#locale: sweetwater

[kannivalistic]

closed starter for @insidethec4ge where/when: sweetwater, late evening

Valka didn't know every single hunter in Port Leiry, but she tried to make it her beeswax to know. Especially when it came to recruiting for the Fellowship. Plenty of hunters knew her, though, with a reputation preceding her like a bloodhound on a leash. Still, that didn't mean humans couldn't find their way into their so-called sacred spaces. Curiosity and ignorance could get someone in and outta lots of spaces.

She sat at the bar at Sweetwater, salt on the rim of her pretty awful beer. But she came here for the... call it ambience, more than the drinks. And maybe out of some lingering hope she'd get Soleil back on the winning team someday.

Valka spared a glance at another woman sitting nearby, looking again when something tickled the back of her mind and the sight in her one good eye. Chick was about her age, with a rough look and a dark glint to her. It felt familiar. "Sorry to stare, but you look awful familiar. I seen you around this dive before?"

[fatehbaz]

Rattlesnake roundup events in the United States.

The “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup” occurs in Sweetwater, Texas, held annually in the month of March since at least 1958. Texas government agencies estimate that, each year, up to 24,000 pounds or more of rattlesnake will be “harvested.”

[16woodsequ]

101 Aromantic Books Rec List

For this list the goal is fiction books with a main character or significant secondary character that is on the Aromantic spectrum, or non-fiction books about being Aro-spec. Some books will overlap with my Asexual Book rec list.

Junior Novel

1. Hazel's Theory of Evolution by Lisa Jen Bigelow Hazel knows a lot about the world. But even Hazel doesn't have answers for the questions awaiting her as she enters eighth grade. What if no one at her new school gets her, and she doesn't make any friends? What's going to happen to one of her moms, who's pregnant again after having two miscarriages? Why does everything have to change when life was already perfectly fine? Hazel is asexual and aromantic (it isn't said in the book, but it is specified in the author's note at the back of the book).

2. Every Bird A Prince by Jen Reese After she saves the life of a bird prince and becomes their champion, seventh grader Eren Evers must defend a forest kingdom, save her mom, and keep the friendships she holds dear--if she is brave enough to embrace her inner truths. Eren is aromantic.

3. The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen Every time something goes missing from the village, Sir Violet, the local knight, makes his way to the dragon's cave and negotiates the item's return. It's annoying, but at least the dragon is polite. But when the dragon hoards a person, that's a step too far. Sir Violet storms off to the mountainside to escort the baker home, only to find a more complex mystery—a quest that leads him far beyond the cave. Accompanied by the missing baker's wife and the dragon himself, the dutiful village knight embarks on his greatest adventure yet. AroAce main character.

YA Fiction

4. Archivist Wasp by Nicole Kornher-Stace A postapocalyptic ghosthunter escapes her dire fate by joining the ghost of a supersoldier on his quest to the underworld Aromantic asexual main character. Dark fantasy/dystopian.

5. Latchkey by Nicole Kornher-Stace Isabel, once known as Wasp, has become leader of the fearsome upstarts, the teen girl acolytes who are adjusting to a new way of life after the overthrow of the sadistic Catchkeep-priest. They live in an uneasy alliance with the town of Sweetwater—an alliance that will be tested to its limits by the dual threats of ruthless raiders from the Waste and a deadly force from the Before-time that awaits in long-hidden tunnels. Archivist Wasp Sequel. Aro/Ace protag.

6. Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson When her convent is attacked by possessed soldiers, Artemisia defends the Gray Sisters by awakening the revenant bound to a saint's relic, even though she runs the risk of being possessed permanently by the powerful ancient spirit. Non-explicit romantic asexual main character. Fantasy.

7. Not Even Bones by Rebecca Shaeffer Nita's mother hunts monsters and, after Nita dissects and packages them, sells them online, but when Nita follows her conscience to help a live monster escape, she is sold on the black market in his place. Aro/Ace main character

8. When Villains Rise by Rebecca Shaeffer With her best friend, Kovit's, life in danger, Nita is determined to take down the black market once and for all. Latina asexual and aromantic main character.

9. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Henry "Monty" Montague was bred to be a gentleman. His passions for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men, have earned the disapproval of his father. His quest for pleasures and vices have led to one last hedonistic hurrah as Monty, his best friend and crush Percy, and Monty's sister Felicity begin a Grand Tour of Europe. When a reckless decision turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything Monty knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. Aro/ace secondary character (prequel to a Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy).

10. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. A highly loved book in regards to asexual portrayal, Felicity’s journey does a fantastic job of exploring the struggle of navigating a world where marriage is expected of women in order to function in society. Even more refreshing is Felicity isn’t just avoiding getting married out of a sole rebellion against the patriarchy (though those themes are also present), but simply because she doesn’t have an interest in sexual or romantic relationships at all.

11. Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp When Corey moves away from Lost Creek, Alaska, she makes her friend Kyra promise to stay strong during the long, dark winter, and wait for her return. Just days before Corey is to return home to visit, Kyra dies. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she's a stranger. With every hour, Corey's suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets-- but piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter. Aro/Ace main character.

12. Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate Seven students. Seven (deadly) sins. One secret. There is a character who sounds asexual and aromantic and autistic but none of these are ever explicitly named. He seems like a stereotype at first but has his own storyline that's both important plot wise and gives him his own character arc.

13. Not Your Villain by C. B. Lee Bells Broussard thought he had it made when his superpowers manifested early. Being a shapeshifter is awesome. He can change his hair whenever he wants, and if putting on a binder for the day is too much, he's got it covered. But that was before he became the country's most-wanted villain. After discovering a massive cover-up by the Heroes' League of Heroes, Bells and his friends Jess, Emma, and Abby set off on a secret mission to find the Resistance. Aromantic Black secondary character.

14. Not Your Backup by C. B. Lee Part 3 in the Sidekick Squad series by C.B. Lee. Follows a questioning aromantic asexual latinx superhero sidekick fighting to prove her worth on the team despite her lack of superpowers, all admist the team's battle against the corrupt League of Heroes.

15. Fire Becomes Her by Rosiee Thor With only a drop, one can light the night sky with fireworks . . . or burn a building to the ground. The few flare families on top — the so-called “elite” — hoard the magical resource for themselves, and seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis wants her fair share. Main character is demiromantic.

16. Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman Rumi Seto spends a lot of time worrying she doesn’t have the answers to everything. What to eat, where to go, whom to love. But there is one thing she is absolutely sure of—she wants to spend the rest of her life writing music with her younger sister, Lea. Then Lea dies in a car accident, and her mother sends her away to live with her aunt in Hawaii while she deals with her own grief. While not the main focal point of the book, Rumi does grapple throughout the story about where exactly she lands on the ace and aro spectrum—and whether she has to label herself at all.

17. If It Makes You Happy by Claire Kann Winnie is living her best fat girl life and is on her way to the best place on earth. No, not Disneyland–her Granny’s diner, Goldeen’s, in the small town of Misty Haven. While there, she works in her fabulous 50’s inspired uniform, twirling around the diner floor and earning an obscene amount of tips. With her family and ungirlfriend at her side, she has everything she needs for one last perfect summer before starting college in the fall. …until she becomes Misty Haven’s Summer Queen in a highly anticipated matchmaking tradition that she wants absolutely nothing to do with. Aro/ace secondary character.

18. The Trouble With Robots by Michelle Mohrweis Evelyn strives for excellence. Allie couldn't care less. Together, these polar opposites must work together if they have any hope of saving their school's robotics program. Allie is asexual and/or aromantic.

19. Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong In 1931 Shanghai, two Nationalist spies pose as a married couple to investigate a series of brutal murders causing unrest in the city. Rep: demisexual Chinese protagonist, bisexual Chinese protagonist, bisexual Chinese main character, Chinese trans woman main character, aromantic asexual side character; (Chinese-Kiwi author).

20. It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano Yasm Trevi didn't have much of a freshman year thanks to Hurricane Humphrey, but she's ready to take sophomore year by storm. That means mastering the marching side of marching band--fast!--so she can outshine her BFF Sofia as top of the flute section and earn first chair. But Yasm steps off on the wrong foot when she reports an anonymous gossip Instagram account harassing new band members and accidentally gets the entire low brass section suspended from extracurriculars. Rep: Biracial Latina fat asexual-questioning cis female MC, Jewish gray-aromantic gray-asexual male side character with ADHD and APD.

21. An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows When an Australian teenager follows a world walker through a magical portal, she lands herself in the middle of a deadly web of politics and a potential civil war. Saffron’s fate is intertwined with that of many women, and the whole world hangs in the balance. Gwen Vere – allosexual (queer) and aromantic. (source)

22. Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger What if America had monsters, magic, and interdimensional beings? For Elatsoe, this is real, and she has to uncover her cousin's murder! She can do this with the help of her ghost dog, Kirby, but has to remember not to wake human ghosts. Aromantic ace main character. Paranormal mystery. Casual representation which extends to Ellie’s identity as Lipan Apache. This identity is asserted more often and firmly than her asexuality, and Little Badger drops in nuggets of education for us settlers about what Indigenous people, and the Lipan Apache in particular, suffered at the hands of settlers.

23. Loveless by Alice Oseman A queer coming of age story featuring a romance obsessed aromantic asexual main character discovering her sexuality and coming to terms with what that means, and a variety of other queer characters that support her on her journey.

24. Aces Wild A Heist by Amanda DeWitt An all-asexual online friend group attempts to break into a high-stakes gambling club and commit a heist together. Includes a male asexual character navigating what love looks like for him, an aromantic asexual Latinx gender-nonconforming boy, a Vietnamese American and German asexual nonbinary teen, and a black asexual girl. This cast represents a range of ace and aro identities.

25. Tarnished Are the Stars by Rosiee Thor A secret beats inside Anna Thatcher's chest: an illegal clockwork heart. Anna works cog by cog -- donning the moniker Technician -- to supply black market medical technology to the sick and injured, against the Commissioner's tyrannical laws. Determined to earn his father's respect, Nathaniel sets out to capture the Technician. But the more he learns about the outlaw, the more he questions whether his father's elusive affection is worth chasing at all. This YA novel features an aroace character gradually coming to accept his orientation in the midst of everything else that is happening in his life. Perfect for older teens who also enjoy WLW representation and dark themes.

26. Summer of Salt by Katrina Leno While anyone would love to have a bit of magic, what happens when magic turns dark? Georgina Fernweh will come into her magic someday soon. Before she does, Georgina faces a tragedy that tests the islanders' trust. In this book, Georgina’s best friend Vira is aroace, and it’s addressed somewhat in the story at different points. There is a sweet strength between Georgina and Vira, full of loyalty and support that is lovely to see.

27. Hullmetal Girls by Emily Skrutskie Aisha Un-Haad, seventeen, and Key Tanaka, eighteen, have risked everything for new lives as mechanically enhanced soldiers, and when an insurrection forces dark secrets to surface, the fate of humanity is in their hands. In Hullmetal Girls, Aisha is not only ace/aro but she is also happy with her identity. Crucially, so is everyone else.

28. The Trouble by Daria Defore Danny Kim is a college student and the frontman of a Seattle based indie band. He also happens to be aromantic, and completely matter of fact about that aspect of his personality; The Trouble is not a coming out book, which is refreshing. (source)

29. A Promise Broken by Lynn E. O'Connacht/S.L. Dover Cooper Four-year-old Eiryn tries to grieve her mother while her uncle and caretaker, Arèn, fights accusations of her upsetting the world’s balance with a song. Arèn, aromantic and asexual.

30. Birthday Landscapes by E. H. Timms in Queerly Loving Anthology A disabled and aromantic warrior-mage and legend returns home on leave in time to celebrate his twin children’s birthday with his family.

31. Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver The city of Parole is burning. Like Venice slips into the sea, Parole crumbles into fire. The entire population inside has been quarantined and left to die - directly over the open flame. Eye in the Sky, a deadly and merciless police force ensures no one escapes. Ever. All that's keeping Parole alive is faith in the midst of horrors and death, trust in the face of desperation... and their fantastic, terrifying, and beautiful superhuman abilities. Multiple AroAce characters.

32. Sea Foam and Silence by S.L. Dove Cooper Maris has only a month before she turns into sea foam, and she has no voice to help her. Love comes in many form, however, and she is no closer to understanding which will earn her life among friends and family on land. Aro and demi-aro characters.

33. A Harmony of Water and Weald: a Sea Foam and Silence collection by S.L. Dove Cooper A Harmony of Water and Weald is a collection exploring some of Maris's darker moments as she learns what it means to be human and a glimpse at what her life and family is like after the Sea Witch's deadline has passed.

34. Two Dark Moons by Avi Silver Sohmeng Par is sick of being treated like a child. Ever since a tragic accident brought her mountain community’s coming-of-age ritual to a halt, she’s caused nothing but trouble in her impatience to become an adult. But when she finally has the chance to prove herself, she’s thrown from her life in the mountains and into the terror of the jungle below. Aromantic and nonbinary rep are woven through the world and characters seamlessly.

35. We Go Forward by Alison Evans Two sad queer girls roadtrip around Europe (Germany, Austria and a little of Prague) while developing a deep and supportive friendship.

36. A Word and A Bullet by Rachel Sharp When the real apocalypse hits, three zombie-LARPs friends discover their skills may not be enough to get them through the road trip to safer communities in Canada. Asexual, aromantic, and touch-averse major character.

37. Beyond the Black Door by A.M. Strickland Kamai was warned never to open the black door, but she didn't listen. Everyone has a soul. Some are beautiful gardens, others are frightening dungeons. Soulwalkers―like Kamai and her mother―can journey into other people's souls while they sleep. But no matter where Kamai visits, she sees the black door. Demi-romantic main character.

38. Lemon & Salt by Claudie Arseneault Two aromantic singers renegotiate their queerplatonic partnership within through a one-of-a-kind concert. Puns included!

39. Warrior Anthology by E. H. Timms

Twelve writers. Twelve worlds. Twelve warriors. Multiple AroAce character.

40. Nkásht íí by Darcie Little Badger A short story featuring two friends and a paranormal murder mystery. AroAce main character.

41. Haunted Hearts by Amelia Faulkner When Basil and Jon meet over a rumored haunting, they agree to work together. But when the ghost proves itself not only real but also insanely homicidal, Basil and Jon are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, and whatever feelings they might have for one-another have to take a back seat to a desperate fight for their very survival. Queerplatonic, arodemi character.

42. No More Heroes by Michelle Kan The peaceful nights are kept under the clandestine and watchful eye of young, gifted Vigilantes the world over. But a sudden rash of Vigilante deaths heralds the arrival of a new and unfamiliar enemy – one whose motive is as unclear as their identity. Ace and greyromantic.

43. Second Chance by Chelsea M. Cameron When Serena Nolan decides to spend the summer at her cousin’s house and queer café, she doesn’t expect to run into her ex, Fiona … or to discover she’s still very much in love. Demi-ace, demi-aro.

44. The Reckless Kind by Carly Heath It's Norway 1904, and Asta Hedstrom doesn't want to marry her odious betrothed, Nils—even though a domestic future is all her mother believes she's suited for, on account of her single-sided deafness, unconventional appearance, and even stranger notions. Asta would rather spend her life performing in the village theater with her friends and fellow outcasts: her best friend Gunnar Fuglestad and his secret boyfriend, wealthy Erlend Fournier. AceAro.

45. The Last Chronomancer by Reilyn J. Hardy Haunted by the curse that follows his bloodline, it soon becomes apparent to Mae that no matter what you do or how far you run, your past will always catch up to you. The tale of two, cursed for destruction.

One with the strength to kill and the other, the courage to resist. AroAce.

46. Unburied Fables by Rachel Sharp This collection enlisted talent around the world. From students to seasoned professionals, these writers came together to raise awareness and reinvent classic stories. While they showcase a wide variety of origins, styles, and endings, all the tales in this anthology have one classic element in common: a happily ever after. AroAce main character (Match Girl).

47. Any Way the Wind Blows by Carlin Grant Callie lives on the road, trading labor for food and lodging through a farm work-exchange program. She's perfectly content with the life she's created, but it is shaken up when she meets Jo, a mechanic and sister of Callie's latest boss. For the first time, Callie begins reconsidering the choices she's made. But Jo's life is far more complicated than her own and as family tensions rise, they threaten to pull Callie in, and her growing bond with Jo might not be reason enough to stay.

48. epicene: a short story by Ulysses Constance Bougie "Charlie never said a word during English, but they had plenty." An hour in the life of Charlie, a high school student with social anxiety. Over the course of a class period, Charlie considers their anxiety, their desire to express the things they feel, and their very aromantic crush on the beautiful Q.

49. A Murder's Hunt by Danica Taylor Othloh is a city run by criminals. It’s in constant chaos, and no one comes out unscathed. The only law they have is Occisor, a small mercenary group that keeps the fragile peace between the rivaling gangs intact. But when Kestrel Fulani, the newest of the four Crime Lords, begins causing too much trouble, Occisor is hired to remove him from the playing field. Aro heterosexual main character.

50. Loose in the Heel, Tight in the Toe by Valentine Wheeler Prince Heinrich doesn’t want a wife, but as the only heir to the throne he knows he'll need to marry–even though he has no interest in romance or sex. When a mysterious woman at the ball in his honor is completely unimpressed by him, he’s intrigued. Could she be the partner he’s been looking for? And when catastrophe strikes both their families, how can their arrangement hold together? Cinderella retelling.

51. Skybound series by Alex London The people of Uztar have long looked to the sky with hope and wonder. Nothing in their world is more revered than the birds of prey and no one more honored than the falconers who call them to their fists. Brysen strives to be a great falconer--while his twin sister, Kylee, rejects her ancient gifts for the sport and wishes to be free of falconry. She's nearly made it out, too, but a war is rolling toward their home in the Six Villages, and no bird or falconer will be safe.

52. Tower In The Crooked Wood: A Novel Paula Johanson A woman walks across the continent to track down a sorcerer who nightly enslaves random victims, magically transporting them to various work camps to help build his sorcerer's tower. Whenever Jenia, our heroine, is taken, she finds small ways to attempt to sabotage the sorcerer's efforts. In between magical abductions, she walks on, encountering communities so isolated and self-contained that they appear blissfully unaware of the sorcerer setting up shop in the neighbouring wood.

53. This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army. In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible—she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father—their nation’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons. Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries.

Graphic Novels

54. A-Okay by Jarad Greene Eight grade can be tough, especially if you have acne and bullies, and lose friends. But our relatable asexual and aromantic protagonist, Jay, pulls through. This is a relatable memoir with colorful artwork.

55. Jughead, Volume 1 by Chip Zdarsky A comic book reboot of the Archie comics centered around Jughead Jones. Follows an aromantic asexual main character in typical Archie-style shenanigans. Part 1 of a 3 part series.

56. Is Love the Answer? by Uta Isaki A poignant coming-of-age story about a young woman coming into her own as she discovers her identity as aromantic asexual. A complete story in a single volume, from the creator of "Mine-kun is Asexual." When it comes to love, high schooler Chika wonders if she might be an alien. She’s never fallen for or even had a crush on anyone, and she has no desire for physical intimacy. Her friends tell her that she just "hasn't met the one yet," but Chika has doubts... It's only when Chika enters college and meets peers like herself that she realizes there’s a word for what she feels inside.

57. I Want to be a Wall, by Honami Shirono Any love story aficionado will say that the key to a successful couple is intense desire for one another—but what if the characters in question are an asexual woman with a passion for Boys Love stories and a gay man whose heart forever belongs to his oblivious childhood friend? Although romance will never be in the cards for newlyweds Yuriko and Gakurouta, the bond blossoming between them promises to be a wonderful relationship—the likes of which neither has ever experienced before…

General Adult Fiction

58. Common Bonds A Speculative Aromantic Anthology by Claudie Areseneault Common Bonds is an anthology of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. At the heart of this collection are the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. Within this anthology, a cursed seamstress finds comfort in the presence of a witch, teams of demon hunters work with their rival to save one of their own, a peculiar scholar gets attached to those he was meant to study, and queerplatonic shopkeepers guide their pupil as they explore their relationship needs and desires.

59. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata Convenience Store Keiko Furukura. Keiko has never fit in, neither in her family, nor in school, but when at the age of eighteen she begins working at the Hiiromachi branch of "Smile Mart," she finds peace and purpose in her life. Keiko is very happy, but the people close to her, from her family to her coworkers, increasingly pressure her to find a husband, and to start a proper career, prompting her to take desperate action... Aromantic, possibly asexual and autistic.

60. Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde Raymond Jaffe feels like he doesn't belong. Not with his mother's new family. Not as a weekend guest with his father and his father's wife. Not at school, where he's an outcast. After his best friend moves away, Raymond has only two real connections: to the feral cat he's tamed and to a blind ninety-two-year-old woman in his building who's introduced herself with a curious question: Have you seen Luis Velez? Mildred Gutermann, a German Jew who narrowly escaped the Holocaust, has been alone since her caretaker disappeared. She turns to Raymond for help, and as he tries to track Luis down, a deep and unexpected friendship blossoms between the two. Raymond is aroace. And he is depicted as kind, loving, sensitive and realistic.

61. Stake Sauce, Arc 1: The Secret Ingredient Is Love. No, Really by RoAnna Sylver In which: A cute punk-rock vampire and a disabled firefighter-turned-mall-cop with a dark past join forces to battle the forces of evil–vampires that hunt the streets of Portland. Jude, the protagonist, is gay and grey-aro-ace, trans, has PTSD and wears a prothesis, Eva is aro-ace as well, Jasper has migraines, Pixie is chubby, and while we don't know the identities of all the other characters, all of them are queer (or seem to be) and there's a poly relationship in the works.

62. Walking the Wall of Papered Peaces by Penny Stirling in Capricious: The Gender Diverse Pronouns Issue A asexual clockmaker pursues her non-binary plumber fiancé on a quest along a magical wall of origami animals to work out communication issues in their relationship. Ace and demiromantic.

63. The Melankholia Series by A.N. Mouse and Ace Layton Explore the dreamy, decaying world of the Endless City, where human dreams lend strength to the hunters's unique powers, and where human nightmares spawn into terrifying monsters with no warning. Follow the nightmare hunters, ravens, runners and regents of the shadowy underworld as they fight monsters, fate, and each other.

64. Ice Castle: A Queerplatonic Love Story by Katie Fouks Shoveling dirt over slippery patches while dressed as a Christmas fairy isn’t the most glamorous job in the world, but Rachel Forrest doesn’t mind spending another holiday season as “dirt girl” at the Ice Castle ice maze if it means she gets paid. She never expected one such patch of ice to lead her to Cassie Harlan. Cassie is cute and funny and shares Rachel’s aromantic asexual identity. Rachel finds herself drawn to Cassie in a way she’s never experienced, and as her feelings grow, she questions what exactly they are. Does Rachel want to be her friend? Or something else? She’ll have to learn to trust Cassie and herself in order to figure it all out before they lose their chance at anything.

65. Play It Again by Aidan Wayne When Seattle-based blind YouTuber Dovid Rosenstein finds Sam Doyle's Let's Play channel, playitagainsam, he's instantly captivated by the Irish gamer. Everything about Sam is adorable, from his accent to his personality, and Dovid can't get enough of his content. Dovid's glowing shout-out on Don't Look Now, his own successful channel, sends Sam's subscriber numbers skyrocketing overnight. He has more comments than he can read. And while the sudden surge in popularity is anxiety inducing, Sam decides it's only right to dedicate his next episode to Dovid...which soon leads to a heart-pounding exchange of DMs. Aro Ace Jewish side character.

Fantasy

66. Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault When her twin—a powerful witch and prime exocore material—disappears, Claire redoubles in her efforts to investigate. She keeps running into Adèle, however, and whether or not she can save her sister might depend on their conflicted, unstable, but deepening relationship. Baker Thief is the first in a fantasy series meant to reframe romance tropes within non-romantic relationship and centering aromantic characters. Those who love enemies-to-lovers and superheroes should enjoy the story!

67. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door. Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic. Across the dark sea, Tané has trained to be a dragonrider since she was a child, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel. Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep. Aromantic main character.

68. The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia Based on Persian mythology, this is a stunning story of a nonbinary blood magic user who is kept on the outskirts of society. Firuz finds themself a refugee, and gets a job working at a free clinic using their power for good. While working they discover a new disease that threatens to spread across the empire if it isn’t stopped soon. Now Firuz must convince the world to trust the very people they shun to stop the disease and save the world. From the author: it's about an aroace nonbinary refugee healer who is trying to cure a magical plague in their new home while hiding their blood magic.

69. City of Strife by Claudie Arseneault City of Strife is the first installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages. This series has many AroAce characters.

70. The Ice Princess's Fair Illusion by S.L. Dove Cooper To ensure she will never be forced into marriage, Marian pushes back suitors with cold cruelty–under the day her father promises to marry her to the first beggar to come. Edel, who knows well the weight of society’s expectations, ensures she gets the hand, and they must learn to trust and respect each other to survive. AroAce main character.

71. The Necromancer in: Myriad Lands: Volume 2: Beyond the Edge by David R. Stokes A necromancer raises his fellow magician and best friend, a trans man, to give him a second chance at life without the interruptions of dysphoria. AroAce main character.

72. The Faerie Godmother's Apprentice Wore Green by Nicky Kyle The village of Styesville has a dragon problem, but when Dea — a faerie godmother’s apprentice — comes to investigate, she discovers the problem runs much deeper than a simple creature. AroAce main character.

73. Holding Onto Day by E.H. Timms Half a lifetime after the Split, when a world of myth and legend took over the night, grieving aro-ace widower Cal winds up snowed in at a waystation with post-breakup aro-allo Evvi. Proximity and patience draw them closer, both in the day when they are human, and at night, when they become vampire and werewolf.

74. Create My Own Perfection E.H. Timms Emma Stone, medusa, is the groundskeeper for Olson College of Extensive Education, a place where everyone is welcome, from the mythical to the magical. When her selkie best friend loses her skin in Fresher's week, the race is on to find it before someone uses it against her. The search brings Emma face to face with her oldest enemy - and forces her to confront the worst nightmares of her past.

75. Mahou Shonen: Just Say No by Nico H In a world where becoming a "magica" is a phenomenon known to and highly frowned upon by the public, a middle school teacher leading a normal life finds himself involved with Horace Giorno, a young man known as the Prince of Magical Boys, and the brutal, murderous magical girl Pretty Fighter Ribbon Red.

76. Come Drink With Me by Michelle Kan A Dragon, a Phoenix, and an Opera House. Bonds that transcend time, loyalties that defy hardship, and the magic of the places we call Home. (Wherein a Dragon and a Phoenix make their living on earth in an Opera House.)

An Aromantic Chinese Fairytale.

77. The Caelish Order Series by A.J. Barber Ever since her brother murdered four of his closest friends, Alicia Omura has been trying to start over. She changed her name, got a new job, did everything she could to make sure no one ever pegged her as Devon Blaine's sister. Now she's a Hunter for the Caelish Order, protecting Seattle from rogue summoners like her brother, and from their Elaiyu servants. But when Devon himself turns up in the middle of her first big case, he turns everything she thought she knew on its head. His story is outlandish--traitors within the Order, corruption at the highest levels. If he's telling the truth, Alicia has more to worry about than rookie jitters and an inconvenient crush on her partner, Jordan Morrow. AroAce male main character.

Science Fiction

78. Rainbow Lights by Polenth Blake A deep-sea robot tells stories in every colour, but no shade can describe meeting a giant squid. Rainbow Lights is the first collection by science fiction and fantasy author Polenth Blake. Alien scorpions, vampire ice cream sellers and clockwork flies, try to find their place in worlds where being human is optional. AceAro main character.

79. Firebreak by Nicole Kornher-Stace Mal is one of many war survivors in the old town working multiple jobs to scrimp by, one of which is her team's streaming video game play. The team lives with several other roommates in a converted hotel room run by Stellaxis, the company that owns half of town, and is the only legal provider of drinkable water. When Mal catches sight of an elusive SecOps character, special non-player characters (NPCs) modeled after Stellaxis' twelve bioengineered operatives, the team pursues her inside the game to catch her on video for two seconds before their power curfew kicks in. By the time Mal heads down for her daily ration of water, they've secured a lucrative contract, involving an in-person meeting and a conspiracy theory, paying them to capture images of the three living SecOps characters. When Mal returns to find out why the next payment failed, she becomes involved in a fracas that will endanger everyone she knows. Aroace main character.

80. Werecockroach by Polenth Blake As aliens hover above London, three flatmates scuttle across the city to escape. They have more in common with coackroaches than hoarding cardboard and hissing at people, however. The narrator is agender, aromantic, and asexual. Science Fantasy.

81. Faction Paradox: Liberating Earth by Kate Orman and E.H. Timms Just what would happen if a couple of Cousins used our planet as their personal game board? As they create one alternative reality after another, twisting history and reality into knots, only one outcome is sure: whoever wins, the human race loses. AroAce.

82. The Changing of Allison Dutch by Michón Neal This is the first in a trilogy of Allison Dutch's life on earth. Follow along as she comes to terms with vampirism, sexuality, and the outer limits of reality. This book incorporates the realism of human growth and human potential while set in a highly unusual background of sci-fi, fantasy, and sheer horror. What does it take for a person to want to conquer the world? Find out in this coming-of-age story about a girl caught in the intersections of time, reality, sanity, normality. Aro Pansexual.

83. The Dreamhealers Princes Series by M.C.A Hogarth Seersana University is worlds-renowned for its xenopsychology program, producing the Alliance's finest therapists, psychiatric nurses and alien researchers. When Jahir, one of the rare and reclusive Eldritch espers, arrives on campus, he's unprepared for the challenges of a vast and multicultural society... but fortunately, second-year student Vasiht'h is willing to take him under his wing.

84. Novis by Rachel Tonks Hill Novis Colony has a reputation for being cursed. *Something* is killing the colonists, and every single mercenary team that has been sent to protect them. Ros Lamarr is the best mercenary captain in the Commonwealth and even she thinks twice about taking the job. But she's sick of low paid jobs and bored of sitting in a station bar pickling her liver and getting into fights. Breaking the curse on Novis Colony is going to ask more of Ros than any other job she's ever done but if she can do it the rewards will be bigger than even she can imagine. But she can't do it alone. Aro characters. Queerplatonic relationships.

85. Retaking Elysium: a Mars Consortium story by M. Darusha Wehm The woman now calling herself Lisa Marie has spent her whole life trapped by the struggle to make ends meet, and sometimes held hostage by her own memories. On Mars she might finally find financial security, but will she also find something to care about today, and maybe even for the future?

Historical Fiction

86. Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on grand stories about the might and benevolence of the gods. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, her own worth measured by how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear. Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the ancient texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. Kaikeyi is asexual and aromantic. Although the words "asexual" and "aromantic" aren't used in the book.

87. Daughters of Britain by S.M. Carrière 68 ad. The Roman Empire has swallowed most of Europe. There are pockets of resistance...

but nowhere, no one, is safe. Mederei, eldest daughter of the fallen war-queen Boudicca, fled north with her sister to continue the fight for British freedom. But nowhere is safe from Rome. Now she must fight for her life for the amusement of her enemy. Adalbern, a proud Batavian, serving in the Roman auxiliary, lived by their rules. But no one is safe from Rome.His people scattered and his nephew held hostage in Rome itself, he is now nothing more than a glorified prisoner. It's life or death both in the arena and out for Mederei and Adalbern as they try to survive and save their people. Aro Ace side character.

Romance

88. The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off her powers to protect her unborn children. She dreams of becoming a full-fledged Magus and pursuing magic as her calling as men do, but her family has staked everything to equip her for Bargaining Season, when young men and women of means descend upon the city to negotiate the best marriages. The Clayborns are in severe debt, and only she can save them. AroAce coded character.

89. Syncopation by Anna Zabo After a viral confrontation with one of his bandmate, Ray and his fledgling band are in a tight spot, and in need of a new drummer. Enter Zavier Demos–insufferable, sexy, talented… and Ray’s high school crush. Pansexual aromantic character.

90. Dithered Hearts by Verity Chase A gender-confused farmer desperate to reclaim her farm and escape her stepparents’ abuse. A closeted prince more interested in helping his people than finding a bride. A fairy godfather with a ton of secrets and no powers. In this diverse fairy tale, everyone is searching for a happy ending. Aro pansexual character.

Psychological Fiction

91. The Bone People by Keri Hulme Our main character Kerewin Holmes is a mixed race (Maori and White European), asexual and aromantic woman who lives in solitude in New Zealand. She meets Simon, a young boy recently rescued from a shipwreck by his Maori foster father, Joe, and the three quickly come to find comfort and support in one another. (source).

Horror

92. Cold Ennaline by RJ Astruc Ennaline Whitehall has always been faithful. The god’s love is all encompassing, after all. Besides, she hardly had a choice growing up in the church alongside Ro and Ray, the twin sons of Father Piedmont. Now the twins are talking about marriage—all three are reaching the age for betrothal—but Ennaline doesn't feel that way about the boys. She doesn't feel that way about anyone, and who knows what the other faithful will do if they learn of her peculiar coldness? AroAce.

Speculative Fiction

93. Margins and Murmurations Trilogy Otter Lieffe An aromantic trans woman with the ability to move through time return to a highly-militarized city with her lifelong friend, Pinar, to help queer activists, sex workers, and other organizers of the underclass rebel.

94. Power to Yield and Other Stories by Bogi Takács Power to Yield is a collection of speculative tales exploring gender identity, neurodivergence, and religion from author Bogi Takács, who deftly blends sci-fi, fantasy, and weird fiction. ​These are stories about the depth and breadth of the human condition—and beyond—identifying future possibilities of conflict and cooperation, identity and community.

Mystery

95. Same River Twice by Janet Poland When reclusive reporter Miren Lassiter inherits her scientist uncle's riverside cottage, her carefully guarded world is upended. She discovers the body of a local historian hanging from antique gallows in a museum, and soon becomes a suspect in his murder. Mysterious intruders break into her home. When she catches one of them in the act, he is the last person on earth she expects to see. As Miren struggles to get answers from scientists, history buffs, and nosy neighbors, she must face the reasons behind her fear of intimacy and commitment and reach out to others to identify a murderer...before she becomes the next victim. Aro-heterosexual main character.

96. The Courtyard Clairvoyant Mysteries by J.J. Brass Ace Aunt Elise lives in a cozy small-town courtyard with her twenty-something niece Val, a polyamorous pansexual who is currently recovering from an untimely stroke. When Val’s wheelchair is stolen, Elise realizes she’s in a unique position to investigate which of their neighbours played a hand in the theft.

Nonfiction

97. Aro Eros Arrows by Michón Neal This is a fantastic indie book that explores aromanticisim in the context of friendship and polyamory. Aromantic doesn’t mean that there is no love in your life, just that love looks different. Michón Neal also explores aromantic identities in a Black and queer context. A truly empowering and impactful book that breaks down the aromantic identity in such a clear and insightful way. (source)

98. Ace Voices: What It Means to Be Asexual, Aromantic, Demi or Grey-ace by Eris Young How do we experience attraction? What does love mean to us? When did you realise you were ace? This is the ace community in their own words.

99. Ace and Aro Journeys A Guide to Embracing your Asexual or Aromantic Identity by Various Authors What does it mean to be ace or aro? How should I approach the challenges that come with being ace or aro? How can I best support the ace and aro people in my life? Join the The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP) for a deep dive into the process of discovering and embracing your ace and aro identities. Empower yourself to explore the nuances of your identity, find and develop support networks, explore different kinds of partnership, come out to your communities and find real joy within. Combining a rigorous exploration of identity and sexuality models with hundreds of candid and poignant testimonials -- this companion vouches for your personal truth, wherever you lie on the aspec spectrum. You are not invisible! You are among friends.

100. Ace What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex by Angela Chen Angela Chen does a remarkable job exploring asexuality and aromanticism in a modern context. She relates the identity back to how queerness is represented or underrepresented in popular media. By looking at these identities in a large context, we get to learn a lot more about how amazing these identities actually are. An asexual person herself, Angela Chen has such a fantastic narrative voice that keeps the reader engaged.

101. The Invisible Orientation An Introduction to Asexuality by Julie Sondra Decker The perfect book for those struggling with their identity, and for people whose loved ones are asexual or aromantic. It goes into how these identities are treated and are largely ignored. It does a great job of analyzing all this data, as well as pointing out how reception of this identity is changing to being not so invisible anymore. A much more academic text than others in this list, it’s still an easy enough read that you shouldn’t be intimated by the academic language. It’s very much an accessible read.

.

I have not read all this books, but I did my best to ensure the representation of the chracters when I was looking for books for this list. I did my best for genres, but sometimes it was hard to know.

I hope you enjoy this list! Isn't it amazing how many aro books there are out there?!

People who requested being tagged: @snailoutofwhack

[stervrucht]

● AO3 ● My fics ● My art ● Rambling ● Asks ● Previews & Snippets ● Kofi ● Fic Recs ●

Hi, I'm Ster. My creativity only sees the light of moon. Noob writer and coming out of my 10-year art hiatus. ADHD-fueled madness.

🔞MDNI🔞

✨match my clown, and we'll be friends✨

Links to pairing I write for:

Steddie (Stranger Things) | Harringrove (Stranger Things)

Steddie Angsty August [2024]

Eddie Munson Big Bang [2024-2025]

The Graveyard Shift Steddie | Rated E | 17.1K words | Ongoing | Tags: Vampire!Eddie, Hotel clerck!Steve, Horror | AO3 Local rockstar Eddie Munson — enigmatic, mysterious, never photographed in daylight — stays at the Indianapolis Sweetwater Hotel during a gig. Steve Harrington is just a simple guy trying to earn a living working the graveyard shift at a hotel desk.  ● Tag ● Sneak Preview ● Part 1 ●

There's a gap where we meet Harringrove| Rated E | 14.0K words | Ongoing | Tags: Fighting, Violence, Fuckbuddies. Enemies to Lovers, Hurt/Comfort | AO3 Billy and Steve start a fight club that turns into something more.

Ask me about my WIPs and I'll post snippets!

📗Eddie Munson Big Bang - TBA [14K]

🩸The Graveyard Shift - Chapter 5 [ 1.1k]

❓Secret project with @sleepy-steve - Canon divergence Steddie [8.2k]

👊There's a gap where we meet - ch4 [8.2k]

If you're gonna mess me up, don't do it slow | Steddie | Rated M | 3.3K words | Completed Steve POV - Fake dating - Friends to lovers - Sharing a bed - Fluff and humor Eddie and Robin are 'Bearding' and Steve has no idea what that means. The result: a jealous Steve and a healthy dose of kissing your gay friend. ● AO3 ●

Proximity | Steddie | Rated E | 52K words | Completed Eddie POV - Slow burn - Mutual Pining - Sharing a bed - Fluff and angst Eddie enjoys invading people’s personal space, just to mess with them. Steve's complete disregard for boundaries makes him the ultimate challenge. ● Part 1 ● AO3 ●

Drumstick | Steddie | Rated E | 2.8k words | Complete Steve POV - Fluff & smut & humor Eddie is bad at dirty talk and gets a little offended when Steve points it out.. ● Tumblr ● AO3 ●

Encore | Steddie | Rated M | 8.3k words | Complete Steve POV - Bisexual Awakening - Fluff Steve runs an errand for Dustin and has a bisexual awakening at the hands of Eddie Munson. ● Tumblr ● AO3 ●

Grass | Steddie | Rated E | 3K words | Complete Steve POV - Drugs made them do it - Shotgunning When Steve doesn’t go to college, he can stay at his parents’ house under one condition: every week he has to mow the lawn. Eddie has some tips when it comes to grass. And by grass, he means weed, of course. [AO3]

(Un)broken | Harringrove | Rated E | 7.0K words | Complete Billy POV - canon-compliant - Hurt no comfort A canon-compliant study of Billy's obsession with Steve (and some smut). ● AO3 ●

Gravitational | Steddie | Rated M | 1.5K words | Complete Eddie POV - Vampire!Eddie - Bloodsucking - Horror Eddie arrives at Steve's doorstep, drenched in blood, after having been presumed dead for a considerable time. ● Tumblr ● AO3 ●

Ficlets

Last updated: 19th of November, 2024

[amiwritesthings]

do you want to live a normal life with me

johndeanna/rated t for now/mistaken for romance/case fic

John ran a hand over his face as he dragged himself out of the car. Last night’s whiskey churned sickly in his stomach, his mouth paper dry. He fished the pack of cigarettes out of his jacket pocket only to find it empty. He crumpled it up with a muttered curse, then tossed it. Crappy morning to round out an even crappier night. All he had wanted to do was unwind a bit, have a drink, find someone to lose himself in for a little while. But after a couple of shots of bottom-shelf swill and three gentle, almost pitying letdowns from the only ladies around, John had crashed in the backseat, the thought of returning to the motel so shortly after leaving too embarrassing. Might as well write undesirable right across his forehead for all the world to see. 

When he let himself into the motel room, Deanna was sitting at the table, thumbing through the journal. She perked up when she heard him enter, her head turning and her mouth curving into a smile despite how he must have looked. “There’s coffee if you want,” she said, gesturing to a styrofoam cup sitting at the far end of the table. “Dunno if it’s still hot, though.” 

John grunted in reply, dropped a kiss to the top of her head as he passed, and picked up the coffee before sinking down on the edge of one of the beds. He took a sip, and although only warm, the coffee wasn’t half-bad. "Anything new?” he asked and Deanna half-turned in her seat to face him.  

“Jim called. There’s this small town in Montana, mysterious animal attacks every full moon like clockwork.”  

“A wolf?” 

Deanna shrugged. “Looks like, yeah. No word about the hearts missing, though. Might be worth checking out, right?” 

John took another sip of his coffee. Getting out of this shithole sounded good, they had obviously overstayed their welcome here anyway if he couldn’t even get the local barflies to give him the time of day anymore. 

He heaved to his feet with a sigh. “Alright, pack up. I’m gonna get cleaned up, we hit the road after.” 

Deanna spurred into action right away with a “Yes, Sir,” and John made for the bathroom with an approving nod. At least some things never changed. 

:: 

Sweetwater, MT was barely more than a speck of dust on a map. Population 200, and it was always harder to get the job done in towns this small without sticking out like a sore thumb. John glanced outside to where Deanna was leaning against the car, waiting for him to put some money on the pump, her long hair flowing in the breeze, the jean shorts riding low on her hips. 

He grabbed a handful of beef jerky and a candy bar and put it on the counter. “50 on 3 and these.” 

The old guy behind the counter nodded, his gaze flickering outside to Deanna who set to gassing up once the pump clicked.  

“She travelling with you?”  

John nodded curtly as he pulled a couple of bills from his jacket pocket and slapped them on the counter. He wasn’t a stranger to people commenting on or inquiring about Deanna’s presence. Even the boyish hunting attire couldn’t hide anymore that his little girl was all grown up. 

“How did a guy like you score a pretty, young thing like her?”  

John stopped in his tracks, letting his hand linger on the change. It would have been easy to correct him, tell him that’s his daughter. But on second thought, it might be advantageous if the town saw her as nothing more than an accessory, non-threatening, let her fly under the radar. People could get funny about a twenty-two-year-old girl on the road with her father like that.  

And then there was the boost to his bruised ego, someone thinking he could actually get with a girl half his age. 

So he shrugged, and said, “Dumb luck, I guess,” with a self-deprecating smile. They weren’t going to stick around long enough for it to matter anyway. There was a werewolf in town, and they were going to take care of it before the next full moon just a few days away. Pretty open and shut. 

keep reading on ao3

okay, here goes nothing. i have no self-control and this clearly spiralled out of control, so i am posting this first chapter now.

for the prompt "mistaken identity" @dadfuckerfest

[sweetwatertales]

There’s an old leather journal sitting on the ground beneath the tree. It’s old. The pages are yellowed. You can’t help but pick it up.

Property of Alma Sweetwater.

You sit down. You start to read.

Greek Vacation, a m/m romance available RIGHT HERE on at Amazon! Check it out!

Greek Vacation Adjacent, all things that take place in the hypothetical sequel where Nikola goes to visit Ryan at home and hi-jinks ensue

Hitchhike Both Ways; Cal’s a truck driver who picks up Vinnie, local lost dog and goofball, and they maybe fall in love along the way

Wolf Mouthed; a long running serial piece about Bennet and Knox, a little old hunting town, and some cozy mysteries!

Midwest Station; long running serial starring Agent Dupre and Officer Lacos

Schrodinger’s Boyfriend; poly story about a one night stand that leads into a road trip and romance, featuring Cara, Wade, and Ezra

It’s In The Cards; vegas strip magician, Jenson, meets card counting conman, Sloan.

Gold Dagger; retired knight-general, Arham Redstone, is convinced to help lead Lady Amalthia’s armies.

[ivane-embraces-the-weirdness]

We (I) need the characters dynamics between your oc and the sflv characters!!

Your wish is my order (but also my wish!)

Count Alarich: This one might seem obvious, but it’s kinda deep, I promise! I already hinted on the fact that they have a mutually sexual relationship, wich is kinda obvious since she calls him „Al“ and he is the only one who even knows her real name.

They feel drawn to each other because he enjoys her rather casual, spontaneous, „peasant“, unhinged and „free spirited“ lifestyle in contrast to his more stuck up surroundings, while she enjoys him being more of a stable, reliable, rational personality. Although the main foundation– and reason for their friendship is the ability to trust each other.

Since He’s the first person she met after being stranded in the Grotto (I think in vampire years he’s cannonly 42 and she’s in her early 20‘s in Wyrm–years) They started out by him just talking about his life as the headmaster of a boardingschool full of angsty teens and she enjoyed hearing about life outside and vampire culture since the Grotto is boring af, let’s be real!

Part of their conversations is also her learning their local tongue since she’s a german, but does speak Russian (bc her bff is a Russian griffin (who I really neglect, lol)) and since the show plays in Transylvania (I think) and my headcannon is that the count speaks enough Russian to talk about basic things with her and already has a job that requires at least some teaching skills, so it kinda comes naturally. And she (accidentally) taught him some vulgar language (wich is the reason why my version of him curses in every post) at first he tried to rid her of that habbit, but she actually passed it onto him and then he gave up.

Later on, when her business is booming enough for her to obtain the resources to turn humanoid and escape the spell, he even took her outside and showed her around (mainly to teach her practical use of their language, but you could also call it dates) and sometimes to assist him with some chores, once he was convinced that she could handle it. Later on he introduced her to the adults of the maincast as an acquaintance, whenever they needed her help and later on the kids as well.

Their lust towards each other stems from him having something similar to a midlife crisis and her just being horny af 24/7. Though she did tell him early on that she is in an official relationship and that she‘d disclose it to her partner, if they engaged into intercourse.

Lenny: Of the adult cast, Lenny is probably her second best friend and at first even developed a crush on her, wich she turned of as soon as possible, friendzoning him for being „too innocent“ and her being „a flousy“, therefore not wanting him to get tangled up in her messy affairs.

Non the less they are there for each other and developed more of a sibling–bond instead. Especially later, when Ivané introduces him to her kitties and friends from her old life.

Lady Kryptina: At first she found Wyrm pretty sus, since she sensed the tension between her and the count, wich got even worse once she found out what Wyrm actually is and that she had been called „the sweetwater siren“ in the past (wich is also the reason Wyrm disguised herself as an older member of her species at first)

Eventually the whole thing turned into a cat–fight rivalry, wich the count and everyone else caught on to, wich prompted them to give them „some involuntary alone time“, wich started with silent tension, continued with them fighting, mellowed out with them talking and ended with Kryptina finding out that Wyrm might not just be a seductress of men, but can cause gay panic wich manifested in the orgasm of her life and Lenny being the first one to find out. (Bro just wanted to bring them something to drink :,)

They still have a weird, not very close but friendly relationship now and even worked out a little system where Ivané sleeps with someone and then they grade them on their personality and performance, to see if Kryptina is good to make a move. And they gossip… A LOT! But they never cause drama. It’s just them exchanging information on a dual level.

Oxblood: He calls her a Jezebel, she calls him a prude. He started out on the same sus–level as Kryptina, seeing just a young, unmodestly dressed woman, with ill habits (cursing like a sailor), a sleepy personality (her disguises and business instincts) and a rocky, undisclosed, unreal sounding past, paired with the fact that she seduced the count in his eyes to gain either really hot sex, a trophy–fuck or to gain access to his wealth.

It manifests in backhanded comments from him,openly insulting comments from her, sometimes physical fights that have to be interrupted by others and all in all them being petty towards each other. It‘s on hiatus everytime they find a common enemy but generally it’s just a side–rivalry, since Ivané is trying not hurt the counts institution by getting rid of the main teacher and Oxblood tries not to anger the count by getting into drastic measures against her, since he’s smart enough to notice their mutuality.

That’s it for now, folks!

I gotta make a seperate one for the kids (now teens) because this one is already too long!

So stay tuned for part two, I guess!XD

[paperpencilbattery]

Imperial City of Rakodan and it's surrounding areas

Rakodan is an immensely powerful city, it controls all passing trade between the Black(bottom) and Sweetwater(top) seas. It's believed that the city was established before the Nameless Empire.

This map is written in a local script, but it can be translated with an alphabet

[sclariis]

( david corenswet, cis-male, he/him ). welcome to westworld, LEO RONAN. you have been programmed to look like you are THIRTY-TWO years old, and to operate as a BARKEEP in the park. you have a bit of a reputation as the RUNAWAY, and are programmed to be INTELLIGENT and CUNNING, but also MANIPULATIVE and FLIGHTY. sometimes, people say you remind them of AMY MARCH (LITTLE WOMEN), SEBASTIEN LE LIVRE (THE OLD GUARD), and GORDO LIVINGSTONE (GREEN CREEK SERIES). if you had to describe yourself in a few words, it would be "TAKE ME TO THE LAKES WHERE ALL THE POETS WENT TO DIE, I DON’T BELONG. BUT MY BELOVED, NEITHER DO YOU". it is rumoured that you – ARE THE SINGULAR HEIR TO AN OILER’S FORTUNE, BUT RAN AWAY IN THE HOPES OF ESCAPING A TUMULTUOUS FAMILY BACKGROUND. HAVE BEEN HIDING IN SWEETWATER FOR YEARS. we hope you can entertain the guests! 

tw for intro: mentions of abuse, child neglect, and death

Leo was born to people that had no business having kids. His father was a man whose main motivations in life were money and power, and his mother was a vapid socialite who was only concerned with numbing whatever abuse was hurtled towards her with a gin martini and a couple of puffs of grass. They needed a son, and so they had a son... but whatever parental responsibilities that came with it, they've ignored.

By consequence, Leo grew up under the watchful eyes of several nannies, each lasting nothing more than a year before deciding that he was the devil's spawn. A brat seeking attention, too smart for his own good and unafraid to act on it.

They called him their Little Prince, the sole heir to their obscenely large and most definitely unethical oil business. "Blood money is still money, Leo. I advise you don't bite the hand that feeds you." His father would often remind him.

When Leo is twenty, a mine collapses on fourteen workers. His parents cover up the scandal by paying off the media and the local government. At dinner, his father and mother laugh over a suckling pig, shrugging their shoulders at the way that in this business, death is an inevitability.

He's engaged to a wealthy heiress at twenty five. As if it were a sign, another mine collapses. His father smacks him with the back of his hand when he talks back during dinner over another suckling pig, the gaudy ruby on his ring leaving a slice against his cheek... it doesn't sting. All he can think about are the following: He doesn't want to marry, his parents are evil human beings and he was standing on the bodies of men and women seemingly too unimportant for his parents to give a shit. In a savage display, he bites the hand. He bites it as hard as he can till he feels blood on the tip of his tongue.

He leaves that night with nothing but small bag stuffed to the brim with his mother's jewels that he's stolen, two books and the clothes on his back.

The middle is relatively uneventful. He jumps from town to town till he finally lands in Sweetwater. It's too far off the grid for his parents to find him, and its busy enough for him to blend into the walls, easily one of the least interesting things in town.

He knows his parents are still out there. Looking for him... but when that day comes, he'll be prepared. Don't bite the hand. His father had said... little do they know, Leo sharpens his canines just in case the opportunity arises.

[bleedingpeanutbutter]

Love letter to the bass guitar.

In my mind I have a distinct recollection of falling in love with the bass guitar. When I was a kid my parents would take me to the mall every few weeks and I would spend my time in this music store marveling at all the electric guitars. This was the early 90's, hair metal was still a thing so there was all kinds of over the top guitar designs. Not knowing anything about guitars I would walk up to the hanging guitars that I had to look up and see, put my cheek right on the body of the instrument, pluck the strings and feel the vibrations. I remember loving how the vibrations of the "four" string guitars felt. I could not have been more than eleven or twelve at the time. It became my habit when I got to the mall for a while, to go in and play the four string electric guitars that were hanging on the wall with my faced pressed up against them.

I remember asking my parents if I could start with a "four" string guitar and then once I learned that I would graduate to a six string one. I'm not 100% sure they understood what I was asking, "I would even get an amp later" I would say. Just get me a guitar I could call my own. Sadly it was just not in the budget. When I was very little I had taken some piano lessons but it just never stuck with me. At some point I stopped asking and never really thought about it for a few years. But by fourteen I was glued to my Walkman and absorbing any music I could get my hands on. It would be my bike, my Walkman and the Summer sun for days on end while I explored the city to the soundtrack of my choosing. Sometimes with my friends, sometimes solo. Being glued to music would never change the rest of my life.

Late that next year, when I was fifteen the youth pastor (Steve) of the church I grew up in made me an offer. He knew a guy that owned a music store and would give me free bass lessons in the hopes that I would get hooked and become a customer later on and he needed a bass player in the church praise band so I was in a band before I had really even picked up a bass. Steve just said he knew I loved music so much and maybe I should try playing it. I tentatively said ok. I remember almost ditching my first lesson because it all seemed so overwhelming. Sean, the owner of the local music shop patiently taught me the bass. I would go to the practice rooms in the smelly old basement and play bass for a few hours after school everyday. Sean would come down in between helping customers and give me pointers. He was very generous and let me play on any bass I wanted in the store.

I remember my first "gig" playing for the youth group at church. No doubt that I messed up quite a lot but what a rush. It was addictive to be sure. After that I starting learning my favorite songs and growing as a new musician. Eventually I bought my first bass, and old Yamaha with this crazy paint job. It was $275 dollars and I paid it off in three chunks with the money I made working as a dishwasher. To this day I still gig with that bass as my spare, even though it was been completely rebuilt multiple times and I have owned many other basses over the years.

Then I started my first band with some of my friends and played in that band from the age sixteen to twenty two. I got offers to play in other bands and took some of them. In late high school and early college I took loads of music theory classes and ending up studying with Berklee College of music. This took me on an amazing journey of learning audio engineering/production and working at Sweetwater sound, as well as writing music for videos and other artists.

I have had the good fortune of meeting so many wonderful artists and musicians, been able to be a part of creating fulfilling art, all through being a bass player. Some days I reflect on all the different bands I have had the honor of playing in over the years and what a blast it all is. How crazy that what started as one guy needing a bass player in the praise band changed the entire course of my whole life. Changed the friendships I would have had, my education and career. Playing bass has and I'm sure will continue to lead me down all kinds of interesting roads. Maybe I would have found the Bass on my own one day? Who knows.

When I am playing live, I still love feeling that same vibration that I felt in the tiny little music store as a kid. I love being the bridge between the melody and rhythm section and feeling the groove and power of it all. Playing music is a strange thing in its own right as there is always something new to master. Some technique just out of reach that you work for and eventually conquer. A more fulling journey I can not think of. Thanks to everyone who I have met on this path!

[atlantasoccernews-mktg]

Excitement brews as SweetWater Brewing and Atlanta United FC team up, crafting an unmatched matchday experience! Expect the fusion of local craft beer with thrilling soccer action at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This dynamic partnership not only elevates your game-day atmosphere but also brings the community together through exclusive events like the Atlanta United Block Party. Get ready to toast to goals and good times! https://atlantasoccer.news/hops-and-goals-sweetwater-brewing-and-atlanta-united-fc-craft-the-ultimate-matchday-experience/

[kannivalistic]

closed starter for @bookedrevenge where/when: sweetwater, drinking time

There was something about bad beer that just felt comfortable. Maybe it was the fact that even a bad beer was better than some halfway-decent wines, or it was the fact that it still did the job in taking the edge off. Or maybe, not everything had to have a silver lining. Sweetwater's watered-down piss of a tap beer was just a reminder that not everything in life was chocolates and roses. And she'd still take the beer over the roses any afternoon.

Valka liked Book, if for one reason more selfish than the others -- dude was from Boston. Southie, honest sort, salt of the earth, salt on the rim of her beer. Over the years, the blood ties of family meant less and less to her as she lost loved ones, butted heads with the rest, and tried to make a little something more than herself with the Fellowship. But roots in the earth, in a place? Those ran pretty damn deep. And it was like taking a little piece of home to Port Leiry, terra firma.

"Yo, Book," she waved as she saw the other hunter from across the musty taproom. "You should stop by Two Sundays tomorrow, got some beautiful tomahawks in. I'll sell you a couple at wholesale."

[fatehbaz]

Since at least 1958, the “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup” occurs annually in the month of March in Sweetwater, Texas. The event can attract up to 40,000 visitors each year.

Between 1959 and 2013, Texas land management agencies estimate that the roundup at Sweetwater alone has “harvested” 304,588 pounds of rattlesnake.

As an example of the number of snake deaths per year, at the Sweetwater even alone: Previously, the record for the most harvested rattlesnakes at Sweetwater was achieved in 1982, when 18,000 pounds of snakes were “harvested”; however, a new record was set in 2016 when over 24,400 pounds of snakes were “harvested”.

Children are encouraged to participate in the killing, skinning, and cooking of snakes. The carnival-style events include a flea market, longest beard competition, “snake-eating competition for who can consume the most fried rattlesnake in the shortest time”, and a beauty pageant for “local young women” (competing for the title of ”Miss Snake Charmer”).

Sweetwater organizers estimate that between 1,000 and 4,000 pounds of rattlesnake are “butchered” and “skinned” or “cooked” on the spot at the aptly-named “Nolan County Coliseum”.

Many rattlesnakes are collected for the Sweetwater roundup with a process called “gassing” which is legally allowed by Texas land management agencies. The process involves targeting rodent burrows, caves, rock piles, and crevices with a long tube attach to a garden sprayer full of gasoline, which is then pumped underground, where the toxic fumes flush snakes out of their dens. Snakes are targeted during colder months or early spring when snakes are vulnerable, slower, and congregating.

At the roundup in the Oklahoma town of Magnum, an estimated 3,000 pounds of rattlesnake might be killed annually.

For about four decades, the Georgia town of Whigham has hosted a rattlesnake roundup that can attract 10,000 or more visitors (according to local volunteers).

Also occurring in the month of March, the Alabama town of Opp has hosted an annual rattlesnake festival for about 60 years; this event features the killing of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, which are significantly declining in population.

[audiofictionuk]

New Fiction Podcasts - 27th January

Space Train Audio Drama Punch your ticket for a laughter-filled journey that transcends the boundaries of time and space. Space Train is a full-cast audio sitcom for people who like shows like Community, Futurama, Arrested Development, and the Good Place, delivering a unique blend of humor, heart, and interstellar absurdity. Buckle up, because this space-faring ensemble cast is about to take you on the ride of a lifetime! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240124-01 RSS: https://feeds.fireside.fm/spacetrain/rss

Tales of the Crossroads Audio RPG We're just a bunch of friends, sitting around a table, playing The Crossroads Interdimensional Tabletop RPG. We decided to start recording these because we have a lot of fun and to give others a chance to learn about The Crossroads ITRPG. Embark on thrilling adventures across The Crossroads, a realm woven with countless portals to diverse dimensions. In this captivating podcast, dive into the immersive tales spun by various groups using The Crossroads Interdimensional Tabletop RPG system. Join our intrepid adventurers as they navigate this multi-dimensional world, facing challenges, unraveling mysteries, and forging unforgettable bonds. The Tales of the Crossroads promises an exciting journey where exploration knows no bounds. Uncover the secrets, triumph over obstacles, and experience the magic of interconnected stories in every episode. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240122-01 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/tales-of-the-crossroads

EAR CANDY Presents: The Next 5 Minutes Audio Drama It’s 2035… and things aren’t great Downunder. Mass homelessness, pollution ruining beaches, teenagers facing slave labour and everything, including euthanasing the elderly, has been privatised by a corrupt libertarian government in cahoots with Empyrean Industries, a shadowy corporation busy mining the moon. An underground terrorist movement called Swag Sting is mobilising but wracked by infighting. Crowd control measures include giant, deadly robot kangaroos. As our protagonists battle for humanity's essence, we uncover an alarming future that lurks uncomfortably close. THE NEXT 5 MINUTES is not just a podcast—it's a movement, a deep, dark, truthful mirror reflecting a future we must avoid. Every. Second. Counts. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240123-02 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/654d9e4a07e8cd00124881f9

Stop, Drop & Roll Initiative Audio RPG Introducing Stop, Drop & Roll Initiative, an actual-play D&D podcast hosted by wrestler Martin MacAlistair, podcaster and content creator Satsunami, Twitch streamer RoboticBattleToaster, and Chatsunami Podcast co-host Andrew. Elran (Andrew), Morek (Toaster), and Tempest (Satsunami) form an adventuring party after seeing a local guild's wanted ad and set out to fix a broken world. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240123-03 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/f0c1659c/podcast/rss

A Feminist Romance Novel, Podcast! Temptations at Sweetwater Creek Audio Drama What if you were suddenly plunged into the world of a romance novel? Charlotte, April and Polly find out when their car breaks down in Texas during a cross country road trip. After taking refuge at the Sweetwater Creek Ranch Inn, they meet Jack, a brooding cowboy with a rough exterior, Luke, a sexy innkeeper searching for a friend, and Dylan, a mysterious guest who may or may not be a vampire. Driven by a narrator obsessed with romance and happy endings, our three friends are whipped into a frenzy of sex, doubt, and betrayal. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240124-02 RSS: https://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:923516737/sounds.rss

Science Fiction - Hörspiele Audio Drama Bereits heutzutage finden immer weniger Bürgerinnen und Bürger der offenen Gesellschaft zum gemeinsamen Verweilen zusammen. Wie mag sich dies erst in 140 Jahren verhalten, immer vorausgesetzt, dass die den drittnächsten Planeten zur Sonne beglückende Menschheit bis dahin durchhält ohne sich selbst chemisch, bakteriell, atomar oder klimatisch auszulöschen? Fragen über Fragen wie geschaffen für einen utopischen Seelenstriptease-Thriller ... https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240121-03 RSS: https://moderne21.de/science-fiction-hoerspiele.xml

S-O-A-P Audio RPG This is an actual-play podcast for the indie ttrpg Stories of Adventure! https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240120-01 RSS: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2290034.rss

The Cellblock Scorch Writing Contest Audio Book A weekly short-story writing contest among a group of friends that started in 2018 and has continued unstopped since then. In this podcast the members of our group, the Stella Corps, share the winning pieces (aka "scorches") every week https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240123-04 RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/ebb17894/podcast/rss

Modern Gothic Audio Book An anthology of weird stories. https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240124-03 RSS: https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/659d69ceeddc8100174ac30d

Harsh Static: A Fallout Actual Play Audio RPG What was just another day in the Mojave Wasteland gets interrupted by the pounding of metal feet and strange feedback through the radio. Rumors of odd robots and settlements going dark have people outside The Strip on edge, and things only seem to be getting worse when the Brotherhood of Steel is getting involved. Join our intrepid survivors as they brave the dangers of the wastes in search of the truth, encountering mechanical menaces along the way. Will they make their mark and conquer the day, or end up as another lyric in a sad old song? https://audiofiction.co.uk/show.php?id=20240116-04 RSS: https://feeds.castos.com/63ovm

[brewyork]

A-B to sell off Blue Point to owner of Montauk Brewing Co.

A blockbuster deal in beer this week that involves Anheuser-Busch selling off some of its craft beer assets will have local implications here in New York. Blue Point Brewing in Patchogue is among eight brands that A-B will sell to Tilray Brands, a Canadian cannabis company that has been growing its craft beverage portfolio since first acquiring Georgia-based SweetWater Brewery in 2020. Tilray more recently acquired Montauk Brewing Co. late last year.

A-B is selling eight brands in full: Blue Point, 10 Barrel, Red Hook, Widmer, Breckenridge, and Shock Top in the beer space, plus Square Mile Cider and HiBall Energy. The all-cash deal is expected to close at the end of the year, and indications are that the brands sold for an estimated $85 million.

In New York, the deal essentially merges Long Island’s two biggest beer brands. The transaction will include Blue Point’s production space and taproom in Patchogue, opening up the opportunity for consolidating production of Montauk’s core brands in-house (most are currently contract brewed). There are other regional synergies in the broader deal, with four Pacific Northwest brands all coming into Tilray’s portfolio, and the acquisition of Breckenridge Brewery aligning with the company’s existing ownership of Breckenridge Distilling.

Tilray has been investing heavily in Montauk this year following acquiring the brand, expanding their distribution footprint across several markets, including Upstate New York and most recently eastern Pennsylvania last week. Time will tell if similar investments will be made in Blue Point, or any of the newly-acquired brands.

[yostresswritinggirl]

Lmao in school we're going to dance jumbo hotdog, spaghetti pabaha and pataas, and etc. It's needed to pass in tourism course, we need to do table napkin foldings (the one you can see in hotels you know) while entertaining the watchers by dancing. Our group chose those Filipino songs you know like otso otso. 😭 Lmaoo.

Okay but imagine The Akademiya having this requirement to graduate. Every courses there need every student to dance while saying plants (for Amurta), Languages (Haravatat) and many more. I can just imagine Kaveh's face watching Al- Haitham dance while saying languages or Tighnari trying to twerk same goes to Cyno but he didn't do it. 💀

You have to what? For tourism?! I've done HRM subjects before but why do you need to dance while doing napkin foldings hahahaha Good luck on your otso otso tho! I guess uhh you need to learn one local song for tourists lmao

I think what I'm imagining is actually those silly stupid group assignments back in high school where teachers force you to make a song or jingle about a topic relevant to the subject, with stupid results. (I remember back in high school we have to make a song about waves for science)

"I have sweetwater! I have a mushroom! Uh! Sweetwater mushrooms can cause hallucinations-"

*buries face in hands* I hate you for planting this into my head