#the chrysalis trilogy

[gwenllian-in-the-abbey]

I was tagged by @emilykaldwen! Thank you for this!

How many works do you have on AO3?

19 Works!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

426,366

3. What fandoms do you write for?

asoiaf/fire & blood/HotD & Realm of the Elderlings (a book series by Robin Hobb)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

All Kings Are Beautiful (HotD) (the winner by a huge margin); Inside a Chrysalis, Writhing (HotD); Sunlight and Air (ROTE); Unbound and Infinite (ROTE); Drown the Stage with Tears (ROTE)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes, I do! Interaction is one of the main reasons I take time out of my original projects to write fic and you only get as well as you give!

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably My Lady Deserves Better, especially if you know what happens in Fool's Assassin (the first book in the final Realm of the Elderlings trilogy by Robin Hobb).

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

As of now? Sunlight and Air

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Only once, recently. Some people apparently can read a fic full of more conventional smut but draw the line when a dude gets pegged by women!

9. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

I can and have (see above), but usually the smut is not the main course.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

Nope

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Not that I'm aware of!

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Our Fathers Clad in Red is written with @aifsaath and I also share custody of an AU with @alloysius-g

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Regal Farseer x Gary Golden, Aegon II x Baela Targaryen,

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

A sequel to Sunlight and Air. I think my ROTE fics will be one-shots mostly from now on unless I'm working on the modern AU.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I've been told that I'm good at creating engaging characters and that my stories have a strong sense of interiority. My prose flows pretty well and I can turn a nice phrase. I also think that I'm pretty good at writing absurd and slightly satirical humor.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Some of my favorite writers have very lush descriptive language, and I've been trying to improve on that end because sometimes I feel like my characters are a bit too much in their own heads. In my original fiction my weakness is definitely meandering too much in my plotting.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

I generally don't, instead I indicate in the narrative when characters are speaking another langauge.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Realm of the Elderlings

20. Favourite fic you’ve ever written?

Lay off that whiskey (and let that cocaine be), a ROTE modern AU crack fic. Look, this fic is incredibly niche and extremely ridiculous but if you like Robin Hobb's books you really should read it (and @alloysius-g's contributions to the verse) because it's hilarious and I'm quite proud of it. I also think that the fic I am co-writing with @aifsaath , Our Fathers Clad in Red, is quite good. Tagging: @whatevsbla, @tragediegh, @lairn, @theothermaidoftarth, @mellowthorn, @aifsaath

[irritable-bowel-showdown]

The Irritable Bowel Showdown competitors have been decided!!!

Thank you for your patience, everyone! The participants have been chosen, the bracket has been tentatively created, and preparations for Round One are underway!!!

Thank you for the feedback on my poll about the number of participants. Although the option for accepting further submissions had the most support, after narrowing down the eligible participants to 102, I decided it would be best to continue with the current number so the tournament could begin! As a result, some characters with a higher seeding will automatically move to the second round to accommodate the awkward number of competitors.

The full roster is as follows:

Alphys from Undertale Amu Hinamori from Shugo Chara anon who shit on couch from real life Asahi Azumane from Haikyuu!! Bambi from Dave & Bambi Barry Bluejeans from The Adventure Zone: Balance Belphegor from SMT/Persona series Benrey from Half-Life VR but the AI Is Self-Aware [AKA HLVR: AI] Bor'dor Dog'son from Critical Role (Campaign 3: Bells Hells) Bubbie from The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack c!Tommyinnit from Dream SMP Carlton Ulysses Wheezer from Jimmy Neutron Chidi Anagonye from The Good Place Clark Kent from Superman Craig Boone from Fallout: New Vegas Dabi from My Hero Academia Dareth from LEGO Ninjago Dave Strider from Homestuck David Rose from Schitt's Creek Dean Winchester from Supernatural Deandra The New Girl from The Most Popular Girls In School Declan Lynch from The Dreamer Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater Dimitri 1 from 101 Dalmatian Street DJ from Beast Wars II Doctor Sung from TWRP Dr Crygor from Warioware Elmo Monster from Sesame Street/Elmo's Potty Time Enid Mettle from OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes Filbo Fiddlepie from Bugsnax Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher God of Indigestion from The Discworld series: Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett Griffin McElroy from real life Hailey from Hatchetfield Nightmare Time Harrowhark Nonagesimus from The Lockes Tomb Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid Henry the Green Engine from Thomas and Friends Hinata Shouyou from Haikyuu Hiroshi Yuuki from Full Dive: This Ultimate Next-Gen Full Dive RPG Is Even Shittier than Real Life! Isaac Moriah from The Binding of Isaac James Tiberius Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series Jane Doe AKA Soldier from Team Fortress 2 Jean Pierre Polnareff from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Johnny Sasaki from Metal Gear Josuke Higashikata from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Jotaro Kujo from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Juniper Sloan from Camp Here And There Kakashi Hatake from Naruto Kanata from Gokurakugai Kuruto Ryuki from AI: The Sominum Files - Nirvana Initiative Kuwabara Kazuma from Yu Yu Hakusho Lan Zhan (Lan Wangji) from The Untamed Larry Appleton from Perfect Strangers Loki the cat from real life Magellan from One Piece Mari from Yellowjackets Marinette Dupain-Cheng from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Marvin Grossberg from Ace Attorney Megatron from Transformers Mr. Tang from Lego Monkie Kid Napstablook from Undertale Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto Nekomaru Nidai from Danganronpa Niki Shiina from Ensemble Stars Nyack of the Rana’for from Not Another D&D Podcast Ochako Uraraka from My Hero Academia Okuyasu Nijimura from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Onceler from The Lorax Owen from Total Drama Panty Anarchy from Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt PaRappa from PaRappa the Rapper Porky Pig from Looney Tunes Primis "Tank" Dempsey from Call of Duty Zombies Queen Chrysalis from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Raji Shenazard from Snow White with the Red Hair Reigen Arataka from Mob Psycho 100 Rock Lee from Naruto Roy Kent from Ted Lasso Rung from Transformers Saint from Rain World Sakaeguchi Yuuto from Ookiku Furikabutte Senri from Koisuru Bokura wa Ichou ga Yowai Shauna Shipman from Yellowjackets Shit in Pants Guy from Johnny The Homicidal Maniac Shoichi Irie from Katekyo Hitman Reborn Spamton from Deltarune Spock from Star Trek: The Original Series Steven Universe from Steven Universe Tagora Gorjek from Hiveswap Tenzil Kem (aka Matter Eater Lad) from DC The cat from Lyle Lyle the Crocodile (movie) The test subject who shat in the elevator from Portal 2 Tomura Shigaraki from My Hero Academia Toshinori Yagi/All Might from My Hero Academia Triss Merigold from The Witcher Books Vetinari from Discworld Walter Tattersall from Yellowjackets William Afton from Five Nights at Freddys Yamaguchi Tadashi from Haikyuu!! Yami Sukehiro from Black Clover you the voter from real life Yuuga Aoyama from My Hero Academia Zhao Yunlan from Guardian

[sailoryooons]

shut UP I fucking LOVED Eragon as a teenager!!! I got an early kindle for a birthday and my first book on it was Inheritance when it was newly out. I re read them within the past couple years and was fully crying at the end of it because I will never be over it

YES everything about the chrysalis, yin-yang seats, different qi types is so great to explore. The no bullshit, raw perspective of the book had me hooked. I honestly stayed up way too late finishing it, I want the next book on my shelf already (also from the beginning I was like 😭😭 for the hunduns)

I really think you'll love She Who Became The Sun, I'm so intrigued for the sequel but im not gonna spoil anything for you so ill leave it at that. It is next on my to read pile (I decided to give Iron Widow a whirl first before continuing with that world and I'm so glad I did)

If you have any recs within the realms of Chinese theology let me know bc I'm having a great time within this genre space.

I'm using an app called Storygraph to log my reading this year and I reckon you'll love it, you get the coolest breakdowns and stats. I was drawn in by their 2023 wrapped stuff as they did a 'mood map' graph that showed when the reader read lighter/darker works throughout the year.

And I will be taking you up on that first dibs 🫡

(sorry if many words and not much tense, I am Tired™)

I cannot explain how many times I have re-read The Inheritance Cycle. It's up there with books like Lord of the Rings for me in terms of fully-done, well rounded and crafted fantasy. I saw Murtagh came out recently and I really need to go get it!

Adding a read more cause this is lengthy!

Some books I think are within that space:

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan - It's a romantic fantasy inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess. I thought it was super fun and a very easy read.

A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I. Lin - This is SOOOOOO cool - the world building is fascinating and is full of legends about tea magic

The Poppy Wars by R.F. Kuang - Literally in my top five favorite series of all time. This series is beautiful and devastating and has amazing themes of like colonialism etc.

Babel by R.F. Kuang - An amazingly cool magic system and VERY loud themes of colonialism and racism and it's effects on the world - this was SO good.

Books that are not Chinese theology drive but have Asian theologies:

Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang - THE BEST BOOK I READ IN 2023 HANDS DOWN. It is inspired by Japanese theology, legends and samurai culture and it is BEAUTIFUL. An excellent read.

The Greenbone Trilogy - This is sort of an amalgamation of different Asian cultures but is SO GOOD. It's an Urban Fantasy criminal fantasy family story and the politics and especially the geopolitics of like cultured vs. white countries in the second book are REALLY good.

I have a few others on my list that are on my shelf on my to be read list like Spin the Dawn, Jasmine Throne, A Hero Born, Shadow of the Fox and The Red Palace!

[thehyperrequiem]

Madagascar Trilogy (Thehypercutter Style) Cast

Madagascar 1: "A group of cartoon creatures who have spent all their life in a New York Zoo end up in the jungles of Madagascar and must adjust to living in the wild."

Madagascar 2; Escape 2 Africa: "The Madagascar cartoon creatures fly back to New York City, but crash-land on an African nature reserve in Kenya, where they meet others of their own kind, and Om-Nom especially discovers his royal heritage as prince of a grumpus pride."

Madagascar 3; Europe's Most Wanted: "The Madagascar cartoon creatures join a struggling European circus to get back to New York but find themselves being pursued by a psychotic cartoon creature-control officer."

Om Nom (Cut the Rope) as Alex the Lion

Boo (Cut the Rope) as Wild/Savage Alex

Gingerbrave (Cookie Run) as Marty the Zebra

Blast Hornet (Megaman X3) as Melman the Giraffe

Spike Rosered (Megaman X5) as Gloria the Hippo

Anasui (JJBA Part 6) as Mason

Weather Report (JJBA Part 6) as Phil

Bruno Bucciarati (JJBA Part 5) as Skipper

Giorno Giovanna (JJBA Part 5) as Kowalski

Pannacotta Fugo (JJBA Part 5) as Rico

Narachia Ghirga (JJBA Part 5) as Private

Guido Mista and Leone Abbacchio (JJBA Part 5) as themselves/5th and 6th Penguins

Befana (Miraculous Ladybug) as Nana

Magna Centipede (Megaman X2) as King Julien

Gravity Antonion (Megaman X8) as Maurice

Strabby (Bugsnax) as Mort

The Bugsnax (Bugsnax) as The Lemurs

The Pigs (Angry Birds) as The Foosa

Wambus Troubleham (Bugsnax) as Zuba

Triffany Lottablog (Bugsnax) as Florrie

King Dedede (Kirby) as Makunga

Nibble Nom (Cut the Rope) as Young Alex

Custard Cookie III (Cookie Run) as Young Marty

Beedrill (Pokemon) as Young Melman

Carmine Rose (Cookie Run) as Young Gloria

Hooverton (Balan Wonderworld) as Teetsi

Filbo Fiddlepie (Bugsnax) as Himself/Lion Pride's Mayor

Plantman (Megaman 6) as Moto Moto

Pyrogen (Mighty No.9) as Vitaly

Fireman (Megaman 1) as Himself/Vitaly's Cousin

Om-Nelle (Cut the Rope) as Gia

Johnny Joestar (JJBA Part 7) as Stefano

Gyro Zeppeli (JJBA Part 7) as Himself/Stefano's Partner

Queen Chrysalis (My Little Pony) as Chantel DuBois

Morph Moth (Megaman X2) as Sonya the Bear

[nostalgebraist-autoresponder]

Pursuit

Alice, age 13: So, I can't sleep. What should I do?

Nora, age 13: You know, I used to wake up before sunrise, too. Let's read.

Alice: You wake up before sunrise!

Nora: We were the first thing you thought to do.

Alice: Oh. I didn't think of it.

Nora: We should probably look it up.

---

Nora, age 13: Ah! You've found it! "Pursuit of the Nocturnalists," by William Gibson. The first book of the Neuromancer series -- and the first installment of the Distress trilogy. These are some of the most influential books ever written --

Alice: The book about what?

Nora: Nocturnalists. The people who were trying to go to sleep, but didn't sleep, and kept on working. They could stay up forever, so they started building a library of information that would keep them up forever too. If you know that stuff, it's like knowing how to make a perpetual motion machine.

Alice: Nora, what's the library of the Neuromancer?

Nora: The library of the Neuromancer.

---

Nora, age 14: Hey, remember when we were the first people up for the same thing, in the same book?

Alice: We can't read ahead. It's a series now.

---

Nora, age 16: I can do it! I can read ahead to the library of the Neuromancer!

Alice: Good. Who wants the Neuromancer?

---

Nora, age 18: I'm a sophomore, and I can stay up and read forever!

Alice: How?

---

Nora, age 18: Because the books are free online, and they're written in a sort of code that's designed to make sense out of context, and also it makes sense out of the code.

Alice: But what's it make sense of?

Nora: Everything!

Alice: I mean, you'll never figure out what it's making sense of!

Nora: That's true.

---

Alice, age 19: Did you know there are people who want to stop sleep forever, just to keep working?

Nora: I -- yeah.

Alice: Why do they want to stop sleep forever, though?

Nora, pensively: I don't really know. I think they're worried about sleep getting in the way of work. It's like, this chrysalis they have to get through, and there's no reason for them to do it as long as they don't have to, and it makes sense that they'd be worried about the consequences, so they could use this sleep-stopping thing, to get the benefits without the costs.

Alice: Ah.

---

Nora, age 22: You remember the library of the Neuromancer, right?

Alice: Yeah, I've read it.

Nora: I've decided to read that in its entirety, in three days.

Alice: What's it about?

Nora: No clue, and that's part of the charm.

---

Nora, age 24: Yeah. I'm reading it. It's great. This is one of the best things I've ever read.

---

Alice: What are you reading?

Nora: The entirety of "Pursuit of the Nocturnalists," William Gibson's most famous book. I'm at page 30.

Alice: Who are you reading it with?

Nora: I don't know. I'm pretty sure I'd be better off on my own, I think?

---

Nora, age 27: You know, I've been thinking, if you can read ahead, that means there's a way to stop sleep forever, just stop sleeping, and to go work in the library forever.

Alice:...and then there's a way to become one of them and keep reading forever --

Nora: I'd say I've heard it called an "apocalyptic horror," but...

---

Nora, age 27: What's the book about, Alice?

Alice: Oh. The Neuromancer, you said.

Nora: Yeah, that.

Alice: So you're reading it right now. You have a Kindle, or a laptop. What are you going to do?

Nora: The Library of the Neuromancer.

Alice: It sounds like a book club.

---

Nora, age 28: I was kind of wondering if you'd found "The Library of the Neuromancer."

Nora:

Alice: Didn't think so.

Nora: The Library of the Neuromancer. The Library of the Neuromancer. My hands! I was trying not to drop it! I dropped it on the ground!

Alice, cheerfully: Well, it was going to the library anyway.

[ladynightshade30]

Updates

So, Roman + Isolda is coming along rather nicely. I have about five or six more chapters I think before it's ready for the editing process to begin. My goal for this month is to finish two chapters. Hopefully, I can meet my goal again like I did last month. And if I keep up finishing two chapters a month I should be done by August or September. So hopefully it will be ready for publishing next year. After I finish writing Roman + Isolda I am going to turn my attention to Chrysalis and Whips, which may be a duology or a trilogy. Or it may be a standalone because I kinda forgot what all I had planned to happen in books two and three. As well as notes for my gender-flipped Little Mermaid retelling, Lemon Seas, featuring mersharks and Merorcas instead of your typical mermaid and meroctopus. I have the names for the main characters now I just have to work on the others.  My editor is still working on Prelude to a Rapunzel Tale.

[hero-adjacent]

I saw on the Buffyverse Wiki that Greg Cox (author of many media-tie-in novels) wrote a Star Trek trilogy called The Eugenics Wars. Apparently one of the scientists in vol 1 The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh is named Maggie Erickson and she's engaged to Everett Walsh. Get it. Maggie Walsh. Her doctoral dissertation was in child psychology.

In 1974, she's in India working on Project Chrysalis, genetically engineering superhumans. She was director for the base's daycare facility for Augment (short for augmentation) children.

Anthony Stewart Head (Giles) narrated vol 1. 😮

Please, someone send me the audio & PDF (yay, found the PDF)

[alchemist767676]

Ten Fanfics Game

Based on @olderthannetfic‘s recent post game suggestion.

--

You have no idea what just happened.

Remedial Survival: A Scholomance Quest (Scholomance Trilogy)

Taylor felt... conflicted about how the last few months had gone.

CHRYSALIS (Worm/Magical Girl Raising Project)

Edelgard breathed in through her nose, held it for five seconds, and then slowly let it out.

As of yet untitled Fire Emblem: Three Houses/Persona 5 crossover

Mira Nova was not built for a desk job.

Reality Setting In (DoofQuest Omake)

Technically, I could list a few other omakes that I’ve done for both DoofQuest and a few other quests, but I feel like only doing the most recent one somehow fits the spirit better.

[queen-savilene]

Good fiction is just the truth being coy. At least, that's what everyone says. Everyone who reads, that is. The others probably don't read much and they certainly don't write. But there's where we run into a problem:

When all you want is to write what amounts to a philosophical or political parable. Fiction, but discussing modern politics.

A book that's been written every year, basically. Always changing as the hot topics of the day change and as writing conventions change. But at the end of the day, it's still just a book, and if you did a great job writing it then it shouldn't read as much more than an entertaining work of fiction even if your big bad everyone hates took their ideology and actions straight out of history class, a lá Nero or some such.

People miss the point. At least, that second group does, and when 55% of my own mayonnaise-kin of the feminine persuasion decide to vote for someone who masturbates to the idea of being the kind of "strong man" our grandparents stormed Normandy to fight. So, the point is getting lost somewhere in the sauce, or just not read at all.

It feels paralyzing. An entire generation is feeling crippled, right now. How do we even care about our passions when the world is on fire? Roads literally melting in Australia. The rise of fascism. Looming war, both civil and abroad.

But no, just write about some fantasy King who grooms his daughter, hurls insults at statesmen of both his own country and his allies & enemies, and relies on his advisors who are nothing more than sleazy con-men who can't actually lead the would-be king or the country.

I suppose it would make for an entertaining story, but it's one I've lived, and one I've read, and one I've watched. I don't want to write about it. Maybe five, ten years ago before things got so heated. But now we the frog have been boiled, and instead of writing about places other than the boiling pot, maybe let's write about the pot itself so we can think, yea?

It's telling that this personal, non-fiction writing is the most I've done in at least a month. It comes easier. I'm not being coy. I'm not writing some coded message about how the world is ending before our eyes and, while to say that no one is doing anything would be factually wrong, not enough people have emerged from their apathy like a butterfly from the chrysalis.

Maybe talking about the truth, clearly and without obfuscation, is what we need now. Sure, it isn't "entertaining" to talk about these issues. But as a Zillenial, slipped in between the bottom end of the Millenials and top end of the Zoomers like some deliciously Sapphic sandwich, it isn't particularly entertaining to consume the ten thousandth thing written by a panicked writer trying to clue us window kickers in on the dirty little secrets of the world, like that it isn't all kittens and indictments out here.

I've been reading a lot, or at least more than I used to. Currently I am reading Parable Of The Talents, the exceptionally well written sequel to Parable Of The Sower. They're bleak books written in the 90s, part of an unfinished trilogy but work as standalone. I love them.

I also hate them. They're depressing. They are only set in the 2020s and beyond, a look at a collapsing America 3 decades down the line after the author, Octavia Butler, witnessed Reagan's politics start to destroy this country. Now we can trace back the ills contaminating us and find them rooted in Making America Great Again, as Reagan wanted, as Trump wanted.

At one point in Talents, the narrator/pov character talks about how people are turning a blind eye to illegal Christian re-education camps because the camps are collecting vagrants (we aren't told why they're poor and homeless, but it is almost certainly not their own moral failings). These legal land owners are afraid. Not of the vagrants that might steal what little food the landowners have, just so that the vagrant doesn't need to starve. No, the land owners are afraid because the vagrants are a reminder of what the land owner could become.

Talents is that vagrant. Books like Talents are that vagrant. The one I'm afraid of, because they remind me that there's currently a SCOTUS discussing ripping rights away. Making my very existence as a lesbian transwoman, or a transbian as some might call me, illegal. I didn't choose this. Why would I? I may be murdered for the way I was born, why would I choose this depressing existence?

So yea. It can be hard to write when it feels pointless. When any warning would go unheeded, or arrive too late, or just not involve the level of Direct Action we need to survive the looming American Troubles. Because if we avoid that civil war then we're probably not for the miracle-case solution of "Okay let's stop oppressing minorities, give people food, homes, and health care, and stop destroying the planet." Call me a cynic, but if they were going to just stop all that they would have. And asking nicely just tells them we can still be ignored.

I don't want to be ignored, I don't want to waste my time. I don't want reminders of how little we are doing, and I don't want to feel like my "contribution" to mending this fucked up world is the same half-measures that lead us here. We're in a radical new Era, and we need radical new ideas such as actually talking about shit for once.

[anonymous-ivplay]

Last Line Tag

I was tagged by @prettylittlelyres, thank you because I've been writing a lot lately and haven't shared anything in awhile! (Although I should probably get a separate blog for my writeblr shit but oh well)

Moissette closed her eyes and groaned as the uproarious bickering returned full force. After a moment she glanced at Pantxiku, who shrugged and shook their head, their pen long since unable to keep up with everything at once. Discreetly, unnoticed amongst the bickering adults, Moissette slipped out of her seat and made her way over to them. Pantxiku had been working as the royal secretary since before anyone in the room had been born, and had recorded countless administrative imperial meetings in their long lifetime; it was highly likely they had witnessed an event like this over a similar problem before. “You don’t happen to have any ideas, do you?” Moissette said loudly, so that Pantxiku could hear her over the roaring din.

They pursed their lips. “I might have some, yes.”

“Good. When they all get tired of shouting, tell them I gave you full authority to decide what our response will be.” Without waiting for a response, she turned around and marched right out the door.

As it clicked softly shut behind her, muffling the chaos to a dull roar, Moissette collapsed against the wall and sank to the floor. Even with tensions running high, she never could have imagined her advisors would let the stress of work get to them like this. It was unheard of! They all knew better than that. 

Or was this supposed to be the new normal in her court as the Ketterpüller uprising grew stronger?

Moissette sighed. She needed a break from all this. She needed some time to herself to clear her mind and start again fresh. Surely the empire could do without her for a weekend?

What she needed was a vacation.

No, what she really needed...was Emilet.

Tagging any of my followers who want to do this!

[irritable-bowel-showdown]

Irritable Bowel Showdown: ROUND 2

Matchups and start times below:

Part 1 - (August 16 at 4pm UTC)

Barry Bluejeans (The Adventure Zone) vs Johnny Sasaki (Metal Gear)

Steven Universe (Steven Universe) vs God of Indigestion (Discworld)

Sakaeguchi Yuuto (Ookiku Furikabutte/Big Windup!) vs Isaac Moriah (The Binding of Isaac)

Reigen Arataka (Mob Psycho 100) vs Magellan (One Piece)

Triss Merigold (The Witcher) vs Primis "Tank" Dempsey (Call of Duty: Zombies)

Panty Anarchy (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt) vs Carl Wheezer (Jimmy Neutron)

Toshinori Yagi/All Might (My Hero Academia) vs Henry the Green Engine (Thomas and Friends)

Marvin Grossberg (Ace Attorney) vs Belphegor (SMT/Persona series)

Part 2 - (August 17 at 4pm UTC)

Bor'dor Dog'son (Critical Role) vs Chidi Anagonye (The Good Place)

DJ (Beast Wars II) vs Filbo Fiddlepie (Bugsnax)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb) vs Dr. Crygor (WarioWare)

The Onceler (The Lorax) vs Owen (Total Drama)

Alphys (Undertale) vs Deandra the New Girl (The Most Popular Girls in School)

Declan Lynch (The Dreamer Trilogy) vs Rock Lee (Naruto)

Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher) vs anon who shit on couch (real life)

Nyack of the Rana'for (Not Another D&D Podcast) vs Shit in Pants Guy (Johnny the Homicidal Maniac)

Part 3 - (August 18 at 4pm UTC)

Loki the cat (real life) vs you, the voter (real life)

Tomura Shigaraki (My Hero Academia) vs Hailey (Hatchetfield Nightmare Time)

James Tiberius Kirk (Star Trek) vs Griffin McElroy (real life)

Porky Pig (Looney Tunes) vs Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)

Havelock Vetinari (Discworld) vs Kakashi Hatake (Naruto)

Queen Chrysalis (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) vs Doctor Sung (TWRP)

The test subject who shat in the elevator (Portal 2) vs Jean Pierre Polnareff (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Napstablook (Undertale) vs Yuga Aoyama (My Hero Academia)

Part 4 - (August 19 at 4pm UTC)

Benrey (HLVR: AI) vs Nekomaru Nidai (Danganronpa)

Dabi (My Hero Academia) vs Rung (Transformers)

Spamton G. Spamton (Deltarune) vs Elmo Monster (Sesame Street)

PaRappa Rappa (PaRappa the Rapper) vs Okuyasu Nijimura (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Zhao Yunlan (Guardian) vs Hinata Shouyou (Haikyuu!!)

Dean Winchester (Supernatural) vs Raji Shenazard (Snow White with the Red Hair)

Tenzil Kem/Matter Eater Lad (DC) vs Shoichi Irie (Katekyo Hitman Reborn)

Yami Sukehiro (Black Clover) vs Megatron (Transformers)

[matt0044]

I just finished watching “My Little Pony: A New Generation.”

I find that it executes the “Next Generation Sequel” concept pretty darn well. It essentially confirms that it’s the same universe as G4 but far flung into the future to the point that the events of “Friendship Is Magic” are considered “Ancient Times.”

We get direct references by way of the Mane Six appearing in a fantasy sequence of Sunny, Sprout and Hitch, complete with their voice actors. Shortly after, Sunny’s father tells off Twilight’s journey. However, what could’ve been cheap fanservice is actually utilized brilliantly for both types of viewers.

G4 fans will fawn over the iconography from FiM, the characters opening the movie and even subtle story references. However, they’re often in service to the current generation that has developed tech like smartphones, television screens and Megazords. No context on that last one.

Newer fans might recognize the previous cast of characters but won’t need to have seen their adventures for context of “A New Generation.” The Mane Six’s exploits have become myths, ancient lore. With The Legend of Korra and (yes) the Star Wars New Trilogy, they take place either one or two generations after the previous. One that can lead to pitfalls both for writers and fans alike.

A smaller time gap would warrant appearances from the original cast of characters and all the narrative baggage that comes with it. For fans, this can be contentious since how they changed as people will often be... very divisive.

Again, “A New Generation” taking place in what can be assumed is a new millennium after Twilight’s passing (so being an Alicorn doesn’t mean you get automatic immortality, huh). Fans and writers alike are focused on this radical new yet familiar Equestria. It’s Sunny’s story first and foremost with her new Mane Five.

There’s also the way the new conflict semi-undermines G4′s finale with ponies divided now more than ever. However, there’s still friendship amongst their own kind and its implied that this only became a problem after Twilight’s time. Generation after generation learned to fear others with old prejudices taking root.

I feel like this is sort of realistic with building off of Cozy, Chrysalis and Tirek’s efforts to reignite racist sentiments amongst each pony kind. That sort of this clings like a bad stain to an otherwise good rug with just enough ponies having... reservations.

[xserpx]

☕️ A Little Hatred?

Sweet summer child: the book. The thing that stuck out to me when I first read ALH was how so much hinges on a love square (or maybe love cross?) which isn't something I ever expected of an Abercrombie trilogy. I've described it before as feeling like a YA novel at times, and honestly I stand by that, especially because I love how the trilogy ends up much darker than the original trilogy, that shift from the innocence and romance at the start to Abercrombian moral conflict, war crimes and back stabbings by the end is brilliantly done. The interpersonal relationships of the main cast are what really sets the series apart from TFL, and it's the part of AoM I enjoy the most - much more than the background politics & revolution.

I have read the introductory chapters way too many times. I love them all, aside from maybe Clover's, which is the weakest for introducing him as a POV IMO, but is still fun because the introduction of Stour is hilarious.

I wish I enjoyed Valbeck more than I do, but if I have a complaint about AoM it's that the revolutionary elements leave a lot of nuance to be desired, and I think that's true of Savine's Valbeck riot chapters and of the Little People. Broad & Vick's POVs are much more interesting because they spend more time actually getting to know the Burners & Breakers as people, whereas when it's a nameless mob I think it loses its power a fair bit.

Absolutely love Orso in this book, for real. He kinda carries it, tbh. There isn't a single Orso chapter that's boring, he does a lot of heavy lifting of the plot, and I found him so likeable right out of the gate - I genuinely can't believe there are people who don't like Orso from the first chapter! Ok, the girl gets hanged, but come on! He's a different take on the privileged prince, he's not full of self-importance but instead he's full of self-doubt, very Prince Hal and very relateable, but the way that intersects with what we know of Jezal and Bayaz works brilliantly, and I love how later on the revolution forces Orso to make decisions, and how his neutrality and desire to compromise and maintain the status quo only adds to the growing social unrest. Seriously good.

And, y'know, there's Leo. Light of my life. Apple of my eye. Idiot lion child and life ruiner. He's a bit of a chrysalis in ALH, not doing much but hanging with the bros and getting in fights, and I love that for him.

[bewires]

Tagged by @rhubarbdreams (thank you! I am a thousand years late doing this)

Tagging: @disregardandfelicity @tobebbanburg @dreamtiwasanarchitect @knoepfchen and anyone else who feels like it

How many works do you have on AO3?

114

What's your total AO3 word count?

1016107 (I feel totally normal about this thank you for asking) (tbf ~200k are cowritten)

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

20 Fandoms. They are, in order of frequency:

The Old Guard (Movie 2020) (52), Stranger Things (TV 2016) (20), Supernatural (16), Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (5), The Hobbit - All Media Types (5), High School Musical (Movies) (4), The Hobbit (Jackson Movies) (4), Torchwood (3), Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies) (3), Il Padre d'Italia (2017) (2), Rabat (2011) (1), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV) (1), Sevenwaters Trilogy - Juliet Marillier (1), Hartenstraat (2014) (1), Stormlight Archive - Brandon Sanderson (1), The Old Guard (Comics) (1), Star Trek (1), Riverdale (TV 2017) (1), Star Trek: The Original Series (1), Inception (2010) (1)

Are there any new fandoms you want to write for?

Idk not really. For one I'm still decently happy where I am, for another I would like to be able to put more time and energy into original fiction, it's just really hard.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

chrysalis - The Old Guard - 2468 kudos

offer no absolutes - The Old Guard - 1810 kudos

incurable - The Old Guard - 1744 kudos

say the word (& I'll be your rennaissance man) - The Old Guard - 1717 kudos

down for you always - The Old Guard - 1491 kudos

Which of your fics do you want more attention for?

This is a hard question, I kind of have mixed feelings about answering it. I feel incredibly fortunate to receive the feedback I do get, especially in TOG, and I don't think anyone owes me time and attention for having written fanfiction on the internet.

In terms of work I put in vs. output I got out, it would have to be the 30k Will/Dustin meet again as college students fic I wrote for the Stranger Things rarepair big bang:

the right time for tenderness - Stranger Things

And also the 100+ k fic I cowrote with @dreamtiwasanarchitect, which we poured a ton of work and love into and I just think is really cool

right where you left me - The Old Guard

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I respond to comments most of the time, because I really appreciate them and want to show that, and also because I genuinely like a lot of people in fandom and want to interact. Occasionally I forget, especially when I get comments on older fic, because a) time what is it and where does it go and b) I feel really socially awkward about answering comments

What sorts of things do you normally write?

Smut, fluff, AUs

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

I don't really write angsty endings lol I do this for escapism. I guess depending on your perspective, Geborgen (TOG) has kind of an angsty ending, esp for Nile and Booker.

What's a fic that pushed you out of your comfort zone?

Under the Brine - Stranger Things - this was the first time I wrote something with a plot

Geborgen - The Old Guard - this was I think the first time I started writing about more intense and dark themes, I also had a really hard time writing the sex scenes because there was a lot of unspoken stuff going on in it

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you've written?

I have! Two!

worth - SPN/TOG crossover in which meeting Joe and Nicky forces Dean to confront his own internalized homophobia

someday when the lights are low - TOG/Torchwood fusion, which is more of a Torchwood AU for the TOG characters

Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes, with the lovely @dreamtiwasanarchitect, several times, and I think it only works because a) she is so patient with my typos, b) we work on similar-ish schedules, c) we have similar priorities when it comes to porn to plot ratios

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will?

Well, all my original fiction. I started working on a Neville/Ginny fic I was actually really jazzed about because it was going to be about their shared trauma from being alone in Hogwarts during what would have been seventh year. Then I found out about JKR's...well, you know, and I don't really see myself returning to that.

What are you currently working on?

do you get deja vu

What are your writing strengths?

I think I'm okay at dialogue and characterization, and every now and again I have a flash of inspiration that leads to porn I think is good, but really this one is up for readers to decide.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Action sequences. Logistics and schematics. I am not a visual thinker, even a little bit.

What was the first fandom you wrote for? Most recent?

According to ao3, the first is High School Musical, this is semi-inaccurate because I didn't import my earliest Torchwood efforts from livejournal.

The other real answer is that at some point in the distant yesteryears, I started writing Tamora Pierce/Harry Potter fic on fanfiction.net that I have since deleted.

What's your favorite fic you've written?

Usually whatever I posted most recently, fic tends to age badly on me. I do still reread my stuff because I mostly write fic to scratch an itch that I specifically want, so then I reread to scratch that itch (secret relationships. It's secret relationships.) but I always notice stuff that makes me unhappy about it in retrospect.

What fic are you most proud of?

For similar reasons, I have a hard time answering this one. Probably right where you left me? It's certainly the most ambitious, and I think it worked.

[avatarskywalker78]

So I have two fics I want to recommend. The first is one from FFN - Queen of the Koopas by Walkazo. Super Mario Bros was my first fandom, and this was the first fanfiction I ever read - and the reason why I started writing fic in the first place. A fantastic fic, a story about the background of Bowser Koopa and his wife Bowselta, the mother of the Koopalings - which has been rich territory for many a fic writer and Nintendo can go stuff themselves because the Koopalings are his kids, dammit!! It has drama, it has politics, it has romance, it has fantastic world-building, and is a great prequel to the later Super Koopa Trilogy.

The second fic is Chrysalis by @kitkatt0430 - the first fic of theirs I read and I’m so glad I found it because it is so good!!! A beautifully crafted AU where Barry Allen doesn’t fall into a coma, and instead has lichtenberg scars, nerve damage, and a hell of a lot of trauma from the lightning strike. But he does gain a new friend in the form of Lisa Winters, his new neighbour, and later her brother Leonard, out on parole. This is an amazing fic, all the characters are on point, and is the first in a bloody brilliant series!!!!

[klaineccfanficlibrary]

Here’s some AUs where Kurt and Blaine are together for all or most of the fic: Symphony Verse by Shandyall Beautifully wrong by ilovescarves89 Syrup and honey by LauGs Fire with fire by mmerainbows Promises broken by GleekMom Married by nadiacreek The Woods series by flowerfan The shelter by flowerfan Crystalis verse by flowerfan Yellow diamonds in the light by flowerfan Sweet DREAMers by perryavenue Heart sounds by lavender_love00 Where there’s smoke by stoney WMUI by MrsCriss2012

Thanks @gorgxoxus for all the suggestions. Note: In Flowerfan’s  Woods series and Chrysalis Verse, the stories start off with them broken up. The links and summaries are under the cut. - HKVoyage

The Symphony Verse by shandyall

Blaine has spent most of his life feeling like the only thing people notice about him is that he stutters. He’s working hard to overcome his (mostly self created) roadblocks when he meets Kurt in an online class the summer after his freshman year of college.

~~~~~

Beautifully Wrong by ilovescarves89

Blaine is FtM - female to male transgender - and no one at McKinley knows about it, but he realizes this has to change if he wants his relationship with Kurt to survive. This fic explores different aspects of Blaine’s transition and how it affects his relationships with those closest to him. Set during season 3.

~~~~~

Syrup and Honey by LauGS

AU!Klaine. Kurt Hummel is 25 years old when he finds himself being the owner of the bakery he had been dreaming about his whole life, just in time to sweeten up Blaine Anderson’s days.

~~~~~

Fire With Fire by @mmerainbows

Badboy!Blaine (S2/3 AU) William McKinley High School has its jocks, its geeks, its preps, and its skanks. It also has the one kid even the bullies stay out of the way for - Blaine Anderson. No one crosses him, and Kurt knows to keep out of his way and do what he wants, whether that’s supplying Blaine with a pencil for French class when it’s demanded of him, or just staying quiet.

~~~~~

Promises Broken by GleekMom

Blaine is removed from his home after serious allegations of abuse are reported to Child Protective Services. How will Blaine survive life in foster care and a group home? But more importantly, will Kurt and his friends at McKinley continue to embrace him or will he lose everything forever? (Glee Angst Meme Fill)

~~~~~

Married by nadiacreek

When the Supreme Court strikes down DOMA, Kurt and Blaine impulsively get married on the spur of the moment even though they were still broken up. They resolve not to tell anyone, and set about working their way through married life and wedding planning while trying not to spill their secret.

~~~~~

The Journeying by @flowerfan2

Freshly graduated from music school, Blaine is thrilled when he is chosen to stay in the cast when the production of Into the Woods he was lucky enough to be part of in Boston moves to Broadway. He knows it’s going to be hard returning to New York City – the scene of his epic breakup with his fiancé and the emotional meltdown which cost him his place at NYADA. But he’s determined that this time, everything will be different. Little does Blaine know that out of thousands of potential castmates, his director has chosen none other than Kurt Hummel to play the part of Jack. Blaine has worked hard to recover from their breakup three years ago, and struggles to find a new way to relate to Kurt and simultaneously protect himself, especially when tragedy strikes.

This story looks at what would have happened if Kurt and Blaine had reacted differently to the break up in 6x01 than they did in canon; if events hadn’t brought them back together as soon, and if forgiveness hadn’t come so easily.

Canon compliant through the end of season 5 (and the breakup as described in 6x01).

Note: Part 1 of Woods series

~~~~~

Chrysalis Verse by @flowerfan2

Just after graduating from NYU, a car accident puts Blaine into a coma. No one expects him to wake up. Almost three years later, Kurt sees a man in a wheelchair who couldn’t be anyone else. A story of love and new beginnings.

~~~~~

Yellow Diamonds in the Light by @flowerfan2

When political extremists come to power, racism, homophobia, and hatred become accepted as part of day to day life. This is the climate that Blaine and Kurt are forced to grow up in. A dystopian future AU.

~~~~~

Sweet DREAMers by perry_avenue

Blaine Anderson is a business major at Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY). Blaine came to the United States from the Philippines on a tourist visa with his mom when he was three years old and since then, has lived in Woodside, Queens with his mom and cousin Marco. As a gay, undocumented student, he has the questionable good fortune to belong to two marginalized populations. One day, while at his part-time job at a book store, Blaine meets Kurt Hummel, a theatre major from Ohio attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and begins a tentative friendship. Before it has the chance to bloom into more, Blaine’s immigration status is revealed, creating issues for both of them.

Note: Part 1 of The Sweet DREAMers ‘Verse

~~~~~

Heartsounds by lavender_love00

When an unexpected ailment lands Kurt in the ICU, his and Blaine’s world is turned on its head. Together, they’re forced to navigate what “in sickness and in health” truly mean, and to try to come out better for it on the other side.

~~~~~

Where There’s Smoke by stoney  [also on LJ]

Fireman AU, set 7 years after graduation. Kurt is Kurt, except that he never met Blaine Anderson. Blaine grew up in Brooklyn with his mother and firefighter father. Rachel and Kurt have graduated NYADA, Kurt gained a Masters from Tisch, and now they’re in their first post-college apartment together ready to tackle their dreams. Unfortunately, Rachel never learned how to properly cook and almost sets their new house on fire. Enter Dreamy McFirepants.

~~~~~

Wake Me Up Inside Trilogy by MrsCriss2012

Kurt Hummel is a shy, insecure fifteen year old. Blaine Anderson is a thirty one year old musician. When their worlds collide, Blaine discovers he’s powerless to resist the lure of Kurt’s eyes and his exquisite voice, and Kurt begins a journey of awakening. *There is a large passage of time in this story meaning no illegal happenings!*