#been meaning to make this set since 2022 but got distracted but i've been into kyuranger again lately so here it is

[t-u-i-t-c]

"You're fighting the universe itself!"

[wanderingrustus]

I posted 153 times in 2022

17 posts created (11%)

136 posts reblogged (89%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@inthetags

@fayesdiary

@bace-jeleren

@moonmuffins

I tagged 107 of my posts in 2022

Only 30% of my posts had no tags

#yugioh - 7 posts

#rusty speaks - 6 posts

#tcg - 5 posts

#fire emblem - 5 posts

#yugioh cards - 5 posts

#the chain - 2 posts

#octavarium by dream theater - 2 posts

#blasterforce by stone mcknuckle - 2 posts

#final fantasy vi - 2 posts

#gorgeous fanart - 2 posts

Longest Tag: 134 characters

#and in truth it was very much a second chance... had i stuck around my relationship with my family would have continued to deteriorate

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

They announced a new Fire Emblem game but, tbh, I'm not impressed. Just feels like Heroes with extra steps.

Showing Sigurd in it was just a slap in the face to everyone who wanted an FE4 remake (which I stand by my previous statement of "I hope not.")

I don't mean to be a downer, but man... IS is slipping.

Or I could be wrong and it ends up being a banger. We'll see in January I guess.

2 notes - Posted September 13, 2022

#4

...yeah, no thanks. I'm out.

Been a good 21 year run, but since Magic has officially jumped the Sharktocrab, I'm no longer interested in the story. I had a distinct feeling Kamigawa was going to poison pill the story for me, and goddamn I hate being right sometimes.

I might keep a few decks, but it's going back burner until further notice.

In the meantime, I'm going back to Yugioh full time. Hell a banlist just dropped today. It can't be all that...

...

See the full post

2 notes - Posted January 27, 2022

#3

So today I had one of my worse pain days. Old injuries suck and the constant changing weather is not helping. Thankfully my stepdad is super understanding and let me have the living room to distract myself with games.

I've been sort of obsessed with the Zorah Magdaros fight in Monster Hunter World lately and have been trying to... I don't want to say speedrun it, but that's effectively what I was trying to do.

After a couple hours of trying, I tried a more focused armor and weapon setup, and I finally got a sub 13 minute run. (Prior to this, I was averaging around 14 mins)

After supper, I got my first sub 12:45. But I felt like I could keep improving.

About 10 minutes before I started posting this post I made an unthinkable jump.

Sub 12 minutes. Holy mother of Duma that was intense.

Found a pathing that helps speed things along. The biggest help is not to forget to drop the stalactites in the first phase, in addition to destroying the magma cores.

Then at the start of the second phase, fire all your cannons at the top of the barrier, from landing side to its opposite and back, whether they're full or not (make sure you adjust your trajectory if needed). After you reach the opposite side, return to your landing point, firing every cannon with at least one cannonball along the way, then descend onto the lower ship and fire the Dragonator, then fire the lower cannons. If this doesn't end the fight right away, assist the two npcs loading cannons and fire upon reaching 3-4. You should clear the fight after a few more shots.

Having the Heavy Artillery charm will speed this along. I'm also using the Jyura switch axe and decorations that boost Water damage for attacks against the magma cores. (Because despite all of this, and 200 hours logged, I still haven't beat Nergigante)

Pain isn't going to stop me from kicking virtual ass lmao.

3 notes - Posted March 28, 2022

#2

We humans tend to allow the past to destroy our lives. I implore you not to let this happen. It is time to look forward, to rediscover love, and embrace the beauty of life. You have so much life left to live.

-Cyan Garamonde, "Final Fantasy VI"

5 notes - Posted February 15, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

My new Yugioh sleeves came today, care of YourPlaymat. 40$ plus shipping and tax for a set of 60 sleeves with whatever you want on them. Definitely want to oversleeve these though.

Tagging @gyppygirl2021 @fayesdiary and @moonmuffins because Echoes.

7 notes - Posted November 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[jessybarnes]

Limitless

Title: Limitless

Pairing: TFATWS!Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

Rating: 18+ Only! Minors DNI!

Word Count: 721

Tags: Light smut, knife play, kissing, light dom Bucky, implied sex, explicit sexual content, explicit language, and I think that's it.

Written For: Kinktober 2022 (expired)

Square(s) Filled: Knife Play

Beta(s): None

A/N: I wrote this with a fever so please ignore how terrible this is. I feel absolutely awful today. Thank you for reading lovelies ❤️

"You're staring again, Y/N"

Sam nudges your shoulder and you blink a few times before looking out the window. Bucky's across the room, sparing with one of the Dora Milaje and you haven't been able to take your eyes off of him since they started.

"Are you gonna tell him?"

"Uhh, tell him what?"

Sam rolls his eyes, "I can't with you. Are you gonna tell him that you wanna jump his old man bones?"

You shush him, slapping his arm. "First of all, he doesn't have old man bones, and second, can you quiet down? He has super soldier hearing, remember?"

He sips his drink and nods in Bucky’s direction. "I'm just trying to help you out, Y/N. If you're expecting him to make the first move, you might be waiting until you're over one hundred."

Now it's your turn to roll your eyes, "I'll do it, okay? I'm just waiting for the right moment."

"Right moment for what?"

All the color drains from your face as you turn to look at Bucky. He's breathing heavy, looking down at you with a curious look, but it's the knife in his hand that makes you swallow thickly.

"Umm…well, I… I mean…wha- what?"

Sam pinches the bridge of his nose and decides he's just gonna rip off the bandaid and put you out of your misery, but Ayo beats him to it.

"Y/N has been watching you spar with me for the past thirty minutes. It's quite obvious she likes you."

Bucky raises an eyebrow, clearly finding it hard to believe that someone as beautiful as you could want him of all people.

"Is that true, Y/N?"

"I-I…yes?"

Sam shakes his head, "Come on, Ayo, I could use your help with something, and these two clearly need to talk."

The door closes behind them and suddenly it's just you and Bucky. He sits next to you and puts his knife on the table before turning to face you.

"I like you too, you know."

You reach out and take the leather handle in your hand and twirl the tip of the blade on your finger. The slight pressure of it provides just enough distraction from the way he's looking at you.

Bucky turns your face towards his and rubs your cheek with his thumb. His eyes dance from yours down to your lips as he slowly leans in.

"I'm going to kiss you now," he whispers.

And he does. He kisses you slow and tentative until you're kissing back fervently. You're breaths are heavy when you pull away and his eyes are dark with lust.

"Bucky…I-"

"...I know, doll. Me too." He reaches for his knife in your petite hand and begins to pull it away. "I'm gonna take this back now before-"

"But I like it," you cut him off and your voice is so timid that he wouldn't have heard you if he didn't have excellent hearing.

Bucky smirks and pushes your shoulder until you're laying back on the soft couch cushions. He still takes the knife, but instead of setting it down, he straddles your body and towers over you.

"You like it, hm?"

You can only nod as you look up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

"I've seen you watching me train, baby. Saw these pretty eyes keeping tabs on the way I move, but," he twirls the weapon in his hand and groans when your eyes sparkle with need, "I didn't know it was because you've got a thing for my knife."

You whimper as he trails the blunt tip of the blade along the delicate skin of your neck. Bucky hooks it under one of your bra straps and it snaps, making you gasp.

"Oh, god…Bucky…."

He cuts the other one away and then leans down to kiss you. "Mmm…you like that, baby?"

He cuts off your t-shirt next, and soon you're exposed skin is littered with goosebumps. Bucky moves the knife along your chest and down over your sensitive nipples bringing them to hard peaks.

Your chest is heaving, you're positive your panties are soaked through, and all you want is for Bucky to never stop.

"Please!"

"So polite, doll… Do you want more, Y/N?"

You whisper another please and he chuckles.

"I'm gonna fuckin' ruin you, princess."

[omegasmileyface]

Of All the People - Ch. 11

second to last chapter!! and the last journal chapter! the next one might take a bit to upload, so on our ao3 upload we promoted four fics that inspired the way we wrote this. here are those links! click through or check the end note on our ao3 upload for names and authors. as always, this was written by me and @attackradish and @ectolemonades for InvisoBang 2022, with chapter 1 art by @/toasty-ghosti!

whole fic summary: After a stupid dare puts Dash Baxter in the lab at Fentonworks during the middle of a ghost fight, he finds himself a little more spectral than usual. Apparently Danny Fenton’s gone through the same thing (someone has got to call OSHA on these guys eventually), and who could better help Dash than his hero? His lame, stubborn hero?

warnings: Nothing for this chapter! In others, existential crises, and Spectra.

words: 1981

AO3 link

first chapter

previous chapter

next chapter

===

November 21

Today in chemistry we had a lab and it was weird, cuz I wasn't with Star. Theirs no set partners in that class or anything but nobody switches up partners after the first lab. That would be stupid. But before class Star was talking to Foley about some part of the lab prep and they didn't want to stop the conversation so they paired up. It sucks that we had to re partner but Foley's usual partner was Danny so it could of been worse. Apparently hes still banned from the glass wear after he dropped everything in freshman year. Which was totally because he was still getting used to intangibility and thats really unfair. He's perfect at that now. Anyway, I had to hold all the equipment while he read the lab instrutions to me but it worked out fine. I'm glad I'm not dropping stuff like he was. I know he had way more times where he accidentally used his powers than I am (its hard enough to use them on purpose) but I think the training has also helped a lot. If we BOTH got banned we'd be screwed on the lab. It was pretty boring since I was just taking instructions and Danny's used to labs and shit so we ended up talking a lot. I got exited about Invasion Z 2: Redeath coming out this weekend and he kept agreeing with me. Turns out he likes movies too! Mostly sci fi and horror and stuff but hey, a good movies a good movie. He gave me some horror reccommendations and I don't usually like horror but I'm gonna try them. He's probably too busy but I think I'll ask if his friends wanna go see Redeath when it hits the theater.

===

November 22

The Red Huntress was in a ghost fight today. Like one where Phantom was there too. I havent seen her since Igot my powers but I don't think I've ever really thought about her before. I got to get up kinda close without her noticing me cuz Danny had her distracted and… she's so human. Like I mean obviously, she's human but I don't think I ever thought of her with that in mind. She's just kind of a superhero to me more than specificly a human that deals with ghosts. But up close I could hear what she was saying to Phantom and it was so different compared to the ghosts. It was all hate. It wasn't any challenges or competition or whatever mostly. She doesn't yell as much as when she started showing up and I feel like she's less trigger happy around Phantom now but she's still all personal and intense. I guess it just makes me wonder who she is. If she's human she's gotta have like a life and job when she isn't chasing ghosts and it was weird enough learning that it was the same with Phantom but Danny doesn't have a choice. This chick has to care a hell of a lot to keep doing this. What hapened that made her so invested in ghosts?

===

November 23

Me and Kwan and Star and Paulina were gonna go to Nasty Burger with Danny's gang after school today to make sure we are all on the same page about ghosts and everything. But Kwan wanted to bail, which I get. He's still on the football team and so I guess the free time I've got now minus training isn't the same for him. Then Paulina and Star both had family stuff come up. I guess Thanksgiving IS tomorow. So I just went alone but when I got there Manson and Foley had ditched too. That many people leaving is kinda suspiscious, except that I don't see why my friends would do that on purpose. Fenton's friends maybe. Nerds are weird like that. Danny decided to stay even after it was just me there. I mean, foods food. Since everybody else was missing we didn't really talk business, instead we just talked about whatever. Did you know Danny has piloted the space shuttle before??

===

November 24

Turns out the Red Huntress is Val. As in, Valerie Gray. Danny's known the whole time she's been doing the job and he acidentally let it slip when we were talking about having to fight humans. He forgot I didn't know. He felt really really bad about it so obviously I can't tell anybody but it almost feels like I should. Is she okay? I mean she's doing this but shes just a human and I know she did sports before but it's super not the same. Where did she even get all that tech? Did she make it herself? I guess probably not because she was never into techno stuff before but did I is that the kind of stuff she has to do? It's weird that she's in high school too, with how busy Danny is she must have it the same way. I don't know if her grades are worse or anything because I haven't really talked to her since her dad lost his job. None of us have. Since then she's really been fighting ghosts? Why is Why won't Why does she hate them so much? Fuck weve all been such assholes to her and we just forgot about it when we didn't see her as much. I can't invite her back into the group becase she'll find out I'm a ghost and probably try to kill me at school or something. Plus she doesn't even wanna come back I bet.

===

November 25

Lancer wants everybody to do a writing piece on some exhibit at Amity museum. Something about getting imersed in knowledge or whatever. A bunch of us went there after school today to find topics so we could ignore it on the weekend. They have this exibit on the moon landings and mars rovers and all that space robot stuff and apparently Danny hadn't been here since before they added that cuz when he saw it he looked like he found $100 lying on the ground. He was fucking thrilled and he started talking about stuff that wasn't even on the information posters. I'm thinkin he should have designed the thing! His eyes got all sparkly and I'm 100% sure his freckles were glowing like little stars. He was also clearly trying not to float?? Honest to god it was so cute… Anyway everyone else went away after a bit to look at other exibits but like didn't they want to hear what Danny was saying?? I did.

===

November 26

Ok I've been mostly staying out of ghost fights this whole time cuz I get that while I'm still training it's better for Danny if I stay out of his way. But today there was a fight with this ghost skeleton dude in a white suit (he was kinda familiar?? I dont remember any ghosts like that though. ghosts are weird like that) and he kept punching Phantom into the road and shit and it was brutal. So I joined in too at least make it a two on one fight. But there was a bit where Danny was on the ground resting (I think his arm got broken?! Does he have bones?? I mean I do right??? But maybe he doesn't cuz he's a litle different or whatever???) so the skeleton dude started going after me instead. That was scary but like it's what we're training for so I was sticking my ground ready to help out my hero. But he barely touched me before Da Phantom was just… back.

He tackled the skeleton ghost strait into the road and it made another crater. He backed up into the air and fired a perfect ecto-blast that broke up the asphalt more so it looked like gravel around the ghost. I think at that point the ghost had passed out but Phantom jerked his hand and put some kind of green layer around the guy. I guess it was like one of his sheilds but at a distance. Then he came over and got me, I never had time to move away, and he just picked me up and took me to the other side of the street like mom moves Pooky when he's in the way. I tried to get out so I could keep an eye on the ghost and make sure he didn't escape but Ph Danny wouldn't even give me any wiggle room. It was like he was made of iron. I felt that a couple times before when he's saved me from stuff but it's a lot less comforting when I'm trying to fight it. I saw that he was still somehow keeping that sheild up though so I guess I didn't need to escape any way. Man, he looked pissed… but I don't think it was at me. It at least didn't feel that way somehow. 

After that he went back and captured the guy without anoher word to him and he checked me over and told me to "be careful around people like that" and went home. He didn't look me in the eye since he moved me out of the way. Maybe that's good, becuz I don't know if its a ghost thing or what but there was something really heav paralys intense about him at that point. I don't know how I would of acted if we had made eye contact. Stupid, probably.

I've been thinking about it and if I'm gonna be honest I was scared. Part of it was that kinda electric air thing that comes with ghosts sometimes, the feeling that makes you go all still, but I've never gotten that kind of feeling from Phantom before. Still though like I said I don't think it was aimed at me. That must be some kind of ghost comunication like Danny was talking about that one time, and it was comunicated to me that it was for the other guy. And it pretty much went away after he got the ghost contained. Still. I guess that wasnt all of it.

I re I guess I realized around then that like he didn't have to put up with everything. Me being an asshole I mean. When he was in that fight, even though it was worse then usual and he was suffering for it, when he got mad he just kinda switched gears. Ended the battle. Like he was sick of it. It gave me the feeling that he was sort of playing around until he cared enough to really get engaged (but why would he do that? Why wouldn't he just take care of the figt in the first place??)

And I guess that makes sense! I've been looking at every fucking Phantom fight I can these last few years. He doesnt really lose and he's done some crazy shit before. Pauli and I started getting stats at one point, like it was fantasy football. Those are kinda outdated now but I've seen a little stuff like that during trainings too and it's not like hes stagnated. He's crazy strong even compared to other ghosts and I guess I knew that but. I never really thought about what that meant for me. It's got me thinkin back to the times I was bullying him, after he became Phantom. A couple times he said "he didn't have time for this" and stuff like that but wh Fuck I don't know. It's just. He could have killed me really. Easy. If he was tired enough of me. That sucks.

===

November 27

My leg isn't getting better. Niether is my chest. Danny told me, because he still gets numb body parts and muscle spasms. Dying isn't really something you get better from.

===

November 28

am I ok?

[bopinion]

2022 / 27

Aperçu of the Week:

“Yippee-Ki-Yay, Motherfucker!“

(John McClane aka Bruce Willis)

Bad News of the Week:

Donald Trump isn't over. I don't even mean that he is reportedly flirting with an imminent announcement that he will run again for the U.S. presidency in 2024. In order, it is said, to distract attention from the negative headlines surrounding the Senate investigation into the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021. After all, that's what he's primarily concerned with: his image. No, I'm referring to his continued dominance in the conservative narrative - defying its social media spell, except for the laughable boondoggle that is "Truth Social."

Finally, the decisions of his tenure still reverberate. Most notably, his appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court. A frightening example from last week: the rights of the EPA (Einvironmental Protection Agency) to set state-level emission limits for coal-fired power plants, for example, are being cut to almost nothing. This fits with Donald Trump's basic attitude toward man-made climate change: I don't care. Sea levels rising? "Then we'll have more beachfront property." And, "I've heard that the oceans will rise one-eighth of an inch (just under 0.32 centimeters) in the next 300 years." Excuse me? Have you been to Pacific islands lately?

That's what makes Trump and his supporters so dangerous: no idea of the facts, but strong opinions. 80% of the Republican base still support him. And 60% still believe he was cheated out of winning the 2020 presidential election. Facts? Why, it's all a matter of personal points of view. "Alternative facts" (that should be on Kellyanne Conway's tombstone someday) means nothing more than relativizing everything that doesn't fit one's personal outlook. Never have I so much as hoped that someone would fatally choke on a Pretzel....

Good News of the Week:

Those who feel they are a different gender than their birth certificate says have it anything but easy. Many affected people hide their true identity for years - from the public, from colleagues and often even in the family. Because society is mostly not yet ready to accept this as a self-determined personality trait. Until now, people in Germany who wanted to officially change their gender had to obtain two psychiatric reports costing up to a thousand euros and answer questions about their sex life, among other things. What should be nobody's business, that is shameful. And after months of proceedings, a court finally ruled.

Now the federal ministries of justice and family have presented the "Self-Determination Act." It provides that everyone and anyone can determine their own gender and first name. In a simple procedure at the registry office, which is then also binding, for example, for the entry in the passport. An expert opinion on sexual identity or a medical certificate should not be required as a prerequisite for changing the entry - after all, the people concerned are not sick, as the liberal Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann comments. It does not matter whether the individual sees himself or herself or themselves as transgender, non-binary or intersex. And minors can appeal to a family court if their parents refuse consent. Good thing. Because true freedom cannot exist without self-determination.

Personal happy moment of the week:

The school year is coming to an end. And it relieves me of a pressure that had been hanging over it like a threatening storm cloud since Christmas. Because my son was officially "at risk of transferring" to next grade. And his lack of insight into the sheer necessities of his earthly existence ("School is your fucking job. So work, son!") was causing the whole family - and a tutor - stress. But slowly but surely, things got better. And with the last school assignments, we got the certainty: enough is enough, he'll make it through the school year. Phew! Now I'll leave him alone for three weeks. And then we start with repetitions during the summer vacations. Because next year has to be different, my nerves just won't take it anymore....

I couldn't care less...

...that Ukraine feels "deeply disappointed" by Canada. But only at first sight it is about a gas turbine for Russia. At second glance, it is the repair of a gas turbine. A German gas turbine from Siemens. A gas turbine that is located in Russia but supplies EU countries with gas. Yes, Europe's energy dependence on Russia must be overcome. And yes, theoretically, every ruble Russia takes in can help finance the war of aggression against Ukraine. And yes, "freezing for Ukraine" may be morally imperative.

But if an abrupt gas supply freeze drives Germany's third-largest industry, the chemical industry, against the wall, among others, we are talking about a recession the likes of which the Federal Republic of Germany has never seen before. Which must then also have a direct impact on German and thus also EU financial aid during the war and for reconstruction. In the case of the war itself, a black-and-white scheme can be applied. However, there is far more than fifty shades of gray in the sideshows of it.

As I write this...

...I am annoyed by a project at work that will not have a good ending. I know that, it's obvious. But it is not in my power to change it. Because someone who has more to say than I do is steering the whole thing with a completely out-of-touch mindset. It's like watching in slow motion a car heading for a wall. You know it can't brake in time. But you also know that the driver can't hear you screaming. Frustrating.

Post Scriptum:

In recent days, we've lost a number of high-profile politicians. In different ways. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson finally couldn't maneuver his way out of his scandals and lies. Former Japanese head of government Shinzo Abe was the victim of a hard-to-understand attack. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president of bankrupt Sri Lanka was driven out by his disappointed people. The feisty Ukrainian ambassador Andrij Melnyk is dismissed in a "diplomatic rout." There are no lifetime posts. Except in royal houses - and the US Supreme Court.

[azikarue]

2021 Fic Anthology/Recap

In 2021 I set a goal to publish or update one story on my FFN account every month. While I didn't achieve the consistency I was aiming toward (life got nuts and I didn't upload September-November), I did manage at least twelve updates for the year.

I'm proud of myself for that accomplishment, especially given the nearly two year gap between uploads before 2021. Even before then, it had been years since I wrote and posted regularly. It felt good to rediscover my love of storytelling and push myself.

I have slightly different plans for 2022, but I wanted to take a moment and put my thoughts on each of my 2021 fics down somewhere, so I have them to look back on.

(This will also serve as my list of 2021 fics, since I didn't post about each one on my main when they were published.)

❖

Bliss

Summary: Life isn't always easy, but there's a certain bliss in tackling it together that makes everything worthwhile. Pairing: Max/MariamChapters: 4/15Words: 16,593 (so far)Rated: T

I actually began laying the groundwork for Bliss in the beginning of 2020. I'm a sucker for domesticity and I had a list of random tidbits I wanted to write Max/Mariam for. I half-started several chapters, then promptly lost my thunder. I didn't pick it back up again until I shared them with @redwheeler and she, along with a Beyblade rewatch we started together, inspired me to keep going.

It felt like a huge undertaking at the time, especially once I decided I wanted to connect all the chapters into one long glimpse into Max and Mariam's life together as adults. I hadn't done much writing and I felt ridiculously rusty going into it, but I'm happy with how it's turned out so far. I'm excited to continue (finish?) it in 2022.

Even if it may not be the first fic with multiple chapters I finish in its entirety (I've been working on something else on the sidelines and jury's out on which I'll finish first), it will always be the one that reignited my love for writing.

❖

The More Things Change

Summary: Joseph makes it a point to study the changes in Mariam's relationship. What those changes mean for him, he'd rather not think about. Pairing: Max/Mariam, but the main focus is on Mariam and Joseph's sibling relationship Chapters: 1/1 Words: 6,076 Rated: K+

This is probably one of my favorite things I've ever written. Stemming from an overflow of ideas that wouldn't fit into Bliss chapters how I wanted, it evolved into a sweet sibling fic about watching someone you love grow into a new life with their significant other. I'm proud of it.

That being said, it gave me SO MUCH grief while writing it that I wanted to scrap it at several points. I didn't think it would ever come together how I pictured, but in the end I'm my own worst critic and I think the finished product was worth the struggle.

I thoroughly enjoyed writing from a new character's point of view. Usually I limit myself to my MaxMariam comfort zone, but sometimes I want to write something completely different. This was a good compromise in a way that it was a little of both. And since it was generally well-received, it gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone more throughout the year.

❖

A Welcome Distraction

Summary: Sometimes Max and Mariam can't keep their hands to themselves, but it's always a welcome distraction. Pairing: Max/MariamChapters: 5/5 Words: 4,002 Rated: T

I wrote A Welcome Distraction for Valentine's Day. RedWheeler wanted more Max/Mariam kisses and I love to write small, detail-oriented scenes. It's a cute, comforting collection, loosely linked to the timeline I'm building in Bliss. I guess technically this is the first multi-chaptered fic I finished, but since it's just a bunch of kisses that needed no plot or outline, I don't see it that way.

This fic was an opportunity for me to practice some diversity in my writing. I didn't want to approach each kiss the same way or use too much repetitive language and have every chapter read exactly the same. It was a nice exercise in thinking outside the box for me, as I find that I fall back on the same wording a lot of the time.

I also wrote every chapter of this before I began posting it, which I think would be how I prefer to do things from now on. It's too late for Bliss, but I've started another multi-chaptered story that won't see the light of day until it's 100% complete. I enjoyed the regular upload schedule.

❖

Up His Sleeve

Summary: Rick's not dating Mariah. He doesn't know where Max got that idea. Pairing: tiny bit of implied Rick/Mariah, Max/Mariam on the side Chapters: 1/1 Words: 1,734 Rated: T

This is the first fic I've written in one sitting since the drabble days. I found the idea in one of my many lists of ideas and the stars just aligned. Even though it's short, I think it feels complete. It's funny to think this would've been something I considered an average word count for myself back when I started writing fanfic.

Up His Sleeve was another foray into writing characters that aren't Max (though he's there) and Mariam. I had a lot of fun writing from Rick's POV; he's just so different from my norm and I enjoyed the undercurrent of annoyance and bitching I got to infuse the narrative with.

Also, even though a potential relationship is kind of central to the plot, it wasn't focused on romance like my fics are prone to. In a lot of ways, this felt like a breath of fresh air for me, and it never fails to make me giggle (which might be conceited, but oh well).

❖

Seize the Day

Summary: Tyson isn't a morning person, but he can make an exception when it comes to bothering Hilary. Pairing: Tyson/Hilary Chapters: 1/1 Words: 3,989 Rated: T

I was absolutely terrified to write Seize the Day. RedWheeler had asked me a couple times about writing TyHil and I kept putting it off. Part of the reason is because I didn't have any ideas I liked, another part is because I envy her characterization and love her TyHil and I didn't think I'd be able to do them justice. To be honest, I'm still not 100% sure I hit the mark.

That being said, once I got in the groove I really did love writing this one. Tyson and Hilary's banter was a lot of fun and I got to write Gramps for the first time, which was an experience.

For my first time writing a pairing other than Max/Mariam in 2021, I'm proud of it. I want to continue pushing myself out of my comfort zone in 2022 when I can, so who knows - if inspiration strikes, I may revisit some TyHil. I really do love them.

❖

Wherever I'm With You

Summary: When you spend so much time traveling the world, home is important. Thankfully, home doesn't always need to be a place. It took them finding each other to realize that. Pairing: Ray/Salima Chapters: 1/1 Words: 5,203 Rated: T

Let me start by saying that this fanfic was ENTIRELY self-indulgent and I love it for that reason. It's one of my favorites.

I wrote this at a point in the year where I was starting to feel more bogged down than enchanted by writing. I've never felt entitled to anyone's feedback, but nonetheless I was starting to wonder what the point of writing was if I wasn't enjoying myself and engagement was down. I felt like I was writing, at times, to an audience that didn't exist. I know as a writer we're told to write for ourselves, but sometimes that bit of frustration seeps in through the cracks. I knew I had to do something to get myself out of my funk, because I didn't want a hobby I genuinely enjoy so much to feel like a chore. The problem wasn't going to be fixed by more people telling me they loved what I do - it was going to be fixed by me, myself, and I loving what I do.

This fic worked like a charm.

I purposefully wrote this one to cater to myself and it was cathartic. I walked away feeling rejuvenated and not giving a flying fuck about validation from outside sources. It was empowering. I didn't realize how much I was seeking approval from others before I decided to write entirely for myself.

As such, a lot of my personal headcanons crept into it and it felt good to finally see them typed out in front of me. Ray and Salima have a special place in my heart as my very first Beyblade ship; I love how quickly and easily they connected with one another in the series. It was fitting that they'd be the ship I wrote about to ignite my passion again.

❖

A Chance Encounter

Summary: During the Egyptian leg of the World Championships, Max runs into the last person he expects. As usual, she leaves him with more questions than answers. Saint Shields in G-Rev AU snippet. Pairing: N/A Chapters: 1/1 Words: 4,710 Rated: K+

Another favorite of mine. ♥ I've never actually written a proper AU before, but the lack of Saint Shield involvement in G Rev was criminal, so I had to.

I originally wrote this for RedWheeler's birthday, but it was a few months before I posted it online. I wanted something Max/Mariam that was different from anything I'd ever written, and this idea fit the bill.

I was proud of myself for showing restraint with this one, because I've struggled in the past with wanting to rush through stories to get to all the satisfying details, and I purposefully avoided a lot while writing A Chance Encounter. So much so that I have tons of notes on how I would expand this AU if I made it into an entire story, which I actually plan on doing one of these days. Just fell in love with this.

❖

Date of Denial

Summary: Max had no idea what was going on between Rick and Mariah, but he did know one thing: It was stupid to think having dinner with them would change that. Well, at least Mariam was there. Pairing: Max/Mariam with a side of implied Rick/Mariah Chapters 1/1 Words: 10, 429 Rated: T

Date of Denial was a long time coming. RedWheeler and I had been joking about a Rick/Mariah and Max/Mariam double date (that Rick didn't quite realize was a double date, hence denial) at least since the beginning of the year. My first timestamp on any related drafts was January of 2021, but it's possible we were tossing this around even before. I told her I'd write it one day, and I'm glad I was able to keep that promise.

I was nervous for a while about juggling so many characters, especially Mariah because I hadn't written her before, but it turned out to be a blast. There were so many dynamics to play with that were new to me, and it was a good practice in characterization, which is something I'm constantly trying to improve.

❖

Here's to Many More

Summary: Lucky for Max, Christmas with the family eventually means Christmas with Mariam. A glimpse at three Christmases of Max's throughout his relationship with Mariam. Pairing: Max/Mariam Chapters: 1/1 Words: 8,363 Rated: T

I feel as if this was another really self-indulgent fanfic. I was on the fence about writing a Christmas fic (my heart wanted to, but my head was stuck on the logistics), but I'm glad I let RedWheeler talk me into it. It's self-indulgent because, 1. I love Christmas, 2. I used it as an opportunity to introduce an OC who needed to make some kind of appearance before another story I have in my to-write pile. Hopefully it wasn't too obtrusive. I trust myself to add OCs that aren't annoying more now than I ever have, but I know how it can be.

It makes me happy to write about Mariam letting down her walls and coming more fully into Max's circle, even though it comes with its own set of annoyances for her. Just another facet of their relationship I enjoyed exploring more this year.

❖

And that's a wrap on 2021! All in all, I'm proud of myself. I feel like I've come a long way with my writing. I'm not sure how much of it shows in the published works, but I saw a lot of it in myself behind the scenes.

I can't wait to write more this year. My goal is going to be to write just as much, if not more, but publish less. I want to focus on making headway on some longer projects that take a lot out of me. Not to worry, though - I'll still be around. ;)

Thanks to everyone that read and reviewed these fics! I appreciate you all more than you could possibly know.

[jayflrt]

aww <3 you are literally the sweetest akka, do we have a big sister day as in mother's day and father's day?? you need to get the big sis award!! rlly 🥲 you always help me in everything which makes me wanna help you back, but how? i'll figure a way out for that and don't you worry i'll make you the proudest big sister i think i ever have (hypothetically)

thanks for the study tips, i just can't get to focus because of the construction work beside my apartment 😔 but if i do have that concentration, i can complete my whole math textbook in one sitting 😎 that's how fast i am but i'm lazy 🙄

ah~ even me, guitarist!jay and bassist!reader 😲 lmao, i wrote that in flow, well!! then let's make it come true or yk, oh! fuck just got an idea, sjdishfas i'm great!!! 😭😭😭 akka, just wait till i get my life back on track and start writing, i'm sure this story will be a cliche type but more better with many misunderstanding!!! (🤫i'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and fake dating aus 🥺💔)

but the fact that jay had that guitar since his high school *cries* and he still has it, it means that jay is that dude who keeps every gift/thing he loves till it's broken/spoiled or till eternity.

huhu! chennai city girl </3 i'm your local jay simp 😔✊🏻 wah~~ chennai is really pretty and calming yet bustling with the crowd. i wish to visit chennai once again :(

akka 😭😭 not you explaining everything about my mbti, i know about that but i just asked you for the ennaegram one </3 lmao you just help and can't do anything :( you are the sweetest <//3

and what's the mbti test you did with enha, give me the link too and i'll picture mine too, can i send it to you through anon? like there is an option where you can send pictures, videos and links when you on that switch, do you have that option on near the ask settings?

with ddeonu it's perfect and jay it's good, lmao. but i think sunoo would suit you because he needs appreciation and compliments and you give them so well </3 yup! that's right :) normally guessing, i might be compatible with jakehoon or heeki?? just guessing though, hehe. akka once you send the link, i'll do the fucking test.

and thinking about 11:11, just think about 22nd feb (two's day) like the date and time—22/02/2022, 22:22 and then let's go back to the 2011 and the eleven's day—11/11/2011, 11:11 🤯 wow!! and think about the people born on that same date and time, like no wonder it's a wonder or a miracle...

so you knew treasure before that's good, yea- take your time to stand them or just ask me because i've been with them fore three fucking years and the reason they took so long to debut was because of yg's scandals and they delayed their debut many times!! it's sad knowing it and i cried when they debuted </3

and get ready for me to spam you with yoshi pics </3 and why don't we trade pics of each other's biases? you send me my jaehyuk pics and i'll send you yoshi pics... deal?? 👍🏻 or 👎🏻

i'm happy you enjoyed your trip with friends </3 something about them feels different when we get closer to them, be it a 1 year, 3 year, 5 year or 10 year old friendship, it's just different than a romantic relationship. i never had friends since young and it was just me not until my sister was born.

i think i'll rant about this friendship and love scenario after some time later, just you hanging out with your friends gave me a nostalgic feeling.

my weekend felt good but it's just my parents in a quarrel is suffocating my chest, they are in the urge of signing each other's divorce papers 🥲 lmao i mean like just fighting daily and they are in separation from each other...

— 🦔

PLS THATS SO NICE :’’) 💖 and i think august 1st is national sisters day !! HAHAH <3 but omg you dont have to worry ab helping me back or anything, love, it’s my pleasure !! 😭 

also omg have you tried listening to music while you study?? :o that distracts me tbh but it might be better than having to listen to construction :’) also i feel you HAHAH i get so lazy with studying 🤧 in fact i have a lot for this weekend that i need to finish before friday so i need to get my act together and Not procrastinate 🏃‍♂️ 

ahh yes take your time with writing !! and omg i adore fake dating aus as well ♡ friends to lovers is my all-time favorite but enemies to lovers is so so good in a more intense(?) way as well :’) 💘 pls jay is soooo sweet 😭 he’s so sentimental it just makes me love him sm more <33

and omg yeah chennai is v pretty :’) i miss it v much and i hope you can visit again one day 🌷💕 and omg PLS i didn't realize you just needed to understand the enneagram !! i just went on a whim and tackled two birds with one stone <3 also i don’t think you’re able to send photos/videos off anon love 🤧 but i can do it for you here !! 

and omg actually words of affirmation is my least used love language so i don’t think i’d be good in that aspect at all !! 😭 im good with gift giving, acts of service, and quality time 🥰 

also omg i remember ygtb too and i followed for a little but it took toooo long 🤧 but im glad they finally debuted !! and i heard jikjin hit 50 mil :’D and i ALSO hope they enjoy their first win as well 🥰💗 AND HAHAH SOUNDS LIKE A DEAL :’)

you can rant about friends/love whenever you’d like/feel comfortable, so take your time !! and yes i agree it’s much more fun with friends :’’) i have a friend group i’ve known for close to a decade and they’re so close to me ♡ but i have other friends here and there who are close as well 💗 

and omg im sorry ab your parents anon :(( it feels that way a lot sometimes but i do hope that things get better between them! 🌷 do you have any plans for this week? :o

[margridarnauds]

For the fandom ask, 1, 6, and 15?

1. What fandom(s) did you join this year?

I really, really surprised myself with how much I fell in love with Resident Evil: Village. If you'd told me this time last year that I'd end up having too many feelings over the Vampire MILF's brother, Garbage Magneto, I'd have laughed. (Actually, that's a lie -- I KNOW my taste is shit and I own it.)

Likewise with AC: Valhalla -- I'd started playing AC when the pandemic started, as a way of de-stressing (The duality of man: Stardew Valley and Assassin's Creed), but because of how expensive Valhalla was, I wasn't able to justify it until I got it as a birthday present, and then promptly proceeded to spend the entire summer fixated on it.

La Revolution was really unexpected because that one is such an obscure musical; I had no idea that there was something out there that was so perfectly tailored to my interests.

6. Did you have any new ships this year?

Heisenwinters/Wintersberg (RE); Alcina/Maiden (RE); Harald/Eivor (Valhalla); Eivor/Basim (Valhalla); Richard/Emma (I Am From Austria -- I think? I know I WROTE that one this year); the Disaster OT3 from Crimson Peak; the Disaster OT3 from La Revolution...there are probably many, many others, it's just been a long year and my memory's absolutely shot.

15. What are you looking forward to coming out in 2022?

In a fandom context, there are a LOT of fics that I've started bookmarking and subscribing to, I'm really excited to see what developments they'll end up getting.

As far as my stuff...I really want to wrap up Pour la Peine. I know I keep saying this, but after this next chapter or so, I'll have it pretty much entirely written out, which will be a massive, massive moment for me because I started writing it in the last year of my undergrad and now I'm a PhD student. It and I have been through a lot together, we've grown and developed, and I want to give it a fitting send-off. (I'm literally preparing some sparkling juice so that I can fully send it off in style.)

I really want to finish Door #2 -- This fic's meant a lot to me, the RE fandom, for the most part, have been absolutely lovely, and I want to end with a bang so I can start working on my other RE 8/Wintersberg content ( I have multiple AU ideas I'm putting on the burner so I don't distract from Door #2, especially since several of them are set in the same universe.)

A few Valhalla ideas I want to see out there, when I have the time to put in the research. 

A few 1789 ideas -- The Fairytale AU had some good progress this year; I don't think we'll make my goal of finishing by the New Year, but I think that sometime in 2022, possibly early 2022, we'll see movement.

I want to do some more work with my series on the Fourth Branch -- Thus far, we've gotten one piece from Gwydion's perspective, one piece from Lleu's, but I want to really expand to as many characters from the Fourth Branch as possible -- I especially want Aranrhod and Blodeuedd to get their piece. I might have a piece for Gilfaethwy planned out that...well. It's in keeping with me. And it's in keeping with the Mabinogi, God knows if I'll ever be brave enough to publish it.

I also want to start a separate series on the First Branch/Third Branch, with the first piece to be about Rhiannon during her penance, another piece after the events of the Fourth Branch. In general, I kind of want to do a thing with the Mabinogi where each of these one-shots added up ends up telling the whole story of the Four Branches, with all of them interlocking at different times, I think it'd be really fun and a really wonderful way to pay tribute to a tradition that's come to mean so much to me. (If I do this, the Second Branch is coming last because that one's too mentally exhausting for me.)