#but i do think their dynamic as FRIENDS as ALLIES is really nice

[higanberry]

coming out as the number 1 monix monosix whatever HATER. THEY ARE 9 YEARS OLD AND THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS.

(WARNING THE TAGS ARE JUST ME RAMBLING OMG IF YOURE NOT A LN FAN IGNORE THIS POST SORRY I HAVE THE LN TISM. mawtism. if u will.)

[batsflyaway]

epithets for aphrodite !

𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏

androphonos - killer of men

this epithet doesn't mean actual men i believe, just means like killer of people since men can be a general term for humans! could be wrong though <3

anadyomene - goddess rising from the sea

aphrogenia - foam born

i feel that the idea of a goddess rising from the sea is something so special, standing up from the foam, feeling the waves lap at her legs. i think these bring me close to her in the idea that it gives her a sort of human nature, and it's comforting that i can imagine and feel these things at the beach, that she felt once too.

areia - of ares; the warlike

aphrodite enoplios / hoplismena - armed

to me, these represent the times when love is not necessarily perfect, when it has its downs. it's kind of hard to explain, but she's a very comforting goddess to me, and these epithets represent when i need defence, she will be here to guard me. personally, these epithets link her to artemis as well as ares, obviously!

epistrophia - she who turns to love

erototrophus - mother of love

these two epithets are very very special to me, especially erototrophus. i call her mother aphrodite, because i feel like we have that relationship where i'm like her daughter (not literally lol, just the dynamic we have) and these loving epithets just hit that spot where she feels perfectly comforting, motherly and loving to me.

kopois - of the garden

this epithet helps me connect her to nature, especially the idea that roses bloom where she walks. i think it's gorgeous that she is surrounded by lush greenery in a pretty garden lol. i think this epithet also can connect her to artemis!

mechanitis - skilled at inventing

i can't really explain why i like this epithet, i just do. maybe it's because i like a smart woman, maybe it's because i worship athena and i feel this epithet is very athena-y, i don't know.

nikêphoros - bringer of victory

occasionally, i pray to aphrodite for stuff outside of her domains, and this epithet i love to use for prayers for school/tests, stuff i really want succession in, etc, plus i just think it's cool!

ourania - heavenly

this epithet is a beautiful epithet, and i love to use it in prayers. it's just such a nice adjective for her i think!

philomides - laughter-lover

to me this epithet really showcases the different forms of love. laughter-loving to me means loving laughter, no matter who it's with. your friends, your family, your partner, even a stranger. laughter is such a special thing that spreads love.

symmakhia - ally in love

ally in love is how she feels when times get tougher for me, especially in relationships. she's there to uplift me, to support me and comfort me when i need it.

kypria - cyprus-born

this epithet is mostly just a location one, obviously, but i do like it!!

i hope these epithets were explained enough, and possibly helped/interested you!!

𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏𓂃﹏

[simpforsolas]

So I've seen a some discussion of people both criticizing and defending the DATV companions for being nice to each other. And I think the arguments from both sides are being a little bit misconstrued, which is honestly understandable. I think that often when something bothers us in fiction, it's hard to put into words exactly what it is. So as we try our best to express ourselves, it may not end up getting to the point of what the issue actually is (this is also why it can be tough for writers to properly address criticism - the readers providing the criticism might not be accurately diagnosing the root of the problem, so their attempts to fix it are shallow and don't actually address the issue).

Now I obviously don't speak for everyone, but I do think that a good amount of the people saying they want the DATV crew to be meaner don't actually mean they literally just want people to be rude and insulting each other for no reason. I think it boils down to three things that the new crew was missing:

Inability to really feel how the companion's backstories form their unique worldview

Lack of conflict between companions

Limited relationship dynamics between Rook and the companions

Inability to feel how companion's backstories form their worldview

In previous Dragon Age games, the characters frequently discussed and argued topics of philosophy, faith, politics, and beliefs. They came from all different backgrounds. You had Morrigan, a hedge mage raised to believe in self-preservation, teaming up with an Andrastian circle mage and former templar. Their beliefs and worldviews are, at their core, at odds with each other. The game doesn't necessarily try to make you believe one way or another, it simply drops you into the world and allows you to interact with these character, see their interactions with each other, and draw your own conclusions. In Dragon Age Inquistion, you have Cole, a spirit of compassion, teaming up with Vivienne, who believes the circle teachings that spirits are demons and want to possess people, and Sera, who represents the perspective of the common people that are afraid of all things magical or fade-related. You have Solas, a staunch individualist who believes in freedom for all, Cassandra, a faithful Andrastian who follows her own inner compass even when at odds with the institution of the Chantry, and Iron Bull, a Ben-Hassrath agent who believes in the Qun not because he's a philosopher and has decided that's what works best, but because that's how he was raised and so far, the Qun has worked for him. So in previous Dragon Age titles, you have people whose worldviews and beliefs are fundamentally at odds with each other, and whose actions and dialogues are a direct result of those beliefs. Veilguard really downplayed the importance of religion in Thedas, which isn't necessarily a problem in and of itself. In DA2, the only companion with strong religious beliefs is Sebastian. However, you had Anders who believed strongly in mage liberation, Fenris, who believed strongly in the dangers of magic, and Isabela, whose lack of belief and lack of respect for religion/beliefs led to one of the game's biggest conflicts. Discussion of religion and philosophy was always a huge part of the Dragon Age games, so when they almost entirely removed that element and didn't replace it with other types of belief that could lead to meaningful differences of opinion, we were just left with nothing of substance to really talk about. This isn't saying that the companions don't have things they believe in, but it's just not the same as characters from previous games. In general, their backgrounds don't form a unique worldview that results in differences of opinions and interesting conflict. Which brings my to my next point:

Lack of conflict between companions

There's a huge spectrum between "everyone is friends and always gets along" and "everyone hates each other and is happy when their ally is sold into slavery." In fact, fans often get really into fictional relationships that have quite a bit of conflict. Speaking for myself, I love relationships where two people may fight or disagree, but they truly care for one another and would willingly put themselves in harm's way to protect one another. So I think when a lot of people say the companions get along too well, they don't necessarily mean that they want them to all hate each other (maybe some do). They mean that they just want there to be interesting interpersonal conflicts. (I personally would love for a companion pair to argue a lot, but when it comes down to it, they actually really care about each other) Why do we want this? Well first, conflict just makes things more interesting. But I think that it also ties into point 1. In this game, the companions simply don't seem passionate enough about what they believe to argue for it, or, if they are, there's not anyone who challenges their beliefs and forces them to defend their position. I would say that Emmrich is very passionate about his love for spirits and necromancy, two things which are seen as weird and dangerous by most people in Thedas. However, there's almost no chance for him to passionately argue for his worldview because no one challenges it. There is that one scene with Taash finding his passion for working with the dead creepy, but as soon as the issue comes up, it's resolved. Compare that to Solas, where a big part of his characterization is love for spirits and frustration with fear and ignorance leading people to discriminate against what they don't understand. Having to face opposition to his beliefs, both in the world and within the inquisitor's inner circle (and sometimes the inquisitor themself), gives the writers the opportunities to emphasize core parts of his characterization.

On a final note for this section, it's just more interesting when different pairs of companions have unique relationships with each other. Solas and Cole's wholesome, mostly conflict-free friendship is made sweeter because you can compare it to Solas and Sera's relationship. It makes the relationships more meaningful when you can contrast it to how those same people click or don't click with other companions.

Limited relationship dynamics with Rook

The final issue I want to talk about is how all this ties into Rook. In previous games, you could learn a lot about a character's beliefs by seeing what they approved and didn't approve of. Anders approves of supporting mages, Fenris doesn't. Leliana approves of compassion for strangers, Morrigan doesn't because why should she help people who can't help themselves, and also it's a waste of time. Cole greatly approves of helping people, Solas slightly approves of you asking questions, Cassandra approves of expressing belief in the Maker, and so forth and so on. Then depending on the choices you make, your approval actually makes a difference in how these companions view you as their leader. But in Veilguard... well either the companions don't have strong feelings about things, or Rook isn't allowed to make decisions that oppose the beliefs they do have. Because of this, there's basically no conflict between Rook and the team. From my understanding, worst relationship you can get with the team is "distant boss whose employees don't invite them to their work parties," but that's not the same as Cassandra hating you so much she gets drunk or getting specific rival scenes like in DA2 where companions react entirely differently because Hawke consistently acted in opposition to their beliefs.

Final thoughts

So when people criticize the companions not getting along, I think it's less to do with the fact that people want them to hate each other, and more to do with the fact that we want companions who have a strong worldview shaped by their backstory, and for that worldview being challenged to lead to interesting conflict. Whether that challenge comes from other companions, the world, or Rook themself, I don't care - I just want interesting and meaningful conflict that is arises because the companions are strong characters who believe in something.

[shinidamachu]

inuyasha, kagome and jealousy: why their feelings were justified

disclaimer: I'm aware there's a debate about whether or not inukag was officially, canonically dating during the series and that the answers tend to change according to the source material embasing them (manga or anime), but despite using manga panels to write this, I did it purely out of practicality and have no intentions of opening this particular can of worms right now. The point I'll be trying to make for @inukag-week's bickering prompt is that their feelings were valid regardless.

Inuyasha and Kagome get criticized a lot for the jealousy they feel of each other.

People seem to think that Kagome is not entitled to that sentiment because she chose to stay by his side knowing what it entailed and, more often than not, was the one telling him to go see Kikyo, so it's not fair of her to resent him when he actually does.

On the other hand, they claim that precisely because Inuyasha goes to see Kikyo, it's hypocritical of him to get mad at the fact that Koga is constantly showing just how much romantically invested he is on Kagome, as he has no ground to stand on.

Their feelings, however, are completely justified and no other scene proves that better than this manga interaction Sunrise mercilessly cut out:

Inuyasha is once again jealous of Kagome and Koga's proximity and he lets his frustrations out in no uncertain terms, but then Kagome makes a good point: what righ has he to be upset about it when he is also close to Kikyo? It's exactly why he gets flak in the first place. And his answer to that question is very interesting:

She may think Inuyasha is diverting, but he's really not. That's the briliance of this exchange: they are both right and they are both wrong on their assumptions.

Of course that, from Kagome's perspective, Koga putting his arms around her is not that big of a deal. They have no history whatsoever and she made it clear since day one that she wasn't interested. If he still wants to shoot his shot, it's all she can do to lay a friend and ally down gently.

Plus, it doesn't hurt that Koga's interest on her is such an ego boost...

Or that it turns the tables on Inuyasha to make him feel insecure and worried for a change.

Or that, in a twisted way, it actually reassures her of the feelings he tries so hard to be nonchalant about.

It might be a little petty of her, but how any of that even compares to Inuyasha kissing Kikyo? To Inuyasha meeting her alone even though she did terrible things to the two of them? To everyone constantly talking about how he still has feelings for her?

Surely he must know, after everything they've been through, that it can't compare, that he is the one Kagome is in love with. And since he does know, how dare he ever doubt her?

And of course that, from Inuyasha's point of view, Koga putting his arms around her is a huge deal. She complains about how every time he sees Kikyo they "float off into their own little world" but the truth is that except for the kiss she laid on him and the goodbye one they shared when she passed away for good — none of which had romantic conotations —, his interactions with Kikyo were pretty sterile, especially if juxtaposed with Kagome's interactions with Koga.

Kikyo is dead and isn't romantically interested in Inuyasha, nor is he romantically interested in her, but Koga certainly is into Kagome. Just because it isn't reciprocal yet, doesn't mean it hasn't potential to be.

Koga is the one regularly inserting himself into her personal space and she lets him, even though he did terrible things to the two of them. And so how can he be sure she doesn't like it? And how exactly is that different from the dynamic they share? Was she, after all, just being nice with him too and nothing more?

Surely she must know, after everything they've been through, that he only leaves because he has a duty to fulfil, but that he will always come back to her, that she is the one whose shoulders he puts his arm around. And since she does know, how dare she ever doubt him?

It's a classic case of miscommunication, but one that actually makes total sense, because they're just two teenagers navigating through extremely complex feelings in the worst possible circumstances.

They don't have the bigger picture the audience has and even if they did, their judgement would still be clouded by their jealousy, which keeps they stuck into their own perspectives.

And what makes even hard for them to get over these feelings is that they don't come from a place of ownership at all, but rather from a place of insecurity.

That's why Koga and Kikyo make up for such formidable rivals for Inuyasha and Kagome: it's not about the competition — the audience knows there isn't really one —, it's about the insecurities they bring out of the pairing, because they were carefully designed to do just that.

From the very beginning Kagome was being compared to Kikyo for being her reincarnation. She starts the story already having to measure up to her in power and once Kikyo actually enters the scene, Kagome is also taken aback by her beauty and elegance, but more than that: she feels like she can't compete because Kikyo "died for Inuyasha." One day he might return the favor.

For his part, Inuyasha has Koga to deal with. A good looking, uncomplicated man who has taken a like to Kagome and has absolutely nothing holding him back from pursuing her, while he has nothing to offer but a difficult past, an unstable present and an uncertain future. One day she could grow tired of it all and realize that Koga could give her everything he couldn't and leave for good.

In conclusion, all that jealousy is rooted in insecurities and in the fear of losing each other, which are completely understandable and absolutely valid .

The differece, I think, is that the narrative lets Inuyasha express his feelings of jealousy directly towards Koga, from insults to actual physical fights, without grand repercutions, while Kagome is never allowed allowed a similar outlet

But that's a topic for another day.

Special thanks to @kitramune for helping me with the panels.

[ender1821]

shinyduo/gempearl post-SL is sooo funny because before SL they were the typical "friends who like to do pranks with and against each other, partners in crime, really adorable sometimes" and then SL happened and they became OBSESSED with each other (really obvious from pearl's side since gem was more subtle) and innuendos started to appear left and right. now after WL they are not only obsessed they are also 10x times freakier and flirty. it's gem's fault a lot of the time but pearl enables it and digs herself into a deeper hole so she gets a wack too.

i am pleading to the sky for the fated shiny duo alliance to happen this year because 1) i am sure gem's possessiveness would get multiplied by 20 even if she tried to not show it and that'd be really fun + pearl would like it 2) their dynamic is so complex that they could be anything (codependent or healthy or possessive or die for each other or kill for each other or-) and 3) the aftermath of them teaming would be funny asf and the streams would be horrendous

thank you for coming to my ted talk 🙏

the freakier being in bold and italic is really getting to me for some reason lmao. anyway

you are right in the shift of them pre and post-SL, like, they are STILL giving cute partners in crime but also they’re. so. abnormal about each other??? thats not to say they weren’t flirty/making innuendos before the life series but god did all of that get worse after. also, it has kinda been shown how Gem is the one saying most of the questionable things, but Pearl definitely contributes a lot as well. lets not forget the pickles

of course we’re all manifesting for them to properly team up. its not even subtle at this point they both know that. the only things stopping it from happening really are luck and Gem’s homophobia (/j) cough. i mean. they would definitely get time to resolve what they failed to address back in WL if they’re allied together and can have time to talk. it could also make things worse but we’ll be seated either way. and then we’ll be questioning our existence again when the streams inevitably come

BUT. imo the alliance i really want is them + any other player. yep. i want a third wheel. it can literally be any other player because i think having someone else to affect/witness their dynamic is always entertaining, allows for exploration of new potentially fun dynamics between Pearl/Gem and another player while still offering plenty of opportunity for them to be. weird (/aff), and generally just gives the team a new spin instead of just Murder Camel 2.0. like. i’ve put way too much thought into this so there’s a whole ramble under cut about some of the potential trios and why i think they could be cool for a new life series

Jimmy: originally my life series s6 team predictions was pearl/gem/jimmy </3 mainly out of wanting more pearl + jimmy interactions, but i think having gem there helps just keep the team together. i thought they would be a nice team for jimmy in terms of support (think the SL scene where jimmy finds out he’s not the first out and they’re the ones there cheering him on) but well. thankfully we still had bamboozlers… anyway gem’s ego will get even worse if she had this team, and don’t we all wanna see that

Lizzie: PLEASE. impossible minecraft sent me to the point of no return because now i’m BEGGING for more pearl/gem/lizzie interactions. please. the girlies. we just need more gem + lizzie interactions in the life series imo, and we’ve already seen what happens when pearl + lizzie are together. i can’t tell you for sure if i think any betrayal will happen in this team but it would be really funny if there was, mainly just so lizzie and gem can bicker while pearl is just. There like a sad puppy. it’s cool if there isn’t though, i can see them thriving straight to the finale. cmon. think of the yuri

Ren: hey. hey. remember that one ren stream? you know the one. the wedding. do you see where i’m getting at. do you see the dynamic. it’s so funny to me ok. and we haven’t even mentioned the times where ren has mixed them up. i think it would be a horrible time for him to have to deal with these two and that’s so entertaining. if i picked jimmy because i thought he would have a nice time then for ren it’s for the complete opposite reason. make him suffer with these weirdos

Martyn: HE is the one who’s going to make them suffer. HE will be the one to make it worse. and it will be hilarious. let the man get some form of revenge for them terrorising him back in SL. they’re going to be insufferable and it’s going to be great. you might as well start the “hump duo” counter now …also i may just have a personal preference of wanting to see more pearl + martyn and gem + martyn interactions

Cleo: i mean. cmon. this one doesn’t need that much explanation. the people want a pearl/gem/cleo team

Impulse: same as cleo— SOUP GROUP ASSEMBLE!!!

Etho: pearl + etho interactions are great. gem + etho interactions are great. boom. gem gets to bully them both, then they either make a really successful trap or perform the greatest fumble ever! i see nothing but wins here

BigB: nosy neighbours… what if we tried again… plus i’m pretty sure there was a temporary gem + bigb team in RL, so why not give them a whole season. i think it would be fun. it’d be interesting to see how this team shifts with bigb’s general play style in the life series. i wonder how the base(s?) would turn out

Mumbo: listen to me. they have the funniest opportunity here to fluster this man to the high heavens. think about SL ep 5. think about it

Scar: so like. remember that 2v1? yeah. crazy, right? no but okay i don’t think if they teamed up there would be that much more emphasis on the 2v1 after all that in WL, but there WOULD be good times. i know this deep in my heart. the pearl/gem/scar interactions would go crazy. i hope they go on a hunting spree

Joel: i think this one is the least likely (on account of the fact that pearl has teamed with him in SL, and then gem doing the same in WL) but there could be beautiful world where pearl and joel build an even bigger and better car and gem just watches and sighs

Scott: insert manic laughter here. Pearlescentmoon you are about to have the worst time of your life ever

[lets-try-some-writing]

Do you have any ships that you enjoy, from any transformers media!

Been curious

Y e s

But I have a specific scenario where each is to be applied because I'm picky like that.

Oplita: The OG ship. Would die for them. Perfect for a particular brand of pre-war or post-war fic and absolutely delightful to engage with in a well crafted AU. Their interactions in a good fic never cease to leave me feeling all bubbly inside. Life goals ngl.

Starop: Post-war and or peacetime fics are my jam for these two. Although sometimes a nice flavor of hidden romance is lovely as well. I adore the way they play off each other in well crafted fics. I love when Starscream is the bad cop and Optimus the good cop.

Jazzop: Perfect for a bled of Pre-war or during the war. Jazz is a delightful foil for Optimus and I love seeing writers showcase the shift between his relationship to Orion and then to the Prime. Also it's a brilliant ship to showcase potential rebelliousness in them both.

Optiratch: Two idiots who can't take care of themselves taking care of each other. Need I say more? Their tender interactions always leave me screaming and demanding more. I love it, and I adore their deep connection, especially in TFP.

Dratchet: I have not read the comics enough to know as much as I would like about them, but they are CUTE and I will die on this hill.

Cyclonus/Tailgate: Same reasons as above.

Rodimus/Soundwave: .... Blame The Echo Garden. That one fic changed my entire view of them.

Megasound: Blame G1 and Prime for this one. "Don't leave me Soundwave." Gets me every. single. time. They are simply perfect. They've been together for so long and while I LOVE the friendship dynamic and the slightly toxic ally/master situation, the ship, when done well, makes me happy.

Megop: It's such a well known ship, but honestly, I am PICKY about it. I enjoy it in pretty much any setting, but I am disgustingly picky about what flavor I enjoy. Thus far, I've only liked Megop done by a few close friends and like, three random fics in my bookmarks. Very good for angst obviously.

Knockout/Breakdown: It's practically canon and I do NOT see it enough. When done well, they are adorable.

Prowl/Jazz: Thus far, I enjoy the concept but have yet to find a fic that sucks my soul into them. I really do think they are cute on paper though. The fanart has me intrigued.

Windblade/Starscream: Have not read enough of the comics to give a solid base for them, but I like the look and the chemistry.

Aaaand I think that's all for now. I am sure I secretly like more but have forgotten for the time being.

[the-ellia-west]

hey i’m aro/ace and saw your post on writing romance and it was really helpful,,, but do you have any tips for writing enemies to lovers? mostly enemies-allies-lovers pipeline

Oh Absolutely! Thank you so much for the ask, love!

How to Write Enemies to Lovers for Dummies

Alrighty! So, the key to Enemies to Lovers is Banter. They need to be the type of Enemies to trash talk each other

Before we begin here's some fun psychology facts that make Enemies to Lovers even more fun!

1. If you think someone is hot, you can't/don't actually hate them

2. The opposite of love is indifference not hate (use these as you will)

Anywayssss

Step one!

Writing Enemies to Lovers is the same as normal except that you add on the extra step of them being enemies first, adding more drama and banter throughout

So, you have to make them enemies, naturally. Figure out why they're enemies, why they would specifically hate each other instead of someone else.

Step two

Preferably, make it personal.

Make their arguments and fights feel more like they're fighting each other, and not the actual battle if they're in opposing organizations or something

Step three

Close proximity

Now that you've established how they usually act around each other and their usual banter, find some way to force them into close proximity.

Like one switches sides and the other is now their boss, they're kidnapped together, their bosses go missing, ect.

In close proximity, you want to jeep their former dynamic, but it slowly turns at the least, a bit more polite because they have to work together

(Think about how they'll try to undermine and push each other away according to their personality and morals - but of course make sure it doesn't work and they're still stuck together)

Step four

Give them a 'maybe we could have been friends' moment

Like have them look at each other after a while and go: 'maybe you're not so bad.'

Any of these variations

Step five

Make them talk

Eventually, your characters will be alone together, and they have to talk.

(It's best if one or both of them are in an emotionally vulnerable state)

One of them can ask the other a strangely nice or vulnerable question, they can tell them something, anything really

Examples: 'Have you ever thought about dying?', 'do you ever miss home?', 'you know... I always thought you were better than me.'

Step six

Have them be slightly more compatable by having them voluntarily work together, like coworkers or comrades rather than friends

Step seven

The friends stage

Have them be more friendly and trusting, partners in crime, good friends, and have that slowly develop (make sure to keep their trademark banter throughout)

Whatever level of friends, whether it be aforementioned partners in crime, kinda friends, normal friends, best friends, ect.

Step Seven

The falling for them

Then we develop the crush and eventually fall in love, *refer back to my other post*

[paperclipps7]

speaking of toxic yuri, what ships are 'canon' within the Dead End? i'm very curious and i will be grading your tastes. for legal purposes that is a joke

Ships are definetly not going to be a major plot point for The Dead End, more a little side thing to help out if I want to do something fluff (or angst, probably angst).

The most obvious one is Shellevision. Its my favorite, I like it a lot, it makes me happy. Their dynamic would definetly boil down to just the fact that theyre the only ones who care about the other, and they both want to make sure that connection stays, which is why they went off on their own. Vee defends Shelly from basically everything, Shelly repairs Vee and keeps her running. Its a symbiotic relationship tbh. Im not sure how much outward romance The Dead End would have as its not really the focus, but on a personal level, yeah theyre together, though if someone wanted to interpret their relationship as just close allies than by all means.

Theres the previously mentioned toxic yuri Slotmachine. Gigi and Scraps have a sort of rivalry going on. Gigi likes pushing Scraps' buttons and trying to steal her stuff, meanwhile Scraps is always chasing her out of New Gradenview. I like to imagine Scraps hates it in the moment but gets excessively bored without Gigi around.

Silent Melody (Flutter and Boxten) would work here since theyre in the same faction and both built a plane together, however I think in this context it would make more sense to just be real close friends, especially with Flutter being on fire the entire time.

Soggy Cookies (Ginger and Finn) is a rough one, because its one of my favorites that kinda works but not really. The Wanderer's are on good terms with Hazewood, so the two would have connections, but besides that theres not much to link them. Id have to workshop it more.

Brightcase is one I see more as a strained relationship in this AU. Rodger is constantly absorbed in his work and gives next to nobody the time of day unless theyre offering to help with his research. I feel like Brightney and him would get into arguments about whats right for Hazewood, as they both take on much more vocal roles than Bobette (who is the leader). Its kinda ironic considering how often I make them a nice married couple in my aus, this is a good change of pace I think.

The last two ships of mine I really love but they just wouldnt have a place in the AU, those being Sweethugs (Goob and Sprout), Christmas Party (Yatta and Bobette) and Poltergust (Connie and Tisha). Connie and Tisha would have basically no reason to interact besides Connie burying Tisha's corpses. And Goob and Sprout, while having no bad blood between them specifically, are in factions that do not get along. The same applies to Yatta and Bobette

Ultimately I think it would be fine for people to just toss ships around as they like in this AU, like I said its not very relationship focused and the only debatably canon ones are Shellevision and Slotmachine, and even then those can still be interpreted as close friends or rivals.

[queermccoy]

i’m sorry maybe i misunderstand you but are your tags on that gifset with tia pepa meaning you think eddie has a problem with buck being queer?

okay so. bare with me. i don't think eddie thinks he has a problem with buck being queer.

i want to make it clear that i do not believe that the show is doing this on purpose lol this is me sticking my speculation into the tears left behind by some of the weird writing and characters choices this year. i want this show to be deeper than it is sometimes, forgive me. but eddie's reactions to and around buck have been...more SOMETHING lately and this seems like a good explanation for that based on my own and others' lived experiences.

eddie's tolerance for buck's buckness (for a man being emotional, for demanding attention to his emotions) has dropped drastically since s7. and it could easily just be the strain of missing his son, of losing bobby, and then the financial strain of moving to texas. it could totally be that! but im not so sure that explains everything.

now. i am not straight passing, not at all. but i used to be. and this thing happens sometimes where people who only know you as straight, or think of you as straight, can feel like, betrayed almost when they learn that you aren't. even when they're allies! even if you’re only just learning yourself! it's not something they can help. it's not rational! and this is BUCK and EDDIE! for all that their friendship is this like, strong bond, they are still men who exist in the world and not in a vacuum.

eddie isn't homophobic, not overtly. no one would look at eddie and say, "wow that guy's a homophobe!" he's a nice guy! but. the metaphorical furniture in his brain was all moved slightly to the left one night and he's still bumping his shins on the side tables. which to me, explains some of why he just can't take buck's buckness lately. if that makes sense.

(eddie’s inability to like, deal with buck’s strong emotions generally is like a whole separate other post tbh. there’s a lot there and like. toxic masculinity ruins the party again, etc etc)

so anyway. no, i don't think eddie has a problem with buck being queer in the way you're thinking. he's not about to call buck the f-slur and beat him up. he LOVES buck. buck is his best friend and one of the few people he lets in (even if it's like, barely). eddie doesn't have a problem with buck being queer. the deep recesses of eddie's brain where his undeveloped thoughts and shoved down emotions fester however...who is to say.

and honestly? so honestly? that's fine. eddie loves buck and buck loves eddie. if it takes him some time to wrap his head around that, like really and truly take it in and process it, that's fine! i waited years and years for some people i love to get with the program. and i can't imagine buck wouldn't either. eddie will get over it. it's just like. imagine you're a straight man and you're hanging out with your two bros and they're also straight, you think, but then one day they're kissing each other. what's the protocol? what's the dynamic? socially, what is he supposed to do here? what are the rules? three bros hanging out, but two of them are holding hands. now what?

being queer isn't just unlearning heteronormativity for yourself. it's also a crash course in it for the people you love. and in the theater of my mind, eddie is in that, figuring it out. he's not being very nice while he's doing it, but. he's got a lot going on in canon. im an eddie girlie (gn) though so. grains of salt. keep that in mind. etc.

[buck 🤝 me

wiling to make excuses for eddie because we love him]

(apologies, i wrote this response at work so there may be some rushed thoughts.)

edit: “this doesn’t change a thing” is like. of course it does. but life is change. it’s going to be okay.

[joohanisms]

Thinking about xdh (mostly gaon and jooyeon tbh) with a partner who is into being overstimulated

Like all of them would indulge you but gaon (a menace) and jooyeon (a munch) would be ready to test that out right then and there

OH. OH NOOOOOO WHY WOULD YOU AWAKEN THE JOOYEON THOUGHTS IN MY HEAD

xdh with a partner that is into being overstimulated 💭💫

cw: overstimulation, oral, fingering, mention of penetrative sex, dom/sub dynamics (punishments), edging, toys, mention of safeword, mention of squirting, mention of thigh riding

omg. i'll talk briefly about everyone but i'll leave jiseok and jooyeon for last because i have a lot of thoughts hehe

gunil

you would have to ask him to do it to you.

he's soooo respectful unless you ask him not to be LMAO

so as soon as you cum and ride it out, he'll usually stop.

unlesssssssssss........

you either tell him beforehand, before he even pulls his cock out, that you're in the mood to be overstimulated orrrrr....

you're getting close and between moans and whispers of his name, you tell him not to stop after you cum. to keep going, please, keep going.

jungsu

our polite boy!!

much like gunil, you'd have to ask.

i don't see him much as a punitive dom, but if you tease him enough (which is a LOT. he's really patient, especially when it comes to you), you might get overstimulated as a punishment.

i loveee punishments that are more like a treat because it's so obvious what you wanted it in the first place LMAO

so yeah maybe he has you riding his thigh while he holds a vibrator do your clit... maybe he's drilling into you and his thumb won't leave your clit... maybe he's fingering you nonstop on all fours, while he presses you into the mattress.... who knows!

seungmin

look he's a menace all right

even though overstimulating is not his favorite - seen as he's more of an edging guy - he really enjoys it.

likes to rile you up so badly that you barely need anything to cum, and even less to be overstimulated.

if you like a little pain-pleasure, he might give your clit a little nip after all is said and done. as a treat <3

hyeongjun

hmm jun was a little harder to write tbh... i don't see him being crazy about roughly overstimulating you, even though he DOES really like the red streaks your nails leave on his back

but his favorite form of overstimulating you is by making you cum with his fingers or his cock. letting you catch your breath slightly. and then moving down your body to lick you clean.

like, syrupy, honeyed strokes of his tongue - slow, lazy, tasting.

it's not like the rest of them, where overstimulating is more of an extension, if not a part of, sex. it borders on aftercare, with how soft he is.

it's never stimulation enough to make you cum again. just enough to drive you a little crazy.

(if you want more, though... just ask. he'll eat you out nicely <3)

jiseok

if you're into being overstimulated as much as he is into overstimulating, gaon would have a field day everytime you had sex. be it penetrative, oral, fingering, whatever.

he'd be soooooo delighted to overstimulate you in any way.

i think i've said before that he DEFINITELY has a vibrator.... yeah it would be one of your best friends fr

jiseok sees the vibe as an ally instead of an enemy (as all men should) and is soooooo okay if you ask him to use it on you when you want it a little rougher!!

(but tbh the first time you asked he did get a little pissy. all like oh am i not enough for you???? do you need more???? but that quickly escalated into overstimulating you out of spite

but dw i'm so sure that when you started having sex he would've gone over the Yes And No list of kinks and things you both like + set a safeword so that spite was.. mm.. calculated. and after that it just became a staple in your sex lives,

but anyways!! jiseok is completely fine with the vibe and any other toys he could use in his favor) (also omg have y'all ever thought about double penetration with him...... now you have)

when he's overstimulating you he will keep going until you physically push him away/say STOP or say the safeword (plus with time he'll pick up on your tells to know when it's time to stop so you won't even need to do anything <33).

and again, as much as all the other guys would indulge you, he gets such a kick out of making you give him all you have. he gets impossibly hot and bothered and hard.

if he comes and keeps playing with you, he gets hard again in record time.

the aftercare is always so good after he fingered four orgasms out of you <3 won't have you lift a FINGER!!

jooyeon

now our jooyeon our lovely boy

the first time he overstimulated you was by accident.

he was just sooooo focused on eating you out - and as we know he loves it and gets genuine pleasure out of it - that he barely noticed you had already cum and kept going until the hands tangled in his hair threatened to rip his locks out.

but he's not dumb!!!! he DID notice you came twice more before you pulled him away!!! do not think he'll let that slide!!

and so with playful mutual slutshaming, it became a thing <3

whenever you want to be overstimulated, just... let him be. don't pull him away, don't tell him to stop, just let him have his fill. believe me, he won't stop unless you stop him.

guy loves eating pussy what can i say

has made you squirt before and if he's feeling playful he will try his damn hardest to get you to do that again. well, he's playful until he actually gets his bangs wet. then he's so fucking horny.

does this thing with his tongue on your clit that if he makes you cum and keeps doing that, you're cumming again in the next 30 seconds. he loves it <3

[lesbiansanemi]

Did you have any extra things on the Tamayo is Akazas mom au?

Oh god, I could go on and on about that AU, I'm ngl. I have so many thoughts on it

I especially have a lot of thoughts on Akaza and Tamayo's relationship post Akaza escaping Muzan. About how... awkward it is. Of course, it is many other things. Sad, hopeful, etc, but fundamentally just SO awkward. The relationship between a parent and a child who never really knew each other but reunite when the child is an adult are so strange (speaking from experience). Like! Yeah! That's Akaza's mom! But also that's a stranger! How does one contend with that? Does Tamayo treat him as if he's her son? Or is that patronizing? Is it even fair? Does Akaza treat her as if she's his mother and listen to her more than he would any other random woman telling him things? Neither of them really know what the fuck to do with each other

And despite that, both of them so desperately want to be close with one another. Tamayo because that's her son and she needs to make it up to him (since she can't make it up to her other children). And well... Akaza has no one. It'd be nice to have someone in his life to care about

But despite THAT there is... some bitterness that Akaza can't quite quell. How different might things have gone if Tamayo had stayed? Would she have been able to treat his father's illness? At the least, she could have cared for Akaza after he was gone and then he wouldn't have been completely alone and forced to just scrape by. But also... Akaza is nothing if not an expert at self blame and hatred and prioritizing the people he cares for over himself, so how is it fair to blame Tamayo for the choice she made, when ultimately it hurt her too?

And he tried to kill her... Even if he didn't want to, he still did that. How is he allowed to be angry with her after something like that?

And I think Tamayo is aware of his internal struggles to a certain degree, but again... is it her place to try and comfort him? To talk to him about it? To press and insist they talk to each other? They're strangers... The blood between them might as well mean nothing

(It doesn't)

But... Akaza doesn't have much of a choice either. He couldn't exactly be on his own even if he wanted to be. Never mind that he is contending with a lifetime of memories and years worth of smothered grief and guilt and hurt and anger, but... Muzan blinded him via the kanji in his eyes. He can't fucking see beyond the blurred colors of fighting spirits. Until he gets used to that... realistically he can't exactly take care of himself and he doesn't want to kill and eat anyone else anyways and and and

And neither of them know what to do.

Of course, over time, it does get better. They do get to genuinely know each other, they do start to care for one another. Eventually (very, very eventually) they might even lean more into the "mother and son" dynamic beyond just being allies and then perhaps friends who just happen to have this bizarre connection to one another.

And well.... They both want Muzan fucking dead. That's the goal they're working towards together.

Like I mentioned in the original post, Akaza and Tamayo's reunion would happen at least several decades before the Kamado massacre. Delving into actual plot of the AU beyond messy relationship dynamics, they are going to manage to save the Kamado family from Muzan (but am considering a few more Kamados other than just Nezuko becoming demons, perhaps Tanjiro as well, and maybe one of their other siblings)

Resulting in the Kamado family essentially going on the run with Tamayo and Akaza (+ Yushiro as he has since joined them). So they all have to get used to these kids being around all the time, and also like I mentioned in the original post.... fun little Tamayo/Kie romance that I have MANY thoughts on but this is already very long so I won't get into them. Down the line also planning for some renkaza and they still meet at the mugen train but again, this is very long so won't get into that here lol

But yeah! Lots of thoughts on the Akaza and Tamayo dynamic and the way it develops, and then also how the Kamados will eventually fit into their little family

It's a very very niche AU (which I'm realizing I have a lot of those...) but it's one I'm fond of and want to get around to genuinely writing out one day!

[pico-farad]

I've been watching Vrains for the first time, and I finished season 1

some thoughts below (a lot. a lot of thoughts below)

Setting & Setup

The setting is a very smart choice, and the highlight of Vrains in my opinion.

The aesthetic is relevant, it integrates well with Konami marketing its mobile games, and it neatly deals with the problem every Yugioh series has to address of how to make consequences for duels that can be safely broadcast on children's television (aka the shadow realm / sent to the stars problem)

The virtual world opens up so much possibility in how to present things. 

In the character and setting designs, obviously, but also, the duels have their own visual identity. They don't need to play cards on a duel disk or hold cards in their hand, cards will just appear and disappear in pixels (it also probably saves on their animation budget). The duel grid and other visualizations can show up as they're relevant. And seeing the character take gashes to their avatars is dramatic while still being kid-friendly.

Every Yugioh needs its peanut gallery to react to the duel and be explained to, and Vrains incorporates them the most easily of any series, since they don't need to be physically present.

Kill the frog and the pigeon though.

On the topic of duels, I like both link summoning and speed duels.

I like the spacial/positioning element of link summoning, it puts an additional layer on top of "little monsters make big monster."

And speed duels have all the advantages of turbo duels, allowing for dynamic action, visual metaphor for the tide of the duel, and the ability to change locations without sacrificing pacing, all while requiring less suspension of disbelief than card games on motorcycles. It's easy to take for granted, but the heist sequences wouldn't work at all if they had to be standing duels. 

I also liked this about season 1 of 5Ds, where there's two modes of dueling (turbo duels and ground duels). The contrast between speed duels and master duels is fun.

Skills are cool too, though I feel like they could have designed better ones. Seeing Yusaku drop below 1000 got kind of predictable.

And finally, there is rich thematic potential in this kind of virtual setting. Themes about our relationship with social media, video games, artificial intelligence, and tech corporations are very relevant and have depth. I don't have the highest of hopes for Yugioh tackling them, based on how this first season has gone, but I'll withhold judgment on this until I'm finished.

Yusaku

I like Yusaku. He's blunt, but he's not edgy like I thought he would be. He's actually kind of nice toward Naoki when they meet. The three things tic is charming. I like his hacker deck, it's probably my favorite protagonist deck theme after Elemental Heroes.

Yusaku's problem is not that he's boring per se, but he isn't really put in any interesting situations in S1. 

A lot of his duels are just him being challenged to a duel he has no interest in (Go, Blue Angel, Ghost Girl), he beats them, and they don't actually end up forming a relationship or establishing a dynamic. Because their characters don't have anything to do with each-other except mutually not wanting the bad guys to do bad things.

Yusaku gains allies, but he doesn't make friends. He starts off with his only real relationship being Kusanagi, and that doesn't really change by the end of the season (and his relationship with Kusanagi is not very developed either).

Now, there is a reason for this, which is I think the core of Yusaku's character in S1. It's that due to the traumatic event of his childhood, time has stopped for him. This is very real for victims of traumatic events, being unable to move forward in their lives, develop relationships or think about the future, because their minds are still stuck in the past. This is why Yusaku seeks his revenge. It's not revenge he's seeking, it's closure.

This is a theme that's worth exploring. The problem is that I don't really think they explore it, not sufficiently enough for me to give them credit. If they were exploring it, they could have shown Yusaku reckoning with the divide between him and others in a number of ways. 

Most chiefly, by forcing him to make friends anyway. This is Yugioh goddamnit. The opportunity was right there with Naoki, but it's just played as a joke. Instead, most of this theme is squeezed in at the end of the final duel vs. Revolver, and without the proper build-up, the moment of Yusaku renouncing his revenge and reaching out to be friends with Revolver doesn't land nearly as strong as it could have.

If there is one relationship that Yusaku maybe develops though, it's...

Ai

The relationship between Yusaku and Ai should be what the show hinges on, based on the premise, Ai's status as the "partner," and glimpses I've seen of them through fandom.

Ai is the inciting incident of the story, his existence drives the plot forward, because Hanoi wants him, but Yusaku has him, and Ai doesn't want anything to do with either of them. This premise is gold. It's rife with dramatic potential. Ai is forced to work together with his captor. Yusaku is forced to work together with this goddamn annoying AI. They are both just trying to use the other, but end up developing a bond.

Or at least... that's what I think should have happened...

Very little happens between them in season 1, and it either goes nowhere, or comes out of nowhere. Ai tries to escape, but that thread is just dropped and forgotten. Various Hanoi guys hint that the Ignis can't be trusted, but it doesn't really faze Yusaku because he already doesn't trust Ai. The same thing happens when Revolver reveals that Ai is his counterpart from the Lost Incident and has known it this whole time.

There's only one turning point in their dynamic, which is in the second to last duel vs. Revolver, where Ai uses his body as a shield so that Yusaku can use Storm Access. And even then, Ai says it's because if Yusaku loses, Revolver will kill him. But that's been their entire dynamic for the season anyway? Why is this positioned as the emotional moment where they become partners?

By the end of season 1, they're... allies. The same as the rest of the characters on Yusaku's side. But if there was one character Yusaku should have made friends with, it's Ai. Especially if they are positioning for a humans vs. AI conflict.

His design is cute though.

Go

Go's problem is that he needs to be integrated into the story and cast. Aoi at least has a relationship with her brother and Ghost Girl. Go is connected to... some nameless orphan children, a nameless manager, and a childhood orphan friend who shows up for 5 seconds, is put into a coma in order for Go to have a motivation to duel Genome, and never appears again.

Go isn't a best friend character, and he's not a rival either. He's not even a friend character, period. He really just seems there to be a third duelist.

Does he even know about the Lost Incident, or why Playmaker is even fighting Hanoi? Go has no clue what the plot even is, how can he be involved in it? My guy is living in a different story.

It's a shame, because Go does have some interesting bits to his character. Being a charisma duelist is central to his character (unlike Aoi, whose relationship to charisma dueling seems to end at being a cute idol girl), which could have been used to explore the culture of Link Vrains and the performativity of online spaces.

This is tied to some kind of theme he has going on of dueling for others vs. dueling for yourself. It's brought up in contrast to Yusaku, and why he initially dislikes Playmaker. All of that could have been interesting, but it doesn't really get a full treatment.

Revolver

Revolver is fine as a season 1 antagonist. He's not really a character yet, but I'm interested in where they take him from here. His backstory is sympathetic honestly. It's a pretty familiar and tragic situation, where a child narcs on their parent, who isn't even a good parent, but then comes to regret it.

I also think Revolver is sympathetic because I would nuke the internet in a heartbeat.

His Link Vrains design is cool. Mirror Force is funny, so are the gun dragons. The final duel vs. Yusaku was sick honestly, I loved the extra extra link.

Anyway, I still enjoyed season 1 and think there's room to take a turn for the better. In my experience, there's two kinds of yugiohs, the ones that start off strong, and the ones that end strong. My suspicion is that Vrains is the latter.

On to season 2! Time to meet everyone's favorite Salad king :^)

Hm? Was there someone I missed?

ha ha...... you get your own post, Aoi.

[kirisakiss]

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Blog introduction

— Hi guys ! I’m Maru and I made this blog to post about diabolik lovers and my oc Hikari! I’ll do a proper introduction post to her, but to tell you a little about her:

Hikari is an 18 years old girl that's sent to the Sakamaki mansion by Karlheinz, with the mission of charming everyone in the house.

— Some of her lore

Hikari is one of the multiple experiments of Karlheinz, a magic modified human being. She was adopted alongside the Mukami brothers from the orphanage, but was kept locked in Rotigenberg for a long time as Karlheinz experimented with her.

Thanks to Karlheinz experiments, Hikari developed enhanced senses, a perfect health and an "immortality" close to that of a turned vampire, that meaning she doesn't age or die as long as she doesn't get killed.

Due to the nature of her existence, Hikari is considered to be one of the first prototypes of an "Eve" and is nicknamed "Lilith" by Karl because of that.

— Some facts / headcanons / ideas I have

She coexists with Yui, and she would appear in More Blood as a rival at the start of some routes due to her mission, and as an ally / alleged love interest in some endings. In the next games, Hikari would become another love interest for Yui :) I also think it would be cool if after finishing the games, you had an option to play as her and unlock more of her lore.

Hikari doesn't really have a defined love interest; she has a love-hate relationship with Laito, and definitely has a crush on Shu, but I feel like she could have really interesting dynamics with the other characters.

She's 167cm tall (so, taller than Kanato and shorter than Azusa), and her birthday is on January 25th, a few days before Kou's.

She was created in like 2015 and started as a self insert, but then I made her an OC lol.

In the orphanage, Hikari became very close with the Mukami brothers and the day they decided to run away, she tried serving as a distraction.

Like Kou, Hikari was exploited in the orphanage and sold for profit, this made them bond and become very close friends.

And that's it for now guys, enjoy that little CG edit I drew of Shu and Hikari :), have a nice day!

[justallihere]

I️ LOVE and ADORE Xaden going from “I️ don’t care about you or your feelings 🙄” to “Why wouldn’t I️ come for you and take you home? 🥺”

It really reminds me of this post where someone made the commentary about Xaden refusing to coddle and be nice to Violet, even downright being an asshole about it

To giving her his flight jacket because gods forbid Violet be cold for the 2-3 minutes they would’ve stood in formation!

Love love love that growth for him, like yes king! Tell us how much you love her through your actions! Give her that flight jacket and everything!

Chapter 35 was such a GIFT! I️ loved it so much! From Mira and Xaden shelving their dislike for each other for V’s sake and just mother henning her! Loved Xaden taking care of her and reaffirming that she can be upset at the threat against her hair and the autonomy she would have been robbed of, had Aetos actually cut it. I️ love how gentle he was, making sure she was okay, even arguing with Tairn about it on the flight home because their whole dynamic in canon is just over protective dragon meets over protective enemy to mutually assured destruction to lovers, and amari give us mercy that Violet gets injured around either one of them.

I️ was so shocked and legit almost cried at the confession because bby boy X was NOT letting her think that he didn’t love her! Really gives a whole “Aretia could burn and I️ wouldn’t care as long as I️ had you.” vibe to it and I️. Am. Not. Okay!!! I️ am not normal or sane about this love confession! V is getting some HONESTY out of this man without having to jump through 5 million hoops or questions about it. X really just said it with both tiddies and his full chest!!

I️ also really loved the display of Rhi and Xaden’s conversation. He knows how much Rhi means to Violet, and having her best friend with her is the best thing for her! I’m so nervous and excited to see if you include a convo with the rest of the squad about her torture sessions and just showing how much they all love her! Cam was right! Everyone who knows Violet Sorrengail is a little bit in love with her!!

I’m curious if Violet is gonna think about how she basically begged for her mom to come with them to Aretia, when she was freed and I️ wonder what Xaden would have done if Lilith had actually planned to go with her daughter… thoughts and theories I️ suppose!!

God Alli, there are so many little things about this chapter that I️ adored and so little time to write about it! I LOVE this fic so much that I️ always am ready to read the next chapter immediately! So ready!! I️ hope this doesn’t pressure you too much but I️ did want to say that I️ adore this fic so much!! 10/10 would highly recommend!!

Also I️ hope my sleep-deprived ramblings made sense lol! Thank you for such a wonderful story and I️ cant wait for the next chapter 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Xaden’s growth has been so fun to write. Just the little moments of his growing respect for Violet, realizing he actually likes her, falling in love—it’s been one of my favorite things about this fic

Thank you! I had a great time with the two contrasting sides of Xaden in this chapter: the version of him who loves Violet and will wipe her tears and do anything for her, and the version that is just an absolute asshole to anyone who isn’t her 😂 if your name isn’t Violet Sorrengail he really doesn’t give a fuck

There’s some squad bonding next chapter 🫶🏻

Violet will definitely be reckoning with that conversation with her mom at some point—Lilith said she’d come, but will she really? Xaden would let it happen for Violet, of course, but it wouldn’t be an easy adjustment lol

Thank you so much for reading and for this ask, I appreciate you 🩷🩷🩷

[orlissa]

So we still have a little over 1,5 months left of this year, but the lovely @readthelastpaage asked me what were the best books I read/translated this year, so... here you go. I left out my rereads and highlighted the ones I translated in blue. It's a... pretty mixed bag, I think.

R.F. Kuang: Yellowface After Athena (young and brilliant Chinese-American author) dies in an absurd accident, her “friend” June (struggling white author) steals her nearly finished manuscript, works it over, and publishes it under her own name. Chilling tale about guilt and the publishing industry ensues.

Rebecca Ross: Ruthless Vows I needed to includes this because of reasons. The second of Divine Rivals, a story of two, well, rivals falling in love through letters sent by a magic typewriter, while the war of the gods rages around them. Simply beautiful.

Jeff Bishop: A Heavy Dose of Allison Tandy High school senior Cam dated Allison Tandy, the girl he is still obsessed with, for years before they broke up just before new year’s. Three months later Allison was in a car crash and has been in a coma ever since. Only when Cam gets some heavy painkillers after his knee surgery, he starts seeing Allison, and the girl is determined to get him to move on. Is it just the drugs, or does Allison really appear to him?

Naomi Alderman: The Power When girls suddenly start developing shocking (literally) powers worldwide, the order of the world and gender relations start to change. Not necessarily for the better. Chilling dystopic observation of gender dynamics.

Emilia Hart: Weyward Stories of personal trauma and abuse through three women and several centuries, with a touch of magic. Brilliant book, but beware, there are a lot of triggering stuff her (detailed description of domestic abuse, rape, basically at home abortion…)

Lora Beth Johnson: Goddess in the Machine/Devil in the Device Andra, along with her whole family, was meant to be one of the million people to colonize a new planet, but when she comes out of stasis, she is all alone in a strange new place, where the remains of technology are hailed as magic and she is believed to be a goddess. The language of this duology is insane–the author basically came up with a whole new dialect.

Jennifer Lynn Barnes: The Inheritance Games series When financially struggling Avery is informed that a Texan billionaire left all of his fortune to her, instead of his family–with whom now she needs to live together for a year–, she suddenly finds herself surrounded by dysfunctional family dynamics, heaps and heaps of dirty secret, and a bunch of puzzles and mysteries. I read the whole series this year, and although I’m not yet totally on board with The Grandest Game, this series is just fabulous.

Jodi Taylor: Just One Damned Thing After Another First book in chronicles is the St. Mary’s institute, where historians travel back in time to study the important (and not so important) event of history. British humor, some darker themes, and a bunch of chaotic energy.

Margaret Rogerson: Sorcery of Thorns I won’t be able to give a proper summary here, but books and magic and demons and adventure and books and romance, oh my. Or Elizabeth, who spent her whole life in a library full of magical books that might attack you at any moment, gets tangled up in a scheme that might bring on the end of the world. Which she and her allies need to prevent, obviously. There is also a sequel novella, which is mostly just a fluffy epilogue, but it’s just so nice.

Holly Jackson: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder British teenager Pip needs to do a special project for her last year of high school, and she chooses to examine the effects of a murder that happened in her sleepy little town a few years back – only what she really wants is to find the real killer, because she’s convinced that the police got the wrong guy. I absolutely loved the whole mystery and the multimedia nature of the book. (I know that there is apparently a version of this where it all takes place in America, which that sounds odd to me? It was so quintessentially British.)

Hannah Bonam-Young: Out on a Limb Win was born with an underdeveloped hand, but she doesn’t let is to slow her down. However, after she gets into a one-night stand with Bo, who lost a leg to cancer, at their mutual friends’ Halloween party, she ends up pregnant, so she and Bo decide to give this whole co-parenting thing a chance. Just a really nice feel-good romance story, made even more authentic by the fact that the author has the same hand issue as Win.

Taylor Jenkins Reid: Daisy Jones & the Six Story of a fictional seventies rock band told through a series of interviews done decades after the events. Intriguing tale of music, drugs, and personal dynamics.

Hannah Grace: Daydream I know that Hannah Grace’s work is kinda controversial (some love it, some think it trash), but I’ll always defend her, because of her works are very much pro-mental health and pro-cutting out toxic pieces of shit out of your life. And she is getting better with each book and she really did find something with this one. Sweet slow-burn romance with heavy emphasis on mental health.

Kristen Ciccarelli: Heartless Hunter This is what I’m reading/translating now, and although I’m only halfway through, I’m in absolutely brainrot over this. In a world where witches once reigned and now are being hunted, Rune, shallow socialite by day, secret witch saving vigilante by night, decides to try and seduce witch hunter Gideon to get some information out of him – only Gideon pretty much has the same plans to prove that Rune is that witch saving vigilante he’s been hunting.

[starrylayle]

"Don't get me started on jegulus" actually please get started I'd like to hear your thoughts on it because your take on wolfstar and the oc-ification of some characters is so refreshing to see (tbh my first reaction to jegulus was just confusion on how it started and how quickly it got popular lmao)

ahh this makes so happy to hear that my post resonated with some people!! Was worried i was in the minority lol.

Anyways, abt jegulus -- i acc had a reaaally long post about how much i hated the dynamic (in canon compliant ish works -- Jegulus in aus is fine ig) but i deleted it lol.

I think the core reason why i dislike the pairing so much is that I feel like it the ship goes against everything James stands for. We don't know a lot about James' character in canon, but what we do know is that he had a strong sense of justice, and fierce loyalty to his friends and his cause, which ultimately led to his doom. I just can't imagine that James would associate with someone even a little bit bigoted. This is not to say i think James is a saint, i think he could be an ass sometimes (snapes worst memory lol) but i think he'd draw the line at someone who was associated with 'evil'. James had a very black and white view of good and bad and i just don't think it would make sense for James to date reg, esp as he is becoming a death eater. James may be a dick but he is also the biggest ally to ever ally !!

The only jegulus fics I have read are 'Just Lovers' and 'Choices'. Just lovers is a non-voldy au so i don't really have a problem with their dynamic there but choices on the other hand,, oh boy.

Spoilers for 'Choices' by MesserMoon btw (TW for talk of SA):

Regulus' friends rape Mary. And instead of feeling disgusted on the victim’s behalf, (who has been his friend for 5 years) James instead feels upset because it tarnishes the ‘good’ image he has of reg in his head. Thing is when a similar situation happened (The Prank ™), James was upset that Sirius would do such a thing but he also felt disgusted on behalf of Remus. Where was that energy here, huh?? I’ve even seen comments villianising Mary (the rape victim).

The thing I also hate about their dynamic is that it is basically an ally of the oppressor and ally of the oppressed. The problem with that is that when you are allied with the oppressor, you become an oppressor yourself (and reg does; he does terrible things) and that subsequently makes the so-called ally of the oppressed in cahoots with the oppressor as well. This brings so many parallels to real life where people say that they are an “ally” but become friends with/date a racist/rapist. “Oh but they’re nice to me”. its just a little ew.

And in other jegulus canon-compliant-ish fics, sometimes instead of James' character being watered down its Regulus' character. Like, he's not as morally grey, not as complex etc so it makes sense that James would agree to date him. I feel like jegulus as a ship ruins the core of what made their characters so interesting in the first place.

That being said,,, i do love me some canon-compliant unrequited jegulus. Regulus goes to hogwarts, gets so mad at Sirius for ditching him or whatever, but falls in love with the very guy that stole sirius away. He also has internalised homophobia because he's a Black brother so imagine the angst. James potter goes against everything he stands for,, sirius betrayed him,, but perhaps they're right abt smth?? Perhaps he needs to do smth. alone.

sorry for rambling but these are my thoughts on jegulus !! Anyways I feel like I should reiterate that this is a personal preference!! I think it ruins core of these characters, i prefer jily and i love me some unrequited gay pining for the boy who you're brother replaced u with. But this is just a personal preference !

oh and just a side note if it ever led to a decision where james had to choose between sirius and regulus -- no matter how much he 'allegedly' loved regulus, he would choose sirius, no questions asked.