#and it reads like funny and candy but it's actually very well done on a technical level so that was super cool

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

end of year book asks! 16 and 17 (over-hyped books or surprisingly good books) OR if those are already waiting in your askbox, give me 2 that no one asked but you have an answer ready!

hi there!! thanks for asking! referencing this post.

16. What is the most over-hyped book you read this year?

....okay full disclosure i have now been staring at my shelves for five (5) minutes trying to decide if i've read ANYthing that counts as "hyped," much less "over-hyped" and honestly i am...not sure that i have haha. NK Jemisin is fabulous as usual with GREAT CITIES, so she obviously doesn't count, and i did also really enjoy STARLING HOUSE (although that's probably the closest thing i have to hyped on my shelves).

i was fairly underwhelmed by HOW TO SELL A HAUNTED HOUSE by Grady Hendrix, but i'm not sure that one hits the Hyped Threshold haha. i just found him. mediocre. but i feel like i'd heard good things about him so... *shrug moji*

17. Did any books surprise you with how good they were?

i was surprised by how gripping and tense THE NIGHT GUEST was (many content warnings apply). i was not expecting to have as good of a time with DAYSWORK by Bachelder and Habel as i did--same thing with KAIJU PRESERVATION SOCIETY. i love happy surprise reads!

thanks again for asking!! game is still ongoing, if anyone else wants to play :)

[alyszuha]

what the bsd charcters would get at the gas station (as a gas station employee)

a/n: i wrote this while bored at work a few months ago in my notes app, and thought it would be funny to share. nikolai's is def my favorite. enjoy.

dazai - just black coffee like a few times a day. he would talk to the clerks and is friendly to the point where he gets free coffees. flirts with the young women working but we cant tell if he is actually or not because he’s just hard to read. i can’t tell if he smokes or not but if he did he would get marlboro black 100’s.

atsushi - white cherry gatorade and some chips. very average customer. might eventually become friendly with the workers but hes a bit shy, and is surprised when the workers ask him how he’s doing.

kyoka - snack cakes. doesnt talk at all other than saying thank you. sometimes comes in with atsushi.

kunikida - coffee as well. very respectful and if he likes it will become a regular and add it to his schedule. everyone likes him. will occasionally rant about a coworker that annoys the fuck out of him (hm i wonder who).

ranpo - a fuck ton of candy and soda. like takes several trips back and fourth with handfuls of random ass snacks. he’s annoying as fuck about it too.

akutagawa - water. probably goes to the self checkout too, just does not wanna talk to anyone.

chuuya - premium gas and occasionally cigarettes. he’d get some odd type too like winstons or very specific marlboros. he doesn’t talk much unless the worker talks to him. but me and my younger female coworkers would definitely gush over him when he first starts coming.

hirotsu - he would get some old people shit like tourneys or parliaments and say “in a box”. but is patient when the workers take a second to look for them because literally no one gets them.

oda - marlboro black 100’s (which would have inspired dazai's choice). doesn’t talk much.

ango - water and a small snack like a doughnut or peanuts.

tachihara - mountain dew voltage. very chill and talks to the workers. if he finds anyone attractive would lowkey flirt.

tecchou - he would find some type of snack that no one knew we even had. like the byson meat sticks that are definitely expired.

teruko - look i love her but i KNOW this bitch door dashes shit, and it drives us nuts because its always when we’re busy.

fukuchi - he gets beer and would pay with like a 50 dollar bill. my friend i work with would make an inside joke about him being our sugar daddy.

nikolai - (this is something an actual person has done) walks in , says hi and takes an entire fucking tray of lighters before walking out.

fyodor - calls the store and scams the worker for hundreds of dollars.

edit: should i tell more stories about working at a gas station? because i have a lot. i also wish i could have put in the time i was serenaded by a customer when i was by myself. but idk who would do that. maybe dazai??

[gaywineauntsstuff]

Okay listen I adore batsibling content in fanon but each group gets a different type

Gossipy more like friends 80% of the time. will shit talk each other but if anyone says shit they’re getting decked. It’s fluffy but in the “you know I love you right?” Is said really awkwardly after the other sibling is surprised you’re on their side way Jay and Dick

Sweet and fluffy I don’t like angst in this at all give me a very healthy very wholesome soft relationship that’s just good all the way through Tim and Dick

So sweet it hurts tooth rotting fluff needs the same taste as cotton candy with the weight of a brick Dick and Damian

Bratty younger sibling and anger issues older sibling get into fist fight and are hugging 30 secs later. Will punch each other in the face and then defend the other one against their parents without blinking. Damian and Steph

Very very awkward affection like I love you and would die for you but we’ve had like 3 whole conversations. Damian and Jason (on Jason’s end Damian’s a lil shit)

You know when your little sibling is finally no longer insufferable and you can finally chill together at family events and you’re like. Fuck wait you’re growing up stop that’s illegal. Damian and Tim

“I broke your laptop”

“Yeah well I put nair in your shampoo”

“I should’ve killed you at the tower”

“Don’t be a lil bitch bc you couldn’t handle the gig”

Jason and Tim

Supportive big brother who brags about his sisters achievements while being a lil worried she’ll beat him and no one will ever need him again and baby sister who tries so hard and does so well and hopes she’s living up to their expectations (dick and cass)

I’m friends with your ex now and so sometimes I’ll bring it up to fuck with you bc I think it’s funny energy like Steph tells Cass about what Tim has done during their relationship and Cass who loves Tim but also women has to affectionately beat him up now (Tim and Cass)

Cass and Damian? I don’t think I’ve ever seen these too interact in a fic where Cass can speak actually…. Fuck we need more baby Assassins squared content in this fandom

Let us commiserate on the absolute cringe of everyone else here without acknowledging we are just as bad (dick and Steph)

Cass doesn’t like Jason and so I will leave them out

Remember these aren’t their canon relationships these are just what I like to read in fanon (inspired by their canon relationships in most cases but also fully canon with dick and Tim we ignore any authors who say otherwise my babies)

[kimio7]

Fics that defined my love of f1 rpf

In celebration of literally nothing actually, i bring you a fic rec list of some of my favourites!!! very condensed (100+ -> 15 not even including tumblr fics) and im kinda sad i cant put all of my favs down lol but these are like my must reads!!

pleaseeee read these if u havent already its all amazing even if you dont vibe with the ships themselves

Strollonso:

silver platter by atwater | E | 9k

Literally the first fic I've ever read and basically got me into this fandom (and ship). Theyre both so unhinged and amazing it's a very fun read. Probably the best written lance ive every read.

Make Sound by antimonyandthyme | E | 1k

Makes me so fucking insane no notes this is just amazing oh my god

I make two grand an hour by Kaytheologie | E | 3k

Literally so hot and so amazing. lance is so bitchy in this one is great. amazing writing and amazing premise, literally inspired me to sketch out something right after (might finish it at some point)

Sewis:

provenance by ecorone | M | 18K

Literally the fic that introduced and made me fall in love with sewis. it wrecked me like i still havent recovered at all. the writing itself is just, i vibe to it so much

The Numbering at Bethlehem by Kaytheologie | E | 26k

might be one of my favourite fics, ever. what a masterpiece genuinely the environment is just so immersive and lush. ive reread it a dozen time and it never gets old

Brocedes:

you're my purple candy high by nothoughtsjustvibes | M | 5k

baby's first brocedes 🥹 started my love affair with emotional destruction. ruined me when i just first read it and ruined me every time after that. The writing is so profound and laid out their tragedy bare.

the torture of small talk with someone you used to love by finedae | T | 2k

baby's first nico fic!! it also destroyed me!! i think this is the one that made me join f1br bc i was just so obsessed with the writing i needed to know what the author was like lol.

3344:

special research vessels by ecorone | M | 15k

listen i thought this ship wouldve been more popular than it is LOL or at least not as hated. regardless, i love this fic so much. I love the environment, I love the dialogue, the characterization, everything. It's just such an amazing reading experience

matchstick people by ecorone | E | 60k

if you havent noticed by now, im obsessed with this author. the prose, the characterizations, how beautifully the magical realism of it all was realized. horror as a genre is so underutilized in fanfics as a whole but when its done, its done amazingly. love love love

Others:

crude generalisations and vulgar simplifications by crescenteluce | E | 14k | Alexander Albon/George Russell

This fic is THE galex fic for me. it so funny and the writing is so witty its just fun to read. love the way the environment is constructed and it everything just feels so real. amazing

it's more than I can bear: this interminable want, turning and turning. by Anonymous | E | 2k | Fernando Alonso/George Russell

The vibes are rancid, the ships are niche, the writing is good. what more do you need? i love reading this and i love thinking about this.

Amen by sirius | M | 9k | Fernando Alonso/Lewis Hamilton

THE ferwis fic is my mind and mad me unreasonably obsessed with this ship. its so well written- like i love the characterization so much it makes me insane.

on golden sands bysionisjaune | T | 6k | Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg/Sebastian Vettel

Listen, this and the ships that go sailing are both just amazingly entertaining fics. its objectively such a good read and i enjoy spending my time reading it. its just so fun!

steal the air out of my lungs (make me feel it) by nahco3 | E | 26K | Daniel Ricciardo/Max Verstappen

My favourite medical au fic!! ever!!! everything is just so well realized and the characterization is just spot on!! love everything about this fic and nothing i say can fully explain how amazing this fic is!!!

Shutter Speed byantimonyandthyme | E | 18k | Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber

got me into photography lol. made me purchase my first actual camera. dont know what else to say its just that amazing

[luffyvace]

Heyooo :D

Robin's anon back (ngjfnjff this is so funny to type I hope you don't mind 😭😭), could I request Robin with a male s/o who always take care of the crew ? (He's either like a big bro or a father for some of them) For example : He always makes sure Zoro sleeps in a comfortable position whenever he suddenly takes a nap after training, he always brings to Nami new inks, maps, pens..., candies for Chopper (just like Robin hehehehe), food for Luffy... but in process he kinda neglects himself because he prioritizes the crew above all.

Thank you again for your kindness and I wish you an amazing day/night. ❤️😊

OH HIII ROBIN’S ANON!! i don’t mind you addressing yourself as that at all it’s how i remember you:) 😭!

AWW male s/o sounds so sweet! of course i’ll do this request!!

anytime anyday anon💗💗 you have a wonderful day/night as well <3

YIPPIE I LOVE THIS GIF OF ROBIN<3

ENJOY YOUR HEADCANONS LOVELY ANONYMOUS!!

sooo!

your so helpful!!

“SNACKS! oh gee thanks m/n!”

-luffy

”mmmm…huh? PUT ME DOWN?! oh..hmm…zzzz”

-zoro

”come in! oh m/n, what’s up? is that for me?! thanksss m/n!! your the best! i was running out of paper actually!!….just for the record i don’t owe you any beri for this you know..😗”

-nami

”ahh! m/n! actually i need your help with something…i had usopp to build this shelf for my books only to realize it’s too high..could you get that red one down and..maybe make it lower? hahah 😅”

-chopper

”ohhh! m/n! look! it’s my latest invention!! the only problem is..i’m missing a key piece…see here? it needs something to generate it! could you go back to the island and find something for me?? thanks a lot! i knew i could count on you!”

-usopp

”MMMM/NNNNNNN!!!! MOOOORE SNAAAAAAAAACKS!!”

-luffy..again

”m/n! i’m trying to cook dinner but luffy keeps pestering me! think you could wrestle luffy to go play outside or something?!”

-sanji

”oi! m/n just in time! i need you to go help me test out this SUUUUUUPERRRRR new upgrade i’m making to the sunny! go unfurl the sails!”

-franky

”WHAT IN THE WORLD?! THE LOG POSE IS FACE A COMPLETE 180!! WERE GOING THE WRONG WAY!”

”oh! whoops! i asked m/n to unfurl the sails so i could-“

💥💥 😓 😬 😡✊

(yes this sequence again)

”M/N FIX THIS NOW”

-nami

”m/n!! how very good to see you! i’ve come up with a new song! would you like to hear it? very well—i shall play!”

-brook

you ran to the library as soon as you could and flopped into one of the chairs

a hand touched your shoulder and you wanted to just completely melt away from how tired you were

and yet you were gonna have to help another person

nope!

just robin:)

i mean you didn’t mind helping but…today’s been a long day

robin sits next to you

you air your complaints and get a lot of much needed stress off your shoulders

she sprouts two hands from your back to massage your shoulders and it felt really good

she gives you advice to start saying ‘no’ a little more and that it’s okay to take some time for yourself

she scolds you only a bit when you do this but only because she cares

and especially because she loves you

💗

robin had a hand in the bathroom preparing you a hot bath while you vented to her

after you were done she told you about the shower

and boy it was a real steamy one

just what you needed

robin always knows just what to do when your exhausted

but would prefer if you’d simply solve the problem at hand

LOL

she lectures you about this and man does it drag on

oh well you’d much rather hear her soothing voice than overexert yourself

she recommends you things like meditation and reading

and maybe even to go to chopper about it

especially if things get physical like your back or arms hurt

zoros’ heavy ok?

spawns a bunch of arms to chop your back if that’s what you need

shes the best really

brings you drinks and honestly just caters to you until your feeling better

by then your ready for a hot meal and some sleep

which is exactly what happens thankfully

you two holds hands in your sleep and cuddle a little closer that night

SO SWEET 🥲

these were shorter than my norm

it’s ok bc quality over quantity right?? you can always request more i’m just sleepy rn 😋

also this was in a slightly different writing style than usual so i hope you like!! it’s not permanent tho

[dazais-secret-smut-stash]

10 Seroroki Fic Recs

Reviving this account to share some Seroroki fic recs, since us rarepair shippers are always in desperate need of more! This is also unofficially for @girlkiss3rr since they were asking for Seroroki fic recs a while back :)

Talk Nerdy to Me by Madame_Hatter and octobot

E | 20k | 10/10 | fluff and humor, smut, modern au, college au, sero is a tech support guy, shouto is horrible with technology, cue the romance

This is probably my favorite Seroroki fic ever. I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve reread it several times and it brings me joy every time. My original review: It’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s fluffier than cotton candy… I read the whole thing in one sitting. I regret nothing.

Sticky Fingers by Bellamia

E | 53k | 13/13 | modern au, camboy Sero, virgin Shouto, lots of smut

I’ve reread this fic a couple times and it never disappoints. There’s a bit of angst later in the fic but it gets resolved quickly. There’s also a lot of smut and daddy kink so if that’s not your thing, maybe try a different fic on the list.

Want To Ruin Christmas? by kerosenecrushh

T | 7k | one shot | modern au, college au, fake dating, pure fluff, gay panic

Full disclosure, this is my fic. I just finished writing it today! Features Sero and Shouto fake-dating for Christmas to piss off Enji.

Five times Hanta wore what he wanted and one time he wore what Shouto wanted by cat_and_dog_by_txt_is_literally_iconic

E | 18k | 6/6 | crossdressing, 5+1 things, smut, light angst (about the crossdressing)

Very well-written Hanta-centric fic. I love that top Todoroki is implied since I hardly ever see that with this ship. My only gripe is that they never got to actual penetrative sex even though it was hinted at a few times, but other than that the fic was incredible. In particular, the reactions from other characters about Hanta wearing more “feminine” clothes were really realistic and captured the range of responses other than “boys don’t wear that!!!!!!” His internal conflict was really well-done too— even though he never got the negative response he was always bracing himself for (to the best of my memory), I like that those insecurities that society as a whole gave him were still present. All around amazing fic, highly recommend.

4 A.M. and You’re Smokin’ Hot by octobot

E | 5k | one shot | modern au, bad cooking, they’re neighbors, smut

Can confirm, burnt kale chips are sent directly from hell itself. This was adorable, awkward, and hot all in one.

talk dirty to me by arxaris

E | 10k | one shot | dirty talk, smut, humor and smut

Todoroki playing dumb for sexy reasons is so genius of him ong. I keep rereading this, send help.

Ice Cold by kerosenecrushh

E | 3k | one shot | kinktober, temperature play, blindfolds, switching, smut

Another one of mine! I wrote this for Kinktober with the premise of temperature play. Takes place post sports festival.

like a good neighbor by arxaris

E | 60k | 7/? | phone sex operator au, lots of smut, humor, dumbass gays (affectionate)

Although it’s incomplete, this fic is so cute and sexy. I was screaming at my phone so many times while reading it. Dumbass x dumbass slow burn <3

Manga and Chill by kerosenecrushh

M | 2k | one shot | shotgunning, making out, miscommunication for humor purposes, almost smut but not quite

I wrote this one too! Features an invitation to “manga and chill” and a pining Shouto who doesn’t pick up on the hint

Send Nudes by arxaris

E | 12k | one shot | chatfic, sexting, humor, fluff, smut

Ah, the fic that got me into Seroroki. My original review: Stayed up until like 5 am reading this, giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. I’m not usually a fan of chatfics, but man. This one was adorable.

[brionysea]

tagged by @zannolin in a get to know me game!

last song: eat your young by hozier

favourite colour: rainbows (this means nothing) (<- lying)

last book: technically I'm reading 3 different books at all times but percy jackson & the sea of monsters is the most recent

last movie: elf

last show: arcane s1 as well

sweet/spicy/savoury: sweet? my first thought was tangy like sour sweets (candy, for the confused americans) (sour patch kids to be precise) for some reason

relationship status: no thank you :)

last thing i googled: an up and coming video game studio's website called republicgames. it's founded by the co-writer on detroit: become human who WASN'T david cage and all the people who actually made that game good are jumping ship which is very funny to me

current obsession: the small arcane s2 fix-it fic I'm writing where jinx actually acts jinxy. I love her so much she's like 'wow sevika this whole revolution thing of yours is so lame they never do anything. I was doing more when I was seven. believe in yourself losers <3' and everyone's like 'wow... the scary girl says to believe in ourselves... we should set something on fire' her power is unmatched. on second thought my answer might just be 'jinx' but this is more fun

looking forward to: ummmmm ? ???? ?? continuing my arcane s1 rewatch I guess? OH and finishing my s1 jinx photoset, it's like 99% done and I'm just messing around with the text positioning at this point but ugh it's so good. I love it. I love jinx and being creative about jinx it's what she deserves

tagging: @evergreen-lyricist @blueskiesandstarrynights @crashed-wing @agrebel18

[firendgold]

What a fun ships ask game <3 can I ask about Timetravel AU harrydore 🍩 🚗 🏝  💌

You sure can!

🍩 - their favourite snack to eat together? I can see them eating sherbet lemons together! The candy has been memed to death in fanfics, but in canon I don't think Harry ever actually has any of it—he just uses it once as a password in Chamber of Secrets. It's kind of funny to imagine Harry either introducing Albus to sherbet lemons unintentionally or being offered one by Albus and having a private laugh about "he still likes these!".

🚗 - which one drives and which one picks the music? Harry is definitely the driver and Albus annoys him to DEATH switching stations from offbeat song to offbeat song every three minutes.

🏝  - their ideal getaway? I actually have two answers for this.

You know that one scene in Goblet of Fire, where Harry's just had his first Voldemort-dream and he's wondering if he should write Dumbledore, and he imagines that Dumbledore is on vacation at a beach somewhere rubbing suntan lotion on his nose? That beach. That's where they go.

I think deep down, a part of Albus would love to go on the World Tour he never got to take. There's actually a non-time-travel harrydore fanfic which has Harry and Albus do this called A Moment's Surrender by inarticulateimbecile. (If you haven't read it, it is perfect and I highly recommend it!) Ever since reading that I have been even more convinced that this would be Albus' dream vacation. Ideally I think Albus would love it if he could travel as just another person, not as Albus-Dumbledore-Who-Will-Be-Stopped-Every-Five-Minutes, but eh. Priorities. Meanwhile, Harry seems to thrive in the midst of adventure, and as far as we know, he's never left Britain; so I don't think he would say no to a world tour either, especially with someone he trusts and respects so much.

💌 - a love note from one to the other? OOOH. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Dear Harry,

I hope you will excuse my forwardness in broaching this matter in this manner, but I have wrestled for some months now with a tongue that will not obey me when I try to bring this up in person. Too, I hope you will forgive my cowardice in waiting until I was a country away to send this letter with Fawkes. Between us, you were always the much braver man.

I must confess that I

Harry I

In the ten months I have been privileged to know you, you have overcome challenges I have seen devastate lesser men. More than that—you have never hesitated to stretch out your hand to help others less fortunate than you. You are kindhearted and compassionate, and your determination to do what is right is inspiring. Without your aid—and without your harsh words, which I admittedly did not react to well—I could never have taken the steps which were most necessary to secure your safety. Your happiness. Both of those things, your safety and your happiness, are very important to me. Even my cowardice is nothing in the face of disappointing you—though it rules me still, sometimes.

It is why I am writing you this from just beyond the borders of Germany—a mere Portkey away from Gellert's hidden stronghold. I know it may anger you to read this, to know that I have broken our promise and departed without you—but the thought of willingly subjecting you to Gellert Grindelwald gave me such nausea as I have never experienced before. Despite your magical power, your courage, your strength, your moral compass... you would be no match for Gellert and his machinations. He would observe you—he would realize your importance to me in an instant, and he would kill you.

Harry, I cannot bear to live in a world where you are killed because of me. Where you are dead at all.

I have no hope that you will listen to me, yet still I must ask: stay in Britain. Stay at Hogwarts, stay in my chambers for as long as you desire. No one will deny you your place, not after all you have done for them. Do not follow me; do not throw your life away.

Stopping Gellert from destroying our world is my penance; it has been my burden to bear for longer than we have known one another, my chicken finally coming home to roost. It is also my gift to you: A peaceful world, where you might find someone who will appreciate your hot head and your good heart as much as I have. Although... I must also confess to a good bit of arrogance. I do not believe there is anyone in the world who appreciates you as much as I do.

Harry, I have not left you with nothing. There will be a magical safe under your bed when you wake. Open it by tapping the left side twice with your wand, pausing for four seconds between each tap. The key to my personal Gringotts vault lies within. There should be more than enough gold to take care of you well into your dotage.

(Please do not give the money to Aberforth. He will swear at you, curse you, and then spend the lot on trifles out of spite. He has his own vault and is quite protective of what few belongings our family has left to us. I have already sent a separate letter to him asking that he treat you more kindly than he would me.)

Why do I tell you these things? Ah, because it is the only way I may work up to what I truly wish to tell you.

You must stay in Britain, Harry, where it is safe, because I love you most desperately, and the only way I can keep going is if I know that you are as safe and comfortable and happy as I can make you from afar.

Ah, Harry, it is easier to write after writing it once. I love you so. Even in this hellish place, the thought of you is making me smile. I have been fond of you since the moment we met, but now I cannot imagine life without you. I refuse to imagine such a thing. Thus I risk your fury, your disdain, even your disobedience—yet all those possibilities pale in the face of your possible death.

I will not ask you to return my feelings, or to wait for my return. Gellert and I are evenly matched, and you know the weapon he wields. It would be cruel to give you false hope that I might survive the coming conflict. But I will beg you: do not throw away your safety and anonymity for me. It is my intent to take him with me, and I would prefer not to find you waiting for me should I leave this earth.

Gellert's guards draw near, and I must seize the opportunity to catch them unawares. I must close this letter, much as I dread doing so.

Farewell, my love. Live well, my love. All I do, I do in your name.

Yours,

Albus Dumbledore

[physalian]

So, I’ve written posts utterly baffled by writers who think tackling the intimate nuances and complexities of minorities/ disabilities/ neurodivergences that they don’t have based on ego and research is just easy and no one will notice. But like… there aren’t rules for any of these demographics. All aces don’t think the same way, that’s why there’s like 20 different specific labels under the ace/demi umbrella.

But the reason I don’t think anyone can get by on research alone if this character’s quirk (for simplicity’s sake) is the whole plot and their defining feature is this: There is no ‘default’ person and the 50s-esque model citizen was a caricature. Odds are somebody isn’t “perfectly normal” just with one little outlier trait. We’re all different mixes and blends so saying “I’m gonna write a gay dude, I read this one blog by a gay dude and I’m an expert” is just. No.

This is also assuming that it’s realistic for your character to be absolutely certain about themselves and can diagnose or label themselves with medical accuracy. We’re all just vibin’, you know? Some might, and kudos to them, still wierd to so confidently write something you researched like cramming the night before a final.

Like, if you tell me you wrote an ace, and you yourself are straight or simply not ace and have no ace friends or relatives and just thought it would be cool, but your book is an intense deep-dive into asexuality, I’d bet very good money that it is not, in fact, a deep dive into asexuality, just your extrapolation based on a modicum of research and your own biases.

You’re missing out on so much personal context. I��m ace. Also, possibly aro? But also unofficially diagnosed as autistic and I can’t get a real diagnosis because reasons. And everyone is different so I don’t know where the boundary lies between “this is an autistic thing” and “this is an ace thing” and “this is an aro” thing. You, intrepid author, can’t expect to articulate that if a real person living with it can’t.

You can’t articulate it, because I can’t articulate it, and I’m probably contradicting myself all over the place in a giant game of mental Twister. Like. Romance sounds great, but I’m also fiercely independent and am too used to doing everything alone to actually picture being a healthy team and not having to carry it like groupwork in high school. That image just does not compute.

Or, romance sounds great, but I can’t love you the way you expect and odds are I’m not going to want to sleep with you… but I’ll watch your favorite TV show with you and I’ll buy you that box of candy that you probably forgot you mentioned wistfully wanting last week and I’ll make sure the fridge is stocked with your favorite snack and I’ll do the driving and I’ll text you memes and funny pictures and song recommendations to make you smile and I’ll do 100 other things desperately trying to make up for the guilt of both wanting you to find me attractive, but not actually finding you attractive, but it's actually finding the effort I make and the choices within my power that I want you to find attractive and not 'nice ass' or whatever, of wanting you around and wanting love, but not wanting sex and I guess if you cheat but it's "just sex" I have to deal because you've got "needs" and you're "normal" and I'm lucky to have you around without putting out. While simultaneously daydreaming about an imaginary person who doesn't expect those 100 other things done from guilt, but I got bills to pay and can't be selfish and, well, that person doesn't exist.

But sure, your ace is gutwrechingly realistic because they're an android or an alien and are incapable of a sex drive anyway and not human because, what? All humans have a sex drive, you donut. You just haven't met the right person yet.

No one is just one thing in isolation and otherwise “perfectly normal”. The arrogance and naivety it takes from so many writers who think this can’t be shocked when the negative feedback comes in. Write inclusively. Do not write the deeply personal struggles of a life you did not live, that someone reading your book can look at and think, wow, I can’t believe how wrong they got it. Do I expect to read a perfect copy of myself in someone else's ace charcater? No. Every ace is different, but there's the "ace" flag for a reason.

[ankh-morporkianpostalworker]

The Rise of Dimension 20: The Changing Face of Roleplay

I remember when I first heard about Dimension 20 in 2019. I had subscribed to Dropout to watch Um, Actually and I saw D20 being pushed on the platform. I sat down and watched the first episode, then the second. In two days I had finished the first season.

I had never seen anything like it. I had tried NADDPOD and CR and bounced off both (I'd eventually fall head over heels for the former, and gain a solid respect for the latter), but I fell in love with the Bad Kids, the Intrepid Heroes, the world of Elmville, and the style of Brennan Lee Mulligan.

Later, I would learn that the first season of Fantasy High was seen by most in the community as a sort of novelty, the last death-rattle of a dying company. It was cool and new, sure, but it was also a flash in the pan.

Escape From the Bloodkeep proved the naysayers wrong. It proved that Brennan was as much the source of the fun as the Intrepid Heroes, and it showed us something that set him apart from the pack - Brennan was constantly pushing himself to be better. Out of the starting gate, he proved a technical proficiency on par with Matt Mercer, the reigning king, but for Brennan, that wasn't enough. He wasn't facing off with Matt, he was facing off with himself, and he needed to be better.

The Unsleeping City continued this trend. It was another setting the DND actual play community wasn't used to - the real world. The characters were fresh, new, more nuanced than the children they played in Fantasy High. They were up to the challenge, with the same drive as Brennan. Brennan and Ally redefined how the Wild Magic Sorcerer was played, Lou Wilson brought an abandoned Unearthed Arcana to the forefront, and the pair played, perhaps, their best roles to date.

Tiny Heist showed that Brennan could bend 5e to be something it wasn't meant to be - a heist simulator.

Then came A Crown of Candy. Some hold this season to be Brennan's magnum opus and the best performances the Intrepid Heroes have ever given. The combat was quick, dirty, tactical, the characters textured and nuanced. Our heroes had to get out of impossible situations, both in roleplay and combat. Death was a very real possibility. And this season was what sealed Brennan as a real rival for Matt, and was when "I only have Dropout for D20" stopped being a joke and started being a reality. Brennan had hit his stride.

The sidequests and seasons two from this point don't really prove my point, but they're good. Brennan didn't do a couple of them, though.

Then we get to Starstruck. Set in a world his mother had created, it obviously meant a lot to Brennan, and so he strived to outdo everything he'd done up to this point. It was funnier, more moving, the combat more tactical than anything he'd done before. He included space combat, and the cast once again rose to the occasion, portraying those cast out and cast aside by the corporatocracy that was the Starstruck universe, forming a touching bond. It was as if he had peaked.

And then came Neverafter, and with that, Brennan became king. It was horrific, scary, brutal. Combat wasn't fun or interesting, it was intense and nail-biting. The party dropped in their first combat encounter. Children were brutally murdered. They were up against eldritch horrors in perverse retellings of fairy tales. The humor was there, sure, but it was twisted, dark, more about relieving stress than being funny. And again, the cast excelled.

And all because Brennan wasn't trying to outdo Matt or Griffin or Brian, but himself. Each season, he wanted to be better than he had ever been before, pushing his technical abilities, his storytelling abilities, to the max. And the world of actual play shows improved as well. Matt stepped up his game, as did the other big dogs. Brennan redefined the game.

Or I could just be a massive fanboy who's reading way too far into things. Either/or.

[gaybellethorn]

i started listening to the first shannon hale eah book on my walk earlier and it's so good. hale you mad bitch <3!!!!!!!

raven being a swiftie (taylor quick........obsessed) and apple being a directioner ("you don't know youre charming" in universe pointing to the real life charming family. CRAZY.)

apple keeping a basket of candy and coins at her bedroom balcony to throw down to her adoring masses PLEASEEEEE . all her kingdom management classes amassing to this she's so FUNNY.

relatedly, how frustrated she gets at the end of her first chapter that people are only gonna grade her on being a good snow white based on how pretty she is and not on how hard she's studying to be a good ruler. very very juicy very interesting characterisation very interesting take for a snow white character. but also. the chapter starts with her naming the dwarves by derogatory nicknames ("my name is frank," pouty said poutily) and the narrative itself superimposing her names onto them in the dialogue tags. SO FUCKING GOOD. APPLE YOU SILLY BITCH.

hale's distate for apple's dad bleeding into the description i looooove it. "keeping a hand on the hilt of his blade as if ready for battle at a moment's notice, but of course he had never been in battle. his only claim to fame was falling in love with a comatose woman in a glass coffin in the woods" damn hit him again for me!!!!!

BUT this coming from apple's pov???? EXQUISITE!!!!!! god that's so fucking INTERESTING and really doubles down on her looking up to her mam and wanting to be the best ruler she can be, because no one's gonna help her out later! i haven't gotten to apple interacting with daring yet, but that's gonna be such an interesting lens to read their relationship through as well if she considers his role in the story like. repulsive!

also just an interesting contrast to raven's relationship with her parents, where she loves her dad and wishes her mam wouldn't belittle him in their convo. oh sidebar there was a description like, raven's mam did love her, in her own way. hope was like a sticky syrup and raven wished she could drink it down just one more time. auggghhh ravennnn :( <33333

back to apple, i liked the little detail about snow having this squeaky high pitched voice, and apple musing that being stranded in the woods with the squirrels may have done a number on her. i think she gives a length of time there, either weeks or months? i hadn't considered that being part of the snow white legacy, that's interesting ! especially after thinkng of her dad as a useless bum ass nobody like 😭

looooove getting raven's introspection around her mam. the mirror scene at the start is so so good. ugh then when she's talking to apple and she notices how slouchy and unkempt she is next to her. and she tries standing properly but she knows she comes off as too tall, too gaunt comparatively. and then she reprimands herself like 'stop comparing yourself to her, that's probably how mom turned out the way she did' AUGH ? that being the first indicator that raven can understand how that path unfurls in front of her, how she could easily take those same steps. sooo juicy

also looove her relationship with baba yaga so far. it's really interesting that baba yaga is compared/contrasted to raven's mam, i wanna keep an eye on how that relationship develops

baba yaga using an actual spray bottle on raven when she starts voicing rebel thoughts PLEASE‼️ raven grumpily looking into the princess' advisor office (run by the white queen! cute detail) where theyre given tea and plush chairs and noticing that there isn't a spray bottle in sight. MWAH.

oh ! and the detail about it being maddie who asks raven point blank "if you weren't destined to be the evil queen, you would...?" as part of this wonderland word game that she doesn't think anything more of, but raven is left speechless because she's never been allowed to consider it before. really sweet moment between them! :)

im like an hour into this 6.5hr audiobook. the voice actor is doing a wonderful job, i really like her voices for raven and apple in particular so far. i definitely wanna keep going on it! i will listen to it on walks i think :^)

[roalinda]

another very late entry for @prongsfoot-microfic 💀 but it's better late than never. 😭

☆☆☆☆

March 14 + May 27

Study + Hedonism

☆☆☆☆

"Tell her that your lap is mine." 

Sirius looked up from his Herbology book as a childish whine echoed through the common room. Accompanied with the saddest doe eyes, James sounded like either Sirius had just committed some absurd crime against humanity or had murdered all the strays in the neighbourhood. Either way, this fake pity fest of his was not going to work because James' acting skills were as poor as his eyesight. Right now, he was just jealous, not sad.

"My lap is his," said Sirius with such a poker face that could have put the most professional gamblers into eternal shame to Lily who was unabashedly lounging on the said lap and went back to reading or at least tried to.

"Tell him that sharing is caring," hummed Lily lazily before rolling her eyes, because in all honesty dating James meant dating Sirius as well. Obviously, James disagreed, unamused by her playful approaches towards his best friend.

"Sharing is caring," said Sirius monotonously, already resigned to his fate of being two overgrown children's favourite toy and being fought over and put his book aside. Not that he could read with those two bickering anyway.

"Tell her that I don't care! Your lap is off limits." James stomped his feet and Sirius snickered. "How old are you again?" 

His reply was a cushion in the face which only made Sirius laugh harder as he turned to Lily.

"He doesn't care, my lap is off limits," he parroted.

"Tell him not any more."

"Not any more," this time Sirius' eye twitched as he repeated Lily's words. 

"Tell her…"

"Can you guys just bloody admit that you want to shag Sirius and be done with it? Some of us here want to study." A frustrated voice cut in and everyone gasped.

'Great job Lupin.' 

Sirius thought sarcastically as he glared at Remus who had just presented Lily and James with unnecessary sexual fantasies as if he was shoving a handful of candies down a pair of annoying kids' throats to shut them up. 

James gaped like a fish out of water and Lily's eyes went wide. Well, at least they both had the decency to blush and while Sirius found it amusing he couldn't help but to plan Remus' penile amputation. 

"You want to shag Sirius?" James asked carefully, staring at Lily with wide hazel eyes.

"Who doesn't?" answered Lily casually, voice steady despite her flaming cheeks.

The radio silence would have been funny to Sirius if he was not the main subject of this preposterous erotica.  

"Don't tell me you have not shagged him because I won't believe it, James." 

It went without saying that Sirius was already developing a migraine.

"Actually Sirius shags James. James prefers to bottom," said Remus - the ever helpful - Lupin and James turned the same shade as Lily's hair, hiding his face into his hands. 

'Wanker.'

"Shut up. How do you even know that?" snapped Sirius.

"You guys usually forget the silencing charm and James is loud," Remus raised an eyebrow as if he was talking about tomorrow's weather.

James looked pathetically embarrassed at this point and Lily's amused gaze was making it worse. Sirius sighed in defeat at last. He should have stayed in the library today.

"I'm going to the dorm to cast silencing charms. You two come up whenever James is done with strangling Remus," he told Lily and smirked in satisfaction as James cursed Remus with a stinging hex. 

"Will the show be hot enough to compensate for my boyfriend cheating on me with his handsome best friend?" asked Lily shrewdly, green eyes shining with mischief.

"You have no idea how hot your boyfriend is when he is prettily begging for it. People would pay Galleons to see," Sirius winked cheekily.

"Black, you slut," smirked Lily suggestively. 

"So is your boyfriend. Now, go grab him. My N.E.W.T.s schedule is tight and there are two of you," Sirius laughed merrily in response, persuasive and warm.

[laurasimonsdaughter]

Have you ever heard of a book called Terrible Tales? It's a book that turns fairy tales into lessons of human conduct. It has a sequel called Terrible Tales 2. They're both available as e-books.

I have heard of Jennifer Quaggin's work, but I must confess I've never read it. This is mostly because I think I wouldn't enjoy them. I might have liked them as a child, purely to see a different take on well-known fairy tales. But as someone with a sizable fairy tale obsession, I have grown up inconveniently picky about what kind of retellings and re-imaginings I actually like. And the "what if the heroes were actually horrible" approach doesn't really appeal to me.

That isn't to say that it can't be fun or done well! Some fairy tales are very easy pickings for moral criticism that wasn't exactly intended in the folklore version. For instance this take on Jack and the Beanstalk by Terry Pratchett:

They liked her stories. The one in the book was pretty awful, but the Susan version was well received. She translated as she read. '… and then Jack chopped down the beanstalk, adding murder and ecological vandalism to the theft, enticement and trespass charges already mentioned, but he got away with it and lived happily ever after without so much as a guilty twinge about what he had done. Which proves that you can be excused just about anything if you're a hero, because no one asks inconvenient questions. And now,' she closed the book with a snap, 'it's time for bed.'

I do think this is genuinely funny and I must imagine this is sort of the direction Terribly Tales leans into as well, but I while I like this as a punchline, I don't think I'd enjoy a full story of it.

Moreover, in most traditional tellings of Jack and the Beanstalk there is no reason to consider him anything other than a thief, apart from the "inherent evil" of the giant he steals from. That's just how most fairy tales are, giants are evil, no need to feel sorry for them.

But Quaggin's form of satire plays with fundamentally changing the fairy tales to get her point across. That's a well known strategy and it generally works because it subverts expectations. But changing Hansel and Gretel into greedy children who eat a kind, unsuspecting woman's candy house for no reason but gluttony just isn't very interesting to me.

If we're fully changing the fairy tales, I prefer the kind that has Red Riding Hood kill the wolf, or Snow White turn into a vampire. But perhaps that is because when it comes down to it, I do not enjoy fairy tales that lay their Moral on too thickly.

[pink-pkmn-trainer]

y'all i finally finished it. here it is, my first kingleader fic.

****

“Jax, this isn't funny, give it back!!” Gangle cried out.

“Ha! Nope~” the bunny replied, holding the basket just out of Gangle's reach.

Kinger paid no mind to their bickering, he was too busy looking for the eggs that were hidden around the circus. Caine had arranged a special Easter egg hunt for the day's adventure, which everyone was very excited about. But Kinger had yet to find a single egg, which was very discouraging.

As he looked around the room for any potential hiding spots, his gaze fell upon his impenetrable fortress. The pillow fort, of course! What better place to hide an egg? He quickly shuffled over and crawled inside.

He didn’t have to look around for long, as right in the middle of the fort, there sat a particularly large egg, almost like it was meant to be found. He picked up the egg and examined it closely, it was purple in hue and decorated with little red butterflies, and it was indeed a lot bigger than the eggs he had seen the others collect. As he continued to inspect it, a horizontal crack suddenly appeared around it. Curious, he lifted off the top of the egg. A huge pile of candy spilled out of the egg, startling him as several of them fell and bounced off of the floor.

After recovering from the initial shock, he noticed the type of candy it was. It didn’t seem like normal Easter-themed candy, in fact, it looked a lot more like Valentine’s Day sweets. Heart-shaped chocolates, pink and red jellybeans…he suddenly noticed there was a piece of paper in the middle of the egg. He pulled it out, realized it was a note, and read it:

‘My dear Kinger,

I decorated and hid this egg just for you. Happy Easter!

Sincerely, Caine’

Kinger felt a warm feeling growing in his chest. He was touched that Caine went out of his way to do this small thing for him, the ringmaster had even decorated the egg with butterflies, knowing how much Kinger loved insects. The chess piece had no idea what he’d done to earn this special treatment, but he was extremely grateful nonetheless.

The performers of the circus were all lined up on the stage, chatting amongst themselves while holding their individual baskets. The denture-headed ringmaster appeared in front of them and started to speak.

“That concludes The Amazing Digital Egg Hunt, everyone! Why don’t we go ahead and count the lovely eggs we’ve gathered?”

“I think I have about…17?” Pomni replied with uncertainty.

“I got 20!” Ragatha cheered.

“I don’t have any eggs…” Gangle mumbled between sniffles. Jax looked down at her and smirked. “Well, maybe you should work harder next time.”

“But you stole all my eggs from me…” 

Ragatha walked up to Jax with a stern expression. “Jax, give her back her eggs. She found them fair and square.”. Jax simply scoffed and turned his nose up at her. Zooble put a hand on Gangle’s shoulder and held their basket up to her. “Here, we can share mine.” Gangle looked at them and smiled gratefully.

Kinger didn’t notice any of this happening, he was too busy staring at the special egg in his hands, running his fingers over the little butterfly patterns. He only snapped out of his trance when Pomni spoke to him. “So, um…how many did you find?” 

“AH!! Oh, Pomni. Well, I actually only got one…” he held up his egg to show her.  She and the others all looked at it in awe.

“Aww, look at the little butterflies~!” Ragatha cooed.

“What the heck?!” Jax complained. “Where’d you even find that thing?! it’s huge, that’s not fair!!”

“What’s all the commotion here?” Caine inquired, floating over and quickly taking notice of the egg in Kinger’s hand. “Ah! It seems that you, my royal fellow, have located the super-rare Butterfly Egg!!”

Kinger looked up at the ringmaster and smiled at him with his eyes. “Thank you, Caine.”

“Wuh- I- Oh.” Caine stuttered, a soft pink blush appearing on his molars. “It’s- It’s no problem at all, m-my dear!”

Kinger chuckled quietly to himself, finding himself adoring the way that Caine stumbled over his words. The other performers watched this interaction from a distance.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Zooble turned to Gangle. The ribbon girl just nodded in response.

(sorry for the shitty ending lmao 😭 hope you guys enjoyed)

[fishyfishyfishtimes]

Well look at you!!! Are you dressed as Wirt from Over the Garden Wall!!??? I really love that show, although I really don’t watch it as often as I should. I first watched it like any old kid does, pirated through YouTube with the actual episode in the corner as a tiny square and the rest of the screen filled with other nonsense! Boy, you really haven’t lived if you haven’t done that at least once in your life. Once watched someone’s upload of the entire Toy Story 4 movie like that — can you believe it? Someone posting the entire Toy Story 4 movie on YouTube! The best part is, it stayed on there for like four weeks! What a fun time.. now, fortunately nowadays with me being on the interwebs more often I know some peeps have posted the whole OtGW series on Google docs which they’ve then shared around, which is pretty nifty indeed! Really appreciate folks doing stuff like that, because otherwise digital media can just vanish into the air with the way streaming is nowadays. Rotten stuff.

Oh, anyway, Over the Garden Wall! Yes, I remember when I first started watching that show. I remember watching the very opening, thinking, “Scenes of the past? No, scenes of fantasy? No… perhaps passing memories, fleeting dreams and thoughts?” I like to think I was pretty right, personally! I like that we’re shown… well, I won’t say much, but with such a simple opening everything happens in plain sight. Even moreso when you look at the Easter eggs, like the intro of each episode!!! Gosh, I felt amazed when I learned all the things it hides!!! I used to gobble down theory videos one after the other about the show! A good show really has you thinking and looking at things with a keen eye and ear, doesn’t it? Over the Garden Wall is such eye candy too, it’s funny how a show can have a simple style like that and yet so detailed too, I’m sure the art style took a while to brew and develop.

My very favourite character was Wirt, no doubt you can guess, when I watched OtGW I was but an insecure teenager myself and as an oldest sibling who plays clarinet, well, it was like a match made in the Unknown! Now that I’m more grown Wirt comes across more silly to me now, ha. Funny how that is you know? When you grow up, you can see the same story at different points in your life, but relate to different characters. That happened to me once with this book about a primary school age girl in foster care. When I was a younger kid, I related a bunch to the main character and her frustrations and struggles, but when I later read the book again as a… teen maybe? I found myself relating more to the adults in her life. It was a strange kind of thing to experience. It helps me remember that to children, things that may seem small to adults, can be really major and big! Children’s concerns should be taken into account all the same, they shouldn’t be simply brushed off as nonsense. Teenagers’ too!

Actually, hey! Speaking of Over the Garden Wall, this I hope you’ll like, I put a little reference to it in my most recent tumblr fake dashboard post! I haven’t seen anyone point it out at all!?? It is none other than fishblr user burgle-the-turts! Their icon no doubt confirms it: a teapot, similar to the kettle Greg wears — I mean, sorry, his elephant costume. The “burgle the turts” line lives in my brain, what can I say. I dropped many other fun references to media in the post, for example, fishblr user greenXD is a reference to that funny thing Master Wu says in the Lego Ninjago movie. THAT’S RIGHT I WATCHED NINJAGO but I haven’t sadly seen the movie and I kind of fell of the show when Zane was kidnapped..?? I did watch the snake stuff, and the whole season where…..

(I proceed to elaborate at length. You never receive your candy.)

trick :)

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

What would be the reaction of the skeletons, if the outside world is worse than the underground, Eg. Famine, Nuclear War, or even Zombie Apocalypse if that's what you want. Whatever it is, the outside world is worse than the inside, and it's on the brink of collapse.

Undertale Sans - Welp. They went outside the cave for like five minutes, woo, big sensations. Now time to go back Underground lol. He dealt with time-space shit for he doesn't even know how long because he can't remember reset, he's not going to add a nuclear war to the list thank you very much. Sans decides it's vacation time. He's done with the end of the world. He's going back to Grillby's now. Bye.

Undertale Papyrus - Hum. When he read things about the surface he kinda expected something else you know. Well, definitely not burned radioactive lands. Is this why they thought for? Damn, if he had known he wouldn't have put so much effort in it. What was the emergency to get out again? He missed his Mettaton's TV show for this! He's so mad!

Underswap Sans - Well... That's funny actually. They left a prison, and when they got out, there's just a gigantic ocean surrounding them because the waters rised. And now they are stuck as the only place not being an ocean is the Underground. At least they can still go see the sun when they want??? That's sort of an improvement???

Underswap Papyrus - He was too nervous to leave the Underground anyway. He is kinda relieved all there is is water around them to be honnest so he can go back in Snowdin and pretends nothing ever happened. They won't have to deal with more humans and he's very happy about it.

Underfell Sans and Papyrus - "boss, i'm not sure they're friendly" "BULLSHIT! UGLY GREEN FACELESS OVERGROWN CLONE OF FRISK, LEAD US TO YOUR CHIEF!" The guy lets go a "Grrrrah" and then jumps on him and bites his arm. "WELL THIS IS FUCKING RUDE. I HATE THIS PLACE. WHY DID WE GET OUT AGAIN???" The monsters are a bit... dubitative about the humans outside. They look a bit dead. And alive somehow. Oh well, monsters are immuned anyway to the zombie virus. Look at that, they literally have cities for them alone! That can't be bad.

Horrortale Sans - He was so hopeful that once they got out, they would finally have food. Except as soon they arrive on the Surface, they discover the humans are in the middle of a big famine as well. Oh. Well... Uh... At least there are humans outside so they're ok??? Oak tries to see the good sides you know.

Horrortale Papyrus - He's a bit angry. How dare you have a famine NOW? Is this some sick joke? He just killed his best friend to get out, and all for nothing??? That's bullshit! Clearly the Surface sucks. Well, at least they have some variety in food here. Maybe they can become vegetarian? Like eat grass or something? He has no idea dude.

Swapfell Sans - Aliens. After everything, aliens. Angry aliens that wants the world to die. The queen says that since he's the captain of the royal guard, he should be the one to go and meet them. Nox looks at her, terrified. What do you mean him? He's not going to talk to the aliens! What if they lay eggs in his stomach??? The queen tells him he has no stomach and kicks him out of the Underground. Nox wants to cry.

Swapfell Papyrus - Aliens are real??? Omg, he's so happy! He thought it was all stupid stories Undyne wrote! Though, why are the humans so scared??? Aren't they all supposed to have babies with each other like in the movies??? He's confused. Then the humans scream they are aliens and Rus is even more confused. Are they aliens???

Fellswap Gold Sans - The Earth is invaded by... Giant vegetables. That eat humans. What the hell. Wine is not paid enough for this. He quits the Royal Guard, wishes Toriel good luck and goes back to his home. That's enough for one day, he's done.

Fellswap Gold Papyrus - He's so mad! Why vegetables??? Couldn't it be candies or something? He hates vegetables! He didn't escape Wine's vegetable tyranny to get out and eat more vegetables! This is the worst possible ending! Why does the world hates him so much?! Were resets not enough already?! Coffee is starting his edgy arc.