#reading recaps

[veliseraptor]

December Reading Recap

It's not that late in the month! It's still January!

long-ass post cause I read a lot last month; putting it under a read more to save your dashes.

Feast of Souls and Wings of Wrath by C.S. Friedman. I've really enjoyed this series so far, which has been sitting on my shelf forever because it shares an author with the Coldfire Trilogy, which I love. I read a complaint about it that was criticizing the fact that the male characters are less well developed than the female characters, which is, to be fair, kind of true, but also the female characters are pretty great so I'm not really complaining. It's got some gender issues as one might expect from a early 2000s fantasy series, but fewer than I would've feared, and it's interesting enough in terms of the worldbuilding and story it's telling that I've put in the effort to track down the books (which aren't the easiest to find anymore). Looking forward to reading the last one, slightly delayed by my used copy getting lost in the mail.

Super-History: Comic Book Superheroes and American Society, 1938 to the Present by Jeffrey K. Johnson. I don't know why I keep reading books about superhero comics when they keep disappointing me, but for some reason I do keep doing it. Very shallow analysis and I learned absolutely nothing new from this book. I suspect I spent too much on it. Ah well.

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh. Me and novellas have a love-hate relationship - when I like them I really like them but a lot of times they don't work for me. I've had this one on my shelf for quite a while and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. A lovely little story with the texture of a fairy or folk tale.

Seduced by Story: The Use and Abuse of Narrative by Peter Brooks. This book was interesting but not quite what I was hoping for - I wanted more of a dissection of the way that the tendency to narrativize everything can be problematic (in the academic sense) but I felt like that ended up being less the focus than I wanted it to be, and that there were fewer examples of the trend than there could have been. I think I found the first chapter the most compelling of the five, personally.

When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill. I really enjoyed this book while I was reading it and then read a bunch of critical reviews and was like. Hm. Maybe this wasn't that good after all. So I'm not sure what to make of that - either my own taste is bad or I was just enjoying the ride too much at the time to notice. I suspect the latter might be the case. Not that it was bad, but it was certainly a somewhat shallow and obvious metaphor, and I feel like the return of the dragons halfway through the book ultimately weakened the book as a whole.

Bird Box by Josh Malerman. Not my favorite work of horror but I did love that (a) everything remained unexplained all the way through to the end and (b) the sustaining of tension was impeccably done. I powered through this book in a single plane ride, pretty much, because the pacing dragged me through it without wanting to stop.

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. I've had this novella on my shelf for ages too, and while I didn't love it quite as much as I expected to based on the responses I've seen elsewhere, it was a good one, and actually felt well suited to a novella (which is sometimes my issue with them). I'm going to be picking up the sequel, when I get the chance.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. Apparently this past month was the month of (a) picking up books that'd been sitting unread on my shelf for a while and (b) fantasy books from the early 2000s. I enjoyed this one but wasn't overly impressed by it, on the whole; certainly not enough that I'll be picking up the following in the series, though that's partly because what drew me to this one in the first place was the conceit of the fairy tale retelling. And I will say that, of the fairy tale retellings I've read - and I've read a fair amount - this was one of the better ones.

The Hunter by Tana French. Been a long time since Tana French, and also I always forget how much I like reading mysteries until I read another mystery. Also how much I like Tana French. I really liked this one and I'm glad I finally got around to it.

Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Read this little novel on a recommendation from my father and while it's certainly not my usual fare I'm glad I did. I'm not totally sure what to make of it as a whole but just in terms of the reading experience, and the prose itself, it was a pleasure to read.

The Secret History of Moscow by Ekaterina Sedia. Yet another book that I've been meaning to read for literal years! I don't even remember when I picked it up or why, I think it was sort of an impulse purchase possibly based on a blurb comparison to Neverwhere. I didn't love it but I'm glad I read it just the same - there's definitely something about the texture that reminded me a little of Sergei Lukyanenko's books, which I remember really liking and now kind of want to reread. I wonder how hard those are to find these days.

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho. Definitely one of my favorite books I read last month. Possibly the favorite. I really liked Zen Cho's other work I've read but I think this is my favorite of hers, and definitely comes with a recommendation - also cements that I'm going to be looking for more of her work in the future.

Wonder Woman Unbound: The Curious History of the World's Most Famous Heroine by Tim Hanley. Yes, another history of comic books and another...well, it wasn't as much of a disappointment as the other one, but I still found it fell short of what I wanted, particularly in the analysis of more modern comics. The skating over of Greg Rucka's run felt particularly egregious to me, personally, and I don't think that's just because I really like it. I did learn some things from it, but on the whole found it less than edifying.

The September House by Carissa Orlando. One of my other favorite books of the month and one of the better works of horror I've read in a while - the profoundly unreliable narrator and the gradual reveal of just how unreliable is very well done. I'm not sure that the twist on the twist worked for me - that it wouldn't have been better with just the twist - but I felt the book was well done enough to earn the benefit of the doubt on that front.

American Scary: A History of Horror, from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond by Jeremy Dauber. Better than the last history of American horror I read, but still not particularly outstanding in terms of the actual analysis, and I didn't learn a whole lot that was new from my other readings on the topic.

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman. I've not read any Lev Grossman before because I heard pretty mixed things about the Magicians Trilogy, but my sister recommended I give this one a try and I'm glad I did. I'm not deep in Arthuriana, and perhaps someone who was would feel differently (and I'm not totally sure how I feel about the ultimate antagonist choice), but I liked the way that it used lesser known/more obscure knights and I'm always a sucker for a good aftermath-of-a-collapse story. I guess that's the post-apocalypse literature fan still in me despite the fact that I haven't read much of that genre recently.

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun: Vol. 7 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou. I'm so glad that we've hit this point in this novel. I'm especially glad because it's now passed the point where the human translation stopped so I can actually read something that's not a (cleaned up) machine translation. But mostly I'm glad because this is the point of the story where things really get juicy (for me, specifically). As usual, the next volumes can't come out fast enough (but also please, translators, take your time).

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space by Adam Higginbotham. I read Midnight in Chernobyl and really liked it, so I was excited to read this one and felt like I was suitably rewarded, despite being loosely familiar with the outlines of the central story. This book went more deeply into the lead up to the Challenger explosion, and how the warning signs were there for many, many years prior to the launch itself. Compellingly written piece of reportage.

Our Dogs, Ourselves: The Story of a Singular Bond by Alexandra Horowitz. I really enjoyed reading the previous book by this author, but I felt this one was a little...I'm not sure. Sentimental? Polemic? About the author's personal feelings rather than a more scientific/information angle? It was more a book of personal essays than anything else and while that might have been fine it wasn't what I was looking for.

Monstress, vol. 9: The Possessed by Marjorie Liu. Every time I read a new volume of this series I feel like I should go back and reread everything that came before. Continues to be That Good, though, and I'm going to be following this one for however long it goes, which still feels like it could either be a while or not that many more volumes. I'm not reading that many graphic novels these days but I'm happy to be keeping up with this one. If I felt like returning to my old vice (single issues) this would definitely be a series I'd follow month by month.

A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes. The entire time I read this book I kept thinking "The Silence of the Girls did it better" and that really, I feel like, sums it up for me. I just wasn't impressed! It wasn't actively bad, didn't contain anything that really pissed me off, but...just felt thoroughly mediocre, and I came out of it not sure what all the fuss was about. So I guess mark another Greek myth retelling down as a disappointment. (And yet, like comic book history, I keep reading them anyway.)

The Fisherman by John Langan. Two whole horror books I actually really liked this month! I've had this one on my list for approximately forever and I feel like it was worth the long wait for me to finally get around to it. I'm a little sad this author doesn't seem to have published anything else, because I would love to read more by him.

The Remaking by Clay McLeod Chapman. On the flip side, horror that was, while not unpleasurable to read, not particularly good. It was very much the definition of "fine." I don't regret the experience of reading it but I wouldn't recommend it either, and probably won't be picking anything else up by the same author.

Black Sun Light My Way by Jo Spurrier. I'm still excited about this series, currently reading the third one, sort of want to make other people read it but (a) it's not that easy to find and (b) I feel funny recommending it for reasons I can't fully articulate. But I definitely have a new terrible blorbo and a new even worse threesome ship and I'm sure there isn't any fanfic. Thank you so much @mongooseland for introducing me to this one.

---

So that's December, in books. Like I said, currently reading North Sun Guide Me Home by Jo Spurrier to finish out that series, and then I'm reading the next volume of QJJ that just came out in translation, and then I'm planning on The Legacy of Kings by C.S. Friedman to finish out that series, and after that...not totally sure. Might go back to trying to rotate through genres, but probably not. Maybe there's some more early 2000s fantasy that's been on my list for a while that I can read. We'll just have to see.

[monstersandmagicians]

August Reading Recap

In which I finally read some books. 9, in fact. The book I'm writing also got some words added to it, and, gee, wonder if those two things are connected??? Anyway. This month wasn't the fanciest month, but I got those words into me that I very much needed, so, win win.

The Struggle - L. J. Smith Book 2 in The Vampire Diaries. The book which is about vampire... and diaries. But not diaries belonging to vampires. Well, not yet. Beyond that, I still stand by my ships, its fun, 90s YA. Bella Swan wishes she was Elena, girl got it done in two books flat. Either that or Bella needs to take that truck of hers over bridges more often.

(would you look at that, short and sweet. its not gonna hold)

How to ADHD - Jessica McCabe I've watched McCabe's YT channel (How to ADHD) and have found it a great resource. Consequently, I've been looking forward to this book since it was announced. This book will be a valuable resource to a lot of adults with ADHD, and possibly other neurodivergencies. I had the same issue I have with a lot of books in this genre, in that I already know. I'm basically reading these books looking for those little bits of information to fill in the gaps. Fun fact, I've played soccer for nearly two decades, and played baseball/softball for several years. I cannot slide. I've never performed a slide tackle or slid into a base. I've had coaches and try desperately to teach me. I can't. I am missing that piece of information to go from vertical to horizontal. It's not even fear. When I'm reading these books, I think it is that piece of information I'm looking for, and it's probably not going to be there. Anyway, again, useful resource, though if you feel its missing what you need, maybe try Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Dr Russell Berkley, which is the best book I've found on the topic.

Winter's Orbit - Everina Maxwell A fun queer sci-fi romance that I enjoyed even more so than Ocean's Echo. I did read that her next book is wlw, so I have high hopes for that - WO and OE had very similiar character dynamics. I cannot remember if Maxwell included trigger warnings at the front though, so if you need those sorts of things, maybe check out some reviews first.

A Taste of Gold and Iron - Alexandra Rowland My first successful foray into Rowland's work. If I hadn't been in a desperate need of romances I probably wouldn't have picked it up yet or enjoyed it as much as I did. Still, talented author, talented work and I look forward to coming back to some of her other works when the spirit so takes.

A Marvelous Light - Freya Marske Speaking of the spirit so taking, after dropping the kid off one morning, I turned right instead of left and ended up at the bookstore, purchasing this book. It was a reread, but it is always nice to read a book you own instead of borrowed. Tumblr should know the drill on this book. If you haven't read it, turn right instead of left and find yourself a copy. Marske is probably my favourite Australian author at the moment - she plays with concepts I love and uses language with such glee, talent and precision. I cannot wait for Swordcrossed.

Long Live Evil - Sarah Rees Brennan Okay, so, I needed to go to Woolies. I went to Woolies. Realised if I left the carpark, I would get trapped in the school rush. Went into Big W. Bought this book. Read the first couple of chapters in my car. Drove home. Read most of the book, until I had to go do my tutoring thing.

I HAD TO SPEND 2!! HOURS PART WAY THROUGH THAT CHAPTER!!!

Anyway, Rees Brennan made me doubt my ships were going to be canon (I am typically a very canon-based shipper) and then followed through with a brilliant dynamic. Everyone in this book is brilliant. I was about to start listing characters, only to realise, that would be almost all of them. If you enjoyed In Other Lands, please read this. If you want a fun romp that will also attack your feelings, with a knife, please read this. If you think this looks camp and ridiculous, please read this, you are right and it is amazing.

All the Hidden Paths - Foz Meadows Another queer fantasy romance, this time the sequel to A Strange and Stubborn Endurance, which I read in May. It was a good book, and if you are a regular reader of this sub-genre, you will probably enjoy it. I'm not a regular reader of the sub-genre for a reason. I spent a chunk of time actually waiting for something to physically break the characters to we could start moving forward. I prefer pain over angst, maybe? I don't know. Furthermore, the third POV introduced was not for me, and, for the first time in my life, I just skipped those chapters. As a reader, its important to know your limits and that was hitting on of mine. Gods, I'm sounding like such a downer. I promise this was a good book, I was just not the target audience.

Tidal Creatures - Seanan McGuire Book 3 of McGuire's Alchemical Journeys series. Not my favourite installment (Middlegame my beloved) but a solid, creative book. If you liked Middlegame but found Seasonal Fears lacking (I didn't, but it wasn't the great thing Middlegame was and I know a lot of people felt let down) this book sits between them, I'd say; while the plot isn't the most complex thing, there are clever little ideas you can sink into here. (I did get irrationally mad at a near-throwaway line partway through, but I think that might just be because McGuire and I come from different backgrounds).

All the Hollow of the Sky - Kit Whitfield Kinda sequel to Heart of Hidden Things, which I read in September, last year. Yes, I had to wait that long on my hold. Anyway. I took forever to read, and actually finished it early in the month, but its last because I forgot to write it down. Mostly, the main problem of this book could be resolved by murder, and, look, I understand why it wasn't, but, come on, I really don't think it would have counted. It was a technically skilled book, but, in then end, I just felt tired. Additionally, the kid (whose name I'm blanking on) felt a lot younger than he was meant to be. That said, while Whitfield's backlist does not interest me, there was a reason I waited for this book and I will read her future works if they sound in my wheelhouse.

(By Kinda Sequel, I mean that the book follows the same people, in the events following book 1, but the whole book is arranged in such a different way that it nearly pushes into another genre).

[homkamiro]

Heavy language

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

I came here for the silly haha doodles, but I've stayed for the absolutely blazing commentary in the tags. Your analysis of this story is so so so good! Thanks for all the work and thought you put into this!

I am just a silly little comics blog. I am not hiding anything in the tags, no way. Never.

[dailypokemoncrochet]

Daily Pokemon Crochet Recap 2024

I love those little yearly recaps so I did one for this project!

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

you want a new kind of guy, fine, i raise you: the lady i was briefly roommates with in college who once smoked a blunt at a party and then spent an hour confessing earnestly to me that she genuinely preferred reading detailed episode recaps over actually watching the tv show in question

[casscainmainly]

I headcanon that Jason, Cass, Barbara, and Duke are the major lit lovers in the Batfam, but they have very different tastes. Jason's taste leans toward British literature, stuff like Shakespeare and Alexander Pope (and Austen of course), but he also enjoys dystopian novels like Brave New World, 1984 etc.

Cass loves contemporary novels, including romance (stealing this from Shadow of the Batgirl!). She prefers stories with happy endings, and she also loves detective fiction, specifically British/American Golden Age - I think she'd adore Agatha Christie's cosies.

Barbara has the most diverse reading taste, and is the only one who can discuss books with the others without it devolving into a fight about whose taste is better. Her specialty is feminist fiction, stuff like Virginia Woolf, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Audre Lorde. She's not big on poetry, though.

Duke is THE poetry fan. He's a big defender of contemporary poetry, particularly poetry by POC authors, and loves Hanif Abdurraqib, Toi Derricotte, and Ocean Vuong. He does love Harlem Renaissance too, but makes fun of Jason if he brings up Langston Hughes (along the lines of 'oh is that the one Black poet you know?'. Jason, as a genuine Hughes fan, hates this). Duke, like Cass, loves detective fiction, but he prefers hardboiled noir over cosies. Cass and Duke get into tons of fights about this.

Duke and Jason both loathe BookTok, while Cass enjoys it. Barbara is neutral but prefers BookTube. They tried to form a book club once but Barbara didn't show up (she knew what would happen), Duke left halfway (he can be very elitist in his literature views), and then Cass threw Jason out a window (he insulted her reading taste).

These are just my thoughts, feel free to disagree/add on with any of your own!

[xiaq]

Favorite fantasy series: The Folk of the Air. I do NOT understand the hate this series gets on booktok/IG. The world-building is immaculate, the politics are juicy, the writing is engaging, and the romance is a slow burn that’s secondary to the plot and character development. I will read anything that Holly Black writes.

Favorite sci/fi series: The Murderbot Diaries. These are quick, quippy, and satisfying reads. I would die for Murderbot.

Favorite romance series: Not sure if they count as a series since they’re all standalones in the same universe, but Ali Hazelwood’s books ft. Women in STEM having unrealistic romances gets an A+ from me. If you need easy beach reads with happy endings, go for one of these (Also, the first book started as Star Wars fic; neat!).

Favorite graphic novel series: I’ve been following the Heartstopper webcomic for years, but I finally purchased/ re-read the print books this year. If you want sweet, nostalgic writing with diverse queer representation and whimsical art, Heartstopper is for you. If you want a historical/educational story, I highly recommend the Marchseries, which is an autobiographical view of the civil rights movement by John Lewis. 

Favorite historical romance: I know I’m not supposed to judge a book by it’s cover, but I put off reading A Lady for a Duke despite rave reviews because I simply did not vibe with the cover. This was a terrible choice. I read this book in one euphoric sitting and then re-read it two additional times this year. The banter! The pining! The drama! 

Favorite fantasy: A Taste of Gold and Iron and its follow-up short novella Tadek and the Princess. These books may have changed my brain chemistry. I loved this world and its characters and the novella made me cry like a baby.

Favorite science fiction: The Martian. I’d read this before but I re-read it on a work trip and fell in love all over again. Such an excellent science-y sci/fi book that nonetheless feels very approachable and fun.

Favorite non-fiction: They Were Her Property is the driest book I read this year but the content was fascinating (and horrifying). If you want to interrogate your perception of white women’s role in slavery (and, to a lesser degree, the role of Christianity therin) — take your time, and be ready to adjust your worldview—especially if you think Gone with the Wind was an accurate portrayal of the south. How to Survive a Plague, on the other hand, is less dry—you can tell a journalist wrote it—but it’s very detailed. It’s rare that I don’t finish a book in one or two sittings, but this took me over a month. If you’ve ever wondered about the social history of the AIDS epidemic and how a diagnosis went from a quick death sentence to an easily manageable condition (and how hard grassroots movements had to work to get some fucking help to make that happen), this is for you.

Favorite comic: Infidel. Damn. The art. The narrative. So short but so impactful. This is horror, so be mindful.

Favorite graphic novel: This is a tossup between If You’ll Have Me, a sugary-sweet sapphic romance, and The Prince and the Dressmaker which is an equally adorable story about expressing ones true self regardless of social expectations.

Favorite WTF: Butcher and Blackbird and Bride. I’m still not sure how I feel about B&B but it was certainly an interesting way to spend two hours. Bride is on the list purely because reading the word “knot” on a print page instead of an AO3 tab felt illegal.

Favorite feel-good/comedy: Monstrous Regiment. I’ve read this book so many times and, after the election, I read it again. I doubt any other book will surpass what has become an emotional support story for me.

Favorite YA: Cemetery Boys (Magic! Mystery! Queerness!) She Drives me Crazy(Athletics! Misunderstandings! Enemies to lovers! Queerness!), and A Little Bit Country (Country music! Thinly veiled Dolly Parton references! Queerness!) (Hm. Seems to be a theme here).

Favorite Sports Romance: Icebreaker (the Graziadei one, not the Hannah Grace one). You know how a lot of hockey books (my own included) can be light on the actual hockey? Not the case with Icebreaker. The character development was lovely, but the hockey was divine. Graziadei clearly knows and loves the sport.

Favorite historical fiction: What the Wind Knows (Mystery! Time Traveling! Love! Ireland!) and Kindred (Mystery! Time Traveling! Love! The Antebellum South!).

Favorite Space Odyssey: Gideon + Nona the Ninth. I had to make a special category because neither sci/fi nor fantasy feels appropriate for this yet incomplete series which is as rollicking good fun as it is completely confounding. I still have no idea what’s happening but I can’t wait to read the next one.

Favorite pleasant surprise: A Court of Mist and Fury. I waited so long to read the ACOTAR series because I got such conflicting reports from folks. I took the advice of a reader I trust and powered through the first book. ACOMAF was worth the contextualizing journey. I loved it. I’m still working through the rest of the series but this book was an unexpected joy.

Least favorite book: Lol, no. We don’t play that game here.

[ilikereadingthisiswhatilike]

December Recap Part 1

List was long so here Part 2 Recommendation Master list New Characters: Mel Medarada

(X) = Smut

Ambessa Medarda x Reader @gtgbabie0 Summary: You’ve spent all day sculpting, Ambessa takes it in her own hands to force you to take a break} Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

Diamond Choker @followjupiterslife (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

Roommate Vi @followjupiterslife Summary: Vi waking up hours after the encounter to an empty apartment and a lightbulb-bright idea — it’s been sooo long since she’s made you blush this hard and worried she’s been losing the knack of it, but now it’s like you’ve given her a whole new arsenal of ideas to turn you pretty pink Warnings: None Specials Tags: Roommate Au, Multi Part Vi

Yandere @xlovely-daydreamsx Summary: They will will do anything for the reader besides let them leave? Warnings: Kidnaping, manipulation Specials Tags: Yandere Au Vi, Caitlyn Kiramman, Jinx

Yandere @weepingchronicles Summary: reader was a part of an enemy group that maybe kidnapped Ellie but like over the course of like maybe a couple of days they became friends until you know Joel comes to get Ellie out of there Warnings: manipulation, violence, mentions of death, immolation Specials Tags: Yandere Au Ellie Williams, Joel Miller

Intrusion @abbyslovergirlxo (X) Summary: You, the pretty enforcer are tasked with retrieving very important documents from none other than Lead Commander Ambessa Merdarda. Sounds rather easy, until you see Silco’s right hand woman bent over her desk. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda, Sevika

caitlyn kiramman @pinkclairo(X) Summary: None Warnings: voyeurism , degrading Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

Girl next door @anngelbaby Summary: An heir to a rich family comes to Piltover seeking more suitors than her home land has to offer. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

Through Ash and Iron @playboysaleen Summary: Through Ash and Iron plunges you into the heart of Piltover’s gritty streets, where you’ve always felt the weight of your family’s failures. Rejected from the Junior Enforcer Program, your anger burns brighter than ever—until one fateful punch changes everything. The eyes of Piltover’s elite may look down on you, but it’s the wild eyes of Jinx that truly see you. She’s chaos personified, and you’re drawn to the destruction she promises. But that’s not all. Caitlyn Kiramman, a poised enforcer with a soft spot for rebels like you, offers you a chance to rewrite your future—if you can control the rage you can’t seem to escape. Torn between the order Caitlyn represents and the dangerous freedom Jinx offers, you stand at the crossroads of two worlds. As your power grows, so does the tension between these two women. One promises a chance at belonging, while the other ignites a fire you didn’t know you had. But the choices you make will change everything—not just for you, but for both cities teetering on the edge of war. Who will you choose? And how much of yourself will you lose along the way? Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman, Jinx

[UN] Fair Series @maicenitas Summary: In your attempt to help your mom, everything goes as wrong as it possibly can. Warnings: Neglect ; Violence ; Dark Content ; Torture ; Death ; Explicit Content ; Altered Reality Perception ; Gore Specials Tags: Multi-Chapter Batfamily

Baby blue and the mouse @misswynters Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Sister Au Jinx

domestic @l0vergirlv0mit Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Sister Au Catvi

Using you @yameoto(X) Summary: None Warnings: Girl Cock Specials Tags: None Catvi

not so yours @ones-g (X) Summary: Just Caitlyn being pathetic over a whore, you. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

Unnamed @capitan-queen-anne Summary: morning activities Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Catvi

after the storm @capitan-queen-anne Summary: vi with childhood crush!reader and they've spent years liking each other but were too oblivious/insecure to confess, then vi gets with caitlyn in s1 leaving reader heartbroken Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Vi

Don’t Take It Personal @therealmylesmorales Summary: you’re a little worried about how much time Vi is spending with her new friend Warnings: None Specials Tags: Multi Part Vi

wanna be yours @sunsburns (X) Summary: in the gritty underbelly of zaun, you find yourself entangled in the life of a new pit fighter: vi, a hardened fighter who wears her pain like armour. as a medic working in the fighting pit, you are tasked with patching up her wounds after matches, and you realize that while you can heal vi’s injuries, you can’t mend the broken pieces of her heart that belong to someone else. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Multi Part Vi

wanna be yours @sunsburns (X) Summary: in the gritty underbelly of zaun, you find yourself entangled in the life of a new pit fighter: vi, a hardened fighter who wears her pain like armour. as a medic working in the fighting pit, you are tasked with patching up her wounds after matches, and you realize that while you can heal vi’s injuries, you can’t mend the broken pieces of her heart that belong to someone else. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Multi Part Vi

How I met your grandfather @prismkith Summary: jinx like introducing her girlfriend, reader to vander/warwick Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Jinx

SWEET CHERRY @megalomaniacz (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Multi Part, Cam girl Au! Vi

As the Sun Comes Up @angelltheninth Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Mizu

BLINDS WIDE OPEN @valalice (X) Summary: you've unknowingly attracted the attention of piltover's finest, and now they'll do anything to make sure you're theirs. ( inspired by 'she' by tyler, the created ft. frank ocean Warnings: Stalking, manipulation, emotional distress Specials Tags: Stalker AU CaitVi

fuckgirls @yameoto (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: College AU CaitVi

Toxic @anas-aspiration (X) Summary: Vi gets hurt and when you try to help her she brushes you off aggressively, so you leave her be. You’re still pissed at her for being so harsh when you meant no harm, so when she comes to your apartment, you’re reluctant. Though in the end Vi always gets her way. Warnings: manipulation Specials Tags: None Vi

bathing with ambessa @sheloveschai (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

Housewives @cyber333angel(X) Summary: a day in the life of you being abby’s cute little wife that she loves to come home to everyday, seeing what a typical weekend is for the two of you. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Abby Anderson

SHE WON'T GO AWAY. @evabby Summary: you can't seem to break free from your relationship with abby. Warnings: manipulation, emotional distress Specials Tags: None Abby Anderson

Golden @lonelyfooryouonly Summary: We are thought to love someone for who they are, and if we find the right person, they will love us back for who we are. Spoiler alert, you did not find the right person. Warnings: toxic relationship, controlling partner, manipulation Specials Tags: None Abby Anderson

SHE’S A MANEATER @les4elliewilliams (X) Summary: After bumping into you on her first day of college, Ellie spends the entire year captivated by you from a distance. You're everything she could never be—popular, wealthy, and effortlessly alluring, with a perfect, disgustingly rich family to match. Convinced she didn’t stand a chance, Ellie resigns herself to watching from the sidelines. But when her best friend Dina suggests they work at a public pool for the summer, Ellie agrees, hoping to save up some money. What she never expected was to find you there, commanding the space with a magnetic, dangerous charm that pulls her in. Now, Ellie’s summer is about to take a turn she never saw coming, and she’s about to find out just how close she can get to you before it all falls apart. Warnings: toxic relationship, controlling partner, manipulation Specials Tags: None Ellie Williams

sweet✰honey✰buckin @princesssmars (X) Summary:its a hot spring in the south and rodeo season is here. your hunt for a new fling leads you to an up-and-coming hotshot bull rider with an aversion to groupies. maybe you can change her mind Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Abby Anderson

Vacation time @kdyq (X) Summary: You convince Ambessa to take you on a been needed vacation. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

not your job @maneskinwh0re (X) Summary: thinking about having a long-term brothel contract with sevika. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Sevika

TO SETTLE @r3starttt Summary: domestic night with cait Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

Vacation time @kdyq Summary: You had always worried Sevika and Ambessa when you went out alone, besides the company of your guide dog due to the fact you were blind. And when you come back home with a scrap, they were all over you. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda, Sevika

Have and Hold @itsgivingmami Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Rhea Ripley

Unnamed @soft-beams Summary: caitlyn returns home to you from the undercity Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

I hope she never leaves me, please, God, you must believe me @valalice Summary: Even though the world was ending, Caitlyn and Vi's concern for you was above all else. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None CaitVi

𝐈 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 @abbyssgf (X) Summary: you were dancing in The Last Drop, after a moment your girlfriend join you. Durning the dance you felt sevika's mouth on your neck and the bulge in her pants pressing against your hips... all you could do is to come back to your house and have a fun night with sevika Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Sevika

Yes, General @abbyslovergirlxo (X) Summary: You find yourself in General Merdarda’s bedroom, partaking in what she calls ‘training’. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

𝒀𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔. @mistressmxggot (X) Summary: Ambessa Medarda. A name that struck fear into every person that heard it. A strong woman. A general. A mother. A warlord. Her name held status. Now you? You were an undercity stripper. No titles. No reputation. You didn't expect to ever cross paths with someone so above you, until she was there. Seeing her was enough of a surprise, but nothing could have prepared you for when she saw you. Warnings: Stripping, brothel, smoking, drinking, drugging, kidnapping, some noncon elements Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

Camgirl Ellie @cheyisagirlkisser (X) Summary: Ellie is a broke college student whose options are either selling weed on campus or doing filthy things on live for her mainly female audience. When another famous camgirl joins one of her lives, she is about to have the collab of a lifetime. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ellie Williams

HER LITTLE ASSISTANT @thesecondhandwoman Summary: You never fully grasped at the fact you had been chosen as Ambessa’s personal assistant, a simple girl who had climbed high from the Undercity. But now that you had the chance, you weren’t gonna give it up, no matter how nervous you may be. Warnings: Stripping, brothel, smoking, drinking, drugging, kidnapping, some noncon elements Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

kiss my troubles away @glitterandlasheshq Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Caitlyn Kiramman

MOTHERLY LOVE @thesecondhandwoman Summary: You were Caitlyn’s and Vi’s little kiddo, and they loved you with all their hearts. Today, like every other, showed just how much they truly did. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Child AU, Multi Part CaitVi

Lay My Curses All To Rest. @koiiiso Summary: Within the world was a land neighboring Piltover and Zaun. A land where magic was normalized and accepted, praised even. When dear soldiers from this land were sent to assist their neighbors, a woman catches Caitlyn’s eyes. Perhaps it was the fact that she looked like that of a beast yet so human, or the fact that this woman was a practical parallel of her own self, both the one of the past and the present. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Mage AU Caitlyn Kiramman

Dress Me like Your French Girls @mossangelll Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Yandere AU Caitlyn Kiramman, Jinx

i want you to draw me like one of your pictures @opt1mistic Summary: swift moves of your sly wrist. drawing and outlining the curves of her body. allowing you to see her exposed. her chest bare, ready for it to fill the emptiness of your white sketchbook. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Artist AU Caitlyn Kiramman

Thin Ice @opt1mistic Summary: swift moves of your sly wrist. drawing and outlining the curves of her body. allowing you to see her exposed. her chest bare, ready for it to fill the emptiness of your white sketchbook. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Hocky Au, Figure Skating AU VI

it's getting sticky! @princesssmars (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Boxer AU VI Unnamed @cigswme (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: College AU VI

Under The Influence (of Regret) @fishbonex Summary: An already altered discussion has an even worse consequence. Warnings: alcoholism, violence, Specials Tags: None VI

𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 @abbyssgf (X) Summary: your wife was exercising in front of you in your living room during your ovulation. she knew perfectly that you are in the middle of your ovulation so she decided to tease you knowing her exercise will end up by fucking you on the couch Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Sevika

𝗖𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗦 @portraitsofguilt (X) Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Lawyer AU Abby Anderson

Keep The Pressure Up @salem-witch-slut (X) Summary: Ellie and Abby love to tease you and torture you. But tonight, they want to see how far you can actually go. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ellabs

Of Bartenders and Bodyguards @salem-witch-slut (X) Summary: After a disaster goes down at the bar the night before Thanksgiving, Abby and Ellie come to your rescue and the two quickly become all you can think about. Warnings: None Specials Tags: None Ellabs

rolling 'round the hay @elsgirlkisser (X) Summary: you are the daughter of a wealthy farmer; he has many farmlands but one in particular has caught your eye. despite all of your flirting attempts, she is oblivious, so you bring her up to your room. Warnings: None Specials Tags: Farm AU, Mulit Part Ellie Williams

beg until i'm in. @hcneymooners (X) Summary: you and ambessa are estranged wives, but are you really estranged if she refuses to divorce you, and every time you see each other, you can't help but fall into bed? Warning: None Specials Tags: None Ambessa Medarda

rose moon @hcneymooners (X) Summary: you've always loved sevika, despite the tension between her and your father and their shaky alliance. it was only a matter of time before she loved you back.  Warnings: None Specials Tags: Mafia AU Sevika

escaping @weepingchronicles Summary: None Warnings: None Specials Tags: Yandere Au, Multi Part Caitlyn Kiramman

i've loved you for so long @dazevi Summary: reader and vi had something before lockup (maybe reader was desperately looking for her/a body for years and never got with anyone else because they loved vi). first time they see vi again, they’re kissing cait. vi has to make a choice Warnings: None Specials Tags: None VI

animosity of an onryō. @k0yaz Summary: The reader gets captured by Fowler and Mizu rescues her, the reader is basically another medic, very kind and sweet, polar opposite of Mizu, but she knows Mizu is a woman and the two of them fall in love Warnings: mention of injury, violence, blood, gore Specials Tags: None Mizu

Don’t Take It Personal @therealmylesmorales Summary: you’re a little worried about how much time Vi is spending with her new friend Warnings: None Specials Tags: Mulit Part VI

[ofmdrecaps]

11/29-30/2024 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; David Jenkins; Rhys Darby; Taika Waititi; Con O'Neill; Nathan Foad; Ruibo Qian; David Fane; Megan Vertelle BTS; Fan Spotlight: One More Song Drag; Articles; Love Notes;

= David Jenkins =

Chaos Dad is out helping to fuel the clowning! The big point of that interview that @adoptourcrew was kind enough to point out was that Rhys is absolutely ready to hop back into ofmd.

Source: David Jenkins Bsky

= Rhys Darby =

- Daily Darby Doodles -

More Daily Doodles from the Darbs!

Source: Rhys Free Substack

And Rhys doing a little advertising, and getting heckled by the kids.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The CryptidFactor podcast (@thecryptidfactor)

Source: TheCryptidFactor Instagram

Rhys also did a short video while at the StarFury Event in the UK for his paid Substack.

Source: Rhys' Paid Substack

= Taika Waititi =

A little blep from Taika's Interior Chinatown interview!

Source: YulYY4 Bsky

Rita crumbs of Taika and his goofy self.

And some rugby going on with friends! You can see David Fane and Robbie Magasiva there too!

Source: Marsgee13

= Con O'Neill =

Some more pictures of Con from the Republic of Pirates that were posted after the con!

Source: Starfury Events

= Nathan Foad =

Nathan keeping us entertained with bratwurst, I love this man.

Source: Nathan's Instagram Stories

= Ruibo Qian =

A quick sketch of our lovely Pirate Queen out on the town with a friend.

Source: Ruibo Qian's Instagram Stories

= David Fane =

Looks like David Fane's old work Bro'town (with Oscar Knightly and so many others) has some new swag up! If you're interested, check it out on their Redbubble!

Source: David Fane's Instagram

= Megan Vertelle =

Our sweet Set Decorator Megan Vertelle was kind enough to give us some more BTS of Mary and Anne's antique shop! You can view them all here: OFMD Renewal Repo or on Megan Vertelle's Instagram

Source: Megan Vertelle's Instagram

== Fan Spotlight ==

= One More Song =

This is actually happening as we speak in Columbus OH because this recap is very very very late. For those of you who end up attending, please let us know how it was! It sounds absolutely phenomenal, so many great crew member (and even VICO!) joining this fabulous Drag & Variety Show! Wanna learn more about these awesome performers? Check out their Instagram posts (linked below) for their socials and introductions!

Vico Suave! / V.C. De Arte

Polly Amour / Zalestorm

Krill Collins / Polly Cocktail

Snake / Honeybee

BBQ Guo / Elixir Kant

G Wiz / Gagatha Christea

Keela Mann / Irritable Brat Syndrome

Source: One More Song OFMD Instagram

== Articles ==

Thank you to @adoptourcrew for continuing to keep us apprised of ofmd related articles!

Source: AdoptOurCrew

== Love Notes ==

Hey there lovelies. These are so late and I'm very sorry for that-- but I'll be honest I've been dealing with a lot at home and it's been hard to get to them. I still think of you all every day, and I hope you're hanging in there. Remember to take some time for yourself if you need it. Sending love <3

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @thelatestkate

Source: The Latest Kate's Instagram

[veliseraptor]

November Reading Recap

Dead Astronauts by Jeff Vandermeer. Either I'm not smart enough to follow this book or it's just not terribly coherent as a novel, and either of those is equally possible, to be honest. I am finding that I like Vandermeer's earlier work on the whole more than his later work, though.

I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle. A fun romp. It didn't blow me away, or anything, but it was a lot of fun.

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. I remain most attached to the move adaptation of this novel, unfortunately, so that's always in my head when I'm reading. But despite that, or maybe because of it, this novel still delights me. It's like a warm blanket.

Catching Chen Qing Ling: The Untamed and Adaptation, Production, and Reception in Transcultural Contexts ed. by Cathy Yue Wang and Maria K. Alberto. I was very excited to read this book! I was thrilled when I saw that a collection of academic essays on The Untamed was coming out. Not all the essays in the collection are created equally, naturally, but I particularly appreciated the ones about the morality police in the fandom and the one focusing on (the violence of) translation to English. What I missed from this specific volume was more analysis of the text itself as a literary object, but that wasn't the remit of this collection, and I certainly hope that more studies will be forthcoming.

Cassiel's Servant by Jacqueline Carey. Mostly this book made me want to reread the Kushiel's Legacy series; I'm not sure if that is praise or an enticement of this book itself. I wasn't enchanted with it on the whole, though that might be because Joscelin was never the character I was most attached to. I would read the shit out of an alt POV from Melisande.

Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle. Finally finished this book after stalling out on it for literal months. It was interesting! Conceptually and in execution. It did feel very much like it was written in the 80s (which it was), though without the kind of objectionable stuff I would've expected. A review of it did describe it as having a "leisurely opening" which I would say is accurate.

Devils Kill Devils by Johnny Compton. I really liked The Spite House so I definitely wanted to pick up this one, and while I liked the former more this was also a really fun take on vampires unlike what I've read before. I'm picky about my horror (I'd say I don't like most of what I read) but I'll bestow the "horror I actually liked" crown on this one.

Persians: The Age of the Great Kings by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones. For a book that was really emphasizing that it was going to lean on Persian sources rather than Greek ones for a less Greek-biased version of Persian history, it certainly felt like the author ended up relying a fair amount on Greek sources. That being said, I learned more about the (early) Persian Empire than I have before, so it was edifying in that way, if not a particularly outstanding book.

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim, trans. Anton Hur. I'm very glad to see that this book is apparently the beginning of a series and not finished, because while I enjoyed it as a whole the ending felt a little rushed and far too neat for me. So hopefully that will be complicated in further volumes, which I probably will read. The use of dead necromancers to power an empire is, on its own, a very neat worldbuilding conceit, and I think that (interesting worldbuilding) more than character is the appeal of this work to me.

Remnants of Filth: Vol. 5 by Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou. I continue to really enjoy this one despite the fact that the initial lure has abated somewhat in the course of the plot. I'm excited to see where this goes - this volume included a plot twist I definitely didn't see coming, which is always fun. It's not my favorite danmei I've read but it is a standout.

Don't Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones. I don't know quite why I keep reading this series when I'm not really a slasher fan and it is clearly tailored toward the slasher fan. I mean, it's certainly meant to have broader appeal as a horror novel, but it is a slasher first and foremost, and I'm just not that into that subgenre. I think it's because I want to be into it. I can recognize a good book when I read one, though; just not for me.

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones. On the other hand, the above all being said: I actually really enjoyed this one! It was certainly playing with a lot of the same tropes but in a more, idk, playful sort of way that I enjoyed. Definitely heavy lampshading, so if that doesn't work for you then this book won't. But for me at least, it did what it was trying to do.

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. I'm looking forward to hearing what people in my book club have to say about this one. I will say that the rape felt unnecessary and it definitely read like sci-fi written in the 50s by a man. I don't think I can say that I liked it. I'm not sure I can say I hated it, either, but I definitely didn't like it.

Vita Nostra by Marina & Sergey Dyachenko, trans. Julia Meitov Hersey. I've had this one on my shelf for a long time and it was good to finally read it! For someone who says she doesn't read a lot of 'magical school' books I've certainly read a lot this year, but this one is probably the most interesting and definitely the most inventive of what I've read. Not necessarily my favorite, but I'm fascinated by what the author is doing. I know there's a sequel, and I'm torn on whether I want to read it or not; I'm curious where the author would go, but I'm also satisfied with the story as it's left at the end of this book.

Drowning Sorrows in Raging Fire by Priest. Possibly my favorite danmei I've read, and at this point I've read a few. It's not going to trigger my fic writing brain, I don't think, but that's mostly because it already gave me so much of what I wanted. It's very, very good in terms of the story it's telling, the themes of monstrosity and human weapons are right on point for what I like, and the plot is pretty damn tight and good at not sprawling the way some danmei is prone to. Fucking fantastic. I can't share the translation I read, but it's being published by Rosmei in English starting in January 2025.

---

I'm currently reading Challenger by Adam Higginbotham for a little bit of nonfiction (my first in a while, you may notice); after that I'm not sure what I'm going to read. I'm traveling at the end of this month, so it'll be a little dependent on what's on my Kobo/if the sequel to Feast of Souls by C.S. Friedman arrives in time/what books I find that I want to read at my parents' house.

[shyjusticewarrior]

Jim: So now that you're Nightwing is Batman gonna find a new partner?

Dick: I doubt it. He works alone now.

[Meanwhile]

Jason, in Robin suit: Look at how awesome I am!

Bruce: Don't get too cocky, new Robin.

[xxplastic-cubexx]

im forcing you all to look shady-car-salesman erik

[What If Magneto Had Formed The X-Men With Professor X?]

[chaos0pikachu]

there's only 41 fics for the merciless (2017) which is a god damn travesty I need everybody to watch this film it's got everything; slick ass cinematography, the type of visual & narrative parallels that'd make the spn girls and gays wet, a insta baddie lipped cop twink who makes a gangster daddy old man pathetically down bad for him, the director saying shit like "I kept telling the actors during filming that this is a romance, more melodrama than noir" with a straight face at fucking CANNES, the most erotic elevator scene since fatal attraction, the type of tragic ending that requires at least 20 fix it fics and another handful of pwps

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

I haven't read these books at all, but your art is so fun and cute that I like seeing your comics a lot regardless. Fantastic Silly Little Guy energy.

Thank you for enjoying my silly little guys and my comics B*)

[rillils]

how do explain stucky from the moment they met to where they are now (together in each others arms) to my friend who knows nothing about marvel

ohh this is a tough one, honey! i think i've got two options for you:

the short answer:

stucky is a compendium of all the best tropes out there, and i'm sure i'm gonna miss a few:

soulmates? check! star-crossed lovers? check! battle husbands? super check! mutual pining? check! 'and they were roommates'? check! best friends to lovers? check check check! long-lost lover comes back from the dead? fuck yeah, check! temporary amnesia? check! dude in distress trope? check! 'they will always find each other and choose each other in every lifetime'? also check! identity porn? extra check! saved by the power of love? you guessed it: check! slow burn or childhood sweethearts? you decide!!! did they share their first kiss when steve was 16, as per a popular fanon theory? did they only confess their feelings during the war? did they only get together much later, when bucky was healing in wakanda? you can pick literally ANY point in their timeline, and it will still make sense! they're all equally valid! you can even have multiple different headcanons at once, i mean who's gonna stop you??? all you have to do is join in the fun! 💕

the long AF answer, aka:

STEVE & BUCKY'S LOVE STORY, UNABRIDGED SOMEWHAT ABRIDGED, part 1/3

all right, let's set the scene:

imagine two young kids, let's call them steve and bucky. they meet, they immediately take to each other, they become instant besties! and as they grow up together, facing many hardships, their bond deepens. not only are they best friends; they are also each other's family. they take care of each other, and they both know they can always rely on one another in times of need.

when steve's mom (and only remaining relative) passes away, bucky reminds him that he's not as alone in this world as he thinks he is: bucky will always be by his side. bucky will always love him unconditionally, will always be there for him, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, and he wants steve to know that.

in fact, he asks steve to move in with him, thus offering steve both a literal and a metaphorical home.

and steve says yes!

SO. they are each other's home, they're living together, they're getting by all right. but then war breaks out, and eventually it reaches their little home as well: bucky is drafted, and steve, due to his many health issues, and despite his best intentions, can't follow the boy he loves onto the battlefield.

it's a very difficult time for them both - so much so that they can't even bring themselves to talk about it.

they have no choice but to say goodbye for now, knowing that they might never see each other again. but here's something you might not know yet about steve: he's the most reckless, most stubborn fucker america's ever seen. he's not gonna let this stop him!!! instead, he goes and gets a very sweet, kindly scientist to fucking experiment on him, because screw it, he's going to fight in this war if it's the last thing he does. and that's how he goes from Smol Steeb to Lorge Premium Steeb.

of course, things don't go exactly as he predicted, and steve is made to be the star of a war propaganda-fuelled musical kinda thingie, which he resents (but he looks fucking precious in his costume)

BUT! he does get closer to the actual battlefield. which is where he discovers that bucky has been captured by the enemy (!!!!!!!) and is most likely dead by now. but steve isn't willing to give up so easily! he'll believe bucky's dead when he sees it with his own eyes. so, he embarks on this suicide solo mission in the attempt to get bucky back, even if it means wandering on his own. into enemy territory. where he would be shot. on. sight. with no protection for his dumb ass except for a bunch of theater props!!! but such is the power of love, y'all.

against all odds, steve finds bucky very much still alive! and as soon as bucky recognizes him, even as confused as he is, he pulls out this beautiful, ecstatic, angelic-ass smile, like he's just seen god or he got high on some real good edibles or maybe both idk, like my man here was having a serious Religious Experience™ you guys

and i just wanna say, they could have totally kissed here and it would have made plenty of sense. but that's true of like 90% of their scenes in this franchise, so *shrugs*

ANYWAY steve takes bucky in his arms (well technically yes he does) and brings him to safety, and on their way there, bucky proves once more just how hard he meant that "with you til the end of the line" from before

afterwards, steve is finally given the chance to fight, just like he wanted.

bucky, on the other hand, could very well leave the war behind and go home; but when he learns that steve is staying, he chooses to stay too, and fight by his side. and he tells steve so in this very intimate, softspoken, delightfully suggestive conversation, which can be summed up like this:

and so they walk right back into the heart of the fight, only this time together, as they were always meant to be!

but. during an especially tricky mission, they're surprised by the enemy, and as a result, bucky falls to his death into a deep ravine.

steve is devastated. overwhelmed with guilt, grief and rage, he vows to bring down the people responsible for his loss, even if it costs him his own life.

and um, it kind of does? cost him his own life?

victorious after his last vis-a-vis with The Antagonist™, steve still chooses to sacrifice himself to prevent the catastrophe set into motion by the aforementioned Antagonist™. he's flying a jet over the frosty expanse of the atlantic, and you know, from the outside, you could easily argue that he could try to save himself. if he really wanted to. but with bucky dead, and the people responsible for all this pain, either dead or captured, it seems like all the will to fight is gone from steve; and so he plunges the jet straight into the ocean, and himself with it.

is this the end of their story?, you might ask.

the answer is: of course not!!!! the best is yet to come, babes!!!

EDIT: here is part 2