#but also the most WTF IS HAPPENING HOW ARE 14 THINGS ALL HAPPENING one

[federaliszt]

im sure its been said but my favorite thing about watching the first season of the Bear is that sometimes working in a chock-full busy restaurant in the middle of rush is just Like That. like sometimes you are in the middle of 17 tasks at once, but you can literally only do one thing at a time unless you can somehow learn to multi-task and do three tasks at a time but the risk with that is always that you spill or bring the wrong order out but at some point you literally do have to learn how to do at least 7 things at a time, because all the other servers can, so why can't you too. and it's this constant throbbing pulse of order in order out, hurry hurry hurry, food is getting cold and customers are getting impatient and it has to be ready NOW but it also has to be PERFECT, and then all the sudden someone bumps you and you're spilling a customer's latte all over your new work shoes, and everyone's temper is foul, and that's exactly the moment when you accidentally stab your co-worker in the butt.

[makeste]

BnHA Chapter 403: (But Just That One Part, Because I'm Not Caught Up)

Previously on BnHA: Truly no idea, but it kind of looks like Katsuki is riding some sort of spaceship, and everyone has gotten really, really sparkly. I see you all have been busy these past 22 months. Great job, keep it up.

Today on BnHA: “So it’s come to my attention that a truly shocking number of you are only reading this manga for a single character.” – Horikoshi Kouhei, October 2023.

so. where to start, lol

I guess I should open with an apology, because I am about to make a fairly selfish decision! what I am about to do, is post a reaction to Bakugou’s Return To The Manga. however, because I’m not caught up, I’m going to be reading this one scene completely out of context without knowing anything about what is going on. which means that I’m going to be missing out on god knows how many nuances and details, which means this reaction post will be short on those things as well. so basically I’m prioritizing my own personal gratification as a fan here even though it is 100% going to affect the quality of my reaction blog, and for that I genuinely am sorry. eventually I will finish catching up, and when that happens I will post a proper reaction with all the trimmings. that’s just how it is for now though

anyway so with that said, basically what I’ve done now is I have gone to the scanlation website, and clicked on chapter 403, and then scrolled down through most of the chapter while sort of half-looking away from my screen with my eyes squinted so that everything is mostly blurry, until I finally reached the big double-page spread with you-know-who doing his thing. namely, standing around on this giant glowy cereal bowl from the future, which appears to be either hovering up in the air, or slowly crashing onto the ground

and this right here, is exactly what I was rambling on about a moment ago. you guys I really am sorry to be doing this, because even I can tell this should be solemn and sincere moment of awe and excitement and relief. but because I completely lack any context whatsoever for wtf is happening, most of the dramatic impact is lost on me, and to tell the truth right now this page is a hell of a lot funnier than it has any right to be

like, so Deku. this boy is crying all the tears. I recklessly scrolled back up one page to see why, and it appears the answer is Because All Might Is About To Fucking Die (which, !??!?), so that’s actually VERY fucked up, and I’m sure I will have PAGES AND PAGES OF WORDS to say about all of that once I finally catch up properly. that is very traumatic and emotional and I will probably cry a lot about it

BUT, that being said, I just need you guys to know that without that context, Deku standing here with his giant head all >:O in the foreground, while Kacchan appears out of nowhere glowing with the power of a thousand suns and standing on top of this giant floating Smash Bros level that Nezu maybe probably built with his nine million dollars, is one of the wildest fucking things I’ve seen in my life. I feel like an accidental time traveler. you know when a character has one of those crazy prophetic dreams showing them chaotic glimpses of the future, and they’re just standing there all “???” because they have absolutely no clue what the fuck is going on? that is what it’s like right now

heh but there he is

“did you miss me, Izuku. back by popular demand after being on IR for 14 goddamn months. rebuilt better and stronger than ever thanks to the heroic spaghetti man wrapped tightly around my heart keeping me alive. just BnHA things. just a flesh wound. by the way, it’s me, Kacchan, just in case you didn’t recognize me on account of my still being really far away and completely covered by smoke, and also you thinking I was dead. here let me give you a close up to make this easier”

“fuck yeah. it really is me, btw. just in case you still couldn’t tell on account of me also being like 100x prettier than you remembered. guess it’s just that blindingly handsome character development”

also, “the end of an era” um hello, yes, what?? just what exactly have I missed here with all this All Might stuff?? because apparently All Might just prior to this was in some sort of mortal danger, is what I’ve been hearing, because everyone keeps posting excitedly about Kacchan showing up in the nick of time to save him? which incidentally makes my heart so incredibly fucking warm omg. it’s what both of them need AND deserve

why is everything so goddamn sparkly right now. this is like a Sailor Moon battle over here

love that look of instant recognition and shock and overpowering relief in Deku’s eyes though. also has he really been fighting in this cracked out OFA-overflowing mode this entire time?? he looks just like he did on the cover of volume 37. I still haven’t seen his actual canon reaction to the “death”, and I haven’t been keeping tabs on his fight with AFO??/Tomura?? at all, but I’m glad it looks to have been as emotional as I could have hoped

aw fuck yeah

his precious card. I’m now almost as invested in the saga of the All Might card as I am in all the rest of this. it’s all beat to hell, but somehow still made it through in the end. just like him

oh. my. g

protect them.

protect them all.

so is the reason this fight is so sparkly just because of OFA symbolism, then?? or is there something else happening here?? goddammit, okay, I‘m gonna very carefully scroll back to the beginning of the chapter, because I’m 100% positive there is some sort of deeply meaningful symbolic thing going on here and I’ll be damned if I miss out on it, spoilers or no

-- oh my goD??!

1. BABY ALL MIGHT WHAAAAAAT

IS THAT HIS MOM???? OH MY GOD DID WE GET ALL MIGHT BACKSTORY. oh my god. oh god. no actually don’t tell me, ahhhh I cannot fucking wait to read this properly, holy shit

so did something wind up happening to Mighty Mom later on then?? feels like it must have, since he wound up getting so attached to Nana? man I don’t want to think about any of that stuff after seeing this panel though :( just, damn it, why is this man’s whole entire life so goddamn fucking tragic

“the one thing I’ve done most is looking back to the path I took” my god I cannot wait to read this. only two short pages and I’m already buried miles deep into my All Might feels. came here for the triumphant Kacchan return and now I’m sitting here tearing up about All Might, god damn you Horikoshi YOU’VE STILL GOT IT. and I am STILL A SUCKER FOR ALL OF IT

anyway, so now back we go to the last couple of pages with this additional context, aaaaand...

...and apparently I’m now full-on crying about All Might! (: well how about that. turns out when you read the manual and follow the instructions properly this series still works exactly as advertised. don’t mind me I’m just sitting here sobbing because everything is exactly what I wanted and I apparently don’t know how to deal with that!!

THEIR FEELINGS BECOME WHAT?!?!?!

EVERYTHING IS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED AND I’M GONNA BE A MESS ABOUT IT FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF TIME BECAUSE LIFE IS GRAND!!

ARE ALL OF THESE WATERY SPARKLES LIKE. DEKU’S FUCKING TEARS LMAO OR WHAT. HOW IS KACCHAN IN THE SPLASH ZONE. HOW ARE HIS TEARS HOLDING UP THE SPACESHIP. I DON’T UNDERSTAND A GODDAMN THING BUT THIS IS NOW OFFICIALLY A SHOUJOU MANGA, I DON’T MAKE THE RULES

the urge to ruffle baby Deku and baby Kacchan’s hair is so goddamn powerful you don’t understand. this is PRIMAL. they are SO happy and SO good and perfect. I’m gonna fucking die

there’s not even any dialogue. what the fuck are they even gonna say. their expressions say it all and more. also they are being kind to me because they know I’m not caught up so they don’t want to spoil me any further, thank you my sons

lastly, I guess, because I don’t really have anything else to add now that my brain has fully turned to sappy mush: so uh. I truly have not the slightest clue how or why, but. does Kacchan have OFA though. and why is the answer, “yes he definitely does.” ???

like, I don’t understand it, but I confess that by now I have spoiled myself on the last few pages of chapter 362 for reasons (those reasons being “I finally gave in and looked at them on purpose, because I’d already seen most of them out of context here and there, and my willpower is only so strong”), and so I know that this boy was talking to vestige!Might, and as far as I’m aware that is 100% not possible unless he has some sort of connection to OFA in some way so yeah

and now here he on this last page being all Profoundly Connected with Deku while they gaze into each other’s eyes, and I can’t help but notice that said eyes are all explodey and they look a LOT like Deku’s actually. and on top of that we have all of this All Might symbolism that I’m still crying about, so like? ???

anyway so I’m not going crazy here right? like this is definitely a thing? for whatever reason?? unless you guys know something here that I don’t. in which case I actually am asking to be spoiled fully just this once, because at this point I just need to know one way or the other and I don’t care lol

anyway so that concludes my thoughts I guess! so now my absurdly ambitious goal is to speed read the manga this next week and hopefully at least catch up to Kacchan’s “death”, so that I can better understand what’s happening when I inevitably wind up spoiling myself for chapter 404 as well. the plan right now is to still type up my liveblog notes as I go, but to not worry about posting or editing anything in between chapters. so I’ll have a big backlog of chapter recaps which I’ll eventually get to uploading whenever I can, but in the meantime I can participate more in the fandom side of things. since I really want to share all of my endgame theories and so forth, but in order to do that I really need to find out just what the fuck is actually going on lol, so yeah

[kassuthehero]

my favorite riordan characters (just my opinion, don’t come at me)

Magnus Chase

I read MCGoA first (dont judge), so I have sentimental value over this series. I think magnus is literally so hilarious in a tired and confused way. It’s also so funny how Percy was so lost still like after 5 books but Magnus knows so much about the mythology already. Even after reading pjo i thought Magnus was way funnier and better main character than Percy. I think that was because Magnus is 16 in his series and Percy is just 12 in the lightning thief and I was already like 14-15 and liked more mature characters (Magnus is still a child and a dumbass). Magnus is also a very sad character if you think about it. He is basically an orphan bc his father wasn’t there and he witnessed his mothers death. Then he lived in the streets and was probably hungry, cold and scared almost every day. And then BOOM. Suddenly weird shit happens and he dies a gruesome death. Like seriously, a ball of melted asphalt burns through his body… He also never really had time to cope with the being dead thing bc suddenly he's supposed to save the world. Like wtf. Also I get the biggest gender envy ever (don’t ask why, he’s kinda pathetic xd). Best thing is that he’s fruity like I am. Magnus is also the healer so it is really interesting to get the healer's pov, a guy who isn’t your usual hero. Magnus also defeated LOKI, A GOD, with the power of friendship, which is hilarious. Magnus starts the show as a cynical boy who has lost everyone but by the end he has found a new family and moved on and I think that’s beautiful.

2. Will Solace

The absolute sass master. Of course Percy is still the sassiest ever but oh boy does Will come the next second. Will seriously takes no shit. I haven’t read his and Nico’s book yet but just from BoO and tHO I can say he has some balls. Like, one of the first things he does is calling Octavian, one of the biggest bad guys, an anemic loser. WHILE standing nose to nose with him. Like even Nico thought that Octavian was kinda scary but Will just marches right up to him and starts throwing insults. And then he proceeds to stubbornly make Nico rest and heal. He is so stubborn and bossy and I love him for it. Will also has a sadder side. He always puts everyone else before him bc he is the healer so it’s his job. He also was forced to be a leader way too young after he lost his older siblings. Still, he manages to walk around with a smile on his face. Will is so strong and his past is way overlooked. All the fans focus on Nico’s traumas and how Will helped him but never the other way around. Give Will some love, people.

3.Apollon (Lester Papadopoulos)

The most dramatic god ever, like omg. Apollo/Apollon has always been my favorite Greek god and Rick's version is just perfect. He is so annoyingly self centered and arrogant but at the same time he is so sad and vulnerable. I have never cried bc of Riordan's books but the hidden oracle made me sod like a baby. All the regret and pain in the stories about his lovers was heartbreaking. How his heart is stone bc he doesn’t believe in love anymore and how he takes responsibility for all the death he has caused. He is still an asshole but at least he notices it. I relate to him on such a deep level. He masks all his pain with humor and overconfidence just like I do. I haven't finished the trials of the Apollon yet but I can’t wait to read more of him and learn even more sad, funny and interesting things about him as a character.

4.Percy

Of course I have to include our best boy. During the HoO I just kept waiting for Percy’s POV just bc his thought process is the most entertaining in my opinion. He is so unhinged most of the time. Like, everyone is scared of Nico, no, you guys should be absolutely terrified by Percy. Like bro is so close to losing it. Few more inconveniences and he will kill everyone. but at the same time he likes eating blue food and doesn’t know half of the myths the others do. He just does what he feels like doing. My favorite moment was when he and Annabeth were in Tartarus and Percy was about to kill Akhlys by drowning her in her own poison. Like bro is insane. It’s also so sad that he and Annabeth have been in the front lines of war since they were like 12. It’s always them. Like there had to be other heroes right? Or like why couldn’t some minor god handle the situations? I have always loved characters who insult the enemy while fighting and Percy is just like that. At first, I didn't think he was any special but as he grew older, I started to like him more. Probably bc I could relate to him better when he was closer to my age. He also got more serious as he got older. I’m kinda pissed that he gets again a new series even tho Riordan has other characters that have potential. (I MEAN MAGNUS! LIKE PLEASE RICK! PLEASE!)

[wikiangela]

Weekend WIP Game

tagged by @jesuisici33 <3

Rules: List your WIPs below (if you only write one fic at a time, feel free to include future WIPs/ideas!) then answer the following questions. Then, tag as many people as you have WIPs (or more)

1. WIP List:

alive shannon

sick eddie

buddie coffee shop

new buddie chris' school

roommates

bi eddie

buddie death cast fic

cheating fic

untitled natalia fic

buddie 2x01

5+1 nicknames

coffee buddie

2. Which of your WIPs is currently the longest?

alive shannon with 20k words so far

3. Which WIP do you expect will end up the longest?

alive shannon, since it's kinda a canon rewrite and I still haven't decided to which point it's gonna go, we'll see when it'll feel right to end it haha

4. Which WIP is your favourite to write/the most enjoyable to write? Why?

once again, alive shannon haha - it's just so fun to explore what all those dynamics could've been, and giving Eddie and Shannon some closure, and I love exploring Shannon's character, too, speculating on her thoughts and motivations, and diving into everyone's heads, and I'm so excited to see it all develop!!

5. Which WIP do you find the most intimidating to write? Why?

I think it's either alive shannon or the cheating fic alive shannon bc I've never written s2/s3 buddie and I wanna get their characters semi-right, and I don't remember a lot of details so I need to get on with my rewatch lol - and also writing Shannon's and Eddie's feelings on their relationship and how it all ended is not easy haha and the cheating fic bc it's so not my thing but a song inspired it and it got stuck in my head and it's happening haha and I hope I'll make it make sense haha

6. Which WIP do you experience the most self-doubt about. Why?

tbh all of them - some more, some less, but there are moments, especially lately, when veeeery often I'm just like: everything I write sucks wtf

7. Which of your WIPs will you seek out a beta/sensitivity reader for? Why?

@giddyupbuck agreed to beta the alive shannon fic, and I spam them with snippets if I'm in doubt and it's sooo helpful fr ily <3 and I'll need alive shannon beta-read bc it's gonna be so long, and I keep changing my mind about things bc of how many ideas I have, so I just need someone else to look at it and tell me if everything makes sense haha - and Ro's helped me so much with some previous fics so they have my full trust with my baby that is the alive shannon fic haha

8. Have any of your WIPs been struck by the curse of writer's block?

all of them at some point lol - a few of these are actually on hold bc of that - I will get back to them tho!

9. Which WIP has your favourite OC? Tell us about them?

as of now there's no ocs in any of these, but we'll see haha

10. Which WIP is the sexiest?

cheating fic and maaaaybe coffee buddie (if I'll ever get back to this one) - no actual smut in my wips yet atm

11. Which WIP is the angstiest?

buddie death cast fic - if you've read 'they both die at the end' you know why lol this is not gonna have a happy ending

12. Which WIP has the best characterisation (in your humble opinion)?

so far I'm loving everyone in alive shannon so I guess let's go with that haha

13. Which WIP has the best scene setting (in your humble opinion)?

oh I am so bad this - but maybe let's say buddie coffee shop au bc i think it's the only one where I put even a little bit of focus on the setting lmao

14. Which WIP have you worked the hardest on?

alive shannon, been thinking about it and making notes for months before I started writing, and I don't think i've ever been this invested in a fic

15. Which WIP do you have the highest expectations for? Why?

alive shannon - - like I said, it's my most precious baby, and I'm so excited to not only write it but read it, and I hope it's gonna be as good as it is in my head, and I hope I'll make the story make sense with Shannon there, but also keeping some important buddie moments from canon hah

16. Do you dream about any of your WIPs?

not sure if i've ever dreamt about a wip, but i do get new ideas in my sleep sometimes lol

17. Do any of your WIPs have particular complexities that your other fics don't?

alive shannon will have switching povs which i rarely do, so it's gonna be a challenge to write three distinct voices - and diving into Shannon's head and feelings and motivations will also definitely be hard

18. Which WIP is the funniest or has the most humour?

I think sick eddie - he's so ridiculously stubborn and difficult istg haha or buddie coffee shop with how fucking awkward buck's being

19. Do any of your WIPs contain outside POVs or a deep dive on a character other than the main ship? How are you finding that process?

yep, once again, alive shannon - it's as much a buddie fic as it is a shannon fic, so it's not exactly outside pov, bc I'm just excited to focus on her equally as much, on how she's settling into their lives, becoming a better mom, being involved in Chris' life - she's gonna have as much focus as buddie sns it's not easy, bc it's alternating povs and once I get stuck in Eddie's head it's hard to leave, but so far it's been fun

20. Tell us one thing we don't know about one or more of your WIPs

uhhh, I think I share like everything lol okay, so maybe: alive shannon will definitely go at least up until s4 and will include Eddie dating Ana 👀 purely bc I want a buddie-shipping Shannon to be like wtf eddie??? also, there will be more than one mcd in the death cast fic and coffee buddie was loosely inspired by a small thing from luke cage lol

no pressure tags: @daffi-990 @fortheloveofbuddie @elvensorceress @gaydiaz @diazass @thebravebitch @silentxxsoul @shortsighted-owl @eddiebabygirldiaz @arthursdent @diazblunt @911onabc @eddiediaztho @housewifebuck @lover-of-mine @gayhoediaz @rogerzsteven @watchyourbuck @hoodie-buck @monsterrae1 @ladydorian05 @forthewolves @honestlydarkprincess @wildlife4life @theotherbuckley @weewootruck @thewolvesof1998 @disasterbuckdiaz @loserdiaz @underwater-ninja-13 @giddyupbuck @hippolotamus @eowon @callaplums @spotsandsocks

[zee-the-zebra]

Scara's a Youkai, Hoyo's Just Dumb

Genshin lore is driving me up a wall, what else is new? But this is one particular thing that has been bothering me for a while. Because in an effort to make “original lore” for Scara (I’m not writing his full name), they basically confirmed what he actually is while trying to deny it.

So Explain?

Scara, as described in the game as a “humanoid puppet” created to be a prototype for the Raiden Shogun. There are really no details to how he came about or what was done to create him. The Genshin Wiki says that Khaenri’ahn techniques were used to craft him, but I’m calling bullshit because there’s no source for that info. 

This puppet was meant to be “indistinguishable from true life” as Ei’s character story called it. The word “youkai” is never used to refer to him and they took time to say that Hanyuuda Chizuru, a tsukumogami, is an entirely different sort of being from Scara.

Now let’s talk about how all of that is stupid and that Scara is a purposefully induced Tsukumogami.

WTF is a Tsukumogami?

Tsukumogami (付喪神), literally translates to “tool god” or “artifact god”. They are abandoned objects that gain sentience after 100 years of being out of use. Some have specialized names, such as the biwabiwaboku, or the karakasa-obake, while some don’t. Modern tsukumogami can range from being mischievous but ultimately harmless to being vengeful, dangerous beings. The types of tsukumogami known to be the most likely to exist are dolls. 

Because dolls have a human shape, it is far easier for them to gain a soul, and have a human understanding of the world. But at the same time, because of that grasp of human emotion and attachment they are also likely to be the most wrathful when abandoned. There are several urban legends where doll tsukumogami are left somewhere and find their way back to their owners to get revenge for being abandoned, the most prevalent being “Mary-San”.

I don’t need to go into detail about how this lines up with Scara’s backstory.

Existence and Creation

Now, it’s not known to happen in mythology or mytho-history, but in fiction, tsukumogami can be purposefully induced before a century comes to pass. An example of this is seen in Touhou 14: Double Dealing Character, in which Shinmyoumaru Sukuna uses a magical mallet to make tsukumogami out of a gohei (purification rod), a mini-hakkero (Eight Trigram Furnace), and a knife. 

And to further this point, by the next game, Urban Legend in Limbo, Shinmyoumaru took back the overflowing magic, causing the objects to revert back to being objects. So causing a tsukumogami to come to life on purpose is not unreasonable, especially if you play fast and loose with mythology.

In the context of Genshin, Scara can easily be seen as an induced Tsukumogami. And because Ei didn’t take back the magic she used to create him, he remained alive rather than reverting back to just being a doll.

The Symbolism of Fire

There’s a certain Shinto tradition called the “Ningyo Kuyo”. In which dolls are brought to a temple and given a proper funeral and farewell. This is done in order to avoid them becoming vengeful tsukumogami. Oftentimes during these ceremonies, these dolls are burnt as a send off.

However, sometimes people tend to just skip the ceremony and just burn the doll. The purpose being is that it’s meant to lay the doll to rest, and if there is already a spirit inside, to grant it freedom, rest, or and a chance at a new life.

Fire symbolism is in two parts of Scara’s backstory. First with the Mikage furnace, in which he should’ve perished but was protected by a device containing Niwa’s heart. Perhaps it can be read as despite going through fire, he did not burn, meaning it wasn’t his time to be laid to rest yet. 

The second, and important one is with the human child he adopted as a brother. The boy he befriended made a doll in his image to remember him by, but when he succumbed to an illness, Scara burned down the house with his body and doll inside. While on surface this was done so he could cast aside the memory of his connection and “betrayal”. But in the context of a send off, it can be read as him making sure both the child and the doll don’t linger in this world in the same way he did. What’s more is that in his teaser trailer, he walks through, and sits in the burning rubble, as if he is considering putting himself to rest as well.

Gods and Names

Tsukumogami are technically gods because “Kami” usually translates to god in English. However, in Shinto, Kami aren’t gods in the Western sense. Shinto uses the religious concept of Animism, in which there is a god or a spirit for everything and every concept. This is what Kami are. Not gods in the Western ‘can smite you’ way, but spirits that embody certain aspects of nature and the world. Most “godly’ kami tend to have names while most Tsukumogami, and a few other beings with the “神” suffix aren't given unique names.

Most tsukumogami, hell, most Youkai in fiction tend to name themselves, rather than have their names given to them, as seen again with Hanyuuda Chizuru. But that's really only when they form naturally. Those who weren’t induced and even some who were have already accepted themselves as Youkai, and don't care about being gods. So they name themselves and live their lives.

But because Ei created a tsukumogami with the intention of it housing something divine, and never named it, she had basically done the equivalent of calling a project complete even after not doing the last step. Scara was always going to feel incomplete. Because Ei quite literally never finished the process. 

The “Kojiki” and “Nihon Shoki” are sacred books of Shinto, meant to explain the existence of the already worshipped gods. In both, Izanagi, the father of the gods Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, and Susano-o named them the moment they sprung to life. Because they were named by a god, they became gods. 

For all intents and purposes, he could’ve been a god, but only if Ei named him. Because he never was given a true name when he was first brought to life, he simply remained as just a youkai rather than “godly” kami so to speak.

How Disappointing

It’s so funny to me. Hoyo had literally the perfect set up to incorporate numerous parts of a mythology into their lore. Doing so would’ve given a, frankly, previously flat character far more depth and meaning to his story. But yet, in an effort to be “creative” they ended up with something rather boring and poorly defined.

Not like that is new for them.

But I can still grieve the lost potential.

[thisdivorce]

Fic Writer Interview

thank you sweet and lovely jessie @metalheadmickey for the tag!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?  14, how did that happen?

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? reckoner, conflict of interest, the sleepover, change like shifting shadows, strangers on a train

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? yes, but lately it takes me a month or two lol. i love comments

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending? i don't think i've written anything with a particular angsty ending!

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending? i think most of my fics have happy endings (heh)

7. Do you write crossovers? no and i probably won't. there isn't a show i'm obsessed with enough to write a crossover with

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic? yeah quite a few. i'm a misogynist, a racist, a bored digital housewife. lmao. i turned off anon comments because i got tired of it and writing fic should not be a negative experience!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? yes, all kinds. loving smut, dirty smut, kinky smut, a/b/o. it's not solely what i write, i enjoy smut and plot!

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen? i also hope not

11. Have you ever had a fic translated? no

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before? yes! with @breedxblemickey and our strangers on a train series. it's so fun to write with bree!

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship? guess!

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will? i really want to finish all of my WIPs, even if it will take me years (literally). i'd like to finish nightwatch but realistically i'm not sure if i ever will because i'm focused on other projects.

15. What are your writing strengths? depends on the fic. in reckoner, for example, i think it's plot, suspense, and bipolar disorder. in change like shifting shadows, it's all about inner turmoil. i like writing dialogue and saying things without saying them, if that makes sense.

16. What are your writing weaknesses? exposition - big same jessie! i write in the exposition after haha

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic? i don't speak any other languages so i won't personally but i don't mind it in other fics.

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for? queer as folk! i was so mad b/j didn't end up together i wrote a reunion fic (now i'm like, wtf justin was a baby haha)

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to? none at the moment!

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written? reckoner! it's fun, reckless, feral, suspenseful, complex, and i have so many more plans for it. it's not everyone's cup of tea but obviously it has all the tropes i love packed into one very long fic. i'm a little more than halfway through. i just wrote a little bit today!

sorry if you're done it, i haven't been on tumblr too much over the holidays! tagging @gallawitchxx @palepinkgoat @captainjowl @juliakayyy @ianandmickeygallavich @howlinchickhowl @crossmydna @mmmichyyy

[disventurecamptakes]

Welcome back Mod Jake ! :>

If you don’t mind answering: How do you feel about the current remaining contestants (as of Episode 15)?

Hi anon, thank you! These might not be thought out super well but here are my basic takes:

Jake: The blorbo from my show! I feel like the build up to Jake’s character arc was dragged out in the first 12 episodes or so, but for the last three I’ve really enjoyed him— Tom was really holding him back clearly. His friendship with Aiden one of the highlights of the season for me. It’s nice to see him become more honest and emotionally mature and happy after everything he’s been through. If he doesn’t make the finale I’m going to sob.

Ally: Hot take but I like antagonist/morally gray Ally for the most part. The idea of a character who is so online that they become too insecure to function, who ends up pushing people away and becoming hated in their quest to be loved, is really interesting. And frankly sometimes characters have to become worse before they get better. However, within the context of the show’s pattern of either having the female characters work as support for the male protagonists or villainizing independent female characters, I do see why people find it frustrating.

Grett: Grett’s another character who had some weird build up (up until episode 13 she just felt like “Yul’s poor sad meow meow girlfriend” to me tbh, I felt like she wasn’t doing much) but I do like what they’ve done with her in the last few episodes. She’s clearly been through a lot of hardship and it’s nice to see a character come out on top of that. I also loved her friendship with Gabby, it was really cute and I wish it would’ve lasted a little longer, it’s nice to show Grett reconciling with her past by improving for the future and treating the person she was the worst to with kindness, as opposed to Yul who was terrible to her and left even worse. I would’ve written her a little differently but she still deserves to win imo. Also she slays always.

Riya: What did they do to my girl?? I loved Riya’s arc in season two, I thought she and Ellie had two of the best villain arcs in the series and I thought Riya was one of the best season two characters. But they really flushed that down the drain by making her comically evil and forgetting her motive. In season two Riya was a villain but she was sympathetic; she gradually lost sight of her morals in a quest for affection and fame, alienating her closest friend (Rosa María) and ultimately putting herself in mortal danger, which caused her to somewhat see the error of her ways. In the beginning of season three I think they tried to carry this over, showing her inner conflict in earlier episodes like episode 3. But by episode 14 they’d just…totally lost what made Riya human— a desire to fit in to what other people think of her (whether that be movie star or villain), close relationships with Connor and Alec, guilt, a sympathetic past, everything that happened in the season two finale— now she’s just evil because she’s evil, full stop. It’s really disappointing, because having her try too hard to lean into her villain persona and ultimately snapping out of it would’ve been so much more interesting, and I feel like if that’s what they plan to do later then they’re building up to it terribly tbh.

Connor: I really liked Connor in episodes 1-7, I thought he was a good straight-man and foil to Riya and Alec, I thought he was just pleasant and I liked seeing his growth from season two to now. But these last few episodes have simultaneously made him very unlikable while also making him essentially the main character, for some reason. The nepo baby plotline wasn’t built up to at all and it really undermines the successful businessman thing he had going, which made him feel more mature and intelligent; plus making him a union buster on top of that is just poor taste, like wtf. Having Jake as his right hand makes Jake more likable but it just makes Connor seem pathetic having this dude constantly go “nooo Connor pull it together remember that speech you gave us? really cool”. Like yeah Connor rallying the heroes together that one time was good, a little corny but ultimately good for the plot, but other than that all he does is be passive aggressive (or just aggressive) with Riya and Alec and be sad. Also making his feelings for Riya just disappear?? What?? He was in love with her, they understood each other in a way that no one else did in season two, his love for her humanized him a lot and vice versa with Riya’s feelings for him. Why remove that entirely? Sorry if I’m being harsh but I’m honestly really disappointed in how Connor’s being handled, he and Riya and Alec were a highlight of the early episodes and now they’ve been reduced to like the TD love triangle 2.0. But like, fanon love triangle, where Courtney is ridiculously evil for some reason and Gwuncan are just poor sad babies who did nothing wrong. Also if Connor makes the finale I’m going to be so annoyed. He doesn’t need three million dollars, he’s already rich.

Alec: Alec has gone from one of the most calculating and clever villains in the show’s history to a groveling little baby man and I don’t like it. On one hand I do like the idea of Alec growing a conscience after all he’s done to manipulate the game, and I do think it would be cute if that came from his relationships with Riya and Connor. But on the other, he’s become too pathetic imo. Alec’s defining traits are his intelligence, apathetic tendencies, and level-headed demeanor, and they’re really stripping that all back to make the audience sympathize with him when we already could’ve done that easily based on what’s already there?? The Riyalec kiss scene was really good at this; it showed us Alec’s and Riya’s deepest insecurities and regrets, then showed us the two understanding each other and finding comfort in that. Shipping aside, I genuinely think maintaining a positive relationship between them, friendly or romantic, would make them both feel more human while also allowing them to both remain as antagonists because they both would enable each other. They just took all the edge away from his character for like, mid yaoi crumbs. The way Riya is written vs how Connor & Alec are written actually feels reminiscent of how some m/m fics will demonize the fuck out of a character’s girlfriend or female friend or etc to prop up the male characters as sweet angels who’ve done nothing wrong, if I’m being honest.

Overall, I loved Aleconniya until episode 14 but I just want all three of them gone at this point because their writing is really far off from their original characterizations and it’s overall just not very good. But I do enjoy Jake, Grett, and Ally for the most part and hope they make the finale. Sorry this got kinda long, thank you for the question anon!

[arcielee]

ARCIE 💜 i think i over did it ._. for the writing ask 😘

1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 32, 35, 37, 38, 43, 44, 53, 66, 69, 72, 73, 75, 78, 81, 86, 88, 94, 99 👀

All right, Mrs Hardy. Let's do this. 😈

1. do you know how you want the story to end when you start, or are you just stumbling through the figurative wilderness hoping to find a road?

When I first started writing, it was because I had one scene on reply in my brain and I had to get it out of my head (an example of that would be The Sapphire Prince). \

I much prefer my method now, which is word vomit every thought in my head into a doc, which can be events, notes, random conversations the characters we have to whole ass paragraphs.

2. talk about a notable time a narrative or character has looked you dead in the eyes and said “fuck your plan, here’s what we’re actually doing.”

Again, The Sapphire Prince. That story was such a cluster fuck and nobody did anything I wanted them too. 😭 I couldn't even have a sweet moment for my boy Ser Erryk in that damn story!

4. what is the plot bunny you’ve been carrying for the longest? optional bonus question: do you ever wonder why you haven’t written it yet and experience deep existential dread?

First, shout out to my beloved @some-distant-star for telling me yesterday wtf this is. 💜

Probably my Dane!Osferth story that thrums around in my mind. I think it continues to rattle around because I need to figure out how to keep what makes Osferth Osferth, but also have Dane tendencies? I actually started my word vomit doc for it, so we'll see what happens.

9. in an ideal world where you’re already super successful and published, would you want to see a tv or movie adaptation of your work? why or why not?

This is tricky. I have seen situations where the movie did better than the book, but then I am also watching House of the Dragon and have become one of those mouth breathers who say, "But in Fire & Blood...!"

It can be an anime. 🥰

10. at what point in the process do you come up with titles, and how easy or hard is that for you?

Titles are the hardest thing about writing for me. Like, let me shell out 30k+ words for a story and then panic over wtf to even call it. (Dancing in the Dark remained title-less until I finally started going through random Spotify playlists, like a raccoon rummaging through garbage, if you will.)

12. do you ever have trouble focusing on writing? how do you get around that?

If a story keeps escaping me, I will take my dog on long walks and see if it can come to me. By this, I mean I am the crazy lady in a sun hat who is talking to herself while her dog looks confused.

[Image: my dog, who sometimes edits for treats]

If that does not stir my muses, I do not force it and just go wherever they lead me. I have written an entire ass story in the middle of another story so I could clear my head of it and finish on the original.

13. talk about a writing experience that has pleasantly surprised you.

Probably my Call It Dreaming series? It was my first ever Reader Insert that my beloved @f4ll-for-you helped me with, and it profoundly changed my writing style.

14. what’s your worst writing habit?

Probably my overuse of semi-colons.

16. where is your favorite place to write?

Anywhere, everywhere. I have my MacBook that I bring with me, I have a notebook brimming with my ideas, and my phone notepad looking a hot mess.

17. what is your favorite line you’ve ever written?

I really love describing Aemond, but this also comes to mind:

They were all moths drawn to his flame, fluttering with their desperation to touch. You pushed through them, determined to be burned. 

All the wild hearted ambition

18. what is your most and least favorite part of writing?

My favorite? The beginning. I love day dreaming, brainstorming, fleshing out a new idea. I love how it repeats in my brain and lulls me to sleep at night.

My least favorite? Saying goodbye. Once it is written, it is gone from my mind.

19. what are some books or authors that influenced your style the most?

Patricia Highsmith's prose style had a huge impact for me. Also Margaret Mitchell crafted my writing in the sense that I could see everything in her story unfold in front of my eyes and I wanted to pay that forward.

20. what is your favorite trope to write?

Probably mutual pining with a sprinkle of slow burn. 🥰

21. pick a writer to co-write a book with and tell us what you’d write about.

A.C. Crispin and it would be a scifi adventure with a ragtag group surviving life after Earth.

32. do characters influence your writing style?

Yes. For myself, I do not enjoy writing for a character that I don't fully understand. My goal, always, is to make it sound like it was pulled from the original content.

35. tell us about a character who’s very different than you who you love a whole lot

This man.

I haven't forgotten. I need you to watch this.

37. when creating characters, what comes first: appearance, backstory, motivation, personality, something else?

It is reactions to the plot shenanigans. This helps me visualize and create a backstory for them.

38. how many stories do you work on at one time?

I have 10 WIPs currently, and 2 which I am actively working on.

43. how did writing change you?

For myself, writing allows that processing time that I need to understand something that happened. It is healing for me. (ex. To Build a Home)

44. any writing advice you want to share?

It is very easy to get swept away with notes and kudos, but if you are not enjoying the process, then what is the point?

Also, the best advice I ever received came from my beloved @sylasthegrim who told me to focus on what they were feeling as opposed to the action that was being done. (Ilysm 💜)

53. when writing, do you have an outline? and do you stick to it?

I do now! And it actually helps me stay on track with the fucking plot, which I definitely need.

66. when have you felt the most confident in your writing?

That is something I still struggle with. Like, I am please with how I have evolved as a write, but then I read someone else's masterpiece and figure it would be best if I unplug my PC and walk myself into the nearest body of water. 😆

69. how do you write emotional scenes? do you ever feel what the characters feel?

Their emotions are my emotions, and it can make or break my day.

72. what do you do if a scene gets too serious?

I follow the muses. If it is needed, it is written.

73. how do you visualize scenes? do you see it like a movie in your head, or do the words just flow?

I can see it playing in my head and I narrate it, out loud, to myself. Then I frantically type or write it down before it leaves me.

75. do you know how your story ends before you start writing?

Most of the time, yes. But if I am trying to write out what I outlined and it is not coming together, I will drop the WIP for a while and let it simmer a bit longer.

78. how do you choose where to end a chapter?

This depends: so, sometimes I write out an entire story, look over the work count, and take that into consideration when I am chopping it up. Other times I outline certain events that need to take place before the chapter can end.

81. if you could go back in time and give your younger self a piece of writing advice specific to you, what would it be?

"Girl, please, for the love of fuck, end that goddamn sentence."

86. which season best matches the mood of your wip(s)?

The kind of winter you see at the wall.

88. if you could have another author write your wip for you (bc we all dream of this occasionally), who would it be?

Oh my goodness, gather round my talented Tumblr kindred spirits, I would pass these out like Halloween candy. 😆

94. do you prefer dialogue or description?

99. was being a writer a dream of yours when you were little? or did it spring up when your older? or is it just a hobby?

I have been writing since I hit double digits. I still have these ridiculous notebooks with glitter covers that are filled, front to back, with my original attempts at writing.

My husband understands to burn them when I am dead. 🥰

ask game for fanfic writers

[bookishtheaterlover7]

Hello, Fabulous Fans of the Fandom!!! It has definitely been a hot second.

Didn't post anything about their posts, and Pap walks, for the reason that I'm pretty sure they're getting ideas from rant posts like mine... Didn't want them getting more ideas, so no rant post.

But today, I'm making an exception. 😉

Before we begin though, 👸 wants to give y'all a small warning ⚠️

To start, let's look at this photo...

Is that who we think it is?

Is it?

Is it?

Nah, I'm just kidding. Don't worry if you thought it was Albitch, trust me, you weren't the only one 😆

Thank you, 👸 for handing me these screenshots 😁

"Funny how, Kim Kardashian's nudes made her famous. But when AB did it, to try and get attention, we constantly mock her for it."-👸

Girl! You've got a point 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Now that I have your attention, let's get to my main topic...

WTF has been happening lately?!?!

Well, for one thing, I know we're all tense one way or another about Valentine's Day. Since aside from being the most romantic day of the year, it's also the anniversary of the dreaded VDay photo dump.

And then there's the uterus-obssesed trolls from her side, expecting a baby announcement... Fuck y'all, by the way 🖕 which made me more tense about February 14.

But what happens a few hours before February 14 American time? Chris posts an adorable video about Dodger instead.

Still, that didn't help alleviate the tension. Because Dodger might help a little, but he's been used before, and it most definitely wasn't fun.

But then, it turns out Albitch isn't even in the same country. She flew to France with a bunch of friends. Friends who were seen to be posting to their boyfriends, saying how they missed them.

But why is Albitch's trip so important? Well, let me tell you. She WASN'T in the same country, when Chris just proved he's in Mass, and her friends' posts showed her WITHOUT her ring, in France.

Oddly enough, it was around this time, that photos of ringless-Chris-lookalike surfaced. The photos that were shown and sent to people/blogs that were guaranteed to get it circling the internet before the end of the day.

Seriously, are they slipping? Or was it deliberate?

Anyway, when Valentine's finally came, we were in the clear. Chris' Instagram remained silent, except for that one significant Dodger post.

Things stayed relatively quiet for a while, aside from the France trips making their rounds here and there. But it all came to a head earlier, when Chris posted on his story...

Further confirming how far apart he, and his dear "wife" really are. Who's been seen, eating out in France, still missing her ring...

I mean, really? Do y'all not eat out with finger jewelry? Is that another lame excuse y'all have for her?🙄

And three days ago, this article gets released... And the legitimacy is still up for debate, but the fact that it's here, feels like the perfect storm to me.

Not saying that it's the beginning of the end. But it's something!

Now, honestly, it's a mess in the Fandom. This whole thing is causing a shit storm, like always, and it's not pretty.

But whether or not this means something, we have to keep a level head. This could go either way. Which is why I, personally am taking the win.

Wins are few and far between right now, so, I'm taking it. And I'm also finishing two fics, and enjoying my book. Which is a pretty big deal, considering, I haven't been able to finish a book for most of last year 🥺

Thank you to my fabulous friends for sourcing me, and guiding me to the screenshots that allowed me to make my posts. Y'all truly are the best eyes and ears, a girl can ask for. 🫶

And please let me know, or feel free to add, if I forgot anything, guys😊

Until the next one!

❤️ Booky

[kittyprincessofcats]

Okay, let's talk about Germany

because seriously, wtf is happening to my country?

So, a few weeks ago Germany outlawed Hamas and Samidoun. And with that, our interior minister Nancy Faeser also explicitly outlawed the phrase "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free", with the reasoning that it's linked to Hamas / implies genocide against Jewish Israelis. You can now be fined or go to jail for using this phrase.

I was at a demonstration a few weeks ago that was an absolute nightmare. So, usually at the beginning, the rules for the demonstration (what is or isn't allowed to do/say) get layed out. At pro-Palestine demonstrations, there's always A LOT of police and they sometimes check protest signs in advance, too.

At this demonstation (which was organised by several Jewish organisations btw), one of the things we were chanting was "Stop the Genocide" - also a lot of other chants involving the word genocide in some way. At first, this was allowed. Then, halfway through the demonstration, the police suddenly decided that using the word "genocide" is forbidden now. Halfway through, after they were okay with it at first!

Then they arrested a Jewish Israeli woman (who they'd already wrongfully arrested once before) because her protest sign said "Stop the genocide in Gaza". Then they also arrested another person because their sign said "From the River to the Sea, we demand equality". THAT LITERALLY ISN'T EVEN THE PHRASE YOU BANNED! If you're going to ban FtRttS because it "could imply genocide against Jewish Israelis", then this changed version which makes explicitly clear what's actually meant should be fine! But nah, doesn't make a difference to them. If it starts with "From the River", you're gonna get arrested.

What shocks me the most is the arbitariness of it all. How can you just randomly decide in the middle of a demonstration, that something that was fine at first is now forbidden and then arrest people for it? I've been to demonstrations later where the word "genocide" was used again and it was fine. They literally just made up random reasons to arrest people. There's no logic behind any of it.

I've heard from other demonstrations in Germany that they apparently also arrested people for signs like "From the River we do see, nothing like equality" and "Bombing children is not self-defense" (what?). Also apparently they arrested one person for drawing the famous raised fist icon onto their poster because it "implies violence".

I don't want to live in this country anymore. What is going on? When has Germany become... this? I mean, I never thought we were super great, but I didn't think we were this.

And before anyone says that it's overcompensation for Holocaust guilt: That might play into it, but I don't think it's the real or only reason. Because the thing is, Germany didn't use to be like this. Israel-Palestine isn't exactly a new conflict and I remember that when I was younger, people from both sides were allowed to talk in talkshows etc. There's a clip on Youtube of a talkshow from 14 years ago where a CDU(!!! - big conservative/center-right party) politician talks about his trip to Palestine and the humiliations the Palestinians suffer every day and how no people would just let themselves be treated like this - nowadays you'll only hear something like this from the very left of the political spectrum and never on TV because anyone who speaks up for Palestine won't even get invited to the talkshow.

So like... what happened? Germany didn't USE to be like this. Why is EVERY party, even the Greens, suddenly talking like a copy of the AfD (extreme right-wing party, basically Nazis) and trying to paint Mulims as evil? And why are we at a point where anyone who speaks up for Palestine gets arrested and charged with "antisemitism" while actual Nazis are allowed to protest and get protected? We Germans are always so quick to call out other countries for lack of freedom of speech, so what is... THIS? WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

[tobiasdrake]

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan, Episode 14 - Her Confusion

This is going to be twenty straight minutes of Kyon trying to explain the plot of the last three episodes to Yuki. The title should explain how well that will go.

OH HI THERE FACTORY SETTINGS

After mourning you last episode, I legit didn't think we'd ever see you again.

Oh. Shit. We're seeing Factory Settings's disappearance from Escapist Yuki's perspective.

Oh. Wow. I hadn't even considered that, yeah. Of course Ryoko was freaked out when Yuki, rather than going home, finished her book on a park bench and then called Kyon.

It's like 3 AM right now.

This is so bittersweet it hurts.

Factory Settings stated last episode that she wasn't going to tell Ryoko what was going to happen. She figured it'd be a burden on her, and that Ryoko'd be rooting for Escapist Yuki to come back anyway.

She wasn't entirely correct. It still hurts that Factory Settings got reassimilated like that, and you can see it in Ryoko's eyes, but at the same time, you can feel Ryoko's relief at having her friend back.

"You are in the process of involuntarily eating me. I am allowed a modicum of spite." ~Factory Settings probably

"I existed for like four days and managed to take the plunge you've been putting off all season. Have fun dealing with the fallout of that." ~Factory Settings probably

Boy, I love it when my doppelganger reveals my most deeply held secrets to the people around me and then vanishes like a magnificent poof. This is what Venom should be doing to Spider-Man.

What about the one that deleted you? Is that Nagato-san your--

Oh, wait, you stabbed Kyon to defend her without a moment's hesitation. Okay. Yeah. Hat Trick of Yuki friendships.

Still weirds me out that she sits there. I keep forgetting that Ryoko is in Haruhi's seat.

Like. She's there because the movie put her there. And the movie put her there because they wanted to maximize the WTF. It's not enough that someone else has Haruhi's seat. It's specifically the girl who tried to knife Kyon and now has a perfect shot at his back all day.

For the purposes of Disappearance's plot, this served the story well and raised tension.

...

But for an ongoing universe largely divorced from main continuity, it's weird that she sits there. Like. It's super weird, for reasons other than the Haruhi thing. Because she's Class President, and she's sitting in the designated Delinquent Seat. The spot that gets the least attention in class so you can get away with doing whatever, but that also has the hardest time seeing the board or getting the teacher's attention so no hard-working student would ever want it.

It made sense when Haruhi was there. She's a violent misanthrope who doesn't give a shit about class. But it's weird for Ryoko to be back there.

And technically it makes sense here too, because they didn't get to pick their seating assignments. The teacher assigned them. So Ryoko got screwed by luck of the draw, I guess. But it still. Feels. Weird. Ryoko is not the vibe for the Delinquent Seat.

At this point, I'm half-convinced that Haruhi's making it up whenever she says she told Yuki ahead of time. Yuki's neurodivergence is so strong she legit can't remember if Haruhi did or didn't, so she decides that must be true and goes along with it.

Of course, it's equally likely that Haruhi does consult her. But every time she talks, Yuki tunes her out and eagerly anticipates the moment when she can hang up and go back to her game.

In the Love Triangle, Haruhi is now in third place behind Yuki. It's mathematically impossible for this contest to even have a bronze medal and yet there it is, resting in her hands. She is not happy about it.

Oh good, we get to participate in the Tanabata theft this time around. Crime is always better when it's a group activity.

And now we know why Haruhi didn't go snatch up the bamboo tree by herself this time around. Not being God means she's subject to the whims of nature now. Fortunately, minions are an effective workaround.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Ryoko whole-ass stealing Haruhi's thunder is the worst possible thing you can do to a narcissist.

How did you even know that, Ryoko? You're smart but I would not have expected you to be the type to follow Haruhi Logic like that. You were right there with that explanation as if the Distance To Deities equation is a belief system that you share.

GODDAMMIT

Love Triangle between Yuki -> Kyon -> Factory Settings (Deceased)

Fucking called it. And I'm mad about it. And now I'm going to throw things at the next person who passes under my balcony. Empty the whole-ass bookcase right on top of them.

It's funny how Mikuru and Tsuruya being attached at the hip means Mikuru has effectively been demoted to a glorified cameo in this series. And yet the same amount of screentime and stuff to do constitutes a huge increase in importance for Tsuruya.

The end of this episode features Haruhi unpacking her feelings about John Smith and their dynamic from three now four years ago, as we are well past where the first anime ended chronologically. (I think the light novels go all the way to college though?)

To be honest, I find Haruhi's maturity here unconvincing. Her perspective is basically, "Thank you for feeding my delusions while I made the journey of growing into a reasonable and well-adjusted human being." But it doesn't sound like Haruhi. Five minutes ago she was trying to give the Tanabata Speech from the show.

Rather, it feels like the show is coming to an end and Haruhi needs a consolation prize since she's the romantic rival destined to become a loose end, so she's being abruptly gifted with character growth.

There are a few common ways of ending the triangle. One of them is for the spare to undergo last-second character growth and turn into a self-martyring cheerleader for the Official Pair, which is what this feels like. But peacefully surrendering with dignity and grace doesn't feel right for Haruhi Suzumiya. She is a sore loser. She would scorch this earth. So it comes off feeling like they're doing the trope without regard to the Individual Character.

[saintbehemoth]

PARDON?!

teeheehee 🤭😙 (referencing this post)

basically im envisioning that after the driftmark incidendent luke gets a therapist to work through it and ensure he doesn’t develop any longlasting behaviour issues yk. and he actually really likes it, he likes being able to talk things through with an unbiased person. he gets so comfortable with her that when he and jace start to ‘date’ (around 14/15) he starts to mention it like “oh my boyfriend…” etc and she’s like great ^_^ a healthy relationship. for the past few years she’s been trying to guide luke’s mindset about his family into something decidedly less… weird and intense

luke knows that incest is bad and all but he’s also like well my ancestors did it for generations and im fine, so.

anyway luke is slowly telling his therapist about his relationship and she’s making sure he knows about safe sex etc and isn’t being pressured. she’s lowkey concerned anyway because luke is like “my bf doesn’t like it when i hang out with/be alone with/do this thing/etc”. one session he slips up in the middle and actually calls jace by his name. idk what but something unmistakeable.

instantly the therapist is like no way wtf not good, predatory manipulation etc etc. luke is like NO but it’s too late. they get separated and also forcibly removed from rhaenyras care - luke is sent to driftmark to be with their grandparents. with jace i can see two choices, angst or angstier. option 1 jace is sent to kings landing to be with viserys and alicent. immediately alicent sends jace to boarding school like she did with her other kids. option 2 jace is taken into the state system and they lose all contact. no one has any idea where he’s been placed and they search but can’t find him. even worse bc luke blames himself for jace disappearing

luke continues therapy even though his separation from jace is the most traumatic thing to happen to him so far. he’s not doing well. therapist is like dont worry now you can get better away from that abuse!!! but luke is always like it wasn’t abuse and i don’t ever want to recover, i never want to forget how loved jace made me feel

anyway luke goes through the rest of his teenage years feeling like a shell of a person. the day jace turns 18 luke lingers around the city centre of high tide, waiting for him to appear. he waits every day for two weeks but jace doesn’t come. luke is heartbroken all over again

ten months later luke also turns 18. two days after his birthday jace turns up on his doorstep and it’s all very happy and they reconcile!!!!! yayyyyy for happy endings. basically their records or whatever go public once they turn 18 so jace had to wait for luke to turn 18 before he could get his address. though he doesn’t mention it jace was also expecting luke to find him - he turned 18 first so his records were available so he thought luke would look for him and was also like Oh :((( when luke didn’t turn up. but seeing luke cry when they meet again washes away all of jaces doubts

then they spend their adulthoods together being obsessive and codependent even more than they would be if they had grown up completely together ❤️ yay for true love

thanks for the ask bestie i took the opportunity to word vomit 🫂

[variablejabberwocky]

Getting to Know You Meme

Tagged by @texasdreamer01. been a while since i did one of these so i guess imma do one again.

01) Are you currently in a serious relationship? no. which i've learned the hard way is a good thing rn. i am A Mess and i need to be less of one before i can contribute to a relationship

02) What was your dream growing up? i'm assuming this a "what did you want to be?" question and not something else ( i may be too autistic for this). in rough order: a paleontologist, an archaeologist, an astrophysicist. alas i was born chronically ill and Shit Happened so none of that panned out.

03) What talent do you wish you had? i have adhd. there are a LOT of "able to take care of self" skills/talents that elude me because i have the attention span of a concussed goldfish.

04) If someone bought you a drink what would it be? non-alcoholic. could go for a french vanilla icee or a chocolate shake tho

05) Favorite vegetable? none. they don't like me and the feeling is mutual. (due to Weird Health reasons they rip me up inside so i have to be VERY moderate with them and plan in advance for Misery Time)

06) What was the last book you read? i've been reading online stories almost exclusively for so long now that i don't actually remember. i THINK it was either a dresden files book or a godstalk series book.

07) What zodiac sign are you? *cackles* cancer sunsign, leo moonsign, geminai ascendant. so yes my sunsign is THE moonsign and my moonsign is THE sunsign. and my ascendant is very "this malarkey might as well happen". its very funny.

08) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? no, unfortunately. i tried a long time ago to get my ears pierced and was only given the option of the little stand at a grocery store or not at all. so i HAD pierced ears (badly) and let them heal up because no earrings would actually fit (they pierced SIDEWAYS wtf)

09) Worst Habit? no clue but from what others in my life tell me one of the most annoying/funny habits is getting uppity when the color of the food clip doesn't match the color of the food packaging its used on. *false innocent tone* why yes my family DOES have a history of ocd, why do you ask?

10) What is your favorite sport? i am not a fan of sportsball. but to watch: ice skating. to play: badminton

11) Do you have a Pessimistic or Optimistic attitude? both. both is good. (no but seriously im usually an optimistic pessimist. in that i plan for the worst and hope for the best. considering my... everything thats actually progress for me)

12) Tell me one weird fact about you. *looks down at my autistic ass* where do i even begin???

13) Do you have any pets? no, unfortunately. i used to but then my allergies got worse.

14) Do you think clowns are cute or scary? both? depends on the clown. they all have a bit of Creep to them but some also have some cute thrown in. and i like cute and creepy so...

15) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be? *stares flatly at you in Trans* take a wild guess

16) What color eyes do you have? internal heterochromia green and brown. which means genetically they count as a Weird Green. and i have the most common type of heterochromia. so like Spicy Normal.

17) Ever been arrested? no. i did get escorted by the cops to a suicide watch place once tho. that was...not a great experience.

18) Bottle or can soda? neither, unfortunately. (same health issue that makes vegetables a pain also makes carbonation the bane of my existence)

19) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it? give it to mom to pay the bills. i'm unemployable and rely on freebe shit so i can't use the money directly. (and i live with her so its not like it won't benefit me in some way either)

20) What's your favorite place to hang out at? home. creature comforts and all my meds are here in case of Health Issue Flairups

21) Do you believe in ghosts? *shrugs* eh. i'm kind of in a similar place to joy bibliosphere on this. check your carbon monoxide detectors and house for mold and shit first.

22) Favorite thing to do in your spare time? *~*WORLDBUILDING*~*. either reading about it or figuring it out myself. other people's settings or my own original settings. canon adjacent or full on aus. worldbuilding WORLDBUILDING WORLDBUILDING!!!

23) Do you swear a lot? *cackles* not as much as my teen years but yes. i'm still compared to a sailor at times.

24) Biggest pet peeve? hypocrisy, yes even in myself

25) In one word, how would you describe yourself? alien

26) Do you believe/appreciate romance? ??? like believe in? like think its real? buddy im not about to shit on other people's experiences just cause mine might be different. i LIKE romance but im not good at it and unsure if i'm somewhere on the arospec or not. doesn't mean its not real tho goddamn

27) Favourite and least favourite food? CHICKEN! i very much had a liaos moment when in my lifetime they were all "yeah all birds are dinosaurs" and realized my fave food was also one of my fave types of animals. least fave: greenbeans. i will throw up if i so much as smell them. even in a can i can detect them. not sure if its an actual allergy or just a truama response but its STRONG and NOT GOOD.

28) Do you believe in God? i'm an agnostic athiest (please for the love of fuck be chill about this. i WILL block even longstanding mutuals if they give me hell over this. do not test me.)

29) What makes you happy: special interests, good sleep, good food, fun time with people i care about, a break from health flairups, nice interesting weather, a well told story with a premise/characters i find interesting, unexpected good news

30) Currently listening/the last thing you listened to: uhhh. in general? a boatload of asmr white noise videos. music wise? a shortlist of 80s songs from my very early childhood (heads will roll, in for the kill, anything eurythmics, that kind of thing)

31) Favourite place to spend time: bed. im an insomniac. i HAVE NO CIRCADIAN RHYTHM. i don't GET rem sleep except in tiny less-than-a-minute bursts. any time in bed that im not in pain is blessed blessed REST time. and i need all i can get since i don't get as much out of it as most people do.

32) Favourite lyric: ??? at the moment no clue. i'll come back and change this if i think of something.

33) Recommend a film: the mummy movie with brendan fraser in it

34) Recommend a book: the coldfire trilogy (its fantasy! its scifi! there are two key ladies and a little girl with speaking lines and Very Important To The Plot powers! its got a gremlin of a man! it takes a cold hard look at some fantasy tropes and turns some on their head! it talks about the importance of redemption and the price you have to pay for it! it doesn't let a bad guy just DIE to get redemption! an asshole faces the consequences of their actions! there is a fairly strong Colonization Is Bad thread to the whole story!)

35) Recommend a band, a song, or album: you're gonna make me choose??? fuck that noise. in no particular order (and just going of of music): eurthymics, my chemical romance, matchbox twenty, imagine dragons, enya (if you want soothing), loreena mckennit (for soothing and narrative)

36) Recommend a TV show: i dont really watch tv. i cant handle all the ads, much less the noise difference is overwhelming.

37) Where are you from, and do you still live there? Where have you lived? SoCal. still live here. have only lived here. but i have visited a few spots on the coast and in nearby states.

38) Do you have any pets or animals in your life? How did you find/get them? not at the moment, but i used to. grandparents had an oldman bastard cat i adored as a kidlet. had guppies there for a while no clue where we first got them, they were cool but not really my interest (and was sad to watch them eat their own babies). had a dog i didn't want that bit me there for a short while (gave them to a good home). had a snake that died and we suspected foul play so stopped with the pets until we were somewhere safer. now im too sickly and prone to allergies to afford a pet.

39) What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? a cursed mixture of peanut butter, chocolate milk mix, cheeseitz and something else i forgot (garlic powder maybe?). i think i had some kind of nutritional imbalance because it actually tasted good to me for the first several bites and then it tasted like garbage. thank fuck that particular craving never happened again.

40) How did you 'find' fandom? looked up ferngully (it was new at the time) on the early internet and found my first fic (lol, oh boy!) got a little traumatized by not understanding what i stumbled upon and not knowing how to even begin to process it and backed off. a couple of years later went looking for gundam wing official art because that was my fave anime at the time and found a webring by accident. they had official art, fanart, and FANFICTION! they also very helpfully TAGGED THEIR SHIT so i learned what stuff meant and had in it and could make choices on what i could handle. and i've been in "fandom" ever since. although the current hyperfixation has changed several times since then. part of why finding a gundam wing fic from that era on ao3 (that DID NOT EXIST AT THE TIME) kind of jumpscared me, but in a good way

41) Make a list of 5 things that you see without getting up. phone, tea, stim toys, pill cutter, mints

42) How do you style your hair? i don't. i buzz it to less than a centimeter when i get annoyed by it then wait for it to grow out. when its long enough to annoy me i buzz it again.

No pressure tags: anyone who wants to do this.

[ghostcat3000]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Tagged by the super talented @theawkwardterrier

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

54

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

985,499 😅

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently SKAM. In the past I've written for: Call Me By Your Name, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, You're the Worst, Veronica Mars, and New Girl. I've also written a bunch of one-shots for Yuletide, mostly for films.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?*

Rest Easy (SKAM, Isak/Even, Nordic Noir AU, 18 chapters, Rated E, 168K, complete)

The Boyfriend Experience (SKAM, co-written with @irazor, Isak/Even, Gentle Sci-fi Love Story AU**, 21 chapters, Rated E, 177K, complete)

III. Rondo: Allegretto Moderato (Call Me By Your Name, Elio/Oliver, Post-Canon AU, 6 chapters, Rated M, 33K, complete)

A Lord's Sauce (SKAM, Isak/Even, Food Critics AU, 6 chapters, Rated T, 20K, complete)

1 Thing (SKAM, Isak/Even, Friends With Benefits AU, 6 chapters, Rated M, 31K, complete)

*I feel like this is crazily inaccurate. In terms of hits, The Boyfriend Experience is far and away the leader of the pack.

Lately, I've been getting so many guest kudos and I hate that I don't know if they're legit or bots run amok. I've gotten some fantastic comments from guests without AO3 accounts, so I'm reluctant to shut them out, but that might be what the future holds.

**This is a gross oversimplification of what kind of AU The Boyfriend Experience really is. All I can say is: trust us.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. Sometimes I'm a little late in replying but I will reply. If someone took the time to read my story and tell me how they felt about it, then I want to respond to them. Say thank you.

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

I'm not a sad ending fic writer. Early on in my fic writing days, I worked on a non-chronological Veronica Mars fic series and a one-shot in that series, The Teeth by the Shoulder, had an angsty final chapter. That story was meant to connect with the one following, and what came next wasn't angsty at all. BUT, unfortunately, it didn't read that way and readers were like wtf, GC??? That was a structural experiment that didn't quite work. It happens. I still like the story though and how it sets up the one after. A noble failure.

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

Oh gosh, most of them are pretty happy, weirdly enough. Probably Rest Easy, because the happy ending was a departure from the Scandinavian Noir genre and I felt it was pretty earned.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've gotten some weird things.

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

I do. What kind? I don't know. The kind with feelings, I suppose. I think sex writing is a great tool for revealing character. That's usually the best kind.

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

I wrote one tiny crossover for Veronica Mars and New Girl (who famously share an actor, a fact that in typical-me fashion, I did NOT take advantage of) called Legs Up To Her Waist (The French Have a Phrase for It Remix) for a remix challenge. I think it's a lot of fun, I got to delve a little into my Raymond Chandler fixation.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Probably lines here and there, fanon, but not whole stories. I think they're considered too weird by the general population.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! My Handmaid's Tale fic, We Must Refuse to Disappear has been translated into Russian.

I also have a SKAM story, A Lord's Sauce, that was translated into Italian as part of Fandom Trumps Hate. I hope to post that before the end of the year.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, quite happily, The Boyfriend Experience with the wonderful @irazor.

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

I don't play favorites. I am enjoying writing Isak/Even now. Probably because they have such a good foundational story to work from for AU purposes.

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

The last two chapters of my CMBYN series, Piano Sonata in G Major, "Pense-bête", are so removed from fic expectations (one half of the ship is barely present/there's another, albeit temporary, love interest in one chapter, other nuanced themes are explored in the other) and are so labor-intensive. Every time I look at what I have drafted, I feel exhausted. I am not currently in a place where I can work on it, but I would like to finish it someday. So I can't say for sure that I won't do it, just not anytime soon.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Some nice language, in-character dialogue. Interest in improving.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Simplifying. Proofreading grammar.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

It's a LOT of work. However, I was very lucky when I was writing my CMBYN stories, which feature French and Italian dialogue. I got a tremendous amount of help from some lovely people.

That's partly the reason I haven't continued writing them. I don't like bugging people about translations. It's one thing to spend time writing stories, it's quite another to drag people into the vortex. Free labor is still labor.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

New Girl. Great readers, awesome betas. Really great place to start.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

I have a lot of love for my co-written fic with @irazor, The Boyfriend Experience and my Nordic Noir story, Rest Easy.

- O -

Tagging @irazor, @imminentinertia, @cheesybadgers, @htbthomas, @khaotunqs, @codswalloping

[coffeebanana]

15 Questions 15 Mutuals

Thanks for the tag @ladyofthenoodle and @kasienda

1. Are you named after anyone?

No, although my middle name is a family name.

2. When was the last time you cried?

I think a few weeks ago? I watched "Everything, Everywhere, All at Once" and KJBSDFKBJD. Like that movie is such a fun mix of WTF is even going on craziness and contemplating the point of existence and exploring complicated family feelings and the end is weirdly heartwarming--particularly the interactions between the mother and daughter, which is what really got me. And I was watching with one of my best friends and like right after the movie ended he was like "if we were rocks you'd be the googly eyes"--which makes no sense if you haven't seen the movie but that made me cry again because kajdfbksjbf it was so oddly sweet. (Though that was a mixture of hysterical laughter and crying ajsdjfsvjhv in a good way though!)

3. Do you have kids?

nope. maybe one day if i ever get my life together LOL

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

idk if it's a lot?? though i'm probably single-handedly responsible for teaching my brother sarcasm (he's 7 years younger than me so when he was learning would have been right as i was entering those peak sarcasm years LOL)

sarcasm is still deeply engrained in me though, and i nowadays when i use it i definitely pay more attention to how people react to it (ie whether they picked up on it) because i tend to deliver it in a very matter-of-fact voice. like, one of my favourite stupid sarcastic comments to make is whenever something weird weather-wise happens i'll be "but thank god climate change is fake, right?" and KJABFDKSJBD i've gotten some WEIRD LOOKS saying that one around ppl who don't know me that well and then i have to explain myself 😭

5. What sports do you play/have played?

i used to figure skate!! my mom was a coach when i was growing up, so i would joke that i lived part-time at the ice rink. it was kind of inevitable 😂. but i was never good at the jumps. i prefered ice dance or synchronized skating (think synchronized swimming but on the ice)

and i also used to play hockey!? very different environment LOL and my hockey teammates would sometimes tease me for showing up to a game in a dress after skating practice on days i had both but it was all in good fun

now...now i really SHOULD do something kajsdkbfsj

6. What’s the first thing you notice about someone?

i...really have no idea.

7. What’s your eye color?

hazel? i think?

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

happy endings. scary movies don't really freak me out but i guess i just find them sort of...low-reward? i'm not a movie person to begin with because it's hard for me to get invested in the characters in such a short amount of time. with horror movies that's even harder because they're all about shock value instead of getting to know the characters

9. Any special talents?

i am very very good at puns. does that count? 😂

10. Where were you born?

canada. on the west coast

11. What are your hobbies?

when i have energy/motivation i really enjoy cooking (or baking, but with baking i have to actually measure ingredients and with cooking i just sort of go with the flow). my new apartment is going to have space for a dishwasher--which really is the most exciting thing in my life right now--so i'm hoping that motivates me to cook more!!

12. Do you have pets?

yes!!! i have a ginger cat and her name is Curie (namesake Marie Curie because i'm a proud little nerd like that). I love her she's so stupid and has tried to eat plastic TOO MANY TIMES but every morning and night she will curl up on my chest when i'm in bed and she's just a precious bean

13. How tall are you?

5'5.5 (166cm). but i would have been taller if my spine had known how to grow straight 😔

14. Favorite subject in school?

science!! i had the same science teacher in high school from grades 8-10 (aka the only teacher in the french immersion department who was really qualified to teach it 😂) and i ADORED HER. from day one i was hooked--like she even made syllabus day fun. so i owe my love of science in part to her, really.

in university i realized i liked chemistry best amongst the sciences, so that was my major. and my favourite class i ever took was intro to quantum chemistry (which is really just quantum physics but the math was geared more towards what us chemistry students were familiar with)

15. Dream job?

okay, avoiding the typical "i do not dream of labour" answer...i really don't know. which is a problem. like i genuinely have no idea what i could do long-term that would actually make me happy and i just hope i figure it out at some point akjsdkfsjbd ... I feel like I was not supposed to leave paragraph responses for some of these but akjfkdsjbgd i can admit i like to talk about myself, okay? Anyways! I think I can find 15 mutuals who as far as i know haven't been tagged yet.

@ck2k18, @wackus-bonkus-maximus, @redundant-lava, @maridotnet, @celestialtitania, @talkstoself, @saiikavon, @sunfoxfic, @rosiesared, @mexicancat-girl, @tiredfloridianbutverygay, @fortuna-et-cataclysmos, @zenniaphoenix, @eggothemusicalwaffle, @bocadelicate

[yes0another0outsiders0blog]

Finally rereading The Outsiders like I said I would. I think I'll probably be doing a chapter a day, even though it's short enough that I could probably bust it out in one or two sittings. I'm really prone to burnout and I am trying to write a bit each day and I have a job to work and adult tasks to do and such, so a chapter sounds like a good goal with that considered.

Also, I'm sick as a fucking dog while reading this first chapter. Not relevant, just a little fun fact.

Anyway, have my thoughts while I read it!!

The Outsiders Reread : Chapter One Notes

less than a page in and I'm already tired of Ponyboy being Not Like The Other Girls

he's 14, that's positive, I should not be able to stomach a well-written 14 year old on account of them acting very 14, but also shut the fuck up

"yeah, I read books, unlike EVERYONE ELSE" go to hell

not to intentionally misread and water down a character, but Ponyboy saying "but sometimes I just don't use my head" is literally all you need to fucking know. that's it, that's the book

we get it, Pony, you come from a very hot family, yall are all conventionally attractive. paragraphs, ffs

also, I love that Soda doesn't drink. that he has a drunk on life attitude. could absolutely never be me, love that for him, unfortunately I fw Two-Bit's vibes with alcohol a bit more--

and the fact that Soda is the only one that can tease Darry.

there isn't a single positive thing said about Dallas besides "I didn't like him, but he was smart and you had to respect him." but frfr he's so great.

but if I met any of these fuckers irl Soda is the only one that I'd have a chance in hell at not hating. and that's only because he seems like he'd be enough of an emotionally/socially intelligent people-pleaser to actively try to get someone to like him, lol.

kinda salty about Johnny being called the gangs pet, wtf Ponyboy. not like he's one person's main reason to live, is SUCH fucking ride or die, later kills a man for Pony. but yeah, he's a pet. he tags along. what the fuck ever, man. if anything, Ponyboy (you know, the person that's mainly part of the gang bc he tags along with his older brothers, the BABY of the group, the quiet & sensitive one that doesn't have a single braincell outside of pure booksmarts) is the pet. like, sure, Johnny has trauma and is really quiet, but let's be so fr right now.

despite what is said in the book (bc it's Ponyboy's pov so we only get his perspective, obviously) I'm sure Darry gets after Soda too.

also, oldest children that become parental figures in some degree are allowed to be mean to their baby siblings. it's our right. as a 20-something year old with a young teen baby brother with common sense in the negatives, I am very biased in saying that Darry is always objectively 100% correct in every situation ever (heavily exaggerating, I just relate a lot).

forever mad that we don't get more Sylvia!!! my most random fav!!! so much love to her!!! she's basically an oc with how little we get of her and how many headcanons I have, I don't even really like the main fanon version of her either, but GOD she's my girl fr

NO BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 14 IF SOMEONE PULLED THEIR OWN KNIFE TO DO A DISSECTION THE WAY MY TONGUE WOULD BE DOWN THEIR THROAT. Ponyboy, babygirl, you did NOT deserve for that girl to hate on you like that. RUDE.

"Dallas deserves everything he gets, and should get worse, if you want the truth." agreed, that's my though process as I'm making the nastiest headcanons for him. my life's goal is to make this man suffer or make him into a loser, and all my hcs do both

breaks my heart so much how Ponyboy talks about Darry, leave my boy ALONE, dude!!!

my headcanons for Darry are usually the exact opposite of my hcs for Dally, I just want this guy to have the very best ong. I'll get so unrealistic with it too, bitch, YES I'll give you an absolutely stunning sugar mommy, babe!! just stop being stressed and stop having bad things happen for a few minutes!!! I almost struggle making in character, good headcanons for him because I just want to give him fluff and filler only and nothing else--