#Sky's reading list

[celestialorcas]

Ok- so i just finished reading the novelisation of Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii, and all in all, amazing book, and great retelling of the story with so so many extra details and whole new scenes. So heres a few stand out things I just LOVED in the final few pages:

The doctor admitting to checking in on people from time to time off screen <3333 also the nod towards Caecilius' (Capaldi's) face, which is later referenced ofc in 'The girl who died' as 12 is pondering over why he chose the new face

The extra details in how the new household gods shine, to the doctor and donna is described, with the TARDIS being labelled as a Protection Box...UGH LOVE IT

aaaaand, more commentary about the doctor checking in on the family and descendants for the rest of time. Helping them in life through little nudges, and they subconsciously pay it back by always being Doctors, Protectors, Architects and Storytellers, just as the original family had been <3 A whole lineage of people that wouldn't have existed if Donna hadn't convinced him to "just save someone". I like to think when he chose to, he knew he wasn't just saving them from Pompeii, but from misfortune for the rest of time as an apology for what happened to them, and as penance for almost letting them die.

Every so often the families run into a kind stranger who gives them great advice, or an anonymous benefactor financially supporting them, maybe a reference of character from 'a friend'. Every incarnation of the doctor, just passing through and helping out.

[disgracefulthings]

MDZS fix-it AU where Shang Qinghua saves Wei Wuxian and the Wens from the burial mounds, for a price...

Shang Qinghua, handing WWX a contract: Just sign here and I will provide food and shelter for you and your people

Wei Wuxian: What's the catch. No one does anything for free

Shang Qinghua: I bring up what I'm owed in the third paragraph

Wei Wuxian, reading out loud: ...'Shang Qinghua, and only Shang Qinghua, has the right to write about Wei Wuxian's love life in any manner he sees fit.' Why would you want this?

Shang Qinghua: Look, are you going to sign it or what?

[kristannafever]

Big Sky Ranch

Kristanna Modern AU Rated: M WC: 1829

In the foothills off of the Rocky Mountains, resides a generational Ranch known to all in the area. Kristoff, a humble hand on that ranch, works hard and enjoys his simple existence. It isn't until a new woman starts at the diner that be begins to acknowledge his loneliness and plans to ask her on a date. When his plans are foiled by a rival group of men, it sets events into motion that plunge Anna and Kristoff into getting to know each other through some very unexpected situations and their relationship blossoms as their lives begin to change.

--------------------

A/N: This had been my passion project for over a year, and is the most self-indulgent thing I have ever written. It is inspired by the ranch setting of Yellowstone and the rural area in which I live.

---------------------

Anna had only been working as a waitress at the diner for a week, and she was quickly learning what the biggest perk of the job was. 

It was the cowboys.

She’d moved to the small town only a month prior, desperate to get as far away from the city where her sleazy ex-fiancé was.  It was the fresh start she needed after wallowing about that cheating asshole for months.  Truly dark times they had been.

After finding a basement suite to rent since she wasn’t sure how long she would be there before she moved on again, she got the job at the diner, and was truly starting to enjoy life again.  And that was in large part due to the clientele. 

The town was surrounded by ranchlands.  Large farms spread out in all directions, and the roads were ruled by pick-up trucks and farm equipment.  Many times, Anna had gone for a drive to clear her head and she’d come upon some large tractor-thing, and she’d have to squeeze around the slow-moving vehicle in the wrong lane, or wait until it pulled into a pasture.  Even so, she never minded too much, because she enjoyed the drives and admiring the lovely scenery against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

And every day, rain or shine, groups of men came in for breakfast or lunch.  Most of them in the full cowboy outfit; cowboy boots, jeans, roper or plaid shirts, and cowboy hats.  And no matter the size or shape of them, they were all ruggedly handsome in their own ways.

And decent!  Anna had never met so many decent men.  They were all extremely polite and respectful.  They held doors and said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘ma’am’, and they always tipped generously even if they only had a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. 

Anna truly did love her job, even if was a lot harder work than sitting behind a desk all day like she’d been doing when she worked at that insurance company with her ex. 

That asshole could rot in hell.

Now Anna had her eyes open for a cowboy.  A lot of them didn’t wear any wedding rings, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t married.  She’d asked one of the other waitresses and was told they don’t wear them for safety, not wanting them to get caught in ropes or machinery.  And the ones that did wear them, wore those new rubber ones that could break if they got caught in something.   It made perfect sense to Anna.  Although it certainly made it harder to tell who was and wasn’t attached. 

Which was why for the time being she just had her eyes open.  She never outwardly hit on any of them for fear of hitting on a taken man.  She just hoped that one day, one of them might just ask her out.  And until then, she would more than happily take in all the eye candy.

*****

Kristoff yawned as he got out of his truck and stretched out his tired back.  Him and Sven got up extra early and treated themselves to breakfast whenever they could, and right now they had a short break before calving season when their days were a little less long.

The air was still chilly with the last of winter’s tenuous hold, and their breath came out in white vapors as they walked through the parking lot.  At least the snow was mostly all gone, and while that meant that him and Sven’s work load was going to ramp up, it was hard to argue with the sun shining bright after six brutally long months of snow-covered ground.

As soon as they stepped into the diner, Sven gave him a nudge with his elbow.

“New girl,” he said under his breath, and flicked his head in her direction as they walked to a booth along the front windows. 

Kristoff glanced her direction then turned to Sven and gave him a hard stare.  Ever since he got engaged, Sven had been trying mercilessly to set Kristoff up with someone and it was starting to get on his nerves.  The girl was really cute, sure, he just wasn’t interested.  He was too damn set in his ways to be interested.

They sat in their favourite booth, took off their cowboy hats, and set them on the seat beside themselves.  Kristoff ran a hand through his hair a few times, shaking out the hat line, and the new waitress came over straight away and set menus on the table. 

“Morning, gentlemen.”  She smiled brightly.  “What can I start you out with today?”

“Coffee, black, and a water,” Kristoff said.

“Same here,” Sven said, “please.”

“Coming right up.”  She gave them another bright smile and walked away. 

“City girl,” Sven mused.

“Yup.”  He’d heard her accent too.

“She don’t have a ring.”

“Sven-”

“Come on, man.  You livin’ like that ain’t healthy.  All alone in that cabin.  You should move back to one of the main houses.”

“You know I don’t like being around people too much.”

“You like being around me.”

“Yeah, well, you’re the one exception and you know that too.”

“You could make another exception,” Sven flicked his head to the counter where she was pouring them coffee, “for her.”

“If you don’t cut this out, I’m gonna strap you to that nasty old bull out in the east pastures.”

“Ole’ Bruce?”  Sven laughed.  “That bull don’t got any fight left in him.”

“I beg to differ,” Kristoff stated.  It was only a month ago that mean old brute had him scrambling for the fences when he charged Kristoff.  And of course, no one had been around to see it and they all told him he was making shit up.  That bull had it out for him, Kristoff knew it.

The waitress came back with the drinks and they ordered their usual; the cowboy breakfast.  It came with two eggs, three strips of bacon, a pair of sausages, hash browns, beans and two slices of toast.  Both him and Sven would eat it all and be starving by noon. 

They ate quickly and Kristoff pulled his wallet out of his back pocket since it was his turn to pay.  The waitress came back with the bill and a card machine which Kristoff waived off because he always paid with cash.  He gave her a pretty nice tip since she’d kept their water and coffee cups full.  He hated it when he was halfway through his meal and he had nothing to drink because the cups weren’t topped off. 

On the way out, when Sven wasn’t looking, Kristoff glanced in the waitress’s direction.  She had her copper hair in braids, and actually, was very attractive.  He always had been a sucker for freckles.  If he was interested in a relationship, he might ask her out, but he was more than content not having to deal with what came in having that sort of thing.

*****

Anna watched the pair of cowboy’s head back to their big dually in the parking lot.  They’d been the best-looking ones yet.  Especially that blond with the big nose and the pretty brown eyes.  He was very handsome.  And built!  The guy’s biceps were giving that roper shirt a serious quality control test.  She felt a little flustered to suddenly think about what being with a man like that would be like.  Her ex had been on the skinnier side and nowhere near as tall.  Not to mention never really left her satisfied.  She had a feeling that the handsome blond cowboy sure wouldn’t disappoint. 

He didn’t really say much, he left her a very nice tip, and he did say thank you when she dropped off their breakfast, even if he didn’t say please when he ordered it.  Anna hoped she’d see him again soon and found herself hoping that he was single and looking.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Sven suggested breakfast again the next morning and Kristoff damn well knew why.  Still, it was hard to argue against a big brekky that he didn’t have to make himself.   They drove to the diner and sure enough, the attractive waitress was working.

They sat in the same booth and she came over a moment later with coffees and waters.  It impressed him a little that they didn’t have to order, even if was presumptuous of her. 

“Same as yesterday, gentlemen?” she asked, after she’d set their drinks on the table.

“You bet,” Sven answered.

“And are we sticking with sunny-side up eggs and rye toast?”  Both men nodded.  “Perfect.  I’ll have that right out to you.”

Kristoff found himself watching her walk away.  She sure had a nice smile.  Very friendly.  Good for getting better tips for sure.   And those eyes were something else.

“You should ask her out,” Sven persisted in a hushed voice.

He turned to Sven and scowled.  “No.”

“Why not?”

Kristoff shrugged and couldn’t really come up with a good answer. 

Sven heaved a big sigh.  “You know what, I give up.  You’re hopeless.”

Kristoff sneered.  “Like you pointed out, she’s a city girl.  Only one way a relationship with her is gonna end up, and that’s me being dumped after a week.”

“Maybe if you would just try-”

“That’s enough,” he said, very serious.  “I’m not in the mood.”

Sven scoffed.  “Fine, whatever.”

Kristoff looked down at his hands and started to dig some dirt out from under his thumbnail.  Sven had no idea what he was talking about.  Kristoff had always tried.  He did his best, even though he was pretty damn clueless about romance.  Which seemed to be why none of the ladies he’d gone out with stuck around long.  He did try, and it was never enough.  It had left him jaded about dating. 

Their meals came out quickly and they ate even quicker to get a head start on their day.  It was going to be another long one, meaning come Friday night, both of them would be more than eager to blow off some steam at the saloon. 

*****

Anna gathered up the tip the other cowboy had left on the table.  It was still very decent even if he wasn’t as generous as the blond.  Neither of the men seemed like they were looking for a date, so Anna gave up on thinking that either of them were single.  Like most of them, they were probably taken, leaving Anna wondered what she had to do to bag herself a cowboy.

Another waitress had been talking about going to a saloon by the highway at the edge of town on Friday evening for some dancing and asked Anna if she wanted to tag along too.  She accepted, giddy at the chance that perhaps she might have her opportunity there to get herself a date, even if she was warned that the crowd could get pretty rowdy. 

--

Next Chapter

[zepskies]

Hey, Zep! I just wanted to ask- are there any writers on here who motivate you to write or you’re inspired from when you read their work? Or just some who are generally amazing? I’m looking for inspo myself :)

Hi there!

Oh hell yeah! There are plenty of writers on here that I admire and have shouted out their work a lot. They're all on my various rec lists, which you can find on my Navigation page (and in each fandom/character masterlist):

Supernatural Fic Rec List

Dean Winchester AU Fic Rec List

Beau Arlen Fic Rec List

Soldier Boy Fic Rec List

Also, if you ever want to see what I'm reading, just search the "zepskies reads" tag on my blog and you'll find all the fics I've reviewed and left comments on.

This is also why I reblog what I read and enjoy--not just to shoutout people's work and share it with others, but also so I can find those stories later!

[sincerely-sofie]

I've got a dumb idea for a request;

despite all of dusknoirs skills, he can't tell apart his own team from a glaringly obvious ditto

Twig has to break the news to him that he’s got a seventh sableye in his squad and that it’s not even a sableye in the first place. Dusknoir is impressed by her ability to identify a transformed Ditto and asks how she could recognize the disguise. She says magic, and pointedly doesn’t tell him the real reason is because she’s been catfished by ditto on two separate occasions.

[inspiredbyabook]

endless list of favorite books/series [3/∞] ↝ between earth and sky by rebecca roanhorse

↪ a man with a destiny is a man who fears nothing

[fullscoreshenanigans]

do u have any hcs about isabella? can be of any gender!

That's quite a wide berth you're giving me. I don't really have many beyond her resolving to read all the books in a Grace Field library, either before being sent to headquarters or when she becomes a mom, partially because it's something Leslie wanted to do.

(TPN Light Novel 2: Moms’ Song of Remembrance - “The Starry Sky and Leslie’s List”)

Also because I like to indulge in it being another (petty) layer of Ray's quest to read all the books in the library before he turns twelve.

(Shirai's notes for Volume 4)

Not that she ever told him she did, but he figured based on the commentary she made about what he read. Similarly, realizing he seemed to be reading through everything was bittersweet for her.

(Chapter 8)

Many passing exchanges akin to this over the years, simultaneously wanting to be involved in his life and wanting to lord her power over him, forcing him to engage with her publicly every time she approached him (because rarely is it the other way around after he turns six other than their private meetings) under the pretense of them playing house. A painful and petty ritual.

Because of the favor she's engendered with Grandma Sarah, she has her own private collection of fiction and poetry she keeps in her office or room.

She's ashamed of the multiple times she's imagined Leslie playing the piano when she's closed her eyes and listened to Nat.

It wasn't very often, but if one of the children asked, she let her hair down for them to brush or to practice braiding during free time. - This is what inspired Anna to grow her hair long and adopt braids. - Ray happens upon this once when he's looking for her and finds it unsettling how serene she looks, but he can't help but stare for a moment before deciding to come back later.

At least once every year she makes flower crowns with all the children who are interested.

She calls Emma her little sunflower when she's younger and still uses it from time to time as she gets older.

(Chapter 47)

[failureandpoet]

It's friday and I'm really happy ☁️📚🫐💫

it's also the beginning of summer here which I hate but at least I'm going to be free from uni and I would be able to read a lot more, and go touch a bit of grass and take pretty pics. I'm just a tiny bit excited, I just hate the extremely hot weather 😖

[alberta-sunrise]

Book mail 😍✉️

[alichiraku]

Timeline - Iruka Umino

(I’ve just compiled information from various pre-existing timelines, so credits go to the Seelentau timeline and @keepyourpantsongohan​’s one!!)

I added events I thought relevant to Iruka’s story (whether because it impacted Konoha or Iruka personally). I calculated the ages by taking the Databook ages and correlating them with the first appearances in the manga which is why it sometimes differs from the other timelines (ex: Yugao is said to be 22 in the first Databook, but her birthday is on November 3rd, and her first apparition is during the Chūnin exams in July-August. Therefore, I consider her to have turned 22 the year before). 

I’ve checked this timeline a few times, but there may still be errors (or simplifications), so don’t hesitate to point them out and I’ll correct them!

Year 0 : Iruka is born (May 26).

Kohari and Ikkaku Umino are 34-35.

The Third Shinobi War begins. Around this year, Kushina (13-14) is kidnapped by shinobi from Kumo and rescued by Minato (13-14).

September 15 : Kakashi turns 5.

Kakashi becomes Genin.

Year 1 : 

May 26 : Iruka turns 1.

September 15 : Kakashi turns 6.

Kakashi becomes Chūnin.

Year 2 : 

May 26 : Iruka turns 2.

Sakumo Hatake (around 40) commits suicide.

Kakashi’s generation becomes Genin : Genma (10), Guy (7), Ebisu (10), Shizune (10), Asuma (9), Kurenai (9).

Year 5-6 :

Iruka Umino enters the Academy.

Sasuke enters the Academy at 5 and Itachi at 6. Given that war wages during Iruka’s childhood, I chose to make him enter around this age instead of later, but we have no way to confirm this.

Year 8 :

October 24 : Anko turns 10.

Anko becomes Genin.

Year 9 :

 The Third Shinobi World War ends on an armistice between Konoha and Iwa, Minato becomes Hokage.

Minato is 23, Kohari and Ikkaku are 43-44.

Year 9-10 : Births of the Rookie Nine. 

Year 10 : 

May 26 : Iruka turns 10.

October 10 : Naruto’s birth ; Kurama is freed by Obito and attacks Konoha ; death of Kohari (45) and Ikkaku (45), as well as Minato (24), Kushina (24), Biwako (55) and many others. 

Iruka’s experience of this night is depicted several times in both manga and anime, which explains the slight contradictions. The last version of the event in the manga is probably the most accurate.

Chapter 1 : Iruka is forcefully taken away from the battlefield by an unknown shinobi as he screams that his parents “are still fighting”, although it’s unclear whether he knows this for a fact or is simply in denial.

Rookie Instructor fillers : Kohari wears the traditional Konoha uniform instead of the later grey ANBU-like one (it may be attributed to Iruka’s faulty memory of the event). Iruka is sheltered with other children away from the battlefield but is implied to have escaped when he learns that the squad where his parents were fighting has been decimated. This is the last flashback we have of the event and the anime seems to imply Iruka didn’t get to see his parents again.

Chapter 503 : Kohari wears a grey uniform. She’s already on the brink of death as Ikkaku orders Iruka to flee the battlefield. Similarly to Chapter 1, Iruka is then forcefully taken away despite his protests.

The anime later faithfully animated this scene and its chronology.

October 24 : Anko turns 12.

Anko becomes Chūnin.

The Academy having been destroyed in the Kurama attack, the learning conditions of this year’s students are unclear

Year 11 :

During this year : death of Might Duy (35) protecting Guy (15), Genma (17) and Ebisu (17).

Flashbacks of Iruka joking around to amuse his comrades.

May 26 : Iruka turns 11.

June 9 : Itachi turns 7.

Itachi becomes Genin.

Around this time, flashback with Hiruzen in front of the tombstone. Hiruzen says “It’s been a year” in the English version (indicating this is after the anniversary of the attack) but “It will be a year soon” in the French version (putting the scene before the anniversary). 

November 2nd : Hayate turns 12.

Hayate becomes a Genin (ID 011671)

Iruka becomes a Genin (ID 011850).

November 3rd : Yūgao turns 11.

Possibly in the same promotion [ Ninja ID indicates that they graduated after Iruka ] : Yoroi Akado (11), Iwashi (11), Izumo (12), Kotetsu (13) 

Possibly in the same promotion [ No ninja ID, but same age as Iruka ] : Santa Yamanaka, Maen Nara, Iroha Hyūga

Year 12 :

November 2nd : Hayate turns 13.

Hayate becomes Chūnin.

Year 14 :

February 29 : Kabuto turns 10.

Kabuto becomes Genin (ID 012140).

Yugao (13 or 14) becomes Genin (ID 012161).

June 9 : Itachi turns 10.

Itachi becomes Chūnin.

Year 16 : 

April : Sasuke (5) enters the Academy, Itachi (10) becomes ANBU.

May 26 : Iruka turns 16.

Iruka becomes Chūnin. 

July 23rd : Sasuke turns 6.

October 10 : Naruto turns 6.

Year 16-20 :  Iruka (16-20) becomes a teacher at the Academy (in this post, I tried to pinpoint at what age Iruka might have become a teacher).

Year 18 :

 Itachi (13) and Obito (22-23) massacre the Uchiha clan.

Sasuke is 7, Mikoto is 35, Fugaku is 40.

The event happens between the 9th of June (Itachi’s 13th birthday) and the 23rd of July (Sasuke’s 8th birthday).

Academy days : Iruka teaches Naruto, Shikamaru, Chōji and Kiba the leaf exercice ; flashback of the Academy fight between Naruto and Sasuke 

Year 22 :

May 26 : Iruka turns 22. 

Year 23 :

Naruto Part I begins. 

January 1st : Guy turns 26.

January : events of the first chapters. Naruto (12) discovers he is the host of Kyūbi during the incident with Mizuki (27).

May 26 : Iruka turns 23.

June 11th : Kurenai turns 27.

June 24 : Hiruzen announces the upcoming Chūnin exams. All 3 rookie jōnin-sensei enter their students despite Iruka’s protests. 

The Chūnin exams begin on the 1st of July and end on the 1st of August. Orochimaru attacks Konoha.

August 3rd : Funeral for the Third Hokage

Following the destruction of Konoha, every shinobi (including teachers) has to get back in the field and take missions again.

Unclear for how long: in the third Databook, Iruka has completed 3 additional D-rank, 5 C-rank and 16 B-rank missions before being back at the Academy.

End of the year : Naruto and Sasuke fight at the Valley of the End, Sasuke leaves Konoha to join Orochimaru, Naruto leaves with Jiraiya.

Year 25 : The Konoha 11 become Chūnin.

Year 26 :

Naruto (15) and Jiraiya come back to Konoha.

May 26 : Iruka turns 26.

Year 27 :

Pain attack on Konoha.

October 8 : The Third Shinobi War begins ; Iruka goes to Island Turtle to try and keep Naruto out of the war. 

Morning of October 10 : The War ends, everyone awakes from the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Naruto discovers he has to take classes for two years with Iruka’s help.

Year 28 : Kakashi (32) becomes Hokage ; Sasuke (18) leaves Konoha.

Year 29 : Events of Naruto: The Last.

Year 30 :

Some time before the wedding, Naruto asks Iruka to stand as his father at the wedding.

Naruto and Hinata’s wedding.

March 27 : Boruto is born.

Year 31-39 : At some point, Iruka (31-39) becomes Headmaster of the Academy. 

Year 32 : Himawari is born.

Year 35 : Naruto (24-25) becomes Hokage.

Year 39 :

End of the year : Chapter 700, epilogue. 

Iruka is 39.

Year 42 : Boruto’s generation (12) graduates.

At some point, Iruka takes care of Sarada while Sasuke and Sakura are on a mission ; he teaches her how to cook? I honestly have no idea when the novels happen and what’s going on in them and at this point I’m too afraid to ask. 

Don’t even ask me about Boruto. 

From left to right : 5-10 yo ; 10 yo (Kurama attack) ; 10-11 yo (Academy) ; 10-11 yo (Academy) ; 12-16 yo (before or newly Chūnin) ; 16-20 yo (young teacher) ; 22 yo (Part I) ; 26-27 yo (Pain attack) ; 27 yo (Fourth Shinobi War) ; 29-30 yo (Naruto’s wedding) ; 39 (Chapter 700)

[sixofravens-reads]

Books I Want to Finish this Year

(thank you @ninja-muse for tagging me!!)

My original intention was to read The Wood at Midwinter, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (I always want to reread the whole Narnia series and run out of time, so I'll settle for the most Christmas-y one), and The Book of Love which I've somehow been putting off all year. However! Now I have 2 more library holds coming (The Essex Serpent and The Deep Sky) so The Book of Love may end up being my first book of 2025 instead...

Tagging @bigcats-birds-and-books @dandelion-network @battyaboutbooksreviews and anyone else who wants to do this!!

[celestialorcas]

Omg i forgot about my fav part of the Fires of Popeii Target Novellisation. This bit HIT HARD so if youre gonna read it then scroll cause SPOILERS inc

Ok so the scene where they hit the switch to blow up vesuvius, chapter 13 ends at them hitting it, the next page?

Then turn the page and onto chapter 15

Chapter 14 takes us out of the story, out of doctor who and into the real lives of people in pompeii, its their chapter of that awful day, and it needs few words to tell that story cause all they knew was, in pompeii the world ended.

[warriorcatsofficialfacts]

(prefacing this with itll probably come oit really condescending or backhanded and i promise i dont intend it to be. i just have no clue how to phrase it so its not) as someone who can't stand gray wing it's such a breath of fresh air to see someone who loves him for the same reasons I hate him. nothing but respect for u my guy

gray wing is easily the number 3 most uncomfortable pov in warriors and it's so revolutionary to have a character like that who is clearly that way On Purpose. he's such a gross little weirdo it's Unbearable to be inside his head. it's amazing i'm captivated by it

[acourtofquestions]

I LOVE LIDIA CERVOS AND WOULD DEFEND HER WITH MY LIFE!!!

[bigassbowlingballhead]

there's something so special to me about a story of a not great person dying and bettering themselves in death. finding home in death. finding love in death.

[fingertipsmp3]

Nothing more frustrating than having a dream set in an amazing book series and then waking up to find out it doesn’t exist. Guess I’VE gotta write this now