#i love you romantic comedy. i need to reread it

[vampacidic]

enstars 4 the fandom post :3c

squishing you like a kitten. ok

blorbo—REI SAKUMA . i don't ever shut up about him he's sooooo important to me. my littlest guy ever

scrunkly—kaoru hakaze i need to infantalize her. i hope she gets killed

scrimblo bimblo—adonis 😡 he def has his fans but im Picky abou t them.... he's so silly to me everyone always forgets he's silly. he's not just serious HES JUST SOME GUY!!

glup shitto—the people don't know this but im actually a big souma enjoyer... i use 'obscure' as in he doesn't have a lot of interactions w undead outside of adonis but i love the little guy. he's silly

poor little meow meow—rei sakuma but i need him to be more problematic tbh. i need her to idfk doxx someone. shu also goes here btw

horse plinko—shu itsuki i hope she gets morphed into a horrible monster body horror style. i need her to hate herself

eeby deeby—REI SAKUMA sent to superhell for 'I'm a huge fan of yours after all, Kaoru-kun. No matter when, no matter where; I want you to remain full of that human-like brilliance, to always be showering your surroundings in a love that a beast could never hold. If only I'd been born with the air of a dreamlike garden of flowers like you.' crimes. wataru and eichi also get this one but i'm less impassioned about them

[leggerefiore]

Do you think you could do a funny headcanon/story with Lear and an S/O who thinks he’s not actually royalty and just joking? Like S/O doesn’t actually believe he’s royalty and just supports his “persona” unaware of the kingdom he rules over. They just love Lear and think he’s a silly guy and not an actual Prince.

rereading his dialogue... Sawyer is such a good person... Judging by how old he seems too, he's probably the only healthy adult figure that was in Lear's life (outside of his mom)...

cw: comedy mostly

pairing: Lear/Reader

You supposed rich boys could be a bit over the top – Especially those with apparently enough money to both build and own an entire artificial island with enough room to host a population and events constantly. Really, Lear appeared to be made endless cash. When you had first come to the island, he had been quite haughty. You barely understood anything about him outside of being the creator of Pasio. Well, that, and how much of ass he was. It certainly had been a shock when Sawyer had proclaimed him his prince after Rachel had claimed they both loved him. But, when you gave it some thought, it seemed entirely likely that he meant he was prince-like.

Even his entire speech about becoming a king, it was far too easy to chop it up to him being some heir who fell too far into romanticism. Even his retainers clearly calling his father His Majesty might have just been playing into Lear's fantasy. You simply just assumed it was something that started as a child, and everyone around him was kind enough to indulge him. It was easy to play along, too, when you became his partner.

Granted, you did feel a bit strange when he insisted that if you two were to become truly serious, you would need to study up on his country's culture due to your future role as a royal. You wanted to scoff and ask if he simply wanted you to just be better informed since you would be living there with him. He was even talking about you would need to have a coronation separate from his own. You wondered what that could even mean. Sawyer seemed quite insistent on you learning, too, offering himself as your tutor. Rachel mumbled about having to help you find clothing more befitting of royalty.

Really, you had no clue, even as he took to one knee and promised to be a worthy husband to you. Honestly, you have been completely shocked when you brought to his home country to meet his father to gain his approval properly. You nearly fainted when you were brought to an actual palace. This led to your current situation of being in Lear's quarters trying to cope with the fact that he was an actual prince. It was not some strange fascination those around him indulged. He was actually a genuine prince. You stared at him as he desperately tried to calm you… which he was bad at.

“Wh-why are you panicking?!” He tried to get answers, completely unaware of what had distressed you so much, “I can assure you that my father will approve you of you! He already has! This is merely a formality!” Lear's hands were held out in front of him. You felt even more panicked at the thought of meeting an actual king. Your supposed rich boy boyfriend had turned from some romantically obsessed with royalty to an actual prince you were engaged to. Some small part of you wished that you had taken up Sawyer's offer of tutelage on culture. It certainly would have cleared things up even sooner.

“… You're actually a prince? Like… This isn't some weird house, right?” you still tried to rationalise everything. The overly rich might build an entire palace… But the theming felt far too intense and precise. Lear blinked a few times. He took off his sunglasses, even to meet your eyes with his own properly. He tilted his head. It was clear he had no idea what you were thinking.

“… I am a prince,” he deadpanned, “Do you recall your own name? Is this a fugue episode!? I need to call Sawyer… No, anyone!” He seemed to fall into a panic himself. You realised he must have thought you knew he was being serious. Reaching out, you grabbed his arm before he could call for any kind of help.

“Lear, no, I'm not having any kind of issue,” you shook your head, “I, uh, thought your whole prince thing was some fantasy you had.”

His expression at your words was indescribable. Those purple eyes of his were wide open while his mouth fell into a grimace, not unlike when Hoopa pranked him. He brought a hand to run through his hair. Silence overtook the bedroom. He turned away from you, placing his face into his hands. “… How… How many times did I mention wanting to succeed the throne?” he mumbled quietly, almost to himself.

“A few, but I thought it was like inheriting a company or something!” you argued. There were not any royal families still around to your knowledge! He was acting like it was normal to meet and somehow get into a deep relationship with royalty. And… like, you felt fairly certain rich company types were the modern equivalent to royalty anyway. He turned back to glance at you with lidded, exhausted eyes.

“… I gave you a speech about the five traits meant for Kings in my family…” He continued, “Sawyer often talks about my father. I…” He placed his face back into his hands. Swallowing, he sighed. “… How did you… How…” He peered at you through his fingers. You wished you could answer that. In retrospect, it certainly seemed more logical that he was a prince. Seriously… Retainers? He would have called them by something else, assuredly. Sawyer certainly was not hiding anything about his connection to Lear's family and how he supported him in acceding to the throne. “I even mentioned that if we got married, you'd be royalty, too!” he threw himself onto the bed at this point, clearly overwhelmed by this realisation. You laid back, too, glancing at him.

Eventually, he offered to give you as much information as you needed to help this meeting with his father go more smoothly. Sawyer eagerly offered his help when he learnt of the situation. Apparently, he truly felt happy that his young master had found love and happiness.

~

“Um, Lear… I know this probably isn't a good time to mention this,” you spoke to the prince after finishing the meeting with his father, “I… I don't think I can ethically support a monarchy.”

He stared at you with that same indescribable expression once more.

This truly must have been love since he otherwise would have sent you away after the first situation.

[phoenixyfriend]

Star Wars Omegaverse Recs

Here's a couple solid omegaverse fics. This list is shorter than most of the ones I write but Meh.

Stars are for my favorites.

⭐ The Rain Fell Already by @loosingmoreletters: variation on Jedi Indentured AU containing omegaverse. Xanatos is omega Qui-Gon's bio kid but nothing changes, depressing but poignant

House Call by @elthadriel: two idiots knot while on medication that requires no knotting because it can get stuck for literal hours. Kix has to help and he is very annoyed about it

Status Quo by @captainkirkk: (G-rated) Anakin responds to Obi-Wan in a "you are my dad" way and the clones are surprised pikachu about it

⭐ Temporary Like Achilles by @intermundia: standard-ish fuck-or-die scenario where both sides are like "I can't take advantage of you/I just took advantage of you" because of course they are. (This author has a lot of solid Obikin, but they have me blocked (no I don't know why) so I can't tag them.)

⭐ He Said Yes by @threebea: (G-rated) B!Quinlan and O!Obi-Wan get mated for Obi-Wan's safety, the nature of their relationship is unclear to basically everyone (romantic? qp? other? unclear)

venus flytrap by IntoThineHands: Sith!Obi, role reversal of trope standard (omega deliberately takes advantage of an alpha)

Bite of Caramel by @thewriterowl: A!Jango needs a date to the family reunion, asks O!Obi-Wan to accompany him

⭐ good things in threes by @galateagalvanized: Codywan accidental pregnancy after O!Obi-Wan's implant gets nullified by an overpowered EMP (along with Cody's brain chip)

all my roads lead back to you by @tennessoui: idiots to lovers comedy (modern au, Obi-Wan got pregnant in a one-night stand across the country with a bartender who kind of looked like Anakin, because he's in love with his roommate but can't come clean and so hooks up with guys who look like him, and Anakin is in love with Obi-Wan enough that he's decided to be the Dad Who Stepped Up to this kid because anything Obi-Wan makes is part of Obi-Wan and obviously deserving of adoration)

The Theory of Letting Go by @ifonlyweknewwhatiwasdoing: never a Jedi!Anakin, Padme dead of uterine rupture, Obi-Wan hormonally addled and insistent on taking care of the twins like they're his own

The Swan Serenade by @shatouto: heavily AU, Mando!Anakin and Jedi-but-more-like-real-world-monks!Obi. (Has the most adorable art in the end of chapter notes, btw)

For Safekeeping by @glimmerglanger: Sith O!Obi-Wan feels safe because of the army of clones, which is the first time he's felt safe enough to have a heat, ends up fucked by his army of betas

when the snow falls we will wrap ourselves in furs by @hornet394: the fic I reread that had me going "I want Rex with O!Anakin but being in character" because this is one of the few omegaverse Rexwalkers that hits that button for me (though it's technically Anakin/501st poly stuff)

⭐ Find a little stranger by @obimanletkenobi: Villain!Obidala, both alphas, find Anakin at an omega auction, decide to ask him to play surrogate for their child since they can't do it themselves (with the offer to drop him off on a random planet with a wiped memory and enough cash to start a new life as a free man if he doesn't want to get pregnant), followed by smut

Belonging by IronCannon: this is the OTHER solid omegaverse Rexwalker

⭐ Conceal Me by @himboskywalker: longfic that is VERY good imo and builds the tension incredibly. Anakin is an omega pretending to be an alpha (literally the only people alive that know he's omega are his mother and the midwife). Senator Obi-Wan is an alpha pretending to be a beta (for weird reasons relating to his parents being kind of insane). They get married for politics, suggested by Palpatine because he found out about Obi-Wan being an alpha but not about Anakin, and decided a forced alpha/alpha marriage was going to self-destruct and help destabilize the Republic further.

Both by @obimanletkenobi: Anakin is the omegaverse equivalent of intersex and this explores the ways he's fetishized and discriminated against by the culture around him.

Peachy the Series by @the-writing-mill: IDK what to say, if you want 15k of O!Obi-Wan getting absolutely railed by two alphas, this is the fic for you

⭐ Packed Together Like Test Tubes also by @the-writing-mill: Jangobi, forced on both sides. Neither of them wants to mate, but the Kaminoans are forcing the issue with synthetic pheromones. It takes several weeks to get to that point and they are both fighting it with every ounce of willpower they have.

⭐ [Only] Think of Me by @inferior-fairy: Empress Amidala and Emperor Kenobi need Anakin to not go off the rails again, but they need a reason for him to want to stay because they love him too much to force the issue (and make him hate them) with chains or the like. So they give him Babies.

⭐ unfortunately it seems I have written more by @gaily-daily: Look at me. LOOK at me. This is fucked up and ugly and horrible and awful and messy and triggering and so incredibly well written as a dawning horror situation. Dead Dove at its finest. It is incredibly good as a story, but it is also really bad, and you need to go in accepting that. Without details, it's messy/triggering in the GoT sense.

⭐ terribly inconvenient and incredibly terrific by @tennessoui: A classic "Anakin wants to do something he is in no way qualified for and then suffers the consequences for his idiocy" plot, very fun.

I can fill those places in your heart no else can by @pontah: modern au post-breakup revenge sex I guess???

Ba’jurir by @mockingjay34: Rex/Fives, explores the intersection of anti-clone bigotry and anti-omega sexism.

Out in the Corner of the Dark with You by kazmir: a 5+1 fic about Anakin giving Obi-Wan a bunch of soft things as courting gifts

instincts by amidnightlove: just some fun and funky 'cycles make people go a little feral' stuff

EDIT: I missed a bunch so there's a Part Two!

[vanmarkus]

Wintery Fic Recs ❄️

I was tagged by the lovely @jesuisici33 thank you 💛

I don't actually reread fics to get into the Christmas spirit, so I thought I'd just give you some of the christmassy fics from my bookmarks. (Mind you, there might be some surprising ships in there lmao)

where the lovelight gleams by ohmyloki [mattfoggy, 1.8k, Teen + Up]

Matt wrinkles his nose.

“Is that—mistletoe?” He asks.

Foggy looks up, and then around.

“Wow. That is indeed mistletoe… and it is pretty much everywhere.”

Of Blizzards, Coffee, and Jackets by chasing_the_sterek [spideypool, 1.9k, Teen + Up]

Peter didn't expect agreeing to borrow Deadpool's jacket would lead to his secret identity being found out. Although maybe he should've considered the repercussions before he wore it outside. In civilian clothes.

Mistletoe Hung by potatoes_tomatoes [baffy, 2.6k, Gen]

Every year, Bugs hangs up a bundle of mistletoe outside his burrow for kicks. He watches passerby couples, warmly greets his friends (and foes), and bids everyone a friendly kiss goodbye. As time goes on, the mistletoe on his tree becomes infamous, and everyone plays into the harmless tradition.

Everyone, except Daffy.

something slightly resembling gumption by harmonictechnicality [steddie + ronance, 48.2k, Mature]

Eddie Munson needs to get out of New York City for the holidays. Nancy Wheeler, LA online news reporter, desperately needs to be in New York City to experience her ultimate Manhattan bucket list adventure in time for the festive season. So they do the only logical thing (by romantic comedy standards) that two single people can do...

... They swap homes for one week.

❄️and absolute no pressure tagging to share their fave wintery fics: @malewifediaz @spagheddiediaz @daffi-990 @thewolvesof1998 @jamespearce9-1-1 @jeeyuns and anyone who wants to share, consider yourselves tagged by me 💛

[fragilecapric0rnn]

tagged by my lovely friends @gothbat99 & @fastcardotmp3 ❤️

rules: post five of your favorite fics that you've written and talk about why you love them. tag some mutuals so they can do the same and we can all spread some positivity about our writing ❤️

in order from most to least hehe

Anyway, It's About Old Friends My (unfinished) magnum opus. My heart and soul on full display. I love this fic with all my heart. I love this Steve and Eddie with all my heart. Writing an AU based on my favorite movie of all time but staying true to who these characters are has been so much fun and honeslty has taught me a lot about how I write long winded stories. Writing their struggles, especially writing Steve in this fic has been such a joy and a pleasure. It's on a brief pause as I wait for the WHMS bug to bite me again (its coming on fall and winter so its bound to bite me any day now). But I love this story and will always hold it close to my heart.

Catch Me (I'm Falling) This fic. Lol. This FIC. I know, I know, she was offline for a bit BUT she's back baby! In a different sense, this fic is also my heart and soul on full display. A lover of romantic comedy, wanting to write something that brings light and joy and laughter, much like the romcoms I love have brought me <3 Also, one of my favorite characterizations of Steve that I have ever written tbh! Bitchy Steve you will be my muse in any and everything that I wriiiiiiite!!!! Writing this fic also taught me that burnout is real and that I need to re-fucking-lax, no matter how much a story excites me lol.

Faces Freedom With A Little Fear JJ Harrington, our communal wife 💗 No but fr, Steve Harrington has always given me younger brother of an older sister vibes. Idk if its because I'm an older sister of a younger brother or what, but it works! I also loved creating an OC that was pretty three dimensional on her own, but also added so much to the characterization of Steve! It was also a bit healing to write this, as someone who is in a similar situation as JJ. Wanting to live my life away but having someone at home who you just can't help but worry about. I can only hope there's no monsters or alternate dimensions involved in my case. I do want to continue this verse, I want to write more of JJ, she is too special to be a one-time gal!

you can take the heart from your chest to use as a compass when you are lost Missed connections fic 💗 I have a lotta feelings about this one. I was still figuring out my voice, my first long fic. Re-reading this is like looking at pictures of you and your friends from middle school. It's cute and sweet but at times it makes ya full body cringe. I would love to rework this, rewrite certain scenes, add entire scenes. But, I also love the idea of my writing acting as a time capsule, a snapshot in time of what my writing looked like at a particular time. And at the heart of it, it's a story about subjects that are super close to my heart. Found family, holiday angst, steddie getting together, and Thanksgiving belonging to friends who feel like family <3<3

words caught in my throat (who talks first?) LOVED writing this one and also love rereading this one! A lot of the story is told from Steve's head as he navigates a very awkward and difficult situation of being locked in a house with his ex. Of which I was able to work on a lot of prose, and as someone who's strength is in dialogue writing, was a real treat! This fic also taught me that I am not just a one trick pony in that I can write difficult subjects and its not all just goofs and romcoms and meet-cutes. The stepping stones toward writign a fic like Old Friends. Snowed in fic!!! I love youuuuuuuu!

Tagging some fellow writers<3<3

@cheatghost @figthefruitfaeth @kkpwnall @hellsfireclub @gideoncharov @judasofsuburbia @thefreakandthehair @sharpbutsoft @legitcookie

[fictionadventurer]

Fortnight of Books: Day 1

Overall - best books read in 2023?

Of new-to-me books, the standouts of my year include (in rough chronological order of when I read them):

Endurance by Alfred Lansing: Thrilling and harrowing account of Shackleton's South Pole expedition. It made me very grateful as I went through my day-to-day life--no matter how bad things were, at least I had eaten things that weren't seal meat.

Daisy Miller and Washington Square by Henry James: Short, sad little novellas that drew me in with their compassionate realism and added a new name to my list of favorite classic authors.

A Field Guide to Mermaids by Emily B. Martin: Beautifully illustrated book that provides a detailed world of mermaid species and provides lots of interesting facts about the natural world. Child me would have loved this.

Mary Barton by Elizabeth Gaskell: I hated the ending, and the structure was very weird, but this was a look at a side of Victorian London I rarely see in literature, with some great characters and a really interesting dive into the issues in the background of North and South.

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin: It gave me an obsession with Lincoln's Cabinet. I still sometimes stop and think, "I need to read about some Seward shenanigans."

Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard: Extremely readable history book that provided a lot of food for my obsession with James Garfield's and Chester Arthur's presidencies.

The Q by Beth Brower: Victorian Ruritanian fiction about a female newspaper tycoon that has a murky plot but also one of my favorite romantic couples of the year, one of the best tributes to autumn I've read, and most importantly (the real reason it's on this list), introduced me to the author of my favorite series of the year (more below).

Desire and The Good Comrade by Una L. Silsberrad: Forgotten turn-of-the-century women's fiction with some great female leads trying to find a place in society. Desire is a bit more literary while The Good Comrade is a bit more fun, but both were just the type of story that tends to make my list of favorites.

The Romance of a Shop by Amy Levy: Fun sister story with some fun romances. Very easy to read and provided a fascinating look at the world of Victorian photography.

The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins: I was so invested in the main character, a woman who would overcome anything that tried to stop her from helping her husband.

The Heir of Redclyffe by Charlotte Mary Yonge: The prose is dense and the author's too preachy, but this had some of my favorite characters of the year (Charles Edmonstone my beloved).

Best series you discovered in 2023?

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion. If it weren't for this question, it would be at the top spot in the last list. They hit so many sweet spots for my perfect comfort read--Victorian England, memorable characters, lightly fantastical setting, fun narrative voice, friendships and comedy and heartbreak and literature and just so much fun.

Best reread of the year?

Definitely The Lord of the Rings. I had liked the series after my first read, but my appreciation was mostly bolstered by the fact that I'm surrounded by a huge fandom for it. This year's reread made me truly appreciate it for the masterwork it is and made it a cornerstone of my interior life.

If it weren't for that, this spot would go to A Christmas Carol, because I was shocked to find that it really is good enough to earn its dominant place in pop culture. The descriptions of Christmas are some of the best things in literature.

[nicomrade]

i said id maybe make a post about my faves i was rereading this year so here it is ^-^ the other ones i reread i already talked about in my 2022 reads post lmao... so heres 3 comedy high school mangas that i love so dearly. none r really niche i will admit but i dont read school life much

Skip To Loafer - Takamatsu Misaki (2018 - Present) a seinen romcom about this country girl moving to the big city and making friends :) its honestly so refreshing and a mature, nuanced look at interpersonal relationships and growing up. i love every character in this? i will not lie the romantic arc IS there but its also kind of not the point. or its equally the point as everything else?. relationship hierarchies are explicitely discussed in the manga actually which i wasnt expecting. uhm "rep-wise" mitsumis aunt is a trans woman and this is also treated seriously without being the only thing going on with her and i am getting lesbianbaited soooooo bad. read skip to loafer and remember that we are all the same people deep down

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun - Tsubaki Izumi (2011 - Present) the thing about nozaki-kun is that it understands perfectly the 4koma format. every page is its own bit, with a punchline every single time. nothing happens in nozaki-kun if its not funny- which means that all the romance development that happens, happens because its funny. i really need to emphasize this 1. nozaki kun is really fucking funny 2. there ARE developments in the character relationships, it is not a static manga and 3. each page has a punchline. read some mediocre 4koma and then understand how fucking good nozaki-kun is. its about this guy who is a shoujo manga author and this girl who has a crush on him and all the weirdos who know (or dont know) that nozakis a shoujo mangaka. that manga panel with the guy saying "read some shoujo manga and develop some emotions"? from nozaki-kun. just read it and understand the strength of 4koma done well.

Yugami-kun has no friends - Sakura Jun (2012-2019) what if i told you this school life shonen about a friendless guy and the girl who befriends him is not a romance? what if i told you yugami is autistic and treated with respect? what if i told you yugamis special interest is in rakugo? and what if yugami-kun was also really fucking funny. do you understand why this is one of my faves. the point of the manga is that social norms are fucking stupid and half the time you think someones rude its cause u are trying to force them in a situation they dont wanna be in. its fundamentally about meeting people halfway- one of the subplots is literally about how horrifying it is to have to keep up polite text conversation w someone you only vaguely know and how much both sides wish they could just stop texting without being "rude". and it transmits its deep love for rakugo better than [title censored for privacy] just read yugami-kun ok?

[ofliterarynature]

JUNE 2023 WRAP UP

loved liked okay no thanks (reread) bookclub*

An Unsuitable Heir | The Winter of the Witch | An Unnatural Vice | Bloom* | An Unseen Attraction | Masters in this Hall | (The Mislaid Magician) | Gilded Cage | The Age of Innocence | (The Grand Tour) | Any Old Diamonds | The Rat-Catcher’s Daughter | (Sorcery & Cecelia) | (The Goblin Emperor) | A Gentleman’s Position | The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street | Dust and Shadow | A Seditious Affair | A Fashionable Indulgence | Subtle Blood | Proper English | Range

Let’s just say I was feeling a bit unhinged this month…

I don't know what was up with my brain this month (it was stress, probably. ugh.), but it was comfort-reads-only central. Which spun out of control a little with the KJ Charles, but we'll get to that.

Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World started things off with a great non-fic pick. It spoke so deeply to me that it made me very angry at the world while also being very comforting. Would highly recommend.

Dust and Shadow is Sherlock Holmes solves Jack the Ripper, but hewing much closer to canon than say, that other one I fell in love with last year (The Angel of the Crows). I couldn't help comparing the two, and while it was interesting seeing each author's interpretations of the Ripper case, this one did not come out on top for me.

The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street is a sort-of sequel memoir to the author's collection of letters published as 84 Charing Cross Road that I read last month and loved. A little different but still a delight, and I've got another one of her related memoirs waiting for me on my desk right now.

The Goblin Emperor... what can I say, my brain needed comfort, I caught up on the AO3 tag, and thought why not. It was amazing to go back and see all the little bits of Maia I'd forgotten.

Sorcery & Cecelia I picked up partially as a consequence of my KJ Charles/historical romance rampage that fully put me off of the other audiobooks I already had checked out. I've been meaning to reread them for a while (it's probably been a decade) because I wanted to explore my mixed memories of the two sequels. And I don't blame younger me! The original book is a delight sort of in the vein of Diana Wynne Jones and The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, with adventures and almost a comedy of manners element to it. The much later sequels lose a lot of the whimsy and brightness, are much more serious and adult, and are much more explicitly mystery novels. Now I love a mystery novel, and I think if you distance them from the original book they're not too bad! The Grand Tour is the worst, I think, both because of the unexpected shift in style and because I don't think the epistolary format they chose works well (I really would have loved to see some letters they wrote to other people, imo, rather than diary entries). The Mislaid Magician brings things back around much closer to the original novel's format both literally and narratively, if not in style, and I liked it a great deal.

This next one goes out to Lauren, who will probably never read this but - I finally read The Age of Innocence! Not the copy you gave me, but I did it. It wasn't quite to my taste, but it absolutely fits with what I know of your other favorite things. Sorry this was like 8 years too late.

Bloom I've had on my shelf for years and it's totally my doing that we read it for book club - it was a nice read, I love the art style, but ultimately it was a bit forgettable. Maybe if it'd focused on resolving the non-romantic conflicts as well, idk.

It took me MUCH longer to get to Winter of the Witch than I had planned, but I did! It felt a little clunky trying to get all the ends tied up, but overall I liked it, I was very glad to get away from the politics of the second book. This was such a well written series, I definitely recommend it, but it also made me feel angry and anxious enough while reading it that I can't see myself ever revisting it. (I'll definitely keep an eye out for more of the author's work though).

AND NOW FOR THE KJ CHARLES!!!

I started off the month finishing up the Will Darling/English books, which, do not follow my example, you should absolutely read in chronological order (and pay attention to character names!). These were not books I fell immediately in love with, but exposure and persistence, not to mention some great side characters, won me over. I also cannot BELIEVE that KJ waited until the very very end to introduce the "proteges" concept, and it's the best thing I've ever heard I am emotionally devastated (and cackling, lmao).

I've mentioned elsewhere my accidental discovery (too late) that the next 3 series were related, but I did manage at least to start with the correct one. Society of Gentlemen was...okay. The first one might actually be the worst KJ Charles I've read so far, but the other two were definitely better, if not exactly to my taste. I like the mystery/action/adventure plots more, I suppose, rather than...politics? I think? and respectability is boring anyways.

I managed to accidentally skip over Sins of the Cities directly into the Lilywhite Boys, which is a pity, because they're much more closely related to each other than Society (which honestly you don't need to read beforehand). Even without the more detailed background from Sins, I LOVED the Lilywhite novels and novellas. Thieves and shady characters who are extremely competent, excellent lovers, a little violent, and with their own moral codes are catnip for me, I could not have resisted.

I then went back to Sins of the Cities, which were also good! The leads in the first book were sweet but a little bland, the love/hate thing going on the second book was fantastic, and I loved that the third book had a genderqueer/nb lead. I appreciated getting all the background to events hinted at in the Lilywhite books, but I also admit I spent less time focused on the murders and more on "ok but HOW does X become the Earl???????" I had so many theories lol, none of them right. I just wonder if these would have hit a little harder if I'd read them first.

As I write this in July, I'm still working my way through the rest of KJ's catalogue but I think the worst of my brain fever is over, and I'm hoping to soon have the mental capacity to read the new Victoria Goddard I've been ignoring for a couple of months. Wish me luck, and happy reading!

[heart2beom]

hiii! i hope ur doing okay <3

i was wondering what writers you would recommend that have a similar style (romance and comedy) to you since i'm new on tumblr :'P

omg wait this is sort of sweet 😭 i dont really know what my 'style' exactly is, BUT i have been waiting for this exact moment!!!! (ranting about my favorite writers my favorite beings in the world and fangirling bcs that is clearly in my nature)

OKAY OKAY LETS DO THIS!!!

i recommend

-> @jjunis

first writer i got into when stumbling upon moablr!! LITERALLY THE CUTEST SMAUs (i know i dont really make those but i swearrrrr give her soobin one a shot its so ROMCOM-ESQUE) AND all her oneshots are fluffy and cute and and

my favorite piece from them is their beomgyu smau (bcs im a struggling bamtori that eats up anything beomgyu) my beloved GHOSTING. its on hold but its soooooo fucking good, like slow burn at its core and i LOVE it. its not romantic yet but i swear its sooo worth it, the topics it tackles and the character development and the effectiveness of the flashbacks and how real each character feels ...this is the IT smau!!!!

-> @tqmies

i held off on reading for soooo long even when i found each and every summary of her fics sooooooo interesting but then one day i had free time and decided i should finally tackle my reading list and !!!!

i soooo recommend each and every fic, like its all SO good??? FOR WHAT??? so easy to read but her vocab isn't limited, and i just love that balance so much. everything is good. i recommend EVERYTHING.

but if i had to choose ONE, just ONE thing to recommend, it would be love again because i am a whore for best friends to lovers and this was the most perfect beomgyu b2l ever.

-> @minastras

um if mina isn't one of the best writers on moablr then who is????? i'd recommend for starters her yeonjun fic mr. vice president literally captured the essence of academic rivals to lovers arc so well (ill fangirl over this more on my official rec list bcs i have a lot to say but trust!!! minas the writer you're looking for)

also has a cute ongoing taehyun smau, read that too!!!

-> @tyunlatte

the most adorablest, cutest, tooth rotting fluff i squeal over their fics. im still going through their masterlist but FUCKKKKKKK everything ive read so far is SOOOOO good. also totally someone worth following, my dash is blessed every day they're the cutest!!

i'd personally recommend her entire drabble event, but my favorite has to be stay stay stay because im a pureblood swiftie and i love soobin my heart hurts

also ALSO recommend cool hot sweet love. i'm the biggest sucker for love triangles (i mean hello, two cute boys fawning over you??? sign me up ????) and the fact that we get both endings????? hail the great alex!!!

-> @hueningshaped

i can't even pinpoint one fic i'd recommend, literally just go through their entire masterlist it's all so fucking well written (hello if u see this i literally freaked out when you followed me back ur literally my idol, i am your #1 fan rereading everything youve written forever)

-> @ijhyo

absolutely insane writer, blessed this site!!!! i'd recommend their slasher series (can't find the link but im sure youll find it). i know that isnt necessarily romcomy but it was so good (i guessed the insane bitch correctly and therefore i will forever love the series for making me feel smart!!!!!)

OMG ALSO THEIR BEOMGYU FIC!! how to get the girl! once again, i am a whore for b2l.

-> @beomgyuslilracha

i havent read an entire series yet but from what ive read so far..ugh pls beg them to be a scriptwriter i need her fics on my screen, on NETFLIX, ON HULU, DISNEY+ whatever!!! plz pull a 50 shades of grey

-> @gyu-xiao

they only have three things for txt but each one of them is so good, i squealed over each fic. my favorite hyuka fic comes from them!! had me biting my knuckles trying not to scream like damn 😭

okay these are the writers i could first think of 😭 i swear i feel like i forgot three or four but oh well, enjoy your tumblr cruise 🙏

[inthedayswhenlandswerefew]

I am so excited for your new story Miss Maggie. I have been reminiscing over my top 5 of the stories you have written.

Now I know what everyone is thinking: "Arcie, how can you only to choose five?" And had this been a few days ago, I would have firmly stated:

But now that I have read through this masterful masterlist, I realize this was a lie. I did enjoy each of them, but I do have some that have become my comfort fics:

☆ North To The Future was the story that started it all for me. It was recommended by the lovely @f4ll-for-you. I didn't sleep, I could not stop reading, and when she apologize for dragging me down the NTTF rabbit hole, I responded:

☆72 Hours In Montreal this is my romantic comedy that I could curl up and read whenever I need a quick pick-me-up. It also absolutely solidified my love for John Deacon.

☆Eccentricity literally took everything from Twilight, the good and the bad, and made it so fucking amazing. I could not stop reading this and I had no poker face in public: my joy, my anguish was loud and apparent by all. I loved every word.

☆We Were Something, Don’t You Think So? the way you took the cast of BoRap and knitted them so seamless in the Russian Revolution just swept me away (thank you @bhxrdy for reblogging this and bringing it to my attention). The slow burn was perfection and then ending, ugh. 💜😭

AND FINALLY

☆Now I’m Covered In You I have reread this story an umpteenth amount of times and will probably reread it again after I submit it. You know how much I love and adore Aemond and this characterization of him had me fucking feral.

I cannot wait for what is next. 💜

Miss Arcie!!! 😍 This was so wonderful to read, it was like an early birthday present.

Choosing a "favorite" fic would be impossible for me but I can definitely say that NTTF, NICIY, and Eccentricity are the top three stories that I find myself still thinking about the most. BYCNL would be up there too! And then with some fics I have amnesia and I'm like...who wrote this?? 😂 And not necessarily in a bad way, they just took flight like baby birds and left the nest and don't really feel like mine anymore.

I absolutely love that different readers have different favorite fics...it's like this neat reminder that every story is worth telling because it will mean the world to somebody. 💜

I am so so so excited to introduce you to my 12th (!!!) fic series on Sunday 🥰🧁

[kitkatt0430]

for fanfic ask game

16 Talk about something you like in Poking the Poodle (And Other Ridiculous Tv Tropes)

and 15 ⬇ Was an awesome scene, tell me more about writing it!

“Th-they’re not under arrest,” the dazed beat cop insists, still holding his coffee and danish at arms length. “They… they’re witnesses. To… a crime.” “Correction,” Mick speaks up. “Len’s a witness. I saw nothing, I heard nothing, and I wish to god I hadn’t gotten up this morning. But this is basically a train wreck in the making and I can’t stop watching. Anyone else want a coffee?” He’d gotten four. One for himself, one for Len, one for the poor beat cop, and one to taunt the officers and detectives in the station with.

and 

Julian snatched up the fourth coffee and settled beside Rory on the bench while Barry and Leonard Snart flirted in stairwell. No one was even batting an eye anymore. “It’s like watching two different birds doing wildly different mating dances for each other, each unaware the other is trying to court them.” Julian paused a beat and then added, “has Snart given up pretending he’s not specifically here to flirt with Allen yet?” “Not yet. I wasn’t even paying attention to today’s excuse. Danish?” “Thanks.”

(it was one of the first fics I read in the fandom and I love it with all my soul and I kinda forget (all the time) that you wrote it. and every time i reread i look at the author and have this ‘ah. make sense’ moment)

16.) Talk about something you like in Poking the Poodle (And Other Ridiculous Tv Tropes).

Oh gosh, this was such a fun fic to write and is definitely the silliest ColdFlash fic I've written. I think it's the first time I wrote from Mick's point of view as the long-suffering bestie putting up with Len's need to be overly dramatic, though it's definitely become a thing with me. There's just something so much fun about viewing Len and Barry's oblivious pining from the point of view of someone who'd like them to get a move on already. And as I tend to view Mick as being arospec and I'm aro, it can be fun to project my exasperation with certain romantic tropes onto him.

Having Mick be just done with their antics has popped up in various fics since then, but sadly his weird friendship with Julian hasn't and that's something I really wound up enjoying about this fic. I really need to revisit that friendship again some day.

15.) Was an awesome scene, tell me more about writing it!

For that first scene, i definitely didn't want Len to be the only one having any fun. Mick might be deadpan about it, but he's having a blast really. He figured the cops would be suspicious of any food and drink he offered them... so of course he's offering them.

His line in there - I saw nothing, I heard nothing, and I wish to god I hadn’t gotten up this morning. - is actually inspired by Sgt Shultz of Hogan's Heroes fame. He had a lot of variations of 'I see nothing, I hear/know nothing' in response to the shenanigans the prisoners he was supposed to be guarding would get up to.

I grew up on this show because it was a favorite of my dad's but the comedy is really spot on. It's definitely formative of my sense of humor.

As for the second scene, I realized as I was going that it'd make a lot of sense for Julian and Mick to wind up getting along. They're both getting front row seats to the Len&Barry show, whether they like it or not. Some things cannot help but to be the events from which weird friendships are born. :D

The birds doing wildly different mating dances line was actually inspired in part by some videos that were going around tumblr at the time of some funny bird mating dances. But also the tendency in the fandom to joke about Len 'peacocking' for Barry. (There is a fic out there where Len literally gets a peacock tail and it's hilarious.) And of course Barry shows off for Len too, in his own nerdy way.

By now the taunting gifts of coffee and food meant to tease the CCPD for Mick's amusement have become something he shares with Julian out of genuine friendship, which was a fun transition. They're gonna be seated together at the wedding whenever it happens. I imagine Julian'll get along surprisingly well with any other Legends there.

I'm so glad you like this fic so much, it's definitely one of my favorites, especially out of all the ColdFlash fics I've written.

[likeadog]

okay. well. anyways . the book is lonely werewolf girl by martin millar its an urban fantasy following the dramas of a werewolf clan and specifically the youngest daughter Kalix and their entanglements. i really like the voice of it but its one of those things where youll either love it or hate it. i like the overall dark comedy vibes of it but i really dislike how it handles body issues/eating disorders and tends to fall in the camp of glorifying model skinniness even if every so often it stops to tell you that its unhealthy. all of the characters are absolutely ridiculous and its like 500 something pages long so again its really going to be an either you love it or hate it situation

im not sure how i feel abt the sequels just bc from looking at goodreads it seems like its very similar to the first and i dont want to reread the same book 3x over with no point. however that being said thrix x malveria #1

also again i really dont like the romance aspects i think it plays way too hard and loose with the whole "royal clan" thing and it gets into incest territory REALLY fucking fast. also gawain needs to be shot like a dog i dont care if hes a romantic the fact he was 17 sleeping with a 14 yr old kalix means her family was right in banishing him and threatening to crazy murder him idcccccccccccccccc

[yume-fanfare]

for the ask game nazuna nito pls

niichan!!!

favorite thing about them: nazuna is so. i love how he's always fun to read about! no matter what character he's interacting with, if he's there you'll have fun! i also really love just how encouraging and fun he is <3 niichan's cheer team fr

least favorite thing about them: nothing hes perfect

favorite line: went to reread high five epilogue, couldn't choose, went to look over my romantic comedy and bad boys screenshots, couldn't choose either so in the end, i think im going to go with "just die already. i'll live with your blood on my hands"

brOTP: ra*bits love forever <3 and i also think his relationship with sena is really funnn i love the tennis club

OTP: none i think ?

nOTP: none either!

random headcanon: can't stop thinking abt how his recent 4* confirmed hes a gamer. i think he would like fischl. also i can see him maining nilou maybe

unpopular opinion: you guys dont even realize how funny it is that hes the oldest third year. he is older than madara the paid assassin. this Needs to be exploited more

song i associate with them: ok i know i already said answer for hina but like. you Have to check this answer mv

favorite picture of them: this is a terribly hard question. even his recent global 4* feels like it could be a 5. but i think i'm going with his bloomed happy spring! i love the pink <3

[thecolorblockcurator]

What would it take for you to like a romantic plot?

Idk - I do like stories with romance. I just don't like it when that's all the story is about. Or like it is like one dimensional.

My favorite love stories (usually shows & movies not books) are usually about gay men. As a queer trans man who is rediscovering his interest in men- I think it's always been a really what I'm drawn to especially right now. Our flag means death, what we do in the shadows - so many more but I can't think of them. I loved the birdcage - I know it's more of a comedy but it was so important to me growing up.

I reread tipping the velvet by Sara waters - like 10 times in college. not so much for the love stories- but I think it was trans representation I needed before I realized it. I have read/watched a lot of lesbian books & movies. I'm not into those right now- but I definitely was back then.

I love pride and prejudice, the Keira Knightley version. it's beautiful.

So I guess slow burn, queer, preferably middle aged, preferably gay men, spooky? camp? not one dimensional, or sappy.

& I'm so particular about names. I will literally stop reading a book if I don't like a characters name.

[smoosnoom]

they say “home is there the heart is” and mine is on ur ao3 acc. and ur ko-fi 😙

“He hates the idea of falling into the same trap as his parents” as a person with a full time job… yeah. i need to become rich as quickly as possible 🫡 can’t believe i have to work for the rest of my life

“and sometimes forgets his lefts and rights” its actually the sign of dyslexia..

“He’s always been theatrical” yesss, mike is a theatre kid agenda!!

“Well, maybe another look, too, just to commit it to memory, but then he looks away, for real this time” omg 😭😭😭😭 how down bad he is 😭

“He hopes he isn’t blushing” i bet he was as pink as that duster

“Granted, he always looks nice, and Mike is unbiased in this fact” i have no doubt that will always looks nice but mike is definitely Biased

“like he gets when Mike compliments him, and something in him wants to shake Will by the shoulders and ask When will you believe me?” moon. WHEN WILL U BELIEVE ME????

“Mike is above jealousy” sure. he just don’t like when people flirt with will. or touch will. or talk with will. it’s definitely not jealousy, he’s just really protective friend.

“Maybe it’s because Will is pretty and Mike is a hopeless idiot.” maybe it’s all above

“The goldfish stares back” it’s judging his hesitancy. and will’s too 🫡

“when he slouches to meet him eye to eye” well, maybe My bad posture is the consequence of my friendship with short people

“Will looks, just a little, concerned, and his eyebrows are still furrowed” will must be so confused all the time lmfao. just imagine: love of ur life suddenly started being very physically affectionate and he stares deep into ur eyes and says the most romantic things and when acts like nothing happened

“there’s a glow-in-the-dark velociraptor inside!” I’D BUY ANYTHING FOR VELOCIRAPTOR 📢📢📢📢

“because just before his exams, he had cracked and broken down, locking himself in his room and far, far away from a degree he had never even wanted” this is actually me and my natural science degree. i had a break down right before exams cause i hated almost every my class

“It means you’re nice to look at. Artists would love you” maybe just one particular artist? 🧐

did this treatment help? i know one person who needs this

“and laughs when Mike tackles him into the couch as revenge” all of this and they didn’t kiss yet???? please they’re useless

“the sky is pouring rain” AND ITS RAINING IN A BYLER FIC 🥳🥳🥳

“Mike brings a hand to Will’s cheek and swipes the rainwater away, cold to the touch” i let u now that i went back to this whole hallway scene countless times. like. i read the whole fic and reread it. and than reread it the next day. and a couple of other times. it’s just so them 🥺

““Is this,” Mike whispers, “okay?”” the sexiest non-sexual interaction

“Mike mouths at his neck, and Will lets out a shudder” sorry it’ll be bad joke: if they wanted to cancel u for smth it should have been this. cause it’s so hot (pls god give us more byler neck kisses 🙏🏻)

“But I’d never get sick of you” YES my king of the cringe pick up lines is here 😭

“July 18, 1992” seventh scene. i counted!!

“I’m not rewatching Sixteen Candles again, Mike” i get that will is a snob BUT he should give romantic comedies a try!! it’s the best movie genre Ever

one of my faves </3 i’ll never get over their domestic cuteness and cowardness.

im kissing u and biting u and kissing u again on the place that i bite

moon i love u so much 🤍🤍

oh god every time ithink about the future and the endless loop im going to inevitably fall into .. i want to jump off a cliff 😭😭 but its ok . as long as u learn to love it !

is it ?? oh my god every time i drive i have to quickly think a little too long about it .

he is so dramatic !!!! his dming in season one ?? the way he fell to the ground and acted it all out ??? get him on broadway !!!!!!

he is Gay and Whipped 😕

he really and truly was . as a poc who does not have the ability to blush . i think its both funny and endearing how people who blush turn so red . like a strawberry 🍓

listen . that is Different ok art is Subjective and i think ive gotten like . four hate comments permanently imprinted into my brain ,

absolutely 😃 he is just so protective and caring . he definitely does Not resist the urge to set fire to the human race every time someone hits on will . that would be crazy Hahah .

so true . if i was that goldfish i would retire and jump off from the soap container

u know what im going to use that excuse too ! i slouch so much i look like a shrimp and im going to singlehandedly blame it on my friends being simply so short

poor will 😭😭 if i had to deal with that constant whiplash i would die i think . but then again i never pick up on flirting LOL so i wouldnt even notice 😭 nevermind

ME TOO 📢📢📢📢 I LOVE DINOSAURS 📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢

oh no ☹️ i am glad u are doing better with ur current graduated self !!! i know that was probably . not a fun time 😭 but things are better ?

wow i wonder who that person could possibly be 😃

if byler is one thing its a duo of useless homosexuals . im blaming it on their trauma

rain in a byler fic is a full moon in teen wolf . u know whats coming

oh god the door scene 😭😭 im glad u enjoyed it because i refuse to even look or thinjk about that entire section 😭 its so horrifyingly embarrassing oh my god im embarrassed everytime im remindedof it 😭😭😭😭😭

HELP 😭 ITS TRUE ... oh my god . im so mortified rn

i love love loveeee using bad pick up lines on people . and getting bad pick up lines used on me . theyre so charmingly terrible

yes !!!!!! seven !!!!!! thats their number !!!!!!!! im so happy u noticed :D i never write scenes after a kiss but i Needed to complete the seven scene number 😭

oh god hes just like me fr because i never watch romantic comedies 😭

alya vampire arc 🤨🤨 feel free to chop me up . i am open for consuming . in a Not Weird Way

love u alya ! im so happy u enjoyed it and revisted it so much that means Everything to me . ily !!!!! 🫶🫶

[type-three-djinni]

September in media

📚 reading

A sign of affection (v. 8): so fucking cute

Soul eater (ch. 59 to 62): the plot thickens but I fear I forgot to reread some chapters bc I'm missing some steps 🤔

Spy x Family (ch. 99 to 104): unbearable state of heartbreak + A SPY SEAL???? WITH CONSCIOUS THOUGHTS????? 🦭

One piece (ch. 114 to 1and whichever is the last): thots are being thunk

Coraline: I am churning thoughts in my head about fairy tale structures and how to implement them

🎥 watching

The post: left me absolutely nothing

Santocielo: homophobic gay mpreg Ficarra and Picone movie????? And the rabid obsession of media and the world with any sign of deviation from the perceived norm??? The symbolic nature of faith??? The need for community???

Persuasion (1995): I will rewatch this movie until it's etched in my bones

Un mondo a parte: the heartbreaking reality of many tiny villages of Italy + top notch comedy

One piece film Gold: Sanji's fit with the orange crocs will haunt my nightmares. Alas, the cool montages with the coordinated white outfits and heist outfits are 10/10

One piece film Stampede: movie that has literally everyone in it. Does it make sense? No. Are we having fun? Indubitably. And the animation is afslfhaskfhskdfjsjhkfsk. Good.

While you were sleeping: I need to inject romantic comedies in my bloodstream. The relationship between Jack and Lucy is so charming and the shenanigans give it a certain je ne sais quoi that makes it very fun.

The birdcage: the son is a bit of an asshole and I stand by this. I get it's the 90s and Barbara is lovely and not her father but like. Give your parents some forewarning before they have to change everything about them for their safety and your success?