#also like..finishing a piece ever would be...revolutionary

[deadite-central]

Every so often One Piece gets an arc that mostly focuses on lore/world building reveals, biggest examples probably being Reverse Mountain, Jaya and this one: Reverie, as we leave our main characters and focus on the shifting powers in the world

Immediately out of the way, it’s a joy to see Shirahoshi again, currently watching the Fishman Island remake as it’s coming out with my friend and man I still love her so much. Seeing her finally free to make decisions for herself, after everything she went through during Fishman Island, is such a joy to see, she can finally see the real world! And we continue on what Queen Otohime said: the youngest generation is who will be shaping up the world anew

Speaking of shaping up the world: We finally get to see more of the Revolutionary Army!! I have a very special place in my heart for Lulusia. Seeing how much the Revs inspire the people, I get really emotional. Call it growing up in a country still affected by a regime that ended years ago, seeing that a bit of hope can change the mentality of people, even in a fictional story, means so much to me. Especially with the added bonus of Moda’s clothing reminding me of some traditional Polish folk wear. The Revs themselves have great designs, love them all

Reverie itself has one of the cutest meet ups, with the three princesses saved by the Straw Hats finally meeting and immediately becoming friends. Shirahoshi, Rebecca and Vivi are all characters I adore, if I didn’t make that clear during their respective arcs, and seeing them interact and gush over the Straw Hats together is so sweet. It also shows just how much positive change Luffy has brought into this world

There’s this thing Oda does ever since the end of Dressrosa that I like to call the Doflamingo jumpscare. Doffy may not be a mysterious guy, or an actual threat anymore, but with how much he had been set up since Jaya it would be a disservice to his character to just not mention him at all, and that’s how we get here. Doflamingo clearly knows something that us readers can only try and piece together, something that still makes him a danger, something that still makes him important. He’ll make a comment whenever something big happens to the plot that will leave you wondering for days on end what was that about? It’s a really good way to build up hype and mystery, and also to utilise a character like him

And right after we get that, we’re met with a new reveal: Imu. I will be reinstating a point a made in TikTok a while ago, but what makes Imu interesting to me, is how from the first panel you see them, it immediately clicks that this is THE guy. I absolutely adore the dark blob design, which is why it pisses me off so much where people try to give them an appearance. Let Oda do this at the right pace man. In the manga they’re already incredibly eerie, and they get more and more ominous as the story goes along, but I have to give huge props to the anime this time, Imu was terrifying in Egghead

Also remeber Charlos getting punched to oblivion in Sabaody? The first time was so nice we gotta do it twice!! And the reveal that it’s Mjosgard, the guy who seemed like every other Celestial Dragon during the Fishman Island flashback who realized his wrongs and actually tried to use his power as a Celestial Dragon to do good, is great. Mjosgard shows that the Celestial Dragons at their core are humans, which makes it all the more terrifying that their wealth makes them believe they’re higher beings. It’s scary, but realistic

We haven’t seen Bonney in a while, and she’ll become important in a few arcs, but here we get some neat foreshadowing for her and Kuma’s relationship, as well as teases of the Sorbet Kingdom. In retrospect, these scenes are so, so important now that we know what happens on Egghead (unless you’re not caught up and if so GO READ EGGHEAD RNNN)

We finish the arc of with some genuinely insane panels, starting with what started the Rat Haired Shanks agenda, which leaves you absolutely shocked when you first see it. After all, it’s hard to believe Shanks would conspire with the gorosai, right? I’m not getting into Elbaf spoilers but this is important to keep in mind, as it leaves you with so many questions. And then, the absolutely jaw dropping panel of Imu sitting on the throne where no one should be sat, and the gorosai, who are supposed to be the highest power in the world, bowing to them. Literal chills

[blissfulip]

Dopamine

On AO3

Viktor x f!reader

Rating: Explicit

Tags: enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, dubious science, mostly canon compliant, no use of y/n, chemist!reader, eventual smut.

Cw: That weird guy being weird

Words: 1.6k

[A/N: tags and content warnings to be updated in each chapter, updates weekly. (also, let me know if you want to be tagged in fic updates!)]

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Chapter 2: Walking through water

He slept in for the first time in over a year, and although catching up on all those missed z’s was a welcome feeling, as soon as he woke up and sat at his desk, the uneasiness of not knowing what to do rushed over him.

Walking through water instead of air, the feeling of resistance that accompanied every task Viktor worked on drove him up the wall. It was bad enough that he had no access to any of his equipment, but he was also not allowed to retrieve any of his annotations from the lab to take home, so he was left with a pair of notebooks and some blueprints he had in his briefcase. It wasn't enough. 

Resignation. He was usually capable of extracting even the smallest things from thin air, but the circumstances and the maddening lack of resources had finally gotten the better of him. Before long, he felt the onset of something he hadn’t experienced in years: boredom. The invitation of his brain to play, desperate for stimulation. But Viktor was lost, this wasn’t something typical of him, and he didn’t know how to quench this thirst. 

He rummaged around the few volumes he had on his desk—nothing he hadn’t read at length before. Cleaning was quick and fruitless, it turns out that not spending any time in your own home proved to be the best way to keep it clean and organized. And of course, the fridge was empty, he didn’t remember the last time he ate a meal in that kitchen, let alone made one, but at least this need for sustenance could be turned into an assignment, so off to the market he went. 

It was sunny out. Not scorching, but pleasant enough to make this short walk enjoyable. The bubbling sounds of children running around, two people fighting near the fruit stalls, and vendors trying to talk over each other, the citric scent that turned into earthy basil that turned into peppery spices almost overwhelmingly fast—it was nice, he thought, and he lazily dragged his feet along the market, lingering a bit too long before walking back to the dormitories with what he needed.  

Cooking was surprisingly enjoyable as well, and he tried (unsuccessfully) to find a justifiable reason as to why he didn’t do it more often. Soon enough, the meal was finished, the food eaten and the dishes done, and the gentle feeling of rich accomplishment he had felt so far melted away when he found himself bored stiff.

And when he accepted that this problem had no solution, his mind landed on you, the culprit. He recalled all the previous instances in which you had interfered with his work before, like the time you had burned your eyebrows off with some strange flammable substance and had the progress day presentations postponed, and the time you had used all the magnesium alloys for an (excessively scaled, he thought) ‘experiment’ and left him without any for the pieces he was manufacturing, or the time the first hextech intern he ever hired had a complete meltdown over you rejecting him and had to be transferred. Granted, that last one wasn’t your fault, and Viktor never really held it against you, but it was just another case in point to prove that if something was related to you, it would probably be a problem for him. 

When memoirs are written about exceptional minds in history, there’s always something about all the trials and tribulations they had to endure—the obstacles on their way to greatness. And it’s not like Viktor thought he would ever get something like that written about him, but if he did, if he ever invented something revolutionary enough to warrant something like a memoir, it pained him to think that there would probably need to be a whole chapter about the pesky chemist that constantly tormented him. 

Even when he wasn’t working, you were there, a constant. Your thunderous laugh and the clicking sound you always made when you were in deep thought, your sarcastic remarks and the eternal self-satisfied grin you carried. Viktor found himself thinking about that way too often. 

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

The notification on your door to be present at the conference hall the next morning ruined your mood. You had been having quite the day off and were already making plans to get back to reading all the poetry books you had bought at the fair last summer, so the sudden promise of work had you deflating like a balloon. 

You noticed that the hall was packed, and that it probably wasnt equipped to host the entire roster of researchers the Academy had. You tried to distract yourself from the claustrophobic feeling brewing in your stomach by chatting with Moira about the crazy date she'd had the night before. Unfortunately, you were not going to get to the best part, since Heimerdinger came up and tapped the microphone lightly before she could talk about the guy's bad table manners.

"Attention, please, everybody! There, quiet down, please. Yes, thank you.” He started. “I’m sure you might all be wondering why I have gathered you here, and I am happy to announce I have great news to give you!”

Murmurs could be heard from various places along the hall.

“As you all know, the Academy had to make the difficult decision to close the laboratories temporarily due to the recent explosion at the manufacturing facilities. We know how distressed and impatient you must be to go back to your work and how frustrating the prospect of an entire month of idleness feels to brilliant people like you all,” he paused, seemingly for effect. “Thus, the Academy has decided to organize a seminar with some of our brightest minds at each of our research divisions, which will take place at the conclusion of this month-long absence of activity.” 

The quiet muttering gradually became a cacophony of confused exclamations and flat-out grunts of annoyance, but after people started to quiet down again, he continued.

“Everyone will be required to attend, but only one person per department is to be voted internally, both to be involved as an organizer and as a speaker. I shall leave you to it now, and expect a list of the chosen people at my desk by the end of the day, as well as one update at the end of each week leading to the date of the event. Good luck, my dears!” 

With that, he jumped off the platform he had been standing on to reach the microphone and left the room, ignoring any and all clamors of bewilderment. After some minutes of complaining, though, the people from each department begrudgingly got together to get the voting over with. Some of them chose randomly, others put it up to an actual vote and chose the person everyone thought was a better speaker, and others had volunteers. To your dismay, you were chosen to speak on behalf of the chemistry department. And, not surprisingly, Viktor volunteered on his end. 

No more than 30 minutes later, everyone else had left, except for the chosen people. A man from Biology you weren’t familiar with, Lara from Arts and Performance, a lovely older lady from History and Anthropology, Corso from Language and Literature, that weird guy from Poli-sci, Viktor, and you

The morale was not up the walls, even though you were all happy to have something to do, having to organize an entire workshop conference as well as the presentation each one of you had to give felt like more work than you would normally do at your respective labs. Not to mention, you knew this was nothing more than a copout for the academy, throwing this at you so that you didn’t get any free time without them having to get involved in any organizing themselves. 

Regardless, after a short talk, you decided to split into three groups. One would be in charge of the scheduling and agenda; the second would take care of the venues; and the last would take care of advertising, leaving Lara to design and print the flyers and posters. 

“Let’s team up, sweetheart, I know this amazing place downtown where we can organize everything.” You came to learn that his name was Asher, and you thought that name was not fit for how much of a sleaze he was.  

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I’m banned from that part of the city. I caused a three-way collision between 2 horses and an electric bike; there were no casualties, but I can’t be within a 3-mile radius of there.” You said with a deadpan expression. 

“What? Seriously?” He asked. Everyone else was either completely confused or mildly horrified, but Viktor knew you well enough to let out a small huff. 

“Of course not.” You chuckled and then picked up one of the folded-up pieces of paper Lara had been writing on for everyone to draw a name from. 

It was your turn to be horrified when you unfolded the paper and read Viktor’s name on it. After the initial shock wore off, however, you could’ve sworn you felt something akin to relief. Perhaps it was due to being saved from having to go with Asher, or maybe it was because Viktor was the only person there that you knew, even if you didn’t get along. 

But as it usually happens, any positive sentiment you ever harbored towards him came to a halt as swiftly as it came, when you heard him grunt in displeasure. You weren’t in the mood to throw any jibes at him in front of everyone, so you simply rolled your eyes. 

“1:00 p.m. tomorrow at the café near the night market. Bring a notebook, I left all of mine at the lab.” You said not bothering to look up at him as you gathered your things to leave the hall. 

You interpreted his silence as agreement. 

[thedarkmongoose]

SPOILERS: i have mixed feelings about the bear s3 but knowing that s3 & s4 were written/filmed at the same time makes sense. s4 will prob answer s3's q's. (A LOT was left open-ended) usually i love that, but it felt like the show lost itself in certain places, esp the self-indulgent finale. all stories are indulgent to some degree, but too much decadence rarely leaves room for substance.

and i get why they tried to do the chef's table thing, but other than andrea, syd, and luca, everyone else's acting was disjointed and trite. but i loved ep 1; it was an ethereal, artsy, meditative piece (peace) that was necessary after the chaotic s2 finale. however, as a big fan of the show, it was hard for me to finish the eps.

the standout in s3 FOR SURE was tina's ep - directed by ayo. glad we got her backstory. personally i liked her anxiety-inducing job hunt bc it's really like that irl, esp for older woc. the sobbing while eating a free sandwich was relatable, and the mikey convo was super impactful. but as much as i loved the ep, it still felt superficial compared to s2 'forks' (richie) or 'honeydew' (marcus). we never see her son again either; all we get is tina yelling at him to quiet down.

then there was marcus's mother's funeral which seemed like it was going to be more central to the plot than it was. i wish we got more. and claire is still one of the most underwritten characters EVER. nothing about her or the mis en scène really sells it that she's a doctor lol. and the scene with the faks trying to apologize on carmy's behalf was beyond cringe. i like matty matheson - i have his cookbook, but there was entirely too many faks in s3.

and let's be real: where was ebra & sweeps? ebra has such an interesting story that i'm HOPING we get to see in s4. sweeps too - he tried out for the chicago cubs! but on a positive note, i loved the chemistry between syd/luca. it was v sweet and organic. wonder if they'll be a thing in s4 since luca is carmy's foil. too bad marcus was barely in s3, tho the hug between him & luca at the party was cute. syd's meltdown mirroring carmy's in s2 was also a nice touch.

idk how to feel about sugar's labor scene. most praise it, but it didn't hit the same for me. donna's over-acting (the whole series) is really distracting and i can't take her seriously. ik she's supposed to be mentally unwell, but it borders on cartoonish. the hospital moment was heartwarming, but again, artificially. and pete was so underwritten too, just so they could have that mom moment. i liked the scene with him and syd tho. it felt authentically awkward.

i also understand what they were trying to do with the finale, but it was a flop for me. the scene with andrea/carmy staring out into the chicago night was introspective and beautiful, but the msg doesn't hit all the way bc we have a group of wealthy celeb chefs saying it's okay to stop while you're ahead and enjoy life while you can. every second counts. unfortunately for those who are not celeb chefs, it's not that easy to simply "enjoy life."

on one hand, i agree that food is life and restaurants have been community "third places" forever (essential to life itself; historically, like when revolutionaries would gather at pubs or cafes). however, do i think that fine dining and the "art" that comes with it is necessary? no. if there were more spots like the original beef/bear in the world tho, that would be a good thing.

[pseudowho]

Hello Haitch!! Hope you doing well 💞💞💞

First off, I wanted to say that I LOVED your analysis on Nanami’s dislike for working but also still doing overtime. Not only did it just make sense, it also felt so real and relatable to me. I’m not the type of person to procrastinate. My checklist is there so I can get my work done and when I’m finally free of responsibilities, I can actually enjoy my break. But sadly work for now is unending, and I found my past self pulling a Nanami Kento staying up till who-knows-how-late just to finish… only this week’s assignments when there will be more next week?? at the cost of my energy, mental health, back pain??

And if I remember correctly, there was this one post you made about why you love Nanami: the rage, the fiery, passionate anger! *chef’s kiss.* The part where I fell for Nanami (I fell hard) was that he was able to, like you said, redirect it to a purpose of altruism. Somehow, Nanami makes some good out of it in a merciless, parasitical (as Mr. Haitch said) system. It’s not revolutionary systemic change, but it is certainly enough to have an impact on the people he cares about. I think that’s the perfect amount for Nanami. That just makes him even more human and precious to me 🥺

I also want to bring up the things that Nanami does for himself too. Like what we talked about earlier, he found value in helping others not just for them but also for himself! Also, I think he definitely upped his self-care game, and we do love a man who can take care of himself. Probably the most obvious indication of this is how he set clear work-life boundaries in his schedule. He will not work past 6:00 unless he has to. This would probably allow him to enjoy the rest of his evening off, as he should. It is even more pronounced how being a jujutsu sorcerer means you don’t know when your time might end. I’m just glad that Nanami was able to at least have the time to read that one book in a peaceful cafe we saw in the first season opening. I also think that the same concept applies in real life too. We deserve to enjoy the limited time we have on earth because even if we are working for the possible future of no more work, it is not certain that we’ll even make it.

Yaga said something to Yuuji when he first got accepted to Jujutsu High. Sorcerers will die regretting something in their life. That just stuck with me for throughout the entire show. Nanami’s scene emphasized his regrets of not being able to go to Malaysia where he can finally live a simple, unburdened life. I never really cried hard for a show or a movie, until that scene… Yeah, so I had to take the following day off and go take a nap on the beach just lying in the sun just thinking about Nanami…

———- (covering two asks in one) ———-

May I possibly convince you that perhaps some classical music is worthwhile? The ones that make me swoon and melt and sigh while daydreaming. Not bach, not mozart, not beethoven…

But specifically the romantic era. And even in there you have to do a bit more digging.

Just the first minute and if you like it, then that’s awesome! if not, that’s cool too!

- Rachmaninoff’s symphony no. 2, movement 3 (Adagio)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QNRxHyZDU-Q&pp=ygUecmFjaG1hbmlub2ZmIHN5bXBob255IDIgYWRhZ2lv

*sighs dreamily because yes.* I think a large majority of classical music is hard to enjoy for me too. It will either make me fall asleep or it is super busy and complicated, not good to listen to while doing work… but there are certain pieces that I’ll just always go back to.

Moving on, it makes me wonder… what types of music do you listen to? Opinions on the JJK opening and ending songs? What type of music wouldn Nanami listen to? Did you know Nanami has a theme song??

Ah, I just wanted to say that you’re literally the reason why I downloaded tumblr just to like all your posts and follow you. It’s the first fandom I’ve ever interacted with, and I never could’ve imagined how exciting and insightful it could be to be a part of it 💗💗💗

I honestly love your addition to this analysis! I agree with all of it.

r.e. the self care, I think it adds an extra layer of tragedy to his life; as soon as he began to open himself up to experiencing joy, and permitting himself to be happy before this self-imposed 'retirement' age, he died before getting into his stride.

See, with Nanami's MalaysiaPlan™️, I view it as largely metaphorical over totally literal. I think he fundamentally was overworked, stressed and overpressured, and 'Malaysia' simply meant 'running away from it all'. I think that if he hadn't died, and his self-care had continued to gain trajectory as Kento found a way to ensure a good work-life balance, I think 'Malaysia' may well have slipped away; he would no longer need to run away, in order to find peace and enjoyment in life. Therefore, dying before 'Malaysia' simply meant he died before achieving his true goal; to be content in life. Which is desperately fucking sad. A truly, miserably, horribly sad end for a wonderfully three-dimensional character.

In the AU that is. In the Haitchverse, he's alive, and coming home to his loving wife, and teaching Yuuji how to be a man.

I will always give more music a go. Ultimately, I've recognised that I'm quite a Maximalist with decor and music; more is better. I'm into metal with a lot going on, any music which has extensive layers, I tend to go for your more passionate, angsty songs as well. This is where classical loses me; despite being ostensibly a work of art, which I can appreciate...it's just instrumental. It leaves me lacking. It's a meal with no main course. I get to the end and I'm still hungry.

I like Bad Omens, Babymetal, lots of J-rock, K-pop, lots of other pieces from various metal artists. Bigger is better for me, r.e. music, unless it's an exquisitely crafted understated piece in a minor key, that hits every fine note with devastating melancholy accuracy.

I did know Nanami has a theme song! The thing that makes me laugh hardest about it, is that I think he'd find his theme song annoying.

Now I genuinely do HC Kento as a metal enthusiast, and really not in a self-project-y way. Hear me out.

Metal contains most of the truest, rawest proclamations of the world's ills of any other music genre, in my opinion. Behind the roaring line beautiful lyrics speaking out against the tortured of the system, and the woes of life. Listening to it is surprisingly upbeat; it's like being seen for feeling the world is a twisted place.

I tend to find Metal attracts a lot of quietly sensitive men, who are outwardly stoic but internally a maelstrom. With the very classic 'emo' haircut as a teenager, that was very much the remit of the emo/metal kids, I think it suits him well.

The Eve's second JJK opening is my favourite. Honestly one of my favourite of all time. Lost in Paradise is my favourite end theme.

Last but not least: I truly cannot believe you downloaded Tumblr just to like my stuff. I do not deserve such a beautifully targeted compliment. You're a sweetheart. Genuinely. Thank you.

Love,

-- Haitch xxx

[bobbybutterfly]

I have a post lined up about my latest finished SaH doll. But it’s taking just far too long to finish. So I thought I would make a different post in the meantime. Getting ya’ll up to speed with some of my SaH digital art. Starting with a piece I finished just now VISUAL KEI MULORI for @32girassoisdevangogh !

Hope she looks alright. I should have done more research before jumping straight into it. Ever since I discovered pen stabilisation inking became way more enjoyable. I just have to have a sketch I made on paper underneath because unless it’s something simple like the things in the panels and the petals then it’s not going to end well. Let’s just say that.

I first learned (maybe somewhere else before that but this is what I remember) of Visual Kei I would say was in a Rainbow High Review of sorts by Negative Legend on Youtube. She mentioned it would be neat if more dolls would represent this subculture. I looked it up and personally didn’t like it.

Well. Things are different now. I heard the calling of the darkness. I’m a fan of the trad goth style and Visual Kei looks awesome. Thanks for reminding me of this subculture with this art trade.

Now for something more cheerful. It’s the return of my OC Shiho Tenshi. I don’t know why I started thinking about them again. But here we go.

They’re wearing an outfit inspired by Princess Knight, a revolutionary shoujo manga. I started watching the anime when I was in England and it’s so fun! Also the main character is what we would call now nonbinary. Although you could make an argument that Prince Sapphire is trans masc. It’s thought to say.

Yeah. I don’t have much to add to this. Just happy to draw them again.

What’s this? A new OC alert?!

It’s a white rabbit everyone! We always need more of those. Inspired by 1920’s I Shanghai Art Nouveau posters it’s Ai Yuen. She’s a silent film actress and a spy. Originally I wanted her to be a spy for the Weasel Empire but now I think she should be a spy for Flower Hill. She seduces the animals she spies on. Tricking them into thinking that she’s just some bimbo you can spill all your secrets to.

She’s a mean girl only out for herself. She knows she’s talented and looks good. She knows her worth. Not going to lie, major lesbian vibes. I don’t know why. She grew up relatively poor and climbed that ladder. Getting rid of everyone who stood in her way. Deep down she’s really lonely. But she hates the idea of being vulnerable and needing others so she pushes it down with opium and other drugs.

Then she meets Shiho Tenshi. Someone with a similar background to her. But instead of being all alone they have their big acting troupe that’s like a found family. Ai slowly starts to open up. Thinking to herself that she’s only getting closer to Shiho because of her mission. A mission that would lead to her getting killed by Flower Hill if her true feelings were to get out.

She’s one of the OCs I made just because why not. I don’t have any ideas what to do with her. Well. Maybe I could make a doll of her later down the line? Let me know what you think.

[spectrumtacular]

Top first-time watches of 2024 (feature film edition)! Top documentaries here.

My thoughts under the cut.

The Twentieth Century (Rankin, 2019)

A Mackenzie King biopic for people who have something wrong with them so naturally I loved it. Genuinely though it's brilliant bit of satire that cuts straight to the heart of Canada's national impotence, the way we're a nation that doesn't know how to define itself and doesn't think enough of itself to care, as embodied by our longest serving PM. Plus I looooove Rankin's visual style here; it's Caligari meets My Winnipeg meets Zero Patience, and I couldn't get enough of it. Also shoutout to the Diefenbaker easter egg, that was a personal highlight as I'm obsessed with him.

The Battle of Algiers (Pontecorvo, 1966)

....and at the reverse end of the political cinema spectrum we have The Battle of Algiers lol. This one's a triumph of neo-realism, a revolutionary call to action that grabs you by the throat and squeezes. Riveting plot, powerful themes, excellent sound design, effective use of that newsreel style, with solid performances all around, I get why this is considered one of the all-time greats -- it really is that good.

Pennies From Heaven (Ross, 1981)

If you have ever asked yourself what it would be like if Brecht made a technicolour Hollywood musical, this is the movie for you. It's a dynamite deconstruction of the genre, a really engaging exploration of musicals-as-escapism as seen through a Depression-era sheet music salesman's descent into crime etc. It's also a technical marvel; BEAUTIFULLY choreographed and shot, I think "Let's Misbehave" + "Let's Face the Music and Dance" are some of the greatest musical numbers ever put on film. My only qualms are that the sexual politics are a little iffy and that Steve Martin was maybe not the best choice for a dramatic role, but the whole lip-syncing device is cool enough to make up for it.

She's Gotta Have It (Lee, 1986)

In my Spike Lee era this year and it's entirely because of She's Gotta Have It, I think the introduction of Mars Blackmon rewired my brain chemistry. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant style, the cinematography + editing + score had my jaw on the floor from start to finish. Also has a really engaging plot with some terrific dialogue, especially in the first half. I will say that Nola's a little flat and Lee REALLY fumbled the rape scene, but otherwise I think it's a great exploration of female sexuality + the male reaction to it.

Police Story (Chan, 1985)

Some of the finest action sequences ever captured on film!! Extraordinary choreography on all the fight scenes, lots of big and inventive stunts that had me at the edge of my seat, and slapstick that was laugh-out-loud funny. Even beyond the set-pieces, Jackie Chan is such a pleasure to watch -- the moonwalk scene had me grinning ear to ear, as did the bit where he's juggling four phone calls. NEED to see more of his movies in 2025, they're just an absurdly good time.

Elevator to the Gallows (Malle, 1958)

Best noir of the year for sure. Plot is predictable, but done well enough that I was still thoroughly engaged. It helped that it was GORGEOUSLY shot; looooved the opening robbery sequence, everything in the elevator, and the interrogation room in the third act. Also, the score!!!! Miles Davis the man that you are!!!!

Brand Upon the Brain! (Maddin, 2006)

Genuinely what's going on in Winnipeg that makes every director from the city Like That™? Is it all the snow? Is the Jets? Is it the fact that the rest of the nation simply does not care about Manitoba, not even enough to make fun of them? Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining, love love LOVE seeing some Winnipeg Weird; I think Maddin's the best thing that's ever happened to Canadian cinema, and this is probably my second favourite film of his (after My Winnipeg obv); a surreal visual treat, playfully made, with an engaging Freudian nightmare plot... how do we get the rest of the nation to match this energy, I need another five million of these things STAT.

The Human Tornado (Roquemore, 1976)

The pinnacle of so-bad-it's-good cinema, a hysterically funny action spectacular from Dolemite himself, Rudy Ray Moore. Kung fu! Stand-up comedy! 70s fashion! Visible boom mics! Exploding cars! Lengthy sex hallucination sequences! Jump cuts for literally no reason! The most fun I had all year! Stream The Human Tornado on Tubi TODAY!

Friday Foster (Marks, 1975)

Another dynamite blaxploitation flick, but one that's like genuinely solid; sure, it's cheaply made and the plot's paper thin, but Pan Grier and Yaphet Kotto are so incredibly charming as a buddy-cop duo that I didn't even notice until like halfway through that the movie made no sense. Also has a great score, great costumes, great chase scenes... it's incredibly fun, just a rip-roaring good time.

[danse--macabre]

20 questions for writers

thank you for @jiubilant for the tag! :)

tagging anyone who'd like to do this.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Across all accounts, 33 works.

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

203,958. damn!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

currently, just BG3. in the past I've written pieces relating to elder scrolls (mostly Morrowind), star wars, and avatar: the last airbender though.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

The Eyeliner Incident

seeds of darkness planted within you

To pull a heart apart strand by strand

Flowers for Zuko

Considering the Weekend

I've bolded and linked the ones here worth reading; the other two are ancient star wars ficlets that I'm not particularly fussed by.

5. Do you respond to comments?

Where possible I do! If people leave comments on older works or fandoms I've moved on from, I sometimes don't always get around to it.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably Considering the Weekend. Which makes sense given it's a Disco Elysium fic about mostly-closeted gay/bi cops in love, who will not be able to break their chains until they realise the police is a violent force of capital.

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

A lot of my ATLA pieces have lighter endings given the source material is a lot lighter. The Eyeliner Incident and Follow the Rhinestones are both fics which I think could have had worse endings - but didn't. I wanted to be optimistic in both circumstances.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Luckily, no.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Not really?

I wrote exactly one piece of smut for Elder Scrolls (The Sword that Lies Between Them), which was a fairly chaste piece of lesbian smut all about two rival queens/political leaders in the 1st era circling around each other while one is about to be married off, politically, to a man she has complex, not entirely romantic feelings for. It was my first attempt at it and I think it shows.

Since then, I've tried to write smut for BG3, but it hasn't really ever materialised.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I don't write these, but I do frequently think about the Elder Scrolls/BG3 crossover where my weird dwarven Elder Scrolls OC Bthemetz gets yeeted out of her universe by the nautiloid -- which, tbh, doesn't feel that out there, Mindflayers are Aberrations that originate from Far Away in at least one iteration of D&D lore.

She'd get on with them swimmingly. She's a highly traumatised 3,000 year old ex-priest + ex-revolutionary who got turned into an automaton after dying in a revolution who is 1. technically undead, 2. had her heart literally stolen for lore/plot reasons, so she is shaking hands very firmly with astarion and karlach for various reasons. She'd have the funniest rivalry with gale given she hides much of her bullshit under the appearance of being an eccentric professor, but also she hates wizards on principle.

It would be a hoot. Nobody would read it. I am not writing something no one would read <3

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, luckily enough.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've had a request for this once on a popular ATLA oneshot I made - but I don't think this was ever realised. I also had one ATLA oneshot turned into a podfic for charity.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

I've attempted this, but it never materialised into anything.

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

f!Kagrenac/Bthemetz from my Morrowind dwemer fanfiction. First loves whose codependent 500 year old lesbian relationship turns toxic after the discovery of a deity's remains. Breaks down with an academic feud, treason, attempts at apotheosis, and the revelation they killed each other in a past life. Despite the fact that one sends assassins after the other to kill them, they're still utterly obsessed with each other. Literally nobody else is doing it like them.

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

The Tragedy of Lady Noriko. This was an Ursa-centric ATLA fic that explored her familial relationships & relationship with the Avatar, and wanted to provide an 'alternate universe' Ursa who would not abandon her children - for better or worse. A Covid-19 project that ran out of steam once work picked up.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think I have a few! My current favourite thing about my writing is that I think I have a very strong sense of narrative voice. I'm able to capture how different characters sound very well. I have historically (though less nowadays) been very good at poetic prose too.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Plots! Particularly mysteries, or plots that require lots of pieces. My writing is mostly embellished character pieces and I would like to tackle something where more happens one of these days. I also think I have issues pacing and knowing when to start/finish scenes.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

I think it depends on the audience, the language, the length of dialogue, and the intent. It can sometimes be very meaningful, especially if one is trying to make a point about the importance of languages, languages as a means of bridging divides, and lack of language as something alienating, potentially, or isolating.

However I will say in a large number of circumstances I find it deeply pretentious. I was reading... a well-loved literary fiction classic by a well-loved London novellist recently, and the fact that the French dialogue was not translated drove me up the fucking wall. There is no reason not to provide translation unless you want to show off how clever you are.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

When I was nine years old I wrote a diary from the perspective of Jack Spicer from Xiaolin Showdown. I definitely didn't know what fanfiction was at that age, I just had an urge to create things using fictional characters. I didn't even use the internet back then, I remember this was back on 'the family computer' in 2003 or whatever.

If we're talking about published pieces, I put some (sigh) Eragon fanfiction up on ff.net back in 2010. I was a teenager, obviously.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

it's the Eyeliner Incident. It's a combination of interesting worldbuilding + fun characterisation + formally interesting without being overly wanky. I also wrote it in about five days, in time for my birthday (<3), and because I wrote it in such a short time, I didn't have time to resent it.

A Thesis: On Twelve Tones is close to my heart as well but I have a MUCH more mixed relationship with that in terms of pure writing quality even if I think it's one of the most significant pieces I've written in terms of developing as a writer.

[veritys-suspects]

MUGSHOTS ASSORTED MUSINGS AND ASSORTED QUOTES

(rewatching them all bc i have some time on my hands)

muscles loves his doggies

“IM GONNA SUE FOR FALSE ARREST!!”

thanks for pointing out verity is single, knuckles

I gotta question his KID BROTHER ELBOWS

there’s been some kinda misunderstandin 😌

THATS A BETTER PIECE THAN THE ONE CHECKERS WEARS ON HIS HEAD

it’s the silver tongued prince of the courtroom Billy crimp!!! “Go ahead ask me anything about PENGUINS”

Mickey is NOT the GOAT!!!

Ok I am a big Billy Crimp fan

WERE BACK PEOPLE

Episode 11: The One Where Verity Arrests Her Own Dentist

there’s a LOT to appreciate

“Chatty Cathy’s next, you got it - she never stops talkin”

CATHYYYY IS SO PRETTY

a dental hygienist shouldn’t smell THIS bad

I hear the lower guilty sax!!!

rainbow hair talkative chatty princess is innocent 💖

OW that’ll teach me not to floss regularly

marge simpson melted her contacts

“I can’t tell if he’s playin me like that bass of his, so let’s move onto Willow Reed”

Willow was my favorite suspect as a kid bc she’s pretty

FINGERS WEINSTOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

“that was some other guy”

“I hate to see a willow weep but that clarinetist better learn to play jailhouse rock”

MY LEMON SISTERSSSSSS

the savages.

honey was at the DOCTOR (also they count her hairspray as part of her height and I like that)

honey: don’t I look beautiful?? verity: a real stunner :)

candy IS playing us for a sucker

“verity verity verity!” “sugar, sugar, sugar…”

“the youngest sister is named puddin…guess they were running out of names”

“the guilty one’s practically confessed” nice!

honeys bitten off more than she can chew!

log nut and his arrow

AHHHH IM WITH STUPID

“ever try singing the star spangled banner it ain’t easy”

I WAS IN ALASKA SNAPPIN PICTURES OF MOUNT RUSHMORE!!

“would’ve won too if I hadn’t hip checked Sheila into the judges table”

Larry is probably supposed to be a robber baron (more on this later)

yay scooter!

YA KNOW the ones that can hold ten gallons of water

APPLESAUCE WENT LEGIT

let’s take a listen to MITCH VANDERBILT 😂

A TOLLBOOTH?????? Yes this Mellon Ball guy was most likely supposed to be in the Felonious Four instead of Larry because he mentions a TOLLBOOTH

*insert Lois dumping gallons of water in a cowgirl hat*

“Mellon Ball knows his left from his right but not his right from his wrong”

“Now that I’ve put this case to bed, it’s high time I did the same” is ICONIC

did someone say PENGUINS??? Billy crimp intensifies

I’ve been wondering the same thing Dean 🐧😂

“IM A BIG REVOLUTIONARY WAR BUFF!!” yea right

yea why can’t dean go to Florida

“Yea, I was at the zoo!” AHA WE GOTCHA GILBERT

“why would i want a penguin?” “why indeed”

FAX MACHINE

“The only person DeLuca wants to take for a ride is me”

“Hammerstein invented something too - his story”

“Good to see not everyone has a thing for penguins”

his name is BABY FACE

“gotta believe me man, I mean woman”

aaaaa budgie aaaa parakeet aaaaand a PYTHON

ok I kinda love slippery fingers

those…YAHOOS

“Leo the lion Lawrence is LYIN.”

we love danger jones!!!!!!

“let’s move onto irv goldberg, let’s just hope his alibi is better than his health”

“ME AND MY OLD LADY WERE AT A MOTORCYCLE CONVENTION IN BRAZIL!!!”

come closer…now you listen GOOD

awww he’s a nice granddad :) or so we think…

how did irv even do that???

go Mildred!!!

DING A LING BROTHERS CIRCUS

“HAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA you’re joking verity”

pecs knows TERRARIUM is wrong

I want to flip over

Ivana is drop dead gorgeous

“Hey, I could look that good too…if I had that face and that figure” bro same!!!

titanium, TERRARIUM, and aluminum

BAA BAA WHIPLASH!!!

she’s pretty AND innocent and I like that!

Nah, Ivana isn’t stealing your boyfriend, Verity

peeper’s eyes are listed as “creepy”

UTTERLY IRREPROACHABLE

jimmy-the-geek makes TOOTHPICK SCALE MODELS

Jean-Pierre is INNOCENT OF THE CHARGE

“let’s finish up with Hossenpfeffer floog…her name’s so ridiculous, she doesn’t need a nickname”

“You haven’t been doing your homework VERITYYY”

“that’s funny…her name I mean”

“The pyramids are still around…more than I can say for Floog, cos she’s goin’ to jail”

Verity would do anything for love but she won’t do THAT (“that” being date a dweeb)

Scars: NOT A CHANCE!

“I AM INNOCENT LIL LADY!”

Lollipop Greene is MUCH TOO CUTE to do anything wrong!

“Sir Percival St. John, old school British actor with the emphasis on ‘old’”

not so hot in the cooler eh

hold up, this is a CHILD she is throwing in prison (I am aware juvie is a thing, but still, Lollipop is young enough that her front teeth haven’t grown in so I can assume she simply hasn’t learnt about aviation yet)

“Just because sir Percival is innocent doesn’t mean he’s a good actor. I’ve seen him perform - the guy can’t even act his age”

Bean ball was reading a BOOK

“I’m not accepting taffy from this guy even if I had gloves on”

PAIN in the neck

“I hope they got better books in prison, cause that’s where ballou’s headed”

Edgardo has to use his phone to call his lawyer

“Grandma should be proud and 6’6 by the look of things”

I love Dusty’s little scoff she does after her alibi, it adds a bit of personality

“Twins…that makes Indy either half as smart or twice as dumb”

“I WAS AN AT AN ANTIQUE STORE BUYING 18TH CENTURY CONTACT LENSES 😡😡😡”

Nah, Long isn’t getting a break

ANOTHER COOL GIRL INNOCENT SUSPECT we love you Dusty

“I guess (Dusty) plants the tomatoes so she can ‘ketchup’ with the other racers!!! …hey, no one said crime was funny”

TOUGH GRANNIES!

I’m kinda terrified of Gertrude

THE CUTEST LITTLE COMA

Verity is yapping according to Elaine

“I’m innocent and I want out of this joint”

Mathilda canonically watches professional wrestling

“Amazing what those new vitamins can do”

Did you know you’re going to jail Gertie!

ELAINE GETS 5 TO 10

Fixing the Tuesday night bingo games ❌

Ice Hockey ✅

BRACE YOURSELVES!!!

You know aaaaaa mules a cross tween a HORSE…

…and aaaa DONKEY?

“do you smell a rat, even if Noseless can’t”

OH YA! 3 of em

Harry the Hairy is eleven foot two

“Big Noggin Simms…need I say more?”

“Now that this case is solved, I can breathe a lot easier…wish I could say the same for NOSELESS”

[evyisaks]

Okay I finished the movie and as someone who hasn't read the book, I feel like this movie was made for people who read the book. Because I think that they put way too much trust that the readers/fans of the book would be able to piece the missing scenes and plots together. They relied way too much on the book fans doing the work for them, and I feel like it's a shame for the book fans who are probably missing a lot of key plots. And it's a shame for non-book fans who are kinda left with plot holes and do I dare to say, not fully developed characters. It does do a good job though on making me want to read the book.

Because as someone who hasn't read the book I just didn't get anything from the characters. I spent 2 hours with these characters and couple and I got so little information about why they are the way they are. What they like. What they don't like. Why they love each other. The ilys felt sudden and rushed and so did the first kiss, and I missed the part of them becoming friends during the enemies without benefits stage, which IMO didn't last long.

I just needed more time with Henry and Alex too, but especially Henry. I needed to see him talk more with his sister and not just hear about it. I needed to know why Alex felt so strongly towards Henry, and I needed the same from Henry. What was different?

With that said, I still enjoyed the movie and it wasn't a bad movie but it wasn't a good one either. It was just everything that we need sometimes - a cheesy Hallmark movie with bad dialogues. Questionable editing and pacing. Also lack of character developments.

Not every queer movie or show needs to be revolutionary or the best thing ever. Sometimes all it needs to be is a slow-mo scene of the prince of England and the presidents son dancing and locking eyes to "get low".

The chemistry was there though even if it sometimes wasn't. It's confusing but def recommend this because it's all I ever wanted. I would love to have this movie when I was struggled with my own sexuality and internalized homophobia. Just a cheesy half good, half bad movie about the bisexual son of the president and a gay prince.

[lyanndelune]

Summer Reading/Writing/Arting Tag

Tagged by @sylvienerevarine thank youuuuu ��

1: Describe one creative WIP project you're planning to work on over the summer

So, I got two here lol. I'm planning to work on 'Touching The Sky', my Skyrim Fanfic more. I can't regularly work on it, so chapters will be slow, but I have a lot planned and outlined and excited to share it all when finished. Outside of Fandom, I'd also like to do some songwriting about LGBT and feminist issues, two things I'm extremely passionate about.

2: Rec a book

So A Song Of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin is my favorite book series ever. Yes, that's where Game of Thrones comes from. My personal favorite book of the series is A Dance with Dragons

3: Rec a fic

My favorite fanfic at the moment is A Line in the Sand by @electricshoebox Not only is the original fic amazing, but so is the sequel, and everything in the series for that matter. Also, check out their Fallout Noir AU, it's just 11/10 top tier.

4: Rec Music

I got a few albums you all might wanna check out. All 3 are great albums but the latter 2 I would argue are integral to music history in general, like the velvet underground alone launched so many genres and sub-genres. I could go on for days about this one haha

Plastic Beach by Gorillaz

Unknown pleasure by Joy Division

The velvet underground and Nico

5: Share One Piece Of Advice

Hmmm not fic related but here's something, might sound a bit cliche but to me, this means a lot.

In a world that mandates particpation in capitalism, compliance with the state and obedience to your employer, the most revolutionary thing you can be is yourself.

I'll tag @electricshoebox @mareenavee and @avantegarda

[maybeamiles]

HOOO BOY it's been a hot minute since I posted one of these, let's talk about Dressrossa!

I took a hiatus in the middle of this arc and moved countries, so it took me a lot longer to finish it than I would have liked. But it's done and now I can talk about it.

I definitely liked the character drama in the first half more than the brawl in the second half. Once the birdcage came down there wasn't much to do but punch our way to the top, and I feel like One Piece's fights have been really weak ever since the Paramount war.

This arc was really about cementing Law as a part of the team, and I like that for him. His backstory was really well done, if incredibly sad.

Highlights: The way Luffy's home country was compared to Dressrossa was fascinating, and the theme of being perfect only on the surface and everything slowly being revealed was really cool. And the new Navy Admiral is, for once, not a piece of shit. He has a moral code and firm boundaries. I like that he set those boundaries with Aokiji and called out the way the world government pretends to be god (he should totally look into this thing called the revolutionary army). It was amazing to see Sabo in action again. His fighting style is really unique and I love how the chief of STAFF carries a STAFF. Overall he's far more heroic than Luffy. I didn't expect to like Cavendish as much as I do, but his pretty boy with a dark side quirk and the fact he's the only one to figure out Doflamingo wouldn't let anyone off Dressrosa alive has endeared him to me. I loved the expressions of genderqueerness in this season, with Luffy going by "Lucy" and nobody questioning it or Franky's double-braid hairstyle.

The final fight between Luffy and Doflamingo felt like a low point. As cool as Luffy's gear four was, the King Kong Gun felt incredibly underwhelming. Some of that is my own personal preference, as I prefer my fights to be an exchange of blows and banter rather than one-hit wonders. I can also see why they would choose to do a fake-out death since Luffy needs to prove that Gear 4 is not his maximum power, and he can go beyond that. I still felt underwhelmed.

Overall, 10/10 first half, the second half could've been better, looking forward to more character drama.

[aroundthecoffeepot]

Hetalia fic recs for Feedback Fest 2025

Here are Hetalia fics I highly recommend! It was difficult to keep it to ten fics and, as you will see, I failed L(° O °L) I've tried to select a good range of style, length and genres, so there's something for everyone ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

The list is in descending order of publication date:

A Singular Affair — Part 1 & Part 2 by original_yazzy (England/Prussia) Single dad Arthur, struggling to raise his eleven-year-olds Matthew and Alfred, meets single dad Gilbert, also raising a young son, Ludwig. AU.

This was the first Hetalia human AU fic I read way back in 2009, and it has gone on to mould in my mind of Arthur being this incredibly multifaceted character. I still recall it most fondly.

The Consolations of Philosophy by orphan_account (France/Russia) So if I was a Russianist I would write a proper study in English on Franco-Russian relations during the Enlightenment, since the currently available ones are atrocious. Since I am not, however, HERE, HAVE PORN. With dancing and philosophers in.

A historical fic that has touched my soul indelibly. I don't think I'll ever forget the electrifying feeling of my first read. An absolutely gorgeous piece *chef's kiss*

The Timbered by sadlygrove (Egypt/Greece/Turkey) The dark voice of the Empire does nothing to detract from the beautiful green eyes, like the sea at dawn in both color and chill. Egypt dives in.

M/M/M 3some pwp with dp and possibly the hottest piece of erotic fanfiction I've ever accidentally stumbled across in the fandom's heyday. When I say I couldn't breathe!

Unwritten Rules by jedishampoo (America/France) France/US. France gives Revolutionary America some lessons in diplomacy. Sexy diplomacy.

Funny, sexy, and sweet - just an all-round fun smutty read!

Only This Moment by archestofenemies (England/France) France/England: Victorian gentleman Arthur winds up in the company of the handsome farmer Francis. Will he be able to keep from throwing himself into those muscular, sun-bronzed arms? No. De-anon from the kink meme, finished.

This is the quintessential FrUK fic for me! I don't know who I love more in this fic, Arthur or Francis - they both deserve each other (complimentary)! A joyful read, 11/10!

Untitled.avi by Delgumo (America/Russia) [no summary]

Okay, fair warning, this fic is not for everyone. I first read it on AFFN, and when I say it had me in a grip...!! It was my first real experience of reading a confessional/"unreliable" narrator-type of fiction that truly shook me like no publication has ever managed to do - and I think this would struggle to be professionally published, it is just so visceral and plain horrifying. Truly a difficult read, one I can't recommend to just anyone, but I couldn't leave it off this list as it has completely changed my entire perspective of what not just fanfiction but simply fiction can evoke in a reader.

No Need for Long Goodbyes by Delgumo (America/Canada, America/England, America/Liechtenstein) The pain from a life filled with sexual and physical abuse festers inside of Alfred, pushing him to lash out at the people he loves the most.

Bruh this fic will have you feeling feelings (and not all good) but damn if it ain't the best piece of longfic I've ever read! It probably says something about me that I can't quite explain, but Arthur is my favourite character in here. I'm sorry uwu

Snatch your happiness from the days to come by Mossy_man (China/Russia) Omegaverse self-indulgent porn in communist uniforms. God save the Tzar.

Post-WWII RoChu fic that yanked me back to the heyday of canontalia, and GOD it's just an absolutely rich and beautiful fic! The imageries are to die for! Love it so, so much <3

acuerdo by southerngothics (Southern Italy/Spain) It’s still new to him; four months is an eternity for humans, perhaps, but perspective has shortened and condensed time into a coiled thing, folding over on itself until the entire stretch of it is thin as parchment. Four months is the blink of an eye. And the fighting has not stopped since he set foot upon that little island kingdom; he hasn’t had time to truly process it all. That Romano is his��now. That they are together. That every morning he will wake up and Romano will be here, and that every night Romano will be asleep in this bed. It still seems like the far-fetched dream Pedro had cooked up in hushed tones, away from the menacing glares of el Papa. Spain is convinced, somehow, that if he blinks, reality will throw its punch and he’ll be back in Palermo, crushed under that damned France’s boot. In 1282, King Peter III of Aragon is crowned King of Sicily.

Another gorgeous piece of historical prose and a delightful, if disturbing, character study of Spain. How is it @torontofetish's first ever Hetalia fic in the year of our lord 2024? I need more from them!

My gentleness (is not for you) by Mossy_man (China/Mongolia/Russia) Our sex had always been full of misery. Of Mongolia's bitterness and China's sour resentment. But now when they are free from each other he can use another source of approval.

When I say I spent bloody years trying to capture China and Mongolia's relationship, and the one time I requested it of Moss and they delivered in spades... Biting my knuckle raw in envy at their talent, but also fuck writing I get to simply read this piece of pure perfection aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Bonus:

Holiday fling by Mossy_man (China/Russia) For smuttyandabsurd.

A birthday fic for me, tailored to a personal degree of the author's view of me (apparently?), and a gift I shall cherish all my life ( っ˶´ ˘ `)っ

[regalokitchen8130]

Modular Kitchen Trends You Can’t Miss in 2025

Source of Info: https://www.regalokitchens.com/blog/modular-kitchen-trends-you-can%E2%80%99t-miss-in-2025

Modular kitchen in 2025 will emphasize both design and functionality, with multifunctional islands, smart storage, and functional layouts. In order to optimize space and maintain a clutter-free design, homeowners are adopting advanced storage options like pull-out shelves and concealed cabinets. A modern cooking experience can be enjoyed by smart equipment that are effortlessly incorporated into the design. Other popular choices are earthy colors and eco-friendly materials like bamboo and repurposed wood. Regalo Kitchens, the biggest kitchen brand in India, sets the standard by providing customized, stylish, and effective solutions that meet modern demands. Explore these revolutionary trends to stay ahead.

1. Smart Kitchens for a Smarter Home

The kitchen is not an exception to how technology is changing our daily life. In 2025, smart technology will be included into modular kitchen to improve efficiency in cleaning, cooking, and kitchen management. Anticipate features such as:

• Voice-activated devices: Use voice commands to operate your oven, refrigerator, or lights.

• Smart storage options: Smart storage options include temperature-controlled drawers, automatic lighting that switches on as you arrive, and touch-opening cabinets.

• Touchless faucets: No more awkward handles when your hands are dirty—just wave your hand to switch on the water!

These features provide unmatched convenience and efficiency while also making life easier and your kitchen more sensitive to your demands.

2. Eco-friendly Designs and Sustainable Materials

Modern kitchens are becoming more environmentally friendly as the environment remains the main focus. A significant trend toward recyclable products is anticipated in 2025, such as recycled wood and sustainable hardwood cabinets.

Low-VOC paints to enhance the quality of the air.

LED lights and energy-efficient appliances.

In addition to being excellent for the environment, an eco-friendly modular kitchen makes your home healthier for you and your family.

3. Minimalist Aesthetics with a Touch of Luxury

 Your kitchen seems stylish and well-organized with hidden storage options including built-in organizers, hidden cabinets, and pull-out drawers. Consider handleless cabinets, integrated appliances, and smooth surfaces to create a seamless, luxurious kitchen design.

4. Vibrant Color Accents

In modular kitchen, striking color pops are becoming ever more common, even while neutrals like white and gray still prevail. Vibrant backsplashes, statement countertops, or colored cabinets in shades like navy blue, emerald green, or even brilliant yellows can give your room personality.

Mixing bold colors with a neutral base gives your kitchen a chic and modern look, making it stand out without feeling overwhelming.

5. Multipurpose Kitchen Islands

Food preparation is no longer the exclusive use for the kitchen island. Multipurpose islands, which can be used as eating rooms, work areas, or even places for social meetings, will be the main attraction in 2025. These islands frequently have seating areas, power outlets for charging electronics, and built-in storage.

A multifunctional island combines your modular kitchen into a vibrant gathering place for mingling, working, dining, and cooking.

6. Glass cabinets and open shelving

In 2025, open shelves will still be popular. It makes your kitchen feel lighter and more spacious, which lets you display stylish dishes, plants, or other accent pieces. Glass cabinets are a fantastic choice if you would rather keep items hidden but yet want an attractive feature.  

7. Natural and Organic Finishes

Use natural colors and finishes to add an additional touch of nature into your kitchen. Natural textures, wooden floors, and stone counters all contribute to the comfortable and warm ambiance. These components provide a stunning contrast between modern and rustic appeal when used with elegant kitchen design.

8. Effective Storage Options

The creative storage found in modular kitchens is well-known. Designers are stepping it up in 2025 with options such as:

• Corner drawers and pull-out shelves: Maximize every inch of space, even those hard-to-reach corners.

• Dedicated pantry units: Make sure your ingredients are easily accessible and well-organized.

• Storage that can be customized: Shelves and compartments that can be moved to meet your needs.

No matter how hectic life gets, you can maintain your modular kitchen clean and neat with these solutions.

9. Smart Lighting Solutions

In a modular kitchen, lighting is essential for creating decor and improving utilization. In 2025, more smart lighting options should be available, such as LED strip lighting under cabinets for improved visibility while preparing.

• Dimmable lights that make it simple to switch between ambient mood lighting and bright task lighting.

• Lights with motion sensors that switch on when you go into a room and off when you exit.

In addition to making your kitchen more useful, well-lit spaces also draw attention to their attractiveness.

10. Space-efficient and Small Designs

With urban living areas decreasing, modular kitchen are adjusting by offering small and space-saving designs. These designs prioritize making the most of available space without compromising functionality. Foldable countertops, wall-mounted storage units, and retractable tables are just a few examples of how customized kitchens make even small spaces highly efficient and stylish.

Final Thoughts

By combining technology, the environment, elegance, and functionality, 2025 modular kitchen trends will make your kitchen a real representation of modern life. Adding an adjustable kitchen to your house adds simplicity, beauty, and long-term value.These trends will help you make decisions whether you're planning a full kitchen renovation or just a few tweaks. You can design kitchen modules that enhance daily living by focusing on what works for your requirements and lifestyle.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

I finished another novel right before the end of the year, one I figured would be good but ended up surprising me. We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. And I can solidify it's importance really quickly. George Orwell cited it as a huge influence on his landmark 1984. Huxley denied it being one on Brave New World but that's been disputed and notably the big feminist dystopian authors like Margaret Atwood and Ursula K le Guin have a lot of good things to say about this one. We was written by a Russian author during the very early days of the Soviet Union. Which gives things a very different tone if you keep in mind he's writing this well before the most brutal years with Stalin. This one is much more about taking the Bolshevik ethos to it's logical conclusion mixed with a pretty heavy critique of religion. The shared space of ideologies trying to create a "perfect" society.

What does that look like in practice? We don't see as much brutality in the United State. A city under a great glass dome where everyone moves according to a very orderly schedule. The apartments are all glass as well, there's no privacy aside from brief scheduled sexual encounters and it's all very stable, very sterile. Where I feel this one really shines is in the mindset of our protagonist, spaceship engineer D-503. It made me realize right away how other dystopian heroes are often written to be relatable to us to the point they don't always make sense if the world's been like that for a while. Like, it makes sense for June in The Handmaid's Tale because Gilead is still in its early stages but D-503? He feels very appropriately alien to the reader. The writing style to convey this really makes We stand out, because he describes things so mathematically and like someone who has only known this society that existed long before him. Makes it a little harder to read, but the book is also broken up into 40 very digestible journal entry chapters so it balances out.

All in all, solid piece of literature. Has that element of a lot of foundational pieces in a genre where the norms it didn't set really stand out. I feel like especially if you look at the newer wave of dystopian YA fiction there's been this trend since 1984 of focusing more and more on the gore and the appeal of following revolutionary zeal because we all want to stand up against something. Which isn't a bad thing but it takes away from the critique of modern society the genre is supposed to be. Not saying it's a fault of The Hunger Games, but have you ever noticed how popular that series is with people today who are completely unable to recognize they themselves are championing the elements of our culture it criticizes? By being willing to be less accessible, having a protagonist that really feels like part of his world, We nails it better than anything else I've come across.

[aroundthecoffeepot]

Here are Hetalia fics I highly recommend! It was difficult to keep it to ten fics and, as you will see, I failed L(° O °L) I've tried to select a good range of style, length and genres, so there's something for everyone ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

The list is in descending order of publication date:

A Singular Affair — Part 1 & Part 2 by original_yazzy (England/Prussia) Single dad Arthur, struggling to raise his eleven-year-olds Matthew and Alfred, meets single dad Gilbert, also raising a young son, Ludwig. AU.

This was the first Hetalia human AU fic I read way back in 2009, and it has gone on to mould in my mind of Arthur being this incredibly multifaceted character. I still recall it most fondly.

The Consolations of Philosophy by orphan_account (France/Russia) So if I was a Russianist I would write a proper study in English on Franco-Russian relations during the Enlightenment, since the currently available ones are atrocious. Since I am not, however, HERE, HAVE PORN. With dancing and philosophers in.

A historical fic that has touched my soul indelibly. I don't think I'll ever forget the electrifying feeling of my first read. An absolutely gorgeous piece *chef's kiss*

The Timbered by sadlygrove (Egypt/Greece/Turkey) The dark voice of the Empire does nothing to detract from the beautiful green eyes, like the sea at dawn in both color and chill. Egypt dives in.

M/M/M 3some pwp with dp and possibly the hottest piece of erotic fanfiction I've ever accidentally stumbled across in the fandom's heyday. When I say I couldn't breathe!

Unwritten Rules by jedishampoo (America/France) France/US. France gives Revolutionary America some lessons in diplomacy. Sexy diplomacy.

Funny, sexy, and sweet - just an all-round fun smutty read!

Only This Moment by archestofenemies (England/France) France/England: Victorian gentleman Arthur winds up in the company of the handsome farmer Francis. Will he be able to keep from throwing himself into those muscular, sun-bronzed arms? No. De-anon from the kink meme, finished.

This is the quintessential FrUK fic for me! I don't know who I love more in this fic, Arthur or Francis - they both deserve each other (complimentary)! A joyful read, 11/10!

Untitled.avi by Delgumo (America/Russia) [no summary]

Okay, fair warning, this fic is not for everyone. I first read it on AFFN, and when I say it had me in a grip...!! It was my first real experience of reading a confessional/"unreliable" narrator-type of fiction that truly shook me like no publication has ever managed to do - and I think this would struggle to be professionally published, it is just so visceral and plain horrifying. Truly a difficult read, one I can't recommend to just anyone, but I couldn't leave it off this list as it has completely changed my entire perspective of what not just fanfiction but simply fiction can evoke in a reader.

No Need for Long Goodbyes by Delgumo (America/Canada, America/England, America/Liechtenstein) The pain from a life filled with sexual and physical abuse festers inside of Alfred, pushing him to lash out at the people he loves the most.

Bruh this fic will have you feeling feelings (and not all good) but damn if it ain't the best piece of longfic I've ever read! It probably says something about me that I can't quite explain, but Arthur is my favourite character in here. I'm sorry uwu

Snatch your happiness from the days to come by Mossy_man (China/Russia) Omegaverse self-indulgent porn in communist uniforms. God save the Tzar.

Post-WWII RoChu fic that yanked me back to the heyday of canontalia, and GOD it's just an absolutely rich and beautiful fic! The imageries are to die for! Love it so, so much <3

acuerdo by southerngothics (Southern Italy/Spain) It’s still new to him; four months is an eternity for humans, perhaps, but perspective has shortened and condensed time into a coiled thing, folding over on itself until the entire stretch of it is thin as parchment. Four months is the blink of an eye. And the fighting has not stopped since he set foot upon that little island kingdom; he hasn’t had time to truly process it all. That Romano is his now. That they are together. That every morning he will wake up and Romano will be here, and that every night Romano will be asleep in this bed. It still seems like the far-fetched dream Pedro had cooked up in hushed tones, away from the menacing glares of el Papa. Spain is convinced, somehow, that if he blinks, reality will throw its punch and he’ll be back in Palermo, crushed under that damned France’s boot. In 1282, King Peter III of Aragon is crowned King of Sicily.

Another gorgeous piece of historical prose and a delightful, if disturbing, character study of Spain. How is it @torontofetish's first ever Hetalia fic in the year of our lord 2024? I need more from them!

My gentleness (is not for you) by Mossy_man (China/Mongolia/Russia) Our sex had always been full of misery. Of Mongolia's bitterness and China's sour resentment. But now when they are free from each other he can use another source of approval.

When I say I spent bloody years trying to capture China and Mongolia's relationship, and the one time I requested it of Moss and they delivered in spades... Biting my knuckle raw in envy at their talent, but also fuck writing I get to simply read this piece of pure perfection aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Bonus:

Holiday fling by Mossy_man (China/Russia) For smuttyandabsurd.

A birthday fic for me, tailored to a personal degree of the author's view of me (apparently?), and a gift I shall cherish all my life ( っ˶´ ˘ `)っ

Welcome to Feedback Fest 2025

Welcome to International Fanworks Day Feedback Fest of 2025! To participate, leave a comment under our post recommending 10 fanworks and spread the joy of fandom! Read more at: https://otw-news.org/yckvy6vh

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[kamreadsandrecs]

By Vince Mancini

Oppenheimer is a sumptuous drama from one of our finest directors working at the top of his game—but there's only so much information you can pack into a three-hour movie. The movie entertains and makes you feel dumb in almost equal measure, making it hard to escape the basic takeaway that we probably should know a lot more: About this guy, the Cold War, the birth of the Atomic Age, and quantum physics in general. And while you can (and should) head straight to Wikipedia, the real lore is in books and documentaries, and here are 11 to get you started. 

At the risk of being painfully obvious, the book on which the movie was based seems a logical place to start. Written by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, it was published in 2005 and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Nolan reportedly began adapting it after Robert Pattinson gave him a collection of Oppenheimer’s speeches as a parting gift when the two finished Tenet. (It would’ve been called “Oppie” if not for a last-minute veto from an editor.)

The other big book on the subject, from Richard Rhodes, published in 1987, which also won the Pulitzer Prize. Focused more on the general history of the bomb than on Oppenheimer himself, Rhodes relied heavily on lengthy interviews with the scientists and engineers of Los Alamos.

Less well-known than Rhodes or Bird and Sherwin’s books, UC Merced historian Gregg Herken received a MacArthur Grant to write this history of the nuclear age, told through the three titular personalities, Oppenheimer, Lawrence, and Teller—who you may now know as Cillian Murphy, Josh Hartnett, and Benny Safdie.

For those of us who prefer watching to reading, there’s Jon Else’s Oscar-nominated 1981 documentary about Oppenheimer’s anti-proliferation advocacy. 40-year-old documentaries can be tough to find these days, but this one is luckily available from the Criterion Channel. “Through extensive interviews and archival footage, The Day After Trinity traces Oppenheimer’s evolution, from architect of one of the most consequential endeavors of the twentieth century to an outspoken opponent of nuclear proliferation who came to deeply regret his role in ushering in the perils of the atomic age.”

Also in the documentary department, there’s PBS’s 2009 re-enactment-style documentary about Oppenheimer and the subsequent battles over his communist affiliations, produced as part of the "American Experience" series, starring David Straithairn as Oppenheimer. Directed by David Grubin, it’s about as straightforward a telling of some of the background information covered in the film as you’ll find. (It’s also available on Apple TV.)

John Hershey’s 30,000-some word report focusing on six survivors of the first atomic bomb exploded on a civilian population initially took up an entire issue of the New Yorker in the summer of 1946, and was turned into a book soon after. It’s one of the most famous pieces of journalism ever, to the point that it spawned an entire book about the making of it – Fallout: The Hiroshima Cover-up and the Reporter Who Revealed It to the World, by Leslie M.M. Blume. Chances are you’ve already heard of Hiroshima, but the perspective it offers from the bomb’s actual victims is the mandatory counterpart to any Oppenheimer viewing.

If Oppenheimer advances (somewhat) the traditional narrative that the A-Bomb was the revolutionary weapon that ended the war, Princeton historian Michael D. Gordin presented a counter-interpretation in his 2007 book that “the military did not clearly understand the atomic bomb’s revolutionary strategic potential, that the Allies were almost as stunned by the surrender as the Japanese were by the attack, and that not only had experts planned and fully anticipated the need for a third bomb, they were skeptical about whether the atomic bomb would work at all.” 

If the race to beat the Germans to developing the atomic bomb is the obvious cinematic center of Oppenheimer, Nolan devotes a surprising portion of the film and especially the last hour to the 1953 hearings over Oppenheimer’s security clearance, which was denied over his alleged communist ties (and, according to the film, all spearheaded by Oppenheimer’s nemesis, Atomic Energy Commissioner Lewis Strauss, played by Robert Downey Jr.). In this volume, Cornell historian Richard Polenberg drew on annotated transcripts of the hearing and Oppenheimer's subsequent appeal, as well as declassified FBI files, to create a portrait of the Cold War atmosphere of the time and what the hearing's outcome meant for Oppenheimer and for the world. 

If Oppenheimer presents a fairly sympathetic portrait of Robert Oppenheimer in his relationships to his left-wing friends, this pair of articles from Esquire and the New York Review of Books are… less sympathetic. The former also offers detailed interpretations of Oppenheimer’s conflict with Strauss. 

Oppenheimer opens with its subject trying to understand, and then teach, the truly strange and seemingly paradoxical science of quantum physics. Certainly there are more scholarly works on the subject, but probably there exists no goofier introduction to subatomics than AC Weisbecker’s 1986 cult semi-autobiographical novel about a pot smuggler who becomes obsessed with quantum physics and his dog. The easiest way to learn something is by accident, and it doesn’t get more accidental than this footnote-heavy farce.