#spectrum spools

[leiselaute]

Belong - October Language from "October Language". Released 2018 april 20 via Spectrum Spools

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Great Expectations 1

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as noncon/dubcon, power imbalance, age gap, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Professor Holmes' class is your most difficult, but he's about to make it even more challenging.

Characters: Sherlock Holmes (modern AU)

Note: It was a drabble then it weren't.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Please do not just put ‘more’. I will block you.

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

You're not certain. Not at first. But when are you ever confident in anything?

Yet you're assured by the dark curls and vibrant eyes, the slanted brows never devoid of judgment. More than anything, it's his posture that confirms his identity. Professor Holmes is staunch and indomitable even as he browses shelves of antique style pens; crystal, wood, and brass. He considers each as he would every word of a term paper. 

You're doubt turns to what to do next. Do you say hello? Or pretend you don't see him? Would he know either way? You're fairly convinced he can't pick you out of the lecture hall. 

So you do what you do best and fade into the scenery. You trail along the shelves and dip around the other side, putting your attention to the spools of thread, organized in a perfect spectrum of hues. As you mindlessly touch the thread, your mind wanders back around the row.

You would never expect to see the professor there, though honestly, you've never thought of him outside the classroom. You avoid that as much as you can, you stress enough over his unattainable standards. His is the only class which has you below an A. 

You contemplate the silver twine. You've been looking for the very thing and yet the price is much above your budget. All that for some shine? 

You move on, turning around to the balls of wool and needles arranged from thinnest to thickest. Your ears are pricked by the familiar timbre. The professor's voice carries as easily as in the lecture hall. You try not to listen but you can't help the instinctive decipher of each syllable. 

"Are these genuine silver?" He asks, presumably of a passing associate.  

"Um, I'm not sure, sir," the squeaky adolescent reply is met with an impatient sigh. "I work in the back." 

"Work in the back doing what? Sorting stock? Do you not know what you put on the shelves?" Professor Holmes' disapproval is unmistakable.  

His tone make you want to run. It is the same detest wrought into the feedback scribbled in the margins of your assignments. If it isn't perfect, it's not acceptable. 

You should go. You don't have the money to waste on hobbies you don't have time for. Nor do you relish an encounter with the very man responsible for your lack of free time. 

You make sure to walk toward the far end of the aisle and avoid any possible sighting. The very thing you meant to distract yourself chases you from your procrastination. Two days before your paper is due, and you've not even touched the readings due for that week's class discussion. 

📕

You’re barely awake as you claim a seat in the melancholic lecture hall. The coeds are silent, only yawning between slurping from paper cups, or slumping dangerously over the narrow armrests. There’s a dour commiseration in the air; a sort of resignation. 

Papers are handed in and yet the outcome is almost assured; Professor Holmes will surely find at least a dozen reasons to dock marks. Sometimes it seems even the font can draw his ire. Yet, there is more to be done. He will expect a lively discussion before that three-hour block is done and if he doesn’t get it, you will all sweat for it. 

You flutter through your notebook. Unlike your other courses, the paper is crinkled and the writing is erratic. Each week sees you with at least another twenty pages added to the reading list. You don’t understand how anyone can keep up with it all; the work alone is as much as all your other classes combined. 

You jump in your seat as his even-keeled voice rolls through the air. He hardly has to project as his baritone fills the large room. You look up and fumble for your pen. Professor Holmes doesn’t permit devices. The last person caught merely looking at their phone was dropped from the course. 

You chew the end of the pen as he begins his introduction, but not without a sharp remark about your midterm papers. It’s as if he’s already made up his mind that you’ve all failed. There’s no bell curve in this class, just an impossible mountain. 

“To make it simple,” his accent lilts off his tongue, “I’ve decided we will do things a bit differently this week. I will have you sort yourself into groups and each will discuss an assigned article. At the end, we will reconvene and you will nominate a member to present your conclusions. You may use our usual guiding questions for these purposes.” 

You nod and furrow your brow thoughtfully. The idea of splitting into groups is daunting on its own. It’s one thing to put your hand up amid the wide sea of your peers but it’s another to parse yourself down into a smaller group amid strangers. Despite weeks of sitting side-by-side, you don’t really know anyone. They all seemed to have made friends before that and made no effort to find any more. 

“Well, off you go,” Holmes flicks his fingers, “you’ve two minutes to arrange yourselves. I’m no kindergarten teacher, certainly you can figure it out.” 

There’s a low murmur then a lull before anyone moves. You hear the chatter that connects the smaller pairings to each other; aren’t you in my econ class? Oh, you were at the Delta party? You gather your notebook and stand, searching for an in. 

“Um,” you approach the nearest cluster of bodies, “room for one more?” 

It’s as if you’re invisible. You wince and clear your throat. Before you can try again, a deeper ahem comes from behind you. You crane to see over your shoulder. Professor Holmes stands at the end of the row, one brow arched as he crosses his arms. His old-fashioned vest strains as his chest bulges against the buttons. 

“Eh, she’s in need of a group. Have some manners.” 

You’re surprised by his intervention, but grateful. You try to smile but it’s probably more of a pathetic simper, “thank you, professor.” You nod and turn back to the other students. 

“Uh, sorry, yeah, can I tag along?” You ask. 

They shrug, none of them daring to ignore Professor Holmes. You sit at the edge of the group, heat speckling up your back in embarrassment. The others as good as ignore you as they go back to complaining about their papers. 

“I didn’t sleep,” a blond you think is named Ethan mutters, “fucker had me tearing out my hair.” 

“Yeah, I was supposed to go to a Barbie party but I need this class,” a pretty redhead rolls her eyes. 

There’s at least ten other students circled between three rows. You glance around at the others as they bow and chatter in kind. You shuffle your notebook in your lap and lean in, trying to seem involved. 

“Right then, you,” Holmes points to your group, “take Jones et al,” he moves his finger towards the next group, “Halloway,” he continues down the list of readings as silence pervades the space.  

It isn’t until he bids you to start that anyone dares speak again. The professor paces at the front of the room, hands in his pockets, as his longs stride take him from one end to the other. As you watch him, he seems to sense it, and his blue eyes meet your own. He hardly reacts before he puts his attention back to his repetitive route. 

“Alright, so Jones et al,” you redirect your attention as your peers continue their griping over lost sleep and shitty coffee. “So uh, we should go over main arguments first--” 

“Didn’t read it,” Ethan scoffs and two girls giggle. 

“I don’t know how that tight ass thinks we have all day for the stuffy bullshit,” another guy snorts. “Some of us get laid.” 

You blanch and chew your lip. You look around and receive only agitation and indifference. 

“Since you’re such a smarty pants, why don’t you do the presentation, huh?” The redhead chirps, “you always have so much to say.” 

You frown. You only put in what you need to get a decent mark. You’re hoping the discussion grade can save you from your disastrous first assignment. Besides, aren’t you all facing the same foe? Shouldn’t you be allies? 

“Well, we should talk about the article a bit. Did anyone else read it?” You insist. 

You don’t get an answer, only scoffs and sneers. Shoot. You look down at your notebook and shrink into yourself. It’s just like high school. You’re the one building the diorama by yourself until midnight. You’re the one doing all the talking in the class debate. 

You scribble notes in the margins as the other garble on about some party and the new cafe opening up at the Student Centre. You keep a hand on your neck as the heat builds under your skin. You should’ve just stayed on your own, not that you have much of a choice. None of them even want to acknowledge you. 

Professor Holmes calls time and you pop your head up, catching your glasses before they can bounce off your nose. You fix them as the lecture hall hushes and you all twist and turn to see the professor. He walks up the centre aisle and points to the group in the very back. 

“You, come on,” he demands. 

There’s crinkling of paper and scratchy coughs. A guy in a polo sweater stands with a cluster of lined paper in hand. He reads out with fractured syllables as if he can’t make out the writing. Professor Holmes sighs and you glance over at his scowl. He’s not impressed. 

“Right, and beyond the obvious, what were your final reflections? Did you have a single thought about the author’s narrative on the consequences of the railway on colonized communities?” He pauses and waits, tapping his clefted chin. Silence. “Mm, absolutely compelling,” he remarks dryly. 

You gulp as your group fidgets. Holmes jabs a finger at another group, calling out a student by name, “thank you for volunteering.” 

The woman with the buzzcut stands, looking nervous as she peers around her group members. She sways and wets her lips, playing with the ring around her lower lip. She laughs nervously before she begins, pausing and umming and ahhing. 

“Enough rambling,” Holmes shakes his head and turns toward your group. Your eyes go wide as the rest peek over at you. You rise as the professor stands just at the end of the rows. “Ethan, you seemed to be doing most of the talking, let’s hear it.” 

Ethan grimaces and sends you a look. He shakes his head. You shrug. You don’t know what to do. You offer your notebook and Holmes clucks. 

“I’m sure he can do it himself, he’s a big boy,” Holmes insists, “let’s hear your take on Jones et al. They have some rather interesting arguments about the cultural significance of the Silk Road, did they not?” 

Ethan exhales and stands, a tick in his jaw as he faces the professor. You chew your cheek as he stutters, “well, what we were talking about was that... er, the Silk Road... um...” 

“Yes, yes, you made some rather intriguing arguments about the Gammas, didn’t you? And how you have so many important things to do, eh? Well, Ethan, if you can’t keep up, you don’t have to bluster,” Holmes reproaches, “your boasting does suggest incompetence over importance.” 

Ethan chokes. There’s a low titter of laughter from further back as the rest of your group stares at their hands. You hug your note book and lower your head as well. 

“Come on, then,” Holmes wags his fingers and calls your name, “stand up. Let’s hear something coherent.” 

“Oh, uh,” you lift your chin as Ethan falls into his chair with a snarl. You get up and focus on your notebook. You swallow tightly before you get your vision to clear, “typically when we think of the, er, Silk Road, er, we fixate on, uh, on uh, on the movement of goods such as dyes and, and, and rice...” you can’t help your stuttering. You just know the professor will have your throat next, “but Jones et all argue that, ummmm, um, the movement of peoples and contact between various cultures is just as... as important--” 

“Ah, yes, someone has done their work,” Holmes proclaims with a clap. 

“All of you. One thousand words on your groups assigned article by the end of the week. You may drop them off at my office.” 

“What?” Several students burst out in shock. 

“It is an individual effort, yes? Not a group project. You have until Friday at 6pm.” 

“Professor,” a woman whines from the back. 

“Would you like a thousand more words?” He turns to face the lecture hall completely, “no, alright then. I can be generous. You may go early so that you can catch up on your readings.” 

He smirks and tilts his head smugly. He spins on his heel and strides down the low steps to the front podium. You glance down at your notebook and slowly flip the cover. 

“Fucking browner,” Ethan growls. 

[inbabylontheywept]

Burning Bridges

“I am Kalrose, commander of the Second Armada of the Akaviri. We are on our way to a peacekeeping operation in the Pegasus cluster. Humanity is not our enemy, but it will be if you continue to detain us in your piss puddle agrarian star system. Step away from the FTL launcher and no one will die. Remain in front and we will plow through your craft. Either way you will not stop us.”

The human freighter acting as a makeshift gate in front of the launcher did not move. If anything, it centered itself more, in order to better face the Akaviri flagship head on.

Then it broadcasted back.

“Your ‘peacekeeping mission’ in the Pegasus cluster is a genocide. We will not stand back and let you commit this atrocity. We may not have the men or the ships to destroy your fleet, but we don’t need to destroy your fleet in order to keep you from reaching the battlefield. Our piss puddle’s name is ‘Zion.’ In time, you will call it ‘Home.’”

Kalrose barely had time to ponder the nature of that threat when the launcher fired up. The EM readings on his ship went mad, and in that brief fraction of a second, he realized he’d miscalculated. Gravely.

He didn’t know how many thousands of safety protocols had been bypassed, but the amount of power flowing to the gravitational core in the center of the launcher was easily nine times larger than the maximum rating. A micro singularity formed within the space lens, and cladding ripped itself off the hull before spiraling at near light speeds around the artificial black hole.

Kalrose had always imagined such a catastrophe as something like a fireball, reds and oranges, lots of shrapnel and clanging. Upon seeing it in person, he realized how foolish that was.

Red glows were for pokers left in hot coals. This was, for one brief moment, a star fueled on steel. It was never going to be orange.

It could only be white.

The accretion disk condensed further, the energy of the reactions happening near it somehow fueling the gravitational anomaly at the center. His comm system moved into a death scream as the material’s blackbody radiation moved past the x-ray spectrum, pure friction converting the material to energy more efficiently than even a fusion reactor could manage. The heat generated finally caused a full structural collapse, the spine of the station melting enough to wrap the whole barrel of the launcher around the spiraling singularity, twirling it in loops like thread around a spool. The reaction was accelerating now, even without electricity being able to fuel the gravitational collapse, the radiation pressure alone managing to hold the system in a highly fragile state of tensegrity. He recognized the feedback loop that was happening, radiation fueling gravity, gravity fueling radiation, on and on until-

There was no air for noise in space, but he could almost imagine the roar that the expanding cloud of ionized metal should have made as it blew past. There it was. The end of the loop. It had run out of matter to feed on, so without a balance to the compressive force it expanded outwards.

He was fortunate that the explosion was violent enough to atomize the particles. Even a fragment the size of a grain of sand would’ve been enough to take down his flagship. As a lone ion, it could be deflected by the same magnetic field that kept the crew safe during FTL jumps.

He stared numbly at the monitor.

One third of the Akaviri fleet, stranded in a farming system. Not even a shot fired.

He realized that the comm system’s scream had been replaced with the quiet pulse of an incoming broadcast. He accepted it without question, too lost to even be angry.

“Take your time recovering your senses. When you’re ready, just send us a message back. We’re going to need every hand we can on the harvest. There’s no one out there we can reach for help after this. It’s just...Us.”

[knightofleo]

Belong | I'm Too Sleepy... Shall We Swim?

[radiophd]

second woman -- ////\\

[objective-research]

Meet the Contestants

Honey Bee

Identity: AroAce Demi-Girl (She/Buzz) Object: Honey Jar

Honey Bee is a pretty shy and sensitive person. Buzz's also a real sweetheart once you get talking, buzz just gets a bit flustered trying to work up the courage to talk to others!

Honey is sensitive to noise, so buzz has been considering getting noise muffling headphones. She's friends with Birkett, and likes to gift pressed flowers that remind her of him.

Honey tends to find herself a bit overwhelmed should all the attention be on her. She doesn't want the spotlight, she's just happy to be included.

Birkett

Identity: Unlabeled Agender (Any Pronouns) Object: Birch Log

Birkett is a smart and hardy guy, easily able to weather what life throws at him. He may be here to compete, but wants to prioritize the well being of everybody around him– Be it physical or emotional.

Birkett enjoys spending time with her friends Honey and Soleil. The two aren't actually friends with each other yet, but she thinks they'll get along well.

Birkett took the once-in-a-lifetime chance like the others did, because who could pass up the chance for that kind of money? Although, he is a bit confused on how this show qualifies as an "experiment".

Soleil

Identity: Bi Trans Guy (He/Him) Object: Sunflower

Soleil is an outgoing and social guy. He loves to just hang out and talk with his friends! No matter the topic, he's happy to listen. What matters to him is the fact he and his friends are hanging out.

Soleil has Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, which causes him chronic pain. He can be pretty creative with how he gets things done, frequently thinking outside the box! He likes to challenge himself for fun.

He's mainly participating to prove to himself how far he can get in the competition! Of course, the money would be great, he's just being realistic.

Burtie

Identity: AroAce Non-Binary (It/Its) Object: Hedgehog Plushie

Burtie is a very curious little thing, sticking its nose into a lot of stuff to learn more– Only to get scared and very nervous as a result. Still, it persists despite its timid nature. It doesn't want to let its nervousness rule it!

Burtie once had a felt nose and a second eye. Due to being well loved, they've both long fallen off. Burtie sometimes hides behind Cocoa when it gets scared.

This competition is one of those kinds of things. Sticking your nose into something you ought not, despite your better judgement. Burtie is pretty sure its going to lose early on, but it's too late to back out now.

South

Identity: Genderqueer Lesbian (They/It) Object: Wire Spool

South is... An enigma. They do what they like when they like, and rarely say much on it. They're an object of few words, seeming to prefer their actions speak for them and to have little desire to try and justify the way they live.

South can use its wires to create a makeshift arm! It also serves as a tail when not in use as a hand. Its preference to stay quiet may be due to being semi-verbal.

What's its secret agenda? Nobody knows... perhaps not even itself. In reality, it's likely joining was simply a passing whim it acted upon.

Oak

Identity: Gay Guy (He/Him) Object: White Oak Acorn

Oak is someone who likes to cause chaos and mischief. He thinks it's funny seeing others scramble about like the sky is falling. He's also pretty smug and quite sure of himself, which means he isn't keen to change his ways.

Others tend not to like Oak, as he can be rather rude and blunt. He seems to think this is their problem, and not a him problem. He likes singing, but gets embarrassed if others are watching.

Oak is here to win, and isn't exactly going to care about being nice about it. He's not here for friends, so why waste his time on it?

Horace

Identity: Timeflux Demiromantic Guy (He/Him + Tick/Tock) Object: Hourglass

Horace is a very detail oriented person, and pays close attention to the little things. He prefers to follow a routine, and is rather beholden to little mundane "rituals" every day. He gets really upset if people dismiss or disrupt them, which he thinks can be unfortunately kind of embarrassing.

Horace has a hard time socializing with people he doesn't know, because he doesn't want to be judged. He also likes Cryptography and Ciphers, solving them is a fun exercise!

Tick is the kind of person to analyze a situation before heading into it, be it social or physical. Tick also tends to be the first to notice the little details hidden between the lines, which is something tick takes a bit of pride in.

Cocoa

Identity: Non-Binary Lesbian (They/Them) Object: Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

Cocoa is a very cheerful and bubbly person, always eager to make new friends and making an effort to make others feel welcome or included! They're also rather curious, which makes them and Burtie good friends.

Cocoa experiences chronic pain, and is an amputee. Some of their family members are deaf, so they learned ASL at a pretty young age! They like collecting different rocks, gemstones, and shells.

While they are the kind of person you'd expect would tell you they joined to make friends– Money pays the bills, as well as helps fund treatments for chronic pain, so OF COURSE they joined for it! The friends are just a nice bonus.

Squeaky

Identity: Agender Lesbian (She/It) Object: Soap Bar

Squeaky is a rather high strung person. She needs things to be a certain way thanks to her perfectionism, and is a bit of a prude when it comes to naughty language. She'll often tell others to wash their mouths out if she catches them saying something distasteful! She's also very sensitive, emotionally and to stimuli that upsets her, and has an acute fear of getting dirty and heights.

Squeaky tends to rub at its leg anxiously when it thinks its dirty, or just as a self-soothing tactic. It likes to stomp around to stim! The weight feels grounding.

Squeaky cites that it wants to use the prize money to clean all the gross stuff up off the world, like air pollution or trash floating around in the ocean!

Kaede

Identity: GNC Bi Guy (He/Him) Object: Maple Syrup

Kaede is very chipper and extremely people pleasing in nature. Unfortunately for him, he's also the kind to crave any kind of attention or praise he can get. Even if that means aligning himself with a bad crowd.

Kaede is extremely friendly, and can get ahead of himself really easily. He never hesitates to introduce himself first!

While Cocoa defies the friendly stereotype... Kaede did just genuinely join to make new friends, as well as get approval from anyone watching.

Surf

Identity: Finro Bigender (He/She) Object: TV Remote

Surf is a rather clever individual. She's almost always got a plan or two in mind, as well as a backup if things go wrong. Unfortunately for you, she's also a fan of causing mischief.

Surf is Deaf and communicates via ASL! He cannot read lips, and would get a little miffed if asked. Also, his tail can let out a little shock if it touches someone while he's excited!

Surf might usually seem friendly, and she's not mean, but don't get it twisted. She's not afraid to resort to more... duplicitous plans and general trickery. She's here to win!

Pernella

Identity: Intersex Butch Lesbian (She/Her) Object: Rock (River Stone)

Pernella can be real charming if she puts her mind to it. She's good at picking up on what makes others tick, and frequently does so. In essence, she knows what she wants, and she ain't shy on doing what she thinks needs done to get it.

She tends to keep a close company with people who are willing to do her bidding or have the same lack of moral inhibitions. To these few who she's chosen as her inner circle will find a different side, one that's willing to go to bat to make sure they're looked after.

The real question, now, is if she'll keep that same attitude going into the competition. There's only one winner, after all.

Belle

Identity: Pan Trans Woman (She/Her + Ich/Ichor/Ichors/Ichors/Ichorself) Object: Top Hat

Belle is an egotistical and downright mean person. She can be rather catty, and is pretty solidly under the umbrella of being a mean girl– Backhanded compliments, spreading rumors, and most other things you can think of. She can also be something of an intimidating force if she really puts her mind to it, all done with a smile.

Ich cannot handle feeling inadequate at all. Ich has to be the best of the best, or else. Ich often acts impulsively to correct what ich views as this balance being upset.

Ich loves to have people compliment ichor, which ich cares about much more than actually winning the money. Belle joined more for the potential fame and stardom than the prize. Ich still wants to win, obviously, but... Let's be real, ich's not a real contender.

Johann

Identity: Omni Non-Binary (They/Them) Object: Loofah

Johann is generally quiet and very gloomy. They hold a generally pessimistic, and even defeatist at times, view of the world. They're also rather secretive, to the point they'd do anything to keep what they feel ashamed of under wraps.

Recently Johann has been struggling with Depression, which has made it tough for them to really get outside. They want to keep a axolotl some day, but know they aren't in the right mindset to have pets.

They didn't join for any real personal reasons. Their brother, Shifty, asked them to join with him, and they felt like they couldn't say no.

Shifty

Identity: Minro Trans Guy (He/Him) Object: Sponge

Shifty is a pretty unserious guy. He just likes to chill, and things very rarely get under his skin. He just likes to do as he pleases. Despite very rarely being taken seriously, he is extremely thoughtful and often just randomly ponders the nature of things because he wants to.

Shifty is actually just a nickname, and his real name is "Plato". People don't take him too seriously, and he doesn't either, so it felt more fitting. Shifty tries his best to take care of his sibling, Johann, and feels like he has to protect them as the big brother.

He joined because it being described as some kind of experiment piqued his interest. What kind of research data can you possibly get from this? He also wanted to get Johann out of their room, after getting worried for their mental wellbeing.

Spritz

Identity: Aroflux Necrogender (She/Her + Drop/Droplet/Droplets/Dropletself) Object: Spray Bottle

Spritz is a very skittish, paranoid, and distrusting individual. She rarely feels safe, and seems to believe everyone is out to get her. She isn't a bad person, really, but she prioritizes her self-preservation over all.

Spritz has Chionophobia, which developed rather recently. Drop used to keep a garden, which helped droplet with a bout of depression at one point in droplets life. Droplets mother takes care of it and hopes droplet'll come home to care for it again.

Drop must've applied from somewhere else, because nobody recognizes droplet from their town. But that's odd, why is drop the exception to a seeming rule?

[becausegoodbye]

Lesbian Inflorescence

For the longest time, I was so cautious and ashamed about reading lesbian stuff. I felt unerringly drawn to it, but I had such a powerful internal prohibition against being an intruder in that space – a shameful interloper sullying it for everyone else – that I mostly avoided it. It's only now, well into my second year of transition, that I feel like those old walls are fully breached, and I'm finally free to read all the deranged lesbian novels and sappy yuri and horny dyke poetry I want.

The amount I want, it turns out, is kind of a lot. Here are some recent favourites.

*

Monique Wittig - The Lesbian Body

This experimental French novel from 1973 hits a high watermark of sapphic insanity that I'm not sure has ever been equalled. Most of it is the narrator and her lover performing surreal erotic surgeries on each other: digging through the viscera and loving each other from the inside out. Long past the point where an ordinary person would be expected to have died, these women endure: grinning and licking each other's brains, spooling small intestines in their hands, always finding more of each other to love. Absolute engulfment.

Sakaomi Yuzaki – She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat

On the other end of the spectrum entirely: the sweetest manga imaginable about two neighbours slowly wending their way into becoming each other's most important person, through the central mechanism of cooking and eating together. Page upon page is devoted to the wordless erotics of Kasuga methodically eating large amounts of food while Nomoto grins at her starry-eyed. They make a refuge for each other from the world, and everything they need is already there. It's so fucking great.

Bonus treat: there's a live-action TV show that's also a complete delight. I watched it through with my girlfriend (always over breakfast, the rule delightfully became), and while it's even slower to build than the comic, it also has gorgeous performances from both leads. You can find video files and fan-made subtitles for season one and season two here, provided by the lovely Furritsubs.

Beautiful Barbarians: Lesbian Feminist Poetry

I'm obsessed with this collection. Published by Onlywomen Press in the UK in 1986, each author is given a photo-bio and at least four poems, and they come to you like a series of sit-down conversations with older wiser women handing you earthenware mugs of tea and instructing you how to pay attention. There are a variety of styles and concerns, but the connecting thread is the aliveness, the nearness, the groundedness. There is breath in all of these lungs, and in yours.

Takashi Ikeda – The Two of Them Are Pretty Much Like This

Another lovely, quiet, slice-of-life yuri manga, with delicate attention to the relationship dynamic between its two leads (already in a relationship and living together), and a lot of lived-in insights into their work as a voice actor and romance writer respectively. I love the way Wako and Sakuma are always touching in this: lovingly flopping over each other, encouragingly patting a head, lazily stroking a thigh. I sent a genuinely ridiculous number of panels from this manga to my girlfriend, all giddily captioned "us!!!" It's gorgeous.

There's one fact about this manga that's kind of odd, and that is that it is – putatively – written by a man, Takashi Ikeda. I've generally avoided yuri written by men (for obvious reasons), but this one struck me immediately as an exception. It was only once I got to Volume 4 that it became clarified for me why. In that book, a new character is introduced: a highschool baseball player who also lives in their building, and who's very nearly the first male character of the entire series. (Whatever others there are are all extremely minor and incidental.) This kid sees Wako and Sakuma out together, mistakenly believing that tall, deep-voiced Sakuma is a trans woman – and not just any trans woman, but one who's pulling it off amazingly, with a cute girlfriend and a loose comfy style and an enviable ease about her – and immediately understands, "Oh God, I want that."

The kid has a bunch of normal egg doubts ("It's not like I hate my body ... and I'm aware that I won't look good in women's clothes ... and there's no way I can be the ace of a weak baseball team if I have a woman's body ..."), but the force of the revelation is obvious. She's a young gay trans woman, and seeing Sakuma and Wako together clarified the vision of that for her. It also, at the same time, clarified for me why this series is able to be so good.

Takashi Ikeda, you can take hormones! If you want to be a woman, you can literally be one! It's a messy process, but it really does work!

I know there are different schools of thought about how rude it is to draw these kinds of inferences about others, but honestly: it just makes so much sense of the whole series. I suspected even before the transfeminine storyline in Volume 4, just because of how lovingly observed Sakuma and Wako's dynamic was and how utterly peripheral men are to their world. (More precisely: I voiced to my girlfriend my suspicion that the author was a closeted trans woman or a cis lesbian using a masculine pen name. Either way, a straight man was off the table!) The introduction of the transfeminine highschooler – and that one devastating page especially: the scrunched-up face in the bath, the lurching memory of that want, the flash of a different body – was just the cherry on top. Politely, babygirl: no cis guy is writing and drawing that. Not like that.

It's silly, but I desperately want to tell this mangaka that I have never met: I promise it's possible. You can have this kind of relationship. You can look at your body with actual affection and pride, because you chose to make it more what you want it to be. I know it seems unfeasible now, when the obstacles are so much nearer and more clarified than the rewards, but once you start: all you'll be able to regret is not having started earlier. You don't even need to go through doctors if you don't want! DIY hormones are available with just a bit of intrepid Googling. Wanting it is the only requirement. This can happen for you.

And I don't say this from the position of someone who's transitioned flawlessly and completely, who's had a panoply of surgeries and is read as a woman in 100% of social situations. I'm in a much clumsier middleground than that. The world at large doesn't quite get it, and likely never will. But where it matters most – that is: in being loved by my girlfriend as a woman, having her experience my body top-to-bottom as a feminine body, and finally living as a lesbian in a way that it's just laughable for anyone to deny – I'm already there. I thought it would take so much longer, but I'm already there. And it honestly makes all that other stuff, all the other difficulties, pale in comparison.

(Drawing of us by Sardonic Tuna, commissioned by my girlfriend and sent to me literally while I was putting the finishing touches on this blog post. Lou I love you so much 😭)

[alphaman99]

As more & more counties get more solar farms.....

From a STEPHENVILLE resident, George Franklin:

I should start by telling you what bonafides I have for writing this. I am a retired aerospace engineer. A literal rocket scientist if you will. I worked on MX (Peacekeeper) Space Shuttle, Hubble, Brilliant Pebbles, PACOSS, Space Station, MMU, B2, the Sultan of Brunei's half billion dollar private 747 with crystal showers, gold sinks and 100 dollar a yard coiffed silk carpets. I designed a satphone installation on prince Jeffry's 757. I did all of the design work for the structure of Mark 1V propulsion module currently flying on at least 3 spacecraft that I know of. Some of the more exciting projects I have worked on are not shareable. My personal projects include a spin fishing reel with a 4.5 inch spool which is entirely my own designed, machined and assembled. It has 2 features that are patentable. A unique true flat level wind and a unique line pickup mechanism. I am also am FAA certified glider pilot and FAI certified gold glider pilot. I fly both full scale and model sailplanes. I am Microsoft certified and ComTIA A+ certified.

Solar panels are at best about 20% efficient. They convert 0% of the UV light that hits them. None of the visible spectrum and only some of the IR spectrum. At the same time as they are absorbing light they are absorbing heat from the sun. This absorbed heat is radiated into the adjacent atmosphere. It should be obvious what happens next. When air is warmed it rises. Even small differences in ordinary land surfaces are capable of creating powerful forces of weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes. These weather phenomena are initiated and reinforced by land features as they are blown downwind. It is all too obvious to me what will happen with the heat generated by an entire solar farm. Solar farms will become thunderstorm and tornado incubators and magnets.

Solar panels are dark and and they emit energy to the space above them when they are not being radiated. This is known as black-body radiation. Satellites flying in space use this phenomenon to cool internal components. If they didn't do this they would fry themselves.

So solar farms not only produce more heat in summer than the original land that they were installed on, but they also produce more cooling in winter, thus exacerbating weather extremes.

So I conclude with this. There is nothing green about green energy except the dirty money flowing into corrupt pockets.

There is not such thing as green energy. The science doesn't exist. The technology doesn't exist. The engineering doesn't exist. We are being pushed to save the planet with solutions that are worse than the problems.

[icouldhyperfixatehim]

a tag game of mysterious untitled origin - thank you for tagging me, lovely @morkofday 🥰🥰

Current time: 10.15PM

Current activity: nightly pre beddy byes tumbling time. interspersed w making inroads in my many open wiki tabs - tonight i'm reading about nixies

Nøkken by Theodor Kittelsen

Currently thinking about: the aforementioned nixies and other water based folkloric spirits. the episode of the cryptonaturalist podcast where strange lights lure a man who wants to play music w someone from his porch and into the dark. that my feet are cold. whether the river's going to flood again tonight like it did last night.

Current favourite song: listen, all of unreal unearth has been thrumming through me in one long spool of constant inner soundtrack since august and that's just my truth.

Currently reading: in regular reading - our wives under the sea by julia armfield. in personal reading i hesitate to put here but want to bc it's honestly a great resource for people supporting a loved one with a psychotic spectrum illness, and i want everyone who needs to know about it to know about it - i'm not sick, i don't need help by dr xavier amador

Currently watching: lucky my love, heaven official's blessing, love senior, last twilight, well dominated love [awful title but xuan lu is in it so i'm giving it a whirl]. also bob's burgers, the new series of planet earth on the beeb, we bare bears, and yellowjackets 🤍

Current favorite character: shauna shipman

Current WIP: crochet cardigan for mother's christmas [I wasn't able to get it done for her birthday 😔] and knitted socks for brother and father's christmases. personal writing project which is largely stalled right now 😔😔 but i WILL get back to bc it is important to me ✊✊

tagging: @akkpipitphattana @liyazaki @panncakes @philologique @forcebook

[knightofleo]

Belong | Who Told You This Room Exists?

[kickerofelves]

Who Told You This Room Exists? — Belong

[lordsofcorbina]

Gear Spew!

I would have to say compared to a lot of my friends I fall very low on the gear ho spectrum.🙂 It really doesn’t matter if you hand me a rod with a Hatch reel, Abel, Tibor or whatever other reels folks covet. As long as the damn thing works properly I’m going to be happy.

A reel does not need to be built overkill for the task at hand either.

So with that said, Danielsson reels fall into that category and at a great price.

These are quality designed and manufactured Swedish made reels that take less then ten days to arrive from Sweden.

This reel was ordered on a Monday and was delivered on Friday!

You can set three different drag settings. One for a light inertia start up, medium or heavy.

Unlike some other reels extra spools are inexpensive if you desire a spare or two. These reels are completely sealed and pressure tested.

You are ordering these reels direct from the factory so you’re are not paying a middle man markup.

This reel will be attached to my two handed rod but is made for a single hand rod in the 7wt range.

This is replacing a Lamson Litespeed that served me well but has given up functioning properly.

Ok as you were!

[techadvantageeng]

Precision Meets Performance: Piping Design & 3D Modeling Services by Advantage Engineering Technologies, PLLC

In the rapidly evolving architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, precision is more than a luxury—it's a necessity. From complex industrial piping systems to fully coordinated 3D models for entire facilities, clients today require accuracy, clarity, and speed. That’s where Advantage Engineering Technologies, PLLC stands out.

With deep expertise in piping design drawings, 3D BIM modeling services, and full-spectrum 3D modeling services, Advantage Engineering is a trusted partner for firms seeking detailed engineering documentation and advanced visualization. They bridge the gap between design and construction by delivering highly coordinated, build-ready models and drawings that reduce errors, improve project timelines, and save costs.

Why Accurate Piping Design Drawings Are Critical

Whether you’re working on a hospital, manufacturing plant, power generation facility, or commercial high-rise, piping systems play a vital role in infrastructure. Poorly documented piping layouts can lead to conflicts, rework, or even system failures.

Advantage Engineering provides piping design drawings that cover all aspects of mechanical and plumbing systems, including:

Pipe routing plans and elevations

Isometric piping drawings

Pipe sizing and specifications

Support and hanger details

Bill of materials and spool sheets

These drawings ensure that contractors can fabricate and install with confidence. By reducing the guesswork and aligning with construction tolerances, these plans help save both time and money on site.

Their team uses the latest industry tools—such as AutoCAD Plant 3D, Revit, and Navisworks—to produce clean, clash-free, and highly detailed deliverables.

3D BIM Modeling Services for Seamless Coordination

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become the gold standard for modern construction projects. Advantage Engineering offers comprehensive 3D BIM modeling services to support architects, engineers, and contractors in visualizing and coordinating building systems.

BIM is more than just a 3D model—it's a collaborative platform that integrates geometry, spatial relationships, quantities, and properties of building elements. With Advantage Engineering’s BIM services, clients benefit from:

Fully coordinated 3D models across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems

Clash detection and resolution using tools like Navisworks

Model-based quantity take-offs for cost estimation

Construction sequencing and phasing (4D modeling)

Facilities management models (As-Built)

By using BIM, clients can detect and eliminate conflicts before construction begins—saving thousands in change orders and lost labor time.

General 3D Modeling Services for Any Project Type

Not all projects require full BIM implementation, but nearly every project can benefit from 3D visualization. That’s why Advantage Engineering also offers flexible 3D modeling services tailored to the client’s unique needs.

These services

Equipment layout planning

Concept design presentations

Visualization for permits or approvals

Renovation and retrofit planning

MEP coordination on smaller projects

Whether you're an engineer needing accurate geometry or an architect seeking spatial verification, Advantage’s 3D models help stakeholders see the project before it’s built—ensuring better decisions and smoother execution.

Their team works in Revit, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, and other platforms, depending on your software ecosystem and deliverable requirements.

Who They Serve

Advantage Engineering Technologies works with a wide range of clients across the construction and industrial sectors, including:

Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors

General Contractors and Construction Managers

Engineering Design Firms

Facility Owners and Operators

Architectural Firms

Their versatile expertise allows them to work across diverse sectors such as:

Commercial buildings

Healthcare facilities

Educational institutions

Industrial plants

Data center

Government infrastructure

Whether it’s a new construction or a renovation, they deliver the documentation and coordination that construction professionals rely on.

Why Choose Advantage Engineering Technologies?

Here’s why Advantage Engineering is a preferred provider of piping and modeling services:

Experienced Drafting and BIM Team

The company is staffed by highly skilled CAD technicians, engineers, and BIM specialists with decades of combined experience in MEP design and modeling.

Technology-Driven Process

Using the latest versions of Revit, AutoCAD Plant 3D, and BIM 360, the team delivers precise and collaborative design documentation.

Code-Compliant and Buildable Outputs

Every model and drawing aligns with industry standards, such as ASME, NFPA, and SMACNA, and is designed to be constructible in the real world.

Collaborative and Responsive

Advantage Engineering integrates with your team’s workflow, using your preferred platforms for markups, file sharing, and project updates.

Scalable to Any Project

Whether it’s a 10,000 sq. ft. commercial fit-out or a multi-million-square-foot facility, the team can scale to meet your documentation and modeling needs.

Client Testimonials

“Their piping design drawings were incredibly accurate and made our prefabrication process much smoother. No surprises on-site and everything installed exactly as planned.”  Project Engineer, Industrial Contractor

“Advantage’s 3D BIM modeling services helped us coordinate MEP systems on a hospital renovation. Their proactive clash resolution saved us from multiple RFIs.” Senior Architect, Healthcare Firm

We needed general 3D modeling services for equipment layout on a fast-paced job, and their turnaround was outstanding. Would recommend without hesitation.”

Construction Manager, Data Center Project

Get Started Today

If you're looking for reliable, precise, and professional piping design drawings, 3D BIM modeling services, or flexible 3D modeling services, look no further than Advantage Engineering Technologies, PLLC. Their team brings a level of detail, coordination, and professionalism that helps make your project successful from the ground up.