#a strange bookclub of sorts

[probssomethingorother]

Post- Silver Lake Brainrot

I've wanted to put one of these together for a long time (..a long, long time 🎶), and just never did it. With the new year upon us I thought it would be a great time to finally give it a go.

If you are like me and need to know what happened after Joel and Ellie walked away from Silver Lake, here are some fics to scratch that post-8/winter itch. For now I will just list them below, but I may eventually compile them into like a public Ao3 bookmark collection (if I can figure out that magic). [Started! Click the link]

These are going to be the mostly canon compliant/canon-vibes fics, and that's not to say other alternate version of event fics aren't good, I'm just not focusing on them atm here :)

Under the cut, the list is broken down into five fic length categories. Stories are not in any sort of order within each group, and I was only pulling from Archive, so if there is a Tumblr original floating around out there that you are surprised didn't make the list, that is why. In the same vein, I know I probably missed a lot of Ao3 fics. If you think something should be included (ao3 or Tumblr) just let me know!

And lastly, if you click n' read on any of these please try to give the writer some love via kudos or comments! ✨ Spread the good vibes!!

[Disclaimer - If I could find the author's Tumblr I have @'d them, but if I couldn't it's their ao3 name only. If you know an author's tumblr and I haven't linked it, or I have chose the wrong tumblr, or you just don't want your tumblr linked, please feel free to reach out and I will edit!]

𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐨....

🅰 🅵🆄🅻🅻 🅰🆂🆂 🅱🅾🅾🅺 (100k+)

>> please don't go by @toointojoelmiller

🅱🅸🅶 🅱🅾🆈 🅲🅻🆄🅱 (10k+)

>> Understanding Your Daughter Who isn't Really Your Daughter by @onlinepigeon

>> Back & Forth by @probssomethingorother

>> Dinosaur by @femmefacetious

>> I've come to know (life is a slow, beautiful heartbreak) by @the-relvin-temult

>> In the After by @probssomethingorother

>> and with you alone by @penandinkprincess

🅼🅴🅰🆃🆈 (5-10K)

>> Awake and Dreaming by @wordswordswords7

>> Let My Arms Bring You Comfort by @ellies-little-gun

>> There's no need to be brave by stained_glass_horizon

>> when she needed me i wasn't around by @periwinklwt

>> drifting by some_pomegranate_tea

>> i start for the great temple by @march-flowerr 

>> cold is the water by @marceltheshellwithflipflopson

>> fix me up by survivorellie

>> if we make it through december (we'll be fine) by @marceltheshellwithflipflopson

>> teeth as sharp as cathedral spires by @actual-changeling

>> life, in the after by @dad-joel

>> things we lost to the flames by @dancingonmoonbeams

>> you’re my baby, say it to me by alternatemind

>> Winter's Edge by mikichi

>> the view between villages by @howlingbuchanan

>> Silver As The Snow (it must be cold)  by @cgetbrmj

>> Keep Going for You by @someone-worth-racing-for

>> i’ll be coming home soon (long as i can see the light) by @outer-edges

>> This Bitter Earth by mahuika

>> Back to the Middle of Nowhere by @wordswordswords7

>> triage by @penandinkprincess

🆂🅼🅰🅻🅻 🅱🆄🆃 🅼🅸🅶🅷🆃🆈 (3-5k)

>> hold me twenty minutes to sleep (and some things you just can't speak about) by @compassinmyhead

>> Violent Heart by @timelesslords

>> I'll See Us Through by GardenerSnake8822

>> Please Hold Me While I Break Apart by @ellies-little-gun

>> there is fear in love by @durincorporated

>> never let you down again by @timelesslords 

>> nothing but bones by gravefaeries

>> a wall between us and the world by @afjakwrites

>> these things eat at your bones (and drive your young mind crazy) by @outer-edges

>> Push through it by @probssomethingorother

>> Let Me Help You by arnabus

>> i'm beyond repair, let me be by thisisthehill_i_die_on

>> rambles and promises and bedtime stories by some_pomegranate_tea

>> never let me go by @ggardengirl 

>> to see what i see (woe is me) by awoodenthicket

>> Reassurance by little_mack101

>> facultative by @penandinkprincess

>> it's how we show love by @outer-edges

>> care (how love is shown) by cosmic_idiot1

>> you love me so hard and i still can’t sleep  by  @marceltheshellwithflipflopson

>> aftermath by @boopernatural

>> With every heartbeat I have left I’ll defend your every breath (I promise I’ll do better) by @memelovescaps

🆀🆄🅸🅲🅺 🅲🅾🅽🆂🆄🅼🅿🆃🅸🅾🅽 (<3k)

>> i’ve always had a violent heart by @mattsbooknook

>> The Parable of the Lost Sheep by riversiders

>> Aftermath by @purplesunrisefanfic

>> how our souls, born to heal, become so prone to die? by @apuliae

>> A Violent Heart by @val-creative

>> No Apologies by @mentallyinlothlorien

>> Aftermath by galaxiesreader

>> These Hands are Clumsy Not Clever by my_immortal_parody

>> never goes away (but it all works out) by @timelesslords 

>> Cargo by @mentallyinlothlorien

>> so slip your hand inside my glove (hold me) by @dulce-chisme

>> it's how we show love by @outer-edges

>> Lullaby by @sillysunshinesstuff

>> unforgiven by @eedsknees

>> Endure & Survive by iheartjoelmiller

>> you may bury my body, down by the highway side  by ChristmasEve12

>> Touch Me Not by Sokeyy

>> Aftermath by HurtandComfortWriter

>> Broken Violent Heart by ARightFarPiece

>> Indelible Scars, Pivotal Marks. by thefactimadethissaystomuch

>> every night i dream of you by @anpantae

>> Winter's Fury by @dinobotbitch

>> The Aftermath by lettucehater007

>> you are my purpose by prefectrainflowers

>> Be Fruitful and Multiply by Rainy_Rayne

>> do you ever think of me and my two hands? by @eedsknees

[revenantghost]

your posts on tristamp got me thinking about smth again ((and idk if you've talked about this already, but anyway))

the existence of the files on vash and knives is so strange to me??? if we're to believe that rem meant to hide their existence as independent plants ((based on her telling knives not to use his powers in front of other humans)) then why create files that outs them as plants?? and if it wasn't rem who created them then who?? BILL??!! it scratches my brain...

but yea crazy...ALSO I love your bookclub posts OUGH YOUR BRAIN <3

I haven't talked about it! BUT, OH, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT IT!!!

Not enough to make any post on it other than general confusion but boy, I think you're onto something. I'm gonna put this under a cut for some Trimax spoilers that Tristamp has foreshadowed will come to pass, so might actually be Tristamp spoilers (but this is Orange, they surprise me at every turn, so WHO KNOWS)

It's very plausible Conrad made those files.

We know that Knives knows Conrad from before the big fall as seen in episode... eleven? Where we see Tesla's eye on Knives's wrist. And knowing all the shenanigans the twins get up to, Knives probably accidentally woke everyone up again like he did in Trimax. And Conrad stayed behind to meet them after all of his regrets with Tesla (as seen in him collapsing when Knives shows up with that eye).

But that fucker. He has a picture while standing next to Tesla in his office to this day while ADVOCATING FOR GENOCIDE. Morals? Basic human decency? He sure as hell doesn't know them. He knew Tesla, it's hinted that he was at least fond of her, maybe loved her like a daughter in Tristamp, and even made some sort of fucked up replacement of her in Elendira. And he still let her become that tortured, tormented mess in those test tubes. He still let her stay "ALIVE," even though plants can obviously die.

Yes, Rem's access code gave them entry into those documents, but that doesn't mean she created them in the first place. Rem sure as hell isn't faultless in all this, but this strikes me as Conrad's m.o.

Legit gasped alive and came to the same conclusion before I even read you suggesting it was this asshole so LMAO GREAT MINDS??? Sorry if this is nonsensical, I just gasped and started typing.

Oh man, I feel like I'm making more shitposts than anyone or anything else in bookclub asdlkjansdlkjn But I'm happy you're enjoying the bookclub insanity :D <3

[coffeeblack75]

He goes back to Venice by @caladeniablue​

Welcome to the Voyager Bookclub Strokin’ for 2021 – I’m a lil bit late getting the Tumblr party started on this one – apologies!

Our first fic in the limelight is the beautifully melancholy He goes back to Venice by @caladeniablue​. History, memory, love and grief are explored in this post-Endgame story set in the Beyerverse (Full Circle) in which Chakotay tries to come to terms with Kathryn Janeway’s death, visiting the city in which they had planned to meet before she was killed.

A Star Trek Voyager fic.

Brought to you by Strokin’, a fortnightly fic rec where the Voyager Bookclub community celebrates a writer so they can drown in sweet, sweet love, affection and ego strokin’. Because they deserve it.

—— 

Some comments from @voyager-book-club​ members for @caladeniablue​:

CAMIR “This story is very wise … it struck a special cord with me regarding how Chakotay deals with grief. I even think you managed to incorporate the five phases of grief and I felt that I went the same way as him - visiting familiar places even if only mentally, seeking spiritual and religious guidance, trying to love and let go at the same time and finally grim acceptance. … Thanks for this lovely fic. I really enjoyed reading it.”

@amoderngirl​ “The most beautiful thing is the way Chakotay thaws over time - at first, he can barely stand the Venice program, and he hovers at the edges. Slowly, he opens himself up to the city, the people. You convey time passing so effectively in few words! …  Also, this is my absolute headcanon for how Chakotay views Earth. There are few ancestors’ stories here, few dreams. Chakotay isn’t home on Earth, he’s in a foreign land. He can make these astute observations, at the cost of being an ex-pat of sorts. … You gave Chakotay the depth he deserved, and gave us great moments to share with him.” @allthewians “I like the way you're structuring it around the months passing, and especially as it as been noticed before, that he can't bear to go back to the real thing until in the end. The mood is so dark and heavy with grief, and you portray it beautifully.”

@grace-among-the-stars​ “So powerful and hit me right in the feels … Any fic that puts Chakotay through the ringer has me and I absolutely loved how you wrote the depths of his grief. Very realistic and you can sense how raw he feels. I loved how you wrote this journey and how Venice itself is a central character. His relationship with this place that was once hope and now despair, is clear and devastating to see. I can imagine your words come to life and see this on screen. Beautiful, thank you for sharing.”

Servalan “I think the way Chakotay deals with his grief works well in this story … you can think you’ll know how you’ll deal with loss but you truly can’t know until you go through it and some folks react the way you might expect but others? … Sometimes he’s just going through the motions and other times something strikes him, like being in a place of worship that is nothing like what he believes, but he finds a strange comfort in that. … It’s a well done portrait of where he is in this process.”

@coffeeblack75​ “[T]he story feels like a mediation on history – both personal and societal – and time and memory slipping through our fingers, and the pain of that. … This is a story about the human condition, really – about all the big questions we have and coming to terms with those, and it’s beautiful and melancholy and distressing and comforting all at the same time.

[jesuisnilunnilautre]

y!!! on ice hannibal AU and The Old Guard social media??? Your wips sound great i'd love to hear more about them

thanks so much babe!!! 💞💞💞

yoi hannibal au

ok so this sort of stemmed from me having Emotions TM about dumb distinguished gays hannibal lector/victor nikiforov getting completely swept off their feet by strange anti-social nerds will graham/yuuri katsuki

because like, in canon, before they met their beloved weirdos, they were bored, which for them meant death. for hannibal, because serial killers get careless and then are caught, and for vitya, because skaters get stuck, and then lose all joy from the ice.

plus there’s the physical similarities, with the grey haired eastern european rich ass suited up Very Important And Well Known men, and then their brown hair glasses soft faced loner husbands who love their dogs.

so i went hmmmmmuuushhem together

the result is true crime podcast host/investigative specialist yuuri katsuki hyperfixating on a serial killer who just-so-happens to be viktor nikiforov, the eccentric luthier (??? maybe??? i haven’t decided lol, something to do with music) who has been attemting to woo a blushing and only slightly oblivious yuuri. phichit and chris are clutching each other in the background. i haven’t decided if they’re in on it yet, whichever one has more comedic potential.

tog social media au

this was born from the various posts on this here hellsite about the immortal gang having social media accounts, and booker running a super pretentious booktube/commentary channel, and i couldn’t resist the urge to drabble.

plus, my mom is in various bookclubs, three of which are anti-racist/revolutionary in nature, and she likes to talk to me about who said what and how this one lady didn’t read this month but insisted on talking the whole time, or about how this one dude isn’t quite radicalized yet so he doesn’t know what a proletariat is, or how this one person said this stupid thing, and as a result i’ve taken to imagining with great pleasure how each member of the immortal squad would absolutely flame them.

they are, of course, still immortal vigilantes, so every once in a while they’ll say something that’s normal but slightly to the left, like “nicolo and i have been having this argument for centuries now but i am right and he knows it,” or they’ll make some comment about how oscar wilde was a prick who made terrible tea, or they’ll talk to each other in like a proto-indo-iranian language or something, and since they put subtitles on all their videos and they’re not like, Serious videos, most of their audience is like ‘haha jokes so funny’

but there’s a small group that are like, grad students and super nerds (lead, of course, by copley), who hear that stuff and go wait a damn minute, “there’s literally no record of that thing you said about mozart” or “THAT LANGUAGE HAS BEEN DEAD FOR CENTURIES??? WHAT THE FUCK?????” or “that is an honest to god rodin” or “those weapons sure are suspiciously accurate,” plus all the pictures and paintings of them dating back actual millenia

so they’ve been added to the list of immortals alongside john mulaney, anne hatheaway, hozier, florence welch, paul rudd, jeff goldblum, wang yibo, xiao zhan, keanu reeves, etc. (these people are, in fact, Actual Immortals. they get coffee sometimes and rant about how much english sucks.)

[hqbookclub]

☆*:.｡.𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑽𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝑴𝑶𝑶𝑵.｡.:*☆

The moon is brightest during the start of Autumn. Join us in HQ Bookclub's first event as we celebrate this season together! 

𝑹𝑼𝑳𝑬𝑺.｡.:*☆

- This event is Tumblr-wide, meaning that you don't have to be in our server to join. However, feel free to join us if you're 15+ over here! 

- You can either write a piece, or create any sort of graphic (fanart, GIFs, etc), as long as it fits one of the prompts provided. You can submit more than one piece!

- Please do not plagiarise any work. Check our reblog rules here for further details on this.

- Do tag @hqbookclub in your Tumblr post and explicitly state the prompt that you are using, so that we can add it to the masterlist of creations at the end! DO NOT tag #hqbookclub in your tags, as we may not see the tags in time.

- All works must be SFW. NSFW includes explicit sexual acts, heavy gore etc. Cursing, mild sexual jokes, and the safe use of alcohol/drugs are okay! All triggers must be tagged. Send us an ask/DM if you’re not sure that your piece fits our regulations for being NSFW or not.

- The end of this event is on the 11th of October, 12pm EST. Any creations that we are tagged in after this will no longer be added to the masterlist, though they will be reblogged as per normal.

We're so excited to see your creations!  If you have any questions on this, feel free to send us an ask/DM!

Love, HQ Bookclub 

[𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺 𝑼𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑪𝑼𝑻]

𝑨𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆.｡.:*☆ - Fairy Tale - Royalty - Social Media - House/Roommates - Mythology

𝑺𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒔.｡.:*☆ - A and B play ‘Spin The Bottle’ with a group of friends - A shakes their fist angrily at God B, who in turn decides to do something about that - A and B are rival streamers, but don’t know each other’s true identity - A works at a convenience shop, and B has a running streak for buying strange items - A and B go out on a road trip 

𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒖𝒆.｡.:*☆ - "You know I can see you, right…?" - "Do promises ever mean anything to you?" - "This is illegal, we're gonna get arrested. Why am I friends with you? Why did I agree to this?" - "I hope so.” - "It’s not that I don’t appreciate the thought, but..."

[𝑭𝑨𝑸] 

gif cred to @sugacookiies and text overlay cred to @gallickingun

[k-odyssey]

I’ve only seen two episode of When the Weather Is Fine and I’m already wanting to write about it. This drama is pulling me in effortlessly. I had no particular expectation from it. I don’t think I even read the synopsis. Or if I did, it was long enough ago that I forgot about it. And I am hooked.

There’s something masterful about how we’re introduced to the story and its characters. No one explains anything out loud for the benefit of the viewer. We get the story from what happens on screen and characters speaking to each other. This is my very favourite sort of storytelling and it’s done so well here. It feels like being invited into another world, with all of the fun of figuring out what’s happening from the clues being dropped here and there.

I think that family is going to be at the centre of the story. Park Min Young’s character seems to have a complicated history, given the contents of that rumour at school back in the day, and how she lives with her aunt. Cute neighbour’s family looks perfect from the outside. There’s probably something to be uncovered there too, though. Like what happened in the time that he disappeared. But yeah, I like that he has that loving family, perhaps sometimes suffocatingly so. And that to others (I assume) it might seem kind of childish or strange to be so close to his parents at this age but not to her. She doesn’t seem to have that sort of anchor herself, and the closest thing is her grandmother’s house and her memories of her, and I guess her aunt. I think she’s fascinated and charmed by this, perhaps even envies him a little. I don’t know, I’m intrigued!

I like that there’s a general trust between neighbours, where you kind of borrow stuff without asking. And yet the aunt doesn’t seem to know anything about that young man next door when she’s asked. But then the pharmacist asks about her headaches to her niece. In a way there’s nowhere to hide, yet people seem to be keeping secrets.

I like the bookclub because it’s a mix of people of all ages and various interests and they kind of just meet and share things they love and that is always lovely.

I like that this place is far away from the city and feels like its own little universe where different rules apply. In that world there can be a bookshop where nobody seems to ever buy books, and an ice-skating rink in the middle of nowhere, and a cute insomniac neighbour who writes kind words online to strangers at night.

Anyway, this drama better be good because I’m invested.

[boymeetsweevil]

sleeping bags (and other unconventional cures for insomnia)

Grouping: Reader x Hoseok

Word Count: ~2.5k

Warnings: i think it makes the cut for PG-13, idk... Sort of enemies to lovers if you squint, cuddling!!! BUT also talk about money troubles and insomnia. Sorry for the weird title

Summary: This is my contribution for the @bangtan-bookclub holiday fic swap. This is based off the prompt “snowed in with your enemy at a ski resort” and this is for @hoseokiehopie. Hey Megan! Sorry for the wait, I hope you’re having a good holiday season! 

A/N: also thank you to @b-angst-tan for reading my first 3 drafts and getting me to redirect my frustrations

“Get in the bed, please.”

“N-no.”

The sound of teeth chattering from the cold is just barely audible above the sound of the fire that Hoseok started earlier in the evening.

“Please get in the bed. They said the temperature’s gonna drop another 10 degrees before midnight.” “I’ll focus better if I’m at the table. Stop trying to sabotage me.”

“Who’s trying to sabotage you?” 

Hoseok’s voice booms over the small space of the cabin, but you ignore him in favor of scanning through your 15th court case and scribbling on a notepad. The cold is starting to get to you, but you fight through it as best you can. Your fingers seem to have other plans, though. The pencil you were holding drops for the millionth time because the cold has made your fingers rigid. You bend down to grab the pencil and hear Hoseok sigh, followed by the sound of his approaching footsteps. He swipes up the pencil just before you can grab it. “Get in the bed or I’m shutting your computer down.”

“Stop! I’m on a strict schedule.”

He examines you further for a second before throwing his hands up. “Your lips are turning blue. That’s it, I’m taking your computer.” “If you so much as touch my computer, I’ll—” In that moment, your computer screen turns black and shuts off. You’d ignored the low battery warnings for too long, apparently. Hoseok laughs and shakes his head at the irony while you look on in horror. At this rate, you’d have no time for a power sleep if you wanted to finish all the cases before daybreak. “Serves you right.” The shock of your computer dying makes you pliant enough to allow Hoseok to maneuver you away from the table. He brings you to the side of the bed before getting in on his own side and quickly shimmying back into his sleeping bag. It seems to be professional grade from the logo emblazoned on the body of the bag. Not that it matters to you at all. Stubborn, you sit stiffly at the side of the bed, back ramrod straight and lap facing away from Hoseok. “Are you really going to just sit there all night? You might as well try and get some sleep since you can’t work.” “I can’t not work, Hoseok. If I don’t, I can’t prove to Professor Kim that I should be going with him to visit the client to gather testimonies.”

“Why can’t you just go with the flow,” he asks as you run to your bag to see if the printed copies of the cases are there. “Not all of us live a life where good things just fall into our laps. Some of us have to work for it.” He watches as you rifle through your bag several times. There are no printouts to be found and you walk back to the bed with a defeated slump in your shoulders. “I don’t understand why you work so hard, though. You’d probably do fine even if you weren’t first in line for everything. And you’d probably still get into a good firm even if you didn’t participate in all the law extracurriculars available on campus.” You flop down onto your back because there’s nothing else you can do. The wood grain on the ceiling makes an interesting pattern from this vantage point. Too bad it won't get you un-screwed. “I can’t do the bare minimum. I’m a scholarship student. Everyone already thinks I don’t belong at the school because I’m a freeloader.” You make air quotes to the ceiling. “I can’t not be rich and then not get good grades.” “That…makes sense, but does it have to be number one?” You nod. “Why?” You shrug, hopeless. “No one can say anything bad about you if you’re number one.” Hoseok tilts his head and looks at you. Really looks at you. You look a little more frazzled than usual after having the week that you’ve had. First, the toughest professor on campus tasked you to work with Hoseok for the rest of the school year as partners in his student research team. Only one person is ever ahead of you in terms of test scores, GPA, or being fast-tracked to the best internship positions and its Hoseok. Hoseok is, for all intents and purposes, your competition and he doesn’t even see it because he doesn’t ever have to try to earn his number one position. He’s rich and brilliant and chill and you hate it. Everything got slightly worse when the first task of the year was for the two of you to go spend 3 days in isolation at a ski resort. The original intent was so you could survey the suite your professor booked before he went there with an important potential client of his firm. But the peak of suckiness then came when you realized you were given the keys to the wrong lodging: an economy cabin for 1 instead of the luxury suite that could comfortably house 8. Things went further downhill when you couldn’t duck out of the resort to go do outside work at home because a sudden blizzard struck. And since you didn’t think you were staying, you didn’t even pack for the weather.

Now you are trying to meditate away the chill that was seeping into your bones. Somewhere, in the back of your mind, you knew when you were getting dressed this morning that just a sweat-suit and a windbreaker wouldn’t be enough for the weather at a ski resort, regardless of how long you were staying.

There’s nothing you can do now, as you wait for morning to come and hope the constant chattering doesn’t make your teeth fall out. “You didn’t pack a blanket or anything?” “No,” you sigh. Another large shiver wracks your body and Hoseok can’t help but feel something inside him reaching out to you. “I thought I would just stop by and get the inspection over with in a few hours and leave.” “And you don’t want try going to sleep?”

You lock eyes with him and immediately tense up. “I can’t,” you whisper. Your voice is muffled through your hands while you breathe onto them to warm them up.

Everything about the moment is oddly conflicting. You’re so frustrated and so cold, but Hoseok’s gaze is so sympathetic that it feels like its burning holes through your lame knitted beanie. Combined with the dull yellow firelight cast on his already bronzed skin and his coppery hair, he seems like warmth itself. No, he feels like the sun because you can’t bear to look at him. Briefly, you wonder if it’s possible to cry when your tears are frozen.

None of these feelings make any sense.

His brows raise slightly and he turns to you in his sleeping bag. You turn subconsciously towards him as well. “What do you mean ‘you can’t’?” “Oh, come on,” you snort. “You’ve never heard those rumors that people spread about me? Or heard the jokes about me never sleeping and being addicted to coffee?” “Those are true?” His mouth drops open at the prospect of you actually popping pills before zooming around the library at night like a sped-up ghost. “Well...no. I just can’t ever really sleep. I think it's insomnia, but I never got it officially checked out.” “Why not?” “Couldn’t pay the consultation fees even at Campus Health because I had to waive my health insurance. And I can’t get a job right now, otherwise I’ll jeopardize my scholarship.” You play with a loose thread on the bare mattress underneath you. The shame makes your hands itchy and restless. “Oh.” The sounds of the logs Hoseok put into the fireplace earlier getting eaten by the flames takes over for a while. It’s almost nice, but it doesn’t do much for you. For Hoseok, though, the sound is lulling him to sleep. He’s a natural early-riser and sleeps early as a result. Knowing that you’ll be up all night with nothing to do, trying not to freeze makes him feel awful. He unzips the side zipper on his sleeping back and scoots closer to you on the bed. “Get in.” “What? Hoseok, I can’t.”

“I’m not asking if you can. You’ll freeze if you don’t. You don’t have any other options, and the guilt will probably kill me faster than the cold will kill you.” When you don’t budge, he tries one more time. “Get. In.” “I won’t fit.” “Yes, you will. This is an extra-large. Get in.” “This is so inappropriate.”

Hoseok snorts in reply before tugging on the loose fabric of your shirt as a silent ‘hurry up’. Even still, you wait until he’s opened the bag up more and then wriggle your way in so there’s still enough room between you to be respectable. Given that he’s had some time in the bag by himself, it’s already significantly warmer than the air outside it. As soon as you’re fully in you realize the tapered shape of the bag means your feet have to touch Hoseok’s. Somehow that’s more intimate than the fact that your faces are less than a foot apart. You’re still shivering, though. Hoseok takes note and moves closer to you.

“What are you doing?”

His cheeks color. “I’m just—you seem like you’re still cold.” “R-right.” He presses closer and you instinctively look up to gauge his features. With the fire slowly dying, the light has changed. This soft red light still suits him and lends a subtle softness to his otherwise sharp bone structure. His hair also matches the flames crackling in the background.  The sound of his breathing is deep and steady, but slow. His arm brushes yours as he shifts onto his side. Everything is very...cozy. You’re struck by a strange feeling. It’s a familiar one, but you can’t remember where you’ve felt it before. While you contemplate, Hoseok takes a moment to look you over as well. In all truth, he’s sad he hasn’t gotten to know this much about you until now. He didn’t want to believe the rumors that he had admittedly heard floating around since his first year in the law program. Part of it was because he knew what it was like to be the subject of jealous rumors. He knew what people said about him and his parents’ wealth and his accidental success both in school and outside of it. But he also just didn’t believe some of the stuff he’d heard about you. They called you the girl that never sleeps. He supposes that’s because, like him, you’re always in the top 1% of class. But he’d also heard people say that you’re the girl who breezes through the stacks late at night like the ghosts rumored to haunt the ancient school halls. The girl who allegedly has 4 different fake prescriptions for Adderall and extra-strength caffeine pills. The girl who is always the first one to show up for classes, for exams, for office hours, for the legal colloquium meetings. Perhaps the name is the only accurate thing attributed to you. He knows your pride wouldn’t let you take the easy way out and that, as a result, you could be found at any hour outside of class in the stacks, studying. But he can’t imagine you being as conniving as everyone makes you out to be. Just a little insecure and a little sleep-deprived. The dark circles under your eyes that are always there are a clear sign of the price you pay to keep your high spot in class among your cohorts. It’s a little sad.

Hoseok finds himself wondering what you look like when you’re carefree and smiling. He wants to know what you look like when you’re just lying in a patch of sunlight because you can and there’s nothing you want more. He wants to see what you look like when your eyes are drooping with contentedness. “You’re staring. Is there something on my face?” He snaps out of his musings and realizes he’s been spacing out while staring directly at your forehead for some time now. When he shakes his head, you only give him a suspicious look before you turn your back to him. “Let’s give the sleep thing a try, okay? If it works, tomorrow I’ll let you read all your cases unbothered.”

He sets his phone on airplane mode to conserve battery since the storm killed the power. He sets the phone alarm next and then gets up as carefully as he can without letting too much cold air in so he can extinguish the fire. By the time he comes back to the bed, you’re already missing his heat. You’re tempted to turn to face him again so you can seek the warmth out at the source, but the potential misunderstandings would be too much for you to deal with right now. So you settle for scooting back an inch or two until his body heat radiates more strongly against your back.

“I’m just cold. Don’t read into this too much.” You’re glad that he can’t see the mortified way your face heats up in embarrassment.

“I won’t,” he says to you before slinging an arm around your middle and bringing you closer. “As long as you don’t misinterpret this either.”

“You’re still cold?”

“Nope,” he says, popping the syllable.

Then, for the first time in months, you feel the cottony weight of sleep taking over your body. Suddenly you can’t seem to care that you haven’t finished reading the 30 court cases you brought with you to be prepared for the meeting next week. All you care about is letting the feeling wash over you until you end up somewhere else. The last thing you see before your eyes shut is Hoseok’s hand pulling the hood of the sleeping bag over both of your heads.

When you wake up, you’re cuddling Jung Hoseok like your life depends on it. Somehow you’ve migrated completely on top of him, with his chest pillowing your head and your leg thrown across his. His arm is still wrapped around your middle, though it’s more tightly holding you than before. You hold your breath and wait for the embarrassment to come rushing in, but it never does. Instead all you can focus on is the fact that your head feels clearer than it has in a long while. In fact, your whole body feels more refreshed. 

Reluctantly, you try to pull away, but the arm Hoseok had thrown over you squeezes you lightly. You freeze up in his grip and he relaxes his hold a bit. “Sorry for, uh, getting in your space,” you mumble into the fabric of his thick sleep shirt. “Are you uncomfortable?” “Actually? No.” He shifts so he can roll over and rest his cheek on the top of your head. “Let’s sleep in, then.”

“But shouldn’t we talk about—”

“Do you wanna get dinner with me as soon as we’re not stranded here?”

You stammer for a second and Hoseok takes the moment to adjust the sleeping bag around the two of you once more. Under the cover of darkness, he probes again.

“So, dinner?”

[booksandyass]

Nightborn continues where Mageborn left off and the world is just as magical and dangerous in the sequel🔥 This time however Grace and Bastien are in a relationship and the book follows them together as they try and overcome some CRAZZZZY obstacles, world ending, psycho goddess sisters, possession by dark entities, drugged marriages.... Yeah it's a crazy ride! 🙈 Whilst I absolutely loved being back in this world I did feel like the book could be condensed a bit more I sort of felt like it was too long. Which is strange because the book is action packed and has plenty of plot twists 🤷 Certain areas I feel needed more time spent on them such as Grace's recovery from Bastien's attempted murder, more info on the Zephyr that lost control, more backstory into why Bastien became totally human. The pacing was overall very good and the plot line was brilliant! I still enjoyed the characters particularly the introduction of Rynn. I would have preferred more tension between Grace and Bastien as they tried to navigate their relationship because it didn't feel as deep as I would've liked given their past and the events that happened. 🤔 Overall it was an average good way to pass time 😊 . . . . . . . . . . #nightborn #mageborn #epicfantasy #highfantasy #fantasybooks #fantasy #book #books #bookish #bibliophile #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookblogger #bookstagram #booknerd #booklover #bookaddict #bookishlove #bookcommunity #bookclub #bookgram #bookishfeature #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #bookworm #bookwormlife #goodreads #welovebooks #readersofinstagram #ipreview via @preview.app (at Sydney, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBMV0X5gzi1/?igshid=1uby5ho3jpmrf

[probssomethingorother]

Several months ago I compiled this list of post-winter/Silver Lake fics, and at that time, I said I would eventually try to transfer it all over to Ao3 in a bookmark or collection of some sort.

✨TODAY IS FINALLY THE DAY ✨

Post Pages: An After Silver Lake Fic Repository

I have made a Last of Us Ao3 Collection specifically for those fill-in-the-blank fics we all crave.

It is currently an open but moderated collection, so come join and add to it with me! I have bookmarked folks' fics from the OG list into the collection, but also please feel free to go in and add your own works directly to the collection! The more the merrier!

I will also be bookmarking new 8ers that I see on ao3 into the collection too. If this collection starts to pop off, maybe (BIG MAYBE I am bad at follow through) I will do a round up at the end of each month highlighting the new additions.

When adding/bookmarking a work into the Collection it should pop up pretty quickly if you type "Post Pages" :)

HAPPY READING!

[Side note: Yes, I know the name is lowkey horrible but I tried??]

REBLOG IF YOU CAN TO SPREAD THE BRAINROT :)

[antoinettevcardenas]

all sorts of feels for this book of botanical beauty - LA FLOWER MARKET @mansurgavriel ‘s first book project photographed by Tanya Posternak and Zhenya Posternak. The inspiration came from when Floriana Gavriel and Rachel Mansur met (2010) in Los Angeles at the xx concert as strangers. They felt a strange connection and agreed to meet the next day at the Los Angeles flower market. From that moment on, Mansur Gavriel slowly grew into what it is today. The Los Angeles flower market will always be a special place, and it is with even greater meaning. - #bookclub #collaboration #botanicalphotography

[taraadevlin]

The Graveyard Apartment by Mariko Koike (ft. my cat), a review. . I wanted to like this. I really did. It’s Japanese, it’s a haunted apartment, it’s all those things I love. But it was not great. The translation is probably to blame for many of my issues. It’s exceedingly verbose, it uses words I’ve never heard of nearly every chapter, and it uses weird sayings that might make sense in English but are very strange in a Japanese context. That aside, the story itself was so slow paced that often nothing was happening, and the ending wasn’t a cliffhanger... it just ended in the middle of a scene. It gets ☠️☠️ out of ☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️ for me. That extra skull is simply because it’s Japanese. Would not recommend unless you especially like Japan and a long building kind of dread that never goes anywhere and abruptly ends without giving any sort of ending whatsoever 😕 . . #horror #horrorbooks #japanesehorror #horrorreview #bookreview #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookish #bookreviewer #horrorauthor #horrorwriter #bookclub #bookaholic #bookworm #bookcommunity #booksofinstagram #japanesefiction #japanesebook https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5CAUHlFqn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tj7mf1tlqfei

[salmavalentina]

No “Mixing”

Ill bet when you saw that title you thought it was racial, right? Well no but almost. I had a friend well I thought he was a real friend and it turned out so much differently.  Well when I was a lot younger I fooled around with a camera man on a music video I was a model in, I dont want to say who or when because it was a LONG ASS time ago and it makes me sound like a relic,  which is sort of important to this story, but not as much as the no mixing. 

Well,  me and this guy,  we will just call “Quincy”- we used to have secret sex in San francisco when I was 22 and he was 26 and it was kinda fun but we both were involved in BAD realationships and were too confused and young to know if it was anything at all. I just remembered him as a guy who was always quiet,  and always telling me stuff like he was my Dad, which I found annoying (now I actually found comforting)- fast forward 16 years- and he had been calling and facebooking me for literally YEARS like at least 6! I ignored him I just thought- for what?

One day he caught me on the phone, other times he was calling and asking me to go places or see one another, but I always said “no”. This day I dont know why, I said yes, well I do know why it was because he needed something and im a giver. He was on his way to Marshalls to get a suitcase for a trip abroad and I am a wanderluster- I have over 20 suitcases- no shit!

I told him to come over he showed up, all grown up, polite, wine in hand- nice!  I was attracted to him and not to mention he made my ptsd-crazy-scared-of-everyone-ass feel super calm, happy and safe - history we had.

He met my Dad which so many people doubt ever existed.

I really felt he was a safe person to talk to to spend time with and to try not to be a hermit anymore. He was so encourageing and engaging and really seemed to take a genuine interest in everything about me. 

So we did a few things sexually and seriously I didnt think much of it , but he called me every single day and night to say good morning and sleep well even from Europe! I thought - Wow when was the last time someone was so reliable and considerate or caring? It was super nice. 

But that was in Europe...

When he returned I thought Id see him preetty often. I saw him once on July 2nd and then it was 4th of July I asked him if he had plans he said no. I wanted to go to fireworks together- no answer all day 8pm rolled around and  he facetimes me from a BBQ asking why im not out enjoying my holiday.

 I asked him why i was by myself and he said he was at with his “friends”. I thought that was strange, arent I his friend? . Why couldnt I come along too? 

Numerous weekends went by he was still calling and texting me which is something I despise- i would say lets meet at the coffee shop and talk,  no he was busy. And another weekend we had some plans but he ended up cancelling due to his “friend” needing “emergency” insullation be put into her garage in Pasedena! it was 104 degrees that weekend!  I later find out -that this is a life long female friend of his that  has made him beneficiary of her estate when she dies he is to take care of  her kids!? 

What?!!!!! No wonder he is unmarried! 

All his “friends” are female spinsters who use him as a half-hubby/ half-handiman/ plus one for life! AND THEY ARE ALL FUGLY AND FAT!

So this means that he has an interest in inheriting something from this pathetic woman who has to hang on to him with this carrot- money and homes. ( he has zilch- except talent) 

Hopefully shell die soon so he can enjoy it, because he certainlly cannot enjoy relationships because she needs him so much and she is not the only one! All old needy women - ugly but shower him with gifts and probably head on an old bended knee-  I am so dissapointed. 

Ugh then it was more texting and facetiming with me but no time at all in person, BBqs, picnics and Fight parites he Factimed me from- I was like uhm why do you go to places alone and Facetime me but do not invite me?

He finally explained and said “well I havent seen you in a long time and I dont MIX my friends! I mean what do I say? This is my Friend Salma and I havent seen her in 15 years but here she is!” I said “People do it all the time who are not cowardly and to be honest  I THOUGHT you would have been OVERJOYED to have me with you at ANYTIME! Considering you hounded and emailed and facebooked and tried to be in touch with me for over 6 years ?” Only to tell me basically - “you are not GOOD ENOUGH to meet my REAL friends!”

Wow- what a blow. Cant trust anybody....even him. 

 I mean all he ever said was “Im shooting or  Ive been busy” and I belived him- but no it was OTHER women- and it was his NO MIXING rule. What a predjudiced piece of trash. 

He is running so many games he CANT have me around! Because if he introduces me to his guy-friends then he will have to say if he wants me or not- just in case they are interested in me. 

If he brings me around the Ugly Bitch Bookclub they will be jealous and possibly take him out of their wills!

LOL they will live forever 

and really- I HOPE SO!