#I’d have them in chronological order on the master list

[simphoraa]

Sweet & Sour Legacy Challenge - Sims 3

Created by Simphora & Gabrielle-kl 

Hey guys! Surprise, surprise. Me and Gabby did a little something.. we created a Sims 3 challenge! Woot-woot! This is our very first time creating a challenge together. We had such a blast. I’d like say this challenge is fun and unique. We put our FOOT into making this because us Sims 3 simmers are in desperate need of more challenges. Also, feel free to check out Gabby’s amazing challenge called, Not Your Average Legacy Challenge. 

The Sweet & Sour Legacy Challenge is a six generation legacy challenge inspired by fruits. These fruits have a sweet and sour aesthetic for each generation. For example, the sweet fruit generations are compassionate and up-beat. Meanwhile, there’s a little twist with the sour fruit generations because it’s more pessimistic and chaotic. All-in-all, if you're a simmer that is looking for a fruit themed and drama fulfilled legacy challenge, this is a challenge for you!

If you’re interested in doing this challenge, please feel free to tag us: @simphoraa @gabrielle-kl​ or #sweet&sourlegacy. We would love to see your progress and gameplay!

R U L E S:

You must follow each generation in chronological order. 

It is recommend that you use all of the provided traits.

If you do not have a certain Sims 3 expansion pack that is related to the traits, careers, or goals, you can make adjustments.

The aesthetic color/colours for each generation is optional.

Before moving on to the next generation, you must complete all of the required goals.

DO NOT use any money cheat codes (ex: motherload, kaching, or rosebud).

Generation #1 - Watermelon: One in a Melon

You like to see yourself as the main character, and you think that everyone that comes in contact with you thinks so too.

Everyone absolutely loves you! Or do they? As unique as you are, you want to be a famous actor or actress. Soon enough Hollywood would be signing your name on everything! You find yourself chilling with A-list celebrities and even date a few. You have everything you could ever want! No one can ruin this for you, except maybe yourself.

Get started: Live in a small starter house or apartment. Purchase your basic necessities to survive, and progressively buy more necessities once you start earning some simoleons. Good luck!

Starting simoleons - §1,200

Traits - Charismatic, Dramatic, Snob, Star Quality, and Workaholic

Career - Film

Lifetime Wish - Superstar Actor

Aesthetic Color/Colour

Goals:

Become a five-star celebrity

Ruin your reputation 2 times, make your life a little scandalous! (ex: get publicly disgraced)

Master the Charismatic skill

Reach level 10 in the Film Career (choose the actor branch)

Have 2 close friends

Host a meet & greet once a week (ex: sign autographs and take pictures with fans)

Fall in love with one of your fans

Have as many kids as you want

Generation #2 - Lemon: When life gives you lemons.. you have to deal with some sour sh*t!

Sigh! Your childhood was already enough as it was with being a nepotistic child, but now there’s even more shenanigans.

Apart from hiding in your parents' shadows and not being the main focus when it comes to the paparazzi. You carry a nice and sweet persona on the outside. Those who were fortunate enough to have a conversation with you say your personality is like, “stuffing their mouths with a bunch of sour candy”, but you didn’t hear that from me. Just know, it’s okay to loosen up a bit. You do not always need to leave a bitter taste in one’s mouth.

In the course of time, you finally meet someone and insert yourself into their life. Love makes you do some silly things. You want to help them with their unlawful issues because you think that you can help them figure things out and get their life back on track. Realistically speaking, you would never think of laying your eyes on someone with a completely different personality than yours and a terrible outlook on life. Oh boy! You're in for a nice treat.

Traits - Bookworm, Grumpy, Hopeless Romantic, No sense of humor, and Perceptive

Career - Journalism or Private Investigator

Lifetime Wish - Star News Anchor or Pervasive Private Eye

Aesthetic Color/Colour

Goals:

Get romantically involved with a criminal  

Be disliked by a few sims. Having “friends” isn’t your thing because people disappoint you

Master the Writing or Logic skill

Reach level 5 in the Journalism or Private Investigator Career, and then quit or get fired

Have 1 failed marriage

Have only 1 child

Have a bad relationship with your child

Find a hobby or skill, and make a source of income out of it

Have a rebound relationship with someone

C H O I C E:

This generation has a choice for you to make. These are choices that you could build off of and integrate into your storyline.

Hmm, it looks like you have found love again. Are you genuinely happy this time? You may be a little traumatized from the last relationship. Just remember, everyone isn’t the same. This rebound relationship could be turning into something really serious. There may even be wedding bells in your future. Do you want to give marriage a second chance or stay in the “dating” stage?

Generation #3 - Strawberry: You’re the sweetest pick of the patch!

Everyone loves you, at least this time. Nobody is actually lying. Good job! Everyone finds you to be the sweetest sim in the patch. And, trust me, you will most definitely take full advantage of all this attention. You mainly use it for a good cause. You love power, but not in an evil kind of way. You want to use that power to help those in need.

You attend University in hopes of being the future president of the free world and eventually start raising a happy family that is way better than how your current family dynamic is right now. I don’t really know anything, but deep down you want to be better than your parents because you have a weird feeling that they were doing some shady things before you were born.

Traits - Friendly, Family-Oriented, Good, Irresistible, and Schmoozer

Career - Political

Lifetime Wish - Leader of the Free World

Aesthetic Color/Colour

Goals:

Fix your relationship with your parent

Maintain A’s in school and even aim to become an honor/honour roll student (child-teen)

In high school, join the debate club

Enroll into University and major in Communications

Host a rant/protest once a week

Donate to a charity once in a while

Join a Social Group (Nerd, Rebel, or Jock)

Throw a party every weekend in Sims University

Earn the Communications degree

Reach level 10 in the Political Career

Be a good role model as a parent and a faithful spouse

Have about 2-4 kids

Retire from the Political Career once an elder

Generation #4 - Green Apple: One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch..

You want to find love just like how your parents have it. You can’t seem to find someone that fits the description of your dream partner. All of your attempts seem to fall flat. Why? You’re not that bad of a person. You’re just exploring a bit. You may be a little picky, but everyone has their own personal preferences within a person. Right? Hmm.. maybe you're just picking the wrong kind of sims? Do not give up. Keep putting yourself out there until you find the one. Just do not get yourself caught up. They say the world is one tiny place..

Traits - Commitment Issues, Flirty, Over-emotional, Social Butterfly, and Unlucky

Career - Any self-employed career

Lifetime Wish - Heartbreaker

Aesthetic Color/Colour

Goals:

Maintain a good relationship with your parents

Create an Online Dating Profile

Go out on a date every weekend

Have 10 failed relationships (get caught cheating or initiate a break-up)

Have an accidental baby from a hook-up

Avoid/Lose contact with some of your friends. You forgot about them. You’re too “caught up” in love

Start a Personal Blog

Post daily blogs about your life

Reach level 7 in Social Networking skill

Attempt to meet someone through the Sim Finder App

C H O I C E:

This generation has a choice for you to make. These are choices that you could build off of and integrate into your storyline.

Good news! It looks like you may have found the sim of your dreams through your blog. Out of all those fishes in the sea, it only took ten different sims to find them. Do you try to fix your reputation, and finally settle down or continue to be a.. heartbreaker?

Generation #5 - Blueberry: Life is very sweet, and you are naturally sweet

Being generous and compassionate is one thing, but doing it all the time, even to the sims that do not deserve it.. gets draining. You kept it pushing. Hey, even I am surprised you lasted this long. Everyone makes mistakes. Although, some people are just unforgivable. It turns out you're the type of sim that doesn’t hold others' mistakes against them forever because holding grudges is immature.

You’ve studied hard to be in a career that has long tiresome hours where you're barely at home, and if you think you got lucky in some extra lounge time – Oh! There goes your alarm, it’s time to clock in! Unfortunately, since you're never home, some things just seem to slip under the rug. Only so much can be slipping through the cracks for you to be completely oblivious. Hmm, I wonder how long this has been going on for? I could never trust someone again after that stunt. Could you?

Traits - Ambitious, Eco-Friendly, Friendly, Genius, and Loves the Outdoors

Career - Science

Lifetime Wish - Become a Creature-Robot Cross Breeder or Renaissance Sim

Aesthetic Color/Colour 

Goals:

Have your sim live the Eco-friendly lifestyle (ex: own a bicycle, eat organic food, recycle, etc)

Start a garden

Fish once a day

Catch/Collect 5 different uncommon or rare type of fishes

Master the Gardening, Handiness, and Fishing skill

Grow a plantsim or create a small farm (ex: raise chickens, cows, horses, etc) [PICK ONE]

Fall in love with one of your co-workers

Once married, make your Spouse have 2 affairs and you must stay with them

Try repairing your marriage with your spouse, but only if you catch them cheating

Generation #6 - Grapefruit: Don’t be such a sour puss!

Let’s be realistic here. You need to get your life together. I’m sorry. I know this is something you do not want to hear, but ya need to put a pep in your step and do something with yourself. Pronto!

You find it quite unfair how other sims around you get to go on fancy trips, have nice cars, live in mansions or high-rise buildings, and afford expensive meals. You wonder to yourself how one can achieve all these kind of lifestyles. Dangerous choices can lead to serious consequences, but it’ll never stop you. I would say you like to live your life on the edge. So, what if you leave a place with five different things that do not belong to you? Any who --- hey, wait a minute... since when did your neighbor/neighbour get such a nice car? Oh my god! Did they seriously leave their keys in the slot like that? Someone could just steal it. It is a really nice car though. I think I might take it for a little spin around the block.. Finders keepers, losers weepers!

Traits - Athletic, Childish, Hot-headed, Kleptomaniac, and Night-owl

Career - Criminal

Lifetime Wish - Possession is Nine Tenths of the Law

Aesthetic Color/Colour

Goals:

Steal 3 items a day

Possess §50,000 worth of stolen items (do not sell anything)

Befriend your ALL of your neighbors/neighbours. No one knows what you do in your free time. You could get some valuable goodies from them, wink wink

Get arrested

Work out 3 times a week at the community Gym

Master the Athletic skill

Live in a house worth over §100,000

Scuffle with someone once a week

Adopt a child

C H O I C E:

This generation has a choice for you to make. These are choices that you could build off of and integrate into your storyline.

Uh-oh, there’s a new addition to the family. Now, you have a lot of responsibility on your hands. This is very important to you. Is this the perfect time to finally get your life together by quitting your job as a Criminal and find a new job? Or, remain a Criminal, but hide it? This has been your lifestyle for a while. Just remember that this could also make you look like a “bad parent” because children can be easily influenced.

If you have made it to the end of this challenge, we want to thank you so much for participating and completing it. Let us know what you think as well!

[chaoticallyfragmentary]

Cale Heitenuse x Alberu Crossman

“Sun of the Roan Kingdom”

Alberu jumped out of his skin, (in a very princely manner, of course) and whirled in his seat, glancing at the bane of his existence and the object of all his desires.

“Oh, Young Master Silver shield, how the fuck did you get in here? Raon?”

The dragon materializes before him, just as Cale’s applause fills the air. Raon immediately dives for the cookies he keeps on his desk, specifically for him.

“Astute observation skills, my prince.”

Alberu scowls at him, waiting for some semblance of calm to settle within him, but he’s all itchy and hot and struggling to not just reach out and wipe that stupid smirk off his face, preferably with his lips.

He starts listing out all the ways in which he plans to kill the white star, first chronologically, then on order of brutality but he can’t calm the fuck down. His body is simply aware of Cale, it can feel Cale’s gaze on him, heavy against his skin, a tangible thing.

Raon goes on munching the cookies.

Cale’s smirk grows as he pushes himself off his languid recline on the wall, looking like mercury frozen solid and sculpted to perfection, lean and lithe. He steps closer, red hair a halo, into the moonlight. Well, he always did look better bathed in silver. There was something indecipherable about him today, eyes slightly hooded, something so tender in his expression, Alberu, The Sun of the Roan Kingdom feels his stomach drop out from beneath him. Don’t look at me like that

He presses his hand against the bridge of his nose, “What do you want?”

“I want for nothing, my prince”

“You only call me sun of the roan kingdom when you need something from me, so what do you want, Cale Heitenuse?”

“Couldn’t this humble servant just want to see you?”

“You’re infuriating”

“I think the word you’re looking for is charming”

Munching of cookies continues.

“Hey, crown prince, get me more of these.”

“Raon, your Goldie gramps might have a new sofa for you to steal. Why don’t you go and see?”

“Really Hooman? Should I? Should this great and mighty dragon go steal another one? Okay!”

A blur of energy zooms past, red hair flying all around as Cale tries to gather them up in a pony. Alberu slowly walks towards him, a quiet “let me” slipping out of him before his brain fully registers the thought.

As he slowly starts gathering Cale’s hair, he cannot tear his eyes from his smooth, pale skin, a beacon almost, in the dim glow of the silver moonlight. Cale swallows thickly, blush staining his face. His lashes, oh for fucks sake, they are so pretty, long and dark and all kinds of nice, that Alberu is sort of pissed about it. 

“Crown prince,” his voice was as warm and catching as a fire spark as he turns, just as a cacophony lights up inside Alberu’s skull, a violent clatter repeating, kiss me, kiss me, hold me, let me hold you, kiss me, will you let me kiss you? please, please.

He could feel his hands, rough against Cale’s neck, mouth too dry to do anything as the whole world warps out of focus and shrinks down as they stare at each other. It seems to happen slowly, Cale swaying closer like he can’t help it, not a word exchanged as Alberu, the Crown Prince and the Sun of the Roan kingdom bends down on a knee, pulling Cale’s hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss to his knuckles in the same way a servant might swear fealty to their lord, a courtier to their sovereign. Use me, use me, have me, discard me if you want to, it seems to say. Hurt me if you’d like, you can do anything and I’d thank you.

Cale’s eyes flutter shut as he is pinned in place, wanting the space between them to be consumed, wanting to be consumed himself. His knees nearly buckle, just as Alberu adjusts them so that he’s sitting on his lap, left shaky and wanting, taken right to the brink of begging. He cannot stop himself from fisting the front of his stupid princely robes, tugging him close, closer until his body is pressing right up against him.

Alberu’s lips brush his cheek, hears his sharp intake of breath and nearly fucking whimpers. “Kiss me, sun of the roan kingdom, Alberu, kiss me,” Cale chants, words nearly tumbling out of his mouth as Alberu’s fingers dig into his thigh.

“Say please,” his voice is in a broken kind of croak, holding on to a semblance of control by a thread.

“Fuck, Alberu just please”

And there it is, the snap of Alberu’s restraint, control shriveling into ash with a sizzle, their lips slotting into place, hungry and desperate and dying for more, falling onto the floor, knees and legs knocking together as Alberu forgets to breathe, hips colliding with Cale’s, lungs rendered irrelevant as his mouth moves on to more important things, like pulling Cale’s hair, biting into his neck, learning the shape of his mouth and the taste of his tongue brushing against his own.

[tennessoui]

Sorry if this has been asked before but have you ever considered posting your tumblr fics on ao3? I only ask because sometimes navigating tumblr can be awful, especially on mobile. No pressure though. I just really love your writing and want to read as much as possible.

hey thank you so much for asking! I currently do not have any plans to move all of my tumblr fics to ao3, but I assure you I’ve thought about it.

I view my tumblr writing as very different from my ao3 writing, which is why it feels like a big deal for me when I start a fic on ao3 that i fleshed out as an au or series of ficlets on tumblr. Putting it on ao3 means committing to the details, the story format, the moment in time of the plot I want to tell.

Take the regency au for example. That’s a series of ficlets on tumblr, but I would love to one day put a story up on ao3 for it. But if I put the ficlets up now in the same format I created the KUWSK ao3 fic (aka ficlets set in the same verse but not necessarily in chronological order), I would feel trapped by the format and I wouldn’t ever be able to post it in a traditional story format….if I one day figure out how I want that story to start. Do I delete the ao3 fic of the disconnected ficlets? Do I repost scenes and pretend they’re all new scenes? Do I just start posting the new chronological story at the end of that ao3 fic?

Tumblr fic posting feels more fluid to me because I’m just writing disconnected moments in an au and I always link them in the tag — and I have a master list of tumblr fics here — so if I get something wrong continuity wise it’s not that big of a deal, and I can jump around to whatever moment I want to tell at any time.

For me, it’s not just reposting a piece of writing from tumblr to ao3– it involves me thinking about what I want this story to look like (ie, the hunger games au on ao3 will be set in space; the playmaker au may involve a journalist obi-wan instead of a detective obi-wan) instead of what disjointed moment i feel like writing.

So it is something I promise I have thought of, and it’s something I’m not interested in at this time. If I were to ever delete my blog and orphan my fics, I’d make a concentrated effort to move some if not all of the writing here over to ao3 for people to save as they’d like, but that’s sort of the only scenario I think I would do that in

[unravellingsilencehq]

For someone that struggles with taking in a lot of information at once and often needs to reread everything multiple times, what would you recommend in order to best understand everything? Reading through bios can be a lot, but | am very interested in learning as much as possible! Is it better to read through all bios chronologically? By type of character (neutral, bad, good, etc)? I hope this makes sense.

Hello! So I would start with the plot. That is all you should need to understand what’s happening.

Then hit the master list and if I had to cherry pick who to read - I’d say James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix, Regulus and Andromeda Black Lucius Malfoy, Claudette Tremblay, Jae Mulicber and Rabastan (tbp) and Rodolphus Lestrange (tbp) are who I would read to get a sense of what’s going on. But I honestly don’t even think you need to do that - I think the plot and maybe Bellatrix is enough.

The bios are more for you to consider who you click with and want to play, we don’t expect you to read them all unless you want to.

My advice would be who do you think you’d like to play in the world so death eater, neutral, etc, journalist, socialite and have a read through them. We’d encourage you to read around bios you like and that’s why we have names bolded and eventually linked to help with that.

If you do want to read them all I’d probably just go to the archive and start from the first post and scroll through.

[lumpsbumpsandwhumps]

Is it better to start posting MAJ fics in chronological order or is it more fun to jump around the canon timeline?

[randomvarious]

1990s House Playlist

Oh my god, it’s finally here, a 1990s house playlist for Spotify! I’ve had a YouTube one going for a while now, but I finally cobbled enough songs together to constitute a Spotify playlist. And that should tell you, that when it comes to dope 90s house gems, Spotify simply sucks shit! 

Anyway, is this a comprehensive look at all of 1990s house music? Not in any way, shape, or form; not yet, at least. But, as its currently constituted, is this a playlist that’s comprised of a broad range of thirteen awesome house tracks that range from being marginally deep to huge party jams? And are a lot of these tracks also unrecognized or almost entirely forgotten? Absolutely, one-hundred percent, yes! I mean, there’s a big summertime jam to close this thing out that’s a remix by the Rhythm Masters of The Art of Noise’s “Metaforce” and it even has one of the greatest rappers of all time on it too—Rakim. And that song has less than 1,000 plays on Spotify! Absolutely criminal!

So, most of these songs are pretty obscure and also great, but there’s still a couple rather large exceptions: One song you’re likely to be familiar with is the MK remix of Nightcrawlers’ “Push the Feeling On.” And if you don’t know that, then surely you’ve heard the Pitbull hit that samples the hell out of it, 2009′s “Hotel Room Service.” Because while house music is largely ephemeral and most everyone’s always seemingly on to the next thing, “Push the Feeling On” is one of those songs that people always go back to. And I’d say the same for the Balearic classic, “Beachball” by Nalin & Kane, though to a much lesser extent; “Push the Feeling On” has over 116 million plays and “Beachball” has over 24 million on Spotify.

And “Afterglow” by Digital Boogie might sound kind of familiar too. That’s because it samples the same parts from Change’s “The Glow of Love” that the global dance super-hit, “Turn Around” by Phats & Small, does. But “Afterglow” actually came out the year before “Turn Around” did. And guess what else? “Afterglow” is another song that has less than 1,000 plays on Spotify! And Digital Boogie is listed as only having five listeners per month! Ridiculous!

This playlist is ordered as chronologically as possible and links are provided below to songs that have been posted about previously in order to give them more context:

THK - “France (Saturn Mix)” Robert Armani - “Circus Bells (Remixed By Hardfloor)” Paul Johnson - “3rd Dimension (Remixed By Armando)” Nightcrawlers - “Push the Feeling On (MK Dub Revisited)” Ruffneck - “Everybody Be Somebody (Mousse T’s Back in the Days mix)” New Soul Fusion - “Prelude” Bradock - “Atom Funk (Mission Mix)” Nalin & Kane - “Beachball (Vocal radio edit)” Human Arts - “Big Sur Highway” Make Some Break Some - “Nightshift” Digital Boogie - “Afterglow” Jon Silva - “I’ve Had Enough” The Art of Noise - “Metaforce (The Beat of a Metaphor)”

But wait, I have a slew of bonus tracks up on YouTube too! Like I said, Spotify sucks for 90s house music; my 1990s House playlist on YouTube has more than double the songs that my Spotify one does. So here’s a list of all the dope shit that’s only exclusive to the YouTube one. It has Nightmares on Wax, Dave Angel, a great groovy remix by French duo Motorbass, a couple dynamite remixes of Wildchild by Todd Edwards and Stretch N’ Vern, Dimitri From Paris, a remix of Blaze by Eight Miles High, and the legendary disco producer Giorgio Moroder remixing UK new wave and synthpop band Heaven 17.

Tasti Box - “San Francisco” Coco Steel & Lovebomb - “You Can’t Stop the Groove” Nightmares On Wax - “Happiness” Jaco - “Show Some Love (Original Dub Remix)” Solitaire Gee - “Slumberland” Dave Angel - “1st Symphony” Norma Jean Bell - “Baddest Bitch (Motorbass Mix)” Wildchild - “Jump to My Beat (Todd Edward's mix)” Dimitri From Paris - “Just About Right (Full Length)” Blaze - “Lovelee Dae (Eight Miles High Mix)” Wildchild - “Renegade Master (S'n'V Renegade Moonmen edit mix)” Daisy Glow - “Right On! (User Friendly mix)” Heaven 17 - “Designing Heaven (Giorgio Moroder's Subterranean 12")” Care Company - “Vol. 2″ Nerio’s Dubwork Meets Kathy Lee - “K-Mart Shopping (Hi-Fi Mix)”

Playlist is also on YouTube Music.

Also, there’s one song that’s currently on Spotify and not on YouTube: Armando’s remix of Paul Johnson’s “3rd Dimension.” So I’m afraid that you’re just gonna have to check out both Spotify and YouTube playlists to get this full house package here 😁.

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more playlists and uploads!

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hey. Not sure of you've answered a question like this. I did have a look.

I'm writing a fanfiction (one-shot). It has a specific motif running throughout it. It consists of a backstory + recount(ish) of certain canon events in chronological order. I wrote the beginning/first half of the middle, skipped over the latter half of canon, and wrote the ending. It doesn't flow cohesively, though: it's like two separate pieces with nothing much connecting them. Problem is, I've had difficulty cherry-picking events from the latter half of the show that runs with my main theme of my pic. Do you have any suggestion? Sorry of this ask is all over the place.

FanFiction: One-Shot Not Feeling Cohesive

(Creating a Smooth Transition with a Time Jump)

This is definitely a tough one, but let me throw out a few suggestions and see if something might help. :)

If I'm understanding correctly, your story covers backstory and canon events from the beginning, early middle, and the end. So, all that's really missing is the latter half of the middle canon?

I think the first thing worth checking is that the theme/motif you're following is consistently strong throughout the story. It may be present in the ending, but it's possible you haven't gone far enough to showcase it.

The next thing I'd suggest looking at is your transition. If you're skipping from the first part of the canon's middle-section to the canon's end section, there's presumably a bit of a time-jump and perhaps a big one. Canon settings and situations can change drastically over the course of a story, sometimes ending in a completely different location with a largely different group of people. Sometimes the canon setting and situation don't change a lot, but the character you're focusing on is in a drastically changed situation. I'd start by looking at where the character is at the end of the early middle section (just before you jump ahead) and where they are where you pick back up again at the ending. What changed for them and for the story in general during the part that was skipped? Ideally, what you want to do is end that early middle section with something that foreshadows the changes that will take place during the gap. Then, you refer to those things as having happened in the past when you pick back up with the next part.

So, for example, let's say I'm writing fan-fiction based on a show that follows a girl and her adventures in high school. Let's say it's a three-season show, and the second half of the second season covers a summer trip to Paris with other students. Then third season picks back up with the beginning of her senior year. And, let's say I want to focus on the events that take place at the actual high school--specifically her crush on another student--so I don't want to cover the Paris trip in my story because the crush wasn't on the trip. Like you, I'm skipping over the latter half of the middle section. Here's what I'd do...

When I reach the point where I need to skip the Paris stuff, I need to end with a smooth transition that acknowledges what's coming (and what will be skipped.) So, perhaps I would end that section by having her think something like:

The itinerary for the Paris trip was balanced on the edge of my desk. I picked it up and looked it over one more time, still unable to believe it was really happening. In just a few nights, I'd be gazing up at the sparkling Eiffel Tower at night with my two best friends. But as much as I looked forward to that, all my heart wanted was to get back to Muncy High so I could see Daniel McCann again.

This transitional ending sentence accomplishes three things:

1) We get a bit of a "denouement" of this section because she's in her room, possibly reflecting on what's happened so far and what's to come.

2) We get an acknowledgement of what's coming (and what will ultimately be skipped) with the reference to being in Paris. And, bonus: because we get the actual imagery of her being actually at the Eiffel Tower at night, with her best friends, that stays in our minds later on, even though that section won't be covered. The imagery has been planted anyway.

3) We get a flash forward to where the story will pick back up again, because although she's excited about Paris, what she's really excited about is starting school again so she can see her crush.

Then, maybe I start the next section with her walking into school on the first day back, and seeing Daniel for the first time. To pick up the smooth transition over the Paris section, I could do something like:

The halls of Muncy High School thrummed with students scurrying to beat the five-minute warning bell ahead of first period. As I turned down my locker row dressed in my J'aime Paris Eiffel Tower shirt, a black beret, and a black pleather mini, I hoped I looked as cute as I felt, because there was Daniel McCann--and when he looked up at me, HE SMILED!

This transitional opening sentence also accomplishes three things:

1) It establishes the scene by picking up the baton held out in the last section's final paragraph:

End of last section: But as much as I looked forward to that, all my heart wanted was to get back to Muncy High so I could see Daniel McCann again.

Beginning of next section: The halls of Muncy High School thrummed with students scurrying to beat the five-minute warning bell ahead of first period.

2) It reminds the reader that a Paris trip happened during the interim and specifically recalls that Eiffel Tower imagery that makes it more real for the reader even though they didn't get to "see" it unfold on the pages.

3) It reestablishes the theme of the fan-fiction, which is the character's crush on Daniel McCann.

I hope one of those things will help you!!!

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[heroofthreefaces]

Been thinking about the preferred hypothesis of some viewers that Doctor Division/"the Ruth Doctor" is a mindwiped incarnation post-junkyard rather than pre-junkyard.

Datapoints in favor:

Her TARDIS is already a Police Box, which per screen continuity happened in the junkyard.

She could be fit into "Season 6b" (if a showrunner were inclined to canonize Season 6b, or even if not, there is no canon but headcanon).

Are there any others? I won't have been looking because I don't favor it.

Datapoints opposed:

The Timeless Children shows the incarnation of the Timeless Child recruited into the Division as the last one of the sequence when Tecteun is investigating regeneration in her lab.

In The Brain of Morbius when the known Doctor incarnations appear on the mind-bending screen they appear in reverse regeneration order in one continuous shot and Doctor Division doesn't appear among them, say between Doctor Dandy and Doctor Clown where one would expect a Season 6b incarnation to appear. When known contiguous incarnations appear in contiguous reverse order before any other, unknown incarnations appear, then it suggests there are no unknown incarnations scattered among the known incarnation order.

EDIT When the Doctor talks about playing in the streets with the Master, having inferred that the wiped memories are of lives from before their mutual childhood, the Master who’s actually seen the Matrix data fragments doesn’t dispute it. The Master knows or thinks he knows that the lost lives are from before, not during, the Doctor’s known lives.

As you may know, The Hero of Three Faces posits that Doctor Division appeared on the mindbender screen between Doctor Tetchy and the first (or, viewed properly around, last) of the proper Doctors Morbius, during a moment when the viewer of The Brain of Morbius is getting a reaction shot of Sarah Jane and has no angle on the mindbender screen. This of course is consequent of Three Face's conceit that Doctor Division and the mindwipe came just before Doctor Tetchy, as per this evening's regularly scheduled archive cartoon linked in an entry queued a minute before this one. (The police box thing is fixitted here.) Getting a screen incarnation of the Doctor from pre-junkyard continuity who has more exposure than appearing solely in a still photo in a funny hat half-obscured by vortex effect was a real boon to Three Faces because of the crossover chronology paradigm used here which, most simply put, is that they appear with the Doctor who was on air when they were on air.

So then, the reason I've been thinking about learning of mindwiped incarnations within the known incarnation order is because I assume we're going to learn the truth, one way or the other, in Season 2021 or in Season 2022 when Chibnall executes completion of his masterplan. If there are such incarnations and they include Doctor Division (or some other incarnation(s) I might like to draw about), it'll have profound ramifications for the Three Faces chronology and archive listings. Especially if I need to replace Doctor Division, in the cartoons she's in now, with another incarnation. I'd just have to reboot and start over, though of course retaining some favorite jokes and fixits from the current archive like I did in 2014 ... which was partially or largely as a consequence of the revelation of Doctor War.

Well, in the immortal words of Sidney Freedman, we'll see then we'll know.

[unforth]

A Non-Definitive and Certainly Incomplete List of the Differences Between the Qianqiu/Thousand Autumns Danmei Novel and the Donghua

@blacktigersprings commented on one of my Thousand Autumn Liveblog posts, asking about the differences between the donghua thus far, compared to the book - they'd seen the 16 episodes, but hadn't read it yet. After I wrote down what I could remember I was like...ya know what, I should just make all this into a post.

This is non-exhaustive. I am a tired person with a bad memory and a lot going on, so I am sure I forgot things. I'm gonna ping @baoshan-sanren since they're the main person I know who is in Thousand Autumns fandom also, and I'm willing to guarantee they will think of things I didn't, and also probably be able to correct me if I mixed anything up. I'll try to edit this based on new info, if I have the time, and I might post it as meta on AO3? I did that with my list of differences between CQL and MDZS and people found it helpful so...yeah. I'll add a link if a do.

Note that all posts like this rely to some extent on interpretation; what I write reflects my interpretation and understanding of events (...to the extent I remember them...) and others may have read/watched the same sequences and reached different conclusions. I've made specific notes where I think I'm raising a point that's more subjective than others.

This contains spoilers for all 16 episodes of the donghua, and for the equivalent parts of the novel. I did my best not to put in novel spoilers for past when the donghua ends, but there are allusions to subsequent events.

Anyway - vaguely in chronological order of when they happen?

(read more)

Overall, the basic premises of the donghua and the novel are pretty different. In the donghua, there are several primary conflicts - the intrusion of the Beimi/Tujue, the competition over access to the Solarity, the competition between different sects' top masters, and the search for that ring that Yan Wushi has. In the novel, these are all things that exist, but they're not the primary plot, and they're all at least somewhat difference. While the novel has multiple plotlines that focus on different things, looking at it as a whole, the main plot is a political one about control of the Empire, and how different sects are pulled into that conflict as a result of how the Emperor relates to Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist sects. Which tradition each sect follows is much more important and relevant in the novel. The Beimi/Tujue plot is still relevant and involved, but it's just one thread in the political milieu. The Solarity, which has different and long name in the novel that I never remember - it's like, "the complete works of (some master who's name isn't in my brain" - is in six volumes, and it's definitely still important, but it's importance kinda fades as the novel progresses (though it's still a main piece at the point where the donghua leaves off). The ring is basically non-existent in the novel - instead of it being in Yan Wushi's possession, it's in the possession of the woman who's birthday party Shen Qiao goes to (...Madam Su? Might be her name? I'm sorry, I'm not great with names, and I usually rely on fandom wikis but this one is sparse) - in the novel, she was a disciple of Hulugu, and then she stole the ring and returned to the Empire. That other Beimi/Tujue disciple (...Dong something??) takes it back and returns with it to his clan, if I recall correctly, so it can be used to unify those clans to make war against the Empire.

In the donghua, Yan Wushi is just...generally portrayed as pretty nice, and the YanShen vibes start pretty early - there's an early sign of playful flirting from Yan Wushi that actually seems sincere? At least it did to me. As a result, the YanShen vibes feel a lot stronger than they do in the novel at a similar point in the narrative. In the novel...I'd personally say Yan Wushi has zero interest, romantically or sexually, until well after where the donghua left off, and their relationship isn't canon until nearly the very end, and is always left more implied than...outright. I would personally say that in the novel, Shen Qiao has some feels for Yan Wushi pre-Sang Jingxing, but Yan Wushi doesn't reciprocate (except maybe at a deep level he refuses to acknowledge). It's not until he's healing post-almost-dying (as in, during the time immediately after when the donghua leaves off - I'm trying to be vague to avoid giving spoilers to people who haven't read it) that there start to be some real clear signs that Yan Wushi may have caught some feels, and even then it's complicated. They're complicated. They're also complicated. It's part of what I love about them, lol.

In the donghua, the fight between Shen Qiao and Kunye is shown "on screen" instead of only being described afterwards, and it's revealed almost right away that Shen Qiao was poisoned. Also, a lot of people help Kunye and they all fight Shen Qiao together. In the novel, this fight is off-screen. It's strictly a one-on-one battle between Shen Qiao and Kunye, and the reader doesn't learn that Shen Qiao lost due to poisoning until Shen Qiao goes to Mount Xuandu to confront Yu Ai.

In both the donghua and the novel, when Yan Wushi is trying to turn Shen Qiao evil, he sets up a mission for Shen Qiao and Yu Shengyan, The object of this mission is to kill a family that serves the Hehuan Sect. Shen Qiao refuses to participate, and helps them escape. In the donghua, they don't actually escape, and the "they serve Hehuan" thing turns out to be a ruse; they actually serve Yan Wushi. In the novel, they're actually Hehuan spies, and Shen Qiao still helps them, and they actually escape.

(RAPE MENTION TRIGGER WARNING) In the donghua, Chen Gong betrays Shen Qiao when that jerk noble whose name I can't remember right now (and it's not in the wiki, god the wiki is so slim, I wish I had time to help with that) hunts him for sport, and he doesn't want to die. In the novel, Chen Gong betrays Shen Qiao when that same jerk noble, who as a reputation for using pretty boys as sex slaves, tries to kidnap Chen Gong as a sex slave, and Chen Gong is like, "no no you don't want to fuck me, I know someone WAY prettier for you to rape." (The fall out remains the same in both - Shen Qiao beats up the guy, nothing bad happens to him, and he and Chen Gong part ways).

In the donghua, Shen Qiao goes to confront Yu Ai at Mount Xuandu by like. Literally walking up to the front gate. And then all the disciples for some reason get mad that Yan Wushi comes, even though he...also walked up to their front gate. Why do they even have a gate??? In the novel, Shen Qiao uses a super sneaky back way, only known to disciples, and so it actually makes some kind of sense when Yu Ai et al are like SHEN QIAO WHY ARE YOU SHOWING THE EVIL GUY OUR BACK DOOR?

(NOTE this one relies more on subtext and thus is very open to interpretation. What's written here reflects my personal interpretation, and others may disagree). In the donghua, when Yan Wushi hands Shen Qiao over to Sang Jingxing, they have a chat that heavily implies that Yan Wushi is kinda-sorta-not-so-secretly thinking that Shen Qiao could win a fight (and is probably expecting Shen Qiao to do so by using the demonic core that has been implanted in him). Sang Jingxing also says things that indicate that he thinks that Yan Wushi is setting a trap for him. In the novel, while it's never all that clear what Yan Wushi's motivations are, it becomes pretty clear by the point of the Sang Jingxing fight that Yan Wushi was serious when he said he didn't care about Shen Qiao, didn't consider him worthy, and doesn't care what happens to him. He definitely handed over Shen Qiao with every intention of Shen Qiao getting tortured and raped, and had no interest in saving him. Shen Qiao only becomes interesting to Yan Wushi afterwards. Yan Wushi is never only playing one game, so he may have thought that being pushed into a corner would force Shen Qiao to use the demonic core, but it also seemed to me like he genuinely didn't care - he'd gotten bored, and was done playing with the "new toy" that was Shen Qiao.

In the donghua, there is a shot of someone - the clothing is pretty unmistakably Yan Wushi's purple robe of ultimate purpleness - pulling Shen Qiao out of a river after he plunges to his almost-demise in the fight with Sang Jingxing. In the novel, Yan Wushi doesn't pull Shen Qiao out of the water, after Shen Qiao destroys his meridians in the fight against Sang Jingxing. Instead, Shen Qiao collapses in the mountains, where he is found by Shiwu and brought back to the monastery for treatment.

In the donghua, Yan Wushi is fighting the four masters who have it in for him, and before the end of the fight, Shen Qiao arrives and tries to help him; he fights the four masters solo to try to keep Yan Wushi from using his powers and harming himself, and when he's about to lose, Yan Wushi...uses his powers and harms himself. In the novel, Shen Qiao doesn't arrive until after Yan Wushi has been defeated; he finds Yan Wushi almost dead and brings him to a small village nearby, where he stays with a nice girl and her...grandfather, iirc...and tries to keep them safe while nursing Yan Wushi back to health.

In the donghua, it's kinda implied that Shen Qiao goes to rescue Yan Wushi because, like...he likes him? There's not really a reason given, just that he wants to, or maybe to keep the ring from going to the Beimi/Tujue? In the novel it's pretty explicit that Shen Qiao goes to save Yan Wushi because he believes Yan Wushi's position in the Empire is critical to the stability of the world - and he wants the world stable, so that there won't be more refugees, starvation, etc. That he also may like Yan Wushi is the case but is almost incidental; Shen Qiao is focused on doing the most good for the most people, and that means saving Yan Wushi, because Yan Wushi is critical to the Empire, and the Empire is critical to the common people. (this is a major part of the political themes that are more prominent in the book than in the donghua).

I can't actually remember when Bian Yanmei was introduced in the novel? But I was pretty sure it was around when Yan Wushi sends Shen Qiao to that birthday banquet? Anyway, Bian Yanmei isn't in the donghua at all thus far; in the donghua, Yan Wushi's only apparent disciple is Yu Shengyan.

[vikingqueer]

music recommendations because i have some thoughts™

i don't wanna be that person who's like "my music taste is so weird lol" but i find that very often most of my friends don't really care for the music i like so i thought i'd just make a long ass post about it on tumblr instead. Fair warning, I'm very passionate about MIKA and The Mechanisms and so this very quickly got VERY long because it is part of my ongoing campaign to convince people to listen to mika and the mechs.

1) MIKA in general, but especially My Name Is Michael Holbrook (2019) and No Place In Heaven (2015) (especially the Deluxe version!!)

MIKA is a kind of British singer (half Lebanese, grew up in France blabla), and you probably know him for Grace Kelly and Relax, Take It Easy from his first album Life In Cartoon Motion from 2007. He writes a lot of FUN music, interspersed with the occasional slightly sadder song, especially when looking at an album like No Place In Heaven, which contains a lot of songs with gay themes, resulting in some songs that are just a little bit ouch. He's originally classically trained and has a frankly RIDICULOUS range and idk he just writes very good pop music. Also I have so much respect for that time he talked about how a lot of pop is very fake, with like expensive cars and stilettos and mini skirts in the snow and said "Because I walk down the street, and I don't see any of that. I see fat women and gay men. I don't know... That's real". He's written 5 albums; My Name Is Michael Holbrook (2019), No Place In Heaven (2015), The Origin Of Love (2012), The Boy Who Knew Too Much (2009), and Life In Cartoon Motion (2007).

For starters, I recommend listening to Last Party, Origin Of Love, Grace Kelly, Blame It On The Girls, Blue, Happy Ending, Pick Up Off The Floor, Last Party, Underwater, Tomorrow and Tiny Love (yes this is a long list but i REALLY love MIKA). If you want a slightly broader palette that's not just my favourites, I recommend the Mika starter pack on spotify.

2) The Mechanisms. I warn you. I am making this a thing. I have been obsessed with the mechs since last march.

Boy, where to start? The Mechanisms were a British 9 member space pirate story-telling cabaret that "died" in January 2020. They rewrite songs to fit retellings of various stories. I don't even know what genre I'd describe them as, but probably folk but steam-punk?? Their 4 "main" albums are concept albums, and I honestly just recommend listening to the from beginning to end in chronological order. A good way to get into the mechs is also to listen to UDAD and then watching the live show on youtube or alternately try giving Death To The Mechanisms a listen, to get good quality live show audio of TBI and various other stuff. Also, it was streamed on YouTube and someone combined the footage with the album audio and it rocks. Really, I think the mechs' best selling points are honestly just their concept albums:

Once Upon a Time (In Space) Their first album from 2012. I'd say this is the most "easily digestible" for the general public, since it's a retelling of various fairytales. So, what if Old King Cole was in fact not merry, but rather a cold-blooded dictator, intent on colonising as much of the galaxy as possible. What if Snow White was a general, looking to avenge what King Cole did to her sister, Rose. What if Cinderella was to be wedded to Rose the day that King Cole attacked in order to kidnap Rose? But y'know, In Space and also like every other mechs album it's a beautiful tragedy. Fave songs are Old King Cole, Pump Shanty, and No Happy Ending.

Ulysses Dies at Dawn You guessed it, it's a story about Odysseus, or Ulysses because I guess Ulysses is easier to rhyme or fit in the meter or something, idk. Ulysses is a war hero of unknown gender who is said to keep something that could take down the corrupt Olympians, meanest families in the City, in a vault to which only they know the passcode. Oedipus, Heracles, Orpheus, and Ariadne have been hired by Hades, who happens to be The Mechs' quartermaster Ashes O'Reilly, to get into Ulysses' vault. I didn't care much for udad at first, but honestly it's got some real bangers and the story is really good. UDAD weirdly stands out as the only of the concept albums to not feature any gay relationships, per se. Fave songs are Riddle of the Sphinx, Favoured Son, and Underworld Blues.

High Noon over Camelot This is my favourite mehcs album. So basically, this is Arthurian legend, but it's a space western and Jonny D'Ville does a bad southern accent. This is the story of the cowboy lovers Arther, Lancelot, and Guinevere searching for the Galfridian Restricted Acces Interface Login, or GRAIL, in order to stop their world from falling into the sun. Meanwhile, Mordred and Gawaine are ruling Camelot, and Mordred has convinced Gawaine to try to establish peace with the Saxons by whom Mordred was raised, but Gawaine hates viciously. If you love getting your heart broken and songs by a fucking off the rails batshit preacher I HIGHLY recommend hnoc. Fave songs are Gunfight at the Dolorous Guard, Blood and Whiskey, and Once and Future King. Honorary mention for Hellfire because it awakens something animalistic in me.

The Bifrost Incident TBI is the frankly only good adaptation of norse mythology I've ever known of, and I say that as Dane who was literally forced to learn things about norse mythology in school because it's my heritage or whatever. I've been listening to TBI a lot lately because it's VERY good. It's definitely the most refined of the mechs' albums (because it's the newest) but also I just love a little bit of cosmic horror. 80 years ago, Odin, the All-Mother, ruler of Asgaard, launched a train through the wormhole Bifrost that would reduce the travel between Asgaard and Midgaard from 3 months to 3 days, but things didn't go quite as planned. Lyfrassir Edda of the New Midgaard Transport Police is trying to solve the case of why suddenly the train has arrived 80 years late; to figure out whether it was accident or maybe it was sabotaged by Loki, who was allegedly sentence to death her murder of Baldur, by the Midgaardian resistance led by Loki's wife Sigyn, or maybe by Thor, who was to take over after Odin, and who holds quite the grudge because he used to be a friend of Loki's. You might've heard the song Thor from this album, it's apparently quite popular. Fave songs are Loki, Ragnarok III: Strange Meeting, and Ragnarok V: End of The Line. Yet again an honorary mention: Red Signal because while Lovecraft was a bitch, his invocations are fucking RAW.

Basically, the Mechanisms do all of their performances in character as captain first mate Jonny D'Ville, quartermaster Ashes O'Reilly, pilot DrumBot Brian, master-at-arms Gunpowder Tim, science officer Raphaella la Cognizi, doctor Baron Marius Von Raum (neither a baron, nor a doctor), archivist Ivy Alexandria, engineer Nastya Rasputina, and The Toy Soldier, who is, as usual, present. You can find very obscure lore about the crew of the Aurora here, tidbits on Tales To Be Told and TTBT Vol. 2, such as One Eyed Jacks, The Ignominious Demise of Dr. Pilchard, Gunpowder Tim vs. The Moon Kaiser, Lucky Sevens, and Lost in the Cosmos.

If you feel like listening to a full 40-50 minute album to find out if you like a band is a bit much, I recommend listening to one of the mini stories Alice, Swan Song, or Frankenstein, which are about 12, 5 and 9:30 minutes respectively.

3) The Amazing Devil You know that guy who played Jaskier in the Witcher? I got into The Amazing Devil from spotify recommending them because I listened to the mechs, and apparently Joey Batey from The Amazing Devil is the same Joey Batey who was in the Witcher. Both him and Madeleine Hyland are VERY talented singers and songwriters and their second album The Horror and the Wild makes me go out into the forest and SCREAM. I listened to it on repeat for like a month straight. I guess they'd also be considered folk, but like. New Folk. Also yes, this is another British artist, I don't know why I'm like this. I've never really gotten that into their first album, Love Run, but King slaps. As I understand there's this whole lore about the Blue Furious Boy and Scarlet Scarlet, Joey and Madeleine respectively, but unlike the Mechanisms it's actually possible to find out things about the actual real people and harder to find the obscure lore? I'm open for people to please help me. Fave songs are The Horror and the Wild, Farewell Wanderlust, and That Unwanted Animal, which is literally a third of their second album, but again. I haven't really listened to Love Run that much, and I just LOVE the harmonies on THATW. (also im gay and dramatic leave me alone)

4) dodie I have so much love for this woman. Like many others, I first knew dodie as doddleoddle on youtube. I think I first stumbled across her in probably 2015, because I distinctly already knew her before she released her first EP Sick of Losing Soulmates in 2016. I think I watched probably every video she's ever made in the span of a few weeks. I just loved her quiet sound and was absolutely HOOKED. Also she's actually the reason I got into MIKA originally, so thanks for that. Dodie just realeased her first album Build A Problem (in addition to her three EP's; the one mentioned above, You, and Human) and it slaps. Yes dodie is also British Fave songs are probably Monster, Rainbow, and In The Middle.

5) Cladia Boleyn Unfortunately, Claudia Boleyn only has three singles and that's it. She's been making content on youtube for quite a while, and that's how I first discovered her. I don't know what genre her music is, but I like it. The songs are Celesta, George, and Mother Maiden Crone, of which the latter is my favourite. I'm not saying Claudia Boleyn invented women in 2017 when she released Mother Maiden Crone, but she did. Also you guessed it, Claudia Boleyn is British.

6) Hozier I'm not about to tell you about Hozier. You know who he is. Listen to Nina Cried Power, Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene, and Shrike. Also Hozier isn't stricly British in that he is definitely from A British Isle, but Ireland is not part of the UK. Give me a break.

7) Oh Land Oh Land IS DANISH. I like her early music best, because I'm not that into the electronic sound. I guess Oh Land is just you regular old pop, but with the occasional weird vibe? Oddly enough, I like her first album Fauna best. Unfortunately I haven't really listened to her newest album Family Tree much, but it seems good? Fave songs are Frostbite, Love You Better and Family Tree. I cried on the bus, first time I listened to the Danish version of Love You Better, Elsker Dig Mer because my mother tongue always just hits harder. Also Frostbite is Oh Land doing a duet with herself which is pretty cool.

8) Oysterband This is a live recommendation. I mean they're a decent folk band and all, but they're a fucking experience live. If you like folk and you ever get the opportunity to see Oysterband live, do it. Unfortunately, yes. They are British. Either way, they are incredible on a scene and I think they deserve a mention for that.

9) Ben Platt Honestly don't know much about this guy, but he's not British and he was in Dear Evan Hansen. He released an album in 2019, Sing To Me Instead, and I just think it's a good album, there isn't really not much more to it. Fave songs are Grow As We Go, Bad Habit, and In Case You Don't Live Forever.

and thats all for now. this has been a ramble. shout out to you if you actually read all of this, especially the mechs part.

[hoodoo12]

Seriously, people . . .

. . . creators are not robots. Creators are not just machines that spew content at the demands of a stranger. Creators are people, who have their own lives just everyone else. This post is courtesy because a snippet of a thread came across my dashboard this morning. It piqued my interest, so I followed it back to the source. I’ll provide screenshots in chronological order.

That anon message alone could be found under the entry of “entitlement” in the dictionary. The person who received that message of disrespect had made it clear they were going on hiatus instead of ghosting people. I’d also like to mention they have over 80 stories in their master list. All free, all readily available to readers.  The blog’s owner received much support (rightfully so), which was posted. Then came this:

There isn’t a reaction gif strong enough to convey the eye roll that this deserves. Again, more support for the blog’s owner was given. Then!

I sincerely admire the restraint the blog owner had in the reply to this. When I saw the first anon message, I thought (hoped) they were just a troll. The anon still could be. But the repeated engagement makes it more distressing and angering. I am very happy this blog owner has the support of their fandom, friends, and readers.  This sort of entitled, petulant demand from consumers isn’t new. Never mind everyone on the planet is stressed over the state of the world right now; some people just think it’s their right to harass creators. The cloak of anonymity makes it really easy to act that way. A simple test as to whether or not you hit the ‘send’ button on any note is, “If this person was standing in front of me, would I say it?” If the answer is no, then don’t.  That’s me being nice. Now.

To whomever this anon is, or any anon who believes they’re owed content, global pandemic or not, I’ll put this simply too: YOU ARE NOT.  Fan art and fan writing is a labor of love and shared with you. If you want to have content created for your enjoyment, on whatever schedule you deem acceptable, then fucking hire the creator and dictate those requirements in the contract. Pay them money to create for you. Then you can stomp your feet like a toddler and bitch about “not getting more when I want it!” Though, I guarantee that with just those two stipulations in such a contract for fan works, you’re going to be paying premium prices, and if the creator gets sick, they’re still allowed to not create for you. Also, you want more content? Fucking make it yourself. I would love to read the stories or see the art these entitled anons have made for their fandoms. People who do create don’t harass other creators, because we all know the struggle it can be sometimes, and it is perfectly acceptable to take a goddamn break. So tl;dr and to tie it back to my current fandom: Anon is rude and asshole-ish. They, and all other anons are invited to create for their fandoms so more content is available. And if they don’t, here’s a different invitation:

I’d like to thank @obeymeheadcanons​ for being kind to allow me to use their recent anon messages to make this post. Thanks too, for the education of your fandom! 😄  

[lovejustforaday]

Sonic Youth Albums Ranked (Part 1)

There are few indie/alternative bands that I’d argue are as challenging and engaging, or as formative as Sonic Youth.

From their early days as a radical no wave project, to their mid-career as a hard-hitting noise rock band, to their later years as a mellow indie band with prickly guitar tones, Sonic Youth has reinvented the concept of both the guitar and rock music in general again and again. They’ve probably made at least fifty or so never-before-heard noises with their instruments. Combining these sounds with lyrics that regularly explore disillusionment, nihilism, social transgression, pop culture, feminism, abstract thought, underground scenes, and outsider art — it’s safe to say that Sonic Youth have always gone against the grain.

The members of Sonic Youth are obviously all musicians, but they have also been iconoclasts, satirists, and poets throughout their careers, creating music that demolishes both the conventions of rock as well as the social pretensions of the conservative American lifestyle.

Each member of the main lineup contributes something fundamental to the band:

-Guitarist/vocalist/de-facto leader Thurston Moore, the no-fucks-given anti-rock star icon and visionary (albeit he’s kind of a smug twerp these days)

-Bassist/guitarist/vocalist Kim Gordon, the reserved but sharp-witted feminist and multi-disciplinary artist

-Guitarist/sometimes vocalist Lee Ranaldo, the revolutionary master of bizarre guitar tunings

-Drummer Steve Shelley, whose soft and shy demeanor masks a deliverer of precise, high-speed rhythmic anarchy

I could go on and gush about this band forever, but I’ve decided to settle for writing a big nerdy list all about how I feel each Sonic Youth album holds up when ranked. With 15 proper records in total, there is a lot to digest. Likewise, I highly encourage you if you haven’t already to go listen to some of these LPs for yourself and formulate your own opinions about one of the most fascinating bands to have ever existed. This list is really just my two cents.

Note: we will be focusing on the 15 full-length studio albums recorded under the name “Sonic Youth”. This list does not include the s/t debut EP, nor does it include the “Whitey Album” or the SYR series since those are best understood as separate side projects. This list is going to be long enough as it is anyway.

15. Rather Ripped (2006)

Main Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

A decent sampling of: Noise Rock

From any other band, this is a perfectly decent album with a few nice, gratifying guitar tones here and there. But as a Sonic Youth album, Rather Ripped sounds like the band is on auto-pilot. This is the band’s only album that to my ears sounds like it could’ve been written by any number of other alternative rock bands at the time. It just lacks a certain essential edge that their music usually has.

It really doesn’t help the case for this record that Thurston Moore began having an affair at this point in the career, and it is disgustingly present in the lyrics in hindsight, with the offensively titled “Sleeping Around” and possibly even “Incinerate” both probably taking inspiration from his dirty little secret.

I usually separate art from the artist to a certain degree, but in this case it really does kill part of the experience, because I can’t help but feel that Thurston is having a stupid little giggle to himself by hiding his affair in plain sight and it’s really just kind of pathetic. Kim Gordon is my favourite member of the band, and to me she’s the epitome of an extremely cool person, which only makes the whole thing worse. Seriously, quit bragging old man.

Speaking of “Incinerate”, I can confidently say that I think this is the band’s most overrated song. Certainly not their worst, but I really can’t fathom how so many people consistently put this up there with “Schizophrenia” or “The Diamond Sea” as one of Sonic Youth’s top five songs when it’s honestly just so...by the numbers.

That being said, Rather Ripped is not ‘bad’ per se, it’s mostly just that it really lacks something the band usually has, which makes the project feel a little soulless. Still, the record has its better moments. “Pink Stream” is rather ethereal sounding, which is pretty rare in the band’s discography given their usual penchant for the bombastic and ear-shattering, or the ominous and unsettling. “Turquoise Boy” is also a nice mellow track that probably could’ve fit in quite well as one of many solid tracks on A Thousand Leaves, albeit most of those tracks would still trounce this one.

Rather Ripped is all-around competent; it’s a pretty consistent listen and a decent enough beginner-level Sonic Youth album in terms of accessibility. But there’s just nothing about this album that really grabs me like literally any of their other LPs. There’s almost none of the band’s personality on this record (save perhaps Thurston’s inflated ego). Perhaps it is best to call it their “least interesting” album instead of their “worst”. Honestly, you could just skip this one and you probably wouldn’t miss much.

6/10

highlights: “Pink Stream”, “Turquoise Boy”

14. The Eternal (2009)

Main Genres: Indie Rock, Alternative Rock

A decent sampling of: Noise Rock

The Eternal is the last LP Sonic Youth put out as a band. With context, the record has somewhat of a somber feeling. Even its name ‘The Eternal’ seems to suggest that the band might’ve known that it would be their last record, as if the album could be at least partially a reflection on the band’s legacy that will eventually go on to outlive each member.

The band really does sound a little burnt out at multiple points on this record, particularly in terms of Thurston’s vocals which can be best described as sounding ‘exhausted’. Again, like Rather Ripped, the music is certainly competent and enjoyable, but it’s also noticeably less adventurous than on earlier LPs. The album is also a bit more sluggish than most of the band’s past work, feeling just about as long as Daydream Nation or Washing Machine despite being well over 10 minutes shorter than either of those LPs.

I’ll be perfectly honest: if it weren’t for “Massage The History”, this record probably wouldn’t be all that much better than Rather Ripped. Kim Gordon gets to have the very last words on the record with this grim and cryptic requiem about hers and Thurston’s relationship, indicating that she was at least partially aware at the time that the two of them were growing apart.

This would be the last album Sonic Youth put out before Kim became fully aware of Thurston’s affair with a younger woman, leading to her divorce and the band’s inevitable breakup. The song is honestly kind of painful to listen to for that reason, but it is also tragically and morbidly beautiful. “Massage The History” is chronologically the last track in the entire Sonic Youth discography which stretches across 15 LPs over the course of three decades, and it’s a very worthy swan song for the band, if also a bitter reminder that most things cannot last.

“Malibu Gas Station” is another standout, a nocturnal alternative rock jam that sounds very much like a track from the Sister-Daydream Nation-Goo era, and yet another example of Kim Gordon’s capabilities as a member of the band. Really, Kim basically carries this entire LP on her shoulders in terms of the lyrics and vocals.

Nevertheless, I like this record for what it represents if nothing else, and I would still say that it is a level above Rather Ripped thanks to the album closer, and more on par with the next couple of albums on this list. However, I would never recommend that anyone start their Sonic Youth journey with this LP. You can listen to their discography in just about any order you want to, but I’d highly recommend that you save this one for last. The Eternal is a mostly bittersweet experience that is best appreciated after hearing the rest of the band’s output.

7/10

highlights: “Massage The History”, “Malibu Gas Station”

13. Experimental Jet Set, Trash, And No Star (1994)

Main Genres: Noise Rock, Alternative Rock

A decent sampling of: Experimental Rock, Post-Punk

Experimental Jet Set, Trash, And No Star came right after the modest commercial success of Goo and Dirty, and I think you can hear on this LP that the band is reacting to that success by trying to resharpen some of the edges that were smoothed out by Butch Vig’s production on Dirty. Basically, this sounds rather like Dirty but less put-together, less consistent, and a lot more raw.

I appreciate that they wanted to do their own thing and challenge expectations again, and you can really tell that the band is mostly playing around on this record, but in this case I gotta say that the songwriting seems to suffer a little because of that.

The album starts off promising enough with two major highlights. First, there’s a rare acoustic offering with the lo-fi opener “Winner’s Blues”, the first of many tracks that would appear on later Sonic Youth LPs proving that Thurston’s vocals can actually be quite soothing. Then there’s the winding, topsy-turvy patterns of “Bull In The Heather” where lyrically Kim mocks the infantilization of women in her usual snarky, sing-talking fashion. Later on the record, there’s also “Bone” which has a very sinister, bluesy swagger to it that I really enjoy.

But everything else from here on out is kind of a mixed bag. The main setback really seems to be the track lengths; it’s actually pretty weird for a Sonic Youth album at this point in the band’s career to be full of songs that are mostly only two or three minutes long like they are on Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star. That’s not inherently bad of course, but a lot of these tracks really only sound like ‘parts’ of a Sonic Youth song; some really good ideas, but largely underdeveloped.

Take “Starfield Road” for example, which takes a whole minute to build up this really cool and bizarre turbulent sound storm, and then Thurston starts singing over it for a couple of bars until it all sorta just stops abruptly. This track could work in theory if it was structured differently. “Mildred Pierce” off of Goo does something similar, but with that track there’s pay off at the end with the sudden wicked, destructive breakdown which catches you off guard, but here there’s simply no pay off for the listener.

Combine the lack of complete songwriting with the fact that this is actually one of the longest tracklistings on any Sonic Youth album at 14 tracks, and you get an album that feels like it’s bloated with lots of filler. Mind you, there’s still a lot of great little moments on this LP, but very few of them come together to make great songs. It’s an excellent sampler of just how many different ways Sonic Youth can play with a riff or make weird new static noises, but with regards to songwriting, Experimental Jet Set, Trash, and No Star feels more like a collection of demo tapes than a proper album. Still, there’s some cool energy on this record and I’d say it’s a worthwhile listen for any diehard fan.

7/10

highlights: “Bull In The Heather”, “Bone”, “Winner’s Blues”

12. NYC Ghosts & Flowers (2000)

Main Genres: Experimental Rock, Noise Rock, Art Rock

A decent sampling of: Post-Rock, Art Punk, Beat Poetry, No Wave

This is a good example of why we can’t have nice things. Somewhere between A Thousand Leaves and this record, Sonic Youth had most of their gear stolen by some jackass, which effectively meant pressing a hard reset button on the band’s sound for at least one album.

Likewise, a lot of people say that this is their worst record, and yeah I get why those people feel that way, but I actually like NYC Ghosts & Flowers for the fact that it forced the band to undergo yet another major sonic transformation. It‘s certainly more consistently interesting than Rather Ripped or The Eternal, just a very strange album in general, and for that it gets some extra points. I should also mention that this is the first of a couple of albums where the band collaborated with the acclaimed avant-garde artist Jim O’Rourke.

With lyrics influenced by the legendary mid-20th century ‘beat poetry’ scene born out of the band’s own New York City, this is the most 'abstract' Sonic Youth ever sounded. You can hear hints of the band’s no wave origins on this record, but with all of the crude chaos of those early LPs replaced with cerebral tension.

It’s also more sparse than any of their other studio albums, even more so than the dark and intangible Bad Moon Rising. Unfortunately, in this case that also leads to some tracks like “Nevermind (What Was It Anyway)” feeling somewhat empty, or perhaps sometimes too monotonous or repetitive without enough sonically gratifying moments.

But there are exceptions, and the middle portion of this album is where the new formula mostly thrives. “Small Flowers Crack Concrete” is vivid post-rock art poetry, not unlike a more noisy, sporadic version of some of the songs off of Slint’s beloved post-rock classic Spiderland. “Side2Side” is very aurally pleasing, with plinkety guitar staccatos and Kim’s voice hopping from one ear to the other like some kind of noise rock ASMR.

“StreamXSonik Subway” is a freaky little track that sounds calmly menacing, and I really like the high-pitch computer-y bloops. But then right after that there’s the seven and a half minute title track “NYC Ghosts & Flowers” which could probably give me a headache if I didn’t distract myself with something else while I was listening to it; truly maybe the worst track of the band’s entire discography if I was asked to pick one.

Overall, I’d say that NYC Ghosts & Flowers is a very artistic and fascinating experience in the moment, but I don’t really end up remembering much of it an hour or two after listening to the record. It just doesn’t really stay with me like some of their other records, and I don’t often feel the need to revisit this LP. I think Sonic Youth does the whole ‘sparseness' thing better when they’re aiming to sound vast, haunting, or nihilistic, as opposed to this kind of small, cerebral, sit-down-in-an-empty-room-and-listen experience which I personally find a bit more suited to other bands.

That being said, I applaud them for taking a lot of risks on this one, and I genuinely like NYC Ghosts & Flowers for the moments where it really does seem to be on the cusp of something groundbreaking. It's also a pretty polarizing record for most listeners, so maybe you’ll love it.

7/10

highlights: “Small Flowers Crack Concrete”, “Side2Side“, “StreamXSonik Subway”

[playitaagain]

Mayward Master List

I write for Mayward/jjpope sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time. Haha. I figured I’d make it easy for people to find my fics so here is my master list. Also, feel free to check out my ao3 for some of my longer fics. 

Requests are currently closed. 

Fics

lie to yourself (but stop lying to me)

JJ wants to keep lying to himself about his feelings, but Pope won’t let him. 

pretend enough (and it may just become reality)

JJ pretends it’s Pope he’s kissing until he can’t anymore. 

meant to be a pogue

Kook!JJ is instantly attracted to mathlete!Pope and the pogues. He ends up fitting in better with them and finds himself falling in love during their adventures. 

Just go for it

Pope lets it slip to Kie at a party that he likes JJ. JJ overhears. 

Always

JJ climbs through Pope’s window lap at night. The two curl up in bed together. 

taking the risk

JJ and Pope graduate. JJ decides it’s finally time to take the risk. 

Heartahche

JJ has to let Pope go. 

change of plans

Pope doesn’t get the scholarship. They have to change up their plans. 

one last moment

JJ doesn’t plan on staying. 

caught

Pope thinks he’s JJ’s secret. JJ thinks he’s Pope’s secret. They’re friends find out anyway. 

wound up

Pope is anxious about a test.

unexpected

Kook!JJ thinks Pope is pretty cool, even when he talks about dead bodies.

Relaxing Rides 

JJ notices that going for a bike ride helps Pope relax so he offers to take him on a few more rides. This includes the missing scene from the show.

small steps

JJ doesn’t get out of bed sometimes. Pope just makes sure he is there for the other. 

slip of the tongue

Pope is annoyed, but in his annoyance, he tells JJ something he hadn’t meant to. 

Welcome Home

Pope visits for the weekend. 

found out

John B walks in on Pope and JJ.

a moment away

Pope’s stressed and gets lost in JJ’s touch.

how to end the week

Pope is grounded for a week and JJ gets excited when he finally joins the group again at the end of the week.

Family

Apparently they forgot to tell John B they got together so he’s in for a bit of a surprise when he comes home and catches them kissing.

Interrupted 

Pope’s dad walks in on JJ and Pope. They have a talk. 

Scars 

JJ has a few scares he’s nervous about when he gets physical with Pope for the first time. 

last night

Pope is leaving for school tomorrow. JJ and Pope take one last walk on the beach. 

study sessions and laughs

JJ is a little jealous when he finds Pope tutoring John B. 

set up

They go to a costume party and Kie makes plans to make some people jealous. JJ can’t help but admit that it works.  

late night laughs 

John B teases JJ and Pope that they still call each other man and dude after dating for a year. 

early morning moments 

Pope’s roommate walks in on JJ and Pope in the morning. 

a home together

Pope is going to graduate school in Boston. JJ and Pope take a few days during the summer to go apartment hunting and end up in New Hampshire to explore.

comfort

JJ surprises Pope at school, but finds him stressed, overwhelmed and tired so he does all he can to comfort him. 

Hiking Trips 

Pope makes JJ go hiking on their vacation even though JJ wants to stay in bed all day. It ends with them staying in bed but for the wrong reasons. 

in (what we think) are secret moments

JJ and Pope think they’re keeping their relationship a secret but they’re not a sneaky as they think. 

a moment of courage

JJ freaks out after he kisses Pope when he’s drunk. Pope uses that moment to get the courage to kiss him when they’re both sober. 

it starts out gradual

JJ pulls away from Pope. 

it ends like an avalanche 

Sequel to it starts out gradual. Pope runs into JJ and the other breaks down. 

The First Date

JJ and Pope go on their first date.

i still love you (with all the little pieces of my heart)

Pope gets an unexpected call that leads him back to JJ after their break up a year and a half ago. Written for Day 7 of Mayward Week 2020.

happiness

JJ is happy and realizes that happiness isn’t going to be taken from him if they come out to Pope’s parents. 

and so it is written

Soulmate AU - Pope wakes up to a surprised written across his wrist. 

Quote Prompts

“Would it help if I stayed?” “God, you’re pretty.” “That looks like it hurts…” “I’m fucking terrified and I don’t know what to do or how to stop feeling that way, okay? I’m scared…” “I can’t talk to cute people, okay? I don’t know how to flirt!” “I don’t think you’re annoying…I know…I don’t…I really like listening to and hearing what you have to say even if it’s a lot sometimes..” “Top of head kisses” “Sometimes it just all gets too much, y’know?” “I feel like I can’t breathe.” | “Tell me again.” “Can…can you come over?”

Random Snippets/Headcanons/No Name Fics 

College!au Outline || College!AU Sculpture Headcanon || Pope with a beard || Out on the Boat || Pope never wants to hurt JJ || Future Fic Idea - JJ and Pope as Dads  || College!AU Smoking Headcanon || JJ seeing Snow for the First Time || JJ Snowboarding || JJ making a snowfamily || JJ scares Pope || Faking Dating Fic Preview  || JJ going sledding || JJ and Pope adopt kids || John B observes JJ and Pope’s relationship || JJ and Pope smut || JJ likes to be held || Photo Album Fic Idea || Secret Project Fic Preview || JJ as a stay at home dad || Pope Hocus Pocus || The Pogues and a Slip and Slide || JJ and Pope grocery Shopping

Why do we love? (if it causes so much pain)

Summery || Prologue Preview || Prologue || Chapter One || Chapter Two || Chapter Three || Chapter Four || Chapter Five 

in gentle moments 

in the gentle moments shared between jj and pope during their relationship in chronological order. or a focus on non-lip kisses shared between jj and pope during their relationship. 

masterlist

Mayward Week 2020 Celebration! 

Day 1 - October 4th: Mayward + “People are staring.” + getting together Day 2 - October 5th: Mayward + “Why are you whispering?” + au Day 3 - October 6th: Mayward + “How much of that did you hear?” + angst Day 4 - October 7th: Mayward + “I’m not going anywhere.” + established relationship Day 5 - October 8th: Mayward + “What are you thinking about?” + pining Day 6 - October 9th: Mayward + “It will be fun, trust me.” + fluff Day 7 - October 10th: Free choice

JJPope Week 2021 Celebration!

Day 1 - October 4th: Rewrite a scene from season one or two Day 2 - October 5th: Angst or Hurt/comfort Day 3 - October 6th: JJPope from an outsider POV Day 4 - October 7th: AU Day 5 - October 8th: Fluff or established relationship Day 6 - October 9th: Future fic or pre-relationship Day 7 - October 10th: Free choice

A Merry Mayward Holiday 2020 Celebration!

Masterlist

10 minute fics - Round One

One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen || Sixteen || Seventeen 

10 minute fics - Round Two

One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven || Twelve 

10 minute fics - Round Three

One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen || Fourteen || Fifteen || Sixteen || Seventeen || Eighteen || Nineteen || Twenty || Twenty-One || Twenty-Two || Twenty-Three || Twenty-Four || Twenty-Five || Twenty-Six || Twenty-Seven || Twenty-Eight 

10 minute fics - Round Four (Fall Edition!) 

One || Two || Three || Four || Five || Six || Seven || Eight || Nine || Ten || Eleven || Twelve || Thirteen 

[ryqoshay]

PoH-PP Followup: Qi to Her Smile

Followup Post to Putting on Hairs - Post Production: Qi to Her Smile

Author’s Note Continued: So, I’m trying something new and different with PoH, compared to my other fics. HtHaN, HtHaM, HL, HL(AU) and TA have all been collections of one shots or short arcs that more or less fit together as little glimpses into interesting events over the course of many years. But I do actually have a planned central story for PoH, one that I didn’t expect to disrupt by way of several entries in IFH’s Promptober event.

Chapters like the ones exploring Shizuku’s background chronologically take place long before the main story of PoH and putting them at the beginning feels strange. New readers coming and diving headlong into the work might believe it is supposed to be focused on Shizuku and come away disappointed as later chapters focus more heavily on NicoMaki, YohaRiko and YuuAyuSetsu. But I’m also not sure if I want to try to figure out how to drop the chapters in as flashbacks either.

So I figured perhaps going back to my familiar style of assembling loosely connected chapters, written out of chronological order, was the thing to do. Thus, this new work begins.

Despite it’s title, not all chapters will actually take place after the main PoH story line. As mentioned above, Shizu’s background takes place prior to the main events. And I’d like to explore other character’s backgrounds as well at some point. But chapters like this one, or the NicoMaki Xmas entry for Promptober, or the YuuAyuSetsu Festival entry, or the YohaRiko Mirror entry, all take place after my intended end for PoH.

Of course, some Promptober entries do take place during the main PoH story line, and I intend to expand on them and add them in when I get to those points.

Finally, I think it would work best if I keep track of the Post Production chapters in the same Index master post for PoH proper. However, they’ll be in their own list and may or may not end up being sorted chronologically.

List of all Putting on Hairs Scenes, including Post Production

AO3 link if you prefer that format

AO3 link to PoH

[loisinherlane]

Hey, I picked up booster gold issue 21 of volume 2 I think? At the comic book store today cause I was reminded of your blog, but I don’t really know anything about booster gold. Do you have a reading list or reading order for his character?

Oh, I'm so excited about this. I haven't thought about Booster in a while, but I love him dearly. Here's the link to a reading list I use. This site also has New 52 continuity, though you'd have to switch through the tabs. Keep in mind that's chronological appearances, so for complicated reasons, sometimes these appearances are out of published order. Here's another site I've used.

Based on personal recommendation, I would recommend these comics, especially the ones in bold:

1. Booster Gold Volume 1--This is where Booster is introduced and you get to know him. It's not the very best of Booster stories in my opinion, but it's pretty solid. It crosses over with some of the bigger plots in the late 80s.

2. Justice League/Justice League International/Justice League America--This runs concurrently with Booster Gold Volume 1. I'll admit I'm actually not the biggest fan of this run, which most Booster fans I've seen love. But it establishes some of his personality and history, including his friendship with Ted Kord. It's hit or miss for me though. I actually quit reading in the early 90s, I think, so I have no comment on that part.

(In between my recommendations, Booster appears in Extreme Justice and Formerly Known As the Justice League. Never read either of these thoroughly, but for completeness's sake.)

3. Countdown to Infinite Crisis--This is one of my favorite one-shots ever. Even though it focuses more on Ted Kord and the lead-up to Infinite Crisis, Booster does play a prominent role. Personally, I see this as a good foundation for late Post-Crisis Booster's character.

4. The OMAC Project--Following up on Countdown.

5. Infinite Crisis--Admittedly, I skim this because I'm not a big fan of crises books, but Booster does have a role here!

6. 52--Booster's story in 52 is huge in establishing his second solo series. Whenever I reread Volume 2, I actually reread 52 first.

7. Booster Gold Volume 2--My favorite Booster stories are pretty much all here. I just love this era dearly. I have many opinions. ❤

8. Justice League: Generation Lost--I will edit this in a hot minute after I do some checking, but I know this explicitly takes place between two Volume 2 issues. Clarification: #32 is a lead-in, #33-38 sort of tie-in, but they don’t need to be read together, per se.

9. Time Masters: Vanishing Point--This feeds off of Final Crisis and Bruce Wayne's return, but I love Booster and Rip Hunter here. Considering you mentioned picking up a Booster book because of me, I'm sure you know the spoiler, but I'm holding off on saying anything else in case someone I haven't spoiled sees.

As for New 52/Rebirth Booster, I'd recommend:

1. Justice League International--I actually enjoyed this one, but considering I went in knowing I gave no shits about the New 52, that doesn't say much. That being said, it does lead into...

2. Booster Gold: Future's End--It's been a while since I've read it, but it starts the "ending" of Post-Crisis Booster's story.

3. Convergence: Booster Gold--Definitive wrap-up (depending on how you read Rebirth and Infinite Frontier now, I guess).

4. Action Comics #992-1000--This is a Superman and Booster Gold story, and it's legitimately what made me start reading one or both of them. Frankly, it's been so long I can't remember, but I did love it. 😁Mostly because this is where we really see Booster acting like Post-Crisis self.

Booster has had more appearances, but I'm behind on most current comics at the moment, so this is all I've got. I hope this helps!