#ETA: adding

[dduane]

Erotica and anniversaries

...The big E, first. Here she is. Isn't she lovely?

...Right there upstairs at the Library of Congress, on the second floor. (I noted at the time we passed through some years back—and continue to smile at the memory—that her artist has included his copyright statement right there, to make sure no one misses it.)

...Anyway, where were we? ...Oh yeah: the local takes on erotic writing and smut.

This subject seems to come up every couple of years. What nudged me into revisiting it this time was the notes off a comment to a post earlier today, responding to someone working on an explicit-leaning AU, and discussing the writing of (story) bibles for projects.

Anyway, the notes:

#love that the advice was not just 'stick to porn' or 'don't write porn at all' but 'ah yes; common problem; let me explain to you how to write a series bible'

Well, disclosure here: in my case, it can't really be otherwise. :)

Let this act as everybody's sort-of-biennial reminder (if needed) that I'm not going to be caught condemning people for writing smut, as I've written it myself. (And continue to do so when the mood moves me.)

The post from very nearly two years ago, discussing the issue in more detail, is over here. As you'll see if you read it, there were some folks who experienced brief episodes of cognitive dissonance on learning I was a cheerful writer of explicit material. Some of the surprise was probably due to the fact that a lot of people see me—mostly due to the relatively-higher profile of the Young Wizards books—as primarily a writer for younger readers.

But that's not how I got started. My (1979) debut novel centers a universe where the following exchange between two of the protagonists appears—they then being wrapped up in blankets and afterglow in the wake of a prolonged and enthusiastic post-reunion shag:

A soft chuckle in the darkness. “Lorn, remember that first time we shared at your place?” “That was a long time ago.” “It seems that way.” “—and my father yelled up the stairs, ‘What are you dooooooooing?’ “—and you yelled back, ‘We’re fuckinnnnnnnnnnng!’” “—and it was quiet for so long—” “—and then he started laughing—” “Yeah.”

Nor was this a one-off. This book and its sequels contain a fair number of passages in which human (and occasionally non-human) sexualities, both in the abstract and the experientially concrete, take center stage. And the mode in which they're expressed and discussed is intended for adults. Those sequences can probably be described as at least borderline erotica. (I certainly try had to be as graceful about such passages as I can, when and where it's appropriate to be.)

With this in mind, it's worth repeating what turns up in that earlier post, which came off a query to a ficcer about "how do you feel knowing that people may be jerking off to your work?":

I'm an entertainer. Writing's a form of entertainment. (And not just for the readership: for me, too.) To be aroused by art one's experienced is (almost by definition) to be entertained, I'd say...

Other people's art in these modes certainly is entertaining for me: and I desperately hope mine is for other people. (Almost all my more explicit writing is published only pseudonymously, which from my point of view is just fine. There's a fair amount of writing work out in the world that [for contractual or other business reasons] doesn't have my name on it. This is just more of the same.)

(Per that, adding here again my own tags from that earlier post:)

#and no I'm not going to let on where the smut is#why would i deny anyone the delights of the search#and of being repeatedly mistaken#while possibly finding smut writers who're better at it than i am#:)

Anyway, finally: from that earlier post—on nearly the thirty-eighth anniversary of something happening to me that would, just a year before the event, have seemed wildly unlikely—this note, unusually apposite because of what today is, and what's coming tomorrow.

I consider erotica—and its more casually-dressed (or undressed…) cousin, smut—to be perfectly legit forms of literary expression; ones that can soar to unexpected heights if you’re willing to put in the work. The sexy-stuff-writing muscle requires periodic exercise if it’s to remain viable and/or useful. So I exercise it. And being a 70-plus-year-old person who sometimes creaks audibly when she walks has done absolutely nothing to decrease my interest in the subject—the brain being, after all, the biggest sex organ, and the one least vulnerable to the depredations of time. If anything, nearly fifty years of experience (and more than three and a half decades of marriage to @petermorwood) have added… let’s just say nuance. 😏

So, happy Valentine's Day to all those who choose to celebrate, in whatever mode.

And to the Man Upstairs:

...See you in a few, sweetie. :)

[secondbeatsongs]

[pan-of-light]

He lied, lyingly, like a liar.

[platoapproved]

So? Who broke the ice? insp (x)

[astralleywright]

spent like an hour trying to find a post abt the disparity of origin companion's content in bg3 and couldn't so, hey, this fucking sucks

[rolameny]

pantheon of tiny desks, inexhaustive list:

chromeo

D.R.A.M., mostly for this take on broccoli

dessa

chika

deqn sue

tank and the bangas

megan thee stallion

juvenile

BTS

lous and the yakuza

ssingssing

chappell roan

sabrina carpenter

doechii

mashrou' leila

[ruushes]

couldnt find a single nice polished portrait of nox to use for artfight but i did find this so. priorities

[demisexualnathanvuornos]

Isaac Henderson +Emma in Heartstopper 3x1 Love 3x2 Home 3x4 Journey [as George Knightley(?)] (2024)

[ad-caelestia]

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herbs

aloe, barley, beets, blue lotus, catnip, chamomile, cinnamon, cloves, coffee, comfrey, daffodil, fennel, gladiolas, hops, kava kava, mint, myrrh, orchid, parsnip, passion flower, rosemary, rye, sage, skullcap, spinach, valerian, violet, wintergreen

crystals

amazonite, amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, azurite, blue lace agate, blue topaz, diamond, fluorite, garnet, labradorite, opalite, quartz, sodalite

✧ magical ideas ✧

© 2025 ad-caelestia

[umbralsong]

I was expecting something more thematic regarding Wyll's transformation, especially since there are obvious Beauty and the Beast parallels that are just ripe for the taking.

I genuinely expected this character, a heroic monster hunter so in love with fairy tales and romance, to strengthen the narrative surrounding the Tadfools and their fear of death, metamorphosis, or further transformation. For him to bring a completely new thematic resonance to the Emperor's story. For him to embody the city on the verge of discarding their soul to Gortash, the artistocrats, the vampires, and the (maybe futile?) attempt to save the city once again.

Instead, he is simply punished for his good act, and in a way that isn't close to his vow to kill Karlach on his "one good eye."

I really don't know what they were going for with all of that. *Warlock voice* And her contract doesn't make any fucking sense, as pointed out [here] (eta) and [here].

That's why I personally discard it, but I'm curious about what all of you amazing Wyll fans would have done if Larian gave a shit about him. What would you have done?

[muirmarie]

Me: I joke about writing the same McCoy centric story over and over again in different ways

Me: and like. I love doing it and imma keep doing it because it makes me happy.

Me: but also. I do sometimes wonder if it's like. A little Much.

Me: like maybe I should branch out or something

Me: [reads another fundamental and extremely insulting misread of McCoy's character by someone who is clearly making a Choice to cast McCoy as the villain, because they have to get him out of the way of spirk, because they're too???? idk immature??? to realize that even when you're in a relationship with one person, other ppl can and SHOULD still be important to you]

Me: lmao I hope I AM too much actually!!!! I hope it is 100% obnoxious how much I love that doctor!!!!! Time to write more versions of the same story of McCoy being forced to realize that he is loved and cared for!!!!!!

Me: I KNOW MY NICHE AND IMMA DIE IN THAT NICHE, THANKS

[blocksgame]

We are so back.

[sam-montembeault]

fun tidbits from Monty's recent interview:

-Savard was the one who started calling him Snacks for the crime of eating during intermission

-Reconfirmed banana bread is his snack of choice between periods (understandable)

-Described his mask as 'a robot that is building to become a goalie'. His favorite part is probably his dogs (Gucci and Gigi) on the back

-Had a poster of Roberto Luongo in his room and when he got drafted to Florida was like "should probably take this down now :/"

-When he was claimed off waivers they posted about it so fast he didn't get to tell his family; this is in addition to the fact that they just assigned him the number 35 and he found out through it being posted on social media that it was his number. Truly an adoption day at the big box pet store style experience

-When he initially got the call about making the 4 nations team, it was after the Bruins loss, and he had to wait to call back until the bus ride was over because it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop

-Says he just fell in love with the position and volunteered for it as much as possible as a kid. Then when it came time to moving to Novice, he was going to have to wait another year due to his late birthday unless he took up goalie. (However, from a different article his mom is quoted as saying even when he played forward he'd just circle back in front of the net. Defense lover)

-He has experience with international/olympic style ice due to playing on it during his Midget years + a few rinks in the Q had it

[get-back-homeward]

The Beatles, Flowers, and Love

A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all dressed up for the dance A white sport coat and a pink carnation I'm all alone in romance

Once you told me long ago To the prom with me you'd go Now you've changed your mind it seems Someone else will hold my dreams

—A White Sports Coat (and A Pink Carnation)* (1957)

I send you flowers but you don't care You never seem to see me standing there I often wonder what you're thinking of I hope it's me and love love love

—Hello Little Girl (1957)

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers That grow so incredibly high

—Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds (1967)

Find me in my field of grass Mother Nature's son Swaying daisies, sing a lazy song Beneath the sun

—Mother Nature's Son (1968)

Songs that lingered on my lips excite me now And linger on my mind Leave your flowers at my door I'll leave them for the one who waits behind

—Goodbye (1968)

Some call it magic The search for the grail Love is the answer And you know that for sure Love is a flower You got to let it grow

—Mind Games (1970, 1973)

Sweep through the heather like deer in the glen Carry me back to the days I knew then Nights when we sang like a heavenly choir Of the life and the times of the Mull of Kintyre

—Mull of Kintyre (1977)

All through the summer, I have followed you around Bringing a rose for the winter that's coming Now the snow is on the ground... Love awake to the day When we can make our love awake

—Winter Rose/Love Awake (1978)

You want a love to last forever One that will never fade away I want to help you with your problem Stick around, I say Coming up, coming up, yeah Coming up like a flower Coming up, I say

—Coming Up (1979)

If you'll forgive me my little flower princess Never too late unless you can't forgive

Time is on our side Let's not waste another minute 'Cause I love you my little friend I really love you

Give me just one more chance And I'll show you, take up the dance Where we left off

—Forgive Me (My Little Flower Princess)** (1980)

After hours  Late in the bar  By a darkened corner seat  Faded flowers wait in the jar  Till the evening is complete 

—Take It Away (1981)

She sprinkles flowers in the dirt That's when a thrill becomes a hurt I know I'll never see her face She walks away from my resting place

That day is done, that day is done You know where I've gone I won't be coming back That day is done

—That Day Is Done (1988)

[wyllzel]

did you know. that there is a "fedora tip" slack emoji

[dailykallura]

Let's talk about the conference room scene in Season 8, Episode 11.

I wanted to delve into the contexts of Keith and Lance's conference room conversation, their mutual resolve, and my observation that Allura has always been central to their conversation, especially from Keith's side.

-----

To add context to this scene, we have to take context from the previous scene and call-to-action - the Mission Postmortem.

Keith and Pidge debrief the ensemble on their findings and explanations of Honerva's behaviour from their previous mission in Episodes 9 and 10 - a mission where, at its tail end, Allura is incapacitated.

As Allura's partner, Lance doesn't take this well -

"We know what Honerva wants to do, but we can't get to her. [...] Without Allura, we can't chase her, and we can't form Voltron."

I've been a big proponent of the idea that narrative intention can be gleaned not just from the script and context of a scene, but together with how the final animation itself is framed and voiced - especially because animation as a visual medium is planned with specific intentions.

It's interesting to note that "we can't form Voltron" falls on a shot where Keith is in the foreground of the frame. I'm taking this from the bones of another piece of analysis, but Episodes 9 and 10 shows that Keith understands that Voltron requires connection -

and as such, having one person incapacitated means that the bond, and Voltron itself, is considered incomplete.

Keith knows that having Allura out of commission hurts the greater mission, but at its core, her being out of commission hurts Team Voltron. Lance's defeatism is an example of that - Keith understands exactly how Lance feels, and as such, he is the one who approaches Lance after the Postmortem, with:

"[Allura's] gonna be okay." - framing this conversation entirely in context of Allura.

Lance's "I hope so" and subsequent statements about Honerva's plans still highlight his defeatism about Allura's incapacitation and its impact on them, though - and Keith tries something different.

Note that Keith is in focus and dominates the frames in the foreground when he reminisces about meeting Allura for the first time -

And although he is out of focus while he reminisces on his observations of her, he is still in the foreground of the frames.

"... and it worked."

This scene, although between Keith and Lance in presence, clarifies exactly how Keith feels about Allura - taking note of three things:

His choice in highlighting their first days with Allura as a shared memory between him and Lance - appealing to both Lance's current romance with her, but also implying how closely he's held this memory himself;

His observations of Allura calling back to their earliest meeting, implying that Keith has been taking note of Allura and her habits since the first episode, seven seasons ago;

The animators' choice to soften Keith's facial expression for the sequence where he talks about her, because his expression prior to mentioning her by name is entirely neutral, implying that Allura is closer to his heart than otherwise believed.

I'm also of the idea that this current statement from Keith reverts his previous statement to Hunk in Season 7, Episode 6:

Keith states to Lance in the conference room that, yes, Allura's belief in them was insecure, but her unwavering faith in them has brought them this far, and has essentially changed the both of them:

And Keith extends to Lance, in the same way that Allura's faith has guided them to this moment, for him to honour Allura by having unwavering faith in not just her and her awakening, but also faith in the possibility of righting Honerva's wrongs.

And it works.