#this isn't the genre of novel i usually fall in love with at all. and yet it shares many traits with villette

[maleyanderecafe]

Apple for a Teacher: A Yandere Love Story (Visual Novel)

Created by: ataraxic

Genre: Horror/Romance

The screenshots on this one are a bit different because I played this game on my mac instead of my pc, so it looks a little weird on the preview. I played a previous game by this creator called Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, which features another character. This one features another character in this world, Ciel. If you've read my previous review on this series, you'll know my overall feelings about this game as well, because despite the couple of years that I haven't thought about this game, I still have the same opinions on it.

The story starts with the MC going to university. They're happy that they're finally free from their professor Ciel as they've finally passed their class. We learn that the MC really hates Ciel as he's very blunt and seems to have a vendetta against the MC. The MC was failing Ciel's class, so Ciel helped to tutor them, as the MC doesn't really know anyone else on campus. They're very happy when they find out that they're able to pass the class and don't have to deal with Ciel anymore and even more excited that they got into an elusive internship on campus. Ciel ends up asking the MC to a fancy dinner at an Italian place as a celebration of them passing their classes. The MC accepts as they want to eat at a fancy place and gets (begrudgingly) driven back to her place by his chauffeur. Ciel waits for the MC to change into more proper clothing as well as criticizes a lot of their outfits in the meantime. At some point, Ciel ends up seducing (?) the MC unintentionally and they can either go further or try to deny it.

If the MC goes further, Ciel and them will end up having sex, with Ciel even confessing that he's always loved the MC. Afterwards, however, the MC seems to be in shock about what they've done and attempts to push Ciel away.

If the MC decides to deny it and push Ciel down, Ciel will get angry and end up raping the MC, traumatizing them. The MC tries to get Ciel to leave afterwards.

Ciel, however, isn't having that as he's been looking for a partner to have children and live together with. He ends up forcing the MC to pack up and essentially kidnaps them. As the MC is forced into the car, they think about how no one will know that they're gone, as they have no family nor friends, with the only people who really would notice would be the fact that their internship might be looking for them. They end up falling asleep in the car before waking up chained to the bed. Ciel waits for them to wake up, introducing them to their new life together.

If you've read my previous review on Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, you'll probably know a lot about my criticisms with this game. The artwork and design of everything looks wonderful as always. The backgrounds, sprites and UI are all really professionally made and the music itself is pretty nice too. Unfortunately, I just don't really like the style of how this person writes too much because the relationship between the MC and the ML is usually just not fun to read (for me).

The MC of this game is different than the one in Dameon's game but instead of being pretty frankly stupid and making dumb decisions, they instead are very cynical and bitter of their position. It makes sense to a specific extent considering that Ciel loves to berate them but it does encapsulate a lot of the things I don't like about MCs in a lot of the more recent yandere vns I've played. A lot of yandere MCs tend to have this kind of cynical attitude- they dislike the job or position they're in, tend to be very grumbly about everything and don't really have any friends, and if they do have family they tend to not be on good terms with them. That in itself isn't necessarily always bad, however, it does get tiring to read. As my friend Cherry says, it's hard to really root for these types of MCs if we the audience can't even see why the yandere might be into them. I usually don't really mention this in my recommendations because the MC isn't really the main appeal of the game (and most people end up self inserting regardless), but it does get annoying when I have to go through the same type of personality over and over again. In some cases, it makes more sense as there is a bit of backstory into why this MC might act like this which is more understandable. This MC falls into a lot of the tropes of the recent MCs including the part where they find the yandere hot and bang him despite only really knowing him for a bit (and in this case also hating him, which is a whole other thing). I know there is such thing as hatesex, however, there wasn't really any indication of the MC finding Ciel attractive until right before the two of them have sex. It's also strange to me that they don't even try to fight (?) Ciel at all when he gets them to pack up their things and get in the car. It makes more sense in the route where Ciel rapes the MC, but otherwise it still feels sudden like it came out of nowhere. I would have thought there would have been at least some resistance or a proper threat that Ciel would have made. To be honest, I think this is likely also a problem with the pacing of certain choices as the MC's actions make a lot more sense if Ciel does end up raping them instead of simply just having sex with him.

Ciel is... mean, to say the least. In Dameon's case while he was usually just mean if the player chose decisions that he didn't like, Ciel is just straight up cruel. Not only does he outright insult the MC for not being able to pass his class and berates them while tutoring the MC, he also criticizes the MC's wardrobe choice when they're trying to find the right outfit for the dinner, even calling the MC a whore at one point, which I feel is super uncalled for (although kind of funny out of context), which the MC simply just... brushes off. There isn't really any indication that Ciel even likes the MC, which you could say is part of his more tsundere (well, I'd assume it would be tsundere, though we don't really see the deredere part) attitude, which makes the sudden kidnapping pretty jarring. It's hard to say why Ciel might even like the MC other than they're attractive and possibly easy to control, but the demo doesn't go far enough to tell what is going on. We do know that Ciel has a more traditional view of life, wanting to (essentially) have a "wife" and children, living together- similar to Vincent in Dead Wishes though we have yet to see the full progression of it. This type of yandere is pretty interesting as I don't really see it that often nowadays (and it is pretty cool seeing what they do to try to maintain that ideal) so hopefully in future iterations, this is shown more for the story. Still though, Ciel is very unlikable, even in terms of characters you hate to love kind of way, at least in my opinion. Besides that, he is rich and kidnaps the MC in a fairly nice place all things considered, though he's just as rude to them when they wake up. I can see people liking Ciel in a horror type of way because the game itself does do pretty well in setting up a more horror like story of being kidnapped, raped and forced to marry, but I would not at all call this a romantic type game even in the slightest even though the relationship seems to be more of a love hate one. Perhaps it might change in the future, but as of current, I'm not really buying that Ciel is in love with the MC.

So as I said, this game is not for me, however, if you did like the previous Yandere Love: Chains of Fate, then you will probably like this one as well. If any of this did interest you, then please give it a try.

[evangelineiiimoscovia]

I've finally watched Link Click s2 and Yingdu arc. I won't talk about the actual writing and foreshadowing of the show since there are a lot of people already on the topic. I personally enjoyed it and I'm in for the ride. I'll instead give my thoughts on specific details of the show that caught my eye.

More under the cut

First off, something I thought was general knowledge but apparently isn't. The Chinese name for the show, ShiGuangDaiLiRen, is a pun. Much like any Chinese/Japanese series, all names are puns. Cxs means (Cheng) Process (Xiao Shi) Hour. Lg means (Lu) Land (Guang) Light, and don't take my word for this, but I think this is a double pun. Lu(land) sounds the same as Lu(path), making his name "Path light" as in literally lighting the way. Of course I could be wrong because although Lu(path) is not a common Chinese surname, if the creators had wanted to call him Path Light they totally could have.

ShiGuang, the first part of the title and the ship name of the MCs means "time", but not just any time, it's usually used in a positive context, like the times that you appreciate, or moments to treasure. DaiLiRen, the second part of the title means emissaries or agents. So the title means "(Treasured) Time agents", and for the shippers out there it can literally mean "ShiGuang agents"

Moving on. I'll always love the voice actors they do an amazing work. Chinese voice actors have really stepped up their game these past few years. The characters seem alive and the delivery of some lines is hilarious! I also appreciate how each character's dialogue and voice gives them life. Cxs speaks more informal and youthful (Sha' instead of shenme, using geme'r as in bro, general slang), Lg always uses serious dialogue. One of the villains (Xiao Ma obv) spoke in dialect and although the racism in China is inevitable and clearly appears in the show, it's still a bit of representation and I actually liked him and I thought he was quite funny and a bit sympathetic.

Shout out to Wang Juan, she only did a little but I appreciated her just existing. Western shows are used to including these types of representation ("strong female characters", girls with short hair, women in male dominated fields) so we kinda take them for granted at this point, but I have to give props to the writers because they absolutely didn't need to make a character like Wang Juan but they did.

Link Click in general is quite good in that sense. It's not based on an existing novel (as far as I know) and it's not danmei or bl (who are genres more notable for boundary breaking) but Cxs has semi long hair in a pony tail, the two noodle girls in s1 were obviously together, the women are well written (although the spotlight still always falls on the men) and in no point are the girls inferior to the men in combat. It's little things that maybe aren't groundbreaking for a lot of people, but the teens and maybe some children (the show is also meant for them because of the PSAs that sometimes appear) are seeing representation that is rare in chinese cartoons.

Speaking of the PSAs and the ads, I don't know why they're all so funny to me, just by existing. Especially the one about domestic violence. Obviously we know it's bad, and the show clearly frames it as a horrible thing, but they HAVE to add it, it's just a thing that they have to do. In a sense our MCs are influencers and they just, have the responsibility to say it's bad, and ask the viewers to fight for a world without domestic violence. The same goes for the Yingdu arc. They have to say the "everything is a work of fiction" or whatever, even though it's obvious given that Yingdu doesn't exist in real life (Obv London since Ying is for England and Du is for capital but still), and they have to say "don't attempt to carry out any of the reprehensible actions shown" like the classic "don't try this at home"

Moving on to Yingdu. I'll be honest I didn't like the opening song, the rhymes feel flat and the lyrics just aren't it. It feels like someone's best attempt at writing an English song when they haven't really mastered English. It's not bad at all, it's just not for me.

I was shocked at the hour long opening movie! I was actually so happy Link Click is getting that type of treatment. Well I'm happy about it existing in general. I'm used to Chinese shows popping out the first season of something promising but also setting up to be very long and just, never continuing. But after MDZS basically revolutionised the industry in 2018 and got western attention, Chinese animation has gotten so much better, the production is more organised, everything is more polished, voice actors are getting the recognition they deserve and it makes me very happy!

The art style has changed a little bit, mostly the faces, the backgrounds too. I don't think I'll be able to hold Chinese animation up to western or even Japanese standards in this decade still, it's currently just not possible, so I won't even try. I appreciate the characters moving normally, they do feel alive and have little movements that aren't 100% relevant to the story but give them characterization, and that's already so good! That wasn't too present in s1, but in s2 I really scrutinized the first few episodes because usually second seasons have a drop in quality, but I was pleasantly surprised to see those little character animations.

A thing that I've always liked about Link Click is how they portray subtle details of Chinese life, like your parents showing care through food, a spice native to a certain village, a mother's silent support in a rural area... All small things that just remind you this is (fantasy) China and for the Chinese viewers seems relatable or even nostalgic if they're overseas. Foreign viewers get a little bit of what (fantasy) china is like, mostly for young, urban middle class people though. It's like when people watch anime and learn a bit about Japan, people watch donghuas and have to learn a little bit about China, it's only fair.

In the Yingdu arc I really loved the moment when LiuXiao stopped the robber. I just really liked it because Cxs (not Lg, Lg is living in another dimension rn) is your typical Chinese tourist, he speaks limited English he has no idea wtf is happening, and he's so happy to meet another Chinese person. Just meeting someone who speaks a language he understands, and has just helped him. He says that even overseas it's best to rely on compatriots, and it's really true. People who travel somewhere else be it for tourism or actually emigrating will always be happy to meet someone they "know", and immigrants usually first find their footing among compatriots.

On that note, I also appreciate the detail of Yingdu actually being shown to be a different place. The people don't automatically speak Chinese for the Chinese viewers to understand, they all speak (a very broken ch)english, and it really feels like we've moved location. Every time the MCs meet someone who speaks Chinese it's treated like a little gem. And then there's Vein, speaking chinglish and saying Nihao (hello) with an accent even though mfer knows mandarin.

SOMETHING I FORGOT. I just find it hilarious that the guns in this show never have the accurate amount of bullets. That gun Xiao ma pulled out shot at least 10 times. You can tell the average Chinese person has never seen a gun before. And the one Vein has? I don't know what type of gun that is but it sure doesn't look like it can shoot 8 times idk.

Overall I'm happy to have caught up to Link Click. I liked the first season but I don't know why it never hooked me, even though it ended on a huge cliffhanger. But now I'm hooked and pleasantly surprised by the general quality of the show

[olderthannetfic]

https://www.tumblr.com/olderthannetfic/763283461383553024/saw-a-video-about-why-lesbian-romances-feel?source=share

beyond the obvious issues pointed out here with that argument, I always think it's weird to act like writers have to personally experience something to write it convincingly? unless you're purely writing autobiography, every writer is going to write about things that they don't experience. the art of being a good writer is making it sound like you're in the character's head even if they're very different from you. that includes writing attraction you don't experience.

....but also, if people genuinely want to see what it's like when straight women try to write from the perspective of someone who is sexually attracted to women and fail at it, the place to find it is bad het romance. i specify "bad," because, again, good writers have no difficulty convincingly writing emotions they don't experience but that their characters do. But with the bad writers, you can really REALLY tell it in het when they write from the perspective of the male character (as is romance novel convention, to switch between perspectives) in a het romance, it feels so clunky. It's so obviously a straight woman's idea from the media about what men find hot in women, and it just feels so inauthentic to any real person's experience with falling in love. But again, good het romance writers who are straight women are fine here - because they don't actually have to experience attraction to women themselves to get into the head of a character who does!

It just always feels so condescending, and it only ever seems to come up for some reason when the authors are women, have you noticed that? IME even when you genuinely do have straight women romance writers try to dip their toes into f/f (the books mentioned in that video are not that though, like writers have bios usually or if they don't you can look them up? all the writers of the books that person is complaining about make it clear that they themselves are queer/non-hetero women of some stripe) the writing of the attraction still feels authentic to me. Probably because the hackier of the het romance writers are disproportionately less likely to try their hand at queer stuff? Idk. But that's what I've noticed.

Anyway, I'm all saying this as a lesbian who often finds mainstream F/F romance novels boring, but there's a distinct difference between "I'm not into this" and "these people don't experience this attraction." Your kinks and preferences are not universal! Also I think you've talked about this and I agree - a lot of what is off-putting to me about F/F novels is that a lot of them feel like they're more about community in-jokes than anything else. Idk how you would read that and think the issue is that the author doesn't like women. The other thing about that video that is stupid is that some of those books aren't even really "romances" in the genre sense. They are books that feature F/F romance as a major plot, but that are not written or structured like, or marketed as, romance novels. Like, Honey Girl felt more like a coming-of-age/personal-self-discovery novel than anything. The romance was important, but the protagonist's personal growth was the real story and got way more focus on its own (outside of the central relationship) than a conventional romance novel would give it. Along with that you can't really say "lesbian romance sucks and isn't sexy" and then use as examples books where being "sexy" was never the point in the first place, I also just think it's weird and homophobic to act like anything that has F/F romance content in it is therefore a romance novel? We don't assume that every story that has a hetero romance in it in anyway is a romance. People only seem to do this with queer stuff.

--

It's so odd because older queer lit was so heavy on coming of age and memoir-adjacent stuff.

[alexanderwales]

Book Review: The Ministry of Time

I picked up The Ministry of Time when I was in Berkley. It was prominently placed, it had a bold and colorful cover, and I'm a sucker for time travel of any kind. When I brought it up to the counter, the cashier told me that it was one of her recent favorites and really brilliantly realized for being from a debut author. The inside cover promises "an ingeniously imagined, hilarious romp through time, space, and the human heart".

As a veteran of time travel stories, I think they fall into two basic camps. The first camp is the thinky camp, interested in the time travel elements, the layers of cause and effect, the twists and turns that history or characters might have undergone for want of a nail, branching universes and stable loops, the raw matter of causality itself. The second camp is mostly interested in history, whether that's alternate history or historical characters. These are stories where the premise is that modern warship gets transported back to Ancient Greece or whatever and then we just do not interact with time travel in any meaningful way until the end of the book, if that. Sometimes (maybe even often) time travel stories straddle these two camps, but when I read a time travel story I usually immediately clock it as being one or the other.

For the first three quarters of its word count, The Ministry of Time is so firmly in the latter camp that I thought it would just stay there. The basic premise is that the titular ministry has pulled people through time and set them up with "bridges" who are essentially civil servants that live with the temporal "expats" and get them acclimated to the near-future modern world. Our protagonist "bridge" is a British-Cambodian woman, while her "expat" is Graham Gore, a member of the doomed Erebus and Terror mission to explore the Northwest passage. He's very loosely based on a real man about whom so little is known that his character is invented from whole cloth, but there's quite a bit of historical grounding.

Kate & Leopold was a 2001 film about a modern woman who works at an advertising company (Meg Ryan) and gets embroiled in a love affair with an aristocrat from the late 1800s (Hugh Jackman). It's a romcom, and I thought about it a lot when reading this book, which turns out to mostly be a slow-burn romance. It hits a lot of the same beats. Gore is a man out of time and we milk this for entertainment value as we watch him acclimate to the modern world in various ways, seeing the things that he loves and the things that puzzle him. He's also a gentleman from a simpler time, and his nobility stands in contrast to the boorishness of the modern male. A lot of this is stock: I don't read many romance novels, but "man from the past" is a whole genre, whether he's come through to the present or the female protagonist has been sent to the past. I am pretty sure that the first book of Outlander is this, but I only watched half of the first season of the TV show.

(The other piece of media this reminded me of was the Norwegian show Beforeigners, which hits the "past is a different country" and "refugees from the past" theme a lot harder, at least for my money.)

The Ministry of Time does all this far better than Kate & Leopold did. Part of this is simply the writing quality, but there's also at least a little engagement with ideas of colonialism, the horrors of the past, how we assimilate into the dominant culture, and what that means. Gore is well-realized, and our protagonist has a lot of complexity to her, which brings some brushes with identity and living in the wake of someone else's trauma (particularly because the protagonist, like the author, is mostly white-passing half-Cambodian). It's just that this isn't the sort of time travel novel that I like, because it feels like the core premise, traveling through time, gets set to one side while we focus on the relationship between the past and the present, and how fuckable guys from the past are. I appreciate that there's some depth to the female fantasy on display here, but I don't find this particular female fantasy all that interesting on its own. When I realized, about twenty pages in, that this was primarily going to be a well-written romance, I could feel my enthusiasm for it waning.

Aside from the romance between these two, which is the largest chunk of the book, we have a few people from other eras. They're not given nearly enough depth for my taste, but they serve their purpose well enough, and help add another dose of "actually, the past was kind of shit", which I think any work that is flirting with romanticizing the past needs. The two main ones are Arthur, a gay man from World War I who doesn't get enough screen time, and Margaret, a lesbian who comes from the 1600s. I think there's probably a lot to say about identity and queerness, especially because modern notions of these things are not historical, but as with many things, the novel touches lightly on them and then flies off to the next thing like a timid dragonfly.

The best thing about the book, and the reason I kept looking forward to it, is that the prose is really really good. On almost any random page I open up, I can find a passage that delights me. There's a real art to the metaphor and how it's employed, and I really enjoyed most of it, even the ones that maybe made me scratch my head a little bit. Things like "sparrows gusted along the curb" or "I looked into Margaret's face, the sultry peach color of her mouth and her acne glowing with unprinted newness" or "sheepish, excitable expressions, like children caught drawing on the walls". On the prose level, I was a big fan.

The setting for the novel is near-modern London, a city that's suffering the effect of climate change, with blisteringly hot days where they can't do much more than lay on the floor and wait for the heat to pass, and occasional flooding. The ministry itself is a bureaucratic monolith in a way that feels like it's a piss take, but it doesn't go terribly far toward saying anything here. There's a genre that I'm trying to coin a name for called bureaupunk or bureauporn where we focus on huge organizations with matrix management and endless meetings and paper trails, and how that all feels to live with, but this doesn't quite go to that level, even if it gets close. (The ur-example of this is The Laundry Files, for a future post.)

On the plot level ... I hesitate to use the word "sucks", but I had a lot of problems with it even before we get to the last fourth of the novel where it shifts gears from being a slow romance.

To start with, why are they forcing this man to co-habit with this woman in a way they acknowledge to be scandalous from his perspective? Why didn't they select a bridge that would ease him into the 21st century? Why co-habitation rather than, say, a bridge having regular check-ins or something? Actually, why is all this time and effort being expended on getting these people to acclimate to the 21st century in the first place? The novel doesn't really seem to want to engage with this either, and the answers, to the extent we get them, are always pretty vague. Uncharitably, the bulk of the novel is just an excuse plot to get this woman with this man and have them fall in love.

It's not until the last fourth of the novel that it really starts to pick up steam, at least from a plot perspective. There's a mole in the ministry, there are mystery people from the future, there are plots and plans firing off, people are revealed to not be quite who they said they were ... and I enjoyed this part a lot less, in spite of it being ostensibly more toward the type of thinky time travel fiction I'm a fan of. There are two major reveals, and I didn't think that either of them landed, in part because of how weakly they tied into the thing that the novel had mostly been about, which is this central romantic conflict. It's also in this last fourth of the novel that it becomes a type one time travel story instead of a type two one, but the time travel mechanics are never explained, it never matters, and the whole story is worse for it. There's something that a lot of time travel stories sometimes do where they say "well it's time travel, it's confusing, no one really knows" and I fucking despise it because it's lazy shitty writing. Even if you don't have perfectly consistent rules that make sense on a physics level, you need to have rules that make sense on a narrative level, and usually the kinds of authors who write passages like that don't have either.

Prose aside, I think I didn't like this book. I like some of the stock time travel stuff, like a man from the past discovering Spotify, and a woman from the present reveling in a man from the past. I thought the sentence level stuff was great. I thought that some of the recurrent themes of identity and running from the past were interesting, especially the stuff about power dynamics and fitting in with the governmental overstructure ... but I didn't feel like the novel hit all that hard, aside from a single passage midway through the book. The author has some thoughts on growing up with this Cambodian heritage, but I don't think I necessarily got all that much understanding on top of what I could have gotten from trying to write a character like that myself. I got the sense that the author was putting a lot of herself into the novel, sometimes to a degree that felt embarrassing to read, in a way that the novel is explicit about. Sometimes that was embarrassing in a good way, raw and real, and other times it was just confusing, elements of her life put onto the page without enough introspection or background to understand it.

The romance is good and compelling though, I'll give it that. If you like romances, and don't really care about time travel, you might like it.

[kxmikomrade]

🍁˖࿐ Artist! S/O - Isagi, Bachira, Reo, Sae

╰┈➤Hcs of them with an Artistic S/O!! Genre: Fluff and crack Gn!reader or Any gender Warnings: Swearing, Not proof read bcs im lazy, idk wat else but lmk if theres anything else Waiter's Note: OH LOOK WHO FINALLY PULLED THIS OUTTA THEIR DRAFTS AFTER A WHOLE ASS 5 MONTHS LMAOO I HOPE U GUYS ENJOY <33 Reqs Open as usual!! Masterlists

Now Playing: An Art Gallery Could Never Be As Unique As You

Very VERY VERYYYY fascinated on what you do, he thinks it's really cool

He canonly likes art too so let him join in!!

Draw him in any way like even a small doodle and he WILL COMBUST

He decorated his wall infront of his desk with your drawings and doodles, other things like custom keychains, origami, glass paintings are on his desk so he can see it everyday when he wakes up 🥹🥹

Study dates with you two often end up in drawing-cuddling sessions

Starting with studying so you can both pass your exams to you two beside eachother, legs tangled under the kotatsu table while you both lay on your stomachs, drawing whatever you felt like drawing 🫶

Let's just hope that you both pass your exams 😭😭

When you have art block or you feel stressed, he offers to take you out to a walk (yk he loves those esp with you)

It may seem kinda annoying at first but trust me, it does WONDERS

YOUR WORKS ARE DISPLAYED THROUGHOUT THE ISAGI HOUSEHOLD ✨

His parents like your creations too but they ALWAYS remind you whenever you come over that it's okay to take breaks and do other things 🥹💖

He's not rich by all means, but he's willing to spend his money to get you supplies u want

When he got the letter for blue lock, you both agreed to meet at a park at night and you talked things through, promising to work hard and improve while you both are separated

Whenever the topic of art or s/o comes in, he just ends up talking everyones ear off in blue lock and the question was just from a truth or dare game😭

Whether or not you got recognized for your art and got more commissions/promotions or quit art to start something new that interests you, he's supportive just as you are for him 🫶

HE LOVES ART, AND YOUR AN ARTIST?? MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

Introduces you to his mom <33 you both share tips and tricks and now she's like your teacher ITS SO CUTE

But Meguru gets pretty pouty if you just sit there beside his mom talking about art related things all day 😭

If you let him lay down on your lap and give him occasional kisses then he'll be able to sit still for a while longer

You gave him a bee-themed soccer ball you painted once and he ALWAYS has it on his bed so he can fall asleep hugging it 🥹

He doesn't play with it tho, atleast not outdoors bcs he doesn't wanna ruin it 😭💖

Painting with him and his mom if she isn't busy!!

He always plays around and puts paint on your face, his mom scolds him for it LMAOO

Don't take him to art museums pls 😭😭 HAVE YOU SEEN HOW HE WAS IN THE LIGHT NOVEL?? you both would get in trouble just because he was bored 💀

BRAGS TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE IN BLUE LOCK ABOUT YOU THAT THEY LITERALLY KNOW YOU AND EVERY SINGLE ART PIECE YOU HAVE DONE BEFORE EVEN MEETING YOU OR SEEING THEM 💀💀😭

Has tried to eat paint before 🧍‍♂️Much worse if you paint food then bro might try it again 💀💀💀

You sit on a bench nearby and draw while he practices, it's relaxing, just watch out for the ball 😭💀

Oh boy

Id say for a FACT that you were broke until you started dating him unless you have really cheap materials or you're just really good at saving

Yk how art materials and art school is so ridiculously expensive?? Well, your LOVELY boyfriend here has it all covered

Mans literally already bought a whole art shop 💀

Its not like it's anything new *looks at art big art studio*

PLEASE get a frying pan and smack some sense into this man's head bcs he was just about to buy his way into getting your art showcased in an art gallery/convention

He might, MIGHT stop if you use his own words against him. Like the whole 'i want to carve my own future' thing

Lets be fr, he won't stop, the most he could do is stop bribing his way to get your art showcased

Bby supports you alot tho :((

He just admires how much effort you're able to put in each work

When art block kicks in, he'll take you to go to expensive art galleries or to wherever the Mona Lisa is currently being showcased at

Just drag him out and tell him u wanna learn soccer 😭 it's honestly more fun than roaming around an art gallery

Paint him with his parents and they'll already start planning your marriage 💀😭

Bro when collage comes along, then your tuition fees and apartment bills are already paid like??? I wonder how 🤔

PLS DRAW HIM AND SHOW HIM THAT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO EXPRESS LOVE OTHER THAN MONEY SPENDING BCS HE'LL ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WITH ALL THE TIME, EFFORT AND SKILL YOU PUT IN

He DEFINITELY frames all the drawings/paintings you give him. No buts

Let's be fr, he probably has a room in his house filled with your creations 🧍‍♂️

I'm pretty sure that blue lock allows anything to be brought unless it's a phone or something (because they'll have to earn it back) so Reo brought this photo album/journal decorated by you and/or your drawings

AND YK THOSE MINI PRINTERS??? HE BROUGHT ONE TOO SO WHENEVER YOU SEND A NEW ARTWORK, HE PRINTS IT 😭😭

Talks Nagi's ear off every time 💀

Supportive bank in general 👍 jkjk pls don't use him just for money or I will come for your eyeballs 🤗

Sae is pretty chill compared to his hardcore emo brother like did you see that one panel where he wanted to go home in the middle of a game while applying lotion???

He doesn't seem like the type to check social media often too so I hc that he draws after practices when he gets home to cool down for the night yk

I can definitely see him drawing his favorite characters from Chibi Maruko-chan whenever he feels stressed or has a bad day because of his stupid teammates who play like headless chickens 🙄(his words not mine)

So like when YOU came in, it's like he's surrounded by comfort when you two draw in silence while listening to your shared playlist 🌼

drawing fanarts for him that you wanna show off to everyone since he's beautiful and he's even more beautiful in your artstyle <33

he doesnt know about it tho because thats too embarrassing

rin follows you on that account with his private acc LMAOOOOOO

LISTEN. IMAGINE DRAWING HIM WITH HIS YEE YEE LOOKIN ASS BANGS AND TEASING HIM ABOUT IT HAHAHSHAHA

you secretly sent one to Rin for funsies once and he sent you a pic of Sae when he was young back, now you both have this sketchy deal thing going on that Sae doesnt know SHIT about

dw tho, both your mouths are sealed because now you got Rin to approve of you

If you live with him abroad, then your apartment/house is FILLED with notes/drawings/sketches/paintings/origamis, etc. im not exaggerating at ALL.

Imagine those cute and decorated fridges but make it the ENTIRE house

You both just slap some sticky note on walls, tables, chairs, cabinets, shelves, counters and draw on it,and neither of you clean them up, you just leave it there 😭😭

it comes off when it comes off ig 🤷

If you dont live with him abroad, then you guys have a minecraft server you both share thats literally FILLED with builds. Somehow, Sae's RIDICULOUSLY fast at learning these things and now hes an architect 🧍‍♂️

Also those cooperative drawing websites/games?? yeah, you both have them OFTEN, like, every night other than when hes like SUPER tired

just stick to screenshoting him and drawing on his face

He buys you anything you need/want too and theres basically no stopping him 🤷🤷

Tagging: @inariezaki

[1341 words]

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hi :) I've noticed one of my main issues in writing is I don't use enough words, I don't want to go into elaborate detail of things that don't matter or use unnecessarily long words but I do want a decent word count on my book. Do you have any advice on this? Thank you in advance.

Struggling to Reach Desired Word Count

If you're struggling to reach your desired word count but feel your amount of description is good, odds are you simply don't have a plot that merits the word count you're trying to reach.

Different types of stories and different fiction genres have typical word count ranges. The exact ranges vary according to trend and source, but current ranges are generally:

Short Stories - 1,000 - 10,000 words Novelette - 10,000 - 20,000 words Novellas - 20,000 to 50,000 words Novels - 50,000 - 130,000 words Epic Novels - 130,000 words and up

Middle Grade novels - 25,000 - 50,000 words Young Adult novels - 40,000 - 80,000 words New Adult: 60,000 - 85,000 words Adult: 80,000 - 110,000 words

Literary novels - 80,000 - 110,000 words Romance novels - 50,000 - 90,000 words Historical Fiction novels - 90,000 - 150,000 words Fantasy novels - 90,000 - 150,000 words Sci-Fi Novels - 90,000 - 150,000 words Mystery novels - 70,000 - 90,000 words Thriller - 70,000 - 90,000 words

So, the first step is to look and see where your story should be falling, and see how far away your story is from the bottom end of the range. Being slightly below the range isn't usually a huge deal. If you've written a romance novel that's 46,000 words, you're probably not going to be turned down for publishing because your story is 4k words under the lower end of the ballpark range. However, if your story is 28,000 words long, you would probably have difficulty finding a traditional publisher unless they specialized in novellas. Self-published books have some flexibility with range, though you still want to be mindful.

If the word count you're aiming for is logical and you're still falling short, and you feel your amount of description is fine, the next thing you need to look at is the story itself. Does your story have a conflict the protagonist or ensemble is trying to resolve? Do they have a solid goal they're trying to reach in order to resolve this conflict? Do they have an actionable plan and are you hitting all the relevant plot points? Do you have at least a couple interesting subplots that run parallel to the story but feed back into it again? If your story is fully or partially character-driven, do your main characters have satisfactory story arcs, and did you do the work to carry each character through their arc? For the important relationships that develop, did you do the work of showing how these relationships developed and how they function?

Beyond that, I would suggest looking at whether you're doing more telling than showing. In other words, do you find yourself writing things like, "Stella went outside after it rained and saw the moon shining," versus something like, "Stella crept outside and wandered down the lane, dodging puddles filled with water and moonlight." Showing, rather than telling, does tend to add words. Guide: Showing vs Telling

Finally, make sure you're exploring character thoughts and feelings, and using sensory details to bring the world around them, and the events they experience, into focus for the reader. Portraying Strong Emotions

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[sukunasun]

I'm not the person who sent the sex scenes ask but your writing, altogether, fascinates me so as a lit buff I'll gladly get your recommendation/influences list, for smut and non-smut if you will. I'm soo curious

from one lit buff to another pls send me a list too. or just one book shall do. but make it a rly good one.

warning: keep in mind that these are my preferences so feel free to discuss, disagree, or discard my suggestions completely because 1) read whatever you like. 2) erotica isn't usually my genre of choice (says the person who writes about dick and fictional men) so i have yet to fully explore the plethora of great books waiting to be read.

3) some of the writers and works i've listed below touch upon strong /controversial sexual themes, deviant sexualities, and a tad bit of psychosexual analysis. they are not inherently smut or romance stories but i'm focusing on the writing and how said themes and subject matter are dealt with. they might also require some further reading to get some context, i find understanding and analysing a book makes the experience more worthwhile beyond any initial judgement/review.

4) these are less influences and more informants because i have nothing to pull from irl so i rely on writers to tell me what love and sex is like for them. i wouldn't ever dream of writing this well since my pool of experience is merely a puddle. the fact that my writing fascinates you is praise beyond what i actually bring to the table, so thank you anon, i hope to reach a point where i write about these themes as poetically and profoundly as these writers do.

Delta of Venus by Anais Nin (a great introductory erotic work)

"You do not know what you are missing by your microscopic examination of sexual activity to the exclusion of aspects which are the fuel that ignites it. Intellectual, imaginative, romantic, emotional. This is what gives sex its surprising textures, its subtle transformations, its aphrodisiac elements. You are shrinking your world of sensations. You are withering it, starving it, draining its blood. If you nourished your sexual life with all the excitements and adventures which love injects into sensuality, you would be the most potent man in the world. The source of sexual power is curiosity, passion. You are watching its little flame die of asphyxiation. Sex does not thrive on monotony. Without feeling, inventions, moods, no surprises in bed. Sex must be mixed with tears, laughter, words, promises, scenes, jealousy, envy, all the spices of fear, foreign travel, new faces, novels, stories, dreams, fantasies, music, dancing, opium, wine."

Lady Chatterly's Lover / Women in Love / Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence (ah yes...the one and only)

"They threw off their clothes, and he gathered her to him, and found her, found the pure lambent reality of her forever invisible flesh (…) the body of mysterious night upon the body of mysterious night (…). She had her desire of him, she touched, she received the maximum of unspeakable communication in touch, dark, subtle, positively silent, a magnificent gift and give again, a perfect acceptance and yielding, a mystery (…)"

Les Liaisons dangereuses by Pierre Ambroise François Choderlos de Laclos (the revenge...the jealousy...the utter malice!)

"I shall possess this woman; I shall steal her from the husband who profanes her: I will even dare ravish her from the God whom she adores. What delight, to be in turns the object and the victor of her remorse! Far be it from me to destroy the prejudices which sway her mind! They will add to my happiness and my triumph. Let her believe in virtue, and sacrifice it to me; let the idea of falling terrify her, without preventing her fall; and may she, shaken by a thousand terrors, forget them, vanquish them only in my arms."

Fanny Hill by John Cleland (this is so old but its most known for its genitalia euphemisms, a.k.a. 'how else do i describe a cock without calling it a cock')

"...and now, disengag’d from the shirt, I saw, with wonder and surprise, what? not the play-thing of a boy, not the weapon of a man, but a maypole of so enormous a standard, that had proportions been observ’d, it must have belong’d to a young giant. Its prodigious size made me shrink again; yet I could not, without pleasure, behold, and even ventur’d to feel, such a length, such a breadth of animated ivory! perfectly well turn’d and fashion’d, the proud stiffness of which distended its skin, whose smooth polish and velvet softness might vie with that of the most delicate of our sex, and whose exquisite whiteness was not a little set off by a sprout of black curling hair round the root..."

Venus in Furs by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (see also: Bad Behavior – Mary Gaitskill. includes 'Secretary')

“Oh, I am suffering frightfully.” “Poor friend!” she brushed my disordered hair back from my fore-head. “I hope it isn’t through any fault of mine.” “No—” I replied,—“and yet my love for you has become a sort of madness. The thought that I might lose you, perhaps actually lose you, torments me day and night.” (...) “I can no longer live without you, oh wonderful woman,” I said. “Believe me, believe only this once, that this time it is not a phrase, not a thing of dreams. I feel deep down in my innermost soul, that my life belongs inseparably with yours. If you leave me, I shall perish, go to pieces.”(...)“It shall never end,” I cried excitedly, almost violently. “Only death shall part us. If you cannot be mine, all mine and for always, then I want to be your slave, serve you, suffer everything from you, if only you won’t drive me away.”

The White Hotel by D.M. Thomas (a fictional fmc writes to a fictional freud and psychoanalysis ensues)

Emma by Jane Austen (my fav austen book and the prime example of the friends-to-lovers trope. matchless wit and charm. knightley still makes me swoon to this day)

James Joyce's letters to his wife (i picture nanami writing this while huffing and puffing in anxiety as his stuttering, fountain-pen gripped fingers spill ink alongside his guts onto paper)

"My darling Nora, I am panting with eagerness to get your replies to these filthy letters of mine. I write to you openly because I feel now that I can keep my word with you. Don’t be angry, dear, dear, Nora, my little wild-flower of the hedges. I love your body, long for it, dream of it. Speak to me, dear lips that I have kissed in tears. If this filth I have written insults you bring me to my senses again with the lash as you have done before. God help me!"

Lust, Caution / Half a Lifelong Romance / Love in a Fallen City by Eileen Chang (see also: Cosmopolitan Love by Sijia Yao as a further read in understanding the ideas of chinese love and western love)

The Kites by Romain Gary (i recco'd this a few months ago and i'm bringing it up again!)

"I really don't know where I had come up with the idea that love could constitute the whole of life's work and meaning. Probably I had inherited this total lack of ambition from my uncle. Perhaps, too, I had loved too early, too young, with all my being, and there was no room left over in me for anything else."

Crash by J.G. Ballard (i read this after watching the movie adaptation, it's definitely edgy but also violent so proceed with caution)

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (gah. i had to power through this but he writes so viscerally. sex is life and also death)

"She rises up out of a sea of faces and embraces me, embraces me passionately--- a thousand eyes, noses, fingers, legs, bottles, windows, purses, saucers all glaring at us an we in each other's arm oblivious. I sit down beside her and she talks--- a flood of talk. Wild consumptive notes of hysteria, perversion, leprosy. I hear not a word because she is beautiful and I love her and now I am happy and willing to die."

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier (my beach read pick about the constraints of women and the timeless fantasy of lusting after a pirate or what it ultimately symbolises—freedom)

"There was silence between them for moment, and she wondered if all women, when in love, were torn between two impulses, a longing to throw modesty and reserve to the winds and confess everything, and an equal determination to conceal the love forever, to be cool, aloof, utterly detached, to die rather than admit a thing so personal, so intimate."

THANKS FOR MAKING IT TO THE END. these are some that piqued my interest, there's a whole lot more i can't remember atm but i hope they're enough for now. do look them up before diving into them in the case of any triggering subjects. and check out other works by these authors too if you like them. thank you for sending in this ask and happy reading!

[strawsoldier]

Summer 2024 Anime Round-Up

Supposed to come out last week but MHA and Monogatari decided to be weird and bleed over into next season (Not waiting for your final episode Monogatari)

Anime of the Season: "Oshi no Ko" Season 2

Best Opening: Tsuyogaru Girl (Makeine)

Best Ending: Burning ("Oshi no Ko" Season 2) & Kamakura STYLE (The Elusive Samurai)

Drops: Atri -My Dear Moments- & Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian

Plans to Watch at a later date: N/A

Completed:

Shoushimin Series - (9/10)

As it turned out the creator of Hyouka wasn't a "one hit wonder". (Though I don't know if they have other works outside of these two). Absolutely fantastic character study that can balanced being thoughtful, suspenseful and completely unhinged. I can't wait for S2 where we'll -hopefully- see Osanai finally punch someone.

Psuedo Harem - (7/10)

A anime with 'Harem' in the title that isn't trashy and is acutally...good? In today's society?

Been a while since I've seen a romcom this cute. Warning to any Saori Hayami fan watching this though. You definitely will fall in love with her more by watching this.

The Magical Girl and the Evil Lieutenant Used to Be Archenemies - (9/10)

The circumstances surrounding this manga are tragic but that didn't take away from this being an very well produced shoujo series. Bones definitely sought out to honor the late mangaka with this production and it paid off in the direction and cinematography. Also, as I grow older, I can't help but appreciate 12 minute anime episodes; as rare as they are.

Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines! - (8.5/10)

The show I was most looking forward to every week. I don't think this writing was as smart as I thought it was, and lord knows I'm tired of light novels trying to be as meta as possible. But this show had a lot of heart and was very well directed for the director's (Shoutarou Kitamura) debut. Really hoping we get more of this someday.

Yatagarasu - (9/10)

My dark house of anime this cour. And maybe all year. This was one of my "Check it out cause it's getting good word of mouth" shows, and was instantly captivated. The world-building and character drama is so intense that every episode was exciting. My only critique would be how stiff the animation looked but from what I've gathered, this show was working with a rather small team at Pierrot. Please watch this show.

The Elusive Samurai - (6/10)

I really wanted to like this show more than I did. I was a huge fan of AssClass and a work from Cloverworks with Umehara as AniP? Sounds like a recipe for success. Unfortunately, this show didn't know what genre it wanted to be and it hampered my enjoyment quite a bit.

NieR:Automata Ver1.1a (Cour 2) - (8/10)

A2 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(also I need to keep playing the game cause wtf was that final episode)

Wistoria: Wand and Sword - (7/10)

You can take the Black Clover out of Yoshihara but you can't the Yoshihara ou- uhhh.

Honestly I'm not sure how to write my feelings on this show outside of "Danmachi/Black Clover" love child. We will be there for S2

"Oshi No Ko" Season 2 - (10/10)

They told me Tokyo Blade arc was a peak fiction...At this point, my only fear is that OnK can only go downward from here.

Also everyone in this show needs therapy (though if you've seen one episode of this, you probably knew that already.)

Mission: Yozakura Family - (7/10)

Damn you Disney+!!! How many more shows must be put in your jail and remain hidden from the world. This show reminds me a lot of Hitman Reborn which maybe is why I stuck around to watch it till the end. It did get kind of dumb once they explained the powers but still very enjoyable.

Also shoutout to the ED "Kekkon Koushinkyoku" for being a really really cute ending that didn't make my favorite ED of the season, but still felt it worth mentioning.

My Hero Academia Season 7 - (8.5/10)

Usually when a show gets a new director it get's a decline in quality with the size of that decline varying from show to show. But sometimes, you get a new director that just knows what she's doing and takes MHA to some of it's best seasonal run since Season fucking Three back in 2018!!!!!

*cough* what I'm trying to say is "MHA IS FUCKING BACK"

Monogatari Series: Off & Monster Season - (8/10)

Fuck you monogatari for not finishing in time and delaying my round up. uhh anyway Monogatari is back and still as peak as ever. Nadeko and Shinobu are high up in my "best monogatari girls" tier list (Shinobu is actually no.1) so it was a treat to see them get focus again. Nadeko's arc high the hardest for me in what it means to confront and move on from you past. Just great writing once again. Can't add more than what I've been saying since Bake.

[jetwhenitsmidnight]

Till the Last Beat of My Heart by Louangie Bou-Montes

Release date: 15 October 2024

Genre: young adult contemporary fantasy with horror elements

If you like:

Cemetery Boys

Necromancy

Ex-friends to lovers

Grumpy Nerd x Himbo Jock

Synopsis

The teen son of the local mortician accidentally reanimates the dead body of the boy he had more than friendly feelings for, but can he keep him alive for good before their time runs out?

When you grow up in a funeral home, death is just another part of life. But for sixteen-year-old Jaxon Santiago-Noble, it’s also part of his family’s legacy. Most dead bodies in the town of Jacob’s Barrow wind up at Jaxon’s house; his mom is the local mortician, after all. He doesn’t usually pay them much mind, but when Christian Reyes is brought in after a car accident, Jaxon’s world is turned upside down.

There are a lot of things Jaxon wishes he could have said to his once best friend and first crush. When he accidentally resurrects Christian, Jaxon might finally have that chance. But the more he learns about his newfound necromancy, the more he grasps that Christian’s running on borrowed time—and it's almost out.

As he navigates dark, mysterious magics and family secrets, Jaxon realizes that stepping into an inherited power may also mean opening up old family wounds if he wants to keep the boy he may be falling for alive for good.

Content warnings

Death, parental death, animal death

Car accident, injury/injury descriptions

Blood, nose/ear-bleeds, self-harm for magic purposes

Hospital, medical content

Anxiety, panic attacks

Bullying

Descriptions of dead/decomposing bodies and animal carcasses

Review

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

This book is the perfect Halloween read!

While this book is definitely not a horror novel, there were plenty of spooky moments and horror references that feels just in time for Halloween season. I hadn't expected that based on the cover, so it was a pleasant surprise!

The characters read as realistically teenager-y to me. Jaxon is moody and anxious and stubborn (same, dude) while Christian is upbeat and cheerful but is also putting up a front to hide his fears. Also, I really appreciate that Christian is a glasses-wearing jock.

There were certain conflicts that I feel got brushed off/didn't get resolved fully, but for the most part, everything gets resolved pretty well.

I feel that the necromancy aspect isn't fully fleshed out, but as Jaxon is new to this/still figuring things out, I think that's fine.

Overall, a pretty solid YA fantasy, I will definitely be looking forward to see what the author writes next!

P. S. I love Grimalkin the cat so much 😭😭😭

[spaceorphanssecondbreakfastclub]

SO's Bookclub : The Viscount Who Loved Me

Title: The Viscount Who Loved Me Author: Julia Quinn Genre: Romance

Goodreads Summary :

Anthony Bridgerton hasn't just decided to marry—he's even chosen a wife! The only obstacle is his intended's older sister, Kate Sheffield—the most meddlesome woman ever to grace a London ballroom. The spirited schemer is driving Anthony mad with her determination to stop the betrothal, but when he closes his eyes at night, Kate is the woman haunting his increasingly erotic dreams...

Review:

It should not have taken me a month to read this, I've just been super distracted...

The second book of the Bridgerton series focuses on Anthony and Kate's romance, and I found it to be a lot of fun, actually. While this is only the second book I've read because I am reading them in order, I can already see why this ends up at or near the top of the lists.

If you've seen the show -- there's a lot that the show pulled from the book, more so than I had expected. It definitely hinges on that enemies to lovers-ish trope. (And while not a favorite of mine, personally, I think it's handled relatively well here.) Kate is a great protagonist -- she's smart and clever and holds her ground really well, which makes her someone to root for. Anthony is... fine. Look, I probably will never like these male heroes because they usually descend too far into anger and bad boy with a heart of gold figures out love when a level headed woman straightens him out gets a little old after a while. Plus, I do appreciate Jonathan Bailey bringing some great charm to the show that book Anthony lacks a bit.

But I think there's a lot of fun to this book, too. There's a real competitive spirit that's enjoyable to read. The pall mall, family stuff is great and a clear stand out in the book, which I can see why they adapted it. I also think the book does tension relatively well, and the push and pull between Kate and Anthony works!

I do still think there are times the book drags (I felt this in the previous book as well) where Quinn sometimes lets scenes go on for a little too long, or she gets repetitive within a scene. But as someone who isn't an outright fan of romance novels, and has read quite a few bad ones, Quinn is at least a solidly good writer, and it's a fairly quick and easy read.

The only plot thing that I took any issue with is the fact that two thirds of the way through, Anthony and Kate are forced to marry due to circumstances of the time, and I wish they could have not been forced into it? Part of it is the schtick of Anthony having to really fall in love with his wife, and I get that. But that kind of thing just isn't my cup of tea. All things considering, I really don't have a whole lot to complain about with this one.

One drawback coming from someone who's watched the show first, is the fact that these books are so focused on the couple, we don't get as much of a sense of the greater world. All the rest of the Bridgertons play a relatively small role (though it's nice to see Daphne and Simon back). Eloise shows up at the end for the first time as a little spy, which is cute. Colin continues to be a delight, though he's less in this one. I'm surprised Benedict was hardly here, and there's really no mention of the younger ones or even Violet. I will say, one of my favorite things, though, is that Kate and Penelope got to have an entire sequence where they strike up a friendship, and I did love that!

I was also kind of surprised that, while they were featured a lot in the first half of the book, Edwina and Mary don't play as big of roles in this book as I thought they would. They're still very important to Kate and her character, though, and their family unit is really nicely on display throughout.

Also, we end on another tease of Lady Whistledown, and I am so ready for it. But, alas, we have to get through Benedict's book first. So, let's do it!

Overall, I think if you liked the show, you probably would like this as well. It's fun and uses the tropes it sets up relatively well. It's still a regency based romance novel written in the early 2000s, but I think it is better than a lot of the same kinds of stuff written around and at the same time.

Rating : 4 stars

[lisutarid-a]

[Gakuen K] Munakata Reisi Route Translation

In keeping with “Autumn is for reading”

LIST OF CHAPTERS

[Translation under the cut]

Saya: Sorry for the intrusion. I brought the documents you asked for.

Munakata: Thank you. Please put them there.

Saya: Okay. …Are you reading?

Munakata: Yeah. In keeping with the phrase "Autumn is for reading" I am reading a book.

Saya: Is that so? What kind of books do you read?

Saya: (Since it's a book that senpai's reading, I'm sure it must be difficult content)

Saya: (Philosophy, politics, economics…Something of that sort?)

Saya: (Or maybe he's reading fantasy novel and romance novel, unexpectedly…?)

Munakata: What kind of book do you think it is?

Saya: Eh…The book that Munakata-senpai is reading…

Choice: A philosophy book, perhaps

Saya: Um…a philosophy book?

Munakata: Hm. I see…Why did you think so?

Saya: I have an image that senpai usually thinks deeply about various things.

Munakata: So that's your image of me. Do I seem so serious to you?

Saya: …N-Not at all.

Munakata: Fufu…Well, that's okay. It's not a philosophy book. What I was just reading was a romance novel.

Choice: A romance novel…?

Saya: Um, is it a romance novel…?

Munakata: Hm…

Saya: I-It's different, isn't it? There's no way senpai…

Munakata: No, you are correct. You got it very well.

Saya: Eh…!

Munakata: Did you think I don't read romance novels?

Saya: Eh…Um, yeah. It was quite surprising.

Munakata: Hm…I see.

Munakata: Somehow, I wanted to choose a book with content I don't usually read.

Saya: Munakata-senpai, a romance novel…

Saya: (Surely he doesn't read it usually)

Munakata: Reading novels in new genres is very stimulating and it is a great way to gain knowledge.

Saya: So that's the way you think.

Munakata: Sometimes it's good, but I still think this kind of thing is a bit too much.

Saya: But I think that's what's good about it. What cannot be experienced firsthand is what everyone admires when they read the novel.

Saya: …Sorry if it sounded somehow arrogant.

Munakata: Do you read romance novels too?

Saya: Yeah. I think I've read rather a lot of what's being talked about.

Munakata: So, as you said earlier, do you also admire the content of romance novels?

Saya: That's right, there are many things that I admire.

Munakata: I see…Well then, lets experience it in practice, shall we?

Saya: Eh? What do you mean?

Munakata: I was thinking of trying to see if love can work so well as it does in this novel.

Munakata: I like you more than slightly. Both as a kohai and as a woman.

Saya: H-ha…Thank you.

Munakata: You seem to be yearning for the kind of romance you read about in romance novels, and I can think of no one better suited for the role.

Munakata: I want to see you fall in love like the character in this novel.

Saya: …!

Munakata: Go out with me. Konohana Saya.

Saya: (Going out with senpai…?)

Saya: When you say “going out”, do you mean as lovers?

Munakata: That's right. Is there anything else?

Saya: N-no. Sorry, I'm a little confused.

Munakata: Could it be that you have someone else you like at the moment?

Saya: N-no. I haven't.

Munakata: Then, do you have any qualms about going out with me?

Saya: Qualms…No, I don't…

Munakata: Is that so? Then there is no problem.

Saya: Is it okay to make such a decision that easily?

Munakata: I said I like you.

Munakata: I'm not a softhearted person to go out with people I don't like.

Saya: (Even though I can assume he likes me, I wonder if it's okay…)

Munakata: Please think about it more casually. We've already spent a lot of time together, so I'll just take a little more of your time.

Munakata: Don't be too aware of it, just be the same as usual.

Saya: U-understand. If it'll be the same as usual, I look forward to working with you.

Munakata: Thank you. Sooner or later, you'll be able to used to it as normal.

Munakata: So, from today on, we are lovers.

Munakata: I don't know yet, whether it will be just a way to pass the time or whether it will be fruitful experience for both of us--

Munakata: Let's have fun instead of thinking about it.

Saya: …Okay. Understood.

Saya: (Senpai wants to know if love is possible like in a novel)

Saya: (I respect senpai, but I never thought of him in that way)

Saya: (When someone suddenly calls me a lover, I can't ignore it, but…)

Saya: (As usual… As usual… I'll try to not pay much attention to it)

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[wonviiii]

Sword Art Online - Blog #3

Isekai is a subgenre of fiction that I thoroughly love reading (manhwa-wise). It consists of the main character transmigrating into a world previously depicted as fantasy, whether it be going into their favorite video game, novel, or show. In this genre, the main character usually tries to change the ending of the story to avoid certain fates from happening. Through their journey, they learn that these ‘characters’ they’ve met (and previously played as/liked) are actually real live humans, they are breathing, eating, and sleeping. Sword Art Online is not exactly an Isekai, as they are still in the real world physically, yet mentally they’ve just entered a virtual reality. However, it shares similar themes with most Isekais, depicting a blend between fantasy and reality. In the virtual world of Aincrad, players have to battle their way up the floors of the tower and beat the game in order to escape the grasp of either eternal life inside the game or eternal sleep in both the game and in real life. This fusion highlights themes of escapism as many players prefer the rush and thrill of the game in comparison to their mundane lives back in the real world. For example, Kirito declares in the beginning that he feels more alive in Aincrad than he ever did in the real world, and throughout the show, he rants about how on some days he doesn’t even think of the real world at all. People have even begun to give up on clearing the game, they’ve gotten used to the system and don’t care anymore. This is a direct reflection of how some games can offer a purpose or an ideal that is absent from reality. But despite this, the immersion comes at the cost of their detachment, desensitization, and absence from their true lives. In such a way, the line of reality gets blurred as they lose themselves in their dreams. Asuna is one of the exceptions to this for most of the show because she fervently wishes to go back no matter what…that is until she falls in love with Kirito and her peaceful life in the cottage, to which she grows scared to go back and lose everything as if it were just a dream. 

Another way in which the line between reality and fantasy gets blurred is through the characters’ interactions, where human dynamics remain real. For example, Kirito initially gets isolated as a solo player due to his previous status of being a beta tester- this shows how there is still prejudice even in a virtual world that is essentially trying to escape the human essence. In addition, Asuna’s evolution from a withdrawn, hidden individual to a warm and loving partner- shows how connections between people and their growth are strong regardless of their surroundings. Their relationship also showcases that the essence of humanity is still present. It isn't a simple virtual relationship, the feelings they feel are genuine for each other! Morality also becomes another central theme in showing the relationship between reality and fantasy. This can be seen in Kirito’s defense of the NPCs as more than just “rocks” or tools that should be killed for the survival of “living” people. Right now, they aren’t in the real world, they are in Aincrad. NPCS or not, they are essentially still “people” who are breathing, eating, and sleeping.  Similarly, Yui’s existence as an AI connects all the pieces. She describes herself as a program, where nothing about her is “real”, not a single one of her emotions, not even the tears that fall out of her eyes. However, Kirito tells her that she isn’t just some program anymore, the system can’t control her. Yui is actually much more humane than she thinks. She saw two players whose mental parameters were different from everyone else and wanted to get close to them. She felt a want, a need to bond with them. She’s confused that she reacted in such a way when she is just a program. She risks her life to save her ‘parents’ in desperation. She cries when she realizes she has to leave them behind. Even before she met Kirito and Asuna she felt devastated that she couldn’t save anyone. Though a simple “program”, she exhibits love and loyalty, pushing the boundaries and constructing the fact that she isn’t just an AI, an NPC, or a character in a game, she is much more.

The series also critiques societal structures from the real world, as seen in the dynamics within the guilds. What used to be fun and small guilds grew corrupt as power and greed infiltrated their system, which can be seen in the liberation army. These conflicts reveal how human flaws persist, even if everyone is thrown into a realm beyond imagination, much against the game master’s wishes who created the world to escape earthly laws and notions. Yet, in the end, he learns that there is a force that can surpass everything he has created- albeit cheesy, it is love. Asuna dies protecting Kirito, her love allowing her to surpass the paralysis of the system. Kirito comes back to life thinking of Asuna, surpassing the bounds of the system. These two actions are direct proof that their feelings are real, they aren’t simply players in a simulation, they are real, their feelings and wishes. ”Does our relationship only exist in this world?”  “When we get to the real world, I will find you and fall in love again.” 

Ultimately, the guild master wanted to leave Earth and escape to a faraway and untouchable castle. Yet in this dream, reality came rushing in full swing: corruption, fighting, killing, murder, compassion, friendship, and love. Even while fighting magic beasts and monsters beyond the deepest terrors, humanity persisted until the end.  Therefore, reality and fantasy are interconnected realms, where it is the people who transcend the boundaries of the world, virtual or real.

[criticallycomfy]

Nosferatu: Breathing Life Into A Genre's Corpse

I've heard it said that Robert Eggers doesn't make stories about people in certain time periods, he makes stories those people themselves would tell. In this way, he may be one of the only mainstream directors truly making period pieces. It should come as no shock, then, that the classic vampire film, inspired by (or stolen from, depending on who you ask) the gothic horror novel classic Dracula, would be a slam dunk for Eggers. I am a huge fan of Eggers' work, as well as gothic horror, so I will try and restrain myself to keep this review even keeled.

To get the easy praise out of the way, I loved the score and how the used the orchestral stings to transition scenes. It added a lot of energy! Nicholas Holt, Bill Skarsgard, and Lily-Rose Depp were all fantastic, and Willem Defoe was a treat to watch as usual. Eggers again creates a wonderful stage to transport you to an older age with his direction. The scenes in Count Orlock's castle stand out to me for their ephemeral, dream-like quality, and the possession scenes strike as accurate portrayal's to their era (and a little unsettling, as someone who grew up around grand mal seizures).

That said, I can see how easy it is for a casual moviegoer to bounce off this film. As much as I enjoyed the possession scenes, I can also understand how it may come across as "silly" to the average person with the epileptic convulsions. Much of the exposition is also fed through Count Orlock himself, which might cause confusion for some viewers as his rasping voice and thick accent might make it difficult to follow along. Some might also find the plot somewhat threadbare or lacking in exposition. It also seems to me to be Eggers' work with the least to say. You can, of course, extract meaning from it as you can with any work of art, however, as a faithful retelling of a classic it isn't really intended to be about anything other than Eggers' own love for Nosferatu.

Ultimately, Eggers' devotion to creating period pieces and a faithful recreation of the classic vampire story is either this movie's greatest strength or biggest flaw. Which side of the fence you fall on solely depends on your love/familiarity for both the style of gothic horror reconstructed here (as I am) and Eggers' body of work (guilty here as well). If you love Poe, Shelly, and Stoker, you'll feel at home here, however if you're expecting a more modern form of vampire story I would recommend you steer clear.

[maleyanderecafe]

House Check (Visual Novel)

Created by: peridon

Genre: BL

Phew, the #yanjam this year has me running around all over the place, which is so nice but it's a lot of games. House Check is an interesting one because the protagonist, Arlon, is the yandere in this one coming into his crush's house and spying on him. Currently, since it's a demo, there isn't a whole lot, but it does set up the suspense of what may come in the future.

The game starts with Owen talking to someone on the phone, seemingly desperate for them to not leave. We immediately cut to Arlon, who has went into Owen's house after he went out to teach, with Arlon letting himself in to check on the house. Arlon checks throughout the house with descriptive details on Owen's day to day life, from the number of eggs Owen has eaten to the types of TV shows he watches. After he's done checking the house and finds nothing strange, he wonders about Owen's increased phone calls. The next day, Owen gets a call revealing that he loves someone before leaving the house. Arlon comes in worried that he's falling for someone, but clears his mind to do the check in his room. He finds a handkerchief inside one of the bags embroidered with the name Diana. At home, Arlon laments about how Owen has taken a trip to Pablo and how he can't watch over him. As Arlon ponders about their relationship, his two maids Jerelyn and Freya worry over him as Arlon attempts to get the two to stop bothering him. Meanwhile, Owen seems to be hanging out with another women named Lyra who is comforting Owen and the two hang out for ice cream.

Arlon upon seeing them and entering the room starts to freak out because he feels Lyra's traces everywhere. As a result, Arlon attempts to clean everything to purify Owen's place from Lyra's corruption, even in places that she likely didn't touch, disgusted by her. He calms down after cleaning everything, but has a nightmare the next day with Lyra taunting him. He wakes up crying with the maids attempting to comfort him. He asks the two maids about Pablo and if they have any experience there while also revealing that he has a crush on someone.

So far, House Check is fairly short but I think has a good premise so far. Like I said earlier, it's generally pretty rare for me to find a game with a male lead as a yandere and I always think it's interesting as we get to see more into their thoughts and actions on why they do what they do. It usually shows up more in BL type stories (for obvious reasons) but I think it can work with a female lead as well, so as long as we see the world from the male lead. I digress though, we don't know too much about who Owen is seeing, though we do know he seems to have a strained relationship with this Diana character. I am curious to see how Arlon and Owen initially met, especially since Arlon seems to be stuck at home most of the time.

Speaking of Arlon, I am actually curious to see if Owen is aware at all of Arlon's presence. Arlon seems to describe Owen as a "dear friend" but we never see Owen interacting with him in any capacity, making me believe he's likely a delusional yandere. Considering how he believes that it's okay to break into Owen's house and clean everything for him (because he's such a good friend) it's not incredibly surprising, but I do think that Owen likely just doesn't know that Arlon exists. Arlon of course also seems to periodically watch and stalk Owen through cameras and knows a bit too much about his life, even going to his apartment to clean it. His reaction to seeing Lyra in his house is interesting as well, seeing he has a sense of seeing other people who might take him away as "corrupting him" causing him to clean every surface. These kinds of yanderes can often have a interesting backstory to why they might be like this, so perhaps this might be due to why Arlon seems to be at home most of the time if he's not breaking into Owen's apartment.

Overall, the game itself so far is pretty interesting in terms of premise. I'm curious to see where it will go since I think it can be a pretty dark game if the creator so deems it. If you like the premise of it so far, please give the demo a try.

[galateaencore]

Writers Asks 8/26/2024

thank you @vossn for the procrastination opportunity

When did you start writing?

technically age 8 when I wrote a mystery/detective story that I didn't know how to finish. but I started making these "visual novels" about a group of animal friends who go traveling the countryside when I was 6ish, and honestly, counts.

Are there different themes or genres you enjoy reading more than what you write?

if I enjoy reading something, I immediately want to copy it but better, so no. that said, I'm not as good at humor as I want to be.

Is there a writer you want to emulate or get compared to often?

ughhhhh. certain circles would def clown me for thinking I could even try, but writing-style and philosophy-wise, Babel, Zhadan, McCarthy. within my fanfic genre I do genuinely like Sapkowski; I don't want to emulate him in everything, but the way he makes his worlds both esoteric and down-home familiar is paralelled only in Pratchett and the Strugatsky brothers.

Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?

my house lol. I mostly write (and do most other things) in bed. it's a california king with an unreasonably expensive but totally worth it italian silk and down blanket. the furniture is a mix of MCM, chippendale, ikea, and baroque (all 100% authentic because fuck you). it faces a north-side inner courtyard so is usually dark, and it has excellent sound isolation. the walls have my collection of watercolors, ink prints, embroideries, and Found Things. there is a nude woman with the head of a fish, a smoking chimney pipe, and two japanese schoolgirls walking away from the viewer, and a high-concept print of a bison herd from a lithuanian artist that is called the great migration. i don't listen to music. sometimes i light incense.

What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?

sit your ass down and start writing

Are there any recurring themes in your writing? Do they surprise you?

talking about one's own themes is a bit masturbatory, but that's what this tumblr is for. I always come back to small people surviving in big systems, the pull of one's own history, and coping with being a stranger. also, is fucking a theme? or is that a plot, or a narrative device?

What is your reason for writing?

graphomania

Is there any specific comment or type of comment you find particularly motivating?

honestly any comment leaves me shrieking. that said, my favorite thing about writing for rarepairs and small fandoms (and both) is that you're much likelier to attract other obsessed weirdos who get you on a cellular level. a comment from a person like that is my favorite type of comment.

How do you want to be thought about by your readers?

I mean, as being brilliant and their favorite, but that isn't saying much.

What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?

I want every scene to feel like it's really happening, like you personally know the people talking, and like the narration isn't even there except when it's being beautiful and incisive. there's a point in talent and skill when the writing becomes both effortless and unforgettable, and clearly I'm not there because I can't even describe it without falling into meaninglessly broad adjectives and conceptual kitsch.

How do you feel about your own writing?

It's pretty good but not transcendental.

When you write, are you influenced by what others enjoy or might enjoy reading, or do you write purely for yourself, or a mix of both?

This is a stupid question: the reader doesn't know what they'll enjoy reading until they read it, and your one job as a craftsperson is to figure out what that is and give it to them. That it also happens to be something that excites you is why you do this job and they don't. In a fanfic context, I exclusively write weird formless shit that a mother couldn't love (The Blob of writing), but I *know* there is at least one weirdo out there who will enjoy what I post, and everything that I post is for them.

paging @dclcq and @holylustration

[ouidamforeman]

I got tagged to do this Ao3 tag game by @gallifreyburning!

I don't usually do these kinds of fanfiction ask games bc I'm primarily an artist and don't do much of the actual writing bits of things so my answers for these will be a little unusual lol. I'm also going to keep my answers to the fics I actually helped co-write instead of just illustrate. Shoutout to my primary writer collab partner @moveslikebucky who I do most in depth stories with! They do the writing bits and I help with ideas, plots, brainstorming, betaing, phrasing, and other little nuances! I would not have works on Ao3 without my writer partners!

1. how many works do you have on Ao3?

31! Again some of which I actually helped co-write and some of which I just illustrated. A couple are solo collections of my own artwork for events and things

2. what's your total Ao3 word count?

213,593. Again emphasizing that the word counts specifically are my collaborators' accomplishments lol

3. what fandoms do you write for?

Primarily the Good Omens novel but I have a good amount for the Good Omens tv show as well and one that's a Star Trek DS9 fusion

4. what are your top five fics by kudos?

My most kudosed fic was written and conceptualized by a collab partner for a bang event and only illustrated by me so here are my top ones I actually did work on the story of lol. All of these are ones I did with @moveslikebucky 💛

Night of the Living Boyfriend! (367)

I won't have a life (until you're dead) (346)

go where I go, do what I must (304)

his fragrant garland (267)

Marginalia (227)

5. do you respond to comments?

I like to when someone comments about the art specifically, and I sometimes do when a comment mentions a story element or something that I worked a lot on or is a question about something I have insight on. I'm bad at keeping up with my inbox though so most of the time I leave replying to comments to my collab partners lol

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Sad endings aren't really my thing so stories I work on don't usually have them. However I like subverting traditional character and genre ideas so stuff I do with Buckie sometimes has weird endings that are happy for the characters but scary or disturbing otherwise, like (spoilers) in starlit nights (I saw you) will hopefully have when we finish it

But in terms of actual angstiest I think that would probably be I think about you which ends with miserable pining and crying jsgfjdfjffgj. Thank Buckie for that ending though not me lol

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Most of my works have happy endings but my favorites are probably the AUs Buckie and I like to do where the characters end up in a more peaceful and free place than they could have expected at the beginning 🩷 My favorites of these are probably our the blood is the life series about vampires, whose fics all have or will have happy endings that I love, go where I go, do what I must whose universe will always be happy and we have plans to continue, and formation displays of affection which is about sooooo so softly falling in love for marginalized characters. Probably his fragrant garland as well because I want to live in pastoral ancient Greek fantasyland too tbh

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I don't think I've ever gotten straight up hate on one of my collabs or solo works but one time we got a ridiculous comment on formation displays of affection (which is about an autistic robot and an autistic human falling in love) about how it was disrespectful to autistic people and that this person was at their last straw with us for whatever reason as well as a mini essay about why its bad to depict robot autistic characters lol. I don't think they actually read the fic bc I had to reply to them explaining that it was specifically about my own experience being autistic and Buckie's being ADHD and how we wanted to subvert the "robot isn't human and is therefore inferior" trope with a story about two people with divergent neurology, one of whom is a person who happens to be an android, finding love and commonality together. It was just weird and sort of disrespectful to be told I was being ableist against myself when I made the characters specifically partially to reflect my own experience lmao

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Yeah all the gd time (as far as brainstorming how it'll go and drawing it etc, Buckie is the one good at the actual writing part!) . I love erotica and the emotions and concepts it can communicate. Most of my Ao3 works are smut varying from tender stuff to weird raunchy kink things about monsters. It's always as genuine and queer as I can possibly make it if that's a "kind" lol

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I'm not really a big fan of crossovers in general but I do have a couple fusions (characters from one fandom set in an AU based on the universe of another) I've done with collaborators! My favorite and probably the really unusual one is Reclamation and Reconnaissance, a long term collaborative project I've been doing with a team, which is a Good Omens/Star Trek DS9 fusion set in a Bajoran farming community of refugees

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I'm aware of but like who knows with AI scraping these days

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not as of now but that wold be amazing

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yep as is obvious from the rest of my answers that's most of my Ao3 library lol

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

Aziraphale and Crowley obviously just based on how thoroughly and quickly they completely took over my creative output and destroyed my brain

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I'm not sure? All my unfinished stuff on Ao3 we do plan on finishing eventually even if it's a little unfeasible like with Reclamation and Reconnaissance lol. The real answer is definitely Grow Better though which was a bang event collab my partner went awol for before it was complete (and no hard feelings it's p old by now)

16. What are your writing strengths?

Worldbuilding concepts and characterization I think? And obviously the most prominent thing I contribute is illustrations

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I actually used to write fic solo by myself but as I got older my brain stopped sort of. being able to do the logistics of putting words in order to form a plot? to the point where actually writing whole things was more trouble than it was worth when my strength that i enjoyed the process of more was illustrating the same ideas visually. So the logistics of getting from one image in my head to the next all in words is something my brain is just terrible at which is why I like working with writers

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I don't really do it but it's fine if done well idk

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Lord of the Rings

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Obviously these are collabs still but rn it's probably quenched like the burning thorns bc I'm rly happy with the feel of the art in it and how it matches the prose and bc rereading it is like opening a gift over and over again, and I'm also really proud of the art I managed to do for Marginalia, but overall it's probably I won't have a life (until you're dead) and its series bc like we managed to make a whole fully illustrated vampire novella with coherent worldbuilding and themes for that one that I still just really like and makes me feel warm and fuzzy lol

All done! I'm gonna tag my friends @moveslikebucky and @fenrislorsrai to do this if they want 💛