#The Darkest Star (2-D)

[overthedub]

The first of the 2005 Gorillaz' Iceberg Radio takeovers, starting with 2-D! These are the bits in-between the songs where 2-D talks about his influences and music he likes with some extras thrown in.

Iceberg Radio was initially a Canadian Internet radio service back in 2005 and has since been bought and renamed to AccuRadio. The site no longer has these radio spots uploaded, so the takeovers are considered lost media.

Audio taken from Blur Archive Project’s archive folder (with their permission), which you can find for yourself here: 

You can listen to the full uncut radio takeover with songs included there!

Playlists for 2-D's picks:

Youtube playlist:

Transcript under the cut!

Radio announcer: This is 2-D from the Gorillaz taking over exclusively on icebergradio.com!

[Beck’s “E-Pro” playing in the background]

2-D: Oi! This is 2-D from Gorillaz! And I’ve invited myself along for an hour to spin some of my favorite discs.

Right, to kick my show off, I’m gonna play a track from enormous talent in a pint-sized body. This is Beck, with his song “E-Pro”!

[After “E-Pro”]

2-D: That was the latest tune from the extraordinary talent called Beck! Featuring a big Beastie Boys’ breakbeat and a Dust Brothers’ production.

Funny-lookin’ bloke [in reference to Beck]. Apparently, right, he’s only, like, about two foot (2′)? And, uh, they pack him away in a shoebox after his concerts, awright? Um, yeah.

[Interpol’s “Narc” playing in the background]

2-D: Next up, this is Interpol with “Narc”.

[After “Narc”]

2-D: Uh, that was Interpol and next up, uh...Oh, wait a sec. I didn’t put this in there! The Bravery? That’s a funny-lookin’ band, innit?

[The Bravery’s “An Honest Mistake” playing in the background]

2-D: I think they’re havin’ a right laugh tryin’a play this song with a straight face. Well, here you go! "An Honest Mistake”! You said it, boys.

[After “An Honest Mistake”]

2-D: Hey! This is 2-D! I’m the singer and the pin-up of Gorillaz! I’m taking over for an hour. I’m playin’ all my old favorites.

[The Clash’s “Train in Vain” playing in the background]

2-D: This next track is by one of my favorite bands of all time: The Clash! Mick Jones sings this one and it’s called “Train in Vain”.

*Note: Mick Jones is the lead guitarist for The Clash, but he also sings lead vocals on a few songs, including "Train in Vain (Stand By Me)".

[After “Train in Vain (Stand by Me)”]

2-D: “Walworth’s version of David Bowie, who happened to make great singles, can now afford his own place to hold his goth concert—”

Hang on! I’ve got me notes mixed up. Oh, oh, wait a sec, that’s meant to be for Gary Numan. Uh, comin’ up is a song from Blur’s last album. This is an excellent track, although I think the vocals on this sound like the singer’s tryin’a copy the way I sing! Rude!

[Blur’s “Battery in Your Leg” playing in the background]

2-D: This is the last time Graham played guitar with Blur. Outstanding!

*Note: Gary Numan was the lead singer for the English band Tubeway Army before becoming a solo artist. Graham here refers to Graham Coxon, the lead guitarist for Blur. He has since returned to playing for the band in 2009.

[After “Battery in Your Leg” / “Hallelujah (Club Mix)” by Happy Mondays]

2-D: That was, uh, the Happy Mondays with “Hallelujah”! With singer Shaun Ryder. You’re listening to me, 2-D from Gorillaz.

Right! This next track, right, is a killer Gorillaz tune from our new Demon Days album! And it features the geezer Shaun Ryder. From the Happy Mondays. That you, uh, just heard singin’ on that last record. Yeah.

This is “DARE” by Gorillaz!

[After “DARE” / “I Predict a Riot” by The Kaiser Chiefs

2-D: That was the Kaiser Chiefs, a brand-new British band. Uh, they’re also great live. Singer looks a bit like Damon Albarn, bloke from Blur.

All the last Kaiser Chief singles have been great, and here’s something else to put a smile on your face: Joy Division! With “24 Hours”.

[After “24 Hours” / “The Headmaster Ritual” by The Smiths]

2-D: That was a song by the miserable Morrissey bloke about getting caught smoking cigarettes in the school bulbs and getting spanked by a load of teachers. You’re listenin’ to me, 2-D!

Next up...oh, right. I-I’m sensin’ a theme here. Joy Division, Smiths, and now this track is called “No Fun”. Hm. Mind your backs. It's The Stooges.

*Note: Morrissey was the lead singer for the band, The Smiths. He has since become a solo artist since the band broke up.

[After “No Fun”]

2-D: That was Iggy Pop, suffering for your sins. And now, the biggest selling 12″ of all time and born out the remnants of Joy Division: the fantastic New Order with “Blue Monday”!

*Note: Iggy Pop was the lead singer for the band The Stooges, who have broken up and reunited multiple times.

TW: Suicide - Joy Division initially broke up due to their lead singer, Ian Curtis, committing suicide. Later, the lead guitarist and vocalist, bassist, and drummer of Joy Division reunited to form the band New Order.

[After “Blue Monday”]

2-D: Hi! This is 2-D from Gorillaz, uh, and that was New Order. Comin’ up next are the very influential Kraftwerk band! They-They along with Das Kotzen Bots were the pioneers of minimalist electronic music. I think this track is about, uhhhh, sexy robots or something? “Das Model”!

*Note: I couldn't find the other band 2-D is talking about, so the band name may be wrong.

[After “Das Model”]

[Bloc Party’s “So Here We Are” playing in the background]

2-D: Ooooh! That is just so German! And here’s another great band from Britain: Bloc Party! And this is one of my favorite singles to come out in a while. Apparently, they’re great live, too, so check ‘em out! You’re listenin’ to me, 2-D!

[After “So Here We Are” / “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain]

2-D: Uhhh, that was The Jesus and Mary Chain! They were like The Velvet Underground meets the Sex Pistols with spotty shirts and curly hair. Basically, they’re black rebel Motorpsycho for grandads!

Next we have...huh? I don’t believe it! Someone’s been muckin’ ‘round my record collection! Who put this in ‘ere? Huh? David Gahan?!

Right. Uh...well, I guess I better play it. This is “Peo-ple are Peo-ple” with a song called Depeche Mode.

*Note: David Gahan is the lead singer for the band Depeche Mode. 2-D mixes up the song and band name here.

[After “People are People”]

[N.E.R.D.’s “Things are Getting Better” playing in the background]

2-D: You’re listenin’ to me, 2-D from Gorillaz! N.E.R.D. are the band that the Nexus wanted to produce, and this is “Things are Gettin' Better”.

*Note: Nexus here may refer to Nexus Music, a Danish music label. I'm not quite sure what 2-D says there, so it may be a different label.

[After “Things are Getting Better” / “Elephant Stone” by The Stone Roses]

[Buzzcocks’ “I Don’t Mind” playing in the background]

2-D: That’s The Stone Roses. And from one monkey-based singer to another, I’d like to say that The Stone Roses are a great band! This is the Buzzcocks!

[After “I Don’t Mind”]

2-D: That was the Buzzcocks, who were like a punk-rock version of The Beatles. And that was called “I Don’t Mind”. If you don’t already have it, you should get your hands on a copy of the Buzzcocks’ Singles Going Steady album.

Next is The Jam with *singing* “Goin’ Underground”!

[After “Going Underground” by The Jam]

2-D: Well, that’s it! My time’s up. This is the last track from me, 2-D from Gorillaz tonight, and it’s by a band called Wire! A long-time favorite of mine.

[Wire’s “Mannequin” playing in the background]

A lot of their work was quite abstract, but they were intelligent artists who could also do, like, pop melodies? Uh, this is one of ‘em! You’ve been listenin’ to me, 2-D from Gorillaz, muckin’ about. I hope you enjoyed it! I’m out of here like I stole somethin’! See ya!

[thalialunacy]

(back to rec index) (pt 1) (pt 2) (pt 3) (pt 4) (pt 5)

#

26 Pieces by Lanning

34 Minutes by bendingsignpost

50. Be You. No one else can. by KittenKin

A

A Case of Identity (Selfish, Private, and Easily Bored) by Iwantthatcoat

About Sleep and Coffee and the Existence of Fate by Atiki

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder by cypress_tree

Acceptable Behaviour by bbcatemysoul

An Acceptable Reaction by EchoSilverWolf

Adjacent by weeesi

Adored by chellefic

Adrift by BakerTumblings

The Adventure of the Last Will and Testament by JRow

Afghan Bullets, Beards, and Unlocked Bedroom Doors by addicted2hugh

The Alchemy of Sea Glass by reveling_in_mayhem

All That I Have by the_arc5

Alternative Facts by SwissMiss

Amenable by Resonant

and stand there at the edge of my affection by coloredink

Another Auld Lang Syne by DiscordantWords

Anytime by SilentAuror

Applied Linguistics by what_alchemy

Appreciation by JRow

As long as it takes by PlainJane

At the Bottom of the Pool by philalethia

At the Edge of Desire by philalethia

At the Heart of it All by SilentAuror

Atrium by kali_asleep

B

Bagged & Tagged by Regency

Becoming Us (A reunion in three parts) by addicted2hugh

The Best Things in Life by Calais_Reno

A Better Fate Than Wisdom by flawedamythyst

Between Friends by SilentAuror

Beautiful Pictures by JRow

Blanket Burrito by All_I_Need

Bloody But Unbowed by BeautifulFiction

A Brand of Gold by aquabelacqua

Bridges by sussexbound

The Burning of the Leaves by blueink3

Burning Low by Mildredandbobbin

Burnished Bright by mydwynter

C

Captured by Mad_Maudlin

Carry Me Home by StellaCartography

Carry On by Mazarin221b

carrying up his morning tea by darcylindbergh

The Case of the Freudian Dick Pic Slip by expoduck

Casualty by Silvergirl

the cherry on top by simplyclockwork

Closeted by sussexbound

Come Name the Stars With Me by Azrael

A Comprehensive Taxonomy of Tobacco-Ash by Silvergirl

Confidential by sussexbound

The Contingency Plan by mightypog

Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid

cupboard love by simplyclockwork

The Curious Case of the Mysteriously Missing Birthday by darcylindbergh

D

Darkest Days, Finest Hours by blueink3

The Death of Doubt by Gingerhermit

The Devil You Know by PipMer

A different kind of adventure by curiousbees

Division by MrsNoggin

Do More Than Belong by cleflink

Don't Read the Last Page by Raina_at

Drawstring by May_Shepard

Drive by lifeonmars

Dropping the Act by jadztone

Dunk Drialing by Berty

Duvet (green) by Mazarin221b

E

Electric Pink Hand Grenade by BeautifulFiction

The Emergency Contact Series by blueink3

Entanglement by orphan_account

Equilibrium by augustbird

Ex by Itsallfine

Excerpts From Purgatory by reapersun & what_alchemy

Eye of the Beholder by SailorChibi

(pt 1) (pt 2) (pt 3) (pt 4) (pt 5) (back to rec index)

[drarryspecificrecsdaily]

2023.12.21

Complete fics posted on AO3 this day

1. Darkest Shadows by @xx-thedarklord-xx [M, 6k]

►Shadows. Shadows were everywhere. They followed Harry, whispered to him, promised him the world. All he had to do was use them, control them, guide them—become them. Harry became the shadows but also mastered them at the same time.

---

Fest/Exchange

1. A piacere by Anonymous [E, 2k]

►When cellist Harry can't keep up with the rest of the string quartet, Draco keeps him late for remedial practice ★ Wheel of Drarry Mini-Exchange Secret Santa 2023 | @drarrymicrofic

2. Scheming Up by Anonymous [T, 2k]

►This whole situation could have been avoided if Potter had stayed in the safehouse, but perhaps this is for the better. ★ Wheel of Drarry Mini-Exchange Secret Santa 2023 | @drarrymicrofic

3. The Unplottable Time Conundrum by Anonymous [E, 45k]

►When the past starts bleeding into the present at Grimmauld Place, an old academic article pulls Draco Malfoy out of his life of luxury. Haunted by the memory of a fleeting post-war kiss and thrust into the ghostly spaces inhabited by Unspeakable Harry Potter, Draco’s easy life is about to get a whole lot more complicated. ★ H/D Erised 2023 | @hd-erised

4. Wizards in Winter by @ourswordsmeandeath [G, 1k]

►During a wintery road trip through the States, Draco and Harry stumble across a two-storey house awash in Christmas lights. ★ HP Festival of Stars 2023 | @hpfestofstars​

[bleachbrainrotbro]

Meet the Mun! (and the muses!)

Helloooo! My name is Astral, but you can call me Astro or Ashe! Even Astra works too :D

Names / Nicknames :

Astral / Astro / Astra / Ashe / Asty / Asta / Astro Boy Pronouns :

He / They / It / Xe / star / him / them / xem / star / his / theirs / xyrs / stars’ / himself / themself / itself / starself

Titles :

The unknown one / the darkest star / star’s shining moon / his body in space / they who venture beyond earth / they who float in deep galaxies / the astral adventurer / he who ventures among the stars / The Ruler of the Stars / The One Who Resides In Space

I don’t bite, so please don’t be afraid to send in asks even if we aren’t mutuals! I also ship with pretty much anyone, as long as both muses are adults. Please don’t be afraid to send anything in. :3 I rp as several muses, some of which include the following! They're listed by Fandom.

BLEACH

Byakuya Kuchiki - CANON

Shunsui Kyoraku - CANON

Jushiro Ukitake - CANON

Yachiru Kusajishi - CANON

Senbonzakura - ANIME ONLY

Heaven Official’s Blessing

Hua Cheng - CANON

Xie Lian - CANON

FAIRY TAIL

Freed Justine - CANON

Laxus Dreyar - CANON

Bickslow - CANON

Evergreen - CANON

SK8 THE INFINITY

Kaoru Sakurayashiki - CANON

Kojiro Nanjo - CANON

Steven Universe

Pearl - CANON

Volleyball - CANON

Blue Diamond - CANON

Yellow Diamond - CANON

Kuroshitsuji 

Grell Sutcliff(f) - CANON

Ronald Knox - CANON

My Little Pony

Rarity - CANON

Twilight Sparkle - CANON

HONKAI STAR RAIL

Dr. Veritas Ratio - CANON

Aventurine - CANON

Luocha - CANON

Welt Yang - CANON

Gallagher - CANON

Dan Heng / Dan Feng - CANON

Blade / Yingxing - CANON

Argenti - CANON

Boothill - CANON

Sunday - CANON

GENSHIN IMPACT

Neuvillette - CANON

Ayato Kamisato - CANON

Kaeya Alberich - CANON

Zhongli - CANON

Wriothesley - CANON

Thoma - CANON

BALDUR'S GATE 3

Astarion Ancunin - CANON

Gale Dekarios - CANON

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Yone - CANON

In The Doghouse

Richard - CANON

Courtney Devon - CANON

I Parry Everything 

Sein - CANON

Sig - CANON

OCS

Theo(m)

Zayne(m)

Icarus(m)

Yuèguāng(m)

Sunshine(m)

Roman(m)

Vincent (m)

Damon(m)

Mara(m)

Akane(f)

Ayaka(f)

Yukiko(f)

Celeste (m)

Kaoru(m)

Basic rules for interacting with muses! 1. Please, specify which muse you want to interact with! 2. Please tell me beforehand if you have any triggers/topics you wish to avoid when interacting. 3. Try to establish a basic plot OOC with me if you don't already have an idea you wish to tell me.

4. if possible, PLEASE use tone tags. I struggle heavily with reading tone, especially over text. It helps me quite a bit when someone uses tone tags. TAGS LIST

//I'm going to edit this heavily later, but this is a basic pinned post im scrapping together. THANK YOU!!!

layout made by @/strawberrymedicine

Replycons made by @/lumieron @/justanotherkinrequest @/p1nk-sugar @/kohan-droppopcandy @/eepyrinrin @/happy-nua-edits @/canineabomination @/m-maiden @/oddsel @/darlingtyphoon @/asiandra-dash @/ghostflora-s @/fated-edits @/walkingcorpz @/yoshizaki-kokoa @/rookmeo @/supportclassedits @/hanainou @/reveuseseraph @/ luctus-flos

[angst-is-love-angst-is-life]

Hi friend!!! Consider this a free ramble pass to tell me all about your WIPs and writing projects!!! How's the Flash Jedi AU coming along?

Aaaaa thank you very much!!!

For the Star Wars AU (thinking the first fic is gonna be called “Darkest Moment” {first fic… it was supposed to be a one-shot🫠}), things are going pretty well. I’ve barely written anything but I still have the finished outline for DM, and lots of ideas for the story after that. HOWEVER I have had it marinating in my head for a while and that’s a crucial part of the process! But yeah, that au’s a series now because I have no self control. I do sorta have a plan atm;

DM’s gonna be one chapter, and it leads into fic #2 which will be one chap. as well, then that one leads into fic #3 which will be multi-chapter (and oh do I have such fun things planned… I mean, for all of them but especially that one).

Everything’s kind of on hold though because I really don’t know how to write Star Wars💀 and have gotten into a couple verbal but lighthearted arguments with my sister about how The Force works. So it’s gonna take a bit but I’ve cooked something quite fucked up and I’m very excited for it :>

Alright not gonna talk about all of my wips cause I’d be here all day so just a couple more

12 hours: I am working on a second chapter (or maybe just the first chapter of a sequel— I’m thinking the latter rn) and progress is slow, everything is in flux but. We may be getting a non-Barry pov, and we WILL be getting a rescue mission :D. That’s where I’m at rn but as usual; I have ideas for what could happen after said rescue mission.

Trophy: It consumes my every waking (and sometimes sleeping) thought and I can’t be normal about it. Chapter 3 is gonna be the longest yet, and while chapter 1 had a decent mix of physical and emotional whump, and chapter 2 being pure pain™️ aka emotional whump; this one’s gonna have a LOT more physical whump than those first two and I am very very excited. (And it’s not surprising with how Chapter 2 ended but we’re also gonna be getting into the meaning of this fic’s title). I have so many evil plans to unveil

[posi-pan]

2022 books with pan rep 📚

At the time of posting previous lists, there were 57 books in 2020 and 141 in 2021. This year, there are 176!

30 Things I Love about Myself by Radhika Sanghani

Ablaze by A.H. Cunningham

All I’m Asking by J. Marie Rundquist

Apparition by Zahlia Amin

Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires #3) by Kelly Fox

Bad At Love by Gabriela Martins

Barcelona (Circus After Dark #3) by Chloe Adler

The Barkeep and the Bookseller by V.L. Locey

Barnabas Bopwright Saves the City by J. Marshall Freeman

Bartholomew (The Temple Brothers #2) by Elle Sparrow

Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra

Bishop’s Opening by R.S.A Garcia

Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai

Blood Bound (Youkai Bloodlines #3) by Courtney Maguire

Blood Legacy (Avators of Ruin #2) by Tej Turner

Bloodmarked (Legendborn #2) by Tracy Deonn

Bound (Fangs with Benefits #3) by Aveda Vice

Bound (Kozlov Chronicles #2) by Elena Sobol

Carnal Cryptids 2: Southeast (Carnal Cryptids #2) by Vera Valentine

Changing the Rules (Rules of the Game: Evanston River Otters #1) by Brigham Vaughn

The Chasm (Finding Humanity #2) by Branwen Oshea

Cold Cases and Bitter Enemies (Cold Case Unit #3) by J.M. Dabney

A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

A Cruel and Fated Light (The Hollow Star #2) by Ashley Shuttleworth

Dance with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians #3) by Kit Rocha

The Darkest Edge by Lyra Blake

Dead Draw by Layla Reyne

Death by Society by Sierra Elmore

Dinner with the Schnabels by Toni Jordan

Dominance of the Heart by Char Dafoe

Dragon’s Honor (Irresistible Dragons #2) by Nora Phoenix

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak (Unstoppable #2) by Charlie Jane Anders

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chenica C. Higgins

The Edge of Being by James Brandon

Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2) by Katee Robert

Epilogues of Lost Gods (Unwritten Runes #2) by Cat Rector

Errant Vol. 1 (Errant #1) by L.K. Fleet

Eternal Hoptimist by Lee Blair

Every Word You Never Said by Jordon Greene

Exodus 20:3 by Freydís Moon

Extra Witchy (Fix-It Witches #3) by Ann Aguirre

Fabricated by Zoe Lee

The Fae Keeper (The Witch King #2) by H.E. Edgmon

The Fake Date by Trisha Bradley

Fate in Suspension (Horn & Haven #1) by Archer Kay Leah

Fault Tolerance (Chilling Effect #3) by Valerie Valdes

Fight + Flight by Jules Machias

Fighting Monsters: Part One (Fighting Monsters #1) by Sam Hall

Fighting Monsters: Part Two (Fighting Monsters #2) by Sam Hall

Forward March by Skye Quinlan

Furious Heaven (The Sun Chronicles #2) by Kate Elliott

Going Public (Jade Harbor Capital #2) by Hudson Lin

Got Me Looking (Vet Shop Boys #3) by Casey Cox

Griff by Ana Night

Grim and Bear It (Love Me Dead #2) by Heather Novak

Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks

The Heartbreak Handshake by J.R. Hart

Her Stubborn Warrior by Kaylee Pike and Kyra Keys

His Heart Knows by Riley Long

The Hourglass Throne (The Tarot Sequence #3) by K.D. Edwards

Howl Down the Moon by Layla Dorine

How to Love a Dragon (Dragon Tamer #2) by Lila Mina

How We Ricochet by Faith Gardner

I Am Sebastian by Cameron James

I Bought Him, So He’s Mine by Kaylee Pike and Kyra Keys

Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

I F-ing Dare You by Emm Darcy

If I Were A Weapon (All These Gifts #1) by Skye Kilaen

The Immortality Trials (The Immortality Trials #1) by Madison Nicole

Incandescent by Christina Lee

Indigo: Nights (Indigo B&B #2) by Adrian J. Smith

Inked Temptation by Carrie Ann Ryan

In the City of Time by Gwendolyn Clare

Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James

It’s Not Unusual To Be Loved by an Alien by Chloe Archer

Jamison by A.N. Waugh

Jilted: Jaren (The Foster Brothers #1) by Nora Phoenix

Just a Touch Away by Jae

Just One Date (Castleton Hearts #5) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Kieran by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn

The Kindred by Alechia Dow

Kink Camp: Hunted by A. Anders

Know It In the Dark (All These Gifts #2) by Skye Kilaen

Kostya the Fallen Star by Melissa Polk

The Last Hero (The First Sister #3) by Linden A. Lewis

Last Resort by Helene Gadot

Lead Me Astray by Sondi Warner

Let Me In (Gods of Hunger #3) by R.M. Virtues

Let the Light Shine Through by A. Marie

Lipstick Lies (The Order Duet #2) by Kris Butler

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings

London (Circus After Dark #4) by Chloe Adler

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Love Me Gently by E.M. Dennings

Love You Like That by Scarlett Cole

Lunar New Love by Ophelia Silk

Man o’ War by Cory McCarthy

Match with the Demon by Chace Verity

Meet Me on St. Patrick’s Day by Bryony Rosehurst

Moon Dark Smile (Night Shine #2) by Tessa Gratton

MumFest & Murder (The Java Tavern #2) by Elizabeth Garver

Music Lights & Never Afters by C.L. Matthews

My Roommate Romeo (First Times #1) by Billie Bloom

Nestor (Green Hill Pride #6) by Catherine Lievens

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino

Not Your Type by Elizabeth Jeannel

Odder Still by D.N. Bryn

Omega’s Study Partner (Sweet in Silford #3) by Hope Bennett

One Night With You by Laura Jane Williams

One Night With You by Sky McCoy

One Step at a Time by Lily Seabrooke

One Week with His Stepbrother (Daddy Tales #3) by Kelex

The One Who Loves You the Most by Medina

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

Paris (Circus After Dark #1) by Chloe Adler

Pitcher Perfect (Tap That Brewery #1) by Lee Blair

Playing for Keeps by Jax Calder

Play Me (Dragons Love Curves series #10) by Aidy Award

Pull (Love Is Love #1.5) by Nyla K.

Project Himbo by S.J. Whitby

Promote (Shattered Pawns #3) by Jennifer Cody

Pushing the Limits (Secrets Kept #2) by Riley Hart

Queen of Queens (Our Fae Queen #5) by Traci Lovelot

Queen’s Hope (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy #3) by E.K. Johnston

Reaper Hospital: Code Hot Nurse (Their Repear #2) by Lacey Carter Anderson

Recast (Handled #4) by Romilly King

The Redemption by Alexia Chase

Ripped (Kozlov Chronicles #3) by Elena Sobol

Rookie Mistake (On the Board #1) by Anna Zabo and L.A. Witt

Royal Exposé by Jenny Frame

Royal Lines (Boston Rebels #4) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey

Sasha and the Butcher (The Moretti Family #1) by Stephanie Kazowz

The Savior’s Rise (The Windermere Tales #2) by Talli L. Morgan

Scorpica (The Five Queendoms #1) by Greer Macallister

Seize the Castle (A Knight’s Revenge #2) by Elizabeth Dear

Shake Things Up (Love at Knockdown #2) by Skye Kilaen

Silent Secrets (The Secrets of Sorlphi #1) by Miranda May

Silhouette and the Shadows (Silhouette #1) by Delaney Andrews

The Society For Soulless Girls by Laura Steven

So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Spin the Damn Bottle (All the Games We Play #2) by Emm Darcy

Stiletto Sins (The Order Duet #1) by Kris Butler

Stitched (Kozlov Chronicles #1) by Elena Sobol

Stone Wings (The Gargoyles of Arrington #1) by Jenn Burke

Storm the Gates (A Knight’s Revenge #1) by Elizabeth Dear

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

Sugar Girl by Emma L. McGeown

Sweet to the Core (Lighthouse Bay #3) by Amy Aislin

Temptation Cove (Hot Takes #3) by T.S. Ankney

Tempt Me Tonight by Natasha Washington

A Tended Garden by J.P. Jackson

Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher

That Good Mischief (The Nine Worlds Rising #3) by Lyra Wolf

This Cursed Crown (These Feathered Flames #2) by Alexandra Overy

This Wicked Fate (This Poison Heart #2) by Kalynn Bayron

Tracking Trouble (Spellster Universe #2.5) by Aldrea Alien

The Trow of Duncaster by Melissa Polk

Twilight’s Touch (Prairie Smoke Ranch #2) by V.L. Locey

Two Rights Make a Wrong by Chloe Liese

Undeniable (Bainbridge University #4) by Andi Burns

Uninhibited (Bainbridge University #3) by Andi Burns

Unlikely Savior (For the Gods’ Amusement #3) by Catherine Lievens

Untitled (The Councillor #2) by E.J. Beaton

Us Against the World by Shayne Prescott

VAMPS: Fresh Blood by Nicole Arend

Venice (Circus After Dark #2) by Chloe Adler

Violet is Nowhere by Faith Gardner

Warrior Queen (Our Fae Queen #6) by Traci Lovelot

Warwick (Rebel Sky Ranch #4) by Kelly Fox

What’s Mine Is Yours by Willow Renee

When the Walls Come Down by Harper Robson

Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus #3) by Katee Robert

The Wicked Love by Pru Schuyler

Wrong Hunt by J.S. Harker

Have you read any of these books? Or books with pan rep at all this year? Let me know! Happy Pan Week!

[summeryewberry]

Queer Book List

I've just updated my complete list of LGBT+ novels ever read (as far as I can remember). Not including short story collections, comics, non-fiction, or things I've completely forgotten.

I'm not including books where a main character's sexuality was only implied (it's got to be clear on the page), and this list contains queer main and secondary characters only, not background characters that play little part in the story.

I don't read a lot of Young Adult, so assume these are all adult-oriented unless otherwise stated.

I'm not judging nor rating nor recommending any of these; it's purely a list of books I've finished.

True Colors #1: Conventionally Yours, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

The Geek Who Saved Christmas, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

Perfect Harmony #2: Love Me Tenor, by Annabeth Albert gay male main character, gay male side characters, romance, happy ending

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl, by Hettie Bell bisexual female main character, lesbian main character, romance, happy ending

Master of One, by Dani Bennett and Jaida Jones gay male main characters, trans woman side character, high fantasy, unfinished series

Cesare Aldo #1: City of Vengeance, by D. V. Bishop Cesare Aldo #2: The Darkest Sin, by D. V. Bishop gay male main character, gay male side characters, mystery, historical, unfinished series

The Crow: The Lazarus Heart, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main character, trans woman main character, horror, unhappy ending - it's The Crow

Exquisite Corpse, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, unhappy ending

Lost Souls, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, I don't remember the ending

The Black Magician #2: The Novice, by Trudi Canavan The Black Magician #3: The High Lord, by Trudi Canavan gay male side characters, high fantasy, happy ending for the gay characters

The Hours, by Michael Cunningham lesbian main characters, bisexual female main characters, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, by Samuel R. Delany gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

The High King's Golden Tongue, by Megan Derr gay male main characters, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Nightrunner Books #1: Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #2: Stalking Darkness, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #3: Traitor's Moon, by Lynn Flewelling gay male main characters, high fantasy, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read the rest of the series

Reforged, by Seth Haddon gay male main characters, high fantasy, happy ending

The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyffe Hall lesbian main character, historical classic, unhappy ending

Princesses #1: The Stepsister Scheme, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #2: The Mermaid's Madness, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #3: Red Hood's Revenge, by Jim C. Hines lesbian main character, fantasy, fairy tale, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read book 4 yet

Blood & Smoke #1 - Blood Books #1: Blood Price, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #2 - Blood Books #2: Blood Trail, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #3 - Blood Books #3: Blood Lines, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #4 - Blood Books #4: Blood Pact, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #5 - Blood Books #5: Blood Debt, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #6 - Smoke Series #1: Smoke and Shadows, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #7 - Smoke Series #2: Smoke and Mirrors, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #8 - Smoke Series #3: Smoke and Ashes, by Tanya Huff bisexual male main character, gay male side character (main in the Smoke Books), low fantasy, humour, mostly happy ending

Torin Kerr #1: Confederation #1: Valor's Choice, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #2: Confederation #2: The Better Part of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #3: Confederation #3: The Heart of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #4: Confederation #4: Valor's Trial, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #5: Confederation #5: The Truth of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #6: Peacekeeper #1: An Ancient Peace, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #7: Peacekeeper #2: A Peace Divided, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #8: Peacekeeper #3: The Privilege of Peace, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, military space opera, humour, some queer characters survive, others do not - it's set during a war

Gale Girls #1: The Enchantment Emporium, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #2: The Wild Ways, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #3: The Future Falls, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Keeper's Chronicles #1: Summon the Keeper, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #2: The Second Summoning, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #3: Long Hot Summoning, by Tanya Huff lesbian background character in books 1 & 2 becomes main in book 3, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Quarters #1: Sing The Four Quarters, by Tanya Huff Quarters #2: Fifth Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #3: No Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #4: The Quartered Sea, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, humour, happy endings

The Fire's Stone, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual male main character, asexual female main character, poly relationship, high fantasy, happy ending

The Silvered, by Tanya Huff I don't remember, but considering it's Tanya Huff, probably everyone's bisexual, high fantasy, happy ending

Into the Broken Lands, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, horror elements, mostly happy ending

The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune gay male main characters, fairy tale, fantasy, happy ending

Angels in America, by Tony Kushner (play) gay male main characters, play, drama, happy ending

The Last Herald-Mage #1: Magic's Pawn, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #2: Magic's Promise, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #3: Magic's Price, by Mercedes Lackey gay male main characters, high fantasy, unhappy ending?

Bergman Brothers #5: Everything For You, by Chloe Liese gay male main characters, sports romance, happy ending

Ash, by Malinda Lo lesbian main character, fairy tale, young adult, I don't remember the ending

So This is Ever After, by F.T. Lukens gay male main characters, young adult, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Winter's Orbit, by Everina Maxwell gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

Lindsay Gordon Crime Series #6: Hostage to Murder, by V. L. McDermid (Val McDermid) lesbian main character, mystery, happy ending, I haven't read the rest of the series

Trick of the Dark, by Val McDermid lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, mystery, I don't remember the ending

Iron Council, by China Miéville gay male side character, dystopian fantasy, I don't remember the ending

Hero, by Perry Moore gay male main characters, superheroes, young adult, happy ending

A Land Fit for Heroes #1: The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan gay male main character, lesbian main character, high fantasy, I don't remember the ending and I haven't read the sequel

Love & Luck #5: Two Men and a Baby, by Isla Olsen gay male main characters, gale male side characters, romance, happy ending

Captive Prince Series #1: Captive Prince, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #2: Prince's Gambit, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #3: Kings Rising, by C. S. Pacat bisexual male main character, gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy/romance, happy ending

The Monkey's Mask, by Dorothy Porter lesbian main character, bisexual female side character, poetry, mystery, complicated but satisfying ending

Wild Surmise, by Dorothy Porter bisexual female main character, poetry, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

She Drives Me Crazy, by Kelly Quindlen lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, romance, young adult, happy ending

Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice bisexual male main character, historical, revenge story, happy ending

The Wolf Gift, by Anne Rice gay male side character, low fantasy, happy ending

The Love Study #2: The Hate Project, by Kris Ripper gay male main characters, gay male side character, genderqueer side character, romance, happy ending

Carry On Series #1: Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell Carry On Series #2: Wayward Son, by Rainbow Rowell bisexual male main character, gay male main character, low fantasy, young adult, everyone is alive and well as of book 2, I haven't read book 3 yet

Get Over It!, by Phillip Scott gay male main characters, mystery, humour, I don't remember the ending

Christopher Marlowe Spy Thriller #1: The Queen's Gold, by Steven Veerapen gay male main character, mystery, spy thriller, historical, unfinished series

Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, heist story, happy ending

Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, happy ending

Running With Lions, by Julian Winters gay male main characters, gay male side characters, young adult, sports romance, happy ending

The Stone Gods, by Jeanette Winterson lesbian main characters, gay male main characters, ostensibly general fiction but actually more like speculative fiction, implied happy ending

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf bisexual genderqueer main character, historical, I don't remember the ending

[tcringetourney]

here is the official tcringe tourney bracket! the first wave of polls will go up tomorrow. since this is such a large bracket, i’ll be rolling out polls in waves of 8. the first round will be open for a week, with waves dropped on a one-day delay! and under the readmore, you���ll find a transcribed list of the bracket. be warned, there are 128 characters here!

Left side:

Scout (Team Fortress 2) vs Maximus (Tangled)

Crona Gorgon (Soul Eater) vs Kevin (Up)

Dirk Strider (Homestuck) vs Raine Whispers (The Owl House)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb) vs Dismas (Darkest Dungeon)

Harrier DuBois (Disco Elysium) vs Ellzor Umberspore (Not Another D&D Podcast)

Shiver (Splatoon) vs Miss Frizzle (Magic School Bus)

Marik Ishtar (Yugioh) vs Tumblr Anon Profile Picture (Real Life)

Asa Mitaka (Chainsaw Man) vs Tadashi Yamaguchi (Haikyuu!)

Penny (Pokemon Scarlet and Violet) vs Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Link (Legend of Zelda) vs Kaname Date (AI: The Somnium Files)

The Collector (The Owl House) vs Venti (Genshin Impact)

Luz Noceda (The Owl House) vs Magne (My Hero Academia)

Yes-Man (Fallout New Vegas) vs Apollo Justice (Ace Attorney)

Reigen Araraka (Mob Psycho 100) vs Kuina Hikari (Alice in Borderland)

Doug Eiffel (Wolf 359) vs Jesus (The Bible)

Me (Real Life) vs Leorio Paradinight (Hunter x Hunter)

Fabian Seacaster (Dimension 20) vs Briar (Branching Out)

Dipper Pines (Gravity Falls) vs Alex Fierro (Riordanverse)

Castiel (Supernatural) vs Waluigi (Mario)

Ivankov (One Piece) vs June Egbert (Homestuck)

Mr. 2 Bon Clay (One Piece) vs Sokka (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Ur mom (Real Life) vs Leo Valdez (Riordanverse)

Pyro (Team Fortress 2) vs The Dragon (Jane and the Dragon)

Crowley (Good Omens) vs Eddy (Duolingo)

Emperor Belos (The Owl House) vs Peter Parker (Toby Maguire’s Spiderman)

Sweetheart (Omori) vs Nick Danforth-Evans (Julie and the Phantoms)

Jerma (Real Life) vs M&Ms (Real Life)

Kajiyama Fuuta (Milgram) vs Jeremy Heere (Be More Chill)

Shin Tsukimi (Your Turn to Die) vs Ena (Ena)

Isaac (The Binding of Isaac) vs Allied Mastercomputer/A.M. (I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream)

Ranma (Ranma 1/2) vs Klaus Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

Fred Grant (Hamster & Gretel) vs Benrey (Half Life VR AI)

Right Side:

Spy (Team Fortress 2) vs Varian (Tangled)

Sanji (One Piece) vs Milhouse (The Simpsons)

Gonzo (The Muppets) vs Hero (Omori)

Cecil Gershwin Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale) vs Makoto Naegi (Danganronpa)

Hardwon Surefoot (Not Another D&D Podcast) vs Mina Zarei (Paranatural)

Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes) vs Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels)

Deuu Dino (CNP) vs Nightblood (The Cosmere)

Benny (Fallout New Vegas) vs Klavier Gavin (Ace Attorney)

Alphys (Undertale) vs Angel Devil (Chainsaw Man)

Dave Strider (Homestuck) vs Elliot Dunkel (El Goonish Shive)

The Onceler (The Lorax) vs Chuck E. Cheese (Real Life)

Buggy the Clown (One Piece) vs Hinata Tachibana (Fabiniku)

Jake English (Homestuck) vs Kris Dreemurr (Deltarune)

You (Real Life) vs Tsukishima Kei (Haikyuu!)

Tome Kurata (Mob Psycho 100) vs Neptune (RWBY)

Ianthe Tridentarius (The Locked Tomb) vs Osiris (Destiny)

Vash the Stampede (Trigun) vs Fox Mulder (The X-Files)

Evan Kelmp (Dimension 20) vs Paracelsus (Darkest Dungeons)

Bocchi (Bocchi the Rock) vs Terezi Pyrope (Homestuck)

Haruhi Fujioka (Ouran High School Host Club) vs Bakugo (My Hero Academia)

Nagito Komaeda (Danganronpa) vs Luther (The Umbrella Academy)

Fujisaki Chihiro (Danganronpa) vs Dean Winchester (Supernatural)

Sniper (Team Fortress 2) vs Fujimoto (Ponyo)

Space Boyfriend (Omori) vs Zirk Vervain (Not Another D&D Podcast)

Rouxls Kaard (Deltarune) vs Robbie Rotten (Lazytown)

Ranboo (Minecraft Youtube) vs Arthur Dent (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)

Sakurai Haruka (Milgram) vs Luke Patterson (Julie and the Phantoms)

Hunter (The Owl House) vs Dib (Invader Zim)

Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad) vs Wheatley (Portal)

Grell (Black Butler) vs Viktor Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

Shut (Go Princess Precure) vs Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Wonderlands x Showtime (Project SEKAI) vs Rodney Copperbottom (Robots)

[indietourney]

Hey, is there a list of competitors that has there names instead of icons? Some of these I want to check out but, I don't recognize them by their icons.

Hiya! You're in luck :D

I've been keeping a list of titles to keep track of the competitors since the beginning, for my sake and now for yours too. Feast your eyes!

Logic & Optics The Witness, Monument Valley, The Room (series), FEZ

It Takes a Village Owlboy, Night in the Woods, Bug Fables, Spiritfarer

Like Clockwork Cook, Serve, Delicious! (trilogy), Bejeweled 3, Satisfactory, Creeper World (series)

Darkness Falls The End is Nigh, Rainworld, LISA: The Painful, Brutal Orchestra

The “Flash”backs FireBoy & WaterGirl (series), The Bart Bonte Collection, Duck Life (series), Learn to Fly (trilogy)

The Walls are Written GRIS, Titan Souls, Flower, FAR: Lone Sails

Four Square Fair Just Shapes & Beats, thomas was alone, 140, Super Hexagon

The Gun Show Deep Rock Galactic, ShellShock Live, Risk of Rain 2, Nuclear Throne

Heart of the Cards One Step From Eden, 100% Orange Juice!, Dicey Dungeons, Rounds

My Home Away From Home Cult of the Lamb, Aground, Stardew Valley, Forager

Test of Temperament Give Up (series), I Wanna Be The Guy, Jump King, The Impossible Quiz (series)

Team-Building Exercises ibb & obb, Sky: Children of the Light, Vitamin Connection, Pico Park

Retrogradation Creepy Castle, Tower of Heaven, The Messenger, Old School Musical

Speed Menace Freedom Planet (duology), Spark the Electric Jester (trilogy), SpeedRunners, Azure Striker Gunvolt (trilogy)

Blood for the Blood God They Bleed Pixels, Dead Cells, Hotline Miami (duology), ULTRAKILL

Jump Up, Super Stars! Electronic Super Joy (duology), Umihara Kawase (series), Woodle Tree (series), Yooka-Laylee (series)

Traveling Companions Alto's Adventure (series), Fruit Ninja (series), Plants VS. Zombies (classic), Canabalt

The Chessmasters Bloons TD (series), GemCraft (series), Wargroove (duology), Pit People

Just Plain Adorable Sushi Cat (series), Pikuniku, A Short Hike, Petal Crash

LevelWare D.I.Y. osu!, Baba is You, Levelhead, Crayon Physics Deluxe

“Flash”bang Deep Sea Hunter (duology), Age of War (duology), Raft Wars (series), Bubble Tanks (series)

Untold Horrors LIMBO, Fran Bow, Dread X Collection (series), Yume Nikki (series)

Answer: Fisticuffs Tunche, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore, Guacamelee (duology), Them's Fightin' Herds

Neverending Dungeons Darkest Dungeon (duology), Rogue Glitch, Loop Hero, Noita

Please check each of these games out as time allows and as you desire. Use the divisions to roughly sort the competitors by genre and theme :)

And happy new year to everyone! I'm in the midst of winter break, and as such I can happily say I intend to resume progress on this project after an unpredictably indefinite hiatus. Thank you all for staying tuned!

- Zettaflake

[heyifinallyhaveablog]

The Defeated

Ah! Yes! I'm borderline proud of myself for finally not being lazier than I already am, and coming down to post this, and keeping my adherence to the schedule.

AND!

HAPPY DIWALI! <3

The taglist remains :D

@chaanv @vidhurvrika @bleedinknight @ambidextrousarcher @melancholicmonody @demonkidpliz @stxrrynxghts @sambhavami @alwaysthesideofwonder, and anyone else here. Lord knows how much I've forgotten, and trying to remember.

_______________________________

Fandom: Mahabharar | Star Plus Mahabharat

Pairings: Bheema/Draupadi

Warnings: Mentions of War | PTSD | Trauma | Bloodshed

Summary: The Second Pandava deals with ghosts of the War. Alone.

Disclaimer: This is entirely a work of fiction, based on an idea I had while reading C. Rajagopalachari’s version of the Mahabharata. But I do have to say this, this has a lot to offer that is different from the Mahabharata that is actually popular. I just hope that this resonates with the readers, and you read this, and find this worth your time and your feedback. Please leave a short comment or a like, whatever you may deem fit. And as always!

THANK YOU!

Note: Whatever the character says here, comes from a deep place of depression, trauma, anxiety, and a LOT of PTSD. As someone who has been through that, it might as well bring the worst, darkest, and the angstiest parts out of someone. And this guy has been through one of the bloodiest wars of all time, so there are some things that might be a little unsettling, and even illogical, considering they've literally lost everything, and are contemplating a world without war, where they might not have lost EVERYthing.

Also, please drop in with any thoughts you may have. XX

Links: Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

_________________________________

Chapter 3

The Darkness

“I bear no remorse for the deaths of ninety-nine of the Kauravas,” the anger in his voice is palpable, and tangible to the point where she could feel it bodily.

“Nor do I feel any compassion for Karna,” this time, it is her breath that hitches in her chest, as she tries not to remember the acerbic vitriol of insults he had hurled and triggered at her, “unlike The Emperor.”

“But Vikarna, Panchaali,” she feels him breaking down, “what of him?”

He isn’t the only one who breaks into smaller pieces, with every breath he took. 

“What of those young boys? What of those soldiers? What of Uncle Salya? What of those blameless people who fought with and against us?”

This is the longest that he has spoken in what seems like an eternity. 

“Did Madhusudana tell you how Abhimanyu was slain? Did he recount how Ghatotkacha had fallen? Has he ever confided in you, of The Grandsire’s pain? His remorse?”

“Five villages, Panchaali! Five villages! Five villages! Five hamlets! And we would have forgotten, perchance, if time allowed, we would even have forgiven all!”

“When have we ever been averse to a life of hardship, Krishne?” he rallies on, thunder rumbling in his voice with every syllable. 

“We would have lived on as ascetics in those villages for all I care!” Bheemasena’s voice gives in, with a note of finality, “Varanavata, The Jatugriha, probably even The Dyuta, all those years of exile, Jayadratha, Keechaka! All of it! All of them!”

“I’d have ensured full well that Dushyasana would serve me for the rest of his life! The life that I’d deign him, with his entrails intact!”

Draupadi feels her long, lustrous hair, for the first time since the War. It didn’t reek of that fiend anymore. 

“We wouldn’t have had the blood of those hordes of people on our hands,” he fell heavily in her lap, “Hundreds of thousands of them!”

“Oh Panchaali!” he sobbed helplessly, “I feel as if I’ve killed my sons! My Ghatotkacha! My Abhimanyu!”

“I’d atleast have the luxury of having some of us survive the onslaught,” she felt warm tears grace her lap, “and then-”

- “I’d felt the strength leaving my body the day Sutasoma left us, with his brothers.”

[linddzz]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

@gretchensinister tagged me, and I realized I can't mope about lack of interaction if I don't interact! This ended up being a really fun sort of retrospective :)

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

44. tbh I think that's an inflated number since for some reason I posted every single chapter of the Evil Boyfriends Series as a separate ficlet??? and there's like 30 of those.

2. What’s your total word count?

349,680 if my math is right (it rarely is)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Rise of the Guardians, The Hobbit (movies), Fantastic Beasts (first movie only and wrote is in bold past tense there lmao), and now getting back into it (arguably returning to my roots of dramatic hot mess Nightmare/Dream King Sandmen) with The Sandman (Netflix)

4. Top 5 fics by kudos

Safe and Distant (Thorin/Bilbo, The Hobbit)

Mahrâna (The Hobbit, Thorin POV companion to S&D)

A Study on the Habits of the Adult Obscurial (Fantastic Beasts movie 1, Newt/Credence) ((ngl I was surprised this was so high in the ranking))

The Blizzard of '68 (Pitch Black/Jack Frost, Rise of the Guardians)

The Intervention (same as above lol, man that Evil Boyfriends Series was fun)

The Device Has Been Modified (Kozmotis Pitchner/Jack Frost. Rise of the Guardians movie/novels/a wild fuckin "Jack is a sci-fi AI" AU. holy shit I forgot about this one it was a wild blast)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Rarely and not as often as I'd like. I'm also bad at responding to texts from friends tho, so it's a Thing. I love and read every comment repeatedly though!

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Shiver/Tremble for the Rise of the Guardians. No question. They're also the darkest things I've written. First thing I ever wrote seemed to purge all my darkest impulses out right at the jump.

(I ain't linking those lmao. I don't regret writing dark noncon fic, or even taking on writing it from the predator POV. They're just my very first published works and shit is ROUGH.)

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

The Cultural Misunderstanding series of Safe and Distant and Mahrâna. Based on the fact that they actually ARE finished and I always held that the Evil Boyfriends Series isn't exactly a "good" ending for Jack, even if it isn't a bad one.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Mahrâna had a commenter who was mad that all the dwarves said fuck because "Tolkien wouldn't have them say that."

This was on the sequel to a fic where Thorin and Bilbo explicitly touched their dicks, and thus it remains the funniest comment I've ever received.

(They also thought Thorin was too obviously Mentally Ill and since there were no therapists in Middle Earth they didn't see why anyone would put up with him. So. Y'know. Fuck that commenter in general.)

9. Do you write smut?

YUP

10. Do you write crossovers?

Nah

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware of

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Safe and Distant has been translated to Chinese, German, and Russian!

Steady Hands has been translated to Russian

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Tremble, the equally fucked up sequel to Shiver, was done with a co-author where we went back and forth on chapters!

Currently, Audacity in Human Form has @amahhi as my co-author, as it's written based off of our RP where I wrote Dream and she wrote Hob, and she's who I bounce ideas on for adapting it all into fic form while she also acts as my beta editor.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

This is like asking for a favorite food why. Hell some of my favorite ships are ones I haven't written fic for (Newt/Hermann, Jayce/Viktor, William Laurence/Tenzing Tharkay to name a few).

(Tbh I wouldn't even say whether or not I write fic depends on how much I like the characters. Amahhi and I also have many rp storylines that are basically full fics of all of the above ships (shout out to the Newmann Star Trek AU that remains one of my favorites ever, along with the Willzing with Werewolf!Laurence). It just depends on if my brain figures out how they'd be written as a fic.)

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

A Study on the Habits of the Adult Obscurial. In my heart I still love my version of Credence, who is pretty much an OC of mine with how far I went "oh fuck that" at canon after the first movie. But between the terrible sequels, Rowling going full terf, and the fact that I had not actually plotted out a good outline and was hitting a wall.....yeah that thing's never getting finished. I recently put a note on there letting any new readers know it's officially abandoned.

Things That Were also ran into the problem of me taking on a big fic idea without the big fic planning. I had specific future scenes in my head but didn't have a strict guide on what happened when or how characters would get from A to B. That one I'm more sad about needing to give up on though.

16. What are your writing strengths?

According to friends and comments: dialogue, particularly capturing a characters voice in the dialogue and POV prose, and getting a solid characterization overall.

I'm also told I'm good at making a ship into a convincing couple and how they work as a couple.

Which is good for me, because those are my favorite things to write! Most of my fics are built on scenes of dialogue that popped into my head and the dialogue is what I have the most fun writing (hence why most of my Tumblr posts are goofy dialogue bits).

And I just like taking the characters as they are at a point in their story and going "ok, if these two get together, how does that happen?" and exploring it from there. Tbh I consider most of my successful fics to be character studies hiding in a full fleshed fanfic.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

What the fuck is a story plot????

Is a plot not just "two people take 50k words to figure their shit out with almost no other characters coming in?" What the fuck is actually planning out a storyline with beats to it and an outline? (Trying to get better on the last one, Audacity actually has an outline that includes what specific RP scenes to flesh out or what gets subtracted/added!) (As far as plot goes I've now accepted that I'm not actually A Writer. I just wanna do my drawn out character studies and that's what I'm gonna do damnit.)

Besides that: laying out scenes beyond just the dialogue. Using repetitive descriptive language or getting rambly with it. I legit don't know if my occasional super short sentence lines for character reactions come across as punchy or if it's just choppy and disjointed, which ties in with a general struggle to keep small scenes flowing into each other without getting bogged down in details that fuck pacing up.

According to my various betas: punctuation is my mortal enemy, and I don't know how to make a sentence that isn't a fragment or an eternal run-on. I will sometimes fight them on my sentences and they put up with a lot.

Also, writing discipline in general. I'm uh, very bad at making myself sit down to write even when I want to, and my job tends to burn up the executive functioning points that my ADHD meds give me.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

Did it a little bit for Mahrâna with Thorin speaking Khuzdul, but not more than short sentences and it took a stupid amount of looking things up for a couple sentences of dwarvish dirty talk lmao.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

If we count what was actually posted: Rise of the Guardians.

But there's some notebooks rotting away somewhere with a classic early 2000s isekai LOTR fic in it with an OC that was so much like Tauriel that my old buddy and I joked that "Peter Jackson fuckin stole my OC!!" This isn't a dig at Tauriel bc my OC was rad.

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

Safe and Distant/Mahrâna are my magnum opus, with Safe and Distant as my personal favorite even though there are bits I'd change (mostly in the smut scene).

I think finishing Mahrâna was a bigger accomplishment and it was overall a bigger challenge to write Thorin's pathos and the mental journey he had to go through, but Safe and Distant was just FUN to write. It was the last time I was young and dumb enough to do things like stay up until 7AM writing nonstop. I think I did a good job of managing to take my strength of chronologically disjointed, shorter character driven scenes and stringing them together into something cohesive. I still like the back and forth flashbacks I did and think I did a good job making the flashback scenes related to the current storyline, even with the flashbacks being out of order.

(Ironic that Bilbo was more fun to write, when Thorin was who I fixated on more ferally and thought about more as a character. I'm having the same thing now with Hob and Morpheus lmao. I love rotating those dark, dramatic, brooding king types in my head, but actually writing the internal brooding out makes me want to chew glass and bully their dramatic asses.)

((still don't know why tf I thought Bilbo would be the virgin of the two of them, or why I have that bit in there with a fucking hobbit being a little insecure about pudge. God I was off base with that lmao))

Tagging @alienfuckeronmain, @avelera, @spicedrobot, @insufferablearchanist

[antihibikase-archive]

Numeron Code AU - Plot Summary

We've temporarily named the arcs after the opening of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal since Zexal is the main series that inspired this AU- its also why they use D - Gazers, which were introduced in Zexal.

Additionally, for reference for our mutuals; the D Gazer is the thing on their eyes (Piper's tattoo, Slater's heart-scale thing) while the duel disk is the thing attached to their arm! The D Gazer enables them to see the field (Zexal is focused on the whole hyperrealistic AR thing for the duels), while the duel disk is where they play their cards.

Keeping YGO terms and reference to a minimum here in this post for easier understanding but, here's the plot so far;

Cheren Piper is an up and coming duelist from Nuvema Town, hoping to make it big in the center of Unova, Nimbasa City- that is, if his attitude wasn't holding him back.

Those in Nimbasa's dueling scene know of Piper as a temperamental brat, and while they couldn't deny he had the skill to make it to the stars, he wasn't deserving of such blessings until he fixed his personality, one that is so unbearable that it turned all of his previous friends away from him.

Despite this, Piper aims to be the best of the best, viewing his lack of connections and support as something temporary- something that will be worth it once people realize his greatness.

However, his life changes after he meets his first and only genuine fan, and is later approached by a man in strange garbs.

Arc 1 (Masterpiece) - Piper meets Cheren Slater, a boy from Hoenn who shares his name. Despite initially keeping him around to stroke his ego, Piper finds himself growing to care for him, as Slater confides to Piper about his lack of dueling skill and the reasoning for his presence in Unova- loneliness.

Piper is later approached by a man named Ghetsis, who offers him pure strength in exchange for his cooperation in Team Plasma, having grown interested in Piper's performances in Nimbasa's dueling scene.

Piper chooses to chase his ideal, and becomes a number hunter for Team Plasma; someone that hunts rare cards known as numbers, which are said to bring out a duelist's deepest, darkest desires, and grant their wishes. In addition, to reap a number from a duelist, he has to steal their soul.

Arc 2 (Braving) - As Piper grows busier with his number hunting, he disappears from Nimbasa's tournament scene, sparking rumors. Meanwhile, he tries to keep in touch with Slater, who is convinced Piper was simply scouted by a professional dueling circuit, and supports Piper's dream by promising to wait for him always. Growing slightly jaded by the number hunting, Piper wishes to see his friend again- but is unable to come to their meeting following an emergency with Ghetsis.

Meanwhile, Slater waits at their usual meeting spot, believing that Piper will show up no matter what- he's eventually abducted by Team Plasma's sage Zinzolin, who claims he is similar to The Diviner of The Herald card, and sees him worthy to be the object of worship of the cult, The Herald's Guidance.

As Piper starts to rebel against Team Plasma, Ghetsis dangles his captured friend in front of him, and feeds Piper a lie- if he wishes to save his friend's life from the clutches of the Heralds, he must continue to seek out the numbers.

Arc 3 (Soul Driver) - Rumors about a ghost spreads online, attracting the attention of Unova's best dueling league, The Elite Four- particularly, it attracts the attention of Pro Duelist Grimsley Slater, who has been working night and day, seeking out his missing brother.

Having found escape impossible, Piper finds himself selling his soul away to Team Plasma in an attempt to collect all the numbers and to save his friend, who grows weaker with each day under the influence of the Heralds.

During one of his hunts, he encounters Grimsley, who reveals he has a number card of his own; however, Piper is unwilling to hunt him, knowing that doing so might lead to his only friend hating him. Spotting this weakness, Ghetsis attempts to exploit his attachment to Slater, dangling freedom and the illusion of control in front of him.

Not wanting to hurt anymore people and unwilling to leave his friend in the mercy of the cult, Piper starts plotting of another escape attempt.

Arc 4 (Unbreakable Heart) - A month after Piper manages to escape with Slater, he moves in with Slater at his condo in Castelia City, despite Grimsley's mixed feelings towards him. Sharing the same trauma, the two of them try to recover from what has happened to them, seeking out to enjoy dueling once more.

Piper's reappearance makes him realize that, despite his unlikable personality, those in the dueling scene were troubled by his disappearance, and he finds himself mellowing out and enjoying the feeling of being loved.

However, just as both he and Slater are starting to feel comfortable, scattered members of The Herald's Guidance emerge, claiming that Team Plasma will rise again- and they will take their Diviner once more.

Arc 5 (Dualism of Mirrors) - on edge after weeks of harassment and stalking, Piper is approached by a man named Colress, who offers him the choice of training him under his wing to become stronger. When Piper refuses, Colress mentions that in his current state, he will be unable to protect what is most important to him.

Piper slowly starts to spiral back into old habits, keeping Slater in the dark about his meetings with Colress, and once again focusing on solely strength instead of the joy of dueling. This culminates in him attempting to hunt Grimsley for his number card, which in turn, leads Grimsley to believe Piper will never change from the brat he was at the start, and kicks him out of their home.

That night, however, as he wanders through the streets of Nimbasa City, Grimsley calls Piper in a panic, claiming Slater is missing.

Arc 6 (Wonder Wings) - Piper is summoned by Colress to the Plasma Frigate. Along the way, he duels members of The Herald's Guidance as they repeat Colress' words to him- that Piper is not strong enough to protect what is most important to him. By the time he reaches the Frigate, Piper has grown colder, more unhinged, and demands to never forgive Colress- or anyone that stands beyond him, his quest for strength, and his dream.

In the midst of the duel, however, Piper realizes that Colress' deck is not only Slater's old Herald deck, but that Slater has been trapped inside The Herald of Ultimateness' armor, where he's barely conscious enough to feel what's happening to him.

Piper is initially unwilling to hurt his friend, nearing death as Colress pushes him to his limits; but upon hearing Slater's voice from resonating within the armor, Piper expresses his desire to return to their simpler days back to their first meeting.

Trusting his own instincts, Piper manages to attack Colress- and by extension, Slater.

Epilogue:

Post-Colress duel, Piper is in a slump, having his passion for dueling ripped away from him; not wanting to be in the public eye any longer, especially after he's held his friend's body in his arms, Piper attempts to run away; from both his partner and the rest of the world.

However, months after Slater's recovery, Piper hears that Grimsley is forcing him to go back to Hoenn- Piper shows himself to Grimsley to fight for Slater's right to choose, but Slater takes his challenge instead, prompting a ceremonial duel at the very place where they first met.

As they duel and attract an audience, Piper remembers the promise he made with Slater months ago, where they would protect each other and be each other's biggest supporters in a world that they felt had left them alone. Realizing Slater wants to share his burden and not to worry about him anymore, Piper manages to overcome his fear of hurting his friend, and give him a good and fair duel.

After winning the duel, Piper demands for Grimsley to listen to Slater's choice- in which Slater reveals he himself wishes to go back to Hoenn for the time being, and only pretended that Grimsley was forcing him, knowing Piper would not show up otherwise. Though Unova is his home now, Slater understands that he must learn to find his own strength just as Piper learns to open his heart to the region he once turned his back to. With a promise of reunion, Piper and Grimsley send off Slater to Hoenn.

Timeskip:

A year later, Piper is seen reconnecting with old friends and winning his first ever tournament- he had moved into the Slaters' condo awhile back, and intends on chasing his dream while he waits for Slater to return.

Numeron Code ends with Piper receiving a call from Slater, telling him he's waiting at their usual spot in Nimbasa City.

[tsukuyomizine]

JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO GET YOUR HANDS ON SOME GOOD BIRBS!!

And that means one week left to enter our giveaway!

Thank you everyone for your support so far, we appreciate your excitement!! :D

⭐️Take another look at our bundles before they fade into darkness...

FULL MOON bundle: - 100+ pg. physical zine - Digital PDF zine - 2 5x7 Prints - 2 A6 Sticker Sheets - 3 Die Cut Stickers - 2 Acrylic Charms - 40cm Lanyard - 15mm Washi Tape - 2-Piece Standee

-----

SOLAR ECLIPSE: - 100+ pg. physical zine - Digital PDF zine - 2 Acrylic Charms - 40cm Lanyard - 15mm Washi Tape - 2-Piece Standee

-----

LUNAR ECLIPSE: - 100+ pg. physical zine - Digital PDF zine - 2 5x7 Prints - 2 A6 Sticker Sheets - 3 Die Cut Stickers

-----

CRESCENT MOON: - 2 5x7 Prints - 2 A6 Sticker Sheets - 3 Die Cut Stickers - 2 Acrylic Charms - 40cm Lanyard - 15mm Washi Tape - 2-Piece Standee

-----

GUIDE TO DARKNESS: - 100+ pg. physical zine - Digital PDF zine

-----

DARKEST NIGHT: - Digital PDF zine

-----

VENTURE INTO DARKNESS: - Digital PDF Add-on - the full story of our Choose Your Own Adventure interactive thread from twitter!

Read the thread so far: https://twitter.com/tsukuyomizine/status/1626706860714897413

-----

REVELRY IN THE DARK!! A special add-on necklace made just for lovers of our King of the Night! A 1" Enamel Charm hanging on a fine gold chain! ----- And finally... We're just a FEW sales off from unlocking our fourth stretch goal - an acrylic charm of our heroic boys, complete with a glass accessory filled with the stars....

🛒 https://tsukuyomizine.bigcartel.com

--------- Any shares appreciated! Thank you for your support! 💜💜💜 @atozines @bnhabulletin @bnha-community-board @bnhafandomcalendar @bokunozines @uahigh-newsletter @fandomzines @zineforall @zinecenter

[neon-rewrites-warriors]

Very excited to see what you come up with! What are some things you hope to add with this rewrite, character and narrative wise?

(signed, another person with a warriors rewrite)

Hi, hello! I'm so sorry this took so long, I honestly wasn't sure how to answer this because I haven't really worked on that part yet?

At first, I wanted to work on the family tree since I wanted to make a full family tree, like, from Dawn of the Clans all the way to A Starless Clan.

I realized that it was a bad idea to start off with the family tree. I'm currently working on Dawn of The Clans, which is one of the only arcs I've never read, so I've been trying to go to the public library near me but I haven't had time too or they were closed, so unfortunately I don't have much to tell you.

( EDIT: I FORGOT THAT I DO HAVE SOME IDEAS FOR THE PROPHECIES BEGIN-

I want to give BloodClan more build up and history, I also want to make mentions of the shrinking territories. I want it to be hinted at that the clans territories have been getting smaller and smaller over the years to create some build-up to The Great Journey! Im also adding more ranks, which is what I'll be working on next! I do have a few other ideas here and there, but for now, that's all! )

What I can give you, however, is the Arc list that I made! It's under the cut, sorry I couldn't really answer your question.

(ALSO! I've seen your work before! From what I can remember, it was very interesting! You're doing great! :D )

This list is prone to change, but this is what it is for now, I will probably have to go reread all these books, though.

Arc 1

Dawn of the Clans

1. The Sun Trail

2. Thunder Rising

3. The First Battle

4. The Forest Divided(?) (A Blazing Star & A Forest Divided)

5. Path of Stars

Arc 2

The Prophecies Begin

1. Into The Wild (Into the Wild & Fire & Ice)

2. Forest of Secrets

3. Rising Storm

4. A Dangerous Path

5. The Darkest Hour

Arc 3

Where the Sun Drowns

1. Moonrise (Events of Midnight)

2. Midnight (Events of Moonrise and Dawn)

3. Starlight

4. Twilight

5. Sunset (Sunset & the brith of the three]

Arc 4

Power Beyond The Stars

1. Shadows in The River (The Sight, Dark River & Eclipse)

2. Shaded Veil (Long Shadows, Sunrise,

& The Fourth Apprentice)

3. Fading Whispers (Fading Echos & Night Whispers)

4. Sign of The Forgotten (Sign of The Moon & The Forgotten Warrior)

5. The Last Hope

Arc 5

Specters From The Haze

1. ?? (Apprentice's Quest, Thunder & Shadow)

2. The Scorched Sky (Shattered Sky, Darkest Night, River of Fire)

3. The Silent Stars(?) (The Raging Storm, Lost Stars & Silent Thaw)

4. The Place of No Stars (Veil of Shadows, Darkness Within & former half 'The Place of No Stars')

5. The Light in The Mist (The Place of No Stars & A Light in the Mist )

Arc 7

A Starless Clan /Need to read this arc still/

1. River

2. Shadow (Events of both Sky & Shadow)

3. Sky (Events of Thunder)

4. Thunder (Events of Wind)

5. Wind (Events of the 6th book, probably Star)

[nyandereneko]

First Moonrise

Word Count: 1,679

Summary: “The moon smiled upon the wayward adventurers, well aware that the cogs of their intertwined fate had been steadily turning for a while now. And they weren’t going to be stopping any time soon, come what may.”

Author’s Note: Happy New Year 2023! My first drabble of the year and it’s Fate Touched, because of course it is. Considering we’re only 20 days away from season 2 of TLOVM dropping, I’m confident these next couple months (or weeks if nothing else) I’m going to be injecting DND directly into my veins because I can’t help myself. And that doesn’t even take into account the Lantern Rite’s imminent approach, but this drabble is about Vax so I’ll do my best to stay on track lol. Last year (the past few years, really) have been little more than an absolute nightmare and I’m putting my foot down and reclaiming my life. Which starts with reclaiming and revamping my selfships and sharing the content I’ve been so terribly neglecting in my depressive spiral. So, here’s to this year being better, and embracing the love and creativity we all deserve! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy! :D

Reblogs Appreciated!

*****

“First moonrise of the new year…so, I guess I can finally wish you a Happy New Year, Mom.”

Nova released her hushed greeting on a puff of breath into the chill night air, adding a tiny wave almost instinctively as she admired the radiant display of Catha and Ruidus shining like a painting against the backdrop of the night sky. If only she could capture the magnificence of this moment in the meticulous stroke of a brush…but she specialized in scrawling words on a page rather than guiding colors on a canvas. Besides, the striking silhouette of the sister moons had been captured and interpreted plenty of times over the years. If she truly wanted to appreciate their brilliance there was no shortage of their influence in the numerous temples and shrines that managed to persist in even the darkest corners of Tal’dorei.

The priestess had withdrawn from the rest of the party when her absence was least likely to be noticed, waiting for her remaining companions to collectively turn in for the evening before slipping out one of the inn’s side doors. With claws and tail primed for action, she’d lithely scaled the side of the building to get to her perch, settling herself on the roof’s ridge in the perfect position to view the tranquil nighttime scene. She couldn’t exactly share this little ritual of hers with her companions, considering they didn’t even know the true nature of who or what she was. It was too risky, too dangerous.

Things were simpler that way, hence why she’d long since decided to keep her secrets tucked close to her chest.

With her starlit tail wrapped around her feet for a little extra warmth and security, Nova leaned forward against her knees as she hugged her torso tighter and continued observing the grand celestial bodies suspended above. The transition from twilight to night proper heralded the start of the period the priestess had at her disposal to commune with her god—and not only that. The priestess’s devotion and reverence to the mysterious, whimsical Moonweaver stemmed from more than just years of carefully counseled and studied training and worship. 

While all living beings had one god or another to thank for their existence, Nova’s case was a bit more personal, a bit more literal.

Because the Moonweaver, Sehanine Moonbow, happened to be her mother in the most direct sense of the word. Despite not enduring the birthing process via more traditional or conventional methods, the Moonweaver had elected to personally pluck a special star from the heavens of her domain, granting it sentience and along with that the opportunity to learn, to grow, to become something. To experience life! It was an opportunity Nova would never regret or resent, especially not now that she had someone she wanted to be there for. Well, there were many someone’s she wanted to be there for, but the first person that came to mind when she ruminated on her fortunate circumstances was a unique exception, a case of her wild heart finding a place to nest despite the litany of disruptive odds and obstacles at play.

“It’s been a crazy couple of months, but I think we’re all hanging in there the best we can,” she began as her tail idly swept the battered roof tiles. “We’ve dealt with some real challenges, but we always come out on top…well, we have thus far, anyway. And I’m not naive enough to believe our luck will never run out. Trust me, I learned that lesson long, long ago.”

“And just what kind of lesson would that be?”

Nova let out a spine chilling hiss, shooting straight to her feet in a flurry of shock and panic before trying to take some kind of defensive stance. She almost lost her balance as something reached out to steady her. Thankfully, the unexpected intruder caught her before she could go tumbling off the slope, and as her vision adjusted her sights fell upon the winsome features of her greatest exception. She scrambled to regain her balance and free herself from the half-elf’s embrace even as he absently went about patting down her bristled fur. It was the least he could do, considering he was the cause of it. She didn’t want to think about or acknowledge how nice his touch felt, or how desperately she actually wanted to remain safely squirreled away in the sanctuary of his arms…so she held her ground and put a respectable amount of distance between them instead.

“Sorry, sorry, truly…I didn’t mean to startle you so badly,” Vax offered with a sheepish laugh, doing his best to keep his eyes jumping around lest they linger on the gleam of her resplendent visage in the soft pale light. “But honestly, you don’t really seem like the type that lets their guard down even at the best of times.”

“Well, I’m not usually all that likely to encounter strangers on rooftops in the dead of night.” She remained standing for the time being as she collected herself and braced for his interrogation. “To answer your previous question, though, it wouldn’t be a surprise for you to hear that luck runs out, right?”

Vax blinked a few times, a bit bewildered by the enigmatic nature of her inquiry. “I mean, it can, sure. I think everyone’s luck probably runs out at some point or another. I take it you have firsthand experience with that, hence the lesson learning?”

Nova returned to her seat on the ridge of the roof, caressing Vax’s wrist with her tail as she went to direct him to follow. Perhaps she couldn’t conduct the meeting she’d initially planned with the addition of this clueless bystander, but she could still communicate with her goddess in a professional context; that was what was expected of her anyway. Plus, it certainly didn’t hurt for the Moonweaver to get to know her future son-in-law a little better, right? Even if that future was still uncertain, even unlikely in Nova’s eyes, and even if the circumstances didn’t set the best atmosphere for a persuasive introduction.

“I mean, who hasn’t experienced their fair share of trials and tribulations?” the priestess began with a hint of melancholy, dangling her wrists off her knees. “Just look at our group. I don’t mean to get into anything too personal, it’s just…I know you can’t have the good without the bad. But sometimes…I know I don’t need to tell you that sometimes the darkness is just a little too thick, a little too suffocating.”

She didn’t volunteer anything further, and Vax didn’t push it. Settling down beside her, the rogue draped a portion of his cloak over the petite woman’s shoulders, endeavoring to conceal his surprise as he felt the distinct sensation of something warm and soft snake around his hips. It was too low, and fluffy, and noticeably warm to be mistaken for the signature transforming reptilian belt he rarely removed from his person. She slipped her tail under his cloak and around the edge of where he sat, offering her own form of solidarity without fully committing to a gesture that was more invasive, intimate, personal.

Vax didn’t mind taking matters into his own hands in that regard. He didn’t want to push Nova to discuss something she wasn’t ready to, something that she barely had the strength and conviction to face herself. Perhaps it was something she still hadn’t dealt with yet, a harsher, more harrowing and horrifying experience that she’d barely had the will to survive. Vax didn’t realize how close to the truth his assumptions came, but he did know he was glad she’d survived despite the circumstances, the cruelty, the suffering. He was here now, they could both be here for each other, and he’d long since decided he would stop at nothing to protect her from whatever threats had yet to come. 

Now that she’d established herself as a semi-permanent presence in his life, he never wanted to be without her. Her feelings had skewed in much the same direction over the course of their budding acquaintance. 

He felt her muscles tense under his touch as he leaned over to envelop her more completely, draping an arm around her shoulder and drawing his cloak with him until she was cocooned against his side, her head nestled in the curve of his shoulder. Vax was quiet, pensive as he rested his head against Nova’s, and the faelyne swiveled an ear to accommodate his increased proximity. Sitting here bundled up in the object of her affection’s embrace as they bathed in the moon’s first light of the year, it was hard for her to fathom anything better than this. The sounds of the sparse nightlife and a trickle of ever present yet impossible to trace notes drifted by on the breeze, breathing a life into the small town that both parties were a bit reluctant to leave behind.

“You don’t have to tell me any more if you don’t want to,” the half-elf encouraged in a whisper, and the quality of his tone made Nova’s heart skip a beat. He hadn’t employed any specific inflection in his delivery, she just happened to fancy his voice. “I understand dealing with stuff you can’t talk about. But I want you to know if you ever do want to talk, I’m here to listen. And regardless of what this year brings, we’ll get through it together, all of us. That’s a promise I intend to keep.”

“I suppose I’ll have to hold you to it, then,” the faelyne replied, nuzzling his shoulder before abruptly freezing in the movement the instant she realized what she was doing. 

I expect nothing less, he thought in response, letting out a contented sigh as she nuzzled him and giving her tail a few affectionate strokes in return.

The moon smiled upon the wayward adventurers, well aware that the cogs of their intertwined fate had been steadily turning for a while now. And they weren’t going to be stopping any time soon, come what may.

[kevrocksicehouse]

Inside Out 2.

D: Kelsey Mann (2024).

At the beginning of this sequel to the wildly inventive examination of the many emotions ---Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black) etc. – running around the psyche of Riley, a tweener girl who is now entering her teens, we’re introduced to new emotions like Ennui (Adele Exarchopoulos looking like a black and white French movie star), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser hiding in a black hoodie) and a scene stealing wide-eyed Anxiety (Maya Hawke looking like Big Daddy Roth entered his minimalist phase) who overthrow the other feelings in a witty depiction of the onset of puberty. But where’s, well, Lust (maybe be too strong a word but what even Disney’s Bambi called “twitterpation)?” The film doesn’t so much sidestep romantic attraction as dive into a hole to avoid it, taking place in a girl’s hockey camp (because a nunnery would be too obvious) and eschewing any male characters, and while Riley develops a girl-crush on an older player (Lilimar) the film is so much Not-Going-There that it wastes the monstrous apparition of Riley’s Deepest Darkest Secret for a silly end-credits gag. The film gets a lot right about the emotional mechanics of adolescence (a nice touch is the structural upheaval of her brain when she uses “sar-chasm”) and the overwhelming hold social anxiety has on the psych. And it’s easy to see why a tentpole film that depends on a family audience might shy away from certain “mature” themes. But that very avoidance cuts the story off at the knees. It’s trying to be a coming-of-age movie without growing up.