#betweensaintsandmonsters

[ragnarlothcat]

i went to a baseball game today and 80% of what i could think about the entire time was bottom of the ninth just thought i would share <3

Friend I am delighted to hear that!!! I've been to one game this season too and I did indeed think about that fic but also missed opportunities for baseball shenanigans. Now that Angel Hernandez is retiring I really think I should have done something with a terrible umpire that Anakin bites during a game.

Did your team win? My team did win when I saw them but they've decided to lose pretty much all of their other games as part of some sort of elaborate performance art. All the commentary this year is "they really should be better than this!" and yet here we are (I say, as though I've been permitted to play), languishing below 500. Oh well. I can eat just as many small plastic hats full of ice cream while watching a terrible team as I can while watching a decent one.

[tideswept]

hi!!! i just wanted to say how much i love your writing!! i've spent my whole day reading all your obikin fics on ao3 and they're all lovely! you're so good at building the world with these two in it and tapping into the emotions everyone is feeling! it's lovely and so fun to read and as a result i've had a great day!! <3

Thank you so much aaaaah I'm ineffectively waving my arms at you in happiness. ❤ I'm sorry for taking so long to answer, been catching up on things! I'm so glad you had a good time, that's all I can ever hope for. Makes the constant mortal kombat with characters doing whatever they want while I try to keep them from throwing the whole fic down a pit worth it.

(oh god, they're like sled dogs, and I'm a terrible sled driver. no one ever let me near one of those things.)

[renlyslittlerose]

i read ALL of Of Good Men and Monsters last night!!! i was up until 4am because i couldn't put it down you're so so good at writing both the action and the drama and the angst is top notch and i just loved all of it SO MUCH!! i hope you have a lovely day!!! <3

Oh gosh, thank you so much!!!! You're so kind to say that. Action is one of the things I'm really trying to improve, so thank you! 💖

I really needed this today after a tragic accidental gopher killing I committed while driving today ��

[rexismycopilot]

hi i just wanted you to know that i think all the works surrounding i'm the satellite and you're the sky have fundamentally changed my brain chemistry! it's so sweet and so good and i just love that little family!!!!

Ohhh thank you so so so much!!

I love that little story so much and I love that it's a family just trying their best!

Thank you again, friend!! <3 It really means a lot to me!

[thegingerwrites]

WIP Game: Keyword Search

This looks like a lot of fun and I'm loving all of the WIP snippets I'm seeing on my dash. Thanks for tagging me @lilredghost ! So if you send me an ask with a keyword, I'll reply with a couple of sentences from my WIPs (including my BB, the biggest project on my plate rn, but also a bunch that have been in the works for months or that I'm just on the verge of posting)

I'll tag @renlyslittlerose @betweensaintsandmonsters @ragnarlothcat @samstree and @usakostar

No pressure to play but if you do, tag me and I'll send you an ask!

[teaforkenobi]

Nine (or however many) people you'd like to get to know better

Thank you for the tag, @heretolurkandnothingmore!

Last Song: "Sights" by London Grammar (Was listening because it's on my Obikin playlist, but it's also coincidentally one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite bands.)

Favorite Color: Cerulean! Not sure what it says about me that I picked both my favorite color and my favorite number as a child, but here we are.

Currently Watching: The Clone Wars. Almost done with season two, so lots of pain to go! :')

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: Yes, yes, and yes. If I had to pick one, it would be spicy.

Relationship Status: Happily married! My wife and I met in my last fandom, and I moved to another country to be with her three years ago, so basically we're living our own fanfic.

Current Obsession: If you're on this blog, you're looking at it.

Last Thing You Googled: "font manager linux"

Tag a few friends, new and old: Well, I have no old friends on this shiny Tumblr, so they will all be new! @sendpseuds @underacalicosky @grapenehifics @betweensaintsandmonsters @kingofattolia @tideswept (No pressure, obviously.)

[virahaus]

15 Questions for 15 Friends

thank you @amadwinter and @to-proudly-go for the tags!! And sorry for the late reply lol

1. Are you named after anyone?

Nope! Thankfully. I quite like my name

2. When was the last time you cried?

Mmmh... probably some weeks ago when I was on my period and watching some video online i shouldn't have in my over emotional condition lol

3. Do you have kids?

Nope.

4. What sports do you play/ have you played?

I tried a bunch of sports when I was a kid but nothing really stuck, so. For my i'm very much couch oriented which I know I should change up habits a bit. I do like to walk tho and I was a very fast runner (even won a first place medal at a school race so. I was fast lol)

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Yep.

6. What's the first thing you notice about people?

I can't really say... the eyes maybe?

7. What's your eye colour?

Green, but my eyes change a bit with the weather. sometimes they are gree-bluish, sometimes more green-brownish. depends

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings. scary movies are not my thing. I only go for it if it's a good murder mystery, or a nice scooby-doo style scary movie

9. Any talents?

I'm very good at bookbinding and other manual stuff. I always get picked where there's some delicate job to do lol

10. Where were you born?

Italy!

11. What are your hobbies?

Reading and writing for sure, tho i read more than i write. Bookbinding as i said before but not that often.

12. Do you have any pets?

Nope. never had even if i would like a cat in the future maybe (i will have to live alone first, cause my brother is allergic to cats and dogs lmao)

13. How tall are you?

170 cm!

14. Favourite subject in school?

My favourite was totally Literature which in my case was Italian.

15. Dream job?

I would love to be librarian or a book editor. a writer maybe. a teacher probably.

Can't think of many people who haven't done this yet but i'll try: @jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets, @veloursdor, @magnusbae, @kana7o, @heretolurkandnothingmore, @tomicaleto, @tideswept, @thegingerwrites, @riley1cannon, @aberrantcreature, @comebackali, @renlyslittlerose, @aniisnotokay, @betweensaintsandmonsters, @kairennart

No pressure if you don't want to do it!! totally understandable.

[isthisfree]

Nine (or however many) people you'd like to get to know better

Thank you for the tag, @betweensaintsandmonsters !

Last Song: The Lion King Orchestra Suite - Live. Now hear me out. It may be almost 9 minute, mostly instrumental song, but I am obsessed with it. It was my most top played song on Spotify a couple of years ago, lol. Hans Zimmer is my favorite composer (yes he's one of like 3 that I know by name, but I still love him ok) and they did such a good job condensing all of the music from the Lion King into a beautiful song. I can see a whole movie in my head while it plays. Highly recommend.

Favorite Color: I was just talking about this. It's gold. Two reasons, my mom had a gold necklace that I loved as a kid. Thought it was the prettiest thing in the world. She gave it to me on my 16th birthday, I still wear it all the time. That coupled with the fact that everyone in preschool said blue was their favorite color and made me feel bad for the all other colors, made be choose gold as mine.

Currently Watching: I just finished the latest episode of 911. That show is so ridiculous, I love it. I'm binge watching The Nanny.

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: Sweet and savory. I'm a spicy wimp.

Relationship Status: Singe

Current Obsession: Obikin with no end in sight lol

Last Thing You Googled: "NYT Connections" two of my friends from work and I have a daily competition. Almost forgot to do todays.

Tag a few friends, new and old: No pressure! @starwalkertales, @palfriendpatine66

[dream-about-dancing]

@betweensaintsandmonsters

"Is this a mistake?" Obi-Wan asks, fiddling with the ring on Anakin's left hand, spinning it absently as he looks up at his boy.

Anakin for his part, pauses. It's a rare sight, to see him so still. The hand in Obi-Wan's hair slowly picks up it's aborted mission as Anakin seems to gather his thoughts.

It doesn't feel like a mistake; not really. Not when Obi-Wan moves past the doubt that's burrowed it's way into his chest that this man will grow tired of him, the fear that he'll lose someone else he loves and there will be nothing he can do about it.

They're getting married in 72 hours for god sake.

Obi-Wan opens his eyes to look up at Anakin. His fiance. His everything.

Anakin laughs then, and Obi-Wan can only stare at him, trying to figure out what's so funny.

"I don't know," his boy whispers when he's gotten himself under control. He radiates light even in his uncertainty, "but I'll always love you."

Obi-Wan pulls anakin's hand to his lips, kisses his palm just under his engagement ring.

-- -- --

They haven't been fighting, but they haven't been talking either. Their home exists in a perpetual state of purgatory. A war solemnly awaiting a ceasefire. A wishbone about to snap.

Obi-Wan's side of the bed is cold.

Breakfast is on the counter but there's no note, not like there used to be.

Anakin misses lazy kisses good morning.

Anakin misses life not getting in the way.

Anakin wishes they were fighting. He think that would make the slow devolution of his marriage feel like something.

-- -- -- --

"Sometimes loving you feels a little bit like bleeding out. I know it's happening but no amount of pressure can stop it." Anakin says to the ceiling one night, his voice cracking.

He sobs when Obi-Wan pulls him into his chest.

-- -- -- --

"If I could," Obi-Wan swallows. There's a foot between them on the couch. He clutches the blanket he's wrapped around himself closer to his chest before reaching for Anakin's hand.

They've been talking. In retrospect, they should have done this earlier, years ago maybe. Maybe they wouldn't be in this situation if that were the case. The worst part is, he thinks they're still in love. Knows he will love this man until the day he dies, but they're bleeding out.

It doesn't make it easier.

The divorce papers are on the coffee table.

"If I could," he starts again, "I'd leave a five star review. Easiest man in the world to love."

Maybe easiest is the wrong word. But it's so easy to love Anakin, his boyish smiles, his passion, his light.

Anakin wipes at his eyes, clearly fighting tears.

It feels like that's all they've been doing for months.

"I'd leave you four and a half," he whispers, "Best man, can't cook for shit."

"Sounds about right."

He doesn't bother fighting his own tears.

-- -- -- --

The lawyers had reviewed the divorce papers. The judge had signed off. The world had stopped moving.

Anakin didn't know who he was separate from Obi-Wan Kenobi. He's never had to know. He's not looking forward to figuring it out.

Outside the courthouse, Obi-Wan gives him a hug, pulls Anakin to his chest, buries his face in Anakin's hair and holds him there.

Anakin breaks.

Shatters.

"Is this a mistake?" Anakin asks against Obi-Wan's neck, fingers clutched in his suit jacket. It feels like a mistake. Feels like the world has narrowed down to this. To them. To the fact that this is the last time he'll be held by this man.

He feels the ghost of Obi-Wan's lips against the crown of his head, the shake of his hands around his back.

"I don't know," Obi-Wan says, voice barely there, "but just know, I'll love you always"

[ragnarlothcat]

trope selection tag game

Tagged by @renlyslittlerose (thank you friend!!!)

enemies to lovers or friends to lovers - although truthfully I do like both! I suppose it depends on fandom and the type of enemies involved. Sometimes I think there's too much legwork that needs doing to make an enemies to lovers scenario click and I've got places to be, you know?

coffee shop au or flower shop au - I was not aware that flower shop AUs were an established subgenre of fanfiction. I don't think I've ever read one! But I have read a couple coffee shop AUs and enjoyed them, so.

hurt/comfort or there was only one bed - I have a pretty low angst tolerance (certainly for someone most active in the "betrayal and child murder" fandom) so while I do like the idea of hurt/comfort more for the catharsis, I click out easily if I start to feel too hurt. Whereas I do always love some forced proximity!

found family or partners in crime - I like both! But partners in crime has a high chance of shenanigans. And I've been known to dabble in shenanigans.

canon compliant or canon divergent - again, I am sad and weak and bad at angst and my most active fandom is already maximum angst. I've dabbled in canon compliant fic but when I'm the one writing I tend to gloss over the worst of it. If I want to be miserable about Star Wars I've already got options!

fluff or angst with a happy ending - look, the suffering market is well supplied. Occasionally I show up and write a fic with no plot and no conflict whatsoever. I fulfill a specific ecological niche and I appreciate others who do the same!

1st person pov or 3rd person pov - yeah I'm with lemon on this one. I'm barely tolerant of 1st person in published fiction but I will click out of it instantly for fic.

soulmates or forbidden love - I imagine there are some neat soulmates fics that do interesting things with the trope but as a concept they underwhelm me. Forbidden love is great though. Who is forbidding it? Were they right to do so?

roommates or fake dating - I read one of those Reylo fics that was turned into original fiction and the whole time I was thinking that the story had not provided a good enough reason for the protagonist to pretend to date some guy. In reality randos don't care that much about other people's love lives. But being into a guy who lives in your house and who you can't avoid is very interesting.

slow burn or meet-cute - what can I say? I love a meet-cute. I like an opportunity to describe these characters in elaborate worshipful detail. I'm a simple creature.

love triangle or polyamorous relationship - I don't think I've read or written either! I'm not so much into multiple people as a concept but with a love triangle I suppose you can write the third person off somewhere and let it resolve itself with my blorbos in love.

royalty au or magic au - I don't feel that strongly about this one but I feel like I've read and enjoyed more of the former. Plus in a royalty AU there's a higher chance of Outfits.

high school/college au or neighbours au - if we're talking about obikin (and I often am!) my biggest weakness is professor/student AUs so I am contractually obligated to pick this one.

mutual pining or idiots to lovers - isn't this the same thing? I'm genuinely asking! I always thought idiots to lovers was just a sillier way of describing mutual pining, as in the idiots aren't aware that they're both in love? Maybe the distinction is mutual pining doesn't necessarily work out? In which case I pick idiots to lovers because I do need my piners to get together.

Tagging: @artemisthehuntress, @disast3rtransp0rt, @bi-wan, @intermundia, @thegingerwrites, @betweensaintsandmonsters, @treescape (but as always, no pressure! I have no idea who has been tagged already)

[ragnarlothcat]

Nine (or however many) people you'd like to get to know better

Thank you for the tag, @betweensaintsandmonsters!!!

Last Song: I was at a restaurant for maybe 45 minutes and they played "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson twice in that time. Was it a really short playlist? Was "Billie Jean" simply on it more than once?

Favorite Color: Some kind of turquoise

Currently Watching: I've been watching House but I'd like to stop doing that and start watching that 911 show everyone's been talking about.

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: I mean they're all good but sweet is the best

Relationship Status: in a relationship!

Current Obsession: I'm playing the new Stardew Valley update which is going medium since last night I dreamed that a pelican tried to eat me

Last Thing You Googled: Josh Jung the baseball player, half because he got injured and half because I wanted to check if his name was pronounced Josh Yung (most likely), Josh Jung (plausible) or Yosh Yung (an admitted long-shot)

Tag a few friends, new and old: @artemisthehuntress @bi-wan @renlyslittlerose @himbobiwan @lilredghost @phoenixspencer (no pressure, also I was tagged in this like two weeks ago so my bad if you were all already tagged)

[thegingerwrites]

What’s up readers?! How about a little show and tell? Answer these 13 questions, tag 13 lucky readers and if you’re feeling extra bookish add a shelfie! Let’s Go!

I love talking about what I'm reading so thanks @betweensaintsandmonsters for the tag!

1) The Last book I read:

The Prospects by KT Hoffman, It's a cute baseball romance but god did it rock my world. I don't know if I'm just the exact target audience for this book or if I picked it up at a good time but it is so tender and joyful. The theme of allowing yourself to want things that seem impossible is just right up my alley. I just loved it.

2) A book I recommend:

This one was actually hard! I feel like whenever I give recommendations it's usually to a specific person who likes romance/mystery/sci-fi/etc. so a blanket, general, just-trust-me-you-need-to-read-this recommendation is tricky! I'm going to go with Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (not a super original rec, I think it just one the Hugo). I read it last year and thought about it for ages after I put it down. Great sci fi, super timely, the structure of the book was unexpected but very cool.

3) A book that I couldn’t put down:

The second to last book I read was The Shining. I was giving Steven King a second chance because of course I've heard great things but I really didn't like the first Dark Tower book. The suspense, the horror, plus the rainy weekend I just had meant I curled up and absolutely did not put it down.

4) A book I’ve read twice (or more):

I'm going to put two down for this: Frankissstein by Jeanette Winterson and We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry. Vastly different books but ones I've reread once each and will probably reread again. Frankissstein plays with the story of Frankenstein obviously and ties it to questions of gender, sex, embodiment, technology and humanity. We Ride Upon Sticks is about a high school field hockey team that makes a deal with the devil in order to win States. It's hilarious, does cool things with POV, and hits some nostalgic team sports buttons for me. If you like Yellowjackets please read this book. I have a tendency to go through books quickly so I do like to reread every once and a while to refresh myself.

5) A book on my TBR:

I have four books on hold at the library and a stack at home to read and none of them are on the actual list that I keep on my phone so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I'll go with The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. I read Under the Whispering Door by Klune at the end of June and even though the other is better known and on my TBR (it was just what they had sitting on the shelf at the library). I enjoyed the other book though so I'm extra interested to see what the other is like.

6) A book I’ve put down:

I have a couple that I should have put down but didn't. Most recently for me, that would have been The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon. I thought the discussion of how to love and move on through trauma was really interesting and the way that how they played with identity and consciousness in relation to artificial intelligence but I don't think mecha is my genre of sci fi. It was also the sort of sci fi that hits the ground running, diving you deep into a new world without taking too much time (hardly any) to get you accustomed to the places, social structure, and terms used. I felt like I never really caught up. Usually when I'm not enjoying a book one of two thoughts goes through my head either, I'll read it fast enough that it will be over before I know it whether I like it or not, or, I've gone this far I should just stick it out to the end 😅

7) A book on my wish list:

I don't really know what this question means by wish list but I'm excited for Swordcrossed by Freya Marske to come out in October. I really enjoyed the Last Binding Series and this new book seems like it's going to be a fun time.

8) A favorite book from childhood:

I had a really hard time trying to choose one, I feel like there are different answers depending on what age we're talking about so here's four: Peak by Roland Smith (became obsessed with Everest for a bit), Lily's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes (I can hear my dad saying, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better." , Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (I remember being blown away by the fact that you could write books as poems, tied into a minor fascination with the Dust Bowl/Great Depression, reread it I think when I was in middle school), The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg (my first grade teacher showed us this book and had us write a story based on one of the pictures. I think it was the first time it really struck me that you could just write stories. You could just be an author).

9) A book you would give to a friend:

My best friend and I have been trading horror recs but she also recently asked me about like horror I would give to a pre-teen. Earlier this month I read Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell which I think hits a really great note between fairy tale and body horror. The protagonist is a shape shifting monster that eats people to survive and the plot revolves around her learning to let herself be loved. It was very sweet and silly and gross.

10) A book of poetry or lyrics that you own:

Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day by Nikki Giovanni which was actually introduced to me through a Buffy fic

11) A nonfiction book you own:

I don't read a lot of nonfiction (something I'm always looking to do more of!) and I don't own a lot of books But! I went and took a look at my shelf and found A Night To Remember by Walter Lord which is another callback to a childhood interest of mine about the Titanic

12) What are you currently reading:

I just started Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera (as in just started, I'm like 6 pages in) and I can't tell you anything about it, I have no idea where it is going to go yet!

13) What are you planning on reading next?

Listen... I just got a whole bunch of new stuff and may have bitten off more than I can immediately chew BUT! I currently have The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu translated by Ken Liu, The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher, and A Nobleman's Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel by K.J. Charles checked out from the library, along with Peter Darling by Austin Chant and The Pairing by Casey McQuiston on hold. After that, I'll probably read Doctor Sleep by Steven King to check in on little Danny and see if I want to watch the film adaptation with Ewan.

I love talking about what books and I'm constantly looking for recs. No pressure tags: @renlyslittlerose @usakostar @darthwillies @piecesofeden11 @underacalicosky @zimriya @genuflecting @chasingfictions