#except they are cos i’m hilarious

[markus209]

the unfortunate truth that i have recently (just now) had to face is that i would never make it as a vigilante because i could not handle that sorta sleep schedule

like on top of being socially exhausted from having to interact with people (even if this is by beating them up), and emotionally exhausted from having to empathise with a whole lotta people in sad situations, i would also be in. the verge of collapsing due to my dire physical state

there’s also no way i’m fit enough to run around in roofs

[talleryn]

Lucy: what’s a nine letter word for annoying?

The skull: Lockwood

Lucy: that’s only eight letters

The skull: Lockwoodd

Lucy:

Lucy: it fits

[oleander-neria]

2023 Reading List

River Secrets (Books of Bayern #3) - Shannon Hale

Heartless - Marissa Meyer

Persuasion - Jane Austen

Something Fresh - P.G. Wodehouse

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Joan Aiken

I, Robot - Isaac Asimov

Queen’s Peril - E.K. Johnston (Note: Star Wars)

The Black Arrow - Robert Louis Stevenson

Crooked House - Agatha Christie

The Darkest Minds - Alexandra Bracken

The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events #3) - Lemony Snicket

Dragonsinger (Harper Hall Trilogy #2) - Anne McCaffrey

The Thief (Queen’s Thief #1) - Megan Whalen Turner

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Coraline - Neil Gaimen

Ahsoka - E.K. Johnston (Note: Star Wars)

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

The Queen of Attolia (Queen’s Thief #2) - Megan Whalen Turner

The King of Attolia (Queen’s Thief #3) - Megan Whalen Turner

Speaking from Among the Bones (Flavia deLuce #5) - Alan Bradley

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Arthur Conan Doyle

Day Boy and Night Girl - George MacDonald

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien (Note: read by Andy Serkis)

A Conspiracy of Kings (Queen’s Thief #4) - Megan Whalen Turner

Rebel Rising - Beth Revis (Note: Star Wars)

Thick as Thieves (Queen’s Thief #5) - Megan Whalen Turner

Return of the Thief (Queen’s Thief #6) - Megan Whalen Turner

The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events #4) - Lemony Snicket

Two Tales from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Arthur Conan Doyle (Note: The New Catacomb & The Beetle-Hunter)

Moira’s Pen (Queen’s Thief) - Megan Whalen Turner

The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Other Fairy Tales from the Old French - Arthur Quiller Couch (Note: illustrated by Kay Neilsen)

The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1) - J.R.R. Tolkien (Note: fan-made audiobook by Phil Dragash)

The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings #2) - J.R.R. Tolkien (Note: fan-made audiobook by Phil Dragash)

The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings #3) - J.R.R. Tolkien (Note: fan-made audiobook by Phil Dragash)

The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co. #1) - Johnathan Stroud

Partners in Crime (Tommy and Tuppence #2) - Agatha Christie

The Fall of the House of Usher - Edgar Allan Poe

Rebecca - Daphne duMaurier

Dracula - Bram Stoker (Note: Dracula Daily)

Afterworlds - Scott Westerfeld

The Whispering Skull (Lockwood & Co. #2) - Johnathan Stroud

Uneasy Money - P.G. Wodehouse

Renegades (Renegades Trilogy #1) - Marissa Meyer

Archenemies (Renegades Trilogy #2) - Marissa Meyer

Total: 44

Favorites: Persuasion, Queen’s Thief

Honorable Mentions: Lockwood & Co., Something Fresh

Further notes on LOTR: Andy Serkis is great but I thought his Hobbit was just fine, not remarkable. A little disappointing. Phil Dragash never disappoints and I truly think his audiobooks are the ultimate way to experience the trilogy (provided one likes the Peter Jackson movies).

[takamoris]

Pufferfish Transportation Co. has cemented itself as my least favorite Intermediate level.

[kingofbodyrolls]

BTS fic recs: December 2023

HAPPY NEW YEARS!! 🥳 May every single one of you lovely people out there have the best and brightest year to come ✨

I want to thank each and every writer on this list for creating such wonderful stories and art - you are truly amazing ✨ All the fics on this list hold a dear place in my heart 🥹

❗Most of these fics are smutty as hell, so minors dni.❗ 

If you read anything on this list and you like it, please leave a comment to the writer or reblog the original fic’s post 💜And if you want more fic recs you can follow me to stay updated 🙂

BTS fic rec index → May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep (jjk)(knj) | Oct (pjm) | Nov (*) | 💜 (ksj)(kth) |

Emoji meaning → angst = 🌩️, smut = 🥵, fluff = 🥰, comedy = 😂, yandere = 😈, thriller/dark = 👻, personal favorites = 💯.

Namjoon

⭐Good Neighbor @sugaurora [0.7K] // knj x f.reader // neighbors!au, winter!au // 🥰🥰🥰

📝 Namjoon’s solitary tendencies versus the cookies. Spoiler: The cookies win.

🗨️ God, this was so fucking sweet 🥹 like sugary sweet fluffy fantastic! I loved it 💖 the way Namjoon just observes oc, and then helping her in the end 👏🏾 even though this is short, it’s fucking brilliant. The writing is just 😘😘 like I wished there was so much more, but I’m also so pleased with just what is 😌

⭐A Word from our Sponsors 💯 @ugh-yoongi [17.5K] // knj x f.reader // podcast!au, f2l, idiots to lovers  // 😂🥵🥰

📝 You’ve co-hosted a podcast with namjoon for three years; have known him even longer. the two of you have always been the picture of platonic, but that hasn’t stopped the internet from doing what the internet does. the shipping? a little weird at first, but you can understand it: two attractive twenty-somethings always in close proximity to one another, obvious (platonic!) chemistry—people have created ships for less. the fanfiction, though? also pretty funny… until you can’t stop thinking about it. 

🗨️ Okay. This. Was. Exceptional ✨🥹 I am slightly speechless, so this review might be short or long or just a rambling of my dainty thoughts. Here goes: it was amazing, seriously one of the best fics I’ve ever read 😭 everything just had that perfect flow, the writing was incredible, like I can’t even speak? The characters, out of this world fantastic ✨ the whole thing, just, perfect. Perfection. I don’t know what else to call it, sorry. The world building and tension was so fucking delicious I just ate it up! 😭 And their banter and chemistry was just off the charts amazing. Perfection. And it was so fucking hilarious too!! Many times I was just laughing or chuckling, like the lovesick fool I am 😂 it was definitely worth it to stay up late tonight to finish this masterpiece ✨ And them reading the fanfiction 💀 😂 priceless ✨👏🏾

Seokjin

⭐The IKEA Test by @yoon-bug [9.1K] // ksj x f.reader // established relationship // 🥵🥰😂

📝 One review on IKEA’s website called the BRIMNES bed frame the leading cause of divorce due to its difficult assembly. You and Seokjin had laughed when you read it. Now, you weren’t so sure.

🗨️ Their banter and all the sexual innuendos are damn hilarious! I thoroughly enjoyed this very much 💜 

⭐I Don’t Think I’m Okay by @ressjeon [4K] // ksj x f.reader // slice of life, idiots to lovers!au, childhood friends!au // 🥵🥰🌩️

📝 With many chances wasted, you couldn’t even resist anymore.

🗨️ A cute little Seokjin fic 🥰

⭐Turn Back Time 💯 by @raplinesmoon [13.3K] // ksj x f.reader // time travel!au // 🥵🥰🌩️😂

📝 After total humiliation at his middle school baseball try outs, Kim Seokjin wants nothing more than for his awkward years to fade away until he’s thirty. Cue a magic baseball glove, and his wish is finally granted. Seokjin suddenly wakes up seventeen years later, now the star pitcher of the team he’d always dreamed of playing for. Confused and overwhelmed at the prospect of the new life waiting for him, he turns to the only person who seems to understand him — you. Will Seokjin learn what it truly means to be thirty, flirty, and thriving? Or will he find himself wishing he could turn back time?

🗨️ Seokjin’s childhood/school was just, ugh, I really felt heartache for thirteen year old Seokjin 🥹 So very common as a kid, to wish you’re older – and then it’s just not what he expected at all. I really loved it! There were a few times I was laughing so damn hard, times where I was shedding a few tears as well. Just, incredibly good; very well written, the story was captivating and motivating, just yeah, brilliant. (Sorry, I’m suddenly bad with words). I loved the ‘lessons’ he learned, and then having the luxury (I’m using that word because we don’t have that irl) of going back to his childhood (almost like starting over) and damn it was good 👏💯

Yoongi

⭐Sinful Lust [series; ongoing] 💯 by @oddinary4bts [wordcount loading…] // myg x jjk x f.reader // established relationship, bisexual boyfriend!Yoongi, slice of life // 🥵🌩️

📝In an attempt to spice up your bedroom life with your boyfriend Min Yoongi, you suggest bringing another man into the action. Yoongi seems reluctant at first, but when you mention his friend Jeon Jungkook, he can’t deny his attraction. All that’s left to do is to convince Jungkook into participating…

🗨️  Holy 😱 😱 😱 this is just completely unadulterated sin 🥵🫣 I can not describe how much I love this fic! It has A LOT of angst and at times it’s just sad reading how each character falls apart 😭 it’s amazing! If you’re into stories that will have you question your own morals and who to root for, this is for you 💖

⭐In Between the Pages of You [series; ongoing] @unique-high [wordcount loading…] // myg x f.reader // s2l // 🥰😂🌩️

📝 Yoongi fell in love with you. A girl he had never even met before. Knew everything that you were made up of within 96 pages of a worn red journal with a nirvana sticker on front, with coffee and tea-stained pages that also smelled of lilacs and summer. 

🗨️ I can already tell that this story will be amazing; it’s so sweet, cute and tender. The storyline/idea is really cute and fluffy, like who wouldn’t love that?? 😭 And as someone who wrote countless journals as a teen, this one just hits differently. It’s so cute and the concept is gold 💜 I really, really look forward to reading the next chapters and what Yoongi will uncover of OC through her journal. And if he can return it to her sometime and they meet! 🥹

⭐F*ck Christmas 💯 @sailoryooons [23.4K] // myg x f.reader // f2l // 🥰🥵

📝 Making hating Christmas your entire personality was never the plan. Then again, it seems bad things only ever happen around Christmas - like discovering your fiancé cheating on you, forcing you to move back to your sleepy hometown. But Min Yoongi happens to love Christmas, and if there is one thing your very stubborn childhood crush is going to do, it’s try to reignite your Christmas spirit. Even if he has to force-feed it to you with gingerbread cookies and too-sweet eggnog. 

🗨️ Gosh, I remember reading this sometime last year and it was perfection - it still is! ✨ It’s so so so fucking good. If you haven’t read it, please do so 🥹 it’s also one of the best Christmasy fics 💜

Hoseok

⭐Ho Ho Horrible 💯 @ugh-yoongi [5.6K] // jhs x f.reader // e2l, neighbor!au, holiday!au // 🥵🥰😂

📝 (or, the one where your neighbor is a relentless christmas caroler and refuses to take a hint, but at least he's really hot.)

🗨️ No– this was just so freaking cute! 😭 Like fluffy cute and also extremely funny, just what I love. I loved this so much 💜 OC’s friendship with Tae, their banter was 💯 and then with Hobi, just so so good! It was so cute and OC’s internal dialogue is just funny 😂A really cute holiday themed Hoseok fic that I can’t recommend enough!!!! Everything was just great. Had me smiling and giggling a few times – please go read it 🥹💜

⭐Started with a Sparkle, now we’re on Fire @the-boy-meets-evil [6.5K] // jhs x f.reader // f2l // 🥵

📝 You're feeling self conscious about your recent break-up and hoseok is more than happy to teach you a thing or two.

🗨️ Really really good! I really liked it 💜 I really loved how both sweet and demanding Hoseok was, guiding oc through everything.

Jimin

⭐Couchsurfer 💯 @heartbeatan [6K] // pjm x f.reader // s2l // 🥵🥰

📝 This was left intentionally blank 🫥

🗨️ Omg this was so fucking good! 💯 First, really well written and the pacing was lovely, even though it’s short and one night they spend together 🥹 the build up of their tension and their chemistry was off the charts! So impeccably done! Fuck. I loved it ✨ it’s insane how good this story is and Jimin is just so sweet, romantic and nasty 🥵 I can’t tell you how turned on I got by the description of how Jimin handled OC, like damn 🥵 this is so fucking good, please don’t sleep on the this beauty 💖 Normally, I’m not one for one night stands, because I catch feelings for the characters, but this has a lovely ending that I loved - so fucking good!

Lol. Can not stop screaming about this one. Please go read it, fuck. PLEASE 😌 ✨

⭐Paper Hearts @namfinessed [9K] // pjm x f.reader // f2l, college!au // 🥰

📝 hearts fragile like paper, tear it or don’t?

🗨️ I think it is both cute and heartwarming, with their foolishness and stubbornness towards each other. I loved how the fic becomes full circle with the description of love by both Jimin and reader and then again at the end - really, really beautiful! 😍 I really loved this, it was well written, their friendship and love really shined through too! If you haven’t read this one yet, you really should 💜

Taehyung

⭐The Wannabe-Photographer Chronicles [series] by @gimmethatagustd [14K] // kth x f.reader // frenemies to lovers // 🥵

📝 You’re so tired of Kim Taehyung’s hipster, wannabe-photographer ass. You’re so tired of Kim Taehyung’s stupid smile and stupid jokes and stupid way of getting under your skin and sticking in your brain.

🗨️ At first I did not realize that this was a series, therefore I’ve linked to the masterlist, lol. Anyway, this series is just so fucking hot, like WHAT 🥵 There’s a lot of banter and their mutual ‘hatred’ for each other just makes this hit incredible hard. Really amazing ✨

⭐Loverboy 💯 by @kookslastbutton [7.1K] // kth x f.reader // established relationship // 🥵🥰🌩️

📝 After a startling conversation with your coworkers, you start feeling insecure about your sexual prowess. You don't initiate as much, you haven't worn lingerie yet, and you're still timid about doing much seducing with your body–are you giving your boyfriend boring sex? Taehyung reassures you that you are perfect and have nothing to worry about.

🗨️ These coworkers gotta go, okay?! 😠🤣 Planting seeds of doubt in OC’s head, no, no. Tae to the rescue!! He is so sweet in this too, yes a real ‘loverboy’ 😍 Gosh and then best friend Jimin - that was just pure gold, their relationship and how he helps OC 🥹 That is friendship goals!! A sweet, loving and comforting Taehyung fic - I loved it ✨

⭐Hush, yeah? [series; ongoing/hiatus] by @kithtaehyung [wordcount loading…] // kth x f.reader // brother’s best friend!au, music festival!au // 🥵

📝 Who knew an innocent accident could turn things so dirty..

🗨️ Pure gold ✨ — I don’t really have much to say, except GO READ IT.

⭐Under wraps by @jungkxook [15K] // kth x f.reader // e2l, fake dating // 🥵🥰

📝 There’s nothing you and taehyung seem to hate more than each other - except for christmas. having recently been dumped by your (now ex) boyfriend only seems to make this holiday even worse. but when taehyung suggests that you should pretend to be dating each other to save you both the embarrassment, pity, and bothersome questions from family and friends alike for a fun carefree month of celebrations, you can’t possibly say no.

🗨️ I just love me some good enemies to lovers AU 🥵 the relationship between OC and tae is really good, I think the tension between them was well built 👏🏾 I loved how their relationship unfolded and grew through their fake dating 🥹 the way OC realized she had feelings for him, but he had showed her before in his subtle moves, how much more he relaxed in her presence. I loved the interaction between oc and tae’s parents too, the way that they could obviously tell that OC was head over heels 😂 ah just, It was really really good! It was funny, it was comforting, and such a lovely read around Christmas! And the smut was sweet and tender (also hot!) 😍 a really great fic that I’ll add to my Christmas re-reads for years to come ✨ I loved it! Please go read it if you haven’t already 🥹

⭐Somebody Else 💯 by @jamaisjoons [4.2K] // kth x f.reader ft. yoongi // established relationship + post break up!au // 🥵🌩️

📝 Yoongi doesn’t want you anymore. but he can’t stand watching you with someone else. 

🗨️ Holy s– 🥵 I don’t even know where to begin with this one! It’s really good and the that is mainly from Yoongi’s pov makes it truly special – he is observing them and damn is it hot 🥵 Aish, really good 💯

Jungkook

Nothing this month 😞 — I AM SO SORRY that I haven’t read any with JK this month (though he is featuring in some with the other members). My JK ‘to read’ list is the LONGEST imao 😂 I’ll hopefully do better next month – but you can always check my Jungkook Library 💜

I have spend most of December being on holiday/time off, which gave me a lot of time to write my own stuff, which in the end gave me less time to read 😣 But it’s all good! I loved getting some stories and thoughts out of my head and now there’s space to read and obsess over other’s stories again 😀

Borahae 💜

[queensqewed0722]

Will I ever get over this drama? I just started rewatching from the first episode on Viki, with comments enabled. But I think it’s good to rewatch coz the first time, I was still overwhelmed by all the information even as I was keeping up with reading the subtitles. I also didn’t have any comments from other viewers on the other platform, which could sometimes help in understanding the context of a scene or dialogue better (especially since I’m not Chinese). Now, I’m more relaxed and able to take in the subtler parts, especially in the dialogues. I have the luxury of not paying attention visually all the time.

One good example of my having failed to catch the nuances during my initial watch is the part when Shen Li in her phoenix form asked Xingzhi (as the mortal Xingyun) what he was going to do in the market. I don’t know any Mandarin and the other platform I first watched this in didn’t give any side notes on such languange nuances so I had no idea of the double meaning behind the words Xingyun used in his reply.

Apparently, the words he used to say that he sells ginseng sounds almost the same phonetically as the words used to mean he was going to sell himself (i.e. prostituting himself). Hence, Phoenix Shen Li’s shock and initial disgust towards him. It made that scene doubly hilarious to me upon second viewing.

I’m also more appreciative now of Shen Li and Xingzhi’s initial interactions in their phoenix and mortal forms, respectively. I’m better able to understand now why Shen Li fell hard for him and how she grew on Xingzhi till she became very dear to him. His beloved, in fact.

As a phoenix in the mortal world, Shen Li was perceived as a chicken, albeit a weird looking one, an ordinary creature with little to recommend it in those days except as food for the people. She was one of the weakest creatures and her life very expendable. What a stark contrast from her life in the Demon Realm, where she is styled Lord of the Azure Sky, wielder of the powerful Red Plume Spear. She is a great general of their army, a princess for all intents and purposes. Here in the mortal world, she’s forced to rely on a sickly and impoverished mortal man for sustenance and protection.

As for Xingzhi, the disparity of his mortal life from his old life is even greater. He is poor and sickly Xingyun, living alone in a house quite far from the center of population. He’s forced to live on meager fare, whatever selling ginseng can bring him. And most of his small earnings go to his medicines. His body is frail so that it seems as if he can die anytime.

Yet in his true form, he is the last of the Ancient Gods in the Sky Above Heaven. He’s the most powerful being in the universe, and the lives of all three realms are in his hands.

As for why Xingzhi chose to live as a mortal in such state, it’s probably because he felt it would give him a more varied and intense experience of humanity and its challenges.

So here were these two beings, reduced to such circumstances, finding themselves living together and depending on each other. They got to know one another without the burdens and trappings of their positions, and it allowed their relationship to grow into something more authentic. In a way, one can say that this brief period where everything started between them was what allowed them to love each other just as themselves, as simply Shen Li and Xingzhi. Not as Lord Of The Azure Sky and The Divine Lord of the Sky Above Heaven and the Three Realms.

This initial arc goes on for several episodes before Shen Li finally returns to the Demon Realm and they meet again, this time with Xingzhi in all his understated glory as Divine Lord Xingzhi, and she as the Lord Of The Azure Sky. I think it was the perfect foundation for the relationship that they developed later on. It was a love so strong that it literally shook all the Three Realms and eventually led to the destruction of the Sky Above Heaven, ending the age of the ancient gods.

Some of the fans complain that the development of some arcs took a chunk out of the series, that some arcs were dragging and they saw little sense in it. For me, those viewers are probably the types who got used to the instant gratification that’s usually seen in Western dramas or those who don’t have the patience to finish reading a book. They always want to skip to the good parts and then they keep pestering other viewers with questions on why this happened or why that is so.

Anyway, whatever else these foolish viewers may say, TLOS will remain one the best CDramas ever. Almost all its characters, especially the ones who portray key roles, were well rounded and developed. And the execution of the story was top-notch, from the first time Xingzhi’s eyes fell on this weird chicken, until the end, when he and Shen Li return to the mortal world to live their life together happily and peacefully in that house where their love first blossomed.

[crazylittlejester]

Daily brainrot delivery. :)

I had to go to town and that gave me a solid hour to think about the brainrot.

LU EAH AU: I'm considering the problem of Time/Mask, and I think I've largely come to the conclusion that I'm going to write him as Mask. Partly because I don't think I can do a longfic with Time (yet), and partly because the main story is going to be taking place either prior to or during when Warriors' story was supposed to happen. (Technically, all the stories are somewhat going off the rails because that's half the point of EAH, but that's beside the point.)

Switching topics, I've been thinking about the whole blood curse thing with Hyrule again. I've looked, but I can't find any canon material that says he has a blood curse, even though that's what's in the fics I've read. It's still a cool idea and I like it, but I'm baffled because what I've found sounds like it's basically just... a recipe? Like an evil cookbook or something. The most instructions I can find say to kill him and then mix Ganon's ashes with Link's blood, so I'm assuming that the killing part is important to the process somehow.

I am now going to be haunted by the image of bokoblins baking Ganon-bread in a kitchen, using Ganon's ashes as flour and Link's blood in place of water. This is why I can't have nice things.

I really need to get around to writing that piece of Hyrule angst I've been mulling over on and off because the sheer vagueness of the whole resurrecting Ganon ritual thing is just too much to resist. Like, dude, can you imagine knowing that monsters want you and your blood to resurrect the guy you just murdered, except you have no idea how it works so you have no idea what exactly you're trying to avoid other than the general dying and being used as an ingredient part? That would keep me up at night. Because it could be just the blood and ashes that does it, but what if he has to be 100% dead first? That's a huge difference. Hence, the angst stick.

i told myself i was gonna take a break from tumblr for at least 48 hours cos I’m not doing too good but I caved for a second just to check my notifs and see if I missed something super important, and I WAS RIGHT ON TIME TO SEE THE DAILY BRAINROT AND I GOT SO FUCKING EXCITED. The daily brainrot actually cures me, istg

OOOOOOH i love Mask so much, and I cannot wait to see what you do with him. LU EAH AU my BELOVED, grabbing it like a rubber chicken but also holding it so gently

Yeah I don’t know where the curse thing came from either, but it is now canon to me that the bokoblins gotta bake their Ganon bread, that’s fucking hilarious

YEAAAAAAAAH SMACK HIM WITH THE ANGST STICK, there is not nearly enough Hyrule angst in this world 😔💔

anyways THANK AGAIN FOR THE DAILY BRAINROT, I SERIOUSLY LOOK FORWARD TO IT EVERY SINGLE DAY :)

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

Heyo! Just wanted to say that you’re really cool and nice and wholesome. You’re basically the only blog I check now cos of the good omens leak (except Neil gaiman lol) because I honestly am too feral about gos2 rn to leave the internet and your blog allows me to get up to date about what’s happening to quench my good omens thirst without getting spoiled. So thanks! You’re amazing :)

I don’t know if you’ve answered this before, but what is your favourite animal?

(Also, I have no idea why I’m adding this but the word ‘gomens’, which I believe is good omens shortened, reminds me of the way Australians say ‘g’day’, probably bc I’m Australian. Whenever my mind reads out that word, I am hit with immense, ineffable waves of *Australia* and I think that’s hilarious)

Hiya!:) Thank youuu :) ❤ And thank you for the australian fun fact! :)

My favourite animal is a turtle, because of Terry's Discworld :)❤🐢.

[sixpossumsinatrenchcoat]

Natural Satellite [ch 2]

An In Stars and Time AU. In chapter two, Siffrin phones a friend. Isa consults a confidante. You can read ch 1 here.

“Mira,” Isabeau says seriously, taking a knee in front of the bench so he can grab both of her hands. “Is there a hallway in the House called the Death Corridor?” She blinks at him, owlish. “Um. Well… yes, actually. How did you—” “And your roommate, back in the House. Is her name Claude? And you don’t really get along?” “I’m not sure I’d say that we… Well, maybe we could get along better, but—” “And you— Did you teach a class once? But it went really bad?” “Isabeau!” Mira huffs, drawing herself up. “What is this about! And—how do you know all of that?” Isabeau takes a breath. He lets it out. “Mira,” he says. “I think maybe I can see the future.”

[In Stars and Time spoilers through at least act 4]

Chapter 2

Isa remembers.

Except Isa can’t remember, because… because he just can’t! Loop promised. And, and—and if the actors are starting to remember, then what’s even the point? All this time you’ve been saying your lines for them, smiling and winking and playing along to protect them. If you can’t shield your family from this, why go through with it at all?

And what are you supposed to do when the others start to remember? You can’t even imagine how dangerous Odile would be. And how angry. And Mira, stars, Mira will be so disappointed; but even worse, she’ll blame herself, you know she will. And oh, stars, Bonnie—

“What makes you think they’re going to remember?”

You whip around, bristling. “Weren’t you listening? It’s already happening! Isa knows!! He saw what happened last time and he, he doesn’t know it’s real yet but when it happens again… Why are you laughing???”

“Who, me?” Loop hides their smirk behind one hand. “No reason. I just, ah, remembered a joke.”

“You’re the one who should be upset!” you hiss. “You lied to me! You’re supposed to be helping me and you said, you promised that no one would remember! That it was only me!”

“That’s certainly the impression I had, yes.”

“How am I supposed to do this if you’re just going to lie to me???”

“Ohh, stardust,” Loop sighs. “You always take everything so personally! It isn’t all about you, you know.”

“He saw me use the dagger!!!”

Loop shrugs innocently. “I did tell you not to do it. I hate to say ‘I told you so,’ but…”

“No! No! You are not blaming this on me!!!”

“I’m not the one who put the dagger to your throat, stardust.”

“You put it in my hand! You put it in my head! It’s the same blinding thing!!!”

For the briefest instant, Loop almost looks pained. But the moment you blink, it’s gone. “Haha. Maybe. I suppose it doesn’t really matter who’s to blame.”

“So what do I do?”

“We~ell,” Loop hums thoughtfully. “What makes you think that all of them are going to remember? It might just be the Fighter.”

Your forehead furrows. “Why would it just be him?”

“Why not?”

You shoot them a murderous glare.

“Oh, come on, stardust,” Loop giggles, “don’t look like that. I’m trying to help you! Besides. Did it ever occur to you that this might be a good thing?”

“No.”

“But if you had a co-conspirator… Someone to provide a fresh perspective; to help you think things through…”

“No!!”

Loop gives you a tolerant smile. “Alright, stardust. Enlighten me. Why not?”

“I don’t need help!!” But—no. That’s not the reason. “No. I mean. It’s… Isn’t it already bad enough? And Isa’s…” Soft. Honest. True to the bone. “…sensitive. His feelings all come spilling out. And he’s a coward. He couldn’t handle the truth.”

“Haha, ouch! Mee-yow! Who knew you had such sharp claws?”

“You did.”

“Yes, I suppose I did, at that.” Loop stretches and yawns. Whenever they pull in a really deep breath, their face glows just a little brighter. “So? What are you going to do?”

“What can I do?”

Loop taps their chin thoughtfully. “Sometimes a nightmare is just a nightmare, no? It sounds to me like you need to test your little hypothesis.”

“And how do I do that?”

“Hm… You could smell him!”

Ha, ha. Hilarious. It’s so funny, you forgot to laugh.

“What!!” Loop protests. “I’m not joking! Your Kid said that Time Craft smelled like sugar, didn’t they? If your Fighter smells sweeter than usual…”

“And how am I supposed to know what he usually smells like?”

“Aw. Stardust. My sweet, adorable, stupid little stardust. You know there’s no point trying to lie to me.”

…Okay, so maybe they have a point. You have spent 100-some nights—100-some of the same night sharing a bed with Isabeau. Curled under the blanket just a heartbeat away, so close your noses nearly brush. Listening to Isa stammer his way through a cut-short confession. Watching him sleep, face slack, cheek scrunched against the pillow. By now you could trace the outline of his face with your eyes closed. Of course you know how he smells. Like fresh laundry and cut grass. Like sweat and salt and good clean dirt.

“Okay,” Loop says tolerantly. “If you really won’t smell him, I’m certain you can find some other way. Sleep on it, stardust. Unless you’re ready to give up…?”

You wrinkle your nose at them. “Is that what you want?”

“Stardust!” Loop gasps, clutching their pearls. “You insult me! You know I’m only here to help.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Ohh, don’t be like that! There’s no one keeping you here, you know. If you’re upset, you’re welcome to storm off anytime you like.”

“No,” you say on reflex, and then hesitate. Of course you’re upset. You’re always upset. But this is the only place where you get to be upset without upsetting someone else. “I mean. Um. Is it okay if I stay?”

To your immense irritation, Loop reaches out to tap you on the nose. “You’re the master of your own destiny, stardust. Do what makes you happy.”

* * *

It’s a beautiful day. Dormont is a beautiful town! It’s all steep, sloping rooftops and cozy clay facades, and you can always hear the gentle burble of the river running through it. There’s a buzz of anxiety in the air, but the whole town seems to have agreed to point all their nervous energy toward preparations for their end-of-the-world party. Isa can’t think of a better place to spend what might be his last night on earth.

By the time he finds his way back to town square, he’s more-or-less calmed down. So, of course, that’s when the deja vu hits.

“Good morning!” the boulangier greets him, holding out a picnic basket. “You’re one of the saviors, aren’t you? A friend of little Mirabelle’s? I wanted to give you all a treat! It’s nothing much, just a token of our appreciation!”

A chill drips down Isabeau’s spine. Hasn’t he heard this before? Every word; every pause for breath and sheepish smile… He saw this already, didn’t he? But that was just a dream. It wasn’t really real.

The boulangier is still smiling, waiting for an answer.

“O-Oh! Haha, wow, thanks so much! That’s really nice of you! Aw, but we couldn’t possibly—”

“But you must!” the boulangier laughs, again, exactly like he did in Isa’s dream. “Besides. If you don’t succeed tomorrow, there’ll be no one left to sell to, heh. It’s really the least I can do!”

“Ahh… Haha, well, um. I guess if you insist, we’ll take you up on it!” He grins at the boulangier, trying to look like someone strong enough to put your faith in. (Just like he did the last time.) “But once we beat the King tomorrow, we’re coming back to pay for ‘em!”

The boulangier pats him on the shoulder. If you beat the King, I’ll— “—bake you all the croissants you can eat!”

…Right.

* * *

And then. It just. Keeps happening.

The kid standing at the north end of town challenges him to a rock-paper-scissors-off. Odile gives him a distracted nod on her way into the general store. The runner jogging around the statue of the Change God whacks him on the shoulder and grins before wishing him good luck. Just like Isabeau remembers. Every step, every smile, every shift in the wind… it’s all exactly how he remembers.

…What is he supposed to do with this????

He needs a sanity check. A sounding board. So Isabeau does what he always does when he needs to make sure he’s not being completely stupid: he goes and finds Mira.

* * *

He finds her sitting in front of the library, exactly where he found her yesterday. (No. Not yesterday. His dream of yesterday. His dream of… today? Whatever.)

“Mira.”

“Oh, Isabeau!” she says, brightening. “Are you feeling any better? You looked a little out of sorts, earlier.”

He can still feel the fear crawling over his skin, but Mira’s voice makes the itch recede a little. Just looking at her is enough to make him feel more relaxed. He can always trust Mirabelle to act exactly like herself.

Isabeau isn't here for advice, exactly, because Mira doesn’t really give advice. Mostly she listens intently, her whole face scrunched with focus, and asks leading questions until she’s very gently nudged you to the answer. If pressed, she’ll insist that you got there on your own. (By now, Isa’s learned that it’s pointless trying to argue.)

It was just the two of them, once. Before they found Odile; before Siffrin found them, and then saved Bonnie… Just a little more than half a year ago, their little family was only Isa and Mira. And it was already good!!!

“Mira,” Isabeau says seriously, taking a knee in front of the bench so he can grab both of her hands. “Is there a hallway in the House called the Death Corridor?”

She blinks at him, owlish. “Um. Well… yes, actually. How did you—”

“And your roommate, back in the House. Is her name Claude? And you don’t really get along?”

“I’m not sure I’d say that we… Well, maybe we could get along better, but—”

“And you— Did you teach a class once? But it went really bad?”

“Isabeau!” Mira huffs, drawing herself up. “What is this about! And—how do you know all of that?”

Isabeau takes a breath. He lets it out. “Mira,” he says. “I think maybe I can see the future.”

Whatever she expected, it clearly wasn’t that. She takes one of her hands back so she can rest two fingers against his forehead. Checking for a fever, probably. He almost wishes that he was sick. At least it’d mean that what he saw was just some stupid fever-dream.

But he’s out of luck. Mira draws her hand back, frowning. “You… um? Or? What… makes you think that?”

“I’m pretty sure I just dreamed, like, this whole day.” Just saying it out loud makes him feel a little lighter. “And I don’t just mean a normal dream. I mean, like, accurately. All the little details and everything. And tomorrow, too. I thought it was just a dream, but—stuff keeps coming true!! I keep knowing stuff I couldn’t have known, and recognizing stuff I shouldn’t have seen, so… So what the crab else am I supposed to think????”

“Hm,” she hums. “Hmm. It’s not— I don’t understand how it would work, but… if you really knew all that, then I suppose I can’t just deny it.”

“How did it feel when you got Chosen?” he asks hopefully. Generally speaking, he tries not to ask about the Change God’s blessing—talking about it always puts Mira in a weird mood, and the last thing he wants to do is upset one of his favorite people in the world—but these seem like extenuating circumstances. “Was there, like, a moment? Where you felt… you know. Magic?”

Sure enough, Mira’s face darkens. “Haha. I, ah… no. No moment.”

“So someone could get blessed and not even notice?”

“I—ah—theoretically? I suppose?”

Isabeau nods slowly. “Mira. I think maybe I got blessed.”

She snorts, and then very quickly tries to look like she didn’t. “Oh. You’re serious. W-Well, um… I suppose it could only be a good thing! Theoretically speaking! Especially if you can warn us about potential pitfalls. Did we, um… In this vision of yours, did we beat the King, or…?”

Oh. Oh. Isabeau absolutely cannot tell her why they didn’t beat the King. “Uhh. We… didn’t make it that far. But!! But we definitely will this time!!”

“Yes,” she agrees, nodding fiercely. “We’ll make sure of it.”

* * *

Sif doesn’t show his face until dinnertime. When they finally turn up, they’re almost their normal self again. A little quiet, but that is normal, for Sif. If Isa hadn’t seen what he saw, he wouldn’t think anything of it.

But he did.

Unfortunately, he can’t just ask about it in front of everyone. So Isabeau bides his time. He doesn’t try to talk to Sif until he’s sure that the others are definitely asleep.

“Sif,” he whispers.

Siffrin’s feet twitch.

“Sif. Siffarooni. Siffrin.”

Grudgingly, Siffrin rolls over. (Isa tries not to look at his neck.)

“Um. Sorry? To wake you? I just—sorry, it’s kind of a weird question b-but you, um. You wouldn’t… hurt yourself, right?”

Sif’s eye widens. Surprise, then wariness. “What is this about?”

“N-Nothing!! Nothing!! I just—I had that nightmare, remember, from earlier? And I guess it freaked me out pretty bad cause I— I trust you, of course I trust you, I just. Um. C-Can’t get the image out of my head.”

Siffrin stares at him. Their expression is completely unreadable. Almost as blank as they looked before driving that blade into their neck. The ragged edge of tearing skin. Blood on your hands. Blood on his—

“Sorry,” Isa whispers, squeezing his eyes shut, “Sorry, sorry, I just—I know I’m being really crazy, I know you don’t like to be touched, I just— Can I touch you? Just for a second? I know I’m being stupid, I’m really sorry, I just—I think it might, um…”

“Okay.”

Isa’s eyes fly open. “O-Okay?”

Sif nods.

“Really?”

Another nod.

“‘Cause there’s really no pressure!! I know I was being… s-sort of dramatic, but it’s really totally fine if you don’t— I really don’t wanna feel like I forced you, or—

“No. It's okay.” Sif goes quiet for a second, considering. “Tomorrow's important. We all need you to get enough sleep.”

“R-Right. Right!! Then I’ll just, um…” Isabeau hesitates. Sif’s neck is almost always covered by their cloak. Even when they share a tent, Isa’s always careful not to look too close. He wouldn’t want to weird them out by staring—or, worse, make himself look like an even bigger loser than he is. But he has permission, now. And he kind of really needs this.

Lightly, with just the pads of two fingers, he brushes the side of their throat. Whole, now, and unblemished. Not torn open, not seeping blood. Warm under his hands.

—But the second his hand meets their skin, Siffrin flinches violently.

Right away, Isa jerks his hand back. “S-Sorry!! Sorry!! Maybe if I just— Can you give me your wrist? And I can, um, f-feel your pulse, maybe?”

He can see Sif's throat bob as they swallow.

“Sorry!!!” he yelps. “Never mind!! I was just—”

“No,” Sif whispers. “Um. Here.”

Sif’s hand creeps up the mattress, settles on the pillow between them. It is so much smaller than Isa’s. (Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about how it would feel if they let you hold their hand; if they wanted you to. OH FOR CHANGE’S SAKE, YOU’RE STILL THINKING ABOUT IT. PLEASE. JUST. STOP.)

As soon as he finds their pulse, Isa feels like the world’s biggest crabhole. Siffrin’s heart is racing, their pulse pounding like a terrified rabbit.

Isabeau lets out his breath and gives Sif their hand back. “Um. S-Sorry. And, um… thanks for humoring me. And... sorry for being so selfish?”

Sif shakes his head. “I don't want you to have a bad dream.”

Isa’s chest swells. He beams at them, dizzy with love. “Well!! Don’t worry!! I definitely won’t now!!!”

Sif gives him a puzzled look, their face half-tilted like a dog hearing a sound it’s never heard before.

“U-Um! Just because, um—”

—there’s a blur of white, and a pillow collides with the side of his face.

* * *

If walking into town yesterday was unsettling, entering the House is downright chilling. Everything is exactly as he remembers.

As soon as they step into the Death Corridor, Isa elbows Mirabelle. “So this is—“

“Yes!” she gasps, disbelieving. “Wow! Yes! It really is! I don’t understand how you could—“ When she looks up, she startles, reaching out with both hands. “Ohh, Siffrin, do be careful!! This wing is called—“

And a boulder the size of a two-bedroom apartment crashes down from the ceiling. (Just like Isabeau remembers.)

…Wow. Okay. So this is really happening.

“So there’s this floating water everywhere,” he whispers to Mira, as they make their way past the boulder. “They’re called Tears and I guess if you touch them, you get frozen in time? But to get past them, we use these, um—“

“What are you two whispering about?” M’dame Odile asks sharply.

“Nothing!!” they chorus.

* * *

They make it as far as the second floor. That’s when Sif wanders up to a Tear and glances over his shoulder to stare straight at Isa. “Hey. Isa.”

“Siiiif~?”

“Why did the time traveler break all of his clocks?”

“Wh–Huh? Uh… I dunno, why?”

“He wanted to kill some time.”

—And Sif plunges his arm shoulder-deep into the Tear.

Isabeau’s eyes widen. He opens his mouth to scream but he can’t make a sound, he can see the scene getting darker—

[ h e   f e e l s    a    t u g    a t    h i s    s t o m a c h ]

—and he wakes up.

* * *

Siffrin’s in the field again. But this time, they don’t look surprised to see him. “Hey, Isa.”

“H-Hey, Sif.”

“Hey, Isa?”

“Sif?”

“Why did the time traveler break all his clocks?”

All the hair on Isabeau’s neck stands up. “Hhhhhha! Um! Because he… wanted to kill some time?”

“Oh, stars,” Siffrin whispers. He squeezes his eyes shut, covers his ears with both hands. “You remember.”

If you wanna find out about updates even when I'm too anxious to post on tumblr, feel free to follow the series on ao3!

[kissochako]

𝐆𝐘𝐌 𝐑𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒

summary: dabi/touya and kirishima have a crush on you but it’s in a gym setting

tags: fem!reader for ejiro, gn!reader for dabi, a twinge of jealously and I’m sorry this isn’t my best work and idrk how a gym works LOL

EJIRO KIRISHIMA

Ejiro is a professional personal trainer as a side job to earn some savings while on break from school, and he loves his job. He loves helping people train to be at their peak physique, or help them beat their own personal records. It fills him with joy seeing the excitement on people’s faces when they realise they’ve gotten stronger, agile or being able to endure more, all thanks to him.

He has had plenty of clients before, from those who didn’t believe in themselves, or others thought it was genetically impossible to achieve their goal physique. Yet, he still managed to help all of them. His co-workers believed that he was a literal miracle worker, but he just thought that he was just extremely good at his job.

Turns out, he is not. He has been away in the staff retreat, apparently ‘gathering needed equipment’. The cutest girl he has ever seen in his life who’s currently training for a provisional license, wants him!! To be her!! Own personal trainer?? He’s excited by the thought, but dreads having to talk to her. What if he ends up getting her exercises wrong and ends up injuring her? What if he just stutters the whole time and she thinks he’s some type of fraud? There’s a million scenarios running through his mind, overpowering his mind.

However, no matter how high his anxiety levels are, he needs to go out there and just casually converse with the girl who he plans to make his girlfriend, hopefully. Eventually. Maybe? Whatever, he just needs to go out there and help his client. It’s his job and he’s good at it.

He sees you in the personal trainer assigned area, but instead of going back through the door, he continues to walk whilst taking deep breaths. Everything will be okay, she may be cute, but she’s just like any other ordinary girl. This is what he tells himself, internally, he thinks you are the most extraordinary girl to ever grace his not so extraordinary with your presence.

He apologises for the inconvenience of equipment being misplaced, even though he knows that all the equipment is kept in the same place. Then the session starts. He is his usual self during his job, supportive, encouraging and guiding his clients.

Though the session itself is unlike the ones he’s had before. Most of the time, his clients are middle aged ladies or gym bros that are struggling to put on muscle in a certain area. He doesn’t really engage in conservation with them, but you’re his exception. You’re hilarious, full of enthusiasm and determination to get your licence. Oh boy, Ejiro just can’t stop adoring you in his mind, planning to gush to his best friend about you.

You guys talked non-stop, about heroics classes, who’s the better hero, exchanging future goals, memories and oh no. The session is way past the actual time that you’re supposed to finish. This means there’s probably an pissed off client who has waited at best, an hour. Unfortunately for the two of you, you guys had to wrap it up. Ejiro already misses your honey glazed voice and your infectious laugh. He plans to take a sip from his water bottle before taking on his next client but notices a yellow sticky note on it.

Call me xxx-xxx-xxx ♡!!!

TOUYA TODOROKI / DABI

Touya doesn’t go to the gym because he likes it, he goes there simply to build more muscle with all the equipment. In fact, he despises going to the gym. Sweat everywhere, weird animalistic grunts from everyone and unsolicited advice from gym amateurs. However, all of this changed when you started to go to the gym.

He didn’t mind the uncomfortable atmosphere of the one place he hated the most, all because he got to see you. You struggling to lift up what would’ve been Touya's warm up is so, so adorable to him. He arrives earlier at his gym sessions just to get that feeling of butterflies in his stomach as he witnesses your pretty face scrunch up as you attempt heavier weights and leaving way later so he could possibly talk to you and possibly make his first move.

But, there always has to be someone that stops him. Another weak gym amateur approaches you in hopes to get your number. He doesn’t worry about any of them obtaining your number, because he’s always there. A distance away, grimacing at his latest victim. However, whenever you turn around to see what they’re always staring at, he’ll make sure to display the most charming smile and captivating eyes. Of course, you’ll smile back yet instead of planning about his next move on you, he’ll daydream of seeing that smile when he wakes up in the morning.

He daydreams of everything that couples do, cuddling, baking or cooking together, slow dancing, feeding each other sweets, holding an umbrella for another, going on cute dates, annoying everyone with constant displays of affection, every scenario you could come up with, he’s fallen asleep to it with headphones blasting Arctic Monkeys. He usually hates anything and everything sappy, but oh boy, your endearing eyes and irresistible eyes have melted any logical thoughts he used to have.

Although, if he wants to make his fantasies into a reality, he really needs to actually talk to you instead of exchanging awkward dry feeble smiles every time you catch him staring at you. Touya isn’t the to act on impulse though, he has been precisely planning out what he’ll say in each scenario and has included every possible outcome.

When you’re just about to start your warm up, Touya approaches you. He comments that your footwork is good, but your upper body form needs to be worked on. Dumbfounded with the unsolicited advice, you still listen to what he says. Minutes, hours pass and what was once a lecture of the importance of good form turned to the two of you sitting around, jokes flying, laughter erupting and exchanging your progressive journey of working out. Touya notices you staring at him. He smiles. You smile.

[tonguetiedraven]

Hi! I’m kinda new to the fandom and was wondering if you (and anyone else!) had any bonrin fic recommendations? I’ve loved everything of yours and would love your opinion <3

Yep! Contrary to half the stuff I write, I mostly read fluffy shorter things, lol.

Absolutely *anything* by ShannyBanany is fantastic and has my stamp of approval on it. Seriously, I adore the hell out of all her stuff. Check her out here.

Absent Minds by Trashratsaws is a fantastic post Kyoto get together.

The talented Marble wolf (my co creator on a lot of fics) also has a bunch of fantastic Bon/Rin stuff, including a Tokyo Ghoul crossover, but mind the ratings and tags! Check her out here.

Loving what I feel but it gets to Me by the ghostielord is a fun get together covering from the end of the Kyoto arc to the start of school.

Rynoa29 and Jeiidaan are also great Bon/Rin writers (though they mostly write Yukio/Shima right now, they're probably best known for Letterverse.)

Stability by ForgottenChesire is a established relationship aged up slice of life fic (a small bit of Yukio bashing, which is sadly hard not to find on older Bon/Rin fics.)

chase the moon like fire by halfpace is literally just Ryuuji gushing and it's adorable.

let there be light by fleuerdemort is both of them gushing and also adorable

Write it how you see it by bideroo is hilarious and fun get together, and my only complaint is that Bon comes off a bit Christian -- another thing that's kind of common in a lot of fics. (He's Buddhist, y'all. Rin's the one that was raised Catholic.)

Domesticia the series by KorrinBelle has some fantastic moments in it. Aged up, post canon, and covers the two of them as they go from engaged to parents.

It's the little things that make a home by little_spider00 has a lot of that same vibe.

These are all I've got off the top of my head, and I tried to include only T and under (except on the entire author links, lol) but if anyone else has suggestions, feel free to reblog and add them!

[meddow]

I’ve been catching up on Star Trek Discovery and it’s kind of interesting the difference in stakes between Disco and SNW. Disco has this focus on season long plot arcs in which what is at stake is avoiding some cataclysm which would destroy whole planets or threaten the entire Federation and somehow only Discovery can save everyone. That has it’s plus points. While the seasons start slow I’m usually end up binging the last few episodes, and also gets time explore the concept at the heart of the season more than a one episode or two-parter ever could. I loved that a whole chunk of episodes was devoted to figuring out how to first contact a species which was nothing like the Federation had ever encountered before.

But, it does feel like slightly wearisome that somehow it's always Discovery saving the galaxy. And the show really struggles with smaller, character driven stakes. And too often it just falls back on killing off a character to given another character angst, which is a mistake in the first place, and then only for then the series to not even commit to killing that character off and they’re back – sometimes within the same episode.

Whereas Strange New Worlds keeps the stakes considerably lower. The only episode I can think of in which the entire galaxy is threatened is (hilariously) the musical episode. Sometimes the whole ship is in danger (Ghosts of Illyria, Momento Mori and Among the Lotus Eaters come to mind) and sometimes the threat is the Federation being dragged into war (Hegemony, Quality of Mercy – but given that’s a essentially a dream sequence, it doesn’t really count). SNW does do a lot of character stakes. Ad Astra per Aspera obviously is the example of the show doing this extremely well – where the stakes is Una going to prison.

But then SNW suffers from being a prequel and the subsequence plot armor that characters have as a result. Sometimes that’s fine. Pike knowing his fate and having to deal with that was an interesting plotline in season 1. Knowing Chapel/Spock is doomed gives the relationship a bit of kick it wouldn’t necessarily have given romantic relationships is not one of the show’s strengths. But for example in Hegemony, everyone worrying Chapel was dead felt like a massive waste of time – we know she’s not because she’ll still be on the Enterprise when Kirk takes over. Same with Spock, Uhura and M’Benga.

Really of the main cast the only characters who currently have stakes are Una, La’an and Erica cos we don’t know their future. If Erica gets fed up with only ever being the pilot and decides to get a transfer, we can believe that she may just. If La’an is badly injured fighting the Gorn we can believe she may die. If Starfleet decide to offer Una a promotion and her own ship, we can believe she would accept it. Yet those characters are largely underserved (Erica particularly, Una and La’an have their moments, but it never feels like enough).

Anyway, this is all a bit of a ramble but really the true winner is Lower Decks, which sometimes does have Federation threat level stakes but more often keeps the stakes nice and low, doesn’t rely on killing off characters for drama but when it does and brings them back a few episodes later manages to make a joke out of it, and none of the characters have plot armor except that it’s a cartoon and of course it will most likely return to the status quo the next episode.

[icey--stars]

Born For Tragedy: Part 8

Series Index

She was tragedy. Nothing except death, fear and pain followed in her wake. When she was young, she was beaten. Now she’s the one doing the beating as an assassin. A mysterious stranger comes to her, paying an absurd amount of money for her to kill Beron Vanserra, and protect the eldest son until the job is done. She stumbles across a story much similar to her own, and knows what must be done.

a/n: due to azris week being next week, the next BFT update will be the week after that!

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

“I’m changing your room assignment,” Nova said one day. About a week after that little incident. 

She’d been getting information she both needed and didn’t need from Eris. She still hadn’t managed to come up with a plan to kill Beron just yet. That would require a bit more thought. She’d have to check a calendar for upcoming events and holidays.

Valda perked up immediately, narrowing her eyes at the head maiden. “To what?”

“You don’t have enough respect for the royals, so you’ll clean the common rooms from now on-”

“No,” Valda said in a dangerous, lethal tone. “I won’t.”

Nova’s gaze snapped up to her, from where she’d been washing dinner’s dishes. “Yes, you will,” she growled.

“No, I won’t,” Valda said.

“If you dare to refuse me, servant,” the word servant was spat out like the unholy names of Hybern’s commanders, “Then you will find yourself very far away from this place soon.”

“I was hired to clean Eris’s and Jax’s rooms,” Valda stated, looking back to her own work. “So therefore, I will clean Eris’s and Jax’s rooms only.”

“Lord Eris, and Lord Jax, don’t need a primpy little girl like you thinking she’s better than everyone else, running around!”

Valda smirked. She couldn’t help that little joy of hearing someone call her a “primpy little girl.” It was utterly hilarious. She was anything but primpy, and little, and a perfect, privileged girl. If Nova ever learned of the endless years she’d spent on the floors of a dirtied up bar, she’d shut her trap. Or literally any of her missions. They all ended up with her covered in shit, some way or another.

“Wipe that fucking smirk off your face,” Nova ordered, and raised her hand. Valda eyed it with a challenge in her eyes. “You will listen-”

“Hello?” Eris’s voice interrupted the head maiden. Valda took a subtle step backwards just as his head peaked around the corner, quickly followed by the lithe body of the heir.

“Lord Eris!” Nova said quickly, her hand lowering as she bowed low. She gave Valda a side eye as she rose up again. “How are you my lord? What can I help you with?”

Eris glanced at her, before facing Nova. “I was just down here and heard the commotion. What drama has sparked now?”

“Oh, nothing of concern my lord!” Nova said in that fake happy voice Valda has heard too many times. “I promise. This servant girl just needs some discipline, I swear. Is there anything I can get for you? A midnight snack?”

Eris shook his head. “What’s Adira getting disciplined for?”

Valda gave him a swift look. What was he doing?

“Oh, she continues to disrespect you, my lord, and Lord Jax so openly, so I’ve made it my responsibility to find someone that will give you the respect you deserve, general,” Nova dismissed quickly. “Ms. Void will be dealt with for such blatant disrespect.”

“Ah,” Eris hummed. “A pity then. I was enjoying her presence.”

Seriously, what was Eris trying to do right now? Valda couldn’t pinpoint it.

Nova seemed startled at the words, as she shook her head clear slightly. “I was unaware-” She began.

Eris cut her off, “Perhaps I could request her as my own personal servant?”

Ah, that was the goal.

Nova sputtered for words and Valda chuckled, resting a hand on the head maiden’s shoulder to cut her off. “If Eris wants a personal servant, Nova, shouldn’t you be so utterly accommodating towards the heir?”

Nova shot a glare over at her. “Lord Eris,” she addressed, turning back toward the red-haired idiot sitting there with a smirk on his face. “If you are completely sure you’d want Adira as your personal servant-”

“I am,” Eris confirmed.

Nova takes a breath and dips her head. “Then her assignment is now to you and you alone, my lord. Please do let me know if ever you’d rather I change it-”

“I won’t need to,” Eris said firmly. “Now, since that’s dealt with, I will be on my way. Don’t raise a hand against Adira.” There was a lethal promise in his voice at the end.

As soon as Eris left, walking down the hallway audibly, Nova turned towards Valda and practically snarled. “If I find out you’re disrespecting him-”

“Yes, yes,” Valda dismissed. “You’ll do something along the lines of skin me alive. Boring.”

Nova’s hand tensed into a fist. “Go to bed,” she ordered, as if she couldn’t handle Valda’s presence another moment longer. Valda snickered and walked out with her chest puffed out. Oh, it was just so funny to rile that female up.

“So,” a voice drawled from down a side hallway. Valda paused, but didn’t flinch. “Shall I go back to burn her face off?”

Valda chuckled, and turned to face Eris. “I think you are a tad dramatic.”

“What can I say?” He chuckled. “I’m quite good at being dramatic.”

“Did you need something? I don’t think you’re sneaking around your own home just to speak with a lowly servant,” she drawled. She would’ve said ‘assassin,’ but it was a bit too much to assume others weren’t listening.

“Ah, yes,” Eris chuckled. “But I’ll tell you in the morning.”

“You’d better,” Valda said, and yawned.

Eris rolled his eyes, and yawned as he walked away. Valda grinned.

-----

The next morning, Valda smugly walked past Nova on her way to Eris’s room.

“Clean the dishes girl!” Nova yelled.

“Can’t,” Valda said without turning back. “Eris Vanserra needs me.”

Nova cursed at her delightfully. Valda just snickered as she walked around the corner. She picked up Lord Eris’s breakfast from the kitchens and carried it to his rooms. He was waiting in his study when she came in.

“You’re up early,” Valda noted. Normally, Eris was still lounging in bed for quite some time, and only got up for breakfast. “Anything interesting happening?”

Eris rolled his eyes, a small smirk appearing on his face. “Yes, actually.”

Valda lifted a brow in a silent question as she sat the food down on his desk and slumped into an open chair. “Please do tell me, Lord Eris.”

“Mocking today, aren’t you?” He jabbed. “What’s wrong with my title? Do you wish you were Lady?”

Valda waved her hand non-committedly as a way for him to continue with what was of interest.

“Calanmai is soon,” Eris said. Valda nodded. She knew it was around that time. Spring was coming, and she was glad to not be in the Spring Court anymore for that particular celebration. They made it such a big deal because it was their namesake. Honestly, she should’ve chosen a better court to hunker down during Amarantha’s reign. Of course, it might be just as bad here, since the holiday involved fire.

“What of it?” Valda asked.

“Every year, there’s a ball that comes three days after Calanmai. The Calanmai ball, involving most of the nobility of the Autumn Court,” Eris answered.

Valda looked at Eris now, narrowing her eyes. She’d done an assassination at a ball before, in the Summer Court. “You want to…” she didn’t finish that sentence on purpose.

“I figured it’d make it easier,” he answered. “You could pose as a nobility.”

She hummed. The only downside was that it would make fighting difficult on her way out, since you can’t kill a High Lord without attention, and a dress wasn’t optimal for that. “I suppose that might work. If there’s a solid escape plan.”

“It wouldn’t be hard to glamor you on your way out,” Eris reasoned.

“With all that fresh power in your veins,” Valda argued, “It might make it difficult.”

“I can’t tell if that’s an insult or not.”

“It’s not meant to be,” Valda hummed. “But you should consider that. The High Lord’s power passes to you.”

“Who even employed you to do this?” Eris asked. “This is insane.”

“Oh and now you say that,” she joked. “I’m aware. Though killing my Masters was more dangerous I think. I just have a higher chance of death during this one.”

“Come on, I’m curious now,” Eris urged.

“Client protection,” Valda responded. “Plus, they were covering their identity. I won’t go off and share it.”

“But if I know who it is…”

“What?” Valda asked.

“I might be able to cover up your tracks better once my father is dead.”

“By doing what?”

“Finding the client and putting the client to justice instead. The council and court will likely take them just as well as the assassin.”

Valda scoffed. “No,” she stated. “You will not go hunting after my clients. I get my money from them.”

“Oh, but don’t you plan on sticking around a while?” Eris asks. “After all, you are my personal servant…”

“As soon as I can get out of catering to your sorry ass, I’m out,” Valda snickered. “Plus, the High Lords will likely visit the new Autumn Court High Lord, and it’s not the best idea being around them.” She felt a strange tickling sensation in her chest from the aspect of Eris wanting her to stay. He wanted her around, which was more than anyone else she’d ever worked with in the past.

“You’re such interesting company though,” Eris emphasized.

“Interesting?” Valda repeated. “I’m an assassin, Eris. There’s nothing interesting about keeping a weapon for company.”

“You’re not just a weapon,” Eris reasoned, sitting up straighter. “You might kill for hire, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a person.”

“Wishful thinking, general. Wishful thinking.”

Eris hummed, lips moving into a little thinking look.

Valda cut him off before he could open his mouth and continue to try and reason with her otherwise. She was a tragedy and knew it. There was no use trying to be anything else but a tragic weapon for someone to wield at will.

“How far away is Calanmai?” She asked. “I need to plan.”

“What are you going to plan? It’s in two days. The bonfires are beginning to be set up.”

“Well, if I’m nobility attending a ball where perhaps I might win a Vanserra’s hand in marriage, I must dress well, right? And a dress I can move in.”

Eris’s brain seemed to stutter and he coughed to try and hide it. “That story does cover up quite nicely.”

“How so?”

“My father has been urging me to marry someone of noble birth forever,” Eris admitted. “He’d be overjoyed to see me dancing with some fine lady.”

“Perfect,” Valda decided. “Then that’s settled. I need to find an Autumn Court cut dress soon then. One that can hide my wonderful knives.”

“Your infatuation with your knives is concerning.”

Valda scoffed. “And you just now realized this? I have an emotional support collection of daggers, Eris. I am concerned for myself at this point. But, which nobility can I pose as? I need a name and background.”

“Just choose a small town on the edge of the Winter Court. They never attend, and Beron doesn’t even know their lineage anymore.”

“A name?” She requested.

“Fairyn Krauss,” Eris offered after a moment. “I’ve seen her in my travels. Deeply loyal to her family and would never attend a ball in her life. She’s from the small town of Ignatius.”

“I’ll need a wig,” Valda thought aloud. Where was she going to find a wig in time?

“Don’t bother, she has dark black hair like yours,” Eris said. “You cut it short.”

“Lady Fairyn wishes to try for the heir’s hand in marriage, what a novel concept,” Valda snickered. “I do love playing a courtier.”

“I’m going to hate this,” Eris said under his breath.

Valda laughed. “Oh yes, such a horrible thing. Dancing with an assassin. I’ll have you know I am actually trained in ballroom dancing.”

“You are?” Eris looked up again, his amber eyes meeting her blue again.

“Very much so,” she chuckled. “It was fun, for an extracurricular course.”

“Interesting,” Eris hummed. “Well I can at least trust you to not slit my throat until Beron is dead.”

Valda snorted. “If I wanted to slit your throat, general, I wouldn’t even slit your throat. There are endless better ways to take you out.”

“Oh yeah?” Eris said in a challenging tone. “Like what?”

“Well that defeats the purpose, now doesn’t it?”

“Sneaky assassin,” Eris chuckled. “I might be able to assist you in getting a dress. If I ask my mother and say I plan to invite a lone lady to the ball, she’d surely assist, even if she remained anonymous.”

Valda raised a brow. “I suppose if Lady Merle believes she could find one in time, then it would be splendid. Make sure it's movable and breathable though. I do have to fight in the thing.”

“I’ll make sure she knows,” Eris promised.

↢ 『 ☾ 』 ↣

TAGLIST (see post for getting added)

@bunnymallowo, @officiallyunofficialperson, @margssstuff, @rebloggiest-reblogger, @inpraizeof, @graciereads, @eos-princess, @imma-too-many-fandoms, @mali22, @sassybluebird,

[cactusspatz]

October recs

I’d like to say I was saving these recs for Thanksgiving - to read while digesting food, or while avoiding your family, or to recuperate afterward from all that socializing - but really I was just procrastinating as usual. Although I did sort them by length, to better select something for all the reasons above. Mostly comedy and almost entirely DCU fic again, except for one lone hilarious fic for The Untamed. Enjoy!

UNDER 5K

A Chips And Dip Kind Of Night by whaleofatime (1.8K, gen)

Bruce is working undercover at a 7/11.

Dick does not know this.

Short and funny and adorable.

Truth Serum is the Worst by JackHawksmoor (3K, gen)

Batman gets dosed with a truth serum and unexpectedly spends most of the time talking about how desperately he loves his children, how awesome they are, and how he wishes he was better at being a father.

Whumpy and skims across the surface of some serious trauma (ah, Bruce and his repression), but with a wonderful dynamic between Bruce and Dick.

5K-10K

Runaway by sardonic_sprite (6K, gen)

"There's easier ways to run away, y'know, kid."

"I don't know what you’re talking about."

"Really?" The boy raised an eyebrow, giving Damian a meaningful appraisal. "Rucksack, clothes that don't fit, no parents or anyone around, lying your way places?"

AU in which Damian runs away from the League and bumps in Tim in civilian guise. Kinda handwavey timeline-wise, but a fun alternate meeting.

In Case of Catastrophe by swampbebe (8.5K, gen)

Well, Tim is resourceful, even if he’s a cat now. Bruce is still on patrol and won’t be back for a while, but Dick and Damian are both at the manor. Tim will make his way there, tap out morse code to explain what happened, and then they’ll get him turned back into regular ol’ Tim.

All in all, this will just be a minor setback.

Tim gets turned into a cat by magic nonsense. His family doesn't figure it out as quickly as he'd like.

I'm weak for 'character gets turned into a cat' stories anyway, but this one is hilarious.

10K-20K

know your enemy by Valkirin (12K, gen)

Jason Todd thought he was ready for anything when he headed to Titans Tower to have a talk with Robin. He was not ready for Stephanie Brown.

In which Steph is still Robin during the Tower attack and things go VERY differently, and amusingly. Stephanie Brown: Sassmaster vs Jason's Overdramatic Schtick is only the beginning.

brilliant (like a confession) by kathkin (14K, Lois/Clark)

After years of pining after an alien demi-god who is, much as she hates to admit it, miles out of her league, Lois realises she's caught feelings for her co-worker. Unsure whether or not to tell him, she seeks advice from the most sensitive guy she knows - Superman. Things don't go as she expected...

I adored this Lois voice and all the identity mess, and admired how the fic manages to be both incredibly funny and genuinely tender.

Veritas by trickybonmot (19K, Wangxian)

Wei Ying needs a fake terrible date. Lan Zhan volunteers.

*wheezing with laughter* I can never go back to WWX as Troll Disaster Date for this trope again, Lan Zhan is CLEARLY the master. Ye gods, the shenanigans and horniness in this are amazing.

Five more long stories under the cut!

20K-30K

tell me your name, is it sweet by dexdefyingstunts (26K, Tim/Jason)

There's a pretty girl in this bar who won't stop looking at Jason.

Or: Jason meets med student Caroline Hill.

Normally I don't rec WIPs, but this one is pretty much pure porn with some genderfluid Tim, so while I am looking forward to the last chapter it's not gonna cliffhang you or anything.

Getting It Right by FabulaRasa (27K, Bruce/Hal)

Hal and Bruce spend an unexpected weekend together in Star City. Along they way they grapple with PTSD, internalized homophobia, financial instability, drug addiction, and physical abuse, but on the plus side they clean house at Blaster Bouncer.

Despite the summary's ominous (albeit accurate) listing, this is a shockingly soft story about Bruce having a panic attack at Ollie's birthday party, followed by an accidental sleepover with Hal, and then a sorta-accidental day-long date around town. So lovely.

OVER 60K

Proof by Westgate (66K, gen)

A Batfamily AU where Jason, Dick, Tim, and Damian meet first on the streets of Gotham, before they ever meet Bruce Wayne. Some details will feel familiar, and some will not. The end result, as it always should be, is family.

Mmm, found family + street kids + hurt/comfort. A cozy, tropey, hopeful read.

Under Vitrine Glass by galkyrie (67K, Tim/Jason)

Tim Drake is undercover investigating a potential serial killer who's using Gotham as their hunting ground when Jason returns from an off-planet mission with the Outlaws. The only problem? The investigation has put him thoroughly into The Red Hood's territory and blowing his cover or bringing him in this investigation is not worth the risk.

The last thing Tim expects after their first run-in with each other is Jason's interest in the person he's pretending to be.

I loved this as a casefile and as a slow burn romance.

Time Bomb Town by Moxibustion (112K, Tim/Jason)

In a world of scientifically proven psychic abilities, the practitioners - the so-called Talents - are called on to serve the public good. This is never more true than in Gotham, where the Wayne Parapsychic Institute works diligently for justice and peace in what is otherwise a mecca of rogue Talents. Bruce Wayne is one of the most powerful Talents on record; a Prime. So are all his children. All, that is, except for Tim Drake; a winged donkey to their high-flying Pegasus. Fed up with the constant reminders that he will never be able to catch up to their flight into the stars and beyond, he leaves.

Trying to put the shattered pieces of his life together, he comes across Jason Todd; former member of the Wayne Parapsychic Institute and a powerhouse in terms of Talent, alive in an asylum years after everyone assumed him dead.

Tim is determined to help Jason find a way back. Jason might end up teaching him a way forward.

Set in a world inspired by a series of Anne McCaffrey books, but you don't need to have read them (I haven't!) - it's a fun and plotty and angsty cyberpunk-ish adventure.

[dragonciphering]

#2 of my brain rots for Hektor-centric fics

———————————————————————

Here me out, we are all vibrating with suspense while waiting for Hades 2. So why not throw Hektor in the mix?

Apollo literally favored him so much (Hektor’s his blorbo) that after he almost dies to one of the Ajaxes (but is saved from the brink of death by zeus) in book 14 & 15, he helps him out (although he was ordered to), heals him, and leads the charge. There are so many times that Apollo saved his life it’s not even funny. Also, when Achilles does the whole “I’m going to destroy this guy’s body” thing, Apollo literally shames the other gods for letting it happen. Everyone agreed with him except for Hera, Athena, and Poseidon. (I’m pretty sure.)

So, if Apollo is helping out Melinoë and Co….he could probably bring Hektor into this. Based on what we know so far, we can figure out that Melionë is probably going to some sort of witch school. And Hektor is the brother of Cassandra. And she probably is at this school too.

Imagine Apollo going over to Hacate and just being like: “I know your teaching speciality is magic, but what if you teach Melinoe some purely physical fighting too?” And Hacate going: “I hate that you have a point.”

And then Apollo just yoinks Hektor away from the underworld. (If only for a little bit at a time.) By just kicking the door in and rushing into where he is, jumpscaring him while kind of explaining what he needs to do.

So what if when Hektor gets there, he meets Moros and Nemesis and they almost immediately decide that he’s now their little skrunkly wet cat and just get a bit protective of him or something. Which would be hilarious because he met his doom (Moros) because Achilles wanted revenge (Nemesis). So he wouldn’t be very happy with this arrangement.

And he would be an amazing teacher. And there’s no way he didn’t somehow have a purpose in is siblings training. Also, what if one of his first lessons he tells Melinoë is this: “Yes you can let rage, anger, or wrath fuel you, but never let it blind you.”

Let Melinoë adopt him as her honorary uncle or something. Have her be told by Hektor about the Trojan war, have her be taught that sometimes you have no control over something, have her be taught calming techniques and strategies, have her be taught strategies for fighting and ways to survive in politics, have her meet Hektor’s family, have her decide to punch Odysseus (or Achilles son) for killing Scamandrius, have her decide to kick Achilles (or his son) in the dick, and have her do that while understanding that —yes they did some wrong doing— but it wasn’t completely their fault.

Let Zagreus meet Melinoë’s honorary uncle and respect him and try to find a way to repay him for helping his sister and helping save the House when Hektor has no need for (in his opinion) repayment because he doesn’t know how much he matters. Let Melinoë try to do the same thing but not now how to. Let Thanatos feel kinda worried about how to interact with him due to all the deaths that occurred during the war and that he wasn’t the one that reaped him. (It was Hermès LMAO!)

Let the House be shocked because, they were not expecting a mortal shade to help with this. Let alone one who is, well, used to be from Troy.

Perhaps Hektor gets a promotion.

———————————————————————

And that’s my idea of Hektor somewhat unwillingly stopping Kronos.

[lqfiles]

THE WHOLE THING BETWEEN Y/N AND YANGYANG AND Y/N AND HAECHAN AND THEN JAEMIN AND RENJUN IS HILARIOUS

for some reason it reminded me of that spiderman meme in which all three are pointing at each other (it lowkey doesn't apply directly to the scenario, but still)

and yes renjun, I too would agree to spontaneous plans if offered a burger (I am the biggest homebody you'll ever see)

also karina trying to be friends with minjeong is so real like have you seen her ☝️😔 same

I KNOW IT'S BEEN A WHILE BUT ARMAGEDDON IS SO GOOD I LOVE THE GIRLS SM godspa at it again ‼️

ALSO (me saying 'also' 25 times is chronic) WAYV'S NEW ALBUM 👺 it's SO GOOD 🗣️ I was absolutely gagged when I heard she a wolf for the first time. They did not come to play call them slayv

anyway user lqfiles what have you been up toooo 🪿🪿🪿 I hope you've been well 🫡

-☄️

ynyangrenminhae beef feels like this like the whole house is brawling!!!

😭😭😭 that spidey meme is kinda fitting like i’m imagining that being them when they entered the shop just to see each other and rei was just on the side like 0..0 renjun is SOOOO me too ESPECIALLY if you’re paying for me too like i will be there NO MATTER WHAT. also i couldn’t NOT include jiminjeong i love them so bad having them in this fic without making them besties feels wrong..

AAAAAHHHH GODSPA IS SO AMAZING QUEENSPA YOURE DO AMAZING this comeback rally outdid every single one, and perhaps even savage (i know mys love to hold onto that one for dear life but it’s time we let go…) i still haven’t listened to the full album except for licorice cos i was WAITINGGG for that song, i still haven’t heard wayv song either but i remember it sounded good from the snippet i heard!!!

i’ve been well!!! its gonna be my birthday in a few hours and i’m gonna be officially legal i can’t believe it.. can’t pull the minor card anymore.. i wish i did more with my 18 years of life pllssss, i’m gonna celebrate it in school w my friend tomorrow tho so i’m excited :P how have u been?