#book rec exchange 2024

[novelmonger]

Book Review: Things We Couldn't Say by Diet Eman

Thanks to @valiantarcher for giving me this recommendation for the 2024 Book Rec Exchange!

This is the autobiography of Diet Eman, a Dutch woman who lived through the German occupation during WWII. She tells her story, interspersed with diary entries and letters, and the whole thing feels like I'm sitting in her living room in Grand Rapids (where she moved after the war), listening to an old grandma telling her tales. The book is written in such a conversational, approachable way that sucks you in, making it so easy to imagine what it must have been like to live through those harrowing years.

Diet Eman came from a Christian family, and that was one of the things I appreciated most in this book. Through the whole thing runs the current of her faith and trust in God. Even when she suffered through fear, loss, and deprivation of so many kinds, even when she angrily demanded to know why God would let so much suffering continue, she never ultimately lost her faith in God's goodness or his presence with her and faithfulness to her. That was so inspiring - and just as Diet would remind herself of all the promises God had made to His people, none of which were ever broken, now I can add Diet's story to my repertoire of all the times throughout history that God has taken care of His people. That's such a blessing.

A fun surprise is that Diet's path crossed briefly with Corrie Ten Boom's! I read The Hiding Place years ago, and it's always been a huge inspiration as well. (The story of them thanking God for the lice has always stuck with me particularly strongly - what a good reminder to give thanks in all circumstances!) Diet got involved with the underground resistance movement, gathering news from the outside world from contraband radios and then hiding Jews and helping them survive the war. Because of this work, she finally ended up getting arrested and held in prison for a while, then sent to a concentration camp - one that Corrie Ten Boom and her sister stayed at briefly before being sent to Ravensbruck. So that was a cool overlap, even though Diet didn't have a whole lot of interaction with them.

Despite the very heavy subject matter and occasional twists that felt like a punch to the gut, I also appreciated the occasional spots of humor and just...humanity that Diet put in her story. It's inspiring, encouraging, sobering, and thrilling all at once. Highly recommended, especially for those who liked The Hiding Place.

[novelmonger]

Ah well, it can't be a hit with everybody, I guess! Just curious, have you read/do you like any of E. Nesbit's books about children getting wishes granted?

Oh, Swallows and Amazons sounds so familiar, but I can't figure out where I've heard about it! But I'm looking forward to reading it.

For the Book Rec Exchange: Have you read Half Magic by Edward Eager? That was one of my favorites growing up, and I never hear anyone talking about it!

It's about four siblings in the 1920s (? the movies in the theaters are silent films) who discover a magic trinket that grants wishes (with a catch), in a similar vein to E. Nesbit's Five Children and It or The Phoenix and the Carpet. (In fact, I think the children in this book reference those stories!) I just love their misadventures and the way they really feel like siblings.

And if you like what you read, Edward Eager wrote six more books about these kids, their children, and more magical adventures!

I actually have, but it's been a very long time and I don't remember much about it, so if you're willing for it to be a reread, I'll take you up on it. Thank you!

[perseephoneee]

⭑ FIC RECS ⭑

↳ masterlist  ↳ ship exchange ↳ taglist ↳ 1k celebration

last updated: 04/15/2024

↳ as a writer, i'm always consuming things about my favs, and i thought it was time to share some of my favorites. every story here has likely been reread by moi a million times. also-- my psyche can be easily viewed by how many stories are under one individuals *cries*

SUPERNATURAL

every headcanon from @via-l0ve

her boys @octoberclidan. (tfw)

dances with team free will @octoberclidan

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ DEAN WINCHESTER

cruel summer (18+) @waynes-multiverse

ladies with experience (18+) @hintsofhoney

dean reads you wrong @zepskies

she's my siren (18+) @fatecantstopme

smoke eater (series) @zepskies

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ SAM WINCHESTER

a taste of summer @impala-dreamer

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ CASTIEL

dreaming (18+) @impala-dreamer

beautiful to me @impala-dreamer

angel alpha (18+) @crashdevlin

i'll watch over you @octoberclidan

if you will have me, i'm yours (18+) @gilverrwrites

neckties @supernaturalfreewill

love, by any other name @zepskies

peculiar @supernaturalfreewill

because of books @supernaturalfreewill

last night on earth (18+) @hollybell51

don't bet on it (18+) @hollybell51

his charge (18+) @impala-dreamer

sharing is caring (III) @zepskies

TEEN WOLF

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ ISAAC LAHEY

sick reader @smellslikemultifandomimagines

aftercare @smellslikemultifandomimagines

hidden with isaac @scoopsahoy

mutual losing (18+) @smellslikemultifandomimagines

facesitting (18+) @smellslikemultifandomimagines

cruel summer @hotdogwillex

come back to me @hotdogwillex

cold feet, warm bodies (18+) @scoopsahoy

i'm gonna kiss you now @sourwulf

drunken confessions @teenwolffan-with-nolife

dream @rogershoe

fratboy!isaac (18+) (all time fav) @mermaidenisaacs

teaches you to kiss (18+) @mermaidenisaacs

prove me wrong (18+) @twjournals

VAMPIRE DIARIES

dating the mikaelsons @wholoveseggs

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ ELIJAH MIKAELSON

hold (18+) @wholoveseggs

extra-extraordinary (18+) @wholoveseggs

blood bath (18+) @wholoveseggs

warmth (18+) @wholoveseggs

the result of naps @fitzs-trained-monkey

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ KLAUS MIKAELSON

she knew better (18+) @klausysworld

distracted @theeoriginals

you bring me home @theeoriginals

sharp (18+) @theeoriginals

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ KOL MIKAELSON

christmas khaos @wholoveseggs

goodnight kisses @kmikaelsonimagines

frustrations (18+) @madhatterbri

thigh socks (18+) @geminioriginalsimagines

proposal @kmikaelsonimagines

Christmas in dixie @fitzs-trained-monkey

bruised and battered @fitzs-trained-monkey

shots @so-long-soldier-writes

little favors @fitzs-trained-monkey

of ice skates and sugar cookies @fitzs-trained-monkey

ten minute blood stain removal @fitzs-trained-monkey

like a box of chocolates @fitzs-trained-monkey

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ KAI PARKER

for my valentine (18+) @babeydollx

lace (18+) @geminioriginalsimagines

game on (18+) @socio-kai-path1972

kisses @socio-kai-path1972

why? @socio-kai-path1972

affinity romance (18+) @socio-kai-path1972

is it hot in here? (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

party crasher (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

sex tea (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

say it again (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

the red means (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

the price of hatred (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

spoiled (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

birthday girl (18+) @oneirataxiahiraeth

STAR TREK

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ JIM KIRK/BONES

a well documented debacle @mybullshitsensesaretingling

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ PAVEL CHEKOV

sweatpants @youre-on-a-starship

MARVEL

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ LOKI

reformed villain squad @give-me-a-moose

overtime (18+) @cleo-fox

loki's happy ending @gingerwritess

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ BUCKY BARNES

graveyard @wkemeup

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ STEVEN GRANT/MARC SPECTOR

red flags (18+) @astroboots

HUNGER GAMES

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ FINNICK O'DAIR

oral headcanon (18+) @lucilleslore

darling and the virgin (18+) @wife-of-all-dilfs

TED LASSO

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ JAMIE TARTT

chilly cheeks @veryberryjelly

about you @buckychristwrites

saved you a seat @benedictscanvas

operation: tartt's heart @theowritesstuff

DOCTOR WHO

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ TENTH DOCTOR

family christmas @writerlyhabits

gestures and evasion @doctenwho

before you go @doctorslove

falling in love again @doctorslove

CRIMINAL MINDS

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ SPENCER REID

virgin!spence (18+) @fortheloveofwonderland

i'd bottle the feelings you gave me @spencersfunkysocks

all the women he's loved before @fortheloveofwonderland

a helping hand (18+) @sinfulspencer

second date @samuel-de-champagne-problems

preciously pure (18+) @foxy-eva

STRANGER THINGS

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ BILLY HARGROVE

two ships passing in the night @hairringtonsteve

[sunflowervoltwentyeight]

Happy 28th! Here is my August 2024 fic rec, organized by word count, from longest to shortest. You can view my other fic recs here. Enjoy!

With The Strength To Carry On by lovelarry10, therogueskimo (113k)

The American British Doctoral Exchange Program was the best thing that ever happened to Louis. It gave him a chance to start over and make a real difference in the world. He could focus on work and not be distracted by anything or anyone. When Harry Styles shows up as the new intern, he turns Louis' world upside down. ~ Harry Styles had one passion in life, and that was helping sick children feel better. Putting smiles on their faces made Harry feel like he was making up for past mistakes and losses. When he gets accepted to the American British Doctoral Exchange Program, he treats it as the chance of a lifetime to make a difference internationally. He didn't expect to fall for his mentor along the way.

... or the one where Louis and Harry are doctors, and things happen.

Stranger Than Larry Fiction by Larrysmomfics / @larrysmomfics (90k)

It's been twelve years since Harry met Louis on TXF, became best mates with him, eventually falling head over heels in love with him. Six years post One Direction deciding to go on hiatus and now everyone is doing their own thing. All the boys have solo careers, some are touring, and with their busy lives in play, Harry and Louis have sort of grown apart. Harry's been filling the Louis void by devouring Larry fanfics, giving himself a chance to love Louis from afar in his own way. So far it's worked for him and he's content with his love of Louis being of the unrequited variety.

That all changes, however, when Harry reads a particularly emotional and classic fic in the fandom, and he simply can't help but call Louis despite his sobs to tell him all about it, inadvertently sending Louis down the Larry fic rabbit hole as well.

OR

A canon-divergent AU where Louis and Harry read Larry Stylinson fanfiction.

Can’t Hide It, You Might As Well Embrace It by supernope (67k)

Together since they were teenagers, Harry and Louis are professors at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They may also secretly be married.

Someone to Fly Home To by kingsofeverything / @kingsofeverything (34k)

Louis. 55 year old pilot who wants someone to fly home to.

Harry swipes right. Or Louis and Harry’s marriage ended more than a decade ago, but fate keeps bringing them back together.

You Are Half of Me (and I Am All for You) by angelichl / @angelichl (24k)

One Direction, an obscure indie rock band, is about to embark on their first cross-country tour, living out of Louis' beloved van named Patricia.

Harry is in love, and Louis is oblivious. Or is he?

Featuring skinny-dipping in Texas waterfalls, getting lost in the desert, stargazing under the New Mexico sky, performing in front of crowds that grow in size each night, and falling in love on the road during the greatest summer of their lives.

Just a Minute More by kingofthefridaynight (6k)

“Look,” Harry said now, tapping Louis repeatedly on his thigh. There it was, the proud beam on Harry’s face, as he showed off a piece of fabric in a wooden circle. The bright yarn in the middle vaguely resembled a flower. Either way, Louis smiled, “It’s beautiful, angel.” “You recognise it?” Harry asked with a teasing smirk, wagging the hoop a little into Louis’ direction. “Or are you just being nice?” Harry knew him too well. He could read him like a book. That’s what marriage is about though, Louis figured, as he tried to squint at the flower to see what it was supposed to resemble. “I’m sorry, love,” Louis confessed after a second. “Tell me, though?”

Or, a rainy day in bed, where all they do is enjoy each other’s company.

[thecruellestmonth]

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--- fandom stuff ---

This blog contains a lot of Jason Todd. He is not my son; he is not my boyfriend; I don't particularly want him to be successful, happy, healthy, or proven right—he is a specimen that I study, and I'm also his defense lawyer calling for the proceedings against him to be declared a mistrial.

Some helpful newbie guides

https://jasonbasics.carrd.co/

Jason Todd comics and other media guide (Carrd) and guide on Tumblr by @dailyjasontodd

Robin Jason comic recs by @robiinjason

Guide to the Batfam by @comic-commentary

Hoopla Digital (US & Canada)

Masterposts and meta

jason todd meta list by sasheneskywalker

Cassandra Cain Meta List by casscainmainly

Jason + cops

Jason + literature

List of Red Hood's weapons/gadgets/toys (in Winick comics) by sang-i-fetge

Does Jason support the death penalty? (No, he doesn't.)

Jason and Steph are smart by wonderwondered

Robin II: DC Animated Universe and source material - comics influences and parallels on the DCAU's second Robin

Jason vs security

Jason’s knife skills by wonderwondered

Jason's lesser-known skills by wonderwondered

Jason's fighting skills by wonderwondered

How does Jason feel about Sheila Haywood?

Jason + Lazarus Pit influence on behavior? (to be updated and expanded)

Known canon blood types of various Gotham-based characters

Jason's trust issues and bond with Dick (2023)

Jason + dogs - fondness for dogs (and cats)

Jason's numerous crimes and atrocities by wonderwondered

Is Jason known to be a Wonder Woman fan? (Kinda, but Diana isn't his favorite Wonder Woman.)

books and articles about about comics, superheroes, dc and batman by sasheneskywalker

quick & dirty guide to Jason Todd in the modern masterpiece Batman: Battle for the Cowl by Tony Daniel

How many times has Jason Todd tried to murder Tim Drake and Damian Wayne? (once: Battle for the Cowl by Tony Daniel)

Some other blogs: @dailyjasontodd, comic-commentary (inactive), fuckyeahjasontodd.tumblr.com (inactive), @theunavenged, robiinjason.tumblr.com

Fan fiction recommendations

Jason Todd 2022 fan fiction recs

Jason Todd 2023 fan fiction recs

Dick Grayson & Jason fic recs

Stephanie Brown & Jason fic recs

Bruce Wayne & Jason fic recs: sweet and bittersweet

Cassandra Cain & Jason fic recs (FIGHT!)

A few random Steph fic recs (to be added)

Various Cassandra Cain fic recs (to be added)

Spooky Jason fics recs (for Halloween season)

FANLORE Wiki

some Jason angst fics

[roalinda]

☆Feedback Fest 2024☆

In honour of International Fanworks day on 15 Febraury ( you can find more info about it HERE by @transformativeworks ) I have decided to make a rec list as well. We should all support our creators with feedback and sharing after all. 😊

♧♧♧♧

Since this is my Harry Potter side blog, all the fics in my rec list are from Harry Potter.

♧♧♧♧

On Fire, But We can't feel a thing by @benjamin-ovich

Pairing: Sirius Black/James Potter

Summary: Sirius feels oddly faint, feels like his whole body has turned into vapour and he could just be blown away into nothingness at any moment. Nothing about this has felt real, not when Remus’ head popped into his fireplace after a whole year and not now that he’s telling him that James, his James, won’t remember who he is.

Rating: E

Words: 100, 790 ( In-progress )

♧♧♧♧

Tell me you love me, come back and haunt me by @gracelesslady23

pairing: James Potter/Sirius Black

Summary: Recently exonerated and looking for a new start, Sirius buys a flat to live in with his godson. However, it soon becomes clear they are not alone in the flat when Sirius begins receiving love messages on the mirrors and walls.

Sirius knows who he hopes is behind the messages, but he couldn’t possibly be right… or could he?

Rating: M

Words: 23,113 ( complete )

♧♧♧♧

Nom De Plume by @annabtg

Pairing: James Potter/Lily Evans

Summary: James Potter, renowned potioneer, has a secret side career as an erotica writer under the pen name of Scarlett Goldwing. When his latest book starts to take off, and Scarlett is asked to promote it at a public event, he has no other option but to recruit his colleague Lily Evans to pretend to be Scarlett. The only problem is, Lily Evans hates his guts… or does she?

Rating: E

Words: 46, 486 ( complete )

♧♧♧♧

Supernova by @siriuslyasorceress

pairing: James Potter/Sirius Black

Summary:

From the outside, it may look like James Potter has everything one needs to be happy. An abundance of talent, a prestigious job, a beautiful wife, an adorable child. So why can’t he let go of the past? Why does he still see silver eyes and a crooked smile when he dreams at night?

It's been six years. Six years since Sirius Black left England. He practically ran away from the country and hasn’t stopped running since. When he has to return to parts of his old life, he tries his best not to dwell on the past.

What luck then, that the past is one of the first people he runs into.

- “What, so the French sent a cursed Curse-breaker?”

There is humour in James’ voice, signalling that this isn’t meant to insult, merely falling into the way they always used to talk to each other. It’s almost too easy reciprocate, to answer with banter that still feels too familiar and pulls at Sirius to be released. He bites his tongue.

“I can assure you, cursed or not, I am still excellent at my job, Auror Potter,” he says pointedly.

Rating: M

Words: 73,120 ( in-progress )

♧♧♧♧

CRuSH by @heartofspells

Pairing: James Potter/Sirius Black

Summary: After travelling around the world as a Healer for four years, Sirius thinks it should be simple to return home to aid his best friend through his divorce. James needs him, and Sirius misses his family. With their history locked away inside dorm room beds and dark corners of a castle once called home, Sirius is determined to move forward, convinced James barely remembers it at all. Attempting to reestablish the friendship they'd always had, Sirius is set on pretending it never happened, at least until he realizes the years away haven't changed the weight of the powerful spell James holds over him.

rating: E

Words: 89, 578 ( in-progress )

♧♧♧♧

The exchange principle by @charmsandtealeaves

pairing: James Potter/Lily Evans

Summary: Partnering for Advanced Potions has some unexpected side effects when Lily and James wake up in the wrong body.

Rating: M

words: 8,788 ( complete )

♧♧♧♧

All monsters are human by ColorfulStabwound

Pairing: Teddy Lupin/James Sirius Potter

Summary: Teddy has always belonged to James, everyone knows that.

Rating: M

Words: 15, 274 ( complete)

♧♧♧♧

Out of my head ( when you are not around ) by quoichiant

Pairing: James Potter/Sirius Black

Summary:

Things are not particularly funny, but when he told Remus that he was going to get over James Potter -- for real this time -- Remus laughed. Because to everybody else, Sirius being in love with James is a fact of the universe.

The Earth turns, the sun rises, and James and Sirius come as a pair. Or Sirius is in love with his best friend, James is late to the party, and Peter is terrible at keeping secrets.

Rating: E

Words: 38, 038 ( In-progress )

♧♧♧♧

Line without a hook by @strugglequill

Pairing: James Potter/Sirius Black

Summary:

Four weeks, two days, and seven hours have passed since James hugged Sirius goodbye on the Hogwarts Express, a long summer of separation stretching ahead of them. With all of their other methods of contact blocked by Sirius's controlling parents, James shifts from disappointment to panic as a month passes with only silence in their two-way mirrors. Their separation just might kill James - or someone else.

After breaking into Number 12 Grimmauld Place with some hard-won cursebreaking and stolen Floo Powder, James wasn't expecting Sirius to ask him to fulfill a birth prophecy: rebirthing the House of stars with Black blood.

Song fic inspired by "Line Without a Hook" by Ricky Montgomery.

Rating: E

Words: 12, 189 ( complete)

♧♧♧♧

The host by Mothboss

Relationship: Spirit of Severus Snape and James Sirius Potter

Summary: James Sirius Potter was prepared right out of the gate to follow in the footsteps of his namesakes. The only thing that could likely have deterred him would have to have been one hell of a distraction.

Rating: G

Words: 9,528 ( complete)

[aftgficrec]

Staff Recs - Autumn Roundup 2024

Some fics with fall vibes to warm your soul. -AFTG Fic Rec Fam

previous recs:

staff fave Halloween here (includes previous Halloween recs and supernatural roundup)

Fall Exchange 2020 here

‘doubt thou the stars be fire’ here

‘morbid stuff’ series here

‘The End Is Up To Us’ here

‘Autumn Crocus’ here

‘The Suit Universe’ part 8 here

‘Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy’ here

‘FoxTail Cafe’ series part 13 here

‘Apple Picking Day’ here

‘Fair Games’ here

‘little ghost’ here

‘Lucky Strike’ here

‘Foxglove Court’ series here

‘Thanks for nothing’ here

‘Teaching a caged bird to fly’ series part 5 here

‘Sugar, Spice, and Corporate Espionage’ here

‘The Massive Continuity of Ducks’ here

‘Spell it Out’ here

‘10 tips to stress less, without the tips’ here

‘Being So Normal’ here

‘Aidan Minyard’ here

Honeycomb by moonix [Rated T, 10871 Words, Complete, 2023, Locked]

In which Kevin owns a restaurant in a picturesque small town, Andrew is his chef, Neil disrupts the routine, no one gets poisoned with mushrooms, and life isn't so bad.

tw: implied/referenced eating disorders, tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced self harm

Seasons of memory by butallmystars [Rated G, 4772 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil was all sorts of alluring and unusual; a thin strip of seemingly restless energy, eyes moving almost as much as his legs did, the bespoke lines of his blazer the most uniform thing about him and yet somehow not out of place.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse

you wish I was yours (and I hope that you're mine) by lesbiankaz [Not Rated, 9526 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2024]

“Aaron Minyard,” Allison said in a dramatic tone. “Truth or dare?” Aaron rolled his eyes. “Dare.” Kevin wasn't surprised. He knew Aaron would prefer to do a stupid dare instead of telling a single thing about himself. “I dare you,” she paused, making suspense, “to spend seven minutes in heaven with Kevin.” - Kevin has a crush on Aaron. Allison tries to help.

5 ultra-cute fall date ideas that will make your man fall more for you by Bravbo [Rated G, 1364 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2024]

The problem starts with one Neil Josten. Neil who has apparently never celebrated any holidays. Neil, with his blasé attitude about violence. Neil, with his distressingly blue eyes and freckles. Neil, who Andrew want to put on a jar and study like a bug. Yes, Neil Josten is a problem. It´s him that has driven Andrew to this, seeking advice on google like a teenage girl just to make sure Neil has the best holiday.

tw: fire

Float Down (Like Autumn Leaves) series by Apaleyellow [Not Rated, 7309 Words, Collection, Updated Oct 2024]

Part 1: fill my cup half empty (because it's never been half full) [5221 Words, Incomplete, Updated Sept 2024] The boy's face in the reflection was pale, almost translucent, with freckles dotting his cheeks and auburn hair falling in untamed curls around his face. His eyes were an icy blue, piercing and filled with a haunting sadness. Nathaniel Wesninski. The Butcher's son. The ghost of the manor. -- OR -- The one where Andrew is a best-selling horror author who visits the Wesninski Manor in search of inspiration for his next book.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced murder 

Part 2: would we survive in a horror movie? [2088 Words, Complete, 2024] Their moment was interrupted by Seth's booming voice. "Alright, losers. Time for a real story. Ever heard of the Butcher of Baltimore?" -- OR -- The one where the Foxes are telling scary stories around a campfire and only Andrew knows who Neil really is.

tw: implied/referenced torture, tw: implied/referenced murder 

penchant by rooftopkisses [Rated T, 5051 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2024]

When Neil is recruited by Coach Wymack to join the track team at Palmetto High School, he draws the attention of Andrew, the artsy loner, as well as Kevin, the sport’s current state champion.

Rebel Rebel by Andreil_pipedream [Rated M, 7905 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2024]

October settles down on the small town outside of Baltimore. Werewolves start haunting the forests and a certain orange cat gets curious. Nell meets an interesting girl who she may or may not have a crush on. After an awkward first meeting, things are made worse- or better- when she finds out they go to the same school. After a few risky decisions and oblivious flirting, she gets a date where everything starts to go wrong.

tw: child abuse, tw: extreme transphobia, tw: gaslighting, tw: confinement, tw: food deprivation, tw: implied/referenced murder

it's still the autumn leaves by TogeMythia [Rated T, 3389 Words, Complete, 2024]

‘Can I come with you?’ Andrew paused, he was sat on the floor with one foot awkwardly in the air and a black sock with an orange pumpkin pattern halfway pulled on. ‘What?’ He asked. ‘Can I come with you? Wherever you are going.’ - or Neil and Andrew spend an autumn afternoon together.

A Bushel and a Peck by justdk [Rated T, 1405 Words, Complete, 2020]

Andrew picked a few low hanging apples, handing one to Neil. They wiped them off on their shirts and snacked on them while they looked for the rest of the team. The sweet, tangy juice filled Neil’s mouth and ran down his chin. It tasted way better than a store-bought apple. Overhead crows called to each other and the smell of apples filled the crisp, autumn air. Neil closed his eyes and breathed in deep, holding in the feeling of freedom and possibility. When he opened his eyes, he found Andrew looking at him, hazel eyes warm and steady. [or: the Foxes go apple picking]

Bets, Blind Dates, and Dares. Oh My! by makebelieveanything [Rated T, 3761 Words, Complete, 2021]

Andrew loses a bet to Aaron and Kevin and he has to go on two blind dates - they go about as well as he would expect. Is Andrew stuck in a rom-com or is this really how life works?

gourd vibes only by otatop [Not Rated, 3750 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2021]

A mini road trip up through New England to meet the foxes.

Disparity by Jeni182 [Rated G, 3781 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2021]

Andrew is a criminal justice professor who keeps finding excuses to visit the library where a certain red head works.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse, tw: implied/referenced self harm

hopscotch heart by moonix [Rated M, 2046 Words, Complete, 2021, Locked]

Podfic here

Neil has a terrible time at a party. Andrew shows up and Neil has a slightly less terrible time at a party.

tw: implied/referenced murder, tw: anxiety

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness by seaspeak [Not Rated, 869 Words, Complete, 2016, Locked]

In which Jean falls in love with the Fall, thanks to Jeremy

There Was Only One Pumpkin by familiarwildflowers [Not Rated, 2275 Words, Complete, AFTG Fall Exchange 2021]

To get Nicky off his back about his dating life, Neil decided to lie. Surely there would be no consequences? That's what Neil thought, until, while on a visit to a pumpkin patch, Andrew's lot steps in and he's forced to confront his lie.

Pumpkin Patch by H_bee69 [Rated G, 1600 Words, Complete, 2023]

Part 1 of Spooky times and autumn vibes 

Neil wants to go to the pumpkin patch and who is Andrew to deny Neil.

until I fell off from that peak by eeveepkmnfan [Rated M, 4817 Words, Complete, 2023]

Neil Josten lives and tries to come to terms with what that means. Or, Neil collects leaves - Andrew vocally protests.

tw: implied/referenced child abuse

Forever Falling by cshogg [Rated G, 1370 Words, Complete, 2023]

Snippets of Neil and Andrew's life during autumn: trying new things, rewriting traumatic experiences, and learning to love the seasons like normal people do.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, August 9th

BUFFYBOT: (OS) Anya! BUFFYBOT: How is your money? ANYA: (laughs in surprise) Fine. Thank you for asking.

~~Intervention~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Back-up Plans by veronyxk84 (Spike & Clem, PG-13)

Who's a Good Kitten? by Anonymous (Angelus/Fred, M)

Scientific Inquiry by Anonymous (Angel/Spike/Maggie Walsh, E)

The Other Side of Corporeal by Anonymous (Angel/Darla/Drusilla/Spike, M)

Expectations by mmooch (Buffy, Big Bang Theory crossover, T)

Favours and Flowers by Diary (Angel, Fred, Supernatural crossover, G)

Dreamt of Drowning by Anonymous (Spike/Drusilla, T)

Willow tells Xander she's bisexual by Johanna6Cats (Willow/Xander, G)

The Taste Of A Heart Beating by Geliot99 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Buffy season 8 " Wicked me", Chapter 8 by FreyStewart (Buffy/Angel, not rated)

Slayer & Rose Bride, Chapter 11 (complete!) by acpendra, Sparkle 94 (acpendra) (Buffy, Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena crossover, M)

Darkness and Desire - Book - 01 - Hex Born, Chapter 7 by zxandris (Buffy, Willow, Tara, multiple crossovers, E)

Enter Sunnydale, Chapter 3 by Philister (Faith, Transformers crossover, M)

Further From Home, Chapter 2 by zombiesam (Buffy/Giles, E)

Who Are You Now? Chapter 2 by Mirrored_Illusions (Buffy, NCIS crossover, G)

School of Hard Knocks, Chapter 11 (complete!) by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Rebirth: A Stargate Tale, Chapter 12 by Buffyworldbuilder (Ensemble, Stargate crossover, FR13)

2024 FaD Tribbles, Chapter 2 by mmooch (Oz, Harry Potter crossover, FR13)

What the Drabble? Vol. 2, Chapter 58 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Tale as Old as Time, Chapter 14 (complete!) by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Task Mistress, Chapters 2-4 by HappyWhenItRains (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Manip: There is a Geppetto in the house! by KneeHighMischief (Puppet!Angel, worksafe)

Screencaps with lyrics: Lyrical, Chapters 1-11 by scratchmeout (PG-13)

Artwork: Spike by isevery0nehereverystoned (partial nudity, probably worksafe)

Artwork: they've probably had better dates... by mistyintherivers (Giles/Jenny, worksafe)

Artwork: a little buffy drawing by teenaween (worksafe)

Artwork: Joyce has invited him to bookclub before without a DOUBT! by tothetoonandback (Spike & Joyce, worksafe)

Fanvid: ► Dynasty [Buffy & Stefan] by WeCanTry (The Vampire Diaries crossover)

Fanvid: Cordelia Chase - Primadonna Girl by TheOverlookedOne

Fanvid: Forsaken: Buffy v Lestat ("Official Trailer) by Brendan Ryan

Artwork: My kinda ok #btvs #drawings ❤️ by Wolvyn Woods (Buffy, Faith, Tara, Willow, Spike, worksafe)

Fanvid: Buffy & Angel - I Dont Care (remake) by Angelus_Clips

Fanvid: Buffy + Angel She’s my wind by AshleyBurchettAJLeefanlove23love

Fanvid: Wesley&Lilah | Vampire Smile by 1SnoWhiteQueen1

Music video: Are You Afraid of Buffy's Goosebumps? - CRACK HORROR | Official Video | by Whalley Exchange

[Reviews & Recaps]

Video: LET'S TALK ABOUT BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER by I RAMBLE A LOT

Video: My thoughts on Buffy the Vampire Slayer by The Autistic Buffy

Video: Buffy 2.11 Ted by Jen Katz and Ryan Something

Video: BUFFY the VAMPIRE SLAYER already has me HOOKED by Ashleigh Burton

Video: The Dated Vision of Buffy’s 23rd Century Future by PanelHopper

Video: Analyzing Buffy: Do You Wanna Hear My Philosophy? | 1x01: Welcome to the Hellmouthby The Bronze

Video: Analyzing Buffy by The Bronze

Video: Same Time, Same Place-Slayer Sunday by Jane Talks Buffy

Podcast: Twice More With Irony - A Full MUSICAL Review of 'Once More With Feeling' by Beer with Buffy

Podcast: DORPCast 247 - Buffy und Angel by DORP

Podcast: Buffy 2.12 Bad Eggs by Once More: A Rewatch Podcast

[Search & Recs]

Looking for [Spuffy or Spike/OC] fanfic recommendations by Ok-Olive-4048

Art rec: Darla/Drusilla (not worksafe) by drea.d.art, recced by roselynnthornwood

[Community Announcements]

Video: Slayerfest '24 Readathon Announcement - Buffy The Vampire Slayer Readathon! by Rescues and Reads

[Fandom Discussions]

btvs is just a seven year long competition between buffy and giles to see who can be the most unhinged depressed bisexual by comradesummers

A large portion of the issue with spike’s soul by greensaplinggrace

the scoobies were really the worst friend group ever by latrodectal

Okay, so... The Body... by redhatmeg

Never Kill a Boy on the First Date Fashion Part One by theoverlookedoneedits1997

Genuine Buffy/Angel Question by annarowyn

it’s so important that in Chosen (7x22) [Buffy] didn’t end up with either [Angel or Spike] by fictiongods

buffy you cannot seriously be comparing what willow did to sleeping with spike by justsolas

My dislike for Ensouled Spike with Buffy doesn't come from a place of not liking their relationship or preferring Angel by mortalaf

i think angel would have been a 1000% better character if they just put him in more situations by not worksafe

Why I was more invested in Spuffy than Bangel by peppermintquartz

Who the fuck curses a vampire with ... by sympathischeufos

Buffy rewatch podcast with Juliet Landau continued by Dogs of Winter

Rewatch thoughts and questions continued by multiple posters

I have never fully understood this joke [Wesley's in Underneath] by AndrewHeard

Please I need closure, and can’t get a clear answer. Shanshu… by Altruistic-Salt-8303

Having a brain fog here but help… [the blood on Robin Wood's knife] by Trixieswizzle

Sometimes the recaps at the start of episodes skip some lines from the original dialogue. This is my favourite of those by Baron_Butterfly

Which antagonist did the most damage? by jdpm1991

If you guys were a vampire just chillin' in a graveyard late at night by Spyderwarp55

Totally forgot how they gave Faith an accent in the beginning by VisibleCoat995

Buffy's Complex Release: Emotion vs. Desire by Interesting-Tea3907

What is the best order to watch? by wildguitars

Who is your absolute favorite character in the Buffyverse and why? by hatcherry

Which unheard OMWF song would you most like to hear? by MonsterTournament

Who has the better nonexistent, faux-British accent? by nowlan101

A small and fairly insignificant question about the season 5 finale by nickel4asoul

How did Buffy not realize who Robin was? by bluish-velvet

AU Scenario Swap! Angelus Chipped & Spike Remains Evil by orchid-noogie

Reboot? by sluteeprncss

Who looks more like their actor in the comics? by jdpm1991

I'm so mad the Slayers didn't get a wage by Suitable_cataclysm

Tara's name by MissSpooky69

Graduation Day, the poison and The Mayor by yukeee

Video: Buffy and Angel- The relationship that should have been? In under 3 minutes!" by BingeTalkTV

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[wandering-aloneo-o]

hi, i'm wanderingalone! you can call me any variations of that, or ace works too!

i like things and stuff, and also do stuff and things occasionally

i'm an avid halloween, plants, and goofy things enjoyer! if you like any of those, you're automatically cool in my book and get a free googly eye

[insert googly eye png here]

(or a gold star if you want that instead. i'm fine that you don't want a googly eye. that's fine. im not hurt or anything. im fine about this.)

i occasionally do stuff (im not lying. i do do things. sometimes. i promise im not lying.)

buuuut i also don't want to take up too much space with those things and stuff and stuff and things, so now i will be inserting a break gap extend button thing (wow, so cool!)

i am aroace and use any pronouns!

here's a list of my little sideblogs that have some little things:

@th1ng2: a place for videos and photos ive taken

@a-whole-lot-of-things: i talk about all the silly things i like here, could be music-related, media-related, project-related, fandom-related, basically anythingilikeoraminterestedin-related

@yeahilikesomethings: a sideblog which serves the sole purpose of being a place where i reblog Every post i like (don't quote me on that) (started on june 16th, 2024)

i'm also in sideblog with everyone, but so is everyone else, so that's not saying much

i also may or may not run an updates acct. who knows. not me. and certainly not you. and its definitely not @tubbo--updates

(i also have like 2 or 3 sideblogs that are just username holders or short-time gimmicks of sorts, so those aren't really important)

now it's time for some important/cool/noteworthy things. yippee!

tags:

og - original posts from me :D (WIP)

MyArt - self-explanatory, it's just my art. art i've made. that it

MyMugs - the famed mug collection

5 Good Things - a list of 5 good things that happened in my day

honorable mentions posts:

2020 and why its BAD

the dream creatures (i love them sm :))

This Exchange with @fullofgenderandstressed and @justanotherhumanbeing which i still chuckle about when i think of

This Thing which resulted in my first (i think??) youtube short debut (Here)

likes/fandoms/etc:

plants, sleeping, music (Two Door Cinema Club, James Marriott, McCafferty, Destroy Boys, The Wombats, La Roux, Los Campesinos!, Crywank, The Royston Club, Good Kid, Lorde, Feeder, Mother Mother, Akine; indie, 80's, rock, and a whole bunch more) (if you have any music recs pleasepleaseplease share them with me i loooove expanding my music taste), animals (shoebills are cool af), halloween, rain, and a whole bunch more that i can't think of atm :D

Stranger Things, Dead Boy Detectives, MCYT (Tubbo, Nihachu, some Jack Manifold, Tommyinnit, Hermitcraft, and the occasional other things sprinkled here and there), The Haunting of Bly Manor, Criminal Minds, Coraline, a bit of Star Trek and Marvel, and other random things that sneak in there now and again

i currently have a growing mug collection and vinyl record collection, which i may share at random times if i really feel like it, i also write and draw things occasionally which is pretty fancy pretty cool imo, i also normally have my tumblr set up in pumpkin theme from april 1st to december 31st for funsies (gotta love that halloween spirit) And i'm making wind chimes out of old glasses lenses for funsies :D

anyways, i think that's all for now, i'll probably edit this every now and again, if you've made it this far i hope you're having an incredible day/night/time, remember to do that one thing you've been putting off, and here's a spinning cat as a reward for getting through all this! (also here's your Daily Click reminder if you haven't yet!)

last edited october 28th 2024

[enigmalea]

Arlathan eXchange 2024 Recs: Fanart

There's a ton of art in this year's @arlathanxchange collection and ALL of it is AMAZING.

In addition to the piece I received as a gift you should also check out:

Book Lovers ☆ rating G ☆ Cassandra Pentaghast/Solas

Swords and Shields ☆ rating G ☆ Cassandra Pentaghast/Solas

Home ☆ rating G ☆ Alistair & Fiona

pretty fly for aclassi guy ☆ rating G ☆ Cremisius "Krem" Aclassi/Male Lavellan

you've been held by a smooth kreminal ☆ rating G ☆ Cremisius "Krem" Aclassi/Female Lavellan

Honestly... the art is so good, you should check it all out. I'm particularly impressed with all the Krem puns!

All Arlathan Recs: gifts | art | fics

[confabcon]

2024 Programming & Dance Party

We can't believe the con is in less than two months! What even is time?? We have a few programming-related announcements for you today.

Thanks again to everyone who submitted programming for CONfab 2024, as well as to those of you who voted on what you want to see this year. The schedule will be released in early October, but for now we have a list of everything that you'll see at this year's CONfab below the cut, organized by programming type and alphabetical by current title. If the title doesn't make it clear what the programming is, we've provided a little context in [brackets]. Onto the list!

Panels Demystifying D&D Organization for Transformative Works: What We (really) Do and How to Get Involved Sex Writing Ultimate Screen Adaptation Tier List: Video Game Edition Your Fave Is Problematic [Loving a canon with a problematic creator]

Group Discussions A Parsec is a Unit of Distance; A Horse is Not a Bicycle [When canon gets facts totally wrong] Everything Old Is New Again [Old Fandoms] Fidget Toys for Fun and Mental Health If The Shoe Fits… [Disney's Descendents, Brandi's Cinderella (1997), Fairy Tale Retellings] Recent Book Recs RPG Trivia Hour Size Doesn't Matter: How to Hype a Small Fandom The Game is Afoot. Eh, Watson? [Fictional Detectives] The Jedi and other Force Cults [Star Wars] The Obligatory Incest Discussion The Shipping of Theseus [Greek Mythology Fandoms] The Things We DO For Blorbos [Odd skills and crafts you've learned for your fave] Two Vampires Walk Into A Church [Interview With the Vampire]

Workshops Fan Crafts: Embroidery Kandi Bracelet Workshop Let's Craft Together! Like My Coffee - CONfab Edition [Improv Gameshow] Piracy 101 Plushie Workshop: Rise of the Needles Speakeasy: Flashdrive Exchange Use Your Fave Garment to Make New Ones

Next up, our Saturday Night Dance Party! This year's theme is Star Studded. You don't have get dressed up, but you are welcome to use the theme as a jumping off point to plan a fun outfit or a costume. Or, just come in your pajamas; we don't mind. :D

You can register for CONfab 2024 and find details about the hotel on our website. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

[novelmonger]

Book Review: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Recommended by @valiantarcher for the 2024 Book Rec Exchange

Premise: The Walker family (sans Father, who is out to sea) is on holiday at a lake, and the four children have been begging to be allowed to sail to a small island and camp there all on their own. Once they receive permission, the adventures begin! Not only do they get to enjoy sailing the open seas and living on a deserted island, but they also encounter pirates, natives, buried treasure, and shipwrecks, all before they have to go home at the end of the summer.

Thoughts: I had the weirdest sense of deja vu in the first few chapters of this book. I think I must have attempted reading this at some point when I was a kid, but then got bored and never finished. Because this definitely seems like the kind of story I would have done that with when I was the target age ^^' Too many nautical terms, not enough actual pirates or kidnappings or wish-granting turtles. And I hadn't yet established my First Hundred Pages rule, so I can absolutely see myself giving up before things really got interesting. (For me, that would be when the Amazons show up.)

But reading it now as an adult, I thought it was delightful ^_^ The kids all acted just like real children, reminding me of games I'd play with my siblings, though the Walker children were much more sophisticated and had more complex ideas of a good time than we did! (For one thing, I don't think any of us had any ambitions of sailing or camping on our own, ever. And we couldn't have managed it, especially not at their ages!) I loved how seriously the narrative took their imaginations, because that's just how it is when you're playing pretend. The story you're pretending can shift and flex, but you still don't want anything breaking the suspension of disbelief if at all possible. (Thus the way my brother and I would always have our LEGO armies have a lunch-time truce when we were called away in the middle of battle.)

I think my favorite character was the unfortunately named Titty. (I assumed, all the way through reading the book, that this was a nickname for Letitia that, like the name Dick, has taken on an unfortunate meaning in this day and age, but upon further research I discovered that it comes from a children's book called Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse, which was the favorite of the real girl Titty was based on, whose name was Mavis. I hunted up Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse, and...what. even. I know times have changed since 1930, but...really??? Why would any child in their right mind like that story at all? Let alone pick it as their favorite?! x.x) Titty was the one who reminded me most of myself, other than the way Susan mothered her siblings (what is it with Susans and being the mother of the group?). The turns her imagination took her, the desire to have her own private adventures, the way her heart swelled with the drama of things...yes, I could see myself in that. She also kind of reminded me of Katharine from Edward Eager's books, for similar reasons ^_^

All in all, I found this book highly enjoyable, and even inspiring! It makes me want to recapture some of that child-like complete abandonment to the world of make-believe. It even encouraged me on a day I was feeling very overwhelmed by very adulty problems, because reading the book made me want to find ways I could pretend something more interesting and meaningful was going on, to relieve the oppression of Reality. A very enjoyable book, and I'm happy to have read it.

[lee-bella]

HP Fest Schedule: December 2023

Below the cut is a list of HP fest dates for the month of December. If you are curious about what's happening in 2024, see the full HP Fest Schedule (Google doc).

December 1

Sirius Black Fest 2023: Posting begins.

H/D Erised 2023 (Tumblr; exchange): Posting starts.

H/D Owlpost 2023: Call for pinch-hitter. Posting begins.

25 Days of Draco & Harry (LJ, Tumblr): Challenge begins.

Deflower December: Challenge begins.

Liquid Luck Roll the Dice Winter Edition: Challenge begins.

HP Chan Fest (AO3, DW): Claiming opens.

Harry Potter Rec Fest: Challenge begins.

HP Yuletide Bliss 2023: Challenge opens.

Snolidays 2023 (Severus): Challenge begins.

dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge: Challenge begins.

Rare Pair Shorts Winter Prompt Challenge (Tumblr): December challenge begins.

25 Days of Kinkmas: Challenge begins.

December 2

Marauders Mayhem Voldy's Valentines (exchange): Sign-up opens.

December 3

Blackcest Fest 2024 (Black family; incest): Prompting ends.

December 4

Blackcest Fest 2024 (Black family; incest): Claiming opens.

HP Triad!Fest: Prompting closes.

December 5

HoggyWartyXmas Prompt Fest: Submissions due.

Hoggywartyxmas Book Club: Opening post due.

HoggyWartyXmas Be Creative (non-fic/art medium): Submissions due.

Magical Trans Comfort Fest 2023: Fest & prompts announced.

December 7

HP Triad!Fest: Claiming opens.

HP Trans Fest 2024: Fest announced.

December 8

Draco Tops Harry Fest 2024 (Tumblr): Announced.

December 9

Riddle Fest (AO3): Prompting begins.

December 10

HP Festival of Stars 2023: Claiming ends.

Drarry Fans Discord Server Double Drabble Exchange (discord only): Works due.

December 11

Charlie's Birthday Bash: Claiming ends. Stories due.

Remus Lupin Fest: Claiming closes.

TTB The Twelve Days of Yule Bash (canon compliant): Challenge begins.

December 12

Charlie's Birthday Bash: Stories reveal.

December 14

HP Festival of Stars 2023: Submissions due.

Marauders Mayhem Voldy's Valentines (exchange): Sign-up closes.

December 15

R/S Big Bang 2023: Art due.

Sirius Black Fest 2023: Posting ends.

HP Soulmates Secret Santa: Works due.

HP Festival of Stars 2023: Reveal begins.

Love Is In The Air (Twitter): Claiming opens.

December 17

Yuletide and Mulled Wine Fest (AO3): Stories due.

Drarry Fans Discord Server Double Drabble Exchange (discord only): Reveals.

Wheel of Drarry Secret Santa 2023: Works due.

December 18

Yuletide and Mulled Wine Fest (AO3): Works reveals.

Dark Festivus Gift Exchange: Fics due.

HP Soulmates Secret Santa: Posting begins.

HP Saffics Secret Santa: Works due.

Wheel of Drarry Secret Santa 2023: Posting begins.

December 19

Dark Festivus Gift Exchange: Reveals.

December 20

HP Bard Fest: Claiming closes.

Marauders Christmas Fest: Challenge begins.

Wheel of the Year Fest (Dramione): Works due.

December 21

Wheel of the Year Fest (Dramione): Reveals.

December 22

H/D Owlpost 2023: Last day late gifts will be accepted.

Yuletide and Mulled Wine Fest (AO3): Creators revealed.

HP Soulmates Secret Santa: Posting ends.

TTB The Twelve Days of Yule Bash (canon compliant): Challenge ends.

December 23

H/D Kidfic Fest 2024: Submissions due.

HoggyWartyXmas Prompt Fest: Posting begins (tentative).

Twistmas: Claiming closes; works due.

Magical Trans Comfort Fest 2023: Posting begins.

December 24

Twistmas: Works revealed.

December 25

25 Days of Draco & Harry (LJ, Tumblr): Challenge ends.

HP Saffics Secret Santa: Works & creators revealed.

Magical Trans Comfort Fest 2023: Last day to post.

25 Days of Kinkmas: Challenge ends.

December 26

Wheel of Drarry Secret Santa 2023: Reveals.

December 30

Riddle Fest (AO3): Prompting closes.

December 31

Sugarfest: A Sugar Daddy Harry Fest: Claiming closes. Submission closes.

2023 Harry Potter Crossover Gift Exchange: Submission deadline.

HP Snooze Fest 2023: Last day to self-post.

H/D Owlpost 2023: Posting ends or until all gifts are delivered.

Remadora Fest (Remus/Tonks): Works due.

Deflower December: Challenge ends.

Harry Potter Kink Meme (Tumblr): Round 2 ends.

HP Festival of Stars 2023: Reveal closes.

Marauders Christmas Fest: Last day of challenge.

Harry Potter Rec Fest: Last day of challenge.

HP Yuletide Bliss 2023: Challenge closes.

Snolidays 2023 (Severus): Last day of challenge.

dracoharry100 Christmas Challenge: Challenge ends.

Rare Pair Shorts Winter Prompt Challenge (Tumblr): December challenge ends.

Riddle Fest (AO3): Prompts announced.

[bleachbleachbleach]

🗻🏃🏻‍♂️箱根の山は？ 天下の険！🗻🏃🏻‍♂️

We finished our annual Run with the Wind rewatch last night, which is a series I love so intensely that if I had to recommend one anime to someone it would be this one. It clocks in at a cool 23 episodes, which makes it approachable, and it's so character-driven it doesn't matter if the premise sounds inherently interesting or not.

Do you love running? asks fourth-year university student Kiyose Haiji in the opening scene. If you don't, YOU WILL, as all of his roommates are about to find out, whether they want to or not (they do not).

It's based on a light novel by Miura Shion, who also wrote The Great Passage, which is a book (and anime series!) about writing a dictionary, which if you're like me will sell you on her instantly and if you are not might sell you on the premise that it's not the premise you need to be drawn to. The premise of Run with the Wind is the Hakone Ekiden: An annual, university marathon relay held up and down the mountains of Hakone just after New Years. Specifically, a 10-person college dorm that gets tricked/dragged/lovingly blackmailed into becoming an elite, 10-person marathon relay team.

Except most of the house aren't runners, and none of them wanted to be (except Haiji. Haiji's the one in the green. Can you tell?). They're law students and game show-loving job hunters; sun-starved otaku; coders who smoke; they're at the club; they're after girls; they have a girlfriend, actually; they are unassuming exchange students who like bathing in the dark and tuning into their friends' shoujo-style love lives; they are stealing 100 yen buns because they lost all their rent money in a single night of gambling.

Run With the Wind comes with all the tropes (extreme underdog story! DESTINATION TRAINING CAMP! fireworks! bathhouses! shared meals! hurt/comfort! very questionable driving (is this a real trope? it is to me)! cute dog! extremely homosexual soliloquies! extremely polyamorous nakama! It's goofy and charming and incredibly grounded in all of the small details of its characters lives and passions and insecurities. It's philosophical without being pedantic, existential without being nihilistic, and it's pure in the sense of being genuine, pure in the sense of being about some weird dudes who are willing to be deeply weird and to witness each other's weirdness.

There's so much to love about this series: The little notes on the walls of their dorm; the personalizations of everyone's shoes and phones and clothes; the amount of mayo someone is willing to put on curry; the eyes of the taxi driver as people have an insane conversation in the backseat; the amount of shit that exists in piles in the halls of the dorm; the slopes of Hakone; the team cheer; the sound of a metal windmill, creaking in strong wind.

It makes us cry every single time. The world for the Aotake boys. <333 Plus, this year (2024) was the ONE HUNDREDTH RUNNING of the real Hakone Ekiden!

For additional recs, here's my favorite:

film "about" running - Atanarjuat (2001)

fanfic "about" running - Run, glasshoe (2009)

essay "about" running - Repetitive Stress, Devin Kelly (2021)

[germanlang]

How is the Dutch learning going? Anything you need help with?

I'm glad to be confronted with this question because... eh

Last semester was really full for me and I barely did any language learning (at least that's what it felt like) so for 2024 one of my goals is simply to "get back into language learning"

I'm doing amazingly with that since I started Spanish just a couple weeks ago and am motivated as FUCK since I have a venezuelan best friend who's helping me

but I've let Dutch slip... a lot. I bought two Dutch books in Maastricht last year and I'm planning to read them both this year. I'm confident that will go well but I also know that, especially with Dutch, passive vocabulary and language skills are not the issues, active vocab is. I feel like I could barely produce a straight sentence right now, nevermind speak confidently with a native.

But being confronted with that through your ask, I've decided (while writing this), that I'll be taking notes in Dutch about the books while reading them (they're both non-fiction, one about OCD, the other about multilingualism – both central topics for me I'm super interested in). I know the issue with reading Dutch isn't understanding, it's that it just takes me longer than German or English and is more of a mental effort.

I should really try to get more immersion though and produce more on a regular basis, even if it's small stuff.

If you have YouTube or Spotify recs (music, videos, podcasts, audiobooks) do let me know!

I'd also generally be interested in language exchanges (this goes out to Dutch-, French-, Spanish-speakers and Latin-enthusiasts) (obv. I can mainly offer English and German) but be warned that I tend to have a turbulent life 😅

So overall: I've been slacking, I want to do more but it'll be hard to work that into my life right now...

Thank you so much for asking btw. Simply in replying I've thought so much about it and what the issues are and what I could do that I feel much more confident in getting back at it!!

[reinaazarolla]

Is that REINA AZAROLLA? A SENIOR originally from SEVILLE, SPAIN, they decided to come to Ogden College to study SOCIOLOGY. They’re THE EXCHANGE STUDENT on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

This is additional and updated info for the new school year (2023-2024). Original intro can be found here.

APPEARANCE (UPDATED)

HAIR COLOR → naturally dark brown, currently blonde TATTOOS → small paper airplane outline on the inside of her right ring finger. new addition is a small camera outline on the side of her right index finger courtesy of Link SCARS → some scarring from the fire at the commons. most noticeable is upper left thigh wrapping from the front to the side. less noticeable are some spots on her right forearm. almost nonexistent, small burn her neck left side closer to the back. the best medical treatment her parents could find helped her heal. PIERCINGS → two in each lobe and one helix, left ear. new addition is a nose piercing, small stud on right side

FAMILY INFORMATION (UPDATED)

PETS → german shepard (male) named baltasar

SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023 RECAP

hospital/medical/surgical mention tw

First semester, she studied abroad in Portugal.

Second semester, luckily she didn't have too many encounters with G but she was determined to try to find them.

She became a bit obsessed, even thought about hiring a private investigator.

School year ended with a bang, she got trapped in the commons when the fire started and thought the best route of escape was straight through the flames. It did not end well. The next thing she knew she was waking up in the hospital.

SUMMER SHENANIGANS

Since Reina was seriously injured at the end of the school year her parents were extra protective. Here are some highlights:

hospital/medical/surgical mention tw, drug use tw

Reina was not allowed to travel alone and her parents basically took her phone away. They got her a new one with a new number and everything but they put spyware on it as a safety precaution.

They kept her old phone to monitor as well in case G reached out.

She was strongly discouraged to post on social media or reach out to friends (this is an ic excuse for my ooc disappearance and not being active during the "summer" months lol)

She traveled around Europe with her parents to the best doctors to treat her burns and even got some skin graft done on the worst of the burns of her arm and neck. Other treatments like ointments were used to help with the scarring.

Reina was assigned a body guard, courtesy of her father.

The first half of the summer she stayed with her mom who was traveling around Europe for work. Some nights she'd sneak out and go clubbing or find whatever seedy party/rave she could and indulge in drink and drugs - she wasn't coping well with how the school year ended.

The second half of the summer was spent at their current home in Berlin where she spent a lot of time with her dad.

She learned a lot more of both her parent's jobs during this time together.

Her parents got her a german shepard to help her cope but also another protection measure.

She got a nose piercing.

She dyed her hair blonde, at one point she thought about shaving her head but was talked out of it.

POTENTIAL PLOTS

Literally down for any plot, these are some off the top of my head. Message me if interested.

Detective Buddies - Reina isn't as obsessed to find G as she was last year but I could see herself potentially getting into some trouble teaming up with someone who wants to end this hell as much as she does. She also may want some revenge.

Fake Dating - She's a lesbian and most people know that but she wouldn't be opposed to fake dating with any gender. She can be someone's beard for all she cares. Have I been getting a lot of fake dating book recs on TikTok lately...shhhh we don't need to talk about it lol

more to be added...I skipped to the connections and now I can't think of other plots

WANTED CONNECTIONS

Again, literally down for anything. Message me if interested in any of these or you have some other ideas!

If I mislabeled our connections or forgot them please let me know! My brain is tired. I did leave out generic friends and acquaintance labels.

Study buddies - Whether they study together in silence or there is tutoring involved, they can bond over academics. (1 /∞) one spot taken by @montyrichler

Past Fling - Nothing serious, or at least no one admitted serious feelings. (1/5) one spot taken by @mari-zuko

Frenemies - Friends in public, enemies in private, or vice versa. (0/??)

Confidant - Someone Reina can tell anything to, or maybe Reina is your muses confidant. They can be each other's confidant too. (0/2) two spots open if Reina and your muse are not each other's confidants.

Current fling - When the nights get lonely and the are you up or wyd texts get sent. (0/??)

more to be added