#twas an absolute struggle

[effrvsnt107]

I’m not totally sure what this is but tenamy is back!

[nox-icate]

🐊 Welcome to the blog of your favorite swamp-dwelling reptile 🐊

. ‧˚₊꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶About me︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷₊˚‧ .

࿐ I go by quite a few names, which include: Evander, Donatello, Laurie, and Corrie! But I more commonly go by Nox on here! But feel free to call me whatever you deem suitable.

࿐ I use he/him, xey/xem, and they/them pronouns. Please only use enby or masculine terms when referring to me. Pronouns page <- ࿐ Please keep in mind that I have Autism, Dyslexia, Anxiety, ADHD, and that I am under the bipolar umbrella, keep patience with me in mind while interacting! ࿐ My birthday is 12/18/2007 making me a MINOR. ࿐ I am a teenager, meaning I have a tendency to make dark/inappropriate jokes, I can put on a filter if requested. ࿐ I do tend to be forgetful about some things (I genuinely have a horrible memory /srs) so please don't be afraid to point out on my slip ups/correct me if needed. ࿐ I am a very affectionate person with a tendency to cling onto people, and come off too friendly too fast. If I’ve ever crossed a boundary/made you uncomfortable please, PLEASE don’t be afraid to let me know. I don’t intend nor want to make anyone uncomfortable in any way shape or form and struggle with picking up cues/indicators that I’ve crossed a boundary (Plus being online the majority of my life and being homeschooled I tend to cling to people who I want to befriend and lack proper social skills).

. ‧˚₊꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶Links + Tags︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷₊˚‧ . LINKS: ࿐ Bluesky <- ࿐ Discord server <- ࿐ Toyhouse <- ࿐ Youtube <- ࿐ Instagram <- ࿐ Pronouns page <- TAGS:

#my art <- Pretty self explanatory. #my sona <- Posts including one of my many sonas. #my ocs <- My original characters. #🐊 shiggles <- Just me being a dumbass. #🐊 rambles <- My text/rant tag. #TMNT Solidarity <- My TMNT iteration. Masterlist (TBA) #ROTTMNT FQ <- My ROTTMNT AU (FQ standing for Four Quarters). Masterlist (TBA) #TMLP AU <- An AU where the boys get teleported to Equestria I made that me and my close friends are working on. Masterlist (TBA) MOOTS:

@mossy-box (The Leo to my Donnie, and one of my closest friends!) Tag: #Overgrown box 🐢 @k9alpine (The Raph to my Donnie, also one of my closest friends!) Tag: #K9Alpha 🐺 @that-was-pigeon (My parental figure!) Tag: #Twas pigeon 🥔 @drixxtavern (Fish wife! /p) Tag: Tba More moots TBA

. ‧˚₊꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶Interests︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷₊˚‧ . ࿐ As of currently I am fixated on quite a lot of differing medias, which includes, but is not limited to: Arcane, Blue eye samurai, Bluey, Ducktales (2017), HTTYD, I saw the TV glow, MLP, Saw, Scooby Doo, Spider man, Stranger things, Sweet tooth, The Alien franchise, The last of us, The quarry, Usagi Yojimbo, Venom, Wild kratts, and TMNT!

࿐ I'm absolutely obsessed with reptiles, dinosaurs, bugs, and aquatic life! My favorite animals being Alligators and Crocodiles.

࿐ I have also found I have a strange infatuation with radiation (chernobyl in general), natural disasters, geology, abandoned buildings, and vintage children's books/poetry. ❗ DNI AND BOUNDARIES BELOW, PLEASE READ BEFORE INTERACTING ❗

. ‧˚₊꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷︶DNI + Boundaries︶꒷꒦꒷︶︶︶︶︶꒷꒦꒷₊˚‧ .

DNI LIST: ࿐ Do NOT interact if you are/you associate yourself with, or support anything below. ࿐ Anyone under the age of 13 (This is for my own comfort as I'm not comfortable interacting with extremely young users). ࿐ Romanticizations/Sexualizations of unhealthy/toxic relationships (This includes heavy yandere shit < This is for my own comfort). ࿐ Sexualizing transgender people/characters (This is for my own comfort). ࿐ Dsmp (This is for my own comfort). ࿐ T-cest/Incest. ࿐ Proshipping. ࿐ Homophobia. ࿐ Transphobia. ࿐ Racism. ࿐ And any other basic DNI criteria. REQUESTS + ASKS: ࿐ I do NOT do requests outside of requests of my own work, either it being my own ocs, aus or iterations. ࿐ My ask box is always open and I love getting asks/messages (I'm lonely..) ࿐ Please keep it PG in my ask box I'm literally a minor, jokes are fine but please use common sense when talking to a stranger online. ࿐ Don't fucking request NSFW, once again. I am a minor. BOUNDARIES: ࿐ Please don't repost my art or work anywhere. ࿐ If you use my work as your profile picture PLEASE give me proper credit. ࿐ For the love of god, don't flirt with me. ࿐ Don't attack me, if you don't like me or what I do simply just block me. ࿐ Please use tone tags while interacting if we aren't close.

(Last edited 11/9/24)

[just-some-random-blogger]

Fire Of Truth

Aemond Targaryen x Reader

Summary: "You'll never get it!" I speak through tears, "you'll never know what it feels like to hurt the way I do, because at the end of the day, you're a prince, and I'm a clump of dirt underneath your boot."

Word Count: 1k+

Warnings: fem!reader, classism, aemond is an angsty adult who roams the woods when he's high in angst, angst, sadness, typos, etc.

A/N: im sad therefore im writing this T_T Tagging: @pinksirensong @deniixlovezelda

Why'd you have to fall in love with a common girl? Twas nary mine own decision.

Aemond had been roaming the woods on foot to clear his mind. He found a goat on his way, and thought it an odd sight. Thinking he had nothing better to do anyway, he decided to lead it back toward a house near the area, hoping he would find its keeper there. He wound up finding not only the goat's keeper, but the temperate spirit that would then be keeping his weighted soul.

Aemond had been looking out the small crack on the top of the tiny door, face lit by the torchlight outside the small stone house.

His fingers twitched on the hilt of his sword each time a voice grew higher and louder than usual. His stance in front of the door was rigid and ready for the absolute worse. He need only to see the inept cretins take one more step closer to break the door open and start slitting throats.

He clenches his jaw tightly, rolling his shoulders back when he sees the two men walk away.

Aemond's eye trails down when the door is opened.

I freeze in front of him. His hand on his sword was further adding to my agitation. I release a sigh and grab his wrist after closing the door, "please, enough. I told you to sit down."

"If they return to harass you at this late hour again, I will not let it-"

"Enough of this, Aemond," I cut with exasperation.

"I am serious," he states, face blank as he steps closer. He curses in High Valyrian then looks to the door, "those smelly trolls will finally find something better to do once I take their fingers for-"

"Go home, Aemond."

Aemond pulls his head back, turning to me in bewilderment. The tight expression on his face slips off when he finally catches the tears in my eyes.

"I have had enough of Remus and Jasper, please, just..."

He deflates, "allow me to-"

"I cannot do this anymore," I whisper.

Aemond does not like the sound of that.

"Go home, and- and just forget about me,"

Forget about you?

I grab his arm, dragging him off, "do us both a favor and take your lea-"

"No," he repels my movements, "I will not leave."

I struggle with him for a moment. He does not relent. I release him with an offended huff. I look up at him. His violet eye is wide, his lips are curved downward, "you wish to do away with me?"

He mutters this like a secret he hadn't wanted to speak aloud, as if the very thought of it clawed at him.

I feel helplessness rise up my spine. I point to the door, "what would you have done if they came in and saw you?"

Aemond does not speak but it he did not need to for both of us of know exactly what he would have answered, what exactly he would have done in that moment.

"I am an unmarried woman, living alone," I sigh, slapping my hands on my skirt, "the only reason why I can function in this village is because my parents were kind to everyone when they were alive. What good will I be then if I am cast out? And as repulsive as those men were, Aemond," I shake my head, "they're the ones keeping us safe."

"Mmm, by heckling the people for goods they should have worked for instead just like the rest."

"And what would you know of it!" I snap, gripping my fists tightly in anger.

Aemond, unexpecting the harshness, reels back, foot retreating behind the other.

"Work to you is studying under the guidance of a septa and riding a dragon to fight a war that means naught to the rest of us!" I heave, "does it matter who wins if either way the winner will break our backs and turn a blind eye to the injustices we cry out justice for?!"

Aemond shakes his head, raising his hands, "I only meant that those two have no right to choke goods out of the hands of those who worked for it."

"You think you are any different, prince?" I mutter, tears streaking my cheeks, "you are clothed by people like me, fed by people like me, and for what? For a coin? For a day's meal? To be spat on and ridiculed? To be looked at with pity?"

The words burn him. He does not enjoy it one bit. Aemond calls out my name and reaches out for me. I recoil, stepping away from him, "you do not even know why they do it, don't you"

Aemond's chest tightens with the every inch of space that grows between us.

"They force us to give them goods because the lord of our town requires it."

Aemond clenches his jaw, "Who is this lord? Tell me his name, I will-"

"You don't get it!" I quip, "even if you scare the lord or kill him, it will not change the fact someone will take his place, and gods be good, I pray he be better," I shake my head, "it doesn't change the fact that we are raided, and raped, and the crown does nothing when it happens."

Aemond tries to step forward slowly.

"Stop."

"Please."

"You'll never get it!" I speak through tears, "you'll never know what it feels like to hurt the way I do, because at the end of the day, you're a prince, and I'm a clump of dirt underneath your boot."

"That's not true," Aemond shakes his head, "I-" he gulps, "I... care for you."

I scoff, unable to hold back my eyeroll, "the only people who cared for me are my parents and look at where that got them."

"They saved you from war."

"And yet it would have been better if I died that day with them!"

"Don't say that," he raises a finger, knitting his brows tightly, "don't ever say that again."

"If you really cared, Aemond," I shake my head, choking on the words in my mouth, "you would have taken me away a long time ago."

Aemond tenses at the statement. My mind breaks at his reaction. My soul mourns the fact these words I did not wish to be true has finally found its way into the world. And clearly, it was real.

"You would have saved me from all of this-"

He reaches out for me.

"-but it's clear I'm only a passtime."

Aemond grabs my arms and heaves heavily, "come back with me," his eye is glassy as he looks down upon me. There are tears streaming even down his eye patch. "I-" he shakes his head, "I will bring you home with me and make you my w-"

"Your prisoner?"

Aemond presses his lips tightly.

I watch he stills.

"Enough, Aemond," I whisper, "we both know how this will end. You stand to gain nothing from marrying me."

"Love," he huffs, "I stand to gain the love of my life."

I push his hands off me, "love is what killed my parents," I take his arms in my hands, "and it is what will kill us both."

Aemond could not speak. He could not do anything but reel back as I pushed him to the door, "go home, my prince."

Aemond's breath his taxed as his boots stomp on the ground.

"I pray you have safe passage on your final journey from here back home."

The door is locked with a loud sound.

[ya-zz]

I absolutely love your works! ‘‘Twas wondering if you could do a Rama piece on his approach to seeing his partners SH scars?? Or something similar anyway!! The way you write him is so good, like he’s a lot more caring! Soft Rama is a good Rama!

OMG HELLO HI THANK YOU!!! ;u;

I won't lie, I've been thinking about something similar to this ask for awhile but never really got around to actually doing it, so here we go!

Ramattra x Reader (gen)

Wordcount: - 976

He hadn’t seen you all day again, and normally he wouldn’t mind, but it had been nearly a week since he had last seen you, and a part of him was growing concerned with each passing day. 

Of course, everyone had their own lives and were free to do what they wanted, but to not see your face around for nearly a week troubled him. There was nothing said before you vanished, and nobody else on base seemed to notice either, only when Ramattra asked around for you, did the others realise you were missing.

Although he disliked many humans, he had grown fond of you, and being around you warmed his circuitry more than any other being, which only pained him more when you were absent.

-

Another day passed and suddenly you were there, talking as if you hadn't been missing for a week. Nothing had changed with you, your smile was the same, your bubbly laugh never changed and nobody else seemed to realise what you were hiding.

Ramattra clocked on almost instantly. While the others didn't realise, he saw the slight shift in your tone, the hesitant movements with your body. He wanted to pull you to the side and ask if things were ok, but he knew that would only draw attention to him and you, so he waited.

The conversation seemed to drag on far more than what Ramattra would've liked, but when you spoke up saying you had something to do and that you had to leave, he saw his chance.

"I will walk with you." He said, voice low, almost comforting as he stood by your side.

You look up at him, a gentle smile on your face as you start walking. "Thank you."

He waited until you both left the room, out of earshot from the others. "You were gone for some time. Is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine."

Ramattra noticed the change in tone instantly, a slight worry washing over him.

"I am here if you need to talk. I know I may not be the best of omnics to talk to, but my offer is there." He cocked his head to the side as he spoke, following behind you.

"I appreciate that." You pull out your key card for your room, the movement pushing your sleeve up, revealing fresh cuts.

As you tap the card against the system, the door unlocks. Ramattra notices your arm, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder.

"What happened?"

"What?" You turn and look at him.

"Your arm."

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"It's nothing."

"It does not look like nothing." He squeezed your shoulder, hoping to reassure you. "There is no judgement."

"It's-"

"[y/n]." His tone shifted to something more stern.

You step back, shaking his hand off from your shoulder as you stepped into your room.

"Are you hurting yourself?" He followed you inside. He watched as you moved around room, avoiding him and his question.

"[y/n]. Answer me."

"I don't owe you an answer." You kept your distance from him.

"Do you not trust me?"

"That's not what I said."

"Talk to me." He took a step forward.

"I'm fine."

"You are clearly not fine." He closed the distance and wrapped his arms around your body, embracing you tightly.

You tried to pull away, but he was far stronger than you. Eventually, after a few seconds of struggling, you give in, letting him hold you.

"Talk to me." He repeated, his hand slowly moves up and down your back. "Do not say it is nothing, when it is everything otherwise."

Your body relaxes against him, and he feels this, a silent sigh escaping him.

"I don't want to talk about it right now..." You say, cheek pressed against his chest as your arms slowly move up to hold him.

"Then, at least let me care for your wounds." His tone was gentle as he spoke. "Please."

You nod against him, pulling back.

"Sit." He commanded as he went into the bathroom to grab the first aid kit.

You sat on the edge of the bed, arms itching.

Ramattra returned a few seconds later and knelt down in front of you. His hands gently rolled your sleeves up, his head tilting to the side as he grabbed some antiseptic wipes.

You remained silent, not looking at him. He was gentle with you, a starking contrast to his usual demeanour around everyone else.

There was a slight sting as he wiped the cuts from dried blood. He noticed the older scars underneath, tilting his head back up to look at you.

"This has been happening for awhile?" His voice was low as he began wrapping your arm with a bandage.

"Yeah..." You look back at him, a sadness in your eyes. "Way before I joined."

"I am sorry."

His words took you by surprise before you smiled gently at him, shaking your head. "Don't be."

He spoke out as he tied the bandage around your arm. "My offer still stands. Talk to me when you are ready." Ramattra gently rubbed his thumb across your hand.

"Thank you..." You smile at him again before looking at his sloppy attempt in wrapping the bandage. A small laugh escaped your throat.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing... Thank you... For caring about me..." You bring your free hand up to his cheek, gently caressing the purple metal.

"Anytime." Ramattra leaned into the touch, a warmth spreading through his chassis.

The worry still lingered inside of him as he looked at you from under his face plate, his eyes glowing a soft yellow as the lights on his forehead flickered. He wanted nothing more than to see you happy and it pained him deeply to see you hurt. His hand never left yours as his thumb rubbed over the softness of your skin.

"I will always be here."

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hi cas, turnip anon here, this might be a long one

Firstly, I think I’m going to start using she/they pronouns, mainly online, I don’t really feel like putting them to use in person, not yet. And I do think I am a demigirl. And I like that label, I think it works well for me

So, that’s that update. But I’m actually more here to vent, if you don’t mind

About 2 years ago I stopped going to school. I was severely depressed, and the effort of getting into school was causing panic attacks upon panic attacks, it was awful. This pretty much happened for a year, where I would be going into school about once every 2 weeks, and when I did go in, I didn’t go to any lessons. I was put on a school avoidance plan, thingy idk what it was tbh. But I had goals to go in 3 times a week for an hour. It didn’t work, nothing worked, so May 2023, I snapped one morning and I told my mum that I couldn’t do it anymore, and she pulled me out of school to start being homeschooled.

It was a big change, and I struggled with it. I always struggled taking work home, like with homework. To me, school was where you learn, and home was where you didn’t. So having my home also being my place of education was difficult. I didn’t end up doing much. I enrolled in this learning centre in my town, and I took a maths course so I was doing something, it just wasn’t much. I hated it there, there was no communication between the teachers and you were placed in front of a computer and told to work for 3 hours straight. Addition to that, the man in charge of the maths course made me very uncomfortable. He often singled me out and spoke to me a lot more than the other people there. I did not enjoy being there. Twas bad

A couple months ago I finished the maths course there, and I took the final test and got a score of i dont even know what, I don’t understand the grading system.

So, this was kinda background information, like I said, this might be a long one

During the 2 years of struggling with school and then being homeschooled, I have been very isolated. I live in a small town away from all of my friends, my older sister is at university, and the town I live in is not the kind of town you meet people in my age range. So for about 2 years, I have been very alone.

I never really liked interacting with people, I still don’t, but I miss having people around me. I miss my sister, she lives just under 2 hours away so I don’t see her too often. I visit her, and sometimes I stay with her and her friends (who are amazing), and those times when I’m there are my favourite because I’m with people I like. Her friends really are amazing, one of her friends, ‘insert friends name’, is autistic like me so when we’re together we just tism about our special interests and hyperfixations. It’s great.

But I miss my 2 friends at school, we hardly talk anymore, and when we do, conversation doesn’t seem to flow easily because we haven’t seen eachother in ages. I hardly know them anymore. I’ve been lying to myself, saying that it’s fine, that I’m fine, but I snapped today. Finally, it was long overdue. But today was prom. I didn’t know, I went on Instagram and saw posts from other people that were in my year group all dressed up saying ‘prom 2024!’ And then I saw one of my friends post and she looked incredible, like really amazing. But I wasn’t there, and I didn’t know, and I missed out. And I have missed out so much and I’m never going to have any of this opportunity again and I feel like I’ve wasted 2 years of my life alone in my bedroom doing absolutely fuck all

I’ve been crying nearly all day, I’ve never been happier to be home alone.

I am so lonely. I don’t feel like I have any friends anymore. My childhood best friend lives 3 hours away, we never message, and we are very different people. We have nothing in common, and I know I shouldn’t but I’m starting to hold it against her. When I do visit her she spends so much of our time together on her phone messaging her other friends or her boyfriend, and it’s so difficult to be around her.

I have nobody to talk to. Nobody talks to me. And I am miserable

I’m going to this college in September, but it is tiny. And I mean, three people in a class. That kind of tiny. I was going to go to this other place but that’s a whole other story and I feel like if I get into that, this will go on for pages.

But, the other place was pretty big. There were a lot of people going there, and then I didn’t get in, and I was really upset. I was looking forward to being in a big environment with lots of people around me. I would of been able to hide away but not be alone. There would of been more opportunities. But I’m not going there, I’m going to some other place. And, okay, it is a nice place, and it seems like, on an educational level, it will be good for me. I know this. But how am I supposed to hide away when it’s one of those places where everyone knows everyone. I know I wanted human interaction, but not that much. My plan for the other place was to hide away and maybe make one friend. I WONT BE ABLE TO DO THAT THERE everything that I had planned for just went bye bye and flew out the window

I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore but I am not okay, I am struggling

I miss my friends, I missed the prom, I didn’t even know about the prom, I miss my sister, I’ve wasted my life, I have zero skills, I have no hobbies and I’m a pathetic waste of space. And nobody cares because nobody knows because nobody asks because nobody is here because I am so alone

And I really wish I wasn’t

Woah, woah, woah, take a deep breath!

Your last paragraph: None of it is true! Listen, I went through something similar in high school- panic attacks, missing a lot of school, feeling removed from my friends, all of that. I was even schooled online for a while.

Here's the thing- I know how you feel. There are certain things that I missed during the time I went to school online, and it made me upset. But the good news is, your life isn't over. You haven't wasted anything. You don't have zero skills and people DO care (I promise. I care).

Just because your high school experience was different doesn't mean you did it wrong. And just because it was different doesn't mean you ruined your life.

You will ALWAYS have more opportunities. Will they be exactly the same ones? Probably not. But they will be just as exciting, just as fulfilling, and just as wonderful.

So now, I think you have a chance to really work on this before college. Try to find a therapist and some coping mechanisms, that way when you get to college, you're ready to take advantage of every opportunity available! Because trust me, everyone outside of high school will tell you: it's not the highlight of your life, whether you go to prom or not. The best parts are still to come <3

If you ever need to talk, I'm here, okay!

[knifeinthenight]

@voidtouched-blue

One day.

Just one day without the drama of the fight would be okay in his book! A day when he could happily glut on a 'sack' full of donuts ['sack' being a relative standard of measurement determined by his mood of the day], crash down on a stone wall somewhere, warmed under the heat of the sun [or better yet, in a sun 'circle!] to nap peacefully, or perhaps do nothing at all, feet kicked up, arms behind his head and eyes closed, ignorant to the world beyond his lids!

Striving to clench a lazy day like that was perfectly acceptable - actually OBTAINING it was another struggle entirely.

Alas, such was the folly of having such an unbelievable price on his head. Everyone and their dog sought a taste of that incredible prize. Hope was a sorry counter to reality, but they 'hoped' they had the skills necessary to achieve what had, up until that point, become the impossible.

And it was still 'impossible' being that he remained 'free.' Not unscathed, however. FAR from it.

He’d been doing good until the heat of adrenaline began to stagnate and cool, transforming the numb aftereffects of battle into a blazing something or other. His body seemed composed of concentrated pain, bruises on top of bruises, blood dribbling from what felt to him to be a hundred thousand uncomfortable paper cuts in all the wrong places. 

Yes, there absolutely was a right and wrong place to suffer such afflictions! For example: the cuts at Vash's knuckles kept breaking open as he gingerly peeled the stocking off his feet. Or SOCK as the peasants called them. …. at least he hadn’t broken any toes. He hadn’t broken any bits at all! 

So far as he was concerned, that was a point for team Humanoid Typhoon!

He let out the breath that he totally KNEW he’d been holding [the burning lungs was one small indication that he should likely inflate those things with the oxygen necessary to keep on keeping on], letting the stocking fall to the dirt at his feet.

So what did he learn today?

Probably shouldn't have done the 'thing.'

He learned that his head made an odd hollow sound when it bounced off the ground. And that he might, inexplicably, house a choir of mice up there, as loudly as they were twittering afterwards.

Sigh.

He wiped at his bloody lip with the back of his hand, now suddenly contemplating how the heck he was now supposed to pull his boots back on? He leaned back against the palms of his hands, one 'organic,' one metallic, eyes gradually falling on something that---

---- well, one thing wasn't like the other, tha twas for sure.

A Plant pod? Out here?

His eyes drifted left. They drifted right. There was no power source attached to it. To his naked eye, it looked to be just the pod, like it had dropped from no where right there at that very moment, conveniently situated for him to discover.

He swallowed, mouth suddenly painfully dry.

That sounded like a Nai trap, if he'd never heard one. But---

Well he couldn't help himself. He stood, cautiously pacing forward, holding his boots in one hand, the other carefully resting on the holster of his gun.

[dairy-farmer]

Twas rereading you respond to my Fake But Not Really, Informant Robin Ask? The Hunt and Prey dynamics? And just?

Dat implication that he legit could find TENTACLES in those pants at this point and would STILL find a way to fuck him? >:3c oh myyyyy~

What if he WAS a cis Boy? Gnc, first to make it harder to ID him, then just cause it felt right? And just?

Bruce slowly transitioning from rage to anger to concern to frustration to obsession. He's been trained by the FINEST IN THE WORLD. This is literally HIS CITY. How. HOW is this boy out running him? Then this teen. Then this pretty young thing.

Obviously, Tim has dumped EVERYTHING into his speed and evasion stats. Bruce is a walking tank. He Would Absolutely Lose. And just? How many near misses were there? More then once! Where Bruce ASSUMES and Tim is his squirmy, impossible to pin forever self.

Did Bruce tackle him? Wrapping around him to make sure the fall isn't too hard on those rough, rough rooftops? Get to feel that hot little body pressed under him right until he's escaped? Does he get him pinned to a wall perhaps? Get to smell that spice and herbs body wash? Practically TASTE the sweat in the air between you as "Robin" gasps high and muffled up against the bricks for air? Getting distracted are we Bruce? Frustrating when he gets AWAY because of it..... ain't it?

If only there was a way to STOP that~

And it's not like... not like he can PLAN for when The Robin shows up. Gotta have the supplies ON him. But uhh, quick question, Bruce. What ARE those supplies? When did that lubricant make it's way in? That condom?

And that FILE on your computer... when DID you start it? With research and plans? Oh sure you had a few male lovers in the past, but never have pulled BATMAN level research for it... did ya? And a ROOM huh? Oh sure, sure. Gotta first contain the possible threat. Mmmhm. Oh? The threat assessment? I see... then "ideally, folding him into the family" huh?

As a son? Doesn't seem like a son, there, Bruce. And that room seems very... sex prison-y. "Threat assessment" their Various Bat Asses. Where's bruce? Off hunting down the step-mom. It's absolutely a kink they joke (so they don't have to think about how it genuinely IS).

And just? The bolas finally catching his upper body. Down he goes. Bruce on him in seconds. One fuild motion to get handcuffs securing ankles together. Gloved hand in his hair pressing back down before he can get up to start struggling free. Got him. GOT HIM.

And it's everything he HAS not to be a savage. Dragging his other glove off, don't know where it's been, wanna FEEL. Those pants dragged down so fast he's surprised he doesn't tear them. Coms and cams already off. Lube open. Sliding a finger all the way home.

Getting a yelp. Panting and squirming and NOT THIS TIME, you wont! You're staying RIGHT where he wants you! Not even trying to STRETCH this brat so much as looking for that spot that'll- Finding it and getting a squeak and a jolt. Feeling EVERY tooth bear itself as he smiles like a shark. Getting a WAIL as he started ramming in.

His pretty prey thrashing but trapped as his poor little spot is HAMMERED. He's not gonna be running ANYWHERE. Telling that. Growling out, half high out of his mind with the victory and lust, EXACTLY how frustrating he's been. How much of a god damned TEASE. Pushing in another finger, just to feel his body stretch. To TAKE it as he finger fucks like a brute. Drags him over the edge.

Buries his fingers in deep and grinds and grinds and GRINDS.

The poor little hole forced to take it, as he milks him through it. Makes him sob. Gasp for air. Like HELL he's done. YEARS. This tease, this hunt going for YEARS. Barely remembers to slide the damn condom on. Gonna test him at the cave. If he's clean, fuck him RAW. Pulls the whimpering wreck into his arms and into his lap.

Sheaths him right on his cock. Balls deep in one go. Holds his little face still and he peels off that mask. Runs the face match. Got him. Timothy Drake.

Fucks deep and hard, growling every bit of information that pops up right in "Robin's" ear. Found you. Got you. No more escape.

And just? All that frustration~ But Bruce is not a MONSTER! Oh no, it's unthinkable to HURT you so much you can't escape. But physical exhaustion? And wouldn't you know it, humans ARE just so much more susceptible to influence when on the brink of exhaustion from marathon sex. Feel like agreeing with him... don't you? *muffled groan whine from the bed* Atta boy.

But of course~ Tim is not so easily swayed. His a strong willed young Twink who don't need no Bat-Man! He will not be-! *hand lands ominously on his shoulder as he's trying to sneak out* Ha ha.... he's in Danger(tm). *is dragged back for The Fuckening: Round Another One*

It's like the Bat and the cat except it's just Bruce trying to convince Tim to STOP running around Gotham and stay in his nice comfy manor with technology, a bat cave, and Bruce's bed in it! But Tim SHANT. He is an independent Twink! A MODERN man of mystery! You can't convince him with sex!

To which Bruce says "Bet."

😭😭😭😭 tim is a modern man and can't be bought with incredible sex from a mentally ill men who has jacked off to fantasies of catching him and mounting him on the wall like a prized deer head but also of literally mounting tim and fucking the desire to be his stay at home wife and cockwarmer into his head ❤️❤️❤️.

[ninja-muse]

As you can maybe tell by the three reviews I posted in July, it was a good reading month! Overall, at least. I still had a couple “this was fine” and one DNF, but there were a lot of hits and I read more books than I have the last few months.

So, highlights: The Hollow Places was fantastic, as was Bookshops and Bonedust but for very different reasons. If you’re worried that Baldree won’t be able to repeat the magic of Legends and Lattes, stop now. It was pure cozy delight. March’s End didn’t get a review simply because I already had three coming, but it was also very good. It examines family dynamics and the realities of a portal fantasy world in a very complex, adult way. The characters are believable if not necessarily likeable, the world-building is great, the writing is strong… all the things.

But between March’s End, The Hexologists, and The Hollow Places, I needed a lot of lighter books to balance, as you can probably tell by the rest of my list. I enjoyed pretty much everything! I’m just sorry I didn’t like the Sanderson more but I guess that’s a sign he isn’t an author for me since I didn’t like the last book of his I read either. I’m also a bit sorry I couldn’t get into The Atlas Six because so many people love it, but I dropped it in a Little Free Library and it got snapped up almost instantly so hopefully it’s found a better home.

So that was my unhaul of the month! I … did not do well with my book haul, or perhaps I did too well with it. The Odyssey and Thud were both damaged books that came in at work and I couldn’t say no. Thud has some wear to the cover; the Odyssey has some uncut and weirdly bound pages I’ll need to slice open. (Have I read and do I own other editions of both? Absolutely.) Love in the Time of Serial Killers was an unexpected rebound—I originally got it as a reading copy and passed it on to a coworker, who sent it back when she’d finished.

And then, well. There’s a new bookshop opening in my metro area. They’ve taken over from a used bookstore and have to sell off its stock before they can properly move in their own. I had to go help out, right? I couldn’t find anything in their SFF section I wanted but still left with three books: Gaudy Night, Evelina, and a collection of Molière. I went with friends, the same day we saw Barbie. ’Twas a very good day, all around.

And last but not least, I have started on one of those long, dense reads that will last ages. I’ve had Music from the Earliest Notations to the Sixteenth Century on my shelf for years and made it a goal to finally start it this year, since it’s totally up my alley but also huge and academic. There was a point in July where I didn’t want epic stories, light stories, or narrative non-fiction, so I figured that was as good a time to start it as any. I’ll probably read a section or two a month, whenever a similar mood hits.

And now without further ado, in order of enjoyment…

The Hollow Places - T. Kingfisher

Kara moves into her uncle’s museum of weird after her divorce, only to discover another universe behind a wall.

9/10

🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (gay), disabled secondary character

warning: body horror

Bookshops and Bonedust - Travis Baldree

Viv is recuperating from an injury in a sleepy town, where she finds a struggling bookshop, new friends, and a mystery. Out in November.

9/10

🏳️‍🌈 main character (sapphic), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (sapphic)

March’s End - Daniel Polansky

The Harrows have been tasked for generations with protecting a fantastical other world, but now the family is fracturing and that could endanger everything.

8/10

major 🏳️‍🌈 character (lesbian), 🏳️‍🌈 secondary character (sapphic), African-American secondary character

warning: toxic family dynamics, commentary on colonialism

Imogen, Obviously - Becky Albertalli

Imogen puts the A in Ally and that’s fine. Then she visits her best friend in college and meets a girl….

8/10

🏳️‍🌈 main character (bisexual), main character with anxiety, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (nonbinary, pan, lesbian, bisexual), Jewish secondary character, Brazilian-American secondary characters, secondary character with ADHD, Japanese secondary character, Black secondary character, 🏳️‍🌈 author, #ownvoices

warning: biphobia, discourse

The Hexologists - Josiah Bancroft

The Wilbys get more than they bargained for when they’re hired to find a lost royal heir and stop the king from baking himself into a cake. Out in September.

7.5/10

possibly biracial main character

The Bookbinder - Pip Williams

When World War I pushes Peggy out of her routine, she’s forced to choose: a life binding the books of the Oxford Press or a life studying them?

8/10

major autistic secondary character, disabled secondary character

warning: war, injuries

The Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel - KJ Charles

Rufus is the new Earl of Oxney, saddled with a crumbling estate and a bitter family. Desperate for a good secretary, he hires Luke—who has a hidden agenda which doesn’t involve tupping the boss. And yet. Out in September.

7/10

🏳️‍🌈 main characters (demisexual-gay, gay), main character with dyslexia, 🏳️‍🌈 secondary characters (gay), minor Black British character

warning: toxic family dynamics, abuse

Weird Rules to Follow - Kim Spencer

Mia starts to notice that she and her best friend are living very different lives, with very different expectations from the adults around them.

7/10

Ts’msyen protagonist, Mexican-Canadian secondary characters, Ts’msyen secondary characters, Gitxsan secondary character, Ts’msyen author, #ownvoices, 🇨🇦

warning: racism, alcohol abuse

A Man and His Cat, Vol. 3 - Umi Sakurai with Taylor Engel (translator)

Kanda begins to deal with his emotional baggage, with the help of his cat and a fellow teacher.

7/10

Japanese cast, Japanese author, #ownvoices

Bookshop Cinderella - Laura Lee Guhrke

Evie is quite content as a spinster with a bookshop. Duke Maximilian has wagered he can make her the diamond of the season. This is a strictly platonic alliance, of course.

6/10

The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England - Brandon Sanderson

An amnesiac man wakes up in a country that may or may not be Anglo-Saxon England with an exploded guidebook. Good thing he has ~*~Mystical~*~ ~*~Powers~*~™.

6.5/10

Persian secondary character, Chinese-American secondary character

Picture Books

The Skull - Jon Klassen

Otilla finds a large house in the woods inhabited by a talking skull, so she helps him in return for shelter.

🇨🇦

DNF

The Atlas Six - Olivie Blake

Six ambitious magicians compete for a coveted place at the Library of Alexandria.

🏳️‍🌈 main characters (multisexual); Black-British, Cuban, Japanese, and Persian main characters; Filipino-American author

Currently reading:

Kill Show - Daniel Sweren-Becker

A teen goes missing after running back to her school bus for a bag. Forget podcasts: time for the reality show! Out in October.

warning: missing child, murder

The Wager - David Grann

A secret mission in the Age of Sail. A shipwreck and a mutiny. The perils of the sea—and your fellow man.

Music from the Earliest Notations to the Sixteenth Century - Richard Taruskin A history of early written European music, in its social and political contexts.

Stats

Monthly total: 11+1 Yearly total: 75/140 Queer books: 4 Authors of colour: 2 Books by women: 7 Authors outside the binary: 0 Canadian authors: 1 Off the TBR shelves: 1 Books hauled: 6 ARCs acquired: 4 ARCs unhauled: 6 DNFs: 1

January February March April May June

[definitelynotshouting]

(The explanation I spared you before.) Okay so I've been drawing art, right? and I keep struggling with backgrounds. It suddenly occurred to me, oh hey, I have a game where I can make something similar-ish to the scenes I picture in my head, and then I can use screenshots as a reference! (I think the reason I started with trying to do Hunger AU is because it's in a small space with a lot of environmental storytelling?) But yeah funny thing is, when you try to recreate something in the Sims 4, all of a sudden you realize all the bits of the floor layout that you don't know. Figured you wouldn't mind me poking you about it. Wasn't expecting you to already have a diagram, though! 'Twas a nice surprise.

Some very quick screenshots just from me really quickly throwing together a quick build in the Sims 4:

I'm probably going to change stuff to get the details better, but it's getting late now and I have actual Productive Adult things that need to be done before I can go to bed guilt free.

Also, fun fact, the next Hunger AU fanart's background is now confirmed completely wrong, but, oh well. XD

(Also to any keen-eyed Sims 4 fans who see this, yes, there is one (1) piece of CC in these screenshots, and it's from Ravasheen's Filthy Fabulous set. Vanilla Sims 4 doesn't have small coffee tables and it fits the vibe imo.)

WHOAAAA HELLO THESE ARE SO COOL??? ALSO HOLY SHIT THE DEDICATION..... THIS IS AMAZING OMG THE BASEMENT LOOKS PERFECT IM GOING NUTS

The vibes of these are SO GOOD im fucking speechless like HELLO....... im glad i was able to provide a floorplan for you WKDNWNSJSJSJ hopefully that will make your life easier 😂😂😂😂😂 i absolutely do not mind you poking me about it at all!!!

O7 TO YOUR PRODUCTIVE ADULT THINGS, I HOPE YOU GET TO BREEZE THROUGH THEM!!!!! :D this is so incredible, thank you for sharing!!!

[riddle-me-ri]

Hi there! First time asker on any blog really.

I just wanted to ask how any various versions of the Penguin would think of an S/O who’s really knowledgeable about paleontology, sharing little facts 24/7 and always rambles about dinosaurs/prehistory?

I always love seeing your posts, they’re a joy to read and BTAS Ozzie’s always been a favorite of mine.

A/N: not the Jurassic Park theme playing in my head when I read your request asdfgh. Jurassic Park was a huge part of my childhood and your girl for a minute wanted to be a tiny blonde-haired Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler love child, but alas…twas not meant to be. I did some research just to refresh my memory and…why do some of these pengys have something to do with museums and exhibits lmao. Almost every single Penguin has infiltrated a museum, enclosure, or exhibit…like…popular theme or nah?

Penguins w/ a Reader Interested in Paleontology:

Arkhamverse Penguin: 

- I mean…who else did you think helped him set up his museum in Arkham City? 

- Oswald was always intrigued by the research, dedication, and knowledge it took to explore vast locations for just a smidgen of evidence that prehistoric life lived there millions of years ago. 

- He chuckles at the thought of any caveman imagining a world of skyscrapers with men dressed intentionally as a damn bat swooping from the rooftops. 

- He breaks into a full on laughter if you inform him they’ll likely hunt Batman down and try to have him for dinner. 

Reevesverse/Farrell Penguin:

- This Oswald is always interested in hearing whatever your passionate about. 

- Just to see your eyes light up, to hear the excited hitches in your voice. He finds it all just absolutely adorable. 

- He also enjoys helping you translate certain languages that come up when a new creature is discovered or if you struggle pronouncing a certain country or region. 

- Don’t be surprised if you see little dinosaur figures or plushies around you shared living space as small surprised for you. 

Gotham Penguin: 

- Oswald is always intrigued in learning people’s strengths (usually in order to swiftly counteract them or make it someone’s weakness but not here…not now)

- He enjoys listening to you ramble about the latest discovery or your hypothesis of where certain fossils will be. 

- He loves beaming at you, asking you questions, just to keep you rambling. It allows him time to not think so much.

- Just be able to enjoy the moment as you share something you’re deeply passionate about with someone you care about dearly. He appreciates that more than you could ever imagine. 

BTAS Penguin:

- Oswald would have so many questions. Who needs the Discovery Channel or National Geographic. You sound far more passionate and sweet to listen too than any of those robotic narrators. 

- I imagine he would absolutely swoon as you explain the genealogical history of his beloved birds. How they're the modern day dinosaurs that surpassed millions of years of evolution to live and thrive today. 

- Oswald's unlimited adoration for his fellow aviary allies grows tenfold, as does his admiration of you. 

- I can see the two of you discussing various time periods and matching each other to certain extinct species of that particular time period. 

TNBA Penguin: 

- This Oswald absolutely admires the vast knowledge you hold. 

- I wouldn’t put it past him that one of these years, he’ll fund for you an opportunity to participate in a dig. 

- He appreciates your dedication to such a sophisticated and distinguished study. How are we to evolve and see what’s to come if we don’t look back on the past? 

- Oswald enjoys learning different subjects, and if it means he gets to hear you all day as well…that’s the best of both worlds. 

Telltale Penguin: 

- Oz always knew that you’d take a serious interest in paleontology. 

- When you guys were kids you always enjoyed playing with the dinosaur toys. You two used to bury them in the ground and pretend to dig up the fossils. 

- He’ll listen to whatever you have to say, anything to see you smile. 

- He does find the “big, bad” animals of prehistoric times to be the most interesting. Expect him to ask about those a lot, especially if you announce there was a new discovery. 

One Bad Day Penguin: 

- Ozzie finds it absolutely adorable, but also super intriguing. 

- He never really thought much about…the dinosaurs and how we have what we have somewhat do to their existence. 

- Now that he has you though, he’ll be able to get some questions answered. He’s particularly interested in the hierarchy shifts during certain periods. The food chain is usually are fairly fickle system. 

- Oswald will also go an extra mile to stay up to date, so he can add more to your conversations.

- He adores you and whatever passion gives you the most joy, and he wants to be able to participate. 

The Batman (2004) Penguin:

- OH COOL DINOSAURS

- I can imagine this pengy would absolute be gushing about dinos with you. 

- He’d ask you questions like; how big where they? Could they go against *insert other dino here* and no he doesn’t care that they didn’t exist in the same time period!

- Ok, ok, he does cause he understands your need for accuracy…but if you could give him atleast the hypothetical odds…

Batman Unlimited: 

- Oswald loves animals, I don’t doubt this Oz has dabbled in zoology (he…he literally formed an animal themed gang called the Animalitia…I rest my case)

- It almost seems like fate to run into you, someone whose borderline obsessed with paleontology. 

- Hours, upon hours, are spent discussing the bridge between the two studies. 

- For once he feels like he’s found someone that truly understands him. To say he’s also smitten is an understatement. 

- I don’t doubt this Penguin would also gift you paleontology related gifts; like claws, bones, and even a necklace of bracelet with a charm filled with amber.

[ascendanceseriesveteran]

King Jaron Artolius Eckbert III

Digital Art Made With Autodesk Sketchbook

⚔️👑🌹

After many tedious hours,

Through blood, sweat and tears,

I bring you my best work yet.

Altogether, I’m really happy with how it turned out. I wanted to get as close to how I imagine Jaron as possible. I suspect this will be my last big ascendance series art project with how much time it took. It started out as an elaborate procrastination technique and evolved into an even greater procrastination technique. But ultimately, I’m happy I did this. Twas a bit therapeutic even.

As per usual, there are things I’m not pleased with but nobody is ever happy with their own work and I’ve made peace with that. I don’t do much art so every time I pick up a pencil, be that digital or physical, I struggle to create something to the standards I set for myself. Good thing drawing digitally grants the absolute power of infinite “undo’s”.

That being said, I hope you guys like it as much as I do ❤️

[takaraphoenix]

Ok, because I'm bored at work with nothing to do and I'm still by myself, I'm gonna bug you with a random question. What are your Top 10 favorite headcanons. No specific fandom, just top 10 favorite.

This is too broad actually, E. xD Please limit me to a fandom next time this nearly broke my brain, first to find any at all (twas as though I had Never Had A Single Headcanon In My Life) and then to move on from a fandom, like, once I remembered a headcanon, my brain wanted to latch onto that fandom and I would have gladly given you my top 10 Disney headcanons or sth... this was near impossible lol

You will realize that most of my heacanons are next gen related.

In no particular order because holy shit that'd kill me.

Let's start with an easy one. Shadowhunters. I headcanon Jace Herondale as ace. Even in the fanfiction where I don't make it an explicit plotline, I think of him as ace. I just think that he doesn't know. Doesn't know the term for it, hasn't thought about it really. I don't think I've ever had an ace headcanon I was as fiercely attached to as I am with Jace. Which is funny considering the character himself is a... actually, no, he's not really that sexual. We see others making jokes about his book club, we see him hook up with a random girl once. And then with Maia. And then he's in his relationship with Clary, where we actually see him pulling the brakes and wanting to slow things down. He's not as promiscuous as the talk of the other characters would like to make us belief, is what I'm saying. He has a normal sex life. Still, usually, ace headcanons are born from a "oh this character has never shown any interest in sex????" notion, so this is still an outlier.

PJO: If Bianca di Angelo had lived, her powers would have been most aligned with darkness. We know that Nico struggled with that, that shadow-travel in particular drained him extremely. It's a power he has, but one that never came as easy to him as summoning or controlling the dead. And I always liked the idea that the three kids of Hades/Pluto split his three realms - darkness, death and riches. Tapping into the other realms too, but having most domain over one each.

My headcanon that Jack Frost from Rise of the Guardians is actually the god Jökul Frosti who had his memories taken and was "punished" to spend a lifetime as a human, but something went wrong when he died too early, that's why he has the full amnesia. It just, it never really clicked why the guardian of fun got the white hair and snow powers, or why the wind would carry Jack and allow him to fly (the god of the wind is the father of Jökul Frosti), or why the saying of "Jack Frost" would exist in our human world if Jack Frost is a spirit that nobody can see and born from a mortal who died only 300 years ago.

Disney: Princess Aurora and Prince Adam (aka the Beast) are cousins! I don't know, I just think that's neat. They look very similar, there's the French note to Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast.

DCMK: Kudou Shinichi and Kuroba Kaito naming their son Conan, as a reminder of how they first met and what Shinichi's time as Conan really meant to him. I think that'd be very poetic and I also think that kid would be the devil incarnate.

Deep dig TLK headcanon that will actually mean absolutely nothing to people who aren't deep into it but I headcanon that Kovu is the biological son of Malka and Kula, I think that Kula's dark fur is a good match for Kovu's while he'd have Malka's dark mane (and I headcanon Malka's eyes to be green, they're not really... seen. they look pitch-black, which might as well be green like Kovu's), plus I did always like Malka. I know most people ship Kula with Chumvi but honestly they have a near identical design so I always clocked them as siblings and headcanoned them as such. But yeah, Kovu as the lost son of Malka and Kula, which would add such a near tragic element to things, if Simba knew he was Malka's son.

If Cole and Phoebe's son on Charmed had lived, his name would have been Parker Benjamin. Parker was the name she later picked for her second born daughter, but I have no qualms moving that name up to the older brother, since I'm already changing the oldest daughter's name too because I am fiercely possessive of my OC daughter of Phoebe and Cole who has to be the firstborn daughter. The only kid of Phoebe whose name I'm keeping is the youngest. Plus, middle name Benjamin after Cole's father, since we do know that Cole cared deeply for his father. I always liked the idea of the sons being their own Charmed Ones; him, Wyatt and my Andy/Prue son Phillip Trudeau.

In the greater scheme of things, BtVS is full of magic shenanigans so why in the world should Angel be the only vampire who can have kids, right? I like the idea of Willow and alive!Tara using magic to create children of their own and that magic also being applicable to Spike and Buffy. I'm thinking fully-formed-baby creation magic here, not magical pregnancy. Because I... don't see Buffy pregnant, she's too much of a fighter, out there, not benched due to different circumstances. And they'd have twins, named William, since Spike's not using that name, and Joanne, as a combination of Joan and Anne, the two big aliases Buffy ever went by.

A headcanon I cherish a lot a lot is from Sailor Moon and it's that the Ayakashi sisters (Koan, Berthier, Calaveras and Petz) all also get a second chance and get reborn, just like the inner senshi did after the first season because fuck that the girls were good at the end they deserved better than to die for men's mistakes, and that they are, ultimately, the mothers of the Asteroid senshi (Pallas, Juno, Vesta and Ceres). I have a very big, very mapped out family tree for my Sailor Moon headcanons. This fandom has been with me for decades. But I want to only pick one headcanon per fandom, so.

DC Comics' Stephanie Brown becoming the Huntress, I just think that would be so neat, the purple color scheme fits her so, so, so well, plus I'd love for Helena Wayne to take up the mantle from her, looking up to her auntie Steph with adoration. I've latched onto that hard.

[emmersreads]

We Ride Upon Sticks - Quan Barry

4/5

I enjoyed 92% of We Ride Upon Sticks and that’s mostly because I approached it with the right attitude: it ain’t that deep.

This novel is best appreciated as a lighthearted and goofy romp down memory lane. The marketing blurb compares it to Stranger Things and that’s an absolutely delusional comparison; both works trade in 80s nostalgia, but that’s where the similarity ends. It’s better to think of We Ride Upon Sticks as a teen comedy with a faintly supernatural flavour, like Ouran High School Host Club, Derry Girls, or in my mind especially, British comedy St. Trinian’s. Everything, from the supernatural to the interpersonal, is to be jeered and mocked with 2 kool 4 skool teen swagger. And that’s a lot of fun.

I enjoyed the book on its own terms — it’s a genuinely heartwarming picture of teenage friendship and rebellion, and I did indeed laugh at the jokes — but I also liked it on a meta-level. It’s nice to have an unapologetically queer and feminist high school comedy without it being bogged down by mawkish emotional problems. I know I was once a teen constantly beleaguered by mawkish emotional problems (twas the era of Fall Out Boy and 21 Pilots), but as an adult that isn’t the part I look back on fondly. In other words, the art style of Heartstopper is very cute, but manzo do they have problems. We Ride Upon Sticks nails how irony-poisoned and allergic to sincerity we were as teens, and for some reason that meant a lot more to me than teenagers working through their emotions using healthy coping mechanisms and clear communication.

The only thing that really bugged me in the majority of the novel was the unceasing reoccurring jokes. Quan Barry loves a running gag. They come back so constantly and with such absurd regularity that it came back around to being funny for me (through I think a less easily entertained reader might find it simply unendurable instead). But that’s the majority of the book, and I want to move on to the 8% of We Ride Upon Sticks that I didn’t enjoy: the ending.

An unavoidably huge part of this novel is that it is socially conscious. It wants to do right by the feminist, queer, and BIPOC struggles of 80s teens and it wants you to know in the clearest most thoroughly explained language possible. Some readers might find this sanctimonious, but I thought it was fine. One weakness of this approach, however, is that it is always very obvious when the author fumbles the bag.

In this case the bag is the character Corey Young, formerly ‘boy’ Corey.

Spoilers for the ending of We Ride Upon Sticks.

The novel ends with a flash forward to our characters reuniting as middle-aged women so we can see what happened to the Danvers Falcons in adult life. I liked the idea and I liked the fact that for more of the characters their formative years continued well after high school graduation. The one I didn’t like was boy Corey. In the intervening years she has come out and fully transitioned. Now, I know a lot of trans people in real life and also I understand obvious foreshadowing, so I saw this coming a mile away. It was not a Reveal. Problem is the book so desperately wanted to treat it as one. We get this super long fake out scene before the book reveals that Corey is a woman now! Surprise! Were you expecting a man! I found that kinda tasteless.

What bothered me more is that while we hear a lot about the team’s anxiety about reuniting with Corey — will they say the wrong thing? Did they made transition harder for her? — we never hear anything from Corey herself. I’d put this down to a lack of authorial confidence. It feels like Barry is a lot more familiar with how it feels to be friends with a trans woman than how it feels to be a trans woman. That’s not a problem in and of itself, but I felt we needed to hear Corey’s side of things too. Is she excited to reunite with all her friends as her authentic gender? Is she apprehensive about spending time with people who only knew her pre-transition? This book is all about centring marginalized perspectives, that’s why it spends so much time explicitly calling out the ways the characters themselves fails at this — that it was disappointing for it to end by cantering a bunch of cis women’s anxiety about being accepting enough over a trans woman’s thoughts. Since this is what the book is All About, the comparatively small detail has an out-sized impact.

I already didn’t like the specifics of the reveal, and its general effect didn’t work either. It is one of a whole bunch of fake outs and twists in the flash forward section. There are so many that it fucks up the pacing, since the story is now being told essentially in reverse to accommodate the dramatic reveals. It ends on the note that the Danvers Falcons’ success was never the work of the devil, the idea of supernatural intervention just gave a bunch of teenagers the excuse they needed to work hard and band together. I thought that was really sweet, but it takes so long to get there that I was just ready for it to be over.

On balance, this is a recommend from me. I like that it’s fun and lighthearted, but it is also a queer novel that isn’t afraid to be ironic and crass. I enjoyed the absurd 80s references and the overplayed jokes. I liked that sports fiction can be for girls sometimes!

Let the hairspray wash over you and don’t worry about what the long term effects of all those CFCs will end up being.

[temnurus]

Drarry As Parents Fic Recs

I answered a request for fics in which Draco and/or Harry were parents ages ago, & I figured I'd throw 'em up here for people to reference & share as they liked. There are even two non-explicit recs this time, y'all! Does this mean I'm slightly less of a degenerate yet? (Probably not, oh well, lol.) Anyway, onto the recs!

All I Want For Christmas (Is For You To Stop Talking) by Femme & Noe (E, 162.9k)

Thoughts: This fic manages to feel like a slow burn to me despite taking place over the course of a month, & not only that, it's one of my favorites. I loved Draco & Harry as dads, & the whole concept of them sniping at each other over a children's holiday pageant made me laugh heartily. This was so well-written, & I enjoyed every bit of it.

Queer Eye for the Drarry Guys by Blowfish_Diaries (T, 18.2k)

Thoughts: I mean, what can I say other than that this was perfection? The Fab Five giving Harry & Draco makeovers at the behest of their adoring (& meddling) son Teddy was too precious for words. This was so fluffy & domestic & sweet that it nearly rotted my teeth out my head. It was lovely how much they cared for Teddy & what great dads they obviously were. I was floating on a cloud for hours after reading this. It was that cute.

Let It Fall by Buildyourwalls (E, 116.3k)

Thoughts: This is one of the most staggering portrayals of grief in fic I've ever read. My heart went out to Draco & Scorpius, & I cried a grand total of seven times reading this. It was gorgeously written, & every single character was fleshed out & engaging to read. Harry & Draco's slowly growing relationship had me spellbound, & I was so wrung out by the time I finished reading this I couldn't pick up another fic for a full day, if not longer. This is a must read. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Pocket Full of Starlight (Never Let It Fade Away) by Femme & Noe (E, 46.3k)

Thoughts: Okay, okay. I usually try not to double up on authors in the same rec list, but this fic really is just that good. This is a Parent Trap AU, & how frigging cute is that?! Jamie & Scorpius' rivalry at Quidditch camp had me in stitches, & the tension between Harry & Draco was electrifying. I particularly loved their characterizations. I highly recommend this. It was fantastic!

'Twas Brillig by Queenie_Mab (E, 73.9k)

Thoughts: I loved Harry's kids & his relationship with them in this. The trans characters were incredibly relatable, & my heart went out to the younger in particular with her struggle in coming out. I won't go into more details so as not to spoil that part, but it was very nicely done. Harry's own struggle with his sexuality made my heart hurt for him, & the split with Ginny was messy & painful. His & Draco's coming together was a fascinating read, & the smut was hot as hell. The case fic aspect took a backseat for me here. I was much more invested in the character's personal journeys, but both aspects of the fic were very well done.

Burn the Witch by lettersbyelise (E, 95.8k)

Thoughts: The author wrote Draco beautifully as someone who really grew out of the prejudices his parents instilled in him & found his own mind & voice & purpose in a really meaningful way. I thought his relationship with Scorpius was beautiful, & their take on a child on the autism spectrum was handled with care & aplomb. Ernestina was one of my favorite OCs ever in a story. She's really fantastic.

Harry seemed to slip right into their lives so comfortably, & I liked how natural that felt. Like it was bound to happen (because of course it was, haha). I loved how fiercely protective he was of both Draco & Scorpius, & they caught his endless capacity for love just perfectly in this story. The action scenes were wrenching, though minor in the scheme of things. This was an absolutely gorgeous story.

A Big Black Sky by AlexMeg (E, 90.5k)

Thoughts: At first I almost stopped reading this because a noncon tag wasn't included by the author, but to be fair they did put trigger warnings at the beginning of the chapters. That in mind, I skimmed what I couldn't handle & carried on. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this fic. The depth of emotion was beautiful, & I was so touched by Draco's love for his son. Harry's protectiveness made me warm inside, & watching them make their slow, fumbling way toward being a family with Draco, Scorpius, Harry & Teddy all together was so satisfying. I think the author handled the subjects of domestic violence & sexual assault with as much grace & tact as one can while writing a difficult narrative. I honestly don't think a good parent Drarry rec list would be complete without it. Just mind the tags because it definitely pulls no punches with the content it covers.

Where the treetops glisten (and children listen) by manixzen (T, 16.2k)

Thoughts: This was so heartwarming & lovely that I couldn't stop smiling through nearly the entire thing. I loved the idea of Harry & Draco being forced to spend time together due to babysitting Teddy for a week, & the opportunities for adorable hi-jinks were abundant indeed! Teddy pitting Harry & Draco against each other by playing to their need to be seen as his favorite was hilarious. I won't give anymore away, but this was so fluffy & cute it made my mood instantly brighten just from reading it.

Turn by Saras_Girl (E, 306.7k)

Thoughts: A must-read for many Drarry fans, I couldn't help but include Turn in this list because Harry's relationships with his kids & Maura are prominent (& very touching) features. The fic itself is a glimpse into what could have been if Harry made a different choice one night in sixth year & how that chance takes him in a direction he never quite saw coming. The whole story is spellbinding & gripped me until the very end. I've read it five or six times at this point if that tells you anything, so if you haven't yet, you bloody well should!

Harry Potter and the Great Cat Caper by Kbrick (E, 78.6k)

Thoughts: I enjoyed this fic overall, & I laughed a lot in the first half. It takes a turn a bit further in, & I'm including a couple more specific warnings the author did not because I felt they warranted mention. They do warn at the beginning of the chapter in which it happens for the death of a pet, but there is a mistaken identity via Polyjuice plot point involving secondary characters that definitely needs a dubious consent tag due to them engaging in sex acts without disclosing the deception. That said, it does come through with a happy ending, & the Harry & Pansy friendship is definitely a standout in this.

[soysaucevictim]

Currently feeling like I'm in Hell World in the health department, so that lead to something amusing with the co-conspirator:

Me: i have mental image of iZ!roman unenthusiastically eating food Him: no no, not just unenthusiastically, but sociopathic food eating behavior. like my niece who rips all of the cheese off of a slice of pizza to eat it by itself then scrapes off the sauce and then contemplates eating the crust like me and my sister were very much "food must not touch" growing up, but she takes it to a whole new level Me: pffft ('twas me projecting my feelings abt food w/ the 'struggle to find shit i can stomach or finding stuff that feels good to eat' thing) Him: i figured i also figured this was an instance of him running out of hot sauce to make things palatable so he's just picking at his food and forcing himself to look human but at the same time, looking like an absolute sociopath Me: lowkey, i love this this shit Him: like people have paid and left because of how uncomfortable it is to be around him imagine feeling so shit, you project an aura that devastates the business's profits for that day there is now a picture of him in the supply closet taped to a bottle of hot sauce "IN CASE OF HIM" Me: iZ!Roman Casts Aura of Dysphoria. (in the general sense of the word) Him: you should draw that honestly, a lone bottle of hot sauce with a picture of roman and "IN CASE OF HIM" written on the picture and someone has to explain to every new hire that the bottle must not be used under any other circumstance no this is not a joke yes they are in fact real no this is not the same bottle, we replace it every time it gets close to being past date. "Some people say he just squirts it directly into his mouth." "One waitress swears he draws a line like it's coke and then snorts it through a straw." just over time the myth behind him being apathetic about food without hot sauce grows into a full on urban myth remus is not at all jealous about roman becoming an urban myth before him. /s

[leelatea]

Round 2 is complete! And.... its totally fine... there isn't a whole family that's crumbling and totally driving me insane with worry... its fine... its fine... *long sigh*

So, here we go!

So. We. Have. Some. Issues... Um... so... when it was time to play this family for this round... I encountered... They were feeling...

CHEDU THINKS IRRIG CHEATED!!! and I don't know what to do... they just kept getting angrier... and angrier... Chedu was mad at Irrig. Irrig was mad at Chedu. Any conversation, any at all, ended in utter catastrophe.

I really don't know what I'm going to do... Chedu has the fear of being cheated on. And, to get rid of it, they have to talk, which isn't going well at all, and so, now, Chedu wants to divorce Irrig!

... I don't know what to do... do I divorce them? do I make them continue to live together even though they hate each other? Absolutely no more babies are being made... which... isn't a problem, but also isn't good...

I'm stressing out... moving on!

Everyone got a baby this round! Welcome to this challenge baby Poko, Rozun, Iso, Dhiygo, and Sosal! They are all small and cute and doing baby things...

Otherwise, everyone else had a pretty usual time. Doing some planting, some fishing, some friendship making.

Here are some numbers for anyone who wants them.

Ending income:

Murad (black) = §2046. They had a good round. Lots of fishing. Ubod came over to visit almost everyday, and baby Sosal has my favorite name of the new babies. 💕

Zival (blue) = §1504. Etu cannot stop digging in trash cans. They won't stop. They got a bunch of cool stones during the few thunderstorms that rolled through their area.

Rhosh (green) = §1189. They caught a cowplant berry and had fun when Cror came over to visit. Twas a good round for them.

Pamadan (red) = §1179. Found out that Jiall hates gardening... so... that's not fun. Baby Poko was my first of the round. Was so excited to get the baby train rolling. 💕

Lumesh (yellow) = §1047. They... I struggled. I kept trying to get the two of them to talk so that their relationship could improve, but nothing was working. Now they despise each other... but, at least there is baby Rozun. If they have no more babies, at least Rozun is there to carry on the gene pool... Also! Ubod texted Irrig and asked if they wanted to go on a date!?!?!?!?! I was shooketh... I declined... but now I am suspicious of everyone...

I'll end this round here. Hopefully Irrig and Chedu can work through this, otherwise, I will give Chedu what they want and divorce the two... ugh... I don't know...

See you next time. Bye!✌️