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raindrop-on-a-spiderweb · 6 months

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Sending love to one of the best writers on ao3 😘💕 I check your page frequently and wanted to ask about the things that you enjoy doing or aspire to do

Hi Anon, it's so sweet of you to send this ask to ask after me. Rest assured your words are appreciated on this end; thank you from the bottom of my heart and top of my soul 🫂 I'm very glad you think highly of my work even after so long, and I'm so so sorry I haven't had any new content in such a long time. But I am hard at work on a oneshot that will definitely be published before the next chapter of Samarra, so the well won't stay dry for long! The summary is “A jaded prison nurse must come to rely on a man she hates and fears in the midst of a deadly prison riot.” I started writing it in the ward; it's based off of the Moundsville Penitentiary which is an especially spooky place I've been to–an old 19th century prison made of towering stone turrets, eerie high ceilings, and rusted iron cells packed together like pigsties. I'm hoping to get that atmosphere across; it's about ⅔ of the way finished so good progress is being made!

Well I enjoy writing, most of all, but I've already talked about that in detail a thousand times so I'll spare you. I love reading, of course (I just finished “The Five”, about the victims of Jack the Ripper, and it's a fascinating bit of history and an incredible and horrifying look at Victorian-era industrial Britain). I love exploring the mountains with my cats trotting along beside me and photographing what I find. In all honesty I'm a bit of a trappist–I rarely see people except hunters and cashiers, and most of my time is spent alone with myself or my dad. But each day is an adventure when you're in nature and each season brings primordial and beautiful changes– I collected watercress the other day and found the downy remains of a fawn.

I love watching old movies. My dad and I were watching Laurel and Hardy last night and I swear it holds up a century later. Before that we watched King Rat, which is one of his–and my–favorite movie; about two men stuck in a Japanese prison camp and the Machiavellian and underhanded ways they survive there. The book is particularly good too, and the epilogue about rats devouring each other has haunted my dreams for a long time.

On the same subject, a series that I highly recommend is called Tenko, which is very similar to King Rat, except the prisoners are women. It's so grueling, realistic and enrapturing; I've never seen anything that so squarely focuses on women's experiences, relationships with each other, the hardships they face, and how they struggle to survive together in a thankless, deprived environment. The backstabbing and despair that comes in their darkest moments, the love and support in which they uplift each other with, their mistrustful and uneven relationships with their captors that occasionally erupt in friendships and affairs–and all the episodes are on dailymotion, too!

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x74u4fi

I like dreaming most of all. So many of my story ideas come from my dreams. The worst thing in the world is waking up and trying to catch the stray strands of the dream slipping through your fingers. It's amazing to live so many lives–good or bad–inside your head. Sometimes when I wake up, I feel a sweeping, palpable sense of relief that I don't live in the world I conjured last night, and sometimes I wish I could just claw myself back into my brain and live in that little pocket world for the rest of my life.

I do not aspire to much. I don't really have any base wishes but to keep writing and live til 70. We all have our hopeful fantasies, of course, and when I finally do get Ragnatela on Amazon Kindle (Microsoft Word is trying to swindle me out of one hundred and fifty American dollars to use their dogshit platform, and since the manuscript is half-edited, I'm afraid to lose my formatting if I switched to a free program like Libreoffice) maybe it will get some attention.

I still intend on writing on Ao3 until the day I die, though. Even with its unsavory content I have such a soft spot for its unrestricted freedom of speech and prose. Plus I don't want to give up talking to you guys and goofing off in the comments ☹️ I also aspire to stop drinking. I'm sure I've already shaved a few years off my lifespan with my tippling habit. But when one day is much like the other, is there much point in extending it?

I aspire to travel around the United States more. I took a trip through the Deep South to visit Savannah and it was enrapturing; something I will remember for the rest of my life. Rusted-out cars felted in green moss, skinny, grazing horses in windswept fields, peeling roadside signs advertising tent revivals, clownish golliwogs behind still windows of cafes, forgotten tugboats half-sunken into lagoons, highway strip hotels where craggy hookers peered at you suspiciously from their fold-up chairs, and derelict cemeteries separated between Union and Confederate. It was just post-Irma and we were often the only tourists at any of these places. The effects of the hurricane were stark and obvious, with the land in a state of shock before any official agencies came to clean them up. I remember boats crashed into the harbor and grandfather trees felled in front of opulent antebellum homes, and the sea churned brown and murky when we trekked to the beach. The sense of desolation, and not only from the hurricane, was chilling–but I loved being there and loved being swathed by the kudzu and history. My mother is very ill and before she dies we might make up briefly and take a trip to New Orleans together and explore rural Louisiana; I'd always wanted to write a story set in New Orleans. Louisiana is a fascinating state with its mixture of Napoleonic and Creole influences; and I've always been drawn to the grand, decaying tombs of New Orleans as much as I have been to the odd Francophone swamps and their hidden dialects and traditions. And one day I would like to go way, way out west and explore the Gold Rush ghost towns. All the mines where I am are filled-in, so I would like to venture underneath the earth just once.

Most of all, I aspire to be alone, and live by myself for the rest of my life, far away from town, somewhere in the mountains like where I am now. I wish I didn't have to see another person for the rest of my life. Being alone with myself is bad enough, being with others is intolerable.

Anyways, I apologize for my undue pleonasm, you caught me in a chatty mood 😀 Here's an excerpt from the newest prison one-shot:

Rhoda had met Jesse Fitzner her first day on the job. It was midway through her shift, and she was taking a lunch break and grading her sister Sherise's homework in her office. The day had started with a white-knuckle ride in early morning mist so thick she couldn't see the taillights of the car in front of her. Midway through her preliminary tour of the prison, an inmate had stuffed his toilet full of socks, which promptly overflowed and leaked sewage out of the cell onto her high heels. The hoots and jeers had made her speed up, trying to avoid the leering eyes of her future patients. And her introduction to the mental ward, by a younger but just as pessimistic Fawna, had not lifted her mood any either.

So there she sat in her office, snatching a moment of calmness and frantically scribbling corrections over Sherise's homework before her sister turned it in tomorrow. And then the door swung open.

A blond man poked his head in and briefly raised his eyebrows. He was wearing the omnipresent, drab gray prison uniform, pants and a sweatshirt rolled up to his elbows. "What are you up to?"

She flipped the cover of the notebook over.

"Going over my sister's homework. Is there something you need?"

"Passing on a message to Nurse Judson. One of the inmates wants to switch his blood pressure medication."

"Oh, she'll be back soon. I think she's–doing something with the prisoners. Just give her a few minutes."

"No hurry." He pulled the chair opposite her and sat down in it. "So you're grading your kid sister's homework? Shouldn't she be doing that herself?"

The man had thick blond hair that stuck up in back like a duck's tail, and very rosy cheeks. He looked like he had just shaven, by the nicks on his neck.

"It's a long story. I should be–"

"I've got time. If this is your first day, you need to take some time to yourself to relax--else you'll end up in the infirmary."

Rhoda laughed. He had a nice smile and a nice manner about him–very jovial and friendly. It was refreshing to see a man who didn't stare at her like she was a piece of meat. "Well, my parents died when my brother and I were still young. Seth was seventeen, I was fifteen. He went to work so we didn't have to break up the family, and I stayed home to care for my little siblings, all three of them. It wasn't fun. I always wanted to do more for them than what I was stuck with, so I'm making sure they get good grades and go to good colleges. That's why I got this job in the first place, to put some back for their college funds."

"That's real decent of you. I don't know a single woman who would go so far for their family. You'd best be proud of yourself. Where's your brother now?"

"He's working out of state in Pennsylvania. He found a good woman and has a concrete contracting business now."

"You got yourself a man?"

"Never saw the need. Someday, maybe, when I'm lonelier."

"Working here for a few years will train that loneliness for a man right outta of you."

They both laughed at that, and Rhoda felt her tensed muscles begin to relax. "I didn't catch your name."

"Jesse Lee Fitzner." He reached across the desk to grip her hand. For being such a small-built man, he had a crushing handshake.

"Rhoda Ames. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"I knew a few Ameses when I was on the outside. Where your folks from?"

"Beckworth, west of here."

"Oh, you're bullshitting me. I have folks from there too. You don't know a Harry Fitzner, do you?"

"Harry who used to run the car repair shop?"

"That's him! My uncle. He retired a few years ago. His lungs got to him. Too much time in the mines."

The door slammed open again. An elderly prison guard, who had greeted her rather abruptly upon her hiring and who had a hard and wrinkled face, was standing in the doorway. When he saw Jesse, his face grew harder. "What are you doing here, inmate?"

Jesse raised his hands, still not moving from where he was leaning back on the chair. "Just dropping off a message for Nurse Judson."

"Next time, leave the message with Nurse Ames and promptly return to your cell. There's no reason for you to be here actin' so friendly."

To Rhoda's mild disappointment, the guard grabbed Jesse by his arm and yanked him out, harder than he needed to. Before he was escorted out, Jesse tossed a glance over her shoulder and winked at her. "Rhoda, you're a young lady, and I'm a bit of a spring chicken myself. I think we would get along real well outside these walls."

Rhoda couldn't help the giggle that bubbled up from her throat. She felt lightheaded. She was a rangy and abrupt woman with a working tan, and hadn't much experience with men flirting with her.

When Jesse was marched out, Rhoda stood up and grabbed her peaked nurse's cap, girding her loins for the next shift on the ward. While she was counting medications, the elderly guard–Miles–came in again and shut the door behind him. She flinched, expecting a dressing-down on her first day of work. I wasn't fraternizing with the prisoner, was I? Am I… am I gonna lose my job?

He sat down opposite her. "You ever hear that tale 'bout the lady and the snake?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to–"

"Old story; old, old story. One of them Aesop stories they wrote when people was still in togas and carved words in stone. A woman was walking home one day when she saw a frozen snake lying on the side of the road. It begged her to save its poor little self, this little creature of God. So taking pity on it, the woman brought it home and warmed it by the fire between her breasts. And as it thawed, it bit her breast. 'Oh, why would you do such a thing? Your poison will kill me,’ she wailed. And the snake smiled and said, 'You knew I was a snake before you brought me into your house.'"

Rhoda stared at him, puzzled. "I don't understand."

"You know what that fellow did to get in here? Fitzner was top dog in a motorcycle gang outside of prison. A real nasty one. He ordered a contract killing on a rival gang member. They snatched the poor fellow when he was leaving a bar. Hung him from a tree, broke his legs with doublejack hammers, used him as target practice with their sawed-offs, cut his dick off and shoved it in his mouth, then left and let him choke on it and bleed to death for the rest of the night. He was out, too, far out in the mountains, and they only found him weeks later when a hunter stumbled on him. One of the killers snitched on Fitzner in exchange for dropping a drug felony sentence he was staring at. That snitch went into hiding and changed his name. Two days after Fitzner was taken to this good penitentiary, he was found with his head beaten in, in a dry creek bed."

Rhoda's head began to spin in slow whirls. Her hand where Jesse had shaken it grew very clammy. She remembered his bright smile across the desk, his dark eyes, and felt bile and vomit churn in her throat.

"You both were talking for a while, I noticed. He's good at prising information out of people, Fitzner is. A boyish smile and a few good words and he can make both men and women melt like butter on yer tongue. See? Now he knows who you are, and where your folks live. Now he can get to you."

Rhoda tried to talk, but her tongue was paralyzed. She looked down and wiped her sweaty hands on her knees.

Miles got up and went over to the door. He looked out of the window set on top, and his hard face relaxed. He seemed much older in that moment, more wrinkled and exhausted.

"You'd best be careful of him, Nurse Ames. He's a bad 'un. I'll be glad to see the back of him."

As it turned out, Miles retired later that year and it was Jesse who saw the back of him.

And Rhoda became very wary of him from then on. Whenever he saw her in the hall, in the chow line, in the infirmary, he smiled at her and tried to make small talk. She ignored him, or was curt with him.

Unfortunately, he seemed to take that as an invitation.

#personal #asks #writing

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sebstanaddict · 10 days

Text

Capturing Chemistry

Part 2

Sebastian Stan x Reader One Shot

Summary: Reader is a photographer booked to shoot Sebastian for a magazine spread when during the shoot Sebastian keeps flirting with her. He ended up asking her out and they had a nice first date. What happens after that? Will they continue their relationship or was it just one nice date?

Pairings : Sebastian Stan x Female!Reader

Warning : none

Word count : 5k words

A/N : No drama, no angst, just pure fluff and joy for those who have enough drama in their lives ;)

Read the 1st Part here : Capturing Chemistry - Part 1

Read more Sebastian one shots here : The Stan and Barnes Oddyssey

---

Brooklyn, New York

---

New York was in the midst of its early autumn bloom, the crisp air carrying the scent of fallen leaves and the hum of city life. The trees that lined the streets in Y/n's neighborhood had begun to turn shades of burnt orange and gold, casting an ethereal glow over the bustling sidewalks. Each morning, sunlight filtered through her apartment's large windows, painting the hardwood floors in warm amber hues.

True to his word, Sebastian called Y/n the very next day, catching her just as she was finishing her morning coffee by the window. The first few seconds were sweetly awkward, with both of them adjusting to this new chapter in their lives. But soon enough, the conversation unfolded naturally, like they'd been talking for years.

After a week of calls and texting back and forth, Sebastian finally asked Y/n on their second date. This time, it was more relaxed - he asked to meet at the local café she'd mentioned loving. Y/n found herself nervous again, though she couldn't quite figure out why. They'd already shared a perfect first date, yet something about seeing him again brought a flutter of excitement that she couldn't shake.

When she arrived at the café, Sebastian was already waiting for her, leaning casually against the wall, sunglasses on, looking effortlessly cool in his leather jacket. When he spotted her, his face lit up with a smile that made her heart skip a beat.

"Y/n!" he called, stepping toward her and immediately wrapping her in a warm hug. She melted into the embrace, comforted by the familiar scent of his cologne. It was the kind of hug that made her feel like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.

"Hey, you," she replied, her voice soft as she pulled back slightly to look at him. "I'm excited you chose this place."

"I figured it was only right," he said with a grin, motioning toward the café. "Plus, you talked it up so much, I had to see what the fuss was about."

They walked inside and found a small, cozy corner table by the window. The café was charming, filled with the aroma of fresh coffee and pastries. Light music played softly in the background, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Sebastian pulled out a chair for her before sitting across from her. "Alright, so what's the must-try here?" he asked, looking over the menu.

Y/n glanced at the menu and smiled. "You can't go wrong with their cinnamon rolls. And the caramel latte? To die for."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Cinnamon rolls and a caramel latte, huh? I trust your judgment."

After placing their order, they fell back into their easy rhythm, chatting about work and laughing over shared stories. But Y/n kept sneaking glances at Sebastian, wondering how he'd take her recommendations.

When the food and drinks arrived, Sebastian took his first sip of the caramel latte, his eyes widening in surprise. "Okay," he said, licking a bit of foam off his lip. "You weren't kidding - this is amazing!"

Y/n grinned, pleased. "I told you. Best caramel latte in New York."

Sebastian reached for a piece of the cinnamon roll next, savoring the warm, gooey sweetness. "Wow," he said, shaking his head. "You've officially earned the title of best café guide. This is insane!"

Y/n laughed, feeling a sense of pride in her choices. "Glad I could impress you with my taste in pastries."

Sebastian leaned back, taking in the cozy atmosphere of the café. "Honestly, this place is perfect. I can see why you love it here - great food, relaxed vibe. You've got good taste, Y/n."

The compliment caught her off guard, making her cheeks flush. "Thanks. I'm just glad you like it."

"I love it," Sebastian said with a warm smile, his voice sincere. "This was a great idea."

Y/n felt her heart flutter at the way he said it, the warmth in his gaze making her feel like she'd just done something extraordinary. She hadn't expected him to be so genuinely excited about something as simple as a café, but that was what she loved about him - his ability to find joy in the little things.

They continued their conversation and it flowed easily, as it always did with him. But this time, something felt different - a deeper connection, an unspoken understanding that seemed to linger between them.

At one point, Y/n noticed Sebastian staring at her, a soft smile on his lips. She felt her cheeks flush under his gaze.

"What?" she asked, her voice teasing, though her heart raced at the intensity of his look.

"Nothing," Sebastian replied, his tone gentle. "I just... I don't know. I'm just really glad we met."

Y/n felt her heart swell at his words. She smiled, lowering her gaze to her coffee cup, trying to hide the sudden wave of emotion that washed over her. "I'm glad too," she said softly.

Sebastian leaned in slightly, his voice sincere. "I mean it, Y/n. I've been on sets all over the world, met all kinds of people... but with you, it's different. I feel like I can actually be myself."

His honesty took her by surprise. She wasn't used to hearing such raw vulnerability, especially not from someone as high-profile as him. But there was something so genuine about the way he said it, like he wasn't trying to impress her - he just wanted her to know how he felt.

Y/n reached across the table and placed her hand over his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I feel the same way, Sebastian. You're... well, you're different too. In a good way."

For a moment, they just sat there, their hands intertwined, a quiet understanding passing between them.

After a while, Sebastian leaned back, his smile returning. "Okay, but we've got to settle something once and for all," he said, his tone playful again. "Best 80s movie: Back to The Future or The Goonies?"

Y/n laughed, relieved that the lightheartedness was back. "That's not even fair!" she protested. "They're both classics. But... if I had to choose, I'd say The Goonies."

Sebastian feigned a shock, placing a hand dramatically over his heart. "The Goonies? Over Back to The Future? I don't know if I can recover from this betrayal."

Y/n grinned, leaning forward with a challenging look in her eyes. "Well, what about you, Mr. Movie Buff? What's your choice?"

"Back to The Future, obviously," Sebastian replied with a smirk. "There's just something about that movie. Time travel, adventure, a killer soundtrack. It's unbeatable."

Y/n couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, fine. I change my answer. Back To The Future is better."

Sebastian's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Great! I knew you would!"

And she couldn't help but laugh again at his antics.

They spent the next hour eating and talking, never running out of things to say. Y/n found herself laughing more than she had in a long time. Sebastian had a way of making her feel completely at ease, like she could be her true self around him.

"So, you've got two dogs, right? I've been meaning to ask about them." Sebastian leaned back in his chair, looking at Y/n with genuine interest. "

Y/n's face lit up, the mention of her pets bringing an immediate smile. "Yeah, two. Luna and Bear. They're both rescues. One's a mutt, and the other's a terrier mix. They're a handful, but I wouldn't trade them for the world."

Sebastian nodded, clearly intrigued. "I love dogs. Always wanted one, but with my schedule, it just didn't seem fair to the animal. I'd probably never be around enough."

"I get that," Y/n replied, her tone understanding. "It's tough, but I try to make it work. They've really helped me stay grounded. After a long day, there's nothing like coming home to those wagging tails."

Sebastian smiled warmly. "I can imagine. Maybe one day, when things settle down a bit, I could get a dog."

"You should," Y/n said, eyes sparkling. "It's like having an endless source of love and entertainment."

They shared a laugh before the conversation naturally drifted into their experiences growing up.

"So, you're an only child, right?" Y/n asked, taking a sip of her coffee, her gaze curious.

Sebastian nodded. "Yeah, it was just me, my mom, and my grandmother growing up. My dad left when I was really young. My mom... she's incredible, honestly. She raised me on her own until she remarried when I was a teenager. My stepdad was great - really helped me out when I needed it. But both my dad and stepdad have both passed away now."

Y/n softened, her eyes filling with empathy. "I'm sorry, Seb. That must've been hard."

"It was," Sebastian admitted, his voice a little quieter. "But my mom's still here. She lives in New York, so I try to see her when I can. She's... tough. A real fighter, you know? She's one of those people who just doesn't quit, no matter what life throws at her."

Y/n smiled gently, clearly touched by how much he admired his mother. "She sounds amazing. You must be really close."

"We are," Sebastian said with a nod. "She's always been there for me, through everything. Even when I started acting, she was the one who suggested it."

"That's awesome." Y/n asked, leaning in with interest.

Sebastian chuckled. "She helped me get my first job, playing as an extra in this Michael Haneke movie when I was 12. But I hated it. I didn't like how long it took for them to finally shoot my scene."

She laughed. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. I told her I didn't want to do acting anymore and she didn't push it. It wasn't until several years later that I fell in love with acting and she as well as my stepdad supported me, and well.. here I am."

"I love that," Y/n said, her gaze softening. "I'm really close to my family too. I've got an older brother who thinks he's the boss of me half the time. And my parents... they're still very much in my life."

"Sounds like a good dynamic," Sebastian remarked, genuinely interested. "Your brother sounds fun."

"He's... a character, that's for sure," Y/n laughed. "But he's a good guy. Always looking out for me. And my parents, they're the kind of people who still worry about whether I'm eating enough and getting enough sleep."

"That's sweet," Sebastian said with a smile. "They must really love having you close by."

"They do," Y/n replied. "New York's always been home for us. I mean, I've thought about leaving once or twice, but this city... it's hard to stay away."

Sebastian leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile crossing his face. "I get that. New York just... gets under your skin, doesn't it? There's nowhere else quite like it."

"Exactly," Y/n said, her eyes brightening. "I've traveled a bit for work, but every time I leave, I'm always itching to come back. There's just something about this place—whether it's the people, the energy, or even just the noise. It's chaotic, but it's home."

Sebastian nodded in agreement. "That's what I love about it too. I moved here when I was young, and I've been hooked ever since. There's just this raw energy, like anything can happen here."

"I know, right?" Y/n said, her excitement matching his. "It's like... you walk down the street, and you never know what you're going to see. There's always something happening, some new corner to discover. It keeps you on your toes."

"And yet," Sebastian added, "there are those moments when you find these little pockets of peace in the city. Like this café, or a quiet park tucked away somewhere. It's nice to know you can still find that calm when you need it."

Y/n smiled, feeling a deeper connection forming between them as they bonded over their shared love for New York. "Yeah, it's like the city gives you what you need when you need it."

Sebastian gazed at her, a soft smile on his face. "I like that. You've got a way of looking at things, Y/n, that's... refreshing."

Y/n blushed slightly at the compliment but smiled in return. "Thanks, Sebastian. You're not too bad yourself."

As their conversation continued, they talked more about their favorite places in the city—their favorite restaurants, parks, even quiet streets where they'd go to clear their heads. It was as if each new story they shared revealed another layer of who they were, deepening their connection with every word.

"So, what's next on our New York adventure list?" Y/n asked teasingly, raising an eyebrow.

Sebastian chuckled. "How about we check out the dog park next time? I'd love to meet your furry friends."

Y/n grinned. "Oh, they'd love that. Just be warned, they'll probably try to win you over with their puppy eyes."

"I'm already a goner," Sebastian said with a wink, making her laugh. "But seriously, I'd love to meet them."

"You will," Y/n promised, her heart feeling warm at the thought of him bonding with her dogs. "I have a feeling they'll love you."

"I hope so," Sebastian said, his smile soft and genuine. "Because I'm starting to really love all of this."

The words lingered between them, heavier than casual conversation but filled with the kind of sincerity that made Y/n's heart flutter. She looked at him, seeing the genuine warmth in his eyes, and knew that this wasn't just another date. It was the start of something real, something that felt like it could last.

"Well," Y/n said, her voice soft but teasing, "I guess I'll have to keep planning these perfect dates, then."

Sebastian smiled, his gaze steady and full of affection. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

As they finished their meal, Sebastian glanced out the window, the sun beginning to set over the city. "It's a beautiful night," he said, looking back at her with a warm smile. "How about we go for a walk?"

Y/n nodded, her heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time with him. "I'd love that."

They left the café and began walking through the streets of New York, the city buzzing with life around them. The air was crisp, and the sky was painted in hues of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the skyline.

Sebastian's hand brushed against hers as they walked, and after a moment, he gently took her hand in his, their fingers intertwining. Y/n felt a surge of warmth at the contact, her heart racing as they walked side by side, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment.

"So," Sebastian said after a while, his voice soft. "If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?"

Y/n thought for a moment, then smiled. "I've always wanted to live by the ocean. Somewhere peaceful, where I can hear the waves every morning. What about you?"

Sebastian nodded, a dreamy look in his eyes. "Same. Maybe a little beach house somewhere quiet. But I'd still need to be close enough to a big city - New York has kind of stolen my heart."

Y/n laughed, feeling that same pull toward the city. "Yeah, there's something about New York. It's chaotic, but it feels like home."

They continued walking, the conversation turning to their favorite travel spots, dream vacations, and places they wanted to visit. Y/n found herself hanging on every word he said, captivated by the way he spoke with such passion and excitement.

Eventually, they reached a small park, the trees swaying gently in the evening breeze. Sebastian led her to a bench near a fountain, and they sat down, the city lights twinkling around them like stars.

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the sounds of the city fading into the background as they simply enjoyed each other's presence.

"I know it's still early," Sebastian said after a while, his voice low. "But... I really like spending time with you, Y/n. I don't want this to end."

Y/n's heart fluttered at his words. She turned to face him, her eyes locking with his. "I don't want it to end either," she whispered.

Sebastian smiled, his eyes soft and full of emotion. He reached up, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're something special, you know that?"

Y/n felt her breath catch in her throat. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the warmth in his smile. And in that moment, she knew she felt the same way about him.

"I'm glad I met you," she said softly, her heart full.

Sebastian leaned in, his forehead gently resting against hers. "Me too."

They stayed like that for a while, their hands intertwined, their hearts full of possibility.

And in that quiet moment, with the city bustling around them and the night sky overhead, they both knew that this was only the beginning of something truly special.

—

It was a bright Saturday afternoon when Sebastian and Y/n met up for their third date. This time, the plan was simple but exciting—he was finally going to meet her dogs. They had decided to take them to the local dog park, a peaceful little corner of the city where they could let loose and enjoy the day.

Y/n arrived first, her two dogs, Luna and Bear, tugging eagerly at their leashes. As soon as Sebastian approached, she waved, a bright smile on her face. Her dogs, sensing someone new, started wagging their tails wildly.

"There they are!" Sebastian grinned, crouching down immediately to greet them. "Hey, buddies!"

"They're super friendly," Y/n assured him, though it was clear from how eagerly the dogs were trying to lick Sebastian's face that they didn't need much coaxing.

"I can see that!" Sebastian laughed, giving both dogs a good scratch behind the ears. "Hey, you two. Ready to make me your favorite human today?"

Y/n laughed, watching him interact with Luna and Bear. "I think you've already won them over."

He looked up at her, his grin widening. "Good to know. Now I just need to keep winning you over."

"You're doing a pretty good job at that too," she teased.

He laughed, standing back up as they made their way further into the park. Sebastian was relaxed, wearing a simple white t-shirt and jeans, his hair slightly tousled from the wind. He looked effortlessly handsome, and Y/n couldn't help but admire him as they walked together and finally reached the middle of the park.

"Ready to let them loose?" she asked, her eyes glinting with excitement.

"Let's do it," Sebastianagreed.

As soon as the leashes were unclipped, the dogs bolted into the park, chasing each other and weaving through the trees. Sebastian and Y/n found a comfortable bench where they could watch them play, the sounds of joyful barking filling the air.

"They're amazing," Sebastian said, his eyes following the dogs. "I can see why you love them so much."

"They're my babies," Y/n replied, her voice soft with affection. "They've been with me through a lot."

Sebastian looked at her, his gaze filled with warmth. "I get that. I can tell they're a huge part of your life."

"They are," Y/n said, nodding. "They've been a constant in all the chaos."

"Tell me, what's the story behind them? How'd they come into your life?" Sebastian asked.

"Oh, well," Y/n began, glancing at the two energetic dogs, "Luna came first. I adopted her from a shelter about three years ago. She was this tiny, scared puppy, but we bonded instantly. Then a year later, I found Bear - also a rescue. He's a bit of a troublemaker, but he's got the biggest heart."

Sebastian smiled warmly. "I love that. Rescuing dogs is such a special thing. I've always wanted a pet, but with all the traveling, it's hard to commit."

Y/n raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You? Never had a pet?"

He shrugged sheepishly. "Not as an adult. I had a cat when I was a kid but it was more my stepdad's cat, you know. I think I've been too scared I wouldn't have enough time to take care of one properly, with all the traveling and work and everything."

She nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. But, you know, dogs are pretty adaptable. And you're here in New York most of the time, right? You could totally have a dog."

Sebastian smiled, clearly considering it. "Maybe one day. If I had someone to share the responsibility with..."

He looked at her meaningfully, and Y/n felt a flutter in her chest. She laughed to ease the tension, nudging him lightly with her shoulder. "Well, Luna and Bear are available for adoption if you're interested."

"Tempting," he grinned, his eyes softening as he watched the dogs play. "But I'd probably be more interested in their owner."

Y/n rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. "Smooth."

He laughed and they continued to watch as the dogs chased after each other and played with the other dogs around them. It was a beautiful day—perfect for being outdoors, surrounded by people and animals, and the easygoing energy between Y/n and Sebastian was undeniable.

"Do you come here often?" Sebastian asked, glancing around the park.

"Yeah, I try to bring them at least once a week," she replied. "It's a great way to let them burn off all that extra energy. Plus, I love being here—it's relaxing."

He nodded, his eyes following Luna as she chased a ball another dog owner had thrown. "I can see why. It's nice to just slow down and enjoy the little things, you know?"

"Exactly," Y/n agreed. "It's a nice break from the chaos of the city."

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the dogs play. She couldn't help but smile at how naturally everything felt—being here with him, enjoying the day, not feeling the pressure of anything other than just being present. She really loved it, the comfort and simplicity of it all and hoped that she could have many more days like this with him.

—

After spending a few hours at the park, Y/n suggested they head back to her place to cook dinner. They stopped by the grocery store on the way, picking up fresh ingredients for their favorite - Italian.

As they walked into Y/n's apartment, Sebastian glanced around, taking in the cozy, inviting space. The walls were adorned with framed photos - some of landscapes, others of candid moments - and there were plants on nearly every windowsill. The scent of vanilla and something floral lingered in the air, making the whole place feel welcoming.

"This is... really nice," Sebastian said, his voice genuine. "It feels like you - inviting, calm, but full of life."

"Thank you," she replied, feeling a little shy under his gaze. "I wanted it to be a place where I could just relax and feel comfortable, you know?"

"I can tell," he said, running his hand along the back of her couch as he walked through the living room. "It's exactly the kind of place I could see myself unwinding after a long day. Very 'you.'"

Y/n smiled, watching him take in her space. It was the first time he'd been over, and his words made her feel proud of the home she had created for herself.

"So," Sebastian clapped his hands together, snapping back to the present. "Let's get cooking. What's first?"

She laughed, pulling out the ingredients from the grocery bags. "We're making fresh pasta, so we should start with the dough."

"Oh, I'm all in," Sebastian said enthusiastically, rolling up his sleeves. "But fair warning, I'm not the world's best chef."

"I'll guide you through it," she reassured him with a laugh.

"Perfect. You'll have to teach me how to make it taste as good as it looks," Sebastian quipped, grabbing an apron from her and tying it around his waist.

They got to work in the kitchen, the air filled with the delicious smell of garlic and fresh herbs as they prepared the meal together. Sebastian insisted on taking charge of the pasta dough while Y/n worked on the sauce. It was a natural rhythm, the two of them moving around the kitchen as if they'd done this a thousand times before.

"You know," Sebastian said as he kneaded the dough, his hands covered in flour, "I've always wanted to be the kind of guy who cooks with his girlfriend. This feels... pretty perfect."

Y/n smiled at his words, glancing over at him. "You're doing a pretty good job so far. Maybe you should cook for me more often."

"Oh, I will," he promised, looking up with a playful grin. "But only if you agree to be my sous-chef."

"Deal," she laughed, stirring the sauce on the stove.

They worked together in harmony, occasionally stealing glances at each other, laughing when the flour got everywhere, and enjoying the simplicity of the moment. It was easy, effortless, and exactly how it should be. Y/n gave him little instructions here and there, teasing him every time he tried to sneak a taste of the sauce before it was ready.

"Hey, it's called quality control," he said defensively, holding up the spoon.

Y/n laughed, shaking her head. "If you say so."

As the food cooked, their conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about everything - from their favorite books to the dream vacations they wanted to take. Every time Sebastian smiled at her, she felt a flutter in her chest, the chemistry between them undeniable.

Eventually, they sat down at the small table in her living room, the scent of garlic and basil filling the air. They toasted with wine, their laughter filling the room as they dug into the meal they'd prepared together.

"This is amazing," he said between bites. "I don't think I can go back to regular pasta after this."

Y/n smirked. "See? You just needed the right teacher."

"I think it's more that I had the right cooking partner," he replied, his eyes soft as he looked at her, making her heart flutter.

They spent the next hour talking, laughing, and sharing stories about their families. There was a warmth between them, an undeniable chemistry that neither could ignore.

As the evening wore on and they finished the last of the wine, Sebastian glanced over at Y/n with a soft smile. "You know... I could get used to this. Being here with you."

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, the sincerity in his voice making everything feel even more real. "I could get used to it too," she replied softly, feeling the weight of the moment.

They lingered there for a while longer before Y/n stood, wanting to clear the dishes. But before she started picking up the plates, Sebastian gently caught her wrist, pulling her gently towards him.

"Come here," he said, his voice low but filled with affection.

She turned, meeting his gaze, and in the soft light of her apartment, everything seemed to shift. Slowly, Sebastian stood up and pulled her closer. His thumb brushing against her cheek softly. His beautiful ocean blue eyes gazed at her with love and darkened with something else, something that made the butterflies fly around wildly in her stomach. Finally, he leaned in, closing the space between them, his lips brushing hers in a kiss that felt both gentle and electric.

Her heart soared as his lips touched hers. He placed his hand behind her head and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, making her feel like she was on cloud nine.

The night passed in a blur of soft kisses and whispered words. The anticipation that had built up between them over the past few weeks finally came to a head, and as they fell into bed together, everything else faded away. There was no rush, no urgency—just the two of them, exploring this new level of closeness.

They didn't need words as they moved together, letting the connection between them speak volumes. And when it was over, they lay tangled in each other's arms, the room filled with the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains.

Sebastian pressed a kiss to her forehead, his arms wrapped securely around her. "That was..."

"Perfect" they chorused and chuckled as she rested her head against his chest.

They lay there in comfortable silence, their breathing slowing as they drifted off to sleep, feeling closer than ever before.

—

The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Y/n stirred first, her body nestled against Sebastian's, their limbs tangled beneath the soft sheets. For a moment, she just lay there, listening to the quiet, peaceful breathing of the man beside her.

When Sebastian finally woke up, he blinked slowly, a sleepy smile spreading across his face as he saw her. "Morning," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

"Morning," Y/n whispered back, feeling her heart swell at the sight of him lying next to her.

He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "How'd you sleep?"

"Perfectly," she said with a soft smile. "You?"

"Best night ever," he replied, his eyes twinkling with affection.

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other, savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment. There was no rush, no need to be anywhere else. Everything just felt... right.

"I could wake up like this every day," Sebastian said, his voice sincere.

Y/n smiled, feeling the same. "Me too."

It wasn't long until they were joined by Luna and Bear, padding over to the bed and nudging them for attention, Y/n laughed softly. "Looks like someone else wants to join the cuddle session."

Sebastian chuckled, reaching out to scratch one of the dogs behind the ears. "I think I'm okay with that."

They spent the rest of the morning lounging in bed, sipping coffee, and talking about everything and nothing, the dogs curled up at their feet. It was the kind of perfect morning that made Y/n feel like she had found something special - something she never wanted to let go of. There was something about waking up next to each other that made everything feel right, like they were exactly where they were supposed to be. And as Sebastian wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer, somehow she knew he felt the same.

#sebastian stan #sebastianstan #sebastian stan fanfic #sebastian stan fanfiction #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x y/n #sebastian stan x you #sebastian stan x female reader #sebastian stan fluff #bucky barnes

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allieisacrybaby · 9 months

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First of all, thank you, 2023. This year was a life-shaping year. I hit a lot of lows but also had some of the most heart-fulfilling highs, and I want to hit on some of my highs in this post.

I met someone so near and dear to my heart not once but twice this year. On a whim, @jake-kiszkas-smirk texted me the day of a listening party for Starctacher saying, "Hey please come out to this listening party for Greta with me." and on a crazy, very unlike my type-A planner self, said "Yes". It was the best decision of my life because I got to finally meet her in person and experience Starcatcher with her for the first time and it was just so incredibly special. Then, we met up again at our Starcatcher show where we finally got a picture together and it was just so sweet. K means so much to me; I'm so grateful to have her in my life. She's been my rock throughout this entire year, and because she's so incredibly stubborn me saying this is gonna make her roll her eyes but, she has been so incredibly important in my life this year. She's usually the first person I reach out to when something shitty has happened, she was the first person I came out to, I tell her about my day almost every day, and she's constantly blessing me with the best book and tv show recommendations! She's an incredibly amazing friend and person and I cannot wait to see the change she makes in the world in this upcoming year. I love you so freaking much K, and can't wait to spend this next year and many more as your friend❤️

I also met @sacredjake and @malany-benton at my Starcatcher show, and it was so sweet!!! I miss them so freaking much, but I am so glad we met. Love y'all bunches❤️

Hit on this at the end of my K appreciation speil but I came out as queer!!!🏳️‍🌈🥳 After years upon years of suppressing my feelings, I'm very proud of myself for accepting my queerness. I'm still navigating living out my queerness and sexuality while still being relatively in the closet, but I'm glad that I have Tumblr and friends who support me and hold safe spaces for me to be wholly me and gush about my current crushes lol🫶🏻

I guess the big one is I graduated high school and started college. That's pretty neat, I guess lol. I also finished my first semester of college, which is a big deal, but yeah, whatever, lol. Proud that I didn't die through my first college finals, lol!

Finally, thank you @mountain-in-springtime @sinners-go-to-drink-the-wine @losfacedevil @gretasmokerising @heavens-hearken @earthlysorrows @hearts-hunger @joshsindigostreak @jmkho @runwayblues @the-starcatcher @silks-up-my-sleeve @sacredjake @andtherestishistory13 and anyone else I've mentioned throughout this post and anyone I didn't these were just the first couple people who came to mind!!! I love my lurkers too❤️. But, to the people I mentioned, y'all are so incredibly special to me and this community. Thank you for always interacting with my silly little posts, hyping up my moodboards and blurbs, and indulging in my crazy late-night hyper-filled posts where I go on wild spiels about the boys. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Truly, you are incredible people, and I love you more than you'll ever know. Thank you for making my year so memorable. I cried so much while writing this haha this year has been a lot of bad but also so much good so thank you for being with me through all of it❤️

with all my love,

Allie💋

#not really gvf #personal #2023 recap #2023 sign off #thank you #im so greatful for this year and everyone who made it so so special

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queer-ragnelle · 10 months

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Hi! Your flowchart is amazing, and I'm so excited by the literature list you made. However, I was wondering if you know which book is best to start reading more about Arthurian legend? I have only collected knowledge through osmosis, so I have no clue where or how to start learning more. Thank you for your time and have a nice day!

hello!

thank you, i'm glad they're helpful for you! i did answer a similar ask about what medieval texts to begin with here and link to free resources, but the formatting is hard on the eyes, and now that my own collection is available, i'll reiterate. all suggested translations are available on my blog.

le morte d'arthur by sir thomas malory: you'll get the most mileage out of this book as malory sourced a broad spectrum of stories to incorporate them into a single text, which includes arthur's conception, pulling the sword from the stone, receiving excalibur from the lady of the lake, marrying to guinevere, young gawain's knighting and first quest, tristan and isolde's romance, the grail quest, final battle at camlann etc. plus malory himself invented some of the most iconic stories, such as gareth's time as the kitchen boy, beaumains. with this book alone, the majority of retellings will make sense to you. but be warned it can be extremely dry (and confusing timeline wise, calogrenant dies twice bc malory couldn't keep his own story straight!), i recommend the keith baines translation as it's rewritten into prose like a novel.

the vulgate cycle: it's 10 books. i know it's 10 books. but it's simply the best. the truncated nature of malory's le morte d'arthur leaves the majority of characters reduced to singular traits (orkney bros the mindless killers, priggish grail knights etc.) which has negatively influenced many retellings since imo. this is not an issue with the vulgate where everyone has a little more nuance and depth, even the bad guys, but especially the characters we're supposed to root for like lancelot and gawain. many fun characters who were cut from le morte d'arthur are fully developed here like half-giant galehaut and gawain's baby mama the lady of lys. i'm putting it high on the list bc i simply think more people should try it. i recommend the translation edited by norris j. lacy. he's incredible and i love all of his translation work. footnotes right in the margin will remind the reader of past references and explain language subtleties lost in translation (like puns) or indicate what was changed for ease of understanding (sometimes the scribes made mistakes and named the wrong character, which lacy will fix and then note he fixed). so if one can get past the sheer volume of text, it's a wonderful read, and i even have specific stories within it i could recommend. but i digress...

sir gawain and the green knight: it goes without saying this poem is iconic. the pearl poet (as the anonymous author is called) wrote beautifully and the version of gawain here is a much kinder portrayal than what he appears in the post vulgate, which was a major source for malory's le morte d'arthur. the beheading exchange/game is the focus here, although this motif will appear in many other texts, such as perlesvaus, and the sgatgk story appears in the majority of retellings that include gawain, so it's a must read. i recommend the j. r. r. tolkien translation (the audiobook version of this translation is phenomenal, like music).

four arthurian romances + the story of the grail by chrétien de troyes: except you can skip cligés bc its mediocre at best. really what you'll need from this is knight of the cart (the first ever story in which lancelot appears and he's very pathetic and weepy and insane and lovable haters dni), knight with the lion (gawain's cousin yvain gets a pet lion, fights a dragon, gets married, gets divorced, goes mad, recovers, gets married again...), erec and enide (worst husband in the universe), and the story of the grail (perceval and gawain adventures). a version of these stories were adapted into le morte d'arthur and the vulgate (except for yvain's lion which is a bummer!). i recommend the nigel bryant translation of perceval and william kibler translations for the rest. when you reach the end of the story of the grail and it cuts mid-sentence...well, sadly we don't know what happened to poor chrétien that kept him from completing his story. but there are four continuations written by other people, plus the german parzival is great as well (and has one of my favorite of gawain's wives, the haughty maiden of logres, orgeluse).

the mabinogion: some of the same stories as chrétien but of welsh origin plus extras. haters will try to pit two bad bitches against each other, but these texts go hand in hand. i like the whimsical vibes of this version and the magical powers given to the characters, such as kay's ability to grow to the size of a tree and set things on fire with his hands or bedwyr's ability to strike faster than all other knights despite having only one hand. it also gives owain (welsh version of yvain) an army of ravens that kill people in addition to his lion, arthur has an invisibility mantle (also referenced in the welsh triads), and the whole gang fights the demon boar twrch trwyth to steal the golden comb off his head. good stuff. i recommend the translation by lady charlotte guest.

the wedding of sir gawain and dame ragnelle: obviously this has to be included. i'm biased but at the same time, it is supposed that sir thomas malory actually wrote this poem! which i think is pretty neat. additionally, 99% of retellings include ragnelle as gawain's wife. in fact, excluding the ones in which he doesn't have a partner at all, i can only think of one in which he marries someone else. dame ragnelle is the people's darling, all of us arthurian authors agreed that in spite of our differing opinions about everything else in the stories, she is the wife of all time. and we're right. a thing of beauty. this text does not have a translation, it's just in middle english, which can be challenging to read. this version edited by thomas hahn has footnotes to help or otherwise i recommend the version retold by selina hastings and illustrated by juan wijngaard, it's gorgeous, and includes all the fun supporting cast like kay and guinevere.

this was a long list with probably more explanation than necessary but it can be difficult to narrow down a single place to begin with arthuriana as each story builds on the literary tradition that came before. everyone is sharing and influencing one another so stories and motifs are repeated, each author writes for their time, slightly altering the technology and culture to reflect their own lived experience, so the narrative evolved as the centuries passed into what we have today. thanks for this ask and hope you enjoy reading!

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lunawings · 10 months

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My Prism Rush Live book finally came!

I am simultaneously both very happy and very disappointed with it.

The badges are a lot bigger than I expected! But the book is thinner...

The first thing you see when you open the book are these pages with all the prism jumps for each character. Which is AMAZING! Because even though I played Prism Rush from start to finish, there is so much art in here I've just never seen before!! WOOOOW!

...But the art is so small...

Next they have a summary of the Prism Rush main story, which is the story that connects the first movie to Pride the Hero. (Note: I've translated this in full here.) Nice.

But then you turn the page to find...

Road to SSS... IN FULL! This is AMAZING! Road to SSS was a series of events that connected Pride the Hero to SSS and was absolutely phenomenal. It was the duo story we always wanted from King of Prism and if I were to recommend you read anything from Prism Rush it would be THIS 100%. I'm so glad they preserved it here and it's no longer lost to time.

Except... that.....

I already spent like two years translating this in full already.

After this you'll find some art from Road to SSS...

Some birthday art...

Some more card art (specifically the DRs)...

And, finally, they included very, VERY brief summaries of the other events and the event KPRs and PRs. Then in the end there is an interview and that's it.

Okay so, when I heard the book was only going to be 100-something pages, I knew in my heart there wasn't going to be anything in there I hadn't translated yet. But still I held out a tiny little bit of hope. Oh well.

#kinpri #honestly i'm not sure if i'll ever get back to translating the other events #i already did the ones i most wanted to do #and i've just been out of it for so long it's hard to get started again #things are very different for me now than when i was unemployed and depressed and just wanted to spent time with my boys #king of prism #prism rush

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alex-the-bringer-of-chaos · 3 months

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So last friday, I had the qualificação (qualification/defense) of my research project, aka the first draft of the final paper, and it went so well :D! Great feedback, recommendations from the two members of the examining board, on how to proceed with the writing, articles/books recommendations, some writing changes, and only one question related to something in the paper that wasn't very clear. I'm so happy! Also, my advisor is amazing, I'm so glad she joined the institution this year and that she became my advisor. Not only is she an amazing person, she's also extremely smart and has great contacts. Just ahhhh! This me 4real, 4real:

#i'm so happy!#research project #final paper #university #college

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silvermoon424 · 1 year

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Hello! I’ve been following your blog for awhile and I have a question. You see this is my first semester in grad school to earn a masters in library science with a specialization in archiving. I absolutely adore all of your manga scans as well as the other scans you continuously find and tag. As part of my archives and manuscripts class I have to find an article that has something to do with a current archive. It would be all too easy to find an article about a historical or political archive but I was wondering if you knew where to find a manga, comics, or graphic novel archive? Or maybe point me in the direction of where to find one? Or perhaps the handle of someone to talk too? My assignment isn’t due till the 17th so I have some time but I thought I’d ask early anyway.

First of all, thank you so much for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoy my work.

Secondly, I do know the Internet Archive contains a rather large digital archive of manga scans. The Internet Archive is a public digital library that does amazing work for the world of media and internet archival; if you haven't heard of them, I definitely recommend looking into them! But yeah, they've digitized and archived quite a lot of manga, comics, and graphic novels as part of their efforts.

I found an article about a new organization ("new" as in May of this year) called the Manga Archive Organization which seems like it will be a more traditional physical archive, but because it's so new it's very hard to find more information on them.

The Library of Congress has an archive of webcomics and a page on their comic collection, idk if that will help.

Finally, Arizona State University has an extensive page on different resources for comic book/graphic novel archives and collections. Just a cursory glance of this page shows me that this would be a great place to look for ideas.

I hope this helps!

#archives #archiving #manga #comic books #internet archive #digital archives

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3mcwriting · 2 years

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Check You Out

He was back again, Captain America.

Though that's not how you actually knew him. You knew him as the shy man that always said please and thank you when checking out his books. The man who would sit in the corner of the library, reading World War II books until you finally recommended some other types to him

He came often, at least 5 times a week always greeting you with a, "good evening, ma'am" or a, "how are you, miss?" Always waiting patiently for a response and smiling shyly at you.

And whenever he picked out a book he'd ask you if you had read it. Oftentimes, you had, but sometimes it would be a book you hadn't read and he would ask, "Well, if you'd like, ma'am, you can read it with me?" His voice would be unsure but always polite.

And on days when there weren't many people, you would accept, sitting with him at the window seat and flipping through the book. And the first time he forgot about his shyness was when your friendship was finally solidified.

He had been checking out a book about medicine.

"I'd like to check out this book, please."

"Of course, so you're interested in the medical field?" you asked him, scanning the book and handing it to him.

"Yes, ma'am, when I was younger we didn't have all this stuff and it's interesting. I had a couple of illnesses that weren't really treatable then and now they are so, it's amazing how much knowledge has been gained." He stopped, looking sheepish. “Sorry, I'll stop. You probably don’t want to hear me ramble.”

"What? No, don't stop. It's nice to see you so passionate about something. Normally you just sit in a corner and read your book, you're very reserved sometimes. Also, I think it’s an intriguing topic."

"Oh, are you interested in medicine too?"

"I'm actually in medical school right now, so, yeah, you could say that."

"Wow…” he breathed, looking awestruck. “That's amazing, so do you think..."

And you had spent the afternoon talking about the wonders of healing people. He was genuinely fascinated by it, seemingly in awe at the possibilities of how a person could heal others.

"So why do you come here?"

"Huh?” he asked, face screwed up in confusion.

"Well, this library is kind of out of the way and there are closer ones to Stark tower."

He gaped, making you laugh. "What? You think I didn't know you're Captain America? The shades and hood don't really hide you all that well."

"I just though since you didn't treat me any different than anyone else you didn't know." He looked embarassed.

"Well I assumed you didn't want to be, you came here to read just like anyone else here so why should I treat you different. But back to my question, why do you come to a library so out of the way?"

"I used to go to this library when I was younger," he said hesitantly.

You nodded. "Has it changed much?"

"Not really, everything is in the same place except the computer tables used to be just more bookshelves. Oh, and the lighting is new," he said, looking around.

Since then, he would always asks for recommendations, and often would stay until you closed up.

You snapped out of your thoughts, looking at the man in front of you. "How can I help you?"

"I'm so glad you asked. Why don't I take you back to my place and you'll find out. How's that sound, baby?"

You wrinkled your nose at the scent of alcohol and BO. "If you're not going to get a book, please leave."

"Oh, don't be like that honey I'm sure we can work something out-"

"She said to leave." An angry voice was heard.

"Chill,man, why do you care? Is that bitch yours? Damn you tapped that ass, you lucky-"

He stopped when a fist collided with his jaw, throwing him to the floor. Steve stood there, glaring at the man with rage in his eyes. "Don't ever call her a bitch and you better not ever go anywhere fucking near her or you'll end up with something worse than a broken jaw."

The sleazy man ran out of the library so fast he tripped out the door, all while holding his jaw and cursing Steve which only made him curse more when it hurt.

"You know, I had that covered. But still, thanks.”

Steve said. “I just can’t believe that after all this time people still feel like they can treat women so lowly. I know you had it covered though, so I’m sorry for making a ruckus in here. It’s just makes me angry.”

"Yeah, I noticed, I've never heard you swear before." Even on the days when he came back after missions and he was clearly stressed he never lashed out.

He flushed. "Sorry about that."

"Don't be, it was amusing. Plus that guy definitely got what he deserved, I'm not the only woman that's been hit on by him while he's drunk off his ass and is about as crude as a caveman."

"He's done that to other women too?” His voice got even angrier.

"Yeah, he's a sleaze."

He was clearly about to go out there and beat the man up, so you grabbed his wrist gently. "If you beat that guy up I'm going to have to suspend you from the library and I don't want to lose my favorite regular."

He blushed, almost forgetting about his previous angry thoughts when you said he was your favorite.

"So, what will you be checking out today?" you asked Steve, stepping behind the counter.

"You." He blurted out, eyes widening when he realised what he had said. "I-I mean, uh I meant-"

You laughed. "Calm down, Rogers, it's ok."

He flushed, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "Well that wasn't how I wanted to ask you out." His eyes widened again, realising yet again what he had said.

You grinned at his expression, "Well how about you ask me out the way you wanted to?"

His jaw dropped, you laughed. This man just couldn't get a break from being shocked. And to you, it was extra hilarious because here was Captain-freaking-America looking like a shocked toddler.

He cleared his throat. "Would you go out with me?"

You winked at him, "I thought you'd never ask."

#steve rodgers x reader #steve rodgers imagine #steve rogers #mcu #mcu x reader #reader insert #marvel x reader

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emchovy · 7 months

Text

Learned about the release of this book real late, (as in, this February, when I decided that I wanted to show my roommate Epithet for the first time) but thankfully that was just in time to preorder a copy of the hardcover release, which finally came.

Or well, it came yesterday, and I'm finished reading it now. It was AMAZING.

The writing style is pretty different from the stuff I normally read, but once I got in the groove, I felt like I didn't need the audiobook (which I'm definitely gonna get eventually) because I could basically hear all the characters in my head. Also, spoilers for the rest of my review. Pick up a copy. You won't regret it.

I say review. This is disconnected rambling. Also, seriously, spoilers for the whole book delivered in a random out-of-context way.

This book is definitely Molly's story more than anything, and beyond that it's a story between Molly and her sister Lorelei. Two kids with epithets, and opposite personalities. There's a really masterful job here of balancing realistic family drama with the fun, villain vs. hero hijinks.

I love a pathetic loser, and so I was immediately taken by Rick Shades, and his quest for friends, to the point I was getting bummed out when he kept getting rebuffed lololol. However, it was all earned in the end. The scene with him and Molly was <3. Also, I am glad he's gonna get a job. Of some sort.

Naven meeting Molly in the street and just agreeing to give her speech training is an incredibly cute concept.

I liked the Neo Trio a lot, but they're surprisingly not the new faves I expected them to be, though I did laugh pretty much every time at the running joke with Feenie and money.

Actually, my favorite new character was probably Lorelei. We love a girl who's making every wrong decision and also just doesn't leave the house anymore and wonders what's wrong. Also, the Martin + Lorelei relationship was also pretty intriguing. He's more supportive of Lorelei, she's got more of his traits, but Lorelei needs someone who'll help her manage better. Martin's vague support of her 'playing', as Molly puts it, is doing more harm than good. I wasn't exactly sure how to take the fact that Martin constructs Lorelei's ideas in the real world, also. Is he plagiarizing? I wouldn't read it that way, but he's also not collaborating with Lorelei, so they could build something together. A relationship that could go either collaborative or parasitic, depending.

Also, I want Lorelei to get better (and I fully believe she will) but I really liked the end. She needs some time in the real world right now, to grapple with her actions. Neven's gentle support was good. Her and Molly need time apart, so that they can be able to be together again.

Gio and Molly remain duo of all time. Every interaction they have is cute and/or funny. Two characters I could probably enjoy watching/reading about doing basically any boring task you can think of and enjoy. Painting a fence, doing laundry, vacuuming, whatever.

Giovanni's complete blindness to romance was so fuckin' funny in this book. Him and Lorelei and him and Crusher were also distinctly different levels of complete obliviousness.

Also, Crusher and Molly, right at the end <3!! Pulling out the stool for her, her getting reassured by the fact she was nervous. Augh. So sweet. I've reread that scene like 4 times. I do hope we get Molly hanging out with more of The Boys. Crusher's coming across like a pretty gentle sweetie, but I'm very curious about how she'll integrate into the larger group.

All of that to say! Good book!! Would recommend! I'm extremely excited for Sweet Escape.

#em reads #epithet erased #GOOD STUFF!

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lulubelle814 · 1 year

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Prank Your Way In

Masterlist

It's never dull being with the God of Mischief. Dani found him intimidating at first, but Loki was smitten from the first moment he saw her, wanting to get to know this magnificent creature. Any time he attempted to approach her, she would scamper away, frustrating him to no end.

After a few failed attempts, he thought about giving up, but Thor would have none of it. He had noticed his brother's attempts and wanted him to be happy, at least have a friend, if not more.

"Don't worry, little brother. She's shy with almost everyone, mostly men. I do not know the exact reason why. Might I suggest talking to Lady Natasha? She and Dani have become good friends. "

"I do not know what you are referring to brother. I was merely attempting to discover if she was worthy of conversation. Apparently she is not."

Rather than allow his older brother to attempt more advice, Loki departed for the training room to blow off some steam from being caught out on his attempts to connect with Dani.

Conjuring up a few dummies, he practiced his knife throwing, not that he wasn't amazing at it already. When he grew tired of that, he took a page out of Roger's book and battled with a punching bag, using his magic to make it strong enough for an asgardian, or jotun in his case.

"She's not afraid of you if that's what you're thinking. Well, not your past anyways. "

Loki continued to punch the bag. "I do not know what you mean.

Natasha stayed in the doorway. "We've all seen you try to talk to her. It's ok. The problem isn't you specifically."

"Then, pray tell, what is the problem?" He continued on with the bag.

"She has severe trust issues with men. It's not my place to talk about it, but it takes a very long time for her to be comfortable being around men, much less talk to them. That's why she's always so quiet. She barely talks to Tony, and he's the one who rescued her. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Loki gave up with the pouncing bag and finally turned to face Nat. "It's not hard to deduce that she would naturally be afraid of me simply due to what I did a few years ago here in New York. "

"To be honest, when we found out you were coming here, it's the only time I've seen her speak up in front of everyone. She told them that you deserve a second chance and even she could tell from various footage that you were not yourself. The way she said it was that it was like someone locked a mask on you. I don't know how she knew, but she did. It's why Stark said yes to you staying with us."

That made his heart tingle. Maybe there was hope. He was grateful to being out of the dungeons in Asgard. Spending about 5 years there in mostly solitude was not what he would call a good time.

"I…..uh…..I would like to thank her if I could. If you would pass it on to her, I would most appreciate it. I would like to talk to her myself, but she seems to run when I try to approach her. So do you have any recommendations?"

Nat thought for a moment. "She loves a good prank. Not on her, but watching them. I know that's right up your alley. Just don't pull any on me, and we'll call it even."

"Thank you, Lady Natasha. I am most grateful for your suggestion."

Nat nodded and turned to leave. "I'm doing this for her, not you. If you hurt her in any way, I will come after you. "

"I would expect nothing less. "

It started out small. When he knew Dani was looking, he threw out a small spell to change Thor's hair hot pink. She giggled, and her laugh was music to Loki’s ears. Thor didn't car. He was used to his brother's pranks, but he was glad to see Dani laughing and would happily be the brunt of Loki’s jokes to brighten her day.

A couple of days later, Stark came to the kitchen a little too quiet, and a little too green. When he spotted Loki, he started to launch into a tirade until he heard Dani laughing, something he had never heard before.

He and Loki looked to Dani and then back to each other. "Watch it, reindeer games." Loki looked the perfect picture of sheer innocence paired with pouty lips and doe eyes causing Dani to laugh even harder.

Later that day, he contemplated what prank to pull on Bruce but decided against it. He had no desire to have another encounter with the Hulk, even by accident.

The next day, every time Clint spoke, he would cluck like a chicken, but only for an hour or so. Everyone got a good laugh out of that, but it was her laugh that he cherished.

That evening, he was reading his book in the library and contemplating his next prank. Oh how much he wanted to hear Dani laugh some more. Next thing he knew, he was screaming at the top of his lungs, Dani laughing harder than ever. She managed to sneak up on him and blast an air horn in his left ear.

When he finally caught his breath and regained his wits, he saw how much Dani was laughing, noting the ear plugs she had donned to protect herself.

"I cannot recall the last time someone successfully snuck up on me for a prank like that. I must commend you. "

Still laughing, she spoke to him for the first time. "That was so much fun. "

Her voice was the most beautiful melody he'd ever heard and craved to speak with her more.

"If you would like, perhaps we could team up on pranks? I'm sure You have many great ideas we could accomplish together. "

From that evening, they became thick as thieves. They glued Banner's door shut. Loki agreed to that as Bruce would likely just call Tony for help.

Loki enchanted Thor's hair and cape to change colors every hour for 24 hours. Of course the colors were matching, and Thor's cape stayed attached to him whether he liked it or not.

Dani wanted to prank Natasha, but Loki had made a promise. So without interfering, Dani placed bubble wrap under Nat's bath mat when she was out running errands.

Of course, when Nat went to take a shower later, she saw what Dani set up but played along anyways. It was worth it when she heard Dani's laughter from the hallway.

Finally, Loki was in the common room. Dani was passing through as Dani came in, going to sit on the other side of the couch.

From the kitchen, Tony started yelling as mounds of soap bubbles spread everywhere out of the dishwasher. Both Loki and Dani laughed hard at that. She laughed so hard that she didn't notice she ended up next to Loki, her face buried in his arm while they continued to laugh together. This, however, did not pass by Loki. It was a sign that maybe she was becoming more comfortable around him.

"That was a good one, darling. "

She looked up at him confused. "I thought that was you? "

"Definitely not me. "

They noticed Nat nearby, observing. "What? I wanted in on the pranks. " She smirked as she sauntered away.

As their laughter died down, Dani realized she was comfortable with Loki and didn't move. He took notice and was going to enjoy this as long as he could.

After a couple minutes, he spoke up.

"This has been so much fun. You are quite the prankster."

"As are you mister God of Mischief. "

He smiled. "Lady Natasha advised me you are the reason I was allowed to come stay in the tower, and I wanted to say thank you. I know I'm a monster but…"

She looked up at him, putting a hand over his mouth. "You deserve it. I've known monsters, real monsters. Monsters are those that are of their own mind and still choose to abuse people. I could tell by your eyes that you weren't yourself. I'm glad you are now. "

Loki was surprised at her statement. Whomever hurt her would pay, but he would not force the story from her until she was ready. "That truly means a great deal. I believe they can this the beginning of a beautiful friendship if I remember the line correctly? "

Dani beamed. She loved Casablanca, and somehow he found out about it, watching it late one night.

"You would be correct sir. "

And it was the beginning, not just of a friendship but two kindred spirits bonding, discovering something more and developing into true love. After that day, they could always be found together.

#loki #loki odinson #loki marvel #mcu loki #loki laufeyson #loki god of mischief #loki x reader fluff #loki x y/n #loki x you #loki x reader

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