#semusepsu

[jenlog]

trick or treat!

donkey kong molly

[pizza-and-ramen]

Ask game: List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the ask box of the last 10 people who liked or reblogged something from you!

My Friends

Cats

Music

Sunsets

Movies

Thanks for the ask!

[byrdsfly]

Trick Or Treat!

[venndaai]

the wonderful @neuxue and I think @stripedroseandsketchpads ? (so sorry if it was someone else I'm forgetting!) tagged me in a "10 books you want to read in 2025" meme, back in... December... and uh. I might finally have some time to read over the next few months? so I'm posting this in hopes it spurs me to read, maybe!

Stars in My Pocket like Grains of Sand, Samuel R Delany - I loved this science fiction book so sooooo much when I listened to the first 10 hours of it back in April, it was mindblowing and electrifying and I do desperately want to get back to it and then read everything else he's ever written. We'll see.

Adulthood Rites, Octavia Butler - I started reading the Xenogenesis trilogy so very long ago and I will finish it! I will! I will get back to the alien sex!

Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Friere - it was embarrassing to have to admit at a party recently that I hadn't read this, so uh. Not the purest motivation but it will be good for me

Homeland, R.A. Salvatore - I'm still working on my Forgotten Realms Underdark campaign and some of my players have read Drizzt books so I have to try and force myself through this, lol. The first chapter was not easy but I will persevere

Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art, Rebecca Wragg Sykes - picked this up at a book sale because I've always been fascinated by prehistory but never properly read about it. Read the prologue on a bus a few weeks ago. The prose is somewhat purple but it still brought me to tears. I love books by academics whose love for their subject bleeds through every word.

Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush, by Lael Morgan. I'm about a third through this one and it's really, really good. Morgan is very frank about the economic and social realities governing women's lives in the 1890s, while also being infectiously delighted by colorful stories of determined women who took risks and succeeded on the fringes of society. She's also honest about the impact of the gold rush on Indigenous Canadian women. Also there are lots of pictures! I love photos of women from history looking pleased with themselves.

Niccolo Rising, Dorothy Dunnett- I enjoyed the Lymond books so much, it makes sense to keep going with the Niccolo series, but I admit I'm mostly motivated to read it to discover whatever insane additions she made to Lymond lore in it.

Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era by James McPherson. Recommended by a friend. I started listening to this one last year when I was very stressed out by the election and tbh, it's oddly comforting to hear about a time America was much more polarized than it is now, and also that for all the evils of that time and the messiness of the politics, the American people eventually refused to accept the continued existence of slavery. also a lot of the speeches are really good bangers

Heart: The City Beneath by Grant Howitt and Christopher Taylor - idk if rpgs count for this but I'm going to say they do! very grateful to @asimplecreature for reccing this to me because it looks so INCREDIBLY up my alley.

honestly, ten is an intimidating number, so I'm going to leave this at nine. that seems more manageable, somehow.

I was planning on tagging people way back when, but that might be a little weird to do now... ah, whatever. @semusepsu @cosmik-homo @bamboocounting @anghraine @lesbiandeancas @fluorescentbrains if you didn't do this meme back in 2024 and would like to talk about books you're hoping to read before the year's end that would be fun!

[overtrolled]

Wrote a short little thing about the book series I'm currently reading, 1632. A man from the 30 years war era Germany hears a Rammstein song for the first time.

[samuelroukin]

https://www.tumblr.com/semusepsu/754003739308867584/common-play-behavior?source=share

this too is soapghost. to the enlightened mind

link, literally so true

[byrdsfly]

1, 12?

1. What’s something you read recently and enjoyed?

The most recent book I finished was, I believe, This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. A friend had actually recommended it, and I listened to the audiobook a month or so before the internet hype started up. I'm glad it got more recognition through that, it's a good read.

2. What book have you re-read most often?

Physical book would probably be the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. One of my omnibus editions is falling apart, and my paperback of the first novel is well worn as well.

For audiobooks, I'm often returning to the Super Powereds series by Drew Hays. It's a fun, not-so-little, series about Super Hero College.

[venndaai]

Rules: answer and tag people you want to get to know better and/or catch up with! tagged by @nonbinarybriarmoss , ty!

favorite color: Ever since I got really into painting I can't answer this question any more because every color is equally beautiful and just needs the right context. But I will say that russet brown is underappreciated.

last song: still listening to I'm Your Man on repeat and thinking about Armand. help.

last movie: I saw The Phantom Menace in theaters this month out of nostalgia, since it was one of the first films I ever saw on the big screen. Honestly, I think it's a little unfairly maligned as the worst Star Wars prequel movie; the bare bones of a good movie are there (which cannot be said of AotC), they're just crushed under the painfully bad script.

currently reading: technically still inching my way through the Realm of the Elderlings books but I returned Fool's Fate to the library after having it out for four months and not reading more than a couple chapters. I was also listening to The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles, but I ran out of time on that loan too. I am just too tired to read and it sucks.

currently watching: gay vampires babyyyyy!

currently craving: Indian food I will probably never eat again given my extreme alium and chickpea intolerance :((((

tea or coffee: I used to drink tea every day but I've been avoiding it this year due to my digestion issues. I only ever drink coffee when I need to achieve superhuman feats and am willing to get sent to the shadow realm five hours after drinking it.

tagging @stripedroseandsketchpads @semusepsu @bloody-wonder @thatswhatsushesaid @fromankyra @brilliantyears @bamboocounting and anyone else who wants to be tagged

[overtrolled]

Summary: The Orphaner Dualscar is slightly less of a monster, but things end up just the same.

[thatiswhy]

@semusepsu

[gyroshrike]

1, 33, 49, 63 for the asmk meme

*ask sorry it won't let me backspace

1.) When did you first get into Homestuck?

I started reading in 2010 or 2011 when @mesheezy372 came over to my house and forced me to sit down and read it. I thank her mentally every day because there's no way I could have gotten into it on my own.

I disconnected from it for a while near the end and didn't catch back up until it Act 7 came out in 2016.

33. Favorite pale ship?

My first instinct was to say meowrails, but I also adore gamkar, so that's probably my answer for favorite. Honorable mentions to pale johnsol and eriroxy though.

Oh! This is a hiveswap answer, but I LOVE pale Polygiri? Tegipa? Whatever. Polypa and Tegiri. Weebrails are to die for. Also really like Kuprum and Folykl.

49. One character you didn’t like at first, but like now?

Caliborn is one. I thought it was really mean and too aggressive and I think I was angry at him to pretty much fucking over the game, but now I really appreciate him as an antagonist and I think he's funny as fuck.

Eridan is another. He just seemed like a dick the first time I read and whiny and selfish, but I understand his emotional struggles and motivations now and it's really endeared me to him. He just really wants people to want him and wants connections so bad and really chases close friendships, but simultaneously pushes people away with how much of an asshole he is and how much emotional support he needs without giving that same support in return. xD

63. Have you played Friendsim? Do you like it?

Most of it. Love it! Scratches my Homestuck itch in a way I think the epilogues and HS^2 wouldn't. The characters are SO fun. There's such a good collection of personalities and dynamics there. Super fun designs too. I love bonding with people over making tier lists of the characters and discussing why people love or hate certain ones.

(Sorry, I threw this into my drafts months ago and just got around to finishing them now.)

[pizza-and-ramen]

🎁

[theorigamiphoenix]

From @semusepsu

when will the uk government let me use the gender neutral title 'mt.' like. short for mountain

[bestofmidi]

If I needed someone to control me If I needed someone to hold me down I would change my direction And save myself before I If I needed someone to control me If I needed someone to push me around I would change my direction And save myself before I drown Drown

requested by @semusepsu !!!

original midi at https://freemidi.org/getter-17762

[madjazzed]

Homestuck Rare Pair Fic Recs

yall, i read a LOT of fic, and ive been reading a lot of specifically homestuck fic for the past, oh, seven years or so. my tastes in fiction are wide-ranging and i am happily unafflicted by any impulse toward ship exclusivity, so when i heard about rarepair hell weekend over on dreamwidth, i knew exactly what to do. the fics listed here vary considerably in style, length, rating, quadrant (where applicable), and degree of canon compliance, but they have two things in common: they feature ships with fewer than 50 works on ao3, and i think they’re great.

Scarlet and Bible Black by paraTactician rose is possessed by a grimdark horror of the furthest ring. sollux knows a few things about psychic warfare. this fic is a classic for a reason, the reason being that it’s absolutely fucking brilliant. perfect voices and characterization. Rarepair: Rose/Sollux. Rating: Mature. 12k.

goodnight moon by attentionmerrymakers upd8 fic following this page. terezi takes brain ghost dirk on a tour of her memories, and keeps visiting him in the dream bubbles. sweet and sad and lovely. Rarepair: Terezi/Dirk. Rating: General. 2k.

Gumshoe Tango by Azzandra snapshots of a professional-rivalry-slash-developing-caliginous-relationship between a private investigator and a police detective-inspector. clever, funny, delightful. Rarepair: Jane/Terezi. Rating: Explicit. 4k.

Hold the Line by dashery one of my very favorite fics sneaks in on a technicality—davejade isnt at all rare, but this wonderful story is about dr. jade english and dave strider, alpha universe edition, and its 2 of just 7 works in the tag (this one, and a podfic recorded by the author). canon compliant, funny and sweet and heartbreaking in the best way. Rarepair: Grandma English/Alpha Dave. Rating: Teen. 12k.

Caffeine High by mtjester this fic can be briefly and misleadingly described as a coffee shop au… in space! a janiterrorist in the alternian imperial fleet befriends a human slave whos value to the empire—and survival—depends on his ability to make coffee for highbloods. high stakes shenanigans ensue. fantastic character voices, drama, action, romance. Rarepair: Dirk/Tavros. Rating: Teen. 59K.

Shadowbound AU by CurlicueCal & LaughingStones in a world where most people bind their souls to extraplanar shadow entities, gamzee and dirk both have unusually strong and strange shadows, with a curious resonance between them… (and they were roommates). marvelous urban fantasy au, wonderful worldbuilding, superb character voices. not sure if youre up for a whole series? read the fic where they meet (4k) and let it convince you to keep going. Rarepair: Dirk/Gamzee. Rating: Teen for the first five fics, Mature and Explicit later in the series. 155k.

scream my name by Psythe meenah’s kismesis interrupts the grand opening of her latest moneymaking venture. beautifully choreographed knock down drag out fight sex, excellent banter (especially if you apperchiate a good fish pun), and a hilarious closing pesterlog. Rarepair: Meenah/Roxy. Not rated. 8k.

Forces Between Us by Laurasauras humanstuck soulmate au. bro teaches self defense to juvenile delinquents as court ordered community service. vriska is in his class. they are both terrible. a very fun fic. Rarepair: Bro/Vriska. Rating: Teen. 5k.

She May Be A ‘Girlboss’, but I Ain’t Her Malewife by semusepsu jane turns the tables on a sleazy asshole who tries to manipulate her into sex work. bro underestimates her business savvy, people skills, and ruthlessness, and has to face the consequences of his actions when she takes control of his business, and his person, in short order. delightful. Rarepair: Jane/Bro. Rating: Explicit. 3k.

an incommodiously situated bro by Caracalliope hal has a wealth of relevant information at his metaphorical fingertips, but still doesnt know what to expect after overstepping his bounds with his ‘kinky, justice-obsessed girlfriend.’ a fun character study with a depth of feeling that might surprise you. Rarepair: Terezi/Hal. Rating: Mature. 1k.

[byrdsfly]

Get to Know Me Tag

Tagged by @majorasnightmare!

Tagging anyone who feels like doing this, absolutely no pressure at @auttoton @cthulhu @dieeisenkaiserin @gwyngraves @semusepsu

@skipar00 And anyone else who feels like it :3

Last Song: I guess technically [the Opening for Ya Boy Kongming!]

Favorite Color: Teal :3

Last Book: Last physical book... Been trying to get through Dance with Dragons, hard to find time and focus. Also picked up Gideon the Ninth recently, haven't started it yet though. Last audiobook was Fellowship of the Rings. I'm about half-way through Two Towers now.

Last Movie: Deadpool & Wolverine... which feels wrong 'cause that was months ago but I can't remember if I've watched anything since.

Last TV Show: Very Important People over on Dropout! If that doesn't count as a "TV" show, then Taskmaster/Junior Taskmaster.

Sweet/Spicy/Savory: Savory, spicy, then sweet in that order, but ideally a combination of all three. I'm just keeping prevs answer because they're right.

Last Thing I Googled: [local] walk in clinic (<- I have a lab order I need filled and needed to double check when they open so I can go first thing in the morning)

Current Obsession: I can tell I'm burnt out because I don't know ;; I've been binge watching a combo of Slow-Mo guys and AnyAustin on youtube, if that counts. Started playing Skyrim again- ignoring the main quest because I don't want to deal with dragons. Got a new crochet hook and some yarn and tried them out for a couple hours earlier :3

Looking Forward To: I bought some soup at renfair to make with a friend :3