#but this is a very cool concept and a very intriguing ship

[peakdeer]

im sending this ask because i wanna share this concept I had and I'm too shy to post it on main but lowkey shipping wcsmp! cleo and prisamarina as rivals/enemies to lover T-T Idk I view wcsmp! pris as this deceptive seemingly sweet but manipulative person and cleos the only one who knows her true nature and is weary of her and hhhh idk cat and mouse game ensues and eventually pris catches on that cleo knows whats shes up and idk tension go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and they're intrigued by each other and hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. anyways feel free to write something if you want. i just wanted to share this with someone

Cleo disliked the Water Witch.

The way she twisted her words until they had a totally different meaning, the way she thought herself as so much better than all the other witches, the way she dragged everyone under her spell with promises and lies.

Cleo didn’t see the point in lying. In her years of being a witch—she’d long lost count—she’d never known one to stay hidden. They were always revealed for what they were, ugly and hurtful and so much worse than they had begun.

The Water Witch was like that. Sweet in appearance but nasty in nature. Like a clear pool full of sickness and disease. It looks perfect and tastes syrupy sweet, but turns bitter in your throat and spreads plague through your city.

The Water Witch seemed to have fun poisoning others. Drawing them in on her words and lies, twisting the truth until it seemed false, making alliances and already planning to break them. So many were under her spell—so many thought she was exactly as she seemed—so many were foolish.

But Cleo was not. Cleo, in her lifetimes and lifetimes of experience, knew better.

She knew what the Water Witch—what Prismarina was.

“Water Witch. Hello. What brings you here?” Cleo’s tone was ice cold and suspicious. She didn’t know why the Water Wi—why Prismarina was here, and she didn’t trust it.

“I thought I’d offer you one of those spell tomes! I found one that fit you, and I thought you’d like it as a gift,” Prismarina explained with her sickeningly sweet tone, the one that sounded so deceitful it almost made Cleo throw up.

“Oh! Fantastic, lovely. That’s… helpful. I appreciate it. Let me get something to trade for it,” Cleo agreed loftily, trying hard to keep her voice neutral. She didn’t trust Pris, but it wasn’t wise to antagonize her.

“Oh, you don’t need to pay for it! It’s just a friendly gesture, one witch to another.” Pris used her extra-sweet and extra-innocent voice, the one that said I’m just a small little witch! You can trust me. I will won’t stab you in the back!

Cleo didn’t trust it one bit.

“No, I insist.” Cleo’s tone was sharp, leaving no room for argument. She didn’t trust the Water Witch to not come back and use the gift as a receipt to get something out of her—something to give her the higher ground. She didn’t trust the Water Witch to do something out of the goodness of her heart—she knew that the Water Witch could be cruel; she could be more bitter than she could be sweet.

A flash caught her eye, and she was the Water Witch’s expression twist into an angry snarl, something furious and ghastly and not quite right. Something totally different than the front she usually used.

She knew. And the Water Witch knew she knew.

She knew. And Pris knew she knew.

And Cleo wasn’t sure if they were the same, or if they were different, or if she cared, or why she cared.

It was dangerous, it was. They say time flows like a river—fast and deadly and disorienting. Cleo knew she was. Cleo also knew that Pris—the Water Witch—she—was the same. But it drew her in anyway, the sweet words alluring despite being false, and the hand soft despite ready to stab her in the back.

If she had to be honest, that made it more tempting.

The Water Witch showed up more often, now. She never left without a threat, of course, but Cleo could see her in the corner of her vision, watching her. Cleo wondered if she thought of Cleo the same way Cleo thought of her.

Cleo liked the Water Witch. She was intriguing. Perhaps one day this aspect would make her dislike the Water Witch, but for now, it was just that.

Intriguing.

[yellowjackets96]

the way you do the things you do / angus tully x reader — part one

summary / chaos is only natural when barton's resident misfit strikes up a bond with the middle child of the school's most despised instructor.

warnings / none

word count / 1,300+

hii! this one goes out to the very wise anon who suggested a plot revolving around angus and mr. hunham's kid, which, i must say, is an utterly brilliant concept. however, it turned out to be a lot longer than just a mere one-shot like my first one had been, so it'll probably end up being two or three parts. i hope that's okay, lovely anon. thank you for sharing your brilliance with me!

Moreso than anything else, the relationship between the two of you started as an agreement. Well, an unspoken one, but an agreement nonetheless. Somebody had to look out for the two of you, on equal footing as outliers, as social rejects, as the odd men out. No one could be better for that role than you yourselves. 

To your utter dismay, ever since your parents made the decision to ship you off to Barton Academy in order to get you “the best education available” for high school (which was made possible by your father’s half-off tuition staff discount), you found yourself under a level of scrutiny that you never once faced at your old public junior high. It was not your intention to be perceived as the offspring of the most hated man there, either, but word travels quicker than a deer crossing the road at Barton. A concept introduced to the dean on a Sunday morning ends up widely-understood knowledge by a Monday evening. You’d already been written off as the ‘spawn of Satan’ before you even started your first class. Tough fuckin’ luck.

On the other hand, Angus’s isolation was entirely self-imposed. Following several years of what his mother had promised would be a “short-lived maintenance phase,” he became fed up with the entire process — the constant shifting and forced socialization and paperwork and meetings with headmasters. Lather, rinse, repeat, over and over until he felt utterly insane. He grew to resist society’s forced conditioning of him, lashing out the only way he knew how, through acts of adolescent rebellion. Due to how much you contrast from your stickler father, you eventually saw eye to eye with Angus on this. Once you had finally worn him down to the point of dragging a tragic backstory out of him, you understood why, because, of course no teenager could possibly be interested in the art of befriending their peers and engrossing themselves in a community at their third consecutive school. 

But it didn’t start off too swimmingly.

He entered your life on the strangest day of the week, during the least-interesting possible time of year — a Thursday in late February. You learned of his arrival through the grapevine, mere hours before you first saw him. Perched at a seat towards the very corner of the dining hall, you had become increasingly intrigued by the nearby nonstop chatter from a group populated by Georgie Jackson, Philip McNamara, Billy Wolfe, and Teddy Kountze, a rare sight in the seven o’clock breakfast setting, which was typically chock full of half-dead, completely exhausted teenagers.

“You wanna bet it’s gonna be another freak?” Teddy had grumbled, shaking his head dismissively at something optimistic Georgie must have said. “They’re half the school, at this point.”

He not-so-transparently nodded towards you, earning him in-sync laughs from the more agreeable Philip and Billy, and a halfhearted head shake from Georgie. “Christ, dude. And you wonder why we’re the only kids who tolerate you.”

Teddy threw his hands up defensively. “Hey, I’m just sayin’! We could benefit from someone actually cool and fun.”

“God, could you imagine how cool a girl would be?” Billy daydreamed, practically drooling.

The shaggy-haired blonde smirked. “You’re telling me. That’s all I wanted since I first enrolled here. Would be nice if old man Woodrup would do what the student body actually wants, for once.”

“Instead,” Philip piped up, wearing a dejected pouty frown. “I’m hearing this guy got kicked outta three different schools.”

Your curiosity piqued, you finally jumped in, against your better judgment. “What could possibly get a teenage boy tossed from not one, not two, but three schools? That sounds utterly ridiculous.”

The energy sufficiently changed as Teddy shot you a poisonous glare, you watched the trio of his small-time henchmen sink into their seats, seemingly anxious at how angry you were about to make him. His scrunched-up face twisted into a confident smirk, like he was one-thousand percent confident he could ensure you would never speak to him again. “What’s it to you, Walleye Jr.? You think I’d lie about some shit like that? Would you tell your daddy if I did?”

A scoff escaping your throat, you leaned back into your seat, slightly dejected. “Well, no, but-”

“That’s what I thought,” Teddy said, his lackeys chuckling in unison, practically on cue. “And you wonder why you don’t have any friends, loser.”

Just like that, enforced unnecessary social hierarchy had left you right back where you were before, with more questions than you could ever get proper answers for.

Once lunch period rolled around, you figured you may as well not try your luck again. 

Wrapping a gentle fist against the surface of your father’s door, you barely had to stand by for more than a few moments before he greeted you, the smile that he saved for you and the rest of your family plastered across his cheeks as he slung an arm across your shoulder, pulling you into a casual hug. Due to the academy’s policy of teacher’s children not being allowed to take their parent’s classes to avoid favoritism, you no longer spent time with him every day as you typically did with your mother back home. The reunion was definitely something you had been yearning for since you last saw him, even though it must have been no less than a week ago last Sunday. For the first time in far too long, something at Barton brought joy back to you. 

“How have you been, sweetheart?” your father asked, his reading glasses bouncing slightly on the bridge of his nose as he sat back down at his desk. He pointed to the chair on the other end of it, offering it to you. You gladly accepted, tugging the seat out and sliding into it.

You shrugged at the question, trying not to pay Kountze and his gang of blockheads too much mind. “Fine. Haven’t really done anything too notable or special.”

“Well, hey,” he offered, sliding a sheet labeled roll call across the desk to you. “Maybe this’ll brighten your spirits, despite how much the prospect of it annoys me.”

As soon as he finishes speaking, you instantly know what he was referring to, your eyes catching on the highlighted name sandwiched between Neil Sweeney and Todd Wedderling, bearing an emboldened word next to it — Angus Tully (NEW). And then, like it were on cue, the door behind the two of you swung open, revealing the sight of an instantly-enrapturing bearer of deeply brown eyes.

“Ah, Mr. Tully,” your father remarked, rising from the desk to greet him. “What a coincidence. I was just introducing them to you.”

Angus snorted. “All good things, I hope.”

“You’ve yet to prove us otherwise,” the older man quipped, before quickly turning toward you. “This is my middle child, the one Dr. Woodrup told you about. They’re a sophomore like you, so even though you won’t be in my class together, I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

Picking up on the hint, you offer the other teenager a hand, which he casually shakes. “Pleasure to meet you, Angus.”

The brunette offered a crooked half-smile, enough to draw one out of you, too. “Nice to meet you as well.” Everything about him seemed natural — the way he didn’t force his grin, the warmth of his palm, the distinct waviness of his mud-shaded curls. This school left you perpetually surrounded by well-off jackasses, standing where they were currently placed via generational wealth, rather than strength and perseverance, working off of their own merits as your father had. Not to say that Tully was dissimilar in that manner, but he just felt so distinctly different, like he was not even trying to cultivate a phony persona in the effort of impressing others. If only everyone were like him. Maybe Barton would be bearable after all.

[naffeclipse]

I really need to revamp my aliens au because I stole so many concepts from that AU and shoved them into CS as I had written the initial Aliens post a bit before CS was created. Now I want to make it fresh but still creature-feature with the boys—just Alien Edition™

Just to list off a few things I originally envisioned for this AU:

Sun and Moon can hear heartbeats. Specifically hear, unlike the cryptid boys who have a whole sense for it, but nonetheless, the whole heart awareness started here. I'm thinking of maybe changing this to Alien!Sun/Moon picking up on Y/N's breathing or scrapping it entirely.

Y/N is enthusiastic and wants to study the boys. I think Scientist Y/N can bypass the whole fear thing pretty easily and go straight to nerding out, whereas CS!Y/N is very much in denial about their excitement, and rationalizes it as 'for the hunt'. I think I can make it interesting via scientist Y/N for the Aliens AU even if it's still a concept of 'wants to learn about an intriguing subject that now involves the boys'. Just different flavors.

Sun/Moon eating very unpleasant things. Of course, cryptid boys eat hearts, but the alien boys are just hungry for any kind of meat, and hey, with a desolate and dark ship filled with recently slaughtered humans, it's kind of an all-you-can-eat buffet.

That's the summary of concept similarities, but I do want to focus on the difference, such as, of course:

there being two alien creatures.

how different everything will function in a setting within space/spaceship.

a language barrier between scientist Y/N, and Sun and Moon.

a focus on Y/N's physical trauma with their blown-off arm. They're going to want to make the journey through the desolate spaceship to retrieve said arm that has been preserved and then need to get to the medical bay (think protective cylinder) to hopefully have the ship's installed medical AI and tools perform surgery to reattach it, which is a big risk when there's something else roaming the gray halls that even intimidating and powerful aliens Sun and Moon would rather Y/N doesn't encounter.

Sun and Moon also have their own designs and special abilities relating to their celestial themes as well as indulging in freaky monster details, like Moon's 'nightcap'. It is extremely long and acts as a sensitive feeler for things in the air and is somewhat prehensile. Sun's sun rays have more purpose than just being pointy and armor-plate-like, as well as having those same plates on his spine, and he almost seems to be on the brink of being too hot, sometimes radiating heatwaves like an oven.

their alien design is a mix of translucent, starry, and colored flesh, almost like jelly but smooth and slightly cool and moist to the touch, coating the bones of Fazco brand endoskeletons.

their legs are digitigrade.

their mouths are wide and look like they're smiling all the time, but their mouths can get bigger and open even wider, especially when they're eating/attacking—it's as if their entire face is going to split in half but nope, that's just to let out their other teeth.

That's all I have for now. I want to think about it some more.

[jessequinnfirstofhername]

controversial opinion (I don't think it is tho) : I think people who hate on Shin are kind of unreasonable to be honest? It seems the core hatred for the character was born when the wolfwren ship got celebrated by the stars of the Ahsoka series, by conflicting ships. The idea she is a "bloodthirsty, violent, psychopath" is... not really founded when you look at every minute she is on screen. She is on the opposite side of a war, so yes she kills people who see as "good", but there are no moments in the series where the villainy she is accused of truly comes out.

The truth is that aside from cool fights here and there, Shin doesn't talk that much and doesn't make that many decisions that are not someone else's (her Master's.) So the very few words she does say and the very few decisions she does make on her own matter all that much more. The fact Filoni made sure that the stab wound made to Sabine is visibly at an angle certainly explained her survival, but it seems people who hate Shin reject the nation of asking themselves "why stab someone non fataly?" Because yeah... why do that? Another few moments is her pursuing her fight with Sabine in her rage, stopped by Baylan. And last big action she commits on her own is questioning her master about the promise he made to Sabine. Breaking the promise achieves their goal, there is little since to questioning it if ahe is as evil and bad as she is framed to be. She doesn't have a clean slate, but people can love Anakin for commotting the jedi equivalent of a school shooting and they can love Maul for killing plenty of beloved characters. Shin's crimes pale in comparison for the level of hate she gets.

My opinion is that she is villainized this hard because certain people think that if Shin is bad and evil and crazy, she won't be shipped with Sabine Wren. And when you hate a character for what people think of the character inside their heads... you kind of lost the plot?

I just think so many people are missing so much of the mysteries and intrigues around Shin specifically. Baylan knew the jedi order, he knows the millenias of history between the sith and the jedi, but Shin? She wields a red lightsaber and has a jedi padawan braid. When she talked about a jedi, she said "just like me." She has no conception of this hard solid line between light and dark, she sees opposing goals, she doesn't hate the jedi, Baylan certainly seems to have no hate for them and he is her master. Clearly he never taught her something that goes against what he fundamentally believes. So we are left with a New Empire hired padawan of a former jedi, who cannot draw the line between the light and the dark fully, who relates to a jedi and value to some degree promises made to them, who now has to confront the other side in a serious way to know where she stands in the full big picture of the fate of the galaxy. COME ONE THIS IS SO COOL.

Why so much hate? All for a ship? Shin to me was the highlight of the Ahsoka series. Many speculate she will be a jedi and I think they may be right, I think Baylan and Ahsoka are different shades of grey, and their padawan are destined to choose to be jedi like those who trained their masters. Or maybe their own separate shade. People summarizing Shin as a villain to vanquish really seem just focused on keeping Sabine away from her, but whether they remain nemesis or become allies, it is a bit ridiculous not to think they are doomed to have plenty more of story between them.

I like Shin! I also like Wolfwren, I think it's a cute ship.

However, I'm not really involved in the fandoms (or the anti-fandoms) for either, so I don't know too much about The Discourse. I can't really speak much on this issue.

The only thing I feel confident speaking on is this: the fact that Shin is scrutinized for actions that are far, far less severe than what- for example- Anakin Skywalker has done probably has less to do with Wolfwren discourse and more to do with plain old sexism.

If Anakin Skywalker was a female character, we'd live in a world where the character would not be being brought back for nostalgia, and her actress's career would've be destroyed.

A female Hayden Christensen never would've gone on to do movies like Jumper, and there would be no female equivalent of The Haydenaissance.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox.

That was a really interesting ask, Anon. I'd love to know what people more involved with the Shin/Wolfwren fandom think!

[sitp-recs]

Happy Friday, friends! I’ve never done monthly wrap ups before but since Wireless pulled me back from a brief hiatus, I thought it would be cool to share some things I’ve been reading, that could use more love. 10 fics both old and new, Drarry and rare pairs, Wireless treats; pick your poison and have fun! 🙌

Drarry

Muscle Memory by @corvuscrowned (E, 7k) - brilliant concept perfectly executed, I’m so here for curse-breaking colleagues who fuck at the job to pass time and then forget about it every time 🤌🏼 genius and intriguing and captivating as per crow’s usual

There's something just beneath the surface, just at the periphery of Harry's mind. They've been here before — they've done this before. If only he could remember it.

And Embers at Your Lips by @nametheshadows (T, 15k) - sequel to one of my all-time favorite 8th year fics with insomniac roommates just as soft and healing as LLAYF. Gorgeous prose and all the kissing. Highly rec this series for A+ comfort food!

The sequel to Like Lightning at Your Fingertips: the kissing montage. And there’s that thing with Potter’s magic.

Rich Friend, Anon (E, 18k) - one of my faves from Wireless, pop star!Draco never gets old and both the pacing and the romance are perfectly developed! I live for Harry’s horny yearning and for their road trip together, kudos to casual Harry/Neville as a side ship!

As far as Harry can tell, Draco Malfoy is still rich as hell. He’s just not a wizard anymore. Featuring: Draco Malfoy trying to make it as a Muggle pop star, Harry Potter as our confused and horny hero, bad driving, good music, and the mysterious magic of falling for someone.

Waking Up Slow, Anon (E, 22k) - this ode to advent Drarry fics took my breath away with a charming Draco, fun dynamics, an enchanting Christmas shop and one of the sexiest smut scenes I’ve read this year, 10/10 recommend for hot & sweet magical vibes and lots of references as an homage to the classics!

'Twas the night before Christmas, although it’s July / Draco’s a shopkeeper, no-one knows why / There’s hiking and witch caves, freak snowfalls and more / Bad Christmas jumpers, nosy neighbours galore / Narcissa’s here too, but… something’s amiss / And what’s in those chocolates that’s making them kiss?

We Are Legend by Vaysh (E, 38k) - happy to report to @romaine2424 that I have finally read this epic apocalypse AU and am shooketh with its originality and serious tone. One of the most creative takes I’ve seen on animagus Draco, a poignant and devastating war story.

Eighty years into the future, Voldemort won. Harry Potter is a renegade wizard, Portkeying Muggles out of London to Hogwarts, last sanctuary in a Britain ruled by the Dark Lord. On a mission he encounters a powerful phoenix Animagus fighting on the Death Eaters' side. He recognises Draco Malfoy whom he thought long dead. But the differences between them are perhaps even greater than before. Cw: MCD

LA, Who Am I To Love You?, Anon (E, 42k) - I cannot believe this beauty was written for my lil Wireless prompt ♥️ perfect LA vibes, gorgeous aesthetics, horny ust and a fascinating take on both down and out bi Harry and out and proud bi Draco, we love to see it! Couldn’t have asked for a better story to fill my prompt, ty anon!

Harry’s summer in LA is not going as expected. Pansy Parkinson keeps inviting him to parties in the Hollywood Hills and harassing him to finally go to the physical therapist, Blaise Zabini keeps slipping new strains of his company’s magical weed into Harry’s pockets in hopes of an endorsement, and Draco Malfoy keeps having sex with everyone but Harry.

Rare Pairs

A Different Tune by November Snowflake (M, 8k) - very nice Dron get together, short & sweet with an undercurrent melancholy that I love, just what I needed before bed

Working in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office has led Ron to many strange encounters--but none more unexpected than this one. Cw: Harry’s dead

The Years Between by brummell (M, 14k) - another rare pair fave, this Rarry fic told from Ron’s smitten and jealous pov as he helps Harry recover from a coma is so deliciously raw and angsty. Gorgeous slow burn, the feels!

For both Harry and Ron, a wake-up call is just the beginning.

Things Remembered by avioleta (E, 17k) - best Snarry fic I’ve read this year, I’m low key obsessed with this hitmen + amnesia concept and how the romance develops so organically while they’re on the run. Intriguing plot, sexy ust and super scorching smut that made me salivate jfc 🔥

Harry wakes up in an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar hotel room, and with absolutely no idea who he is. The man he’s in bed with has no memories either. But they think, maybe, they’re assassins, because they seem to be very good at killing people.

A Dress with Pockets by PacificRimbaud (E, 25k) - a Panville classic recced by anon (ty!!), what a sexy and vibrant read! I LOVED Neville and their dynamics are brilliant and so funny, I just couldn’t get enough of these characters. 100% sold on this ship pls and thank

Pansy Parkinson needed a drink. And a shag. She didn't care in which order. Enter: Neville fucking Longbottom and his rolled up sleeves.

[theinstagrahame]

This is the post where I show off the stuff I've gotten in the last month-ish. And it's been another good one!

(I mean it's always a good one, I have excellent taste)

Coffee and Chaos: I'm tickled by the concept of a coffeeshop AU, and I know that this game isn't explicitly for that. But it's also not *not* for that. Comes in a like conference-style folder, with all the bits you need to play tucked into the sides, which is also a great presentation that I felt deserved a shout-out!

Far Horizons Guide to Cults: I'm friendly with some Far Horizons folks, but wanted this book because it's awesome. A book containing notes and pre-made cults that have goals and drives beyond just "Be A Cult". I am intrigued by the occult, and I hope this gives me more nuance.

Neurocity: Picked this up on vibes alone, but I'm hearing more and more rad things about the creator. It's dystopic, a little cyberpunk, and the book is dripping with style. Can't wait to dig deeper.

You're In Space and Everything's Fucked: Station and Struggler's Guides: The title alone sold me, but I like what Dinoberry Press puts out in general. This is a solo survival space horror game with a cool respawn mechanic. I also splurged on the fancy version because the covers are very cool.

Dead Belt: The pleather folio for this honestly is what sold me, but the game itself is really cool. Salvage ships by laying out cards, exploring, and managing your air and tool resources. Try not to die. I haven't really succeeded at that last part yet...

Exquisite Corpse in the Maggot's Keep: Technically, this isn't a TTRPG, but it's go so many TTRPG folks in it that it might as well be. It's a choosable path adventure written by a variety of people in (if I remember the pitch) exquisite corpse style.

Best Left Buried: Throne of Avarice and In Calamity's Wake: As we already know, I'm a SoulMuppet fan (as in, I've written for their other big series, Orbital Blues). The main book, Throne of Avarice, was written by a creator whose work I've been trying to get more of. I haven't read Best Left Buried as fully as a game, but I am really excited by the excuse to dig in.

Between Clouds: I like air islands and big monsters and found family. Partially, I grabbed this because a friend got really excited about it, and it seemed like it could be fun to run a campaign with them, but I'm also curious about the Year Zero Engine, and glad to see people using it.

Kitchen Knightmares: Grabbed this as an add-on for the You're In Space crowdfund, but I'm glad I got it because it's loosely inspired by This Discord Has Ghosts In It, and that game rules. I might be able to pitch this to my friend group, who enjoyed Discord Has Ghosts.

In a Mirror Brightly/Handbaskets: First off, plug for the RTFM podcast, because it's very good. This two-games-in-one book is created by the two hosts of that show, who are great designers and seem really lovely. But, two wildly different vibes in a single volume is a great idea.

You Meet in a Tavern, You Die in a Dungeon: I've been following the creator for this since some of my earliest days in the RPG scene, so I was happy to help make this a reality. Feels very tropey, and I mean that in the best way possible.

In Other Waters: Tidebreak: Honestly, I have barely scratched the surface of In Other Waters, the PC game this is based on. But this is a Mothership solo hack that returns to that world, and it had me curious based on that pitch alone.

Aaand because I'm a doofus who forgot to include it, here's one more book! PLUS A guest appearance from my new desk mat.

Teeth: Been into Forged in the Dark lately, and as much as I enjoy Monster of the Week, the pitch for this seemed like it was more my speed. You're monster hunters, trying to keep the occult under wraps, while keeping secrets of your own. Plus, horror comedy!

The mat is the cover art from Friends at the Table's current season, Palisade. It's an Armor Astir campaign following up on some of the characters from their Partizan series.

[beevean]

I find it almost saddening how much I've soured on Whisper since she was introduced. She started as such an intriguing character with, imo, a cool design and an intriguing backstory, and in the T&W miniseries we got a very touching story of the two of them growing closer together, with both (especially Tangle) showing off their smarts and why they could make a good match. And then the misery porn train got a hold of her and like 90% of the stories she's in have her get injured, hurt emotionally, forced to recall her trauma in painful ways, constantly dragging her into new traumatic experiences and not allowing her any moving on, while the 'hero' characters are not even shown in the wrong for causing her those (Tangle's crocodile tears about accidentally triggering Whisper: their team is called the Diamond Cutters now. Sonic waltzing right over her rightful apprehension of having Surge around: Surge is allowed to stay.) Not helped by the fact they wrote Silver as an "OhmahGAW GUARDIAN ANGEL!!!!! So cool! So epic! Let me worship the ground you walk on and keep this up for all issues we're gonna work together!!!!" in order to help shill her some more. Except that made that Whisper now is the coolest person in the world ever, unless when the plot needs her to be weak as fuck, crying constantly, and getting overrun by her alleged allies to make readers either feel sad or squeal at Muh Dramatic Irony. Which currently is all the time.

It's strange. So many things with IDW that people now dislike were there from the first handful of issues onwards, but only as things began to go more and more south we began to see it, I feel like.

So many things with IDW that people now dislike were there from the first handful of issues onwards, but only as things began to go more and more south we began to see it, I feel like.

I'd say it's because of multiple factors:

the post-Forces backlash that lead the fandom to have rose-tinted glasses towards IDW (I'm sadly forced to admit that I was one of those people :<)

the general love for the then recently-cancelled Archie that made fans latch onto IDW and Flynn (I wasn't one of those people lol. Never read Archie <3)

the patience towards a new series still finding its footing, with the assumption that it would get better with time. Spoiler: it got worse :)

Anyway, yes. Whisper started out with a cool concept: an introverted, shy girl who preferred to use weapons and not necessarily stick with a team. She feels different enough from the other girls in the cast, but like she could belong, especially in the earlier volumes that were meant to be a continuation from Forces.

But it's clear that the writers don't really know what to do with her, but they can't just shelf her like they could with Belle, because she's popular. And shippable, which is the very fuel that keeps IDW alive nowadays. So, well, they do to her what fans love to do with Shadow: squeeze the trauma out of her like a lemon, so that she can cry (yay angst!) and bond over and over again with Tangle (yay ship!).

Same goes for Tangle, even though she was by Flynn's own admission created as a replacement for Blaze and to basically be a "not like the other Sonic girls" flex lol. She used to be cute and a genuine friend. Now she's a grating womanchild with the sensitivity of a rotten pepper, but hey, as long as she keeps hugging Whisper, no one will complain! They both deserved better.

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Could we see some HCs for Monty, Foxy, Bonnie, & Roxy meeting a steampunk reader? They're an inventor and are totally ecstatic to see AI so alive before their eyes! W/ Monty, they show only curiosity, explaining how AI in their world is basic, & how grand it is that he's so alive! W/ Foxy, they're hyped, saying he'd be a great captain of an airship, showing him a sketch of one. W/Bonnie, they sketch some inventions & show him. W/ Roxy, they're in awe of her, gifting her one of their inventions.

Monty

You were delighted to see how much technology has progressed! Everything was so colorful and the robots were so lifelike.

Monty was the most impressive one, especially with his voice. That was the coolest. He had speech and emotions like an actual person!

You ramble to him about how AI in your world was simplistic compared to now. The concept of him being alive, in a way, was incredible.

His ego just eats up all of your compliments.

You show him how glasses used to look and he just laughs, though he means well. 

He finds them pretty cool but complex in design (despite you being from a simpler time the device looked super complicated...it messes with his brain a little).

Glamrock Foxy

When he mentions pirate ships, you pull him aside to tell him “oh we didn’t really have those, but we did have ships that could fly”.

You show him sketches and schematics of a blimp and he’s in awe.

You’re 100% certain he’d make a great captain if he ever wanted to sail the skies, though he tells you the seas always call to him.

He tells you about “metal flying birds” called airplanes and you’re very intrigued by them.

In fact, you saw one flying high over the Plex on your way in and it leaves you in wonder.

Flying technology has truly come a long way.

Glamrock Bonnie

You’re happy to hear that bowling is still ever-popular today, as Bonnie showed you his star attraction.

Of course, since it’s a place for kids there was no alcohol bar like there was in your time. But you liked how it was an ice cream bar instead.

As an avid fan of the sport, you came up with several inventions that can help players score strikes easier (especially after he tells you a teen got angry and kicked a server bot when they got all but one pin).

You show Bonnie the concepts and he’s impressed.....until he realizes you’re basically inventing a bunch of cheating mechanisms and lightly scolds you for it.

But tbh he thinks they’re very cool ideas.

Roxanne

Just like Monty, you’re amazed at how advanced she is.

You can see that great care was put into her design, especially her hair and tail being made from synthetic fur (both of which were, indeed, beautiful. You made sure to tell her that).

The go-karts in her raceway inspired you to make a small toy go-kart made of silver metal and bronze gears, gifting it to her as a wrapped present.

She’s definitely over the moon bc you not only gave her a gift but a super cool one, too!

You even took the time to put a little person and a driver STAFF bot in the seats.

She’ll absolutely brag about it to the rest of the gang but also take good care of it.

[just-a-dinosaur-i-guess]

character ask: teruko and sigma

teruko first!!

first impression:

ohhh you're murderous

impression now:

the gorl!! i think she is so cool and her ability is made very interesting bc of how she uses it :)

favorite moment:

when she kills fukuchi in the anime. the va did SO well and i nearly cried too. also her fight with sigma was fun to watch

idea for a story:

i have this one i've barely expanded on in my wip pile where she panics really bad on a mission, turns into a baby, and the other hunting dogs have to take care of her. also a vague concept exploring her being the captain of the hunting dogs after fukuchi dies + another in my vaguely set-up post doa arc that my fukurotsu fic hinted at where ranpo takes teruko out to solve a case together. fun violence ensues

unpopular opinion:

i think she's smarter and more calculated then people act like she is

favorite relationship:

i don't ship her with anyone, but oughh her dynamic with fukuchi makes me SO curious.. i wanna see more, i wanna know how she got recruited canonically!!!

favorite headcanon:

AUTISTIC

sigma's turn <3

first impression:

oh you're pathetic

impression now:

oh you deserve that nice house in the woods and nobody to bother you ever again

favorite moment:

hmm.. i like when we get to see how good of a manager he is. also i like this manga panel

idea for a story:

honestly the only one i have is a tachisig fic where he learns metalworking to make gifts for tachihara . they have sigma's dream house there it's just very sweet

unpopular opinion:

there's a post i saw that says it better then me but i think people use them as a prop for other characters way too much. also the three year old jokes have gotten very tiring at this point

favorite relationship:

sigma's relationship to the rest of the doa intrigues me more then anything we actually see in canon tbh. but i like him and nikolai's dynamic and i'd love to see how they interact how that fyodor's dead

also canonically i don't think i really ship him with anyone

favorite headcanon:

space hyperfixation

[demonzoro]

For the character asks, 25 + each of the supernovas? I don't remember if I've ever seen you talk abt them and I'm curious. Feel free to skip any you want/don't have much to say about!

OOOOOH how fun !! please keep in mind that my first impressions are me at eleven so there might be a bit of a jump LOL

25. What was your first impression of this character? How about now?

LUFFY – (first impression) funny monkey guy who RULES!! my #1. i loved his conviction and sense of "right" being people should be free to do what they want. (now) FUNNY MONKEY GUY WHO RULES. idk what else to add his portrayal has been so consistent even over the years, and so has my delight in him :]

ZORO – (first impression) fun but not as cool as luffy. kind of faded into the background for me with luffy commanding most of my attention. don't really get his deal lol. (now) brain chemistry has been altered forever. somehow overtook luffy as my fave?? i don't even know how that happened. i want to be him, i want to be with him, i need to study him, i need to rotate him in my brain forever

BLACKBEARD – (first impression) surprisingly profound tenets about the age of dreams still being alive. still kind of a weird guy. i enjoyed that he and luffy were complete opposites in stupid ways but shared a core belief. (now) i need him dead. why are you as a man with a RAFT for a ship messing up everyone's business like that.

BEGE – (first impression) i genuinely thought the little guys he kept on him were just that size (like gulliver's travels-esque). yes i'm stupid but also i was eleven. (now) FAMILY MAN... i really love his godfather vibe and his role in whole cake. can't say no to a wife guy who is ruthless at his day job <3

BONNEY – (first impression) LOVE how loud and unapologetic she was. saluting her common sense rip zoro you could never be her. (now) intrigued w her backstory ... i've only gotten up to the part where she's seen what they've done to kuma... really excited to learn more abt what's up w that

HAWKINS – (first impression) cool asf powers.... is he just as cool... i will stay tuned to find out. (now) ngl he's a bit of a pathetic wet blanket to me but his whole vibe still goes hard.

APOO – (first impression) this guy is really annoying i need him outta here. (now) this guy is really annoying in the funniest possible ways. blow their ass up with piano!! tumpet!! BWAAA

KID – (first impression) LOOKS SCARY... really cool powers but kind of annoying :/ luffy is literally cooler than you. (now) i truly don't know his deal but i like his scrappiness and loyalty to his crew. his powers are REALLY cool.

KILLER – (first impression) masked character with curved blades on his arms. instantly fell in love. cooler than his captain, get him more panels please. (now) sorry for pitting you against kid like dat... do not separate these two... i was so sad to see him w his mask off :( like an angel w/o wings.... to me....

OROUGE – (first impression) you. are weird. (now) IS HE RELEVANT ANYWHERE? I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE HE'S AT.

X DRAKE – (first impression) COOL DESIGN... an ex-navy pirate was such an intriguing concept to me. i wonder if no-one can trust him because he turncoated the navy... (now) TRUST NO-ONE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR AGENDAS ARE. very intrigued to how his undercover thing with koby pans out ..... i think i'm two character revelations away from being obsessed w him

LAW – (first impression) genuinely unsettling but he looks like he fumbled his wardrobe so bad. already could feel like sliding off my psyche luffy is literally right there. (now) unfortunately obsessed w him. i want to make more art/fic for him bc i have very specific thoughts about what he did in the timeskip. he's also the right level of goofy balanced w edgy that makes him very endearing to me....

*

send me a character + a number from 1-26!

[quartztwst]

Hey Monsieur Jade! Hope ya dont mind me asking another question, but aside from the Octatrio, who are ur other fav characs/dorm??

My other favorite characters would be: Leona, Rook, Grim, and Idia

I really like Leona's character and personality. His backstory and writing are very good (although book 2 was SHIT. Too rushed.). He's really intelligent, and some people downplay him just because he's lazy. I like how he secretly cares for his dorm and the people he knows. People love to put him out as this lazy, grumpy dude with no other character traits, but this dude is quite cool and 3 dimensional.

I don't have any indepth opinion about Rook or Grim but only because they're silly to me. I like Rook's funny personality, and I actually became attached to Grim a lot in the game.

I guess I like Idia because of the relatability. Me and him have both matching MBTIs!! We're both INTPs!! But I also think Idia is silly too. His gamer slang and the way he acts is super funny. I also like his dynamic with Azul a lot! Their dynamic is hilarious and I enjoy them a lot together. I also ship them together too. I think they're cute.

The other dorms I like are Pomefiore and Scarabia. Pomefiore because of the dynamic and Scarabia because of the story.

I find Pomefiore's dynamic really funny and cute. Vil and Rook act like the parents as Epel is their rebelling teenage son. There's not much I can say about them but I find them funny.

Scarabia is different, though. I do find Jamil and Kalim's dynamic enjoyable too, but it's their stories that interests me a lot. I think it's the concept and the idea that intrigues me a lot.

Everyone knows that Kalim is the master and Jamil is the servant, but to them (especially to Kalim), there is no line between them. They used to treat each other as best friends until Jamil realized his own situation. Then there was the line. He was only a servant and Kalim came before him.

There must be so much shock and anger that came through him during that thought. So much envy and sadness.

And not to mention Kalim's realization, too. There was one Kalim analysis that mentioned that Kalim probably ends up ignoring things or indenial of some situations, and that does show in Book 4 on when he blames himself and says, "Jamil wouldn't do that to me."

Because Jamil has been taking care of him for his whole life and puts his whole trust into him, and who would think the person who took care of them and trusted them would betray them?

It's a really sad story. To be honest, I actually think Jamil x Kalim is acceptable if it's angst. I don't really think it'll be cute for fluff because of their situation.

BYEE I WENT ON A WHOLE TANGENT ABOUT SCARABIA sorry guys I think they're so interesting. But OCTAVINELLE would be bigger and have more paragraphs. Let me know if you guys wanna see me go off on Octavinelle teehee 😊😊😊

HOLD ON NO WAY I JUST WENT WITH MONSIEUR JADE WHAT

[thewanderingace]

I have finally watched The Flux!!

God it took me ages to get through Thirteen's episodes. Some were good but overall I was bored a lot so it took me ages to get through season 11 and 12. But I just watched the last episode of the Flux tonight and now I'm going to randomly share my disconnected thoughts about it on this post.

Okay so overall I think I enjoyed this season! Which surprised me. I was so prepared to hate it after all the hate for the Flux I've seen on Tumblr or be super bored like I am with a lot of Chibnall's episodes but while it isn't my favorite thing I do think it was 13's best season. I didn't think I'd enjoy the Flux if I'm honest. Everything I read about it sounded dumb or confusing and yeah I'm still a bit confused by some stuff that was just not addressed but this isn't the first time the whole universe (or massive parts of it) have been wiped out so it's not exactly a new concept for the Doctor. But the connection with her and her past is new and I'm intrigued by it if I'm honest. And it gave Jodie some great stuff to work with. She was so good in this season. Way better than the previous two seasons just because she had a lot more to work with writing wise.

The individual plots for each episode are really good and kept my attention. I've loved the plot of the Sontarans waging war through time, the Lupari and their species bond with humanity, the whole thing with the Mouri, Swarm and Azure were cool villains, the star crossed lovers Vinder and Bel trying to find each other, the Weeping Angels taking a whole village, Dan and Yaz living 3 years in the early 1900s and doing Indiana Jones type of stuff. I even enjoyed the Division and the Flux plot.

Now while I overall liked all that, I still feel unsatisfied because there were a lot of potentially great stories but they were all crammed together into 6 episodes and none of them had time to be fleshed out properly and some of them didn't connect well and trying to follow it all was SO HARD. There's so much going on and so many seemingly unrelated plots happening all at once that it's so hard to keep track of. And I'm watching all these episodes back to back immediately after one another. I can't even imagine trying to keep up when this aired one a week. I'd be lost. I think this would have been amazing if they had gotten a full season and didn't have to cram it all into just 6 episodes. (this is why I'm worried about the new season coming which is only gonna have 8 episodes. DW needs more than 8 episodes)

I adore Dan by the way. I loved him from his first scene and every second after has just been lovely. He's super sweet and I love his accent and that he's apparently so selfless that he'd rather give all his food to others than have any for himself. He's taking all this alien stuff so well too. He just got kidnapped by a giant dog and hasn't had a moments break since but he's cool. I like him best out of all of 13's companions so far. Too bad he barely had any episodes. That's a shame. Looking forward to watching these last 3 episodes with him though.

Vinder and Bel? I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!!! Talk about star crossed lovers! I'd watch a whole show just about those two.

Dan and Yaz living for three years in the early 1900s?? I WANT TO LEARN MORE!!!! How did they get out of the village that was surrounded by space? Why was it surrounded by space? Dan as the stowaway is hilarious and has to sleep under the bed in the ship XD.

Chibnall throwing every recurring species he can think of was nuts but in a fun way. Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen, Ood, Weeping Angels, etc.

Kinda lame that Tecteun was just taken out so easily. I wanted the Doctor to do it in a very Doctor way. Like what 10 did to the Family of Blood ya know?

And that's all I got for now. 3 more episodes to go for 13's run!

[searchingforserendipity25]

Greetings! Another bored and cheerful person here. 😂 I will submit Garak/Bashir and Glorfindel/Erestor for the ship asks!

hi fellow bored and cheerful! thank you @glorf1ndel!

ages ago, when i was obsessed with garak/bashir, i used to think a lot about what honesty is. they're a pairing that kind of demand it. they're fascinating. the things they try to be to each other and prove to themselves through each other are fascinating. i think they're very messy and very complicated, and the potential for an uncomfortable-but-worthwhile happily ever after while rebuilding cardassia is right there.

but they won't pick it. in 7 out of 10 possibilities, they won't. the thing they are underneath the thing they try to pretend not to be is not someone who trusts easily. and there are conflicting loyalties; and there is history; and there is so much prejudice; and there are enemies to face.

and there is is, always, the question of trust. these two are so desperate to be seen, and so desperate to be unknowable, so that they can bear the world a little more easily by not looking at it directly.

that said, i think they can be that. they can bear it together better together! a stitch in time makes it clear how much garak wants to share himself, make a neat narrative of it all and give bashir something of himself to read. true or false, the will is there.

(and, regardless, that book is one of the most heartbreaking concepts of anything ever. he makes a letter of himself! his whole life! elim the spy! a book like the ones they read together, and analyzed. they know the lenses through each the other sees the world! so much love in there.)

maybe. maybe. depends on the canon you go with and how much i want to suffer on any given day. they could live in the ruins together. hoyden's fics fill my heart with conviction on tha. but it's the leap of fait that is always the hard part with these two.

glorfindel/erestor

read some fics! i like it, but haven't thought much on it. my thoughts on it depend on what erestor's background is. he is of the half-elvish kin of elrond in some texts, and that's so cool, and so curious.

second age peredhel culture vs. newly reborn hero = meet cute. meet ugly? is he one of elros' sons who chose immortality? if he's elured/elurin (the name lonely brother is very intriguing), the return of one of the ancient noldor is even more complicated. glorfindel seems lovely; glorfindel seems terrifying, more eldritch than most elves, the gods' own chosen champion.

what a pair! both more-than and very alone in their singularity. the potential is excellent.

either way, they have all the makings of a great office romance! which is something tolkien does not often provide. i believe in their ability to make unwise decisions at solstice parties and spend the next several thousand years that that one night stand never happened. while being in love and pining, of course.

[sshbpodcast]

Won’t someone think of the children?! A Zero Appreciation Post

By Ames

Okay, I meant to only do a Rok-Tahk appreciation post because a) she’s the best and b) who has the time to write all these blogposts? But I just can’t help myself. The community’s efforts to #SaveStarTrekProdigy have motivated me to keep the posts going, so here’s some more love for Star Trek: Prodigy. These installments probably won’t be as intense as the Rok post, but check out what makes Zero such a great character.

[images © CBS/Paramount… I guess? For now? Yikes.]

Zero reintroduces us to the Medusans

“Is There in Truth No Beauty?” is one of my favorite The Original Series episodes. It’s very understated, but it’s one of those gems from season three that actually holds up and does something interesting. Not only is its guest character Miranda Jones one of the most unique characters of that show, but it also introduces us to the Medusans, a race of pure energy, the sight of which will drive a corporeal being mad. They’re also naturally brilliant navigators, telepathic, profound, agender, and just plain cool! I was so jazzed that Prodigy not only reintroduced this species, but also built on them in creating Zero’s character. Zero’s Medusan experiences form a lot of their character, from their intrinsic communicating abilities, to their guilt whenever their appearance is used as a weapon, to their natural curiosity which comes out all the freakin’ time, as you’ll see below. Plus they built themself a cool containment suit that hovers! What’s not to love?

Zero loves a good puzzle

This Medusan might be the most curious character in all of Star Trek (you’d think it’d be a Caitian, wouldn’t you?). It’s no wonder that Murder Planet lures them into a trap by tempting them with a hedge maze that conceals even more confounding secrets. Zero is also this close to solving the boat puzzle in “Time Amok” before getting outfoxed by the fox, and of course they’re a regular denizen of the “Cellar Door Society” holoprogram: purveyors of puzzling puzzles, amateur sleuthing, and milquetoast mysteries. This sense of wonder with everything in the world around them is positively contagious! Zero is basically a nebulous nerd, and that’s just adorable! It’s a boon for Trekkies everywhere to be able to see geekiness played so positively and we can see ourselves in Zero all over the place. Hoot hoot!

Zero is the perpetual optimist

“A dying star. What a rare and exciting way to meet our doom,” says Zero in “Starstruck.” It almost becomes a running gag that Zero finds every single experience to be a perplexing thing of wonderment and intrigue, even when it nearly kills everyone. Especially when it nearly kills everyone. When they think they’d died in “Time Amok” (and specifically have memories of doing so!), they treat it like it’s just a new phenomenon to analyze and cherish, which would be a little unnerving if Zero weren’t the quirky character they’ve been consistently portrayed as. It’s all part of that Medusan nature of theirs: one that is renowned for having the most beautiful and complex thoughts in the universe. It’s unclear how young Zero is in their species, but I assume they’re considered juvenile, and their natural wonderment at everything is something childlike and pure, making the perfect entryway into science fiction because they make every concept sound fascinating!

Zero fights assimilation

By “Let Sleeping Borg Lie” (great title, by the way!), Zero is at their lowest moment in the series. While saving everyone from The Diviner’s control in “A Moral Star,” they accidentally harm Gwyn, causing some memory loss (Hey, we did a whole blog on that topic! Cross promoting, ftw!), and are feeling like an absolute butt about the whole incident. And they see an opportunity to make it up to the crew by volunteering for what could easily be a suicide mission: getting assimilated by the Borg to figure out how to shut down the Living Construct on the ship. Zero is tempted by the appeal of belonging to a hivemind again like they’d been with other Medusans, but it is their devotion to the rest of the crew that snaps them out of it (and probably a little bit of Medusan superpowers for good measure). Belonging to the Protostar is already enough of a family for them, as has been the pattern with the other characters as well.

We love you, Zero! We love the other crew members of the Protostar too! We love Star Trek: Prodigy! Check out the other character appreciation posts for Rok-Tahk, Dal R’El, Gwyndala, and Jankom Pog while you’re here. I know I can speak for not only the other hosts here at A Star to Steer Hey By but for myriad other fans when I seriously hope someone picks up this wonder of a show. We’re really looking forward to seeing more from these amazing child characters, and we’re seriously wishing we get that opportunity. #SaveStarTrekProdigy

[lansplaining]

I'm sorry to vent in your ask box, but every day I grow to hate the malewife/girlboss concept so much. Not because I hate the idea of a soft male character and a more forceful female one, but because it keeps on getting used to box almost every single Godamn m/f ship out there into the same mould.

excuse me while I settle into my Fandom Old rocking chair...

Back In The Day, I followed a bunch of livejournal communities that were dedicated to making fun of Mary Sue characters in fanfic. Most of the time they were OCs, but occasionally it would be a minor or only-named female character that the writer had transformed into something the community deemed ridiculous. this was Not Very Nice and I guess fairly sexist (though I maintain that the fact that these characters were almost exclusively female was not actually the root of the hatred, but nevermind).

so I'm very intrigued by how the tables seem to have turned. obnoxiously overpowered and self-insert-y OCs are not in fashion anymore, at least not in the fandoms I'm in (I wouldn't be surprised to learn there's loads of Steven Universe OCs out there, for example), but I feel like a similar root impulse is at work: i want there to be a female character I can play with, and I want her to have as much cool stuff as the existing/main characters have, so she can be their equal.

i think this feeds into the girlboss/malewife dynamic in two ways: one, needing the female character to be powerful/badass/as cool as the boys, like i just said. now the trend isn't violet eyes and powers unlike anyone else's, but having the only braincell and baby hold my flower. but also, because it's fandom and we love queer shit, needing female characters to be as cool as the boys by having a het relationship (if they're in one, which let's be real, they usually are) that can be framed as queer or GNC in some way. she pegs him! now it's not vanilla and straight, it's Cool!

the thing that was annoying about the Mary Sues that had nothing to do with their gender was the way they warped the world around them. they broke the existing rules of the universe by having powers that didn't make sense or were exceptions to rules that shouldn't have had exceptions, and of course they warped the other characters by becoming the center of attention and always having everyone else be obsessed with them, whether it made sense or not. this is what I find annoying about the malewife/girlboss as well. as you say, it warps everything it touches, turning both male and female characters into whatever is required to fit the tropes. if that's what people enjoy, then i'm very happy for them, but i'm with you in finding it extremely annoying-- as you say, more in its ubiquity than in the facts of the trope itself. but I also find it very interesting how fandom taste as a whole has shifted towards wanting to embrace and appreciate female characters more, even if it's often undertaken in a way i think doesn't actually demonstrate that much appreciation for who the characters as written actually are.

[raisinchallah]

im reading the long way to a small angry planet and i wanted to like it.. it kind of sounded like a nice light book with a vibe similar to a lot of sci fi tv shows i enjoy but man its just not really clicking with me im like halfway thru and it still feels like ur just getting sloshed with world building soup i do actually think it would make a pretty fun tv show if u managed to extend everything out and a lot of the events of the random chapters do feel like concepts for specific episodes i think u could also more gracefully weave the world building in when u can also explore things visually rather than trying to meticulously explain what stuff looks like in fairly bland prose and more tactfully come up with an entire episode concept that gets into this corner of the world rather than someone just explaining another characters entire backstory in meticulous detail that also somehow has to do with the politics and history of the world but has almost nothing to do with the actual plot or character moments since its always someone else relaying this info or relationships and its like ostensibly supposed to be character based but i still feel like i barely know any of the characters and the world building also doesnt really feel like it has some kind of cohesive unifying vibe either like a lot of silly words for random sci fi gadgets i think the idea of ships being fueled by algae and space tunnels is cool but it doesnt really feel terribly woven into the like how the whole universe functions theres no weird algae vats on different planets or anything terribly organic about how the rest of the tech seems to function the space pirate ambush could feel different taking place in weird space tunnels do the tunnels have names are there more unsafe tunnels are there space ports inside these tunnels constantly under pressure idk like things feel kind of hodge podge but also not like super exciting which would be fine but i feel like this level of world building detail and every alien planets history and whatever is kind of taking time away from the story feeling like it has any motion or interesting complex relationships idk i do think somebody should adapt this into a low budget syfy show or something i think it could be a very fun tv show base because i think u could fix a lot of the structural problems and breaking up the random vignettes into short stories with multi act structures would help cuz theres also kind of a dire lack of conflict or intrigue propelling things forward