#fantastic tales of adventures

[fantastictalesofadventure]

𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕂 𝕋𝕆ℂ𝕂 ⚔️ 🕓

[nevertoomanyspiders]

the boy(s), Scarecrow or Страшила as depicted in Alexander Volkov's Magic Land related media.

Fantastic Journey to Oz / Урфин Джюс и его деревянные солдаты (Urfin Jus and his Wooden Soldiers), 2017

Adventures in the Emerald City / Приключения в Изумрудном городе (1999-2000)

1959 illustration by Leonid Vladimirsky.

some of the cutest heckin scarecrow designs in media aaaaaaaa

[bookshelf-in-progress]

It's so nice to have this tiny little selection of WIPs to prioritize. Really helps me to keep my focus where it should be.

Wait, what's this?

IT'S A LONG-ABANDONED WIP WITH A STEEL CHAIR!!

[k--havok]

For the space-themed asks:

⭐️ Star - Do you have a favorite character? If so, why are they your favorite?

⭐️ Star - Do you have a favorite character? If so, why are they your favorite?

Oh god this is such a hard question 'cause I love ALL my characters, but for different reasons. I'm going to cheat and choose multiple favorites 'cause that's just how I roll.

Rane & Korzan

This is going to be obvious but it's Rane. Of course it's Rane. She's my absolute baby and the first D&D character I made by myself without (too!) much outside help I had my partner help me when I decided to multiclass her into paladin hahaha

Rane is incredibly special to me and I pulled a lot of inspo from different sources to make her. She's a magical girl. She has PTSD. She's been betrayed by those she loved most. She struggles controlling her anger. She loves makeup and dresses. She's ok with being doused in blood. And she's even pansexual.

In a lot of ways, she's a character I needed when I was young, need now, and will need in the future. She's feminine, a badass, has mental health issues and complex flaws, but also tries her best and has good intentions. I love her so much and she is just so special to me.

The Tales of Ozoarth

Ttoo has an ensemble cast and is a collection of different storylines rather than one story. The cast has only grown since its inception and is considerably large with nearly 10 main characters across different storylines.

I love a lot of the characters and it is so hard to choose a favorite. But I am going to try and go with Braxous, since he is the character that spawned the world and everything around it.

Braxous is an old character. He is now over 15 years old and has gone through a lot of changes since I first made him. He is a huge comfort character for me and helped me a lot through school and beyond.

He's 100% a self-indulgent edgy OC. He started that way and he will always be that way. His past is complicated, and he has complicated relationships with those who raised him. He was abused growing up, manipulated, and in turn, he became a monster early on.

He's a murderer. A betrayer. A liar. Every adult failed him in his life. He was manipulated beyond belief. Borne into a cult and later blamed for following blindly.

He's completely fucked in the head. He enjoys killing people. He loves violence and fighting. But he also loves taking a rest. The world stopping for a moment as he catches his breath.

He loves applesauce and sweets. His mouth and teeth are messed up so he mainly has to eat soft foods. He spends most his cash on buying gifts for friends and bailing them out of trouble. He has killed children.

He's protective of those he cares about, but keeps them at an arm's distance as he does not want to hurt them. He knows his lifestyle is dangerous. He knows he's bad. He's a living weapon; a blade for others to wield, and does not see himself as a real person. He wants to protect his loved ones not just from danger, but himself. But in turn, despite his passion, his relationships are always shallow.

He's an utter contradiction. Depersonalization made form. An anti-hero that crosses the line into villainy more than once. And I absolutely love him.

Waking into Divinity

Now this is a harder one than the other 2 'cause I adore both Casrath and Rylie. But I think I'm going to lean more toward Rylie as I did take a lot of inspo from myself while creating them.

Rylie works a dead-end job and suffers from depression and anxiety. They have little passion in life. They're boring. They know they're boring. Just like most people are a little boring.

But they do have passions. Wants. But all of it is smothered by fear. Of the unknown. Of what could be. Of failure. It rules their life.

Casrath is a catalyst. And although Rylie's life is turned upside-down when they meet and form a relationship with them, Casrath does not cure Rylie's depression and anxiety. He does not chase away any fears of theirs. Casrath brings out the best in Rylie; their passion, their interests, and highlights their personality.

But ultimately, its Rylie who climbs out of their abyss alone. Casrath helps them, but through him, Rylie finds themself again. And finds who they are and what they stand for. And I think that's what makes Rylie oh-so special to me.

--

This is so freakin' long and I apologize for rambling so much!! I just really love and find a LOT of comfort in my OCs so I can talk about them for HOURS. Thank you so much for the ask!!

[andromedasummer]

having a bit of a shit day. going to read dnd books abt it.

[oakendesk]

Fantastic Adventures May 1939

Robert Fuqua

Detective Tales May 1939

Tom Lovell

[santaclaustales]

Welcome to SantaClausTales.com

Welcome to SantaClausTales.com Where magical stories come to life!

About Us At SantaClausTales.com, we bring the enchanting world of storytelling to children everywhere. Our mission is to spark imagination and joy in the hearts of young listeners through captivating tales that transport them to magical lands, introduce them to charming characters, and fill their dreams with wonder.

Categories:

Classic Children’s Tales Dive into timeless stories that have been cherished by generations. From the adventures of Cinderella to the tales of Little Red Riding Hood, these stories continue to inspire and delight children of all ages.

Animal Tales Animal Tales is a fun story category that we have created for you to instill animal love in your children. Children who are instilled with animal love show more polite and kind behavior towards people. That’s why we recommend you to read animal tales to your children every evening.

Adventure Stories Join brave heroes on thrilling quests and explore mystical lands full of surprises. These stories are perfect for kids who love excitement and daring escapades.

Bedtime Stories Soothing and gentle tales to wind down the day. These stories are designed to help little ones relax and drift off to sleep with sweet dreams.

Moral Stories Teach valuable life lessons through stories that emphasize kindness, honesty, and other important virtues. These tales are not only entertaining but also educational.

Why Choose SantaClausTales.com?

Safe and Child-Friendly Content: Every story is carefully selected to ensure it is suitable for young audiences.

Easy Navigation: Find the perfect story with our simple and intuitive website layout.

Listen Anywhere, Anytime: Our stories are available online, making it easy for children to enjoy them from the comfort of their home or on the go.

Join us at SantaClausTales.com, where every story is a gift of imagination and wonder!

[imfromsixam]

The Princess and the Vampire Kids Bedroom (CC Pack for The Sims 4)

I'm happy to share my latest CC pack with you, the magical realms of "The Princess and the Vampire Kids Bedroom".  This CC pack is a celebration of childhood fantasies, with two distinct themes: the grace of a princess and the mystique of a vampire.

Imagine a bedroom that captures the whimsy of a fairy tale princess or the playful spookiness of a vampire's lair. It's not just furniture; it's an adventure waiting to unfold!

In the Princess Bedroom, elegant fantasy takes center stage. A canopy with drapes and an elegant puffy bed that are fit for royalty. In addition to other items such as a brand new activity table, a rug with cute designs, a little cloud wall lamp to enhance the room, and some other elements perfect for your little prince or princess. This bedroom is out of a fairy tale.

On the other hand, the Vampire Bedroom brings iconic vampire aesthetics to life in a kid-friendly way. Think bat-themed decor, coffin-shaped bed that's both spooky and inviting. A toy box with some mysterious plush friends and a cute Dracula lamp. It's a perfect blend of darkness and fun that'll leave your little Sims feeling enchanted.   I can't wait to see your Sims' kids embark on fantastical journeys in these enchanting bedrooms! 🌈🏰��‍♂️

▶️GET EARLY ACCESS HERE

Check out all the info about this pack on my website here.

[dredgesnails]

stardew valley au where joel and skizz are new residents to pelican town (hermit town?). joel just inherited a large farm from his late grandfather and skizz is moving in with his old friend after reconnecting with him and wanting a fresh start. and the townspeople are like, kinda weird.

bdubs is fine enough - he’s a sweet man with a fun personality and he’s the local builder, but it’s almost frightening how fast he constructs new buildings when joel needs them. pearl, their resident postmaster, is also pretty normal other than the fact that skizz never seems to be awake early enough to catch her delivering mail. scar is lovely but he’s never available when joel wants another chicken. the mayor, xisuma, is pleasant too, if a little eccentric at times, but he doesn’t really seem to do much in town.

for the most part, skizz is settling in well. he’s moved in with impulse, who runs the local blacksmith in town, and he gets along well with most of the local townspeople. he’s started spending his evenings at the local saloon listening to ren regale the patrons with fantastical tales while he and stress serve up food and drinks, and he finds himself growing close with cleo, the local sculptor. he even gets a new wardrobe from hypno free of charge, and sometimes helps cub out with his totally scientific studies and creations.

skizz also joins forces with beef (who helps to supply the local general store that xb and keralis run) in terrorising the local manager of the corporate chain grocery store that no one likes. doc is a terrible manager but would make a fun supervillain (according to joe hills, the bookseller who appears once in a blue moon but seems to know doc more than anyone in town).

joel, on the other hand, seems to only be interacting with the strangest residents in town. he discovers the adventurer’s guild after only a couple weeks, and is only somewhat irritated by iskall’s refusal to pronounce his name correctly. false promises to give him prizes if he can kill enough monsters, which is not something joel had expected to be doing when he pictured farm life, but here he is. he stumbles upon a travelling cart one day, and the man inside insists he’s a knight from a faraway land, that he risked his life to make it all the way here to sell his wares. it’s all stuff joel can get cheaper elsewhere.

he’s pretty sure the local doctor has no real medical training, but then he passes out while fighting monsters and he wakes up completely fine, so zedaph probably knows what he’s doing. maybe. when joel isn’t passing out he sometimes makes trips to the library-slash-museum, which is probably almost completely empty because mumbo, who begs joel for anything to display, looks like he’s never fought a duggie in his life. eventually mumbo gives joel a key to the sewers, which are way cooler than they have any right to be, and that’s where he finds jevin’s secret sewer shop. jevin lives in town. he just also has a shop hidden underground. joel has stopped asking questions by now.

and then there are the three who live by the beach. etho spends most of his time tinkering around the fishing hut or hovering around bdubs, but sometimes he drives the bus to the desert. only sometimes. there might be something under his mask. no one knows for sure. gem runs the fish shop most days and she claims she’s a sailor, but joel has never seen a single working boat around despite all the ocean. she can also hold her breath underwater for an uncannily long amount of time, like, scarily so, and will sometimes disappear for a few days and return with an abundance of treasures. joel has never seen her leave by boat. grian fishes a lot and runs the shop when gem can’t, and he sometimes talks as though the sea can speak to him. skizz has caught him staring into space for extended periods of time. one time he waded into the water and just stood there, head down, muttering to himself.

apparently there used to be a lighthouse but ���it’s gone now”. gem says if they ask bdubs nicely enough maybe they can build another one, but she and grian are banned from build requests after the last incident with their pet snails (joel has never seen the snails, but scar complains about them enough to convince him they’re real).

there also might be some kind of wizard who lives in the creepy tower in the woods. skizz has heard he’s the one who helps maintain the power in the valley, and joel’s convinced he hallucinated seeing him once until he recieves a letter from the wizard himself, and visits him only to find that the strange fire-creature he saw that one time was, in fact, tango, who is human for the most part, he just sets himself on fire sometimes.

[mindmelter]

A Body Stealer Tale: Tourists

Nikolay was a muscular and tall man; he was doing his night jogging when he passed by a gay couple; they looked like tourists.

He noticed the two men ogling him, but he was used to guys ogling his muscles, so he didn't pay much attention and just continued jogging.

"Freeze." Nikolay heard one of the men say behind him. For some reason, he did, and for some weirder reason, his vision got blurred and his mind became foggy.

He felt like his brain was hit by a strong blow leaving him disoriented.

"I have to wear this hunk! Take a photo of us babe." Nikolay heard one of them say, he then saw the short, bald guy approach him and cup his sweaty biceps, "His arms are massive, babe. Flex for us, you dumb hunk." The guy ordered, and Nikolay did. While he stood there flexing, Nikolay couldn't form a single straight thought, but he still could feel something was wrong. He felt the bald man's hands grabbing his thick biceps while the other man was taking pictures of them.

"Done," The man with the camera said.

The bald man then turned to look at Nikolay and smirked at him, "You're so hot, thank you for building such a hot body," He said, putting a hand inside Nikolay's pants and cupping his cock and balls, "Soon everything will be mine, say it, you dumb hunk."

"Soon everything will be yours, I'm a dumb hunk." Nikolay said, his voice deep and robotic.

"Where are you going to put him babe? Do you want to bring him to our hotel?" The other man asked.

"No, I can't wait that much, I need to wear him right now."

"There's an alley right here, you could do it there. I will stay here watching the entrance."

"Thank you babe." The bald man then turned to Nikolay, who was still double flexing, motionless like a mannequin. "Follow me to the alley, these biceps are gonna be mine."

"Follow you to the alley... these biceps are gonna be yours," Nikolay repeated mindlessly, following the strange man to the dark alley.

Standing at the entrance of the alley, the man's boyfriend scrolled through the photos he'd just taken of his boyfriend with the muscular stranger. Two years had passed since they first found each other, and every moment had been an exploration, an adventure. This trip to Russia was no different—a celebration of their anniversary and their shared desire to wear men. His boyfriend had always been drawn to the rugged allure of Russian men, and tonight was the fulfillment of that long-held fantasy.

He was used to his boyfriend wanting to wear every hot man they came across, and he loved him for it. He could hear grunts and moans coming from the alley—the grunts belonging to the muscular man, and the moans to his boyfriend

He couldn't help but smile. This was their way to love each other; there was no other way for two body stealers to show love.

He smiled when he saw the hot hunk walk out of the alley with a sexy grin. "So? How do I look?" The man asked, giving him a double flex.

"You look fantastic, babe," He responded in awe; he stepped closer and gave him a passionate kiss. He pulled back and caressed his boyfriend's new face. "We should get back to our hotel, I can't wait to test out your new Russian body in bed."

[fantastictalesofadventure]

Some Olympics Shooting x D&D/TTRPG memes for ya'all!

[mia-nina-lilly]

Holly Black's fairy universe is so rich, expansive, and solid that one can have some certainty about the nature of her fey without it being affirmed all the time.

For example, one thing that seems clear is that fairies feel, and they feel intensely. If they hate, they can hate for centuries. If they love, they will love eternally and be willing to give their life for their beloved. In "The Darkest Part of the Forest," this is told as a horror story. In "Modern Faerie Tales," Kaye's entire adventure is based on her desire to become Roiben's consort.

In "The Cruel Prince" trilogy, Balekin hints at this difference when he talks strangely about how humans love — this is all without mentioning Tiernan and Hyacinthe, who became enemies and still love each other enough to fight for each other, or Lady Nore with her late husband's hands around her neck.

We see this firsthand with Cardan not once, but twice! The first time occurs when he throws himself in front of Jude to save her from being hit by one of Grimsen's traps, and the second time is when, similarly, Cardan throws himself in front of Jude to save her from having a blade buried in her body.

The first time, he shows surprise with himself. It was the moment he realized he loved her on that level — in fact, he just loves her as is natural to his species. The second time, any surprise seems to have vanished, as if he had already accepted that he would do it for her a thousand more times if necessary.

That is, the fairies indeed love as described in the poems, and that is simply fantastic on the part of the author because, let's face it, it makes perfect sense considering the aesthetic of the fairies and everything else. Yes, all of this is about how much I love Holly Black and her skill in creating such wonderfully subtle wonder-filled settings ✨✨

[dangermousie]

Middle (sort of) of 2024 list - cdrama edition.

Yeah I realize it's neither the end of the year, nor half a year, but what's the point of being predictable? It's also gonna make my end of year post easier. This is only going to cover cdramas that aired in 2024; if I watched it but it was made in a different year, it’s not on the list.

DRAMAS WATCHED

(In order of liking from least to most as opposed to pure quality; I am including if I’ve seen enough to make up my mind; yes I realize that’s inaccurate, but that’s my list)

42 My Divine Emissary - it's actually a pretty good drama year when the worst cdrama I've checked out this year is merely utterly shrill and brain dead but not horrifyingly offensive to good taste.

41 Fight for Love - they had wonderful actors and a great premise and utterly wasted it. There might someday be a good drama about a female general torn between a royal and an enemy general but this ain't it.

40 Peacock in Wonderland - I am a few decades too old for this brain dead fest but I am glad Zhou Jun Wei is not canceled at least.

39 Her Fantastic Adventures - honestly, this, MDE and Revenger are all the same type of subgenre - they aren't offensive they are just as empty as air. This also suffers from casting an utter dud as ML and a charisma boat as SML. Why?

38 Lady Revenger Returns from the Fire - the main thing I remember from this is that Miles Wei must have stolen the wig maker's parking spot. That wig is the one that should have gone into the fire.

37 Your Trap/Imprisoned Love - the plot of this mini made no sense but the softcore vibes of sanitized 1990s cinemax were on point!

36 Fox Matchmaker: The Red Moon Pact - it's so pretty, so full of gorgeous costumes and actors and I enjoyed the first few eps, but ultimately it was like watching colorful paint dry. It was so dull, I couldn't even hate watch it, and that is more damning than anything.

35 The Unexpected Marriage - cutesy dumb period romcom. Could be worse, not that this is much of a praise.

34 Love’s Rebellion - so twee, so precious, so full of cutesy awful CGI and actors who aren't bothering. I am not sure why Zhang Linghe and Jing Tian are in this mess that looks like rainbow vomited on a xianxia set.

33 My Wife's Double Life - her life may be double but her brain is only half.

32 Jade's Fateful Love - I lost some braincells trying this one, but (a) it's gorgeous and (b) no transmigration say you? Multiple transmigration in first ep alone! Good for you, makers!

31 Follow My Heart - how do you have Luo Yunxi, Song Yi and Cheng Lei and waste them so utterly? First few eps were nice and then it's like exercise in how much you can tolerate before you call it quits.

30 Sword and Fairy 4 - it's kinda a mess but I loved the actors and some of the plots and you can do worse.

29 Blossoms in Adversity - dumb as a set of particularly dumb bricks and ML I don't think could act if his life depended on it, but it was strangely addictive and I watched it often before better dramas. It's just a genuinely good time somehow!

28 Judge Dee - it's not you it's me in action. It's smart and gorgeous and well acted, I just don't do procedurals.

27 The Substitute Princess’ Love - it's like some of those trashy web novels I enjoy. It was clearly cut, its budget was equivalent to loose change found in the pockets of makes of Fox Spirit Matchmaker, but it was a surprisingly fun watch, though I enjoyed the first half better than the second. Also as a drama old, it was a fun blast from the past seeing Dylan Kuo (if you have never watched the old twdrama The Outsiders, what are you even doing with your life?)

26 Rise from the Ashes - a wacky as hell mini where reborn FL wreaks revenge with help of her fake uncle as they carry on as some sort of Borgia/Phillip II of Spain fame hybrid. If you don't need to use your brain, you could have a worse time.

25 The Legend of Heroes - it suffered from me seeing other versions of this tale before that I liked more and not loving how dark looking it is but that cast is A+ and Wang Hongyi was a revelation as Yang Kang.

24 Beauty Strategy - a mini of what a few years ago would have been a proper angsty drama of palace scheming enemies while lovers, powerless emperor etc etc. Honestly, I loved it.

23 Lovesickness - this year's gender-reversed Ancient Love Song, not as artistic or good but still a good time about a woman traveling back in time and falling for a powerful but doomed duke.

22 Fragments of Kylin - demon slayer falls for a demon; this one came out of nowhere and didn't have much of a budget but is surprisingly lovely.

21 Enslaved by Love - the only reason it's not the most fucked up drama on this list is because Shadow Sect, Palace Shadows and Burning Flames exist. The ML is toxic enough to be banned by the Geneva convention but FL does get some of her own back and also if you ever wanted to see blindness curing sex, boy do I have a drama for you!

20 Secrets of the Shadow Sect - head of sect lady and her very very subby bodyguard. What's not to love?

19 Palace Shadows: Between Two Princes - ML pretends to be his own twin, bdsm and sluttiness ensues. I cannot even explain how wild this drama is but the acting is on point and way way fun!

18 Dashing Youth - I had no expectations of this drama (either indifferent to or dislike everyone in the cast, wuxia and wuxia-adjacent is rarely my genre, the number of characters is huge) but I loved how under its bright colors, it eventually gets very dark (it's quite old school that way) and somehow I am invested in everyone in the huge cast. This being a prequel to The Blood of Youth makes us know the fates of many of the characters and this adds the air of tragic inevitability to it all.)

17 The Last Immortal - a surprisingly sweet and touching xianxia that works largely because Zhao Lusi and Wang Anyu are so so so so solid separately and together.

16 Burning Flames - the most gonzo drama on this list. I love it for committing to insanity as it should (if you pick insane source material, commit.) Humans taking on the worst Gods since Olympus, fur and chains, sentient crystal FL, ML who goes from Crown Prince to mine slave to rebel leader, bare chests and fur, demon elves, a villain that leaches color from the world - this drama has everything and I loved its unhinged glory.

15 Lost You Forever 2 - it would have been higher except it fell apart in the last third so badly I am still wondering how the makers could misunderstand their own characters and their own narratives so badly. The first season was a masterpiece. This is a hot mess.

14 The Princess Royal/The Grand Princess - I am in the minority of finding this drama very mid. The acting was fine (except for former eunuch dude), the writing was fine, but I never really got invested alas. I don't even know why. I think it's just not my type of narrative; there was no intensity.

13 Different Princess - a ridiculous amount of fun and ship about an author falling through to her own novel and falling for the villain.

12 Sword and Fairy 6 - I love this tale; the young OTP (a whale weapon and a clone of her trigger? More wholesome than you think) who are so ride or die for each other, the other amazing characters (sect leader who has to live as a man and her "twin" who is an ancient trapped spirit, a wolf demon, etc...) It's just genuinely good and proof that targeted to younger audience doesn't have to be bad.

11 In Blossom - sure, we all know JJY can't act, but the narrative was so fun and the visuals were so gorgeous and Liu Xueyi so gorgeous and magnetic in his first proper Male Lead role, it was all worth it. I liked the first half when they were still cautious of each other more than the second but this is just a good time!

10 Hard to Find - my second favorite mini on the list, this is an aesthetic feast. The doomed couple from enemy kingdoms, the vengeance, the twists - if ever a mini deserved to be a proper drama, this would be it. But alas, if it was they'd probably not let it.

9 The Double - unhinged web novel vibe done so perfectly in the inimitable Yu Zheng style. The leads were so good even the amazing villains didn't truly steal the show. Like with a lot of cdramas, it lost a lot of steam in second half for me, but still a great watch.

8 Fortune Writer - the best mini this year and better than most "proper" cdramas (Douban raters agree), this tale of villains in love fighting the narrative has a lot to say about writing cliches and writing conventions. I love how clever it is and how it actually made me care for the characters.

7 Tender Light - except for that ending, this was in the running for my favorite 2024 cdrama. The writers' lack of ability to commit and carry through pushed it lower but otherwise it's a genuine masterpiece. The acting, the chemistry, the looping narrative, what it has to say about abuse and complicity of society and blazing your own moral path is something else.

6 Derailment - who knew a little quasi scifi modern would be this high but this one is amazing. If you watch one modern this year, make it this one. Our FL is a rich girl a little in the future who somehow wakes up in a different timeline a few years back in the body of that universe's version of her (who is poor and has been missing) and her one connection is a young man who was in love with that universe's version of her. I don't want to say more so as not to spoil because the twists are twisty but this is EVERYTHING and also addresses transmigration, what it means to love, what is ethical etc etc. And that OTP!

5 Snowfall - a fever dream of a vampire narrative set in an alternate universe of the Republican era, it's gorgeous, passionate, hella queer and just like watching the most amazing fanfic come to life.

4 Heroes - a complete masterpiece about three men about to be on the scrapheap of history in the Qing Dynasty about to fall (a constable devoted to obsolete norms, who spent his whole life studying for the imperial exam which got canceled, the world's best swordsman in the era of guns, and a former imperial guard who emerges from prison into a different world) whose stories intersect as they search for treasure and the women and other people in their lives. This is smart, impeccably acted, filmed in a stunning way, bleak and funny at once and - I don't use the term masterpiece often but I will use it here.

3 The Legend of Shen Li - I am often indifferent to xianxia that suffers from too much CGI, hella immaturity and not enough stakes. Shen Li is everything. It's gorgeously filmed, it's adult, it gives the story time to breathe and centers it on characters and relationships. And the OTP is everything you can ever dream of - it reunites Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin, totally healing those Princess Agents wounds - their chemistry is still utter fire but the narrative supports them every step of the way.

2 Eternal Brotherhood - if JoL2 did not come out this year, this would be my favorite cdrama of the year. It's clearly a passion project with a small budget but this complex and grim tale of three rather different sworn brothers in a world at war is gorgeous, smart, well acted, dark and inspiring at once. There are shots that take my breath away, the love stories are amazing, the pace is perfect, and ohhh our complex mainsssssss.

1 Joy of Life 2 - nothing can beat this masterpiece. The first season was perfect and somehow the second is even more perfect. It's smart, it's funny, it's heartbreaking, the cast is still impeccable and Zhang Ruoyun still gives a completely jawdropping performance as the focus of all the madness Fan Xian. If you watch only one cdrama this year, make it this one.

FAVORITE DRAMA

Joy of Life 2 - there is not one second I forwarded, not one unnecessary scene, not one weak link character. It's a smart, fierce masterpiece.

Eternal Brotherhood is a runner up - it came out of nowhere and owned my whole heart. It's the sole other cdrama this year where I did not ff a second.

WORST DRAMA

My Divine Emissary - honestly, this is a decent year because even this drama was just "forget it" not burning hate.

FAVORITE MALE CHARACTER

Fan Xian (Zhang Ruoyun), Joy of Life 2 - how could it ever be anyone but smart, irreverent, fierce, broken, idealistic, funny Fan Xian. The man who fights against the horrors of the universe, who remains human while being so larger than life. This character is everything.

Runner up: Zhou Luo (Zhang Xincheng), Tender Light - idealistic loner who refuses to compromise his principles even as it would be easier to, even as it destroys his life, ZXC has always been a solid actor but here he is beyond.

Alternatively, Zichuan Xiu (Yang Xuwen), Eternal Brotherhood - only way to describe Xiu is "trauma sunshine." He's funny, he's irrevocably fucked up, he is magnetic and intense and he fights for his hopeless ideals and he breaks and he keeps going.

or Xing Zhi (Lin Gengxin), the lonely ancient god discovering the pleasure of life for the first time in aeons.

FAVORITE FEMALE CHARACTER

Shen Li (Zhao Liying), The Legend of Shen Li - so fierce, so certain, so alive. She is a goddess but ZLY made her feel so real.

Runner up: Nan Ya (Tong Yao), Tender Light - an abuse victim who keeps trying to find a way out, she's strong and damaged and complex and honestly, one of the best performances this year.

Alternatively, Jiang Xiao Yuan (Liu Haocun), Derailment - she makes a character that in other hands would be boring or trite, someone I want to reach through to the screen and protect and love.

NEEDS TO BE MURDERED

99% of the denizens of the town in Tender Light - selfish every day denizens monstrous because of their very everydayness - they watch abuse and choose to blame the victim and gossip and enjoy the view. I hated them all.

FAVORITE SHIP

Shen Li x Xing Zhi, The Legend of Shen Li - the chemistry, the yearning, the slow inevitable collapse into admittance, the way he protects the world and she protects him, the way they dance around each other, her being the aggressor, his surrender to forbidden emotion, their utter mutual belief in each other's competence. They are everything to me.

Runner up: the OTP in Derailment. Those two went through some mind and soul breaking stuff and made it out.

FAVORITE SECONDARY OTP

Amusingly enough, Fu Xin Bo is the male actor in both - the crossdressing sect leader x wolf demon OTP in Sword and Fairy 6, and First Prince x Eldest Princess in Joy of Life 2. What can I say, man knows how to pick them. Those OTPs are both utterly adorable!

If we are talking about an OTP where it's not that it's not the main but it's not a ship-centric drama so they don't get much time, then we have either Fan Xian x Lin Wan'er from Joy of Life 2 - she is his peace and sanity

and Si Yilin x Ka Dan, Eternal Brotherhood - they are both such desperately good people in a mad world, tender with each other despite surrounding cruelty.

NOTP

The couple in Fox Spirit Matchmaker - such pretty people, and so bland and boring and pointless together. It was kinda amazing.

FAVORITE SCENE

God, so many good scenes this year so far - Fan Xian watching the death of the old censor and the aftermath, in JoL2; his confrontation with Wan'er after she finds out about the truth behind her brother's death, the scene where he poisons Second Prince, his scene with the registrar. Xiu giving up his future to protect the surrendered soldiers only to come back and find Di Lin executed them all in EB, the scene in Ning's bedroom when he tells her how he really feels because she can't hear, the very end of that season and Di Lin striding into the light, Ka Dan and SYL's night. The last scene of LYN and his girl in Heroes, the way Heroes always intercuts the golden past of the guard and princess and the dreary present (especially when we see her bicycle spin out of control back when and her husband lose it in the present and this time there is nobody to catch her), the big reveal in Derailment and the hairwashing scene, Mi Lan touching Vamp Daddy's face as their thing in Snowfall, and the cage stuff etc etc.

BIGGEST CRUSH

Shen Zhiheng (Gao Weiguang), Snowfall - Vamp Daddy made me hormonal in a way I haven't felt for a cdrama lead since the heady days of Darren Wang in The Wolf. Those outfits, that hair, that height, that restraint, that lack of restraint. THE CHAINS

BEST SCENE STEALER CHARACTER

Liu Duan Duan as Second Prince in Joy of Life 2 - what a performance! Unhinged, magnetic, pitiable, terrifying and always mesmerizing. The Second Prince is Fan Xian's foil and a worthy one. LDD is always a great actor, and with a role that actually gives him something to sink his teeth into - wow!

MVP OF THE YEAR

Liu Yuning (Heroes, Eternal Brotherhood) - there is only one actor who somehow managed to be a main character in two of my five top 2024 dramas. His ruthless, driven Di Lin in EB, who knows he's doomed as the ruler's executioner but has no other way forward, and the man out of time (best swordsman in a gun era) in Heroes are both unforgettable characters in amazing dramas.

ACTING SURPRISE

Ouyang Nana - Li Muge performs miracles. He made Yang Chaoye be good in Heroes (2022) and now Nana, who was always as wooden as a post, is a revelation as blind abused girl who becomes a vampire in Snowfall.

NEEDS A SEQUEL

Joy of Life 2 of course - I need to see the looming confrontation between Fan Xian and the emperor, though not sure how that will pass censorship.

NEEDS SCISSORS TAKEN TO IT

FF button has cured me of finding contenders for this category, but perhaps cutting out a lot of terrible acting and lack of stage presence of "not yet a eunuch" dude in The Princess Royal, would have improved it.

TOO MANY SCISSORS TAKEN TO IT

Lost You Forever 2 - there were other issues with it, but all the cuts couldn't have helped with coherency.

TROPE THAT NEEDS TO DIE

Same as last year - the emperor cannot be irredeemable. WTF, China, you are a communist country! Though they are nibbling at the edges this year.

FAVORITE TROPE WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF

Men (and women) knowingly fighting for a doomed cause because otherwise they'd cease to be who they are.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Lost Your Forever 2 - the first season was my favorite drama of 2023 but LYF2 just fell apart so so so badly, it was almost fascinating. It totally eviscerated the characters and the meanings of the story.

BIGGEST GOOD SURPRISE

Three out of the top 5 dramas on my list are not dramas that were on my radar at all before airing - Heroes, Eternal Brotherhood and Snowfall were not anything I anticipated, let alone I realized how much I'd love them. Same for Derailment and Tender Light. This has been a year of surprises.

2024 DRAMAS I HAVEN’T SEEN THAT I MOST WANT TO WATCH

I have honestly watched almost everything I wanted. Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 2 will be the one I will list since I still need to finish s1.

BEST NON-2024 DRAMA I’VE WATCHED IN 2024

Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty - I, a procedural and mystery hater (especially when there is close to no romance) somehow fell like a ton of bricks for this gorgeous, smart, impeccably acted show.

MOST ANTICIPATED

This is always a bad idea and kinda a curse but I really really want The Story of Pearl Girl, with Zhao Lusi and Liu Yuning because I love them separately and together and the thought of them reuniting is a dream come true. Also Eternal Brotherhood 2 (it's filmed but they can't air it until a year from EB1), Love of Nirvana with Ren Jialun and Li Landi, and Snowy Night: Timeless Love with Li Qin and Zheng Shunxi.

[60s-heartshaped-chevrolet]

SPECIFIC MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS #2

🌸Dreamy Escapes: Enchanting Old Fairy Tale Adaptations🌸

Hello, dreamers! 🌷🧚‍♀️✨

When the golden days of summer arrive, there's nothing quite like immersing oneself in the ethereal charm of fairy tales. Here are some vintage gems that provide a delightful escape into worlds where dreams and reality intertwine, capturing the essence of summer's enchanting spirit. 🍄🌿✨

🏰 Deváté Srdce (The Ninth Heart) (1978) Directed by Juraj Herz, this Czechoslovakian fairy tale follows Martin on a quest to save a princess from a dark sorcerer. With its gothic atmosphere and enchanting visuals, The Ninth Heart is a spellbinding mix of adventure and romance. 🌹✨

2. 🐉 Peau d'Âne (Donkey Skin) (1970) It's a whimsical adaptation of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale with surreal visuals, vibrant costumes, and a touch of musical magic. This film is a visual feast that perfectly captures the ethereal spirit of fairy tales. 👑✨

3. ˖🐚🫧 Rusalochka (The Little Mermaid) (1976) This Soviet adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale brings a haunting beauty to the classic story. It captures the melancholy and magic of the mermaid’s world. This film is a must-watch for fairy tale enthusiasts. 🧜‍♀️✨

4. 🦄Jak se budí princezny (How to Wake a Princess) (1978) is a charming Czechoslovakian film directed by Václav Vorlíček. It's a delightful retelling of the Sleeping Beauty tale, following a prince's quest to awaken a princess from a magical slumber. The film features enchanting storyline and picturesque settings, blending romance, adventure, and classic fairy tale magic beautifully. 🪄💫

5.🎭 Tři oříšky pro Popelku (Three Wishes for Cinderella) (1973) Another Czechoslovakian film (I love them) features Cinderella, played by Libuše Šafránková, who uses three magical hazelnuts to change her destiny. The film’s enchanting scenery and heartwarming narrative create a perfect escape into a magical winter wonderland. ❄️🔮

6.🦋 The Singing Ringing Tree (1957) This surreal and visually captivating story follows a prince on a quest to win the love of a princess, with the help of a magical tree. Its fantastical sets and dreamlike quality make it an enchanting watch. 🍃📜

Light some candles, pour yourself a refreshing summer drink, and let these vintage fairy tales whisk you away to magical realms.

Send you love and stardust (another list soon)🎀🪞🩰🦢🕯️

[k--havok]

Incorrect Quotes Tag

Shout out to @vsnotresponding for tagging me in this game! It looks like SO much fun and I am so excited to participate!!!

Rules: Generate incorrect quotes from this website and tag someone else for every quote you post

No Pressure Tag: @oh-no-another-idea @ceph-the-ghost-writer @winterandwords @bookish-galaxy @rachaellawrites @gracehosborn @jjm-blogspot and an open tag for whoever wants to join in!

Gonna put the quotes under the cut to save some dash space <3 I did about 5 quotes for 3 chosen projects.

The Tales of Ozoarth

Aeztin: You can do it Braxous! Aeztin: But if you can't, at least your death will be quick, painless, and really cool to watch.

Xania, to Braxous: If you see Aeztin, give her this message *makes a neutral face* Xania: She'll know what it means. *later* Braxous: oh, and Xania said to give you a message. Braxous: *makes a neutral face* Aeztin: Oh no. The neutral face of displeasure.

Reluz: I love murder mysteries! Braxous, trying to impress them: I've been a suspect in four murder cases.

Tanym: A fistfight CAN be romantic.

*The gang's thoughts on stabbing* Tanym: Would never stab anyone. Xania: Would stab someone in retaliation. Aeztin: Yells "I won't hesitate, bitch!" first. Navo: Would stab without warning. Braxous: Would stab as a warning.

Waking into Divinity

Rylie: What’s your body count? Casrath: Do you mean sex or murder?

Damien: Why would you do that? Rylie: Because I feel guilty. Jessica: Guilt is a trick emotion. It’s put there by your parents to stop you from doing things that feel good.

The Threadweaver: You use humor to deflect your trauma. Rylie: Awww, thanks- The Threadweaver: That’s not a good thing. Rylie: All I’m hearing is that you think I’m funny.

Rylie: I'm having problems with a guy… Jessica: Like his dead body won't fit into your trunk kind of problems, or you like him kind of problems?

Rylie: Did you buy eggs like I asked? Casrath: Even better! Rylie: What the fuck did you- Casrath: *holding up a chicken* Her name is Fluffy.

Rane and Korzan's Fantastical Adventures

Korzan: Hey Rane, can I get some icecream? Rane: Only a spoonful! Korzan: *Proceeds to pull out a comically large spoon.*

Rane: Korzan, no. Korzan: Korzan, yes.

Korzan: Hey Rane, can you give me the opposite of these words? Korzan: Always, Coming, From, Take, Me, Down. Rane: Never, Going, To, Give, You- Rane: The fucking satisfaction.

Rane: *nudges Korzan at 3am* Pretty fucked up that we depict the moon as a girl and the sun as a boy. They're just floating rocks in space. Korzan? Wake up, Korzan! Listen! They're sexless! Korzan: The sun isn't a rock, go back to sleep.

Korzan: What's this? Rane, hugging Korzan: Affection! Korzan: Disgusting. Korzan: ...Do it again.

Ok bonus for Rane and Korzan 'cause their dynamic cracks me up

Rane: Oh, fiddlesticks! That really ruffles my feathers! Korzan: Please, just say fuck.

[inkichan]

YouTube Channels for Kids by JLPT Levels

(⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ resources

こんにちは, Japanese learners! Learning a language is an exciting adventure, isn't it? To add a spark of joy to your Japanese learning journey, here's a collection of YouTube channels tailored for kids. Organized by JLPT levels, these channels offer a blend of education and entertainment for learners at different stages. Keep in mind, though, that JLPT levels aren't an exact science like math – language learning can be subjective in terms of difficulty. However, these resources provide a fantastic starting point and a fun way to explore the world of Japanese language and culture. Let's hop into this delightful world of animated learning and playful discoveries!

Friendly reminder to adjust your way of learning in order to make the most of what you're studying to reach the goal you truly want! read my post about it (ᵔ◡ᵔ)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N 5 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Curious George (N5 level)

— Japanese folk tales/anime series (Japanese audio/Japanese subtitles) from BomBom Academy (N5 level)

— Peppa Pig (N5-4 level)

— Anpanman (N5-4 level)

— NHK education (N5-4 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N4 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Cinnamon Roll, Sanrio (N4 level)

— [Anime] Atashin'chi (N4-3 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N3 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Sesame Street Japan (N3 level)

— Chibi Maruko Chan (N3-2 level)

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴N2 ╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱

— Precure (N2 level)

またね～@inkichan

꒰ა ˚₊ ✧・┈・╴﹕꒰ ᐢ｡- ༝ -｡ᐢ ꒱﹕╴・┈・𐑺 ‧₊˚໒꒱