#objectively it doesn’t even deserve 5 stars

[cowboylikeyouu]

saw dp&w in theaters for the 5th time and i‘m literally this close 🤏🏼 to putting it in my letterboxd top 4

[satorugojjo]

I don’t think there’s a single book BookTok has promoted in the last couple years that’s turned out to be an actually good “you cannot miss this read” which now makes me and so many others I know avoid it as a whole.

A lot of BookTok books seem to be specific for very young or very new readers who haven’t cut their teeth on fanfic or haven’t been reading from a young age. The writing style is either a really profound Instagram metaphorical caption kinda overwrought and over flowery language, or it’s trying so hard to be edgy and sardonic and ends up being completely tell and almost zero show. This Is How You Lose The Time War is a PERFECT example of this - where the flowery and poetic language actually takes AWAY from a scene and distracts you from it rather than adding anything to it in the moment, and for those who do like poetic fiction this will be up their alley but if you don’t and you pick it up because of badly marketed hype when you normally wouldn’t, it’s gonna turn you off reading in general!

There’s nothing wrong with starter fiction to help get readers engaged and then find their way into actually good books, but my gripe is that it’s never ever marketed as that and as if it it’s just generically good fiction. Nothing Colleen Hoover has ever written is objectively good - the writing style is mediocre and she romanticises taboo topics which will seem spicy to the average population who doesn’t READ. And yet she takes up every bookshelf which I promise you will end up turning many readers who ARENT on booktok away from reading altogether.

YA is another genre that has declined a lot in recent years because it’s full of marketers trying to fit all the buzzword tropes into their books and getting young readers to buy it because it’s “enemies to lovers pirate cyberpunk found family” or whatever - and it feels more like focus group fiction rather than actual writing. I LOVE YA but nothing that’s been released post 2020 has had any depth, plot, character development or any style to it.

A great example is Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - i tried reading 2 chapters as a sample and it was shocking to see how illogical, overdramatic, overedgy and exceptionally “this happened then this then this then that” it was. There was absolutely zero nuance and it felt so “I’m telling you all this but I’m not gonna prove any of it”. And yet it’s rated either 5 stars or 1 star. I’m sure it’s a great starter middle grade/teen book but it is definitely not deserving to be on the same pedestal as other YA books like Hunger Games or Six of Crows. I used to think that perhaps I’ve just outgrown YA but considering I can pick up YA from 2018 that I haven’t read before with no problems, it’s so specific to BOOKTOK YA.

It’s getting to the point that if I see a book that’s being overpromoted on tiktok, I’m more likely to believe the bad reviews because there hasn’t been a SINGLE book where I’ve disagreed with them, and then go find a different book in the same genre that hasn’t been on booktok - it’s getting hilarious actually that the books that are actually incredible get zero screen time and traction on booktok because they aren’t just cheap easy airport reads. Once again - nothing wrong with an easy airport CH book or YA book, but we aren’t going around parading a Lee Child book as peak literature no matter how enjoyable they are.

I don’t even have a conclusion to this entire rant - I’m sick of books like Babel getting steamrolled because it was “too sad or too hard” in favour of the latest SJM book, and getting even more sick of the decline of media literacy due to books getting easier and more spoonfeedy. When they aren’t? They mistake flowery metaphors for complexity and depth.

[danpuff-ao3]

Snarry-a-Thon 2022

Snarry-a-Thon is an annual fest of Snarry goodness that always brings so much creativity and joy in the Snarry community. I am forever blown away by how much talent and passion Snarry-lovers have. With that in mind, I wanted to create some special recs for a fest near and dear to my heart.

With that, here are my Top 5 picks for the 2022 fest! But first...

Disclaimer: my rec lists are created based on my personal experiences and preferences. There are plenty of other stories and authors who are quite good and deserve just as much love. This is not meant to be an objective “best of the best” list, but the subjective opinion of a longtime reader and fangirl.

Foundations (or, Where Do We Go From Here?)

by avioleta (@avioleta). Rated: E. Words: 17,788. First time. Hogwarts 8th year. Jealousy. Angst with a happy ending.

After the war, Severus retreats to the solitude of his dungeons. There are potions to brew, repair work to be done, and lessons to plan. But then Harry Potter begins turning up at all hours, wanting little more—it seems—than to irritate Severus. Severus doesn’t know what Potter wants. But he doesn’t know what he wants, either. From the original prompt: Severus knows it’s not love or even affection that brings Harry Potter to his rooms at night.

The Potter Phenomenon

by ines_iz. Rated: E. Words: 31,548. Romance. Internalized homophobia. Angst. Eventual fluff. Idiots in love. Professor Harry Potter. Pining. Jealousy. Coming out.

When Harry Potter, queer star of the Wizarding World, returns to Hogwarts as the new Defence professor, Severus Snape is not happy. In fact, he is positively outraged. Not only does Severus have to endure the man's obnoxious behaviour (not to mention his ridiculous sense of fashion), but he also ends up being dragged into Potter's attention-seeking plans — and, ultimately, is forced to face a few demons of his own. Or: Harry Potter Goes Gay (and the entirety of Hogwarts Goes Gay with him)

A Trick of the Mind

by PinaNaponi (@vulnerasanenturmyprince). Rated: E. Words: 40,585. UST. Postwar. Scars. Pining. Legilimency. Brief Harry/Ginny.

Ever since the horcrux in his head is gone, Legilimency comes easy to Harry. It’s nearly laughable how easy it is, considering how much he used to struggle with it back in his fifth year. But he reckons half of that had been Snape’s fault anyway. Who on earth would enjoy the nasty git invading their mind? But as life as Harry has known it changes, Harry’s opinion on the matter changes with it ― rather drastically so if he’s being perfectly honest.

With Aloha

by silvereye5 (@silvereye5). Rated: E. Words: 26,793. Fluff. Drinking.

Severus and Harry are booked on the same gay singles cruise.

No Defence Against the Dark

by zalil. Rated: E. Words: 1,732. Established relationship. Demonic possession. Body modification.

After handling his DADA material, Harry might have changed a bit lately. Severus doesn’t approve. Or does he?

Bonus: Shameless Self-Rec

Listen...it's okay to celebrate oneself, too, okay?

Contempt

by danpuff. Rated: E. Words: 20,400. Enemies to Lovers. Virginity loss. Cheating. Love/Hate. Harry/Ginny. POV Harry Potter.

Harry hates Snape, and he always will. (He will, won’t he?) Playlist | Podfic

Snarry-a-Thon 2022 Masterlist

[scratchybongvt]

MASCOTS SPELLING BEE! (Sidemascots 1.10)

Starring…

THE SIDEMASCOTS!

Vinicius: Season 1! But first…

THE POLL RESULTS!

Sumi: After 24 grueling hours of voting, we recieved…

Vinicius: 5 votes!

Sumi: I was going to say 50,000 votes…

Vinicius: Stop multiplying votes for no reason!

(The candidates laughed.)

Sumi: Anyway, light up your firework! If it’s red, you’re dropped! If it’s green, you’re PICKED! It’s like a gender reveal Miga always want to do.

Vinicius: Ettie, you are…

(@crackheadfromsainsburys runs towards Ettie and hit her Phrygian cap with a baseball bat)

Crackhead: UNSELECTED!

Sumi: What?

Vinicius: Well we could have say she’s selected, but instead…

(Lights up Ettie’s firework, which reveals to be red)

Vinicius: She’s DROPPED!

Crackhead: JUSTICE!

Sumi: Ahem, Tazuni, you are…

(Tazuni lights up her firework, which is also red)

Sumi: DROPPED!

Tazuni: Us women’s World Cup mascots never get the respect we deserve mate…

Borobi: I still love you mate!

Vinicius: That Asian Unicorn (I don’t know why the locals call him that), you are…

(Saola’s firework is obviously red)

Vinicius: DROPPED!

Sumi: Just like Vietnam in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Saola: SO IS CHINA!

Sumi: Fair point. Clyde, you are…

Clyde: Dropped, surprise, surprise… Us scots never get the respect we deserve…

Vinicius: Oh, uh… you’re right.

Sumi: Which means only La’eeb and Mandeville is remaining!

Vinicius: How about you two light up your fireworks at the same time?

(La’eeb and Mandeville stared menacingly, then lighted up their respective fireworks, which reveals one red and one green)

Sumi: Ooh… pretty.

Vinicius: Who got green?!

Mandeville: CHECK VAR, CHECK VAR!

OC IV: VAR review in progress…

La’eeb: Don’t worry, I’ve paid…

OC IV: Check complete! Mandeville is picked!

Mandeville: YES! SEE YOU AROUND, SOMEITY!

OC IV: Sorry La’eeb, you can’t bribe video assistant referees.

La’eeb: BULLSHIT!

Sumi: Uhhh, what episode are we doing?

Vinicius: Oh yeah, I almost forgot…

Mascot Spelling Bee!

With your host… Coal!

Coal: Right, rules are simple… spell a word, get a point! The mascot with the most points gets an Amazon gift card!

Wenlock: BOOOOOOOOOORING!

Coal: The mascot with the least points gets KICKED OUT THE SHOW!

Sumi: Most of them don’t have English as their first language, so if an event multiple people gets zeros, who will get eliminated?

Coal: Then we’ll do what the World Cup organizers do whenever there’s an unbreakable tie… a drawing of lots!

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOH!

Burke: I’m stealing a four leaf clover!

Vinicius: Not so fast!

(Everyone races to get their lucky charm)

Coal: Oh…

[Technical difficulties]

Vinicius

Coal: Vinicius, your word is… Phrygian Cap!

Vinicius: Phrygian cap?!

Coal: Do I need to read the definition?

Vinicius: Go on.

Coal: A wearable object on their head, formerly used by the French to show off their liberty.

Vinicius: That doesn’t help!

(Everyone laughed)

Vinicius: Alright, here I go… F…

(Coal presses the buzzer)

Vinicius: WHAT?! It has an F sound!

Coal: It’s P-H-R-Y-G-I-A-N, cap.

(Everyone laughed)

Sumi: Come on, I know what a Phrygian cap is, it’s the one Marianne wears in this painting!

Vinicius: I don’t remember Marianne wearing bras.

Sumi: No, I drew it myself. I don’t want this video to be demonetized.

(Everyone laughed)

Coal: Zero!

Sumi

Coal: Sumi, your word is… Inuksuk!

Sumi: Inuksuk?! I’m from BC! Watch and learn! I-n-u-k-s-u-k!

Coal: Correct, wow…

Sumi: Or i-n-u-k-s-h-u-k!

Coal: Also correct! Wow…

Burke: So much for someone indigenous…

Borobi: I’m indigenous too mate!

Coal: Next one, Miga is blind, apologize to her now or Mukmuk will smash you!

Sumi: it’s not a word, it’s a sentence!

Coal: Exactly! Ever since Sidemascots 1.1 you did not apologize to her for forcing her to watch your shit YouTube videos! And now it’s 1.10!

Burke: 1.1 and 1.10 is the same value.

Vinicius: Hey! We hate maths!

(Generously illustrated by @lettucecookiebrainrot7. If you want to illustrate one segment, a whole episode even, of the Sidemascots, DM me!)

(Mukmuk holds a miniature rifle)

Sumi: Woah oh… AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Coal: Classic. One point!

Burke

Coal: First one, Cristiano Ronaldo!

Burke: Are you trying to piss me off? C-r-i-s-t-i-a-n-o R-o-n-a-l-d-o.

Coal: How about Brisbane Roar?

Burke: B-r-i-s-b-a-n-e R-o-a-r.

Borobi: Shit, he got over that FC25 game I’ve played with him.

Coal: How about the Atlanta Falcons?

Burke: I QUIT!

Coal: You can’t quit!

Burke: I can and I just did. COLLEGE FOOTBALL GALORE!

Coal: Two points.

Miraitowa

Coal: Miraitowa, Spell Dotonburi.

Miraitowa: In Japanese characters or romanized?

Coal: Romanized. I don’t read manga.

(Everyone laughed)

Miraitowa: D-o-t-o-n-b-u-r-i.

Coal: Correct! Next one, ahem, pronounce Aokigahara.

Burke: Come on, it’s so obvious!

Miraitowa: There is no way I’m doing something that is linked with a canceled YouTuber!

Burke: Me?

Wenlock: No, Logan Paul.

Miraitowa: I’ll take one point. That’s better than none.

Vinicius: Shit.

Wenlock

Coal: Wenlock, spell Llanfair.

Wenlock: L-l-a-n-f-a-i-r-p-w-l-l-g-w-n-g-w-l-l… oh my, it’s been a long time since I have a trip to Wales…

Coal: Fail!

Wenlock: Knew it.

Coal: Zero points!

Vinicius: Come on four-leaf clover… do your thing.

Mandeville

Coal: Welcome to the Sidemascots Mandeville!

Mandeville: Hope I won’t be as pissed as Wenlock…

Coal: Llanfair.

Mandeville: I QUIT!

Vinicius: Oh no, I think we’ll potentially have one Sidemascots member who got hired and fired on THE SAME DAY.

Wenlock: It’s like an average Premier League manager!

(Everyone laughed)

Coal: Zero.

Borobi

Coal: Borobi, your word is… Yugambeh!

Borobi: Definition please mate?

Coal: Definition: an Aboriginal Australian people of Southeast Queensland and the Northern rivers of New South Wales.

Borobi: Well according to MY dictionary, it’s an Aboriginal Aussie people who’s at the verge of extinction until Borobi saves them.

Coal: Disqualified for using the dictionary!

Everyone: BOROBI!

Borobi: Oh… sorry mate.

Coal: Zero points.

Sumi: Another name in the pot.

Tina

Coal: Tina, your word is… Manchester!

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOH!

Tina: Manchester? M-a-n-c-h-e-s-t-e-r!

Vinicius: Shit.

Coal: How about the great city of Istanbul?

Tina: I-s-t-a-n-b-u-l.

Sumi: Double shit!

Coal: How about…

Tina: Madrid?

Coal: No, Lakaka.

Tina: I QUIT!

(Everyone laughed)

Vinicius: Wait a minute, Tina, how do you get over that Istanbul PTSD?

Tina: We tied against Manchester City away from home in this season’s Champions League!

Vinicius and Sumi: Ohhhhhhh…

Sumi: Shit.

Vinicius: What about Lakaka?

Tina: Lakaka? (spits) Belgian B**ch!

Wenlock: To be honest, she isn’t the first one to be mad at Lakaka…

(Everyone laughed)

Coal: Two points.

Honohon

Coal: Whoever you are…

Honohon: Whoever I am?! Asian Games mascots are the most underrated type of mascots in the world!

(Everyone laughed)

Coal: Your word is… Mashle!

Honohon: Mashle?!

Coal: It’s a mix of One Punch Man and Harry Potter, plus a legit theme song!

Honohon: Now singing Bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-born!

Coal: What?

Honohon and Miraitowa: Bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-born!

Coal: Stop!

Honohon and Miraitowa: Bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-born! To the next, to the 1番上!

Coal: Fail!

Honohon: What?!

Coal: It’s M-a-s-h-l-e. Not Bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-bling-bang-bang-born!

Honohon: Shit.

Miraitowa: Don’t worry, this game is corrupt on purpose.

Someity: What has Mirai become…

Coal: Zero!

Someity

Someity: Am I allowed to choke anyone in this studio?

Vinicius: No.

Someity: Why not? I want to choke Miraitowa.

Miraitowa: Hey! We’re still friends!

Coal: Your word is… Meat lover!

Someity: I quit!

(Everyone laughed)

Sumi: Vegans!

(Someity breaks Sumi’s neck with her telekinesis)

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOH!

Miraitowa: Too far-

(Someity breaks Mirai’s neck too)

Honohon: Are you okay, Mirai?!

Miraitowa: someone… call me… an ambulance…

Someity: YOU’RE AN AMBULANCE!

Everyone: OOOOOOOOOH!

Sumi: Mirasome fell off quickly.

Coal: Zero!

The final scores

Coal: Burke and Tina gets one Amazon gift card each!

Tina: I’m sorry- I don’t shop online, I only go to my favorite club’s merchandise store.

Burke: Me too!

Coal: Oh. Vinicius, Wenlock, Mandeville, Honohon, Borobi, and Someity all have zero!

Burke: Wenlock, Mandeville and Borobi failed despite English is their first language? Losers!

Mandeville: Hey, we got sabotaged!

Wenlock: Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…

Borobi: And I pulled out a dictionary!

Coal: Which means it’s time for a drawing of lots! 6 balls in the bowl…

Mandeville: I counted and it’s 7.

Coal: Oh, 7 pots in the bowl. (Picks up one at random then opens it) The person who will get kicked out the Sidemascots is…

(Vinicius, Wenlock, Mandeville, Honohon, Borobi, and Someity crossed their fingers)

Coal: Coal!

Vinicius, Wenlock, Mandeville, Honohon, Borobi, and Someity: COAL?!

Wenlock: That’s you!

Coal: Oh really?

Vinicius, Wenlock, Mandeville, Honohon, Borobi, and Someity: REALLY!

Vinicius: Imagine being so stupid you forgot your name.

(Everyone laughed)

Borobi: Wait a minute, who put Coal’s name in the pot mate?

OC IV: Me!

Everyone: WHAT?!

OC IV: I don’t want to start another sh*t poll. Everyone are safe!

Everyone: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

OC IV: Coal, on Sidemascots’ behalf, you’re banned for the rest of the season!

Coal: Why?!

OC IV: You said “mascots recover from worse injuries”, but since then Powder and the Phryges didn’t revive! And Miga hasn’t recovered from her visual impairment!

Coal: Who are the Phryges?

OC IV: Oh. You heard nothing. (backs out)

Coal: Oh.

OC IV: Try to overturn this ban you coyote b**ch! Just so you know, we have lawyers from Manchester.

Coal: oh, bugger…

THE SIDEMASCOTS!

Vinicius: Season 1!

Sumi: Hit like, share, repost, follow, rinse and repeat!

Vinicius: If you like this and have any ridiculous ideas, email us by clicking the “Sidemascots suggestions” button on this profile’s bio NOW!

Sumi: Make sure to also check out the Zoubidians vs. the Azizans, @sashley1912’s brand new cash-in!

Vinicius: Next episode? WHO CARES!

Sumi: Set the like and subscribe buttons to cook…

Vinicius: What?

Everyone: OR YOU’RE IN THE HOOK!

(lights dim)

Vinicius: That phrase AGAIN?

Sumi: What’s wrong?

Vinicius: It’s… *sigh* never mind…

Tom: HEY, WAIT FOR M-

[martianbugsbunny]

MartianBugsBunny Reviews: The Music of Wish

I'v been working on this for the past week or so and I have now seen the movie...eight times I think? Four on one Sunday and four on the next lmao

Let’s get the basics out of the way first! Overall, a lot of these songs were mediocre but probably would’ve been things I’d sing in the shower ad nauseam if it weren’t for one or two really horrible lines. That’s kind of the overall theme of the music from Wish, to be honest. I liked the music/tunes of most of these, though. I also noticed that the lyrics have this weird dichotomy of “let’s rhyme these things even if it doesn’t make sense” and “let’s just not care about the rhymes,” both of which were kind of off-putting to me.

I think the voices they got to sing this stuff were MEGA wasted. Ariana DeBose has the most heavenly voice; her higher register has a gorgeous sound. Chris Pine is better at singing than I would've expected. Both of them are good at those subtle shifts in pitch (I think it's called melisma? but don't quote me on that) that I can and will go nuts over. They deserved better material to work with. Now onto the specifics! I’m gonna rank each song out of ten (totally arbitrary lol) and ramble about why for a while. It's not too long, so if you have a little time on yours hands, read on and enjoy!

Welcome To Rosas 5/10 Not bad. It terms of tune, it has some decent flavor, but the lyrics are pretty forgettable. I think using a song to set up the concepts that they did was a good idea, like the first song in Encanto, but I just don't like it much. I think part of that is the informal tone??? like when Asha says "so like, we have this king" or "I'm totally kidding" or "oh hey, did I mention," that kinda gets on my nerves. and yes, I'm well aware that's a little hypocritical bc The Family Madrigal did some of the same things, but WTR isn't super strong to begin with so I instantly become more annoyed at the little details. Also, Asha's literally being a tour guide for the kingdom and that's not professional imo.

At All Costs …… I’m not scoring this one. I don’t know how to. I’m addicted to the chorus, that’s the first thing I’ll say; I watched Wish four times on the first day I watched it, and that was the first part I started singing along with. The harmonies get into my gut. But honestly, in terms of context, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The lyrics sound like they should be directed at a person, not inanimate objects, which takes me out of the moment when I’m watching the movie. Some parts are a little clumsy, but if I’m viewing it as a love song it’s stunning, and DeBose and Pine's voices are heavenly together. I will say that subjectively, it's my favorite song in the soundtrack, I fell for it so hard and fast. <3

This Wish 7/10 In terms of Disney “I Want” songs this is at the bottom of the rankings, let’s be real. I like the sound of it, especially the non-syllabic vocalizations at the end of the chorus, but a lot of the lyrics just do not hit. Now, I will say that I saw a lot of people ragging on “to have something more for us than this,” and that’s actually one of my favorite parts of the song. It captures that feeling of longing for more without knowing exactly what that means or how to phrase it out loud so neatly. On the other hand, I definitely agree with the critiques of “throwing caution to every warning sign,” that’s one of my least favorite lyrics in the whole movie.

You’re A Star 6/10 Oddly, this one was less horrible than I expected. It delivered absolutely nothing, don’t get me wrong. It tried to tackle the idea of people and stars being made out of the same stuff and basically living as different notes in the same symphony and failed spectacularly. The big question “have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers?” was one of my favorite lyrics in the entire soundtrack and there was NO payoff. (Plus, if I mixed up “elegant” and “eloquent” in a multi-million dollar movie I would never be able to look myself in the face again.) The entire second half of the song was pure lyrical garbage. But I like the tune and the animals are pretty cute, and despite being relatively hollow I found myself enjoying this one.

This Is The Thanks I Get 7/10 I’ve already said this but I’m gonna repeat myself: tonally this song was all wrong. 0/10 for that if I’m being perfectly honest. Something more along the lines of Hellfire or Be Prepared would’ve hit a lot harder—more sinister, more in line with the descent-into-madness thing that was occurring in the plot, would’ve improved this section of the soundtrack SO MUCH. With that complaint out of the way, the song we got was fine. Some of the lines were either poorly-written or repetitive, but as a whole I kind of enjoy it and would definitely dance around amateurishly in my room to it. It’s just too silly.

Knowing What We Know Now 1/10 This was my least favorite song in the entire movie. I just hate it. The lyrics are so sloppy.

This Wish (Reprise) 7/10 Honestly I think I liked this part better than the original song. Asha starting by herself and gradually being joined by her friends and the entire city was incredibly moving, and I might go so far as to say that this was the most powerful moment of the movie. I also enjoyed the twists on the original lyrics, particularly “we’re past dipping our toes in, we know it’s do or die, it’s sink or swim.” That part just felt really well done.

[everyandany]

Noise: Unsatisfied Perplexity

...I’m at a loss here.

Initially, the moment the credits of the movie rolled, I sat in front of my computer wanting nothing more than to unload everything I had witnessed, so I didn’t have to carry this thing any longer than it was worth. It honestly felt like a burden, a far cry from my most basic expectations.

But, of course, I got curious. What if I was wrong? What if I was the only one seeing this in such a dark light? I could be missing something. I’m not an expert, after all.

So, I got looking and now... I’m confused as to what to make of the film.

Noise, a Belgian 2023 Netflix film, directed by Steffen Geypen, starring  Ward Kerremans and  Sallie Harmsen (among others), is a film that seems to have projected its perplexity onto the audience. From the very brief search I conducted, I found reviews of this film that did not, at all, help me form an objective opinion about it.

To give you an idea of the dilemma, I’ll give you a few examples of what I found. 

Decider makes a lot of positive comments on the film, refraining from giving it too much value, but still suggesting that it’s a good film that you should “STREAM IT”. Admittedly, there are a few downsides mentioned, but they are brushed off like a fly off a pastry.

Heaven of Horror paints the film a bit more positively, yet thankfully still makes sure to point out that it had its flaws. The statement, “ The small cast –  along with the key supporting characters – makes the story work in a very organic way. It’s believable and comes across as a small slice of a few people’s lives. “ is a bit too positive in my opinion, after watching the film, that is. Another encouragement to watch the movie. 

Leisure Byte also commented positively on the movie, having only good things to say about it, while keeping the review spoiler-free.  By this point, I was beginning to think I actually had missed something. If it was such a good work, even though not one of the greats, then it didn’t deserve the harsh judgement I was about to give it.

Then came Rotten Tomatoes. Giving the film a 20% rating... Which isn’t the worse I’ve seen out there, of course, but that doesn’t make it a good film either. It’s quite a distance from the base (50%).

And then there was Midgard Times, who had a few positive comments to share but gave most emphasis on the significant negatives of the movie.

It’s safe to say, I found myself agreeing more with Midgard Times than anyone else. Despite not having the same palpable emotions I had before reading those reviews, I still found Midgard Times expressing the key factors of my own displeasure from the film.

The movie is about a man slowly losing his sanity, pressured by past trauma, his current stressful life of raising a baby and his work as a 24/7 popular influencer. It is pretty clear. The problem is, this clarity never truly appears to the audience till the last 5 minutes of the film. The rest 85 minutes are spent in confusion and mild annoyance. Those were the emotions painting mine and my family’s faces 30 minutes before midnight, when the credits began to roll. Not that our expressions were much different during the film either.

The issue with this film is that it mixes too many things together and hopes that by the end of it, everything will make sense. Takes one too many loose ends and tries to tie them up in a complicated and intriguing way, only to end up with a ball of different colored yarns, unfit for making a cohesive sweater. The true story, a man’s descend into madness, is lost to us because there are so many other things thrown into the mix that we lose sight of the main event. The protagonist, throughout the film, becomes obsessed with solving the dark mystery surrounding his father’s old factory and exposing its “shocking secrets”. It is the main reason for his mental struggle, along with his intolerance to sound. So much emphasis is given on this investigation, that we are made to believe this is the main plot and not the guy going mad. But, it’s actually the other way around, and when the end finally comes and we are left to our thoughts and disappointment, the investigation hasn’t even been completed! Mathias, the protagonist, has been discovering new evidence about the factory’s dark secret in very random points of the movie, confusing the audience even more because we are never shown how he reached to that conclusion. So, the investigation is pretty much left unfinished, not that it made any sense to begin with.

The “shocking secrets” the factory was supposed to be holding in its rotting walls are never truly revealed either. The main idea was introduced to us from the start, that being an article saying that some factory workers died of sickness due to some dangerous chemicals. That was no secret, it was written for the public to read all along. And by the end of the film, nothing on that front has changed. Mathias claimed that there were more victims (how he figured that out is left out, as if it wasn’t an important enough detail), but we receive no confirmation about that in the film. Most likely, there never were any shocking secrets. Maybe that was the point of the film, that everything revolving the factory mystery was in Mathias’ head. I hear that and I would have appreciated the clever idea, if the movie hadn’t leaned on this mystery so much that it put Mathias’ insanity in second rate.

Aside from that, even if we were to focus on the protagonist’s mind alone, we’re left with uncertainty as to the origin of the things he’s seeing. The film has many “haunted house” elements that create a paranormal vibe, sending the audience into a treasure hunt to find the supernatural entity behind this. Visions of dead people visible only to the protagonist, coupled with the mystery of the factory, create the illusion that there might be something sinister in the old establishment, or the house itself. Except there’s none of that, it’s all part of Mathias’ mind going insane. The amount of misguidance in this attempt to make the film “scarier” and portray insanity more “vividly” is so great that you are left in an equally great pond of disappointment by the end of the film. The ghost you’ve been looking for 90 minutes was never there to begin with.

Some could argue that you shouldn’t be chasing ghosts, because this is a psychological thriller film. Well, my argument here is simple: It never feels like a psychological horror film in the first place. I am a person who immensely enjoyed 2016 Don’t Breathe and Hush, but also loves the classic slasher film such as the Scream franchise or Jaws. I can distinguish types of horror films and adjust my expectations accordingly. This one though...it feels more like a psychological drama, with a splash of mystery that doesn’t really work. During the movie, what we are continuously reminded of is the deteriorating relationship between a couple and how one’s mental illness destroys him from the inside. How is that not drama? The horror element is present, though in a very bland and uneventful way. But still, it’s there. There are some very generic jump scares that don’t work when you’ve had your fair share of thrillers, and there is the occasional built-up where your heart rate actually manages to rise a little due to the insinuation that Mathias might kill his own kid, but these aren’t enough to paint a work as thriller. Let alone a psychological one which, for me, takes more effort and skill in order to work the way it should. The noises we hear, from the protagonist’s perspective, combined with Kerremans’ amazing performance, set up the atmosphere for a good jump scare or an adrenaline rush, but the necessary amount of time is never given so that the built-up can do its work effectively. 

The other issue that strikes you once all is said and done is questions. Many of them left unanswered, because apparently it was too bothersome to answer them. Was there ever anything to be revealed about the factory’s case? No one knows. Why were the people of the neighbourhood so distant and cold to Harmsen’s character? Was it because of the suicide case, or the dead factory workers, even though that happened a long time ago? I have no idea. Did the couple manage to salvage their relationship after Mathias started treatment for his mental illness, or was it all solved after a few pills? Beats me. Did Mathias actually find a dead person in the hole he dug, based on the hair he pulled out of it? We’ll never know. And the list goes on, I’m afraid.

I’m not a person who wants to talk shit about everything. I try to always look at both sides of the coin and form a just opinion about it, as much as that is possible. This applies here as well. The movie had some great performances, like I mentioned above, beautiful cinematography and very good visuals. One of the few scenes I liked the most was Ward Kerremans’ performance when he recalls a particularly painful memory. That whole sequence was one of the few reasons I was able to finish the film and I congratulate the actor for delivering so artfully. 

I tried to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, in case anyone wants to give it a shot. After all, I might be seeing this in a very different light than others. Personally, I would recommend it if you want to pass the time. Just don’t have many expectations and don’t take into account the tag “psychological thriller”. 

I’ll leave you to your own devices, though. 

[kkoumiii]

1000 followers + PAC!!

- Thank you so so so so much for the 1000 followers!! I’m so thankful to each one of you. When I joined Tumblr, it was only to learn more about astrology, and at this time, I would have never thought about starting my own account and getting 1000 followers someday! You’re all wonderful, bless you 💜 I send you a big and warm virtual hug 🧚‍♀️ -

Here is a small gift for you, I decided to make my first pick a card reading! I don’t know if it will be good, but I decided to give it a shot. So let me tell you why you’re all fabulous in your own way!

Take a deep breath, ask yourself why you’re fabulous and pick intuitively your pile’s number or look at the image that resonates with you the most.

Without further ado, let’s get right into it!

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 1 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 2

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 3 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 4

𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 5 𝐏𝐢𝐥𝐞 6

/!\ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴍɪɴᴇ /!\

PILE 1

Hello my dear pile 1! How radiant and lively you are. You truly are a ball of joy and energy. You have this love of life and optimism that makes your energy so appealing. You’re like a breath of fresh air. You have a way of perceiving things that is very refreshing and gives hope. You look ahead but you always seize the moment. You just go with the flow and trust the process rather than focusing on the outcome. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have any worries, but you try to detach yourself from all these unnecessary concerns and focus on things that are worth your attention. You know who deserves your time and energy, but you’re still so generous and altruist with everyone. You have a lot to offer, and some people might try to take advantage of you for it, but it seems like you have a lucky star that protects you. It feels like you always have some kinds of chance when it comes to new opportunities, because your energy attracts prosperity and abundance. Your intuition seems to also guide you to choose the good opportunities and the good person. This helps you establish contacts around you that will eventually help you when you need it. You also have a big and very good sense of humor. When someone is feeling bad, you’re the type of person to cheer them up, make them laugh, and take their mind off their concerns. You’re remembered for the good vibes you exude and as a result, many people want to return the favor. I also feel like you’re very sensitive to the energies surrounding you, and that might be why you try to provide such a bright environment. You need to surround yourself with light, so you create it yourself. Beware of energetic vampires. In conclusion, you have a lot of wisdom owing to your perception of life and even when things get hard, you pick yourself up quickly thanks to your undaunted nature.

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵏᵒⁱ ᶜᵃʳᵖ | ʷᵃˣⁱⁿᵍ ᶜʳᵉˢᶜᵉⁿᵗ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ | ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵘⁿ | 6 ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘᵖˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

PILE 2

Hello my lovely pile 2! You’re resilient and don’t remain stuck in the past. You are very focused on your goals and your ambition makes you want to go far in life. Even when you’re going through difficult periods, you get back on your feet and fight for what you want. Your hard-working and stubborn nature pushes you to do your utmost and make lots of sacrifice in order to achieve your goals. You might tend to lose yourself in your work and whenever it’s getting harder, you think about your objectives and motivations. You’re also very disciplined, aren’t you? But you know, it’s important to take some breaks and enjoy life the way it is sometimes. You’re admired for your strong work ethic and people can rely on you since you seem to always have something new in store, and you easily find solutions. I sense a creative and innovative side from you. You don’t let people get in your way and you don’t hesitate to face obstacles. You use failures as lessons that help you grow. But I think this serious facade hides a big child at heart, curious and smart, who still needs to figure out life and discover the world. You tend to focus on the future so as to not feel overwhelmed with the current hardships. You like to believe that there’s always something bright ahead and that you’re the one that can change the course of events. You always strive for improving yourself, discovering and creating new things, you don't rest on your laurels. Your security lies in the fact that you are the master of your life.

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒᵒᵈᶜᵒᶜᵏ | ⁿᵉʷ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ ⁱⁿ ᵗᵃᵘʳᵘˢ | 8 ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘᵖˢ | 3 ᵒᶠ ʷᵃⁿᵈˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

PILE 3

Hi my beautiful pile 3! You’re the most seductive and clever pile for sure. You always find your way out of tricky situations. You’re someone likeable and you easily put people at ease. However, I also see that you like teasing everyone a lot and you might be a bit of a flirtatious person. You know exactly what to say at the perfect moment. There’s something reassuring about you because you’re honest and people know what to expect from you. You say things the way they are and that’s why people like to come to you to get your opinion. You also know when to seize opportunities and how to turn them to your advantage. Your opportunist nature allows you to see opportunities where people don’t generally see them. You seem to be intrigued by others’ nature and motives, you’re very observant and it helps you better grasp people’s true intents. You know what to expect from them and it allows you to act accordingly. But it doesn’t mean you will mold into what is expected from you, you’re still authentic, you know what you want and you won’t let people walk all over you. You truly are someone perceptive, you see beyond the words, beyond the guises, you can easily interpret the finest details. If someone isn’t comfortable, you will feel it, you can quickly detect the unsaid things without the other one knowing it. And that can make you a bit scary from time to time. You see people’s deepest nature, not only what’s on the surface. You have a certain level of social and emotional intelligence though for the latter, I don’t feel like you’re overly empathetic. There’s a side of you that is guarding against tricky situations that can turn against you. You don’t want to create conflicts, but you have this secretive nature that draws both admiration and jealousy

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵒˣ | ⁿᵉʷ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ ⁱⁿ ᵍᵉᵐⁱⁿⁱ | ᵠᵘᵉᵉⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘᵖˢ | 5 ᵒᶠ ʷᵃⁿᵈˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

PILE 4

Hi my wonderful pile 4! From all the piles, you’re definitely the leader. You’ve got plenty of energy, determination, strength, and a strong work ethic. You know how to complete your tasks in accordance with professional standards, and you also know how to reunite people and collaborate with them. Since you’re very much aware of your strengths and weaknesses, you can easily detect them in others. You help others use their capacities to their fullest, you give them strength and self-confidence. You’re self-assured and no one can change your mind when it comes to your capacities. You have some expectations but you don’t ask for too much. You know you’re the first person you can count on, so you don’t want to rely too much on others. But it doesn’t bother you if people lean on you, you’re used to be a rock for others and many admire you for that. Is this because of your pride? You’re resourceful and knowledgeable, and this helps you move forward. You rarely lack inspiration, you know how to complete the ‘last missing piece’ and you quickly find solutions. You truly have a lot of charisma and a strength of will that motivates people around you. You know where you’re heading, and you’re determined. You still have to learn how to delegate your work even though you can take on a massive amount of work. Sometimes, people may wonder where you find all this energy, and they may have a hard time following you. But your work seems truly important to you, you always want to improve your skills. You have strong values but you have a lot to learn yet. Hopefully, you’re curious, open-minded and opportunist. I can sense a certain modesty, you know when it’s time to be in the spotlight or keep a low profile, and you recognize your mistakes.

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃⁿᵗ | ᶠᵘˡˡ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ ⁱⁿ ᵃʳⁱᵉˢ | ᵃᶜᵉ ᵒᶠ ˢʷᵒʳᵈˢ | ᵏⁿⁱᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵖᵉⁿᵗᵃᶜˡᵉˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

PILE 5

Hey my sweet pile 5! From the energy I’m getting, you’re sensitive and you effortlessly put yourself into others’ shoes. You’re really empathetic and you absorb all the energies surrounding you. You also adapt to your environment quite easily, it helps you better apprehend the situations and the people you’re surrounded with. You try your best to put people at ease by creating a safe place for them and showing them that they can trust you. Sometimes, it can lead you to merge into what people are expecting from you. But even if you adapt yourself to this extreme, your true colors always come out in a way or another, your authenticity is always visible. You have a lot of imagination thus a lot of creativity. You’re so lively and gentle! You’re also a romantic and devoted person, you bend over backwards for the people you hold close to your heart. Once you’re committed, whatever the relationship, you give your all for this person. It’s a bit all or nothing with you, you can’t help it. Each new experience, each new meeting transforms you as a person. You know that nothing is set in stone therefore, you’re open to new opinions and perceptions. You have strong values that cannot be swayed, yet your opinions are heavily influenced by everything you hear around you. I don’t mean that you’re impressionable, I’d rather say that your keep an open mind and you listen to what people have to say. I also feel like you have a lot of depth within you, you feel everything intensely and you have a very rich inner world. You’re constantly reinventing yourself and you go through many cycles in your life (Scorpio/Aquarius/Neptunian energy?). This is a message apart from this reading but something new is coming your way, maybe a significative meeting, you need to remain hopeful.

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵃᵐᵉˡᵉᵒⁿ | ⁿᵉʷ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ | 2 ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘᵖˢ | 10 ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘᵖˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

PILE 6

Hey my splendid pile 6! You have a strong personality and you don’t let anyone get in your way. I feel like you’re a bit distrustful, but you know how to discern deceit. You may not have many people around you but it’s only because you choose to surround yourself with trustworthy people. You have definite opinions and you easily take decisions. You know how to keep a cool head no matter the situation and no one can sway you. You might appear aloof but it’s only because you know what you’re up to and you don’t trust easily. You might have been through many deceptions and hardships throughout your life that shaped partly the person you are today, but you’re also resilient and you handle well crisis situations. Deep down, you just want to protect your heart and find the right person for you. I don’t think you’re predictable but you’re a calculating person, more in a sense that you plan everything ahead and that you’re detail oriented. Other people cannot easily take advantage of you. Even though you’ve faced many difficulties, you don’t see only doom and gloom, you manage to take different points of view and learn lessons from your hardships. You only created a shell so as to protect yourself, and you don’t let yourself being overwhelmed by troublesome events. You’re also individualistic, you are your first priority (which is good, since I feel like you’ve been too focused on others in the past). You handle things by your own, you don’t rely on other people. You’re well-organized, meticulous, strategic, observant… You may have a very good instinct, for example if you see someone for the first time and you don’t get a good vibe from them, you won’t know how to explain it since it’s just a vibe, but you will eventually find out that you were right. You’re far from being provocative and if someone tries to do you wrong, life will take charge of them.

⊱ ˢᵖⁱʳⁱᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵛᵘˡᵗᵘʳᵉ | ᵗʰⁱʳᵈ ᵠᵘᵃʳᵗᵉʳ ᵐᵒᵒⁿ | 7 ᵒᶠ ˢʷᵒʳᵈˢ | 5 ᵒᶠ ˢʷᵒʳᵈˢ ⊰

︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶ ☆ ︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶

That's all I have for you, I hope you will enjoy it. Don't hesitate to tell me if it resonated or not since I don't know if I should actively start to do pac readings. Thank you once again, you're all wonderful people and you deserve the best out of life 🫂💙

[mizutori-heiko]

Mizutori’s bakudeku fanfiction master list [complete works]

Really really good writing by these incredible authors. In no particular order! These are all Top!Bakugou and Bottom!Deku. If A/B/O dynamics then it’s Alpha!Bakugou and Omega!Deku. Yes, I have preferences.

Canon World – until 15k

What The Fuck Did You Just Call Me? by reading_raindrop | 8,303 | Izuku starts calling him Bakugou and it pisses the explosive teen off a lot more than he thought it would.

Oh right, you were a little sh*t by SaysiWrites | 5,653 | When Midoriya Izuku gets hit by an age-reversion Quirk, the last thing anyone expected to find out is that Toddler-Izuku is a little shit. Except for one Bakugou Katsuki, who has seen this phase one too many times already. (Bonus+ the entire Little Sh*t (Kidfic) series)

Do Not Disturb by surveycorpsjean | 10,010 | Apply enough force, and something is bound to break.

And Atlas fell by supercrunch | 15,185 | They move in together, after a while. Katsuki joins Best Jeanist and Izuku trains under Gran Torino. They still take comfort in each other every day, curl up in bed and kiss and talk about how life is going. Their live are tumultuous, after all, what with villains and training and rescuing people every week. It’s nice to have something certain. At the end of a day filled with violence and adrenaline, Izuku knows he can come home to someone concrete. It’s perfect. Being a hero is scary and grueling and uncertain, but this part is just right. And then, one day, a child dies in Izuku’s arms.

be loved by bonnia | 5,403 | The kidnapping incident leaves bakugou traumatised about being touched on the back of his neck, and midoriya decides to take matters into his own hands.

Big Protein by Mysecretfanmoments | 13,683 | Bakugou Katsuki has a thriving hero career, an agent to manage his famous attitude, and absolutely zero romantic interest in anyone. With the exception of his favourite health food joint refusing to expand to his city, his life is pretty damn perfect—so why does a viral video revealing Deku's stash of dirty mags involving him and Deku together turn everything upside-down?

Chocolate cake and resin preserved flowers by Anoksun | 11,396 | Izuku loses his memories. Katsuki struggles not to lose Izuku too.

Twin Stars by theperksofbeinglarissa | 8,435 | When Deku saves a woman's life, her quirk is accidentally activated. Her quirk? She reveals a person's soulmate. A star-shaped mark appears on Midoriya's left arm... and on Bakugou's as well. Kirishima is the only one who knows that Bakugou is Midoriya's soulmate, and Bakugou isn't taking the news very well. Can the twin stars of class 1-A work out their differences and find their happy ending?

Unhealthy Fixations by Thesis | 12,522 | Izuku is an adult who knows better than to crush on his childhood bully. AND YET.

Like the Moon by osakakitty | 14,781 | Katsuki Bakugo is having constant, erotic dreams about Izuku Midoriya. He isn’t sure why, but they won’t go away. In order to make them stop, he needs to figure out what Izuku Midoriya means to him.

Worth a Second Shot by cinnabee | 13,080 | Katsuki and Izuku celebrate registering as a Hero Duo together with a big party. What could go wrong?

Like Something Out of A Shoujo Manga by Merrywetherweather | 2,971 | Deku ends up in a rather interesting quirk accident, one that triggers flag events as if he were the protagonist of an otome game.

Canon World – 15k++

Blood Moon by lalazee | 94,860 | The Thank-Fuck-We-Aren’t-Dead Sex had started then, and had never really stopped. Then came the feelings and the fights. The ego, the pride, the jealousy. And then there was Us.

The Way You Used To Do by edema_ruh | 669,463 | During a battle, Midoriya gets hit by a villain whose quirk detaches his soul from his body. Stuck in a ghost-like state, the boy enters a race against time in order to save himself from permanently dying. Much to his luck - or lack of it -, the only person who can see and talk to him in this state is no one other than Kacchan.

Just Like Breathing by MD_Daydreamer | 35,423 | Izuku got engaged. He didn't mind. If that made Uraraka happy, he could do it. He thought his life wouldn't change much.But then, Kacchan went to live in the USA.

briar roses (and hundred years of sleep) by vannral | 15,951 | In which Izuku is hit by a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Quirk, Class 3-A tries to find his True Love and get them to kiss him, and Katsuki’s very angry about it all.

"what's your type?" by sapphicflower | 20,192 | In order to increase their popularity rankings as up and coming pro heroes, Izuku and Katsuki participate in the most popular late night talk show for hero duos - ‘Heroes Rising!’. They’re killing it, obviously, because they know each other from inside and out. Until one question stumps the two of them: “What is your hero partner’s type?”

and it was Just Right by cinnabee | 23,759 | Katsuki spends two years post-graduation in a furious one-sided competition with his childhood friend and rival's promotional photos - until they finally run into each other, and, well. You shouldn't believe everything you see in magazines. A love story about size differences.

Notice Me, Nerd by useless_donut | 40,000 | Bakugou is in love with Midoriya. He doesn’t hide it, in fact it’s so painfully obvious that the entire class of 3-A has him figured out in a matter of months (days, in some cases). Too bad Midoriya is the most oblivious motherfucker out there, and Bakugou is too damn stubborn to actually ask him out. A love story as witnessed by the class of 3-A.

in your dreams, nerd! by sapphicflower | 37,639 | In a strange and unexpected set of circumstances, Izuku and Katsuki find themselves sharing their dreams together whenever they happen to fall asleep at the same time. Being hopelessly in love with each other, they don’t mind it all that much. What better way to spend time with your crush than in a stupidly vivid dream?

Hear Me by my_name_is_Levi | 22,419 | It wasn’t as if nightmares were uncommon for the freshman class of Yuuei. They’d seen plenty of things, heard and felt and witnessed enough travesty in their lives to last them a lifetime. But Midoriya Izuku was screaming, and no one, not even Bakugo Katsuki could ignore it.

Bridges by supercrunch | 18,018 | Bakugou is signed up for a Calvin Klein modeling gig. The thing is, they really do need the money. And Katsuki's technically the leader of this bunch of morons, so he finds himself taking the job even though his pride will never recover. And even though nobody thought to tell him that he'd be working with his ex-boyfriend. You know, the cute freckled guy from high school who went and broke his heart. So, yeah. This whole situation kind of sucks.

objective truth by mamalade | 15,390 | Izuku gets hit with a truth quirk, as one does. He seems to be handling it well—until Katsuki shows up.

catharsis by dollcewrites | 15,071 | It's been six years since Izuku graduated.It's been six years since he confessed to his childhood friend; his classmate and his inspiration. It's been six years since he deleted Bakugou's number, asked his friends not to mention the name, spent every last effort of his heart turning off the TV and averting his eyes from the newspapers. It's been six, long, long years since he gave up on Katsuki Bakugou ever loving him back.

Here here, my friends and me (You are my familia) by Jeka | 128,832 | Bakugou Katsuki has made a great job of ignoring the fact that he is tragically in love with Deku, someone who could never love him like that and let's face it, he doesn't deserve. Now that he can't ignore it anymore, he has to find a way to keep his childhood friend and move on for his own sake. Or so he had thought, maybe he can have Deku, after all. Izuku has everything he always wanted in life. But suddenly he has to navigate the most important relationship in his life through different eyes.

Canon World – Jealous! 

Hands Off by SaysiWrites | 7,140 | When a new girl at school starts flirting with Bakugou, his friends quickly become invested in the idea of their friend experiencing love - even if he doesn't seem at all interested in her. What they don't see is Midoriya fuming in the background. But how can he get rid of her when they've spent so long keeping their relationship a secret?

Surfaces by surveycorpsjean | 25,225 | Katsuki has a new girlfriend, but something isn't right. As impossible as it is, Izuku can't help but wonder what it'd be like to be called Katsuki's girl.

Green-Eyed Beast by SecretKiwi | 4,721 | Everyone wants a piece of Katsuki Bakugou, but they should beware of the Green-eyed beast always lurking close behind him.

Green with Envy by Sol_Morales707 | 2,611 | Izuku Midoriya is not as innocent and pure as everyone thinks he is. The truth was he was very jealous and willing to do anything for a certain blonde.

Happy Camper by Arysa | 7,074 | Wanting a break from the stress of dealing with the rookie Pro Hero grind, a handful of students from Class A decide to go on a camping trip. Izuku's excited to relax and catch up with everyone, especially Kacchan. But, well, Kacchan's... Kacchan. And dating Kirishima.

How to stop time: kiss by Teddingtons | 31,693 | Deku finally asks Uraraka out. Everyone's supportive except Bakugou who can't even look him in the eye. Deku seeks him out after and is hit with truth.

What I Deserve by s_the_queen | 16,671 | When Izuku starts dating a student in General Studies, everyone is happy for him. She's super sweet and really caring. But something doesn't sit right with Katsuki.

Deku's Already Fucking Taken by asdfjkl129 | 20,704 | 5 times people don't realize that Deku is already in a very happy relationship and try their hand at asking him out, and then in Bakugou's unique and special style, get very firmly corrected, +1 time where no correction is needed.

His by sister_elric | 6,206 | Izuku would like to consider himself a pretty level headed individual. Sure, he had the occasional tunnel vision, especially when it came to training. And hero work. And Kacchan. But, overall, Midoriya felt as though he typically kept his cool. Well, maybe that was a stretch. But, at the very least he could understand his own emotions. So, it surprised even him when an unfamiliar emotion coursed through him as a first year approached his boyfriend, Katsuki.

Down the Red Line by MinervaHope | 7,804 | Izuku has been able to see the red strings of fate since birth. It's no surprise that his is connected to Katsuki.

Canon World – Fake Relationship Goes Wrong

how he should’ve known (and how it turned out) by vannral | 43,918 | In which Katsuki and Izuku pretend to be a couple to avoid journalists, the plan backfires magnificently because of course it does, and the act goes on. Includes feelings, pining, domestic fluff and jealousy.

Vicious by feelslikefire | 105,173 | Midoriya and Bakugou wind up in the very last position either of them thought they'd be in: Hero Partners. It's not fun, but they learn to cope. Their first big assignment together takes them undercover to infiltrate a cult, but the situation turns out far more sinister than they first thought.

What I can never tell you by Mikacrispy | 27,067 | After living in the US for 5 years, Izuku returns to take care of a concussed Bakugou who believes they're engaged. Now, Izuku has to pretend he's in a relationship with the man he's loved for most of his life, knowing that it's just a matter of time until Katsuki gets better and realizes it's all a lie.

Not-Dating by MiraChaDoodles | 14,290 | Katsuki takes Deku on a not-date to save his career, only to find himself wishing it were real.

we'll do the things that lovers do by ethereals | 29,544 | Izuku gets an invitation to Shouto's wedding and Katsuki is PISSED that he asks Kirishima to be his date (also he wasn't even fucking invited

Canon World – Friends With Benefits (?) 

Four Times Bakugou Katsuki Doesn't Intend to Sleep With Midoriya Izuku (And the One Time that He Does) by fallingraine85 | 17,601 | He hadn’t planned for any of this. He isn’t about to go delving into the ball of yarn that is Midoriya Izuku’s heart; he isn’t equipped to try and untangle and make sense of it all. He isn’t about to try to analyze how he’s feeling about all of this, either.... How many times can you repeat the same mistake?

We Wear Chains on the Weekend by surveycorpsjean | 35,086 | Well, in a day of revelations, it turns out that Izuku isn't as vanilla as Katsuki previously thought. Unfortunately, that fascinating discovery is overshadowed by Izuku's dumbassery, because he has zero concept of aftercare."Don't go to anyone else," Katsuki says, because screw it. He can do a better job anyways. Or; Katsuki finds Izuku on a bad drop.

Just for Now by Shiro_Kabocha | 48,135 | Katsuki's parents are out of town over a school break and to keep him from getting up to any shenanigans, they ask Izuku to house sit with him. What are two teenaged boys to do when left alone to their own devices? (Bonus+ the entire Just for Love series)

safe in the darkness by yoonskisses | 20,855 | Izuku and Katsuki had been meeting up secretly for months, with absolutely no feelings involved. Or so Katsuki thought at least. The dorm gossip about Ochaco and Izuku's new relationship seemed to set a spanner in the works for their arrangement.

Alternative Universe – No Quirks

Bluebird by EtherealBeing | 53,108 | Dialing a wrong number was no unusual occurrence. Everyone did it once in a while, and Katsuki was well aware of that fact. However, possessing this knowledge made it no less aggravating for him to discover — a full two minutes into his rant about his day — that he’d been venting his frustrations to a complete stranger. As if that wasn't enough, said stranger was also inexplicably determined to hear his story to its end.

Someone Borrowed by mynameis152 | 138,996 | It felt like hours that he stared at Izuku, coming to terms with the fact that a man, his childhood best friend, whom he hadn’t seen since their senior year of high school, was there in front of his very eyes. Then his brows furrowed and his jaw clenched before he uttered through gritted teeth the very name Izuku had longed to hear for years. “Deku.”

Dark Side of the Sun by Synnie | 51,598 | Staying up too late playing video games, Kirishima wasn't expecting to get an urgent call begging for help. Next thing he knew, he was letting his classmate Izuku Midoriya take refuge in his apartment - without consulting his always angry roommate.

Manage Me by Justaperson1718 | 10,756 | Izuku becomes Katsuki’s model agent.

Don't Set Your Drink Down by Crandberrycrush | 88,424 | With sudden clarity Izuku realized he had broken the first rule of going out. Never leave your drink unattended.

Livewire by pretty_rekless | 18,160 | Per Ochako's request, Izuku downloads a gay dating app in hopes to finally find a partner. Except every single one of his leads keep ghosting him or standing him up... That is until one hot, fiery blond enters the chat. Grindr/Tinder AU fic.

Drinking Watermelon by warschach | 8,906 | Katsuki works as a camp counselor, and Izuku is a boy made of summer heat and sunlight.

Precious Pet by Mikacrispy | 6,379 | When broke college student Midoriya Izuku found a job that offered lodging, food, and good pay for four hours of work each day, he thought it was too good to be true. But he called anyway. Turns out all he has to do is to be the spoiled little puppy of a rich businessman.

Our Eleven Summers by Dark_Mage_Ayumu | 34,472 | The first time Katsuki met Izuku was when he was eight. For the next eleven years, Izuku changed his life, and no one even knew. Their relationship was something they shared in secret.

sticky note crushes by ladyofsnails | 3,239 | Katsuki hates his roommate. The green-haired, freckled, artsy son of a bitch with his dumb pun t-shirts and paint-stained hands he can’t fucking keep to himself. Katsuki can’t leave a single assignment or paper out in his room because that idiot will just grab anything to draw on it. He’s like a shark that can’t stop swimming else it’ll die – he can’t stop drawing. Ever.

Don't Play Pretend by SweetSide | 10,103 | Actor AU: Deku and Bakugou get the leading roles for an upcoming TV Drama. They weren’t aware that they would be working with each other for who knows how long. It would’ve been completely fine if they weren’t exes.

97.6 FM by jamjars | 32,249 | Izuku can’t stop listening to the radio host with the deep voice who sounds like he’s stuck in 2010. It’s a harmless crush. That is until he starts calling into the show under the pseudonym Deku.

Read {between} Your Lines by greatcloudninja | 52,252 | Midoriya Izuku, up-and-coming actor, has finally hit his big break (...), Bakugou Katsuki, who has been acting for over twenty years.However, Bakugou seems to have it out for Izuku, leading to tension both on and off set. When some incriminating photos surface, the studio suggests (...): having Bakugou and Midoriya fake a relationship to get ahead of the rumors. 

I’m not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts by PassingShadow | 5,522 | Izuku is a professional cuddler and Katsuki is his new client that’s just a little rough around the edges, and needs a natural healing touch.

Alternative Universe – Quirkless Deku

A Good Old-Fashioned Tattoo AU by lalazee | 14,437 | After their paths had split, Bakugou & Deku meet again as adults. While Bakugou begins to repent for the kid he used to be, he also starts to prove himself as he the man he is now.

Call Me a Safe Bet (I'm Betting I'm Not) by WTTTD | 10,803 | He wished he had some sort of heads up before seeing Deku again for the first time after nearly two years, looking like the essence of a lazy Sunday, smiling and surrounded with brand new, adoring friends. It was a little fitting that Katsuki burned for him so badly. (Support Department Deku)

In Which Kacchan Has a Ruff Time by OneshotPrincess | 14,511 | Bakugou Katsuki gets quirked into a dog, gets adopted by an unknowing Izuku and generally has a very rough few days full of realizations

While You Were Sleeping by Belkacaramelka (annabelleg) | 71,197 | The one where quirkless fanboy Midoriya Izuku rescues Pro Hero Todoroki Shouto, gets mistaken as his fiancé while he is in a coma, and gets caught up in the most unlikely fake engagement... until his childhood enemy and Todoroki's classmate Bakugou Katsuki tries to catch him out, and they both end up discovering a lot more about each other than they'd expected.

Let Me Assist You Personally by Seeress | 32,806 | Izuku is long-suffering Personal Assistant to #1 Pro Hero Dynamight.Dynamight can't keep a PA to save his career. They all quit crying after a few days weeks. Enter, Izuku—with enough money problems to brave the jaws of the cranky beast. Childhood friend turned glorified paid slave. Somehow it all works out. ‘Kill them with kindness’, his mom had told him once. If that were true, Bakugou Katsuki would be stone-cold dead by now.

Smile For The Camera by kurokonekokilled | 19,179 | Midnight has a cam site, home to millions of users, but one catches Katsuki's eye when he goes scrolled through it in search for something to help him release a little stress. A live stream and the best orgasm of his life later, his wallet is lighter, and he might be almost as obsessed with this Deku guy as the cam boy is with him.

Just Like The Comics by brichibi | 24,935 | Where Izuku works at a comic book shop because that’s as close to a hero as he’s gonna get, and Katsuki plays the part of heroic ex-boyfriend who is good at everything except winning Izuku back... maybe

Alternative Universe – Quirks

Get on my Level by Mikacrispy | 92,273 | Bakugou Katsuki is a Pro Hero whose boss demands him to take an intern. Midoriya Izuku is a UA student who needs an internship. When the two of them are put together, they learn about what it truly means to be a Hero and what it means to be in love.

A/B/O – Secret! Baby

Home by Emerald2402 | 87,214 | Midoriya Izuku left Japan in a rush, moving to America without a word to anyone else. But then almost 11 years later he arrives back Home and Bakugou Katsuki's Alpha is furious. Fuck that, Bakugou is furious, because Midoriya Izuku, an omega he tasted one time, has been keeping a very big, very blonde haired, green eyed secret.

Those Under the Same Stars by PerpetuallyPerturbed | 325,553 | When Katsuki Bakugo left Izuku Midoriya five years ago, he thought it was for forever. He put aside dreams and wishes of the omega to focus on his career. He was going to be the best hero, after all. He couldn't have an omega getting in his way. So when he's stopped on the streets one day by a pup begging for help for his mom, he isn't prepared to face what he gave up, and what the consequences of his actions were. (Quirkless Deku)

A/B/O – Quirks

Mark Me. Make Me Yours. by decadentbynature | 10,062 | Midoriya is the only Omega at UA and he's been hiding it well but there's one issue that threatens to expose him: his attraction to an Alpha, Bakugo. After being told to give some paperwork to Bakugo, Midoriya lets him into his dorm room and is immediately overwhelmed by his scent. Unable to help himself, he gives in to his urges, only to be discovered by Bakugo but instead of becoming enraged, Bakugo decides to give Midoriya exactly what he wants

Claim Me by ScientificallySinful (VampireGaaraCheesepuffs) | 114,449 | Being an Alpha has nothing to do with Katsuki's success as a Pro-Hero, the same way Deku's Omega status hasn't kept him from becoming Number Two. Secondary gender doesn't mean anything nowadays and “mating” is an antiquated practice. So when Izuku, his rival, asks Katsuki to Claim him in the middle of the night, there is only one logical thing to say. “What the fuck?”

Change of Plans by Mikacrispy | 185,965 | Alpha Pro Hero Bakugou Katsuki never planned to get married to some random omega but what he wants isn't an option anymore. One for All wielder Midoriya Izuku has suffered injustice too many times and doesn't plan in allowing his secondary gender to dictate how he must live his life. Falling in love was never in the plans.

Going Feral For You by ANGIE_fic | 17,977 | Bakugou has an aggression problem that might have to do with his Alpha. His job is on the line because of it. So what do you do with a pent up Alpha? Yes.Rut. (Quirkless Izuku)

i live for you, i long for you by jeonjeonggukkkkkie | 19,165 | The five times Izuku hinted he wants Katsuki to spend his next heat with him, and the one time Katsuki took the hint.

Baby's First Bloom by ContraryBee | 44,945 | Izuku blooms for Katsuki one warm day in their third year of middle school. What follows is both boys learning about themselves, their bond, and the society they live in.

As Fate Would Have It by ScientificallySinful (VampireGaaraCheesepuffs) | 88,737 | Katsuki Bakugo had plenty of reasons why he wasn't mated yet, not that he was going to explain why to just anyone. But now, Ground Zero was running out of time. If he didn't find someone soon, he'd lose his position as a Pro-Hero and he'd never get to be #1. So, when he finds out there's a male Omega recently arrested for prostitution that's headed to prison if he too doesn't get a mate…well it must be fate. (Quirkless Izuku)

A/B/O – No Quirks

Gravity by warschach | 71,477 | Izuku is back in his hometown and plenty hasn't changed much from the 8 years he was gone. Except, Katsuki Bakugou, the alpha king of their small town. He's hotter- because that's fair, right, God? -, stronger, a now-famous pro fighter, and noticeably nicer this round.Not that he cares, pfft. (Fine, he cares.)

Nine Months by greatcloudninja | 23,303 | Omega Midoriya Izuku connects with Alpha Bakugou Katsuki through an online singles ad. Izuku pays Katsuki to help him with his heat, ending up pregnant in the process. What follows is a pregnancy filled with ups and downs, but whatever hurdles come their way, they can make it through together.

The long dark by Ominous-Anonymous (Ominonymous) | 13,289 | He could have been really dangerous. He could be a fucking murderer for all he knew. But Izuku Midoriya, ever the reckless daredevil, was not thinking of that when he got into a car with a complete stranger. Completely ignoring the part where his mother always taught him to never gets into cars with alphas he didn't know...

[gunsatthaphan]

Hi Doreen, not sure if you would know this but what has been the objective relative performance/popularity of the GMM2022 line-up that has aired so far? (like Enchante, Cupid's Last Wish, SIMM/SIYH, The Eclipse, Vice Versa, etc) Do the shows popularity generally correlate with the popularity of the original GMM2022 trailer?

hi anon!

that's a very interesting question!

The only objective analysis I can give is based on the views of the the respective shows so here are the results from the ones that have come out this year (sorted by popularity):

1. Star and Sky - Star In My Mind:

1st trailer: 2.2M views

series in total: ~83M views

conclusion: this show ended up attaining a huge success, however I think it’s unjustified. I did like the show but 83M views are insane for a story that’s essentially nothing more than your average high school bl. Idk if it’s because of Joong or something else but it doesn’t deserve the first place imo. 

2. The Eclipse:

1st trailer: 1.4M views

series in total: ~64M views

conclusion: This did very well, however subjectively speaking this should’ve been number 1 lmao. I expected more views for the trailer as it was a completely different concept - it took almost 9 months for it to reach 1M. 

3. Vice Versa:

2nd trailer (1st one isn’t online anymore): 1M views

series in total: ~52M views

conclusion: The ratio views for trailer - views for show definitely makes sense here. This show was not as successful as it should’ve been in my opinion. 52M views are not bad but considering the effort they put into this show and how elaborate the production was, this should’ve been at number 2. 

4. Star and Sky - Sky In Your Heart:

1st trailer: 2.2M views

series in total: ~40M views

conclusion: Surprisingly, this didn’t even do half as well as SIMM. A lot of people complained it was an ATOTS-ripoff which I get to some extent but it should’ve deserved more. The trailer:series ratio is out of proportion here. 

5. Enchanté:

1st trailer: 1.7M views

series in total: ~35M views

conclusion: I would say these numbers are quite typical for your generic GMMTV bl. the trailer did quite well and so did the show, not underwhelming but not overwhelming either. It was an average little show. I haven’t seen it so I can’t give a subjective point of view here. 

6. Cupids Last Wish:

1st trailer: 1.2M views

series in total: ~24M views

conclusion: The ratio is definitely unjustified because the show was amazing, however these numbers are only due to the release on Disney+ which happened before the premiere on Youtube. So the initial views on there were probably a lot higher. At least I hope so lol. 

All in all I think all of these shows did live up to their 1st trailers. The ratio mostly makes sense and to answer your question, yes the popularity of the trailer usually correlates with the popularity of the final show. We all know mock trailers only loosely cohere with the actual shows as they usually make changes afterwards but I think these were all pretty accurate. The one that drifted the most from the original was The Eclipse imo since they changed quite a lot. 

When we look at the numbers, it seems that the general audience does favor the generic bl concepts more than the ones that are bit more out there. 🤷��‍♀️ Hopefully that will change in 2023. 

xxx

[pandemoniclucio]

The Arcana HC's #2

MC is a mechanic & is the owner of their own auto-repair shop. They're well off because they do work for high clientele that's why they're far away from civilization and in the forest. They also have pet food lying around.

Scenario: Modern AU Main 6 cars break down but they manage to stop by a small but well-kept auto-repair shop owned by a mysterious & good-looking mechanic. They brought their pets with them because they have a cottage/cabin in the woods.

What Type Of Cars Do They Have?

https://thosevesuvianthots.tumblr.com/post/612318217497690112/please-if-you-can-i-need-the-main-6s-cars-in#

Asra

They'll wander around your shop with Faust and maybe meditate for a while. They're surprised that you're not afraid of Faust or worried when she starts wrapping herself around your arm when you take a break.

While you're working, they'll ask you to explain what you are going to do which surprises you.

They love exchanging stories with you while sipping some of the tea you made in your kitchenette.

They'll help you fix the car by handing you various tools so that they can make up for inconveniencing you with more work.

They pay you half the amount you would have usually charged, they pay the other half in three sorts of crystals

They'll subtly ask you out once you've exchanged numbers with them.

Nadia

She'll compliment the interior of your shop and give you some advice on how to improve it.

She explores the shop and checks your qualifications whilst reading the car blueprints on your coffee desk.

She's shocked when Chandra lands on your shoulder and you aren't bothered but instead feed her some owl pellets, and stroke her head gently.

She shows general interest in you and tries her best to pay attention to your advice on cars and be useful by offering you water as a refreshment.

She's impressed by your business, mechanical, physical, and pet skills when you chat with her over some of the tea you made.

She'll insist on paying you more than what you think you deserve and then proceeds to ask you out on a coffee date later that day.

Julian

He waits around you on stand-by just in case you get hurt and because he wants to be of use to you.

He's surprised that you haven't tried to shut Malak once but instead gave him some bird treats.

He blushes when you take off the top part of your now dirtied jumpsuit and reveal your muscular build, almost making him forget to hand you over the snacks and water.

You both exchange stories on the weirdest clients you've ever had over a bottle of beer.

He'll pay you, he'll pay you more than what you need because you really saved him.

After you gave him your number, he became surprised and even blushed a bit when you asked him out on a date as extra payment for feeding and keeping, Malak quiet.

Muriel

He does know his way around a car quite a bit, so he does help you with the car.

He apologizes profusely for inconveniencing you and blushes when you give him a kind smile saying that it's not a problem.

He found it adorable that, when you were done, you started to play with Innana.

He tries to get you to accept his payment even if you say it's free, so you just give him a good discount.

He enjoys listening to your voice and how you're so calm about the whole ordeal and about some info on his car so he doesn't inconvenience you, even if your only giving him basic info.

He thought you giving him your number was for business purposes, but you asked him out so he blushed furiously.

Portia

She'll keep a keen eye on what you are doing and take down notes so that she can try to fix the problem if it happens again.

She's in awe of your beauty, muscles, and work ethic including the tea you're able to brew.

She will ask you various questions on auto-bodies and will eventually ask why you chose the career.

If you're getting tired or a bit exhausted she's right on standby with her own delicious home-baked goods and water.

She takes a photo of Pepi cuddling up to you while you two are chatting and her heart melts that you happen to have pet food around.

She's a bit surprised at the small blush on your face when she gives you her phone number and tells you to call, she's even more surprised when you give her your number and tell her that the work is free, she pays you anyway and asks you out for a picnic.

Lucio

He asks a few general questions on the process his car is going to take to be fixed including how long it'll take.

He tries not to get bored and ask you something he'll regret so he either plays with his pets or watches you work.

He admires how calm and relaxed you are when fixing his car and can't help but wonder how he would feel in your arms. To makes sure this image becomes a regular thing he even considers inviting you to fix his other cars.

He is genuinely confused when Melchoir, Mercedes, and even Camio begin to play with you once you're done with the car and giving them high-quality pet food.

The sight of his pets trusting you is enough to get him to exchange numbers with you and ask you out for a date the next day.

He pays you more than you need and insists on it, so you just don't object.

Who else got a starter 5 star on Baal's Banner? I got Mona, she ruined my pity, but I'm going to continue trying.

[celepeace]

A monster-taming game recommendation list for fans of Pokemon

Whether you're a pokemon fanatic obsessed with all things pokemon past and present, or a veteran fan disillusioned with GameFreak's recent adoption of monetary philosophies and strategies reminiscent of other major game publishers, or looking for a monster-taming fix as you await new Pokemon content...

I'm compiling here a post of little-known games in the genre that Pokemon fans are likely to enjoy!

Under readmore cause long, but some of these games really don’t get the attention they deserve, so if you have the time, please read!

(I am also likely to keep updating and editing this post)

First up is Temtem!

Temtem is a game made by and for Pokemon fans, from the spanish indie developer Crema. Temtem is currently in early access on Steam and PS5, and is likely to remain in early access until sometime late next year. Full launch will include a Nintendo Switch release, too. Despite this, it has plenty of content to explore before full release. The developers are active, release new content on a semi-regular basis, and are responsive to the community as a whole and individuals if you happen to come across a bug you want to report.

Temtem boasts a wide variety of monsters to collect and train. It takes place in the Airborne Archipelago, a system of floating islands that orbit their star, the Pansun. The monsters inhabiting the archipelago are called Temtem, or tem(s), for short.

As far as game mechanics go, it has many similarities to Pokemon, but also many important distinctions. The biggest one, in my opinion, is that the element of chance has been removed from battle entirely. Moves cannot miss, have the same power constantly, and status afflictions have an obviously displayed countdown to when they will wear off (for instance, sleep lasts as long as it says it will last. Not 2-4 turns). PP does not exist, either. Your tems can battle for as long as their HP holds out. In place of PP, a new system called Stamina exists. Stamina is an individual stat, like HP and Attack. Each move costs a certain amount of stamina. If you go over the amount of stamina your tem has, the deficit is detracted from your health instead, and that tem cannot move next turn. Stamina passively regenerates a certain amount each turn, and items and moves exist that can heal stamina. All battles are also double-battles, you and your opponent will typically have two tems on the field at a time. This is just a few of the differences Temtem has from Pokemon, but they're some of the biggest ones.

Temtem is also a massively multiplayer game. You complete the storyline independently (or with a friend through co-op!), but in the overworld you can see other, real players moving around and interacting with the world. There is also public and area-specific chat you can talk to other players through. Despite this, all multiplayer functions are (currently) completely optional. You do not need to interact with others to complete the game.

Overall, Temtem is suitable for the Pokemon fan who is looking for a more challenging experience. Temtem is not a walk in the park you can blaze through with a single super-strong monster. For one, individual tem strength is more well-balanced than it is in Pokemon. There are very few (if any!) completely useless tems. Even some unevolved tems have their niche in the competitive scene! Aside from that, enemy tamers are scaled quite high, and you typically cannot beat them just from the exp you get from other enemy tamers. You have to do some wild-encounter grinding if you want to progress.

Temtem is a very fun game and I've already gotten over 100 hours out of it, despite only 3/5-ish of the planned content being released!

However, I do feel obligated to warn any prospective players of one thing: the current endgame is quite inaccessible. After you complete what is currently implemented of the main storyline, there is still quite a lot left to explore and do, but much of it is locked behind putting a lot of hours into the game. You kind of have to get perfect temtem to do the current PVE (and this is also somewhat true for the PVP too). By perfect I mean you have to breed a good tem and then train it to get the preferable EVs (called TVs in temtem). This takes... well, for a whole team... tens of hours. Of boring grinding. Some people enjoy it! But I don't. Regardless, the game was still worth buying because the non-endgame content is expansive and fun.

So overall, pros & cons:

Pros

Battle system is more friendly towards a competitive scene

Cute monsters

Lots of gay characters, also you can choose pronouns (including they/them) independently from body type and voice

Less difference between the objectively bad tems and good tems than there is in Pokemon

Lots of stuff to do even in early access

Most conversations with dialog choices have the option to be a complete ass for no reason other than it’s fun

Having less type variety in your team is less punishing than in Pokemon due to the synergy system and types overall having less weaknesses and resistances

At least one major character is nonbinary

Cons

Falls prey to the issue of MMOs having in-game economies that are only accessible to diehard no-life players

Related to the above point, cosmetics are prohibitively expensive

Endgame CURRENTLY is inaccessible to most players unless you buy good monsters from other players or spend tens of hours making your own. However I must add that the grind is great if you like that kind of thing and is quite easy and painless to do while watching a show or something.

Here is their Steam page and here is their official website.

Next is Monster Hunter: Stories!

This is a spinoff game of the Monster Hunter franchise released for the 3DS in 2018. If you're anything like me, and you've played the core Monster Hunter games, you've often thought "Man, I wish I could befriend and ride these cool dragon creatures instead of killing or maiming them!"

Well now you can! In Stories, as I will be calling it, you play as a rider rather than a hunter. Riders steal monster eggs from wild nests to raise them among humans as companions and guardians. And yes, egg stealing is a whole mechanic in of itself in this game.

This game works pretty differently from most monster-collecting games. You do battle (usually) against one or two wild monsters using your own, except you fight alongside your monsters too. With swords and stuff. There's armor and weapons you can smelt to make yourself stronger. Type match-ups also kind of don't exist in this game? Except they do? But not in a way you'd expect?

The vast majority of attacking moves you and your monster use fall into categories reminiscent of rock-paper-scissors. Moves can be categorized as power, speed, or technical. Speed beats power, technical beats speed, and power beats technical. The matchup of your move vs your opponent's determines how a turn will go down. If one move beats the other in matchup, then the winner's move will get to go and the loser doesn't get to do anything. If you tie, you both get hit, but for reduced damage. There's also abilities and basic attacks, with abilities basically being the same as pokemon moves, and basic attacks just being "I hit you for normal damage within this category". Also, you don't control what your monster does all the time in battle. You can tell it to use abilities, but what kind basic attacks it carries out is determined by its species' preference. Velicidrome, for instance, prefers speed attacks, but Yian Garuga prefers technical. Stamina also exists in this game in a very similar manner to Temtem.

Overall this game carries over a lot of mechanics Monster Hunter fans will find familiar (how items and statuses work for instance). You don't have to have played a core Monster Hunter game to enjoy Stories though! It's fine and is easy to understand as a stand-alone.

The story has some likable characters and is rather long (it was actually adapted into an anime!), for those of you who enjoy a good story.

I'd really recommend this one especially. If it sounds fun to you and you can drop $30, just do it. I bought it on a whim and I got a few weeks' worth of playing almost nonstop out of it, and I didn't even get to do everything! (I got distracted by Hades, oops)

Stories is also getting a sequel later next year on the nintendo switch! How exciting!

And yes, you do ride the monsters.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Large variety of cool monsters to befriend and raise

Pretty lengthy story

Every tamable monster is also rideable

Deceptively simple combat mechanics, easy to be okay at, hard to master

Incorporates some mechanics from early turn-based party rpgs like Final Fantasy for a nice twist on the monster collecting genre

Cons

Many monsters are objectively outclassed by other ones, making what can be in an actually good team more limited than you’d expect

3DS graphics inherently means the game looks like it was made 7 years before its time

Here is the Monster Hunter Stories official 3DS product page.

And here is Monster Sanctuary!

Monster sanctuary is a game that just had its 1.0 launch- meaning it was in early access and no longer is! Although the devs say they still plan to implement a few more things into the game in future updates. It is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PS4.

Monster sanctuary is a metroidvania twist on the typical monster collecting game, meaning it is also a sidescrolling platformer in which you use abilities you gain throughout the game to explore the world around you. The abilities in this case are the monsters you get! Every monster has an ability that helps you traverse the sanctuary.

Speaking of the sanctuary, the game is set in one. The monster sanctuary is a magically shielded area, cut off from the rest of the world, created by an order of monster keepers, people who befriend and protect the mystical monsters inhabiting the world. Humankind encroached too far on the natural habitat of monsters and were hostile to the native wildlife, so the keepers created an area of varied environments to safely protect and preserve the remaining monsters of the world.

Unlike many other monster collecting games, this game only has 5 types: fire, water, earth, air, and neutral. However, the types themselves do not possess resistances and weaknesses. Instead, each monster has its own assigned weaknesses and resistances. And yes, this can include things like debuffs, physical vs special attacks, and the typical elemental types.

All battles are also 3 vs 3! And unlike in pokemon, where you can only hit the enemies nearest, all monsters have the ability to hit any opponent they want. Turns also work a little differently in that speed doesn't exist, you just use 1 move per monster in your turn and then it goes to your opponent's turn. Your monsters hit in whatever order you want them to.

There is also a quite important combo system in this game, where every hit builds a damage multiplier for the next. Moves often hit multiple times per turn. Healing and buffing actions also build this combo counter. So what monsters you have move in what order really counts!

But the main mechanical difference between this and other games in the genre is how it handles levels and skills. Instead of learning a set move at a certain level, this game incorporates a skill tree, and you get to allocate points into different skills as you grow stronger. And jeez, these skill trees are really extensive. Monster sanctuary is a theorycrafter's dream. Each monster has a unique, specially tailored skill tree, making every monster truly able to have its own niche. You can make use of whatever monster you want if you just put thought into it!

And like Temtem, this game is not made to be beatable by children. I'm sure a child could beat it, but it's not made to be inherently child-friendly like pokemon. It's honestly quite difficult.

On top of that, you are actively encouraged to not just be scraping by each battle. Your performance in battle is rated by an automated system that scores your usage of various mechanics like buffs and debuffs applied, type matchups, and effective usage of combos. The rating system directly influences the rewards you get from each battle, including your likelihood of obtaining an egg from one of the wild monsters you battled (no, you don't catch wild monsters in this game, you get eggs and hatch them). If you're not paying attention to how the game works and making good, effective use of your monsters, you'll have a hard time expanding your team!

The music is also really good, it's made by nature to be able to play over and over and not get old as you explore each area, and the composer(s) really did a good job with this. Some area songs, namely the beach one, I especially enjoy, so much so I've actually played it in the background while I do work.

This is a game I would really recommend. If I made it sound intimidating, it is by no means unbeatable, you're just gonna have to put some thought into how you play. At no point did I actually feel frustrated or like something was impossible. When I hit a wall, I was able to recognize what I did wrong and how I could improve, or I could at least realize something wasn't working and experiment until I found a solution. It's challenging in a genuinely fun, rewarding way.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Extremely in-depth combat system

I genuinely don’t know if there’s an objectively bad monster in this game

Evolution exists but is completely optional, as even un-evolved monsters can be great

Entire soundtrack is full of bangers

Large and diverse variety of monsters to tame

Cons

Story is a little lackluster, but passable

That’s the only con I can think of

Here’s a link to their Steam page and the game’s website.

A kind of unorthodox recommendation is the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series!

Likelihood is that everyone reading this has heard of this series already, but just in case anyone hasn't, I thought I'd include it! I would categorize this as a hybrid between the mystery dungeon genre and the monster collecting genre, because you recruit pokemon as you play and can use those pokemon on your team!

If you're unaware, the mystery dungeon genre is a small subset of dungeon crawler games where you progress through randomly generated levels called mystery dungeons. Throughout the dungeons, there will be enemies to fight and items to collect. The challenge of these games is mostly due to the stamina aspect of them, in that you have to manage your resources as you progress through the level. If you go all out in each fight, you will inevitably lose quite quickly. You have to learn to win against enemies while balancing your use of items and PP, so you have enough for the next fight, and the fight after that.

Pokemon mystery dungeon in particular is famous for its stories, the likes of which isn't seen often in Pokemon games. They are hugely story-driven games and are notable for the emotional depth they possess. It's pretty normal for the average player to cry at least once in the span of the game. There's lots of memes about that specifically.

This entry in my list is also unique for being a series. So, which one should you play first? It actually doesn't matter! Each storyline is entirely self-contained and requires no knowledge of prior entries. The quality of each entry varies and is a point of contention among fans. I say you should play all of them, because they all have their merits (though some more than others.... coughgatestoinfinitycough). They're mostly distinct for the generation of Pokemon they take place in. Rescue team is gen 3, Explorers is gen 4, Gates to Infinity is gen 5, Super Mystery Dungeon is gen 6, and Rescue Team DX is a remake of a gen 3 game but has the mechanics and moves of a gen 8 game.

My only real caution is that you play Explorers of Sky, not Darkness or Time. Sky is basically a combination of the two games with added items and content. It's an objective upgrade over its predecessors, and I honestly wouldn't waste money on the other two. 

I’m not going to include a pros and cons list for the PMD series because I’m incredibly biased and it wouldn’t be an honest review.

Next is Monster Crown!

Monster Crown is a monster collecting game that seems to take heavy inspiration from early-gen Pokemon games in particular. It is currently in early access on Steam and is not expensive. I learned about it through the developers of Monster Sanctuary, when they recommended it on their official Discord.

The game has lots of charm and interesting creature designs, and an entirely new take on monster typings as well. Instead of monster types being based off of natural elements like fire, water, electricity, etc. Monster Crown uses typings that seem to be influenced by the personalities of the monsters. For instance, Brutal, Relentless, and Will are all monster types!

It also captures a lot of the charm many of us look fondly upon in early GameBoy-era games. The music is mostly chiptune, with some more modern backing instruments at times, and the visuals are very reminiscent of games like Pokemon Crystal in particular. Monster Crown is definitely the monster collecting game for fans of the 8-bit era!

The thing that stands out the most to me about this game is the breeding system. Instead of one parent monster passing down its species to its offspring, you can create true hybrids in this game.

However, it is very early access. I would consider the current build as an alpha, not even a beta yet! So temper your expectations here. I have not encountered any major bugs, but visual glitches here and there are quite common. The game also could definitely use some polish and streamlining, and is quite limited in content currently. But the dev(s) seem quite active, so I fully expect these kinks to be worked out in time!

The reviews are rather positive, especially for being in early access. I'm all for expanding the monster collecting genre, so if you're looking to expand your horizons in that sense, I would recommend you at least give this one a look! I personally had quite a bit of fun playing Monster Crown and am going to keep an eye out for updates.

Pros & cons:

Pros

Charming artstyle, appealing monster designs

Faithful callback to a bygone era of gaming

Controls are fairly simple and easy to get the hang of (and are completely customizable!)

Cool breeding and hybridization mechanics

There's a starter for each monster type!

You can choose your pronouns, including they/them!

Cons

Inherent nature of being very early access means can be clunky and unpolished at times

Also not much content as of right now, see above

User interface could use some redesign in places

Here’s their Steam page and the official website!

Here’s an oldie but a goodie, Azure Dreams!

This is one I actually haven’t played, mostly because it’s really old and therefore only practically accessible if you play it on an emulator, unless you're one of those old game collectors. Azure Dreams was developed by Konami and released for the PS1 in 1997. My impression of it was that it either didn’t sell well or only took off in Japan, because it’s actually really hard to find any comprehensive information about it on the internet.

Azure Dreams is a monster collecting - dating sim hybrid. You can build relationships with various characters and can pursue some of them romantically, although that isn’t the main draw of the game. There is also a stripped-down version that exists for the GameBoy Color, which forgoes the dating portion of the game entirely.

Azure Dreams is kind of like a mystery dungeon game in that you progress through a randomly generated, ever-changing tower using the help of the familiars you have accrued throughout your adventure. Similarly to Monster Hunter: Stories, you yourself also take part in the fighting alongside your monsters. Each time you enter the tower, your character’s level is lowered to 1, but your familiars keep their experience. Thus, progression is made through strengthening your monsters. To obtain monsters, you collect their eggs, just like in Monster Sanctuary (which, turns out, was at least partially inspired by this game!)

Due to this game being very old and on the PS1, the visuals leave a lot to be desired... but if you can get past that, Azure Dreams has lots of replayability and customization to how you play the game. To this day, it appears it has a somewhat active speedrunning community!

If you don’t mind the effort of using an emulator, and like old games, Azure Dreams just might be that timesink you were looking for in quarantine.

Honorable mentions:

Pokemon Insurgence (or any Pokemon fangame/ROMhack, really!) is a Pokemon fangame that introduces Delta Pokemon, which are really cool type-swapped versions of existing Pokemon. It’s sufficiently challenging and has a lot of variety in what you can catch in the wild, so you can pretty much add whatever you want to your team! The story is quite good, and the main campaign is multiple times longer than a typical Pokemon game’s campaign. Download it here!

ARK: Survival Evolved is NOT a monster collecting game BUT you do get to tame and fight alongside a lot of really cool extinct species, including but not limited to the dinosaurs we all know and love. This game is genuinely fun as hell, especially with friends, but I must warn you: never play on official servers. I highly recommend singleplayer, playing on a casual private server, or making your own server. Here’s the Steam page.

[insaneoldme]

Can you rec buddie fics? Pretty please?

OMG it's my time to shine, bitches!!!

Sorry if I went a little nuts, but this fandom has some of the best writers I've ever seen. I have 186 Buddie fics bookmarked in my AO3,

I'll link here if you are interested in taking a look cause if I put them all here it would be too long. Also, I tried to show here some fics I very rarely see recced, and a little bit o the classics. This fandom has some very underrated authors, everyone in my bookmarks is worth taking a look really.

Please take a look at the warnings before reading, enjoy!!!

I Hate Accidents (Except When We Went From Friends to This) by morganofthefairies (Rated E )

Buck and Eddie had always been unconventional. Neither of them gave it much thought – they were just them. Buck and Eddie - partners, best friends, co-parents – just as entangled in each other’s lives as any actual couple in the 118.

Or, the story of how Buck and Eddie went about their relationship in entirely the wrong order.

My Heart's Been Borrowed by ElvenSorceress (Rated E)

aka the one where Taylor gives Buck his ultimate fantasy and uncovers far more than either of them expected, forcing him to confront his long held feelings for Eddie

Half Awake in Our Fake Empire by HMSLusitania (Rated E)

Buck 1.0 fathered a child and Buck 4.0 comes into custody.

Love and Bullets Both Shatter Hearts (But Only One Can Put You Back Together) (Rated E)

Agent [Redacted] Diaz is the best at what he does. Usually. But lately there's this real pain in the ass* who's been ruining his missions: Code Name "Buck."

Keep It On by R_E_R6 (Rated E)

When Eddie walks in on Buck, bent over in nothing but a hoodie, their plans for the night immediately change. Buck's outfit though? Well, Eddie requests that it stays the same...for reasons.

Heart of Flowers / Heart of Gold by ElvenSorceress (Rated T)

Buck nearly loses everything and Eddie has to follow his heart

hungry for your love by evcndiaz (Rated G)

prompt: "who’s gonna write a fanfic where chris is not cooperating with buck and eddie accidentally says “listen to your dad”?"

or; breadsticks are a metaphor for love and boning

keep your eyes on the road by iriswests (Rated M)

A glimpse into buck and eddie’s developing relationship, told through ten moments stopped at a traffic light

when things fall into place by woodchoc_magnum (Rated M)

In which Eddie asks Buck to move in with them during lockdown to help look after Christopher, which leads to certain unresolved feelings being resolved.

Carbon Date Me, Excavate Me by extasiswings, letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Rated E)

Evan "Buck" Buckley has made a name for himself as the independent bad boy of archaeology. At least, until Professor Eddie Diaz shows up with his fedora and good looks and starts beating Buck to the punch more often than not.

Buck hates his stupid six-pack covered guts.

Except for how... he might not.

Objects in the Mirror by SevenSoulmates (Rated E)

The voice had always been around, Eddie remembers it, like a stream of consciousness that babbled incoherently to the point where Eddie just tuned it out.

But then the voice started speaking directly to him. Conversing like he was a whole person standing right in front of him. Like he could see what was happening around Eddie.

Eddie shook his head. No one was talking to him, and Eddie most certainly was not talking back.

He wouldn’t talk to the boy in his head ever again. There was no boy in his head.

ripples all the way down by iriswests (Rated M)

christopher partakes in some parent trapping

dream of some epiphany by extasiswings (Rated M)

Evan Buckley is lost.

It’s happenstance that he wanders into the navy recruiting center—he’s been in San Diego for a few weeks, bartending late nights and weekends, living in a house with three other guys not because he needs the roommates but because he doesn’t want to be alone, and the military is…respectable. Stable. So Buck thinks maybe and opens the door.

Buck leaves ten minutes later with a set of printed instructions for sending his first letter, assured that he can drop it off whenever he’s ready, and a name.

Staff Sergeant Edmundo “Eddie” Diaz.

Relationship Advice from Complete Strangers Online by HMSLusitania (Rated T)

Hi, I’ve never made a Reddit post before and I’m not 100% sure what I’m doing but I need advice and can’t ask anyone in my real life. So, I [30M] have this best friend [34M]…

Leading with the Left by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Rated E)

When Buck said he was a "bartender" in "South America" what he actually meant was "stripper" in "Mexico."

And when Eddie said, "What's your problem?" what he actually meant was, "Is this about the time you gave me a lap dance?"

In other words, there's a few things the 118 doesn't know about Buck. Or Eddie. Or Buck and Eddie's relationship.

fireflies where my caution should be by littlesnowpea (Rated M)

“You never talk about your parents,” Eddie says, which is not even remotely what Buck expects Eddie to say. He frowns, tilts his head, but it isn’t a question, as evidenced by Eddie charging on. “I never asked because I figured it was your business, but the look on your face any time they’re brought up tells me you don’t get along.”

Buck swallows hard, against a lump in his throat. His parents? Eddie’s right, he never talks about them, for good reason. He opens his mouth, then closes it again, not sure what he’s even going to say.

Eddie takes it as the answer Buck is trying to make it out to be. He squeezes Buck’s wrist again, takes a deep breath, like he’s on a call with someone who’s panicking. Buck finds his breathing slowing to match Eddie’s, and Eddie nods as Buck gets it under control.

“There are people on the porch,” Eddie says, voice even. “Saying they want to meet their grandchild.”

Asked, Offered, Given, (He's) Taken by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Rated E)

People like to flirt with Buck on calls. It kind of makes Buck uncomfortable.

And that makes Eddie frustrated.

I Hit the Accelerator (But the Car was in Reverse) by extasiswings, letmetellyouaboutmyfeels (Rated E)

When Buck is forced to confront the truth about his breakup with Abby, having casual sex with his hot new coworker seems like the best rebound idea.

Unfortunately, that hot new coworker turns into his best friend. But best friends can keep having sex with each other, right?

There's no way this could possibly go wrong.

Memorable by JessicaMDawn (Rated T)

Six times Buck got recognized by people he saved during the tsunami, and how his team realized he was a hero.

All Bets are Off by NobodyKnows_U (Not Rated)

Or, the five times the firefam realized Buck and Eddie were in love, and the one-time Eddie finally did something about it.

fire on fire by extasiswings (Rated T)

Or: Buck and Eddie get in the habit of sharing a bed while living together during quarantine. It's platonic until it isn't.

Better Together by Randomfandombloggs09 (Not Rated)

5 times Eddie sees Buck wearing his last name and 1 time its not just his

Daddy and Pops by EdithBlake (Rated M)

When Christopher calls Buck 'Pops' things get a bit confusing. Buck and Eddie have a talk with Christopher that ends up with both of them being even more confused by how right it sounds.

the meaning of the words you see by florenceandthemachine (Rated E)

unknown sender: Hi!

unknown sender: Just wanted to say thanks for letting me buy you a drink, and for your number. Sorry I had to run.

unknown sender: I’m Eddie by the way.

sent: hey um

sent: i don’t want 2 be this guy but

sent: i think u mayb put the wrong # in ur phone

the dream you wish will come true by woodchoc_magnum (Rated M)

In which Christopher Diaz cannot understand why his father would want to date his former teacher when Evan Buckley is right there.

vienna waits for you by mottainai (Not Rated)

Eddie doesn't deserve a soulmate.

Work Husband by hideeho (Rated T)

“What...what have you done with Buck?” Eddie is going to kill him for messing with his phone. No, that’s too extreme. He’s going to maim him. Just a little.

“Check under H,” Chim offers helpfully, shooting a look over to Hen with a smirk.

Why the hell would he be under—

Then he sees it.

Husband.

Bad Neighbors by firstdegreefangirl (Rated E)

Eddie's new neighbors are keeping him up all night. He calls on his best friend for a little taste of their own medicine.

Cross the Line by Sirencalls (Rated E)

Eddie laughs, short and quiet and almost to himself. “No. If you want to learn, then I’m gonna be the one to teach you.”

Buck is pretty sure his brain stops working. “What? Why?”

Eddie turns to look at him and steps closer, their chests only a few inches apart. “Because there are people out there who will take advantage of how naïve you are. They’ll hurt you, and I won’t.” Eddie’s eyes are so intense that Buck doesn’t have any choice but to believe him. “If you want someone to do this for you, to—to dominate you, it has to be me. I don’t trust anyone else to do it right.”

pretty in pink by dykeevans (Rated E)

Buck forgets that he and Eddie made plans to hang out until Eddie shows up and Buck's in the middle of laundry day.

His laundry day outfit consists of a small pink crop top and grey sweatpants.

Eddie loses his damn mind. Me too, though, me too.

the distance to the stars by cloudydaisies (Rated G)

“Didn’t know you were seeing someone.”

Buck just laughs. Like, honest to god giggles. Eddie is stuck fighting off doubly massive waves of butterflies and confusion, all while Buck just gazes down at him.

“That’s cute,” he hears Buck mumble, just before climbing into the truck, calling Eddie after him.

-or, everyone knows eddie is dating buck except for eddie, literally.

Something Old, Something New by dumbhuman (Rated E)

“Damn, I love weddings!” Buck’s face lit up as he closed the door.

If asked later, Eddie wouldn’t have been able to explain what came over him in that moment to make him ask the question. Or, at least, he wouldn’t have wanted to explain. The exhaustion was an easy excuse, but he knew deep down that it wasn’t a real one.

“Why don’t you come with me?”

one of the few things by thatnerdemryn (Rated G)

five times that Eddie tells someone else that Buck is Christopher's legal guardian plus one time he finally tells Buck.

I Didn't Know I Was Lonely 'Til I Saw Your Face by HMSLusitania (Rated T)

Total strangers Buck and Eddie go to couple's therapy together to get out of the therapy requirements their captains have placed on them.

things we shouldn't do by Ingu (Rated T)

“Why is everybody taking my relationship status so personally? Can’t I be fine with being single?” Buck said.

“Hey, you don’t have to say yes, be sad and alone if that’s what you want,” Josh replied. “But, I’m just saying. I’ve seen photos and this guy is volcanic levels of hot. Also, single dad, super cute kid. Saves lives for a living like you. I think you should give it a go.”

(the one where Buck and Eddie accidentally get set up on a blind date with each other, and everything snowballs from there)

Keeping It In The Family by Wolves_of_Innistrad (Rated T)

A young man shows up at the firehouse looking for Buck. Turns out Javier was a Bartender with Buck in Mexico. He’s back in LA, looking to reconnect and very flirty. Cue Eddie realizing Buck is not as straight as he thought.

kiss me (like your ex is in the room) by rebeccaofsbfarm (Rated E)

Eddie Diaz gets drunk and protective and signs up for a fake double date to get back at his friend's ex.

Leave the Light On (I'll Be Coming Home) by HMSLusitania (Rated M)

An accident on a call leaves Buck with custody of Chris after Eddie is… missing presumed.

While they navigate their new family circumstances -- and fight to stay together, despite Eddie's parents' best efforts -- a John Doe wakes up in a coma ward with no memory of his own life beyond the knowledge he has a son named Christopher and, somehow, he needs to get home

All my Buddie AO3 bookmarks

As I said this fandom has some very talented people, some of my favorite Authors's Tumblrs below, I recommend all the things they wrote and their blogs are very good.

@elvensorceress, @hmslusitania, @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels, @extasiswings

For gifs:

@arrenemris, @skylessnights (very lovely AU gifsets)

@from-nova(good gifs & content)

For Podfics: @mistmarauder everything she ever read is amazing, her podfics are high quality and she has a very lovely voice and her presence calms me down lol I recommend it

I'm sorry there are a lot more people but I'm kinda in a rush haha most of the people I follow are amazing, but the ones I mentioned here are enough to get you started or entertained for a while.

Buddie fics are amazing, this pairing has spoiled me so much, everyone I met because of it is nice and so active and talented.

Sorry mutuals if I forgot someone! 

I hope I helped Anon, have fun!

(Tell me if any link is wrong please, thanks)

[nobody-knose--archive]

grading tally hall songs based on how well they hold up when your earbuds are broken and you can only hear the right channel:

taken for a ride: mostly it's just quieter and i constantly get the impression i'm missing out on stuff whether i am or not. bonus point allotted for missing out on joe's part at the end specifically. 6/10 banana man: i don't miss the vibrato. i do miss some of the harmonies. being able to hear the melodica & warbly guitar when they appear is nice. 4/10 mainly because i already dislike this song be born: the fact that right off the bat i can hear something different with the guitar is a marker of how well i know this song more than anything else. the jeremy kittel fiddle doesn't deserve to be this quiet & neither does zubin. 5/10 the bidding: the intro could be mistaken for that of the pingry ep. unfortunate. also, the guitar at the end is easier to hear. 7/10 because bora & ross aren't there. i miss them just apathy: at first the acoustic guitar's absence is very easy to miss and then the actual verses start and it's like. this is half of a song. 5/10 this is half of a song spring & a storm: i didn't want you whispering into my ear anyway, joe. i would like to know what you did with the little kids, joe. 8/10 ah these are some lovely peaceful rain sounds- oh god oh fuck the drums the whole world & you: this song is always perfect. wonky harmonies make it more perfect. 10/10. greener: i know for a fact this would be worse as the 2005 version but this isn't the 2005 version so it's pretty okay. 9/10 i don't know what to say haiku: to quote myself at an earlier date: rob’s lonely And alone & joe is stuck in the void again (but what else is new?). 6/10 literally every song is worse without zubin two wuv: this song is just different in most ways i can't call it bad or lacking it's just different. wonky, even. 9/10 honestly i wish it had more differences hidden in the sand: fuck dude that sand sure can hidden. 7/10 13: reminds me of a ytp but if a ytp had the budget for audio panning. 5/10 like 13 already doesn't have much to offer and you take away half of the only vocals? what's even the point good day: oh lord andrew your masterpiece has been ruined i'm so sorry. where are the sounds? the wonky shenanigans? 4/10 look how they massacred my boy ruler of everything: i know this song's audio channel shenanigans inside & out, but i don't even need to, really. 5/10 so it can match with 13 welcome to tally hall: this feels the most relevant place to say i know there'd be a lot more missing in the 2005 versions for all of these songs but that's too much tally hall for me to listen to in one day. 7/10 the glass breaking sound is gone - &: literally the entire keyboard part is gone. like it may have been a silly little organ synth but it was organ-ic enough in my heart. 5/10 wow a perfect split it's almost like it's 5/10ths good & 5/10ths evil. that'd be silly though no way it's real you & me: *starts listening* something is missing isn't it *fiddles with earbuds* ah yes the entirety of zubin sedghi. 7.8/10 too little bassist out in the twilight: huagh 1/10 the trap: zubin sedghi jumpscares are the only valid kind of jumpscare. 3/10 i mean objectively this is worse but it's also really funny like this. plus hasn't everyone been curious about listening to it like this at one point fate of the stars: (1st part) on one hand, you miss out on an entire arpeggio. big l. on the other hand, that guitar strumming fucks. (2nd part) it feels less cavernous. (3rd part) more guitar is not a fair trade for less harp. 3/10 if you're going to listen to fots then you ought to go all out sacred beast: the song that inspired me to do all this because while it is lacking in some ways, i think the stronger acoustic guitar gives it an interestingly different sound. 8/10 worth checking out a lady: conjures imagery of a universe where tally hall is more not-rock band musicians than rock band musicians. 10/10 this is kind of just a different song who you are: reminds me of live performances of this song. that's a good thing. 8/10 it's like. not that different man you: i forgot there's string instruments in this song. 9/10 andrew really moved past audio channel differences after 2005 huh misery fell: it's easy to not notice any differences till the chorus buildup but that doesn't mean there aren't any! 7/10 it's interesting to see my suspicions confirmed on this album having less audio channel shenanigans than mmmm never meant to know: i'm frantically hurrying from place to place searching for the guitar's counterpart but it's nowhere to be found it's gone 5/10 turn the lights off: like the only place it's notable anything's missing is that bridge/breakdown part & the periodic background chanting and even then it's not a big deal. i'm weirdly disappointed. 7/10 hymn for a scarecrow: if you don't think this song sounds terrible and incomplete without andrew on piano then get out of my house. 4/10 one shouldn't have to choose between the weeping guitar & cascading piano in the breakdown cannibal: i mean this is a zubin song. why not play the bass more than anything else. the acoustic guitar is still there kinda. 6/10 i'm grooving

[thirteenandten]

Comfortember 2021

This year I’m participating in the Comfortember event and this is my masterlist to keep all my entries organized.

The event is not for any specific fandom, but all my fics will be Star Wars related, including several characters, friendships, ships, eras and verses. So feel free to take a look and see if something interests you.

For more info about the event visit @comfortember

Fics under the cut.

30 of 30 done!

1. Discovery || An unexpected reveal

In a gentler Galaxy... The Clone War is over, Ahsoka has left the Order and Anakin has just sent her the most strange message asking her to return to Coruscant. He really needs to tell her something.

1736 words | read on ao3

2. Darkness || No need to be lonely

For Rex, darkness meant safety and warmth. It meant he got to spend another night with his brothers.

868 words | read on ao3

3. Hugs || Breathe around the pain

Since Beru received the news of her sister passing away, grief had been washing over her like waves.

554 words | read on ao3

4. Friends || It’s nice to have a friend

Anakin is still new to the Temple and the amount of Force-sensitive beings around him is overwhelming. Lucky for him, Aayla is there to cheer him up and keep him company.

750 words | read on ao3

5. Coping || In the cracks of light

Obi-Wan returns from Mandalore with a pain so large Anakin and Ahsoka don't know what they can do to help him feel better. But that doesn't mean they won't try.

825 words | read on ao3

6. Falling leaves || This is home

Returning to the Temple after a mission was hard. The relief of being back home and feeling safe was constantly clouded by the absence of those fighting or dead. Ahsoka wasn't feeling her best, but a group of younglings found her just in time to cheer her up.

774 words | read on ao3

7. Insecurity || Is it enough?

Objectively, Leia knew that some battles had to be lost, and that despite the failure of their intel team’s latest mission, they were still on the right track to take down the Empire. And yet, some days those losses were monumental and pierced through her chest like a blaster shot, leaving her breathless and numb.

834 words | read on ao3

8. Waterfall || On begged and borrowed time

After they are attacked in the middle of a diplomatic mission, Cody and Obi-Wan end up stranded in a small jungle planet. Help will shortly be there for them, but meanwhile, Cody decides it's better for them to make the most of their time away from the war.

1324 words | read on ao3

9. Fear || Quédate conmigo (hasta que se caiga el cielo)

In a gentler Galaxy... Padmé is having nightmares about the twins dying during childbirth. The possibility of them being visions looms over her and Anakin, though scared just the same, tries his best to calm her.

851 words | read on ao3

10. Cuddling || Wild Embers

After a long day, Queen Amidala and her royal handmaidens deserve a soft and warm evening for themselves. Cuddling ensues.

1390 words | read on ao3

11. Warmth || We will find a way (through the dark)

Rebuilding a galactic republic is an exhausting job. Leia is tired and misses her home planet, but luckily for her, there are two people ready to take care of her even when she doesn't realize she needs it.

476 words | read on ao3

12. Make something || Something to give

Rebuilding a galactic republic is an exhausting job. Leia is tired and misses her home planet, but luckily for her, there are two people ready to take care of her even when she doesn't realize she needs it.

762 words | read on ao3

13. Confession || The name on your lips

Sabé knows when her words sound like a petition, and she knows Padmé can only give so much of herself.

488 words | read on ao3

14. Crackling fire || In your arms

Stuck planetside for the night, Din has to keep an eye on any approaching threats while ignoring one Force-sensitive child asking to be cuddled.

575 words | read on ao3

15. Scars || And I’ll care for you

In a gentler Galaxy... An essential part of being a devoted husband includes knowing how to take care of your wife's sunburnt scars, Anakin knows this very well.

861 words | read on ao3

16. Car rides || Runaway

It took much convincing from their siblings on either side, but finally Cody and Obi-Wan decided to go on a small road trip for the weekend.

638 words | read on ao3

17. Insomnia || Under the stars

It's been a long mission with too little food and too many battles, but even on calmer nights, Ahsoka struggles to fall asleep. The stars, his Grandmaster and a couple stories might do the trick though.

723 words | read on ao3

18. Laughing || Feels like home

Hera is soaked from the rain, she's exhausted from debfrieng and her body is aching. Lucky for her, the Ghost crew are Certified Experts at making Hera Syndylla feel better (even if they don't know it).

1128 words | read on ao3

19. Walk in the moonlight || What do I do (with a love that won't sit still)?

Rex knows his older brother like the back of his hand, so he immediately knows something is up when Cody makes up a poor excuse to talk with him. The big question, though, is what he needs to talk with Rex about...

951 words | read on ao3

20. Blanket fort || You laugh like a child

Rey and Finn don't seem convinced at all when Poe and Rose try to explain the joy and fun of building blankte forts. The thing is, that was enough for Poe to consider it a challenge. Shenanigans ensue.

556 words | read on ao3

21. Pets || An everlasting summer (since we found each other)

The many risks of taking your daughter to an event to aid an animal shelter include coming back home with a new family member. Obi-Wan is not 100% amused, but who can deny anything to Cody and Ahsoka when they are that excited about it? Certainly not him.

1237 words | read on ao3

22. Nightmares || I wake in the night, I pace like a ghost

Omega should be asleep by the time she hears one of her brothers clearly having a nightmare. Little sister to the rescue, she knows exactly what to do to make Echo feel a little bit better.

1042 words | read on ao3

23. Hiding || Adventures in the land of Breha’s wardrobe

Leia Organa is arguably the most determined child in Alderaan. So while she knows she's not supposed to wander the palace without company, nor supposed to play in her parents room, nor supposed to use her mother's dresses as costumes... Well, there's a high chance she'll do it anyway.

1504 words | read on ao3

24. Family || Just go with the seasons

Han was exhausted and it was only Tuesday. All he wanted was to lay on his mattress for a couple hours, but there he was, parking in front of his parents-in-law only because Leia had invited him for dinner with the sweetest smile in the world.

1629 words | read on ao3

25. Mental health || This is an intervention

Anakin and Padmé are struggling with their finals, stress and lack of sleeping bringing them dangerously close to a breaking point. Obi-Wan and Ahsoka decide it's their duty to get the other two to rest before they collapse.

1515 words | read on ao3

26. Confrontation || Yellow

Marshall Commander Cody has a secret admirer or so the random flowers he receives suggest.

1272 words | read on ao3

27. Confidence || To grow together

For Mace Windu, there was never a doubt that Depa would be a fantastic Jedi Knight. With the trials so near, maybe it's time to let his Padawan know that.

1050 words | read on ao3

28. Treehouse || I could see this view a hundred times

Visiting Poe's dad, Finn discovers the treehouse in the back garden holds much more than simple memories from Poe's childhood.

998 words | read on ao3

29. Reunited || Under the twin suns

There's a visitor outside of Obi-Wan's home on Tatooine. And even though his every cell is telling him he must be dreaming, Ahsoka Tano is actually there, waiting for him.

655 words | read on ao3

30. First snow || As the snowflakes fall

Young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi hates cold planets... until a certain Padawan gets to experience his first fall of snow.

811 words | read on ao3

[gleekto]

Fic: Crush Into Me (19/22)

Summary:  Third year NYADA student, Kurt, returns to Lima for an internship coaching the Glee club. The leather jacket and eyebrow ring-clad senior, Blaine, thinks he’s cute.

slightly older teacher-ish!Kurt/ badboy!Blaine

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen

Day Nineteen (Kurt) (word: Core):

So apparently they’re doing this.

It doesn’t take long to lose most of their clothes down to their boxers (or in Blaine’s case, really nicely fitting red boxer briefs). They’re both in suits from sectionals, and once they run through the formal ‘tour’ of Blaine’s house and the necessary ‘this is my kitchen’s niceties, and finally close Blaine’s bedroom door, they’re on each other quickly, pulling off blazers and unbuttoning and unzipping all that constraining material. Only thing slowing them down is breathless kissing as more clothes pile up on the floor.

“I meant what I said the other day,” Blaine says. “I love kissing you.” Blaine’s on him again, wrapping his bare arm behind Kurt’s unbuttoned white shirt, pulling their bodies and mouths together. Kurt can feel Blaine’s hunger - any nerves from inexperience overtaken by desire. Not that Blaine has ever been shy or timid about all things sex - Blaine practically introduced himself with a pick up line. But now, despite Kurt’s own resistance, this is real. And Blaine does know what he wants and Kurt feels it everywhere. He moans into Blaine’s long open kiss, and pushes Blaine down on his bed, squeezing his ass. Blaine’s body tenses at the new touch. Kurt leaves his hands there. He’s hungry too.

Blaine starts to pull at the elastic of Kurt’s briefs. “Just wait,” Kurt says. He does have a few tricks up his sleeves and he wants to take Blaine apart. He deserves it - his first time. Also, Kurt wants to be memorable. 

He starts kissing down Blaine’s body, aware of the feeling of Blaine’s cock hardening against his leg. “You have an amazing body,” Kurt breathes. He places his palm flat on Blaine’s belly and kisses the very slight pouch - He can feel Blaine’s core tense at the ticklish wetness, then he relaxes. When Blaine seems lost in it, Kurt gently rubs him, over his underwear, just a tease.

“Ah!” Blaine vocalizes at the first touch under his boxer briefs. Kurt moves his own body down further and licks gently, like a popsicle. He knows it’s not nearly enough.

“I want to do this,” Kurt says and takes all of him into his mouth and sucks, before popping off and looking at him with a mischievious smile.

“I have no objection,” Blaine pants, toes curled. “If that’s what you’re wondering. But what about you-”

“Hush,” Kurt crawls back up and kisses him quiet, wondering if Blaine can taste himself. “Trust me this is a turn on. We’ll see how you’re doing after you come.” Kurt grins at Blaine’s look of indulgent surprise and sinks down on him again. It’s fun to be in charge and unafraid. Not that Blaine is afraid. The way he is letting himself get lost in the pleasure, eyes closed and willing to moan and sigh and even hold Kurt’s head and push up into Kurt’s throat. He is into it, a natural lover. But Kurt is running the show and he plans to get a 5 star review. “You’re close, Blaine,” Kurt pops off. “Don’t worry, come in my mouth.” Blaine opens one eye as Kurt goes down again and prepares himself, and Kurt’s eyes give him a nod. He pushes in and moans loudly as he comes.

Kurt watches Blaine as his heart rate slows and body softens in the after waves. Blaine is beautiful in his body. He’s lying naked, body on display, relaxed and happy to let Kurt stare at him. He doesn’t try to even pull up a cover. Well, Blaine does like to be the centre of attention.

“You’re staring at me,” Blaine says plainly as he circles his index finger along Kurt’s thigh. Kurt is still very hard, kneeling beside his sex-drunk object of desire.

“You don’t seem to mind.”

“I don’t. I’ve been trying to get your attention all semester, in fact.”

“Well, you have my attention,” Kurt says. Now Blaine stares, obviously realizing that Kurt is still definitely not done with this night. He gestures at Kurt’s body. “Yeah, I know,” Kurt tries not to blush. Blaine literally just came in his mouth. Why on earth would he blush at being hard? “I can just quickly finish myself.”

“No, no way, Kurt.” Kurt looks at him questioningly. “Fuck me,” Blaine says simply. “Seriously. I want you to fuck me.”

[lovelyamneris]

rufus takedowns ranked

1. fabian deserved more feral moments tbh. briefly loses all his rational thinking because he’s so in love with nina. charges a man holding a very fragile hourglass of deadly sandflies head first while screaming at the top of his lungs. rufus briefly saw the face of God 

2. an actual murder attempt. jerome was one hundred percent sure that the sandflies would kill rufus on the spot and he didn’t even hesitate. “It was him or us Nina.” absolutely savage. 

2. jerome literally tried to concuss him. as he should. yeets him into a bunch of metal cabinets at full strength while he’s trying to make a phone call. rufus is stumbling for a full minute even after jerome has already sprinted away. 

3. victor and rufus fighting Like That in the middle of the hallway. the way they’re old friends. not to embarrass myself in front of my cool and rad Film mutuals but literally mikey and nicky vibes. not really a takedown bc rufus ran away scared but still iconic. 

4. patricia collapsing the boxes on him. literally sounds like there’s various heavy metal objects in them and it probably HURT. the way he fell down like a plank always absolutely sends me. so what if he was faking being unconscious for dramatic effect I’m 100% sure that he was in pain for the next hour at least and he deserved it.  

4. amber slapping him in the face while he’s still drugged up on hospital medication and has literally no idea what’s going on. I’m 100% that he saw stars. "should I slap him again?” not a takedown but I needed to include it. 

5. doesn’t count bc Eddie didn’t technically kill him but he didn’t technically try and save him either so I’m giving it a mention. the good samaritan law like in the seinfeld series finale. has super powers and watches rufus get dragged to super hell without even trying to help. amazing. show stopping. eddie i love you.