thevagabondexpress · 1 year ago
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some closing thoughts on delusions (and terrible fictions) (my genderbent tlh rewrite)
Whoo. This has been a long ride. A very long ride indeed.
When I started writing this back in June of 2021 (a couple years ago now), I hadn't realized I was genderfluid yet, neither had I realized that the only consistency in my experience of gender would be a never-ending byronic crisis about it. I brood about my gender like James Herondale broods about being damned and I am proud enough of this to make no apologies.
But I was very much aware that I was in the middle of an existential gender crisis and that meant I had gender thoughts very much in the forefront of my mind when I read Chain of Gold and Chain of Iron for the first time. So of course, it stuck out to me that the 'fake marriage' plot was really gender-specific and would not have worked (certainly not the same way as it was set up in canon) if Cordelia had been, say, Claude.
So, of course, I saw a challenge. I had to figure out how to make these books work if the characters' genders were swapped around. Then I stumbled across a) Cassandra Jean's genderbent Mortal Instruments art, and b) someone else writing fanfic about it, and that was the catalyst I needed. And because it's been my favorite series, I chose to start with TLH.
I gave up on Great Expectations. I knew the books are a pseudo-retelling of it and I didn't have the time and energy to read the story, besides which I knew it would come out very differently. So d&tf's inspirations are instead a hash of We Have Always Lived In The Castle, Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen, and a Radiohead song, among others.
I chose not to wait for Chain of Thorns. I said, to heck with it, I've been watching these genderbent characters disperse in very different directions from their canon counterparts and while some of that (the existence of Fields, Felice's survival) was my deliberate fault, a lot of it was simply me listening to the story and taking it where it felt like it should naturally go. So, before we even had an official ChoT summary, I threw my hands up and decided to just write my own take on a final installment. Looking at what became of Chain of Thorns, thank goodness I did. There's so much about ChoT that would not have worked with the characters I had and the directions I was pushing them in.
This is not, by far, my best writing. It's messy, it's sloppy, there are things I could've done a lot better and different decisions I could've made and I could've done better worldbuilding and used the historical realism of a genderbent rewrite concept to push it even further away from the original TLH. I may go back and edit/rewrite someday, but not now. For now, let's just sit here and consider that I actually saw this through.
I may do more TSC Genderbent Editions if people want them. TID also has a very gender-specific plot that could be fun to wrangle, and while TMI doesn't in the same way, I've come to realize this series is also serving a fantasy for women who like shorter men so I may have to do it for that reason alone.
So I dunno, let me know if you want more of these rewrites (or additional/ongoing content for Judith + Claude, Michelle + Fields, Jackie + Lou, Alice + Tracey, Christa + the deep blue sea, etc.) because you bet I will listen.
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rwrbficrecs · 11 months ago
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Hope you all enjoy our recs for November ❤️ (even though they're a little late!!) Incenatus by @missgeevious (book/movie-verse)
@suseagull04: I can't recommend this fic enough! If you love Twilight and The Phantom of the Opera, this fic is for you! A mysterious masquerade, a soulmate connection, and chemistry that's off the charts all culminate to make this one of my new all-time favorite fics!
Meaning Something by bleedingballroomfloor (book-verse)
@dot524: Really enjoyed this Liam POV that goes deeper into what actually happened with Alex and Liam, his relationship with Spencer, and how Liam reacts to Alex & Henry during the book. The feelings & coming out are really well done.
Needy & Greedy by @clottedcreamfudge (book-verse)
@heybuddy-drabbles: It's been HELL of a month in good and bad ways so I didn't have time to read much. I'm choosing to recommend a series of unconnected one shots, all steamy and delicious and fun and short for casual reading when you don't have much time to commit to a 70k fic. If you like smut tis for you!
Taste the Way You Bleed by @cha-melodious (book-verse)
@myheartalivewrites: a super fun What We Do In the Shadows AU, written for the RWRB halloween fest. Alex and Henry are oblivious vampires, pining for centuries, and the rest of the super-six turn up in hilarious mockumentary-style interviews. The summary alone had me HOOKED.
Camp Llwynywermod by bleedingballroomfloor (book-verse)
@myheartalivewrites: one of my go-to for comfort, all time fave fics. Alex and Henry as co summer camp counsellors, pining and bickering for years. The tension is top notch!
@dot524: It’s funny and I really enjoyed the camp setting and their journey from enemies to friends to lovers. This is a fun and cute fic.
Downburst by @cricketnationrise (book-verse)
@rmd-writes: an AU of The West Wing ep 'In the Shadow of Two Gunmen' - mind the tags, this is an angsty but beautifully written fic with very clever use of multiple POVs to tell several stories of love (including platonic love). This is so good I was mad I didn't write several lines in it myself.
@thesleepyskipper: Truly an incredible and unique work that was done with care. The way the various memories/flashbacks are done and how they are used as part of the storytelling absolutely blew me away. Loved that we got multiple POVs here too!
Underground by @zwiazdziarka (book-verse)
@suseagull04: An adorable kid, fantasy (including mentions of fantasy classics!) and a rescue mission make this such a fun read! The world building in this fic is phenomenal too.
A Long Way From the Playground by @three-drink-amy (book-verse)
@dot524: This is a getting-back-together AU where Alex & Henry were childhood friends who grew apart in college and then unexpectedly are neighbors. I enjoyed the slow burn here and the payoff — it’s just a comforting feel-good fic!
Five-Drink Henry by @whimsymanaged (book-verse)
@daisymae-12: I was honestly already hooked from the title and the fic did not disappoint – so much so that I’ve reread it so many times the past month. Loved everything about this fic!!
The Domestication of Household Spiders by @cultofsappho (book-verse)
@daisymae-12: This was everything I didn’t know I needed from a spiderman AU! Loved it so much. There’s also 2 new recent fics published in this series – plenty of spiderman Alex to read!!
you make it look so easy, i know it's not by @anincompletelist (book-verse)
@daisymae-12: A really fun fic about Henry’s first American Thanksgiving not quite going to plan. I was already laughing from the summary alone
The great turkey calamity? by @smblmn (book-verse)
@zwiazdziarka: This fic tells us what is actually means to talk turkey and this once Cornbread is a star he deserves to be. It's crack, it's exsistential crisis, it's hilarious. Oh, and Alex and Henry fall in love here too.
Lay You Down by ronans (book-verse)
@inexplicablymine: when I tell you the fluff is fluffing, Henry runs a sleep YouTube and Alex is in his comment section and in his DM’s and in his head. Do yourself a favor if you need a sweet treat today and read this work
@thesleepyskipper: OMG this could not be any cuter. I loved the way we got to see their relationship grow as they got to know each other online. Truly an adorable, well-written story that will plaster a smile on your face throughout.
Risk is Just a Board Game by @three-drink-amy (book-verse)
@suseagull04: Angst, domestic fluff, college AU, the holidays- this fic has it all! A look at why friends with benefits isn't always the best idea that culminates in an ending reminiscent of a Hallmark movie.
On My Mind (Let's Go) by @sparklepocalypse (movie-verse)
@zwiazdziarka: contrary to popular fanon, Henry can dance and here he uses that to get what he wants on New Year's Eve party. No notes, just go and read it.
check out our past Monthly Faves here ❤️
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bellaxgiornata · 6 months ago
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Honestly I cannot believe that I've been on tumblr for just over a year now and somehow there's already so many of you wonderful people here that are reading, enjoying, and supporting my silly little fics. When I jumped over here from AO3, I had not anticipated how much fun I was going to have getting to chat with all of y'all while also sharing my stories with those of you who aren't on AO3. I've definitely made some wonderful friends this past year because of tumblr and I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support. I always mean it when I say y'all are the reason I keep writing these stories 💖
I could certainly get sappier but instead I'll just invite y'all to join me for my first ever celebration! There's a few fun things below the cut that y'all can pop up with in my ask box starting today May 3 through Wednesday May 8! I tried to think of some interesting things that I could realistically make time to do with everything currently going on in my life, especially because I'm also still trying to stockpile rough drafts for many of my stories so that I can still have updates during my upcoming "writing hiatus" (that I'll explain more about later). My plan is to answer things as they come in and hopefully have them all finished shortly after the celebration ends. And once the celebration finally ends, I'm hoping to give y'all an update to a story or a one shot!
Hopefully this will be fun for everyone!
Let's Chat! - Feel free to send me an ask about anything at all! No, seriously. You want to tell me about your day? An upcoming vacation or exciting accomplishment of yours? Do it! Or maybe you want to ask me questions about one of my stories or my writing process? Hell, feel free to ask me about myself, chat about coffee, music, books, pets, whatever!
Discuss Headcanons with Me! - Have any headcanons about Matt Murdock, Frank Castle, or Michael Kinsella that you want to chat about or share with me? Send them in! Or are you interested in a headcanon I might have about one of them in a certain situation? Feel free to ask! We can chat about the boys!
Send Me Fake FFTD Installment Titles! - Create a title name for an installment for my Falling for the Devil series (ex. "The [insert title]") and I'll write a couple of sentences about what I could picture that installment being about! You win bonus points if you can actually stump me on coming up with a plot for your title. But also who knows, maybe some title suggestions could spark an idea for future updates...
Let's Play a Game! - We can play would you rather, have you ever, or fuck/marry/kiss (or kill). For the record, f/m/k can be with anyone from Daredevil, Punisher, Defenders, Kin, or even any of Charlie's characters that I'm familiar with (Matt, Michael, Owen, Henry, Tristan, or Adam) or those of Jon's that I'm familiar with (mainly Frank, Shane, or Julian). If you can think of another game feel free to play it with me!
Ask the Boys! - Do you enjoy my weird internal dialogues with fictional characters that probably make me sound crazy? Great! Feel free to send me an ask to either one or all of the fictional men that live in my head (Matt, Frank, and/or Mikey) and I'll relay whatever they respond with in something of a short internal dialogue!
Request a Sneak Peak! - Since I have been stockpiling quite a few WIPs and rough drafts for a couple of months now, I am open to y'all just requesting a sneak peak. If you do, I will share a snippet from a fic I choose at random from something that's either a fully finished rough draft or still a work in progress!
**You're more than welcome to participate multiple times, but all I ask is that you (1) send things in separate asks, (2) are not rude to me or anyone else, and (3) are 18+ to discuss anything spicy (this is an 18+ blog anyway so I'd hope everyone here already is).**
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int3r3st1ng · 9 months ago
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HOO
Since the series has brought the PJO books back to life, I was suddenly struck that I needed to get this off my chest.
I read the HOO books years ago, after the PJO books as well, and I liked them. Unfortunately, there were many parts I disliked.
This post will probably infuriate so many people and I will be referencing to future books, but I'm not interested in angering you, I'm more interested in what your opinion is after reading mine.
Don't write hate comments and don't strart hating my opinion just because I don't have the same one as you.
Battle with Gaea:
This was the biggest let down.
The battle with Kronos was gorgeous. It was beautiful with a great build up and so many emotions. I adored that entire battle. It literally lives on an invincible throne in my head.
I had high hopes for the battle with Gaea, after all she is more powerful than Kronos, right? It must be harder to defeat her, right? She has to fall to storm or fire, right?
Wrong!
Piper, don't worry I like her character, has so much dam power in her charm speak that she can put a primordial goddess to sleep. Unfortunately, I explicitly remember the prophecy not even mentioning her.
"To storm or fire, the world must fall"
Then Leo and Jason were fire and storm, but I'm pretty sure that "Stormbringer" is Poseidon's title. I get that Percy isn't always meant to be the hero, but he learnt that lesson. He wasn't the hero in his own book series. He stepped back in the Mark of Athena so Annabeth could be the hero. He knew that he couldn't always be the hero, so why did Rick make his arc be he has to learnt he isn't always the hero?
To be honest, I think that if Rick had written it that Piper didn't lull the goddess to sleep, but the seven all fought together again, that would have been better. Imagine the seven all working together. Imagine Percy and Jason creating a storm together. Imagine Leo ending Gaea in one fiery end.
It is honestly such a shame that nothing can shine on this fight, not when it will always live in the shadow of an undefeatable throne.
Ships:
(Not exactly sorry for what I say)
Percabeth, although cute, is not a perfect ship. They are not the "It" couple and they most certainly not what I would look for in a relationship. I don't want a girlfriend/boyfriend who gives me a nickname that constantly downgrades my intelligence. I don't want a gf/bf who judo flips me onto hard gravel. I most certainly don't want a bf/gf that is scared of me. I don't hate Percabeth, but Percy and Annabeth deserve better. Percy deserves someone that he knows he can talk to about Gabe while Annabeth, even if Percy chose her and gave her love, first needs familial love before romantic love.
Jasper/Jiper, was so bad. Jason got with Piper out of duty and they did break up in the end, but Rick got them to get together in one book. Secondly, Piper is so possessive and obssessive. I don't hate either characters, I just feel that Leo x Jason would have been a much better ship because at least Leo doesn't have fake relationship memories. For Piper, I would give her a girl. First, they would complete the quest then Piper settles down with a girl, like Rick did in Trials of Apollo, which I'm really happy about.
Frazel is cute. I thought the ship was adorable, but once again it felt like Rick was focusing on ships too much. They've known each other for two-three months and are dating by the end of a week. Not how I would plan that. I once again think that them getting through the entire quest would have been much better.
Caleo, in my opinion, is the worst. Leo wanted romantic love to fill the void he felt due to his lack of familial love. Why the hell did Rick think that giving him a love interest was a good idea?! Leo felt like the seventh wheel so Rick should've fixed that by, like, making the other seven want him around. You know, like a family? As for Calypso, I believe she should have either joined the Hunt or she was an asexual lesbian. Either way, I believe she would want to experience the real world before trying a relationship.
Solangelo was, quite frankly, my least favourite. Look, I love Nico and Will. Both are cool characters with so much potential, but it once again felt rushed. It felt wrong that Rick had Nico get over Percy only to get with Will like a week later. Secondly, Will and Nico didn't fit like yin yang. I know you're all thinking "Hey! That's my ship you're sinking!", but you have to admit that Will saying that the loneliness Nico felt at camp was fake. Nico was literally avoided because of his dad. The hell you mean, Will? I believe, Will and Nico shouldn't have gotten together. Nico should have gotten with someone else while Will explored his bi-ness.
Friendships:
There were so many friendship potentials.
Percy and Leo 1. Percy's burn proof-ish 2. Sass 3. Literally both met Calypso so why did Leo hate Percy when he left for the same reason? 4. Should've talked it out and figured it out 5. Bonded over having excellent mothers
Nico and Percy 1. Rick you butchered this entire relationship 2. Percy did trust Nico and had this relationship that essentialy said "The only person who gets to kill Nico is me" and even then Percy wouldn't have killed Nico 3. Took a dam prophecy to save Nico 4. Saved each other's lives 5. Deal with shared trauma 6. Like, cousins? You gave Nico and Jason time, can you please give Percy and Nico some time. They deserve to talk things over and figure things out 7. Percy did what he could for Nico to stay at Camp 8. Percy's response to Nico's accidental trick was completely fair because would you trust the guy who said they would help you but (accidentally, which Percy didn't know) led you to a death trap? 9. Top two most powerful demigods 10. Literally my fav characters (until the Nico fanbase made Nico feel so overrated, still love him though)
Leo and Annabeth 1. Two badass geniuses 2. Two book smart people on a giant boat 3. Both searching for love (Annabeth was hurt by her family and Leo lost his) 4. ADHD madman and ADHD Annabeth "Stay up till 5AM to work" Chase 5. Where was the friendship between the smartypants?
There are more but these are my top 3 platonic relationships that Rick would have explored.
Thanks for reading! You can say your opinion, but no hate comments.
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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 months ago
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I remember you mentioning A court of Thorns and roses in your posts once when talking about malleus character archetype. Have you read acotar series? If so I really want to know what you think about it. Your post is how I found out this series. It's pretty meh 😕 to me but I would really like to read your thoughts on it 😊. Also are non twst related ask allowed? If not I'm truly sorry😥. You can just ignore this ask
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Oh god 😅 That was such a long time ago that I can’t even locate the original post where I made that comment…
To summarize what I said then, I had expressed that the way Malleus is presented to us reminds me of the bad boy supernatural love interests in romantasy novels.I believe the online book community colloquially refers to these characters as “Shadow Daddies” and I find that hilarious. To clarify, I do NOT mean to say that Malleus is Yuu’s “canon” love interest or anything like that. When I say that Malleus is “like” a Shadow Daddy, it’s just in the tropes they share. (For example, being overpowered, brooding, and misunderstood as a “bad guy” when, in actuality, he has a heart of gold and is just lonely.)
… I’ve actually seen multiple posts comparing Malleus and Rhysand, if you can believe that 💀
The rest of my response isn’t really TWST related, so I’ll put it under the cut for ya ^^ I tried to keep my thoughts concise and free of spoilers.
But to your question! Yes, I actually have read the first three books of ACOTAR but not the novella (A Court of Frost and Starlight) or the sequel, A Court of Silver Flames. I got into the series because it was highly recommended within its genre, but I came out of it really disappointed. I continued reading hoping that it would get better, but it really did not.
Maas has this really melodramatic and yet simultaneously juvenile way of writing dialogue that does not mesh well with what I’m looking for in a romantasy read. She’ll have characters give exposition or speeches that go on for like 10 pages straight and also have supposedly wise ancient fae cracking potty jokes like a middle schooler trying to impress their friends. It makes the books a lot longer than they have to be. In actuality, the plot involves a lot of running around and having all the right questions answered by conveniently placed chess pieces. I also did not enjoy the vague world building (like several side characters are never given proper names and instead are always referred to by title) and the near-constant mention of mating bonds. What I did like was how Maas wrote action scenes and descriptions (even if they often veer into purple prose). She also comes up with some unique concepts—but the execution of those concepts isn’t great, so the ideas are left sort of shallow and floating there waiting to be fully realized.
Romantasy and fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite things to read, so I was sad that I didn’t think that highly of this beloved series. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book I’ve been able to seriously get immersed in 😔 ACOTAR’s explosive popularity has led to many other authors trying to replicate Maas’s success, which has flooded the market with horni fae books and even similar titles (“A [noun] of [nouns] and [nouns]”). (And as someone who does NOT find Malleus attractive at all, you can imagine I’m not thrilled.) I have really mixed feelings about that… While of course I don’t mind if people enjoy ACOTAR or ACOTAR-adjacent books, I dislike that it makes up the bulk of what is marketed to me. It makes it a lot harder to find something that’s more suited to my tastes.
If anyone seeing this post is interested in trying out ACOTAR, I caution you that it is a “new adult” book, meaning it is intended for older teens (I would recommend 18+, honestly). There is a lot of violence and… explicit intimate scenes… in the series.
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hamsterclaw · 1 year ago
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Fic Library: Jungkook (Part 1)
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I realised whilst compiling this library just how many Jungkook stories I've read and recced. It's probably because Jungkook stories are far and away the most prolific on my feed and also probably because the maknae looks and acts like he does. I hope you enjoy these, don't forget to show these writers some love.
Rattled JJK x reader, single dad JK by @gukslut. The Jungkook in this story breaks my heart with his grit and humanity, and the MC is so relatable it hurts. If you haven't read this, do yourself a favour and be prepared to have your world rocked. Probably my favourite fanfic of all time.
The Cul-de-Sac Cons JJK x reader, JHS x reader, con artist AU by @bonvoyagenoona. I've read and re-read this a lot, the love story between JK and reader is fraught with intrigue and danger, and all the side characters - cuckolded husband Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, are fleshed out perfectly as well.
Lonely Hearts Club JJK x OC, dystopian sci-fi tattoo artist AU by @joonbird. A story that made me think about fanfic in a completely different light, angsty and terribly sad.
Ego JJK x reader, fuckboi college AU by @suga-kookiemonster. A series that had me hooked from the first chapter, a rolling romp, with the perfect ending. Adore.
Feels like summer by @badbhye is a sweet, funny, coming of age story featuring reader and an grown-up, glowed-up next-door-neighbour Jungkook. Also features the immortal line 'Fucking Aquarius bastard' which makes me laugh every time I think of it.
Blink and you'll miss it by @satnin-darling is a fun, fast-paced story with great scene-setting featuring a street-racer reader and rookie lawyer JK.
Spin Cycle by @miscelunaaa is a slow burn series where reader meets Jungkook in a laundromat and their relationship develops over a collection of fun-size drabbles.
Damsel in shining armor by @jimilter is a follow up to the equally great Knight in distress and features chaotic chaebol JK and a competent, take no prisoners reader. A fast-paced, hilarious caper involving reader trying to do damage control as JK wreaks havoc.
Burning bright by @snackhobi is a Pacific Rim AU featuring Jaeger pilots Jungkook and reader, and an unforgettable classic in my book. I love this, and it always reminds me how damn talented fanfiction writers are.
Ghosts just wanna have fun by @sugaxjpg is about a Jungkook who has the ability to see ghosts set in a med school AU and features Yoongi and Taehyung as cockblocking spirits. Sweet and so, so funny.
Blackout by @bonvoyagenoona is set during one night when the entire neighbourhood loses power and Jungkook and reader navigate the neighbourhood block party. It's the perfect romantic almost first date.
Under the stars by @madbutgloriouspond is a sweet, cute, fluffy, real story about Jungkook and reader in a college AU that I love, love, love.
THAT nose riding drabble by @here2bbtstrash honestly doesn't even need a title. JK is sweet, clueless but willing, and Yoongi? He's the voyeur of my dreams.
Disaster management by @jimilter is gold. Unruly chaotic chaebol CEO Jeon Jungkook is back, and company President reader is right by his side as they try to avert disaster.
Leave the door open by @here4kpopfics is a strangers to lovers neighbours AU story that makes me think about how annoying and irresistible Jeon Jungkook would be if he lived next door.
Car sex by @musicloverxoxo7 features co-workers Jungkook x reader who flirt their way to a smutty, sexy encounter.
Euphoria by @btssavedmylifeblr is a beautiful study of life, love and mortality that is one of the best stories I've read. Unforgettable.
Part 2
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yellobb · 11 months ago
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Had book club discussion about Carry On today! Here’s some of the highlights:
People were mostly a big fan of the Magic system. Main criticism about it was that it would sometimes take them out of it, like the snickers spell while ebb is actively dying
There was much discussion over Penny and Baz kidnapping the dog, which was very entertaining to me
One of my managers asked if Agatha was in the rest of the series. I told her “she is, but I don’t think she wants to be”
People loved Baz lol. There was a bit less love for Simon (that’s okay, that’s what I’m there for)
I explained the lore behind Fangirl and why the titles are the way they are. Thoroughly confused some people
Someone had to leave the zoom call halfway through because his neighbors called the cops on his van???? Idk that was just wild
One dude who showed up also didn’t even finish the book yet, which I didn’t find out until partway through, so that was fun
They noted some Harry Potter similarities, but agreed it was a very different book
Number one complaint was that “nothing happened”. They were really interested in the politics of the world, how relationships were formed and were pretty disappointed that a lot of that was exposition
One coworker was confused as to why Nico couldn’t do magic anymore, since they mentioned he used to be able to use Ebb’s staff and honestly I don’t remember the answer, so help here would be great if anyone knows. He should be able to even though they snapped his wand, right?
One coworker was frustrated that Simon lost his magic because he thought that was the most interesting part. I told him that he was not alone in that, since I remember so many people being upset back in the day
Everyone saw the plot twist that the Mage was the bad guy coming. Tbh, I read it so long ago that I can’t remember if I was surprised
Everyone also saw snowbaz coming lol. One guy said “I knew by chapter three that those two would be fucking” (oh just you wait my friend. Soon the issue will be that they’re not fucking)
They found it very entertaining that the endorsement was from Lev Grossman because “The Magicians is the polar opposite of this book”
I brought in Skee’s ABC’s of Carry On, Venessa’s art book, the whole series, Fangirl, Scattered Showers, MRB, and various pins from Selkie and others. Also wore my dragon wing earrings and Kris’ shirt :P I let myself be unhinged about it because this is my time to shine. I also have the Wayward Son poster pack at my desk that I pointed out
Overall reviews are positive. Most people didn’t love it quite like I do, but they enjoyed it well enough. I am lovingly forcing two coworkers to finish out the series because they made the mistake of being my friend lol
One guy’s review was “I liked it and I don’t know why. I hate Harry Potter and stuff like it usually.”
Very happy that this is done though, since I can finally hang back up Kris’ Carry On poster. It has too many spoilers, so I’ve had it on the ground hiding for two months for when people came over 😭 it’s going back in its place of honor next to my TV
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himluv · 3 months ago
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DA Review Series: Asunder
I'm back with another review, and finally breaking into NEW territory for me! While I've read all the graphic novels, I had not read Asunder, The Masked Empire, or The Last Flight before this summer!
<<< Previous Review: Until We Sleep
Title: Asunder Author: David Gaider Publication Year: 2011 In-World Year: ~9:40 Dragon Verdict: This was my first time reading Asunder and it is HANDS DOWN required reading if you're a DA fan. There is so much lore and politics and it not only sets up Cole's origins and the state of the Seekers, but also gives us closure on Wynne and Shale. And it is by far the best of Gaider's books. An undeniably important entry in the series.
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Asunder takes place not long after the end of Dragon Age II, in the Orlesian Circle of Magic called The White Spire. We meet so many important figures in this book! Divine Justina, Knight-Captain Evangeline, Senior Enchanter Rhys, Lord Seeker Lambert, and of course, Cole.
Basically, things are not going well in the Spire. Tensions are at an all-time high between the Mage's and the Templars, and a recent attack on the Divine by a rogue mage has brought the Seekers of Truth to the tower to investigate.
To make matters worse, there is a killer loose in the tower, and the only suspect is Rhys, a respected Spirit Mage. Rhys knows who the actual killer is, but knows no one will believe his story about the sad, invisible boy who can make people forget.
So, Rhys is eventually taken into custody for the murders. He's convinced he will rot away, neglected in the tower's prison, but is surprised to learn that he's needed for a mission to Adamant Fortress. And that his mother, Wynne — hero of the Fifth Blight — has requested his presence.
So, along with the Knight-Captain Evangeline and Wynne's stone golem companion, Shale, Rhys heads to the Western Approach, with Cole following at a safe distance. Once there they meet an elven mage who has reversed his Tranquility via spirit possession.
Knowing what the mages might discover, Lord Seeker Lambert has sent Evangeline with orders to keep the Chantry's secret at any cost. But Evangeline is not a monster, and she believes that Circles should be sanctuaries, not prisons. She agrees to escort Wynne and company directly to the Divine, disobeying the Lord Seeker's orders.
From there things escalate quickly. Wynne sends news to every Circle that the Rite of Tranquility can be reversed, and across Thedas mages vote for their independence from the Chantry.
The Seekers and Templar try to quash this "rebellion" at the White Spire, but Cole kills the Lord Seeker and the mages flee to the Western Approach. And so begins the Mage-Templar war that is raging at the start of Inquisition.
Asunder is a direct prequel to Inquisition, and explains SO MUCH about the state of Thedas before the Conclave. It provides so much context that I didn't even know I was missing, and it was honestly REALLY GOOD.
I zoomed through this book, the tension was great throughout, and I loved all of the characters. Like... I liked it so much I began to question if David Gaider actually wrote it. Which is unfair to Gaider, I suppose. He definitely levelled up from The Stolen Throne to Asunder, so credit where it's due.
Basically, I highly recommend Asunder if you haven't read it yet. There's great world-building, politics, and crunchy lore to gnaw on.
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pluckyredhead · 5 months ago
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It's time for more Fourth World thoughts! Previously I've covered the comics of the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Now let's talk about the 2000s.
Orion (2000): AHHHHHHH. If you read no other Fourth World book (besides Kirby ofc), please read this one. It is so good and it is so epic and Orion makes so many well intentioned bad decisions and suffers so much. I devoured all 25 issues in 2 days and immediately wanted to reread it. Writing and art are both Walt Simonson and he gives this book such tragic grandeur. He also does my favorite thing which is multiple slow-burning subplots, some of which lasted so long that I was afraid they wouldn't be resolved, but no, every loose end is wrapped up in a satisfying (ish) way by the last issue and I love everyone in this bar. And the art! THE ART!!!
So basically, Orion kills Darkseid (again lol) and becomes the new ruler of Apokolips, and decides he is going to drag this planet over to the side of good kicking and screaming, which...doesn't work out so well for him. Ultimately he winds up semi-accidentally in possession of the Anti-Life Equation, which allows him to completely control people, so he uses it to force people to be good, which...baby, no. This series is like 40% Orion whump, 35% Orion being a badass, 5% Lightray and Orion being blatantly in love, 5% Scott and Orion making dramatic gestures of brotherly devotion, and 5% Orion wearing a stupid hat that I unironically wish I could buy and wear.
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It looks like his helmet! I NEED IT.
Also, during his Stupid Hat Era, Orion briefly acquires an orphan girl sidekick, and like...look at my icon. This is my GREATEST WEAKNESS. Simonson, why did you come for me like that???
I have only two quibbles with this series:
1. It's the early 2000s so the only female characters of any significance (besides the aforementioned orphan girl sidekick) are femme fatales who are drawn in ludicrously skimpy outfits and sex inch heels. Now to be fair, Darkseid wears a miniskirt, but the degree of cheesecake of these two characters was ridiculous.
2. The last issue reveals that Scott possesses the Anti-Life Equation naturally, and he once accidentally killed dozens of people with it, and he's tormented by both of these things. Which...the actual issue this story is told in is really good, and I think it's a really interesting idea to have Scott possess the Equation, but I don't love the idea of weighing down this optimistic character who values freedom above all with such a traumatic history of, uh, accidental mass murder. He already grew up in a torture orphanage! Hasn't he suffered enough?!
But honestly, the overall series is so good that I'll let it slide. PLEASE READ ORION (2000). THANK YOU.
Seven Soldiers: Mister Miracle (2005): This is part of a set of miniseries Grant Morrison did: there was Seven Soldiers #0, and then 7 4-issue minis, one for each of the Soldiers, and then the whole story concluded in Seven Soldiers #1. I only read Seven Soldiers and the Mister Miracle miniseries because I'm a ridiculous person when it comes to reading comics, but I'm not going to read 24 issues that have nothing to do with the Fourth World.
Anyway, the Mister Miracle mini is actually about Shilo Norman, not Scott, and it's pretty good, even if Shilo should know perfectly well who Darkseid and his entourage are. The surrounding issues were incomprehensible, but maybe they would have made more sense if I had read all the other minis. On the other hand, maybe not...this is Morrison we're talking about, after all. Anyway talk about making comics as inaccessible as possible. Great job, everyone.
Death of the New Gods (2007): I knew right away this comic was going to be dogshit because of a) the title and b) the fact that it's a tie-in to the worst event DC has ever published, Countdown to Final Crisis, but hoo boy, it is DOGSHIT.
Basically, some mysterious being starts murdering New Gods, starting with Lightray and Barda, the latter of whom is murdered in the kitchen - you know, where women belong. Scott then dons a truly idiotic goth version of his costume and the rest of the book is mainly Scott, Orion, and Superman flailing around aimlessly and failing to figure out who the killer is while everyone from New Genesis and Apokolips is slaughtered. It's a truly godawful murder mystery in which implausible suspects are accused at absolute random (the Forever People, the pacifist hippies! Orion, the least sneaky being in existence!) even though Superman deduces the killer (sort of) in #5 and tells the other characters, so there's no reason for them to still be trying to solve it.
Anyway at the risk of ruining this comic for you (impossible, it comes pre-ruined), the killer turns out to be the Infinity Man, but he's actually being piloted by the Source, which is eradicating the New Gods and harvesting their energy in order to create a Fifth World. In #7, a horrified Scott is like "But I've worshiped you all my life! Don't you care about any of us?" and the Source is like, "Eh." The most spiritual and reverent aspect of the Fourth World, and Jim Starlin came along and just dropped a little turd right on top of it (after, of course, blatantly copying Darkseid when he created Thanos).
The art (also by Starlin) is hideous, and the plotting is atrocious, as he desperately tries to stretch six issues of story at best into eight, plus dragging each issue out over 30 pages instead of the normal 22. Everyone is wildly out of character. The only vaguely good thing about the book is that Scott and Orion finally get to spend a significant amount of time together, but given the context, I really don't think it's worth it.
In conclusion: "rocks fall, everyone dies" turns out to not be a good idea for a story! Who knew!
Final Crisis (2008): Well, after 16 years of successfully avoiding this story, I finally read it. You win this one, Morrison.
I have avoided Final Crisis since it came out because it felt so emblematic to me of the worst of late 2000s DC: literally constant crossovers with histrionic stakes, characters being slaughtered left and right, whatever the fuck they did to Mary Marvel in this story. I know it has a good reputation, and if I'm being honest, I do think the first 5 1/2 issues of it are pretty good. On the other hand, if I wasn't very familiar with 2000s DC, I think this would be a very confusing book to read, the final 1 1/2 issues dissolve into incomprehensible, self-indulgent nonsense full of obscure characters and OCs randomly dropped in just to make it all harder for the reader. I'm sorry, I know many people consider Morrison's habit of writing comics that you need a companion volume, twenty Wikipedia tabs, and a Reddit forum to understand to be a feature, not a bug, but it infuriates me. It's like the structure of the Seven Soldiers series(es) up above. Aren't comics impenetrable enough? Must we gatekeep with every page?
Anyway the New Gods stuff: they're all dead, but all the evil ones managed to land on Earth as disembodied souls, and are possessing various humans. The only good one is Orion, who dies at the very beginning when he is shot by Darkseid in the future shooting him with a bullet that travels back in time. I love goofy comics shit but for some reason this one strikes me as real dumb. Also Orion literally died twice in the comic that was about all the New Gods dying, so...hm.
Anyway the evil New Gods take over the planet with the Anti-Life Equation, and again, the pacing and storytelling are actually really good for most of this. But there's also all the worst the late 2000s had to offer, like Mary Marvel in the WORST costume of all time and Supergirl flashing panty shots at the reader while they beat each other up and call each other sluts, or Tawky Tawny being beaten to a pulp before ripping out Kalibak's entrails. Tawky fucking Tawny. SIGH. Also they keep miscoloring Shilo as white. NOT GREAT.
Honestly at this point I'm like begging for the New 52 to happen and put me out of my misery, so...good job, DC? I want to go back to Orion (2000), that was great.
Next up: the 2010s! Which is all the New Gods books, they haven't had a series yet this decade. We're almost done, gang.
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butcharondir · 5 months ago
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i am also a michaela stirling truther— the more i think about it, the more i want it. i’ll definitely be a little disappointed if the rumors turn out to be false. don’t get me wrong, masali baduza is stunning and as a bisexual i already feel like a winner either way… but my god, she and Francesca would make such a gorgeous couple 😭
and i know people keep saying that gender bending Michael would erase important plot points but honestly i can think of several ways off the top of my head that they could maintain the integrity of the story even with Michaela as the lead instead of Michael.
and honestly, not that i have any reason to believe they’re actually going to genderbend Sophie, but they could easily rework Benedict’s story in a similar way— it irritates me that people are insisting there is no way they could make it work.
the book purists insisting xyz could not possibly happen because “that’s not how the story goes!” are making little sense to me. the show has already made many changes to the stories, large and small, and i don’t think “but the book story won’t work that way!” is a valid argument at this point. the writers have shown themselves very willing and even eager to uproot expectations and tell the story in a new way.
TOTALLY. i was previously on the "we should not expect queer rep from bridgerton they are clearly not very invested in it" train until jess brownell explicitly confirmed that a queer romance is coming and now im being a full ass clown about it. yea....when i think about masali baduza as michaela i actually need to lie down, it would end me. but also send an angel to protect her if that's actually true because some of the fandom....uh.....absolutely cannot handle that even remotely, and they WILL make it her problem.
but yes, i agree, there are many ways in which michael feels like a prime option for gender-bending. obviously when he was wicked has fans, but i think in general they're a little less rabid than some of the kanthony, polin, benophie, and philoise fans who would be specifically up in arms about major character changes to "their" ship. when he was wicked is later in the series, more disconnected, francesca's less present in the general narrative, etc.
also, because francesca has a widowhood storyline, it feels....how do i say this....deeply boring for bridgerton the show to introduce a man like john stirling, only to kill him off to make room for another random man. it would be exceedingly more interesting to have a queer element to the story, not least of all because it would add more tension to the "we cant be together because you're my dead husband's cousin" vibes.
also, women in the 19th century could inherit property. sometimes the property itself was not entailed and therefore not necessarily inherited by the male title holder. if francesca is living in the house....and michaela inherits the house....well, that's a pretty great set-up for a queer happy ending, which is, according to julia quinn, apparently impossible in a world where gay marriage isn't legal.
also, ALSOOOOO....a lesbian rake. i rest my case.
either way, im interested to see how they interpret when he was wicked's relationship to colonialism (if they do so), given that the show has now shown the Stirlings, or at least john stirling, to be Black. Kate's home and backstory in India has had some relevance to her characterization, and I'm curious to see if they take a similar tack with the stirlings (and how well they manage to execute it).
okay i think those are all of my michaela thoughts thank you so much for giving me an excuse to rant about them. truthers gotta stick together (until our hearts are inevitably dashed by cold hard reality)
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theinstagrahame · 9 months ago
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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.
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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.
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positivelybeastly · 3 days ago
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X-Men #5
Late, but who cares? Let's go.
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So, I've made no secret that I thought Kwannon wasn't really being given enough to do, these last few issues of X-Men, and it's for the same reason I'm happy to see Greycrow here - Zeb Wells' Hellions was amazing. It was one of the few Krakoa era titles that actually bothered to examine the moral double standards of the era, that really took advantage of its unique status quo, that looked at mutant resurrection and thought, okay, how can we mine this, not for obscure background cameos that will make a person on Twitter happy, but for actual drama? It was a truly great series, and I was hoping it would be followed up, if only in small ways.
I do like that Kwannon and John have a cabin together. With how they left off, it felt very personal and intimate between them, like they truly didn't need anything else to be content with one another, and neither of them struck me as people who need action to be fulfilled - or, rather, they don't see action as a means for enjoyment. As Kwannon says here, it merely gives them purpose. So far, so good.
Wasn't expecting an Amelia Voght callback, of all characters. Then again, this is a Jed MacKay joint.
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Psychics and death, name a more iconic X-Men duo.
It is interesting that we get kinda sort of confirmation that Quentin remembers being a head, since I would've figured that the Cerebro cradles were down and he'd have lost those memories, but I suppose it's also possible he could have just heard about it second-hand and been like, wow, I got turned into a head in a box? Weird.
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Yeah, no, you don't get to call Scott Slim, Quentin. Only Hank, Bobby or Warren get to do that. And Jean, if she's feeling quirky.
Can I also say something? I actually dig Quentin's fit? I don't know if that says something about my fashion sense or what, but I actually like this look for him more than . . . pretty much any other look he's had. Granted, that's not saying much, given his other uniforms were black blazer with t-shirt, the 60s retro-futuristic mutant fascist attire, or the bland melange that was his X-Force uniform, but I do actually like it. Purple and checker pattern work.
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So, this whole issue is an homage to New X-Men #121, which was part of Marvel's Nuff Said initiative, and it, along with all the other issues published that month, had pretty much no dialogue in it, it was all told purely through art. It's not a direct homage, of course, since dialogue is happening, but I appreciate the lampshade being hung on it here, with Quentin both pointing out that this isn't like the other homage, and then not-so-subtly pointing out why it isn't like them.
Because Quentin can't shut the fuck up.
Honestly, that's a fun spin on it. That's how you iterate on something you've seen before.
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I'm a sucker for mental landscapes. Always have been, always will. I just like getting to grapple with a character's psyche in a tangible way, it's why I like series like Silent Hill or Star Trek's many telepathic episodes. And if I had to break down why I like them?
Well.
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Pretty much.
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You really could've just called this New X-Men volume 3, Jed, and I don't think anyone would've objected. That being said - I couldn't have given less of a shit what happened in Marauders volume 2, so seeing that Cassandra Nova is back and wasn't consigned to the dustbin because of that series is a win in my book. She's a top tier villain, tbh, one of the best new X-villains of the last 20 years, and her particular incisive methodology for breaking down heroes' psyches feels like it's perfectly suited for the team of this book.
As she demonstrates.
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Ahhhh, good foreshadowing earlier, good stuff. And I have to say, Stegman's Sabretooth is fucking top tier. Excellent rendition of the big man himself (whom I already miss, even if he does have a miniseries coming up very soon).
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This is a great sequence, tbh. Like, poor Quentin - this is actually the most anyone has made me feel for Quentin since Aaron, about ten years ago - but in terms of threat and character exposition, it's very good, with some excellent art and very Nova-esque deconstruction. I also particularly like this panel composition.
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His head is in a smaller panel. His head is literally in a box.
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Good stuff, tbh. Again, this is the most useful Quentin feels like he's been in a while, because if he did anything of real worth in X-Force other than die, I'll freely admit that I do not remember it.
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Hank, Scott, do you . . . wanna get them some paper towels, or . . ?
Overall, not a bad issue - definitely not as memorable as the original psychic rescue, though.
Now, originally, I was gonna say, you can't hold that against it, it's not easy to match Morrison, that's just common sense, but then again, most writers don't directly invite the comparison, so, I really hope Jed is cooking up something long term and satisfying, because constantly referencing Morrison is all fine and dandy, but it needs to go somewhere.
Still, I'd say the title has been squarely good thus far, and it still has room to get better and better, so I'm gonna give it time to breathe.
Also?
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Our expert panel of judges have concluded that Hank McCoy once again wins the title of Original X-Man with the Dumpiest of Dump Truck Asses. Thanks for trying, Scott, but, uh. Your nickname is Slim for a reason.
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Conner, you and I are gonna fight.
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Damn right. It's not Hank's fault comics readers don't read anything from before 2010 . . .
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orions-hole · 10 months ago
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You're 8 years old. You weren't really big into reading, sure you read a lot in 2nd grade, but it was to make book reports for extra credit.
Your dad has the whole Harry Potter collection and you remember being obssesed with the movies.
Your first language is Spanish, you hate English, your dad has "Charlie and the chocolate factory" in English. But Harry Potter is in Spanish.
You and your dad strike a deal - per every page you read you get .5 cents. You get up snd grab (title was directly translated to give actual effect) "Harry Potter and the philosophical stone"
Just a few pages in and you already wanns kill Dudley. You already hate Mr. Dursley way more than it's healthy to hate. You're 8, but you want to protect Harry.
You know Hagrids gonna help him - you remember it from the movie. It's still spooky when you read it.
And you finish one book. Then another. You lost the 5th and spent days crying before just moving onto the 6th. Learning Sirius died in the 5th is a punch in the gut.
You finish the series, you watch the movies snd you can't help but be sad at the fact Draco is more annoying than silly.
Then you watch a video from "Invisible Cape", she's a silly potterhead. You watch another and another.
One day you walk in on your family watching the Sea of Monsters movie. "What's that?" "Percy Jackson" "It looks fun" "The books are. The first movie was crap.. Apparently the second is, "more similar to the book"." Your don't stay to watch it. Your dad says he'll buy you a bike if you translate the whole Charlie and the chocolate factory book. God you hate Charlie but god you want that bike.
You're 11 when you start talking to your idols in Discord, they love Percy Jackson, your dad pirates the books.
You read the lightning thief a bit but got cringed out by clarisse. But you're intrigued by the myths and start watching this random dude that makes animations about it.
You're into genshin impact, you watch this video with Venti and Nico du Angelo and Hiccup and so many characters you love. You don't know anything about Nico, just that he's gay and you love him.
Now you're 12, or 13, honestly you can't remember and surprisingly you don't care, the newest pjo book is teased. "The sun and the stars", you had no idea, but you made a server for friends and added a "theories" section and your best friend talks about how the book is probably about Will Solace. You think it's a far stretch snd then... oh, would you look at that?.
A few months go by, you've started seeing people geek out about the show, including the dude you watch for mythology videos, you ask your now girlfriend and she's so excited about getting an adaptation that's not the movies.
She gets you to start listening to the books and.. you realize they're actually great. You loved pjo and you move onto hoo and it's even better and gosh darn Nico is so cute and woah. And then you start the Red Pyramid you finish it and- there's no more audiobooks that can be easily downloaded. They're all split into like 150 parts.
But then the PJO show releases and it's everything you've wanted for the last month and it's awesome and
All anyone does is complain. "Too fast paced" so is the book "Not enough action* he's only trained three days "forced representation" okay you aren't even watching the show. "I hate it you don't have to make me like it" well you don't have to make me hate it do you?
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stormblessed95 · 11 months ago
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Hi how are you fine I hope,...umm do you have a list of Manga or Anime that I could read or watch? If you have a list to start off with on your blog I would greatly appreciate. I used to read manga all the time but life happened so if you don't mind thank you...Happy Holidays.
I'm still new and haven't seen so much! Here is what I'll do, I'll give you a list of what I've seen and what I thought about it though!! It'll go like this:
Media Title (version I've seen it in, anime or manga, etc): my thoughts
and then you can take them as recs or not lol
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (anime): SO GOOD. It was the second anime I watched ever and it's what really got me hooked. Lol it's just pure good solid story telling and is just truly amazing in every way. I love it so much
Ouran High School Host Club (anime): it was fine. Lol good moments, funny moments, cute moments. Lots of weird ass tropes that I didn't love lol. Good palate cleanser but not my favorite and not one I continued to really spend time thinking about after
Demon Slayer (anime & manga): a new obsession after I watched it. I had to then go read it because I was obsessed with the story and couldn't wait. The most beautiful animation too. Tragic and hopeful and amazing. Made me cry a few times and does flashback so well lol
Yuri on Ice (anime): so good. So cute. So gay. I have posts on this anime on here from when I was watching it. Lmao I'll just link that here. I'm still obsessed.
Spy x Family (anime & manga): I actually read the manga first and then found the anime and it's just so wholesomely wonderful in every aspect. I love the story so much. I love the romance. The slowburn is so slow is painfully good. I ship it SO HARD. The domestic family life of a Spy, assassin and telepath is everything I didn't know I needed
Buddy Daddys (anime): 2 dude (they make a good ship too honestly lol) assassins accidental baby acquisition. It's as funny as it sounds with some surprisingly dark and sad and emotional backstories and moments. Just a really great time. Short and quick watch too. Link to my rec post too
The Yakuzas Guide to Babysitting (anime): it was okay. Lol cute and fun but nothing that stuck with me. Found this one off my Spy Family and Buddy Daddy's high while looking for something similar lol
The Ice Guy and his Cool Female Colleague (anime): cute and fun but man some of the episodes dragged and were a little slow. The romance was just okay too but had some really adorable moments
Sasaki to Miyano (anime): SO CUTE. God the whole premise is the BL romance and the slow burn is soooo slow but istg. The tropes are so good too. The importance to consent is beautiful. Literal BL tropes all over the place as the MCs is a BL fan and introduced his LI to BL lol my rec post here. And my post over a clip of the new movie too.
A Silent Voice (anime movie): excellent movie. Sad as fuck. I cried so much. Lol all the trigger warnings though. Please read the trigger warnings
Your Name (anime movie): excellent movie. I still think about it all the time. I just read a book that pulled inspo from this movie. I had tears STREAMING DOWN MY FACE at the end.
Sk8 the Infinity (anime): so good. So wholesome. So gay (it's canon gay, fight with the wall, I don't care lol) just a little show about skateboarding. Who knew it would be SO GOOD. My rec post. My matchablossom brain rot post
Naurto, Naruto Shippuden (anime): OBSESSED. I watched this show with my partner as part of his "I'm introducing you to anime" series he has for me. Lol and clearly he was going to introduce me to the classics. Yes One Piece and Bleach are on his lists for us to watch together too.
Haikyuu!! (anime & manga): Look, with this being the 3rd sports anime I watched, I'm convinced all sports animes create so many ships low-key on purpose. Lmfao in all honesty though, it's so good. Never in my life would I have imagined getting so invested into volleyball. But here I am.
Jujutsu Kaisen (anime and I'm starting the manga now too): IM SO OBSESSED ITS NO LONGER FUNNY AND THIS SHOW IS SO MEAN LATELY. I had to go buy the manga because I CANNOT HANDLE WAITING FOR NEW EPISODES OH MY GOD. WISH ME LUCK READING I GUESS My post
Bungo Stray Dogs (anime): I started this show for Dazai. Found him on TikTok. Stayed for the weird ass powers and the absolute utter nonsense that is this whole world. Nothing makes sense and we are all just here for the vibes. Yes I fucking love it, thanks lmfao My post
Link Click (donghua): started this on a whim because I got a random rec video on my algorithm and found it on Crunchyroll and I was told it was gay. There is so little gayness in the grand scheme of this show I felt so unprepared for what it was. Lmao I have never in my life had a show hit me so hard in my emotions off the bat EVERY SINGLE TIME. BUT ITS SO GOOD?? I told my husband I start each episode going "so how are you making me cry this time link clink??" The twists twist so hard it hurts, but in a way I love. I need the next season like now. my God.
Blue Eye Samurai (anime sort of): my NEWEST obsession. I NEED SEASON 2 PLEASE. I said sort of about anime because it is animated and it's set in Japan, but it's not from Japan so it's not really an anime.... Lol but it's on Netflix. It's not for children. And it's so good. Go watch it. Only 8 episodes. The story is immaculate. My post
Inuyasha (manga): read the manga and thoroughly enjoyed myself as a super fast and fun read!! Really just there a good time lmao
Yona of the Dawn (manga): SO CUTE and yet intense too. My sister put me on this one as one of the first manga series I started reading and I just ate it all up. If we ignore some of the weirder tropes it throws at you in the beginning, it's just fabulous lol I love it
Mo Dao Zu Shi (donghua): read the books, watched the donghua, watched the live action too lol. The brain rot is SO REAL. Like these characters live rent free forever. Thanks. You can find tons of posts for MDZS and TGCF(heaven Official's blessing) in my master list on my other blog @moonofthesurvivor
Heaven Official's Blessing (donghua): SAME AS MDZS THATS ALL LMAO
No. 6 (anime): loved it, sci-fi dystopian madness and so gay. My rec post here
Given (anime): so gay.... So sad.... So healing... That kiss though! That backstory! The songs are actually so good! I love that it's just a band full of gay people. My post here too
Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess (anime): politics meets isekai (done well) meets lesbian romance, meets magical epic battles and showdowns, meets badass ladies saving the world. Literally everything you could want
Hunter x Hunter (anime): I am watching this one now and have been for a little bit. This is the current one I'm watching with my partner in his list of animes he wants to introduce me too. I'm having SO MUCH FUN with this one but I also am hurting a little. Lol yes he warned me about the ants. Yes I'm not having fun with this arc. Thanks for asking. I can report back when we finish 😂
And for those who will want to know yes, I've got lots on my list to still watch and work through. Lol I'm always open to taking more suggestions though too!!
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reioka-reads · 1 year ago
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Title: Iron Widow
Author: Xiran Jay Zhao
Status: Keep
Series Continue: Yes
Okay. So. I’m going to preface this by saying that this has some spoilers in it. It’s only been a year so I’m aware that some people might still be on the waiting list at their library for this NYT Best Seller lol.
Anyway, sometimes I take a peep at the negative reviews on books to see if it changes my perspective and this time they absolutely did not. A lot of the negative reviews on this book have the same talking points: It feels rushed/some parts feel shoehorned in. And I agree. But you know what? Zhao does too. I remember them making a post somewhere (I follow them on both Tumblr and TikTok so it could have been either one) explaining how they had to cut back parts because it was their debut novel and in the publishing industry, the companies don’t like those novels to exceed a certain amount. Zhao, also, was not satisfied with their novel as it was published. Knowing that, I felt like I could see the parts where they cut back to fit into those guidelines. I think, if they hadn’t had to cut back, it would have been an even better book than it is.
That being said, I thought this book was great. I actually caught Zhao on TikTok and that’s what led me to reading the book (they are very funny and clever). It was an interesting premise and I enjoyed it. It felt very… refreshing, somehow? I’m not sure that’s the word I want but you know, after the inundation of vampires/werewolves/wizard schools the past few years, it was a breath of fresh air. I especially loved that the one-sidedness of the love triangle lasted maybe about a minute before all of these bi disasters decided actually no let’s be a true triangle. Good for them.
Zetian was brutality in its purest form. I love that for her. But I also loved the parts where she was vulnerable—where she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of the men she loved. And how she refused to feel shame in front of others either. I also, for some reason, really like that she’s disabled? And it’s a focal point of the story, her constantly thinking about how she’s crippled and how it was supposed to make her desirable but all it did was make her life harder; how she’s constantly comparing her Lotus feet to the unmarred feet of her female peers and feeling envy and shame. It’s not a throwaway problem, it doesn’t get fixed, and I’m interested to see how it’s going to show up in the story in the future. I wish we could have seen Yizhi and Shimin fleshed out as much as she was, but the breadcrumbs that were dropped that I pieced together have me looking forward to maybe seeing more fleshing out in the sequel(s).
This story had so many twists and turns that I was constantly and genuinely shocked (delightfully so!) when they happened. I itched to get back to the book when I had to put it down; I wanted to know what happened next. I honestly didn’t expect the betrayal from the Black Tortoise and Shimin’s “death,” and I mourned with Zetian as soon as his qi reader hit zero. Then she actually found Qin Zheng and the yellow dragon! Piloted it herself!!! And then Shimin wasn’t dead and apparently the “gods” had saved him?! What the fuck!!!! And Yizhi simply killing his father with no remorse, no regrets. Qiu was probably the only person who figured out how Zetian truly ticked and he was so busy facing off with her that he didn’t even think his son could or would turn on him. My only beef is that Xiuying wasn’t alive to see Zetian crush her family to death, so that she could see that Zetian was stronger than her in every way.
I have more thoughts but I can’t really seem to articulate them, so I think I’ll leave this here. So bummed that the release date for Heavenly Tyrant has been pushed back, but I appreciate that Zhao is being transparent for their reasons. If pushing it back means a better story, I’m happy to wait.
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mageofseven · 1 year ago
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Our Child: My Turn
Beel Mpreg
Okay, sorry the title isn't that great; I didn't really know what to call this series, if I'm honest 😅
I hope you enjoy it and think it's better than the title though~
Also! I had to write some set up in here to explain how Beel gets pregnant, which isn't too interesting, but necessary since this is the first part of the series.
I promise that I'll be able to get to the good parts alot quicker with the other guys, but I needed to explain how this was possible in this series lol
So yeah! @astroseuss it's done!
I hope everyone enjoys this~
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MC knew how badly he wanted kids...that's why she hasn't really been engaging in the conversations her boyfriend would bring up about them.
Beel wanted nothing more than to be a daddy...and he'd be a great one. One of the best! The human didn't doubt that one bit.
Nor did she dislike the idea of being a mama. Kids are very sweet and just the idea of her and Beel having their own was a beautiful thing...
But pregnancy was a scary thing; giving birth even scarier. And that was between two human parents! To carry a half demon baby...she just knew so much could go wrong.
Always leaving when Beel brought the topic up, one that meant so much to him, really hurt the big guy and his Muffin hated it. She hated hurting him, but also didn't want to disappoint him... didn't want him to leave her.
What if he wanted kids so much that this was a deal breaker for him?
People break up with their partners for a lot less, but having kids? Some people see that as a fundamental part of relationships and life in general.
To lose Beel because of her fear? The human couldn't bear it. She loves him. He is her whole world; MC didn't think she could survive it if he left her
...at the same time, she knew this couldn't go on forever. She was hurting him and he deserved so much better.
"I'm sorry..." MC hung her head after she broke the news to her boyfriend.
"I know how badly you wanna be a dad. But I can't be the one to give that to you. Pregnancy is scary enough in the human way, but with a demon baby... there's just too many unknowns and I don't feel safe."
Tears started falling from her eyes.
"If you need to leave me for this, please do. I want you to--"
Suddenly she was pulled into a tight bear hug by her boyfriend. A tight one. Honestly, the human thinks she heard her back crack from the embrace.
"B-Beel..."
The man quickly released his hold on her, revealing tears in his own eyes.
"I never meant to push this on you." He told his girlfriend. "I didn't think about how hard it would be on your body. I'm sorry."
The demon held her once more, but this time was much more gentle.
"I'd never leave you. I want to be a dad but...if you don't want to be a mom then it's not worth it."
MC shook her head.
"Beel, I want kids just as much as you. I just... can't handle the process of making them."
The man leaned down and kissed his Muffin.
"Maybe we can find another way." He hoped aloud. "But...I won't force you into anything."
The human gave her boyfriend a sad smile.
"I know, big guy."
Like with most problems the man has, Beel talked this over with his twin, who was actually surprised; not because of the issue, but because he actually knew something about it.
Apparently, he noticed Satan reading a book on magical pregnancies just yesterday so the sloth demon recommended talking to him about what he knows.
And he did. At first, the blonde wasn't sure how to help the gluttony demon though.
Yes, Satan did finished that exact book yesterday that Belphie mentioned, but it was mostly filled with theoretical magick concepts for pregnancies or ones that were incredibly circumstantial, like how Lucifer gave birth to him.
Yet he did have another book on a similar topic he had yet to open so he told the other demon that he would read it and let him know if there was anything useful in it for him and MC.
The blonde approached him later that day with a method he believed could be useful to them, but Beel still worried about the process.
It was a ritual spell that required an initial carrier who, at minimum, needed to be 8 weeks along before transferring the pregnancy to their partner
Meaning that MC would still have to start the pregnancy, carry their child for the first two months at least before her boyfriend could take over and carry their child to term.
The redhead didn't like this and felt guilty just for thinking about this.
I mean, his Muffin explicitly told him that she never wants to be pregnant so to turn around and essentially ask 'Well, can you do it for just a little while?' felt so selfish, so dismissive of her fear.
After some coaxing from his twin, the big guy eventually does bring it up to his girlfriend
And though still scared...MC really wanted to make Beel a daddy.
So to hear that she just had to start off the pregnancy and not be forced to be the one to give birth? It felt like the best offer she could ever get.
When the two started trying for their baby, Beel was incredibly gentle and slow with her. He could still see the anxiety in her eyes and always reminded her that they can stop anytime.
But she kept things going; she loved this man so much that she needed this to work.
So when they discovered MC was pregnant, the human was just as happy as she was scared. Beel spoiled and comforted her the entire two months, especially when she dealt with morning sickness.
When the woman finally hit the 8 week mark, she was more than ready to get this child out of her.
With the help of Satan, the two were prepped for the ritual.
It took place in Beel's room. The blonde drew various runes on their bodies, from their chests to their arms and, most importantly, on their lower stomach area.
At this point, MC only had the slightest pouch, the only physical sign on her body that suggested a child could be inside her at this early stage. Still, Satan was extra gentle as he drew the rune in this spot.
Next step was to be pressed together, torso to torso. This part was subjective and gave the couple the freedom of choice on how they wanted to do this.
The two settled on Beel sitting on his bed with MC on his lap with her legs wrapped around his waist. He hugged her close, keeping them stomach to stomach, and lightly scratched her back in order to comfort the anxious human.
Satan performed the spell on them, causing each rune to glow green with a strangely warm sensation.
MC's breathing became difficult to manage; it wasn't pain she was feeling, but something so foreign and so uncomfortable that it overwhelmed her body.
Beel hugged her tighter to his body, whispering into her ear how good she was doing and that it would just take a minute or two longer.
Eventually, that strange sensation left MC's body and suddenly, Beel himself could feel it in the pit of his stomach.
His breath hitched and he buried his face in his Muffin's hair, letting the scent of her comfort him through this feeling.
Finally, Satan's chanting ended and subsequently, so did the rune glowing and that strange feeling in his stomach.
Beel kissed his girlfriend's hair before the two pulled back from one another. MC's small pouch on her belly was gone, but no one could tell too much had changed on Beel's stomach.
His lower abs seems a bit softer, less defined as they were before, but otherwise nothing seemed different on the man at first.
It wasn't until later that evening when Beel undressed to take a shower that he noticed something else had changed with his body.
The part that should be dangling between his legs was no longer there. Instead, it was replaced with a part much like MC's.
Most men would be upset at losing the part of them they associated their masculinity with, but Beel was nothing but amazed and intrigued with this development.
I guess the spell also prepared an exit for his baby? As he thought about it, the demon could only be grateful that the ritual also took this into account and ultimately accepted his new body part.
He just couldn't help being curious about what other ways his body will change.
As the pregnancy progressed and his belly grew, his baby grew, Beel practically fell in love with his new form.
He started being very, very gentle with himself now that his child was sharing his body. The demon no longer went to the gym since he was worried about putting any strain on his body while his baby was depending on him.
His appetite also increased a lot during this time.
Some days it seemed like Lucifer was ready to pull his hair out over trying to keep the kitchen stocked.
Often it would be filled to the brim and the night would come and Beel would make a kitchen raid.
In the morning, whoever was on breakfast duty would realize that there was no food to cook with.
Beel genuinely felt guilty about this, but his brothers always forgave him. After all, he's the Avatar of Gluttony and he's pregnant. Of course this was going to happen.
Whenever he got too upset about this, the pregnant man would cuddle in bed with his girlfriend and MC would make it all okay.
"Lucifer looked so stress..."
"I know, I know. It's okay though." MC laid her hand on his cheek. "He's not mad at you; it's not your fault."
"Belphie almost didn't get to eat breakfast..."
"But he did." The woman gave him a soft smile. "Because of you, Luce ordered food from Belphie's favorite restaurant and he got to eat his favorite meal"
"But he had to wait..."
Oh Beely. This man knew how hard it was to wait for food so he was really being sensitive about it.
MC leaned in and gave her boyfriend a sweet kiss before laying her forehead on his.
"It's okay." She repeated softly. "We all still love you and just want you and the baby to be happy and healthy."
She lowered her hand to his belly and the pregnant man did the same.
"You're really amazing, you know that?" She whispered, gently stroking his belly. "You're an amazing man, amazing boyfriend...an amazing Daddy."
Beel smiled back at her, feeling a bit better about things now.
This time, he was the one to lean in and kiss his girlfriend. It was a slow, but sweet; one the couple really took their time with as their hands gently caressed each other's bodies
No matter how insecure he got, MC was always able to comfort him and remind him of how wonderful he was. He was a loving man who always put those around him first after all.
Between no longer exercising and eating more food than he ever has, the man's belly grew quickly, but his family knew there had to be more to the growth than that.
That's when they decided to have Satan use the rune I've talked about in many other stories. It was drawn around his belly button and Satan laid his hands over it to collect the info.
That's when they discovered that Beel was carrying twins.
Oh how the couple cried tears of joy!
"Muffin... twins!" The man hugged his girlfriend in a tight embrace.
A bit too tight, but the woman still smiled and hugged the big guy back.
Once he pulled back, both of them realized just how hard they were both crying.
The couple had the same idea of kissing the other's tears away.
Unfortunately, this resulted in the two butting their noses together, which caused them to laugh before more carefully leaning into each other for a kiss.
They spent a lot time after that just talking to Beel's belly, to their twins, and telling them just how insanely loved they are and how they just can't wait to meet them.
Beel couldn't bear to take his hands off his belly the entire day; he couldn't help it. He wanted to be as close to his daughters as possible, as if them literally being inside of his him wasn't enough.
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(I just found out my keyboard can make things like this??? So I guess I'm keeping it here lol)
When the pregnancy reached its end and Beel started feeling contractions, the man just... didn't recognize them?
As in, he definitely felt them, acknowledged them, thought 'dang those sucks' and just moved on with his freaking day 😂
Because it just didn't compute in his brain that they were contractions instead of just weird ass cramps
And this big guy had a pretty good pain tolerance so he suffered through these all day before he even expressed the slightest hint that he was in pain.
Belphie was the first one to notice something was up with his twin and brought it up at dinner.
"I'm fine." He told the table since all eyes were on him.
"You sure?"
Beel nodded before bringing more food to his mouth and chewing.
"Yeah, just been having some cramps today."
The whole table went silent.
That's when they noticed the big guy's breath hitch before rubbing his lower belly.
"Beely..." MC said carefully. "I think we should get you to a bed, just in case."
"Can I finish my plate first?"
....
"Sure, big guy..." 😮‍💨😅
Beel made quick work of his plate, but boy was his family tense.
Afterwards, MC took Beel into his room and kept him comfortable.
Eventually, his water broke and the contractions became too strong, even for him.
MC would periodically check his progress, but mostly laid in the bed and held her pained boyfriend.
She'd stroke his hair kiss his face anytime even the slightest wince was expressed.
Beel handle this pain as quietly as possible; not because he felt pressured to, but because it was more or less how he was conditioned to handle pain while growing up.
MC held him close and praised him sweetly, telling him it will all be okay and their twins couldn't wait to meet to meet their Daddy.
When the first daughter started crowning, the man's tears became thicker and he actually aloud himself to scream in pain at the burn.
MC checked below and had to help her boyfriend get the the baby's horns through in order for him to progress.
After that, it became a bit easier for the man.
His girlfriend comforted him through his time pushing out the shoulders and once he pushed the baby out far enough, the human was able to help tug the first baby out of him
And just like that, Arsenia was born.
Since her old sister stretched the way for her, Anais was birthed quicker and easier as well.
MC had the girls cleaned and wrapped up before handing one off to her anxious boyfriend.
With Arsenia in his arms and Anais in MC's, both parents wept happily.
"You did it, Beely." MC sniffled before leaning down and kissing the tired man's forehead.
Beel nodded, smiling before suddenly staring at her with these big sad eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"Oh Beely Boy." She wiped some fresh tears from his face. "About what?"
"I just..." The shook his head be brushing a finger over Arsi's thin patch of hair. "I expected you to go through this for me before..."
"It's okay." The human assured him. "It's okay; you didn't know, not fully. It's not your fault."
"I love you, Muffin."
MC let out a small laugh.
"I love you too, Beely."
The two leaned in for one last kiss before showing their daughters in endless love.
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