#genuinely i do not know what to make of the k/k in the novels. it's lampshaded multiple times by kyon as

[daisyachain]

my stance on k/k is that the Haruhi Suzumiya novels are a charming, enjoyable genre blend of romance, sci-fi, and magical realism. Koizumi is a sparkling mixer to the heady main story as our main explicator and expositionist. He's a well-spoken narrator who verbalizes the more complex concepts at play in the stories, making them a summer cocktail rather than a stiff shot. Kyon is the trope-defining sardonic narrator who gives shape to the story and is the one to ultimately sell the Haruhi Suzumiya series to us as the reader. Between the two of them, Koizumi and Kyon tell us the story of Haruhi and they are instrumental in what we-the-audience make of events. Their dynamic between the true believer and the sceptic, the fake smile and the fake frown, the obfuscator and the denier, is great just on its own when taken at face value. I'm quite content to just read them as two characters who don't like each other very much and whose relationship is limited to mild antagonism over a girl they both love. I would do just that, if Tanigawa Nagaru wanted it. However in the year of our lord 2020, after closing the Kyon/Yuki subplot, after jossing any Kyon/Mikuru speculation, after committing fully to the Kyon/Haruhi romance in the story, he writes Koizumi having psychic foreknowledge of Kyon's measurements and expects us to make nothing of it. Huh.

[letstrythisout4]

There is overlap in these traits but when it comes to their thing, their niche.

James Sirius is the artist (in every sense and medium)

Albus Severus is the academic

Lily Luna is the athlete

James was the kid to draw on the walls. His paint hand prints were everywhere. Used the pots and pans as a drum set until Harry bought him one of his own and set it up in an extra room. The room quickly became filled with loads of instruments, so many that they eventually expanded the interior of the room. The room had instruments, paints, markers, canvases, posters, fake walls to be spray painted on, a recording area, shelves to be filled with vinyls, sketchbooks, and journals. He writes novels, short stories, and poems. He knits and crochets (Molly for sure taught him). He creates and paints pottery. Anything creative James has a hand in it.

Albus Severus who is so incredibly book smart. Starts reading absurdly young. Cares so much about learning about all there is to know that Ravenclaw is a genuine consideration of where he should be placed. Spent almost all his time growing up outside looking to the stairs for Astronomy studies. Loves to be babysat by Neville because Neville has an amazing greenhouse and is always willing to explain what every plant is, its properties and how it's used most frequently. And then in the muggle world (because I’m a firm believer that Harry makes his kids go to muggle school) number one student, the one kids go to whenever the teacher is busy. Doesn’t really have a best subject but he likes Math and Science the most. 

Lily Luna does every sport, every damn one. In her pre-k some girl is talking about gymnastics and Lily is like “I want to do that” and Harry is already used to giving into his kids creative endeavors so he immediately signs her up and she is a natural. Then it just expands, she is on almost every single team that her school offers. Swim, track, cross-country, volleyball, skating (ice and you know regular skateboarding), snowboarding, softball, american football, soccer, every single sport. From the age of 4 every single week the entire Potter family is at some sort of competition or showcase to support the baby of the family. Quidditch isn’t even a question, girl is one of the -if not the- most successful Chaser to come out of Hogwarts.

All of them are very successful in their fields, the Potters have several display cases of trophies, ribbons and plaques with all their names. And while they are all talented in parts of each other's fields, its very select you know? James is a chaser and Albus is a seeker, and considered two of the best of this era in Hogwarts. Albus sketches the plants that he discusses in his notes, and Lily has been known to doodle on her essays. And Lily and James are considered some of the best of their years. All of them are very powerful and talented but they dominate- no competition- in their respective fields.

[laventadorn]

This is half about danmei, which isn't the main or even tertiary purpose of this blog, BUT also half about writing in general, so here I stick it.

I've been reading danmei since 2020 but I've really struggled to write anything for it. If i measure success by just getting something going, the fic I'm currently working on is the most "successful" venture I've had. It took me ages to even crank out the opening scenes. Despite longing to write in the New Hyperfixation for a long time, I just couldn't grok it.

Initially I thought it was unfamiliarity with the background of the culture the media was based in. With HP, for example, there is a whole lot of English culture that's easily accessible to me, and I studied British literature in school for years. Obviously this isn't the same thing as being English, but it gave me enough of a background to fake it that once when i applied to a graduate program in England, they thought I was actually English.

But with china, there is so much I don't understand and can't access in the same way, so I thought perhaps that was the problem.

But now I'm thinking it's more about the literary approach.

The tradition I learned to write in is one of realism. I often cite Jane Austen as my favorite author; she was a writer of realism: people, situations, and style are all as close to reality as possible. She was actually one of the most hard-line realist writers of the time, even meticulously accurate in minutiae such as how long it took to travel between cities, or when you could reasonably expect to receive a letter. The way she renders character is also heavily based in the psychology of real people, especially in the latter half of her career. And I love the psychology of character. Nothing interests me more as a reader or a writer. It's what I use as a foundation for writing: how to render people and their emotional responses within a tradition of realism, so that they feel (as much as possible, given that i also love fantasy) like genuine human beings.

But this is not, in my experience of it, what Chinese BL is about.

Now, the first of my caveats is that plenty of western media isn't, either (though fandom tends to be obsessed with it to the point of mania, where a character's psychology is microscopically detailed, in particular their responses to trauma). But western media often maintains a veneer of it -- my favorite marvel movie is Captain America: the Winter Soldier, which features Steve feeling purposeless and empty in a world he no longer fits in. (And then his internal conflict is symbolically made external with the reappearance of his dearest friend, whose mind has been wiped to forget him.) That whole movie revolves around Steve's psychology. And that's a big budget blockbuster movie chock full of punchy, blow-uppy action scenes. It still finds time to make a character feel depressed and lost.

(They then did absolutely nothing interesting with it, but you know. They had a single moment.)

To a certain extent, if western media is character based, it has to explore the characters' mental state, and tries to do so in a way that enlightens both the audience and the character, opening up their dark parts and forcing them to change. We probably have Joseph Campbell to thank for a lot of this; his Hero's Journey was modeled heavily on the works of Carl Jung, the psychologist. In fact, Carl Jung was hugely influential in English-speaking literary criticism of the 1970's. (I say "English speaking" because that's the only field I'm familiar with.) To give you the biggest example I know of, Ursula K. le Guin's phenomenal Earthsea trilogy is steeped in Jungian psychology, no book more so than the opening novel, A Wizard of Earthsea. The climax of that novel blew my mind, by the way.

My second caveat is this: it's not that the patterns of Chinese BL don't have character work, or that they aren't concerned with the character's interiority. With my fixation on character, if those things were entirely absent, I wouldn't be reading these books. It's more that the media tradition of hyper-focus on the characters' mental state, the delicate unfolding of their psychology, is not what drives the media. The characters do suffer, and they have feelings and desires, but they are often preternaturally strong-willed and able to withstand horrific trauma while still maintaining their sense of self.

(Two characters really come to mind. One is Chang Geng from Sha Po Lang, whose "mother" repeatedly puts him through such intense physical and psychological abuse in his childhood that you wonder how anyone could possibly stay sane. But he's also been injected with a magical poison that will drive him insane, and gives him bloody nightmares every night, and requires him to drink blood -- you get the idea. The other is Gu Mang from Yuwu: Remnants of Filth, who goes through things that are just mind-bogglingly Yiiiikes. Each of them feels the pain, but realism isn't where we're trying to arrive at, because it would be impossible for a real person to hold it together under the things they endured. But neither of them is supposed to be like a real person. Chang Geng, Gu Mang, is supposed to be more.)

Nothing is always. To use the novel I'm writing for as an obvious example toward some measure of realism, Xie Lian spends Book 4 being deeply traumatized; it's part of his character journey and essential to the plot. But his character psychology is still not based in realism. It wasn't designed to be. MXTX herself said in her afterword for TGCF that neither Hua Cheng nor Xie Lian were remotely like real people, because they weren't supposed to be. They were supposed to be larger than life, more than mere existence.

So when I am puttering around with my Psychology of the Individual writing tool, I get a bit wrong-footed because the entire way that I approach writing does not seamlessly settle into this brave new frontier. How can I realistically explore the emotions and mind of people who are not written to be like real people at all? That's what's truly been stumping me.

[toldbytendo]

𝑀𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝐵𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼’𝑚 𝑇𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇𝘩𝑒𝑦’𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑡 🙃

I saw a tiktok the other day of a woman saying she had to sacrifice her self-expression just to date men, and I have never resonated with a notion so deeply in my entire life. Because—and I say this knowing that if I ever dared utter these words outside my little Tumblr safe haven, I’d be CANCELLED—men are genuinely so boring. Like, I don’t know how else to explain it. I find them so incredibly uninteresting, so lacking in depth, and honestly? Just extremely negative.

And I’d like to use my most recent case study in: What I Do Not Want in a Man (cue entry: 𝑀𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑑 𝑀𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒).

Before I get into it, let’s establish something. I am a lover girl. Romance occupies my life in so many ways—not in a “I centre men” kind of way, because let’s be real, I absolutely do not—but just in that I love love. I love romance in every form. Romantic K-dramas? Obsessed. Disney movies with a love story? Sign me up. Romance novels, Bridgerton, Jane Austen adaptations (Persuasion had me in a chokehold), Queen Charlotte—if it has love in it, I want it. And not just romantic love, but all love. Platonic love, familial love, the love between friends, the love of a home-cooked meal, the love of a hobby that lights your soul on fire. Love is beautiful, and I have no shame in saying I want to experience it in all its forms.

**lover girls, let us gather here and cry**

Now, 𝑀𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑑 𝑀𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒—the latest guest star on On This Month's Episode of 𝑀𝑒𝑛 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑑—for whatever reason, he really disliked this about me. I’m convinced. There was one conversation I remember so vividly where this man looked me in the eye (well, as much as you can over a screen) and said, “You know love isn’t real, right?”

Yeah.

Let’s pause here for a second. Imagine.

A man. In this economy. Telling me love isn’t real. I know, right?

Insane.

But wait—he doubled down. He followed it up with, “You never really know if people truly love you.” And then, he gave me a very personal and honestly traumatic story to support his stance.

Now, let’s be clear. I am not here to minimise what he confided in me. It was deep. It was sad. I can acknowledge that. But I also need to make my point here. Because let’s be real: the gaslighting and manipulation were top tier. Because how does one even argue against such a personal, tragic experience? You can’t. That’s the point. He laid it out like checkmate, like his trauma was supposed to be the universal law on love.

But it wasn’t that his opinion offended me. It was that he refused to accept my love of love. He was actively trying to break it down, like he wanted me to concede so badly that love isn’t real, or true, or possible. Like… why? Why was it so important for me to not believe in something that brings me joy? Why was it bothering him that I believe in love?

And the thing is, it’s not just 𝑀𝑟 𝐶𝑜𝑑 𝑀𝑜𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑒. This is something I’ve observed in so many men. It’s the negativity, the cynicism, the absolute lack of joy or wonder in anything. It’s like they aren’t just boring—they fundamentally lack the ability to love things properly. Not just people, but life itself. It’s like nothing they do is done with real spark, or passion, or excitement.

And honestly? I think this is why men are so bad at actually learning women. I’m convinced. Because one thing I know about women—observations, personal experience, group chat data, everything—is that when a woman truly likes someone, she wants to know everything. She wants to know your ticks, your passions, what makes you angry, what makes you soft, what drives you, what you want out of life. It’s like 101 Dalmatians but with questions, and the thing is, that curiosity is what fuels the relationship. That attention to detail is what makes love exciting.

Meanwhile, men? They think “knowing you” means memorising your Starbucks order and remembering you have a dog. Ask them what you do for work, what your dream is, what brings you joy? Crickets. Because how can boring people fathom the sheer joy women experience in the little things? How can they possibly understand the absolute euphoria of buying yourself flowers, of rereading your favourite book, of knowing your skincare is working because your face is glowing? The sheer pleasure of being in bed by 9pm, freshly showered, your room smelling like vanilla and sandalwood, ice water in your Stanley mug, your favourite pyjamas on, your show queued up, or your current read open and ready?

Men don’t get that. Because men don’t let themselves enjoy things like that. And I’m not saying they don’t have hobbies or interests, but let’s be real—women are expected to tone it down a little bit. Our joy, our passions, our excitement about life? We have to shrink it so men don’t feel like they have to do anything.

And I think that’s what’s exhausting. That’s the part that feels so unrewarding. Because it’s not even a trade-off. It’s not like, “Okay, I’ll sacrifice this, so in return, I’ll get that.” There’s no 50/50, no 70/30. It’s just women needing to dim themselves, their light, their spark, their joy, just to let men exist.

Like, let me give you another example. A man, a big 25-year-old grown man, asked me out on a date. He lives in a different city, right? And he said he wanted to drive to see me and “take me out.”

Do you know what this man’s idea of a date was?

A drive-through.

I’ll pause.

I’ll let you scream.

I’ll let you kick your feet and wonder if I’m ugly

(I promise I’m not).

But this is what I mean. The implied energy was, “I’m already driving all this way to see you, and since we aren’t close enough for me to actually treat you, let’s just keep it casual.” Because, spoiling, effort, love—that’s all reserved for later. You have to earn it first. And the worst part? Women are told to let men lead.

Girl…men will lead you straight to hell. Don’t do it.

I don’t care what society says about “femininity” or “softness.” I’m not dimming myself so a man can feel comfortable existing at his baseline. If he can’t match my energy—if he can’t love things, enjoy things, cherish things—he can go.

Because men will always start at the bare minimum and upgrade you later, like love is a subscription service where you have to unlock premium benefits. Meanwhile, women are expected to be soft and kind and understanding from the start.

This is what I mean when I say men are boring. And this is why I refuse to make myself smaller just to make them feel bigger.

[colleybri]

Reading the Rogue One novelisation really brings home the failure of the Rebel “Alliance” in this scene. Unlike in the film, the novel emphasises that this was a meeting that took place over several hours, with presentation of all the available evidence regarding the Death Star … And still the Alliance voted against attempting to steal the plans. No wonder Jyn feels abandoned, as has happened so many times in her life already.

Andor season 2 will hopefully explore the conflicting voices within the disparate rebel cells (the groups Saw scornfully lists as “Lost!”)… the deals and compromises needed to make the Rebel Alliance as well as the cooperation. But I think it's quite telling that the Alliance effectively fails at the moment when it's needed most. In the face of the odds, the consensus is… not to fight. Jyn simply can’t believe her ears when she hears talk of surrender. She had at least thought that the Alliance would do something! Honestly, it’s one of the darkest moments in the entire film. In the entire Star Wars franchise.

The official decision leaves it to Jyn, Cassian, Chirrut, Baze, Bhodi, K-2SO, Melshi and a relative handful of other brave volunteers to take Jyn's words to heart. They know that they might well run out of chances. They accept that. They feel they have no choice.

Cassian first made that discovery five years previously, but it's implied that he has been gradually spiritually brow-beaten by the accumulated darkness of what and who he has lost and what he has had to do. Jyn has rekindled the flame in his soul… she’s reminded him of his purpose because when he looks at her, he sees so much of himself. When he volunteers, she says "I'm not used to people sticking around when things go wrong."

His reply is the beautiful "Welcome home". It's as if the union of the Rogue One mission is the family she's been looking for all her life. Cassian’s already proved unswerving loyalty to her by disobeying his order to kill her father. These people have known each other only a few days, and some of the unnamed volunteers now are complete strangers to her. But in giving their lives as individuals, devoting themselves to this their new family, - the true "rebel alliance" as in an alliance of a handful of genuine rebels - will ultimately triumph.

Mon Mothma looked suitably ashamed when she told Jyn "I'm sorry… the odds are too great". She seems aware of the failure of the political method. Thank goodness for the bravery of those who sometimes decide that the right thing to do is to disobey orders. Even if that means paying the ultimate price. 

“Make 10 men feel like 100” is a great line. But honestly… for every 10 men here, there should have been 100.

Rogue One: thank you for your sacrifice….

…A sacrifice that unites them forever.

[purplesoulcollection]

Unnatural Love

Part 12

Synopsis : Name has being transmigrated into the world of I'm Not That Kind Of Talent without ever reading the novel. She's not being reincarnated as a human but as a devil as well. Hi There! I want to let you know that this fanfiction story isn't solely my creation. I borrowed the concept from @quqiwo2. I haven't actually read the novel either, just some spoiler to the end.

I hope you'll excuse my spelling and grammar mistake, because English not my first language.

After a heartfelt conversation between Cruel and Deon, it seems like they are beginning to reconnect as brothers. They’re not completely there yet, but there’s definitely some progress being made.

"Deon, you lost again."

"Noisy, you're really the one who's good at playing this." Deon rested his head on his hand, casting a reluctant glance at the chess pawn that had just captured his king, while Cruel gazed at him with a gentle expression.

They played chess together after I left them. I was gone for three hours, and by the time I returned, they were already chatting and having a good time. It was a wonderful sight, and it made me smile to see them bonding like that.

"Adele!" Deon was the first one to notice my presence, he literally beam after his pouting. Cruel only looked a glimpse of me before turning his head.

I take a seat beside Deon while the two of them are playing on the sofa, so I settle in next to him. He wraps his arms around me, seeking the warmth I can offer.

Cruel only looked the both of us before asking "Deon, why are you dating her. She's the devil."

"Are we being interrogated, Brother?"

"Oh yeah, I haven't introduced myself yet, hello Mr. Cruel, I'm Adele, Mr. Deon's demon servant."

“Servant, aren't the servant is only occupied by lowly devil, so worthless to be killed?”

His words really stabbed me right to the heart. Worthless to be killed...

"Yes, i am, until one day I can use spells."

"Then your relationship with Deon?"

"I'm the one who confessed my love, big brother."

"Do you really love him?"

"...Very." This is my first time to me to actually voicing my love after I genuinely feeling in live with Deon.

"Okay, but why do you appear human? Can now a devil really change their appearance?"

"I cast a spell to take on a human form. As far as I know, I'm the only one who can do this."

"What about your other powers?"

"I understand your concern, Cruel Hardt. But for your information, I’m unable to attack at all, so there’s no need for you to be concerned about my ."

“Then from now on, what do you do, Deon? “

"I... "

"Which side do you want to align with? The battle between demons and humans is about to begin. It's time for you to make your choice, Deon. Someone can't be tossed around without proving his loyalty to one side. "

"I... Don't know who to be choose, I'm not comfortable being on either side. Both the Emperor and the Demon King are very unpredictable."

"Deon, forget about the leaders of the demons or humans for a moment. Just focus on who you truly want to be with, okay?" I asked him this, hoping to gently nudge him toward the human side.

He only looked at me before answer “With you.”

I blushed, this not what i want him to say! "I-I mean don't you want to live with your brother."

"He could be Count Hart's successor, I don't need it"

Hearing that makes cruel surprised and hit the table. "You're not the one who wants to inherit it, Deon?"

"You're the big brother, and that role has been yours for quite a while now. I’m not interested in it, especially since I've already achieved a higher title than that."

"Deon, you..."

"Just take that name, bro, as well as create your own family."

He let out a weary sigh at Deon's words and rubbed his eyes. It seemed he hadn't even considered the idea of having a family if he was already willing to sacrifice himself for Deon.

"Before I start a family, Deon has something I have to talk about."

"What? "

"The Duke Starve Illuster was the one who send you the assassin that day."

"I will kill him."

"I'm coming with you"

I watched the exchange between the two of them, unsure if I should step in or let this awkward conversation continue, at least for me...

Even if i want to say that killing is not good, but it's hard to believe that those who are accustomed to it will be swayed by that idea. Their sense of right and wrong has likely been shattered for quite some time.

But if I let it go, it's like letting my morals will be destroyed here...

I clenched my fist, unsure of what words to use. A chill ran through me as sweat trickled down my palm, so I began to wipe it on my clothes.

"What's wrong, Adele. You look paled? "

I only shake my hand, not uttering single words. Only looked below, I can't make any reason to lie now.

Are you stressed hearing us talk about killing casually?"

I glanced at Deon with uncertainty. I'm not sure if I should agree or not. He truly deserves this chance, but if I approach him, he might get upset with me again like before.

"I won't do it if you're that scared." Deon said which surprised me. My breath being taken away with his sudden told. He what?

I tried to get the words out. but nothing came out of my mouth. 'Deon... doesn't want revenge? Because of me?'

"Brother can do it in my stead."

"Yes, if you don't want to, I will do it myself."

"Deal!"

That was the end of their conversation that I heard before I lost my mind and didn't listen to them at all.

"You've been quiet for a while now, Adele." Deon asked which finally made me wake up from my reverie. Cruel already gone when i see nobody else.

"There isn't anything."

"Are you still thinking about that?"

I'm at a loss for words. There's a storm of emotions inside me, but I've finally found the courage to express my feelings.

"Yes, I thought that I would be an obstacle for you in getting your revenge." I said that with low voice.

I lowered my head, knowing how important revenge was in Deon's miserable life. If his revenge stopped, what happens next to Deon?

Silence struck with an unbearable silence. I can't look at Deon expression. Will he being mad and leave me alone in this world?

"Adele..."

"Don't think that you are an obstacle."

"I already talk with Cruel. He informed me that my parents wrote a letter for me towards the end of their lives. In that letter, they advised me to take care of my health and to avoid harboring hatred towards others. They felt that the way to atone for their mistakes to me was by letting themselves being killed by me."

"Deon..."

"A spellcaster once foretold that I would turn into a disaster."

huh, what's with this unpredictable turnover direction.

"You're not a disaster Deon."

"Listen to me first, Adele."

"She said that I shouldn't hate anyone or anything. Otherwise there would be a big disaster that couldn't be avoided."

I'm speechless hearing this. If the predictions from the spellcasters in this world are true, it means that this world will be in chaos in the end, not just Deon alone.

"At first I didn't understand what the spellcaster meant. However, I believe I've come to understand it now. If I keep holding onto my hatred—be it towards my brother, my family, Duke Illuster, the demon king, or the emperor who allowed my parents to be killed—I risk falling into a deep despair. The weight of these ongoing issues could ultimately lead me to a tragic end, consumed by stress and depression."

"Because of that, I will try to let go of my grudge against this world. Adele. Because now i have you with me. So please stay by my side. ”

I choked. Deon try to changed... because of me. He knows he's wrong and want to change that.

Deon wants to be a better person for my sake.

Because he loves me...

"Is that true, Deon?"

My tears flowed again without control, am i being crybaby lately?

"Damn, why am I so whiny lately... Usually I can control myself. " I said while rubbing my eyes. Only wanting my tears to stop.

Deon gently kissed my eyes while I was in tears. He tenderly kissed my eyes, my tears, my nose, my cheeks, and then my lips. It felt so wonderful to be showered with those sweet kisses.

We kissed passionately. All of our feelings turned into a rough and hot kiss. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he also wrapped his arms around my waist.

We continued kissing until I gave the signal that we needed oxygen.

Gasping for breath and dripping saliva describes our current state.

"That's right, Adelle."

"Then have you decided where you want to be in the war?"

"To become better, I decided to be loyal to humans." He finally decided the right choice.

"That's good, Deon. That's how it should be. Following demons is not a healthy thing for humans."

"You alone are the devil." He giggled at my pouting. I know that fact more than anyone.

"Hehehe..." But in the end i also giggling with him.

"Will you still follow me, Adele. When I fight the Demon King."

"With pleasure."

After that we kissed again, and finally we did it. The most erotic thing in my eyes is with Deon.

To Be Continued

I’m not sure if this matches your preferences, but I hope you enjoy it!

[greasegotahold]

This post started out with a point then turned into rambling abt the stage show lol

So like. at least in my irl circle and from what I heard yesterday, a lot of ppl prefer the musical to the movie. Acknowledging the bias of theatre ppl toward theatre, that's not the reason I heard most; what I heard most is that the musical stays closer to the book than the movie. Granted idk how many if any of these ppl have seen the complete novel extended cut of the movie, but even so this argument sits wonky with me

Bc the musical takes quite a few departures from the book, some p dramatic. Darry is not the gang's leader, Dally is. Randy is an ensemble part with one line; Cherry gets his ending "even if you win, nothing will change" moment. Sandy is already gone. Evie and Sylvia are gone. Steve is not a big part of Soda's life. Two Bit isn't acknowledged as an alcoholic. Johnny was only jumped a week ago, and it's not a secret who did it. Bob is the one who jumps Pony at the start and even comes up with an excuse for it. Dally doesn't give Johnny his heater, Dally commits a far more direct suicide, no sickness or court proceedings, so on and so forth.

Now I understand why we made just about all of these changes: the show is just about 2 hours as is, not counting intermission; streamlining needed to happen, for time and for clarity of storyline. I even prefer a lot of the changes (Cherry is just. Such a livelier character lmao. She's given stuff to DO. I love her in the book and movie but the stuff they added in the musical I simply love.) I bring this up just bc it. Is honestly just as different as the movie if not more so in how it departs from the source material.

Which means when ppl are saying it's closer to the book, they mean in feel.

And in many avenues; talking about the the extreme accessibility of the book as an adult with other adults, attempting to articulate my issues with the film adaptation, and then later attempting to defend the movie on those same shortcomings, I think I know why.

It's the ever-present narration. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Ponyboy tells his story, he doesn't show. And that makes the book an extremely straightforward read, and absolutely how he can tell us so much shit that happened in so little time, but it also makes it hard to capture in a standard movie adaptation, especially when the movie also needs to trim down and streamline characters and plot points.

But what does Pony do throughout the musical? He narrates. Yes the story plays out real time, but it's still interspersed with these slowdowns where he talks to the audience, where he's narrating.

And I think that's what's really clicking so well with the musical, despite all the changes to characters and their dynamics and plot beats.

And for certain things, the impact is still there, they just changed it around. Johnny was jumped last week instead of months ago and we don't get the excerpt abt how he wound up buying his first blade, and how he would kill the next soc who tried to jump him, and Dally no longer gives him his gun, but he does give him the 6 inch switchblade when Johnny is genuinely worried his dad will kill his mom, and then shows him how to stab to kill. The circumstances are different, but we still get Dally giving Johnny a lethal weapon. The motivation changes for why Johnny carries his blade, from self defense to an explicit want to protect others, but this makes it a more direct setup for when he kills Bob to save Pony.

And a lot of the straight up original additions to the plot feel seamless. The added backstory for Cherry's parents, her dad's alcoholism and her mom's kind of just. Surrender to hopelessness and despair. Not only explains why she's so touchy about Bob drinking, but it makes the change from going along with him to stop a fight into her refusing to back down after breaking up feel justified. To be clear, I don't fault book and movie cherry for doing what she does in that scene, she's trying to keep everyone else safe, I just think that the change was set up and well executed in the musical.

Also sidenote but in Justice For Tulsa...I have so many feelings after getting to see it. The cop shining his flashlight down on Two Bit as he gets jumped, but then he just keeps on walking bc why would he care abt a greaser...Bev buying right into the boys' escalation against the greasers vs Cherry's outright rebuke and then Marcia is over here looking genuinely Physically nauseous over having to choose a side. And of course the moment where the cop beats Dally after handcuffing him, that speaks for itself.

(Sidenote, unrelated to anything, I just wanna say when I listened to the soundtrack for the first time, years since I had read the book or watched the movie, somehow I just knew when the soc boys started singing their threatening section, that they were jumping two bit. I guess I just had a faint buried memory that Two Bit was the revenge-jumping victim lol)

[behoright]

lightning on my skin l k. dach

there's nothing I can do / I just can't resist

summary: kirby + you + a house full of family members + an empty car...

wordcount: 3.2k

song: where would I be? - gwen stefani

warnings: 18+! smut sooo minors begone! unprotected sex, dirty talk and semi public sex. whoopsies. oh also cursing.

a/n: i'm sl*t for this man but no I will never admit it in public. enjoy.

𓇽 ⊹ ᨘ ִֶ໑𓇽 ⊹ ᨘ ִֶ໑𓇽 ⊹ ᨘ ִֶ໑𓇽 ⊹ ᨘ ִֶ໑

“You’re such a dumbass, Kirbs.”

“What? He was just being annoying so, I had to do it.”

The sounds of the crickets consorted your laughs as you and Kirby sat eating in his G Wagon, recently coming back from a lovely date at the nearby park. Despite being your second year of dating, this had been the first summer you had fully spent together. Staying at the Dach household had been an interesting but nonetheless exhilarating experience; you found out just how quickly chaos could ensue when Kirby and Colton were left to their own devices under the same roof. Proving that age was just a number, from day one it was plain and simple that they naturally retreated back to their little child selves, most of their interactions ending up with a playful physical altercation of some sort.

“You can’t tell me he wasn’t being entirely too cocky, Y/N.” he said with his mouth full of fries, his eyes widening over at you.

“He is your baby brother!” you exclaimed.

“Well, he’s no longer a baby. It’s a fair fight, that’s all I’m saying.” he chuckled.

Kirby hadn’t been this excited for a summer in a long time. 

Your internship now having wrapped up, he finally had the time to steal you and your newfound free time. He knew as soon as the season ended that he was going to keep you in his hometown all for himself. 

Seeing you interact with his family made Kirby’s heart flutter; cooking with his mom or ice skating with his dad and brother after their practice. 

You had met them before, but these were novel circumstances for the both of you. 

Any nerves he might have had swiftly vanished as you both settled in, making yourself at home in the most respectful way possible. 

He was able to forget about the stress of hockey and fitting your schedules together, and just revel in the normalcy of slowly waking up with you, knowing that you had virtually no strict plans for the day. 

“You guys are insane. These are full-on fights!” you laughed.

“You should have seen them when we were younger. They were actually much worse.”

“Oh, don’t worry. Your parents told me all about that.”

You naturally clicked with everyone in his family, so much so that his grandparents came fastly to meet you as well. It astounded him how you were able to pull everyone in so genuinely, leaving his introverted soul wrapped up in admiration. 

He was proud to have you with him. You completed each other nicely and in very practical ways.

“Oh god, please don’t remind me of all the embarrassing stories they brought up.” he blushed.

“Why? You really don’t want to talk about that little bath stor-”

“No, no! I’m changing topics! I’m pulling that card out!” he exclaimed.

“Alright, alright.” you laughed, throwing your head back against the headrest. As much as he was blushing, you could see him hiding a smile underneath it all. 

However, his house perpetually rustling came with its downsides. He enjoyed it most of the time, however, he missed the privacy of your shared apartment back in Montreal. 

When he watched you walk around his family home every morning his mind couldn’t help but flash back to seeing you strut around naked, getting your coffee ready, all from the comfort of his messed up bed, underwear, and clothes scattered on the ground from the night before. 

He missed that. A lot.

It was hard to have some alone time knowing his family members were around you both constantly. 

The last thing he wanted to do is make anyone uncomfortable. Not when there were literal months left in the summer.

So, Kirby decided to get creative. 

Much to his surprise, it ended up sparking a newfound love for public affection, in more ways than one, for the both of you, which just pushed him to explore more. 

Your first date of the summer that started with a picnic at the lake, and lovingly ended with you both hiding behind some trees for a while. The feeling of getting caught rushed through you equally as you consummated your love truly in public for the first time. 

So you unconsciously kept it going for most of the summer, looking for new places every day to spend time at. 

“You know, you’re bad for making me eat this.” he snickered at you.

“Oh, c’mon, tell me you don’t miss eating this junk during the season.”

“I do, I do.” he said, wiping his hands clean. “You know what I miss more though?”

“Mmm?” you asked, piling all the trash together.

“You.”

You turned your head up to find Kirby staring at you, his signature smirk peering over at you. 

“You’re so sweet.” 

“I mean it.” Kirby took his fingers to move to your hair behind your ear, gazing over your features. “I just wish I had a little more time with you every day.”

“Hey, we still make it work pretty well, right?”

“We do.” Kirby’s fingers lingered on you, now cupping your cheek. “I’m still going to enjoy this summer. As much as I can. I’m not letting you out of my sight, baby.”

His eyes trailed down to your mouth before he closed the gap between you two. 

The kiss was smoldering, both of your intentions clear as your brought each other closer despite the console dividing you.

“Kirby…”

“Baby..?” he said, his lips grazing against yours.

“Mm… here?” you asked.

“Mmhm.” Kirby answered in between kisses. “The back windows are tinted anyways.”

You turned your face to tentatively look at your surroundings, Kirby’s hands beginning to mess up your clothes already, his fingertips at your exposed bra strap. The parking lot was mostly empty, all families in their homes as the sun began to set. 

“You sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything before.” Kirby said, his eyes dumbfoundedly fixated on your cleavage. 

“About doing it here, dingbat.” you snapped him back to reality, playfully hitting his arm.

“It’s more private than the park...” he said, smirking again. “...and the lake, and the rink, and the boat, or the mal-”

“Okay, okay.” you laughed, rolling your eyes. 

“C’mon, baby.” Kirby winked as he stepped outside while you moved in giddiness to the backseat over the middle console. 

You came face to face as he quickly shut the door behind him, your hot breaths colliding as he began to crawl above you, sending your back to lay against the warm leather of the seats. 

“Hi, beautiful.” he said, a smile appearing on his face.

“You’re quite the charmer for someone who’s about to take me in the back of his car.” you uttered, eyes focused on his lips, inching closer to you.

“...take you?” he asked, millimeters away from you. “I’m not going to take you, baby. I’m going to fuck you.”

Kirby wasted no time and aggressively sent his tongue inside your mouth, his pelvis already rubbing against your jean shorts. 

The walk in the park had been nice, but it had left you both a little heated and damp, in every way imaginable.

“That’s the Kirby I know.” you moaned, his tongue now trailing behind your ear and neck. “Always so hot and heavy.”

“Hey, I can be sweet.” he uttered defensively against your skin. “You want me to make love to you?” 

His head snapped up as he asked you, his questioning and piercing eyes looking for an answer in yours.

“Fuck no. I like you hot and heavy.” you said, bringing his face back onto yours, chuckling into the kiss.

He adorably kept giggling as he planted loud and silly kisses on your chin, moving down your chest and further lowering himself down the axis of your body. 

He had a tough exterior at times, but Kirby was playful at heart, and he didn’t leave that outside of the bedroom either. You found yourselves laughing and joking during your sexual escapades quite often actually, and it fulfilled you in the most endearing of ways.

“You’re smoking hot, babe.” he uttered against your belly.

“It is pretty hot outside.” you said, sitting up on your elbows. 

“Oh, you’re funny.” he laughed, sitting up as he began to undo the button of your shorts. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“And you know I don’t know how to take compliments. Not even yours.” you lifted your hips up, Kirby ripping your bottoms off of you. 

“Well, let me tell you a different way then.” he smirked.

“Kirby Dach, you are the cheesi-.”

You were hastily interrupted, Kirby licking up your pussy vigorously before bringing your hips all the way up to latch his mouth against your heaving sex. Forthwith, the sensation took you back to the countless nights your boyfriend had spent buried in your pussy, relentlessly getting you to the point of having to pull him off of you before your legs twitched hard enough to accidentally hurt him. 

The truth was that time stopped for Kirby whenever he lowered his face in between your thighs. He loved to get his jaw wet with spit and juices; even more, he loved grinding against the mattress for hours, sending tingles up his spine every time. Knowingly playing an edging game with his body, and your own at the same time, taking you both closer to the edge with controlled and precise force.

Despite not having enough space in his beloved G-Wagon for you both to lay down, he wasn’t going to skimp out. Bringing you all the way up to him was a risky move, but he wasn’t up for much thinking when he had you so bothered underneath him like this. 

He held your body securely, his biceps flexing around your ass and hips. As his tongue lapped in circles, he couldn’t help but trail up your body with his gaze. The nature of your position allowed for your shirt to bunch up, showing the softness of your stomach that he adored so much. However, seeing your breasts up to your chin, flushed just as much as your cheeks were, your face overcome by pleasure, had him gripping your hips extra tightly.

“God, baby.” he whispered against you, covering your skin in goosebumps. “You’re going to make me bust.”

“Fuck me, Kirby.”

He dropped your hips immediately, letting it hurt as he unzipped his pants, his erection serendipitously springing onto you. 

“I love you so much, baby, that was so good, but I-, I simply can’t wait.” you pleaded.

“I love you more baby; a couple more seconds of you wriggling like that in my arms and I wouldn't have been able to wait either.” he answered, removing as much clothing as possible.

Kirby was hot and heavy in every sense of the word. And it felt so good as it slapped your pussy whenever he pulled himself free of his clothes. 

“God, take a look at that.” he growled.

He set his blue eyes on the tip of his cock, parting your folds, glistening with his saliva and precum. The sun was lowering itself beautifully on the other side of the park, its rays peeking through the trees and his seats to create shimmering windows of light on your bodies. He felt the ridges of his member dampen as he kept plunging himself back and forth on top of you. He could feel the lust of his heartbeat in every single one of his veins and quickly into yours as he slowly dipped his cock inside you with a groan. 

You were mostly sure he had never realized it, but Kirby loved to push the tip of his dick inside you first and pause, just for a handful of seconds. 

Inadvertently, filling your cunt up with his body was one of his most cherished parts of fucking. 

There was something about the overwhelming feeling that took over his entire being when he felt your walls surround him concretely, soaking himself in all the gushy desire that had been building up inside you. 

He felt as if you had been waiting for him, and he loved to feel responsible for absorbing the aching that resided inside you as he bottomed himself out. 

Continuously, Kirby never took his eyes off you when he first thrust; the first time you had sex, he had to immediately take a break, the look on your face almost sending him over the edge completely. 

The sigh. 

The way your eyes rolled back. 

And he could always hear your vocal cords contract in the back of your throat in the slightest moan, but never strong enough to let it out.

It was almost inaudible, but it was there, and it drove him mad.

He loved being the only man that got to see you like this.

And you loved being the only one that got to notice the ritualistic thinking in your boyfriend, without fail.

His legs trembled as his pelvis came flush with your legs, pushing himself all the way inside you after feeling you clench once around the ridge of his head. 

Right underneath it, squeezing around him so deliciously as a signal for more. 

As soon as he saw that lovely look on you he was quick to throw your legs on his shoulders before he began thrusting steadily inside you. 

He tried to resist himself every time, and his efforts were never futile, but you knew they never lasted long. 

The more you showed your pleasure, the more he lost it. 

Kirby liked it deep and fast, and you were never one to complain about it. 

He let his head lull forward as he anchored a rhythm in his thrusts, his eyes squeezing shut in pleasure. 

“Oh, Kirby.” you moaned. “That feels so good, baby.”

He didn’t dare to look, feeling your hips begin to tilt forward already as you arched your back in the delight of his shoving inside you.

His brain went offline completely, letting all of the muscles in his face relax entirely, preoccupied only with the movement of his cock. 

“Keep talking, baby.” he uttered, almost whispering. “You sound like a fucking angel.”

The tremble in his deep voice was crystal clear, the knuckles of his fingers turning white as he gripped onto the flesh of your thighs. 

“I thought I was going to lose it today, babe. I wanted you so fucking bad.” you moaned, the leather quietly creaking as you angled yourself closer to him again. 

Kirby’s chest began to rumble, attempting to hold his moaning back as he stayed transfixed in the physical sensation of your bodies uniting. 

You could see him begin to sweat, flushing deeper every time he pulled out of you with a low, tight-lipped groan; a droplet lovingly trickled down the long hair strands that hung in front of his face before falling on your stomach. Every time they dripped onto you, it felt like you could hear a sizzle, your skin enveloped in lust as it flinched back with every single thrust.

It was nearly lovable how much he tried to control himself, always to no avail, but you could tell today, through your half-open eyes, that it wasn’t going to last long.

The reality was that the more he focused on the physical sensation, the hotter he got. 

The more relaxed you felt his whole body, the harder he became inside you, growing against your most sensitive spots. 

Quite curiously, the slowly blinking of his eyes open happened to come at the time your head fully tilted back, a glorious arch in your figure as your eyes fluttered closed. The muscles of his belly tensed at the coiling that he felt growing inside him, the only thing that was now softening being his jaw as he opened his mouth at the reverie of the woman reaching a  climax in front of him and underneath his touch.

“Oh fuck, like that, baby?” he asked, speeding up his movements just enough to let his skin stickily slap against you. 

“M-,m-,m-.”

Unfortunately for you, speaking was never your forte as you reached your edge. 

Fortunately for Kirby, it made him so horny he involuntarily hunched over, his body spasming as he swore he could see your pupils at the back of your head underneath your fluttering eyelids. 

He took the hint to increase his pace, slowly but surely, your shoulders trembling all the way down to your hips. His rough pubic bone came in contact with you, rubbing against your clit and exquisitely sending you over the edge. 

Your system went haywire as you came, sweet moans filling up the steamy car as you shook in pleasure underneath and around him, scratching his beloved leather seats. 

Any attempt to moan his name was inefficacious, but the effort was noticed by your boyfriend who pushed your convulsing legs further down, coming close to your face.

He had officially lost it, now dedicating himself to keeping you in this state as long as possible.

Kirby was able to somehow plant his feet against some steady surfaces of his luxury car, having the fresh ability to speed up, his eyes still stuck on your delirious elation that wouldn’t concede.

“Fuck, baby, you look so fucking good like this.” he moaned.

His muscular thighs tensed as he pounded into you, your cunt now gushing liquid all around him; you could only turn your head around as you sharply inhaled, letting the glee send sparks throughout your nervous system, your body moving on its own. 

It was so much that you both failed to feel the car shake with the power of his thrusts as he recognized the familiar creeping sensation begin to move inside him, his orgasm not far behind yours.

“This is-, this is-, fuck, baby, I can’t hold back.” he groaned, letting his forehead fall next to your head, his wet hair seeping sweat into yours. 

Finally, you managed the find the strength to move your fingers to the back of his neck, holding onto his hair for dear life as you began to descend back to earth.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Kirby came loudly as he let himself go, shooting his hot and milky seed inside you with deep thrusts; roaring, he was noisy enough to be heard outside of the vehicle, but neither of you cared as he stayed inside you, flesh to flesh, his cock still twitching and painting your insides white. 

“Oh my fucking god, Y/N.” he said with his head still down before placing a kiss on your shoulder.

“I could say the same thing to you.” you laughed, smart enough to reach slightly above you and open the passenger door only a crack. 

The evening, fresh air barged its way into the stuffy car, the fog on the windows starting to disappear slowly. The change in temperature made Kirby snap up, deeply inhaling almost unknowingly before finding you.

“Good?” you asked, Kirby’s favorite smile looking right at him.

“Better than good.” he coaxed. “You’re a dream, Y/N.”

“You’re not so bad yourself, Dach.” you chuckled, an adoring kiss planted on your forehead.

“I love you.” he whispered into your skin.

“I love you.” you answered just as lovingly.

....

“Where do you want to go tomorrow, baby?”

[ghouljams]

omg ghoul can i have 5 book recs pls? i just went to go look into rothfuss’ series and apparently i added it to my tbr ages ago and forgot. it could be ur 5 fave books fiction or otherwise or genre faves or most recent faves etc pls & ty 🙂‍↕️

So I have a preference for Sci-fi over fantasy but my rec list includes a lot of that lol. In no particular order:

"Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" by Philip K Dick is a really fantastic adventure/love story in a cyberpunk dystopia that feels possible. There's an overarching question about what it means to be human and the way that humanity rejects anything different. It's a short read but well worth it. Very different from the Bladerunner movie that's based off of it.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C Clark a classic in sci-fi and also one of my favorite movies. If you like the movie version you will love the book. Another shorter read (in Sci-fi terms) that builds this increasingly tense atmosphere until you're left wondering if we truly live in an uncaring universe or if perhaps God is closer than we think. A lot of people get upset about the ending but it's just a literal metaphor that sort of goes over people's heads.

Literally the entire Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams. So funny, I read the whole thing in like two weeks in high school and I still go back to my favorite books in it just to relive the adventures. A really optimistic view of cosmic horror that doesn't feel horrific in the slightest. Great characters and a compelling story that builds on itself. Douglas Adams has a really unique narrative voice that isn't for everyone, but I love him.

"The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss. I know I mentioned this in my fantasy recs, but it is truly one of my favorite books of all time. The magic system is amazing, the characters are witty and fun to follow around, and the questions just keep building! What are those weird spider things? What king is going to be killed! How can Kvothe do so much in the beginning of his life but have all the heroics happening at the end??? Also I love a good framed narrative, enough said.

AND I'm gonna throw you a curve ball from my recent reads: I have really been enjoying the "Ice Planet Barbarians" books. I know I know, it's a modern penny novel that's been hyped to shit on tiktok, but I find the narrators to be funny, I find the romances interesting, and I think the smut is genuinely good for traditionally published literature. I'm also just a huge fan of books I can eat whole in an afternoon. Do I care much about the overarching plot of the books? Eh, not really, but I do care about the characters and want them to succeed in making their lives better. Also the aliens are genuinely alien enough for me to enjoy the monster fucking element, so there's that.

[unhappy-sometimes]

other than spy fam what are your favorite animes :) p.s. sorry for causing a monsoon in your notifications, i recently followed and tumblr is putting all your stuff in my feed and for each one i'm like I LIKE YOU HAVE A CUPCAKE

i will not stop tho teehee

never apologize for spamming my notifs

(i like the taste of spam and i have notifs turned off anyway)

okay big list of series and opinions below the cut! as well as a little unso lore! please read it, tumblr crashed the first time i tried to answer and i had to retype EVERYTHING 😭

favorite series of all time: fullmetal alchemist

brotherhood, if we’re talking anime, but the manga is still the superior version no matter what. best art, best story, best characters, best fight scenes, best EVERYTHING: the pinnacle of what shonen should be. fma made me want to pursue visual storytelling and quite honestly changed the course of my life. could talk about it forever. cannot recommend it enough. riza hawkeye best character forever and ever.

second favorite series ever: ouran highschool host club

once again, the anime is decent but the manga is where it’s at. ohshc subverts classic shojo tropes while also playing into them and i love love love it for that. i recently reread it and was delighted to find that it still holds up for the most part. makes me scream with laughter and i cannot choose a favorite character (mouri best host tho). it was also just super ahead of its time. hilarious while also being heartfelt and genuine. greatest love confession scene in the history of the world.

the following series are not in any order, i just like them a lot:

spy x family

you guys already know what’s up

apothecary diaries

maomao MAKES👏THIS👏SERIES, i love her SO MUCH. this series has taken over my life. i watched the anime over and over and when i got tired of that, i read the manga over and over, and when i ran out of that, i began READING THE LIGHT NOVELS which i NEVER DO. i read nearly all of the light novels over the course of a week while i was super sick and coughing my lungs inside out, but it was a good time. i still actively read the english translations of the light novel chapters they come out and it honestly makes me week every time. also gaoshun is my favorite character and i would marry him SO fast.

mob psycho 100

yeah :,))))))

natsume’s book of friends (natsume yuujinchou)

if i had to describe this series in one word, it would be nostalgia. that may be because it was the second series i ever read as a kid, but it also just FEELS like blurry summer days and childhood friends you’ve nearly forgotten about. also manga natsume is way more fine that anime natsume. i can’t believe they changed his hair color >:(

detective conan

…or “case closed” as they call it in the united states. i have a lot of contempt for series that drag on for forever in the sake of making money but lemme tell you, early conan was GOOD. it was gory and dark and sometimes kinda scary but it was also a little goofy and cheesy. throwback to the early volumes when conan rode a large dog to rescue a kidnapped girl and also held the hand of a dying woman covered in blood as he told her his true name. you don’t get stuff like that anymore because the show’s demographic is getting younger. but i miss the days when people were getting decapitated via roller coaster. i stick with it for sentimental reasons because i’ve watched/read it since i was a tween. i also own the first 80 volumes of the english manga and named my cat Osaka aftwd heiji hattori. also kaito kid sucks and i hate him.

and now, rapid fire list of animes i saw and enjoyed

link click, frieren (first ep always makes me cry, manga is meh), buddy daddies, saiki k, vinland saga, demon slayer (the art was good, everything else was fine), inuyasha, a lot more but it’s late and i’m sleepy

ANYWAY, i have a LOT of anime/manga opinions but i don’t feel like getting into them rn. here is but a taste of them.

also, the first series i ever saw was called “hikaru no go” and i just think it’s funny that i’ve never met another soul who has heard of it and yet my childhood library in the middle of nowhere had the entire series. i think i own two of the volumes because i lost them, paid a fine, and then found them again. good time.

[girlfromthecrypt]

First book I finished in 2024

The Glutton by A K Blakemore is a historical fiction novel; a reimagining of the life of the real French soldier Tarare who was said to have an unfathomably large, at times inhuman appetite. This was the first book I finished in 2024, and I finished it in two days over two long sessions. I'm normally anything but a fast reader and I actually haven't finished any of the last three books I purchased before this. My attention is fleeting, hard to be captured and easily lost.

The Glutton captured and held my attention for the entirety of its length.

I had never read anything by A K Blakemore before, so I didn't know what I was in for, but I was immediately charmed by her style. I don't often enjoy flowery language and poetic prose, but somehow, it really worked for me here. The story of Tarare is a gritty, gloomy and at times disgusting one, but even the darkest parts of this book are told in a narrative voice so beautiful that it makes them seem idyllic. This deeply unsettling contrast had me absolutely engrossed until the end, and when I had turned the last page, I was genuinely sad that it was over. Which made for a weird mix of emotions, given how disturbing the subject material was at times.

And I have to underline that it was, indeed, disturbing.

I have consumed a lot of dark literature and am very desensitized. Most of the time, I don't enjoy horrific fiction because the elements contained within strike me as senseless, gratuitive and void of substance. I didn't have that feeling with The Glutton. There was a lot of grittiness, yes, but it was never just for “the effect”. Every time the writing made me feel uneasy, it directly related to the inner world of the protagonist and the circumstances of his life, the current time period and its hardships. And even if it didn't have any kind of meaning, it was still told in such stunning prose that it almost felt romantic. Again, none of the things that happen in this book are comforting or beautiful, but with the way they're being told, it almost deceives you into believing they are.

Another thing that I loved about this was that the prose never seemed overdone or pretentious. It was more like a steady ebb and flow perfectly tailored to any given point in the story. It never seemed out of place or ill-fitting while at the same time being VERY MUCH out of place and ill-fitting, but it was always intentional and highly effective.

After I finished this book, I felt genuinely empty, and I just knew I was going to miss it. Now, a week or so later, I do. I really feel like this book is something special, and I'm definitely going to pick up The Manningtree Witches (also by A K Blakemore) as soon as I get around to it. The Glutton was not only a huge joy (though joy might not be the best word for it) to read, it actually made me want to read more. That's also why I wrote this review in the first place. I hope more people check this out and like it as much as I did.

[eelhound]

"Fantasy and science fiction in their very conception offer alternatives to the reader’s present, actual world. Young people in general welcome this kind of story because in their vigour and eagerness for experience they welcome alternatives, possibilities, change. Having come to fear even the imagination of true change, many adults refuse all imaginative literature, priding themselves on seeing nothing beyond what they already know, or think they know.

Yet, as if it feared its own troubling powers, much science fiction and fantasy is timid and reactionary in its social invention, fantasy clinging to feudalism, science fiction to military and imperial hierarchy. Both usually reward their hero, whether a man or woman, only for doing outstandingly manly deeds. (I wrote this way for years myself. In The Left Hand of Darkness, my hero is genderless but his heroics are almost exclusively manly.) In science fiction particularly, one also often meets the idea I discussed above, that anyone of inferior status, if not a rebel constantly ready to seize freedom through daring and violent action, is either despicable or simply of no consequence.

In a world so morally simplified, if a slave is not Spartacus, he is nobody. This is merciless and unrealistic. Most slaves, most oppressed people, are part of a social order which, by the very terms of their oppression, they have no opportunity even to perceive as capable of being changed.

The exercise of imagination is dangerous to those who profit from the way things are because it has the power to show that the way things are is not permanent, not universal, not necessary.

Having that real though limited power to put established institutions into question, imaginative literature has also the responsibility of power. The storyteller is the truth-teller.

It is sad that so many stories that might offer a true vision settle for patriotic or religious platitude, technological miracle working, or wishful thinking, the writers not trying to imagine truth. The fashionably noir dystopia merely reverses the platitudes and uses acid instead of saccharine, while still evading engagement with human suffering and with genuine possibility. The imaginative fiction I admire presents alternatives to the status quo which not only question the ubiquity and necessity of extant institutions, but enlarge the field of social possibility and moral understanding. This may be done in as naively hopeful a tone as the first three Star Trek television series, or through such complex, sophisticated, and ambiguous constructions of thought and technique as the novels of Philip K. Dick or Carol Emshwiller; but the movement is recognizably the same – the impulse to make change imaginable.

We will not know our own injustice if we cannot imagine justice. We will not be free if we do not imagine freedom. We cannot demand that anyone try to attain justice and freedom who has not had a chance to imagine them as attainable.

I want to close and crown these inconclusive meditations with the words of a writer who never spoke anything but truth, and always spoke it quietly, Primo Levi, who lived a year in Auschwitz, and knew what injustice is.

The ascent of the privileged, not only in the Lager but in all human coexistence, is an anguishing but unfailing phenomenon: only in utopias is it absent. It is the duty of righteous men to make war on all undeserved privilege, but one must not forget that this is a war without end."

- Ursula K. Le Guin, from "A War Without End." Utopia, 2016.

[pop-pop-pop-popculture]

Can you please review the Wicked OBC show and share the link?!

WICKED on Broadway Review (2003)

I'm going to try and leave off quotes and lyrics that I really liked...

Idina Menzel is my Elphaba Thropp and I love her

Great first impression of our Green Girl™

The transition into the songs was smooth

"What's in this punch?" // "Lemons, and melons, and pears." // "Oh my."

Norbert played the himbo trope so well

Fiyero's entrance was a great first impression, and I would not expect anything less

Madame Morrible gushing over Nessarose and then subtly being startled by Elphaba's appearance

The way Fiyero went from being in love with G(a)linda to, instead, being in love with Elphaba was sweet

Speaking of Fiyero and Elphaba, the chemistry between Norbert and Idina felt genuine, thus, making the romance and feelings between their characters believable. The storyline between them was written well and didn't feel rushed or forced. #TeamWhateverTheShipNameForElphabaAndFiyeroIs

Elphaba telling Doctor Dillamond "...I have no friends." I'll be your friend! 🥺

The Wizard sounded less cruel in the musical than the novel, so I was on the fence about liking him or disliking him

Speaking of The Wizard, I loved Joel's portrayal of him. He was quite the charmer and honestly a little hard to not like.

So we all hate Madame Morrible, right??

“I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow." -Fiyero Tigelaar in a nutshell

I love how protective Fiyero eventually became of Elphaba (same, Fiyero, same)

Fiyero panicking after hearing someone say how to possibly k*ll Elphaba

"I can't stand here grinning, pretending to go along with all of this!" He was genuinely worried about his green, soon-to-be girlfriend.

ANIMALS SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD .. Ouch.

The train station part

"Fiyero, do you think I like hearing them say all these things about her?!" She still loves Elphaba deep down but can't vocalize it; however, there were a few times she tried to defend her.

Fiyero calling G(a)linda out on her bullsh*t: "You can't leave because you can't resist this, and that's the truth."

G(A)LINDA TOLD MADAME MORRIBLE AND THE WIZARD TO KILL NESSAROSE!!!! Well... use her as bait to capture Elphaba. This was done out of pure jealousy due to Fiyero confessing his feelings for Elphaba and running away with her.

(previous bullet point) Morrible: "We must now force her to show herself." // The Wizard: "How?" // Galinda: "Her sister." // Morrible: "What? What did she say?" // Galinda: "Use her sister. Spread a rumor, make her think her sister is in trouble..."

I loved the attitude and how dramatic Elphaba was over a pair of shoes. To be fair, though, they did belong to her sister. They were the last thing she had to remember her.

Regarding the previous bullet point, I love how Idina raised her pitch a few times towards the end of the musical, which began around her argument with Glinda shortly after Nessarose's death. For those who saw the musical, the argument begins after Elphaba asks to be alone with her (now dead) sister. Anyways, it sounded like she was paying a homage to Margaret Hamilton from the 1939 film by doing that.

The Wizard cutting Elphaba off just as she was about to tell him what happened to Doctor Dillamond by saying he knows why she's there and that she first must "prove" herself. He's a manipulative charmer.

So.. in the novel (and based on this), Elphaba went insane, like, mentally unstable kind of insane to the point of having at least one, full-blown mental breakdown. That being said, going back to the musical, I could hear the insanity in Idina's tone post-Nessarose's death (well done, Queen!); however, I wish there was more dialogue and "scenes" added to really emphasize Elphaba's mental instability. I mean.. our Green Girl™ went through a lot of shit (for a lack of better words) and most everyone hated her! And so, I wish we actually got to see how all of that took a mental toll on her to the point of having a full-blown mental breakdown.

Some of the songs felt rushed as well as lacked emotion too. I won't list out which ones, but that's just my opinion. For the songs that are my favorite, I like how the cast sounded in the album recording instead of on stage.

Since the quality was low, I couldn't hear too well...

The lion cub part. This is when a spark ignited in Elphaba and Fiyero's hearts.

Elphaba coming to Doctor Dillamond's defense after G(a)linda vocalized her anger of him accidentally mispronouncing her name for the second time

Elphaba's attempt at dancing. She tried, and that's what matters most.

I love how she immediately yanked the hat off once people began laughing at her and then, eventually, put it back on to start dancing

G(a)linda felt bad for purposely humiliating Elphaba, especially after Madame Morrible told her that Elphaba was the one who told her to give G(a)linda the training wand as a way to repay her for telling Boq to ask her sister to the dance

"For Good" is a beautiful song, and I love how Kristin and Idina sounded together. However, I just don't really buy the song, though, and here is why: Both mentally and emotionally, Elphaba was in a bad place. She was grieving over the loss of her sister and Fiyero, who was taken away by Oz guards to get tortured because he had a weapon on him and threatened to kill G(a)linda. To make things even worse, Elphaba was hated by everyone, and that's all thanks to The Wizard and Madame Morrible. Those are just a few things... . I'm sure some of you will argue that G(a)linda tried to comfort her (in secret since she was a "public figure"), and she did, but only once. Even during that one time, which was after they met up at the spot her sister was killed, the attempt at comforting Elphaba immediately turned into an argument, so I wouldn't really count that.

*This is just my opinion, though!*

I liked Doctor Dillamond, but I didn't care enough about him to the point of being sad about what happened to him. In the book, he was killed by a creature under Madame Morrible's orders...

Not G(a)linda calling Elphaba an "artichoke", lmao

The big hat at the beginning. That was so cool, and clever!

The ending!!!! Fiyero ran back on the stage and then knocked on the ground. After a few seconds, Elphaba opened the tile and he helped her out. My babies got their happy ending. 🥹❤️

Despite the crappy quality, I still enjoyed watching this, and I am beyond grateful for that person uploading a full bootleg performance. So.. thank you, kind stranger!

I'll probably end up reblogging this and adding more things that I liked, but for now, these moments stuck out to me the most.

[pitohuimaki]

k, so. breakdown for titania.

first immediately is i know i want to alter the design from the anime. in the anime her skirt seems quite stiff and i also dont love the movement or silhouette of the whole set. i’m taking my main inspo for the silhouette and layering from the manga, and fabric inspo in coming from the new york city ballet’s midsummer nights dream and doujins

second concern is that i’ll need to build the top around a bra so there’s support. her top is in two sections, while i’ll cal the base and the tie for convenience. the base is quite short and tight, so i can easily (hahahaha help me) sew it over a good underwire bra, but i might have to go down a cup size. i shall figure this out once i’m satisfied with a pattern. but the tie will be fairly straightforward after i choose a fabric for it

for fabrics, i want something i can layer and build opacity with. i want it to be quite flowy and light, she’s supposed to be a fairy after all so i want a very ethereal fairy feel. also with the opacity, ideally it wouldn’t be fully plain stark white. i’d like something a little see through (not showing through fully, but that’s where layering comes in) because that’s the way it’s described in the light novels

her armbands do nothing for me in the original design so i’m going to add some kind of sleeve. i don’t know if i want something little or something big. maybe i’ll make a few options. i just want to add all the movement i can. i’ll have a canon compliant version too, but i also want my absolute dream version lmao

REMOVABILITY!!!!! v important!!!!!!!!!!!!! layered skirts are so hard to pee in you guys!!!!!!!! i’m going to have a miniskirt type thing at the bottom layer of the skirt (like when it’s torn) because 1) i want to be able to remove layers of the skirt for convenience without showing my entire ass and genitalia 2) i’d rather over-plan for the idea of maybe doing something with the torn outfit so at least i have it if i want it lol

drop waist!! which the canon design already has but asuna has a very long torso (matches kazuto’s long chicken legs) so i would like to accentuate the drop waist a little to make my torso look longer and make me look taller

tbh the wig is a nightmare. wigs long enough don’t come in the right colour so i think i’ll have to dye a rapunzel wig or something. i’ve found a couple of 60 inch wigs so hopefully i can run some experiments on my test wigs and try to perfect how to dye them

i want some strappy heels because as mentioned before i am short

genuinely don’t know what to do for jewellery. obviously i can’t take out my piercings so i’ll just wear silver and maybe some little pearls in my top holes and some cascade-y silver earrings on my bottom holes. and she has elf ears so i’ll need to add the plating to the top of them (also need to do it for oberon but i’m procrastinating him so hard because i need to redo everything)

[craftlands]

solar's rev19 ocs fun facts!

(confused about these characters? click here for an overview post!)

K

Lived in Los Angeles in the 1990s before the Storm specifically so I could make it feasible for it to have read House of Leaves before the book came to print in early 2000.

When it's not being a complete and total menace to every single power structure within sight, it likes to cook. It's pretty good at cooking but is still trying to figure out baking -- K's used to improvising on the fly and isn't good at following exact directions.

Its Udimo is a California condor -- a vulture.

Its distaste for chess isn't just part of the card shark theming. It really, genuinely does not care for the game, especially not the weird superiority complexes people get about being good at it.

Both its basic incantations and its Inheritance are named after solitaire variants :)

Would have a visual novel style event sidestory with multiple endings, similar to Jessica's but with no dice rolls and a heavier focus on doing multiple paths to unlock different possibilities.

PINION

Is engineered to regenerate or heal from lost body matter incredibly efficiently while also serving as a universal donor. Has hypertrophic (raised) scarring in a few places where they... "donate" from... particularly frequently.

Has silver eyes. One is missing in their Insight 2 garment. I wonder why that is…

Can't fly or glide with their wings, as they're not fully developed, but can launch themself into the air pretty high if they channel arcanum through them. This tends to cause them to shed feathers.

Does charcoal and pencil sketches to work on their fine motor skills, as their joints tend to jolt a little bit in movement sometimes. Likes doing botanical illustrations. No plant has ever harmed them.

Genuinely does like Lock despite showing this by antagonizing him constantly. Is probably more loyal to him than they are to pretty much anyone else, including K.

LOCK

Knows his own soul number -- it's 451, an incredibly mundane number with no particularly interesting qualities to speak of (sarcasm). Even its digital root is simply a default 1.

Has brown-black eyes. One is silver in his Insight 2 garment. I wonder why that is...

Social chameleon that can be a totally unmemorable guy in whatever situation you put him in. When he isn't intentionally staying low-profile, he's rather blunt and deadpan.

Relatively adept with any given weapon he picks up thanks to a deal he has with Eyes.

Doesn't have an Udimo. If he's set as an assist unit, the suitcase will be empty, and if swapped in he literally just walks onto the battlefield from offscreen.

Would have a grid puzzle event sidestory very similar to Melania's but with more focus on taking out specific targets, kind of like a very simplified Invisible Inc.

EYES

Has possession of Lock's full name. Doesn't use it very often but will occasionally withhold it on request so that people straight-up forget what it is.

K and Pinion are incredibly unnerved by him -- Pinion because of his ominous politeness reminding them of the scientists that made them, and K because it has no idea how to read or predict him. For his part, Eyes thinks this is hilarious. He also quite likes K in general and thinks it's just fascinating to observe.

Actually just friends with Lock, who isn't even remotely intimidated by them. The two exchange information a lot, and Eyes is a big help to Lock when it comes to picking targets.

Can quite literally see through the eyes of the people they've made deals with. Doing this will cause the person's eyes to glow white slightly, but the person in question won't innately be aware someone is watching. Could possess people, but chooses not to -- that's boring.

Is allergic to silver and cold iron. It's not quite the mythological deterrent fairytales hype it up to be -- he'll just get a really nasty rash if it touches his bare skin.

[youngpettyqueen]

just finished Bloodletter! thoughts under the cut

tl;dr: SUCH A GOOD FUCKING BOOK easily one of my top favs of the DS9 books ive read so far

this book was a fucking RIIIIIIIDE and I loved it so much. some absolutely INSANE scenes, and such fantastic character exploration. just, holy shit, what a good book. I had a hard time putting it down. this was supposed to be my book for work but I couldnt stop myself from reading it at home as well. it was gripping, it was fun, it was beautifully written, it was everything I could've wanted

first of all, incredible Kira story. so brutal and so real, focuses so much on the heart of her character, her history with the resistance and how shes still so haunted and traumatized. this is early s1 Kira, still very hotheaded and clashing with Sisko, really feeling torn between two worlds and struggling to do right by Bajor. her story with the Redemptorists was INCREDIBLE. K. W. Jeter doesnt shy away from Kira's bloody past, and does so without condemning her, and god if you somehow managed to watch literally anything with Kira and NOT feel for her, this book will make you feel for her. Jeter has a fantastic grasp of Kira as a character and explores her beautifully, giving her this tense, gripping story that showcases all parts of her, viciousness and vulnerability holding hands and making for a wonderfully layered and complex story

I LOVED the villain of this novel. Hören was delicious to read, he was written super well, and im particularly a fan of the spirituality that permeates everything with him from the way he speaks, thinks, and even to the way he's described. he's terrifying in how realistic he is as a villain- a sadistic, fanatic man with followers in his echo chamber, mercilessly hunting and tormenting Kira. the sequences in this novel that were onboard the substation, with Kira having to hide from him and figure out how to defend herself while shes completely alone and he has the advantage, were genuinely nerve-racking. he's a very easy villain to hate, just so genuinely fucked up. I would've loved to actually see him on the screen, he would've made for a fantastic recurring villain in the early seasons, or even if just this novel had been a 2 part episode

the Sisko POVs of this novel were fascinating. again, this novel is set in early s1, so this is Sisko very early on, still trying to figure all this shit out. he's struggling with the Bajoran side of everything, struggling to find his place, and all the while he's butting heads with Kira and wrestling with the Cardassian government and his own morality as he finds himself stooping to their level in order to try to succeed for the sake of DS9 and the Federation and Bajor. Sisko really cant catch a break ever, especially not here, where he has to juggle officers determined to rebel against him, Cardassians breathing down his neck and lying to him, and Bajor relying on him while the Federation looms over his shoulder. its all just such fascinating insight into this character who has so much on his shoulders right from the get go, and who has to constantly try to make the best decisions in impossible situations

Julian's part in this novel is WILD. first of all- Julian and Kira besties agenda. I fucking LOVE that they genuinely dont like each other, it lines up really well with how they were in early s1. Kira cant stand Julian, and he doesnt particularly care for her, and theyre going on this mission together and they both nearly get killed and in the end they come to a sort of understanding. but what really got me with Julian was his sequence where he's trapped in the wormhole and actually communicates with the Prophets?? that was INSANE. god, its so fucking wild to think of Julian talking with the Prophets. these books are beta canon, I know, but the implications of Julian being one of the VERY few people who gets to talk to them... fascinating. and we get to see an early glimpse of just what Julian is willing to risk in order to save people- he gets himself sent to the literal death of the universe because thats the only way he can get to Kira without harming the Prophets. I love that the last scene of the novel was these two, Julian patching Kira up, and Kira agreeing to go get a drink with him. it felt like a natural progression in their relationship, going from hostile to an understanding, having gone through this really horrific thing together. Julian and Kira's relationship in the show isnt a big focus, and theyre friendly coworkers at best for the most part, but in my heart. they are besties

I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a really solid Kira story with some characteristically Trek insanity. this book is truly wild from start to finish, with some fantastic concepts and wild ideas, and I loved every second of it. Kira is shining brightly throughout, with a lovingly crafted and masterfully executed story behind her, and some of the best character writing ive encountered for her thus far in my journey into reading DS9 books. on top of that, youve got an amazing villain who will make your skin crawl, some great Julian character development, great Sisko moments, and even some fun stuff with Odo and Quark I didnt get to in my overall thoughts. seriously, go read this book, and thank me later its so so fucking good