#like Good Omens is fantasy and very British

[oldtvandcomics]

I suppose it's kind of inevitable, but also kind of funny, just how many queer dramas have the person-who-is-out-and-doesn't-care-what-soeciety-thinks x person-who-wants-to-be-with-them-but-also-isn't-ready-to-actually-dedicate-themselves-at-the-cost-of-the-bigger-social-system-they-were-part-of dynamic.

I'm currently watching The Valley of a Thousand Hills on Netflix, and, guys. I've seen this exact same conflict before. The last time, it was called Good Omens.

[cephalopod-celabrator]

Hey! Are you a Harry Potter fan feeling disappointed and betrayed? Do you want a piece of well-written fantasy media that doesn't have a transphobic author? Then boy howdy have I got reccomendations for you 1) Discworld. Old fantasy series by Terry Pratchett, who co-wrote Good Omens. It's very funny but also really well written. It started as just a parody of Conan The Barbarian-style sword and sorcery fantasy but it has some genuinely fascinating worldbuilding and every book is a mix of silliness, fascinating fantasy ideas horrifying concepts, insights into the very core of what it means to be human, and really dumb puns. The representation is remarkably good considering they were written decades ago by an old cishet white british man. It has canonically trans characters, although they don't use those labels, and the author is dead so he can't disappoint you by suddenly revealing he's a far-right dipshit. 2) The Eruvia books. A pair of trilogies written by Melissa Caruso about a fantasy world much of which is modeled after rennaissance Italy, particularly Venice. There is a scene which contains three canonically gay mages each individually capable of destroying armies need I say more. Some truly amazing magic systems and plot twists and worldbuilding. The Swords and Fire series takes place first chronologically and is a better introduction to the magic system, but I prefer the Rooks and Ruin trilogy although both are amazing. Contains a multitude of queer identities, including one canonically trans character, three characters with they/them pronouns, and several characters that don't fit in a gender binary. 3) The Aurora webcomic. If any of you know of the Overly Sarcastic Productions youtube series, this comic is written and drawn by Red. Very pretty art, phenomonal characters, coolass magic system. Also if you're tired of stories always focusing on romance read this because like to this day there's only like the implied beginning of one romance arc in the entire thing. It isn't finished yet though. It's got dragons, gods, primordial elemental entities, and lil guys who need therapy. Also has a canonically trans male character. And it's a webcomic, so it's absolutely free! Just enter "aurora webcomic" into a browser and you can find it. All of these are, in my opinion, better written than Harry Potter but most certainly contain better queer representation and have authors with less expressed transphobia.

[thealogie]

my new pet theory after reading American/British cinematographer blurbs about all the previously mentioned examples is that it actually isn't one specific thing, it's the general commitment to allow imperfection and give an image a soul instead of following all the purely technical cinematography "rules" to a t.

like sure, you want something to be sharp, well lit, you want to have contrast instead of flatness, you want to compose something along thirds so it looks balanced to the human eye, you don't want everything to be super grainy etc etc but the thing is we've gotten to a technical point where it's very easy to do all of these things and when you do all of them at the same time it just looks soulless and terrible.

So what you can do to avoid that is:

Shoot on film (challengers)

Use vintage/exotic lenses (challengers, civil war)

Allow actors faces to go into darkness, allow imperfectly exposed images, allow black, crank up the ISO of the camera and use tiny amounts of light only (better call Saul)

Color grade in a genius way (add noise, grain, do things with saturation and contrast that aren't the technical standard)

Play with framing and what we're used to seeing as a balanced image (Mr robot)

Play with movement in unexpected ways, for example zooming or moving very rigidly (Wes Anderson). When handheld first became more of a mainstream thing it was so new and exciting as well!

Play with formats, colors (black and white), weird view angles (fish eye) and more.

If you're interested in cinematography even a little bit watch poor things. It does many of these things at the same time, incredibly well and in a way that actually supports the story too.

There's a cinematographer who says once he's done setting up a shot, having framed and lit it and thinking it is perfect, he always turns off one light. Or he kicks the camera a bit so the framing changes in an unexpected way. He says otherwise the perfection will suffocate the image. I think that might be what we're seeing with good omens.

I think franchises are more likely to fall into this rut of delivering a technically perfect product. Especially when there's a lot of vfx and post production down the pipeline there are so many factors a dp can easily get scared to not deliver what is needed in the next step. When something aggressively has to be sold to & by a streaming service like Amazon there is often pressure to take no risks. Comedy as a genre also has less examples of a wide range of different good cinematography styles. When I think of the word comedy the term "high-key" (aka well lit) comes up as we were taught in film school, according to the sit com standard. And modern day fantasy/magical realism comedy? I think is hard to pull off in a way that actually resonates and creates something new (not to say it couldn't have been done better sgdjdjs. looking at Gavin Finney's filmography I don't see anything particularly significant so...)

That's my two (three... five) cents. Thanks for the research rabbit hole on this Sunday evening 🫡

I love that this inspired a whole very nuanced and well researched essay on a Sunday. Thank you!!!

[cosmoknightchaos]

Hey:)

Oh yeah if it wasn’t noticed in the ask thingy i answered summer killed a guy

Uhm,,, literally do any question for any oc. I would love to hear you talk about sky because I love her a lot but I know you wanna talk about the directors:)

Mroowwww meow:333

Cracks knuckles Alright! Here we go!

Below the cut is every single question, answered about Sky. And if I couldn't answer it with Sky, I answered it with her ET's Coffee Shop equivalent, Phoebe Kepler. Enjoy.

1. Does your OC have a voice claim, if so who?

Sky's (and Phoebe's) voice claim is Penelope Scott! Here's to hoping I don't have to change that, but if I don't find a better voice claim for KMJ, I'm probably gonna change Sky to be British as well.

2. Who's your OCs best friend? How did they become best friends?

Sky, unfortunately, is a bit lonely in the Horizon. At least time is weird there so she's not really aware of how long she's alone! Sky has Ru, of course, and the shapeshifters (occasionally accompanied by Entropy) will stop by from time to time, but she doesn't really have a best friend.

Similarly, Phoebe is a bit lonely, but not to the same extent as Sky. She's pretty close to her boss, ET, as well as having a couple friends around the city. But she doesn't really have a specific best friend.

3. What song describes your OC?

Arguably one of the biggest tragedies in my career as an OC writer is the fact that Sky doesn't really have any songs attached to her. Which pisses me off.

I have a few songs that I associate with her in my brain, but none that really describe her. You Only Know by Phemiec and Alone Together by Fall Out Boy are Sky songs, and Rat (linked in question one) and Sweet Hibiscus Tea, both by Penelope Scott, are Phoebe songs.

4. What song describes your OC and their partner/love interest?

Along Together, which I mentioned above, is a Skaide song. Cannot for the life of me explain why. It just has the right vibes.

I'll. I'll let Tristen hijack this question because I'm fucking insane about Keplerroe. They are AWFUL. The Death of Peace of Mind by Bad Omens is both a Keplerroe song and Tristen's number one song. As a quick heads up, it's a biiiit graphic. This Is Love by Air Traffic Controller is also a good Keplerroe song.

5. Do you ship your OC with a Canon character? If so who?

Jaide is canon to A Hat in Time so yes.

6. If your OC is in a fantasy setting, what profession would they be in the modern day?

So. So you'll never guess what the big change between WTSS and ETCS is.

Sky in a modern setting is Phoebe. Yeah.

7. Vice-Versa! If your OC is in the modern day, what fantasy class would they be? Would they be a different race?

Phoebe in a fantasy setting is Sky!

8. What hobbies does your OC have? What do they do to unwind?

Sky really likes reading! She reads as many books as she can get her hands on- occasionally books from purple time rifts can fall through the fabric of time and land in the Horizon, and Sky collects those. Entropy has also "borrowed" a couple books from various planets (and probably other dimensions as well). Sky also gardens! She has a fairly extensive garden in her yard and grows a lot of goofy Horizon-native plants.

Phoebe, unfortunately, lives in an apartment and is not allowed to have an extensive garden. However she does have a couple small plants that she can grow inside. She's still a bookworm, and in addition to that, Phoebe will take walks through the local city parks to unwind.

9. How does your OC handle their physical health? Do they take care of themselves?

Sky handles her health fairly well! She has plenty of time to.

Phoebe isn't as good at taking care of herself. She certainly tries, but she's also a tired gal in her early twenties who is living check to check and has school on top of that. Physically, she's not in the best shape, but fortunately for her, her boss is very determined to make sure she takes care of herself, and has forced her to take a day or two of paid sick leave to recover.

10. How does your OC handle their mental health? Do they take care of themselves?

Sky has good mental health! Every now and then the loneliness will get to her or she'll get really frustrated with King and she'll spiral a bit, but she's good at recovering.

Similarly, Phoebe has pretty damn good mental health for being a tired early-twenties gal. She's stressed with school (trade school for culinary arts!) and very much in need of a good night's sleep, but besides that she's doing surprisingly well!

11. What was your inspiration for your OC?

I've said this so many times at this point, but Sky started out as Queen Vanessa and somehow ended up at the complete opposite. I don't think I can say much else on her inspiration due to spoilers, but I really wanted to give the girls specifically an older sister character. Wendy from Gravity Falls helped with characterization.

Phoebe came from taking Sky and placing her in a more modern story. Phoebe herself doesn't have many inspirations, but a lot of her character is just me experimenting with putting Sky in situations :)

12. Does your OC interact with other people's OC? If so, who's their best OC friend?

YES!!! YES SHE DOES!!!!!! SKY'S GIRLFRIEND IS THE BEST WOMAN IN THE ENTIRE WORLD AND HER NAME IS JAIDE AND SHE BELONGS TO @artblock-tm AND I LOVE THE TWO OF THEM SO SO SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE EVERYTHING TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, there's the entire Skaide Found Family, along with the cast of RP6, including @/therealnoot's wonderful motherfucker Jinx.

I have restrained myself from having Phoebe interact with other OCs because that is a very slippery slope into spoiler territory, but I do have a list of OCs I want her to interact with once spoilers are no longer an issue! Such as. The entire Skaide found family.

13. Does your OC have a rival? How did it start?

Oh boy guys does Sky have any rivals? Guys I'm not sure. I can't think of anyone guys

Sky has King Moonjumper! And it started with him being a self-absorbed asshole! Which... isn't really true but it definitely is KMJ's fault. They fight because King wants out of the Horizon and Sky's trying to stop him from doing that because it will fuck up the time-space continuum or something like that.

Phoebe doesn't really have any specific rival, but she does have her narrative foil (And later main antagonist), Angelo! They get along for a while and then things go rough and they fight to the death. Typical girl things you know

14. Who's a character your OC cannot stand! It's on sight when they see them!

Once again, King Moonjumper! Bitch.

As for Phoebe. TRISTEN FUCKING KANNAROE. OHOHO THIS MOTHERFUCKER. Not only is it on sight for Phoebe but it is on sight for me as well. And also most of the rest of the cast. It's a fucking tragedy that Phoebe isn't the one who kills him because she deserves it.

15. Will your OC ever retire? Do you see them making it?

This one is a bit too close to spoilers, so I'll be skipping it. Sorry.

16. How's their relationship with their parents? Are they alive?

Sky... doesn't really have parents! She has Uncle Entropy, but that's it.

Phoebe has a good relationship with her parents! They don't talk too much because Phoebe is busy with work and trade school, but she tries to keep in touch.

17. If your OC has kids, are they a good parent? Do they ever feel guilty if they have to leave them?

Skipping this one because Sky/Phoebe doesn't have kids and never will! Older sibling figure ftw :))))

18. What are their pronouns? What would they like to be called?

Both use she/her! Sky is genderqueer, and Phoebe is probably also genderqueer but too busy to question her gender identity.

19. What's their sexuality? What's their love language both giving and receiving?

Asexual panromantic for both!

20. If they fight, what's their weapon of choice?

Sky has, of course, her kickass chained blades! Combined with her crystal magic, Sky is a very good fighter :)

Phoebe doesn't have weapons for a majority of the story. She has a super plot-relevant pocket knife that Angelo gives her early on, and she does wield Tachycardia (aka TickTach) once, but it's not until just before the climax of the story that Phoebe receives her signature chained blades.

21. What song best describes their relationship with their enemy?

One of the songs I mentioned in question 3, You Only Know, is both a Sky and King Moonjumper song! Even though it doesn't really describe their relationship. It just fits both of them.

Once again, I was cursed with not relating very many songs to Sky. And I can't even begin to talk about Phoebe's various antagonists throughout the story, but please revisit question 4 for some of the songs.

22. Fight or Flight? Are they a lover or a fighter?

Fight! Sky and Phoebe are both super kind people, but they're also stubborn and willing to fight for what they believe!

23. Is your OC reliable? Can I call them up at two in the morning if I have a flat tire?

Absolutely. Sky would be over in a heartbeat with a spare tire and help you replace it. Phoebe would be pissed you woke her up, and probably wouldn't drive out to wherever you are, but she would tell you who to call instead or give you instructions on how to fix it. Sky's a bit more reliable because she's less tired, but both are super trustworthy.

24. Can they play any instruments? If so, what do they play?

Although Phoebe and Sky do not play an instrument, if they were to, it would be clarinet. That would also be the instrument that Sky's main music motif is in!

25. Are they the kind of person who can't resist a good song? Can I catch your OC singing to themselves while they do the dishes?

ABSOLUTELY. Both Sky and Phoebe would love listening to music while doing chores. Heck, Phoebe already does that.

26. What flower do you associate your OC with?

Fictional-ass flowers. The Horizon has goofy flowers that Entropy has spread to literally every piece of media they touch, and Sky/Phoebe is one of three characters associated with these specific flowers- and yes, they do serve some mild narrative importance. Entropy and Tranquility are the other two.

27. What's their spirit tamagotchi? Or an animal you associate them with?

CATS! Sky and Phoebe both have a cat!! There's, of course, the iconic bushcat Ru, but Phoebe has befriended a stray cat who she's nicknamed Rue!!

28. What clique would they be in? (Draw them in the clothes of said group!)

Not drawing this because I am tiiiiired

Sky would not be very cliquey! She tries to be friends with everyone :)

Phoebe would also not like to be in any cliques, but she naturally gravitates to the smart kids.

29. Imagine a mood board for your OC! What's on it? (Make it if you want!)

I will get back to this one I promise. I will do this. Not now though because I want to be done with this.

30. My OC and your OC are friends. This isn't a question. I'm not asking. (How do they respond?)

JOKES ON YOU, SKY IS ALREADY FRIENDS WITH YOUR OCS!!!!

Phoebe would also be friends with your OCs!! Despite the different circumstances, they are the same person at their core, so she would love meeting Ameya and the rest of your OCs :)

[thedreadvampy]

btw on the tangent of end of history ass bullshit I put my finger recently on why adapting Good Omens as a modern-day story bugs me

bc I Have Known. bc I was a comedy-fantasy afficianado in the 90s/early 2000s. that GO is one of many examples of a very specific genre of British comedy-scifi-fantasy popular in the 90s I would term "millennial apocalypse farce".

you know, they're a mix of biblical eschatology, Fortean Times conspiracy theory, cult tropes, and Y2K Rise of the Machines stuff, smashed together into an Adamsian comedy where a group of hapless protagonists bumble around while the world falls apart in comically overblown ways. imo, though a lot of authors bring their own spin to it, they're all heavily stylistically influenced specifically by Dirk Gently, which isn't Millennial Apocalypse Farce but I think did inspire a lot of it. Robert Rankin is on the edge of it, Good Omens is the most lasting example, but I read like 20 of these and most authors only wrote one afaict.

but the thing I was saying the other day is I honestly cannot think of a genre of popular English-language fiction that's more rooted in a specific time and culture. I tried for a while and really couldn't.

It just doesn't translate well away from the turn of the millennium, purely because the millennium was such a fevered touchpoint for Apocalypse Stuff. two things there I think.

Obviously, Y2K looming. Millennium Approaches. The turn of every century has often been accompanied by an uptick in interest in apocalypses and end times, but this was the BIGGIE. It's only happened on this calendar once before. People in the 1900s were talking about how close they were to a new millennium. The approaching millennium dominated the whole 20th century, and especially with how apocalyptic a lot of the 20th century felt in terms of war and technology, apocalyptic fervour really kicked up in the 90s. And there was a smorgasbord of apocalypses to choose from; divine, nuclear, digital, cosmic, alien, all stuff which on the millennial scale had really only just shown up in the last century or so. I was 7 in 2000 so pinch of salt but I remember all of us sort of holding our breath leading up to Jan 1 2000, not just bc of Y2K but bc it felt like something momentous HAD to happen.

The end of history. The cold war had subsided, and so had the economic depression of the 70s and 80s UK. There just was not a Singular Apocalypse hanging over a group of people who'd spent their whole lives in the shadow of a Singular Nuclear Apocalypse. I think stuff really rushed in to fill that gap, and Millennial Apocalypse Farce is a response to that sudden glut of possible apocalypses all clamouring for attention.

I think as well American end-of-days right-wing evangelism was really loud in the 80s-90s and that plays a part, cause the generally lefty and consciously self-effacing British comedy author milieu found that off-putting in a very mockable way

but the point is that glut of apocalypses was a real flash in the pan, the same way the End of History was. it was a like 10-15 year timespan where the world was definitely ending but nobody could say why or how, and it began around the fall of the Berlin Wall and ended on September 11, 2001.

Millennial Apocalypse Farce novels did keep coming out after 2001 but like everything else, the culture has changed really radically, and also, like, we were past the millennium. Those infinite possibilities of apocalypses hadn't paid off. Not saying that the public interest in apocalypse went away - 2012, obviously. The LHC. But the full on fervour for any and all crank apocalypses kind of petered off a bit bc the turn of the millennium was so much a flashpoint for it. and anyway we had really concrete apocalypses again - terrorism, totalitarian governments, plague, and of course the main 21st century apocalypse, Oh Shit We Really Fucked This Climate Change Thing Up.

and I really love the Millennial Apocalypse Farce genre. I really love stumbling on books in that genre. because it's such a time capsule for an incredibly specific period in recent cultural history.

but it does not translate into a 2020s setting. It's so 90s. it's so rooted in a really specific landscape of cultural anxieties and abstractions. it just doesn't make sense to me to translate it to the modern day, it's like setting Angels in America in 2023. it's just the wrong type of apocalypse. apocalypses are culturally generated and they change fast based on how a culture sees itself and the world. you can't pick up a 1990 apocalypse and put it unchanged in 2023, it's Wrong. if you're going to do that you have to be in conversation with it, you can't just update it.

like ok example of thoughtfully recontextualising an anachronistic apocalypse for a modern setting. War of the Worlds 2005. Why is it War of the Worlds? Because it wants to say some things about the relationship between post 9/11 America and colonial England, and how the specific common anxiety of invasion affects them as people in a nation of invaders. Idk if it's a good film cause I didn't like it when I watched it but that was a long time ago. But the intent makes sense.

what does putting a Millennial Apocalypse Farce in the 2020s actually. say? about the commonalities between now and then? I mean. Based on the TV show of Good Omens, to me, not a lot. It's pretty beat for beat in that sense, and we're not really far enough away from 1990 for it to have the obvious impacts that saying "now is very like then" does with, say, War of the Worlds, because the world of HG Wells was distant enough for a 2005 audience to go 'oh, Victorian colonialism, that's Not Like Us.' whereas like. I remember the 90s. It's not recent but it's in continuity with now. saying "then it's like now" is a) kind of Incorrect imo, the cultural anxieties are Very Different, and b) not...striking?

idk like. The genre is dated. The nature of that specific apocalypse idea is incredibly dated. And that's good actually. It's fine for art to be a time capsule of a specific cultural moment and to not make sense divorced from that moment. That's good! That's a good use of art!

[mostlyinthemorning]

Top 7 Watches of 2023

Yesterday I did my top books from the past year, so I thought I'd make today all about the best TV shows I watched this year. Again, in no particular order:

Season 2 of Good Omens was very much a transitional season (so I think we all agree that it's a really good thing we're getting season 3) but it still had madcap adventures, unrequited longing, and theological mystery. Also, it's really, really queer.

Speaking of shows that were a wild mix of adventure and irreverent theology, way too may people slept on Mrs. Davis, which I absolutely adored. It starts out as an over-the-top adventure and the next thing you know, you're thinking about the nature of faith and the universe and AI. Highly, highly recommend.

I held off on watching The Wheel of Time for a long time because I could never get into the books despite loving epic fantasy. However, the show is fabulous - and the female characters particularly shine.

I love a small town story, especially one with a magical mystery and I really enjoyed The Big Door Prize from Schitt's Creek writer David West Read. The characters really reflect a range of reactions to the revelations of the door prize machine, resulting in a cascading number of secrets that are exposed.

Going in, I didn't expect to like Shrinking as much as I did, but it really finds the perfect line between funny and emotional. Harrison Ford is clearly having the time of his life playing the grumpy mentor and the supporting cast provides the perfect backdrop for Jason Segal's character's bad decision-making.

This show. The second it was over I was desperate for more. Imagine a classic British murder mystery, expect that it's set in Australia. And there are lesbians. So many lesbians. Deadloch is both laugh-out loud funny and the twistiest murder mystery I've watched. Every guess I made was wrong and yet the final solution was absolutely perfect. The two leads are a classic oil and water pairing who eventually figure out how to work together with so much heart and emotional depth. It's wonderful all the way around.

So, there's this dysfunctional family who owns a rundown motel in the middle of nowhere in rural Canada...no, I'm not talking about Schitt's Creek (for once). Moonshine is a Canadian show about five siblings who take over the family vacation resort and have to work together to save it. There are criminal shenangians and hot bikers and a lot of growth and found family vibes.

Honourable Mention:

What did you watch this year?

Tagging @missgeevious @carolrain @blackandwhiteandrose @noahreids @likerealpeopledo-on-ao3 @weathereyehorizon @obsessedwithdavrick @stereopticons @rmd-writes @chelle-68 and anyone else who would like to share what they watched in 2023.

[gabessquishytum]

Ten Books to Know Me By!

Tagged by @honeyteacakes! I really loved your list of books, I saw the scarlet pimpernel on there and did a happy scream!

1. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

This was a formative book for me throughout my childhood and adolescence. I must have read it almost 10 times. I struggle to read it now (some parts just hit too close to home for me) but I hope one day that I’ll be able to return to this wonderful novel.

2. Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey

This book altered the course of my life, no kidding. If you love history or true crime this book is seriously for you. It will definitely make you rethink everything you know about the way history is written, the way historical individuals are portrayed and why stories are so important.

3. Persuasion - Jane Austen

All of Austen’s novels have impacted me massively, but this one is my favourite. The way that romantic love is portrayed in this book is so beautiful to me, the way people’s personal flaws are portrayed as something that can be forgiven and accepted. This is a very hopeful book, and it is also an incredible portrayal of what it’s like to live with anxiety.

4. Neverwhere - Neil Gaiman

I love all of Neil’s stuff, but this one is probably my favourite. It was the first of his solo novels that I read (after Good Omens). It’s fun, imaginative, terrifying. I fell in love with the idea of urban fantasy thanks to this book, and I think it was super influential on the development of my own writing.

5. Santaland Diaries - David Sedaris

I love the combination of cynicism and sentiment in this book. It's funny, it's real (if a little overexaggerared at times). It also makes me feel better about myself and my struggles with employment. Plus, David Sedaris was probably one of the first gay people I was ever aware of.

I also worked as a Christmas elf in a store (not Macy's, unfortunately) so I feel a forever connection to this book.

6. The Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin

This book confounded me when I first read it as a child. I didn't like the main character, I found the plot complicated. But returning to it years later, I fell in love with it. It's a book about becoming a better version of yourself, about fucking up majorly and trying to put things right. And about love and friendship. Plus there are further books in the series, and a dragon. What's not to love?

7. War of the Foxes - Richard Siken

I know a lot of people have read Crush, and while I absolutely love it, War of the Foxes is a gentler piece of work which explores some of the same themes from a mature perspective. There are some absolutely beautiful poems in this collection and I really recommend it for anyone who wants to contemporary poetry!

8. 163 Days - Hannah Hodgeson

Another favourite poetry collection! This is a beautiful, unique piece of work that discusses life limiting illness, hospital, and what it's like to be disabled in an able bodied world. It takes a lot to make me cry but this book moves me so much and brings me so much joy, too, because it exists! And I can feel just a little bit less invisible because of it.

9. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

The funniest, most ridiculous book, and an absolutely brilliant satire of British countryside life. I quote this book ALL the time. It is my lifetime ambition to own a cow called Useless.

10. The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller

Another formative book which did so much for me as a young queer person. The fact that this book was "mainstream" and loved by so many people (including people who may not have naturally been queer allies) made the difficult conversations easier. It was really important for me to be able to bring this book home without having to hide.

Thank you for this opportunity to talk about books! I'm tagging @the-art-student-in-221c @aquilathefighter @valeriianz @ineffablyendless @pintobordeaux @reallyintoscience @notallsandmen @akhuna01 but feel don't feel like you have to do it! ❤

[hecatesbroom]

Hii!

I thought it was about time to make an index/introductory post to pin (because I love lists and this is essentially a list) so here we are :))

I'm Alys! Or at least I go by that online ever since I decided Internet safety also applies to me. I use she/her pronouns but honestly anything goes, and I'm known to friends as a grandma in a 21-year-old's body.

Feel free to tag me in things, send me a dm, or pop an ask in my tumblr mailbox. I don't bite, and I love interacting with people! (Which includes you, I promise!)

(I do have a tendency to forget to reply, which I'm working on, but please don't worry if that happens. It's nothing to do with you!)

I write fic and the occasional long meta post, and can make gifsets if I set my mind to it, most of them being on pieces of media so obscure they'll only appeal to a handful of people lol

Here's a little, probably incomplete list of the things I love and will most likely post/reblog stuff about:

My main interests at the moment are:

The Golden Girls (find all golden girls posts under #the golden girls, and most ship posts under #golden wives! I'm hoping to go back and re-tag my meta posts & ficlets with a special tag soon, but for now it's just one big treasure hunt under the main tag lol)

Maude (tagged #maude 1972)

And I'm following along with Dracula Daily this year (find all related posts under #dracula & #dracula daily)

Other things I have & will occasionally post about:

The Wheel of Time

The Witcher books

Good Omens

Doctor Who (watching for the very first time! You can find my unhinged rants under #alys watches who)

Tolkien, both his works and adaptations of it

Books in general, mostly fantasy and classics with a dash of basically everything else

The Locked Tomb on my sideblog @i-hardlyknowher

An entire list of (mostly niche, mostly British and Dutch) sitcoms from the '70s and '80s. Ask me about them if you want and I'll love you forever

I'm trying to read and see some more Shakespeare so you'll probably see the occasional post about that too

BBC Ghosts

Broadchurch, which I watched when it first aired, rewatched last year, and am back to occasionally losing my mind over now

The Worst Witch, which I don't really post about anymore but deserves a spot here anyway, because it's what inspired my username!!

[iamchernika]

9 people you want to get to know better tag

thanks for tagging me, @paperlovesadness 💚🫂

fav colour: actually, I have a few :)

• when people ask you your favorite color, you often choose one color. for me it was green. it still my beloved. but now it's a certain shade – british racing grean. but more blueish you know

• vinous

• and sometimes purple. but I'm not quite sure. 'cause I definitely like the first two, and this one is just a mood, I think.

currently reading: the fault in our stars by john green. I've been recommended to read this book for a long time, but I'm more into fantasy, science fiction, detective and horror.

last song: today I'm in the mood to listen to russian pop rock, so kazhetsya by uma2rman

last series: good omens season 2 ✌🏻🥲 no comments))

last movie: oppenheimer

currently working on: I'm learning to edit videos in after effects program on pc, it takes a very long time, 'cause there are so many functions that you can just get lost. I still can't figure out how to do color correction correctly (the way I want it to look). I also play cyberpunk 2077 (yeah, it's like a mission, don't judge me too much)

I'm gonna tag people that I know more or less (so if you've already done this 'challenge' stuff or just don't want to, I'm sorry x)

@thelastfingerpuppets @the-thing-about-life-is @joshus-lobster @freakykeypad @alexturne @homoirrealis @hellcatsandcars @maybemoonout @bandomgay

[elfdragon12]

I've been listening to more audiobooks from librivox!

"The Brass Bottle" by F. Anstey. An unsuccessful architect in his late 20s is asked by a professor (who he met on holiday and fell in love with the man's daughter) to go to an auction and bid for items left behind by a collector who passed. He wins an item that wasn't in the catalog--an odd brass bottle with a sealed stopper. Thinking that it might contain ancient manuscripts, he opens it and instead releases a genie (or djinni, as the professor will correct). As the architect tries to live his life and win the hand of the professor's daughter, he must deal with the djinni's... Profuse gratitude.

It's... I want to say it's good, but you can certainly tell it's written by a white British man in 1900 in its language describing anyone with dark skin. The djinni is constantly referred to as "oriental" and two characters use the "hard R" once each. Now, most of the time, the culture clash comes from the djinni not realizing how much has changed in 3000-odd years. The dinner party... Feels more xenophobic with the description of the food and music. I think, for a modern audience, it could be easily tweaked to poke fun at British society. Certainly there's a hint of it already in the love interest disliking relying too much on convention.

"Book of Wonder" by Lord Dunsany. This is one is a collection of fantasy short stories based on illustrations by Sidney Sime (apparently, Sime had been complaining about getting illustration work he wasn't interested in and Lord Dunsany suggested he draw whatever illustrations he wanted and he would write stories based on them).

I didn't actually finish this one. I got through about 4 or 5 and found them to be a bit boring. For example, a thief must lead a group to steal some odes and, as everything goes wrong, he chose to throw himself off the edge of the world to avoid whatever it was this red eye was an omen of. No, we don't get to find out. Then another one is about a man with an impudent prayer that offends the etiquette of the gods and, when he finds one that may grant his prayer... He was going too fast down the stairs and tumbles off into the abyss. That's it. I won't say there's nothing of value as it's said to have been some inspiration for a number of fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien and Ursula K LeGuin, but it was not what I wanted.

"Once On a Time" by A A Milne (yes, of Winnie the Pooh). A fairy tale of a king who goes to war against a neighboring king for using seven league boots past his breakfast table a few too many times and he leaves his daughter with the Countess Belvane as her advisor, who would very much like to become the new queen.

This one was very tongue-in-cheek and I found it to be quite entertaining. The characters are almost entirely silly in their own way, even the narrator who is a historian who considers a fellow historian his rival and is quite fond of Countess Belvane (who likes to keep a diary and write poetry). It's also quite sincere, coming off as being for those who like fairy tales or fantasy, but likes to have some fun with it. Also goes to show that fantasy satire/parody has been around for a very long time.

"The Motor Pirate" by G Sidney Paternoster. A motorist is robbing people in their cars while using a very odd sort of vehicle. Sutgrove, after being a victim of robbery by this thief, swears to catch this pirate himself!

This one was somewhat interesting, but the identity of the criminal is almost immediately obvious! After a while, the ignorance of the main character (also the narrator) gets to be frustrating... And then the narrator drops the "hard R" out of nowhere in chapter 22 of 24. Then, after a strange scene where the love interest hears the criminal "calling to" her and a strange moment when Sutgrove is convinced the criminal wasn't involved despite seeing him there, we learned why in the last chapter. The criminal was actually half Indian and, thus, probably hypnotized the love interest and had indepth knowledge of eastern occultism! It was so bad!

[qqueenofhades]

20+ Books That You (Might Actually Want) To Read During Pride Month!

Right, so. I got annoyed after seeing the list referenced in this post last night, told myself that my books are all packed up so I couldn’t do anything about it, and lasted all of a whopping 10 minutes before picking up my phone and attempting to make my own list instead. Behold, my from-memory attempt to present 20 books with strong LGBTQ plots, characters, and/or authors, that DON’T just rely on Suffering and Identity Politics and are... you know... fun.

Listed in alphabetical order by title. Links take you to Bookshop.org, where you can buy them from your local independent bookstore at a discount and NOT from the evil empire.

1. A Master of Djinn – P. Djeli Clark * author of color * steampunk Cairo in 1912 * djinn! magic! murder mystery! * butch Arab lesbian main character * devout hijabi Muslim badass assistant * anticolonial alternate history

2. An Accident of Stars – Foz Meadows (Sequel: A Tyranny of Queens) * trans author * bi, pan, trans, aro representation * racially diverse characters * all female POV characters * high-fantasy world adventures

3. Boyfriend Material – Alexis Hall * queer author * look I love this book SO MUCH and have absolutely screamed about it before but also I LOVE IT SO MUCH * contemporary M/M fake dating in modern London, complete with full cast of disaster found-family queer friends * it is. fucking. HILARIOUS. I almost died the first time reading it * there is a sequel called HUSBAND MATERIAL scheduled to be released in 2022; I am a normal amount of excited for this book

4. Gideon the Ninth – Tamsyn Muir (Sequel: Harrow the Ninth) * the book cover says “Lesbian necromancers explore a haunted palace in space!” * that is exactly what you get * slow-burn enemies-to-lovers F/F main romance * I cannot describe this book, it is dark, genre-bendy, science fiction-y, Hunger-Games-with-lesbian-necromancers-in space? Kinda? I have literally never read anything like it * also fucking HILARIOUS

5. One Last Stop – Casey McQuiston * queer author (who wrote Red White and Royal Blue) * bisexual fat girl from the South/lesbian-daughter-of-Chinese immigrants from the 1970s-riot-grrl main romance * time traveling mystery involving the Q train in Brooklyn (mentions Brighton Beach ahem) * magical realism * many more found-family chaotic queers including a trans Latino psychic and a Black accountant by day/drag queen by night and the mean little gay disaster who has a hopeless crush on them

6. Parasol Protectorate (series) – Gail Carriger * this is one of my favorite series, and there are five books: Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, Heartless, and Timeless * steampunk vampires/werewolves late Victorian London, like Jane Austen crossed with P.G. Wodehouse (they are all fucking hilarious) * pretty much everyone is queer; we got your flamboyantly camp gay vampires (Lord Akeldama ftw!) We got your gay werewolves! We got your lesbian French inventors! We got your big disaster idiot werewolf main male love interest! We got your crazy adventures! You name it we got it! * two spin-off novellas: Romancing the Werewolf (M/M) and Romancing the Inventor (F/F) * she has a ton more books in this same universe and writes sexy queer supernatural romance as G.L. Carriger

7. Plain Bad Heroines – Emily M. Danforth * queer author * historical horror-comedy set between a haunted girls’ school in early-1900s New England and in the modern day * all sapphic female main characters * plays with style/form/voice, a story within a story within a story

8. Red White and Royal Blue – Casey McQuiston * you’ve probably heard of it but here I am reccing it again * the biracial son of the first female POTUS falls in love with the Prince of England; shenanigans absolutely ensue * yes, the British monarchy still absolutely sucks a big fat dick * hilarious, heartfelt, reads like fanfic, just go get it, it will change your life

9. Rosaline Palmer Takes The Cake – Alexis Hall * same author as Boyfriend Material, this is his newest * bisexual female protagonist * absolutely perfect satire of The Great British Bake Off (you can tell this man has watched EVERY SINGLE SERIES and all of the holiday specials) * sweet and surprisingly thoughtful

10. Starless – Jacqueline Carey * genderqueer/transmasculine main character of color * almost all main characters are brown people! * lush Middle Eastern/India-inspired fantasy world * gods, prophecies, monsters * the best Oh God Why Me I Am A Horrible Mentor wise-old-mentor

11. The Future of Another Timeline – Annalee Newitz * nonbinary (they/them) author * time travel but make it The Handmaid’s Tale * will probably make your head explode * feminist, queer, subversive * diverse characters

12. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue – Mackenzi Lee * queer author * technically YA but historical/magical adventure set in the 1700s * bisexual disaster main protagonist and love interest of color * (mis)adventures across Europe * has a sequel (see below) with the badass asexual sister of the protagonist

13. The Hate Project – Kris Ripper * nonbinary/genderqueer author * M/M enemies to lovers/sex with no strings attached (spoiler alert: strings attached) * HECKING HILARIOUS * sweet, escapist, and very low stakes * diverse characters, including fat protagonist with realistic anxiety disorder

14. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy – Mackenzi Lee * PIRATES, obviously * sequel to Gentleman’s Guide * asexual female protagonist * strong queerplatonic f/f friendship * more historical/magical 18th century adventures

15. The Last Rune (series) – Mark Anthony * Imma be real with you chief, I haven’t read this series since I was a clueless teenager with no idea why I liked Gay Stuff so much, so if it does turn out to suck now, don’t throw rotten veggies at me * but especially since it was written in the NINETIES, this series was hella progressive?! * gay characters, disabled characters, characters of color, all playing significant and heroic roles in six-book epic fantasy cycle * people from Earth end up in high-fantasy world of Eldh * endgame M/M romance for the main character * books out of print, I think, but you can find them cheap somewhere like AbeBooks; first one (Beyond the Pale) linked above

16. The Library of the Unwritten – A.J. Hackwith * queer author * heaven-hell-Valhalla supernatural adventures * The Good Place x Good Omens x Lucifer x The Librarians * Pansexual Black badass female heroine * Queer found families * The Sassiest TM Bisexual Villain Turned Reluctant Hero (is he my favorite? Why on earth would you think that.)

17. The Priory of the Orange Tree – Samantha Shannon * epic doorstopper science fiction/historical fantasy set in a vaguely 16th-century world * main F/F romance between a queen and her sorceress bodyguard * sassy old gay alchemist whose backstory will give you Feelings * so many strong women and characters of color * no homophobia! marriage is fully gender-neutral, spouses are called “companions”

18. The Song of Achilles – Madeline Miller * likewise one you have probably heard of but still * a little light on the myth/historical part imho, but the writing is beautiful and will give you many feelings * M/M romance between Achilles and Patroclus  * reimagining of The Iliad (her other book Circe is also really good)

19 The Stars are Legion – Kameron Hurley * all-female apocalyptic space opera * messy messy antiheroines * grimdark war fantasy * queer sci-fi drama

20. Witchmark – C.L. Polk * author of color * M/M romance * main character is a veteran and a doctor dealing with his own hidden magic and repressed war trauma * gaslamp fantasy set in a world reminiscent of post-WWI England * strong sibling relationship

[agardenandlibrary]

I started On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony

As it is a book written by a white man in the 1980s I expect it will have very unreal women characters and probably be entirely populated by white men. However, it was recommended by the same friend who recommended Grass by Sherri Tepper which was good and bizarre, so I’m willing to give it a chance.

It is, so far, pretty funny actually. Is it supposed to be funny? More research required. It’s reminding me of Good Omens a bit. (whether this is a recommendation for or against is up to you)

What is it with urban fantasy books attributing the categorization and discovery (for lack of a better word) of magic to Isaac Newton? This book does it, Rivers of London does it. Is it just a British dude thing? I like how Anthony is rolling magic into the world so far.

The main character did just attempt to commit suicide, so. warnings for that. Instead, he killed Death! That’s just chapter one!

[thoriffix]

Can you rec some media with canon queer characters 😌

ofc!! thisll by no means be an exhaustive list but idk what youre looking for specifically so ill break it into categories

my current favs!! if u follow me u know these already lol

the umbrella academy: netflix show abt dysfunctional superpowered siblings reuniting to stop the apocalypse. canon mlm character (pansexual according to his actor) w mlm romance, canon wlw character (lesbian according to someone on the show dont rmr who) w het romance in s1, wlw romance in s2 - this is one of my absolute fav shows at the minute in general its brilliant

the magnus archives: horror podcast abt the head archivist of an institute researching experiences w the supernatural. protagonist is canonically biromantic asexual, in a mlm relationship in s5, and there is another canon bisexual character, as well as (iirc) a canon wlw couple - yall know ive been so into tma lately its so so good, obviously if you dont like horror its not for you but if you do.. 👀

sanders sides: youtube series abt a gay dude working out his emotional problems via personified aspects of his personality. all the characters are gay cuz thas what thomas is baby! - i was hesitant abt putting this cuz thomas is a person not a character lol but if u haven't seen sasi i recommend it its like free therapy but theres songs sometimes

shows!

julie and the phantoms (netflix remake): musical show abt a teen girl rediscovering music after her mothers death w the help of three ghosts who were in a 90s band. canon gay character w a slow burn romance (not yet canon bfs but s2 lets go) - its very cheesy and the musical segments can drag on a bit but its p good overall

lucifer: detective show abt lucifer abandoning his rule of hell to buy a nightclub and beginning to solve murders w the lapd. lucifer is canonically bi/pan, as is his demon pal mazikeen, but queerness rly isnt a focus of the show its more casual rep - that being said its a good show overall, if a little predictable now n then (s1-3 on amazon prime, 4+5 on netflix)

kipo and the age of wonderbeasts: fantasy cartoon set in a future filled w mutant intelligent animals, kipo finds herself lost and has to get home w the help of her friends. canon gay character as one of the mains, canon nb side character - its a rly good cartoon! lots of fun, excellent soundtrack, and the main characters are all poc which is rly nice to see

the dragon prince: cartoon abt two princes and an elf assassin returning a dragon egg to its mother. canon mlm couple, several canon wlw characters, canon nb character - i havent seen the show myself but ive heard very good things abt it!

i am not okay with this: netflix show abt a teen girl discovering she has superpowers and hating it. protag is canon wlw (i THINK shes a lesbian but i havent watched it in a hot sec), developing wlw relationship - ianowt slaps! sad that s2 got cancelled but s1 is real good its a touch spooky and theres a bit of gore/blood so watch out lol

schitt's creek: sitcom abt a rich family who lose all their money and have to move into the motel of a town they bought as a joke. canon pansexual character and canon gay character w one of the sweetest mlm relationships - a rly good witty show w excellent character development for every character!

good omens: show abt a demon and an angel trying to stop the end of the world. every celestial character in it is nonbinary, + crowley and aziraphale have a nonexplicit (ie no on screen pda lol) romance - good omens is such a good queer show none of the characters care abt gender in the slightest lmao, plus the show in general is fantastic (the book is also very good)

movies!

the old guard: a group of immortals fight an organisation that wants to capitalise off their immortality. canon mlm couple - another one i havent seen yet (i will!) but apparently very good

it chapter 2: horror sequel to It, w the main characters returning to derry to defeat pennywise for good. canon gay character in unrequited love - i only say chapter 2 because his queerness isnt referenced at all in the first film, again its big horror and theres no gay romance just gay tragedy but its a good film

love, simon: romcom about a closeted gay teen falling in love w someone over emails. do i even need to state the rep? - honestly if u haven't seen love simon yet what are you even DOING its so good proper fluffy queer romcom, the book (simon vs the homosapiens agenda) is also really good!! so is the sequel (leah on the offbeat) where the protag is a bi girl + it focuses on a wlw romance

the way he looks: brazilian coming of age film abt a blind teen boy falling for the new kid at his school. canon mlm relationship - this doesnt seem to be on (british) netflix anymore so idk where youd find it with subtitles but i rmr liking it a lot!

games!

night in the woods: 2d platformer abt a young woman (well. cat) dropping out of college and coming home to live w her parents + discovering spooky happenings in her hometown. canon mlm couple and i believe the protag is canonically bi? - i will recommend nitw to literally anyone who will listen its one of my all time favourite games, deals w a lot of mental health issues and its absolutely gorgeous w a brilliant soundtrack and rly good dialogue thats witty and serious and realistic (its on steam + switch for sure dk abt other platforms, abt 15 quid i think?)

tell me why: adventure game abt twins returning to their childhood home + findin Secrets. canon trans male character - i havent got around to buying + playing this yet but it looks really good! (its in three chapters + on steam, not sure on price)

other media!

the art of being normal: slice of life novel abt a young trans girl discovering herself. main characters are a trans man and a trans woman. - a good novel! trigger warning for transphobic actions including descriptions of a transphobic attack on the guy, and its certainly not without its faults otherwise, but i thought it was pretty good

the adventure zone: dungeons and dragons podcast by the mcelroy brothers. idk specifics but theres a lot of canon queer characters in it! - i havent listened to taz yet but i know a lot abt it, inc that its good and funny and has plenty of queer rep

theres several more i like that arent listed here but to keep this from getting just ridiculously long ill leave it there :] tried to get a range of genres and medias, hopefully theres something for you in there!

[mottlemoth]

65. Got any movie or show suggestions? Also if you were an animal, what animal would you be? (Including fictional animals)

I think I’d like to be a cat ❤️ They seem to have a pretty cushy gig. Lie in the sun and lick myself all day? I’m down for that.

My recs all lean extremely queer. I hope that’s cool. ‘Two characters in a happy same sex relationship are alive at the end’ is an instant +80 for me. Anything else has had to work very hard to earn itself a place on this list, so you know they’re good.

Film recs:

The Old Guard (so gay, so good and they’re actively working on the sequel)

Ocean’s 8 (”fuck the patriarchy, let’s steal things”)

God’s Own Country (super tender, lots of pain then lots of healing)

Maurice (the original gay happy ending - Young Rupert is a puppy-eyed snack from start to finish)

Galaxy Quest (not gay but hilarious, and if you’re in any kind of fandom, you’ll get even more out of it)

Megamind (also not gay but hilarious, really fun, heartwarming and clever, easy to watch)

Venom (the gayest not gay film ever created - a hot disaster but strangely compelling)

Knives Out (I watched this randomly last year and, though not gay, it was fantastically clever as a mystery and very very watchable)

Disney’s Hercules (because if you’re queer, there’s an 80% chance you were obsessed with classical mythology as a kid)

Stardust (queer sparkles set within a gorgeous fantasy story where the good and the brave come out on top)

TV recs:

Black Sails (fight your way through season one - it takes off like a rocket for season two, gets so gay and so heartwarming and just so good)

Star Trek Discovery (as above - just get to Jett Reno and everything will be okay)

Gentleman Jack (Suranne Jones is a revelation, season one is fantastic, and they’re filming season two right now)

Firefly (vintage awesome - fully deserves its cult following)

Hannibal (gory gory gory, but holy shit, the hannigram is real)

Brooklyn99 (goes weird at the end of season five, before then it’s gold and there’s top notch queer rep)

Good Omens (Ineffable Husbands, definitely worth a watch)

Broadchurch (not gay but really good - David Tennant is a sad and grumpy teddy bear who has to solve a murder when really he just wants to lie down, very relatable)

Lewis (not gay but it’s my favourite British murder mystery series if you like that sort of thing)

Horrible Histories (this is a kids show and an odd one to include, but hear me out... if you need a good laugh and you like history even a little bit, give HH a try. It’s written to be hilarious for adults too, the cast are superb, and watching it feels like being a kid again.)

[yeswevegotavideo]

Opening Line Tag Meme

Edit: In true tumblr fashion the formatting got all fucked up so the first 10 aren't numbered anymore, fyi.

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories (if you have less than 20, just list them all!). See if there are any patterns. Choose your favorite opening line. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

Hoo boy, ok! Gotta' figure out when I started writing what, 'cause I've got some unposted WIPs in here.

Thanks to @gottagobuycheese for the tag! I tag @arcanemoody, @teadrinkingwolfgirl, @holycatsandrabbits, @slow-burn-sally, and anybody else who wants to do it! :)

List after the cut, 'cause it's long lol Now then, from most to least recent, let's see...

In the Beginning, only the Creator existed, and She Knew Not From Whence She Came. Fic: you will exhale cinnamon clouds Fandom: Good Omens Comments: That is italicized on purpose - the fic implies that if you see italicized narration in serif font, it is possibly the Voice of God...maybe. This was my first time participating in a Big Bang, and it was very fun and EXTREMELY STRESSFUL and I doubt I'll ever participate in another one.

The Angel of the Eastern Gate was…fascinating. Fic: Time Can Do So Much (WIP) Fandom: Good Omens Comments: I'm gonna finish this someday I swear, but it's a lower priority than Close to Home. (Because let's face it, Close to Home is more popular lol)

"Little demonic miracle of my own," Crowley said casually, handing off the bag and sauntering past the stunned angel, "Lift home?" Fic: Close to Home, So Far Away (WIP) Fandom: Good Omens Comments: That line barely counts, since the dialogue is lifted directly from the show, and I almost included the next one. But the action description is obviously mine. This is the WIP that currently dominates the anxious part of my brain (along with the writer's block part, the creative part, the restless part, and the guilty part). But I'm. Going. To. Finish. It.

It was a perfectly lovely brunch. Fic: Velocity Fandom: Good Omens

Comments: First fic I ever posted in a large fandom. Well, large compared to any other fandom I've ever posted in, anyway. It was insane getting that number of comments/views/kudos on any fic all at once. (It's even more insane how quickly one gets used to such a thing and starts comparing it to subsequent works lol)

“Regis, it’s time.” Fic: Hope in Darkness (working title, unpublished WIP) Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Comments: So, I have this FFXV fic. I'm probably never going to post it. Idk. Maybe someday when the fandom is mostly dead lmao. The fic follows the lives of the quad from infancy to the start of the World of Ruin/Darkness. It's followed by another, even WIP-er fic with working title Decade of Darkness. I'm currently stalled immediately after getting their quad together, at Gladio's 21st birthday party. (Yes, that means Prompto is 17. Yes, that is exactly why I'm hesitant to post it.)

They entered the stairwell and the moment the door closed, Vyvyan shoved Rick against the wall with the force of his kiss. Fic: Love & Mobsters - The Lost Scenes (perpetual WIP, entirely PWP) Fandom: The Young Ones Comments: One of those "this is where the porn goes" WIPs that will probably never actually be closed and may or may not ever be added to. *shrug* What can I say? It's just where the porn goes.

There's something wrong with the garden. Fic: Paper Boats Fandom: The Young Ones Comments: I love this fic. I don't honestly care if others do, though I'm glad many seem to. That is all. Btw that line is in italics because it's thought. That's definitely a convention of mine. That, and writing flashbacks in present tense.

The new kid arrived around two in the afternoon, driven in especially by one of the many social workers known well to the residents. Fic: Infinity (WIP) Fandom: The Young Ones Comments: Another WIP I swear I'll finish eventually. This one kind-of lost steam because I realized I don't actually know how to write teenage British boys in the 70s, nor prison stories in general. Idk, I'll figure it out eventually, probably.

Vyvyan closed the door behind him and slinked into the night. Fic: Skin Fandom: The Young Ones Comments: In direct contradiction to what I just said two fics ago, this story features flashbacks that are in past tense. And then in present tense in the next chapter. I believe this is what they call "inconsistency".

It was December 24th, and all throughout London, preparations for Christmas were kicking into high gear. Fic: Winter Holiday Fandom: The Young Ones Comments: This was a fun one to write. I basically tried to write a Christmas episode, and commenters largely confirm I succeeded. My favorite comment was, "It was just like watching a very special extra episode, with bonus shagging."

Note: the rest of these are from The Young Ones - Love & Mobsters, my TYO series, so I'm not going to keep listing fic & fandom and commenting. The quotes will just directly link to the corresponding fic. They're still in reverse order, from newest to oldest, meaning they'll be linked to the series backwards.

"Would you still love me if I were ugly?"

Rick woke to the feeling of Vyvyan stroking his cheek. He smiled softly as he yawned and opened his eyes.

The punch to the stomach had hurt.

Vyvyan is awake in bed, staring at the ceiling.

I thought I was in love with him, diary, I really did.

I'm horribly disappointed.

A life of crime did odd things to Vyvyan.

Vyvyan talks in his sleep.

So I'm standing outside this shop, waiting for the bloody door to open and freezing my bollocks off in the meantime.

The razor buzzed by Vyvyan's ear.

More than anything I think I've learned that there's no discernible pattern to my opening lines! lmao.

[three--rings]

clowderofcloudies

replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       I'm a little obsessed with the good place and mystic pop up bar. They both have solid themes that can be heavy but with a lot of levity in between. (Trigger warning for mpub) Good omens is also fantastic! If you want to go the animated route, the dragon prince is wonderful!                    I loved The Good Place (and am HEAVILY campaigning to try to force Mr. Rings to watch it atm).  I also love Good Omens.  I see The Dragon Prince is popular and I watched the first season and I think one ep of the second and then got distracted.

peachnewt replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       My escapes usually have subtitles: The Romance of Tiger and Rose - that one c-drama that sounds overhyped but is genuintly funny.   On YT Thunderbolt Fantasy - wuxia involving magical swords, people who evil laugh while holding a severed head, and a lot of cool fight scenes. And it's done with Tiawanese Puppets. On Crunchyroll Overly Sarcastic Productions reading half of Guards! Guards! on YT                   

Interesting, interesting.  And you have interested me by mentioning a Watch book...

hhpharaoh replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       The Repair Shop on Netflex. It's about repairing old things. Very soothing. GCB--Old, and only 14 episodes bc they canceled it. I appreciate it for the snark. Found on the ABC website and/or app (for free). I just started watching Black Girl in a Big Dress on YT. My friend finished it and said it's great. Black girl historical costumer, breaks the 4th wall. Very funny.    

I ADORED The Repair Shop.  Very British Bake-off in tone. I wish there was more gentle craft-based shows like those.  I’ve never heard of GCB.   But oh!  Black Girl in a Big Dress sounds PERFECT for my interests.

possibleplatypus replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       Have you tried The Old Guard? Or The Dragon Prince if you like cartoons                    

I have watched The Old Guard twice so far.  If only there were like 50 episodes of a show for it.  See above re: Dragon Prince.  I might have to go back to that.

penguinsandyetmorepenguins replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       the babysitters club on Netflix, esp if you liked any of the books as a kid              

I was Obsessed with TBC as a kid.  I just don’t know if I’d really get into  a show of it now.

leahlisabeth replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       Trollhunters! Also the new season of Lucifer was just added to Netflix. Also Farscape is on prime and it's my favorite sci fi show ever.                    

  Me googling Trollhunters: What the hell IS that?  Guillermo del Toro?  And I got tired of Lucifer mid-S4...IDK.

fiberbrix replied to your post  

“Hey, y’all, so, I need something to watch.  I’ve got that shifty,...”

                       If you like comedy I enjoyed Derry Girls                    

I ADORE Derry Girls.  I keep waiting for a new season.  In fact, I should probably rewatch it because it’s SO funny.

And I got two anon asks with suggestions, pardon me for just replying here.  The first was for Killjoys.  I watched the first season of that show when it first started airing and just haven’t been able to catch back up with it, mostly do to it not being available to easily stream.  I need to just fire up the VPN and DL it all.  But that will be a mutual watch with Mr. Rings.  He loves that show. 

The second ask suggested  The Great.  I heard somewhat mixed reviews of that from my friends, but I’ll keep it in mind.