#i just………… ’brothers best friend’ trope is my least favorite trope in the world

[quillkiller]

sigh. should i get back into jegulus

[mvybanks]

hiiii!! i love how you write for jj and i was wondering if you could write something for him! something like the reader being john bs twin sister and dating jj and so he basically lives with her at the chateau. like jj spends all his nights with her in her room there and john b is like used to him always being there that at that point he DOES live there lmao. plz and ty, you don’t have to tho lol

the one where you’re john b’s twin (w/ jj)

a/n: hiii, thank you so much!!! jj x routledge!reader will always be my favorite trope so you know i’ll never deny a request for them. btw, i didn’t know what you wanted me to write specifically so i just made it into a fluffy blurb, hope you like it!

warnings: none!

my masterlist

“guys, GUYS, cut it out!” you yell for the umpteenth time at the two reckless boys who have been wrestling for god knows how long.

it was never your intention to fall in love with your twin’s best friend but that idiot stole your heart and now you have to share your boyfriend with your brother and make sure they don’t get themselves killed.

they’re the definition of ‘dumb and dumber’.

“sorry, babe, i’m winning!” jj yells while he straddles john b and you can only throw your head back in exhaustion.

you’re currently lying on your favorite hammock and trying to read a book but it’s impossible to concentrate with all the commotion happening in the yard. when you hear your boyfriend shouting something in the lines of ‘i won’, you can finally go back to the book in your hands.

or at least you think you can.

jj runs to you with his arms up in the air to celebrate his victory.

“i won, baby,” he says when he’s in front of you, sweating and panting from the fight.

“that’s great, j,” you don’t even look at him, this has got to be the third or fourth time he has done this today.

“aren’t you gonna gimme a kiss?” he puckers his lips and you can’t help but lift your head, his sweet voice winning you over.

“c’mere,” you gesture to him to bend down and then you peck his lips, but a pout is left on them when you pull away too soon.

“nooo, i want a real kiss,” he whines and you have to roll your eyes.

“john b is literally there,” you point to your twin who’s lying on the grass and not even listening to you two, too busy trying to regain his breath.

“he can’t see us, baby, c’mon.”

before you can even give him an answer, he throws himself on you and lifts his weight off your body placing his hands on either side of your head.

“now, lemme kiss my girlfriend.”

his lips find yours again in a toe curling kiss, reminding you why you can’t stay away from your golden retriever of a boyfriend. you soon find yourself having a make out session with him as you run your fingers through his hair and one of his hands goes under your shirt. a sigh leaves your mouth at the feeling of his hands on your body and he smirks on your lips.

“seriously? couldn’t you have waited until i was in the house? fucking disgusting,” john b’s voice pulls you out of your little world and forces you to push jj away from you, while his head falls in your neck.

“sorry, bro!” he yells and you giggle looking at your twin who’s now walking inside your shared home while he shakes his head in disbelief.

“i’m sorry, jb!” you also shout and he gives you the middle finger before closing the door behind him.

“he’s gonna kill you one of these days, you know that?” you joke, but his lips on your neck distract you and you let a hand fall on his head to play with his hair.

he hums, “so fucking worth it,” he mumbles on your skin and you smile at his words.

“yeah?”

jj lifts his head to look at you and those sweet eyes of him make you melt, “i’d die the happiest man ever.”

you laugh and he swears it’s the best sound he’s ever heard.

“plus, if he didn’t kill me when he found out about us, he never will,” he adds.

memories of that day flood your mind: jj accidentally falling asleep after spending the night together, john b entering your room to tell you that he made you breakfast and finding you in his best friend’s arms, both of you completely naked, waking up to your twin shouting at jj while he run away from your crazy brother.

“remember how red he was?” you smile at the funny memory.

“oh yeah, i also remember how purple my eye was,” his lips leave another kiss on your neck.

“shit, right.”

he kisses you again, catching you by surprise, “worth it,” he whispers on your lips.

later that night you find yourself resting on your boyfriend’s chest while the two of you are about to fall asleep on your shared bed. jj’s arm is tightly wrapped around your torso and his other hand is on your naked thigh, stroking the soft skin and making you hum at the feeling.

someone knocks gently on the door and wakes you up slightly.

“come in!” you say but it’s impossible for you to shout when you’re so relaxed.

john b enters your room with his eyes covered with one hand.

“are you decent?”

you roll your eyes, but unfortunately your boyfriend’s answer comes faster than yours, “oh no, we’re definitely having sex right now. that’s why we told you to come in.”

“you’re disgusting, jj, you know that?” he finally lowers his hand, “just wanted to say goodnight, you idiot. goodnight, pickle.”

you smile at the nickname he’s always used for you, “g’night, bird,” you manage to mumble out, tiredness obvious in your voice.

“night, jb.”

your brother leaves the room and slowly closes the door behind him as he gives you a sheepish smile.

“baby?” you whisper with your lips pressing on jj’s chest.

“mh?”

“i love you,” and he knows he’ll never get tired of hearing those words.

“i love you, pretty girl.”

[coralinnii]

Hi! I just wanna say I love your villain/ness au 😍 especially leonas part thank you for giving me this story as I was finding stories like this💕💕so I was wondering can I request about the tweel? Their my most favorite in twisted wonderland 🙏 it will be my outmost joy to see you write them!

and sorry if im wrong in writing this request because this is actually my first time writing a request 😅 so thank you for the understanding 😁

Being Reincarnated into a New World as the Bad Guy feat: Jade genre: drama note: set in the same universe as previous works (Azul’s ver specifically), no pronouns were used, villain/ess!reader is not a merfolk, roughly 2k word count 

series masterlist

I know there's someone missing but Jade's portion got longer than I expected so I cutting it into separate posts. Floyd's part will be released soon so in the meantime, enjoy as we welcome the fourth vice-housewarden to this surprisingly popular AU.

Sorry 3aemidnight, that this is slightly subverted from the request but Floyd's part has that aspect more played into

You’re screwed. Absolutely screwed. Why did you end up in this situation?? You didn’t even read the webtoon! Your classmate was gushing over a popular webtoon and like a good friend, you lent an ear to her excited ramblings. Her favorite characters seem to be a pair of devilish merfolk brothers. It was that rambling that helped you realize where you were because you didn’t bother remembering the main cast but you couldn’t forget the name “Jade Leech” nor his partner, you. 

Or at least the character you possessed that your classmate kept wishing she could be. The lucky duck that became Jade’s betrothed but you couldn’t really agree with that sentiment when she mentioned how that same partner was left behind by the Leech heir and prosecuted as an accomplice to the Leech family’s underground activities. 

“What’s so great about the hopeless love trope?!” 

Unfortunately, the proceedings for your engagement to the suave marquis heir was set. Putting a wrench into the plans now would cause too many issues to both families. Still, you were determined to leave this crazy story unscathed no matter what. 

“Let’s make a contract” were your first words to your soon-to-be partner to which he responded with a curious quirk of his eyebrow. “a prenuptial to be precise” 

“But my dear,” a shiver ran down your spine when Jade used that supposedly endearing name, a superficial one of course. “What ever could have scared you to have such worries?” 

“Because I know what you and your family are trying to do” 

Oh, you have piqued Jade’s interest now.

Your listening skills have paid off as you remembered the plot of the Leech family. The brothers were working to extend their family’s power above the waters and to have an “organized system of connections” with the help of the newly appointed count Ashengrotto. With their intelligence and charm, they wanted to monopolize the marine market from local fishing rights to overseas trading. Unfortunately, the main leads stood in their way and forced the native merfolk to flee to their home, leaving those associated with them to answer for their crimes. 

You have no interest in being caught in the crossfire but becoming an enemy to the Leech family is not a favourable situation either. So your best option was… 

“I’ll help you” 

If you’re going to be accused as an accomplice, better be the best accomplice so neither of you get caught. 

The greatest challenge for merfolk on land was the discrimination that was still prevalent, even after the human-merfolk alliance. No matter how charming Jade was, it was hard for the merman to converse with the more narrow-minded noblemen. It was why the Leech heir agreed to the engagement as your family was beloved and highly respected in the kingdom. Your character was just an oblivious, lovestruck pawn to his plans. 

“I’ll play the perfect partner, give you the backing you need, the intel you want” you stated your terms, with no room for negotiation. “But, we’re publicly in an arranged engagement only, nothing else. We only meet when necessary and once your family secure the Triton ocean trade route, we’re breaking our engagement and never to speak to each other again” 

If the Leech family weren’t caught, they would have returned to their native home anyway and controlled the trading from the safety of the ocean. Either way, Jade would have been out of your life regardless, so you should at least escape prosecution. 

You weren’t falling for his gentleman facade, and you definitely refuse to be the one on the short end of the stick in his crazy family’s schemes. 

You and Jade were locked in a silent stare down, waiting for either one of you to break the silence. You kept your mouth shut, not letting your nerves talk yourself down. It was this or nothing. 

Your gamble paid off. Jade chuckled with a slight peek of his sharp teeth and extended his hand out, piercing your figure with a pair devilish eyes. 

“If that is what my dear wishes, how can I decline?” 

So sealed your deal with the devil your future ex-fiancé 

Some time passed since your agreement, you joined a soirée your family was invited to. As a newly engaged couple, it was expected for you to bring Jade to which he was happy to escort his precious person (you hid your scoff). True to your word, you agree to chat with some of the daughters and wives of certain families for certain intel that Jade needed. While the ladies were more tolerant of the merfolk, they held certain prejudices over them which would affect the conversation greatly should Jade attempt to speak with them. 

So off you go. 

It was surprisingly easy with the chatty ladies to gather what you needed to know. They were happy to brag about the wealth and connections their families had and the businesses they controlled. The number of employers, the unknowing dissatisfaction of their workers that went over their heads, the obvious limited knowledge over the sea routes…everything came loose from their lips and will inevitably be used against them later on. Once you mentally checked off what Jade requested you to find out, you were patiently waiting to take your leave when someone decided to steer the conversation to something else. 

“But enough about our families. How is your life as a newly betrothed, darling?” One of the wives brought the attention to you, which took you slightly by surprise. 

“Well, our families were growing close so we decided a union would be beneficial” you smiled as convincing as you could. “While we were arranged, I’m sure it will be an amiable alliance” 

“Oh, how lucky you are” one of the younger daughters congratulated as convincingly as her eyelashes were. “To be engaged to someone as distinguished and exotic as Jade Leech, your family connections must have been more impressive than I realize. I knew how enamored you were with the young heir, but to think a frumpy wallflower such as yourself managed to capture him. Good for you” 

Any semblance of tolerance you had for these women had just been thrown out the window. Even if you were detached from your host character in every sense, you felt anger building in your body from their haughty words. You quickly glanced to where Jade was and he was standing but with his signature smile and charming eyes engaging in conversation with other attendees, so you assumed he couldn’t hear from where he stood.

It’s not good to hold in your anger… so you don’t. 

“Interesting…if I’m a frumpy wallflower as you say, what would you be?” You pondered aloud with innocent tone of voice “bottom feeders?” 

Gasps and stuttering replies were let out from the flushing women, flabbergasted by your undignified words, but they haven’t heard anything yet. 

“Before my engagement, I often chatted with the current Marquis Leech and he was telling me how he was flooded by persistent engagement proposals for his heir that there wasn’t a day that a messenger wouldn’t visit the Leech residence.” 

That was a bold-faced lie about your meetings with the Marquis head but you recalled your classmate’s words of the mountains of proposals the Leech brothers would get, proving their in-universe popularity despite being discriminated against. Well, it’s not as though anyone would question your source, you were engaged to a Leech afterall.

The wives may have been confused but the younger ladies were visibly shaking as they watched you with nervous eyes, either praying you didn’t know the families that proposed or if you did, you’d keep silent over it. 

But you offer no such salvation from their humiliation 

“Out of the countless proposals, I seem to have been chosen over the ones who reached out first. In fact, some of the interested ladies are here in attendance today, such as Lady-“ 

You paused abruptly as you quickly back away as one of the single daughters reached for a drink and prepared to throw it into your face in desperation to avoid being exposed. Seems like you pushed a line too far. You closed your eyes, braced for a rude splash…

but nothing came. 

Surprised muttering and gasps compelled you to reopen your eyes but you were met with a lean chest and tall looming figure blocking you from the women. You leaned to the side and was shocked to see a large wet spot on Jade's pristine suit jacket, his back and shoulder drenched in champagne. You peeked at Jade's face as he wore his signature smile, appearing calm but you could have swore his jaw seemed more tight and strained as though he’s fighting something internally. 

Maybe you’re just reading too much into it. 

Any semblance of annoyance you thought you saw disappeared the moment the eel merman turned to face the ladies before. He placed his gloved hand over his heart and smiled as usual. 

“I believe this conversation may have gone on too long. Everyone is getting a little too tired and reckless. Perhaps we should cut the night short tonight, do you agree?” Jade proceeded to rest his hand on your shoulder, looking at you with faux concern. “Shall we take our leave, my dear?” 

Stomping down the involuntary shiver, you nodded and turned to walk away without saying goodbye to the ladies or even waited for Jade to walk with you. At least Jade had some strength to offer a bow and a smile before joining you. However, you didn't notice the way the ladies silently flinched in fear when they saw the dangerous glint in the young merman's mismatched eyes.

“I never realized you had such a fiery tongue,” Jade commented as the two of you make your way to your carriage, to which you clicked your tongue in annoyance. 

“So you were able to hear everything” you chose to change the topic. “You better not say anything to your father about what I said today. I needed to use an excuse” 

“You needn’t worry, my dear. I’m simply impressed you knew about the proposal letters.” Jade ended his words there, but you knew he was curious to know your sources, especially since it pertains to the ongoings in the Leech residence. 

“I heard some things, that’s all I’ll say” you held your tongue beyond that, your eyes relaying to Jade not to prod further, which he conceded. 

“Of course. I would never want to upset you, my dear.” Jade smiled at the slight shiver in your shoulders. 

“Alright, my turn to ask questions” you stopped in your tracks, forcing Jade to do the same, enticing his curiosity as you always seem to. Your eyes stared at the stained jacket that hung over Jade's arm, having taken it off to avoid the rest of his attire getting dirty. A sense of guilt pinched your heart as you questioned him, “Why did you save me? Sure, I’ll be slightly humiliated but I can just play the victim and ruin them further” 

Jade silently stood in his spot, as though he was seriously contemplating his previous actions. But you doubt that because Jade Leech does not do things impulsively. He’s calculating, his movements always premeditated and intentional. 

Right?

Then, the ocean-haired man slowly walked closer to you. Carefully, he reached out his gloved hand towards your cheek and wiped a small drop of champagne from your hairline. A minuscule drop must have made its way to your face without your awareness. But Jade noticed. The cold leather glided from your forehead to your ear, to which he crept closer as he leaned down and whispered to you. 

“We made a deal, my dear” his smooth voice vibrated clearly into your head and your instinctive shiver came once more from his name for you. “I plan to make good use of you and I will not permit anyone from ruining you before I’m done” 

You sealed your fate with Jade, so you must commit to the end.

[hellcatinnc]

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! Season One Anime Review

Includes Spoilers

So I had recently bought the game and tried to play it and felt I was lost not knowing the characters or the connections and was solely going by the looks of Alan was most pleasing to me. Anyways I decided to sit down and watch the anime then I would be ready for the game. It says the game takes place after the first season of the anime so here is my review of the first season then I will start playing the game and will leave reviews later for that.

First here are all of them as kids aren't they damn cute like all the little boys were adorable, still prefer Alan and Keith as far as little kids go though. Thats just my opinion.

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Alan Stuart

So lets start with the man that had my attention right away. He was the most dashing and handsome of them all to me. He is Mary's fiancé and I wanted to show something in the difference in how he looks at Catarina and how he looks at Mary and you can see a big difference. First picture is Alan and Mary if Catarina wasn't in the picture its cute but I still see lack there of love. Then the 2nd picture is of him carrying Mary when she almost gets hurt yet he doesn't even look down at her, this is after he knew Catarina. As you can see when Catarina became part of his world Mary didn't phase him in the least.

Now below is the difference Catarina has opened up Alan's world. First holding her in his arms effects him it gets to him because the feel of her against him is hard for him to think about anyone but her. He gets flustered easy around her and although he took alot longer for him to realize what his feelings were it was always shown even when he didn't have a name for it.

Even though she was engaged to his brother there was something in the way they looked at each other. Like they haven't confessed anything to each other but that look even from her. She looks at him with more love and affection than she looks at her fiancé to me. I love the chemistry and damn I can't wait to romance the hell out of this man in the game. He is a tsundere but damn one fine one and he really does love her. I thought in one episode that showed all of their desires to be with Catarina and they cut his short I felt like I was gipped then this scene happened where he climbed the tree and that connection there it looked like at one point they were going to kiss even so much Mary saw and was freakin out to get to them. However it ends that episode and never picks it back up so I am curious what happened that day.

Then just the casual in the hall glance and how they were so competitive as kids it all led them to care for each other the way they do. I think not only that but she was good for him he always felt 2nd best to Geordo being his brother and she never let him feel second best to her. She still hung out with him and even helped him play a prank on his brother/her fiancé. They are the perfect example of the big brother/best friend trope that led them to care more. He is still my favorite and I love his awkwardness sometimes along with his flusters he is absolutely my kinda guy for sure.

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Keith Claes

I honestly wasn't sure how I was gonna feel about Keith going in I mean yeah I knew it was her brother but I was curious to see how it played out. From the very first time you get a idea of him as a kid you realize he is so hurt and broken and just needs love and care. When Catarina is the one who gives it to him even when he doesn't feel worthy of it wasn't hard to see this boy fall and fall hard.

Unlike some of the others from well off families even though Keith had the upbringing to be a gentleman and noble he would still help Catarina in whatever she wanted to do. She wanted to build a farm he did it to, if she wanted to travel the towns he was there. No matter what, he is always in her court and would burn the world, well in his case with his magic he would crumble the world around them so that they were together and the things that could hurt her were gone.

This man 100% is the bean of this show. He genuinely loves her and not as a sister. I mean he isn't her real brother more like a cousin they said than anything. He fell for her pretty soon after meeting her so I don't think he truly ever put her in a sister only mind set he was determined to be there for her like she was for him. He really is a sweetheart and I don't know how anyone couldn't like him. He is my 2nd favorite with Catarina I love how he looks at her.

I also love his constant trying to bump Geordo out of the picture just to be next to his sister. He would truly follow her anywhere. Its also sincere and sweet that when he thinks he will never see her again you can see all the pain in him of that sad little boy again but he rises past it all to be there for her even if it means talking to her when she is in a coma until she eventually hears him.

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Nicol Ascart

Ok not gonna lie he is your kuudere for sure, man of very few words and very hard to know what he is thinking. However when he looks at her he only sees her. All the girls fall over themselves for him but when Catarina looks at him and he looks at her he cares about nothing else. He knows she is with his best friend Geordo and knows he shouldn't love her but says he would rather spend any moment he can by her side until he no longer can again. This truly grabs at my heart strings.

I love that even as kids they look at each other in such a sweet endearing way. The fact she is good to his sister when no one else is, and she treats him like he is important and not some object to drool over or push away. With her he can be himself, he can smile when he never did before her. Even in the episode of desire you could see he would push all the ladies away to take her away with him to be happy. He is your darker sheep of the anime but still such a sweet boy I look forward to seeing more from him as well.

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Geordo Stuart

So I'm on the fence the most with him only cause sometimes he feels to perfect. However by the end of the first season you realize he felt nothing but a mundane life and really didn't know happiness until her. This really made me start liking him more. He is a total flirt but only to her which I respect completely. I mean if your gonna flirt make it towards the one you want. Also the fact that he felt responsible for her injury as a kid that she got hurt he vowed to marry her right then so that she would never worry about people ridiculing her for her looks due to the mark on her forehead. I mean even at a young age his proposal was adorable and spot on with the hand kissing and everything.

He is definitely the mischievous boy and Keith probably is smart to worry about him. I say this because if Catarina gave him half the chance he would so sleep with her. He is probably the only boy I truly feel is the most dirty minded one of them all. In the desire episode you see that when he literally gets wine and starts trying to make out with her. He even announces in the dreamish world that they are now married and she gets to be alone with him all night. That was so spot on with his desires.

He does love her though its not like I can't see how much he cares anyone can see it. The way he holds her though is so sweet he holds her like she is the most precious thing in the world because to him she is. I hope in time with him being her true route you see more chemistry between the two mainly from her side because as of right now its more one sided from what I see.

He gained even more respect for me when he got upset like he blamed himself for not being able to protect her. I feel like he would do anything to protect her just like any of the other men and that is a value in him. I also don't think he would ever hurt her intentional at all. Come on he don't even notice other girls nor does he care what people think of him or of her its what he feels. Then the fact he takes water and feeds it to her in a kiss when she is in a coma to keep her hydrated that was the most romantic thing he did so far. So by the end of it I think I love him as much as some of the guys now he just had to win me over a bit more.

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Raphael Walt

Ok this boy is a down right cutie, to me he is you cinnamon roll in this anime 100%. Yes he had darkness and revenge take him over but come on his moms last words as she bled out in front of him was avenge my death. That is enough to make anyone flip a switch.

The way he holds Catarina's hand so gentle even when he was in pain and suffering, as well as how she reaches out to touch him and understand his pain. I honestly think they could make a good match and wish it was included in the game. I hope eventually he gets to shine and have even a small chance with her.

Then after all the bad things he did and she understood why he tried to make up for it all. He isn't a bad boy at all this is a sweet baby boy who just needs to be loved and cared for by a woman and I think he will grow up well.

Come on you can't tell me he isn't sorry even Keith and Geordo make a comment that she has taken on seducing another man for them to have to compete against. This should prove he should be a love interest. I will cross my fingers I see more of him in the second season or in future games. He is the side character that I think should be dateable.

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The Girls (Mary Hunt, Sophia Ascart, & Maria Campbell)

Mary - The girls are all supposed to be her best friends but every damn one of them is in love with her. Sometimes its way over done like especially with Mary. I feel like with Mary she tries to force her love on Catarina, and she tries to shut down everyone elses advances. I feel like she would even be a bad one to date for being controlling in the end. She is the cray cray yanderish types in female form I swear.

Maria - She is a sweetheart but sometimes she is just too sweet to me. Like her light side magic to how humble she is. The fact she sees the good in everyone all the time and although I know she has it hard I just feel like she needs to spend more time being herself and not this over joyed happy girl all the time. I do still like her but as far as her with Catarina I just don't see anything but friends.

Sophia - She is my favorite of the girls probably cause when you realize she was with Catarina in her past life and how much she loved her even after she died it shows there is such a close bond with them. When no one else wanted to be her friends her connection with Catarina made her grow up much happier. I even love how she got to say goodbye to her one last time before being there by her side as Sophia. I can say I think friendship is all they should be even with the fact I think she does love her I think she wants her brother and Katarina to be together as well. Maybe they want to share her lol.

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Overall Thoughts

This is such a beautiful anime all the way around. After just the first episode I was hooked and needed more. I would have binged it one day if I had been busy that day but by day 2 was done with one sitting from episode like 5 to the end. I love everyone of these characters for one reason or another. They all bring something to the story that when you take one out for just a moment you realize how they are needed. There of course there is a few side characters you would miss to but the main ones below are the biggest ones you can't have this anime without.

I absolutely love how these guys looks flustered like they seriously are hot as hell especially Keith & Alan who were effected the most. Geordo and Nicol's are a little more shameless and promiscuous in their own way compared to Alan and Keith who are alot more innocent.

The banter between Keith and Geordo is what makes it funny as hell though. They are always technically dick measuring and showing each other up. Their banter is needed though unlike the other guys they are the ones that are the biggest rivals.

I love this show has happy and funny moments but also sad and unpredictability as well. Characters you will learn to love some to hate and some you just don't care about. I honestly did not expect to love every one of the guys for one reason or another that usually never happens. I usually have one or two and the rest I don't care about but I'm actually looking forward to playing the game now to see how each story plays out all because the anime got my interest. I read a review on the ships people love and hate and I disagree with them so this is supposedly the ships that are the biggest from the anime.

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Catarina x Alan --- LIKE ( I agree to me he is the most well fit for her and her personality. To me they are end game.)

Catarina x Sophia --- LIKE/HATE (I've seen this one waver for people, like I love their friendship and how much they care for one another but to me best not in a romantic way.)

Catarina x Keith --- HATE ( I disagree I think he would follow her to the ends of the earth and always take care of her anyway he could. He would make a good life long partner for sure.)

Catarina x Nicol --- LIKE (I agree they are cute together and the fact he don't care about any of the girls throwing themselves at him when she gives him attention tells you he has eyes only for her. I love how soft his eyes are when he smiles at her too.)

Catarina x Mary --- HATE (I agree she is overly pushy and even though I like Catarina with the guys when it comes to girls she is my least favorite. Anyways any advances she has made towards Katarina she has been shot down with anyways.)

Catarina x Maria --- LIKE/HATE ( I have seen this one waver too and just like with Sophia think they are better friends than more.)

Catarina x Raphael --- HATE (I disagree I actually think he is cute as a button. The fact he is fast to admit he is sorry but still wants to stay by her side I think he needs his own love route he deserves it after watching his mom killed in front of him. )

Catarina x Geordo --- LIKE (I agree they are cute together and I wouldn't totally hate them being together I like his flirtiness anyways)

[peanut-butter-and-theatre]

choose violence 🔥 10 16 17

10. worst part of fanon

Probably not the worst (there'sdefinityworse), but my least favorite is Michael and Christine hating each other because in what WORLD would two people like that hate each other?? Fuck right off, they become best friends and have a spring wedding

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

The idea that Michael has an older brother that, like, had a squip (specifically that it's the person he talks about in the bathroom scene) and stuff. Maybe it's just that I truly prefer the idea of him having to do a shit ton research and reaching out to literally just random people on games. It's just. The idea of M knowing what the squip was all along leaves a bad taste in my mouth Like no fucking way would he have helped his bestie GET ONE if he knew they were arrghh mega evil bad. I'm losing my mind but I'll die here on this hill

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

I love seeing people's interpretations of characters in their childhoods/younger years. How people think some characters might've been more confident (or otherwise different) as children, and I love the way they portray the buildup to the point they believe would've reduced that character's confidence. I love it so much

[rayslittlekitten]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️

Oh my how did I miss this in my inbox? Thank you @laurfilijames!

I've answered this a few times before and I can't find those posts because the tagging system and searching system on Tumblr is useless so here it goes. There's just so many to choose from because I love them all in their own way:

The Therapist (Raymond Smith x F! reader, AU) Summary: After bringing up some fantasies and thoughts that you can’t get out of your head to your therapist , he helps you explore them.

This one is near and dear to my heart and revisit it every now and then.

The Little Sister (Raymond Smith x F! reader) Summary: After graduating from University in the United States, you come home to London with your boyfriend who you met at University. You then meet your brother-in-law's consigliere for the first time and become quite enchanted by him.

This one was a very fun one to write and probably the first series I even completed.

You Got This (Jax Teller x F! reader) Note: Okay I can't quite sum this one up because it's just a universe. It started as a one off and someone requested a sequel and it kind of went from there. Much of the fics in this universe is pre-SOA and its teenager Jax and reader (it really should be OC) is Opie's little sister. I just absolutely fell in love with these two exploring what young Jax could have been and this dynamic he has with his best friend's sister. This was the first time I had written for Jax.

Dad Will (Will Miller x Wife F! Reader, Will Miller & Daughter (OC)) Note: There is absolutely no summary for this except that they're mainly a series of snapshots of Will and his daughter. He is the ultimate girl dad in this and it ranges from her being a baby and up until a teenager. Maybe one day I'll write when she's older and he has to give her away, but writing these little moments and nuggets have been so indulgent for me and the little girl inside me. This also has moments (and conflicts) with Wife Reader so I also got to experience Will as husband. It's the best of both worlds.

Wanna Be (Will Miller x BFF F! reader) Summary: You pine for your best friend.

This is one of my favorites because not just is it so wholesome, but best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes. This mostly also takes place when Will and reader are in high school so it's younger Will and all the great things that comes with young love and romance. It felt so nostalgic and it reminds me a bit of like teen romance 90s TV shows and movies. That last chapter is my favorite because it was so vivid in my head and I think I was able to put to paper my vision.

[animeisforanimation]

How my Saturday evening went:

SpyXFamily: s2 ep5.

Why do I even keep watching it. Everything about the way Yor is written irritates the hell out of me. How can anyone, let alone an assassin be stupid enough not to realize that a women you are sent to protect because all the males in the family were murdered has lost her husband?! *breath in-breath out* Anya-chan is precious and she is the saving grace of this anime, but good lord, her parents. Tasogare is just boring, Yor’s pervert brother is boring AND infuriating. Yor herself - well, I knew I won’t like her from ep1 - is my least favorite thing in the world: a naive and sweet murder machine. I understand the desire to play with opposites, to combine tropes - but it just doesn’t work (yes, it does, it’s one of the top anime for seasons now) - or rather it somehow ticks me personally off in every possible way.

P.S. - I still watch SXF because my husband loves it. And because openings and endings are so great(the latest one is even done my my beloved Masaaki Yuasa!), they keep tricking me into thinking it will get me invested one day.

Then

Kusuria no Hitorigoto: s1 ep5.

My perfect, fantastic, gorgeous child! How can an anime so low on action (and I don’t even mean action as fighting, just plain things happening) be so very engrossing?! I adore the characters, I adore the animation, I adore the funny and the serious - and most of all the ability to dance between the two without sacrificing either drama or comedy.

PS - The point of only pretty women being in danger of r*pe is icky, but I assume that’s not actually what the story intended to say - rather that hiding your natural beauty lessen one’s chances of being assaulted. The very fact the topic is brought up seriously without a shadow of joke means a world to me.

And then

Sousou no Frieren: s1 ep9.

*Mind blown* I thought… I assumed… everyone said it was a QUIET ANIME WHERE YOU JUST WANDER THE LAND AND REMINISCENT ABOUT THE FRIENDS YOU’VE LOST AND SLOWLY LEARN ABOUT YHE WORLD WHY THE HELL AM I LOOKING AT THE BEST ACTION SCENE SINCE THE FINALE OF KINGS RANKING?

And it’s not just that action is great - it is also a great character moment - no! not a moment! - it’s a great character examination. Both our heroes and the devils show off their skill but most importantly they cement the characteristics they were given in prior episodes: Fern and Stark together represent humanity’s ability to use the little time we have on this earth to the fullest potential because humans have so little of it. The pair of demons once again prove what Frieren has said again and again: they can mimic, but they don’t understand. And each character has their own personal story as well. I’ll probably make a separate post about that.

No PS here. Only screams. How can this anime be so pitch perfect? Wow. Woooow. Just wow.

[httpiastri]

mistletoe - liam, clem, marcus

last christmas - what sort of fanfics do absolutely not read? do you have any red flags in fanfics?

let it snow - i’m 22, british (and stereotypically british. strong accent, need my tea to function, love cricket and rugby, name any stereotype and it’s probably true). i’m very confident and very good at helping others, i’m always the therapist of the friend group. i’m a big sports fan, and although i only know british sports, i’m really curious and open to learn about sports of other countries/cultures.

winter wonderland - paul aron

mistletoe: pls this is so hard :( uhhhhh i think i’ve been forced to choose between liam and clem before and i think i chose clem for marrying. because idk even tho i love liam tons, clem seems more like a marriage candidate? if you get what i mean? i can imagine myself and clem being one of those cute couples getting married before they’re 25 🥺 while with liam, it’s more of a… young, teenage kind of love? at least in comparison to clem… not that it makes a lot of sense since clem’s only about a year older….. idk what im talking about, sorry 😭 anyway i’ll go for marry clem, kiss/fuck liam and sorry marcus 💔you’re sweet and all but you can’t really fight them for my heart

last christmas: oooo i’m actually very very picky when it comes to fanfic reading lol! i dont read a lot these days, and when i do, i spend most of the time just reading descriptions…. i usually only read established relationship aus, especially if it’s smut, so no like coworker!aus (except for reader!driver x driver). except for also maybe like best friend!aus or possibly possibly brother’s best friend!aus (but they have to be longer then and i must have time to get emotionally invested lol). and i only read pretty soft smuts, no degradation or super kinky stuff, i love and fully support that other people enjoy reading it but it’s just not my cup of tea. and i can’t really do oc x reader or fics in third person, i almost only read fics written in second person pov? with exceptions for tasia’s fics and like two other writers maybe. hmmm i probably have more but this is all i can think of rn!

let it snow: omg i ship you with logan sargeant!! i think the american x brit trope would be so cute. he would love your accent, and also like to make fun of it, but don’t worry! you will definitely get to make fun of him too!! teach him about british culture and he will teach you about… hotdogs and… hamburgers….. 😍 and he would love to introduce you to his favorite american sports!! and you being the therapist of the friend group would be very good for him, let him rant and get everything out and you’ll have a very happy logan <3

winter wonderland:

it's easy for you to get carried away by the sight of his arms. the way his fingers fit so perfectly between yours, the way little freckles and moles are scattered across his skin, the way the muscles in his forearm flex when he gives your hand a little squeeze. it's like time and the outside world doesn't exist: it's just you and paul. and his hands and arms.

[moved-to-cinnamon-phrog]

rank dhmis characters from favorite to least favorite?

:D Gladly! Sorry I took awhile my laptop was having a tantrum and didn't want to cooperate

O A T S

I love him so much he is the most complex and 5 dimensional character in the entire DHMIS series I loved that bit where he saved those orphans from a burning building.

2. Yellow Guy

Look at him. He is exquisite. He's made of nothing but sunshine and lemon easter peeps and his brain is made of candy-floss.

Fr he is my favourite, for multiple reasons which are very intricate and personal to my being and if I said them all you'd be reading for about five hours.

The main reason is because he's one of my favourite tropes concentrate.

I'm an absolute sucker for the type of charater that tries to make the best out of dark situations. He... tries. Maybe he's the way he is because he's just too stupid to understand, but I choose to beleive that he knows but... pretends he doesn't. At least a little bit.

Also his design is gorgeous. I never liked the colour yellow but now it's my favourite ^-^

Anyways he is litterally my Blorbo

3. Duck

My favourite lil' bitch. Skrunkly thang. Bastard.

What I like abt Duck is he's so widespread in his character.

Their like everyone's grumpy grandad, little old lady that knits you scarves for the winter, goofy uncle that lives in the woods with a shotgun and a bottle of whisky, sassy wine aunt, dad that reads the paper in the morning and has rthe worst dance moves ever, housewife mum from the fifties, little brother that wants you to look at his planes and moody big sister that wants you to gtfo of her room rn she's talking to Braydon shut up Braydons on the phone all in one.

He genuinely, desprately wants others to like him, to look up to him and see him as a friend. But they can never quite get there.

That's why they love anybody and everybody who loves them back, because not many do.

They're voice smells good also ^-^

4. Red Guy

He's only this far down bc he looks like a used tampon to me and I can't unsee it, so the other two I hold at a slightly higher pedastal bc of it.

He's the cool guy, laid back and sad, and I like his swag.

But he canonically hunts wales for sport and I don't have much to say about him really, I like Red but he's certainly not my favourite. That doesn'y mean I don't like him though.

5. Roy

Roy :) Worlds Worst Father. He has a cheese puff for a nose. He has contacted absolutely every sexually transmitted disease onto his person.

6. Colin

Con da puter ^^^^^^^^^

My favourite teacher methinks. He's much more goofy and I love that abt him. Unlike the others he just seems to want the trio to have fun, if in his odd little twisted way.

He's just a little narccisistic kid really. That nerd that had pokemon cards that thought he was fresh af for having all the shinys.

7. Tony

I love him sm I made a poem 'bout him:

Tony Tony

Macaroni

Pepperoni Pizzer

He likes traumatizing kids

I hope he never meets ya

8. Sketchbook

The gg scenecore Manic Pixie Dreamgirl Creepypasta loving brony.

9. Shrignold.

I hate to love him and I love to hate him >:3

10. Train

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ train

11. Lamp

This drunkard really just stumbled in absolutely piss-faced and got the teching job bc nobody could get rid of him.

12. Furry Boy and his crab <3

13. Steak

My friend calls him Meaty Gusteau.

14. Spinach can

I ran out of funny words I just think she's cool.

15. Bread Boy

Look at this face. This is the cutest lil thang. Look at his drums. He exeeds talent.

16. Fridge

Fridgy <33333 get away from me <333333333 ur scary <3333333333333

17. Micheal

Mah boy just needs some love :o'(

18. This Tree

19. This Stick

20. Wow look a piechart!

21. DIGITAL STYLE

22. DO A DIGITAL DANCING, AIN'T THIS JUST FUN?!?!?!?!

23. This bargraph I have no emotion for whatsoever.

Why do you exist.

24. Paula

25. Mean Steve.

Mean Steve is a fucking cunt he pissed on my fucking wife-

26. THIS FUCKING THING

Okay I love all the other characters but tHIS. This HEATHEN. I hate him. He invokes so much hatred in me you have no idea. I want to stomp on him. I want to set him on fire. I want both sides of his pillow to be warm.

Honorable mentions:

Shriggy's Lovecult, Mrs. Grenalds and the other weirdos in Clayhill, twin goblins Scaraboosh and Scaramoochie, The Pirate King, and whoever the fuck Jason is.

[cherchersketch]

Raffine's Plan: Save My Favorite Character / I will Seduce the Male Lead for My Older Brother

I've just been on a kick of reading "cute babies doing cute baby things" series on Manta

Summary Baby girl gets reincarnated into a super depressing tragic romance novel. Everybody dies at the end @A@ And her older brother is the first one to go (by offing himself @~@) It all stems from the OG!ML marrying bro's secret love, the OG!FL, and the OG!FL also realises her mutual feelings too late. Big bro was her oshi in the novel so of course, gotta come up with a plan to save him while they're all still young and the tragedy hasn't really started yet. It's all so simple. This 6-year-old kid just has to propose to this other 10-year-old child. What could possibly go wrong.

Tropes   - cute babies doing cute baby things - my family is obsessed with me - *proposal* at first sight (but they're all still BABIES) - isekai-ed but I’m just an extra - you're gonna isekai because "god" says so

baby FL - Raffine Estern

- technically older than she looks (but keeps ending up acting like her actual body's age anyway) - lost child returns to her rightful family ;w; - manhwa children always be a mix-and-match of the parents’ hair and eye colour - 4 steps ahead of everyone (helps to have already read the ending) - somehow all the important plot elements are coming to her instead

baby ML - Zerkan Perdenia

- he's gonna have a ~traumatic childhood~ (but our FL's here to stop that) - for once, it's not the dowager empress that's evil but some random concubine - look they're all literally too young to be thinking abut romance so he thinks the slight blushublushu is brotherly affection for his best friend's little sister

children who deserve the world - Adrian Estern + Violet Fitz

- baby boy is a siscon so poor ML is slowly becoming his number one enemy (affectionate) - there are so many other series where Violet would be the FL instead lol (accidentally picked up an MC's long lost baby relative) - at least they're actually gonna get the happy ending this time (because this is a romcom)

Rating: I enjoyed my time reading this I will read all the otome isekai and you can't stop me Status (as of 6 Nov 2023) Ongoing. Still pretty new, but it's a Manta series so I'm not sure if it'll hit 100 episodes.

Same Same but Different   - Too Cute to Handle - Devoted to Diamond - Flirting with the Villain’s Dad - One Step Forward to the Flower Path

full rec list

[stormyoceans]

hi hello! do you know more bls setting in an office? or like bls with older protagonists than usual? thanks!

hello, anon!!

i do know a fair amount of BLs with older protagonists, even if 'old' in BL standard often means just late 20s or barely out of university, but at least we're actually getting more of them in these past couple of years. im not sure which ones you've already watched, so i just compiled everything into a masterlist. it's not a comprehensive one, because there are a lot of BLs i haven't watched yet, and i left out the ones currently airing, but hopefully you'll find something you haven't seen yet!!

(i also mention where you can watch the shows, but always remember these random letters that mean nothing at all: d r a m a c o o l)

OFFICE SETTING

be loved in house: i do [on Viki] – i LOVED the first half of this show, but it kinda fell flat for me in the second half, maybe because they put way too much focus on the ex, but it’s still a nice show and aaron and hank’s chemistry is great.

cherry magic [it's not available in my area but you can find it on WeTV or Crunchyroll] – japan does office setting SO WELL and this show will always be one of my favorite BLs.

history 4: close to you [on Viki] – would i personally recommend this show? not…. really……….. it wasn't really my thing tbh, but im trying to be fair and i do know some people who really like it, so im just gonna put it out there and let you decide. however, WARNINGS for the side pairing: step-brothers trope, obsession, VERY dubious consent.

old fashion cupcake [on Viki] – TALENTED. BRILLIANT. INCREDIBLE. AMAZING. SHOWSTOPPING. SPECTACULAR. NEVER THE SAME. TOTALLY UNIQUE.

plus & minus [on Viki] – there’s something off about this show that i can’t quite put my finger on. just like with be loved in house: i do, i really enjoyed the beginning of the show, but i feel like the second half simply wasn’t as good. still, it’s a nice show, and the chemistry between the leads is very good.

senpai, this can’t be love! [on Viki] – it’s not my favorite BL from japan, but i still found it pretty cute (i do have a massive crush on naito shuichiro, though, so i may be a little bit biased ;;;;)

there are also a couple of shows that have university as their main setting in the first season, and then move on to an office setting in the second, such as:

SOTUS S – haven't watched SOTUS in 4 years so my memories of the show are a bit fuzzy, especially for this second season, but i used to be incredibly fond of it

we best love: fighting mr. 2nd – i'd recommend both seasons of this show even just for the chemistry between sam and yu, which is out of this world

COUNTRYSIDE SETTING

a tale of thousand stars [on YouTube] – i have no idea why it took me so long to finally watch this because it's AMAZING, one of the best BLs i've ever seen.

sky in your heart [on YouTube] – this is actually part of the star & sky series, where the first installment has a university setting, but i don't think you necessarily have to watch star in my mind to understand sky in your heart. a lot of people disliked this show, but honestly? i've seen worse and i think the pairing was cute

CRIME GENRE

guess i have a weakness for this genre because all of these are MY MOST BELOVEDESTS so. i won't even pretend to not be biased about them.

history 3: trapped [on Viki]

kinnporsche [on iQIYI]

manner of death [on WeTV]

HOSPITAL SETTING

triage [it's on AIS Play, but since they hate international fans you can find it on our best friend /drama/cool/] – okay, so, TECHNICALLY one of the main characters and his friends are still in university, so there is that setting in the story, BUT!!! the show is so much more than that!!! there are hospital stuff, and crime stuff, and TIME LOOPS!!!!!!! so yeah, if it wasn’t clear, I LOVE THIS SHOW.

dear doctor, i’m coming for soul [on Youtube] – the show has its shortcomings but i am so fond of this one..

my ride [on GagaOOLala] – such a sweet and gentle show, it also features the best couple of older gay uncles which all BLs should have more of imho. i love this one dearly.

KITCHEN SETTING

to my star [on Viki] – i guess putting this under kitchen setting is a bit of a stretch, but since food was a big part of the show i thought it could fit here ;;;;;; i have yet to see to my star 2 because that’s not the kind of angst i enjoy, but season 1 is still one of my favorite BLs from korea.

what zabb man! [on YouTube] – THIS WAS A NICE SHOW OKAY. like, was it ridiculous at times? absolutely. did i still enjoy it? yes. yes, i did.

ocean likes me [on Viki] – i have no idea why so many people disliked this show so fiercely, but maybe im just biased towards han gi chan, holland, and pretty shots of the ocean.

bite me [on Viki] – this show was SO. SLOW. i personally finished it only out of stubborness, but yeah, still putting it out there.  

craving you [on Viki] – there’s nothing particularly memorable about this show, imho, but since im doing a sort of masterlist it wouldn’t be fair to leave it out.

my sweet dear [on Viki] – not my favorite out of all the BLs from korea, but they’re so short there’s really no harm in watching it.

the tasty florida [on Viki] – same as above.

OTHERS

cupid's last wish [on Youtube] – i haven't watched this one yet because im not fond of the main trope, but i may cave in and watch it just for earthmix.

even sun [on Youtube] – would i recommend this show? no, it was a mess from beginning to end and had no real substance to it. did i still laugh my ass off every week and would personally rewatch it? yeah..

lovely writer [on Youtube] – technically one of the characters is still in university but the setting doesn't come up in the story. i feel like people either deeply dislike this show or really like it. i think it's nice honestly, but i should definitely rewatch it now that i know more about BLs.

the untamed [on Viki] – technically this is not a BL because of chinese censorship, but it is based on a BL novel and it still shows.

a lot of other korean BLs have grown up characters in them, like behind cut, first love again, nobelman ryu's wedding, oh! boarding house [all on Viki]

[princesssarisa]

Character ask: Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)

Tagged by anonymous

Favorite thing about them: His fundamental goodness and generosity, and I don't just mean after his character development. Even before he meets Elizabeth, when he's at his proudest and most aloof, he's always been kind to his servants, good to his tenants, generous to the poor, a faithful friend, and a loving, caring brother. And of course after his humbling process, his kindness and politeness both to Elizabeth herself and to her relatives are exemplary (even if he does still struggle with it around the likes of Mrs. Bennet – he's only human), and the generosity and selflessness of all he does to save Lydia from disgrace are outstanding.

Least favorite thing about them: His arrogance and inconsiderateness before his character development, especially in his first proposal to Elizabeth. That probably goes without saying.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm not good at socializing with strangers.

*I try to always be generous to people in need or who depend on me.

*I like to read.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I don't have excessive pride.

*I tend to have too little dignity, not too much.

*I'm not of noble birth on either side of my family.

Favorite line:

His sarcastic response when Sir William Lucas calls dancing "one of the first refinements of polished societies" (yes, it has period-typical racist implications, but it's still a witty line):

"Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue among the less polished societies of the world. Every savage can dance."

His response to Elizabeth telling him that his natural defect is to hate everybody:

"And yours is to willfully misunderstand them."

His famous declaration of love, even though the scene it takes place in is far from his shining moment:

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

The last sentence of his letter to Elizabeth, bidding her farewell with genuine best wishes despite the fierce rejection and insults she gave him the day before:

"I will only add, God bless you."

His bait-and-switch response when Caroline Bingley, after a long string of insults about Elizabeth's looks, recalls that Darcy once thought she was "rather pretty":

"Yes, but that was only when I first knew her, for it is many months since I have considered her as one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance."

His simple, humble second proposal:

"You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever."

During their engagement, when Elizabeth asks him why he talked so little to her in his visits just before he finally proposed again:

"A man who had felt less might."

brOTP: Bingley, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and Georgiana.

OTP: Elizabeth.

nOTP: Georgiana.

Random headcanon: He's on the autism spectrum. This headcanon is nothing new to the fandom, but it makes perfect sense. See the TV Tropes Wild Mass Guessing page, under "Darcy is neurodivergent," for a good explanation of why. And no, it doesn't excuse his rudeness, or turn his entire character arc into "overcoming a disability."

Unpopular opinion: Where to start? I could argue that from the very beginning, he's a flawed but decent man, neither "just misunderstood" nor a total jerk. Or that he doesn't change his whole personality, and most certainly doesn't change "for Elizabeth," but because he genuinely wants to be a better person. Or that he's not a Byronic hero – in some ways he's a subversion of one. Or that his character arc isn't about "unlearning toxic masculinity." Or that even before his personal growth, he genuinely loves Elizabeth – it's not just lust that only becomes love when he's a better man. Or that he never mistakes Jane for a gold digger – he has nothing against her, he just thinks she doesn't love Bingley. Or that he isn't Elizabeth's total opposite and is her intellectual equal. The list could go on and on: @anghraine has covered it all in her fantastic Pride and Prejudice analyses much better than I can. At any rate, I think pop culture misunderstands Darcy almost as much as Elizabeth does at first!

Song I associate with them: None at the moment.

Favorite pictures of them:

This illustration by Hugh Thomson.

This illustration by C.E. Brock (I know it was just the fashion of the day, but the monocle makes him look hilariously prissy!).

The same artist's illustration of the first proposal scene.

This illustration by his brother, H.M. Brock. (A blond Darcy! Blasphemy! Not that the book ever mentions his hair color, but blasphemy!)

Laurence Olivier in the 1940 film.

David Rintoul in the 1980 BBC miniseries.

Colin Firth in the 1995 BBC miniseries.

Matthew MacFayden in the 2005 film.

[mageknight404]

OC Lore ~ Julie Eilert

Well I did say I'd try and do these on this site again, but I haven't really felt like it. But I'm up for it now!

Now would be a good time as any to lead on with my premiere OC, Julie. Anyone who knows me at least slightly will have seen her somewhere. She is my favorite and means very much to me in general.

Pretty much most of what I covered on my Twitter thread will be done likewise here. A lot of it will be rambly, but that's just how I am.

I had just gotten interested in Fire Emblem after FE7's North American release and began working my way backwards in the series, very quickly endearing me to the franchise. Instinctively I wanted to tell my own story with an FE framework and got to work making a bunch of characters.

Julie and her older brother Josh were the first, styled after Eirika and Ephraim a little bit as Sacred Stones just released in Japan. I was a burgeoning spriter and made some of my first splices into their likeness. Julie's future as an eventual spellblade began here as well.

(FE4 and 5 had a pretty tight grip on me in 2005)

I wrote a number of drafts of the story I wanted to tell, with Julie comfortably sitting as one of three central protagonists, each having a separate route until they all converged midway. This was the first draft of what eventually became my FE8 reskin ROM Hack: FE A Sacred Dawn. Julie and Josh slid into the protagonist roles there.

I wanted to have a Dancer Lord for one of the three protagonists and Julie was the perfect choice. She was set as a young, cheerful and adventurous, but naïve everygirl. Her core look started taking shape as I drew and sprited her more in various different looks. She was a common drawing subject for me back in high school and one of the first subjects I wanted to try and draw when I made the jump to using GIMP as my art program of choice.

During A Sacred Dawn's third draft, a theme I wanted to explore with Julie and her character development were her insecurities. Being thrown into a conflict at an early age, she has trouble coping and has nightmares involving being badgered by her darker emotions given form - "Nega Julie". Unfortunately, the draft never made it past the first few maps due to me getting seriously burnt out and demotivated, so this facet of her character was only minorly explored. I did keep the idea for further refinement of Julie's character though, to the point where her darker half can be considered a separate character. But I still need to draw her on day...

Julie and Josh were originally written as my self-insert character's children with FE5's Linoan (long story) during the early days of my ROM hacking (even sharing my surname) but eventually she would end up having a new mother character, an old standby of mine name Megan. She was initially written to have been killed off during Julie's youth, with the Eilert kids being orphans, but I eventually hated that trope being used in Fire Emblem all the time, so I brought Megan back and gave her a new father character as well - Blythe Eilert, who inherited my artistic traits and a few other bits.

Julie's looks kept getting refined over time. She lost her "Myrmidon" headband, but otherwise her design remained steadily consistent between iterations. Her magical sword Thunderblade was renamed to "Fulminus".

Though I never ended up finishing ASD (not even close!) I still wanted to tell that story and lore one day, so I refined it into an original setting with the help of my best friend. I insisted that Julie become the center protagonist of said story we were writing, due to my attachment to her and wanting to draw out her potential. She'd share the role with Josh and their mutual best friend, Ruby Emina, as they bond over the troubles provided by the world at large.

Julie continues to deal with nightmares from all of the fighting she has to do and develops plenty of fears, but halfway through this story she ends up overcoming "Nega Julie" and the fears that plague her mindscape and heart, attaining a renewed perspective on life. To boost her self-confidence, Ruby gives her a new "Dancemaiden" outfit, which is basically a fancy dancer's dress meant for performance.

As this essentially serves as a Fire Emblem-style class change, I wanted to contrast this look with her normal green and yellow outfit. I eventually settled on black (to signify her accepting her darker self) and sky blue (to signify her purity). The hairband she used to wear returns as a normal hairband to give the look a bit more girliness. As this is primarily a performance outfit, she has kneepads to help ensure they're not scuffed during a fight or a botched performance. Even comes complete with a dancing ribbon, later affixed to her arm!

I'm still writing this story and it's a very slow process but I would love to be able to share this other people one day as a game and tell Julie's story for real. I have not lost that passion, and I would do anything to make that dream a reality one day. Drawing and refining her over these past few years has been wonderful, to the point where I've finally hit the point where I feel she's fully realized from what I envisioned her as years ago.

Here's Julie in her casual clothes, what she wears at the very start of her story and what reflects her at her core - a typical downtown farmgirl who wants to smile and make friends. The first one of these was done when I just got a feel for drawing realistic proportions. These last two I just finished!

[meltotheany]

Goodreads | Amazon US | B&N | Blackwell’s | Bookshop ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley i feel like all my friends who also loved this one, were all by my side here on goodreads, back in the early 2010s, reading all the paranormal romances known to man (or that our moms kept on their bookshelves). the nostalgia for books like riley jenson, black dagger brotherhood, kate daniels were so very felt. yet, this book completely stands on its own and is a really good book that i highly recommend. and this book had so many of my favorite paranormal romance trope sets – forbidden romance, bonded fated mates, and of course a marriage of convenience between our two main characters: ➛ misery – vampyre who has been living amongst humans her whole life, but finds herself as the key component in an alliance that will keep the peace with her people, while also having her own human inspired agenda for this forced arrangement. ➛ lowe – werewolf alpha who is still asserting his new dominance over his people, while also trying to assess who he can trust or not, while also being an amazing caretaker for his little sister. “I would take anything she chose to give me—the tiniest fraction or her entire world. I would take her for a single night knowing that I’ll lose her by morning, and I would hold on to her and never let go. I would take her healthy, or sick, or tired, or angry, or strong, and it would be my fucking privilege. I would take her problems, her gifts, her moods, her passions, her jokes, her body—I would take every last thing, if she chose to give it to me.” and they had me truly rooting for them, unable to put this book down, after the very first scene of them together. but this also has a pretty big mystery plotline that took me by surprise, and also completely enthralled me. and ultimately this had such a big emphasis on found family and finding your own pack of people you love and trust unconditionally that i feel like i just ended up loving the entire cast of side characters too. let’s just embrace the bullet points and quickly talk about other things i really loved:➛ obviously vampires and werewolves➛ arranged marriage but forbidden romance➛ one bed scene(s)➛ the cutest little sibling ever➛ the sweetest brother and sister relationship x2➛ and also a really heartwarming found family / best friend relationship⤷ It was truly giving bryce and danika but better➛ a big appreciation of peanut butter➛ an amazing epilogue that will hopefully set up a book two in this world i will say that there was a very unnecessary and annoying third act conflict that just didn’t make sense to me (and made me side eye lowe a little), but i still really enjoyed this one and it was such a fast paced read that really tugged at my heartstrings in all the found family ways. i think i just really like ali hazlewood’s stories, and i always end up connecting with them on some level, and that just enhances my reading experience each and every time. i recommend this to all my romance friends, but i extra recommend it to all my pnr friends who want a little extra nostalgia on top of a really good story. lastly, and least importantly, if i ever dated anyone named misery, i feel like i would have to send hayley williams or paramore royalties. because the way misery business was living in my head rent free while reading this was actually insane. content warnings from the author (please use caution for potential spoilers): death of several people within the context of a war between different species (vampires, werewolves, and humans) is mentioned, several mentions of blood, kidnapping, mild violence, poisoning and attempted murder, attempted kidnapping/harming of a child (she is unharmed), death of a parent (off page in the past and off page in the present), explicit and graphic sexual content, knotting (the mmc’s apparatus is not quite human?), cursing and vulgar language other trigger + content warnings i found while reading (ali’s books really do have such good tws – ...

[iplacedajar]

2022

I’m daunted by the prospect of reflecting on this year. 2021 was a year spent waiting for things to go back to normal and 2022 was a year spent realizing that things will not be going back to normal, not for my high-risk partner and me, and that’s sobering. I think there’s a big change coming in 2023, but I’m not sure what shape it will take yet, and that daunts me, too. 

There were bright spots, and I’ll try to focus on those. E and I spent a magical week in Italy for his best friend’s wedding. D visited me and we had the best chill week eating bagels and watching New Girl. I made some little TikToks, an unexpected creative outlet. My job, which had been in a state of flux and then stagnation for many months, solidified and I enjoy it again. My perfect cat continues to be a source of joy.

And, of course, I read some very good books.

Books

It was a low-volume, high-quality year for reading. I love living within walking distance of my local library. Here are my favorites, selected with difficulty:

THE DISPOSSESSED by Ursula K. LeGuin - I read this at the beginning of the year, on the couch with Hermione on quiet January evenings, and it's marvelous. Absolutely a crime that we read ANTHEM (with which it shares surface-level similarities in the premise of a collectivist society, but interrogates the ensuing themes so much more effectively and is also actually a good book) in high school and not this. (Fuck ANTHEM.)

“You cannot buy the revolution. You cannot make the revolution. You can only be the revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere.”

THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE by V. E. Schwab - Possibly the book most recommended to me ever—at least four people who knew I liked books about time suggested this to me. Completely gorgeous.

“Do you know how to live three hundred years?” she says. And when he asks how, she smiles. “The same way you live one. A second at a time.”

SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel - fuck yeah time travel pandemic novel I adore you.

“Pandemics don’t approach like wars, with the distant thud of artillery growing louder every day and flashes of bombs on the horizon. They arrive in retrospect, essentially. It’s disorienting. The pandemic is far away and then it’s all around you with seemingly no intermediate step.”

“Do you ever catch yourself thinking about the simulation hypothesis?”

UPROOTED by Naomi Novik - Obsessed with this book, I wish it was twice as long. Instead I just keep coming back to it. It inverts classic fairytale tropes about princes and towers, and injects dark and thrilling new life into others (prominently, Don’t Go to the Woods).

“No one has gone into the Wood as deep as you and come out whole: not since—” He halted, and I somehow knew without his saying her name that it was Jaga: that Jaga had walked in the Wood, and come out again. He saw my realization, and glared at me. “And at the time,” he said, icily, “she was a hundred years old, and so steeped in magic that black toadstools would spring up where she walked.”

SPINNING SILVER by Naomi Novik - Still obsessed. Same author, another standalone fantasy novel. The previous drew inspiration from Polish folklore, and this one draws inspiration from Jewish folklore. The multiple narrators—a moneylender, a farmer’s daughter, and a tsarina with a trace of magic, all determined young women making hard choices—all won my heart and admiration.

“There are men who are wolves inside, and want to eat up other people to fill their bellies. That is what was in your house with you, all your life. But here you are with your brothers, and you are not eaten up, and there is not a wolf inside you. You have fed each other, and you kept the wolf away. That is all we can do for each other in the world, to keep the wolf away. And if there has been food in my house for you, then I am glad, glad with all my heart. I hope there will always be.”

GOODBYE, AGAIN by Jonny Sun - I felt so much recognition reading these essays full of small wisdoms. It almost felt like I’d written it, if that’s not too arrogant to say. Or maybe just someone knows me very well. Here is someone else who delights in liminal spaces, who struggles going home, who spends a lot of time in their own head. Reading this made me feel less alone.

“I think a lot of pressure gets put on making things “for something” or “for some reason” and the pressure of “but why?” and “but who’s this for?” and “is it good enough?” and “it’s a waste of time and energy!” and “why don’t you do something productive instead?” and I think that all of this removes the importance and value of making things for the ones who are making it, because maybe the ones who are making the thing are the ones who might need it the most.”

TOMORROW AND TOMORROW AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin - It strikes me that this is the only fiction book that’s non-genre to make the list this year. This book is a masterpiece, but it was an unusual reading experience for me because I felt so close to the subject matter. It’s a sprawling epic about life and love, how relationships change, storytelling and the creative process in general and video games in particular. 

“What's everyone talking about?”

“The end of The Iliad.”

“That's the best part,” Marx said.

“Why is it the best part?” Sadie asked.

“Because it's perfect,” Marx said. “‘Tamer of horses’ is an honest profession. The lines mean that one doesn't have to be a god or a king for your life to have meaning.”

THE WIZARD OF EARTHSEA by Ursula K. LeGuin - I thought I’d finished reading for the year, but then Eddy and I spent four days in a car driving to Houston in December and listened to this audiobook. Ursula wrote that, in 1967, wizards were all wise old men with long beards. But Merlin and Gandalf must have been young and foolish once, right? This book is the result.

“You thought, as a boy, that a mage is one who can do anything. So I thought, once. So did we all. And the truth is that as a man's real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing, but does only and wholly what he must do.”

Other Media

Lol. Derry Girls, Killing Eve, and Arcane were my favorite shows. We watched basically no movies. Ooblets (the full release) and The Stillness of the Wind were my favorite new-to-me games, but honorable mentions to Breath of the Wild and Stardew Valley for their depth and replayability. 

In Conclusion

Happy New Year. Keep going.

[besidesitstoowarm]

"Father's Day" thoughts

yeah sorry everyone your fine purveyor of the world's least comprehensible doctor who opinions here to say this has been my least favorite episode of the season

it's not bad at all, to be clear, it just doesn't click for me. only the very last scene of pete saying goodbye hit (it did hit tho). so anyway some Thoughts™

i'm not sure if he still has this reputation, but nine used to be considered the "serious" doctor of the new who bunch, and i'm struggling to see why that is. like maybe it'll make more sense when tennant's s2 baby-puppy energy is on screen, but nine is so warm and caring and empathetic it makes me want to scream. "i'm just more worried about you" "your wish is my command" he's so in love with her it makes him look stupid

i like the "just an ordinary day" bit. my brother died right in the middle of summer and the weather was beautiful. it feels like the world should slow down and take notice when a good person dies, but it doesn't, and it feels wrong. some people do notice, though, which is more important

nine's "just a stupid ape" speech feels like grief more than anger, to me. he wanted to trust her but he feels betrayed; she got to do what he wishes he could do, save someone she loves. he wants that, even says so. i think he's jealous of her here. any time nine gets snappy, you can feel the profound grief underneath. god eccleston sells it. i thought the "my people would have stopped it" line was interesting, as well as the bit about laws preventing this. is that what the time lords DO? do they have jobs? i mean this sincerely, i'm really only familiar w 60s classic who and all they do there is separate jamie and the doctor (intense homophobia)

of course the "who said you're not important" bit is a classic. we've already heard a few variations on that sentiment in this season alone and it's a recurring theme of the show but it makes me all sappy every time i hear it anyway

and yes i'm not heartless. pete acknowledging he was a bad husband and father, that he wasn't the kind of guy rose wished he was and pretended he was, but that he got to live a little after he should have died, he got to see his baby girl all grown up. i still cry at the rvb10 episode "out of mind" okay i am W E A K for "just one last goodbye" as a trope. i couldn't relate to rose fucking everything up in an attempt to save her dad– i don't think i would do that– but one last goodbye, ooh that hurts. they couldn't change history, not really, but she could hold his hand while he died, which isn't nothing

so yeah, i totally see why people love this episode and why people might feel strongly about it, but it's not much for me. unlike next one where i get to say hello again to my very best friend, jack h– no i'm just kidding, steven moffat