#it's disgustingly adorable this whole scene but like

[knifeforkspooncup]

I'm bored and well fed so here's some of the fics I've read lately so you can eat well too!

Spooky Action at a Distance (E) - @zehwulf

This fic grabbed me by the throat and thrashed me like a chewtoy. And then it put a hello kitty bandaid on my wounds and sung me sweet sweet lullabies. No actually though I have reread parts of this fic twice in the last week because my demisexual genderqueer heart went "yes this appears to be tailor-made crack cocaine. we should injest through our eyeballs repeatedly." Read the tags and be prepared to cry. But also be prepared for disgustingly tender feelings and smut hotter than the sun.

South Downs (E) - @summerofspock

Listen. I know I'm sooooo unfashionably late to this party about this actors AU fic. But (Scottish!) Crowley discovering his sexual orientation and diving in full send with the giddiness of a love drunk teenager is just. Muah. Kissing this fic on the forehead. It does that "realizing you're queer and your whole life making wayyyy more sense all of a sudden" thing so well and with so much grace and humour. Also Aziraphale being the most incorrigible little flirt. Featuring regency costumes, awkward boners and existential crisis. I want to curl up at this fic's feet like a smug little cat.

Crazy Little Thing (Called Love) (T) - @hermiola

The way I adore this chaotic, bitchy bicker flirting romp. The characterization is just unbelievable, this is exactly how I could see the events of their foray into "dating" going. Preposterous, ridiculous, and perfect. Also possibly the cutest first kiss in existence (the setting for the kiss had me particularly tickled, i read that scene 4 times.) Dumbass4dumbass was never so adorable. They literally bicker while kissing. 10000/10

Whatever We Deny or Embrace (E) - @voluptatiscausa

Sigh. This fic. This fucking fic. Set in 1020AD. The start of the arrangement if it was the most soul-flayingly tender thing you've ever read. The amount of yearning and love and whispered sweet nothings. I'm gonna die. Nothing has ever been described as "lovemaking" more accurately than what these two pining goobers get up to in this fic. Also I could eat this prose like pop rocks. My mouth actually salivates when I read vol's words. Also "big juicy carrot." You'll understand when you read it.

[darlingpoppet]

Fave Fics of 2023!

A list of some of my favorite fics I read in 2023, though note not all of them are from this year. I feel like I didn’t get to do as much reading as I would’ve liked but I guess at least I was still able to put together a decent list! This isn’t a ranking, I listed everything in alphabetical order.

a bit of earth by @elemmacil (patrochilles)

Character study of Hadesgame Achilles & his time in the house of hades, pre-canon. Also, Zagreus takes care of a plant & it’s so wholesome. Lovely, atmospheric, and fueled by vibes, I adore the secret garden inspiration which slots into the hadesgame-verse sooo perfectly. This is great for the sad girlies like me who recently re-watched the movie from the 90s and thought “what if the whole movie was just us watching lord craven being a sad, pining dilf the whole time?” *clicks tongue* noice.

A Reasonable Explanation by stygius (pza)

I already read On The Ropes by red_smear last year so it doesn’t get to be on this list but I did go into 2023 continuing to seek out some of the “old classics” for this ship (yanno how reading fics that were published before joining the fandom sometimes feels like consuming media that existed before you were born? lol) this one is fun for the subversion on the “relaying messages” trope and taking god worshipping to literal (sexyy) extremes… I think if you wanted a good pza introductory fic this would be a good place to start!

Debased by youcouldbeagod (patrochilles)

Found this on a whim one day while clicking through the tags, as it is pretty much the only dedicated Troilus & Cressida Patrochilles fic on AO3 and it is ＢＲＩＬＬＩＡＮＴ！ The story is simply that Thersites stumbles upon Achilles & Patroclus having sex in their tent and he provides his usual witty and scathing commentary throughout. It truly reads like Shakespeare in prose form, I could easily imagine it being staged, it’s like a deleted scene from the play! The ending is also pitch perfect and still lives in my head rent-free. If you’re familiar with Shakespeare’s version of the characters definitely give it a read.

isn’t it romantic by infinitesle (dillydallybutterfly) (pza)

I was going to recommend a patrochilles fic by infinitesle that I love which is you are the currents that are pulling me onward but I’m pretty sure I read it in 2022 so it doesn’t count, sadge. So instead I’ll recommend another lovely morsel, a pza fic set in the jazz age au that a bunch of us in the pza channel of the hades lounge discord collectively came up with. Idk this might be a “you had to be there” kind of story but I think it still paints a pretty picture and if it inspires anyone else to contribute to the AU I wouldn’t complain. I’ll make my own proper contribution eventually, mark my words!

not the desperate type by @baejax-the-great (patrochilles, side hector/patroclus)

Baejax is well-known for their long fics which are all bangers ofc but personally my favorite piece of theirs this year was actually this oneshot in which Patroclus is engaged to Hector and then cheats on him with his ex, Achilles. They get caught in the act and the results are… predictable, lol. I love that it hews close to the tone of the Iliad where it’s no good/bad guys, just flawed humans making flawed choices and the AITA version of this story would totally be given an Everyone Sucks Here verdict, I’m sure. I’m STILL thinking about the ending even months & months later. Oh and of course, the sex is chef’s kiss!

One Night Of Chaos by Luddleston (pza)

This was technically a Dec 2022 read but I’m making an exception for it because I feel like it’s the flavor of pza I had been craving all along when I was reading through some of the older classics for this ship and it was key in helping fuel the inspiration for my own pza fics this year. There’s just something about Zag being invited into Patrochilles’ little world to watch their charming rapport with one another & being disgustingly in love that’s PEAK CONTENT for me and I loved this spin where he gets to meet them while they’re still alive, pre-heartbreak. Basically everything about it is my personal ur-pza text so if you’ve liked any of my own pza I’m sure you would like this one too. The sequel is also fun and was properly a 2023 read for me so I’ll mention it too haha.

Presentation by @sonderlivra (eruri)

Judging by the time stamp of my comment, I started my 2023 off right by reading this fic by one of my all-time favorite eruri authors! This is an omegaverse fic with a twist, it is well-written, hilarious, and had me guessing up until the very end. I would literally recommend anything this author writes (including the asscreed fics she & other beloved friend @zorthania have been writing this year… I don’t go here but these are my blorbo in-laws and I care them uwu)

sacramentum by fresco_k (eruri)

I didn’t take the time to read many other eruri fics this year unfortunately but I did get to beta some fics for this year’s eruri matchmaking event and this was one of them: a gladiator AU set in Ancient Rome and it was so serendipitous that I got to help with something so close to my current hyperfixation! The premise is very intriguing and it’s off to a lovely start… not to mention the author is a sweetie who knows & has a lot of passion for the time period… so check it out!

the slow mending by meikuree (pikuhan)

I finally got to dip my toes into some pikuhan fics this year and luckily my first one was a real banger! This was such a lovely little canon-compliant Hanji character study along with an exploration of their relationship with Pieck representing the two sides coming together and it was so beautifully written. It feels like the perfect introductory fic for the ship just in general because it really highlights everything that’s attractive about it! Love it!

tight fit by naxtique (zagchilles)

naxtique’s fics pretty much all scratch that itch for hadesgame dead dove of the dub/non-con variety, oftentimes laced with angst. Their particular flavor of Zagchilles with slave-to-his-passion, guilt-stricken Achilles is so compelling it always makes me stare at the wall thinking about it. And this is my favorite one, in which Achilles gets sex-pollen’d and ends up in a compromising position with Zagreus. Another one where the ending haunts my dreams (in a good way). Not for everyone obviously but if this sort of thing is up your alley, it’s great.

you’re a walking disaster, and yet— by @johaerys-writes (patrochilles)

Another patrochilles GOAT well-known for their serial longfics, and this year I’ve been enjoying their modern AU Patrochilles where the two of them grow up together in rural Greece. This one has probably my favorite ever synthesis of takes on Achilles’ character I’ve read so far—brilliant, autistic, and gender fluid. It’s definitely an extreme slow burn and gets pretty angsty & messy at times but it’s also devastatingly realistic & relatable and speaks to me a whole lot :> currently ongoing, definitely worth diving into!

[theoceansluvr]

Connor Stoll x Dionysus Child!Reader

warnings; none ! author's notes; post 2 of 3 for national couples day :33 (i have too many favs so i had to choose three..) this is purely written for my entertainment but y'all can enjoy this too ofc ! i had angsty hcs for the whole child of the god of insanity aspect, but i couldn't get myself to do it🙁

mr. D hates his guts.

like truly despises this boy

which is.. a shocker to absolutely nobody

but moving on !

connor would steal you those little grape lemonheads whenever he sneaks out of camp !

like he will come back with a SACK full of those bad boys !

plus some little grape juice boxes since you can't really drink-

i feel like you guys would play blackjack a lot ??

there's NO way Dionysus doesn't play cards with his kids

he doesn't play nice either

anywhoooo

you probably introduced him to the marvelous world of crangrape juice !!

he drinks it like a dehydrated man drinks water.

MOVIE WATCHING SLEEPOVERS !!!

specifically watching Mamma Mia a million times over

everyone says that's the Apollo cabin's movie but real ones know it's also Dionysus'

acting out different romantic scenes from plays

you're absolutely killing it and he's.. he's doing his best !

definitely had a long, heart to heart conversation with Pollux before you started dating

(both of them cried)

MATCHING LEOPARD PRINT THINGS !!!

he has that stupid button up😞

and you have leg warmers(or whatever suits yer fancy ! i just have a pair of those sooo)

although he has no sense of style whatsoever, when you guys match it always serves

picnic dates in the strawberry fields !

all the time, every single day

he thinks you look pretty next to the green vines

absolutely adores your dramatic flair to everything

upset at someone ? your calling them names in old timey english and he LIVES for it.

probably snuck you into a Broadway performance once(with the help of Nico)

literally didn't even watch the play he just stared at you all lovestruck the entire time

especially if you sung along to the songs ?? he's disgustingly down bad at that point.

tried to win over mr. D with a snuck in bottle of wine and just got Him into more trouble..

everyone in camp feared for Connor's life that day

got you this guy

his name is something dumb like.. viney or smth

he's your son now and you take turns taking care of him

and that is my shortened list of headcanons !!! there's so many more bc 1. he's my boyfriend(NOT CLICKBAIT !!) and 2. it's my cabin BUT it's nighttime and I have like.. one more post to get out b4 12 am. also sorry foe how scattered this was ! p.s - this pulled me out of a gods awful writing slump i fear. might have to write for connor more just so i can get back into writing at a regular pace

[ticklishfiend]

A Joint Effort (Good Omens)

(lee!crowley / ler!aziraphale)

Summary : in which aziraphale and crowley created tickling together many years ago (alt. and reminisce on it many years later)

a/n : lowkey this is very conversational abt tickling but i do (personally) love a fic that discusses the topic :D there is tickling tho dw LOL i just wanted to write some tickly dialogue

word count : 4065

hope u enjoy! pls consider giving a reblog if u liked it <33

. . .

A lot of things went through Crowley’s mind as he gazed at that all too familiar lake. Mainly all the times he and Aziraphale met here to discuss their “private affairs,” a secret team-up only one angel, one demon, and dozens of ducks could know about.

More recently it was all that dreary “end of the world” business he’d quite frankly prefer to Men In Black himself out of remembering (by the way, what a fantastic film that one was, the humans couldn’t have been both more far off and somehow right on the nose with it). The lake was lucky it was still so pretty after all these years, otherwise he’d have stopped visiting after everything resolved itself some time ago.

Humans had a phrase for what he tended to do alone on the bench. “People-watching,” they call it. Such a funny phrase considering it’s technically been his job since the creation of man itself. Maybe that’s why he enjoyed doing it so much. Technically, it’s kinda what he was made for.

He listened as a man adjacent to him across the lake was thinking and thinking his little head off. The man pondered over a woman, a lover Crowley presumed, and apparently how good their date had gone last night. Crowley noticed him fiddling with something in his pocket. Oh yes, a ring. What a disgustingly adorable tradition.

Crowley tapped his ring finger against the bench with an unknown impatience.

He saw that close by, a woman made her way towards the man (ah wait, it’s the woman, he could hear the man’s heart rate pick up and blood sloshing towards his cheeks, kinda gross how their bodies betray them), her hand finding his as she laid her head down on his shoulder. Crowley’s throat made a funny sound as he crossed his arms.

Crowley didn’t care much for the conversation, much more of an observer than a listener. Out of habit, he almost sent an evil little miracle their way, a “no” from the woman catching at his fingertips and becoming clenched in his fist. Actually…this might be the first successful proposal he’ll ever witness. He can hear the yes before she’s even said it, so much love radiating between them it's like radiation to his skin.

But he wants to see this play out. Just because he actually can now. Yeah…trying new things and all.

So it plays out just like the movies. He gets down on one knee, she cries, yadayadayada, blahblahblah. But this time, Crowley can actually feel it. This isn’t like seeing it through the screen. Those emotions become one with the air, making the whole park’s atmosphere thick and sugar-scented. It makes his skin crawl. Or he got goosebumps. He can't tell for sure, maybe it’s all one and the same.

He keeps watching the couple, telling himself he’s invested like one would stare at a car crash (even though nothing about this is a wreck at all, it’s a tad beautiful and Crowley knows this, but there’s still something so wretched about how his eyes stay glued to that spot across the lake).

They keep giggling and kissing, snapping a few photos of the moment and basking in each other. The man lifts the woman and twirls her around, her sun dress twirling with her and making the scene look so…ugh, romantic.

Or…just romantic. Maybe there’s no need to groan so hard at that.

Then the woman does something that snaps Crowley out of his little haze (call it jealousy and Crowley will treat your legs like snap peas). She pokes and squishes around her new fiancés sides, and said fiancé begins to giggle. The woman gave the man a tickle.

Tickling is far from a new concept to Crowley. Actually, he may have had a little hand in creating it. It wasn’t his idea exactly, he didn’t sign off on the paperwork or anything, but let’s just say laughter wasn’t the first possible noise option. He thought it’d be a bit more creative if there was less screaming in hell from time to time.

Most people would probably assume tickling came straight down from above, a place of innocence and love and, yeah, laughter. Others may even say it’s a hellish creation, but those tended to be the ones that drew the short end of the ticklish stick (that is to say, they’re probably really fucking ticklish).

But honestly, this one was kind of a joint effort. Is the paperwork technically written on a heavenly scroll? Sure, yeah. But who was the one that signed off on that scroll in the first place?

Well, Aziraphale did always have such an obnoxiously perfect signature.

Near the beginning, Crowley had overheard some demons discussing new torture methods for the humans to use on each other, something easy that required less machinery on their part. One brainstorm talked of the humans being able to do nothing but poke at their enemy to get them howling in pain.

And, well, Crowley thought that sounded laughably absurd.

So the next time he saw Aziraphale on Earth, he gossiped like usual. Talked of how stupid it sounded, how the humans would get so out of hand using it they’d never get anything productive done. And of course, Aziraphale agreed (though he was at first quite shocked a demon was against any brainstormed torture method, no matter how ridiculous).

Together they devised a little scheme. Nothing major, just something to beat the demons to the race. They had to though, right? It’d just be stupid to ruin something as precious as humanity over a few pokes.

So, instead of screaming in pain, the humans would scream in laughter. It wouldn’t hurt, unless the human was too rough of course, and really the worst it could do was embarrass the victim (except when Crowley snuck in that sometimes they may wet themselves, as a silly little gag. Aziraphale may have been too distracted trying to find a mysterious, strangely itchy dark feather in his garments when he wrote that one). It was such a silly invention, and Aziraphale even felt a little embarrassed bringing it to Gabriel, but oh how the other angels adored it. It was a new game for their humans to play, to occupy and fill the time of their short useless existences. It was a perfect time-waster.

And so became tickling. A joint project created by Crowley and Aziraphale, one of the first little schemes they pulled together that only dipped their toes into everything that came after. And now Crowley got to watch as his invention created a positive memory for some random romantics at his favorite park.

It was weird. He’s never felt funny about tickling before, but since he and Aziraphale have gotten rather…um, close recently, seeing this couple be all flirty and affectionate and tickly was making him feel funny feelings about it he’s never felt before.

He’s not blushing. That’s a human thing. He’s just…warm.

Crowley shakes his head, emptying his mind of all that weird mushy shite. He brings his eyes back to the couple, seeing them kiss and talk and bask in each other’s otherness. Part of him made that happen, in some cosmic butterfly effect sort of way.

Maybe everything is a circle, just as they say. Like it’s all meant to be. One particular word stings at his tongue, he’s heard it a thousand times before out of Aziraphale’s mouth when the subject of a great plan is brought up. He’ll just have to save it for when his angel comes back around.

…

—( alt : s2 ending never happened and crowley goes back to the bookshop afterward and everything is fine and dandy and happy :D )

…

The bell above the bookshop’s door rang a familiar chime when Crowley stepped through, announcing his presence to the one and only being it should matter to. He practically beelined for the drapes, figuring it far too bright for a cozy bookshop even with his sunglasses on.

Crowley heard behind him the soft angelic clunk of each foot making their way down the staircase, the room brightening on its own as Aziraphale made his way down.

“Well that wasn’t a very long outing,” Aziraphale rounded into the main area, cup of tea in hand. “Did something happen?”

Crowley dusted the drapes with his hands, “Such a worrywart, you are,” spinning around and brushing his hands as he met eyes with the one on his mind all afternoon. “The park just got boring, don’t get your knickers in a twist.”

Aziraphale rolled his eyes, “Excuse me for noticing that you’re home earlier than usual,” he muttered, taking his next sip with attitude. “But since you’re back so soon, maybe we could…hang out, as the youth say,” he smiled that thin-lipped smile, and Crowley groaned in the back of his throat, following Aziraphale towards the back room (yknow, the one with the couch that Crowley can stretch his legs on as long as he needs and nothing ever feels uncomfortable).

“Grahk, angel, there’s a reason that only the youth should be saying these things. Sounds…unnatural, on your tongue,” Crowley plopped down on his favorite couch, his hand in Aziraphale’s (he’s not even sure when that happened, but who is he to complain?) leading him down to the spot next to his. Aziraphale did a wiggle as he sat, like getting the cushion ready for him.

“I like integrating new shortened language into my vocabulary,” Aziraphale pouted behind his cup.

“Helps me understand everyone better.”

Crowley tutted, “Okay, well, one: it’s not called “shortened language” anymore, you boob. They say slang now. If you don’t even know the word slang, you definitely shouldn’t be using it in the first place,” Crowley propped his feet up on Aziraphale’s lap, the only acknowledgment of his position being Aziraphale’s zero hesitation in using his shins as an armrest. “And two: you already have the most extensive vocabulary on the planet. You can know all the words and phrases you like, but I doubt you’re in dire need of any new ones to use.”

Aziraphale sat his glass down on the coffee table, leaning against Crowley’s legs. “I think you’re just jealous. Envy is one of the seven sins, correct?”

Crowley merely huffed, throwing an arm against the couch’s own and propping his cheek against his hand. He gazed a bit longingly at the angel, who seemed more interested in picking lint off his trousers at the moment. “Saw something at the park I thought you’d like.”

Aziraphale’s ears perked, but more or less remained focused on grooming Crowley’s pants. “Oh?”

“Want you to guess.”

That caught his attention, an annoyed glare thrown Crowley’s way. “I hate this game.”

“Naaaah you love it. Cmon, guess.”

“I’ll at least need a hint, Crowley. It could literally be an infinite number of things,” Aziraphale sat back against the couch now, finally interested in the conversation even if he continued with the annoyed charade, hands folded on Crowley’s shins. “At least tell me if it’s good or bad. You know how I hate bad surprises.”

“It’s good, trust me,” Crowley grinned. “Has to do with something we created a looong time ago. I’m talkin’ B.C, baby.”

Aziraphale’s eyebrows raised, really curious now.

“We created it?”

“That we did, angel.”

Aziraphale hummed, fingers fidgeting with the fabric, before gasping in excitement, “Was it a chihuahua?”

Crowley’s own eyebrows shot up at that, nearly having forgotten they created that wretched animal.

“Oh but they’re so cute, Crowley, look at how tiny!”

“Fine, but that thing’s gonna be a beast, I don’t care how little it is.”

“Heheh, no but good guess,” He chuckled, sliding his glasses off and tucking them into his front pocket. His hands mimicked Aziraphale’s, fingers crossed but against his chest. “One more hint: I saw some very…giggly humans.”

It took him a moment, but finally Aziraphale grinned, giving Crowley’s knee a few squeezes and delighting in the squeak and kick against the other arm of the couch. He giggled as he watched Crowley turn pink and grumble. “That may be one of my favorite things we created together.”

Crowley shoved his glasses back on as if hiding, more embarrassed than he’d like to admit. “You’re ridiculous for miracling that shit into me all those years ago.”

“I only did it because you did the same to me!”

Crowley chuckled, regaining his confidence to reach over and squeeze at Aziraphale’s side, relishing in the angelic giggles.

“Well obviously. I’m a demon. Had to mess with my angel somehow.”

Aziraphale pushed his hand away, his smile remaining with pink cheeks. “Yes, but an angel is nothing without an even better miracle than yours. We both know you got the worst of it,” Aziraphale said, throwing wiggly fingers in Crowley’s direction when he tried to argue, “Don’t make me tickle your ribs and prove it, Crowley. We don’t want a repeat of—“

“Say it and I’ll pluck each feather off your back and go to town on those ears of yours.”

Aziraphale just grinned, retracting his fingers and letting his demon relax as he held his hands up in defeat. Aziraphale sort of has the high ground here anyway, considering their differing levels of sensitivities; he’ll just bring it up later.

“So you saw some people in a tickle fight, then?” Aziraphale tipped the conversation away from them, a little wary of the threat. “Quite a public spot for something we made to be so embarrassing, don’t you think?”

Crowley waved a hand, “Aaaaah they don’t all find it embarrassing. The guy seemed too happy to care, anyways,” he said, scrunching his nose. “He had just proposed.” Crowley said the word like there were worms crawling under his clothes.

Aziraphale gasped, “Oh how lovely! You should’ve congratulated them, Crowley!” He whined, knowing Crowley too well, sensing there was no way he had given them a proper congratulations. Aziraphale hated missing out on precious human moments like that.

Crowley smiled at his enthusiasm, “Don’t worry, angel. They’ve got each other for that sappy shite.”

Aziraphale huffed out a happy giggle, giving Crowley’s leg a little shake and pat. Crowley always found it gross how giddy the angel got over others happiness. It made his heart and belly feel funny, maybe he was going into cardiac arrest or something. Well, not literally of course, but maybe like metaphorically.

“So the newlyweds had a little tickle tussle in the park? Oh that’s just precious,” Aziraphale held his hands close to his chest. “Thank you for letting them have their moment, dear.”

“Whatever, just didn’t feel like working too hard today,” Crowley sniffed, leaning back against his arms. “Yknow, the guy seemed to be loaded with those tickly nerves. I don’t blame that girl one bit for going at ‘em. Kept making these funny noises and wigglin’ like a worm. It was honestly very amusing to watch.”

Aziraphale grinned all smug. “Weeelll…”

Crowley frowned. “Well…what?” Aziraphale just shrugged, giving Crowley a quick up and down. Crowley shot up, pointing a finger, “No. That is not how I am.”

“All I’m saying is, if you can’t blame her for tickling her husband because of his funny reactions…weeeelll…” Aziraphale giggled, throwing shaky arms up in defense when Crowley leaned forward.

“Keep at it,” Crowley warned, throwing his legs off Aziraphale so he could corner the tittering angel into the couch, “And I swear, I will have jars of ticklish angel tears to display on my shelf,” he poked Aziraphale in the chest, awfully close now. “I’ll make sure you discorporate with a smile.”

Aziraphale gulped on a giggle.“I-I was merely…Crowley, come on now, I’m teasing,” he stuttered out. Crowley was right up in his face now, a smile that may as well be fanged making Aziraphale’s voice quiver. Crowley was eating up the sight.

“Yeah? Well so am I,” Crowley grinned in his face, glasses falling to the tip of his nose so Aziraphale could see the endearment in his yellow eyes. Aziraphale sighed, bringing a hand to the demon's chest. Crowley leaned into the touch, humming contentedly as he started relaxing against Aziraphale’s form.

He curled up against the angel’s side, Aziraphale’s fingers playing at his cheek. Crowley pressed his face into Aziraphale’s shoulder, mumbling, “It’s not my fault you’re a literal God-gifted tickler.”

“Mm, well it isn’t my fault you’re ticklish enough to break my vessel’s nose—“

“Okay, fuuuck you, I thought we weren’t bringing that up, you twit,” Crowley flicked Aziraphale in the temple, “Also, it quite literally is your fault I’m this ticklish. Prick.”

Aziraphale kept a frown after having his face assaulted like that, “I feel like you’re just asking for it now. Insulting and flicking me as we talk about how horribly ticklish you are. Yes, quite a wise decision on your part, Anthony.”

Crowley pressed his face further into Aziraphale, mumbling something incoherent that probably made no sense anyways. Something like, “your mum’s horribly ticklish…” but who's to say. Aziraphale caught on with a giggle.

“Oh is that it?” Aziraphale asked, squeezing Crowley’s shoulder.

“Is what it?”

“Do you want me to-“

“No. Fuck you.”

“Are you sure? Because it sure seems like-“

“Noooo.”

Aziraphale held back a laugh, trying not to embarrass Crowley so much he fled from the scene. Instead, he just slid a hand up Crowley’s side, decidedly not tickling. Crowley tensed under him, his hand squeezing tighter on Aziraphale’s lapels, but made no move to leave.

“I used a word before,” Aziraphale tapped one finger against the clothed side, not ticklish but definitely threatening. “Envy. Is that what you’re experiencing, Crowley?”

Crowley tried to grumble, but it sounded more like a whine with his face smushed into Aziraphale’s coat.“Wha’ would I even be…envious of,” Crowley muttered. “S’all stupid. Not the proposal, that’s for damn certain.”

“Oh no, surely not the proposal,” Aziraphale used his one finger to scritch gently. Crowley tittered in his throat. “I wonder what else I could be talking about, hm?”

Crowley was vibrating. He could feel how warm his face had gotten against the coat, hating himself for it but refusing to leave. This was…this was something. “Beats me,” he shrugged, but quickly brought his arms back down when he felt Aziraphale’s hand trail up even further, fuck. He growled, “Sssstop.”

“Stop what?” Aziraphale pinched once, and Crowley growled. “If there’s something on your mind, I’d love to hear it.”

“Hhmmhhmmhehehmm,” Crowley hummed a whine, squirming in Aziraphale’s hold. Part of him desperately wanted to sprawl out onto his partner's lap and let the angel have his ticklish way with him. The other part of him was screaming to push Aziraphale away, tell him off for being so silly and stupid. He didn’t actually think Aziraphale was stupid in the slightest, but fuck he couldn’t really think of anything worthwhile to say with Aziraphale’s fingers doing that to his lower ribs.

He didn’t do either of those things, though. Instead, he stayed curled into Aziraphale’s side with fingers also curled right on that spot that made Crowley feel all…all squirmy.

“Crooowleyy~,” Aziraphale sang into his ear, smiling against the shell of it as Crowley jerked and snickered in giggly fluster.

“What do you waaaant??”

“Did that couple make you think some…” Aziraphale pinched a quick line from Crowley’s ribs down to his hips. Crowley choked out a surprised giggle, body arching with a flinch. “…ticklish thoughts?”

“You’re such a dihick,” Crowley slapped Aziraphale’s hand, barking a laugh when he just squeezed his hip in response.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“…mmmmm no.”

“Crowley. You’re pushing into my fingers.”

“Shhhut up!”

“Admit it and I’ll get this over with,” Aziraphale said, abandoning his fear of embarrassing Crowley too much as it seems he was actually enjoying that part of it now. Who knew demons were so fond of being a little flustered?

Well, probably not most demons. But, come to think of it, when has Crowley ever been like “most demons”?

“I can’t, angel,” he whined, words a bit breathy as Aziraphale has switched to gently, slowly clawing at the clothed skin. It wasn’t enough to make him laugh, but damn if it still didn’t tickle like hell. If anything, this was probably worse. He can’t use the excuse of, “well I can’t talk when you’re tickling me!” because really, Aziraphale wasn’t. Not yet at least. Now they both knew he just can’t talk because he’s too flustered, and isn’t that a horrifying thought in itself.

“I never realized you actually liked it,” Aziraphale said genuinely, but his tone really made it sound like a tease.

Crowley shook his head, “I d—“ he bit down on his rebuttal with a growl, the word ‘don't’ falling down his throat. By now, they both knew that wasn’t true. No sense in fighting it, he guessed. “I didn’t know.”

Aziraphale made a surprised sound. “Really?” He gave a scribble to Crowley’s side, longer than the usual ones, and Crowley whined through a giggle.

“Uuugh maybe. Just when…whehen the couple—when they wehehere—Angehel I can’t speheheak when you’re—!” Crowley squeaked when Aziraphale started pinching up and down, giving focus to that little spot below his ribs. He couldn’t keep his giggles down, falling into breathless, flustered laughter as Aziraphale actually, finally started to tickle him.

“Too ticklish for words, Crowley?” Aziraphale teased on purpose this time, bringing his hand up, up, up to tickle a single finger in the hollow under Crowley’s arm. Crowley spasmed, choking out high pitched giggles as he squirmed and tried hiding his face even more into Aziraphale.

Aziraphale merely brought his other hand in to play with his exposed ear, bringing Crowley’s smiling face out as he jerked his head around to defend.

“Nohoho! This can’t be fffffuhucking fahahair-!” Crowley agonized, his laughter all over the place in pitch.

“I suppose not, considering I have quite the advantage here. More ticklish and enjoyable for you? What a pickle, my dear,” Aziraphale said, giggling as he heard the words come out of his mouth. “Aha! A tickly pickle! Isn’t that funny, Crowley?”

Crowley cackled as he shook his head around madly. Words weren’t easy when Aziraphale’s hand moved from his ear to his previously untouched side, pinching and squishing at the devastatingly sensitive hip bone.

“Refute it all you want, but with how hard you’re laughing you must think I’m very funny,” Aziraphale said, digging both hands into Crowley’s hips while dodging a headbutt to the nose.

Crowley’s mind felt like tangled wire. The tickling, the teasing, the knowing that he’s enjoying every second of it (and tickling and teasing him for exactly that). He’s been tickled before, been tickled by Aziraphale a few times in the past, but this was…it’s different.

They’re closer now, closer than they’ve ever been before. They know each other so intrinsically and still manage to learn new things about each other every day. Today’s discovery just happens to be Crowley’s apparent love for being tickled silly by his favorite angel, and he’s having trouble coping with the embarrassment of that when Aziraphale’s hands won’t leave his fucking hips alone.

“Yohohou-! AHA—! You’re diabohoholical! Ffffuhuhucking wanker!” Crowley insulted through hysterical giggling, squirming and kicking as his hips were tickled to the nub.

“Oh? Does someone want me to go back up to the ribs?~” Aziraphale’s hands finally left his hips, but slowly scribbled their way back towards his awful rib cage. Crowley thrashed with a cackle, it doesn’t even tickle that much on his sides but even the thought of those fingers back on his ribs has his stomach feeling ticklish on the inside.

“You dohohon’t—! Dohon’t have tohoho—ahAHAha nohohoho-!” Once those fingers found his ribs on both sides, Crowley gave up all the fight he had in him. He melted into Aziraphale’s side, merely squirming and twitching as he let his ribs be plucked by angelic hands. It was a torturous bliss he never expected himself to be found in.

“A ticklish demon,” Aziraphale cooed, leaning down to press his nose into Crowley’s hair. When Aziraphale talked now, it felt like the words went straight to Crowley’s brain, vibrating through the skull and making his neck scrunch. Crowley wanted nothing more than to let his angel play with him, and Aziraphale loved doing just that. “My proudest creation.”

. . .

a/n : hope u enjoyeddd it was very fun to write lol. pls consider liking and reblogging!! happy holidays <33

[lattexalmond]

🎩Top Ten Shows of 2022🎩

I decided to make this post for fun.😜If you haven’t followed me all year then you may be surprised by my opinions here. This took me a long time to think about. Thank goodness for mdl. Also thanks bestie @gunsatthaphan for making the gifs for me so it’s not boring 🥺

Without further ado,

I couldn’t not give the number one spot to this show. It may have lagged in the middle, but by the end it was a 12/10 for me. JimmySea deliveredddddddddd. I loved it so much I bought their plushies. 

This was the surprise of the year for me. I did not like Tae in Paint With Love so I was hesitant. I saw gifs all over my dashboard mostly courtesy of @laowen. I decided to give it a try, and it quickly rose up in the ranks for me. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoyed the feel of Manner of Death since it is by the same author. TaeTee had some amazing chemistry!!

Did this show have the best plot? No, it did not. What it lacked in it made up for in the three couples. All three couples were loveable and the cinematography was really nice. I have watched this show probably at least 4 times now. ZeeNunew are kings. They carried that show. I am so excited for Cutiepie 2 You. Also how can anyone hate Nat Natsit? He is so cute I just want to put him in my pocket. 

I don’t know what it was about this show. I loved the main character so much. I was so excited each week to watch it. I would scour the internet looking for the episodes. Akira was so lovable and adorable. 

I am most definitely in the minority here. This show had me dying of laughter the entire time. All the couples were adorable. BillySeng killed it with their chemistry. If you want to laugh then you need to watch this show. I watched episodes multiple times because it was so entertaining. The subtitles even explained all the inside jokes for me and that was just such a nice touch. 🥺

I was one of the few that preferred this show over Star In My Mind. Were Joongdunk adorable? Yes of course, but the story lost me and I was very irritated by the end. I identified with Fah’s character so much. I really liked FahPrince. They were so cute 😍

This show was so so so good! The chemistry was unmatched for a Korean bl. I was so impressed. The story was a great enemies to lovers trope. It was excellent! Jaeyoung was my crush of the year 🙈

I enjoyed the original. It was interesting, but this version was so real. They tackled the relationships and explained everything so well. I really felt what the characters were feeling. YinWar have an insane chemistry. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. VeeMark messy endgame 😝

I feel like this should have been higher purely based on how adorable all three couples were, but the plot was a little frustrating at times. It made it in to the top 10 though, They were all disgustingly sweet. ParkLee, 💣and 🐻, MekKim 💙

I was sooooooo against this show. I blocked the tag because I was so irritated by seeing it on my dashboard. Someone told me to just give it a chance and I ended up enjoying it. Was I as crazy about it as everyone else? The answer would be no. The action scenes and entire production as a whole were fantastic. I felt it deserved the last spot. I did not like VegasPete and never will. I am honestly here for Jeff Satur’s Kim being the badass protecting Porchay. 

Honorable mentions: P.S I Hate You, Old Fashion Cupcake,  Fukou-kun wa Kiss Suru Shikanai!, About Youth, First Love Again, Blueming and Happy Ending Romance.

Also Between Us, My School President, and Never Let Me Go need to be mentioned because they’re all my favs right now.

[ladyblueberrymuffin]

Okay, I think enough time has passed that I can share my opinions on these two.

It could've been great. As it is, not really into it. And not because "Catra is abusive" or "It's toxic", or any stupid stuff like that. It's enemies to lovers, she's bound to do shitty things until her redemption arc, that's perfectly fine, I love messy characters.

My problem is that the show seems only interested in showing Catra's side of the story. She gets flashbacks, she talks about Adora all the time, we get to see all the ways in which Adora makes her life better. Adora... is kinda ignored.

I think that's why people don't like it. There is an unfair meta power dynamic. Catra is the more important one to the writers.

So we don't really get to see what Adora gets out of this relationship. We get to see all the ways Adora is accommodating to Catra, helps her feel comfortable after they reunited, lets her be her gremlin self, but where are the scenes where Catra does the same for Adora?

And people will talk about Catradora like this wonderful "I let you be yourself" comfort goes both ways, but it doesn't. That's my problem, it feels like it's always up to Adora to accommodate Catra, not the other way around.

I needed to see Catra really go out of her way to be a good girlfriend after her redemption arc. Like disgustingly sweet and trying her best every episode.

The most nice thing Catra does for Adora is talk her out of bad ideas. It happens in episode one, where Shadow Weaver is trying to convince her to leave her friends behind, and in the finale, where Adora is willing to die to save Etheria.

And like, offering counsel is certainly important in a relationship, but it doesn't really show this relationship in a good light when Catra's ultimate act of love is telling Adora "You're wrong".

Doesn't this feel kinda counterintuitive to her redemption arc? All the bad things she's done is because she was stubborn and unwilling to listen to Adora's ideas, but then her redemption is shown through her disagreeing with Adora's ideas anyway.

If Catra is allowed to be firm with Adora when Adora is being stupid, then so should Adora be able to be firm with Catra when she's being stupid, or antagonizing her friends.

This is a fictional relationship, so you're allowed to make them tease each other, or being mean to each other, but it can't be one-sided, because then it stops being cute, and just becomes frustrating.

The reboot introduced me to the franchise, and I delved deep, and really fell in love with the original 80's Adora, like I adore her (haha), my favorite superhero. And you know what? Reboot Adora is neat as well. So it bothers me double the show kinda seems disinterested in her and doesn't give her more agency.

I like that the 80s show focused on Adora more. I get Catra is interesting, but so is Adora, and I don't think the reboot really capitalized on it. I hope next time she pops up, maybe in the CG He-man show, or maybe in Masters of The Universe: Revolution (I am convinced this whole new season will be about her, and Adam grappling with the fact he has a sister, they're just hiding her from all the trailers, like they did with season 1's twist), she really gets the focus she deserves. You have a chance to really sink your teeth into her being a redeemed villain herself. In the DC comics, Adora was evil before she started questioning her loyalties to the Horde. Like, she killed people and she enjoyed it, her redemption arc wasn't much different from reboot Catra, so you really have a chance to make your main character as interesting as the villain.

[bisexualboysbroadcast]

my favourite parallel and here’s a thesis on why

1. colour palettes (to start with the obvious)

mai and king being traditional dark colour boys (everyone remembers king is a royal blue boy from bed friend?), most especially when they are fully themselves, their feelings, and their story lines. when i say fully i mean the scene we are seeing is not in relation to their other halves, and the progression of a relationship. it is purely about them.

and then jade and uea being in soft tones (cause they’re both soft boys). again most especially when the focus is on their character story line and not their relationship story line.

still on colour palettes. we know from bed friend that before king and uea fully committed to each other and were disgustingly in love, uea was a red boy. yes a soft boy but also a red boy. and now that they’re together together (and tooth rottingly adorable), uea is still a soft boy but he’s in king’ colours not his old red colours. that’s how you know, even if they’re fighting they are still unbreakable and unblemished. essentially (in its most poetic form) uea still has king with him.

2. king and uea’s outfits (self indulgent obvious one)

king in horizontal stripes and uea in vertical ones. yea do i even need to spell this one out? they are so in love and therefore they carry each other everywhere, in everything, even when they’re cross (hah get it? cause if you place horizontal and vertical lines over each other they make a cross pattern) with each other they ARE still each others. i love them.

also their visible matching silver chain necklaces.

3. how each pair has decided to meet up with each other

king and mai at a table sitting up > setting up a game plan > always the action characters > ready to move straight into solution stage > how can we fix this stage

versus

uea and jade who are sitting comfortably on jade’s apartment floor > talking about feelings and hearing each other out > creating a space to just be vulnerable and open > do you see why i call them my soft boys?

4. the difference in lighting between the two scenes

mai and king with their harsher more “locker room energy” lighting (tying into my whole game plan set up) versus jade and uea with their soft quiet warm lighting very conducive to late night deep conversation

5. the space between the characters

the way the space between king and mai is filled (pillar) because as much as they’re friends, they became friends at work. mai wasn’t in the picture till he interned there. but king uea and jade were all friends from their college days (something that still makes my heart beat out of my chest)

but if you look at the space between uea and jade you’ll notice there’s nothing. one because they are so close and such good friends there is nothing they need to separate them (metaphorical barrier who?). but also it shows that uea is giving jade the space to be open with him, with no interruptions (the way the food and drinking is interrupting king and mai).

conclusion

BRUH! i love this show soooo bad! like this studio just knows how to do production so fucking well. their entire story is weaved into every single detail in every scene. ughhhh!

[ieroween1031]

My Thoughts in Real Time as I Watched Episode 9 of Love in the Air That Absolutely Nobody Asked For (Spoiler Alert!):

- I can’t even skip the intro, I love them so much

- HE JUST PUT THE FUCKING BROWN JACKET ON, THE ONE FROM THE PREVIEWS! ARE WE GONNA GET THAT NC SCENE IN THIS EPISODE? I CAN’T BREATHE.

- Side note: I saw someone say that the teaser with the clips from that NC scene was filmed before the show was finished, and that that was their original one-night stand but they reshot it, and honestly? I’m gonna be so disappointed if that doesn’t resurface somewhere in the show because just from the 7 seconds they showed in the trailer, I can without a doubt tell you that it was a better, hotter NC scene than the one we got. The one we got was good, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Prapai sucking on Sky’s fingers while he’s being ridden like a prized stallion just does things to me and if they don’t give us that whole scene, I may actually die.

- Are Prapai’s siblings twins? Do we have another set of twins in a MAME show?

- That flashback almost made me cry. Nothing happened, but I knew what it meant and I literally gasped.

- Are those actual shorts, or is Sky just walking around in his boxers? Because that’s a power move if I’ve ever seen one.

- Sky, my sweet baby, you’re beautiful. Don’t belittle yourself and don’t think that you’re not just because of what your prick of an ex said and did to you. Do me a favor and just please let Prapai love and adore and spoil you for the rest of your life and wax poetic about how breathtakingly beautiful you are inside and out until you believe that you are a god that walks among men, because you are.

- I mean, we know it’s gonna happen eventually, but I want it to happen now!

- OH MY GOD YES I KNEW IT I TOLD YOU IT WAS CANON THAT SKY HAD HIS NIPPLES PIERCED THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE

- Oh, wait. If he had them pierced and then took them out, I hope it wasn’t something his ex did to him or forced him to do. I’m getting whiplash from these back and forth emotions.

- I don’t know why, but I’m obsessed with that backwards “Some kine of wonderful” shirt, although I don’t understand if the misspelling is intentional or not

- They did it a-fucking-gain. These flashbacks are killing me. My poor baby.

- Come on, text him back. No, that’s the opposite of what I want you to do!

- My whole stomach dropped seeing Sky holding that x-acto knife. I can’t tell you how fucking happy I am that that did not go in the direction I was expecting it to.

- Prapai and these half-unbuttoned shirts are gonna kill me. Put that on my mortuary report: Cause of death: delicious man tiddies

- Okay, I think I read somewhere that in the book, Sky faints from exhaustion and Rain calls Prapai for help, and I think that’s where this is going.

- Called it.

- Sky, stop, I’m gonna cry!

- I will never get tired of someone rushing to the side of their love interest who’s sick/injured/in grave danger. Give me all of this trope!

- P’Joy is annoying and nosy but utterly delightful.

- “He’s so hot, and I’ve got a soft spot for hot guys.” You and me both, sister.

- I wonder if the character description at the casting was like “We need two disgustingly hot guys that literally everyone is gonna fawn over, and two others”. Cuz like, it must be a blow to the ego to work on a set where two of your castmates are constantly being ogled in the script, and nobody ever talks about the fact that you’re also smoking hot.

- Oh my god, they’re so cute all cuddly. My heart can’t take this.

- Prapai’s wearing Sky’s clothes. I can’t, I fucking can’t. Jesus can just come take me now.

- Fort’s thighs. This is not a drill. I repeat, Fort’s thighs. Fort really said “Sky’s out, thighs out.”

- Yes, we love a moral compass. Good to know that MAME finally realized that a sleeping person can’t consent and that kissing someone while they’re sleeping is assault.

- Love Sky Easter eggs. 😂

- He’s practicing saying Sky’s name in the mirror, it’s so fluffy, I’m gonna die!

- No NC scene, but it’s so gotdamn adorable that I don’t even care.

- I’m so fucking gone for them. These two beautiful assholes have got me in an LGBT chokehold and I don’t ever want to be let out.

- Half of me is super happy that I found this show when I did so I can enjoy everything in the moment and fanboy with everyone else, the other part is fucking pissed that I have to wait for new episodes and I can’t just binge everything all at once.

[bunji-enthusiast]

Sorry if I’m sending so many requests but I love your writing style😭how are you doing?

Do you mind if I ask you to write something about the reader helping King with Diane, please? <3

No worries! Did a mix of scenes and headcanons. This one is adorable, I hope you like this. 🌷

The tension was unbearable, you could see the way King was looking at Diane. Only someone who loves someone else in such a way, could love shine in their eyes that way, unadulterated pure adoration. You almost felt sorry for the Fairy King, he needed some serious help in the love department.

"King, you are disgustingly in love." You retort, sitting down next to where he was floating. He snaps back to reality with a furious blush blooming across his face.

"N-no! Why are you saying that?" He shouts, almost. Though the fairy quickly tones down his shouting as he continues, "I don't think that's something you should say so suddenly."

You hum with a shrug, you simply couldn't care less if you were entirely blunt with your words. "True, but I'm only saying the truth." You remarked, pointing at the one of his affection. Diane was talking to Elizabeth, it was some type of girl talk between the princess and the giantess.

King huffs, holding his sacred treasure close to his body. He was lazing about in a way that was normal for him, yet he half-heartedly hides his blush. "So what?" He admits, almost sounding defeated which you winced at the tone of his voice.

"So.." You say, the plan you had formulated in your mind way before you started talking to King came rushing back to mind. "I'm gonna help you!"

He perks up, eyebrow raised and all as his expression is one of clear confusion. "How do you plan to.. help me?" He asks, and you smile, almost mischievously. You had a clear plan, and you wanted to make sure nothing went wrong here.

You began speaking very clearly of your plan to orchestrate a one on one meeting just between him and Diane, just so he can finally admit his feelings loud and clear to the giantess. King was surprised, and listened very intently to your words. Yet it was in knowing you that you were bound to make this embarrassing in one way or another to make this happen.

King had told you about his promise to Diane that he made around 500 years ago, that he promised her that he would stay by her side and love her forever. He confided in you very deeply, as he trusted you better then the other sins, he had to get this off his chest somehow.

It was in knowing this you had better formulated your plan to help King with Diane, you loved the idea of the two of them being together. The two were sincerely already so adorable as a pair!

"Are you sure this is gonna work?"

King was not ready to do this, nervous bit at every inch of his body. The fairy was not liking how this was gonna go already. You smiled, just patting his back to urge him to go to Diane, who was waiting for King.

"Of course!" You replied, patting his back again to reaffirm the idea. You tilted your head to look at him more clearly as you presented with a very scheming smile on your face, "Have I ever steered you wrong?"

His face falters, but he sighs in relenting defeat. "I guess not."

"Good, now go!"

He yelps, "AH!-"

Finally King comes to Diane, the meeting spot was beautiful but nonetheless secluded and away from publicity. You watched with great excitement as the two greet each other, you could clearly tell that King was shaking with trepidation.

You couldn't exactly hear what they were saying, but you could make out some words by the shape of their mouths. Suddenly you could see Diane blushing, and appearing to admit her feelings for King in return.

Success! HAHA!

You suddenly fell down from where you were hiding, causing the two to look at the source of the noise. King is almost somewhat surprised and both annoyed that the moment was ruined, but he helped you up. So did Diane, as she was worried that you were injured.

King admitted to Diane that you helped him with the whole thing, and Diane smiles. She wasn't entirely sure how to react, but she was happy nonetheless.

"So you two are finally together right? CAUSE GOOD GRIEF YOU TWO ARE INSUFFERABLE."

[unpopularhorroropinions]

The Conjuring sucks and doesn't deserve the popularity it gets

Now that I've got your feet wet, I'l start diving into the REAL hot takes. Spoilers ahead.

When I first watched The Conjuring, I didn't hate it, although I did groan at the exorcism scene at the end. Why? Because how many exorcisms do we gotta see that have the possessed floating in the air? Granted, I loved Belzebuth despite it doing the exact same thing with a crucified victim, but at least as a whole, it was different.

I've mostly forgotten The Conjuring now. Guess it really just had that effect on me. All I really remember is the aforementioned exorcism and that there were almost always lights on (which annoyed me to no end and really killed the atmosphere they were going for). I also hear people saying it's better than Sinister, which is a movie I adore for its originality and because it genuinely scared me. In comparison, The Conjuring does nothing new and is just a generic haunted house movie. Some people love it for precisely that reason, that's fine. I don't understand it, but it's fine. Still seems ridiculous that the MPAA would slap it with an R-rating on the basis that it's "too scary" for PG-13, even though there is absolutely nothing in there that a PG-13 audience couldn't handle. I mean, we grew up with the likes of rotten.com and Stephen Gammel's illustrations for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.

However, my perception of The Conjuring changed from a mediocre and banal haunted house flick undeserving of the praise it gets to an odious piece of shit when I found out the sort of people the Warrens really were. They made money off of the people they "helped", literally demonized their critics, shot staged photographs of their hauntings, and most disgustingly of all, Ed groomed a 15-year-old girl, and Lorraine was okay with it. All this was in addition to the exploiting some genuinely gullible families who truly believed the hauntings were real Don't believe me? Your search engine is your friend. Obviously, the Warren family denies these allegations, but the numerous testimonies don't paint a pretty picture. I dunno about you, but I'm more inclined to believe the people who weren't looking to make a quick buck off of discredited hauntings and vulnerable people.

Maybe I'm a little bit of a hypocrite in this regard. I see Bubba Ho-Tep as a masterpiece, despite Elvis being outed as a rather sleazy person who was up to some highly questionable shit. But I would rather take a single weird, introspective dramedy about aging and regret that just happens to use Elvis to illustrate its overarching message and features a soul-sucking mummy, over a generic billion-dollar grossing franchise that adds nothing new to the horror genre and continues to paint a duo of con artists in a positive light. None of my criticisms are even getting into it being Christian propaganda, which it most certainly is, but then, so is The Exorcist, which was actually great and The CONjuring chooses to riff on at the end.

I haven't bothered with any of the sequels or spinoffs. Why would I? The first movie was entirely unremarkable to me. If the Warrens weren't such awful people, I might have reluctantly given the franchise the benefit of the doubt. That just isn't the case, though.

[kanobarlowe]

It’s been a little while since a decent post from me so I just want to quick rant about how amazing An American Werewolf in London is.

I know this movie is like from 1981 and so I am probably going to be saying what so many critics have already said but idc I watched it finally in full (I’ve seen the whole thing but not in one full sitting) recently and I am just so in love with it.

The movie manages to be one of the best monster horrors, the best werewolf horror, and one of the best transformation/body horror with classic effects out there, all while being funny. The idea that you are haunted by everyone you kill as the wolf is such a brutal and horrible concept and I adore it so so so much. I love Jack and his attitude so much that even in death, even though he has the goal of convincing David to kill himself, he’s still able to sit with his friend and crack a joke or somewhat shoot the shit, unable to help himself with his best friend.

The transformation scenes are so disgustingly iconic they make me feel sick in the best way. I love that they showed you a longer and more brutal scene, but even the brief transformation in the adult theater is still grotesque by showing you his nails splitting open it’s so foul! I hate it! In a loving way!!!

Also I forgot how the doc Hirsch decided to play detective for literally no other reason than the greater good. Who would go out of their way to actually do that?? That ends up leaning into the comedy of it a little, for me—the absurdity of it.

The ending is also so iconic and good and creates a singular moment of wonder: was David even a werewolf at all?? Personally I think he was, there’s enough in the movie to show that werewolves are legitimate, but I appreciate the framing of Alex as she implores for David to come back to himself and he’s entirely off-frame. She’s strangely calm for seeing a wolf creature covered in blood—unless it’s NOT a wolf, but David, crouching and delirious. It’s a cool little “what if Hirsch is right and he’s just paranoid and mad” question?

I feel like they could have made the mystery to it stronger and found ways to bring it in stronger—for example I wish during all the victim scenes, I wish we never saw David or the wolf, but it was all entirely 1st person when he was “in the scene” so we never fully get confirmation of his appearance during the full moon. I also wish we had more time with the concept of the undead haunting the werewolf. Jack was great, I just wish we had more of him and more of the other victims, too.

I think Alex is certainly a product of her time, she’s well-written for what the purpose of her character is in the story, but I think we could have explored her more and maybe her fascination with David. Maybe she’s a bit of weirdo herself, it was sometimes implied that she’s into weird people and I got the vibe of falling for handsome patients, but I would have liked to learn a bit more about her in those regards. She’s more or less a vessel to get David from the hospital to a residence.

I looooooove the phone call David has at the end with his I believe little sister? I wish we got to know a bit more about his background, relationship to his family, etc. Because I’m a family man, that phone call tore at me, and I wish I had a bit more of it, but I also get if they didn’t want to get too grim since it was still a comedy.

Overall, amazing movie and a 1981 film having some of the best monster, transformation, and horror scenery of any movie is so shocking to me and makes me like hello step up to so many of the modern movies churned out nowadays.

100000/10, would recommend.

[yellowloid]

💫, 🎀, 💥, 💋, 💌 for the writing asks 🥰

thank you so much for the questions 🥰

💫what is your favorite kind of comment/feedback?

i love love love long comments where the reader just goes over a whole list of things that stuck with them while reading, little details, images, ways a character acted, something the characters said; i just absolutely adore hearing about what the reader felt while reading my fics, how a particularly angsty passage put them in their feelings, a very fluffy bit sent them giggling and smiling at the screen, or a smutty scene had them losing their mind skfjshsfh. i also love when people tell me they've got passages from my fics screenshotted on their phone or quoted in their journals, or when they tell me that something i wrote helped them smile when they were sad, or helped them through a difficult time, or simply managed to distract them from real life problems, even if just for a bit. i love knowing that my writing can have a positive impact on other people's lives, no matter how small it might be <3

🎀give yourself a compliment about your own writing

i think i'm pretty good at coming up with new images to express the kind of visceral love i write about whenever i write milex, both with the romantic and sexual aspect of it; i also think i do a good job at making the most of the more "aesthetic" part of writing - making sure my words and sentences not only make sense, but also "look good" together. i want my writing to sound as poetic and melodious as it can, that's really important to me and i tend to spend a lot of time trying to achieve that :)

💥find your least kudos'd fic - say something wonderful about it.

my least kudos'd fic is the third and final part of my 'satin and lace' series, 'of loving at will, of loving till death'. my venice honeymoon fic <3 one that, in many ways, closed a chapter of my life that started back when i posted the first part of this series; if you know me, you also know how much this trilogy means to me. writing and posting the last part not only felt like a challenge, but also a quite emotional one sjfhshsjgh because i knew i'd miss those chaotic smitten husbands so much </3

despite it having less kudos than other fics of mine, i'm still really fond of this one. i made so much research for it - which now results in me knowing a whole lot of random trivia about venice - and i'm very satisfied with how realistic and accurate the descriptions of the city turned out, as well as the way they mixed with the expression of their love, the romance and drama of it all... plus i went on vacation this summer and spent a day in venice (i'd visited once when i was a kid but didn't remember much) and it just meant so much to me, visiting that city now that it holds a whole new and special meaning to me <3 it felt so !!!! walking around those sunny alleys and crossing all those bridges over the canals, imagining miles and alex doing the same, hand in hand, disgustingly in love with each other. it was just so magical and special - and i think that fic really captures the spirit of venice as a whole 💙💜

💋when you leave comments on a fic, do you want to hear back from the writer?

absolutely!! i think it's not only ao3 etiquette, but also like... the whole point of it? if i leave a comment it's because i want the author to know i loved their work, and if they never reply i feel like a. they secretly hate me or smth or b. they haven't seen my comment and now they won't know i loved their fic!!!!! when i know damn well that they don't hate me and they also most likely saw the comment and appreciated it, but just didn't reply for whatever reason. some people don't reply to comments and that's okay skfjshfhs but i certainly do in most cases and i definitely want to hear back from other writers when i leave one myself!!

💌share something with us about an up-and-coming work (WIP) that has you excited!

okay okay so. this is all assuming i don't have a mental breakdown over it and drop it lmao but basically. it's a long-fic. two and a half chapters are already written. it's very angsty and alex is a stupid self-loathing idiot in it (<3). their performance of 'last night i dreamt' by the smiths @ alexandra palace is an out of context spoiler for it. that's all i can say without getting into spoilery details and/or giving away the whole premise of it gkskfjsdhgk

[ximeria]

Blind leading Blind for WIP Wednesday! :-D

Blind Leading Blind is basically two idiots in love, where neither has any clue when it comes to having a relationship, let alone an intimate one, with another man. The whole story is about firsts - this is first kiss and it's possibly the only first that goes mostly smoothly in the story XD (the story will be tagged humour, because honestly, they are so disgustingly adorable, I can't push angst at all)

Also, thank you for asking for this one - this story is currently eating my brain and I seem to be working on no less than 3 scenes at the same time...

Another noise from next to him drew his attention, this one more amused than annoyed. He tilted his head up from where he'd slid down earlier to rest his head on Kotetsu's shoulder and Kotetsu in turn, like the most natural thing in the world, had just put an arm around his back and held him there. Barnaby made an enquiring noise when Kotetsu snorted lightly, obviously amused by whatever was going on. He hadn't really expected a reply and while he didn't get one, it had drawn Kotetsu's attention, making him turn his head, look down at him with a soft smile before dipping down to press his dry lips, closed, against Barnaby's. Pulling back for a moment, he looked down at Barnaby, the lines around his eyes soft and inviting. His face was half in shadow from the light behind him making the moment seem impossibly more private and intimate. He opened his mouth to say something, but Barnaby put his fingers against his lips and just stared, processing it all. Yes, he'd been kissed before, but he'd never quite understood the hype around it. It hadn't ever really done that much to him. The few times it had happened, it had never gone beyond that. It had never been with someone he cared about. He did what he always did, analysed the situation; this was nice, the kiss was nice. More input needed. And Kotetsu just waited for him, the arm behind Barnaby's back and shoulders, supporting but not restrictive. He wasn't pushing for anything, just --holding. The other hand he'd let sink to his side, the screen of his mobile phone darkening as the backlight went off.

[veinereastath]

Eᴛʜᴀɴ Hᴀᴡᴋᴇ ᴀs Aʀᴛʜᴜʀ Hᴀʀʀᴏᴡ ɪɴ Mᴏᴏɴ Kɴɪɢʜᴛ [53/?]

[sitp-recs]

Home County (orphaned)

Harry/Draco (2017, Gen Teen and Up, 10k)

Harry is an architect and the reluctant part-owner of his own firm. Malfoy works at The Ministry but doesn’t actually have a proper job title even though what he does sounds as though it’s pretty important. It would probably be harder not to become friends, when they have to sit through endless, dull meetings with each other, and skirt around some truly terrible weather, and deal with Harry’s irrational hatred of his assistant, and build thirty whole houses from the ground up in a wet field outside of London.

Malfoy nodded slowly, let his head fall against the high back of the chair, rested his plate in his lap. “I think this is going to be good,” he said, gesturing at the plastic roof and the haphazard furniture, at the dark sky, at Harry. “I honestly do.”

I can’t say I’ve recced many Gen fics in the past - I’m too addicted to smutty resolutions! - but this story is so very special I just couldn’t resist. Every now and then I revisit this author’s works in a row - we’re so lucky they weren’t deleted! - and I always find my way back to this charming architect!Harry AU. I love everything about it: the feel-good atmosphere, the original concept, the smooth pacing and the “no angst, only fluff >:(”vibes, so very sweet and self-indulgent!

Seefin writes slice-of-life like a god, their fics always have this subtle and organic sense of humor and effortlessly charming and realistic dialogue that makes me giggle in delight. You’ll find it impossible not to fall in love with this exasperated Harry as his edges get softened by this calm, polite, soft Draco. They are brought together by a housing project for the Ministry and fall in love many meetings and one special matchmaker later 🐍 I loved seeing this fresh and irreverent take on the characters, both pursuing unexpected career paths, both moved by curiosity and affection for each other. They come together slowly but surely, in an almost inevitable way, and everything is so easy and drama-free I wanna reread this every two weeks as a self-care ritual.

Speaking of characterization, what a treat this fic is! From his obsession with making people lose their composure over a squishy chair (see banner above - it took me ages to find a decent pic but I just had to, that opening paragraph is too brilliant!) to his irritability towards anything related to his poor assistant also called Harry, this HJP is the hot mess we all love and deserve - quirky, impatient, intense and totally smitten with Draco. They are both adorable in their own earnest way and I think this might be one of the cutest get togethers I’ve ever read. Have I mentioned the perfect happy ending with an iconic first kiss and wholesome proposal? Trust me, those scenes will cure your Monday blues within five minutes. My heart melted at the thought of them building a home together, and suddenly I can’t imagine any reason why Harry shouldn’t be an architect, after seeing how it shapes his relationship with Grimmauld Place, with his past, with his sense of belonging and his hopes for the future. Didn’t see it coming but loved getting emotional over it!

I think this story is the perfect way to start a new week: grinning like an idiot at these two idiots falling in love in a ridiculous, disgustingly sweet way. The only bad thing about this fic is that it ends exactly when you realize you wanna live inside this universe forever. Oh, well. You are very welcome!

Read on AO3

[roguestorm]

Do you have anyone you would ship Jean with that isn’t Scott or the Phoenix? If so, why? If not, why?

Last anon: And I totally mean “ship” in that you would like it to be canon /or/ you would like to see it in au of some sorts!

Absolutely! I'm always going to be for Jean/Scott first and foremost, but I am a multishipper and there are lots of people I think she would be fun with.

Probably the main one is Jean/Ororo, I love their canon friendship and I think they would be a really good couple. (I’m also into Scott/Ororo, so Jean/Scott/Ororo is good too.) I think they complement each other well in battle and out of it, where Ororo is more pragmatic and Jean is more optimistic but they have a shared vision of what they want the future to look like and the determination to get there. I also like that they do in canon have an intimacy that is easy to read as romantic. There’s a scene where Ororo is on the brink of death and Jean comes in to save her, but Ororo asks her to wait so that she can see her parents in the space between life and death, and then she introduces Jean to her parents. Jean is allowed to witness such an important reunion, and Ororo even invites her to do so, because they are extremely close and important to each other. In the drama of their lives, they provide a space to be quiet together, and I think that’s a really solid foundation for a ship.

Jean/Wanda is also good, more for what I’ve seen the fandom do with it than for anything in canon (although their friendship in XMFC is adorable). The aesthetics of it, too, are just amazing, they’re both incredibly powerful women with space-y aesthetics. And they’ve both done things that they really do regret but they’re moving on from them and they refuse to let them define them. Jean-and-Wanda-raise-the-twins AUs are always going to have a special place in my heart.

Jean/Bishop kind of came out of nowhere and surprised me, but I’m not opposed to it. Bishop has the kind of unflinching morality that Jean finds so attractive in Scott (although Bishop’s code of ethics is different from Scott’s), and for Bishop I think Jean has a hope/optimism that is good for him. I doubt we’ll ever see anything more done with this couple, but like I said, I’m open to it for sure.

Then there are a whole bunch of guys where I’m like, okay, in another life, I guess this could’ve happened. Warren’s the most obvious one, but also I think it would be interesting to see her with Gambit or Kurt or Hank. (I didn’t really like the teen!Jean/Hank plot; I am talking about other universes here.) I feel like it would be easy to be like, yeah, in this alternate universe something happened and Jean and Scott didn’t end up together, so she’s with [other X-Men member she has a decent relationship with] and that’s just a thing that everyone’s used to.

With Warren, they are like probably quietly going through a divorce that they don’t want anyone to know about because they’ve always been the face of the X-Men and the rock on which everyone else depends but they’re really better off as friends. With Hank, it depends on which Hank we’ve got. Classic Hank, he and Jean are very dramatic all the time and have several elaborate rituals that everyone else finds disgustingly affectionate. With modern Hank, we get a seriously preachy Jean who is always 0.2 seconds away from giving him a lecture on why locking people up without trial is Bad, Actually. With Kurt, they both have heavy subtext with Logan (listen. I hate Jean/Logan but I’ll allow it in the context of this specific AU) but mostly Kurt always catches her in his arms when she’s about to fall and smiles his most charming smile and then teleports her to safety and she always gets super mad and goes full godmode when anyone hurts her boyfriend. With Gambit, I think you have to go full nineties with the characters. He does not have half of the growth that our Gambit has had and she is in her least subtle and most dramatic characterization. They fight regularly and then passionately make up only when one of them gets into danger. (As you can tell, I don’t take any of these ship opportunities particularly seriously.)

My problem is that if Jean and Scott are anywhere near each other in a story, I want them to be together. I think they exist, naturally, at the center of each others’ stories, and it’s really hard for me to entertain the thought of other Jean ships when Scott is in the picture. 😭 This may be indicative that there is something Wrong With Me, but mostly I just think that from the beginning, Jean and Scott’s stories have always been written to be about both of them together, and so their relationship is very fundamental to the characters they are today, and I want to continue their character growth together. I love characters whose narratives are inseparable.

Thank you for the question! =D