#This whole blog is going to burst into flames.

[beforusforsocialjustice]

Hey, mod Dirk here. Resident human and human expert. He/him but honestly I don't care much. Let's get this show on the road, bros.

--

[rebel-wrath]

Ways to Stop Using Ableist Language In Fiction

I’ve been working on removing ableist language in my daily life, social media use, and fiction. It’s hard because a lot of the language we use we don’t really think about.

I’m not going to reiterate the points I’ve seen others make. There’s lots of good blog posts on removing ableist language, and why you should, and alternatives to use.

But I haven’t seen many about removing ableist language in fiction, and a lot of the non-ableist alternatives are not really alternatives because they don’t mean the same thing.

Consider this passage:

“Well, the height won’t kill you, if you fall. Of course, that’s not a good thing. The ambient heat from the lava would burn you long before you reached it. Your clothes and hair would burst into flame, and then when you hit the lava, you’d break both legs. Probably wish the fall had killed you, if you could think through the pain.”

“Is this supposed to help?” Bethany hissed through closed teeth.

“Pep talks always help,” Threat replied.

“You’re

The next word I want to use is insane, but insane is an ableist term. Looking at alternatives I see suggestions such as silly, foolish, ridiculous, wild, irrational, absurd, strange, unnatural and outrageous. All of these words have specific and different meanings, and all of these words have different connotations. Certain words fit certain styles. Consider:

“Why do I love you,” I laughed, and she playfully bit my ear.

“Because my father pays you lots of money?” She flopped back onto the bed, the golden sunlight coming in the window dancing over her skin.

“No, that’s not it,” I said as I followed her, placing a kiss on her stomach.

“Because my brother told you not to?”

I trailed kisses up her stomach, between her breasts, to her neck, leaving a glistening trail of saliva that sparkled in the sunlight. She moaned as I kissed the soft skin of her throat. “No, not that either,” I murmured against her.

She squirmed on the bed, her voice raspy with desire. “Then it must be monkeys,” she said.

I paused and pulled back, my confused gaze meeting her eyes. “Monkeys?”

“Green monkeys,” she amended. “From space.”

“That’s silly,” I told her.

“That’s why you love me,” she replied.

I leaned forward and our lips met in a kiss.

Now the word silly fits this scene really well. And the word insane wouldn’t, because it has negative connotations to it. Telling your lover she’s insane is a sure way to start an argument. But the word silly is too soft and frivolous for other scenes. It doesn’t have the right connotations for something like this:

He stood by the edge of the roof, looking out over the city. The detonator was in his hand, a blinking red light on it illuminating his thumb on the button that would destroy everything. I moved towards him, hoping for surprise, but he must have heard something, for he turned and met my eyes.

“I hoped you would come,” he said. “It should just be us, here, like this. This is how it should end. Hero versus villain.”

“Except you’re meant to be the hero, Lord London,” I replied. “I’m the villain, the gang leader, the law breaker.”

“Indeed.” He gazed out over the city once more. I moved a few steps closer to him. “I gave them everything, you know? Spent so much time being a damn superhero, and protecting everyone, that my wife left me. My kids hate me. And for what? For you to destroy my life’s work with some corruption charge?”

“I didn’t frame you,” I pointed out. “I just made sure the police had the evidence.”

“You destroyed my life,” he roared, his attention back on me. “You destroyed everything I worked for. Every criminal I ever arrested is being released, and the public out there is blaming me for it. Me! The one who kept them safe all these years. The one who protected them. Well, I’ll show them what happens when they don’t have me to protect them.”

“With a bomb that will destroy the whole city?” I asked. “12 million lives gone in an instant? London destroyed? This country’s government wiped out?”

He moved closer to me, close enough that I could see his eyes, lit with fervor. I could see in them that he was silly, silly enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

Clearly, this is not an example of a place where insane can be switched with silly, because silly doesn’t have the same level of intensity to it that insane has. It’s far too light-hearted of a word, fine for light-hearted scenes, but not for intense scenes like this. It lacks the connotation to fit in this style, and the other suggestions aren’t really better.

I could see in them that he was foolish, foolish enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was ridiculous, ridiculous enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was wild, wild enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was irrational, irrational enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was absurd, absurd enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was strange, strange enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was unnatural, unnatural enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

I could see in them that he was outrageous, outrageous enough to burn the whole city for his ego.

Irrational probably works best here, but it still isn’t good enough. There isn’t enough of an emotional punch to a word like irrational.

So, what do we do? Well, we don’t use insane, not if we want to remove ableist language. A better option is to reword the sentence, so the word doesn’t need to be used at all.

“With a bomb that will destroy the whole city?” I asked. “12 million lives gone in an instant? London destroyed? This country’s government wiped out?”

He moved closer to me, close enough that I could see his eyes, lit with fervor. I could see in them that he would do it, he’d burn the whole city for his ego.

That works pretty well, IMO. It still has enough emotional punch, doesn’t destroy all the tension in the scene by using words with the wrong connotation, and isn’t ableist.

An alternative approach is just to skip the word, and is what I ended up doing in my piece from the first example. This is the same excerpt as earlier, but now you can see how that piece of dialogue ends.

“Well, the height won’t kill you, if you fall. Of course, that’s not a good thing. The ambient heat from the lava would burn you long before you reached it. Your clothes and hair would burst into flame, and then when you hit the lava, you’d break both legs. Probably wish the fall had killed you, if you could think through the pain.”

“Is this supposed to help?” Bethany hissed through closed teeth.

“Pep talks always help,” Threat replied.

“You’re…” she sighed, the words trailing off.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts I had on stopping using ableist language in fiction. I hope they help you. Let me know what you think.

The first and final excerpt is from CiBaD, a novel I've written that isn't yet published. The other excerpts were made up for this.

[kissmetenderkissmehard]

I leaned in, my body drawn to him like a magnet. He covered the rest of the distance, pressing his lips against mine, softly first, then more urgent. I felt his tongue against my bottom lip, tracing the edge. It wasn't enough. I wanted to taste him. I needed to taste him. 

I parted my lips and caressed his tongue with my own, pushing gently, then teasing him into my mouth, drawing him in deeper.

Then, it was no longer slow or gentle. I was on fire, and he matched my energy, tongue fucking my mouth like it was his only desire in the world. I drank him in. He was an aphrodisiac and I couldn't stop feasting.

I sucked on his bottom lip, my hands clutching his hair. He pulled away to lick my earlobe, then nip at my neck. I moaned and pulled his face up again, this time not waiting before plunging my tongue into his mouth. He tasted of whiskey and smoke with a hint of mint. He tasted like heaven, and I wanted more.

He cupped my breasts, and I leaned in, pushing my body against his. I felt him tweak my nipples, soft at first, then harder, responding to my motions. I gasped, and my mouth was filled with his taste again. He caressed my tongue, took me into his mouth, and sucked like a greedy man. Then, just when I thought I was going to burst into flames, he slowed down, placing gentle kisses on my lips, his hands moving to my waist. 

He then pulled away and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. I groaned in disappointment. “We should save the rest for when we’re both sober,” he said into my ear.

_________

Hey you. Want more? Want it dirtier, harder? Do you want to be dripping wet by the time you're done reading a few sentences, so much so that you can't help but reach downward and satiate yourself?

I can give you what you need. Oh yes, darling, there's so much more. This was but a tiny snippet of the excitement and passion coming your way. I have a whole book for you. A book of steamy loving, hot build ups, magic, and ahem, vampires.

Follow my blog to find out more. 💋

[bangtansmauyeondan]

THIRTY-FIVE | S04 E02 — The Night is Still Young

Pairing: In-Studio Director!Jungkook x Stage Director!Fem Reader

Genre: rivals au, social media au, frenemies to lovers, slow burn, fluff, smut, angst, crack.

Rating: 18+

Warnings: explicit language, mentions of abandonment, alcohol consumption, harmless scheming, dare, bet, smut

Summary: It has always been the battle of the best between you and your college rival, Jungkook. What happens when years later, you cross paths again working for the same network broadcasting company, and the competitive flame is rekindled? Well, a whole new drunken bet that determines your futures wasn’t in your line of vision but here you are… and you have until 35.

SERIES TAGLIST: @fragmentof-indifference @babyboo22 @dionysusenthusiast @luaspersona @timelessruins @royallyjjk @sandraviolante-blog @quarter-life-crisis2 @jub-jub @pb-n-juju @jeonxgoogiee @sugaluvmyg @lookformyvoice @fairy-jaykay @juju-227592 @such-a-wh0re @hoseoksluv89 @exhibitachol @kleirielk @era-genius @hyuneyeon @jjkw-7 @ktownshizzle @parkinglot-nights

PERMANENT TAGLIST: @snoozeagustd @persphonesorchid @thatbangtanjagiya @taestefully-in-luv @pamzn @wrmnssoul @ygbubs @halesandy @jayhope88 @bnagtanx1306 @pinkseokchim @busanbby-jjk @babycandy111

•••

—

“Don’t worry about your car, I’ll drive it back to yours tomorrow,” DK gave you a quick hug before you hopped up on Jungkook’s car.

“Okay…”

Your boyfriend made sure you’re safely inside before shutting the door, turning to DK and Mingyu before giving them a manly pat on the shoulder each. “See you later.”

“Drive safe, bro.” Mingyu waved him off and stood on the sidewalk with DK until they saw him drive off.

The four of you agreed to meet up at DK’s place for some barbecue but ended up sharing a feast at a newly opened restaurant a few blocks away. Dinner was filled with laughter, banter, and lots of stories from your college days. You and Jungkook were still laughing about them in the car as you drove off.

“... and then Soonyoung kept on insisting the word was ‘EPIK HIGH,’” you were almost crying from laughter on the passenger seat.

“What was he trying to guess again?” Jungkook couldn’t help but chuckle, because your laughter was contagious.

“Jeonghan said ‘apple mango,’ but Mingyu misread his lips as ‘apple pie.’”

“Ohh… apple pie - Epik High…” Jungkook burst into laughter imagining the whisper challenge game that their friends did at their graduation party. He knew he had fun that night but his memory was clouded by the kiss you shared underneath the lamppost outside, when he attempted to walk you home.

“I can’t believe you don’t remember any of it!”

“I do remember that I kissed you outside that night though…” he glanced at you with a small smile that got you flustered. Jungkook noticed the tinge of red that graced the apple of your cheeks, “What? Did I make your heart flutter?” He smirked.

“Stop!” You avoided his gaze and distracted yourself with the strap of your purse. “Focus on driving, bun.”

“Yes, ma’am…” He replied in a sing-song voice, internally smiling at the term of endearment you used on him.

“Wait… I just remembered–”

“Oh yeah, I have–”

Both of you started at the same time.

“Ladies first… what did you remember, hun?”

“Okay…” You adjusted yourself in the seat to get a good look at the backseat of Jungkook’s car. “Did you bring your gear with you?”

“Yeah, they’re mostly in the trunk. Why?” Jungkook curiously eyed you while tonguing his lip ring. “Do you need anything?”

“Mingyu said when you tried to ask me out all those years ago, but accidentally insulted me instead, you had a great big plan in mind.” You started. “He said you wanted to go on a photowalk and take my photos.”

Jungkook pursed his lips and nodded, “Yeah, I think the photos would turn out better because you’re the prettiest muse.” He shook his head in disbelief, remembering the day and his words clear as day. “Ugh, I can’t believe I worded that incorrectly back then! So stupid, Jeon Jungkook!”

You were momentarily entranced as you took a good look at the man sitting next to you. The streetlights reflected in his eyes, making them a bit more sparkly, like they hold the entire galaxy in them. The soft yellow glow illuminating his face highlighted his beautiful features, too.

“The night is still young, bun…” You smiled up at him before reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. You’re loving this slightly longer hair on him. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

As if on cue, the traffic lights turned red, giving Jungkook the perfect opportunity to cup your face between his palms and leaned in for a soft kiss. “Yes, let’s do it!”

—

“I had so much fun, bun.” You and Jungkook walked hand in hand as you made your way to your front door. “We’re always so busy with work, that we sometimes forget how good it feels just to walk around and take the outdoors in.”

“Hmm…” Jungkook hummed in agreement. “I’m a bit sad though.”

You let out a small gasp, stopping in your tracks. “Why?”

“You didn’t even let me get a decent photo of you,” he pouted.

“Why do you need a photo of me?” You teased, momentarily letting go of his hand to key in your door code.

Jungkook rested his hand on the small of your back as he guided both of you inside. “Why would I not want a photo of you?” He replied softly, a tinge of hurt still apparent in his voice.

“Hey…” You turned around to face him before wrapping your arms around his neck. Like clockwork, Jungkook automatically wrapped his arms around your waist and leaned in to rest his forehead against yours. “Are you seriously sad that I didn’t let you take my photos?”

“Hmn…” He closed his eyes and heaved in a deep breath. “I just want to freeze these moments with you, you know? I want to see you, all sides of you, from all angles.”

Jungkook’s words would have reduced you into a mushy puddle if they could. The sincerity in his voice, coupled with his warm breath tickling your cheeks, were enough to set your heart ablaze. His close proximity made you hyper sensitive too, especially when his fingers grazed the exposed skin near the waistband of your jeans.

You ran your fingers through your boyfriend’s hair from the back of his head, putting just a little pressure on his scalp, causing a small groan to escape from his lips. Without missing a beat, you gently pulled him down towards your face for a sweet kiss.

Jungkook kissed you back, one hand sneaking underneath your shirt, splaying across the small of your back. The other, resting on your jaw, angling your face as he deepened the kiss.

“Jungkook,” you whispered breathlessly between kisses.

“Yes…?” Jungkook continued kissing you, planting soft pecks on the corner of your lips, your jaw, and the sweet spot beneath your ear.

“You can see all of me now…”

Jungkook stopped to catch his breath, eyes roaming across your face as if seeing you for the first time again. His mind began getting hazy as he got all worked up, not sure if he’s reading too much into things, or if you’re really saying what he thinks you’re saying. “Baby…” He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, before tilting your chin up to look straight into your eyes. “Please tell me you want this as much as I do.”

“I want this,” you reached out to touch his face, his eyes closing at the contact. “You can see all of me now…” you smiled up at him.

Jungkook pulled you closer to him, feeling your heartbeats against each other. “All of you?”

“All sides of me…” you kissed his nose. “From all angles.”

Finally, you captured his lips again.

•••

A/N - Idk let me know if you want to see more of this couple as the night deepens, and I could probably let you in on the fun next update! ;) PS - I’ve missed you! Come talk to me!

[come-rain-come-shine]

(jesuis-assez): Okay, my blog is not primary and I -- this is me. This is my fate 🤣

Sending some good vibes through an ask 😊

If you had complete control of what direction s7 would take, what storylines would you write?

I completely understand your pain, @jesuis-assez!! This is my side blog, too, so when I send an anonymous ask and sign it, I feel like a serial killer or something. 🤣🤣 Like, you have to believe me! It's me behind the shades!

This is a great question. I tend not to make predictions of where the show is going or get too attached to my own ideas, because that way, I don't get disappointed when things turn out differently. But, let's indulge in where I would choose to take season 7!

Lucy gets a big career win of some kind. She excels at undercover work, so it could be a prestigious assignment that she kicks ass at. Maybe she discovers a new path besides detective that she loves. Maybe Primm bursts into flames and the other examiners retroactively restore justice to the world and fix her score. After watching her get trampled on for practically all of season 6, I just need my girl to win one!!

A super evil part of me wants someone to start flirting with Lucy, because I really want to know how Tim would react to this at this point in their relationship. He would know that he has NO RIGHT to tell her who to date, so I don't think he would confront her about it. But I think it would make his stomach churn to see a huge reminder of the fact that he threw her away and they are only just starting to reconcile as friends. That being said, I really don't think Lucy is ready to be in another relationship after having her heart completely shattered by the person she thought she was going to be with forever, so this is me thinking out loud more than wishing or hoping.

Tim goes back to Metro, because him being back in Lucy's chain of command makes my heart hurt when I think of them trying to get back together. With Mad Dog dead and the good work Tim's done for and with Metro since he got kicked off, I think Pine would take him back.

Obviously, Chenford reconciles, but only after a whole lot of thoughtful and respectful showing up on Tim's part and communicating on both their parts. My best friend and I have been in deep discussions about at what point in the season they might get back together. I am hoping somewhere in the range of 7x03 to 7x05. (Like, haven't we suffered enough? Please give us back Chenford. Please.)

Nolan and Bailey foster another kid found at a crime scene, or maybe a house fire. I liked where they were going with them fostering Anna, so I would be happy if they took in another kid in need, and then this time, fostered to adopt.

I would like a storyline in which Angela and Wesley are forced to name their baby daughter, please. Maybe we don't know her name yet because they've just been calling her "hey, you" this whole time .......

I think I would like a return to Aaron and Celina's friendship. Before season 6, I know a lot of people were saying that they wouldn't mind if Aaron and Celina were played either romantically or platonically, and I agreed. I think they're going to stay friends, and I would love more scenes with them having a good time together.

Once Chenford gets back together, they decide to move in together, and Lucy gives her apartment to Celina.

In the words of Eric Winter, "Tim's mom!!!!!!!!" My best friend and I have spent ages discussing what we think is up with Tim's mom, and I would like to see that play out on screen.

I kind of want a return to the idea of Grey retiring. I think it was last seriously discussed in season 3, but correct me if I'm wrong. I feel like it was brought up a lot more in the earlier seasons, and he's only gotten older, so it would make sense to circle back to this idea. I would hate to lose his character, though.

More Luna! I loved the increased inclusion of her in season 6.

That's about what I got. Thanks for the ask!

[lea-andres]

@galaxy-shapeshifter FIRST OF ALL HI WELCOME BACK! SECOND, SO YOU MISSED SOME SHIT!

So, lovely mutuals encouraged me to bring back some of my ocs I had made and booted out of my own stuff few times because ocs are only cringe when I do them. This led to a bitter, bitter divorce with a certain popular Espio ship that shall not be named because FUCKERS KEPT SHOWING UP AND GOING "NYEH BUT [SHIP] BETTER!" ON MY CANON X OC STUFF WHEN I AM CLEARLY A MULTISHIPPER AND I USED TO SHIP BOTH!

(It got so bad I cut the ship that shall not be named out of my fics. I don't even proofread my shit before it goes up, you know how annoying one has to get to drive me to go edit a whole ass ship out???)

Anyway, so HERE'S THE GIRLIE DINAH AND HER BROTHERS BRUTUS AND CARLISLE~

(the ship art is @hansuart , red ink sketchdump is Possum, who I think changed their blog name because I can't find them now lmao, followed by 3 @infifi3 sketchdumps.)

Dinah the Spaniel, along with her older brother Brutus the Bulldog and her younger brother Carlisle the Terrier make up Team Cerberus: an archaeology team that hires the Chaotix to assist them on a dig. Something something dogs dig holes for bones joke. Their whole thing is taking powerful ancient artifacts and hiding them so villains like Eggman can't take them and use them.

Dinah's the academic one and the ACTUAL archaeologist of the trio (don't let her look fool you though, she's got a collapsible quarterstaff hidden on her person and she *will* wreck you with it!), Brutus is the muscle and a gentle giant, and Carlisle is a mad scientist that will invent anything or attempt just about any experiment for funzies and never worry about the consequences. Highlights include:

-Building a mech suit that basically turns the wearer into a superhero. Think Iron Man kind of.

-Melting a hole in his lab floor trying to cure love.

-Raised the dead for no good reason lmao. They just walked in a straight line until they bumped into an obstacle and fell over, BUT THEY WERE DEFINITELY UP AND WALKING

-Wants to cut open Espio and figure out how his invisibility works via reverse engineering. No guarantees on Espio's surviving this.

-And lightning round time of everything he built that ever exploded or burst into flames that wasn't supposed to explode or burst into flames.

-Oh also sometimes he goes on no sleep 90 redbull benders and just welds stuff together until he has SOMETHING. What does that thing he just built do? No one knows! He's gonna switch it on without warning to find out though so you might wanna back up. Or run, probably.

They have tags, hopefully Tumblr will cooperate and allow you to peruse them for more info.

[spitfireofdragonspire]

(This is one of those moments where I hate myself. It was supposed to be a freaking!!! One-Shot!!!!! One!! Freaking!!! Chapter!!!!!!! And now I have to do a part 3!!!!! How do do this to myself?)

(First post on the new blog. If I were smart, I would have tagged all of my old followers in this one, so they saw it.

… unfortunately, I'm not smart.)

Edit: Fixed the links!

Hostage Pt. 2

TW: Mentions of suicide, drugging, kidnapping

Part 1

"-burn in hell, you bastard." Supervillain said as the world went up in flames.

Supervillains last words played over and over again in Superhero's head. He couldn't erase it. He hadn't thought Supervillain would actually kill himself.

"Superhero?" Superhero turned to see one of the cleanup crew walking toward him. "I think you should see this."

Superhero followed the other man as he led the crime fighter into the destroyed building. "From your description of events, we were able to figure out where Supervillain was standing at the time of the explosion. And, well-" The worker gestured to a spot of completely untouched concrete. "He was right here."

There's no body. The words rang in Superhero's mind as he realized he implications. "Supervillain is still alive." He managed. "We need to assemble a team to find him and bring him to justice."

"Understood, sir." One of the other hero's raced over. "Where do we start?"

"In the most obvious place." Superhero stood. "His main base."

Hero was exhausted. He'd pulled the nightshift to watch over the hostage, and all he wanted to do was go home.

And then he walked into his office to see that, in his absence, Villain had gouged into his wrists in an attempt to get free.

"God fucking dammit." Hero muttered, walking over. "You fucking idiot."

Villain glared at him. "I bet you'd do worse to yourself to escape me."

Hero shrugged. Villain wasn't wrong. "Still." He grabbed the Villain's arm as he uncuffed one wrist. "I promised Superhero you'd be uninjured-"

A shift in the air behind them, then a knife was pressing to their throat. "Let him go, and put your hands in the air." Supervillain growled in Hero's ear.

Hero dd as he was told. Villain sat up, wincing as the cuff around his other wrist shifted, agitating the wound. "That hurts like a bitch." Villain growled. Grabbing the keys from where Hero had dropped them on the floor, he unlocked the other cuff around his wrist. The cuffs fell to the ground as Villain stood. "Thanks for coming to get me, baby." He teased.

"Of course, sweetheart." Supervillain purred. "Be a dear, and get those cuffs for me? I have a feeling we're going to need insurance."

Villain did as he was asked. "Can we take a vacation?" Villain asked, striding over to the desk. Judging by the angle of Supervillain's head in Hero's prereferral, he was checking out Villain's ass. "Given Superhero's renewed obsession with you, I think we deserve one."

"You're not wrong." Supervillain mused. "How about Cuba?"

"I want to go to Hawaii." Villain looked up from the note he was writing. "Which one do I put?"

Supervillain considered. "The one in the country. Manor house."

Villain wrote something down as Supervillain cuffed Hero's wrists behind him.

"We good to go?" Villain made to walk back over, but wobbled dangerously.

"Yeah." Supervillain fished around in his pocket for something. "Just give me a second."

A damp cloth was pressed to Hero's face, accompanied by the familiar sweet scent of chloroform. Hero thrashed against the criminal's hold, before forced to inhale, and passed out.

~

Superhero and the rest of the hero's were tearing through one of Supervillain's bases when they get the alert of a break-in at HQ. Racing back, they encountered a... bit of a problem.

"Hero's gone!" Other Hero cried, bursting into where Superhero stood in Hero's office. "We searched the whole building..." Other hero trailed off as their superior didn't react. "Is everything okay?"

Superhero didn't answer. He was too focused on the note in his hands.

Missing something? If no, ignore this. If yes, then meet us at the location below to collect what you lost by midnight tomorrow! See you there, super-douche! -Supervillain and Villain

On the paper was an string of numbers. Coordinates.

Superhero looked up at Other Hero. "Get everyone to meeting room 3." He snarled. "Supervillain kidnapped Hero."

[finnlongman]

hi, I just found your blog :)

If I may ask, how in the world did you manage to write entire books while also being a PhD student????

Is there a way to not let your PhD consume every waking hour of your life?? :') please tell me your secret

Heh, well, the first thing to note is that I'm in the first year of my PhD, and traditional publishing is slow. So the books I'm talking about right now -- Moth to a Flame and The Wolf and His King -- have been in the works since long before I started my PhD. I originally wrote The Wolf and His King in winter 2019, when I had a full-time job; I originally drafted Moth to a Flame during my full-time MA in 2020. So the PhD is only the latest thing they've had to compete with for my time and attention!

I've always been writing alongside everything else -- I wrote my first novel at 13 and I was writing the whole way through my school years, despite doing a million extra-curriculars. Honestly, I have no idea where I found the energy, but it got me into the habit of writing during lunchbreaks or in short bursts whenever I had the time, and while that's not my preferred way to work these days, it sure did teach me a lot. These days I've got two sets of edits and promo and admin, and the PhD, and my occasional side-gig as a bodhrán player in a couple of trad bands, and whatever other casual work I pick up (today I was invigilating exams), so it's always a balancing act.

But specifically, with these next two books: Moth to a Flame was largely finished before I started my PhD in October, with structural edits done; I was partway through line edits during the first month of my PhD, and then copyedits and proofreading after that. I was doing copyedits over Christmas, including on my phone during a family visit on New Year's Eve. I've been editing The Wolf and His King more recently, with structural edits also happening mainly over Christmas (working on Christmas Day, my favourite) and line-edits happening right now.

Balancing TWAHK with my PhD, or The Butterfly Assassin with my MA (since I sold it at the start of my second semester and that wasn't the best timing), has mostly been about speed and prioritisation. I'm lucky to be a fast writer and a fast reader, so I can get 7k of academic writing on paper in the course of a day or two and therefore keep the wolf (my supervisor) from the door while I run off and do line-edits. Doesn't mean I should, but it happens more than I care to admit. Likewise, I can (and regularly do) edit/rewrite a novel in the space of two weeks, even if that is also not sustainable.

But it's also about being open with my editors (and supervisors) about my deadlines -- e.g. we pulled line-edits for TWAHK forward to March, even though I only submitted structural edits at the start of February and there's often a longer gap, because I'm going to be super busy with PhD work in April ahead of a deadline at the start of May, so I knew I needed to get the bulk of the work out of the way. That means right now, I'm spending more time on writing, but next month, it'll be nearly all academic work.

On really good days I can do both, and usually write for 1-2 hours in the morning, work all afternoon, and then write again in the evenings (this is what I was doing in December with structural edits), but with chronic pain/fatigue and a changeable schedule, that's harder.

Mostly, though, I'm lucky that my adult books and my PhD are very closely related, so a lot of the research I'm doing for the books also feeds into my PhD, and vice versa -- meaning that a lot of the time, I'm multitasking. It was much harder when I was juggling The Butterfly Assassin and my MA, since they had nothing in common; I would basically just focus on one or the other at a time, and was very grateful that we got a slight extension for our thesis submission deadline because of covid or I don't think it would've been in on time.

Oh, and I also don't have a social life (thanks covid + disabilities) so there's that, too. And my house is a mess and I don't eat enough vegetables. But I don't have any caring responsibilities or dependents, and at the moment I don't have fixed hours/work obligations, so that's something.

As for how I used to write when I had a full-time job (and disabilities) (and a social life)... honestly I was definitely writing at work sometimes. And not just on my lunchbreak. 🤫

[sandra-writes]

The Case of Harrison Slytherin

Hello, lovely people.

It came to my attention that it's now been two years since I posted the last chapter of Harrison Slytherin and The Year Sirius Black Was the Star. Making it two years some of you are waiting for the sequel. My sincere apologies.

I've been busy these last two years. I changed work, which included a few months of quite intense training, finally graduated college - all in all, I had precious few moments to work on my fic. I have ideas and I am hoping to work on them in the upcoming weeks. No promises, because when I do make them it usually goes bad, but... I promise Harry is not forgotten and I am working on it.

And because this is why I started this blog originally, I am adding a small taste of the fourth book under the cut. Don't be shy to tell me what you think - it might even make me keep motivated!

Sirius can’t focus on the Wizengamot session with the knowledge that as soon as it will be over, he will be coming over to the Slytherin Castle.

Well, not right after. He and Lord Slytherin agreed on a forty-minute delay in between, so they can refresh and change clothes. One does not want to have a meeting that is technically about family in Wizengamot robes.

Focusing on politics when such an important meeting is in front of him is in itself almost impossible, but when he knows that his godson is sitting just above him? He can feel him, his magic that is almost more powerful than anyone else’s in the room (with the exception of his father and Dumbledore himself), the wildfire that is closely controlled.

“All for.”

Sirius flinches and quickly puts the tip of his wand to the small wall in front of him. Raising the donation that the Ministry gives to St. Mungo’s is a good cause, but he seriously needs to focus on the session.

Luckily, it is not a long session, and it is not even two o’clock when Dumbledore lets them go. Sirius is out of his chair and out of his balcony as soon as he’s able to. He’d completely overlook the simple letter on the table in his anteroom if there wasn’t a magical pull to it. He stops to open it and read it.

Keep your cool – Tom might forgive a lot of Harry's mother, but he won’t be as lenient with you. Good luck, R. C.

Sirius smirks just before the letter bursts into flames. The light flame singes his fingers, but he just smiles.

It’s still a surprise every time he finds these short messages from Rabastan, since as a healer he almost never has the time to join them for their Saturday tea. But somehow, they still managed to start a genuine friendship, through short messages, a few jokes, and adoration for little Rosie.

Sirius doesn’t know how exactly Rabastan knows the whole truth about Harry or even how he knows about their meeting today, but he learned to not question some things, to just go with it by now.

He doesn’t even step out into the hallway. Instead, he goes through the fireplace straight to his study room and from there to his bedroom. He quickly gets out of his Wizengamot robe and puts on a modern one that he selected for this meeting a month ago – he puts on black trousers before pulling a dark blue robe that wraps around him and ends above his knees. Its long sleeves look like they’re part of the robe, but when Sirius raises his arms, it becomes apparent that they have high slits almost to the shoulder. He belts the robe with a thick, silver belt, and uses charms on his hair, so he doesn’t have it up anymore, but still has it in a thick braid. With a quick look to the mirror, he nods at himself before rushing out of his room again.

He still has time, but he doesn’t want to leave Lily waiting.

Lily is pacing the waiting room, biting her lower lip, and twirling her hair around her fingers. Her hair is in a simple braid down her right shoulder, with some forest flowers woven into the braid. Her dark blue dress is long enough to touch the floor and fitted just enough to be flattering on Lily, with decent cleavage that isn’t too revealing and flowy, see-through sleeves in the same colour.

“You look amazing.”

Honestly, Sirius is a little surprised to see her like this. She spent most of her summer with Jack and his pack, so when the two of them met she was usually in jeans and shirts. Werewolves apparently prefer muggle clothes to robes. Not that their women don’t wear dresses or skirts, but Lily, not having to work over summer, spent most of her time running around with the pack’s children, and jeans were just more practical for it.

Lily quickly turns towards him and lets her hand fall to her side. Then she smiles, a little unsure.

“Thank you, Sirius. The children enjoy weaving flowers into my hair,” she adds, amused, as she gestures towards her braid. “You don’t think Lord Slytherin will mind such a relaxed hairstyle, do you?”

Sirius just stands there and looks at her for a long minute. This whole situation is… surreal to him. Lord Slytherin is Voldemort and Voldemort kidnapped their baby. And he would do anything, anything to get their baby back, but… Harry is fourteen now and has a right to have his own agency. And he doesn’t want them. Not the way they want him.

If Sirius thinks about it too long, he gets furious at Lord Slytherin. And he’s in no position to go against him, politically speaking. He might have made some friends lately, but he’s in no illusion that if it came down to it, they would choose him over Lord Slytherin. They wouldn’t and he knows it. So he doesn’t think about it.

What will happen today, however… Sirius is not sure.

��I mean… we’re practically family, right?”

He doesn’t sound nearly as sure as he’d like and Lily gives him a raised eyebrow, before bursting into a laugh.

“What the fuck are we doing, Pads?”

Sirius shrugs his shoulders and sighs.

“I have no idea, Lils. But we have,” he quickly checks the time, “thirty more minutes before Lord Slytherin expects us.”

Lily lets out another unamused laugh before collapsing to an armchair nearby.

“Fuck, I haven’t been this nervous since… you know, I actually don’t remember ever being this nervous. Maybe before I gave birth to the boys?” She frowns as she says that. Sirius smiles softly before sitting down in the armchair close to hers.

“I can’t believe it’s been fourteen years already.”

They’ve both been to Chris’ birthday party. Sirius didn’t really like what a spectacle James made of it, with half of the Ministry including Minister Fudge there as well as most of the Wizengamot. Well, the light families of Wizengamot and most of the elected members were there. The celebration was somewhat bittersweet to Sirius – he wanted to spend the time with Chris, he really did. But Chris had his friends there and the party was more a chance of making political contacts than anything else. He spent most of it with Lily, avoiding Remus. He did enjoy his talk with Madame Bones and a few elected Wizengamot members, but the whole afternoon was ruined for him when Dumbledore tried talking to him. Well, honestly, he mostly talked to Lily. It took all of Sirius’ willpower to not snarl back at him.

Lily sags in her seat, suddenly looking tired.

“So much went wrong. I knew that having children during a war was risky, but… I could have never anticipated that.”

“I don’t think anyone could have seen that coming, Lils.” The silence between them is tense now and Sirius hates everything about it. “Fuck, I could use a shot.”

“Don’t you dare, Sirius! We’re not going to the Slytherin Castle drunk.”

“You mean, like you were the last time we’ve been there?”

Lily groans and hides her blushing face behind her hands. Sirius smiles, but it doesn’t really solve anything. Sirius is still tense and nervous, and he can see that Lily feels the same way.

“It’s a shame there won’t be quidditch this school year,” Sirius tries to lighten up the mood. Lily looks up at him, her cheeks still pink, but her eyes interested. “Harry is one hell of a player. Would love to watch him play.”

“I am just glad he and Chris won’t be able to enter the Tournament,” Lily sighs easily. “I just got him back, I couldn’t watch him be in danger in a freaking Triwizard Tournament.”

“I’d be more worried about Chris entering than Harry,” Sirius says easily. “Harry has a good head on his shoulders, he wouldn’t enter the competition even if he could. Not when it’s spurred on them like that, without him training for it before. Not if he knows the Tournament’s history.”

Which Sirius assumes he does, with his pureblood upbringing.

They chat for a while about the upcoming school year. There’s less than two weeks left before it starts, and Lily has already moved back to Hogwarts. She was officially living with Sirius this summer, but Sirius hardly ever saw her. Lily did visit him every once in a while, but Jack, her boyfriend, wouldn’t allow Sirius to visit them yet. And Sirius understands. He did get coffee with both of them at the beginning of summer in the same coffee shop he and Frank met with Jack months ago. Jack straight up told him that he doesn’t want to risk his pack yet and Sirius understands that. Bringing Lily in to introduce her as his girlfriend was already risky enough and Sirius doesn’t want to make their position in the pack even more complicated.

Sirius isn’t sure how he feels about the upcoming school year. Bringing back the Triwizard Tournament seems risky at best, and Sirius isn’t happy about the situation with Peter still being unsolved while that is going on. The investigation is ongoing, but it brought up nothing new, the working theory is still the one where Peter broke out of prison to go after Chris. Of course, with what Sirius now knows, it’s also possible that he’s after Harry. Either version makes Sirius nervous, which is why he agreed to stay around Hogwarts for one more school year.

What role the pupils from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will play in him guarding Hogwarts, Sirius is not sure. But at least he won’t have to deal with Remus while there anymore.

Sirius is still pissed at Chris for letting it slip that Remus is a werewolf. It doesn’t matter that Remus broke Sirius’ heart and that Sirius partially wants Remus to hurt. You do not out werewolves for any reason. The fact that Chris did so accidentally makes it worse, not better as James claims. And the fact that Chris wasn’t even punished for it makes Sirius’ blood boil. How the fuck is Chris supposed to learn from his mistakes when James refuses to admit that they are mistakes?

Finally, Sirius’ wand starts vibrating against his forearm and he quickly stands up before cancelling the alarm spell. He smiles at Lily.

“Well, no time to waste now. You ready?”

Lily breathes in deeply before she stands up and looks straight at Sirius.

“Not really, not nearly. But what the hell. Let’s go meet the father of our boy.”

[pathbend-blog]

Episode 1: "The Last Diva Dance"

@olympictrivia

@bbc6music-blog

@mitsky$######

Does not Star

For My 🫂 🥼

That was almost the Finalé of the "Fishhook From My I"

I started with that Fraudster Vance Men's Group Psychologist in Oakland

Trying to save my Parent's Marriage became that One. Duh is also th last yuck and then it just does away, like the Stomach Flue you don't remember having had every summer again.

They really want them CoCo Caxxed before this Rape, was the other Intel th Enemy gave me.

The place you make your Avatar in The Military, is almost where you go to watch you and the patient or class.

I just Finished using that to write our Good Story.

Before Portland 2020

BBC Radio 1

Washington Post

Chuck Palahniuk

bandcampoakland

If Anthony is House

But Who he Paid House to Jungian Cosplay Mitsky

Teaches him he isn't mean at all, being used by Cutty to laundry Money

Duh.

I am Mean House, Here, Meaner than The Blade of a Scalpel you haven't held either really for years

Hobo Johnson

I Already Have My Maker's Mark Harry Potter Scarf

Dr. House.

I don't have your Bull Paid Yet.

Universal Medicine Dependent On The Mood of a Physician

BBC Radio 1

Washington Post

Royal Marines

*

University of Oxford

United States Space Force

There isn't a Trick To It House

My Fallanges and Some Good Will Hunting! Yay an op for an Eemjee 🍏 💜

🎹

St James Infirmary is a Chunnel from the PFC and your note yet to write for ever and for.

Money. House. Do you even like being called that or just her pretty blues?

💙 To Motor Strips and Opium Psychosis Then House.

Auntie Emmy calls

John Mulaney

Anyway, "Dr. House Was Fine"

Back to my wargames that's the Hour

I hope it was worth a decent Rollings Steins ticket at least. The Drugs I Suggested, Email Me Back If You think it's a good strategy. The Book and Film list isn't an insult to British intelligence.

Oh My Wargames? Well this one is me meanly writing about The Clone Matrix Saga, which Consider Canon

Again to the Detriment of the Enemy's not getting The Matrix as a basic concept yet.

Eventually I say As Real Neo Possessing this Coppertop being made to think it's even Original Clone Neo, who doesn't say that, thinks it's reductive and Mean. "The Waiting Free" or "The Sleeping" gives it a non Anti-Buddhist flair

Sorry I'll get to the IT.

Eventually like in that Agent Smith as his Daddy IRL he learned, the Actor, And Morpheus Rescue Scene

That's The MAPS one that is occurring further Litigation for mean people and my ExWife.

They All Eventually become the Squally lines on the Left

Despite like their Bursting into Flames Things covered by the literal Girl Form Hereditary, Parks and Rec and Hey don't eat my Cornuts B Word.

That's a lot of Money and Drugs onto even the most unfit basic Bagel

,,,, House.

Which can Hold Every Quark on Earth

BBC Radio 1

It's a Lawnmower Man Omegaz it is nice thanks, ⌚?

Scenario

Hobo Johnson

Washington Post

Royal Marines

*∆6 ❄️

It's The End Then House ⌛

Two Weeks then 4 maybe

bandcampoakland

Mercedes-Benz

Mine©®™

Phoebe Bridgers

Anyway, you can't ever really get past horrid about to be 18 and have all that Family Trust that matters for a very brief period of any Human Life, but especially The Enemy's

And Also of All Of History Watched by all

Cosplaying a Woman Or NonBinary is fine, Being a Man in their world. Because those aren't People Either they have ever known

Me that is just The Discraced Doctors Girlfriend for a moment

You can't be a Liar in that Job at all

FBIJobs

They are out of Money and can't get you tonight House, Just.

It's in your HIPAA contract I didn't sign for MensRightGuy IRL or us that Therapist and because of my lack of Plausible deniability in that Situation

None was expected.

In Silicon, Way Way Past the 4th Wall because get out of my whole building here and go home and rest?

Humble Bundle

Mercedes-Benz

BBC Radio 6 Music

Phoebe Bridgers

Hobo Johnson

BBC Radio 6 Music

Donald J. Trump

The Truth Today or More Charges?

💙 Same as I asked every day.

Donald Glover

FBIJobs

DER SPIEGEL

That's like when KXT got cut off

Yo'll should Hear it Arowaves Live

Anyway

2 to one is easy

Just Fall in Love and Listening to The Birds and Don't Infect the Bee's Hives with Special Fungus

Washington Post

BBC Radio 1

Most Basically for the Aspirant to Medical School or College or don't want to school is fine, a trade of some kind, how will you eat?

Your Leader feeding you won't some day child.

They have Magic tricks that harm you that Taylor means when she sings "Crisis"

Their Prisons and Psychiatric Facilities are the Product, not the People working in them.

They can only shove food in mouths and be violent as they knew as children

And accrue Liability like Telehealth

That someone, a Good Law Person, is going to help them Collect

Globally but my Concern by Law is in Two American States

Your Answer in this Debate Then

Stranger to Me as a Living Man

Kamala Harris

Washington Post

Fox News

KCRW

KQED News

DER SPIEGEL

Zoom

[arcthebreeder]

DMO: Digimon Military Operatives_41.TXT

I can't get a rest, not even during Christmas Eve can't I?

First of all, happy holidays! I hope everyone who reads this blog has a merry Christmas!

I'm sorry to be talking about this during the holidays but it is what it is, although I ran out of those a long time ago. But I came to inform you about a situation I got in approximately two days ago, while I was walking around my neighborhood.

I was preparing for a bday party and, in the middle of the street, I found a military stand, I wasn't specifically in a rush so I decided to sneak in and see what could be wandering around that place and oh boy we did find something.

Almost as soon as we got into the system, Herissmon jumped to see what could be there, she has a very hyperactive personality so she started bouncing around the place, I let her do that because Canoweissmon was taking care of her, so she was pretty safe after some time of not finding anything, I decided to get out, however, we got attacked by an old friend, the Tobiumon guy, who at this point doesn't have a Tobiumon anymore, but a Regalecusmon, an Ultimate level, aquatic type, Virus attribute Digimon. He attacked from the back using Regalecusmon's Reactor Discharge, an attack that blows everything away within a mile radius, the blast sent my Digimon flying, so i sent out Regulusmon to help and backed up Herissmon so she wouldn't get hurt, both Regulus and Canoweissmon began attacking, however, Regalecusmon somehow got to avoid the attacks, and then, they started showing their strategy, the Tobiumon guy, who at this point will get the nickname "Ocean Man" (I'm hilarious) deployed his other digimon, Cthyllamon, an ultimate level, fairy type and Virus attribute digimon similar to a MarinAngemon that has fallen into the darkness. Once it came out, it used its special move "Ocean Hell" a move that creates a domain akin to the depths of the sea and stills the fighting spirit of those affected by it, and thus, Canoweissmon and Regulusmon had trouble keeping up with the fight, not only due to the effects of the Ocean Hell, but thanks to the pressure that was being applied to their bodies. When a space like this is created, it simulates the conditions that said would have in the Digital World, considering this, they were basically divers with basic to no protection in the middle of the oceanic depths, Regalecusmon took this chance to use its Briona Strike to attack, Regalecusmon is considered the current apex of the marine food chain of the Digital World, and it was showing us why.

Canoweissmon and Regulusmon are used to fight in the air, not in the middle of the sea, and their bodies were suffering from extreme damage, I didn't have (and still I don't have) any aquatic digimon to cope with the situation, but then I thought about something, maybe overheating the area would help us either get rid of the Ocean Hell or escape, but when I ordered Canoweissmon to start recharging for the Gran Nova, Cthyllamon's mouth tendrils trapped him with the Buccal Rush, so I had only one option, I retrieved Regulusmon, and sent out Herissmon, why you ask? Because she could use her Lighting Fur to shoot her quills to Cthyllamon's tendrils and make it flinch, so Canoweissmon could attack, however, this didn't go as intended.

Even tho Herissmon did some damage to Cthyllamon's tendrils, she's still a Child, so Cthyllamon easily got rid of her by just using another tendril to throw her at Canoweissmon, I gotta be thanked because it wasn't Regalecusmon who at this point was too sure of its win to take care of anything, so I thought of something... Helloogarmon's flames.

It's only presence would boil the whole place down, so I took the risk and sent him out. He was confused at first, but easily got what was going on and ATTENDED MY ORDER to use the Howling Burst, that burnt the Ocean Hell and damaged almost everyone, including himself, once the space was free of any water that could be used against us, Herissmon got on top of Helloogarmon's head, and they both charged against the two marine digimon while I was treating Canoweissmon and with a combination of Helloogarmon's magical flames and Herissmon being used as a basketball to take advantage of its electricity imbued quills, Regalecusmon and Cthyllamon fell unconscious.

The Ocean Man disconnected out of shame and I searched among the files that were inside the military stand, it appears to be a database of Digital weapons, such as the Dramon Killers and the Brave Shield used by Wargreymon or the Móralltach and Beagalltach, the swords wielded by Diarbbitmon.

They were probably stealing these things to equip their Sealsdramon and others with them, they're also probably stolen. Oh, and here's something interesting, Helloogarmon was sniffing through the equipment and found something pretty interesting, a wrench looking mace called the "Vánagandr" he apparently liked it a lot so I let him keep it, from what I got to see, the Vánagandr is a mace used by Soloogarmon, another one of Loogamon's evolutions, during my free time in the holidays, I'll investigate on how to use this to help Helloogarmon Slide Evolve into Soloogarmon, I'll get to what exactly Slide Evolution is once I finish my research, but know that probably the results will be amazing.

[twilightmalachite]

Christmas Live - Line to Line 4

Author: Akira

Characters: Chiaki, Kanata, Tetora, Midori

Translator: 310mc

JP Proofer: Mika Enstars

EN Proofer: ryuseipuka

"Huh? Where’d this come from…? I’m Ryusei Black, aren’t I?"

[Read on my blog for the best viewing experience with Oi~ssu ♪]

Season: Winter

Location: Park’s Live Stage

Tetora: Here you go, Midori-kun; the green-colored outfit’s for you…♪

Midori: Uuu, so I’m also gonna participate in the end…? I’m not a fan of the green-colored Santa-san costume, since it kinda makes him seem like he’s an impostor…?

Kanata: how [colorful]~ it looks like a [coral reef]. mine will be~ blue…♪

Midori: Ah—Shinkai-senpai, you were sleeping this whole time, but you’re awake now, huh…?

Are you doing alright, health-wise…? If you’re not feeling it, how about we go home together…?

Kanata: ufufu. i do not want to be the only one [left out]~ let’s work hard at this job… okay, midori? ♪

the five of us together are ryuseitai, you know…♪

Kanata: chiaki~ chiaki will be [red] as always, right? here you go~...♪

Chiaki: … …

Kanata: what is wrong, chiaki? you do not seem energetic…?

did you catch my [cold]...?

Chiaki: Ah, no… Nagumo, would you like to wear the outfit for Red this time?

Tetora: Huh? Where’d this come from…? I’m Ryusei Black, aren’t I?

There’s a black Santa outfit here, so I’ll be wearing this one, yeah~?

Chiaki: No, it’s just that I thought it’d be a good opportunity for you. After all, you seem to admire Kiryu—...admire Akatsuki. Plus, you’d much prefer the color red over black, right?

And yet, you’ve constantly had a color that barely satisfies your wishes pushed onto you. I’m sorry, I also had my reasons why I couldn’t just give up Red, but…

I’ve had you bear with it all this time, and I apologize for that.

Tetora: Mm~... Well, yeah, I couldn’t stand a single bit of it at first. Every time I put on the black outfit, I felt so pathetic and frustrated with myself.

But the black spots on the sun are where the temperature is lower. And that’s what I am.

I’m still inexperienced, and I was lacking in lots of different areas. That’s why I couldn’t get into Akatsuki—That’s all there is to it.

So that one day I can burst into red flames… I’m currently getting a share of everyone’s coal and heat.

I’m still a greenhorn who can’t yet reach Taichou’s level, let alone Taisho’s.

And when the day comes that I wear the red outfit… I don’t want it to be just ‘cuz “the opportunity for it has come”; I wanna wear it once I personally feel satisfied and ready for it.

So, is it alright if we put this talk off ‘til next year?

I’ll be sure to grow strong by the day you graduate and leave, Taichou.

As for Santa-san, he always comes dressed in the color red.

And Red, the leading actor… is definitely you, Taichou. I appreciate how you feel, but I’m just not capable enough yet.

Right now, Ryusei Black suits me just right. I’ll gladly wear this outfit.

So you don’t have to be considerate over stuff that nobody asked for, y’know~? It doesn’t suit you at all to be like that, anyway.

Chiaki: Ah, I see… You’ve really grown, Nagumo. May I hug you?

Tetora: No, I don’t want it. What’s with you today? You’re kinda acting gross. You sure you didn’t catch a cold?

Chiaki: Ah, no, sorry… Thank you, Nagumo—For growing up to be so big and strong.[1]

Aaalrighty then, I’ll wear the red outfit with much gratitude!

I’ll sing with all my might today, as Santa-san! For the sake of bringing dreams to all the kids out there! Fuhahaha…! ☆

Kanata: … …♪

Midori: Shinkai-senpai, your face is red… If you’re still not feeling well, please make sure to rest, okay…?

Kanata: no, i am [alright]. i feel [nice] and [warm] somehow~...♪

o holy night… the stars are brightly shining… twinkle, twinkle~♪[2]

[ ☆ ]

← prev | story directory | next →

Chiaki says something similar to Tetora a year later, in Motor Show, Epilogue 3.

He’s singing the lyrics from kiyoshi kono yoru, also known as Silent Night.

[megggriffin]

A sentient wants to end the occupation of a run-down library, but they will develop a dangerous addiction.

Fandoms: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alice in Borderland

Word Count (992 / 800)

This writing prompt and others can be found on my blog!

Our visas ran out tomorrow, there was no changing that. We had been stuck in this unexplainable world for a week now, with two games in our back pockets. I looked at Oz, watching as he changed the gauze patch on his head. Xander turned the dead phone over and over in his hands, staring at it so intently I was sure it would turn on or burst into flames.

“We have to decide on a game tonight, otherwise we are stuck with whatever arena is available tomorrow,” I said to the Scooby gang in front of me. “We have no way of knowing what kind of game or the level of intensity prior to it starting. Maybe half of us go in tonight, with the other half…”

Buffy shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of splitting up. If we stay together and end up in anything but hearts, we have a better shot. Clubs are team games, spades are strength, diamond wits. We have those covered between the five of us. Even without your witchcraft, Will, and my slayer strength or Oz’s werewolf abilities.”

“Yep, everyone is part of Club Xander,” he popped up. “No special abilities but a strange deposition for staying alive in trying times.” Buffy shot him a glance silencing him.

“Okay. We don’t split up. We hope it’s a five, something that gives us days on our visa without immediate pressure for more.” I concluded.

“There’s a spot light on the school library,” Cordelia said from her corner. She didn’t turn to look at us, just stared out as the night time spread across Sunnydale. “Do you think that’s likely to be a diamond game?”

“Feels a little cliche. Plus the whole hellmouth entrance. Feels more likely it’s a trap for a hearts game or even a demonic appearance.” Buffy hopped off the table she was sitting on, standing behind Cordelia with her arms crossed. She looked as if she was going to put a hand on her shoulder but resisted. Oz was still bleeding whenever he accidentally reopened his wounds, but Cordelia had taken the brunt of the damage last round. The left side of her face was red and raw from standing too close to open flame, and the hair she had left after cutting off the burned sections was still able to go into a ponytail. She wasn’t the sassy, vivacious self we were used to, yet scarred Cordelia was still beautiful. I watched as Buffy observed her, before adding quietly, “But if you think we’re likely to succeed, Cordy, then I’ll follow you into that arena.”

Cordelia shrugged in response. We all knew Buffy’s words would have meant more to her before they had fallen into this world, but I didn’t think the words completely bounced off her.

“Oh!” The exclamation came out of my mouth before I could stop it. “The library will have books!”

“That is the definition of a library usually, Will,” Xander replied.

“No — well yes but, witchcraft! My current abilities aren’t strong enough, but there has to be spells and books on where we are in the library, right?” I asked, my mind racing. “And there are plenty of books we haven’t gotten through that Giles keeps there that have to still be there, right? Even if he isn’t…here,” I trailed off, noticing the anxiety spike in the group. We hadn’t found Giles since we slipped into this strange dimension, and every day without him felt like a day closer to admitting he was dead.

I swallowed, continuing quieter, “There’s materials in the school we need. If there’s an open arena in the library, then that means we can get in despite the gangs camping out in the school. We don’t have to keep looking for a plan to get in and find your weapons, Buff. We use the arena to our advantage.”

Oz looked at me, giving me a single nod. He saw what I saw, knew it was the right idea. The odds were in our favor regarding the game, and the library was the best shot to find answers. My magic, Buffy’s slaying abilities, our weaponry, where the fuck we are… all of it had answers in the library.

Cordelia’s eyes focused as she looked at us. “If any of you get me killed, I swear to god I’ll haunt you and all of your fashion choices.” We laughed in response, though none of it was heartfelt. I helped Oz change his bandages while Buffy helped Cordelia apply an ointment to her face. None of us saw as Xander popped pills.

We sat out at a brisk pace towards the school, Buffy in the front. Not many people were in the streets, though we did see a few vampires coming out of their crypts as the sun set. It didn’t matter what kind of Sunnydale we were in; vampires were going to exist. We carried stakes despite the lack of magical strength, and Buffy was still able to kill a few before we reached the school.

“Is that Jonathan?” Xander asked, pointing to the small crowd of people in the school’s courtyard, definitely inside of the lasers dedicating the game’s limits. We stepped across and heard the ping of registration, picking up the new cell phones and waiting for the game start.

“Yeah, I think so. Standing next to Larry.” Oz and Xander headed over to say hi, while the girls stood together looking at the phones.

“I don’t want to know who’s here,” Cordelia said quietly. “I don’t want to know who could be dead at the end of this.” I squeezed her arm just above the elbow in reassurance. We stood in silence as a few more people trickled in to registration, before it was called.

The dreaded familiar sound of the start of games played. We all looked down at our phones.

Nine of Hearts. Let the Games Begin.

[ozma914]

A Hot Time In Every Town Tonight

 I realized while going through old blogs that I write about winter way more often than summer. Like most humor writers, my work is usually about stuff I'd be complaining about anyway, so there you go. But after our two hour air conditioner home maintenance job last week I wanted to complain about summer a bit, so I dredged up this 2016 blog I wrote after helping my in-laws move in southeast Missouri ... in July.

They had to get moved faster than planned, after a car crashed into their old home. For one thing, the bedroom was now the width of a bathtub. It had huge holes in the former walls ... and Missouri mosquitos can punch through walls without help. And finally, the electricity had to be cut off to the home. See above about southeast Missouri—in July.

Here's the difference between that area and where I live, in northeast Indiana. Hoosier weather gets just as hot and humid ... from time to time. It seems like our heat waves last forever, but in reality they rarely go more than a few days. (This week excepted.) In Missouri the humidity pops up to 114% in May, and the temperature doesn't drop below 90 until October. Yes, the humidity's actually more than 100%. It’s a head-scratcher, or maybe that’s the mosquitos.

Flowers still came out in the morning, but in the afternoon they burst into flames.

Their winters are wonderful. I mean, compared to Indiana. So that led to a few bumps in moving, such as my difficulty seeing because my glasses melted. Going into that trailer was like sticking your head into the stove to see how the all-day Thanksgiving turkey is doing. Leaving the trailer was like going into the kitchen where the turkey's been cooking all day. It was so hot they had to open the fire hydrants to let steam out. It was so hot even the politicians stopped talking. It was so hot we had to put the beverage coolers into cooler coolers. It was hot, I tell ya'.

Reel-mounted fire extinguishers were mounted by each mailbox, in case the postal delivery arrived in flames. None of this bothered the mosquitos. The first day we soaked ourselves in bug spray, which also cooled us down until later, when it started boiling off our skin. But I was wearing jeans at first, and when I got the bright idea to try shorts an hour later, I forgot to reapply. By the end of the day my legs looked like an overhead photo of a heavily shelled World War I battleground. I couldn't get more bites touring a doughnut factory.

In the end it was worth it. The in-laws had a nice little place, we visited with some friends, and after regaining consciousness we even got to do some traveling. There's something to be said for helping people out. If I could, I'd go back down there and embrace the whole community with a great big, loving cloud of DDT. It would still be hot, though.

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

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Remember to check your back seat for kids, pets, and ghosts.

[noodleswithsoba-blog]

All Might as a Dad. (With Toshijiro Included.) And Kamino Ward.

Below is context for Toshijiro.

https://www.tumblr.com/noodleswithsoba-blog/732568920027971584/all-might-and-his-son?source=share

This man is trying. Trying so hard to be a good dad. But not in the horrible person way, but being a father that's sometimes there and sometimes not.

When he is though, he ADORES his son, Toshijiro. His little mini-might is his entire reason for keeping up the good fight. Now that he's got the injury, he spent most of his free time being Mr. Yagi, the nice but skinny man who'd bake things for PTA meetings and the like.

When Toshijiro was a baby, Toshinori would carry him absolutely everywhere. Except out in public because his wife would have to take over, the whole All for One having eyes everywhere thing applying.

Toshinori would sometimes forget his own strength and have to catch his son in midair, scaring the daylights out of him and his wife. Soon enough though, Toshinori got the hang of it.

The older he got, the more Toshijiro would worry over his dad. But with him having a quirk already, he couldn't take One for All. Not only that but Toshinori wouldn't let him even breach the subject.

His son is the most precious thing in the world to him, reminding him of the woman he loved and what he sacrificed for the family he wanted.

The last thing he needs is his son's blood on his hands. He constantly worries over his son's wellbeing as well as Izuku's on top of it. In this AU, Toshinori is a way better teacher because he taught his son how to control his Sunlight Quirk, which has a similar principle to One for All, being a stockpile of solar energy rather than seven quirks.

Dad jokes are a feature and are inevitable.

He's a good dad when he's around.

Toshinori fights even harder in Kamino Ward, seeing that it's his last chance to give his son and students a future to be proud of. A future where the darkness is far away.

But in this AU...

The United States of Smash is not the only attack screaming All For One's way. Knowing that his father might not win, and knowing his 'little brother' Izuku is there...

Toshijiro Yagi takes the field. Disregarding his drawback, Toshijiro powers up to his maximum, Noon. The night bursts into bright day for just a moment, flames and ash and pressure blasting out around the father and son duo.

Toshinori looks at his son out of the corner of his eye, 'Son... I know I wasn't always around when you were a kid, but I never regretted getting wounded. I never regretted a second!'

Their fists make contact with the Symbol of Evil, sunlight and pressure bursting out, making the area tremble. Toshijiro and Toshinori giving it all they've got...

Toshijiro smiles, even if he might lose his quirk, he thinks...

'Dad, this is all I ever wanted! I hope Mom's watching wherever she is, because this is for her!'

'UNITED STATES OF SMASH FOR THE SUN!'

For the Sun is a final move specially created as an emergency strike, made to quickly unleash the potential of Toshijiro's quirk and force the foe to get crushed by only a fraction of the sun's g-forces.

Class 1A watches as their teacher and assistant teacher put All For One down for good. The battlefield shudders, and the son is the first to emerge, the sun going back to being dawn, his body scalded and burnt but his father still standing, pointing behind him.