#but the overall concept was fucking flawless

[vaguelydefinedshapes]

aaaaaa i just watched nimona (thank you @gnomewithalaptop for actually getting me to) and it was so good holy shit

i know im late to the party but the themes??? of treating someone like a monster until they break and actually become one????? of being told to minimize yourself to be accepted????? of being told that you're unlovable if you're fully yourself???????? of realizing the good and moral system you worked so hard to uphold is actually fucked and wants to kill you or those you love?????? im gonna swallow a lamp

[animentality]

Your post about Gortash being embarrassing and cringe and not realizing it is SO real to me. I think he is perfectly suave and charming to everyone except when it comes to someone he ACTUALLY likes, at which point his usual mask is useless because he has no idea how to cover up Real Feelings. The way he 🥺 and grins and blabbers nonstop to Durge at the coronation reunion is exhibit A for this of course. Personally I think he had no idea what was happening on his face during that, it just earnestly happened, and he probably THOUGHT he was being chill but he so wasnt. He is a 40 or 50 year old teenager with a crush and he’s clueless that it gets him acting like an idiot. Important Gortash characterisation (to me!)

It just makes sense to me given his history and overall emotional immaturity that he does not know how to express casual affection for something, let alone someONE. (And yeah the whole thing where he and Durge are both really smart people capable of near-flawless teamwork but they also genuinely make each other kind of stupid when they’re around each other. It tracks.)

He wooed Jannath with unimpeachable charm because he did not actually care about or love her (im really sorry Jannath 🫣) so he was just being a fake bastard, and thats easy. But real affection? Real love? He has no framework for that. Catch the Chosen of Bane in the most unbecoming act of ducking his head to hide his stupid smile after taking Durge’s hand in his. Embarrassing!

ANON, your mind.

It's powerful.

I am gnawing on the wonderful idea, because I love the concept of, Gortash is the perfect gentleman, he's great at copying others, at pretending to be a patriar, and exuding this carefully constructed charm.

He was raised by DEVILS. He was in a GANG.

He has Raphael's bullshit charm, and all these rough edges.

But he smooths them out, when he's trying to seduce rich women or arms dealer.

But that act doesn't work on the Dark Urge, of course, and he would never even try that sort of thing with them anyway.

Because anyone who seduces people for a living knows, not everyone reacts to the same tricks.

BUT.

Maybe he starts out trying to seduce them, by being cold and practical and intelligent...but then, surprise surprise.

it ends up not being an act. he finds the dark urge is warmer and more receptive than he thought they'd be, after decades of being alone.

and they have things in COMMON.

And he IS honest with them, as his partner.

And then, when he's NOT trying to seduce then....he accidentally seduces them...by being such a fucking nerd.

And THEN.

as you said.

He is SO dorky and cringe...because he's being honest, for one thing, AND he doesn't know how to act, when he genuinely likes someone, and isn't just trying to seduce them.

And he's THRILLED that that's what gets the Dark Urge hot under the collar.

The biggest freak in all of Baldur's Gate, meets the second biggest one, and they don't know how to act "right," but their version of right ends up being healthier than anything else they might have ever been capable of.

UGH, anon.

Do not SEND ME DOWN THIS RABBITHOLE.

You couldn't pry soft dorky lovestruck idiot Durgetash from my dead claws.

I think they committed horrible atrocities together.

I also think they were so sweet on each other, it would make Bhaal gag.

[mybelovednick]

Crimson and Clover, Honey (Chapter 2)

Main Page

Previously

Nick Sturniolo x Male!character

Summary: Nick Sturniolo is a Bookstore owner in a small town in Northern Italy. Vayu Arora is an elementary school teacher who is a frequent customer at Nick's Store. Both of them meet and they are suppose to fall in love like faith intended. But what happens when one of them is unable to let go of their past selves?

Nick x male!character Angst Fluff/comfort Hurt/comfort

TW: Too corny ig, smoking (don't do it kids. it is not cool)

******

2

“I have no news. I live quietly, I love you and I wait.”

This quote has always been a mystery to me. I wouldn’t remember where I first read it, or from whom I had heard it. But it stuck with me, forever. Yearning makes a person susceptible to the madness of love. If you yearn for something or someone, the line between love and obsession becomes blurry.

It was a lovely Friday evening. The breeze was just right as the clouds swiftly danced across the violet sky. The sun was about to set but the moon was already up. Tara invited us to her family restaurant to celebrate her grandpa’s seventy-second birthday.

Nate rode my red Vespa, with me on the back while holding onto his waist for dear life; because to him, my vehicle was a race car and the world was a Drag race. We reached Tara’s restaurant an hour late, regardless of the death race.

“You bitches were supposed to be here half an hour prior to the party and you reached in hour late. Explain, now” Tara was fuming.

“Yell at Vayu, if he had dressed up a little quicker we would be here so much earlier.”

“What? You were the one throwing a tantrum like fucking baby after seeing me wear the same coral shirt that you are wearing now! Of course I had to change into a boring black one.” I tried to defend myself.

“Not my fault I look better in coral.”

“Nathan I swear to God-“

“Okay fine, Jesus!” Tara yelled at us again. (We deserved it), “Let’s go inside and hurry up, Grandpa is waiting for you guys.”

“Awe I missed you Jeremy.” Nate cooed from behind as we entered the room and everyone cheered.

The restaurant was not a very fancy one. But it did feel like home. I’ve always loved Tara and her grandparents, Jeremy and Lizzy. Frank Sinatra was playing in the background because Jeremy loved Sinatra, “Play his songs in my funeral” he’d say every time.

Tara, Nathan and I were the only ones who were not above the age of fifty-five. We all wished Jeremy ‘Happy Birthday’ and Lizzy kissed him, to which all of us cheered like monkeys in a zoo. I loved watching people smile. I loved watching people enjoy their time. Tara was in charge of the food and overall party. I was on tea duty, i.e. ensuring that every single person had their tea cups filled up to the brim. It wasn’t a difficult task considering there were barely over twenty people in the party. Yes, tea in Italy is a bizarre concept but apparently Lizzy can’t stand the smell of coffee and ever since she visited Darjeeling with her husband, she has been addicted to this beverage.

Nathan? Well he was busy impressing Lizzy’s friends. Those sixty-year old ladies loved him for some reason. “Oh you look ravishing today, Demi. And you too! Rebecca, that hair is flawless, Jim is a lucky guy.”  Who am I kidding? Everyone loved Nate.

I was simply observing them, holding the warm tea kettle close to my chest; almost zoning out in the process.

Perhaps this is what love is after all; watching people you love fall in love with other people you love.

Being in love on the other hand, will always be strange, no matter how many times you’ve experienced it in your life. It is like falling in love with the moon. It looks beautiful from afar and even more tempting in theory. But no matter how many songs or poems you write about it, it will remain absurd in practicality to be in love with the moon. And you feel like the ocean, reflecting the image of your beloved moon in your turbulent waves just to get a glimpse of it. Even during the most intense storms in your life, you strive to keep your water as still as possible to catch your beloved in the reflection. It is the madness, and obsession that we humans love to bask in. This madness is love; and this love is strange.

“Yoohoo! Vayu! Tea boy, fill this up please.” Lizzy called for me raising her cup. I quickly nodded and rushed towards her. But as I was about to pour her up, she held me by my wrist and sat me down beside her. She was one strong woman for someone claiming to be suffering from arthritis.

“So, who’s the boy?” Lizzy asked in a sing-song tone.

“What? Tara told you?” I panicked.

“Oh dear, no. I just noticed that you seemed pretty distracted there and you have a glow to your face.” Lizzy said and I had to smile, how could I not? “See? You are so giggly and smiley like that. You should smile more often, you look even more handsome.” Lizzy winked.

“Well, I’d have to be a psychopath to be able to resist smiling when you say stuff like that.” I knew my face lit up like a Christmas tree at that point.

“Well, I mean it baby boy.” She held my hand carefully, “Now tell me about this man.”

I raised my eyebrow when she scooted herself closer to pay attention. She was determined to get me married to a nice man because…Honestly? I don’t know.

“Well he works at the bookstore. The one near the Marylyn street.”

“Oh I go there sometimes, I think. Is it the Libreria del Sentiero ?”

“Yes! That’s the one! Wait, do you know the guy who works there?”

“I think I have met that gentleman quite often. He comes here to get a cup of black coffee and abrownie. He is such a sweet man, and he sure does love my brownies.”

“No one could ever not like your brownies, Lizzy.” I smiled at her and she smiled back, “So, uhm… is he here often?”

I could feel her grin growing on her face. “Yes, Nick does come here on Wednesdays and Fridays.”

Nick.

Short for Nicolas, maybe. It does suit him. I remembered thinking that immediately.

Just then Lizzy’s eyes lit up. “Oh goodness, Look at that! He is standing right there, near his motorbike just along the parking. This is a sign! Vayu. Go now!” She was practically jumping in her seat while shoving my shoulders to push me out of the chair.

“But the party-“

“Fuck this party.”

Goddamn, this old lady was not playing.

She touched my cheek and kissed it quickly, “Look, V. You deserve to be happy, it is not a crime. Stop being so kind to the world and so harsh to yourself. Love doesn’t show up at your doorstep, you know? You need to chase it. Even if it doesn’t work out, you don’t get stuck in a world of what ifs. Nick is a good man. He is worth taking a chance.”

I hugged her and bid her goodbye. “Thank you.” I whispered mostly to myself. I made an excuse to get out of the party and pushed the door open.

He was standing a few meters away. I felt like I was in a romcom movie. Maybe it was because of the stars in the sky or the warm fairy lights right outside the restaurant window. Or it could be because I was willing to take a chance again.

Nick was wearing a bright red vest and a black leather jacket with black jeans. His shades were tucked on top of his messy blonde hair. And he had a pack of Marlboro in his hand. I walked towards him, still unsure of my footsteps.

God, he is beautiful.

“Need some help with the lighter?” I tried to be casual.

“Yeah, sure.”

He was so nonchalant that it was almost infuriating. He handed me his green lighter and I helped him light up his cigarette.

I watched him take a deep drag out of that cigarette. He closed his eyes and let out the smoke through his mouth and nose. He was leaning against his bike with his arms crossed. He watched the cigarette getting eaten up by the reddish-orange flame, firmly placed between his fingers.

Nick quickly bit into his own cigarette lightly with his lips and held the pack of Marlboro towards me while raising his eyebrows, gesturing if I needed one too.

“I am good, thank you.” I instantly replied.

He rolled his eyes.

Cocky bastard.

A few moments passed. It was really awkward too. I felt like pushing myself off a cliff. But I noticed a few things; he was just a few centimetres shorter than I was. However, nobody could deny that he was built. I actually felt like a twig beside him.

“Vayu, right?”

I thought I was going to combust with joy. “You remember me?”

“Of course I do. Who else would buy one of Shakespeare’s best classics with a fucking Porn magazine?”

If it were someone else, I would have knocked their teeth out (breaking my knuckles in the process.). But I saw a beautiful smile starting form in his face. He was really proud of what he said.

And I was glad I met him once again.

"You should smile more often." I blurted out. Nick looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. But soon his expressions relaxed a bit.

"Then make me." he said

*******

Next Chapter

A/N: I promise there will be more nick in the upcoming chapters

p.S. I love Lizzy

Tag: @ohmtoff @freshloveforthefit @miloisdone1 @nicksfavhoe @heyitsmemia @neo404 @matty-bear2 @thenickgirl @loud-sturniolos @maria4mari @solarsturniolo @darl1ngdr1sta @tkhzs @soursturniolo @certifiednatelover

[dude1818]

Anime Year in Review

Last year I made a silly post ranking the three shows I happened to watch. This year, I got way more into anime (and manga), so let's do it properly this time

Revue Starlight* - Easy top star spot. This anime was flawless. I watched it twice this year and will be watching it again. The story, the animation, the music were all impeccable. The music, oh my god; I listen to the soundtrack every day. Some of my other favorites on this list I'd only recommend based on your personal tastes, but this show should be watched by everyone. (The sequel and spin-offs, not so much. They all use the revues in a way that completely undermines the premise of the main series)

Heavenly Delusion - So fucking good. Second on this list, but I think it's the best show that came out this year. Deeply traumatic, but in such a satisfying way. The horror elements were so brutal and so well done, and I love that the man-eating monsters were the least gruesome part of the show. If it wasn't for the stinker of the ice monster episode, I think this could've been my favorite anime

Call of the Night* - Adored this show. Yes it's a celebration of the hedonism of vampires, but it's so earnest and down-to-earth with it that it feels so good to watch that I did it twice (sub and dub). I also got into the manga, which is sadly wrapping up next month, but hopefully that prompts an announcement about season 2

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End - Super chill show, which is a great way to wind down the week. It's such a cool concept too, following the adventurer after the adventure is over. It's just a reflection on life and I love it

The Witch from Mercury (cour 2) - Given that I run a sideblog just for this show, it might be surprising that it's so low on my list, but the second cour was a lot weaker than the first. Not nearly enough of Suletta and Miorine interacting, and way too much chaff following Guel's B-plot. I've said it before, but I think the worst part of this Gundam show is that it's a Gundam show. A+ epilogue though, and Suletta is still my favorite character this year

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off - I enjoyed the original comic and the live action movie. I didn't realize this new adaption was really a sequel, but it ended up being a great way to bring the old story to the modern decade. (Two decades later isn't much, but it was very of-its-time)

Spy x Family (cour 2) - Very fun show. Following several viewpoint characters means the individual episodes might be hit-or-miss (as much as I love Anya, the episodes at the school are relatively bland), but the overall package was sweet and enjoyable

Nimona - Another comic I really enjoyed. The movie was strong, although it cut a lot of parts out that I thought were important to the original story

The Orbital Children - Directed by the same person who directed one of my long-time favorites (Dennou Coil), the first two acts of this really felt like a modern update. Stunning visuals, great sci-fi, thrilling adventure. Went totally off the deep in the third act, though

Joshiraku* - As the characters pointed out, adapting a manga that takes entirely inside the green room of a stand-up comedy club is an odd choice. It was off-the-charts hilarious, though. Considering some of the scripts were entirely pun-based, it must've been an immense amount of work to translate, but they absolutely pulled it off

Oshi no Ko - The only reason I watched this show was because the OP was such a banger. (Several fantastic anime songs by YOASOBI this year, and Idol is easily my favorite.) The first, feature-length episode was incredible and I literally cried at the end. If it was a stand-alone movie, it would be a couple of spots higher on this list. The rest of the show was fine, but not really what I was here for. I'll probably still watch season 2 though

Arknights: Prelude to Dawn* - I bounced off the gacha game immediately, but the worldbuilding and character designs seemed cool, so I wanted to give the anime adaptation a chance. The plot was very thin but serviceable enough. At least it looked nice to watch.

The Magical Revolution of ... - Not typing that whole thing out. It was a cute show. The yuri stuff was nice, but I wish for a show about a magical inventor, there was a non-zero amount of magical inventing shown on screen

* indicates the show aired prior to 2023

A lot of shows I really loved this year. Looking forward to next year, the anime I'm most hyped for is obviously Dungeon Meshi. It looks like it's going to be incredible. The second season of Arcane is also scheduled to come out late next year, which is also very exciting. Technically Frieren has a second cour in January, but they're airing both cours as basically a single 24-episode season, so that doesn't really count

For older shows I mean to catch up on, YouTube has recced me clips of probably every single joke from K-On!, and it's really grown on me. Definitely going to watch that soon. I'm also in the mood to watch Bocchi the Rock! again. I should also make myself watch the first couple episodes of PMMM. Nothing I've seen on Tumblr has grabbed me for that one, but it's right in the middle of some of the other shows I was gushing about here and it would be dumb not to try it

[boyoungbe]

hello, nerds! it's just me, ryan (h/h, 25+), here with another shot at a fourth muse. this particular muse is newer to me, but the more he revealed about himself over the last few months, the more fond i grew of him, and i can't wait for you all to meet him today! his name is moon boyoung (20040904, h/h)! he's a student at yonsei university (my first ever muse that's attending a SKY university, i'm so proud...) and a lifelong athlete who, despite going through a lot of shit right now, is working hard in his classes, seeing musicals every chance he gets, and is remaining as optimistic as he can...

1.

(tw, discussions of unnamed health issues, parental death, infidelity, grief)

from birth, boyoung was hailed a miracle child. his mother suffered from a lot of physical health issues, and it made conception extremely difficult for her, but similarly to boyoung, the challenge of it never stopped her from trying. her dream was to be a mother, and after years of praying for a baby, she was gifted the perfect son.

boyoung is a golden child, and he wears the title like a badge of honor. his grades are exceptional, he's heavily involved in extracurricular activities (primarily various sports and the student council), and on top of that, he always made sure to come home in time for dinner, and happily did the dishes/kitchen cleanup after. his parents adored him, overall he was loved and supported, and his upbringing was pretty idyllic... until his second year of high school.

his mother's health grew worse, and added onto his busy schedule was being her caretaker. he sacrificed a social life to ensure that she got the care she needed, and to also ensure that his grades never slipped. somehow, his test scores were high enough to earn him admittance into yonsei university, the school his mother dreamed of him attending, and shortly after receiving an acceptance letter, she succumbed to her illness; confident that her son would be alright.

little did she know that, upon looking through her belongings and stumbling upon old journals, boyoung learned that his father was not the man he thought he was, and his mother had secrets of her own, too. it fractured the view he had of his life and of his parents, and he carries that baggage around with him from class-to-class. he's doing his best to keep his head up, but life's curveballs are teaching him lessons he never learned before. all he can hope is that they make him into a stronger, better person.

2.

boyoung is someone with immense patience. this is largely what makes him so good at so many things. he's one of those people you meet who has a massively long list of learned skills, who is frustratingly good at what seems like everything, who makes himself perfect at things by pouring metric tons of energy and effort into them. he's perfectionistic, and doesn't settle for results that are less than flawless. this, however, makes him rather hard on himself.

boyoung has a strong work ethic. the first ever sport he played was basketball, and he started out as a bench-warming water/towel boy. everyone on the team enjoyed his presence, and after months and months of practice, he earned himself a rightful spot on the court, even going so far as to be co-captain in the future. he applies the same work ethic to all things in his life. school work, the arts, sports, his relationships with his loved ones, etc. it's all at 100%, no less.

the pressure to be so perfect, so golden, is crushing, though. he possesses a rather critical nature, and this is largely because he's so polished. he'll spend hours remaining up at night ruminating over fuck-ups of the past; wondering what he could've done differently. it creates anxiety within him sometimes, but he's a master at faking a smile; remaining cool and composed on the surface, even if he's battling inner turmoil.

he's someone who, if you need a favor and you ask him to do one for you, he'll take it extremely seriously and get it done in a timely manner, and the favor will be completed beautifully. he sometimes has a hard time saying no to things, but he's getting better at being practical about what he can and can't handle. regardless, you can rely on him. he likes feeling needed. it's a blessing and a curse.

despite being rather rock solid and even-tempered, he's a big softie. he'll totally cry watching a sad movie or musical. he loooves musicals. loves them so much. he's essentially troy bolton—golden retriever energy jock with a passion for singing and dancing. he's not ever gotten proper instruction for the arts, but he wants it so bad. he's always been practical and wants to focus on landing a good job, but his dream is to be on stage. he's shy about it, though.

i'm still learning more about him, so i can't wait to see him grow!

3.

gimme all plots! i want them all! i prefer brainstorming, so like this or message me and we can figure something out together!

[bucketsquid]

i’m late to the party but. thoughts on story mode (i finished it two days after release i’m just. forgetful)

you know what? i liked it. it wasn’t perfect: it lost the plot thread of “looking for craig” after a bit and just felt like more of “progression for the sake of progression” but maybe that’s because it didn’t stay actively super focused ON looking for craig. i wish we got more reasoning as to why we’re using an OE-style testing system besides “because the humans thought it was fun or something” and “the devs like this style of level design i guess”.

but those are really my only main gripes. if it had been a bit tighter written and fixed up the plot focus + explanation for level design, it would’ve been perfect.

big fan of the logs, the tone and art style were very good while giving us some awesome backstory. the liquid crystal concept is really good, as it being “responsive to electrical impulses” means it can respond to both the brain and muscular activity, so it perfectly explains why inklings + octolings can change ink color in such sophisticated ways. this plot point finally explaining how sapient life re-emerged after only 12000 years is also very nice, i always had a runaway theory that it was radiation or another human influence on evolution. i just REALLY like this plot point it’s super good okay THE CHEMICALS TURNED THE CEPHALOPODS GAY

deep cut’s involvement was.... pretty alright? i don’t see the complaints; they really are just Team Rocket, and while their turnaround near the end feels kinda weak it fits thematically and that’s more important overall. i like how much they care for their community. big man’s boss fight was underwhelming + probably should’ve been first; compared to frye and shiver it was just. eh. even if it is a mario reference

mr. grizz being the Big Bad was really delightful; i actually didn’t expect splatdevs to commit to “he’s just a sapient bear” as a bit and his design is nothing short of the funniest thing possible. he doesn’t really come out of nowhere given the After Alterna logs: being drawn to a hold of human technology in a mammal-less world feels coherent and his backstory as a whole feels fine. the finale in space was great, decently challenging, and all I could think of was “this is just the Sonic Adventure 2 finale. this is JUST finalhazard”. the bear even shoots lasers, amazing

little buddy ascending to divine status? excellent. flawless. i lost my mind when that happened and the Inkantation really does just Do Stuff huh. having a degree of mysticism and magic, very very faintly in the mundane things like the Inkantation or the fax machine, feels very nice. little buddy said “no, i don’t want us all to die, i’ll fight and risk my life” and i have infinite feelings about it

finally YES I GOT MY OCTAVIO REDEMPTION ARC. kind of. him being the first boss was a fun sucker punch and the notion of “i’m looking for my people who got KIDNAPPED. where ARE THEY” --> “oH IT’S YOU. FUCK YOU IN PARTICULAR” is good. i wish we knew more about what he had been up to during the story mode, but we might get info later or something. also others have said this but the fact that he’s the one that calls the Inkantation “that heavenly melody” is really really good because it feels like he’s finally, truly come around, giving a sense of unity to the group in the face of annihilation. i really love that.

tl;dr it wasn’t perfect but as a splatoon worldbuilding and loremonger i am genuinely very delighted. it was a crazy ride and i screamed way too many times over all the crazy twists and turns

[andthedaysthatnevercame]

For the Doctor Who themed ask game:

I want to hear all of your incredibly detailed and thought out opinions on all of the questions 👿🔪

300 word minimum per question (lol jk)

oooooo boy. strap in for a long one boys. i answered a couple already, but i'll do the rest here.

(2) what was the first entire series you watched/remember ?

series 1. the revamp, baby. the first ep i watched was from series 5, but i was a completionist even when i was 11, so i started the series from the beginning. (didn't know about classic who back then, or i would've been in for a ride lmao)

(5) any complaints about the show? (20) if you could change anything about the show, what would it be?

i'm gonna combine these two bc i feel like theyre the same kinda. i kinda wish it had a more consistent lore? sldkjfds okay i know this is a ridiculous request and like obviously if something shite happens ppl want to retcon it. or just the fact that it's been going on for 60 some odd years and things slip through the cracks. but i think SO much about the show changes when the showrunner changes, and i know thats a good thing that keeps the show fresh, but it would be interesting to see it all weave together just a tad more cohesively. idk i don't have any REAL complaints overall. doctor who, my beloved.

(6) nuwho or classic who ? why ?

nuwho only because i haven't seen enough of classic to have an informed opinion.

(7) the tenth doctor or the fourth doctor ? why ?

ten. see above.

(8) favorite outfit of the doctor's ? why ?

literally a flawless outfit. it's simple but so fucking effective. first of all, it just looks good. it's reflective of twelve as a character i think, and it has a charmingly classic feel. twelve's era really felt like we were maturing and taking a step away from the doctor that was a young, foppish, dandy, and this outfit SHOWS it. that flash of red in the coat makes me go FERAL. stunning. showstopping. thirteen also looks good in it. (second place goes to eleven's first outfit tho. cus of the nostalgia)

(9) least favorite outfit of the doctor's ? why ?

i like all of them tbh! is it cheating to say six's technicolor dream coat?

(10) favorite companion ?

martha jones. i'm so normal about it, though. (uhhh i've spoken about why i love her at length, and i don't feel the need to elaborate on it here. if you want to hear more thoughts about martha tho lmk i'll make another post)

(11) favorite romance involving a doctor? (12) what is your favorite romance involving a companion?

i'm also gonna answer these together. OBVIOUSLY tenmartha takes the cake. hence the url. i love their fucked up little relationship. i love the way the characters parallel each other and the narrative implications of this. i both think it was depicted perfectly in canon AND that martha jones and the doctor should have fucked on screen. the unrequited aspect is so gutwrenching and compelling. i love it and hate it. i also think ten was in love with martha for real in canon, so i must be fucking delusional. tenmartha hits too good tho.

i'm also a fan of thoscei in all iterations bc i love narrative foils <3

(16) who is your favorite doctor/companion duo ?

take a fucking guess. (tenmartha, my beloved) (11amy close second)

(17) what is your favorite alien species ?

hmmmmm. i don't have super strong opinions on this. maybe those like record keeper boys from demons in punjab? it was a super interesting concept for the doctor to be making assumptions that these guys were evil just to have the script flipped on her.

(18) what is your favorite alien planet ?

gallifrey, i suppose. that burnt orange sky.

(19) cybermen or daleks ?

daleks! they're lowkey kinda funny. there's that scene in daleks of manhattan where two daleks have a little office gossip moment in the sewers talking about how dalek sec is off his shits. it's hilarious. i also own a couple dalek shirts lmao.

[sinren]

@rubbcrhose asked: My url? If that's okay >W<

Send me your URL and I’ll tell you

My opinion on;

Character(s) in general: I loved all of these characters in canon even before opo snatched em up!! Of course the angels haven’t been shown yet anywhere in a “canon” sense. But honestly good bc I don’t think anyone else could pull them off as well as opo does <33 I am always gay for their muses

How they play them: um, FLAWLESS?? PERFECT?? Buckle up I’m about to gush over opo and his muses bc lemme just say.. ALL of the effort, headcanons, art, writing- EVERYTHING IS SO FUCKING GOOD ALL THE TIME I WEEP??? He has this way of writing these characters in a way that you can still hear their voices in your head. They still have the personalities there that make them what they are. But then he sprinkled on extra character development and headcanons that give each one of them SO much more depth in so many different ways. Not only that, but the ocs??? THE ANGELS!!!!! I haven’t had the chance to interact with any of them yet, but I always read their posts and GOD, yet again you can tell right off the bat that opo took one tiny little concept and just EXPANDED it so much further than ever expected. It’s so clear that he cares a WHOLE bunch about each muse he takes on. And he’s so SO good at bringing each one to life it’s INSANE!!!

The mun: Oh opo…. My sweet, darling opo… I know I don’t talk to you ooc as much as I NEED to, but just know you are one of my all time best friends in the whole world fr!!!! you’re funny, smart, and have such a big heart for your friends. It always automatically makes my day whenever I see you on the dash and get to talk to you!!

Do I;

RP with them: Yes!!

Want to RP with them: ALWAYS!!

What is my;

Overall opinion: Overall, opo, you and your blog have all of my love and admiration as always!!! 1000/10, you are perfect and your muses are perfect too. I would give u all the hugs in the world if I could reach my hands through this computer screen!!!!

[halcyon-hyacinth]

number 24 on the fanfic ask ?

24. favorite fic you read this year

Omg there have been so many!!! I'll divide them by fandom:

The Owl House

I have read hundreds of toh fics at this point, so I'm gonna recommend a couple haha. These are all ones I've actually gone back to reread because I loved them so much.

you're like me by @tiredandjaded my favorite found fam fic

Comments: made me cry the first time I read it, jade always does a great job gut punching you with emotions

After All That We've Been Through @thefoolsyousee my favorite friendship fic

Comments: the way I cried the first time I read this fic... anyway Willow and Amity reconciliation rights!!!!

Catalyst by @ackilli - my overall favorite multi-chap

Comments: the actions scenes and world-building are phenomenal. also the characterization is spot on, and this is the only fic I've read where luz and amity (my faves) aren't there and I don't miss them at all. I also appreciate how we get to see everyone's POV!! <3

make my home inside your heart - @whatisurowlpolicy my favorite established relationship lumity one shot

Comments: I think my fave thing about this one is the concept, it was executed extremely well :,)

Postcards from a Place Named Threshold - @incoherent-icarus my favorite Luz, Willow and Boscha character studies

Comments: all are incredibly well written. incoherent is a character study god tbh, GO CHECK THEM OUT

Dialectic - my favorite lumity one shot

Comments: it makes me cry every time omfg. the narrative and set up is so good. also I adore the concept and the ending.

learning how to be (with you by my side) - my fave lumity multi-chap

Comments: god tier work of art. the writing style really sucks you in and I adore uug's characterization of luz and amity.

Transcendence - my favorite skarscha one-shot

Comments: This fic gets me every damn time dear god. The concept and execution is flawless.

Jujutsu Kaisen

I only started reading fics for this series recently as the brain rot came out of fucking nowhere and hit me like a truck. Nevertheless, the following one shots are SO GOOD and you should definitely check them out. Beware of manga spoilers.

Blast Line (canon-divergent, training before Kyoto event)

down to the wire (post-Shibuya, Maki POV)

Tribulations: Interview 1 (post-Shibuya, Nobara POV)

The Locked Tomb series

I haven't read a lot of Locked Tomb stuff, and have some fics on the queue. There are a couple of long af one-shots I enjoyed reading, but this one takes the cake for the concept and being short and sweet.

Good things, small packages (one-shot, Gideon POV)

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

I don't tend to read PJO because for the most part the books satisfied me and I already combed through all the decent Reyna x Piper fics, but this one was recommended to me by a friend and it does a great job characterizing everyone. It's a soulmates AU that follows Percy and Annabeth through the events of the books, they're the only m/f ship I'll read fanfic for, lmfao.

Vivid by lesbabeths (one-shot, Percy POV)

I read a lot of She-Ra and The 100 for catradora and clexa in 2020 so you can check them out in my fanfic recs here (I'll update the toh section there before the year ends).

[autumnleaves1991-blog]

Day 11: Walk the Dog - William ‘Ironhead’ Miller

Day 11: Walk the Dog- William ‘Ironhead’ Miller 

This story was requested by @oldstuffnewstuff​. Thank you so much for the request! I love writing for requests! Thank you for all the rebloggs, comments, and likes. :)

Also gonna tag @myathleteeggspizza​ for our love of William Miller. 

November Writing Challenge Masterlist 

Day 10: Used Tea Bags - Javier Pena 

William ‘Ironhead’ Miller liked numbers. His whole life since leaving the military was run down to the exact second the way he wanted it too. He would wake up at 0600 daily, stretch for eight minutes, down his first cup of coffee, and go for an eight mile run through the park. Then he would return home, take a five minute shower, get dressed, drink a smoothie, fill his tumblr with coffee, and leave for the base at 0730 sharp. 

Every single day was the same. But, that’s what someone with as many demons as he had needed. The structure and security of the same routine. Not one minute unaccounted for. Until the day he met her.

It was a chilly November morning when he first noticed her. She had on a black leggings, a maroon crewneck sweatshirt, black ankle boots, and hair in a messy bun atop her head. She was sitting at one of the unoccupied benches near the Veterans statue, reading aloud a book to a golden retriever lying quietly with her head in her owner's lap. 

He faltered for a moment, and one minute became two, became three and when he looked down at his watch he cursed to himself. He was behind schedule. When he looked back up they were gone. He turned each direction frantically looking for the girl and the dog but they were nowhere to be seen. He wondered for a moment if he had only imagined it before the beeping of his watch drew his attention and he picked up the pace to make up for the lost time. Lost time, what a novel concept for a person who counted everything in his life. 

The next morning when he entered the park he couldn’t help but look for them as he ran around the path. Keeping his eyes open for the golden retriever and her alluring owner. Will couldn’t help the pang of disappointment at missing them again. The routine remained the same day in and out for another week before Will began to give up hope about seeing them again. On Saturday after his run he came home and left at exactly 0730 again but this time he was meeting his old army buddies for breakfast at a diner across town. 

The diner looked old fashioned amongst the new and shiny chrome buildings that had begun to pop up around town but it wasn’t the outside that mattered. Will walked in and the bells tinkled on the door to notify the wait staff, and he nodded at the familiar faces before finding his friends. He slid into the worn, cracked leather of the booth next to his brother, shaking the other two men's hands across the table. 

The waitress came over and brought him a steaming mug of coffee, two packets of sugar, and one creamer before going back over to her other customers. Frankie pointed to the cup before back at Will, “you come here way too often if they know exactly how you take your coffee.” 

“Every Saturday,” Will tells him smiling as he prepares his coffee, taking a sip of the liquid gold, “Gladys knows just the way I like my coffee, and my breakfast. Why ruin a good thing by going somewhere else?” 

Frankie laughs at him, “Some people actually like to go out and try new things. Are you still doing the same routine every day and doing that counting thing?” 

Will only nods before he’s interrupted by Gladys who takes their orders, not even bothering to ask Will before she goes off to put their order into the kitchen. “Thank you Glady!” Will shouts at her and she raises a hand in acknowledgment. 

“So how the hell have you guys been?” Santiago asks over the rim of his mug. 

Benny fills them in on his training, and his new girlfriend he met at a fight a few months ago. Frankie tells them all about the house he just bought and is slowly renovating and shows them some new pictures of his daughter Juliette, who just turned three the past month. Frankie made the single father life look flawless. Santiago was in town for the next two months on break from down in Columbia where he’d been helping the local military take down a drug lord. All of them had something new to share, something exciting, except Will. 

“So what about you Will?” Santi gestures to him as they all dig into their breakfast. 

Will cuts himself another piece of pancake off for himself before running it through the syrup, “The same shit as usual, run, work, eat, sleep. On Saturdays I come here for breakfast and on Tuesday and Thursday I help Benny with training and Friday night is usually fight night. Besides that nothing is new.” 

“Youshouldgetadog” the words jumble together out of Benny’s mouth as he tries to talk through the French toast pouring from his mouth. 

“Damn it brother chew your food and then talk,” Will laughs. 

Benny swallows before trying again, “I said, you should get a dog.” 

“A dog? Why the hell would I get a dog?” he asks. 

“Just hear me out brother, you love routines right? You run every morning and it seems to me that your a little lonely, a dog could go running with you, and keep you company.” 

Will contemplates the idea for a moment and his thoughts can't help but go back to the beautiful woman from the park with the golden retriever. “Yeah, maybe… do we even have any pet shops around here?” 

“Fuck pet shops,” Frankie tells him, “you need to go to the humane society and get a rescue dog, they are the best. Juli and I will even go with you, she would love to see all the dogs. How about 1300 today?” 

Will thinks for a moment before agreeing, “ok...but just to look. I don’t know if I am ready for a dog yet.” 

“Ok I’ll meet you there with Juli and we can go look at the dogs, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you go and fall in love with one and take it home today.” 

Will scoffs, “Sure.” 

When Will pulls his black 2014 Ford truck into the parking lot he feels slightly overwhelmed by all the animals running about. There is a large fenced in yard with exactly fifteen dogs of various shapes and sizes. When Frankie pulled into the spot next to him, he began to feel more at ease with a familiar face and when Juli came running full speed at him he couldn’t help the smile that broke across his face. 

“Uncle WIll!!” Juli screamed tackling him into a hug. 

He swung her up into his arms and she squealed, “hello sunshine! How’s my favorite girl doing? Are you keeping your daddy busy?” 

“Of course! Daddy told me we're gonna help you find a puppy today? Can we get one too daddy?” She leans back in Wills arms and pouts at her father who crosses his arms. 

“I get the impression you and her had this discussion before you came today?” Will asks laughing at the exasperated expression on Frankie's face. 

“More than once,” Frankie nods to him before taking the toddler back, “Sweetie we talked about this, we are not getting a dog today, just Uncle Will.” 

Her face morphs into a pout and both men can feel the beginning of a tantrum coming so they deflect, “Let’s go sunshine! Don’t you want to see all the dogs?” Will leads the way into the shelter and when the bell dings as he crosses the threshold he stops. Frankie runs into his back before pushing the rest of the way inside. 

Sitting at a worn desk is the woman from the park. She’s wearing overalls with a white shirt covered in pink and yellow flowers. Her hair is pulled into a bun on top of her head but three long strands have slipped out and are dangling in front of her face. She’s wearing dark rimmed glasses, and has her nose buried in a book. On the ground under the desk, sticks out a wet black nose of a golden retriever snoring. 

Will coughs lightly to draw her attention and she snaps her head up and seems slightly startled. “Oh hello! I-” she puts her bookmark in her book and the dog rises to its feet, noticing the new arrivals, “Welcome to the Dog House, uhm how can - how can I help you today? She stumbles over her words, and a blush rises up her neck. 

“Hhh-uhm hi,” Will’s arm rises up and he scratches the back of his head, “Dog...I’m looking for a dog.” He can’t keep his eyes off her. The girl he had spent the last couple weeks thinking about, was right in front of him. 

She giggles, “Well then you’ve come to the right place, I’m Andy, you can follow me.” 

Will follows her like a lost puppy...no pun intended. Frankie just watches the two of them, smiling to himself. It’s obvious that Will likes this girl the way he’s acting if only he could see her looking at him the same way. Frankie keeps his thoughts to himself and follows behind the two. 

“What kind of dog are you looking for? Something big? Small? Athletic? Lazy? We have all kinds here.” she asks, gesturing around to the cages as she leads them to a small enclosed area outside. 

“I like to run, in Aveley Park over on 140th street, and I would like a dog to run with. I’m Will by the way,” he offers her his hand. When they touch they both feel a surge of electricity and they don’t let go, continuing to shake hands until Frankie not so subtly clears his throat.

She blushes deep red, and quickly drops his hand smiling shyly at him, “That’s where I like to go with Benny! We go almost every morning for a walk and then I usually read. My sisters have been in town the last couple weeks so we’ve been going in the evenings lately but they’re gone now so maybe I will see you some morning.” 

“Oh uhmm, whose Benny?” Will asks, he didn’t notice a boyfriend last time he saw her. 

“Oh my dog!” she gestures to the dog that has been slowly following between them. 

From behind, Frankie lets out a snort. Will glares at him before meeting your confused expression. “Benny is my brother's name…I guess he and the dog have some things in common. My brother is kind of like a lovable golden retriever.” 

She laughs out loud, and it’s the most beautiful sound he’s ever heard and he’s desperate to hear her laugh again. “Well maybe your Benny and my Benny should meet someday.” 

“I would like that,” Will tells her, smiling. 

The two just stand there smiling at each other like two lovesick fools when Frankie puts down Juli who's been squirming in his arms. She toddles over to the dog and begins gently petting his head, his eyes close and his tail wags and everyone laughs watching the adorable toddler and the dog. 

“Ok,” she slaps her hands together, “athletic dogs, good for running…” 

“Maybe one a little older?” Will hesitantly asks, “I don’t run as fast as I used to.” 

“You know I think I have the perfect dog for you,” she walks over to the kennel and comes back with a gorgeous chocolate lab. Will drops to his knee and gestures for the dog to come and sniff him and he does so without a second thought. 

“What’s his name?” Will asks looking up at her. 

“Tom.” 

Will freezes and in his peripheral he sees Frankie frozen too, both of their eyes are on the dog. “What’s his name?” Will whispers. 

“His name is Tom, they found him wandering around six months ago, they think someone left him. He’s house trained, and very well behaved. We-what’s wrong? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost…” She looks between Will and Frankie. 

Frankie sniffs, “our old army buddy, he passed away a few years ago...his name was Tom.” 

“Oh...oh I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.” 

“I’ll take him,” Will tells her quickly, “how do I adopt him?” 

“Oh that’s wonderful! Come inside with me and we will get the paperwork all filled out, you can pay the $25 fee and he’s yours,” she places a leash around Tom and hands him to Will. When their hands brush he burns from her touch and she pulls her hand back. It’s not one sided. Juli and Frankie follow behind. Juli is more excited then everyone when Uncle Will tells her the dog is coming home with him. Just thirty minutes later and Will is the proud owner of a new dog. Frankie takes Juli outside to strap her into the car seat and head home. 

“I hope I’m not too forward, but maybe one morning we could go running together...I go for a walk there every morning like I said but for the right partner I could be persuaded to start running in the mornings.” 

“Actually...I would like to walk the dog with you tomorrow morning if you're free... it’s hard to get to know someone when running...then maybe I could take you out for breakfast?” Will feels as nervous as the first time he gave a speech. 

“Yes,” she doesn’t hesitate, “yes, I would like that very much.” She slips a piece of paper from her back pocket with her phone number on it, “I was kind of hoping you would ask. I wrote it as soon as you decided on the dog.” 

He laughs before taking the paper from her fingers, sliding the number into his pocket. He gently grasps her hand and presses a light kiss to her knuckles. “I can’t wait till tomorrow morning,” he tells her before walking backwards out the door. 

Frankie has already left with Juli and he loads Tom into the front seat of the truck, before getting into the driver's seat and buckling his seat belt. He pulls out onto the road and sits at the stop sign, Tom crawls across the seat and places his head in Will’s lap. He puts his head gently, before pulling out to go home, thinking about tomorrow with one beautiful girl, and two dogs. 

Day 12: It evaded me- 

[sanstropfremir]

(not sure if you have done this before) but how do you rank taemin's cbs/title trackss?

I haven't really done an official ranking per se, but someone did ask me about my favourite taemin songs which you can read here, but I can go a little bit more in depth if you like! i think these are his main title tracks? i know he released a bunch of japanese singles including eclipse (which is a song i love) but i think these are all the ones with mvs? i’m probably missing some because he has so much and i can’t keep track. also these are purely in my personal opinion on which songs i like the best combined with aesthetics and concepts, not full analysis of the stages + choreo + aesthetics, because that would take SO long.

advice - perfect culmination of his career up to this point and also a perfect note for him to fuck off to the military on. i wrote more about it in my taemin + masks post, but it has big fuck all y’all energy and i love that for him because he’s been so prominent a public figure for so long. also i’m obsessed with the styling and how grody it is. especially the charles jeffrey suit, who is one of my fave scottish designers.

famous - what do i even have to say here. the ropes. the bloody nose. all the half eaten apples. the LYRICS. the concept photos of him in the acrylic box. everything about the choreo is so weird and awkward and incredible. only taemin would make the point choreo of a title track straight up spasming.

want - i think we all know how i feel about want and the answer is i love everything about it. flawless. it’s so careless and deliberate and watching the choreo is so hypnotizing and he knows it. it’s really one of his best examples of perfect execution of concept + choreo + song all together.

criminal - i hate that criminal is fourth on this ranking but taemin’s discography really is that flawless. another example of perfect execution of concept + choreo + song all together, and i think i’d probably rank the live stages of criminal higher than those of want, but i personally like the choreo and concept of want that smidge bit better. if you haven’t already seen it please watch this kbs song festival stage because everything about it makes me insane. the lava suit?!?! and then you should watch the intro choreo clip that kasper posted. AND THEN you should watch koharu’s original demo choreo, just because. also the mv is an incredible work of art and one of the best mvs i’ve ever seen. my only complaint is that there wasn’t enough chainsaw.

idea - i hate that idea is fifth on this ranking. this is the only song i’ve ever had a visceral bodily response to: the first time i heard that bass and strings drop in the chorus i actually almost vomited. catholic fuckery? check. niche intellectual concepts that have no place being in a kpop song? check. boa? check. perfection.

move - it’s excellent but also it’s four years old now and so much of his newer work expands on the concepts that he first put forth here much better. do i still watch the mv occasionally? absolutely. is it still leagues ahead of most of kpop? 1000%. the choreo will be forever iconic and i don't think he's going to be able to ditch it anytime soon. patiently waiting for the day we get footage of him dancing it with his new boy crew in the military.

press your number - it’s a great song and a fantastic album; press it has my all time favourite taemin track one by one on it. but again, like move, it’s from early in his solo career and in terms of overall concept and aesthetics, his newer stuff hits harder as gesamkunstwerk.

danger - it’s great and i’m very partial to the remix with sherlock that he’s been performing at concerts, but it's the same as with press your number: it doesn’t read as ‘him’ in the same way as his post-move stuff. although at the time i’m sure it was genuine because he was 21 and wanted to shake the ‘feminine’ and boyish persona that he’d been pigeonholed into, but a lot of the aesthetics of the mv and the stages from his debut feel a lot like performative overcompensation when looking back at them from where his current work sits. honestly it’s kind of neat to see how far he’s matured; he was shirtless for danger and he was shirtless for advice too, but both of them have very different vibes. i think that’s why i like the remix with sherlock so much, it’s kind of like a sonic acceptance and embodiment of the journey he’s been on.

sayohito - it's fine i just don’t listen to ballads!

under my skin - it's fine i just don’t listen to ballads!

flame of love - it's fine i just don’t listen to ballads!

[autisticcassandracain]

Just finished Far Sector and GOD jesus FUCK is it good. Holy fucking shit. I truly hate how good this is. It’s not flawless and I do have issues with it (I felt like the plot was a bit too predictable and could be hard to follow sometimes, Jo’s military and cop backgrounds are not something that I’m fond of, and the fact that it came so close to making a true ACAB statement only to pussyfoot around it is INFURIATING), but god. The worldbuilding is the best I’ve encountered in DC comics, hands down. 

Far Sector takes great care to build the Enduring City as a believable place in a natural way. I really like the keh-Topli and @At; both of those felt like genuine alien species, with alien origins and practices, even if the keh-Topli were the species the series examined the least. The visit to Atville was a definite highlight for me, as well.

But where I think the worldbuilding really shone was the way it examined how a world would react to artificially having its emotions lock down. Emotionless species are something of a staple in sci-fi, and I think this is a great example of what you could do with it. Because the people in the Enduring City are not naturally emotionless; this is a state that was forced on them, and this had consequences.

It would’ve been really easy to make this a murder mystery with the gimmick being that people involved don’t have emotions and that murder is extremely uncommon on this planet, but Far Sector went further in exploring the possibilities inherent in its premise. As you’d expect, there’s a drug that lets you turn on your emotions called Switchoff, and for a lot of mediocre sci-fi, that’s where it’d stop. 

Far Sector doesn’t. It examines where the drug came from, how it’s used, and what its effects are on society. It expands on the concept of a black market for emotional goods, and dives into why the city would feel the need to have such a market in the first place. The detail that the @At are dependent on emotional stimuli to survive, because they ‘eat’ things like humor, was a genuine stroke of genius. Not only is it an interesting concept to have the AI race be the most dependent on emotion, it also realizes that such a dependency would but the species at a severe disadvantage in a society in which emotion is banned, resulting in systemic poverty and crime. It delves into this both in casual dialogue, and, more extensively, in its visit to Atville and the ‘meltdown’ during the referendum at the end of the series. This single detail is responsible for making so much of this world feel real and interesting, and I love it.

Also it’s the only comic I’ve ever read that managed to incorporate memes into its plot in a way that didn’t feel horribly awful. It’s a bit cheesy and sometimes it gets a bit too much but I actually like it and think it’s impressive they managed to make it anything less than a dumpster fire lmao. The fact that they chose memes that are heavily outdated even by current standards prevents the problem of this comic being dated on release, and also helps play up the comedy aspect because it’s inherently cringy to see those old memes, so I thought that was a smart move. Though I do think the inclusion of memes will limit how well it holds up in the future, so overall I think it would’ve been better not to include them, but DC Comics are as a whole not that concerned with timelessness, so I don’t think it’s a big issue.

This isn’t like, an in-depth analysis or anything, this is all first impression, I’m just ranting because it’s been a while since I enjoyed a comic this much.

[starseternalnighttriumphant]

Could you PLEASE continue that last “you’re a virgin?” fic with Rowaelin 👏🏼👏🏼

WARNINGS: none, just swearing

Part 1 here!

Rowan met Aelin in the library every Tuesday afternoon.

It was their third session, and even though he had to field her constant snarky remarks, he begrudgingly admitted that she was a good tutor. He had gotten a solid B on his math test, a gold star compared to his usual D-.

Still, his overall math grade wasn’t looking too hot, and even with Aelin’s wicked smart brain, he wasn’t sure he’d get it up enough for Coach Darrow to get off his back. It seemed like he was stuck with his annoyingly pretty, foul-mouthed tutor for the rest of the semester.

The thud of the library door opening and closing had him looking up to see Aelin strutting in. She was dressed in a blood red silk tank-top, allowed to get away with it because she’d had a leather jacket over her shoulders all day. It was tucked into a black skirt that hugged her hips, and she finished out the look with fishnet tights and black boots. Her nails and lips matched her shirt, and her golden hair was double braided.

“That color is obnoxious on you,” Rowan drawled as she sat across from him, pulling out her things.

Those red-painted lips curved into a sensuous smile. “Good.”

He was a liar. Red was definitely her color, and he hated that he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her as she sifted through her stuff. He’d never interacted with her enough to realize she was beautiful, and it rubbed him the wrong way that he thought about her more often now that she was his tutor.

Without a sarcastic jab, she launched into their session, explaining the day’s concepts that hadn’t made that much sense to him. She helped him draw graphs of different functions and equations on their small whiteboard. Then she sat back and had him do one all by himself.

He struggled for a moment before something clicked in his head and then he was completing the problem with ease. He flipped the whiteboard around to show her and she leaned back in, her face just inches from his as they looked over it together. She was nodding as her eyes roved the board and then a smile lit up her face. She looked to him and he was stunned stupid.

Even up close, she was beautiful. She only wore mascara and eyeliner and lipstick; her skin was flawless. Her turquoise eyes were wild, a golden corona around her pupils that he would’ve never noticed from far away. Her smile caused a small dimple to form near her mouth.

As if noticing he was staring, she leaned back but her smile was still on display.

“Not bad for a virgin,” Aelin cooed and he felt his ears heat up.

And just like that, the moment was ruined. He put the whiteboard down and glared at her. “What about you? You make a lot of jokes about virginity. Are you a virgin?”

Aelin winked. “Do you wanna find out?”

A flickering image of his hands on her bare skin had him slamming his textbook closed. “I’ve learned enough for today.”

They packed up and left the library, both of them muttering goodbyes to each other. As she walked away, one of his teammates and his best friend, Fenrys Moonbeam, rounded the corner, eyes giving Aelin his signature lookover before continuing on towards Rowan.

“Whitethorn, did I just see you and Aelin fucking Galathynius come out of the library together?” Fen asked as he clapped Rowan on the shoulder, a dumb grin on his face.

Rowan smirked and gave him a shove, trying to play it off despite that his heart skipped a beat that Fenrys had been so close to catching them. “We were just leaving the library at the same time, that’s all. You know we don’t fuck with her kind.”

“I wouldn’t mind fucking with Aelin Galathynius though,” Fen sighed dreamily, laughing when Rowan punched him in the arm, heading off towards the locker room to get ready for practice.

Rowan trailed after him, frowning slightly. No one knew Aelin was tutoring him in math. If it got out, he would never live it down from his teammates and the rest of the school. Rowan Whitethorn, star high school quarterback slumming it with bad girl Aelin Galathynius.

Sighing, he took out his phone to send a text.

Next session is at my house.

-

@highqueenofelfhame @empire-of-wildfire @schmlip-scribble @werewolffprince @westofmoon @tacmc @city-of-fae @lovemollywho @tangledraysofsunshine @shyvioletcat @b00kworm @i-love-all-books @justgiu12 @mynewdreamwasyou @sleeping-and-books @negativenesta @musicdreamer003 @superspiritfestival @aesthetics-11 @camerooonchiu @rose-havilliard-calore @maastrash @awkward-avocado-s @annejulianneh111

[bisexualhobi]

wait I think I agree not today is really bad but now rank all their title tracks from best to worst pls

lmaoohdksjjdjf i love this question so much anon but due to the fact that i’m me this would get way WAY too long. so i’m doing the top 5 best title tracks and then top 5 worst ones okay? i’m looking at google and apparently they have 26 korean singles so yeah that’s too much.

to rank them as objectively as possible I'm gonna try to take into account gp impact (which is not the same as chart impact since the fandom inflates those numbers), production, creative value (how innovative/different from other pop songs was it?) and the concept of the music video/aesthetic in general. 

BTS TITLE TRACKS: TOP 5

5. Black Swan (2020)

am I cheating by putting here a pre release single? maybe. but it would be a disservice to leave this one out so bear with me

⭐gp impact: this song made more noise as a pre release single than the title track. I saw it in at least 3 end of the year editorials for best kpop songs of 2020. and the thing is it could have been WAY bigger but a lot of stuff happened that sadly made it go away too soon. I don't think this one is as famous or recognizable as the others in this list which is why it's going last, but also I think this song is the most underrated gem in bts discography so it's still going here.

⭐production: this song beat out the front runners (I need u, save me, DNA) solely because of its production. there are not a lot of kpop songs out there that manage to pull off what this song does. it's powerful, it's nostalgic, it's a dark and sexy song without being too on the nose. the mixing is SUPERB I remember the first time I heard it I thought "this would blow the fuck up if it was a Travis Scott song" and I will DIE on that hill. this is an example of heavy autotune on a song done right, not like the rest of their super autotuned songs that sometimes come out unrecognizable and empty sounding.

⭐creative value: it's not truly a new concept in pop to make a song about the Death of the Artist. it’s also not something a rookie group can do, this song needed to be released at exactly the time in bts’ career that it was. there’s just no emotional impact if you just sing about how the music makes your hear beat and you’ve been in the industry for,,, 3 years. this is the type of Swan Song you release at the peak of your career, so that really contributes to the message. mixing a trap beat with a ballet motif is GALAXY BRAIN SHIT.

⭐️concept: the ballet influence is just beautifully executed, this song is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship on all fronts. i think they could literally build an entire ALBUM off this concept, so the fact that they jampacked it onto one single song is both amazing and a little sad for me. i wanna hear more of this. i want a literal Black Swan (the darren aranofsky movie) horror concept where the protagonist falls prey to his own madness because he strives for perfection. but yeah, the song itself and the orchestral version just make this a complete golden concept in my book.

4. IDOL (2018).

⭐️gp impact: i think a lot of people that didn’t know anything about kpop vaguely knew about this song when it was released. i know i wasn’t into kpop at all but in my pop culture circle there was a small bleep from this song bc of the concept and the dance. i think it’s a great “embassador of kpop” track, like if you wanna explain to someone with no previous knowledge what kpop is about you can show them a performance of this song.

⭐️production: the production is a little all over the place for me. the instrumentals are amazing and really creative tho, but like in terms of mixing vocals and the structure of it, it might be a little too grating. it’s not the best produced song in ly: answer by any means but it still makes it work

⭐️creative value: the whole hanbok thing is a 10/10. bts weren’t the first ones to do it, but they did it in such a tightly executed way that honestly that “classic korean roots meets the edgy western feel” concept belongs to them now. groups are still recreating it. it’s a really innovative concept in general.

⭐️concept: the music video is,,,, something. you might love it or hate it, but it’s memorable. i think the purposeful way in which they made it as loud and brilliant as possible can be taken either as a camp adjacent or just as the group going nuts with the budget, which props to them. the choreography is also a BIG plus. the south african influence is really well executed and they made sure to do it as cultural appreciation and not appropriation. definitely the most memorable thing from this song is the choreo

3. Run (2015).

⭐️gp impact: this was their second song to have a music show win. it was the lead single from hyyh pt2 and honestly it might be the best song off hyyh as a whole. it cemented bts as not just another kpop group, because it made non fans turn their heads too! from what i gather this really propelled them forward and made the fanbase grow a lot.

⭐️production: hyyh pt2 is super well produced. i feel like this song in particular makes a fine job of mixing the vocals but it’s not outstanding. the best part is the instrumentals. but overall it’s a really good song with amazing lyrics and a great melody.

⭐️creative value: this built off of what they did with pt1 so they were already in a comfortable place, when they found this sound they really explored it well and deep and it works! i’m glad they went this emo pop route because it was a good contrast to what was dominating the charts in kpop in 2015.

⭐️concept: the aesthetic is PERFECT. there’s not a single other thing that i could add or that i wanted gone. it’s the perfect mix of coming of age teen film and heartfelt, dreamy pop. the music video is by no surprises the favorite mv of a lot of the fandom. the cinematography is beautiful and the song and the video perfectly capture that fleeting moment in life when you’re in the brink of adulthood.

2. Mic Drop (2017).

⭐️gp impact: this song was the first bts song to chart on the billboard hot100. back when the fandom had no idea how to chart, mass buy etc. that’s enough said. (personally i think mic drop is the quintessential bts song and their best release so the fact that i’m not putting it first should count as something).

⭐️production: for the purposes of this ranking i’m using the original mic drop and not the steve aoki remix even tho it was the steve remix that was released as the single. the song has the BEST mastering i’ve heard in kpop. the transitions are flawless, the beat is pure fire, the entire first minute is literally the hardest hype rap i’ve heard in kpop. everything about it WORKS.

⭐️creative value: it’s kinda funny how this song got released the same year as kendrick lamar’s humble, because imho it’s the best hiphop song of that year after humble. 2017 was truly the year of the diss tracks. bonus points for including it right after the billboard acceptance speech skit in ly: answer. SUPER refreshing among the ed sheeran type of pop that dominated that year.

⭐️concept: it’s a great concept but not innovative by any means. still, it works and bts managed to exploit it to the max. the choreo, the mv, the styling, everything was amazing!

1. Blood, Sweat & Tears (2016).

⭐️gp impact: it's probably the first song to put bts on the map beyond the kpop sphere. it really set the tone for their 2017. it's one of their most famous and recognizable songs to date.

⭐️production: this song is STUNNINGLY arranged. the mix, the ambience, the progression,,, it's all brought together to make a very well crafted song. it has a distinctive electronic/pop sound to it that still manages to set itself apart from the trend that was going at the time. black swan is probably the closet single they have to this in terms of production.

⭐️creative value: the song itself is very in compliance with the 2015/2016 trend of hype songs with edm influence, (ie. closer, shape of you, cheap thrills, let me love you, something just like this, etc.) but it still packs that punch that makes it sound fresh even for 2021.

⭐️concept: it wasn't the first song to sound like this in kpop ofc but it was the first truly sexy concept for bts. the aesthetic is innovative and very well thought out, the mv is amazing and the choreography too. i read somewhere that j-hope had a lot of input for this choreo so that's amazing. also blond taehyung is literally the best thing to come out of big hit.

WORST BTS TITLE TRACKS

ok so here we go with the worst ones! this is in ascending order as i prepare myself to pick the worst of them all, but please remember this isn’t meant to be mean spirited, i am simply applying the same criteria to their most underwhelming songs but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own merit! it’s just that out of 26 singles, SOME of them have got to come out at the bottom right?

5. Life Goes On (2020)

⭐gp impact: this song is not memorable with the general public, its #1 on the bb was the product of mass buying and even though it's a feel good song made to comfort fans in the times of pandemic it's still bland and boring. I think it had no music show appearances either, and as far as bts ballads go this is just bottom tier. it’s not that it’s terrible, it’s just very underwhelming 

⭐production: the autotune in this song is very poorly executed, it doesn't add to the song the way black swan does for example. it's just off putting and the melody is really forgettable. it's funny bc the chorus is directly pulled from the 2018 reggaeton super hit "La Canción" by J Balvin and Bad bunny lmaooo 💀 so I can't get that out of my head either. the structure is just fine and has nothing of substance 

⭐creative value: the song is attempts to be a heartfelt acoustic song but it really has nothing that sets it apart from other songs product of the pandemic like Justin and ariana's stuck with u. for a song in a self produced album it's the song with the least input from the group. the lyrics are good, but they're not as sincere or groundbreaking as for example Spring day. 

⭐concept: as a ballad ofc I'm not expecting it to have a grand choreography, and the mv being filmed in their personal dorms to reflect the lockdown is actually a nice touch but besides that there is nothing exciting, innovative or even sincerely comforting about the song and the concept. the greatest thing abt it is the fact that jk directed the video, which is actually pretty good.

4. We are bulletproof pt 2 (2013)

⭐gp impact: this song made no noise back in the day and to this day its just beloved by the fandom due to a sense of nostalgia and "remembering bts' roots". don't get me wrong it's amazing that bts still perform it in the year of our lord 2020 because you can't forget where you came from, but it's not a good or memorable song by any means. 

⭐production: I went back to listen to it for this and oh god. I can't remember the mixing being THIS bad. jimin, jin and taehyung sound exceptionally bad, they don't sound like themselves especially jin. it's just a really poorly mastered song, but then again the rest of their debut album isn't far better. 

⭐creative value: this is straight up ripping off early 2000s black culture from the US. not only the music, the styling for this era in general is unfortunately really bad and culturally appropriating and overall it's a mess. 

⭐concept: there is nothing of substance to be said about this song. it's just really a miss. the mv is terrible, the only thing that can be salvaged from this is the choreography, but besides that the whole thing feels sloppy, rushed and is also kinda cringey.

3. N.O. (2013)

⭐gp impact: no noise. this song was just a really weird pick for their first comeback when attack on bangtan or coffee was right there. not to be mean but no wonder they didn't have a music win this year. 

⭐production: it's an objectively bad song. it's just really underwhelming, the whole mixing feels amateur. it's not a good hiphop song and it's not a good vocal arrangement and the chorus is also a rip off of a late 90s American song I can't find right now 

⭐creative value: this song isn't innovative in any way, it's just..... there. very meh in general, I have nothing more to say about it 

⭐concept: the storyline kinda wants to go somewhere with the music video but it doesn't manage to make a connection. the styling is plain, simple and not flattering at all. it tries to make a protest of the Korean school system but it doesn't say anything beyond "school bad" which we already knew

2. Not Today (2017)

⭐gp impact: its a very middle of the list song for a lot of the fandom. I literally know of no one that claims this as their favorite mv/era/song. when you ask people about their least favorite bts songs they won't mention this one either, you know why? because it's that irrelevant. it had no music show wins either. it's precisely because of this why I put it so high up on the list. there's nothing worse than an unmemorable song, if it was widely hated then at least that would be a response. 

⭐production: it's a really mediocre song in terms of structure and melody. it tried to be hype but it falls short. the chorus feels half finished and the message of the song is just “the revolution has begun”? which okay? but it adds nothing to the You never walk alone album either.

⭐creative value: there is nothing exciting about this song, and the chorus is too grating. the rhythm is repetitive and nothing new either in kpop or pop in general. 

⭐concept: sadly there's not a lot to be said for the song. it says nothing of value and what it says falls flat. there's no innovation. you can actually see a lot of idol in this song, and also ON. those two songs are what this one tried to be but failed.

1. War of Hormone (2014)

⭐gp impact: thankfully none. this song got the treatment it deserved, if they had won a music show for this one it would feel tainted lol. now it's just a meme in the fandom but overall it made zero noise and contributed nothing to bts' evolution 

⭐production: the production is very lazy, which is odd because dark & wild has some pretty tight tracks. but this one is just meh, nothing outstanding and the melody is just annoying 

⭐creative value: this is a song that was probably born out of the desperation to have a gp friendly hit. it tries really hard to replicate an outdated idea of what boy bands should be, and it does it badly. simply put this song is very mediocre and misogynistic and the fact that it's a running gag in the fandom that "feminism isn't important when war of hormone comes on" isn't funny and it's actually cringe. please stop 

⭐concept: the styling is so ugly :( the mv is very low budget which isn't surprising but they managed to make more with less in past releases. it's just embarrassing and I wish this song didn't exist, there's a reason why they never play it anymore lol. overall a dark mistake in bts' career

[madroxed]

the order (season two) thoughts.

so chotoranii asked me for my thoughts on the order season two. of which there are many. posting them here rather than in a reply so tumblr doesn’t fuck up the ‘keep reading’ break. 

SO MANY SPOILERS AHEAD, OBVIOUSLY.

OK FOLKS, LET’S DO THIS. SORRY ABOUT THE WORD COUNT.

the good, the bad, and the incomprehensible.

ok SO. overall i thought this season was so much better than season one, especially in terms of production and acting.

i should start by saying, the biggest twist of this season? ME LIKING JACK AS A BLOND. i’ve been dragging that hair for months and i end up digging it? i’m so mad at myself.

ANYWAY the first three episodes? flawless! beautiful! amazing! they honestly took everything i could have listed as wanting and put it onscreen. jack trying out for cheer squad and having to stay on cheer squad to keep up the act? them finding each other almost immediately? the jokes about orgies? jack taking the knights seriously and holding on to his anger over the memory wipe? lilith and nicole? nicole in general? RANDALL AND HAMISH FAKE DATING (however briefly, seriously, i will be writing fic where they have to keep that up because i am betrayed that it was never brought up again and if you think i didn’t throw my laptop across the bed so i could run around screaming you’d be wrong)? A MAGIC HEIST?

honestly, all perfect.

............then the season started to go downhill. don’t get me wrong, there were still some excellent parts, but they were hindered by two things:

the plot jumping about too much to be comprehensible.

the fact that we the viewers are supposed to believe that randall carpio and hamish duke would not tear the world apart for lilith bathory immediately. 

the first is forgivable; the first season’s plot was a simple enough device that meant it dragged a little at times. this season they seemed to not want to fall into that trap again, but in doing so threw something so big in that they needed far too much exposition because they didn’t have enough time to show it (a trait they fell into in a lot of ways, we’ll get back to that). SHOW, DON’T TELL, FOLKS. that being said, i really liked salvadore as a character, and the idea of a group of people striving to make magic accessible to all was a cool moral quandary plot. 

the second is unforgivable to me, and led to the majority of my issues with the season. i understand the knights becoming members of the order (cool concept), i understand them struggling with conflicting loyalties because of it, but what i don’t understand is the fact that randall spent the majority of the season saying “let’s get lilith back!” only to back down at the first push back, and hamish was the push back. because......the order had other problems. IN WHAT UNIVERSE DO THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER NOT PUT EACH OTHER FIRST AND SAY FUCK EVERYONE ELSE? 

(jack i understand, if only because we saw so much of it last season. his loyalties are kinda flaky. i do understand his loyalty to vera; not only did she play a huge part in taking down edward last season, but the mind link thing and learning all her pain would have stuck with him. he loves a cause, that boy. also hey ho! jack was so much more likeable this season! we love to see it.)

also i just really missed lilith.

(thank fuck for nicole never giving up.)

the amount of callbacks to season one were fantastic. they didn’t just move on and leave it be, they referenced basically everyone, and seeing professor clarke and kyle again was a nice touch just to tie things together. there also being discussions about jack’s pete related trauma was great and necessary. 

ok, so alyssa. i take back my post about how great it would be for her to be the villain. this was so much better. her trauma in the wake of both season one and then accidentally killing someone leading to her feeling so conflicted and lost and alone? her magic malfunctioning when it’s all she feels she has? we’ve always known she was ambitious, but to see her face straight on the idea that she may be left completely powerless and no one really listening or trying to help her except a hive mind that’s also hurting her? o u c h. 

we saw this season that the real problem with the order is its motto of ‘hurry up and wait’. ‘we’ll save lilith.....just do all these other things first!’ ‘we’ll get alyssa’s magic back......there’s just more important things right now!’ it’s all so easy to see how that could frustrate someone so much they can’t take it anymore. 

i’m so pleased i loved alyssa so much this season. i desperately wanted to and i’m glad they gave me that. i just felt so much for her. she just wanted to not feel so alone and so helpless and so scared that she was going to pick the wrong side again. it was beautiful.

this also meant alyssa/jack was better this season. having got the insta-love out the way last season (ugh), this season they were able to actually look at how that would play out if you took ramifications into consideration. all the problems i had with them last season were vocalised onscreen, and this new unstable thing left in its place was far more appealing to watch. they were messy and bad for each other and they knew it, but that didn’t stop them loving each other. 

also: “if we get out of this, can i take you to the mall? because i really hate your jean jacket. and your hair.” 

in regards to the other relationships: 

lilith and nicole were adorable for the limited amount of time we got them onscreen. the slow crush to nervous dating was beautiful, and seeing lilith struggle with what getting her memories back meant in regards to that was great. we all know i thought the lilith/randall of last season was rushed, so having lilith torn over hurting one of the most important people in her life and following these feelings for someone new was lovely. IF WE GET A SEASON THREE I BETTER GET SO MUCH MORE OF THEM.

here’s the thing, putting aside lilith/nicole for a moment: the order can’t write good relationships (*with one major caveat).

hear me out. 

in season one it was insta-love. jack and alyssa meet and suddenly defending alyssa is the only thing that matters to jack. it....wasn’t good. randall and lilith were thrown together with very little build up and we were supposed to roll with it.

this season we had both hamish/vera and randall/gabrielle. i would like to say that theoretically i am here for both of these. but.

hamish/vera occurred off screen. oh, sure, we had a couple scenes of them staring at each other over drinks, but that was all we got until late into the season. we were told that hamish and vera were a thing by randall when he was winding hamish up. we didn’t see it for ourselves. again, this show’s habit of telling not showing is a problem. 

hamish and vera could make sense. two leaders of opposing factions having sort of hate, begrudging respect sex? i see it. from there, you can show us how it would become something more.

the show doesn’t. 

we’re told they’re together. we’re told hamish is forsaking his knightly duties in favour of vera. we’re told by hamish that he’s drunk the order koolaid, 

and all of this is supposed to culminate in us believing that hamish duke - tundra, leader of the knights of saint christopher, the most cunning of the wolves - would push aside everything else because he just believes that much in vera stone? to the point that he would all but abandon lilith and degrade his relationship with randall to randall being the annoying sidekick? 

i woke up at two a.m. to write a note on my phone that says: ‘the greatest tragedy of the order season two is hamish duke’s character assassination.’ and i stand by that. 

besides lilith’s absence for almost the whole season, it’s the thing i’m most mad about. i love hamish so much and to one-dimensionalise him in favour of a ship is...............shoddy work honestly.

so like i said. HAMISH/VERA COULD HAVE BEEN GOOD, BUT FOR FUCKSAKE SHOW, YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY DEVELOP THIS SHIT.

randall/gabrielle was better developed. by which i mean we actually saw them interacting on screen. we got to see them begrudgingly working together, we saw him learn more about her, we heard them talk about her need to fit in somewhere. when they made the joke about being bffs? good stuff. would i like them to slowburn this shit? yes please. have them become best friends and then have those feelings be something else. i would really like that. the show just needs to.......slow down. not immediately see a single character and need to throw them into a relationship with the nearest person.

gabrielle was great this season. by which i mean, she was gabrielle, and we love some consistent characterisation. i think it’s so true to everything we know about her that she’d want to inject herself into the knights’ world; she wants to be part of the in-crowd, and right now that’s them. she’s also supremely jealous of alyssa because, to her, it seemed like alyssa had the best of both worlds. so, yes, her wanting to be around the knights and that developing into her begrudgingly liking them makes a lot of sense to me.

so, my caveat.

the relationship the order knows how to write? the knights. hamish, randall, lilith, and jack. that dynamic saved season one from being a total mess. that dynamic thrived in the early episodes of this season. IT’S JUST THAT GOOD. i said once that if the order just became greek (2007) but with werewolves i’d be happy, and the first three episodes really gave me that. 

THE KNIGHTS ARE EACH OTHER’S SOULMATES, ASK ME HOW.

is this an excuse for me to complain that they gave us a hint of hamish/randall and then cruelly snatched it away and i’m still mad about it? YOU BETCHA.

is this also my way of saying there wasn’t nearly enough jack/randall this season? YOU BETCHA.

removing lilith from the equation (I’M STILL SO MAD) and then having hamish pull away from randall because..........who the fuck knows, was just a recipe for disaster.

clearly lilith is the glue that holds these idiots together.

so, vera. katherine isabelle still just steals every scene she’s in. i love her. i love vera’s characterisation. i love that she’s shamelessly ambitious but also wants the order to succeed and the world not to end. i love that she can be cold and cruel and still have such soft spots for both jack and alyssa. i love that she can be vulnerable and angry about it. i just........think vera’s pretty fucking great, tbh.

i still don’t understand why the knights - after their infiltration revenge plans go tits up - decide to just go full on order. like??????? hamish and jack barely even questioning anything???? randall must have spent most of this season feeling so alone.

that being said, when jack said to nicole and randall that he knew what they needed to get lilith back and the conversation pretty much went:

jack: you’re okay betraying the order?

nicole: for lilith, anything.

randall: i’d literally betray the order for a cookie, haven’t you been listening?

we love to see it.

OH, HEY GUYS, REMEMBER WHEN IAN ZIERING AND JASON PRIESTLEY WERE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER AND JASON PRIESTLEY BECAME GRAND MAGUS FOR A HOT SECOND???? that was written solely for me. i do not know who this show thinks its audience is, but it understands me to my core.

so...............i have zero clue where the show intends to go from here. i just need alyssa to be ok and i hope - like his friend randall - jack is willing to kill whoever the hell he has to to make that happen. (we stan randall straight up murdering someone to get lilith back and making sure nicole remains innocent and safe tbh.) 

SO TL;DR: the early episodes gave me life. the show declined from there, but i still enjoyed it a lot. the order is at its best when the knights are a team, i loved alyssa’s story this season, and i have no clue what to expect from next season (if we get one). werewolf alyssa? villain jack, perhaps? we’ll see! 

THIS POST PROBABLY SEEMS TOO NEGATIVE BUT HI! I STILL LOVED THIS SEASON A LOT AND I LOVE MY KIDS WITH MY WHOLE HEART AND IF YOU READ ALL A MILLION WORDS OF THIS THEN I LOVE YOU TOO.

also if anyone has any hamish/randall prompts i’ll be hanging out over here crying into my hands for the next few weeks. FAKE DATING. how dare they?!

[roseapothecary]

I’m posting this several hours past the deadline, but it’s okay bc I posted a single bingo a couple days ago (so that one counts). This has been an incredible fest! It’s my first EVER as a member of this fandom and I’ve enjoyed all of the wonderful, creative stories that came out of it... not to mention, I really enjoyed writing the three that I contributed myself! Thank you to the mods for organizing this, and to all of you that submitted work.

I decided to come back and fill out a full bingo card with recs.

The one line I did before just wasn’t enough.

... And, this time, I’m going to properly gush. 🥰

Featuring Art: you know what they say: better late than never

This is literally so fucking pure.

Rare Ships: everyday the hold is getting tighter (and it troubles me so)

Do Ruth/Stevie count as a rare ship? They’re not ~technically canon, so I’m counting it. This piece is REALLY sweet and features one of my favorite tropes (“there’s only one bed!!”)

Character Archetypes: breaking open the game

This is a GORGEOUS exploration of Patrick’s experience as a queer athlete. 

Alexis’ POV: Rollin' With the Homies

YA’LL. This fic tho. Like. Not only does Alexis’s POV really shine when read through this lens, it also blends so well with Cher’s tone that it’s... like... It’s perfect. It’s the perfect mashup. The author’s choice to write it in first-person was a boss move and I read the entire thing in Alexis’s actual voice in my head. AND TWYLEXIS KISS IN DISNEYLAND? COME. ON.

Audio/Podfic: [Podfic] Never Felt This Way Before 

This is one of my favorites from @schittposting​, given new life. Such a beautiful transformation of an already beautiful fic.

Patrick’s POV: What's New Pussycat?

There are literally no words to explain this. David is a cat. Literally. I never realized how on brand that would be, but... dude, David Rose is a cat.

Less Than 2k: lost mittens and dryer lint

Not only did this lead me into a spiral watching the original House Hippo advert and reading about that whole thing (fucking fascinating), it also had me giggling and smiling. So cute.

Romantic Tropes: You Look Like a Movie, You Sound Like a Song

SUCH a unique take on rom-com tropes and David’s love for them. I can’t say much more without spoiling the magic of it because it truly is an original concept. Just... take my word for it. Read it.

Set in SC: Budd is a dud! Vote Sands.

Love, love, love this view of Stevie/Twyla’s relationship. There’s a great mix of comedy, romance, and general sweetness.

Over 20k: I Waited My Whole Life

I mean, I love weddings and this has SEVERAL of them, so obviously it’s gonna be on my rec list. It’s a great story and a beautiful ride, from beginning to end. There’s a great balance of comedy and fluff... and tbh the banter? [chef’s kiss]

Fantasy and Fandom Tropes: Captive on the carousel of time 

There is so much to love about this fic. Seeing David and Patrick from Twyla’s perspective is absolutely adorable, for one, and Twyla’s perspective IN GENERAL is delightful. There’s also a time-loop AND Stevie/Twyla. 

Canon-Compliant: to the end of reckoning

This is a cool take on Patrick and Ronnie’s dynamic and I’ve frankly accepted it as part of my personal head-canon. It’s so spot on.

Free Space: More Than a Bird

At no point in my life did I think, “You know who would make a great superhero? David Rose.” Then I read this, and I haven’t stopped thinking... You know who would make a great superhero? David Fucking Rose. It’s a great exploration of his character and Patrick’s character... and also David’s familial dynamic with Stevie and Alexis. I would read another 20k of this, to be totally honest with ya’ll.

Free Space honorable mention: Make a Wish 

Okay, I couldn’t choose between this one and the above one for my free space, so you’re getting both. I fucking love this concept and how the author incorporated the rings into the genie mythos... and the mythos the author created in general for how genies work? The Aladdin references were lovely, but there’s also a fresh, original sorta vibe. And the background of HOW David ended up a genie in the first place is just... gold. Such a good story overall.

Platonic Tropes: Gonna Watch You Shine

Johnny and Stevie are family now. 🥺 

That’s it. That’s all you need to know. Read it.

Rare POV: didn’t ask for this--you freely gave it (so now i watch your mouth for both of us)

This fic takes you on the journey of Twyla and Alexis’s relationship over the course of the show through Twyla’s eyes and it’s stunning.

Based on a Movie: Taste of a Poison Paradise 

It’s Alexis as Harley Quinn. Do I need to say more? This is so so good. I love ALL of the author’s choices re: character alter egos. Rachel as Black Canary?  Stevie as Catwoman? STEVIE/RACHEL??? And, obvi, the Twylexis of it all. My favorite part (and why it gets this bingo slot) is the way Alexis’s thought bubbles actually made their way into the text, ala Harley’s voiceovers in Birds of Prey. It worked really really well. 

David’s POV: Flying Coach 

Genuinely a fucking delight. David’s characterization here is flawless, first of all, and... honestly, whoever you are, author person... I’d really like to see what happens next in Paris. So, if you could get on that, that would be great. [David Rose voice] Thanks so much.

Multiple Tropes: You Happened

High school David/Patrick and Stevie/Twyla? Sign me the fuck up. This is one of my favorite takes on the “David works at Rose Video” concept (which is already one of my fave SC tropes), and it seamlessly folds in so many different nods to canon. It’s sweet and it’s funny and it’s angsty and it’s just a lot. It’s so good.

Canadian Tropes: Close Encounters of the Alces Kind

This had me giggling basically the entire time. Who wouldn’t love a text-based fic about a moose? ...David, probably... but that’s it.

Featuring Music: favored nations

I will never shut up about this fic for as long as I fucking live. I’m literally tearing up writing this stupid little rec and thinking about it. David’s whole story with his galleries translates SO well into what the author set up for him here... and humble!famous Patrick is just Correct in every way. It’s a brilliant, brilliant AU... and tbh? I wish David and Patrick were real so they could actually create this play together. I’d love to see it. 

Set Outside SC: how it's gonna always be

This one stole my heart. It’s SO beautifully written, first of all, and it’s a great story. Both David and Patrick have the habit of running from their problems, but it’s with each other that they finally dive in headfirst. Also, y’know, the fic is 🔥🔥🔥.

WLW Fic: If You Could See The Other Side Of Me 

This had me fucking cackling. By now, ya’ll know how much Stevie/Alexis mean to me and dksvjioehgo dude this take is just... [chef’s kiss]. The author even wrote lyrics. Like. That ALONE sends this fic to the next fucking level. Quebecky Stan 4 Lyfe.

Stevie’s POV: In the Running

Another take on the “Stevie and Twyla compete for a council seat” prompt. I loved how this brought out their competitive sides. A delight.

Multiple Chapters: four four four two 

SOFT!!! ALSO THERE ARE BAKED GOODS!!! AND INCREDIBLY FLIRTATIOUS NOTES!!! AND PEEK-A-BOO STEVIE/RUTH TOO!

Gen Fic: The Guestbook of David and Patrick Rose-Brewer 

The voices are so spot on. Just. So perfect. I wish I could hear the actors read this.