#i love being around writers it was genuinely very beautiful to watch BUT it's also very funny the backstory he came up with

[hella1975]

made my first dnd character ever and she's a total cunt and i love her

[galvanizedfriend]

HIII if you don’t mind sharing, what are your fav klaroline fics? New and old, I’m in need of new reads 🙏

I'm probably not the best person to be doing new fic recs. 🥲 I have sadly not been reading that much Klaroline myself these days. When I do read fic, it's for other stuff. So my recs are either old or new-ish. 😂 But hopefully you can find something to your liking that haven't read yet here.

Buckle up because I took my sweet time with this list, nonnie.

. Inertia Overcome by @avari20

The first KC fanfic I remember reading the reason why I finally got pulled into the fandom after years of watching TVD as a reasonable spectator (so rly, if you guys can't stand to see me around anymore after all this time, it's this fic's fault for being so good). Honestly one of this fandom's statement works. If you haven't read it yet, please do.

. Timeless by @marvelouskatie

Same as the above. One of the most iconic KC fics of all time imho. The canon AU to end all canon AU. When I first decided to come out of the shadows and create a tumblr and actually start interacting with folks, this was the first fic that was recced to me. I was very grateful then, and now I'm here to pass this knowledge on.

. Picturesque by @supernutellastuff

Honestly of the sweetest, most heartwarming fics I've ever read! It's a human AU that's a How I Met Your Mother sort of adaptation, and honestly the first time I've ever enjoyed HIMYM. I love a good ensemble fic and this is just it! Supernutella is so talented.

. Quiet Light by @definedareasofuncertainty

This fic was WRITTEN FOR ME because of how much I pestered my friend Luiza about Carolijah and this will forever feel like a trophy to my heart. 🥰 It made me feel ALL THE FEELINGS. I hated Caroline, I loved Caroline, I loved my baby Elijah, I hated him, I also hated Klaus (he's such a fucking asshole omfg), but then the end was just DHAGHDDASAS!! You think you're in for a certain kind of story and it turns out to be so much more. It is, deep down, about the brothers, how selfish they are, how they can hurt each other more than anyone, but how they love one another above anything else, even when they want to kill each other (and fall in love with their brother's girl!!!). It's beautiful, like everything Luiza writes, and it genuinely made me cry.

. long limbs and frozen swim by @definedareasofuncertainty

I saw a discussion the other day about how whoever wrote this fic JUST GOT IT, and I have to say I completely agree with the person who made that comment. Luiza just NAILS Caroline's grief and loneliness after her mother's death, how isolating and gut-wrenching it is. Klaus being the person who finds her, who knows exactly what to say without her ever having to spell it out, the one who can truly see her, is so honest too. This fic is sensitive and absolutely beautiful. Luiza's writing is perfection and this is for sure one of my all-time favorites.

. Whisper to me, Help me remember by @lalainajanes

This story reimagines the plot with the "villains" of TO S3 in a way that proves my point that the premise of that season was good, but execution was absolute crap. All of the potential the De Martels had to be incredible antagonists was completely destroyed at the hands of the show writers - but explored to perfection by Laine's much more capable hands. Klaus is freed after 10 years in captivity to find that Caroline had been working with Tristan this whole time in order to take him down - except something is not quite right about that. While you're at it, please read all of Laine's fics! It's a delight.

. Into the Woods by @jinxedwood

I wept when I read this because it's the post-TO canon fic I didn't even know I needed. Caroline's search for a way to stop her twins' merger ends up leading her to someone who's been watching over her on the Other Side. 😭 I thought I'd always rather live in denial when it came to how TO ended, but this fic made my heart so full! Also, jinxedwood's use of fae mythology here was incredible.

. All I Need by @euvixen

This story is HOT. It taught me things about the werewolf AU universe I was not prepared to learn, but I am a much happier person after reading it. It's a canon mates AU that will leave you 🥵🥵🥵🥵 I speak as though the story was merely about the smut, but it's actually much more than that. A TVD S3 reimagine of sorts that is incredibly satisfying. That's my favorite season of TVD, but this is still even better.

. the birth and death of the day by @little-miss-sunny-daisy

Anyone who's known me for a some time knows how this fic was my entire personality for a while there. I'm obsessed with Kelly's writing, and I have this fic on a freaking pedestal. I first started reading it when it was on a six years hiatus, and I was *so* into it I didn't even bother me that it might never get updated because it was so good I was just happy I'd found it. But then my silly comments inspired Kelly to come back to it, finish it, and it has honestly been my greatest accomplishment as a part of this fandom because this is a masterpiece. It's a TVD/Supernatural crossover where Caroline is a step-sister to the Superbros. It's truly, truly epic, with beautiful writing. This could genuinely be a show. It's amazing, just read it.

. this is a harvest by @highgaarden

This, right here, is the perfect Klaroline-within-canon story. This is the story that put my revolt to rest and gave my spirit some much deserved peace where those two are concerned. This is exactly what canon should've been like. I'm not even joking, this is IT. If you'd asked me what I thought the perfect Klaroline development should be like I probably would've said something very vague because I couldn’t explain it, I’m not that great or creative a writer, but now I can just show you this story and let you bask in the amazingness of a fantastic read that will not only keep you thoroughly entertained, but will also be the answer to all the questions you didn't even know you had.

. Paradise Lost by Borzoi

When i grow up, I want to learn how to write like Borzoi. All of their fics are incredible novella-like reads. It's addictive. And this is probably my favorite (it varies though, sometimes I'm in a Parisian Deal era). What happens after Klaus and Caroline sleep together in 5x11, and how they eventually find their way back to each other. It's just one of those stories that you can't stop reading after you start. It's so rich, so deep, so perfectly IC. One of those fics to end all fics.

. The Stubborn Grace of Being Loved Regardless by @helpless-in-sleep One of the modern day classics, if you will. This fic is such a stunning, vivid and delicate picture of Caroline's mind as she was dealing with the consequences of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Damon. She's still human, but she's probably more IC than we've seen her ever on the show when it comes to this. The bond she forms with Klaus is truly incredible too, and speaks a lot of how the two of them really do have a lot in common (even with Caroline still as a human), but it's really the Caroline study part of the story that touches me. The writing is absolutely beautiful as well.

. it takes a while to settle down by theviolinist

This story is a punch to your stomach, but it is PERFECTION in 8k words. It's hot, it's bittersweet, it's SO in character and, in my head, I kinda like to pretend that this is what happened before Caroline married Stefan. lol

. Wanderlust by @bellemorte180 Anybody who was a part of fandom around the time this story was being published can tell you how much of an EVENT it was. There were discussion groups about the mystery. It was so entertaining. Erica's attention to detail and how she wove the little clues throughout the chapters made this a genuine thriller. I particularly some of the side-characters here. It's honestly another fandom staple I think everyone should read.

--

In terms of newer fics that I can rec you, I have two that are on my TBR. One of them is a WIP that I've been slowly going through, and the other one I know was recently finished.

. make them bow by @stars-and-darkness

This was recced to me by two friends recently and I started reading it a while back and thought it was incredible! I have sadly been awful with keeping up with stuff, but just based on the raving reviews and the five chapters I read, I fully believe it to be just as awesome as it seems to be. The writing was so good, and I was just in love with Klaus' voice in this story. It was so reminescent of early-days TVD Klaus, which is by far my favorite Klaus of all. Sexy and dangerous and so smooth. I loved it! Need to get back to it.

. Wolf Club by @Radioactive79

Listen, if you like kid fics, this is absolutely for you. The whole story is narrated by an eight-year-old OC, the daughter of Ray Sutton, the first werewolf Klaus kills when he's trying to start his mass-production of hybrids. She's a little wolf herself, and a while little thing who was subjected to her fair share of child trauma. Klaus has no idea what to do with her, but ends up taking her with him as continues on his journey, and ends up forging a bond with the little girl. I cannot tell you how delicious this story is. It has Klaroline, yes, but for me the little girl is the absolute star of the company. I usually hate OCs, especially children, in fics, but this one is AMAZING. Seriously. The way this story is written is glorious. I can't recommend it enough.

[rs-hawk]

Do you have any writing tips? Even if it’s not necessarily for smut?

I won’t be touching on tips for smut at all on this post but I can make a separate post for it if y’all want.

My Top 10 Writing Tips

Love all your characters. Yes, even your antagonists. Hell, especially your antagonists. Even if they’re evil for the sake of being evil, if you want a 3 dimensional character, you have to acknowledge that they’re more than just evil to someone. Their mother. Their friends. Their dog. You have to think of their motivations, and honestly?-acknowledge that every character you write has a part of you in them. Maybe just your anger, your fear, your trauma, but love them for that, and it’ll shape them and your works in ways you never thought of.

Don’t reread your work too often! It’s hard (so very very hard) but when you have to crank out 2k words a day every day of the month but 2 it gets easier. Lol. Fr though just keep chugging along. You can reread later. You can edit later. Just get it done.

Don’t edit too much while you’re still actively writing. I know that’s hard, I really do, but if you keep rewriting, you’ll never be able to finish. You’ll keep writing a handful of scenes over and over again until you hate it, your book and yourself for “giving up”. You can edit later.

Write for yourself. It doesn’t matter how good of a writer you are, how beautiful or eloquent your style, if you hate it with every fiber of your being, it’ll turn to dust in your hands. I consider writing work, and when people enjoy themselves at work, not only do they do better, but the consumer enjoys it more. Think about it. If you’re at a restaurant and the workers are laughing and smiling with each other and seem genuinely happy, you’re more likely to go back than if they’re miserable, on the verge of tears and seem to hate being there, right? The same is true for your writing. Readers will enjoy it more if they can feel how much you enjoyed creating it.

Don’t just write. Listen to music. Get up and go for a walk. Text/call a friend. Watch a TV show. Pet your cat. Experience something. It helps you write but it also reminds you that hey, you’ve been here like eight hours. Get something to drink. Take a screen break. Go outside.

Be comfortable while you write. I’m not going to lecture you on posture because I’m currently laying down with my legs drawn up under me, my upper body turned and my phone in the air because I’m trying to put enough pressure on my lower back to pop it. Anyway, even if you can’t stay in one position long, switch. Listen to your body. A “proper” posture can end up hurting you if you don’t ever relax or if you’re putting too much pressure on your lower spine. It’s okay to lean. It’s okay to lay down. It’s okay to sit cross-legged. Just not at the expense of your body. Be aware, and don’t forget to get up and stretch!

Take breaks. Eat. Drink. Stretch. Go to the bathroom. Some people need them scheduled, and that’s fine, but also listen to your body. If you need to use the toilet but you don’t have another break scheduled for an hour, just go. Pause your timer or delay your alarm if you want, but take care of yourself.

Don’t be too rigid with your “starting” plot. We know most of us have that one scene or one character in mind we want to write, so we create a plot around them. That’s fine and I love it, but your writing is like a living creature. You might change while writing it. Your characters and ideas might change while writing it. Let them change. Let you change! You can edit later.

Remember it’s not a race. Just because you see some people dropping 3 novels a year, or 5 Tumblr posts every day doesn’t mean you’re not good enough. No one can write what you write. No one can create what you can create. Your work deserves to exist and be judged on its own merit. Not compared to anyone else’s, even if it’s you five years ago who could crank out multiple posts daily. It’s okay.

Don’t expect anything. Start writing because you love it. It makes you happy. It itches that part of your brain that no other hobby does. That no other love does. I’ve been writing for about 15 years now. I don’t know who I am without it. I have tried giving it up, moving past it, doing other things, but I always come back. Nothing else makes me feel the way writing does. I have gone years without writing, but when I start writing again, it’s like a high. I can go for hours, and I have! I have been lucky to be able to monetize my work, but it took 10+ years and was only because I got goofy about werewolves on a PTR app. You can’t go into the arts and expect to make money right away, or ever. You can hope, and do your best, but don’t only do it because you think you’ll make a living. It’s a sad but real fact. Capitalism makes us think we should only do stuff we can make money off of, but that’s a lie. You can AND SHOULD create just to create. Humans are meant to make art, and if writing is your canvas like it is mine, write to create. Fuck capitalism. Your art existing is enough reason to create it.

[bratbby333]

. . . ⇢ ˗ˏˋ [ blog update ! ] ࿐ྂ

+ some housekeeping and info on new writing

hello my loves !! i wanted to give y'all some insight on what's been going on in my mind palace lately. there's a lot...so...cmon, take a walk w me...and maybe bring some snacks.

ੈ��˳ first and foremost ! my work has received a lot more attention recently and i am so excited. with actual tears in my eyes, im happy to report that i surpassed 1,000 followers the other day. i am at a loss for words...just...stuck in a perma-state of disbelief.

im sending out the biggest thank you to everyone who has supported me, who's interacted with my work, to the lovely friends ive made though this account and to the heartbreakingly beautiful anime that brought me here in the first place. i am genuinely in awe...overwhelmed, even...i didn't expect any of this to happen when i started this blog and i am forever indebted to all of you for getting me here. im actively fighting off the inevitable surge of imposter syndrome as i type this out...i just love y'all so fucking much. this community means the world to me and i wanna scream at the top of my lungs in order to demonstrate my deepest appreciation for each and every one of y'all.

ੈ♡˳ secondly ! a message for my little angel babies, my day one followers; thank you for taking a chance on me. for watching me grow. for sticking around as i worked to get better at writing. im sure a lot of you started following me for my gamer!bf sukuna series...trust me, i love him and i know y'all do too. but i feel like my writing is heading in a different direction...and with a heavy heart, i'm absolutely gutted when i say that i am taking a pause on that series. i am forever grateful for the support and may return to him soon, though i cannot promise that. i owe so much of what my account is now to that series and i will never forget that.

for everyone who joined me as i delved into dark/dead dove content, thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me a safe space to explore different forms of story-telling. my choso fic was the first stepping stone and then i skipped every other stone on the path and jumped head first into the deep end with my dead dove gojo fic...i deeply appreciate all the positive feedback i received on both of those. after posting them, i realized that i am very into writing dark content. i know that taboo themes/dark content/dead dove subject matter isn't for everyone and i understand people's apprehension in regards to it. but with that being said, i will be moving forward with publishing darker content.

ੈ♡˳ so here's the writing update !

i did a poll asking y'all what kind of content you enjoy. a good chunk of people said long form fics (which is great, cause i do too !! mommy needs plot). so, i am migrating away from one shot writing. both because i've been thinking about it for awhile and because y'all are into longer stories, as well. but fear not, i will still write shorter stuff along with headcannons, drabbles, etc...it just won't be the main focus of my blog anymore.

ੈ♡˳ now, time for the big reveal ! perhaps it's a bit anticlimactic, but bear with me...

im so excited to announce that i have two new series coming ! it will be a dark, modern!au featuring choso (with a few other special guests) and a dead dove sukuna series.

i'm almost finished with the outlines, and have fully completed the theme layout + mood boards for both works. i hope to get the first few chapters wrapped up in the next couple weeks. if you want to be tagged in either of these (or both), just leave a comment or send me a message !

(also !! i may or may not be cooking up a dark medieval au series in collaboration with another writer on here...so be on the lookout for that hehe)

while i take breaks from writing my two series, i'll be working through my requests ! so if you've sent one in, i promise i will get to it, unless i literally cannot think of a good way to write it (im only human, im so sorry). also, im sure we already knew this, but im a slowww writer. i wish i could churn content out quick as fuck but i am too hypercritical of myself…it's both a blessing and a curse, honestly.

if you made it all the way to the end of this nightmare of a brain dump, i love you. if you've been with me for a while, i love you. if you're just now joining me, i love you. everyone who’s supported me in any way, shape, or form, i love you.

i present you with the sloppiest kiss with tongue (only if you want it, of course. i can also give you the tightest hug, the gentlest head pat, or my social security number...access to all my bank accounts? a mansion in the hills? my passport? hand in marriage? my first born child? literally whatever you want, babe).

okay !! i think that's all for the updates. feeling: very ambitious and motivated but also overwhelmed and mildly stressed but overall super excited for what's to come. im looking forward to this new adventure and i hope y'all come along with me ˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡˚

thank you again…for literally everything. yall hold a special place in my heart and always will. so, here we go !

see you on the other side, my loves.

— jade 𓆩ᥫ᭡𓆪

[elisysd]

Epilogue

Masterlist - Previously

A year and a half later

“And the Oscar for best actress goes to… Lyanna Michel-Leclerc for Ferrari!”

It was almost 3 am in Monaco when Charles bursted out of joy in the big living room of the house. After all the stress, the promo, the pre-Oscars interviews, the fitting with her stylist, Lyanna’s Ferrari journey could not end on a better note. Charles knew she was going to get it. There was no other options. She got every single awards for her performance there was never a doubt in his mind that she would win the Oscar. beautiful in her navy dress, a hair fallen with grace on her back he watched her as she was standing up, hugging the rest of the cast and going up that stage to receive the trophy.

Beside Charles, in a crib, a small little nine months old baby with brown hair was fidgeting and slowly waking up.

“Hey princess. Look, it’s mommy on the TV.”

The little girl looked at his father with big hazel eyes and smiled at him making Charles’ heart melt some more. He took her in his arms carefully, not without lightly touching her face with his fingers and kissing her forehead. He was totally in love with his daughter, something that caused teasing from his family and Lyanna who always liked to joke around saying that she was not Charles’ favourite woman anymore. The little girl then looked to the screen that Charles was pointing at and gave a toothless grin when she recognised her mother.

“Yes, I know, mommy is beautiful.”

Lyanna could not believe it. Everyone was saying that she was going to get it, but a part of her refused to believe it. But there she was, in the centre of the stage, with cameras pointed at her and people being genuinely happy for her. She took the awards from Anne Hathaway’s hands and started to talk.

“Fuck… sorry! It’s just… wow. I don’t really know what I’m supposed to say, to be honest. Three years ago I was in this exact same room, I remember sitting right there, and seeing Florence Pugh get the Oscar I was also nominated for. Rightfully so, she is amazing I love her, she knows that. It might not seem like a long time ago to you but to me it seems like a lifetime ago. So many things have changed for me. First I want to thank every single person who worked on the movie with us, from the writers, to the sound designers, the cameramen to the cast of course and Michael, thank you. For giving me this opportunity, for believing in me, for everything that I’ve learned and keep learning. I want to thank my mom, how cliché I know, for making me the woman I am today. Moms rock and I know that because I recently became one and I want to dedicate this award to my baby girl. Last but not least, I want to thank my husband who is taking care of our baby at home and who, I know, is watching this. It’s an honour to share your life and I could not be more thankful to have you in mine. You’re the best husband and dad a woman could ask for. I love you. So much. And now I’m coming home because I missed you and I hate being away from you both.”

Two days later, she was back home to Charles attempting to feed their daughter dinner. He was trying to make weird faces to make her laugh and Lyanna, watching the scene from afar, could not help but laugh. She loved those moments, when it was just them three, living their family life. Finally Charles spotted her and left the plate aside to get to her.

“How is my amazing, beautiful, talented and Oscar-winning wife doing?” He asked kissing her deeply, his arms hanging loosely around her frame.

“Exhausted but happy to be home. And how is my perfect, patient, incredible double world champion of husband doing?” she asked him back.

“He is doing great and slowly transforming himself into a stay-at-home dad.”

“And how is Julia? I missed her so much.”

She left Charles side to go the see her daughter who was extending her little arms so Lyanna could carry her.

“Yes, baby, mommy is back and she is not leaving you before a very, very long time.”

Charles went to them with a smile on his face. That’s what perfect family life looked like to him. He put one hand one Lyanna’s waist and the other on Julia’s back before kissing both of their heads.

“My two girls. My two loves. I’m going to miss this so much. For the first time I don’t want to go back to racing.”

“Because you thought that you were leaving without us?”

“I thought you said that Julia was too young to come on the tracks.”

“I bought everything that she would need to be safe both on the plane and on tracks and asked to her doctor if she could. No objections from his side. What did you think, Leclerc? Wherever you go, we go.”

“Whatever you said, Leclerc.” he nodded.

Yes, their life was perfect and he would not trade it for anything else in the world.

=======

author's note: 284 pages, 124 602 words later, I can officially said that this story is over. What a ride my friends, what a ride. I want to thank every single one of you who, at some point during this story, left a like, a reblog, or a comment. This story exists because of you who helped me find the motivation to write. From the bottom of my heart I could not be more grateful for that. For the last time, what would make me so happy would be to read what your favorite moment of the story is? The moment that made you laugh, cry, scream in anger? Whatever. But for now, Charles and Lyanna's story is over... or at least almost since 10 bonus chapter will come to you soon. They deserver a proper goodbye before they move on with their lives. But stay tuned, a new story is under way and maybe they will make an apparition 👀

taglist: @zendayabelova @purplephantomwolf @ru-kru @dakotali @blueflorals @aundercover @ruleroftheuniverse @fangirlika @writerscurse @elijahmikaelsonbitch @leclerc13 @karmabyfernando @stargaryenx @pitlanebabe @boiohboii @reengard @shikshinkwon

[empress-violetlight]

My Speculative Biology Library

Got talking on Discord about biology (it started with laughing about a pic of a bacteriophage my husband freaked out about) and because we're all sci-fi loving nerds, the topic of speculative biology came up. I'm no biologist (unlike two very talented other discord members), but I love science, and love reading and writing about animal life, evolution, and figuring out how to make my own aliens as "realistic" as possible (i.e. at least scientifically plausible).

One of my fellow discord members (Discordians? Discordees?) asked if I would post my collection of speculative biology "research material", so @admiral-arelami, this one's for you!

In no particular order, with some entries being more scientific than others:

Extraterrestrials: A Field Guide for Earthlings

by Terence Dickinson and Adolf Schaller c 1994

A kid's book, this little volume actually gives a great introduction to the idea of looking at aliens from a more scientific perspective. It starts with looking at some popular sci-fi aliens, then moves on to discussing theoretical planetary environments, and the aliens that might evolve to live there. The cutie on the cover is a creature that might live in the atmosphere of a gas giant!

Speaking of which:

Cosmos by Carl Sagan. c 1980 Both the mini-series and the book. Wish I could find my beautifully illustrated hardcover edition, but oh well.

This absolute classic features an unforgettable chapter where Carl Sagan speaks about the possibility of life in the atmosphere of Jupiter, imagining "sinkers", "floaters" and "hunters", as a small example. I was absolutely blown away and I'm not the only one! Notable sci fi writers like Robert L. Forward and Timothy Zahn (I'm a huge fan, if you couldn't tell by my blog) have both written novels about the same topic. If you're a fan of Classic Doctor Who, the Cosmos mini-series won't disappoint in the aesthetics department either!

After Man: A Zoology of the Future by Dougal Dixon c 1981

Considered one of the most influential texts of the speculative biology sub-genre, and probably one of the first to treat the topic with genuine scientific curiosity. It looks at a world 50 million years in the future, and theorizes about how modern day animals might have evolved during that time, assuming that humanity has gone extinct. Beautiful artwork accompanies intriguing looks at possible animals, all sorted by biome.

After Man is part of a loose "series" along with The New Dinosaurs (a speculative Earth where non-avian dinosaurs never went extinct)and Man After Man: An Anthropology of the Future (what might have happened to humans in the After Man universe, who aren't so extinct after all). I don't have the other two (yet), but the whole "trilogy" is available to borrow (for free, and legally!) on the Internet Archive, so I've read them. Man After Man is messed up.

The Future is Wild c 2002

Basically a spiritual successor to After Man, this 13 part mini series has the same premise -- looking at how modern day animals might evolve in the future -- though it examines different time periods: 5 million years, 100 million years, and 200 million years in the future. I love this series for its creativity, pretty decent CGI (especially for its time) and some absolutely unforgettable animals, like the giant Toratons -- tortoises the size of sauropod dinosaurs! Some of its premises are a little questionable as Science has Marched On, but it's still a really fun watch, and puts as much thought into its wildlife as its predecessor.

Future Evolution by Peter Ward c 2001

This book also looks at possible future life on Earth, but takes a much more pessimistic view of things, and the author honestly doesn't sound like he enjoys the topic at all, which makes me wonder why he wrote about it in the first place. Unlike the previous two examples, he assumes humanity will still be around in the future, and our presence alone basically prevents any cool megafauna from evolving in the first place, and he assumes we'll never make any headway into space either. Kind of a downer, actually.

HG Wells Science Fiction Treasury c circa 1895-1901

The previous entry compared his work to Wells' The Time Machine, and honestly, he shouldn't have. Wells was a visionary. In his novels, long before anyone else even considered doing so, Wells thought about the effects of lower gravity on his Martians and their susceptibility to Earth bacteria in War of the Worlds, the possible future evolution of humanity in The Time Machine, and more on alien life in The First Men in the Moon, to name a few in this collection. The Island of Doctor Moreau is a borderline case, since the "beast men" there were made and didn't evolve naturally, but is still an interesting look at humans' relationship with other animals. Basically, anyone interested in spec bio would be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't read Wells' novels.

The Resurrectionist by E.B. Hudspeth c 2013

Part guidebook, part novel, this work looks at popular creatures from mythology and actually tries to examine them from a scientific perspective, looking at how their anatomy might possibly work, and their relation to humans, if any. Definitely an interesting look at creatures that are usually brushed off as pure fiction, like mermaids, harpies, centaurs, etc.

Speaking of mythical creatures ...

The Flight of Dragons by Peter Dickinson c 1979

The original "Dragonology", this book, which partly inspired the animated film of the same name (which was made by the same studio as The Last Unicorn). Its ideas on how dragons scientifically may fly and breathe fire have been "borrowed" by many other speculative works afterwards, and most theories seem pretty solid. However, I can't ever read this book again after it proposed wildly unfair sexual dimorphism for dragons. It said the cool, fire-breathing giant lizards we all know and love are the males, while things like Medusa or Grendel's Mother, mostly humanoid mythical monsters with barely any connection to dragons, are the females. Yeah ... that killed it for me, I'm sad to say.

The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide

by Terryl Whitlatch and Bob CVarrau c 2001

This book looks at the animal life of various on-screen Star Wars planets, with specific chapters on Tattooine, Dagobah, Yavin IV, the Forest Moon of Endor, Bespin Hoth, Coruscant (yes, Coruscant apparently has some wildlife!) and 3 separate chapters on Naboo, with a little bit at the end showing off other notable Legends animals (such as fan-favourite Ysalamiris!) Not the most scientific on in-depth book in this collection by any means, but the artwork is beautiful, and at least it tries. I'm really glad I saw it on Ebay!

To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek

by Athena Andreadis c 1998

There's a couple Star Trek biology books out there, but I enjoyed this one the most. It doesn't really talk about animal life, but instead focuses on Star Trek's sapient (mostly humanoid) alien species, and tackles some philosophical questions, such as whether artificial lifeforms like androids or holograms count as life -- a topic the shows themselves have wondered about.

The Teeming Universe: An Extraterrestrial Field Guide

By Christine Cline c 2021

The newest book in my collection, the author and illustrator really puts a lot of thought into what alien life might actually be like, using the newly-discovered planet types of reality as opposed to science fiction, like a tidally-locked planet around a red dwarf star. He also assumes humans will be able to go out and explore these worlds ourselves, and that we can make peaceful contact with sapient aliens we may encounter (who will NOT be humanoid!). A refreshingly optimistic and fun look, and very up-to-date.

The Zoologist's Guide the the Galaxy by Arik Kershenbaum c 2021

I had actually completely forgotten that I picked up this book! Once I read it, I'll give a proper review, but considering it's just as new as The Teeming Universe, I'm hoping it will be just as accurate and fun!

[thattimdrakeguy]

HOW NCUTI GATWA STOLE (THE SHOW AT) CHRISTMAS.

Gonna be honest, do not care how brash it sounds, Ncuti Gatwa is already my second favorite Doctor. A perfect mesh of fantastic performance and good writing.

Both him and RTD just deliver what's their in my head as the 'Doctor-y bits', the things that make any incarnation of the Doctor feel like the Doctor. The stuff that if lacking can make me not care for an incarnation, or really like an incarnation.

They nail that base of the character while adding new things to make the new incarnation unique and it's wonderful.

The Doctor is an enigmatic, scientist, time traveling, adventurer, investigator, that's so eccentric. And while some criticize RTD for making the Doctor's a bit too human, I personally think he's always been very good at writing Doctor's that feel like aliens who've been around humans for hundreds of years...which is who the Doctor is.

And it makes the Doctor so wonderful.

Never liked when people say some Doctor's don't feel alien...simply because they aren't standard socially awkward. 'Cause that always felt a bit unintentionally mean spirited. There's lots of human's that are bad at social cues and stuff. A lot of them are just plum Autistic. It doesn't make them alien.

RTD makes his Doctor's feel alien by the obvious experience the Doctor has that's above any possible human. Knowledges and sciences above what we human's even know. With enough eccentricities with the way they socialize that show they're so used to being around actual aliens that they're pleasantly surprised when something unusual shows up, and they're right at home alongside it.

Now all that stuff I described is almost constantly there...'cause it is the Doctor'y Bits, but it feels more pushed to the forefront with RTD. While other writers either don't make those the elements that stand out, or they write them in a way that feels...it's hard to describe...But sometimes that stuff is written in a way that feels parody. When I feel like the humor is natural 'cause, 'Who the hell can say they done all this'. It could be a directing or performance thing over writing. It's hard to pinpoint. While focusing too much on making the character quirky to the point they feel a bit too over-the-top to mesh, or possibly maybe even inconsistent with other parts of the characterization that's been established.

It's a magnificent balance in the latest special is what I'm saying.

And thanks to the beauty of the writing, Ncuti gets to play a three dimensional Doctor right off the back. His serious side, his silly side, his teasing side, his self-doubting size, his scientific side, his adventure loving side. It's all there, and he betrays it so convincingly. It somehow feels like he's already done a full season when this is his first episode as the main Doctor.

And the episode was a total breath of fresh air.

The first three specials were amazing, and already among my top favorite episodes of Doctor Who. But by nature they were an epilogue to a story already started. Which is what made them fantastic.

But on the differing side of the coin is this special, where it's to begin a new on, in a new era, in an episode that's a truly great starting point for new viewers that may not understand the sort of show Doctor Who is.

I've seen some people say it doesn't work as that 'cause it's goofy.

No it's perfect 'cause of that. You shouldn't watch Doctor Who not expecting camp sensibilities. Even at it's most serious, the show still has elements of camp, it's just rather or not it's intentional lmao

Also Millie Gibson is insanely convincing right away. I never seen her in anything, while keeping some faith, since so far RTD has been sort of my man when it comes to Doctor Who, I consistency enjoy his choices. But like, wow, she was genuinely the stand-out to me, above even Ncuti in some ways, because obviously the Companion isn't going to be as naturally interesting as the Doctor is, since the Companion is supposed to be a more average person, while the Doctor is...the Doctor. To make the companion stand out as much as the Doctor is insanely hard...especially when Ncuti is a show stealer by showing up alone from his charisma.

Her performance was amazing though.

I've never been so impressed by a companion's performance (Anymore so than another) before like I was with Millie.

[phneltwrites]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to other writers. Spread the self-love~ 🫶🏻

💚

it's tempting to pick the long fics because they took the most work and have the most Stuff in them (themes, narrative experimentation, whatever) so i want to think a little more widely about the stuff i've written.

Bad Thing Twice (Not Me, Todd/Black). Ohh I love Not Me so much. What a fantastic show about a group of people taking down the biggest billionaire in Thailand. The main romance is great, the gang is fantastic, it's beautiful to watch... and then right at the end the most perfect best friends to enemies ship appears. otp of two guys who keep trying to kill each other over ideological differences but can't because they love each other so much. So then I wrote 64k to take that friends to enemies and add on a ...to lovers. One of my faves because I got to get into some themes that I love, like how and when to compromise, what to do when the love is real but the situation is hard. Also because I don't see anything glamorous or admirable in being rich and I wanted to wallow a bit in how much money fucks things up.

Say All That You're Feeling (MDZS, wlw wangxian). lesbians!! Genuinely the process for writing this was just coming up with a big list of all the things that I thought would be hot. lwj woodworking. wwx making leather bracelets and then playing with the leather bracelet on lwj's wrist. But then ALSO this fic is about comphet. Stage 2 comphet. Stage 1 is 'is it possible to like girls???' Stage 2 is learning to be ok with experiencing attraction. It's scary to be horny! It's vulnerable. And there's so much baggage around unwanted attraction and being predatory but like. it's beautiful and fun. We all know a useless lesbian who is like 'idk if that was a date or just friends' and I'm always like WELL did YOU say if it was one or the other?? and they never do. Useless. But also we've all been there so this is like, a fond and generous read on that situation (i hope)

Retrieved from Impossibility (Leverage, Eliot/Parker/Hardison). Possibly the most Me fic I've ever written. Android Eliot desperately clinging to his humanity, Parker's fierce sense of what's okay and not, and Hardison being so smart and caring and also into robots. I love books about cognition and humanity and agency and I also am very weak to a trope about heisting a person so they can be free, so.

Falling Til Four in the Morning (MDZS, wangxian). I sure do love a hyperspecific AU. Like this, technically, is a coffee shop AU, however it's set in the 90s and wwx aspires to dotcom and lwj works in radio. I researched so much for this fic and nothing makes me feel better than people in the comments say it captured the vibe of the era. In case anyone reading this has read that fic and wondered: wwx disassociated himself from the Jiangs because he was doing AIDS activism and it was communicated to him that he was shaming them.

Standing in Sharpening Wind (Game of Thrones, Jon/Tormund). A fave cause I think the setting comes through clearly, which is always something I'm working on. I feel cold in the spaces in the sentences. I can't believe I never had any fic writing inclination for this show until the end of S8 pissed me off SO bad. Not even the point of this fic but Brienne/Sansa forever I can't believe that show fucked me so bad. uhh anyway yeah north of the wall vibes, some culture clash stuff, Tormund pining like an idiot, lots of fun for me to write

[dreamsandscenes]

My Ranking of TVD Seasons

*spoilers ahead*

NUMBER 8 - SEASON 8

I mean…do I need to even explain this? We all saw season 8. It was a mess. I felt like I had to drag myself through this season, just because I wanted to see how it ended. The only highlight for me was the ending.

NUMBER 7 - SEASON 5

The characters going to college was always going to be a strange transition - as it is in any tv show that starts with the characters in high school - and I just didn’t like the change. I can’t even put my finger on a specific reason why. It just felt different. This season also had the Travelers and Markos, who were just boring villains. The whole Silas/Qetsiyah plot was interesting at first, but fizzled out for me. The only highlight I could maybe pick out is Katherine’s arc. The show just didn’t fill the hole that the Mikaelsons left behind imo.

NUMBER 6 - SEASON 7

I didn’t completely hate this season. Ngl it was weird without Elena. That being said, I actually liked the time jumps in episodes. I wasn’t a fan of the Caroline pregnancy storyline, but that only happened because Candice King got pregnant irl. It just seemed to me like Caroline felt so bad for Alaric & everything he went through in S6, that she continued the pregnancy out of pity for him. The whole Alaric & Caroline “romance” (if you can call it that) was disgusting too. What were the writers thinking. I enjoyed the Damon and Bonnie moments though and Bonnie finally found a good love interest in Enzo. The Heretics weren’t all terrible either. I liked Nora. The Originals crossover ep was a highlight too.

NUMBER 5 - SEASON 6

Season 6 was a mixed bag for me. I really loved the whole prison world storyline. I thought it was unique and an interesting way to keep Bonnie and Damon alive after the S5 finale. It completely changed their relationship for the better too. Kai Parker was a great villain, one of the best in the whole series. I remember when he first told Bonnie and Damon about what he did to his family, that was the first time I was genuinely disturbed by a TVD character. Liz’s death was so emotional. Elena’s storyline this season was dull and I didn’t enjoy the whole Lily Salvatore thing. The season finale at Alaric and Jo’s wedding was crazy though.

NUMBER 4 - SEASON 4

Hope Mikaelson tutorial above 👀. Maybe it’s an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked Elena’s transition and then her no humanity arc. I seriously didn’t like the sirebond thing though. That felt icky to me. Her relationship with Rebekah from enemies to kinda friends was nice. Going to Silas island for the cure was interesting. Did I love the cure storyline? Not really, but it wasn’t the worst.

NUMBER 3 - SEASON 1

So many great moments. I just love this season. I will say, the pilot is a little rough, but most pilots are, so I don’t hold it against the season as a whole. While I’m not a Stelena shipper, I do think Stefan and Elena were very sweet in S1. Elena was also at her best in this season and season 2. When I say I like Elena, it’s this one I’m referring to. Damon was in his villain moment. The arrival of Katherine at the end was just perfect after all the talk about her throughout the season. I will say, I didn’t love S1 the first time I watched it, but when I went back and rewatched it, it became one of my favs.

NUMBER 2 - SEASON 2

This season? Oh this season keeps you on your toes. Elijah’s first appearance was so damn good. The moment at the school dance where Bonnie looks at Elena as she fakes her death with the sparks falling around her was a beautiful shot. I was so stressed the first time I saw it because I really thought Bonnie died. The build up to Klaus’ arrival and then him taking over Alaric’s body, so we kind of got a sneak peek of the character before Joseph Morgan fully entered the show was fantastic. I wish he didn’t kill Jenna, but he wouldn’t be the villain if he didn’t do horrible things.

NUMBER 1 - SEASON 3

The best of the best. The absolute pinnacle of the series. Season 3 was non stop action. It never got boring. And of course one of the main reasons why this season is number one for me is the introduction of the full Mikaelson family. The Originals brought so much to TVD. This was THEIR season tbh. They were the best villains ever in the series, and watching the Mystic Falls characters try to take them out never got old. From Stefan’s ripper arc, to the Mikaelson ball episode, to Alaric being turned by Esther, and then finally, Elena’s death and transition in the final episode; it was just simply a perfect season.

[ihrtmichael]

random question, but, what's your favorite thing about wish? i have a feeling it's probably magnifico lol but if it is then why do you like him so much? asking because i know i reblog a lot of stuff about the concept art and the rewrites people do, since personally i find it pretty compelling and fun, but i also think it's neat that there are people who just genuinely enjoy the movie as it is! and it really must be frustrating for you that the tag is filled with what's basically a fandom centered on wish's concept art more than wish itself.

LMFAOOOOOO i feel attacked with the magnífico read!!!! /j

honestly i accept that the movie isn’t perfect and was rushed as fuck, but i had such a fun time! i think asha is so lovely and refreshing compared to the other (few) disney heroines of color. as much as i love esmeralda and jasmine they’re so oversexualized and fall into that stereotype of “fiery outspoken brown woman” which is 😬😬😬😬 to watch sometimes as a woman of color myself. it’s nice to see a young black heroine be clumsy and fun and learn to be a leader! and ofc magnífico is so funny and hellooooo it’s chris pine!!!! also he’s hot sorry likeeeee 🤭 i also find his story very compelling although i do concede his villain arc was slightly rushed lol. i would love to learn more about him and queen amaya! i also love the songs (esp “at all costs”) and animation (the rendering is beautiful!). while i understand that the final product was a bit underwhelming for what was built up as this huge 100 year disney celebration, i don’t think a movie needs to be outstanding to speak to you or make you feel happy. sometimes you just like what you like! and i had fun! ☺️

i definitely do wonder what could have been if the actors and writers strikes didn’t happen, because i think that may have messed with any final alterations they might have made before release that could answer all of my questions and make the story clearer. i used to be intrigued by the rewrites but now they just kind of annoy me because most of them are being written by people who haven’t even seen the damn movie and/or people who aren’t creating these rewrites from a place of love.

for example, during the fall i rewrote the hunchback of notre dame musical script out of a genuine love for the story and characters because i was so frustrated with peter parnell’s approach. and it shows in my version of the script. but with the wish rewrites, a lot of them come off as disingenuous and egotistical like this “im so much smarter than literal film professionals” bullshit (sorry if that’s harsh lol).

and a lot of the criticisms just aren’t constructive and seem to mostly come from people who have literally no idea what it takes to create something. like especially with the ai accusations??? full offense but most of yall wouldn’t know the difference between ai and real human art if it slapped you in the face. and it seems like a scapegoat to get out of providing ACTUAL constructive criticism of the film instead of people just admitting they’re blindly jumping onto the latest hate bandwagon lmfao.

it definitely is frustrating to go through the tags and see more conversation around the concept art than the actual final product we got, but i just pass out the blocks like candy and add certain tags to my blacklist and that clears things up very quickly lmfao.

thank you for the kind ask! i feel like most people come in guns blazing asking about why people liked wish lmfao, but your ask is very sweet and genuine. i hope you have a great night mamita!!!

[lingering-42-long]

Project winter

A gift for a fellow COD writer as it is their birthday today.

Happy Birthday @mactavishwritings ! This was such a joy to do for you!

Warnings: non, mild language, the usual cod stuff.

This was a solo mission. A mission that only one person could handle. Winter was the daughter of a very wealthy Senator, who is being targeted by a Russian terrorist group. In hopes of drawing him out of his hiding spot, they sought out his daughter. While the rest of the 141 team went out to go find. The leader of the terrorist group, Sergeant McTavish was on watch patrol to her. A personal bodyguard, as the senator did not wish to use all of his resource bodyguards. At first things seemed normal. The two would simply talk to one another spend time with one another. She would show him around her home, the places that she had been when she grew up and her livelihood nowadays. Johnny was very interested in her life. He pay very close attention and constantly was asking her about things. From what he gathered she was a very lonely person. Her high status made her valuable, but she wasn’t interested in dating any of the low and shallow men. She wanted somebody genuine. She wanted somebody who she could rely on. Somebody to protect her not just physically, but also mentally.

Days turned into weeks, and Winter was with Johnny outside, overlooking the beautiful fields and over yonder the forests. Johnny had talked to her about his life in Scotland. About his family and friends back at home he talked about the people who he loved, and about his life in the Highlands. Winter was very curious his life. About how he used to be a football star acting as goalie for his team. She asked him more about the sport, and he often gave her long and lengthy details about what it would be like to train every single morning and how he thought his life would be revolved around the sport.

It was one of these days that winter wasn’t feeling herself. Valentine’s Day was coming around not to mention Today was her birthday. While she received many text messages from her friends, congratulating her on turning one year older, many of them, asking if she wanted to hang out with them, but she declined because she wasn’t feeling it. It didn’t feel like her birthday. I felt like another boring Sunday. She sat in the chair where her make up kit was and stared at her self in the mirror. A knock on the door came and she called out “come in!” the door opened, and Johnny stepped in. “Hey winter, you’ve been in here for a while I was beginning to worry” he chuckled. “ how are you?”

Winter sighed “ I’m fine, but it’s been really difficult for me… today’s my birthday and coming up is Valentine’s Day, and… I don’t know I’ve just been thinking about how lonely I have been all this time… how much I crave for a partner yet I’m so picky in finding the right person, and that it makes it almost unbearable for myself.” She sighed. “ I’m sorry I’m a sap today.”

“Hey now Lass.” Johnny knelt down and held her hand. “ I’m sure the right guy will turn up soon fer ye. Just give it time… in the meanwhile do ye want to come with me to the city where we can get away from all of this?” he made a broad sweeping gesture of her house.

“ yeah, I would like that a lot” she replied.

He helped her up to her feet and let her out of her house to get some fresh air in the city. In all honesty, she loved Johnny. He was funny, charismatic, sweet, and kind. And he had such a great personality to him. She didn’t know how to tell him that she liked him. This killed her on the inside.

On the other hand, Johnny was beating himself up left and right. On one side, he wanted nothing more than to be with her. To be who she wanted in life. She was sweet and caring, and gentle and fun, loving and adventurous. He always wanted that in a woman. She had a temperament that matched his own, and he loved that. He loved seeing her smile and laugh over his stupid corny jokes. He love the way that she would watch him even when he pretended that he didn’t see her. On the other side of the coin, he knew that this job is only meant for him to watch over her to be her bodyguard, and to protect her until the criminals could be arrested. He knew this wouldn’t last, but Johnny was a determined freak of nature and he would do anything he could to make his shot. He knew that his time was short, so whether or not, he wanted to tell her we’re not that was on his sleeve as of right now. It was her birthday and he planned on taking her out to a nice dinner so that she could relax a little and allow herself to be more free.

By the time they got to the city, he began letting her explore and tour around. Ever so present, and always in tune with her watching over her, and making sure she was safe. Winter was having the time of her life. Being with the man who she had a crash with Feeling safe and secure under his protection, and being guarded by his gentle touches. Winter was really enjoying herself on her birthday like this. Night came, and he took her to a small little beach trail, where he sat near the wall, facing the front door so that she could be protected even while they were enjoying their time. The dinner was delicious and even though she wanted to pay, he told her that he got it covered as a birthday present. Once the two headed out into the beautiful night time, they decided to take a short walk around the park. The sun had just sat in twilight was upon them. I had gotten a little chilly and winter shivering a bit. Johnny placed a warm jacket over her shoulders and let her wear his uniform. He didn’t mind. The two laughed about the evening and sat down at a bench that was well lit by a street lamp.

“ ya know I’ve been meaning ta want ta tell ye something” Johnny’s accent came out sick as he was trying to form words.

“ same I’ve been wanting to tell you something too, but you go first” winter jestered to him.

“Ok ummm… I like ye a lot Winter… this is a compromise ta the mission I know, and I totally understand if ye wish ta change fer another person. I just needed ta get this off mo chest” he looked at her. He was a confident man, but even something as simple as this could make him nervous. It had been a while since I’ve talk to a girl like this, oh, sure, flirting and sharing similar interests and have a normal conversations came normal to him, but when it came down to true emotions, then that’s when he buckled.

“ hey, slow down! I feel the same way too and I wouldn’t want to trade you for anyone else.” Gently, Winter reached over to hold his hand which he grasped it tightly.

The two leaned in for a kiss before Johnny’s radio began to buzz in “Soap this is Price how copy?”

He sighed and pulled away as he answered his com. “ loud and clear, sir. What’s the status?”

“Is winter with you?” Prices voice came back.

“Yes sir she’s with me”

“ oh, thank God… her house has been destroyed. The terrorist attack came sometime an hour ago, thinking that she must’ve been in the house.

Hearing this winter’s face grew very solemn and sad. Johnny held her hand tightly before answering Price.

“ what do you want me to do sir?”

“ take her to the safe house make sure nobody follows him and keep a good close eye on her at all times will rendezvous back with you. Bravo-07 out.” And with that was the click.

As soon as they were back in the company of one, another winter started crying. She sobbed in his arms as he held her close and gently rubbed her back.

“Shhh we can replace a lot of tha you got in there.” he told her. Her life was in danger, she lost all of her things, her father was wanted by a terrorist group. This poor girl did not need any more stress in her life. “ my photos my books, my friends pictures.” She sobbed. “ those were all important to me.”

“Mo bonne Lass” he cooed gently. “ I’m sure Yer friends might have those photos in their own phones. And they are still alive The memories aren’t dead. Don’t worry Lass will get to the end of this quickly, but right now you need to come with me. It’s not safe here.” Johnny helped her up and let her to his car where they both got in and drove to the safe house. He made sure to have nobody follow him.

The safe house was surprisingly also in the city, but in the far side. It looked rundown on the outside, and since it was near the more poverty area, it did seem like it was one of those houses. Inside it was a completely different story. It was cleaning up kept and had the basic furniture. Once they arrive, Johnny helped winter get set up for the few days that she would be there. He made sure she was comfortable and held her hand while she cried. The other teammates came in, and they had a private meeting away from her. The meeting was as it should be. She would be sent away for a short period of time until they could straighten up the terrorist organization. Johnny knew that he would have to be saying goodbye to her soon, but he would make it his personal mission to end at least one of their lives in her name sake.

After the meeting was discussed, Johnny went back into her room and explain things to her. “Hey bonne Lass… I’ve got som news fer ye.” he sat down and sighed heavily. “Yer goin away to a more productive place… I won’t be able ta watch over ya much more… I’m sorry.” Winter laid her head on his shoulder as he held her tightly. He had felt very strong connections with her and honestly he didn’t know what to do. “Kiss me” she whispered. “I…ah…” he paused and looked at the door, but I know one, so he made a decision to kiss her. It was a sweet and tender kiss, but one that spoke of long passion. “I will miss ye my little fireball.” he smiled at her. “I will miss you too.” That night when everybody went to bed, Johnny came back into her room and laid with her. Nothing was done, just simply laying with her and keeping her company as she tossed and turned throughout the night. Ghost was the only one that saw this, but he understood, and he wasn’t about ready to make a fuss, so he quietly continued on patrolling the house without disturbing the two.

The next day she was shipped off to somewhere safer the exchanged a brief hug, even though they wanted more, but with eyes on them, he knew that they couldn’t risk their positions, not at least right now. Just before she was about ready to get into the car, he handed her a piece of paper. “ once Yer safe doll open this up.” He smiled I’ll let ya know when ya can.” he winked at her before helping her into the car and shutting the door. The van drove off, never for them to see her again.

Johnny was going to kill every last bastard that dared tried to hurt her or her family.

Winter was patrolling the cities of Edinburgh, a cold, windy day and clouds, for covering the sky, and its usual dreary wetness she looked at her phone and then looked at the pub and waited outside, shuffling slightly and looking at all the people entering and exiting. “Yer gonna catch a cold Bonne.” A thick Scottish accent spoke behind her, and she quickly turned around to face the man that she was meeting. “ I thought you weren’t gonna show up.” She chuckle that she gave the man a hug. “Ah Lass ya know I always keep my promises” he gave her a tender kiss, before holding her hand and leading her inside. “ You have always been super sweet to me Johnny.” Winter smiled as she gave her man a gentle squeeze on the arm. Johnny found the one that made his heart yarn, and Winter found the one that made her feel safe.

[rottenpumpkin13]

I wanna hop on this LOVE TRAIN WOOOOOO!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🚂 🚂

I wish I could give you the world’s biggest hug rn <333 (okay, okay, imagine that CC scene, right, with Zack hugging Angeal? That’s me to you!). I don’t think I’ve really ever gotten the chance to express how much I love your blog, your writing, your art (beautiful 😭) and your general personality <333 You have a absolute gift for humor, and legit I’ve never once passed a post of yours without breaking into a big, sloppy smile <333 You’ve helped get me through hard days- for real. Even if it’s just the Bois being total and utter morons, binging your headcanons and vlogs and everything in between has made me laugh on days when I couldn’t. There’s just something so infectiously joyous and loving and genuine about all your posts- and I admire it with all my heart <333 You being all the characters to life in such a wonderful, wonderful way- I know it sounds cliche as heck but i don’t know how else to articulate it :,3 They all feel like a family- their bonds feel so real: Seph is so sympathetic, funny, and lovable; you give Gen and Angeal more personality than they ever had in the games- just the most likable bros ever xD <3 Angeal is so dorky and real and Genesis both retains his sharp personality, but also has a kindness and empathy that little to no one truly ever portrays just right. It’s brilliant and perfect <3 Zack is both precious but not an idiot- still strong and independent. And Cloud is just a champ! I just… love it so much, Pumpkin <333 I think your universe is lowkey my favorite interpretation of the Firsts’ dynamic. You have a way of masterfully wielding the most snort-inducing humor, the warmest and coziest fluff, and the most gut-wrenching angst all at once (I mean Caroling at the Gallows….? 😭😭❤️). It’s an unbelievably hard thing to be able to be so well-rounded with genres but you do it effortlessly. It’s amazing. It’s incredible. And so are you <333 For real, so you’re so kind and supportive and appreciative of everyone around you. I’m so, so sorry that life isn’t returning that kindness to you :((( I know it will soon tho ❤️ And we’ll continue to have your back until it does!

You’re an absolute gift to this fandom and this site. Ty for being you, Pumpkin <333 I know I’m not the only one whose life you make actively better around here!

I think I read this message a total of six times before it actually sunk in, because LOOK WHO'S TALKING. IF IT ISN'T THE VERY SEPH+ZACK WRITER WHO INSPIRED ME TO START POSTING IN THE FIRST PLACE 😤💗💖

I don't even know where to begin with this. Everything you said made my jaw drop and my heart feel warmer than the flames of Nibelheim fanning Cloud's skin as he lay there watching Sephiroth in the distance cookies when you take them out of the oven 🥹🔥

Coming from you this means so so much, and I'm currently smiling so hard my cheeks hurt 😶❤️

You're so incredibly supportive and kind to those around you and I'm so lucky that we ended up in the same fandom 💖🥹

[long-suffering-little-spoon]

I JUST REALIZED THAT YOU WATCHED THE OFMD FINALE

H-

How are you feeling 🥲🥲🥲

Pahaha not swimmingly, I'll just say. First I have been doing a bit of the ol' menstruating which means everything is immediately more extreme lol. I've been very conflicted and I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about *THE THING* especially, but this is where I stand right here right now at like 11PM lmao

Under the cut cos this ended up being exponentially longer than I thought it could ever be sorry

Overall I've loved season 2!! It has been so much fun to interact with the community and convert everyone to the Izzy hands cult engage with the fandom week by week. We've had some incredibly beautiful high moments and some lovely refreshing queer joy. I adore the new characters and the developments of our existing ones. I know my negative thoughts here are much more substantial than my positives but this doesn't mean I didn't like it!! I just don't feel the need to describe the positives because I feel like they're pretty obvious and universally recognised, agreed upon and beloved, y'know? (if you want a purely positive thoughts autistic happy flappy hands rant™, i can oblige dw)

Izzy's death is not the only reason I have mixed feelings on the finale. Obviously the episode cuts were a result of HBO'S meddling and isn't the fault of the crew, but the pacing still felt off and everything that happened just kinda washed over me like white noise (haha will wo-). The loose ends were tied up in wholesome ways and if we don't get a season 3 this would be a mostly decent way to end our characters' journeys, if a bit rushed. But then...

Izzy's death. A lot of people feel very very betrayed and hurt by Izzy being killed off, some people don't feel the comfort they used to from this show because of it and no longer want to engage. I don't wanna discount these people's views, more power to them; I cannot stop them from feeling what they feel and doing what they choose. I haven't given up hope on this show but Izzy's death just felt pretty unsatisfying to me?? Putting my bias towards him aside, I get the "killing off mentor at end of second act" trope but I just feel and wish way more could've been done with Izzy. I wanted to see more of him being happy and secure in himself and his found family and his queerness and his disability!! But now I don't get that and it very much stings. I think I could've come to terms more with his death if there had been more time to dwell on it all and get to see the individual characters mourn, but again episode cuts, thanks HBO!! /s. And I know they had the funeral but it still feels like we didn't really get a chance to mourn or treat Izzy's death with the weight it warranted. And I am far too tired especially right now to engage in "is this/is this not bury your gays/disabled character" but I will say I've seen pretty compelling arguments on both sides. As an able-bodied disabled person I don't feel it's fully my place to dictate, but I am upset Izzy was killed right after some big moments in his healing process and being a disabled person and in general just enjoying his life.

Personally I'm not giving up on the show as a whole because the finale left a sour taste in my mouth. I still very much like this show and I'm willing to stick around for a potential season 3 and on future rewatches I'll be able to see the stuff I loved separate from the stuff I didn't. But since looking back now, the latter is most recent, it kind of casts an unpleasant shadow on a very enjoyable season of television.

RIP Izzy Hands you deserved better sweetie, you would've loved Drag Race. And also shoutout to Con O'Neill for a fucking phenomenal performance last season, but especially this one. Izzy was absolutely iconic and a fan favourite for a very good reason, even if imo the writers did him dirty. He was hilarious and a petty little bitch man but then deeply broken and compelling and a genuinely beautiful character with a beautiful journey despite an unfortunate and unjust end?? He slayed.

Wow this was a lot!! Sorry if you were expecting silly goofiness lmfao I got very analysi-ish and a bit melancholic. Thank you so much for the ask JJ, it was a good opportunity to try and express all my thoughts and squish them into something cohesive for both you and me. (And thanks to my friend who I was discussing this with earlier; they helped me get a new perspective by sharing some of his thoughts. Dude, if you're reading this you know who you are, thanks a bunch!!!!)

[sadpearonmars]

15 questions meme

Tagged by @saiditallbefore :)

Are you named after anyone? Not really. I choose my name and I picked names that weren't emotionally connected. I considered using my grandfather's name but it is pretty common and a somewhat famous trans guy I can't stand has it.

When was the last time you cried? While watching the graveside flowers being left at Alexei Navalny's grave, seeing the crowds in the streets of Moscow risking their lives to pay their respects. Devastating. I struggled to write for a week after he died. Nalvany was four years older than me and I'd watched him work for a long time. His death felt like the destruction of something so irreplaceable and beautiful. But in the darkness of it, there were people finding themselves and the fortitude to keep going. Navalny's dream for the beautiful future of Russia will not die with his body.

Do you have kids? No. I have never wanted to be a parent. The moment I learned about pregnancy and what was possible when I was around 9-10 years old, I immediately began planning to get sterilized as soon as possible.

What sports do you play/have you played? None. I was not athletically gifted as a kid and opportunities/money were not something I had. I took fencing at university and loved it, but it's an expensive hobby.

Do you use sarcasm? I do, but I like to think I achieve a better balance of sarcasm and earnestness these days. Like a lot of people, I went through that very grim/sarcastic phase. But I value genuine enjoyment more. Death to cringe culture and people afraid to just enjoy things/let other people enjoy things.

What is the first thing you notice about people? Probably their clothes. If they have interesting accessories.

What is your eye color? Green, very green. Possibly the one thing about my physical form that has never disappointed me.

Scary movies or happy endings? Are we meant to think these things are mutually exclusive? Because I think they go together. Look on the very basic level I'm more likely to watch a scary movie just because most happy ending movies are relentlessly heterosexual and I find that boring.

What are your talents? I'm a good cook and baker. I can follow a recipe and improvise as needed. My particular traumas mean when someone needs emergency services I know how to get things done in a crisis and can save the freak out for later. I can spin endless stories.

Where were you born? In the Panhandle Plains of Texas, where the sky goes on forever. You can see a storm coming for miles. It was land that the Comanche roamed for generations, traversing the seas of grass and the Caprock. The second largest canyon in America is there and it is beautiful. They've reintroduced bison and they roam. It is stark and empty and terrible in some ways but also beautiful.

What are your hobbies? Reading, writing, gardening, doing the occasional fidgety crafty sort of thing. Casual bird watching from my windows. I like to try different things and I'm going to try weightlifting next.

Do you have any pets? A cat who is 21+ years old named Jasmine. She is pretty deaf and has two heated beds plus a heating blanket on the couch for her comfort.

How tall are you? Five foot four inches as I have been for about 30 years. Disappointing to me but probably ultimately irrelevant.

Dream job/career? I have now, which is to say I do not have a job. I'm a house husband and a writer. Work is a scam and we live in a capitalist hellscape. My dad spent his entire life doing a job he hated because it was wrapped up in the idea that a Man did certain things. The longest I ever stayed at a job was seven years, the shortest was one week. Quitting is always my favorite part.

Tagging a couple of people if you want to play the meme game @balconyskeletons @yourstrulyknits @by-ilmater @udunie @sineala

[princess-of-the-corner]

RWBY is really, REALLY good at queer romances, but my WORD the writers cannot write a convincing het relationship except by accident.

Jaune/Weiss: Weiss is completely uninterested in Jaune on account of him spending the first season and a half sexually harassing her, but the SECOND he's twice her age (and the same age as his voice actor, who also happens to be one of the head writers), she suddenly COMPLETELY forgets that she just lost her home and wants nothing more than to be his housewife.

Lie Ren/Nora Valkyrie: Lie Ren is HEAVILY coded as a aromantic, to the point that this couple's first kiss consisted of Nora forcing a kiss on him right after he blatantly said that he didn't want to discuss the possibility of a romantic relationship with her. While Nora learns in the next season that she shouldn't base her entire personality around being Ren's girlfriend, said season ALSO implied that the sexual assault was partially Ren's fault because he was too busy repressing his own feelings to realize he was in love with the girl who I honestly think he should just see as a sister at this point.

Blake Belladonna/Yang Xiao Long: One of the best slow burn romances I've ever seen, starting with Yang using "I want to help my sister make friends" as an excuse to flirt with the mysterious girl she laid eyes on five seconds after she tried and failed to force herself to be attracted to boys. Yang makes Blake feel safe, comforts her, unknowingly helps her realize that the way her ex-boyfriend treated her was wrong. They realistically work through their issues after their not-break-up in Volume 3 and awkward reunion in Volume 5's finale. They have the most romantic first kiss ever an in-universe day after Blake watched Yang fall to her apparent death and realized she didn't want to risk losing the chance to get her feelings off her chance. Yang can absolutely fake flirt when she wants to bait information out of someone but can't form a coherent system when Blake makes a mildly flirtatious comment.

Terra/Saphron: They're a reference to the island that produced the word "lesbian", and are a happily married couple with a beautiful baby boy. While extremely minor characters who've only appeared in a handful of episodes (and were only really important to the final arc of Volume 6), they are very much relationship goals with their limited screen time.

See what I mean? Without the context of the canon queer couples, you'd think it was EXTREMELY heteronormative based off of how the two official m/f couples are written, but NO! It's WEIRD!!!

I'm sorry Jaune/Weiss is a thing? Like. In Canon?

Sorry I just. I am nowhere near caught up with this show I only watched maybe the first volume and heard plot points by proxy but I did not think that was a genuine ship that sounds like a ship that is like a kinda side rarepair.

[alienheartattack]

I'll always have a crapton of problems with the ending (esp as a rm shipper who also kept loving eren), but snk finally ending-ending got me in my feels regardless. So i just wanted to express some appreciation, not only for your beautiful fix-it fic (levi and his mom!! mikasa protecting armin!! queen ymir the wise!! ), but for all your rm works. for loving this ship and for sharing your talent with us. for still being here, despite it all. for your shitposts and regular posts. you're a real one, alien, a wonderful, generous writer and just overall so hugely inspiring. we've always been so lucky to have you. thank you so much!

Thank you, anon! This is probably the nicest message I've ever gotten. I really am in my feels about SNK ending for real, even though my feelings on the series are very mixed, being a part of this fandom has genuinely changed my life. I've made so many friends around the world, I've rediscovered my love for writing, I've created so many things and had so much fun being an unhinged fangirl with all of you. It's also wild to look back on the last 9 years, where I started at 27 and where I am now at 36, and how much I have developed as a person and as an artist thanks to the work I did for this fandom and the people I made that work for.

Even though the story of SNK was pretty disappointing in the end (and MAPPA is on my eternal shitlist for excluding basically every RM crumb), it was the journey and the people we spent it with that made it great. I could not have done what I did without your support and the support of everyone else in the ship, all the kudos, comments, likes, reblogs, and messages. I couldn't have chosen a better group of people to go insane over the Ackermans with.

I will say, having watched the last episode and having had a few hours to think about it, I do think it was a vast improvement over the manga and I see more of what Yams was trying to get at. I still disagree with a lot of the choices made and I think he told the story ineffectively because we needed to see the female characters interacting rather than Eren and Armin talking about it, and we needed to see more development of the character's emotions towards each other, especially with regard to the romantic aspects of the story. A lot of us got into SNK because there were non-sexualized female characters that were given weight and interesting storylines, and ultimately this was the downfall of the series because the narrative didn't give almost all of these women the attention they deserved, Mikasa in particular.

I hope people stick around even though the series is over, or maybe we'll find a new ship together. I highly recommend joining the Rivamika Discord if you haven't already for chaotic, delulu fun and a great group of people. RM has always been a space where we encouraged each other and held together because it's such a small ship, and I'm so happy that we managed to cultivate a ship with so many nice, kind people, with only a small handful of bad apples who largely stay out of the way of the people who are just here to have fun. I'm glad that I could contribute to that, and I hope that I was able to provide some excitement or relief or comfort to people who needed it, or who just wanted to read some Ackersmut. I hope all of you had as much fun as I did.