#but wouldn’t necessarily. rec. lol.

[obstinaterixatrix]

lmao. moe through helplessness.

[goblins-riddles-or-frocks]

So.... do you have any recs about books with fantasy and dark romance that you actually think are well-written? (no Shadow and Bone or anything from that author, pretty please, no offense but I have DNF every single one of her books I've tried ^^')

I would NOT call Shadow and Bone well written 😭

Honestly most of the fantasy I unambiguously like doesn’t usually have much romance, or I wouldn’t recommend it for that anyway. Or if I liked a romantic dynamic, it’s like a snap shot in an otherwise flawed book that goes nowhere… and so, again, I would not recommend it.

In general, I find the current mainstream book market really disappointing! Either you have like ten half baked tropes in a trench coat, five million SJM knock offs (but somehow worse!), or like… the dudebro power fantasies where the author clearly doesn’t view women as people lol.

I guess the closest thing would be Deathless by Cat Valente? But it’s not high fantasy necessarily, and I also feel like everyone knows it at this point 😂

My all time favorite villain/protagonist dynamic is probs in Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey, but that’s like the massive BDSM court intrigue book that somehow manages to have bad BDSM and bad court intrigue!

NK Jemisin’s fantasy books are generally fantastic but are low on romance. Her most romance heavy book is also her weakest— her debut, Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. But it’s still NK Jemisin so it’s fairly decent.

[natreads]

My (loose) 2023 reading goals

I often think I should read a specific author or genre and then I forget about it, so this started as me just writing that down and then evolved into 10 goals that I’d love to do in 2023 in regards to my reading!

Read at least three Astrid Lindgren novels. I live in Sweden and grew up with her stories, but haven’t read many of them myself and would love to dive into her work more properly. I’m thinking her very first published book, one of her more popular ones, and then maybe one I’ve not been exposed to as much (aka not seen the movie).

More classics. This is mostly so that I can write down books I randomly remember I wanna read (especially if I don’t own them) and will work as a place to write down those random ideas.

Some more current books, both in Swedish and English. I enjoy looking at longlists to book prizes and just pick out a book or two to read. That way I get exposed to books I probably wouldn’t have read since the market is jam packet right now and I need to see a book A LOT to start paying attention.

Queer YA. Look, I miss these types of books. They’re not my type of stories anymore, but I really miss them and I’d love to read a couple this year just for the memories and because they’re usually fun. I have The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School specifically on the list right now.

My tumblr followers’ recs. I think I have five right now! It’s just a fun way to find new authors I’ve probably not read before.

“Who I strive to be” shelf, at least six books. It’s just a shelf of nonfiction that I feel like someone I wanna be would read lol. Someone intelligent and cool. It’s got Audre Lorde and James Baldwin and Joan Didion on it, among others.

Read more poetry. Listen, I have a complicated relationship with it and I think I need to stop thinking I NEED to read full collections for it to count. A poem here and there is fine, especially if it’s different types of poetry too.

Classic queer books. Not necessarily old classics, but more as in books that have played a big role of the queer community, if that makes sense? Like the OG books from the 80s and 90s. I don’t even know if there ARE any of those, but I feel like there are and I want to see if I can find a list or something and read a couple of them.

Classic children’s books. I just never grew up reading those and I’d like to catch up a lil. Also I’m writing a children’s book which is inspired by an old classic and I’d like to read more of them for the sake of that.

More (queer) historical romance. They’re so fun, I love them. Will specifically read more from Cat Sebastian!

That’s it so far! I like that it’s not super focused on specific books, but more about genres and authors and whatnot. And I can move things around and change them if I want to, since it’s not super strict. I just went from having really set goals a few years go to having no goals because I was burned out and now I’d like to have looser goals because I think it’s still good to have something to work toward. What are your reading goals/plans for this year?

[inkofamethyst]

January 4, 2023

AFKDJFKSDLFJKSLJGLS UM HELLO I JUST WOKE UP TO AN INTERVIEW OFFER FROM MY CHOICE 4 [Choice F]

I WAS SO EXCITED I THREW MY PHONE (then subsequently called my parents, of course)

REMEMBER, THIS IS THE ONE THAT I SUBMITTED FIRST AND

did not include a transfer transcript from that summer program because the service was being stupid

wrote a really crappy 1000-word research proposal for (actually two crappy research proposals bc I had to split between straightup morphology and evodevo)

used the phrase “since middle school” instead of “for nearly a decade” (I switched out that phrasing in my diversity statement when I applied to my choice 2 lol) and this has been haunting me because I think it shows how young I am which is a bad think for PhD apps I think because it means I could change my mind really easily

it had seven essays most of which were fine, but I’m not really looking forward to reading them over when I prepare for the visit

one of my recs was submitted late

LUCKILY I can choose my date of visitation, so there won’t be overlap between this one and my Choice 2 [Choice D] (I would like to restate for the court that having a numerical list of these feels wrong because a) I haven’t visited any of these schools so I don’t even know if I vibe with the environment and b) each of them have different strengths, and it would be really easy for me to switch around some of their placements, I think (except Choice 7 [Choice A])).

Really, truly, all I’m waiting for is to see if I got the diversity fellowship from my Choice 3 [Choice G] (the one where I know the lady I want to work with).  She said they usually send out that information in January, and if I hear about it before the fifteenth, then I will officially have an option, and I won’t apply to my Choice 7 [Choice A] (and I’ll save $75).  Then I wouldn’t have to worry about the possibility of making the decision between attending grad school somewhere I don’t want to go and taking a year off then reapplying (currently leaning toward the year off option if it came to it).  These interview invitations are lovely, but they are not concrete acceptances.

BUT.  I can still bask in the glory of interview offers because they are investing in me.  Choice 4 [Choice F] is also paying for the visit, but their budget is clearly smaller than Choice 2 [Choice D].  That doesn’t necessarily bother me.  My Choice 2 is up there with the Ivies in terms of prestige, but my Choice 4 [Choice F] does have an awesome department (one thing about Choice 4 [Choice F] though is that it’s fully an Anthropology Department, so I would be required to take anth courses outside of my concentration which is fine because I like learning in general and that could prepare me for teaching more general anth courses as a budding prof in the future, but some of the other departments are fully bioanth, so I can finally start learning more about the topics I fell in love with (oh wait not to mention the literal problem with racism that my Choice 4 is having rn,,,,,,,  (I’d really like it if an unproblematic school offered me an interview, actually, that would be lovely [edit 2: this is so funny because three students died at my current uni over the two years before I decided to apply... I don’t know if there really are unproblematic schools]))).

Today is gonna be pretty chill otherwise, so I’m thankful for another interview offer, this is dope.

It does mean that I’m going to have to braid my hair this weekend :/  But it does also mean that I can just put my hair into a puff for the rest of this week, and I was really not looking forward to twisting for six hours today so that’s nice.

It’s so beautiful outside, I’m going to just chill out there today and read, I think (after I wash my dishes and do my hair).

I need to stop qualifying every positive thing with something negative.  This is not bringing balance to the universe or whatever, it’s me actively stealing my own joy.

[edit: it rained on me -_-]

[edit 2.5: the rain didn’t last long, and I went to go get some work done outside, and then I saw a lovely sunset and had a nice walk for my mental health]

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

I saw a video in my youtube recs that was just someone sharing their Sonic hot takes or whatever, and tbh I’ve lowkey come to not really like that sort of stuff because it’s kinda just being deliberately incendiary for the hell of it, buuuuuuut it sounded kinda fun so I thought I’d try post my own Sonic hot takes here.

But then I realised that I kinda, don’t really have very many? Thing is the Sonic fandom is already so huge and encompasses so many different types of people with strongly differing opinions to where like, does anything really count as a hot take? Going against consensus doesn’t really count for much if there are already tons of people against consensus as well, right?

Still, I was able to come up with some ideas. Probably my main one is just thinking Sonic Chronicles is fairly fun. Won’t defend the writing or the music or the presentation, but in what I played of the game (I’d like to get back to it!) I did just actually find the core gameplay itself solid. I’m aware there’s a moment later on where you split your entire playable roster into 2 separate parties and I’m particularly looking forward to that, because hey that’s got consequences and actual decision-making involved, you know?

Another one I managed to come up with was that, there are so many fan AUs and stuff that are so far removed from the original series that when I see them I wonder what the people making them even like about the series such that they’re making these AUs. Probably my least favourite is any version of the series in which the characters are all adults now and just every single character opens their own mom and pop business or whatever. Capitalism sucks why would you wish that on Cream the Rabbit dude. But I can’t really bring myself to feel strongly about this one necessarily because I don’t actually know the people making these AUs and I don’t think it’s really my place to question what they get out of the series or their own creative outlets - like what good is there in yucking their yum, you know?

Buuuuuuuuuut then I realised that oh yeah, I do have one actual hot take lol. And it’s one I don’t really shut up about much either. And it’s just that Mephiles the Dark is an absolutely fucking atrocious villain dude! I can’t stand him! I don’t get why anyone likes him or is actually fucking convinced of his bullshit! He’s just so pathetically ineffectual! Spends the entire game trying to manipulate Shadow for no fucking reason and to absolutely no avail so what was even the point? “Successfully” manipulates Silver (congrats dude you’re the second living person he’s ever interacted with) but just to the end of making him kill Sonic which is something Mephiles could do himself, so he’s just wasting time? For that matter “oh he’s the only villain who killed Sonic” yeah by shooting him in the back! Wow a real impressive feat that one! All of this to fuse with Iblis because uh, evil, I guess. But oh by the way even though Mephiles can TIME TRAVEL AT WILL he doesn’t fuse with Iblis in the past or the future and he doesn’t also just kill Elise himself and fuse with Iblis that way? There’s so much bullshit headcanon you have to make up to justify any of Mephiles’ actions and even then he still falls apart at the slightest hint of scrutiny. Best case scenario is he can’t fuse with Iblis unless it’s released from Elise specifically by crying - like he can’t fuse with the presumed monster Iblis that’s there in the future and that let’s assume is released by Elise just straight up dying. Fine, okay, Mephiles has to make Elise cry for his plans to work. So once again why the fuck is he wasting time on Shadow and Silver? He doesn’t get anything from doing so! The only justification anyone has is “lul he’s sadistic why wouldn’t he do that” but that’s just an answer they came up with to justify why Mephiles is wasting his time and effort on nothing! He’s framed as this master manipulator, the god of gaslighting by his fans but none of that exists in the text or the subtext or the metatext or anything of the sort! It’s just desperation to pretend a worthless non-presence like Mephiles ever mattered! Why does anyone want to see this pathetic excuse of a character ever again? Bro’s a canon Shadow recolour and he’s the “best villain in the series” yeah okay dude.

Uhm, yeah. There’s my Sonic hot take lol.

[purplesurveys]

1649

1. What are you doing at this exact moment? (I want details, people!) I’m taking this survey while sitting on the couch in the living room, which we FINALLY got professionally cleaned after Agi must have peed 47549835734 times on it; and I currently have Jimin’s Like Crazy playing on loudspeaker from my phone right beside me. Dogs are resting in front of me having just finished their dinner. Am also cautiously watching the time because I plan on working again by 10 PM so I can finish a couple of slides on a Powerpoint I’m in the middle of finishing.

2. The one song you will never get sick of? Additionally, any song recommendations? I really really feel this way the most about Namjoon’s Closer.

3. Name everything you have ever wanted to be (occupations and random things, like animals!) Writer, journalist, housewife, lawyer, art curator, historian, mom, bird (so I can fly and travel), dog (so that I never have to work lol).

4. What is the best fanfic you have ever read (lmao) There were a couple of AJ/Punk fanfics I enjoyed back in the day, but sadly the author took them down (and I think even deleted their account altogether) so my memory of the story is lost to time. More recently, I’m obsessed with this AO3 writer’s Namjin works; I go back to my favorite scenes from time to time to give me the giddies lol.

5. Name every fandom you have ever been in! Beyoncé, wrestling if that counts as a fandom, One Direction, BTS. I like and have liked a number of other things too like Paramore, THAT British YouTuber crew, and Good Mythical Morning, but I wouldn’t say I was ever active in any of those fandoms; I just enjoy ‘em on my own time.

6. What is the saddest movie you have ever watched? Additionally, movie recommendations? Requiem For A Dream, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Life Is Beautiful, and ROMAN FUCKING HOLIDAY holy shit the last scene amazes and pisses me off every time lmao. 

As for movie recs, I’d also go for Roman Holiday.

7. If you could direct your own TV show/movie, what would it be like? A snoozefest...I like to keep my life uneventful.

8. The cringiest account/fan account you’ve ever made? (oh god) The first one that I made when I was around 11; it was my Twitter account for everything Beyoncé. I would’ve given my wrestling Tumblr as an answer too, but in retrospect I don’t think it was necessarily cringe; I was just being the modern-day fangirl/stan before stan culture was even a thing. Meaning to say the shit I posted was definitely more out-there than anything back in 2014, but if I look at that Tumblr now (it’s still alive!), it honestly holds up, lmao. Looks like every other stan account that we otherwise have nowadays.

9. What is your aesthetic? Describe it to us in list form. Hmm okay I’ll try but I’m honestly so over the place idek if I have one.

K-pop merch

A wall of custom Polaroid printouts of BTS members

Dogs

Coffee and a pastry

Laptop stickers

Museums

Peach soju

Oversized t-shirts and sweaters and baggy joggers

Bucket hats

Printed socks

Muted shades

Listening to lofi or piano music at 2 AM

10. What is one thing that has been bugging you recently that you just need to talk about? That I am so bad with money.

11. One thing you’ve always wished you could do / be good at? Play the piano.

12. Put a picture of your best (or your worst!) fanart/drawing ever! I don’t draw.

13. The best book you have ever read? Additionally, any book recommendations? I haven’t read any that I’d consider an all-time favorite. 14. Most exotic food you’ve ever had? Crocodile sisig.

15. Post a picture of the weirdest/funniest text conversation you’ve ever had! Idk if there is one. I have lots of funny convos with friends, but I’m not sure if any of them would be the funniest.

16. Random fun fact about you! I blocked Zayn Malik for like five years after he left the band. LOL

17. What do you think of me? Ahh! Idek who you are!

18. Do you have any fake names? Pseudonyms? Idk, stage names, street names? If not, what would it be? Nope. 19. What is your idea of a perfect life? One where you’ve reached a level of contentment in a way that you’re comfortable and happy with every decision you make, and face mistakes with a lesson and an, “On to the next.”

20. Finish the sentence: “Oh, to be a _____” Nepo baby? Lmao

21. Is there a stranger you would like to meet again? Sure, the nice fan sitting beside me at Seonho’s fanmeet who gave me a slogan when she saw that I didn’t manage to get one.

22. Post a picture of you/someone you know doing something weird. Do it, you won’t. Coward. (Obviously the pic doesn’t have to have a face in it) I would but my phone is at 1% and the charger is upstaaaaaaaairs, lol.

23. Is there a place you feel homesick for even though you’ve never been there? Well, no. I don’t think the homesickness would be genuine that way.

24. Basic, but what’s your sign? Taurus.

25. What sign do you act like? What sign do you wish you were? None of these astrology questions plz.

26. What is one unusual thing you do? Surveys? < Agree.

[myfirstandlast]

ive only read a handful of fics ever but . would any oomfies happen to have genshin recs see tags

[storm-leviosa-fanfics]

Fic Rec List

In honour of the 2 year anniversary of my last fic rec list, have another.

Seven acts of mercy, by ElodieWrites (multichap, incomplete)

Kicking this whole thing off with a tonne of angst. This is a post-Batman #71 fic so use your discretion on whether that is for you (tw for child abuse etc), but Tim and Damian's relationship is really beautiful in this. Incomplete, but what's there is definitely worth reading

One shot, two shots in the night, by discowing (@wlwdiscowing) (multichap, complete)

Bruce Wayne writes a memoir, goes to therapy, and realises how much his family means to him - not necessarily in that order. I'm a sucker for some good dad Bruce, and this is some great good dad Bruce. He's not perfect but he's trying and that's all we can ask really.

Not taking it for granted, by woodenwashbucket (oneshot)

It wouldn't be a batfam rec list if there weren't some heartbreaking angst. Tim and Damian ruminate on being dead, on being not dead after all, and on grief after everyone you know and love dies. It has a happy ending though, promise.

Farthest you've ever flown, by rutacea (@applejee) (multichap, complete)

Some brilliant hurt/comfort right here. I know just how hard Luka worked on this fic and it really shows! Great work! Tim's dad (Jack not Bruce) kicks him out and Jason, pre-reveal to the rest of the fam, finds out and looks after him.

Batfam pacific rim au, by Calypso_Rambles (@theogygiaisland)(series)

Exactly what it says on the tin really. Just...super good guys idk. Told non-linearly which is really interesting and cool. You never quite know what's coming with this fic and it's so refreshing.

The universe was made just to be seen by your eyes, by popsunner (@popsun) (oneshot)

Somehow angsty and funny and heartwarming all at once I cannot even begin to describe the emotion this makes me feel (which isn't hard ngl but still). Core four roadtrip post-Tim death/resurrection, feat. batfam fluff. The whole series this belongs to is great actually, highly recommend.

Thank you for calling..., by Maximum_Quinn (@aahsokaatano) (oneshot)

Outsider POV. Poor Tyler having to deal with all the batfam's drama. I would be Done™ too. Light-hearted fun, much love.

Secretary Tim (and other shenanigans), by Shirokokuro (@shirokokuro) (series)

Tim is Bruce's secretary in this, which sounds like a crack fic but it's actually not? Which doesn't mean it's not funny! Just it is funny and a little bit angsty. Some of the fics in this series deal with parental death and hospitals and stuff if that's a trigger for you, but not all of them.

5 times Tim spends the night at Wayne Manor + 1 time he comes home, by motleyfam (@motleyfam) (multichap, complete)

'Tim joins the family early' is one of my favourite tropes and this is no exception. It's also a five plus one, which is just a bonus. A multichap of manageable length.

Twelve Magpies, by 061828 (oneshot)

One of those epic Tim/Bernard fics that came out (lol) of Urban Legends being awesome. This one's great fun - fluff and angst and some hilarious secret identity shenanigans.

If anyone else has any recs, feel free to add them in the notes.

[houseboatisland]

I'm rather curious for your own takes on Thom Thom~✨💙

Edit credit to @/ComradeOpThomas from Twitter, this is my ideal Thomas!

(Season 5 Thomas is the best Thomas, I don’t make the rules)

I started this hoping for it not to become a whole biography, but it just kept pouring out of me, so here's a very, very long post indeed lol

Thomas is NOT an L.B.S.C.R. E2 Class. He’s actually a unique design born to the North Western Railway in its earliest days… and in remarkably sad circumstances.

When the Railway Executive Committee first took over in August 1914, they were repulsed at the state of the Sudrian railways. Here were several argumentative companies operating in isolation from one another, with geriatric engines and stock, and one of them hadn't even run a train or maintained its permanent way since the start of the century. A key agenda item of the R.E.C.'s was a continuous, efficient railway system to quickly move men and materiel to the Island's eastern coast were Ireland to side with Kaiser Bill against John Bull. The existing standard gauge railways would have to be more or less torn up and rebuilt from scratch, and several new miles of track laid in to make for a single fluid network.

This required, among other things, many new engines. Several came over the Channel as and when could be spared by the Mainland, but as it became increasingly clear that the war would not be over "by Christmas," this wasn't an ideal long-term solution. The R.E.C. was especially upset that it had to put so many of its tender engines onto construction trains when their strength could be better used on other work. Two tank engines off the former Wellsworth and Suddery Railway, No. 1 "Short" and No. 2 "Stumpy" were by now nearing fifty years old, and exhausted mechanically.

The R.E.C., out to keep costs down and use resources to the fullest, ordered the N.W.R. to scrap these two engines and use the best parts of each to create one new engine. Measurements were taken, plans were hastily drawn up, and Short and Stumpy were quietly cut up in January 1915. Several fittings were made new for what odds and ends neither engine could contribute a usable part. The resulting new engine was "Thomas," who was put to work fresh off the shop floor.

Thomas at this point became the N.W.R.’s No. 1 quite by accident. He was the first engine to be built at Crovan’s Gate, and the REC misinterpreted this on his builder’s plates as an intention by the N.W.R. TO make him No. 1. So when Thomas gained his number, the R.E.C. and the N.W.R. both assumed this was deliberate by one another. And it was just too much of a hassle and too unimportant to change, so No. 1 he stayed.

As for his name, Thomas is named after Thomas Reginald Payne, the North Western Railway's first Chief Mechanical Engineer. Payne had made Thomas' construction a reality, from drawing up his blueprints to supervising his piecing together. Payne, who was CME from 1914 to his death in 1951, never forgot this connection to "his" engine, and often wanted to be on the shop floor whenever Thomas was in for repairs.

Thomas’ “infancy” was in a word, harsh. He was working around the clock, surrounded by engines who came and went, and did little if any socializing. Foremen were ordering him about at every turn. His first friend ever was the new N.W.R. No. 2, Edward, the former Wellsworth and Suddery Railway’s No. 5 and only tender engine, who knew his old crewmates were chopped up to make Thomas. Thankfully, Edward knew better than to let Thomas in on this, lest he give him some sort of existential crisis, and he made quick work of making himself a mentor to the little engine.

In these conditions, Thomas’ “cheeky” and anti-authoritarian streak took shape. His whole life thus far had been work and taking lumps from his superiors, most of whom were English and not Sudrian. This morphed into a disrespect for big engines, who wanted him to be their errand boy as construction work began to ebb and focus shifted to running trains. Ever the contrarian, Thomas only doubles down on his disrespect for tender engines when he finds out that that’s “the traditional order of things.” Edward is of course exempt from this attitude, but in his tensest moments Thomas can even lose patience with HIM momentarily.

The war finally ends. January 1919 sees the N.W.R. out to make an identity for itself as peacetime takes hold and Parliament quietly rumbles about Grouping or outright Nationalization. Thomas is the first engine to wear "Hatt Blue with Red Stripes," the company's planned standard livery. This isn't unique to him for long, however, and Thomas' new line of work from hereon is Station Pilot for Vicarstown. Needless to say this is upsetting to him. He's not moving up and down the Island like he was when building the railway. He's still rushed off his wheels. He's expected to be answerable to tender engines as he makes up their trains. Most importantly, he's still having as much difficulty as before to make time to make friends. This new job is in every respect everything Thomas could have wanted to avoid, and there's no telling if he'll ever even get out of it. January 1919 is thus where "Wants to See the World" Thomas begins.

Thomas still gets to see Edward regularly, and he is for a pinch joined by two other tank engines shunting at Vicarstown. They're also ex-Wellsworth and Suddery Railway, Nos. 3 and 4 "Edwin" and "Victor." Thomas befriends Victor, who is a friendly old joker, but dislikes Edwin who has become cranky in his old and as a 2-4-0T has a tendency to slip and not be of much help. They leave him too, in 1922, when The Fat Director relocates them to run other branchlines on the Island. So, 1922 onward, we meet Thomas as the sole pilot, thoroughly busy and thoroughly lonely.

This seems more or less canon, but The Fat Director probably sent Thomas to Wellsworth after his runaway with Edward's trucks in anticipation of giving him the Ffarquhar Branch once he was a matured engine. He didn't give Thomas the line just because he rescued James in fine style, that was really what made his mind up.

Thomas looks kindly enough on Henry as a big engine at this time, he and Edward as mentioned aren't necessarily the kinds of "Big Engines" he dislikes. He'll occasionally give him a tease or two, or lose patience with his health, (something he now deeply regrets years later,) but there's no real malice in it. Think of him as the little brother poking fun at his bigger brother for having one arm in a cast, but altogether still feeling sorry for him and accommodating him how he can. Henry for his part appreciates Thomas, but takes his teasing very seriously considering how sensitive and implicating it is to, you know, his whole existence.

My idea of Thomas' relationship with Gordon is heavily inspired by @/mean-scarlet-deceiver's: Thomas is initially awed by Gordon's arrival and finally confident the N.W.R. can survive, but quickly resents him when he shows his true colors as a "big engine" through and through. I wouldn't even call Gordon and Thomas "friendly" until their alliance at Toryreck Mine. From 1923 all the way up to then, depending on when you place it, they... legitimately dislike each other. There's no affection beneath all the ribbing and jibes, they ACTUALLY disliked each other that whole period of time.

I'm still hashing out my headcanon of 98462 and 87546, (just know that those aren't actually their numbers,) but it's safe to say Thomas hates their guts, and '62 and '46 hate his guts in return as a servant willing to speak up for himself.

Thomas and James were a couple from 1924 to 1933, when they broke up amid the Big Engine Strike. I'd really rather reserve this for a post of its own at a later date.

Thomas and Percy are good friends, but I wouldn't go so far as to call them "best friends" like the TVS has so often hammered in. They clearly come to blows whenever the tension's too much. I like to explain that away as a shift in Thomas' character. With him doing more passenger work as Percy and Toby handle the stone trains, and his increasing fame, Thomas begins looking down on Percy, not long after he transferred to Ffarquhar in 1955 in fact. This might also have to do with unresolved feelings between them both. (Hey, remember that little green engine you kissed once just to try it over twenty years ago? He's your roommate now, probably forever. Play nice!)

[obstinaterixatrix]

oh hi! this is out of the blue, but i've been hoping to get into watching ultraman, but i have no clue where to start. is it like kamen rider where each season is stand- alone? if so, do u have any seasons u recommend?

Oh yeah, basically. There’s like one where it has two seasons, and sometimes legacy characters are more relevant in some series than others, but if you’re fine either looking up lore or just Not Knowing (or, in my case, sometimes asking sundry) then you can roll with it. A lot of ultraman series takes place on alternate universes so sometimes ultraman is A New Concept and other times ultraman is Everybody’s Friend and other times ultraman is a cryptid

I haven’t watched a lot of ultra but I think the most accessible series to rider fans is Geed, and I’m also biased towards it because it’s my favorite lol. It has a couple of legacy characters but all you need to know is that belial is Evil and has beef with ultraman zero. the setting is a universe where belial almost Blew Everything Up but ultraman king sacrificed himself to glue the universe back together. the main character is an orphan who’s best friends with an alien that lives in his shadow. I think it does a great job of building a supporting cast and I really like the writing, there’s a couple of two-episode arcs that really grabbed me

I’ve also watched orb, which is another good standalone one. It’s good for people who like heated drama between men, though that mostly pays off at the end. In terms of series order, Z makes more… sense? has more context? if you watch orb first. So Z is somewhat less accessible but you can still watch it. But anyway Orb follows the main character who’s got like. A ronin cowboy vibe. And the supporting cast is a group of like, cryptid hunters? like tornado chasers but for kaiju.

Z and X focus on more of an ultra-host dynamic so if you like that kind of possession-adjacent dynamic. Z’s protagonist and ultra is very Jock-Brain, X’s protagonist is a scientist and ultra x is very earnest. It’s also the more traditional earth defense force setup.Oh also I forgot to say that tsupro is a lot more kinder to its western fanbase and basically all the series are available for purchase

Anyway mebius is the only earlier ultra I’ve watched, it’s an anniversary series that has references and guest stars from a lot of earlier series and I didn’t understand most of them but it still made me cry MULTIPLE times because The Weight Of Emotion. The protagonist is an ultra that LOVES earth and humanity and is very charming. Also if you were ever on deviantart sometime in the 2010s and earlier you have definitely seen one (1) shot from mebius. This is a good series to check out if you want more of The Classic Vibe of ultra and also a series that’s 50 episodes long

Oh I almost forgot, R/B is a really cute family focused series, I like the designs. Plus the main antagonist is really fun, she’s lived a long time so she’ll just drop quotes and go like ‘my friend arthur conan doyle said this to me’ ok lmao. Also the little sister turns into ultra in the movie :)

Blazar is the current ongoing series and it’s such a weird ultra lol. I wouldn’t necessarily rec starting with it because it takes away the impact of how WEIRD it is as an ultra but also watch it anyway it’s pretty good

I’ve been meaning to watch more and there’s a bunch of other folks who have watched more and could be a better tour guide. Actually recently I saw someone mention STARTING ultra with leo which is absolutely hysterical to me. sounds traumatic.

[fangroyal]

Fic Rec Tag Meme

@sitp-recs, I’m terribly late, but this looked way too fun, so I had to join in. Fair warning, y’all, not everything here is Drarry, or even HP (I am a prolific rarepair shipper/multi-fandomer, and Dron is my OTP 😂), so I’ve added the fandoms and pairings below as well. All of these (and many more!) can also be found on my ficshelf! It was so hard to pick these as it was, I couldn’t help but point you in the right direction for all the ones I (sadly, unfortunately) had to cut from the list, lol.

Anyway, thank you so much for running this tag meme, @sitp-recs! It’s been amazing seeing everyone’s recs and discovering new fics! 🖤

• A fic you love without knowing the source material: He Was a Punk, Pete Did Tabletop Roleplay by @mscaptainwinchester Marvel | Peter/Wade | NC-17 | 7.5k

• A fic with a premise that shouldn’t work but it does: Anthony J. Crowley, Retired Demon and Airbnb Superhost by @theoldaquarian Good Omens | Hints of Aziraphale/Crowley | G | 3k All fics are valid and work!! That being said, I had no idea just how much I was going to fall in love with a fic about Crowley being an AirBnB host when I first opened it. 😂

• A fic you’ve reread several times: Department of Magical Creatures Case 62637 by @mscaptainwinchester (under RonsPigwidgeon at the time) HP | Draco/various, Ron/OMC, Ron/Draco | R | 121k How could I expected to only pick ONE?! 😂 I’ve reread everything you’re seeing here - I’ve reread nearly every fic I’ve ever recced at least once. But I couldn’t make a favorites list without this fic, so might as well put it here, haha!

• A fic you still remember many years later: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by Sushi HP | Severus/Severus | NC-17 | 8.9k I remembered it so well (and fondly) that after 12+ years, I went scouring the Wayback Machine to find it. And yes, the pairing is correct. Don’t look at me. If you’re still interested in reading after knowing that, hit me up, ‘cause it takes a bit of instruction to find it now.

• A comfort fic: You and I by @shiftylinguini HP | Scorpius/Albus S. | NC-17 | 32k

• A cathartic fic: The Conformity Conspiracy by shrink South Park | Michael/Pete (or Ethan/Dylan, as this was written before they had names in canon) | R | 71k I really struggled with this entry. I came to the realization that...I don’t know if I’ve ever actually felt catharsis from a piece of media before??? Well, I have with music, for sure, but not really with anything else. Anyway, I chose this fic for this slot because every time I read it, I’m transported back to being a goth teen. I can feel every word, every action, like I’m going through those years again with them...Which isn’t necessarily what cathartic means, but fuck it, it works for me, haha. ***As always whenever I rec this fic, I do just have to warn that it’s not properly tagged on AO3, and there is definitely some potentially triggering content in it. If you’re interested in reading and would like to know more (so you can be better prepared), feel free to DM me!***

• A fic you’d print and put on your bookshelf: In Flight, Two Boys by lobst_r HP | Marcus/Oliver | NC-17 | 29K Again, how I could possibly pick only one for this one?! I would print out ALL of these fics if I could, and many more! But this is such a beautiful fic, it definitely deserves a spot on the list, and what better spot for it than this? There’s actually a sequel currently posting as well! I haven’t gotten around to reading it yet, but I’m sure it’s just as amazing, if not more so.

• A fic you associate with a song: You Do Your Body Work, I Feel My Pulse Working Overtime by @veelawings HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 1.6k I mean, it’s in the title. 😜 But also this is just a truly inspiring fic that I absolutely had to include! (I realized I somehow haven’t queued a rec post for it yet, and I will make sure to fix that soon!)

• A fic that inspires you: dirtynumbangelboy by @magpiefngrl HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 39k

• A fic that brought you onboard a new ship: Lumos by birdsofshore HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 41k Some people may be surprised to know that Drarry was, uh.......once my NOTP. Yes, really. 😂 You wouldn’t suspect that nowadays, would you??? LOL. It’s all because of this wonderful, beautiful fic. I saw it getting recced everywhere at the time and said fuck it, I’ll give the pairing another try - and I never looked back!

• A fic you wish could be a movie: Midnight in the City of a Hundred Spires by @shiftylinguini HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 25k

• A fic that led to you making friends with the author: A Weasel in the Hamptons by @peachpety HP | Ron/Draco | NC-17 | 15k I don’t quite know if this counts, because I believe we’d already been speaking before this??? 😂 But of course, being that I’m the mod for Ron/Draco Fest, I knew who was writing for this prompt of mine, and thus we dispensed with the formalities in private, haha! It was a great experience, and I was so overjoyed to see the results in the end. So happy to have met you, love! 😘 Hope you’re well!

• Free Space: The Pizzaria: A Sordid Tale of Destiny, Evil and Garlic by Mad_Maudlin HP | Ron/Draco | PG-13 | 36k A Dron/crack!fic staple, honestly, and I just couldn’t make a favorites list without it!

• A fic you’ve gushed about irl: Runway by @candawrites HP | Ron/Draco | R | 15k

• A fic you associate with a place: Archipelago by Mad_Maudlin HP | Ron/Draco | NC-17 | 18k I just have a very distinct visual memory of reading this fic for the first time: sitting on the couch in my mom’s living room, the sun setting outside. (I was visiting for her bday, I believe???)  I think of that moment every time I see the title.

• A fic that made you gasp out loud: clutched your life and wished it kept by @glitteringvoids HP | Ron/Draco | R | 110K

• A fic you found at the right time: Howlr by @partialtopotter HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 47k I got really sick in summer 2018. I know I’ve talked about it on here a million times at this point, so I won’t dwell. But I ended up finding and reading this fic the following March, and it reawakened my love of fic and fandom that had been lost over the previous months while I was dealing with everything. I hadn’t been reading or writing at all in all that time, and I ended up reading this whole thing in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down! It just made me feel so good, after a long time of not feeling anywhere near good.

• A fic that you would read fic of: In the Garden After Dark by @the-starryknight HP | Draco/Harry | R | 3.5k I just need more of this universe and Draco’s Illusion magic. 😍

• A fic that made you laugh out loud: Why Parvati Patil Must Die by hull1984 HP | Ron/Draco | PG-13 | 39k

• A fic with a line (or two) that you’ve memorized by heart: Hail to the King by Mad_Maudlin HP | Ron/Zacharias, Ron/Zacharias/Draco | NC-17 | 5k

• A fic that gave you butterflies: The Electric Fizzing Prick Pistols, or Whatever by whitmans_kiss HP | Sirius/Remus | PG-13 | 3.8k

• A fic that embodies something that you value in life: Luna Lovegood: Wank Coach for the Long-Since Deceased by yrfrndfrnkly HP | gen | PG-13 | 9.8k This was another difficult category to choose for. Not that I don’t think any fics I’ve read display good values! Of course they do! But I have this weird issue where I don’t, like...project? at all??? So sometimes it’s hard for me to recognize these things in what I read. But eventually I realized it had to be this fic, because I just love the carefree way Luna lives her life here, her job helping people (well, ghosts who could use some sexual release, specifically, but you know), and the wonderful friends she surrounds herself with.

• A favorite AU: Quibbler Unsolved by Leontina HP | Draco/Harry | PG-13 | 17k More of a fusion than an AU, but it’s just fantastic!

• A fic you stayed up too late to finish reading: Grounds for Divorce by @tepre HP | Draco/Harry | NC-17 | 122k

• A fic that made you feel seen: Taste the Rainbow by @maraudersaffair HP | Ginny/Pansy | PG-13 | 639

[canonicallyanxious]

last year i posted a list of some of my favorite queer lit recommendations in honor of pride (which i still stand by, just ftr) and i thought it might be fun to try to make this into a bit of an annual tradition and keep the list more or less updated as time goes on and i (hopefully) read more queer books. who knows if i’ll be able to keep it up lol but we won’t know unless i try so here we go!

As per last year, recs will include links to the goodreads page (if applicable), any thoughts i have on the books, and any trigger warnings i can remember (please be forewarned that I do not have the best memory so I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to catch everything). Including a mix of YA and adult, and excluding books i consider to be staples of the queer lit community (like Aristotle and Dante by Benjamin Alire Saenz is one of my favorite books of all time but i’m sure it’s the favorite of many of the people who are reading this list lol). Organized roughly by genre, then by author.

Contemporary

Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender

I’d like to preface this recommendation by saying the premise of this book originally had me quite hesitant. Like full disclosure, I’m not a big fan of the catfishing trope unless it’s done very carefully. That said, without spoiling anything I think it’s actually really well-handled in this story, and in a way I didn’t necessarily expect (in a good way). The main characters are very likeable and overall this is a book with a lot of heart. Highly recommend for those looking for a heartfelt story about a trans teen learning about love!

Features: gay trans protagonist and a variety of other queer characters in the supporting cast

Warnings: transphobia/misgendering as a significant side-plot, outing/deadnaming

Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson

First of all please mind the trigger warnings on this book (of which I’ve probably missed some rip it’s inevitable). I wouldn’t consider this an easy read by any means. That said it is also probably one of my favorite things I’ve read this year so far. It’s a modern retelling of a Greek myth (the tenth labor of Heracles if I’m not mistaken) melded with an original coming-of-age narrative, woven together seamlessly in poignant verse by the brilliant Anne Carson of the Sappho fragments translation fame (as well as infamous tumblr aesthetic quote “not to me, not if it’s you” etc. etc.). The interplay between ancient myth and modern themes/tropes is so fascinating, and the writing is just one punch in the gut after another (imo the verse makes it a bit easier to digest, your mileage may vary tho). i recommend this book for anyone who wants to be emotionally destroyed via quietly devastating poetry.

Features: mlm protagonist

Warnings: pedophilia/sexual assault of a child, incest

The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake

What is this?? Another modern retelling of a famous story??? I have a brand lol. Yes this is a (loose) retelling of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (AKA 17th century She’s the Man) but if you’re hesitant to give it a shot because of that let me tell you i did not even realize this was based on Twelfth Night until after I finished it and I don’t think that detracted from my enjoyment at all. The parallels are there for sure but this book is so much more than a retelling, it’s also a very compelling story about a complicated female protagonist who’s allowed to fuck up and have messy feelings while still being thoroughly sympathetic. i really love the relationship between Violet and her brother Sam, it’s so complex and heartwrenching, but of course the love story kicks ass too and also this book is just really well written!! the writer does a lot of cool things with narration and point of view and stylistic choices, definitely worth checking it out just for the writing imo! happens to be a nice bonus that i think everything else in this book is very good too.

Features: bisexual/pansexual (honestly I can’t remember exactly what label she uses sjknfskjnfs) wlw protagonist with male and female love interests

Warnings: themes of mental illness/depression, various portrayals of self-destructive behavior, hospitalization for suicide attempt as a significant sideplot

Fantasy/Sci-Fi

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Let me preface this recommendation by saying I wouldn’t consider this the most accessible read. I suspect the prose style isn’t one that would work for everyone as it might feel overly wrought/purple to some which is completely understandable. That said, personally I devoured this book in one sitting so I had to give it a shout out. It’s basically this sprawlingly epic story about two mysteriously powerful agents fighting on opposite sides of a millennia-spanning war who eventually fall in love, and I just think the world building and concepts in this book are so enchanting. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not usually one to gravitate toward epistolary narratives but I’ll give anything a shot if it’s well done and I think the letter format of this story is exquisitely well done. like of course the content of the letters and how they develop these characters’ dynamics is very good, but i also really enjoyed reading about how they delivered the letters to each other and in what contexts they received the letters because I feel like those situations in themselves really helped flesh out the settings and characters. anyway i just think this is really beautifully written, would recommend if you’re in the mood for some truly wild storytelling!

Features: wlw protagonists

Warnings: violence/body horror and major character death

The Imperial Radch Trilogy (Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, and Ancillary Mercy) and Provenance (standalone sequel) by Ann Leckie

With these lists I’ve more or less tried to limit myself to one book per writer so I’m definitely cheating with this one but I can’t not recommend this entire series in all its excellence. I truly feel that these books are now the benchmark of sci-fi for me, like never have i encountered an exploration of gender in a sci-fi context that was so richly drawn and satisfying to explore. The different conceptions of gender as explored in these stories are quite different from the typical western conception of the gender binary but Leckie does a really good job of fully immersing you into these new ways of thinking about gender, like it feels so seamless and organic. That aside the world-building in these books is very good - lots of complicated politics and such made more accessible through Leckie’s clear writing. And they’re all just thematically so complex in terms of questions of morality and justice and agency/autonomy/humanity, it’s been a long time since I had a reading experience that was as rewarding as tearing through this series.

Here’s how I would sum them up: if a sprawling series that thoroughly deconstructs questions of humanity/agency and justice from the perspective of a once-powerful military-grade AI intrigues you, I recommend starting with the trilogy! If a standalone story that more resembles heist shenanigans with a plucky heroine, complicated family dynamics, and unlikely friendships at its core is more your speed, I suggest giving Provenance a shot! If those both sound good why not read all of the above!

Features: Trilogy focuses on the Radch, a race of humans who do not have a conception of a gender binary (the author denotes this by referring to all Radchai characters with she/her pronouns); Provenance focuses on a different culture that recognizes a third gender (denoted with e/eir pronouns) with a tradition of not choosing one’s gender until adulthood; in general just some very interesting explorations of gender and sexuality in a sci-fi context

Warnings: genre-typical violence, prominent themes of imperialism/colonialism/genocide/war, consent/autonomy issues

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

I mostly recommend this one as a very sweet and feel-good queer story about superheroes in a vaguely futuristic society (as I know my taste in stories tend toward the tragically maudlin I’m trying to balance it out at least a little bit skjdnfskjnfs). The main character is very well-drawn and sympathetic, and her character arc in terms of coming to terms with her identity and agency is definitely one of my favorite parts of this book. my other favorite part of this book is the main romance which I think is just so, so sweet. Personally I found this read a bit predictable but that’s not necessarily a bad thing because it was also just an absurd amount of fun!

Features: bi wlw protagonist with a female love interest, trans character in the supporting cast

Warnings: genre-typical violence

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Okay so I have absolutely no doubt this book will become a staple of the queer lit community (and if it doesn’t we will be having Words but seeing Red White and Royal Blue’s fanbase and the hype this book is already getting in the days after its release I would genuinely be surprised if it doesn’t) but I read it on the first day of this month and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since so I couldn’t not put this one on the list. i won’t say too much about it because if i let myself go i’ll probably never stop but i just. i’ve been waiting for a story like this. it feels so wonderfully self-indulgent in the best way, so warm and genuine and full of heart. it’s one of those books I feel like I read at the right time in my life - I also happen to be a 24 year old disaster queer with so much uncertainty about the future it hurts! - and it feels like the most sincere love letter to the queer community and reading this book felt like getting the best hug in the world by someone telling me I have a place in this world and I deserve it. It’s that kind of book and I have a feeling I’m going to be thinking about it for a really, really long time.

Features: bi wlw protagonist with a butch lesbian love interest and a supporting cast of trans/queer characters

Comics & Graphic Novels

Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda (note: this is an ongoing series; as of my writing this there are currently five volumes out but I believe individual issues/chapters are also available on a more regular basis)

Okay so this one is kind of an intense read and honestly I’m not sure that I would recommend it for everyone but I personally like it so much I wanted to give it a shout out. I really love the world-building in this series, it’s so intricate and well-thought out, and I love that the story is so female-centric. Like the society in this world is matriarchal with strong roots in asian culture and it shows, with such a rich and diverse cast of wonderfully complicated female characters and female relationships. Also the art in this series is just exquisite. i recommend this series for lovers of comics with rich steampunk-esque world-building and deeply flawed characters who also have a high tolerance for blood/gore.

Features: a wlw lead and other queer characters in the supporting/background cast (please note that sexuality/romance is generally not a major part of this story)

Warnings: body horror/gore (like… a lot of it), themes of imperialism/colonialism, cannibalism, child slavery/death

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell

Love the breathtakingly beautiful art in this, love the heartfelt coming of age storyline, love the focus on friendships and how to get out of a relationship that might not necessarily be the healthiest for you, love everything about this book. Absolute winner of a graphic novel.

Features: a wlw lead and other queer characters in the supporting cast

On A Sunbeam by Tillie Walden

I’m telling you this book has everything. Sweet pining across years in a boarding school setting? check. a vibrant supporting cast that basically hits the found family trope on the head? check. a captivating sci-fi setting with carefully detailed worldbuilding? check. themes of loneliness and connection across galaxies? check. Hauntingly gorgeous art that pulls everything together? check! Hands down one of the most beautiful graphic novels i’ve ever read.

Features: a wlw lead with a female love interest, a nonbinary supporting character and wlw in the supporting cast

Warnings: genre-typical violence, bullying, brief instance of misgendering

The Beechwood Helm by Letty Wilson (note: link goes to publisher’s website)

I am aware this is quite a niche pull, also the comic itself is very short (like under 50 pages) but I wanted to give Quindrie Press (a relatively new indie comics publisher) a shout-out because I recently backed a kickstarter they did to print some of their comics and I’m super impressed with their collection already, like i definitely think this is a publisher to keep your eye on. Personally I would recommend all the comics Quindrie Press currently offers (check out their site!) but I’m shouting out this one in particular because I think there’s just something so captivating and haunting about it. It’s an Arthurian-style story about a pair of knights who one day encounter a mysterious knight in a red helmet who challenges them to a duel to the death. I think this comic does an excellent job of quickly and effectively establishing its characters, relationships, and themes in such a small space, and I’m super into what this comic has to say about perpetuating the cycle of trauma/violence and how love/tenderness can help one break out of it. Doesn’t hurt that the art is gorgeous either! Please consider checking out and supporting indie creators/artists if you can!

Features: mlm protagonists

Warnings: violence/blood

Poetry & Non-Fiction

Drowned: A Mermaid’s Manifesto by Theresa Davis (note: link goes to publisher’s website)

Another very niche pull but I wanted to take this opportunity to shout out a poet/writer from my own local community. I found this collection in my favorite local bookstore and was immediately entranced by its simple yet evocative language. Please consider checking out and supporting indie creators/artists if you can!

Personal favorites: After This We Go Dark, Hypocrisy, Suite Movements

Devotions by Mary Oliver

This is basically a collection of Mary Oliver’s poems throughout her career so if you want a comprehensive primer of Mary Oliver’s poetry this is one I’d definitely recommend checking out! I mean what can I even say about Mary Oliver’s writing that hasn’t already been said. It truly is the epitome of tenderness and comfort; every time i read a poem by her I feel my heart grow a little lighter.

Personal favorites: I don’t want to be demure or respectable, Oxygen, You are standing at the edge of the woods, Singapore, One or Two Things, Wild Geese

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? by Jeannette Winterson

I’ve always loved Jeannette Winterson’s writing - there’s just something about it that feels so punchy and poignant all at once - but I truly feel that this memoir is her writing at its very best. Heartwrenchingly honest writing, haunting ruminations on how complicated the concepts of family and love and grief can be, beautifully drawn atmosphere that seeps the whole narrative with a heaviness that aches but is also somehow breathtakingly accessible. This too ranks among some of my favorite reads this year.

[manawhaat]

I posted 4,551 times in 2021

50 posts created (1%)

4501 posts reblogged (99%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 90.0 posts.

I added 1,574 tags in 2021

#i'm gonna go fart confetti now - 648 posts

#mana recs - 290 posts

#fic rec - 280 posts

#triple frontier - 69 posts

#supernatural - 56 posts

#spn fanfic - 51 posts

#frankie morales x reader - 47 posts

#spn fic rec - 46 posts

#frankie morales - 44 posts

#art tag - 43 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#ok but if my nephew wasn't so obsessed with dinos i would buy this in an instant.... but him playing with this wouldn't go well with mom/dad

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

does anyone else ever think of/say the word ‘lol’ instead of a laugh when they see something funny or is that just me?

32 notes • Posted 2021-01-30 06:54:03 GMT

#4

A Little Help Getting By pt.3

Title: A Little Help Getting By pt.3

Characters: Dean x Reader, Sam, Cas, mentions of Donna and other characters.

Summary: With Sam and Dean helping you with your chronic illness, depression, and anxiety, things should be as good as they can get. When they aren’t, though, Dean does what he can to help.

Warnings: Swearing, angst, general descriptions of an unspecified chronic illness and physical health issues, depression, anxiety, jealousy, insecurity, fluff, mild smut/masturbation. The first lines are misleading so don’t go thinking I’m a Sam hater lol. 

Word Count: 6.2k

A/N: This is set around Christmas but isn’t necessarily a holiday fic. Commissioned by @deanxfuckingadorablexwinchester​ as another part to A Little Help Getting By. Thank you so much for commissioning me for this series and I hope you like what I’ve written. I am also so sorry for how fucking long this took me to finish. @samsexualdeancurious​ @sebbytrash​ @mrswhozeewhatsis​ thank you guys for betaing and helping me make this honest and sincere. Commissions are open. Thanks for reading! ❤️❤️

A Little Help Getting By

A Little Help Getting By 2

See the full post

38 notes • Posted 2021-02-02 05:11:22 GMT

#3

Juicy

Title: Juicy

Characters: Ray Merrimen x Plus-sized!Reader.

Summary: You can’t sleep so you find a midnight snack. Ray finds one, too *wink wink*. 

Warnings: Plus-sized!Reader, oral (female receiving). 

Word Count: 800ish

A/N: This is my first Merrimen fic and was inspired by some seriously delicious watermelon while watching Den of Thieves. No beta on this so any mistakes are mine. Let me know what you think! ❤️

See the full post

85 notes • Posted 2021-01-30 09:47:34 GMT

#2

Purr

Title: Purr

Characters: Plus-sized!Reader x Henry Cavill, ofc friends named Ruth and Alexis.

Summary: When you meet Henry, you instantly click and one night promises to turn into more. 

Warnings: One mention of the film 365 Days, drunk!Henry, fluff, mild/implied smut (all smut is sober because consent is a must and this ain’t one of those fics). 

Word Count: 2.7k

A/N: Commissioned by @dorky-and-i-know-it​ . No beta, just free-ballin’ this one. :)

See the full post

125 notes • Posted 2021-12-13 05:52:01 GMT

#1

Cherry Bomb

Title: Cherry Bomb

Characters: Jensen x Reader

Summary: While you’re on a road trip to visit your friend, your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, leaving you no choice but to accept the help of a handsome stranger. 

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: Heavy Dub-con, groping, fingering, slight panty kink, stranger sex, public sex. 

A/N: There’s no real context about Jensen other than he drives the Impala, so you can imagine him as a regular dude with that car or as himself, whatever floats your boat.  Image from @justjensenanddean. Beta by @that-crazy-drummer-chick​. Let me know if y’all like it :)

All you’d wanted to do was stretch your legs and take a picture of the beautiful panoramic sky, but life had other plans. Half an hour passed as you wracked your brain and flipped through the car manual, trying to figure out why your car wouldn’t start when you’d returned from your back-road photo shoot.  

With no reception or internet service, you feared you’d be stuck if no one came along soon. You’d passed a town a ways back, but it was too far to walk in the starch heat of summer.  

The sound of a car approaching should have been a relief, but the sight of the black car coming over the horizon somehow left you slightly uneasy. All the paranoia of being a woman, you thought, pushing your fear out of your mind as you flagged down the driver. 

The slick black car gleamed under the sun and when the door squeaked open, a tall, rugged, drop-dead-gorgeous man emerged. 

“Car troubles?” he asked, and the rumble of his voice matched that of his car. 

“Yeah,” you admitted. “I don’t know much about cars but the way it was shaking when I tried to start it up, I think it might be a bad spark plug?”

The stranger nodded and stepped forward, extending a large hand your way. “Let’s check it out. I’m Jensen.” 

His friendly smile and attractive face put you at ease, and you shook his hand, a thrilling chill rattling your spine when his skin met yours. “Y/N.”

Jensen scratched through his thick beard and made his way to the front of your car to tinker a bit under the hood, instructing you to get in and try to start it a couple times before he closed the hood and wiped his hands on a bandana he pulled from the back pocket of his jeans. 

“Not a spark plug, but not far off. It looks like your starter died in the heat. Lucky for you, there’s a little gas station and auto shop about thirty minutes North. I can drive you to pick up the part if you want.”

The thought of being in the car with this handsome stranger was exhilarating and worrying at the same time. He seemed trustworthy, but there was an unfamiliar depth to his green eyes that left you hesitant. 

“Um, thank you so much for the offer. I don’t wanna take up your time, though. If you have service, can I maybe borrow your phone and call a tow truck?”

A deep, condescending laugh burst out of his chest and he shook his head in amusement. “Sweetheart, a tow truck is gonna take two hours just to get here and those shady fuckers will charge you an arm and an ass. I’m free all day and know my way around an engine. I insist.” 

He gestured to his car and you reluctantly nodded, grabbing your purse and making sure your valuables were well hidden before walking around to the passenger side of his Impala. A true Texan gentleman, he opened your door for you and waited for you to settle before shutting it behind you. 

When he took his place behind the wheel, a wave of unease welled in your chest: you were trapped in a car with a complete stranger in the middle of nowhere. He shot you a small, reassuring smile and peeled out onto the road, chuckling to himself at the way your hands gripped the seat and door frame as his car roared to life. 

Polite smalltalk filled the space between you for a few minutes, and when the conversation lulled, the roar of the engine and the radio dulled out. The cab was weighted with tension, pulsing and undeniable as your breaths mingled in the confines of the car. Jensen’s hands gripped tightly at the wheel, freckled knuckles just shy of going white against the leather. You tried to keep your eyes to the road, but you couldn’t help but sneak glances at him, trying to take in as much of his gorgeous being as you could.  His hands held your attention though, big and thick. You daydreamed of how strong they must be, how they could be dangerous or delightful, or even both at the same time. 

Every bit of him looked rugged and the more you thought about the muscles bulging under his shirt and the pull of his jeans across his thighs, the warmer you got. Everything blurred around him and you quickly found yourself lost in a fever dream, imagining all the ways this man could probably ruin you. 

The car slowed dramatically, snapping you out of it and setting you at high alert. Jensen smirked at your visible reaction and reached out to place a comforting hand on your thigh. 

“Don’t worry, just a little pitstop at your local fruit truck. You’ll regret driving through Texas without trying Bobby’s Cherries. They’re the best you’ll ever have. Trust me.” 

His hand remained on your thigh, subtle but persistent, thumb gently rubbing your skin. It was an act of reassurance at first, but the prolonged contact made your heart race and you did your best to act natural while he pulled around the trees and parked beside Bobby’s flatbed truck filled with boxes of fresh fruit. 

“You’re just in time, I was about to call it for the day,” Bobby greeted as you both exited the car. 

The two men exchanged respectful smiles and shook hands before Jensen introduced you and requested ‘the best cherries you have, for the lady’. Bobby grinned warmly, as if he had just the thing, and handed Jensen a green plastic box filled with dark red cherries. The older man tipped his ball cap in your direction, and soon enough, his truck rumbled onto the road, leaving you alone with Jensen once more. 

He held up a pack of cigarettes and asked, “Since we’re stopped, do you mind?” With your approval, he slipped one between his lips and raised his lighter. 

See the full post

219 notes • Posted 2021-11-07 07:24:47 GMT

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[spaceorphan18]

Do you ever feel odd being a woman and having your main ship be gay men? Not asking in a critical way, just more seeing how you relate to them and wondering if you have any wlw ships that resonate with you

Not particularly, no? I mean, there's a rich history of women being the ones to enjoy m/m ships, so I've never felt weird about it?

I'm not going to talk about how and why other people ship what they ship, because that is a long and varied list, but I can talk about why I ship what I ship. I don't usually ship things because I find the two people hot and want to watch them make out. I usually find one or both of the characters or something with in the romance story to resonate with me in some way.

I also think that sometimes you can't help with what you resonate with. It's weird to me that sometimes it's insinuated (and I'm not pointing my fingers at you, Nonny) that only certain people can enjoy/understand/etc specific stories. I think one of the cool things about media - is that we have a way of connecting with those who differ from us. I think the more we find similarities with those who are different, than the less tribalism comes into play. (But I digress - that's another, much bigger topic.)

My main ship on /Glee/ is gay men. But they're not the only couple that resonates with me in other media. I still deeply love Jim and Pam from The Office. And my heart will always belong to Rogue and Gambit. The characters and/or the story have mean something personal to me, which is why I've spent so much time with them. I may have a blog focused on Kurt and Blaine - but that is the reason most of you are here. If I started writing about Rogue and Gambit - I don't think many of you would pay much attention.

(And for what it's worth - I do reblog a lot of different fandoms, just as not as in high of volume ;))

I know this is also kind of hard to believe - but I'm also not a huge shipper in general? There are couples in other medias that I really enjoy -- like Leslie and Ben from Parks and Rec or Penny and Desmond in Lost. Or even David and Patrick from Schitt's Creek. But I've never been invested in them in a way that makes me want to fandom or meta or fic about them. Doesn't mean I like them less, necessarily, but my attachment is different, you know?

So about the w/w. I was thinking about this at work, actually, and I had trouble coming up with one -- not because no one resonates with me, but because most of the things I consume there really aren't w/w couples. And frankly, that's just terrible! Because I'm all for a w/w romance!

I did come up with the lesbian couple in Sense8. I found them very sweet, and I loved watching their story unfold. I wouldn't necessarily say they resonated with me -- in that I fell in love with them in the same way I fell in love with Klaine or Jam or whatnot. But I enjoyed their story, and would watch more if Netflix ever let things go past three seasons.

I do have kind of a type when it comes to romance stories -- with old school romance, and friends to lovers, and just kind of awkward and earnest and sweet. And I would love to fall in love with a w/w story -- especially since there aren't many that I've stumbled upon. If you guys have any recommendations - feel free to let me know!

(Interestingly, in both my bigger Original Fiction projects - there are w/w love stories going on! Ah, if only I could ever get back to my original fiction.)

Meanwhile -- with Glee. I'll be honest, I like exploring Santana (in fic) with out Brittany. Sorry :( I'm not here to trash Brittana, and one of the reasons I don't talk about it much is because I'm not attached to either Santana or Brittany as characters, and want to respect that a lot of my followers do enjoy them as a couple, so I have no intention of make this an unsafe place for them. But, in my fic - if it's not canon set, recently, it's been kinda fun to see what kinda stuff Santana can get into. *shrugs*

So... um, yeah, lol.

[stavromulabetaaa]

Hi babes! What about 3, 8 and 24 for the aaks? - Liv 💜

thanks Liv! @sitp-recs ❤️

3: Do you regret anything?

i mean if we’re ignoring the whole “i had to experience what i experienced to end up where i am and learn certain lessons” cliché, then yeah of course! i could’ve handled certain situations more rationally or made important changes earlier in life, stuck up for myself or others more often, said things before i lost the chance to, etc. i think everyone has regrets and just has to figure out how to live with them and try to do better.

8: Played any sports?

oh god no lmao i am one of those people who finds sports unbearably tiresome. i grew up in a huge nascar family, going to races every weekend, and used to fall asleep on the bleachers at race tracks if they were able to drag me there. i am not a sporty person and would find it very stress-inducing and humiliating to allow anyone to watch me attempt a sport. i would probably watch or play quidditch if it were real though 😌

24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)?

definitely english! i was terrible at school because i have a huge problem with authority so while i say i excelled in english, i didn’t necessarily get good grades. if we had to read a book for class i wouldn’t read it because someone told me to lol. then i would read it months later and have in-depth conversations with my english teacher about it and they’d give me the whole “why don’t you apply yourself???” spiel. i once won first place in an essay writing contest i found a flier for in the school library, probably only entered it because it was not widely advertised and no one told me to. but i won so there’s that hahaha

[scientologisabethmoss]

Hi!!! I'm asking this publicly so you can make a post (when you have time ofc). You gave me such a good rec last year with my riding boots so I'm wondering if you have any good recs for ankle/chelsea boots under $200? I'm also a 5 in women's so if the sizes stop at a 6, I'm screwed lol. Thank you so much in advance!!

Hey @dhaaruni! I'd love to help you out in this regard!

Everything I wrote in my post last year still applies this year, meaning that all the websites and brands I mentioned in my previous post are still my go-tos. So rather than repeating all of what I’ve already said - that I love La Canadienne, that 6pm is a bomb option for finding discount leather boots, that Zappos/Nordstrom Rack/Shoes.com are also excellent, etc. - I’m just gonna go forth and list some of the specific boot options I’ve found for you in my search.

A couple of things I want to address before I do that, though:

1) Something I didn’t mention last year: Poshmark, eBay, and Depop are your friends!!!! I’ve found some beautiful, lightly used boots on those websites for a fraction of their original retail price. I didn’t go searching for boots on those websites for this specific ask, but I’d highly recommend that you take a look, especially on Poshmark and eBay, to see if there’s anything appealing in your size. My guess is that there will be!

2) All of the options I’ve listed below are carried in your size, a US women’s size 5. In my search, though, I was disappointed to find that Blundstone, one of the quintessential makers of chelsea boots, doesn’t really carry below US women’s size 6 in their adult boots! HOWEVER. What I’ve realized - which is something you’ve probably already thought of - is that you could probably fit into kids shoes from certain brands! That’s an advantage because often times, kids shoes are the same quality as their adult counterparts, but they’re just priced much lower. I don’t know how kids sizing works, especially for Blundstone, but I do know that the brand does carry youth chelsea boots. If you’re interested in any particular model, I think it’s totally worthwhile to send an email to their customer service to see if they carry what is the kids equivalent of your size. (Here’s a helpful page on Blundstone sizing.) Lastly, this work around of buying in a kids size would absolutely work for Dr. Marten as well. Although Dr. Marten does carry a US women’s size 5, their children’s shoes are about half the price of their adult versions, and I know that the kids version of their classic lace up boot has a nifty zipper on the side too!

You didn’t specify heel height or boot color in your ask, so most of my picks happen to be black with little to no heel! I did try to add in some color where possible, though. I’ve commented on some models I’ve listed here; for others, I don’t have anything to say, so I’ve just listed the information about the boot. Also, $200 is a really generous budget for ankle boots, so there are many different options at your disposal. Because this is such a long list*, I’ve put it under the cut. I’ll get on with it then!

*Make sure to read to the very bottom because at the end, I’ve added a glorious pair of tall boots that don’t match any of your criteria but that I just had to add anyway. :-)

Mackay by La Canadienne - $149.05

Probably my top pick for what you asked. These guys are beautiful chelsea boots with a stylish chunky heel/slight platform. I really love them, personally speaking. Also, very importantly: they’re WATERPROOF! All La Canadienne boots are waterproof, which is a huge, huge plus for me.

Calahan by La Canadienne - $214.50

I actually own these boots and love them, LOL. They’re a bit higher than ankle boots, but I thought I’d include them as well because I think they’re gorgeous and badass and very, very comfortable. They’re a little out of your budget, but I thought that if you loved them, the $15 difference wouldn’t necessarily make or break your decision to buy them.

Sailor by La Canadienne - $125.10

My last La Canadienne pick, I promise! I just think these are really cute, and I like the stud details.

Cate Buckle by SOREL - $92.50

I love the SOREL boots I own, and these are another pair that are also waterproof! I think the stacked heel is very cute without being too high and therefore uncomfortable, and I think the light tan color is a nice change from all the typical dark colors of winter boots.

Wylie Bootie by Cole Haan - $190.00

These stunning, water-resistant boots are available both on the Cole Haan website (in the link above) or on Zappos. Check out both links to get a sense of which colors are carried by which websites! I think they’re very elegant.

Addie Bootie by Cole Haan - $110.00

When suede is done right....... [chef’s kiss x 1000]. Alas, I don’t think these are waterproof or water-resistant, and if you’re dealing with inclement weather, you need to be careful with suede. (You can buy waterproofing sprays for your suede shoes to help you out in that regard.) Also, I’m a total sucker for burgundy boots, and these guys definitely scratch that itch.

Royal W4D-8614 by Pikolinos - $210.00

Another pair that are slightly out of your price range, but I thought to include them anyway. I don’t have any experience with Pikolinos shoes, but the reviews look promising! I also appreciate that they’re water-repellent.

Aspe W9Z-8699 by Pikolinos - $100.50

These guys come in either burgundy or dark green, and I’m not sure which I like better. The Pikolinos sizing looks to be a little bizarre - they’re European size 35, which is supposed to translate to a US women’s 4.5-5 - but if you know which European size you most often are, that would clear things up a bit.

Cate Pull-On by SOREL - $174.95

These SOREL boots are really cute and have a slight cowboy feel to them, which is very in style this season! They’re also waterproof!

Catria by GEOX - $180.00

I LOVE GEOX boots! The stock that is available in the United States is kind of limited - I’ve gotten most of my GEOX boots either from Canada or Europe - but they’re a great brand. And this particular model, which is available in the US, I find to be really cool! Because these boots are part of their Respira line, I think they’re also waterproof. 

Godiva Chelsea Boot by David Tate - $119.99

Bethany Bootie by Vionic - $159.99

This guy is also waterproof!

Happily Bootie by Franco Sarto - $99.99

Becky Bootie by Musse & Cloud - $79.99

Again, I am an absolute sucker for a burgundy boot!

Bowery Chelsea Boot by Coach - $134.98

These guys don’t look remotely waterproof or water-resistant, but God they’re beautiful.

Lyden Bootie by Coach - $195.00

Halford Ankle Boot by Franco Sarto - $69.97

Camden Leather Ankle Bootie by MADEWELL - $119.97

Flora Chelsea Boot by Dr. Martens - $119.97

The Citywalk Lugsole Chelsea Boot in Leather by MADEWELL - $198.00

The Ainsley Chelsea Boot by MADEWELL - $198.00

The Regan Boot by MADEWELL - $178.00

Legend by Thursday Boot Co. - $160.00

It’s definitely worth checking out all the designs at Thursday Boot Co.! I don’t own any boots by them, but I have been eyeing them for years.

2976 Smooth Leather Chelsea Boots by Dr. Martens - $90.00

2976 Alyson DM’S Wintergrip by Dr. Martens

Rometty Faux Fur Leather Chelsea Boots by Dr. Martens - $170.00

Rometty II Vintage Smooth Leather Chelsea Boots - $160.00

Cadence Leather Heeled Chelsea Boots by Dr. Martens - $160.00

BONUS BOOTS:

Ombre Heel Boot by Coach - $159.98

Okay, okay, these are absolutely not what you’re looking for. But they’re so pretttttttty!!!!!!! That color! That suede! That price! And because you’ve had good luck with Coach boots in the past, I couldn’t resist adding these to the list. If you’re in the market for a pair of absolutely stunner dress boots, and you can walk in a 3.5 inch heel, I would jump on these immediately.