#is a great fuckin premise

[henchmaxxing]

The best part of baldur's gate 3 is that all the companions feel like somebody's PC.

I can fucking smell the hypothetical player's personal problems on them

[chompe-diem]

shoutout to my discarded poll post for my followers asking whether or not i should watch crown of candy

[bowtiestash]

i feel like if people want me to watch an anime or something they have to sell it to me in the most unconventional way. for example yesterday i binged all of dororo because i saw a clip on youtube comparing the 1969 version of the OP and its 2019 version and i got curious about wtf it was even about lmao

[aethersea]

another thing fantasy writers should keep track of is how much of their worldbuilding is aesthetic-based. it's not unlike the sci-fi hardness scale, which measures how closely a story holds to known, real principles of science. The Martian is extremely hard sci-fi, with nearly every detail being grounded in realistic fact as we know it; Star Trek is extremely soft sci-fi, with a vaguely plausible "space travel and no resource scarcity" premise used as a foundation for the wildest ideas the writers' room could come up with. and much as Star Trek fuckin rules, there's nothing wrong with aesthetic-based fantasy worldbuilding!

(sidenote we're not calling this 'soft fantasy' bc there's already a hard/soft divide in fantasy: hard magic follows consistent rules, like "earthbenders can always and only bend earth", and soft magic follows vague rules that often just ~feel right~, like the Force. this frankly kinda maps, but I'm not talking about just the magic, I'm talking about the worldbuilding as a whole.

actually for the purposes of this post we're calling it grounded vs airy fantasy, bc that's succinct and sounds cool.)

a great example of grounded fantasy is Dungeon Meshi: the dungeon ecosystem is meticulously thought out, the plot is driven by the very realistic need to eat well while adventuring, the story touches on both social and psychological effects of the whole 'no one dies forever down here' situation, the list goes on. the worldbuilding wants to be engaged with on a mechanical level and it rewards that engagement.

deliberately airy fantasy is less common, because in a funny way it's much harder to do. people tend to like explanations. it takes skill to pull off "the world is this way because I said so." Narnia manages: these kids fall into a magic world through the back of a wardrobe, befriend talking beavers who drink tea, get weapons from Santa Claus, dance with Bacchus and his maenads, and sail to the edge of the world, without ever breaking suspension of disbelief. it works because every new thing that happens fits the vibes. it's all just vibes! engaging with the worldbuilding on a mechanical level wouldn't just be futile, it'd be missing the point entirely.

the reason I started off calling this aesthetic-based is that an airy story will usually lean hard on an existing aesthetic, ideally one that's widely known by the target audience. Lewis was drawing on fables, fairy tales, myths, children's stories, and the vague idea of ~medieval europe~ that is to this day our most generic fantasy setting. when a prince falls in love with a fallen star, when there are giants who welcome lost children warmly and fatten them up for the feast, it all fits because these are things we'd expect to find in this story. none of this jars against what we've already seen.

and the point of it is to be wondrous and whimsical, to set the tone for the story Lewis wants to tell. and it does a great job! the airy worldbuilding serves the purposes of the story, and it's no less elegant than Ryōko Kui's elaborately grounded dungeon. neither kind of worldbuilding is better than the other.

however.

you do have to know which one you're doing.

the whole reason I'm writing this is that I saw yet another long, entertaining post dragging GRRM for absolute filth. asoiaf is a fun one because on some axes it's pretty grounded (political fuck-around-and-find-out, rumors spread farther than fact, fastest way to lose a war is to let your people starve, etc), but on others it's entirely airy (some people have magic Just Cause, the various peoples are each based on an aesthetic/stereotype/cliché with no real thought to how they influence each other as neighbors, the super-long seasons have no effect on ecology, etc).

and again! none of this is actually bad! (well ok some of those stereotypes are quite bigoted. but other than that this isn't bad.) there's nothing wrong with the season thing being there to highlight how the nobles are focused on short-sighted wars for power instead of storing up resources for the extremely dangerous and inevitable winter, that's a nice allegory, and the looming threat of many harsh years set the narrative tone. and you can always mix and match airy and grounded worldbuilding – everyone does it, frankly it's a necessity, because sooner or later the answer to every worldbuilding question is "because the author wanted it to be that way." the only completely grounded writing is nonfiction.

the problem is when you pretend that your entirely airy worldbuilding is actually super duper grounded. like, for instance, claiming that your vibes-based depiction of Medieval Europe (Gritty Edition) is completely historical, and then never even showing anyone spinning. or sniffing dismissively at Tolkien for not detailing Aragorn's tax policy, and then never addressing how a pre-industrial grain-based agricultural society is going years without harvesting any crops. (stored grain goes bad! you can't even mouse-proof your silos, how are you going to deal with mold?) and the list goes on.

the man went up on national television and invited us to engage with his worldbuilding mechanically, and then if you actually do that, it shatters like spun sugar under the pressure. doesn't he realize that's not the part of the story that's load-bearing! he should've directed our focus to the political machinations and extensive trope deconstruction, not the handwavey bit.

point is, as a fantasy writer there will always be some amount of your worldbuilding that boils down to 'because I said so,' and there's nothing wrong with that. nor is there anything wrong with making that your whole thing – airy worldbuilding can be beautiful and inspiring. but you have to be aware of what you're doing, because if you ask your readers to engage with the worldbuilding in gritty mechanical detail, you had better have some actual mechanics to show them.

[happypotato48]

List of Thai BL dramas i've watched with short opinions about them i guess :P

Thai BLs that i finished:

A Boss and a Babe. It's cute for what it is, i loved the gaming friendships and i'm a sucker for forcebook. 7/10 need more unhinged energy from book.

A Tale of Thousand Stars/Our Skyy 2 : Bad Buddy x A Tale Of Thousand stars. this show reminds me a lot of early to mid 2000s lakorns. it's a beautiful by the book love story, i appreciated that a bl got to take a spin on this kind of quiet thai story. 8/10 loved it but still too vanilla for my taste.

Bake Me Please. Guide Kantapon is the cutest man alive and CAKES! that it, that all i have for this show. 6/10 it's a show that exist.

Be My Favorite. damn fluke gawin is so pretty what was this show about again? :P i'm kidding, i actually really liked this show. i watched it when i had zero knowledge about bl industry, i was oblivious about krist's controversy and i find krist acting to be charming and think kawee is very relatable as a cringe fail human myself. 8.5/10 this show made me want to collected weird thingies.

Cherry Magic (Thailand). oh boy this show. it's was everything to me also the only show so far that i've written extensively on this site. here is my personal feeling about this show. 9.5/10 would kill for taynew.

Cooking Crush. what! the fuc$! look look, i just learned that both offgun are older than me. when i first saw the show i thought they were some rookie actors with how young they looks. watching cute bl is gonna be the death of me. anywho this show is supercute don't have a lot of thought about it though. 7.5/10 cutting half a point cause of no samsee x metha.

Cutie Pie/Naughty Babe. what a fuckin legend of a series. all the characters have zero braincells and somehow all the rich pretty boys are engaged to each other and by arranged marriages nonetheless. wtf is this fanfic version of thailand and where can i get hit by a truck and get isekai to it. 7.5/10 still haven't watch Cutie Pie 2 U, i hope it get dumber.

Enchanté. this show is so dummmb it should've go full camp reverse harem yaoi nonsense but it didn't and ended up being kinda boring. 6.5/10. meh, i'm still a sucker for forcebook.

Last Twilight. UGHHH!! i'm still so mad. this show was going to be THE SHOW for me then ep 11-12 happened i legit mentally check out halfway through ep 12 and i basically blocked the ending from my mind. this show came out at the right place and the right time for me, the first 9 episodes helped me through a very tough time in my life. the story of two people helping each other finding their way out of the dark was very compelling to me. ughh. 5.5/10 (9/10 for ep 1-9) P'Aof why are you like this!!

Laws Of Attraction. yassssssss this show slay(literally :P) the show is a breath of fresh air for me despite how very lakorn of it is. i'm glad that there is a bl that feel this soapy and campy cause like i do love my angsty and innocent school bls but the industry really need show like laws of attraction. jamfilm also were very great in their roles espically film, charn is the most babygirl corrupted cute evil lawyer of all time. 9/10 no note headempty only charn's evil smirks in my mind

La Pluie. now, this is a romance. this show is one of the most romanctic media that i personally have experience. i loved that the show took the cheesy premise of soulmates and work it so well to do both deconstruction and exploration of the trope. i think using rain, thing that isolated people as a narrative tool for love connection is absolutely brilliant. last but not least pat is just the perfect bl love interest, he's an very idealized character but he do feels like an actual person. i want to give a shout out to Pee Peerawich the way he said "มันหนาวอ่ะ" in ep 8 sent me, the raspy voice, the eye twich and combo those with a back cuddle, sir! you just commited a mass murders with that move. 9/10 plz i need season two with my baby boy tien.

Love in Translation. the unhingendness of that first meeting is probably my favorite bl meet cute. look if you don't get into a fistfight with the guy you destined to be with then what is the point of life. this show fake date is very well done it's doesn't feel forced like in a lot of other bls and it make the growing attraction feels very genuine and it pay off in one of the best sex scenes in all of bl, yang is such a freak and i loved him for it. 8/10 the last two episodes did got slightly off the rail for me but i still enjoyed the show.

Moonlight Chicken. one of the most beautiful shows i ever watched. when watching this show i can feels, smells and tastes everything it depicted. from the comfort khao man gai to jim's loneliness, from alan's heartbreak to liming and heart's midnight motorcycle ride. this show gave me all the feels and i still can't completely shake it off. 9.9/10 this show is a healing.

My School President. These boys!!!! i can't, i loved these boys so much, all the boys, YES ALL OF THEM! this show is on the opposite spectrum of Moonlight Chicken for me. while MC give me the good heartaches this show give me unbridled joy it's like heartstopper on cracks. i absolutely adored tinn and gun and the show relentless optimism about thier first love. love is awesome no matter the romantic, familial or platonic kind and i think this show hit the marks with all three. 10/10(i'm super bias but fuck it idc i even liked the singing) this show made me started watching thai bl and it always will have a place in my heart.

My Ride. this show is lacking in intimacy but making up by being all heart. could this show be better if they fleshed out and explore more of tawan and his cheating bf's relationship, maybe but i'm happy for what we got. 8/10 mork and tawan were very cutie patootie, i don't remember much about the het and the side couple were just st ok.

Step by Step. man trisanu is exactly the same height at me and i want everyone to know that is the only reason i started this show🤣 . i feels like this show have a lot to say about stuff but i kinda got lost staring at man trisanu while watching. one thing i really loved is the very fem *ตุ๊ด coworker who got to be a real character not just a jokey sidekick and having a loving relationship with a hottie. 7.5/10 can i get more man trisanu in bl plz.

Triage. asshole doctor stuck in a timeloop for him to find the meaning of life, yes plz give it to me. i loved stories about assholes who need to better themself for love and other junk. tinn and tol are both grumpy bitches and i just loved that the show use the timeloop to soften these nerds. at the end i just want to wrap them in blanket and let's them cuddle each other forever. 8.5/10 the last ep is bit convoluted but i forgave the show for that cute clocktower kiss.

You're My Sky. i started this show for my boy suar and he did not disappointed. the pining and the longing for an older boy who been there for you most you life, chef kiss. this show also very beautiful to look at. 8/10 i'm kinda meh about the side couples, i do think they all got the "good ending" for their stories.

Thai BLs that i didn't finish or gave up and skipped to the ending:

Bad Buddy. Oh boy, am i gonna get murder for this??? sorry but idk why i didn't wholeheartedly love and give this show my undivided attention. i watched this show very weird and out of order, i started with the last ep than just watch other episodes in bit and peice. i think i've seen 70% of this show. plz forgive me this is the first thai bl i tried to get into but can't. maybe i need to give this show another chance and watch it properly. or idk maybe cause the way i watched it, it's ruined for me forever. 6.5/10 i loved the rooftop kiss plz don't kill me.

Dangerous Romance. this show is trash and not the good kind, how this show depicted relationship between a rich asshole and a poor boy feels very gross to me. i fast forward a bunch and gave up after the not just dumb but very cruel breakup. 4/10 it's watchable if you ignore the plot and the chatacters.

Hidden Agenda. wow this is the most nothing show that ever nothing for me. it's a perfected white noise while playing chill video games. i stopped watching after ep 8 cause look like there going to be a dumb break up, i have no desire to revisit this show. 5/10 joongdunk were kinda cutes.

The Miracle of Teddy Bear. this show is too god damn long with too many side plots the one and a half hour per episode killed the momentum for me. i liked the show and do think i want to revisit and finish it one day. 6/10 for now.

Vice Versa. why are they giving jimmysea this show. this show is so boring for me, i gave up in episode 6. 4/10 gmmtv give my babies better shows!!

Thai BLs that i've watched all the sex scenes and have no intention of watching the actual show:

Kinnporsche: heheehehhehehe everyone were so hot, too bad i don't like rich mafia story. mile being a nepobaby also significantly killed the mood for me. 55555/dead bodyguards (idk how many there are but i don't care) the ost are bangers though.

Venus in the Sky and Love in the Air. cringe gay sex for the wins. 69/420.

ok, whoo that was a lot. gonna pin this cause i don't think anyone want to read all that in one sitting. i think i'm gonna make another post for non thai BLs in the near future. thanks for reading my unhinged opinions hope i'm not gonna get moider for it 55555555.

[subway-boss-jericho]

Queuing posts for most of my AUs! Check out this Masterpost! ᵈᶦˢᶜˡᵃᶦᵐᵉʳ ⁻ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉᶦʳ ᶦᶜᵒⁿᶦᶜ ᵏⁿᶦᶠᵉ ᵇᵃⁿᵍˢ! ᴵ ˡᵉᶠᵗ ᵗʰᵉᵐ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᶦˢ ʳᵉᶠᵉʳᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵏᵉᵉᵖ ᵗʰᵉᶦʳ ᶠᵃᶜᵉˢ ᶠᵘˡˡʸ ᵛᶦˢᶦᵇˡᵉ.

Befriend my reflection to find my shadow

-Premise- With an intense amount of investigation and study, Emmet has learned what happened to his brother. He was sucked through an Ultra Wormhole, and today he finally knows how to get him back. It took an exhaustive amount of effort, but today is finally the day. He's built a machine that will help him cross through to the dimension where his brother was taken, and now he will finally save him!

...Uh. Except, when he finally successfully enters the other universe and storms into the subway. Instead of his brother, he comes face to face with... Himself. Neither of their twins is anywhere in sight, and now Emmet (1) has to figure out how to invent time travel while Emmet (2) does his best to make him feel at home. If he would just leave him alone he would get so much more work done!! But NooOOoo, Emmet (2) insists that he take snack breaks when he's explicitly told him that drinks are NOT allowed near the computers!!

Emmet (2) has had a new chance at brotherhood delivered straight to him, and even though it's unconventional and admittedly a little fuckin weird, he is going to make the most of this situation.

-Noteworthy Points- If they liked Emmet so much why isn't there an Emmet 2. GREAT NEWS! Welcome to Emmet! 2!! I lovingly call this story Two Left Hands but the actual AU name is usually just shortened to Reflection AU. Emmet (1) is on the left and Emmet (2) is on the right.

Emmet (1) is currently based in an abandoned railway car that is in Chargestone Cave. He took it and turned it into his own computer lab, and Emmet (2) took it and turned it into more of a home.

Hijinks will ensue as the two of them grapple with loss (and denial!) and sure do find some family but not in the way either of them expected or necessarily wanted. (2) just wants to make sure (1) takes care of himself, and (1) just wants (2) to leave him alone long enough for him to find a way to get Ingo back again. (...And then... maybe get (2)'s Ingo back too. If he's feeling charitable.)

-Links- Currently none! I will update this post with links to comics/art/writing if/when I post any!

[bitchface24-7]

A small idea that popped into my brain 💡

This is totally random but I would love to read a Jason Todd fic a la John Wick style. Everything is still the same (relatively)

Jason is adopted by Bruce the same way (stealing the batmobile tires)

Jason becomes Robin

He’s great at it! He’s happy, kind, and a great relief to see for the citizens of Gotham

He and Dick eventually get around to having a lukewarm brotherly relationship

He still gets murdered by the Joker and somehow miraculously wakes up 6 months later in his grave (somehow. That’s up to you)

Here’s where it differs: More below ⬇️

The League of Assassin’s still picks him up and Talia trains him, eventually becoming like a mom to him

and he is a brother to Damian

Jason subsequently gets sent on missions, The Continental Hotels are run by the LoA

Due to his extensive training with both Bruce and Talia, Jason is quite a formidable enemy; even more so since the Pit fixed his years of malnutrition

He’s efficient. So efficient that he’s made quite the reputation.

Like in the first John Wick film (all the films tbh), the antagonist goes to his son,

“I don’t care about what you did, son. I care about who you did it to.”

“Who? That fuckin’ nobody?”

“That. Fuckin. Nobody. Is John Wick Jason al Ghul.”

The “Pit Madness” is barely there, only flaring up when Jason is under extreme duress (such as rage or heavy fear)

Due to this reputation, Jason has no trouble overtaking the crime syndicates in Gotham. We saw how effective he was in UtRH (I did this in two hours. Wanna see what I can do in a whole evening?) imagine him now a la John Wick. Unstoppable.

He went back to Gotham both to kill the Joker but to make sure Damian was okay

Jason holds resentment towards the rest of his family (excluding Alfred) to him, his death was meaningless. Jokers still alive hurting people, there’s a new Robin.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome. Jason is going to change that.

Jason doesn’t attack Tim. He’s just a kid, a teenager. His anger is more directed towards Bruce (“You’re not my son. I don’t need your teenage rebellion.” and the fact it seems he so easily replaced him.), Dick (why does Tim get to be Dick’s brother but not Jason? What’s so bad about him?) and even Barbara when she resented him for replacing Dick as Robin. Misdirecting her anger into a kid rather than Bruce.

Damian is proud to call Jason his brother and only addresses him with the al Ghul surname. Not Todd. Not Wayne. Not Todd-Wayne. al Ghul. Jason is an al Ghul down to his bone marrow, he gets affectionately called Ahki (brother)

This makes the rest of the fam stir crazy. Who is he? Is he Bruce’s kid? What’s his goal, his plan? Why’s he in Gotham now?

Dun Dun DUNNNNN There’s an identity reveal

Idk what else to add but I’d DIE to have a fic with this concept. I love Jason so much. Especially all the Jason and Damian meet in the League fics on AO3.

If anyone wants to write this, tag me!!! Please! My AO3 handle is queenie__v. Just give me credit for the premise and I’ll devour the fic you write like it’s ambrosia from the gods. Ps. Please give Jason the white patch in his hair, thanks ❤️

Xoxo love y’all!

[justagirl-with-aphone]

~The coffee shop in my heart~

fem!coffee shop employee x Prohero!Bakugo

Just 3 more hours, you thought to yourself. 3 more hours and I get to go home and snuggle with my cat. You sigh, wiping up the remains of a broken glass a kid dropped on the floor. You’ve been working since 6am, its now 3pm, and understandably, you weren’t a bundle of sunshine right about now. A hectic day filled with entitled customers, and screeching little demons kids running wild, and your shitty boss on top of everything else. The only think keeping you going is the vacation you were almost saved up for, just a few more days of dealing with this bullshit and beach here I come!!

Returning to your spot at the cash register, you continue taking peoples orders. “YOU BITCH, THIS ISN’T WHAT I WANTED, GIVE ME A REFUND AND MAKE ME SOMETHING ELSE.” an angry man screamed at you, entitled people are just the best... 

“Sir, as I said several times, as much as I would hate love to fix your issue, I’m just the cashier here, I’m not the one who made your drink. However, cannot give you a refund if that is exactly what you ordered, you asked for a white chocolate mocha, and that’s what you got. We do not give refunds if you don’t like the drink. We give refunds if there’s a mistake, allergy concern, or if the drink was made wrong. Now please either step to the side or vacate the premises, you’re holding up the line.” It took everything in you to remain polite to the man screaming in your face, if he didn’t like white chocolate mochas, why would he order one? You questioned, annoyed as hell. 

Said man, ignoring everything you just said, continues to demand a refund, screaming at you for the next few minutes. Everyone else in line left from the scene, but the familiar chime of the bell above the door rings, indicating a new customer. Too busy to greet said customer, you ask the man to leave again, getting fed up with his shit. 

“Oi” a gruff voice booms, catching yours and the mans attention. 

“What do you want-” the man spins around to confront the man interrupting his tantrum only to freeze in place. 

“Leave. Now. I got places to fuckin’ be.” The ash blonde man voices, menacingly. 

The male Karen stomps out, admitting defeat. Wanting to thank your savior, you take a look at him, only to be met with piercing vermilion eyes. The man was tall, and was on the bulkier side with ash blonde hair. he came dressed in a black sweatshirt and some tech-wear pants. He was hot. “You gonna fucking take my order, or are you gonna keen drooling?” Then man asks sarcastically, apparently you zoned out. You roll your eyes at the remark and scoff, patience running thin from your encounters earlier. 

“What do you want?” you ask, no longer using your cheery customer service voice, you were drained. 

“Coffee. Black.” the man states, pulling out his sleek black card. 

“I need a name please,” you write the order and give it to the barista.

“Bakugo.” Bakugo states gruffly. nice name, you note. While your coworker is in the back making the drink, you’re left to make small talk. 

“I wanted to thank you for earlier, he wasn’t the most pleasant.” your customer service voice back on in full swing. 

“Cut that shit out. Its annoying as hell.” You look at the man confused, a little irritated. “The act dipshit.” So much for thanking him...

“And here I thought you were a nice guy helping me out by getting rid of the man. But I guess first impressions aren’t everything now are they?” you question, looking at the man. “Since you don’t want the “act,” this is what I think. I rather be anywhere but here dealing with your obnoxiousness rude self centered ass.” Grabbing the cup from your coworker, you hand it to him with a cheery fake smile and voice “Have a great rest of your day.” walking to the kitchen and exiting out the back door. Finally your shift was over. 

You were surprised the man they called Bakugo never reported what you said to your manager. What surprised you EVEN more was when he came back the next day... and the next... and the next...It became a daily thing, this went on for about 2 months. Everyday, he would walk in, order a black coffee, and annoy the shit out of you an hour. But the most surprising thing out of all of this is you started to like him being there. 

“Oi, dumbass” Bakugo greeted, in his own, interesting way.

“What’s this? No more “extra”? I’ve upgraded” You feign shock. Bakugo rolls his eyes and asks for his usual.

You feel a pair of eyes on you. While your taking Bakugo’s order, come to think of it, you’ve felt eyes on you all day. Confused by the attention, you turn to meet eyes with the man. The same guy who cussed you out before. Looking at the man, you weren’t mentally prepared for what this motherfucker was about to do. He picked up a glass of water, looked you dead in the eye and dumped it on the table. 

You were going to kill him.

You ball your hands into a fist, resisting the urge to punch his lights out. “I don’t get paid enough for this shit. ” As you’r about to walk over there with the rag you retrieved, a certain blonde snagged the rag from your hands, stomping over to where the guy sat. “Clean it the fuck up.” Bakugo growls, throwing the rag at him. ‘You thought he would’ve learned his lesson the first time, but apparently not.’ You thought to yourself while watching the man clean up the mess he made...

[tradetobest]

bennguin fic rec list (pt 1?)

in honour of the steers and queers anniversary im making a bennguin fic rec list!! it has 14 fics cuz jamie number :))

i wrangled the fuck out of my bookmarks for this, so enjoy :))

Kelowna: Become Human by LadyJanelly

rating: T words: 8.9k summary: What better way is there for a professional hockey team to make sure their prospects can focus on getting NHL ready, than buying them their very own android?

if you know me, you know i am a GIANTTT fan of detroit become human, so this fic is a dream come true for me. it is literally great too like i love it. tyler prioritizing jamie's orders over his programming... oughh....

Custom, Discreet by inlovewithnight

rating: E words: 12k summary: Tyler accidentally discovers Jamie's kink. He is so very on-board.

LINGERIE FIC!! we love.... we love that its JAMIE in the lingerie.... oughhhh

Must Love Dogs by SpiritsFlame

rating: G words: 12k summary: It doesn't occur to Jamie until he's standing on Tyler's front porch at 3am, barefoot, that maybe he should have called first In which Jamie Benn steals a dog, gets his best friend back, and combats toxic masculinity. In more or less that order.

i love this fic so much. cute ass fucking dog. PHENOMENAL use of the premise.

Featuring Marshall by wutheringjane

rating: G words: 4.1k summary: Tyler's latest video was called "GUESS WHO'S GOING TO DALLAS"

YOUTUBER AUUUUUU!!!!!! oh my god i am OBSESSED w youtube aus. and this ones so fucking cute too. theyre fans of each other your honour

the old brag of my heart (I am, I am, I am) by Mayhem10

rating: G words: 9.9k summary: Sometimes people forget that Jamie Benn exists.

this is part of the condition of existence series, and it's the second one in the series, but the whole series is phenomenal. i replay tyler's discovery moment in my brain over and over (OH YEAH, READ THE FIRST ONE DIRECTLY FROM THIS LINK)

Pitches Love Velocity by bohnem990

rating: T words: 12k summary: There’s no use in talking about money to Tyler, Brownie knows. It’s the reason that Brownie was the one to major in business in college, while Tyler majored in drinking with a minor in marketing. “If you want to drop a grand on one night at a sports event can’t you at least spend it on a real sport?” Several people, Tyler included, gape at him. “Like hockey,” Brownie barrels on, “We could totally go to a hockey game. We’re Canadian, Segs! We’re supposed to eat, sleep, and breathe hockey!” -- Alternately : “Dude,” Brownie laughs, “I think Jamie Benn’s agent just asked you to fuck him.”

THIS FIC. tyler at the restaurant lives rent free. FRAT BOY ASS. i love them so much.

Something Wild by Linsky

pairing: tyler seguin/jamie benn

rating: E words: 3k summary: The girl on Tinder is typing again. why don’t you show me how good you are with a cock Tyler coughs and drops his phone. That’s—wow. He did not expect her to go there.

oh my god. oh my god. tyler is such a dumbass here and i love it. im OBSESSED. 10/10 misunderstanding fic.

something over nothing any day by clawsandsympathy

rating: G words: 1.5k summary: “About this time on Hawkeye in the Morning, we run a little segment called Second Date Update. When someone has a great first date but never make it to the second date, they call us and we try to help them out. Tyler, can you tell us how you met Jamie?”

i think this fic is adorable. the concept is so fuckin cute and i think its executed well w some tropes i really like :))

I Know a Little Chapel by Linsky

rating: M words: 4.5k summary: Tyler Seguin is a very good wedding planner. Which is why he’s not freaking out that Jamie Benn of the Dallas fucking Stars is sitting in his office.

wedding plannerrrrrr auuu!!!!!!!!! tyler planning jordies wedding isnt something i knew i needed but by god did i

sneeze by Anonymous

rating: T words: 5.3k summary: Tyler had never actually heard Jamie purr. It was the strangest goddamn thing.

THIS FIC IS ADORABLE i love the story around why jamie's purrs are Like That. and tyler misunderstanding. ough ITS PERF

let's give them something to talk about by Anonymous

rating: T words: 2.6k summary: ashlee @/messysegsy - Sep 15 why does it feel like everyone got #OneTImerTour tickets except for me??????? @/tylerseguin please explain (5 replies 3 retweets 20 likes)

first part of the rheotaxis series!! i am a big sucker for social media aus, and aus in general, and musician/hockey is a trope i LOVE (shout out to that mceichel fic) so this is the perfect fic for me. unironically perfect.

scar tissue by eternalvariegation

rating: T words: 12k summary: Jamie still remembers when they were practically living out of each other’s pockets, the memory twinging like a muscle he hasn’t used in a long time but that his body hasn’t forgotten. It was probably inevitable that they’d see less of each other once Jamie formally requested that they no longer go into the field together but it still hits him sometimes. The tangible feeling of loss despite it having been his own decision in the end. Tyler didn’t speak to him for a month after he found out. 

SPY AU oh my gosh. "partner doing what he thinks is best for other partner. it is not best" is such an insane trope and i love it so much in this fic. done incredibly well. please read this.

Arms of the Sea by LadyJanelly

rating: T words: 3.7k summary: Jamie gives her back to the sea when she dies, three years into their marriage, their baby still inside her. He sews her up in sailcloth with the porridge pot she brought from her mother’s house, a stone from their shared hearth, scaling knife, thimble and needle. He sails out to the deep water and lowers her into the water, weeps as she sinks into the ocean’s embrace. He sails back to land and gives his boat to his brother. He will not return to the ocean. It is a graveyard to him now. He finds a job in a logging camp, and for a year his feet are dry, his lips do not taste of salt.

incredibly emotional and beautiful fic. op wonders whether their execution of the concept is dull and pretentious in the opening notes and i think that is the worst part of this fic, only because it does such a disservice to it. RAHH i love it

wandering bee seeks the rose by clachnaben

rating: E words: 8.7k summary: Jamie Benn coaches a youth hockey team and Tyler is a determined Hockey Mom. Meet cutes and queer women and youth hockey

yk i had to shout out the lesbians to round it out. sexy hockey mom tyler lives in my head rent free and i dont even like women.

[madameminor]

A Hunter Perspective - another unintentional essay

I guess ima put this out there, just for myself.

I'm fully on Hunter's side.

Don't get me wrong, I am madly in love with Crosshair, madly, passionately. I'll pick smut with him over Hunter any day. I see his faults and love him for them even as they drive him further into misery and darkness.

I also will fight fiercely that Hunter has done/is doing all he can to protect his family. And truthfully, I don't think he's made any mistakes.

"But he left crosshair behind in episode 1!" Crosshair was trying to kill him and his squad, and he had no idea why. He thought his brother had betrayed him. I also would have gotten the hell out of there, in massive pain at the betrayal, wondering what the hell was happening. I have also been someone with access to money and supplies - who has then suddenly not had any money or supplies and had to take care of my household (and thats just with my cat. Three brothers and a kid? Nuh uh). Then I find out he's being mind controlled - how the fuck am i supposed to fix that? And again, with no resources or money? Now guilt is eating me alive, but I can't do anything about it, I have no idea what to do. THEN I find out there is a way - and Wrecker might be going the way of Crosshair? Fuckin yes I'm going to go get that shit out of all of them and myself. Oh, and then the mind controlled one comes and tries to kill us again, and the ONE. THING. that I know that can save his ass and keep him from killing us is destroyed in the process. Like, I no longer have access to it. Great. So NOW what do I do?

"They pointed their guns at Crosshair when he was going to save Omega!" Uuuuh, yeah. He just admitted that his chip had been REMOVED. They didn't know when and if he'd TRIED TO KILL THEM after it was removed. He also shows open hostility to Omega. I'd be jumpy, too. Even Tech, the SMART ONE, who just explained his perspective, had his gun out. So it wasn't that far fetched. Is that their fault, OR HIS? Natural consequences, bro.

"They abandoned Crosshair on that platform in Kamino!" Dude, they gave him chance after chance, saying "come with us." Sure, maybe they didn't trust him fully, but after that whole episode, they trusted him enough to let him back on their ship. And he. said. no. In a way, he said "fuck you, no". And since he's still showing loyalty to the empire, how do they know that if they knock him out and drag him along, he isn't going to somehow contact the Empire and get them all captured or something?

"He didn't immediately go get Crosshair!/ He didn't listen to Crosshair and stay in hiding!" Aye caramba, this guy just can't win. First premise, again, traps laid, betrayal happened, how does he know this isn't a trick? And he's still hurting, with fewer resources, and he just found a HOME for them all. If they fall into a trap, they're also putting Pabu at risk. Second premise, his squad made the choice - and he knows who his squad is. If he put his foot down and said "no, we're not doing this, he's warning us to stay away", THEY WOULD HAVE GONE ANYWAY. He knows his team, his family - they don't follow orders. They would have snuck off without him, and he wouldn't have been able to help.

"He's being mean to Crosshair when Crosshair is hurting!" - Yeah, Ima allow this man to be petty and angry for a second. His brother who betrayed him, turned his back on him twice, blamed it ALL ON HIM instead of taking responsibility for his own actions (which he finally does at the end of this episode), tells him ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what happened, and just shows up expecting trust again? Actively, fuck you (said to Crosshair in this situation). Even Omega is like "YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THEM." Hunter has never been allowed to be openly hurt and angry. Not once this whole show. And now the one he can be vulnerable with is back, he's feeling his emotions - he's PISSED and HURT and ANGRY. He's tired of being the good one, and all of this guilt and other stuff laid at his feet. And what does he ask? "What did you do to betray someone ELSE? You're not even going to TRY and explain why you're here now? Just going to silently simmer and expect us to be all hunky dory?"

Maybe this is just cause I'm an older sibling, and sober in a 12 step (a community that actively acknowledges hurt, but taking responsibility for the lives you've hurt), and taking care of recovering teens who also whine about how the world is so unfair and never want to take responsibility that their actions are their own. (They all have pain, but thats an explanation, not an excuse. You don't get to call someone by their dead name and gender or spread rumors that another client is a pedophile and then act the victim. No.). But I'm team Hunter. I understand him, and he doesn't deserve half of the hate he gets.

I also understand where Crosshair is coming from. I know his hurt and his fear and his rage and everything. I've been him, too, in my active addiction. But guess what, buckaroo? The only difference between you and a droid is you are in charge of your actions, and you have to live with the consequences. I had to do it. Rex and Cody had to do it. Hunter has been doing it (warranted or not). Now, its your turn.

And this last episode - he started to.

[wnchester67]

S1E1

Q: What makes this episode so fuckin good?

Well, kind of everything.

As any good narrative should, this episode sets up (even if briefly) a normal, apple pie life, and then disrupts that normalcy in a big way. There’s this sense of dramatic irony as the viewer catches on to the foreboding feeling the show is doling out (flickering lights, the MUSIC, etc) and the characters remain unaware until it’s too late. Then, the best moment of the introductory scene, “Take your brother outside as fast as you can.” I really feel like this sets up the entire premise of the show, a thematic motif if you will, wherein Dean is his brother’s keeper (KIN).

The next segment of the episode sort of repeats the disruption of normalcy, settling the viewer into Sam’s life at school while creating this intrigue by setting him up as the estranged golden child. Then we get Dean’s introduction (which is the best fucking character intro possibly ever), aka the disruption of normalcy. I could talk about this for literally ever, but for now I wanna focus on one thing in particular: the dialogue. The writer's are presented with these complex characters and history and have like one scene to start revealing the important shit that sets up the rest of the episode, and they do that via clever, efficient dialogue between Sam and Dean. Most everything they say to one another either reveals plot or characterization, and does so in a way that feels really natural. My personal favorite thing about the dialogue is how it sets up this recurring theme of the struggle between wanting a normal, 'apple pie' life, and being unable to have it (and each brother's feelings on the subject, which makes me crazy). The dialogue for the rest of the episode is equally good at revealing who each of the brothers are, and how they were raised.

Now I'm gonna fast forward to the end of the episode, not because the rest of the episode isn't great (it's really great), but because the way the episode ends is a big part of what makes it stand out so much to me. Jess's death is the perfect example of a character death being necessary to move the plot forward. The show would not proceed the same way at all without her death happening when it does and the way it does, and the way it brings the episode full circle is just... as a writer I could actually piss my pants thinking about it.

In my opinion, while the middle bits of the episode are really good, its truly the beginning and end that make the episode such a stand out. It's the perfect introduction to the series, laying out enough information to let you know what's going on while still keeping a few cards close to the chest to keep you intrigued. I've already watched the whole series more than once, and every time I come back to this episode it's just really, really fucking good.

[imonthemoonitsmadeofcheese]

Remembrance of Summer

Link to Ao3 if you prefer to read it there

ACCESS: RESTRICTED DECRYPTION KEY: 9HLXY5M999$IKO-006 REP#: 74-EUROPA-REMOTE-AUDIO-DEVICE-MONITORING AGENT(S): AUN-326 SUBJ: VIP#1316 AND ERI-223 INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DARKNESS "LESSONS" - REMEMBRANCE OF SUMMER

[BEGIN TRANSCRIPT]

"You'd think it'd be warmer."

"Why?"

"Because it's Summer."

"Seasons require a pronounced axial tilt in an orbiting body.  Europa does not experience Summer."

"But it is Summer on Earth right now."

"There is always somewhere on Earth experiencing Summer at all times. That is how seasons function."

"Fine, Moondust, but what I mean is it is currently Summer in the Tower."

"We are not in the Tower."

"What gave it away?  The blizzard?  Or maybe it's the knee deep snow?  Or or or... maybe the air so cold it feels like it's rippin' yer lungs out?  How do ya even breathe without somethin' coverin' your face?"

"The same way I can breathe while standing on the Moon."

"Magic?"

"Magic."

"Damn that wind is rough.  I hate ice planets.  Nothin' good ever come outta a ice planet."

"Europa is not a planet. Jupiter is a planet.  Europa is one of its moons."

"Whatever.  It's Summer in the Tower right now and we ain't there.  And if we were there it'd be warm and we'd have Solstice bonfires, an' street food, an' music, and fire dancers at night, and we ain't got none of that here."

"That sounds exhausting, except for the warmth."

"It's nice.  I'll take ya with me sometime if you'll let me.  It won't be exhausting."

"No. I do not like crowds."

"Lotsa spots up high you can go away from everyone and still enjoy it.  You were a Hunter, surely you had spots up high you could sit and brood all gloomy-like in the Tower."

"You think I am gloomy?"

"You think you ain't?"

"Tsch."

"That's not even a you thing.  That's just a Hunter thing that Hunters do.  They brood."

"Hunters are not the only ones who brood."

"Yeah but they do it more than anybody else."

"That is a reductive generalization."

"Uh huh, and you're avoidin' the question.  Back when you was a Hunter, did ya have spots up high in the Tower for broodin' or not?"

"That was another lifetime I can barely remember but... yes I did."

"I knew it!  We should go check 'em out together next time we're there.  See what's changed."

"Bold of you to assume I would be willing to accompany you anywhere."

"That's a great line coming from someone who's accompanying me right now."

"Ugh.  Regardless, the entire premise is foolish.  Unlike when I had my Light, I am now susceptible to falling to my death."

"I'd catch ya."

"Your statement does not fill me with confidence."

"We could tie ourselves together with rope."

"Or we could simply not do the inane activity at all."

"You're just allergic to fun."

"And you are allergic to focusing on the task at hand."

"It is freezin' fuckin' cold, Moondust.  And for reasons that have not been explained, Stranger insists we gotta keep a lookout out here while we wait for her to do... whatever the hell she's doin' in there which I'm pretty sure does not have anythin' to do with teachin' us Stasis, but whatever.  I ain't not focusin' on the task at hand.  In fact I am currently quite focused on the fact that I can't even feel any tasks in my hands because it is so damn cold!  Thinkin' about being warm is the closest thing we got to actually bein' warm right now.  Throw me a bone, here, would ya?  Surely you have some memory of Summer in the Tower."

"Hmmm... Very well.  There was a spot in the Vanguard library with a large window that looked out onto the Bazaar.  It had very comfortable cushions made of red velvet.  I would often sit on the ledge there with a book and the window open.  I remember the breeze on my face and the warmth of the sun."

"What'd it smell like?"

"Old paper and... spices."

"See, that's what I'm talkin' about.  What else you remember about Summer?"

"Mosquitoes."

"Ha! I hate those fuckers."

"There is... a plant.  It is an irritant to the skin and when one brushes against it, it causes blisters.  The itch is terrible and lasts for days.  The only way to soothe it is to use your ghost."

"Oh, I know that kinda plant.  There's a few like that but one is worse than all the others."

"Yes.  It was that one.  At one point, Eriana-3 and Wei Ning had a bet while the three of us were out on a week-long patrol in a heavily wooded area."

"A bet involving poison ivy?"

"That was what it was called!  Yes."

"Woah woah woah, go back to the betting part."

"The bet involved how long one could go without needing one's ghost to relieve the torment."

"Ha!  That's awful!  What kinda exposure-level we talkin' 'bout here?"

"A sleeping bag stuffed with it."

"Ooooh!  Damn!  Were you involved in this?"

"My involvement was that I advised against it."

"Smart.  Wait... Eriana-3 was a exo.  She didn't have human skin."

"Correct."

"That seems a little unfair."

"Wei Ning was never one to shy away from a mismatched battle."

"You're right.  She wasn't.  Drank like a fish, too."

"You have intuited correctly that the decision making process involved alcohol."

"Ha!  Did she win?"

"She did."

"At what cost?"

"Exactly.  It absolutely was not worth it."

"I wouldn't think so."

"I remember her vehement, colourful cursing.  Eriana, laughing.  The dappled light from the sun shifted in little spots of dark and light in the clearing we were in.  The patches of sun and shadow moved whenever the wind shifted the tree limbs above us.  Everything smelled of wet earth tinged with rotting wood.  There were birds.  One in particular was a woodpecker.  It was very loud.  We were being bitten constantly by mosquitoes.  Wei had not slept."

"Can't imagine why."

"She swore she would locate the bird and eat it for dinner as punishment for its failure to be silent."

"Did she ever find it?"

"No.  But she was very verbose in her multiple attempts. We were, all three of us, far too warm and sweaty.  The muggy heat made our clothing under our armour cling to our skin.  Insects biting us.  And Wei kept yelling profanity at the trees.  It was an uncomfortable and ridiculous morning, one I have not thought of in... over a century.  And yet...  despite being surrounded by snow... I can hear Wei Ning shouting at the woodpecker now.  I can hear Eriana-3 laughing at her.  And I am, even in this moment, stilling the urge to smack at mosquitoes which are no longer attempting to pierce my skin."

"You, Eriana, and Wei.  That's a Hunter, a Warlock and a Titan.  Got the full set for a fireteam.  One of each."

"Yes."

"You three must have got into so much trouble together."

"Hmmm... yes... I suppose we did."

"Oh hey!  Looks like Stranger's on her way back.  Time to pack up.  Can't wait to get outta this damn wind."

"Drifter."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Happy Solstice, Three-Eyes."

"Happy Solstice."

[END TRANSCRIPT]

Be sure to check out the rest of the zine! It's full of art and writing from multiple people, including several pieces written by me!

[hannahp0calypse]

fuck it. say nice things about rwby

as much as i'm a capital Hater for rwby, i also do have a lot of love for a lot of aspects of it. there are genuinely nice things i can say about a lot of pieces of it, though often with a caveat of some kind. so like, obviously i could start on "well the show had a lot of heart and passion, even if it fell short in some areas!", or "the music has been consistently really good!", but i wanna home in on something i really like about the show that i don't think i see a lot of people talk about?

i'm a huge fan of the overall premise and vibes of the setting. (i'm fighting the urge to include caveats here, but people (myself included) have already discussed the major flaws with the worldbuilding so i'm not gonna bother.) so by this, i mean the specific mix of fantasy, modern, and sci-fi elements that give it a unique (or at least, relatively rare) vibe and setting.

there's a reason why the initial trailers captured people - the contrast between the misty monster-filled woods with ruby's high-tech near-future weapon is part of the red trailer's charm. bring in the other trailers, and you have a picture of a world where dense urban streets, high society functions, fantasy forests filled with monsters, and sci-fi trains guarded by robots alll mix together somehow. and it works!! it's really compelling, because no matter the flaws in some of it's writing it's just genuinely Cool!

the setting as a whole exists to justify characters in modern street fashion (mixed with fantastical elements!) fighting big fantasy monsters while living in dense urban environments with holographic tech and airships flying overhead. and thats great!! that's super cool!!! 'cause at the end of the day, people love swords and spears and historical/fantastical weaponry in modern/sci-fi settings. just look at the staying power of star wars or final fantasy.

and part of why RWBY's take in particular works for me is because it's not "modern urban setting with fantasy elements", nor is it "sci-fi setting with magic and monsters", and nor is it "modern urban with sci-fi tech", it's more like... "a fantasy setting that has developed to the point of something resembling our modernity, but with tech that has advanced further in areas ours hasn't due to the core fantastical elements of the setting". and i'm a huge sucker for that!! off the top of my head i only know that type of setting appearing in some of the final fantasy entries, or in fuckin Arknights

to leave off with a particular specific note - i'm a big fan of Mountain Glenn, Kuroyuri, and Brunswick Farms. any time the narrative goes into how actually dangerous it is to try and expand human living space (justifying the density of urban space in the cities that do exist!!) i get excited. i love hearing about the various ways people have attempted to combat the threat of the grimm and failed. delicious

[kkvqwrites]

Team Building

The 141 attend a team-building exercise at Price's request.

Word Count: 589

Characters (in order of appearance): Johnny "Soap" Mactavish, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, Captain John Price, Simon "Ghost" Riley

A/N: This is short and to-the-point, but I thought the idea was goofy and fun. Low stakes, no angst, just a silly day off for the 141 boys. Hope you enjoy!

The afternoon sun beat down on their heads as the four soldiers met in the parking lot of a strip mall.

"An escape room? Really?" Soap raised an eyebrow. "Are we in the right place?"

"We are - and it's gonna be great," replied the captain. "It's good for morale."

"It's our day off, Cap." Gaz didn't look up from his phone as he spoke. "Morale would be best served by a day at the pool or a pub trip." The captain swiped an exasperated hand down his face.

"Put that bloody phone away - this is exactly why we're doing this. On the battlefield we need to be in the moment and thinking as a unit; this is the perfect exercise to get us there. And besides, Laswell found something called a groupon." He opened the door and ushered the three pouting grown men into the lobby.

_____

"You can't be serious," came Ghost's voice. It was the first time he spoke all afternoon. Behind him, the sergeants echoed his protest.

"You heard me," came the captain's booming voice, drowning out the groans. "No weapons, no cell phones. We figure this out the old-fashioned way." The men reluctantly handed over phones, guns, knives, and one grenade ("You never know!" said Soap). None of the soldiers looked happy about it, but all complied. Gaz and Soap complained the loudest, but Ghost preferred to seethe silently. He found it was better to shut up and get it over with when Price had one of his "fun" ideas.

The setting: a room made to resemble a medieval dungeon that wouldn't be entirely out of place at a child's birthday party.

The objective: brew a potion in an enchanted chalice that will enable the magic mirror to grant a boon. The "boon" being escape from the medieval dungeon and a fun t-shirt. After the teenage employee finished explaining the premise, he locked them in the suffocating room with a rhyming poem of cryptic instructions.

"Right, then," said the captain, rubbing his hands together. "Let's get to it."

_____

The bickering began almost instantly.

"Cap, I think you're overthinking this; there isn't a vial of "moon water" in the cabinet for the spell. I think we need to take the moonlight essence and stir it into the water to make the potion," Gaz reasoned.

"No, no, it specifically says moon water - Soap! Stop mixing random shit together!" The sergeant rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me for thinking outside the box! Won't happen again! 'Course if I had my knife I could pick the lock and get us out of here!"

"That defeats the spirit, Mactavish!"

"Yeah Johnny, the spirit."

"Awa' an bile yer heid, Gaz. Fuckin' suckup."

"Language!"

"Sorry, sir."

Ghost's eye twitched. There was no clock in this room, but it felt like it had been hours listening to the back-and-forth. He'd made an effort to stay busy trying to find the pieces to the "magic chalice" but his patience was rapidly wearing thin. He looked back at his teammates, three grown men arguing in earnest about which gemstones to add to the potion to enchant the mirror for their next clue, and suddenly an idea struck.

Without thinking, he grabbed the pistol he kept on a calf holster and shot the shitty plastic padlock right off the door.

The room went silent behind him. He turned and saw the stunned gazes of the others, all frozen in the middle of assembling the chalice.

"What?" he asked. "I escaped."

[kramerblogrealgood]

Comic books that you should read!!! Yes you!!! Right now!!!

These are comics I really enjoy! I'm trying to stick to slightly more obscure comics, preferably stuff that's a little newer, but that's by no means a rule! This is my list baby, I make the rules!

#1: Local Man (Image Comics, 2023)

Local Man follows Jack Xaver, who was once the superhero Crossjack before being unceremoniously kicked out of his team and legally barred from any vigilante activity. Moving back in with his parents in his destitute former hometown, Jack starts to unravel a conspiracy that has ties to both his old team and his old town.

It rules! It's funny and heartfelt and thrilling and if it were a TV show you'd never stop hearing about it. It's also one of the few modern original Image series that actually takes place in the "Image Universe", so it's packed with references to characters like Shadowhawk. You don't need to know all these guys to enjoy the comic by any means, but it's fun for long-time fans.

Most of all, I'm a fan of the basic conceit of this comic: it looks at The Dark Age of Comic Books with the same reverent-yet-critical eye that so many other comics used on the golden and silver ages. I think that rules! A lot of this stuff deserves reappraisal!

#2: The Wrong Earth (Ahoy Comics, 2018)

The concept for this is pretty simple: what if Adam West's Batman got sent to the world of the Nolan trilogy, and Christian Bale's Batman got sent to the world of the 1966 TV show?

They hit all the dramatic and comedic beats you could imagine coming from this premise, and a few you probably couldn't think of. It's not just a one-dimensional parody, though: really sharp writing and an engaging mystery elevate what could easily be, like, a Dorkly video into something special. Which is to say: if you think this premise sounds good you'll love this comic, and if you think it sounds stupid you'll probably still like this comic.

There are some cool character designs here, but my favorite is the villain in both universes:

His name is Number One, and he's a crime boss with an egomania/numbers gimmick. (Sorry for the compressed jpegs)

I imagine "design an original 1960s villain, and then design his edgy 2000s reboot version" would be a difficult prompt for an artist, but Jamal Igle knocks that shit outta the park. Number One really feels like he could fit into Batman's rogues gallery, but he's not a riff on anyone in particular- he's kind of like all of them. The "1"-shaped scar is an especially great touch.

#3: Ice Cream Man (Image Comics, 2018)

(This image isn't from any cover as far as I can tell, it was posted on instagram by writer W. Maxwell Prince.)

Hey, another from Image Comics! And it's my favorite genre, too: horror anthology. If the pic I chose didn't tip you off, this one gets SPOOKAY! The basic premise is that every issue is a one-shot that features a character going through some kind of horrible misfortune. Tying all these tales of woe together is the enigmatic Ice Cream Man, who seems to be somehow torturing all these humans for his own amusement. We eventually learn that he's an evil god-type thing named Riccardus, and he has a good counterpart who's trying to stop him- all the lore stuff is a little vague, but that doesn't mean it's not interesting! The art style used by artist Martin Morazzo is almost uncanny-valley, it reminds me of The Shivering Truth.

Some of the "horror" in this comic is really personal and upsetting, by the way- the one about dementia made me cry. Actually, a lot of these made me cry. Full on snotty gasp-sobbing. 10/10. Riccardus has real sexyman potential if the freaks on this site would ever read something besides fuckin Wayne Family Adventures.

#4: Wayne Family Adventures (DC/Webtoon, 2021)

What? It's cute, fuck you. "eeuuuhhh it's out of character" you sound like a dweeb man

#5: Eight Billion Genies (Image Comics, 2021)

Just like The Wrong Earth, this has a killer elevator pitch: what if every single person on Earth got exactly one wish, all at the same time? Also like The Wrong Earth, it takes it's premise in every angle you can think of- there's wish trading, wish stealing, cities that are kept safe from the chaos of the outside world but you have to give the city government your wish to get in, you name it. No wonder Amazon bought the rights. Keep an eye out for that movie/series, I guess.

Ok, I need some non-image comics.

#6: Giant Days (Boom! Studios, 2015)

Anime fans, this one's for you: you know all those series you love about groups of cute girls just going through their daily lives? Well imagine if those cute girls were over eightee- hey wait where are you going come back

Giant Days is a slice-of-life story about three young women facing the challenges of college life. Apparently it's a spin-off of a webcomic with like 15 years of strips, but I don't care about all that and neither should you! It's a little like gilmore girls in terms of tone. The dialogue is snappy, all the characters play off each other in ways that's fun to see, and there's this 7 foot tall Australian rower chick who's completely obsessed with her reedy loser boyfriend. It's just comforting. It's like a big plate of mashed potatoes, this comic.

Hey, speaking of slice-of-life:

#7: Megg, Mogg and Owl (Indie/Fantagraphics, 2013ish)

This has the honor of being the only comic on this list that's been adapted to another type of media, in the form of a segment on Justin Roiland's weird kinda-shitty Hulu halloween special. Not much of an honor, I guess.

Anyways! MM&O is about a group of "friends" who live together in drug-addled squalor. Megg is a chronically depressed witch just waiting to die. Mogg, Megg's boyfriend, is a talking cat who just wants to keep the degenerate lifestyle they've built for themselves stable, and Owl is a neurotic sex addict who wants to make something of himself but doesn't want to lose his only companions, and Werewolf Jones is a drug-dealing sociopath. It's like Peep Show! I absolutely love this comic, I reread it constantly, but I'm having a hard time pitching it.

If Giant Days is a plate of mashed potatoes this is like... a gas station hot dog eaten over a storm drain or something. Still kind of comforting, just in a different way. Let's cleanse our palette with some capeshit.

#8: Planetary (Wildstorm/DC, 1998)

Planetary rocks. We follow an amnesiac immortal named Elias Snow as he travels the globe with his top-secret Planetary Investigations team to uncover the secrets of the Wildstorm universe. Think of it like... The X-Files crossed with The Venture Brothers. X-Files in that they investigate weirdo mysteries, Venture Brothers in that every genre of speculative fiction- from Doc Savage-style pulp heroes to Kaiju to James Bond superspies- all exist, or existed, in some form.

Also on the team besides Snow are The Drummer (who has some kind of information-based power I never really understood) and Jakita Wagner, the super-strong ADHD daughter of a Tarzan expy. It's hard to do it justice in a post like this, buy a copy! Or pirate it, if you don't want to give Warren Ellis any money!

#9: Bad Enders (Indie, 2020)

Hey, this one is free! Check it out here: https://beany-tuesday.itch.io/bad-enders-pilot-issue

Bad Enders is a shonen pastiche with all the humor and charm you could expect from a @beanytuesday joint. It's great! It follows a burnt-out twentysomething who once had ambitions of becoming a demon hunter, but has since resigned himself to a life of filling out excel spreadsheets. Beanytuesday has stated there probably won't be any more Bad Enders content, but he has another comic called GUE (https://beanytuesday.tumblr.com/tagged/gue/chrono) that takes place in the same universe.

#10: G-Man (Image Comics, 2009)

i bet you thought i was done with image huh

Anyways, this was my jam back in like 3rd grade and you know what? It holds up. When they say "all-ages" they fuckin mean all ages, I'm a grown man and I can enjoy this.

The story of this entry is that I wanted to end on 10 instead of 9.

The story of this comic is that a kid named Mikey G gets his hands on a magic blanket that allows him to fly, but his brother ALSO uses the magic blanket to fly with and they become, like, rivals, but this other kid can also fly and he starts fucking with them... better than it sounds. There's also this crazy arc later in the series where they have a baby brother but- hold on, I'll show you

See? Nuts.

Ok, that was all of them bye

[puppiedogs]

c f h l m!!!!! I love you btw :)

hello i love you also as well additionally :) C: What character do you identify with most? well it's mox. like i think it's pretty obviously mox. that's my goofy guy. sometimes when i'm stuck on mox dialogue i ask myself what i would say in this situation and it seems to have worked out really well historically i must say F: Care to share a favorite hurt/comfort fic? okay this is the fic that immediately came to mind when i saw the phrase hurt/comfort and that is Reign Him In by @sarahcakes613 which i sometimes think about when i am just sitting around in the world. everything i love about hurt/comfort as a genre tbh !! H: How would you describe your style? of writing? fuckin. goofy. like sometimes i try to write something that is purely angst and it's just not in the cards for me. i'm pretty silly. and i use a lot of. uniquely evocative descriptions. i've also been told the way i describe food is: offputting. so i guess really i have no idea L: What's the weirdest AU you've ever come up with? i mean, food truck au is pretty weird. bones, bones is a pretty weird universe, i think. craigslist, obviously, as you know, is genuinely barely clinging on to canon by a thread, so that's a real good contender. i used to not write aus in wrestling fandom, if you'll believe that. i used to only write canon fic. but the thing about that is that i'm neurotic and i need things to be accurate and correct if fact checked. so. that's not really sustainable M: Got any premises on the back burner that you'd care to share? god i have so many. i have a fic that is a conversation held through thrown paper planes. i have a fic that's a mick foley gender study three genders of foley sort of thing. i'm still working on size kink fic, slowly but surely. i also have been working on making the spreadsheets for the first and last main story spreadsheet fics. which is honestly very fun and i'm having a great time!!!

ask me question :)