#sorry if i was mean to book you liked i will do it again

[thatgaydemigodnerd]

Brucie Wayne had wandered off to find the bathrooms. This excuse would buy him around 10 minutes of time to find the Penguin's plans. He was definitely planning something.

What Bruce didn't expect was the joker to bust the Gala. He'd hoped it would've been the riddler this time, or maybe even Harley and Ivy.

So now of course the whole building was on lockdown, if he could slip away he could make an appearance as-

He was being tackled.

"Where are you going you idiot! There's a Joker attack," hissed a familiar voice. Ah, Danny Fenton. Time to play up the Brucie act again.

"Joker? Oh I would love to hear a joke. Do you think he can make balloon animals? He's a clown right?" Oracle giggled over the comms, no doubt watching through the security cameras.

"Does he... How do you not know how dangerous he is! You live here!" Danny got up off of him and dragged him to a side room, clearly a small office of some accountant, and locked the doors behind them.

"Joker was in the main gala hall last time I saw him, he was not looking for you as far as I heard. Pretty sure he just wants attention from Batman like usual." Oracle confirmed he still is in the main gala hall with the hostages. Dick would need to show up as batman today, Bruce couldn't slip away. He pressed the button hidden on his cufflink to indicate he was stuck in civvies but not in immediate danger. Oracle would handle the rest.

"Oh, that's a shame. I was hoping he would give me a balloon animal." He pulled a sad face, like a child that's been told they can't have candy before dinner.

"How. How are you the richest man on the planet? How has someone not scammed you out of all your money yet? You'd fall for the first nigerian prince scam someone sent you. How did Gotham not eat you alive?" He looked like he was about to tear his hair out.

Bruce looked at his body language, he's still keeping his voice down despite his anger, and he always keeps the door in his field of vision. When he entered he did a quick scan of the place, eyes landing on the airvents, clearly considering them an emergency means of escape.

If he was bullied he would be vigilant, but this level of vigilance and calm during an emergency situation, especially the gotham rogues, would not be explained so easily. Clearly this young man has done some vigilante work himself. He would need to take a closer look at the amity park hero after this.

Welp, time to mess with him.

"Oh no I'm not related to a nigerian prince, he's actually somalian. Such a nice lad, I really should book a flight to Somalia and visit him. So nice of him to reach out and offer me part of the inheritance. Almost as nice as the Zimbabwean family who also offered me part of their inheritance."

Danny was tearing at his hair, he looked about ready to beat him to a pulp.

"I know I don't have much of a Somalian or Zimbabwean complexion, but with the gotham air who can expect me to truly get any sun, such a shame. I should go to the beach more of-" there was a knock at the door.

Oracle confirmed it was Red Robin here for extraction.

"Oh who could that be? Maybe it's that clown? You think he'll give me a balloon animal?" He had moved to the door and unlocked it before danny could pull him back.

"Sorry to disappoint mister Wayne, but the only balloon animal I can make is a worm. Let's get you two out of here."

Danny let out a sigh of relief, no doubt glad to pass off Brucie wayne to the local vigilantes.

He'll get more fun next gala he's sure. Besides, danny keeps showing up to these. He's not even part of the Mansons, their daughter keeps inviting him and he keeps saying yes. Clearly he is also enjoying this, or he thinks brucie would die without him.

Danny keeps on meeting Brucie Wayne at Galas when he goes to keep Sam company. He hates the man. There is no adoption, no adoption jokes, he never meets Batman. Give me Danny Fenton and his unending beef with Brucie Wayne. Bruce finds this absolutely hilarious. This feisty 14 year old is incredibly fun to antagonize.

[featherandferns]

I got inspired by this post and deeped it probably a bit too much lol

"I can't read cursive".

It was the sort of thing his friends laughed at, giving scoffing remarks and rolling their eyes at JJ's quirkiness. He'd laugh too, shrug it off like he was in on the joke. But underneath was an insecurity; a panic as to why. He'd look down and the letters were merely scrawl. They were swooping and swooning characters that made no sense, illegible and intelligible. If he tried to focus then they'd start to dance around the page. He experienced that too, though to a lesser extent, with print text. It was as if the words were mocking him. Taunting him.

But being the way he was with school, nobody paid it much mind. Not even JJ. He didn't care for reading. He'd rather smoke or surf. Books were dull and drab, what with growing up in an education system that force fed Shakespeare down an eleven year old's throat. JJ started to skip class the older he got. He'd sneak off to the bathroom to light one up or just ditch the day entirely. Maths was a bore and science utterly useless in his planned profession of handy-man side gigs, and so the concern with his reading got swept under the rug.

He had tried once, though. It was when he was nine and they had been reading collectively as a class, playing 'popcorn'. Someone had innocently passed over to him and JJ spent a good ten minutes stuttering over his syllables and stammering over the vowels and constantans. He was so glad when he reached the end of the page and could pass the burden off to someone else. Afterwards, he lingered behind and spoke to the teacher. The sting of embarrassment lingered like a prick from a bee. But the teacher shrugged him off. You're still learning, they'd said. For some it takes longer. He'd been too humiliated to bring it up again. Future popcorns were spent with JJ being the class clown, making lewd jokes that had the other kids laughing until the teacher banned him from popcorn altogether. That was that.

"You can't read cursive?"

"It just...It's harder for me to follow, s'all," JJ halfway lies. He looks up from the card that you gave him to meet your gaze. Your brows are tugged together in concern and JJ immediately wants to crawl under the covers like a child, embarrassed beyond belief. But instead of poking fun like the others (as well-natured as they mean by it), you take the card back and clear your throat.

"JJ, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and get everything you ever want. You deserve it. With love," you read aloud. There's a warmth to your face and a meekness to your tone as you tell him your message. It was the sort of sweet thing someone recites in their head like scripture, keeping it safe on the page and not out in the world. Smiling shyly at him, you offer the card back out to him.

"Sorry," he mumbles. "Thanks, though. That's, uh...that's sweet."

You chuckle. "Well, I mean it."

JJ takes the card back with a smile and you lean forward, pressing a kiss against his cheeks. His face feels hot like sunburn. You sit back on your haunches, perched pretty on your bed, and then your smile dwindles into something of worry.

"Do you often struggle," you wonder, nodding down to the card, "with reading and things like that? I mean, is it just cursive?"

"I can read," JJ replies, a little defensive. You thankfully laugh.

"No, I know you can read JJ," you chuckle, shaking your head. "I just mean is it easy to read? D'you think you need glasses or somethin'?"

"I don't know," JJ murmurs, shrugging. He looks down at the card and closes it. His thumb swipes across the front. A small ruby red love heart bobbing on rolling waves as if it's a boat, alongside a phrase that JJ focuses desperately hard on to read. With you, I feel like I'm floating. It's something so unexplainably you to pick out. Clearing his throat, he looks back up at you. "Never really thought about it before."

Humming, you get up and walk to the bookshelf by your closet. You ponder for a moment before retrieving a thin paperback and taking your previous spot on your bed. A random page is picked out and you hold it out to him.

"Read this to me."

It's popcorn all over again. That same dreaded panic bubbles in his throat.

"Feels like I'm in school," JJ chuckles, hoping to play off his nerves. "You're like my sexy teacher or somethin'."

"Har har, you wish," you say with a roll of your. "Read, though. Please."

Sighing, JJ relents and takes the book. He squints down at the pages and tries and tries and tries. The letters won't cooperate. They jive and jig on the lines. Shaking his head, sighing again, growing frustrated, JJ blinks and focuses. The anxiety builds in his chest like a hammering train on tracks. As his lips go to form the first word, your hand on his has him taking pause. You smile kindly at him.

"S'alright. You don't gotta read," you tell him. You take the book back and close the pages and JJ feels like he can take a breath. Ditching the flimsy paperback, you clear the small gap between the two of you and cup JJ's face in your hands. The kiss the two of you share is tender, lingering like a mist. "I love you, y'know that?"

"Even if I ain't a reader?" He means for it to sound like a joke but there's a sincerity in JJ's voice. His insecurity that has been there since childhood, that fights to come out whenever he hangs with Pope, that growls with jealousy when you lounge back on the boat with a book. His insecurity that he isn't all that smart and maybe you - someone who lives and breathes education like a bong hit - would figure that out sooner rather than later, and find someone who is.

"Even then," you hum, kissing him again. "Just gives me another excuse to spend more time with you, huh?"

And when you put it that way, maybe it ain't all bad.

[yanderefarm]

tell emil you're bored of him and see what he does lol

alternatively, sneak out of the castle in the dead of night and never return

ON THAT THOUGHT, what would he do if you sleepwalk??? like maybe where you walk to reflects what you want to do but cant, for example sometimes it's to the library because you didnt get to read for like a week

i imagine emil would follow you a bit to see where you go to determine what he should do next day

and then one day it's just you trying to exit the castle, he finally open the door to see and you just walk further and further with no sign of stopping

he would panic so hard lol

i think if you were a really bad sleepwalker who kept trying to leave him he would tie you to the bed tbh. like you're not allowed to leave that's silly.

cw;; violence, yandere tendencies, gore, violence towards reader

pathetic emil step aside we have full yandere mode emil.

"im bored."

"im sorry what was that?"

"im bored. you're boring me."

emil lifted his head from his book and smiled at you a closed practiced smile.

"let me finish this page and i can find something to entertain you."

"no. i mean this is boring. us. you never let me leave, you only care about sex, and i don't have anyone to talk to."

emil's lips twitched.

"im sorry you feel-"

"i want to leave."

he put down his book completely and stared at you intensely. it was a gaze usually preserved for people he wanted dead.

"you don't mean that."

"yes i do."

you got up from the garden chair quickly followed by emil standing up.

"we can go somewhere else. we could go on a vacation. I'll hire you some approved friends."

"no. I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm telling you I'm leaving."

emil's hand came down on the table hard.

"no."

you could see his bright pink eyes darken as his face went blank. you weren't usually scared of your husband but you always knew you had reason to be. right now you certainly were. you tried to bolt for the entrance of the gazebo but all emil had to do was grab your arm with his inhuman strength and you couldn't move.

"emil it hurts..." you tried to whine pathetically but it didn't even reach his ears.

emil kicked you hard on the leg and you stumbled forward almost falling on the ground if not for him holding your arm up.

"i think you've had too much freedom. ive been too nice. i need to fix that."

"no- no- emil i was just joking! it was a joke!"

he looked truly intimidating, not even his signature sadistic smile on his terrifying features.

"you need to remember who loves you."

with his hand still holding your arm he stepped on your leg. you screamed in pain as he pulled your arm as leverage until your leg gave a sickening snap. but that wasn't enough as tears and pain overwhelmed your vision you felt him smash the broken bone with his foot. again. again. aga-

you lost consciousness due to the shock.

when you woke up you were in your shared bedroom but not on the large comfortable bed, instead you were laying on a dog bed with the most horrible pain in your leg while the other was chained to... a cage usually meant for monsters.

[followthebluebell]

Hi hi!!!! I’m super super sorry to bother you in such a stressful time but I have some things going on with a cat in my life and thought you’d have some ideas!!! My boyfriend recently picked up a female cat from his friend. This is his first ever cat, and the friend said they were strays he found as kittens and now keeps on his catio. The problem is that the friend said the female has always been kind of shy but explained that the two brothers were a lot more social and kind of butted her out of the way to get attention. So now she’s at my boyfriend’s house, she’s been there since Monday, and she won’t come out from under the bed at all during the day. She has been lightly exploring at night and has used her litter boxes a couple times, but last night she didn’t use them or eat or drink at all. He’s getting really worried and stressed since this is his first cat and I keep telling him to be patient. Is there anything else we can do to make her more comfortable or is it a waiting game? Do you think she’ll actually warm up or is she just going to be a cat that’s stressed out being in a house vs outside on the catio?

hello, hello! honestly, i'd rather talk about cats than politics any day. I don't know how to solve a country's myriad of problems, but i know cats.

so, it's really normal for cats to be shy at first, especially in a new environment. For a moment, imagine what it must be like: you are a small animal who's known only one place all your life. Suddenly, you are in a new place! With strangers! You're vaguely aware that they PROBABLY aren't harmful, but you're really not sure. Better to stay safe until you ARE sure.

It can take a cat up to three months to FULLY become comfortable in their new environment (tbh, it can take MUCH longer for some cats, but they tend to be extreme outliers). The fact that she's coming out at night to use her box and eat are VERY good signs.

So when i recommend is that your boyfriend spends some time on the floor. He doesn't need to interact directly with the cat--- in fact, I recommend he ignores her mostly. Just sit down on the floor with a puzzle, a book, a video game--- just anything that's quiet that lets him exist in the cat's environment for a little while. By just existing there, he can demonstrate that he's not a threat. He doesn't need to be there for like. a long time or anything. he can start out with small stretches of time and adjust as necessary.

She might start to come out slowly, but try to leave all interactions up to her. He can offer her little treats--- little bits of chicken (no seasoning; cheap roast chicken is a favorite, as long as it's the unseasoned bits. you can even just boil up chicken breast), temptations, churu (or anything similar) are all favorites and do pretty well. Leave the treats within her easy reach. As she starts to come closer, leave the treats closer to his leg or something. The idea is to get her to associate him with Tasty Delicious Things.

It's also fine if she doesn't eat the treats immediately while he's watching. Again, she's stressed and scared; she doesn't realize he doesn't mean any harm. She's just scared :( She's a very small cat in a very big world that's suddenly gotten a whole lot bigger.

He could also buy some feliway diffusers, but this can be a bit pricey. I can say that most cats react very well to them, but most cats react just as well to chicken, so let's start with the lower cost items.

[murfpersonalblog]

PREACH! As a book reader, I'm 100% Team Lestat Was Forced & Injured. But I've discussed this Sam article before, cuz I have a lot of issues with IWTV's plot holes. My biggest beef with S2 is that AMC didn't film/write 2x7 & especially 2x8 adequately, to properly convey that something was going on. I NEED the Trial revisted from Les' POV, cuz there's way too much inconsistency & contradictions, and not in a good way.

THE TIMELINE

The timeline in S2 is all over the place, and we have no idea when Lestat was contacted by the coven, and where he was staying for however long he was in Paris. Louis & Claudia were there around 1945 - 1949, but Armand knew the day they arrived at the Theatre that they were lying about Lestat/Bruce. So was Lestat contacted immediately? Armand was able to do it all by himself in 1973--why rely on Santiago/Celeste/Estelle to do it in 1949?

I doubt Lestat went to Paris of his own volition (he'd've been too ashamed & guilty to go after them, just like the 6 years he spent in Algiers after 1x5)--so I'm convinced the coven definitely called Les & told him to come to Paris. But that presents a HUGE problem:

Exactly. Cuz HAYL NAW it doesn't take that long for vamps to heal. (This new Mind-Over-Matter-Gift was also Rolin's reason for adding the line about Les "not being in the mood" to burn to death in 2x8. But like I said, I don't believe Les when he says this, cuz it directly contradicts whole plotlines in the books AND show.)

If Les only arrived in 1949, I'd assume Les was already fully healed by then, nearly a decade after Mardi Gras, since Les wasn't set on fire a la the book. Meaning: if Les knew Louis was in danger, and he was back to full health, WHY TF didn't Les stop the coven before the Trial?

If Les arrived in Paris in 1945ish (right after 2x3 when Armand grills Lou about "Bruce"), I can maybe accept that he was still be weak from Mardi Gras (but again: like Sam already said, it was just a slit throat NBD vampires heal from cuts EASY; and he puked up & bled out most of the poisoned blood before Louis threw him on the trunk; and he had plenty of "big f*****g rats, enough blood in them to bring back the dead" to get strong enough to return to town & hunt humans). So by all counts (unless we buy Rolin's psychological damage > Swamp King propaganda), Les should've been fine in Paris--so why cooperate with the stupid rehearsals?

Solution: We NEED a scene where Lestat & Armand fight, a la the book's Tower Scene in TVL, where Armand effs Les up, breaks all his bones, then throws him in the dungeon/wet room/whatever to starve.

It's way more likely that Armand fought & captured & starved Les:

for 4+ years if Les arrived in 1945ish, right after Lou busted Claudia's "Bruce" lie in 2x3

for only 1 year if they woke him in 1949, right before the Trial was prepped in 2x6

THE BRUISES

I've already ranted about my take on Les' injuries, both wrt Les being all bloody in the Ep5 revisit; and his hand/wrist bruises in 2x7.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY

Sorry, AMC, but I've discussed before how IMO this is the weakest & least convincing bit. Sam even said he DISAGREED with Rolin's vision that Les be psychologically rather than physically hurt, and that Sam preferred Swamp King. Cuz this is TELEVISION, not a BOOK--some things you really NEED to SHOW US (and Tell us). Psychological pain preventing his supernatural healing does NOT translate well on screen without explicit explanation that this is something vampires can suddenly do; esp. since NO physical injury should hurt strong AF vampires in the first place--a la 1x5 & 1x6.

THE SHAKING

The Reddit fans clipped the wobbling in question:

But it doesn't prove Les was injured BEFORE joining the Trial--it's actually proof that he was weak AFTER Banishment; as he's now too weak to save Claudia, so he stands there just weak & wobbling.

Cuz where was this shaky & wobbly Les for the rest of the Trial? One thing that irritated me was how much he got in & out of his seat.

He makes grand gesticulations as he talks from the script, "the finest actor to grace our stage." Not ONCE do we see him wobbly & shaking, or any indication that he's low on blood or power--he even teleports all the way up to the stands to ream the homophobic soldier & read his mind & then teleport back to his seat. So it's not as if he's busy conserving energy.

But we DO see the psychological damage Rolin wanted, every time he's sitting down, and he goes OFF script--he's a wreck after he gaslights Lou about Come to Me, and when admits he broke Lou.

And it's just such a shame that Lestat never rubs his wrists, or adjusts the cuffs of his shirt, or rubs his knuckles (one Reddit theory even surmised that Armand might've cut his hands off a la Nicki, which I LOVE). We see him fidget with the wedding ring, and that's it. If he's bruised & in pain, we should've seen way more than some suspect discoloration on his hands; so that way when we got to the Tower Scene in 2x8 and saw the handcuffs we'd be like waaaait....👀

And we should've DEFINITELY seen it during the Rehearsal, AMC.

Like, sure, Lestat was mumbling those lines--he clearly doesn't wanna be there or take part in the Trial. But that's not an indication that anything's psychologically/physically WEAKENING him--esp. since he gets up and walks & talks just fine right after, checking out the mannequins & sassing Armand. His only problem's the logistics of the Trial itself.

If anything, the sheer fact that Lestat had to ask what Armand & the coven would do to force Claudia to stay quiet means that they hadn't used the Mind Gift on him that whole time in rehearsals, to mentally fog/compel him to say his lines--and we definitely don't see it used on him during the Trial, not even when he's going wildly off script--they shut off the projector, but didn't make HIM stfu? 🤨

But the REAL problem is: neither the bruises not the shaking are anywhere to be seen!

So what are we supposed to conclude? That Lestat WAS fine during the whole Rehearsal bit, and it was only AFTER he yelled about Claudia's strength that Armand chained him up or cut off his hands? If so, I'm fine with retaliatory measures!

But it still begs the question why Les didn't do anything BEFORE the Trial. No warning, no nothing. So we'd have to assume that he IS a prisoner of the coven's the whole time--and cuz he's stronger than everyone but Armand, we'd also have to assume that Armand did something to him from the very beginning...which we don't see. Esp. since this is the Rehearsal that's exposing Armand's sins, so it's not like it's necessary to hide that Les was hurt the whole time.

Waiting allllll the way to reveal it in S3 was risky AF, and a horrible idea if it was intentional, cuz it just gives the fans more time to look at Lestat sideways. This whole months-long discourse just proves that AMC did NOT adequately show that Les was under duress. The chances they had to really show & tell us came & went in 2x7 AND 2x8.

TL;DR: I love the Injured Lestat theory, and I fully believe he was hurt, cuz that's what happened in the books--I'll be FURIOUS if AMC doesn't revisit the Trial to fix this. I just hate the way this has all been executed.

Redo the scenes with Lestat's hands to zoom in on them, and emphasize that he was effed up; and show him wobbling & weak & Ming-Fogged BEFORE Banishment.

This show is effing excellent, but it's not perfect, and there are glaring mistakes they need to fix ASAP, if they want us all on the same page that Les really was a victim of Armand's abuse, too.

I was reminded of this interview. I completely forgot Sam said all this.

How does the "Lestat wasn't weakened at the trial and he was happy to be there" crowd feel about this?

[livesworthlivingau]

Lives Worth Living Chapter 34

ISAT/Two Hats spoilers below as always! CW: Heights, Peril, Falling

(You slowly awaken with a yawn and light stretch, feeling those familiar strong arms around you and cuddling up into them.) "Hmmmmmm... Morning~."

"Morning sleepy head. Do you know how crabbing cute you are when you sleep?" (Isa pulls you closer to himself, kissing your head as he holds you in that secure, comforting grip.)

"Hehe, noooooo, you're just biased!"

"Nope, it's a scientific fact! I did the math and everything!"

"Noooooooo! You can't bring math into this! That's cheatiiiiing!"

"Too late, I calculated everything and it all checks out! You've been mathematically proven to be super duper adorable, I don't make the rules!"

"I'll never be seen as a cool, mysterious rogue ever again..."

"Hah! Nope, sorry, you're just a cutie patootie, my sweet Siffarooni~." (You can't help but laugh at how ridiculous this was getting. You shift in his arms to face him, giving a love drunk smile up at him before closing your eye. You lean in for a kiss, being met with the warm bliss of his face meeting yours... before you're interrupted by sunlight pouring in as the tent flap is opened up.)

"Uuuuugh! Why is everyone being so gross lately?! First Nille gets all cuddly with Vale and now you two are being all kissy again!!" (Bonnie shouts in protest. You both can't help but laugh in response. You gently push off of him to sit up.)

"So sorry snack leader! We'll keep the grossness to a minimum!"

"Good! Now come on, breakfast is ready, we gotta head out soon if we're gonna get a ride back home!" (They command before rushing back out.)

(You remember them saying something about a horse drawn carriage that takes people through the mountain range in about a day, while going around takes 3. You perk up as you feel Isa's hand against your face, pulling you closer as he kisses your cheek.)

"It's a good thing we didn't tell them what the minimum was." (You can't help but blush a bit at that, turning your head to give them a light peck on the cheeks.)

"Maybe your math skills aren't so bad after all~."

"I SAID BREAKFAST TIIIIIME!!" (Bonnie shouts from the middle of the campsite, causing you both to jump.)

"R-Right!!"

-----------------------------------------------------------

"I know I'm usually the one that complains about having to walk everywhere... but this can't be the superior option." (Odile complains, seeing the rickety old carriage we'd be taking through the mountains. Nille laughs her worry off.)

"C'mon, they take this path like every day, it'll be fine, Dile!"

"The more times it completes its journey successfully, the more likely it is to fail the next one..." (Isa lets out a hearty laugh.)

"Hah! Don't worry madame, I'll block the window for you! I'm sure the journey will go nice and smooth!"

"Fantastic... Forgive me if I request Vale to knock me unconscious again during the trip." (Odile complains further before Mira chimes in with a giggle.)

"I'll be sure not to heal you too much if that's the case m'dame!"

-----------------------------------------------------------

(You're all crammed into the just large enough carriage as it's on its way. You and Vale sat opposite each other next to one set of doors, Odile and Nille sat in the middle with Bonnie in Nille's lap, then Mira and Isa sat beside the doors on the other side, helping block the window like he said he would. You even gave Odile your hat to help block her vision as she tried to focus on her book as a distraction.)

"WE'RE ALMOST HOOOOOME!!!" (Bonnie cheers, excitedly bouncing on Nille's lap while she held them securely.)

"Boniface if you don't stop bouncing I'm going to crabbing lose it." (The sudden and desperate outburst from Odile made everyone freeze, even Bonnie was staring in shock.)

"Holy crab, she said crab..." (Nille laughs, noting everyone's reactions to this.)

"I'm guessing that means you should really stop doing that, bug."

"Sorry Dile!" (They quickly respond, trying to sit politely and motionless... very clearly trying super hard to keep their leg from bouncing even. Isa chimes in to try and ease the tension.)

"So why don't you two tell us more about Bambouche? Without the bouncy enthusiasm." (Bonnie sticks their tongue out playfully at Isa before Nille begins to explain.)

"Oh it's amazing! Wonderful port town with plenty to do. The beach is just gorgeous, especially at night! Everyone there is so sweet, even by Vaugarde standards. They all even saw me off to try and find y'all, threw a little good luck party for me, gave me some extra coin and supplies." (Her smile shifts a bit as she goes on, less cheery and almost bittersweet?) "They've helped me out a lot when I needed it... I couldn't be more thankful to live there."

(Isa takes note of her tone change before speaking again.) "Sounds like a terrific place! Can't wait to meet everyone there! And hey, that reminds me Bonnie, who taught you how to cook anyhow? Nille mentioned she was uhh... lacking in that department."

"You don't gotta sugar coat it, I could find a way to ruin the simplest dish you could imagine, it's like a curse on me or something!" (She chuckles before Bonnie responds.)

"One of our neighbors had a really nice old cook book style familytale! Everyone in her family wrote down their favorite recipes and even made up one or two themselves. They didn't always turn out great, but it showed me how fun it can be to make up stuff and try putting different foods together!" (Mira makes her bright sparkly face you love to see as she joins in.)

"Oh! That sounds wonderful! I remember how much fun my cooking class was!! Though sadly I think I was closer to the Nille side of the spectrum!"

(You all enjoy a nice laugh together, even Odile having been distracted enough to relax again and enjoy a chuckle. You glance back over at Vale. They've been silently staring out of the window the whole time, but the soft smile on their face shows they were listening, enjoying the company from the sidelines like you often do. They notice you looking at them and you give them a brighter smile. They force one back before going back to staring out at the mountains.)

(Nille takes note, placing a hand on their back to gently rub at it.) "How yah doing, Vay?"

"Oh, I'm fine~! Why do you ask?"

"You just seem mighty entranced by that window."

"Just enjoying the view is all~. You all continue your conversation, I'm fine, truly."

"Okay, if you say-" (The sound of splintering wood fills the air as the carriage suddenly shifts and slams to the ground, launching all of you to the side as you and Vale bash into the doors. They burst open at your impact before you're suddenly careening off the edge of the cliff with them.)

"SIF!!!"

"VALE!!!"

(You hear voices call out for you both as you rapidly approach the ground before-

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[lillotte17]

The Music Room

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS‼- Do Not Read unless you have completed the Dread Wolf's Regrets quest!!!!

AN: I have not finished the game, so I don't know if this will actually be part of my canon yet, but the world is currently awful and I...needed to be making something. But as I said: I have NOT finished the game yet, so if you leave a comment (pls and thank) do NOT write anything with spoilers in it!!!

Okay, on with the show!

~

Rill finds Inquisitor Lavellan sitting at the harpsichord in the music room. All of the other rooms at the Lighthouse had seemed barren when they had first started using it as their base, and even this one had apparently been used as some sort of storage space -there was an alarming amount of cheese for some reason- but the quiet here feels different in a way that is hard to quantify. Peaceful, as opposed to desolate. The light pouring through the windows is always bright in here. Always warm. The murals on the walls were still vivid when they came. Colorful and new. The most prominent one bears the symbol of the Inquisition flanked by howling wolves.

The woman contemplating it does not look like the fearsome hero who closed a hole in the sky and stopped the southern half of the world from falling into chaos, though. She looks small. And tired. And sad.

Rill clears her throat, feeling awkward.

“So. Not trying to complain or anything, but when you asked to come here, you did say that you could help by giving us insight into Solas’ history and his way of thinking and… Well. You were pretty quiet in there while we watched those memories.”

“I know,” Aili sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry. I’m just… I knew some of it. Bits of things he told me himself. Things I figured out…afterwards. And I knew there would be more. More I didn’t know. He’s thousands of years old, so I knew that the story of his life would be more than what he had told me, but…”

“It’s a lot.” Rill hums in agreement.

“Bit of an understatement,” Aili snorts. Her gaze drifts down, and she runs her fingers over the instrument in front of her. “…I didn’t even know he played.”

“So, tell me what you do know,” Rill says, casually plopping down onto a nearby crate, “It’s probably more helpful than you think.”

“I know… I know that he hates tea.”

“Right. Noted. Probably shouldn’t offer him any of Lucanis’ coffee either, then.” Rill grins, folding her arms across her chest.

“Probably not,” Aili agrees, returning the smile faintly. “He has a sweet tooth, though. He loves books. Loves learning. And teaching, too. He was always happy to share stories about places he had been, or spirits he had talked to. He paints beautifully. And he sketches, too. He doesn’t laugh very often, but when he does, it’s…”

She trails off, her face creased with grief and faint traces of longing.

“I’m sorry.”  She says again.

Rill shakes her head at the apology but gives her a curious look afterwards.

“You said that Solas was important to you; I’m guessing you didn’t mean that you were just really good friends?”

Aili shrugs.

“I thought that we were…something.” She glances around the room again, eyes landing on the mural of the slain dragon and the mourning wolf above it. “Now I’m not sure if even that was true.”

“Is that something he would lie about?” Rill wonders, her eyebrows ticking upwards, “Because that would be some valuable insight. He doesn’t strike me as the sort to use seduction as a manipulation tactic, but he seems comfortable twisting the truth about everything else, so…”

Aili sits for a moment in silence, frowning in consideration before finally shaking her he in the negative.

“It’s… No.” She fumbles briefly. “I know that given…given everything we’ve seen, it might be hard to believe, but… He has a kind heart. Truly. He wants to do the right thing. He believes in justice, and he wants things to be fair. He wants to help people when he sees them suffering. And he blames himself when he can’t. He just…comes to the wrong conclusions, sometimes, and he struggles to ask for help when he needs it. He… There would be no reason to -no point- in lying about his feelings for me. I was already his friend, and I took his advice seriously. He had my ear and my protection. He wouldn’t get anything out of it unless his intention was to be needlessly cruel, and…he’s not like that. He isn’t.”

“Then why were you doubting that you had something?”

“It’s…complicated.” Aili sighs. “It’s about time, I think. Or at least, part of it is. He feels things deeply. Passionately. Even if you can’t tell which words he’s telling you are true, you can always tell when something matters to him. And this place… Mythal is everywhere. In every mural. In every room. Statues. Paintings. Symbols. Everything is about her. For her. Even now. Even after taking Flemmeth’s power and essentially killing her himself. His love for her, whatever shape or form it might have had, has colored every aspect of his life since the beginning of the world. And compared to that…”

She taps a single key on the harpsichord, letting out a high clear note.

“Mythal is the All-Mother. The Protecter. The bright and beguiling moon. And I…I am barely a candle flame.”

“You’re the Inquisitor. The Savior of the South. People still call you the ‘Herald of Andraste.’ You disbanded the Inquisition, and still managed to bring enough people together to hold back the darkspawn hordes while I fight the gods up here in the North. I think you might be selling yourself a bit short.” Rill says with a curl of her lips, trying to be kind.

“There will always be heroes, just as there will always be despots. I’m hardly unique in that respect.” Aili replies, striking another key. “A puny mortal striking back at false gods probably reminded him of his own past. His own struggles. Maybe that was it. Maybe there’s even something about me that made him think of Mythal. I don’t know. I don’t know what he saw in me. Or thought he saw. But look around. There are a few Inquisition symbols in this room, but beyond that… There is no trace of me in this place. Nothing he held onto. Nothing he felt was worth keeping.” 

Rill frowns. Fidgeting with her hands. Itching to pull out a blade to play with, but uncertain if the move would been seen as a threat.

“Sorry.” She offers after a few moments of silence. “I try not to talk to him very often, for obvious reasons. It’s still a bit creepy, if I’m being honest. Even if I did, though, I don’t think his romantic life would be something he’d be keen to tell me about.”

“It’s not your fault,” Aili assures her with a smile that does not reach her eyes, “He wasn’t keen to tell me either.”

“The Fade’s a funny place, though,” Rill says, gesturing at their surroundings, “I’m not always sure which bits of the things we’ve found here are from Solas, and which things we brought along ourselves. Lucanis found a book he used to read as a kid. Harding says she can smell her mom’s cooking sometimes. Neve said she can hear the sea when she wakes up in the mornings. Things like that, you know?”

The Inquisitor nods.

“Not surprising, given the nature of this place and the person who built it.” Aili says. “This was a refuge. For spirits and slaves fleeing tyranny. And for Solas himself, too. It wants to be welcoming. It wants you to feel safe.”

“It was different when we got here, though.” Rill tells her. “Bit empty. Bit sad. Lonely, almost.”

“Sounds like Solas,” Aili sighs, something close to exasperated fondness.

“This room though…” Rill sits up straighter, turning her head to glance at the sunlight painting patterns on the already painted walls. “It was always like this. It may be small and tucked away, but it’s honestly one of my favorite places in the Lighthouse. It’s always a little warmer in here. The sun’s always shining through the windows. The quiet in here feels like…comfort. Like home.”

“I feel like you’re trying to lead me somewhere, but I’m not sure where it is,” Aili chuckles.

“Well, you said it yourself, didn’t you?” Rill grins back at her, “This is the only room with Inquisition symbols in it.”

Aili blinks. Makes a face.

“There are also murals of Mythal in here. Because she’s everywhere.”

It is Rill’s turn to sigh.

“Maybe she is. Maybe he couldn’t escape from her. Maybe he never will. What she did. What she made him do. What was done to her. But the library with all his memories of her is big and dark and gloomy. And the statues of her are stiff and aloof and cold. And the little room upstairs he shoved a cot into to sleep is…just depressing, really.”

 She catches the older woman’s gaze. Holds it.

“It’s called the Lighthouse, but the beacon at the top isn’t where the light is. It’s not in some huge memorial room dedicated to Mythal. It’s here. There’s a chair with your seal on it, almost waiting for you to sit and watch him play. There’s the paintings on the walls. There’s… Look, when did this become me telling you about the Dread Wolf’s heart?”

“I have no idea,” Aili laughs in earnest this time.

“Really though, this is a good room. I like to sit and read by the windows in here sometimes. The light in here always makes be think of summer afternoons. The air has a sweetness to it, too. Something flowery. Heather, maybe. Or Lavender.”

Aili starts, her eyes going wide.

“What’s wrong?” Rill asks.

“You said it smells like lavender in here?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“It’s…the soap I use. For my hair. I always have.”

“Well, there you have it!” Rill grins in triumph. “He kept your memory here. Away from his regrets. Somewhere bright and happy. Well…as happy as Solas gets, anyway. Not too bad for a candle flame, eh?”

Aili laughs again.

“Thank you, Rook.”

[rotten-dog-teeth]

I'm aroace, aplatonic and on the afamilial spectrum, but I am still completely and utterly in love.

I'm in love with the moon. Every night I look for her in the sky, and every time I see her I grin sheepishly at her with adoration in my teeth. She's so pretty, my darling lady, and I feel so ridiculously smitten with her.

I'm in love with the German language. I imagine her to be a beautiful, round forest spirit in the dark of the woods, with long, brown, coiled hair, whom if you are quiet and gentle enough, may appear before you before leaving you once again to hide amongst the trees. And when she speaks and I read her words, my heart flutters.

I'm in love with the double bass. In the back of my mind, we dance, elegant together in old, crumbling castles, sweeping through the gold pouring through the stained glass windows. Their dark, soft, comforting notes like an auditory weighted blanket.

I'm in love with old books. I rescue them from neglect and unwant, and I hold them in my frail, damaged arms to my chest and whisper to them that I love them and will care for them, and tend to the love they have been bestowed throughout their lifetime by previous owners, and that I'm sorry for their neglect, but that if they will allow me, I will love them with all I am capable of.

I'm in love with poeticism. She plants her claws in the walls of my chest cavity, and from the gashes burst plumes of flowers, each with their own story and affectionate symbolism that they hold so dearly in their fragile figures, dusting my lungs with tender meanings that I will echo out into the world.

I'm in love with the colour brown. They recieve so much cruelty and dismissal, despite being such a loving colour. They're the colour of the home; of the wooden floorboards and furniture; of warm, hearty, homecooked meals in the winter; of the dirt in the flower pots; of the blankets you cuddle in the cold and the knitted jumpers you cradle yourself in. They're warm, and loving, and affectionate.

I'm in love with so much and so many, and I am so full of love it feels like I'm spilling out of my body. I never want to be in a romantic, sexual or platonic relationship, and I do not want any more family than the small household I have, but in myself I will forever be planting kisses on each and every one of these things and so many more, and bowing my heart for them.

/aff /gen

[vinnsley]

Hi there!! You cool with a daughter of Iris reader x Leo Valdez where Leo is stressed out about a project so y/n cheers Leo up by turning his project different colors and stuff? Thanks, have a great day!! Here, have a song rec too: Copacabana by Barry Manilow(English version)

Haven't written for pjo before... hoping i'll get leos character right💀🙏

TW/Info: none except FEM [Y/N], short drabble, fluff, max colors and set clothing ig😹

[--------------]

You've been a camper at Camp Half-Blood for awhile now, being a daughter of Iris, fighting wasn't really your strong suite, but you weren't weak either. You could keep yourself alive out there alone for a bit. Atleast.

And it has been a few days since you've seen your boyfriend, Leo, at all recently. You thought he might be at a quest or something, but after seeing Piper still at camp, you made the proud deduction that no quest has started without your knowledge.

So you decided that you'll raid the Hephaestus Cabin when you have the chance tomorrow... you were already laying in your bunk inside your cabin with your siblings already dead asleep, or reading a book to pass the time while they couldn't sleep.

Soon enough, tomorrow rolled around, being woken up by one of your cabinmates for the morning far earlier than normal, just as you requested.

You thought that if you woke up earlier then you might be able to catch Leo going to the workshop or what he called it as... honestly, you had a hard time deciphering what he was saying when he was more excited than a young kid on christmas day seeing their presents under the tree.

You quickly got dressed — Your bright orange camp shirt (Which in all honesty, you hated the color.), your dark blue jeans with your converse — And your short rainbow scarf you usually wore in your hair before putting your hair in a pony tail.

You quickly rush out of your cabin, not even thinking about closing the door as you run trough the camp, to Leo's workshop.

Not long after you find the entrance, it being wide open and you hear some type of... mechanical noises from the inside?

You went closer, peeking inside and spotting your objective — Leo's body peeking out from the inside of Festus as the dragon was resting while he worked.

You walked inside, walking closer as Festus opened it's eyes, now staring at you approaching. Leo not even taking notice of you at all.

"So this is where you've been all this time?" Your voice spoke as Leo almost immedieatly hit his head in Festus' body, before raising his head out of the mechanical dragon with wide eyes as he stared at you.

"Mi amor! I-I didn't expect to see you today!" He said, chuckling nervously as he scratched the back of his neck.

You raised an eyebrow. "I haven't seen you in days, Leo. It made me worry slightly." You responded, before walking closer towards Festus' leg, placing your hands on your hip.

Leo chuckled again. "Sorry. My bad. Was kinda too focused on fixing a part inside Festus." He grunted. "I just can't get it right." He grumbled under his breath and chucked his head back into Festus' back.

"Y'know... a break sounds way better than this."

"What do you mean a break? I need to finish this!

"What you need is a break!" You shot back, scoffing as you leaned your shoulder against Festus as you stared at Leo's lower body poking out from Festus.

But absent-mindedly, as you adjusted your position, you reached your hand and put it on Festus, and suddenly, instead of the goldish yellow color... he became bright rainbow colored.

Leo froze as he saw the change (from the inside? You guessed.) as he quickly wiggled himself out and stood on-top of Festus.

"Woah." He said as he looked across Festus' new look. "You could do that?"

You glanced at Festus' torso and Leo awkwardly. "Uh. I guess. I can change object's colors. Could do this since... forever. Y'know." You shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.

"Since forever? Dude! You never told me!" He said. "You should've told me! My inventions could've been way cooler with a touch of color instead of—" He said before he cut himself off as you raised an eyebrow in response.

"Y'know... Mi Amor... Some of my inventions do need a new paintjob..." He smirked as he slid down from Festus' back, walking over to you and wrapping his arms around your waist. "Please?" He said with a charming smile.

You raised an eyebrow. "This whole charming thing isn't really working when you smell like oil and like you haven't showered in weeks." You point out.

"Well, excuse you, but i am taking showers. Quite frequently to get rid of the smell." He stated with a pout.

You chuckled as you smirked. "I know, i know. I'll also try to color in your inventions, doofus." You respond.

He grinned happily at that, immedieatly pulling you towards the desk that was situated in the room, with a bunch of materials and tools, Leo rummaging around at the mess and gather them on the middle of the desk.

Awhile later, many gadgets, tools even material at this point was different colors than usual. Even Festus was now pink and blue with some white here and there. Both of you were now on the back of Festus, Leo peeking his head out of the poptart look-alike.

"Finally fixed the issue." He said with a soft smile on his face. He seemed more at ease than you ever did before, in all honesty. This whome color-adventure winded him down slightly, but he was happy, it showed. "You really should've told me you can do this... i would've loved to have you here to color my projects." He said, staring at you softly before leaning down and kissing your forehead.

[--------------]

tried my best w this one💔

small extra;

"Yeah, yeah. This may be all fun and games... but i'm pretty winded, Leo." You said.

"So? What's the problem with being tired?" He asked, looking at you as he put another project you colored away.

"I probably can't color everything back..." You revealed.

Leo's eyes went wide, before the two of you looked at Festus. The dragon only snorted out smoke from it's nostrils...in annoyance if you guessed.

"So Festus is staying as a fake poptart?" Questioned Leo.

"...Guess so. You might have to get used to this new version of Festus." You said. "Might take awhile before i could color him back..." You giggled.

[lambergeier]

2022 book post FINALLY

this post is six weeks late because, frankly, i was on my honeymoon over new years and its hard to get up the will to type all this shit when everyone has already posted their book lists ages ago!! but also i read a lot of good books last year and wish to gloat, so here we are. italics are rereads, bold are my favorites, asterisks denote not-prose, and reviews are interspersed throughout as i felt like it:

January

No One is Talking About This - Patricia Lockwood (this book made me cry so hard lmao. first part is a sickeningly true-to-life depiction of Being A Blue Check Person and then the second part makes you cry so bad.)

Sorrowland - Rivers Solomon (what the fuck happened to the last third of this book? what shit-ass x-men knock-off did it come from?)

What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in World War II France - Mary Louise Roberts (got on a whole ww2 history kick because, gotta be real, i watched all of band of brothers during winter break 2021-2022 and developed a bug up my ass. pulled this off the shelf at the library on a whim and it was STUNNING. excellently, thoroughly told history of sex, venereal disease, and race among american GIs in normany following the invasion. would read anything roberts now.)

How to Blow Up a Pipeline - Andreas Malm

Hello, Sailor: The hidden history of gay life at sea - Paul Baker and Jo Stanley

Coming Out Under Fire: The History of Gay Men and Women in World War II - Allan Berube (another excellent ww2 book, frequently quoted on this site and for good reason. not written by a historian, so incredibly easy and engaging to read, that presents you with just this amazing overview of how modern american queer identity was totally, inextricably shaped by the us military and the experience of being part of it or even just near it lmao)

February

Possession - A.S. Byatt (really really lovely romance that was such a consistent pleasure to read that i got to the end basically unable to remember favorite lines or even scenes i was just like mmmmmmmm. book good.)

Uncanny Valley - Anna Wiener

Howl’s Moving Castle - Diana Wynne Jones

The Verge: Reformation, Renaissance, and Forty Years that Shook the World - Patrick Wyman (this book sucked ass we gotta stop giving podcasters history books)

Watership Down - Richard Adams (so fucked up. loved this. love that we give this to children to read.)

Dead Collections - Isaac Fellman

March

The Hidden Palace - Helene Wecker (much better than its prequel, imho! resolved many pacing issues but lost no heart!)

The Vanishing Half - Britt Bennet (part of the reason i managed to read so much this year is that i had to drive a lot for work and started putting audiobooks on in the car, having never been an audiobook person before. i listened almost entirely to contemporary litfic this way, a genre i also had not previously engage with, and this was both a fascinating entry into an entire other world of books and also kinda boring sometimes lmao. vanishing half was good, certainly better than some of the other stuff i ended up listening to, but still not something i would have finished if i weren't in the car)

The Reformation - Patrick Collinson (this bitch was so funny his preface to the book was 'i didn't list any sources because i've been teaching this topic for 60 years. the source is Me.' anyways almost totally unreadable but did provide me some good context on the counter-reformation, which i want to learn more about.)

Fleischman is in Trouble - Taffy Brodesser-Akner

Home Baked - Alia Volz (soooooo good all bay area homies please read this)

River of Stars - Vanessa Hua

April

Light from Uncommon Stars - Ryka Aoki (INSANE BOOK. SO FUN.)

*Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller

Book of Dust - Phillip Pullman

Gold Diggers - Sanjena Sathian

*Angels in America - Tony Kushner (disconnected me from reality for like 24 straight hours. scared to reread it.)

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (read this in high school and hated it because i was a DUMB TEENAGER!! THIS BOOK IS SO FUNNY!!)

Good Omens - Terry Pratchett

Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett

May

Mexican Gothic - Silvia Moreno-Garcia (strongly eh.)

Oh the Glory of it All - Sean Wilsey (loved it but feels impossible to recommend.)

Magic for Liars - Sarah Gailey

Foundation - Isaac Asimov (absolutely fascinating as like, a history of the genre thing, even if i only "enjoyed" reading the first two or three stories lol. also, HE COULDN'T PREDICT FIAT CURRENCY?? ACTUAL PLOT POINT THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH METALS ON THE PLANET TO MINT COINS???? reader i lost my mind.)

June

All the Pretty Horses - Cormac McCarthy (all the pretty horses my insane high school problematic fave. i will never read the sequels)

Have His Carcase - Dorothy L. Sayers

The Power - Naomi Alderman (as i said on private twitter after rereading, this book makes me sick to my stomach not because of the gender shit, which is like, i know what the book's about that's what it's about it's not gonna be a different book, but christ it's so bleak. love an oral history style but i gave my copy away once i finished lmao.)

Murder Must Advertise - Dorothy L. Sayers

July

Such a Fun Age - Kiley Reid (great audiobook narrator, and a very funny book)

Several People are Typing - Calvin Kasulke (PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS AUDIOBOOK THEY HIRED A FULL RADIO-PLAY STYLE CAST AND SURE THE ACTUAL STORY DOESN'T STICK THE LANDING BUT IT'S SO FUNNY. i finished it on my own and immediately put it back on for emma to enjoy. so good.)

They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Owners in the American South - Stephanie Jones-Rogers

Hawk Mountain - Conner Habib (oughhhhouguhughuhghh the dread. great book. wretched creeping horror. queer, if that matters. gives you the Dread.)

There, There - Tommy Orange

August

If an Egyptian Can’t Speak English - Noor Naga (experimental fiction, i listened to it on audiobook and actually missed a lot of what it was doing in print but still incredibly good. absolute sucker punch of an ending.)

The Loneliest Americans - Jay Caspian King

Encounters at the Heart of the World: A History of the Mandan People - Elizabeth Fenn (great clear thorough history of the mandan nation of the upper missouri river, really enjoyed this.)

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us - Ed Yong (ed yong is the best science writer working today and this book was tremendous. i quoted like every other line of it to emma and she still went and borrowed it as soon as i was done. we immediately bought a copy for the house.)

Sheer Misery: Soldiers in Battle in WWII - Mary Louise Roberts

September

Black Sun - Rebecca Roanhorse (damn so much modern sff is bad)

I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life - Ed Yong (not as good as the animal book but still VERY good)

Dark Rise - C.S. Pacat (unfuckingreadable. a masterclass of incoherent bullshit)

Nona the Ninth - taz lol (this should not have been its own book.)

*Ducks - Kate Beaton (cannot recommend highly enough. intense subject matter, also made me cry many times, but holy shit ms beaton you killed it with this one)

Unreleased Friend Book that I Love So Bad (soon!!)

Normal People - Sally Rooney

October

Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (another book i haven't reread since high school holden ilu. you are my little problems boy)

Pachinko - Min Jin Lee (read it all in one day while on various airplanes. what a BOOK)

Half of a Yellow Sun - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Foundation - Mercedes Lackey (thus begins the valdemar stage of the year)

My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh (uh. would not recommend.)

November

Devil House - John Darnielle (ur crazy for this one mr mountain goats. still don't know if it was good or bad lol.)

Arrows of the Queen - Mercedes Lackey

Arrows Flight - Mercedes Lackey

Arrows Fall - Mercedes Lackey

Magic’s Pawn - Mercedes Lackey (vanyel i love you)

December

Magic’s Promise - Mercedes Lackey (vanyel i'm obsessed with you)

Empire of Wild - Cherie Dimaline

Magic’s Price - Mercedes Lackey (oh misty we did NOT stick the landing here. rip to vanyel.)

Winter Counts - David Heska Wanbli Weiden

Neuromancer - William Gibson (loved so many individual sentences and, like foundation, a very interesting work for understanding the history of the genre. however in many ways, totally incomprehensible.)

total books: 66!!! nice work, me! really enjoyed how much i read in 2022 and how generally varied it was and after a long while of not reading too much at all, it's been very nice being back in the swing of it. also god non-fiction is so good. i can't read it particularly fast but every time i read a good one i enjoy it so immensely. look forward to reading more of it this year!!!

AND, FINALLY, A SHOUT OUT TO THE WORST DNF OF 2022:

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab sucks shit.

[inkskinned]

this is just my opinion but i think any good media needs obsession behind it. it needs passion, the kind of passion that's no longer "gentle scented candle" and is now "oh shit the house caught on fire". it needs a creator that's biting the floorboards and gnawing the story off their skin. creators are supposed to be wild animals. they are supposed to want to tell a story with the ferocity of eating a good stone fruit while standing over the sink. the same protective, strange instinct as being 7 and making mud potions in pink teacups: you gotta get weird with it.

good media needs unhinged, googling-at-midnight kind of energy. it needs "what kind of seams are invented on this planet" energy and "im just gonna trust the audience to roll with me about this" energy. it needs one person (at least) screaming into the void with so much drive and energy that it forces the story to be real.

sometimes people are baffled when fanfic has some stunning jaw-dropping tattoo-it-on-you lines. and i'm like - well, i don't go here, but that makes sense to me. of fucking course people who have this amount of passion are going to create something good. they moved from a place of genuine love and enjoyment.

so yeah, duh! saturday cartoons have banger lines. random street art is sometimes the most precious heart-wrenching shit you've ever seen. someone singing on tiktok ends up creating your next favorite song. youtubers are giving us 5 hours of carefully researched content. all of this is the impossible equation to latestage capitalism. like, you can't force something to be good. AI cannot make it good. no amount of focus-group testing or market research. what makes a story worth listening to is that someone cares so much about telling it - through dance, art, music, whatever it takes - that they are just a little unhinged about it.

one time my friend told me he stayed up all night researching how many ways there are to peel an orange. he wrote me a poem that made me cry on public transportation. the love came through it like pith, you know? the words all came apart in my hands. it tasted like breakfast.

[fromtheseventhhell]

"It's normal for siblings to fight" Okay well it's not normal to be extremely classist and look down on your sister for being non-conforming. Or to go to the woman who ordered the death of your pet to tell her about your father's plans, when he specifically warned you against doing so, because you want to marry the boy you saw attack your sister and her friend (contributing partially to said father's death and your sister being unable to escape on the ship he chartered). Or to think of your sibling as unsatisfactory in comparison to another when you believe her to be dead. I notice that none of the "Sansa and Arya are going to reunite and instantly have no issues" crowd ever acknowledge any of this, which makes it seem like they don't actually believe what they say about their relationship being normal and easily reconciled. People wanting them to have no issues simply because they're siblings is another example of how fandom likes to flatten complex characters and relationships. They get reduced to being bickering siblings when their conflict runs deeper than that. If the author is telling you that they have "deep issues" to work out [X], I don't understand being so adamant about ignoring said issues. I also get the sense it's about ignoring the capacity for a certain character to be flawed, but that isn't going to change the fact that her "slip of the tongue" is very likely to be revealed and a source of further conflict 🤷🏾‍♀️

[puhpandas]

as someone who isnt super excited for sotm for certain reasons I am really glad that like. it's clear that since ruin theyve been setting up for carnival and sotm IS carnival. so now that carnival is finally coming out, afterwards theyll be moving on to other plotlines since the main villain stuff is sorted out

I'm just rlly happy to finally see a clear direction for how the story is gonna be playing out with like "okay these games were leading up to this so after this will be open possibilites" instead of like. absolutely no info about each upcoming game and being left guessing before it releases and just having to wait and see what's in it and if anything you're looking forward to will be in it

it feels like they have a plan and a solid direction for what they're trying to do and after carnival releases thatll be all that buildup coming to fruition. & we already know from the Scott interview that theres another release 'beyond sotm' that's 'super exciting' so maybe thatll be focusing on another big currently untouched (which is basically all of them) plotline, or even the big campaign game that dawko has been calling security breach 2

[deoidesign]

just to inquire, what’s your favorite thing you sell in your shop?

i love your comic!

Oh thank you!

And my favorite thing... That's hard to answer haha

I like selling prints because I get to use my nice printer (which I love to do) and I especially love selling custom panel prints, because then I get to see people's favorite panels from my comic, which is double nice...

The most fun items to pack are the merch bundles which are themed with my books, I LOVE coming up with packaging design like this so much...

But my favorite design has gotta be one of these... Probably the patch, there.

It's really hard for me to pick!

I actually genuinely just am really passionate about product design and merch themeing, it's not only extremely fun for me but it also just really engages my brain. I love coming up with items that fit a theme, and there's no theme I love more than my own comics haha

So there's not much I could enjoy more! That's why I chose to do a merch club on patreon, it lets me get out my merch-y feelings but without overloading my storefront... Plus it's just really fun for me! I get to experiment, make little packages, and enjoy making new things.

Thank you for asking!

[nedsseveredhead]

About to enter my villain era where i just take packages off peoples porches because apparently theres just NO consequences to it so why the fuck not

[joshuamj]

also i watch The Wild Robot the other day and oh my god 11/10, absolutely beautiful in every sense of the word, would cry again 👍