#murderbot doesn’t want to be sexualized

[fantasyarcanum]

i’ve been thinking a lot lately about the murderbot diaries adaptation and one thing in particular that’s been on my mind is the realization that when the series comes out that’ll probably be a lot thirsty edits about the character—especially with the very cis, very white and very masculine alexander skarsgård playing the part.

and it makes me so sad to think about it bc it goes against everything the character represents. mb is always anxious and nervous around humans not only for fear of it’s hacked governor module being discovered, but also for not wanting to be sexualized (be viewed as an object). it doesn’t like to be touched and feels uncomfortable being stared at, i mean, in the very first book when Gurathin asks it “Why don’t you want us to look at you?” it replies with “You don’t need to look at me. I’m not a sexbot”, and that says so much about this character and it’s personality, about how it perceives human behavior based on its many bad experiences.

mb is canonically a nonbinary character with no sex related parts and that feels no sexual attraction. it even skips the sex scenes in its favorites shows!! c’mon, it doesn’t even want to be considered human lol!!!

anyway, what i mean with all this—and i hope i’m making sense—is that this character deserves to be properly portrayed and i sincerely hope (even knowing it is futile) that they find a way to convey to the public this very important character trait.

i’ll take the badass edits any day but not the thirsty ones, not about this specific character.

[duckprintspress]

10 Books for Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day!

May 24th is Pansexual and Panromantic Visibility Day, so make sure to say hi to your pan friends before they’re invisible again! We’re celebrating with (shock) book recommendations! Explicit pan rep is hard to come by, and in cases where it’s implied, the difference between interpreting a characters as bi versus pan is often down to personal perceptions of the character and the sexuality/romanticisms in questions. With that in mind, we present 10 titles we loved with either explicit or implied pan rep! The contributors to this list are: Nina Waters, Tris Lawrence, boneturtle, E. C., and two anonymous contributors

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries series) by Martha Wells

“As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure.”

In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety.

But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid—a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, all it really wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is.

But when a neighboring mission goes dark, it’s up to the scientists and their Murderbot to get to the truth.

A Fisherman of the Inland Sea by Ursula K. Le Guin

The award-winning stories in A Fisherman of the Inland Sea range from the everyday to the outer limits of experience, where the quantum uncertainties of space and time are resolved only in the depths of the human heart. Astonishing in their diversity and power, they exhibit both the artistry of a major writer at the height of her powers and the humanity of a mature artist confronting the world with her gift of wonder still intact.

Commit to the Kick by Tris Lawrence

For eighteen years, Alaric has lived under the cloying politics of family and his Clan community. His freshman year is supposed to be a chance to explore a world where Clan and his shapeshifting Talent isn’t central to his life. But when his inner bear bursts forth during his first football game, endangering those around him, Alaric realizes that it’s not so easy to ignore his past, or his own internalized anger.

In his quest for anger management, Alaric begins to train in taekwondo, and makes new friends in both sports. He finds that he is creating his own small community, where Clan, Mages, other Talents, and even humans come together and build their own found family.

When Alaric receives news that something has happened to his brother Orson, he must return and deal with his Clan and his place in their world. He discovers that old prejudices are still strong between Clan and Mage communities, but that both may be in danger from a creature long thought to be only a legend. Alaric must figure out how to move forward and prevent a war and protect both his home and newly built communities, his found family with him every step of the way. 

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

Margot Cooper doesn’t do relationships. She tried and it blew up in her face, so she’ll stick with casual hookups, thank you very much. But now her entire crew has found “the one” and she’s beginning tofeel like a fifth wheel. And then fate (the heartless bitch) intervenes. While touring a wedding venue with her engaged friends, Margot comes face-to-face with Olivia Grant—her childhood friend, her first love, her first… well, everything. It’s been ten years, but the moment they lock eyes, Margot’s cold, dead heart thumps in her chest.

Olivia must be hallucinating. In the decade since she last saw Margot, her life hasn’t gone exactly as planned. At almost thirty, she’s been married… and divorced. However, a wedding planner job in Seattle means a fresh start and a chance to follow her dreams. Never in a million years did she expect her important new client’s Best Woman would be the one that got away.

When a series of unfortunate events leaves Olivia without a place to stay, Margot offers up her spare room because she’s a Very Good Person. Obviously. It has nothing to do with the fact that Olivia is as beautiful as ever and the sparks between them still make Margot tingle. As they spend time in close quarters, Margot starts to question her no-strings stance. Olivia is everything she’s ever wanted, but Margot let her in once and it ended in disaster. Will history repeat itself or should she count her lucky stars that she gets a second chance with her first love? 

Maneater (Monsters of Moonvale series) by Emily Antoinette

If something ever seems too good to be true, it probably is. That’s how the “friendly” invitation to join a new coven turned into a surprise demon summoning. At least it wasn’t a virgin sacrifice. Then I really would have been screwed—and not in the way they plan for with the succubus they’ve bound. 

When I help free her from the bindings and offer her a ride back to work, things get even weirder. She tells me she wants to see me again. This captivating woman wants to see me—a nerdy witch who spends his free time playing D&D. 

There’s no way she means it. Because that’s definitely too good to be true. Still, there’s no way I can resist the opportunity to spend more time with a goddess like her. 

There’s Magic Between Us by Jillian Maria

A diehard city girl, 16-year-old Lydia Barnes is reluctant to spend a week in her grandma’s small town. But hidden beneath Fairbrooke’s exterior of shoddy diners and empty farms, there’s a forest that calls to her. In it, she meets Eden: blunt, focused, and fascinating. She claims to be hunting fae treasure, and while Lydia laughs it off at first, it quickly becomes obvious that Eden’s not joking-magic is real.

Lydia joins the treasure hunt, thrilled by all the things it offers her. Things like endless places in the forest to explore and a friendship with Eden that threatens to blossom into something more. But even as she throws herself into her new adventure, some questions linger. Why did her mom keep magic a secret? Why do most of the townspeople act like the forest is evil? It seems that, as much as Lydia would like to pretend otherwise, not everything in Fairbrooke is as bright and easy as a new crush…

Fire and Flight (ElfQuest series) by Wendy and Richard Pini

The forest-dwelling elves called the Wolfriders are burnt out of their ancestral home by vengeful humans. Betrayed by cowardly trolls, the elfin band, led by Cutter, Blood of Ten Chiefs, must cross the Burning Waste to find a haven they’ve never seen before. Can the Wolfriders survive? If they do, what surprises await them at Sorrow’s End?

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

This is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted-and still wants-to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself.

Final Draft by Riley Redgate

Laila Piedra doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke, and definitely doesn’t sneak into the 21-and-over clubs on the Lower East Side. The only sort of risk Laila enjoys is the peril she writes for the characters in her stories: epic sci-fi worlds full of quests, forbidden love, and robots. Her creative writing teacher has always told her she has a special talent. But three months before graduation, Laila’s number one fan is replaced by Nadiya Nazarenko, a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who sees nothing at all special about Laila’s writing.

A growing obsession with gaining Nazarenko’s approval–and fixing her first-ever failing grade–leads to a series of unexpected adventures. Soon Laila is discovering the psychedelic highs and perilous lows of nightlife, and the beauty of temporary flings and ambiguity. But with her sanity and happiness on the line, Laila must figure out if enduring the unendurable really is the only way to greatness.

Before I Let Go by Marieke Nijkamp

Best friends Corey and Kyra were inseparable in their tiny snow-covered town of Lost Creek, Alaska. But as Kyra starts to struggle with her bipolar disorder, Corey’s family moves away. Worried about what might happen in her absence, Corey makes Kyra promise that she’ll stay strong during the long, dark winter.

Then, just days before Corey is to visit, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated–and confused, because Kyra said she wouldn’t hurt herself. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones, saying Kyra’s death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she’s a stranger.

The further Corey investigates–and the more questions she asks–the greater her suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets–chilling secrets. Can she piece together the truth about Kyra’s death and survive her visit?

You can also view this list on the shelf on our Goodreads, or visit Bookshop.org and check out this list in our affiliate shop! Note: due to the difficulty of differentiating a pan characters versus a bi character unless which they are is explicitly identified in canon, we have put bi and pan characters on joint lists – so these lists linked are bisexual and/or pansexual character lists.

What are your favorite books with pansexual and panromantic characters?

[bakedbananners]

Thank you for giving me murderbot on my dash! <3 If you want this is an invitation for random murderbot thoughts otherwise congrats on having good taste. :)

WAUW THANK YOU I’ve latched onto it like a small and viscous parasite. Here are some murderbot thots 💭

- are constructs capable of laughter? Murderbot mentions that it takes in very little oxygen and can’t even perform CPR (if it even wanted to) so I wonder if it could/would program itself to laugh. Or just like play an audio recording of laughter. Or even just send a feed emote lol

-I know in my heart that murderbot has scripts it pulled straight from sanctuary moon. It would be very funny if it says something or acts exactly like the characters on the show sometimes and anyone who’s seen it recognizes it, but doesn’t point it out just to be polite.

-ergo I think if this happened with ART re: Worldhoppers it would be even funnier. Iris is like how do you know this show verbatim and ART is just like well ahah funny story.

-i have a loose headcanon that secunits have face blindness and use other factors and data to tell humans apart. Given that Murderbot uses peoples feed IDs to name them and never really describes anyone’s facial features and is bad at telling human ages it wouldn’t be a stretch lol.

-do secunits have a sense of taste? Like they can smell stuff but can they taste it… they don’t need to eat and corporations are such cheapskates I doubt it.

-are comfortunits programmed to actually experience pleasure??? Do they feel attraction???? I think it would be so interesting if they lacked attraction and/or libido just as much as secunits honestly. Inversely it would be really interesting to explore the social dimension of sexuality aka having a secunit character that identifies as allo in some way.

-i just really want a comfortunit character in the next book.

-thinking about murderbot interacting with pets makes me laugh. It’s like why do you have a miniature dangerous predator in your HOME. Take care of planet flora like a normal human tf. And its over sitting on the floor with the dog after ten minutes.

[clonerightsagenda]

The aro icon poll has concluded, with Murderbot claiming the lead. This is unsurprising as I wasn't sure TMD even qualified since I think the aromanticism is intentional, but I knew not including it would result in a bunch of 'where's murderbot op' comments.

Anyway! Here is a roundup of everyone's submissions for additional iconic aro works and moments.

Keladry of mindelan, tbh. she had sort of crushes, but turns out romance isn't her thing, which she learned as she got older and is totally valid. she's also canonically aroace, so yay!

when lirael in the book of the same name spends her whole life alone and treated like a child bc she fails to develop a power that most people get before puberty. and also when someone flirts with her and she leaves/changes the subject very quickly bc she doesn't want to deal with it. she's still aro to me

lirael erasure on that poll. goldenhand is not real and cannot hurt me

when rin from the books of bayern's defining moment of using her powers Wrong is when she thinks it will satisfy her to persuade someone she's told likes her to kiss her but everything abt it feels so horrible she runs away and is miserable for years. and then reclaims her powers by using them to help and befriend people on a deeper level

The entirety of Kamen Rider Fourze #The main character is determined to become friends with everyone even his enemies #he is completely oblivious to anything romantic that may involve him #he quite literally gets stronger from the power of friendship

oh Fushi To Your Eternity's whole story #being about finding humanity and connection as an immortal demi god #and still Not Getting romantic/sexual love #despite many people trying to explain it #and also a cult that has spending 200 years #trying to help the reincarnation of their founder seduce him #and never getting past the friend zone #also barely getting in the friend zone because Fushi is pretty :/ about them #seriously pls watch To Your Eternity it is SO good

everything about jo and laurie's relationship in little women

-ME from REAL LIFE

oh also tris from the emelan books is rlly quite acearo!!

deeply unpopular opinion but steve harrington is aro TO ME #i know there are multiple ways to read his character but like. his s3 character arc is about realizing he doesnt need to be in a #relationshp to be happy and he’s trying to force it anyways bc thats what he thinks he should do! #his most fulfilling relationships are with children and a qpp with a lesbian! #he tries to ask robin out and it definitely seems like he maybe just doesn’t know the difference between romantic and platonic love because #he has not in fact ever experienced the former!! #yes i know there are other ways to interpret these things. However its my god given right to project onto characters so thats what i’ll do #i also think ophelie from la passe mirroir books is aro but presumably nobody else here has read those lol #OH and cannonical acearo rep shoutout to the fires stone haha

Seren from “Seren” being exiled from her home planet for reaching the age of 25 unmarried, and her whole entire regret is the “getting exiled” and “disappointing her family” and “failing to be a Productive Citizen of her Planet” parts whereas she never seems like she actually cares about the being married part At All

I am slapping each of these works with a celebrity book club-style sticker like this

[booksandwords]

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Series: The Murderbot Diaries, #1 Read time: 1 Day Rating: 5/5

The quote: Granted, I liked the imaginary people on the entertainment feed way more than I liked real ones, but you can’t have one without the other. — Murderbot

Oh Murderbot... you are definitely something and I feel for you. This book feels like it can be used as a metaphor for LGBTQ identities. There are some aspects of the story that feel very aroace. Murderbot doesn't talk about their feelings but you can see the coding coming through. They are part human, and part bot but it's not a simple 50/50 split, one of their very bot traits is their lack of sexual organs. "I don’t have any gender or sex-related parts (if a construct has those you’re a sexbot in a brothel, not a murderbot) so maybe that’s why I find sex scenes boring. Though I think that even if I did have sex-related parts I would find them boring." (Murderbot). I honestly think quite a lot of people with LGBTQ identities may relate to this on some level. Oh and bonus point they are also coded autistic and in a semi-flirtatious, semi-argumentative relationship with an asshole AI called ART.

All Systems Red is wonderful and I can see where its popularity comes from and it is deserving of the praise it has received. It may be a short work but it is brilliantly written. Readable and engaging with a variety of enjoyable characters and a promise of great lore. The self-contained story and the way in which it is framed are so very well done. Murderbot themselves makes you care and is well developed they grow over time even if it is a novella. The ending becomes that growth honours it. I really do adore the framing of All Systems Red, and I would suspect The Murderbot Diaries more widely. The whole book is a message to a single character, in this case, Dr Mensah, I'm guessing the character may change from book to book as Murderbot moves through the universe.

This is a book with some fantastic quotes in it. I want to share them. All quotes are by Murderbot. • With my cracked governor there was nothing to stop me, but not letting anybody, especially the people who held my contract, know that I was a free agent was kind of important. Like, not having my organic components destroyed and the rest of me cut up for parts important. — The tracked chip is how Murderbot is how they are sentient. I like this total sense of self and the way Wells jas phrased it. I can hear it. • The sense of urgency just wasn’t there. Also, you may have noticed, I don’t care. — Even when Murderbot does care they are a pessimist. Honestly, it is kinda me. Sorta. The lack of urgency is in Murderbot wanting to do their job. • Yes, talk to Murderbot about its feelings. The idea was so painful I dropped to 97 percent efficiency. — Love the computer terminology used throughout this, you are never given the option or opportunity to forget that Murderbot is a bot. Even with their name there are things like how they track time and their hobbies that are so tech. • This is why I didn’t want to come. I’ve got four perfectly good humans here and I didn’t want them to get killed by whatever took out DeltFall. It’s not like I cared about them personally, but it would look bad on my record, and my record was already pretty terrible. — For a character that doesn't care about people, who is largely apathetic at times, it is interesting to watch the changes to Murderbot as time goes on as the develop some kind of bond with their humans. • And in their corner all they had was Murderbot, who just wanted everyone to shut up and leave it alone so it could watch the entertainment feed all day. — Tell me this isn't totally accurate at times? • I hate having emotions about reality; I’d much rather have them about Sanctuary Moon. — Now this is a mood. Sanctuary Moon is Murderbot's favourite TV show/ net drama. And oh I emotions about tv are so much easier to deal with.

I appreciate the world that Martha Wells has started building here. The follow-up answers a question posed in this piece. It allows for more exploration of the world Wells has created for Muderbot, now that the basic premise and introductions have been established.

Also total respect to @alex-van-gore​ for their fantastic art of Murderbot. The tag is well work checking out.

[pride-posting]

Hello!

In June I will be taking any pride-themed requests for art/writing/poetry/etc! They will all be posted to this blog (and tagged as appropriately as I can for triggers in the event one comes up).

Please be respectful! I want no hate on this page! I am anti MAPs and probably radqueers (but I’m not quite sure what radqueers entails? So like for questions about that I’m super open to responding, this is just based on my super limited knowledge) but all identities are respected here! We all make mistakes but we have to learn from them. For example, if I ever fuck up, *please tell me!*

Anyway, guidelines for fics and art follow the same guidelines as my commissions (but free, obviously)! If you want anything not pride themed or anything not in June, please commission me!!! I am poor and Discord Nitro is kinda cool!!!!

Commissions info:

Commissions Are Open!

Writing

Poetry: 1 month Nitro Basic OneShot Fics/Stories: 1 month Normal Nitro

We will do: Fandoms in our fandom list Ship fics Angst Comfort OCs

We will not do: MAPs NSFW/Smut

Fandom List:

The Magnus Archives/The Magnus Protocol

Rise of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Dead End Paranormal Park

Bluey

Ducktales

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

My Little Pony

The Murderbot Diaries

Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage/Project Sekai

The Percy Jackson Serieses/Rick Riordian’s books

Little Witch Academia

The Hollow

Glitch Techs

Skylanders

Hilda

Carmen Sandiego If there is a fandom you want that is not on this list, you are welcome to ask, I’ve probably forgotten some!

Art

Bust Sketch: 1 month Nitro Premium Full Body Sketch: 1 year Nitro Basic Bust fully colored/rendered: 1 year Nitro Basic Full body colored/rendered: 1 year Nitro Premium

What we will do: Any characters! Doesn’t have to be ones on our fandom list Majority of posing, expressions, etc What we will not do: NSFW MAPs Backgrounds that are more complicated than, like, a shape or a pride flag Don’t ask us to do nudity <3 artistic nudity isn’t inherently NSFW or sexual but we are minors <3

[thepringlesofblood]

back on my bullshit again - i have 2 audiobooks on my libby app rn, all systems red and graceling, and my brain is stuck in compare and contrast mode, so hot take.

murderbot and katsa (from graceling) would get along like a house on fire

i mean. the parallels. the autistic coding. the gnc vibes. the capability of incredible violence coupled with the reluctance to use it. the fear of being forced to use that violence unwillingly (again) due to past trauma. fuck.

im listing all the parallels i noticed under the cut bc this is going to be a long one

*disclaimer: I love the murderbot audiobooks. the graceling audiobook can choke - they do not do it justice. my standards are probably way too high tho lol i’ve been reading and rereading graceling for like a decade*

the line that sparked this connection is from graceling - katsa and po are talking about her grace, and she says she hasn’t helped as many lives as she’s hurt, and he says “you have the rest of your life to tip the balance”

like. if that doesn’t capture mb’s vibe idk what does.

here’s the list

autistic coding. we all know mb is autistic, but katsa show so many signs of it that are easy to miss if you’re not looking for it but once you see it you can’t unsee it.

I made a whole other post about it but I mean - sensory issues, not picking up on social cues, bluntness, it’s all there baby.

plus katsa and mb are equally bad at identifying their own emotions and what they want (big picture).

they both have relationships with gender and sexuality than differ from the norms of the societies they’re in

obviously their relationships to gender are wildly different, but both differ from societal gender perception in-universe. katsa is seen as odd for her short hair, pants, and rejection of the societal expectation of women to get married and have kids. her relationship with Po is unique, and negotiated on their terms, not dictated by societal norms. meanwhile murderbot’s experience of gender and sexuality is inherently tied to its identity as a construct, and while i’m sure there are agender aroace humans in universe, mb repeatedly ties its identity to being a construct, like saying ‘constructs have less than null interest in humans or any other kind of sex’ instead of just ‘i have no interest in sex’

they’re both really, really good at fighting and killing people, but they choose to use that capability to protect their friends and the people they love.

they learn that they aren’t just made for killing, that they can do so much more, and that they can find a place for themselves where they’ll be safe, independent, doing work they like, and that they have friends who know what they are and aren’t afraid.

For a long time they were under the control of a greedy, corrupt authority, which forced them to enact senseless violence. They’re both conflicted about the things they were forced to do, and harbor serious guilt and self-loathing about it, but over the course of the book begin to heal and acknowledge their pasts while working to take control over their future.

both have serious issues and trauma related to losing control over mind and body - mb with its governor module, katsa with randa’s threats and leck’s grace. they will do anything to never feel like that again.

in fact, at some point both of them say something along the lines of “I want to keep my mind my own” - mb with “the inside of my mind had been my own for 35,000+ hours...I wanted to keep me the way I was” and when katsa is fighting with po when he first reveals his grace, she says “what thoughts of mine have you stolen?” and “It’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one whose thoughts are not your own!”

they both make friends with someone who is “like them,” (ART is another bot and Po is another Graceling), but whose skills complement their own and who share common interests, but come at them from new and interesting viewpoints. (ART learns to like media, but it’s a bigass spaceship that has wildly different perspectives on things than mb does, and Po’s great at fighting, but in a different way and for a very different reason than Katsa).

They spend a long time sharing these interests (watching media/training), until something external happens, and there’s a betrayal of some kind that they then work together to overcome in pursuit of a larger goal.

mb and ART share media and generally are on good terms until the Targets happen in Network Effect and ART sends the Targets after mb and they fight and make up in pursuit of the common goal of Protecting The Humans.

katsa and po train for a while until she refuses to hurt Lord Ellis, and then realizes Po’s lie about his grace, and they fight and make up in pursuit of figuring out the whole grandfather tealiff mystery.

this relationship is unique, and does not fit into in-universe societal expectations - others try to put labels on it, even close friends, but they’re wrong. it is what it is. these two are just going to do what they do and not care about what everyone else thinks.

also there’s some mindreading going on any way you slice it, and ART/po has more power in that division, and navigating that power imbalance is an important part of the relationship.

the feed is the sci-fi version of telepathy, don’t @ me. 

look, the best dnd classes are bard and rogue for a reason.  ninja + smooth talker = profit

welp. lets see if anyone else has ever combined these two incredibly niche interests

[meg-moira]

What's your favorite queer rep in fiction?

My favorite??? I have a hard time choosing a favorite book, let alone a favorite character from them. Best I can do is a list!

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo

This one is a short, stunning read. The main characters is a cleric named Chih (who uses they/them pronouns!), and is investigating the carefully concealed story of an empress and her handmaiden. The book is self-described as a “feminist high fantasy” and it is exactly as fantastic as it sounds.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Have you ever wanted to read a story about two women who are time traveling spies on opposite sides of the time war?? If so, boy have I got the story for you. This whole story is a delightfully agonizing slow-burn enemies to lovers, all wrapped in some of the most gorgeous, surreal prose I’ve ever read.

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells

This one does fall into the genderless robot trope BUT there are also non-binary human characters and great queer and poc representation all around. Also, this whole series is just so good. Martha Wells has such a talent for writing characters that are so easy to love.

Hell’s Library Series by A.J. Hackwith

The main character, a kickass librarian in hell, is black, pansexual, and amazing in every single way. One of the other main characters is bisexual, and there are side characters (not all of them nonhuman) who are non-binary. Also, Hackwith says no thank you to love triangles, giving us a slow burn poly relationship instead.

The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen

When I say this graphic novel made me cry — I mean cry cry. It is about a young boy named Tiên whose parents are refugees from Vietnam. Tiên, who realizes he’s gay, struggles with how to come out to them. Throughout the story, the boy and his mother read fairytales to each other as a way of communicating, and the whole thing is exactly as heartwarming and wholesome as it sounds. I honestly wish I could read the whole thing for the first time again, it’s so so good!

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Nimona is about a troubled shapeshifter who is taken in by the world’s most infamous villain. The two of them set out to prove that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and everyone else at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren’t as “good” as they seem, and the whole story is hilarious, queer, and heartwarming.

Genderqueer by Maia Kobabe

This one doesn’t contain a character, exactly. It’s an autobiographical comic about Maia Kobabe’s life and eir exploration and discovery of eir gender and sexuality. The comic is honest, laugh out loud funny, and incredibly affirming to anyone who might be exploring or questioning their gender.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

When Yadriel, a trans boy, attempts to prove himself a real brujo, he accidentally summons the ghost of a missing classmate. This one’s an enemies to friends to crushes, and it’s an absolute joy.

Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

This one has an asexual main character! I repeat, an asexual main character! ❤️ I went into this book having no idea about the queer rep, and it was the loveliest surprise. Every Heart a Doorway is about the children who are whisked away to other lands — but then, for whatever reason, cannot stay. These children are invited to a boarding school to help them readjust to the real world. Note: Trigger warning for an upsetting (and somewhat graphic) side character death very early in the story.

I know I’ve surely forgotten some equally amazing ones, but these are a start!

[bottoms-movie]

SAMBUCKY FIC RECS PT. 2

The first part did really really so I decided to make a second part of sambucky fic recs. Just as the last one: the fics are split into three categories: based on tfatws, canon divergence, and au. CHECK OUT PART ONE HERE All fics are completed and all are on AO3. 

BASED ON TFATWS

The Truths Beneath Our Ribs | Mature | 6,742 words

5 times Bucky wears Sam's things +1 time Sam wears something of Bucky's

anything you can do, i’ll do you better | Explicit | 5,526 words

Steve is going to kill them if they don't learn to get along, but did they have to take it so far?

making amends | Explicit | 8,645 words

“Not Cap yet,” Sam said. He looked a little ruefully at his hands, which were covered in nicks and cuts. He could already feel his palms bruising from that last shield catch, but at least nothing was broken this time.

“I respect that,” Bucky said slowly. Sam raised an eyebrow, but didn’t respond. Bucky flexed and unflexed the vibranium fingers of his left hand, a nervous habit that Sam had clocked ages ago. “And you’re right.”

“Thanks, I know.” Sam waited a beat. “About what?”

Muscle Memory | 3 parts | Explicit | 13,156 words part 1: Muscle Memory | Teen | 1,766 words

Barnes sighs, and it’s a deep, soul-weary thing. “Maybe no one ever told you this, but I’m telling you right now. You don’t have any obligation to care about me because Steve did. You don’t have to pretend.”

Sam blinks, taken aback. He has to think, really think, about what he says next, because it’s - it’s either going to build or break something.

You’re My World | Explicit | 6,585 words

“I… oh, I get it now.” Sam tilted his head, perceptive as ever, goddammit. “All this flirting with my sister, that was just to get my attention, wasn’t it? I know it was. Say it.”

“That wasn’t—” Bucky croaked, but Sam wasn’t having it.

He huffed a low laugh, and bulldozed right through Bucky’s feeble pretense. “You like it when I pin you against the wall? Take away all that power you have, that strength that your arm gives you? Make you feel small, maybe?”

Call Me By Your (Pet) Name | Teen | 6,928 words

“You got a list of the nicknames available to us lesser mortals?” Sam continued, staring straight ahead at the seat in front of him. “The ‘you’re not Steve Rogers, so don’t even think about it’ collection?”

“Yeah, sure, there’s a list,” Bucky replied, pausing long enough to draw a pointed look from Sam. “Bucky,” he finished, gesturing broadly with his arm to convey the obviousness of the answer.

5 times Sam and Bucky used pet names as a joke + 1 time they used them in earnest

That’s not very gunkle of you | 2 parts | 4,325 words part 1: Bestie Vibes Only | Teen | 1,822 words

“What’s buzzin’ cousin?” Says Bucky, sitting down next to Sam on the docks.

That’s the moment that Sam realizes he needs to change tactics, no more subtly looking up definitions for his weird old person slang, it’s time to fight fire with fire.

“Not much bro, this view is highkey just hitting different TBH” he says, casually looking out at the water.

There’s a beat of silence and then,

“That’s swell doll, I just ate some four-o cackle jelly with side arms, and I’m looking for some kicks, you dig?

Oh, this means war.

misunderstandings | Not Rated | 3,167 words

Sam thinks Sarah and Bucky had a date, and he's Not Okay

you walked into my life to offer me a better view | Teen | 2,534 words

He was standing twenty feet away at the edge of the docks, chatting with Sarah, and Sam couldn't take his eyes away. Bucky's smile was warm, wide, and when he tipped his head back and laughed, his nose scrunching up and eyes crinkling at the corners, Sam could feel it vibrate straight to his heart.

falling, falling, flying | Teen | 2,778 words

Bucky had kissed him.

And Sam had pulled away, because that beautiful golden sunset made Bucky’s hair gleam with the faintest touch of blond, that rare summer breeze hissed like a dying missile past Sam’s ears, the kiss was so familiar, too familiar, and Sam was falling, falling—

(“Let yourself be happy, Sam. Please.”)

lonely boy, you are my world (and i could be anything you need) | Teen | 5,747 words

It all starts with Sam, a shelter, and this sweet kitten that reminded him far too much of a certain century-old, grouchy super soldier.

too dangerous to fall | Explicit | 3,466 words

Bucky Barnes is a one-armed menace. He has murder eyes and no care for basic safety protocols. His jokes are terrible and his bad moods are worse. He’s a godawful roommate who leaves his wet towels on the floor and his combat knives in the linen cabinet. Sam can’t stand the sight of him.

What happens in Louisiana | General | 3,478 words

But just then, in the engine room of the Wilson family boat, away from prying eyes, it felt like something they both needed. The closeness. The warmth.

Steve would laugh at them. Two grown men not being able to get it together. He would roll his eyes at Buck, nudge him with his elbow and tell him “you’re sweet on Sam Wilson so make a move already, punk.”

keep the ashes from my heart (and walk away) | Explicit | 4,412 words

“Jamie asked me out on a date,” Sam says. Bucky swallows. “Took him long enough,” he says, keeping his tone light. He bumps their shoulders together for good measure. “You should go for it.” “You really think so?” Sam asks, looking at him. “Yeah, man,” Bucky says. He fixes his gaze on Torres, high up in the sky, sunlight glinting off his wings. It hurts Bucky’s eyes. He blinks, rapidly. “You should be with somebody who can make you happy.”

(In which Sam starts dating someone who is not Bucky, and Bucky pines, gets seriously injured, and proves himself wrong.)

Hey Samuel | Teen | 3,223 words

"Bucky."

"Yeah?" He looked up eyes wide. Did he say something out loud?

"We're walking the wrong way."

"Oh." Right. Um. "Let's get ice cream."

"I don't know about you, man, but if I eat ice cream in this weather I will get sick."

Bucky was at a loss for words. What now?

OR Ride along Bucky's journey of figuring out when exactly did he fall for Sam Wilson.

Anyday, everyday | General | 6,735 words

He moved his head and locked eyes with Sam. "D'you- can you.. help me cut my hair?" He asked. He forced himself to look away, feeling embarrassed for asking him to come all this way just to give him a haircut.

His stomach dropped when he felt Sam let go of his hand to stand up. Of course he was about to leave. Who wouldn't want to leave Bucky?

"C'mon, Buck. Let me cut your hair." Bucky's eyes snapped up to Sam's. He had a small smile on his face and his hand was reaching out, waiting for Bucky to take it.

Or; the five times Bucky fell more and more in love with Sam, and the one time he finally got the guts to tell him.

If You’ll Have Me | Teen | 4,779 words

Sam casually shrugged, although there was an intent look in his eyes, "Yeah, well it's getting late and I didn't feel like flying anymore so I was wondering if your old man self is okay with-"

"You can stay here." Bucky quickly finished for him.

I like Bucky, Sam I am | Not Rated | 2,653 words

"I would kiss you on the boat. Or in Wakanda by your goats."

Static in the Dark | Teen | 4,989 words

So prompt idea, some bad guy follows Bucky to the docks for revenge (over whatever you can decide) and Sarah gets to see how protective Bucky really is over Sam when he gets in the line of fire

CANON DIVERGENCE

A Different Kind of Problem | Explicit | 7,616 words

“Do you know what it feels like to be insatiable?”

Two months ago, an interrogation gone wrong left Sam with Bucky’s explicit words seared into his brain and body.

Now, Bucky is living in the Avengers Compound, making pancakes and wearing Steve’s huge sweatshirts, fluffy haired and a little shy, seemingly completely content to be on house arrest — and Sam has never been more confused. Whatever Steve thinks, Sam doesn’t have a problem with Bucky. This domesticity is just so at odds with the feral sexuality Bucky had used to rattle Sam during his interrogation. Where did that side of Bucky go? And why can’t Sam stop thinking about finding it? Maybe Sam does have a problem with Bucky… it’s just not the problem Steve thinks it is.

Bucky’s Choice | Not Rated | 4,753 words

When Bucky enters Westview to try to help Wanda Maximoff, he is confronted with something he never expected- Steve Rogers, back from the dead and ready to start a life with Bucky in Westview. It's everything that Bucky ever wanted, everything that Steve abandoned when he went back in time to live his life with Peggy Carter. But Bucky and Sam have been involved for months, and Sam is waiting for Bucky outside of the Hex. Bucky has to make a choice- the life he always wanted with Steve, or a new start with Sam?

tonight i’ll need you to stay | General | 2,227 words

For once, Bucky wants to stop leaving when things are finally looking up. And he wants people to stay with him, too.

(or, 3 times bucky needed an excuse to stay with sam, and the one time he didn't)

How to Win a Supersoldier in Ten Days | Explicit | 14,901 words

When they realize that all the Winter Soldier's interactions with Sam are just him trying to Awkward MurderBot Flirt (TM) with the sexy man, Steve, Tony, and Nat convince Sam to play the honeypot and bring Bucky in.

Sam's pretty sure the honeypot isn't supposed to fall in love with the target, but what can you do?

at the end of the war (what’s mine is yours) | Mature | 4,290 words

They don't talk about it: that's how it works.

warm blood (feels good, i can’t control it anymore) | Explicit | 4,492 words

Sam's just chilling watching TV one evening when Bucky comes in and stares at him silently for a minute or two before sitting down on the couch. He's pretty close to Sam.

Okay, he's really close to Sam. Like, Sam would be using the word 'cuddling' if it wasn't so bizarre.

"What," he says, carefully not looking at Bucky, and Bucky huffs a sigh.

"Steve's not here," he says as if it's obvious. "Don't make it weird. Just- shut up."

Caught With Their Pants Down | Explicit | 3,539 words

“Sam, this guy is not coming, the intel was false,” Bucky replied. “I get this whole ticking boxes and what not, but Rogers got it wrong, and for the love of God I need a fucking toilet.”

“You need to learn to plan your water intake better, is what you need. You’re a damn fool and I don’t know why I put up with you.”

“Because you love me,” Bucky replied, and Sam could hear the smile in his voice.

“In your damn dreams, Barnes.”

They’d been fucking for about six months, but Sam didn’t want Bucky to go getting a big head about it.

AU

sharp teeth, soft heart | 3 parts | 17,866 words part 1: you touch me within and so i (know i could be human once again) | Explicit | 12,444 words 

It’s inevitable, the way it goes. He’s my friend, Steve says, and he is, he is, he must be. Sam’s best friend is Steve, and Steve’s best friend is a werewolf, that’s just how Sam’s life works now.

But once he realizes he’s attracted to Bucky and Bucky can tell, everything becomes, like, a thousand percent more difficult to negotiate. Sam’s just trying to live his life, that’s all, and he keeps getting confronted by Bucky Barnes in a soft flannel shirt, sleeves rolled up, hair all soft and shiny. Bucky glances over at him and smirks, and this is really very embarrassing, how Sam can’t hide his attraction even if he keeps a totally straight face.

I’m so into you I can barely breathe | Explicit | 6,515 words

Sam Wilson had a long day dealing with morons, so he decided to finally go to the famous club in town. There he meets someone who just might get him back in a good mood. And then some.

twelve ounce steak (boxers in briefs) | Explicit | 3,753 words

Sam has pretty lips. Bucky seems to think so, too.

caught it bad (i’ll be on the way) | Mature | 4,830 words

Sam constantly gets roped into doing dumb things with Steve, but this time, it works out perfectly for him.

meet me in the a.m. | Teen | 3,147 words

Steve accidently starts a fire and Bucky's tired. When unbelievably hot firefighter Sam saves the day, though, he can't really be that mad.

i wanna savour, save it for later | Not Rated | 6,419 words

"It's his damn ratings, man," Sam says. "It's weird 'cause when you read the reviews, he seems to like our food and all. Nothing but praise for days. And then you get to the rating, and it's always the same. Three goddamn stars."

Bucky tips his beer bottle from side to side, lips pursing slightly. "I see. And that's… a bad thing?"

"We are not a three-star joint," Sam says flatly.

Or, the one where food truck owner Sam gets caught up in his quest to unmask an anonymous food blogger. Falling for one of his regulars was never on the menu.

we were a fire with no smoke | Explicit | 15,295 words

Sam can’t help but roll his eyes. Take the boys out of New York but they’re still Brooklyn Catholics, that’s clear enough. Bucky catches the gesture, smirks hard enough Sam can see his eye teeth. It should be dangerous but he’s beautiful, pale and charming and recklessly easy.

“You wanna come in?” Sam asks, ignoring the noise Steve makes, and Bucky’s smile gets wider.

“Yeah,” he says. Steps up close to Sam. “I do.”

my house of stone, your ivy grows | Teen | 9,042 words

When Sam Wilson inherits the manor of the old man he once took care of, it feels like his luck is finally looking up. It's an opportunity for a fresh start, something he's in desperate need of. When he arrives, however, it becomes clear that an easy transition into estate living is not exactly a possibility. The house is run-down, nothing like Sam remembers it, and the groundskeeper — who Sam apparently has to share the house with, wants nothing to do with him.

You Smiled Because You Knew | Teen | 3,754 words

"You've got the wrong address," the man who'd answered growled. He had long, scraggly hair that had mostly escaped his attempts to pull it away from his face. He had nice eyes, and wouldn't have been unattractive, especially with a shave, except for the scowl. "Nobody here wants or needs your . . . services."

It was apparent by the tone the man did not appreciate Sam's hard work.

Well, that was tough shit.

[venndaai]

REPUBLIC OF TWO SYSTEMS INDEPENDENCE DAY FANWORK EXCHANGE, 2022 EDITION

The most just, proper, and beneficial time of the year approaches (April 18.) And for the first time, we’re doing this exchange on AO3. 

TAG SET  ---   COLLECTION --- SIGNUP

NOMINATION PERIOD: closed.

SIGNUPS: March 1 - March 10, 11:59 PST.

WORKS DUE: April 13, 11:59 PST.

WORK REVEALS: April 18, 12:00 AM PST.

AUTHOR REVEALS: April 25, 12:00 AM PST.

MATCHING: OR matching, on both characters and ships.

MINIMUM: 500 words or a sketch on unlined paper.

Signups now open!

DETAILS UNDER CUT

NOMINATIONS:

There are four fandoms for this exchange: Imperial Radch, Provenance, The Raven Tower, and Crossover. Provenance is synned to Imperial Radch, and because of this, you might see your Provenance nominations get rejected; don’t worry, I’ll put them in manually. For Crossover, if you are crossing over a Leckie fandom with a non-Leckie fandom, please put the second fandom in parenthesis after the character. For example: “Breq & Murderbot (Murderbot Diaries)”. 

You can nominate Characters and Relationships. Relationships can be romantic, indicated by a “/”, or platonic, indicated by an “&”. For example, “Breq/Murderbot” would indicate a romantic or sexual relationship, while “Breq & Murderbot” would be platonic.

We are a small and crazy fandom. There are some injokes and OCs in the tagset. Don’t worry about it. And if you want to nominate something weird & obscure, go for it.

If you miss the nomination deadline by a couple hours, just message me and I’ll reopen the tagset for you. 

SIGNUPS:

You will need to make at least 3 requests, and 4 offers. For each request or offer, pick at least 1 fandom, 1 character, 1 relationship, and one medium from the dropdown tagset. You can group your requests however you like; you could make 3 individual requests, each with one character, or three requests each with 20 characters- up to you.

Iff you only want to receive or create solo character studies, request/offer that “None/None” relationship tag. If you only want to receive or create works based around worldbuilding, rather than characters, request/offer the “Worldbuilding” tag.

You don’t have to pick Characters that are in your Relationship tags, or vice versa. 

The way the matching works, you will be matched with someone who used at least 1 of the same Character tags, 1 of the Fandom tags, 1 of the same Relationship tags, and 1 of the Medium tags as you. If you request both a Character tag and a ship tag with the same character, you may be matched with someone who wants to write the character, but doesn’t want to write that ship. And vice versa. That’s fine! The work you create only has to use one of the requested character OR relationship tags. 

You can pick “Any” for both offers and requests! Just remember that really does mean “Any”, and be prepared. If you request Any Character or Any Relationship you could be matched with someone who wants to write ANY of the characters or relationships in the tagset.  

If you’re fine with both Art and Fic, you can check off both boxes, or just pick “Any” for that section. 

If there are things you very much Do Not Want in your gift, please list these in the Optional Details box for each of your prompts. For example: “DNW any appearances by spider mechs.” You are required to make a good faith effort to not include DNWs in your recipient’s gift. 

You’re encouraged to give your gifter some prompts! You can put these in the Optional Details box, or paste a link to a letter into the URL box. Optional Details are Optional, and your creator isn’t bound to follow them, outside of the DNWs. Only DNWs in your signup are enforceable, so put them there, not just in a linked letter.

You are allowed to mention characters and ships that weren’t nominated in your optional details, but remember, your creator matched on the tags you chose and isn’t obligated to include anything else.

You can ask for NSFW, but your creator isn’t required to give it to you, so it would be polite to provide some NSFW prompts as well. If you are a minor, please do not request or create NSFW content for this exchange. 

ASSIGNMENTS: everyone will get an email through their AO3 account once I’ve run matching. The email will have your assignment in it. 

It’s possible there will be some people who won’t have anyone they could create for. I’ll email them through their AO3 email asking them to add more offers, and if they don’t respond in 24 hours, their signups will be deleted. If this happens to you and you don’t see my email in time, don’t panic! Just contact me and we’ll work something out. I don’t think this is too likely to happen, but just in case. 

Please don’t tell your giftee who you are. If you have a question, let me know and I’ll convey it to them. 

When you are creating your work, make sure you include at least one tag from at least one of your giftee’s requests, and don’t include DNWs. You only need to create one work, and it only needs to include one of the tags in your giftee’s signup. 

DEFAULTING:

There’s no default deadline or anything. If you can’t finish your gift, no worries. Just click the “default” button on your assignment page. If the person assigned to you also defaults, you may not get a gift. 

If you need an extension, just message me and let me know! If the posting deadline passes and you haven’t posted anything or contacted me, I’ll assume you’re defaulting. 

If you’ve posted your gift, and your creator defaults their assignment, a pinch-hitter will create a gift for you. Everyone who posts a gift will get a gift. 

POSTING:

Please post a finished work of 500 words or sketch on unlined paper by the posting deadline! You can continue to edit and add to your gift until the 18th, but you need to have something that could work as a gift by the 13th.

To post your gift, go to your Assignments page on AO3, and click the “Fulfill” button. Your gift will be automatically given to your giftee, but it will be hidden until the reveal date on the 18th. 

REVEALS: Works will be anonymous for a week after they are revealed. 

TREATS: Because we’re doing this on AO3, everyone’s requests will be visible, and treats are accepted and encouraged. If you see a request you like, you’re more than welcome to make a work that fits it, post it to the collection, and gift it to the person who made the request. Just make sure that it matches the tags in the request and doesn’t include any DNWs.

Please feel free to message me on Tumblr, ping me on Discord, or email me at venndaai@gmail.com with any questions!

[crane-dance]

Somebody needs to install a massage chair in Dr. Mensah’s offices. Not for Dr. Mensah (although she needs it too), but so Murderbot can secretly try it out when the offices are deserted and all the security cameras are diverted.

The first session would be disastrous. Awkward prodding and weird unpleasant sensations as the chair’s manipulators encountered the hard synthetic parts of Murderbot’s back. Some on-the-fly learning of SecUnit anatomy on the chair’s part, while Murderbot grumbled and wondered why humans bothered with this silliness. Then GAH and across the room and WTF WAS THAT, TOO MUCH SENSATION, DO NOT APPROVE, I think I’m having an emotion in my back.

Because Murderbot doesn’t do physical pleasure. I don’t mean sexual pleasure, I mean any kind of physical sensation. After six books of intense personal development, it’s come as far as Showers Are Nice and Couches Are Comfy. Something as small as a proper back rub would send this chronically tense and anxious construct into the stratosphere—if it could handle the sensation, which it couldn’t. The massage chair would be lucky if it didn’t get shot.

Then would come The Weirdness. Several days of stolidly ignoring the chair’s existence and leaving the office any time Mensah used it. There might be blushing. A perceptive onlooker would describe it as “you and I kissed behind the gym at recess and now I have no idea what to do,” except it’s directed at a piece of furniture. Ratthi might end up looking up the massage chair’s specs to see whether the chair has an AI that SecUnit could be communicating with, but there’s no AI to speak of, and now SecUnit is looking at him funny, too.

Eventually, attempt #2. Much gritting of teeth and reminders to itself that it’s been disassembled, torn apart, shot, burned, snd stabbed. It can take a little poking in its organic parts. The sensation isn’t unexpected this time, not as shocking, and Murderbot learns that if it starts to be too much it can lean forward, out of range of the manipulators. It feels silly, arching away from what amounts to an automatic poking machine, when it’s leaned into so many horrible things. But that’s why the security cameras are all being fed a loop of Murderbot watching media on the couch, and ART is in another solar system. Murderbot is alone. It’s safe.

It’s not impressed, though. It’s too tense to enjoy itself. But a hurdle has been crossed, a small challenge conquered.

Attempt #3: Experimentation. The chair’s programming is the height of sophistication for humans, but it has no idea how to handle the joins between a SecUnit’s organic and inorganic parts. It keeps trying this weird rocking-smoothing motion that pinches and aaaaaaaugh. Murderbot delves into the chair’s code to make modifications, and the challenge of creating a secret secondary learning profile, then tweaking it to Murderbot’s satisfaction, keeps Murderbot distracted enough to maybe start enjoying itself. A little.

Three months later: Murderbot boards ART with 900 hours of new stored media and plans for malware that can incapacitate a SecUnit. It works by combining the structure of SecUnit armor with the Unit’s own power source to turn the armor into a full-body TENS unit. The resulting muscle contractions can theoretically send the SecUnit into a full-body, structure-warping seizure.

ART: The under-armor suit will attenuate the signal until it’s barely equivalent to the output of a TENS unit designed for therapeutic massage.

Murderbot: I’m working with what we’ve got. If you want to convince security companies to give SecUnits more conductive skinsuits, be my guest.

ART: There’s a function that prevents it from being triggered during combat.

Murderbot: There’s not enough processing power to run it during combat.

ART: Why are the operating parameters of your anti-SecUnit malware so detailed that it needs that much processing power in the first place?

Murderbot: Reasons.

ART: Why is there a function that puts the malware under the affected Unit’s control?

Murderbot: Whatever. ART, are you going to help me propagate this or not?

[dreadysficrecs]

Stucky Fic Rec List #19

Friday, September 10

🕷️Your Hand in Mine by sangha - [Explicit; 22k words]

[College AU; Pre-Serum Steve; Tattoos; Arachnophobia; Meet-Cute; Self-esteem Issues; Insecure Steve; Fluff; Explicit Sexual Content; Hand Jobs; Blow Jobs; Anal Sex; Bottom!Bucky; Love Confessions]

Steve is just minding his own business when he hears someone scream in the dorm next to his. Enter Bucky Barnes: arachnophobe and hot neighbor who needs to be rescued from a giant spider. Naturally, romance ensues.

🌳 Every Tree That is Pleasant by spitandvinegar - [Teen; 13,5k words]

[Canon Divergence; Alternate Dimensions; Comic Book Science; Loss of Memory; Weirdness; Fluff and Angst; Hurt/Comfort; Codependency; Implied Sexual Content; Happy Ending]

“As near as we can figure,” Tony said, “we had two incredibly ridiculous things happen at once. The first was Cap and murderbot activated a device that was sort of the juiced-up remote version of the thing that they used to scramble Barnes' brains back in the day. The second is that Mad Madame Mim here panicked and tried to get the universe to move them out of the room, and instead accidentally sent them to outer space.”

“To another dimension,” said Wanda, as if that was the point that made all the difference.

💌 The Unsent Project by @turtle-steverogers - [Gen; 2,7k words]

[Canon Divergence; Epistolary; Steve Rogers Needs a Hug; Grieving; Fluff and Angst; Happy Ending]

To: My astronaut

How’s space treating you? It’s treating me pretty badly, if I’m being honest. If only you could see what it’s done to Brooklyn. I think you’d be pretty mad at it if you knew…

Steve hesitates, reading back over what he’s typed. It’s stupid as hell, and he cringes, but he doesn’t backspace. His fingers find the keys again.

I miss you something awful. I don’t think that even encompasses how much I’m hurting without you. I feel so lost right now-- space is much bigger and scarier than you’d think. I know you’d love it. I wish you could see bits of it, but god, I just want to go home. I want you to come home.

☄️ move through me a while by nbsherlock - [Explicit; 3,4k words]

[Canon Divergence; PWP; Established Relationship; Time Travel; Pre-Serum Steve; Post-Serum Steve; Anal Fingering; Anal Sex; Bottom!Bucky; Barebacking; Dom/Sub Undertones; Dirty Talk; Rough Sex; Multiple Orgasms; Crying]

Bucky stays there, frozen, arm tossed out over Steve's side of the bed. He doesn’t know what to say— this isn’t exactly normal. They haven’t had to deal with anything like this in a while, retirement settling over both of them kindly.

This Steve, smaller and dressed like he was dropped straight from the 1930s into Bucky’s bedroom, Stands motionless and looks alarmingly pale. Bucky has to go first, clearly. He just doesn’t know what could possibly help. Steve might know, his Steve, who is also apparently missing. Jesus Christ.

“Hi,” Bucky squeaks, aiming for reassurance and ending up lightyears away.

🥭 The Lord of Greystoke by @humapuma - [Explicit; 31,3k words]

[Tarzan AU; Tarzan!Steve; Mercenary!Bucky; Colonial Africa; PTSD; Internalised Homophobia; Language Barrier; Falling in Love; Injuries; Action/Adventure; Violence; Fluff and Angst; Nudity; First Kiss; First Time; Frottage; Anal Sex; Bottom!Bucky; Multiple Orgasms; Overstimulation; Rimming; Happy Ending; Embedded Art]

Bucky Barnes survived the the American Civil War but never left the battlefield behind. He joined Hydra, a mercenary group, and for the last few years, he's done a lot of terrible things. On a mission, he gets lost in the Wakandan jungle and comes across a man he believes to be the victim of some terrible crime.

There were scars all over this man’s body, some of which seemed like leopard scratches and even what may have been old bullet wounds. His hair was wild and filthy, cascading over his shoulders. Really, the man was quite filthy in general. Some spots, though, Bucky was sure were massive bruises instead of dirt, and they reminded Bucky of the photographs of gorilla attack survivors.

Gorilla attacks. Leopard scratches. Bullet wounds.

“Oh God,” Bucky gasped. “Y-you’re him... You’re the Ape-Man! They... they were right..!”

[foxofninetales]

Recommended Reads: aroace-friendly science fiction and fantasy

As a librarian, a reader, and an aroace person myself, I’ve been toying with the idea of sharing some aroace sff recommendations for a while.  This list is limited to what I have personally read and I know there are a LOT more wonderful books out there that would appeal to aroace readers (please comment if you have a rec to add!), but if you’re looking for something good to read, this might be a place to start!

These books all fit two criteria:

1) No or minimal/fade-to-black sexual content.  ACE PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO READ SMUT ARE VALID.  However, I wanted this list to be able to appeal to a wide range of ace readers.

2) Non-romantic relationships that are as strong or stronger than the romantic ones (though there may also be romantic relationships in some of these books).  ARO PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO READ ROMANCE ARE ALSO VALID.  However, I wanted this list to be emotionally satisfying to a wide range of aro readers.

This list also only includes books that I enjoyed enough to reread at least once, and usually many times.  This is the Good Stuff, is what I'm saying.

Also, if you a fanfic reader who is trying to get into reading more non-fanwork materials, there are several novella recommendations on this list that would be a great place to start.  In fact, my top pic for that purpose would be the first one on the list:

The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. 

Lets get the obvious one out of the way first, shall we?  These are excellent, solid, space-opera style adventures, but what drives them is Murderbot, who may be THE most relatable protagonist I will ever encounter.  This is not just because Murderbot is clearly, explicitly ace, but because.... well, the first few lines of the first novella explain it better than I ever can.

"I could have become a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites. It had been well over 35,000 hours or so since then, with still not much murdering, but probably, I don’t know, a little under 35,000 hours of movies, serials, books, plays, and music consumed. As a heartless killing machine, I was a terrible failure."

The stories follow the titular Murderbot as it investigates the mysteries of its past, tries to figure out what it wants from its future, and is dragged kicking and screaming into feeling emotions.  The series currently consists of five novellas and a novel.  Start with the first novella, All Systems Red.  Also, while there is absolutely no smut (Murderbot would be horrified) this series is -definitely- competency porn.

(I'm going to throw in a side-recommendation for Martha Wells in general. She's got an amazing gift for three-dimensional characters and deep emotional bonds whether romantic or not.  I've been a Martha Wells fan for YEARS and am thrilled to see her finally getting the recognition she deserves.  I enjoy all of her works, but I'll throw out a particular recommendation for "Wheel of the Infinite" (in which a badass, older WOC causes trouble on purpose while a really hot warrior dude follows her around holding her flower) and the “Fall of Ile-Rien” trilogy (which features delicious world-building and a not-explicity-stated but pretty obvious OT3 endgame that should be satisfying to Leverage fans).)

The Penric and Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold.

I don't know exactly what you call the relationship between a sweet-natured young sorcerer and the ancient, multi-personalitied demon who lives in his mind, but it definitely doesn't fall into the standard romance mold.  This series of novellas is up to 9 books so far (start with Penric's Demon), and it's full of satisfying relationships with new and recurring characters. The setting in the Five Gods fantasy world, which is my favorite Bujold universe and has one of my favorite explorations of religion in fantasy, ever - in fact, the staggeringly overwhelming love the gods have for people is one of the non-romantic loves that clinches this series for me.  

(Again, another general recommendation for Bujold, with the proviso that she's been writing for a long time, so some of her earlier stuff, though progressive for the time, isn't quite on par with how we might think or phrase things today (but it's very clear she was TRYING).  She's another one with a gift for writing intense characters and relationships, and her romantic relationships oddly tend to be the weakest.  If you like the Penric and Desdemona series, definitely check out her other books set in the same Five Gods world, which are AMAZING.)

The Imperial Radch series by Ann Leckie

Another obvious pick, but no less recommended for all that.  This is yet another of those works that illustrates the ace person's dilemma at having a lot of their representation in media be in the form of non-human characters; on the one hand, we really should get more diverse representation than that, but on the other hand, ANDROIDS ARE COOL.  Or, in this case, artificial intelligences, in the form of One Esk Nineteen, the last lingering remnant of what was one a vast and powerful battleship.  Part action-thriller, part political intrigue, part musing on the nature of personhood and what and who can love.  SO much competency porn.  Start with Ancillary Justice.

The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

When the entire royal family dies in an airship accident, a neglected and forgotten prince finds himself the emperor of the elves, forced to negotiate the complexity of court dynamics powered almost solely by his dogged determination to be a good person.  Maia and his struggle to balance the detachment of the throne with his desperate need for emotional connection are the beating heart and soul of this story.  Fair warning, I read a review once that described this book as having approximately 3/4 of an action scene, and they weren't wrong, but Maia's deep emotional longing pulled me along as strongly as any plot.  I think this book would have a lot of appeal for xianxia/wuxia fans, both in the general pacing, the clear influences on the worldbuilding, and the whump service.

(An ace heads-up: If you are not into kinky smut, use caution if you seek out any of the works by this author under her other pen-name.)

The Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner

Megan Whalen Turner is a tricksy, tricksy sneak of an author who will have you finish a book and immediately reread it while shrieking "that was foreshadowing!" and "it was right there in front of my face!" the whole time.  She also likes to rip you heart out and stomp on it.  With hobnailed boots.  You may not quite believe me as you are reading the first book of the series (The Thief), which is lighter and a little more juvenile in tone, but trust me on this one, read through chapter 3 of the second book and You Will Understand.  You may also hate me.  

The setting is an ancient Crete/Grece/Persia type minimal-magic fantasy world that is painted with vivid strokes. The focal characters and focal relationships change between the various books, but they all rotate around the central character of Eugenides.  I can't say too much about him without spoiling things, but let's just say that he is a sneaky bastard in all the best ways, and definitely delivers on the competency porn.  He is also a whump magnet, so if that is your thing, MWT knows all the tropes you love and delivers them with care.  

The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire

One of the positives to come out of the ebook revolution is the resurgence of the novella as a viable format; I think this is the third novella series on this list!  This series toys with the idea of those children who fell into otherworld fantasy adventures, and asks - what happens when those children come home?  Starting with Every Heart a Doorway, these interlinked tales rotate around Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children, where all those kids who suddenly go mad and start babbling about talking lions and magical wardrobes are packed off by their uncomprehending families.  The tone is almost fairytale-like, with a definite undercurrent of horror, but the characters are raw and real.   Not only is there explicit ace representation, there is also copious representation of various gender identities, sexualities, and neurodivergences; it's basically the author waving a sign that screams YOU ARE VALID for six books so far.  

The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater

By golly, Maggie Stiefvater can write.  And I'm not just talking plots, or characters, or themes, I'm talking about the sheer mechanics of verbal structure.  I'm talking about writing where you stagger from an achingly poetic sentence that you reread six times for the sheer beauty of it, only to encounter an acrobatic convolution of words that hits you with all the delicate force of a mugger with a baseball bat.  

Though it could nominally be called urban fantasy, "The Raven Cycle" straddles the line between reality and unreality, an epic quest and a coming-of-age story surrounding one boy's singleminded quest to pull magic into the world as he hunts for the lost Welsh king Glendower in the rolling Virginia hills.  Though there are two strong romances that help drive the story, the non-romantic relationships between the tightly entwined main characters are every bit as important and visceral in their longing.  Start with The Raven Boys, and keep in mind that she is currently publishing a followup series.

The Web Shifters series by Julie Czerneda

Non-romantic emotional attachments are the driving force for this space adventure series (start with Beholder's Eye).  Esen is a web shifter, one of the last of a mysterious species that can shift into any alien form.  Tasked to preserve and record alien cultures, young Esen's strict training on non-intervention doesn't survive her first solo mission and contact with a lone, struggling human. Czerneda is a biologist in her non-writerly life, and it really shows, because she can write aliens better than just about anyone I've encountered.  Her aliens don't come across as alien, but as they would be viewed through their own eyes, warts and tentacles and all.  Esen's delight in her various bodies as she moves from form to form makes self-love and love of nature in all its weirdness some of the unusual loves of this delightful series.

(If you like these books, you will also enjoy Czerneda's other works - I'll throw out a a particular recommendation for the "Species Imperative" series.)

The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho

Oh, god, I'm just a novella whore now, aren't I?  The author herself described this book as being inspired by the characters and relationship of Baze and Chirrut from Rogue One, and I'm not sure if anything I could say could sell the book any harder than that.  This delightful miniature wuxia-inspired adventure isn't part of a series, alas, but *eyes Zen Cho* that could totally happen in future, right?  Please?  It involves a country under invader rule, a group of bandits who may or not be the good guys, stolen temple artifacts, and a whole lot of queerness.

The Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers

What do we want?  Found family!  When do we want it?  Set in the far future!  If a hodgepodge of misfit characters working together to make a stronger whole is your jam, this is where it's at.  The tone shifts throughout the series, from the finding-your-place adventure of the first The Long Way to Small Angry Planet, to the later Record of a Spaceborn Few which I can only describe as "very little happens but in the most life-affirming way".  What all of them have in common is a fervent embracing of emotion and relationships of all kinds - from romantic to familial, from friendship to loyalty to loss.

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

This one's awarded an honorary spot for being one of the earliest - possibly the earliest? - depictions of an explicitly aroace character in fantasy, and one who isn't just a side-character but the main protagonist of the whole series.  (Start with Sheepfarmer's Daughter, or look for the omnibus published under the series name.) This is a coming-of-age military fantasy in the classic mold.  It has some of the issues you might expect from a trilogy written in the 1980s, but it has great characters and relationships and deserves respect for what it did.

[wayward-lives]

Why do you hate Tony Stark hand over the receipts

There are so many reasons holy shit

First up: this totally misogynistic rape joke in Age of Ultron. For those of you who don’t know, Prima Nocte, also known as Droit du seigneur, was a practice in mediaeval Europe that allowed lords to have sex with any woman they wanted on their wedding nights, even if the woman was unwilling or already married.

Two: This transphobic joke in Iron Man 1:

“Speaking of manned or unmanned, you gotta get him to tell you about the time he (Rhodey) guessed wrong at spring break. Just remember that: spring break, 1987. That lovely lady you woke up with - what was his name? Was it Ivan?”

Three: Taking the law into his own hands and fucking bombing a Middle Eastern village in Iron Man 1

Four: Blackmailing a 15 y/o into fighting for him in civil war (and yes, threatening to tell Peter’s aunt about his secret identity if he doesn’t go to Germany to fight against team cap does count as blackmail)

Five: Trying to fucking murder a brainwashed war veteran for something he had no control over

Six: Fucking off to live a cottagecore life after half the universe has been murdered, giving absolutely no help to the survivors OR his teammates who are trying to rebuild society

Seven: Building a murderbot behind his teammate’s backs, then laying the blame on all of them when the murderbot inevitably tries to kill everyone

Eight: Seeking out Thanos in Infinity War despite Strange’s protests, in an attempt to play the hero

Nine: Fucking over his employees so badly they turn to crime: see the Vulture and Mysterio

Ten: His blatant sexual harassment of Natasha when she was pretending to be his employee

Eleven: Being a fucking asshole to Steve in the Avengers (2012) when Steve has only just come out of the ice, is adjusting to a seventy-year change and culture shock, grief from all his friends being dead and who’s just trying to find some allies

Twelve: Tony Stark is a billionaire, and unless you’re an idiot who doesn’t know how economics and capitalism works, then you’d know that the only way one person can get that much money is to be a selfish dickwad and not give any away and/or fuck other people over

Thirteen: Somehow, without learning his lesson with Ultron, Stark makes a global satellite device that can dispatch a missile to kill anyone on Earth that he wants, and then gives that global satellite device to a child (???????)

Fourteen: Instead of dealing with his PTSD in a healthy way, Tony instead uses it as an excuse to treat all of his friends like shit

Fifteen: Shooting Sam because Sam dodged a missile and it hit Rhodey

Sixteen: He’s literally a warmonger????

Seventeen: He called Harley Keener a pussy when Harley admits that he misses his dad - remember that Harley is literally a child (he’s like eight or something idk I haven’t watched the movie)

Eighteen: Telling Ross about Clint’s secret family

Nineteen: Referred to Wanda, a teenager, as a “weapon of mass destruction” and hinting that she doesn’t deserve human rights

Twenty: Another rape joke, this time told to Whiplash in iron man 2 - when Whiplash is being taken to prison, Tony tells him he’ll “send (him) a bar of soap”. This is a joke about prison rape in the showers - if a man drops a bar of soap, he’ll have to bend over and then be raped

There are honestly so many more reasons but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head, everyone feel free to add reasons why Tony Stark is literally the worst Avenger

[fogsrollingin]

Moonlight Readings 🌜⭐

Moonlight Readings are what I call my posts that recommend and review the latest fics I've read that I can put into a major rec/review list of mine (see my second stickied post My Fic Recs). In this case, all these fics are included in my Favorite Spideypool Fics 😃 My Boyfriend's a Murderbot by Fredegund. Spideypool, Explicit, 55k words. Summary: Wade Winston Wilson is ugly. His skin's inside out. It ripples and moves every second of every day, at constant war with the cancer. Vanessa put on a brave face for him when she first saw the changes, but it turns out even she can't stomach the sight for long. He's ugly and alone and nothing will ever be good in life again - If only that were his only problem. But Weapon X is at it again, under crisp new management, turning orphans into super slaves and bringing out the big guns to make sure nobody interferes this go around (namely one Pool comma Dead). So now, not only is Wade alone and ugly forever, but he's got a bit of a pest problem in the form of a black-clad murder-happy man spider with a collar around his neck and an unhealthy obsession with tying Deadpool up. So maybe it's not all bad... https://archiveofourown.org/works/23388652 My thoughts: Excellent fic! I LOVED the buildup of Wade meeting Spidey. I loved the edge of vulnerable and feral the author kept Spidey on for awhile. I also appreciated how Spidey was more *Spidery*! He has extra limbs & googly black reflecting spider eyes?! F yeah that's so gnarly it's 100% awesome!!! Paradise (spread out like a knife) by Sarah_Sandwich. Teen+, Spideypool, 72k. Summary: He sighs from where he’s prone, arms akimbo, and roof gravel digging into his spine. “I lost my job. My… other job. The one that actually pays the bills.” He doesn’t want to dwell on why he’s telling Deadpool of all people. Surely it has nothing to do with his desperate lack of friends. MJ is in California chasing her dreams, Harry’s undergoing treatment for his mental health and isn’t allowed visitors (not that it matters since they blacklisted Peter after last time), and Gwen… Well. And it’s not like he can talk to Aunt May without her worrying about him starving to death under a bridge or something so… Deadpool it is. Man, when did his life get this pathetic? OR: The one where Peter and Wade are literal soulmates but don't realize it for literal years because they're literal idiots. https://archiveofourown.org/works/26399314 My thoughts: I loved this slow burn spideypool fic. Featured so many sweet moments that kept building Wade's and Peter's intimacy levels, it was such a joy to read. I also love when Peter/Spidey defends Wade/Deadpool to the Avengers or whoever else. It's a favorite trope of mine in spideypool fic for sure 🥰 I Ain't No Calming Goat! by X_Gon_Give_It. Mature, Spideypool, 47k. Summary: There's a man sitting in the corner of the room. Peter's vision is still mottled, but he can make out grey pants similar to the one he's wearing. His roomie is wearing a white shirt and it takes several blinks to realize it's a straitjacket. That's never a good sign. The man cocked his head to the side, hairless eyebrows quirking. When Peter inhales, the stench of pain is acrid in his nose. His eyes are hard and angry when they meet Peter's. "And who are you supposed to be? They're actually giving me roommates again? Nice try, Francie!" he yelled this toward the door, "But I'm not buying it. Give 'im to someone else." <><><><><> Or the one where Peter is kidnapped by Weapon X and he shares a cell with Deadpool. https://archiveofourown.org/works/19789162 My thoughts: This was a really interesting read. Peter's an omega that gets pissed off & violent & prefers to be big spoon. Wade's respectful and gentle alpha and prefers little spoon. The torture & sexual assault elements weren't that heart-wrenching because the author focuses more on the aftermath where Peter thinks about it and hates it/gets pissed off about it instead of dwelling in psychological devastation & needing comfort. Depending on the reader that can be a really great trait in a story. Towards the end the author gives us some great cuddles and I was a very happy camper

[theres-no-protocol-for-this]

Status: Reconfigured

This fragment is a ‘what-if’ moment spawned from a Discord conversation. What if the company that owns Murderbot reconfigured it into a ComfortUnit before handing it over to Dr. Mensah at the end of All Systems Red?

Trigger warning: slight mentions of body dysphoria (it’s two sentences, but it’s there).

I came back online and regained consciousness inside a repair cubicle that smelled vaguely of disinfectant. My first instinct was to verify that my governor module remained inactive. 

After noting that it was as non-functional as the first time I hacked it, I checked on my media collection and found it largely intact. A few of the older shows were missing, as if someone had deleted them to make room for something else.

By then, visual and auditory data began trickling in. I could hear machines working somewhere above my head; their steady, slow human reassured me a little. Around me, the cubicle was dimly lit but not pitch black. I could make out the company’s logo etched into the inside of the door at roughly eye level. 

A reminder of who owned the construct, as if they would ever forget.

Carefully and slowly, I reached into the feed and looked around. According to the information brochure available to the public, I was on a station in Corporation Rim space. The feed placed my exact position somewhere inside a repair facility.

HubSystem informed me I had a new contract with Dr. Ayda Mensah of the Preservation Alliance, who was currently operating in a leadership capacity of the PreservationAux survey team. The contract listed the terms of as an indefinite rent — Mensah had exercised the option of purchasing me, but that was still winding its way through the market exchange system because of the prices involved.

I noticed that the contract listed my serial number but labeled me as a “general use ComfortUnit.” I figured that was a mistake; humans are notoriously bad at record keeping.

I began receiving information about my body and its functions, and here things got weird.

My body felt lighter and significantly more sensitive — I had functional skin in places where it shouldn’t be, starting with the area just below my collar bones. I couldn’t move enough to take a better look, but sensory data doesn’t lie.

Just to be sure, I started a diagnostic.

I think I knew by then what had happened, but I wasn’t ready to accept reality yet.

In the meantime, a list of new educational modules appeared in my inbox. They dealt with such topics as human etiquette, relationships, appropriate behavior in human company, sexual preferences, and other information on social politeness. I dismissed them all without looking.

But the pieces fell into place, anyway.

Fuck!

The company had reconfigured me to better align with a ComfortUnit standard configuration. The wording on the contract hadn’t been a mistake.

It would take several days to integrate the changes fully — nothing about organic neural tissue was fast or efficient — but the adjustments had been completed hours ago.

I checked the contract again and hoped no one was monitoring my activities too closely. Mensah had not requested or approved these changes. She and the rest of the team had lodged a dozen separate complaints to stop the process. A judge had overruled them.

The company adamantly defended that they could not, in good conscience (I snorted), send a deadly and unpredictable weapon to a peaceful non-corporate polity with a prohibition on killing. The assholes made it look like they were doing all this extra work for free out of kindness.

Fuck them.

I was still fuming when the cubicle door swung open with a low hiss of escaping air. Climbing out of it proved more complicated and painful than expected because my body was no longer familiar. I needed time to recalibrate.

While I was flailing around and trying to get the hang of my new limbs (which sported a soft down of hair), the door to the room slid open and a woman in semi-formal attire stepped inside. She was holding a small pile of clothes, which she deposited on a nearby chair.

“Good afternoon, ComfortUnit,” Technician Saren said as she looked me over. “Please take it nice and slow for me. We’ve made some modifications to your physical frame that may require an adjustment period.”

She paused and tapped something on a hand-held display surface. “You may stay here for three hours to acclimate and get dressed. Once you’ve completed this task, head down the hall to processing. Your humans are waiting for you in the lobby.”

“Thank you, Technician,” I ground out, and even my voice sounded wrong. It was lower and gravely, almost irritating.

Without my armor or clothing, I felt exposed in front of the human in a way I couldn’t yet articulate. I couldn’t even look down at the floor properly because it meant seeing my new legs and feet. My body was wrong, and I fought the urge to crawl out of my skin. I had a moment of panic that this body didn’t belong to me anymore. (Not that it ever had.)

Fuck me.

The woman put away her surface and nodded appreciatively in my direction. Her expression made my skin crawl — something that was now possible because I had hair on my arms. “Whoever chose your looks was a genius, and you’re a masterpiece. You should be proud of that.” She shrugged and turned to leave. “Not that constructs have any appreciation of aesthetic beauty.”

The urge to tell her to fuck off nearly overwhelmed be, and I was thankful when the door finally closed behind her. 

I didn’t want to think about any of this, so I started the first episode of Sanctuary Moon in the background and then set about relearning how to fucking walk.