around. most times on reread my opinion shifts slightly lower or higher, but i couldn't not give babel the full 5* once again.

r.f. kuang seems to be a bit of a divisive figure, and especially at one of my book clubs where babel and yellowface have their fair share of critics and fans. having been exposed to more of the criticism, i did go into this with a more open mind, but i have to say that i didn't see it... and maybe this book/kuang's writing is just something you either enjoy or don't. in terms of my own experience, i found babel to be a sharp and scathing critique of complacency and complicity within not just the British empire of the 1800s, but the power structures of today. it's told with the most wonderful cast of characters in a rich world that i felt immersed in from start to finish. i adored the realism of the fantasy and the way it was conducted via silver bars which were deeply integrated into the way the world worked.

i love, love, love the dark academia style of writing, both in the atmosphere of the world, and the academic style of writing. the writing was atmospheric and gorgeous, the tonal shifts between the beauty of oxford and the ugliness of the people who made it the institution it is captured perfectly. r.f. kuang loves her characters, and it really comes through in her writing. being with the cast, especially the core four, was like a warm hug. the title itself is just ridiculous in the best way, and i enjoyed the additional context contained in the footnotes, which were a really cool addition for a work of fiction. (i will say the asterisks were a little harder to find on the print edition i read this time around than they were on the e-book edition i read last year.)

i also have to give props to the research that had to have gone into the writing of this book, including the historical context and the etymological study. i was floored.

my wish is to have a griffin(/sterling) backstory, or a victoire sequel, but i doubt we'll ever get it :'(

the emotional beats didn't hit any less on reread, and that last chapter had my heart pumping hard. this is honestly a story that sits close to my heart and i see myself rereading this a thousand times. it may not be for everyone, but it's definitely for me and i couldn't be happier. you can read my original review for babel here.

[destinyc1020]

My Movie Review: "A Quiet Place: Day One" 🤫

**Caution...May Contain Some Spoilers**

Hey everyone! I'm back with another movie review! 😁

Soo.... I had the chance to catch "A Quiet Place: Day One" in theaters this weekend, and here are my thoughts! First of all, this is one summer blockbuster that I was definitely looking forward to on my list! My friends and I had all seen Parts 1 and 2, so we were definitely excited to see how it all began. 😊

PROS

First of all, can I just say?? I LOVE Lupita Nyong'o. 😊 Anytime I see her onscreen, I'm reminded of just how great of an actress she is! She always shines bright in every role she's given, and she's extremely believable. You could literally feel her fear, shock, terror, and sadness throughout this film! This woman definitely earned her Oscar win years ago (just sorry that it was for that slave movie 😒), and I'm always excited to see what new projects she does next.

Djimon Hounsou is another one.... Anytime he's in a movie, I KNOW his acting is not going to disappoint lol. 😅 It was cool finally getting to see both Lupita and Djimon in a film together. It's just such a shame that they shared such little screen time together. 🥴

The acting was great in this. Everyone did a great job and pulled their own weight.

The music was beautiful in this film. I listen to musical scores in films (I'm a geek, I know lol 😜) and it was very moving.

I loved the chemistry between Lupita's character and Joseph Quinn's character. I had never seen any of his films before (at least, I don't think so? 🤔), so it was nice seeing him onscreen and witnessing his interactions with Lupita. Their chemistry wasn't even anything romantic or sexual onscreen, but they had really great platonic chemistry together! ���

CONS

I must say.... I think I was expecting this film to be a little more scary than it actually was lol? 😅 I was bracing myself to be pretty scared like I was for the first two films, but all in all, the film wasn't really all that scary?? There were some great jump scares throughout, but nothing that really had me getting creeped out, or reaching for my friend's sleeve lol. 😅

This movie was actually a lot sadder than I thought it would be? Idk if that was a pro or a con lol, but I guess I was expecting it to be more action, but in reality, it was quite slow-moving....and sad. The end especially was kind of sad. 😢 Don't get me wrong, it was a very beautifully-shot film, and it really was touching, but a film that you're thinking is mainly going to be about aliens invading turns out to be more about grief, death, and moving on from the past. 😢

I was definitely entertained with this film, but I feel like I didn't really learn much about the aliens? I thought in this film (since it's a prequel) we were going to learn a little more about WHY they invaded, what they were after, and maybe a little more backstory? I guess my assumption was all wrong lol. 😅

OVERALL

Overall, this is a fun movie if you just want to go out and have some fun with your friends. Although I didn't find it all that "scary" (and I'm usually a scaredy cat lol 😅), there are quite a few jump scares and "gotcha!" moments in the film to keep you thrilled and entertained. I would say that this film was more suspenseful than it was "scary". The film was really enjoyable though! That's all I ask from a movie honestly lol.

I wish I had been warned that this film was more sad than it was scary lol. It was beautifully shot, and the way it handles death, grief, and the loss of a loved one is great. Lupita, Joseph, and Djimon all do some superb acting in this one, so if you're a fan of either of them, then by all means, go check this one out! 😁 Lupita especially is so good of an actress. I love the fact that she ventures out of the usual norm and isn't afraid to do horror films, thriller films, suspense films, etc....all genres that historically, black women have usually been missing in. So, I like that she takes risks and isn't afraid to do those types of films, even though she's already an Oscar Winner. 😁

This film waws NOT directed by Jon Krasinski, and I think I could tell lol. I know he was busy filming something else, so he couldn't direct this one (which is fine). I kind of think that the small-town aspect made the other two films way more scary than the NYC setting. I know it makes sense since the city is way louder than the country lol, but you know what I mean lol....

OVERALL SCORE: 7.5/10

[kawaiifoxreviews]

Resident Evil 2 Nintendo 64 Version/GameCube Version Comparison:

N64 V: "Ahh, what a beautiful day in the year 1999.

NGC V: "Hello there!"

N64 V: "Huh? Wha-?! Oh, it's you, small disc. What? Are you trying to fry all my 64 bits with a classic RE jump scare?! Huh? What's a matter with you?!"

NGC V: "Oh, I didn't mean to scare you. Sorry about that."

N64 V: "Wait a minute. You're...me?! You're Resident Evil 2 as well, aren't you?!"

NGC V: "I mean...I'm you...but more, I guess?"

N64 V: "What do you mean by "more"? You think you're better than me?!"

NGC V: "...Also yes."

N64 V: "Why I never! The nerve of this generation! Tell me, what makes you so special? Huh? You think you're so rad with your extra room for data on your small disc? Let me guess, you finally made the deal with the devil himself, didn't you? I told you; we don't make deals with the enemy."

NGC V: "The devil? Oh, you mean Sony? Dude, I had no part in that. Okay? They offered to help you move away from cartridge, but your generation said no to that sort of help."

N64 V: "Wha-? What else could ruin this sublime day for me?"

NGC V: "Okay, I'm going to tell you this one last time...it's not 1999 anymore...or 2003...unfortunately."

N64 V: *Speechless*

Hello and welcome, my fellow retro gamers, Kawaii Fox Reviews here. I apologize if that bit was too cheesy for you. Also, nothing against Sony. I enjoy that company, as well. But, right now, I wanted to review/ compare Capcom's Resident Evil 2 on the N64 to the Gamecube.

Fun fact about this fox: I love Resident Evil. Always have for years and fell in love with just about all of them. Well, I actually just like 5 and 6. I even fell in love with the movies. Well, except the Final Chapter. I know, some people might find that to be taboo, but I can justify those movies in another review.

Right now, I want to share my thoughts on the miracle, that is Resident Evil 2 on the N64. If you are interested in expanding your collection of retro games for your N64, then Resident Evil 2 is an absolute must have. However, I am not going to sugar-coat it, the Gamecube version is the far superior one.

"But Kawaii Fox, why are we here, then? Should we just get the Gamecube version, or the ps1 version, or the-?"

Yes, to all of those. Sorry to cut myself off like that. I know, it wasn't very nice of me. But Resident Evil 2 as a whole should be enjoyed across all accessible platforms. For me, personally, my favorite version is the one on the NGC. Just the Gamecube controller alone is enough for me to favor this version over the other versions. To this day, that controller is my favorite. Ironically, the original N64 controller is my least favorite of all time. But never fear, I have replaced mine with the Gamepads on eBay for like $25. Such a better quality, highly recommended.

Anyway, the purpose of this review is because I find the N64 version is very fascinating. To be honest, I played the hell out the NGC version. Then, at one point, to my surprise, I had discovered that the N64 version does in fact exist. Even though, at this time, I didn't have an N64. But I was still curious as to what this version was like.

After watching a comparison video between the different versions, it came down to the N64 version. Cutscenes were cut up, textures were blurry/muddy, sound was not as clear as it should be. My least favorite part was the fact that there was a certain scene where Ada Wong was talking to another character, but she had Claire Redfield's voice. I love voice actors, Sally Cahill and Alyson Court, and I expect to hear those voices played for their respective roles.

I think the Rock put it best, "It's the biggest piece of dog shit."

However, after I got my N64, I came across this version again. I had found a video by a YouTuber by the name of Lotus Prince that dived into more of what this version had to offer, along with the other ports. Something about it, made me say, "I have an N64, now I want to experience that for myself." I got my copy from eBay and started playing it. Of course, I'm breezing through it, since I've beaten it so many times on the Gamecube.

I'm actually in the middle of Claire: Scenario B, as of this moment. Is everything downgraded as expected? Yes. And it is horrific. But, to my surprise again, it's still the same game I played and still love on the NGC. It also plays very well on the N64. As long as it performs well, I can be okay with any version of any game. Is it perfect? Hell no. But again, it's still the same game I already love.

If I had a subtitle for this review/ comparison, I would have asked the question, "How can something so bad, be so good?"

After getting into this bizarre version of Resi 2, I came across another video by a Youtuber by the name of Modern Vintage Gamer. In this video, he manages to break it down to a science of how they manage to cram this masterpiece of a game into a cartridge. That video alone is intriguing enough to not only look at Resi 2 on the N64 as a game, but as a great concept in general as to how it was made possible.

I will link both of those videos at the end. Please take a look at them.

Now, I am going to wrap this up with these finale thoughts:

This may sound a little harsh, but I believe Resi 2 had no business being on the N64. With its limited cartridge space, and the fact that it's literally the only Resi game on the console. The fact they have to include cliff notes for the first game in this game, says a lot. But, just in case you didn't know this, Resident Evil 0 was supposed to be on the N64. That project was scrapped. But man, I still would have played it. With all the classic Resi-like games we have today, it would be so amazing to bring that project back from the dead.

Despite all that, I do find this whole thing interesting. The fact that that Resi-2 manage to bounce from one Nintendo console to another Nintendo console is brilliant to me, and then from there we got RE3, RE: Code Veronica, RE: remake, RE: 0, and even RE: 4 all on the NGC. What I mean by all this, is that Resi 2 on N64 may have never been the best version or maybe even the most popular, but the fact that they stopped, and said, "Hey, let's do the same game again on Nintendo's next, more advanced, console," Or however that idea was pitched.

It's sad to say, but some companies I think just put games on consoles and call it good, when in actuality, its not. We don't get a remake or an update. It just dies on the console it lands on. But not Resident Evil 2. Resi 2 was risen from the grave...and again with the 2019 remake...and its here to stay. With that, I will admit, I am so grateful I gave this version an actual chance.

Also, quick note: If you plan to experience your Resi 2 game on your N64, please be sure to install an expansion pak. If you do not know what that is. Its the thing that is stored between your Power Button and your Reset Button. What it does is provide you with 8MB of RAM instead of 4MB. This should clean up your Resi game. Won't make it perfect, but the graphics will be less muddy. However, I have heard that it can mess up transferring between screens in the levels. Like old VCR screen tearing. I haven't experience that, myself, but I am warning you, it is possible.

Thank you so much for sticking it out till the end, guys! It really means a lot to me. As you can tell, I have passion for RE games and was really excited to do this. If I forgot something, I apologize. Special thanks to angel studios (The original name of the developers), Capcom, and Nintendo for making the impossible possible. And thank you Lotus Prince and Modern Vintage Gamer for the inspiration.

That's it for now. This is Kawaii Fox Reviews, signing off. I hope you enjoyed your stay. Until next time, stay foxy. ;)

And hey, it's up to us to take out Umbrella.

See ya!

[minijenn]

Jen Tortures Herself with Every Dreamworks Animated Movie Ever: Final Thoughts

Alas, the Dreamworks watch is complete! What a fucking weird ass experience that was. From the heights of wonder and beauty and actual art and emotions and magic that I got to experience in films like Prince of Egypt, How to Train Your Dragon, and Kung Fu Panda, to some of the most bottom of the barrel shit I've ever had to experience like Shark Tale and Antz, I feel like I have experienced the full spectrum of human emotion over the past several weeks.

Dreamworks is such an odd fucking studio, one with such a diverse filmography that is kind of just... all over the place in terms of quality. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I've had a hell of a fun time with this little pet project. Getting to experience some of these movies again (and many for the first time) was an absolute treat, and I loved sharing my thoughts on them with ya'll.

But at the end of the day, what did I learn from all of this. Well... plenty of things. I learned that Dreamworks only knows how to make three kinds of plots (family reunion, daddy issues, and Because Woman). I learned that the Dreamworks' antagonists are usually either sassy assholes discontent with their lot in life or awkward outcasts who eventually come into their own through family or freidnship. I learned that Dreamworks 2D animation is sacred and special and that I want it back so fucking badly. I learned that ogres can love, pandas can fight, dragons can be trained, trolls can sing, and babies can be bosses. And I learned that sometimes, the Dreamworks Finale Dance Party is the most powerful magic of all.

So of course, you all are probably wondering what my definitive ranking for all 45 of these movies is, huh? Well, fortunately, I've been keeping a tier list throughout this marathon to rank them all, so here's that, with each tier also in order from best to worst:

To break it down, my top three favorite Dreamworks movies are:

Prince of Egypt

How to Train Your Dragon 2

How to Train Your Dragon

And my top three least favorite or worst Dreamworks movies are:

Antz

Shark Tale

Spirit Untamed

Unsurprising, really, I think we all knew how this was gonna turn out, but where some of these movies landed on the list actually surprised me. Like... how could I have ever guessed that Croods 2 would be good enough to land an A rank? How could I have known that Spirit Untamed was a piece of shit fuck ass that is one of the worst things I've had to fucking watch for this? You'd also be surprised on how much I've toiled on S rank because... there were moments when HTTYD2 was this close to dethroning Prince of Egypt. So consider those two to be essentially on the same level of utter excellence in my mind.

So yeah, that brings us to the end of all of this, for now. I may come back and review the shorts and holiday specials eventually, and I may even return to this every year to review new Dreamworks movies that have come out (Kung Fu Panda 4, I have my sights set on you). I've grown pretty damn attatched to this silly studio, so I doubt I'm anywhere finished with them yet. As for my next watchthrough (not coming any time soon, but... eventually), well... get ready for...

Jen Tortures Herself with Every Pixar Movie Ever Made!

Coming soon, to a shitty blog near you!

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

FANFIC WRITER WRAPPED 2023

2023 Fanfic Writing Reflections

1. What fic did you work on the most this year?

I guess Blood Ties

2. Did you have any fic writing goals? Did you meet them?

I wanted to complete Whumptober and I did it!

3. How many fics did you work on this year?

Everything that is posted on my blog was written this year.

4. Do you have a favourite fic you wrote?

I really like The Dixon Chronicles

5. What's your favourite passage that you wrote this year?

Passage?

6. Favourite line of dialogue this year?

In fact, the first time he had willingly come to sit next to you by the fire was just after you had asked him if he was “violating the Georgia sodomy law by having his head that far up his own ass.”

7. Favourite POV? (or rather what POV did you use the most this year?)

Reader or Daryl. Almost always.

8. Did you find yourself repeating a word or phrase in your writing this year? If so, what was it?

I started using the word “ain’t”, even outside of writing.

9. How did you help other writers this year? (i.e. leaving comments, reviews, beta reading, offering advice, etc)

I try to always like as well as reblog. There were a few people that I encouraged to put their writing out there if they were ready.

10. Did you receive any advice that resonated to you this year?

Write for myself and write the character the way I see them.

11. What did you enjoy most about writing fic this year?

I was able to escape the bad things in my life and absorb myself in my writing. I met some wonderful people because of it.

12. What did you enjoy the least?

Writers block is the worst.

13. Who was your favourite character to write for?

Daryl Dixon.

14. Did you have a song on repeat while writing this year?

Each of my fics and series have songs attached to them. I listened to those to write and keep the focus of the story.

15. Did you make any playlists for your fics this year?

I did not.

What are they? N/A

16. What's your favourite thing you made for your fic or character this year? (such as pinterest, moodboards, gifs, etc)

I made the header images for all of my work but my favorites are the moodboards from @dustbunniess and @dannyo000 by far!

17. What was your most commonly used tag for your fics (on ao3, tumblr, etc)?

#murda writes

18. Did you participate in any fic writing challenges this year?

Whumptober and I was a completionist!

19. What was your favourite comment/review you received this year?

I refuse to pick just one. So many lovely people left so many encouraging words. There’s no way that I can narrow that down to one. 💙

20. What was your top-rated/commented fic this year?

My very first smut- Skin You with My Tongue

21. Were there any ideas you wanted to work on this year but you didn't?

I have several saved in my notes.

22. Were there any new fandoms or genres you explored this year?

Just The Walking Dead

23. Is there anything you want to write or try to explore in your writing next year?

I really want to dive into the Caryl ship and explore what could have/should have been. I would also like to do some AU with that.

24. Do you have a goal for next year? If so, what is it?

To participate in more challenges/events!

25. What are your hopes and/or desires for yourself and for other fic writers in the next year?

I myself would like to write more for myself and encourage others to do the same. Make it what you want and then when you feel comfortable, share it with the world. 

Bonus:

26. Did you discover any new fics or fic authors this year?

So many!

27. What was your favourite fic to read this year?

Probably Abundance of the Heart. It’s an ongoing Caryl AU fic. 

28. Who was your favourite fic author this year?

There is no way I can narrow that down to just one. So many creative writers with so many works that spoke to me in one way or another. 

29. What fics or authors would you recommend for others to discover and read in the next year?

@weretheones @sinsandsweetness @walker-bait-1973 @bananafire11 @unhingedbiatch @lazyneonrabbitt @writella @loganlostitall and I know of so so many but my brain won’t let me have them right now.

30. What advice would you have for people who might want to try writing or sharing their writing next year?

Same thing I said previously: write what you want and for yourself. And then, if you feel like sharing, share it. If you don’t, don’t. Make it what you want. What you enjoy.